SAM & QUINN: FINDING ENCHANTMENT

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE~HEARTS

SETTING: Sam and Quinn in Tennessee
WHO:
Sam and Quinn Evans
WHEN:
January 2014/February 2014

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing related to Glee or any other song/product mentioned below.

After the New Year's celebration and a major clean-up, and after all their friends and family left, life fell into a routine for Sam and Quinn and their two sons. Sam's grandparents returned home and doted on Joseph and Jasper, Sam began his classes again and went back to working on the farm most days, and Quinn enjoyed being a full-time mom. Quinn found Sam's grandmother to be a big help for her with the newborn and Joseph and also a terrific babysitter for when she just needed to take a break and have lunch with Rachel and Kourtney occasionally. She stopped in at the daycare and introduced them to Jasper and planned on returning there right after Valentine's Day. Even though Sam was working and studying a lot, he was able to carve out time to spend with his two boys and with Quinn as much as possible.

They received news from Lima that Brittany had had her baby, a daughter named Sofia, and that they were both doing fine. Santana posted pictures of the new baby, along with herself, Brittany, and Artie, on Facebook. She said Brittany handled labor like it was a breeze and popped Sofia out after only 3 hours after feeling her first contraction.

As Valentine's Day neared, Sam felt he owed Quinn a nice date out still. Joseph's head was all healed up and Jasper was thriving. Kourtney offered to sit the kids that night at Ryan's house so Sam and Quinn could go out. She told Sam he could repay the favor so she and Ryan could go on a fancy date soon also.

Right before Valentine's Day, Quinn had to return to the doctor for her 6-week checkup. She and Sam had decided beforehand that she would get the birth control shot where she would be covered for 3 months, then get another shot every 3 months. She'd keep that up until they decided when and if they were ready to add to their family. She was only about 10 pounds over her pre-birth weight, which concerned her a little but other than that she was in good shape. Sam reassured her many times of how great she looked still, even after three pregnancies.

Most of her days with the kids were good days but sometimes Sam would come home from working or school and find her rocking Jasper, both of them crying, while Joseph played on the floor at her feet...sometimes him crying too. On those nights, Sam would take both boys and play with them downstairs and give Quinn some 'me' time, which always seemed to help. After putting the boys to bed, he'd then do his reading or course work late into the night and start his workday the next morning at 6 a.m. Needless to say, there were times during those first six weeks when they both felt like zombies.

The good days were great though, especially boosting Quinn's confidence of being a mom to two. Jasper was beginning to exhibit his own personality and resembled his big brother. His voice sounded different though, and Quinn found it strange that she could tell which one was crying or babbling. And the day that Jasper first smiled, her heart melted. She took a picture of his successive smiles that day and sent them to Sam at school.

On Valentine's Day, both boys were doing fine, nothing to worry Quinn about leaving them for a couple hours with Kourtney and Ryan. She put a t-shirt on Joseph that was pink and inside a red heart it said, "Real men wear pink!" Sam said it still was too girly. Jasper was in a red sleeper with frogs jumping all about, as if they were chasing each other, boy frogs with hearts chasing girl frogs. Again, Sam pronounced it was 'too girly for his men'. Quinn chose a red dress with a plunging neckline that, not surprisingly, Sam was totally fine with. It fit her snugly, accentuating her new curves. She even had his ex-girlfriend do her hair and nails for their night out. Kim lightened her hair and added red tinsel and did her nails in a blood red color. As Quinn applied the red lipstick she rarely wore, she felt almost vampish. Sam wore his black suit and red tie. Quinn slipped on her black high heels, stood up, and twirled for Sam.

"You are just too beautiful for me. I'll look like the biggest goober ever next to you tonight," he said, catching her and wrapping his arms around her.

She kissed his smooth cheek, then used her thumb to remove her lipstick kiss impression.

"You're too handsome for me, Sam Evans. Where are you taking me tonight?"

