Chapter 27: The Morning After

She took a deep breath and clean air filled her lungs. Slowly she felt her body wake up as she once again sensed her relaxed, heavy limbs. Sun was shining on her face and warming her skin. She must have forgotten to close the curtains before going to bed the previous night. She didn't know why she was smiling. How could she be happy when she was still waiting for him to come home to her? Without opening her eyes, she knew what she would see. She would see the rooftop door from her old apartment building leaning to the wall, so she could see the heart EJ had carved for her months ago. She would see their initials within a heart surrounded by a fine festoon and seeing that carving would restore her faith in their love for one more lonely day. She would get up from her bed, walk to the door and let her fingers follow the lines. She would sigh heavily, force a smile on her lips and go to see her twins. She would just slide to the floor and start her morning, except she couldn't. Something or someone was holding her still.

Sami opened her eyes and saw an arm wrapped around her waist. She turned her head and forgot to breath. He was there. He was really there.
"Good morning", he said without opening his eyes.
"It's a very good morning", Sami said and reached to play with the collar of his dress shirt. He grinned.
"I've been waiting for you to wake up for a while now. I thought that the sun might do the trick."
"Didn't you sleep at all last night?" He heard her worry.
"No I didn't. I had a lot of thinking to do", EJ explained before wrinkling his face and forcing his eyes open, "You were so tired when we came here and all you wanted was to me to hold you while you slept so I did. But you are awake now."
"I am", Sami couldn't stop grinning.
"Can we go to see the twins now?" EJ asked.
"No."
"Why not?"
"You owe me seven months worth of kisses. It's time to pay up", Sami made her demand and EJ was happy to oblige.

"The sun is up. Has been for a while. Do you think it's time for us to go home now?" Eric asked and kissed Marie's temple. She snuggled little closer to him and he wrapped his arm around her a bit more tightly.
"And where might your home be?" Marie teased him.
"With Sami, until I can find something more permanent", was his answer.
"Are you sure you want to do that? Doesn't your work take you all over the world? Why would you want to stay in this little town?"
"Oh, I'm sure I can find an incentive or two?" For that answer he felt a sharp elbow against his ribs.
"I don't want to know what's going through your mind right now", Marie informed him.
"Sure you do", he smiled against her hair, "You want to know how I'm going to take you home from here, from this park bench to your front door, without letting your feet touch the ground."
"How were you planning on making that happen? My home is on the other side of the town". Marie asked jerking her head aside to see his face. Eric felt a dimple forming itself as a question left his lips:
"Do I really need to remind you?" He gazed first in her eyes and then moved to her lips before looking up again with his eyes full of promise. He kissed her again and she felt herself soar. She broke away and placed her finger on his lips:
"That sounds awfully tempting, but-"
"I hate that word", Eric complained.
"No you don't once you hear the rest of it", Marie winked at him, "But, I don't want to wreck my weekend by skipping work."
"Oh you have plans?" he mocked her while nuzzling up against her neck.
"Yes I have plans for the weekend, and so do you."
"Sounds promising."
"Only if I get in work in time", Marie was sorry to remind him.
"I've better make sure of that then", Eric said and got on his feet. He picked Marie up and asked:
"Which way?"

