Storybook Chapter 16-20

 

 

 

Chapter 16

 

Sonny didn't say anything, so Carly repeated what she just asked him, this time angrier.

 

"Well Sonny, tell me are you purposely trying to destroy this marriage," Carly was on the verge of tears now. "I can't keep leaving like this. With you sullen and moody, pushing me away. Do you not love me anymore?"

****

 

Jax and Alexis drove back in silence. She felt so empty. All the tears were gone, but the anger and fear was still left. She leaned her head back against the seat. She just wanted this to be over.

 

Jax parked the car and took Alexis's face in his large hands, "We're going to get through this Alexis. I promise you."

***

 

Sonny sighed and threw his head back. Why was she making this so hard.

 

"Carly you have no idea what you are talking about," Sonny said quietly. "There's a lot you don't know."

 

"You're right Sonny, I don't know," Carly retorted. "I don't know because you won't let me in. But I think I know what this is about. You're in love with Alexis."

****

 

Alexis nodded unsurely. She wanted to believe Jax could protect her. But she had her doubts. He hadn't even known she was alive. He left her for months with Stavros. She shook free of his hands, she didn't want to be having those thoughts. She didn't want to be angry at Jax, but part of her was.

 

"Let's go upstairs," she whispered, not trying to be seductive, but out of exhaustion.

***

 

"In love with Alexis?" Sonny repeated. "Carly, you're the one I'm married to. You're the one who I want to have a family with. You're the one who I share my bed with. What part of that indicates that I'm in love with Alexis?"

 

Carly remained unsure. "I certainly don't have your heart. Tell me Sonny, why didn't you call Jax?"

 

Sonny was frustrated now. He picked up a letter and slapped it down in front of Carly. "Because of this."

***

 

The elevator opened and Jax, Alexis and Natalie walked out. An akward silence stood between them, one that Jax felt would only grow worse, but he was determined not to let it seperate them.

 

Jax again tried to assuage Alexis's worries. "Alexis, I'm here for the long haul. You just have to let me in."

 

Alexis nodded wordlessly and opened the door to the penthouse and screamed.

****

 

"What's this?" Carly asked as she picked up the envelope. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It was a plain envelope with 'Sonny Corinthos' written on it.

 

"Open it," Sonny whispered, looking around the room.

 

Carly nodded and opened the envelope. It had already been opened, so she knew Sonny had already read it. Two pictures fell onto the floor. Carly bent down to pick them up as she read the letter. "The Spencer Cassadine war in far from over. Know that we can get to them anytime, anywhere."

 

Carly looked stunned as she looked up at Sonny and then at the pictures. Her face paled. The first was a picture of Michael at school, playing in the sandbox. The second of Natalie in her playpen in Sonny and her penthouse.

 

"Oh my god," Carly whispered as she stared at the pictures. "How?How?"

 

Sonny shook his head. "I don't know. I received this the day Alexis came back. I knew if Jax came back he'd want to take Alexis and Natalie out of town and that can't happen."

***

 

Jax pushed Alexis out of the way and ordered her to stay here. He stepped into the penthouse and his jaw dropped. The penthouse had been ransacked, things broken, couch cushions ripped apart.

 

Along with Johnny, Jax searched the penthouse but didn't find anyone. Alexis stood shaking outside when Jax came back to her. He reached out his hand and she put hers in his for comfort.

 

"It's okay," Jax said as he led her into the penthouse. Alexis found herself shaking even further as she walked in and saw the extend of the damage.

 

She picked up the cracked picture of her, Jax and Natalie. It fell to the floor from her excessive shaking and the glass shattered.

 

"We're getting you out of here," Jax said matter of factly. "You and Natalie. It's not safe here."

 

"You aren't going anywhere."

 

Jax and Alexis spun quickly to see Sonny and Carly standing there.

 

 

Chapter 17

 

Jax looked angrily at Sonny, his blue eyes flashing. "Who are you to tell me what to do Corinthos. It obviously isn't safe for Alexis to be here. I am taking Natalie and her out of here and you can't stop me."

 

Stavros sat in his hotel room, sipping on a glass of red wine. His phone rang and he flipped it open without any greeting.

 

"Was it taken care of?" he asked.

 

"Yes sir and let me tell you, you certainly managed to rattle her," the man replied.

 

"Excellent," Stavros smiled. "It's time to move on to the next step."

 

"Jax," Sonny said trying to remain calm. "Can I talk to you outside for a minute."

 

"No," Jax replied, refusing to leave Alexis's side.

 

"Carly," Sonny said, looking toward his wife. "Can you take Alexis over to our penthouse, get her some tea or something to calm her down? We'll be over in a few minutes."

