"EJ!" Samantha exclaimed, turning to him in disbelief as they pulled up to the once abandoned house.

After they left Chez Rouge, they had swung by the warehouse to thank Samantha's contact Barney. EJ had draped his jacket over her shoulders refusing to let another man, even her 'friend' see her in that dress. So as she chatted with him, EJ used the opportunity to make a quick call. There was something bothering him about Nicole. It may be her volatile behavior that evening or making the absurd suggestion that he should give up rights to his child, but EJ didn't trust her and wanted eyes on her all the time. If such should prove unnecessary, then so be it, but he was going with his instincts until that time. Once Samantha was ready they left and EJ drove to the estate now known legally as 'Anam Cara'.

EJ fought back tears as he helped her from the car leading her up the steps to what was supposed to be their new home as Samantha took it in with wide eyes. As he opened the door Mr and Mrs. Pearson emerged.

He cleared his throat delicately before speaking, "Samantha, I'd like you to meet the Pearsons. They've been caretakers of this home for the last few years.

"Years? EJ?" He smiled at her surprise.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Samantha." Mr. Pearson was the first to step forward and then his wife followed. "We will leave you to your evening. The garden has been set as you requested sir."

"Thank you," EJ responded, grinning as Mrs. Pearson sent him a wink and a thumbs up.

As soon as they were out the door, Samantha turned to him. "EJ! This is the house where we danced to that old music! How did you… When did you? Years? And it looks so changed! Did you…"

"Darling, one question at a time," he chuckled, leaning down to kiss away the single tear that fell from her eye. "I started looking into it the day after your failed wedding to 'Dallas', and I bought it not long after. It needed a few repairs and I did some expansion for our children."

"EJ, we didn't even have the twins when you bought this?"

"We had William," he answered, "and I always knew we were meant to be together and that one day we would want a place of our own. Come, there is something I want to show you."

He led her toward the rear of the house entering the garden. They walked on the stone path, well lit now by solar lanterns, to the gazebo with a small covered table and two chairs. As they approached they heard floating in the air, the sweet melody of Frank Sinatra's Stay.

EJ couldn't resist, so he said, "Dance with me."

"EJ, I can't dance to this!" Samantha denied.

"I thought we already settled this darling, you can do anything you put your mind to."

He bent extending his hand, but watched as Samantha sent him a grin, a sudden burst of confidence filling her. She placed her hand lightly in his palm before teasingly snatching it away and spinning away from him. EJ's smile was brilliant as he realized she wanted to play and so he stood waiting. He didn't have to wait long as Samantha plastered her body against his back, fingers reaching around to graze sensuously against his chest before spinning once again. This time EJ wouldn't let her go. Even though it had been a while since they had danced, they flowed seamlessly in the tango, advancing and retreating on each other in much the way they had that night on the pier. It was a dance of two lovers, the teasing banter of their bodies expressing what filled their hearts.

"I love you," EJ whispered as they danced. "You, Samantha Brady are the perfect fit for my soul and there is nothing and no one that will ever make me let you go."

"Oh, EJ," She sighed, tears running unchecked down her cheeks. "I'm sorry it took me this long to see it, but you are the man I've dreamt of all my life. The man I didn't think I deserved because you taught me how to love without reservations, without promises to change just fully, completely, and you're stuck with me Dimera, forever."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he said as the song finally came to an end. EJ took her hand in his and knew he couldn't wait a moment more. "Come."

EJ escorted her to the table, pulling out her chair, and sinking to one knee.

"I don't think any other words need to be said, save that you will do me the honor of becoming my wife. " He pulled the velvet box from under the sheet covering the table. He had his man drop off the diamond ring earlier at the house. It seemed right to ask now that the past had been put behind them and they were planning a future. The future, he always dreamed of.

EJ heard Samantha gasp as he opened the box, to reveal the cushion cut diamond. He opted for platinum as the setting thinking of how it would look against her delicate fingers.

"Yes!" She answered and the joy filling his heart could not be contained. EJ slipped the ring on her finger and pulled Samantha in for a kiss. It was an explosion of joy and longing, but when he felt her reaching for his shirt, he pulled back.

"Dessert first," he chided playfully.

"Dessert is what I had in mind," Samantha replied wetting her lips with her tongue in a move that almost brought him to heel.

Instead of giving in, he swept the white cover off the table to reveal at least five types of sweet dishes. They both dug in, despite her pout, feeding each other bits of decadent fruit and chocolate, sweet things that tasted sweeter from fingertips and mouths.

When Samantha dripped some of the chocolate on her chin, EJ leaned forward swiping it with his tongue. Her's eyes blazed with desire as they met his and instead of saying anything she simply stood, gathering the cloth that had been covering the food.

EJ followed, taking her hand, as she pulled him deeper into the garden where she laid the cloth on spongy grass. EJ watched as Samantha brazenly slipped her dress over her head, baring herself to him in the moonlight and he thought she looked a lot like a wood sprite, come to pull him from this land to the next.

She walked to him in nothing but her heels, and EJ took in a gulp of air wondering how he got so lucky that this was the mother of his children and that finally she loved him as much as he loved her. Pulling on his tie, she discarded it, making quick work of his buttons before pushing shirt and jacket off his shoulders. Samantha was obviously determined to get him naked and EJ had not a single protestation to utter as she slipped off his belt and unzipped his pants, reaching easily into his boxers to grip his already hard length.

