Chapter 4: A Month Ago...

(DiMera Mansion)

"Anthony?" a heavy Italian voice called.

"Yes Father" Tony DiMera answered as he walked into the room.

"Have you seen your brother?" Stefano asked.

"Junior?...No, not today. Why?" Tony poured himself a snifter full of brandy, and turned toward his father.

"Its better if Elvis dosn't know of my plans" the elder DiMera stated as he motioned for his son to pour him a drink also.

"Plans, what plans Father?"

"Plans concerning Samantha and her unborn children"

"Yes...?"

"Anthony, I don't have much time. I need those stem cells if I am to survive, and your brother seems to have switched loyalties. I can no longer trust Elvis, so you must bring Samantha Roberts to me now" Stefano demanded.

"Consider it done Father" Tony said as he stood in front of the patriach of the DiMera family. "And the twins?"

Stefano looked up at his eldest son "the twins will have to be sacraficed for the family"

"And Junior?"

"Do not worry about your brother, he will be taken care of"

Tony smiled, but it did not reach his cold dead eyes "Taken care of...Indeed"

Neither saw the dark shadow slowly move away from the terrace window.

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(Salem Hospital)

"Thank you for coming with me EJ" Sami told the man sitting next to her in the waiting room.

"Thank you for letting me be part of this" EJ replied.

"I want you to be part of the twins lives, you are their Father"

"I will always be their for them and you... if you will let me" EJ said as helped Samantha stand as her name was called.

"Well Sami, everything looks good! Both babies are doing great, very healthy" Doctor Lambert told them as she watched the sonogram machine. "Did you want to know the sex of the children?"

"Yes" Sami replied immediatley, looking up at EJ, he nodded his head in agreement.

"Lets see... here is your...son and over here we have his...sister" Doctor Lambert said with a smile.

"A girl and a boy?" Sami asked as she clutched at EJ's hand.

"Yes, a matched set" the Doctor replied as she got up to leave "I'll leave ya'll alone for a few minutes while I get your paperwork together."

EJ's astonished eyes were glued to the monitor, as he watched his children! Sami glanced up at him, and saw the wonder and love written all over his face. "EJ?"

"Look Samantha... Our children! Are they not beautiful?" he kissed the top of her knuckles one by one.

Sami smiled up at him "Are you happy?"

"Happy?No... I'm beyond happy. I'm estatic! A son and a daughter! Thank you Samantha!" he declared "Thank You!"

"Theres no reason to thank me EJ"

"Yes Darling there is! Thank you for letting me be part of this. Thank you for giving me hope. Thank you for giving me another chance. Thank you most of all for my beautiful children" EJ said as he kissed her hand once more and looked into her brilliant blue eyes.

Sami sighed "EJ as much as I hated what you did to me, I've come to accept it. As much as I said it was rape, I started to believe it myself. But over the last few weeks I've come to realize a few things. The first being that you did not rape me, you did give me a choice that night, I could have said no. I know you wouldn't have pushed the issue, and would have let me go. The second being that as much as I denied it... I wanted you to... but I was to scared to stand by you when I found out you're a DiMera. The third being that you have been my only true friend in all my life. You have never judged me, and have always stood by me, even after learning what I did to Carrie. You are my best friend. And finally that people in glass houses should not throw rocks" at that last statement EJ looked at her in confusion.

"I mean that I have done horrible things in my past, possibly worst than you've ever thought of. But later, I regretted my actions, and tried to make amends to no avail. So I know how you feel." Sami said softly as tears started to fall from her baby blue eyes. "So know I forgive you everything, as long as you'll forgive me everything. And I hope we can begin again as friends."

EJ pulled Samantha into his arms and squeezed her in a tight hug. Dropping a kiss on top of her head, he could not keep his own chocolate eyes from tearing up. "Samantha, you are a wonderful perfect miracle" he whispered "I love you Samantha! Always! There is no need for me to forgive you, your perfect! And I will do whatever you want me to, I will always be here for you."

Sami leaned back in his arms, reaching up she brushed a tear from his cheek. Smiling she tried to lighten the mood "So why do you think our children will be beautiful?" she asked playfully.

EJ answered in all seriousness "Because their mother is gorgeous, and their father isn't to bad either"

Sami laughed and punched him in the shoulder.

