Chapter 90: White Flag
Nicole entered the DiMera mansion with haste. It was morning, and she wanted to see her son as soon as possible. She'd decided to let DR spend the night with EJ because he was leaving for a business trip in London this afternoon. EJ was already dressed and Henderson was bringing down many bags from the stairs.
"DR's still asleep, sweetheart. He's laying in his playpen."
"Oh, OK, well I guess I could wait here for him to wake up, if that's OK with you..."
"Of course that's fine," EJ said.
"Great. I hope you have a good trip, and I wish you much success!" Nicole gave EJ a hug. She noticed that it took a bit for the shock to wear off before he hugged her back.
"Listen, Nicole, there's something I wanted to tell you, or rather, talk to you about."
"Yes?"
EJ sighed. "I just want you to know how much I care about you. And that I am always here if you need anything-anything at all. Don't hesitate to tell me."
"Oh. Well, thank you, EJ."
"Are you sure you are happy with Rafael? I mean, you can find more joy, more love with another man."
"EJ, I thought you decided to bury the hatchet with Rafe? How can you say such bad things about him when he saved our son?"
"Yes, but Nicole, you must understand that Rafe and I will never be friends, never really like each other."
"OK. Well, anyways, I love Rafe. I really do, and I think we belong together. I can't imagine being with anyone else right now."
"But remember this: we have a family together, at last. We can have it all, if you want it, and put enough work into it." EJ took Nicole's hand and placed it on his chest, right over his heart at first, for emotional reasons. Then over his muscles, for sex appeal. Nicole looked a bit like she was remembering the good times they'd had, but wasn't as moved by this gesture as EJ had hoped she would be. She removed her hand.
"Have a good trip, EJ," she told him.
"Thank you." EJ took his luggage and opened the door, closing it after everything was gone. Nicole walked into the living room, looking at DR asleep in his playpen. She smiled, stroking his dark hair with one hand. She then glanced over and saw a family picture taken in 2011 of her, EJ, Sydney and Johnny all by the Christmas tree. She picked it up and looked at it, remembering many things. She remembered how much she was in love with EJ. He understood her, accepted her, appreciated her for who she was. He loved her. And she felt exactly the same way-she never knew she could love anyone that much, besides Eric, of course. She'd gotten the family she wanted. She had the DiMera name, power and money. Nicole remembered making passionate love to EJ right on the couch she was sitting on. It had been heaven. But EJ had betrayed her trust over and over again-first it was her fault, but then he betrayed her with Taylor, and then Sami, which drove Nicole to realize she needed to change and become more independent. There was to be no more blind forgiveness of EJ, knowing he'd slip up again. There wouldn't be any rebound flings with Brady. Instead, she made the mistake of going to Daniel and being the same needy woman she'd been sometimes with relationships, and she did the same with Eric. Until the light at the end of the path was revealed to her.
Rafe.
The one man who'd helped her get back on her feet, but also made sure that she did it mainly on her own. The one man who'd accepted who she was and loved her for it, but at the same time pushed for her to make herself a better, stronger person. The one man who had truly put her before any other woman-and not just for a few months like EJ had. Any doubt Nicole had about being with him had withered away, because now she knew. She knew that he wasn't just the one who helped her, or the one who stayed faithful to her. He was simply 'The One' for her.