Never in all her fifteen years had Carly ever been to something like the Nurses' Ball. It was like something out of Hollywood with everyone dressed in tuxedos and expensive evening gowns. Bobbie had spent all day reassuring her which made her feel better about being there, but now, standing in the back of the room watching these people who she simply didn't feel she belonged around, she felt even worse. She had been excited about this evening. Dress shopping, rehearsal, her very first trip to a spa, it had all been wonderful. But now her excitement was being smothered by her discomfort. The only reasons she hadn't bolted were her mother, Sam, and Kristina.

"You look like you might be sick." Kristina said to her friend as they people watched.

"I feel so out of place." Carly admitted with a soft sigh.

The redhead smiled and squeezed her friend's hand. "I know the feeling, but don't worry, we'll make ourselves fit in."

Carly grinned at the girl beside her. "How are we going to do that?"

"By looking fabulous and having a great time." Kristina said with a huge smile on her face as she drug her friend into the swarm of mingling people. She'd been in town longer then Carly and knew a few more people then she did so she was more comfortable, but she still felt a little odd. Everyone knew who she was, that she was a Cassadine, and that brought with it a kind of expectation that Kristina wasn't use to.

Bobbie watched Carly carefully as the girl skirted the edges of the room. She could see the girl's discomfort and started questioning whither this had been a good idea. Maybe she'd pushed Carly into something she wasn't ready for. Maybe she should have made more of an effort of helping Carly become more comfortable with the circle of people she associated with. Bobbie sighed, then relaxed a little as Kristina got her daughter to smile and then pulled her into the crowd. She was grateful that Carly had someone she could hang out with and talk to that was her own age. She had a feeling Kristina would make a lot of the adjustments Carly was facing easier.

"It takes time to get use to these kinds of things." Monica told her friend as she watched the other woman watching her daughter.

"I know." Bobbie replied as she glanced at Monica before returning her gaze to Carly. "I remember."

Monica smiled. Bobbie was acting like a new mother and it was cute. "The night's still young. She'll relax and have a good time, trust me."

"Who's that?" Carly asked as she and Kristina neared the Cassadine table. "The guy talking to Alexis?"

"Oh, that's Zander." Kristina answered after looking over to where her sister was sitting. "He was one of Alexis' clients and she kind of took a shine to him. He even stayed with her for a little while."

Carly looked the teenage boy over before saying, "He's kind of cute."

Kristina chuckled as she nodded her head. "You think he's cute? Check him out."

Carly looked in the direction Kristina had pointed out and saw a tall dark haired teenager with a really cute smile. "Who is he?"

"Jagger Cates." Kristina said with a little flutter in her voice. "He's a boxer. He works out at this gym down by the harbor, near the Paradise Lounge."

That slight flux in her friend's voice made Carly grin. "You like him." Then she blinked and stared at her friend. "How would you know what gym he works out at? Ohhh! Doesn't Alexis know you're down in that part of town?" Carly giggled. "I don't think she'd be to thrilled."

"I do not like him." Kristina protested. "I just said he was cute. Besides, from what I've heard he already has two girls looking to get his attention." Then she huffed at her friend. "I happen to enjoy boxing and was looking for a place that officered classes."

Carly snickered. "Sure, yeah, ok." She couldn't keep the grin off her face as she added, "So what if he does have two girls after him?" The lights flashed to let everyone know it was time to go back to their seats. "They don't have anything on you. You're like a freaking princess or something. Who can compete with that?"

Kristina laughed as they headed back towards their families' tables. "I don't really think that would matter to a guy like Jagger."

