Chapter Two

Sam watched her mother's anger build up. She was scared.

"No … no … no … no, Sam, are you … you HAVE to be kidding me."

Sam couldn't help but smile. Her mother couldn't be angry for long. She was doing this for her happiness. She knew that he'd make her happy.

"SAY SOMETHING!"

Sam jumped, "You're going to wake the kids."

"I don't care right now! Sam … what the hell are you talking about!?"

"Okay, so first, calm down … he's not waiting with a ring and a priest … he likes you … loves you, and he wanted to tell you."

"Who?"

Sam expressed her worry, "I can't tell you."

"Like hell you can't."

"Mom …"

"Don't 'mom' me! Who is he?"

"Who do you think?"

Alexis was quiet for a moment. She had no idea.

"Just … just tell me that it's not Ric."

Sam could give her this, "It's not Ric."

"Really?"

"Yes."

She could breathe. "How? What? Sam, when did you call him? Did you know about the plane? Did you know that we were going somewhere?"

"No, look, I'll tell you the story if you promise to stop screaming and breathing like that."

"Breathing like wha…" Alexis finally noticed that she was hyperventilating. She calmed herself a bit.

"Okay, that's better. Listen, he came to me last week … or two weeks ago … anyway, we talked and talked and argued, and he won. He convinced me that he wants to be with you. I argued your points to him and he won, Mom. I really think that he can make you happy, if you'll only give him a chance."

"So it's not Jax?"

"Stop guessing! I'm not telling you! It could be Jax, Mom … it could be Ned, Sonny, or Jerry as well. That's not the point."

"Who it is isn't the point? Bull!"

"It's not right now. The point is for you to search yourself and find out who you want … who do you think could make you happy. The reason I'm not telling you who it is, isn't because I want to punish you … it's because I want you to decide. I'm … he's … we're not forcing you, so I want you to come up with an answer, by the end of this trip, as to who you wish it could be."

"But what if it's not him?"

"It'll be him."

"How do you know?"

"Just my brain," Alexis had to laugh as Sam continued, "… and if I'm wrong, which I won't be, you can tell the guy that you aren't in love with him and go find the other one and tell him."

"Okay, hypothetically," Alexis began …

"Yeah."

"What if I told you 'Sonny' … and I'm not telling you 'Sonny' right now, but hypothetically, if I said 'Sonny', and it happens to be one of the others … and I tell that one that blah, blah, blah, I chose someone else ... are you going to make me go tell Sonny?"

"No," Sam shook her head, "I'm not making you do anything. I'm simply telling you that someone who wants you … wants to be with you … won me over, asked my permission and for my help, and I gave him a call, letting him know that this might be his only chance. I told him that I'd tell you on the plane and you would decide."

"This is just wrong on so many levels," Alexis placed her head in her hands.

"Think of it as a fun challenge, Mom … be happy … someone is waiting for you right now and they want to be with you … that's a good thing."

"Do I have to tell you who I want it to be?"

Sam thought and sadly came to her conclusion, "I guess you don't, although I would like to know."

Alexis kept her head in her hands for a few moments, feeling nauseous. Sonny, Jerry, Jax, or Ned. She wished that she could pick one right away. Each had their flaws … but each had their definite 'yes' factors. She was so incredibly angry … frustrated … nervous … excited. Excited!? She kicked herself. It had been so long since someone wanted her. Needed her in his life. She was a little bit excited.

Sam tried to change the subject, "So can we finish my questions?"

"Sam, I'm not feeling too hot right now …"

"Okay," she looked down. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea. She knew that her mother would be a little shocked at first, but Sam honestly thought that it would make her feel good, knowing that she has four guys who could possibly be waiting for her.

Alexis took in a deep breath and stood, heading toward her room. She felt dizzy.

"Mom?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you angry at me?"

Alexis turned once to the door and sent a smile toward Sam, "No, baby … I'm not angry at you. I'm a little mad that I can't tell you right now who I want. How messed up is that?"

