Storybook Chapters 6-10

 

 

Chapter 6

 

Alexis gently touched Stefan's neck, searching for any sign that he was alive. She breathed a sigh of relief when she felt a faint pulse. At least he was alive, she thought.

 

 

She patted his face trying to wake him up, but it was to no avail. Growing

increasingly frustrated, she finally gave him a light slap, which stirred Stefan to open his eyes.

 

 

''Oh my god,'' he said looking at her in disbelief.

 

Sonny walked over to the couch and

sat down still holding onto the note. Carly stood in the doorway wondering if now was a bad time to tell him. '

 

 

'What are we going to do?'' she asked quietly, gently massaging his shoulders.

 

'There's nothing to do,'' Sonny said emphatically after pausing a moment. ''It

doesn't really matter whether Jax stayed or left. Natalie isn't his daughter.''

 

 

Carly nodded, although silently disagreeing, but chosing not to argue with him. ''Let's

go get some breafast, just the two of us,'' she said like a child hoping to be allowed to open her present early.

 

 

''I'd love to,'' he said, pulling her down next to him. ''But I have to get to the

warehouse. Why don't we go to dinner tonight. Bobbie can watch Michael, Nikolas can watch Natalie.The whole house will be ours,'' he kissed her passionately before pulling away, grinning at the frustrated expression on her face. ''

 

 

Fine,'' she said irritatedly. ''Allright kids,'' she announced to a sleeping Natalie and

Michael who was watching cartoons. ''We're going out.''

 

 

Stefan pulled Alexis into a tight hug. ''He told me you were dead,'' he said in shock.

'

 

You knew he was alive?'' Alexis

said angrily. '

 

 

'No no no,'' he soothed, the two of them sitting side by side with a fear so similar to

that of when they were kids. ''I was in Wyndamere when the bulletin came on about your accident. I picked up the phone, and that's the last I remember. When I woke up Stavros was there telling me he had killed you. Thank god,'' he whispered, closing his eyes.

 

 

''We're never going to get out of here are we?'' Alexis said, slumping back against the

wall. ''Natalie's going to grow up with out me,'' she said softly, tracing her finger over the worn-out newspapers.

 

 

''Alexis,'' Stefan ordered. ''You have to be strong. I have a plan,'' He lifted his pantleg

and rolled down his sock revealing a switch blade. ''But we need to be patient.''

 

 

Carly rolled the grocery cart down the aisles growing frustrated. Michael had to walk

since Natalie was in the cart, and he was very unhappy, not to mention slow. Natalie was fussy and crying causing shoppers to give Carly dirty looks. '

 

 

'I'm tired,'' Michael frowned, plopping himself in the middle of the aisle. ''Why can't I

sit in the cart?'' '

 

 

'Michael,'' Carly groaned. ''Come on,'' she struggled picking him off the floor. ''If you

can finish the shopping like a big boy, mamma will buy you a treat,'' she knew bribary wasn't the best way to handle the situation, but she just wanted to finish this. Michael bit his lip and folded his arms, thinking about the offer.

 

 

''Fine,'' he said. ''But you also have to take me to the park.'' Carly laughed at his

demand. There was no doubt Michael was her son.

 

 

Bending over, she shook his hand seriously. ''Deal.'' As she stood back up, Natalie

had thrown her toy book across the aisle. Walking over to reach it, she was handed the book by a tall dark man. ''Thank you,'' Carly said.

 

 

''It is my pleasure,'' he turned and then stopped. ''Caroline? Caroline Benson?'' Carly

spun around. It had been a long time since anyone called her that. ''Do I know you?'' she asked puzzled.

 

 

''We went to school together. In Florida. Lucien. Lucien Cane,'' Stavros stuck his

hand out. ''Remember?''

 

 

Carly thought for a moment. She didn't recognize him, but then again, she didn't

attend a lot of school. She smiled appologetically. ''I'm sorry,'' she said. ''I don't remember, but don't take it personally.'' She walked back to the cart, handing Natalie her book.

 

 

Stavros stood behind her. ''That's okay,'' he smiled. ''I used to have the biggest crush

on you. Is this your daughter?'' he reached out touching Natalie's head. '

 

 

'No,'' she thought for a moment thinking how to explain the situation. ''This is a friend

of mine's daughter.'' Stavros gently stroked Natalie's face, trying to keep himself from grabbing the child and running. ''What a beautiful child.''

 

 

Carly began to feel uncomfortable. Something about this man was giving her the

creeps.

