Everyone's eyes flew from Alexis to, well Alexis, and back again. The only noticeable differences between the two women was Alexis' pregnancy and a cast on the other woman's left foot.
"Julia, what are you doing here?" Alexis asked frantically.
"Did you really think I would just agree with Mason's insane plan?"
"No, but what about your ankle, should you be walking around?"
"I have crutches."
"That wasn't an answer."
"I know." She smiled letting Alexis know she had no intention of answering.
"So you are Alexis' sister?" Ned interrupted the sisterly banter and as usual stated the obvious.
"She's already married Ashton, in case you were planning to ask her out." Sonny couldn't help but interject. "It's nice to finally meet you Julia, I'm Sonny Corinthos, he continued extending a hand which Julia immediately took despite the evil eye she received from her sister.
Ned was angry, mostly by how nonplussed Sonny seemed by the whole situation. Was it possible that he had known about Julia already. His mind went back to Kristina's arrival in town. Alexis had confided in Sonny before him, or anyone else for that matter. Perhaps whatever bond Sonny and Alexis shared had not been broken after all.
"Mr Corinthos, I can't tell you how happy I am to be face to face with you." Though she was smiling graciously Sonny got the distinct impression Julia Capwell was not his biggest fan. Given his history with Alexis he couldn't blame her.
"Where's Mason?" Alexis interrupted.
"I imagine he will be here shortly." Julia replied enigmatically.
"In other words you two didn't travel together. And he will be here any moment to lecture you and proper procedure in caring for a broken ankle?"
"So are you going to introduce me to your fan club." Julia asked smirking a little, Alexis was not the only queen of diversionary tactics in town.
"Oh right Julia this is Mac Scorpio, Marcus Taggert, Ned Ashton and Jax."
"It's nice to meet you," she smiled at the slack jawed onlookers.
"It's a pleasure meeting you as well," Jax smiled taking Julia's hand. "I didn't realise Alexis had a twin."
"No one did." Ned mumbled. "Well, almost no one," he amended sullenly glaring at Sonny.
Mac was about to suggest that he and Taggert leave when he realised that with Sonny, Ned and Jax in a room together it might be a good idea to maintain a police presence.
"What's the matter Ned afraid that I might actually know the truth about things, that I might not be as stupid as you seem to think, or at least hope, I am?"
Alexis couldn't believe it, again she was certain that Sonny must somehow know that Kristina was his. Apparently she wasn't the only one with this thought as Julia looked over at her, questioning how Sonny know. Alexis shrugged not knowing how to answer, she was as confused by Sonny's behaviour as everyone else.
Suddenly another man, whom only half the crowd recognised entered the room and headed immediately for Alexis' twin.
"Julia." It was only one word but it held a whole host of meanings.
"Mason."
"Since when does bed rest mean a cross county flight?" He asked angrily.
"You're being over dramatic as usual, no one said I had to have bed rest."
"The doctor said the more you can stay off your feet, the better.
"Yes, and as soon as I pick up our children, and rescue my sister from what appears to be their handiwork, I will sit down and put my feet up. Where are the kids by the way?" She asked turning to Alexis as a sign to Mason that she was finished arguing with him, at least for now.
"They're with Johnny, my neighbour, um and friend."
"Mason did you get us a room at the hotel?" Julia asked. Only Mason seemed unfazed by her change in subjects.
"Yes."
"Great, here's what's going to happen. Mason and I are going to pick up our little angels while you and Sonny are going to go up to our room to hash things out." She instructed handing the key to her sister and giving her the same look that Alexis would give to inadequate opposing counsel. When no one moved Julia turned to Sonny and Alexis, "You two need to talk and I would think you would enjoy some privacy for this particular conversation but if you would rather discuss it here and now, feel free."
Sonny and Alexis both looked down at their shoes, or for Alexis what she assumed was her shoes since she could no longer actually see them. Then, as though they were two naughty children being forced to go to their room, they began to sullenly head towards the elevator. Julia followed them out into the lobby and only after they entered the elevator did she turn to Mason and smile.
"Looks like I got here just in time."
Sonny and Alexis were the only two people in the elevator and the ride up was slow and silent. Finally they reached their floor and Alexis stepped off, not entirely certain that Sonny would follow her, he did. Alexis opened the door and they both entered the room, neither of them certain why they had come though they knew it was more than Julia.
There were several minutes of silence, then finally Sonny began to speak.
"So I finally got to meet your sister. It's weird, I mean I knew you were twins but still seeing her up close, hearing her speak..."
"Sonny..."
"Tell me more about Julia? I mean I know about the birthmark thing but other than that you two seem so much alike." He interrupted her, not wanting to hear her question. He wasn't ready to have that conversation yet, he wanted to pretend for just a little while longer.
"Sonny..." She tried again but once more he stopped her.
"Does she ramble too? Does she pace when she's anxious? Does she forget to breathe when she's nervous or scared?" Sonny was rambling and she almost wondered if it were true what they said about how couples could take on each others mannerisms, except that they were not a couple.
"Sonny why didn't you tell me you knew?"
"Does she refuse to let go of something even when it's in everyone's best interest to do so?" He asked almost smiling because he had actually believed for a second that he would be able to distract her. "I knew Alexis, I knew right from the start. Then Ned said she was his and you didn't deny it. I knew you were lying but more than that you were making your choice."
"What?"
"You chose the father you wanted for your child, maybe not biologically but in every other way you chose Ned as the father."
"I chose Ned as nothing." She denied angrily. "Ned stuck his nose where it didn't belong and I stupidly allowed it but I never had any intention raising my child with Ned as her father, not then and certainly not now."
"Come on Alexis you almost married Ned, he's the type of guy you want. And whether you admit it or not he's the type of man you would have and in fact did chose to be the father of your child."
"As a wise man once said the operative word in that sentence is almost. I knew even when I was in love with Ned that we weren't forever, he was ... comfortable."
"And comfortable is bad?"
"No, it's not bad, but call me greedy I always wanted more than not bad."
"What do you want then?"
I want you. Alexis couldn't believe how easily the answer came. After all that had happened, after all they been through the answer was still the same. The one thing she wanted was the one thing she could never have.
Sonny sat there waiting for her answer with both anticipation and fear. He knew how he would answer had someone asked him. He had asked himself almost every night. What do you want Sonny? The answer was always the same. He wanted to come home and find her sitting on the sofa pouring over legal documents while holding their sleeping daughter. He wanted to be able to kiss her, to tell her that he loved her and make love to her as often as he could. He wanted to sit on a porch with her years from now and tell their grandchildren stories about the night their grandmother had walked the edge of the fountain and he had been the one to fall.