Disclaimer: I don't own the TBs or the Tracy family with the exception of Sam.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews and advice to those that take the time. Your input is much appreciated and respected. If you read, please review. Standard warning applies to this chapter- some material may not be suitable for all readers.
Chapter 11
The sound of a low flying plane could be heard through the open windows of the apartment. Glancing at her watch, Catie realized that she had at most ten minutes more to finish cleaning up the apartment for her sister-in-law and her family. She quickly fluffed the couch cushions after removing the sheet that Sam had spread over it to keep it protected.
"Come on, Honey," called John from the doorway. "Sis, will be landing in a few minutes. She's already called in for clearance to land." Catie fluffed up the toss pillows, picked up the sheet and took it to the laundry room before hurrying to John's side.
"I'm so glad that they came home for the week," she said, reaching for his free hand. "It will be like old times with them all here." John smiled down at her as the three of them hurried to the runway where they could see the plane landing.
"Sam is going to be surprised to see Nick," Catie said, taking their son from John. They had both been thrilled that the adoption process hadn't taken as long as originally planned. Nick had been born a month earlier and John and Catie had stayed on the mainland for a week before flying home with their baby.
"What do you think Sammie's response is going to be?" asked Gordon. He was waiting with the rest of the family with the exception of Alan who was on TB5. Before John or Catie could answer him, the plane stopped and minutes later the door opened and the steps came down. It was a few more minutes before anyone came out of the plane. Suddenly, two loud cries could be heard from the interior of the plane.
"UNCLE VIRGIE!" Virgil's smile widened when he heard Lucy's voice just as Gordon's did when he heard his name.
"UNCLE GORDY!" Sam appeared at the top step, holding onto the small hands of her oldest children. Alex was behind them, holding onto Mikey and Benny's hands. As soon as they reached the tarmac, Johnny and Lucy ran to their uncles. Mikey toddled straight to Scott and Benny held onto Alex. Staring at her twin brother and sister-in-law with a shocked expression, she slowly walked towards them.
"When?" she asked. "How come you didn't tell me?" Catie smiled and carefully handed her son over to his aunt.
"We wanted him to be a surprise," Catie answered. "His name is Nicholas Patrick Tracy." Rolling her eyes, she held her nephew close to her.
"I'm sorry, Sweetie, but your daddy has lost it," she said. "He's just like his daddy, naming the poor baby after astronauts." Nick looked up and gurgled before spitting up on her. Without taking her gaze away from him, she grabbed the burp cloth off John's shoulder and wiped Nick's little face and her arm.
"Already breaking me in?" She repositioned him in her arms and kissed the top of his head. "Benny, want to meet your new cousin?" Alex picked Ben up and carried him over to Sam. Ben looked down at the tiny baby in his mother's arms. With an angry scowl, he looked away from them.
"My mommy," he muttered. Sam's brothers laughed at his possessiveness for his mother.
"Benny, you're my baby," Sam said. "Nick is Uncle John and Aunt Catie's baby. Mommy is just loving on him for a little while, okay?" Ben refused to look back at her.
"My mommy, Daddy," he said to Alex.
"Uncle Gordy, me swim wif you?" asked Johnny. Gordon grinned down at his water-loving nephew.
"Let's take your bags to the apartment first, okay?" he asked first.
"Okay, Uncle Gordy. Come on," Johnny replied, looking around confused. "Where we go?" John picked him up so that Gordon could give him a piggy back ride.
"Me see baby," demanded Lucy. Sam knelt down so that Lucy could see her new cousin. "Him got yellow hair like Mommy and Uncle Johnny."
"Are we all going to stand around or help them to their apartment?" asked Jeff. He had joined his family with Grandma. Sighing when she noticed her grandmother studying her, Sam reluctantly handed Nick back to Catie. The family walked towards the house. Sam and Alex carried the three suitcases and Ben. When they neared the pool, Jeff had them stop. Grateful for the chance to set the suitcases down, Sam looked around her former home. Stealthily, Jeff got behind her, picked her up, and tossed her into the pool. As soon as she surfaced, Johnny jumped in next to her and Gordon with him.
"That's for the crack about naming children after astronauts," he replied to her questioning look. The rest of the family burst out laughing.
