Johnny sat between CJ and Sasha on the sofa as the three of them watched The Parent Trap, Sasha's favourite movie. Actually only CJ and Sasha were watching the movie, Johnny was trying to decide a new line of employment. He had no doubt that Sonny would fire him once he discovered that he had lied, after all Sonny was all about trust. Therefore he was now facing the uncomfortable idea of unemployment. He wondered briefly if he would be able to get his old apartment back. When Sonny had insisted on moving him next door to Alexis he had given him enough of a pay increase to cover the new higher rent, but now... He would need to find a new job soon. Maybe he could become a nanny, after CJ and Sasha, any other child would seem like a piece of cake. His musings were interrupted by a knock at the door. The trio looked at each other, fear written in their eyes, the time had come to face the music. Anticipating the worst Johnny was caught off guard when he came face to face with Mason Capwell and the woman who could only be Julia.
Sonny and Alexis stood in silence, neither of them willing to go first, to risk being rejected.
"You still haven't answered my question Sonny. Why didn't you say anything about Kristina?"
"I told you..."
"No, it's not because you think I chose Ned, we both know you wouldn't let something like that keep you from your child."
"Apparently you don't know me as well as you think you do."
"Sometimes I think I know you better than you know yourself. You have this image of yourself it's the image you hide behind but it's not the real you." He knew she was right, at least about how well she knew him. There was no use lying to her, she could see into his soul.
"Alexis, I look at Sasha and I see everything that Kristina could be, will be. Claiming her as my daughter would only serve to hurt her and you. Don't you see, I finally did something right, my... Kristina has you as a mother, what more could I ask."
With that Sonny walked towards the door and left, never once looking back. As soon as the door closed Alexis' eyes filled with tears.
"Have you seen aunt Alexis yet?" Sasha asked as casually as possible after the initial greetings were over.
"Yes I saw her at the Grille with her dates, you wouldn't happen to know how your aunt ended up with five dates on the same night would you, Alexandria?"
"Her fine social skills and above average good looks?"
"Chester?"
"It was an accident, we only meant to invite one but then we each invited a different one even Aunt Alexis and it all got messed up." He confessed hurriedly hoping he might get time off for coming clean.
"This is exactly why you should not mettle in other peoples business," Julia began only to stop dead when she saw Mason smirk. "What?"
"Wasn't it you who all but ordered Sonny and Alexis up to a hotel room a half hour ago?" He asked still smiling.
"You did? Way to go, Mom."
"That was entirely different Alexis was being stubborn and..."
"Someone with your genetic makeup being stubborn? Impossible." Mason interrupted laughing.
"Oh shut up."
Sasha watched her parent and smiled, everything was back to normal.
The next day Julia and Alexis met at the Grille for lunch, Mason had taken the children so the sisters could talk privately.
"So what happened yesterday?" Julia asked as soon as they had ordered.
"Sonny told me that he has known all along that Kristina was his."
"And?"
"And nothing. He told me he didn't want to be a part of our lives and then he left."
"Wait a minute, that doesn't make any sense."
"It does if you know Sonny. He has lost so many people in his life, I think he's afraid to risk losing anyone else."
"Does he know how you feel about him?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Alexis asked not bothering to deny anything.
"Alexis we both know we have more in common than our good looks," Julia told her smirking. "You and I are both smart, independent woman who are perfectly capable of handling life on our own. Because of that it takes a fairly remarkable man to make us willing to give up some of that control, to trust someone other than ourselves. I found that man in Mason, and as much as I'd like to strangle him sometimes, I honestly can't imagine my life without him. I think you feel the same way about Sonny and if you told him..."
"This isn't about Sonny and I, it's about him and Kristina. I can't understand what would make Sonny walk away from his daughter."
"He wouldn't tell you?"
"He said something about keeping her safe, letting her be happy... Oh my God."
"What?"
"This is my fault."
"How?"
"Um... I'll tell you later." Alexis said standing. "Would you mind if we got together later, at Kelly's, there's something I need to do."
"Sure." Julia responded hoping Alexis would be able to fix whatever it was she thought she had done.
Alexis knocked on the door and waited, within seconds he was there, looking surprised to see her.
"Can I come in?" She asked and he nodded. "Sonny why don't you want to be a part of your daughter's life." She was certain she already knew but hoped she was wrong.
"We've been over this before Alexis..."
"Is it because of what I said, at Kristina's funeral?"
"You were right."
"No I wasn't."
"Everyone I love has suffered because of me, I couldn't bear for Kristina to be hurt or unhappy because of me, because I'm her...because of who I am."
"You're her father Sonny, why can't you say it? Alexis' voice rose with every question, more from frustration than anger. "She's your daughter and she's going to love you, she's going to think the sun rises and sets on you. Why don't you want her?"
"Because I don't deserve her." He shouted back, tears in his eyes. "Don't you think I want to know her, to love her. My God, Alexis just thinking about her makes me feel like I could fly but I can't allow myself to believe."
"Believe what?" She asked in scarcely more than a whisper, terrified that Sonny would once again withdraw from her.
"That it's real, that I could have that kind of joy in my life."
"Do you have any idea how sad that is Sonny? I think in many ways you still see yourself as the little boy, locked in the closet, powerless. I understand that, it took me years to realise I wasn't still the little girl on the island. I had a choice Sonny and I chose to let her go, to move on. Now it's your turn, you need to look at what you have and what you want and decide. It's your decision Sonny, if you're satisfied with what you have then great, I'm happy for you. It's your life, if you don't like it change it. You're not helpless anymore, your not still trapped in that closet, you can chose what you want and who you want to be."
"If I thought that we could..."
"Sonny there's something you need to understand," she interrupted him before he could go on. "I like my life. I have my family back, close to me, I have a career I love, and most importantly I have our daughter, whom I love more than I ever thought possible. It's a lot Sonny, more than I ever expected and if that's all I have I'm okay with that because many people have a lot less. I'm not asking for anything Sonny except that you give yourself a chance to be happy, to get to know your daughter and to let her know you. The one thing that I'm telling you up front is that I'm not the alternative to Carly, this isn't an either or situation."
"So you're saying that we can't be together?"
"No, I'm saying you walking out on Carly does not make us a couple, there's a difference and I think you know what it is. Right now however our daughter is craving some pie and I promised to meet my sister at Kelly's. If you need someone to talk to, a friend, you know my number." With that Alexis picked up her coat and walked out the door only to find herself running straight into Jason and Carly.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Carly spat.
"Visiting my friend." Alexis replied with confidence. She knew that whatever happened she had reclaimed Sonny as her friend and Carly would never be able to destroy that bond again.
"Friend? You and Sonny will never be anything..."
Jason grabbed Carly and pulled her towards the penthouse before she could say any more. Alexis entered the elevator feeling as though her life was finally on the right track.
Jason and Carly entered the apartment and found Sonny on the phone.
"That's right I need those papers ready to be signed in an hour, see you soon." He hung up the phone and noticed Jason and Carly's presence for the first time. "Oh good, just the two people I wanted to speak to." Sonny told them smiling. Carly was nervous, Sonny had not looked this happy during their entire marriage, any of them.
"What's going on?" She asked. Sonny looked up at what was the embodiment of his former life, of all that kept him trapped, and unhappy and he smiled knowing he was ready leave that scared little boy in the closet behind. He was going to take control of his life and be free of the past.
"I'm finally ready to come out of the closet." He announced happily.
Years later children would still tell stories about the day a bloodcurdling shriek had been heard echoing through Port Charles and the mysterious banshee that had caused it.