Back with some "things you didn't know".
#34 is a long one, but I thought it was too short for a one-shot and that I might as well put it in here! Got a one-shot coming up though, hopefully. But boy, there's lots of stuff to update so we'll see.
I certainly hope you enjoy this one meanwhile.
#31- Wearing your heart
She wore it. As often as possible. It never left her side.
That little heart necklace Sam gave her was the dearest she had from him. When she received it as a 'before' wedding gift from him, she had nearly broken out in tears of joy. It was the first gift she received from him that was truly from the heart. Funny, because it also was a heart.
"My heart is yours to keep," he had said with a smirk.
So unlike Sam to say such thing. Nevertheless, that showed her that he was ready for a commitment like marriage. He was changing and so was she. They were meeting midway through.
No one was being dragged. But still, Sumner's words hit her hard.
'Till this day she still regrets letting a creep like Sumner Sloan get to her.
#32- Been thinking about you
Thrilled as ever, Diane Chambers bounced up and down in the hotel bedroom. What seemed impossible just a few years ago had now become reality. She had won an award for her work!
Talking to herself, she was nearly paralyzed by the name coming out of her mouth for the first time in years.
"I did it. I did it Sam."
Just the thought of him would make it hard not to break down and regret everything. Through all these years she had remained strong and independent, focusing on getting her work published. And now it was. Published and acknowledged. Never before had she been prouder of herself. And never before had she felt worse at the same time.
Her mission was accomplished. She could return home. Home to Boston and Sam.
If it wasn't for the fact that she had been away for 6 years and Sam probably hated her more than anyone else. Maybe even more than Carla (which said a lot).
Wondering how life would have turned out if the wedding had completed, made it an uncomfortable and miserable night alone in a 5 stars hotel bedroom.
But when she received his telegram a couple of days after, she wondered if fate was playing games with her.
#33- Forever in my dreams
"This is like a dream I had once."
-Season 4 "Diane Chambers Day"
And he sure had a bunch of them. He found himself dreaming of her all the time.
Sometimes he found it annoying that he couldn't get rid of her in his mind or outside the bar, but sometimes it was quite nice. He wouldn't necessarily find it enjoyable, because the periods he dreamt about her the most, was the times they weren't together. She was there, but she wasn't his. And at times that thought drove him crazy. He couldn't explain why. He just knew the years of 84-86 were the times Diane appeared most in his dream.
While in '87 the dreams became nightmares, daydreams and imagination.
#34- No escape from the past
They were on their way back to Rebecca's place to try to make a baby for the hundredth time that month, it seemed. She was babbling about how this was the night it was going to happen. Her getting pregnant. Too be honest, he was a bit tired of being told about all that weird stuff. He pretended to listen, but had focus on the road in front of them.
They had only been driving 10-15 minutes before there was a sign telling the usual road to Rebecca's was closed. Frustrated, Sam hit the steering wheel.
"Dammit."
"Calm down, Sam. We don't want this to affect our-"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. We just have to find an alternate road, that's all."
"Well, you could turn right in 50 feet time. That'll lead to my place too."
"Nah, I'd prefer another road."
"It's the only one, I know," Rebecca said.
"And it's the only one I know too," he sighed.
"Well, then let's turn!"
He did it against his will. But there was nothing to do but to bit the bullet.
They were closing up on it. He could feel it. Even though he hadn't been around since, he knew exactly which house it was. He had to search with his eyes for it a couple of times, even though he tried not to. He couldn't stop himself. Knowing they'd pass it sooner or later made him anxious.
Then he found it. Just as they'd left it. Except it was in decay. It's needed a caring hand and lot of love. He found himself stopping in front of it to Rebecca's great wonder.
"What's wrong? Why are we stopping?"
He didn't answer at first. He exited the car and walked a few feet closer for a better look.
He hadn't been out in 10 seconds before Rebecca angrily exited the car.
"What are you doing, Sam? Why are you staring at that house?" she said as she neared him.
He turned to her and looked her right in the eyes.
"Because that house, is my house."
She would have laughed if it hadn't been for his sincere gaze.
"You're serious?" she frowned.
He nodded and curious for more information, she walked up beside him.
"And when did you decide to buy a house?" she murmured.
"I didn't. She did."
"Who's she?"
"Who do you think?" he murmured and turned to walk up to the front door.
At first she was blank, but then it hit her. Could it be? It had to, didn't it? Diane, right? She hurried up to him and caught him fishing a key up from some sort of hiding place in a crack. Slowly and carefully, he put the key in the hole, turned it and opened the squeaking door.
"Wanna come in?" he asked, as he pointed inside.
She slightly nodded and walked past him.
It was dusty. Very dusty. It looked like there hadn't been a living soul there for years (which probably was true after all).
She took a look around and so did he. Only a few pieces of furniture remained from back then.
Nevertheless you knew it was abandoned. The house. It had been left on its own (which clearly showed).
"How long did you live here?" she asked quietly, as she made her way through the rooms of the house.
"Not long."
"How long is that?"
"Please, Rebecca…I'm not in the mood for answering those sorts of questions right now. If you could just leave me alone for a few minutes. That'd be highly appreciated."
"Okay," she shrugged.