"Sis got the honors this time," laughed Virgil. The laughter got louder when Johnny, along with Gordon's help, dunked Sammie again. Before Sam surfaced, she grabbed Gordon's leg and pulled him under with her. They surfaced at the same time just as Lucy yelled at Johnny.
"Johnny, no be mean to Mommy," she yelled, stomping her little feet. Johnny looked up at her and grinned.
"Me no mean," he replied. "Me love Mommy. Her already wet." Sam climbed out of the pool and accepted the towel that Kyrano offered her.
"Thank you, Kyrano," she told him. With a twinkle in her eyes, she approached her dad and gave him a big hug. Backing away before he reacted, she stood next to Alex.
"Dad, you look a bit wet," she sniggered. Benny chose that moment to lean over and pull her hair.
"MY MOMMY!" he cried. Sam winced at the sudden tug on her hair but took him from Alex. Placing his little hands on either side of her face, he gave her a slobbery kiss.
"My mommy," he said and laid his head on her shoulder. Sam smiled at her youngest son and kissed his forehead.
"Mommy's baby," she whispered in his ear. With a big smile, Ben reached up and wrapped his hand in her hair. Mikey started squirming in Scott's arms for Sam.
"My mommy and bubby," he cried. Sam shifted Benny and took Mikey from Scott. Both boys grinned at each other and laid their heads on Sam's shoulders and laid an arm on the other.
"Uncle Virgie, play piano wif me?" asked Lucy.
"Do you mind if I take my only niece for awhile?" asked Virgil.
"No, we don't mind," answered Alex. "Johnny's already claimed Gordon."
"Where's Tin-Tin?" Sam asked. "Is she alright?"
"She's lying down, Mrs. Samantha," Kyrano replied. "She will be joining you for dinner this evening."
"Thank you, Kyrano," Sam responded. "I look forward to seeing my sister-in-law. I've missed seeing and talking with her." Scott picked up the suitcases that Sam had set on the pool deck and led the way to the apartment. It was with a bit of trepidation that Sam entered the apartment. She expected to see it like it had been the day she fled the Island.
"Tin-Tin and I cleaned the apartment when we heard you were coming back for vacation," Catie said when she saw Sam's look of surprise. "The beds are all made and there are freshly laundered towels and toiletries in all of the bathrooms." Smiling gratefully at her sister-in-law, Sam sat the boys on the couch.
"You can play now," she said to her sons. Mikey and Ben slid off the couch and began to explore the apartment. Scott and Alex put the suitcases in the correct rooms. Nick had fallen asleep in Catie's arms and she looked down at her son.
"I'm still in shock that John and I are parents," she admitted. John had sat down on the couch next to Catie and pulled her and Nick back against him. Sam looked at her twin and his family and sighed. John glanced up at her.
"I'm so happy for you, John," she said. "You have the same look in your eyes that Alex does, a look of contentment and happiness. It's like you've finally found something that completes you." Alex sat down in the oversized chair and Sam sat down and leaned back against him. Almost automatically, he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close to him.
"Now we just need to get Scott, Virgil, and Gordon to settle down," she teased. Scott looked at her and shook his head.
"Not yet. I'm enjoying bachelorhood," he shot back. "Though, I think Virgil may have found someone. You won't be happy though, Sammie."
"Let me guess. Is another brother stealing our nanny?" she asked. John and Catie laughed at her question.
"Sorry, Sammie, but I loved Catie long before you hired her to be Johnny and Lucy's nanny," John replied.
"I know and why do you think that I hired her in the first place?" Sam asked. "I wanted you to be happy again. Catie made you happy and besides that, she's the only one you ever dated that I liked." Catie laughed and looked over at Scott.
"I'm glad we were best friends before John asked me out on a date," she said. "I'd been a bit put off if you would have treated me the way you did another of your brother's girlfriend." Sam burst out laughing at the thought of what she'd done to Scott's girlfriend.
"She was never going to make it," Sam replied. "She wasn't good enough for my big brother and I refused to let her get by with what she wanted to accomplish. I made a promise a long time ago and I intend to see that promise fulfilled." John shot a look over at his sister and noticed the brightness in her eyes. Alex noticed the look and tightened his hold on Sam.
"Love you, Honey," he whispered. "Your mom knows that you're looking after your brothers and dad." Knowing that she would be unable to hold back her tears, she turned her face and hid against his neck. Benny stopped playing and looked over at his mother.