 

 

''Well, the kids are getting restless,'' she said akwardly. ''I'll see you around.''

 

Stavros

watched as Carly went out of sight. ''You definately will,'' he laughed. ''You and Natalie have not seen the last of me.''

 

 

 

 

Chapter 7

 

Sonny and Carly sat across from each other at the No Name. Carly shifted in her seat uncomfortably. This morning she couldn't wait to tell Sonny about the baby, but now she was nervous. She didn't know why. She knew Sonny would be happy, but she realized the timing of Alexis's death, Jax's departure and Natalie's permanent residence with them, provided them with a lot on their plates already. Maybe she would wait.

 

 

''Carly?''

 

Carly's eyes snapped back to Sonny. He was staring at her in a way that

made her melt, like he was reading her every thought and feeling. '

 

 

'I'm here,'' she smiled, reaching across the table touching Sonny's hand.

 

''You weren't

a minute ago,'' Sonny said, arching his eyebrows. ''Or five minutes ago. What's going on Carly?''

 

 

She sighed. It was just like him to be suspicious of her. Just once she would like him

to give her the benefit of the doubt. '

 

 

'It's nothing bad,'' she began, hesitating. Sonny leaned forward. ''Is it Michael?

Natalie? What's wrong.''

 

 

Carly laughed. ''God, you always think the worst. It's good news Sonny. I'm

pregnant.''

 

 

She waited to watch his reaction. He was so difficult to read sometimes, it drove her

crazy. ''Say something.''

 

 

He reached for her hand, drawing it to his lips. ''You're pregnant?''

 

Carly frowned. She

expected him to jump up and sweep her off her feet. Then she realized it. Alexis had already fulfilled his dreams. She had given him the child he had waited so long for. She opened her mouth to speak as Sonny stood up, but was silenced by him taking her face in his hands and kissing her so deeply she felt like he had touched her heart.

 

 

''You're happy.''

 

Sonny smiled,''I couldn't be happier.''

 

''You're lying.''

 

****************************

 

 

Stefan opened his eyes, although sometimes he wondered why he did, nightime

and daytime were the same in here. He was going mad just sitting, losing track of days and night. He shifted slightly, trying to avoid waking Alexis who had fallen asleep on his shoulder.

 

 

He frowned. He knew his feeling of being trapped were nothing compared to Alexis's.

She had a fiance and a child who had no idea she was alive. His life didn't really matter. No one would miss him. '

 

 

'No one would miss me,'' he whispered, hoping to just fill the silence in the room.

 

''You're wrong,'' Alexis said, yawning, rubbing her eyes. ''There are plenty of people

who miss you. Nikolas especially.''

 

 

She sighed. She wanted out of here more than anything. She wanted to hold Natalie

and hug her so tight. Then she wanted to do the same thing to Jax. Where was Jax? How could he not know something was up.

 

 

Stefan kissed the top of her head. ''I'm going to get us out of here Alexis. We're going

to get out of here.''

 

 

His words did little to assure her, but she didn't have time to argue before one of

Stavros's men entered the room.

 

 

''What do you want?'' Stefan asked angrily, shifting himself in front of Alexis. The man

didn't say anything, just threw something on the ground. The noise echoed through the room.

 

 

Stefan went over to where the the package had been left. ''What is it?'' Alexis asked

curiously, kneeling behind Stefan, but unable to see what he held.

 

 

''Alexis I don't think you want to see this...'' Stefan began nervously. He knew this

was going to destroy her.

 

 

Alexis felt a lump in her throat, as she took the contents from Stefan's hands. There

was a small book. She brought in close to her, inhaling the scent with her eyes closed. ''It's Natlie's,'' she said, her eyes forming tears. She took the other things from Stefan's hand. They were pictures of Carly, Michael and Natalie at the grocery store. they had been taken from a distance, Carly unaware of what was going on. The last picture was what disturbed her and caused her to gasp. It was Stavros touching Natalie's head. '

 

 

'Oh God Stefan. He's been out. He's touched her,'' she began to sob causing Stefan

to hold and cradle her. ''I can't let him get her. We need to do something.''

 

 

***********************

 

''I'm not lying Carly,'' Sonny sighed in frustration. ''I'm happy. Why do you need to

doubt my feelings?''

 

 

Carly, equally frustrated, dropped his hands from hers. ''This won't be your first child.

I mean I realize that you won't have the special bond that a father has with his first child...'' '

 

 

'Carly stop,'' Sonny's eyes softened. ''This child will be no less special than Natlie.

Our family's complete with this child. I love you Carly.''

