A/N: As I'm treating myself to an extra-long weekend, chapter 48 will be posted next Thursday.


~ Chapter 47 ~

Marlena was still smiling as she sipped her tea, waiting for Frank to arrive. At the sound of the doorbell, she rose to answer its summons, only to have her smile fade at the realization that the person standing in the hallway wasn't the therapist she was expecting, but rather her eldest daughter.

"I hope you don't mind me just dropping in, Mom, but I had to talk to you."

Sami strode past her mother, oblivious to the latter's decided lack of enthusiasm. Making herself at home, she grabbed the mug on the coffee table, and poured herself some tea. Her nose wrinkled as she took her first sip.

"Eww, chamomile. What's with the herbal stuff? Can't you serve regular tea, like normal people?"

Biting back a sarcastic retort, Marlena sat on the chaise opposite Sami and, picking up the plate of fruit that she'd refreshed since Kate's visit, offered it to her daughter.

"You seem out of sorts this afternoon. Maybe a snack will help."

"Don't patronize me, Mom. I'm not a child," Sami snapped, as she stuffed a wedge of orange into her mouth.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Marlena quipped, before adopting a more neutral tone. "Is there something bothering you? Why are you here?"

"Do I need a reason to visit my mother?"

"Usually, yes, from what I've seen lately."

"Okay, okay, I deserve that. I'm sorry I haven't been around much, but you don't even remember me and it's hard to have you look at me like I'm some stranger and you're always so involved with your therapy and I don't really think it's doing you any good but you don't listen to anybody who tells you that and Lucas isn't being supportive and I saw you at the fair with your shrink last night…"

The pieces clicked into place for Marlena as her daughter paused to take a breath. Based on what she'd just heard, Sami must have filed one of the complaints against Alex. Anger flashed across Marlena's face, but she quickly masked it.

"I didn't realize you were there. Did you have a good time?"

"Don't try to change the subject, Mom. Of course, you didn't know I was there. You were too busy laughing and joking and doing who knows what else with Dr. Feelgood."

"Trying to regain my memory has been stressful, Sami, and Alex thought I could use a break. Do you begrudge me having a little fun?"

"If it's with him, then yes, I do! Since you've finally come to your senses and kicked John to the curb, it's supposed to be so that you can get back together with Dad. Not so you can make out with the first guy to whisper a little psychobabble in your ear."

Marlena couldn't stifle the giggle that rose in her throat. Sami's expression darkened.

"What's so funny? I mean it, Mom. You and Dad belong together. I was so happy when I heard that John wasn't living here anymore. After all this time, I assumed my family would be reunited. But what do you do instead? Rather than running to Dad, you have a night out on the town with a man everyone tells you is bad news. What do you see in him, anyway? He's not sexy or good looking. I could almost understand your actions if he was, but…"

Marlena bent her head to hide the blush that was creeping up her cheeks. Her daughter might not find Alex attractive, but with just a look, he could make Marlena's knees turn to jelly, and when he touched her… She shivered involuntarily at the image that was forming in her mind. With an effort, she returned her attention to the young woman across from her.

"Despite what you think you saw, I'm not having an affair with my therapist. I was simply relaxing after a difficult session." Technically, she was being truthful. Alex was no longer treating her, and they'd not yet acted on their mutual desire.

"But why couldn't you relax with Dad? He still loves you."

"So I've been told. I've even started remembering a lot of the times we spent together…"

Sami's squeal of joy cut Marlena off in mid-sentence.

"You have? Mom, that's great! That's fantastic! Dad will be thrilled when you tell him. It's all coming back to you, isn't it? Your feelings for him, the strength of your bond… Okay, so maybe I was a bit too hard on Dr. Creepy. I guess he's an okay therapist if he's helped you realize that you're still in love with Dad. That is why you kicked John out, isn't it?"

Marlena slowly shook her head, and Sami visibly deflated.

"I don't understand. Dad's always been wonderful to you. He hasn't slept with all kinds of women every time you were out of his life, like John did, and he's totally in love with you. Why can't you love him back?"

Her voice had taken on a plaintive note, and Marlena could sense the deep ache that still throbbed inside her daughter, even years after the divorce.

"I know how much you'd like things to be different, Sami," she said gently, "but I don't love your father anymore. We're friends, and we get along – which is more than can be said for many divorced couples – but we'll never be what you want us to be. That part of my life is over. You and your dad both need to let it go."

