Storybook Chapter 11-15

 

Chapter 11

 

Nikolas rushed to Alexis's side as she weerily began to open her eyes. ''Stavros,'' she repeated, her voice barely a whisper.

 

 

''Stavros?'' Nikolas repeated in confusion. ''What about Stavros? Alexis, what

happened?''

 

 

Alexis closed her eyes again. Her head was pounding and she felt trapped. More

trapped than when she was locked in the room. ''I can't remember,'' she shook her head.

 

 

Sonny stepped by her protectively. ''It's okay Alexis,'' he took her hand and rubbed it

gently. ''You don't have to remember anything right now.''

 

 

Frowning, Nikolas looked on in confusion. Why would Alexis mention Stavros? And

where was Stefan? Sonny was right though, the questions could wait. '

 

 

'Natalie,'' Nikolas suddenly thought.

 

Sonny looked at Nikolas with disapproval. He

wasn't sure this was the time to be bringing Natalie in. Alexis had just woken up afterall. ''I don't...'' He was about to tell Nikolas to wait when he noticed how Alexis's entire face brightened at the sound of her daughter's name. He nodded and Nikolas walked out and then returned a moment later with Natalie who's head rested weerily on Nikolas's shoulder.

 

 

Alexis felt the tears well up in her eyes as she saw how big Natalie had become in

her absence. She had missed so much. Her arms outstretched, Alexis reached out as Nikolas gently placed Natalie into her mother's arms.

 

 

''My baby,'' Alexis whispered. Natalie stirred slightly, opening her eyes only to shut

them once more. ''Oh god,'' her voice, barely audible, cracked.

 

 

Sonny put his hand on Alexis's back and began

to rub it gently as Alexis held on tight to Natlie. The three sat there quietly, barely moving for over an hour before Alexis spoke.

 

 

''Sonny, where's Jax?''

 

Sonny bit his lip, uncomfortably. He touched Natlie's cheek,

feeling her baby soft skin while he avoided Alexis's pleading eyes. ''I don't know. I haven't seen him since you...''

 

 

Alexis nodded knowingly. ''But Sonny you can find anyone, find Jax.''

 

Sonny shifted

in his chair, standing up abruptly. ''It's not that simple.''

 

 

Alexis shook her head in disagreement. ''It is that simple Sonny. He thinks I'm dead

and I'm not.''

 

 

''I know,'' Sonny whispered quietly.

 

****

Three days passed since Alexis started in the

hospital. While she slowly was regaining her strength, she had nightmares each night where Stavros was standing over her bed, telling her that she couldn't escape him.

 

 

In the mornings when the nurse or the doctor or Sonny or Nikolas would find her in a

cold sweat from the dream, her fright was so bad she couldn't even repeat the dream. Sonny was concerned that she didn't remember what had happened to her for three months, but Tony insisted that eventually she would.

 

 

Sonny stood outside the door of Alexis's hospital room, watching as she turned

restleslly.

 

 

''When's Jax going to be back?'' a voice asked. Sonny turned as Carly placed her

hands on his shoulder.

 

 

When Sonny didn't reply, Carly whipped him around. ''You have told him haven't

you? Sonny please tell me you've told him.'' '

 

 

'I can't find him,'' Sonny stated simply.

 

''Sonny that's the biggest bunch of b.s. I've

heard,'' Carly began to grow angry. ''You could find someone if you wanted. Why are you so hesitatnt to find him?''

 

 

Sonny didn't have time to respond before Alexis screamed causing him to rush in

and gently wake her.

 

 

She was sweating and her heart was racing. She was scared, but didn't know why.

 

Sonny patted her hand as she tried to recover he breath. Carly walked in tentatively.

''You okay?'' she asked nervously. Alexis shook her head. ''Yea I guess.'' It was the

first time the two women had talked since before Alexis's 'death.' ''Carly I wanted to thank you for taking care of Natalie..I appreciate it,'' she stuttered, her eyes looking around the room. ''Looks like I've missed a few things while I was dead,'' she remarked bitterly notcing Carly's pregnancy.'

 

 

Carly nodded and tried to smile reassuringly.

