Sami sat in the hospital bed willing the pain to cease. The emotional pain as excruciating as the physical in every way. She worried about her father, Lucas, the twins, and hell, even EJ. How could she be worried about someone who had put her through so much… well that was easy, no matter what she said to him or others she cared for him.

He had been her best friend not so long ago and had almost been her lover. That seemed like a lifetime ago. So much had happened since then.

Her family was being torn apart by this half century old vendetta. After reading the letters with EJ she had gained an insight into the relationship between Santo and Colleen that she never thought possible. It seemed as though she herself had lived through every thought and emotion that they endured.

Thinking back to the day in this same hospital bed with EJ by her side she relived that feeling of powerlessness that she felt for Colleen. She felt it every time EJ was near. That sense of pulling like being sucked in by a rip tide. She always felt that the harder she fought the quicker it seemed to drag her under. She loved Lucas but it felt he just no longer understood her or the connection she had to the past. He wanted her to drop it and let her father and Uncle Bo take care of things but she knew without a doubt that if the Brady family had any chance to survive it would take her ( and EJ ) to end it.

The pain kept coming in waves. The Dr had assured her that she wasn't in labor just experiencing stress related cramping. Imagine that she sighed … stress related, "gee do you think" she laughed. I mean I have only been kidnapped, had someone try and suffocate me with car fumes, locked in a steam room, and a myriad of other things that she shuddered to think about.

The only constant in these situations was EJ. No matter the consequence for him he was always willing to take it on just to try and keep her safe. My god he almost died trying to find a way to get her out of that steam room.

Lying back in bed she went back to that day. She was so scared, not for herself but for the babies and EJ had done everything he could to keep her calm. It never ceased to amaze her that he could always make her laugh. Even in the midst of something so horrible. Something else never ceased to amaze her about him, his concern for her and the twins. Even though they now knew the twins belonged to Lucas he still managed to watch out for her and them. If she so much as hiccupped then his first question always seemed to be " Are you and the babies OK? Do you feel all right?" His concern was always evident.

Lucas had never been as attentive. Maybe it was just the English upbringing but she didn't believe that for a second.

Since that day in the steam room she knew that a real conversation was going to have to take place and soon. The moment he fell to the floor after trying to short circuit the fan and she feared he was dead, she knew real fear. In that instant it became clear that she couldn't imagine her life without him. What that meant, she still had to decide but she had to talk things over with him..NOW!

Grabbing her cell from the hospital nightstand she realized that it was the new one that EJ had left for her. Because of the late stage of the pregnancy her fingers had started to swell and the dialing the small buttons had become difficult. He had noticed and brought her one that was voice activated and preset with all the numbers and info from her old phone. This man thought of everything.

"I am not a child nor an invalid" she stated to the air but then smiled and thought to herself, " this really will make my life a little easier but I'll be damned if I tell him that".

She opened the lid of the phone and spoke his name, "EJ" and within a mere second the phone was ringing. That was really cool she thought.

" Yes Darling, are you all right?" came across the airwaves and she sighed in annoyance.

"Can't you just answer the phone like a normal person with a simple hello."

" Oh but my dear I am no where near what you would perceive as normal, I am extraordinary. Now you did not answer my question, are you and the twins OK?"

She smiled to herself as he spoke, extraordinary indeed, but answered his question anyway, " NO EJ I am not fine I am dealing with cramping from hell and I am worried about my family, I'm stuck in a hospital room with bad food, spiteful nurses, and no one to talk to but myself."

"So dear you decided to call me and rant all about it, eh" he smiled that devilish grin that she could even feel through the phone lines.

"Your massive ego aside, EJ, I think you and I have some things to discuss."

"Things to discuss eh, that sounds serious. Oh , I know you have come to your senses and decided to declare your undying love to me, is that it" he laughs.

"In your dreams ego boy, in your dreams. EJ just get here soon." She laughed

"As you wish darling, as you wish." He quips and hangs up the phone.

She can almost see him standing there in a half bow. Even when he is annoying the hell out of her he is always polite.

The cramping having eased off some while speaking with EJ, Sami decides to lie back and rest while she waits on him and as she dozes off her mind goes back to that evening on the pier when they were friends and there were no pretenses, or at least that is what she thought.

When EJ walked in he saw Samantha sleeping peacefully and took the opportunity to watch her in this state for as long as possible. For in sleep, she had no worried expression, no look of pain, and the loveliest of smiles hinting at her lips. This was the Samantha he remembered at night when he closed his eyes. Her hair as usual had fallen over her eyes and he longed to move it aside as he had that morning on the day she was to have married Austin. He could never remember that day without remembering that kiss.

