Gilded Cage Chp 63

Chapter 63
Brenda had easily convinced the doctors at the hospital that she was sane. All she had to do was to repeat word for word the story that Jax had told Mike and Veronica about finding her in the catacombs. She embellished it a little bit, spinning a tale about how a stranger had come to the door of her penthouse asking to use the phone. Then he had grabbed her and taken her out in the rain. Some of what she described was based on her experience in the forest in Argentina. It had actually been good to get some of that out in the open, even if the doctor didn't know that she was talking about Argentina. It was good to tell a professional and get some feed back. By the time the session was done, the doctor was convinced that she had suffered a traumatic event, but it was not serious enough to keep her in the hospital. He had released her with the suggestion that she seek the counsel of her own therapist if the memories got to be too overwhelming. Brenda almost screamed out in joy when she walked out of the hospital with her mother and Mike. She would never take freedom for granted ever again. She had been in the mental ward at General Hospital once before, but she really wasn't aware of how bad it was. This time she had been fully aware of what was happening around her and it was horrible. The only good thing had been the support she received from Mike and her mother and seeing Sonny. Once she was out, she wanted to get to Puerto Rico as fast as she could. It turned out that the quickest route was though Jerry. He over heard her trying to make travel arrangements and she had to tell him that she and her mother were taking a mother-daughter vacation. Jerry insisted on flying them to the island. Luckily, he hadn't insisted on staying with them for the whole trip, so the instant he left, Brenda followed Sonny's directions to the ferry landing and bid farewell to her reluctant mother. Veronica was uncomfortable with the idea of sending Brenda off to a strange island on a strange boat with an even stranger captain. Her parting words to Brenda had been along the lines of pirates and kidnapers.     
To which Brenda had responded.

Brenda: Mama, how could I possibly be in any more danger than I was with Jax and Jerry.

However, she had been on a tiny boat, being tossed about by the waves, for what seemed like a small eternity. Now she was starting to wonder if her mother could have been correct and she wasn't on her to see her husband. If she was being hijacked yet again, she was almost positive that she would loose her mind. She tries to keep her balance and keep her lunch down as well as she makes her way up to the cabin to talk to the captain. He turns and smiles warmly as she approaches.

Captain: How are you feeling, you look a little green?
Brenda: I don't normally get seasick.
Captain: Have you spent much time on boats.
Brenda: My ex fiancée owned a yacht.  I once spent a week in the Indian Ocean.
Captain: I'll bet you didn't encounter any waters this rough?
Brenda: No, it was pretty smooth sailing.
Captain: Normally these waters are pretty smooth as well. I think there must be a storm coming.
Brenda: Are we near the island?
Captain: We were closer when we left port. I've had to swing a little out of the way to avoid the really choppy waters. We'll be there soon though, just relax.
Brenda: I have to get there before sunset, I want to see the place while there is still some light left.
Captain: I think I can get you there before the sun sets, I'm trying to choose a route that takes us across the least rough waters. That is why we are taking more time than usual, don't worry all get you there safe and sound.

 	On the island Sonny was waiting for Maria to return. Actually she had been back for several hours, but they kept missing each other. Finally she breezes through the door. She looks relaxed and rejuvenated, but also a little miffed at the fact that she hasn't heard from him in several weeks.

Sonny: It's about time that you got back.
Maria: That should be my line.
Sonny: How much did your little excursion cost me?
Maria: You know that I have my own money, I've been doing really well at Black Jack.
Sonny: *Giving her a wicked smile* Like I said, how much did this cost me?
Maria: Forget about that and tell me where you have been for the last month?
Sonny: Argentina, mainly.
Maria: Alone?

Sonny hesitates and she knows right away that he was with a woman.

Maria: Who where you with? 
Sonny: Brenda was with me.
Maria: You want to tell me what's going on and what it has to do with her?
Sonny: Calm down, I needed help and she was the only one around.
Maria: The Only One Around? I find that hard to believe, you mean to tell me that the whole world was deserted and she was the last person on earth you could turn to? Did somebody bomb New York and forget to tell me?
Sonny: You know better.
Maria: Did you sleep with her again?

