The party was already in full swing when they got there, music pumping loudly from the sound system. EJ looked around casually for Abigail, not seeing her tiny form anywhere. He spotted Gabby over in the corner talking to Sonny, looking carefree now that the problem with Nick had been solved. He shifted his gaze to the bar, but met Lucas' eyes instead as he sauntered over with Will.
"William, how are you? Party seems to be going great," he said shaking hands with Will.
"Lucas," he added as an afterthought to Lucas, who just nodded his head and responded in kind. He was still subtly searching the room for Abigail when all of a sudden the crowd at the bar shifted and he saw her talking to Chad who had, of course, found her. She looked stunning in a little red dress and he moved away from Will and Lucas never taking his eyes off her as he walked towards the bar. He wanted to go talk to her and he didn't think there would be anything suspicious in that. They had become friends of a sort in the eyes of Salem and, besides, Chad was there, too. He would deflect any ideas that he and Abigail talking to each other was strange. Instead, though, he chose to sit at the very end of the bar, ordering a drink and whiling away the time just watching her. Every thing about her fascinated him – the way she crinkled her nose a little bit when she was laughing, the look of wonder she got on her face when she was excited, how feisty she could become when she was mad, the way her brown eyes seemed to draw him in and make him mindless.
Abigail turned her head and looked at him. She had known he was watching her from the familiar tingle that ran down her spine whenever she felt his eyes on her. Her lips parted and she forgot to breathe for a second. Blinking, Abigail inhaled with a shudder as she looked dazedly across the room at him. She had seen him only a few hours before, but it felt like an eternity had passed since they had been together. Before she could think better of it, she walked determinedly to the doors of the club leading outside and stopped, looking back at him over her shoulders, before she left the party. She would give him a few minutes to join her out here, but she knew he would come. Abigail was standing in a dark corner hidden from the club's front doors and anyone who might be coming or going from the club when she felt his hand on her shoulder. Spinning around she wrapped her arms around his neck, brought his head down to hers and kissed him eagerly.
"EJ," she murmured, her hands roaming over his wide shoulders and down his back.
EJ pulled her close, his fingers in her hair, trailing down her throat and brushing over her breasts. Her lips softened beneath his as they continued to kiss each other in the dark, neither of them giving any thought to where they were. His hands slid to her waist pulling her even closer as he continued to touch her all over her body. His hands came up to cradle her face, and breaking off the kiss, he rested his head against hers. EJ could hear Abigail's breath, racing as fast as his. He pulled back from her, still holding her face and stared at her as if mesmerized.
"We should get back," he said, taking her hand and pulling her with him to the doors.
As they reached the entrance, he took a swift look around, making sure no one was about, and pulled her into his arms again. This time the kiss they shared was quick and hard before they broke apart reluctantly and went back to the party one after the other.
It was late in the afternoon when Abigail entered TBD. She was meeting Hope in a few minutes at her house and she thought it would be nice if she grabbed a few cups of the vanilla spice chai latte that they both loved. She wondered again for the hundredth time what Hope wanted to talk about. Shrugging her shoulders, Abigail decided it couldn't be anything too important. Hope's voicemail to her had simply said that she hadn't had a good chat with her in awhile and she wanted to touch bases. Nothing to worry about, really, it was just Hope checking up on her and making sure everything was okay after the tough year she had been having. At the thought of how much happier she had been lately and the person who was making that happen, Abigail flashed back to Will and Sonny's bachelor party last night. She and EJ had behaved like two lovestruck teenagers, sneaking outside two more times and making out in the shadows, before she recalled where they were and why. Abigail had reminded EJ, who seemed to be just as lost as she, that people were going to start getting suspicious. She had already fielded questions from Gabby, who had found her constant trips outdoors very strange. Chad, too, had wondered about it as well with a glint in his eye that... Well, Abigail didn't quite know what to make of the look in Chad's eye, but it sent a chill through her and she couldn't figure out why.
"Earth to Abigail?" Abby looked up to see T grinning at her behind the bar.
"Where were you just now? You were beaming and then you got this strange look on your face."
"I was just thinking about last night," Abby answered honestly. "It was so much fun, but then the wrong stripper came and it was weird for a second."
"Yeah, I told them a stripper, but I guess I thought they would send a male stripper since the email mentioned Will and Sonny's names," T said a little sheepishly.
"Well, I have to say, even though she wasn't what we expected, October turned out to be really funny," Abby said, remembering the antics of the stripper.
