The tension that was in the room reminded him of butter, all it took was a warm knife to cut through it. Reluctantly he walked over to his large chair that had yet to age since the day he got it. Pointing to the chair on the opposite side of the desk for Alex to sit in he didn’t say one word. She spoke; the sound of her voice brought back sweet memories of a long forgotten time, a time where he would never have back. Time wishing is time wasted with that being said Sam no longer wished he could go back in time to try and stop or start what he did with Alex but instead had come to terms with the fact that he had a daughter with this women.

“Just let me start off by saying…” he paused and took a deep breath his chest and stomach expanding as air filled into his lungs and then breathed out, “I don’t hate you… part of me wants to…” he looked away from her and focused on the desk in front of her in hopes he didn’t show his own insecurities to Alex while he was telling her how he felt, ”Hell ninety-nine percent of me wants to hate you but I can’t.”

His body seemed to move on it’s own as Sam lifted himself and walked around to Alex and got down on his knees with a small weak voice he said, “Just tell me why… why you couldn’t tell me… tell Airyn…“ his eyes watering slightly no longer able to stay dry like they had for so long, “Why couldn’t you tell us? Why? Why?” tears started to flow down his face afraid to ask the next question about what was to come with Sam and Airyn, if Alex was able to not tell them would she just pick up and hide away keeping Airyn from him.

No, that wouldn’t happen Sam wouldn't let it, despite his weak composure for the moment if he needed to he would search the world for her both of them. He couldn’t separate a child from the mother just like Alex shouldn't be able to separate he daughter from her father.

Glad that it was just Alex and Sam in the room he took another deep breath wiping away the tears from his face, as he looked Alex in her eyes with a deadpan stare. “I didn’t have the luxury of knowing my parents, and I had a breakdown when I found out they died…” here it was the first time he truly opened up with anyone since Kevin and Neena, it could be the fact that it was because Alex was the mother of his only daughter or it could have something to do with the past they once shared, “but I will be damned if I have to miss out on any of my kids lives, I am the father and I don’t want either one of my kids ending up like me…” his voice broke off as he stood up and turned his back to Alex, his arm raising itself and placing it on the shelf Sam rested there waiting for Alex, to confirm his fears.

Alexandra watched Sam as he took a seat but ignored the fact that he had gestured her to sit although her legs felt like jelly and threatened her to collapse without a warning. Her face was a pure mask of anguish as she waited for him to say something, to yell at her, to tell her that he hated her with every pore of his body. She wasn’t even trying to hide the fact that she wasn’t cool with everything that was happening… She had feared so many things ever since she had Airyn. Having her daughter taken away from her, having her daughter suffering. She was the only one that knew how many were the days when she had to put a mask of confidence on even when she felt that the world was caving in, only she knew how many were the nights when she cried as her daughter has begun to wonder why from all the kids she saw she was the only one without a dad taking her to the park or taking her from school, why she didn’t have a picture of her mommy and daddy to look at and at least pretend she had a family.

Those were the nights when she was wondering if what she did was correct, those where the nights when she had to convince herself that it was the best thing for Airyn. And now, as she was seeing the man in front of her she began to think that all this time she had been selfish, that she didn’t do anything for Airyn, she did it for herself. All this time she had believed she had loved her daughter, that she had changed everything for her… it was beginning to look like a rotten lie. After all what did she do for her daughter? She had said so many times that she hated to be a bad example but she never stopped killing, or hurting, she enjoyed the hunt and the kill and pushed away any remorse she had felt. She had said that it was the best for Airyn to live only with her… but was it? Did she know Sam enough to decide for him? To think that he wouldn’t accept his daughter or force her to split her time between visiting her parents? Or it was just a selfish decision like every one that she had made? As questions were gathering in her mind, hurting her like sharp poisoned knives a conclusion raised above all her thoughts; in the end, all she had done for her daughter was to bring her to this world. All those times when she had thought about not having Airyn stung her like a swarm of bees.

She was unable to talk. Before Sam could start speaking, there were a million things she wanted to say. To blame him, even to ask him to forgive her but every one of them stopped in her throat. Yell at me, Sam, blame me, do something! was one of the last thoughts that was in her mind when he started speaking. For a moment she almost breathed relieved, he would yell at her, he would insult her and she would be finally able to respond, to throw her excuses into his face, hurt him even more. But he didn’t. He didn’t. He had just told her that although he wished he could hate her he didn’t. Then what did he feel for her? Her mind was confused even more. A puzzled look appeared on her face as the amount of guilt increased exponentially with every moment.

