WARNING: This fic is set about 6 months after the conclusion of Gears of War 3. THERE WILL BE SPOILERS! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

NOTE/DISCLAIMER: I don't own Gears of War or these characters, yadah yadah, you know the drill. This fic is rated M for language and a brief moment alluding to sexual content (it'll make sense when you read it.) It isn't citrusy, so no worries about graphic stuff. That's not really my thing.

I tried to keep the characters as close to their game selves as possible. I might come back and add some stuff in here after I finish reading the Karen Traviss novels, which I highly HIGHLY recommend to anyone who's more interested in getting to know the meat of the story behind these games. They are SOOO good!

Please comment and favorite if you like it. I'm open to feedback but please no bashing. If you don't like the pairing, sorry. I think they're friggin' perfect for each other. Enjoy! ^_^

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Definitely Unexpected

Chapter 1

She wasn't even really awake yet, but already Sam could tell something was off. She shifted a bit, finding that her clothes clung to her as if she'd been sweating all night. And she realized that the sheets were all matted at the bottom of her mattress. She opened her eyes a bit as a twinge of sunlight winked at her through the open window across her room. She frowned. It wasn't late enough to cause much heat yet. But even still, the air felt... weird; heavier almost. Then again, everything felt heavier. The air, her clothes, her arm...

My arm...

She froze as her eyes finally started to focus... and just in time to notice the muscular, obviously manly arm thrown over her shoulder. The long-fingered hand lay relaxed next to hers, barely touching it. She was also suddenly aware of the other arm snaked under her neck and up under the pillow, almost cradling her head.

Maybe I'm dreaming... maybe...

She shifted a bit, almost reflexively out of nerves, then instantly stopped when the movement triggered a slight moan and shifting behind her. A heavy and sleepy sigh ruffled the back fringes of her hair.

Shit... I don't think this is a dream. She slowly moved her hand and attempted to lift the guy's arm so she could squirm out. She had almost managed to get his arm over her hip when,

"Morning, Sam."

She jumped and half sat up, half turned, though she didn't really need to. She knew the voice. And that was what started the panic. She turned and locked eyes with Damon Baird.

Nope! Definitely NOT a dream!

She practically jumped out of bed as he raised himself up on his elbow, running his other hand over his face.

She just stared at him. "...Baird..."

A sheepish look inched onto his face. "That is the rumor." When she didn't say anything, he sighed. "You don't remember anything from last night, do you." It wasn't a question. Of course, Baird had an annoying way of making everything sound like a fact.

She shook her head. He grimaced.

"Of course not." He sat up and swung his legs over the bed. He wheeled around a bit, his back to her. "Where the fuck are my goggles?" Her usual annoyance at him was starting to wake up. She straightened up and gathered her wits for a second while he looked for his clothes.

"Why?" She asked. He turned back towards her.

"Well if you like them that much, you can keep them, but I typically need them for my soldering and welding work." He turned away again just as she spotted his goggles on the nightstand.

"That's not what I meant... and here." She tossed them to him. "I meant what happened?"

He bent down and snatched up his shirt and pushed his arms and head through the holes. He turned and shot her a sarcastic look.

"Let's see: we woke up in the same bed; you're in your tank top and underwear; I'm in my boxers; we're sweaty; our hair's messed up; and the sheets look like we tried to tie sailor knots in them with oven mitts on our hands." He looked at her for a second before nodding and making a face. "Yeah, we totally didn't have sex last night." He continued his search. From his tone, she couldn't tell if he was pissed or upset.

"Baird-"

"Damn it! Are we sure that Lambent blast killed those wild Tickers too? You know the ones that eat ammo and shit?"

"Baird."

"Because I swear one of them came in here and ate my pants!"

"Baird!" He stopped and turned to her. She was officially frustrated now, so feeling normal considering she was around him. "What the hell happened?"

He blinked. "Sam, we slept together. Anya and Marcus' engagement party was last night, remember? We all drank a little – well, we drank a little. Pretty sure Jace passed out before dinner and Carmine was dancing like a chicken at one point. Dizzy played some music – he's nuts with that guitar we found – and, when things started to settle down, you and me were walking towards our separate places. We made eye contact, and... well," he stooped to grab his pants from under the bed and threw them up to accentuate "BOOM!" He tried to smirk but she could see that he was getting uncomfortable. Something was up. Baird quickly stepped into his pants as she moved around the bed, fists slightly clenched.

