Sonny lay awake in bed. It had been over an hour since Will left, and he still isn't back yet. What was he doing? He pulled out his phone and called Will, but it went straight to voicemail. "Where are you, Will?" He tried calling Sami, but no answer. He jumped out of bed when he heard the door to the apartment open and quietly ran out into the living room. "Do you know how worried, I've been?" Sonny stopped when he saw Will looking pale and on the verge of tears. "Will?" Will hugged Sonny tight and started silently crying. Sonny hugged back and rubbed Will's back comfortingly. "Baby, what's wrong?"
Will pulled away and took a deep breath. "They've got her."
"What? Who?"
"The DiMeras kidnapped my mom. I saw a vision of her getting kidnapped in the park, but when I got there, it was too late." Will flopped on the couch and rubbed his eyes.
Sonny sat next to him. "Did you call the police?"
"My phone battery died." Will sighed.
"Does this have anything to do with why she wanted to meet with you?" Sonny asked.
"Probably." Will sighed. "I'll tell you. If not to be completely honest and not cause problems between us, then because you're a Kiriakis, and I'm feeling a little vindictive."
Sonny scoffed lightly. "Well, it's not like I'm going to do anything with this information."
Will explained how Sami got the package from the safety deposit box, and surveillance footage of someone who she was convinced was EJ placing the package in the safety deposit box. The package was all of Stefano's passcodes, account numbers, everything needed to bring him down.
"So, Sami thinks EJ is alive?" Sonny asked. "Do you believe that?"
"No. I think Andre's toying with her." Will admitted. He sighed. "I need to tell Grandma and John and I need to bring my siblings here." He let out a huge yawn and slowly drifted off to sleep.
XXX
About six hours later, Will woke with a jolt. He sat up and saw Sonny bringing his now charged-up phone to him.
"Sorry. I had to let you get some sleep." Sonny said, sitting down.
Will sighed and took his phone. "It's fine." He dialed his Aunt Kim's number. "Hey, Aunt Kim. My mom wants the kids to come back to Salem. Would you mind putting them on the next flight out here? … Great! Thanks. I'll pick them up. … Okay. Bye."
XXX
Marlena slowly paced the floor as she dialed Sami's number. It went to voicemail. "Sami, hi. I'm still a little worried. Please call me back. Let me know that you're not gonna do something crazy as to go after the DiMeras." She sighed as someone knocked on the door. She went to open it, and Will walked in. "Will?"
"Where's John? I need to talk to both of you." Will said, breathlessly.
John walked into the living room. "Any word from Sami?"
"She's been kidnapped by Andre." Will replied.
"What?!" Marlena exclaimed.
"When did this happen?" John asked.
"Last night." Will said. "I saw two men throw my mom into a black van with no plates. They headed north for about three miles, then I lost them."
John exhaled sharply. "This is about the flash drive she stole."
"Will, did you send for the children?" Marlena asked.
"Yeah. My Aunt Kim is putting them on the next flight." Will replied. His phone buzzed. "Oh. Hold on. Okay, they're on a plane now. They will land at 3:00."
"Okay. Will, did your mother give you that flash drive?" Marlena asked.
"No." Will shook his head.
"Can you think of anywhere she might have hidden it?" John asked.
Will closed his eyes and thought for a moment. "No."
"Okay." Marlena gripped Will's shoulders. "You let us worry about the flash drive. You focus on getting the children here."
Will nodded. "Okay."
"Oh- before I forget: your Uncle Bo returned last night." Marlena replied.
"He did?" Will asked.
"Yeah. He stopped Aiden from killing Hope." Marlena said.
"Wait- seriously?" Will asked, puzzled. "Well, it's a good thing Uncle Bo made it."
"Yes, it is."
XXX
At 3:00, Will parked at the curb of the airport. Johnny and Allie were now thirteen years old, and Sydney is nine.
"Will!" Sydney exclaimed. She ran to her brother and hugged him.
"Hey, baby sister." Will hugged back. He then hugged the twins. "Hey, you two."
"Where's Mom? Didn't you say she sent for us?" Johnny asked.
Will put their suitcases in the trunk. Johnny sat in the passenger seat and the girls climbed in the back. Will drove off. "Mom is a little tied up right now."