 

 

The tension Carly had been feeling slowly began to melt. ''Let's get out of here,''

Sonny smiled.

 

 

''We've got the whole penthouse to ourselves.'' Carly laughed. ''What do you have in

mind?'' Grinning, Sonny's dimples appeared. ''I think I have an idea.''

 

 

*********************

''I'm going to kill him,Stefan,'' Alexis's brain began in overdrive,

trying to decide what to do.

 

 

''We need to take this slow,'' Stefan tried to calm her, but the effort proved fruitless.

 

'Slow Stefan?'' Alexis grew angry. ''He's gong after my daughter. I can't let him do

this.''

 

 

The door opened in Alexis's midsentence.

 

''What aren't you going to let me do little

Alexis,'' Stavros grinned.

 

 

 

Chapter 8

 

Jax stood at on the pier of some island. He wasn't sure what island it was. It didn't matter. He just need to get away.

 

 

He didn't think he would ever love after Brenda and when he did, he didn't think he

could ever feel the loss he did after Brenda. But God, it hurt so bad it made his heart hurt. It was almost 2 months since the funeral and the pain just grew every day.

 

 

At night when he went back to his hotel room, he kept expecting Alexis to come

bounding out carrying a bowl of popcorn in a pair of old sweats. He smiled, Alexis would kill him if she knew his only thoughts of her were when she was in sweats. But he loved her in those moments, the simple moments when they would lay there curled up on the couch, watching some movie. He never paid attention to the movie, instead he would just stare at Alexis. She amazed him, every inch of her, every breath she took, he couldn't get enough of her.

 

 

He sighed. It was over.

 

''Jax are you allright?'' a gently female hand touched Jax's shoulder, causing him to

jump in surprise. He nodded unconvicingly. His mother cocked her head in sympathy. She hadn't never seen him like this. Even Jerry was unable to get through the grief for him.

 

 

''Jax you need to go back.'' Jax turned around to see Jerry standing there. He shook

his head.

 

 

''I can't go back. There are too many memories,'' the younger Jax brother said.

 

''Jax,''

Jerry sighed. ''You can't stay here forever. What about Natalie? I'm sure she misses you.''

 

 

''Jerry don't you get it? I'm not her father,'' Jax began to grow angry. ''I have no

connection to that little girl anymore. It just hurts to be around her.'' '

 

 

'You must be kidding me brother. She's just a baby and she needs you. Someone

needs to keep Alexis's memory alive and god knows Corinthos and his crazy wife won't. Just think about it,'' Jerry looked at him seriously.

 

 

Jax nodded. ''I will.'' But he wasn't so sure, there was nothing there for him.

 

*************************

 

 

''What do you want Stavros?'' Stefan asked, the anger in his voice rising.

 

''I want to

talk to our sister. Alone.'' Stavros said deadpanned.

 

 

Alexis bit her lower lip. The old Alexis would have cowered behind Stefan, allowing

him to fight her battles. No more though. Natalie had made her a new person. She realized she could do anything after she became a mother.

 

 

''What do you want you bastard?'' Alexis said lunging at him.

 

Stavros laughed as

Stefan held her back. ''Still having Stefan fight your battles, little one? Aren't we a little old for that? What do I want?'' he brought his index finger to his chin, as if in thought. ''I want you to come with me.'' '

 

 

'Don't go Alexis,'' Stefan whispered in his ear, gently touching her back.

 

It took a

moment for Alexis to realize he was handing her the knife. She reached behind her while nodding her head to Stavros's request. ''I'll go with you.'' She took a deep breath.

 

 

Stavros raised his eyes in surprise. ''Good. Let's go.'' He put his hand on her back,

causing Alexis to tense up. If he felt the knife hidden.... But he didn't.

 

 

She let out the tension, catching Stefan's eyes, who nodded. It was time. It was time

to end this game and get back with her family.

 

 

 

Chapter 9

 

Alexis was running. She was running so hard that her legs ached and her heart was pounding. She wasn't sure why she was running, well she did, but she didn't want to be. How did I get here, she thought.

 

 

Alexis looked back at Stefan as Stavros began leading her by the wrist out of the

door. The knife that was hidden in her back pocket was pressing against her skin. She hadn't been this scared since she was a child. She knew what she had to do, but the question was did she have the courage or the strength do to it?

 

 

She paused a moment, looking around trying to regain her sense of direction. It felt

like she had been running for hours. When she had started, the moon was just beginning to show, now she was seeing the sun rise over the horizon.

