Sam and Jessica joined the family in the dining room, and had a delicious Thanksgiving meal.  Jessica was still heartbroken, and Sam felt horrible for making her feel that way, but both pushed their feelings to the side, and put on a smile for their kids.

"Momma, this little baby sure does like your cooking!" Jessica says leaning back in her chair, and holding her bump.

"Aww!  I'm glad! So you two! When will we know what the baby is?"

"Well I guess we can find out anytime but, I've been thinking and I kinda want it to be a surprise when I give birth."

"That's torture!" Autumn says.

"I think it'll be special!"

"Well then I'm going to be in there when you have the baby because I want to know first!"

"Okay!" Jessica chuckles.

"I think you're right, Jessica.  That would be cool to wait til he or she is born." Sam says.

Jessica turns to him and smiles very very softly.
"Yep.."

**

That evening.

"Do you need anything before I go up to bed?" Jessica asks Sam who was laying in the downstairs guest bedroom.

"No, I'm okay.. you're going upstairs?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to be around you right now, Sam."

"I'm sorry.. I understand."

Jessica sighs.
"You really hurt me today."

"I know. I feel terrible."

"I don't know what our future holds.. I just know it's something completely different than it was just a few months ago.
If you still want to live with your parents, go ahead."

"No, I-I wanna stay."

"Okay.."

She then takes a deep breath and says, "Well goodnight. I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight.."

Sam laid down as Jessica shut the light off. He sighed as he relaxed onto the pillow.
"Please help me remember. I don't want to continue hurting her."

***

December 6th.
Julia's 4th birthday.

"Good morning." Sam says walking into the kitchen where Jessica was bright and early.

"Hey.. you're up early."

"So are you!" Sam chuckles softly.

"Yeah. I just wanted to get up and make her favorites. Her last birthday wasn't the best for her."

"What happened?"

Jessica shakes her head and sighs.
"Danny happened."

"Of course."

"You and him got into a fight."

"Wow! I'm really the fighting type, aren't I?"

"You didn't used to be." Jessica chuckles.

"He came to Julia's birthday party uninvited, and was acting like his usual dumbass self.. he grabbed a hold of my arm and tried forcing me outside. That's when you stepped in."

"Showed him who was boss?"

Jessica laughs and nods her head.
"He actually punched you first."

"Ouch! I think I need to work on my fighting skills."

"I have to agree with you on that one!" She laughs.

"Yeah, I suck!"

"Well you did punch him! At least that's what you told me, I didn't see it."

"You think I lied?"

"No!" Jessica laughs. "I think you gave it to him good." Jessica folds her lips in to keep from laughing.

"That face! You don't believe I hit him!"

"No! I'm only kidding! I know you hit him. Thank you for that." Jessica smiles softly.

"No problem." Sam chuckles and looks down.

".... Crazy how much can change in a year..
This time last year I was living with you, and pregnant with what I thought was Danny's baby!"

"But she's mine!" Sam smiles.

"She is! She's such a daddy's girl too."

"She is!" Sam laughs. "She's pretty cute."

"You're just saying that because she looks just like you!"

"Oh right!" Sam laughs.

Just then Julia makes her way downstairs.

"It's me! The birthday girl! I'm four today!"

"Happy Birthday, baby!" Jessica kneels down and holds her arms out.

"Thank you, mommy!" Julia runs and throws herself onto her mother.

"Happy Birthday, Juju!"

"Thanks, daddy! Look! I'm wearing the diamonds you gave me on my birthday when I was three! Do you remember?"

"You know what, I do!" Sam lies.

Julia gasps. "Momma, daddy remembers! Good boy, daddy!" Julia hugs him tightly.

"Aw thanks, Ju!"

"Are you ready for the best birthday EVER, Julia Summer Huston?!" Jessica asks.

"YEAH! But wait!" She shouts.
"My name is not stupid Huston, momma! I changed it!"

"What did you change it too?"

"I change it too Shepard like daddy!"

"Aw.." Sam felt his heart melt.

"Aw Juju, you're too cute!" Jessica says.

"Yeah, I know that already!  So call my name again, but do it right this time, okay?"

"Okay!" She laughs.

"Are you ready for the best birthday ever, Julia Summer Shepard?!"

"YEAH I'M READY!" Julia shouted with so much excitement.

***

December 19th.
22 weeks pregnant.

"Mama?"

"Yeah, Teddy?"

"NnnOOOO wan to shee Shanta!"

"Aw Theodore! But Santa wants to see you!"

"I-I-I shtay wih dada!"

"Dada is coming with us to see him, Buddy."

"Noooo.." He frowns.

"Sorry, son." Jessica gives him a cute look.

"Dada no shame, mama."

"He's not the same? I know, buddy.. one day he'll be back."

"Yeah.. mama?"

"Yes, baby?"

"No shee Shanta, k-kayyy?"

Jessica couldn't help but laugh.
"You're seeing Santa today, goofy!"

"Noooo!" Theodore whines.

**

"Well that was an experience! Autumn and Landon being perfect angels, while Juju reads Santa a forty page Christmas list, and Theo and Evie scream on the top of their lungs!"

"They put on quite a show for the rest of the line, huh?" Sam chuckles.

"Oh yeah! These little stinkers.."

"They're not so bad." Sam smiles softly down to the kids.