Sonny is silent.

Maria: Oh my god you Did Sleep With Her! Why couldn't you just leave well enough alone?
Sonny: Why? Because I love Brenda. You know that, because I've never pretended that I didn't love her.
Maria: I thought you were over her?
Sonny: I could never be over Brenda, I thought you of all people would understand that. No matter who else is a part of my life I will always love Brenda with all my heart. 
Maria: I thought that past year meant something to you?
Sonny: He has meant the world to me, you were here when I needed you and I can never repay that.
Maria: What do you mean "repay that." 
Sonny: I think we both know what I mean.  I'm saying that I love you and I'm grateful for your friendship.
Maria: No, that's no it. There is something that you aren't telling me.
Sonny: Brenda is my wife.
Maria: She isn't loyal to you. She continually betrays you, why would marry her?
Sonny: She married me, it was her idea.
Maria: You can't trust her.
Sonny: I trust her more than I trust anyone on this planet.
Maria: She doesn't even know what she wants,  she will only break your heart in the end.
Sonny: We have worked through all of our problems and we are committed to each other. No hearts are going to get broken this time around.
Maria: Oh really, what about the heart of that little girl in the next room? This is going to crush her.  
Sonny: I'm sorry, but we knew that this wasn't forever. When we started this arrangement, you knew that some day I would go back to Brenda, that is what has kept me going for the past year.
Maria: Well, I guess I know where we stand in your list of priorities!
Sonny: You both mean the world to me, but I need Brenda. She is on her way here and we are going to be together for the rest of our lives. 
Maria: I wish that I could believe that, I really do. I care about her, too you know?
Sonny: Yeah, I know you do, that is why I know that you'll agree that she can't know about us.   
Maria: I guess you want me to take my daughter and leave before she gets here?
Sonny: I think that it would be best if she never knew that you were here.
Maria: She will only end up hurting you, make that the two of you will hurt each other. To tell you the truth, I would rather not see that happen, so I'll leave and try to forget that the last year never happened.
Sonny: I wish things could be different.
Maria: No you don't. I think you actually like the pain. Well you and Brenda can have each other, but you are going to have to be the one to break the news to my baby.

As if on cue a small girl about 4 bounds into the room. She stops in front of Sonny and gives him a dimpled grin and looks up at him with dark sparkling eyes that always melt his heart.

Sonny: Hi, Sweetheart, did you have fun in Puerto Rico?
Girl: I had so much fun, I thought I would burst!
Sonny: That's great! So what did you do, besides shop?
Girl: We went to the most beautiful beach I have ever seen.
Sonny: Hey, are you saying that there is something wrong with my beach?
Girl: Your beach is beautiful too.
Sonny: What else did you do?
Maria: She met Juan.
Sonny: *Trying not to sound angry* How did that happen?
Maria: He was on the beach with his adoptive family and he remembered me. I couldn't ignore him, that would have been rude.

Sonny hadn't seen Lily and Miguel's son in several years, even though he thought about him all the time.
Sonny: How is he doing?
Maria: He is all grown up, he is 16 already, and a senior in high school.
Sonny: He's in high school already? That means he'll be graduating soon
Maria: He skipped a grade.
Sonny: I always knew that he was a smart kid.
Maria: He has grown into a very handsome young man.
Girl: He is a babe!
Sonny: Hey, who taught you that?

The girl just shrugs.

Sonny: Come here, sweetie. I want to talk to you about something.

The girl crawls into his lap.

