Whisper
Chapter 26
Eric had left the DiMera mansion telling Sami he was going to visit his parents but would not tell them what was going on with his twin sister. It was her place to tell them the news, but the person who really needed to hear it first and foremost was EJ.
Sami had finally agreed with him, he had told her to just lay it all out there for EJ because he deserved to know the truth. Then it would be up to them together to decide what the future might hold for them.
Sami had taken a long walk afterwards thinking that EJ would be home soon, but the afternoon drug on into the early evening and he still wasn't home. What could have been taking him so long at the hospital? Surely they had performed the paternity test by now.
Then a terrible thought hit her. What if EJ and Nicole had decided to elope? He knew Nicole was pregnant with his child he had no clue that he was also going to be a new father to another child with her as well. Her imagination went wild thinking of all kinds of scenarios with Nicole coming into the mansion and this time instead of the surprising news of her being pregnant it was an announcement proclaiming she was the new Mrs. EJ DiMera.
It made Sami sick to her stomach thinking of how she would deal with EJ being married to someone else when she loved him too. Pride aside even though it had hurt her badly that he had been with Nicole physically she knew in her heart that EJ didn't love Nicole.
EJ loved her, she knew he did despite all the things she had thrown at him, all the times she had spurned him, all the times she had hurt him. Before she let her imagination of him marrying Nicole go any further she was taking her twin brother's advice.
She was going to tell EJ the truth.
First off though in her mission for what she knew would been an eventful evening she went to Rolf to ask him if he would prepare a special dinner for her and EJ, she only wanted it to be for the two of them and have it served outside in the gazebo.
Rolf immediately agreed to her request and told her their meal would be magnificent and he would make sure to have everything set up perfectly, that she would be surprised when she saw what he could do with a few strategically placed lights, flowers and a stunning table arrangement. Sami assured him she didn't need all that but Rolf insisted saying such a special woman needed to have a special evening every once in a while.
Sami thanked him profusely and before she left she placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. Rolf ducked his head and Sami thought he was blushing as she went up the stairs to her bedroom.
She was in search of her missing cell phone and after ransacking her bedroom for it she found that of course the phone battery was dead and she would need to charge it. She hooked it up to the charger in her bedroom and went to check on the twins who were happily playing the Mary their nanny.
Sami got in the floor to play with them as well and then asked a huge favor of Mary if she would be willing to look after the twins this evening because she had something that needed to be taken care of that couldn't wait any longer than what she had already delayed doing.
Mary sheepishly asked if that something included Mr. EJ adding if that were the case she'd stay as long as she needed to do so stating that she thought she and Mr. EJ needed an evening to themselves without any interruptions from anyone.
Sami then blushed herself and said yes that was precisely what they both needed. After kissing the twins and telling them that she would be back later on to tuck them in and kiss them goodnight she went back to her room. She picked up her phone hoping it was at least halfway charged again and luckily it was and then she noted she had several calls from EJ, but no messages left for her on the phone.
It reminded her of when he had told her she needed to keep her phone charged and answer his calls sometimes. Now she wondered if he had been calling to let her know that Nicole was definitely having his child.
Well before she let her imaginings get the best of her she decided to call him instead of thinking the worst. Who knew maybe he had been trying to call her to tell that Nicole wasn't even pregnant in the first place.
She shook her head, things like that didn't happen in her universe, but she could dream. She decided to bite the bullet and call him. She was going through with this plan.
She hit his number on her speed dial and was rather impatient for him to answer. She was going to do this, she had the plans in motion and now all she needed was EJ without Nicole Walker anywhere in the vicinity.
What seemed like forever but was really only a few rings EJ answered his phone.
"EJ, hey, may I ask a huge favor of you?" Sami asked upon hearing his voice on the other line.
EJ paused a moment thinking she was going to ask something that he would hate saying yes to like her wanting to move out of the mansion since Nicole was pregnant or something else terrible along those lines, but he couldn't deny her anything no matter what the cost might end up being to himself.
"Of course, what is it Samantha?"
"Well I need your undivided attention this evening. just you and me for a few hours alone, no one else around."
