Chapter One

"EJ," Sami replied as she walked through the door.

"What is the reason I'm getting the pleasure of this visit," EJ asked.

"I just wanted to make sure we were clear on the time I'm picking Chloe and Chase up this afternoon.

EJ nodded.

"Samantha, not that I'm not always happy to see you but I have to wonder, why did you come over here when you could've just called? I'm sure Lucas is just thrilled at the prospect of you being over here,"

Sami thought to herself.

"Don't think so much of it, and no, Lucas doesn't have a problem with it because he understands it's part of the co-parenting thing,"

EJ nodded but was clearly unconvinced.

"Samantha it seems like you have forgotten that at one time we were best friends and you let me in on all your little schemes so I can tell you're lying. Lucas doesn't know you're here does he?"

Sami sighed and reluctantly spoke.

"No, he's still asleep,"

EJ nodded letting the subject drop not wanting to push the boundaries he and Sami had set when they had discussed co-parenting just before the twins had been born.

"You can pick Chase and Chloe up at three o'clock that'll give them enough time to be sure they have all their things together," EJ said wincing slightly as he felt a sharp pain go through his chest but it left as soon as it came.

"Are you okay?" Sami asked trying to hide her concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine,"

Sami gave EJ an unconvinced look.

"I'm fine Samantha," EJ reassured her.

"Fine, I better go,"

EJ nodded and opened the door.

Sami slowly walked back out into the hallway and made her way across the hall to her apartment door. Acting like she was unlocking the door Sami turned to face the door until she heard EJ's door shut then, she turned back to face EJ's door. She lingered in the hall for a few minutes longer wondering if what EJ had told her was true. Was he really okay or had he lied to her? He definitely hadn't acted as if he was okay.

Why do I care so much?

Sami shook her head trying to dismiss the thought attributing her concern to the fact EJ was the father of her children. After a few minutes, more Sami quietly crept into her apartment.

Chase and Chloe walked into the over crowded gymnasium that was packed with ninth graders. They glanced around the gym in an attempt to find their friends.

"There they are," Chase said pointing in the direction of the stage on the other end of the gym where Ciara Brady, Bo and Hope's daughter and Andrew DiMera, Tony and Anna's son who was also their cousin.

They started towards the stage and once they were close, enough it was clear that Andrew and Ciara were arguing. What about was unclear but it wasn't out of the ordinary. They always argued with each other because the truth was they didn't like each other very much, they were only civil for Chloe and Chase's sake.

"Great, they're arguing---again," Chloe said only quietly enough her brother could hear.

"That's nothing new Clo," Chase replied quietly as they approached their friends.

"So what are you guys arguing about now?" Chase asked.

"We aren't arguing, we're discussing,"

Ciara narrowed her eyes.

"Right, sure. We were just discussing…Not,"

Andrew just rolled his eyes.

"We were arguing---I mean discussing who we think Mrs. Hardisty is going to pair together for that big project in Life Skills," Ciara explained.

Chloe nodded.

"Maybe it won't be as big of a deal as it's being made out to be or…that might be my wishful thinking since I have enough to deal with right now,"

"You mean with Carter? I thought you two were still at the flirty-footsie stage," Ciara prodded.

The guys didn't say anything they just rolled their eyes

"We are it's just…other stuff,"

Chase rolled his eyes because he knew exactly what Chloe was referring to even if she didn't outright say it.

"She's just in a sucky mood because we have to go to our mom's and Lucas' apartment,"

Chloe shot a glare in her brother's direction.

"Shut up,"

Ciara glared at Chase and then proceeded to speak.

"Chloe, why do you hate going to your moms apartment all the time,"

"It's not my mom I have the problem with, it's Lucas I can't get along with because he and mom argue about dad in front of us and try to stick us in the middle and make us pick sides. I can't do that," Chloe explained.

Chase sighed, he sympathized with his sister, he really did but the way she dealt with having to go between both of their parent's only put pressure on her.

"Look, I don't like it much more than you do but you just have to learn how to suck it up and deal with it,"

Chloe started to speak but before she could get a word out the bell; that signaled the students could leave the gym rang.

"I say they like each other," Chloe protested as she and Chase walked through the apartment.

Chase rolled his eyes.

"Yeah Chloe, they argue all the time that really shows how much they like each other,"

"I swear the guys at this school are flipping clueless when something is right in front of their faces," Chloe mumbled under her breath not realizing her dad had heard her because she was still engrossed in the argument she was having with Chase.

From his spot on the couch, EJ surveyed the scene with a look of amusement. Chloe and Chase had been so wrapped up in their current argument they hadn't realized their dad was present in the room…Or at least until EJ spoke up.

"Hey guys, what's going on?"

Chase and Chloe both turned around to face EJ.

"Hi daddy," Chloe said sweetly.

"Sweetheart," EJ replied holding back a laugh.

Chase rolled his eyes at his sister.

"Dad I need your help on Something, Chloe's going into Match maker mode and I can't seem to talk any sense into her,"

Chloe sent a glare in Chase's direction.

"Let me clarify that, Andrew and Ciara argue all the time about basically everything---"Chloe was cut off by Chase.

"I really don't see how that adds up to them liking each other,"

"Well let me finish."

Before Chloe could continue, EJ spoke up.

"Chloe you know maybe you should stay out of it and let Ciara and Andrew figure it out by themselves. If they want your help they'll come to you,"

Chloe sighed.

"I guess I could do that,"

Before anything else could be said, there was a knock at the door.

"That's probably your mother," EJ said getting up to get the door.

"Samantha," EJ said greeting her.

"EJ," Sami said feeling her concern about what happened earlier creep to the surface but once again tried to brush the feelings away.

"Chase, Chloe come on we have to go,"

Both Chase and Chloe walked to the door. Before leaving Chloe gave EJ one last pleading look.

EJ sighed. He hated it when she did that because he couldn't help the way things were. Things had been this way since the twins were babies.

EJ just shook his head slightly and then Chloe looked away.

After that, both Sami and the twins left.