Hey everyone! I know it's been a while and I'm sorry again. Life has been getting in the way of my writing. Enjoy!

A couple of days passed and I could notice the mixture of emotions within Sam come to an all time high. He spent most of his days cooped up in his office trying to learn everything he needed to know for the press conference.

I had had an idea of how stressful this was for him by just noticing how he was when he would enter the apartment at late hours but I hadn't realized how he was handling it until he had called me around noon one day.

"Hey," I murmured with a small smile even though I knew he couldn't see my face. Gracey and I had been putting together a one thousand piece puzzle.

There was a long pause. "Hey, Q," he said, his tone sounded relieved. It sounded like he was holding his breath. "How are you?"

I knew something was off when he asked this because he never called unless it was important and I did the same since I knew he had busy days at ENCOM.

"I'm fine, how are you?"

I heard him breath a slight laugh and then there was silence. "I wish I had an answer to that question," he said honestly and I could hear the uncertainty in his tone. "I just wanted to hear your voice, I miss you."

There was a pause where I looked at the clock in the family room. "It's only been six hours, you know?" I questioned him softly.

"You know what I mean," he stammered and of course I did. "I'm sorry I've been so distant and haven't been around so much lately."

I sighed. "It's not like I don't understand."

"I know," he said and then there was a long pause. "I love you, I hope you know that."

I smiled slightly. "Of course," I replied as I bit my lip and connected to puzzle pieces together.

Another handful of comfortable silence passed until I heard him clear his throat. "Come over."

"What?"

"Come to ENCOM," he stated again as I heard him heave a sigh.

"But you said-"

"I know, I know," he said softly. "I just…I really need you. The three of us can go out to lunch once you get here," he said. "Where's Gracey?"

"She's right in front of me, we're working on that movie themed puzzle," I answered. "Do you want us to come now?"

"The sooner the better," he managed to say and I could hear a smile beginning to make its way into his voice. "I'll see you soon."

I nodded and stood. "See you soon," I echoed before the phone clicked, ending the call.

Now, two days later, he was nothing but anxious about the impending situation. Since it was Sunday, he got the day off and I had made a point not to wake him up when I got out of bed this morning.

Gracey was out on the terrace with Marvin, the two of them sprawled out on the matching furniture in the warm morning sun.

I continued cutting up the strawberries, melon and pineapple into a large bowl as the pancakes continued to cook on the stove top. The sausages and bacon were sitting on a plate on the counter cooling.

"If you were trying to let me sleep in, you shouldn't have put together all of this," I hear Sam's voice say from in front of me. He stood on the other side of the counter with a tired smirk on his face. "It smells fantastic in here."

I smiled at him and watched as he made his way into the kitchen, wrapping his arm around me and placing his chin on my shoulder. "Good morning," I said as he kissed my cheek.

"Good morning," he said. "Let me help," he murmured as his hands moved down my arms and stopped at my wrists.

I shook my head. "Let me do it, I'm almost done," I stated as I shrugged him away from me and smiled back at him.

"I'm sorry that-"

"Don't apologize again," I said as I turned and walked past him, turning everything off and placing the pancakes on their own plate as well.

"I feel bad though, I've been ignoring you and Gracey and here you are encouraging that bad behavior by making me breakfast," he scoffed. "Make me sleep on the couch or something," he insisted.

I shook my head as I turned to look at him evenly. "You've been nothing but understanding with me, I believe that it's only fair for me to do the same in similar situations," I told him. "Anyways, the breakfast is so you can eat, Alan said that you've been skipping meals."

He bit his lip but nodded anyway. "I'm just ready for this to be over."

"I know you'll be fine. Tuesday will come and go just like that," I promised him.

"At least the two of you will be there," he admitted with a slight nod as if he were trying to reassure himself.

I laughed and took a large step towards him to stand on my toes and kiss him quickly. "Now go get Gracey," I said as I pushed him away softly.

He chuckled and walked out to the terrace. I watched as he knelt down and patted Marvin on the head and then pulled Gracey into his arms, picking her up easily. Within the next few seconds, he was carrying her inside as Marvin pranced around his feet.

"I think someone is getting heavier," he mumbled as he set her on the bar stool and stretched out his back.

She laughed. "Dr. Reid said I've grown almost five inches since April, isn't that great?" she asked.

Sam nodded and glanced at me. "Soon you'll be too big too carry," he said.

She pouted at him. "Never," she disagreed as she pouted at him. "Can we eat now? I'm hungry."

Gracey went to sit at her seat at the table as Sam fixed her a plate, setting it in front of her after a minute. "I'm surprised the fire alarm didn't go off or anything. You must be really getting good at this," Sam stated.

"Well it's almost been a year and I catch on quite fast," I reminded him softly as I walked over to the table with my plate and Sam followed behind me.

He grinned. "Where has the time gone?" he pondered. "How did I get so lucky?"

I mirrored his facial expression and we fell into silence for a few minutes as we ate breakfast. "Alan and Lora would like to have dinner with us tomorrow, I wanted to check with you first before I said yes," I said in a suggesting tone.

"Sure, their place?" he asked and I nodded as I chewed on a piece of bacon.

"Lora said that I had a surprise coming my way in the near future, do you know what she meant by that?" I asked curiously. "You know I hate surprises."

Sam shrugged. "It is a surprise but we've talked about it. The house is practically finished so we'll be moving in soon if you like it. We'll be going to see it on Saturday."

My eyes widened. "I didn't even know that you'd purchased a lot to start building," I admitted, surprised.

"The nitty gritty parts weren't necessary to tell you and Alan took the reigns on the project. I'd drop by some evenings after work to check on the process. They did a great job," he promised.

"So we're moving soon?" Gracey asked as she drew pictures with her fork with the remaining syrup on her plate.

Sam nodded. "Probably after the wedding, but yes."

"That's so exciting," she quipped with a large smile.

"It is," I agreed as Gracey stood and put her dishes in the dishwasher and glanced at the two of us before disappearing into her room . I heard the water in the bathroom begin to run. "Sometimes I don't think this is real."

"I think that too but then I realize that I think I'd be insane if I were to dream all of this up," Sam admitted.

"Probably," I murmured. "So what does the house look like?" I asked.

He chuckled. "You'll see. There's an amazing view and we won't be far from the beaches still. It's romance friendly and child friendly, what else could you want?" he asked with a grin.

"What happens after all of this, Sam?" I asked as I made a face.

"What do you mean?"

"People say that eventually the excitement will disappear…What happens then?"

He made a face that probably mirrored mine. "That happens to people that thought they were in love. Sometimes people are wrong and it just takes a while to realize it," he said honestly. "I know that a life with you will be more than fulfilling and a life without you wouldn't be living. I still feel that spark even when I'm not with you."

"Can we make a promise then?"

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"What is it?"

"There's no going back after the wedding. I don't ever want to experience a divorce," I said.

Sam smiled at me. "I'd be insane to divorce you so you have a deal," he said as he stood and grabbed his plate, leaning over to kiss me quickly. "You're an outstanding woman."

"And you're amazing."