Michael woke early that morning, raging hangover aside, feeling on top of the world – he had successfully managed to turn back time, the sun was shining outside, Connie was sleeping peacefully in his arms, he had a fantastic research opportunity at St James'. Smiling he snuggled closer to Connie and further under the duvet blocking out the world sure that the next time he came to he would be a little less hung over, and capable of going out to get some delicious croissants and pain au chocolat to treat Connie to a romantic breakfast in bed.

An excruciatingly loud, persistent banging that echoed around inside her head woke Connie from her comatose sleep. Eventually realising it was someone at the door who was clearly not about to go away, she wriggled free of Michael's tight hold, tutting that he could sleep through almost any disturbance, pulled her dressing gown round her and staggered downstairs fully intending to bight the head off of whoever it was. Opening the door she was confronted with an annoyingly bright eyed and bushy tailed Sam Strachen.

"I'm um here for Grace" he stated barely concealing his amusement that for once it was Connie who was not on top of everything and looking distinctly hung over.

"Right um of course I'll just go and get her ready" she mumbled, "come in and wait if you want" she offered reluctantly, hoping that Grace would be in a good mood this morning the last thing her sore head needed was a grumpy, fidgety baby.

Sam made his way to the kitchen thinking Connie could probably do with a cup of coffee and hoping that making her one would mean she was not to upset that he had turned of time, the one day when she had clearly forgotten he was coming. As he entered the kitchen his suspicions that she had had rather a lot to drink last night were confirmed when he saw the empty bottles lined up on the side and an empty pizza box. It suddenly occurred to him that this was not normal Connie behaviour, in fact anybody who had drunk that much in one night by themselves has got some sort of problem – unfortunately he knew that he was the last person that Connie would open up to and considered phoning Elliot.

Before he had made a decision about what to do Connie came breezing down the stairs with Grace and a huge bag full with only what Sam could assume was all the paraphernalia that Connie felt was necessary for a simple trip to the zoo.

"I made you a coffee"

"Thanks" Connie mumbled as she gratefully clutched the coffee while Sam took Grace. "I better sort some breakfast out for her before you go"

"It's ok – just point me in the right direction and I'll do it" Sam offered praying that she wasn't about to leap on his offer as some sort of suggestion that she could not cope with her own daughter.

"Fine – the baby porridge is in the cupboard next to the cooker and there's milk in the fridge" she responded hesitantly, as much as she hated to admit it the idea of sitting very, very still while Sam rushed round after Grace was rather appealing.

Wow she really must be feeling rough thought Sam as he busied himself in the kitchen. "So. Big night last night"

"Excuse me?!" Connie snapped.

Sam nodded at the empty bottles stacked up on the side.

"Oh that!" she exclaimed "a um old friend came round last night and we had some" how was she going to put this "catching up to do" she mumbled hoping that Michael did not wake up and come looking for her any time soon.

"Oh who? If I had known I could have had Grace for the night – save waking you up in the morning…"

"It was kind of a last minute thing… and Grace was fine she was in bed before we started drinking if that's what you're worried about" she snapped. Sam took a deep breath and shut up sensing he had gone too far. Connie slammed the empty coffee cup back down on the kitchen table and rubbed her aching head cursing Michael for coming back into her life, sweeping her off her feet with take away and wine and then making her look like a bad mother, all in less than 24 hours!

"We're fine here aren't we Gracey" Sam said as he fastened her bib "If you want to go and have a shower or something?" Sam offered hoping she wouldn't take it the wrong way "you don't have to though" he added quickly "But you do seem to have blue paint in your hair" he added with a smile.

"Thanks – we were painting yesterday. Grace and I not-"

"Your friend" he cut her off.

"Right well I will go and have a shower. She will probably insist on feeding herself by the way – but keep an eye on her it tends to go everywhere."

"Thanks" Sam breathed a sigh of relief as Connie headed upstairs, "What's your mummy like eh?"

"Mama" Grace chirped

"Yep she's definitely one of a kind" Sam sighed.

Grace giggled away as she played with the food before letting her Daddy feed her – she usually fed herself, that seemed to make Mummy happy, Daddy on the other had seemed to enjoy feeding her – parents were confusing.

Connie showered and dressed as quickly as she could, careful not to wake Michael. Last night had been one great big mistake, Sam clearly thought that she had drunk all that wine by herself and was a depressed, lonely alcoholic, who had neglected her child, and she had let last night's activity get in the way of looking after Grace, never before had she left the little girl asleep past 7am her whole routine was bound to be disrupted now.

Running down the stairs she saw Sam already had Grace's sunhat on and was attempting to smother her in factor 50 suncream.

"You found the suncream then?"

"Yes eventually – are you sure that she needs all of this" Sam replied indicating towards the open bag with Graces 'essentials' overflowing.

"Yes"

"Three changes of clothes"

"Yes"

"Two spare sunhats"

"They match the changes of clothes"

"Two teddies"

"They help her sleep"

"A book"

"Look do you want to take her out for the day? Or shall I take her into work with me!"

"No, no it's fine – if the penguins aren't interesting enough she can read me a story!" Grace clapped her hands in response as Connie glared at Sam.

"Well the car seat is in the front hall if you want to go and fit to your car while I put all this back in the bag." She instructed as she surveyed the mess that Sam, Grace and Michael had made to her beautiful kitchen.

"Right that's all done and ready to go." Sam announced triumphantly as he walked back into the room and picked Grace up and took the bag from Connie. "What time to you want her back?"

"Six please"

"I thought you said you were working?"

"And"

"No that's fine"

"Look I will be home way before six – I just need to talk Mr Byrne through the next stage of his development and we ran out of time last Thursday"

"Well while we're on registrars development-"

"Not here! Make an appointment with me at work"

"Fine"

"Bye-bye Grace" she said kissing her "don't let Daddy lead you astray" she added as she waved them off before returning to the kitchen to finish clearing up make herself some breakfast and more coffee – if she was going to spend the morning with Joseph Byrne and a hangover then she was definitely going to need lots and lots of coffee!