"Why?" EJ asked intrigued now instead of feeling like it might end up being something he dreaded agreeing doing for her.
"You'll see when you get home," Sami said not revealing anything else to him beyond the time he needed to meet her at the gazebo at 7:30 pm and then quickly added to dress for dinner.
EJ agreed even though he had no clue of what she was up to but he felt encouraged that she had called the mansion home instead of the usual derogatory terms she had for it.
"All right, I'll see you at 7:30 in the gazebo," EJ said a feeling of anticipation already overcoming him. He looked down at his watch. It was just past 5 pm, he had worked all afternoon in hopes of getting his mind off of this awful predicament he had gotten in with Nicole and now he finally had something to look forward to for a change.
He was going to meet with Samantha in a few hours. He needed to finish up a few loose ends on some accounts at work and then he'd head home to the woman he loved, Samantha.
~ Whisper ~
Danielle Jennings called Dr. Jonas to come to the lab, he had made her promise to get in touch with him as soon as the tests he had ordered had been completed and she had run the tests personally as a favor to him. She sealed the information up in the envelope and wasn't surprised to see Dr. Jonas to arrive within minutes of her call.
"Thank you so much for taking care of this for me," Daniel took the envelope from her and hoped she didn't notice how anxious he was to get away and look at these results in private. "I owe you one."
"No problem, Dr. Jonas," Danielle gave him a smile and hoped the news he was good. Many times they had bad news to give to patients but maybe this would be a time it was good news instead.
"See ya," Daniel took off and headed directly to his office, immediately tearing the envelope open as soon as he shut the door. With shaking hands he took out the papers and he didn't know whether to be happy or sad about the test results.
He took a deep breath and then felt a smile coming on his face. While it wasn't something he was sure he was going to be capable of doing one thing was for sure.
He was going to be a dad.
~ Whisper ~
Nicole awoke feeling more than a bit disoriented from her long nap; she looked around her hotel room and surmised it was early evening. She had slept the entire afternoon away, but after the scare she had gotten earlier with those twinges of pain she prayed it was all a fluke. That she and her baby were going to be okay.
She got up to go to the bathroom and before she made it to the door it hit her again, those feelings she'd had earlier in the day. Frantic she grabbed her cell phone and called the person she knew would be able to help her figure out what was going on with her.
She was almost to the point of crying she was so scared when he answered his phone. "Daniel, its Nicole. I need your help! I'm scared something is wrong."
"With the baby?" Daniel asked his heart sinking as he listened to Nicole cry on the phone.
"Yes, please come right now." Nicole pleaded with him, knowing even if she had threatened him earlier today he would help her, he was a good doctor even if he wasn't very happy with her at the moment.
"Calm down Nicole, I'll be there in just a few minutes," Daniel assured her as he rushed to the nurses desk, told them he had to leave due to a medical emergency and that he would be back later on in the evening.
Nicole prayed a prayer that her baby would be all right, something was terribly wrong she shouldn't be feeling this way. She slid down into the floor and patiently waited for Daniel to get there. If anyone could help her and her baby it would be him.
She never even thought about calling EJ at all.
~ Whisper ~
EJ finished up his work and before he headed home he stopped by a vendor who was selling flowers, picking out a small bouquet of dark pink roses, ones that were merely buds of flowers that would hit full bloom in a few days time. While he wasn't sure Samantha would accept his gesture he wanted to do something nice for her.
He hated seeing the look of hurt on her face after Nicole had told her the news of her pregnancy. He had thought long and hard all afternoon over what he was going to do about the situation and each time he considered doing what his father would demand as the right thing to do and marry Nicole if she was indeed having his child, he just couldn't wrap his mind around spending the rest of his life with Nicole.
While he would provide any kind of financial support for Nicole and their child he knew in his heart he couldn't marry her and he wouldn't marry her no matter what anyone expected of him. He would love any child of his, but that didn't mean he loved their mother unless it was Samantha.
