N.B. Mwahs for the reviews my lovlies, you're the best! For my Dynamos & the lovely Livettes, hugs x

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Chapter 6 Christmas Day (Part One)

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Wrapped in a warm blanket, Donna sat on the balcony and gazed, lost in thought, up into the twinkling night sky. She knew she'd not be able to sleep with everything on her mind and after waiting for her husband to fall asleep, she crept quietly outside, as not to disturb him. It was now almost four in the morning and Donna had only just heard the Dynamos staggering off to bed, singing loudly as they went. She sat thinking how she could possibly diffuse the situation, before it all blew up and wrecked the holidays for all concerned, but mostly, how she could do it without Sam finding out…Would it be even possible? Or fair? No more secrets, she and Sam had promised each other and this would be one hell of a secret to keep from him. Then she had to look at it from her daughter's point of view…Had Sophie brought Sky back to the island, for the sake of Emma spending her first Christmas with her daddy? Or was her daughter still clinging onto a shred of hope, that somehow Sky will fall back in love with her and decide to stay for good?…The more she thought about it, the more wound up she got and Donna soon realised, she'd have to tell Sam. She couldn't handle it on her own, but more to the point, she shouldn't have to. Sam was Sophie's parent too and therefore, he had every right to know what she was getting up to under his roof…

"What a disaster." Donna whispered, pulling the fleecy blanket tighter around her body, as she heard movement from inside the bedroom, that brought her out of her thoughts.

Stepping out onto the balcony, in nothing but his underwear, Sam shivered and rubbed his tired eyes. "What are you doing sat out here darling. It's the middle of the night." He asked, with a yawn, bending down to kiss Donna's forehead. "And not to mention bloody freezing." He finished, looking worriedly at his wife.

"I couldn't sleep that's all." Answered Donna, smiling lovingly at her husband. "Go back to bed babe. You'll catch a cold out here." She finished, glancing down at his boxer shorts and giggling.

Grabbing the blanket from around his wife, Sam laughed at her shocked expression, as the cold air hit her. "Well stop being selfish and share the warmth darling." He said, wrapping it around himself. "If you want it back. You have to come and get it." He added, wiggling his eyebrows at her and walking back inside.

Donna shook her head at Sam's childish behaviour and stood up in just her underwear. It was freezing cold, as she made her way back into the dark bedroom and she screamed as he suddenly grabbed her, pulling her down onto the bed with him. Not amused with her husband's antics, Donna slapped his bare chest and tried her best to wriggle free of his tight hold. It was no use, Sam was much stronger than her and was attacking her neck with hot, sensual kisses. With everything on her mind, she wasn't in the mood to be playful and decided to just lay still, until Sam got the message. It didn't take too long, until her husband realised she wasn't responding like she usually did and he stopped his kisses to look up at her.

"What is it Donna?" Asked Sam, resting up on his elbow and gently stroking the blonde hair away from his wife's face. "You've been acting strange since we came to bed."

Pulling the covers up around their near naked bodies, Donna sighed. She didn't know what to do for the best… Should she tell her husband now, or wait until the morning? If she told him about Sky now, would he go off on one and storm straight over to the goat house?…No, he wouldn't do that, not with Emma sleeping, Donna played her options over in her mind… Maybe if I tell him now, I can get him to calm down before breakfast?

Shifting positions, Donna rolled over onto her side and came face to face with her husband. "Well there is something…But I'm scared about telling you Sam." She said in a whisper, reaching out to stroke his face. "Scared about how you're going to react if I tell you."

"Donna, you're scaring me now. What is it? Is it you, the baby?" Sam asked worriedly, taking his wife's hand in his and searching desperately in her eyes for answers.

That was the first thing that sprang to mind. There was something wrong with their unborn child and his wife was hiding it, in an attempt not to upset him. Sam could feel his heart start to beat fast in his chest, waiting for Donna to tell him the bad news she'd been harbouring. He held his breath for a few agonising moments, as his wife remained silent, obviously trying to find the right words to break it to him.

Shaking her head slowly, Donna gripped tight onto her husband's hand. "No, it's not the baby." She replied, seeing a relieved look sweep across his face. "It's Sophie." She continued, as Sam now frowned at her. "She's not alone."

Letting his wife's words sink in, Sam tried to figure out what she meant. "Not alone?" He asked, as his body tensed at what he thought she was going to say next.

