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AN: This picks up the very next morning. We'll go back to the intro of chap 6 when she heads to school in the next chapter. ……………………………………………………………………………………………
Sam was lying in her bed looking at the ceiling with absolutely nothing motivating her to get herself up and start the day. Normally a Saturday meant being up with the sun to head into town and have some fun. Spending an entire day at Greystone made her want to bury her head under the covers indefinitely. When she had finally gotten to a place where she loved the penthouse Sonny thought they needed more space and moved them out here. The place was a fortress… a beautiful fortress, but a fortress nonetheless. Spending Saturday here meant no chocolate chip pancakes at Kelly's for breakfast, no horseback riding at Wyndemere with Nikolas and Emily, no hanging out at the pier drinking slushies and most of all it meant no chance of seeing Lucky. The past few weeks he had even come out to Wyndemere. He would never get on a horse, but he would hang out. They would speak Latin so he could get in practice for his oral exams and she loved the way his voice sounded when he was struggling with his pronunciation. And dang it there were the tears again.
She had to remind herself out loud that crying all weekend or being difficult would only make Sonny dig his heels in more. Something in her wished he had gone on that business trip with Jason. Samantha didn't normally find herself at odds with Sonny over much. Once they had gotten over their initial hurdles of the whole blended family situation things were smooth. She had adopted a don't-rock-the-boat attitude years ago in the orphanage and during her subsequent moves, so playing by the new daddy's rules were pretty simple. He was a control freak who would give her the world so long as it was on his terms and since she never really had cause to go against his terms they never had any real problems. Sure there were the typical things like fighting with her brother, coming home late, forgetting chores, and mouthing off, but never anything that made him see red… until yesterday.
She couldn't understand why boys made him so crazy and why Lucky in particular did. He should be thrilled, she thought, a boy he knew with a father he was already friends with not to mention the boy was petrified of him. Those were things that should have made his month, but they just made him furious. So now Samantha was obligated to suppress her truths in order to protect her father's sensibilities. Funny thing was she thought it was his job to make sure she was happy not the other way around.
Sitting up and playing with the ears on her Joey she realized how tight she must have been holding him during the night and how much crying she had done. Poor kangaroo was flattened and matted on one side. She could relate to his pain considering how deflated she was feeling. It was really quiet upstairs Sam became keenly aware and decided she'd have to face the music sooner or later. Talk about not being up to the whole family mealtime thing. Remembering the twin's play-date from last night and the fact that Michael had soccer practice early meant it would just be the three of them and frankly the thought put her stomach in knots. She slid back down into her covers and rested her head back on her Joey.
It wasn't that she didn't hear the knocking on her door; she was choosing to ignore it. When she heard it open slightly she still didn't budge. Great he's gonna drag me downstairs for family time she thought.
"Sammie, sweetie it's after nine. I don't think sleeping through the weekend is exactly what dad had in mind. Samantha?" Alexis wasn't yelling, but she knew her daughter should be able to hear her.
Muffled from underneath the covers, "I'm not sleeping. I'm just thinking of a reason to get up."
Alexis came in and sat on the bed crossing her legs. She wore a fabulous casual Saturday pants outfit. Sam thought she had the most formal folks in Port Charles. The only time Alexis or Sonny wore anything remotely dressed down was bedtime. To Sam it always looked like her mom could head straight to court in her clothes no matter the day of the week.
"Is breakfast a good enough reason? It's just us and frankly you're better at it than me. Sonny will kill me if I destroy another toaster oven."
That got a laugh and Sam finally sat up and looked her mom in the eyes. Alexis' eyes went to the torn and tattered kangaroo at her daughter's side.
"I'll have to tell Jax that's the best money he ever spent." Picking up Joey Alexis examined all of his parts and patches where he had been rubbed bald. "I bet this little guy knows more of your secrets than anyone, huh? He's been on some adventure from Manhattan to Port Charles and too many addresses to remember. I'm glad you had him."
Sam took her stuffed friend from her mother's hands and swung her feet over the side of the bed. "Come on let's get you fed. I wonder if we have any chocolate chips."
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They were actually having fun when Michael came in with all of his gear, Milo in tow. Then Milo left to pick up Leticia and the twins and Sam was once again left alone with her mother when her brother went to change.
"Mom can I call Emily. I know I'm not supposed to use the phone, but she'll be worried if she doesn't hear from me. She's going to think I got shipped off to boarding school or worse. I know Lucky must have filled her in. They're best friends too."
Alexis found the request reasonable, but manipulative. "Sam I'm not getting between you and your father. I know you want to talk to Em, but you're going to have to clear it with dad."
"He's never going to say yes. It won't take long and you can listen in the whole time." Her eyes were pleading with Alexis own and hoping to find an ally in her mother. Wearing Sonny down would be easier if it were two against one.
"Fine, use my cell phone and make it quick. If Sonny comes in I'll have to disavow any knowledge of your activities. And I don't need to listen in. I trust you Sam, so don't give me a reason not to." With that she dried her hands and walked out of the kitchen and into the study to finish working on the briefs she had fallen asleep on the night before.
