A/N: I'm so sorry about the wait. I've had a lot of assignments this semester. College is kicking my ass, lol. But the upside is that as a result this is a really long chapter. Rated M. Hope you enjoy.

Part II

Chapter Twenty-three

Save Me

The most stunning sunrises always happen after storms. Rays of light break through clouds in an ethereal way, like the sky is opening up to reveal heaven. Alyssa felt that way about this morning. Golden and pink hues tinted the fluffy clouds.

Unfortunately seeing something beautiful made her think of Sam and how he couldn't watch the sky with her. But if the prettiest sunrises happened after storms, maybe he would be her sunrise after the rain and thunder. Around 10 am she went outside to the gazebo with a book and jasmine flavored tea. It was a spectacular day. The sky was remarkable, a mix of periwinkle and powder blue. It was breezy, not oppressively hot. Alyssa sat down and began to sip her tea opening to a bookmarked page in the novel she brought with her. It was "Music in the Night" by VC Andrews, a sad book about a wealthy girl with a strict family who falls in love with a handsome and sweet boy who her family does not approve of. Despite their objections she secretly meets with him all the time. One day they make love by the sea. They fall asleep in each other's arms. Unfortunately they don't realize high tide is coming in and the boy is swept away. He drowns and the girl is so traumatized she loses her memory. Her grandmother, the strictest of all her family members sends her to a Rehab facility.

Alyssa was moved by it, she was at the part where the girl had just arrived at the institution. Her separation from Sam made it all worse and she teared up a few times. But she would get to see Sam soon. The girl in the book had no such luxury.

Alyssa was so engrossed in the book she didn't notice the clicking of footsteps on the stone walkway to the gazebo. She took a break from reading, and looked back toward the house.

And then her heart leapt into her throat. A dark haired boy walked in her direction, his eyes a milky green color in the sun, his lips curled in a goofy smile. Alyssa got up so fast the chair almost fell backwards. She screamed at the top of her lungs and ran toward him. He chuckled with delight before she crashed into him with such force that he almost fell. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and buried his face in her hair, breathing her in. He lifted her off the ground and spun her and she squealed happily. When he set her back down, he felt her lips brush his neck.

"Oh Sam. I've missed you so much." She whispered.

He pulled out of the embrace slightly and cupped her face. "I've missed you too."

She lifted her hand and stroked his brow and then his temple. "How did you get past Richard?"

He smirked and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Amanda answered the door. Apparently you've told her a lot about me. All good things I hope."

"No! I told her you're a mean, ugly, disgusting young man and that you take advantage of me regularly."

"I love taking advantage of you."

"I like it too." She grinned evilly. "But in all seriousness I actually told her you're amazing and I love you."

He ran his thumb over her lips.

She looked up into his eyes with a sleepy gaze. "Isn't she so much prettier than me?"

"No. I mean she's attractive. But you're beautiful. I only have eyes for you."

Her lips curled under his fingers. Sam covered her mouth with his and kissed her softly. Alyssa sighed into his mouth and kissed him back. He ran his hand down her side, fabric turning into skin where her camisole ended. He deepened the kiss and she moaned against his lips. Her fingers crept under his shirt, her hand exploring his smooth back. His tongue glided over her mouth and he nibbled her lower lip gently. She made a contended sound, her hand sweeping over his hip and resting over the ridge of his pants. He pulled his lips from her suddenly.

"Don't do that." He whispered raggedly.

She smiled seductively and pushed his shirt up, her palm running over his stomach and then playing with his belt. "Why not?"

He looked at her through half lidded eyes. "Because I'll do you right here."

"Is that such a bad thing?"

He feathered kisses down her neck. "Usually no. But I wanna make a good impression so your dad won't kick me out as soon as he sees me."

"You have a point." She took his hand and kissed his knuckles.

'Let's go inside." He said.

Alyssa held Sam's hand and they walked inside. "Castle right?"

"Fucking enormous." He answered.

They both laughed.

Amanda and Richard were having a late breakfast in the kitchen. Sam tried not to notice the bruise running from Amanda's temple to her hairline. She was wearing makeup over it, but the fluorescent lighting made it slightly transparent.

'Amanda,…dad, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend Sam."