"With what?" Allie wanted to know.
"She didn't say." Will shrugged. "Just that she wanted you guys to live with Grandma for a bit."
"What about our friends in LA?" Allie asked. "We kind of have lives there."
"I'm sure you guys will be able to go back there." Will said.
"When can we see Mommy?" Sydney asked.
"Soon." Will replied. 'I hope…'
XXX
After getting settled in at the townhouse where Sonny waited with Ari, Will took Allie to see Lucas.
"Daddy!" Allie exclaimed as Lucas opened the door to his apartment.
"Hey, it's my little Allie-Cat!" Lucas hugged and lifted her up a little, and growled playfully. "I've missed you!"
"I've missed you, too!" Allie exclaimed.
Kate walked up to the apartment. "Oh, hey, Will."
"Hey, Grandma." Will greeted. "Guess who came to visit."
"Grandma!" Allie exclaimed. She hugged Kate.
"Oh, this is the best surprise I've had all day." Kate replied, smiling. "How are you?"
"I'm good."
"Dad, sidebar." Will whispered to Lucas. They waited until Kate and Allie were in the kitchen and walked over to the opposite side of the apartment.
"What's up?" Lucas asked.
Will sighed. "I figured you should know. Mom found a way to destroy the DiMeras once and for all, but they've kidnapped her."
"What?" Lucas sighed and shook his head in exasperation. "I swear- the things your mom does…"
"I know. The reason Allie, Johnny, and Sydney are back in town is because she told me to bring them here in case anything were to happen to her." Will replied.
"Don't you think they'd be safer in LA?" Lucas asked.
"Well, we're all staying at Grandma Marlena's." He sighed.
"Okay. That's good enough for me." Lucas nodded. He smiled. "Hey…I have both my children here for the holidays. I'll take it any way I can get."
Will laughed. "Good!"
XXX
Sami paced around the little hut she was locked in. Andre threatened her family if she didn't fork over the passcodes. She had to escape. But how? Then, an idea struck her. "That's it. That's how I'll get out of here. They'll never see it coming!" She heard a few gunshots outside, yelling, and thudding. She started pounding on her door. "Hello?! Help! I'm in here!" She heard someone running to her door and the lock jiggling. She backed off, and her eyes widened when she saw another guard coming in. She jammed her heel into his foot, which made him yell and double over, then she brought her knee up, and slammed his head against it, and threw him across the floor, unconscious. Sami ran outside, and surveyed her surroundings. She saw someone in the distance. Someone really familiar. "EJ?" Sure enough, EJ stood about thirty feet away, his gun drawn. "EJ!"
"Samantha?" EJ called. He started heading towards her.
"EJ!" Sami yelled, smiling and running to him.
"Samantha!" EJ called back. They ran into each other's arms. EJ picked her up.
"I thought I'd never see you again." Sami sobbed. "Even in my dreams, I knew it was true. But you're here. This is real."
"It is real." EJ pulled away and cupped Sami's face in his hands. "I'm here, darling."
Sami laughed tearfully, and they kissed. "How long have you been…I mean, what have you been doing all this time?"
"I'll explain everything. But first, we need to get out of here." EJ said.
XXX
Later that evening, John found the flash drive and used it to get Sami back, but she had already escaped. Later, everyone found out that Bo died from a brain tumor.
"But he just got back! I can't believe this…" Will said, shaking his head slowly.
"Poor Hope, Shawn, and Ciara." Sonny said. "Oh my God, Uncle Vic…"
"And Grandma Caroline." Will stood up. "Come on. They might be at the Pub."
Sonny nodded and stood. "Let's go."
Marlena sighed. Her phone rang. "Sami! Where are you? Are you all right?"
"I'm safe, but I'm on the run now." Sami replied. "Are the kids there?"
"Yeah. They just came here a few hours ago." Marlena replied. "Also, Sami…your Uncle Bo came home…but he had a brain tumor. They weren't able to save him."
Sami was silent for a minute. "Wait…Uncle Bo? Wait…I don't understand."
"It turns out that Bo was actually kidnapped a couple years ago. That's why no one ever heard from him." Marlena explained. "Steve rescued him and brought him home, but…Bo was…so sick. He's gone."