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(Hospital Parking Garage)

EJ and Samantha were riding the elevator down to the parking garage "You know EJ you should really think about getting a bigger car" Sami said.

"Bite your tongue. Famous racer EJ Wells in a...minivan...I think not!"

"Well your not going to be able to fit two carseats in your little silver sportscar"

"Hmmmmm, You may have a point Sweetheart" stepping off the elevator EJ led Samantha over to a bench set along the wall. "Wait here, I'll bring the car around and pick you up. I know you said your ankles were swelling so just take a rest for a minute" Samantha flashed him a grateful smile.

Sami watched as EJ walked away, and didn't notice the two very large men approaching her from behind. The dark haired one clamped his hand over Sami's mouth, and yanked her up by the shoulders. Sami began to struggle, but her screams were muffled the hairy hand. The other man with blond hair said something in Russian to his comrade, as he kept a lookout for witnesses. Sami was able to get her hand inside her purse, and pulled out her taser gun. While her assailant wasn't paying attention she turned it on, and slammed it right into his groin, he dropped like a rock. As soon as his hand slipped off Sami screamed "EJ!!!!HELP!!!!" The blond goon rushed toward her and slapped her hard across the mouth. Sami was able to stay standing, and she tried to get her taser gun into him to, but he was able to knock it out of her hand.

During their struggle neither noticed as a dark shadow pulled the fire alarm lever down. The sirens blasted thru out the parking garage even as the sprinklers sprang to life.

Sami screamed again as the goon grabbed her by the hair. He lifted his hand to hit her again, but it was grabbed from behind. His body was swung around, and his face smashed in by a cricket bat. As he fell, EJ took another swing, and struck him full in the face again. The blond goon made not a sound as he crumpled to the ground, his dark companion was moaning and unable to move a few feet away.

"Samantha!!" EJ rushed toward her "Are you ok? Oh God!! Your bleeding!" the sprinklers were cascading over them washing the blood from Sami's face as she looked up at him. " I'm fine" she said around her busted lip "What do you think they wanted?" nodding at the the two men laying prone on the ground.

"I don't know, but I plan on finding out" EJ said menacingly as picked up his cricket bat and moved toward the semi-conscious one. At that exact moment sirens wailed, as fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars swarmed around the parking garage. "Damn" EJ muttered as he came back to Samantha's side.

Roman Brady jumped out of his police vehicle and rushed toward EJ "What the hell happened here?"

"I'll tell you what the bloody hell happened" EJ answered angrily "Fric and Frac over there attacked Samantha. My God Roman, look at her poor face"

Roman turned toward his daughter for the first time "You ok Sami?" She nodded even as a paramedic was taking care of her.

"What happened to them?" Roman pointed toward the men who were being put on strechers.

"Well Fric got tasered by me" Sami replied.

"And Frac decided to make friends with my bat" EJ said as he held up his weapon.

"And who triggered the fire alarm?" Roman asked.

Sami and EJ looked at each other in confusion and said at the same time

"Not me"

"Wasn't me"

"Any idea who sent them?" Roman wanted to know.

EJ sighed in defeat as he sat down next to Samantha. Taking her hand in his, he kissed the inside of her wrist. His dark eyes showed his sorrow at what he was going to say "My family" looking up at Roman he continued "I'm not postive mind you. But this does have Anthony's name all over it, and I'm sure its on Stefanos orders" EJ dropped his head into his hands, Sami layed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Samantha's going to need 24 hour police protection from now on Commander. My brother will try again"

Roman nodded his agreement, he walked away to make the arrangements.

"EJ" Sami said softly. EJ pulled her into his strong arms and held her close

"I'm so sorry Samantha, that you've gotten hurt again. Its all my fault!"

"This is not your fault EJ. Your not to blame"

"Am I not, the only reason this happened is beacuse you are carring my children"

Sami put both of her hands on his face cupping his cheeks, she pulled him down to her level, and kissed him softly on the lips. Pulling back she said "I wouldn't have it any other way" and kissed him again.

The dark shadow lingered a few extra moments, as it watched the couple embrace. Then moving backwards it was swallowed by the other shadows, untill it disappeared.