The sun was setting on Azura. After a long day of hard work, Baird liked nothing more than to have a few moments alone with his thoughts. It wasn't the work that made the day so hard. After years of fighting, he loved the fact that he had more time these days to get really stuck into building and repairing stuff. It was just the constant requests from people all the time. Baird can you fix this, Baird can you do this, all day long. He didn't really like people at the best of times so he found it frustrating. Problem was, he found it hard to say no to people. As much as he denied it, he did enjoy helping people out, even if they didn't always appreciate it half the time. He did savour these rare moments alone. He let out a long sigh as he looked out across the ocean. He almost wished that he could spend the whole night alone. Almost. But then he wouldn't be able to see her. Samantha Byrne. Just the thought of her name brought a smile to his lips. They had been seeing each other for a few months now. As far as Baird was concerned, Sam saw it as just a casual thing, not too serious. But Baird's feelings for her were starting to run a lot deeper, as much as he was trying to deny it. He'd never felt this way about anyone before, and it scared him a bit. He felt that he wasn't good enough for her. She could do a lot better than him and he knew it, and sooner or later she would realise it. That's one of the reasons he didn't want to reveal his true feelings for her.
"What would she think if I did tell her how I really felt. Probably laugh in my face" he thought to himself. He was due to meet Sam soon, but a few more moments alone wouldn't harm.
Sam was wondering down to the beach. She knew she'd find him down there. It was one of the few places he could clear his head and relax. She was still surprised that he's opened up to her enough to share that with her. She hadn't seen him all day and as much as she hated to admit it, she actually missed him. He'd been on her mind all day and the thought of seeing him gave her butterflies in her stomach.
"What's wrong with me" she thought. "This is just a casual thing nothing serious. Why am I feeling like this" It wasn't the first time Sam had stronger feelings for Baird. But just like the last time, she tried to ignore it again which was getting harder to do.
Three weeks ago
Sam laid there struggling to get to sleep. She'd spent the night with Baird again, but tonight felt different. It was more than just sex, it was more like "no don't even think about the L word" she tried to stop that thought. Something about tonight did feel special though. They'd taken a late night walk along the beach and talked and talked. She felt as if he'd really opened up to her, and she'd really opened up to him as well. She told him about how she felt when she found out the truth about her fathers death. She opened up about how it was hard growing up without a father. She even spoke about her feelings for Dom. Baird told her how he was never really close with his parents and how they were never really there for him. He also spoke about how lucky he was to have a friend like Cole, and how much he missed Dom.
After they went back to his room, she felt closer to him than she ever had to anyone before. It just felt more intimate and she couldn't get out of her mind how he looked at her so intently, like he was looking into her soul. Afterwards they talked for well over an hour, opening up to one another even more. Sleep came a lot easier for him than it did for her though. She watched him sleep peacefully beside her, and she smiled. He looked so peaceful. Moving closer to him, she gently brushed his cheek causing him to stir slightly in his sleep
"Oh Damon, what the hell have you done to me"
She turned around to try and sleep again. She felt him move beside her, then felt his arm wrap around her from behind. Sam closed her eyes. With his arm around her she soon drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
The present
Sam had nearly reached the beach. The sun had just set and the ocean looked beautiful. It wasn't long before she spotted him. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him. "Dammit" she thought, not wanting to feel this way. She made her way down to where he was, he smiled when he saw her, something that she only really saw when they were alone together.
"Thought you'd be here" she said
"Yeah, I was enjoying it until you showed up" he replied sarcasticly.
"Yeah right" She said as she moved close to him putting her arms around his neck. He placed his hands around her waist, gently pulling her in to greet her with a kiss. When they pulled apart, she wanted nothing more than to hold him close and tell her how much she missed him today "I can't do that. Probably scare him away" she thought.
"So, have you eaten yet tonight" he asked
"Not yet. I'm starving though. What do you fancy"
"I don't know, food maybe"
"Does your sarcasm have an off switch?" she asked.
"No ones found it yet" he replied.
"C'mon. I can smell that new burger bar on the beach. Cole says there delicious.
"Mmm I dunno. Don't you wonder where that meat comes from?" he questioned
"I don't really care when I'm this hungry. It beats what we used to eat when we were at war all those years"
"True"
As they got closer Baird's stomach started rumbling. He hadn't really eaten properly today as he was so busy. Well the real reason he hadn't eaten properly was because he was nervous about seeing her. He could certainly eat now though. Seeing her had calmed his nerves and he was already starting to feel more relaxed. They both had a burger and Baird enjoyed it so much, he didn't even care where the meat came from. Sam was right, this is better than the crap they ate when they were at war. After they ate, they sat on the beach. It was a warm evening and the sky was clear. Sam laid down on the sand. Baird looked at her curiously.
"What you doing" he asked.
"When was the last time you just laid down and looked at the stars"
"So long ago I can't even remember"
Baird joined her, laying down on the sand with his hands behind his head. If someone had told him 5 years ago, that he'd be here now, staring at the stars with the woman of his dreams, he would have laughed in there face. "Do I really think that. That Sam is the woman of my dreams?"
"Never thought I'd be here you know" Sam said, shaking Baird out of his thoughts.
"Where?" He asked.
"I mean, did you ever think we'd win the war and be able lie on the beach like this, without the fear of being attacked by the locust?"
Baird contemplated his answer looking out at the ocean.
"No. I didn't. To be honest, I don't think I cared if it was ever over" he admitted.
"What do you mean" Sam asked, surprised by his answer.