Sami's breath shook, and she began sobbing. "Oh my God…I…I can't believe…"
"I know." Marlena said sympathetically.
XXX
Sure enough, most of the Kiriakis and Brady families were in the Pub. Will and Sonny made a beeline for Caroline and Victor, who hugged them tight.
"Let us know if there's anything we can do for you guys." Sonny said.
"We will. Thank you." Victor replied.
XXX
Meanwhile, Sami and EJ rushed to a small cabin thirty miles south of Chicago. They sat on a couch.
"Okay, you were about to tell me where you've been the last thirteen months?"
"Well, after I…thought I died in your arms, the next thing I knew, I woke up from a three month coma." EJ explained. "I was in the DiMera castle. It took six months of physical therapy to get better. My father tried to reprogram me into the perfect DiMera soldier, but I fought it. For a while, it worked, but my father saw right through me. He threatened to…" He let his voice trail off. He wasn't sure how she'd react.
"He wouldn't harm our children. They're his grandchildren!" Sami exclaimed.
"Will and Allie aren't." EJ raised his eyebrows.
"He threatened Will and Allie?" Sami asked, horrified. "They are Johnny and Sydney's older brother and sister. Stefano should know that they will never forgive him if he hurts them. And-and Chad! Will is one of Chad's very best friends."
"You think he cares about that?" EJ asked. "All Stefano cares about is Stefano."
Sami nodded and sighed. "Do you know about Andre?"
"Yes. But, he doesn't know I'm alive. We need to keep it that way." EJ said. "Where are the children right now?"
"With my mom and John." Sami said. "EJ…I stole money from Stefano. That flash drive is hidden somewhere safe, but I got away with two hundred and fifty million dollars. I'm a fugitive now."
"Which means we can't stay in one place for very long." EJ sighed. "Samantha, what were you thinking?"
"I wanted revenge on Stefano for all the pain he's caused over the last thirty years." Sami explained. "And for taking you away from me and the kids. That was his plan all along. No wonder he called me that night! He wanted to make sure I thought you were dead!"
EJ blinked in confusion, then sighed. "Samantha…my…attempted murder had nothing to do with my father."
"What are you talking about?" Sami asked.
"My bodyguard betrayed me. He was working for Clyde Weston." EJ replied. "So, Weston is responsible for my attempted murder."
Sami scoffed and shook her head in dismay. "'Course he did."
EJ was confused by her reaction. "Did something happen?"
Sami took a deep breath. "We didn't find this out until recently, but, Clyde had Sonny stabbed earlier this year to get back at Victor. It was pretty similar to your attempted murder."
"I was wondering if he was ever going to be attacked because of Victor…I just imagined it would be my father who would be behind it." EJ shrugged. "Is he okay?"
"Yeah." Sami sighed. "They almost didn't have enough blood to save him. Luckily, Maxine knew someone who had Sonny's blood type. Ironically, that person happened to be Sonny's then closeted ex-boyfriend, Paul Narita."
"…Wait, I thought gay men can't donate blood?" EJ asked.
"He wasn't out and proud back then. Actually, he came out the very next day." Sami chuckled. "Also…later, we found out that Paul is actually John's biological son from a one night stand."
EJ exhaled sharply. "Bloody hell."
"Yeah." Sami nodded. "I'm actually glad he did create Paul and that he came to Salem. If he hadn't, Sonny would have died. Just last month, Clyde's son Ben tried to kill Will because he found out he's behind all the murders that's been happening around town. The only reason he didn't succeed was because Sonny found them in time. So…really, if it weren't for Paul, Ari would have lost both her dads in less than one year."
"Sounds like Will and Sonny had quite the year." EJ nodded.
"Oh, yeah." Sami nodded again. "I didn't think anything would top the year we had to deal with Andre, but…"
EJ chuckled. "How are the children?"
"They're good." Sami said. "It took them months of grief therapy, but, they were finally able to move on. I'm…forever grateful that Will survived the attack. I don't know how or if I would have ever been able to tell my kids their brother died."
EJ rubbed Sami's back. "But he did survive. That's what's important."
