Hi again people! This was a just something that popped into my mind yesterday, so I started writing down whatever came to my mind. Then it turned out like this. A one-shot.
It's a little weird when I'm writing an AU about them being married and then I make a fic about how things were after she left.
Well, I just felt like I needed to write this idea down. So excuse me if this is upsetting.
I just had to do it. So here it is.

The last call

She called. Every day. At around the same time each day. She usually told how her day had been, how she was doing, how much she missed him and couldn't wait to come back. It could tear him apart because he had such little faith in her return. But the calls did give him the slightest bit of hope.
The sound of her tender voice could make him calm anytime. He'd usually let her babble all she wanted until she realized it herself and asked how things was at Cheers. He would laugh and lie about how great it was going. It wasn't going great at all. He appeared a ghost or a lost soul. The first weeks the gang tried to cheer him up, telling him, that she wouldn't be calling if she wasn't planning on returning. But Sam knew that there's a difference between how you plan things and how they actually turn out. He felt lost when she wasn't around. He kept seeing her everywhere he looked. Sometimes he wondered if the calls even were real. Nevertheless, he tried to act normal when he was talking to her. He wouldn't do anything to upset her. He missed her terribly. Worse than he imagined before she left. He needed to feel her breath on his skin again. He needed to smell her hair. He needed to get into silly discussions with her. He just…needed her.
All this seemed unreal to him. When they talked together on the phone everything seemed normal. The opposite of what it was. People were worried that this would make him boozing again. But to be honest, he didn't think that would happen. He should know by now that that wasn't the solution.
Maybe he just needed to get away.

It was a late afternoon. Sam had decided to take off a little earlier. Carla and Woody promised to close the bar.
When he arrived at his apartment the first half hour went with looking out the window. Observing the streets outside. It was like being in a trance. That was until the phone rang. He woke up from his trance and went to pick it up.

"Hello."

"Sam?" she said.

He had completely forgotten about the daily call.

"Oh, Diane. Sorry, I—I just got home," he lied.

"I called at Cheers, but Carla said that you've had gone home early."

"Yeah, that's right."

"Is something wrong, Sam?"

Is something wrong? You might say that. Things weren't going exactly smooth.

"No- I was just a bit tired that's all."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. So…How was your day?"

"Uhm."

She hesitated.

"Well, it could have been better," she said with a low voice.

"Has it something to do with the book?"

"Sam, you don't need to worry. Things will be… fine. I just have to make some minor changes, that's all."

"It's okay, you know. You can tell me. I won't be mad."

"Tell you what?" she asked bitterly.

"That you'll postpone the return."

"That's not necessary! There's plenty of time for me to get this published."

"I know, but—you don't need to feel that there's a pressure from my side."

"I don't feel any pressure. Sam, I will come back."

"Sure."

"Why won't you believe me," she asked sadly.

The question was unexpected.

"It's not that I don't believe you, it's just—"

"What, Sam?" she asked determent.

"I just think that you should put aside this promise of yours and focus on what's important right now."

"Right now? You don't think you're important right now?"

"That's not what I-"

"Yes, it is. You don't think I'll come back because by the time I get this published, I've forgotten all about you. All about us. The only thing that matters will be the success of a published book."

He didn't know what to respond. He just remained silent.

"I'm going to prove you wrong," she said.

"Diane, this isn't a bet!"

"Perhaps not. But since your trust is nowhere to be found, I'll have to show it to you. I will finish it. I will get it published. And the minute I do, I will start packing. Did you hear what I just said? I'll be back before you know it."

"Diane please-"

"You'll have to excuse me, Sam. I have a novel to finish. Goodbye."

She hung up before he even had a chance to say another word. The guilt filled the room with darkness. He got up, walked into the bedroom and started packing.

He had seen it in an article. It was perfect for a trip around the world. Or more precise, the ocean.
It would cost him close to everything he owned. Including the bar. He wasn't sure how to break the news to the people in the bar. But he knew he had to someway. He needed to do this. He needed to get away.

Everything was set. The boat was waiting for him outside Boston. All he had to do now was to say a pleasant goodbye to Cheers and the people there. Some people like Norm, Cliff and Carla didn't get why he would do this. They tried everything to change his mind, but they soon found out, that wouldn't happen. The only person who understood him was Frasier. He maybe didn't like for Sam to leave, but he got it. He even agreed that perhaps it was a wise thing to do.
During the goodbye to the life he knew of at the bar, she followed him everytime he turned. Looking at him like he should feel regret and guilt. He also did. But just seeing the illusions of her assured him that it was the right thing to do. In his heart he knew he would never see her again. Why make it worse by waiting for something that wouldn't happen?
He turned to walk out the door when the sound of the phone ringing paralyzed him for a second.
He looked at his watch and sure enough, it would be her.
He turned at the gang, shook his head, and waved goodbye. The door closed behind him and he let out a deep sigh. While he was walking to the place his car was parked, he felt as though, the phone was still ringing. It never stopped.