Zoe stared at a photo of her and Sam. He was giving her a piggy back ride, and they were both smiling like goofs. He had gotten it printed and framed to sit on his desk.

It had been almost a month since Sam was banished, and it still felt like it was yesterday. She had those few moments in the morning after she woke up where she didn't remember him gone. Though It always came back to her.

There was another knock at the door, but Zoe never answered it, knowing Leah would just come in.

"Here I have some clean clothes for you," her friend brushed her shoulder and pulled her to the bed. "Let's go out today, on a walk." Leah smiled sadly, and ran her fingers through her hair.

Reaching out and pulling the blonde to her, Zoe hugged her tight. "I'm sorry," Her voice was high and thick, "He was your brother and you still have to face the man that banished him."

Leah rubbed circles into her back, "He's safe. I know that." Zoe pulled back and stared at her with a tear tracked face. "I found him on my last OTG. He is living in the trees and is able to keep healthy thanks to Malcolm teaching him all about the environment." She rolled her eyes and letting out a wet laugh.

"But Taylor?" Zoe brushed tears from her eyes, but Leah shook her head and pointed to the clothes.

"Get dressed now. We'll talk later," Leah sat on the bed and filled her in on the local gossip of the past month. They were actually smiling when they left the house and locked it, walking down the path towards the rover station.

"Leah go ahead, I have to do something." Zoe said as soon as she turned the corner and spotted her father. She nodded and continued on as Zoe turned and strode to the Command Center. She entered without knocking and froze when she saw the Lieutenant at the desk, watching the intruder with a cool stare.

"We missed seeing you Miss Shannon." An awkward silence fell over them before the younger woman stepped into the room and kicked the door closed.

"Why was he banished?" She asked quickly, but keeping eye contact with the older woman. Alicia put down her plex and motioned to the chair across from her. When Zoe sat the woman began.

"What I'm about to say doesn't leave this room. Swear it." The woman demanded and waited for Zoe to repeat. "Commander Taylor was going to drop the charges when a witness stepped forward and provided evidence that shows that Sam would be dangerous to the other colonists and possibly you-."

"Sam would never-" Cut off by Alicia waving hand.

"-He did what he thought was the best. And only he can overrule a charge, now you are dismissed, it's bad enough that I am denying your father warrant to drag you back to your home." Zoe nodded and left. Breathing out a shaky breath once outside, she started down the stairs.

"Zoe!" She knew that voice and ignored it, picking up the pace to get away. Reaching the Storehouse she yelped as his hand enclosed around her wrist.

She was pulled against her father's chest and hugged, "Zoe, you can't avoid me." She started screaming, making him let her go. "Stay away from me." Barking and backing away from him. He looked like a wounded animal seeing as she never rejected her father's comfort before.

"I've been worried about you." His soft voice tugged at her soul like a vice. "I haven't seen you, and I'm worried. We all are."

She shook her head unable to speak or breath, they just stared at each other. Before long Zoe couldn't face her father anymore and entered the store house.

"Zo, please tell me what's wrong?" Her father followed her as she searched the isle looking for the large transparent paper rolls.

Spinning, she growled out, "You didn't help him, and now I can't stop thinking about him. And what will I do if he is dead. I can't…I just…. I've known Sam for most of my life and I can't imagine living without him now." Her voice was strangled but she didn't shed a tear, wouldn't let herself cry anymore.

He was quiet, unsure how to respond to her, "He's by the western cliffs," Jim gave his daughter his gun and watched her continue her search for the paper.

He was heart broken just watching her try to function in the dark.

.

.

.

Zoe found Leah waiting outside the gates, smiling when the olive girl hopped in. They drove in silence, tense anticipation between them during the ride. She was staring off into the sky when Leah touched her shoulder, "We're here."

With that Zoe stepped out and looked around. Water trickled down the cliff side and pooled in a small stream, she stood by the water's edge waiting as Leah found her brother.

"Zo?" The honey coated tone broke through her thoughts and had her twirling to see him. He was only a few feet away but she closed the gap by crashing into him, making him stumble back. Lips seeking, making sure he was real and with her. He returned the kiss with just as much intent.

