Chapter 7: Apologize – Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

The next day, Abigail was looking through her text messages and walking away from the Java Café counter, when she bumped into someone causing her to drop her drink. She quickly turned to the person and exclaimed, "Watch it!" She quickly regretted her rudeness when she realized that she bumped into Sami Brady. "Oh, I am so sorry."

"No, I am sorry. I made you spill your drink. How about I buy you a new one? Least I could do."

"Thanks." Sami and Abigail went back to the counter and ordered their drinks. After paying, Sami and Abigail made their way to a table. "Thanks again. Sorry I was rude to you earlier. I just have a lot on my mind… well, two people in particular, actually."

Sami stirred her drink with a coffee straw. "Ah. Someone causing you trouble?" Sami took a sip of her drink.

"Yes. Stefano and Kate DiMera."

Sami gestured to Abigail that she knew where she was coming from. "I completely understand. Those two can really ruin your day. Heck, your life."

Abigail remembered that Sami and Kate had quite the relationship when she was with Lucas. "How were you able to survive Kate when you were with my Uncle Lucas? She really tried to ruin you any chance she got, right?"

"It was a struggle." Sami thought back to all the scheming that she and Kate did to bring the other down. "I still have to deal with her now since she's married to Stefano, but it's definitely not as bad as when I was in a relationship with Lucas or Austin. The woman would not quit. You just have to fight back and stand your ground. Don't let her get the best of you. I have to do that with Stefano as well."

Abigail could see the frustration in Sami's face as she talked about Kate. "Kate is such a bitch."

Abigail was then startled when she heard the woman's voice behind her. "Wow. I cannot imagine what your mother would say if she heard you say such nasty words, Abigail." Kate walked over to the table and glared at Abigail.

Abigail decided to take Sami's advice and stand up to Kate. "Well, you are a bitch and that's the nicest word out there to describe you!"

Kate began to laugh as she played with her bracelets. "Well, it takes one to know one. Listen Abigail. One day Chad is going to figure you out for who you really are and want nothing to do with you. You're damaged goods. Your father made damn sure of that."

Abigail grabbed her coffee and stormed out of Java Café. She was humiliated and hurt and could not handle the pressure of having to one up Kate.

Kate smiled as she saw the girl runaway. "Well, that was way too easy." Kate began to walk to the counter to order a drink.

"Not so fast, Kate." Sami stood in her way. "What has happened to you? You are simply pathetic!"

Annoyed, Kate rolled her eyes. "I don't have to listen to this."

"But you will." Sami gave Kate a smirk as she crossed her arms and leaned back to look Kate over. "I guess I should not be too surprised: Once a whore… always a whore… but you've really sunk to a new low. Now you're offering your destructive services to your step-sons. God forbid that Chad and EJ should make the same mistake that their father and your actual children made when they allowed you to ruin their lives." Sami grabbed her drink and walked out leaving Kate to let out a screech of rage.

"Damn that woman. She's a thorn in my side!" Kate walked out of Java Café deciding she needed something a bit stronger to take the edge off.


Holding his hand, Will walked with Johnny down the stairs. Johnny was curious about why Lucas and Rafe did not want to live in Salem. "Well, my dad works in China, and Rafe is not allowed to come near our family." Will did not feel comfortable talking to Johnny about these things. As they made their way to the bottom of the stairs, the front door opened. Stefano made his way into the house and was delighted to see Will and Johnny.

"William and Giovanni! It's so good to see you!" Stefano went over to Johnny and gave him a kiss. Stefano turned his attention to Will. "I am so glad that I ran into you because there is something I need to say to you, William." Will wondered what that could be and smiled nervously. "I should apologize."

Will became more nervous. "For what?"

"I want to apologize for how I dismissed you after I found out Chad was my son. I know that you and I were bonding when you lived here in the mansion, and I quite enjoyed our conversations. I think you enjoyed them as well."

"I did." Will was a bit worried as to where this was going.

