Proper Disclaimer: I am not now nor have I ever been associated, in any form or fashion, with ABC/Disney/General Hospital… the writers or actors.

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A/N: Apologies for the super long delay in the update, but I sure hope it was worth the wait and that you haven't forgotten this little story.

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Things had finally returned to normal in the Corinthos household. Krissy and Morgan were two screaming preschool terrors always on the brink of destruction. Michael was self absorbed unless an opportunity presented itself to drive his sister crazy. It was business as usual at the coffee house… whatever that meant. Jason popped in and out of Greystone over the week, but conversations were always brief and behind closed doors. Alexis only stayed in bed one additional day before threatening anyone and everyone who told her she needed more rest. The great compromise that was finally reached involved her working from home at least for an hour or two. What that actually evolved into was her working more than half a day from the family room all the while playing Queen-of-the-Big-Top in the circus of her life.

For Samantha Corinthos normal meant trying to stay focused enough on her life at home, her school work and the final weeks of preparation for the Spring Fling without rocking the boat. She had been on great terms with her father as of late and he had even flexed on her curfew. Getting ready at the Quartermaine Mansion with Emily was agreeable too, but only because they'd be coming back to the house after the dance. Alexis and Sonny would without a doubt be casually waiting to hear every detail.

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"Okay baby are you sure you have everything you need?"

"Yes mother. Now would you please relax? How is it that you're more nervous than I am? Which, for the record is VERY…"

Sam and Alexis had been putting together her dress bag and all the party trimmings for over an hour. It wasn't that they were moving slow, but they kept being interrupted. First it was Krissy wanting to try on all of Sam's make-up. When they finally managed to get Sonny to chase her out with the bribe of making homemade ice cream he slowed them down with a thousand questions about why she needed so much gunk for her face. Michael made the next appearance vowing not to be a pain saying he just wanted to watch. That calm only lasted about 15 minutes before he was mocking his big sister. Running him out Alexis and Sam finally had most everything together and were in the process of making a final check.

Walking over to her daughter Alexis put her arm around her shoulders. "You have nothing to be nervous about. All the hard parts are done. You got dad to okay the date. You picked out an amazingly beautiful dress. Lucky is living up to his name tonight because having you on his arm will be the best fortune he experiences for a long time coming."

"Thanks mom. Well, let's get this stuff downstairs. I still have to get through dinner. Why is he making do that?"

"He wouldn't be your dad if he didn't. It's his way of maintaining a little control over the situation. It's killing him not being able to look at the whites of Lucky's eyes before he drags his little girl off."

"That's crazy."

"No, that's fathers. I have to admit I'm going to miss getting all those pictures of perfection before dancing in a hot ballroom makes your make-up run and your curls flop."

"Hey! Is this supposed to be helping me?"

Laughing she pulled her daughter out of the room so they could head down to the kitchen for some dinner. "We'll send Milo up to bring everything down and load the limo."

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"Qué se está encendiendo?" Sonny said watching his two beautiful girls descend the stairs.

"Nothing." They answered in unison which only made them laugh harder.

Sam went to the counter to dig into the leftover ice cream collected on the sides of the maker while her mother ushered the twins partially up the stairs telling them to find Leticia to get them cleaned up.

"Michael get down here please." Alexis called.

"Just a second mom, I'm just finishing up level 4 on Clone Commander!"

The three Corinthos looked at one another and rolled their eyes. Sonny got on his feet and went to the foot of the stairs. Just as he was going up his insolent son came meandering down. "You don't tell your mother just a second."

Without acknowledging his father's irritation Michael looked at his mother and apologized.

"Listen buddy if you're going to Pete's for dinner and a sleepover you need to pack, finish your chores and bring that math homework down for me to check. I'll drop you off."

"Cool. I hate showing up places with Max or Milo it freaks the other kid's folks out."

This sort of whining was a bone of contention for Sonny and his oldest son. Michael had taken to ditching the guards and making a huge fuss about being seen with them. Since his family's safety came first though Sonny didn't care who didn't like it he wasn't willing to flex on the subject.

"Any of your friends have a problem with it you can just stop going to their house." His father stated proceeding to clean up the ice cream mess as he began taking out things to prep for dinner.

Marching back up the stairs Michael threw back down a "…whatever," that was a little less under his breath then he thought.

"What did he just say?"

"Nothing daddy," Sam said smiling. Hopping up on the counter she slid closer to her dad's end and asked if he needed any help.

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"I don't like it. A gentleman picks his date up at her front door."

"We've been over that already dad. It's not a one-on-one date anymore. Lucky and Nikolas are picking us up together and the Quartermaine's are closer. Max is still driving and standing watch outside the gym. It'll be fine. Don't you trust me?"

"It's not you I'm worried about. Remember what I said about sneaking off and your curfew is at 12:30 young lady. A minute late and your chariot becomes a pumpkin again and all the king's horses and all the king's men won't be able to put Lucky back together again!"

Sam let out a little chuckle. "I think someone is mixing up their nursery rhymes."

"Not so much that you don't understand."

Max had loaded the last bag and was now coming to collect the final thing needed for the journey. "Ready Sam?"

"Give us a minute Max."

"Sure thing boss."

Father and daughter looked at one another sort of taking in all that the last weeks had given and taken from them. It was indeed a culminating moment even if they both stood petrified for different reasons.

"Come here my beautiful girl," Sonny said.

Samantha walked into the outstretched arms and settled in the comfort and protection she had come to love and depend on over the years. When she finally pulled back she was certain she saw her father's eyes slightly glistening.

"Aw, daddy, it's just a dance I'll be home in a few hours."

"For you it's just a dance for me it's sending my little girl off on the first of many independent journeys into the world. And for the record I do trust you."

"Thanks. I am coming home though, so don't worry too much. Besides both Lucky and Nikolas are terrified of you, so I can say with confidence they won't be trying anything."

Pulling a wad of money out of his pockets Sonny counted off some bills. "Put this in your bag in case of an emergency."

"I'm going to a school dance. There probably won't be a two hundred dollar emergency."

"Humor your old man okay." Sonny kissed the top of her forehead. Grabbing her hand he walked her out to the limo and helped her settle in. He stayed rooted to the spot until he could no longer see her hand waving as the darkened window went up.