A/N: Here is a new chapter for you lovelies. I hope you are enjoying the second part of this story so far. I enjoy writing it and I have a feeling this is going to be a long one as well.

Chapter Thirty-Five: Unexpected Slap

After staying at the River Court all night talking with Casey, Sam knew it was the time to face her mother especially now that Leon Sheets was a wanted fugitive.

"If you do this Sam, you better not leave them again."

Sam knew Casey was right, but something about Casey's tone of voice made Sam pause.

"I missed a lot didn't?"

"A lot can happen in 3 years. Go home Sam."

"Is my mom working?"

Casey nods her head.

"You should check the Café first."

Sam surprises Casey by hugging her.

"Thank-you for tonight, but I want you to stay far away from here until that bastard is caught."

"He's not going to scare me away. You're my friend, Samantha and besides the wedding is in a few days. I'm not missing that," Casey says with a grin.

Sam smiles because she could relate to that.

-DG-

Haley Scott opened the Café with a smile on her face. She was happy. Her son Jamie was in his second year of playing for the New York Yankees. She was really proud of her boy.

For the past three years, Haley had been helping Brooke with her family issues and spending team with the café. She too, missed her niece dearly, but she knew at some point Sam would come home.

Haley turns on the lights with a yawn. She had just dropped off Lydia at Brooke's house so she could hang out with Aidan. It was a routine that Brooke and Haley had come up with. On the days where Haley was to arrive to work later in the day, Aidan would stay with her and it would be the same with Brooke.

When the door opened as Haley came out from behind the kitchen she was shocked to see who had come up to the counter.

"Samantha."

"Hi Aunt Haley," Sam says with apprehension. She was incredibly nervous and really didn't know what to do.

"Take a seat," Haley says as she points to a seat at the counter. "What can I get you?"

"Coffee is fine," Sam mumbles.

Haley could tell that her niece felt uncomfortable, but she didn't mention it. She enjoyed seeing Sam squirm.

"Your mom won't be here until the lunch crowd."

Sam nods her head and sighs.

"Is there any chance you can fill me in on what happened the last few years?"

Haley shakes her head.

"I loved your book though," Haley says with a small smile as she pours the just finished coffee into a mug for Sam.

"You read it?"

Haley nods her head.

"Yeah, despite what you may think Sam, no one hates you. You just made some bad decisions that's all. You just need to make them right."

"Why are you taking this so well?"

"I love you and no matter what you do nothing is going to change."

Sam takes a sip of her coffee and yawns.

Haley and Sam just sit in silence not knowing what to say anymore.

-DG-

"We've seen the broadcast, Kelsey," Brooke says as Kelsey enters the home with a tired smile.

Kelsey sighs and plops down on the couch.

"I hate reporters."

"Tell me what's going on," Brooke demands as she takes a seat next to Kelsey.

Lydia and Aidan were in Aidan's room playing a game and Julian was perched in his chair in the kitchen listening to his wife and Kelsey.

"I can't tell you that," Kelsey says with sadness. "I want to, but I can't."

"Then what can you tell us Kelsey," Julian pleads.

Kelsey licks the dryness out of her lips.

"A few FBI Agents came out of retirement to search for Leon Sheets. Agent Berry thinks that Leon might be looking for Sam."

Brooke closes her eyes and looks like she's about to cry.

"Why can't our life be easy? Just once I want to live a normal life where my daughter actually married her fiancé and no one was out trying to kill her."

Kelsey grabs onto Brooke's hand.

"I'm going to find Leon and I swear he will not escape again."

"She should've married you."

Julian leaves the room to check on the kids. He didn't want to talk about Sam's past mistakes right now.

"I wanted too, but she didn't. It's okay Brooke. I just hope I can be happy again."

"You will and I pray that you can become happy again with my daughter, but somehow I think that's wishful thinking."

"She's back, maybe there's a chance."

-DG-

"We're friends right?" Anthony Rider, Kelsey's partner says as soon as she reaches her desk.

Kelsey raises an eyebrow not really knowing where this conversation is going to head to.

"Yeah, why?"

"Why are you so close to this Sam Baker and Leon Sheets thing? What's going on? Do you know her or something?"

Kelsey sits in her chair and sighs.

"I really don't want to talk about it Rider."

"Too bad Daniels, spill."

"I went to high school with Sam. We dated through our senior year and I proposed to her after graduation," Rider's jaw drops, but Kelsey continues. "We were good for awhile and then on our wedding day I get left at the altar. Sam takes off and I don't here from her since, until now."

"Well shit."

"Exactly, but we have more important issues right now. Sam's back in town for sure and we need to figure out where the hell Leon Sheets because I want to catch this guy before he does anything he will soon regret."

-DG-

Brooke really didn't want to go into work today, but she had no choice considering she helped run the Café. As Brooke walked in she failed to notice the girl sitting at the counter perusing the menu. Haley was looking at Brooke with wide eyes.

"Haley, how have you been today?"

The girl at the counter freezes and then it was if time had stopped. Brooke didn't need to see the girl's face to know that it was her daughter sitting at the counter. Tears well up in Brooke's eyes and Sam slowly turns around in her chair.

"Hi momma."

Brooke walks up to her daughter and just looks at her not saying a word. Then Brooke did something that no one expected. She slapped Sam on the cheek and walked into the kitchen.

Sam rubs her cheek and looks at Haley.

"At least she still cares."

A/N: I honestly had no idea what I was going to do when Brooke saw Sam again for the first time in years so hopefully this little scene worked out. If not oh well. I'm not changing it.