I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Once again, I hate to proofread and I am the world worst speller. This chapter focuses on Sam McCall and others. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have being dealing with a lot of personal things since I posted lasted and having to get ready for school. This chapter is more of a transitional one. Enjoy.

Scene 6: Office of McCall and Jackel

After getting off the phone with her mother, Sam tried calling Spinelli again. Once again, she got his voicemail, "Hi, Tis I, the Jackel. Sorry to inform you that I am unable answer the phone. Please proceed to leave a message after the beep." Beep

"Spinelli, I know this is the third message I'm leaving on your phone. Are you coming into the office today? I need to get your help on a case I'm working on for my mom. Please call me back when you get this message. If you don't…." BEEP. "Damn it"

Dialing Spinelli's phone again and waiting on the beep. Beep. "Sam again, my message was cut off. As I was saying if you don't call me back within the hour I will come looking for you. My mother really needs your expertise. Come on, I will own you one."

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Sam finished up the paperwork for her other cases and then made a few calls to her clients to give them updates and setup times that would be good for them to meet. Sam then looked up around the empty room. After checking the clock, Sam noticed that it had been almost two hours since she called Spinelli. Picking up her cell phone and noticing that she have not receive any calls or text, Sam decided to try a different approach.

"Come on, pick up." said Sam impatiently. "Oh, thank you, Hi."

"Hi Sam, let me step out in the hall. Now, what can I do for you? Jason said eagerly.

Picking up on the tone in his voice, Sam asked, "Jason, are you okay? Did I interrupt anything?"

"Yeah I'm fine. No you didn't interrupt me, and lastly, thank you." exclaimed Jason.

"For what, I haven't done anything." responded Sam.

"You save me." answered Jason.

"I will ask for what, but right now I really don't want to know." Realizing how that came out, Sam added, "I'm sorry that sounded rude."

"Not really, you just seem seemed like you have a long day."

"You don't know the half of it. Actually, it really hasn't been that bad. I'm just frustrated because I have been calling Spinelli and he hasn't answered or called me back. Sorry to be babbling, the reason, I was calling is to see if you have seen Spinelli." Sam said rambling.

"Yes, I have."

"You sound irritated." stated Sam.

"That's the reason I was thanking you" added Jason.

"Oh"

"Don't get me wrong, not that Spinelli isn't fun to be around, it just today he has mobbing around here all day, quoting prose, poetry, or something. Who knows?" Jason explained.

"Oh, is it the bad?" asked Sam.

"I'm about ready to shoot myself."

"Oh, that bad"

"Yeah, is there any way you can come over and maybe talk to him?" asked Jason.

Sam answered, "Not right now, Jason. Have to meet Maxie for lunch. Maybe I can talk to her and see where everything stands. But, I can promise to be by as soon as I finish lunch."

"Please, Hurry!"

"It's not that bad." chuckled Sam.

"You are not here." interjected Jason.

"While I got you on the phone, could you do me a favor?" asked Sam.

"Anything" answered Jason.

"Really" teased Sam.

"Come on" Jason said suppressing a smile.

Getting back serious, Sam asked "Could you ask Spinelli to check his voicemails?"

"Okay, will do. May I ask what this about?" questioned Jason.

Assuming that Jason thought she was in trouble, Sam "It's nothing like that. Come on I'm asking Spinelli for help."

"My bad I didn't mean to pry."

"No problem. Anyways, I have some work I need done for my mo.., uh Alexis." exclaimed Sam.

Jason picking up on Sam's tone stated, "Sam, you have a right to call her mom, don't change on my account."

"Okay, Jason. It's just we are really working on building our relationship. I love it because I never had a mom growing up. Alexis and I are getting close and right now I'm able to help her out. I know I'm starting to see what type of person she really is. She is a good person that has made some really bad choices out of the love of her daughters." Sam said smiling on the other end of the phone.

"That includes you too, Sam" added Jason.

"I know. I know. It feels really great to have my mom in my life."

"No need to explain to me, Sam. I'm happy for you. I think you should try to have a relationship with your mom." interjected Jason.

"Thanks, Jason. Anyways, please pass the message on to Spinelli. Maybe, getting back to work will help him." stated Sam.

"I hope so."

