How is everyone enjoying book 2? Any couple requests? Any suggestions on how Cam, Jake, and Jason can go about trying to break up Ric and Liz? What would you like to see happen? Enjoy!

Chapter 11- The Manstress

"Are Dad and Lexie better yet?" Leo asked as he poured himself some Cheerios.

"They're doing a little better, but they're still at the hospital until the doctors say they can go home." Sam yawned as she poured some milk over Scout's cereal.

"Sam and I are heading over to the hospital this morning," Lucas said. "But since you and Danny have a full in-service day, you'll join Scout and Wiley at the park with Krissy and Molly."

"Scout, I'd like you to wear something else today." Sam walked over to the cupboard and pulled out the tin of coffee, but it was empty. "That dress is filthy."

"No!" Scout whined. "It's my special princess dress from Grandma."

"At least let Mommy take it to the dry cleaners," Sam said.

"No!"

"Do I have to go to the park?" Danny asked. "I'd rather use the day to catch up on my studies."

"Catch up?" Lucas asked. "I'd have thought you'd been caught up until your senior year at high school at the rate you study."

Sam rubbed her heavy eyes. "Let's stop at Kelly's on the way to the hospital… I need some caffeine."

GHGHGH

As Sam and Lucas walked into Kelly's, they were greeted with a pounding sound as Cameron struck the counter with his fist. "I can't do it Trina! I can't live in the same house as that piece of slime!"

"What happened?" Trina asked.

Sam and Lucas took a seat as they waited to be served.

"He's moving in…" Cam said through gritted teeth. "Today!"

"That's almost worse than marrying him!"

Cameron nodded. "Right? When I found out this morning, I just walked out. I didn't even say a word!"

Trina scrunched her face. "You probably shouldn't have done that."

"I know, it probably upset my mom, but I was just so angry! Mom used to ask our opinions about the guys she'd see. Now she's just so determined to marry him."

"That's crazy. Especially everything you told me about him. When is the wedding anyway?"

"They're planning for the summer," Cameron said. "But I'm going to do everything in my power to stop it."

"How will you do that?"

He sighed. "I don't really know yet. The pranks are getting kind of juvenile. I'd be open to suggestions. Jake and I have been brainstorming. He thought about asking his dad to help, but he doesn't really trust him. Jason's been trying to spend more time with him lately, but Jake thinks he's just going to disappear again."

"That's understandable. I'm kind of in that same boat myself right now."

"Oh, did your mom finally tell you who your dad is?" Cam asked.

She nodded. "Yep. And he's in town."

GHGHGH

When Sam and Lucas arrived at the hospital, Helena/Alexis was fast asleep in the chair next to Julian's bed. Julian was sitting up and brighter than yesterday.

"Hey, Dad!" Lucas hugged him.

"Good morning." Sam smiled. "Did Mom sleep there all night?"

He nodded. "I almost forgot about the mind mapping… did I really kiss her yesterday?"

"You did," Lucas said. "Right after you woke up."

He groaned. "How will we convince her to do the procedure?"

Helena/Alexis began to stir, then she stretched and sat up straight. "What a night. I dreamt I was at the hospital with…" She opened her eyes. "Oh."

"Hey Mom," Sam said. "How did you sleep?"

She pursed her lips and turned to Julian. "Are you well enough to go to Wyndemere with me now?"

"I'm not going to Wyndemere with you," Julian said. "But if you have the procedure, you can come home with me and Leo."

She scoffed. "A procedure that will put an end to me? I think not."

"Except it's not putting an end to you." Sam grinned. "You'd just be getting Alexis' memories. You'd have access to all her deep dark secrets."

"You expect me to believe that?" she asked.

"It's the truth," Lucas agreed. "You'll have Alexis' memories, you'd have our dad for protection or… whatever… It's a win-win."

She laughed and placed a hand over her chest. "But I wouldn't have my memories."

"No," Julian said, scratching his chin. "But if you're continuing the way you are now, then Valentin wins."

"Dad's right," Sam said. "It was Valentin's idea to give Alexis your mind map. It must be part of his plan to take everything from your rightful heir."

"Do you really want to play right into Valentin's hands?" Lucas asked.

"Certainly not!" Helena/Alexis said.

"But that's exactly what you'll be doing if you stay like this," Sam said. "Valentin will win."

"Think about it…" Julian said. "Your plan of having your mind live on after death may have worked to a point, but it was Valentin who instigated it. Who says he's not going to use you for his gain?"

"Dad's right," Sam said. "He's dangerous. You said it yourself… he's the Cassadine all other Cassadines fear. You must fear him for a reason."

She clenched her jaw. "We mustn't let Valentin win…" She stepped closer to Julian and touched his chin. "You will be my manstress if I go through with this?"

Sam scrunched her face.

Julian stared at her. "You can get down and dirty with me as much as you want and how often you want. After the procedure, I will be your boy toy."

"Ugh, Dad!" Lucas groaned.

"That is disgusting!" Sam agreed.

Helena/Alexis stared at Julian for several seconds before saying, "As long as you stop Valentin and secure Spencer's inheritance, I will do the procedure."

Sam hugged her. "We will! We will!"

"I'll go track down Andre." Lucas opened the door. "Before she changes her mind…"

"Samantha…" Helena/Alexis said. "We built a clinic on Cassadine Island in Greece. You won't remember it, but your first procedure was done there. Valentin may have taken Nikolas there."

Sam's eyes grew wide. "Really?"

She breathed in deeply. "Alexis knows where the island is."

"Okay, well thank you," Sam said. "I'm going to call Krissy and Molly to let them know. Mom's coming back…"

Sam rushed out to the hallway and pulled out her phone. She tried Kristina first, but it went straight to voicemail. She tried Molly next, but it was voicemail as well. "Hey, Mol, it's me. Mom's going to do the procedure. Call me right away."

She slipped her phone away and stared at Julian and Helena/Alexis through the window.

"Hey…" Drew's voice announced his presence.

"Drew, hi." Sam smiled.

"Monica told me this morning about your dad… I wanted to make sure you were okay. How's he doing?"

"So much better. He's going to make a full recovery. And Mom… she's agreed to do the procedure!"

He smiled. "That's awesome."

"Yeah, things are looking up," Sam said. "Finally."

"How are the kids?"

"Scout's great," Sam said but sighed. "I told Danny. He's just really confused and hurt that Jake's not really his brother."

He frowned. "That's understandable. They've always been close since Jake returned. Do you think it would help if I talk to him?"

"That might be a good idea. Maybe this weekend."

Ring. Ring.

Sam pulled her phone out. "It's Krissy." She pressed it to her ear. "Krissy?"

"Sam!" She cried on the other end. "Sam, I'm so sorry…"

"What's wrong?"

"Scout… we were just playing at the park when Morgan showed up and grabbed her… it happened so fast…"

Sam's heart sank and she felt her hands go numb.

"We tried to stop him…" Kristina said in a shaky voice. "Tried to talk him down… tried to pry Scout from his arms. He yelled back to a car, something about she has the dress…"

"Oh no…" Sam choked up and tears sprang to her eyes.

"I tried to run after him… so did Danny… he was faster than me. He jumped into the car with them. Morgan tried pushing Danny out of the car, but I got closer. The driver said just bring him with us… I'm so sorry."