Maddy blinked rapidly, trying to work out she was. "Morning sleepyhead" Maddy smiled as Sam began to play with her hair. "What time is it?" she asked sleepily, "almost 10, you're not in til later are you?" Maddy shook her head, "not til tomorrow." She laughed. "Well then" Sam smiled, "You won't mind staying here and relaxing for another hour or so will you?" "I don't" Maddy smiled, "but Ruby obviously does, of all the space in my uterus she chooses to sit on my bladder. Let me go to the loo, and then I'll be right back." She stood from the bed, a t-shirt of Sam's stretched over her stomach, doing nothing to cover the black French knickers that had surprised Sam the previous night. She blushed and pulled the sheet from the bed as Sam wolf whistled, "If you've got it, don't hide it." Maddy rolled her eyes, "because you really want me flashing my stretch marks at you" she joked, "now if you don't mind, I really need to pee".

She sighed as she got back into bed, resting her head on Sam's chest, "thanks for this" she smiled, "for being there, and not wanting anything in return". Sam smiled, "It's what friends do" he told her. "and who said I don't want anything in return? I'm fully expecting you to buy me my weight in beer, once you can come drinking with me again." Maddy laughed, "I don't know about your weight in beer, but I'll definitely buy you a pint once I can sleep on my stomach again". Sam kissed her head, "I'll hold you to that" Maddy smiled, cursing her hormones as she felt her eyes fill with tears. "But for now, just hold me, please." Sam pulled her closer, kissing her hair again, "I'm here Maddy, whenever you want me." She nodded, his chest damp with her tears, "thank you".

"Feel better?" Sam asked, reaching out to wipe away Maddy's tears once she'd stopped crying. Maddy nodded, slipping her fingers between his, "sorry." Sam smiled, "you've got nothing to be sorry for." Maddy smiled, her fingers still linked between Sam's she moved to press his hand against her stomach, "she's saying hello" Sam smiled, running his fingers over Maddy's stomach, "Hello Ruby." Maddy smiled, "I think she likes Uncle Sam." "Uncle Sam?" Maddy nodded, "I'm Grace's Auntie Maddy, it's only fair." Sam smiled, "she keeps asking about you, and when she can see the baby in your tummy." Maddy smiled, "Actually" Sam had an idea, "I could ring Connie, see if she'd mind me taking her out to the park for an hour or something? She's grown so much since you last saw her." Maddy smiled, "I'd like that." "Right then, You wait here, I'll go and ring Connie."

"Result!" Sam smiled, slipping back into bed, "It's half term, the Nanny's ill and Connie's working at 2. I said we'd pick her up at 12.30/1ish, Connie can give her dinner, then we can fill her up on sweets and ice cream." Maddy laughed, "don't go getting ideas, you're not filling Ruby up on crap." Sam laughed and tapped Maddy's nose with his finger, "that's where you're wrong Doctor Young, the job description of 'Uncle Sam' includes getting her all the things Mummy says no to." Maddy laughed, resting her head on Sam's bare chest. "You know I think this is the first time we've shared a bed without anything happening." "I don't know what you're talking about Mr Strachan." Maddy laughed innocently. "Oh come on." Sam sighed, "Don't tell me you've forgotten about it that easily. A year or so ago, she could easily have been mine." He told her, running his hand over her stomach. "I wish she was" Maddy whispered, tears filling her eyes for the second time that morning. "Oh Maddy" Sam sighed, "At least I'd know you wouldn't let her down, you wouldn't give up on her when something better comes along". Sam sighed, "She'll have a mother that more than makes up for her lack of a father, and you've got friends who'll support you, she might not have a Daddy, but there are going to be a lot of people who care a lot about her." Maddy nodded, "I want to give Tom a chance though." Sam raised an eyebrow, "He might be a good dad" Maddy insisted, "and if he isn't, at least I can tell her I tried when she asks when she doesn't see her father." Sam nodded, "do you think you can trust him with her? What if he's out of his face on something?" "I'll get someone to be there, so he doesn't have her on his own" Sam nodded? "Like Uncle Sam?" Maddy shook her head, "as much as I'd trust you with Ruby, I don't trust you not to knock Tom out." Sam laughed, "Might knock some sense into him". Maddy looked puzzled. "He let you go" Sam explained, "The man's obviously an idiot" Maddy laughed, before her stomach rumbled loudly. "Hungry Ruby?" Sam asked, "Do you want breakfast in bed?" he asked, turning his attention to Maddy, "could do you a full English?" Maddy smiled, "Yes to the full English, no to the eating it in bed, I'll come downstairs with you, and if you're lucky Mr Strachan, I might leave the sheet up here". "Come on then" Sam smiled, standing to his feet, "what are we waiting for?"