"Sam, we're here," Ethan told his wife after he had put his car in park in Anna Elizabeth's and Calin's driveway.
When she didn't budge, Ethan grinned and shook his head. He then tried once more, this time gently shaking her awake.
"Come on, babe. We've landed in Storybrooke."
This time, Sam mumbled, "You make it sound like we're in an airplane or something," her brown eyes fluttering open.
She then stretched and yawned as Ethan said, "Well, I thought one of my signature jokes would wake you up," grinning at her.
Sam chuckled before she caressed his cheek. She then spoke, "It's a good thing I love you," a playful smile on her lips.
Ethan smiled back at her before he pecked her lips. He then told her, "You know you wouldn't have me any other way."
"No, I wouldn't," Sam agreed with a genuine smile. She then ran her fingers through his hair.
He only hummed in response before he said, "Let's head inside." She nodded in response before they stepped out of his new Dodge Challenger.
They grabbed their bags from the backseat before Ethan manually locked the car, earning a chuckle from his wife.
He pushed his sunglasses up on his head before he looked at her and asked, "What's so funny?"
"You are. You do realize that you now have a remote to lock your car," Sam pointed out as she grinned at him.
Ethan couldn't help but roll his eyes before he told her, "Yeah, I do, but I'm not used to using it. You know the one for my old car stopped working," with a shrug.
"Oh, you mean the Charger you had since high school. I'm surprised it lasted that long," Sam surmised, pushing her own sunglasses on top of her head.
Ethan raised an eyebrow as he pointed out, "You know, if you're trying to throw a jab at my driving, you need to do a better job," a smirk playing across his features.
She rolled her eyes before she decided to offer a teasing response: "Like how you drive too fast? And a bit reckless?"
Ethan responded with an eye roll of his own before he defended, "Nothing is wrong with my driving." He then grinned and added, "Especially since you fell asleep not long after we left Providence."
Sam only looked at her husband for a few moments before she sighed and resigned, "I guess I should know better than to make jokes about you."
Ethan's grin only grew as he told her, "Yeah, you should," before he planted a kiss on her cheek.
She initially shook her head before she found herself chuckling a moment later. She then took his hand in hers and spoke, "Come on, let's go - I'm sure that Calin and Anna Elizabeth have already figured out we're here."
He nodded before the two of them headed up the step-stone walkway.
When they knocked on the door, they were soon greeted by Calin. "Hey, you guys," he greeted with a smile before he hugged his brother and sister-in-law.
He ushered them into the house before he asked, "How was the drive?"
Ethan nudged Sam as he teasingly spoke, "This one fell asleep so it was quiet without her singing."
Sam rolled her eyes before Calin said, "I'm sure her singing is great," earning a smile from his sister-in-law.
He then teased, "And you kind of deserve it after you ragged on me about Anna Elizabeth's singing."
Ethan rolled his eyes in response. He almost offered a comeback, but Anna Elizabeth filed into the room and asked, "Did I hear my name?"
Upon seeing Ethan and Sam, she smiled and greeted, "Oh! Hey, you guys," wrapping them in a hug.
When they pulled away, Anna Elizabeth said, "I didn't even hear you guys come in. I was checking on Elsa."
"And how is Little Calin?" Ethan asked, and he couldn't help but grin. Calin shook his head while Anna Elizabeth and Sam chuckled.
Anna Elizabeth then answered, "She's fine. She just kicked her blanket off while she slept."
She then said, "Let me take you guys to the guest room." Both Ethan and Sam nodded before they followed the curly blonde.
As they walked down the hallway, Sam said, "Thanks again for letting us stay with you and Calin."
"Of course! It's really no problem," Anna Elizabeth assured them with a smile. She couldn't help but lightly chuckle as she added, "I just hope you two don't mind a one-year-old running around."
"Well, she really does, just want to know what everything is, and she babbles a lot," Ethan began, adjusting his bag on his shoulder.
Sam nudged that same shoulder before she said, "But that doesn't mean she isn't adorable."
"I was getting to that if you would have let me continue," Ethan pointed out.
"Mm-hmm," Sam hummed in response, offering him a smirk. He rolled his eyes in reply.
Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh. She then joked, "You know, Ethan, I think you may have just found your match."
He responded in kind: "I still don't think she can quite keep up with me," sporting a wide grin.
Sam only shook her head while Anna Elizabeth chuckled. The blonde then stopped at a door and explained, "Here is you guys' room. Just get settled and then we'll decide where we're getting take-out."
Sam and Ethan nodded before they filed into the room. Anna Elizabeth then walked back up the short hallway.
She met Calin in the living room, and he held Elsa in his arms.
"Well, look who woke up from her nap," Anna Elizabeth gently spoke as she softly ran her fingers through her daughter's light brown hair.
"Ball," Elsa then said, clapping her hands.
Anna Elizabeth and Calin smiled before he surmised, "Yeah, she is. And she's ready to play." He then paused and said, "I was thinking that you and Sam could play with her while Ethan helps me haul over the tables and chairs from your mom and dad's."
With a tilt of her head, Anna Elizabeth asked, "I thought you weren't going to get them until tomorrow?"
"That was the plan, but I thought it'd be easier on everyone if I went ahead and got them," Calin explained as Elsa continued to shout "ball".
"I won't argue with that," Anna Elizabeth told him before she took their daughter from his arms. The little girl then started playing with her mother's necklace.
"I didn't think you would," Calin told her with a grin. He paused before he added, "I think you're as obsessive as I am."
Even though she knew he was right, she shook her head at him. However, a chuckle escaped a moment later.
Anna Elizabeth then spoke to their baby girl: "Play ball, Elsa?"
"Ball!" she repeated, clapping her hands.
Ethan and Sam then joined them, and he said, "I don't remember her using any actual words besides calling for you guys."
Calin and Anna Elizabeth chuckled before the blonde replied, "Yeah, she just started saying it quite a bit in the last couple weeks. It's her favorite toy."
She then pried Elsa's hands away from the necklace and adjusted the baby in her arms. She then motioned to her brother-in-law and sister-in-law and told the little girl: "Look, Elsa! Uncle Ethan and Aunt Sam came to see you!"
"Hey, kid. Remember me? I'm the one who can tell you embarrassing stories about your dad," Ethan told Elsa, grinning at the baby girl.
Calin, Anna Elizabeth, and Sam all shook their heads in response. Elsa only looked at her uncle before she grabbed the sunglasses off his head.
She waved them around before Anna Elizabeth took them and said, "No, Elsa. These are not a toy."
She then handed the sunglasses back to Ethan, who placed the shades on his shirt.
Calin then chimed in, "And on that note, I was hoping that you'd help me with something, Ethan."
"And what that be, little bro?" Ethan asked, and he couldn't help the grin that followed.
Calin only shook his head before he answered, "I'm heading over to Emma and Killian's to grab the tables and chairs for the party tomorrow, and I wanted your help."
With a nod, Ethan told his brother, "Sure, man, I'd be happy to help," receiving a nod from Calin.
Anna Elizabeth then piped up: "And after that, you guys can get dinner. What sounds good?"
Calin, Ethan, and Sam all looked thoughtful before the latter offered, "I could go for a pizza," resting her hands on her hips.
"Sounds good to me," Calin surmised. He then looked over to Ethan and Anna Elizabeth, who both nodded.
The curly blonde then asked, "What do you guys want on your pizza?"
"Plain pepperoni but with jalapenos and sausage on one half," Ethan stated. He then paused and asked, "They can do that, right?"
Anna Elizabeth nodded before she spoke, "Now that we've settled that, you two should get going."
Calin and Ethan both nodded before they began heading toward the door. As they were walking, Anna Elizabeth told Elsa," Say goodbye to Daddy, sweetie," waving at him.
He couldn't help but smile at his little girl as she attempted to copy her mother's motions.
When he had closed the door behind he and Ethan, Sam commented, "She really is adorable, you know."
With a smile, Anna Elizabeth replied, "Thanks, Sam. Calin and I are pretty lucky," before she gently kissed Elsa's forehead.
The blonde then offered, "You're welcome to play with us. She's been wanting to play with her ball since she woke up."
