N.B. Thank you, thank you, thank you all for the reviews! Sorry for the cliff-hanger hehe… For my Dynamos & the Livettes…Mwahs girlies xxx

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Chapter 3 Falling out

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Sam was smiling at Donna, trying desperately to diffuse the uncomfortable situation he was now facing. Making it all the more difficult, was the fact that her best friend was now staring at him too, wanting to hear the explanation about to fall from his lips…He'd got drunk. He'd messed up, but it wasn't what his wife was thinking. Donna was obviously thinking the worst, that he'd committed the ultimate sin of adultery and it was plainly visible in her eyes as she stared intensely at him. She wasn't crying, but the tears were there, waiting for his confession of guilt the start them off on their salty dissent down her cheeks. It was only the feeling of anger that was keeping Donna upright, as it coursed through her hormonal body and took a suffocating hold on her heart…Who was she? How could he?, were the two important questions filtering into her mind and making her feel the sudden urge to throttle the answers out of her husband.

"Donna, I was stupid." Sam finally said, pausing as his wife's other friend walked over and instantly picked up on the tense atmosphere in the courtyard.

Shooting Tanya a warning glance, Rosie held her finger over her lips, to let her friend know, she should just shut up and sit down. Tanya was about to ask what was going on, but upon seeing Rosie's face, she did as she was silently asked and quickly sat down. Now all three women were concentrating fully on Sam and he was beginning to feel outnumbered. He felt like a small animal, being slowly rounded up by three hungry lionesses and he felt slightly intimidated by them.

Running his hand through his dark hair, Sam peered at his wife. "Can we do this upstairs?" He asked, feeling the need to tell her all in private, without the audience of her backup girls.

"No." Donna answered coldly, her arms still wrapped tightly around herself. "If it's as innocent as you say, then you'll have no problem telling me in front of my friends… Unlike you, they don't keep secrets from me Sam."

"Eww, what the hell is that horrible smell?" Tanya cut in, picking up his shirt from the table, before Sam could say another word. "Oh dear Sam. I think it's time to man-up and tell us what you've been up to." She added, flinging the shirt back down and earning herself a sharp kick under the table from a scowling Rosie.

Sighing, Sam placed his hands in the pockets of his jeans and stared down at the floor like a naughty schoolboy. "When we'd secured the Cipriani contract, James insisted we went out to celebrate." He said quietly, slowly looking back up at his expressionless wife. "We'd had a few drinks in the hotel bar…Well more than a few actually and then I got dragged along to…" He trailed off, watching Donna's eyes narrow at him.

Ignoring the snorting noise, Tanya made at the sound of her ex-husband's name, Donna pursed her lips. "Go on." She urged, her tone not softening one bit.

"A strip club." Responded Sam, he too ignoring the loud sighs coming from the Dynamos and instead fixing his gaze on his wife.

Donna laughed sarcastically and shook her head at her husband. "Really, a strip club?…I bet it didn't take a lot to drag you there did it?" She asked, her anger once again engulfing her entire body and not allowing her building tears to fall. "Do you know, you men are all the same. Your brain's lead by your crotch."

Moving a few steps closer to his angry wife, Sam tried to smile at her again. "Nothing happened Donna. I promise." He said, desperately trying to make eye contact with her, as she looked away.

"Bullshit Carmichael." Hissed Donna, her head snapping back to meet his gaze. "If nothing happened, why does your shirt smell like some sleazy brothel?"

The two Dynamos were feeling extremely out of place, listening to this fight between husband and wife, although Tanya was rather enjoying the early morning entertainment. The pair sat there, as if watching a tennis match, their heads going left and right, listening to the warring couple. If anyone else were to have seen them, it might have looked quite comical. It wasn't funny for Donna though. She was getting more and more wound up, as Sam kept divulging details of his little illicit escapade in the Big Apple.

"If you really want to know, then I'll tell you." Said Sam, shaking his head. "We were having a drink and before I knew what was happening, James slipped one of the dancers a few notes and she was all over me like a rash…Giving me a lap dance." He continued, trying to gage just how mad his wife was at him. "Now before you start jumping to conclusions darling, I want you to know I tried to stop her. But short of throwing the woman across the room, there was nothing I could do to stop her getting up close to me."

