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Beloved Father and Husband Part 4

(12 ½ hours into surgery)

It was ironic that even though they got coffee for the purpose of staying awake and having energy Ethan, Theresa, and Jessica were asleep within minutes. Jessica lying on the floor and Ethan and Theresa sitting up in the chairs and Theresa leaning on his shoulder. But Grace still couldn't sleep. What was happening? Why was it taking so long? She had to keep reminding herself that Eve said it could take 12-14 hours, which meant that it could take as long as 14 hours, anywhere between that time.

Just then Eve came in. "Grace! He's out of surgery."

"Is he okay?" she asked worried.

"Yes. The surgery went well. He's going to be fine."

"Thank God. Can I see him?"

"Yes. He's in the recovery room. He's still out from the anesthesia but he'll wake up in a little while."

"Thank you, Eve." She hugged her.

"Hey, don't thank me. I wasn't one of people who operated on him."

"Well, thank you for being there for me. Thanks for everything."

Eve just smiled. "C'mon. I'll show you to the recovery room." She walked out of the waiting room and Grace followed her.

Fifteen minutes later Sam woke up. He didn't remember anything that had happened. But then he felt unbearable pain, especially in his chest and that caused him to remember everything. He groaned and opened his eyes and saw Grace sitting next to him. "Hi," he said in a hoarse, soft voice.

"Hi," she replied tenderly. "Remember what happened?"

"Yeah. I do." He closed his eyes. "How's Ethan?" he asked, voice less hoarse.

"He's a little shaken up because of what happened, but other than that...he's fine." She leaned closer to him. "He wants to be a part of our family. And he and Theresa are going to get married under the name 'Bennett'."

"Wow." He didn't say anything for a second. "Where is he?"

"He, Theresa, and Jessica are asleep in the waiting room. Kay, Charity, and Miguel are at home. I just called them, they're on their way over."

Neither of them said anything for a few seconds. Finally, Sam said the thing that he was afraid to talk about, afraid Grace was going to be icy to him. "I'm sorry," he said, voice completely clear by then.

"Shhh," she said softly, stroking his forehead. "I forgive you." She bent down further and looked him straight in the eye. "I love you. I will always love you. No matter what."

Sam didn't know what to say. He couldn't believe it. Then he looked deep into her silver-blue eyes and saw pure love and devotion. He also saw that she looked like she had been crying. She loved him. Whether it was everything that happened in the last few days, or the unbearable pain he was in, or the fact that Grace had taken him back, he just started crying.

Grace wiped his eyes with her fingers. Each touch with more love than the last. She was trying herself not to cry again. Then she bent down further and they kissed, one of the most passionate kisses of their lives.

"I love you," Sam said when their lips parted.

"I love you too." She started stroking his forehead again. "You better go to sleep. The more rest you get, the faster you'll get better." She smiled. "I love you, Sam."

"I love you too, Grace." He paused. "Forever." Then he closed his eyes and fell back asleep.

He woke up a few hours later in ICU. He opened his eyes and saw Ethan.

"Hi," Ethan said.

"Hi." Neither of them said anything for a few seconds. "Where is everyone?"

"Down in the cafeteria."

"Oh."

Once again a moment of awkward silence. "Hey, thanks for pulling through," Ethan suddenly said. "I never got to thank you for saving my life."

"No problem," he replied, sitting up a little. "You're my son. I'd do it again."

Ethan looked down, then looked up again and smiled. "I know. Thank you." Then he added "Father."

They didn't say anything again for a few seconds. The only sounds were the beeping of Sam's heart monitor and the heart monitors from the other ICU patients.

"Grace told me that you want to be part of our family. I guess that also means you and her are getting along well?"

"Yeah. Same with Jessica."

"Good."

"I admit, it's going to take some time getting use to living on a budget but other than that...I'm proud to be your son." They both smiled. "I'm proud you're my father. Always risking your life to save others. The only time Julian will ever do that is if that's the only way he can save himself."

"I'm proud you're my son too, Ethan."