Her mother's words were left in her ear, so even though she was more than tempted to text Lucky she didn't. Dialing the phone number Sam got excited at the prospect of hearing her friend's voice.
"Hey Em… no I'm not calling from St. Katherine's school for naughty girls… you're mean… All weekend and he took everything out of my room… I'm using my mom's cell… no she knows, but he doesn't… have you seen Lucky or talked to him? Luke was here yesterday and said Lucky really cares about me… I know I was way jazzed, but couldn't show it too much… talk about bad timing… no I didn't exactly ask for permission to go to the dance… I did mention it and the idea was rapidly vetoed… aw, you'd risk it all for my little ole' love life, you're the bestest friend ever… I know it's not a real word… Nothing, all day… I guess I'll catch up on some reading and start that English paper early… who knows what he has in mind… he's been gone all morning… whatever, have fun at the hospital… oh, and Em if you see or talk to Lucky tell him I said hi."
Sam hung up the phone and sort of bounced into the living room. The spring in her step was the first give away the second was the phone nestled in the palm of her hand. If she had been more focused she might have noticed him before she was standing right in front of him.
Her heart skipped a beat and she almost dropped her mother's phone at the sound of his voice. "If I knew grounding you would make you so happy I would have done it a long time ago."
Sonny looked up from his paper and noticed the phone. "Where'd you get that…?"
Realizing he was talking about the phone in her hand she was not ready with a plausible answer. "This…"
Alexis walked in at that moment and made it her business to distract her husband. Going right over to Sam Alexis took the phone from her hand saying, "Thanks for finding it for me sweetheart. Hey handsome. I wasn't expecting you home until later. Is everything alright?"
Sam did her best to make herself invisible. Sonny put his paper on the end of the table and addressed his wife. "Things are fine. Jason's meeting went well but there are things to iron out. How were things here?"
Sam was at the desk going through mail determined not to speak until spoken too. She wasn't sure how the whole phone thing played out and didn't want to start an unnecessary war. Good grief she thought I don't even get mail from the outside world. Being engrossed they had to call her name to draw her back into the conversation.
"Samantha, what are you so focused on over there?" Alexis wanted to know.
Finally, turning around and cluing in to her parents Sam answered. "Just pondering the merits of junk mail."
She dropped the stack back on the desk and proceeded to move in closer to the conversation. Now they have her attention and no one is saying anything Sam didn't know what to make of it. Great she thought I missed something major and I have no clue how to cover.
Alexis stood up and put her arm around her daughter. "Sonny's sending me to the hotel spa for the day…."
"And, what… I can go with you?" Seemed odd for a punishment but she was willing to go with it.
If Sam was puzzled then Alexis and Sonny would be considered downright amused. She was laughing at her daughter, not in a mean way, but it did lighten the mood. "No it wasn't really a joint invitation, sorry sweetie. Leticia went to visit her sister for the rest of the weekend so you're on sibling detail. She dropped them off you just need to get them some lunch and down for a nap."
"Plus do the rest of Leticia's chores around the house." Sonny finally chimed in without eye contact. Alexis just shook her head putting her arm around her daughter. Her husband was twisting the knife just a little bit, but she wasn't passing up a spa day. She had been running herself ragged and her appointment with Dr. Meadows wasn't for another week. She knew Sonny had noticed and wasn't fussing yet, but she figured this might put a little color back in her cheeks and deter him a bit longer.
"I'll have all three of them by myself? Michael doesn't listen to me… EVER! Dad, I'm serious you have to talk to him. You said I had to be around not tormented."
She might as well have been talking to the empty chair. He didn't even respond to her. "Lex, you better get ready before you're late. Max is gonna be picking you up as soon as he drops Leticia off." He put his paper down and headed toward his desk. Alexis and Sam started upstairs and as an aside Sonny added, "send Michael down here."
Sam was about ten paces ahead of Alexis. When they hit the landing she did something both her parents abhorred and yelled down the hall for Michael to go and see Sonny downstairs. Her only response was an eye roll as he passed her. Ignoring him she moved on toward her parent's bedroom and flung herself on their bed. She loved their duvet it was the softest brushed suede and super thick and downy. Alexis just stood at the door watching her.
"You seriously want to add remaking our bed to your list of things to do?" Alexis went in her closet and grabbed an overnight size piece of luggage. She would only need a few things. Moving around the space, as her daughter looked on, she efficiently gathered her belongings.
"Mom, do you think the reason Sonny is still so angry with me and giving me the big freeze out is because I'm not really his daughter?" Alexis almost dropped the bag on her foot.
"Where did that come from? Sammie I thought we were way past this. What's going on?" Alexis sat next her on the bed and looked her in the eye. She saw a sadness there that broke her heart.
"I get that he was surprised and angry and disappointed, but I'm already grounded. He won't talk to me. He won't accept my apology. If I was really his daughter he couldn't treat me like this. He'd forgive me and get over." Wow, even Sam didn't realize how angry it made her until she heard the rise in her own voice.
"Samantha you and I both know biology doesn't prove anything. Mikos was my father and look at that relationship. It was distant and cold and miserable. The only reason your dad is so upset is because of how much he does love you. And the next time you start doubting that you take a look back at all the times he's shown you and told you."
