Part 74

                                    

                                          
Connie wandered down the hallway placing a hand to Sam's back as he stood in the doorway of their daughter's bedroom. "Can you believe our little girls starts school tomorrow?" She smiled sadly glancing over at Grace sound asleep. "Where have the years gone?" Sam sighed shaking his head as he looked at her. 
                          
"I missed so much of her life, I'll never be able to make up for all of that." Connie remained quiet feeling guilty once again at stealing that opportunity from him. Looking back to Connie he forced a smile moving an arm around her. "I'm going to make sure I'm there for you and our baby, every little thing. I can't miss out like I did with Grace."
                          
Connie placed her hand to his chest feeling the slow and regular beat beneath it. "I would never ask you to miss it, I'm sor-" "No. Neither of us are to blame, it's one of those things we were both too stubborn to ever admit." A small laugh passed her lips before he placed a warm kiss to her forehead. 
                          
"Come on, lets let her sleep." Connie took one more look before closing the door too quietly and moving downstairs with Sam. "Anything you wanted in particular for dinner?" "Hmm, I could accept one of your spaghetti bolognaises right about now." He smirked across the kitchen counter at her as she rubbed a hand against her stomach.
                          
Sam stepped around the table coming to Connie before placing a hand to her bump. "They causing problems for you tonight?" "No, no I'm just tired and achy today." He nodded, his hand lingering on her stomach for a moment longer before he wandered back to the kitchen to cook dinner.
                          
Sometime later Connie wandered back into the kitchen to the distinct smell of dinner. "Mmm, who'd have thought you would be a housewife huh?" Sam turned around pulling a face as she glanced down at the apron he wore. "I think the look suits you-" "Maybe I should wear it more often." Connie laughed as he kissed her quickly before turning back to the stove.
                          
Connie lingered in the kitchen getting herself a drink and watching him for a while. She became distracted, deep in thought as she stared into space. Totally unaware of Sam talking to her, she remained as she was until he stepped fully into her view. "Earth to Connie, you seemed miles away then." 
                          
He placed his hands either side of her arms with a reassuring smile. All she did was step forwards into his arms letting him encase her into a tight embrace. "Hey..." A few tears rolled down her cheeks as he pushed her to an arms length caressing her cheeks. "What's wrong Con?" She sniffed shaking her head as he caressed her cheeks wiping away the tears that had fallen.
                          
"It's nothing, just these stupid hormones-" "Come on, you and I both know something has to be bothering you for you to cry. Talk to me, come sit down-" "What about dinner?" He watched her with a slightly amused but worried look. "It's fine, you on the other hand-" "I'm fine too." Sam raised a brow as he held onto her hands leading her to the kitchen table.
                          
She sat down with her hands still in his. "I was just thinking about Grace, and you, and this baby. I don't want to mess things up like I did last time." "I won't let you." She laughed at the way he was looking at her before glancing back to him. "Promise?" "That's a promise, you seem to have a good way of hitting the self destruct button whenever something unexpected comes your way and I'm not about to let you do it anymore."
                          
They sat quietly for a few moments before Sam pushed his hands to the table. "Dinner for three?" Connie smirked rolling her eyes as he stood up with a friendly smile. "Well I know those noises weren't coming from me." "Give me a break, I haven't eaten for a few hours." Sam laughed as she stepped behind him wrapping her arms around his waist.
                          
He continued to serve up dinner as she reached around him picking up one of the slices of garlic bread from the side. "Oi-" "What?" She laughed from behind him keeping herself pressed to his back. "Right you can let go of me know and have some food." Connie moved beneath his arm to stand in front of him again causing Sam to laugh. Leaning forwards he pressed a kiss to her cheek letting her wander away with her food.
                          
Later that evening they sat entwined on the sofa with one another contently. "I never pictured this as being my life, especially not with you. I never really thought either of us would give up for long enough to let it happen." Connie curled into him further holding onto him. Sam smiled glancing down to her as he tightened his hold on her.
                          
Connie laid her head to his chest as she took a breath. "Have you told your mother about us, about the baby?" "Please, she barely knows I'm in the country permanently." Lifting her head she looked up to him to see the serious expression on his face. "You didn't tell her?" He shook his head running a hand through her hair gently. "I'll tell her... We'll tell her." Connie nodded before looking to him again. "Does she know about Grace?" Sam sighed quietly. "No."
                          
Resting her head down she lay comfortably with him. "Then we'll tell her everything, together." Sam listened as she weaved her fingers through his. "Okay." He moved a hand to her stomach gently caressing her small bump. Connie moved from where she was wrapped with him to rest her head across his legs, his hand falling to her stomach once again. 
                          
She smiled as he drew patterns over her skin absentmindedly. "I love it when you do that-" "Do what?" Sam looked to her before noticing what he had been doing. "Oh... I didn't even notice-" "Well I sure did, and I'm pretty sure they know it's their daddy every time you do it too." Sam laughed placing his hand flat against her stomach. "They better get used to the fussing because I am never going to stop-" "And don't I know it."
                          
Connie smiled as he leant down to meet her lips quickly before returning to their positions watching the TV until Connie drifted asleep. Sam watched her for a while just thinking before deciding it was best to move her upstairs. Carefully without waking her he placed an arm under her knees and the other around her as he scooped her up from the sofa. Switching the lights off as he went, they headed to bed preparing to take their daughter to school for the first time in the morning.