"I know." Sami leaned back. "EJ, since we're on the run…I don't want to be away from the kids. Allie is a teenager now. She's at the age where she would need me most. She's not going to want to be away from Johnny and Sydney."
"So, let's send for them, then." EJ said. "I've got fake passports with fake names. We can go anywhere in the world. We'll be safe until my father and Andre have been neutralized."
"Yeah. Yeah, that's a great idea." Sami said eagerly. She pulled out her phone. "Let me call Will."
XXX
Will finished up his article for Sonix, and closed the laptop. He sighed as his phone rang. "Mom?"
"Hey, sweetheart." Sami said cheerfully. "Listen, um…I am safe. I'm in an abandoned house thirty miles south of Chicago. Um…will you please bring your brother and sisters?"
"Wait, why?" Will asked, confused.
"It's difficult to explain over the phone. Um…just get here as soon as you can." Sami gave him the address.
About an hour later, Will told Sonny about Sami's mysterious phone call, and told the kids that they were going to see Sami. Sonny insisted on coming.
"Sonny, I don't want to drag you into this." Will said.
"Will, it's no different than all those other times I was dragged into Sami's messes." Sonny shrugged. "Besides, how bad could this be?"
XXX
Will parked in front of the house Sami told him about. "Wait here. I need to make sure this is the right place."
He climbed out of the car and knocked on the door. He heard footsteps. Sami opened the door wide enough to see who it was, smiled, and threw the door open. Will turned to the car and gestured for his husband and siblings to come on in. Once they were all inside, Sami hugged her kids.
"Oh, I'm so happy to see you guys again." Sami said.
"What's going on, Mom?" Johnny asked.
"Well, it's about your father." Sami replied. She took a deep breath. "He's alive."
They all sat in stunned silence until Will spoke. "Do you have proof?" They heard footsteps, and turned to see EJ walking into the living room. The kids and Will and Sonny all sat in shock and disbelief. Nobody moved until Sydney jumped up.
"Daddy!" Sydney exclaimed. She ran into EJ's arms.
"Oh, I've missed you so much." EJ hugged his daughter and shed a few tears.
"We buried you." Johnny said in a voice barely above a whisper. He didn't know how to feel. Just five minutes ago, his father, his hero was dead. And now…
"I know." EJ said. "I was revived, then put in a coma that lasted for three months."
"Then why didn't you just tell us you were alive?" Johnny asked.
"It's complicated, son." EJ replied.
Johnny took some deep breaths. He stepped forward, and EJ opened his arms for a hug. Johnny swallowed back tears, shook his head, then ran upstairs.
"Johnny!" Sami called after him.
Allie stood up. "I got this." She ran after her twin.
"Sydney, why don't you carry your and Allie and Johnny's bags upstairs?" Sami said. "Your dad and I need to talk to Will and Sonny alone."
"Okay." Sydney ran to the entrance hall and dragged two suitcases up the stairs.
EJ sighed. "They're not taking this as well as I thought."
Will scoffed, shook his head, and stepped forward to punch EJ in the mouth. "Can you blame them?! How could you make us all believe you were dead? The kids had to go to therapy because of you!"
"My father kept me away from you all." EJ explained.
"Why would he do that? You're his son." Will replied.
"Was his son." EJ corrected. "Yes…he and I considered each other family, but that was before he plotted to destroy everything I've worked hard for."
"So you weren't able to escape until shortly before you and my mom reunited?" Will asked.
"Correct. We also have a bigger problem." They heard distant thunder rumbling. "Hear that? There's a storm coming. That is Andre. When he learns that I'm alive and I have all his and Stefano's money, he will come after us- after all of us."
"Then just give the money back. No one will get hurt." Sonny suggested.
"No! We need to weaken Stefano and Andre, so we can bring them down for good." Sami said.
"I just don't want anyone to get hurt." Will said.
"William, I'm sorry I created this mess." EJ said sincerely. "Really, I am. But we need to move. We can't stay in one place for very long or Stefano and Andre will track us down."
"What- no!" Will exclaimed. "No, look, Stefano and Andre have no idea Sonny and I are involved in this. There's no point in us running."
"All right, you don't have to accept my apologies, but you do have to accept my warning!" EJ exclaimed. "I'm here, the money is here, the children are here, hell we even have a bloody Kiriakis here! What do you think Andre will do if he finds us, eh?"
