I know this isn't much of a lumi chapter, but this fic doesn't have much of a plot besides me fixing everything that bugs me about Days. You know, like Belle stealing Sami's wedding day, Kate being Kate, and the ridiculous amount of time it is taking for Mickey and Maggie to get back together. It just isn't in character at all. Anyway, here it is.

Sami sat happily on the floor in her bedroom, listening to music and wrapping presents. The door was closed in case Lucas or Will came home unexpectedly and she was completely absorbed in her task, it was the simple domestic type of scene she had always dreamed of. In fact, her whole day had been this way, starting with her Christmas shopping trip with Maggie.

The next item in her to-be-wrapped pile was going to be Lucas's favorite. She held up the sheer negligee up to herself and smiled wickedly as she imagined his expression. It may be for her to wear, but it was Lucas's to unwrap in more ways than one. Will definitely couldn't see this exchange.

She continued to wrap the present unaware of the front door opening. She did, however, notice Lucas calling out her name before heading straight to the bedroom and opening the door. Moving as fast as possible, Sami shoved all the presents under the bed. Lucas smirked as he watched his fiancée struggle to hide the presents under the bed, "Whatcha doin'?"

To keep him from following this train of thought Sami scowled at him, "Thanks for knocking."

"I wasn't aware I had to."

"I could've been naked."

"Wouldn't matter, I have naked rights."

"I still might have... wait a minute, naked rights?"

"I'm the fiancé. I have seen you naked from every angle possible, and a few I would never have believed possible. I can see you naked anytime I want, all I have to do is close my eyes and imagine it. There's no good reason for you to hide from me. See, naked rights."

"We really shouldn't let Jan come here anymore."

………………………………………………

Maggie paced the living room, trying to build up her courage. She knew that Mickey truly loved her and only her, but Bonnie was a master manipulator. She really knew how to play on his sympathies.

At the pub a few days ago, at the boycott of Belle and Philip's wedding,she had been sure that she was making progress, they had connected. Maggie had been positive that her husband would tell Bonnie to pack her bags, but the gold-digger had gotten around it somehow.

She had been disheartened after that disastrous episode, to say the least. She had almost considered giving up. It was just so tiring to fight for a man who should have chosen her the minute he knew she was still alive. It was talking to Sami while Christmas shopping that encouraged her to make another last ditch effort. Now Mickey needed to come home and everything would turn out alright.

Mickey walked into the living room of 1313 Mockingbird Lane ready to fall asleep instantly after the long day he had had. He needed to make a decision; this constant state of limbo was affecting his work.

In his heart Mickey already knew that Maggie was the only choice, but he didn't want to hurt Bonnie or Conner. Bonnie was a sweet woman underneath it all and the boy had become very important to him. He would always be eternally grateful to them both for helping him through grieving.

"Hello darling."

The vision before him took his breath away. The room was filled with candles, which provided the only light. He noticed soft music floating in the background and couldn't understand how he had missed it coming in. There was a table set for two in the middle of the room.

But none of that compared to the woman standing before him. On most redheads the color red didn't work at all, but on Maggie it was another story. She had always had a special glow when wearing red, all the way back to the red shoes he gave her in the beginning.

She stood before him in a stunning red dress.A slinky material that he wasn't sure if it was silk or satin. She had aged more than gracefully, if he did say so himself. Mickey wasn't sure if he could keep up this charade anymore.

Maggie watched his reaction gleefully, she still had it. Now came the hard part, baring her soul to him completely. It was ridiculous to be nervous when it was just Mickey, but she was nervous none the less, "Come sit down, we need to talk."

She took his hand and settled them both on the couch, "I'm not going to beat around the bush, let's just get straight to the heart of the matter. I love you, Mickey, I've always loved you. You and I have been together for years. You've been everything to me. My strength, my savior, and my love. I need you to be that again.

I realize that you don't want to hurt either of us, though for the life of me I can't understand why you would want to protect Bonnie. The bottom line is that there has to be a resolution to this whole thing. I hope you choose me, but if you don't at least I'll have my answer."

Mickey looked at the woman he loved for as long as he wanted to remember and finally saw what he was doing to her. His indecision was wreaking havoc with her heart, and he had already decided on Maggie a long time ago.

Bonnie stood in the doorway thinking furiously. She watched as her meal ticket inched closer and closer to his first wife. In truth she knew that she didn't stand a chance, but Bonnie Lockhart was not one top give up without a fight.

She did love Mickey; it was just more like the love and esteem of a grateful friend. Still, she required security and Mickey Horton and his riches were going to give it to her. Purposefully, she strode into the room in all her flamboyant glory.

"Hey guys, Alice's was booming tonight. We're rolling in the dough! Oh, did I interrupt something?"

Mickey looked back and forth between the two women in his life and mourned the lost moment, "No, Bonnie, we were just talking. It was nothing important."

Maggie felt like she would burst into tears right there in front of both of them. Her old fall back was calling out to her, but she couldn't give in. Without thinking she ran from the room despite Mickey's protests. She was going to the one person who could keep her from destroying herself.

……………………………………….

"Lucas, this is serious! Now, which do you like better?"

"I don't know, hun, they're flowers. Whichever ones you want are fine with me," he loved how focused she was on the wedding, but did she really expect him to pick out flowers?

"Flowers are a big part of a wedding. If we don't have the right ones everything will be ruined! Do you want your disinterest to be the downfall of our wedding?"

The serious way she stated that ludicrous comment as a fact almost made him laugh out loud, "So you're saying that the fate of our wedding all depends on the flowers?"

"When you say it like that it sounds stupid."

Lucas was saved from making a comeback that most likely would've left him sleeping alone by a frantic knock on the door. Curiously he opened the door to be met with a hysterical redhead who looked like she was dressed for a night out, "Aunt Maggie?"

"I know I'm supposed to be your sponsor, but you think you can take on the role just this once?"

"Come, sit down. What happened?"

She wiped away her tears as she sat down between Lucas and Sami. She knew they'd be able to help.

"It's Mickey. I tried to reach him, like you suggested, Sami. I made dinner and dressed up, there were candles and music. I poured it all out and he looked like he was going to choose me. I know he was, but Bonnie came in and interrupted. That damn woman is never going to let him go. I don't know how much more I can take. I came here before I did something stupid."

Lucas pulled his beloved aunt into a hug, comforting her the only way he knew how. He knew exactly how she felt. Most days the urge to drink was completely dormant, but when something devastating happened it was their first instinct to take comfort in the bottle.

He met Sami's eyes over Maggie's shoulder and saw that familiar gleam. She was planning something. This time he wouldn't object, in fact he was already planning something himself. Something had to be done and he would bet they were just the couple to make it happen.

……………………..

"Bonnie, it's time this farce ended. I love Maggie and you have to go. I'll give you a decent settlement. You and Conner can live comfortably, but you have to move out."

Bonnie knew he was being more than fair. She was taking out her frustrations with men out on his family and she didn't have any right to him, but logic rarely conquers vengeance. His money could take care of her and her family, she deserved that. After all the knocks life had given her, it was time she got a little retribution.

"Sorry, Micks, no can do. You and I are married. I am Mrs. Mickey Horton and I intend to stay that way. This little arrangement is going to stick until I come out on top."

She turned and walked out leaving Mickey stumped. He didn't know how to get her to leave. He was being weak and he knew it, but he didn't have it in him to be cruel. Now he had to find a way around Bonnie Lockhart.