November//

As the weeks went by Sean and Olivia were both still grounded. Things thankfully calmed down. Olivia and Sean started seeing Danny again and following the schedule.

On a weekly basis Olivia was talking with a therapist which seemed to be helping things. There was still tension between Jessica and Olivia but Jessica tried her best to make things better.

For Sean, he was back in school after his week suspension. In the week that he was suspended he missed lots of work that he was not aloud to make up. It was beginning to make his grades suffer.

Jessica and Sam were still seeing each other very often, but never around the kids. Every time Jessica would try to set up a dinner date with the four of them they'd all raincheck and give Jessica excuses as to why they didn't have time to go out and have a sit down dinner. The kids were actually trying to avoid any type of sit down dinner with Sam or not because things between them were tense as well.

//

Thursday-

Jessica had finished her work day and was getting ready to head home. Sam called her right as she got into her car.

"Hey baby." He says softly

"Hey! What's up? I miss you!"

"I miss you too. Sorry about not being able to meet up for lunch. We had a few dilemmas but it's all good now. So for sure tomorrow."

"You know what I was thinking instead of lunch?" Jessica says softly

"Hmmm, what?" He hums

"Dinner, at my house! With the kids!" Jessica says enthusiastically

Sam was quite for a moment. "Jess, Sean and Olivia have came up with excuses the last three times you've asked." He says sadly

Jessica sighs "I'm trying Sam, they're just being difficult."

"I just don't want them to feel pressured to sit down with us at dinner."

"They won't!"

Jessica knew that sam was upset about the kids not wanting him to be around them or Jessica. It broke his heart and Jessica's too because they wanted this relationship to work.

"I'll talk with them, just have your schedule clean for tomorrow night at seven."

Sam chuckles "Okay, Jessica. Love you, I'll talk to you later tonight?"

"Yes, love you too!"

//

That night after dinner the kids were both helping clean up the kitchen. Just as they were getting ready to go upstairs to get ready for bed Jessica stops them.

"Hey, guys tomorrow night Sam is coming over for dinner." Jessica says quickly

The kids both turn around "Aren't we at dads tomorrow?" Olivia says

"Nope, next weekend."

"I have a test Monday that I need to cram for." Sean says

"Yeah, and I have a big biology project!" Olivia adds

Jessica sighs then puts her hands on her hips. "Would it kill you both to take an hour or two out of your fake studying to have dinner with Sam and I?" Jessica whines

Olivia and Sean look at each other then back at Jessica.

"I'm tired of the fake excuses. Olivia you have a biology project due last week too! I know you're lying! Why don't you just give Sam a chance... I know you two both like him. What's up with suddenly hating him?"

"Okay... Fine." They both say

"Good, thank you!"

//

The next day-

Jessica got home from work and immediately went to the store to pick up things for dinner.

When Jessica got home from the store the kids had gotten home from school. They were both on the couch watching tv.

"Hello, I'm home!" Jessica say enthusiastically

"Oh, hi." Sean says

"Can I have some help please?" Jessica says with a chuckle as she struggles to carry all of the grocery bags.

Sean and Olivia get off the couch and pick up some grocery bags. They all walk into the kitchen and help Jessica put everything away.

"You're really going all out, huh?" Olivia says

"Well I don't want to make the usual, pasta. Why not have something more extravagant?" Jessica smiles

Sean rolls his eyes "Tacos?" He laughs

Jessica taps his shoulder and shakes her head. "No, actually, stir fry."

"Hmm, interesting..." Olivia giggles

"Moms really going all out to impress her boyfriend!" Sean says making fun of Jessica

"What's next Mom? Candle light dinner, piano music playing in the background, a center piece?" Sean says

It was out of the ordinary for Jessica to come home with this many groceries just for a single meal. Jessica was always simple and never spent so much on a dinner. When the kids saw her bringing home things she wouldn't usually bring home they couldn't help but make fun of her.

"You know what You brats!" Jessica says in embarrassment

"We're just kidding!" Sean says trying to hold in his laughs

"Make yourself useful and clean up around the house!" Jessica says

"Haha, Okay fine. We love ya!" Sean says hugging Jessica

"Love you too! Thank you two again."

"No problem, Mom. We know it means a lot to you." Olivia says

//

Jessica was cooking frantically. She was a bit out of her comfort zone, doing what the cookbook told her. She was never much of a cook.

Once she was finally done cooking Jessica ran up to her room and slipped into causal attire, Dark jeans and a black blouse. Jessica let her hair fall to her shoulders then put a small amount of perfume on. Right as she finished the final touches of her outfit sam texted that he was on his way.

Jessica runs down the stairs and the kids were back on the couch watching tv. Without them paying attention, Jessica grabs the remote and shuts off the tv.

