This story is not connected to the excellent Adam and Sam, bringing up babies series.

Chapter 1

"Adam would you please shift yourself, your family will be here in less the three hours" Samantha told him, her hands on her hips.

"What do ya want me to do Sam, the place is fine. It's only my pa, brothers and Annie" he whined over his paper.

"I don't want them to think we live in a hovel, Annie is five months gone and her house is immaculate. Now go and get some logs for the fire. You're making the place look untidy" she told him.

"Yes dear," Adam said as he hauled himself up and grabbed up the basket by the fire.

"Are you sure you wouldn't want me to build an extra barn while I'm out here," he asked.

"Yeah and lock yourself in there," she said as she fixed the napkins.

"Could I?, I'll bring my newspaper and whisky then" Adam grinned.

"Thin wedge Cartwright, a very thin wedge" she smiled in mock anger.

She took up a wooden box from the cupboard and laid it carefully on the table. She opened the box and with both hands removed one of the finely cut crystal glasses from among its velvet interior. The crystal was a wedding present from Ben. It glinted like diamonds as she held it up to the candle light. The sight brought her back to that day nearly a year ago. The wedding was truly beautiful. The church was done up with white roses and fresh green garlands. A small choir sang all her favourite hymns in beautiful harmony.

She fluffed some lines she was to repeat which made Adam smirk a bit, which then set her off laughing. Before long the congregation were laughing too. It was just that sort of wedding, a celebration of happiness rather than a solemn affair.

She remembered then, holding the crystal glass filled with champagne, her hands shaking, she was so nervous.

For all her giving out about him, Adam was wonderful that night. That first few times, he thought nothing of his own needs. His entire focus was on getting her used to him. His movements were very controlled and deliberate as he was adamant he didn't want to scare her.

Knowing him as she did now, he really did hold back until she was used to him. She would always be grateful to him for that.

"Yes" she mused "he really did hold back,"

The door banged, shaking her out of her thoughts.

"You're right, we'll have to keep the fire going. It's getting cold," Adam said.

"Adam I need you to do a little something for me," she told him.

"What," he asked, straightening up from his work at the fire.

She threw him a naughty grin as she headed up the stairs.

"Oh right" he smiled, enthusiastically following her.

~o~

That night they had a lovely time with the family. Sam and Annie giggled in the kitchen as they prepared to bring out the dinner. Sam did most of the work but she wanted Annie in the kitchen with her to catch up on all the news.

The only dampener on the evening was that Ben was unhappy with Joe. They obviously had words before they came out to Adams house and there was still some residual atmosphere. Adam also couldn't help but notice a bruise to Joes left eye and punch marks on his knuckles. After dinner, as the girls cleaned up in the kitchen, Ben cornered Adam to talk about it.

"Can't you just talk to him, please Adam,"

"Pa, he's not 17 anymore. He won't welcome my input."

"You don't know that Adam. He might welcome some advise." Ben told him.

"He didn't want ta listen to me pa, so I don't speck he'll listen none ta Adam" Hoss said as he bit into a mini apple pie.

"Please Adam. He's out there now. Corner him before he comes back in." Ben urged stirring Adam towards the door.

Reluctantly Adam headed out.

He met Joe as he came back from the necessary.

"Cold night." Joe said rubbing his hands together.

"Yeah sure is." Adam put in awkwardly.

"Eh, Joe?" he began, scratching the side of his neck

"No, I'm not having this conversation Adam." Joe shook his head.

"What do you want me to do, back down, let the Spencer gang ride all over my ass. What would you have done Adam?"

"I would have considered my pregnant wife." Adam told him with an edge of anger.

"That's you all over. It's easy to be logical when we're standing outside your house talking about it after the fact. But you know as well as I do that you cannot show weakness to any of them in the city. You know that Adam."

"Joe, what if you had been beaten up, not only do you have a pregnant wife to consider, but Pa isn't getting any younger either. He worries about you."

"Don't you think I know that, but again, what could I do?" Joe asked him.

"Joe, you'll have to start turning the other cheek. I do it, Hoss does it. We're too old for proving ourselves now. There's too much to loose if it goes wrong."

Joe was getting affronted, thinking Adam was saying that what he did was a sign of immaturity.

"I don't know what's happened to you Adam, I don't know if you've turned yellow with age or were you always that way. But I do know that standing up for myself will always be my way and I'm too old to be taking this crap." He said.

"Ok Joe, you do what you thinks best." Adam told him, his face dark with anger. "You always do anyway."

Adam gave Joe his back as he headed into the house.

~o~

That night Adam lay awake staring up at the ceiling. His mind was going a mile a minute thinking of the many gunshots and near misses his youngest brother had over the years.

"He doesn't consider anyone but himself" Adam brooded darkly.

His eyes went to look at her as Sam turned to face him.

"Can't sleep?"

He shook his head.

"You're thinking about Joe aren't you?" She smiled sleepily.

"Why can't he think past the immediate second Sam" he asked.

"Joe gets fire in his eyes and all he can see is the looser in front of him spillin, for a fight."

"Maybe he'll grow out of it."

"I thought marriage would quieten him, Annie is a sensible girl, I thought she'd put an end to his foolish notions" Adam said.

"She tried, he told her it was a mans business and he wouldn't discuss it with her," Sam told him.

"Yeah it's a mans business until he ends up in a pine box and she's left to take care of the child on her own."

"Adam, don't worry so much. It won't come to that" she said stroking his face.

Adam turned his head to look directly at her.

"Say one of your prayers for him will ye, you have a direct line."

Sam smiled warmly. "Sure I will, now go to sleep"

"I can't" Adam told her.

He pulled her to him and put his lips to hers kissing her gently. She kissed him back her lips slightly parted so that he could kiss her deeply, increasing the pressure. They made love then and fell into a deep sleep in each others arms.