"It's a surprise. I hope you like it," he replied, loosening his grasp on her but holding her hand and leading her to Joseph's nursery where both boys were waiting. She picked up Jasper and he took Joseph, and they left for Ryan's house.

xxxxx

"Wow, Quinn, you look stunning! I can't believe you just popped this little guy out!" Kourtney exclaimed upon opening Ryan's front door and taking Jasper from her. "And doesn't Sammy look dapper?"

Sam snorted but Quinn agreed. "He looks wonderful tonight," she said quietly next to him, causing him to throw a glance her way.

They both knew what Valentine's Day signified that year; the doc had given her the okay to resume relations. They also knew they were prepared this time around since she had had the birth control shot at her appointment. She smiled back at Sam, a small yet seductive smile.

"Um, okay, so I have my, uh, phone on if you need us and we should, uh, only be a couple hours..." Sam mumbled to Ryan and Kourtney, his thoughts scattered after that smile from Quinn pierced his brain. They kissed their sons good-bye and headed to their destination.

In the SUV, he held her hand tightly, casting glances her way every once in awhile.

"You're being awfully secretive, Samuel," she said, a tiny grin on her lips.

"I know I am. It's this place and they had a special for Valentine's Day and I thought it sounded like fun...just me and you tonight..." he told her.

He drove into downtown Nashville and then through downtown Nashville. "We're almost there..." he said, when he noticed her looking carefully out the window as they left the big buildings of downtown. She squeezed his hand; she trusted him completely.

Nearly an hour later, they arrived at the Gaylord Opryland, a massive hotel.

She turned to Sam excitedly. "Are we going to that steakhouse that's here? Kourt said it's great!"

He shook his head no. "She gave me this idea, though..."

"She's in on it?"

"Yep!"

He pulled around the hotel, following signs and finally parked the SUV. "Okay, we're here. How are you feeling?"

She looked around, not really able to make anything out in the dark, just a parking lot.

"Well, my boobies are feeling kinda big but other than that...where are we?" she said, squealing a little as she questioned him.

He smiled and hopped out to come around to her door. He opened her door and helped her out of the vehicle.

"This way, m'lady," he said, offering her his elbow.

As they neared the entrance, she realized where they were. Of course, the giant riverboat docked there gave it away, also.

"Sam! A river cruise?" she asked him, squeezing his arm.

"Yep...we had such a great time on the one in Ohio that I thought it'd be nice again..."

She stared in awe at the boat. "That yacht was nice but this thing is huge!"

He laughed. "Yeah, there's like four levels and even a theater in the center of it! I thought it'd be nice for me and you to just have a nice dinner alone, instead of seeing the show. I hope that's okay."

"That sounds absolutely fabulous, Sam," she said.

She followed him into the building at the dock, almost giddily. He gave his name for their reservations, and they were led onto the riverboat. They had to take an elevator to the fourth level and were led to their table in a very private secluded dining room, sitting at the edge so they could look out onto the water. It was still too cool out to dine al fresco but they were cozy inside the boat. Their dining area included a fireplace, lit with a fire, burning lazily.

They were left with menus and both ordered virgin drinks.

"I guess the cruise lasts a couple hours...I hope I'm good enough company for that long," he said, smiling in the candlelight. She returned his smile.

"I love your company, Sam," she said. She leaned closer to him over the table. "This place is gorgeous...and so fancy!" she whispered.

Their drinks arrived and they gave their dinner order to the waiter and watched the scenery float by. A string quartet and pianist began playing music, so Sam stood up and asked Quinn if she'd like to dance. She nodded and took his hand.

On the dance floor, he wrapped his arm around her waist and took her other hand to lead her. He rested his cheek alongside hers.

"We haven't danced together in so long, Quinn Grace," he whispered.

"I've missed you, Samuel," she replied, both knowing what the other meant. She could feel the slow sway of his hips under her hand, his strong shoulder under her other hand. She had been holding babies so much lately that she had forgotten what it felt like to hold him. He was warm under her touch and if she placed herself just right she could feel his heartbeat. She turned her face into his neck, smelling a faint whiff of his aftershave, and kissed him there lightly. He smiled when he felt her lips on his neck, close to his Adam's apple. He pulled her in to him tighter.

