One year later
Sami popped a grape into her mouth from the edible confections Belle had convinced her to use. She was actually glad she had listened to her sister's suggestions about the wedding since she had an eye for detail. Having Belle with her on the most important day of her life was something she was grateful for and something that wouldn't have happened a year ago. Things had always been strained between them, Belle like Carrie had been labeled 'the good sister' by her family and she had toed the line for all her life, doing the right thing, the expected thing.
Marrying Shawn-D was a part of that and it wasn't until they were away from the family that her eyes were opened. Shawn craved adventure while Belle craved stability and so they realized that they would never work, but breaking away from their family's expectation was no easy feat so Belle had hid out at Anam Cara with her, EJ and the kids until she felt ready to face the family. Marlena was predictably upset and John was unfazed as Sami knew he would be and he immediately offered his daughter a place a job and a place at the mansion for as long as she needed it.
Continuing her reflection, Sami also thought about all those who had tried to stand in her and EJ's way. She couldn't believe that it was only a little more than a year ago, she was still in denial, refusing to acknowledge her love for EJ and that it was getting pregnant with their baby girl Grace that had opened the way for their happily ever after. Their happiness was hard won, hell they had defeated the great Stefano Dimera and were the victors.
Stefano.
Sami still couldn't believe the man was really dead. She had spent almost her entire life hearing about the great and powerful Stefano, fearing that he would take her away like he had done to her parents. Stefano had got his due, and Sami hoped he burned in hell for his misdeeds.
There was another person that had sought to keep EJ and her apart through lies and manipulation and that was Nicole Walker. A sinister smile came to her face as she remembered the last time she saw the woman.
The hospital was quiet. Nicole had finally been moved from ICU to the medical ward at University Hospital. The bitch had survived due to Lexi's quick diagnosis and it was a fact that sometimes Sami loathed, but then when she remembered what was the woman's punishment and she felt oddly comforted, but she wanted Nicole far away from Salem, never to return. So she was stealing into her room at the hospital, Marco along for company.
Sami watched as her nemesis slept and thought that what she was about to do was a little cruel, but shook it off for Nicole had willingly lied to EJ. Only God knew how long the lie would have lasted, how many convoluted untruth she would have told and for how long.
So she sat leisurely beside the bed, baby bump, which was more like a watermelon, prominently on display. She had done it purposely to taunt the woman who made EJ believe he had lost a child. She reached over, covering Nicole's mouth and nose, not enough to cut off her air but definitely enough to wake her from her slumber abruptly. Sami felt the instant her breathing changed, eyes widening in alarm as she went to scream.
"Uh, uh, uh, I wouldn't do that if I were you," she intimated Marco with the gun aimed at Nicole's head. "Do you know how easy it would be to smother you? Just close my hands and no one would be the wiser, I mean you can't even stop me." She taunted as she did just that, suffocating her just for a moment, before letting go. "But I won't. Now they tell me, that while you don't have use of your legs and your arms are weak right now that with long term rehab you just might walk again."
"Screw you, Sami."They were the first words from her mouth, a voice sounding like bark on a grater.
"Don't forget whose holding the gun."
"You won't fire that in here, the whole hospital will hear it."
"That's true," Sami conceded and Nicole looked confused at the easy capitulation, "Marco…"
The man in question slipped the silencer from his pocket and screwed it on as Nicole's eyes widened in alarm.
"As I was saying, you will leave Salem. Your brother, you know the one I was married to, he still seems to care about you, so he'll be here in a few days, I suggest you go with him."
"You can't run me out of town…"
"Can't I? I don't know if you've heard, but I'm marrying a Dimera," she flashed her ring, "and if you stay in Salem I'll have you shipped off to some deserted island while you'll spend the rest of your miserable days crawling around in your own filth. So I'm telling you one last time…" Marco pressed his gun closer against her head, "Get out of here Nicole or you will die here."
Sami didn't even bother to give her a backward glance and despite her bravado Nicole was gone in just two days. She hadn't seen hair or hide of that bitch and she better not, for she had crossed one too many Dimeras.
"You know, it's your wedding day and there's no scowling allowed on your wedding day. It's some unwritten rule." She was so caught up in her thoughts she hadn't heard Will enter.
"I wasn't," she denied and her eldest just raised an eyebrow in her direction as he entered, holding his sister, Grace in his arms.
"You both look so beautiful, let me see you!" She gushed changing the subject and while he rolled his eyes, he allowed her to take him in, in his suit.
"Handsome mom," Will chided as Sami scooped Grace into her arms.
