A/N Hmmmmm, I always put in a note...uh but I don't really have anything to say this time...well, I hope y'all like it.

"Knock, Knock" Alexis says at my open door.

"Hi! Com'on in. Have a seat. Want some popcorn?"

"That's my girl. Thank you." She grabs a handful after she sits.

"So, how's Kristina?"

"Asleep…sad. I told her about Ric." Alexis answers wiping at her eyes, "She asked me…she asked if he had stopped loving her."

"Oh."

"I told her he'll always love her and Molly. They'll always be his girls." Alexis hugs a pillow to her chest. "I just hope I'm not lying to her."

"Alexis, Ric loves Kristina…you know he does." I insist.

"I know, I know that he loves her Sam, but he's been so off lately…You know I don't want to talk about this. Is that okay?"

"Of course it is."

"Okay, so here's the situation." Alexis grabs the whole bag of popcorn out of my hands, "I've given Viola a long weekend, can you help with the girls?"

"Sure, no problem, only I don't do diapers." I tease.

"I've decided to take a few days off, I'll take care of all the diapers…" Alexis assures me.

"Yeah," I roll my eyes at her, "until Mayor Floyd calls…"

"Jeffrey Floyd is a toad." Alexis spits, she stands quickly the open popcorn bag swinging in her hand. "I'm the best damn D.A. this town has seen in a decade and he damn well knows it! He tried to hang me out to dry on this Ruiz case." Popcorn flies all over my rug. "Never once did he mention I was assigned the case, or that I was given expert testimony that validated my defense." She turns abruptly, the bag sails over the couch. "Or that 12 members of the jury decided his fate. He conveniently forgets that the PCPD had 6 outstanding warrants for him and though he broke probation continuously they were never able to bring him." She kneels down and takes my hand. "Sam, I swear to you I will regret, till the day I die, that I helped let Manny Ruiz back on the street, but I will not apologize for being good at what I do."

I stare for a second, making sure she's done. "Okay…so you won't be taking his calls then?"

Alexis plops back on the couch picks up a few random kernels, rests her slippered feet onto my coffee table, and says "Damn straight."

"Can Michael and Morgan come over again today?" Kristina asks at breakfast.

Alexis chokes on her muffin. "Again?" She questions looking to Nikolas, then me and back to Nikolas for some sort of explanation.

"Well, the girls were a little stir crazy while you were gone, so Sam took it upon herself to invite the boys over for a play-date." Nikolas explains. I knew he hadn't forgiven me for that yet.

"We had so much fun, can they come again Mommy?"

Alexis glares at me. I take that as my cue and answer. "Um, I'd have to see if Leticia can bring them again. They probably have plans today."

"Kristina, Mommy took the whole day off to play with you and Molly. We don't need any silly boys do we?" Alexis asks.

"Thanks, Aunt Alexis, John and I love you too."

"Why can't you play with my brothers too? They hardly get to see Daddy or their Mommy either." Kristina pouts.

"You know what Kristina, why don't we go to the park, and I'll call and see if we can meet the boys and Leticia for lunch?" Alexis offers as a compromise.

Kristina sticks out her lower lip, and casts her eyes downward, obviously not warming to Alexis' plan.

Alexis closes her eyes in defeat. "I'll call Leticia now, okay. You go get ready." I tell Kristina. She jumps from her place and runs toward her room.

"Samantha!" Alexis exclaims.

I look at her funny, she's never called me that before, and I get the feeling this isn't a good thing. "What? Michael and Morgan are good kids…their going through a rough spell too. What's the big deal?"

"Besides the fact that I've had a crap week and Carly is bound to show up at some point and I'll probably end up in jail for attempted homicide?"

"Attempted?"

"Don't start with me, Sam." Alexis arches her eyebrows at me.

"Okay, I'll tell Kristina that they can't come." I sag my shoulders and feign defeat.

"It's too late for that! Nikolas why didn't you say anything?"

"Like anyone around here listens to me?" He gets up, "I've already had my fun. Michael spent his entire visit lecturing me about what 'Johnny' likes and doesn't like." He leans over and kisses Alexis, then me on the cheek "John and I will sit this one out."

"Traitor." Alexis yells to his back. To me she adds, "Don't think you're staying home. You got me into this mess…"

"It's not a mess…yet. Let's not borrow trouble." Molly starts to fuss in her hi-chair. "I think someone needs a clean diaper…and that's your department, I have a phone call to make."

"We leave in half an hour. Be here." She calls carrying Molly to the nursery.

"Yes Mom." I sing out as I dial the phone. "Hi Leticia, it's Sam…"