On the docks --

After leaving Ric's office, Zander found himself sitting on the docks for a while. He sat alone on the bench just looking out over the choppy waters. The breeze had picked up and the water rippled in and out against the pier. He decided he had stayed long enough in town, it was time to go back to the cabin and be with his family. He reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

"Marcus ... can you pick me up at Pier 33? No, everything's fine, I'd just like to go back to the cabin now. Thanks." Zander flipped the phone closed and stuck it back in his pocket. He sat on the bench till he saw the headlights of his limo approaching. He got up and walked towards the car as Marcus got out and went to open the back door for him.

Marcus drove Zander back to the cabin where Emily was waiting for him. She greeted him on the front porch as he walked up to her.

"Hey, how did it go?" she asked as he pulled her into embrace.

He sighed heavily. "Not well. I don't think they have much of a case against Sonny. Not unless Ric can find some new evidence to present."

He could see in her eyes that she was disappointed. "I'm sorry, Zander. I know you were expecting some good news." she said somberly as they walked into the cabin together.

"Yeah I was and I know Ric was too." he replied as he sat down on the couch. "All we can do now is wait to hear from Ric, which might take a while till he has something concrete to take to court." he added.

"Well, I know Ric, he's not going to stop till he gets a conviction. He's bound and determined to get Sonny and he won't stop till he does." she said as she sat down with him.

They snuggled together on the couch for a while till they heard Devon from upstairs. "I'll go ..." he said as he got up from his seat. Emily smiled and watched as he went up the stairs. She knew Devon would be able to put a smile back on Zander's face, he always did.

The courthouse - a few days later --

Zander and Emily walked up the front steps of the courthouse together, she could feel that he was nervous about testifying. She looked down at her watch and saw they had about an hour or so before he had to report. The two of them walked down the hallway towards the courtroom and took a seat on one of the empty benches along the wall and waited for Ric and Alexis. Emily was glad they had made arrangements for her parents to keep Devon for the day while they were at the courthouse.

Zander went over his testimony in his head while he waited with his wife, his hands were collecting moisture the longer he sat there thinking about what he had to say. This was only the Grand Jury hearing and if the court found enough evidence to indict, they would, then he'd have to tell his story all over again for a jury. He needed to focus and concentrate on the matters at hand, there was no room in his mind for business matters that had popped up the night before, the Jason problem could wait.

As he and Emily sat together quietly, he noticed Ric appear from around the corner with his briefcase in hand. Nicely dressed in a dark suit, dark blue shirt and dark blue tie, his shoes polished till they shined, he walked with purpose as he approached them.

"No Alexis yet?" he questioned as he looked around the corridor for her.

"No not yet." Zander said as he wrung his hands together. Ric noticing his brother was nervous.

"You're going to do fine, Zander. Alexis and I will be there every step of the way." Ric reassured his brother.

Footsteps were heard coming up from behind Ric and he turned to see who was approaching him. Alexis neared wearing a dark black pinstriped double breasted suit with a white silk blouse, she looked ready for her day in court.

"You look nice." Ric complimented her on her appearance.

"Thanks." Alexis cracked a smile.

"I didn't know the two of you were ... um ..." Zander began and smiled.

"Oh, we're not ...." they replied quickly. "Strictly platonic ...." Alexis replied .

Emily and Zander looked at each other and smiled. "Oh okay ... we just thought .." Emily said as Ric and Alexis tried to disparage them from thinking there was anything else going on. Emily giggled trying to hide her amusement at the two of them.

Alexis looked down at her watch and noticed the time. "We should get in there." she said to Ric. "After you .." he replied as he stretched out his arm and left Alexis lead the way.

"You'll be called by the bailiff when we're ready for you, Zander." Alexis said before walking away and towards the door to the courtroom.

Emily stretched her arm across the back of the bench and caressed Zander's shoulders trying to help him relax. This was only the beginning for him, and she wanted to support him as much as she could through this ordeal. It wasn't going to be easy and he wasn't making it so by worrying.

They sat there a while before the bailiff came out and asked him to step inside and take the stand. Zander got up from the bench and Emily took his hand. They walked in together and Emily took a seat behind Alexis, as Zander walked passed them and took the stand. He adjusted his tie and unbuttoned his jacket before he sat down in the chair. He ran his hand through his hair nervously as he sat and waited for Ric to start his examination. Zander tried not to make eye contact with Sonny who sat at the table with his attorney, Zander knew if he did, he would freeze up and he couldn't let his mother or his brother down. He needed to do this.

Ric stood up from his seat and buttoned his jacket before walking towards Zander in the witness box. Zander cleared his throat and got himself prepared to tell his story to those who were in the courtroom that day. Ric gave Zander a nod of reassurance as he stood before him.

"Please state your name and occupation for the record." Ric instructed.

"Zander Smith, and I am a business man here in Port Charles." Zander replied and he looked over Ric's shoulder at Emily sitting in the front row.

"Now, Mr. Smith tell us how you are involved in this case against Mr. Corinthos, please." Ric asked as he walked back towards the prosecution table.

"I am the son of the man Sonny murdered 15 years ago in Florida." Zander replied with a glare towards Sonny.

"Objection, your honor ... my client has not yet been convicted of this crime." Victoria spoke up.

"This may be true, counselor, but this isn't a trial, it's just a hearing to see if the prosecution has enough evidence, so your objection is overruled. You may continue, Mr. Lansing." Judge Cooper replied.

"Thank you, your honor." Ric replied "Now, Mr. Smith can you tell us in your own words what happened the night of March 21st, 15 years ago?" he instructed Zander as he approached the witness box once more.

Zander cleared his throat before he began telling his story of what he remembered about that night. He felt his heart beat pound inside his chest as images of that night flashed in his head, each image more vivid then the last. His palms began collecting moisture as he became more and more uncomfortable in his seat. His mouth became dry like cotton as he moistened his lips with a swipe of his tongue.

This was going to be more difficult then he thought, but he looked towards Emily smiling at him lovingly and he knew everything would be alright, he just had to tell the truth about that night and this nightmare would soon be over.