"Alexis, come on. Max is already down here, pick up the pace." Sonny was calling up the stairs. Apparently everyone was yelling today. Michael ran past his parent's bedroom door coming from the other end of the hallway.
"Slow down," Alexis called. Turning back to her daughter she said, "Sam daddy will accept your apology when he feels like you're giving him a sincere one. I hate to break it to you last night's doesn't really count. Listen go get my babies before they start gnawing at their own arms. Meet me downstairs I want to kiss them goodbye."
Sam slid off the bed and kissed her mom on the cheek before exiting. The talk really did help even though Alexis hadn't said anything her heart didn't already know. She was going to have to make things right and she was going to need to do more than a half ass job at it if she wanted to ever have her dad speak to her again. She ran down the hall to gather the twins and Michael and met her mom at the door before she cleared the threshold. Everyone said their goodbyes with the twins pouting about not being able to go. Michael was pouting but it was for a different reason. His talk with Sonny had left him slightly pissed at his sister. Everyone headed back into the study. Sam picked up the phone as soon as it rang.
"Corinthos residence… hi Uncle Bernie… no dad is walking mom to the car… he'll be right back in… things are good at school… yes… hang on…" Sonny came in and gave his daughter a look of pure exasperation. She quickly remedied his low opinion.
"It's Uncle Bernie for you." Handing him the phone she ushered her siblings into the kitchen for lunch.
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Cooking was relaxing for Sam. As she went about making grilled cheese on garlic toast she wondered if it was something Lucky would like. She had made it up years ago when she needed to cook for herself or Michael. Combine it with a bowl of soup and you hit all the food groups and were really satisfied. Too bad she didn't have an appetite herself, but her stomach was still knotted. Michael switched on the radio under the cabinets and the twins turned the sandwich triangles into boats floating them on the soup high seas. After wiping the counter down Samantha decided to bite the bullet so to speak and give talking to her dad one last chance.
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When he heard the single footsteps he put down the file he was looking at and sat back in his chair. Jason was known for telling Carly to count to ten and suddenly Sonny found himself taking the advice and using it to make sure he didn't lash out at his little girl. He didn't want to be as angry as he was, but something in him kept getting that imagine of her with Lucky every time he looked her in the eyes. But earlier that morning Alexis told him he'd have to give Sam a chance to make things right. He finally acquiesced that if it came from a real place he'd try to get past all the bad choices.
"I can't believe those grilled cheeses are still a hit. I made an extra one if you want lunch." Sam was standing behind the sofa looking at a neutral faced Sonny. At least he isn't glaring she thought.
"No, I'm good. I just made reservations for your mom and me at the Grille tonight. Did you eat?" He went back to shuffling papers… in no particular fashion.
"No, I'm good. I thought maybe we could talk before I have to put the twins down."
"Don't worry about Michael we had a long chat. His buddy Pete is picking him up for a sleepover at 6:30 if he does everything you tell him from now until then."
Sitting on the sofa Sam tucked one leg underneath her and did her best to garner eye contact from her dad. "Thanks for talking to him. No wonder he was so helpful while I was cooking. He even offered to load the dishes."
"Great now we'll have more plates to replace. He takes after Carly in the kitchen and unlike you he isn't teachable." He got up from his desk and came around to lean on the front.
Okay… awkward… she couldn't sit there saying nothing much longer. His eyes were piercing through her and he wasn't going to let her off the hook. If she wanted this conversation she'd better jump in and start swimming.
"Daddy… I just… I… dad I am so sorry about all the trouble I've been. I know I worried you and I know the guards are there for a reason, but I wasn't thinking. I was in the moment. Mom was right I should have talked to you both about so many things. I just didn't know how. Everything I've said and done has just been reactionary. Please tell me how to make things right between us again. I didn't mean any of the horrible things I said or thought. I just need you to accept my apology 'cause I hate it when you're mad at me." Sam thought she might cry, but suddenly the well was drive. He was still just watching her. Maybe he was doing his on sincerity check.
"Your mama says being a sixteen year old girl is difficult. Being the father of one isn't that easy either. I don't understand everything you're going through, but talking to me is a good way to let that happen. I don't want any more surprises like the one yesterday. And for the record you are not being punished for kissing or liking a boy. It's for all the choices you made before and after that kiss."
"That's fair, so do you think we could maybe talk about…." He clipped her mid-sentence.
"I think you should wait until you're off punishment before you start making request. Come here," Sonny reached out his hand and met his daughter halfway.
Pulling her into an embrace he rubbed her back as he heard her sniffling. So what she wasn't as strong as she wanted to be yet. She knew it was still okay to cry on her daddy's shoulder. "Ilo siento."
"Sé que usted es amor y acepto su apología. Le todavía castigan. Other families survive teenagers and so will we. Now you better get started on your list and put the twins down. They'll be terrors later if their tired." Kissing her forehead Sonny let her go and Sam walked back into the kitchen with her shoulders feeling a lot lighter.
Maybe there was hope for her yet and maybe the Spring Fling was still up for discussion.