Abigail ordered her lattes and waited while T, who was keeping up a steady stream of chatter about the bachelor party, made them. She slipped back into her thoughts of EJ again. After they had come back in for the last time, he had taken up his position at the bar again and she had felt his eyes on her the whole night. She hadn't been able to help it and she had found herself, every now and then, looking up at him and catching his various expressions as he watched her. There had been a slight grin on his face when Abby had been confused about what to do with October. That smile had then turned sensual and dark with desire as EJ had watched her swaying to the beat of a slow song. There had also been a moment when Chad, coming up behind her, had spun her round and planted a kiss on her cheek for how well the party had gone off. She had involuntarily looked up at EJ and caught his dark scowl directed at them and, shivering, had disengaged herself from Chad's arms hurriedly. Paying for her lattes while saying goodbye to T, Abigail thought she really had to talk to him about that. There was nothing going on between her and Chad, even though she knew that Chad, for all his protestations, wouldn't mind if that was a lie. Sighing, she got into her car, and placing the lattes into the cup holder, strapped herself in and headed to Hope's house.
Abigail sat across from Hope with her legs tucked under her on the couch. She had been here for awhile and Hope had wanted to know what was going on in her life. It was just as she thought, she mused to herself, as she sipped on her latte. Hope watched her for a little bit and then leaned forward with a sigh, her own latte clasped in her hands.
"Is there anything you want to talk about, honey?" Hope looked intently at Abigail.
"Is there anything you feel you can't talk to Gabby or your mom about because I hope you know you can tell me anything, Abigail. Anything."
"Of course, it goes without saying that whatever you say to me will be just between us."
"No, not really," Abby said hesitantly, unsure of what Hope expected her to say.
"Everything is fine."
Hope put her latte down and came to sit on the couch next to Abby. She realized that she wasn't going to get Abby to tell her about EJ on her own. Hope had tried probing her gently, asking her if there was anyone special in her life since Chad, but Abby had just looked away with a quiet no. There was nothing for it, but to just come out and say it.
"Abigail, I know." Hope gently held Abby's hands between her own. "I know what's been going on with you and EJ."
"What- what are you talking about?" Abby yanked her hands out of Hope's and bit her lips nervously.
"Honey, it's okay. You don't have to hide with me. I know the truth."
"There's nothing to know. EJ and I are just friends and he's engaged to Sami and he's-"
"Having an affair with you, honey," Hope finished for her.
Abigail realized that she wasn't going to convince Hope that nothing was going on between her and EJ. Somehow, Hope had found out and she had no idea how or when it had happened. They had been so careful with each other. Had they, though? Had they been as careful as they thought, she wondered. There was an irresistable force that existed between her and EJ. The energy was always there threatening to overwhelm them and everything around them. Maybe Hope, with her cop instincts and sharp eyes, had seen what everyone else had missed.
"How did you guess?" Abigail asked.
"I saw you both the other day at Riverview when I was there conducting an investigation. I saw you slip out the door and thought it was odd that you were there, but then I started connecting a few dots and had the whole picture when EJ came out of the elevators soon after you." Hope told her as she once again took Abigail's hands.
Hope could feel the slight tremors shaking Abby's body and how cold her hands had become suddenly. She could see the fear in Abby's eyes as she wondered what she should say and finally the resignation in them, accompanied by a slight squaring of her shoulders as she came to a decision.
"It's true." Abigail quietly admitted. "All of it is true, Hope."
"Oh, honey," Hope said, reaching forward and hugging Abby.
Abigail buried her face in Hope's shoulders as she cried. She cried for her worst fears of someone finding out coming true; she cried over how disappointed she felt Hope must be with her; she cried because the awful truth of what she was doing had finally hit her. She was having an affair with a man in a committed relationship who also happened to be her ex-boyfriend's big brother and her cousin's soon to be stepfather. All of this was never far from Abigail's mind, but she had managed to convince herself that this connection between her and EJ was a once in a lifetime thing and it had, somehow, justified what they were doing. It hadn't made it any less wrong, but their connection was too powerful to ignore.
"What now?" Raising her face from Hope's shoulders, Abigail wiped her face and asked the inevitable question. "Are you going to tell my mom?"
"Oh, honey, I told you that whatever you say is between us." Hope assured her. "You know it has to end, don't you, Abigail?"
"You have to break off with EJ, Abigail." Hope held Abby's face between her hands, wiping away the tears that were falling silently down her face. "It'll only lead to heartache for you and a lot of people would be hurt if they ever found out the truth."
"Yes, I always knew that, but I didn't want to face it." Abigail said sadly.
Abigail told Hope everything about her affair with EJ. She told of how it first happened at the Horton cabin on Smith Island and how they'd promised each other it was a mistake that would never happen again. Abigail talked about how they couldn't keep their promise and, in the end, found being apart from each other so unbearable that they had started seeing each other again. The only thing she didn't tell Hope was the reason for EJ coming out to Smith Island. Instead, she told her EJ had wanted to talk to her about Chad and, in typical DiMera fashion couldn't wait for her to come back to Salem and had come looking for her. Telling Hope about Nick would only stir up suspicions and everything was fine with Nick now so Abigail thought it best to leave Nick out of it. She was exhausted by the time she had finished telling her story, exhausted and a little heartbroken as well.
