Yes, I'm alive! I fully know ya'll probably ALLL hate me for taking so freaking long to update and I don't blame you one bit. I should be court marshaled! Feel free to call me every name in the book because I would be royally pissed off if I was a reader and really into a story and the author took as long as I have. All I can tell you was that my summer was crazy, crazy nuts! I had destination weddings and birthdays, I had crazy family weekends and weekend getaways with friends. My grandmother, who was a rock-star, died at 98 and there was a big, kick ass funeral for her that lasted what seemed like forever. And then when I was REALLY feeling motivated to write, I couldn't find my charger to my laptop! Talk about frustrating! I finally found it weeks later at my mom's house! I can probably go on, but ya'll don't care. Yes, I was busy this summer, but also lacked some serious motivation to this story. It's been slowly coming back to me and I've made myself write here and there between the craziness and finally I have a decent update. I hope ya'll will forgive me and hang in there. I know my updates are few and far between, but I promise I will never, ever abandon it. Like…EVER! ;-)

Here's a long overdue update and hope you enjoy! There's a quick little Seddie here and there, then it bumps to the next morning with Anna and Austin waiting for their new friends to arrive. The fishing trip is coming up! Thank you so much for your support and patience!

~Magarooski

Chapter 21

Sam enjoyed her second cup of coffee while she watched Freddie fiddle around in the kitchen. Bacon was frying—the smell of it made her mouth water—while Freddie cracked eggs into the mixing bowl for the pancake batter.

"My stomach is starting to growl."

Freddie grinned as he whisked the batter with fierceness. "You'll get first batch."

"Lucky me."

"Being the cook's object of affection has its advantages."

Sam grinned into her coffee. "I repeat…lucky me."

He just laughed as he set the mixing bowl down and returned to the frying bacon. "Has your purse warmed up any?"

Sam shook her head hopelessly as she touched her frigid cold purse. "The leather is like ice." Freddie had found it in the refrigerator earlier when he was getting out the bacon and eggs. She had no recollection of putting it there.

"Maybe Carly or Gib put it there as a joke."

"Put what where?" Gibby asked as he walked in with Carly right behind him.

"We found Sam's purse in the refrigerator."

Carly laughed as she sat down at the kitchen table. "Well, I didn't put it there."

"How do you know?" Sam asked as she jumped off the bar stool to join her at the table. "You were the drunkest of all of us last night."

"True," she said after a moment. "Very true…but I don't remember doing it if that matters."

"Body shots tend to make one forget things."

"Shut up, Freddie."

He just laughed. "Want some coffee?"

"More than anything."

"I'll get it," Gibby said as he walked into the kitchen. "You have your hands full with that bacon…and I saw how she doctored it yesterday."

"Thanks…okay, Sam…first batch is about ready."

"How come Sam gets first batch?" Gibby complained as he eyed the enticing bacon before snagging a piece."

"Because she's prettier than you," he answered simply as he poured the batter into the sizzling skillet, making four perfect circles. "Don't worry, you can have the second batch…I mean, third," he answered quickly at Carly's gasp. "Because…of course Carly's prettier than you as well."

"Nice save," Carly muttered.

He just grinned as he flipped his first pancake. "Okay Sam…you're up."

XXXX

"Take a hike," Sam said as she grabbed Freddie's plate that he was about to take to the kitchen.

"Excuse me?"

"You cooked," she said as she turned him around and gave him a shove. "We're cleaning…so go take a nap or something."

"Really?" he asked hopefully as he looked over his shoulder while being shoved.

"That was the deal," Carly added as she grabbed the syrup and butter from the table. "Who doesn't cook…cleans."

"Do I have to clean?"

Carly turned and gave Gibby a blunt look. "What to do you think?"

Gibby sighed as he got up from the table. "I think I'll go start the dishes."

"Good answer."

"Yeah, yeah…thanks for breakfast, Freddie…it was great."

Sam gave Freddie another push. "Go."

"Okay, okay…don't have to force me. I'll just go watch some TV."

He walked into the den and grabbed the remote before plopping himself onto the couch, using the entire length to stretch out his long body. He flipped through the channels as the sounds of cleaning echoed in the background. Running water, glasses clinking and plates stacking, Sam's cursing and then he heard nothing at all as sleep overcame him.

It was how Sam found him. After the kitchen was spotless…Carly went up to take a nap, while Gibby announced that he was going to swim some laps in the pool. Sam had planned to see if Freddie wanted to watch a movie, but seeing Freddie passed out on the couch clearly knocked out that idea.

She sighed as she walked over to him, carefully removing the remote from his hands before setting it on the coffee table. She sat at his hip and since no one was around to witness, she reached up and gently brushed away the strands of his hair that swept across his forehead.

