Hey :D Thanks to everyone who reviewed, it really made my day to read 'em all. ^^ However, im sad to say, i might not be updating as quickly as normal for a few days. Finals week is coming up, and i really need to get focused on that for a few days. Thanks for understanding, and i promise, i'll update as often as i possibly can.

Sam:

Sam woke the next morning feeling happy, refreshed, and better than he had in a long, long time. Dekka laid there in his arms, sleeping peacefully... he was rested, he was free of stress, and he just felt happy all around.

He looked down at Dekka, listening to the soft sounds of her breathing as she slept. She looked absolutely beautiful, snuggling up to him. He had told her he loved her, and he did. More than anything else in the world. Even better, she had said she loved him too. Sam smiled at the thought. Maybe the FAYZ would finally let him have this one good thing in his life. Maybe he finally had a shot at real happiness.

Just then, he saw Dekka smile in her sleep, so much better than hearing her screaming and muttering to herself just a couple days before. They were both happier with each other, not just Sam.

Edilio:

Edilio woke with a yawn, sitting up slowly in his bed. His dark black hair was badly ruffled after his usual five hours of sleep, which would have been considered very little to Edilio before the FAYZ, but now it was a miracle to even get that much with how much he had to work. He was practically the Lake's gravedigger, sheriff, employer, all around peacekeeper, and since Sam was all but out of commision lately; Leader.

He needed a break. Maybe he would just head over to Clifftop after work. Ever since Lana had shot him in the chest, things had been understandably awkward between them. Edilio knew she hadn't wanted to, the Gaiaphage had made her, but it still left him shook up. He needed to talk to her about it eventually, right?

After eating his usual 'breakfast' of half a jar of Nutella, a small piece of fried fish caught by Quinn and his fishing crew, and a glass of water, Edilio headed downstairs to wake Sam up for another day of work in the fields.

When he reached Sam's room, Edilio found no one there. He figured Sam had just woken up and headed into the fields early. Or maybe was just trying to skip out again. Edilio was still fuming over that. Edilio decided to check the fields after waking the other kids, and if Sam wasn't there he would go check the lakeshore.

After waking three more incredibly grumpy kids assigned to work in the fields today, Edilio made his way to Dekka's house. Yesterday was rather odd, Dekka had never skipped out on work before. Hell she was usually one of the first ones there. Edilio seriously doubted he would have any trouble getting her up, and was willing to bet she'd be up already anyways.

As he reached Dekka's house, Edilio slowly opened the door, and walked into Dekka's bedroom.

When he reached the bed, Edilio's jaw almost literally dropped. Sam was laying there shirtless, with a sleeping Dekka snuggling up to him. Sam looked a bit startled by Edilio's entrance, and just waved Edilio off, mouthing, "I'll be in the fields when she wakes up," then motioning to the door, willing Edilio to leave.

Edilio just nodded and turned away, wondering what the hell Sam was doing. When he was walking towards the fields, Edilio tried to make sense of what he had just seen. Sam and Dekka had always been close, he knew that. He just didn't think they were close in that sorta way. Either way, it might be good for both of them. Sam needed to take his mind off Astrid, the whole thing had him torn up beyond belief. Edilio shook his head, dismissing the thoughts distracting him from doing his job. He'd ask Sam about it later. For now, he just needed to get to work.

Dekka:

Dekka opened her eyes slowly, a smile forming on her face as she felt Sam's arms around her. Sam Temple had told her he loved her. And she felt the same. It was unbelievable, and it had all happened in just a couple days...

She had never felt so happy before, even before the FAYZ. She looked up at Sam, who was looking right back down at her, a small smile playing on the edges of his lips. Dekka returned the smile, and without saying a single word, slid up in the bed so that she was face to face with Sam.

For just a few moments, Dekka and Sam just looked into each other's eyes, their faces only inches apart. For the first time in the many months that Dekka had known Sam, his blue eyes finally looked clear of all the worry and pain the FAYZ had given them. He looked... happy, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Dekka couldn't help but smile knowing that she had been able to do that for him.

