Chapter Two
Sami felt Brandon's arms around her and her resolve began to slip away as she thought of how beautiful their love had been. During the short time they'd found bliss, she'd felt complete and with him holding her, that completeness continued. She'd loved him so very much and wanted nothing more than to be with him, holding him like this, kissing him this way forever, but the truth was that there were so many things that wouldn't be repaired between them. With that thought in mind, she forced herself to pull away from him.
"Samantha," his voice questioned as his eyes searched hers. He reached out to her once again, "Samantha, please don't turn away from me."
"Brandon, Lexie is having your child and you're so committed to her," she reminded him poignantly as she wiped at her tears, "we can't just forget that."
"I'm not asking you to forget, just to forgive how I've hurt you and I'm asking for a chance," he reached out to her, "Samantha, while Lexie may be having my child, you're the woman I want. You're the woman I love and I can't let you go. I refuse to let you walk out of my life."
"You don't have a choice Brandon because you made the decision the moment you slept with Lexie," Sami ran her fingers through her tousled hair, "we can't be together."
"Of course we can," Brandon insisted, "Samantha, we can do anything together if we only put our hearts into it. I know we can be together and this situation, well it's only a matter of time before we can make things right again."
"How can we make things right when Lexie is always leaning on you? When she's always begging you to rescue her," Sami raised her voice as the doors to the hospital balcony opened and Lexie stepped out to join them, "speaking of the devil."
"There you are, Brandon," Lexie ignored Sami's comment, "I was afraid you wouldn't be here in time for the appointment."
"Lexie, I was just talking to Samantha," Brandon began as his gaze pushed past Lexie to Sami.
"I think we're done here," Sami darted towards the door making a quick exit before she could allow the tears to overcome her once again.
"Samantha wait," Brandon began taking a step towards her as Lexie reached out for his arm.
"Let her go Brandon," Lexie urged, "she's the last thing you need to deal with right now. Forget about her."
"I can't forget about her, Lexie," Brandon met her dark eyes, "I love her."
"I know you think you love her, but she isn't the right woman for you. I'm sure of it."
"Lexie, I realize that this child bonds us together, but please, don't try to tell me what's in my heart," Brandon met her eyes seriously.
"Brandon, look I know this child screws everything up for you, but I just thought that you wanted to take part in his or her life..."
"I do. I really do and I will be there, but Samantha and I," he looked towards the doors seeing she'd slipped away out of sight as he let out a sigh, "let's just get going to the doctor's appointment, alright?"
"Alright," she nodded knowing in her heart that life without Sami Brady would be the best for Brandon. She wouldn't let that witch destroy his life.
****
Unable to keep the tears from falling, Sami rushed down the hospital corridor looking for any kind of escape she could find because the last thing she wanted or needed was to have the world see her as weak. She'd worked so hard to be anything, but a woman scorned by a man, yet as she thought of her situation with Brandon, being weak was only the start of it. She was so desperately in love with him and if he could see just how much his love had touched her, she feared for how much harder this would be. Seeing the door open to the doctor's lounge, she rushed inside finally breaking down as she sank into the sofa overcome by tears of anguish.
"Oh Brandon," she sobbed unable to keep it inside as she lay her head against the side of the sofa.
"Sami," she heard a voice call out to her as she froze instantly recognizing it as Lucas. Hurriedly, she wiped at her tears refusing to allow him the ammunition to prove that she was a sniveling, unfit mother as she sat upright taking in a breath.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she questioned harshly replacing the pain in her tone with anger, "you don't belong in here, Lucas. It's for doctor's only."
"Then why are you in here?" he questioned raising a curious brow.
"Lucas Roberts, you don't belong in here," she hissed again this time pulling together enough strength to face him hoping he hadn't noticed the tracks of tears that had stained her cheeks.
"Sami," he began on the defense when he noticed her eyes and he stopped himself, "were you crying?"
"No, I wasn't," she shook her head turning away from him abruptly.
"Sami, you might be able to lie to some people, but I can see right through you," he stepped in closer to her, "you were crying and you're still upset. There's no point in trying to hide it from me."
