Samantha Byrne gasped loudly, both eyes shooting open at once. She looked around her bedroom, eyes focusing on the clock above the closet door. 4:07 am. She placed a hand on her forehead, which was moist with icy sweat.

"Sam? What's wrong sweetheart?" Damon Baird whispered groggily. Her movement had woken him, and his eyes fluttered open to find her panting, one hand covering her eyes. He squeezed her other hand, which was shaking violently. Sam jumped at the unexpected contact, pulling away as if she didn't recognize him for a second. He looked into her frightened eyes, and then glanced at her slightly protruding stomach.

"Are you ok?" he asked, a bit frightened himself as he reached over to touch her belly. Sam blinked away the tears forming in her tired eyes as she answered, voice hushed.
"Yeah, sorry. Just…a bad dream." She got out from under the covers and sat on the edge of the bed huddling closer into her sheer nightgown, her hands resting across her growing bump.

Baird sat up, completely awake now. "You want to talk about it?" he asked, whispering. The brunette shook her head, not bothering to turn around. She sat very still before her shoulders slumped and soft sobs past her lips.
"Hey…it's alright." Baird quietly made his way across the bed and wrapped his arms around her.

"I was…running; there were explosions and…and gunfire….I tried to save them but…" she stammered, choking back sobs. "You were right there. I almost made it…there was…so much blood and…God, I'm sorry." She looked at the floor, ashamed.

Baird shook his head quickly, dismissing her unnecessary apology as he put his hand under her chin, making her meet his gaze. Her weary face was stained with tears.
"Everything's going to be fine now. I'm not going anywhere. I promised, remember?" He gently touched the gold band around her finger with a tender smile. She nodded, sniffling as he pushed the hair out of her face.

Baird hugged her and kissed her neck before motioning to leave. "I'll make some tea. Would you like that?" She held his massive hand in hers tightly.
"No, Damon. Please…don't go," She half whispered, still shaken. Baird frowned with pity, and then crawled back into bed, lifting the covers for them both. He pulled the thick blanket over her shoulders as she leaned against his bare chest with an uneven sigh. Baird draped his arm around her waist and rubbed her back as her soft sniffling quieted down.

His heart ached each time he awoke to her like this. Up until recently, he'd never really known how lucky he was to be able to sleep soundly every night. He was worried about her. The war had been over for five years now, but she was still having nightmares. And now, with a baby on the way, he needed to make sure she was healthy.

After a bit, as he heard her slowly drift back to sleep, he carefully placed his hand on her stomach with a sigh. She was four months along now, but Baird was still having trouble adjusting. The pregnancy had been completely unexpected, (Mother Nature always had a way of pulling the rug out from beneath him) so when Sam had told him he was going to be a father, saying he was completely and utterly flabbergasted was an understatement. Of course he was happy, and ridiculously proud, but when he saw her lacking sleep, his fear outweighed his joy. She'd laugh at his troubled expression each time she'd sigh or have to sit down, but he wasn't taking any chances. He loved her with his whole heart, and took the job of caring for her very seriously. He wasn't sure how, but he was determined to make sure everything went smoothly, for her sake as well as his own. The very thought of anything happening to her made him hold her a bit tighter.

The mechanic kissed her head as he closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

Sam's eyes fluttered open as she awoke to the smell of something delicious cooking. She moaned softly, stretching as she spied the other half of the bed empty. She slowly sat up, taking a deep breath of the cinnamon scented air as she glanced at the clock, which read 10:24am.
"Bloody hell…" she groaned, realized she'd overslept again. It's not like she had anywhere to be, but after years of rising with the sun, sleeping late just felt wrong.

She stood up and tiptoed into the bathroom, knowing what her husband was up to in their small kitchen downstairs. She started to close the door, but once it creaked slightly, she decided to leave it half-way opened. She didn't want to disturb Baird; she knew if he heard her, he'd stop what he was doing to check in on her, as he did every morning.

Sam looked at herself in the mirror and her body slumped a little when she immediately noticed her eyes, red and slightly swollen. She quickly grabbed a clean wash cloth from the cabinet and soaked it in cold water, placing it on her eyes. She'd never wanted anyone to see her in such a pitiful state. She fixed her hair, smoothed her night gown, trying desperately to make herself look presentable. Just then, Baird entered the bedroom near silently, save for the dishes clinking on the tray.

"Sam?" he asked quietly as she exited the bathroom.
"Hey," she said shyly. He smiled at her, and seemed to relax a bit as she smiled back.

"What's all this for?" Sam asked softly, looking at the tray in Baird's hands.
"For you," he said, gesturing for her to sit down. She climbed into bed, and Baird placed the tray of food on her lap. There were cinnamon pancakes with maple syrup (her favorite) along with fruit, orange juice, a small cup of coffee, and one of the vitamins her doctor had given her during her check-up last week.

Sam was speechless as she looked at the strawberry slice on top of the pancakes, cut in the shape of a heart. "Oh, Damon…this is so nice," she said as he climbed into bed next to her after removing his royal blue robe from his shoulders. "I know," he said smugly; a playful grin on his face as he planted a kiss on her cheek. "Made with extra love," he added with a genuine smile.

"I don't even want to eat it, it's so pretty" she cooed, and Baird smirked, before he stuck his bottom lip out in a mock pout. "But I made it special," he said, giving her his best puppy eyes. She giggled, and then spoke genuinely.

"Thank you," she said softly, squeezing his hand. "How long did this take you anyway? Aren't you tired? I know…You couldn't have slept well last night…" she added, frowning.

"You're very welcome, and don't worry about it." he said as he squeezed her hand back. His smile faded a bit as he continued. "You're the one who needs sleep." He glanced at her stomach before mustering a grin, trying to lighten the mood. "Just eat before it gets cold. That's my world famous coffee right there."

As Sam took a bite of the pancakes, she noticed Baird watching her through the corner of his eye as he pretended to sleep. "How is it?" he asked, sounding a bit nervous. He'd never really thought cooking was his thing. But Sam just closed her eyes and moaned softly as she chewed, and that was all the answer he needed. He smiled contently and laced his fingers behind his neck, exhaling deeply through his nose.

"Really yummy…" she muttered, taking another bite of the sticky sweet goodness.
"I'm glad…" he breathed, shifting is bare back against the sheets as he settled in.

"Don't you want some?" Sam asked as she sipped her coffee, which was just slightly sweet with lots of cream; just how she liked it.
"Mm-mm…" Baird mumbled. "You eat, sweetie." Sam wasn't about to argue; she was pretty hungry. She was eating for two, after all.

She finished up, and Baird got up from his spot and removed the tray from her lap.
"Why are you so good to me…?" Sam whispered as he placed the dishes on the nightstand. He looked into her deep brown eyes to see they were glossy. The blonde leaned in and kissed her lips, sweet with maple syrup.
"Because you're my wife, and I love you," he answered simply. She smiled and pulled him in for another kiss.

"You know, I remember a time when you said you didn't," she managed between kisses. Baird stood still for a second, confused. "You really, REALLY didn't," the brunette said, eyebrows raised as she imitated her husband's voice. Baird's cheeks flushed slightly as he struggled for words, recalling their past squabbles.

"I lied," he said finally, a goofy smile crossing his lips. Sam shrugged. "Good enough," and pulled him into bed.