Chapter 2

"Jason" the woman spoke up once more as she rose from her bed and stood in front of the large sliding glass doors.

Slowly pulling back the curtains the woman searched the balcony of her penthouse suite for any signs of her former lover. Finding none she stepped out onto the cool concrete surface and sighed deeply. It seemed so real, she thought to herself as she folded and rested them against her chest. She could almost feel his touch and with each breath she took she could have swore that she smelled his cologne, but that wasn't possible after all he didn't even know that she was in L.A. Or did he? If he was did he know her secret? Did he know what she was hiding from him and had he come to claim both her and…

Shaking her head and realizing that it was just wishful thinking on her part Samantha sat down on favorite chair and tried her best to relax.

"Pull it together Sam" she told herself. "He's not here for you and hasn't found out your secret yet" the woman continued trying to tell herself something different from what her instincts seemed to be screaming at her.

Leaning back in the chair and getting into a comfortable position, Sam studied her surroundings once again making sure that she was in fact alone. Knowing with security that she was the woman lowered her guard and allowed her mind to drift back to the happiest yet saddest day of her life.

She had been feeling sick for some weeks before she finally got up the nerve to visit her physician. Every second that she sat in that waiting room killed her. It had been a year since she last saw a doctor and the painful memories of her little girl's death weighed heavy on her mind as she watched a mother interacting with her two children. It was excruciating to watch as the pain in her heart intensify with each and every loving kiss and kind word the mother bestowed upon her son and daughter. Thankfully the doctor picked that exact moment to call her into the office.

"Please have a seat Ms. McCall" doctor Minnows said while gesturing to one of the two chairs that sat in front of her desk.

"So what's the results" Sam said as she mentally prepared herself for the worse.

"Actually I have some good news for you today"

"Ok so what is it" replied an eager Sam.

The doctor paused for a few seconds wearing a ridiculously large smile on her face as she answered "You're pregnant"

She couldn't believe her ears. She was pregnant again this time by the man she loved more than anything or anyone in the world. A million different thoughts ran through her mind at that time. What color were they going to paint the nursery? What books should they buy? Should they have an ultra sound or wait until the baby was born to find out the sex? She was so happy she didn't even hear what the doctor was saying all she knew was that she and Jason were going to have a baby. But then reality set in and it was plagued with memories of the past.

What if she lost this child too, she thought to herself as Dr. Minnows forced some prenatal victims into her hand. It almost destroyed her the last time and the thought of going through that pain and misery all over again almost forced her into a manic episode. Taking a deep breath and regaining her composure Sam thanked the woman for the news before making another appointment and getting out of there as fast as her body would allow her to.

She needed a place where she could sit and think in peace without interruptions or the risk of running into the father of her child. The woman finally came to a stop in a secluded part of her favorite park. Sitting down on the bench the woman sat staring absentmindedly into the water as if looking into the blue mist would bring forth clarity and answers to her questions that she so desperately longed for. Unfortunately it didn't.

On her long and slow walk home the woman thought about what she would say to the man, if she said anything at all. Was it better for her to not say anything at all? Should she leave him and spare the man the pain that may or may not follow? Jason had been through so much already would it be fair of her to get his hopes up once again only to be let down in that same cold and cruel manor? He had already lost Michael, Lila and Hope was it fair for her to taunt him with fatherhood for another time? She didn't know the answers to any of those questions but in the end she would have to do what was best for all of them, no matter how painful it was.

When she got home she discovered a note from the man saying that he was working and that he would be home late and truth be told, she couldn't have been happier. Now she would have more time to review the facts and make a more informed decision.

As minutes turned into hours the woman decided that this would be her last night with the love of her life. Was it right to leave him? Was it fair to take his child away? No, she knew it wasn't but the risk to his sanity if things didn't work out again was even greater. So she settled on having one last spectacular night with him and leaving first thing in the morning.

Suddenly the cries of her two month old daughter filled the air causing the woman to break from her thoughts and snap back to reality. Getting up from her chair and rushing back inside the woman dashed into her little girl's room. Picking her up in her arms and rubbing soft circles on her back the mother held her baby tightly.

"Its ok sweetheart, mommy's here" she whispered into the blond hair that the little girl inherited from her father.

She then walked over the rocking chair that was illuminated by the moon light and rocked the child back and forth as she began to settle down in her mother's embrace. Looking at her precious little girl made the woman smile while deep down inside she never felt more saddened in her life.

There she was with her baby while her father slept on the floor below, alone. She wanted to go to him and show him the little miracle that the two of them had created but she couldn't. Sam had no way of knowing how the man would respond to her act of betrayal and it would kill her to see that hurt and wounded look in his eyes so, she would stay away and hope that she didn't run into him.

Outside in the hallway stood a very confused Jason. The man had sat in his room tossing and turning for hours thinking about the moment that he would hold her in his arms again. He wanted to do the logical thing and wait until morning to surprise her with his presence but he couldn't. There was no way that he was going to wait another second to be with the woman he loved. So got up, put on some clothes and headed up to her suite. Then he heard it.

Had he just listen to a child's cries? But that couldn't be. Had he written down the wrong room number? No, this was the only penthouse and he was sure that Sam was living there.

"Well there's only one way to find out" he spoke out loud before taking out a metal object and picking the lock on the door.