Looking at Abigail's tear ravaged face, Hope suddenly felt that this had gone far past an affair. It seemed to have progressed to love, at least on Abigail's part. Abigail was in love with EJ. Who knew how EJ felt about her, but Hope was smart enough to realize one thing, EJ would never willingly cheat on Sami unless it meant something to him. Remembering EJ going after Abigail at Will and Sonny's engagement party, Hope was struck by the thought that EJ must care a great deal for Abigail if he was willing to risk being caught by anyone at the party that night. The fall out would have been immediate and massive. What a mess, she thought, as she held Abigail in her arms.
…
Chad held Johnny's hand as they walked through the square, listening absentmindedly as he talked about his newest video game. They were on their way to meet EJ after being at the park all afternoon. Chad's mind was on EJ and Abigail and how they had sneaked outside a few times during Will's party. He didn't understand his brother. He didn't think EJ really cared about Abigail, but he had taken a big chance last night disappearing at the same time as her and then watching her all night. What was EJ playing at? He was frustrated because he didn't seem to be getting anywhere with Abigail. Chad was angry with his brother and still wanted to make him pay for being with Abigail.
"Abigail," Johnny yanked Chad's hand as he shouted across the square upon seeing Abigail.
Chad had a brilliant idea as soon as he spotted Abigail. He felt guilty about using Johnny in his plan, but it couldn't be helped. As Johnny got ready to take off running to Abigail, Chad bent and spoke to him quietly.
"Johnny, Abigail looks a little sad so we're going to try to cheer her up by talking about things that she loves. Right now, she's so excited about Will's wedding, but we could probably talk about you, too. You could tell her how happy and excited you are for your parents wedding. Abigail loves you so seeing you so excited will help to cheer her up, but it'll be our little secret. Girls can be so touchy when you try to help them. Okay?"
"Yeah." Johhny held out his finger and pinky swore with his Uncle Chad. "Now can I go see her?"
"Sure thing, buddy," Chad replied as Johnny took off and ran to give a surprised Abby a hug.
She obviously had not heard Johnny yelling her name across the square, Chad thought. Whatever she had been thinking about had made her completely oblivious and sad. Chad could see that she had been crying by the redness in her eyes and he immediately knew it was about EJ. Feeling a pang of guilt for what he had asked Johnny to do, he told himself that this was for Abigail's benefit as well. EJ would never choose her over Sami and the kids and it was best she realized that now instead of later.
"Hey, Abby." Chad sat on the bench next to Abigail. "Is Johnny talking your head off like he's been doing to mine?"
"Uh no. Johnny was just telling me how excited he was for Will's wedding tomorrow."
As if on cue, Johnny piped up, "I can't wait for Mom and Dad to get married, too. It's going to be the best wedding and so awesome for me, Allie and Sydney. Don't tell them, but I drew a picture of all us dressed up on their wedding day and I'm going to give it to Mom and Dad."
"Isn't it exciting, Abigail?" Johnny asked with that big smile of his.
"Yeah, buddy." Abigail was on the verge of tears again listening to Johnny. "Exciting."
"It was great seeing you, Johnny, but I have to go. I'll see you soon. Chad, bye."
Abigail jumped up and ran off, narrowly missing EJ, who had just spotted them and had been on his way over. EJ instantly reached out and held her by her arms as she attempted to get by him. He was too intent on finding out what had upset her to care that he had put his hand up to cup her head, stroking her hair as he always did when he was trying to reassure her.
"Hey, Abigail, what's wrong?" EJ continued to stroke her hair as he bent down to look at her. She had been crying and that thought upset him considerably. He didn't like seeing her sad. EJ couldn't bare it, in fact. "What's made you so upset, sweetheart?"
"N- Nothing," she gulped as she stared at him. "I have to go. I can't stay. You have to let me go. EJ, let me go. Please."
EJ let her go and watched as she ran out of the square, her long blond hair flying behind her. Let her go, she had pleaded and EJ knew she had been talking about something else besides him holding her just now. He had a strange foreboding that she had been talking about them. He turned as Johnny ran up and clutched his leg in excitement. Looking up at Chad, who hadn't come over with Johhny, he watched as his brother did a silent salute and with a smirk strolled off in the opposite direction. He had an awful feeling that whatever had happened with Abigail just now that Chad had had something to do with it. Right, he thought, it was time to have a chat with his little brother.
"You know what, Dad?" Johnny tugged on EJ's pants to get his attention. "I don't think Uncle Chad's plan worked."
"What plan?" EJ asked as he knelt in front of his son.