And then, the peak. Sam kneeled down in front of her, his eyes turning teary as he spoke asking her why, why she had kept him away from Airyn and viceversa. Alexandra swallowed. No Sam, don’t do this. Why was he doing this? Did he know that his actions were like hot wax on every inch of her body? That it would make her experience a pain she had never felt before? Circe, the woman that killed in cold blood was no where to be seen and what stood in front of him was a simple woman, one that was overwhelmed by emotions. For once she would have wished to trade her powers with one that could make her vanish from his office, from this situation she couldn’t take anymore. Don’t do this… Her mind trailed off as she bit on her lower lip so hard that it almost brought blood to the surface.

She wanted to cry so much, to let herself to be an easy prey for her emotion and her eyes even turned watery as she watched the man in front of her cry. Sam… But she didn’t, it seemed impossible in that moment to do anything else than stare at him, and to see his icy blue eyes as even more accusations brought to her selfishness. Every word he was saying was making her feel even worse, his confession about his breakdown made her feel guilty that not even once in five years she hadn’t been interested to find out what he was up to. He was the father of her child… his child too, she remembered herself and what it had been between them was beautiful while it lasted. Maybe she owned him at least that and yet she didn’t do it.

And then her suspicions and fears were confirmed. No, now it was certain that Sam wouldn’t let things like they were before this day. It hurt her again and more as her eyes clung to his body as he got up and turned his back on her. She knew that it was her turn to talk now but she let silence to take over for a few more seconds while her mind struggled on what she should do. The part of her that felt responsible for his pain wanted to comfort him. A hand raised and slightly touched his back but it was quickly retracted, fist clenched and nails digging into her palm. Her eyes closed and she finally let herself cry again. “Sam.” her voice wasn’t better than his. Still weak, still shaky but none the less she was speaking… “I’ve spent the last five years forcing myself to forget about your existence.” She was still keeping her eyes closed, knowing that if Sam would turn around, if she’d met the icy blue again, she would be again unable to speak. She tried to breathe but it felt like she was inhaling acid and it was burning her lungs. She stopped in the middle of her breath. “Our relationship went on and off like a lightning bulb… We’re not normal people, Sam. You’re all the hero type, out to do good and I’m…” her voice was now louder as memories of their time together were played in her mind over and over again. I’m just a murderer. Her mind finished up the sentence but she couldn’t say it out loud. Her eyes snapped open as she bit her lower lip again until she felt the taste of blood in her mouth. A sadistic grin appeared on her face. Sam knew very well what Kabal meant.

The smile disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared and her other fist clenched tight. “That made me wonder…” she sighed and struggled to take another breath even if it hurt her lungs if she did it. “It made me wonder if you ever-” what did she want to say? Love? Did he ever love her? ‘if you ever cared enough for me…” she finally managed to say, her eyes focused on the wooden floor and nails dug further into her flesh, until she felt the warmth of her own blood tickling down her hand. The physical pain was the only thing that was keeping her composed, that kept her linked to the real world. “enough to settle down… to have a family for Airyn. A real family.” her eyes shot up again, locking down on Sam’s. “Did you Sam? Cause I’d hate to see my-” she stopped again abruptly realizing her mistake. “OUR daughter being split between the both of us!” the tone of her voice was loud again, she wished again she could see the answer in his eyes, to see before he would speak, to confirm herself if what she did was right or wrong. “I wanted a real family for her.” she spoke again, her voice softening, and a teary smile appeared as her eyes shifted from his figure to somewhere behind him.

