Far Away

Disclaimer: I do not own Days of our Lives or their characters, if I did my version of the show would be very different.

Far Away
Chapter 6

Sami didn't correct him that her last name was now DiMera even if they were no longer married. He would have scoffed at her foolishness especially since she had been so adamant during the immigration hearings that her last name was Horton. Honestly she didn't have a clue as to who she was anymore, Brady, Roberts, Horton, DiMera, the names all meant vastly different things to her and signified various stages of her life so far to this point.

She wanted to say that he'd still be in her life, that he wouldn't be able to miss her because she had no intentions of letting him slip away from her. If only she could find the courage to speak the words. She thought she was damned if she did or did not say anything. Either way she was going to lose out. Between EJ and Lucas she had finally discovered that there was no middle ground. She couldn't keep both of them in her life; the tug of war for her heart was coming to the end.

EJ was making the decision for her and she was wavering between perturbed and heartbreak. Her indecision was her downfall and now she would have to live with the consequences.

Her stubbornness kept her from opening up to him, she gave him what she hoped could pass for a smile and then they headed back to the mansion without any mention of trying to remedy this situation they had suddenly found themselves in.

She had little to no sleep that night, Lucas instantly barraging her as soon as she walked in the door with a now somber if not sober EJ. She was instantly irritated by Lucas' tirade that continued on even after EJ rolled his eyes in derision and haphazardly made his way up the stairs, politely declining Sami's invitation of help and ignoring Lucas completely as if he were not in the room at all.

So Sami stayed and listened to Lucas complain of EJ's many faults and to hear him pose the question as to why once again had she felt compelled to go after him. Finally she'd had enough and excused herself from his presence refusing to give him any more attention to the ever growing litany of sins that Lucas was compiling against EJ.

She tossed and turned, punching her pillow numerous times to no avail. No matter which way she turned, she could not get comfortable. Her poor pillow suffered her wrath since it seemed like she had grown mute by not speaking her mind earlier as she had longed to do so when she and EJ had been at the lake together tonight. Sleep evaded her as her mind relived moments that she and EJ had shared since they had met.

Sometime during the night she formed a plan, she would not lose EJ. She could make him change his mind. All she needed to do was be very persuasive and he'd see that he belonged here in the mansion with them until they could get everything figured out.

Morning dawned and she felt better even if she didn't look her best, the barely visible dark shadows under her eyes belied her lack of sleep, but she would put some cover-up on and no one would be able to tell that she'd had an almost sleepless night. No, she was going to pull out all stops. She yawned and closed her eyes for a few minutes, all she needed was a quick power nap and she would be revived, as good as new. She smiled as she drifted off to sleep thinking that when she was determined, nothing could stop her.

EJ had awakened with a terrible hangover, knowing he had definitely overindulged drinking with Nicole last night. He had been surprised when Samantha had come to take him home and even more surprised when he had told her he would be moving out of the mansion. Now with his head pounding it didn't seem as good as an idea as it had last night when he had told Samantha that he couldn't do this anymore with her.

He rubbed his eyes, the daylight bothering him more than he cared to admit as he headed into his bathroom. He scanned the medicine cabinet for some aspirin, anything to stop the throbbing in his head. Luckily he found some, took out two then added another one for good measure and hoped like hell his headache would go away soon.

He didn't pack a lot of things, a few clothes in a suitcase; he would retrieve more items later. He just needed to get out while he could before he changed his mind and begged Samantha to give him another chance that he would make her see that he was the kind of man that she needed in her life.

He looked around the room and his eyes lit upon the one photograph he kept by his bedside, a picture of Samantha and the twins. God he loved them all so much that he ached; he debated on whether or not to take the photo with him. He couldn't leave it behind, even if he was leaving his heart there with them.

He made his way down the staircase, suitcase in one hand, the other running down the railing of the stairs as he walked to the foyer. He guessed she wouldn't even see him off, not that he expected her to, but it would have been nice. Maybe it was for the better, he was afraid if she asked him to, he would forsake his pride and do whatever she asked of him.