He hadn't meant for it to happen, honestly, but did he regret that it had, hell no. When she had reached up out of that sleepy state and without even opening her eyes pulled him into that kiss he had actually felt like the gates of heaven had opened for him. That was a feeling he had never felt before and had taken him by surprise like a punch in the gut. He had kissed many women before but a feeling like that had never even come close to happening. He remembered that when she finished the kiss and had lain back down that he had placed his hand over her heart as if he could somehow demand her heart to return the call. Unfortunately, she had chosen that moment to awaken fully and jumped back from him like she had touched fire, which of course she had. She had apologized explaining that she thought it was Austin and he apologized for it as well but he knew in that moment that no matter what his orders from Father were, his life was changed. Just how much at that moment he had no idea,

He stepped closer to the bed and gently pulled the hair from her eyes, those beautiful eyes. She began to stir and the softness was still on her face. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head, enjoying this moment of solitude with her and knowing at any moment she would wake and be the fiery Irish goddess that he knew so well.

As if on cue, she mumbled his name, " EJ, its about time. What took you so long?"

"Whatever do you mean darling, I got here as soon as I could." He smirked, "why did you miss me?"

"NO. I just need to talk to you. Hey what's all that?" she pointed to bags that EJ held.

"Well my love, I stopped off for a few things that I thought would make your stay more comfortable" he said as he pulled up the rolling chair to the side of the bed.

Samantha loved presents and was excited. "OK … let's see what you got." She smiled that smile that melted his heart.

It was times like this, when they forgot about the vendetta and all the pain, that he held dear to his heart.

" Patience, sweetheart, you are worse than a child?" he grinned that devilish grin.

She huffed, " I tell you what, when you are lying in a hospital bed about to push two children out of your body and have your insides feel like someone is splitting you apart with the jaws of life, then we will talk patience, buddy."

"Your point is taken sweetheart. Lets have a look shall we?" he smiled.

He opened the bags and produced a pregnancy pillow designed to make her sleep a little more comfortably, a gentle massaging pillow for her lower back to help ease some of the tension and cramping, a set of 600 thread count sheets in the most beautiful shade of pink, and one in blue. There was also a set of blue and pink silk pajamas and the softest blanket she had ever touched. Then he pulled out about 6 romance novels and she could tell that there was still more in the bag.

"EJ, my goodness, did you buy out a store." She laughed

" No my dear, these are just the simple necessities that a woman should have. Not these nasty hospital sheets that lord only knows who else has lain on them. Remember I was here too and I know how they feel. As for the pillows, the sales woman said that they are must have for pregnancy and the blanket is to keep you all warm and toasty. The Pajamas will be offer some luxury and keep you cool if you start to get hot flashes…"

" EJ, I am pregnant, not menopausal", she scoffed but was amazed that he thought of all this.

"I must say though darling, I will never purchase these books again. You can not imagine the looks I received." He rolled his eyes thinking back to the cashier looking at him as if he were an alien.

"Well I am impressed and grateful, but do I smell food." She sniffed and her pert little nose wrinkled.

"Ah, you do indeed. In your rant on the phone you stated something about horrible hospital food so I stopped by Chez Rouge and picked up some dinner for us as it seemed from the tone in your voice that we may be a while with this discussion you wanted to have." He pulled out two trays of food and silverware and cloth napkins.

"EJ this is a hospital not a restaurant, you didn't have to bring real silverware and napkins" she laughed.

"My dear, one can not be expected to eat with plastics. We are civilized adults and will eat as such."

"Fine, just give me the food and then we have to talk. Do you understand me EJ," she snapped.

" Better than you understand yourself darling." He laughed and pulled out the hospital tray to arrange their food all the while wondering what she had up her sleeve.

They ate in a surprisingly companionable silence. Sami was enjoying the food as if it was her last meal ( and she had that experience before ). She had finished every bite and was hoping there would be dessert. What good was being pregnant if you didn't get to have dessert.

As if reading her mind, EJ pulled out another box that contained two huge slices of Crème Brulee Cheesecake. It looked and smelled like heaven. He placed one slice for each of them on a plate and handed hers across.

