Sami Brady had never felt anything close to what she was feeling as she sat on the floor with EJ and her children. Allie had climbed straight into EJ's lap from the moment they arrived home, refusing to relinquish him, and Will was trying to get Johnny to stop throwing blocks long enough to actually build something. It was a sight to behold and gave her a sense of belonging that was satisfying in a way she had never experienced. There was no show to put on, no judging relatives, no disappointed noseybodies, just EJ and their kids.

After the doctor's appointment, they had walked around town, window shopping, a new concept to the big bad Dimera. Sami had learned after the first few boutiques to not express any overwhelming interest in anything for as soon as she 'oohed' or 'aaahed', EJ would want to drag her in the shop to purchase it immediately. She had to pull him back from several stores. It was sweet since she had never had a man wanting to take care of her that much, not that any of her previous boyfriends could afford to be as generous as EJ, but even if they could, she never had the impression they wanted to. After their failed window-shopping, Sami had seen a vendor selling corn dogs and decided that was lunch. The look on EJ's face was priceless as she convinced him to try one. Sami was pretty sure the only reason he hadn't spat it out immediately was because of his prep-school politesse. She then had the pleasure of teasing him for his silver-spoon palate, until he finally kissed her making her forget all about it.

After that they decided to go home and spend time with the kids. EJ insisted on having a real lunch so they ordered in, Italian of course, and then bunked down on the floor for playtime. Will had joined them and Sami felt complete as she watched her family.

Nothing could make this more perfect, Sami thought.

As if to bely her claims, her phone beeped, alerting her to a text. It was from Barney.

Done. For 10.

"I'm feeling thirsty. Do you guys want anything?" She asked them, standing immediately after reading the text.

"No, thanks mom," Will replied and when EJ looked up at her, she gave him a pointed look.

"I'm feeling a bit thirsty. I'll join you." He answered, obviously picking up on her non-verbal cue.

Seating Allie next to her brothers, EJ extended his hand toward her and Sami sent him a smile at the gesture.

"What happened?" He questioned as soon as they were out of earshot.

"Barney texted me. It's done and it's going to cost me ten grand."

"You meant cost us."

"EJ…"

He stepped forward, gripping her fingers in his own, "We're in this together. From now on it's you and me, forever."

His eyes met hers and there was an intensity in them, one she could only describe as absolute devotion and she hoped her eyes reflected in kind. Sami nodded, vowing to never again make him regret loving her and kissed him.

It was slow and thorough, the kind of kiss that was shared, not 'just' between lovers, but soulmates. It was a feeling she never had before, not with anyone.

"Gross," Will called out, but his eyes were twinkling, "Bleach for my eyes!"

Sami stuck her tongue out at her teenage son before wrapping her hands around EJ's neck and laying a big almost over the top kiss on his lips.

After the appropriate groans, she pulled back laughing at Will as he scooped his brother and sister to take them into his room, feigning disgust.

"You should probably get to the mansion." She kissed EJ once more before stepping back

"Why?"

"To make sure you get rid of your unwanted guest." She cocked an eyebrow in his direction.

"Samantha… "

"I know, EJ. She's having your… child, but she doesn't need to live with you to do that. Right?"

"Correct," he replied, pulling her back into his arms and Sami let herself go willingly, " I'm sorry, you know. I know how hard this must be for you."

"No. It's not hard at all," she asserted with a smile, "because I got you. As long as I have you, I'm okay. Come and say goodbye to the kids before you go."

Despite what EJ had said to Samantha, the first place he went to wasn't the Dimera mansion when he left her apartment. Instead, he went to a house that held in a special place in his heart. He had meant it long ago as a gift for the love of his life. EJ had known it then, the same as he knew it now, that Samantha was and would always be his Anam cara.

As EJ pulled up the driveway, he dug into the glove compartment of the Jag and pulling out the keys. He had pretended this place was forgotten and yet it never was. He opened the door to the once abandoned house he and Samantha had come across on her wedding day to that simpleton Austin Reed and had danced to old timey music. It wasn't long after that that he had bought the house, setting to work on construction immediately. He wanted to keep the authenticity of the place, the feel they had both fallen in love with but knew they needed more space. At the time he had thought of William and any children they might have and so had added several bedrooms, an entertainment room, a study large enough for both of them, and added en suites in each room. It was quite a bit of work, but back then he had been motivated, seeing a real future with Samantha, a future he only now within his grasp again.

The land surrounding the lone house had been attached and EJ had taken the liberty of buying the land on both sides as well, because he knew what he wanted. The landscaper had a field day designing the gardens in which Samantha could roam, and the children could play. The twins would be delighted when they were a little older with the tree house he had put in between a couple of sturdy oaks beyond the garden. He had the man clear an area around the trees where he planned to teach them all the real football.

