Alexis was sitting in the living room of Windermere. With Jax out looking for her daughter and the girl being so close, and there being a real possibility of getting her back, she decided it was time to talk to her brother. Part of her was afraid, an old part that was still connected to her past and to what he meant to her back then, of his reaction. Would he think less of her for because of this? Would it matter to her if he did? Looking up from the drink he had poured her she cleared her throat and began.

"When I was away at boarding school I felt like I could be myself for the first time since coming to the island." She took a deep breath. "I guess you could say I blossomed."

Stefan nodded. "It was good for you. I remember. I was proud of you for finding your way, finding yourself."

Alexis smiled a little at that but the smile faulted. "I fell in love, Stefan. I feel in love with a wonderful boy who surprised me with a romantic evening on my sixteenth birthday." She paused to take another deep breath. She didn't want to rush through this in her normal breathless habit. "He gave me the greatest gift I've ever gotten in all my life that night." She looked up into her brother's loving green eyes. "Nine months later our father ripped her heartlessly from my arms."

Stefan was still for a moment and then asked, "You bore a child? When you were sixteen?"

"A baby girl." Alexis said with a nod of her head. "When Father found out he rushed me to this clinic before anyone could know. He didn't give me a choice Stefan. He took her from me. I wanted my child, I wanted my little girl, but he forbid it."

Again Stefan was still for a moment and then he moved from the chair he was in to his sister's side on the couch. "That's why Father suddenly insisted that I serve my military obligation. He didn't want me to have access to you." He took her hands in his. "Because I would have fought for you."

"You would have?" Alexis asked in shock.

"Of course I would have!" Stefan said with a little hurt. "You know I would have."

Alexis looked down. She stared at their hands, the way his covered hers protectively. "I was afraid…"

He titled her head up. "That I would think less of you?" Alexis nodded. "Yes, you were young, yes it would have been a struggle, but if anyone deserved to be loved Alexis it was you."

She looked into her brother's eyes a moment and then hugged him. "Thank you."

When they pulled apart Stefan asked, "I'm glad you felt you could confide in me, Alexis, but I have to ask why now?"

"Jax found her." Alexis answered. "Mikkos lied, Stefan, she did not go to a good home, she was not loved, and now she's out there somewhere alone." She began explaining it all to him and was about to get to the part about Port Charles when her cell phone rang. "I have to get this." She said before she answered it. "Jax?" She listened. "Oh my god. I'll be right there."

"What is it?" Stefan asked.

Alexis looked up at him. "They found the girl she was with. Bobbie and Luke Spencer have seen her. They're all at the police station."

Stefan stood and offered his hand to his beloved sister. "Lets go then."

Carly had refused to talk about Sam to anyone. Mac had men out looking for her. Luke had gone out to look for her. The kid was smart and knew about the real world, or knew as much as a ten year old could, but none of them wanted to see her out there for long all alone. Jax handed Bobbie a cup of coffee as they waited on Alexis.

"Thanks." She said with a soft smile. Then she looked towards the room where Carly was. "Its just all so surreal and strange. You think you're doing what's best for the one person you love with all your heart, the one you've loved so completely since the instant of knowing they exist, but then to find out that you failed them anyway."

"You didn't fail her, Bobbie." Jax comforted. "She had a good life."

"Until it wasn't anymore." Bobbie sighed.

Jax gave her a warm smile. "It will be again."

"Jax!" Alexis called out as soon as she saw him. She went to him and hugged him. "Is there any news?"

Jax shook his head and then explained. "Luke had been trailing Bobbie since we got back. He kind of figured that if he did he'd spot Caroline. He caught her slipping something into Bobbie's bag while Samantha played decoy."

"She was there?" Alexis asked breathlessly.

"She acted as if she'd hurt her ankle to distract me." Bobbie said as she stood. "When Luke grabbed Caroline, Caroline yelled for her to run and she took off."

"We're trying to get Caroline to tell us where Samantha is." Jax told the frightened woman. "I think you can help."

Alexis nodded. "Anything."

Jax smiled and took her hand. He led her into the room where Carly was being held. "Carly." Jax said as they came in. "You need to tell us where Sam's hiding."

"I don't care how hot you are I'm not saying a word." Carly replied.

"Please." Alexis begged the girl.

Carly looked the woman up and down before asking, "What the hell do you care lady?"

Alexis sat across from her. "She's my daughter."

Carly's eyes went huge. "What?"

"Samantha's my daughter." Alexis repeated.

"No." Carly said with a shake of her head. "No, that's to easy, that's to weird."

"What's to easy?" Alexis asked.

Carly was shaking her head. "No, you're trying to trick me."

"Trick you?" Alexis asked.

Carly narrowed her eyes at the woman. It had been itching at her, the statement Jax had made about Sam's mother, and now here sat a woman claiming to be that mother? It couldn't have worked out this way. Could it? "You're a cop or a lawyer or a social worker or something. You're just trying to trick me." Maybe it was working because Carly could almost see Sam in this woman. "You searched our room. You know she's a throw away kid like me. You found the papers. You know what I was trying to do."

Something clicked as Bobbie listened. She had been trying to figure out why Carly was trying to get money from her. She'd thought it was to live off of, to help her take care of Sam, but now, now she wondered if it was something more. "You wanted the money from me to help find Sam's mother."

Carly was feeling lightheaded.

"You've found her, Caroline." Alexis began.

"Carly." Carly snapped.

"Carly." Alexis repeated. "Call it serendipity, or fate, or a blessing, or whatever, but in tracking down your own mother, you've managed to find Samantha's. Please, Carly, please tell us where we can find her."

"I…I…" Carly stammered.

