Chapter 9: A Home Invasion

"Sami? What's wrong?" Belle rushed to her sister who was closing the penthouse door behind her.

"It took you long enough to get here", Samantha muttered at first and raised her voice to speak up to Belle, "Come on let's go. We need to go now!"

"Where? What happened?" Belle cried as Samantha grabbed her arm and dragged her back to the elevator.

"It's a long story but mum has lost it. She finally crossed the line-"

"What line? What are you talking about Sami?" Belle asked.

"The line between sanity and lunacy. Losing John has removed the last restraints our mother had and unhinged her in a way", Samantha stopped to catch her breath, "in a way that scares me."

"What happened?" Belle asked.

"I came to talk with her about her meeting with Stefano. We ended up throwing some accusations at each other, some of those were truths but she didn't hear me. She was like a ghost", Samantha said staring at her own reflection at the elevator doors.

"Why exactly did you call me?" Belle turned to look at her older sister.

"I wanted you to help me reach her. You are her connection to John. If anyone, you can talk her down and stop her from-"

"Stop her from what?" Belle waited anxiously Samantha to continue, "You used to be able to finish your sentences. Sami, tell me. What is mum going to do?"

"She is going to kill Stefano."

Five and a half months, twenty-four weeks, 165 days earlier.

Sami was finishing her packing and making sure she hadn't forgotten anything essential. Leaving the penthouse and her mother behind was proving to be more difficult than she had expected it to be. Just two weeks earlier she had been excited about the thought of leaving this place and moving into a new home with EJ and the twins. Now the empty house would only remind her of what she was still missing and had no way of finding again.

"Sami? Are you still here?" Marlena called for her and stepped into the room.

"Yes, but I'm leaving soon. Will you manage being alone again, this soon?" Sami asked while fighting back the tears and with concern in her voice. Marlena smiled as she nodded:

"Of course. You and your sister have your own lives to live." Sami shook her head but it didn't help and she burst out crying. Marlena came to hold her daughter.

"Mum I don't know what to do!" Sami cried against her mothers shoulder and the older woman held her as she shook.

"There there", Marlena kept brushing Sami's hair, "Don't you cry little girl. Everything is going to be all right."

"How?!" Sami cried out in pain and pushed her mother away, "EJ is gone and he wants a divorce. How are you going to make this right for me?"

"Maybe this is for the best. Now you can go back to Lucas and you'll have the family you've always dreamed of", Marlena tried not to beam too brightly.

"Mum", Sami stuttered while sobbing, "I love EJ and I don't want to lose him. How many times do I have to tell you this."

"Hush now. Don't cry. I'm going to fix this for you. I promise." Marlena kept shushing her daughter without realizing that her tears had dried and that she was looking at her with a faint fear in her eyes. Sami opened her mouth to speak carefully:

"How exactly are you going fix this for me?"

"You don't need to know that, just know that I'm going to make things right for you."

Present day.

Samantha quivered as she remembered the tone her mother had used to make her a promise months ago. Now she blamed herself for being so blind to the obvious signs of nervous breakdown her mother had shown at the time. Her little sister was sitting next to her as Samantha drove to the DiMera mansion.

"Why would you say that? Why would you say that mum is going to kill Stefano?" Belle asked suddenly breaking the silence between them.

"Because that's what she has been hinting and thinking about ever since John died. He blames Stefano for everything, including my marriage which was my choice", Samantha replied pondering how much she should tell Belle, "Look, there's her car. We need to be careful." Samantha and Belle got up and ran to the front door, which was slightly ajar. Samantha pushed the door open and walked in with Belle closely behind her. Dr. Rolf came to meet them in the hall.

"Good day Mrz DiMera and Mrz Kiriakis. Stefano and hiz guest are having zome tea in the parlour."

"How did my mother seem?" Samantha asked breathlessly.

"Mrs Black? I wazn't aware of her prezence", Rolf furrowed. Samantha pushed him aside and ran to the parlour where she, Belle and Rolf found Stefano sittng with two women. Marlena was just raising her tea cup and smiling blazingly. The young woman sitting between the two looked somewhat amused.

"Good day Samantha, Belle", she nodded, "Had I known this to be a family meeting, I would have rescheduled my meeting with you Mr DiMera."

"Marie", Samantha hardly acknowledged her presence, "What are you doing here?"

"Some tedious business matters, nothing concerning your absent spouse", Marie explained, "I believe I'll be late for my next appointment if I don't leave shortly."

"Yes of course Ms Willowstream, it has has been a pleasure as always", Stefano smiled at the young woman, "Rolf will show you out."

"Thank you. This was, intriguing to say the least." Marie got up and walked past the unresponsive doctor Evans. She stopped as if wanting to say something but changing her mind at the last second. She followed Rolf and left the DiMera mansion.

"Mother?" Belle asked and glided to sit next to her mother. Samantha nailed her eyes to the sly man sitting opposite her labile mother.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Belle asked and heard her mother hum slightly.

"Nothing happened dear", Marlena said, "we were just having a, discussion." A quick glance revealed Marlena arching her brow knowingly.

"Just a discussion", Stefano confirmed.

"If you say so", Samantha mumbled and turned to speak to her sister then, "Let's take her home. Mum, will you come with us?"

"Wont you have some tea with us?" Stefano asked and gestured to Rolf to bring more china.

"No!" Marlena exclaimed before Samantha had the chance to say:

"Not today. Thank you, but not today."

"It was", Stefano paused for minute before reaching just the right tone of his voice, "exhilarating to to see you again, Marlena." Only Belle was close enough to see the passing emotion in her mothers eyes but she wasn't prepared to accept what she saw.

"I'm sorry for barging in like we did", Belle faltered and pulled Marlena up, "Goodbye." Samantha watched Belle guide their mother out of the room and out of the house before turning to Stefano and asking:

"What happened?" Stefano met her blue gaze with a knowing smirk on his face.

"Nothing for you to be worried about Samantha dear."

"Don't lie to me Stefano."

"I wouldn't dream of lying to you my dear Samantha", Stefano replied and got up to walk to the fireplace. He took few deep breaths and hid his face as he said:

"Go now. Go and take care of your mother." Samantha couldn't quite interpret his tone nor did she know what to say. So she chose to nod and say:

"Thank you."