What Should Have Been

Part 58

Another few days had gone by since Connie went dress shopping with Charlie. It was Sam's birthday and Connie had been running all over the place sorting things out for him. "DADDY! DADDY! WAKE UP! DADDY IT'S TIME TO GET UP! IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!" Grace jumped on the bed causing him to groan before she fell onto his stomach. "Daddyyyyyy!"

Connie was working early that morning and so had already left for work. Sam glanced to the alarm clock seeing it was almost 9 before smiling back at Grace. "Morning Princess-" "Daddy it's your birthday, we have to get up now. Mummy said." Sam frowned before grabbing his phone to see a text message from her.

Happy birthday baby, I hope you wake up half as happy as you make me everyday. Enjoy your morning with Grace and I'll see you when you both get here.             - Connie x

"Daddy get up, we need to have breakfast and then go to see Mummy!" "Alright sweetheart, okay." He smiled wrapping her into a hug falling back down to the bed as she laughed trying to refuse.

Connie sat at her desk running her fingers over the edge of the envelope she held as she bit her lip . Looking to the name on the front a small smile came to her lips before her attention was snapped up to the door that had been opened. "Morning-" "Hey Charlie."

He stepped inside sitting opposite her desk as she placed the envelope back down before her. "What time are they coming in?" "I've no idea, by the time Grace has finished with him this morning your guess is good as mine!" Charlie smiled before tapping the desk as he stood up. "Well you know where to find me." Connie smiled warmly as he left the office returning to the ED.

"Daddy we have to go see Mummy now!" "What's the rush baby?" Grace went to speak before stopping making Sam look at her differently. She shook her head clasping her hands over her mouth showing him that she wasn't saying anymore. "Alright Princess, go get your coat and we'll go." Grace nodded running out of the room leaving Sam to laugh to himself. Pulling his phone out he text Connie with a smile.

I think it's impossible for you to be as happy as I am with you girls in my life... Anyway, Grace says we need to come to you, here's a heads up that we're on our way. I love you         - Sam x

Connie strolled the department as she came out of cubicles before seeing Grace skipping into the ED. "Morning baby-" "Mummy!" Connie lifted her up from the floor with a smile before placing a kiss to her cheek. "I didn't tell Daddy like you told me." "Okay sweetheart... Morning-" "Hey you."

Sam wrapped an arm around her waist pushing a kiss to her lips before Grace complained. "Sorry baby-" "Right, what was this one so desperate for? Hmm..." Connie arched a brow as Grace grinned at her. "Go on." Grace slipped easily from Connie's arms before pulling on Sam's hand towards her office.

Charlie smiled from the other side of the desk to Connie before she disappeared, following after them. Sam was sat on the sofa as Grace waited beside Connie's desk. "Go on sweetheart, you can give them to your Daddy." She grinned picking up the small bag from beside Connie's desk. "Happy birthday Daddy!"

Connie smirked leaning against the doorframe as Grace handed him the bag. He laughed as she jumped onto the sofa beside him watching as he opened the few small presents from them both. "Thank you Gracie, these are lovely-" "They were from me and Mummy." Sam smiled looking to Connie who continued to watch from a distance.

"There's one more Daddy..." Grace took the piece of paper from Connie who had pulled it from her desk. Sam frowned as Grace passed it over to him shyly, his eyes falling down to the paper scanning it quickly. His eyes slowed releasing what it was he was holding. Connie watched on unable to read his expression like he could hers. "Daddy?"

Sam lifted his eyes from Grace's birth certificate where his name was now written at the bottom alongside Connie's. He looked back down again to see that his name being added wasn't the only change made. "Come here baby." Grace rushed into his arms as he pulled her tightly into his chest. "I love you so, so much... This is the best birthday present anyone could ever give me sweetheart."

Grace smiled as Sam ran a hand over his face quickly concealing the few tears that had spilled over. Connie's heart melted at the sight before her as Grace stood back up. There was a gentle knock at the door which Connie answered leaving Grace with Sam. Elliot stepped inside with a grin as he looked down at his goddaughter.

"I heard a little Miss Beauchamp was in the building-" "That's not my name anymore Uncle Elliot." He frowned glancing to Connie. "It isn't?" "No silly, it's the same as my Daddy's now." He looked to the expression on Sam's face telling him he had just interrupted the very moment. "Oh, oh I'm sorry-" "It's fine Elliot stop blubbering." Connie rolled her eyes as Sam laughed pulling Grace up onto his lap.

The four continued chatting before Grace complained she was hungry. "You just had breakfast-" "But Daddy I'm huuuungry." He smirked glancing to Connie before standing up. "Come on then, I'll take you to get something to eat-" "Actually Elliot, could you take her I need to talk to Sam about something."

A worried expression passed Sam's face before Elliot nodded taking the little girls hand. "Come on, I think I have some sweets left in my office upstairs." Grace smiled skipping off ahead as Elliot closed the door to. Sam dropped his hands down to his sides as Connie stood up grabbing the envelope from her desk.

She looked down at it once more before stepping forwards and passing it over to Sam as he sat down with a frown. "Con?" "Please, just open the card." She sat uneasily on the edge of the sofa a short distance from him as he opened it.

Sam

The last thing I expected was to come into my office and find you sitting there with my daughter. I never thought you had come back for me, it was a shock to say the least. Almost a year has passed since then, and yet I can't help but think about all the time we wasted before that. All the years I should have told you about Grace, about how I felt and I didn't. I never want to have to wake up without you again because you mean everything to me and my girl, our girl.

You deserve so much Sam, and I can't quite believe that you settled for me. I promise to do everything I can each day to show you how much I love you. I don't think you expected to take on a little girl when you came back into my life, and I think it's safe to say I didn't think I'd be sitting here now with an ever bigger shock for both of us...

Happy Birthday Sam,

Love from all of us

He lifted his eyes with a small shake of his head. "A bigger shock than having a four year old daughter? Good luck Con-" "I'm pregnant." Connie watched his face become a blank canvas as he stood up before her words sunk in. "You're preg... You... We're having a baby?" "Well yes, I'm not giving birth to a dog." Connie stood standing before him, watching as his eyes filled with tears.

Sam lifted Connie up as he spun round briefly before placing his hands on her cheeks. "You're serious?" "No I thought I'd wind you up by pretending that I'm about to suffer for nine months." She laughed at his reaction before his lips pressed against hers. Connie wrapped her arms around his neck as his hands fell to her waist. When they parted she placed a hand to his cheek wiping the few tears that had fallen. "How long have you known?" "A few weeks, I didn't know how to tell you."

Sam smiled hugging her again as it really sunk in. "We're having another baby Connie?" "And I promise you, we'll do it all properly this time not like before." She smiled before her lips were covered by his once again, both of them bursting with happiness at what she had finally admitted.