Sami Brady sat outside on a bench near the waterfront. Today was always the worst day of her life. For years she spent every single day mourning her lost son. Eventually, her mother convinced her to set aside one day specifically for this. One day in which she could cry and wail, offer her hope and her love for her missing son.

Not that Sami didn't miss Will every day because she did. Everyone knew she did. But Sami knew her mother was right. She couldn't go on living the way she had, closed off and alone. Running off at the slightest hint of a missing child found in some state or another.

Sami promised Marlena that she would get better and she had. Sure, she took the job at the police station to hear updates if any came in. But for the most part Sami was doing better. She didn't cry as often. She didn't go into Will's bedroom every day anymore. She even had a boyfriend for the first time since her wedding debacle to Franco.

EJ was something new and fresh. He saw Sami for who she was. Someone cracked but not broken. Someone lost hoping to be found. EJ awoke a part of Sami she hadn't felt in years.

It meant so much to her that EJ took a chance on her. She didn't even care he was a DiMera. Despite the pain Stefano caused Sami's mother and father, she had never dealt with the man herself. Besides, EJ was raised outside of Salem.

'And he has a son,' Sami thought. 'A son.'


Angel, Stefano, and EJ walked towards the entrance of The Dock. Angel realized the name was quite apropos. The restaurant was outdoors, on the docks, with strings of Christmas lights strung overhead.

Angel could smell fish and chips. It made his stomach grumble.

EJ spotted Samantha off to the side.

"You go inside," EJ instructed. "I'll be there shortly."

Angel watched his father walk over to a small blonde woman. He knew that must be his father's girlfriend, Samantha. Angel's heart went out to her. Vaguely, Angel wondered how old her missing son would be now.

"Find us a table, Angioletto," Stefano requested. "I must make a call."

Angel huffed at the abandonment but followed directions. He walked past a table with a picture of a small child on it. Angel stopped and stared.

'William Robert Horton,' Angel read.

For a long time, Angel examined the photo. It looked so familiar to Angel. He just couldn't put his finger on it.

"Hey," Chad smacked Angel on the back. "Gatecrashing?"

Angel startled.

"Uh, no," Angle licked his lips. He finally turned away from the photo to look at Chad. He wished he hadn't. Chad looked so nice in a blazer and tight trousers.

"My grandfather has reservations," Angel explained.

"Bit of a weird night to come," Chad commented. "Everyone knows what tonight's about."

"He's a bit eccentric," Angel shrugged. "You look nice," Angel said before he could stop himself.

Chad's eyebrows rose.

"Thank you," Chad smiled sincerely. He looked Angel up and down, eyes lingering at the tight stretch of the material across his thighs. "You too."

Angel blushed heavily. He recalled what his father said about Chad potentially being bisexual. He hoped that was true.

Just as Angel was contemplating a tactful way to bring it up, Melanie joined them.

"There you are," Melanie grabbed Chad's arm. "I missed you.

Melanie grabbed Chad around the neck and yanked him into a kiss.

Angel looked away uncomfortably.


"Samantha," EJ whispered. He delicately placed his hands on her shoulders.

Sami closed her eyes. Her hair floated through the watery breeze.

"I can still remember his smile," Sami stated. Her forehead wrinkled. "It was so wide I always thought he was going to hurt his cheeks."

EJ rubbed her shoulders carefully, listening.

"Everyone says I should give up hope," Sami continued. "But how can I? How can I let him go? I know he's alive. I can feel it."

Sami grabbed a small heart-shaped locket she wore everywhere. Inside was a picture of Will. The last picture she ever took of him.

"I would know if he was dead," Sami insisted. "I would."

"I know you would, Darling," EJ agreed.

"Would you give up?" Sami turned to face EJ. "If it was your s-son that was missing. Would you give up?"

EJ couldn't even imagine it. He wouldn't know what to do if his son were taken from him.

"Never," EJ vowed. "I wouldn't rest until I brought him home."

"Exactly," Sami smiled through her tears. EJ understood her better than anyone ever had.

"Is, is your s-son here?" Sami questioned, wiping away her tears.

"Yes," EJ confirmed. "But if you'd rather meet him some other time we would understand."

"No," Sami shook her head. "No, I'd like to see at least one happy family tonight."


