Sonny froze, unable to move, unable to think. He looked at Alexis, searching her eyes for answers, silently asking her to tell him. When she made no attempt to speak he asked her. "You have a son?" He sounded hurt, betrayed.
"Um maybe you should sit down."
"Alexis answer the question."
"Yes." He took a step back from her so that he could see her face. She tears were in her eyes ready to fall and he knew at that moment that she expected him to leave. Instead he took her hand and led her towards the door.
"We need to talk, and I don't want Kristina to interrupt," he explained. He brought her across the hall and sat beside her on his sofa, never letting go of her hand. They sat there in silence, until finally she spoke.
"I've never told anyone, not even Stefan." She began. "His name is Andrew and James is his father, but I guess you already know that. He was born in Spain, in a little hospital. When I found out I was pregnant I was scared that Helena would find out. She had told me once before that she wouldn't allow any child of mine to live. I didn't understand why then but I knew she meant it. We went to Europe and traveled around for a while before ending up in Spain. We stayed there until he was three then we came back to New York. We told everyone that he was James' son, that his mother had died, and that I was living with him to help out. It worked okay for a few years and then I got the call from Stefan saying that he needed me to come to Port Charles. By this time my relationship with James had changed, we were friends more than anything else. I was only supposed to be gone a couple months and then things just kept happening. When Luke told me the truth about who I really was I knew then that there would be no going back. Helena would never let me live in peace and I knew she wouldn't hesitate to use Andrew to hurt me. So I stayed away from him. We write and talk on the telephone but... I miss him so much Sonny." The tears in her eyes began to fall as Sonny took her into his arms and held her. He remembered the last time he had held her while she cried. It was after Helena had kidnapped her. He wanted to kill Helena for all the suffering she had caused Alexis, for all the pain Alexis still had to deal with.
"It's okay sweetie, Sonny soothed rubbing her back. Helena is going to rot in a jail cell for the rest of her life and you can have your son. Alexis pulled herself out of Sonny's arms and began to shake her head.
"No, Sonny you have to promise me you won't tell anyone about Andrew."
"I told you before Alexis I would never share something that you had told me in confidence but I don't understand why you need to keep Andrew a secret?
"I don't know what kind of power Helena has from prison but I'm not willing to risk Andrew's life to find out. Besides I've seen what being a Cassadines can do to people, what it's doing to Nicolas. Andrew has a normal life Sonny, a house a dad even a step-mother and while it tears my heart that I can't be a part of that I know it's best for him. He's an amazing person and if I, in some small way, has something to do with that, it's enough."
"You are an amazing person Alexis."
"How can you say that?" She asked him wiping away the tears. "I just told you that I abandoned my child."
"Alexis, you did it to protect him and I understand that." "What if he grows up to hate me?"
"He won't", Sonny assured her. As much as I hate to agree with anything James says, he was right when he said Andrew loves you, I'm sure of it." Alexis leaned back against Sonny's chest and allowed him to encircle her with his arms. "You know I love you too, right?" He asked casually. Alexis flipped herself so that she was now practically laying on top of him, his arms still around her.
"What did you say?" She asked looking into his eyes. He laughed at her expression but quickly became serious again.
"I'm not a white knight like Jax or a Prince Charming like James, but I do love you."
"Sonny, I'm not now nor have I ever been a damsel in distress. I don't need a knight or a prince to fight my battles for me, I need a man who will fight beside me."
"Well then it looks like I'm the guy for the job." Sonny said kissing her gently at first then with increasing passion. Alexis pulled away from him slightly and grinned. Didn't you say something about food earlier?"
"Yeah, yeah, gotta keep my woman happy." Sonny reluctantly let her go and headed towards the kitchen.
"Oh and Sonny, she stopped him just before he reached the door, "I love you too."