Richard tried to hide his discontent. But a frown managed to seep into his features. Sam was better at suppressing his hate for the man. He plastered a fake smile on his face and held his hand out. An awkward amount of time passed before Richard shook Sam's hand. "Hi, Mr. Beck."

"Hello Sam."

"I hope I haven't caused an inconvenience showing up without notice. Alyssa wanted to see me."

Richard opened his newspaper roughly. "No, fine. No problem."

Sam knew it was a problem. He looked at Amanda. "We already met." He smiled.

Amanda's nervous expression faded and she smiled back at him. "It's great to have met you, Sam. You're as sweet as Alyssa tells me."

"It's nice to hear that." He said.

"I wanna show you the rest of the house."

Richard's newspaper was raised like a wall in front of him. He made no attempt to move it as he spoke.

"I hope you know that you are not allowed to be in her bedroom alone with her."

Sam almost laughed out loud. "She didn't say anything about the bedroom. And I wouldn't dream of disrespecting your daughter like that."

"Sure you wouldn't. I was a teenage boy once. As soon as I turn my back you're going to fuck her brains out."

Sam suppressed the smile that was tugging at his lips. "I understand your lack of trust with me. But I promise I won't be doing anything inappropriate with your daughter."

"For your sake I hope that's true."

Sam smirked dryly. He wasn't at all intimidated by the guy. Alyssa and Sam walked out of the kitchen.

"Fucking prick."

"You get to leave. I have to spend another two weeks with him."

He held her hand "So run away with me."

"I want to."

They went outside again, sitting on a swinging wooden bench. Alyssa climbed onto Sam's lap and laid her head on his chest. "How long are you here for?" She asked quietly.

"Till tomorrow morning."

She looked up into his eyes and traced the outlines of his face. "Too soon."

She felt his hands sprawl out over back.

"We'll be together soon." He whispered.

She cupped his face in her hands and pressed her lips against his. He made a deep contended sound and his lips responded to hers. He kissed her languidly. His fingers brushed her delicate neck and then her shoulder. He kissed the edge of her mouth and then trailed kisses down her neck, in the hollow of it, all over. She began to breathe unevenly as his lips grazed her shoulder and she closed her eyes as he feathered soft kisses over her heartbeat. She pulled him down on top of her on the bench. His eyes were half lidded as he looked down at her. His face was flushed and his lips were swollen. Which made her want him more. He cradled her head in his hands and covered her mouth with his. She raised her legs, wrapping them around her waist, his hips pressed into hers. He pulled his lips from hers slightly and moaned, his breaths quick and feverish. Then he buried his face in her neck, feathering bruising love bites over skin. She whimpered and tugged his hair. He nibbled on her skin.

Sam was confused when she her palms pushed against his chest. "No." she said breathlessly.

He stopped and looked at her. "What?"

"No hickies. My dad will kill you."

He smiled. 'Wear make-up."

"No amount of make-up will cover YOUR hickies."

"I told him I wouldn't have sex with you, I didn't say anything about biting you."

"True. But still, he'll murder you anyway."

"I'm willing to take that risk."

She smiled and twined her leg with his. "You're so hard."

He ran his hand up her thigh, his face dangerously close to her, hot breaths on her face."Let's do something about it."

"Not out here, with our clothes on."

'What are you afraid of? When you can get caught it's hotter."

"I'm not feeling adventurous."

"The first place your asshole of a dad is gonna look will be your bedroom."

"He'll see us out here too!"

"Then what do you suggest?"

"We wait until they're asleep tonight."

"You're a tease. You wait until I'm turned on and then change your mind."

"Sam, you don't know how badly I want it. But I honestly think my dad will shoot you with a hunting rifle if he sees us."

Sam smiled. "He would too. Especially with all that plaid flannel he used to wear."

Alyssa mocked her father in a faux southern drawl, "Boyy, youu are goin to di-uh. I'mma shoot you with my here rifle."

Sam laughed. He buried his face in her neck and inhaled the sweet scent of her. "I love you."

Alyssa ran her fingers through his hair. "I love you to the end of the milky way and back. Now let's go inside and pretend we weren't fooling around."

"You're lucky I'm wearing baggy pants."

She cracked up. "I've heard if you hit yourself it draws the blood away from those regions."

