Sami picked up her phone and in lieu of the seriously random text she had received from John, she wished she had kept her cell number from her mother's brainwashed husband.

King. Harpy. Chez Rouge. 7. Tonight.

It read like an old time telegram and Sami wondered if her step-dad had finally lost it. Even more so after she received the next message, for though she didn't think it was possible, the second one made even less sense.

The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

It wasn't until about a half hour later when the doorbell rang that she actually started to put the pieces together.

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"John called me," Marlena answered as she entered, "he said that you had a dinner date at Chez Rouge for seven and that you needed me to keep the kids."

"What?"

"Sami," her mother continued, obviously misinterpreting her confusion, "you know you can always call me if you need a night out. Does this have anything to do with EJ?"

"What makes you say that?" She hedged as John's texts suddenly made sense. EJ… Elvis… The King. That meant the harpy was Nicole. John Black just went up a notch in her yes.

Her mother looked away briefly as she said, "I may have ran into Lucas earlier."

"Wow, immature much? He sure didn't waste any time telling on me to my mom!"

"Sweetie…"

"Mom, no disrespect, but whatever happens between EJ and me, stays between EJ and me, okay? Now, thank you for watching the kids, I appreciate it."

With that, she left to go get ready. Knowing that EJ was going to be at Chez Rouge with that bitch made Sami see red. It was also the only color he would see as well. She reached in the back of her closet to pull out a little red number she had bought a long time ago, but never had the opportunity to wear. It was a sleeveless little number, dipping low in the back, fabric barely covering the top of her ass and had a deep V at the front held together by tiny chains. It had reinforced padding because there was no way she could wear a bra with it. It put in the mind of the observer bondage and with more than a hint of skin showing something far more sensual. It skimmed her body like a second skin and ended around mid thigh, making her normally short legs look miles long. Sami knew the barely there panties she slipped on would drive EJ crazy. The small triangle barely covered her intimate secrets and with a single string in the back, she could have gone bare, but she also knew he would enjoy it better this away. After pinning her hair in a side sweep and applying light makeup she popped on in the twins to give them kisses and to tell Will that she was going out. Her eldest whistled jokingly and as Sami left the room, she was pretty sure she heard him say 'poor EJ'. Not giving her mom a chance to give any unsolicited advice she left, her thoughts on EJ and only on EJ.

The car ride to Chez Rouge was the definition of awkward. Instead of immediately going to the restaurant as EJ had intended, Nicole insisted on returning to the mansion to change. As he waited impatiently at the bottom of the stairs, he realized his date had dressed to impress. It was Nicole's version of a little black dress, short, sleeveless, baring her shoulders to perfection with cutouts that showed off her figure. She was a beautiful woman, of course she was, he wouldn't have even entertained the thought of sleeping with her otherwise. He appreciated how she looked as a man who acknowledged a good looking woman when he saw one, but she didn't arouse him, she didn't heat his blood. Hell Samantha had done more for him sleep-crumpled, as she had been that morning. EJ realized then that he had to let Nicole know that there was no future there, not that there ever had been. If Samantha hadn't realized they were meant to be together, EJ was sure he would have tried to make a go of it in his grief, but he knew in his heart it would have ended the same way, in unnecessary heartache while he still pined for Samantha.

"You look very nice Nicole," he complimented.

Her pursed lips showed she was far from pleased by his lukewarm reception to her dress and so she had stayed quiet until they were seated and ordering at Chez Rouge.

Once they had taken the first bites of their appetizer, he began, "Nicole I want you to know…"

"EJ, I need to ask you something," she interrupted. "Do you even want this baby?"

"Of course I want my child Nicole, how could you ask me that?"

"I don't know EJ you tell me! You haven't been here, despite the fact that I have lived at your house. You haven't asked me about doctor's appointments or if I've been taking care of myself. I've barely seen you and when I do, you're with Sami."

