Yay! I did it! 4 chapter! I found myself a bit stuck with writing 5 new things "that you didn't know" but then 3 of them came to me today. So I'm happy that I kept my promise! Some of these may have turned out to be minor fanfics, but I hope it doesn't matter. Just more to read, I guess!
Enjoy and let me know what you think!

#21- The jersey with number 16

She didn't know how, but apparently Sam's old jersey had sneaked down in her suitcase with the rest of her clothes when she had packed for Maine. When Diane Chambers had discovered the jersey in her suitcase after arriving in the cabin, she had immediately lifted the jersey to her nose and smelled it. It still smelled like him.
She found it comforting somehow. It gave her the illusion that he was there. Even though it was kind of silly, she wrapped the pillow besides her own in his jersey. Then every time she would wake up it was to the smell of Sam Malone. At first she had liked the idea, but after a while she found herself embracing the pillow with tears. She missed him terribly, and having the jersey-pillow reminding her of his smell didn't help at all.
So she put the jersey away again only to find it years later in back of her closet.

#22- A story to be told

It hadn't been a happy time for either one of them. Just divorced from her husband- now ex- Rebecca Howe felt the need of a comforting friend. And of course Sam Malone was the right one.

When she'd called, he'd come as fast as he could, bringing some vine and a cd filled with sad music.
She did the talking, he did the listening. Or that was until an unexpected question came from Rebecca.

"How does it feel, Sam?"
"What do you mean?"
"How does it feel to be left behind from the one you thought was 'the one'?"
"Who are you-"
*suddenly realizing who*
*long break*
"I know that you sold the bar because of her. Giving away the most precious in your life just to get away that's quite an achievement."
"Do you even know what happened before that? Do you even know who she really is besides my former girlfriend?"
"I've heard things…"
"Like what?"
"Well, her name and how long you dated her-"
"Do you know why she left?"
"She wanted to publish some book a book or something, right?"
"Right."
"How did you react when she told you that she was leaving?"
"She didn't tell me."
"What do you mean?"
"I was the one that told her that she should take a chance with this book the day we were about to get married."
"You were-? You were about-"
"About to get married, yes."
"And you-"
"Made her leave."
"But- why?"
"I guess, it's called love."
*Long break*
"You really did love her, didn't you?"
"Yes…"
"And you still do?"
"Maybe…I don't-"
"Then why didn't you leave with her?"
"Wait, what?"
"Were you afraid?"
"I-"
"Or was it the bar holding you back?"
"Hey, will you knock it off! I thought I came here to support you and not get into some kind of babble about my life!"
"Sam, I'm not doing this to hurt you…But to understand you.
You see, you're right, when you came into the office that day and told me that Diane was there, I had no idea what was waiting ahead. I had only the tiniest details about her. One of the things I found out quite early was that there was clearly some anger pointed towards her from the people in the bar. I felt the tension, Sam.
Not just between her and the gang, but between you and her. I don't know half of the story. I seriously have no idea on what circumstances she left. But to tell the truth Sam, she was nothing like I had ever imagined her to be. She was classy, intelligent, maybe a bit of a snob (how should I know) but I've never seen you with a woman in this sort of class before. She was so…different from you."
*No response*
"I also discovered another thing."
"And what was that?"
"In your eyes, that day, I saw anger, bitterness and hurt. In hers I saw… regret."
"And how, may I ask, did you 'see that'?"
"It was as clear as a red spot on a white shirt."
"It- it was?"
"Yeah…It kinda was. And I know what I'm talking about. First of all I was drunk AND devastated that day (just like now)…Still I noticed."
"Hmm."
"Hey?"
"Yeah?"
"You wanna tell me more about her?"
"Rebecca, I really-"
"Please, Sam…Wouldn't it - FOR ONCE- be great if someone heard your version of the story and listened with opened ears?"

And to this, Sam couldn't answer no. She would perhaps be the only one to understand.
So, Sam sat another couple of hours in Rebecca's apartment telling Rebecca the story of his life with Diane. Every little detail that was worth telling about.
Rebecca just sat quietly and listened concentrated through the whole story without interrupting.
When he was done telling, they sat back in silence. Never before had Sam opened this much to her, this much to anyone to be frank. Sam felt, relieved, somehow. He realized how much he'd needed to get this of his chest for who knows how many years.