"Uncle Chad said that weddings made Abigail happy so I should tell her how happy I was that you and Mom were getting married." Johnny looked up worriedly at his dad. "It didn't make her happy. I think Abigail was even sadder so Uncle Chad's plan didn't work."
"Oh, I think your uncle's plan worked perfectly, Johnny. Listen, I know I promised that we would get ice cream, but do you mind terribly if we picked it up and went straight home. I need to talk to Uncle Chad."
As soon as EJ and Johnny got back to the mansion, he sent Johnny off to the kitchen to have his ice cream, making him promise to save some for his sisters as well. Chad's car had been in the driveway when they pulled up so he knew his brother was home, most likely in the study. Putting his hands on the door handle, EJ took a few deep breaths trying to get his temper under control. All he had thought about since the moment both Abigail and Chad left the square was the underhanded trick Chad had pulled on Abigail. EJ could see that she was in so much pain as she had begged him to let her go and that was because of Chad. Chad would be lucky, very lucky indeed, if he didn't rip him apart. If EJ still harbored any doubts as to what Chad knew about him and Abigail, they were long gone. The only thing left to do now was to figure out how Chad knew the truth, how long he'd known, and what he intended to do with that knowledge. Entering the library, he found his brother sitting at his desk with his feet propped up on the edge. He had been expecting him, obviously.
"You rotten little shit," EJ blasted him right away. "I know what you had Johnny do to Abigail."
Chad was on his feet instantly and, in a few strides, was face to face with his brother. Looking at him contemptuously, he grabbed EJ's lapels and pushed him angrily.
"And what about you, EJ?" Chad sneered at him. "Why don't you tell me what you've been doing to Abigail and how long you've been doing it to her, you bastard."
The air in the room was suddenly thick with tension as Chad stared angrily at EJ. Letting go of his brother, he walked back and forth, furiously running his hands through his hair. Chad stopped and looked at EJ, his face face red with anger and lips drawn tightly in anger. EJ's face, except for a split second of shock, had gone blank suddenly as soon as the words had left Chad's mouth. Once spoken, they could not be unsaid and Chad's questions lay starkly between them in the deathly hush of the room.
"What exactly are you asking me, Chad?" EJ walked over and poured himself two fingers of scotch, neat, before regarding his brother with hooded eyes. "Where the bloody hell did you get an idea like that?"
"I don't think I need to repeat myself, brother," Chad sneered at him. "And if you're thinking of a way to talk to yourself out of this, don't."
"I saw you, you son of a bitch. You and her," Chad said viciously, looking at his brother with a tortured look. "The night of Will's party, I saw you with Abigail."
"Look, Chad, I admit I was wrong in kissing Abigail, but that's all it was, a kiss. We both got a little carried away." EJ inwardly breathed a sigh of relief as he thought that Chad must have seen them kissing last night at the bachelor party. "It happened and as soon as it did, we realized what we were doing and where we were. You're making something out of one stupid kiss that Abigail and I both admitted right away was a mistake."
"Bravo, EJ." Chad walked up to EJ, clapping slowly as he approached his brother. "A kiss, right? A stupid mistake that you both realized right away was wrong?"
Leaning in and gripping his brother tightly, Chad whispered in his ear, "Was this before or after you had her against the wall in the gazebo?"
Pushing Chad away violently, EJ silently watched him, reading the truth in his eyes. Chad had known for weeks now, had known, and kept the truth to himself for whatever reason. The glimpses of raw fury he had seen in his brother's eyes over the last couple of weeks were shining brightly now as Chad regarded him with a mix of hatred and pain. This wasn't the boy he watched go off to Boston to recuperate and put distance between himself and Abigail. This boy had gone off and returned a man, a full-blooded DiMera. Swallowing guiltily, EJ poured himself another drink and walked over to the doors that led to the gardens. Staring out the windows, he took a moment to figure out how to deal with Chad's revelation.
"Chad, I-" EJ began, swinging around to face his brother.
"I stepped in front of a bullet for you, EJ. Did you even think about that at all when you were sleeping with Abigail? Did you once think about me and how I felt about her? Wait, don't answer that. You didn't stop for a second to think about me because, if you had, you wouldn't have had sex with Abby just hours after I told you that I still wanted her, still loved her."
"Do you remember what I said to you last year before I went off to Boston with Father?" Chad asked angrily. Stalking over to stand next to EJ at the windows, he watched his brother angrily. "I asked you to give her back her angel's wing, I asked you to look out for her and what else, big brother? Come on, I'm sure you remember."
Chad was furious, humiliated, and hurt. He stood there, unmoving as if carved from stone. His face, however, was lined with pain, his gaze cold and angry as he waited for EJ to answer his question.
"You told me that Abigail left things open." EJ's jaw tightened at the memory. "You still loved her and you felt that, eventually, you could have another chance to be with her." EJ swallowed several times as he looked at Chad. "You had hope."
