Chapter Three

New Years Eve, 2011 Horton Town Square Around 11:30 PM

"I have to admit my son, that wife of yours is brilliant." Stefano DiMera grinned as he puffed at the cigar clamped between his teeth. "The fainting was an especially nice touch."

"Personally, I liked the part where you insisted on taking her home to rest and then she refused to leave because it's such an important night, not only for you as a couple, but for your campaign," Kate DiMera mused before taking a sip of her wine. "I swear it almost brought a tear to my eye."

"You know, it almost worries me to hear the two of you saying such lovely things about Nicole," EJ grinned, folding his arms across his chest as he took a seat atop a small, concrete dividing wall seperating the west side of the town square from the park. "Then, I remembered that you wouldn't be so stupid since I reminded you just yesterday who still has controlling power over DiMera Enterprises and all of it's subsidiaries such as, you know, Countess Wilhelmina, for example which, by the way, hasn't been doing very well since Mad World Cosmetics moved into town." EJ couldn't help but enjoy watching Kate having to bite her lip to refrain from barking at him in protest. There was no way he could just stop right there. "Nicole actually is incredibly business-savvy. She really has the most keen marketing skills of just about anyone I've ever worked with."

"Oh no you don't," Kate said desperately, setting her glass of wine down on a nearby table before approaching EJ so she could get in his face to protest. "I know what you're thinking, and the answer is no."

"Well, of course it is just a suggestion for now," EJ said as he leaned over and grabbed a cigar out of Stefano's suit jacket pocket, then used a lighter from his own pocket to ignite it. "I did make a promise that as long as Countess Wilhelmina remained profitable, I would not interfere. However, today is the last day of the year and I'm very concerned with this last quarter's numbers. Even with the busy holiday season, Countess W was just barely in the black."

"We projected this is what would happen," Kate screamed, all of about an inch away from EJ's face. "We knew the relaunch would have a rough period and business would pick up when we release the new product lines."

"Yes, but this so-called 'rough period' managed to fall a quarter of a million dollars short of what we projected in a worst-case scenario. At this point I'd have to say that the future of Countess W does not look promising. Now, it is your company, and as agreed you may continue to do business as you like. However, several months down the road when your business continues to fall into the red, the fact that you chose to not heed my advice will be taken into serious consideration. Just something to think about."

EJ watched with amusement as Kate's fist was caught in mid-air, then wrestled back down to her side, by Stefano. The two of them scowled his way before excusing themselves to get their champagne to toast in the New Year. For once he felt in complete control of his life. No one would ever stand between him and his happiness ever again. It was this euphoric feeling which kept him in a daze while he went in search of Nicole, and caused him to collide with the one person who was notorious for putting a damper on anyone's good mood. Samantha.

"Hey, watch it. What's the rush," she asked, wearing the usual scowl on her face. "Let me guess, next Nicole is going to miraculously give birth to the baby which we both know she can never have, right in the middle of the town square. Tell me, where are you two going to buy this one from?" Oh, sorry I mean two. Twins. That was a nice touch."

"Always lovely to see you too, Samantha. You know, I was just about to ask you if Johnny and Sydney were here and then I realized I haven't seen your grandmother Caroline around this evening."

"What is that supposed to mean," her eyes narrowed as she glared back at him condescendingly. "If I'm not mistaken, you're the one who owned up to not being a fit parent. So I leave my kids with my grandma when I go out for the evening, big deal. At least I never left them with someone and never came back for them."

"I gave you full custody, Samantha, I didn't turn my back on them. You're the one who seems to think that having full custody means you can try to keep them away from me forever. I never meant I didn't want to see them or still be a part of their lives."

"Yeah, well Rafe thinks it's best that you just stay out of their lives for good."

"That's never going to happen."

The new voice throwing it's two cents into the conversation startled them. EJ and Sami both looked over to find Nicole had sneaked up by EJ's side. EJ smiled with relief as she looped her arm through his and stood stoically at his side.

"Actually Nicole, now that I know you're back in the picture, I'll go out of my way to see that the two of you are kept as far away from my children as possible."

"Oh, calm down there, blondie, don't get your panties all in a twist, that is, if you're wearing any. We all know what kind of classy lady you are..."

"You bitch-" Sami began, her face turning red with anger, her nostrils flaring with defiance.

Nicole looked up at EJ with the most adorable little pouty look he'd ever seen. He couldn't resist moving in for a quick nibble on her full, luscious lips. "She called me a bitch, honey" she whined inbetween kisses. "Really, do you want a woman like that raising your children?"

"I...most certainly...do not," EJ finally managed to get out the full sentence between even more kisses. "You're the only woman I want to raise my children, darling," he whispered into her her ear, although loud enough, on purpose, for Sami to still be able to hear. "All of them."

"Over my dead body," Sami screamed, spit flying and snot streaming down her face from her nostrils.

