Jax ordered a scotch and joined Alexis at a corner table at the Floating Rib. The place looked deserted but most of the people who frequented it probably took the night off given the frigid storm that had hit earlier that day.

They'd both brushed the crystals of what had been rain off their jackets before settling them down on the backs of their chairs.

Alexis considered ordering chardonnay but joined her ex-husband in ordering Scotch…on the rocks. It's been one of those kind of days. She'd meant to do some Christmas shopping at the last minute but real life and an unexpected case got in her way. The best laid plans and all that…well if Robert Burns had only known about what had been her life lately…she sipped her drink and all such thoughts began draining away.

"So Jax…you're lucky your plane made it," she said, "You just beat the storm…"

He smiled at her, his blue eyes twinkling, the way the sweater he wore fit his muscular frame. It had her entertaining thoughts…but the two of them had never gone there not even while married. Their friendship meant more to both of them than any of their other marriages…and it had endured where their romantic relationships had not.

"You know nothing would stop me from being here in time for Christmas to see both of my favorite girls…"

She arched a brow.

"Oh really…"

He didn't miss a beat.

"You and Jossie…I can tell with the both of you I go here just in time."

Alexis sighed, tracing one of her fingers on her glass.

"Jax…I'm sure Joss will be just fine. She's just going through a phase. God knows, Kristina was like that at her age."

His jaw clenched. She knew that the earlier scene had been difficult on him. The little girl had changed a lot since her father had last seen her…but then a lot had happened.

"I'm sure Carly's stressed because Julian Jerome found out about Lucas…"

Jax head shot up.

"Yes she mentioned that. I don't know anything about this Julian Jerome except what I read online. He sounds as dangerous as Sonny.

Alexis sighed.

"I sure know how to pick them don't I?"

Jax looked at his own glass. He'd been brought up to speed on the backstory of her and Julian and how Sam came to be. She'd watched him carefully when she'd told him, wondering if she'd see him judging him in his eyes. Others had...Ric had called and made some snide remarks…but if her best friend did that…but he hadn't…he'd just embraced her and held her tightly against him. She inhaled his cologne as she relaxed for the first time in weeks.

"Alexis you had no way of knowing…from what happened years ago what would happen to him."

She sipped her Scotch.

"I should have…I should have built in GPS to keep away from mobsters and…"

He sighed.

"Sociopaths like my brother…who's turned out not to be so dead after all."

She closed her eyes as the news had shocked her as well. She'd made plans to fortify the defenses she kept around her family…knowing she could handle Jerry if he'd planned to mess with them again. So far he hadn't…and was officially in a manner of speaking deceased again.

That didn't stop her from watching over her shoulder waiting for him to drop into her life uninvited and unwanted. Save the best for last, wasn't that what he always said? No matter, he'd never get the drop on her again.

Jax sipped his own Scotch thoughtfully, and she saw how long his eyelashes were, the golden flecks in his eyes that were so visible in soft lighting. If she'd had good taste let alone good sense, she would have gravitated towards a man like him. He'd satisfy the craving for the bad boy in him, but underneath that part of him lay a more sensitive nice guy he showed very few people…he couldn't not if he wanted to be a successful corporate raider on a global scale.

"Alexis I think you're being too hard on yourself," he said, "You're 16 when you met up with him and being an adult he should have known better."

His voice laced with concern…she didn't know what to do with that. So she smiled at him.

"Jax, look I knew what I was getting myself into with him. He didn't take advantage of me."

He didn't look convinced.

"Still…"

She looked at him, and saw something familiar in his eyes. The knight in shining armor who wanted to fight her battles for her even those from the past. Sometimes she embraced that side of him; other times she wanted to run. Her childhood hadn't been filled with fairytales after all. She reached out to touch his hand.

"I got a wonderful daughter out of it," she said, "For that reason I'd never regret what happened…"

That brought a smile to his face.

"Besides…Julian's focused on tracking down his son," she said, "I don't envy Bobbie if she even knows about it yet."

Jax shook his head.

"How many kids did this man sire anyway?"

She shrugged.

"I don't know and I don't care. Anyway it gets me off the hook…"

Jax leaned forward, frowning.

"How so?"

