Thanks for the reviews, follows and favourites. They mean a lot. Also helps to keeps the ideas flowing.

Hope you've had a good weekend.

Sairs

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Chapter 6 ~ Fun in the snow

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Jules couldn't help but smile at the look of glee on Izzy's face when she pointed at the pink dress that Jules held up for her.

"Me peas," Izzy uttered holding her hands out towards the dress.

"I guess you like this one, huh?" Jules asked.

"Peas, Auntie Jules," Izzy begged, bouncing up and down in her stroller with delight.

"But Daddy said I wasn't to buy you lots of pink clothes," Jules reasoned.

Izzy shook her head, "Silly Daddy. Me like pink."

Jules chuckled looking at Sophie, who had a warm smile on her face as she watched Jules and Izzy interacting. "Well, Sophie do you think Ed will mind if I get her this one?"

"I don't think he has much choice, Izzy knows what she likes and she likes pink," Sophie replied, enjoying Jules' look of happiness, it had been the first genuine smile Sophie had seen since before Sam's accident.

"Looks like you're a lucky young lady, Izzy," Jules leaned forward and ruffled the child's wispy hair. "Let's go see if there's a coat to match."

"The dress is plenty," Sophie began.

Jules held up her hand stopping Sophie in her tracks, "Please, Sophie, let me do this." She looked at Sophie hoping that she didn't have to explain why she needed to buy clothes for Izzy.

Sophie nodded, getting Jules' silent message.

Jules placed the dress in the shopping basket before taking control of the stroller and heading towards the winter coat section of the store. "Okay, Izzy, let's see what pink coats they've got."

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Jules perched on the edge of Izzy's bed, the sleepy two year old's eyes were heavy as she vainly fought against slumber that was tugging at her. "Story, peas, Auntie Jules?" Izzy's voice was heavy with sleep as her little hand tugged on the sleeve of Jules' sweater.

Jules couldn't resist, "Okay, just one story then sleep."

Izzy yawned as she nodded, snuggling deeper into her pillow as she waited for Jules to position herself on the bed so that she could see the book. "Green eggs and ham?" Izzy begged tiredly.

Jules didn't know that Izzy liked Dr. Seuss, but she picked up the copy of, 'Green eggs and ham' that was beside her bed and began to read, "I am Sam. I am Sam, Sam I am." Her voice almost catching in her throat as her mind wandered back to Sam.

Izzy noticed that Jules had paused and at that moment decided to snuggle closer to her, resting her head against her side, she tilted it slightly so that she looked up at Jules. "Auntie Jules sad. Uncle Sam got a boo boo on his head."

Jules met Izzy's enquiring eyes, nodding slowly as she dropped her arm to rest on Izzy's back, taking solace in the comfort the child was offering. "Yes, Uncle Sam has got a boo boo and Auntie Jules is sad that Uncle Sam isn't awake. But he will be soon," she reassured Izzy.

Izzy looked thoughtful, "Me see Uncle Sam?"

"When he's awake you can come and show him that pretty pink dress we got you today."

Izzy nodded as she closed the book in Jules' hand, "Uncle Sam have book."

Jules smiled, "But it's your favourite."

"Uncle Sam have eggs and ham," she repeated sleepily as she closed her eyes.

"Okay, Sweetie," Jules replied quietly, leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss on Izzy's forehead, letting her fingers run through the soft brown curls that covered her head.

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Jules quietly walked down the stairs to find Sophie sitting on the sofa a cup of coffee in her hand, "She asleep?" Sophie asked as she spotted Jules.

"Yep, shopping tires a girl out," Jules replied as she sank down into the chair next to the sofa.

Sophie chuckled, "It sure does. But she's one happy and spoilt little girl."

Jules nodded, as she picked up her cup of coffee, "Thank you for today."

"You're very welcome; it's been great to see you smile. Really smile."

"It's easy to smile when Izzy's around. The way she sees the world is…" Jules searched for the right word, "refreshing."

"She certainly has a unique perspective, she sees the good in everyone," Sophie paused, "Which can be a little concerning when she starts conversations with complete strangers."

"It must be nice to see the world through Izzy's eyes, not worrying about anything; enjoying the wonder of the world and the love of her family."

"But, she does worry. She's worried about Sam. She knows something isn't right, but we can't explain it to her so that she understands."

"She asked about Sam and gave me this," She held up the copy of Green eggs and ham, "She told me I had to read it to him."

A smile spread across Sophie's lips, "You know why, don't you?"