Bobbie came over and knelt beside the girl. "You love her, Carly, I know you do. You love that little girl like she was your very own sister. Use that love for her and look at Alexis. Trust your instincts."

Carly did just that. She took Alexis in and thought of Sam. It was the fear in the woman's eyes, it was the fickler of hope behind the fear, Carly had seen that look in Sam's eyes so many times. "She won't come out for you. You'll scare her and she'll run. She was raised by a con man, she can spot a cop faster then I can, she'll see a set up."

"You're not going alone." Jax said.

Carly looked at her mother. "You."

Bobbie nodded. "I'll go with you."

"Unacceptable." Stefan said from the door. "If this girl is my niece I won't let a Spencer…"

"Shut up Stefan!" Alexis shook her head and glared at her brother before she looked at the girl again. "Thank you."

The tears just wouldn't stop and it was starting to piss Sam off. She couldn't stop herself from being scared as she hid in the huge indoor boat dry-dock. She was hidden behind parts and crates with her bag clutched tight to her chest. When she heard the old door squeak open her trembling stopped because she was frozen in fear. She held her breath.

"Sammie?" Carly whispered into the huge space. "Sammie, its ok, come out."

Was it a trick? Was it really Carly?

"Popcorn, vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce is still a really gross sundae." Carly said, using the phrase that would let Sam know it was safe.

"Carly!" Sam squealed as she came out of hiding and ran to the girl. She threw her arms around the older girl as she cried. "I was so scared! I didn't think you were coming to get me! I thought you left me like Cody did!"

Carly hugged Sam tight. "I'd never do that Sammie."

When Sam was calmer she pulled away. That's when she saw Bobbie. She froze and grabbed Carly again even more tightly.

"Its ok, Sammie." Carly said as she held the girl to her. "It's going to be ok." She looked down into Sam's huge brown eyes. "There's this lady. I think… I think she's your mom, and I think, I think she really wants you."

Alexis was pacing the floor as they waited for Carly and Bobbie to return. Kristina had joined her and Stefan and was starting to feel a little dizzy as she watched her sister. "Alexis. Could you stop doing that?"

"Doing what?" Alexis asked as she looked over at her sister.

"You're wearing a groove in the floor." Kristina chuckled.

Alexis stopped pacing but started chewing her lip and biting her nail while she fidgeted with the glasses in her other hand.

Kristina had never seen her sister so wound up. It was actually kind of amusing to watch. She walked over and put her arm around her sister's shoulder to comfort her.

"I'm ok." Alexis said softly as she leaned into her sister's embrace. "I'm just freaking out and completely loosing my mind."

Kristina chuckled.

With that the tension build up weaken just in time for Stefan to blot to his feet as he gasped, "Oh my." He blinked. "She looks just like you when you were that age."

Alexis spun around. Standing on the other side of the room was a small girl with dark hair, dark eyes, her skin tone, her features. Alexis gasped and put her hand to her mouth. For the first time since the day she was born, Alexis was looking at her daughter.

Sam watched the woman across the room and backed up until she was pressed against Carly's body.

Carly put her hand on Sam's shoulder. "Her name is Alexis Davis." She explained to Sam. "She says she's your mom, half pint." When Sam looked up at her she added, "I believe her."

"You found her?" Sam asked in a whisper. "Just like you said you would."

"Kind of." Carly answered. "She was looking for you."

"She was?" Sam asked, her eyes wide with disbelief and wonder. Her real mom had been looking for her? Really?

Carly nodded.

Sam looked back at the woman across the room. Neither mother nor daughter knew what to do other then stand there and stare at each other. It was Kristina who pushed her sister gently, forcing her closer to the child. The push startled Alexis enough to say, "Hello Samantha."

Dark eyes stared at the woman before they rolled back and everything went dark.

Carly managed to catch the girl as Alexis rushed forward. "Samantha!"

Bobbie was at the girl's side as Carly lowered her to the floor. A few long moments passed as she examined the girl. "She's alright, she just fainted; someone get me a cool cloth please."

Kristina dashed off and got Bobbie the cloth which she used to wipe Sam's face as she called out to her gently. Several heart stopping moments later, for Alexis and Carly, Sam slowly started coming around. She was disoriented and confused as she came too. "What happened?"

"You fainted." Carly answered. "You scared the crap out of me, Sammie."

Sam titled her head up to look at Carly. "I'm sorry Carly."

"Its ok half pint." Carly smiled down at her.

Sam turned her head and saw Alexis right there beside her looking worried and a little frightened. "Hi."

Alexis let out a nervous laugh. "Hi."

Once everyone's hearts evened out and breathing had returned to normal Bobbie said, "We should get both girls to GH and have them looked at."

Alexis nodded. "Agreed."

"I've called Diane." Jax said. "We'll get the legal matters underway."

Everything was happening so fast Carly was starting to feel light headed again. "What's going on?"

"Its ok Carly." Bobbie said as she gave the girl a warm reassuring smile. "We just want to make sure you're both alright. You've been on your own for awhile and before that," She sighed and shook her head sadly. "You weren't being well taken care of."

Carly nodded. "Ok. But then what?"

"We'll work that out when we get there." Bobbie answered.

Alexis smiled down at the little girl who was still staring at her. "Hi."

"Hi." Sam said in return.

"Lets get you checked out, ok?" Alexis said as she offered the girl her hand to help her up.

Sam looked at Carly as if to ask what to do. When Carly nodded she let Alexis help her up. When she was on her feet Sam looked down at her hand which was held so gently in this unknown woman's and for a moment something just felt so right about it. Then she got scared and pulled her hand away gently. She looked up at Alexis, their dark eyes locking for a moment, and then went over to Carly.