Sorry, I'm a day late with this. I hope you enjoy. I'm afraid it is written a bit tongue in cheek but it really is rather ridiculous the way we sometimes write Christopher with a ravenous appetite that can keep up a pace that would challenge even the most randy teen. So I thought I'd have a little fun with the meeting of that notion and what would probably be more the reality. As always, I love to hear your thoughts!

Christopher watched Sam closely over the next few weeks, worrying that she might be doing too much, taxing her energy and her body's ability to carry the child. Sam was doing more than just watching him, however. Her appetite seemed to grow exponentially, both at the table and in the bedroom. He had prided himself in his youth on his ability to recover reasonably quickly and perform encore performances, sometimes two or three. Thanks to Sam's craving, his abilities were being challenged nightly... and often in the mornings too. A few times she'd even cornered him mid day. Frankly, while he felt quite chuffed by the attention, he was also wearing out, he feared.

He stopped in to speak with J.J. Josephson about the matter.

After a very awkward explanation of what was happening and his own fears, Christopher finished with, "I don't remember Rosalind being this way at all. There was more frequency but... I don't recall her being so... so... " HIs face twisted in confusion as he grappled with it all.

Josephson chuckled. "It's the hormones, old chap. Your Samantha's are in full bloom. It will pass, in time. But for now, they are rather active and so she is rather demanding. I understand that you are concerned, both for her and for yourself. While you certainly are in good health, you just can't keep up with her hormones. My advice is to talk to her or perhaps just keep her distracted to give yourself some recovery time. But be prepared; you will be expected to report for duty more than usual for another month or two."

Foyle left the doctor's office no more at ease than he had been when he arrived. But perhaps J.J. had given him a plan of sorts. If he could just keep Sam distracted enough...

Just the very next morning, he'd begged off and remembering J.J.'s suggestion that he talk to her, he tried.. "Please darling," he'd almost entreated, "give an old man a reprieve." She'd accepted his plea and responded. "I'm sorry darling, it's just that I find you so irresistible." And in the end she got what she was after.

That evening as he sat with his evening paper, he could feel her intense gaze and found himself feeling sympathy for a mouse just as a cat is about to pounce. Problem was, as tired as he felt, his little soldier insisted on responding to her call to duty. Thankfully she sensed his weariness and allowed him light duty for the night.

Upon waking in the morning, Christopher glanced over at his young wife and decided perhaps a proper breakfast might satisfy her appetite this morning and he might be spared the strain of being uppermost on her menu. Sliding carefully from the bed, he donned his dressing gown and slippers and crept from the room.

It wasn't that he might have been incapable of responding to her advances, but so much activity tended to lessen the strength of his response. As he busied himself in the kitchen, he contemplated how to convince Sam that perhaps less might be more. With a twist of his mouth, admitted to himself humorously that at her current pace, he might be dead by year's end.

Once the food was prepared, he placed it ne a tray along with a cup of tea and carried it up to his still dreaming wife. He set it safely on the bureau and stood next to the bed watching is wife's sweet repose. As if she sensed his presence, her eyelids fluttered opened and she looked up at him through squinted eyes. "Christopher?"

"Morning love. I erm... thought you might have an appetite after our late night. Brought breakfast," he said through a twitch of his lips.

"Mmmmm," she sighed with a small smile. And then her eyes opened wider. "Do I smell bacon?" Her head came up as she peered toward the tray.

"You do," he replied with a satisfied smirk.

"Oh... well, I'll just visit across the hall and be right back," she said as she began to crawl out of bed. Christopher helped her with her dressing gown and watched her trudge through the door with a twinkle in his eyes. Managed that distraction quite well...

They enjoyed their breakfast together, Sam back in bed and Christopher seated on a chair next to it. She'd suggested he climb back in but he'd rightfully recognized that as a trap which he managed to avoid.

Once the food was gone, Sam leaned back against the headboard and sighed. "I could wake up like this every morning," she said wistfully. But then she turned and frowned at him. "Except you weren't next to me."

His lips pulled at one side as he contemplated a response. "Wull, couldn't be here and prepare your breakfast. Aand ... wanted to surprise you with it. Spoil you a bit, perhaps..."

"Oh, you do, my darling man," she cooed. Then lifting the covers she looked at him blatantly. "Now come give me another surprise... or better, perhaps I might surprise you," she said cheerily.

Uh oh... trapped... Christopher stood and smiled at her. "I've a better idea. Let's pack a basket and go to the river. I can catch a few fish to fill out the larder and you can lounge in the shade with that new book you've been reading. then we can enjoy a light lunch before returning to town. "

Her face fell but with a deep sigh, she nodded. "Alright, if you insist. You really are serious about me letting you off the hook though, aren't you?"

Feeling a bit churlish, his smile fell. "Nnot trying to get off your hook, Sam. Happily hooked for life. Jjjust, can't quite keep up with the pace you've set of late."

She looked at him, puzzled. "But you... I mean, every time we've... you've...?"

His smile folded down as his chin dipped. "Yes. Bbut, wull... erm... my ability to rise to the occasion is somewhat hindered by so many... occasions so close together. Little spacing would be appreciated."

Her mouth formed a rather large "O" as she digested what he had tried to tell her. "Oh, I see... I think. So you're not going off on me, just... too much of a good thing?"

"Exactly love. Perhaps we could slow the pace a bit, enjoy things more?"

"But I though men... I thought it is all you think about." She blushed vividly.

Christopher felt her blush rising in him as well. "Wull, younger men p'haps. But as we get older we do find time for a few other thoughts. Aand I've certainly put more thought into it... you... more than I did in all the years after losing Rosalind. Can't expect to keep going as we have these last weeks though."

She settled into a resigned smile. "Alright then, rationing in all things, it seems. But I still expect..."

"Regular supplies, Sam. Wouldn't have it otherwise."

And so after a few minutes of tidying themselves and the kitchen, the Foyle's set off for a leisurely day at the river, both wearing rather satisfied smiles that had everyone they met along the way wondering.