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Okay, so I left out the little disclaimer on the first chapter of this story, so lest you should think I am one of the o-so-brilliant scribes at GH let me make it perfectly clear… I am not now nor have I ever been a writer on GH; I don't own any of the characters (but I do have fun playing the fanfic puppet master of their lives); I only hope to entertain and flex my writing skills.

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Sam was up with the sun. She usually tried to meet her dad downstairs before school and he woke up, it seemed, before the sun. Alexis was no slouch but she could appreciate the finer merits of 8 to 10 hours of sleep. Samantha couldn't understand how Sonny appeared to manage on as little as four. But whatever the reason he was always at his desk by six o'clock strong black coffee in hand and composing a manic list of things that had to be done for him by someone in his organization.

These morning encounters served a dual purpose, making a connection and these days trying to get permission to do something she knew he wouldn't go for without a gentle push; going on a date was just that sort of thing.

Sam found it difficult to get close to Sonny when he and Alexis first got married. They sort of just danced around one another in the house. Michael was only home part time back then and Alexis dealt with Sam and Sonny dealt with her new little brother. There was no cross child rearing to speak of during the first six months. Then Alexis had to leave town on business for Cousin Stefan and didn't want to pull Sam out of school, so for three weeks it was Sonny, Michael, Leticia and Sam. It was mostly them minus Sonny until Sam broke down one morning and ran head-on into her new "dad".

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(Flashback: Penthouse hallway)

Sam had cried through the night, she had cried through her shower, she had cried while she dressed, and her eyes were so puffy she could hardly see through the slits that opened for the rest of the world to see her sorrow. They could see her soul, but she couldn't see 3 feet in front of her. She wasn't sure when it happened, but she had gotten very close to her mom and now she missed her something terrible and had no idea what to do with those feelings.

"You better look up before you walk into something a lot harder than me." Before her stood a wall of Chocolate brown buttons with a voice booming over her head, he had finally made an appearance. The rumor was she was very lucky to have Sonny Corinthos as her new father, but it wasn't an assessment Sam could make for herself since she rarely ever saw him.

Barely glancing up she said, "Sorry Son-dad. I was just going to make some breakfast." Sam tried to beeline it out of his path without further discussion. It felt so weird calling him dad and sometimes she plain forgot. He and her mom thought it best though. They said it would be less confusing for Michael and the new babies. Honestly she didn't have a father she was betraying by doing it, so who cared. She chose her battles and that wasn't one of them. Majority of the time she didn't call him anything just simply answered politely.

Sonny saw her bloodshot eyes and knew right away that she'd been crying. "How about some company down there and I'll make you something much better than cereal. Come on."

He changed directions and was now in front leading the way downstairs. Sam followed not really sure of what else to do. She didn't dislike Sonny. Actually he had been great to her when he and Alexis dated, even now things were good just awkward. It was Sam's guess that he didn't have much experience with 12 year old girls. Michael and Leticia weren't down yet, they had no reason to be it was barely 6:30. The only reason Sam was up, unbeknownst to Sonny, was because she needed out of the house and planned a trip to the docks en route to school sans guards.

Dropping her bag at the foot of the stairs Sam followed into the kitchen and watched him work in silence for the first few minutes. He really seemed to know his way around the kitchen, a lot better than Alexis for sure. Sam became a master at cereal for the mornings Alexis couldn't take her to Kelly's for breakfast. At least at Wyndemere's there was a cook.

EW, he was taking out spinach and tomatoes. She hoped he remembered this was supposed to be breakfast. Finally she spoke. "Are you putting that in the eggs?"

"Yes, it's good for you." He answered without turning around.

She hopped of the stool and walked around the island to get a closer look. "But is it gonna taste good?"

He kept separating eggs and a small smirk spread across his face. "You are just like your mother, but for the record she loves my spinach omelet. Hand me that bowl over there please."

He put all the ingredients in and Sam couldn't take her eyes off of him. Sam had spent most of her time around women and Cassadine men certainly nerve prepared meals. Forcing herself to give him space she stood as close to the stove as she could get without being a nuisance.

"You know how to make toast or squeeze oranges?" Chef Corinthos flipped the omelet expertly and turned to his daughter.

Now she felt sheepish again almost wishing he'd kept his back to her. "I guess toast can't be that hard, but I don't know how to work a juicer."

"I've seen Alexis try toast and it's ended badly. Come here and I'll show you. Grab the bread and get some oranges from the fridge." Sonny moved the pan from the heat. Sam put everything on the counter in front of him while Sonny plugged in the toaster and the juicer then started cutting oranges in half.

