Cross Purposes
a fanfic by SonnyandAlexisGal
Chapter Nine

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Sonny stands at the window in Dr. Gonzalez’ office, hands in his pockets, staring out at the street below.

His heart is thumping wildly and his palms feel moist.

Slow down and take it easy, he tells himself. All this is is an examination to find out how the baby is growing – that’s it. Stop worrying so much. Alexis and the baby are fine.

Alexis and her doctor went into the exam room about twenty minutes ago -- after their consultation. Sonny is glad that Alexis allowed him to be here with her. It makes him feel as if he is truly part of this new life inside of her.

Sonny inhales deeply and exhales as slowly as possible, hoping to calm himself down.

Alexis was right, he thinks. This is huge. There is actually a baby – their baby. They created a new life together. The enormity is both crippling and thrilling at the same time.

And this baby’s gonna have everything that I never had, Sonny tells himself. This baby is never gonna know what it feels like to be hungry or scared or abandoned. This baby’s never gonna know what it feels like to be locked in a closet or beaten with a belt. This baby won’t feel invisible the way Alexis used to feel when she was a kid.

And this baby’s gonna know how much she is loved – right from the start.

Sonny smiles at the thought – his very own little girl – a daughter. He made up his mind almost immediately that this baby is female. He doesn’t know why but he’s certain that this baby – his and Alexis’ baby -- will be a girl.

He can almost see her face as he stands there in front of the window. She is tiny and dark. She has curly brown hair and these big, beautiful and expressive brown eyes – just like her mother – along with the same deep, deep dimples.

She has a laugh that can lift his heart no matter how far down he gets. And when she cries, the world and everything in it comes to a halt until he can make her tears stop.

She’s opinionated and she’s stubborn – a gift from both of us, he thinks.

She’s book smart and she’s street smart. She’ll go to Harvard and she’ll know how to run everyone and everything there – totally in charge.

And Sonny can spoil her shamelessly, giving her every bit of her father’s love for as long as he lives and way, way after.

Alexis is the right one, his mind says – the one that he would have picked to be the mother of his child. She knows how to make people feel safe around her. She’s loving and level-headed and principled. And she’ll be the best mother she can be to our daughter.

I was married to Lily, he remembers. And I loved her as much as I could…but I wasn’t in love with her. I was about to run away with Brenda when Lily told me she was pregnant…and I knew that my place was here with our child…Carly and me…we betrayed Jason and she got pregnant and…I had to be there for our child…

But this time, he tells himself – this time…I loved you first – before this new life was created. That means that it’s right this time, Alexis.

The door opens and interrupts Sonny’s reverie.

He turns toward the sound and watches as Alexis comes back into the office and sits. He walks back over to where she’s sitting as Dr. Gonzalez comes back into the office.

“Everything okay?” he asks – more concerned than he knew.

Alexis nods.

“Everything looks fine,” Dr. Gonzalez adds. “Please – have a seat, Mr. Corinthos.”

Sonny relaxes and sits down in the chair next to Alexis’.

“The pregnancy seems to be progressing normally,” the doctor continues. She sits in the big chair behind her desk. “I want to stay on top of things so that there are no surprises. I want this pregnancy to be as un-eventful as possible.”

“So do I,” Alexis mutters.

“So what’s next?” Sonny asks.

“Well, there are about a million pamphlets and books about how your baby will grow in the next months. And I’ll write a prescription for pre-natal vitamins.”

“Okay,” Alexis says.

“And I don’t want you to overdo,” Dr. Gonzalez adds. “I know you, Alexis. I know how much you like to work and the hours that you put in. You’ll have to cut back a bit.”

“We’ll take care of it,” Sonny says.

“I can speak for myself,” Alexis insists. She stops to take a breath. “I’ll take care of it…”

“And, since you’re thirty-five,” the doctor continues, “we may want to consider amniocentesis…”

“Wait a minute,” Alexis interrupts. “Isn’t that the test where you stick an obscenely long needle into me?”

“That’s the one.”

“And what’s the reason for that?” Sonny asks.

“To withdraw a small amount of the amniotic fluid to determine whether or not there are any abnormalities with the baby…”

“What kinds of abnormalities?”

“Chromosome abnormalities or some type of neural tube defect…Generally the procedure is performed on woman at an elevated risk for these kinds of things – women who’ve already had a child with such a genetic disorder…or women aged thirty-five and older. The procedure can be done at any time after the 16th week.”

“But that can hurt the baby, can’t it?” Alexis asks.

“Something like that is actually pretty rare. Ultrasound is used to keep track of where the baby is during insertion of the needle so that the needle doesn’t hurt the baby…”

Alexis shakes her head and tries to wipe the idea from her mind.

“She doesn’t have to make up her mind about that now, does she?” Sonny asks. “I mean…you said that there’s nothing wrong now, right?”

“Everything is fine now,” Dr. Gonzalez reassures. “Amniocentesis is just another diagnostic tool that we might want to consider down the road. In the meantime,” she says as she stands, “I’ll get those pamphlets for you and I’ll write out your prescription. Be right back.”

She comes from behind the desk and passes the two of them on her way out of the office.