He began massaging her back lightly, his hand dipping lower and lower every time down, his fingers barely brushing the curve of her ass. She moved her hand up to the side of his face and moved his lips into hers, kissing him slowly, deeply, on the dance floor. They were no longer holding their stance, now just barely moving in a lover's embrace. He could feel her breathing against him and just a simple movement like that made his knees feel weak.

She looked up at him. "I feel so close to you right now," she whispered.

"Mmm...yes..." was the only way he knew to respond.

They continued the dance held tightly in each other's arm until the music ended. They returned to their table hand-in-hand, and Sam pulled Quinn's chair out for her. Their meals were delivered to them, and they made small talk as they drifted down the river. They talked mostly about their two sons and how life for them had forever been changed, how their future looked.

"Do you think they'll be, like, best friends?" Quinn asked Sam.

"I hope so...I imagine they'll be like any brothers, close some of the time, fighting some of the time," he replied, smiling. "They're so adorable together. We need to have another family picture taken."

"Once I get all this extra weight off!"

He looked at her. "Seriously, Quinn? I could barely get my arms around you on that dance floor!" He laughed. "You look wonderful!"

"Thank you," she answered demurely.

They ate in silence for a bit.

"Um, I know it's kinda soon to be asking you this, but, how would you feel about adding a daughter to our brood someday?" he asked her.

"Well, it's not up to us to decide if it's a boy or girl...we could wind up with a houseful of boys, which is fine with me. A daughter would be neat, though," Quinn replied. "I'm not ready to try anytime soon, though!"

His eyes opened wide. "Oh no! No, I didn't mean that!" He reached across the table for her hand. "I'd be happy with a houseful of boys too."

They finished their dinner and shared dessert and danced a little more, melting into one another while the music played. When the riverboat docked, Quinn was so ready for the night to not end. She missed her sons but the time alone with Sam was what she had been craving.

They made their way off the boat to the reservations building, and Sam put her coat on her. He went to the SUV and pulled it up to the door, then hopped out and opened her door for her.

"M'lady..." he said with a sweeping gesture into the passenger side.

"Thank you, sir," she said, giggling.

He pulled to the edge of the lot but instead of leaving the way they had come in he turned the SUV toward the hotel.

"Our night it not yet over, Mrs. Evans," he said to her, trying to wink.

"Sam?" she questioned, as he pulled into the hotel parking lot. "We're not staying out all night, are we? I haven't pumped for Jasper and..."

"No, not all night..."

He dropped off the car with the valet at the lobby, and they walked inside.

"Wait here," he said to her, and she sat in a very comfortable chair in the expansive atrium while he checked them in, watching various people wander by. She wondered what he was up to. If they weren't staying the entire night, what were they doing there?

He returned to her shortly and offered her his hand. "This way..." he said, smiling.

They went to the elevators and went to the sixth floor. He led her to their room and opened the door.

Inside, he locked the door and listened to her exclaim about the room. He took her coat off her, kissing her neck in the process.

"This is a nice room, Sam," she said, taking in the king-size bed and desk and chair. It was just a simple room, maybe for a business traveler.

"Well, this room is going to be for only one thing tonight, Q," he said quietly, turning her around and pulling her into a hug. "I don't do things like this very often but tonight I just wanted you to myself, no grandparents, no cousins, no kids...just me and you for a couple hours. And yeah, I had to rent the room for just that reason, but god Quinn, I've missed you..."

He stripped off his jacket and kissed her gently, running his hand up her neck and through the back of her hair. "Not to mention we didn't have a proper anniversary celebration..."

She smiled as he kissed her again and placed her palms flat against his chest. "Two hours, eh?" She loosened his tie and unknotted it, pulling it from end slowly through his collar. She began unbuttoning his dress shirt, with each button leaning closer and closer to him until their lips met. He let her untuck his shirt and push it back over his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. She untucked his wifebeater, pulling it up and running her fingertips over his abs up to his nipples.