She smiled slightly.

"He's not using me to try to get to Sam or Danny. In fact, I haven't seen or heard from him in a couple of weeks. I've enjoyed the quiet."

She tried to sound nonchalant. The emotions that had swirled through her, had taken up residence in some uneasy kind of true with one another…she'd gotten tired of sorting through them. At least now as the holidays closed in, she knew some peace.

Sam and Silas were Christmas tree shopping with Danny after treating him to a visit with Santa at the PC Shopping Center.

If the freezing rain turned to snow, there might be a white Christmas in time for the major party at the hospital, a fundraiser for Patrick Drake's new Pediatrics program. The man had reunited with his presumed dead wife and she'd been back working at the hospital part-time in between counseling sessions with Kevin.

"We're doing Christmas at the Lake House…you're of course invited to drop by any time you feel like it."

He smiled, his eyes crinkling.

"I'd like that…I've got time with Jossie but Carly and her new boyfriend Franco…"

She saw the grimace on his face when he mentioned the name, as if he still couldn't believe that his ex would shack up with the former serial killer.

"I know it's tough Jax but somehow I don't see this relationship lasting…"

He shook his head.

"I hope not…I know Carly's had crazy relationship in the past but this man…what he did to Jossie…I just plan to keep a close eye on my daughter."

"Of course Jax…and if you need backup if you need to get Jossie out of there, I'll help you."

He looked at her gratefully, hoping it wouldn't come to that…but you never could tell with Carly. She knew that like he did.

Julian sat at a table with Carlos on the other side of the eatery. It had started filling up with people trying to escape the frigid storm and warm themselves up with spirits and Buffalo wings. He'd seen Alexis sitting at a table across the room with a man whose face he recognized from the cover of many a business and finance affairs magazine.

Jasper Jacks, the world renowned raider of corporations to add to his family's empire. As Derek Wells, he'd done some articles on the charismatic and yet ruthless businessman and as Julian, he'd lost out on some opportunities to add key legit businesses to his public front carefully crafted around his illegal enterprises.

Carly had been one of his wives and had a young daughter with him. But what the hell was he doing looking cozy with Alexis? She flipped her mahogany hair back as she leaned on every word. Her eyes sparkling he could tell even from her and her laughter that told him she was deeply fond of Jax.

"She was married to him boss," Carlos said, "Years ago. It didn't last very long but obviously they parted as friends."

Julian couldn't take his eyes off the both of them.

"I'll say they did...what's he doing back in town?"

Carlos shrugged.

"Don't know…he's got a young daughter and it's Christmas so that might explain why. But it looks to me like he might be in to rekindling an old flame with his favorite ex-wife."

Julian sipped his bourbon, wincing on that descriptor used on a woman who belonged with him.

"I don't think that's what's happening."

Carlos smiled good naturedly.

"Fine boss. You believe what you want…but Alexis is one sexy woman and she's not going to sit around waiting until you take time for her. After all, you can feel the icy chill when you're in the same room…"

"That's just temporary…she'll come around."

Carlos laughed.

"So you think…good luck then. She'll spend the Christmas with Mr. Corporate Raider from Down Under and you'll spend it picking at a turkey's carcass with Ava."

Julian bristled at that.

"I still have time…"

Carlos snickered.

"No…you're looking for your son…who hasn't come out and contacted you for a meet and greet. Your daughter is still pissed off and protecting Danny from you…and Alexis…she's having a great time right in front of you with one of her exes."

Julian didn't respond to what was playing out in front of him.

"Man for a smart Ivy League man, you sure don't act like it."

Julian flinched.

"I mean she probably thinks that now that your focus is elsewhere she's in the clear…back to spending time with a powerful man who appreciates her."

Julian watched Alexis laugh at something Jax said and then reach out and touch his hand again. Carlos showed him no mercy.

"You're losing ground, the question is what you going to do about it?"

Julian watched Alexis and Jax get up ready to leave the Floating Rib together. He didn't know how to answer that question.

"You don't have a plan quick, you're going to lose…and you know how much you hate losing."

Yeah, he didn't need to be reminded of that but Alexis was no ordinary prize. She was…yes he had to come up with a game plan and fast.

His future might depend on it.