"Mommy, bubby," he muttered to Mikey. Together the two boys climbed up on the chair and onto Sam's lap. Both of them stood on her legs and reached out to touch her face.
"Mommy, no," Mikey said. Sam, blindly, reached out and pulled her boys against her. Alex held them all against him and sighed in contentment. Scott cleared his throat and grinned slightly.
"It's almost lunch time and you know how Grandma gets," he said. "Get cleaned up and we'll see you at the house in a little while." He stood up and headed for the door.
"Cotty!" cried a little voice. Scott looked back and saw that Mikey was reaching for him. Scott went back and picked him up, only to have Benny hold his arms up, too. Scott picked him up and then glanced down at Sam and Alex.
"Can I take them back to the house?" he asked. "They can play in the lounge."
"Catie and I will be in there to help keep an eye on them," John added. Sam nodded, relieved to be able to relax a few moments without worrying about what mischief one of her four children were up to. She made a move to stand up after her brothers left with her twins but Alex tightened his hold on her.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, nuzzling his face in her hair. "No kids, means we can have play time. I intend to enjoy my wife and no one is going to deprive me of her." His hands slowly moved beneath her shirt and she relaxed against him.
"What did you have in mind?" she asked. She felt his arousal and sighed at the thought of him pleasing her. Alex carefully picked her up and carried her to their room. By the time they went to the main house, everyone was seated at the oversized dining table Jeff had recently purchased. Lunch was a lively affair with the whole family together with the exception of Alan and Tin-Tin.
"Me no eat. Swim wif Uncle Gordy," argued Johnny from his seat. Alex glanced over at his son.
"John Alexander Murphy," he said quietly. Johnny looked down at his plate and then over to Gordon.
"Uncle Gordy, swim wif me?" he asked hopefully.
"Sorry, Johnny, what your daddy says goes," Gordon answered. He began to eat his lunch and joked around with his family. Not having any alternative or audience, Johnny ate his lunch quietly. Alex squeezed Sam's hand beneath the table to get her attention. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and whispered something in his ear. He smiled in response and looked at her.
"Promise?" he asked her.
"Would you two quit doing that?" whined Gordon. "You've been married forever; don't you get tired of being like that?" Sam looked at her dad and then at Gordon. Scott, Virgil, and John all looked at each other and smiled at what they knew was coming.
"Gordon, I will not stop showing affection for my husband because you don't like it," she said. "Dad and Mom were like this and they were my role models. I can only be thankful that I found someone to love like Mom did Dad."
"Sorry, Gordon, but I love Samantha as much as Dad did your mother," Alex added. "Just remember, however you tease us, we will do the same when you finally settle down." Sam looked over at her dad again and smiled at him.
"Thanks, Dad," she said quietly. A small whimper from the high chair next to her drew her attention. "What's wrong, Benny?" Benny looked at her with sleepy eyes.
"Momma," he muttered and reached up for her. Wiping his hands and face first, she removed the tray and unfastened him from his chair. She sat him in her lap and sighed in contentment when he leaned his head against her chest and as expected, reached his little hand up to wrap in her hair. His thumb went to his mouth and his eyelids fluttered closed. John watched his youngest nephew and smiled at Catie and Nick.
"One day Nick will be like that," he thought to himself. "Sammie's right, I have found what I was missing. I'm just glad that Sam and I still have that close bond and our spouses are respective of it."
"We'll always have that bond." John looked around until his eyes settled on Sam. She smiled over at him.
"Doesn't take much, John," she said. Their brothers just shook their heads and let the comment go. Jeff realized that John had thought something about him and Sam and she had somehow picked up on it. When lunch was over, Sam and Alex each carried one of the sleeping twins and held the hands of their oldest twins back to the apartment. Johnny and Lucy went to their room without a word and crawled up on Johnny's bed and fell asleep. Alex and Sam put Mikey and Benny into their crib. Sam covered them with a light blanket and kissed them softly. Alex had checked on Johnny and Lucy and tucked them in. Sam went to their bedroom and opened the balcony doors. Leaning against the railing, she gazed out over the ocean. When Alex wrapped his arms around her waist, she smiled and breathed in his cologne. He rested his chin on the top of her head.
