K, so I'm not using a song in this chapter, contrary to the chapter title, lol. It's just gonna be straight-out. Some of the dialogue is based off quotes I've found that I thought would relate to this perfectly. Warning: It's pretty darn long. So here we go:

One month.

A month had passed since Sami confessed in St. Luke's.

A month since EJ had walked out of her life.

The pain never went away. It was there in everything she did.

Belle and Shawn got married during the weekend that just passed. Sami was Belle's maid-of-honor. Of course, she was happy for her half-sister. But, Sami couldn't help feeling that she would never get to experience what Belle was experiencing. Yes, Sami had had her share of weddings, but, none of them lasted. None of them were to the man she was meant to be with. Obviously.

Also during the past month, her divorce with Lucas went underway. The papers had been drawn up. All that was left was to read through them, make sure everything was right, and sign them. It wouldn't take too much time, since the only things to factor in – such as custody of the children, the apartment, money – was agreed upon beforehand… Sami was not looking forward to going through it all, though. The only thing she could be thankful for was that it would be painless. She and Lucas both wanted this. There wouldn't be any fighting during it.

Last, Sami had finally come clean to her family. Not about EJ – no way. But, she had admitted about the divorce. As she assumed, they all thought she was crazy. Bo, Kayla, Steve, John, and Roman all tried to reason with her. But, when she told them how she felt about Lucas now, they realized they couldn't argue with her. And, to her huge relief, supported her decision. They didn't agree with it and they weren't exactly thrilled, but, they insisted they loved her and supported her.

However, also as she assumed, her mother was currently not speaking to her. She couldn't understand why Sami was doing this. She couldn't understand why the love had faded. She told Sami it was just a mental lapse. It was just the stress of having to care for three children, two of them 6-month-old twins. She even went so far as to accuse Sami of doing this because of EJ Wells. Sami denied it, though she had to leave her mother's as soon as possible after that. That was the last time they'd spoken. It was two weeks ago.

Presently, Sami was sharing a lunch with Hope in the Brady pub with the twins between them. She was venting to her aunt.

"I can't believe it's been two weeks since I've talked to my mother," Sami was saying as she fed some applesauce to Tom.

Hope gave her a sympathetic look. "Honey, as much as I think it's wrong of her not to speak to you, I do see where she's coming from."

Sami gave her a doubtful look. "Really."

"Yes, really," Hope nodded. "Sami, she wanted the best for you. Deep down, she's not angry. She just wants you to be happy and she probably feels that divorcing Lucas screws that all up."

"Yea, well…I'm not the little girl she wanted me to be," Sami sighed. "I'm not the person she wants me to be, and you know what? I'm not sorry about it."

Hope didn't say anything and Sami continued. "Really, it's fine. I've got Will and I've got Tom and Colleen. I have my children. And I'm happy with that."

"You know, Sami…" Hope started cautiously. "Children are a wonderful thing…but, you can't curl up with them on a cold, winter night."

Sami closed her eyes. She knew exactly what her aunt was getting at. She didn't need a man in her life. But, yes, it would be nice to have someone there. Someone to lean on, rely on. She opened her eyes again and said quietly, "I can't have that."

"Why not?" Hope persisted.

"Because I'm not worth it," Sami stated, putting down the empty applesauce jar. "EJ was the only man who made me feel worthy. He understood me, Aunt Hope, like no one else ever did or ever will. And now he's gone and I won't find another man like that as long as I live."

"Do you really believe he's left forever?" Hope asked.

Sami shrugged thoughtfully. "I like to think not." She gave a rueful smile and sighed. "Sometimes…I wonder to myself what would happen if he came back to Salem. What I'd say if he saw me. If I'd even say anything at all…I mean, he broke my heart! But, you know what I wonder most? What he would say to me."

Not having an answer to this, Hope sat quietly for a few seconds. Then, "He'll be back."

She sounded so confident that Sami lifted her gaze to her aunt's. "How can you be so sure?"

"Have you ever heard the expression "Once in a lifetime, you meet a person who takes your breath away. Not because you want them to, but, because they're meant to"?"

"Of course, I have," Sami answered, smiling slightly. "I mean…I keep telling myself he's not coming back, but, I just can't make myself believe it. No matter how many times I tell myself that, I still miss him and I still think about him. I'm so sick of it! It's like…I feel as if I should be moving on, but, I can't. And then, to try and make it easier I tell myself it's better off this way. But, then I start thinking of everything we've been through together. I think about him every day, Aunt Hope."

"Honey, maybe you're not meant to be over him. I mean, look at how many times you've tried! Maybe it's not working for a reason." Hope gave Sami a meaningful look.