"Nicole…" He began, but his phone went off. "If you'll excuse me…"

She huffed, but EJ couldn't afford to ignore his phone. It might be Samantha about the children or it might be work.

It was Samantha, but it definitely wasn't about the children.

I thought I told you to kick the bitch out not take her to dinner.

Samantha? Where are you?

Look up.

He did and his eyes met hers as she crossed the room. EJ's jaw dropped and so did his fork as soon as he caught a glimpse of what she was wearing.

"EJ, are you alright?" Nicole asked.

"Yes, just some business. I'll be with you in a moment."

Crikey! What are you wearing?

Brought the British out, have I?

He could practically hear her smirk through the phone.

I'm not actually wearing anything much underneath this dress. Want to see?

Fuck! He thought.

He sure as hell did want to see, but Nicole was right there and he needed to let her know there was no future for them beyond co-parenting with their child, but before he could reply a picture came to his phone and EJ almost lost his mind. Samantha was on display His eyes darted up to meet her across the room and she was sitting in a corner booth, mostly hidden from view. . She winked and he almost came right then and there.

You will pay for that.

I certainly hope so. You have five minutes, EJ.

Samantha…

Five minutes.

He watched as she pointedly dropped the phone on the table and took a sip of water. EJ put his phone back into his coat pocket before turning back to Nicole.

"Where were we?"

"Honestly, EJ I don't know. Do you even want to be here?"

An emphatic 'no' came to mind, for he would much rather have his face buried between Samantha's legs than spend a moment more disillusioning Nicole, but he didn't say that.

Instead, he said, "Nicole, I care about my child."

"And what about me, EJ?"

"You are the mother of my child and I will always be grateful to you for that."

"Gratitude. You weren't talking about gratitude when we had sex in that elevator."

"No. I wasn't, but I also wasn't calling out your name." He said pointedly reminding her of her dig at Samantha. "I am truly not saying this to hurt you Nicole, but there hasn't been a moment since the day I meant Samantha that I haven't been consumed by her. I told you that and you even started spending time with me to make her jealous, so she could finally admit her feelings for me."

"And she never did! She jumped back and forth between you and Lucas…"

"Enough!" He waved a hand cutting her off. "Lucas in the no longer in the picture and Samantha and I are going to build a life together."

"And what happens when she leaves you out in the cold yet again for Lucas or some other man who her family doesn't think of as the devil's spawn?"

It was a question he had asked himself multiple times, on the days when his insecurities got the best of him, so he answered her as he often answered himself, "Even then I would love her."

She was quiet for a moment and EJ could see the rage building on her face, "If that's so, you should build a life with her, and stay far away from mine."

"And what does that mean?"

"It means I think it is better if we cut ties completely and you raise your other children with your precious 'Samanthar'. I won't have my child being a second class citizen to Johnny or the new baby." She spat vindictively.

"You want me to give up rights to my child." EJ said calmly while inwardly he seethed.

"If you and Sami are going to play happy families, you won't need my baby." Her tone was spiteful.

Taking a deep breath to quell the anger, he laughed and he saw the surprise flicker across her face. "The men in Salem must be weak if you think that uninspired manipulation will work on me. Do not forget who I am Nikki. If you think for one second that I wouldn't fight for my child with everything I have, you're sorely mistaken, but feel free to take it to court if you want to. I am sure your many questionable decisions from the past would make excellent fodder for family court."

"You would do that to me?"

"Isn't that what you were threatening only a moment ago? Stay with Sami and I lose my child? You'll find if you test me, you'll be the one surviving on supervised visitations. But since we are both reasonable people it won't come to that."

She looked at him for a long moment, probably trying to ascertain if he was serious, before she said, "I need to use the bathroom."

"You do that."

EJ watched her go, able to concede that this time his uncle was right. Nicole Walker was turning into more trouble than she was worth.