Jules shook her head, trying to think why that particular book would be important.

"He was the first person to read it to her; she thought it was hilarious because the character was called Sam."

"When?" Jules asked, trying to think of a time when Sam had been with Izzy and she'd not.

"A couple of months ago, Ed was looking after Izzy and Sam was helping, or hindering, I think Ed called it at the time. You were on a training course I think. Ed was keeping Sam out of trouble, he was missing you and he thought Izzy would be a good distraction. I think Ed had been regretting his decision as Sam and Izzy were getting along very well and there was little hope of her falling asleep. I've drilled it into Ed to keep her to a routine and Sam and Izzy were ignoring it.

"Izzy was getting grumpy and Ed was trying to calm her down so that she would sleep, but she kept demanding Uncle Sam."

Jules chuckled, "I can just see the look on Ed's face at that."

"Me too," Sophie smiled, "I had to listen to the afternoon in detail."

"So that explains Ed's reaction when I offered for Sam and me to babysit Sophie the other weekend, there was a look of horror mixed with nervousness."

"He relented though," Sophie replied.

"After he called you."

"He knows I'm the voice of reason."

"So Sam read her the story?"

"He plucked it out of his back pack. Apparently he'd bought it for her, but wasn't sure if she was old enough to appreciate it. Izzy stopped running around the room giggling and sat with Sam on a pile of cushions on the floor looking at the book." Sophie stood and walked over to a small bureau and opened a drawer. "I was going to frame this as a Christmas present for Sam from Izzy. But I think you could do with it now." She walked over to Jules and handed her a photograph.

Jules looked at the picture of Sam sitting on a pile of cushions; Izzy curled up in his lap, a copy of Green eggs and ham in his hand. They both had smiles on their faces that lit up their eyes. For a moment images of a future washed into her mind, an image of Sam sat reading to their child. A family was something she had been thinking about more and more and that image of Sam hoped that they would get the opportunity someday.

"Thank you," Jules replied quietly, rubbing away a tear that was slowly trickling down her cheek. "Sam will love it when he wakes up."

Sophie nodded, "He will and I know he'll wake up soon, Jules. He has so much to live for."

Jules stood and hugged Sophie, "Thank you for everything."

"Any time," Sophie replied, hugging Jules tightly.

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Jules slowly sank into the seat beside Sam's bed. She had met Ed in the corridor and he explained that there was no change and that he'd read the entire newspaper to him from cover to cover. He'd asked about her day and she'd enlightened him on her shopping adventures and refused to apologise for the new pink items of clothing that were now adorning Izzy's wardrobe.

He'd shook his head as he'd walked away, reminding Jules that when she had a child in the future, Uncle Ed would return the favour.

"Hey, Sam," she started quietly, "I hear you've had a busy day entertaining Ed. Well I've had a busy day too. I went shopping with Izzy…" Jules began to regale him with the story of her day.

"I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you! Sam-I-am." Jules finished the book, closing it gently before resting it on her lap. "I hear you introduced young Miss Izzy to this classic. When you wake up I want to hear your version of events, because Sophie told me today that you helped Ed babysit a few weekends ago when I was on that negotiation training course." She picked up the photograph and studied it carefully, especially the look of joy on Sam's face as he read, "Izzy gave me that book for you to help you get rid of your boo boo. I hope it works, Sam, because there are a lot of people who need you to wake up."

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Jules finished fixing the picture of Sam and Izzy into the photograph album; gently she ran her fingers over the picture. She had positioned it next to another photograph, but this time it was of Izzy and herself, taken the day of the team picnic when Holleran had made his decision that Sam and Jules could officially do whatever they liked in their down time as long as they didn't let it affect their work.

She remembered holding Izzy and gently rocking from side to side, it was an automatic response whenever she held her. As she'd rocked her, she had glanced over her shoulder and saw Sam watching her, a curious expression on his face, one she had seen many times; usually when she was with Izzy.

She turned the page and smiled as she found a picture of Izzy bundled in a snowsuit standing beside a large snowman, a huge grin on her face. "Sam, do you remember when we took Izzy to build a snowman?" She asked her silent husband, she waited for a response, after a few moments she continued, "I guess I'm going to have to remind you."

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Sophie and Ed had received an emergency call from Clark's college; he'd had an accident and was in hospital. Jules had been standing next to Ed at Winnie's desk when he'd received the call. She instantly knew something had been wrong by the look of concern and worry that washed over his face. As soon as the call finished, she'd instantly offered to look after Izzy. After a few moments consideration and a quick call to Sophie, they'd agreed to let them baby-sit.

