It had been two months since Lila's birth. Two wonderful months. Sam and Lila both got to go home 3 days after Sam woke up and to say she was shocked when they got to the new house was and understatement. Even though he said it wasn't big, to Sam it was huge. It was a two story house behind a very tall gated steel fence. It had 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. The kitchen was beautiful as was the backyard. When Lila started walking she was going to have so much fun exploring it. Jason had smartly had a fence build around the pool for child proofing purposes. Jason had Lila's nursery decorated the same way it had been at the penthouse, there was just more room in it. But Sam's favorite room by far was the master bedroom. It was dark gray and white color scheme with a cal-king bed. The bathroom was to die fore and Sam could not wait sink into it. Jason had told her that this was her room but she nipped that I the bud as she walked up to him and softly kissed his lips "It's our room." She said when she pulled back. He smiled down at her and nodded his head. The first night should have been awkward but for the both of them, it just felt right. Sam fell asleep in his arms and a smile on her face. Even after having to get up a few times a night to feed Lila, she had never slept better in her life.
As Sam thought back on the past few months, she couldn't help but remember the bad as well. Sonny had tried to contest the papers he signed. He said that he signed them under duress and they shouldn't be considered legal. It went all the way in front of a judge and Sam was worried that Sonny was going to get his way yet again. After two days of hearing from both sides, the judge had made his ruling. While he understood Sonny's side, he couldn't ignore the fact that he had sighed away his rights to one child for the sake of another. It said in the paper work that Sonny was not signing these papers under duress and that he knew what he was agreeing to. The judge shook his head at him and said he should have read what he signed right before he made his ruling that the papers were legal and Sonny had no right to Lila. Sonny was furious and didn't hide it in front of the judge. He started screaming and yelling about his daughter and the judge didn't give Sam or Jason a choice, he executed a restraining order to Sonny right then and there. He was to stay away from Jason Sam and Lila or he would be spending time in a prison cell. Jason and Sam walked out of the court room and didn't look back.
Carly had posed a bit of a problem as well. She didn't seem to understand that Jason had chosen Sam over her or she was just ignoring him. It wasn't until she had made the mistake of approaching Sam when she was out with Lila that it finally sank in for her. She laid into Sam in front of Kelley's saying she was a no good slut that Jason would tier of eventually. She stood there spewing her venom as Sam held her newborn in her arms. Sam didn't have a choice but to stand there and take it. That was until Jax showed up. He got in Carly's face and called her the most selfish bitch on the planet and a pathetic person for saying the things she said while Sa was holding her daughter. Jax took Sam home and stayed until Jason got home s that he could tell him what happened. Jason was so furious. Sam had yet to see him that mad before. She didn't know exactly what happened but Carly had not been a problem since then. Every time she saw Sam in public, she acted as if she didn't. Which was just fine by her.
Sam looked over and saw Jason coming down the stairs with Lila in his arms. Every time she saw this, it made her heart flutter. She had dreamed about seeing it for months and to finally be able to see it made her heart happy. "Are you sure that you are ok with this?" Jason asked looking down at his little girl.
Sam smiled softly and said "I think I should be the on asking that." Jason gave her a look and she laughed. "Jason, it is important to me that you parents have a relationship with Lila. She doesn't have any grandparents from me. The only ones she has are yours. And with everything that they missed with Michael, Lila is kind of their first grandchild. And Edward needs her." Sam said looking down at her precious pink bundle. "Your father said that she is the reason he is getting back to normal."
Jason nodded his head. He knew that Sam was right. He had kept Michael from the Quartermaine's for years and now there was nothing he could do about it. But he could do something about them being in Lila's life. When he saw them with her, it made him feel guilty for thinking they would not be good for Michael. They all doted on her completely. Even Tracy cooed over her when she was there. Lila had brought them all back together, just like his Grandmother had always hoped they'd be. He was just sorry she was missing out on it.
"So, is everything all packed for her first sleep over and grandma and grandpa's?" Sam asked.