Yes, this way was better. He couldn't take watching her hold the twins in her arms while he walked away. This without a doubt would be the hardest thing he had ever done in his life.

He looked around when he reached the bottom of the staircase. He sighed and was about to go out the door when Rolf and John stopped him from leaving.

"EJ, why do you have a suitcase in your hand? Going on a business trip?" John asked as he looked EJ over carefully, his nephew looked terrible.

"Master Elvis, are you feeling well? You certainly don't look good," Rolf commented and then added, "Maybe you need some breakfast before you go on your business trip."

"No food," EJ held his hand up in protest, no way he could stomach anything to eat, just the thought of food made him want to hurl.

"Rough night?" John asked as he walked around him.

"You could say that," EJ replied cryptically, not wanting to elaborate, but he doubted he would be able to leave without telling John the truth that he was moving out.

"Trouble with your woman?" John asked, not caring if he was being nosy or not, after all it was his house and he wanted to know what was going on.

"Uncle John, when is there not trouble with Samantha?" EJ asked, questioning John with questions of his own instead of having to answer him outright.

"You're not skipping out on her and the twins are you?"

"No, it's not like that," EJ shook his head, which only made it hurt worse.

"Then how is it?"

He guessed it would be better to hear it from him instead of from someone else, "I'm moving out of the mansion."

"I know Samantha is a spitfire, but you can handle her son. Believe me, if I can tangle with her mother Blondie, you can manage whatever is going on with you and Samantha." John said confidently, urging Rolf to take EJ's suitcase away from him.

Rolf tried to pull the suitcase away from EJ's grasp, but he held onto it tightly, "Rolf, I'm leaving."

"Why doesn't the felon leave instead? You're family and he's just a, hmmm," John stroked his chin as if trying to come up with the correct word for what Lucas was to him.

"An ass?" Rolf supplied, his expression never once changing as he made his assessment of Lucas. Rolf looked at them both, "Well he is an ass, he orders me around as if I were his servant and the man has no claim or ties to ever being a DiMera. I do not and will not ever work for him."

"You hit the nail on the head Rolf," John smiled in agreement. "EJ, this is your home, don't let this inconsiderate boy run you out of here. Stay and fight for your woman."

EJ wanted to laugh over the irony of it all; he never thought he would see the day that John would be in his corner, urging him to not give up on Samantha. "Uncle John I appreciate your vote of confidence, but it's time for me to go. Samantha and I are no longer married and I don't want to have to force her to find other living arrangements. At least if she is staying here with the twins, I can be assured that they will be watched over carefully by all of you. I don't want her moving out somewhere else with Lucas."

"You still love her," John commented after hearing the tone in EJ's voice when he spoke of Samantha and the twins.

"I love her enough to let her go," EJ gave them both a wry smile and headed out the door, thankful that Samantha had not stumbled upon their conversation in the foyer.

John and Rolf stood there as EJ left, "That is one crazy DiMera." John slapped Rolf on the shoulder almost knocking him down in the process.

Rolf muttered under his breath as he tried to regain his composure, "He's not the only one."

Far Away
Chapter 7

"I wonder what little firecracker will think," John mused as Rolf gave him a curious look.

"Little firecracker?"

"Blondie's daughter," John gave Rolf a look like he was totally clueless as to who lived there and who did not.

"Miss Samantha?"

"Little firecracker suits her better," John stated as Sami started down the stairs. "Ah there she is right now."

"Talking about me?" Sami asked, giving them both a beautiful smile that lit up her face while she met them at the bottom of the stairway.

"Debating on a proper nickname for you," John smiled back at her even though he gave her no clue as to what nickname he would bestow upon her if he were given the chance.

"I'm scared to think of what you two might conjure up for me," Sami joked with them both, realizing how much she had come to enjoy their company the past few months that she had lived at the mansion with EJ. She really was starting to consider this her home and the thought took her by surprise. Never in a million years would she have thought living in the DiMera mansion could be considered fun, but it was slowly dawning on her little by little. "By the way have either of you seen EJ this morning? I need to talk to him."

Both men looked down at the floor, neither of them wanting to see Sami's good mood disappear as quickly as it had sprung up.