"God EJ, you really do think of everything." She laughed and then noticed that his already dark eyes seemed to intensify and she knew what he was thinking. He had gone back to that night of their date when she had said the exact same thing. That night had almost cultivated in their first time but was brought to crashing and quite wet halt as Lucas and Will had set off a stink bomb which in turn activated the sprinkler system in EJs apartment.

"You, get your mind out of the gutter right now if you know what's good for you." She snapped at him.

"Well darling, your mind must have been there too if you knew what I was thinking about, huh." Grinning from ear to ear.

"Whatever, we need to have that talk now." Man how she dreaded this but felt that it was necessary because they had to learn to be in the same room without all the baggage if they were ever going to figure out how to end this ridiculous feud between their families.

" Fine, if we must but what about Lucas? I mean is he going to be here for this. You know how I hate to dumb things down for his benefit. It really is a waste of my time and energy." He braced himself for the onslaught of anger that he knew would be coming because of that statement and was pleasantly surprised when he looked up to actually see her grinning.

"EJ, that is not fair. Anyway Lucas is with his mom trying to get her settled down and we agreed that since I am guarded and dad is nowhere to be found right now, personally I think he's hiding from Kate but anyway, he is going to spend the night with her so I can get some rest."

"So it will just be the two of us then, sounds interesting" and he leaned back in the chair and stretched out his long legs.

God he could be so arrogant but this had to be done. She was tired of feeling like the burden of her family, the entire Brady clan, was on her shoulders and she needed someone to help carry the load. The only person that could possibly do that was currently sitting in the chair beside her bed enjoying his cheesecake and looking quite pleased with himself.

Lucas, she had finally come to the realization, could never and would never understand the importance of this situation. Unlike herself and EJ, he had never felt the kind of family loyalty that they experienced and this connection to the past that only they could share. When it came to Santo and Colleen, although the rest of the Brady family knew it was important, only Sami and EJ felt the power and the ramifications of the couple lost in time.

It sometimes felt as though the family circle would only be complete once the feud between the Bradys and the Dimeras ended and as difficult as it was to accept she knew in her heart that the only way to join that gap would be the unification of herself and EJ. But to get there they had a lot of bridges to cross and a few mountains to climb and tonight they would do just that.

"EJ this is going to be a long night so you might as well get comfortable" she looked at him in amusement knowing he couldn't be comfortable in that horrid little chair.

"Why darling, is that an invitation to join you on that bed?" he raised his eyebrow in question.

"Absolutely not. You are not pulling that one on me again, buster. I was merely stating a fact." She had made sure she was smack dab in the middle of the bed so there was no way he would fit. Besides now that he had brought those wonderful new pillows she was going to trying them out.

Once again, as if reading her mind, he pulled them out of the bag and gingerly placed them behind her ensuring her comfort and smiled. It was that smile that let her know something was up.

"What are smiling about?" she asked and that moment there was a knock on the door and EJ went to answer it.

He opened the door and in came an orderly hauling of all things an extra large leather recliner. He placed it the room right next to her bed and on his way out she noticed EJ slipping him some cash.

"What in the world is this?" she asked looking at the chair as if she had never seen one before.

"This sweetheart is what you yanks call a recliner am I not correct." He said as he sat down in it and pushed the button for the bottom to release so he could stretch out.

"I know what a recliner is EJ. I meant why did he bring it here."

"Well while I was shopping for your items, I realized that I may be here for some time, since you stated that we would talking things out, and I knew from recent experience that the chairs the hospital provides would not accommodate me so I purchased this and had them deliver it. Besides it will remain yours and as your comfort is always a priority for me I thought it would be great for when the twins come. Always thinking of you darling."

"Right. Fine. Whatever. Are you comfortable? Because you are not leaving until we come to an understanding." She slid him that look that said she was always amazed at the way his mind worked.

" I am darling. So lets get started, shall we?" he settled in and threw her an amused smile.

Sami settled in and pulled the new blanket EJ had brought up to her chest. She had started cramping again but the massage pillow was easing the pain some and she decided it was now or never.

"OK EJ, here goes. First we must both agree that for the first time we will be completely open and honest about everything. I think you would agree that our lives and the lives of those we love depend on it. Agreed?"

He looked at her for a moment and started to ask if that included her being honest about her feelings toward him but thought it best not to push that particular issue…yet.

Sighing, he looked her in the eyes and reached for hand and gave it a gentle kiss and stated, "I agree, my love."