Then, after just a few seconds of laying there together, Sam leaned in slowly, and kissed Dekka.

The kiss wasn't hard or deep, or anything like that... it was just gentle, loving. Dekka kissed him back just as softly, loving how his arms felt around her waist, feeling closer to him than anyone else she'd ever been with.

After a few seconds, Sam pulled back just a little bit, breaking the kiss.

Sam:

Dekka looked at him questioningly for a moment, obviously wondering why he'd broken the kiss, before Sam said, "Edilio came in here looking for you earlier... it's at least three hours past time for us to be in the fields. He decided to give us a little time, but i dont think we want to leave him waiting too much longer after yesterday."

"Shit... you're right." Dekka got up out of bed and walked quickly to her room, from which she emerged a few minutes later wearing a black tank top which clung tightly to her skin, and a pair of black skinny jeans, along with a pair of black boots. She had left her long black hair down today instead of tying it up. In her hands she held a black and white striped polo shirt and a pair of black and white Adidas shoes in what looked like Sam's size.

Dekka walked over and handed him the shirt and shoes, which he quickly put on. Sam sighed quietly to himself, he had been tempted to just not remind Dekka of their work in the fields and give Edilio's visit no notice, but Edilio had always helped him out when he needed it in the past, and Sam couldn't just blow off his best friend two days in a row.

As Sam and Dekka began to step out of the house together, Sam felt her hand reaching for his, and laced his fingers together with her's as they walked towards the fields, both of them wearing the same happy smile on their faces, despite the fact that they now faced nearly seven hours of hard work in the fields.

Edilio:

Edilio had taken extra special measures to make sure he got a chance to talk with Sam today. He had made up some excuse about having too few kids at work in the fields today due to a couple of the scheduled kids being sick (which really wasn't true), so that he would have an excuse to be working himself instead of just managing the labour. Honestly, Edilio felt relieved because of that.

As a result, Edilio was able to schedule Sam to work with him today instead of his previously scheduled partner; a nine year old named Tyler.

When Edilio caught a glimpse of Sam and Dekka walking towards the fields a few minutes later, he jogged over to them, noticing rather quickly that they were holding hands. Yep, he needed to talk to Sam.

"Hey, Sam, you're working with me today. Dekka, you're with John."

"Alright," Sam and Dekka said almost simultaneously, Dekka's voice containing a hint of disappointment, Sam's more curious as to why Edilio was actually working than anything else.

After a few minutes of working in the fields in silence with Sam, Edilio spoke up at last, "So... what's going on with you and Dekka?"

Sam looked a bit caught off-guard by the question. "Well.. uh, i dunno... i was there last night after the work in the fields and i was tired, so she just let me stay there, and then we just ended up like you saw us when you came in there this morning, i guess."

Edilio was obviously skeptical. "So, you with her or not?"

Sam seemed to contemplate this for a moment. "Yeah... i guess i am." Sam smiled lightly as he said it.

Astrid:

Astrid walked through the hills which led to Lake Tramonto slowly, carefully, so that she would attract as little attention as possible from the coyotes and other dangerous predators out in this relative wilderness, including her most feared predator of all; Drake Merwin.

At first she had tried to convince herself that she was only going to the lake to catch up with her old friends, so that she wouldn't have to be all alone in these woods anymore. The acts of violence, or murder if you prefer, which she had commited were unbearable. She deserved to die out here in these woods, alone.

But... despite the fact that she knew she deserved it, she couldn't bring herself to carry out her sentence of solitude. She was not coming here just for the company of all her old friends... she was coming back for Sam.

Sorry this chapter took so long, i had some things come up. I'll try to be quicker from now on. Also, i must apologize, i really think this is my worst chapter so far. I'll try and make it up to you all by updating the next one a bit more quickly.