So guys! This is the last chapter I've written for now! I can tell you, it's a loooong one.
When I find the time to continue it, I will. But I gotta remember that I also have other fics to update. I have another chapter for "Had our paths crossed before" and one for "Things you didn't know" coming up soon! And after that I'll take a serious look at "A married couple".
Ok?
Now, I hope you enjoy this one. Diane's joining as sober soooo…

She woke up to a wave of pain. Her head ached like crazy, her stomach was crying for food, her mouth desired water, and her messy mind needed more rest.

Where was she? She could feel ones breathing on the top of her head and a hand holding hers tightly.
Oh please, she thought. Don't say I-
She feared the worst. It would very likely be stranger beside her. A stranger she had spent the night with. A stranger she had-
What a mess she was! She remembered absolutely nothing from the night before. She went through her mind, but she only got flashes. She believed she had gone to a bar. That was the only thing she could come up with. Everything else was one dark, empty gap.
She found herself in a troublesome situation. She feared who she would find beside her if she opened her eyes. But she was also curious. Was that weird?
She was lying very close to him, and every breath he took, she heard loud and clear. His breathing was quite calm and somehow...soothing. It seemed familiar…as if she had heard it before.

She felt her heart racing as she opened her eyes in a slow pace. What would she do once she found out who it was? The first thing that hit her eyes was a hairy, chest. One she had definitely seen before. She then carefully tilted her head to get a look at the person's face.

The second she laid eyes on his face, she gasped, and found herself covering her mouth with her free hand so she wouldn't wake him up.

"Sam?" she whispered.

It couldn't be. There was no way- How was he-? How did he even-?
She tried to convince herself, she was dreaming, that he could under no circumstances be there in reality…
But the hand upon hers told her otherwise.
She felt. And what she felt was him. Tears started to well up, and she found it extremely difficult to remain quiet.
She just wanted to burst out in happiness. He had found her! He had come for her? Why? Why now? Did he decide to leave after all? Didn't he make it in time? Of course he didn't. She knew that already. When she called him, they were only a few hours away from the planned wedding ceremony. But how did he-? How did he find her? Why couldn't she remember anything from last night?

She found the answer to that by smelling her breath. It was horrible. No questioning there; she had been drinking. A lot!

She had seen him in her dream last night. They were talking. About why he didn't come. But he repeatedly told her he had come. Had he? He clearly had, but- when did he arrive? Did he in fact make it in time?
Of course she wouldn't know. She and Frasier hadn't exactly stuck to the plan about wedding in Florence. Or just...wedding at all.

She analyzed his body from top to bottom as if she hadn't seen it in years. Well…She hadn't seen it in months anyway, so…

He was wearing nothing but his underpants. Not unusual though.
He had covered her with the double-duvet, and had nothing left to cover himself. He felt warm though. His right hand upon hers had been there for a long time. Both of their hands were all sweaty from being so tied up, but she didn't mind. The thought of him holding her hand all night through, made a tear drop from her cheek down on his chest.

The teardrop startled him and he opened his eyes in a millisecond. He woke up to her gaze, smile and welling eyes.

The first thing he did was to dry her tears away, squeeze her hand and look her in the eyes.

"'No' as in 'no, I think you should say no'. 'Yes' as in 'yes, I think you should say something else'," he said quietly, looking into her eyes.

"Oh, Sam!"

She started to cry for real, as she pressed herself against him, throwing her arms around his body.

"I'm sorry, Sam," she sobbed.

"Don't be. It was my fault as much as it was yours."

"I didn't know you were coming. When I called and you picked up-"

"I didn't pick up. My new answering machine did."

She looked at him in despair.

"You mean- you didn't- you were on your way-"

"I was on my way to Florence to stop the wedding."

"Oh dear," she whispered.

She felt just awful after getting to know that information.

"But how did you end up here? How did you-"

"Long story short; I jumped over the fence in Florence, since they wouldn't let me in and thereafter got arrested for a short time before I was purchased by a local land owner who happened to let me go here in Genova. I then took a stroll down the coast, where there happened to be a lot of bars and you mysteriously happened to be dancing on tables in one of them. Assisted by a young fellow in the bar I got us here."

She couldn't believe her ears. Dancing on tables? Had she sunk that low?
She shook her head in disbelieve.

"It's okay," he said calmly, putting a hand on her bare shoulder.

"How could I- How on earth would I ever sell myself like that!?"

"Don't be too hard on yourself. You had some rough days. But tell me…how did you get here?"

"To be frank; I don't have a single clue. Except, I do believe some young Italians picked me up on the road, but I'm far from sure. I don't remember anything from last night besides entering that bar."

She tilted her head and looked at him.

"What did you think?"

"About what?"

"About me dancing on tables in the middle of the night?"

"You did a nice job there until you lost balance and fell down from the table and into my arms."

She padded him.

"That's not what I meant!"

"I don't know what I thought. I was surprised for sure. But the only thing I had on my mind was to get you out of there."

"Did we talk?"

"No, I caught you when you were trying to get down from the table. You were pretty close to passing out."

"Oh god…"

"How are you now?"

"Besides embarrassed by my acts yesterday for what may an eternity?"

"Yeah," he chuckled.

"Awful," she smiled, embarrassed "but I'll be fine. I'm so glad you found me."

"So am I."

"Do they have water here?"

"I'll get you some. How about breakfast."

"Please," she smiled.

He smiled back, pulled his sweater and pants on and left.

He returned with his hands full. He carried a tray that had two dishes of scrambled eggs, bread and two glasses of water on it.

"I hope this is alright," he said and put the tray on the bed in front of her.

"It's perfect."

"They don't usually allow people to eat in their rooms, but after watching you last night, they made an exception."

Once again embarrassed, she looked down on her lap.

"Here, eat some," he said pushing the tray towards her.

"I just brushed my teeth. I should probably-"

"You should eat."

She smiled.

"Then let's eat."

They both picked up a fork and started eating.
Most of the breakfast went on quietly, but constant looks were exchanged.
Diane put her fork down and caught Sam's full attention.

"You're already done?" he frowned, chewing his bread.

"I can't believe you actually came for me. After the way I left you behind."

His look stiffened, he stopped chewing and swallowed instead.

"Well I- couldn't let you make that kind of mistake, marrying Frasier."

"Couldn't or wouldn't?"

"Both, I guess."

"Why not?" she asked quietly.

"I think you know why," he answered.

"I'm not entirely sure," she said, folding her hands.

"What do want me to do to- assure you?"

She pushed the tray that separated them away.

"Why don't you show me?" she asked mildly.

Both leaned closer until their noses touched.

"Wait," he whispered, putting a hand on her cheek.

"What?" she whispered, opening her eyes.

"I haven't- brushed my teeth," he said with closed eyes.

She smirked just before she softly pressed her lips against his. He could butterflies in his stomach go nuts.

Each time the kiss broke the least, one of them hurried to place their lips on the other ones' again.
The kiss lasted for precious minutes. At last, she placed her right hand on his chest, which broke off the kiss.
Both gazed at one another with regarding eyes. She felt his heart pounding behind her palm.

"I knew you cared," she whispered, looking at him with blurred eyes.

"How couldn't I?" he said, running a hand through her hair "You belong with me."

"Yes," she whispered throaty "And I have all along."