EJ turned from his daydream as he heard the door opening. He smiled as he saw the caretaker Mrs. Pearson come in.

"Mr. Dimera, we weren't expecting you." The 'we' she referred to was herself and her husband Mr. Pearson.

"Please, carry on. I'm not here to bother you from your duties."

"As if you could be a bother, sir," she shook her head at him. "Marcus is outside tending to the roses and I was merely going to dust."

"Thank you for keeping it in such amazing condition," he said and he meant it. He honestly didn't know what she was going to dust as the room didn't have a lick of dust in it. "I hope you both will consider staying on when I move in."

"Oh," she said in surprise, "You're finally moving in."

"I will be bringing Samantha, a bit later to surprise her and I'd really like your help."

"Of course," Mrs Pearson replied, a smile on her face.

When he had brought her on there, he had run his mouth, speaking freely about Samantha and how much he loved her and planned to marry her. Mrs. Pearson had been expected to only care for the house for a short while, but a few months turned into a year and then a year turned into two. It was then EJ had with a sad heart asked her to stay on indefinitely.

He sent her back a smile before making the requests for tonight. EJ didn't know how long clearing up the business with police would take so he told Mrs. Pearson 9 p.m. to be safe. Once he greeted Mr. Pearson and told the man his plans for the evening, he left to see if the Salem P.D. had actually done what Samantha had set them up to do.

By the time EJ pulled into the Dimera mansion, the police cars were already there. Crossing the threshold eh saw his stoic uncle, Roman Brady and Bo Brady in the sitting room with Nicole.

"EJ, where have you been?" Nicole exclaimed flying into his arms suddenly. EJ took a step back disengaging the woman from his person.

"Nicole, I've been visiting my children."

"You spent the night at Sami's?" Nicole hissed, her face thunderous.

EJ sighed when Roman Brady chimed in.

"Children? As far as I know Dimera you only have the one. Well, another in utero," he pointed at Nicole, " but whose counting?

Always helpful that one! EJ thought rolling his eyes.

EJ ignored them all and turned to his uncle, "Uncle what is happening here?"

"Oh, you don't know?" John looked at him and EJ thought the man was more shrewd than anyone gave him credit for. "The police have caught the Mayor's murderer. Stroke of good luck finding him trussed up and all ready to be baked like an ostrich."

"Like a what?" Bo asked.

"He meant like a turkey." EJ explained

"Both are birds that don't fly," John shrugged, turning back to the bar to top up his drink.

"No one eats Ostriches."

"Actually…" John began.

"Uncle, we are not talking about which non-flying birds are edible. The mayor's killer has been caught, that means Nicole is now free to resume her life as normal. Is that right, Detective?"

"Yes, now that the killer is off the streets, she can return to her life."

"But what about Stefano? He might want to kill me!" Nicole jumped in, alarmed.

"Tactically makes more sense to kill the assassin now. He's the one who can identify Stefano not you." His uncle chimed in. Somehow the words sounded a lot more chilling than reassuring.

"I hate to say it, but I agree with John." Roman spoke casting a dirty look his way for good measure.

"So it is over?" EJ asked, trying to steer them all back to the matter at hand.

"Not exactly, she'll be called to testify once the trial happens. Right, now we need her to come down to the station for a positive ID."

"EJ, I, um, was hoping to talk to you." Nicole turned to him, and while he knew they needed to talk, he wasn't keen on it. "Maybe you can come down to the station…"

"I'm sorry Nicole, but I am very tired, maybe we can talk when you return for your things."

"Tired?" She screamed and EJ cast his eyes to heaven, because honestly! "After spending the night at Sami's? I had to sit in an oatmeal bath for the whole night so that I could stop the damn itching and you won't even spare me a moment to talk about our child!"

"Is she caterwauling again?" John asked and with his monotonous tone, it sounded more like an insult than a complaint. "Somebody should tell her, talking about an intimate itch in public just isn't done."

EJ sent his uncle a look, before turning back to Nicole, "How about an early dinner? If it's alright with Uncle, I'll have the car pick you up when you are finished at the police station and we can get something to eat and talk."

"Fine. We can go to Chez Rouge for seven." She pronounced before storming out the mansion, with Dumb and Dumber following behind her.

"That one is going to be trouble." John remarked, waving a hand in the direction of the door.

"For someone else, not for me."

"I'm guessing by that you and Samantha worked things out."

"What makes you think that?"

"The almost Cheschire grin you walked in here with."

"No comment." He replied and yet, he sent a smile John's way as he walked out the sitting room.