"Are you glad we came back for a vacation?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, I am," she admitted. "I've missed being here and to be honest, I was kind of homesick. I've missed being with my brothers, Dad, and Grandma. Brains hasn't changed at all. Kyrano will always be like he is now." She grew pensive and quiet again and he waited for her to speak.
"I'm out of things here now," she said softly. "They've moved on and went on with their lives. I always thought that home would always be the same whenever I came back. I know it sounds silly but I just hoped that they would always need me and I can see now that they don't. They can get by on their own. Look at John and Catie. I didn't even have a clue that my twin had become a father. He's been a daddy for a month and today is the first time I've known about it. I talk to him all the time even when he's on 5." She couldn't help the tears that coursed down her face.
"We just wanted to surprise you," said John from behind them. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you but I felt…you know, Sam." Sam looked back at him and wiped at her tears. "Sammie, we all still need you but we've also all grown up and have our own lives. I'm so sorry if I hurt your feelings by not telling you that I was a father. I was too busy learning how to do things and how to adjust to having a newborn baby full-time. Catie was the same way. We had to adjust and figure things out. I still need you, bestest sister." Sam felt a gentle push on her back and knew that Alex was encouraging her to go to her brother. Hurrying to her twin, she let him embrace her in his strong arms. Laying her head against his chest, she let the sound of his steady heartbeat remind her of the times that he had been there for her while they were growing up.
"I'm afraid that you won't need me anymore," she whispered. "That you will finally outgrow the bond that we have. I knew that coming back here would be painful and as much as I enjoy seeing everyone, I kind of want to go back to San Diego. I don't fit in here anymore. Even in just such a short time, I can see it." She was already making plans in her mind that her family would be going home in a couple of days instead of the week that they had planned on staying.
"Sammie, this is your home and you do belong here," John said. "Please don't rush off and leave us all again. This is the first time you've been home since the end of March. I need you to stay here with us and get to know your nephew. Catie and I want you and Alex to be Nick's godparents. You've bestowed that honor on us four times over and we would be honored if you would accept. Please don't leave us like you did before." Alex had been standing back and watching his wife and her twin.
"John, I can promise that we are not leaving before our vacation is over," Alex said. "Sammie, you have been worried about this for the last month and you belong here with your family. We all do and even though we have all moved on, no one misses you more than John and you miss him more than you will admit to. Normally, I would go along with what you want but this time I refuse." Sam looked at her husband in shock. "Samantha, we are staying here so stop planning on leaving. John isn't the only one who knows you." With a slight sigh, Sam looked down at the floor.
"I guess I'm outnumbered," she muttered.
"Sammie, you've always been outnumbered," John said. "We just let you think that you were in charge." Alex and John chuckled at his remark and Sam started giggling with them. She motioned Alex over to her and hugged the two men tightly against her.
"I love you both so much," she said. "Johnny, you're my bestest brother and friend. Alex, you are a wonderful husband and between the two of you, you can sometimes keep me in line."
"You're so stubborn it takes two of us to keep you in line," John shot back. "I've got to get back to the house and help Catie with Nick. Well, actually, I want to spend time with them before I have to go back up for my rotation in a few days." He hugged his sister one more time before leaving the apartment. Sam looked up at Alex and grinned.
"So you know me?" she asked. Stepping closer to him, she draped her arms over his shoulders and tilted her head back. "What's on my mind right now?" He leaned down and kissed her.
"Hopefully, the same thing that is on my mind," he said huskily. He let go of her and ran to the front of their apartment and shut the living room door and locked it before hurrying back to their room and locking that door also. Sam was still on the balcony; the light breeze lifted her hair and exposed her neck. Alex leaned down and kissed along her neck and pulled her against him. Reaching one hand up, she twirled her fingers in his hair and softly moaned as his hand caressed the side of her breast and down to her waist and up again. Through partially closed eyes, she continued to gaze at the ocean until Alex picked her up and carried her to their bed. He lovingly removed each piece of her clothing and kissed and nipped at the exposed skin. Smiling to himself, he heard her soft moans and cries as he continued. When the last article of clothing had been removed, he looked down at her and groaned. Sam reached out and lifted his t-shirt up and over his head. Her fingers trailed along his muscular chest and abdomen before moving down to his shorts and unfastening the snap and zipper. His arousal strained against his underwear and Sam's hand brushed against him as she pulled his clothing off. Once they were free of all clothing, Samantha draped her arms over his shoulders again and looked up at him. They stood there for a moment and gazed into each other's eyes before Alex leaned down and kissed her, his tongue ran along her lips until she opened her mouth to him. Gently, he picked her up and blindly sought her, gasping as he was enveloped in her warm and tight body. Wrapping her legs above his hips, she softly cried out as he moved within her. Lowering his head, he sucked on her breasts and then moved back to her mouth. Her breathing got harder when she neared her release. Alex laid them on the bed and began to thrust hard and fast against her. She tried to muffle her cries by kissing him but at the moment of their simultaneous releases, she cried out in pure ecstasy.
