Choices

Part III

Chapter 1

'Baby!?!' Alice and Melanie yelled when the doctor told them the news.

'I take it you didn't know.'

'Gee, doc, guess not.' Alice retorted.

He raised an eyebrow but decided not to comment, 'Your baby is in distress. We need to get youhooked up to a fetal monitor and start an IV We'll do everything . . . ' Mel's mind lost track of what the doctor was saying. She was pregnant. It still didn't sink in.

'Miss Richards? ..... Miss Richards?' the doctor repeated a little louder when Melanie didn't respond. Alice poked her sister in her side when she realized Mel wasn't answering.

'Sorry, what did you say?'

The doctor pulled himself up to his full height, 'I asked if you had suffered any injuries in the past, anything that could have hurt the baby?'

After a few moments, Mel looked up at the doctor. She didn't know what to tell him. For all she knew she came from the sea last night, some modern day Aphrodite who apparently couldn't swim. The bruises and sprained wrist she suffered ached, but she no memory of their cause.

Alice saw that Mel was deep in thought and wondered what she could tell the doctor. She had explained to Melanie on the drive over that to avoid more problems than they could handle, they should create a ruse of sisterhood. Melanie had gone for a drive a few days ago and no one had heard from her since. Alice was driving home and saw her heading in the same direction, following some instinctual compass. It had seemed a good idea at the time but, with all the other woman had suffered, Alice figured she could use all the help she could get. 'You'll have to excuse my sister. She had a terrible experience. She tends to draw into herself when she feels threatened or scared.'

'Why would she feel either emotion here?' the doctor asked skeptically. There was more here than he was being told and he didn't like it one bit.

'She suffered a fall. She doesn't remember exactly what happened but the location and size of the bruises show she didn't just get into a fight. I can only assume she sprained her wrist when she tried to break her fall.'

'Do you think yourself some sort of amateur doctor?'

Alice chose to answer truthfully. The less lies there were the less she would have to worry about backing up. 'I read a lot and I watch X-Files. I pay close attention to Scully's descriptions of . . . '

'Ms. Richards! I am not interested in your lack of taste in programming.' Alice wanted to say something about Scully having more manners then the doctor that she was currently dealing with but chose to keep that comment to herself. 'I am trying to save your niece or nephew.'

At the doctor's last statement, Mel placed her hands protectively over her stomach biting her lip when she bent her wrist. 'He has to live.' She stated 'He is going to live.' She whispered mostly to the child she had no knowledge of thirty minutes earlier.

'It's too early to determine the sex . . . '

Mel's head snapped up, 'I know my son will live.'

The doctor chose not to argue when he saw the strength of the certainty in her eyes.

'What can be done?' Alice asked quietly.

'We'll handle the diet and medicine; your sister needs to rest. Drink as much water as you can. I know that seems little but, it might be enough.'

'It has to be,' Melanie added as she rubbed her stomach with her uninjured hand. When the doctor left, Alice began her questions. 'A baby? You're having a baby? Why didn't you tell me?'

Mel gave her a why do you think look.

'Of course, you don't remember. Well, I'll tell you little sister your memory picked a hell of a time to take a vacation.' When the younger woman heard the words little sister she saw a fleeting image of a woman with short, brown hair. 'What is it?' Alice asked seeing Mel's eyes at the moment of the memory.

'I don't know,' she answered clearly dissatisfied at not retaining it.

'Was it a memory?'

Mel just looked at her.

'Hell of a time for a vacation.'

Chapter 2

Sonny was driving aimlessly in the area surrounding Port Charles. He couldn't be there right now, but he was tired of running. So, he was in the middle, where he hated to be. It wasn't just his physical location, but his mental and emotional as well. He wanted Brenda, but he couldn't have her. It tore out his heart that he would never be able to experience at her in any way other than what everyone else could: Photographs, magazine advertisements, and Deception memorabilia. She was so much more than just a pretty picture on a page. Sonny knew what it was like to taste her like a fine wine, to sip at her essence for a full swallow would overwhelm his senses. He knew what it was like to see inside her, to feel her energy focus on and enwrap him in pure heat. He never stopped loving her, he could never get over someone who was as much a part of him as the blood pumping through his veins. They were like little children who cut themselves to mingle their blood, only he and Brenda had mingled their souls.

He hated not being definite about anything, not being able to make a clear decision. When he was a child, he had almost no control, everyone made decisions for him. When he left home, he decided he would make all the choices in his life. If he couldn't make a decision, than it wasn't worth his time. But this was his life he was indecisive about. He couldn't just walk away.

As he continued to drive, he passed familiar land and felt this was a place he could stop and maybe be comfortable in the middle. At least, for a little while. He pulled into the unassuming driveway and parked in his usual spot. Instead of climbing to the spot he had shown her, he walked out to the buildings.