"That can be arranged," Nicole said, smiling sweetly from behind the protective arms of her husband wrapped around her torso.

"Well, I can see what kind of route you've chosen to take with your life," Sami said, directing her comment to EJ alone. "You know, I actually showed up at your place with the children on Christmas. I was going to let you have them for a few hours. We trekked over to your apartment through two feet of snow cuz I actually felt bad for you because you were looking so pathetic these last few months I thought seeing Johnny and Sydney would cheer you up. I thought we could maybe even work out some visitation agreement."

"How noble of you to consider allowing EJ's children to see their own father on Christmas," Nicole said sarcastically. "Now, why don't you tell him the real reason. Grandma Caroline was unavailable while you and Rafe wanted to go through the Twelve Lays of Christmas."

Sami shook her head, giving Nicole her typical "I'm so much better than you," condescending glare. "You can thank her for my change of heart. I will never, ever allow her in the presence of any one of my children ever again."

"Well, Samantha you better get used to the idea. Nicole and I are in complete agreement. Now, more than ever, with the new babies on the way, we don't want Johnny and Sydney feeling as though they've been forgotten or are being replaced. You can expect some papers to arrive in the morning."

"Aw, don't look so glum, Octomom! You've got plenty of kids to spare a few!" Nicole couldn't help cackling at her own, what she thought to be, hilarious remark.

"Now, now sweetheart, hasn't anyone ever told you not to intimidate a wild animal?"

Sami scowled at the pair of them. "Real nice. Look, you do what you feel you have to do EJ. I'm sure you'll get your way, you always do and as much as I may not like it, you have your rights as a father but I will be DAMNED if you think I am just going to sit back and watch that WHORE play mother to MY children!"

"Don't you dare call my wife-"

"Honey, let me handle this," Nicole said trying to calm down an enraged EJ by massaging the back of his neck. "God, he just gets so tense," Nicole said to Sami off-topic, as if she was just making small talk with one of the girls at the salon. "Sugar-pie, I've had two pregnancies, both by the same father, while your twins can't even manage to share one that is the same. If I'm a whore than what in the world does that make you?"

Without warning, Sami lunged at Nicole, her hands going straight for her throat. EJ immediately spun his back to her, thrusting Nicole out of harm's way but leaving his own back vulnerable to a beating. Sami's fists pounded into him, her fingernails clawed at him as she screamed threats of bodily harm to the lives of Nicole and her unborn babies. Within seconds, reporters still hovering around to cover the evening's festivities were at hand and had alerted the Salem PD. Before those who were officially on-duty could arrive to place Sami under arrest, Rafe at least managed to drag her away from harming EJ any further. The glorious part of it all was that it was all on tape.

Nicole began to sob uncontrollably in EJ's arms. When he glanced down at her in alarm, he was once again given the 'don't worry' wink. Within seconds, the reporters were in their faces.

"Mrs. DiMera, can you tell us what just happened here? Are you all right?"

Nicole just busted into an even more exaggerated, although only seen that way by her husband, wail.

"Look, Nicole has had far too much excitement for this evening. If you want to know what happened, ask her," he said, pointing a disgusted finger in Sami's direction. "I am taking my wife home for the evening where I trust she will be safe."

Nicole continued to sob as they walked through the square, surrounded by pitious looks from all the unsuspecting citizens completely ignorant to the scheming ways of EJ and Nicole DiMera. When they were finally outside the perimeter of the square with no one around aside from an oblivious couple or two out for some fresh air in the park, he picked her up and twirled her around in a celebratory fashion. Her crocodile tears immediately turned into a fit of giddy giggles as she hugged him back tightly. The evening simply couldn't have gone any better if they had planned it.

"Darling, you were wonderful tonight," he whispered into her ear, shortly after finally planting her feet back on the ground. In the background, they could hear the cheers of those in the town sqaure as they made the announcement they were merely ten seconds away from ringing in the new year.

"As were you," she said, throwing her arms around his neck and looking up at him with her vivacious blue eyes. "I think mayoral candidate EJ DiMera is going to have a very, very good year."

"Yes, well I think EJ DiMera, husband and father-to-be, is going to have an even better one."

"Happy New Year," she said, smiling up at him as she spoke in unison with the crowd on the inside of the square shouting identical sentiments to one another.

"Happy New Year, sweetheart."

Nicole felt a wave of euphoria come over her like none she'd ever experienced before. There was something so different about their relationship this time and more specifically, about EJ. There was simply something there that wasn't there before, a glimmer in his eye, a song in his heart, a spring in his step. For once she didn't find herself questioning his feelings which she supposed were love. There was no lingering doubts in the back of her mind nagging at her brain, trying to convince her he was secretly being untrue. She was sure that from that moment on, no attempt to keep them apart by anyone would ever be successful again. They were simply too strong a force now to be reckoned with.

Of course that would never stop one from trying.