"ALEX…OH GAWD…YES!" He grunted in response as he drove as far and hard into her as he could when he released. He tried to smother her cries by sealing his mouth over hers. Afterwards, he collapsed on top of her and she lazily rubbed his back. She always relaxed when he stayed within her after they had released and she had his familiar weight on her. Her hands moved to his hair and she ran her fingers through his thick hair. He made a move to roll over on his side, only to feel her wrap her legs around him again.
"Don't," she said softly. He lay still again and sighed as he began to fall asleep. Their lovemaking had been a release that she had needed and he was content to stay where he was. She smiled softly when she felt his breathing pattern change. Closing her eyes, she fell asleep.
A slight rocking motion woke her. Opening her eyes, she looked up into Alex's face as he rocked against her. When he noticed that she had woken, he smiled down at her.
"I've recharged and you just looked so damn tempting," he told her. "And since I was already there, I figured that I could play again." His lips sought hers as the rocking motion continued for a little bit until Sam cried out for more. He rolled them over and Sam pleasured herself on him until they both shuddered in release. He pulled her down on top of him and held her tight.
"If we keep this up, I'm going to sleep the rest of the day," he said.
"You're on vacation, too," she replied. "The kids are still asleep and I'm more than willing to go for a third round." She grinned down at him and slowly pulled herself up and gently lowered herself as he groaned loudly. His body was super sensitive and her movements made his body ache with a need so primal and ingrained that he was soon thrusting up as she came down on him. Sam noticed a change in his posture and was surprised when he rolled her over and placed his hands on her hips and started a fast and hard rhythm. The new position allowed him to thrust farther into her and harder. Her cries grew in volume until she stifled them by burying her face in the pillows. Alex was behind her grunting as he plunged into her over and over again until at last he cried out as he released. His body shaking in response to his release. Together, they fell onto the bed. Alex rolled onto his side and held Sam tight against him.
"Samantha, that was…" he muttered sleepily. Sam didn't hear him as she had already fallen asleep. A short time later, he kissed her awake.
"The kids will be waking up and we need to shower and get dressed," he told her. Sam grabbed her discarded clothes and went to the bathroom and started the shower. Alex joined her a few minutes later and smiled when he thought about the wonderful afternoon that they had. Just thinking about it made his heart race. Sam quickly washed her hair and moved out of the way so that Alex could wash his hair. With a mischievous grin, Sam lightly raked her fingernails down his back and up again into his hair.
"Haven't you had enough?" Alex moaned. In response, Sam's hands wandered around to his chest and hugged him to her.
"I'll never have enough of you, Mr. Murphy," she replied. She gently washed his back and shoulders while massaging lightly along his tense spots. He in turn washed her back and shoulders and kissed and massaged along her shoulders and neck. Looking down, he groaned.
"Sammie, we have a problem," he muttered. Sam turned around and looked down at him and grinned.
"Make love to me, Alex," she said. "And then the problem will go away for awhile." He pinned her against the wall and gently entered her until he was on the verge of losing control. His pace picked up and he slammed against her until he released again. He laid his head on her shoulder and she held him close.
"I love you, Samantha," he murmured. "Just don't expect anything tonight. I'm worn out and tonight when we go to bed, I'm going right to sleep with you in my arms."
"You can sleep on the pool deck," she replied. "I'll take the kids swimming and you can relax." They hurriedly dried off and put on their swimsuits and went to check on their kids. Sam got to the nursery just as Mikey had one leg over the top of the crib.