 

 

She looked down, trying not to stare at her blood-stained hands and clothes. Her

memory was a blur. She wasn't sure of what happened. All she knew was that she had to keep running.

 

 

She tried to breathe easily as Stavros led her away, but the task was impossible.

Stefan shifted on the floor uncomfortably. This wasn't right, he thought. He couldn't let Alexis do this alone. ''You aren't going anywhere with her,'' Stefan ordered. ''Let me come with you.'' Stavros just laughed as the door slammed behind Stefan.

 

 

Stefan punched a wall in anger. He was such a fool. Alexis was being led into the

lion's den with nothing more than some knife. ''God help you Alexis,'' he muttered with his eyes closed in an almost-prayer.

 

 

Alexis stopped a cross in the road. Which way? she thought. Truth be, she had no

idea where she was. She knew she wasn't in Greece and something told her she wasn't that far from Port Charles. She put her hand in her pocket, finding the newspaper clipping with Natalie and Jax, his blue eyes downcast and lifeless. ''I'm coming home,'' she whispered to the clipping, her blood stained finger prints on it. '

 

 

'What do you want from me Stavros?,'' Alexis asked as she looked around Stavros's

bedroom searching for someway out. ''I'm not a threat to you. Other than Nikolas and Stefan, I want nothing to do with Cassadines,'' her voice began to crack. ''I've built my own life with a husband and a child. Please just let us go.''

 

 

Stavros remained silent for a moment, then began to clap. ''That was a beautiful

performance little sister. But don't you get it, I never considered you a threat to the Cassadines. This isn't about you. This isn't about Stefan. This is about revenge.''

 

 

She began to run again, after finally have regained her breath. Her dirty matted hair

bounced against her face, sticking to the dried blood. She reached her hand to her face pulling the hair away. As she lowered her hand, she became exhausted and collapsed as she began to cry uncontrollably.

 

 

Stefan continued to pound on the door, demanding that someone open it. He was

about to give up when he heard the faint sounds of feet outside the door. ''Please, you must know that this is wrong,'' Stefan whispered just loud enough to be hear.''Let me out and I'll make it worth your while.''

 

 

The man on the other side of the door paused. He was beginning to rethink his

association with Stavros. The look on the young woman's face and the rumor that he planned on hurting the little baby, it was all too much. He opened the door, he knew he would be killed for treason, but it didn't matter.

 

 

Stefan looked akwardly at the man. Breaking into a run, he looked back at the man

and nodded. ''Thank you,'' he said.

 

 

Stefan stood outside the door to Stavros's room. Stavros was standing with his back

to Stefan, his face inches from Alexis. She could smell the alcohol on his breath.

 

 

''Revenge for what?'' Alexis asked, trying to bide her time. The time she needed to

gain the courage to do what she had to do.

 

 

''For what,'' Stavros shouted, grabbing Alexis's wrist. ''For destroying my life. For

brainwashing my son. For causing my wife to hate me,'' he slapped her face causing Alexis to stumble. Stefan could wait no more. He rushed in, hitting Stavros over the head with a vase shattering it.

 

 

''You,'' Stavros said, touching his head. ''Well it works out perfectly, you're the one I

really want to kill first. Perhaps I slit your throat,'' he grabbed Stefan, catching the younger brother off guard, bring a knife to his throat. ''What do you think Alexis. It'd be like deja vu all over again, no?''

 

 

Alexis sat stunned on the floor, unable to move partly from fright, partly from shock.

Stavros laughed at the expressing on her face. ''Couldn't save your mother, now you can't save your brother,'' he turned giving Alexis the opportunity she needed to take the knife from her back and pierce it into Stavros's back.

 

 

He turned slowly, still holding Stefan. Throwing Stefan to the floor, he lunged for

Alexis, stabbing her in the arm. Alexis screamed in pain as the knife drew blood.

 

 

'You'll pay for that,'' he sneered. He pinned Alexis to the ground, raising the knife

over his head. As he brought it down in dramatic fashion, Stefan pulled him off her and the two began to battle physically, each trying to gain the upper hand.

 

 

''Run Alexis,'' he screamed. ''I'll be following you in a while.''

 

Alexis shook her head.

'Go,'' he screamed urgently. ''For Natalie.''

 

 

Mentioning Natalie's name was all Alexis needed to get out of there. And so she

began to run.

 

 

Alexis stood outside the back of a building. Her arm was still bleeding and she was

pale fromt he loss of blood. She stumbled in. All the colors in the room began spinning as the music blared in her ears. Sonny and Luke sat at the bar, laughing about old memories of camping. The door slamming caught both of their attentions as they turned their heads to see who walked in.

