Sami Brady couldn't shake the nerves that filled her as she arrived at the Dimera mansion. She stood outside the door hesitating, wondering if it was truly an error to tell EJ the truth. Resting her hand on her tummy, the small pouch barely noticeable, but present nonetheless, the evidence that she and EJ had spent the night together growing, she knocked.

That night had been filled with so many conflicting emotions for her, for even as she spurned any hint of deeper affection for EJ the proof was in the baby growing inside her. She had never voluntarily made love with a man she didn't truly and intensely care for and EJ was no exception, because despite her many flaws she had to be in love to share something like that. It had been a bitter pill to swallow, loving a Dimera, the son of the man who had ruined her life with his plotting. If it hadn't been for Stefano, she would have grown up with her mom and dad, together. There would have been no affair, no broken home. She would know what true love actually looked like instead of the poor imitations she had been burdened with over the years.

Maybe she was naive, but someday she still wanted that. Not that she expected it with EJ. They were much too alike for anything to ever work between them, both passionate and courageous, deceitful and manipulative. They were a train wreck waiting to happen. She had fought with the idea of running away, maybe to Switzerland to be with her sister for a while or even Colorado, where she had grown up, but it just seemed like a way to postpone the inevitable. She would have to tell EJ. If she were honest, it was never a fear of telling EJ that had given her pause, but Stefano. After his recent attacks on the Brady's she honestly feared for the kind of life Johnny and now this baby would have and while she had no doubt EJ would do everything he could to protect his children, that fear almost made her run in the opposite direction. The alternative was to never tell option, while one she had seriously considered, wasn't feasible. So she was there at the Dimera mansion where John and EJ resided ready to tell him.

She fidgeted, tugging at her loose shirt anxiously.

"Rolf! The door," She heard John's loud and oddly monotonous voice.

"Ze bullet iz zill in my zhoulda," Rolf came back, his tone giving away his exasperation.

"Still?"

"Ya!"

"Well hurry up, you have work to do."

Sami's eyes were wide as John finally opened the door. What the hell was happening in the freak-show of a house?

"Hi, John."

"Hello, Samantha."

"Is EJ here?"

"Yes, my nephew is here." He answered, standing in the doorway.

"Can I see him?" She asked, waiting for John to step back.

"Of course," He nodded and for some reason still didn't move.

"John, can you move?"

"Why didn't you say so?"

Sami shook her head, "Maybe you should let someone else answer the door."

"If Rolf wasn't so lazy…"

"You zhot me!" The man screamed again from the top of the stairs.

"John!"

"It was an accident." He shrugged walking away. " I needed to practice target shooting."

"And you missed?"

"By a few centimeters. I was trying to hit his arm and I got his shoulder."

"Oh my God! John, why are you shooting at Rolf?"

He looked at her like she was the one who was crazy, "Moving targets are harder to hit."

"I… I can't… EJ!"

"Samantha?" The man in question strode into the foyer.

"He… He… He shot Rolf!" She pointed frantically at John.

"Ah, yes." He grimaced, knowing. "I spoke to Uncle John about shooting at Rolf and he is no longer to use the mad Austrian Scientist for target practice, isn't that right Uncle?"

John shrugged as he walked out, "I'll leave you two to talk."

Sami stared after him, "I thought he was getting better."

"Yes, well, better is relative darling. Now what can I help you with Samantha? If you're here threatening to take my son away or disparaging Nicole, I…

Before he could continue his rant, she said, "God, EJ, will you just shut up?"

Sami could already hear her voice breaking and tried to reign in her emotions. At least now she had a cause for why she had been so damn moody.

He stepped forward, contrition on his face as he reached out, pulling her into his arms.

"Samantha, you're shaking! Come sit!" He pulled her to the couch.

Sami fought the urge to cry as she laid her head on his chest.

"I lied," she whispered and felt him stiffen. "I, the doctor told me something at the hospital…"

He pulled back, looking into his eyes, his own frantic with worry. "Are you sick? What is it? I knew something was wrong. What did he say?"