Unexpectedly, Sami began to sob. Her motherly instincts kicking in, Marlena sat beside her grieving child, and wrapped her arms around her. Sami relaxed momentarily, sniffling and wiping her eyes, before straightening up and pulling away.

"You can't fix this with a hug, Mom. What you're doing is wrong, and I won't let you get involved with this quack! Dad deserves better than to be left in the dust while you move on."

"I'm sorry, Sami, but you don't have a say in this. You're a grown woman, for heaven's sake. Surely you can understand that people's feelings change. Very few things ever stay the same."

Reaching for a tissue, Sami blew her nose, then took several deep breaths. As Marlena's eyes locked on her daughter's red-rimmed ones, she thought she detected a hint of resignation in those brilliant blue orbs.

"Okay. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that I try to accept that it's really over between you and Dad. What then? Do I have to suffer seeing you prance around town with… with…"

"His name is Alex. You can call him Dr. North, if you're more comfortable with that, but I'd appreciate you keeping any other insulting nicknames you have for him to yourself."

"Fine. Dr. North. Are you going to be dating him? Because you can't. It's against the law, or something."

"What I do with Alex, now or in the future, is really none of your business, Sami. What I can tell you is that I enjoy his company, and he makes me feel safe. There's no pressure when I'm with him, unlike when I'm with John, or your dad. So, I do expect you'll be seeing us together – if only because I desperately need a friend while I work through this bout of amnesia, and he's truly been there for me."

"But you have friends already. Lexie, Maggie, Julie, Hope. They'd love to help you."

"You keep forgetting. I don't remember them. Yes, I am getting bits and pieces of my memory back, but I don't have the history, or a sense of connection, with any of those women. Being with them just reinforces the fact that I'm not whole yet. I'm not myself."

"Exactly. So why would you even think of hooking up with Dr. North when, as you just said, you're not really you?"

"You're putting words in my mouth, Sami. I don't believe I mentioned hooking up with Alex. I told you, he's my friend."

Sami's only response was a disbelieving smirk.

"A man and a woman can have a relationship that doesn't involve sex," Marlena insisted.

"I have a hard time believing that you're just friends after that little display I witnessed last night."

"And what, exactly, did you see?"

"Him, with his arms around you, practically groping you as you played some stupid game."

"That's it?"

Marlena breathed an inward sigh of relief. This, she could explain.

"What do you mean, 'that's it'?! Isn't that enough? You're his patient. He's not supposed to be touching you that way."

"There was no 'way', Sami. He was helping me with the ring toss, nothing more. My first two throws were way off target, and he didn't want me to leave the booth empty handed."

"But you were laughing like a schoolgirl," Sami protested, unwilling to concede.

"I was having fun! Do you have any idea how long it's been since I've felt free to laugh like that? The pressure everyone's been putting on me to remember has been unbearable. Don't I deserve one night where I can just unwind?"

"I… I suppose so." Sami spoke the words reluctantly, wary of letting her mother think that she was sanctioning any relationship beyond a professional one with the psychiatrist.

"Good. Thank you. Now, if that's settled, I'm expecting someone."

"You're kicking me out?"

"Yes, I am. You're the one who dropped by unannounced, remember?"

Sami was about to quiz her mother on the identity of her future guest, when the doorbell rang.

"That's your cue. Time for you to go."

Flinging her jacket over one arm, Sami followed Marlena to the door. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she spotted the tall, white-haired gentleman waiting to be let in.

"Good afternoon, Marlena. I'm not early, am I?"

"No, not at all. My daughter decided to pay me a surprise visit."

Turning to Sami, Marlena made the necessary introductions.

"Frank, this is my daughter, Sami Brady. Sami, meet Frank Kelly."

As the two shook hands, Sami tried to guess why this man had come to see her mother. His face, and his demeanour, gave nothing away. Frustrated, she made a mental note to Google him. Turning to leave, she caught a glimpse of Frank's shirt as he shrugged off his overcoat. She almost gasped at the sight of his clerical collar. Why was her mother entertaining a priest? She needed to start investigating him, immediately.

"Bye, Mom. Nice to meet you, Mr. Kelly."

Watching Sami stride hurriedly towards the elevator, Frank turned to Marlena, the corners of his mouth quirking upwards.

"Was it something I said?"

"I doubt it. I'm sure she's rushing off to see what information she can dig up about you."

"Ah. No worries, then." Easing his lanky frame onto the sofa, he offered her a serene smile. "So, I understand you have news for me…"