Jason handed her off to her mother and said "Yeah, I have the diapers and wipes. Her milk is in the cooler and everything else she should need is in the diaper bag." Sam nodded and looked down at her. She knew it was important for her to have his night with her grandparents but it was her first night away from mom and dad and Sam was anxious about it. She knew she would be fine but still.
"Ok, then. We should get going. I think that grandpa Edward has a little surprise for you." she heard Jason's groan and laughed "You knew they were going to spoil her rotten. And so are you so I don't know what your groaning about." Sam said as she buckled her into her car seat.
Jason rolled his eyes but smiled. "Tell daddy. You're the Quartermaine Princess." Sam shot him a smile. He shook his head at the nickname his grandfather had bestowed upon his daughter. He loaded them both up into the SUV and drove to his parent's house. As he pulled up, Alice met them outside to help carry the stuff in. Monica was waiting just inside the house with a huge smile on her face. Sam smiled back at the woman and set Lila's car seat on the table.
Monica came over and hugged her "How are you doing?" she asked. "Good. Lila is on a pretty normal schedule now so it has gotten a lot easier." She answered.
"And since you've had you stitches out, have you had any problems?" Sam smiled at the doctor's tone "Nope. I feel completely back to normal. Even lost all the baby weight."
Monica smiled and said "That's terrific, honey."
Jason had unbuckled Lila from her seat just as his father and grandfather came into the room "There she is." Edward said as he walked over to his grandson and great-granddaughter. He reached for her as Jason settled her into his waiting arms and smiled down at her. "And how is the beautiful Quartermaine Princess doing today?" he cooed down at her.
"I'm doing pretty good grandfather, how about you?" Dillon said as he entered the room.
Sam and Monica shared a laugh as the men looked at him and shook their heads. Dillon walked over to Lila and ran the back of one of his fingers down her cheek "How's it goin, kid?" Edward shook his head at his grandson's slang.
"Ok, everything is in the diaper bag. She usually wakes up about twice at night to eat. She is a pretty sound sleeper though." Sam said.
Monica nodded her head "I know that you are nervous about being away from her all night but you can all as much and as often as you want." She reassured the new mother.
Sam smiled and said "Thanks but I know that she will be just fine. The amount of love this kid gets over here, she'll probably never want to leave." Sam walked over to Edward and kissed Lila's head "You be good for you grandparents, ok? No being a fussy baby." She kissed her one last time and made room for Jason to say bye. Sam and Jason thanked them and walked to the door. Jason looked back at to his parents and saw their smiles "Good luck." Monica whispered to him. He nodded his head and shut the door.
Jason and Sam had been back at the house for a few hours. Jason had disappeared into the kitchen and had been in there a while so Sam decided to go see what he was doing. She stood in the door way and noticed the table set up in the middle of the kitchen. It had two candles on it and a small bouquet of flowers in the center. Jason was standing at the island putting two plates of food together. She smiled at the sight of him. He lifted his head and saw her standing there and smiled softly. "What are you doing?" she asked walking further into the room.
"Well, it is our first night without Lila and I thought that it would be the best opportunity to be able to finish a mean without her interrupting it." He answered. "Oh" Sam smiled at him and walked over to the table as did Jason with the plates of food. He pulled her chair out for her and she sat down.
The two ate dinner and talked about everything. Sam told him the Danny was really excited to come out next week to officially meet Lila. He and his teacher had made her a special gift that he was excited to give to his niece. Jason told her that things were going good at the hop. He had decided to reopen his motorcycle shop after he stopped working for Sonny. He liked working on motors and it was something that Sam could join him at after she was ready to leave Lila with a babysitter. They finished their meal and Sam helped him clear the table and pick up the kitchen. As they washed the dishes and splashed each other with the soapy bubbles, Jason realized that he had ever felt more light hearted than when he is with Sam. He doesn't have to be on edge around her, he can just be himself. Which made the reason for his decision that mush more comfortable.
They walked out into the living room and sat down on the couch. The small box was burning a hole in his pocket and he was starting to sweat. "Sam?" he said getting her attention.
