"Ham's in the oven," Andy yelled from the kitchen. The ginger bread cookies were out cooling. The stuffing was made. Sam had just returned from walking Boo and was strapping on Mia's carrier to his chest. He went to the play pen set up in the living room pulled Mia out and secured he in the carrier.
"We're off, Honey."
"Don't forget the pie."
"We won't. Will we Mia?"
Mia made a gurgling sound as Sam gave Andy a quick kiss and left the apartment.
At the super market, Sam carried a basket as he and Mia walked through the crowds. Apparently, many other people were doing last minute food shopping. Of course, a lot of them were probably having their Christmas dinner tomorrow. Not in a couple hours.
He made his way to the pies and found a nice looking cinnamon apple pie. He went to check out and even the 15 items or less lines were congested. He picked the shortest one that only had three other people waiting. The woman in front of him noticed that he only had one item and offered to let him to go in front of her. Sam thanked her but said that wasn't necessary. She insisted and Sam eventually relented, thanking her again.
Back at the truck he placed the pie in the back seat and noticed a couple cars down an older gentleman loading up his car with a lot of groceries. Sam locked up his truck and walked with Mia down to the man. "Let me help you," he said. Once the groceries were loaded Sam said he would return the cart. The guy thanked him and Sam said it was his pleasure. He walked back to the truck and strapped Mia into her car seat.
Driving away, towards Tommy's apartment, he looked in the mirror at the back of Mia's rear-facing seat. "That's called paying it forward, sweetie. And it's a really good thing to do."
Sam found a spot a couple places down from the door to Tommy's building and got Ma back out of the truck. They walked up to the building and rang the Tommy's buzzer.
"Yeah?"
"It's Sam."
"I'm just about ready, come on up."
The door buzzed and Sam pulled it open. Up the stairs he saw Tommy's door popped open and pushed his way inside. Tommy had just finished combing out his hair and stepped out of the bathroom.
"Hey Son," Tommy greeted Sam.
"How ya' doin?"
They patted each other on the back and Tommy ruffled Mia's hair through her small toque. "She is so precious. So when are you and Andy going to get to work on one of your own?"
Sam half-laughed, "Uh-"
"Nah, I'm just messing with you. I wouldn't try to pressure you two." He picked up a bag of gifts. "Just before I get too old, eh?"
As soon as Sam opened the door to their apartment, the wonderful smell of all the food overwhelmed him. Andy raced over to hug her father and kiss him on the cheek. Tommy returned the gesture and Sam handed Andy the pie. She eagerly took it and placed it by the tray of gingerbread cookies.
"My, you've been a busy little bee, haven't you?", Tommy asked.
Sam answered for Andy, "Working on it all day, worrying about it all night." Well, maybe not all night, he thought to himself and winked at Andy when Tommy was turned away.
"Okay everybody sit down," Andy instructed. She had put out 3 table settings and set up Mia's high chair in front of some more delicious looking baby food. Andy placed the Ham, stuffing, and other fixings around the table. Sam opened up Mia's baby food and began to feed her while Andy tried to convince Tommy to help himself first. Eventually Andy won by arguing that Tommy, as their guest was entitled to the first helping. Andy then filled Sam's plate as well as hers since he was occupied with feeding Mia.
Over dinner, Tommy asked how their jobs were going. Andy told him about her first weeks as road sergeant and Sam could See Tommy beaming at his daughter's success. He asked Sam what he'd been up to. Sam told him the story about the fight over relish and Tommy said he encountered a similar thing over pickles on a sandwich when he was on patrol.
"Sounds like Oliver," Andy joked.
"Yeah, we'll have to check his alibi," Sam laughed.
After dinner and desert, they moved to the living room. Mia was getting tired so Andy put her down in her crib, grabbed the portable baby monitor, and shut off the light.
Sam had pulled out the gifts they had for Tommy and he retrieved his gifts out of the bag he brought them in. They exchanged and thanked each other. Tommy even bought a raw hide treat for Boo who took it and ran off to chew on it in some corner in peace. Sam grabbed his gift and presented it to Andy.
"Sam…," she said as she started to open it. When she had it completely unwrapped, Sam helped to hold it up and Andy began to tear up. "Sam, this is beautiful." Tommy stood up and moved so he could see it.
"Wow, that is something. I've never seen anything like that. Well done, Son."
Sam and Andy shared a long embrace and kiss. When they separated, Andy asked, "Where are we going to hang it?"
"I don't know. I thought you'd figure something out," Sam grinned.
"Well, I do have a couple things for you but we can open those together. Later."
Sam raised his eyebrows at his wife.
"Maybe I should let you two enjoy the rest of your evening," Tommy suggested.
"No," Sam said.
"Yeah, you don't have to leave, yet," Andy said.
"No, no really. I'm getting kind of tired anyway. It's getting late and I'm not as young as I used to be. Thank you for the meal and the gifts. Everything was great."
"Are you sure?", Andy asked.
"Positive, darling."
"Then at least let us drive you home," Sam said.
"Nah, you'd have to wake Mia, you know."
"We have to take Mia back to Marlo tonight anyway. It's no big deal."
"Are you sure? I could take a cab, let you two have some time together."
"Dad," Sam said, "we're going to drive you home. It would be our pleasure."
On cue, Mia was making noise and Andy went in to check on her. "I'm just going to change her diaper, then we can go."
Sam began to pick up all the discarded wrapping paper and put it in the garbage. Then he called Marlo and asked if it would be a good time to drop off Mia. Marlo said it would be fine and the four of them went on their way.
They dropped Tommy off and later arrived at Marlo's sister's house to find Marlo waiting on the porch for them. When Marlo saw them approaching she walked out at them and met them at the car.
"Hi, baby girl. Mommy missed you so much," Marlo said as she pulled Mia out of her car seat. Andy grabbed the diaper bag off the floor and Marlo took it off of her. "Thanks guys. And Merry Christmas."
"You too," Sam said.
"Merry Christmas, Marlo," Andy added before Marlo turned to carry Mia back into the house.
Heading back home Andy commented that Marlo definitely looked less tired.
"Yeah, a day's rest and relaxation was good for her."
"Maybe we overreacted the other night."
"I said we need to approach it as if nothing was wrong until something proves contrary to that."
"Yeah."
A few moments of silence later, Andy asked, "Do you think it means anything that she met us outside instead of inviting us in again?"
"Andy..."
"I know Sam, I'm probably reaching. But what if I'm not?"
Sam sighed. "It might. It might not. Look, we have to trust her, until we have solid evidence to the contrary, that she's taking care of herself. I don't think she would do anything to jeopardize her health after last time. Especially now with Mia."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Alrighty. We'll keep monitoring the situation and if anything, serious and definitive jumps out at us, we'll take it from there."
"Maybe we should try to talk to her sister after the Holidays, you know, see if she has any insight on if anything's going on."
"Yeah, maybe."
Back at their apartment, Boo greeted them, apparently done with his rawhide and ready for another walk.
Sam and Andy obliged and when they returned Boo went off to his bed.
"Busy day," Sam said as Boo settled himself.
"But a nice one."
"Very true, my dear." Sam kissed Andy on the head.
"Ooh, the last presents, Andy said and hurried over to the tree, Sam following behind. "Okay, so while these are gifts from me to you, they're technically for me."
Sam understood her meaning. "I'm sure I'll enjoy them," he said putting on a big smile as Andy pulled them from under the tree.