Sam was having fun. She was sitting at the Cassadine table, which was sandwiched between the Jacks and the Spencers. She thought the acts so far were really good and dinner hadn't been too bad either. Mr. Dr. Quartermain was really good, Lucky and Sly had been funny, but her favorite had been Ned Ashton as Eddie Maine, simply because she'd found out about Eddie's Angel. It delighted her to no end to think of her prim and proper mother being a rock star's sweetheart. The whole time Ned was on stage, Sam would look over at her mother and dissolve into giggles. When the show was less then exciting for a ten-year-old John was close enough to keep her entertained with stories about sea voyages, and the outback. She didn't even mind the dress she was wearing, it was a very pretty dark green and kind of sparkly. She'd gotten to go to the spa with Alexis, Kristina and Lady Jane, which had been fun, even if she laughed like the mad hatter during her pedicure. Then to top it all off Stefan had presented her with a tiny headband like tiara to wear, which made Sam feel really girly for the first time in her life, and to her surprise she kind of liked feeling girly. For Sam the night was like some big game of make-believe or something, and she was enjoying it to it's fullest.

"Hey," Amy said brightly as she came over to the cluster of tables. "Time to get ready ladies. You're number is up soon. You're in dressing room three."

And just like that Sam's nerves kicked in and her stomach hurt. Until now she'd stayed by the tables with the people she knew and was comfortable with. Now the whole town was about to watch her sing and dance out scenes from one of Kristina's favorite movies.

Alexis smiled. "Come on baby." She held out her hand. "Lets go get ready."

Sam took her mother's hand and once they were out of everyone's earshot she said, "I don't think I can do this."

Alexis stopped, turned, and pulled Sam into a hug. "You're just nervous, Sammie. Once you get out there you'll be fine. We made a promise to do this my love, and we need to follow through." She caressed her daughter's cheek and gave her a reassuring smile. "You're going to be wonderful. I'm so proud of all the hard work you've put into this."

Sam smiled brightly at her mother and hugged her. It felt so good to hear that someone was proud of her. Sam was finally getting use to having people other then Carly care about her, though it was still very weird. With a bright smile on her face she let Alexis lead her backstage to their dressing room. She and Carly had the more complicated costumes and would be on stage first, so Bobbie and Alexis helped them get dressed before getting into their own costumes.

"You ready?" Carly asked as she and Sam waited in the wings.

Sam nodded. "I'm glad there's prop buckets. I might throw up."

"Just remember what Bobbie said." Carly replied as she fought off her own desire to hurl. "Ignore everything and everyone off stage. Pick one person out there and focus on them when you're not focused on someone on stage."

Sam nodded again. She'd already decided to focus on Kristina. This whole scene had been her idea and Sam had no doubt her aunt would be mouthing along.

While they waited to be introduced both girls took deep breaths and both girls smiled when they heard their mothers' whisper encouragement and I love yous.

Lucy Coe took the stage and reminded everyone why they were there, informed everyone that some of the high school student were walking around with fish bowls for cash donations, and announced that this year would be a record breaker. Then she introduced the next act. "Miracles happen everyday, sometimes they're little and go unnoticed, and sometimes they're huge and change your life for the better. Children bring both into our lives everyday. Tonight we celebrate two such miracles with their families. Ladies and gentlemen, making their Port Charles social debut, Carly Benson-Spencer and Samantha Davis, who have both recently been reunited with their mothers; Bobbie Spencer-Jones and Alexis Davis. All donations made during this wonderful mothers-daughters act will go to the Children's Research Center, and they will also be met dollar for dollar by Samantha's uncle Stefan Cassadine."

When the curtain lifted Carly, Sam, and some of the Ward House kids were all dressed in rags and had buckets, brushes, mops and brooms as Ruby, playing Ms. Hannigan yelled at them to get to work. The music for 'It's a hard knock life' from Annie started as the kids began to sing and bang around their props. The Ward Kids sang the chorus parts while Sam and Carly shared the solo bits. There was a laugh from the crowd when Carly sang, "No one cares if you grow." While Sam tagged on, "or shrink." because the girls made a point of displaying their height difference. The kids danced, pushed their brooms, and pretended to clean the stage while they sang. The crowd laughed again as Carly and Sam, who'd put a pillow under her shirt, took turns making fun of Ms. Hannigan. As the song began winding down the bigger kids discreetly started moving the props around on the stage, while another set was moved in. While the smaller ones made it seem as if they were pushing Carly and Sam up a set of stairs.