As they were leaving the building, Spike had cheerfully piped up that it would be good practice for when they were inundated with little Braddocks. Jules had shook her head and rolled her eyes good naturedly at him.

When they arrived at Sophie and Ed's, Izzy was pottering around the living room, a soft toy bunny, tucked under her arm. As soon as she saw Jules she hurried as quickly as her little legs could carry her to Jules, her arms outstretched, begging to be lifted up. "Auntie Jules, up peas?"

Jules had looked down into Izzy's face, her blue green eyes shining; a small smile on her lips. She bent down and lifted Izzy up into her arms, "Hey, Izzy." She placed a kiss on the child's cheek.

"Jules play?" Izzy asked hopefully.

"Izzy, Jules and Sam can play until bedtime. Then it's straight to sleep." Sophie instructed as she walked into the living room a warm smile on her face as she watched her daughter playing with a loose strand of Jules' hair. "Are you sure you don't mind watching her?"

"We're off rotation for the next two days. It's fine. You're on the end of the phone if we need you. I've looked after my nieces and nephews and we've looked after Izzy before." Jules reasoned, offering Sophie a reassuring smile.

"Thanks for this, a hospital waiting room is nowhere for Izzy to be and I need…" Sophie's voice cracked.

Jules stepped forward and placed her hand on Sophie's shoulder, "To be there for Clark. Sam and I will be fine. Izzy will be fine."

Sophie nodded as she held her arms out for Izzy. When Izzy was in her arms she placed a kiss on Izzy's cheek. "Be a good girl for Auntie Jules and Uncle Sam. Mommy and Daddy will be home soon."

Izzy nodded, "Bye, Mommy."

Sophie placed a kiss on Sophie's forehead before handing her back to Jules. She turned, grabbing her coat before heading towards Ed who was waiting in the hallway.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

Sophie nodded, "We'll call when we know more."

"Take care on the drive up," Sam advised from his position leaning against the living room, watching Jules and Izzy.

Ed rolled his eyes, "It's me driving here, Sam. Not Spike."

Sam smiled, "I won't tell Spike you said that. Now go, we'll be fine."

Ed shook his head, "I know Jules will be fine… But…"

"Izzy and I get along great," Sam stated a huge grin crossing his lips.

"That's what I'm afraid of. Jules can handle anything that's thrown at her at work… but Izzy and a grown kid together…"

Sam's grin got wider, "Just 'cause you found Izzy and I challenging, doesn't mean that Jules will."

Sophie tugged at Ed's arm, "We need to go," she urged.

Ed nodded, before turning to look at Jules, "Good luck."

Jules shook her head, unsure what Ed was referring too, "Just as I promised Sophie, we'll be fine."

"Bye, Mommy. Bye, Daddy," Izzy called waving her hand furiously as Jules carried her to the front door of the house, so that she could see her parents get into the car.

After a few moments, Ed pulled out of the driveway and carefully made his way down the road.

"Come on, Izzy," Jules spoke as she walked away from the front door, hearing Sam closing the door behind them. "What would you like to play?"

Izzy grinned, "Dolls."

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Jules looked at Sam, his face peaceful as he rested; she reached over and pushed his hair from his forehead, "You looked really funny in the tiara Izzy insisted you wear as we were having tea with her dolls that night. But the snowman incident was even funnier. You'll make a great Dad some day." She let her fingertips rub his forehead, giving herself as much comfort as she thought she was offering him.

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Izzy leaned against the window in the living room, her nose touching the glass, "It's snowing, Auntie Jules!" she hollered, her body jiggling with excitement.

Jules walked over to the window and smiled as she saw the big flakes dancing slowly to the ground. "It is, Izzy. When it stops would you like to go out and play in the snow?"

Izzy nodded furiously, "Yes peas! Build snowman?"

"Maybe, we'll have to see if it's the right snow."

"Me get my hat and scarf!" Izzy declared as she hurried past Jules and started to pull at clothes hanging in the hallway.

"What's up, Miss Izzy?" Sam asked as he walked into the hallway from the kitchen, where he'd been emptying the dishwasher.

Izzy turned to Sam, a huge grin lighting up her face, "It's snowing! Aunt Jules said we build snowman!"

"She did, did she?" Sam looked at Jules who was standing in the living room doorway; she shrugged her shoulders at his look.

