She
was gone when Ric woke up
He
reached for her but he didn’t find her
Instead
he found Kristina sleeping peacefully in Alexis’s place beside him
“Alexis?”
He
called her name hoping she would answer from behind the bathroom door
No
answer…
Ric
rubbed at his eyes and then made his way out of bed trying not to disturb his little girl
“Alexis?”
The
couch
She
was sitting on the couch
No
coffee
No
paper
No
legal document
She
just sat there already fully dressed
“Good
morning”
She
jumped slightly, the sound of his voice obviously startling her
“Oh,
good morning”
He
watched the look on her face change from deep in thought to a cheerful greeting
“You’re
up?”
“Yeah,
I uh couldn’t sleep”
“And
dressed?”
“I
took a walk”
“Everything
ok?”
At
that moment he couldn’t image all the thoughts that were going through her head
“Yeah
why wouldn’t it be?” she said placing a smile on her face for him
Ric
leaned in kissing her
“You
just were very preoccupied…”
“Oh
sorry I was lost, day dreaming I guess”
That
smile, the one she could easily place on and off her face was there again
“I
should go and wake up sleepy head. I told Sonny we would drop her off early this morning so we could finish packing…”
Alexis
shook her head
“Will
you take her?”
“You
don’t want to…”
“I,
I should start packing and I have a million things to do and… I mean I need to pack up the stuff in my desk and I want
to do it in an organized manner…”
She
was rambling
“Ok,
ok. I’ll take her”
Ric
let it go
He
would take Kristina to Sonny’s
But
Ric saw right through her
And
he didn’t question. He thought maybe she couldn’t face Sonny… not today. And not because she didn’t
want to fight but because she was truly saddened that she had to take Kristina away from him like that, especially after all
that they had been through
He
thought that could have been her reasoning
So
he didn’t question
++++++++
“She’s
already had lunch” Ric said as he helped Kristina pull her backpack from her little shoulders
The
awkwardness with his brother still lingered even though a truce was called (somewhat forcefully) between the two of them
Ric
assumed though, it would be that way forever. Especially now that Ric was the one that would raise Sonny’s biological
daughter, raise his daughter in Ric’s own little perfect family… without Sonny
“You
and Alexis packed?”
Sonny’s
attempt at small talk
“Just
about, she’s at home now still packing”
Good,
that was a good enough excuse of where she was
Ric
studied Sonny’s mood and then looked down to see Kristina already occupied by toys left by her brothers
“I’m
sure Michael and Morgan will want to spend some time with her before we leave…”
Sonny
didn’t answer immediately
“Yeah,
Carly’s bringing them over when Michael gets out of school today…”
Ric
shook his head
“Kristina”
Ric said falling to his knees to tell her goodbye “Be a sweet girl ok?”
“Ok”
Kristina answered cheerfully
“Can
I have a hug and a kiss goodbye?”
Kristina
without hesitation fell in to Ric’s arms
Sonny
watched
“Bye
bye sweetheart have fun!”
One
last kiss on top of the head goodbye
“We
should be at home if you need us” Ric reminded
++++++
By
the time Ric got back, her desk wasn’t packed though it did look like an attempt was made by all the stuff from the
drawers in little piles on top of the desk
“How
was he? Everything ok?”
“I
left her playing contently”
Alexis
shook her head satisfied
“He
said Morgan and Michael were coming over as soon as Michael got out of school…”
“Good,
good” she said now shuffling though the first pile
That
look on her face
Again
Ric still a bit confused about what seemed to occupy her attention so
“Packing
in an “organized manner” huh?” he said trying to distract her ad he wrapped his arms around her waist and
kissing her check
And
then her neck
“It
takes time to pack in an organized manner!”
“If
you keep packing at this rate we should be ready to move just in time for the Thanksgiving Parade!”
“You’ll
thank me when we’re moving in and you’re looking for that damn burnt hockey trophy and I’ll know just where
it’s packed”
“You
mean you had no plans to conveniently lose my hockey trophy in the move?”
“Noooo,
I wouldn’t do that!”
“No,
no you would never!”
“I’m
not getting rid of it. It’s charred from the fire, it has dents from where we dropped it on the floor when we were,
well you know… your hockey trophy has lived a hard life and now it must live the rest of its days safe and sound in
a closet somewhere” Alexis said grinning wickedly
Ric
raised his brow suspiciously to her
“You
better get a move on it… literally if you want to be a resident of New York City by the weekend”
Alexis
grinned again
“I
like the sound of that”
“Yeah…
me too”
Ric
leaned over picking up the box Alexis had halfway filled
“You
know, you have a really cute butt!” Alexis said very obviously observing
“You’re
checking out my butt? Aren’t you supposed to be concentrating on your organized packing?”