Alexis stands and walks over to the window.

“Amniocentesis,” she repeats. “It sounds…awful…”

“Well,” Sonny says as he stands, “she said that it’s an option that you might consider. Besides, it’s way down the road. Don’t worry about it.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” Alexis says. “She wasn’t talking about piercing you with a long needle…”

Sonny laughs.

“True,” he says. “Don’t worry about it, Alexis. I’ll be right there next to you the whole time – whatever happens. I promise.”

Alexis turns around and her eyes connect with Sonny’s.

He keeps saying those sweet and supportive things, Alexis’ mind says. I really wish he’d stop that. I’m trying to remain somewhat detached – to keep some small bit of perspective about all of this. I won’t be able to if he keeps this up…

“Thank you,” she manages after a moment.

“You’re welcome,” he says.

___________________________________________________________________

The elevator doors open on the penthouse floor.

Francis steps out of the elevator and stands to the side, holding the doors open for Sonny and Alexis.

“Thank you, Francis,” Alexis says.

“Yeah,” Sonny says. “Thanks. Can you…” he begins as he motions toward his apartment door.

Francis obediently steps away and leaves them alone in front of the elevator.

“You know,” Alexis begins, “you should really think about treating your employees a little more nicely…”

“I said thank you,” Sonny insists.

Alexis shakes her head.

“Nevermind.”

“So,” he begins, holding up the many different pamphlets in his hand, “should we split these things in half – you take half and I take half and then we switch around or something?”

“I guess that’s a good idea,” Alexis says before taking several of them out of his hands. “This is…odd…isn’t it?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sonny quickly answers. “It’s…odd...And you’ve got the vitamins, right?”

“In my purse.”

“Good,” he says. “So…you hungry? Want me to make you somethin’ to eat?”

“Uh…no – thank you. I’ll…I think I’ll just go home. I’ll get something…”

“You sure? I mean, you know…the kitchen’s not exactly…your best event…”

“Very funny,” she says. “However I assure you that even I can wash fruit. I’ll have some of the fruit that you brought over this morning…”

“I already washed it,” he says.

“Why didn’t I know that?”

“I don’t know. Besides you’re gonna need to eat more than that. It’s almost dinnertime…”

“I will – later…”

“I’ll bring somethin’ over,” he says as he turns toward his apartment.

“Wait a minute. I don’t need you to bring anything over,” Alexis insists. “Contrary to what you may think, I actually am capable of taking care of myself…”

“You’re pregnant, Alexis,” Sonny says when he turns back around to face her.

“I know.”

“And you need to take even better care of yourself so…let me bring over something for you to eat.”

“I don’t need…”

“Please?”

Alexis studies him for a moment.

“I…I like pasta,” she admits.

Sonny smiles.

“You got it,” he says.

“I’ll see you later…”

“See you later,” Sonny says.

“Sonny?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you…for showing up at the doctor’s office today,” she says. “It…made things a little easier – having you there…”

“Thanks for lettin’ me stay…”

“You’re welcome.”

Their eyes make contact once again – circumstances drawing them closer.

“You uh,” Sonny begins, “…wanna come in?”

Say yes, Alexis, his mind implores – his eyes staring into hers. I miss…sittin’ with you – talking…

I won’t, her head resists. This isn’t about us. It’s all about the baby…and I’m going to do my best to keep it that way…

“No, thank you,” she finally answers. “I’ll just…go home…”

“Okay…”

Sonny watches as she turns and heads toward her apartment.

“I’ll be over in about an hour or so,” he calls after her.

She takes out her keys and unlocks the door.

“I’ll be waiting,” she answers.

She opens the door and steps inside.

___________________________________________________________________

Francis opens the door to Sonny’s apartment.

“Thanks,” Mike says as he steps into the apartment. “Sonny?”

The front door closes.

“Sonny?”

“What do you want, Mike?” Sonny asks as he comes walking into the living room, drying his hands on a dishtowel.

“Well, nothing important,” Mike answers. “I just wanted to come by – see how you’re doing…”

Sonny shrugs.

“I’m okay,” he answers. “I’m makin’ dinner so…”

“And Alexis? How is she?”

“Alexis is fine.”

“Good. I uh…ran into her at Kelly’s Diner a few days ago and…she didn’t look well…”

“No?”

“No,” Mike continues. “She looked a little…well, actually a little…green.”

“Oh,” Sonny says. “And?”

“And I was wondering how she’s feeling…”

“I see…” He stares at Mike for a moment. “You know, don’t you?”

“Know what?”

Sonny laughs at the obvious twinkle in his father’s eye.

“You know that Alexis is pregnant.”

“Well,” Mike begins, a smile coming to his face, “as a matter of fact…”

“I knew it,” Sonny interrupts. “How did you find out?”

“I told you. When I saw her at the diner, she looked green and I mean really green… I sort of teased her about eating a Western Omelet and I saw the look on her face…”

“Figures…”

Mike extends his hand.

“Congratulations, Michael!”

Sonny shakes his hand.

“Thanks, Mike.”

“Congratulations about what?” comes the voice from the front door.

It’s Carly.

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