"What are you two talking about?" Sam inquired as he put his hand on the small of Ali's back, a spot that always made him feel connected to her.

He was in such a good mood. Sam did not realize how much he missed his family until today. When his mother first suggested the idea of a family brunch to Sam, he had been hesitant. He was antsy as to how people would react to his rather sudden disappearance from the Harrington landscape and then his recent resurgence. But his mother and, to his surprise, his father pleaded their cases. Ultimately it came down to one thing. Sam was family and family always accepted their own, no matter what.

When he discussed it with Ali, she agreed with his parents, adding that maybe it would be better to get it all over within one grand gesture. Rip the band-aid off all at once so to speak. Besides, she naively stated, with so many people around, who would want to make a scene. Sam had chuckled at Ali's comment. She had not met his family yet.

The persona the Harrington's and various extended family were known by in the media was a very different thing when out of the public eye. There were disagreements, gossip, and on more than one occasion, fights. One of the only times Sam could ever remember seeing his father truly angry was when he punched his brother-in-law at a similar affair.

Sam couldn't remember the exact circumstances, he had been too young at the time, but he had a vivid picture of the moment. His mother was consoling her sister, who was crying. His uncle, red in the face, furiously yelling at his wife, telling her to stop sniveling. Christopher Harrington had stripped off his jacket and tie and lunged, hitting the insolent man with a right hook that toppled him. Then there had been a flurry of activity as people either held Sam's father back from a second punch or dragged his uncle from the floor and out of the room.

But today had been drama free so far. More so, everyone seemed genuinely happy to see him. No one questioned his absence and any inquiries about his current situation all came from a sincere interest in what he was doing. That lead to introductions to Ali. Sam enjoyed presenting his girlfriend to various members of his family, proud to be with such an amazing woman.

When Ali had suggested that he take a solo trip around the room to mingle a bit, Sam had resisted. He didn't want to miss out on the pleasure of watching the ones he loved getting to know Ali.  Ali persisted and practically pushed him away.

In the end, Sam was glad he went. It gave him a chance to catch up with his favourite cousin, Charlie. Of all his many, many relatives, Charlie was the one Sam missed the most when he left town. Although his cousin was a few years younger than Sam, they had always been close. They where both single and more often than not Sam was Charlie's wing man at the clubs.

To the outside world, Charlie was the perfect picture of a player. He had cartons of milk that lasted longer in his life than most of his girlfriends. Sam always suspected that Charlie's parent's very acrimonious divorce (occurring just after Sam's father punched Charlie's father) had affected his cousin's outlook on relationships. Because Sam was in on the secret that deep down, Charlie had the biggest heart of anyone he knew.

But Charlie hadn't changed. A senior in college now, he had Sam's cheeks hurting from laughter over the tales of what lengths girls would do for a date with the captain of the football team. He hadn't wanted to leave Charlie when his father interrupted and asked Sam to come over and meet some people. But Sam didn't want to disappoint the man.

Pressing palms, Sam had smiled and joked with the older men. When one of them insinuated Sam would now be making a bid for a political position that was rumoured to be opening up in New York, Sam's father had stepped in and changed the subject, telling them not to pressure the boy. Sam noticed that the senior Harrington didn't openly deny anything. 

It took a little of the wind out of Sam's sails. Politics was his father's life and Sam didn't want anything to do with it.  Sam thought that had been clear when he negotiated the terms of his return. When Christopher changed the subject to sing the praises of Ali, Sam's world brightened again.

Unlike his mother, where everything went back to normal quickly upon his move back to New York, it was still awkward between Sam and his father. There was still something unresolved standing in the way and Sam wasn't sure what it was. He recognized that the man was trying and Sam hoped Christopher realized his own' efforts in return.

The one area they had found common ground was Sam's girlfriend. It was hard to impress Sam's father but Ali was up to the task. Strength recognized strength.

Sam thought he felt the slightest flinch in Ali when he asked his question, but passed it off as he had surprised her because she was in deep conversation with Emily.

Emily spoke up first. "I was helping Ali sort out all your relations. Are all your cousins here today?"

"Feels like it," moaned Sam playfully. "Good to see you, D'Artagnan." He gave Emily a quick peck on the cheek. 

"How are you?"

"Right as rain." Sam always appreciated the woman's turn of phrase. You could count on Emily for a straight-forward answer, but one that would not really give anything away. Sam guessed it was a quality that made her a great lawyer.

"D'Artagnan?" asked Ali.

"Oh, it's my... nickname.  Sam, Charlie and Thomas like to think of themselves as the Three Musketeers.  I was the last to join the gang so I'm D'Artagnan."

Ali turned to Sam, "And which Musketeer are you?"

"Aramis" Emily and Sam said in unison.  

"Charlie over there," same pointed towards his cousin, " is Porthos."

"Making Thomas Athos?" offered Ali.

"Yes," murmured Sam.  His older brother was very much the leader of their little group. Sam didn't want to talk about Thomas so he changed the subject. "Thank you, Emily, for looking after my girl for me."

"Oh, Ali here doesn't need any looking after. It was she who saved me. You know how I feel about these events." Emily rolled her eyes for drama.

The sad thing was that Sam knew she wasn't joking. These events were usually tense times for Emily as she tried to keep her sister, Mary and her father, Phillip from embarrassing themselves. The room was barely big enough to hold those two and their brash egos. In contrast, Emily was calm and imperturbable, providing a much-needed composure to the family dynamics.

"Is your sister here today?" he lightheartedly asked Emily, letting her know he got her meaning.

"She's over there.." As if Mary knew they were talking about her, Sam heard her all too familiar cackle and followed the caterwaul to see her standing by the fireplace alongside two other women. One he didn't recognize and the other was...

"...with Sophie," finished Emily quietly.

Sam's stomach dropped at the sight of his brother's girlfriend. He wondered why his mother kept inviting her to these events and then immediately felt bad for thinking such a thing. Of course, Sophie should be invited. She was family after all. Or at least she would have been if Thomas had lived.

When Thomas had declared to Sam, over a beer one night, his intent to marry Sophie after only knowing her for a few months, Sam thought Thomas was mad. Or was thinking with the wrong part of his body. But after meeting Ali, Sam wished that he could tell his brother that he had been wrong. Love, at first sight, did exist. Thomas had been thinking with the right part of his body. His heart.

It was a testament to their love that Sophie was still mourning Thomas after all these years. Still, the sadness that enveloped her even here in the midst of a party atmosphere tore at Sam. He supposed he really should go over there and say something to her. Sam just didn't want to.

Then Sam felt a warm hand in his as Ali wove her fingers with his. "Sam, do you think we can sneak out of here? It's been ... nice and all, but I'm exhausted."

Sam looked into Ali's sapphire eyes, intensified by the beautiful blue dress, a favourite of his, that she was wearing. Not for the first time, Sam wondered how it was that Ali always knew the right thing to say. For he was sure that she was not tired.

He smiled at the woman he loved and kissed her forehead. "You bet." Turning to Emily, he added, "You don't mind do you?"

Emily chuckled, a twinkle in her eye. "Mind, I recommend it. I'll cover for you for as long as I can."

Sam felt a rush of affection for the woman. She was the sweetest person he knew. "Thanks, Emily. I owe you one."

"We'll talk soon." Ali piped up, giving the other woman a little hug.

Emily smiled and waved them off. "Shoo, go now while no one is looking."

Sam quickly led Ali out a side door, down a hall and towards the front entrance. "Where do you want to go?

"Our new home," replied Ali. "We still have rooms to christen."

Sam liked that suggestion.