Chapter 7: Still Sisters

When Sam stepped off the boat she was amazed at how much Wyndemere hadn't changed. This place never seemed too change. She could feel the small stones crunch underneath her feet. Nikolas had been adamant about not putting in a paved path, he felt that it would take away from the little bit of charm that Wyndemere had. Nikolas had never completely liked Wyndemere but it was his family home and the things he did like he was not about to change. As she walked up the path she was stunned at how beautiful this place was even in the fall. The leaves had changed colors and graced the sky with the most beautiful shades of orange and red. She had forgotten how much she liked the fall and the changes that it brought. The south didn't get that change and spring didn't bring the breath of fresh new life that she so loved.

As she turned the last corner she had reached the house, well mansion is what it really was, but for Emily's sake she chose to call it a house. A house was also a home, mansion sounded to pretentious. She knocked on the door and knew that she had made the right choice in coming here early rather than dealing with Alexis any longer. She always felt at home here. She was met at the door by Alfred, Nikolas' butler. He was a sweet old man and had served the Cassadine family for many years. Sam adored how much Alfred cared for Nikolas and his family. She was amazed at how much he felt like family despite the fact that he was a house staff member.

"Ms. McCall, it is so nice to see you, please come in." Alfred said in the most sweet and caring way any man ever could.

"Hi Alfred, it's nice to see you too." Sam said.

"We did not expect you so soon. Emily is in the sitting room, I can show you in if you like." Alfred said ushering Sam through the first few hallways of the house.

"Thanks anyway Alfred, I want to surprise her, I know the way."

"Very well, is there anything else that you need Ms. McCall?" Alfred asked.

"No thanks." Sam said and headed to the sitting room. It wasn't the most pleasant room in the house but it was where Nikolas and Emily spent most of their time. The room was much like the living room of the average family except it was furnished in antiques and decorated with dismals statues and paintings. Emily had given up trying to redecorate, every time she tried something new it just didn't fit. This house was doomed to antiques and horrible paintings and she had learned to live with it.

As Sam stepped in to the room she could only see the back of Emily. She was sitting on the floor playing with Spencer. Nikolas and Emily had split for a time and he had had a son with another woman. Despite the fact that Spencer was not her son Emily was the greatest mother in the world. It amazed Sam just how much Emily loved Spencer; she could see that Emily and Jason were alike in that way. Family was not blood, family were the ones you love unconditionally.

The minute Spencer saw Sam he went running into her arms. They had spent summer vacations with Sam and she adored him as much as he adored her.

"Sam!" He yelled almost running over Emily in his desperate bid to reach Sam.

"Hi Spencer." Sam smiled as she hugged the little boy. She had missed him so much and it was great to be with family again.

"Hi Sam." Emily said as she approached the two of them. "It's great to see you but we didn't expect you so early."

"I know, but I needed to get away from my mother. She and I are not seeing eye to eye on a couple things right now." Sam said finally able to pull Spencer away from her. They had always joked that when he hugged anyone he was on the verge of cracking their ribs. Nikolas entered the room while in the middle of a conversation with a business associate.

"Duncan, I will have to call you back later." Nikolas said as he hung up the phone. "Sam it is so good to see you, I'm glad you could come." Nikolas went over and hugged Sam. It had been a long time since Sam felt so welcome in anyone's home. Even when she stayed with her mother she felt like a stranger. She was always worried about saying or doing the wrong thing in front of Alexis but when she was here she knew that no on e was going to judge her and she was free to be herself.

"Dinner is not quite ready so why don't we go for a walk." Emily told Sam. She could see that Sam needed someone to talk to and she was sure that Sam could confide in her. Emily had always felt like Sam was her sister. Things had not always been the same between Sam and Emily but they had long ago gotten past the bad things and now were as close as to women could be. They told each other everything and Sam definitely had some things that she needed to talk to Emily about.

As they started to walk around the grounds they remained silent. Emily was not sure what Sam wanted to talk about and she didn't want to pry but she could tell that something was bothering her.

"Sam what's wrong, you've been awfully quiet." Emily asked not sure what kind of answer she was going to get.

"I saw Jason."

"Wow, when did you see him?" Emily asked knowing that now that they had breached the topic of Jason this was going to be a very long walk.

"Right away when I got here. The first thing I wanted to do was go see Lila. It had been a long time since I had visited her and I wanted to make sure she was the first person I talked to. I hadn't expected to see anyone there and then he was there."

"Sam, Jason has always loved Lila, and it was her birthday."

"I Know I was just shocked that's all." Sam hesitated she did not know what else to say and then she remembered that there was something she needed to figure out. "Oh I wanted to ask you are you and Nikolas the ones who send the flowers to the cemetery?"

"No, but I know Alexis had mentioned that there were always flowers there. I do know that the flowers are always the same. Pink and white daisies I believe."

"What?" Sam said in shock. Those were the same flowers that Jason had brought with him the day he and Sam had visited Lila. Jason knew that daisies were one of Sam's favorite flowers. She had not realized that he cared so much. She now knew that he had been the one to make sure that Lila always had flowers.

"Did I say something wrong?" Emily asked not quite sure why Sam was so surprised.

"No, it's just that those were the same flowers that Jason had brought with him the morning I saw him"

"Sam, I know that you and Jason have had some hard times but he has always loved Lila and if he was the one that brought the flowers it was under the best intentions." Emily told Sam trying to make sure that Sam understood what she was saying.

"I know I was just shocked that he would do that. Jason has not always been the most open person when it comes to what he is feeling and that seems that a very emotional thing to do." Sam had known Jason a long time and it still amazed her that he could surprise her like that.

"Did you and Jason talk at all?" Emily asked.

"Not really, when we were with Lila we just kind of sat there. We did get together at Kelly's this morning but Carly showed up. We did get a little time to talk though. We got the chance to say all of our apologies but shortly after she showed up and I didn't want to fight with her."

" I don't blame you for that I haven't always gotten along with Carly either."

"Before I came here I saw Jason at the pier. We talked and I told him it was probably better that we not see each other." Sam told Emily not sure whether she would agree with her or not.

"Sam, why did you do that I know that you till care about him."

"I do but I don't think that Jason and I can ever be together again. I'm not sure that he could ever love me the way he once did."

"He may not love you the same as he did, he may love you more. I know what it is like to split with the man you love and then be brought back together. The more hard times that you have been through the more you love a person. You and Jason have been through enough bad stuff to last two lifetimes. Sam if you still love him you need to tell him and give it a try."

"I don't know. I just think it would be easier if I didn't see him."

"Easier is not always better." Emily told Sam. She knew deep down that Sam was still in love with Jason but she was not going to press the subject, right now at least. Emily had a unique take on the situation. She also knew that Jason still cared for Sam. She and Jason had always been very close and in the past few months Jason had confided in her the fact that he still had feelings for Sam. Now if only they could admit it to each other.

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