Infinte Shades of Grey:

Author's Note: My lappytop unfortunately got the blue screen of death. Very fortunately, apparently that's fixable by my uncle. Who knew? So, sorry for the delay and here is chapter….um…what chapter are we on again?

The fortnight following the masquerade was a lazy blur. One that Liz spent mostly in her own company in her large mansion, all alone. The night after the ball, Lady Alexis had whisked herself and the girls for a stay in Bath, which was something, unbenownst to the well meaning mother that Sam had in fact needed. They were due to back this very afternoon, which was well. She had been spending much time alone with her thoughts and she was eternally coming back to one. One that she wished to discuss with her friend as the soonest convinence. She sat at a small table in her drawing room, sipping tea. The quietness of her home troubled her. Her one regret from her marriage to her husband was that they had never produced any children to fill her days with. She sometimes thought of taking on a ward perhaps or an orphan. Perhaps one day she would…

"Why are you looking so troubled, darling?" a sweet, familiar voice asked from the door of the drawing room. Thankfully jostled from her thoughts, Elizabeth sat her delicate china cup down and stood immediately.

"You are back." She smiled at Sam. The dark haired beauty unclasped her green cloak and handed it to the waiting servant who had seemed to appear out of nowhere, smiling her thanks. Sam straightened out her blue afternoon dress and made her way to her friend, envoloping her into a hug.

"I am back." She affirmed, "We have been back in the city for about an hour."

The two sat, Elizabeth signaling for another cup of tea for herself and for Sam. "And you are only just making it to see me?" she teased.

"Alas, I had to change out of my traveling clothes before I made my way over. Mother would have had a fit, which is always amusing, but I am tired."

"You needent have come if you were exhausted. You should have stayed home and rested." Elizabeth chided.

Sam waved her off as Sarah, a lovely maid with glorious red hair sat tea in front of her. "Thank you," she murmered, adding a dollop of cream to it. Turning her attention back to Elizabeth she said, "I have been doing little but resting for the last several days. I fear it is resting that has exhausted me."

"You never were one for idle pleasures." Liz agreed, stirring her tea absent-mindedly. Once they were once again alone, Sam began talking about her trip. "It was lovely. It gave me plenty of time to think about things. Particularly things that had occurred here."

This piqued Liz's interest. "And?"

Sam cleared her throat, looking out of the window they were seated by for a moment, "And I decided that I do not regret what happened here that night. I also have decided I may been just a tad irrational with Lord Quatermaine."

Liz smiled, "Are you going to speak with him and discuss what did transpire?"

Sam looked at Elizabeth as if she had suddenly grown a second head out of her bosom, " I certainly am not. It happened, and it was lovely. But it is the past." At Elizabeth's pointed look she went on, "The recent past, certainly, but the past nonetheless."

"Fair enough. However, I do think certain things do need to be discussed between the pair of you."

"Why?" Sam questioned after taking a sip of her tea, "Why dredge something up that is awkward to discuss and unnecessary? It will not happen again. I had my one night experience. It is done. From now on, Lord Quatermaine and I are merely acquintances."

Elizabeth knew it was pointless in talking to Sam when she got like this. Years of friendship had taught her that once her mind was made up there was little chance of changing it. "Very well." was all that she said.

After a moment of silence where both women surveyed the gardens behind the class window, Sam broke it. "Now tell me what you were thinking of that had that pensive look on your face."

This was a subject that had been in Elizabeth's for days and she was glad that Sam had taken the initative. "This house is much to quiet. Noiseless except for when you are here and for the stray servant that may be walking the corriors. It is filled with memories of my marriage. I see the ghost of days past every which way I turn of my husband."

Through her speech, Sam's eyes had narrowed down in pity. She knew how much Liz had loved Alcazar. How desperatley they adored each other. " I am truly sorry darling."

"Do not be. If not for memories, what else would I have? It is not as if any children were bore during our marriage, which, while depressing and a tad distressing, I suppose is a good thing since they would have lost their father. But, while you were gone, I have had time to think and consider my options."

"Are you considering another marriage?"

Elizabeth smiled softly, "No. I am not saying never, but for now I feel that that would be a betrayal to my marriage. I know that I am out of mourning clothes, but I am still grieving. "

Sam nodded, her hair loose in their natural subtle waves falling slightly in her face. "Certainly."

"But, I have been considering an option, one that would surely have your mother falling all over herself with how socially unnorm it is."

Sam cocked her head, the urge to giggle building up in her chest, "Are you thinking about living with family and myself?"

Elizabeth smiled, an image of that particiular scenario being a humurous one. "You are half right."

"Half right?" Sam questioned, "Are you suggesting that I move in here with you?"

"No, darling. I am suggesting that you and I get our own place. A manor, I suppose. I certainly have the funds. You are my oldest and best friend. I wish to escape this place which is currently filled with memories and thoughts of what could have been."

Sam leaned back in her seat. The only thing that she could think to say was, "Well, that certainly is of the social unnorm."

"Yes, perish the thought of two young unmmaried women of wealth and title living together, without a man to protect them."