They were worn down and only nature's animals grazed there now, but it was still a farm. Sonny had planned to clear everything away, get rid of old wood and tin, and have someone clear the land of settled debris. Maybe build a house, settle down. Yes, he had thoughts of a wife and children, but Brenda was the only one he wanted to share his dreams with. The only one that could make his fantasies a reality. Now that she was gone, he tried to picture another woman as his wife, other faces to fulfill a desire or a wish, but Brenda's face always appeared to wipe all other's from his mind.

It wasn't going to do him any good to entertain any thoughts of an impossible future with her, it was better to put the past behind him and move on. He could not survive by dwelling in the past, he had to get over her.

But his heart wouldn't listen. It, and his soul yearned for his chestnut beauty. He closed his eyes, remembering times with her. The feel of her skin, rivaling the finest silk; smoky eyes promising a fire in her soul, and sweet lips that delivered on that promise. Nights filled with passion, an ecstasy he only felt with her, were enhanced by waking to the feeling of her exquisite body molded into his.

Not that he would admit it, not even to Brenda if she were here, he had not been with anyone since the night before their wedding. As the quickening in his groin revealed at his erotic thoughts, he had no physical problems that stopped him. He just had no desire for anyone else. He could not understand how he felt he could leave without her, live without her. He knew now, only death could keep him from going back to her.

The realization of that thought brought fresh tears to his eyes. He had admitted, for the first time, that she was dead. He let his tears fall, an occasional sob or scream would emerge unstopped. He felt no need to suppress himself as there was no one around to see any attempt at his usual serious face.

He took a moment of freedom from his morose thoughts and wiped his eyes. He looked around but the land seemed to be strange, unfamiliar. It was more empty and it's space was desolate. It had not changed since he had shown it to Brenda, except for new growth. The grass was to the knee and the trees were overflowing with fruit but, it looked lifeless and void. He knew it wasn't anything physical but her presence had seeped into the land since he brought her here, and, now that he returned without her, it was lonely and cold.

His mind swept into distant thoughts. Instead of Brenda, he remembered a time before she died. A time of a curious visitor. He was in his penthouse when there was an unexpected knock on the door. He was about to ask why he was he was being interrupted when he saw Joseph's expression. To anyone who didn't know him, Joseph appeared nonchalant. He had his usual strong, yet blank expression, but Sonny knew from years of experience that something was wrong. From the slightly unsure cast of his eyes to his almost timid way of speaking, all announced to Sonny his bodyguard's feelings. Whether he was uncomfortable because he was interrupting his boss or because the nature of the visitor, Sonny wouldn't know till he found out who it was.

Sonny looked at the woman and studied her as his tongue seemed stuck in his mouth. His thoughts were racing a mile a minute, but he forced his face to appear calm. He did not want to give her an edge for fear that she was whom she appeared.

Veronica looked at the man in front of her and decided her daughter had excellent tastes. Brendawouldn't have liked it had she known her mother was visiting her ex-fiance, but Veronica had to meet this man if only to find out why he hurt her little girl. Veronica knew she was guilty of the same charge, but she wanted to know why anyone else would.

Sonny looked at Joseph. The woman certainly looked like she could be Brenda's mother, but hecouldn't accept that as proof positive. 'Did you check her I.D.?'

'Yes, boss. Everything she showed me says she's Veronica Barrett.'

Sonny held his hand out and Joseph handed him a driver's license and birth certificate. Veronica choose this moment to speak. 'You two act like people come here everyday claiming they are Brenda's parents.'

Sonny looked at the forms. They looked real, Sonny had seen many forgeries and could usual tell them from the real ones. She looked like Brenda, but looks could be deceiving. He decided to have someone check into the older Ms. Barrett's background. 'In my line of work, one can never be too careful. I take it you came here because you had something to say to me.' Sonny turned and headed back into the penthouse after giving Veronica back her information.

Veronica looked at Joseph who had turned to stand at his normal position. The conclusion was obvious, she could either go in and talk to Mr. Corinthos, or she could leave. She thought it was rude and had she not felt that it was necessary to speak with this man, she might have left. As it was, she walked in slowly and fought to remain calm as her breath quickened when Joseph closed the door behind her. Sonny was moving towards the bar in the main room and Veronica followed, sitting on the couch. Sonny poured himself something and drank the contents of his glass in a quick gulp. He swallowed hard to contain a cough, and tears leaked from his tightly squeezed eyes. He poured another glass and sipped gently as he turned and walked towards Brenda's mother. He sat in a chair opposite of her and, after taking another bolster of liquid courage, placed the glass on the table beside him.

He was collecting his thoughts when she spoke. 'Are you going to ask me what you're wondering or are you going to get drunk?'

Sonny looked at her and stopped his smile from spreading beyond the corners of his mouth quirking. He could see where Brenda got her straight forwardness. Sonny sat up in the chair and folded his hands, placing them below his lips. 'Why are you here?'

Veronica smiled, 'Brenda.'

Sonny's heart pounded as fear overtook questions. 'What about her?'

'Don't worry, she's okay. I came to talk about her.'

'Did she send you?'

'No. She doesn't know I am here, and I would like to keep it that way.'