Donna's eyes widened and she couldn't stop herself gritting her teeth. "You bastard." She exclaimed, her body beginning to tremble with rage. "Nothing you could do? How about not going to a place like that in the first place?"

"Ut oh." Whispered Rosie, nudging an open mouthed Tanya, knowing their friend was about to completely blow her top at her husband.

It was all becoming too much for Donna to handle and she could feel her blood pressure rising with every second she looked at her disgraced husband…Her husband. The man that was supposed to love, honour and obey her. The man she had given her all too. The man that she'd sacrificed her independence for. The man that was now confessing to letting another woman touch something that was supposed to be hers and only hers…He's a man, he thinks with his cock. Deep down they're all the same. Not giving their wife's a second thought, as the thrill of another woman showing an interest in them, throws all rational thinking out of the window. What the wife doesn't know, won't hurt her. Just one of the guys…All these thoughts were swirling through Donna's now aching head and she was starting to feel nauseous once more.

"Donna it wasn't like that sweetheart. Believe me." Pleaded Sam, trying his best to make his wife see reason. "It was all over in a matter of minutes and I was out of there. I went straight back to The Plaza and that's when I called you. I love you and would never cheat on you. Do you really think I'd risk everything for a quickie with a damn stripper?" He asked, moving even closer to Donna and reaching out to touch her arm.

His question was answered with an ear splitting slap across his face, that seemed to echo around the whole courtyard. Both the Dynamos flinched at the severity of their best friend's actions and sat in utter silence, neither of them willing to step in to calm her down. Donna stared into her husband's now watering eyes for a few agonising seconds, hoping she'd made her point clear to him. Nodding slowly, Sam never broke eye contact with her. He knew that he'd probably deserved it. He'd let her down and Donna felt betrayed by him…Oh shit, Sam thought, realising this had not gone well for him in the slightest.

"I'm sat at home, pregnant with your child, while you disappear thousands of miles away on so called business." Donna said calmly, finally breaking the awkward silence and pointing her finger at him. "But do you know what Carmichael?…I don't need you around to raise this child. I did a perfectly good job with Sophie when you got bored and fucked off home. I didn't need you then and I certainly don't need you now…Go back to New York." She finished, without giving him another look and hurriedly walking off in the direction of the beach.

"Fuck." Muttered Sam, turning and watching his wife disappear out of view down the stone steps. "What a mess." He added, looking down at the Dynamos, who were both looking as concerned as he was.

Standing up, Tanya walked around the table and came to a stop next to Sam. "Well I think we can say…You fucked up big time Samuel." She said, shaking her head at him. "I can't believe James still goes to those places…And he thought I never knew. Idiot."

Sitting back down, Sam closed down the top of his laptop and looked up at Rosie. "Is she ever going to forgive me?" He asked, his voice full of remorse, as he managed to keep the tears at bay.

"To be perfectly honest with you Sam, I don't know honey. I've never seen Donna so pissed before…And believe me, I've seen her pissed a lot of times over the years." Answered Rosie, with a nervous laugh. "I would've thought that slap might have confirmed it for you." She continued, briefly pointing at the stinging red mark on his face.

Raising his hand to his face, Sam nodded slowly. The Dynamo was right, he too had never seen Donna that angry and she packed quite a slap to prove it…He could've hit himself for being so easily lead by his partner because by the sounds of it, those type of places were a regular haunt for James. He should have known better, stayed firm and not gone along with it. But the truth of the matter was, he was drunk and they were celebrating, not only the business deal, but James's impending marriage to Helen on New Years Eve. It really had been just like he'd told his wife. He wasn't denying he was there to look, but he was in no way there to touch and with a flash of the cash, James had changed all that… Has it changed everything with Donna? I'm not leaving. I can't, Sam told himself, as he felt Tanya place her hand on his shoulder.

"Honey… She's hormonal, upset and wants to kill you right now…But you must know Donna didn't mean it right?" Tanya asked, all of a sudden becoming uncharacteristically sympathetic towards a man. "She loves you and that's why she's feeling threatened, because she's pregnant and thinks you don't find her attractive anymore."