"She was asleep, like I told you last night…But she wasn't alone." Donna replied, sighing deeply as she remembered back to what she saw in the goat house. "Sky was asleep on the bed with her and Emma." She finished, watching an expression of anger now sweep across her husband's face.

Without giving it a second thought, Sam let go of Donna's hand and quickly slid out of bed. "He's got a fucking nerve showing up here again." He said in an angered tone, as he searched for his clothes in the dark.

Sitting up as quick as she could manage, Donna swung her legs over the side of the bed and turned on the lamp on the nightstand. This was exactly what she didn't want to happen when she told him, but then again, she didn't expect him to react any other way… Sam was highly protective of Sophie and Donna loved him for that most of the time, but not tonight. She knew it was because he'd missed out on her growing up and all the things that came with being a daddy of a little girl…Hearing his baby girl calling him 'Daddy' for the first time…Watching her leave for her first day of school…Letting her go off on her first date, after having a quiet word with the boy in question…All these things filled Sam with feelings of guilt and sadness for not being there for Sophie and Donna, when they needed him the most. It broke Donna's heart whenever they discussed it. It wasn't Sam's fault he hadn't been there for them and besides, they didn't really know for sure if he was actually Sophie's father. As everyone discovered on the day of Sophie's wedding…There were three guys around the same time.

"Sam, what are you doing?" Asked Donna, standing up and turning to watch her husband pulling on his jeans and scanning the floor for his shirt.

"What do you think I'm doing Donna?" Sam quickly retorted, finding what he was looking for and starting to put it on. "If he thinks he can just waltz in here after everything that's happened, he's got another thing coming." He finished, making his way to the bedroom door.

Moving to block her husband's way, Donna leant against the door, to stop him opening it. "I'm sorry daring, but I can't let you do it." She said, placing her hands on Sam's chest through his still open shirt. "What do you think will happen, if you go marching in there, guns blazing?…Huh?" She continued, as Sam ran his hand through his hair and stared into her eyes. "I'll tell you…Sophie will leave again and we might as well kiss our granddaughter goodbye for good, because this time she might not ever come back…And…"

"Donna…" Sam interjected, removing his wife's hands from his chest and reaching for the door handle.

"No Sam. For once please just listen to me." Donna responded in a stern tone. "I don't like the fact that Sky's here, anymore than you do…But in a few hours, everyone will be getting up looking forward to Christmas day and if things kick off between you and Sky, what's it going to be like for everyone else?…Ben and Zack still haven't got over Lorraine's death and Tanya's going to need our support today too. We can't just think about ourselves and besides, don't you want to spend time with Emma seeing as it's her first Christmas?" She finished, still staring into Sam's eyes, as she removed his hand from the door.

Sam didn't answer his wife at first, as he thought about what she'd just said. She was right, he knew full well she was right, but it didn't stop him wanting to punch Sky's lights out. Sky had managed to avoid Sam too many times before now and this just made him even more angry, that the young man couldn't deal with the consequences of his actions. It seemed everyone but Sophie, could see she was being taken for a fool, putting up with Sky's selfishness and Sam wanted to find out what his true intentions were with his daughter.

Throwing his hands up to surrender, Sam stepped back from his wife and took his shirt off once more. "Whatever you want Donna." He said with a sigh, turning his back on her and taking off his jeans.

"Hey, don't get pissed at me." Donna snapped, at her husband's attitude. "I'm just thinking of everyone else as per usual…It's not my fault Sky's here and I refuse to lose my daughter and grandchild, just because you want to kill him. Hell, I'd like to string him up by the balls too, but we need to get the facts from Sophie, before you run them all off the island." She finished, as she noticed Sam finally nodding in agreement.

Climbing into bed, Sam closed his eyes and pulled the sheets around him. "You know best." He muttered, as Donna shook her head at him sulking with her. "But if you expect me to sit at the table, playing happy families with him, you've got another thing coming darling." He added, turning his back on her.

Donna rolled her eyes at her husband's last statement and climbed into bed next to him, turning off the lamp as she did. "Look, all I'm asking for, is one day of peace. No arguments, no falling out and no knocking the shit out one person in particular." Said Donna, snuggling up behind Sam and running her hand down his side. "That's not too much to ask for is it?"

"No." Sam answered simply, taking his wife's hand and holding it against his chest.

