Vanessa Lennox lifted the driver's side visor, as she parked the driveway of the Donovans' Los Angeles estate, pausing to wave to Thatcher, who had taken up the position of Donovans butler three years ago after even Simmons couldn't deny that a second broken hip in as many years was cause for retirement.

The brunette woman in the driver's seat of the tinted car was an athletically built twenty-six-year-old rookie ISA agent, who had a background in education that made her well suited to tutor the three DiMera children, while helping to protect them from whatever vengeance Stefano had planned for their mother. Though, as far as Vanessa was concerned Sami DiMera had done the ISA a big favor by running off with the crime lord's fortune.
"Everybody out," called Sami.
"Finally. Aunt Hope doesn't make Ciara sit in the back."
"And who told you that, Johnny?" Vanessa laughed, as she helped Sydney unbuckle the car seat.
"See, Johnny, I told you she was bragging again."
"I'm going to have to side with Allie on this one," said Sami. "You and Ciara will both be able to sit up front when you turn twelve."
"It's still a stupid rule," Johnny muttered. "And that's two whole years from now."
Vanessa shrugged "If you want to be an agent like me when you grow up, you should get used to rules."
"Especially the stupid ones," sighed the bearded man who opened the door. "Party's out by the pool. Ambience and sunsets and stuff."
"That's nice, Uncle Steve, but why did we all rush over here?"
"Donovan has news."
"You do?" Sami turned to the head of the table.
"Well, yes, Kim talked to Kayla this morning."
"Is Grandma Caroline okay?" Allie asked.
"Don't worry about a thing, honey," Kim smiled, tweaking Allie's nose. "Aunt Kayla said she's going to get stronger every day, and we're going to check on her as soon as we get back to Salem."
"We?" repeated Sami. "We who?"
"Kimberly and I," Shane replied. "We'll be leaving tonight."
"You won't be here for Labor Day," said Johnny sadly.
"Well, we'll just have to swim tonight then, won't we?" Kim said.
"Can we, Mommy?" the three kids chorused.
Sami nodded indulgently. "Go get your extra suits from the guest wing."
"Yay!"
"'Yay!' Uncle Shane can I talk to you inside for a minute?" Shane excused himself and held the sliding glass door open. When they had stepped into the living room, he said, "What can I do for you, Sami?"
"I'm going with you."
"That's out of the question."
"The kids might in the dark, but you and I both know that my brother was almost killed when that Xander Cook guy decided it was a good idea to take Eric and Nicole hostage. Although, I could've told Eric that woman would bring him nothing but grief."

Shane couldn't help but let out an animalistic groan of frustration. "Are you seriously trying to tell me that you see Nicole Walker as your biggest threat right now."

"Oh come on, Uncle Shane. Stefano wouldn't hurt me."
"Wouldn't he?"

"Not it meant leaving Giovanni and Sydney orphans. La famiglia is too important to him."

"Be that as it may, Stefano isn't our only risk."
"The ISA has no proof that Andre is even alive!"
"If that were true they wouldn't have seen fit to call me out of retirement to partner with Steve, or to give you such an elaborate cover story as a Hollywood movie deal with Phillip Collier's production company. A cover complete with an ISA-trained nanny. Now, we've confirmed movement at a known DiMera medical facility, and we've traced a seven-figure money transfer from Stefano himself to an off shore account there.

"Good, I have a few things I want to say to Andre too if he shows his sorry face. So when do we leave?"
"Good God, Sami! Since you obviously haven't been listening to a bloody word I've said, I suppose—" Shane took a measured breath. "I suppose the only thing left for you to do is say goodbye to the children."
"Throw Nessa next," Sydney giggled, as she landed with a splash a foot away from Steve.
"Me?" Vanessa stuck her tongue out at the girl, making Kim and Allie laugh.
"They're back," Johnny called, as two lengthy shadows rippled across the pool. "What's wrong, Mommy?"
"There's something I need to talk to you about. Before we left Salem, I made a promise to Uncle Eric that if he ever needed me really badly, I'd come back right away. And we know how important promises are, right?" The kids nodded. "Well, now that's a promise that Mommy needs to keep, so I'll be going to Salem tonight too."
"Without us?" asked Sydney, her lip trembling.
"You have to stay here, but Uncle Steve and Vanessa will be here too, and I'll call you every…who's phone is that?"
"Uh-oh, speaking of calling." Kim quickly draped herself in a towel. "Don't hang up, don't hang up, hello? `Oh hi. When was this? No, you stay right there, I'll come right over. Bye."
"Patient emergency?" said Shane knowingly.
"I'm afraid so. When does the flight leave?"
"Four hours."
"Well, gang, it looks like I'm staying here, too."