Angel observed the restaurant full of strangers. For such a small town there certainly were several families.

Angel saw his new friends. Gabi was with a woman and man who must be her siblings. T and Kinsey stood near them. Melanie held Chad in a death grip near an older redheaded woman.

Angel wondered if Chad had any family besides his mother. Or if Chad would ever meet his father.

Angel begged and pleaded for so long to meet his own mother. Eventually he gave up. His father also said no. His grandfather always gave him a secretive smile but shook his head. Angel assumed she must have died and everyone tried to spare him the pain.

'Maybe I could help Chad find his father,' Angel thought. His research into his mother didn't produce any results. Angel knew that was due to his grandfather's influence though.

'But Nonno would have no interest in Chad,' Angel realized. 'I could help him.'

"Hey," Sonny tapped Angel on the shoulder. "What are you doing here?"

"Dinner," Angel responded. "If my father and grandfather would ever come back."

"I've got family like that," Sonny nodded. "They're over there actually."

Angel looked in the direction Sonny pointed. He saw a white haired, stern looking man. As well as a nice looking man and woman that must be Sonny's parents.

"Is your family related to the Horton's?" Angel questioned.

"Not exactly," Sonny replied. "My grandfather is close with the missing Horton's great-grandma. So, the whole Kiriakis clan has to be here."

Angel wrinkled his nose at that name. It sounded familiar.

Chad, escaping from Melanie, joined Angel and Sonny.

"Hey, dude," Chad greeted Sonny. "Sorry about that," Chad told Angel. "Girlfriends, you know?"

"Not really," Angel swallowed. "I'm gay."

"Oh," Chad said. After a beat he said, "Boyfriends, you know?"

Angel smiled, eyes on the ground. When he looked up he caught Chad staring at him with a contemplative expression.


Sami and EJ entered the restaurant. Before EJ could point out his son, Marlena Evans walked over to them.

"Sami," Marlena gave her a small smile. She ignored EJ standing beside her. "It's time, sweetheart."

EJ watched as John Black, Carrie Roberts, and Belle Black all passed out white candles.

Angel took a candle when a man with dark hair offered it to him.

"Um," Angel looked at the candle.

"Here," Chad showed Angel a box of matches. "I'll help you."

Angel smiled briefly even though that wasn't what he meant.

Sonny glanced between the two with a small grin.

EJ looked around for his father but couldn't find him. That couldn't be good.

"Samantha, I need to find my father," EJ whispered to her. "He shouldn't be skulking around the place."

"Everyone," Marlena cleared her throat. "Get your matches ready."

Angel saw his father walk into the space. He attempted to move over to him.

"Hey," Chad bent over to whisper in Angel's ear. "What did you say your last name was?"

"I didn't get the chance," Angel responded. "But it's actually-,"

"Attention," John clapped his hands.

Everyone stopped talking, silence enveloped the restaurant. The Christmas lights turned off.

Sami, tears glistening on her face, held the only lit candle.

"Never give up hope," Sami stated, mostly to herself. "When darkness falls," Sami blew out her candle. "The stars come out."

Everyone lit their candles one by one.

Angel looked around, the glow from the candles warmed his insides. It filled him with hope. He could only imagine what it did to Samantha.

Everyone stayed quiet and reflective until the tea light candles burned down.

Someone grabbed Angel's shoulders, frightening him.

"Come, Angioletto," Stefano guided. "There is someone you must meet."

Angel whispered his goodbyes to Chad and Sonny.

"That was beautiful," EJ murmured to Sami once the lights came back on. "Truly."

"I just wish there was more I could do," Sami sighed. "I keep hoping he'll tumble back into my life. But would I even recognize him?"

"Samantha," Stefano announced loudly.

John and Marlena, standing nearby, hurried over.

"What are you doing here?" John demanded.

"I'm here with my grandson," Stefano explained loftily. "A little family reunion, so to speak."

"What grandson?" Marlena questioned. She put her hand on Sami's arm protectively.

"My son," EJ cleared his throat.

Angel peaked his head around Stefano. He stepped towards his father, sensing the tense situation.

"Samantha," EJ put his hands on Angel's shoulders. "This is my son."

Sami drifted her eyes from the boy's shoes up to his crystal clear blue eyes. Sami inhaled sharply.

