| Little Faith (sequel to New Challenges) Sonny sat in his seat, shocked and numb, as the Judge explained his decision. He knew he had failed Carly once again. He took a deep breath, looking over at Bobbie and her lawyers. He couldn't believe that Carly's mother wouldn't honor her daughter’s dying wishes. He felt Alexis squeeze his hand gently under the table and he quickly switched his focus to her gentle touch and loving eyes, as the Judge continued to speak. ''The child’s safety is this court’s main concern. I feel that both Mr. Corinthos and Ms. Jones love this child very strongly. He’s a very lucky little boy to have such love in his life. But I feel that Ms. Jones is capable of providing a safer environment for the child. That is why, I'm granting full custody of Michael Morgan Quartermaine to his grandmother, Ms. Jones. Mr. Corinthos is granted visitation rights to be worked out by both parties. The child is to be placed in Ms. Jones’s custody immediately. That was that. Sonny was too heartbroken to argue or speak. ''We’ll appeal,'' Alexis assured him, packing up her briefcase. Sonny stood and walked away, without saying a word. ''Sonny!'' Alexis called but he disappeared into the crowd. Alexis saw Edward and Ned congratulating Bobbie. Her eyes locked briefly with Ned’s. She was so disappointed in him and in herself. They had shared something so special once, or at least Alexis had thought they had. But looking at his smug face now, she wondered if she ever really knew him at all. She walked out of the court room with her held high. She knew that Sonny needed to be alone and he was hurting badly. Michael was all he had left of Carly. * * * * * A few hours later... Alexis lay on the couch, her lower back aching. Two more weeks until her due date. She couldn't wait! As terrifying as the thought of becoming a mother was to her, Sonny’s love had given her faith. She stretched and slid off her glasses, pushing away the fears, that she struggled with daily, if she was good enough to be a mother and a wife or if she wasn’t worthy of those blessings. She looked back down at Michael’s custody paperwork. She was hoping to find something that would help with the appeal. Alexis looked up as he entered their home. ''Hi,'' she greeted, as he slowly approached the couch. ''Has Bobbie taken him?'' Sonny asked. Deep down he knew that Michael was gone. His life would never be the same again. ''I'm sorry Sonny.'' ''Are you, Alexis? Are you really sorry?'' Sonny questioned bitterly. Alexis was stunned by the questions and his tone of voice. Tears welled in her eyes. How could Sonny doubt her and what she felt for him and for Michael. ''Of course I am!'' ''Aren't you just a little bit relieved that Carly's son is gone,'' Sonny accused. He didn't know why he was taking his rage out on her. It truly was unwarranted but he couldn't help himself. The words were falling from his lips before he could stop them. The color drained from her face and a wounded sob escaped her throat. Her hand flew to her mouth, shocked that she had made such a sound and she could no longer hold back the tears. ''I never, ever wanted you to lose Michael. I can't believe you would say such a thing to me, much less think or believe it to be true. You know me, Sonny, or at least I thought you did!'' Her voice had never sounded to so hurt and disappointed. Sonny closed his eyes and sighed but continued his attack. ''You have never been comfortable with Michael. I wanted us to get married before the trial so that we would have a better chance at custody but you said the judge would see it as a tactic. I trusted you.'' Every accusing word was breaking her heart, she could feel her chest tightening. ''I thought you loved me?'' Alexis whispered, shaking her head. ''I do love you and I know what a great attorney you are. I’ve seen you at your best Alexis and you didn't deliver on Michael's case.'' ''You bastard!'' Alexis yelled, suddenly more angry than hurt. ''How dare you! I worked hard on Michael’s case because I love you and I knew how much keeping him meant to you. In fact, I neglected several other cases to work on this one,'' Alexis defended. She prided herself on being a great attorney and she give 100 % to every one of her clients and their cases. Sonny, of all people, knew that. She didn't like being his emotional punching bag and she wasn’t going to let him take his frustrations out on her. She loved him but this wasn’t her fault and she was not going to take the blame for it. She felt a new batch of tears fill her eyes. ''I won't let you take your guilt on me, Sonny. This is about Carly and your guilt about her death. Michael was you way of making things right! Wasn't it?'' ''No! This is about the fact that my son is gone, period,'' Sonny yelled. ''I did everything I could Sonny,'' Alexis cried. Sonny turned his back to her, not agreeing or disagreeing with her. Alexis swallowed down another sob before reaching for her keys and purse. She paused at the door looking back at him, praying that he would stop her. But he didn't. Sonny closed his eyes, feeling her painful stare on his back. A tear fell from his eye when he heard the door slam. * * * * * Alexis drove for hours not really knowing where she was going. She didn't know what had brought her here but something she couldn't explain was drawing her there. ''Damn!'' Alexis cursed as a heavy rain started to fall. Thirty minutes later... She walked into the cabin. Once she had changed out of her wet clothes, she stood in the front of the mirror looking at her reflection, as Sonny’s hateful words echoed in her mind. Fear and doubt swept through her. Had Sonny been right? Had she really done all she could to help him hold on to Carly's son? She shook her head, chasing those thoughts away. ''You did everything you could!'' But in her heart she wasn't sure if she had. She and Sonny could have gotten married and it would have helped his case. But she had panicked. The thought of being Mrs. Sonny Corinthos was too overwhelming and she had talked him out of it. Alexis jumped when the a loud clap of thunder roared outside. The baby kicked in response. ''Ow! It’s just thunder, baby,'' Alexis soothed, running her hand