She pulled her hand away but acknowledged to herself that she could feel the heat from lips almost as if she were branded. That brought to mind the statement that Lucas had made outside the steam room about feeling like some part of her had EJs initials written on it. She shook her head to clear it and said, "Agreed"

"So the first thing I want to discuss is about why exactly you came to Salem, EJ. I want to know exactly what you were told and what you were asked to do. Is that clear?" she looked at him pleading with her eyes to be honest. Her mother had once told her that the eyes were the windows to the soul and that if you looked deep enough you would know in your heart if what they were saying was true. EJ complicated that thought though because after all he had been raised as a soldier. Taught to mask all emotion, never give yourself away. If you did the enemy would take you down. She believe that despite all that his heart would know defy that training and she would be able to know the truth when it was spoken.

"Samantha dear, we have covered this ground, have we not?" he sighed

"Well, we will cover it again EJ and I want to know it all this time."

"Fine darling, as you wish. All my life my father instilled a duty in me. A duty that demanded complete and utter obedience to his will, no questions asked. It never really occurred to me to ask questions for this was all I had ever known. From a child I was told the stories of a family that originated in Ireland and had moved to America to a town called Salem. That family was of course the Brady clan. As I grew my father made known his wish that one day I would take over the family business and this included taking out the Bradys. I knew not of Santo and Colleen, only that something had happened all those years ago and the pain of the Dimera legacy was to be wiped away with the demise of the Brady family. I was trained as a soldier and treated like a prince, I knew how to both take command ( from Father of course) but to also demand obedience from those under me. You must remember, Samantha, that although my father loved me, I was a weapon not a son." He looked at Samantha but she only sat silent listening.

Her heart was breaking for that little boy that had grown up in such a fashion. She couldn't imagine placing a child in that kind of lifestyle. Where was the love, the nurturing, the guidance. Of course, we are talking about Stefano, but still. She sat very quietly just waiting on him to continue.

"Anyway, about a year and a half ago my father summoned me. He sat me down and told me it was time. I was to go to Salem under the pretense of racing and set up a home and business there. He had already arranged the apartment and informed me of the occupants of the building. He made it clear that I was to make your acquaintance and eventually…. Samantha must I say this again."

She nodded

"Plant the Dimera seed. I never questioned the sanity or the morality of the choice. I was not trained to do so. He allowed that it could be any Brady woman of my choosing but that his preference was you. I was given a dossier with all the information of your life contained within. He stated the only way to bring about the end of this feud was the pairing of a Brady, you, and a Dimera, me through the formation of a new life. He knew the pain it would bring about would weaken the Brady family and would eventually be their downfall. It was simply a mission to me, Samantha, That is until I met you." He sat back in the recliner hoping that would satisfy but knowing it would not.

"So, your goal was to find me, make me fall in love with you, and give your father the key to unraveling my family." She asked.

"Love was of no matter to me then, Samantha. It was a means to an end. I had no plans to get this close. I had my mission and the battle plan was all laid out. I was to earn your trust, using any means necessary. The black glove crimes did not start with me. I had no knowledge until later. They were instigated as a way to get me close to you. Father knew you would never confide in any of your family about the threats so I provided the security you needed then you would lean on me. My father had Andre perpetrating that with the help of Patrick Lockhart but when he realized how effective it was then I was made to take over. Looking back now, I see his intention. He wanted to make sure that once the plan had succeeded and you knew that I was involved then there would be no connection between us left."

"Samantha, I know what you must think of me. I think of myself the same way. I was brought up to believe that nothing mattered except my family. Any pain or misfortune brought to others on our behalf was deserved. Then out of the blue, the plan that was meant to bring about the reign of family legacy, unraveled at my feet. You made that happen. You made me feel things that I had never felt and experience emotions that I never thought possible. For you, I wanted to protect, not harm. Because of you I began to see what family really means, love, sacrifice, consideration, trust, faith, and acceptance. But the trait that you have shown me that shines brighter than all others is forgiveness. Samantha, I need your forgiveness even more than I need air to breath." He stood and walked to her bedside hoping for a response and she looked up at him with those beautiful blue eyes brimming with tears and as he took her hand they began to fall.

EJ had never felt so torn in all his life. He wanted to comfort her but knew he could not. He wanted to take all the pain away, erase the bad from this last year, and embrace the good but knew he could not. Not yet. There was still more pain and heartache that they must weed through. He would have to account for his actions that dark, cold night in December. He would accept responsibility and offer explanations, but only Samantha could make the choice to believe him. Would she?

