Sam Mcall stood in the middle of her newly purchased bakery. She did it! She actually did it, she had something that was legit, something that she could be proud of. She could no longer contain her happiness so she started to twirl.

"Sammy what are you doing?" her brother Danny asked. He had walked in to find his little sister dancing around like a kid at Christmas.

"Nothing big brother, I'm just happy!" she said.

"I don't know what your happy about, it's gonna take a hell of a lot of work to get this place up and running by next month." Ruthie replied grimly.

Ruthie was Sam's best friend. They had only known each other for a few months but found that they were kindred spirits. They met in a bar over tequila shots and had been almost inseparable even since. Ruthie even agreed to move from Chicago to the little town of Port Charles just so Sam could be closer to Danny when he started school in a few months. Ruthie was amazed with Sam's dedication to her brother. Sam had spent months researching schools for Danny. And when she found the Banneker Academy she uprooted her entire life so that she could stay close to him. Banneker was one of the best schools for people with developmental problems like Danny. The way that Sam put her brothers needs about her own was touching and one of the reasons that Ruthie loved her so much.

"Hey now, there is no negativity in my bakery! If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't let the door hit ya, where the god lord split ya." Sam snapped. But she softens it with a sincere smile.

"I'm just saying that we have a lot of work ahead of us." Ruthie said.

"A little hard work is good for the soul. And just think of how amazing it's gonna be when were done."

"Sammy, do you think that we will make millions of dollars?" Danny asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

"I don't know about a millions, but I think that we will make enough to go see a few Philly's games this season. Watch them kill the Yankees!" she said

"Cool!" Danny responded with a huge grin.

"Alright guys, why don't you head back to the apartment and I will meet you there in a little bit and we can go over the game plan."

"Sounds good Sammy girl, where are you going?" Ruthie asked.

"I am going to get us some brain juice. I saw a little coffee shop a few blocks over."

"Ok, see you later" Ruthie said as she ushered Danny out the door and towards the car.

Sam thought that it seemed like a good time to explore her new surrounds and walked in the direction of the docks. Sam had always loved the water, it seems to calm her. No matter how chaotic her life was at times the water always seem to quiet her thoughts. As she stood looking out at the water she couldn't help but wonder if she had finally figured out what she was supposed to do with her life. Sam had always lived just outside of the law, running cons with her father since she could talk. Her big brown eyes made it easy to hustle tourist out of their hard earned money. No one would ever expect her to be anything other than the sweet little girl she appeared to be. But her dad taught her to use that to her advantage. She was the best thing to ever happen to Cody Mcall. Not because he loved his beautiful little girl, but because she could grift, con, and hustle better than he could by the time she was 10. Sam never really had a problem with the life she led and would probably still be conning people if it wasn't for Danny. She had always asked her dad about her mother, and he would always say the same thing. "Your mother didn't have any use for cons like us Sammy, you and me we're the same. Don't waste your time looking for someone who doesn't want to be found."
By the time Sam was 16 Cody was nowhere to be found. Not that Sam really cared, all Cody was good for was blowing the money that she worked her ass off for. Once she was on her own she couldn't help but look for her mother. Maybe Cody had been lying to her, maybe her mother was looking for her. She would never admit it, but she hoped that when she found her mother they would have some grand reunion with hugging and crying. Mother and daughter professing their love for each other. She could not have been more wrong. When Sam finally found her mother, she found a heartless woman who was far worse than Cody described. Sam would have been able to handle that her mother didn't love or want her, she had a lifetime of people not loving her. But when she found out about Danny she was heartbroken. Her mother was so ashamed of Danny's mental problems that she kept him locked in the basement like an animal while she kept the government checks that Danny received. Sam knew that she had to get Danny out of there so she snuck in one night while her mother slept soundly upstairs and got him out of that hell hole. They never looked back. Taking care of Danny was the most important thing to Sam. She continued her less than legal activities for the next few years but had a hard time supporting herself and Danny. When she found them on the streets of Chicago with no money and no place to stay, Sam was scared. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. While sitting on a park bench trying to come up with some way to get Danny something to eat she met a woman that would change her life. Looking across the park she saw a little bakery that had free samples sitting on a table out front. When Sam went over to get some she was stopped by a tiny lady with kind eyes. She told Sam that she had seen her and the young man sleeping in the park the last few nights, and wanted to know if she needed a place to stay. The woman, whose name was Grace offered Sam and Danny the room she had for rent above her bakery. Grace said they could stay there as long as they helped her out in the bakery everyday. Although Sam wasn't used to people helping her she really couldn't say no. Sam and Danny lived in that room above the bakery for the next 4 years. It was the first time Sam had any stability in her life, and she found that she kind of enjoyed it. Grace taught her how to bake and she loved that as well. Sam didn't know that people like Grace existed. She was generous and kind, she took care of Sam and Danny without ever wanting anything in return. She was the mother that Sam always dreamt of. But like with most things in Sam's life, it didn't last. About a year ago Grace was diagnosed with breast cancer, and 5 months later she died. Sam's bright and promising world seemed to be crashing down around her. That's why she was in the bar drowned her pain with tequila when she met Ruthie. But things weren't as bad as Sam had thought. Turns out that Grace had left Sam $100,000 when she died. Grace was taking care of them even after she was gone. Sam used the money to enroll Danny at the Banneker Academy and bought the bakery in Port Charles.

