Specter~Chapter 19
When she told Santana and Noah that she had to batten down the hatches, she wasn't lying. After cleaning up the garage, she went to the garage where the Phantom was parked and closed the shutters on those windows. She went to the front patio with Will's gardening cart and loaded up anything that could blow away or break, same with the back patio, and stored it all in the garage. She returned to the house and went around the ground floor, closing the hurricane shutters that Will and Emma had told her about. Once she was satisfied with securing the house, she armed the security system and retreated to the suite.
Thinking about the news Santana and Noah had shared with her, as well as seeing them together in the kitchen, had miffed her a little bit but she didn't let it get to her. She hoped they got to Portland and found somewhere safe to stay. She had bigger, more important issues to face...namely, writing a letter to her mother.
In the suite, she turned on the TV to a Portland news channel so she could listen to the weather updates as she pulled her belongings together, packing them neatly in her bags. The storm was expected to begin barreling up the Maine coast within hours. Quinn watched the maps and radars; it would be upon Battenfield by the next night. She opened her laptop to start her letter to her mother.
This letter was somewhat difficult to write as Quinn and her mother had never really been too close. She loved her mother but never could get close to her, her mother always seeming cold and distant toward her. Even while she had been on this internship, her mother had only contacted her a couple times to check on her. Quinn always got the impression from her mother that her existence had been a mistake. She had not meant to get pregnant with Quinn; it had been an accident. Her mother made no attempt to hide that fact. Her mother also refused to let Quinn see her father, but it wasn't like he had tried to see her either. Until this internship, Quinn was pretty sure her lot in life was to go at it alone...that's how she was raised. And then Sam came into her life and her existence made sense. She was aware that anything she told her mother about Sam would make her sound like she had lost her mind so she left him out of the letter.
During one of her shopping excursions into Battenfield, Quinn had picked up some fancy paper at the stationery shop. She took it to the office and loaded it in the printer, then printed her letter. She signed it in pen and put it on the desk in the suite. Sam floated over to the letter and read it, giving him some more insight as to why she made the decision she did. He glanced over at the blonde-haired girl, who was humming as she folded her clothes, and he ached to be able to kiss her all over.
He floated over to her and touched her cheek. She looked up, and he kissed her. Slowly, he began to appear.
"I understand," he said to her. "Why you wanna do what you wanna do...I-I'll be there for you."
She opened her eyes and looked at him. "You mean it? You'll be there with me?"
"Of course…this sounds selfish of me, but I want you for myself," he said quietly, moving his lips against hers. "Are you scared?"
She closed her eyes. "A little but knowing you'll be with me, then no."
They continued kissing, he mumbled okay, and she wondered what it would feel like when the day came she could touch him, talk to him, be with him forever.
"I need you, one more time, tonight…" she whispered against his mouth, pressing against him, walking him back to the bed.
He felt the bed behind him and sat back, picking her up and letting her straddle his hips. She felt his length enlarging beneath her. Still sitting up, he used one hand to hold her and one hand to unfasten his pants, releasing his manhood. She had one arm around his shoulders, the other hand working her bottoms off.
Still lip to lip, kissing, she adjusted herself over him and he lay back slowly.
"It's never felt so good, Sam," she said to him. "It's incredible with you."
"What if it's different, you know, after?"
"If it is, then it is…I'll still be with you," she replied, working herself up and down slowly until he finally pushed up into her.
"God, Quinn, uhhh…" he groaned, thrusting quickly against her. "You're incredible…"
She moaned and writhed on top of him. His penis fit into her perfectly, and, leaning over him to kiss him, enhanced everything about their lovemaking. She was swollen and wet and pressing hard against him. Her tummy tightened, her toes curled, her breath quickened.
"Oh, oh Sam, you're making me come…ummm…" she whispered, then squealed a bit and tightened around him, making him smile.
He moved her hips on top of him, grinding into her hard and fast, his smile turning to a frozen kiss against her lips.
"Come hard for me, Samuel," she whispered.
He groaned and held her still against him. She could feel him pulsating inside her, filling her with his seed. Once it had passed for him, she began moving on him slowly, letting his catch his breath once again.
"That was beautiful, Sam…"
"You're beautiful…"
She knew what happened next, what always happened after their lovemaking. He pulled out of her, they broke their kiss, and he disappeared. Even though she knew he was right next to her, always, it was still a lonely time, one that she wanted to spend with him, basking in the afterglow of their time together.