Sonny: Do you like Puerto Rico?
Girl: Yes I do, why don't we live there instead of here?
Sonny: We're close enough to Puerto Rico to go visit when we need to, but we don't have to pay the taxes.
Girl: If you say so.
Sonny: Maybe you and your mom could go live in Puerto Rico?
Girl: You would come too?
Sonny: No, I have to stay here.
Girl: To run the casino?
Sonny: Yes.
Girl: Won't you get lonely though?
Sonny: Some one else is going to come live with me.
Girl: Who?
Sonny: You know Brenda, right. I mean you have heard your mom and I talk about her.
Girl: I have seen the picture of her that you have and heard you guys talk about her, but I don't know her too well.
Sonny: That's a shame that you don't know her, because she is a very special lady.
Girl: I know, she is the love of your life and all the stuff. I've heard it all a million times.
Sonny: She is also my wife.
Girl: Is that why she is coming to live here with you?
Sonny: We might not even live here, we might go back to Port Charles, but wherever we go we are going to be together. But I want you to know that you will all ways be my special girl.
Girl: Could Mama and me come to Port Charles and live there with you?
Sonny: Where you two live is entirely up to your mom, but things would be different.
Girl: Okay.

She turns around and gives Sonny a quick kiss on the cheek.

Maria: Sweetie, why don't you go down and show Julie what you got in Puerto Rico?
Girl: Sure, Mama.

She slides off of Sonny's lap and picks up a bag.

Sonny: She should be in the club practicing her sets.

The little girl leaves the room.

Sonny: She took that pretty well.
Maria: Well, kids bounce back pretty quickly. When is She getting here?
Sonny: That is the problem, I have no idea. It could be as long as a week or it could be this afternoon.
Maria: You will just end up hurting each other, you know that, because you always do.
Sonny: No, things will be different this time.
Maria: Whatever!  *Sighing* I've got packing to do.
Sonny: Are you angry?
Maria: I'm disappointed. I hate to see you throw away your life on something that will never work out. 
Sonny: It will work, you'll see.

Maria walks into the next room and he can tell she is upset, maybe even angry, but she will forgive him. He knows she will, she is one of the most forgiving persons he has ever met. He considers helping her pack, but instead decides to take a walk along the beach.  Slight breeze is blowing, flicking salty air against his skin. However, it isn't uncomfortable and he sits in the sand and looks into the crashing waves, trying to see his future. Brenda claims the ocean has that affect on her. Sonny used to stand at the window to the penthouse in Port Charles for hours, but he could never see the future, he could only see the past.  If he tries real hard he can almost see his and Brenda's life in the waves, but it isn't really clear. After a short time he decided that the future will be what they make together and he can't see it alone.  He can't imagine how he ever lived without her for more than a few days. Even in the short time since he left her in Buffalo he misses her terribly. To have to live without her for much longer would be intolerable. The pain that he feels when he is apart from Brenda is the most powerful feeling that he has ever had. Of all the people that he has lost in his life, loosing Brenda was always the worst. The pain of his mother's death, Lilly's death, even Stone didn't hurt as much as when he thought he had lost Brenda for good. Luckily, he won't ever have to face loosing Brenda again, he will never have to feel that kind of pain and Brenda will never have to be alone or sleep alone another night. They were going to be together for the rest of their lives. He walks farther from the casino until he reaches a high ridge where he can look down on most of the island. Like a ruler overseeing his whole kingdom he makes mental notes of particular places, decided what he wants to show Brenda first, all the secluded places they will go to escape from the world. He decides that the first place he wants to take her is to the private hot springs on the other side of the island.  His eyes move to a dense area of forest, where he knows the springs lay hidden from view. Over head, the sky is beginning to fill with dark clouds and the wave crests have become increasingly violent. All were tell tale signs of an approaching storm. Maria probably wouldn't be able to leave the island until the storm passed in the morning, the captain of the small boat that ran the launch between this island and San Juan would never take his boat out in this kind of weather. Sonny looks up at the sky and the dark clouds and then announces to no one in particular.

Sonny: There is definitely a storm headed this way.

Sonny doesn't know how right he is. That very same captain that he was certain wouldn't be out when a storm was brewing, is currently piloting his boat into the islands port.

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