| Chapter 1 She was Alexis Davis, Esquire, Counselor at Law; not Natasha, not the bastard, not someone's cast-off and certainly not ''mommy''. She gazed down at her still flat stomach and rubbed it gently, but she was mommy, she was mommy to this little one growing inside of her.She was sitting alone at her desk working on legal briefs and Sonny's latest defense. Alone, she spent the better part of her life alone, but no longer. She had shared her concerns with V, she couldn't hold them in any longer. V was happy and even with the many doubts she harbored, so was she. She had taken the home test once, twice and a third time - all positive. She had lain in bed at night and thought of what to do, on some of those nights Jax had lain beside her. She was still trying to wrap her mind around that. She could not believe this was all happening. Her eyes welled up with tears every time she thought of their recent times together. This was Jax her ex-husband, her friend, her partner in popcorn and now her lover and father of her child. He had appeared suddenly in her life again, just like any other time, by surprise, with great aplomb and in complete chaos. Their passion surprised her. She supposed it had always been lurking under the surface, but his passion was with Brenda, he had spent the past year searching for a supposedly dead woman, was she, Alexis, just a substitute? Her friend Chloe had departed with Ned long ago, after Jax had begun his search for Brenda. Chloe knew she would always be second to Jax's affections and she and Ned had realized that they shared much more than friendship, much more than Alexis could offer Ned. She had wished them well, there were no hard feelings, no remorse, no regrets. She and Ned had come together in a time and place that satisfied a need, they remained friends and she knew should she need him, he would always be there. Jax had taken her by surprise. He had helped to bring Stefan back after he was kidnapped in Greece and had overwhelmed her ever since. They had spoken infrequently when he was searching for Brenda. He and Stefan's rescuer, CC O’Neal–Taggert , were old friends and she had enlisted his aid in Stefan's return. She had been grateful to Jax for that. They had fallen into an easy banter upon his return, but there was also a hint of sexual tension that had not been there before. He was an attractive, intelligent and a congenial man to be with. She had no idea what he found appealing in her. She worked too much, she tended to take everything too seriously and she never understood his jokes, without an explanation. He hated the clients she took on, especially Sonny Corinthos. He never understood her relationship with Sonny, just as Ned had not. Sonny was similar to her, a lost soul, not all good, but not all bad. He deserved representation and she provided it. She also found the legal maneuvers she used in his many defenses challenging and thought provoking. It kept her on her toes and at the top of the legal community. She enjoyed the challenge, frankly. Carly was another story. Sometimes she felt she understood the woman, at other times she saw only a spoiled, misunderstood child. Oh well, Carly was not her client. She had never felt anything even bordering on the romantic for Sonny, friendship and professional banter were their forte. Jax tried, but she knew he didn't understand. Jax's family was the best in her opinion. While she never understood Lady Jane's obsession with those crack of dawn, seven mile hikes, she loved her dearly. She was the mother she never had. John Jacks was a rock. She abhorred some of their stunts he and Jerry had pulled in the name of keeping Jax clean, but they were done out of love and that she understood. Was Stefan that much different? She loved him too and the family he was building around him. She never would have matched Florence Campbell and Stefan Cassadine, but they made one another happy and they were in love. Who was she to interfere, besides she loved both Florence and her children, well Taggert was always a question, but yes she even loved him and his new bride, CC. Gia and Nikolas were a perfect match and she was perfectly devoted to them both. Gia, now Gia, got her in this situation, or had she? * * * * * It was the night of Stefan's welcome home/engagement party. She had been shopping with Gia, Florence and CC to find the perfect dresses for the party. She had planned on wearing one of her serviceable evening ensembles, but Gia had informed her in no uncertain terms that they would not do. She had then proceeded to select a dress so un-Alexis, but so very flattering. It was modest by any standards in the front, but it had a plunging back that went on forever. She had then selected the sexiest slides