As ever, thank you to everyone reading...

and here is another little update for you.

Sam left the flat quicker than she ever had before, knowing that leaving Laura tonight – regardless of the occasion - would be just as difficult as it had been previously. Tom reached around her and pulled the front door closed, probably so she wasn't tempted to go back in again, and Sam felt her eyes beginning to water. Sam blinked rapidly, tilting her head skywards, hoping that tears would not fall and ruin the make-up that she'd painstakingly applied. Sam shook her head softly and turned to face Tom, raising her arms a little in hope that he'd understand, Tom seemed to and he wrapped his own arms around her enveloping her in a hug which always made her feel secure.

"Okay?" Tom questioned simply, his voice muffled somewhat by his lips being pressed against her hair.

Sam raised her head, running her fingers under her eyes to remove any trace of possible tears, and untangled herself from Tom's embrace before nodding softly, grabbing Tom's hand and leading him towards the patiently waiting taxi.

They pulled up at what Tom had been describing as his favourite restaurant for months, in little over five minutes. However as she leant over to pay the taxi driver, Sam reasoned that it had been perhaps close to a year since she and Tom had been out for dinner. They hadn't since Laura had arrived eight months ago definitely, and Sam knew that she'd turned down several suggestions of dinner towards the end of the pregnancy knowing that sitting anywhere for longer than half an hour just made her uncomfortable. Tom smiled at her softly, and took her hand as she got out of the taxi. The reservation was for Nicholls, though it had made Sam feel a little odd saying – she'd never done that before, they were seated cosily, almost completely in the corner of the room, practically hidden from view of the other diners much to Sam's pleasure.

Dinner had been an almost silent affair; Sam had listened with interest when Tom had rhymed off the events of his day and she'd responded by informing him of the new variations Laura had managed to put on her usually babbling. Even as she said the words, Sam found herself rolling her eyes never having believed before that she'd become a woman who felt the need to share every tiny thing their child done. However, the almost silence had been lifted by the time they'd opted for the shared dessert of a sundae.

Upon its arrival however Tom leant across the table, and when his hand brushed across her the tip of her nose Sam anticipated him removing an eyelash from her face; however the moment the coolness touched her nose Sam almost squealed in both shock and realisation. Shaking her head softly, Sam giggled at Tom's smirking face before wiping her nose with her napkin; revenge coming only moment later when he'd lost himself in eating the cream he knew Sam did not like, by dipping her finger in the sweet strawberry sauce and reaching over the table to trail her finger down his nose. Tom frowned and Sam laughed joyously as she licked her index finger in order to remove the sticky sauce before picking up her own spoon, as though suddenly remembering that they were responsible adults with a baby at home.

The remainder of dessert passed without further incident and they'd already made the decision to slip next door, for a couple of drinks before heading home, a fact that pleased Sam. She'd been carving the strawberry daiquiris from there since before Laura had been born. The bill was settled quickly, and Sam picked up her handbag and allowed Tom to wrap his arm around her waist as they walked through the restaurant in order to leave.

In a matter of ten minutes Sam found herself cuddled comfortably, on her favourite sofa in front of the open fire, as close to Tom as she could possibly manage without being sat on his lap, in order to rest her head against his chest. By the time she'd been given her second drink, Sam found herself burying head under Tom's chin, as she sipped through the tiny straw – her eyes closing sleepily.

Tom seemed to acknowledge this and nudged her gently before speaking. "Do you want to go home?"

"When we're done." Sam replied softly and she re-positioned herself only slightly still allowing herself to be cuddled against Tom when his arm wrapped around her waist to hold her closer and her hand rested on his chest.

A position which Sam adopted for the remainder of the night, even as she was drifting off in the taxi home, Tom smiled softly to himself as he pressed butterfly kisses against her forehead without causing her to stir. He shook her awake when they pulled up outside their flat, and Sam opened her eyes blinking in confusion before establishing where she was. Tom paid the driver, and stepped out the taxi with little fuss before reaching back in to take both of Sam's hands and help her to her feet. Sam batted his arm playfully in mock rebuke when she was securely on the pavement but she leant in to him the moment he slipped his arm around her.

Sam pushed open the door, and stepped into the silent house, as it always when Jess babysat Laura's cot had been moved back into their room to allow Jess the camp bed in the Laura's room – Sam suspected Jess was in bed. Catching sight of the card which had evoked so much joy in both herself and later Tom, Sam had to pick to it up and read the words printed across the front again – 'Happy Birthday Daddy'. Sam smiled fondly at the memory of Tom's delighted smile that morning upon opening it, before taking Tom's hand – once he'd locked the door – and leading him towards their room.

As she pushed open the door Sam was greeted by the sound of Laura snuffling in her sleep, she peered over the cot and after reassuring herself that her daughter was fine and found that she wanted just to watch her for a while. Tom joined her for a moment before getting ready for bed and then heading for the bathroom.

When he returned Sam was changed yet had resumed position by Laura's crib and she looked up and pressed a kiss to his lips before slipping past himself herself, Tom gazed down at the little girl and acknowledged that he'd never expected to be so pleased with a baby before. As Sam re-entered the bedroom, she blew Laura a kiss and grabbed at Tom's hand pulling him towards their bed. She slipped beneath the quilt on her side and Sam's eyes closed just as they had in the taxi and Tom leant over her, once in bed, and pressed his lips against hers. Yet despite her sleepily state Sam allowed their lips to crash together, though when she pulled away she eyed him with interest before glancing at the alarm on her bedside cabinet. Tom smiled at her softly and Sam spoke, somewhat breathlessly and sleepily. "It's not your birthday anymore." The playful tone however remained in her voice as she smirked and raised her hand to stroke his cheek gently.

Thank you for reading -

Ax