I'm Not Leaving

Part 4

Epiphany watched as Alexis swallowed the antihistamine, nodding.

"Ok, this is going to need to go in your hip. Can you turn on your side in this fancy chair that Mr. Corinthos probably paid way too much for so that you could be comfortable?"

"Sure." She turned toward Sonny. "The chair was for me?" She whispered as she felt the alcohol wipe graze her skin followed by the sting of medicine.
He watched as she closed her eyes to another small pain that added up to too much – too much of everything.

"Yes, definitely for you sweetheart. I thought it would help you rest. You told me the heartburn had been rough ... "

She opened her eyes, waiting to see how he continued.

"Besides, I don't know if you've caught on or not, but I really enjoy snuggling close to you on the couch, until halfway into whatever we're watching you fall asleep, scooting closer to me until your head is on my shoulder. I mean I like it so much I have been known to finish the entire movie before covering you with this blanket," he put his hand down on her leg covered by the lavender throw," and turning on one lamp in case you wake in the night and decide to try to make it to your room all groggy from working too much. Then, I lock the door and drive home."

"I thought, maybe," she said, wiping her eyes. "It really has been the thing I look forward to all week. Especially since ... well, all this ..."

"How long have you known?"

He asked, placing a small kiss on the tip of her nose.

"Almost two months."

Epiphany raised an eyebrow at Sonny and pointed toward the kitchen. "Alexis, you should start to feel sleepy from the medicine in about 20 minutes. Please don't fight it." Sonny nodded.

"What happened?"

She took a deep breath.

"The week before Christmas I was having a lot of pain in my chest, coughing a little. I was carrying a box of things from the office Christmas party," She began.

"You and Diane threw yourself a party? Gave each other presents?"

"There were martinis and we do have a receptionist now."
"She wasn't there," he mumbled.

"She was not," she replied. Sonny smiled as Alexis laughed.

"I noticed some soreness in my left breast that traveled underneath my arm." She shivered slightly as she remembered finding the dimpled skin in the sore area as she showered the next morning. Sonny pulled the blanket more tightly around her.

"I disregarded it initially. Until I was doing a self-exam and noticed an abnormality in the area, swelling. The doctor didn't want to take any chances because of my past history and she brought me in for an ultrasound. They found a few small masses and did a needle aspiration the next day." She looked down and felt him gently place her hand in his, giving it a small squeeze. "It was malignant." She shook her head. "I found out that I had breast cancer the morning of New – "

"Alexis, I was at your house for Christmas. Why didn't you say anything?"

"What did you want me to say? Pass me the dressing and by the way, my breast is super sore. Sonny, you think it's cancer?" He lifted his brow at her, tilting his head in that way he often did." There was a stubborn pause.

"I need you." She said softly.

He nodded. "I thought we'd been working on that. You don't have to do everything alone. You know, I've said it before." He admitted.

"I hate needing anything ... but I need you ..."

She smiled for a moment. "I do recall those words coming from your mouth. Hazy ..."