"Hope, but I guess that doesn't matter now. It hasn't mattered to you at all. I listened as you warned her to stay away from me. From me! Where was the warning about you, EJ? How did you get Abigail to forget who she was and what she believed? Because I sure as hell couldn't get her to understand anything I'd done." Chad's mouth twisted as he had a flashback to that conversation with Abby and how much hurt they'd both been feeling.
"I lied and that was it. We couldn't be together anymore, but you, you come along and get her to forget all that Horton common sense and moral values. Did you charm her? Seduce her? You had to have her, EJ? The one girl in the world that you should have stayed away from and you couldn't," he said bitterly.
"So why? Why Abigail? Forget the fact that I never thought that you would ever cheat on Sami, why someone like Abigail? She's not your usual type," Chad asked as he brushed back the tears in his eyes.
EJ suppressed an anguished sigh as he listened to Chad. Tensing, he shoved his hands in his pockets as he regarded his brother, trying to find a way to explain something that he didn't even understand himself. EJ didn't really know why Abigail, except that he felt an intense connection with her that mentally and emotionally caused him pain when he tried to ignore it.
"Chad, I don't know how it happened. We became friends when you left and we would talk to each other about the things we both loved, art and literature. We started leaning on each other. Abigail was still dealing with Jack's death and she was so hurt about, well, I don't need to tell you what was hurting her. I went to see her to talk about Gabby and Nick and we got in a little over our heads. It's not something that we both were thinking about."
"See, that's where I think you're wrong, EJ." Chad's face was twisted with murderous rage as he circled EJ slowly. "I don't think it just happened. I think you and Abigail thought about being with each other in that way and, probably, thought about it for a long time. So the next question for you is how long have you been thinking about her like that? Did you want her when we were together? After all, you were always telling me how lucky I was and what a great girl she was. We were both so lucky, remember? I had Abigail and you and Sami were finally together."
"You remember Sami, don't you, the woman who's the love of your life," Chad asked mockingly. "Now what would she have to say about your affair, I wonder?"
"You won't breathe a word of this to Samantha, Chad," EJ said darkly, grabbing Chad's arm tightly. "I get that you're mad with me, and rightfully so, but this would hurt Samantha and the kids immensely."
"Don't worry I won't tell Sami your dirty secret and not because I give a shit what happens to you, but I wouldn't want to hurt Sami and the kids like that."
"And Abigail," EJ whispered softly. "You know what she would do to Abigail."
Chad was suddenly blinded by an intense feeling of hatred, listening to the care and concern for Abigail he could hear in EJ's voice. He clenched his fists, bounced on the balls of his feet and tried to beat back the urge to beat EJ to a pulp. The mass of emotions Chad was feeling, however, converged on him all at once as the images of EJ and Abigail making love in the gazebo suddenly assailed him. There was only one thought coursing through his brain right now and impulsively he acted on it, swinging out and punching EJ in the face. EJ staggered back in shock, rubbing his jaw in small circles as the pain gradually wore off.
"Alright, then, I deserved that, but you only get one shot, Chad. I'm sorry about Abigail and I feel awful that I've hurt you so badly. I can honestly say that we never meant for it to happen," EJ said, his voice filled with remorse.
"It's a little late for an apology, EJ," Chad said, his voice low with disgust. "I loved you, the big brother I never knew I had. When I was a kid, I always wanted a brother and then I met you and I slowly started warming up to the idea of having a big brother. Even though I knew all the rotten things you had done, I gave you a chance. I trusted you to always be the one person in this family I could count on all the time. When you found out I was faking my tumor to win Abby, you helped me. You pushed me to go after her because she was who I wanted."
"Yes, why don't we talk about your little ploy, Chad," EJ said swiftly. "You wanted my help, in the end, when you realized it would win you Abigail. It didn't stop you for a minute that you were betraying her by lying to her. She felt used by you, Chad, so don't play the sanctimonious card with me. We're both guilty of betraying the ones we love."
EJ walked over to the desk and sat down on the chair. He leaned over, elbows on his knees, trying to understand just how angry and bitter Chad was at this very moment. He had never meant to hurt Chad and, contrary to his opinion, he had thought about his little brother. Granted, it had been for a split second when he had pulled Abigail in for that first kiss, but all thoughts of Chad had flown out of his head the minute his lips had touched hers. Guiltily, EJ realized he hadn't really spared a thought for Chad after that, not even when he had first come back to town. He was so consumed with having Abigail that instead of feeling guilty that he was having an affair with the woman his brother still wanted, he was eaten up with jealousy at the thought of Chad even talking to her.
"I'm sorry," EJ said, with genuine feeling. "I'm sorry for hurting you, that you had to find out the way you did. I'm truly sorry, Chad."