“Well
you do… and I mean isn’t nice that I notice? I mean we are an old married couple and I’m just trying to
keep our marriage interesting”
“Already
an old married couple?” Ric laughed “What’s gotten in to you today?”
Alexis
leaned in giving him a quick kiss
“I’m
happy…” she paused “I’m just really happy”
A
grin covered Ric’s face, matching hers
“Good”
he said sincerely “That’s the one thing I want most for you, is to be happy”
Her
smile, now more genuine than before
It
was obvious now she was happy
Another
kiss
This
one ignited another
He
playfully tugged at her ponytail pulling her away
“We
should pack” Ric said trying to remind himself not to be swayed by her favorite game
“Pack? Pack what?” she said amused with herself
He grinned
He couldn’t help but grin
He loved, despite his protests when she was “in the mood”
“Honey” His plea not so desperate
“I’ll pack fast… tomorrow” she said placing a biting kiss to his bottom lip
“You’re persuasive to say the least” Ric managed to say before he found himself backing her
against the wall
He then kissed the devious grin off her lips
His
hands were roaming
She
was irresistible
Kisses
to his lips, and his neck
She
was trying now desperately to pull his shirt off
She
wanted to kiss down his chest…
Ric
stopped, laughing, helping her
She
got what she wanted
And
if she were to get what she wanted he for damn sure was going to get what he wanted
Her
t-shirt fell to the floor
His
lips went roaming mimicking every kiss she had given
He
wanted her to know just how good it felt
“I
want you so much”
The
sound of her voice, the words slipping from her lips
Her
fingers began tugging at his jeans until they were undone, hers quickly followed
Pressed
perfectly against each other
The phone rang
They stopped instantly
“Nooo” Alexis pouted
“Honey I have to get that. It may be important… I’m still DA at least until tomorrow!”
Alexis let go of him
“I hate that phone!” she said pressing the back of her head against the door knowing she was defeated
once again by his cell phone
He kissed her before answering the phone
“Lancing… John, hi” Alexis turned to watch Ric’s face as she heard his voice change
“Yes, hopefully by the weekend… Really? No, no that would be great… Are you sure? ... No, I’ll be
there. Ok. Thank you, really… ok”
A short conversation
Ric snapped is phone shut
“What?”
Alexis said not being able to stand it
Ric
turned scooping Alexis up in his arms slowly pushing her towards their bedroom
“Ric?”
He
grinned
“That
was John…”
“And?”
Alexis asked puzzled
“And
he wants to have a meeting Monday morning…”
Alexis
stopped them both dead in their tracks
“Honey?”
“Hmm?”
“A
meeting about what?”
“I’m
a man Alexis! I have to do the man thing… support my family. I can’t live off of my wife! I’m gonna have
to make my own way in the big city!” He said his chest playfully protruding outward
Alexis
rolled her eyes
“Ric”
“I
asked John for a favor… he came through” Ric said now more seriously
“But
is it what you want to do?” She said suddenly feeling selfish that Ric was leaving his career behind for her
“Honey, I like working with John. It will be a great job”
“But…”
Before
Alexis could cast any more doubt or at least throw out another question Ric began to kiss her again
“I
believe we were in the middle of something before the phone rang. Now where were we… my beautiful and very persuasive
wife?”
Alexis
bit at her bottom lip taking a moment to decide if she would give up and be swayed or at least push for a discussion
His
beautiful dark eyes
“Almost
to our bed” she said giving in
She
then turned and tugged at his hand, he followed
They
didn’t pack
They
kissed here and touched there
They
made love, all afternoon
They
would pack fast tomorrow
++++++++
“Promise…
me…” she said in between kisses
“Ok
I promise” he said kissing down her stomach
Her
eyes cast upon the ceiling getting lost in how his kisses felt against her skin
“Ric…
I haven’t told you what you’re promising yet!” she said almost giggling, trying to keep on subject
“It
doesn’t matter at this point I’ll give you anything and everything you want!”
“Ric!”
He
looked up at her
“What
am I promising you?” he asked settling on top of her
She brushed her fingers through his hair
“That
we’ll always have days like this”
He
smiled
“Days
where we’re suppose to be doing something else but instead we’re lying in bed making love to each other”
“I
think that’s definitely a promise I can keep” he said burying himself in to the crook of her neck
Her
hands now slid up and down his bare back
He
leaned up again to see that look on her face once again
“Alexis?”