"I'm… pregnant."

Shock passed across his face and then pure unadulterated happiness. Sami felt her heart leap in response. EJ looked into her eyes, as though begging for confirmation. Sami nodded, unable to fight her own smile. As they stared into each other's eyes, the moment lengthening, expanding, his eyes flitted to her lips. She licked them in response as he lowered his head. It had been too long since she had felt his lips on hers. As her eyes drifted closed, the door flew back and they both jumped.

That viper Nicole entered, shouting, "You selfish manipulative bitch! I know you're lying!"

EJ didn't think he would ever feel joy like when he found out Samantha was pregnant with Johnny, but finding out that Samantha was pregnant again, well the joy, it was indescribable.

It was proof in his mind that they belonged together and if he could just get her to let go of her family's recriminations, he knew they would be happy together. Just as he was about to kiss her, something he ached for years, a shrill shriek came from the door.

"You selfish, manipulative bitch! I know you're lying!"

Samantha was up and going and if past experiences had proved anything, she would take Nicole down in just a bit with her fists. He barely had time to wrap his hands around her waist, holding her back.

"What are you doing here, you tramp? Don't you have another man to fuck in an elevator? Or another old guy to con out of his money? Huh Nicole?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" she shot back. "So you can continue to manipulate EJ. You only want him now because he chose me. I know you're lying because I'm the one carrying EJ's baby."

"What?" He didn't know who was more shocked, him or Samntha and she turned accusing eyes his way and EJ thought he saw a flash of pain in their depths.

Bollocks! No!

If he had reached heights of joy with Samnatha's news, Nicole's words had shattered any hope of that happening. He had no reason to think she would lie. In the elevator they hadn't used protection, simply because she couldn't have children. If he had known that there was a possibility, he never would have… Sleeping with Nicole had been more about Samantha than Nicole. God, he had even called out Samantha's name as he came. In truth, it was the only way he could remain hard. It was seriously just his luck to be the only man with his heart connected to his dick.

It had been a bit of nostalgia meshed in defiance that had led to their tryst. He wanted to feel wanted and Nicole had made no secret of how much she wanted him, and it was a throwback to the carefree EJ he was before Salem. The man who could talk any woman out of her clothes, the man he had been before he had fallen in love with Samantha Brady.

God, this was such a clusterfuck!

"You must be desperate Nicole, to have to lie to get EJ to stay with you. You can't even have children."

"This is my miracle baby and I didn't have to beg him to stay when he was screaming out my name in the elevator."

EJ winced because he had never screamed out her name. He didn't speak now because his mind was racing. He had two women who were pregnant and hated each other. It was going to be World War III. He couldn't let his children pay for his mistakes.

"You slut!" Samantha shouted.

"Slut? I'm not the one with twins with different daddies, am I Sami?"

The slap to her face resounded in the room, this time EJ stood between the two women to stop them coming to blows.

Nicole stared him down, "I hope you see what you're getting yourself into EJ with that harpy. When you decide you want to get to know your kid, you know where to find me."

"That bitch!" Sami screamed and EJ turned back to her. He reached out, his heart dropping as she took a step away.

"Don't. Don't touch me. I never should've…"

She grabbed her bag and moved toward the door, but he couldn't let her go, couldn't let this news end things between them before they started. Samantha was carrying his child and it was all he had ever wanted in life.

Grabbing her, EJ pushed her against the wall.

"No, you don't get to do that. You don't get to pretend that what was happening wasn't real.

"Nothing was happening!" Sami denied, pushing futilely at his hands.

She was adamant and while her lips could lie, her body never could. EJ pressed his body intimately against hers, his hand going under her shirt. He gave a quick squeeze to her lace clad breast, remembering how sensitive they were when she was pregnant with the twins, not that he had been the one reaping those benefits, but this time would be different. His hand slipped down to cover her growing tummy. There was something primal about knowing that this woman, his woman was carrying his child.

