One DiMera Less in Town

"Are you all leaving?" Caroline came to the table to see what the fuss was about.

"Yes, we have had our talk and everything is cleared up now. Isn't it?" Marlena glared at Bo.

"Not quite. Ma, where's Pa? I need to ask him something."

"Shawn should be in the back. What do you want to ask him?" Caroline leered at her son.

"It's about the feud. It seems that Stefano is planning something and it could be about ending this the feud, but first we need to find out how it all started. I just wanted to ask if Pa remembers anything."

"No. It's terrible idea. You'll only upset him and he wont tell you anything", Caroline warned Bo and pranced away. Before Bo could turn to ask Hope what had stirred his mother Lucas walked in to the pub. His first words were:

"Have you seen Sami today?"

"Not since the party. Why do you ask?" John replied and kept his eyes on this troubled young man.

"She broke up with me. She was at the hospital with EJ and she said it was over. Sami is not marrying me after all", Lucas dropped the words one at the time still trying to grasp the fact that he wasn't Sami's dream any longer.

"No!" The collective answer involved several emotions from utter shock to a glimpse of relief and mirth.

"Yes!" Lucas shouted without realizing that the others had indeed internalized his message.

"So the Green Wedding is off?" Marlena asked.

"Better this way I think", Hope whispered, "I had this inkling that it would turn out to be a disaster."

"No, it's not off. It's not over until I say it is. This is just a speed bump", Lucas noted.

"Sure it is. I'm sure Sami will come to her senses soon enough. Look there she is", Marlena brushed gently Lucas' arm before rushing to her first born daughter. She didn't see the long look he gave her.

"Sami, come in. We are all in and Lucas just told us the news", Marlena let her features melt in to a placid smile.

"Lucas is there? Mum, I really don't want to deal with him right now. I'm a bit upset", Sami said but was pulled quickly inside. She nodded to Bo and Hope and sat down next to John. She missed the safe arms around her and thought that Johns presence might help her to relax.

"What do you have there?" Hope asked as she saw the chest Sami was holding, "S.E.D.?"

"Santo Ernesto DiMera. EJ and I went and got this from the DiMera mansion."

"What?!" Bo nearly exploded, "I told you she was in danger!"

"Calm down Bo. Samantha Gene, why were you there?" John motioned Bo to shut up and let Sami to explain. He also gave one of those warning looks of his to Marlena begging her to wait and express her feelings about the matter later.

"Stefano made me an offer. He wants to end the feud between our families and he told me to ask granpa Shawn how the feud started. So I did. But he only told me the Brady side of the story so I went back to Stefano to learn the rest of the story. He gave us these letters his father Santo wrote to granpa Shawns older sister Colleen after her death. They're in Italian and we need to have them translated", Sami ended her story.

"What was EJ doing there?" Bo lashed out at her.

"I asked him to help me to talk to Stefano. Then he fell down the stairs and we had to make a trip to the hospital, where I met Lucas. And no I haven't changed my mind. I'm not marrying you", Sami turned to watch Lucas as she said her last words.

"What were you thinking about putting yourself in danger like that?" Marlena gasped.

"I was thinking about ending this war between our families before my baby is born. And uncle-Bo, you don't need to worry about EJ any more. He left town right after Stefano gave us the letters."

"Are you sure?" Bo was doubtful. Sami had to reassure him:

"I am. He might stop by to hear the paternity test results but that's it. He's gone."

"What paternity test?" John asked.

"Didn't mum tell you? EJ could be the father of my baby."

"He raped Sami!" Lucas had to point out. Sami gritted her teeth.

"One DiMera less in Salem. What could be better news?" Bo gloated.

"Do you know what the letters say? Do you know how this feud and DiMera vendetta against the Brady family started?" Hope leaned closer waiting Sami to answer. Sami nodded first and shook her head then:

"It's better if we translate the letters first but I do have an idea of how it all started."

"Tell us!" Hope pressed.

"I need to talk with granpa first", she argued.

"So Pa knows then?" Bo asked.

"Yes, I think he knows."

"What happened?" It was Johns turn to try and get Sami to talk. She sighed:

"Okay, I'll tell you."

The screams of joy and the burning sun matched quite well. The school day had ended and the children were about to start enjoying their freedom in beautiful weather. James and Joseph were among the mass bursting out through the narrow doors of the school. Sophia stood outside her car waiting to see her precious children. She laughed as she saw other parents embracing their children and fighting with them to get them to sit still in. Everyone was excited waiting for the summer to really begin. Sophia tore her eyes off another happy parent and a child and sought for her boys. Ten minutes later she was still standing at that same place waiting for her boys. The last cars drove away and she was left standing alone. Then the panic hit her.

Benji logged in to the computer and started his task. He skimmed trough the files looking for something to lose and something to hide. He made a mental note of every secret he came across and started formulate a new plan. Like a sculptor seeks out the shape from his material Benji made his plans. He needed time and edge against Tony and Stefano. He wasn't about to forget EJ either though he was leaving town. Benji had seen Bart lurking about when he had arrived to the building and entered the secret den but Bart would hardly be a threat to him.

Stefano sipped the tea again. He shouldn't have had that biscuit but he couldn't have helped himself. And at his age it didn't matter that much any more. He could eat and do what ever he wanted. Rolf was waiting for him to start his day or evening and make his move. Now that EJ had abandoned his family it was up to Stefano to take hold of the reigns and see what Tony and Benji could do. He really shouldn't forget Alexandra either. His daughter had the DiMera spirit in her even if she had forsaken the family of doing things.