She didn’t see anything, her vision was hazy as she now visualized the day Airyn was born. Her first cry, how her heart was overwhelmed with a strange warmth as she had taken the baby into her arms, how it took her a while to realize that she loved the small bundle in her arms, that she wasn’t wrong when she decided to keep her. Her smile faded as she looked back at Sam. “And at that particular moment, I didn’t think you were suited to be her father…” she knew her words would hurt him but it was the mere truth, it was what she had thought then. “I didn’t think you’d be able to leave everything to be her father… to stay there only by my side… like you’ve said, you hated commitment.” Alexandra sighed as she closed her eyes again. “I know you wouldn’t have walked away from her…” she continued then stopped for a few seconds. She opened her eyes, a half sad, half ironic smile appeared on her face. “I think I know you enough not to say or even think that… but I wanted you to do that for me as well, not because you were being forced by a unplanned daughter.” Alexandra shrugged, the smile continuing to stick on her face as a mocking remark to her own mistakes and decisions. She wondered how she could have been so sure about them then but found them silly and selfish now when confronting him. It was funny…. She was admitting, not only to Sam but to herself that she wanted him for herself too, not only for her daughter. Did she love this man back then? Did she felt anything for him now? These questions mixed in the whirlpool in her mind but she didn’t dare to even try to answer them, afraid of what the reply might be.

“You can call me selfish I guess.” she added with another shrug as she took one of her still clenched fists to wipe the tears from her face with the back of her hand. Her nails were still deep down her flesh, pushing further and harsher as if punishing herself. “But that’s what I thought then…” she tried to let out a mocking laugh for her thinking but came out more like a sigh and a sob combined. “But back then it seemed pretty good.” she continued and took a deep breath, although there was pain, it seemed to get weaker as she was confessing. Maybe it wasn’t getting weaker by much but at least it let her breath. “I don’t know what to think now, Sam.” she ended with the final and most important confessions of all, the confession that she was aware she might have made a mistake, that she might have taken away the years Sam and Airyn could have been together, that she was responsible for Airyn’s suffering when she realized that she should have a father and responsible for Sam’s suffering too. Maybe if she had let Airyn to be with her father he wouldn’t have had a breakdown… there were so many maybes and ifs… every situation that could have been different if she wouldn’t have been so selfish.

The show of emotion seemed to have worked no longer was it one sided in the conversation, Alex was now show similar emotion as he had shown moments ago if not more. The warm touch of her hand was brief on his back but it was defiantly there but it retracted away from his back so much Sam could feel a small wind behind the movement. It was then she said what he had expected her to have done, forget my existence? Sam questioned his head perking up as he listened intently to every word and ever tone she used for he next sentence.

Hero type? Sam thought again, his inner thoughts getting louder and more upset then what Sam wanted them to be. Sam held his tongue however and let her finish with her thoughts for it seemed to be eating her up inside as much as it was eating him up. His thoughts however kept rolling, Your not a killer, your just lost… his stomach starting to lurch with the sound of her crying and her questioning what they had back when they dated. It then seem to click some what for Sam, he never did say he loved her, the betrayal from one major girlfriend after another made Sam more guarded than what he used to have been which made it more and more difficult for him to get close to someone in the first place.

If it was anyone’s fault they split in the first place Sam had a feeling that it was his fault, granted if Alex didn’t get pregnant when she did things could have been severely different between them but there was no use wondering what could have been when she was stand in front of him the way she was now. Both with emotions as high as they were the situation could tilt in either direction. Sam was determined to make the scales tip in the right direction, for there was no way a child of his would grow up without knowing her father.

He wanted a family, even if it was a split family, he could still tolerate it. Alex however wanted a whole one, all living under one roof and if that's what she truly wanted for her daughter Sam would have to respect that and work for it. After all just because he didn’t have a mother or father growing meant his kids should suffer the same thing.

Once Alex was done talking Sam remained looking at the bookcase, identifying one of the old dusty encyclopedia volumes that Sam never looked at, processing everything that was said Sam let out a loud sigh and said, “Was a bit selfish of you, to think you didn’t even ask me.” Hitting the stupid book lightly Sam pushed himself from the bookcase and pivoted his feet so he was facing Alex.

Now looking at the crying figure of the other of his child Sam blinked once and shrugged, “With things being the way are now between us it would be difficult to start that family for her, but I was always a fan for a challenge.” Sam said his heart beat going a mile a minute, maybe it was because Sam was the biggest sucker in the world it might have been because his heart was to big, hell it might even been because when they were dating way back Sam was happy, but when the thought of Airyn growing up without knowing her father his thoughts wouldn’t even process it.