 

''Any luck on finding Jax,'' Alexis asked

as a nervous silence filled the room. Sonny didn't respond, but she notcied carly shooting a dirty look at him. ''What?'' she asked, growing suspicious.

 

 

Nikolas knocked at the door, nervous about interrupting a moment between the three

of them. ''Alexis I need to talk to you,'' he began, ignoring Sonny's disapporving glare.

 

 

''Of course Nikolas,'' Alexis tried to smile to reassure everyone that she was doing

better even though she felt she was going to break any minute.

 

 

Carly knew they needed some time alone, so she grabbed Sonny by the arm to drag

him out. ''What do you need Nikolas?'' Alexis asked.

 

 

''Stefan. Do you know where he is Alexis?'' Nikolas asked.

 

Time seemed to freeze as

a flood of emotions began to overwhelm Alexis. Suddently images began to flash before her eyes. She looked down at her hands and saw them covered in blood. She screamed as the image of Stavros holding a knife on Stefan. She screamed again.

 

 

Nikolas rushed out the door, yelling for Sonny and a nurse as Alexis began to shake.

 

''Alexis,'' Sonny said as he grabbed her by her arms. ''What's wrong?'' '

 

'Stavros,''

she whisperd as her eyes stared into Sonny's. ''He's alive and he was going to kill Stefan.''

 

 

 

 

Chapter 12

 

''Stavros's alive?'' Nikolas whispered, sitting down on Alexis's bed. ''My father's alive?''

 

 

Alexis watched Nikolas's reaction. As he sat down on her bed, she couldn't help

but notice how he seemed to shrink to the size of a child.

 

 

The memories flashed before her eyes as she struggled to remember what

happened. Sonny and Carly stood in the room confused. Sure they had heard the horrible stories about Stavros and Mikkos Cassadine, but they were dead. '

 

 

'Alexis,'' Sonny began gently. ''Are you sure these aren't just dreams of your

chldhood.'' He could sympathize. He knew what it was like to feel like you had never escaped your childhood.

 

 

''No,'' Alexis said, trying to get out of bed. She needed to move around. She need to

get out of here is what she needed. ''I was walking to the store when I saw a car and then....I woke up and Stavros was there and then Stefan came later.''

 

 

''Where's Stefan?'' Nikolas asked urgently. ''Please Alexis,'' he said, almost begging.

''You need to remember.'' '

 

 

'He saved me,'' Alexis began, almost in a trance. she began pacing the room. ''Again,

he saved me to sacrifice himself.'' '

 

 

'Is he dead?'' Nikolas asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

 

Alexis closed her

eyes tightly. She was running, she remembered this, but something was different. She could hear footsteps behind her.

 

 

'I'm being chased,'' she whispered. But wait. She turned around. '

 

'Stefan, you have

to hurry,'' she struggled to breathe and talk at the same time. She didn't know what to do, he was bleeding badly and looked so pale. ''

 

 

He's gone Alexis, I killed him. It's going to be okay,'' Stefan gasped as he pushed on

the shirt that was being used as a bandage on his bleeding arm.

 

 

The memories stopped almost as soon as they had come. ''He was alive,'' she said.

''But I don't remember.''

 

 

Nikolas kissed his aunt's cheek. ''It's okay, as long as you remember escaping with

him...he must be alive. I'm going to find him.''

 

 

Alexis grabbed onto Nikolas's arm. ''You can't go by yourself Nikolas, that would be

foolish.'' '

 

 

'I need to find Stefan,'' Nikolas said with such urgency. ''I need to tell him how much I

love him.''

 

 

She nodded. ''Be carefull Nikolas. Natalie needs her cousin to look out for her.''

 

**********

 

 

Three Days Later

 

Jax stood outside Sonny and Carly's penthouse. Jerry was right.

He needed to be back here, so packing quickly saying goodbye only to his family and ignoring messages left by Carly and Bobbie on his cell phone that he needed to call them, he left.

 

 

He pounded louder on the door, all the while looking longingly over to the door that

led to the life he shared with Alexis and Natalie.