He loved Samantha and wanted a life with her and their children. He only hoped he could convince her of his sincerity. It would take a big leap of faith for her to believe in him especially with Nicole being pregnant, but he was willing to take the chance. He'd never know for sure unless he asked her to forgive him and take a chance on him and his love for her.
He was going to ask Samantha to marry him again. If she said no, he would be heartbroken, but at least she would know she was the only woman he loved and would be the only one. He'd made a bad mistake by being with Nicole when Samantha had rejected him before, but even if Samantha told him no tonight he wasn't ever going to marry Nicole. He couldn't when his heart belonged solely to Samantha.
He still had their rings, the ones she had given him back when she had been so upset with him about lying of their annulment. He had told her he would have done anything to keep their family together even though she had argued with him that two people had to be in love to be a family.
He remembered begging her that night to just please be honest for once in her life, he was sorry for lying to her, for orchestrating the immigration fiasco too, and he knew a part of her didn't want their marriage to be over. He told her it hadn't been about the rings, but for her to please admit it, that she had feelings for him.
He'd seen her war with herself that night, saw her despair as she wanted to give into him, to be with him, but then she had pulled herself back from him and ran. He prayed to god this time she wouldn't run away from him, but even if she did he wasn't going to let her go without her knowing how much he needed her in his life.
~ Whisper ~
It felt like it took forever for him to reach The Salem Inn, but finally Daniel had slung his car into the parking lot and he couldn't even wait for the elevator to open for him, he took the stairs two at a time to get to Nicole's room on the 5th floor.
When he got to her room, he tried to open the door, but found it locked. He called out to her and when she didn't answer he did the first thing that came to his mind.
He kicked in the door and found her lying on the floor.
"Nicole, can you hear me?" Daniel asked as he gently picked her off the bedroom floor.
Nicole roused briefly when he called her name and she softly cried, "Daniel, I'm so scared something is wrong with my baby."
"Our baby," he answered her as she tried to focus on his words.
"Our baby, I'm not carrying EJ's child?"
"No honey, but I promise you I'm going to do everything I can to save our child, if you'll let me," Daniel promised her as she tightened her arms around his neck and continued to whimper.
She nodded her head, taking the new s in that Daniel was the father of her unborn child, he was the one responsible for her miracle not EJ and as the news sunk in she realized it was probably for the best. This man may not care for her, but he would help her save the baby if he possibly could.
Daniel pulled her up in his arms as he sat down on the bed and managed to get his cell phone out of his jacket pocket without dislodging her from his grasp. He dialed 911 with the address stating he was a doctor and he needed an ambulance in route to The Salem Inn.
The last thing Nicole remembered was the worried look on his face as she begged him to save their baby and his fervent promise that he would do everything in his power to do so and then the room went dark around her.
~ Whisper ~
Sami was nervous now that she was ready and waiting for EJ to arrive in the gazebo. He wasn't one to be late and as she pressed down the layers of her flowing black dress she was wearing she hoped she wasn't making a mistake, but Eric had been right, she needed to tell EJ and let him decide what he wanted to do after he got the information from her.
Rolf hadn't been kidding when he said he could do wonders, he had transformed the gazebo to something that looked like it could be straight out of a fairytale. Twinkling lights all aglow in the eaves of the gazebo, a table for two with crisp white linens on it, place settings that looked like something out of a magazine and the food looked so tempting. He'd even brought her sparkling cider for her to use tonight which was chilling in the ice bucket.
So everything was all set, it was a perfect romantic evening meant for two and Sami prayed EJ wouldn't be long. She didn't want to lose her nerve and the longer she waited the more nervous she got, even pulling at her upswept hairdo that she had arranged in a chignon which caused some of the strands to fall loosely around her face now.
She could do this, she would do this she said over and over in her head and then when she thought EJ might not be coming, she turned and there he was standing outside the gazebo staring at the lights and she saw his eyes widen in surprise when he saw her sitting at the table waiting for him to arrive.
She smiled when he handed her the bouquet of roses, she gladly accepted them.
"These are beautiful EJ. Thank you," Sami took a deep breath inhaling the sweet scent of the roses before she set them down beside her.
