Two months passed with no sign of Hugh. It appeared he'd gone on the run to avoid jail, which Sam promised herself was where he was going if she ever laid her hands on him. Sam sat down on the sofa next to Phil one warm summer's evening.

"You not going for a jog tonight?" Phil asked. It had become usual for Sam to take a jog in the morning and evening. It was the way she'd burnt off all the baby podge, now she was pretty much the same size as she'd been before. Even a little more toned than before, which she liked.

"Naa, I just want to spend the night in with you tonight." Sam said smiling as he wrapped an arm around her.

"Ah okay then, I'm glad. I prefer spending time with you rather than without you." Phil said, grinning at her.

They sat watching television for most of the night before going up to bed and just laid with each other. Cuddling and giving soft kisses every now and then. Phil's house had officially become her and Abi's home. They only occasionally went back to the other house but Sam didn't dare sell it in case Phil got bored with her.

It was a worrying thought, she didn't know whether the kind Phil was just a faze before he went back to flirting with loads of women.

But laying in her arms that night made her feel safe and happy. She didn't have any dreams in which Hugh's face haunted her like she did most nights nowadays. Sam awoke early the next morning and looked at the clock. She had literally five minutes before Izzie would start crying because she wanted feeding. Izzie had quickly got into a routine in which time she wanted to wake up. 6:34 am. Every morning.

Sam walked over to her little girl and waited patiently for Izzie to wake up. Sure enough Izzie woke up and yawned widely. Sam smiled down at her and took her hand. Shaking it gently in a playful way. Izzie blinked a couple of times and focused on her. Already recognising a few people, like her mummy, Abi, Phil and 'auntie' Jo. Everyone else she kind of looked at like they were strangers.

Phil woke up and ran his hand down where Sam should be laying. He shot up and looked down to see Sam sat with Izzie cradling her after the feed. Phil smiled and relaxed, glad nothing bad had happened. He looked at the clock. It now read 7:06. He had to get up, get ready for work.

Sam looked at herself in the mirror, she had a black pair of trousers on with a light blue three quarter length top. Her hair was down and resting on her shoulders. She sighed as she looked at herself wondering if this was a good idea. Phil walked in and looked at her, worry etched into her face.

"Sam baby, what's wrong?" Phil asked.

"I just … are you sure I'm doing the right thing? Going back to work and leaving Izzie? I mean work was what pulled Abi and I apart, I don't want that to happen with Izzie. Especially with Hugh out there, what if me going back to work gives him ammunition to come back? What if he knows we're both going back to work and he's been waiting for his chance to take Izzie? I mean he could come and he could -"

Phil silenced her with a kiss. "Don't worry about it, she'll be fine. Abi'll be here, as will her boyfriend Todd and his little boy as well as Paul."

Sam smiled reassured by a great deal. Paul had decided to let his manager look after the salon up North while he set up a new one in Sun Hill. He'd been planning on doing it for a while and Sun Hill seemed to be a good place since his sister was living there and needed as much support as possible. Grace was willing to move, she could see how Paul wanted to help so much.

Sam picked Izzie up from her cot where she'd been playing with a soft stuffed toy. She kissed her soft head and took her downstairs. Placing her on the play mat Izzie wriggled around playing while Sam went to get breakfast off Phil. Abi stumbled into the kitchen yawning.

"Schmorning Mum. Phil."

Sam smiled "Hey sweetheart. Sleep alright?"

Abi nodded. "How are you though?"

"I'm ok, bit jittery -- well naturally, I mean most of the people at work saw me run out on Hugh with no explanation."

"It'll be fine, I'm sure they've been told by now it's probably old news." Abi said, she looked at Phil for confirmation who nodded.

"Yeah, they would have gotten over it by now. You may get a few sympathetic glances though." Phil said.

"Oh joy."

"It'll be fine, I'll be there." Phil hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

Jack walked into the CID office and saw Sam sat at her desk quietly getting on with some work. It was good to see her walking normal hours and with her usual personality rather than how Hugh sculpted her. Jack walked over to her desk.

"Sam, I want you to talk to Ramini." Jack told her.

"Oh ok, any reason why?" Sam asked confused.

"I'd like you to give her a statement about everything that happened with Hugh." Jack told her gently.

"Oh right, yeah ok then." Sam said. Inside she felt worried, having to actually say it out loud to someone would make it seem so much more real. "Do I have to go right now or can I have some time to think about it, remember everything?"

"I'll give you some time." jack said. "I'll be back to tell you that you have t go later."

"Ok thanks."

Jack left and Sam got up, she walked over to the water cooler and got a drink. Phil watched her go before getting up and casually walking over. "You alright?"

"I have to go and give a statement about H … him to Ramini." Sam said. "I'm just … I'm worried about giving a statement."

"Look you don't have to be worried he won't come after you again."

"No, it's not about the future it's about the past. It's about dragging it all up, saying it out loud and reliving it all over again."

Phil put and arm around her shoulders. "I can't say I know what you're going through or that it won't be painful but you're a strong woman. The more you say it, yeah the more it seems to real but it's also the easier way to move on because you're letting it out."

Tears slipped out of Sam's eyes at his kind words, Phil brushed them away and hugged her. She pulled back. "Thanks, we'd better get on with some work eh?"

"Yeah."

Sam had just sat down at her desk when the DCI walked in. "You ready to go and talk with Ramini."

"Yeah," she looked up and caught Phil's eye. Giving him a smile. "I'm ready."

She took a deep steadying breath, she was ready. Ready to tell her what Hugh had done and move on with her life. Now that Phil, Abi, Izzie, Paul and even Grace were in her life she was happy to move onwards.

That's the end of an era -- for now. Like I said sequel, but please do say if you don't think a sequel should be done. I'd rather know now before I start wasting my time writing and you're time by you reading something you don't think should of happened.

Big shout out and virtual sun rays to: Emma, Vikki, Ami, zainnadir33, Kelly, nixon-sam, thebillnut, dolphincrazy, ice 224, jake224, Gabiace, Abi, Gemz, Laura, CarrotLucky13, lil-skating-lindz, S-Nixon, Smicky, Amy, I-LUV-WILLTURNER, sam-qwen-nixon, Katie, Rose Tyler611, becca996, mansonfreak, PS4EVA, && spalways.

Cheers you lot for your reviews! Woot 153!!