Chapter 1: Just A Cup Of Tea

She knocked on the door and waited for someone to come and open it for her.

"Good day Mrs Dimera, please come in."

"Afternoon Dr. Rolf", Samantha replied and walked into the DiMera mansion.

"Stefano iz waiting for you", the old man said and escorted Samantha to the living room, nodded to Stefano and closed the doors behind him as he left them alone. Stefano was gazing into the empty and cold fireplace in deep thought. Samantha laid her purse on the armchair and went to pour a drink for both of them. She took the glasses and walked to her father-in-law.

"Stefano?" Samantha asked and waited for him to take the drink she was offering. He flinched and took the glass sighing deep. After examining the liquid for a moment Stefano faked a smile and looked up to her. He asked:

"Dearest Samantha", Stefano greeted her, "Did I hear Rolf open the door to you again? When will you learn to use the key I gave you?"

"I don't know", Samantha answered truthfully, "I don't think I've yet internalized the fact that I have one. It's difficult enough to grasp that I'm a regular visitor here not to mention that I carry a key to the infamous DiMera mansion." Stefano sneered and twirled the glass in his hands.

"What brings you here today?" He asked and received her lopsided smile:

"Don't you ever get tired of asking that same question?"

"Perhaps a truthful answer would set my mind at ease", Stefano replied turning to face Samantha and beckoning her to take a seat. Samantha obliged the old man who was more vigorous than most young men she knew.

"Perhaps", she nodded, "should the truth be appreciated in this house."

"How are the twins, you must bring them here, soon", Stefano rushed to speak. Samantha recognized this game they had played many times before.

"The twins were here with you only two days ago", she reminded him, "Do you want to tell me what's wrong?" Stefano gazed into his glass again. He opened his mouth but closed it then and remained quiet for a while longer. Samantha was wondering what would she need to bargain away to get him tell her the truth today.

"They found another carcass." She felt a familiar chill go through her entire body. Ever since they had joined forces to find EJ, grim news like these had interrupted their daily routine time and again.

"What makes them think-" Though she had asked the same thing dozens of times before, Samantha couldn't quite bring herself to finish the question.

"He, it, fits the description and-"

"So did the others, why would this be different?" Samantha cut in sharply. Stefano met her ice blue gaze and showed the faintest glimpse of sadness.

"They found EJs ID on him."

"What about DNA?" Samantha asked as shivers ran up and down her spine once more.

"Another twelve hours before the test results come in."

"What can we do?" Samantha asked and gazed at her own drink. Downing it became more and more tempting.

"Wait", Stefano answered, "All we can do is wait. We've done everything else possible and most of the impossible as well to find my son to no avail. Either he's dead-"

"Don't!" Samantha shouted at first and then lowering her voice, "Don't say that. EJ is not dead. I would know, I would feel it if he was dead."

"So many things have changed Samantha. You most of them", surprised Stefano said, "It never ceases to amaze me, what you are willing to go through for my son."

"You are the only one who understands", Samantha sighed, "Even Tony and Anna wonder why I care and they have this odd look in their eyes when ever I try to talk about EJ to them. And my family? They don't understand why I'm not celebrating each day he's gone. EJ left before I could make them understand."

"You don't need to explain this to me", Stefano said.

"I know I don't and that is exactly why I come here every day", Samantha twisted her lips into the smallest smile she could conjure up. They raised their glasses into a silent toast just as someone knocked on the parlour doors and opened them. Rolf came to the room carrying a tray and asked:

"The usual?" Stefano and Samantha glanced at each other at the same time.

"Well, that and the tea", she laughed. Sami laid her drink on the table and took the cup of tea Rolf was offering her.