''You're not ready yet?'' Kristina asked as Alexis came downstairs.
''Jax isn't going to be coming for an hour, I still have plenty of time.''
''Mom can you come do my hair.'' Jillian called from upstairs.
''In a minute,'' Alexis called back.
''Are you leaving already?'' she asked when she noticed Kristina getting her coat.
''Yeah I told Ned I'd meet him at the gate house first so we could discuss some music stuff.''
''I see.''
''Alexis you know Ned invided me to this party as a friend, nothing more.''
''I know that you and Ned are none of my business.''
''Alexis.''
''You better go, Ned's waiting.''
Alexis went upstairs and began taking the curlers out of Jillian's hair. She remembered back to when her own mother had lovingly brushed her hair as a child. Being a mother to Jillian was bringing back a lot of Alexis' childhood memories, another gift she owed her for. Soon Jillian's hair was done and both were dressed. Alexis was still working on her own hair when there was a knock at the door.
''I'll get it,'' Jillian shouted running downstairs.
Jax stood in the doorway holding two wrapped boxes.
''Hi Jax are those for me?''
''This one is,'' he said handing her the larger one first, he then handed her the smaller one and told her it was for her mother, looking around questioningly.
''She's still upstairs doing her hair.'' Jillian explained while putting the presents under the tree.
''Well you look lovely''. Jax stated.
Jillian was wearing a long blue velvet dress and her hair was in a mass of tiny curls. Jax noticed, not for the first time, a familiarity about the girl. She seemed to look like...
''Jax... are you listening to me?''
''What? Oh I'm sorry Jillian my mind was somewhere eles what did tyou say.''
''I said if you think I look good wait till you see my Mom.
''She looks THAT good huh?''
''Even better. She assured Jax. ''Auntie Kristina helped pick ou her dress.''
''Well then I'm sure its beautiful.'' Jax said smiling.
His mind drifted back to the last time Kristina had picked out clothes for Alexis. He had had some very interesting dreams about Alexis in that outfit... and eventually out of the...
''Jax?''
The sound of Alexis' voice snapped him out of his fantasy, then he looked up at her and swore he was right back in the middle of it. The dress was long clingy and blue but a different shade than Jillian's, passionate blue he thought...was there such a color?
''Jax?'' Alexis repeated beginning to grow concerned. Jax seemed completely out of it.
''You look amazing.''
He said it as though he was surprised and Alexis winced. What she didn't know was that Jax was surprised, not by her but by the feeling he was having toward her. He loved Alexis, she was his best friend. He had even had the occasional wild dream about her but dismissed as a fluke. This was different.
''If you don't stop staring at me like that I'm going upstair to change.''
OMG Jax thought, had his lustful thought been that obvious?
''I don't look THAT silly, do I?''
Relieved that she obviously had no idea wha he was thinking about he was quick to assure her.
''Alexis you are the farthest thing from silly that I can imagine.'' He walked towards her, his intention written on his face, he was going to kiss her.
''Mom when is Sonny coming over?''
Jax literally froze in midstep and not only because Sonny's name was mentioned. He had forgotten Jillian was in the room with them.
''Sonny is coming over?''
Alexis couldn't believe she had forgotten to tell Jax. She had spent several days trying to convince Jillian to turn Sonny down but the child was stubborn, an inherited trait Alexis was certain.
''Uhm Sonny is...''
''He's my date'' Jillian supplied.
Before Jax could react to this truly unexpected turn of events there was a knock at the door and before anyone could answer Sonny let himself in.
''Hello, I'm here to pick up my date,'' he said as he entered the room with a large boquet of yellow roses in his hand. ''These are for you,'' he said handing them to Jillian. ''Thank you for taking pity on a poor rejected man.''
''Rejected?'' Jax asked.
''He asked Mom first but she couldn't cause she had already promised to go with you.'' Jillian explained.
After Alexis had helpd Jillian put her flowers in water it was time to head off.
''So...'' Sonny began ''Who's car shall we take?''
''What?'' Jax and Alexis both gasped in unison.
''Well surely you're not going to let your young daughter go off to her first party unchaperoned?'' he asked Alexis in fiegned shock.
She had honestly not considered it but now realized she had to stay with Jillian.
''Lets ride in Sonny's car, its bigger and we can all sit together.''
Oh goody thought Alexis. She shot an apologetic look at Jax before heading into the elevator after Jillian.
The ride there had gone surprisingly well, Alexis thought as they arrived. Jillian had kept the conversation going by alternating questions to both Jax and Sonny. As they entered the Quartermain mansion they could hear the party going on. After leaving their coats with Reginald, they entered the main room.
Looking out over the crowd Alexis saw several familiar faces. Ned and Kristina talking by the food table. Alan and Monica were by the tree, apparently arguing. She next spotted Luke and Laura talking with Lila. Turning to Jax she asked rather nervously,
''I thought you said it was only ELQ board members, why are Luke and Laura here?''
''I don't know, why is something wrong?'' he asked sensing her sudden change in mood.
''No, of couse not.'' she replied ''Wouuld you exscuse me for a moment,'' she added not waiting for an answer before walking towards Laura.
Everything could still work out she thought as long as she was able to speak with Laura before... At that moment Laura, who had finished her conversation with Lila turned around and saw Alexis heading towards her. Then she saw the small figure walking slightly behind her and she gasped. The champaign glass in her hand slipped, fell to the floor and shattered into a million pieces.