They both didn't say anything for a few seconds, but this time there was not one ounce of tension between them. And Ethan finally did what he wanted to do since Sam took the bullet for him; he bent down and hugged him. Sam hugged him back.

Just then there was a brief flash of light and the sound of a camera clicking. They both looked up and saw that Charity took a picture of them. "Stopped by the giftshop and got it," she explained. "I figured this would happen and it's your first hug so I figured you'd want a picture of it forever."

"Yeah," they both said, giving a short little laugh.

"Dad!" Jessica yelled, throwing her arms around her father, Kay doing the same thing, almost pushing Ethan out of the way.

"Okay, give the man room to breathe," he said.

After a while of talking and that such, Kay, Jessica, and Charity went home but Grace, Ethan, and Theresa stayed. Ethan and Theresa stepped out for a minute and Grace told Sam about an idea she had.

"I've been thinking," she said. "You know, I have this idea that..." she didn't know how to explain it.

"What is it?"

"Well, I...I want to renew our vows."

"Really?"

"Yeah. This time, we can start fresh. No secrets between us."

The mention of the word "secret" haunted Sam. The memory of his secret causing Grace to fall down the stairs and lose their baby boy upset him. "I'm sorry," he said again.

"I told you I forgive you."

"But I don't forgive myself. I loved our unborn son too. I wish I had told you about Ivy. I hate myself for it. In that aspect anyway."

Grace didn't say anything for a moment. "I want to move on," she said again. "Not necessarily forget about it, but move on. I want to have a blissful marriage again."

Sam didn't reply for a moment either. "Yeah, alright."

She moved closer. "So what do you think about the renewing our vows idea?"

"I love it. I think it's a great idea."

Grace just smiled. "Good." They kissed.

Theresa and Ethan came in then. "We couldn't help overhearing," she said. "And it gave me a wonderful idea." Ethan had a look on his face that said "Oh boy. I think I know what this is going to be."

"What is it?" Sam asked.

"Why don't you renew your vows at the same time Ethan and I get married?"

Ethan just burst out laughing. "I knew it! I knew she was going to say that!" he said. Sam and Grace were also laughing too.

"I'm serious!" she exclaimed. "Why don't you 'get married' with us? It'd be like a double wedding. You want to renew your vows. It's a great idea to do it at the same time Ethan and I are getting married."

"We'll think about it," Grace said.

In the weeks that followed, Gwen was convicted of attempted murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. And the town made it quite clear that when she was released she had better leave Harmony. She was that hated. And Grace had also put a curse on Rebecca when she found out Rebecca had sent the letter to the tabloid; which it turn caused Jonathon to find out about his wife's affair with Julian Crane and he divorced her and left her with next to nothing. She became known as the town harlot and was forced to leave Harmony.

Also a few weeks later came the big day, Ethan and Theresa's wedding and Sam and Grace's renewal of their vows. Sam had made a complete recovery by then and the wedding was perfect. It was at the Bennett house. Ivy was there for the ceremony and left at the beginning of the reception. She just said how happy she was for both couples and left after that. It was hard for her realizing that she had lost Sam. Deep down inside of her though, (deep, deep down), she knew that Father Lonigan was right that he was never hers to lose.

At the wedding reception right after Ivy left, Theresa and Ethan sang their song "Kiss Me." And Grace sang "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion. And Ethan and Sam sang "Crazy For This Girl" by Evan and Jaron. And both couples danced to "I Love You Always Forever" by Donna Lewis. "I love you, Sam," Grace whispered during the song.

"I love you too, Grace."

Toward the end of the reception and when most of the guests had left Ethan and Sam sat down and just talked. "Life is great," Ethan said.

"You've got that right." He sighed. "Who would have thought just a few weeks ago you and I would be having a double wedding...type...thing."

Ethan laughed. "It's easier calling it a double wedding than saying a wedding and a renewal of vows."

"Yeah." He laughed too.

"Yeah, who would of thought." He shook his head, still wearing a grin on his face. "Theresa and her ideas." He turned his head and looked directly at his father. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Ethan. We're both probably the happiest men on Earth."

"And you're probably right." They both laughed again.