Once again, I am always grateful for reviews.

And I'm very glad to be aware that people are enjoying reading these - because they are something much easier than distressing plots to be writing when I'm fitting them in between uni work.

And Callie, my dear, I understand completely but you know that already.

So enjoy this one, if you can...

Sam had never looked quite so beautiful as she did at the very moment, of that Tom was certain, as she lay back against the pillows and smiled up at him home; her hair might've been in complete disarray, her cheeks flushed a light pink and she may have looked exhausted but there was joy there. Tom could see the way instead of the exhaustion that she must've been feeling she seemed to glow and when he looked into her eyes they seemed to smile up at him.

Admittedly Tom had never expected this day to come soon, nor had he expected Sam to be involved; however when he was watching the midwife wrap the tiny baby in a white blanket and Sam reached a little across the bed in order to take his hand he couldn't help but smile down towards her in return. The midwife, in question, approached them calmly and Tom suddenly found that he couldn't take his eyes from Sam to even see what was going on. Until, however, he could see her hands clutching the tiny bundle, from which Tom could only make out the tiny pink hat which he'd picked out only the week before. Sally, the midwife, smiled at Sam quickly for a moment, and then automatically placed their daughter against Sam's chest. Tom looked between Sam and their daughter only to find that his eyes could not remain fixed on one or the other. Sam giggled slightly, for reasons which Tom was not aware of and he moved to help bring Laura more carefully into her arms. Sam sat up and quickly wrapped her arms around her little girl, smiling in which forced Tom to reach across and wipe a tear – which she would deny ever shedding – from beneath Sam's eye.

"Laura?" Tom found himself beginning to question, and Sam looked towards him in confusing.

"What?"

"She's still Laura isn't she?" Sam glanced at Tom and smiled slightly, before nodding her head and moving her hand from beneath Laura's back and touching the soft baby skin of Laura's cheeks.

"Yes," Sam began. "Of course." She continued firmly, smiling at the memory of the conversations, a full three weeks' worth of conversations once they'd learnt that they were expecting a daughter in which they debated Lily, Sarah, Jennifer and Laura before eventually settling on Laura Jessica. "What?" Sam asked suddenly, gazing up at the slightly faraway look on Tom's face even as she was answering his question.

"Nothing." Tom replied quickly, in a tone no more the breathless whisper, as he moved from the chair by Sam's bed to be sat next to her. "She's perfect. Absolutely perfect." Sam couldn't bring herself to say anything in response though she agreed wholeheartedly and simply found herself shuffling across the bed in order to let Tom sit next to her. "Thank you." Tom muttered softly against her ear and Sam quickly let her head drop to Tom's shoulder, hoping he wouldn't notice the reappearance of tears in her eyes as he moved himself closer in order to have his arms wrapped around both her and Laura.

However, while her head was resting against Tom's shoulder Sam found that her eyes just wanted to sleepily close. Sam gazed down at Laura whose eyes were now open staring intently up at her parents and Tom moved his hand gently let his fingers graze against Laura's cheek until the little girl closed her eyes once again. "Can you take her for a while?" Sam asked, her voice somewhat muffled by the fabric of Tom's t-shirt.

"Yeah," Tom said softly and he moved in order to lift Laura from Sam's arms, once he had Laura rested against his own chest and his daughter had closed her eyes once again, seemingly reassured about whose arms she was currently in. Tom moved and retook his seat by Sam's bedside.

"She's beautiful," Tom stated, and Sam wasn't certain as to whether or not he was talking to her or just himself.

Sam realised that she couldn't help herself, and she responded anyway. "I know," she begun quickly and Tom looked up at her in alarm, seemingly just aware that he even uttered the words aloud. "I never knew that anyone could be that beautiful."

"You look exhausted Sam." Tom stated suddenly, changing the subject, and Sam had to force her eyes open in order to look at him.

"I am." Sam agreed, without any denial or argument. "Will you just stay there with her for a bit," Sam continued even when it seemed that she was unable to keep her eyes open a moment longer.

"I will." Tom agreed with a smile.

"Thank you." Sam continued, eyes still closed. "Mhm, sleepy," she muttered softly and Tom couldn't help but smile at the completely vulnerability that she seemed to have been showing and he did rather hoped that she was going to be able to allow him this same responsibility when she wasn't quite so tired.

Tom had only taken his eyes from Sam for a few moments, in order to watch Laura sleep, but when he returned his attention to Sam he found that she was as soundly asleep as her daughter. He stood up quickly, returning Laura to the crib in the corner of the room, suddenly aware that he knew he definitely could not spend the night apart from either of them. Pressing a softly kiss on Laura's forehead, and then Sam's, Tom muttered softly to neither of the sleeping occupants of the room in particular that he wouldn't be long before he set off to find a consultant in the hope of getting to take his family home.

As ever thank you for taking the time to read, that alone means a lot,

Ax