"Mmmffff..." he mumbled when she squeezed each side gently. His hands glided down her back, cupping her ass, pulling her against him. He moved back up to the neckline of her dress, feeling for the zipper. She felt him slowly unzipping the dress as she massaged his chest and belly, her hands making their way to his belt.

As she unbuckled his belt, she placed tiny kisses on his chest, inhaling his scent, feeling his heart beat under her lips. She felt the draft on her back from her dress being open, so she turned around and let him work it down her arms and let it slide to the floor. She stepped out of it slowly and turned back around, facing him with her arms covering her bare belly.

He gently moved her arms away from her tummy, looking her in the eye as he did.

"You look fine, Q," he said quietly, taking her hand and putting on the front of his pants. "This is what you do to me…a raging boner."

She bit her lip and let her eyes fall to where her hand lay. She began rubbing him. He was hard, harder than she had felt in awhile.

He reached around her and unfastened her red bra, moving it off her. She unzipped his pants and let them slide to the floor. He touched her full breasts softly, running his thumbs over her nipples, hardening them.

They each hooked their fingers in each other's underwear and slid them down.

Once fully naked, they met in a passionate kiss at the end of the bed. Sam picked her up, cradled her in his arms and lay her down on the bed, resting her head on the heap of pillows.

He was leaning over her, still standing next to the bed, when she put her hand on his shoulders and whispered, "I want you to take me, Sam."

"I want you, Quinn," he mumbled, moving over her slowly but surely. "I'll go easy…"

She trailed her hands down his chest to his chiseled abs and landed on his hips. She looked at him down there; it had been awhile since she had seen him. The site was so familiar to her now, the thatch of brown hair surrounding his stiff length. She touched the tip of his penis with her index finger, a string of pre-come sticking to her.

"I'm so ready…" he whispered.

She tugged on his hips, bringing him down to her. She could feel him poking at her center, could hear the moist slick sounds when he touched her there.

Sam sat up on his knees between Quinn's legs, looking down at her. He felt her larger breasts and ran his hands down the curve of her hips. He loved her body and how it had changed after growing his sons.

"What?" she asked him quietly.

He smiled. "It's just...you're gorgeous...and you're mine."

She pulled him down to her. She kissed him, their tongues moving against each other's slowly. She sucked his lower lip into her mouth and brought her knees up alongside him, urging him to enter her. He moved into her easily, slowly, taking his time to make sure he wasn't hurting her.

She was ready for him when he pressed into her. There was pressure but no pain. She moved her hips with him to let him know it was okay; she kissed him about his face, nibbled on his ear, gripped his arms. She had missed this closeness with him.

He was kissing her collarbone and whispered, "This won't take long..."

Less than a minute later, he whimpered somewhat and orgasmed. He collapsed next to her on the bed, gasping. "I'm sorry, Quinn. I just couldn't last...it felt so good..."

She rolled toward him, reaching for his hand. "S'ok, Sam...rest up and let's try again..."

xxxxx

They returned to Ryan's a couple hours later, both totally satisfied. Both boys were asleep, so they loaded them into the vehicle carefully and drove back to the farm. By the time they arrived home, Quinn needed to nurse Jasper so Sam put Joseph in his crib. He lay on their bed watching her with Jasper.

"Thanks for a great night, Q," he said quietly.

"It was a great night, Sam. I really enjoyed being out with you," she replied.

"We need to have date nights more often...I just can't afford to get us a hotel night for a couple hours all the time," he laughed.

She finished up with Jasper, watching him snooze for a bit, then put him in his bassinet and climbed into bed with Sam.

"This is the best place to be at night, in your arms," she said after he curled up next to her.

"Having you in my arms is better than any dream, Quinn...I love you..."

"I love you, too, Samuel," she said. They kissed goodnight.

xxxxx

"I've got to go to campus for a lab for this class," Sam told Quinn.

"Which class?"

"Uh, advanced computer applications in agriculture..." he said. "I don't want to but apparently it's part of my grade."

"What days?"

"Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 o'clock to 3 o'clock...should be interesting."