Sami watched the exchange between Nicole and EJ covertly. It was ridiculous she knew to be here and be so jealous, especially since it looked like they were hardly having a friendly tete a tete. After a heated exchange, she saw Nicole stand and make her way to the restroom as EJ watched, his jaw twitching with rage. Now it wasn't so much about her jealousy as it was about making sure he was fine. As soon as Nicole was out of sight Sami walked over to him and sat in the unoccupied seat.

"Are you okay? You had your Dimera face on."

He smiled immediately on seeing her, "Dimera face?"

"It's not dissimilar to your angry face and somehow I always get the impression somebody is about to go swimming with the fishes."

"If she wasn't the mother of my child, she would be."

Sami winced.

"What?" He asked, concerned.

"Nothing. It's stupid."

"Nothing you ever say is stupid." He reached out for her hand, cradling it between his own.

"I think there is an entire town that would disagree with you there, Elvis."

"Well, I find your particular brand of machinations ingenious. So tell me."

"It just…" she shrugged, looking down, "hurt hearing you call her the mother of your child. It's stupid because I'm the one who pushed you away, but I've only ever been the mother of your child before this. Like I said, it's stupid!"

EJ cupped her chin, forcing her gaze up to his, "Nothing you have ever said to me was stupid and there is a part of me that wishes that you were still the only woman who had that title. It's my fault it no longer is, but I promise you you'll never have to worry about me ever again. Not ever." He promised, looking deep in her eyes, "particularly if you keep wearing dresses like this."

Sami chuckled, "I'm not going to be able to wear much of anything for about another six months."

"It won't matter," he admitted hand still holding her chin, "Do you have any idea how hard your naughty little picture made me?"

"That was the plan."

"And what were you thinking about that got you… ready?"

"You," she whispered, huskily, "you inside me."

EJ smirked that devilishly smirk of his as he scooted closer, releasing her face to slip his hands between her thighs. Sami sighed when he finally reached her panties, but he didn't touch her where she wanted him most.

"Take these off. I want them," he pulled the elastic, snapping it back in place against her.

"EJ," she moaned.

"That's your punishment. I want to know that while you are walking out of here, thinking of me filling you, that you can feel your desire."

"EJ…"

"Now, sweetheart." He commanded, snapping her panties once again.

Sami looked around, but the few patrons present weren't paying attention to them and so she pulled shimmying off her panties before passing them to EJ. Closing his fists around the scrap of fabric he took a good long sniff bringing heat to her face and fire to his eyes in desire. EJ Dimera was sin incarnate.

"You smell amazing, darling and I bet you taste even better." He whispered in her ear.

"Of course you're here!" Nicole's shrill voice interrupted their play.

Sami saw EJ slip her panties discretely in his pocket.

"Always a pleasure, Nicole." Sami smiled in a far better mood than when she first arrived at Chez Rouge.

The woman turned to EJ, "I'm not feeling well, can we go?"

"Are you alright? Do you need a doctor?"

Nicole shot her a triumphant look and Sami fought the urge to roll her eyes. The pathetic woman before her didn't know that had it been a dog on the side of the road, EJ would have shown concern.

"No, I'm just a little nauseous."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, EJ. I'm fine," the cow simpered.

"Alright, I'll call the car for you."

"For me?"

This time Sami didn't fight her smug smile as Nicole pursed her lips in agitation. EJ called the driver and asked him to also bring the car around as well as something about his suitcase.

"Let me walk you out." EJ offered to Nicole.

"I'll be here when you get back," Sami couldn't help a final jab, as she motioned to the waiter to clear the table.

When EJ returned Sami said, "Little woman get in alright?"

He chuckled as she sat with his briefcase, "What's in the briefcase, Mr. Hot-Shot-Attorney?

"Money for your less than savory friend."

"Hey!" She pouted on Barney's behalf. "We can drop that off once we leave."

"Good, because after that I have a surprise for you."

"What kind of surprise?"

"The kind that will remain one." He responded, laughing as she swatted at his arm.