"Did you jump me or something?"

His head snapped up so fast she thought he'd pass out, mouth open with indignation.

"WHAT?! How could you... even think that I would... WHAT?!" Now he was mad. Good, cause so was she. He zipped up his pants and stepped towards her, his voice showing he was trying to be patient.

"Look, Sam, we drank some, there was chemistry or it was the moonlight or, hell I don't know, we both liked the same song, and it just happened. Okay, I mean, come on. I'm pretty sure even Carmine got some last night from that red head he's been eyeing all month." He smirked and turned back for his boots.

Sam was livid now but at what she wasn't quite sure... and that just made it worse. She grabbed the pillow and hit Baird in the back of the head.

"Hey, what..?"

"Why you, Baird? That's what I don't get." He gave her a confused look.

"Why... me...?"

"Yeah! How did I end up in the sack with you?"

He just blinked. She scoffed.

"I mean, come on! We're constantly bickering and getting on each other's nerves. You don't respect me at all. And I can't stand you. So why the bloody hell did I wake up next to you?!"

He licked his lips. "Sam, I think they call that -

She cut him off. Her panic was starting to take the better of her. "No! It makes no sense whatsoever. I would never jump in bed with you, no matter how drunk I was, and you have made it very clear that I am one of the most undesirable, nagging, repulsive women to walk the face of Sera!"

A look crossed his face that she dismissed immediately. "Sam. I don't - "

"I KNOW! I know you don't. And neither do I. So why are we here?! Why the fuck are we - "

"Sam, would you SHUT UP for TWO SECONDS?!" She stopped dead, realizing that Baird was red in the face. He was trying not to lose it but she could see he was losing that battle already.

Sam just shook her head. "No! I can't because it doesn't make sense. WE don't make sense. There was no warning for this! No signs, no bloody flirting, nothing. Just got drunk one night then better hold onto your knickers, eh?"

Baird lost it. He stomped up to his side of the bed and pushed his finger towards her. "Look, I don't know what the hell is wrong with you. Where are you getting all this shit about respect and being undesirable and all that? Huh? And what the hell does flirting have to do with anything?!"

She started to say something but he waved his hand and cut her off.

"NO! no. Have you ever stopped for one second and thought that maybe I'm an especially sarcastic bastard towards you because I'm attracted to you and have no fucking idea how to talk to a chic that isn't a nag or gross or stupid? That I'm used to those kind of girls but I'm not sure how to deal with actually liking a woman who's smart and strong and sexy as hell... huh? Actually liking her, not just wanting to pin her up against a locker for a quickie every now and then, but actually liking her?! Have you EVER thought about that?"

Sam couldn't register what was going. She just stood there, shaking her head, face squished up in confusion and panic. "But I don't even like you!

Baird's face registered the blow before she even realized what had come out of her mouth. Her eyes widened a bit as his dropped to the bed between them.

Shit...

He nodded his head a bit. "Yeah... yeah I got that." He turned and clumsily shoved his feet into his boots. He was shaking.

Oh shit...

"Baird, I'm..." He walked towards the door and turned back slightly, waiting. Sam opened her mouth but couldn't seem to finish. His head bobbed.

"Yeah... Just forget it. I'll see you around." With that, Baird walked out and tossed the door shut. It didn't bang but the sound of it closing was definitely final. Sam couldn't breathe. She sat down on the bed and thrust her head into her hands, gripping the front parts of her hair.

Shit shit shit

Her eyes stung with hot tears. Her throat burned. Her chest ached.

And why am I bloody crying?! What the hell is this? What is going on?

She curled against the pain and sobbed silently into her hands.

Oh God... what have I done?

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On the other side of camp, Baird walked into his own shack and looked around. He needed to eat, but he wasn't hungry. He should change, but what for? He wanted a cold shower and for someone to just beat the hell out of him. He never thought he'd see the day when he actually missed having something to fight. Kept his mind off every day, normal shit. He ripped off his goggles and plunked down on the bed, running his hands through his hair while Sam's words ricocheted around in his head.

Why did I wake up next to you?!...WE don't make sense... I don't even like you!

Baird felt his heart drop into his stomach with that last one, remembering the practically disgusted look she had shot him. He nodded, feeling his chest contract.

"Yeah," he whispered, "yeah I got that..."

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Chapter 2 will be up shortly. Thanks for reading and I hope you're liking it so far. Please feel free to comment!