"I'll miss you those days," she said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him. She had Jasper cradled in her arm, a burp cloth over her shoulder, her hair in a ponytail, and was holding Joseph by the hand.

"You totally look like a mom today," he said, smiling and kissing her again.

"I totally feel like a mom today...just be careful driving over there," she retorted.

He kissed her again and then kissed each boy and drove to campus.

xxxxx

Sam found a seat in the computer lab and waited for the instructor to show up to give them instructions. There was a handful of other students, mostly dudes and a couple girls, sitting around waiting. He opened his text to chapter one and began reading.

"Hey everybody!" a tiny female voice announced to the room.

A short petite brown-haired girl bounced into the room, to the desk at the front, and took her laptop out of its case. She had a constant smile on her face and Sam noticed her eyes were a deep shade of blue, even from where he sat about midway to the back of the room. He couldn't help but notice her breasts, perky, and her tiny waist. It didn't help that she was wearing a pleated skirt and blouse with a scarf and then she squatted down to hook up something from her laptop to the floor and he caught a flash of black panties. He looked down quickly at his wedding band and exhaled. Usually, seeing cute girls didn't distract him but something about this chick was very distracting. Maybe it was the way her hair bounced as she looked back and forth between her laptop and the screen, or the blue ribbon holding back her chestnut curls, or fuck it Sam you know it's her tits! he thought, blushing. He shoved that thought out of his mind quickly, disgusted with himself for even thinking it. He sighed. This was going to be a long semester.

"My name is Renee...I'm the instructor's assistant for this lab. With this class, you pretty much follow the text and syllabus and I'll be here for any questions or help you may need. I won't be lecturing...I know! You're all bummed!" she giggled as the rest of the class laughed with her. Sam sat there stoically, confused. He decided to focus hard on his lab work.

"If you finish before the 2 hours is up feel free to leave...or come talk to me!" Renee giggled. She sat at the desk and crossed her legs.

Sam wanted to die. He could see her bare thigh when she crossed one leg over the other and if he looked even farther...

He shook his head and logged onto his computer. What am I doing? Quinn is at home, your beautiful, gorgeous, loving wife Quinn...quit checking that girl out!

For awhile, he did get lost in what he needed to be doing on the syllabus and quickly realized that the subject matter of this class was well above his head as far as computer expertise went. I refuse to ask that girl for help; I'll ask one of these other dudes or...

"You figuring everything out okay?" that tiny female voice was right at his ear. He nearly peed his pants.

"Oh!" Renee put her hand on his shoulder after he jumped. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!"

"No, it's fine, I'm fine, doing okay, thanks," he mumbled, staring at his text.

"Are you sure? Those spreadsheets can be tricky to figure out," she said and pulled up a chair next to his. "And you are?"

"Sam Evans..."

He was having trouble with the spreadsheets before she snuck up on him and now she was sitting right next to him, showing him what to do but all he could really concentrate on was her knee rubbing up against his.

"Okay, yeah, I think I got it..." he said when there was a break in her lecturing him.

"Oh, well you're welcome to stay after lab if you'd like and we could go over this some more," she said, staring at him, forcing him to look at her.

"Well, uh, I've got to get home to Quinn and Joey and Jasper...my kids and wife, you know," he said, stumbling over the words. Since when do girls make me so flustered? Quinn is the only one who is allowed to do that! he thought.

Renee grabbed his left hand. "Well, I'll be! You surely are married! How long now?"

"How long what?"

She giggled. "How long have you been off the market?"

"Uh, two years but we were together before that..."

"And you have two kids already? You waste no time, I see!"

"Two little boys...they're the best..." Sam said, smiling. Talking about his boys always made him smile.

"Well, Sam," she said, patting his knee, then standing up. "If you ever need any help, you know where to find me!"

She wandered off toward a sea of raised hands. He was unsure of what just happened but for some reason he felt guilty, guilty as hell.

xxxxx

When he got home that afternoon, he stopped in the house to say hello to Quinn and the boys, then went to the barn to find his grandfather.