"Hello, have you seen EJ or not?" she asked again, worry starting to form inside her as soon as she had awoke from her nap when she realized how late in the morning it was becoming. For once the twins had not woken up at the crack of dawn and as such when Sami had finally fallen asleep she dozed for longer than she had anticipated doing so.

"Rolf," Lucas began to bellow as he entered the area that they were occupying, wearing a disgruntled look upon his features as he commented, "what is this mess? It is absolutely terrible!"

"Those are scones," Rolf rolled his eyes, already aggravated by this ingrate's intolerable behavior. "EJ likes them with tea in the mornings."

"Figures, no wonder they taste like crap," Lucas frowned as he plopped the remainder of the scone he hadn't eaten into Rolf's hand as he started to scratch his belly in front of them. "Can you fix us something edible to eat around here? I'm starving."

"Fix it yourself. You do know where the kitchen is, don't you?" Rolf stomped off, muttering under his breath about Lucas' apparent lack of manners and upbringing.

John had to turn away to keep from bursting out laughing, it was apparent to him if not Lucas that Rolf really didn't care for him at all.

"Are you going to let your hired help talk to me like that?" Lucas asked puffing up his chest in righteous indignation.

"Let me give you a clue, Rolf works for me, not you and as long as you are a guest in my house, you will give him the respect that is due to him," John said succinctly, while he may tease Rolf from time to time, no way was he going to let this pipsqueak run roughshod over him.

Turning away from Lucas before he could speak again, John motioned for Sami to come closer to him, which she did after she gave Lucas a look like he should be ashamed to speak to Rolf in that manner. Why he was as rude to Rolf as Nicole was and that irked her tremendously.

"What John?" Sami asked sliding up closer to him even though Lucas was still eavesdropping on their conversation even though he was pretending not to listen.

"I hate to tell you this but EJ left," John tried to soften up his tone with her, but he really did have a difficult time not blurting out exactly whatever popped into his mind.

"To go to work?" Sami asked, hoping against hope that EJ had forgotten his decision to leave the mansion, even though she saw the truth upon John's face before he ever answered her question.

"No, he said he was moving out," John awkwardly tried to pat her on the back; he just wasn't good with comforting people. Blondie had tried to tell him to be more sympathetic to the people surrounding him, but so far he wasn't doing such a great job with it.

"It's okay John," Sami's smile had vanished from her face. "He had told me he was going, but I was hoping he would change his mind."

"Well good riddance, that English piece of trash doesn't belong here anyway," Lucas blurted out before he thought about John being EJ's uncle.

John cut Lucas a look that would kill and warned him quietly, "You are not to ever speak of my nephew in those derogatory terms again, do you understand? If anyone doesn't belong here, it's you."

And with that John turned on his heel, leaving both Sami and Lucas alone in the foyer before his anger got the best of him and he tossed the ingrate outside of the house perimeter just for the fun of it to see the police come and arrest him again.

Far Away
Chapter 8

"Don't tell me you're upset EJ moved out?" Lucas asked Sami as she started to turn away from him, grasping her arm in a tight grip as he spun her back around to face him. "You are, aren't you? Damn it Sami what is wrong with you?"

"Leave me alone Lucas," Sami warned, it was bad enough he had insulted Rolf and John this morning in the span of less than fifteen minutes, but for him to be trying to manhandle her when she was upset was too much for her to deal with after hearing that EJ had left the mansion like he had said to her the night before.

He continued holding her arm, not allowing her to leave, "I can't believe you actually feel sorry for him. EJ wrecked our lives, you should be celebrating with me that he is finally leaving us the hell alone."

She shrugged out of his grip, not saying a word to him for fear of revealing more than she needed to do so at the moment. She quietly walked up the stairs, her energy for the day suddenly drained away with the news of EJ's departure. Lucas' words of celebrating that EJ was out of their lives only made her want to cry instead of being jubilant that he was gone.

Lucas cursed under his breath, hating EJ more and more each day. He wished he had killed the bastard when he had the chance, but at least he wasn't going to be in his way anymore. It was only a matter of time before he got Sami back in line and she'd do everything he wanted her to do and more.