"Hey! They were literally just about to reveal the winner!" Sean pouts

Jessica rolls her eyes "please go clean up and get dressed. Sam will be here soon."

"Isn't what I'm wearing just fine?" Sean says

"No!" Jessica says

"Ugh." Olivia whines

"Come on, I didn't think you two were little kids. With this complaining maybe you are."

"Like we said earlier, you're really going all out." Olivia says

"A Smokey eyeshadow look? A sheer blouse? Maybe a push up bra and curled hair? What's next Mom?" She adds

"Hey, don't make fun of Mom like that..." Sean chuckles

"That's enough, hurry go get dressed!" Jessica laughs

"Fine, Fine! We're going!"

//

Just on time Sam knocked on the door and Jessica ran to open it.

"Hey!" He smiles

"Hi! Oh god I'm so glad you're here!" Jessica giggles giving him a kiss.

"Me too. Is everyone here?"

Jessica nods and let's Sam in.

"Kids, Sam is here!" Jessica says

Sean and Olivia come downstairs from their rooms.

"Hey, Sam." Sean says shaking his hand

"Hey, how are you?"

"Good, I guess!" He says

"Well that's good. And hello Olivia!" Sam says giving her a quick hug

"Hi Sam" She smiles softly

"Well dinners waiting... so why don't we go get started?" Jessica smiles

"Alright, that sounds great." Sam says

//

The beginning of dinner was a bit awkward. The kids didn't know how to act around Sam and he didn't know how to act around them. It was all new to them. Sam was always a family friend of Dorthy and Albert's to the kids. Him being with their mom was just strange to them. It took time for the two of them to warm up to him. Towards the end of dinner Sean and Olivia became more comfortable. They made lots of conversation with Sam and there were lots of laughs.

It put Jessica's mind at rest seeing them all get along.

"Well Sam, I think it's only fair to say that now that you and my mom are a thing... I can drive your mustang." Sean says with confidence

Sam clears his throat and shakes his head. "In your dreams..."

"If you ever get your keys and license back from Mom." Olivia says under her breath

"You have a mustang?" Jessica giggles

"You didn't know? Yeah, I do. I always keep it in storage-"

"He's like grandpa al with his cars, no one can touch it and it only comes out a few days out of the year." Olivia chuckles

"Oh, wow. You're that kind of guy." Jessica says

"Hey! What's that suppose to mean?"

"Nothing..." Jessica smirks

Sam laughs then leans to his right and gives Jessica a soft kiss. The kids watch awkwardly.

"No PDA!" Olivia laughs

"Sorry, Guys... Maybe I shouldn't have done that at the dinner table." Sam says

Jessica takes his hand from under the table without the kids noticing and smiles.

"Nah, it's all good." Sean says

It was silent for a few seconds then Sean continued on a new conversation. "So then you two are a thing? Boyfriend girlfriend?"

Jessica and Sam look at each other then laugh. "That's so weird to hear!" Jessica says

"It is... but to answer your question, Sean, yes. I hope that you two are okay with that. I knew you were both a bit hesitant about having dinner with me."

"It's Okay with me... I just don't want my mom getting hurt." Sean says

"Aww, Sean. Sam's a good guy."

"We just want things to work out between you two." Olivia says

"I do too. Your mother is an amazing woman."

//

After dinner was over Sam was getting ready to leave. Once he said goodbye to Sean and Olivia Jessica walked him outside. Jessica grabbed her jacket and went out onto the porch with Sam. They stood by his truck.

"Tonight was amazing." Jessica says

"I was so nervous... it was a bit bumpy at first when they didn't like my jokes but it got better." Sam smirks

"It did... I'm so happy."

"Me too. Thank you for a wonderful dinner."

"Ahh, you liked it? I'm not much of a cook."

"It was really good, baby."

"Well your welcome. I'm glad you liked it, and thanks for coming."

"You'll have to cook more. You're a good cook!" Sam laughs

"Haha, and you'll have to take me for a ride in that mustang." Jessica puts her head on Sam's chest and he holds her close to his body.

"Not when it's almost winter, hun!" Sam says nervously

"That makes me so sad!"

"I'm sorry... soon..."

"Okay..."

Jessica pulls Sam's body close to hers so his face is lined up with hers. She places her cold hands on his cheeks and kisses him passionately.

"I love you... you know that, right?"

"I love you too." Jessica whispers

"I'm so glad things worked out."

"Now our next task is meeting your parents!"

Sam clenches his teeth. "Ahhh, you sure?"

"Well yeah!"

"Haha, maybe."

"Maybe?" Jessica crosses her arms

"You'll meet them. Let's just focus on the kids first."

"Okay"

Jessica was a bit skeptical about why Sam got so nervous when she brought up his parents. She tried not to think too much of it.