 

 

''Alexis?'' Sonny said, causing all the patrons in the bar to turn their heads and

stared. He couldn't believe his eys. There she was. His eyes grew wide in fright as he noticed the blood everywhere. '

 

 

'Sonny,'' she whispered as her head began to waiver. She reached out as Sonny and

Luke ran over to her, catching her limp and tired body in their arms as she collapsed.

 

 

 

Chapter 10

 

Sonny sat next to Alexis, his hands folded and close to his face. His eyes were fixated on her, afraid that if he blinked she would disappear. In his mind he replayed the events of the last two hours. Alexis walking in, bloody and sick. Her collapsing in his arms. Luke screaming for someone to call 911. The ambulance coming, searching for her vitals, the flash of the lights as they drove out of sight.

 

 

Alan said she was in a shock-induced coma. Eventually she would come out of it,

but she was fatigued and dehydrated and the almost three months she had been gone had left her thin and pale. He called Carly who came over with Natalie and Michael.

 

 

Jax. He knew he had to call Jax, but the Aussie had a habit of making it difficult to

find him. Carly walked in slowly as if afraid to wake Alexis. Sonny held out his arms and Carly placed Natalie in them. He gently kissed the baby girl's head as she babbled a few non sensical words. '

 

 

'What are they saying?'' Carly asked. This was all shocking to her too. It felt like their

lives were finally beginning to return to normal and now..''What can I do?''

 

 

Sonny rubbed his hands together. ''Someone should call Nikolas I guess,'' he tried to

think. ''Can you hold on to Natalie for a little while longer, in case she wakes up,'' he said gesturing toward Alexis. ''I just don't know,''

 

 

Carly nodded and took Natalie from him. She automatically began to whimper and

then burst into tears. Carly sighed as Sonny didn't seem to take notice as she walked out of the room bouncing Natalie on her hip and a fatigued Michael at her side.

 

 

She walked outside and began dialing on her cell phone. The cold air began to bite

and she tried to shield Natalie, balance the phone and button Michael's coat. '

 

 

'Maybe I can help you?'' Carly turned to the voice. ''Lucien,'' she said in a mixture of

surprise and confusion. Something about the man didn't seem right. ''What are you doing here?''

 

 

Stavros smiled. ''Visiting a friend,'' he frowned. ''She was in an accident.''

 

Carly

nodded her head in sympathy. ''I'm so sorry.'' '

 

 

'How about you,'' Stavros asked. ''How about I hold onto this one,'' he gestured at

Natalie as he tickled her chin causing her to giggle.

 

 

Carly hesistated. She felt so uncomfortable with this man, but she needed some help

and this man or friend or whatever he was offered it. ''Umm,'' she began.

 

 

''I've got her.''

 

Carly turned yet again and Sonny was standing there, frowning. He took

Natalie from her arms. ''Let's go inside,'' the man was giving him the creeps and Sonny didn't frighten easily. '

 

 

'Sonny this is a friend of mine from Florida,'' Carly introduced. ''We went to school

together.'' Sonny nodded and put his arm at Carly's back. ''It's cold out here, it isn't good for you or the baby,'' he nodded toward her growing belly.

 

 

''It was nice seeing you again Carly,'' Stavros smiled as the door shut. He would get

to Alexis, one way or the other.

 

 

Sonny watched as Stavros walked away and Carly told Nikolas he should get to the

hospital. He was going to have that man checked out. It just didn't make sense.

 

 

''Have you talked to Jax?'' Carly asked as she hung up with Nikolas. ''I mean he's

going to be blown away,'' she smiled. They all deserved some happiness.

 

 

Sonny shook his head. ''I haven't had the chance, but I think it's going to take some

time.'' '

 

 

'I think you need to work faster on this one,'' Carly said knowingly. ''She's going to

need him and he loves her.''

 

 

The doors flew open as Nikolas came running in. ''What is going on?'' he was scared.

He hadn't heard from Stefan since Alexis's funeral. If something had happened to him...

 

 

Sonny gestured to Nikolas to follow him as Nikolas carried Natalie playing with his

niece who looked more and more like Alexis every day.

 

 

Nikolas walked in the room that Sonny had nodded toward. When he saw who was

in the bed he gasped. Alexis. ''Oh my god,'' he whispered. ''How?When? What?''

 

 

Alexis stirred causing everyone to run in. ''Stavros,'' she whispered.