He helped his grandfather with some manual chores, then sat down at his desk as his grandfather worked on his iPad. He talked about what he was learning at school, and his grandfather told him what to expect with the spring planting. They talked about Joseph and Jasper a bit and how they were growing.

"Hey Gramps, can I ask you something? Like, privately?" Sam asked finally.

His grandfather stopped what he was doing and looked at Sam. "Sure, son, I'm listening."

Sam took a deep breath. "Is it...normal...to think that maybe other girls are pretty, like not your wife?"

Surprisingly, his grandfather laughed out loud.

"Are you human, Sammy?" he asked Sam.

Sam nodded.

"Then of course it's fine to appreciate the beauty of another woman. You just don't act on it, son!"

That made Sam feel a little more at ease.

"I take it some little filly has caught your eye, then?"

"Well, there's this instructor at the school..."

"Samuel, you and Quinn have just undergone another major life-changing event, well two events actually, in the space of two years. It's not a crime to have a wandering eye but that's where it ends," his grandfather told him. "Trust me, I've seen my share of beauties around town but it's the one at home who has my heart."

Sam smiled, thinking of Quinn. "Yeah, the one at home..."

xxxxx

During the next couple times Sam was in the lab, Renee was there and seemed overly friendly to him. He was friendly in response; he didn't consider himself to be flirting with her, just his usual happy-go-lucky self. She was very touchy around him, a lot of times placing her hand on his shoulder or arm as she walked by his desk or ruffling his hair.

After two weeks of that, she stopped him as he left the lab one day.

"Mr. Evans, the instructor has recommended that I meet with you one-on-one in my office to go over some concepts you seem to be having a hard time grasping," she said, all businesslike.

He was confused. He was under the impression that he was finally getting the lessons and his graded work had been fine, as had been his tests and quizzes.

"Um, sure, I guess..."

She handed him a business card, which included a head shot of herself and her contact information and her office hours.

"Fridays are a good time for me," she said, smiling up at him.

He looked at the card. Her office hours on Fridays were from 5-7 p.m.

"Okay, uh, thanks..." He tucked the card in his pocket and left.

xxxxx

The upcoming meeting with Renee was playing on his mind. It didn't make any sense for the instructor to have her talk to him about his course work in the class. He was preoccupied thinking about it and really just wished he could get that girl out of his head. To Quinn, he seemed distant, as if he had something on his mind, bothering him.

In bed the night before his meeting with Renee, she just asked him, "Is everything okay, Sam? You just kinda seem, not with it, the past few days."

God, her voice, her touch on my belly, just the way she moves next to me...he thought...Should I tell her about Renee?

"I'm sorry, Q...just this stupid computer class...I've got to go in tomorrow evening and talk to them about my grades and assignments..." he finally said.

"Oh. Tomorrow night? I was hoping we could have supper together but that's okay...I'll keep it warm for you. I'm sure your grades are fine, Sam," she said, leaning over to peck him on the cheek before turning off her bedside lamp.

"Yeah, it should be okay," he mumbled, turning off his light. "Love you, Q."

"I love you too Samuel," she replied. He could hear the smile in her voice as she said the words.

The next day, he drove to campus for his lab and worked on his assignments for two hours. He then had two hours to kill before going to Renee's office hours. He stopped in at the daycare to say hello to Quinn's co-workers and pick up her schedule as she was going back to work the following Monday. He went to the student lounge to read while he waited for 5 o'clock to get there.

"Hey you!" He instantly recognized the voice, the voice that was now haunting his dreams. "Mind if I sit down here?"

Renee took a seat to Sam's left before he actually offered her one. She had a large cup of coffee in her hand and opened it to add cream and sugar.

"So, reading, hmm?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah, trying to..."

"Well, I'll be quiet and just sit here," she said, looking at him and smiling, sipping her coffee.

Her sitting there was making him nervous and he couldn't concentrate on what he was attempting to read so he shut the book.

"Can we just go ahead and do this meeting or whatever? About my grades?" he asked her.

She looked at him blankly for a moment, then smiled.