EJ couldn't resist the call as she whimpered, hips thrusting unconsciously toward his hand and he wondered if she was as hot for him as he was for her. Sliding his hands down the front of her jeans, he noted that she was already wearing the ones with elastic which made access so much easier. As he traced the outline of her satin panties he spoke, "I know we keep doing this all wrong, but I love you Samantha, utterly and unceasingly, and I'm not going to let one mistake with Nicole ruin everything between us."

"EJ…"

His hands pulled back the waistband of her panties, the easy glide of his fingers telling as he slipped into her warm, wet channel, letting him know she was as turned on as he was. She felt incredible and he wondered if she tasted as sweet as he remembered.

"Samantha," he spoke, deliberately stroking her as soon as her eyes met his. He wanted to see it, had longed to see fierce and untainted desire in her gaze all this time.

Her eyelids drooped and he called her name again. Waiting until her eyes were back on his, he deliberately pulled his hand from her panties, stroking his wet fingers across her abdomen before bringing those glistening fingers up to his own mouth.

"Oh God," She groaned.

"We were made for each other, Samantha, and this baby is proof of that." He whispered, leaning in to kiss her again.

The piercing scream of Nicole's voice filled the foyer, and Samantha as though remembering herself pushed him away. He could just bloody well ring Nicole's neck and he meant to do so as he followed Samantha.

"He…he… the…" EJ was taken aback by how hysterical, she was, and then she swooned.

Sami slammed her hand against the steering wheel, angry at herself, angry at EJ. The day had not gone as planned at all and now she was on her way home while Nicole was living it up in the mansion.

Starting the car, she got on the road, tears streaming down her face. She didn't even know why she was crying.

Stupid hormones.

Stupid EJ-freaking-Dimera.

Getting her hopes up and then dashing them again.

Sami looked down at the woman who had fainted. She wouldn't put it past Nicole to fake that. Neither she nor EJ had been close enough to stop the woman's tumble, not that she would have even if she could. The only place, Sami wanted to help Nicole Walker was off a freaking cliff. That, no-good, low-down tramp was good for nothing. EJ for his part had rushed over to save her for which she had glared at him. Shaking her head, she moved to the door, but on opening it she let out a scream and shut it back. If that was what Nicole saw on the step, no wonder she fainted, but Sami Brady was made of sterner stuff.

"Samantha! What's the matter?" EJ was up and beside in a minute.

"Dead body outside the door."

"What?"

He opened the door, grimacing as he saw the man.

"It's the mayor! Uncle John!"

"Is your bellowing really necessary?" John asked, as he seemed to suddenly appear out of thin air.

"It is when the mayor is dead on our doorstep!"

"Huh? So that's what happened to him. We were to have a meeting thirty minutes ago. I guess I won't be needing him anymore."

"John, what are you talking about?"

"He was on my brother's payroll. I was going to offer him similar compensation as the new head of the family."

"The mayor was on Stefano's payroll?"She chimed in shocked, though she really shouldn't be surprised. With all of the scraped the man had gotten out of, he had to have some city officials on his payroll.

"Yes. Rolf, do you still have that vat of acid?"

"Ya!" the Austrian answered as he descended the stairs, his arm in a sling. It seemed he had finally gotten the bullet out.

"Good" John mused, "we have a body to dispose of."

"Okay."

"No, no , no. John we are not getting rid of the mayor's body."

"Why?" He asked, perplexed. "That's what you do with dead bodies."

"Uncle, we didn't kill him, so there's no need to dispose of the body. We'll call the police and they'll investigate him.

"EJ?" Of course, Nicole would call EJ's name and Sami could pretty much predict what her next words were going to be, "My baby. Is my baby okay?"