 

 

He sighed. No one was there. He would be back, as he turned around, he could hear

the door to the elevator open and the sounds of Carly and Sonny laughing. He stopped as they turned the corner, Carly holding onto Natalie, Sonny to..Alexis?

 

 

His jaw dropped as Alexis raised her head. Sonny and Carly stopped lauging and

began looking back and forth from Alexis to Jax.

 

 

''Alexis?'' Jax whispered, breaking what seemed to be an hour of silence. He didn't

believe it. Alexis alive?

 

 

She looked so different. Tired and thin, but he looking into her eyes, he could see

that this really was Alexis.

 

 

They walked slowly toward eachother before Jax scooped her up as she wrapped her

arms tightly around Jax's neck. '

 

 

'Don't ever let me go,'' she cried into his chest as he held onto her so tightly she felt

he would crush her.

 

 

''That's a promise,'' he said, breathing her scent in. ''That's a promise.''

 

 

 

Chapter 13

 

Jax continued to hold Alexis, placing his large hands on her delicate face. He was scared to close his eyes for fear that it would all end up a dream.

 

 

Sonny and Carly stood by, unsure of what to do. Carly smiled, hopefully things

would return to normal now. Sonny could focus on his family with her. She wasn't trying to be selfish, it was just that after raising Natalie for three months and taking care of Michael and being pregnant...she was relishing the idea of it being just her and Sonny and Michael and the new baby.

 

 

Jax reluctantly put Alexis down, but held on tightly to her hand. He kissed Carly on

the cheek while shooting an angry look at Sonny.

 

 

''Carly, you look beautiful,'' he looked over at Natalie. ''Let me take her from you.''

With one hand on Alexis's waist, he held on to Natalie who giggled when Jax kissed her.

 

 

Sonny took his tongue and licked his lips. As he looked at Jax next to Alexis,

Natalie in his arm he had an uneasy feeling. He wouldn't lose Natalie to Jax. He was Natalie's father.

 

 

''Let me help you get settled in,'' Sonny said, shifting his weight and attempting to

take the bag that was sitting on the floor.

 

 

Carly placed her hand gently on his. Sonny looked up to stare into Carly's

determined eyes. ''Sonny, I think they've got it.'' Sonny nodded his head, walked over to Alexis and kissed her and Natalie, giving a quick glance over to Jax.

 

 

'I'm glad you're back where you belong Lex,'' Sonny smiled. ''I'm going to make sure

you're homecoming is special.''

 

 

Sonny and Carly walked into their penthouse, leaving Jax and Alexis in the hallway.

Jax frowned for a moment after Sonny left, but decided to put his ill feelings for him away for a moment. He had everything he needed right now.

 

 

'Let's go inside,'' he whispered as Alexis put her head on his chest sleepily.

 

The

penthouse was exactly how they both remembered it. Physically that is. But months of being closed up left it smelling musty and empty. Alexis shivered as she stood there. '

 

 

'You okay?'' Jax asked with concern. ''I mean..god that was a stupid question. Can I

get you some food, something to drink?''

 

 

Alexis closed her eyes as she held onto Natalie tightly. ''Jax I'm fine. I don't need

anything to eat or drink. I've got everything I need right here.''

 

 

Jax and Alexis leaned into each other, kissing gently at first and then growing more

passionate as if trying to make up for time lost.

 

 

''I love you so much,'' they both murmured.

 

Carly stood in the entrance to the

penthouse, gently rubbing her belly as Sonny walked over to make himself something to drink.

 

 

''Jax is going to kill you when he finds out you never called him,'' Carly began, her

eyebrows raised. ''And Alexis isn't going to be too pleased either.''

 

 

Sonny remained silent,causing Carly to grow frustrated.

 

''What is wrong with you?''

Carly asked angrily. ''Everything's going to be perfect now.'' '

 

 

'Is it really Carly?'' Sonny said, pounding his fist on the table.

 

Carly was taken aback

and moved slowly toward him, stuggling to put her arms around him. '

 

 

'It is Sonny,'' Carly whispered. ''Allow yourself to be happy. Alexis and Jax are

together and happily. We have our family to focus on now.''

