AN-Here's the next chapter! Sorry it took so long…I just couldn't get this beginning right…I'm still not as satisfied as I think I should be, but I just can't figure out what I feel like it's missing. Anyway, review!

"Here we are," Blaze stated, grinning at his wife as they arrived from their honeymoon. "Home, sweet home."

She tried her best to give him an authentic grin, but it was nearly impossible. The good thing, though – he didn't seem to notice her lack of eagerness. After last night, she didn't think she could ever look at him again. In fact, she was mesmerized with how composed he was acting. Did he really like it? In her opinion, it couldn't have gotten any worse.

That's not how sex was supposed to be. It was supposed to be an exhilarating moment for both the wife and the husband. It was supposed to be the first time the couple really combined and felt whole together. Why wasn't she feeling that way right now?

Clearing all deleterious thoughts from her head, she climbed out of the passenger seat and grabbed her luggage from the back. Once Blaze had opened the door, a huge wave of voices hit them. "Surprise!"

Sam looked around, a grin developing on her face as she noticed all the accustomed faces scattered around her living room. She then noticed Carly and Spencer standing in the epicenter of the room and made her way towards them both. "What is this?"

"Your welcome home party, of course," Carly laughed.

"Lookie," Spencer said, as Blaze walked over to his wife and placed a hand around her waist, making her wince slightly. "I made this for you guys."

Two guests rolled the two giant domes out of the kitchen and Sam snickered. "Where do you expect me to put this? There's no way I'm keeping it in my kitchen. My ham belongs in there."

Carly rolled her eyes as Spencer began to move towards the sculpture. "I made it so that it was inflatable and extremely fire resilient—"

The sculpture burst into flames and all the guests panicked. Carly and Sam were used to this kind of thing, though, and Blaze had been around long enough to know what a history Spencer had with fire.

"I'll get the fire extinguisher," Carly murmured.

"And that's my cue to get some ham."

X

(Flashback)

Her hair was a rich shade of mahogany. It flowed in curly waves down her back to adorn her radiant, olive-toned skin complexion. Her eyes, framed by lengthy, dark lashes, were a bright emerald green and seemed to brighten the whole world. Her nose—straight, her lips—full. It was almost as if Freddie was meeting the picture perfect woman—except with a little less arrogance. Had she smiled, he would have sighed, inwardly, with gratification. Had she laughed, the whole world would laugh with her, and notice her extremely gorgeous high cheekbones while they were at it.

"Hey," he said, picking up the bag of groceries she had dropped. "Your groceries kind of plummeted."

He passed her the bag and she took it, smiling appreciatively at him. "Thanks."

"No problem," he stated, and she began to saunter away. "Wait!"

She spun back around. "Yes?"

"I was just wondering if you wanted to get coffee sometime," he started, grimacing at how movie-like this whole thing was becoming. "I mean, unless you don't drink caffeine, then I would totally go for a three meat pizza…well, unless you're vegetarian; then I'd get the veggie pizza, or if you don't like veggies, I'm sure you'd like the fruit place across the street—"

The girl let out a chuckle. "Coffee's just fine." She wrote her number on a slip of paper and gave it to him.

He stared after her as she got into her car and drove away. Huh, to think about it, he didn't even get her name.

X

"I can't believe this, baby!" Emilee, Freddie's wife, screeched, kissing Freddie full on the lips. This had to be the first time he felt joy in a long time—his relationship with Emilee wasn't as easy as he thought. At the time, the two were having financial problems—the number one thing that caused the two to have arguments and emotional fights. "We're having a baby!"

"I know!" he kissed her again and then bent down so that his face was right in front of her flat belly. "You're gonna change our lives, little one."

"She or he will…" Emilee assured him, as Freddie stood back up. She then placed her arms around his broad shoulders. "What do we do now?"

"Well," he said, stepping backwards. "I'm gonna go call Sam and tell her the great news."

"Sam?" the green eyed woman asked, incredulously. "We're having a baby together and the first thing you think about is Sam?"

"She's my best friend, baby," he said, walking back over to her. "I just want to let her know."

"Do you…do you like her? As more than a best friend?"

"Honey," he said softly. "You're the only one I love…the only one I want to start a family with. I love you and only you."