"I just want to be able to lay next to you after we make love, Sam, and hold your hand and just feel the love between us…" she said into the dark stillness of the room. She felt the coolness fall over her hand. "I love you so much…"
xxxxx
The rest of the night she spent watching the news reports of the hurricane making its way up the coast. It would pass near Battenfield at around 6 pm the next day. Emma had called to make sure she was okay, and Quinn updated her on the precautions she had taken to ride out the storm. Emma said to contact her if there were any problems; otherwise, she'd see her the morning of September 2 to drive to Portland.
Before turning out the lights for sleep, Quinn called for Sam to come kiss her. He touched her face to let her know he was there, then placed his lips on hers.
"What should I wear tomorrow?" she asked once he appeared before her.
He thought a moment then said, "The navy blue dress…"
She smiled, gazing at him as they kissed, then her smile began to fade. "Sam?"
"Yes?"
"I can barely see you…" she said sadly.
"When I told you how I was on Earth, I began to lose my spiritual connection with you…I promise I'll be by your side all day tomorrow," he said quickly.
"I won't be able to see you when we kiss anymore?"
"No…I'm so sorry, Quinn," he said to her.
Sadness crept over her face as she took that in, then she smiled the best she could. "I know you'll be there, Samuel."
They kissed until he disappeared from her sight.
xxxxx
Quinn woke up on the morning of September 1 surprisingly well rested and in a chipper mood. She had breakfast and checked the news for the storm reports. She cleaned the suite, even washed the bed clothing. She ventured outside and noticed the wind had picked up and clouds were moving in from the south. The storm was approaching, even increased in intensity to a category 2. She expected to feel nervous but strangely felt at peace with her decision, especially after talking with Sam about it. She put her packed bags and purse by the desk where the letter to her mother was lying in an envelope. She then enjoyed the rest of her day watching mindless TV, relaxing on the giant bed. As the day progressed, the wind picked up outside, causing the estate to sound eerie to her for the first time.
As more clouds moved in, the room darkened. She finally turned off the TV, got up, made the bed, and took the navy blue sundress from the hanger in the wardrobe and lay it out on the bed. She then stood naked in the bathroom and did her hair and face lightly, smiling at her image in the mirror. She was on her way to meet her destiny.
She slipped the dress over her head, naked underneath for she would need no undergarments.
She could hear the storm raging outside, and she knew it was time. She had to retrieve one last item from the basement before she left though. Downstairs, from Lucinda's trunk, she took the small silver ring from the jewelry box and slipped it onto her left ring finger.
"I'm ready, Sam," she said and slipped up to the kitchen and out the side door.
He had been by her side all through the night and all through the day, watching her every move, watching for any sign that she was second-guessing her decision. He saw nothing in her that showed she had swayed any in her plan. He followed her outside.
xxxxx
Once stepping outside, a gust of wind pushed her back up against the wall. She was somewhat unprepared for the strength of the gusts and the rain pelting her face. It literally stung her skin.
It was as dark as night already, thunder and lightning happening almost constantly overhead. She felt the coolness of Sam snake down her arm, letting her know she wasn't alone.
"I'm doing this Sam!" she screamed about the wind and downpour. "For us!"
She made her way from the drive to the front of the estate, finding the pathway that led down to the edge of the bluff. The wind was behind her until she got to the path, then it was pushing at her right side; she felt Sam to her right.
"The meadow Sam! Meet me...at the meadow!" The wind nearly took her breath away; her yelling was carried away. He heard her, though. He stroked her cheek and in all the tormented weather she smiled.
She began her walk down the path. She thought of her growing up in Lima, Ohio, with her mother. Her final hope was that this action didn't bother her mother too much...she wasn't sure how her mother would react. She thought of kids she knew growing up, when she had been a cheerleader, her old boyfriends in high school. She thought of her days in college, how much she loved her field of study, how much she had learned interning at the estate. She thought of Santana and even Noah. The weather seemed to mirror her feelings about them, angry and out of control, but she let those feelings go. She was on her way to be with Sam.