"Ball!" Elsa then exclaimed, making her mom and aunt both chuckle.
"Come on, let's play," Anna Elizabeth told her baby girl before she grabbed a princess ball from a basket of toys perched near the couch.
She placed Elsa on the floor before she sat down beside her. Anna Elizabeth then handed the ball to Elsa, who immediately began waving it around.
Sam had taken to sitting on the couch as she watched the two of them play, smiling as she did so.
She had just rested her chin in her hands when Elsa toddled over to her. She held up her toy to her aunt and stated, "Ball!"
Sam looked slightly confused, so Anna Elizabeth explained, "She wants you to play with her."
"Oh! Uh, okay," Sam hesitantly responded. She then asked, "How exactly do I do that?"
With a small smile, Anna Elizabeth explained, "It basically consists of sitting on the floor and watching her wave the ball around until she wants to roll it to one of us."
Sam couldn't help but chuckle before she said, "I think I can manage that," smiling back at her sister-in-law.
She then slid down off the couch and onto the floor, crossing her legs and putting her hands in her lap.
Elsa smiled before she toddled back over and handed her aunt the ball.
Sam looked at it as though she wasn't entirely sure what to do. She then gently tossed it to the baby girl and asked, "Play ball?"
"Ball!" Elsa exclaimed before she toddled over close to her mother and sat down, waving the ball around.
Anna Elizabeth smiled fondly at her daughter before she told Sam, "See? I think you'll make a great aunt after all."
Sam rested her chin back in her hand as she surmised, "You really think so? I'm pretty much in the same boat as Ethan when it comes to kids."
With a nod, Anna Elizabeth told her, "Of course! Elsa does have a pretty big family with lots of aunts and uncles, but it's safe to say that she loves her Uncle Ethan and Aunt Sam very much."
She chuckled and then added, "Even if she can't exactly say it right now."
Sam chuckled as well before she offered, "I'm sure she'll have plenty to say soon enough," reaching over and gently running her fingers along the ends of Elsa's hair.
Just then, Anna Elizabeth caught sight of her sister-in-law's heart and quote tattoo, and she asked her, "Is that a new tattoo? I don't think I've noticed it before."
Sam glanced down at the small red hearts and script writing before she looked up and explained, "I got it a week after Ethan and I were married. It was my own, well, unique way to represent Ethan and mine's love."
Anna Elizabeth offered a genuine smile as she commented, "That's really sweet. And pretty perfect."
Sam smiled back in response before the blonde continued, "But if you don't mind me saying, it isn't that big. I think it's why I didn't see it before."
With a grin, Sam then explained, "That's the point. I did it that way on purpose," making Anna Elizabeth raise an eyebrow.
Sam then elaborated, "See, the quote says "It's the little things you do that make me fall a little harder." As you've probably guessed, Ethan isn't exactly the romantic type," chuckling lightly.
Anna Elizabeth smiled as she perceived, "But it's the little things he does that lets you know how much he loves you."
"Yeah, it is," Sam agreed with a small smile, running her fingers over the tattoo. She then spoke, "Like when he makes me coffee."
Anna Elizabeth tilted her head as she pointed out, "But Ethan hates coffee, and I'm not sure he knows how to use a coffee maker."
"He actually doesn't know how, and his coffee doesn't taste that great," Sam clarified. She then smiled and added, "But I really appreciate him trying to do something thoughtful and nice for me."
With a smile of her own, Anna Elizabeth commented, "I can't say I'm too surprised. Ethan seemed pretty smitten with you shortly after you guys had met."
Sam grew quiet as a thoughtful expression formed on her face. A few moments later, she said, "And given what Calin thought - and likely said - about me, you didn't, I don't know, think badly of me?"
She grew quiet once more and nervously ran her fingers through her hair. Her eyes focused on everything but Anna Elizabeth.
The blonde furrowed her eyebrows and scrunched her nose as she tried to figure out what was wrong. She then knowingly asked, "Sam, is everything alright?"
With a sigh, Sam then spoke, "If you can tell, then I'm doing a terrible job of dealing with all of this."