She placed her hand on his. "I'm sorry, Sam. All the information is at my office."

He realized she was stroking the skin of his hand with her thumb, and he yanked his hand away.

"So, how's the wife and kiddies?" she asked.

"They're great...I really need to get this reading done, if you don't mind," he said, reopening the book.

She sighed. "Oh, I don't mind, Sammy...come to my office in a bit so we can...talk..."

She stood up and walked away.

Hearing her call him Sammy made him cringe.

At 5 o'clock sharp, he knocked on her office door.

"Come in!" she said sweetly.

He opened the door slowly and stepped into the small room, taking the seat across from her desk.

"Very prompt! I like that in a man," she purred, standing up and coming around the desk. She shut and locked her door.

"So, is there a problem with what I'm turning in? All my grades seem to be..."

She cut him off by sitting squarely in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, and kissing him hard on the mouth.

"You do not know how long I've wanted to do that," she gasped against his lips, then went in again for another kiss.

He was absolutely shocked and, for a moment, unable to move. When his thoughts finally cleared and he realized she was still sitting there, her mouth on his, he stood up quickly, letting her fall hard on the floor. He grabbed his backpack, yanked on the door, and fiddled with the lock. He practically ran from her office, hearing her call his name as he did.

He ran straight to his car, got in, and locked himself in. He wrapped his arms around his gut, feeling nauseous, feeling guilty.

"She kissed me...she kissed me..." he repeated over and over, finally calming down and trying to figure out what he should do. He could still taste her strawberry lip gloss on his lips and suddenly swiped the back of his hand across his mouth. After composing himself, he finally turned the car on and drove home slowly.

xxxxx

"Hi honey! Your meeting didn't last too long," Quinn said when he walked into the house. She was playing with Joseph on the floor with Jasper sleeping in the pack and play nearby. "That's good...we can have supper together then." She smiled up at him. "Sam? What's wrong?"

"C'mere, Quinn," he said, pulling her up to standing, then hugging her.

"Is everything okay?" she asked into his shoulder.

He nodded. "I just missed you today." He leaned back from her and took her face in his hands. "I missed you so much..." He kissed her, hugging her again. He kissed her until that taste of strawberry lip gloss was out of his mind.

She felt a different vibe coming from him but didn't question him then. He picked up Joseph and hugged him, then sat down on the floor to play blocks with him.

Playing with Joseph was a distraction for Sam. He tried to act as he normally did, knowing Quinn was picking up on his weird behavior.

Over the weekend, he felt like he overdid the 'trying to act normal' bit. He wouldn't let Quinn or the boys out of his sight hardly at all. He kept trying to dial it back but he noticed the weird glances Quinn was throwing his way.

She had noticed his strange behavior and thought it'd be best to let him come to her when he was ready. She wondered if it had to do with that meeting he had Friday, if he wasn't doing as well as he hoped in the advanced computer class. She went along with him attached at her hip all weekend, figuring once she went back to work time alone with him would be hard to find.

In bed on Sunday night, Sam told her he'd come see her after his lab finished up at 3 the next day to see how her day was going. Since she was not taking classes that semester, she was working full-time hours. She was also bringing Joseph and Jasper with her so he could say hi to them while he was there also.

"That'd be nice Sam...I hope you have a great day tomorrow," she said before nodding off.

"I hope so too," he replied, wrapping his arm around her and kissing her goodnight.

xxxxx

On Monday, Quinn got herself and her two boys ready for the day and headed to campus. Sam was working that morning and then would be on campus for his lab and was going to stop in to see them all at the daycare. She got there at 11 o'clock and put Joseph in the stroller and carried Jasper in in his car seat. By the time she made it to the daycare, she was huffing and puffing. Her boss Lori was at the reception area when Quinn pushed the stroller in, lugging the car seat.

"Oh! He is so adorable, Quinn!" Lori said, stepping from around the counter and taking the car seat from her. She unstrapped Jasper and held him. "He is the perfect mix of you and Sam!"