"I thought you might be an expert snowman builder," she suggested, "You told me that story of the snowman you and Natalie built of the General."

A sheepish look crossed Sam's features, "You know that didn't turn out well."

"But the General isn't here and it can't be that hard to impress a two year old."

Sam's eyebrows rose, "Are you helping to build this snowman?"

Izzy peeked out from underneath the clothes, a stripy scarf clutched in her hands, a large coat draped over her shoulders, like a large cloak. "Auntie Jules build snowman too?"

Jules glanced at the sight of the toddler peeking out from under a sea of coats, "Of course, I'll help you and Uncle Sam build a snowman. But first, Izzy, we've got to dress you up nice and warm. Snow is cold."

"State the obvious, Jules," Sam teased as he moved towards Izzy, holding his hand out for the scarf.

Jules rolled her eyes, "She's little, she probably doesn't remember the last batch of snow we had."

Izzy looked between the adults, a look of confusion on her face, "Snowman," she reminded.

"Okay, Izzy," Jules knelt down beside the child, "Let's find your snowsuit."

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Half an hour later Izzy was finally bundled up in her snowsuit. She stood in the middle of the hallway, her hands extended out to the sides, unable to lie flat against her body because of the stuffing in the suit.

"I don't think Mommy or Daddy wanted you to get cold," Sam stated a tone of awe in his voice as he studied the little bundle.

"Me hot!" Izzy replied, her cheeks turning a rosy shade of red.

"You won't be when we get outside," Sam replied as he grabbed his coat from the hook and quickly put it on.

"Outside!" Izzy called, her hands waving in the air.

"Yes. Let's go!" Sam replied, scooping the child into his arms as he followed Jules into the backyard.

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Jules couldn't help but laugh at the expression on Sam's face as he rolled the large ball of snow around the yard, stopping in front of them. "It's heavy," he reasoned as he looked at Jules.

"You're a big bad policeman," Jules teased, "But you find rolling a large ball of snow tiring!"

"Chasing bad guys is different to heaving snow."

"Tell that to Greg next time you can't pull the heaviest person across the room."

He stuck his tongue out as he dipped behind the snowman, quickly balling a handful of snow. "You might regret teasing me!" He called as he suddenly stood up and threw the snowball at Jules, hitting her squarely on the chest.

Izzy squealed with delight as a dusting of snow from the impact of the snowball against Jules' chest covered her.

Jules glared at Sam, "Are you starting a snowball war?"

Sam smiled, "Depends on whether you're going to continue to challenge my stamina!"

Jules shrugged her shoulders leaning down towards Izzy, using checking Izzy as a cover for making her own snowball, she brushed the loose snow from Izzy's head with one hand as she compacted snow with her other. As she stood, her back was towards Sam, the hand with the snowball in it clutched to her chest. Quickly she turned and launched the snowball at Sam. She grinned as it met her target squarely in his chest.

For a second Sam grimaced, before quickly ducking to grab more snow, "Snowball war!" he cried.

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Jules sat on the snow, Izzy pulled into her lap as they watched Sam add the finishing touches to their snowman. The snowman was as tall as Sam's shoulder and had pebbles for eyes and buttons and a large carrot for his nose. They had given him a hat and scarf, which they'd found in the hallway. Izzy had said they were Ed's.

Izzy clapped her hands together with glee as Sam stood away from the snowman to admire their work. "Snowman!" she called.

"Why don't we take a picture of you with your snowman?" Jules suggested as she lifted the child to her feet.

Izzy nodded enthusiastically, "Peas!"

Sam held out his hand to help Jules to her feet, the glare on her face forced him to retract his offer. He waited patiently for her to make her own way to her feet.

"Just because I lost the snowball war on a technicality, does not mean I need help to stand," she stated as she shook the snow from her legs.

Sam shrugged innocently, "Just thought you might be tired."

Jules' glare intensified, "Ed and Sophie will be back later, which means we will be home alone tonight. If you do not want to sleep on the couch tonight, I would think very carefully about what you say next."

Sam smiled nervously, not enjoying the thought of sleeping on the couch, he held his hands up as a sign of surrender, "You get Izzy sorted and I'll take the picture."

"Deal," Jules replied as she directed Izzy to the side of the snowman.

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"You were lucky that night," she whispered, "I didn't make you sleep on the couch. Although I don't think Ed was too impressed to find his hat and scarf on the snowman in the yard."

She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead, "Goodnight, Sam. Wake up soon," she pleaded as she stood, ready to head home alone to their home.

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