She then buried her face in her hands. Anna Elizabeth then scooted over and sat beside her sister-in-law.
"Dealing with what? You know you can talk to me," Anna Elizabeth assured her.
Sam then looked up and told her, "I'm fine. Really, I am." She then paused and continued, "Besides, you have Elsa."
The little girl looked up at the sound of her name. Seeing that her mother had moved, she crawled over and sat in front of Anna Elizabeth before she resumed playing with the ball.
"See? She knows when you're not there," Sam pointed out, gesturing to the baby. Anna Elizabeth chuckled lightly in reply.
She then said, "Just because I'm a mom doesn't mean I can't help you, Sam. And I want to - if you want me to, that is."
Sam let out a deep breath before she admitted, "I'm just a little - or maybe a lot - nervous about meeting everyone."
She then paused and continued, "You guys are all just, like, small-town America, and I have blue hair and tattoos."
"Oh, Sam, I'm sorry," Anna Elizabeth sympathetically began. She then tried to reassure her: "You have to know that everyone's excited to meet you. I doubt they'll even mention your hair, tattoos, or anything else."
She then scrunched her nose and added, "Except maybe Liam - but he doesn't have much of a filter."
Sam couldn't help but giggle at that. A moment later, her expression grew somber, and she spoke, "Look, Calin knows he was wrong, and he gave me a chance. I know I should just let everyone else do the same - and stop stressing over it - but there's a part of me that can't let it go."
"And no matter how much anyone reassures you - even when you know they're right - it doesn't matter if you don't believe it yourself," Anna Elizabeth perceived, resting her chin in her hand.
Sam turned her head in order to get a better look at her sister-in-law. She then observed, "You sound like you know exactly what I'm feeling."
"It's probably not exactly the same, but I used to put loads of pressure on myself to be, well, sort of perfect, and I was super hard on myself if I wasn't. I dealt with those insecurities for years. And just when I thought had worked them, they reared their ugly heads," Anna Elizabeth told her, running her fingers through Elsa's brown locks.
"What happened?" Sam then asked, her tone one part empathic and another part curious.
Anna Elizabeth pulled Elsa in her lap before she kissed her head and answered, "This little girl was born. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I saw it as anything other than a precious miracle."
With a tilt of her head, Sam then surmised, "Is this about your C-section? I know when my mom had hers with me, it wasn't especially easy for her."
Anna Elizabeth nodded before she elaborated, "It wasn't easy for me either. I thought that something was wrong with me because I couldn't give birth naturally, and the scar would only be a reminder of that. Neither myself or Calin handled it well, and I had to do some serious soul-searching to realize my baby - our baby - wasn't anything less than a symbol of Calin and mine's love."
She then smiled down at the baby in the arms, kissing her head once more. Sam found herself smiling as well.
She then offered, "I mean, Elsa is so cute. And just because she came here a little differently doesn't really change anything," running her finger along her niece's arm.
"Mm-hmm," Anna Elizabeth hummed in response. She then took a breath and added, "And just because you're a little different doesn't mean you aren't this amazing person that my family's gonna love."
Sam looked thoughtful for a few moments before she playfully spoke, "Well played, Anna Elizabeth. Well played." She then took a deep breath and sincerely continued, "And thank you for trying to help me. I know I shouldn't be, I don't know, ashamed of who I am because it gave me some of the best friends I could ever want, and the man I love more than I've loved anyone, but it's just hard, you know?"
"I do know, and I know it's not gonna be easy, but speaking from experience, I know you'll be just fine," Anna Elizabeth reassured her. She then smiled and added, "And I think that meeting everyone tomorrow will be good for you."
Sam smiled back in response before she pulled the blonde in for a hug. She then told her, "Thank you. So much."
"You are so welcome," Anna Elizabeth told her before they pulled away - only for them to realize that Elsa had grabbed Sam's feather necklace.
"No, sweetie. You can't play with Aunt Sam's necklace," Anna Elizabeth stated while prying it away from the little girl.
Elsa let out a sound resembling a grunt before Anna Elizabeth distracted her with a ball.
The blonde then apologized, "Sorry about that, Sam. I hope she didn't pull on it too much."