"Why are you so insistent upon finding out if I was crying or not? Are you going to use it against me in your latest ploy to take away Will," she questioned harshly as she faced him again her anger burning inside of her, "is that what you're looking for Lucas? A sign of weakness in me? Something to prove I'm an unfit mother?"
"No," he answered honestly as he took a step forward. Taking in a deep breath he began again, "Look Sami, I know I haven't given you a fair shake...hell, you haven't given me one, but I wouldn't take pot shots at you when you're down like this."
"That would be a first," she remarked offhandedly.
"Sami," He began before stopping himself, "okay I deserve that one. I do, but you have to admit you haven't been an angel yourself. In fact, you've been a downright pain in the..."
"Was there a point to this Lucas or were you going to stick your foot in your mouth yet again?"
"Look, I just heard you crying and I thought I'd step in and see if you were alright," he noticed the stunned expression on her face before explaining, "I know you and I have a lot of anger between us and we'll never be able to get over some of the things that happened, but despite what I've said in the past, Sami I don't hate you."
"Come again?" she blinked back at him.
"I know I've said it, but I don't mean it," he took in a breath, "look I'll be honest with you. You're a good mother and he's lucky to have you. While I might not have agreed with some of the things you did with him, part of me knows what it's like to feel threatened about losing your son. I know that despite what you thought of me, you always cared about our son. He's very important to you and I don't think he'd be half the fine, young man he is now without you in his life."
"Lucas Roberts, am I hearing your right? Was that almost a complement there?"
"Don't let it get to your head," Lucas nodded, "when I heard you crying, I just got to thinking and I wondered if this had anything to do with Brandon Walker."
"Lucas, I already told you...." she began sharply.
"It's none of my business," he raised his hands up in the air, "I know that Sami, but I've got to tell you, that if Brandon Walker can't see what's right in front of him, well then the guy's a jerk. He doesn't deserve you if he's going to treat you like this."
"Lucas, he's not a...." Sami stopped herself then frowned, "did I just hear you right? Did you say that Brandon didn't deserve me? Or was that your way of implying that I don't deserve anyone?"
"Sami, for once it was me telling the truth about you. You're not as awful as I make you out to be and if Brandon Walker let you slipped away, then it's truly his loss," Lucas stepped in closer to her noting the look on her face, "Sami, if I didn't know better I'd say you were shocked."
"Stunned is more like it," she confessed, "but for what it's worth, thank you for that."
"Well, we used to be friends once, right," Lucas forced a half smile, "I had to see something there one time."
"You saw an easy scheming partner," she reminded him sharply, "a way at Carrie."
"Well I don't need that anymore, but now what I see is a woman who did a great job with our son," Lucas reached out to her surprising the both of them as he hugged her, "Sami any man who lets you walk away after the love you've shown Brandon is a fool and nothing short of that."
Sami's eyes widened as Lucas hugged her and she took in a breath waiting for the knife to be pushed into her spine. Cautiously after she realized he wasn't going to hurt her, she reluctantly put her arms around him accepting the embrace.
"Thank you for this Lucas," she whispered hugging him in response feeling the arms of the friend she'd lost so long ago around her.
****
Brandon made his way down the hallway following Lexie as he dreaded the day ahead of him. While spending this time with her for the sake of their child was something he'd promised he'd do, his mind kept lingering to Samantha. How he couldn't get her from his mind and how he wanted nothing more than five more minutes with her to share how he was feeling. He let out a long sigh as they passed by the doctor's lounge and he saw something that made him stop in his tracks. Turning around he looked inside and saw the impossible. Samantha was in Lucas Roberts' arms in what looked like a hug. Feeling as though he should intervene as Brandon rationalized that they couldn't quite possibly be hugging he stepped forward when Lexie hooked her arm in his.
"Well look at that," Lexie sneered, "it appears that Sami didn't wait long, did she?" she shook her head disapprovingly, "and here I thought Lucas was smarter than that."
"Sami isn't interested in Lucas," Brandon insisted firmly as he watched the hug continue.
"I'd have to beg to differ from that hug," Lexie shook her head, "they haven't been that close in years and that says something in itself."
"It just says they're sharing a hug," Brandon tried to shrug it off as he vowed to himself that he wouldn't lose Samantha. He'd find a way to win her back.