'I am sure you would.'

Sonny paused and Veronica chose to charge ahead with the conservation instead of waiting for the reluctant man before her. Their conversation wasn't very long, but it was filled with shadowed insults and half-hidden innuendos. Veronica knew her daughter loved Sonny, but she didn't appreciate his treatment of her. Sonny admitted when he had left Brenda at the altar, it was to protect her, not because he didn't love her. Nothing was solved by their conversation, but, when she left, they had a new mutual respect for each other.

Chapter 3

On a plane to Port Charles

The small plane was conveniently very smooth as it sliced through the clouds. The dark haired woman continued to flip through a magazine as her daughter sat beside her, listening to a tape of one of her favorite artists. Her mother couldn't say who it was, as she didn't keep up with her daughter's style of music, but the faint notes escaping the earphones did help her relax. She didn't know what would happen when they arrived home, or even who would be there. She just knew she was tired of waiting and hoping. She was sick of the lazy complacency that had started to overtake her lately as she went day to day, mindlessly repeating well practiced rituals and habits. She heard the low rumble of thunder outside her window and she stared out the small opening at the darkening sky. She was never very fond of planes, and the worsening weather quickly absorbed her attention. She almost jumped out of her seat as a calm, warm voice spoke a short distance from her.

'Would you like anything to drink?'

She breathed in a few times before she trusted her voice not to crack before responding. 'I'll take some hot tea, if you have it. With lemon and honey.'

"And for your daughter?'

She looked over and noticed that her small child had fallen asleep. She shook her gently and was graced with the annoyed gaze that had quickly and irritatingly become a regular part of her appearance. "Lynn, you want anything to drink?"

She sighed and sat up in the seat. She appeared no more than four, but the stewardess could tell that she was going to be a beautiful as her mother. "Do you have chocolate milk?"

"Yes mam, we do."

She didn't respond and her harried parent took on the responsibility of thanking the woman. After she had left, the brunette looked at her daughter a moment before she returned to her magazine. No matter what surprises awaited her in Port Charles, they couldn't top the one sitting beside her.

Chapter 4

Sonny decided that he needed some time alone. He could only think of one place where he could truly relax, the island where he was staying when he left Brenda. Jason found out he was there and decided to check on his friend.

Sonny: "You know what? You still haven't said what you thought of my place." (Sonny gestures to the room and they both get up.)

Jason: "Its nice."

Sonny: "Its everything I ever wanted. You know, I don't know if I ever told you this but, when I first started working... With Joe Scully, he came down here for a meeting - not this island, another island. I was nothing then - just one of his guards. But, I looked around, you know, this ... (Sighs) This is going to be mine someday. I'm going to make so much money, I'm going to cash out. I'm going to buy a little white house overlooking the ocean. I'm gonna ... Own a casino ... And I'm going to have the pick of any woman I want. (Pauses) I made it, except for the woman part. That's my own damn fault. Its ... It's a good life, Jason. I'm just trying to figure out ah ... When I'm gonna start enjoying it. (He pauses, sighs, and places his hand on Jason's shoulder.) Its like you were when ah ... Before you met Carley. I fish. You know why? (Pause) Because its ... It's the only way that I can really ... calmly fall asleep. Otherwise, I gotta get drunk, and then I dream. And you know what happens when I (voice breaks) dream. (Pause) I'd rather not."

Jason: "You hate it here."

Sonny: "Nah, no, no. (Pause) Sometimes."

Jason: "Then, come back. Brenda is dead, Sonny. No one is going to use her to get to you anymore."

Sonny: "What'da you going to do, Jason? You gonna hand over the whole operation to me and start taking orders again?"

Jason: "Yes."

Sonny: "No, it doesn't work that way. You have earned your respect. You have earned your position. You cannot just give it away, not even to me."

Jason: "Sonny, I don't care about the business. It's a job, okay? (They sit) It's a job, and I love doing it but, I'd rather have you around."

Sonny: "I want her back! (Pause) I want her right (he make a chopping motion with his hand causing the cell phone to fall) I want her right now. Do you understand what I am saying? I can't live in the same city where she lived because everything reminds me of her. I know things about Brenda, no one else will never know. I would have used that against her because I could ... If I had come back earlier, I wouldn't have been able to help myself. Maybe I would have gotten her back but, maybe I'd have broken her down. She told me a little about what ... That's like. She tried to cut her face, (makes a cutting motion) so that she'd look so ugly that I wouldn't want her. (Sonny's cell phone rings) "Yeah? You want Jason? Why didn't you call him? Yeah, yeah, ok." (He hands the phone to Jason who looks at him. Sonny just shrugs.)

Jason: "Yeah? ...What?!? ... Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, I'll tell him. Yeah. I'll keep in touch. (Hangs up and rubs the back of his neck and mumbles.) Shit, shit, shit." (Deep sigh)

Sonny: "Trouble?"

Jason: (He nods) ".......... Brenda's accident....(Sonny's eyes harden when he hears Jason's tone.) It wasn't an accident."