"Oh, she didn't," Sam reassured her. She then chuckled and added, "But it does remind me of our last visit when she kept trying to grab the feathers on my tattoo."
Anna Elizabeth chuckled as well before she said, "I remember it was pretty funny. I already knew that babies were curious because I was eight when Liam was born, but having your own kid really puts it into perspective."
"I can see where it would," Sam conceded. She paused before she added, "But I think that's true for everything," a thoughtful expression forming on her face.
Anna Elizabeth regarded her sister-in-law for a few moments before she spoke, "I feel like there's a story there. Or you're thinking about something specific."
"I guess it's a little bit of both," Sam replied. She then began twirling her hair around her fingers before she continued, "It's just that even though my mom never seemed surprised by any life decision I've made, even she wasn't quite expecting the move to Providence."
With a tilt of her head, Anna Elizabeth asked, "Why is that? Did you never say anything about leaving?"
"Oh no, it wasn't that," Sam clarified. She paused before she continued, "I think you know by now that I love trying new things, as well as learning about them. My mom always knew that I'd want to leave and build my own life one day."
Anna Elizabeth's expression had only grown more confused, so Sam continued, "But she didn't think I'd go back to the place where my dad rejected me."
Anna Elizabeth's expression turned to sympathy as she spoke, "Oh, Sam, I'm so, so sorry. I can't even really imagine what that must have felt like."
"Oh, it's okay. It was a long time ago," Sam began. She then took a breath and explained, "I just didn't fit into the life he had built where appearance and reputation mean everything. He made it pretty clear that what he and my mom had was way in the past, and he didn't want - or need - any reminders of that."
"That's so awful. What did you do?"
"I came back home. It wasn't exactly easy, but I realized that I had so many other people who loved me," Sam answered her sister-in-law, a smile forming on her face.
Anna Elizabeth smiled back in response before she offered, "Well, it's pretty amazing that you didn't let what he did to you stop you from building an amazing life for yourself."
Sam smiled once more. She was about to reply when she heard her husband's voice: "What's this about our amazing life?" popping his head into the living room.
She shook her head before she stood up and walked over to him. She then playfully accused, "Were you eavesdropping?"
"Maybe a little," Ethan admitted with a shrug. He then grinned and pecked her cheek.
Anna Elizabeth, who had Elsa in her arms, then chimed in, "Shouldn't you be helping Calin unload the tables and chairs?" as she came to stand next to Sam.
With a roll of his eyes, Ethan pointed out, "I am helping. I'm just bringing in the food first," lifting the two pizza boxes in his hands.
Anna Elizabeth and Sam only hummed in response as the latter offered her husband a grin. He rolled his eyes once more before he placed the pizzas on the kitchen table.
"Alright, you two, don't start without us," Ethan said before he began heading back toward the door.
As he walked, Sam teasingly called out, "Just don't let yourself get hurt. You got winded after carrying one box when you moved in with me."
"Yeah, well, you live on the third floor, and the elevator was broken," Ethan called over his shoulder before he closed the door behind him.
Both Sam and Anna Elizabeth laughed before Sam offered, "He really is something else, isn't he?"
With a smile, Anna Elizabeth conceded, "He definitely is. I think Calin and I both came to that decision right after we first met him."
Sam chuckled just before she and Anna Elizabeth heard a knock at the door. The two women exchanged a confused look before the blonde called out, "Guys, you can just come in."
The door eased open, and Liam popped his head in. He then said, "Ethan and Calin are still unloading the truck. I guess they didn't have a chance to tell you that I was dropping by."
"No, it must have slipped Ethan's mind when he came in with the pizzas," Anna Elizabeth began before she continued, "But come in. You're looking for your essay, right?"
"Yep," Liam stated before he walked inside. He then nodded toward Sam surmised, "You're Sam, right? Ethan's girlfriend…uh, I mean wife."
With a small smile, she replied, "Yeah, that's me," placing her hands on her arms. She then asked him, "And I'm guessing that you're Anna Elizabeth's younger brother."
"Mm-hmm," he hummed in response. He then commented, "I knew you had to be Sam. I don't know anyone else with blue hair and tattoos."