And Sam. She thought of the blonde-haired boy with the big smile, so happy that he would be marrying his lifelong love soon after his return home though it was not to be. Sam, an apparition come to life, whom she had inherently loved, knowing deep her in soul that she was meant to be with him. In her mind, she pictured him walking next to her, making this journey with her.
The trek to the ocean was difficult in the weather. She was soaking wet, cold, her dress ripped in places, her hair matted to her face. She reached the edge of the bluff, nothing between her and the ocean below. Now, she waited. Waited for the gust that would carry her to her demise.
xxxxx
Sam clung to Quinn's right arm as she made her way down the path of the front gardens of the estate. He could tell the storm was building dangerously as they neared the end of the path. Even though she was being battered by the storm, to him she looked radiant.
He felt a swell of wind that nearly picked her up off her feet. She tottered on the edge of the bluff, glancing down at the rocks and the waves crashing into them. All she could hear was the roar of the storm. Yet, she still felt his presence, just like he said, he wouldn't leave her side.
Behind him, he could hear the hurricane at its full force and he did the only thing he knew to do...pushed himself into her.
The suddenness of his presence within her caused her to squeeze her eyes shut and revel in the ecstasy.
The center of the storm slammed into her, lifting her easily from the ground. Eyes still closed, experiencing complete joy in her final moments, she was thrown from the bluff's edge. And in those few fleeting moments, she floated carelessly, Sam's spirit within her, until she plummeted to the rock outcroppings at the ocean's edge.
Her world went dark.
xxxxx
It was strangely quiet, the air around her devoid of sound. And, oh god, the brightness. She squinted her eyes to see where she was going but it was just bright. Her feet seemed to know where to take her; it felt like she was just gliding along slowly. Eventually, she realized she wasn't alone. Other people's forms began to take shape in front of her, next to her, behind her, all around her, obscured by bright white fog...all heading in the same direction.
They seemed to fall into a line, and she waited patiently. She glanced down at herself. Her navy blue sundress had seen better days. She lifted the torn, sullen material, shaking her head, and then noticed the gleam of silver on her left ring finger. She lifted her hand and stared at it, willing herself to know what it was.
Where am I? Am I alone? I hear nothing, I see nothing, I feel nothing…she thought, not yet confused, just at peace.
The line moved quietly, seamlessly, and she finally picked up on a low hum, a comforting sound that made her feel at ease. Without too much fanfare, she was suddenly face-to-face with a man who appeared to be many, many ages old, so old she couldn't even put a number to his appearance. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.
"And you are Lucy Quinn Fabray?" he asked, his voice deep and resonating within her.
She nodded. "Uh, Miller, my last name is Miller."
"Your father was a Fabray…I just need you to sign here and you may enter."
"Enter?"
He gestured grandly behind him, beyond the Pearly Gates. "Why, heaven, my dear."
She glanced down at the silver ring again and it all came back to her.
xxxxx
"Sam?" she whispered, approaching from behind him.
She hated that it took her so long to become accustomed to being a spirit. She had to practice transporting herself from point A to point B. Passing through people and objects at first made her head spin, but she finally got used to it. She finally got to the meadow and he was there waiting, like he said he would be.
He heard her whisper and turned, seeing her approach him, slowly, hesitantly. He smiled at her, feeling almost awkward, as if they were meeting for the first time.
She floated up to him, taking him in with her eyes. She finally reached up and touched his cheek. She gasped.
"I can feel you!" she said breathlessly.
He pulled her into an embrace. He held her for some time, stroking her hair, touching her everywhere, then finally he kissed her.
"I've been waiting so long to kiss you," he mumbled to her.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to get here," she said, resting her forehead against his.
"Tis fine…I know it takes some time to get used to it," he replied. "But, you're here now…and for always."
She nodded. "Yes…together. Thank you, Samuel, for being with me that night…I had no fear, no pain…"
"Anything for you, my dear. Come, let's go home…"
He took her hand, and they floated from the meadow, through Battenfield, to the Abrams estate.
He led her to Lucinda's room.
"Here, we shall live here," he said to her.
"Perfect, Samuel…" she said, following him to the bed.
Lying next to him, watching him watch her, made her cry. He brushed away the tears from her cheeks.
"Why?" he asked.
"I'm so happy…I've never been happier, Sam…"
He picked up her left hand and kissed it softly over the silver ring. "Neither have I, Mrs. Evans…"