Sami felt Brandon's arms around her and her resolve began to slip away as she thought of how beautiful their love had been. During the short time they'd found bliss, she'd felt complete and with him holding her, that completeness continued. She'd loved him so very much and wanted nothing more than to be with him, holding him like this, kissing him this way forever, but the truth was that there were so many things that wouldn't be repaired between them. With that thought in mind, she forced herself to pull away from him.
"Samantha," his voice questioned as his eyes searched hers. He reached out to her once again, "Samantha, please don't turn away from me."
"Brandon, Lexie is having your child and you're so committed to her," she reminded him poignantly as she wiped at her tears, "we can't just forget that."
"I'm not asking you to forget, just to forgive how I've hurt you and I'm asking for a chance," he reached out to her, "Samantha, while Lexie may be having my child, you're the woman I want. You're the woman I love and I can't let you go. I refuse to let you walk out of my life."
"You don't have a choice Brandon because you made the decision the moment you slept with Lexie," Sami ran her fingers through her tousled hair, "we can't be together."
"Of course we can," Brandon insisted, "Samantha, we can do anything together if we only put our hearts into it. I know we can be together and this situation, well it's only a matter of time before we can make things right again."
"How can we make things right when Lexie is always leaning on you? When she's always begging you to rescue her," Sami raised her voice as the doors to the hospital balcony opened and Lexie stepped out to join them, "speaking of the devil."
"There you are, Brandon," Lexie ignored Sami's comment, "I was afraid you wouldn't be here in time for the appointment."
"Lexie, I was just talking to Samantha," Brandon began as his gaze pushed past Lexie to Sami.
"I think we're done here," Sami darted towards the door making a quick exit before she could allow the tears to overcome her once again.
"Samantha wait," Brandon began taking a step towards her as Lexie reached out for his arm.
"Let her go Brandon," Lexie urged, "she's the last thing you need to deal with right now. Forget about her."
"I can't forget about her, Lexie," Brandon met her dark eyes, "I love her."
"I know you think you love her, but she isn't the right woman for you. I'm sure of it."
"Lexie, I realize that this child bonds us together, but please, don't try to tell me what's in my heart," Brandon met her eyes seriously.
"Brandon, look I know this child screws everything up for you, but I just thought that you wanted to take part in his or her life..."
"I do. I really do and I will be there, but Samantha and I," he looked towards the doors seeing she'd slipped away out of sight as he let out a sigh, "let's just get going to the doctor's appointment, alright?"
"Alright," she nodded knowing in her heart that life without Sami Brady would be the best for Brandon. She wouldn't let that witch destroy his life.
****
Unable to keep the tears from falling, Sami rushed down the hospital corridor looking for any kind of escape she could find because the last thing she wanted or needed was to have the world see her as weak. She'd worked so hard to be anything, but a woman scorned by a man, yet as she thought of her situation with Brandon, being weak was only the start of it. She was so desperately in love with him and if he could see just how much his love had touched her, she feared for how much harder this would be. Seeing the door open to the doctor's lounge, she rushed inside finally breaking down as she sank into the sofa overcome by tears of anguish.
"Oh Brandon," she sobbed unable to keep it inside as she lay her head against the side of the sofa.
"Sami," she heard a voice call out to her as she froze instantly recognizing it as Lucas. Hurriedly, she wiped at her tears refusing to allow him the ammunition to prove that she was a sniveling, unfit mother as she sat upright taking in a breath.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she questioned harshly replacing the pain in her tone with anger, "you don't belong in here, Lucas. It's for doctor's only."
"Then why are you in here?" he questioned raising a curious brow.
"Lucas Roberts, you don't belong in here," she hissed again this time pulling together enough strength to face him hoping he hadn't noticed the tracks of tears that had stained her cheeks.
"Sami," he began on the defense when he noticed her eyes and he stopped himself, "were you crying?"
"No, I wasn't," she shook her head turning away from him abruptly.
"Sami, you might be able to lie to some people, but I can see right through you," he stepped in closer to her, "you were crying and you're still upset. There's no point in trying to hide it from me."