over her stomach and taking a steadying breath to calm herself. She hated thunder storms. She always had, ever since she was a child. She closed her eyes to keep away the memories that the lighting and thunder always brought. * * * * * ''What the hell do you mean, you don't know where she is?'' Sonny yelled at his men. Alexis left without her guard. Francis had followed her but she had managed to lose him. ''Alexis is God knows where without any protection!'' Sonny realized, heading for the door. ''Where was last time you saw her car? Which direction was it heading?'' ''Heading east out of Port Charles,'' Francis admitted, his eyes not able to meet his boss’s. ''Damn!'' Sonny cursed, knowing where she was headed and not liking it one bit. * * * * * ''Stay here until Mommy comes back. Don't make a sound Natasha,'' her mother pleaded, closing the closet door. Seven year old Natasha sat in a corner, tears streaming down her face when she heard her mother and another women talking. ''Where is the bastard child you and my husband made?'' ''You will never find her!'' Kristen vowed. ''Oh yes I will. And when I do, I’m going to kill her!'' ''NO!'' Kristen screamed. The child’s eyes widened as the woman approached the closet. ''What's in here?'' ''Nothing. Stay away from there!'' Kristen yelled stepping in front of the door. ''I will never let you harm my child.'' ''Very well then. You will die in her place.'' The new memory of her mother and what had happened ended as sharp pain ripped through Alexis’s body. ''Ow!'' she cried, doubling over in pain. ''Oh no! Please, this can't be happening now!'' Alexis screamed. She made her way to the bed and reached for the phone. It was dead. The storm must have knocked out the lines. ''Ouch!'' she cried, as she frantically searched her purse for her cell phone. It wasn't working either. Alexis screamed again as she felt a gush of water escape her body. ''Oh God no.'' Alexis moaned. She laid on the bed, all alone in the cabin, the thunder and lightening crashing around her. She had never felt so isolated in her life and she wanted more than anything for Sonny to find her, to help her with the baby. ''Sonny.'' * * * * * Sonny knew in his heart that she needed him. He could feel her hurting and he was determined to find her as soon as possible. He turned on to the road that led to the cabin but only made it a few yard when lightening struck a tree and it fell in his path. ''Dammit it!'' he yelled slamming on the brakes. * * * * * Alexis’s contractions were coming faster and harder. ''Oh God, please help me!'' Alexis pleaded, feeling an overwhelming need to push. She couldn't believe that she was in labor alone. Sonny hated her, not that she blamed him, she did have a way of ruining things. She knew that it was only a matter of time before her and Sonny’s life came crashing down. ''Ow!'' she screamed. Sonny opened the cabin door and he heard her screams. ''Alexis!'' She heard his voice but she thought she was just imaging it. She needed and wanted him to be there so desperately. ''Alexis, where are you?'' Sonny yelled climbing the stairs that led to the bedroom. ''Sonny?'' Alexis cried as he appeared in the doorway suddenly. ''Thank God,'' Sonny sighed, not realizing that she was in labor. ''Ouch! Sonny please help me!'' Alexis tensed as another contraction hit her. ''The baby is coming! Now!'' Alexis breathing started to speed up as she started to panic. ''Okay, just stay calm,'' Sonny said in a soft gentle voice. He was just as panicked as she was but he couldn’t let her see that. He needed to stay in control of his emotions, for her sake. He wasn't sure if he could do this or not but he didn’t have much of a choice. ''Just stay calm and remember the breathing technique we learned,'' Sonny said, heading for the bathroom, to get some towels. ''Stay calm? Sonny I'm having a baby in the middle of nowhere. This isn't supposed to be happening,'' Alexis cried, but she was breathing and her near panic attack had subsided. ''I need to push.'' ''Okay, when I tell you to push, push. Okay?'' ''Okay.'' ''Push!'' Alexis raised up and pushed as hard as she could. ''Oww!'' ''Okay, you’re doing good baby!'' Sonny said. ''I can see the head! Push again!'' ''Oww! God!'' Alexis screamed, pushing harder this time. ''I have her. It's a girl. We have a daughter!'' Sonny said, as the baby started to cry. ''Give her to me!'' Alexis requested, needing to hold her baby. Sonny placed their daughter in her arms, his love for them both, overwhelming his heart. ''She's beautiful,'' Alexis praised, looking down at the little miracle they created. ''She takes after her mother,'' Sonny said, touching Alexis’s chin. They met each other’s gaze and held it, their love for each other shining bright in their eyes. ''I'm sorry about what I said,'' Sonny said, realizing that he could have lost Alexis and his baby tonight and it would have been his fault. ''I love you. And I'm sorry too.'' ''Sh, baby, you have nothing to be sorry for,'' Sonny said, pulling her to him. ''Yes I do. The thought of marrying you terrifies me and I let that fear keep me from doing the right thing. You would have had a better case if we were married Sonny,'' Alexis admitted, looking down at her daughter’s face. ''Why are you so afraid?'' Sonny asked, stroking her hair. ''Because I don't deserve you or this precious little girl.'' ''Of course you do!'' Sonny said, understanding Alexis fears. They were the same fears he dealt with on a daily basis. ''We deserve to be happy Alexis. It's taken me a long time to realize that but I'm not afraid of being loved or returning it. She’s our proof,'' Sonny said, looking at his baby girl. ''She is our Faith in love and in each other.'' ''Faith,'' Alexis affirmed. ''Hmm?'' Sonny asked, confused. ''Faith Adela Corinthos?'' Alexis questioned. Sonny smiled, agreeing on the name. ''Faith is the perfect name for her.'' And that is exactly what she had brought into their lives. Alexis leaned in and kissed Sonny and he returned the kiss. They both were filled with faith for the future. As long as they were together and a family, they had all they would ever need. The End! |
| Please send any comments to: Skylar7fanfics@yahoo.com |