"You know what?" she had said.
"What?"
"I think you could've been a really good husband."
The could have stayed in his mind and so did the memories of Diane Chambers.

#22- Hate is not the opposite of love, indifference is.

A cold November day in 1986, Diane was caught with the flue and called in sick. Sam was the one to answer the phone.
"Are you sure you're alright? If you need anything I can come by?"
"No, I'll be fine, I'm sure."
Sam knew that she must've been terribly ill if she didn't take advances of his kind gesture in this period of time. So without any doubt, Sam left the bar early so that he could take care of her the rest of the day.
The thing was that he had never forgiven himself for not taking care of her when they were together and she was more ill than what he'd expected. Now he would try to make up for it.

"Sam! What are you doing here?"
"Well, I thought I better make sure that you were alright."
"That's so sweet."
"Oh no, don't start doing that! I've been so gentle to check up on you, now you return the favor by NOT doing that!"
But she did. He stayed the whole evening and took care of her, making dinner for her, bringing her handkerchiefs, everything. And she kept making that smirk of hers while he tried to ignore it but failed.
"I thought that you were supposed to hate me? Is this how "hate relationships" works? Because then I like it," she had asked while they were watching a movie.
"Well I do! I just- this is an exception."
"How come?"
"Sch! I'm trying to watch a movie here!"
She leaned her head against his chest. He didn't say anything to it.

She hadn't said more. Before he knew of it, she'd fallen asleep on his chest.
He carried her into her bedroom where he lied her down on the bed and covered her body with a blanket. Afterwards he sat down on the edge of the bed and began to stroke her head and then her hand. He had no idea how long he just sat there. He noticed how beautiful she was when she was asleep. You could easily mistake her for being an angel.
She is, he thought. She's my angel. He slowly moved his lips towards her forehead and kissed it. When he leaned back he saw her lips move and turn into a smile.
He was about to defend himself from all kind of accuses, but he realized that she was still asleep.
He gently brushed her locker away from her eyes.
When he was about to leave he turned yet one more time to look at her.
Someday, he said. I'll be there to take care of you the whole time.
Just not today.
Then he turned and left her with a clear conscience.

#23- A strangers trust

It was all chaos. Carla was embracing Diane with tears and joy and people that had just won a bet about how the wedding would turn out came from every corner of the bar to thank them. The rest of them were those who had lost money and were leaving. Sam managed to break away from the crowd, but Diane was still caught by Carla's embrace of thank you's. He went outside to get some fresh air. When he had stood there for a while, he decided to go back in. But then an older couple came out of the door just as he was about to open it.

"Frank, give me the money! I won the bet!"
"No you didn't!"
Sam stepped back.
"Yes I did! They didn't get married as I said they wouldn't."
"No, they didn't get married…today!"
"What are saying, Frank?"
"I'm saying that you'll get the money 'if' they don't get married. But you may have to wait for a while before we can be sure who of us' right."
"And how long is that?"
"We'll see."

The old couple was so focused on their own little discussion that they didn't even notice that they walked just past him. Sam took the last step down from the stair and just stood there for a while thinking things over.
No they didn't get married…today!
Through the door's glass he made eye contact with Diane who still troubled with getting rid of Carla.
But you may have to wait for a while before we can be sure who's right.
He sighed and then re-entered the bar.

#25- A Secret gift from the heart

As always Christmas eve were held at Cheers, and 1986 was no excuse. The girls had done the decorating while the guys had done the planning. When it was time to exchange gifts people gathered in and around the bar. Norm had gotten a stapler from Cliff. Cliff had gotten a winter hat from Norm. Carla had gotten earrings from Diane (which she actually liked but of course didn't tell her). Carla had given Diane a candle because she thought that Diane should at least have 'something' to light up her empty life. And then she and Sam began to sing "always look on the bright side of life".
Other than that, Diane had received perfume from Woody while Woody had gotten a book from Diane.
Sam had gotten cd's from Carla and from Diane a new cologne.
There were lots of other gifts exchanged between the gang but one of them made all the others faint.
On the bar had laid a gift for Diane. There was no transmitter, only a receiver. And that was Diane.
She had opened the gift with a gasp. In a box there was a golden necklace. The symbol hanging in the necklace was a golden heart. She looked around on every one of them but they all shook their head and shrugged. Everyone besides Sam. She turned and saw him enter his office without giving her one single look.