"You're retarded."

She smiled. "That's why you're with me."

He looked down into her eyes. "Right, because I'm totally into girls who are mentally compromised."

"You can't really say anything on that subject. I'd say you're mentally compromised too. And much more than me."

"Oh way more than you!" he said proudly.

They laughed in unison. Then they sat up, fixing their clothes. Alyssa wanted to sleep with Sam. In fact it didn't matter what they were doing and where they were. They could be eating, or watching tv and that was all she thought about. She missed it a lot.

But she also missed just talking to him, the way they were at the moment. When Sam wasn't sad he had the uncanny ability to make her laugh. And she loved the fact that most of the time he was honest with her. That he said what he was thinking, what he was feeling. And much to the chagrin of her mother she loved that being around him had made her swear like a truck driver. She had become a bit less girly. She listened to less pop music. Her Britney and Christina CD's were collecting dust. But she would NEVER EVER listen to Marilyn Manson. Just no.

Sam and Alyssa sat on the swing lazily until lunch rolled around. They ate and then they went for an afternoon ride. Sam was going 20 miles an hour over the speed limit, his music blaring loudly.

Alyssa smirked. "You think you're so bad ass. Let me remind you that you're driving a freaking station wagon."

Sam held a hand to his ear. "What? I can't hear you over the music. What?" he smiled.

She shoved him playfully. Then she unclipped her seatbelt, hanging outside the window from the waist up. She screamed and the driver in the other cars looked at her with perplexed looks on their faces. She laughed at their reactions.

Alyssa felt Sam's hand at her hip.

"Okay enough. You're gonna fall out."

ALyssa let out a final blood curdling scream. Then she came back into the car with such force that she bumped into Sam, his hands slipped on the steering wheel and the car veered into the next lane. The sound of the tires scratching against the asphalt as he braked mixed with the angry honks of the other cars. He swerved back into his own lane.

"For fuck's sake, Alyssa!" He yelled.

She burst out into laughter.

"You almost killed us both."

"I know, wasn't it awesome!"

He paused and the angry expression melted off his face. He smiled. "A little bit." He took the exit off the highway which would lead them back home. "I thought you didn't feel adventurous."

"I do now."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Sam's car was parked in an abandoned parking lot. The couple kissed in the backseat. They stopped for a moment looking sleepily into each other's eyes. Sam hands glided down her sides and pulled up her camisole. She ran her palm over his chest, down his stomach, and onto his belt buckle. She snapped it open, and unbuttoned his pants, unzipping his fly torturously slow. He pushed her against him roughly, his lips grazing her ear and then her neck. He undid her bra and cupped her breast . She let out an uneven breath edged with a moan. She pulled his t-shirt over his head, kissing his neck, running her hands down his back.

The sun started sinking in the sky, the day getting dimmer.

They panted as their bodies moved up and down in a frenzied rhythm. Alyssa grabbed a tuft of his hair as he bucked inside her. He moaned raggedly and she raked his back. He gripped her thigh and wrapped her leg around his waist. He felt her hips roll under his before her lips parted and she came. He didn't last much longer, crying out and collapsing in her sated arms. She trailed her hand down his spine as he his chest expanded with quick, feverish breaths. He was still and she closed her eyes. They both fell asleep in exhaustion.

The car ride back was quiet and the return to Richards' mansion was as well. They watched TV, Alyssa's head on Sam's shoulder, her hand in his. He ran his thumb over the top of her hand and smiled as she whispered "I love you."

He smiled. Before he could respond Richard walked in with Amanda not far behind. Alyssa sat up flustered. Sam, though, looked unaffected.

"Where have you been?" the slightest tension breaking through in his voice.

"Nowhere. Me and Sam just went for a ride on the highway and then we got some coffee from Seattle's Best."

"You didn't have my permission to go ANYWHERE with him."

"Dad, I'm 17. I don't need your permission."

"You're underage and you're under my roof. You WILL obey my rules."

Sam didn't like where the conversation was going. "You don't actually get the luxury of saying that to her if you haven't been a father her whole life."

Richard's face reddened. "Shut your fucking mouth!"

Amanda put a hand on his shoulder. "Richard, honey, I think you're overreacting."

He pushed her away slightly. "Don't you tell me what to do."