"Yeah?" she said addressing him.
He reached over and picked up her hand "When you first came into my life, I thought I was just doing you and Sonny a favor. I truly did want Michael and Morgan to have their family back, but I also knew that I didn't have to have you with me for that to happen. Without even realizing it, I was making up excuses to keep you with me. And over the past few months, getting to see the real you has made me realize a lot." Sam reached her other hand up touched his face. He closed his eyes at her caress and savored the feel of her soft skin before continuing "I have never felt this way about someone before. I thought I knew what it meant to love someone but this, us, is so much more." He watched her eyes fill with tears and he reached into his pocket.
He pulled out the small jewelry box and Sam stared down at it with wide eyes. "I love you. I love Lila and the family that we have made together. But for me there is something missing and it is something that I have to ask you." Jason said before taking a deep breath. He opened the box to reveal he most beautiful ring that Sam had ever seen "Will you marry me?" he asked.
Sam stared down at the ring and then looked back up at Jason and saw something in his eyes that she had never seen in any other man's eyes before; love. He loved her. He really did love her. Sam smiled as the tears slipped down her face "Yes. Yes, I will marry you."
Jason let out a breath and felt like he could breathe again. He smiled at her and leaned in and kissed her lips. Sam held his face in her hands and kissed him back with all she had. They pulled apart and Jason took the ring out of the box and picked up her left hand. Sam watched him slid the ring on her finger and a weird feeling came over Sam.
She stared down at the ring and said "This is it."
Jason looked up at her and asked "What?"
"This is what has been missing. After I have Lila I was filled with so much love but it still felt like something was missing." She looked up at him and said "I don't feel that anymore. I feel hole now." She smiled.
Jason brought his hand up and wrapped it around the nape of her neck and pulled her forehead to his. Sam reached up and wrapped her hand around his "I love you." she said looking into his eyes "More than you will ever know."
The tears fell down her face and Jason swiped them away "I have an idea." He whispered before capturing her lips in a searing kiss. The heated kiss turned even hotter as their hands explored each other. Jason pulled back and looked down to her passion filled eyes "Sam, are you sure…?" he never finished because Sam pulled his lips back to hers and she gave him his answer. Jason scooped her up into his arms and headed for the stairs.
The next morning, Sam woke up with a smile on her face. Her body was still humming from the previous night's activities. She was laying on Jason 's chest, wrapped around him. She felt his hand running u and down her back telling her that he was awake. She looked up and found his eyes staring back into hers "Morning." She said softly. Jason smirked down at her before he leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was slow and perfect before he pulled away and said "Morning." Last night had been the best night of Sam's life. After he asked her to marry him and she said yes, they had spent the whole night exploring each other. It had been perfect. And it scared her. As if he could tell, he laid his hand on the side of her face and asked "Hey, what's wrong?"
Sam shook her head and tried to shake it off. "Sam?" he edged her on.
"I'm scared." She said softly.
"Of what?" he asked.
"I have never been this happy before, Jason. And happiness doesn't stick with me. It never has. And I'm afraid that this is all going to come crashing down at any minute." She said as tears slipped past her eyes.
Jason turned toward her and held her face in his hands "This is not going anywhere. I am not going anywhere. This is very real. And nothing is going to take you or Lila or Danny away from me. There is no way in hell I am going to let it." He said sternly.
"Jason, I have done things…"
"I do not care what you have done in your past, Sam. Because I know that everything you have ever done has been for Danny's sake. You were all he had and you had to take care of him by any means necessary, I know how that feels. Sam, I have killed to protect my family. Does that change the way you see me?" he asked her.
Sam looked at him like he was crazy "Of course not, Jason. I told you that you job is not who you are."
Jason softly caressed her cheek and said "Then how can you think I would ever judge you?"
