"I must have been a serial killer in another life because no one has this much bad luck." Alexis murmured to herself causing both men to stop glaring at each other long enough to give her a questioning look.
"Did I just say that out loud, I must be more tired than I thought?" For a moment Alexis considered shutting the door and leaving both men out on her doorstep but then again the last thing she wanted was for Sonny and Mason to be alone together.
"Mr Corinthos."
"Mr Capwell."
"It's late."
"I didn't realise there was a town curfew?"
"Alexis needs her rest."
"Then perhaps you should leave?"
"I was just thinking the same thing, about you."
Oh for God's sake why didn't they just get out a measuring stick and get it over with? Alexis thought angrily.
"Mason, come on in. Sonny goodbye." Before either man could object Alexis grabbed Mason and pulled him through the door before shutting it in Sonny's face.
"You seem to be popular this evening, first Mr Jacks, then Corinthos..."
"What are you doing here Mason?" She asked cutting him off before he could comment more.
"You can't be serious. You have no idea what I could possibly want?" He asked sarcastically.
"Okay fine, let's talk."
"I was sorry to hear about Kristina, I would have liked to meet your sister. I would have come to the funeral but I didn't think..."
"Thank you for the flowers, they were lovely."
"You're welcome. My, we are a civilised pair."
"Would you prefer yelling?"
"Why not? Blow winds, and crack your cheeks..."
"Please, spare me your "I am a man more sinned against than sinning" routine. I think we can both agree any actual tally would come out about even, maybe."
"I am still amazed you don't cut yourself on that tongue. However this is not about me."
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that? It's just that I have a feeling this may have been the first and last time I will ever hear those words from your mouth."
"I realise it's difficult for you but could we please keep to one subject at a time?"
"Fine, why the hell did you come to Port Charles? What were you thinking?" She demanded angrily though not quite yelling.
"I was thinking that my father was sold on the deal and that if I came with him I could avoid any problems, I was thinking that you would not be sitting in the middle of the Quartermain living room."
"Why didn't you invite Ned out to you?"
"Because he is the one who put forward the proposal, and anyway do you really want Ned Ashton walking though my father's house or his office, both of which are covered in family photos?"
"Okay, I see your point but still..."
"Still what? There was nothing else I could do. You know my father, he was set on this deal, there was no way for me to talk him out of it."
"Did you try?"
"No, as soon as I heard the words Port Charles, I told him it was a splendid idea and offered to call the travel agent myself for the very next available flight. Of course I tried to stop him. Don't worry father covered well and no one suspects anything."
She decided not to tell him about Sonny's questions, mostly because she didn't want to discuss Sonny with him.
"What did you tell him anyway?"
"The truth."
She looked at him sceptically.
"Well, as much of it as could be explained in two minutes or less."
"So did you fill him in on the rest before coming here?"
"He knows what he needs to." Came the slightly arrogant reply.
"And he was okay with that, either he has mellowed a lot over the years or you're lying through your teeth?"
"How's the baby doing?"
"You used to be smoother at that."
"Changing the subject?"
"Avoiding a question."
"Oh that, so how is the baby? He smiled, knowing full well he was being frustrating.
"She's fine."
"She?"
"Just a feeling."
"I was surprised to find out you were pregnant."
"Not half as much as I was." She laughed ruefully.
"But you're happy, I mean about the baby?"
"Of course, she's everything to me."
"She doesn't have to be you know."
"Mason I can't..."
"Father and I are leaving in a couple days, I want you to consider coming back with us." There, he had said it. He watched her nervously, knowing what her reaction would be but hoping, this once, he was wrong.
"What?"
"Just think about it." He pressed, taking advantage of the fact that she had not said no outright. "You have a family there, people who love you. What do you have here, I mean really? A man you don't love who is claiming to be the father of your child? A man you do love but have no intention of telling, about your feelings or the child? A nephew you rarely see?"
"If you're trying to depress me, mission accomplished." She smiled sadly, attempting to make light of his cutting words.
"I'm only stating the truth." He told her seriously.
"Well then let give you a little truth. I can't go to Santa Barbara with you and you know perfectly well why." She was angry at him, angry that he would ask, angry because she couldn't say yes.
"Helena is in prison."
"You don't think she still has power? She's still dangerous Mason.
"And yet you're bringing a child into that so called danger."
"This child was...unexpected but I will do anything I have to protect her."
"Does that include leaving her, if you feel it's for the best?" He asked almost coldly though his eyes seemed to be burning into hers. In the end Alexis looked away first.
"I'm tired, can we talk about this later?"
"Sure." He smiled apologetically, he knew he had gone to far. "Perhaps we could have lunch tomorrow?"
"I would like that," she smiled back. "On one condition."
"Which is?"
"That you leave so I can get some sleep, otherwise I may sleep right through lunch."
"Okay you win, for now." With that he stood let himself out stopping just before the door to turn back and look at her again.
"It was good to see you again." He told her smiling ruefully as though he really didn't want to admit it.
"You too." She whispered sadly but smiles. Alexis half expected Sonny to be standing there waiting when Mason opened the door but he was gone.
It was another two hours before Alexis could stop thinking long enough to go to sleep and as a result it was nearly time for lunch by the time she woke. Still in her pyjamas she decided to check the paper and make sure nothing earth shattering had happened while she was sleeping. Opening the door she found not only the paper but also a familiar face.
"Johnny what are you doing here?"
"I..."
"I made it perfectly clear to Sonny that I did not need or want a bodyguard. Since I really don't want to call the police on you, I'm asking you to leave now, please."
"I'm afraid I can't do that Ms Davis," he began nervously. "You see ... the thing is... I live here." He said indicating the apartment across the hall from her own, "I'm your new neighbour."
"I am going to kill him!"