A/N: Still many places to go with this, if you're all still interested. And I'm sure I'm not alone in enjoying the live ep tonight... Wow.

'Are you okay?' Sheelagh asked as Sam shifted slightly.

'Well, I've had worse afternoons.'

'Thanks for the compliment.'

'No, I'm... I'm fine.' Sam glanced up to lay a kiss on her lips. 'I'm better than that.'

'Good,' Sheelagh answered feeling a unique sense of contentment as her girlfriend settled back against her.

The bedroom was beginning to darken. It was the time of year, the days gradually getting shorter, leaves slipping from the trees. Sheelagh loved it, especially when the winds were rustling outside and she was safely tucked up with the person she loved. Staying there, watching the world passing by, would be a wonderful thing. Not a realistic option though she discovered as the front door slammed shut and the phone rang downstairs simultaneously.

Sam groaned. 'Oh, Abi can get it.'

Closing her eyes again, Sheelagh agreed. Then a few moments later heavy footsteps pounded on the stairs and there was a knock on the door. 'Mum? Are you in there?'

Shrugging apologetically, Sam got up and pulled her dressing gown on leaving the bed woefully empty. 'Who is it?'

'He says he's from the station.'

Sheelagh watched with interest as Sam left the room, was it perhaps Manson on the other end of the phone? With all that had happened in the last few hours her pleading with the Detective Inspector had completely slipped her mind. Sam getting her job back would really be the icing on the cake, it would set everything back to how it should be.

While she was waiting for Sam to return she started dressing, the afternoon was well and truly over if Abigail and Belinda had come back. No matter, their time alone was always going to be limited what with the new arrival, enjoying it when they got the opportunity was always going to be the key.

As she was buttoning her blouse the door opened and Sam came back in. 'Who was it?'

'Well, you should know.'

'Manson?'

Sam nodded. 'What did you say to him?'

'Nothing really.' Sheelagh moved over to her. 'Well?'

'Well...' Sam's face broke out in a smile as she wrapped her arms around Sheelagh's waist. 'The DI has considered his options and decided that one incident isn't worth arguing over. I'm back tomorrow.'

'That's brilliant!' Sheelagh kissed her just as a cry ahead from downstairs. 'How is everything down there?'

'Abi looks like she needs a break. We could look after Belinda tonight couldn't we?'

'I've got a better idea,' Sheelagh answered, taking her hand and dragging her down to the living room where Abi was unloading her daughter from the pram. 'Hi, Abi.'

The young woman looked from Sheelagh to her mother. 'I don't want to know.'

Sheelagh laughed at the expression on the girl's face. 'You don't need to. What I was going to say was that it'd be alright if you wanted a break tonight. Perhaps you and your mum could go out somewhere.'

Abi immediately busied herself with Belinda. 'I'm sure she's got better...'

After an encouraging look from Sheelagh Sam interrupted, 'Anywhere you want tog go. On me.'

Her daughter still looked undecided. 'I don't know.'

'Please, Abi. You know, we need to get some things sorted. I may as well pay for a slap-up meal in the process.'

'I suppose we could,' Abi finally replied, looking back to Sheelagh. 'If you really don't mind.'

'Of course not. She's a little angel this one.'

Sam slipped an arm around her waist. 'Let's hope ours is the same.'

Once they'd ordered an uncomfortable silence fell over mother and daughter. Recalling what Sheelagh had briefed her on as she dressed Sam decided to just try and talk. Silence was what had hurt them. 'Rough day?'

'No more than usual. Bel was a little grizzly but...' Abi trailed off. 'Why do you care?'

'Because you're my daughter.'

'I'm surprised you remember.'

'Abi. Let's not do this here.'

'Not airing out dirty laundry? That makes a change.'

Almost involuntarily, Sam smiled. 'You and me are so alike, do you know that?'

'You think so?'

'Oh, I know it. We're both stubborn, you can't argue with that.'

Abi shrugged reluctantly. 'What else?'

We both like our independence, our own space. Plus,' Sam added hesitantly. 'We want the other to be happy.'

'Look, Mum, if this is your way of asking if Sheelagh can move in...'

'No. No, it's not. I don't think any of us are ready for that.'

Her daughter looked surprised. 'Really?'

'You feel differently?'

'Well, yeah, I mean... Sorry, it doesn't matter.'

'No, go on,' Sam prompted.

'Mum, she's three months pregnant. If you meant what you said earlier about you raising the kid together shouldn't you be living with her when it's born? That's if you want to support her.'

'Of course I do. To be honest, I hadn't thought about it. These last couple of days have been so crazy. I didn't think about the details.'

'It's time you did, don't you think?'

'Abi, this wasn't why I brought you out.'

Finally, her daughter met her eye. 'You want to know if I'm happy? If I'm alright? If I need you?'

Sam smiled. 'Pretty much.'

'I'm doing okay. It's difficult but I knew that. And I do still need you, Mum.'

Reaching across the table she took Abi's hand. 'As long as you know I'm here.'

'I want Sheelagh to move in,' Abi continued after a moment. 'I want us to be a proper family, the five of us.'

'Well, I can see what she thinks of the idea. I don't want to push her though.'

'How did it go?' Sheelagh asked as Sam quietly opened the bedroom door.

'I thought you'd be asleep.'

'Well, your granddaughter didn't seem to like the idea. I just got her down about five minutes ago.'

'Abi was like that. Restless one night and angelic the next. Must run in the family.'

'I wonder what you were like as a baby,' Sheelagh said as Sam plopped herself on the bed.

'Very funny.'

'Mmm, I thought so.'

Sam kissed her. 'I'm afraid Abi and I didn't get as much talking done as I hoped. She spent half the night convincing me I should ask you to move in.'

For a moment Sheelagh was quiet. 'Convincing you? Does that mean you like the idea?'

'There's no question about that.'

'And Abi brought this up?'

'Several times.' Sam bit her lip. 'You don't have to decide now or anything.'

'No, I don't need any time. If you want me you've got me.'