Sam thought about what he said and realized her was right. She didn't know all that he had done in his life but she knew some of it. Just like he did her. All that mattered was that they had ended up here, together, now. "I don't love you based on your past, Sam. I love you because I know your heart. And you are the best, strongest woman that I have ever met in my life." He smiled down at her. She blushed a little and lowered her eyes but he didn't let her looked away from him "You are. Everything that you have been through and yet you still treat it as if it is nothing. You have been so strong through everything that has been thrown at you. And I promise you," he said laying his forehead to hers "that you can be strong about this. I know it's scary because it is for me too. I have never had this much to lose before and it terrifies me that I could wake up one day and you could decide that a life with me isn't what you want. But I would rather try than not. So can you trust me to keep your heart safe?"
Sam listened to him and thought about what he was saying. She didn't think that Jason was afraid of anything, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Every time he tried to make a relationship work, they had all so how broken his heart by not being able to accept him so in a way they also didn't trust him. That had never been a problem for Sam. She had never trusted someone so much in her entire life. Sam pushed him onto his back and moved herself on top of him. "You are the only person that I have ever told about Danny. You are the only person that I want to have as my daughter's father. I trust you more that I could have even thought possible. I had no idea what love was until you showed me. As scary as it is, I can't imagine my life with you in it. I finally have the family that I always wanted and I am not going to let my fears get in the way of that. I do trust you to keep my heart safe. Always." She leaned down and kissed his lips. Jason wrapped his arms around her and rolled her over so he was on top. Sam moaned as he started to kiss down her neck "Jason, we have to go and lick up Lila." Jason continued to move his kissed down lower and said "Not for another hour." Sam stopped arguing and just let herself feel.
Jason and Sam walked up to the doorway of the Quatermaine mansion and knocked. A second later Alice opened the door and smiled at them "Mr. Jason, Ms. Sam some in." she held the door open for them.
Monica was walking in from the family room with Lila in her arms. Sam beamed at the sight of her little girl. She was glad that the Qurtermaine's showed an interest in wanting to be in Lila's life but she had missed her baby. Sam walked over to Monica and said hello before reaching for her bundle of pink. When Lila saw he mother her legs started kicking and he smiled up at her "Hi, my baby." Sam cooed at her pressing kisses all over her face.
Jason came up to his girls and placed a hand on Lila's head before leaning down and kissing it. "How was she?" Sam asked Monica
"A prefect angel. She woke up once to eat and slept the rest of the night." The proud grandmother said with a smile.
Sam smiled and looked down at her baby "You were a good girl for your grandma and grandpa. I'm so proud of you." the little girl gurgled and got a laugh out of the adults.
"She is much like you, Jason." Edward said as he joined the group. "I know that it is not possible but the last time a baby this quiet was in this house, it was you." he said with a smile. He looked over to Sam and his great-granddaughter and noticed something different "Young lady, what is that on your finger?" he asked. He looked to Jason with hope in his eyes and then back to Sam.
"I asked Sam to marry me last night." Jason answered him. "And I said yes." Sam finished with a smile to Jason.
"Oh, that is wonderful!" Edward said happily. Monica came over and hugged them both while Alan, Ned, Dillon and Tracy joined them "What is going on?" Alan asked.
Jason looked down to Sam and said "Sam and I are engaged." A smile broke out on his father's face and he came over to the couple. He leaned down and kissed Sam's cheek and patted his son on the back "Congratulations." He said as Ned and Dillon came over and did the same. "Let's hope this one makes it." Tracy tried to say snidely but Sam could hear it in her voice that she didn't mean it.
"Ignore her. So have you decided when you are going to have the wedding?" Monica asked.
Sam looked to Jason and said "We were thinking late February. And we also had a place in mind for the ceremony."
Jason looked from her to his grandfather "If it is ok with you, we would like to be married in grandmother's rose garden."
Edward was shocked, but it was a happy shock. He felt his emotions rise and he smiled at them "I think that your grandmother would love for the two of you to be married there. And so would I." he said. Jason nodded his head. Edward stood back and watched as his family interacted. A family that he feared would be forever broken. Until one little lady brought them all back together. He looked to the left at the portrait of his beautiful wife. It turned out that they hadn't lost her after all. Because he knew that she was the reason Jason had found Sam and Lila. She was always the reason.