"It's not," Sam stood and walked toward her mother, "… not messed up at all, I mean … you're attracted to all of them. Either because of the way you remember them or what you think they will be like. If you want," Sam didn't want to make the offer, "I'll tell you and it'll all be over. I don't want you feeling sick throughout the rest of the plane ride."

"I won't … don't tell me … I mean, I don't think that it's fun or anything, but I really do think that I should know which one I want. Which one I'm more attracted to. If it's not him, then it's not him, but I do want to know," she gave Sam a funny look, "You promise that it's not Ric?"

"I swear."

Alexis stepped toward Sam and brought her in for a hug. It was a long hug that they both needed more than they realized. Alexis was brought to tears and for some reason, she didn't know why. She backed up and began to turn for her bed. Sam saw the tears.

"Momma?"

Alexis stopped moving when she heard that name from Sam. It was different from just 'Mom' or the silly 'Ma' that Sam used every once in a while, it was 'Momma', and it meant so much more to her. She turned again and once more, brought Sam in to her. Sam was surprised at the affection of her mother.

"I love you, darlin'."

"I love you, too, Mom," Sam hugged her back, but was still confused a little.

Alexis pulled back, but kept her hands on Sam's shoulders, "I like when you call me 'Momma'."

Sam smiled shyly and watched her mother crawl in her bed, pull the sheets and blanket around her, and lay silent. Sam returned to the cabin and sat on the couch, looking around the comfortable setting. Maybe this was a mistake. She picked up her phone and dialed.

"Hello?"

"I'm having second thoughts."

"Does she know it's me?"

"No."

"Good. I don't want her to know … I want to know that she chooses me. It's important, for both of us. Sam, are you okay?"

"It's not me you should be worried about."

"What's wrong?"

"She's sad. Stressed … nervous."

"Well, I'll leave it up to you. If you feel like you have to tell her, go ahead. I'll be here when the plane lands. I'll be able to tell from her face if I'm the one she wants."

"What if she doesn't choose you?"

"I think she will."

"What if …"

"If she doesn't, at least she'll know. I'll know. She'll know who she wants."

"I hope it's you."

He stalled for a moment, "You don't know how much that means to me."

"What?"

"That you're on my side."

"I didn't say that. I'm not pushing her one way or the other, but I … I think that she could be happy with you."

"I'll never hurt her."

"I know."

"Well, have a good flight. See you in … what?"

"Like, ten hours, but we might stop to eat somewhere."

"Did you ask her what you wanted to ask her?"

"Not yet. I don't know if I want to."

"Sam, this trip isn't just for her … you should bring it up."

She breathed in and nodded, "Okay, I'll try to work it in."

"Don't just work it in, it's a priority to you and I think she should tell you."

"Okay, well, thanks."

"No, thank you … I don't think you know how grateful I am."

She couldn't sleep. Of course she couldn't. Four men. Two that she was once in love with … one that she loved forever and would forever love, her best friend … and then there was the one that she could see herself falling madly in love for now. How could she choose? Did she already know? She could call them each and grill them for information, but that would be cheating. She laughed to herself, this was a game. A reality show … 'Jesus', she thought. It would be named, 'Alexis' Verdict'. She hated this, but loved it all the same. She began to think, about each one. About the past with each one and the thought of a future with them all.

After about an hour she assumed, when her stomach stopped flopping around so much, she crawled out of the bed and wrapped the blanket around her, joining what she heard in the cabin. Sam was on the couch, Molly in her arms flying above, Kristina and Spencer on the floor … wrestling, it looked like.

"Are you two fighting or playing?"

Kristina's laughter subsided and she smiled up to her mother, "Playing, Momma!"

"Good. I'm hungry. Who's hungry?"

"Me!"

"Me!"

"Me!"

"Me!"

"Okay, what do we have here?"

Sam watched her mother rummage through the small refrigerator. Sandwiches. Sam didn't want a sandwich, and from her mother's face, she knew that it wasn't her first choice either. Sam interrupted Alexis' quest.

"Momma, wait."

Alexis looked over to her daughter and couldn't help but smile at that word again.

