The Masquerade - Epilogue

Neither Sam nor Nicole spoke after entering the car, since they both obviously felt as if there was nothing left to say after all that was just released. So there they sat. Both lost in their own thoughts. That is, until Nic started the car.

"So… Where to Spam?" Nic asked while staring at the wheel, as if it had the answers.

Sam, for her part opened her mouth to respond before closing it once again and looking out of her side window. "I'm not sure."

Nodding to herself, Nic responded as if Sam had just given her a destination and started backing the car out of its parking spot. "Ok."

Noticing the sudden movement, Sam looked at her girlfriend with a questioning glance. "Where are we going?"

This time Nicole smirked, "Road trip. You should call Mac and let her know you'll be back in a few days."

Once again Sam opened her mouth to respond, or possibly protest, however this time she simply shook her head, pulled out her phone and dialed the Palace.

"Hey mom? Can you put Mac on…"

In the background, Nic could be heard saying… "I love this song…" before turning the radio up and letting Federico Aubele's Iluvia, fill the car.

***

They had driven all night. Or rather, Nic had driven all night and Sam had slept off and on the entire night. However, as they pulled into the city of their destination Nicole took one hand off of the wheel to shake Sam awake.

"Surprise!" Nic whispered with a grin while glancing at Sam's shocked face with a smirk. "Now I got us this far, but you're going to have to talk me through the rest of the way."

Sam's jaw dropped as they passed the now entering sign and then she sighed in resignation. "Get off on the third exit." And then under her breath she mumbled, "and I'll pray…"

***

After pulling into the driveway the car hadn't been parked for more then a few seconds, when Nic was jumping out of the car, grabbing the tray of coffee and quickly walking toward the door.

Which left Sam scrambling behind her, mumbling about retribution, death and it only being 6 something in the morning.

Finally catching up to Nicole who stopped at the door, Sam could only sigh. "Nic, do you realize how early it is? Couldn't we at least have gotten a hotel, slept and then stopped by later? Or not at all?"

Hearing the slightly whining tone in Sam's voice, Nicole simply raised an eyebrow. "No. You might have found a way to persuade me from coming. Now knock on the door."

Going for the last ditch effort Sam tried again, "Baby it's only 6…" Upon seeing the look that was now being leveled at her, she finally gave in.

::knock:knock:knock::

As they waited Nic silently started to wonder whether they should have slept a little first. She could admit to herself she was more then a little tired after driving for about 8 hours. "Do you think they're sleep?"

The only response Nic got for this question was a `Gee, I don't know!' Look from Sam, before she once again knocked on the door.

::knock:knock:knock::

After a few more minutes passed, Nic yawned before saying, "Maybe you should ring the door bell."

However, no sooner had the last syllable left her mouth before the door was being jerked open and an angry and clearly sleep filled voice snarled, "Ring my door bell and I'll rip your arm fro…"

Once the person behind the door had a clear view of their guest they paused in shock, before continuing in a confused voice. "Sam?"

Sam for her part had an apologetic look and tone in her voice: however just as she was about to apologize for the early morning wake up call, a suddenly wide-awake Nicole was speaking.

Flashing one of her best devilish and self assured smirks, Nic extended her hand for a handshake. "Hi, I'm Nicole, Sam's girlfriend. And I thought it was time we meet. Don't you agree? "

Blinking once as if processing all of the information, the person in the door stared at Nicole for a moment, before glancing at Sam. Then as if a switch was flipped all the anger was drained from the person's face, while the devilishly self assured smirk that was still residing on Nicole's face found its reflection on the person in the door. Reaching out to shake hands and take the cup of coffee being offered, the person in the door took an appreciative sip before finally replying. "You know? I think you're right. I'm Faith, by the way." And with that, Faith backed away from the door in a silent invitation into the house. As they entered, Faith yawned and then with a slow grin that promised nothing but trouble said, "Oh this will be fun."

The end