"What do you think you're doing, Mikey?" she asked. Mikey froze and looked up at his mother. Benny was standing in the crib next to him. Sam lifted Mikey up and sat him on the floor before getting Benny. She changed them into their swim diapers and swim trunks before sending them out to the living room. Alex had already gotten Johnny and Lucy ready and had grabbed some towels for the six of them.
"Johnny, I want you and Lucy to wear the water wings that Grandpa bought for you," Alex said. "Johnny, keep them on at all times or you have to sit in time out." When they got to the pool, Sam put the little vests that she had bought for Mikey and Benny to wear in the pool while Johnny and Lucy tugged on their water wings. Alex laid down on one of the lounge chairs and relaxed while watching his family. Johnny and Lucy ran to the side of the pool and jumped in together. Sam held onto Mikey and Benny's hands and used the stairs in the pool. Holding onto each of them, she swam backwards and laughed as the water splashed around them. Both boys began splashing their hands in the water and laughing with her. Keeping an eye on her oldest twins, Sam wasn't surprised when she saw Gordon, Scott, and Virgil join them. John came down awhile later with Catie and Nick. Alex fell asleep on the lounge chair and Sam handed a twin to Scott and one to Virgil. Climbing out of the pool, she dried her hands off and picked the bottle of sun block up. She poured some in her hand and rubbed her hands together to warm it up before she rubbed it on Alex's chest and arms. He smiled lazily up at her.
"Now this is service," he muttered. "I could use a cold beer." Sam poured more lotion into her hands and grinned evilly at him. Not bothering to warm up the lotion, she rubbed it directly on his legs and giggled when he yelped at the coldness of the lotion. With the little bit left on her hands, she rubbed on his face and neck before kissing him.
"Can't let you get sunburned," she whispered in his ear. "Or we can't play like we did earlier." He turned his face towards her quickly and pulled her into a deep kiss.
"I love you, Honey," he said so that only she could hear him.
"I know and I love you, too," she replied. Suddenly she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist and she was lifted up. Tossing her head, she caught a glimpse of red hair.
"GORDON PUT ME DOWN NOW!" she screamed. The words had no sooner left her mouth that she was thrown into the deep end of the pool.
"Sorry, Sammie, but you looked like you could cool down," Gordon teased. He didn't see John and Alex sneaking up behind him until he was shoved in the pool alongside Sam. She waited until he surfaced and shoved him under again. Before he came up again, he pulled her under. They were so interested in dunking each other that neither of them noticed Alex and John get behind them and push them both under. A free for all began and Jeff heard the commotion and came out to the pool. He smiled at his kids and grandkids playing in the pool. There had been a lot of laughter over the years in the pool but when Sam had left things had quieted down a little. It made him realize how much they all really missed her, Alex, and their children. A slight cry from nearby drew his attention. He saw Catie holding Nick and sat down next to them. Catie was giving Nick his bottle and watching her husband play in the pool.
"He's missed her," she said quietly. "They all have but he has missed her the most." Jeff looked up at her sharply. "He's going to be hurt when they go home."
"Someday, maybe she'll come home for good," he replied. "But you're right we all miss her."
The week went by and the night before they were to leave, Sam and Alex loaded the plane and started the paperwork for the flight home. Jeff decided to have cookout for dinner that night and though the family was still lively, there was a feeling of sadness for the next day. One by one the children fell asleep on the lounge chairs until the adults settled down on the edge of the pool. John had gone back to 5 and Alan had come home. Tin-Tin had joined them but still remained quiet. Sam had watched her and realized that the pregnancy was somewhat difficult for her petite sister-in-law.
"Tin-Tin, how far along are you now?" Sam asked. Tin-Tin started when she heard her name and Alan put his arm around her.
"Um, about five months," she answered. "I'm due at the beginning of December."
"So, you're past the half way point?" asked Sam. "Is the baby kicking you a lot and not letting you rest?"
"Yes, he or she moves around constantly," Tin-Tin admitted. "I find it difficult to get comfortable and relax." Sam nodded to herself.
"Alan was like that to our mom, too," Sam confessed. "Come to think about it so was Gordon and Scott. Only John, Virgil, and I were quiet and relaxed." A few indignant shouts from her brothers made Virgil and Sam laugh.
"Keep it up, Sammie, and you're in the pool," warned Gordon. He took a swig from his bottle of beer and glared down at her. Sam leaned back against Alex and giggled.