"Well you missed him." The voice of her friend took a few seconds for her to acknowledge, pulling away with red cheeks. Leah laughed and started towards the rover, "Have fun you two. Just call when you want me to come pick you up."

Zoe smiled and waited until she was out of sight to jump on Sam again. He received her hungrily. Happy to have her in his arms, and pulling at her clothes, "Sam-." She was cut off by his lips but was happy with the distraction.

Sam picked up and carried her, bridal style, to a tree base where a rope ladder hung from. Gently placing Zoe before it, Sam climbed up after her. In the tree, they sat in the bowl of the tree, it's great limbs extending from the center. Looking up, she noted the rigged up tarp, protecting them from the elements.

"Zo?," Sam asked after pulling up the rope and settling beside her. They sat together for several minutes, cupping each other's faces', kissing, whispering promises they couldn't keep.

"Oh, Sam, I never thought I'd see you again." Now pressed against his chest and listening to his heart beat, keeping her warm with his strong arms. "When you left, I felt like my heart was ripped out." She cried into his chest as Sam comforted her, having felt the same pain.

"I will always be here for you. I might not be inside the fence, but I will be here, loving you always." He kissed her ebony hair and rubbed his palms up her spine. Pulling back she kissed him with all the desperation she couldn't voice.

For the next several hours, Zoe and Sam explored, assured, and worshipped each other, before throwing a blanket over them and warming each other for the night. And sleeping with smiles on their faces for the first time since they were separated.

.

.

.

Zoe blinked in the bright green light of the forest as she sat up and stretched. She heard a chuckle from beside her and she sighed.

"You know, I might keep you here with me if you do that every morning." Sitting up, he pressed his lips to her bare shoulder.

"What, stretching without a shirt on? Of course you would keep me here." She smiled and laid into his strong chest.

Nipping at his collar bone she had goose bumps rising over his chest, "You know I think we may have to stay up here for a while longer." They both smiled, but she wiggled from him and stood. "I'll get you something to eat."

Sam dressed and kissed her, before throwing the ladder down and departing. She still had a smile on her face, happy for the first time in what felt like a long time, before getting dressed herself.

Dressed and ready, she pulled the transparent paper from the tube she carried it in and used the pens to start drawing up prints of a tree house. If Sam was going to live out here, he won't live like a animal.

She had the drawing finished by the time Sam returned and he whistled low at the intricate design. "I thought a home would be best for you." He nodded and presented several fruits and a bowl of grubs. She wrinkled her nose at the insects and bite into a sour fruit. "I want to have a upside down tube on the base so things can't climb up to you." He offered her a grub and she reluctantly chewed it.

"You need protein." He stated simply and pulled her into his lap, both to hold her and get a better look at the prints Zoe held.

"And there is a railed deck that goes all the way around the home….you want to hear about this or finish what your starting?" She asked through gasps as he kissed, sucked and licked at her neck. Soon he moved to her shoulder and laid back to roll over and pin her on the blankets.

"It's won't move for a few hours." He growled low before going to work on her dress. Finally pulling it off her, he caressed every inch of her body with his lips. As if she is his goddess.

And she is.

He admires the white undergarments on her blushing skin, before quickly ridding her of them. Rolling off her and let her do the same to him, until they were both beneath the blankets, holding each other.

She pulled back suddenly, eyes wide and face twisting with fear. "Sam, oh god. We didn't use a condom last night." She watched his face pale and he rolled to lay on his back.

Sam murmured curses at his stupidity as he pulled her to him, holding her to his body to try to reassure her. "What are we going to do if you're pregnant?"

Shaking her head she wrapped her arms around Sam's chest, she stared at the ceiling. "I don't know."

Sorry this is so late, Things have been hectic and this coming up week will be hectic. I know this is really short to the other chapters, but this is all I could come up with in an hour so I hope you enjoy. Please review, tell me if you like it or not. As always suggestions/ideas are always welcome for the story/stories. Thanks everyone for reading this.