“She needs a father and a family, ” Sam said his voice trying to sound as confident as his thoughts were now, “And if your willing to take it slow, I think we can try to give her that family, me being the father you being the mother…” he paused and gave a small weak smile and said, “If you told me you were pregnant back then I would have been right there with you not because of you being pregnant or the right thing to do but because it was me being with you…” Sam paused and took another breath his gaze fixed on Alex’s eyes trying to get them to look back into his. “But you never gave me that chance, something that I am going to beat myself up about the rest of my life.” He paused and went out on a limb for all he knew Alex was already seeing someone right now and they were serious, he didn’t want to come in between Alex and her love but Sam had to be there for Airyn.

He didn’t know if they could make it as a husband and wife but the fact that he had a daughter could never be unlearned. “Look, I know if we can never have what we once had I still want to be there for Airyn. No matter what…” he smiled and put an arm gently on her shoulder and said, “I could be the biggest sucker in the world but I never knew my mother or father, she has both and I think they should both be there for her when they can be.”

Going out on a limb and feeling super vulnerable Sam weekly asked, “Are you and Airyn up for dinner tomorrow night?” he asked weakly in attempts to get some kind of bridge built with his daughter and Alex in attempts to help Alex construct the perfect family.

She paused and watched Sam. Yeah, she felt better after getting out most of the bitterness she had kept inside for years. Alexandra licked her lips slightly still feeling the taste of the blood there. It was her turn to be quiet and listen and she didn’t have the power, nor wished to interrupt him. She fell silent, just absorbing his words, analyzing, thinking.

She let out what it wanted to look like a laugh at hearing it would be hard to start a family for Airyn now. Difficult… was an easy word for putting it. Only terror was in her mind as she thought of the moment when she would tell Airyn about Sam being her father. Because Sam didn’t look like he had any plan of letting Airyn grow up without a fatherly figure from now on. Alexandra couldn’t particularly blame him for wanting this, it probably was his right and he seemed pretty confident about trying to build a family for their daughter.

For Alexandra, however, the idea of sharing Airyn, of finally having a real family for her was scary. She had grown so used with being just her and Airyn, a third person seemed a strange and impossible idea at first look.

Sam’s latest words let Alexandra in a bit of a shock, it was unexpected to her to get an invitation to dinner for her and Airyn. None of the scenarios that had been played in her mind before getting to the mansion resembled what was going on now. Alexandra took a deep breath and closed her eyes, feeling the need to think, to ponder on this decision, but somehow the situation forced her to make a choice in a short time. An invitation to dinner? It seemed so awkward, so impossible now, it looked like nothing in the world could fix the things between her and Sam, nothing would help them form a family or at least pretend they can have a family.

Although she was an optimistic person this time she couldn’t bring herself to be even a quarter of it. “Sam… I said I don’t know what to think now.” she finally said opening her eyes. “I won’t lie to you. The idea seems impossible to get trough right now.” A weak smile to match his last one appeared on her lips. “However, I owe you at least a try… and who knows how this would turn?” Her voice certainly didn’t sound as confident as she wanted it to sound.

The smile faded away. “I wish I could have more time to prepare myself to tell Airyn about you.” A stern look appeared on her face as if she had been realizing something important. Which was the thing that actually happened. No, it was Sam’s influence that made her think like this… “No.” she added quickly as her eyes locked on Sam. “One thing Sam. Don’t let me leave this place without telling Airyn about you or I fear I’ll forget everything I’ve felt and said here and I’ll run as far as I can.” The look on her face was deadly serious and if Sam had been paying enough attention to her while they were together he would know she wasn’t kidding. “Just… don’t let me.”

Lunch was quick and creative. That was one thing good about the x-mansion that Sara remembered. It was full of the bare essentials for a lot of quick meals, pasta, cheese, hot dogs, and eggs. Sara had cut five hot dogs the long way, half way up, so that they looked like octopuses. Thin lines of mustard made their mouths and little dots of ketchup made their eyes. While those sat aside, Airyn was arranging the golf fish crackers on five plates so that it looked like they were swimming in a school on half the plates.

Sammy had seen Sara set out a bag of baby carrots, and scoffing, he asked her how carrots could be in the sea with and oscopuse. Sara simply asked if he ever seen a sea slug. His answer was no, but he had bet they had spots. So Sara found some left over olives she cut into thin O ring slices for Sammy to press to the baby carrots.