His eyes fluttered open and their eyes held as Sam hesitantly moved her hand away, slightly embarrassed that she was caught doing such an intimate gesture. "Hey," she finally said.

"Hey…I guess I fell asleep."

"Yeah…we didn't get much sleep last night so I certainly don't blame you."

"Want to take a nap?"

"Don't I always?"

His lips twitched. "Of course." He started to shift over. "Come on."

"What? Lie down with you?" She shook her head as he began to tug her down. "Freddie, there's not enough room."

"I'm sure we'll manage," he said as he rolled over to the side and scooted closer to the back of the couch. "Stretch out in front of me."

"I'm going to fall off," she said even as she was lying down next to him.

"I won't let you," he mumbled tiredly as he snaked an arm around her waist and held her tight.

Sam snuggled back against him as she let out a sigh of content. She draped her arm over Freddie's and smiled when he laced his fingers with hers.

XXXXX

Anna scowled into her coffee as she watched Austin pace anxiously up and

down the beach. He was on the look-out for their new friends, but she knew he

was mainly looking forward to seeing Carly.

She scowled again and took another greedy sip. She was not a morning person

and watching her best friend pinning over another girl didn't make it any better.

It was her own damn fault for falling in love with him. Stupid of her. She didn't

plan it…certainly didn't want to…but it happened nonetheless. It surprised her…when she first felt that sudden ache in her chest when she saw him after he had come home after a six month absence. He studied over in Europe during the fall

semester of their senior year in college and it had been the longest six months of

her life.

He landed in Dallas a few days before Christmas and she herself went to pick

him up. She was so excited she had gotten a speeding ticket on the way to the

airport…okay, two…but who was counting?

She had been pacing anxiously…just like Austin was doing now…absolutely

dying to see him. Then finally, after what seemed like hours instead of

minutes…she spotted him in the crowd. When their eyes met, he grinned…it

was so full of joy and happiness, she couldn't help but smile back while waving enthusiastically at him.

He quickened his pace…trotting through the crowd and it was seconds before

he picked her up in a bone-crunching hug when it happened. Her heart tumbled

over in her chest…so painfully that she almost winced. She knew at that

moment that she loved him…not the way she used to love him, but that she was

whole-heartedly in love with him.

She waited until she was in the privacy of her own home until she fell apart.

God, she cried and cried that night because she knew that he never would return

her feelings. She was like a sister to him…she knew that, and it was something

she'd have to get over. But it wasn't going to be easy.

"Will you stop pacing," she finally barked as she stepped down from the steps

onto the sand. "They'll get here when they get here."

He looked over at her and grinned. "Good morning, Sunshine."

"Bite me."

"Okay…anywhere in particular?," he asked and then chuckled when she gave her famous go to hell look. "Are you going to let me have a sip of that?"

She sighed, but lifted her cup to him. "What time did you tell them to get here?"

"Seven-thirty…Dad says we have to leave by seven-forty five."

"They got another five minutes…I'm sure they'll be here soon."

"Yeah." He took another sip before handing it back. "Do you like Gibby?"

Anna…who was just taking another sip of her coffee…choked on it. "What?" she

asked once her coughing fit bypassed. "What?"

"I think I spoke clear enough, Annakins."

She rolled her eyes. "I don't know…I mean, sure…he's nice…the years have

definitely done wonders and he's super funny. We'll see….why?" she

asked after she noticed the slight frown. "Don't you like him?"

"I don't really know him," he said with a shrug. "I mean, yeah he's way funny and

seems nice, but I don't know him personally."

"Neither do I, Austin…but hopefully I'll get to know him over the next few days,

like you'll get to know Carly."

"What does Carly have to do with anything?"

"You like her, right? I mean, you're interested in her?"

"I don't know," he said as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Maybe…she

seems really sweet and of course she's beautiful, but…I guess we'll see."

She nodded. "Okay then…and we'll see about Gibby and I…what?!" she

exclaimed when she noticed the hesitant look in his eyes.

"I guess…now, don't get mad or anything, but…I just don't think Gibby is really

your type…that's all."

"Oh really?" she asked in a defensive tone. "And why is that? You know what?

Don't answer that…it doesn't matter and I'm not the least bit surprised. You

never liked any of my past boyfriends, why would you like a potential future one?"

"That's not true…entirely," he added after her snort.

"You didn't like my last boyfriend, Brad."

"He cheated on you, of course I didn't like him."

"You didn't like him before he cheated on me."

"Damn right I didn't and I was kind enough to not to tell you, I told you so."

"You didn't like Steven…"

"No, I liked Steven fine, I just knew he was gay and in denial."

Anna decided it wasn't important to mention that he did in fact come out of the closet, a year ago via tweet. "Whatever….the point is…you've never supported

any of my relationships."