"I just want to see them", EJ said as Sami picked her daughter up and offered her for him to be held, "I'm sure they don't remember me and I don't want to upset them."
"Just hold her", Sami asked. EJ wanted to protest but swallowed his objections. Joy looked at him questioningly before discovering the buttons in his shirt.
"So do you see a lot disturbingly tall men or am I unique?" EJ asked the baby and she answered him by showing her tongue.
"I think she said yes", Sami clarified for him.
"To which question?"
"That one is up to you to figure out."
"I thought so", EJ replied. His lips touched Joys thin hair and his eyes closed.
"I've missed you", he whispered to Joy, "I've missed you both."
"And they've missed you. Now we can finally be a family", Sami whispered back and brought Johnny within his reach. EJ brushed gently Johnny's head and met his stern, accusing stare.
"I know and I know that I have a lot to make up for, but there's still something I have to do. Something I need to take care of first", EJ said and waited for Sami to understand.
"Do you have to?"
"Yes I do", he said.
"Can't you just call her and forget she ever existed?"
"I can't", EJ hesitated with choosing the right explanation, "Whether you like it or not, Annie is my friend. She's part of my life and I can't just drive her away and pretend like she never existed."
"I can try", Sami was displeased.
"Samantha, you mean the world to me, but you can not control who's in it. We both have made choices which have lead to this place and time, and because of those choices you have to learn to share. You have to share me with these little rascals and others."
"Well, I certainly don't have to like it", she proclaimed.
"No you don't", EJ agreed, "But you have to live it."
"Please, say you wont be gone for long."
"I wont be gone for long, and I'll even come back", EJ promised.
"That", Sami punched him, "Was not funny."
"We thought it was", EJ said and held laughing Joy against his chest.

"Hello Eric", EJ said as he was about to walk out through the door.
"Good morning EJ", Eric hardly had time to arch his brow before Sami came running to them.
"You almost forgot your keys", she handed the key ring to EJ and kissed him quickly.
"Bye", EJ said to her and nodded to her brother, "Eric." Eric and Sami watched him leave and drive away with her car.
"Is that wise? You might not see that car again", Eric asked and suffered another blow.
"EJ's going back to get his things and to say good bye to that harpy. Then he's coming back, to me", Sami informed her twin mirthfully.
"Is he now", Eric mumbled.
"And where were you last night?" Sami asked teasing him.
"That, my sister, is none of your business. Not yet anyway." Eric glanced to the door once again, hesitating at first and then just saying it:
"There's something you need to know. Something important we need to discuss."
"What might that be?"
"It has to do with Annie and EJ."
"I don't like the sound of that", Sami grimaced and walked to the other room and threw herself on the couch.
"I know you don't, but you need to hear this. It has to do with the reason why, they came to Salem."

She felt exhilarated. She didn't care that she was buried under piles of pillows and heavy covers. She didn't care about the fact that she had spent the previous laying on wet grass in cool night air crying for something miraculous. She felt good, because she knew what she needed to do. Annie jumped up from her resting place and rushed through her morning routine. She continued with packing up her things and tiptoeing through the halls of the DiMera mansion. She wanted to make a clean getaway before anyone would think of missing her. Not that it was likely to happen. The only person who might have wasted a thought on her was otherwise engaged and his father unfortunately had senses of a bat.
"Good morning Ms Luckafält. Wont you please come in", Stefano gave her and option she just couldn't refuse. Annie abandoned her bags and followed Stefano into his study.
"Good morning Bats, may I call you that?" Annie asked jauntily and sprawled herself sideways on one of Stefanos antique chairs.
"No you may not", Stefano replied with something almost resembling amusement in his voice, "I have to ask, Bats? Where ever did you come up with that?"
"Since you seem to know everything without really seeing it, the only logical explanation I could think of, is that you have embraced your inner bat and thus tapped into your sonar abilities", Annie replied while eyeing Stefano's breakfast tray, "And besides. I had to think of something to take away this shroud of intimidation you have floating around you." Stefano guffawed and pushed the tray to the girl.
"Please do", he offered the dish to her, "You apparently aren't scared of me anymore." Annie met Stefano's eyes with severe look.
"Oh I'm terrified. I'm just not scared for myself." Stefano leaned back in his seat nodding at her.
"So you do love my son."
"There was never any doubt of that, was there?" Annie tilted her head.
"And there's the reason why my men lost your track. What did you do?" Stefano queried and saw the girl shrug.
"I just convinced Eddie that someone was after us and that he needed to come up with something drastic quickly. He made us disappear, not I. I just told the truth."
"You just left out the part where you tore apart my generous cheque", the cigar smoke spoke.
"I would have told him, had he asked. But he didn't, not specifically", Annie finished Stefano's toast, "Besides, why would I want to willingly break Eddies heart after you've taken such good care of it?"
"He is my son, in every possible way."
"That he is", Annie agreed and corrected her pose to something more traditional just as the subject of their conversation rushed in.