Mean while Sara was finishing off a batch of mac-n’-cheese, at the stove. Only Sara’s mac-n’-cheese was green. She’d managed to find a packet of food coloring left over from who knows what, and she’d colored the cheese so it would look like sea weed, and put a scoop on each of the five plates. The octopus rested on top, with his gold fish friends and the sea slugs. Circling his bed of mac-n’-cheese.

They were just finishing setting the lunch up, when Sara heard foot steps down the hall.

Nodding his head with a small smile not looking for much else Sam said, “All you can do is try…” in his mind he would do all he could to assemble the courage to try and make thinks between him and Alexandra work, he had to try it at least, for not only his son and their daughter but for him and Alex. They could have had something but because they cut it off they never could figure how things would end. One thing in Sam’s mind was for sure, it was never to late.

A small grin appeared on his face as Alex issued her last request which sounded more like a threat, “Alex there is nowhere in the world that you could hide Airyn from her father, you of all people should know how resourceful I can be if I set my mind to something.” He paused and walked to the office doors and opened it, “I’ll be surprised if Sara hasn’t said anything yet.”

As they approached the kitchen Sam stopped short and grabbed Alex by the shoulder and gazed into her eyes with his icy blues and said, “It’s best you get the hardest part over with first, if you won’t say anything I will, a girl should know who her father is!” Sam smiled and walked into the kitchen waving to everyone, “Something smells great? Sammy did Sara set anything on fire?”

" Dad! The Mac n’cheese is green and no Aunt Sara didn’t set anything on fire…yet!" Sam grinned and caught his son as Sam flew into his dad for a quick hug as both grinned in Sara’s direction. Tapping Sammy’s head Sam said, “Go wash up before we eat and don’t forget to put some food in Chelsea’s bowl.” Said Sam as he pointed to Chelsea who was now hold her food bowl in her mouth and nudging Airyn with it hoping she would put some gold fish in it.

His eyes shot from Sara then to his daughter and said “Airyn, your mommy has something important to tell you.” His gaze shifted from his daughter to Alex and he smiled, “Now is your chance…” he said with a smile as he walked over to Sara and whispered, “Thank you…” so only Sara could hear it.

All she could do was to give a small nod as Sam told her he would do anything to find his daughter. It wasn’t a very comforting idea but she was well aware that he was speaking the truth and a daughter certainly was something he wouldn’t give up on easily. She followed him out of the office somehow absent mindedly and his touch startled her.

Flinching a bit under his touch, she tried to focus on he was saying but barely managed to listen his words. While her eyes her locked upon his, her mind was focused solely on how Airyn would react to the news of having a father. Just one phrase got her attention and Alexandra snapped back to reality. Sara might have told Airyn?

No. That was a really big no. Sara had already interfered in her life and brought to Sam’s attention the fact that he had a daughter. She couldn’t have possibly said to Airyn something that only her parents had the right to. Hopefully.

She delayed the moment a few more seconds as she starred into the space, just trying to find enough courage to face her daughter. Breathe in. Breathe out. She closed her eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. Her fists tightened. Come on. Her fists unclenched and bright blue eyes opened while she took one last deep breath and walked into the kitchen.

“Airyn, your mommy has something important to tell you.”

She looked at Sam scared. She really wished a bit of a more time to deal with this but Sam really seemed to follow her advice more zealously than she thought.

”Now is your chance.”

She gave another slight nod, however she really wasn’t looking like she was convinced about how Airyn would react. She sighed. At least Sara hadn’t said anything to her daughter. Her glance shifted to Airyn.

The four year old was just taking a fistful of gold fish crackers to put in Chelsea’s bowl as she heard her name being called. Airyn looked up, at first she thought that something was wrong about giving Chelsea food but after the man named Sam finished her eyes shifting now to her mother. Her mother was looking now at her, and confusion appeared on her face. Her mommy still seemed sad and Airyn wished for the first time in her life to be old enough to find out the things that were kept away from her in situations like this. Curiosity and worry overwhelmed her and hoped that that important something would clear up why mommy wasn’t feeling good. “Mommy?”