"Well, I hope that we can start back to where we left off. I would really like to have you as part of this family again. I know your grandmother would agree."

"Well, I don't know," Will hesitated. He thought about Stefano's history with his family. He knew that the Brady side of his family would not want him to have anything to do with the guy.

"How about a proposition. I remember asking you last year if you were interested in an internship at DiMera Enterprises. How about a summer internship?" Will grabbed his neck and was not sure what to say, which Stefano picked up on. "You do not have to answer now. Just take some time to think about it." Stefano looked at Johnny. "I can tell little Giovanni is ready to go. He's bored with all this adult talk."

Will liked that Stefano implied he was an adult. "Yeah. I'll think about it and get back to you." Will picked up Johnny and headed out.


Gabi and Sonny were hanging out at her place getting to know each other better. "So how many brothers and sisters do you have?" Gabi pulled her hair back and put a hair tie on.

"No sisters, but I have three older brothers." Sonny smiled. "I'm the baby, and though it has its perks, it can be annoying sometimes."

Gabi laughed and agreed. "I completely understand. So are your brothers as cute as you?"

"I'm not sure how to answer that," Sonny said as he put his arm on the back of the couch. "What about you? How many brothers and sisters?"

"Well, I have three older brothers and a sister. I think I told you that…" before Gabi could continue, Dario walked out of his bedroom. Dario and Sonny spotted each other and the room got awkward. Gabi picked up on it and tried to smooth things over. "I think you know my brother, Dario. He works at your mom's bar."

Sonny pulled his arm off of the back of the couch and prepared to lift the rest of his body off the couch. "I think I should go. I think it was a mistake to hang out here." Sonny realized that Gabi was with Dario the night before when Dario made the 'fag' comment. "I feel like an idiot."

Gabi tried to stop Sonny from leaving the couch, but Sonny got up and headed towards the door. Before he could leave, Dario quickly got in his way. "Wait. You don't have to leave."

Sonny took a step back and avoided making eye contact with Dario.

Dario could sense that Sonny felt embarrassed to be in the same room with him. "I know you probably don't want to talk to me or even see me, and I am sorry that I have made you feel that way about me. I am even more sorry for what I said last night at your mother's bar. It was very stupid of me to use that word… even if someone like you wasn't around to hear it."

Sonny looked at Dario and gave him a stern look. "Like me? Am I not a normal person?"

Gabi quickly got up and made her way over to the guys. "Sonny, you'll have to excuse my brother. He's not very good at apologies." Dario tried to stop Gabi from stepping in, but Gabi did not let him stop her. "I'm helping you, Dario." She turned back to Sonny. "My brother is really sincere in his apology. He feels really guilty about what he said last night. He puts his foot in his mouth a lot. Trust me, I know! He can be an idiot…"

"Ay, Gabi. Yo no soy sordo." Dario had enough of his sister calling him stupid.

Gabi continued, "…but he's a really nice and caring guy. Please don't hold this against him. Once you get to know him, you won't regret forgiving him."

Dario looked down. "Thanks, sis. I think I can handle it from here." Gabi went back over and sat on the couch. Dario looked at Sonny. "I really do regret what I said, and I do have a problem with saying things I shouldn't. I hope you will accept my apology." Dario put his hand out to Sonny.

Sonny noticed that Dario seemed genuine in his apology and sincerely wanted to forget what had happened. Taking Dario's hand, Sonny smiled. "I accept and forgive you. It was an honest mistake."

Dario was relieved and smiled back.


Melanie was reading a Latin cookbook when there was a knock on the door. She put the book down on the coffee table, got up, and opened the door. She was taken back when she saw that it was Nathan. "Nathan… come in."

Nathan slowly made his way inside the apartment and turned around to watch Melanie close the door. Nathan had in his head all he wanted to say to Melanie, but when she turned around to look at him his mind went blank.