 

Carly nodded and along with Natalie and Alexis walked wordlessly across the hall.

 

"Allright Corinthos, what's going on here?" Jax asked. "How bad is the situation."

 

Sonny thought for a moment and then decided not to spare the details. "It's bad," Sonny nodded showing Jax the letter he got.

 

Jax put his hands to his face. "We need to get them out of here," Jax said standing up and trying to assess the situation. "It obviously isn't safe to be here. I can take Carly and Alexis along with Michael and Natalie somwhere where whoever it is can't get to them."

 

Sonny shook his head. "I think they're better off here."

 

"Well I don't care what you think. Alexis and Natalie aren't staying."

***

 

Alexis sat down on the couch, placing Natalie on the floor as she crawled around the penthouse.

 

"Can I get you something Alexis?" Carly asked getting a glass of water.

 

"Do you have any sanity you can spare for me?" Alexis asked with a half-hearted laugh.

 

Carly smiled inspite of herself. "Me and sanity in the same sentence. You're talking about the woman who shot a man in court and tried to kill AJ."

 

Alexis shot a look a suprisal toward Carly. "I didn't know about that."

 

Carly nodded. "It was after mine and Sonny's baby died," she frowned as she remembered the low point in her life. "I brought a gun to the Nurses' Ball and almost killed him. If Sonny hadn't been there..." she shuddered to think.

 

"A mother will do anything to protect her child," Alexis said knowingly. "You had the courage to do whatever it takes to protect Michael."

 

Carly shook her head. "No, it was stupid thing. But Sonny's stabalized me and I wouldn't do anything like that again," she stopped as she remembered the picture of Michael that Sonny had shown her. "Well never say never actually."

***

 

Sonny shook his head. "Natalie is my daughter Jax and you aren't taking her anywhere."

 

"Well Alexis is my almost wife and I won't let her safety be compromised. She's going to go crazy here," Jax said growing frustrated.

 

"I don't see Alexis leaving without Natalie though," Sonny said, knowing he was right.

 

Jax nodded. "What are we going to do?"

***

 

Alexis decided to change the subject. "How have you been feeling?" Alexis said gesturing toward Carly's pregnancy.

 

Carly smiled. "I feel so fat and ugly," she laughed. "My cravings are driving Sonny crazy, but I just can't wait till the baby's born."

 

The noise of Michael and Natalie fighting over a toy filled the room. Carly started to get up when Alexis spoke.

 

"Just sit," she said. "I'll take care of it."

 

Carly nodded as she watched Alexis walk upstairs. She sighed and silently wondered if she should tell Alexis what Sonny had told her. However she didn't have time to think when Johnny stuck his head in the door.

 

"There's a man to see you Carly," he said. "Said he knows you."

 

"Who is it Johnny? Where's Sonny and Jax?"

 

"There in Ms. Davis's apartment," he said. "The man said his name is Lucien Cane."

 

Carly raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I guess let him in Johnny."

 

 

Chapter 18

 

"So what do we do next?" Sonny asked Jax. In his heart he knew Jax was right, it wasn't safe for Carly, Alexis or the kids to be here. Not until things were straightened out.

 

"We get them out of the country," Jax said, pacing the room. "Either your island or the island where Jerry's staying. He could watch out for them. All that matters is that we keep them safe."

 

Sonny nodded. "Agreed," he said. The two former enemies shook hands. Regardless of past grudges, they had a similar goal, to keep the women they loved safe.

****

 

Stavros Cassadine stood in the doorway. "Carly," he smiled as he kissed her hand.

 

Carly pulled back uncomfortably. "Mr. Cain, is there something I can help you with?"

 

Stavros grinned. "Lucien, please," he insisted. "As a matter of fact there is. I need to talk to your husband's lawyer," he paused for effect. "Alexis Davis is it?"

 

Carly put her hands on her hip. Something was definitely up. "What do you want with Alexis?"

***

 

Alexis stood atop the stairs, although unable to see Carly's guest, she could hear the unmistakable sound of Carly saying her name.

 

She picked up Natalie, who now that she had her toy back, was smiling, and held out her hand to Michael who was unhappy to be stuck playing with a baby, a girl baby for that matter. "Should we go downstairs and see who it is?" she whispered to the kids.

 

As she made her way around the corner, a strong pair of hands wrapped around her mouth and roughly pulled her back.

***

 

"I said what do you want with Alexis?" Carly asked suspiciously.

 

"We're old acquaintances from law school actually, wanted to catch up with her," Stavros tried to explain.