Anna Elizabeth shook her head at her brother. She then told him, "It's not like I wasn't expecting it, but you still didn't have to say that."
Liam only shrugged as he said, "What? I didn't mean it as a bad thing."
The blonde only shook her head. She then spoke, "I'm gonna go get your essay. Just be, I don't know, nice, okay?"
He rolled his eyes before she headed to she and Calin's room. He then complained, "I think she forgets sometimes that she's talking to me and not one of her second graders."
Sam couldn't help but chuckle before she offered, "I'm sure she's only trying to help."
"I guess I can be a little outspoken sometimes," Liam admitted, rubbing the back of his head and glancing down.
He then looked back up and said, "I really didn't mean for it to sound like I think you're weird. I mean, you do kind of look it, but you're still pretty cool. Or at least that's what Anna Elizabeth and Calin say."
Despite herself, Sam laughed at his words. She then spoke, "I feel like there's a compliment in there somewhere."
Liam scratched behind his ear as he admitted, "I'm not so, uh, eloquent with words." He then told her, "But you get what I'm trying to say, right? That I shouldn't, like, judge you or whatever for being different."
Sam offered him a genuine smile as she told him, "I do get it. And thanks, Liam. I really appreciate it."
With a nod, Liam then replied, "Sure thing, Sam." He then asked her, "You're a bartender, too, right? That's how you and Ethan met?"
"Yeah, I am. I couldn't see myself doing anything else - I just love talking to everyone," Sam told him, and she couldn't help but smile.
With a tilt of his head, Liam surmised, "I don't guess I've ever thought of it like that." He then paused and continued, "Don't you also, like, love making new drinks? Ethan said something about you making baseball themed ones."
Sam nodded before she elaborated, "Yeah, we get lots of baseball fans in the bar during the season - especially since the owner decided to make the bar its own thing."
She then waved her hand and continued, "Anyway, I've created drinks based on most of the major teams, including one I call "The Shea"."
"You mean like Shea Stadium? Where the Mets played forever?" Liam then asked, his curiosity piqued.
With a smile, Sam answered, "That's the one. It has both orange juice and blueberry juice to represent the colors of the team."
"That's pretty cool. Is that the only Mets one you have?" Liam then said, putting his hands in his pockets.
"For now. But I'm thinking about making one inspired by the Polo Grounds, and one that would be, like, a combo with my Pittsburg Pirate drink," Sam explained, resting her hands on her hips.
Liam's expression turned to one of confusion as he questioned, "Why would you do that?"
Before Sam could answer, Anna Elizabeth came back in the room. The blonde then said, "Here's your essay, Liam. You did a really great job."
He smiled as he told her, "Thanks, Anna Elizabeth. I really appreciate you looking at it for me."
"Sure thing. You know I'm always happy to help," she responded with a smile. He smiled back and nodded at her in response.
The dark-haired teenager then turned his attention back to Sam and asked, "Okay, so what's this about this combination of the Mets and Pirates drink?"
Sam smiled once more as she told him, "That would be because the Mets got their first win against the Pirates in 1962."
"I don't think I knew that. It's pretty cool," Liam told her. He then asked, "How do you know so much about the Mets?"
"Well, I told you that we get lots of baseball fans in the bar. One of those is a good friend of Ethan and mine's - he just spouts off Mets trivia like it's common knowledge or something," Sam explained, and she couldn't help the grin that appeared.
Liam nodded before he asked her, "Do you think we could, maybe, talk more about it tomorrow?"
"Sure. Just find me then," Sam told him. She then teasingly added, "And don't worry, I won't tease you like Ethan does."
Liam only shook his head before he bid his goodbyes. He then headed out the door.
Anna Elizabeth then turned toward her sister-in-law with a wide smile. She then told her, "Look at you two - I think my brother may have found a new baseball buddy."
Sam laughed at that before she spoke, "You really think so? It wasn't that different than talking to my customers – except that he's a few years younger."
"Absolutely. The way to Liam's heart is through baseball," Anna Elizabeth began, a teasing lilt to her tone. She paused before she seriously continued, "All you had to do was be yourself, and Liam thought you were pretty cool. I say that's a pretty good sign that the rest of my family will feel the same."
