It was New Year's Eve, and for quite a while, Sam Malone had been doing some thinking. Yes, they'd had their share of ups and downs, and then there was the fighting- God, Diane drove him crazy. She was stubborn, self-righteous, snobby- and during the past few weeks, Sam had realized that there was no other woman in the world that he'd rather spend his life with.

He'd told her he was going skiing, going to the lodge in Vermont. Of course, he knew that would upset her- usually his yearly trip there had been excuses for trysts with whatever flavor of the month that he'd worked into his schedule. Yes, Diane had tried in her own way to manipulate him into not leaving. That had worked once. But he had to- he needed to go, one last time. There were just some ghosts of his past that he'd had to lay to rest for once and for all.

He had spent the week there, alone. Sam knew that Diane wouldn't-couldn't-know that. But he'd had some serious thinking to do. This thing-whatever it was that he and Diane had going for them- couldn't stay the way it was forever. He wasn't the smartest of men, but even Sam knew a classy gal like Diane couldn't possibly wait around for him forever. He knew he was worth it, but did she?

Once he'd gotten to the lodge, the first thing he'd done was to pull out his little black book. The bible, in his friends' eyes. Yes, Diane hated that thing, and more than once she'd tried to get him to get rid of it. But for whatever reason, Sam hadn't been able to leave his past behind. There were so many uncertainties between himself and Diane. What if things didn't work out? He had to have his backups, just in case.

But on that first cold night on his trip to Vermont, Sam was ready to do something he'd never entertained the thought of before.

After the fire had been lit in the fireplace, Sam took out the little black book and promptly pitched it, watching it burn beyond recognition.

And he didn't, much to his surprise, really regret it.

0000

The next few days were spent trying not to think of Diane. But little things- a pretty view, a song, the empty hours of the night- reminded Sam of her. The weather had cleared a bit, so as he settled in for the night, he decided that a trip to town the next day was in order.

0000

He didn't have much money- surely Sam wouldn't be able to afford the kind of ring that a gal like Diane deserved. But still he looked. One stood out, and he smiled.

Maybe she wouldn't like it, maybe Diane would find it kind of corny, but it was a small, heart-shaped diamond, and for whatever reason, it made Sam think of her.

The fact that it wasn't the most expensive ring in the place helped, of course. But mostly, it reminded him of Diane.

0000

The next few days he'd pull the ring out, and tried like hell to imagine what he'd say to her, how he would ask, what she would say.

He was certain she would accept his proposal, but would she like the ring?

Sam worked hard, loved what he did- but even he knew that a gal like Diane deserved so much more than he could ever provide in one lifetime.

But still, he was going to spend the rest of his life trying like mad to keep her happy.

0000

Finally he arrived back in Boston, and the first place Sam headed to was Cheers. Maybe it would be Carla closing, but his heart raced just a little bit at the thought that he might actually have a little bit of time with Diane to himself.

For some reason the thought made him incredibly happy. Suddenly it didn't seem that cold outside.

0000

"Diane!" Thank God.

She didn't even look up. Instead, she continued to wipe down the last of the tables for the evenings, and she walked over and handed him her apron.

"Hey there, got a kiss to warm up your guy?" he grinned, attempting to pull her close. But she wasn't having any of it.

"What's...wrong? Is that any way to treat your returning warrior?"

Diane sighed. "That's an interesting choice of words, Sam."

"What..."

She placed her hand in front of him. "I have something to say to you, and I ask that you hear me out. What I have to say isn't easy for me to say, but it's the right thing for me. For the both of us."

"Diane, come on..."

"No! I can't do this if you try to be...you. Just...just let me say my peace."

He noticed that she had been avoiding his eyes. Uh oh. This couldn't be good.

"Sam," Diane sighed. "You took your little trip to Vermont, knowing how I felt about it..."

"Sweetheart, it wasn't like that! You don't understand..."

"Sam, no. I do understand. Not only did you set out for one of your little flings, you took your little black book with you. I'm no fool, Sam Malone. It is obvious that you're not ready to commit to me. I have tried, and I have come to see that I have no one to blame but myself. I tried to make you want something that you're not ready for, and for that, I do apologize. I am actually glad you took this little trip, Sam. It gave me a chance to evaluate things, to evaluate my life."

He looked at her, fumbling with the ring in his pocket. "And what did you decide?"

Now Diane looked at him. "I don't want this anymore. I don't want whatever it is we are doing. I want...I deserve something better from my life. We've both made mistakes, and for my part, I am sorry. I just...I just can't do this anymore. I'm sorry, Sam, but its best we part now than to go on just wasting each others' time."

Sam wanted to talk to her, to protest, to show her the ring. But his pride-it just wouldn't let him beg Diane to stay, no matter that it was the one thing he wanted more than anything. "Is that...is that how you really feel?"

Diane didn't say anything for a minute. Finally, she nodded. "It is."

"Well then..." Sam removed his hand from his pocket. "I guess this is it."

"I guess so."

They both stared at each other, both wanting the other to try to get the other to stay, to promise that things would work out, to love each other...but neither one could quite get past their pride.

Diane finally walked away. "Goodbye, Sam."

He didn't say anything as he watched her grab her coat and then, only then, after she had walked out the door of Cheers for the last time that he finally spoke.

"Goodbye, Diane."

He sank down, his back against the bar, and he wondered what in the world he was going to do with that ring.

The end