Seeing Maxie walk into her office, Sam stated, "Maxie, just walked in. I will see you in about an hour."

Hearing Sam conversation, Maxie said, "Am I keeping you away from a hot guy? Because I guess I could eat lunch with someone else."

Sam answered smiling at the thought, "It's nothing like that."

"Sam, I'll talk to you later." stated Jason.

"Okay" Sam said to Jason before ending the call.

Jason thought to himself, how lucky he was that Sam was back in his life. He still can't believe how close they are after everything that went down between them almost two years ago. They both did a lot of hurtful things to each other, but he went the furthest by threaten to kill her. Before going back into the penthouse to face Spinelli, Jason thought about how much he truly loved Sam but knew she would probably never get back together with him.

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"Are you ready to go because I'm starving?" asked Sam.

"I'm not really hungry so whatever you want is fine by me." added Maxie.

"You wanted to meet for lunch now you don't want to eat."

"I might get something."

"Well, I guess I can either order something or get something and bring it back here." stated Sam getting up from her desk.

"How about we just pick something up and head to the park?" interjected Maxie.

"The park" questioned Sam.

"Yeah, It relaxes me. I'm able to talk about other people bad fashion choices and feel good about myself among all the supposedly happy families." stated Maxie walking towards the door.

"O…kay the park it is." Sam gathered her mother's laptop and her things together before locking the office up for the day.

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Sam and Maxie sit on a park bench where they could see Patrick, Robin, and Emma having a nice day out.

"Okay, now that I have put food in my system, could you tell me why you needed to talk to me?" questioned Sam.

"It's about Spinelli." answered Maxie.

"Oh, you two seemed really happy the other night after Karaoke." Sam stated trying to hide her smile.

"We were... I mean we are." added Maxie.

"What happened?" asked Sam curiously.

"There is no easy way to say this so I'm just going to blurt it out. Spinelli ask me to marry him after that night."

"Wow…That's a big step." responded Sam seeming shocked.

"I know, tell me about it."

"What did you tell, Spinelli?" Sam asked trying to trend lightly on the subject.

"I told him I was late for work." stated Maxie.

"No, about the marriage proposal"

"That's what I told him and basically ran out of the penthouse."

"That explains it." Sam stated thinking about what Jason said earlier.

"Explains what?" questioned Maxie.

"Nothing. Have you talked to him since the proposal?"

Maxie started rambling. "I was avoiding his call but today I had to answer because Kate was standing there when he called the office. I pretend that it was Mac because Kate really has it in for Spinelli. I think it's the fact that she says he distracts us from working and she is not paying us to sit around and gossip all day. Anyways, I told him I will meet him between 7:30 and 8 tonight."

"Do you want to marry Spinelli?" Sam continued when Maxie didn't answer. "You have to give him an answer Maxie. You can't hurt him. You are my friend and Spinelli is like a brother to me, I don't want to see him get hurt. Marriage is a big step."

Taking a deep breath, Maxie got up and started pacing before she began. "I don't want to hurt Spinelli. I love him but I'm not ready to get marry. I don't think I ever will be ready to get marry. Marriage doesn't keep people together. I have seen it first hand. Look at my Mom and Dad. They had this great love maybe not as big as LuLu's parents, but that's another story in itself. That marriage didn't last and then my mom married Mac and look how that turned out. For God's sake, Luke and Laura are not even together and everyone said that would last forever. But Spinelli is this big romantic who believes in courtly love and that marriage binds people together forever. I know the truth."

Sam stood up and stopped Maxie. "You need to be honest with him. Take it from me; honesty is always the best policy."

"I want to be honest but I'm afraid I might lose Spinelli. I don't want to lose him."

Both Sam and Maxie took a seat back on the park bench. "So you are going to marry him to keep from losing him even if you are not happy?" asked Sam.

"I'm not saying that, but…."

"No, buts. Do you want to marry Spinelli?" interrupted Sam.

"No." Maxie stated breathing a sigh of relief.

"There is your answer. He would understand if you explain everything to him, Maxie." stated Sam.

"I thought he knew from our talk at Robin's and Patrick's wedding."

"Explain it to him again. He would understand." added Sam.

Maxie started staring off in the distance at Patrick, Robin, and Emma.

Sam followed her glaze.