She mouthed the words right along with her. If Nicole thought that old played drivel was going to fool Sami Brady she had another thing coming. Besides, she had perfected it, more than a decade ago. E realized Nicole was still on the ground and helped her up and Sami watched as that woman hung on to him. It was enough to make her upchuck. She turned, ready to storm out the door uncaring if she had to step over the mayor's body to get out of there.

"Samantha, the police will want our statements." EJ's words stopped her in her tracks.

That was how she came to be witness to some of the most asinine, puke induing claptrap coming out of someone's mouth. Apparently the two-dollar whore had seen who did it and now was in danger, and instead of being a good little slut and going into witness protection, she basically manipulated EJ into staying in the mansion. The police tried to insist, but Nicole was adamant and without her there was no case so they finally conceded.

Sami had stared daggers at EJ, as he sat there silently, and left as soon as she could, completely ignoring him as he called her name.

I never should have told him! She thought as she slammed the front door of her and immediately felt guilty for that thought.

"I take it the talk didn't go well," Her eldest said dryly until he saw her face and then he wrapped her in his arms.

Sami sometimes marveled at how much he had grown. For a long time she feared her relationship with Will would be a reflection of the one she shared with her mother, but in the last year, she had stopped apologizing for her mistakes and became his mother, something she wished Marlena had done. Not to say it was smooth sailing, but when she started focusing on being there and supporting him instead of apologizing, their relationship improved drastically. The closeness they now shared was something she dreamed of.

"I'm sorry, mom," he said as she buried her head in his chest. Sami still had no idea when her baby had grown so big as to be taller than her. "Come, sit."

"Sorry," she hiccuped. "Your sister seems to be wreaking havoc on my emotions."

"Sister?" He grinned, the thought of another girl appealing to him.

"Well, I have two boys already and I think Allie might like someone on her side, but healthy is my main priority."

"As it should be and that means no more crying. What did EJ say?"

"Not much." She admitted.

"Mom?" He looked at her questioningly.

So, she told him, every detail of the day.

"So you're just going to give up? The woman who switched paternity tests, blackmailed grandma Kate and dressed up like a man is just going to quit because Nicole Walker sets her eyes on EJ."

"I thought you didn't like my scheming."

"Let's just say I now have an appreciation for the ingenuity," He smiled and shook his head at her, "and as long as you keep more or less on the right side of the law, I'm good."

"My son, the pacifist." Sami teased.

"Ha ha," he rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying that if you want him, fight for him."

Eyes narrowing defiantly, she replied, "Who says I want him?"

"Mom, I thought we agreed not to lie to each other."

Sami pouted, but was not backing down, "I'm not lying. He's a Dimera."

"And I'm the son of an alcoholic and convicted felon; multiple counts."

"Hey!" She said outraged, unwilling to admit he might be right.

"My point is his name doesn't mean, anything. I know I hated him when he first came to town, but that was because I wanted you and dad together."

"And you don't anymore?"

"God, no! You guys are like poison, much better friends. The only time I actually feel like I have a mom and dad is when you are both happy with other people."

"Like Chloe?" She jested knowing her son, like her, didn't like the other woman.

"Don't remind me," He rolled his eyes. "I want to see dad happy but I don't think that one is going to last. But we are not talking about dad, we are talking about you and about how you are going to knock EJ's socks off."

"And what about the baby?"

"What about the baby?"

"Will…" She sighed, frustrated. "Nicole's baby."

"Mom, you of all people know you don't have to be together to have a baby. Besides EJ treats Allie and I the same as he does Johnny. Can't you do that for him? I mean, the baby will be half his."

"Of course, it's just that Nicole will try to use this to get EJ."

"Earth to mom, you did that with me and Austin. There is no trick she could possibly use that you have not used already."

"I don't know whether to be proud or insulted."

"Let's go with proud. Now we need a plan of attack."

"We, huh?" She chuckled as he actually pulled a notebook out of the twin's stationary box.

"I'm not getting left out of this one. I want to see this scheme from the other side of the curtain."

"Alright, William Horton, what next?"

"You need to be able to get into the mansion unseen."