When Carly and Sam were at the to of the stairs the music shifted, it was an Annie medley, which Kristina had worked really hard on getting the timing right for. The adult backup dancers came out then, they moved Carly and Sam to opposite sides of the stair case and swarmed around the girls singing the chorus of 'I think I'm going to like it here' as they helped the girls change their costumes. Once the girls were stripped of their rags they were left in beautiful dresses, their hair done up neatly, and old sneakers replaced by shinny black tap shoes.

As the music shifted again Bobbie and Alexis came on stage from either side and walked to the bottom of the stairs, smiling. Bobbie held a flower while Alexis held a small stuff puppy. Carly and Sam looked at them, looked at each other, smiled and then ran down to their waiting mothers. They sang 'I don't need anything but you.' With Carly and Sam doing Annie's parts while Bobbie and Alexis did Daddy Warbucks' parts.

All four started together and sang, "Together at last." As Bobbie put the flower in Carly's hair, and Alexis offered the puppy. "Together forever." As they sang the line, "We're tying a knot they never can sever." Sam and Alexis hooked pinkies, kissed their own fists, and then pretended to spit as if they were pinky swearing. The crowd loved it and laughed.

Stefan had not liked the idea of members of his family actually performing but as he watched his sister and niece tap dance and sing, the way their eyes sparkled made him smile. Kristina was soaking it all in as she laughed and smiled so wide her face would be sore later. Jax found himself falling even more in love with his best friend and her little girl. Luke and Ruby, who had returned to her seat to watch, beamed with pride.

"Yesterday was plain awful." The girls sang.

"Yesterday was plain awful." The moms repeated.

Then all four sang, "But that's not now, that's than."

When the number finally ended Carly was standing with Bobbie, her mothers arms wrapped around her, while Alexis had picked Sam up and was holding her in her arms. Sam just placed a kiss on her mother's cheek when the whole room exploded in applause and jumped to their feet.

After taking their bows and changing back into their dresses the four made their way back to their tables where they were bombarded with hugs, kisses, and praise.

"Alexis!" Jax said as he hugged her tight. "You were great!"

Alexis blushed hard enough to see it under her already flushed cheeks.

"And you little miss!" Jax said as he beamed at Sam. "Were brilliant!"

"I whole hearted agree." John added. "Such talent!"

Even Stefan offered his praise. "You two were very good."

Nikolas nodded. "You really were. Next year perhaps Cousin Samantha and I could do something."

"I think that would be a great idea." Alexis encouraged.

Bobbie beamed at the pure happiness on her daughter's face. The light and merriment in Carly's blue eyes was a beautiful thing to see, so much better then the uncertainly that was so often there. "You were great, honey!"

Carly smiled. "So were you. You're a natural, Bobbie, you could have been a dancer."

"She wanted to be once upon a time." Luke said with a beaming smile as he hugged his baby sister. Then he smiled at his niece. "Looks like you got a bit of that natural talent yourself, Caroline."

Carly scowled at Luke. No matter how many times she told him not to call her that he did it anyway. But she was in far to good a mood to bicker with him so she let it slide.

Their families hadn't been the only ones to take notice. During another mingling period Zander made his way over to Kristina and Carly. "Hey Krissy. Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"

Kristina smiled. "Zander Smith; Carly Benson."

"It's nice to meet you Carly." Zander said with his crooked grin.

Carly smiled. "Same here Zander."

Zander continued to smile as he said, "You were really good up there."

"Thanks." Carly replied with a blush.

"It took a lot of guts to get up there and do that." Zander said as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I don't think I could ever do something like that."

Carly laughed. "You have no idea."

"See." Monica teased her friend when she caught Bobbie watching Carly again. "I told you she'd relax and have a good time."

Bobbie was beaming.

As the evening went on Alexis sent Sam home with Ingrid. Thankfully Sam was to exhausted to put up a fight. As Ingrid helped Sam into the backseat of her car and buckled her seatbelt she didn't notice that she and the girl were being watched.