Gathering her barrings, Sam leaned forward, "It's a beautiful fantasy Liz. But you know that I cannot accept charity like that. You paying our way. That is not acceptable to me."

"I would never insult you like that, sweetest. We would do everything equally, fifty-fifty. We would both decide on the place and purchase it, no doubt with Nikolas's help to give it dignity. I have my own funds, you have yours. The two of us get along so well. You would be free from Alexis, whom I love as if she were my own mother. But I know how the pair of you are always at odds because of your decision to not marry. And should you someday find the right man or decide to hell with being an 'old maid', then I can support myself and vise versa. I can perhaps escape my past as well." She fell silent, knowing Sam needed time to process. She began sipping her tea which had grown cool. She watched as Sam stared sightlessly down into her lap. Her head slowly came up, a resloution in her eyes.

"Let's do it."

"What?"

Sam sighed, gesturing for her personal maid Claire to begin packing the contents of her vanity.

"Mother," she sighed turning to face Alexis who had grown extremely pale, "This is something that I need to do."

Alexis sank slowly onto her daughters bed, her hands fluttering around her neck, "Something that you need to do? Is life here with me so awful that you feel the need to run off and share a house with Elizabeth?"

Sam was again resisting the urge to roll her eyes. She had given this thought. Not a lot, granted, but this seemed like an excellent opportunity to her. A chance at real independence, she and Liz against the world, society be damned.

"This is not about you, mother. You have your hands full with Molly and Krissy. They are quickly approaching of age and are going through constant training. You are preoccupied with them. I know how desperately you wish for them to be married since I did not wish to be. I disappointed you."

Alexis nodded, "You did, but you have always been indpendent, Samantha. That is not something that I would change about you. I have come to terms with the fact. I just do not understand…." She paused, grabbing her daughter's hand and yanking her down next to her, no easy feat, but one that she succeeded in. "Are you with child and wish not to tarnish our name?"

Sam gasped, her eyes widening in shock. "Mother! My goodness, of course not!"

Alexis shook her head, "Yes, I know that is silly. I know that you are an innocent. Forgive me."

Sam looked away quickly, hiding the guilt that she was sure showed on her face. She had not told her mother, had not wish to tell anyone. She was glad that Elizabeth was aware of the secret so she atleast had someone to discuss it with.

Alexis began speaking again, "Is there no way for me stop you?"

"I am afraid of not, Mother. This is something that I wish to do. And I would like to do it with your blessing."

Her mother shook her head, smiling sadly. "I cannot in good faith give that to you, my darling." She cupped her beautiful daughters face in her hands and kissed her gently on the forehead. "Just know that I will love you. Always."

Tears filled Sam's eyes. She wished now more than ever that she had the type of relationship with her mother that she could tell her everything. That she could spill her new dark secret and know that her mother would not be disappointed in her. But that was not something she could risk doing. She knew what it did to her mother when she had revealed that she was never to marry. The disappointment every mother feels when she realized that the wedding she has been planning from the time of birth of a little girl was not to happen. She did not want to risk her mother's disappointment again. Could not stand to put her through that.

Sam straightened and stood. "I love you, also. Always."

Alexis stood also, "Why are you packing now? Have you and Elizabeth already decided on a place?"

"We have our eye on someplace that Nikolas will go with us to look at tomorrow. However, Liz and I have decided that I will stay with her until we have a place so it will be easier come moving day."

Alexis nodded, staring at her daughter. She sensesd something was different, but could not place her finger onto what it was. Sometimes, she wished that mother's intuision was more of a mind reading effect.

"I have the most strange news!" Emily exclaimed, walking into the Quatermaine Palace library where Sonny, Carly, Jason, and Courtney were. She was on the arm of Nikolas, who nodded his greeting to everyone.

Jason looked up from his card game with Court ney. Since his tryst with Sam he had been showering his betrothed with attention. It was the only thing that was alieving the immense guilt that he had been feeling for the past fortnight. It was not abnornal for a man to take a mistress, but it did not make him feel any better telling himself that.

"Yes?" he questioned his little sister, setting his cards down and giving her his utmost attention. Little got her so excited as she was, practically vibrating with excitement. He could not imagine that Lord Cassadine had already proposed, though he was expecting that to come eventually. But the two had only gone on a handful of chaperoned outings, not enough time quite yet.

Emily turned her attention back to the dashing dark haired man who had her hand on his arm, "You are sure you do not mind me sharing the news?"

Nikolas smiled down at her, shaking his head. "Of course not."

"Guess who is getting a place together?" Emily smiled, turning her attention back to the group in the room.

"Certainly not the pair of you," Sonny said from the couch where he lounged with Carly, who had a book on her lap.

Emily blushed and looked to the floor in embaressment, "Of course not."

Nikolas rescued her, "My cousin, Lady Samantha and Countess Alcazar."

A jolt of surprise straightened up every body in the room. Courney was the first to speak, "Well, that certainly is…something."

Jason leaned back in his chair.

Something, indeed.

Well, that's it for this chapter. What did you think? Please take a moment to review. It is greatly appreciated. And might make me update that much faster=)

Love ya, darlings.

Heather