Hi everyone. I finally got something written. Can't seem to get motivated to write these days. Especially can't seem to get back into Priorities, but this is a start. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 5- The Dance

Carly was officially in an adult relationship. She couldn't wait until AJ and Sarah found out. She'd use every opportunity to rub it in their faces. She didn't want to ruin a good thing by telling Sonny her real age too soon. They had spent the last four nights together at the Port Charles Hotel (Momma and Tony thought she was out with AJ and she'd sneak in late). Sonny felt terrible that her ex was trying to steal her son away from her. He promised he'd do everything he could to help her win custody. She even planned on skipping the back to school dance so he could meet Michael. It was the perfect plan since AJ and Sarah were planning to take Michael for the weekend and would see them with Sonny.

Carly stared at her menu at Kelly's while Michael held a tiny stuffed bear tightly in his hand as he sat in his stroller.

"Order anything you'd like," Sonny said, then leaned over to Michael, showing off his dimples. "I'm glad to see you like the bear."

"It's a very thoughtful gift," Carly said. "You'd be a much better father than AJ."

"I am hoping to have more children."

"More children?"

He nodded. "I have a son. Dante. He's a very bright kid, though he has a concerning interest in the police."

Carly rolled her eyes. "I don't trust anyone who respects authority."

"Don't worry about AJ. I'll cover the cost of an attorney and even recommend one. We'll keep Michael from him."

She grinned.

"And if the courts don't abide, I'll take it into my own hands," Sonny assured.

GHGHGH

Sam had been staying at Wyndemere for four nights and refused to let her dad take her home. She was sick of his lies and started to wonder why Mom and Lucas weren't at home. She was surprised after school on Friday to find her mom instead of a Wyndemere driver there to pick her up.

Alexis climbed out of the car and wrapped her arms around Sam, but Sam pushed her away.

"Honey—"

"So, what is it?" Sam interrupted. "Are you and Dad getting divorced and you're keeping your little Lukey but not me?"

Alexis gaped at her. "How could you think such a thing?"

"That's why you and Lucas aren't at home right? And why Dad is making up sick lies about Lucas to spare me the thought of your marriage ending because of me!"

Alexis shook her head. "First of all, your dad and I aren't getting divorced, I have no idea where that's coming from. We're still in love as much as were when you were born. But even if we were splitting, it would never be because of you. And I certainly wouldn't keep Lucas but not you. You and your brother and this baby are everything to me."

Sam furrowed her eyebrows and crossed her arms.

Alexis cleared her throat and lowered her gaze. "Your dad didn't lie. Your brother is very sick."

"You LIAR!"

Alexis sighed. "Lucas is starting a treatment tomorrow, but your father and I are worried about you. He's going to stay with your brother tonight and I want to take you home to spend some time together since I'll need to be at the hospital a lot this weekend."

"I'm staying at Wyndemere. If I'm there, then maybe you and Dad can work things out."

"Sam, your dad and I have nothing to work out. Please, I want to spend some time with you. Besides, Helena is back tonight, and I won't allow you to stay there while she's there. We're going home."

"But it's the start of school dance tonight. Nikolas is coming with me."

Alexis rubbed her temples. "You can go to the next dance."

"No! I want to go to this dance. And Nikolas never gets out of the castle. He needs to be around normal people."

Alexis sighed. "What time is the dance at?"

"Seven."

"Then let's compromise, because I'm too drained to argue. We'll get some dinner and then you can go to the dance for two hours. Then you're coming home."

"Two hours?" Sam moaned. "But Mom, everyone hangs out after the dance. Everyone'll think I'm a Browner!"

Alexis groaned. "Sam—"

"I want people to like me. Don't you remember what it's like to be my age? Oh… you were likely a Browner yourself. So, you don't get it."

Alexis threw her arms in the air. "Sam! Of course, I know what it's like to be your age. And I know what it's like to want to fit in and to hang around the wrong crowd. But I also know what it's like to not have a mother around for guidance and to end up a pregnant teenager!"

Sam fought back the tears that began to sting at her eyes, and she couldn't even look at her mother. She finally said it out loud. Sam was the cause of all their problems. Not like Lucas who came after their parents had good jobs and a house rather than a run-down apartment. Lucas wasn't the one who disrupted her mother's late-night studying while Dad worked extra hours. No, it was all Sam.

"Oh, honey…" Alexis reached out and stroked her hair. "That didn't come out right…"

Sam shoved her arm away and jumped into the back seat with a huff.

GHGHGH

Lucas coloured the tip of Julian's nose with blue pen and hung socks from his ears as both sat on the hospital bed.

"What do you think?" Julian scratched his chin. "Do I make a better dog than a man?"

Lucas chuckled a little. "You're a funny doggy." But he quickly frowned and leaned against his pillow.

Julian lifted the socks from his ears and set them on top of Lucas' head, but he continued to frown. "Are feeling sick again, bud?"

Lucas shook his head.

"Then what's up?"

"Why doesn't Sammy like me anymore?" Lucas asked.

Julian frowned and wrapped an arm around him. "She does like you. She's just… going through a phase."

"What's a phase?"

