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Whenever Michael took a job he deemed too dangerous, he insisted that Sam and Madeline leave the house. It had become routine by now. Most of the time, they’d only be gone for a couple of hours, so they’d find somewhere to park and wait for Michael’s call, letting them know it was safe to return. To make themselves more comfortable, they'd usually crawl into the back seat of Sam’s car. Sam, being Sam, would fall asleep quickly, and Madeline, after some initial restlessness, would soon follow.

The first time it happened, they hadn’t thought much of it. They shifted unconsciously in their sleep, and when Michael’s call finally woke them, Sam’s arm was wrapped protectively around Madeline. Groggy and startled, they quickly pulled away from each other - Sam answered the phone and Madeline immediately lit a cigarette, her hands trembling just enough to notice. Neither said a word or even made eye contact, brushing it off like nothing had happened.

But the next time they were sent out, Charlie was with them. Nate had come by for a visit, and Michael needed Nate’s help on a job, so once again, Sam and Madeline were sent to wait. This time, it wasn’t long before they found themselves in the same position: Madeline leaning against Sam’s broad chest, her legs draped across the back seat, while Charlie snuggled between them, fast asleep. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Madeline had nestled into the crook of Sam’s arm, her head resting lightly on his chest.

By then, the awkwardness had faded, at least for Sam. When they woke up, this time without the jarring ring of Michael’s call, Sam didn’t pull away like before. Madeline, who had been married to Frank for thirty years without ever experiencing this kind of tenderness, was reluctant to move too. Frank had never held her affectionately. His touch had always been selfish, either when he was drunk and wanted something or when his anger boiled over into violence.

Now, lying in the backseat with Sam’s strong arm wrapped warmly around her shoulders, she felt a sense of comfort she hadn’t realized she’d been missing all these years. She shifted slightly, moving her head from Sam's chest to look up at him, and for a brief moment, she smiled - a genuine, soft smile that caught Sam off guard. And for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel the need to light a cigarette to steady her nerves.

“Hi, baby,” Madeline murmured softly, her voice carrying the warmth of someone who had seen too much yet still found comfort in small, unexpected moments. She looked up at Sam with a quiet smile, the kind of smile shared between two people who had been through hell but still stood by each other. Despite their closeness, there was nothing romantic between them, yet their bond was undeniably intimate - a rare connection forged in the fires of loyalty and survival.

“Hey, Mads,” Sam replied, his voice low and familiar as he shifted his arm slightly, letting it rest against her hip while still keeping it draped protectively around her shoulders. It was a casual gesture but one that spoke volumes. He didn’t need to say anything; his actions conveyed more than his words could.

“How’d you sleep?” Madeline asked, her head gently sinking back against Sam’s chest. She glanced down at Charlie, who was still fast asleep between them, his small body curled up in the cocoon of warmth they had created. Her maternal instinct kicked in, but there was also a softness in how she looked at Sam, something rare in her world.

Sam gave a soft chuckle, tightening his grip on her and pulling her a bit closer. “Better than usual,” he admitted, his tone unusually relaxed. He didn’t get this kind of peace often, but when he was with Madeline, something was steadying about her presence, as if they both knew that whatever chaos Michael was up to, they could hold their ground together.

Though Madeline had become a mother figure in Sam’s life, it went deeper than that. She wasn’t just some maternal stand-in; she was someone Sam could talk to in a way he couldn’t if she were his mother. There was no judgment with Maddie, just understanding. He could be vulnerable around her in ways he couldn’t around others, not even Michael. That said a lot because Sam trusted Michael with his life, but Madeline? He trusted her with everything else - the parts of him that went unspoken, the weight he didn’t let anyone else see.

“Better than usual,” she echoed, smiling softly as she nestled deeper against him. It was strange how right this felt, how natural. Sam had always been there for her in his gruff, no-nonsense way. But this was different, quieter, more personal. She wasn’t used to this kind of closeness. Not after Frank. But with Sam, it was easy. No expectations, no ulterior motives - just the comfort of being held by someone who cared.

Sam leaned his head back against the seat, eyes half-closed. “It’s funny, isn’t it? All the crap we’ve been through, and this - this is the best sleep I’ve had in weeks.” His voice trailed off with a touch of amusement, but there was truth beneath it. They both knew it.