Her husband was quietly seething and Donna knew exactly what he was feeling, because she was just as unhappy about the situation herself. She also knew what she said had made sense and that Sam had actually taken it in, as he too couldn't stand the thought of losing Sophie and baby Emma again. They had been a family, they had been happy, but now it was going to take a lot to keep it all in tact, if only for one day. Yet again, the Sky scenario had caused a rift in the Carmichael's relationship, that was only just recovering from Sam's drunken mistake in New York. Laying in complete silence, Donna couldn't sleep if she knew her husband was mad at her, for stopping him confronting Sky. Too many times before, they had gone to bed angry at one another and that was something Donna wanted to try and rectify for the future. It wasn't good for either of them to be feeling like that, especially if they'd have to support each other during the next few days… God only knew what was in store for them.

Slowly running her hand down Sam's stomach, Donna heard him swallow softly, as her touch continued down into the waistband of his underwear. "Don't be mad at me Sam." She whispered, placing a teasing, open mouthed kiss on his shoulder and taking hold of his manhood.

Flinching slightly at his wife's seductive touch, Sam slowly rolled onto his back and smiled. "Do you really think you can get me to go along with your plan, by using sex?" He asked, then gasping quietly, as his wife increased the pressure and began to caress his growing length.

"Yes." Donna replied, nodding confidently, as she let go of him and knelt up to unhook her black bra. "I know I can." She finished, then slipping her panties off and exposing the rest of her naked body to her now smirking husband.

Placing his hands behind his head, Sam relaxed and just watched as his wife leant forward to shower his toned stomach with wet, alluring kisses. Keeping her eyes on Sam's face as she moved down his body, Donna hooked her fingers around the top of his boxer shorts and yanked them down his legs, in one long continuous movement. She then proceeded to kiss her way back up her husband's lower body, never once breaking eye contact with him. Sam was getting more and more turned on, every time Donna's lips touched him and he couldn't stop himself emitting a few low moans when she hit one of his sensitive spots.

Hovering over her husband, Donna paused from what she was doing and smiled wickedly at him. "You see, when I get you worked up like this Samuel, you become putty in my hands honey." She said in a low, seductive tone, before leaning closer to kiss him and gently bite on his lip as she pulled away.

"Is that a fact sweetheart?" Asked Sam smirking, thoroughly turned on by his wife's no-nonsense approach to lovemaking.

Repositioning herself over her husband, Donna straddled his waist and placed her hands at either side of his head. "It's a fact babe." She answered, smiling confidently, as she then felt his hands slid down her sides. "But I don't remember me giving you permission to touch." She finished, grabbing his hands from her hips.

Raising up, Donna slid down onto her husband's erection, causing them both to groan at the wonderful sensation of him filling every part of her tight womanhood. As Donna set a slow rhythmic pace with her hips, Sam tried to move his hands up to her breasts, only to have them batted away by his wife. She was teasing him and loving every single second of it, knowing it would be driving him silently mad not being allowed to touch her. Sam bit his lower lip and grabbed the sheets beside him, as Donna pushed further down onto him, making slow circular movements with her hips. He was desperate to touch her body, longing to feel her silky smooth skin, as he trailed his hands along her thighs. Trying again, Sam was surprised his wife didn't try to stop him this time and he wasted no time in trying to tease her, like she had him.

"Oh, you're good sweetheart." Smiled Sam, slowly sitting up to meet her and wrap his arm around her back.

"Shut up and kiss me." Demanded Donna, wrapping her arms around Sam's neck and pulling him as close as her bump would allow. "And that's an order Carmichael." She finished, smothering his mouth with hers.

Sam was slightly taken aback with his wife's forcefulness, but responded eagerly to her passionate kiss. It was deep and meaningful, as their tongues instantly found one another and duelled for control. With his hands sliding down Donna's back, Sam brought them to a stop on her still pert rear and thrust hard into her. Donna gasped loudly into his mouth and bit down on his lip in response. They rocked against each other, letting their hands and mouths explore one another's highly aroused bodies. Matching her husband's slow hip movements, Donna moaned and upped the pace just a little bit, wrapping her legs tighter around him. Sam was slowly starting to lose control. His wife was taking the lead and all he could do, was follow, giving her whatever she wanted from him.

Noticing by Sam's facial expressions, he was close to climaxing, Donna slowed right down. "You need… me… to stop darling?" She asked, in short bursts of breath, as he gazed into her eyes and ran his hands down her back.

"No, just tell me you're nearly there." Replied Sam, then moaning loudly as his wife sped up her circular hip movements.

