So let's all just take a little break from reality (I know it's been a while, much longer than I expected) and given the content – which no, it's not what I expect to happen on the show, nor would I want it to – I'm surprised with interest. But everyone needs an escape from time to time.

So thank you very much for all your reviews; and maybe, just, maybe I'll get something posted up a little sooner than this update!

"Kent?" The waitress who was stood the small desk at the restaurant door, repeated back after Tom and he nodded watching as she flicked through the list of reservations. "Table for 3 with a high chair?" She queried glancing up, and Sam nodded as she unlocked Laura's buggy preparing to take her restless eleven month old daughter to the table. Sam found that floor wasn't cluttered and made her trip in an almost hidden table easy enough.

As she bent down to unstrap an overexcited Laura from her buggy, the girl all but jumped into her arms. Sam sighed as she felt Laura stiffen in her arms upon her realising that she was about to be placed in a high chair turning Tom almost pleadingly unsure what to do, however he simply waved at his daughter and left Sam feeling self-conscious and almost fearful that Laura was about to start screaming and cause a scene. However he fears were quashed mere seconds later when Laura began to sit down herself, and Sam was able to get the straps across her body before placing the tray back in front of her daughter to be met with an expression of confusion from the child in question.

Sam sat down across from Tom calmly, and watched Laura curiously as she began to turn in her seat turning to observe the unfamiliar environment, however when the baby turned to her father and caught him smiling her she giggled contentedly before hitting hands against the tray of her high chair. The action seemed to remind her of the chairs purpose and she turned to Sam suddenly, "MA!" Sam was sure that Laura's baby voice could have echoed around the entire room, and rummaged around in the baby bag hoping to find something to entertain Laura for the time being. As she presented Laura with her stuffed dog, Sam was relieved to note that her daughter calmed considerably and she was spared the discomfort of having to pacify her child so publicly.

While Sam knew that Tom and Jessica had browsed the menu extensively while her focus had been completely on Laura; she simply picked the first thing that she liked from the menu and set about quizzing the waitress, in a way which she'd promised herself she would not on their journey to the restaurant, on the fish fingers which she'd deemed a suitable option for Laura. Despite the fact that she'd never given her small daughter anything similar Sam had felt herself reassured that they were healthy enough for her eleven month old daughter and ordered taking much longer than she'd have liked to have kept the waitress. She could see Tom rolling his eyes, not so discreetly in Jessica's direction as she finally thanked the waitress and Sam leant across the table and swatted his upper arm playfully, only just managing to jump back from the his reach as he made to ruffle her hair.

Dinner was brought more quickly than Sam had expected and as Laura's tiny portion was placed down in front of her the baby had clapped happily for mere moments before her plate had been snatched by her mother's hand. Laura glanced towards Sam in confusion, as she set about scrapping some breadcrumbs from and cutting Laura's fish fingers into more manageable pieces for her to eat; Laura stretch continuously, and was successful only once in snatching a still whole fish finger from the plate as Sam was removing half of Laura's chips and putting them on Tom's plate. Sam glanced once at Laura and then back to Tom, who was watching his daughter with a hint of amusement written across his face as they watched her chew at the piece of fish. Sam considered taking it from her but fearful of her daughter screaming decided against it, and instead found Laura's tall juice cup from the baby bag and placed it on the high chair tray along with Laura's plate.

Dessert had seen Sam and Jessica sharing profiteroles; yet somehow as Tom's own dessert had been placed down in front of him Laura had wormed her way onto her daddy's knee and was experimenting with the delights of ice cream – Sam winced herself as Laura gasped at the coolness of the foodstuff which had been placed her month. Tom leant down and kissed the top of Laura's head, giggling as she opened her little mouth again, expecting another spoonful to which Tom obliged seemingly sharing the ice cream with Laura until it was done.

There had been the merest hint of an argument over the bill before Tom won, and they were faced with the humid air of the car park as Jessica tried to win the second dispute of the night, that she'd simply get the train home – after all it was only two stops, and quicker than driving. After five minutes Sam found herself wrapped in her sister's arms, as Jessica kissed her cheek wishing her a happy birthday before taking Laura from Tom's arms for a final cuddle and wished them all goodnight.

Laura had fallen asleep in the car on the way home, and had only stirred slightly when Sam was changing her from the dress she'd bought her for the evening out into her just her vest – she'd woken several times during the previous night and Sam did not doubt it had been the heat, it was an usually warm September. Their small flat seemed to retaining the heat rather well, in fact when she had removed Laura's pyjamas she had slept soundly for the remainder of the night. Granted Laura was not the only one feeling the heat, and Sam kicked the bed covers down to her waist causing Tom to turn to her in confusion, raising an eyebrow in question, at the action which had mirrored Laura's of the previous evening. "It's too warm Tom!" Sam found herself snapping in response and immediately regretted it, she reached out and allowed her fingers to graze his cheek until he turned back to face her again.

"Did you have a nice birthday?" Tom asked softly, rolling closer to her and Sam sighed dramatically at the extra heat his movement brought. She nodded slowly, and smiled up at him, before raising only her head to kiss his lips softly.

"Thank you," she muttered briefly before Tom pressed their lips back together began brushing her long over her shoulders, exposing her neck.

"You know," Tom began somewhat in consideration causing Sam to pull away from him slightly, waiting on his next words. "If you are that warm, you could get rid of those jammies?" Sam struggled, but eventually a small smile graced her lips, and instinctively she buried her head in one of his shoulders, blushing slightly as she hit his free shoulder.

Thank you for reading,

Ax