 

Carly's instincts told her to get Johnny. "Mr Cain, this isn't a good time," she said walking over to the door. "Johnny," she pleaded into the bodyguard's eyes. "Can you escort Mr. Cain out?"

 

Stavros's eyes narrowed and he scowled. "That isn't necessary," he brushed the hands of the bodyguard off. "I'll be in touch Carly."

 

Carly nodded to Johnny, silently instructing him to follow Lucien out. She shivered as the elevator door closed. She needed to talk to Sonny and Jax about this.

 

"Alexis," she yelled. "I'm going to talk to Jax and Sonny." When Alexis didn't respond, she shrugged and shut the door.

***

Alexis tried to scream when she heard the door about the close, but the grip around her mouth was tight and made it difficult to breathe.

 

"Don't scream," the intruder said. "Alexis, don't scream."

 

Alexis's eyes widened as she recognized the voice. She nodded and the hands were removed from the mouth. She whipped around to verify her suspicions.

 

"Stefan?" she half whispered and half screamed.

 

The intruder nodded and removed the ski mask. Alexis wrapped her arms around him and kissed him affectionately.

 

"Oh my god," she whispered, her arms tightly around his neck. "You're alive."

 

Stefan kissed her forehead and then nodded toward Michael who was huddled in a corner out of fright and toward Natalie who Alexis had sat on the floor, who looked on the verge of tears.

 

"Hey guys," she said, sitting next to Michael. "I'm sorry we scared you. We were.." she struggled to explain. "Playing a game."

 

Michael raised his eyes suspiciously and sniffled. "It didn't look very fun."

 

Alexis smiled. "No," she nodded. "It wasn't a fun game. You guys sit here for a while okay?"

 

Alexis turned to Stefan, as the two walked out of earshot of the confused kids.

 

"She's so beautiful," Stefan smiled, pointing at Natalie. "So much like her mother."

 

Alexis nodded proudly and hugged Stefan again. "What happened?" she asked. "Why didn't you follow me?"

 

Stefan bit his lip and paused. "We can talk about that later," he instructed. "We have a problem. Stavros is still alive."

****

 

Carly knocked gently on the door, but when no one answered, she walked in.

 

"Have you figured out what we're going to do?" Carly asked. "Because you boys better figure it out soon."

 

Jax and Sonny looked at Carly with confusion. "What's going on?" Jax asked. "And where's Alexis?"

 

"That's what I'm talking about,"Carly said frustratedly. "This man, Lucien Cain, he keeps insisting we went to school, but I swear I've never met him. He just showed up here, wanting to see Alexis."

 

Panic began to register with Jax as he thought of Alexis alone and vulnerable.

 

"I didn't feel right," Carly continued. "So I had Johnny escort him out."

 

That did little to ease Jax's fears as he raced across the hallway, Sonny and Carly close behind.

****

 

Alexis slumped back against the wall.

 

"I thought this nightmare was over," she said, looking over at Natalie and Michael playing on the floor.

 

"It's worse then you think," Stefan said, hesitating on telling her that he saw Stavros entering the building. "He's here."

 

Alexis stood in shock as Sonny and Jax ran up the stairs, shouting her name.

 

"Alexis?" Jax said, running to her when he saw the frightened expression on her face, not noticing Stefan. "What's going on?"

 

"I think we all need to sit down," Stefan said, stepping out of the shadows. "We have a serious problem."

 

 

Chapter 19

 

Stefan, Jax, Sonny, Alexis and Carly sat on the couch as they all filled each other in on the details of what was going on and what had to happen. None knew what the other wasn't saying.

 

Stefan failed to mention that Stavros had been the one talking to Carly. Jax, Sonny and Carly didn't say anything about the pictures of Michael and Natalie.

 

"So what do we do?" Alexis asked, speaking the first words since Jax had entered.

 

"We get you and Carly and the kids out of her," Sonny said. "It isn't safe for you here."

 

"Do you really think it's wise for them to be out of our sight?" Stefan asked, concerned as he watched both women grow pale.

 

Jax nodded. "I don't think we have a choice. I also think you should go with them," he pointed at Stefan.

 

Stefan shook his head. "You have no idea who you are up against with Stavros. You need me here."

 

"Fine," Jax agreed. "We need to move fast though. I'm getting a bad feeling."

 

All five nodded. "So you'll leave tomorrow," Sonny said. "You'll be staying in one of my islands. It's not developed. Nothing more than the beginnings of a hotel, but that's the point. The only one's that'll be there are you two, the kids and a few bodyguards. If you see anyone who isn't familiar, you tell Johnny," he instructed Carly and Alexis.

 

While the two women had been through more than most could have imagined, this scared them. There was so much at stake, so much to lose.

