Chapter Text
July 31, 2020
Alexis can feel the sunlight streaming in through the cracks in the blinds and winces at the intrusion into her slumber. She reaches over to the side of the bed for Neil. It’s funny, it’s only been a few weeks of him regularly sharing her bed, but it feels like much longer…like he belongs there with her. Once they finally decided to just be together, everything just fell into place and felt so...right. Even though they both risked it all that night in New York (and the morning after), neither has had any regrets about moving forward and starting a relationship.
It’s been easier for Neil to adjust to being unemployed, he was willing to throw it all away just to be with her from the first time he learned of the complaint against him to the medical ethics board. But Alexis…she’s had a much harder time adjusting to being disbarred. It’s not something she thought she’d ever be facing again. But a part of her knew it was a possibility when she decided to lie to protect Neil. She knew the risks, but she did it anyway. Protecting him was worth it, even though in the end it was all for nothing and they were caught and both ended up jobless, anyway. Neil has been working on a book that he began a few years prior, but got too busy to really work on. He hasn’t told her what it’s about, yet but he’s promised that he will let her read it when he’s ready. Alexis has been doing volunteer work, again. She found that the local women’s shelter has a need for someone that can help to refer clients to legal counsel. Even though she can’t technically give them legal advice, she’s been able to feel useful by giving clients referrals to lawyers and public services that can help them get back on their feet. It’s fulfilling being able to help women in need at their most vulnerable time.
When she reaches over to find Neil, to cuddle in a little closer to avoid the reality that morning has come and that they’ll soon need to disentangle themselves from each other to start their day, she realizes that his side of the bed is cold and he’s not there. His scent, that intoxicating scent that is a mix of woodsy, pure male and is uniquely Neil, still lingers on the sheets, but she can tell he’s been gone for a while. She lets out a disappointed sigh wondering where he went. This is the first morning since they decided to just “go for it” that she’s woken up alone.
It dawns on her how much she has already gotten used to him being there and how jarring it is that he’s not there with her in this moment. He’s not there to wrap his arms around her and kiss her awake. She’s gotten used to early morning snuggles and lovemaking sessions. They are still in that honeymoon phase, after all and the sex has not yet slowed down or become routine. There is still so much to learn about each other’s bodies and wants and desires that she can’t imagine there ever being a time when they aren’t tearing each other’s clothes off at any given moment.
“Neil?” she calls out, positive that he’s somewhere nearby. She can smell the aroma of freshly brewed coffee downstairs. Hearing no response, she grabs her robe from the chair next to the bed and wraps it around her naked body, suddenly all too-aware of their activities from the night before and their effect on every part of her body. Everything hurts just a little bit, but in the most glorious way. She can’t help but smile a little as she remembers the intensity of the intimacy they shared last night. Every night feels like the first and she can’t help but wonder if it will ever feel routine. She’s sure that’s impossible.
Hearing no response to her call out to him, Alexis makes her way downstairs, only to find that the house is empty and she is alone. There is a full pot of coffee, freshly brewed, on the counter in the kitchen and an empty mug left out for her right next to the coffee maker. There is no other sign of Neil and as she takes her coffee into the living room, she notices his shoes are not by the door and a quick look outside reveals that his car is gone.
She can’t help but feel the disappointment creep in as she takes her coffee over to the couch. She picks up her phone and today’s newspaper from the desk on the way and notices the notification light is blinking on her phone. There’s a text from Neil waiting for her.
“You were sleeping so peacefully, I couldn’t bear to wake you. I made a pot of coffee for you before I left and grabbed your paper off the porch and left it on your desk. I may be out of touch for a while, today. I may be late tonight, but I’ll be back. I promise.”
She stares at her phone, but isn’t really comforted by his message at all. She’s glad to know that he didn’t just leave without a word, but it’s not like him to just leave without a proper goodbye. His message was more cryptic than usual, but he did say he’d be back, so she can at least take comfort in that.
She takes a sip of her coffee smiles a little at the taste since he somehow always manages to make it perfectly. She can never get it quite right and she just can’t understand how his always tastes better, but it does. He is gifted at many things, as she’s learned recently, but coffee is one she just doesn’t understand. How can his always taste so much better? It’s her coffee, her water and her coffee maker. She’s certain that they make it basically the same, but his always tastes like heaven and hers a little bit like mud.
As she picks up today’s copy of the Port Charles Herald, she notices the date on the top corner and nearly spills her coffee: July 31, 2020. How could she have possibly forgotten?! She’s been so wrapped up in their new relationship and all of the amazing things they have begun experiencing together, she nearly forgot about the significant date that was coming up: the anniversary of Joanna’s death. The anniversary of the day that changed everything for the two of them a year ago in that elevator. The day where Neil finally let go of his therapist persona for a few hours and opened up to her about his daughter. The day that meant so much to the both of them and changed everything.