"It's something women go through where they act all weird and blame men for everything."

"Oh."

"Don't worry about it, bud. She won't always be like that. Just every four weeks or so."

"Does Mommy go through phases?"

Julian nodded. "She most certainly does. I can tell her the sky is blue but when she's in a phase I have to pretend it's not blue. Sometimes I think her phases are more than once a month."

"Is that so?" Alexis appeared in the doorway.

Julian eyes grew wide. "Uh oh…" He turned to Lucas and whispered, "This is how to please a woman when she's going through a phase…" He sat up straighter. "Honey! I was just explaining to Lucas how not to talk to women. We need to respect women and their opinion." He grinned at Lucas and winked.

Alexis rolled her eyes. "If you're referring to the storm last weekend, just before it started to rain the sky was grey not blue."

"Oh yes, dear. The sky was grey." He turned to Lucas and raised an eyebrow.

Alexis kissed Lucas' forehead and sat at the edge of the bed. "Your father is colour blind. A lot of men are."

"I thought you were spending time with Sam?" Julian asked. "Is she here?"

Alexis frowned. "We picked up Nikolas from the launch and they went to the school dance. So, I came here to kill some time."

Julian almost fell off the bed. "A dance? Do you mean like a dance lesson and Nikolas is the only boy there?"

"No. A real boy-girl dance."

"She's way too young!"

"Well, she is a teenager now," Alexis said.

"We were teenagers too!" Julian groaned.

"Yeah. Teenagers in a…" She covered Lucas' ears and mouthed, "Bar. She's at a chaperoned dance at school."

Julian clambered off the bed.

"What are you doing?" Alexis asked.

"Going to grab her, take her home, and lock her in her room until she's forty!"

GHGHGH

The girls (plus Nikolas) stood on one side of the gymnasium while the boys stood awkwardly on the other. The only ones dancing were seniors and a few juniors, with AJ and Sarah dancing the most.

"Should we ask someone to dance?" Sam asked Elizabeth.

Elizabeth shrugged. "Maybe."

Sam turned to Nikolas. "You ask someone first."

Nikolas shifted his feet awkwardly. "I've only ever danced with Grandmother."

Sam rolled her eyes.

"Is there anyone you have your eyes on?" Elizabeth asked.

Nikolas looked over at Emily and blushed.

Elizabeth took his arm and dragged him off. "Come on, I'll introduce you. Em and I were good friends in grade school."

But as they got closer to Emily, Lucky got there first. "Hey, Em. Wanna dance?"

Emily shrugged. "Sure."

Nikolas lowered his gaze as Lucky and Emily joined the dance floor.

"I'm sorry, Nikolas," Elizabeth said. "Maybe you can dance with Robin."

Nikolas looked over at Jason, Robin, and Drew standing together. Drew moved away from them and headed over to Sam.

"Hey," Elizabeth said as they walked over and blushed at Jason. "This is Sam's cousin, Nikolas."

Jason nodded at him.

"Hi," Robin said.

"Would you like to dance?" Nikolas asked.

Robin looked over at Patrick who was talking to Jax and Brenda, then turned back to Nikolas. "Sure."

Nikolas smiled and led her to the dance floor.

"So uh, it's a nice dance," Elizabeth said to Jason.

"Yeah." He smiled. "It's nice."

"Would you… do you wanna dance?" Elizabeth asked.

Jason smiled. "I'd love to—"

"Jason!" Carly showed up at their side. "There you are, I've been looking all over for you."

"We were about to dance," Elizabeth said.

"Dance?" Carly laughed. "He wouldn't dance with a little kid like you. Especially not when we have grownup matters to discuss." She waved at her. "So, bye-bye."

"Carly…" Jason said.

"Listen," Carly said turning to Jason and pretending that Elizabeth wasn't there anymore. "I want you there to witness AJ and Sarah's reactions to my new boyfriend. I told him about you. He might consider hiring you as he needs more workers in his business."

"What kind of business?" Jason asked.

She shrugged. "He makes coffee or something like that."

He raised an eyebrow. "Coffee?"

"Can't this wait until later?" Elizabeth spoke up.

Carly set her hands on her hips and glared at Elizabeth. "No one asked YOU." She turned back to Jason. "Come on. Looks like AJ and Sarah are getting ready to leave. I want to beat them to Kelly's."

Jason frowned. "Okay." He turned to Elizabeth. "Maybe we can dance another time."

Elizabeth clenched her jaw and stomped off.

On the other side of the gym, Drew walked over to Sam. "Hi there."

Sam blushed. "Hey."

"You must be new here. Where are you from?"

"Boston."

"Do you like to dance?"

She shrugged. "Not really."

"Want to get out of here, maybe go for a walk?"

"Please. This dance is so awkward."

GHGHGH

Julian burst through the entrance to the school where a teacher sat at a booth selling tickets.

"May I help you?" he asked.

"I'm looking for my daughter. Samantha Jerome."

The teacher raised an eyebrow. "Is this an emergency?"

"Yes!"

"I'll go see if I can find her." He took off towards the gym.

Julian paced back and forth for a few moments, then stormed into the gym himself.