"I don't think you're sorry at all. You're sorry you got caught, you're might feel sorry you hurt me, but you're not sorry enough to stop seeing Abigail, right?" Chad asked grimly.
"You are still sleeping with Abigail, aren't you? I wonder if she ever thinks of me when you're touching her. Do you think about me being her first? I bet it eats you up that I was there before you," Chad reminded EJ with a smirk. "Maybe, sometimes when you're making love to her, she's comparing us in her head when she has her legs wr-"
EJ moved with lightning speed and had his hands wrapped around Chad's throat before he could finish his sentence. He squeezed Chad's throat tightly, not enough to do any real harm, but it was just enough to make him gasp for breath and claw at EJ's fingers. EJ let go when he believed Chad had finally gotten the point he was trying to make.
"Be very careful, little brother, when you're talking about Abigail to me," EJ said with menacing coldness, his lips barely moving. ""You can come at me all you want, Chad. You're a DiMera and we always demand our pound of flesh, but this is between you and me. Stay away from Abigail. Leave her out of this. Whatever filthy thoughts you have in your head, see that they stay there and if you ever hurt her again like you did today, I'll show you what it really means to be a DiMera."
"You don't scare me, EJ. Thanks to you, I know what it means to be Stefano DiMera's son and how DiMeras deal with betrayal." Chad threw off EJ's hands, turning on him in fury, his voice getting louder and louder. "I was going to whisper a few words in Sami's ear so she could figure it out all on her own, but I've changed my mind. If I was you, I would worry less about Abigail and more about yourself because I will pay you back when you least expect it."
"You can come at me all you want, Chad, but like I said, stay away from Abigail. Leave her out of this or I'll make good on my earlier promise," EJ threatened.
Chad watched EJ searchingly, then suddenly burst into laughter. It dawned on him that he wouldn't have to go after EJ at all. Clearly, EJ was in far deeper than he realized and that was the beauty of the whole situation. The little seed Johnny had planted in Abigail's head had already taken root and it didn't matter what EJ said or did, Chad knew Abigail. She may have stumbled with his brother. She might even be in love with EJ, but she wouldn't hurt Sami and the kids by breaking up their family. Perhaps, the best revenge against his brother, after all, was to sit back and watch as the drama, or in this case, tragedy unfolded. He would have a ringside seat to when EJ finally figured out for himself why he had thrown family loyalty out the door. He would realize what Chad was beginning to believe. EJ was falling in love with Abigail and she would break his heart, as well as hers, when she ended things. Then EJ would finally experience the pain that he himself was feeling and Chad would have his revenge.
"Do you find something amusing?" EJ asked ominously.
"You know what, EJ? I almost feel sorry for you because you still haven't figured it out as yet," Chad said, still laughing mockingly.
"Figured what out, Chad? Are you threatening me?"
"No. I won't need to lift a finger against you EJ and that's what I find so funny. Your whole world is about to implode because I know that you...well, I'll just keep that to myself," Chad said smugly. "Enjoy the rest of your day, big brother." Spearing EJ with one last contemptuous glance, he left him in the study, staring darkly out the windows with a fresh glass of scotch in his hand.
EJ watched him go and wondered what new game his brother was playing now. Whatever it was Chad thought he knew or had figured out, EJ needed to contain him before he caused serious problems for him and Abigail. He had always known this whole situation would eventually come to a standstill, but losing Abigail wasn't a choice that he wanted to make right now, if ever. Abruptly, he shied away from that thought and instead concentrated on what to do about Chad. He was sorry, whether Chad wanted to believe it or not, that he had hurt his brother. EJ hadn't given one thought to anyone from the moment he had touched Abigail. His entire focus had been on Abigail and knowing that if he didn't touch her, kiss her, make love to her in that moment that he would lose his mind. EJ started as he felt a hand on his shoulder and looking to his side, he found his father had slipped into the room and was now watching him sadly.
"You heard or, rather I should say, Harold told you what happened just now?" he asked Stefano.
"Elvis, I do not like to know that there is discord between my sons," Stefano wisely chose to ignore EJ's question. "Chad is hurt and angry. He feels betrayed and he's lashing out. You know better than anyone how we deal with betrayal in this family, but I believe that Chad still loves you and it is this love for you and for young Miss Devereaux that will eventually decide his course."
Patting EJ on the shoulder, Stefano shuffled towards the door, then turned back as EJ called out to him.
"How do you know that, Father?" EJ asked.
"Because Chad has not inherited the DiMera darkness and even though this is something you and I would never forgive, he still has more good in him than bad. Your brother is fighting an internal battle, but I believe that he will win against his dark side."
