Sincerest apologies to reviewers who were told that this update would be posted by Saturday. The holiday season has proven to throw a wrench in scheduling, and I'm very sorry that this chapter wasn't submitted yesterday. I hope it will be some consolation to know that a 'Firsts' Christmas outtake will be posted this week. 'First holiday' can be found in Chapter 3, but I will be submitting an outtake about the days leading up to Christmas (before Sam leaves for St. Catharine's). I hope you'll enjoy!

The following scene takes place in early April.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Rookie Blue (or any Pixar movies). And I share the credit for 'Alien Invasion' with four little boys I babysat in high school.


First babysitting gig.

Stretching languidly, Andy exhaled and leaned against the cool frame of her locker.

After a fruitless battle with the zipper of her hoodie, she turned her attention to her hair. Brushing the wet strands into a messy ponytail, she nodded at her reflection in the mirror, satisfied. She checked her wristwatch for the fourth time in as many minutes, attempting to stifle the brief burst of impatience. Fifteen minutes until she was supposed to meet Sam. She could have taken a leisurely shower, but she was eager to get out of the barn and into pajamas. Comfy pajamas. Cozy pajamas. Warm pajamas.

Closing her eyes, she imagined herself on the couch, beer in hand, and Sam's arm slung around her shoulders. Shift had been long today, and she was looking forward to ten blissful, uninterrupted hours of sleep tonight. Sighing quietly, she consoled herself with one thought – Soon.

Her eyes fluttered open as footsteps approached and a locker opened in the near vicinity.

"Worn out, McNally?" Traci teased.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am," Andy replied, yawning.

"Work?" Traci asked, giving her the once-over. "Or is somebody keeping you up late again?"

"Hilarious, Trace," she said, cracking a small smile.

Traci fixed her with a knowing gaze. "Dismiss it all you want, McNally. I ride with him. It's funny how the mornings you stumble in bleary-eyed and wearing a shit-eating smirk coincide with the mornings he's exhausted and lets me drive."

"Trace! Gross! Stop," Andy half-groaned, half-laughed. "Let's talk about something else, please. How was patrol?"

"Good. Quiet for the most part." Crouching on the floor to unlace her boots, Traci flipped off one boot before settling on the bench. "Glad it's the weekend, though."

"Amen," Andy affirmed, yawning again.

"So... Question for you," Traci said, unbuttoning her uniform top. "Just out of general curiosity - What do you have going on tomorrow night?"

"To be honest, I'm not thinking beyond tonight. The plan is to sleep 'til the end of time," she said, laughing. "But provided I recover from this exhaustion, I'm not sure what I'll be doing. I don't have any plans."

Raising her eyebrows, Traci looked at Andy with a hopeful expression. "So do you think I could maybe cash in that babysitting favor? If you're up for it? Jerry wants to take me out tomorrow night, but my mom is visiting her sister this weekend. You would be a life-saver, seriously."

Ceding to her tired bones, Andy plopped herself on the bench next to Traci. "Yeah, sure. I'd love to spend some time with Leo."

"Really? That would be amazing. I would owe you big time."

"Trace – Of course I'm happy to help, and no, you don't owe me," Andy said, nudging her friend with her shoulder.

"Of course," she added, employing her most persuasive tone, "Since we're asking things out of 'general curiosity' - Would it be okay if Sam came too?" Fixing her friend with a toothy smile, she looked at her expectantly.

Shedding her button down for a t-shirt, Traci choked back a laugh. "Classic, McNally. And here I thought you were a babysitter who wasn't a stereotype. Look at you, asking if your boyfriend can come over." Mimicking Andy's voice, she added, ""No, Trace, you don't owe me - but look! Strings!"

"Well, normally I'd just sneak him in – Easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask permission," Andy teased. "No, of course I want to make sure it's okay with you. You have the right to say no."

"Thanks for that," Traci replied dryly. "Playing to my mom sensibilities will get you everywhere." Her eyes narrowed as she fixed Andy with a mock-stern glare. "Can you promise me you'll be on your best behavior? Both of you?"

"Geez, Trace, it's not like we're teenagers." Rolling her eyes at Traci's skeptical look, Andy added, "What? It's true."

She folded her arms across her chest and eyed Andy suspiciously. "Uh-huh. Sure, no, I get it. You're completely in control of those raging hormones." Slamming her locker shut, she turned to Andy. "I must have imagined those not-so-covert makeout sessions outside of the Penny. You know, after you've gotten an 'emergency' text and you suddenly have to run out to the parking lot. My mistake," she finished, her lips twitching.