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Meanwhile in the park, the Drake family was having a nice day out.

"I wonder what that is all about." stated Robin looking over at Maxie and Sam.

"What?" stated Patrick turning around to see Maxie and Sam. "It's probably just girl talk."

"Maxie seems a little nervous and on the edge. Something is up with her." added Robin.

"I'm pretty sure she will tell you."

"I'm just going to go over and talk to her." stated Robin getting up off the blanket.

"No you are not." said Patrick grabbing Robin's hand. "We said we were going to have a nice relaxing family day in the park together. It's our off day, which means, no investigating murders, dealing with the hospital, or meddling into someone else's life."

"She is my cousin." interjected Robin.

"She would come to you when she needs to. Now let's focus on our little one."

Robin took her seat back on the blanket playing with Emma.

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"I look at them and I'm so happy for them, especially Robin. She found someone to love again and believe me it was not easy for the two of them. But through everything, they came out better and stronger. I'm truly happy for them. Who is to say that I wouldn't want that someday, but right I'm not ready." stated Maxie turning her attention back towards Sam.

Sam answered still looking at Robin and Patrick. "That is what you need to tell Spinelli because believe me I don't think he is ready either."

"Do you think you want what Robin's has, Sam?"

"At one time, I thought I would have that." added Sam.

"I'm sorry Sam that was …." Maxie stopped realizing how it could be interpreted the wrong way.

"It's okay Maxie." Taking a deep breath and fussing with her hair, Sam stated, "I miss my daughter and think about what my life would have been like if she had lived, but then I think that she wasn't meant to be here. I sometimes wonder would Jason and I still be together and if we would be having family time in the park. I think about how much we would have loved her, but it wasn't meant to be." said Sam sadly wiping a stray tear from her focusing back on Maxie.

"A child wouldn't keep you together, you know." said Maxie.

"I know that Maxie." Pausing looking over at Robin before she continued, "I look at Robin and I can be happy for her because she has had to deal with a lot to be where she is, but I also know that the grass is not necessary greener on the other side."

Turning back to Maxie, Sam stated, "Do I want was she has?" Looking away and thinking for a minute, "Not necessary. But I would love to be a mother one day but that is just an impossible dream."

"Nothing is impossible, Sam. Don't sell yourself short." added Maxie.

"I'm supposed to be giving you advice not the other way around."

"Friendship work both ways. You give a little and you talk little." stated Maxie smiling which caused Sam to smile.

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"You have to be honest with Spinelli. Tell him how you feel about everything."

"I just don't want to be Maxie to him. I want to always be his Maximista." interjected Maxie.

"Spinelli loves you Maxie and you love him. Just talk." stated Sam.

"Thanks Sam. See you tonight." said Maxie while getting up off the park bench to walk towards her car.

Sam got up and walked towards Maxie. "Huh, wait, hold up. What you do you mean see you tonight?"

"You are going to be there, right." questioned Maxie.

"Maxie, I would love to be there but I promise my mom I would bring dinner." explained Sam.

"Can't you cancel? I'm going to need you there tonight." asked Maxie.

"No I can't, sorry. I can be there a little while but I'm going to have to leave by 8 or my mom will send the swat team to look for me." stated Sam.

"I know what you mean. I pretty sure if Mac knew about Spinelli asking to marry me, he would have him arrested on the spot."

Sam thought about it. "Yeah he would." Sam hugged Maxie and stated, "It was nice to have lunch with you. See you tonight for a little while. I'll talk to you to help you get yourself compose. Just be honest with Spinelli."

Beginning to walk of agin, Maxie stated, "I will Sam. Let me get back to the office before Kate decided to fire me." Stopping and turning around, "Oh, Sam I didn't tell you. I kinda got a promotion. I get to design my own concept."

"Congratulations, Maxie."

"Thanks Sam, gotta run."

Sam walked back towards the park bench to dispose the food containers before heading over to Jason's penthouse.

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Growing tired, Patrick asked, "So are you ready to leave the park?"

"Yeah, it looks like Emma is getting sleeping." answered Robin before yawning.

"She isn't the only one." interjected Patrick.

"How about we all go home to take a nap?" added Robin.

Robin and Patrick headed home with Emma truly unaware of what the day held in store for them. But once they find out, they would be happy they took a nap.