Authors Ramble :

I have to admit. I have found the response from you guys mind blowing. The amount of reviews from one chapter have always surprised me. Out of all the fandoms I have ever dabbled in, I belive IS has the best set of reviewers. Thank you each and every one of you for reading, reviewing, and making it a favorite. It means so much to me.

With that said, Rachel ( my unofficial twin) thought I should update two chapters. I agree, so here are chapters 2 &3. They would have been up on Friday, but I can't remember where I was or what I was doing Friday.

Ive been without caffine.. No coffee does something to me. I should remedy that, statwith.

I hope to plan the next chapter out Friday. It is the plan. The week after may be a little hazy.A week from Wednesday is my birthday. I have no idea what I am doing.. I should figure that out too.

On a random note: Don't read IS fanfiction and fall asleep. Rach, after reading your last chapter I had some weird dreams.They weren't even about Tommy, but Tim.It leaves me to ponder if it was about Tim or the coffee guy.

Enough rambling, on with the chapters!

.2.

I'm Here

I'm lying here.

I'm dying here.

Every time I close my eyes, I wonder where you are...

-SM

Tommy entered the home of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, as he called it, with the sleeping Ava on his shoulder.

"Sam," he called out in a quiet tone.

"Shh," Samantha hissed walking down the stairs, with a baby monitor strapped to her hip. Samantha pecked Tommy on the lips and took her sleeping daughter from him.

"I guess someone is not getting a bath tonight."

"Yea, she's pretty tired. She was a big help today," Tommy replied, running his hand over Ava's curly tresses.

"Why don't you go take a shower and I'll put her to bed. Binks is sleeping. Who knows for how long," Samantha suggested.

Tommy did not have to be told twice. He kissed Ava on her cheek and hurried up the stairs. Ever since Bianca was born, sleep was scarce in the house, with the exception of Ava who could sleep through anything.

If someone had told the seventeen year old Little Tommy Q, that within 10 years he would be married with children, he would have laughed in their face. Tommy had vowed to be a bachelor for life. Then a wild tour happened and changed all of that. He was an 19 year old divorcee when he met Sam. It was love at first rejection. His stupidity proceeded mess it up, again, again, and again.

Tom rolled out the kinks in his back as the water hit him. Lifting heavy boxed while sleep deprived was not the wisest move, but Jude was his best friend and new neighbor.

He hoped to God that Bianca would sleep through the night. He couldn't remember the last time he was able to sleep through the night. Tommy could not wait for Binks to settle down. Once she was calmed, then he would be able to go back to work full time. As much as he enjoyed being able to work from home, he and Sam would snap at one another constantly.

He wondered when did everything fall apart. At least Jude and Kwest were there to keep him sane.

Samantha stretched on the floor of her bedroom. After having spent a month and half on bed rest before Bianca's birth, bed was the last place she wanted to be. She lifted her head to peer into the basinet. Her youngest daughter was certainly her father's daughter. Bianca shared Tommy's fair complexion, light brown hair, and demand for attention. At three weeks old, she all ready showed signs of his mannerism and theatrics. She knew that as long as she cried, her mommy and daddy would keep all eyes on her. Sam was really lucky that Ava was much more reserved that her sister. Ava had been a calm and curious baby. She slept at night and was easier to please. As a 3 year old, she was a little more bossy, but still the carefree and mellow child she had been since birth. Ava and Bianca were night and day, much like their parents…

Sam was bothered by the change in tone of her marriage. Regardless of their rocky start, Tommy and Sam had developed a steady and balanced marriage. The balance had shifted, though. Sam wondered if it had anything to do with Jude moving into their neighborhood. Sam had buried her trepidations about Jude when they had formed a friendship. Jude was Tommy's best friend. She accepted and respected that. She had even asked Jude to be the godmother of Ava. Samantha liked Jude a lot. They had even collaborated on a couple of songs for Jude's fourth album. In addition to a duet of the song How Strong Do You Think I Am for the single release.

Sam rolled on to her stomach and stared at the bathroom door. She hoped with all her heart that they were just in a rough patch, but somewhere inside, she knew she was lying to herself.