Andy blushed, suddenly very interested in the fraying fibers of her sweatshirt sleeve. "No funny business, I promise."

"So, no necking on the couch after Leo has gone to bed?"

"No." Andy promised solemnly, her hand over her heart. A second later, she lifted her hand off her chest and held her thumb and index finger an inch apart. "Okay, maybe a little necking. But nothing more, I swear!"

"In some alternate universe, I am destined to be your conscience, reminding you to keep it in your pants," Traci said, shaking her head and laughing. "But yes, Sam can come. And seriously – thank you. Leo will be through the roof."


Exiting the locker room, Andy caught sight of Sam waving goodbye to Oliver, truck keys swinging on his index finger.

"Hey," she greeted him, grabbing the keys as she leaned up to kiss his cheek. Rocking back on her heels, she fisted his Henley in her hand and inclined her head toward the parking lot. "Twenty minutes after eight. Ready to jet?"

"All set."

"Just so you know, this is a brief adrenaline spike before I crash and burn." She wrinkled her nose, before schooling her features in a blinding grin. "I'd rather do that on your couch, thank you very much. Or in your bed. At this point, I'm not picky, just exhausted."

He nodded knowingly. "Have we reached the punchy part of the evening?"

"Excuse me?"

"You know, when you get so tired you start rambling nonsense and cracking yourself up. More than usual," he added, a teasing smirk on his lips.

"Mm. See, if I had the energy, I wouldn't let you get away with that."

"But I'm unstoppable tonight?"

She closed her eyes, leaning into his shoulder as he guided them through the door "You're not winning any points, Sam."

"But you love me," he said matter-of-factly, his eyes twinkling.

"Yeah." She slipped an arm around his waist, tilting her chin up to look at him. "Yeah, I do, you punk."


Sam woke the next morning to the sound of water shutting off in the bathroom. A moment later, Andy slipped into bed, her chilled feet desperately seeking heat between his ankles.

"Are you awake?" she stage-whispered.

Lifting one eyelid, he gazed at her for a long moment before running his hand down her side. Lightly pinching her thigh, he sighed quietly. "Now I am, McNally. Thanks."

She shook her head, amused. "Always so surly in the morning." Settling sideways into the crook of his elbow, she linked their fingers together.

"Mm," he mumbled. "Coffee?"

"In the kitchen," she replied, her eyes dancing. "Waiting for you to make it."

"Harumph," he grumbled, blinking and running a hand through her hair. "It's amazing what ten hours of sleep will do to your humor. Truly astounding."

"A regular ray of sunshine, that Andy McNally," she confirmed.

"Some of us just woke up," he said wryly, fixing her with a bemused look.

"You were awake," she said confidently. "I can tell your true 'asleep' face from your 'just-woke-up-and-trying-to-hide-it' face. And hey! No pinching, Swarek," she said, wriggling out of his grasp.

Sitting up, she turned to face him. "Question. How would you feel about spending tonight with Leo?"

His brow furrowed in confusion. "Nash's kid?"

"Yeah, Trace asked me if I could babysit," Andy said, flopping back on her pillow. "Apparently Jerry's got some fancy-schmancy date cooked up."

"I asked if I could bring you along," she added, running a hand down his chest. "You totally don't have to… I just thought, I don't know, it might be fun."

"And she's okay with me being there?"

"Yeah, as long as we behave ourselves. That means no pinching, no biting, no rough-housing. We have to set the example, Sam," she teased.

"Hmm," Sam said thoughtfully, his features drawn and serious. "I don't know if I can agree to those terms, McNally. What about wrestling?"

She raised an eyebrow, feigning disbelief. "Retraining not enough for you? Now you want to take on an eight year old?"

"Who said anything about Leo?" Sam drawled, the corners of his mouth tugging up in a smile. "I meant you and me."

He reached over, gently poking her in the ribs. "I'll let you win," he vowed earnestly, winking.

She shoved him lightly, climbing out of bed and muttering something that sounded like 'incorrigible.' "So you in or out, Swarek?"

Clutching his chest with a mock-wounded expression, he replied, "Hey, that's no way to reward a man who's sacrificing dignity and honor for you."

"Honor, sure, that's what this is about," Andy snorted.

"C'mon, I'm kidding, McNally. Do you want me to come?"

Arching an eyebrow, she danced over to the dresser. "It would be nice," she replied breezily. "I wouldn't mind the company."