 

 

''I know,'' Sonny sighed. ''I know.''

 

Alexis pulled away from Jax, touching her lips

which felt like they were on fire.

 

 

''Jax, please,'' she pleaded. ''This is all so overwhelming and..'' she paused as Jax

nodded his head.

 

 

''It's okay Alexis,'' Jax stroked Alexis's hair. ''All I want to do right now is hold you and

pretend nothing has happened.'' '

 

 

'It has though Jax,'' Alexis said, growing uncomfortable. ''We have a lot to talk

about..'' Jax shook his head in disagreement. ''Not tonight Alexis, we can talk tomorrow. Tonight let's just hold on to each other.''

 

 

Alexis nodded and squealed in delight as Jax scooped up her and Natalie in one

swoop and placed them gently on the bed. For Jax, it didn't matter what had happened, he just wanted to focus on their future together. He fell asleep the easiest he had in months.

 

 

Alexis sat up in bed, her head to full to fall asleep. She watched Natalie's tiny chest

rise and fall and smiled as Jax let out a little snore. She had everything, but she was scared. It wasn't over yet and that terrified her.

 

 

 

Chapter 14

 

The morning came all too quickly for Jax's taste. Seeing the daylight meant having to deal with the real world instead of focusing on what really mattered.

 

 

Jax smiled as he saw Natalie, who's big eyes were shining as she lay close to her

mother. He felt so content seeing all the things that mattered in his life laying in this bed.

 

 

He frowned as he saw Alexis become restless in her sleep. He leaned over and

kissed her gently on her forehead, pulling back when Alexis just about jumped out of the bed.

 

 

Alexis scanned the room, trying to gain a sense of where she was. She let out a

deep breath when she realized where she was.

 

 

Jax drew her close to him as he slowly stroked her hair. ''Are you okay?'' he asked

in concern.

 

 

She didn't have time to respond when there was a knock at the door. ''Ignore it,'' Jax

ordered. ''No phones or doors today.''

 

 

Alexis smiled. ''Jax, we can't ignore the world.'' Although she became awfully

tempted as Jax began kissing her on the neck, his kisses sending shockwaves down her body.

 

 

The knocking continued however as both Jax and Alexis groaned in frustration.

''Come on,'' Jax said grabbing her hand. ''I don't want to leave you out of my sight for a moment.''

 

 

Alexis laughed as they raced to the door, Jax playing airplane with Natalie who was

squeeling with delight.

 

 

Carly stood at the door, feeling uncomfortable for interrupting them after they just got

back.

 

 

''Alexis, I was wondering if I could talk to you,'' Carly said biting her lip. ''Mother to

mother about something.''

 

 

Alexis nodded slowly and looked at Jax, silently telling him to go upstairs. Jax shook

his head and refused to go until Alexis gave him a look that said she meant business.

 

 

Jax nodded. ''I'll be upstairs with Natalie.''

 

Carly walked around the room, staring out

the window as Alexis sat on the couch, trying to figure out what this was about. '

 

 

'Carly,'' Alexis began, tired of the silence. ''What's up?'' '

 

'It's about Natalie,'' Carly began. ''I need a straight answer, are you going to take her away from Sonny?''

 

 

Alexis sat their shocked. ''Carly,'' she stuttered somewhat. ''Where is this coming

from?''

 

 

Carly sighed. ''Since you've come back Sonny has been extremely tense,'' she

closed her eyes. ''I think he's scared that you and Jax are going to replace him and take him out of Natalie's life and I don't want to see him happen.''

 

 

''I don't understand,'' Alexis said confused. ''Did Sonny tell you this?''

 

''No,'' Carly said,

and then continued without thinking. ''I'm assuming this based on the fact that he never called Jax..'' she stopped when Alexis shot out of the couch. '

 

 

'He never told Jax that I was alive?'' Alexis asked in disbelief. ''Why? Why? He told

me he was trying..why?'' the words failed to form. '

 

 

'I don't know Alexis,'' Carly said, realizing she had overstepped her bound. ''Maybe he did call Jax, I mean he's back isn't he and that's what is important?'' she stood up. ''I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. I just worry. About all of us. It's been a rough few years.''

