Chapter 36

Grace was staying with Elliot for the night as it was the final weekend before Christmas and the departments Christmas party.

Connie pulled on the red dress before looking into the mirror to finish her make-up. It was a short red halter-neck dress which fit her every curve. Sam came into the room in a shirt and trousers looking across at her. She had some glittery eye shadow on and thin black eyeliner which helped to define her eyes. Looking into the mirror she shook her hair over her shoulder before standing back up.

"You ready to go?" Connie looked up at him after stepping into her heels. "Pulling out all the stops tonight, is that because you're definitely not going home with anyone?" Sam shook his head as he picked up his coat from the bed. "You're going to enjoy this too much, why did you do that bet anyway?" Connie shrugged looking up at him "Easy money, we both know you won't be going to the flat tonight-" "Do we? Grace isn't here, you've no reason to come home." She rolled her eyes pushing him backwards gently before leaving the room.

Most the staff were already at the pub by the time Connie arrived. They'd bumped into Iain and Rita outside before heading in and sitting down with the other staff. Sam went towards the bar with Iain leaving the women to talk to Zoe and Dixie. "Someone's dressed to impress tonight… Is there something I don't know going on here?" Dixie pointed out the dress Connie was wearing as she leant back in the chair.

Rita and Zoe didn't say anything as Connie shook her head. "Right, whatever you say… Anyway have you seen that nurse that Cal's trying to get with Sam yet? I'm amazed he hasn't tried it on with her himself-" "He probably has and got turned down Dix!"

Connie spent the evening laughing looking towards Sam every now and then to see him standing in a small group by the bar with the nurse too. She couldn't help but laugh slightly whenever she saw it, no matter how helpless he looked she wasn't helping him out of it.

Before long everyone was beginning to regroup at the tables to start giving each other the gifts they'd purchased for secret Santa. Connie stood from the table and wandered towards the bar where Sam was still standing. She stopped next to him as people began laughing from the table at each other's gifts. "Who'd you end up with?" Sam laughed before answering "Luckily I got Iain, why who'd you get?" Connie handed over the small box wrapped up "How I ended up getting you I'll never know and I was kind of hoping for someone else…" He smiled taking the little box from her trying to think about what could even fit inside something that small.

Connie watched as he lifted the lid from the small box. "It's for the house-" Sam lifted the key from the box as a smile spread across his face. "Is this your way of asking me to move in with you?" Connie had a sip of her drink before looking back to him "I suppose you could say that…"

They were interrupted by Max and Zoe who were going up to the bar. "Do you guys want a drink?" Connie shook her head while Sam agreed before Cal wandered back over with the nurse in toe. Sam rolled his eyes as he took his drink from Max who noticed Sam's expression. He disappeared for a few minutes leaving the others where they were standing. Connie began talking to Zoe facing away from Sam when she felt someone resting against her. She realised Sam was still standing there trying to deter the other woman but with no luck.

Max was slowly making his way around the bar stopping between random unsuspecting people and laughing as they responded to him. Connie was barely paying any attention until he stopped next to Zoe and dangled the green leaves above himself and his wife. Only then did Connie realise why everyone had been laughing at what was going on.

Before she had a chance to move he stood next to Sam who had noticed and expected Max to stand the other side of him. To his surprise he was now facing Connie who was looking up at what Max was holding "You've got to be kidding me?" She laughed while Sam moved closer to her as she let him kiss her. She automatically moved her hands to settle on his shoulders as she deepened the kiss. Whistles and laughter came from the table of staff who had all fallen quiet upon noticing where Max had moved to.

When they broke apart Connie pushed him back gently as he laughed. He moved closer to her again and pulled her into a hug. Somewhere earlier the other nurse had disappeared, as had Cal at some point.

Connie was dancing around with Zoe, Rita and Dixie while talking. "We all need to get out again soon-" "It's a bit hard at the moment, but definitely in the new year." They continued dancing and laughing while Sam, Max and Iain all sat around a table talking. "What are you doing for Christmas then?" Iain was spending the day with Rita, Phoebe and Jess while Max was having the day at his and Zoe's with Lofty, Robyn and Dylan. "I'm finally having a Christmas with family. It's only taken us 9 years!"

Everyone was still going but Connie was beginning to tire of sitting about. Sam caught her attention standing by the bar and she made her way through everyone. He leant forward and spoke so only she could hear him. "Do you want to get out of here? Seeing as we have the house to ourselves we could always head back-" "Sam do you want another drink?" He looked over to Max and shook his head before taking Connie's hand and walking towards the door.

She didn't say anything but just followed him until they got outside. He turned around and smiled down at her as his lips crashed onto hers. She had an arm wrapped around his neck keeping him close to her before breaking apart for breath slightly. "I think you owe me £10-" he cut her off kissing her once again.

They left the bar that night with each other and got home. It was strange for Connie to think that everything was slowly becoming serious for them. They'd been admitting their feelings for each other for over two years now but to everyone else it was a crazy rush of one relationship ending and another starting. Right now, with Sam she didn't care about any of that. All she wanted was him and to finally have the small family she'd always wanted with Grace.