I cannot apologize enough for the delays, besides vacation, and personal issue popping up to knock me out wanting to write. Things are on the mend now, and I think I've almost caught up on everyone else's stories ( which are fabulous! I am in awe of you guys)

Thank you so much for the reviews and alerts. It's truly what keeps me writing and I've got a couple ideas for my next story... just trying to work them out.!

On a side note, and partial rant, I am NOT getting enough Sam/Andy action this season! And it's about time for the screw up of episode 5. I actually cheered it on! ...And the whole Dov/Gail thing? My heart sinks a bit for Chris... Any way...On with the story!

"If you keep looking at me like that, I'm going to slap you," Andy griped at him still keeping the bag of frozen corn on her cheek and trying not to grimace at the ice burn she was sure she was getting.

It was almost imperceptible, the way the knot in his jaw jumped a bit as he continued to peak at her before snapping his eyes back to the road. Almost. But she saw it. Every time his eyes lingered a little to long on the bag of frozen veggies she held up to her left cheek.

"If it offends you so much," she sniped at him. "Let me drive, then you won't have to look at the offensive side of my face."

And she had done it. She had pissed him off and she knew it. The only thing that Andy McNally had time to think about was wishing that just once she'd think ahead of her mouth when it came to Sam. He tapped the breaks a little harder then necessary as the light in front of him changed yellow.

As they jerked to a stop he turned angrily towards him and yanked on her arm until she was turned towards him. Sam's eyes held a fury that took her breath away. It was all there right there in his eyes, hatred, anger, longing, fear, and the trump card, love. Andy wanted to shrink away from him back into the safe haven of the other side of the truck's seat, but Sam wasn't having any of it. He yanked her towards him again.

"The only thing that offends me McNally," he began in a low growl, "Is that it happened at all. That he put his hands on you in a moment of anger."

"Sam," she whispered trying to look anywhere but at him.

"No," he shook his head. "No, it's not okay. Don't say it's okay!" His voice was escalating a bit as his chest heaved betraying his emotions. "I didn't even hit him Andy. I saw him hit you and I wanted to kill him and all I could do was shove him into the wall."

"Sam, you couldn't have known," she said to him in a soothing voice. "Besides now he doesn't have any ammunition to come after you. You didn't hit him, so he won't have to explain another black eye."

Sam snorted at her before breaking eye contact for a moment. He looked at her again, "If any thing would have happened to you-"

She cut him off. "But it didn't. You don't have to worry so much."

"I love you McNally, worry comes with the territory."

Her eyes widened at his words and the seriousness of it. He wasn't joking. He wasn't smiling. And she would be damnned, but Sam Swarek hadn't looked away from her when he said it. His eyes pierced into her soul. She couldn't breathe for a second.

Sam watched as her eyes widened. He was trying to gage her reaction. That's when he saw it in her eyes. Hope. That was all he needed to do what he did next.

Still holding her wrist from before he pulled her closer in a fluid movement and captured her lips with his. His other hand found its way up to get lost in her freshly washed tresses that were flowing around her face. Passion and longing were the dominant factors in the kiss, but love was there as well. Niether wanted it to end. For once, all was right with the world.

The car behind them laying on the horn broke them apart. As they both settled into their own space with chests heaving Sam hit the gas and continued towards the hotel.

When they got there Sam's parents were in the lobby already waiting to scoop each of them up to get ready. Before the were separated, Sam grabbed Andy's hand and pulled her in close. "This isn't over."

He was rewarded with a quiet, "I know Sam," followed by a small smile before they both were pulled off in opposite directions to get ready for the wedding.

O o o

It had been a little over three hours since Sam and Andy had separated in the lobby. Each one pulled away by one of his parents and promptly scolded for nearly giving Sarah a heart attack about being a few minutes late. Sam for his part anyway wasn't the least bit ashamed of himself. His lips were still seared from the kiss they had shared in his truck.

As he lifted his hand to his lips, just to see if he still had feeling in them, or if he was imagining the way he was feeling, he saw Steven's smirk. He dropped his hand and stood facing the back of the church with Steven looking out over a sea of faces. "Shut up," was all he could muster.

At Steven's laughter, the dopey grin has reinstated himself on his face again. Cloaked in a nervous energy Sam tried his best to reign in his emotions, but his heart was soaring. The kiss with Andy had been absolutely amazing and so much better then the night of the blackout.

So lost was Sam Swarek in his own thoughts, that despite facing the people heading down the aisle, he had nearly missed the entire procession. That was until he saw Andy step into the door way. He nearly gasped for breath again and didn't even register Steven's amused chuckle at the sight of her.

Her hair was curled but flowed around her face in a half updo similar to the night before. The one shouldered teal dress was fitted through the bodice and fell into a flowy chiffon from her waste to her knee. She looked absolutely stunning and Sam could hear the slight murmur from the crowd echoing his own sentiments. If he had taken his eyes off of her as she walked towards the front of the church, he would have saw more then one appreciative glance from the males in the crowd.

Andy, had a slight blush across her cheeks as she was reminding herself to breath and take one step at a time. She didn't want to trip on her walk down the treacherously long aisle. She had again reminded Patrick to look for Uncle Sam if the crowd frightened him and she had done the same. Her smile broadened as she got closer to Sam and realized that she had never looked anywhere but at him on her walk down the aisle.

It was only when she took her place on the opposite side of the aisle and during Sarah's procession on her father's arm that Sam and Andy didn't stare at each other. Throughout the ceremony their eyes kept meeting and they thought they shared secret smiles. It was half of the amusement of the other guests wondering if Sam Swarek had finally met his match. The Swarek family was already starting the betting pool knowing that if Sam ever found out there would be hell to pay and jokes at his expense for the rest of his life.

When it came time to exchange the rings, Sam was knocked out of his own day dreaming. He reached into his jacket pocket, but found it empty. Reaching into the second, he found that empty. Steven and more importantly Sarah for that matter didn't look the least bit amused as they clearly thought this was one of Sam's pranks.

A movement behind Sarah caught his attention. Andy was patting herself over the heart as her eyes locked with his. He instantly understood and smirked at his sister and Steven as he reached to his inside pocket and pulled out the ring before placing it in his brother-in-law's hand.

His task completed he smiled at Andy and mouthed "thank you." Her only acknowledgement before she turned back towards the ceremony was the blush spreading across her cheeks.

Sam Swarek was an incredibly happy man when the ceremony ended and Andy wrapped her hand around his arm. As they walked down the aisle after Sarah and Steven, Sam couldn't help but feel on top of the world.

"You're working those dimples awfully hard today," she quipped at him with her own grin.

He shrugged and leaned in to speak into her ear, "It tends to happen when a beautiful woman jumps you in your truck and gives you a mind blowing kiss that you can't forget."

The blush exploded across her skin before she could muster up a protest to her being at fault for their kiss. He threw his head back and laughed as he brought her closer to his and put his hand over hers.

This chapter was really killing me. I wanted to separate it into two and leave it where Sam's parents pulled them apart, but I figured I've get some not so nice reviews! Let me know what you think! I'm supposed to be writing my personal statement for grad school... but this is way more fun! And besides, your reviews justify my procrastination!

Xoxo

Nikka