"You must decide, however, what you are going to do, Elvis, in regards to Abigail." Stefano hesitated before continuing. "You need passion in your life, my boy, because without it, life is not worth living. The right kind of passion, the kind I think you feel with Abigail Devereaux and not the twisted love of Samantha."
Since this comment was so unexpected, EJ could only stare silently at Stefano as he left the room, thinking about what his father had said about his passion for Abigail. Thoughts of Abigail made him want to check on her and see if she was alright. The sight of her in tears, as she had rushed out of the square, had filled him with rage and, if not for Johnny, he could have cheerfully knocked his brother out. Whipping out his phone, EJ dialed her number, only to have her phone ring a few times before going to voice mail. EJ hung up and then called back with the same result. It was on the third try that she finally answered the phone.
"Abigail," he said, drawing her name out as he leaned his head against the french windows. "Abigail, are you there?"
"Yes,"Abigail said, the answer faint as if she breathed more than spoke the word. "I'm here."
The sound of her voice was all EJ needed to still the noise in his head. He looked through the windows, westward, in the direction of Horton House and imagined that, maybe, she was doing the same thing as well. Night deepened as they stayed on the phone, not really saying much, both just needing the sound of each others' voice to chase away the sadness and emotional turbulence of their day. Neither questioned why this was the case, they only knew that it felt right, it felt safe, it felt like...home.
It was late at night before Abigail finally ended her phone call with EJ. She sat for hours after she had hung up, thinking about her conversation with EJ, or, she mused, lack of one. They hadn't really said a lot to each other. EJ had told her he knew that she had been crying because of what Johnny had said to her in the square, but she had quickly cut him off. Abigail didn't want to talk about it, especially since she knew she might break down and tell him about her conversation with Hope. Hope's advice and Johnny's excitement over his parents marriage had been an eye-opener for her and she knew what she had to do, no matter how hard it would be. Curled up in the armchair by her bedside, she nibbled on her lip as she thought about EJ. Something had made him angry, she could hear it in his voice when she had finally answered her phone. Just like her, EJ didn't want to talk about it, brushing her off with the excuse that it was work-related. Abigail didn't buy his excuse for a second. As corny as it might sound, or unbelievable to quite a few people, she knew EJ, really knew him and she always knew when he was lying to her. She could tell in his voice that he hadn't told her the truth, but she didn't want to disrupt the calming silence that had sprung up between. Besides, whatever was bothering him, Abigail knew, like her, he wasn't willing to talk about it.
Releasing a sigh, and determined not to think about EJ for the rest of the night, Abigail got up from the chair and headed into the bathroom. Tying her hair back, she squeezed a few drops of her face scrub in her hands and washed her face. Wiping her face dry, she stared in the mirror at her reflection, trying to figure out who that girl was. Woman, Abigail thought wryly to herself, since she had ceased to be a girl from the moment she had slept with EJ DiMera. What did she want? She really didn't need to ask that question because she knew the answer already. Actually, she had known the answer from the moment EJ had talked to her about a man who would push boundaries for her. She wanted EJ and, if she was any other woman, Abigail would have no problem going after him, but he had a family and she wouldn't be the reason they fell apart. Leaving the bathroom, she put on her nightgown, slipped into bed and turned off her bedside lamp. She really needed to get some sleep since tomorrow was Will's wedding and it wouldn't be a good look if the maid of honor showed up with bags under her eyes. Abigail sleepily wondered again what had made EJ mad, but, with a yawn, she drifted off to sleep, not giving it another thought.
EJ had been in a black mood when he called Abigail. His fight with Chad had left him alternating between anger and sadness. He was angry with Chad for the things he had said about Abigail and how he had made her feel, but he also felt a deep sadness. Sadness for the loss of the brother he had loved, and still did, and the tight bond they formed with each other. There was no coming back from what he had done with Abigail and, as Chad had said, he wasn't sorry enough to stop it, even though it destroyed any chance of Chad forgiving him. Maybe his father was right, he had dared to admit to himself, as he'd called Abigail. Now, ending his call with her, he realized his black mood had been lifted at the sound of her voice. Strangely enough, he felt quite content.
"Can you believe my baby boy will be getting married tomorrow?" Sami said, walking up and wrapping her arms around EJ.
EJ gave a guilty start and he frowned like a sleeper waking up from a dream. He hadn't heard her come in. Sami's voice, he thought guiltily, was jarring and had the opposite effect on him than Abigail's. Lately, the sound of her voice made him restless and itching to be anywhere, but present in the moment with her.
"Sorry...what did you say?"
"I said can you believe Will's getting married tomorrow?" Sami repeated. "He's still my little baby boy in my head, except now he has a baby of his own and he's about to have a husband."
"It's funny, I don't know, almost surreal, somehow," she said, sighing happily.
"What is?" EJ said, disentangling himself from her and putting a little distance between them.