There had only been a few months to plan the wedding Sami wanted. She had put her foot down, telling EJ that she wouldn't get married while pregnant with Grace. No way was she getting married looking as big as a house, but time wasn't a problem for as she learned quickly, money made time obsolete.
EJ had taken care of everything for their boys. His own suit, Will's, Johnny's, and even John's were ordered from an English tailor by the name of Huntsman and they had arrived with an attendant to make any last minute adjustments. The exorbitant price tag she was sure her fiancé paid was worth it if they all looked as dashing as her son.
Grace for her part looked completely adorable in her yellow dress which matched Allie's own and the ring of flowers adorning her head was interspersed with gems and if she knew her little's girl's father at all, they were real, as well the black diamonds cufflink on Will's suit.
" The twins…"
"Are with Great-Grandma Caroline getting ready to do their part. Allie is really excited about throwing the flowers."
"I know, She's been practicing so hard." She chuckled, remembering how Allie would walk in two steps everywhere, hands flying out as she threw her imaginary flowers.
The twins were very excited for the wedding and had been chattering non-stop about it all week.
"Come in," Sami called, as she heard the knock on the door. Mia poked her head in.
Sami always thanked EJ's foresight as he had built their home to hold a soccer team, because while the two girls entering her room weren't biologically hers, she considered them both her daughters. It was a mad house having six children, but they loved it. When EJ had told her about Mia, Sami had thought of a time when she was a teenager and pregnant with Will, how if her parents or family had essentially disowned her, what she would have done. She probably would have been just as vulnerable to Mia to a man like Doctor Baker.
So after talking to EJ, they decided to ask the young girl to stay with them. Mia had moved in and at the beginning she had been as quiet as a mouse, frightened to anger them, but as Sami and EJ had cared for her as if she was their daughter, she began to loosen up. They made sure Mia stayed in school and they were both proud of how hard she worked so that she was still graduating with her class. They took her to the best doctors to make sure her and the baby were doing well. Mia's mother hadn't called once since Mia told her she was leaving and while her sister checked in every once in a while, she seemed relieved she didn't have to worry about Mia and could live her life guilt free.
EJ was amazingly supportive and he became a father figure in both Mia and Will's life. They sought him out for advice as much as they did Sami and often she marveled at how big his heart was. He had a capacity for love she had never seen before and it was marvelous.
Having both Grace and Mia's daughter, Mireya, the same day was an event in the Dimera household, almost sending EJ and Will into a tizzy.
"How is he?" Sami asked Mia, grinning as Mireya, Merry as they called her, held out her hands to her. She shifted Grace to one side and held Merry with other, laughing as the two babies grinned toothless, drooling grins on seeing each other.
"EJ is anxious to see you." The young woman answered.
"Did you give him my gift?"
"That just made it worse." Mia giggled and Sami joined in.
It was definitely not the most scandalous pictures she had ever sent EJ, a certain Chez Rouge incident came to mind, but boudoir photography was provocative and it had been three months, two days, five hours and twenty seven minutes (not that she was counting), since she and EJ had been intimate.
Grace's delivery had been difficult and Sami had bled far more than she had with her previous pregnancies delaying her recovery. By the time she felt like herself, the wedding plans were underway and trying to get everything done took a lot out of her. EJ had told her it was okay to postpone, but Sami wanted to be his wife. If having such a difficult birth had taught her anything, it was that, life was often too short. Now the day was finally here and all she could think about was marrying EJ.
"Do I even want to know?" Will asked, and they burst out giggling again.
"Alright, you four," Belle's voice came from the doorway, "Time for you to get seated and time for you, my sister, to get dressed. I've got a very anxious man down there waiting and I'm sure you don't want to keep him any longer. "
Grinning at her children, Sami handed over Merry and Grace and with final kisses watched her sister usher her kids out. When her mom popped her head in she was surprised because Marlena still had reservations about EJ. But as her mother gathered her veil, Belle whispered to her, "I had a stern talk with her."
Sami beamed at her sister, grateful for the love and understanding they shared and picked up her dress ready to marry the love of her life.
By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.
It was EJ's favorite part and the one of the two moments of the day that kept playing in his head. The first was that initial glimpse of Samantha, coming down the aisle. It was like every dream he ever had, coming to fruition. She looked amazing in white, walking toward him. He hadn't been able to take his eyes off her form. Her dress had been a point of discussion, Samantha had always wanted a perfect white dress like a princess, but after four children and multiple marriages she didn't think she could have that. EJ thought she couldn't be more wrong, because to him, this was the marriage that mattered, the one that would last forever and if she wanted to be head to toe in tulle and have harpists playing their wedding march and five million doves she would have them. As it was she wanted only one of those things and that he could give her.