Sami sighed again and rolled her eyes. "I know, I know. Fate. Destiny. Blah blah blah. If we were destined to be together, if me and EJ were fated to be together, why isn't he here now, then?"

Bo came rushing up to their table just then. "Hey," he greeted them.

"Hey, Brady. What's up?" Hope asked.

"Big news," Bo raised his eyebrows. "Big, big news."

"Well, come on, then!" Sami exclaimed. "Don't leave us in suspense!"

Looking back and forth between the two women, Bo finally came out with it.

"Stefano DiMera…" he began slowly. "Died in his sleep late last night."

"Get out!" Hope cried.

"Are you serious?" Sami asked, heart beating wildly.

"Dead serious," Bo replied, chuckling at the irony of his words. "Tony found out after it happened. He didn't get around to calling the rest of us 'til a little while ago."

"Ok, we're sure that he's really dead, though, right?" Hope pressed. "This isn't some sick DiMera joke?"

"Doctors at the hospital confirmed it," Bo replied.

Sami and Hope looked at each other, each wondering the same thing.

Outside the pub, Tony was saying to someone in a black leather jacket, "Oh, come on. You can't avoid this place just because she might be in there. You're being a stubborn fool, do you know that? Look, here's some advice: Sometimes…it takes being away from someone for a while, to make you realize how much you truly need them in your life."

EJ gave him a withering glance. "She lied to me, Tony. It's like I wasn't even worth the truth."

"But," Tony replied. "She's worth it. To you. And you know that. So, don't act like she means nothing to you anymore. She's one-of-a-kind, Sami Brady. You'll never find another woman like her. Now, let's go. I need to speak with Bo."

Back inside, Sami was trying to feed Colleen but the baby girl didn't want to know from it. She started to cry and flail her arms, causing the food to splatter across Sami's shirt.

"Great," Sami muttered. "Could you guys watch them for a few seconds while I go clean this up?"

Bo and Hope agreed and Sami went off to the bathroom.

A split-second after, Tony and EJ walked into the pub.

Hope's heart just about stopped at the sight and Bo jumped up, exclaiming, "Hey, Elvis! Great to see you, man!" Just then, he realized why EJ was back in Salem. "Oh, um…sorry about your old man."

EJ just barely held back a sarcastic laugh. "Thank you, but…no loss, you know?"

"Agreed."

"EJ's just in town to see Stefano one last time before he's buried," Tony informed them. "We're not having a funeral. It's not like anyone's expected to show up…unless, you want to dance on the grave?" Tony gave an evil grin.

Bo laughed. "I'll pop the champagne!" He went off to make a call to Roman.

"Um…EJ?" Hope interrupted the joking. "I think…I think someone wants you."

It was then that EJ realized Hope was sitting with the twins. Samantha's twins. Colleen was standing up in Hope's arms, whimpering, looking towards EJ.

Wondering where Sami was, but not wanting to ask at the same time, he took Colleen from Hope. As had happened the last time, the baby immediately seemed much happier. Tony looked on, curious, as Colleen happily played with the black leather lapel on the jacket EJ had on. Tony glanced towards Hope, the only other one who knew, besides him, what had happened between EJ and Sami. She raised her eyebrows in return.

At that moment, Sami returned from cleaning the baby food off her shirt. She stopped short at the sight of EJ. EJ holding her baby girl.

Sensing her presence in the room, EJ turned to look at her. Everything he felt for her came rushing on, hitting him at once. The anger, the admiration, the hurt, the love.

It was the first time they'd seen each other since that fateful evening a month ago. The first time they'd had any contact with each other. And neither could find words to speak.

Desperate to break the tense silence, Hope spoke up. "Uh…there won't be any funeral for Stefano," she addressed Sami.

Sami barely nodded in return, never taking her eyes off of EJ. He was here. He had returned to Salem. It was completely against her wildest dreams, while at the time, being the subject of her wildest dreams. It was unbelievable, yet here he was. Right in front of her. Wearing a black leather jacket that made her want to melt. Holding her daughter, no less.

And she couldn't even find the voice to speak. To tell him how much she missed him. How sorry she was for screwing it all up. How much she loved him.

Snapping out of the trance he was in since Sami had walked into the room, EJ spoke. "Well," he started, handing Colleen back to Hope. He turned to address Tony. "We should probably get going. I have a plane to catch."

And he turned away and walked out of the pub. Without another glance. Without another word. After a slight hesitation and a glance towards Sami, Tony followed.

He was going back to England without even speaking to her.

After they had left, a shocked silence ensued.

"Aunt Hope…" Sami whispered, her voice breaking, still staring at the door.

"Go after him," Hope stated firmly. "If you really love him, Sami, and you want him back, go after him. I'll watch the twins."

Sami hesitated until Hope snapped, "GO!"

And Sami went.