Chapter Four: Seclusion

"Right, hand over your phone" Sam demanded as he and Addison stood in the kitchen of his house.

"My phone? Sam, what if the hospital calls?" Addison protested.

"Then they will realise you're busy and call someone else" Sam said simply "Maya is fine, she's doing well and you're not on call tonight. Hand over your phone"

Addison paused for a second before riffling through her handbag.

"Ok, here" she said handing the phone over to Sam. She didn't like the thought of being disconnected from the world, from people who needed her but Sam was right, Maya and the baby were fine, they were doing well and if there was a complication it was nothing the on call surgeon couldn't cope with. Plus, she trusted Sam and, like him, she yearned for the time together they had waited for.

After Addison had handed over her phone Sam switched it off, he then took both his and Addison's phones and placed them in a drawer.

"Right, now it's just us," Sam smiled as he closed the drawer and turned to face Addison "now we can go." He smiled as he gathered up his keys and headed towards the front door.

"Go?" Addison smiled "Go where?" she asked as she followed him towards the door.

"Just somewhere no one will find us" Sam smiled as he unlocked the car.

After a short drive through the dark, warm LA night Sam pulled off the road and onto a bumpy forest track, he steered the car carefully on to a patch of gravel at the side of the road.

"This is as far as we can bring the car" he said undoing his seat belt and opening the door. Addison couldn't help but smile to herself as she heard Sam head towards the boot of the car; he had put a lot of thought into making tonight special, into making her feel special. She trusted him completely and she knew that whatever he had in store for them, wherever he was taking her, it was guaranteed to be perfect.

After a short walk along a barely trodden track the dense forest opened out to reveal the small plateaux of a large hill towering above the lights of the city.

Sam had bought all the supplies for a perfect moonlit evening, he was determined that the evening was going to be about them, time to talk, to explore; to get to know themselves as a couple.

As they lay side by side on the soft blanket Sam had stretched out across the grass Addison's thoughts wondered to their friends; to Naomi. Naomi had apologised for her behaviour, had apologised for doubting her honesty but had she meant she was ok with her and Sam getting together? Would she be ok with this?

"What are thinking about?" Sam asked as he rested his head on Addison's shoulder.

"Naomi," Addison said simply "I'm still worried she won't accept this, us"

Sam, desperate not to visit this dilemma again but at the same time wanting to sooth Addison, knelt above her, bringing their faces inline. "Don't worry about Naomi, she loves you, she loves us and she knows that we love her, she wants us to be happy.

Addison smiled, how did he always manage to make her feel so secure, she was sure it was the way he spoke; so calm yet confident. There was something calm and reassuring about his voice.

"We've got a long way to go," Sam continued thoughtfully "I don't want us to rush into things, to become like an old married couple before we've enjoyed the thrill and excitement of being together."

Addison knew exactly what he meant, she too loved the passion and the excitement that a new relationship bought and she didn't want to miss out on that. She also knew that, unlike any other man she had been with, Sam would still be there as their relationship grew, that at the base of their passionate and loving relationship was a deep and steadfast friendship.

"We need time to be us before we let other people into our world, time to enjoy each other and get used to being together" Sam continued.

Addison nodded in agreement, they would tell people when they were ready, besides, Dell's death was still raw, still painful, everyone, including them, needed time to grieve.

"We can take it slow," Sam said in his deep reassuring voice "get to know each other."

His hand started to explore her face as he spoke.

"Get to know all about each other" he continued as he ran his hand down the side of Addison's body, his touch causing a small whimper to escape her lips.

Sam moved his body over hers so that he was kneeling over her, shadowing her body with his.

Addison raised her hands and traced the curve of his spine with her fingers, it felt good to touch him, to be allowed to touch him. For the first time in months she could touch him without feeling guilty, without feeling as if she was betraying a friend- because he was hers.

Sam leaned further into her, leaving only inches between their mouths. He let out a deep uneven breath which was enough to sum up the excitement they both felt at finally being alone, finally being away from the world and on the verge of exploring each other. With a softness that caught Addison off guard Sam closed the space between their lips and enveloped her in a kiss.

Addison took a deep breath as she felt her body relax and give into the passion she had buried for so many months, there was nothing to interrupt them now, no phones, no hospital, no guilt. Just the fairy tale perfection of moonlight and a man she knew she'd always trust.