I'm having far too much fun poking fun at Sam's parents, although I do know there were some of that generation who might have reacted just as the Stewarts do here. It was mentioned in the reviews that we really don't know much about Sam's parents. We met her father once and he seemed to be a bit of a dull stick in the mud, except when helping Milner with the art piece. There I think we get to see a little of his intelligence and a bit of Sam's spirit. Sam's mother only gets mentions but it seems she is frail, if not in body then certainly in spirit. Sam seems to get most of her personality from her Uncle Aubrey, thank goodness. Anyway, I hope you enjoy. As always, reviews and comments are much appreciated!

The next morning was not any more comfortable for the Foyles. They'd been caught in a rather passionate embrace over the clean dishes the night before by Mrs. Stewart, sending her into a flutter. The look from the Reverend Stewart over breakfast told Christopher that the woman had informed her husband of the apparently untoward activities in their kitchen. The older man was looking him as if he'd committed a great crime, must be the eye Sam spoke of…

Sam hardly looked up from her plate, afraid a glance at her mother would send the poor woman into another tizzy and even more fearful of 'the eye' from her father. She did glance Christopher's way a time or two, who did his very best to remain neutral even though he was caught between wanting to give the Stewarts an earful and bursting into laughter. It really would be humorous if it wasn't causing Sam so much agony.

Finally the meal was finished and Sam offered to help her mother clean up. Christopher stood to offer his help as well, but a stern look from his father-in-law froze him in place. Apparently the man wanted a word with him. Well, might as well get it over with, Christopher thought.

The men went into Iain Stewart's study. "Take a seat," the older man instructed in a tone Christopher recognized from his days of interrogating witnesses, or worse the criminals themselves. But he did as he was told, his temper slowly raising a notch. The humor of the situation was eroding in his mind. Stewart sat at his desk. His seat of power, Christopher reflected.

"My wife informed me of your behavior in the kitchen last night, Christopher." The man paused, letting his unspoken admonishment sink in. Except it wasn't sinking in with Christopher. Instead of feeling chastised, his temper rose.

"Oh, and what behavior is that Iain?" He deliberately used the man's given name and used a pointed inflection as a way of warning that the older man should tread lightly.

"Your… manhandling of my daughter." The tone now dripped with repulsion.

Christopher leaned back in his seat, careful to keep an expression of nonchalance in his face. "If what you mean by manhandling is that I embraced my wife and kissed her to show my unfailing devotion, then I am unsure where the problem is."

"We're just unused to such… such open displays in our home," the clergyman shot back.

"Open displays? We were alone until your wife walked in. And surely, you and she have engaged in similar activities from time to time. I can assure you that Sam has my respect and admiration and I would never do anything to sully her reputation. But I will not refrain from showing her my regard when in private."

"But… you weren't in private; you were in my kitchen."

Christopher's eyes narrowed. The man was determined to see the worst of the situation and could not be contented that his daughter had found happiness with someone who cared deeply for her. Standing, Christopher looked across at his father-in-law. "Yes, we were in your kitchen. Alone. And now, I think I will ask my wife to show me around the village, alone."

The ladies were just finishing when Christopher strode into the kitchen. Smiling at his wife, he suggested a walk through the village, which she agreed to quickly, far too quickly.

Once they were out of sight of the vicarage, Sam linked her arm through Christopher's and leaned into him slightly. "Mother was just horrible," she said sadly. "She said I disgraced her and Father by carrying on with you last night in the kitchen."

"Mmm, your father gave me a similar lecture."

"Honestly, I thought after the way they were at the wedding that perhaps finally they were seeing me as my own person, an adult. I hoped… well, it doesn't matter what I hoped for, does it? I'll always be a child that needs protecting in their eyes."

"Understandable. At times, I feel the same about Andrew. "

"Right. But you don't treat him like a child," she said angrily.

"Nup, not unless he is acting like one." Then Christopher stopped and turned to look at her fully. "Sam, I am sorry. I thought you were underestimating your parents and their ability to see you as a grown, married woman. But it seems you were entirely correct. I should have given you more credit for knowing your own parents."

Sam smiled at him, a warm beautiful smile that lightened his heart. "Kiss me."

"Whut?" he asked as he glanced around them.

"You heard me, Christopher Foyle. "Kiss me."

"But we're…"

"I know. Kiss me anyway."

A smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, Christopher looked down momentarily. "Wull, if you insist."

"I do," she replied brightly. So he did. Christopher Foyle kissed Samantha Foyle, nee Stewart, soundly in the middle of the main road through the village, not 500 yards from the church.

Once the kiss ended, Sam took his arm again and they resumed their stroll. "That'll give Father and Mother something to really get worked up over long after we've returned home," she said smugly. "The villagers will wag their tongues for weeks over it." Her husband's mouth slid down into his inverted smile as he matched her pace along the road. "Mmm, certainly will."