Angel took a step backwards into EJ's chest. He didn't understand the power behind Samantha's gaze.

EJ looked between Samantha and Angel in concern. He wondered if it was too soon for Samantha. Today of all days she didn't need to meet his son.

"Oh my god," Sami whispered. Her hands reached out unconsciously and grabbed the boy's face.

"Samantha," EJ worried. "What, what are you doing?"

"It's you," Sami gasped. "I know it's you."

"Sami," Marlena frowned. "What-?"

Sami brushed her thumbs along Angel's skin. Her eyes examined every inch of his face. His perfect, perfect face.

EJ caught sight of his father out of his peripheral vision.

"Dad?" Angel asked.

Stefano smirked in triumph.

EJ stared for a moment longer before seeing a picture of Samantha's child on the table nearby. Normally, Samantha kept the pictures locked in Will's bedroom. EJ had never seen one before.

"Oh, god," EJ whispered. His hands shook against Angel's shoulders.

"Dad?" Angel repeated, uncomfortable.

"What did you do?" EJ glared at his father.

"Baby," Sami whimpered.

"What?" Stefano questioned innocently.

Marlena grasped John's hand, realizing dawning on them both.

"Oh my god," Marlena inhaled. "Is it?"

John shook his head and bared his teeth.

"All this time?" John growled. "All this time we've been looking and you took him! You stole him away from his family, away from his home."

Stefano chuckled.

"I did no such thing," Stefano smiled. "Angel was adopted into our family, legally."

"Adopted?" Angel questioned, horrified. "Dad, what are they talking about?"

"I can't believe this," EJ whispered. "How could, why didn't you tell me?"

Angel ripped his face away from Sami's hands. He rounded on his father.

"What are they saying?" Angel urged. "Dad?"

EJ shook his head, head in his hands.

"All this time," EJ pressed his lips together. "He was just a baby," EJ hurtled at his father.

Angel took a step away.

"Wha-? Why would, how could?" Angel shook his head.

"I didn't know," EJ saw the betrayal on his son's face. "I swear I-,"

Angel bit his lip before turning away. He pushed and shoved as many people as he could, leaving the restaurant as fast as possible.

Sami and EJ both made a move to follow.

John put his hand on EJ's chest and pushed.

"You have some explaining to do," John threatened. "What the hell did you do to that child?"

"I didn't," EJ maintained. "I never, I didn't know."

Sami, for the first time since she saw Will, turned her attention on EJ.

"How could you not know?" Sami voiced. "How?"

"My father said he adopted the boy," EJ hurried to explain.

He had the attention of almost the whole restaurant now.

"He left him with me," EJ insisted. "I-he, we got close. He called me…" EJ trailed off. "I filled out the paperwork to make him mine. I have adoption papers."

"Are we just supposed to believe that?" John shook his head. "That you just happened on that boy. That you just happened to come to this town and fall for Sami!"

"I didn't," EJ repeated. He focused on Sami. "I swear, Samantha. I didn't know."

Sami shook her head before running off as well.

"How could you?" Marlena hissed. "Take that innocent boy and warp him into one of you?"

EJ grit his teeth.

"You don't even know if it's true," EJ argued.

"A DNA test will prove it," Marlena threatened.

"Assuming you can get the boy to agree," Stefano commented. "He's not a minor, you know."

"We'll deal with you," John guaranteed. "One way or another you'll pay for this."


Angel held his stomach as he wandered through town. He had gotten lost a long time ago.

Everything swirled through his head. Adoption, lost Horton, the candles.

'My whole life is a lie,' Angel realized. 'Everything.'

Angel looked up and found himself surrounded by trees. He sat down on a fallen log and sighed.

'What am I going to do? What can I do?' Angel closed his eyes.

"Hey," a shoe stepped on the toe of Angel's foot.

Angel opened his eyes and looked up. Chad towered over him.

"Hi," Angel responded glumly.

"I saw what happened," Chad sat next to Angel. "Looked pretty intense."

"Yeah," Angel puffed out a laugh. "Something like that."

"You want to talk about it?" Chad suggested. "You don't have to if you don't want to though."