"Thank you...he is a sweetheart as is my big boy!" Quinn looked down at Joseph who had his arms outstretched to her. She knew what that meant; Joseph was jealous of the attention his baby brother was getting.

"Mumma!" And that was the second sign, when he reverted back to saying 'mumma'. She picked him up and loved on him, kissing his chubby cheek.

"I'm glad to be back," Quinn said, smiling. "I've missed the kids and just everyone!"

"We're glad to have you back, Miss Skinny!"

Quinn snorted but thanked her.

Lori helped her bring the kids back to the main room so Quinn could start her day. She would be working with the infants for awhile since she had Jasper with her.

Offhandedly to Lori, Quinn told her that Sam would be stopping in to say hi.

"Oh, okay, I'll keep an eye out for him," Lori said.

Sam dreaded going to his lab that day. He knew he had to, though, as he wasn't going to fail this class because of Renee's inappropriate behavior. He kept telling himself he had done nothing wrong but a nagging thought in the back of his mind kept bothering him…who would believe him?

He got to campus and made his way to the computer lab slowly. Renee was not yet there, so he chose a desk toward the back of the class, logged on, and got started on his course work that he needed to get done. A few minutes after 1 o'clock, Renee came in, limping. She was smiling, her usual chipper self, and said hello to the class and connected her laptop to the projector. People in the class immediately began raising their hands for assistance. Sam made the mistake of glancing at the front of the class once and caught her icy gaze.

He thought he was in the clear at about 2:45 as she has not been by his desk or near him at all. He was working feverishly to finish up his last assignment so he could go see Quinn and his sons when he felt that tiny hand on his shoulder.

"Mr. Evans, are you coming along okay?" she asked, sweetly.

"Uh, yeah, just fine, thank you," he replied, not looking at her.

"I seem to have bruised my hip this weekend; it's quite sore," she said.

"Sorry to hear that…"

"You do realize we never finished our meeting last week; I expect to see you this week to go over your grades," she purred, walking off.

He kept his eyes on his screen, wishing he'd never signed up for this class.

xxxxx

"It's so nice to see you guys! I've missed all three of you today," Sam said, holding Joseph on his hip, hugging Quinn and Jasper. "How's your first day back gone?"

Quinn smiled. "Busy, but fun. I'm glad to be back. It's nice to see you too. How did your lab go?"

Sam rolled his eyes. "Just the usual bullsh-stuff. I'm gonna help Gramps out when I get back to the farm today, so I'll probably be in by the time you three get home. Just drive carefully."

"I will, Samuel. We love you…tell daddy you love him," Quinn prompted Joseph.

"Luff oo dada!"

Sam's heart melted. He kissed Joseph, then Jasper, then Quinn and watched them re-enter the play room.

He started on his way when a lady called his name, catching up with him.

xxxxx

"I need to talk to you, Sam. I really don't like to get involved in other people's business, but I felt you should know about this…" Lori said to him at the doors to the parking lot.

"Sure, what's going on?" Sam had no idea; he hoped it didn't have to do with Quinn or the boys.

Lori looked nervous. She looked around to make sure no one was watching her speak to him, then went on.

"Well, I was having breakfast today in the faculty lounge when I overheard a conversation and your name was mentioned," Lori said.

Sam's stomach dropped.

"She said she would 'get to that Sam Evans and his wife would never know'. She said 'he was a family man but she'd break him and get him away from his wife and kids if it was the last thing she did'. She also said she kissed you in her office but you had ran and of course your wife would never believe that you didn't kiss her back and that her hip was still sore from where you pushed her on the floor."

Sam's face was burning; his lips were drawn into a small tight line.

"You do know who this is, right?" Lori asked him.

Sam nodded, numbly.

"What should I do? I can't fail the class…I've avoided her at all costs…I don't know what to do…" Sam mumbled.

Lori placed her hand on his arm. "First, you need to tell Quinn. Second, I have an idea."

Sam took a deep breath and thanked Lori and asked to hear her plan.

When she was done talking to him, he knew he was going to have to tell Quinn what had happened and hoped that Lori's plan worked.