Since it seemed like Helena had left Port Charles with her tail between her legs, Alexis had eased up a little and Sam was feeling relieved. Sam had been feeling really caged and it was driving her stir crazy. Just when she felt as if she were about to crack, Alexis announced that she'd get to spend all day with Carly alone. That small gesture had defused what could have been a major blow up. Carly had picked her up at the penthouse for lunch and a movie. They were sitting at a table in a little Chinese place they both liked talking about everything that had happened to them since the last time they'd seen each other. Carly had been really concerned about this Helena woman, but Bobbie had reassured her that Sam would be fine. Sam didn't like this AJ person one little bit and demanded that she get to meet Carly's new friend Zander.

"You'll like him." Carly told the girl sitting across from her. "He's a lot like us. He was a foster kid for a long time before he got out. Plus, he's a friend of your Mom's." When Carly said the word mom there was a flicker of something across Sam's face. "Ok, half pint, what's on your mind?"

Sam looked up from her sweet and sour chicken. "Huh?"

"I've had this funny feeling all afternoon that you have something on your mind." Carly explained. "And just now when I mentioned Alexis you got this weird look on face."

"Oh." Sam said softly. Sometimes it sucked that Carly could read her so well.

"Is everything ok between you and Alexis?" Carly asked.

Sam nodded. "Yeah, everything's great." Sam answered as she looked up at her friend and then sighed. "It's just like how I imagined it would be, kind of, mostly, it's kinda better really."

"To good to be true." Carly said with an understanding nod.

"Yeah." Sam said with a soft sigh. "I keep expecting something to happen, like this is a dream, or Alexis realizes it's a nightmare."

Carly reached across the table and took Sam's hand. "You're not going to wake up and find it all gone, Sammie, it's not a dream, its real."

"I know." Sam replied with a smile. "Thank you."

"What for?" Carly asked. She was getting a little uncomfortable. She didn't think she needed to be thanked for anything.

"For wanting this for me and then getting it for me." Sam said with a soft blush.

Carly blushed as well. "You're welcome."

The two fell into a somewhat comfortable silence as they ate and sorted through their own thoughts and emotions. After several minutes passed Sam looked up and asked, "Carly, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course you can, half pint." Carly replied.

Sam was quiet for a moment and then asked, "Do you think Alexis would mind if I called her mom?"

Carly smiled brightly at that. "Sam, I think you'd make her year if you called her mom."

"Really?" Sam said, her tone making it clear how unsure she was about it.

"I'm positive." Carly answered. "Hearing you call her mom is going to mean a lot to her. She adores you Sam."

"Really?" Sam asked again.

Carly chuckled. "Yes, really. Sam, when you walk into a room, or she hears your name, or when she talks about you, her eyes light up; just like yours do when you see her."

Sam smiled a little at that. It was silly but when Alexis is at work and she's in school she kind of misses Alexis. It really dose make her happy to simply see the woman. "So you think she'd like it if I called her mom?"

"She'd love it." Carly reassured. "I bet she even cries the first time."

That made Sam frown. "I don't want to make her cry, Carly."

Carly chuckled. "Happy tears, Sam, mom's get all sappy and weepy when they're happy."

"Oh." Sam replied. She thought it over a little more as she took another bite of her lunch and chewed it. This was a big thing for her. She never called Evelyn mom, she'd never wanted to call anyone that before, but now it was all she could think about. Maybe she'd never wanted to because she knew in her heart the only person who had a right to that name was Alexis. Then she looked up at Carly again, "Do you think I should ask her first?"

"If it would make you feel better about it, sure." Carly answered. "But she isn't going to tell you no, Sam. She's your mom and you should call her mom if you're ready. Are you ready to take that next step?"

Sam thought about it for only a second and nodded. "Yeah, I am, I really want too."

Carly beamed at the little girl who was, in her heart, her little sister. "Then do it."

Again Sam grew quiet as she tossed her thoughts around and shifted through them. Maybe she should ask first, just to be on the safe side, but deep down Sam knew she didn't have too. Deep down she knew it was something she and Alexis both longed for. It was that final connection between them, the final seal that would make it real. It was kind of scary and kind of wonderful all at the same time. Finally after a long while she looked up at Carly again, "Do you think you'll ever call Bobbie mom?"

The question caught Carly a little off guard and she wasn't sure how to answer it. "I don't know, Sam." She thought about it for a moment and added, "We're not there just yet. There are other factors in play when it comes to me and Bobbie." When she saw Sam about to protest she held up her hand and shook her head. "It's not just about me being older and bitter. I had a mom, Sam, I'm just not sure how she'd feel."

Sam thought about that and nodded. "Yeah, but you know what? I think you're mom wouldn't want to be in the way of you and Bobbie. I think she'd love you enough that she'd share you. I think she'd understand and want you and Bobbie to be close. She can't be here to be your mom, so she'd want someone to be, and since Bobbie is your birth mom she makes the most sense."

Carly looked at the girl for a second and then shook her head. "You're to smart for a ten-year-old."

"I know." Sam beamed proudly which made Carly laugh and shake her head.

Once they finished lunch the girls headed over to the movies. After the movies they hit Kelly's for ice cream sundaes. After taking Sam home Carly decided she wasn't ready to go back to the brownstone so she just started walking around town. She was enjoying herself, simply being alone and getting to know Port Charles. She was actually smiling a little until she heard someone call out, "Hey."