Alexandra forced a smile upon her face, one that would deceive her daughter’s mind as she approached her. Crouching in front of her, she pushed away the hair that had fallen on her small perfect face and widened her smile, actually trying to look happy. “Honey, you remember what I’ve told you about daddy, yes?” Airyn gave one determined nod. “Of course, mommy. He is away with business.” Alexandra’s fingers caressed the smooth skin on her daughter’s cheek before her hand retracted and rested on her knee. “Well baby, daddy is back now.”

Brown eyes widened in confusion and Airyn blinked several times at her mother. Her small heart shaped mouth opened but quickly closed back. Alexandra’s heart stopped beating while waiting on her daughter’s reaction. For the second time on this day she wished she could trade her powers, this time with telepathy. Airyn remained for a few more seconds. “Daddy is back?” She looked confused and uncertain of what was happening. She looked like she didn’t believe what was being said to her. “Yes. He is.” Alexandra confirmed.

Airyn was silent again and the confusion was still there on her face. “Where is he?” Airyn asked while she looked at the door, probably expecting for them to open now and the daddy to walk trough them in any moment from now. “Why isn’t he here?” Her brown eyes were now focused on her mother. “He doesn’t want to see me?” Her voice was low now and Alexandra recognized that as sadness.

Alexandra let out a small smile as she caressed her daughter’s hair. “Baby, of course he wants to see you.” she said as she looked at Sam for a brief moment. Returning her glance to Airyn, she saw her eyes brightening a bit but she still looked like unconvinced. “Airyn.” the smile on Alexandra’s face disappeared, she was serious now. “Your daddy is here.” She saw Airyn looking once again at the door with expecting eyes, probably thinking that that would be the perfect moment for daddy to walk in. Alexandra gulped down feeling uneasy as these last words were the most difficult of them all. “Sam is… your.” Silence. “Daddy.”

There. The dice has been thrown now and there was no going back from now on. Airyn blinked at her surprised then she looked at Sam with big eyes. She starred at him without saying anything, without even blinking. Alexandra was focused on her daughter’s face, wanting some fast forward button that she could push to get over this. It seemed hours until Airyn finally turned her eyes to her mother. “Mommy…” Alexandra looked worried at her daughter, there was no change what so ever in her daughter’s behavior. Surprise, confusion and nothing else visible. “Can I hug him?” The question took Alexandra by surprise. She blinked, that was the last of the questions she expected from Airyn after seeing her acting like that, however, she felt better knowing that her daughter was just shy. The smile returned to her face. “Of course you can.”

Airyn looked for a few more seconds at her mother then at Sam, unsure of what to do, searching confirmation from the man that turned out to be her daddy. Alexandra raised from her crouched position her eyes shifting between Sam and Airyn. Now, all she could do was waiting. Seconds later, she took her first step toward her daddy. Her steps were small and insecure but she continued to gather courage to continue. Her journey was completed and Airyn now stood in front of Sam, her head tilted so she could see him. “Can I hug you?” A simple, pure, innocent question she addressed to her father.

Sara’s eye brow rose at the comments about her setting the kitchen on fire. Or lack there of, of that action. “It’s amazing how much confidence you have in me, Sam.” Sara’s lips pressed together and her lips smiled meekly. This day went better than Sara really could have thought. “You’re welcome Sam.”

Sara turned her back on Airyn and Alexandra as Alexandra tried to tell her why Sara had brought her here. Or at least get what Sara wanted accomplished, accomplished. Sara let the moment pass without turning. She picked at her gold fish crackers but that was it.

“I think I’m going to get going guys. I’ve got some things to take care of.” Things meaning she had to go untie the baby sitter and give her money in hopes of not being arrested for kidnapping. Hopefully Sara would get there before she woke up.

Sara left the kitchen walked out the mansion, and left.

Watching Alexandra intently as she seemed to struggle with saying what she should have told Airyn from the start Sam quickly turned his glance from Alex and placed it on Sara, “Come back soon!” hearing his son add a quick, "Come back and play auntie!” and with a wave Sammy went back to setting the table by flying over to the wooden spoon and pot and dispensed the Mac’ n cheese to the four plates that were now set for them.

Sam turned his attention from his son who was dishing out the food to Alexandra and his daughter Airyn who could tell something important was going to be said but she didn’t know exactly what. Sam was slightly taken aback by the simple lie that Alex had told Airyn, though it was simple Sam guessed it made the most sense seeing as Alex made it look like that her father still cared for her which was good seeing as he did however Sam was completely ignorant on the type of business he was supposed to be on that would require his absence for so long.