Grabbing his wife's hips, Sam knew that meant she too was close and kept him going, knowing he was giving her what she needed. Donna moaned and placed her hands over Sam's, grinding down harder onto him, meeting him thrust for thrust. Their breathing was hard and ragged, as their mouths found each other again, taking them both over the edge. As her back arched against her husband's body, Donna wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced her much needed climax. The muscles in her lower body, gripped and released around Sam's throbbing member, causing him to moan her name loudly, as they simultaneously reached their orgasms. Donna let out a long, low groan, as her body finally shuddered around Sam and she rested her head on his shoulder, trying to catch her breath.

"Merry Christmas baby." Whispered Donna, tenderly kissing her husband's cheek, as he held her close against his perspiring body.

Rolling Donna onto her side, Sam carefully withdrew from her and delicately stroked her cheek. "Merry Christmas to you too sweetheart." He whispered in response, before kissing her lips lovingly.

Holding each other close, Donna had soon fallen into a contented sleep and it wasn't long before Sam had done the same. There was only a few hours before the rest of the family would be up for Christmas morning breakfast and Donna would finally get to have a heart to heart with her daughter. Things no doubt would be a little strained and seeing Sky again would probably prove awkward for the Carmichael's. Luckily, Donna seemed to have calmed her husband down and things would hopefully remain civil, if only for the sake of their young grandchild's first Christmas.

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Waking only a few hours later, the Carmichael's dragged themselves out of bed and got ready for the busy day ahead. Donna was fairly confident, that she'd managed to talk her husband out of flying off the handle with Sky and knew she'd be watching him like a hawk for the rest of the day, just in case. Placing a tender kiss on his wife's lips, Sam left her to get dressed, whilst he went to make them some fresh coffee. Pulling on some black linen trousers and a tight fitting white t-shirt, Donna smiled to herself, as she examined her bump in the full-length mirror. She was getting bigger as each week flew by and they were getting more excited, as her due date fast approached. As the baby moved, Donna placed her hands over her stomach and giggled softly, at the strange sensation. With less than seven weeks to go, she realised she and her husband should really start thinking about names for their baby again. Hopefully settling on something suitable before the little one arrived.

"Come in." Donna called, as she walked into the bathroom and heard someone knocking on the bedroom door. "Won't be a second." She added, picking up the discarded towels from the shower she'd taken earlier with Sam.

Walking back out into the bedroom, Donna came to a sudden stop, as she came face to face with her daughter. Sophie stood a few feet away from her and both women stayed silent for a few moments, neither of them knowing what to say. Donna slowly looked her pretty daughter up and down, before a sweet smile came to her face. Smiling back, Sophie walked towards her mother and threw herself into her arms. Holding her firstborn child in her arms, filled Donna's heart with a feeling of absolute love. She'd missed her baby so much and hugging her tightly, had never felt so good.

Burying her face in the crease of her mother's neck, Sophie blinked back her tears. "I'm so sorry Mom. I've been such a bitch." She whispered, making Donna's eyes fill with hot, stinging tears.

"My god, I've missed you baby girl." Donna replied, holding her daughter even tighter. "I'm so glad you came home."

Slowly raising her head, to look at her mom, Sophie smiled lovingly at her. "Merry Christmas." She said, before loosening her grip on her and stepping back. "You're looking great." She continued, glancing down at Donna's bump.

Taking hold of Sophie's hand, Donna sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled her daughter down next to her. "Sophie, what's going on with us sweetheart?" Asked Donna, entwining her fingers through hers and gazing into her big, blue eyes. "We used to be so close and now…I feel like I don't know you anymore."

"It's my fault." Sophie answered in a quiet whisper. "My life just feels so messed up and I've pushed you away." She finished with a sigh, as she stared down at the floor.

"But why baby girl? I mean we tell each other things right?" Asked Donna, she too staring down at the floor. "You used to tell me everything, but since having Emma, you've been so secretive…And that's not like you."

Sophie didn't answer right away and Donna was aware of her daughter beginning to tremble. She was crying silently and it broke Donna's heart to see her like that, knowing her child was upset by something… It was true, ever since Sophie had taken Emma over to London for the first time, Donna felt like they were slowly drifting apart. It was upsetting, not knowing why and if it was because of something she'd done wrong as a mother. They had always been close, seeing as it was only them for so many years and Donna even found it hard letting go, when Sophie started her relationship with Sky. She had done it though, throwing herself further into running the hotel, to fill the time she'd normally be spending with her daughter.