Madeline glanced up at him again, her heart tugging in a way she hadn’t expected. She wasn’t used to having someone she could rely on like this, someone who understood her without needing to talk everything out. “Yeah,” she said softly, her hand resting lightly against his arm, “It is.” And for the first time in a long time, Madeline felt a sense of peace that wasn’t dependent on a cigarette or a glass of whiskey. It was just Sam holding her steady in a way no one else had.

Sam glanced down at Charlie, a soft smile tugging at his lips, when he noticed the little boy was still fast asleep, completely oblivious to the world around him. There was something endearing about how peaceful the kid looked, especially considering all the chaos surrounding them. Sam shifted slightly, ensuring not to disturb the cozy scene as Madeline adjusted her position, leaning her back against Sam’s broad frame. She moved with practiced ease, gently cradling Charlie in her arms and laying him against her chest, all without waking him.

Sam’s arm stayed draped over her shoulders, grounding the moment in a quiet intimacy that had nothing to do with romance and everything to do with trust. As Madeline held Charlie close, she smiled down at her grandson, her fingers brushing his soft hair. Still deep in sleep, Charlie nuzzled into her chest as if he instinctively knew where he felt safest.

“We’ve got quite the sleeper here,” Sam said with a chuckle, his voice warm with affection. There was a note of light-heartedness in his tone, but beneath it was an unspoken understanding - he could see how much Charlie was soaking up this rare moment of tenderness from Madeline, something Ruth hadn’t quite managed to give him. Not that Sam would ever say it aloud, but they both knew Ruth had her own struggles when it came to motherhood.

Madeline’s smile deepened, her fiery spirit momentarily softened by the maternal instincts that always bubbled up when she was around Charlie. For all her sharp edges, she had a natural way with him, a softness that didn’t come out often, but when it did, it was unmistakable. She stroked Charlie’s back gently, lost in the moment.

“Yeah,” she murmured, almost to herself, “he knows when he’s safe.” It was clear that Charlie was thriving in this moment of warmth, which had been lacking in his life. He got what he needed with Madeline - a sense of security and love that wasn’t always available at home.

As if he could sense they were talking about him, Charlie began to stir, his little body shifting in Madeline’s arms. He lifted his head, sleep still clouding his bright eyes, his face scrunching up as he blinked a few times to adjust to the waking world. Madeline smiled down at him, softly brushing his hair from his face. “Hi, sweetheart,” she whispered, her voice low and soothing.

Sam watched the scene unfold, his heart unexpectedly full. Madeline wasn’t just a tough-as-nails woman who could hold her own in any situation. Despite all the challenges she’d faced, she was a grandmother who had so much love to give. And Charlie? He was lucky enough to be on the receiving end of that love.

Charlie blinked up at Madeline, still drowsy but comforted by the warmth of her embrace. He shifted again, resting his head against her chest, not ready to fully wake up. Sam chuckled softly, giving Madeline a light squeeze on the shoulder. “Looks like someone’s not done with nap time just yet,” he teased.

Madeline chuckled quietly, her eyes never leaving Charlie. “No, not yet,” she agreed, her voice full of affection. And for a moment, everything felt right, even amid their unpredictable lives.

Madeline smiled to herself as she gently rubbed Charlie's back, noticing the telltale dampness of his diaper. Typical grandma instincts kicked in, she knew it was time for a change. “Can you pass me his diaper bag, honey?” she asked softly, shifting her head against Sam’s chest to look up at him. Her tone was warm, casual, as if they did this kind of thing all the time, which by now, they practically did.

Always ready to lend a hand, Sam moved carefully so he didn’t disturb Charlie and reached for the diaper bag. He grabbed it by the strap and handed it over to Madeline with a grin. “Here you go, Mads,” he said, his voice carrying that familiar laid-back charm.

Madeline shifted Charlie onto the seat between her legs, laying him down with practiced ease. Charlie was still a bit drowsy, but he didn’t fuss as she began to strip away his clothes, his tiny hands reaching up toward her face. Once she had him down to his diaper, Madeline couldn’t resist giving him a playful tickle, her fingers brushing over his belly.

Charlie’s giggle filled the car, that innocent, joyful sound that only a baby could make, and it was infectious. Madeline laughed with him, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and even Sam couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s the best sound in the world,” Sam said, his smile growing wider as Charlie’s laughter rang out again.

“Sure is,” Madeline agreed, her voice softer now, as if soaking in this little moment of peace.

Once the giggles died down, Madeline expertly returned to the task at hand, changing Charlie’s diaper with the efficiency of a grandmother who had done this a hundred times before. Sam watched, leaning back a bit, amused by how natural Madeline was with Charlie. She had this way of balancing her fiery, no-nonsense personality with a deeply caring, maternal side that came out whenever she was with her grandson.

