As General Hospital's Maurice Benard (Sonny) passes Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) in the hall at ABC, he says zealously, ''I want a storyline with her!'' She responds with a big grin. ''He's the husband that I've been looking for!'' And the co-stars just might be onto something. After all, they bring to their scenes something that can't even be scripted - spontaneity. And there clearly is more to the mobster's relationship with his ex-lawyer than meets the eye.

Fans Want Sonny & Alexis To Get Together!

Consider, for a moment, Sonny and Alexis' confrontational, ''I don't trust you, you nasty thug!'' scenes - even these have hidden subtext. Benard and Grahn play such moments with a twinkle in their eyes that suggests that maybe their characters are ready to begin a new chapter of their unlikely friendship. ''We were probably trying to make something happen,'' explains Grahn. ''I think the audience wants some level of surprise, something that just comes about because that's where the energy goes. If there are signs that there's something going on, then they should pursue it...ride it and see where it goes. ''But,'' she adds, '' don't say, 'Okay, now I'm his babe.'''

Benard makes it abundantly clear that nothing would make him happier than more air time with Grahn. ''I've been saying I want a manic-depressive storyline. That never happened. But that's a different thing - they're afraid it's too dark. At least with this, '' he points out, ''it's feasible because it's another woman. Sonny and Alexis have a history. The fans keep writing me that they want it to happen. It wouldn't only give us a storyline, it gives [her ex-fiance] Ned a story too.''

Caution: Passion Ahead!

Of course, what may make the combination of Alexis and Sonny so irresistibly entertaining is watching the control freaks dance around their feelings. So caution would have to be used in pairing them - diving right into a hot-'n'-heavy romance could put out the fire. ''It should be a flirtation for a year, and maybe once, we 'do it','' Grahn suggests. ''Then it should be like MOONLIGHTING. Those two didn't consumate that for a long time, and then they 'did it', and then they didn't again. I get that I can't be the young, sexy babe walking around in my bra and underpants that he's constantly [hot for]. But let something happen that the audience might not expect.''

Benard thinks that Sonny isn't that shallow. ''Actually, Sonny is stimulated by intelligence. So it isn't just somebody parading around in underwear that turns him on. Somebody has to have some personality. Sometimes that's even better than the obvious."

''What's good about Alexis,'' he continues, '' is that there's an intelligence, but there's also a bit of a little girl quality. Maybe some other people might not see it, but I do. I don't think Sonny would be attracted to just intelligence without the vulnerability. Alexis has both.''

What Would Happen If...?

Although Benard says that Sonny is drawn to Alexis because she has her head on her shoulders, he adds that there's a hidden side to her. ''She needs to loosen up!'' he laughs. ''She just needs to have a drink, relax, party and dance a little bit. It's almost like Sonny doesn't know what would happen if she did that. That's intriguing to him." ''He doesn't know how to get into her head, really,'' he continues. ''He tries, but she's a different kind of woman. That's interesting.''