Regardless what the lie was Sam decided he would go with the lie for the time being seeing it was important to Airyn to know that even if he wasn’t aware of her birth for a time being it wasn’t Alexandra’s fault. Even if it was her fault for keeping Airyn hidden from him he didn’t want Airyn to know about it. It would only make things more difficult for Airyn and Alex and possibly lead to hate in the future something he didn't want to happen.

The gaze of the young daughter now lingered on Sam her eyes wide now that she knew the truth. Nodding slightly to agree with Alex that he was in fact her father he kept his eyes on her trying to meet her gaze waiting to see if Airyn was upset or happy. A small smirk appeared on his face as Airyn asked permission to hug him, without a seconds hesitation Sam crouched down as he still looked at his daughter letting her know it was alright for her to hug him. After all why would she need permission he was her father and his book a child could hug their father without permission.

Opening his arms he felt Airyn slowly latch on to him as he wrapped his arms around her in a big hug. It had been the first time he hugged his daughter so he made sure he could throw in as much love as he possibly could. Behind dry tears Sam patted Airyn on her back and said, “Sorry I’ve been gone for so long princess, had a lot of business to take care of…” lied Sam as he continued, “But I’m home now…” letting go of Airyn and glancing towards Sammy first winking letting him know that they needed to talk after so for now play along.

Turning his gaze to Alex he let out a playful wink letting her know that for now her secret was going to remain a secret until Alex was ready to tell Airyn what really happened. “I am back now so hopefully I’ll be in your life more and more if your not to mad at me Airyn, I missed my favorite daughter.” Sam said with a small wink in Sammy’s direction. Picking up Airyn in another tight squeeze Sam pointed to the food and said, “Food looks good, Mac ’n cheese and goldfish, some of my favorites!”

Small arms wrapped around Sam's neck with all the force a four year could possess. Her face buried in his shoulder and small, crystal clear tears escaped Airyn's almond shaped brown eyes. "Daddy..." she muttered against his shirt, hugging him even tighter. This was the best surprise she could ever get; this was the best day she could ever hope for. She kept her daddy close to her for a few moments, she wasn't aware if only one minute or more passed since she had been picked up into the hug. Airyn slowly turned her head to her mother.

Tears slipped out of her eyes, seeing her daughter and Sam hugging. There were tears of joy and tears of pain, the pain of robbing her daughter of this happiness. The pain of robbing Sam of the same happiness. A finger moved up to her face to wipe out the tears that kept coming.

A smile appeared on Alexandra's face as Airyn turned to her. It was a smile to comfort Airyn, to let her know that those were tears of joy, a smile to hide everything else that was hidden behind sky blue eyes. Her eyes shifted to Sam and saw his wink then to Sammy who seemed to understand that he needed to keep up with her lie. "Thank you." she mouthed to Sam as he squeezed their daughter into another hug then pointed to the food.

"Mommy?" Bright blue eyes focused on her daughter's figure as she was turning back to her, small drops of water still lingering on her cheeks. "Yes, baby?" she asked, her lips trembling as she spoke, her voice weak. "Come here." Airyn requested, her small hands extending to reach for her mother.

The heart of the molecule manipulator froze for a few seconds and barely managed to move her feet from the spot she was standing in. Her own arms went up and grabbed both of her daughter's arms as she stopped a few inches away from both Airyn and Sam. "Mommy. I'm happy."

Alexandra closed her eyes. Guilt was overridden by the pure happiness emanating from every pore of her daughter, the bright light in her eyes. As she opened her eyes, she turned her head to the table where Sammy was hovering. "Sammy, can you come here?" she asked, her eyes searching Sam's for a brief moment then went back to the boy.

A wide smile appeared on his face as Airyn said she was happy, the lack of a father in her life must have bugging her for some time. Seeing as Airyn now knew of Sam’s location and what he looked lie he figured that he had solved that problem for her. No longer would she sit and wonder what it was like or why she didn’t have a father for Sam was there. No longer would Alex have to tell her lies about her father being away on business for he would always be there for both Airyn and Alex, even if Sam didn’t see eye to eye with her he would be there in a second if it meant it could make either of them smile.