Carly stopped and looked around. She was in front of a car dealership. She looked around quickly and realized she'd wandered into the more upscale part of town. She looked to see who had called out and if he'd been talking to her. She'd only seen him in passing at school but she knew who he was. Who didn't know a Quartermain when they saw one in this town? "Who me?"

Jason nodded and gave the girl a warm smile. "What do you think?"

"Think about what?" Carly asked.

"The red one or the silver one?" Jason asked as he motioned to two very expensive sport cars.

Carly looked around to double check that he was talking to her. Which made Jason laugh. When she turned to look at him she couldn't help but smile. She liked the sound of his laugh. "Um, I don't know, I don't know anything about cars."

"Well," Jason said as he motioned her closer. "Which do you think looks better?"

Carly came a little closer to the cars and looked them over. "The red one. The only people who drive silver ones where I come from are men who are to damn old to be driving and way to damn old to be trying to impress the women."

Jason really laughed at that. "My Grandfather drives a silver two seater."

"See." Carly said with a small smile.

"But he's happily married." Jason teased.

"Doesn't mean he's dead." Carly replied.

Jason gave her another warm smile. "Good point." He turned to the salesman who was standing out of the way. "Let my Grandfather know that if he insists on buying it; I'll take the red one."

"Very good Mr. Quartermain." The salesman replied and then walked away.

"Thanks for the help." Jason said as he turned back to Carly. "My Grandfather has been harping on me for months to pick one out. It's not like we need another car."

"You're grandfather is buying you a car that costs more then the house I live in?" Carly asked, despite the fact she knew it was a stupid question. The Q's bought whatever they wanted and apparently whatever they didn't want.

Jason just shrugged. "It's a birthday present."

Carly just shook her head. Her last store bought birthday present had been a twenty-dollar Barbie doll from k-mart when she was twelve.

Jason picked up on the girl's discomfort and said, "Anyway, thanks for the help Carly."

The girl blinked. "How'd you know…"

"I was at the Nurses' Ball." Jason explained. "And our mothers are best friends. I've heard Bobbie speaking of you. You have no idea how thrilled she is to have you in her life again."

"Seriously?" Carly asked, her eyes a little wide.

Jason nodded. "Seriously." He smiled at her. "Actually, she's over there now, or she was when I left. I could take you over or take you home if you'd like? You're kind of far off from the brownstone. Where are you coming from?"

"I was coming from the Harbor View Towers." Carly explained.

"Wow, you've been walking for awhile." He chuckled. "It's still a long walk back to the brownstone from here." Jason said as he nodded towards the car he was driving. "I can drop you off or take you to Bobbie."

Carly was unsure. She didn't know this kid and she was leery of cars when someone she knew and trusted was driving. "Thanks but I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" Jason asked.

"Yeah." Carly replied. "Best way to get to know a place is by walking. It was nice meeting you. Have fun with your new car."

"Nice meeting you." Jason agreed. He watched as Carly walked off before leaving himself.

Since Kristina had taken over the television after dinner Alexis had gone up to her room to get some work done. She had files, briefs, and law books spread out all over her bed. She was taking down some notes on a legal pad when there was a knock on the door. Looking over the top of her glasses, which had settled on the end of her nose, she called out, "Come in." She smiled brightly when a small head of dark hair poked in.

"Um, Alexis?" Sam said as she looked at her mother from behind the bedroom door. "Um, can we talk about something?"

Alexis beamed. "Of course we can baby." Alexis moved her stuff off to the side and patted the place beside her on the bed as she took her glasses off and weaved her fingers into them.

Sam came into the bedroom and closed the door behind her. She walked over to her mother's bed and hopped up onto it. She sat so she was facing Alexis but hadn't looked up at her yet.

"What's on your mind, Sammie?" Alexis asked as she titled Sam's head up.

"Well," Sam said softly. She looked into her mother's eyes and saw such love and caring and adoration. "I've been thinking about something and I wanted to ask you about it first."

Alexis gave her daughter a warm and reassuring smile as she brushed hair from her shoulders. "You can talk to me about anything sweetheart."

"Well," Sam started again. "I was thinking, and wondering, and I'd understand if you didn't want me too." She lied as she babbled. She wouldn't understand at all. "But I was wondering if maybe it would be ok with you if I stopped calling you Alexis, and, you know, called you Mom, or something, cause I've never called anyone that before and I was kind of thinking that maybe that's cause I was only ever meant to call you that. So, would it be ok, if I called you Mom?"

Tears welled in Alexis' eyes as she listened to her baby babble. "You want to call me Mom?"

Sam nodded. "I'm ready, but if you're not…"

Alexis pulled Sam into her arms and hugged her so tight. "I'd be so happy and proud for you to call me Mom." She took Sam's face in her hands and covered it in kisses. "I've waited a long, long, time to hear you call me that."

Sam giggled as Alexis covered her face in kisses again. In that moment Sam felt, for the first time in her short little life, as if everything in her world was right. She threw her arms around Alexis' neck and hugged her tight. "I love you Mommy."

Tears rolled down Alexis' face as she held her little girl. Her heart swelled and beat with such love, and for the first time in a very long time, if ever, everything was right in her world too. "I love you too, my sweet baby girl."