Sam stood and disappeared into the cockpit.

She returned, smiling a huge, fantastic smile, picking up Molly again.

"What did you do?"

Suddenly, the pilot, Derek, came over the speaker, "Well, we've been cleared for an unexpected landing here, so please all have a seat and get ready for some good ole' home cookin'."

Alexis made a face to Sam, "Where are we?"

Sam continued grinning, "Somewhere you've never been."

"How can we land? I thought we were over an ocean!?"

"You really should look out the window more. No Italy, Mom … I'm taking you somewhere else … but that, I can't tell you."

"You just love not telling me things."

"Well, this is just a pit-stop … for nutritional purposes only. I hope you like Cajun food."

"Cajun?"

"Mmmhmm."

"So we're in the states still … Louisiana? New Orleans?!" Alexis suddenly became excited as she looked out the window. How did she know that Louisiana would excite her?

They stepped out and Alexis took in a long, deep breath … regretting it immediately, "What the hell is that smell!?"

Kristina and Spencer looked up to Alexis, mouths wide open.

"Sorry," Alexis cringed.

"It's New Orleans. That's it's smell."

"… um … it's March … and it's hot."

"It's humid."

"There's no air."

"Mom, you're acting like a child."

Alexis scrunched up her nose, "Oookay."

They piled out of the plane and into a car that Sam demanded to drive. Luckily, the airport's car rental facility had car seats available, and they looked new, so Alexis didn't say a word.

Sam drove them around the city, showing them the cemeteries, which freaked the kids out, "They're all above the ground, Mommy," Kristina said in a frightened voice.

Sam smiled and continued to look at the statues and tombs, "That's because it's below sea level here and if you dig a few feet down, it's soggy, so they can't bury people under the ground. Look, some of the vaults are as big as a house!"

Kristina still looked in fear. Sam laughed. When they reached the riverwalk, Alexis made Sam park the car. They walked on the wooden pathway and watched the barges pass by. Alexis felt as if she were rushing them. Was she ready to find out who he was? Why was she rushing?

Sam led them down a way and stood in front of the restaurant, "Mulate's!"

They sat and ordered, Sam ordering for them all.

"Turtle soup!!"

"What?" Sam questioned.

"This has turtle soup on it!!" Kristina was looking at a brochure for another restaurant.

"Ewww!" Molly chimed in.

"Mommy, please, please, tell me that people don't eat turtle soup."

Sam picked on her, "It's a good thing that I ordered you the Alligator Platter."

Kristina's face was comical to say the least, they all laughed … except Kristina, who was almost about to cry.

"Baby, you're getting red beans and rice. You've had that before," Alexis assured her.

Kristina let out a sigh of relief. "Okay …"

After eating, they walked back to the riverwalk and gave in to Molly's pointing and yelling toward the Riverboat Cruise.

"Okay, okay, let's go," Alexis smiled to Sam and checked her watch … she was anxious to get back on the plane! 'Damnit!' she cursed in her head.

On the boat, they disassociated themselves with the rest of the passengers and took seats at the front, enjoying the crisp breeze now. It began to sprinkle and they sat, allowing it to cool them off.

They exited the 'cruise' and continued to walk a ways. Alexis thought about all four guys again. She couldn't get them out of her head, but one was making more of an appearance. She shook it off as Sam directed them across and down a walkway to Café du Monde. They sat and watched the tourists around them, excitedly taking pictures. Alexis listened as a beautiful woman sang outside the open restaurant. They ordered all hot chocolate and beignets and Alexis froze at the sight of them when they arrived.

"This is all sugar!"

Sam laughed, "That's the point. Mom, I'm telling you … they'll be the best things you put in your mouth … ever."

Kristina dug in immediately, powdered sugar now all over her face.

"They'll never get to bed tonight."

Sam smiled and began eating as well, "That's okay … where we're going, even you won't want to sleep."

Alexis cleared her throat as she tore off her first bite, "… and with who's meeting us there?"

Sam looked to her, smiling, now covered in sugar herself, "Yep…" she replied almost inaudibly.