"After fighting for so many years, I started to believe that's all was was put on this planet to do. I thought I'd be fighting until the day I died. I had no idea what to do if the war ended. I felt that if it did, I'd have no purpose in life"
Sam was surprised and also a bit saddened by his answer.
"You don't feel like that now do you? Like you have no purpose"
"Of course not because you give me a reason to get up everyday" he thought the words he was too afraid to say to her.
"Not so much any more. Now it's over, it doesn't seem so bad. I mean I get to repair stuff more often which beats fighting any day. And not only that, the foods better these days as well"
"Well, I'm glad" Sam replied, just wishing that he might just say that life was better with her.
"I just wanna know where I stand, is that too much to ask" She thought as she looked over at him staring up at the sky.
They laid there in silence for a while, so many things they wanted to say to one another, just finding it hard to say the words.
"How did this happen" Sam finally said.
"What do you mean?"
"Us I mean. I remember when you couldn't stand me. What changed. Apart from all the alcohol consumption that night"
"I don't know Sam. I guess we had the time to get to know each other" he replied.
"Yeah. I guess I found out that you're not a complete ass hole"
"And I found out that you're not a complete bitch"
"Aww well aren't you sweet" she said sarcastically.
"I try"
"Dammit Baird just tell her how you feel. What's the worst that could happen" Problem was, he didn't even know where to begin. He looked over at her. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked in the moonlight. She soon noticed him staring at her.
"What" she asked.
"Here goes nothing" He knew he had to say what he was thinking, no matter what the outcome may be.
"I was just thinking how beautiful you look tonight"
Those words took Sam completely by surprise. She didn't know how to react so she replayed as if he wasn't being serious.
"C'mon Baird, you don't have to say that, you've already managed to get me into bed" she said with a small uncomfortable chuckle.
"I mean it Sam. You do look really beautiful. You always do"
Sam didn't know what to say. The words coming out of his mouth were making her heart melt.
"Um. . What's suddenly brought this on Damon" she said seriously.
He turned around to face her and she did the same.
"I just want you to know that this thing, with us. It's not just about sex to me. You mean a lot more to me than that" he said the words that Sam had been dying to hear.
"You really mean that?" she asked.
"Of course I do Sam. I was just afraid of telling you. I didn't think you felt the same way. I'm still afraid that you may not feel the same way. Just let me down gently ok" He said, expecting the worse.
"Oh Damon you are an idiot"
"That's not gentle!" he complained.
"No, you're an idiot for thinking that I don't feel the same way" Sam moved closer to him resting her head on his chest, his arms instinctively wrapping around her.
"So . . you do feel the same" he asked.
She looked up at him and smiled.
"Of course I do. I was afraid that you didn't"
He gently stroked her cheek.
"I'm sorry that I made you feel that way"
"Don't be. I've always been a bit insecure about relationships. It's not your fault" she said softly.
"Well, I should have been more clear about my feelings"
"It's ok Damon. I just have issues trusting men that's all. Haven't had the best experiences with them"
"Anything you want to talk about?" he offered.
Sam was really opening up now.
"Yeah. One of my early relationships didn't end to well. I'd barely turned 17 when we met. He didn't exactly treat me very well"
"What did he do, cheat on you" Baird asked.
"Probably yeah. But that's not the worst part"
Baird could tell this was painful for her.
"It's ok Sam, you can tell me anything"
"Well, he seemed like a nice normal guy at first. But then he started to become jealous if spoke to other guys and also became really controlling"
Baird couldn't imagine any guy controlling Sam like that, she seemed so strong and independent. Maybe that relationship changed her.
"I'm so sorry that he treated you that way Sam" he said sympatheticly.
"Oh, it gets worse, much worse"
Worse? Baird thought. He soon knew where this story was heading and it was already starting to make him angry.
Sam voice was a bit softer when she carried on with her story.
"He . . started to get violent. I was younger then and scared so I didn't leave right away.
Baird didn't even know this guy but he already wanted to track him down and kick his ass for hurting Sam, no matter how long ago it was,
"I don't know what to say, I'm so sorry" He said pulling her closer.
"It's ok. I just wish I'd left earlier than I did"
"Why didn't you"
"He always made me believe that it was my fault. Or that I deserved it. He made me feel worthless. Like I couldn't do any better"
"How did it end?" he asked gently.
"I broke up with him in the end. After we broke up he would still hassle me an threaten me. That's when I had to get tough with him"
"What did you do" he asked, intrigued.
"I punched him in the face" she said.
"Now, that sounds like the Sam I know"
Sam chuckled slightly.
"I guess I toughened up after that. I swore that I'd never let anyone treat me that way again., and I never have. Maybe that's because I never really let any relationships long enough for me to get hurt"
Looking into her eyes he said
"I would never do anything to hurt you Sam. You do know that right?"
"Of course I do. I trust you with all my heart"
She rested her head on his chest again, feeling closer to him for sharing her story with him. It wasn't something she would just tell anyone. She laid there for a while, happy and content in his arms. Baird broke the silence by finally getting the courage to say the words that she longed to here.
"I love you Sam"
She looked up at him and simply replied
"I love you to Damon"
He gently kissed her forehead and stroked her hair. They both felt happier than they'd ever been. They continued to lie there underneath the stars, looking forward to what the future may bring.
Thought I'd continue this with a Chapter about Sam and Baird. I thought I'd come up with an idea of Sam having a bad relationship in the past. Thought it may give a reason for her to be a bit afraid of relationships. I dunno it just seemed to fit in my head that's all. May have rushed this a bi but I really wanted to write something so there ya go.