Her life had direction and promise. She was going to do right by Grace, or die trying.

Sam finally made it to the coffee shop and ordered a vanilla latte for Ruthie, a hot chocolate for Danny and an extra large black coffee for herself. While she waited for her order she found herself listening in on the conversation next to her. This was one habit that Sam couldn't seem to break. Grace and Ruthie were always yelling at her to stop ease dropping on conversations that didn't concern her. But she couldn't help it, most of the time she didn't even realize that she was doing it. This particular conversation was between a small blonde girl and young man with a peculiar way of speaking. Sam was intrigued.

"Spinelli you promised that you would take me to dinner tonight, you can't just cancel because Jason asked you too. You have a life too Spinelli, I don't understand why Jason thinks that he can just demand your time. And I don't understand why you let him."

"I don't disagree with my Maximista, however Stonecold expressed his dire need for the Jackal this evening. I promise I will make it up to you ten fold." The young man replied. Sam wondered if everyone in Port Charles had strange names or if it was just the way this kid talked.

"Fine Spinelli, whatever, I have to get back to work before Kate realizes that I have been gone 3 minutes longer that I was supposed to be. I love you!" and with that the talkative young woman blew past Sam while the young man turned his attention back to the laptop in front of him. Sam was so caught up in the conversation that she didn't notice that her order was ready. The young man finally cleared his throat bringing Sam back to her reality. She smiled at the young man who she assumed was Spinelli, grabbed her coffee and headed out the door to meet up with Danny and Ruthie.

Jason Morgan sat at his desk looking over the paperwork that Bernie had sent over. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open, let alone concentrate. He had been kept up half the night listen to Spinelli and Maxie go at it. Just the thought of Spinelli having sex was awful but to actually hear was unbearable. He was glad that Spinelli had found happiness even if it was with Maxie. Jason couldn't stand the woman, she never seemed to shut up. Sometimes while she was talking Jason would find himself imaging unique and painful ways to keep her quiet. Not that he would ever lift a finger against her, he couldn't hurt Spinelli like that. If he was honest with himself he would admit that he was jealous of what they had. Yes, Jason Morgan was lonely. He had been single since he divorced Courtney 3 years ago. He thought that he had found love with her, only to be told later that she couldn't handle the violence that surrounded his life. She left him. They always left him. He had picked up a few women over the years at Jake's brought them home for a little fun, but he could never bring himself to call them the next day. He came to the realization that the life he led meant that he would be alone. Most days he was fine with it. But sometimes he wished he had someone to hold. His best friend Carly tried to set him up on a few blind dates but he would always tell her that he was too busy with work to date. Jason was pulled out of his thoughts when the door to his penthouse opened and Spinelli flew in.

"Stonecold, the Jackal is here to provide you with any assistance that you require"

"Good, I need you to deal with the transfer from the offshore accounts, I have to take care of something and Bernie needs it done by this afternoon" Jason replied

"Have no fear, the Jackal will handle all off your banking needs." Spinelli answered and went right to work on his computer.

"Alright, I will see you later. Oh, if you and Maxie are going to be spending time here could you try to keep it down. Some people need to get some sleep."

"Deepest apologies Stonecold, I was unaware that the walls of the regrettably pink room did not contain the love that Maximista and I share."

Jason just shook his head and walked out the door.