 

 

Alexis shook her head in disbelief. Why would Sonny not call Jax? She didn't

understand it, but she was going to find out.

 

 

''I need to go talk to Sonny,'' Alexis said vaguely walking out the door.

 

''He's not

there,'' Carly said growing anxious. ''He's at the warehouse. Alexis, can't we just drop this?''

 

 

Alexis didn't say anything. She got in the elevator to go and see Sonny. As she

opened the door she barely noticed the man in the large overcoat with the hat standing in front of the building.

 

 

He needed to get to her. Lives depended on it. She needed to know what he did.

 

 

 

Chapter 15

 

Alexis pushed her way past Johnny into Sonny's office, slamming the door closed as she entered, which more than caught his attention.

 

"What's wrong Alexis," Sonny asked with concern. "Is something wrong with Natalie."

 

"Natalie's fine," Alexis said slowly, trying to find an ounce of patience with this man. "This is about me and Jax."

*****

 

Carly stood in Alexis's penthouse, trying to figure out what to do next. Jax walked slowly down the stairs, carrying Natalie as he looked around the room in confusion.

 

"Where's Alexis?" Jax asked with a mix of anxiousness and fear. He hated her being out of his sight now, even if for a minute.

 

Carly sighed. "She went to the warehouse to see Sonny?"

*****

 

Sonny stood up, standing inches from Alexis. "What about you and Jax?" he asked with a hint of irritation.

 

"You didn't call him," she said angrily. Noticing the confusion on Sonny's face, she continued. "When you found out that I was alive, why didn't you call Jax?"

 

"Because I love you Alexis."

******

 

"She went to Sonny's?" Jax said, biting the inside of his cheek. "Why...why..why would she do that?" he asked trying to hide the anger that was rising his his voice.

 

Carly struggled to find an explanation. She really didn't feel like digging herself an even bigger hole. "I think...I think we should just get down there."

 

Jax nodded. There was a lot of explaining that needed to be done.

******

 

"You what?" Alexis asked in a mixture of a shout in anger and astonishment.

 

"I loved you," Sonny stuttered, shaking his head in frustration. "I mean that we were friends and briefly we were lovers and during that brief time we created a beautiful daugher."

 

Alexis nodded trying to understand what he was trying to say.

 

"Look," Sonny began."I wanted to wait until you were strong before I called Jax. I worried that if you didn't make it...I didn't think that Jax could take it. I suppose it was you that told her," he said looking angrily at Carly who was standing behind Alexis.

 

Alexis turned around to see Carly who looked upset. "Don't you dare shift the blame onto Carly about this." Alexis shouted to the surprise of everyone in the room.

 

"Let's discuss this another time," Sonny said softly gesturing toward Natalie who was beginning to wimper.

 

"Maybe that's for the best," Alexis said, turning her back on Sonny and then talking to Carly. "I'm glad you told me Carly, don't let him try to tell you you were wrong."

 

Carly nodded and if she was shocked before, she was amazed as Alexis akwardly hugged her. "I appreciate you being honest with me."

 

Carly and Sonny watched as Alexis and Jax left. They remained silent for another moment.

 

"So Carly," Sonny began slowly. "Got a question for you. Are you hellbent on destroying our marriage."

 

Carly refused to back down,"Maybe I should ask you the same thing."

*****

 

Jax buckled Natalie in as he and Alexis got into the car.

 

Jax rubbed his face as he started the car. "Alexis what were you doing? You shouldn't have left without me."

 

"Jax you have to stop this," Alexis said growing frustrated. "I'm feeling smothered."

 

He turned in surprise at her. He hadn't heard such hostility in a long time.

 

"Alexis what's wrong?" Jax asked, tilting his head in sympathy.

 

She paused a moment, closing her eyes. "What's wrong Jax? What isn't wrong?" she squeezed her eyes, but the the tears couldn't be avoided.

 

Jax pulled over to the side of the road and held Alexis as she cried into his shirt. He closed his eyes trying to think. They would get through this, wouldn't they?