"Good morning son", Stefano greeted EJ who kept looking for any sign of trouble.
"Thank you for the breakfast", Annie gave a nod seasoned with a small smile to Stefano, "I was just about to leave."
"Annie, you should stay. I'm going to say this only once", EJ asked and laid his hand on her shoulder, "Father, I want you to stay away from Annie and that includes all the men and women who work for you or have ever worked for you. Don't even think about recruiting someone else to keep an eye on her or in any way interfering into her life. She is of limits. Do I make myself clear?"
"If that is your wish", Stefano said.
"No, it's a simple fact. Just like you ending your tea parties with Samantha is. Had I known that she would come to you for help, I would have included that in our previous agreement which still hold true", EJ continued, "You do remember the deal we made before I left town?" Annie saw Stefano react with something that resembled a cringe.
"Very well. You've made yourself quite clear. I don't think there's any fear of misinterpretation. "
"But there always is with you father. I will make sure that the updated, constantly updated list of your possible slips reaches the person who controls the letter. Should you break any of my rules, the letter will reach the local police, FBI and the media. You wont be able to sweep this under a rug", EJ stopped to catch his breath, "And just in case you were wondering. I am aware that the letter in question will not only incriminate you but myself and I'm more that willing to spent few years behind bars for the simple joy of having you as a cell mate."

"This was a pleasant conversation", Stefano smiled stiffly, "And I would love to continue it, but unfortunately I'm needed elsewhere. You are truly a charming individual Ms Luckafält and I'm sorry not to be able to call you my daughter after all."
"I'm not sure Daddy Bats would like that either", Annie replied and watched Stefano bite his lip as he passed his son to step out of the study.
"What was your fathers name again?" EJ asked as soon as the door was closed.
"Kalle, why?" Annie asked with an arched brow.
"Then what was that Daddy Bats thing about?"
"It's my thing. I give silly nicknames to people I'm especially fond of", Annie replied, "you should know, Eddie." EJ raked his fingers through his hair and walked around the table. He looked for a pen and paper.
"We need to talk", EJ said as the pen flew on the paper.
"What about?" Annie sat in her place watching a neatly folded paper to slip into an envelope, a sealed envelope.
"You know what about", EJ raised his eyes.
"Oh that? I was sort of hoping you wouldn't remember that. Maybe we could pretend it never happened", Annie suggested casually.
"You promised you wouldn't lie to me", he scolded her.
"And I'm keeping that promise", she assured him, "But you must admit, your life would become much easier if I was to simply disappear."
"Maybe my life would be easier without you in it, but it would also be boring. That is if I had a life at all without you", EJ reminded her, "You saved my life Annie. I'm not about to forget that. I don't know how, but we are going to find a way to make this work. You will be part of my life, like everyone else in it."
"Who is this we you talk about?" Annie questioned him.
"You, Samantha and I", EJ clarified, "I want you meet the twins too. You should know what's it like to be an auntie."
"Isn't that a bit unrealistic with my proclamation from last night and you getting back together with your wife? I don't think Samantha is going to appreciate another woman in you life, let alone one who is head over heels in love with you."
"Annie, I said we would work this out", EJ heaved a sigh, "Though I don't share your feelings, I do care about you deeply. You are my best friend and I want you to be part of my life. I want you to see first hand what you helped to save."
"Shouldn't your wife be your best friend?"
"Quit the banter!" EJ lost his temper for a moment, "Fine, second best friend then, but you are a friend all the same. Now, would stop splitting hairs and agree to do this? You know I'm going to win in the end like I always do."
"That was back when you had an ace in your sleeve. Now all the cards are on the table and you can't use my love for you against me", Annie yielded, "but that doesn't change the fact that I still love you. Yes, I'll come with you to see the twins. I'll keep in touch when I can be bothered and I'll make sure my adventures always have at least one scheduled stop here in Salem. Is that good enough for you?"
"Almost", was the answer of an generous winner, "I need you to do something for me first. I'll pack my bags and take them to my house and I'll meet you there."