"Why are you so insistent upon finding out if I was crying or not? Are you going to use it against me in your latest ploy to take away Will," she questioned harshly as she faced him again her anger burning inside of her, "is that what you're looking for Lucas? A sign of weakness in me? Something to prove I'm an unfit mother?"
"No," he answered honestly as he took a step forward. Taking in a deep breath he began again, "Look Sami, I know I haven't given you a fair shake...hell, you haven't given me one, but I wouldn't take pot shots at you when you're down like this."
"That would be a first," she remarked offhandedly.
"Sami," He began before stopping himself, "okay I deserve that one. I do, but you have to admit you haven't been an angel yourself. In fact, you've been a downright pain in the..."
"Was there a point to this Lucas or were you going to stick your foot in your mouth yet again?"
"Look, I just heard you crying and I thought I'd step in and see if you were alright," he noticed the stunned expression on her face before explaining, "I know you and I have a lot of anger between us and we'll never be able to get over some of the things that happened, but despite what I've said in the past, Sami I don't hate you."
"Come again?" she blinked back at him.
"I know I've said it, but I don't mean it," he took in a breath, "look I'll be honest with you. You're a good mother and he's lucky to have you. While I might not have agreed with some of the things you did with him, part of me knows what it's like to feel threatened about losing your son. I know that despite what you thought of me, you always cared about our son. He's very important to you and I don't think he'd be half the fine, young man he is now without you in his life."
"Lucas Roberts, am I hearing your right? Was that almost a complement there?"
"Don't let it get to your head," Lucas nodded, "when I heard you crying, I just got to thinking and I wondered if this had anything to do with Brandon Walker."
"Lucas, I already told you...." she began sharply.
"It's none of my business," he raised his hands up in the air, "I know that Sami, but I've got to tell you, that if Brandon Walker can't see what's right in front of him, well then the guy's a jerk. He doesn't deserve you if he's going to treat you like this."
"Lucas, he's not a...." Sami stopped herself then frowned, "did I just hear you right? Did you say that Brandon didn't deserve me? Or was that your way of implying that I don't deserve anyone?"
"Sami, for once it was me telling the truth about you. You're not as awful as I make you out to be and if Brandon Walker let you slipped away, then it's truly his loss," Lucas stepped in closer to her noting the look on her face, "Sami, if I didn't know better I'd say you were shocked."
"Stunned is more like it," she confessed, "but for what it's worth, thank you for that."
"Well, we used to be friends once, right," Lucas forced a half smile, "I had to see something there one time."
"You saw an easy scheming partner," she reminded him sharply, "a way at Carrie."
"Well I don't need that anymore, but now what I see is a woman who did a great job with our son," Lucas reached out to her surprising the both of them as he hugged her, "Sami any man who lets you walk away after the love you've shown Brandon is a fool and nothing short of that."
Sami's eyes widened as Lucas hugged her and she took in a breath waiting for the knife to be pushed into her spine. Cautiously after she realized he wasn't going to hurt her, she reluctantly put her arms around him accepting the embrace.
"Thank you for this Lucas," she whispered hugging him in response feeling the arms of the friend she'd lost so long ago around her.
****
Brandon made his way down the hallway following Lexie as he dreaded the day ahead of him. While spending this time with her for the sake of their child was something he'd promised he'd do, his mind kept lingering to Samantha. How he couldn't get her from his mind and how he wanted nothing more than five more minutes with her to share how he was feeling. He let out a long sigh as they passed by the doctor's lounge and he saw something that made him stop in his tracks. Turning around he looked inside and saw the impossible. Samantha was in Lucas Roberts' arms in what looked like a hug. Feeling as though he should intervene as Brandon rationalized that they couldn't quite possibly be hugging he stepped forward when Lexie hooked her arm in his.
"Well look at that," Lexie sneered, "it appears that Sami didn't wait long, did she?" she shook her head disapprovingly, "and here I thought Lucas was smarter than that."
"Sami isn't interested in Lucas," Brandon insisted firmly as he watched the hug continue.
"I'd have to beg to differ from that hug," Lexie shook her head, "they haven't been that close in years and that says something in itself."
"It just says they're sharing a hug," Brandon tried to shrug it off as he vowed to himself that he wouldn't lose Samantha. He'd find a way to win her back.