"No, they're not.."

"Let's go get something to eat. What do you feel like?"

"I can eat anything really. You pick."

"You want Torchy's?"

"That sounds good! Is that alright with you kids?"

"YEAH! I LOVE TACOS, MAMA!" Julia shouts with excitement.

"Me too, baby!" Jessica laughs.

**

During lunch, Sam and Jessica weren't able to have much of a conversation. It's what usually happens when all of the kids are with them.

Sam sat back and watched closely how Jessica interacted with the children.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Julia shouted.

"What, princess?"

"Guess what, silly!"

"What?!"

"I love you THIS much!" Julia holds her arms out to the sides.

"Oh my goodness!  Guess what!"

"Oh my gooness, what?!"

"I love you more than the whole world!"

"Stop it!  Wow!"

"You're so precious!" Jessica laughs before she turns to check on the baby.
"Hey Evie, you okay?"

"Dadaaaaa!"

"I'm not dada, I'm mama!"

"DADA!" She kicks her chubby legs as she eats her hands.

"I'm right here, beautiful!"

Evangeline babbles with excitement, and blows spit bubbles.
"You're such a silly girl!" Jessica giggles as she wipes the baby drool from her chin.

"Jessie, can you cut this for me, please?" Landon asks.

"Sure, honey.  Give it here."

"Thanks.." Landon hands his food over.  While she cuts it, Landon places his hand on her back, and lays his head on her side.

"What's up, buddy?  You okay?"

"I'm tired."

Jessica looks at him and places the back of her hand on his forehead.

"Do you feel sicky?"

"A little bit.."

"Poor baby!  Well when we get home, Jessie will take good care of you, and make you feel all better!  Sound good?"

Landon nods his head and squeezes her even tighter.

"Aw my boy!" Jessica holds him tightly and kisses the top of his head.

**

Later that day.

"Well, he doesn't have a fever, but I definitely think he's coming down with something."

"You're amazing, Jessica." Sam said, surprising Jessica.

"Aw.. thank you." She smiles.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Would you like to go out to dinner sometime?"

"Sure!  Just not tonight.  I need to keep an eye on Landon."

"Of course!  How about Saturday?"

"Yeah!  Yeah, Saturday sounds great!" Jessica smiles.  She blushed like a teenaged girl speaking with her crush.

"Perfect.  It's a date." Sam says.

**

That evening.

"A date!  I have a date with Sam, Sarah!  What am I going to wear?!"

"Jessica!  You're engaged to the man!  You can wear whatever you want!"

"Not anymore!  We're strangers to each other!  He didn't know who the hell I was, and I don't know this Sam!  My Sam is gone!"

"Don't say that!  It just takes time."

Jessica sighs. "I'm so nervous, Sarah.  I just want him back."

"I know you do.  I'm sorry, sweetie."

"It's been months since we had sex!  I'm dying, Sarah!  I can only excite myself so much!"

"Heh.. well.. I don't know what to say."

"IT'S BEEN FIVE MONTHS!  I'm pregnant!  I have needs!"

"I'm sorry.  I'm sure that's tough."

"IT IS!  Ugh, I hate Daniel!"

"Maybe this date will lead to sex.  You never know."

"I don't know.  I feel like I just disgust him now.."

"No!  Jessica, I don't believe that's true."

"I feel it might be."

"Don't think like that.  Just go on the date, and see where it goes from there."

"Alright.  Well I'll keep you updated."

"Sounds good!  Good luck!"

***

Saturday.

"Wow!" Sam said as Jessica walked down in a skin tight red dress.

"Sorry it took so long.  I couldn't get my dress zipped." Jessica softly chuckles.

"It's okay!" Sam smiles. "You look beautiful?"

"Really?"

"Yeah!"

"Thank you." Jessica's smile grows.

**

Jessica drove her and Sam to a nice Italian restaurant in town.  Once seated, Jessica ordered an iced tea, and Sam ordered a water.

"This is nice!  Have we been here before?" Sam asks.

"Yeah.. actually we.. we sat right here while we heard our song for the very first time....just bawling the both of us."

"Why were we bawling?"

Jessica takes a deep breath and says, "The words just got us.. It fit our story so perfectly.  It still does.. for me anyway.."

"Oh.. that's cool!"

"Yeah.. it was incredible." Jessica looks down with a sadness in her eyes.

**

Over dinner Sam and Jessica were really able to connect.  It was nice.

"Sam?  Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"What are we now?  I know we're not engaged anymore but.. I mean.. what are we doing?"

Sam sighs. "I don't know.  But.. I want to spend more time with you.  Alone.  We need those moments."

"Yeah.. I think so too."

"How about tomorrow we send Autumn, Landon and Evangeline to my parents' house, and Julia and Theodore to yours?  That way it's not too much on just one set of parents!

.... And you and I can spend some time alone."

"Yeah?  Yeah!  I'd like that." Jessica smiles.

"Maybe we can stay home and you can teach me how to cook again." Sam laughs and continues, "I'd really like to help you out, but I don't know how!"

"Sure!  That sounds like fun!"

"Yeah!  I think it'll be great!  You can teach me all kinds of stuff!"

"Alright!  Yeah, I'm down!" Jessica smiles.

"Awesome!  I'm looking forward to it." Sam smiles back to Jessica making her blush.