Even as he spoke the words, his emotions and actions betrayed him. He knew his relationship with Emilee was brittle, and that he couldn't destroy it. Sam was just so…captivating and no matter how hard he tried, she was too much for him to push away. He felt like he needed her in his life—maybe more than Emilee. Heck, maybe even more than his crazy mother. The only person he could love? Truthfully?

That was easy. Her name consisted of three letters—S-A-M.

X

"Come on, baby," Freddie whispered into Emilee's ear, trying his best to sound comforting. "You got this. Push as hard as you can."

She glared at him, inhaling and exhaling. "Doesn't it look like I'm trying?"

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" he squeezed her hand as he heard the doctor say 'one more push'. "Come on, Em. You got this."

She pushed as hard as she could and finally, a cry erupted through the room. Freddie smiled as he heard it, but soon the smile faltered as he noticed his wife's grip on his hand becoming less and less sturdier and more and more weak. "Freddie," he heard her whisper. "I'm done. Take care of Ethan, alright? And…go after Sam."

He frowned and another sound, one more alarming than the cry of the baby, filled the room. It was the sound of the heart monitor—gradually, it beeped out and soon formed nothing but a blank line.

"Em?" he shook her shoulders, his lips shivering. "Em!"

"Sir, we're going to have to ask you to wait in the waiting room." He ignored the doctor and kissed Emilee's lips one last time.

"I do love Sam," he admitted. "I do and you deserve to know that…Em, you have to wake up! I have to tell you and you have to understand."

"Sir, I'm sorry, but—"

He couldn't take it anymore. He ran out of the room, not wanting to be in there when they put her body away.

X

Freddie waited miserably at Sam's apartment doorstep. He wanted nothing more than to cry, but he was a man, and men didn't cry, did they?

He inhaled as he heard footsteps approaching the door. "Nub? What are you doing here? It's 3 AM in the morning."

The only response he gave her was by leaning in and wrapping his arms around her.

"Um, you know I don't like—"

"Sam, Emilee died tonight…and so did Ethan." He was surprised at how blunt he was being. He couldn't really joke around at the moment and he let out all the tears on the car ride there.

Sam's expression could be described as nothing if not complete horror. Should she ask questions? Nah, he probably wouldn't want to talk about that right now. "I—I…I'm really sorry."

He shook his head. "I don't need to hear that…"

"Then what do you need? Anything…I'll give it to you."

He walked into her apartment, drenching wet from the rain, and walked into her bedroom to lie on her bed. Gently, she lay beside him, trying to think of something to ease his pain.

X

"Carls?" Sam frowned. "Where's the nub at?"

"He wasn't feeling too well. He said he didn't want to come."

"Right," Sam said, scrunching her eyebrows together. "Well, I'm sure he wants a piece of this cake…I'll just take it right over to his apartment. I won't be long."

"But Sam—"

Sam didn't turn back, but instead, ran out the door and hopped into her car, revving the engine to life.

First of all, thanks to everyone who reads, follows, or favorites this story! I really love reading your generous remarks.

To the reviewers:

'SeddieFan99'-Thanks so much! I'll try to continue the frequent updates, but life is quite busy! Not at the moment, but trust me, when summer for us college students is over…it's going to be hectic.

'LadyJames'-Let's just say Carly wasn't thinking correctly. Heck, who knows what she was thinking? ;) And actually, I think you'll grow to like Blaze. I'm trying to make him as likeable as ever because a lot of people have Sam dating some weird or dangerous kid and I just don't think she'd really be into the dangerous type after her childhood dating experiences. Blaze is a nice guy…just not for her.

'PinaySeddier'-Thank you! Like I said, I'll try to keep up with the frequent updates! Hope you liked this chapter! :)

'green aura'-Emilee will definitely be further explained in later chapters! Let's hope you like her place in this story. I could definitely make a flashback happen if that's what the readers want to see. :) And yep, Carly's slip up was inopportune indeed. Also, Blaze was a little uncomfortable, but he's not the type to hold drama! Yeah, Blaze Connors is kinda a boy band name :) I like it though and I hope you do too!

'Seddie3' (GUEST)-Thanks so much! If you continue to read this story, you'll find out exactly what they'll do with those lingering feelings! :)

Thanks! And I guess you can say this is Part 1! Part 2 will be up soon! :)

-Megan xx