Shaking his head, Sam smiled as he thought back to his return home. "That's just ridiculous." He replied, sitting back in his chair. "If anything I find her even more attractive than ever."

Leaning forward in her seat, Rosie tried to reassure Sam and smiled. "Well then, you have to let her know that." She said, gently tapping his leg.

"Yeah, but don't be surprised if Donna follows that slap up with swift kick to your balls beforehand Sammy boy." Commented Tanya, helping herself to a cup of now much needed coffee and resulting in Rosie rolling her eyes at her comment.

Thinking for a few minutes, Sam sighed loudly. "Well whatever it takes…I need to win her back." He said quietly to no one in particular.

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Doing well to have avoided her husband for most of the day, Donna had spent a lot of time on her own, just thinking. Thinking her predicament over and over in her head, she didn't know if she'd overreacted or not, but all she knew, was that she was angry with Sam. She didn't know what angered her more though; the fact that her supposedly faithful husband had been eyeing up skinny, topless women, or that he'd allowed himself to get taken to a place like that in the first place…Obviously I'm not enough for him anymore. It's because I'm fat. It's because we hadn't had sex for a few weeks…Donna's mind had gone into overdrive, trying to work out what had attracted her husband to a strip club in New York. She was in a foul mood, as she stopped walking barefooted across the warm sand and finally sat down. Taking in the breathtaking scenery of the island, Donna relaxed back and let the bright sun warm her body. If it wasn't for her little problem, all would've been near perfect and she could look forward to Christmas day. As it stood, she couldn't. Not only had she fallen out with her husband, but her Daughter was absent too.

"Ah, the elusive Sheridan." Said Tanya, walking up behind her friend and carefully sitting down in the sand next to her. "I've been looking for you for ages honey…You okay?" She asked, turning to face the blonde with a caring smile.

Shaking her head, Donna gazed out across the azure blue ocean. "Yeah, I'm just fantastic babe." She answered sarcastically, placing a protective hand on her bump. "It's been a wonderful day."

Tanya should've expected that response. She knew Donna was far from alright, but she didn't know what else to ask. With Rosie helping Sam, to try and think of a way to win his wife round, Tanya had been sent to check on Donna. Smoothing out her expensive Versace dress, the brunette bit her lip, as she thought of what to say next.

"Donna…Sam didn't mean to hurt you." Said Tanya, watching as her friend's body tensed and Donna turned to face her. "He loves you honey. He messed up that's all." She finished, reaching out and gently stroking a strand of blonde hair behind Donna's ear.

Choking back the tears, Donna leant against her best friend's shoulder and sighed deeply. "Did he send you here?" She asked in almost a whisper, her heart slowly breaking into tiny pieces.

Wrapping a comforting arm around Donna's shoulder, Tanya shook her head. "No sweetie." She replied, tightening her hold on her friend. "I wanted to know you were going to be okay and to tell you that Sam is truly sorry for what he did…If you think about it, that stupid ex-husband of mine is to blame for all this. It's a shame none of those plates I threw at the bastard, hit the target."

Donna couldn't help but let out a little giggle through her sniffles. Trust Tanya to have her laughing again. With everything that was going on, it was great that Donna had her friends their with her and without their support, she knew she'd not be able to hold it together as much as she had. The Dynamos had brought a whole knew meaning to the words, backup girls.

"Do you think he doesn't find me attractive anymore?" Asked Donna quietly, wiping her tears with her fingertips. "I know I've out on a bit of weight, but I'm pregnant for Christ's sake."

"God no." Tanya answered, rolling her eyes at her friend's suggestion. "Honey, Sam told me and the little hermit, that he finds you even more attractive carrying his baby." She continued, stroking Donna's arm. "That man is head over heels in love with you and why wouldn't he be? You're beautiful, intelligent and loyal."

Laughing once more, Donna raised her head and looked at her friend. "My god, you make me sound like a dog." She said, wiping away the last of her flowing tears. "Loyal?"

