February 16, 2004

Sam actually celebrated Valentine's Day. She couldn't believe it. She hadn't exchanged gifts since she was thirteen. Luka gave her this gorgeous gold locket. She had secretly always wanted one. She had a hard time picking out a gift for Luka, but finally she found a gold pendant for his stethoscope. She had his initials engraved at it. Sam thought it was dorky, but Luka loved it.

Sam lay in Luka's arms. He kissed the top of her sweaty head. He smiled softly. She looked at him.

"What are we?" Sam asked. Luka looked at her.

"What do you mean?" He asked. She pulled the blanket around her.

"This relationship...are we just fuck buddies or is it more?" She asked.

"I hope it's more. Yes the sex is great, but it's more than just sex to me." Luka said. Sam smiled softly.

"Me too." She said, "But what does that mean?" Luka put his hand on her chest feeling the locket.

"I guess that makes me your boyfriend." Luka said. Sam laughed, kissing his chest.

"I guess so, Boyfriend." She said, "Let's get some sleep."

"Okay." He said wrapping his arms tightly around Sam. It made him feel a lot better knowing that this relationship was heading down the more serious path. He was very ready for this. He hoped that Sam was ready for it as well. From how things were going, he thought that she was. Luka was glad.

* * *

Luka slid out of bed very slowly. Sam was snoring softly. He loved her little snore. She probably would have kicked him in the groin if she knew that. He rubbed his belly as he walked into the kitchen where Alex was. Alex looked him up and down.

"Nice boxers." Alex said.

"Nice face." Luka smirked going into the fridge. Alex rolled his eyes.

"You guys had sex didn't you?" Alex asked. Normally, if Luka had heard that from a nine-year-old boy, he's start to choke, but this was Alex Taggert.

"That's none of yours business. Are you hungry?" He asked.

"Yeah. Make pancakes. Mom likes pancakes." Alex said.

"I know she does, Buddy." Luka smiled getting a pan out of the cupboard. Sam stretched in her bed. She sat up when she smelled a wonderful smell. Luka wasn't in bed so he must be cooking. She got out of bed and wrapped her bathrobe around her.

"Luka?" She called out.

"In here, Ma!" Alex yelled.

"Thanks, Luka." Sam snickered as she walked into the kitchen. Her boys were sitting in front of a wonderful looking breakfast.

"Pancakes, toast, and sausage." Luka said with a smile.

"And coffee. Mom always needs coffee." Alex said.

"Yes, mom does. A lot." Sam poured herself a mug of coffee. She sat there sipping her coffee and watched Luka and Alex. Okay, they weren't a family, but this was just as good.

March 16th, 2004

Ten years ago to the day, Sam's life changed forever. Sometimes she wondered what her life would be like without Alex, but she soon decided that her life would be a sad and lonely thing.

Sam lit the candle on top of the cupcake. She tiptoed down the hallway at three thirty in the morning. Sam walked into Alex's bedroom. She shook his gently. Alex grunted.

"Ten years ago to the minute the doctors placed you in my arms." Sam said. Alex rolled over in bed, "You were screaming your blond head off and I knew right there that you would never shut up."

"And I haven't." Alex smiled sitting up, "Can I really eat that?"

"That's what I got it for.' Sam said, "Make a wish." Alex closed his eyes and blew them out, "What did you wish for?"

"I can't tell you." Alex said taking the candle out of the cupcake. "So did you get me anything else besides a cupcake?"

"Yes, but you need to wait." Sam said.

"You love me don't you?" Alex asked. Sam laughed.

"I love you with all my heart, but it's too early to play this game." Sam said.

"Too early? You're the one who woke me up." Alex smiled getting chocolate on his face already.

"You're the one who decided to be born early in the morning." Sam laughed.

"Come on. Just one present. It can be small." Alex said. Sam chuckled.

"All right. All right." She slid out of his bed and went into the living room. She had bought a video game and hid it beneath the sofa. She got on her knees and pulled out the blue wrapped present. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Sam sat up and looked at her front door. Something was wrong. She got up and turned the lights on. She saw smoke coming from beneath the door. "Oh god." She touched the door. It was hot. The apartment building was on fire, "ALEX!!"

"What?" He asked.

"Grab your things!" She ran into his room, "The building is on fire!" She ran into her bedroom. Everyone is always asked the questions, Besides your loved ones, if your house was on fire what would be the things that you'd grab? Sam knew. She grabbed her backpack, hands shaking, and opened her hope chest. She grabbed her two photo albums and Alex's baby book, "Alex! Get your medicine!"

"Got it!" Alex yelled. Sam zipped up her bad and jumped up. She stopped and grabbed her locket off of her dresser.

"Come on." Sam grabbed Alex's hand.

"We can go out the front can't we?" Alex asked.

"No. It'd cause a back draft. I watch Third Watch." Sam opened her window. Three floors up and no fire escape.

"Mom! We need to get out!!" Alex cried. Tears of fear were in his eyes.

"I'll get us out." Sam grabbed her cell phone and dialed Luka's number. She pulled Alex to the bathroom. There was a tree they could climb down from there.

"Hello?" Luka mumbled.

"Luka! It's on fire!" Sam said trying not to burst into tears, "Luka, please come!" She stuffed her phone into her pocket. "Come on, Buddy." She opened the window, "Just climb down. I'm not going to yell at you this time."

"It's my birthday. You cant." Alex said as he climbed out the window.

"Careful." She whispered. His tenth birthday and this was how he was spending it. Sam stood there watching her son climb down to safety as the fire engine pulled up.

"Come on, Mom!!" Alex bounced. Sam took in a deep breath.

"Here I go." Sam climbed out the window. She held on the tree tightly. She would rather break her neck than be set on fire. She carefully climbed down. A fireman rushed over to her and helped her the rest of the way down. Alex flung himself at her. Sam hugged him tightly.

* * *

Luka's heart stopped when he saw the apartment building on fire. He had lost two more people that he loved. He jumped out of his car. Five fire engines and eight ambulances were there. He was going to bury someone else wasn't he?

"Alex?? Sam??" He yelled. He wanted to say good bye. He had to.

"Luka!!" Sam was standing buy an ambulance wrapped up in a blanket. Relief washed over Luka. Sam ran to him and hugged him tightly, "Everything is gone."

"I know." Luka whispered holding her trembling body.

"Everything I w-worked so hard f-for is gone." Sam sobbed.

"You're safe. Alex is safe. That's all that matters." Luka whispered. He felt Alex's arms wrap around him also.

"This wasn't what I wished for." Alex whispered. What a birthday present. Everything Alex and Sam earned over the years was gone in an instant.

***

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