Boot camp's back. Boot camp sucks. Well, not really. I actually love it. But just in my opinion, today's sucked. Partly because I have a barky cough and a cold I can't shake. And I run like a spastic. Just putting it out there. Anyway, that's my ramble for the day. Read and review, I adore you guy!

Rhyleigh xoxox

PS: I was playing with my youngest brother- age seven- and I was looking for his heartbeat. "Rhyles, is it there?" "Nah, mate, you're dead". Oh, we laughed.

"Nathan?" Sammy whispered, standing in the doorway. Nathan was asleep on the lounge, his hair flopping in his face- just the way she remembered it. He looked sweet, young, like he wasn't capable of hurting anyone.

But he had.

And she had hurt him back just as hard.

"Hey, Nathan?"

"What? What happened?" Nathan struggled to sit up, blinking frantically. "What's the matter? What happened? What's going on?"

"Hey", Sammy whispered, "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you".

"Sam, what's the matter?" he urged. "Is it Bailey? What happened? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong... I just wanted to talk". Sammy perched herself, cross legged, on the chair opposite his lounge. "You can have the bed, you know, I fit better on the lounge anyway".

"No, it's alright, it's better than Mum and Dad's". Nathan managed a small smile- he remembered camping on the lounge when he and Sammy were fighting. "What's wrong?"

"You know, it's been four years since I've had someone other than the TV to keep me company after Bailey's gone to sleep", Sammy said conversationally, leaning on her elbow.

Nathan raised his eyebrows. "Somehow, Sam, that's hard to believe".

"I mean, I had the girls over sometimes, but never did I have someone here every night". Then she paused, looking deep into his eyes. "is it just me, or is this moving really, really fast?"

"What is, Sam?"

"This. Everything. I don't know- I mean, a minute ago you were in Carrs Park and we were here, and you had no idea you had a daughter. And tonight? She called you 'Daddy'!"

"She knows more than we'll ever know, Sammy", Nathan said softly. "Come here, it's cold".

Sammy shook her head. "No, I'm fine".

"When did we become this, Sammy?" Nathan wanted to know. "I mean, when did we become so distant?"

"When I left Carrs Park. When I found out I was pregnant with Bailey. When I first held Bailey. When I didn't send any of those letters. When I decided that you would have no input in her upbringing". Sammy shrugged. "Take your pick".

"Do you think we have a future together?"

"Right now, Nathan, I know that I love you. I'll always love you, no matter if we're together or not. There'll always be something there. I don't know, really. I mean, Bailey adores you, but this is moving way too fast..."

Nathan nodded. "I love that girl. She's adorable".

"You want to know the truth?"

Nathan nodded. "That would be appreciated".

"She's what kept me sane these years. Without her, I'd probably be dead".

"I'll always love you too, Sam. And I'll always love Bailey- my God, she looks like you".

"I don't want to lose any more of my family, Nathan". Leaning forward, she kissed him fiercely on the lips.

Nathan was dumbfounded.

"Mummy!" Bailey shrieked, running through the house. "Mummy Mummy Mummy Mummy Mummy!"

"What's the matter?" Sammy panicked, whirling around to see the four year old barrelling towards her full force.

"Can we go see Nanna?"

Sammy relaxed, sighing as she swung Bailey around in her arms. "You goose, we're already going to see Nanna!"

"Cool!" Bailey enthused, spinning around. "Hey, Nathan! We're gonna visit Nanna! And you wanna know something else?"

"Tell me something else, Bailey". Nathan smiled at the little girl's playful antics, the antics that were sure to drive her mother up the wall.

"I'm gonna be a ballerina when I grow up!"

"Are you?" he asked seriously.

"Yep!" she nodded enthusiastically. "I'm gonna be a ballerina and Mummy's gonna be... I forget what Mummy's gonna be. But what are you gonna be?"

"I don't know, Bailey". He pretended to think hard. "Why don't you assign me a roll?"

"Huh?"

"You choose", he simplified.

"Can you be a prince? Yeah, you can be a prince and you can dance with me!"

Laughing, Nathan took her hands and allowed her to step on his feet. "Like this?"

Nathan stepped around the lounge room, lost in his own little world, while Bailey laughed hysterically. The sight was one Sammy had longed for for years- and she captured the moment perfectly with her camera.

"Sam!" Nathan protested. "No fair! We weren't looking!"

"You snooze, you lose", she laughed.

"Nathan", Bailey wondered out loud.

"What's up, gorgeous?" he wanted to know.

"Are you gonna marry Mummy? Do you love Mummy? Can I wear a pretty dress and be a flower girl?" she chattered. "Coz you know, that'd be really cool. And Molly from school? She was a flower girl- so was Bridget! You know, they're twins?"

Nathan's head was swimming with information. "Really?"

"Yeah!" then she turned to Sammy. "Hey, Mummy! Can we make a cake this afternoon? And can I lick the bowl? Because I always get to lick the bowl, Nathan- but we can share".

"Thanks, Bailey", he laughed. "You know, when I was a kid, Rachel, Ben and I always got to lick the bowl".

"Really?" her eyes shone. "I like chocolate the best. But banana's good too. But I don't really like banana muffins".

"Don't ask", Sammy mouthed.

Stifling a laugh, Nathan kissed the little girl on the head. "Chocolate is the best, hey?"