“Hmm?”
“You
have that look on your face again. Like you’re a million miles away”
“I’m
sorry I just, I’m a little distracted”
Ric
pulled himself up on his elbows, still lying on top of her
“Tell
me sweetheart what’s on your mind”
She
let out a nervous laugh
A
smile didn’t appear on his face
Whatever
was bothering her was making her suddenly a nervous wreck
“Sweetheart?”
“I,
I love you”
“I
love you too” he responded almost puzzled
Her
hands once again tracing up and down his back
“You
can tell me anything, you know that. I’m right here, always…”
She knew that
She really did truly believe that
Her
eyes sparkling
“Honey…”
“Yeah?”
he said hoping she was going to confide in him
She
shuffled under him, then running her hands through her hair
She
paused
“Honey
what is it?”
“I
um, I was late and I’m never late or at least really late…” she said as she began to ramble nervously
“Late?”
He asked confused
“Well
except for the one time before…”
“One
time before?”
“But
I ignored it this time. Then I started feeling tired and I made excuses that it was because all that’s going on and
then…”
“Tired?”
His
mind now reeling
She
shook her head yes
“And
then I got morning sickness and well…”
“Alexis?
Are you… you’re sure?”
“I
went out this morning; I thought the fresh air would make me feel better not so nauseous… I bought a pregnancy test…”
Alexis
leaned over and pulled from the bedside table the pregnancy test clearly reading “pregnant”
“I’m
pregnant”
That
nervous laugh again
Tears
were already streaming down his face
She
didn’t expect him to cry
But
his tears only made her cry
“You’re
happy about this?” she questioned
“Yes!
Alexis… I’m, I’m… I love you so much” he said kissing her “We’re having a baby…”
he said kissing her again
“Wait,
you’re happy about this?” He said suddenly worried she wasn’t
“Yeah,
yeah I just you know, it’s probably just the most inopportune time”
Ric
suddenly realized for her it was the most inopportune time
Her
new job… and a baby
“Sweetheart
we can do this.” He took her hands in his “Don’t worry about your job, don’t worry about New York we’ll figure it out” Ric was suddenly scrambling
as if he were trying to do damage control
Alexis
shook her head but still seemingly unconvinced
Ric
sat up in bed, staring at Alexis. He wiped the tears from his cheeks, then hers
He
then placed his hand at her stomach
“We’ll
be fine” he reiterated “Remember what I said. I’m right here, always”
She
took his face in her hands and kissed him
“I
just have to get use to the idea” she said with a smile on her face
He
shook his head agreeing
“And
I have to figure out how I’m going to tell Michael his lead council got knocked up”
She
laughed that nervous laugh again and again
He
lay down beside her snuggling her in his arms
They
lay there for what seemed like forever in silence
Both
now consumed in their own thoughts
Not
sure what to say
Or
discuss
Not
sure if one was happier than the other that there was now this new life between them
Ric
at times when over come by emotion, squeezed her tighter against him. When he did she would place small kisses against his
bare skin knowing his thoughts
Her
hand suddenly made a move down his bare chest, her fingers circling
Her
voice, out loud
“I
wanted to have your baby”
Her
words, surprising
He
looked at her, in to her eyes
“I
wanted to. I mean I’ve never said that to anyone much less just out loud. But I’ve fallen so in love with you,
and maybe it’s because I’m already a mother, maybe because I already know how it feels… But I wanted for
you to be able to finally be able to have a child… to know… I wanted to be the one to give you that”
Ric
couldn’t seem to catch his breath
“I
didn’t know you felt that way. I mean we never discussed having a baby… but I want you to know I was content just
having Kristina… God, he’s given me that much and I was content on letting that be enough… she’s my
angel, my heart Alexis”
Alexis
swiped at the tears falling down the sides of her face
“And
she’s so lucky, I’m so lucky that we have you. That you ended up with us… I just, I wanted to be able to
give you what you really wanted. I just thought the direction our lives are headed, I thought our chance had passed…”
“That
just means this baby is a blessing to us…”
She
shook her head
“Alexis
this baby is a part of us. A little bit of me and hopefully a whole lot of you!”
He said kissing the top of her head
Ric
then began to run his hands across her stomach
His
touch seemed to spark against her skin
When
she was pregnant with Kristina, she went through it alone.
She
wouldn’t be alone anymore
He
would be right there with her, with Kristina and their blessing always…
End.
Ch.14