"Then sure," Sam said, shrugging. "I'm in."

She threw open his bureau drawer, digging around for a pair of socks. "You sure you can keep up with Leo? He doesn't take to everybody."

"What are you talking about? Kids love me." He slid out from under the sheet and followed Andy to the dresser. Leaning in, he slid one hand around her waist, and the other arm over her shoulder, crooking it around her neck. He gently pulled her back into his chest and nipped at the outer shell of her ear. "I'm like Kindergarten Cop, McNally."

"Is that supposed to be a reassurance?"

"Don't be the party pooper, McNally. If Arnie can handle UC and a classroom full of sassy kindergartners, I can handle one eight year old."


At quarter of six, Andy and Sam stood outside Traci's apartment, ringing the doorbell. "Last chance, Swarek – If you don't leave now, there's no going back."

"Funny, I feel like I've heard that one before," he said, cocking an eyebrow. "Let's get this show on the road, huh?"

Traci opened the door almost immediately, balancing on one foot while slipping the other into a heel. Her cobalt blue dress was one-shouldered, exposing a fair amount of skin and the necklace Jerry had given her for their anniversary. It's a step up from a pocket knife, don't you think? Traci had said to Andy, cackling hysterically. The two had laughed over it for a week, but there was no denying the beauty of the necklace.

"Ow-Oww!" Andy catcalled, giving Traci an overly exaggerated 'up-down.' "Look at you, hot mama. Work it."

"Thanks," Traci replied, rolling her eyes. "Come on in, guys." She led them into the kitchen, simultaneously picking up a few scattered toys and applying lip color with a steady hand.

"Aaaannndy!" Leo cried, peeling into the hallway. "You're here! I missed you!" Wrapping his arms around her waist, he bounced up and down excitedly. "Guess what? Mom said we can make homemade pizza tonight!"

Traci looked at her apologetically. "He's just a little revved up about you being here." Turning to Leo, she guided an arm around his shoulder and pointed in Sam's direction. "Leo, hun, you remember Mr. Swarek? He rides with Mom in the police car."

"Just 'Sam' is fine, Traci." Crouching down, he held up his hand to Leo for a high-five. "It's good to see you again, buddy."

Traci circled the kitchen, grabbing her clutch and her car keys. "So, yes, pizza. There's a ball of dough in the fridge; you just have to roll it out. Sauce is in the cabinet, cheese is in the deli drawer in the fridge, and anything else you want to add… Well, I'll let you scope out the options. You know where to find stuff. Thanks for doing this, Andy. I have my phone if you need anything; don't hesitate to call. Leo –" she bent down to kiss his cheek. "Be good for Andy and Sam, ok? Best behavior. I'm gonna get the full report later. Love you."

"Mom can I stay up just a little bit later to play with Andy? Puh-lease?"

She looked at him for a long moment, hand on her hip. "You can have an extra 30 minutes since you don't have school tomorrow. But brush your teeth before any movies, not after, ok?"

Glancing up at Andy, she added, "Bed by 8:30. He'll go in easily– What am I saying? You know what to do. Sorry, I'm just a little frazzled tonight."

"Trace," Andy said, laying a calming hand on her arm. "We'll be fine. You look beautiful. Have a nice time, ok? I promise to call if I need you."

She returned Andy's warm smile, hugging her best friend. "Thanks." Pulling away, she turned to Sam. "Sam, thanks again."

He smiled, acknowledging her with a quick nod. "Jerry won't know what hit him, Nash."

"Thanks." Turning to press one last kiss to Leo's head, Traci repeated, "Best behavior, Leo." Straightening up, she made for the door, spinning on her heel to catch Andy's eye at the last moment.

"Best behavior," she mouthed, pointing at Sam.


After an hour in the kitchen spent locating the pepperoni, chopping the green pepper and onions, and mocking Sam mercilessly for his pizza preferences, the trio sat at the kitchen table, stomachs full and bodies content.

"So what's next?" Leo asked, wiping the milk mustache from his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Finish your carrots, and we'll talk business, kiddo," Andy answered, pushing his plate back to him. She stood and squeezed Sam's shoulder as she walked over to the dishwasher. "You too, Sam."

"All done!" Leo cried a few minutes later. "Movie?" he asked eagerly, an expectant smile on his face.

Andy grinned in return. "We can watch a movie before you go to bed, but what do you want to do between now and then?" She circled the room, tapping her chin and pretending to mull over their options. "I mean, we could play trucks, or pirates, or…"

"Alien Invasion!" Leo cut in impatiently. "Aliens! Please, please!"