EJ sat back down on the edge of the recliner willing Samantha to say something, anything but she would not. She only cried. He placed his head in hands and the pain that he felt shook him to the core. He ran his fingers through his hair and placed his palms against his forehead trying to keep the headache he was forming at bay.

They sat in silence until Samantha was ready.

As she spoke, her voice was rough from crying, "EJ, I need to know about that night," She choked.

"Samantha, how do I know that you will not take the information and give your father ammunition to use against me. God knows he will take anything he can, truth or not."

Softly she whispered to him, "You don't."

After what seemed like an eternity to him she continued, " EJ, you say you love me so you will just have to believe in that love and trust that I won't, but I need the truth. I have to know what caused the man I knew to do such a thing."

EJ rose from the chair and began to pace the hospital room like a caged animal. She could see the conflict on his face and wondered if he would take the risk, all the while praying that if he was the man she thought him to be, he would.

He stopped near the door and she feared that he would open it and leave but he turned to face her and shook his head in affirmation.

"Fine sweetheart, we will go there but I need you to open your heart to the truth and really hear what I say. You can not let your prejudice against my family name keep you from understanding. This too will take faith on your end, can you do that?" he asked.

"I will try, EJ, I promise you that", she sighed.

He took his seat next to her bed and began.

"I went to that boathouse to meet you, granted I figured it was a set up but I took the chance. They sent John as you know, and while we did have a chat and a gun may have been involved, I did NOT shoot him. Would I have, well I don't know. But I didn't. There was someone else there. I caught a glimpse from the corner of my eye and everything happened so fast but I swear Samantha I did not pull that trigger" he stated with venom.

"The one thing the people of this town seem to forget, Samantha is that along with the others that my father controls, the ones who pay the biggest price are those that bear his name. Please remember that darling."

"Everyone is willing to forgive and forget the transgressions of all those that carry out orders on behalf of my father, such as your uncle Steve because they know that for whatever they have done, it was because of my father. Sadly, the same holds true for those that carry his name, even more so. You have no idea what it was like to be raised by that man. Lord only knows what mind games he put me through. I can not honestly tell you that I haven't endured the same tactics as your uncle. All I know is that when an order was given it was to be followed. This brings us to that moment. A moment that I wish with every fiber of my being that I could undo, but that isn't possible, is it Samantha."

The torture in his soul was evident in his voice and if Samantha was certain of anything it was that he was telling the truth.

"No EJ it isn't, how could you ask what you did of me?" Samantha looked at him and his heart trembled.

How could he make her understand something he couldn't quite understand himself. He knew that the memory of that night was forever etched on his brain but also his very soul.

"Samantha, I knew that I had to get out of town and at that time I knew I may never see you again. I needed to be with you, just once. To be able to take that experience with me because I knew that I would never and could never love anyone else the way I loved you, so ashamedly I used the only thing I could think of, my fathers request. I know it was crude and repulsive but I also knew that you would accept it at face value. After all I was Stefano's son. I asked for the one thing my soul needed, a night with you. In retrospect, not my wisest choice but Samantha I did offer you the chance to say no. I truly do not believe that if you had fought me on it I would have forced you. Although that kind of cruelty may be in my family legacy, it is not in my heart. Had you resisted, I would have left, Samantha. I can not guarantee that I would saved Lucas but I would have left." The weight of the world seemed to be on his shoulders as he bared his heart and soul to the woman he loved.

"But, you held a gun to my head, EJ. How could you do that?" she asked quietly.

"Darling, I knew the only vision you had of me in that moment was one of violence, so I used it to my advantage, I admit. But you must know Samantha, somewhere in you, that I would have NEVER hurt you."

"But you did EJ. Maybe not physically, but emotionally and sometimes that kind of pain is the worst of all" she stated as the tears began anew.

"I know, god I know and if I could take it back I would, don't you see that. I have never regretted anything in all my life as much as I regret that moment. Not being with you, never that, and certainly not loving you. I will not apologize for that, but for the mental anguish I caused you. I would trade my life to take away the fear and the guilt you carry from that night. It was never my intention to have you in that way, as a part of a bargain but I am a weak man Samantha and I will tell you that is not the way I wanted to be remembered by you. I just couldn't leave Salem without having felt you in my arms or knowing what it felt like to be one with you. I believed that I would never see you again and that thought broke my reserve and caused me to become the man you hate and for that I will forever pay dearly." He whispered.

EJ felt like he would never breath again while he waited on a response. He watched her face looking for a sign of what she was thinking and feeling.