Giggling too, Tanya gave Donna a gentle squeeze. "Shut up Sheridan. You know what I mean." She answered, wiping away one of her own tears, as it escaped her. "This emotional shit doesn't come easy for me."

Both women knew it all too well. With Tanya's new 'fuck 'em and chuck 'em' attitude, she didn't allow herself to get emotionally attached anymore. To her, all men were the same and only thought of one thing…Themselves. Her relationships had been disastrous, but there was something about the Carmichael's, that left her with a glimmer of hope, that one day, she too would find complete happiness with someone. Until that day came, Tanya had now promised herself, she'd do all she could, to help get her friend's marriage back on track. Donna was still upset, but little did she know, Sam was in the process of working together with Rosie and trying to make things right again.

"So are you going to forgive Mr. Sexy Ass?" Asked Tanya, giving Donna a quick peck on the cheek before standing. "Because if you don't want him…I'm sure there's plenty of other women that would jump at the chance of jumping him." She added, dusting the remaining sand from her dress and letting out a throaty laugh. "Yours truly included of course."

Feigning a shocked expression, Donna shook her head as she peered up at Tanya. "Don't you even think about it." She said, straightening her back and laughing. "Keep your filthy paws off my man."

Laughing once more at Donna's reaction, Tanya turned and started to walk off towards the steps. "Fighting talk Sheridan. That's more like it." She called back over her shoulder.

Alone once more, Donna sat and thought about her conversation with Tanya. She had been right, loads of women would love to get with Sam, but he was spoken for. A ring on a mans finger sometimes wasn't enough to deter certain women from going after them and only added to the thrill of the chase. Deep down, Donna should have known her husband wasn't the type of man to fall into the honey trap. He loved her more than life itself, as she did him and after all, he had come back for her after ending his engagement. It was Donna that had quickly moved on, needing to fill that empty void in her heart, that Sam had taken with him…What we have, surely needs fighting for, Donna reassured herself, as she gentle stroked her bump and lost concentration staring at the ground in front of her.

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"Do you think Donna will like this?" Sam asked worriedly, as he stirred a wooden spoon round in a pan of rich, creamy sauce.

Smiling at him, Rosie threw a handful of herbs into the mixture and took over with the stirring. "Sam, you want to get things sorted with Donna don't you?" She asked, as her glasses got steamed up with heat coming from the hob.

"Yes, of course I do." Answered Sam frowning, as he rested back against the worktop and watched Rosie work her magic.

"Well then, you leave the food part to me and you get practising what you're going to say to her later." Rosie said with a smile, as she glanced up at him and added a few more vital ingredients to the bubbling pan.

Sam nodded and smiled back at the Dynamo. In reality, he had so much he wanted to say to his wife, but he wasn't sure she wanted to hear it in her frame of mind. Leaving Rosie in the kitchen, Sam walked across the courtyard and made his way to the reception. He sat down at Donna's desk and pulled out a piece of writing paper from the top drawer. Deciding to write Donna a heartfelt letter, Sam started writing exactly what he wanted her to know. It was sincere and from the heart, as the words came pouring out onto the paper…If this doesn't work, then nothing will, Sam thought to himself, as he finally finished and signed his name at the bottom of the page, along with a simple kiss. Finding an envelope in one of the drawers, Sam carefully folded the letter and stuffed it inside before sealing it. He still had some work to drop off at the couriers on the mainland, so leaving the letter with the Dynamos to pass onto his wife, Sam left the island for a few hours.

Feeling a little bit better about things, Donna left the beach and walked up the old stone steps, into the courtyard. She instantly came across her two best friends, as they sat at the bar enjoying a late afternoon drink together. They were laughing and chatting amongst themselves and didn't notice Donna until she walked up behind them.

"Something smells good." Said Donna, making both Dynamos jump with fright and giggling as they both nearly choked on their wine. "I can't believe it, I can't even smell burning."

Placing her large wine glass down on the bar, Rosie laughed sarcastically at her remark. "Yeah funny Donna." She said, reaching for something laying by her glass. "This is for you love." She finished, handing the blonde the white envelope.