Andy nodded readily, pointing a finger in Sam's direction. "And we could make Sam…"

"Yes! Great idea," he said, shaking his head vigorously. "Sam – you get to be the Martian!"

Sam chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm. "And what exactly does that entail?"

Leo jumped up, grabbing Sam's hand and leading him into the living room. "C'mon, follow me." Andy followed in their wake, a smile forming on her lips.

"This can be your spaceship," he continued, pointing to the loveseat. "You have to be an alien from outer space, coming to Earth to take over, and we're the superheroes who are defending the planet! Right, Andy?"

"Right-o!" Laughing loudly, she turned to Sam and explained, "I usually have to be the alien."

An unbidden smile graced Sam's lips. "I think I can handle it," he answered easily.

"You have to talk in an alien voice, too," Leo instructed. "Listen: Just. Like. This." His robotic inflection and garbled tone complemented a stiff, exaggerated walk to the toy chest. Sorting through the toys, he found an alien mask and thrust it at Sam. "Oh, and aliens have to wear masks. But we can't look you directly in the eyes, otherwise you might brainwash us."

Andy stood with her arms folded across her chest, lips twitching suspiciously. "This is big-league stuff we're talking, Swarek. Are you ready for it?"

"I. Think. I've. Got. It. Covered." Sam replied in a robotic timbre. Squatting down to Leo's level, he looked to the eight year old for confirmation. "Good, right? Will that work?"

Leo looked at Sam for a long moment before nodding sharply. "Yup!" Racing to his room, he came back out with a red fleece blanket and a Cars bed sheet, as Andy gaped openly in the background. "Andy, we have to wear our capes!"

Shaking herself from her reverie, Andy nodded diplomatically, reaching for the bed sheet. "We should probably make our shields first. What do you think, buddy?"

"Yeah!" Leo said enthusiastically. "Let's do that."

Ten minutes later Andy was helping Leo glue a layer of tinfoil to their cardboard shield cutout. After much deliberation, they decided to add a giant "L" to the shield with bright red construction paper.

"L for Leo!" he cried, striking an impressive pose. He practiced a few superhero moves, kicking and spinning across the room while holding his shield up for effect.

"Hey, Sam?" he said breathlessly, after a few minutes of stage-fighting. "Maybe you should wear an L too."

"Oh, yeah? Why is that?"

He grinned devilishly. "Because you're going to lose!"

"Is that right?" Sam asked, stalking forward with an eerie look on his face, his fingers wiggling and his mouth making funny, robotic noises.

"Yes!" Leo shrieked, then, "Andy! Don't let him get too close! He'll suck out our brains!"


"I guess we should wake him," Andy whispered, motioning to Leo, who was sprawled across the couch, asleep. As the credits for Monsters, Inc. rolled across the screen, she bent down and smoothed a hand across his forehead. "Poor guy. I think 'Alien Invasion' really wore him out."

Snuggled underneath a blanket, Leo had one thin arm covering his eyes, his faded Batman pajama top riding up his chest. His breathing was deep and regular, and Andy was glad Traci insisted on teeth-brushing before the movie.

"No, it's ok," Sam responded, gently pushing past Andy. "I got him." Leaning over the boy's sleeping form, he slid one arm behind his back and the other under his knees. He carefully cradled Leo to his chest, smiling at Andy. "Lead the way, copper."

Biting her lip and ducking her head, Andy let a tiny smile escape when her back was turned. She walked ahead quickly, opening Leo's bedroom door and flipping the comforter down. "You can put him right here."

With careful, practiced ease, Sam laid Leo on the bed and reached for the comforter. Fixing Leo's pajama top and the sock that was threatening to fall off, Sam gingerly tucked him in and picked up the worn teddy bear that lay next to the bed. Placing the stuffed animal in the crook of his elbow, Sam stepped back to observe.

Leo's hand instinctively closed around the bear, snuggling it close. Nodding once, Sam stooped to switch on the night light that was by the bed and backed quietly out of the room.

Andy met him at the door and they stood there for a moment, shoulder to shoulder, watching him sleep. Sighing quietly, she reached for Sam's hand and gently closed the door, leading him back into the living room.

"Hey, how did you know he sleeps with that bear?"

"I didn't. But the bear looks like he's been loved a lot, and he was right next to the bed. I just assumed."