"What's to talk about?" Angel shook his head. "That my father isn't actually my father? That I was kidnapped? That my mother," Angel's voice shook. "My mother is, that she's…"

Chad stayed quiet. He tried to think of a way to get Angel's mind off of all this. Tried to think of a way to distract him.

"You want to do something bad?" Chad questioned mischievously.


"Whose is this?" Angel asked, following Chad into a cabin.

"I guess technically it's yours," Chad responded. "It's the Horton family's cabin."

"Oh," Angel looked around the small space. "You'd think the family would want a bigger place."

"Good point," Chad acknowledged. "With how big they are it should be huge."

Angel slumped in a chair.

"I'm sure when you got here today," Chad sat across from Angel. "You didn't think this was going to happen."

"No," Angel shook his head. "I thought I'd meet this aunt I'm supposed to have. Spend a nice, relaxing holiday here."

"Relaxing and Salem don't belong in the same sentence," Chad joked.

"Have you lived here long?" Angel questioned.

"Not really," Chad admitted. "I lived a few towns over but came here a year or two ago."

Chad took a deep breath.

"Actually," Chad continued. "I came around because my ex-girlfriend was here, Mia. I hadn't seen her in a long time and I heard she was in town. Found out she had a baby, my baby."

"You're a father?" Angel asked.

"Was," Chad shook his head. "It was a girl but she died a short while after she was born. Mia didn't handle it well. She left a while ago."

"I'm so sorry," Angel put his hand on Chad's knee.

"I'm getting over it," Chad divulged. "It's hard but each day gets better and better."

Chad bit his lip, holding Angel's eyes.

"It's easier for me," Chad added. "Because I know where my little girl is. But someone like Sami Brady," Chad reached out to grab Angel's hands. "She never had any closure. She didn't know if her son was alive or dead. I can't imagine that, feeling that."

Angel looked away from Chad.

"I thought you were supposed to distract me," Angel pointed out. "Not make me feel worse."

"What would make you feel better?" Chad smiled. "Come on, let me have it."

Angel shrugged.

"My father's always the one to make me feel better," Angel frowned.

"There has to be something else," Chad argued.

Angel glanced at Chad's lips before turning away.

Chad bit his lip, contemplating.

"I did say anything," Chad whispered before moving forward.

Chad carefully cupped the back of Angel's head.

Angel gasped slightly before their lips touched. He pushed forward, melting into the kiss.

Chad pulled away after a few moments. He rested their foreheads together.

"I'm sorry," Angel insisted. "I know you have a girlfriend."

"I offered," Chad reminded Angel. "It's not your fault."

"I know you just did that to make me feel better," Angel continued. "Maybe if you explain she'll understand."

"I liked that a little too much for her to understand," Chad admitted carefully.

"Really?" Angel asked, perking up. "But I thought you were, you know."

"I don't really know," Chad confessed. "I just, I've only been with girls, yeah. But I've been attracted to the person more so than the gender."

"Oh," Angel replied. "I just like guys."

"That's cool," Chad smiled.

Angel nodded and yawned.

"Tired?" Chad asked with a smile.

"Yeah," Angel nodded. "I had a long day."

"Come on," Chad grabbed Angel's hand. He pulled him towards the bed. "Why don't we lie down?"


EJ searched everywhere he could think. He couldn't find his son anywhere.

'There are only so many places he could be,' EJ thought. 'I have to fix this. I have to explain.'

"Can't find him?" Sami asked, stepping in front of EJ.

"Samantha," EJ stated.

"My son," Sami added, ignoring EJ.

"My son," EJ defended.

"No," Sami shouted. "No, he's mine. I know he is."

Sami began pacing.

"I waited 16 years," Sami ranted. "And, and now you don't even know where he is."

"Samantha, I swear to you," EJ promised. "I never knew Angel was yours."

"Will!" Sami screamed. "His name is Will!"

EJ sighed.

"He's always been my angel," EJ explained. "From the time he was a toddler. He ran into my room, afraid of a thunderstorm."

Sami closed her eyes.

"He woke me up," EJ explained. "Put his nose against my neck," EJ choked up. "Called me Daddy. He was mine from that moment, my son. I raised him. I took him to school. I was there for him. He's my son."

EJ caught Sami when her knees buckled.

"My baby," Sami cried.

EJ held Samantha close.

"Our baby," EJ amended.