"Samantha," he breathed as her hand pumped him.

She looked up, eyes shining as she finally, finally kissed him. It began as an exploration, lips meeting his, with warmth, but her fingers continued stroking him and soon EJ was groaning aloud tongue seeking to devour her own. He thrust into her mouth with his tongue as he wanted to do with that place between her legs, the hot wet suction arousing him even more.

"Samantha," he groaned again, this time batting away her hand in order to check her readiness for him.

"Don't need it. I've been ready since you left me today," she explained as EJ fingers touched her.

As he felt the wetness on her thighs and finally the slippery heat of her desire, dripping on his fingers, he understood.

She pulled away as he touched, a smile on her face as she stepped back, sliding to the ground to lie flat, legs spread in invitation on the white sheet she had laid down.

"Fuck!" he exclaimed, seeing her so open for him.

"Need you in me, EJ. Please." She begged, head thrown back, her back arched and breasts lifted toward him. How could he resist?

Sinking down EJ positioned himself in her.

"EJ!" She screamed, when finally - Finally! - he bottomed out.

"Samantha!" Came his answering cry as her legs locked around his waist, heels digging into his back as she tried to force him to thrust hard and fast inside her, but EJ wasn't done yet, he wanted this to last. Grasping her hands, he brought them over her head as he stilled inside her, until her frenetic movements calmed and he just breathed. EJ savored the feel of her around him, her breasts pressed against his chest. There he stayed inside her, until they were both mad with need, until every sense in his body was primed for this one act and then, only then did he retreat so that he could thrust home once again, their simultaneous screams echoing in the garden.

"EJ! EJ! EJ! EJ!" His name emerged from her lips, a litany as finally, her climax crashed over her and EJ allowed himself the reward of following her.

"I must've been stupid, could've been having that for years," he heard Samantha whisper to herself a while later. EJ couldn't help the smug smile on his face, as he gathered her in his arms, even when she noticed and slapped him.

Nicole Walker had always wanted the same things, family, love, security. She didn't have to be chosen first, in fact coming in second or third was an acceptable position and unlike other women, she was willing to work for it. The only thing on that list that was non-negotiable was security and for someone who had been without dollar or dime she knew how important that was. It was why she had let love go and married Lucas so long ago, for security. It was the reason she had married Victor, but the damn old bat just wouldn't die so she could live happily ever after with his 'dough'.

When she had fled from Salem, she had never planned to return, but finding out ol' Vic was alive provided the chance of a lifetime to gain security without the other hassle. It was like a dream come true, except she had met EJ Dimera. He was talk, dark, handsome, rich and as Stefano's heir, he had just that hint of gray to keep things exciting. It was an added bonus that he was married to Sami Brady and every time that bitch saw them together she hit the roof.

EJ, Nicole soon realized, was everything she ever wanted in a man he was loyal and loved his family, he had enough money to keep her in a certain lifestyle and since Sami was stupid enough to keep pushing him away he was ripe for the picking.

The baby had been a surprise, a miracle really, one she never thought she would be afforded and she was ecstatic about it. It was also her trump card, the one thing that would guarantee her tied to EJ forever and he would love her, like he loved Sami. She saw how he doted on Johnny, hell he even doted on the other kid and it wasn't even his, so she should be in the clear, except 'Scami' Brady messed everything up again turning up pregnant the same time as she did.

Now she didn't even have the luxury of staying at the mansion. She had been given a reprieve last night as EJ had been too occupied by Sami to make sure she moved out, but she had no doubt John would be up in arms this morning

Seriously, she had been expecting to be stashed here for weeks as the Salem P.D. stumbled about looking for the killer, instead they had found him in days.

When the hell did they get competent?

Rising up, she grimaced at the twinge of pain she felt in her lower abdomen as she moved to the bathroom. Pulling down her pajamas to have a shower, she screamed as she saw blood, thick and fleshy, in the seat of the pants.

What? Is there more? Oh my God, I might be losing the baby! The thoughts ran through her head.

Her next thought was of EJ, but she knew she couldn't tell him. Had he even come back to the mansion after his outing with Sami. Nicole knew after last night that he would be glad to be rid of her and Sami would be pregnant once again, while she suffered alone. So no, she wasn't going to tell anyone and she also couldn't go to the hospital either. Lexi, EJ's sister worked there and would no doubt tell him she had checked in. Remembering the fertility center on Maxfield Rd., she grabbed a clean underwear and a pad and got dressed quickly, taking off in her car before anyone saw her.

When she got there Nicole was a wreck. She was losing her baby she was sure of it. The kindly nurse led her straight in as soon as she explained what was happening and in just a few minutes, a doctor was with her, examining her swiftly. She was still bleeding and Nicole couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

The doctor looked grave as he ordered a nurse to ready the ultrasound machine. Nicole could hear nothing over the pounding in her ears as he applied the cool gel to her tummy. Still, she sent up a silent supplication that she hadn't lost her baby.

The silence in the office was deafening, as the man moved the probe. Should she hear a heartbeat or some kind of swishing sound. It was always that way in the movies.

"Did you have an ultrasound before?"

"No," she replied tearfully, "I saw someone murdered and have been in a kind of…"

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this Ms. Walker…"

"Oh my God, I lost my baby."

"Not exactly," the man grimaced. " You have what we call a partial molar pregnancy."