I'm back guys! Yay! Finally! Now I just want to read and write some Cheers and Sam and Diane fics!
So here we go!
The first chapter of a continuation of my AU "A Sneeze and a Sudden Difference".
I feel a little rusty and not sure how this turned out. So please tell me what you think.
I can always change it.
I apologize for silly mistakes. It feels like I haven't written in years. So please…Just bear with me. I hope it gets better.
(I'll shut up for now)
It was a chilly but sunny day in the New England area. But most importantly, it was a wonderful day at the bar, Cheers. For some customers it may appear an ordinary day, but for Diane, this day was truly lovely. After being off on a visit to her mother for 2 weeks she returned to Cheers and not least her beloved husband. She may only have been gone for 2 weeks, but to her it seemed like months. Her mother had invited her home for a stay. She wanted to hear how the marriage was working out for her and most importantly she wanted to spend some alone time with her daughter for the first time in a long time. Now when things were calming down and it was going smooth for both of them, it seemed like the appropriate time. Being away gave Diane some time to clear her thoughts. She needed some relaxing time after the past months stress with moving more furniture into the new house, organizing things and of course, writing.
She hadn't heard from Sumner in weeks, but she didn't really care. The book was turning out just fine according to herself and the people around her. She took it one piece at a time. The most important thing was not to forget to spend time with loved ones. Especially Sam.
Oh, Sam. Once a hound and now a tamed dog. A real gentleman. This period may have been the most stressing and exhausting period of her life, but it has also been the most enjoyable. Everything worked out the way it should. Now she just wanted to see her husband.
"Will you relax? The stick is probably getting out of a cab this exact moment," Carla grumbled "Geez," she sighed and continued on waiting.
Sam kept a sharp eye on the door.
"Sammy, are you nervous?" Norm giggled.
"Nervous!? Why would I be nervous?" Sam said defending.
"Your hands are trembling," Cliff noticed.
"Maybe I'm just happy that I get to see my wife again," Sam said and frowned.
"Ah, don't worry, Sammy! If she had decided to stay away, we'd have heard about it," Cliff said as he sipped his beer.
"How so, Mr. Clavin?" Woody asked.
"You see, Wood, it so happens that I have a large number of mail buddies around the US that would report right back to me if any chances should appear."
"Yeah, right!" Norm said.
"Guys, I don't think that Sam would have any reason to be nervous. His act is simply caused by excitement," Frasier said and joined the conversation.
"Well, Fraise, you see, sometimes-"
"Well, here she is," Sam said relieved and smiled at Diane entering.
He was the first person who caught her attention. She couldn't help but smile when she saw how happy he was to see her again. All they wanted now was to run into each other's arms. But when Diane noticed Carla a few feet besides her, she decided not to run. Instead she walked carefully past Carla and the remaining feet to Sam so couldn't help but to run.
It had only been 2 weeks, but when he saw that smile again it light up the whole room. When she was in his arms for the first time in weeks, he let out a sigh. Now he could relax.
While she ran her fingertips up and down his back, he enjoyed the smell of her blond hair.
After the silent embrace, he stepped back and took her hands in his.
"Welcome home, honey," he said and gave her a sweet and tender kiss on the lips.
Just as their lips parted she whispered a thank you.
"Now, let me put your bag in the office."
He picked up the colorful bag and went inside the office. She decided to follow.
"6 years later and it still has the power to give me nausea," Carla murmured while Norm smirked at the comment and finished his beer.
"It's nice to be back," she said and sat down on the desk.
"It's nice to have you back," he said as he put down her bag.
"Aw, has my brave man felt a little lonely without his mate?" she said with a childish voice as she entered another embrace of his.
"The house feels empty when you're not around. There's no one to complain about how awful that desk is looking or how the carpets doesn't match."
"Sam!" she said and patted him on his left arm.
"I have in fact missed you. Happy?"
"Very much indeed," she said.
They shared a long kiss.
"I expect the trip back was tiring. Maybe you'd like to go home and…relax?"
"That'd be wonderful," she smiled.
It was a few weeks after her return, she felt the constant nausea. She had no idea what could be causing it. She ate as usual. Maybe she had been a little sweet-toothed lately, but nothing to be concerned about. It even kept her from writing at times. She had kept it from Sam. Since it usually took place in the morning when he still slept, she had been able to get away with it. But it was time for a check-up at the doctor. So a Friday afternoon she went, and to her surprise, the answer to what caused this was unexpected but logical. She shook her head in embarrassment that the thought of pregnancy never struck her mind. Nevertheless the news thrilled her, and she found it hard not to bounce up and down all the time. She had to tell Sam immediately.
She would've liked it to be in private, but since she couldn't keep it to herself, she had to do it at the bar.
She arrived at Cheers and entered with a smirk. And there he was. Standing behind the counter cleaning glasses. The father of her child. Happy but controlled she strolled down to the counter. He noticed her the second she began to hum.