Will exhaled in exasperation. "I don't want to keep Allie from my dad."
"Then tell him everything." Sami stepped forward. "He will understand. He'll want her safe."
"Then we'll go, and you'll have to deal with him." Will said to EJ.
"No. You're forgetting something: I have the money." Sami said.
"Which I'll gladly relieve you of." Will stepped forward, but EJ stopped him.
"William, there is no time to fight. There is only time to die. We need to leave." EJ said. Will and Sonny just stared at him in disbelief.
"Now, please! We're telling you the truth!" Sami cried almost desperately.
Will scoffed lightly. He couldn't believe this was happening. He didn't want the DiMeras to hurt his family, but he didn't want them to go on the run, either. "Okay…like I said earlier, Andre doesn't know that Sonny and I are involved, and we are not leaving Ari, nor are we taking her away from her mother just when she got out of prison! Sonny and I will head back to Salem. We'll move in with John and Grandma. We'll be safe there."
"Fine. Fine. That's good enough for me." Sami gave a long sigh. Allie, Johnny, and Sydney came back. "Hey! Guys, um…" She walked over to them. "I made your Uncle Andre mad, so we have to hide from him. Your daddy and I want to take you guys out of the country."
"What about Dad?" Allie asked. "Is he coming too?"
Sami sighed. "No…honey, he's not. Allie, I'll give you a choice. If you want to go back to Salem with Will and Sonny to live with your dad, that's fine. But I would really love for you to come with us."
"When will I see Dad again if I go with you?"
"Not for a long time, honey." Sami replied. "And if you stay with Dad, I don't know when you'll see me or your brother and sister again."
Allie swallowed. "I really want to go with you guys. Can I at least say good-bye to Dad?"
Everyone glanced at EJ, who nodded and pulled out a phone. "This is a burner phone. It can't be traced."
Sami nodded and dialed Lucas' number.
"Hello?" Lucas answered.
"Daddy?" Allie greeted. "It's Allie."
"Allie, what's wrong?" Lucas asked.
"I have to go away with Mom and Johnny and Sydney for a while." Allie answered, unsure if she should tell him EJ's alive. "I don't know how long I'll be."
"Why are you going?" Lucas asked.
"To keep us safe from Johnny and Sydney's uncle." Allie answered. "I wanted to say good-bye and to make sure you'll still hang my ornament at Aunt Jennifer's Christmas party."
Lucas chuckled. "Of course I will. I'll miss you, sweetheart."
"I'll miss you, too." Allie sniffed. "Good-bye, Dad."
"Good-bye."
Allie hung up and hugged Will and Sonny good-bye, then Johnny and Sydney hugged them good-bye. Sami and Will hugged. When they pulled apart, Sami cleared her throat. "Will…I think it'd be a good idea to set up a code word to use if one of us is in trouble."
Will nodded. "Okay. What do you want it to be?"
"Tigers." Sami smiled. "I remember when you were little, you had nightmares, and I used to tell you…"
"'Your daddy and I are here and we're gonna keep the tigers away.'" Will smiled. "I remember. Hearing that actually made me feel safe."
Sami blinked away tears and hugged her son again. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you, too." Will replied.
"William…Sonny…it would be best, and it would keep us all safe if you would keep my being alive a secret." EJ said.
"We won't tell." Sonny replied. "Promise."
"Good." EJ smiled. "You two take care, now."
"You, too."
XXX
Sonny and Will were silent for most of the ride home. Will finally broke the silence. "You think they'll be okay?"
Sonny glanced at Will. "They will."
"I know that…keeping the fact that a supposedly dead DiMera is alive and well from your family- especially your uncle Victor and your dad is going to be hard and awkward." Will said. "I'm sorry."
Sonny took a deep breath. "You're my family. So are Sami, Allie, Johnny, and Sydney. If it means keeping you all safe, then I'm willing to take that secret with me to the grave."
"Even if it means ruining your relationship with your dad and uncle?" Will asked.
"Yes." Sonny said mostly convinced. He really didn't want to cause drama with his own family…but he also wanted Will, Ari, Allie, Johnny, Sydney, and Sami to be safe.