"I'm sorry. Alyssa is a very good and responsible girl, Richard. I don't think you have anything to worry about."

He gripped her arm roughly and turned her to face him. "Don't interfere in things that have nothing to do with you."

Sam frowned and stood up. 'Whoa, man. Lay off. She's trying to help you."

"You watch your mouth, kid. You come to my house uninvited and fool around with my daughter behind my back and you have the balls to tell ME what to do?"

"Didn't anyone teach you how to treat a woman?" Sam asked.

Richard seethed. He shoved Sam.

Sam furrowed his brows. "Hey! Relax!"

He came at Sam, pushing him into the wall. Alyssa was frightened. Sam's eyes looked like burning ice, if ice could burn.

Sam gripped Richard's shoulders and pushed him away. "Get your fucking hands off me!"

Richard punched Sam in the jaw. Alyssa's scream echoed behind. "Dad, leave him alone!"

He gripped Sam's shirt and shoved him back into the wall. Alyssa laid her hand on his arm. "Dad!" His arm swung backwards and struck her. She stumbled and fell. And the lock keeping Sam's emotions at bay broke.

"Don't you fucking touch her!" He flew into Richard and they landed on the floor. He punched him in the teeth. He pinned Sam to the ground, his hands around his neck. Sam writhed, his boots scuffing the floor as he kicked and flailed. Amanda ran for the phone, dialing 911.

"Please, I need the police. My fiancée is assaulting a boy in my house. He has him in a chokehold. Hurry!"

Tears sprung from Alyssa's eyes. "Dad, please! Stop, you'll kill him!"

Sam stopped fighting, his eyes glazing over as he began to lose consciousness. Alyssa couldn't stand and watch any longer. She grabbed a lamp post off one of the tables and swung. It struck Richard and he fell onto his side.

Sam gasped as the pressure on his windpipe was released. Alyssa ran to him, cupping his face. "Sam, are you okay?" her voice cracked as she cried.

He coughed harshly as the air filled his lungs again.

"Please be okay." Alyssa pleaded.

He sat up and took her into his arms, stroking her hair. "I'm okay. What about you? Are you hurt?"

She cried into his shirt. "I'm fine." She wrapped her arms around him. "But that's not important. I was so scared he was going to kill you."

He rubbed her back consolingly. "Well, he didn't. And you are important."

She lifted her head off his chest looking up into his eyes. 'I'm so sorry about all this."

He gazed into her eyes. "Don't be."

The sound of police sirens filled the air. Amanda let the officers in. They handcuffed Richard. The EMT's suggested they all be checked at the hospital for any serious injuries. No one suffered more than a few bruises. Amanda was seen last and Sam and Alyssa sat in the waiting room, a thick silence filling the air between them.

Alyssa touched Sam's face where an explosion of purple had pooled under his skin. "Thank you for standing up for me and Amanda."

He looked at her seriously. "You're coming home with me tonight."

"I can't leave her alone in the house. He's gonna bail himself out."

"I'm not asking you, Alyssa."

"I can't."

He averted his gaze, looking into air. A sigh passed through his lips. "The next time you're not gonna escape with just bruises."

"She's scared, Sam."

'She can stay in a hotel or with a friend. She's not your problem, Alyssa! You barely know her."

"Look who's talking. You got the shit kicked out of you because he started getting rough with her."

"Well now she's safe. You need to start looking out for yourself."

"Isn't that what you do?"

"Me looking out for you isn't enough. I can't be with you all the time. In all those in betweens you have to take care of yourself. You have this terrible habit of putting other people's needs before your own."

Amanda's needs, your needs are bigger, more serious than mine."

He locked eyes with hers. "No they're not."

Amanda walked towards them. "We're all clear. Let's go home."

Sam sat in the front passenger seat of the taxi, his head resting on the window. He watched the traffic lights reflect on slick, rain covered pavement like the green and reds of Christmas. The car was uncomfortably silent. But he didn't know what to say to fill the quiet.

Sam turned his head to glance at Alyssa. Amanda's head was on her shoulder and she was asleep. Alyssa smiled wearily. He smiled faintly and turned back around watching the heavy rain form a thick layer of water over the windshield. The taxi's windshield wipers weren't fast enough against the storm.