*~Chapter Ten~*

John didn't want to wait. He insisted Sam marry him just as soon as her marriage to Jason had been dissolved. They were wed in a simple ceremony at the court house by the Justice of the Peace. After the ceremony, John made arrangements for their stay at a Bed and Breakfast outside of Port Charles as he could not wait to consummate their union.

Sam could not help but feel a little stunned by how fast things were moving. She was falling for John so fast and furious, yet she felt nervous about their wedding night and everything their life together may entail. She had been through so much; she had just ended her marriage to Jason. She wasn't even entirely certain who had fathered her infant daughter. The DNA tests had shown that John was her child's father, but Sam and John had no recollection of ever having been together.

"Alright, John," Sam agreed. "I will go with you to the Bed and Breakfast... but only if Arabella gets to come. She's so tiny and defenseless... and I wouldn't want to leave her so soon."

"Of course we will take her with us," John responded. "I wouldn't want to leave my daughter behind."

For a moment, Sam was taken aback by his reply. It was so strange to hear John state that Arabella was his daughter... but biologically he was her child's father. John adored Arabella already and wanted to raise her as his own. Sam knew that John would protect her little girl with his life.

They arrived at the Bed and Breakfast with sweet, little Arabella in tow. The infant hardly made a peep when they settled her down to sleep in her bassinet in the living room area of their suite. After tucking Arabella in, John lifted Sam into his embrace and carried her off to the bedroom.

"I've been longing to make love to you for so long, Sam," he whispered into her ear as he lay her down on the bed. "You're all I think about."

She pulled him down on the cool cotton sheets beside her. "John, I need you," she said as she wound her arms around him.

No words were spoken as they kissed and caressed and began to remove each other's clothing. Once they were naked, John spread tender kisses all over the column of Sam's neck. "Thank you for marrying me," he whispered. "Thank you for letting me be Arabella's father. I love you, Sam McCall. I have fallen in love with you."

She looked into his stunning blue eyes and her heart melted. John loved her. In that moment, she realized that she loved him, too. She had been fighting it far too long, because she had been afraid of being hurt again. She didn't want to lose him as she had lost Jason.

"I love you, too," she murmured. "But I am scared."

"There's nothing to be scared of, Sam," he said in quiet reassurance. "I am going to keep you safe. You and Arabella."

He pulled her against his naked body as his lips settled onto hers in a passionate kiss. All thoughts were swept away as their hearts and souls combined. They made love feverishly, until Sam could take no more. Her breath came out in sharp little gasps as John tried to soothe her.

"Sleep, my love," he whispered.

He caressed her hair lovingly until she fell fast asleep in his arms. When darkness descended outside, he disentangled his body from Sam's and left the bed. Moments later, he stood out upon the balcony as Sam lie sleeping in their bed. The moon shone down on John McBain as he breathed in the cool evening air. It was at that moment that he looked up to see a vision of himself transcending from the clouds.

He frowned in confusion as his own image confronted him. A strange sensation then rocked him from head to toe as his body was invaded and the Other, the one that had come from the clouds above, slid into his body.

A smile came to the face of the man standing on the balcony. He was no longer John. He was More.

He returned to the bedroom and stood over Sam as she was sleeping. With a tender caress, he ran his scorching touch over the curve of her breast. Her nipple hardened as he toyed with it.

"Caleb?" she whispered. She had awakened to see a hint of red aglow in the bright blue depths of his eyes.

"I'm back, Sam... and you are mine," he stated as he bent forward and his fangs sunk deep into her neck.