EJ was having a difficult time concentrating on his job, this morning, besides his head roaring like a freaking freight train, he now had been informed by his secretary Ruthie that Nicole Kiriakis was outside demanding to see him, before he could even finish telling her now was not a good time, Nicole pushed the door open to his office completely ignoring his secretary's protest that Mr. DiMera was busy at the moment.

"I apologize Mr. DiMera for the intrusion," Ruthie scowled at Nicole with a look of disgust.

"It's quite all right Ruthie," EJ nodded his head even though the slightest movement caused him to wince. He was not going drinking with Nicole ever again, of that much he was sure of as his hangover was continuing far longer than he had anticipated this morning.

Ruthie shut the door to his office still frowning at Nicole who was oblivious to people around her if they couldn't help her further her favorite agenda which was whatever made her happy and right now her happiness hinged on getting EJ into bed with her. When she accomplished that goal, it would make Sami pea green with envy and she relished the day when she would one up her again taking another man away from her once more. Why it was almost like shooting fish out of a barrel.

"Aren't you going to tell me good morning?" Nicole pouted her lips when EJ gave her a look like she was disturbing her by her presence, when he was practically kissing her feet last night, not to mention spilling delicious secrets to her that would hurt Sami all the more when she told her all about how EJ was now her confidant, not her.

"Good morning Nicole," EJ didn't want to deal with her this morning, not after his sleepless night and terrible morning he had dealt with by leaving the mansion. Leaving his wife and children behind. He had to focus on the matter at hand, find out what Nicole wanted so that she would be leaving as quickly as possible. He had a lot of things to take care of today, especially since he had subleased his apartment to Steve and Kayla for the next year. "What do you need?"

"What a curt tone to use for your best friend," Nicole remarked as she cast EJ a hurt look.

"Nicole, remember we have a professional relationship, as for us being best friends I can't honestly claim to call you that," EJ shrugged his shoulders, he didn't want to hurt her, but she was seriously mistaken if she thought they were the best of friends. He had used her as a means to an end, to get Sami jealous, but now he was seeing Nicole was thinking something else about their relationship entirely.

"So you're telling me those secrets you whispered to me last night are not the confessions of one best friend to another?" Nicole leaned in closer to the desk, trying to make her pitiful attempt at achieving cleavage look enticing, but EJ never even noticed in the slightest.

"Nicole, I said a lot of things last night," EJ rubbed his forehead trying his best to remember exactly what Nicole was talking about because most of the night was a bit fuzzy for him around the edges beyond him making his intentions known to Sami that he would be moving out of the mansion.

"What about how you were going to lie to Sami about the annulment not going through," Nicole said with a malicious gleam in her eye.

"Change of plans," EJ remarked not saying more to Nicole and hoping his reluctance to say anything else would encourage her to leave.

Nicole looked around his office, something was off and then she spotted it, his suitcase was in the corner. "Oh my god EJ! Did you move out?" She was practically squealing with glee, why this was better than that old secret EJ planned to use on Sami anyway. She jumped out of her chair rushing over to EJ and tried to sit down in his lap.

"Nicole, you're in my personal space," EJ stated rolling his chair back away from her as best as he could, the look in her eyes was starting to frighten him a bit, she looked almost like a woman possessed.

"EJ," Nicole grabbed at his tie, attempting to pull him closer, but he only swatted her off from him, "now we can really and truly be together. If you've left Sami, then that means there is hope for me."

EJ shook his head as he extracted her hand from his tie, hoping she hadn't ruined one of his favorite ties when she started pawing at him. "Nicole, I'm sorry, but what you are hoping for isn't going to happen."

"Oh come on EJ, you know you want me," Nicole tried her best to sit in his lap, but he moved away before she could plop down resulting in her arse hitting the floor. She sputtered in anger when she realized EJ had no intention of furthering their relationship beyond what had taken place between them. "EJ what about those kisses you gave me?"

"Nicole, don't embarrass yourself by trying to chase after me. I'm really not interested," EJ was trying to let her down easy, but she wasn't letting him. "You're my client and I'm doing my best to get you a decent settlement from Victor, but anything beyond that is not something I want to pursue."

