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It's almost impossible to find a place in Port Charles where you won't be run over by someone you know, and if you're Alexis
Davis, chances are it'll be someone who annoys you. She'd spent the morning racking her brain trying to think of where she
could go and hide and have a few moments of peace and quiet. Certainly not her apartment. Her new roommate was working at
home, and Alexis had no interest in talking to him anymore about anything than she had to. He'd already spoiled her first
morning at home with Kristina by barging in on their private breakfast on the terrace. When she had politely informed him
of such, Cameron had just leaned back in the chair he'd sat down in and said, "next time, I'll check the posted schedule
of who's allowed where and when."
He probably wouldn't even have let her have these few hours with Kristina had Zander not showed up shortly after breakfast
was over with a bouquet of yellow roses and a happy birthday wish for Alexis. Cameron hadn't realized it was her birthday,
and the truth was, Alexis hadn't paid much attention either. Between the whiplash of Kristina's ever-changing custody and
living situations and dealing with Stefan, a day of celebration was the farthest thing from her mind. Still, the gesture
from Zander was sweet, and she was touched that he'd remembered.
After Zander had left, Alexis reluctantly put Kristina down for her morning nap. Her daughter had been home for less
than 24 hours, and they were both still adjusting. Kristina's hangs tightened into fists in Alexis' clothing whenever she
tried to put the little girl down, and Alexis had to constantly fight the urge to just hold Kristina 24/7. It was going to
take time... but eventually, it would be okay. It was the only thing Alexis had faith in anymore.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize... " Cameron had said as she'd come out of the nursery.
"It's no big deal. I'm not much for birthdays. Mine, anyway. I warn you now, though, you can expect balloons coming
out of the rafters for Kristina's."
He'd laughed and Alexis had started into the living room to begin organizing the documents she'd need to help Luke deal
with Stefan. Cameron had followed though, and changed the course of her day.
"If you wanted to have a few hours alone with Kristina today... I suppose that would be all right."
Her back had been to him as he spoke, and Alexis was grateful for that. She knew he was trying to be considerate, do
something nice, but the very idea that this man she barely knew had the right to regulate her time with her daughter made
her flat-out furious. She bit her tongue, though. Kristina was under her roof. For now, that was all that mattered.
While she was dressing her baby girl and packing up the diaper bag for the day, Alexis had gone round and round trying
to figure out where they should spend their time. Everywhere she thought of was too public, and the chance of running into
a Quartermaine or a fellow Cassadine too high a probability. Then she remembered... the botanical garden near the cemetery.
It had lots of small, alcove-like hideaways in the various gardens, and it was so lovely today, it would make a perfect spot
to just be with her daughter without interruption.
Decision made, Alexis loaded Kristina into the car... her hands shaking as she fastened the car seat and realized that
she was really and truly taking her daughter "out on the town" for the first time. The sadness of that was tempered
by the joy of just having Kristina there to kiss and touch and love.
The stroller remained in the car when they arrived at the gardens. Alexis had no need for it. Kristina felt perfect
in her arms. After grabbing the diaper bag and slinging it over shoulder, Alexis grabbed the blanket she'd brought and then
she scooped her daughter up and began the walk to the gate. Kristina smiled wide, cooing as she nuzzled against Alexis, her
right hand winding into Alexis' shirt as if to say "stay right here."
Once she'd paid their entrance fee, Alexis wandered over to the directory. There were ten different gardens here... all
of them beautiful. But she decided on the serenity garden and started to walk down the pathway. Occasionally, she would
stop and point out a certain flower to Kristina or they'd watch the different type of birds flocking together near trees or
on the different ponds. The baby seemed fascinated by the ducks and they had stayed with them for a good 20 minutes or so
before finally heading to their destination. It was an off day for visitors, so the garden was fairly empty anyway, and Alexis
took a turn she knew well and found exactly the right spot. It took some effort to hold onto Kristina and get the blanket
situated on the ground, but finally, mission accomplished. Soon enough, mother, baby and toys were all positioned on the
comfortable swatch of quilted material.
"Isn't it beautiful here, baby girl?" Alexis said, and Kristina giggled her approval where she sat across from
her mother. Smiling back, Alexis reached into the diaper bag and pulled out Lamby Pie, whose name had been quickly changed
to something logical and that perhaps her child might be able to pronounce before the age of three, and held it out, shaking
it so the ears bounced a little. Kristina threw open her arms, then she toppled forward a bit, her arms and legs forming
a foursome underneath her. She rocked her body a few times, then she bolted forward and crawled over the short space between
her and the treasured toy.