"Tin-Tin, remember how big I got with Mikey and Benny?" she asked.
"Yes, and you were so uncomfortable and on bed rest," Tin-Tin replied.
"One of the things that helped the boys and me relax was sleeping on my side with a small pillow against my lower back," she said. "Another thing that worked wonders was the massages that Alex gave to help me relax more. Alan can pamper you right now and needs to. If you feel rested, then you'll feel better." Sam took a drink of Alex's beer since hers was empty.
"Help yourself, Honey," he said. "It's not like I was drinking it." Sam took another drink and handed it back to him.
"Thanks, I was thirsty," she retorted. Virgil was sitting next to her and seemed to be lost in thought so she reached over and grabbed his bottle of beer and started drinking it. Scott shook his head at her nerve. Virgil was not one to share his beer willingly. Gordon hopped up and went to the cooler and brought back a few more beers them. Virgil shook his head when Gordon offered him one.
"No thanks, I already have one," he said. He moved his hand to pick up his bottle when he realized it was gone. He looked down and saw that it wasn't where he had left it. Sam wasn't paying attention to him and drank the last bit from the bottle she'd swiped from him and set it back down. He glanced at his sister and sighed.
"Sammie, can you please leave my beer alone?" he asked. Sam glanced at him and handed him the empty bottle back.
"If it's any consolation, it was getting warm," she replied. She felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up to see Gordon handing her another beer. "Thanks, Gordy." She opened the cap and took a long drink and set the bottle down.
"Sammie, how's office work treating you?" asked Gordon. He had always hated going to the office for their dad and was glad that Sam had picked up the extra rotations to New York as well as maintaining the office in San Diego.
"It sucks but at least I don't have to answer to anyone but Dad and he pretty much lets me handle things," she replied. "Especially after a manager went over my head and complained to him. I guess he trusts me to handle any problems like that." None of the siblings heard Jeff behind them until he spoke.
"Of course, I trust you," he said. "All of you know how to handle office work. Samantha, you're just getting more exposure to it because of your decision to manage the San Diego branch." Sam sighed and took another long pull from her beer and set it down again. Gazing out at the horizon, she realized again how much she missed being with her brothers. Silently, she slipped into the warm water of the pool and swam across to the other side and rested her arms on the side of the pool and just stared out at nothing. Her brothers swam up beside her and waited for her to speak.
"I miss you guys and being home this week just made me realize how homesick I am," she admitted.
"So, come home," Alan said. Sam shook her head and looked over at him, sadly.
"Not that easy, Little Brother," she replied. "I have a life there now and so does Alex. We're happy in San Diego and doing what we do. I just miss seeing you guys on a daily basis. I don't think that I could live here and watch you guys be a part of IR and know that I can never be part of that the way I want again." With a small sigh, she lifted herself out of the pool and walked back to Alex and picked up her beer and took another drink from it until the bottle was empty. She picked up her other empty bottles and carried them to the trash bin and placed them inside.
"Alex, I'm taking Mikey and Benny back to the apartment," she said. Alex stood up and threw them into the bin. He carefully picked up Johnny and Lucy and followed Sam back to their apartment. He tucked them in and followed Sam to their bedroom after making sure that the doors were locked. Sam had tucked Mikey and Benny into their crib. Grabbing her pajamas, she went to the bathroom and took her shower. She climbed into bed and was asleep soon after closing her eyes. Alex watched her sleep for awhile before he closed his eyes and fell asleep also. The next morning, they packed up last minute stuff and ate breakfast before Sam and Alex flew their family back to San Diego.
"Bye," they called as Alex pulled the door closed and everyone stood back as Sam powered up the plane. After receiving clearance, the small plane taxied down the runway until it slowly glided up into the late morning sky. Sam smiled sadly when Alex came up to the cockpit to check on her.
"I miss them already," she admitted. "I guess that's normal though." She concentrated on flying the plane and sighed in relief when they landed in San Diego. She hurried through the paperwork and helped Alex load their children into the SUV before unloading their luggage and storing the plane.
Life resumed as expected until December when Alan called Sam to let her know that Tin-Tin had delivered a healthy baby girl. Sam and Alex went back to the Island with their children for the holidays and had another surprise waiting for them when they got to the Island.