For reasons that were unknown to him, EJ was starting to dislike Sami's touch with an intensity that was equally shocking as it was surprising. He was also becoming impatient with her and her penchant for getting herself into trouble. Whereas before, he had found it charming, now it just made him tired and unhappy. Was Stefano right? Was he making a mistake by continuing his engagement with Samantha? Or were these feelings just a reaction to his confrontation with Chad followed by his father's unsolicited advice? No, Stefano was wrong. His own emotions were just a little skewed. Glancing at the picture on the desk of his children, EJ tamped down his dissatisfaction. He was going to marry Samantha and raise his family. So, why then, didn't he feel happy? For the first time in a very long time, he was starting to question the choices and decisions he had made in his life.
"EJ, EJ?" Sami snapped her fingers in his face, drawing his gaze upwards. "What's wrong with you? You've been way to distracted lately."
"I'm sorry, Samantha," EJ said, coming to his feet. "It's just been a little bit crazy right now. What with Will's party, the wedding tomorrow and all the extra work at the company, I'm just a little stressed and tired."
"That's not all, is it?"Sami said, placing her hand on his arm. "It's about Abigail, too, right?"
"What?"
EJ barely managed to control the slight hitch in his voice as he answered her. He looked sharply at Samantha, wondering if she had noticed the difference in his voice, but she wasn't showing any signs that anything was wrong. Hearing Abigail's name had thrown him for a loop, and with the kind of day he was having, he wasn't sure what to expect.
"Well, I know it was hard for you running around trying to keep her suspicions about Nick at bay and now Chad is back in the picture pushing you to help him get her back. I know Chad thinks that you might be a little protective of her and I understand. Abigail is a nice girl and I know you probably feel awful about the stuff you had to do to shut her up. Speaking of, you never did tell me how you got her to shut up about Nick."
"Samantha, you have nothing to worry about anymore. Abigail turned out to be quite reasonable once she had all the information in her hands. Well, as much of the information that I thought was necessary for her to let the Nick thing go."
"Well, however you did it, all three of us owe you big time, EJ. Still, I would like to know," Sami said curiously.
"Samantha, I don't want to talk about Abigail. I thought you came in here to talk about Will's wedding tomorrow," EJ said, a little exasperatedly.
"You're right, I'll drop it. I've been thinking that now Will and Sonny will be married tomorrow, there's no reason why we can't go full steam ahead with ours. The wedding plans are coming along a lot quicker, and easier, than I thought. Not that you would notice since you have shown zero interest in the last two weeks," Sami said reproachfully.
"Samantha," EJ responded impatiently.
Sami heard the impatience in EJ's voice. Lately, that's all he ever seemed to be with her, impatient. Even though, they were still planning on getting married, she and EJ hadn't been intimate for months and, though, they were co-existing peacefully now, that's all they were doing, co-existing. For the first time in eight years, she was truly scared that she was losing EJ. There was a distance in him that she had noticed and it was increasing daily. She had to do something to turn it around because, before long, the rift between her and EJ would be to big to conquer. Looking at him, Sami thought that it was time to let him back in her bed. Sex between them was always so mind-blowing and would aid in fixing the problems they had. She laughed inwardly at the prospect of seducing her fiancee. It was just what they both needed to move forward.
"I know," she said. "You've got a lot on your plate, but a little interest wouldn't hurt, EJ. I just want everything to go off without a hitch, which is what I was talking about earlier before you zoned out on me. It feels weird that everything is going right at last with us and our family and I don't want anything to ruin that, okay. I won't feel a hundred percent secure that nothing will ruin our plans until I'm Mrs. Samantha DiMera."
"Everything will be fine," EJ said, his voice sounding hollow to his ears as he pulled her into his arms. "It's all going to work out so stop worrying, darling."
EJ wasn't sure who he was trying to reassure more, Samantha or himself. He sighed deeply as he stroked her back, trying to remember all the reasons why this would work out for him and Samantha. It had taken them eight years to get here, years that were filled with abusive, disgusting behavior towards each other, but that was all water under the bridge and they were poised to get their happily ever after. Still, even though he had made up his mind that this was what he wanted, EJ couldn't shake the image of Abigail out of his head every time he pictured his future.
"Come on," he said, pulling her along behind him. "Let's go tuck the kids into bed."
Tucking the kids into bed, reading them stories and kissing them good night had been pleasant. Those were the moments that EJ looked forward to the most at the end of the day. It was nice doing it with Samantha because it proved that they could still get somethings right. Laying in bed with his hands folded behind his head, he thought to himself that he really had to make an effort to make things work with Samantha, for the kids' sake. He had loved Samantha, once above anything and anyone, and the love may have faded a little, but it was still there. EJ just had to remember what it was that he had loved about her to begin with, if he could manage to get the image of Abigail Devereaux out of his mind.