Sam and Jessica were over the moon! They've known baby Samuel for an hour, but already his little personality was shining through.

"He looks like he's enjoying his first meal." Autumn giggles.

"Yep! You're a hungry boy, aren't you, Sam Sam?"

Baby Samuel looks up to Jessica and hums.

"Hi!" Jessica giggles. "You are so cute! I love you, little guy!"

Sam watched Jessica with a smile on his. He was so in love with this woman. In Sam's mind, he's only known Jessica for a few months. In those few months she's gone from an acquaintance, to a friend.. to a Best friend, to someone he couldn't imagine living without. Sam wanted more than anything to spend the rest of his life with her.

**

"Wow.. you look like daddy, Sam Sam! You're so handsome!" Autumn said looking into her baby brother's eyes as she held him for the first time.

"He's got your mommy's nose though, doesn't he? A little baby button nose." Sam smiles.

Jessica looks over to him and smiles as she shyly plays with her hair.

"The perfect mix of both of us." She says.

"Yep.. the perfect mix."

Jessica giggles and hides her blushing face. Even after all these years, Sam's smile still gives her butterflies in her belly.

***

Two days later.

Autumn sat in the backseat right beside her baby brother. Jessica sat on the opposite side, and Sam sat in the passenger seat while Sarah drove.

"We're almost home, Samuel! You're gonna get to meet all of our brothers and sisters!

.. Of course there's a brother and a sister that won't be there.... But don't worry! I'll tell you All about them both! Our sister is Everly, and our brother is Simba. They're in Heaven with Jesus. They're our angels. They keep us safe." Autumn smiles as she gently caresses his tiny hand.

Jessica sat there crying silently. Sam heard her sniffles, so he reached over and held her hand.

Jessica looked at him and said, "It's not fair that he isn't here.. that she isn't here.. it's not right."

"I know.. but honey.. they are here."

Jessica sniffles, then leans over and kisses Sam's hand

"I love you, Momma."

"I love you too, Dada." Jessica giggles softly.

They then turned to Autumn who had no clue her parents were even talking. She was too into admiring her newest sibling.

Jessica smiles.

"She's cute, huh?"

"Very." Jessica nods.

**

"You guys!  Mommy and daddy are here!" Ann says as all of the kids run to greet them.

"Mommy and Daddy!  Mommy and Daddy!" Theodore cheers.

"MY BABIES!  Mommy's home!" Jessica opens the door with Autumn close behind, and finally Sam and the baby in his carrier.

"The baby's here! The baby's here! Let me see it! I want to see my new baby!"

"Well hello, Juju!" Jessica chuckles.

"Mommy, what is it?!" Julia shouts.

"A girl!" Theodore guesses.

"I say girl too!" Landon says.

"What do you think the baby is, Juju?" Sam asks, holding the baby's carrier away from the kids.

"A girl!"

"What what about you, little missy?" Jessica baby talks to Evangeline as she takes her from Dorothy.

"MAMA!" She smiles and grabs her cheeks.

"Hi baby girl! You're a big sister now! How weird is that?" Jessica laughs.

"Ya!"

Jessica giggles and kisses her cheek once again.

"Will you please just tell us what the freaking baby is?"

"Julia Summer!"

"What?! I said Please!" Jessica sighs and rolls her eyes. "Daddy?"

"Hm?" Sam turns to Jessica.

"Would you like to introduce the kids to their baby brother?"

"A baby brother?!" Julia shouts.

"Don't shout, you'll scare him, Juju!" Autumn says.

"Quiet, Autumn! Oh my goodness, another brother! Hi, buddy! I'm your favorite sister!"

"A boy?" Theodore pouts.

"Yes! Aw baby, why are you sad?" Jessica kneels down.

"I baby boy, mama! I baby boy!"

"Oh honey, you're still my baby boy!" Jessica hugs him with her free arm.

"No, he the baby now!"

"Sweetheart, you're all my babies!"

Theodore cries and buries his face in her side.

"Aw, Teddy! Please don't cry, honey! You're my baby, Autumn's my baby! Juju, Evie, Simba, Landon, and now little Samuel are all my babies!  I love each of you."

"Wait, he has daddy's name?!" Julia asks.

"Yeah, cutie." Jessica smiles.

"No way! So cool!" She says making Jessica laugh.

"Now come on, Theodore. Give mama kiss."

Theodore wipes his nose on Jessica's belly, then puckers up and kisses her lips.

"I love you. So so much, okay?"

"Luh yew, mama.."

Jessica smiles and softly pats his bottom.

"Now.. would you like to meet your baby brother?"

"Yeah." He wipes his tears.

"Yay! Look, you can touch him if you want. Just be very gentle, okay?"

"Yeah.. hi, baby.. his name?"

"His name is Samuel." Jessica smiles.

"Sham.."

"Yeah!" Jessica kisses his cheek and rubs his back.

Sam smiles and softly chuckles. "Sham. That's how Juju used to say my name."

"Yeah.." Jessica then quickly looks up to Sam.

"How do you know that?"

"It.. I don't know. I.. everything is just.. it's.." Sam looks around with wide eyes as Jessica slowly stand up and walks towards him.

"I remember."

"You remember? What do you remember?" Jessica asks in a tearful whisper.

"Everything. I've loved you since I was fourteen years old. I loved you even when you weren't mine. I begged you to leave that horrible man because I knew that you and I were meant to be with me. After you had our baby girl you proposed to me." Sam chuckles. "You're a woman who knows what she wants, Jessica Lange.. and I'm so happy what you want is Me!"

Jessica hands Evangeline to Autumn, and wraps her arms around Sam as she kisses his lips.

Autumn smiles with tears in her eyes.

Jessica holds Sam's cheeks and presses her forehead against his. "I love you, Samuel Shepard. I love you so so much.... You're back. My Sammy is back!" She cries.

"I love you so much!"

"Kiss me."

"Sure!" Sam chuckles and kisses Jessica's lips once again.

"DADA! DADA!" Evangeline screams.

Sam pulls away and chuckles. "Hi, my beautiful girl!" He takes her from Autumn. He then kisses all of his kids. "I love you guys!"

Julia looks up to Sam and asks, "Is daddy back? The daddy that knows me!"

"Heh! Yes, Jewls.. I'm right here."

Julia gasps and roughly wraps her arms around him. "You know my nickname! It is you! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! I love you, Daddy! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!"

"I love you too! I love all of you!" Sam cries softly.

Evangeline pokes his tears, then licks them.

"Oh!" Sam chuckles. "I'll get it! Thanks for trying to help though, beautiful!"

Evangeline giggles and kicks her legs.

Sam then looks around and smiles. "It's good to be back."

***
Wasn't planning on this happening so soon, but it suddenly hit me, and it felt perfect.  Plus, I think we can all use some good news right now.  Even if it's fictional. 😉 Love you all, and hope everyone is doing well, and staying in!