 

As Carly and Alexis left to pack, Stefan gestured for them to come closer.

 

"Stavros was here," he whispered. Jax and Sonny went pale.

 

"Here?" Sonny asked. "In the penthouse?"

 

"He gave Carly a fake name and he came in the penthouse. Alexis was about to go down the stairs when I grabbed her," he paused as Jax and Sonny rubbed their faces. "Carly had him leave, but he's getting closer."

 

"Why didn't you say something before?" Jax asked. He didn't trust Stefan, even if Alexis did.

 

"Alexis has been through enough," Stefan said seriously. "I think she's going to break if this isn't cleared up. And I didn't want to scare Carly."

 

"Let's get them out of here," Sonny said. "Then we'll figure out what we're going to do next."

 

The three men shook hands and parted for their loved ones. For Sonny and Jax, neither knew what the next few weeks would hold and all they wanted was to be with the woman they loved for tonight.

 

Jax walked slowly up behind Alexis as she read a story to Natalie. She looked so beautiful as she gently pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. He sighed, causing her to turn and smile at the sight of him as she continued to read. He had never been scared, but the thought of leaving her, scared him beyond belief.

 

She's got a way about her

I don't know what it is

But I know that I can't live without her

She's got a way of pleasin'

I don't know what it is

But there doesn't have to be a reason anyway

 

"Where's Michael?" Sonny asked as he wrapped his arms around Carly's growing body. He kissed the back of her neck causing her to shiver.

 

"Sleeping," she smiled. "I told him we were going on a trip and he's so excited."

 

Sonny nodded. "I love you so much. You know that don't you?" he looked at her with concern. She had to know how much he loved her.

 

Carly nodded. "I know."

 

She turned and Sonny kissed her, gently lying her down on the bed, afraid to hurting their unborn baby.

 

"I will do anything to protect you," Sonny searched her eyes for her understanding.

 

"I know," Carly insisted. "All I want is you right now."

 

She's got a smile that heals me

I don't know why it is

But I have to laugh when she reveals me

She's got a way of talkin'

I don't know why it is

But it lifts me up when we are walkin' anywhere

 

Jax walked behind Alexis and kissed her. Natalie yawned as Jax picked her up and placed her in the crib. Alexis stood over her crib gently tucking her in.

 

"I'm scared Jax," Alexis whispered.

 

Jax hugged her tightly and then picked her up. "As long as I live, I won't let them hurt you again Alexis."

 

Alexis closed her eys. Whenever she felt Jax's touch, she felt so safe. "There's one thing I want to do before we leave." Jax looked at her puzzledly. "Two things anyway."

 

"What?" Jax asked.

 

"Well the second thing is that I want to make love as husband and wife."

 

"Husband and wife?" Jax repeated.

 

"That's my first request. Get married tonight," Alexis looked deep into Jax's eyes, never feeling so certain in her life.

 

"Give me fifteen minutes," Jax ordered.

 

She comes to me when I'm feelin' down

Inspires me without a sound

She touches me and I get turned around

 

Sonny and Carly lay in bed, their arms wrapped around each other amid a tangle of sheets.

 

"Promise me you won't take any stupid chances?" Carly begged him as she thought of him going after Stavros.

 

Sonny turned, looking into the eyes of his pregnant wife. "There is no such thing as a stupid chance when it comes to my family."

 

Carly put his hand in hers. "Michael and this baby need a father. Natalie too."

 

"I know," Sonny said, staring at the ceiling and then pulling Carly against his chest. "We've made so many mistakes in our lives, but we got it right when it came to us."

 

He kissed her again as the two pulled the sheets over each other.

 

She's got a way of showin'

How I make her feel

And I find the strength to keep on goin'

She's got a light around her

And everywhere she goes

A million dreams of love surround her everywhere

 

Alexis walked down the stairs slowly. Jax turned. Candles were everywhere, making the room aglow, although the smiles on both of their faces would have been enough to light the room.

 

The minister stood in front of them as the two joined hands and repeated his words, the love in both of their eyes assuaging any doubts that this was a stupid idea.

 

"I pronounce you husband and wife," the minister smiled as Mr. and Mrs. Jax kissed each other passionately. "I'll see myself out," he laughed as neither broke from the kiss.

 

She's got a smile that heals me

Oh I don't know why it is

But I have to laugh when she reveals me

She's got a way about her

I don't know what it is

But I know that I can't live without her anyway

 

Jax and Alexis and Sonny and Carly lay in their respective beds. Whatever tomorrow would bring didn't matter. All that mattered was tonight.

 

Song Credit goes to Billy Joel