"I know they aren't your favorite, but I was pressed for time…"
"They're perfect. I love them. Sorry I'm already seated, but I didn't know how long you would be and I was getting antsy."
EJ took his seat at the table sitting across from her wondering exactly what had prompted Samantha to go to such lengths for them to be able to talk with one another.
"This is nice," EJ stated as he looked around the table and then he looked at her and his breath caught, she was so incredibly beautiful in the candlelight that it made him want to get down on one knee and propose to her right now, but he needed to wait and not scare her off. He wanted to know why she had arranged for them to meet here.
"Rolf helped, well actually he did all of this out here, I just showed up after getting ready," Sami said as she tried to stop her hands from shaking. She was really nervous because she didn't know how EJ was going to take this news at all.
"You look amazing, you're absolutely glowing in the candlelight" EJ complimented her and Sami looked down at her lap for a brief moment and then met his gaze.
Sami took a deep breath, if that wasn't a sign from the good Lord above to tell him the reason behind her healthy glow her name wasn't Samantha Gene Brady. She bet Eric had been praying for her nonstop since he had left her this afternoon.
"Samantha are you okay? Does this have something to do with why you had to go to the hospital the other day? Oh god you aren't dying are you?"
Sami shook her head, but couldn't quite find the words to tell him. She took another deep breath afraid she was going to hyperventilate and pass out right in front of him and ruin their evening. She closed her eyes and then opened them, her hands shaking profusely now. She tried to speak the words, but none came out.
EJ got up from his chair and went over to her, kneeling down beside her. "Sweetheart what's going on?"
She looked into his eyes, ones that were so full of fear and then a peace and calm came over her when he took her hands within his own. "EJ, I'm not dying."
EJ smiled a smile of relief, she had scared him for a minute, but he was still in the dark about what all of this meant, "Good because I can't live without you darling. My life wouldn't be worth living if you weren't here with me."
"You're so sweet to me, better than I deserve…"
"I'm not good enough for you, but I wanted to tell you something that's been on my heart for a while now…"
"EJ, what are you talking about?"
"Samantha, will you…"
"Stop! Don't say another word!" Sami warned as EJ's face immediately fell.
Damn she wasn't even going to let him ask her to marry him, she was cutting him off before he got the question out in the open.
"EJ, I have to tell you something that really important before you go on. I've just got to get this off my chest."
"You want to move out the mansion don't you?" EJ asked as he began to get up from beside her.
Sami tugged on his hands, not allowing him to leave her side. "No EJ, it's something else entirely."
"I know you're upset with me because Nicole is pregnant but I swear to you I don't love her, it was all a huge mistake, you told me to stay away from her, but I wanted to make you jealous and then it all blew up in my face. I'm so sorry Samantha please forgive me for being so foolish."
"EJ, please let me get this out…"
"You want to leave here. I totally understand…"
"Will you shut up for two seconds? I've been trying to find a way to tell you that I'm pregnant and you won't let me get two words in edgewise," Sami rolled her eyes at him, which caused EJ to pause and look at her like she had lost her mind.
"You're pregnant?"
"Almost three months, but I promise I didn't know until the other day when I was at the hospital. I don't keep track of my periods. Then the doctor came in and said I was pregnant I didn't want to believe him, but I knew exactly when it happened."
EJ began to smile, "The night we made love before it all went to hell in a hand basket."
"Well it had been a pretty amazing night up until Lucas showed up and then…"
"You're having my baby?" EJ asked as he stood up and gently pulled her up next to him.
Sami nodded her head, tears in her eyes, "I know this is horrible timing with Nicole being pregnant and I didn't want to put this added stress on you."
"You've been worried about how I would take the news? Darling this is good news, this is fantastic news!" EJ picked her up and swirled her in his arms.
"Whoa, put me down, I might get sick on you," Sami cautioned as EJ stopped and put her feet back down on the ground.
"Wow, I'm so excited! We're having another baby. I love you Sweetheart!" EJ couldn't help himself as he leaned down to kiss her lips.