"The most important thing to remember is that you never take short cuts or rush the process. Put a slice of bread in each slot and turn the dial to 5. Wait for the toast to pop up by itself. Don't stick your face close trying to see or yank the button to force it up and never stick anything in there to get it out while it's plugged in or on."

Sam laughed and couldn't believe toast was really this hard, but she listened and followed the directions to the letter. As the toast did its own thing she was handed a half of orange and told to place it on top of the juicer while Sonny held glasses at the spout. She couldn't believe how many it took to fill four glasses. The toast popped up; Sonny plated the omelets and they sat at the table eating mostly silent. But for some reason Sam's heart didn't feel as heavy and she didn't much feel like crying.

"Dad can I go somewhere after school today?" Her voice was timid, but she knew asking was probably a better choice than sneaking.

"Go where?" Sonny asked his fork in mid-air.

"Over to Spoon Island to see Nikolas. Cousin Stefan is with mom and my friend Emily and I were going to go over." Sam steadily put food in her mouth.

"That's a bad idea. I don't want you over there alone."

Sam's face was crestfallen. She didn't want to spend another day just coming back to this penthouse doing homework and entertaining Michael. Sonny noted the silent disappointment and surprisingly made a shift (one he'd be making for those big brown eyes for years to come).

"You can only go if Frankie drives and stays on the island with you guys. If his crazy grandmother shows up there's no telling what she'll do."

"So I can go?" A smile washed over her entire face.

Michael and Leticia came down and the kitchen filled with the morning bustle. Sonny grabbed a fresh cup of coffee and headed out to his office. Over her his shoulder he called, "home by six Sammie and you can help me with dinner."

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Foot clad in her favorite, over worn, bunny slippers Sam made her way downstairs. She double checked her look to make sure her make-up wasn't too heavy. She was only allowed to wear it for special occasions, but when she kept it light he usually didn't notice. He was sitting right where she expected.

"Morning daddy, I thought you'd be making breakfast." Walking to him she kissed him on the cheek and sat on the edge of his desk. He leaned back in his chair suspicion clouding his eyes and a smirk on his lips.

"You make something for you and Michael and Leticia will take care of the twins." Sonny stood up and took his jacket from behind the chair. As he made his way to the study doors Sam dogged his heals. He turned around keeping one hand on the door knob. "Ask."

"What?" She was buying time.

"Ask me whatever has you up before anyone and on my heels. What's going on sweetheart?"

"Can I go to Kelly's later? Em and I are going to work on some dance committee stuff. I have to tutor Lucky first so he'll give me a ride there and I call for a ride home."

"When you start talking that fast I always feel like there's more. Tell it all because I have a meeting with Jason and no time for a waltz around the truth." Sam paced a bit and backed up. Sonny crossed his arms.

"It's nothing really I just joined the committee because Emily did and it I don't need a ride when Lucky's going there anyway."

"Is Lucky on this committee too?"

"No. Seniors don't plan dances they just go to them. Plus Lucky has to spend all his free time on Latin, hence the fabulous tutoring he's getting."

"You're not allowed to date Samantha. So what would this be?" Sonny knew the crush Sam had on Lucky Spencer. He and Alexis had discussed it plenty when she offered to tutor him after school. If he wasn't Luke's son the no would have come a lot easier, but he was and he was a nice kid to boot, nice, but definitely too old for Sam.

"It would be a ride nothing more. I'll be home for dinner promise."

Sonny walked closer and spoke to his daughter in Spanish, a practice that had become more common since she got older. "Aceptable. Va la reunión Emily después me satisface en el caf'e y montaremos a casa juntos. El Oh, y el SAM no llenan para arriba en las patatas fritas. Te amo. Se cerciora de usted llegar con la mamá durante el día."

"Don't worry I'll only have one plate, no matter how much grandpa Mike pushes them on me. Thanks dad, love you too," Sam said as Sonny cleared the door and he and Max took off for town.

Sam left a note for Alexis and pulled out bowls and cereal for her and Michael. She was sure this wasn't what her dad had meant by make breakfast, but she had to get to school to get her and Emily on that dance committee. She had two weeks to put the rest of her plan in motion. Phase one had gone off without a hitch and if everything else went as smooth then she'd be dancing the night away in Lucky Spencer's arms in the amazing dress she already had picked out. When she left and climbed in the back of the car Milo drove her and her siblings around in she had a smile on her face that wouldn't go away. Samantha Corinthos couldn't wait for the Spring Fling.