Melanie wondered why Nathan came over. She had invited him inside, but he had yet to say a word. She walked over to the coffee table to make sure everything looked neat and tidy. This was the first time she had been alone with him since the beginning of the year. She remembered standing in the same spot with Nathan. Her father had walked in forcing Nathan to leave. She remembered Nathan moving his mouth to silently say, 'I love you' and then walking out the door. She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts realizing that Nathan had yet to say a word since she opened that door and let him inside.

Nathan watched Melanie as she began to bite her fingernails in anticipation. "You're probably wondering why I came over here." Nathan smiled softly as Melanie shook her head. "I guess I just wanted to make sure that you were okay with my coming back. I left without a word, and then I came back without a warning. Are you okay?" Nathan wanted nothing more to be closer to her so she could tell him through her touch, but he knew that was not possible.

"Yeah. I'm fine. It does not bother me at all that you're back." Melanie removed her hand from her mouth and headed toward the kitchen area. "Do you want some coffee or tea?"

Nathan got excited that Melanie had invited him to stay for a drink. "Yeah. I'll have whatever you're having." He walked over to the couch but remained standing.

"Two hot teas coming up." Melanie put water into a teapot and put it on the stove. She made her way over to Nathan. She was glad he accepted her offer for a drink. "Nathan… I want to apologize for the way I treated you before you moved away. I was still grieving my separation from Philip, and I just was not ready to jump into anything… even if…" Melanie stopped herself from finishing that sentence. "I really was hurtful to you, and I am sorry for that."

Nathan graciously nodded his head as Melanie apologized. He really did not like how things played out before he rushed out of Salem. He really thought things would have ended differently. "Well, that is all in the past, and I think we both have learned from that experience." Melanie nodded and seemed happy that they were able to move on from that. "How about we forget about all of that and just start over? I really have missed you."

"I would really like that. I've missed you, too."

"Friends?"

"Friends." Melanie was pleased that they were getting a new start.


At the Salem Gym, Chad was spotting his brother EJ, who was lifting weights. After they were done with their reps, EJ got up and headed to the water fountain. Chad followed EJ and got a drink as well. EJ turned to his brother, "So how are you handling the family business?" EJ got another quick drink.

"It's keeping me on my toes… that's for sure," Chad shared as he began to stretch.

"And how are you handling the family?"

"The family has been interesting. I went from an only child to having brothers and sisters. Growing up, I always wondered what that was like and now I know. It's actually kind of great." Chad thought about how disconnected his old family was. "I feel like I am one of you guys. I feel like I belong."

EJ was happy to hear that, and he knew that his father would be pleased as well. "Well, you are one of us. If there's one thing that I know from experience, it's the fact that you, Lexie, and I never had it easy growing up. Something seemed off until we found out who we really were." EJ watched Chad get another drink from the water fountain. He wanted to move the conversation to something he was more interested in. "Since you've been spending so much time with the family, have you been able to spend time with your friends?"

Chad thought about it. "Well, I guess. I spend a lot of my free time with Abigail."

"What about Will? You two are friends, right?"

"Yeah." Chad thought it was weird that EJ was asking about Will and his friends. "Will and I don't really hang like we used to. I guess we stopped because we had our own personal stuff to deal with. Why are you so curious about Will?"

EJ played it off as if there was no particular reason. "I was just curious how life was before you found out you were my brother. You know, if you wanted, you could ask Will to come work out with us sometimes. This does not strictly have to be just the two of us."

Chad liked the idea of Will joining them. It would diminish the pressure Chad felt of needing to impress his older brother. "Yeah. That would be cool. Will and I used to work out together. I'll talk to him."

"Good. Let's get back to it." Chad and EJ made their way over to the weight bench. EJ was glad that Chad was going to talk to Will about joining them because he secretly hoped that this would help mend things between Sami and Will. EJ thought that if he could get closer to Will, Will would eventually give his blessing to EJ and Sami's relationship. Chad would be the perfect buffer of Will's current distrust of EJ.