"Please you can't still be in love with Sami. She has treated you like dirt." Nicole pulled herself off the floor without EJ's help, her pride smarting by his words to her.

"I'll not discuss my wife with you," EJ shook his head, wanting her to leave. He really had taken things too far with her and now he wished he had listened to Sami's and Mickey's advice of steering clear of Nicole.

"Your ex-wife," Nicole stressed taking her pocketbook in hand as she reached for the door that led out of EJ's office, slamming it forcefully as she exited.

EJ's hangover felt like it had expounded one hundred times over after Nicole left, she had a predatory gleam in her eyes for him and for the first time it disturbed him more than he cared to admit.

Far Away
Chapter 9

The next few days passed by like she was in a dreary fog to Sami, she waiting hopefully for a visit from EJ to see the children, but she hadn't seen him at all. She had been moping around the mansion, feeling sorry for herself and then her sorrowfulness turned to anger. How dare EJ not come by to see Johnny or Allie! She could see why he was avoiding her, but it didn't make the pain she was facing over his departure any less.

She was growing more irritated and distant with Lucas too. Everything he seemed to say or do made her resentful of his presence in the mansion. Suddenly the mansion seemed to be too small to hold them all in the house and once again she wished that she could see EJ.

He had told her to come by his office so that they could go over custody arrangements. Her heart constricted even thinking about the next steps they would now be taking with one another. She thought they shouldn't even have to consider drawing up papers, EJ had promised her that he wouldn't do anything underhanded concerning the children and she believed he would stay true to his word.

Well she would do just that, her mom was at home tonight and after Sami had asked her to watch the twins for her she set out for EJ's office. She glanced at her watch hoping she would catch him before he had left the office, she knew many nights he kept late hours trying to procure more clients or at least that is what he had lead her to believe. What if he had been consorting with Nicole all those nights when he had claimed to be working? Just thinking that could be a possibility made her even angrier.

Well she'd show him she was doing just fine without him around. She'd make him think she hadn't thought a thing about him leaving, that she was getting along without him as fine as he was doing without her in his life. Her anger kept building up minute by minute as she battled the traffic that led into the city. Stupid drivers getting in her way when she needed to see EJ, why she almost could understand road rage by the time she made it to the law office.

She almost thought she was too late to catch EJ, that he would already be gone, she caught herself before she said home, because she honestly had no clue as to where he was staying. She glanced at the deserted parking lot, deserted with the exception of one car EJ's and now her vehicle.

Slamming the door to her vehicle a bit harder than necessary, she walked quickly to the front door stopping for a minute before she tried opening the door. She hoped she wouldn't have to knock to enter, that would signal to EJ that she was eager to see him. She breathed a sigh of relief when the door opened and she walked the now familiar path to EJ's office.

She hadn't told him she was proud of him, but she was, so many lost opportunities of things she should had said swooped around her like a flock of vultures, and she had to shake her head trying to calm her nerves before she entered EJ's office. It wouldn't do for her to look frazzled or nervous; she needed to be cool, calm and collected, having all her wits about her.

She had taken extra care in her appearance before she left the mansion, donning her favorite pair of black slacks, ones that made her waist look small, with an almost sheer but not quite button up white shirt that she left enticing unbuttoned at the start of her cleavage, her favorite black heels, ones that made her taller even though she would never come close to reaching EJ's height. Her hair was pulled up in a messy up-do with a few errant strands falling, her makeup was flawless. Her stomach might be churning with anticipation, but she knew at least she looked good.

His door was cracked just the slightest bit, and she observed him for a few minutes, he must be concentrating on something important she thought as he kept going from one file to another that was spread upon his desk. Damn him for having his reading glasses on, Sami thought uncharitably, he looked so sexy when he was wearing them, just another thing to tear down her defenses she thought miserably as she put on what she hoped would pass for a happy smile as she knocked lightly on his door, one perfectly manicured hand holding on to the outer rim of the door waiting for him to ask her to come into his office.