Peering back up at her mom, Sophie wiped her tears. "I don't know what it is…But you have Sam now and the new baby on the way…" She said in a whisper, as her tears started once more. "I guess, I thought me and Em were in the way."

Donna closed her eyes and sighed. "Oh my god Soph… You think because I'm married and having another baby, makes you any less important to me?" She asked, wrapping her arm around her daughter and placing a loving kiss on her forehead. "You are my baby girl. You're my world. Don't you ever feel like you're being pushed out, because it will never happen…Do you hear me?"

Sophie nodded slowly and sobbed once more in her mother's arms. "I'm sorry Mom, I really am." She whispered, closing her eyes, as Donna gently rubbed her back. "There's something else I have to tell you."

Rolling her eyes, Donna knew exactly what her daughter was going to say. She was going to tell her about Sky being on the island with her and she knew she'd have to stay calm. Sam had now promised to be on his best behaviour and she was going to have to be too, for everyone's sake. It was Christmas day, so she could hardly kick the young guy out, although she wanted to. Waiting for Sophie's confession, Donna realised Sam was taking ages making the coffee and prayed he hadn't gone back on his word and gone to seek out Sky.

Standing up, Sophie turned to face her mother. "Mom, I don't want you to kick off, but…" She trailed off, biting her lip nervously. "But…"

"Sky's here." Donna interjected, before sighing and standing up. "I know, I found you all asleep in the goat house last night." She continued, placing her hand on her aching back. "I can't say I'm happy Sophie and you're father is already thinking of ways to dispose of his body."

As she finished, Sam appeared in the doorway, carrying a mug of coffee for his wife. He looked worriedly first at Donna and then at his daughter, as she turned to face him. Sophie smiled sheepishly, as Donna stepped forward and picked something up off her dressing table. Walking over, Sam passed the coffee to his wife and leant forward to place a kiss on her forehead. He was far from pleased with his daughter, but for Donna's sake, he knew not to start an argument with her today of all days.

"Welcome home Sophie." Said Sam, then wrapping his arm around Donna's shoulder. "Where's Emma?" He asked, scanning the room for the small child.

"She's ermm…She's with Sky." Sophie answered, her body tensing as she saw her father sigh at the sound of her ex-fiancé's name. "I'll go and bring her down for breakfast soon."

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Donna smiled at her daughter and held out the object in her hand. "There's something you have to do on the way." She said, as Sophie took the glass decoration out of her mother's hand and peered down at it.

Knowing exactly what her mom meant, Sophie's eyes filled with even more tears. "Thank you." She whispered, holding the bauble close to her chest. "I'll put it on the tree now." She finished, smiling at her parents as she left the room and closed the door behind her.

Listening for the sound of Sophie's footsteps to fade, Donna turned to face her husband. "Well that was awkward." She said, before taking a sip of the coffee he'd brought her. "Couldn't you have given her a hug at least?" She asked peering into his dark blue eyes.

"I'm sorry Donna, but I'm finding all this a little difficult. The thought of having to sit at the dinner table with him, is driving me fucking insane." Said Sam, placing his hands in his pockets and staring back at his wife.

Shaking her head, Donna took a deep breath. "Sam, don't do this now." She said, turning round to gather the washing and throw it into the laundry basket. "It's just for today and then I promise, you can throw him off the island okay?"

Sam sighed and ran his hand through his dark hair. "Promise?" He asked, looking back at his beautiful wife and smiling at her.

"Promise." She replied, walking over and running her hands own his masculine chest. "Only because I haven't got the energy to do it myself." She added, giggling as her husband, took hold of her and pulled her down onto the bed with him.

Laying in one another's arms, the Carmichael's thought about the rest of the day ahead of them…Tanya was no doubt going to spend every minute drinking herself silly, drowning out the pain of losing her mother…Rosie would be running round like a headless chicken, stressing over making Christmas dinner for all…The boys would be nursing hangovers from hell, considering what they drank last night…and then there was the element of trying to stay civil, when sitting down at the table with Sky…Happy Families, Donna thought to herself, turning her head to kiss her husband's welcoming lips…

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A.N. Sorry if that was a little drawn out… But it was only part 1 of Christmas day. Next bit to follow shortly hunnies… Press for moreeeeeee! Hehe, Love ya's, Liv x