Their walk lasted almost an hour and by the time they returned to the Stewart cottage, everyone seemed calmer although Christopher noticed a new coolness towards him from Iain. Well, if that was the way it was to be, he thought he could tolerate it for Sam's sake. Could be worse.

It wasn't until after lunch that Christopher decided the whole situation was becoming ridiculous and he and Sam should share their news, let the Stewarts react however they might, and be off in the morning for home. With all of them sitting together again in the front room, idly chatting about the changes since the end of the war and the continued rationing, Christopher gave his wife a meaningful look. Her eyes went wide and then she ducked her chin, silently acknowledging both that it was time and that she didn't have the courage for it. Naturally, Christopher took the lead.

"While we are enjoying the chance to visit with you, Sam and I chose to come now because we've some news we thought you might like to hear."

Both parents looked alarmed. Christopher could see Mrs. Stewart already winding herself up for a full on spell of nerves. The Reverend simply looked wary. "News? I hope you haven't taken a job and are moving farther away?"

"No, no we're not moving anywhere. I did have an offer in London but turned it down. Didn't think Sam or I would be very happy there for the long term. No, our news is a bit more …"

"I'm pregnant," Sam suddenly blurted. Christopher looked across to see her sitting rigidly upright in her chair, staring straight ahead, afraid to look at anyone.

"Pregnant? Oh my…" Mrs. Stewart simpered.

Iain cleared his throat. "No need to be quite so abrupt, Samantha."

"Oh… sorry," Sam said as she tucked her head again in shame. That was the last straw for Christopher. "Surely you can understand, Iain, that Sam is excited to be expecting but also somewhat nervous as to your reaction, yours and her mother's? You haven't ermm… exactly been supportive of her since we arrived and…"

"I resent that, Christopher. We've always been very supportive. "

"Beg pardon, Iain, but that's not the way I see it or what Sam has felt. And now she's expecting your first grandchild and as you can imagine, she's been quite worried about telling you. I tried to assure her that you would be happy at the news but since we've arrived, I've reevaluated that opinion."

"But why?" Mrs. Stewart asked quietly. "She knows I've looked forward to grandchildren."

"Because, Mrs. Stewart, while you may have looked forward to grandchildren, you … neither of you….seem to have much tolerance for what gets you those grandchildren."

Mrs. Stewart began to flutter again, gasping at breaths and fanning herself. "Oh my…"

Iain was beside her immediately. "Now dear, no need to upset yourself. We have known that they are married and consequently our Samantha was no longer….chaste. Please try to breathe." His words were gentle enough but the look he gave Christopher was murderous.

Christopher looked over at Sam, who seemed shaken as well. "You alright?" he asked softly. A quick nod of her head assured him she was, so he returned his attention to the Stewarts. Finally she calmed down and Iain sat back in his chair, still giving Christopher accusatory glances.

"Ho… how far along are you, Samantha," her mother asked meekly.

"About three months now, well actually a little more… really."

Christopher watched as her mother did the math inside her head. "Oh that means… oh my…you really do have a robust marriage then. It took your father and I years to… " Suddenly she clamped her mouth shut and looked guiltily at her husband.

Iain was rigid but didn't look angry. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Christopher. "I suppose we assumed that … well, you are older, Christopher. We thought it might be a marriage of convenience and not necessarily love and consequently less physical than if you were more Samantha's age."

At that Sam giggled. It wasn't a quiet giggle either, but a full, lively one. Three sets of eyes looked at her in perplexity, her husband's perhaps the most perplexed of all. "I'm sorry," she said as she continued to giggle. "It's just that…. Older or not, Christopher isn't ready for the pasture just yet. Not at all."

His faced flushed red, Christopher endured the startled stares of his in-laws. "Erm… no," he finally choked out, trying not to let Sam's laughter cause his own.

It took a few moments for Sam to get over her giggles, the Stewarts get over their shock, and Christopher to tamp down his embarrassment. Finally, it was Iain that smiled. "Well, this calls for a celebration. I don't often indulge but shall we all have a small bit of cheer celebrate your good news?"

Christopher thought that while a small bit would be welcome, he needed more than just a bit. It would have to suffice, he supposed as he accepted Iain's offer of a sherry. Feeling that Sam's parents had been won over, he decided to add to the celebration. "Wull, in observance of the occasion, won't you let me take us all out tonight, for dinner?" His suggestion was met with approval and the conversation eased back into a more comfortable state. The topics this time were more close to home, however, as the women talked of baby things and Iain launched into a homily about the joys of fatherhood with Christopher.

Christopher and Sam did return to Hastings the next day, far more relaxed than they'd felt when they left two days before and both vowing it would be a long while until the trip was repeated.