she could find for Alexis and a bracelet that went high on her arm and gave her an equally glamorous hairstyle. She was so un-Alexis, but she actually felt wonderful. She had walked down the steps at Wyndamere and every man had paused. They had all been quite interested in their own women, but each gave her an extra glance of approval and Jax had nearly lost his tongue. She finally told him he was going to catch flies like that. It had been a wonderful party. Gia’s club Escape was just that, an Escape. Elton had decorated it beautifully. She would have never guessed that a club that attracted a mostly blue collar clientele could look so elegant. There were crystal, candles, tulle, silver and linen everywhere. So perfectly Stefan. Toasts were made, champagne was drunk and the dancing had begun. It was definitely a night for couples and she and Jax had merged ever so perfectly. She had danced with every man at the party, including Taggert, who was quite the nervous nelly that night (he was proposing or so the ladies told her). Nikolas was the wonderful nephew and man he was always meant to be. Gia was the perfect complement to him in every way. Stefan was truly and blissfully in love. The music he selected was not what she remembered Stefan liking, but Stefan was coming into his own and Florence held most of the keys. She was truly his rock and his weakness. Jax though was reluctant to leave her side. * * * * * Perhaps it was the champagne, perhaps it was the romance in the air, perhaps it was the man, but when Jax has suggested they leave, she quickly agreed. She thought they were going to her penthouse or even to his suite at the Port Charles Hotel, they went instead to the private airstrip at the airport reserved for chartered, private planes. He quickly hustled her into the Jacks family plane and gave orders to the pilot. She had protested. She had work in the morning, briefs to file, meetings to conduct, even a pre-trial conference. He told her it didn’t matter. He gave her the phone and said, reschedule, tomorrow morning you’re going to see the sun rise above the Pacific. She protested, he just smiled and said, “get to work, reschedule”. It didn’t seem the plane was going to turnaround, so she did. No one was happy to be interrupted so late in the evening. She was going to lose clients and it was all Jax’s fault. He told her “you need some fun, you need me, you look tired and spectacular in that dress”. She had blushed and the tension grew. “I missed you Alexis, I did. I searched for Brenda and learned many things this past year. Brenda was in my past. Yes, I loved her, but I also have grown up. I watched Jerry flounder again, I watched my mother and father go through Hell and I learned to know an incredible woman, her name is Alexis Davis, it was Alexis Jacks.” He leaned over and brought his lips to hers and the sparks almost crackled. She never realized how hungry she was and not for food. Their mouths opened and their tongues played a duet. There was friendship, and something new there was passion and there was desire. His hands caressed her naked arms and she in turn ran her hands under his jacket, which was quickly disposed of. He ran his hands up her naked back and undid the clasp at the neck. It fell to her waist and he stood back. The look on his face made her feel like the beautiful models she had seen on his arm. She moaned and his lips met two firm mounds and she was lost. She was lost in time and in the air. The studs on his shirt were lost and she ran her hands across the muscles of his back and arms. She also felt the firmness of his desire for her. The zip at her waist was pulled down and her dress was off. She stood before him in a thong and slides. “Alexis Davis, Esquire you hussy you – a thong?” “It was Gia’s idea.” “Remind me to thank Gia, will you.” He had stood and kissed her. She couldn’t wait longer. They had come this far. His slacks fell and in typical Jax fashion, there were no restraints underneath. His black socks did amuse her though. She laughed and he tickled her. His blue eyes turned the shade of a midnight sapphire and he fell back on the seat and pulled her with him. Her thong was gone and her slides were lost. He was firm and as high as they were in the sky. She straddled him and they floated in air. The climax made a shuttle reentry appear to be a walk in the park. Protection, who had thought of protection, dear Lord, she could only pray. He pulled a blanket over them and they slept. The Mile High Club had two more members. It was dawn and he pulled her dress on her, as well as, his shirt and slacks and Malibu was but a few miles. What happened to Alexis Davis and Jasper Jacks, the best of friends who had succumbed to the forces of nature? |