She nudged him with her shoulder, eliciting a small smile. "You've got good instincts for this stuff, Swarek."

"Yeah, they're not too bad. You don't have to sound so surprised, McNally," he teased.

Scooping up the pillows and re-folding the blankets that were strewn across the room, Andy began to tidy the living room. After walking the half-eaten bowl of popcorn into the kitchen, she returned to the couch, flopping down and exhaling loudly. "So what did you think of the movie?"

"Eh, it was fine," Sam said, joining her.

"I saw you trying to hide that smile. You thought it was cute, didn't you?" she asked, her tone playfully accusing.

"It wasn't the worst movie I've ever seen," he admitted, slipping an arm around her shoulders and settling into the cushions.

"It was funny," Andy stated firmly, as if that settled the matter. "Listen, I made the mistake of watching Up once with Traci and Leo. Let me just say, I went in blindly, and I was not prepared for the waterworks. That little old man…" She trailed off, catching Sam's eye. "What? It was a good movie, but those first fifteen minutes were cruel."

"Yeah, I know," he said, smiling. "I took Hannah and Abby to see it in the theater."

"Mm, Uncle Sam strikes again," she teased, patting his chest.

"That's right." Brushing his hand through Andy's hair, he listened for the low, contented hum in her throat. They remained quiet for a few minutes, save for Andy's tiny sighs.

Pulling away after a spell, Sam studied her before opening his mouth. "So can I ask you a question? You're cool as a cucumber about taking care of Leo, but you psyched yourself out about meeting the Shaw girls?"

She stretched lazily, seeking his shoulder again. "Yeah, well, girls are different."

"I'm not trying to be facetious here, but you're a girl, Andy."

"I know. But girls are difficult to please. I was always better at being one of the boys, I guess." She looked up to meet Sam's gaze, and he nodded in understanding.

"It's a blessing and a curse," she joked. "I can't really explain it."

"I can see that," he mumbled into the hair, trailing his fingers across her bare arm. "Well, for what it's worth, I think I like you better as a girl."

"Yeah, it definitely has its perks," she answered, smiling at him.

He was silent for a beat, then, "Perks, sure, if that's what you want to call them." Squeezing her knee, he ducked away from the hand that shot toward his chest.

"Sam," she said, her eyes full of mirth. "If you were anyone else I would have made you pay for that remark."

"Good thing I'm not anyone else, then."

She shook her head in amusement before shrugging her shoulders. "Well, we have a near-empty apartment, and Mom and Dad won't be home for another hour or two."

"That's a clear window if I ever saw one," Sam declared.

"Hmm, so we're on the same page?" she asked, moving to straddle his lap.

"Yeah. This is actually one of my favorite books," he answered, his mouth tugging up in a grin.

"Good," she said, silencing him with a kiss. Pulling back abruptly, she rested her hands on his chest and gazed at him steadily. "But save the perks for later, okay? When we're back at your place."


They had left Traci's apartment unscathed, save for an embarrassing moment when Traci had pointed to her neck as she hugged Andy goodbye, whispering, "That's what I thought, McNally." It was only when she flipped open the vanity mirror in Sam's truck that Andy noticed the small love bite on her neck. Her phone buzzed a moment later, and she stifled a laugh.

"Glad you had fun. I'll expect a full report tomorrow, in exchange for the non-kosher details I left out this evening for Sam's benefit."

Her phone buzzed again, and this time, Andy couldn't prevent a giggle from escaping.

"And no complaints when Jerry and I sit for your kids someday, hussy."


Twenty minutes later Andy was sprawled across Sam's couch, sipping the last few swallows of her beer. Her mind was on Traci's text, and when she heard Sam shuffling in the next room, she called out without thinking.

"Hey Sam? Do you ever think about kids?"

She heard the echo of approaching footsteps as Sam wandered in from the kitchen.

"Sure," he said nonchalantly. Taking a seat on the sofa, he pulled Andy's legs into his lap. "Short. Sticky fingers. Given enough sugar, they might take over the world."

Catching her pointed glare, his voice softened. "Yeah, McNally. I think everybody thinks about kids sometime."

She rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. Like, having your own." She stopped abruptly before continuing, "Not now, I mean. Just… in the future. Like, has 'Future Sam' thought about kids?"

His lips twitched suspiciously, but he cleared his throat before responding. "You know I love the Shaw girls, and my nieces like they're my own." He paused, mulling over his answer. "So to answer your question – Yes, I've thought about kids, but it just never seemed like the right time."