After she finished, Madeline dressed Charlie again, tucking him back into his little clothes before pulling him into her lap. She shifted her position so she rested against Sam again, comfortable and familiar, with Charlie nestled snugly against her. His small body relaxed into hers, still a little tired from his nap but content in her arms.

Madeline rubbed his back in slow, affectionate circles, her fingers moving with the same gentleness. It was a simple, loving gesture, but it meant the world to Charlie, who nuzzled into his grandmother’s warmth, feeling completely safe.

Sam watched the whole interaction, the corner of his mouth pulling up into a smile. Something about seeing Madeline like this - so at ease with her grandson - always struck a chord with him. She wasn’t just the sharp-tongued, cigarette-smoking woman who’d been through more than her fair share of tough times. With Charlie, she was soft, caring, and undeniably loving.

“You two make quite the team,” Sam remarked, his voice low, but there was a tenderness that he rarely let show.

Madeline glanced up at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. “He’s a good kid,” she said simply, though her eyes told the full story - how much she loved Charlie and these quiet moments meant to her. She was content to sit there with her grandson in her arms and Sam by her side as they let the world outside pass them by for just a little longer.

“Were Michael and Nate that good as babies?” Sam asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity. He knew plenty about Michael as the burned spy and all-around tough guy, but not much about the man’s early years. Sam figured if anyone could paint a picture of those days, it would be Madeline.

Madeline smiled a little, the memories pulling her back to a time when her boys were small, before all the chaos that had shaped their lives. “Michael?” she began, shaking her head slightly, “He was a lot more stubborn than his brother. Even as a baby.” There was a fondness in her voice, but also a layer of bittersweet history that always seemed to come up when she talked about Michael.

Sam couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” he quipped, grinning as he imagined a stubborn, miniature version of Michael Westen. It made perfect sense, really. Michael had always been headstrong and single-minded, traits that must’ve shown up early.

Madeline joined in with his laughter, her own chuckle softer but no less sincere. “Yeah, not much has changed,” she said, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips. But there was an undercurrent of something deeper - years of misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and unresolved tension between her and Michael. Their relationship wasn’t perfect, far from it, but beneath all the frustration and mistakes, the love was still there.

Madeline had always been maternal, maybe too much at times, but it didn’t always translate the way she had hoped when her boys were younger. She had made her fair share of bad decisions and handled things poorly, but sitting here now, with Charlie nestled in her arms and Sam beside her, there was a sense of peace. The past couldn’t be changed, but the present? Moments like this were what mattered now.

Just as Sam was about to say something else, Madeline’s phone rang, breaking the quiet rhythm of the moment. She shifted Charlie slightly and reached for the phone, glancing at the screen. It was Michael, of course, calling to let them know that the danger had passed, and it was safe to go back to the house.

Sam leaned back with a contented sigh, rubbing his hand lightly over his face before casting a look at Madeline. “Looks like we’re back on,” he said with a grin.

Madeline hung up the phone and nodded, a wry smile on her face. “Looks like it,” she replied. She stood, still holding Charlie close, and Sam quickly gathered their things, preparing for the usual routine of jumping back into whatever craziness Michael had stirred up this time. But as they packed up and prepared to leave the car, there was a quiet kind of happiness in the air, a shared contentment from the small but meaningful time they'd spent together.

As they drove back toward the house, Sam stole a glance at Madeline in the passenger seat. Charlie had fallen asleep again in his car seat and for the briefest moment, everything felt calm. Sam couldn’t help but smile - Madeline, for all her fiery attitude and rough edges, was one of the strongest people he knew. She’d weathered her share of storms, and yet here she was, fiercely protective of her family, no matter how complicated things got.

“You did good, Mads,” Sam said quietly, his voice full of warmth and respect.

Madeline glanced over at him, surprised by the softness in his tone. She smiled, a little sheepishly, but there was gratitude in her eyes. “Thanks, Sam,” she said, her voice softer than usual.

And just like that, they slipped back into their familiar rhythm - ready for whatever came next, knowing that no matter how wild life got with Michael at the helm, they’d always have each other to lean on.

As they pulled up to the house, the chaos of the day seemed to loom ahead, but in that quiet moment between them, there was a sense of calm. They may not have had all the answers, and their lives were far from simple, but together, they made it work.

And for now, that was more than enough.

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