Sam woke up the next morning, she blinked a couple for times as sunlight poured through the lines which had been left open all night. Her little baby girl was getting restless so Sam leant over and picked her up. She cradled her in her arms. Although the night before she'd been upset about Hugh and everything, looking probably down at her daughter Sam felt such an overwhelming rush of love. It was unbelievable. She held her gently. "I promise you darling, no one will ever hurt you. I won't let your daddy come anywhere near you, or let anyone take you away from me."

Sam leant back on the pillows, staring ahead of her. That was a thing she feared, her daughter being taken away from her by social services. That would well and truly break her heart.

The door opened and Abi walked in followed by Jo. "Hey, we came in earlier but you were sleeping still and we didn't want to wake you up."

Sam smiled at them appreciatively.

"How are mother and daughter?" Jo asked.

"Good thanks." Sam said truthfully, they both were good.

"Have you named her yet? Or will she forever been known as baby girl? I got it -- her gangster name!… Baby G!" Jo said with a grin.

Sam shook her head. "No, I'll give her name now …"

"Didn't you ever think about it before?" Abi asked.

"Well Hugh said he wanted Jackie if it was a girl -- which it is." Sam said.

"And you?" Jo asked.

"Well -- I don't actually like the name Jackie. I want … Isabelle, Izzie for short."

"That's cute!" Abi said.

"And then … if you don't mind … Joanne" Sam said to Jo.

Jo shuddered. "I'm touched really, but do you really want to curse you're daughter with such a terrible name?"

Sam nodded. "Yes actually I really want to have that for her second name as it'll remind me of my good friend Jo."

Jo made a little shocked face. "That's also my name."

"Is it ok if Phil comes in, he's patiently waiting outside." Abi said. "Paul couldn't come as he was too lazy and promised to see you later."

"Yeah sure." Sam said.

Phil walked in, he walked over and gave Sam an awkward kiss on the cheek. "Morning."

"Morning." Sam replied.

"This her then?" Phil asked, looking at her.

"Yep little Isabelle Joanne Nixon." Sam smiled down at her.

"Sam she's gorgeous." Phil said kindly. "I was talking to a nurse and it turns out they'll kick you in a couple of days."

"Nice way of putting it." Sam laughed.

"Honestly, that's how they make it seem. It's because they need beds for other people. The rudeness of them." Phil said.

A few hours later Paul walked into the hospital alone, Abi and Paul were at home now. Jo had gone to work but he was keeping to his promise by going to see her. He stopped at the shop and brought some flowers as well as a pink soft cuddly bear. He walked up to where Abi and Phil had said he was only to be redirected to another ward where many more women were with their babies. One woman was cradling a little baby boy with a proud looking man stood next to her. Another didn't have her baby with her but had her husband, and children around her. Paul saw Sam sat at the end and felt sorry for her, she didn't have a husband with her or a big family with her. She was just alone.

Paul took the seat next to her, alerting her to his presence. She turned to him and smiled fondly.

"Where my little niece then?" Paul asked.

"She was taken to the room where all the other newborns are. She's tinier than she should be because she's a month early but she's completely healthy." Sam smiled.

"Well that's good then." Paul said.

"Is it?" Sam asked. "I mean thinking about it, her dad is still Hugh."

"Are you going to write a statement and everything?" Paul asked.

Sam nodded. "Yeah probably."

"I'll stick by you no matter what. As will Abi and Phil." Paul promised.

Sam smiled weakly. "Thank you Paul. It means a lot to me."

"You don't have to be alone in this."

A couple of days later Sam was free to leave, Phil and Paul went to pick her up. Abi stayed at Phil's trying to make it comfier for her and the baby. During the last few days Abi and Phil had been using the key of Sam's to gain access to Hugh's house and little by little taking stuff for the baby. Most of the stuff was gone by now, Phil kept picturing Hugh's face when he finally went back and saw that half his stuff was missing. If he attempted to get Sam and the baby back it made the chances even slimmer if at that house he had nothing whereas Abi and Phil had everything.

Paul and Phil drove in the car in silence. Paul looked across at Phil. "You, love her don't you?"

Phil was taken aback for a moment, he considered lying but then he just sighed. "Yeah. Alright? I love her. Deeply. And I wish this had happened to somebody else because it kills me seeing her like this but at least she's away from Hugh."

Paul considered what he'd said, it was a good answer. It wasn't as if he was after one thing because Paul was pretty sure he'd of given up by now, he had stuck by her this whole time and even let Abi live with him. He was like a firm but fair father to her and Paul was pretty sure Abi liked having him around as a dad rather than like her mum's friend.

Sam walked into the house holding Isabelle. Phil carried a bag they'd put together for her a couple of days ago with all her change of clothes and things in. Sam walked into the living room to find all her and Isabelle's stuff. Sam was shocked.

"We got it all from Hu -- your old house, we used your spare key." Phil said.

Sam nodded once, too moved to speak. Sam laid Isabelle down in her cot before following them through to the living room. Abi was sat there with a boy each nursing a steaming cup of tea.

"Hey1" Abi said, getting up and going to give her mum a hug. She gave her a kiss. "Mum, this id Todd. The one I told you about."

"Oh hi." Sam said kindly.

"Hi, congratulations with the new baby Miss Nixon." Todd said.

Sam smiled. "Thanks."

"I'll make us all tea's. I've just boiled the kettle … erm, we're going out for a movie tonight but I can cancel if you'd rather." Abi said quietly.

"Oh god no, you go have fun. I'll probably be sleeping or something anyway." Sam said.

Abi smiled happily. "Thanks."

That night Abi and Todd went out to the cinema, Paul went back to the hotel to see his wife which left Sam and Phil alone with Isabelle. Sam was halfway through giving Isabelle a wash when Phil came into the bathroom and helped out.

"You don't have to help." Sam said.

"I want to help you wash Izzie." Phil replied.

"It's not only that though it is?" Sam asked. "All through this you've been there. You've helped." Phil shrugged and opened his mouth with no words tumbling out so Sam carried on. "You been great. To me, to Abi, to Paul, and now even to Izzie … you said before, in that underground tunnel place that you loved me. Is that it? Is that what this is all about? Love?"

"Yeah." Phil said quietly. "Yeah I still love you and I have for so long but you don't need this now."

Sam leant up and kissed his cheek. "I've liked you a lot since the weaver encounter, you were there for me so much while Abi was missing you just made it that little bit easier. I'm not promising I can suddenly change back to normal over night but I'll try. And I'd like nothing better than to have you there beside me as I try."

Phil nodded. "I'll help you, I promise I'll help you."

Sam lifted Izzie out of the sink, Phil grabbed the ready laid out baby grow which Sam put her in before she carried her to her cot. Phil followed her and as Sam watched over Izzie who fell asleep almost instantly Phil wrapped an arm around her waist and hugged her.

He knew this was going to be a long and slow process but he knew he wasn't going to let her down. He was going to help her through as much the pain as she wanted him to. If she wanted him he'd be there, if she didn't then he'd stand back and wait for his time to come around again.

You may have noticed that the last bit kind of hints that this is drawing to a close soon but don't worry haha -- sequel :)