"Diane? What are you doing her? I thought you were busy writing," he said and left the cleaning to Woody.
"Well, I just wanted to stop by. See how things were going," she smiled.
"Everything's fine here. Is something- is something up?" he wondered.
"Why?" she giggled.
"You look like someone took you out for a ride on their flying unicorn."
"Is it illegal for a woman like me to be grateful for the things happening around her?"
"No- no I guess not," he laughed and glanced down.
He turned to Woody and waved at him.
"Woody, would you like to come over here and poor this lady a drink," Sam asked and smiled at her.
"Sure thing," Woody answered and stopped cleaning.
"I'll be right over there," Sam said and nodded towards the gang. He kissed her on the forehead before leaving her to Woody.
What would it be, Mrs. Malone?"
"Just a water please," she smiled.
"Is there something you're keeping from us, Mrs. Malone?" Woody whispered.
"Well, you could say that I have some exciting news."
"Can't wait to hear them," Woody blinked and hand over the glass of water.
Sitting alone in the corner of the bar, smiling like no one else, Carla needed to find out what was going on.
"Hey whitey! What's made you in such a great mood? It looks like you've been promised a face operation."
For the first time since she left the doctor, her smile faded just a bit.
"Nah, really- what's up?" Carla asked curious.
"I just got some great news to tell."
"What is it then?"
"I need to tell Sam first, Carla."
"I need to tell Sam first," she imitated. "Whatever!"
She left Diane a bit annoyed in her little corner. She wanted to tell him so badly, but she wasn't sure how to approach him. Instead she waited for him to approach her.
Since that didn't happen and it was getting kind of late, she dragged him inside his office. Quite less happy than earlier.
"What? What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing's wrong."
"Then why are you acting so mysteriously. I don't know whether I should leave you alone or-"
"Maybe if you tried harder, you would know what to do."
"Geez, Diane! All you've been doing is sitting by yourself all day in a corner-"
"Waiting for you to approach me!"
"I did! I asked why you were in such an awfully happy mood."
"Yeah, and then you left me shortly after!"
"Listen, if you got something 'important' to tell me then just do it! I'm here now!"
"Well, in that case I'll just let you know that I'm pregnant."
The words were followed by a moment in silence.
"You're- you're?"
"Yes," she said and sat down in the couch.
"We're gonna be-?"
She nodded. He made a slight laugh. He couldn't believe it. All he wanted to do now was to hug her. Then he looked at her and saw the disappointment in her eyes. It shouldn't have turned out like this.
"Come here," he whispered.
They made eye contact and shortly afterwards she was in his arms.
"I'm sorry. I should've been more observant."
"No, I should've told you the minute I saw you. I just- I just wanted it to be a special moment. And then it ended up turning out like this."
He let go of her and instead his eyes fell on her skinny stomach which sure enough was a little larger than usual. Her smile returned the second she noticed his gaze and tears appeared in her eyes.
"I tell you something. How about we go out announce the pregnancy to the others, huh?"
"Together," she smiled.
"Together," he smiled.
She took his hand and opened the office door. Their happy faces drew attention right away.
"Everyone," Sam said and cleared his throat.
Everyone turned and looked.
"Diane and I have an announcement to make," he said and looked at her.
"We're expecting a little Malone."
Everyone cheered and soon the closest to the couple came up to them and personally congratulated them.
"Wow. I can't wait to hear the other exciting news," Woody said which made Diane turn to Sam and laugh.
"I knew something was up, whitey," Carla said with a smirk.
Diane smiled back at her but then she realized something.
"Wait, Carla! We're both pregnant on the same time!"
"Ew, don't make it worse than it already is!" she said and left.
"Well done, Sammyyy!" the two buddies Norm and Cliff cheered.
The evening went on and as the time reached 11, Sam and Diane were the only left in the bar.
He often gave her a glance throughout the evening. He had never seen her happier. He had never felt happier. He looked at her and thought about how lucky he was and how much it meant that she'd stayed. Things were working out perfectly and no one not even Sumner could change that.
They were having a baby. He was going to be a daddy. Something he never would have imagined before he met her. But she truly changed everything around. She made him realize there was more to life. She made him the person he wanted to be but never thought he'd become. He knew, the minute he laid eyes on her, that this was the woman who he would like to spend the rest of his life with.
It hadn't always been easy but it was all worth it. She was worth it.
She was special. No, he couldn't explain why exactly. But he knew that life without her would be worthless.
"Just think, Sam. In 9 months' time we'll be parents of a child," she said and dragged him back to the present.
"I can't believe it!" she laughed.
He stopped drying glasses and instead he leaned against the counter to look her in the eyes.
"Yeah," he said.
He reached for her stomach and began to stroke it. This made a tear of hers drop on his hand.
"Let's go home," he murmured and took the apron off. "You need to rest."
He walked out of the bar and met her just in front of the few bar steps. Then he lifted her from the ground and into his arms.
She looked satisfied and he began to walk towards the door.