She picked at the hem of her shirt, studiously ignoring his eyes. "Yeah? Why is that?"

Sighing, he traced a pattern over her ankle with his thumb, skimming his fingers over her lower calf as he considered his response. "Undercover work wasn't exactly conducive to the family lifestyle, Andy."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," she said. An edge of bitterness crept into her voice as she mumbled, "Most parents don't just take off."

Staring at her for a long moment, he tugged her arm and urged her to sit upright. His gaze remained steady as he looked into her eyes. "You're right. They don't. But when they do, that's not the kid's fault, Andy. That is the parent's choice."

She bit her lip and looked at her lap. Sam, for his part, laced his fingers through hers.

His voice was softer when he spoke again. "I didn't really do 'relationships' in my months off, so I wasn't entertaining the idea of a family. Sarah was my family."

She nodded, prompting him to continue.

"To some extent, Fifteen was my family, too. Jerry, Oliver… You stick with your rookie class, you know?"

"Yeah, that makes sense."

"But Ollie had his own family," he said, grinning impishly, "And, uh… I was holding out for someone prettier than Jerry."

She choked back a laugh, burrowing into his side and trailing her fingers across his chest. "Lucky for Traci."

"The truth is, I can't say I met anyone who I wanted to become a parent with. Who made me even consider it," he concluded.

"Oh."

"Yeah," he continued, his eyes boring into hers. "Until pretty recently."

"Oh," she repeated in a softer voice. Looking into his dark eyes, she felt something flutter in her stomach, not unpleasantly.

"Why?" he asked seriously. "You ever think about 'em?"

"Not much in the past," she answered honestly. "But… I don't know." Scraping at the label of her discarded beer bottle, she exhaled deeply. "Certain things make you think, you know?"

"Yeah," Sam echoed softly.

"I never thought I'd be any good at it," she continued in a quieter voice.

"At what? Parenting?" he said, furrowing his brow.

He took her silence for affirmation, and when he spoke again, his voice was firm. "I don't think anyone pretends to be an expert at parenting, Andy. You love your kids, plain and simple. You put a roof over their heads and food in their mouths, and you teach them to be kind. To listen. To respect others. To work hard, and to make their way in the world."

"I know that, Sam," she said quietly. "Inherently, I know that. But I just… I don't know, I feel like there's so much room for error, and I don't exactly have a glowing record."

"I don't think anyone has a spotless record, Andy. Everybody's family history is messy and confusing. Some people are just better at dealing with it, and some are better at hiding it."

"Andy. Hey. Look at me," he implored. "You put the lives of strangers first, day after day. You go out of your way to help them. Why would it be any different with your own kids?"

She met his gaze and blinked quickly, a small bit of moisture disappearing from the corner of her eye.

"Hey. I'm just asking you to look at it from my perspective," he said, bringing his lips to her temple. "I've seen you with Leo, I've seen you with the Shaws, I've seen you with my nieces. I think you'd be a pretty great mom, if you ask me."

She was quiet for a minute, and she squeezed his hand before speaking again. "You keep your kids safe. You teach them the difference between right and wrong. You watch them succeed, and you watch them make mistakes. You pick them back up, and you encourage them."

"Yeah," Sam asserted. "That sounds right."

"So uh, based on that list, Mr. Training Officer – It sounds like you might be pretty good at this dad thing, huh?"

He looked down at her with a broad grin on his face. "I can't say the thought doesn't scare the hell out of me, but – That's what makes it fun, right?"

"You have the bedtime routine down pat," she said, smiling at him.

Chuckling, he rubbed his jaw. "Yeah, I'm a bedtime sensei. I can teach others the art of telling stories before bed, tucking kids in…"

"It's a pretty appealing trait, if I'm being honest."

"I'm a pretty appealing guy," he said candidly, winking.

"So, uh – Any specific timeline?" she questioned, avoiding his eyes once more.

"For–?"

"For when 'Future Sam' is thinking about kids?"

He smiled, easing Andy into his lap. "Nah, Future Sam is pretty flexible. He's got a good head on his shoulders. He would wait for the right girl."

"That's good. That's good," she repeated softly. "Future Sam sounds like a pretty sensible guy."

"He is. And uh, for the record, Present Sam isn't so bad, either."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah," Sam said, pressing a gentle kiss to her collarbone. "From what I hear, Present Sam is pretty head over heels for Present Andy."


Thanks for reading! As always, feel free to leave a suggestion of a 'first' you would like to see.