Looking down at it, Donna took the envelope out of her friend's hand. She recognised the distinctive handwriting straight away and swallowed softly. It was that of her husband's, but what she didn't know, was why he was writing to her…Oh my god, he's gone. It's a goodbye letter. He's actually listened to me and gone back to New York, she thought to herself, as her thumb trailed over her name on the front. Donna could feel a lump forming in her throat and hot tears welling up in her eyes. Her husband had been the one in the wrong and now she was the one feeling like crap because of it.

"Well aren't you going to open it?" Tanya asked, bringing Donna out of her private thoughts. "Let's see what Sammy Boy has to say for himself." She finished, taking a long sip of Pinot Grigio.

Shaking her head, Donna held the envelope tight against her chest. "I think I'd rather do this on my own." She said quietly, forcing a smile at her best friends and walking away towards her bedroom.

Her legs felt like lead, with every step towards the room and finally reaching her destination, Donna closed the door behind her. She sat down on the edge of the bed and slowly ripped open the envelope, taking the folded letter out. She stared at it for a few moments, before summoning the courage to unfold it and read the contents. With her eyes carefully taking in her husband's words, Donna could feel her heart easing a little, with each one of his sentences…

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To My Darling Donna,

I hope you found it in your heart, to read this, as I thought it'd be the best way to express myself and avoid another slap around the face.

I know I've messed up in a big way and you have every right to be angry with me sweetheart. Please, please believe me when I say I'm truly sorry for causing you pain. When I went out to celebrate the contract, I never had any intention of visiting such a place as I did. I allowed myself to be lead astray, making me to be the biggest fool to walk this earth. I'm an idiot and I'm sure you'll agree.

With all my heart, I hope you didn't mean it, when you said you didn't need me and that you wanted me to return to New York. You should know that I'd never do that. You're my wife and you are carrying my child, I could never walk away from you both. Every day I wake up and just watch you sleeping, praying to god that we'll never part. Donna Carmichael, you are the air that I breathe, you are my life and a life I couldn't lead without you. My heart skips a beat every time I'm near you and this is the very same feeling I had twenty-two years ago when we first met. Please don't throw us away darling.

I will be waiting on the beach at eight o'clock. If you want to try and work this out, please join me for dinner.

With all my heart, I love you and will never stop. I will fight for us, until my dying day.

Sam x

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With tears flowing and blurring her vision, Donna held the letter close to her heart. Sam's words had been simple, but left her feeling like a wreck reading them to the end. Yes, he'd been stupid, but it didn't stop her loving him any less. He'd made a mistake…But who doesn't make them every once in a while? Donna tried reasoning with herself, as she stood and made her way into the bathroom. She had an hour before she would meet her husband on the beach and Donna wanted to make herself look extra special for him, if only to show Sam what he's be missing if he ever did leave her. She promised herself, she wouldn't cave in so easily, she'd make her husband sweat a little and let him experience what it feels like to be unsure of someone's love for you.

It didn't take Donna long to shower and dry her hair. She chose to wear her hair loose around her shoulders, as she knew Sam loved it that way and as for something to wear, she had just the thing, if it'd still fit over her growing pregnant belly. Trawling through her closet, Donna soon came across what she was looking for and pulled it off its hanger.

"Please fit, please fit." Donna whispered to herself, slipping the dress on over her head and puling it down over her body. "Yes." She finished, realising she could still zip it up at the side.

Standing in front of the full-length mirror, Donna couldn't help but smile. Wearing the green and blue patterned dress, she been wearing on the day they got married, she looked absolutely stunning. She still couldn't believe it actually fit her, as it was no secret she'd put on weight with her pregnancy, but obviously not as much as she thought. Spending a bit of extra time on her usually subtle makeup, Donna made a point of highlighting her prominent cheekbones and sparkling green eyes. She wanted to look perfect, she wanted Sam to want her.

Taking a step back from the mirror, Donna picked up her red shawl from the chair and took one last look at her appearance. "Time to get my man." She said under her breath, wrapping the shawl around her shoulders and leaving the room to head for the beach.

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A.N. Hope it was okay for you hunnies?… Naughty Sammy Boy lol… If you want the rest, you know what you have to do…PRESS IT! Hehe..

Loads of Love, Liv x