Samantha finally looked at him and he literally felt a squeeze in his heart. What would she say. Would she understand? He wouldn't blame her if she didn't but god he hoped she would.

"EJ," she took a deep breath and began. " I believe you, god help me but I do. I knew even when it was happening that you would not use that gun. I was as sure of that as anything in my life. I agree, I did not say no and it is grossly unfair that I threw around a word that is so vile. I just couldn't face my family with the truth. You know what they are like. I also knew that because you are Stefano's son it would be accepted without question. I think in the beginning I believed it too. I said it to others so often that I wanted to believe it too. It would make the bargain more palatable in some sense. I know, I know it was a horrible thing to do but the acceptance of my family has caused me to do many unpleasant things in my life. Things that I cringe when I think about. It is strange that you and I both have always only wanted to be loved and accepted by our family with no strings attached, but there are always strings with both the Brady's and the Dimera's aren't there,EJ"

"Yes love, there are" he whispered.

"I am glad to hear that you aren't the one who shot John and right now I don't even care. I just want to have some peace in my life. I am about to bring two lives into this world. A world where they will always be a target simply because the came from me" she looked at him and saw him wince knowing that they could have been his children and she felt his sadness.

"EJ, I am sorry for the pain that finding out these twins aren't yours has brought to you and I know that you would have been a wonderful father to them. I also know that you still feel a connection to them and you will help me to end this vendetta and keep them safe because you love their mother. I am going to offer you the token that my family has never given me, without strings, without hesitation, FORGIVENESS."

EJ felt like the world was spinning. Did he hear correctly? No, he was dreaming. He had to be. Even though he knew that Samantha was the most amazing woman in the world, she couldn't possibly forgive him for the crimes committed.

Knowing exactly what he was thinking, it was amazing that they could do that….read each others thoughts, she looked him in the eye and said, "EJ, if I can forgive myself for the things I have done in the name of love then I certainly can extend that courtesy to you, now can't I?"

He didn't know what to say, what to do, never a man at a lose for words he was unaccustomed to this feeling. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her, and promise that he would make things better but before he could do anything she screamed.

"Samantha what's wrong. What happened?" he leapt to his feet and was at her side in a flash.

"Oh, my god EJ. I think my water just broke" she gasped.

"What, what does that mean, Samantha" and before she could answer him she grabbed his hand and squeezed with a strength that astonished him. His hand was turning white from the lack of blood but he didn't dare say anything. He just let her squeeze until finally she spoke.

"It means that I think these babies are coming. Call the Dr, call a nurse, Just get somebody in here now." Her face was bright red from the pain and he didn't want to let her go but he knew if he didn't follow her order then there would be hell to pay.

"Ok, Darling, just breath" he ran to door and threw it open and yelled for assistance. He ran back to her bedside and again she grabbed his hand.

The doctor rushed in followed by a team of nurses and EJ was pushed to the side. As the doctor and nurses examined her, Samantha realized that she had never seen this doctor before and somehow despite her pain managed to ask, " Who are you, you aren't my doctor?".

EJ immediately perked up and thought to himself, " Please do not let this man be a pawn of my fathers."

Samantha thinking on the same lines looked to the nurse she knew and Janine told her that her doctor was on vacation and this man was Dr. Adams and was the finest in his field and world-renowned. He was filling in and was on call tonight. He was here to research the hospital for new procedures in OB/GYN and bring the hospital staff up to date on the very best. "You are very lucky that he is here. Multiple births are his specialty" she gushed.

Samantha still wary, looked at EJ who asked for specific credentials and pulled out his phone to check the info on his web connection. He would be damned if he would risk Samantha to another of his fathers schemes. He pulled the info and verified the authenticity. He looked to Samantha and nodded in the affirmative.

She sighed in relief. Not wanting to worry about Stefano as she brought these two young lives into the world.

The doctor, tickled at the apprehension of the couple, looked at the tall man and knew this was not a man to be taken lightly. " Sir, I can assure that every precaution will be taken to ensure the safe delivery of your children."

No one even thought to correct him as Samantha was rushed to the delivery room, EJ following along in step. Surprisingly no one had thought to contact Lucas either. The doctor looked at EJ and pointed to the room directly off the delivery room and told him to go in there and someone would him scrub up and dress in the apparel appropriate for the occasion and then turned to Samantha with a smile and said, " Come on little lady, let's bring your children to the party."

"Samantha only groaned and said, "Everyone's a comedian".