Sami put her arms around his neck momentarily enjoying their kiss until it hit her, EJ had told her he loved her.
"You love me?"
"I've never stopped loving you. Do you love me?"
Sami nodded her head, no words coming out once more. EJ tipped her chin up so that he could look in her eyes. "Samantha you love me right?"
"Yes, but everything is so complicated and I've just made it all worse by getting pregnant and you have to deal with Nicole and me both and it's all…."
"Going to be all right," EJ finished her sentence. "As long as you love me everything else will work out just the way it's supposed to be. But I've really got something to ask you if you'll let me get two words in edgewise as well."
"What's that?" Sami asked as EJ reached into his jacket pocket and he kneeled down in front of her again.
"Will you marry me?"
"EJ, are you serious?"
"I love you, you love me, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you and only you. If you can forgive me for being such a huge fool about Nicole I truly believe we can work things out. I mean it won't be easy and I'm sure she'll try to cause trouble for us, but I'd endure anything if I have you by my side."
"EJ, you're such an idiot. Why would you want me? I'm nothing but trouble."
"Hey Trouble, I'm waiting for an answer."
Sami smiled thinking they had a long road ahead of them especially all they would probably have to deal with Nicole but she loved this man and somehow he loved her too.
"Samantha?"
"Yes, I'll marry you. Apparently you're a glutton for punishment."
EJ placed the ring on her finger, stood up and he gave her a wicked grin, "Depends on the punishment darling."
"You're incorrigible…"
"I know," and then he pulled her in for another kiss and despite all the chaos that was going on with his life he knew things were going to be just fine.
As long as he had Samantha and her love in his life he could handle anything.
The End
Epilogue
One year later…
"EJ hurry up, we're going to be late," Sami urged him as they all made their way to the Brady Pub. She knew EJ wasn't thrilled about going to meet with the rest of their family but the celebration they were having for Eric getting moved to St. Luke's parish was going to be a big one and she wasn't going to miss her twin brothers day for anything in the world.
EJ was in the rear of their family procession, Sami and the twins just a few yards ahead of them. "Coming as fast as I can with the baby carrier. You don't want me to drop Sydney, do you?"
"No, but you can move faster when you want to. I've seen you in action," Sami called back to him and gave him a knowing look.
"Need I remind you what certain things I will hurry for when you call?" EJ arched his eyebrow as he looked at her.
"Shut up the twins do not need to be corrupted with such talk," Sami turned back around, trying to keep up with the twins, they were running everywhere now and she had to push herself to keep up with them.
EJ smiled and hoisted the baby carrier so that he could walk a bit faster, not realizing he was about to bump into someone until it was almost too late. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be in such a rush…"
"It's okay, we saw you coming," Daniel remarked while pushing a baby stroller in front of him, Nicole by his side.
"Hi Nicole, nice to see you," EJ said and it was good to actually mean it. After Samantha had agreed to marry him again it hadn't been long afterward he had gotten a call from Daniel that night informing him Nicole was in the hospital.
Both he and Sami had went together that night to the hospital thinking the worst, that Nicole was losing the baby, but her son had been saved. A few days later when she was able to receive visitors she and Daniel had told them the news that Daniel was the father and while they hadn't become the best of friends at least they could all be civil to one another when they saw each other in public.
"You too EJ," Nicole smiled as she looked in the baby carrier at his little girl while he told them their baby boy was really growing.
"Yeah Parker amazes me every day," Daniel proudly beamed down at his son before looking back at his fiancé. He and Nicole were planning a wedding in June and he couldn't be happier.
"Well I've got to get going. Big Day for the Brady clan," EJ stated as he started to walk away from them.
"Have fun," Nicole said with a smirk.
"I always do with Samantha," EJ remarked and then he caught up with his wife and they entered the Pub with their children ready to celebrate Eric's big day.
"It's funny how things work out isn't it?" Nicole asked as Daniel leaned over to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I mean this time last year I was all psycho crazy over EJ and now we're about to get married instead."
"Things work out for a reason," Daniel smiled and they walked away from the Pub, each couple happy with their own lives over how things turned out for them all.