Chapter 10

Sam and Andy enjoyed the rest of their week off, going out for dinner (once), going to a movie (once), and spending time (a lot of time) in bed. To be accurate, it wasn't all in bed – there were a couple of times on the couch in front of the TV, and several more in the shower.

Following one of these romantic interludes Andy lay beside Sam, her breathing gradually returning to a normal rate, when she suddenly gave for a huge sigh. Sam, who had been drifting in a relaxed state somewhere between post-coital satisfaction and sleep, turned to look at her with a quizzical expression.

"What's up, McNally? Something bothering you?"

"Just thinking about the future," said Andy slowly.

"What about the future? Please tell me you're not borrowing trouble again." Sam frowned a little as he remembered a few times in the past when Andy seemed unable to enjoy the present without an anxious look ahead. "You think we're too different" and "...if things go south with us..." were a couple of prime examples. "Andy, we're married," he exclaimed. "I don't see how much more committed either one of us could be to our relationship."

"What? Oh, no! Not that part of the future!" Andy lifted herself up on one elbow to look into Sam's eyes. "Not at all! I was thinking about whether we should stay here or get a house in the suburbs, and if we did that would we need a second car. I've also been asking myself if I should make some effort towards a promotion, either to detective or maybe taking the sergeant's exam." She leaned down to rest her forehead against Sam's, her free hand curving around to rub the back of his neck. "How could you even think I'd have any doubts about us? I think our relationship is stronger than it ever has been, and I plan to do everything in my power to make sure it stays that way."

"OK then, we're good," Sam confirmed. Suddenly something came into sharper focus. "The suburbs? You want to move us out to the suburbs? What brought that on?"

"I don't know," Andy shrugged. "Maybe we'll need more room, and a fenced-in yard."

"McNally? Is there something you want to tell me?" Sam cocked his head and looked intently at her face, then down her body.

"What? Oh, no," she protested. "No, not that – I mean, not yet. But I've been thinking about that too. You said you wanted more babies, our babies. Do you still feel that way? I thought maybe now we have a reasonably settled routine with Marlo, sharing custody of Claudia, you might want to postpone any drastic changes."

"Andy, I meant what I said. I've been waiting to let you bring the subject up – you've been so amazing with her. Just like you promised, she absolutely knows that you love her, and want her in our lives. I didn't want to put any pressure on you. It would be a big change, and I'm happy with you just the way things are."

"So you're saying that you don't want to start trying?" Andy asked quietly. "It would be too much?"

"Hang on a second," Sam said firmly, shoving a couple of pillows behind his back and gathering Andy into his arms. "Don't put words in my mouth – or thoughts in my head. I want to add to the family that we have now, the family that you've made possible, and I'm so grateful to you for that. I do want our babies, whenever you're ready. That decision will have the greatest impact on you, and I'll never put pressure on you; I want you to be sure you're ready. When you think that time has come, just let me know. I can't think of many things I'd enjoy more than trying to make a baby with you."

Andy looked into Sam's eyes, as if searching for the slightest doubt, and smiled happily as she recognized his complete sincerity. "I'm thinking that time is getting pretty close," she confessed. "You know how much I love Claudia, but I'm sure that we have enough love to expand our family."

"We do," Sam agreed, pulling Andy even closer, stroking her arm with his free hand. He kissed the top of her head as she snuggled against his side. "Hey, you wanna get started now?"

"We should at least practise," Andy giggled, lifting her face to his. Sam wasted no time, claiming her lips in a kiss that brought an end to the giggle and flared quickly into passion. He rolled onto his back, bringing Andy with him, one hand caressing her face while the other stroked her bare back, loving the silky smoothness of her skin under his fingertips. He began at the nape of her neck, moving over her shoulder blades and down the indentation of her spine. Andy quivered under his touch, infusing her kiss with even more intensity. Still holding her close against him Sam rolled them over again, lifting himself away from her just a little so he could look down at her, her face flushed, lips parted, eyes impossibly dark.

"Andy," he began, then paused for a moment, swallowing hard. "Andy," he repeated, his voice husky, "you are – we are – everything I ever hoped for and never believed that I could have. I can hardly imagine being any happier than I am right this moment, but I know that there is so much more ahead of us."

"There is." Andy murmured, "Let's see if I can make you just a little happier right now." She ran her hands across his back, exerting just the slightest pressure with her fingernails. Sam shuddered under her touch, bringing one hand to cup her breast. "No, wait just a minute," she whispered into his ear, nipping at the lobe, sucking on it. "Just let me."

Sam lay perfectly still as Andy's hands continued to travel up and down his back, gradually moving lower and tracing along each rib, firmly enough to avoid tickling him. She watched his face closely, wanting to be sure that this was pleasurable for him, not annoying. His eyes were closed and his body was relaxed, evidence of his complete trust in her.

Andy shifted underneath his weight, raising her hips slightly, widening the space between her thighs. She slid one hand between their bodies and grasped his penis. "Mmmmm," she breathed appreciatively, and moved her hand a little farther until she could feel the wet heat of her own arousal. Bringing her now-slick fingers back to wrap around him again she slid them over the head and down the shaft. Sam groaned and opened his eyes. "Not sure I can lie still much longer," he warned, and he began to move against the pressure of her hand.

"That's okay," Andy said softly. "You can move now if you want to."

Sam raised his eyebrows, wordlessly conveying the fact that yes, he did want to. He needed no guiding hand to achieve his destination, entering her easily and thrusting as deeply as he could. Andy's hips matched the rhythm he set, lifting to meet his. She gave herself up to the urgency they shared - the teasing sensation of delaying the inevitable swept away by the overwhelming need for completion.

As her heart rate returned to normal and her breathing slowed, Andy heaved another big sigh. "What's that all about?" Sam queried, kissing the top of her head as she lay with her face tucked into his shoulder. "Anything wrong?"

Andy lifted her head to look at him. "Don't fish for compliments," she said with mock severity. "You know perfectly well that nothing is wrong. Everything is perfect, and you just want me to tell you that so you can think how amazing you are."

"Not true!" Sam protested. "Not that I'm not amazing, but what I'm really thinking about is how amazing we are together."

"Yes, we are," Andy agreed. She lay still for a moment, and then with a sudden burst of energy sat up and announced, "I'm starving. Have we got anything to eat or should we order something?"

"There are a couple of salmon steaks we could barbecue, with a nice salad and maybe some rice," Sam said thoughtfully. "That wouldn't take very long – or are you going to collapse from hunger if I don't feed you immediately?"

"No, that sounds really good. And there's actually some cooked rice in the freezer that I can just heat up while you're grilling the salmon. Have we got any lemons? I like a little squeeze of lemon juice on my salmon."

"Pretty sure there's at least one," Sam responded. "Do you want me to make the salad?"

"No, I can do that. Let's go, Mr. McNally, I need food."

"Is this how you're gonna be when I get you pregnant? Bossy and demanding and constantly hungry?"

"Probably – why should anything change?" Andy tossed back over her shoulder as she left the bedroom, pulling one of Sam's t-shirts on as she went.

Don't change a thing, Sam thought to himself. You're just fine the way you are.