"Paprika..." Alexis said, rolling her eyes. "What were they thinking? Lamby Pie... how could you not
look at her and not know she's a Lamby Pie?"
And so their happy day of play began. It was something Alexis hadn't been able to imagine for months now. No questioning
faces watching her, no sneering dirty looks from anyone who wanted to destroy her happiness, no hands waiting to snatch Kristina
away. These few hours, she knew, would make this the best birthday party of her life.
After a bottle for Kristina and a small snack for mommy, Alexis laid down on her side on the blanket next to her daughter,
who was sitting up staring at her intently. Choosing one of a selection of items she'd put out on the blanket, Alexis picked
it up and held it before Kristina's eyes.
"What's this? What's this? Is that a flower?"
Kristina clapped her hands over the lotus blossom that Alexis had found laying on the ground. She squeezed it between
her hands, then dropped it and looked at Alexis for the next treasure.
"Is this a ball?"
Again, the little girl nearly squealed with delight as her mother handed her a pink and white stripped rubber ball that
she often played with in her crib. Other items followed... a favorite rattle, blankie, a bottle, mommy's keys... anything
and everything that fascinated Kristina was fair game.
"And who's this?" Alexis asked, holding up Lamby.
"La" Kristina answered, and Alexis laughed.
"And who's this?" the mother questioned again, pointing to herself. She was planning to lean in and kiss Kristina
announcing the word "mommy" with great gusto, but instead, her daughter had a surprise of her own planned. With
great concentration on her face, Kristina curled up her lips like she was thinking terribly hard, then she smiled and pointed
her finger at Alexis.
"Mma-mma."
Alexis managed not to cry until she had Kristina in her arms and held tightly against her. Never in her life had anyone
given her a better gift than this... expect perhaps the man who had given her Kristina in the first place.
"Oh, Little One, thank you so much. Mama needed that so much. Thank you for my beautiful birthday gift."
On the other side of a thicket of trees, a man smiled and wiped several drops of moisture from his cheeks. Sonny had
been in the cemetery again trying to come to grips with what was happening to him, but with no answers presenting themselves,
he'd just started wandering, trying to find something to quiet his mind. He had no idea what had made him come this way...
what had drawn him to this place, but when he'd heard the delighted giggles of a baby, he'd had to come and take a peek.
He'd never imagined that he'd find Alexis here... or that he'd see her with her daughter.
Sonny's heart had nearly stopped at the pure beauty of what he saw. Alexis was a stunning woman, but Alexis as a mother
was simply breathtaking. Her daughter was equally gorgeous... her smile echoing the one that seemed fixed upon her mother's
face.
He felt guilty as he watched them... not because he was stealing a bit of their happiness but because he hadn't done anything
to help them find it. His selfishness overwhelmed him, and he wondered, not for the first time, if his mind's rebellion was
a way of God paying him back for being so fixated on himself. Maybe so. But something in the universe had also brought him
here to see this... and despite the weight of tension and fear that seemed to grip every waking moment of his life, Sonny
Corinthos saw and appreciated the simple miracle of a mother and daughter together.
When the little girl chimed out a mumbled but heartfelt "Mama," Sonny saw the unimaginable happiness that had
brought to Alexis. But he also saw the tears streaming down her face, and he saw the way the two of them clung to each other,
as if neither trusted that someone wouldn't swoop in and tear them apart once again.
"Oh, Little One, thank you so much. Mama needed that so much. Thank you for my beautiful birthday gift."
Her birthday... October 2nd... it was her birthday. He'd forgotten. Not that he had real reason to remember, considering
what their relationship was like, but still... Turning, Sonny walked back up the stone pathway until he was sure that he
was far enough away that Alexis couldn't hear him on the phone. Then he withdrew his cell and dialed a number.
"Dara, it's Sonny Corinthos. Yeah, yeah, I know. Look, I know you can't tell me about the case, but, um, I heard
Alexis is in a little trouble. Yeah, well, just tell me how much she needs, okay? No, you can't tell her it's from me, but
whatever it costs, the deal with Stefan, the custody stuff, whatever, just let me know. It's all I can do for her, but, um,
but I want to do it, okay? Yeah, just tell her Jax is taking care of it, she'll believe that. Okay, bye."
Sonny hung up the phone and began the walk out of the gardens and back to his car. It was nothing... money thrown away
to assuage a little of his guilt. But he had to repay her somehow. Even if she didn't know it, Alexis perfect birthday gift
from her daughter had been a gift to him as well. Something had brought him here, wanted him to see them together. Something
wanted him to have hope... and Alexis and Kristina, their dazzling beauty, was just what he'd needed to remind him that there
were still things in the world worth hoping for... worth caring about... worth fighting for.
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