Anam Cara, the place they had decided to start life anew without the shadows of Stefano Dimera hanging over seemed the perfect place to have their wedding. Samantha's family were still wary of him, and certainly didn't approve of their marriage, so instead of her father John had walked her down the aisle, a situation neither seemed too broken up about. EJ sent a smile and a wink the way of his children, standing decked out in yellow and pink. It was a situation she often found himself pinching to see if it was real.
Three children in the course of a year, ending the total at six. Mia McCormick, the girl Marco had found with Doctor Baker had joined their household and she had become as much a part of his life as William and Johnny, Allie and Grace and so had her daughter, a healthy baby girl called Mireya. He could already tell, that she and Grace would be the best of friends. Allie had been a vision in yellow, and a total professional flitting down the aisle, throwing petals like a wood sprite. Johnny had run straight to him, all those lessons forgotten as he held out the rings. EJ just gave thanks he hadn't lost them somewhere along the path. He scooped up his boy, kissing his cheek before sending off to sit with his brother and his sisters.
For EJ the rest of the ceremony was a blur. He simply remembered how Samantha looked and how he felt seeing her, knowing that this time she would be his wife truly and wholly.
He leaned down, bumping his nose against hers, in an Eskimo kiss, causing a small giggle to escape her lips. It warmed him seeing her so happy today, eyes bright, cheeks red. He pressed his lips against hers softly, a teasing kiss to draw out the pleasure. He didn't know how he had survived so long without her, body literally aching with the thought of what would follow tonight. When he finally broke the kiss, he saw Samantha's heaving chest and damn all if he would survive the reception.
The food was probably amazing, but it could have been ash for all Sami tasted of it and it was all EJ's fault. Oh, he didn't do anything overt. He was after all a Dimera, but he wouldn't stop touching her. As they sat his fingers found their way to her thigh, just resting there unmoving, within reach of the place she wanted him most and yet… nothing. When they made the rounds to thank everyone for coming, he kept his hand on her waist, before moving it up her back to touch her, trailing lightly over her skin to caress her neck and then her collar resting just a few inches from her aching breasts.
So when no one was paying them any attention, she dragged him over to the other side of the garden, to her secret place and unlocked the door.
"EJ," She breathed as his mouth came down on hers. This time he wasn't teasing as his tongue thrust forcefully into her mouth, devouring her.
When she needed air, she gasped, pulling away, but EJ was relentless, kissing down her neck as he pulled her down onto the garden furniture she insisted be placed there. It was a stroke of genius.
"Your photos were inspired, darling," he whispered into her ear as his hands went under her dress, determinedly pushing the fabric out of the way. "Did you wear those panties for me?"
She knew immediately what he was talking about, a barely there lingerie set that had a single ribbon at the back. She had hooked her heels through it, pulling the T-string away from her butt as she arched her back. Instead of answering, she merely smirked as his hands made their way between her legs to find she was sans panties and sans hair.
"Samantha!" The shocked delight on his face caused laughter to burst forth from her lips.
Her laughter was cut short by a low moan as he suddenly pulled her to the edge of the bench, flipping her dress up.
"Hold, that darling," he commanded with a cheeky smile and she did, for there was no way she was passing up his mouth on her.
EJ slipped off her shoes before bending her knees and placing her feet on the bench beside her. She was spread-eagled for him, everything on display, completely bare.
"Do you have any idea how I missed the taste of you?"
It was all he said before his dark head bent. There was no play involved, and it didn't take long, it felt like a mere moment before her body was shaking in release.
Sami looked at him, the evidence of her desire around his mouth.
"You're a messy eater," she teased, "let me help clean you up."
Leaning forward, she kissed him. EJ meanwhile fought with his zipper finally freeing himself.
"Fuck!" Sami exclaimed.
She didn't know how she had survived without him for the past couple of months, but she sure as hell wasn't going to try that feat again. He stopped her as she reached for him.
"I won't last, Samantha."
She nodded as he rose jutting proudly head beckoning her. EJ sat beside her lifting her tulle and all impaling her on him. Sami reared back from the pleasure of it all, barely holding on for dear life as EJ pushed her straight into oblivion.
As they finally came down, she looked into his eyes. "I love you Mr. Dimera."
"I love you Mrs. Dimera. Come, I think I have time for one more before we have to see off our guests."