Sam couldn't help but smile widely as she conceded, "I think you may just be right." Anna Elizabeth smiled back in response before Calin and Ethan came back inside.
Calin walked up beside his wife and tickled their daughter as he spoke, "The tables and chairs are ready for the party."
Elsa giggled while her parents, uncle, and aunt smiled. Anna Elizabeth then said, "Thank you guys for setting everything up."
Calin and Ethan nodded before the latter said, "And now we can eat the pizza. I'm starving."
"That isn't surprising, babe. You're always eating," Sam pointed out, and she couldn't help the chuckle that came after.
Anna Elizabeth and Calin chuckled as well before he teased, "So does this one," nudging his wife in the shoulder, "Sometimes I wonder if she'll ever get full."
The blonde rolled her eyes and shook her head. She then said, "Let's just eat."
Calin, Ethan, and Sam couldn't help but chuckle. Calin then pecked his wife's cheek before he grabbed Elsa's high chair.
As Anna Elizabeth placed the baby girl in the chair, Ethan asked, "Doesn't she eat, like, baby food or something?"
"Actually, she's at the age now where she can eat mostly anything - we just have to make sure we cut everything up," Calin explained as he grabbed plates, cups, and utensils.
Ethan nodded before he surmised, "So basically, she has the same appetite as us."
Calin and Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but chuckle before he offered, "Not quite, but she does eat more than just baby food."
Ethan only hummed in response before he and Sam sat down, just before Calin placed everything on the table.
Sam then piped up, "Can I help with anything?" resting her chin in her hand.
"Actually, yeah. Can you grab a few sodas from the refrigerator? As well as the apple juice."
"Sure thing," Sam told him. She then got up and retrieved the drinks. When she returned to the table, Anna Elizabeth was cutting the pizza into bite-sized pieces for Elsa.
The baby girl had ideas of her own as she kept trying to grab the fork and knife, making sounds as she did so.
Calin then made work of distracting her as he began playing a game of peek-a-boo, making Elsa giggle.
Sam and Ethan smiled at the sight before she offered, "Let's go ahead and fix everyone's drinks."
"I think we can manage that - considering that it's what we do for a living," Ethan told her with a grin.
She rolled her eyes before the two of them poured the drinks, placing them at each plate. When they finished, Sam looked up and asked, "Hey, guys, where's Elsa's…uh, bottle? Or would it be a sippy cup?"
Anna Elizabeth had finished preparing her daughter's food, and she looked up before she answered, "That'd be a sippy cup, but I'll get it. You guys can start eating."
She then got up and walked over to the sink and began washing one of the cups.
Calin then addressed his brother and sister-in-law: "So, tell me about these two new bartenders the owner hired since he made the bar separate."
Ethan swallowed his bite of pizza before he spoke, "Well, the girl is a bit of an airhead, and the guy is a know-it-all."
With a shake of her head, Sam then added, "What he means is that they just needed some help with their knowledge and people skills."
Calin couldn't help but chuckle before he offered, "I take it that Sam was responsible for the training."
"I don't know that his personality of laid-back and sort of non-sympathetic really worked for training," Sam light-heartily replied before she kissed the side of her husband's head.
Anna Elizabeth returned to the table and grabbed the juice before Ethan said, "As long as I'm still working with Sam every day, I don't care who else they hire," with a shrug.
Sam smiled and shook her head while Anna Elizabeth and Calin chuckled. He then offered, "And there's that special brand of an Ethan compliment."
With a grin, Ethan then spoke, "Yeah, but you know you guys still love me."
"Yeah, I guess we do," Anna Elizabeth teased with a grin of her own. She then started to giggle, and she was joined by her husband and sister-in-law.
Ethan then teasingly threw back, "Then I guess I love you guys, too," a satisfied smirk on his face.
His words met with more giggles, as well as head shakes before they continued eating their pizza.
As pleasant conversation - combined with jokes and sarcasm ensued once more - a smile appeared on Sam's face.
She knew that everything would be just fine.