He entered the bedroom with a sigh and a broken heart. The bed was still there. No one had bothered to remove it. Not even him. He looked at it with insensitivity, but his heart had trouble to manage. There was no escape from the emotions he felt at the moment. The impressions were too strong, and they were coming all at once. At least Rebecca was in the other room so he didn't have to try to cover them harder than necessary. He found a picture of her on the desk beside the bed. It was one he used to carry around before. Somehow it had ended up there. Feelings were welling up, the second he took it in his hands to look at it for the first time in years. Perfect timing for Rebecca to step inside.
"Sam?"
He hid it inside his jacket, dried the tears that had started to show away, and turned around.
"Yeah?"
"I know you said 'no more questions' but…"
"Just ask."
"Well, if you're not living here, why haven't you gotten rid of it? I mean, surely some of the money you'd get for it could've been used on Cheers. You could have bought back Cheers."
"I uh- I can't. You see- it's uhm. It's our house. It's in both names."
"I see. And you haven't ever thought about-"
"Nope. Never."
They stared at each other for a while. She could've sworn that there in the corner of his eye was a tear.
"Let's just get out of here. I've seen enough," he sighed.
"If you say so."
There was an awkward silence between on the whole way over to her. She didn't dare to bother him, and frankly, he was too busy with the thoughts flying in and out of his head.
They reached her apartment after what seemed like forever. He turned the Corvette off, and looked at her.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
She looked at him and couldn't help but feel sorry for him. If only she knew how he really felt. How awful it must've been for him to face that house and those memories again. But she didn't. Because he had never told her half the story. The only facts, she'd received was from the patrons secretly talking about Diane. But sometimes it was hard to get the pieces into place when she didn't know where or how it all started and for that matter ended. She wondered if he had ever discussed her with anyone, since their relationship ended. How did it end? What was the cause? Just as Sam's, her mind was on the edge to blow.
"Rebecca?"
"Oh, sorry, Sam. I wasn't paying attention."
"Well, I was just asking if you were-"
"Sam. I think you need to go home. Get some rest. You had a rough evening. And to be honest, I don't think any of us is in the mood."
He couldn't disagree.
"Maybe you're right. I apologize…I tried to avoid something like this would happen but-"
"I understand. I'm sorry, I forced you to take this way instead of another."
He nodded.
"Well, bye, Sam. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah," he said and leaned in for a hug.
She exited the Corvette and saw him drive off to the cold night. She knew now, more than ever, how little she actually knew her future baby's dad. How little she had seen of the person he was. Or the person he could be. Used to be. She had never really experienced that person. At least not like that woman had. And she came to wonder if what they were doing was wrong. If she really should be the mother of Sam's child. Or did that position in fact belong to someone else?
#35- Back when…
The question came quite sudden. Quite unexpected really. Perhaps it was a pure coincidence…Or perhaps it was meant to be asked. Perhaps it was a question he had kept for himself through the years. Frasier Crane would never know. The only thing he knew was that they had gone home to him that sunny summer evening to enjoy some drinks and good conversation. Lilith was visiting her mother with Fredrick so he felt a bit lonely in the apartment. Nevertheless he enjoyed having some alone time. But he also enjoyed the company of an old buddy. And who else than Sam Malone would that be? They were sitting on the balcony watching the sun setting when he had asked.
"You ever miss the old days?"
"The old days?"
"Yeah, you know, before Lilith, or well, before Fredrick, marriage, Rebecca and all that?"
"I think, I know when you're talking about. Sometimes, I do. Why do you ask?"
"Nah, it just came to my thoughts, that's all."
"Are sure, Sam?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, I thought, perhaps you were thinking about something else too. Someone."
"Not really…or…Well, I guess I can't say she isn't a part of those old times."
"Do you want to go further into it?"
"I don't think that'd do any good. It's all in the past."
"But you are thinking about 'back then'?"
"I can't say I ain't. It's just- sometimes I look at you guys and see how much has happened to you since then. You got married, you got a boy…And then I look at me, and what do I got? I don't even have the bar."
"You have us."
A weak smile appeared.
"Yeah, I guess, I do."
"I get what you mean, Sam. And yes, I do miss 'back then' too. It was a completely different time."
"Sometimes I wonder 'what if'. What if she hadn't left? What if I had gone through the wedding? What would life be like then? Would it be better or worse?"
"I see," Frasier whispered.
"But then again…I don't think it would have worked out. Maybe it was for the best. Life goes on."
"I know that's not what you're thinking. That's what you try to convince yourself to believe would have happened. But it isn't what you really think would have happened."
"What happened, happened. I can't go back in time no matter how much I sometimes wish I could."
"You know, you can always give her a call? I think she'd love that."
"I know. But- I just- can't. I can't get myself to it. Believe me, I have tried a couple of times there."
"I understand."
There was a pause.
"It's a day like today I wonder what she's doing right at the moment. My guess would be rolling around in money and succes."
"Perhaps," Frasier chuckled.
"But I'd rather have her do that and be happy than being nobody. At least then I know my effort- if you can call it that- wasn't wasted."
"I'm sure it wasn't, Sam," Frasier murmured and looked at him.
"Cheers, Fraise," Sam said and held out his seltzer.
"Cheers."