EJ hadn't been expecting anyone, it was getting late and in the quiet of the office after hours he managed to get many things done. His afternoon had been shot to hell after Nicole's encounter and he felt a rush of anger start to build when he heard the knock on the door. He had told her that he didn't want anything from her and apparently she was determined to aggravate him more, but then his aggravation dissipated when he noticed the color of nail polish, it was black, and Samantha wore black nail polish.

He had to remind himself not to smile, she had come to him, it had taken almost a week, one of the longest ones he had ever had to bear, but she was here. He took a deep breath hoping he didn't sound too eager and said, "Come in."

Far Away
Chapter 10

She almost turned back and ran to the door when she heard his voice, just hearing the sound of it was enough to turn her into a puddle because she had even missed hearing him speak. Damn she had it bad and she didn't know how calm she could be, but she would try, opening the door all the way, steeling herself with a false bravado that she was nowhere close to feeling.

She is able to take a look at him more closely now that she had been invited into his office, noting with a hint of satisfaction that he didn't look like he has had much sleep this past week either. She wouldn't dare mention it to him that was until he pointed out the exact same fact to her.

"Samantha, what a surprise to see you this evening," EJ began almost glibly before adding insult to injury. "Are you doing all right? You seem a little pale like you haven't been getting enough rest."

Sami's face contorted into a scowl before she could stop its progression, "If I'm pale it may be due to the fact that I'm the only one taking care of the twins when they wake up during the night. Have you forgotten how difficult it is to get them back to sleep once they wake up?"

"Why doesn't Lucas help you out?" EJ asked goading her on a bit even though it bothered him tremendously that he wasn't there with the twins at night. He had missed singing to them silly songs and kissing them both goodnight before they went to sleep.

"The babies could scream at the top of their lungs and never wake Lucas up. Apparently he snores louder then they cry, He's no help to me in that department," Sami blurted out before she thought better of it, instantly wishing she could take it back when she saw the slight smirk cross EJ's face briefly before he extinguished it. "Don't you even get that snug look on your face!"

"What are you talking about Samantha? Do I now have to monitor my facial expressions in your presence?"

"You arrogant ass! I don't know why I even bothered coming here." She started to turn on her heel to leave when EJ's voice stopped her.

"Samantha, please don't go. I didn't mean to upset you," EJ spoke in a softer tone, hating that within a few minutes of being in the same room with her after a weeklong separation that they were already fighting with one another.

"Sure you don't" Sami cocked her head giving him a look of pure disbelief. "I guess it doesn't bother you that you have entirely upset the twin's routine either."

"What do you mean?" EJ asked finally rising up from his desk, tossing down his glasses into the heap of paperwork that is strewn across his desk. "Is something wrong with Allie or Johnny? Why didn't you call me?"

"You left, not me," Sami threw out at him, turning her back as he quickly closed the gap between them, reaching out to her to gently grasp her arm, causing her to turn around to face him.

"Are the babies okay?" His voice was tinged with regret, he would never be able to live with himself if he had caused harm to either one of those precious babies, and they meant the world to him, the reason he had worked so hard to start a new life, one without using his father's way and misuse of power.

"Why do you care?" The question stung him as soon as she said it, but she never had been one who could keep her emotions bottled up for very long with only the very big exception of not letting the man she truly loved not know how she felt about him.

"Samantha, you know I love both those children more than anything in this world. I would never knowingly do anything to harm them. I miss them both so much that it is torture not to be with them."

She turned her face away, knowing what he said was the truth. EJ was many things, not all of them good, but she knew deep down in her soul that he loved Johnny and Allie, he had never kept those feelings secret from anyone, especially not her.

"Are the babies all you miss?" She asked quietly, wondering what his answer would be to her question. Could he have missed her as badly as she had missed him?

She felt his fingers on her chin bringing her eyes back to face him even though he never said a word, Sami could see it in his eyes, ones full of sadness and pain, knowing in her heart that she had caused a great deal of it to be placed there by her actions. She wanted to avert her eyes, to not see the answer to her question without him answering it aloud.

She needed to get out of here quick before she admitted everything to him, because she could feel herself becoming lost if she looked too deeply into his eyes and god knew she was lost enough already…