"Maybe that's true," he finally admitted. "But it's only because I knew they weren't good enough for you. Annie…you're my best friend and I love you…as far as I'm concern, no one is going to be good enough for you."

She let out a shaky sigh. "That's unbearably sweet, Austin…but you're going to have to get over that. I don't particularly want to be alone for the rest of my life and want to find someone to share it with…I would think you would want that for me."

An image of her dressed in white, standing at an alter with some faceless man made him feel…uneasy. Incredibly uneasy. "Of course I do," he answered and playfully tugged at her hair. "And it's going to take a special guy to put up with your gracefulness and awkward charm."

Anna snorted. "Shut up, jerk-face."

He just grinned as he pulled her in for a hug and felt something twinge painfully in his chest when she let out a long sigh as snuggled in. "I do like, Gibby…I guess you could do worse."

"Thanks so much," she said dryly, but laughed anyway. "And I like Carly…ya'll would make a cute couple."

"Yeah…maybe. Hell, it probably wouldn't work with them anyways…they live in Seattle and we live in Texas…doomed already."

"True…no way we could survive in Seattle…I mean…live somewhere other than Texas?" Anna proclaimed with wide-eyes. "Heaven forbid…I need to live in a place that has decent Tex-Mex and margaritas at my disposal."

Austin laughed. "Exactly…so see? Doomed from the start."

"Probably right…but hey, nothing wrong with a little summer fling, now is there?"

Austin's jaw dropped when he saw the mischievous grin on her face while her eyebrows bobbed. "Now, wait a minute, I don't think…"

"Hey, they're here!" she exclaimed as she gave him a quick excited shake before taking off.

Baffled, he watched her skip happily toward them and couldn't help the frown when she all but leapt in Gibby's awaiting arms. Since the sight left an unpleasant feeling in the pit of his gut…he deliberately turned away and made him focus on Carly.

Despite the early hour, she still looked fresh and alert as if they were going out for a night on the town. She dressed casual, in khaki shorts and a red tank top with spaghetti straps. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and a pair of overly large sunglasses, were perched on top of her head.

She didn't greet him with the same enthusiasm that Anna greeted Gibby. She had frowned slightly at Anna and Gibby before finally turning to him with s slight smile. "Hey, Austin."

"Hey," he answered back as he pulled her in for quick hug. "Glad you could make it. Hey Freddie," he said as he gave him a quick nod.

"Hey…thanks for inviting us," he said and wrapped his arm around a very disgruntled Sam. "We're really looking forward to it."

Austin looked at Sam with amusement. She did not look as fresh as Carly…in fact she looked like she just rolled out of bed. Her hair still had the classic bed hair look and her eyes were already covered with sunglasses even though the sun was barely up. "Good morning, Sa…"

She held up a hand before he could finish. "I don't associate with anyone at this ungodly hour."

Austin just laughed. "I don't blame you."

"I'm not a morning person either," Anna said with a sympathetic smile. "This is my fourth cup of coffee, so that's the only reason why I'm coherent. Here, you can finish it if you…." Sam grabbed the coffee from her hands and sipped it greedily. "…want," she finished with a smile.

"Apparently, the two cups she sucked down before coming here weren't enough."

Sam glared at Freddie. "Kiss my ass, Benson."

"Maybe some other time…when there's not so many people around."

"Ha-ha," she said dryly before handing the cup back to Anna. "Thanks…I feel slightly human again."

"No problem."

"Dixie!" Freddie exclaimed suddenly with a laugh as he dropped to his knees to meet his new four-legged friend. "Hey, girl…where did you come from?"

"You know our dog?" Austin asked while he watched Dixie roll over and expose her belly.

"She's your dog?" Sam asked as she knelt down as well to give her tummy a rub. "Small world."

"She came running up to me during my morning run a few days ago…we've been running buddies ever since."

"Oh, so that's why she's always barking to go out early in the morning," Anna said with a laugh as she bent down to give Dixie a quick rub.

"She's been good company." Freddie finally got up and dusted the sand off his knees. "She comes and goes so quickly though Sam and I wondered if she was a ghost dog."

"That would be so cool!" Austin exclaimed with a laugh.

"Austin!"

Everyone turned to the booming voice towards the three-story beach house to see two tall male figures standing on the back deck. "Yeah, Dad?"

"Now that you're friends are here let's get going!"

"We're wasting precious daylight here!" Anna's dad said and gave a couple of claps. "Chop! Chop!"

Anna rolled her eyes. "Don't worry…they're not as annoying as they seem at first."

"We'll take your word for it," Sam grumbled.

Austin just laughed as he looped his arm around Carly's shoulders. "Let's go do some deep sea fishing."