Just as Alex approached to Airyn and Sam she stopped short and from a small movement Sam’s eyes trailed over to his son who was staring at the scene now with watery eyes his tail twitching slightly as it aimed down to show he was sad. Knowing full well that Sammy was feeling left out he looked to Alex who was already calling him over.

Hearing his name being called by Alexandra Sammy looked to his dad tears still flowing and then looked for reassurance, which he soon received with a nod from his father wiping the tears from his face and his fear of being left behind by his dad for the new family one equipped with a girl and a dad Sammy sniffed and floaed towards Alex who called him over. "Yes?” asked Sammy in a sad tone not sure if Alex was mean enough to kick him out of the mansion now that his dad had a new family.

The look on Sammy’s face made her heart ache just like it would have been Airyn there, looking at them with watery eyes. In this particular moment, it didn’t matter Sammy and Airyn didn’t share a common mother, and if they were supposed to have a family together then surely that fact wouldn’t matter, ever. Looking at him now and Alexandra realized that maybe it wouldn’t be very difficult for her to start seeing him as her son, if he wished that as well.

“Come here, Sammy. Your place is here… not there, alone.” she tried to put up the most convincing smile she had so show him that everything was ok and even if Sam had found a daughter it didn’t mean he would be left out of this new family they were trying to form for Airyn. No, they needed to make a family for both Airyn and Sammy, that was the right way.

Sammy hovered over, his tail still pointing down, small tears dropping out of his light blue eyes and made a stop next to his father and facing Alexandra. She reached out to wipe a few tears of his face and smiled again, hoping that Sammy won’t reject her. “Sammy, the only thing that’s gonna change around here is that you’ll have a little sister.” she assured him. Technically, if things went right he’d probably have a new mother too, but it was too soon to mention anything, especially when she didn’t know anything about his real mother.

A smile touched Sam’s face as he nodded to his son after Alex spoke, “She’s right kiddo, you just found me I won’t leave you… or Chelsea behind.” He winked to his son as Chelsea let out a loud bark hearing her name and came dancing over to the small family that was still awaiting Sammy. Looking back to his daughter then to Alex who generally seemed that she wanted Sam to join them for a ‘Family’ moment, a mother and a father who aren’t married and haven’t spoke to each other in a close to have a decade, and two half siblings and a dog, yep a perfect Kodak moment.

As she reached over to wipe a few tears from his son’s face Sam smiled it becoming more and more noticeable to those around him. The fact that she was treating him like her own was saying a lot about Alex’s character and was thus more appealing to Sam. He patted Sammy’s head as he said, “Yep you get a sister…” ”and a new mom?” Sam looked to his son then to Alex and then back to his son the color from his face slightly faded as he thought of marriage, “Ummmmm…” Sam answered still unsure of that answer and having a slight feeling of the commitment.

His eyes nervously shifting to Alex and making a quick decision, “Maybe Sammy, anything can happen…” he looked to Alex his eyes asking for help as he spotted his son’s tail perk straight up into the air the way an excited dog’s tail perks up.

“And a new mom?”

Alexandra’s own eyes looked from Sammy from Sam then back, surprised of the boy’s reply. She certainly didn’t expect it to be voiced out this soon, creating a bit of a shock in her mind and the momentarily incapability to answer. She and Sam had discussed about trying to make a family for the two kids and now both Airyn and Sam were certain about it when the adults didn’t know how exactly that would work.

Sam’s answer seemed pretty evasive and he was turning to her for help. Alexandra hoped that the kids would be satisfied with this but a quick glance in Airyn’s direction and she understood that her daughter was also waiting an answer from herself. “Yeah, we’ll talk this about later on.” she said opting the evasive answer as a perfect option for the moment. “But I’ll be your mommy from now on if you want so.” she assured Sammy with a smile.

“Family hug!” Airyn shrieked with joy as one hand went around her mother trying to pull her closer, the other being around her dad’s neck all the time. Alexandra left herself being dragged as she moved closer to Airyn and Sam. Her hand reached for Sammy’s shoulder, pulling him along with her. Closing her eyes, she drifted into a world where everything worked out just well and Sammy and Airyn was happy. Maybe, if they were lucky, she and Sam would be happy too.