After about thirty minutes of nervous pacing and occasionally being yelled at by Robin to sit down, Bobby heard the door to the bathroom open. Wheeling around, his eyes met a sight that would have brought a king to his knees. "Well, I was starting to wonder whether you had decided to move in there or what." Then pausing, he stood and watched her as she moved toward him.
Stopping in front of him, Sam smiled, "Do I look any better?"
"Samantha, I didn't think it would be possible, but, well... I'm sure you feel better."
"Definitely!"
"That reminds me, I've completely forgot to ask you this. How does your head feel?"
"Oh that. I'm fine."
"I'm glad! Are you ready to go out?"
"Sure! Is anyone else going?"
"We are," Kathy smiled as she and Michelle approached. "I heard you ask Bobby here, so I decided to answer for him. I'm Kathy, Jason's wife, and this is Michelle. She's with Robin, that is, when she claims him!"
"Hey! It's great to finally meet all of you! Especially when all I've ever been able to do is read about you. I'm Samantha. Are there anymore of you around here?"
"Yeah, you just happen to be here on a day when we're all around," Then calling to the rest of them, even though no introduction was needed, she did so for each. "The only one of us that's missing is Debbie, Marc's wife. And of course, whatever girl Steve happens to show up with!"
"Very funny, Kathy! I swear, you've been out to get me ever since that last girl I had."
Wasn't that the one that snuck by the guards and made it to your room?"
"I had nothing to do with that!"
"Sure you didn't. It took you an awful long time to get rid of her! But then, I don't think that you tried very hard, either, did you?"
"Hey watch it, guys! I think that us four have got some shopping to do," Bobby said, laughing at them.
Deciding to take the chance with Bobby being recognized, they caught a cab to, as they told the driver, the biggest mall in the city. As they entered, Bobby and the two women were duly impressed, but Sam was awe-struck. Never had she seen a place so full of shops and merchandise.
"Well Bobby, here we are. Now what are you planning to get for her?" Kathy asked.
"Well by the look she has right know, a lot!" He laughed, "No, really, anything she sees that she wants. How's that sound, Sam?"
"Huh? Oh! Sounds great! But where do we go first? I've only been in places like this with my parents, last year. And that was in Atlanta, so those malls were nothing compared to this! Kathy, I would prefer for you and Michelle to lead and I'll just try on and give opinions. Anyway, Bobby, I don't feel right spending your money."
"Sam, you just find what you like and I'll pay for it. I want to do this, so you just go out and have fun. I'm just here to pay and give my opinion when it's asked for."
Sam smiled, "Bobby Christian, I think you're crazy to do this, but I've always been told that I follow directions real well, and that is one set that I can definitely go by! But I'm not going to get anything unless you say that you like it."
"Whatever you say, madam! Lead on girls!"
Oodles of clothes, four hours, and hundreds of dollars later, the four exhausted shoppers sank down amid their dozens of bags and boxes in a booth of the next restaurant they came to.
After they had ordered and finished eating, something Sam and Bobby hadn't done all day, Kathy excused herself and motioned for Sam and Michelle to follow.
As the bathroom door closed behind them, Kathy turned to Sam. "Sam, I just wanted to get you away from him for a few minutes so that we could tell you something. From what I've seen today, I hope that you really and truly love Bobby and that you're willing to stay with him. By that I mean that you'll leave this city and travel with us. He loves you, he must after what he did today, but ever since he had you picked up last night, I felt that there was something special going on."
"I'm still not sure of what's going on, but I do know one thing, I'm not in for a one night stand, I love Bobby, and I've willing to give up everything to and for him. As to leaving this city, I could care less about this place, I've never liked it."
Michelle who had been standing aside listening, spoke up, "When Robin first met me and asked me to travel with him, I was scared. Not of life on the road for most of the next three years, but of leaving everything behind. I'm nineteen and have been with him for almost a year. I had to leave all my friends and what little family that I still had. They understood how I felt about him and that I did actually know what I was getting into, and I've loved every minute of it. We're planning to get married sometime in the next year or so but, that won't change anything but my name. Kathy and Debbie gave me the same talk that we're giving you, so you better listen. They're what made me unafraid of this life."
"I thank both of you for this and I look forward to being around all of you, if Bobby really does want me to stay with him."
Kathy nodded quietly, then continued, "Sam, there are a few more things that we need to tell you, but not here, so can we talk later? I tell you what, let's get rid of all the guys one day and come back here shopping just the three of us. How's that?"
"It's fine, but how long are we gonna be in this city?"
"After last night and what happened, they've decided to stay here for about a week or so."
"Won't that mess up their dates? I mean aren't there more concerts planned?"
"Not right now, they have this week planned to take off, but we were going to fly back out west. But for some reason they've changed their minds."
"Oh, okay. Come on. We can finish this discussion some other time. Bobby's probably wondering whether we're coming back or not," Samantha said, impatient now, to get back to him.
"Hey! I'm glad you guys decided to come back. These packages feel like they're closing in on me. Help me get out of here."
Seeing how swamped he looked amidst all of the things they had bought, the women had to laugh. Going over to the booth, Sam looked down at him. "If we weren't in a restaurant I'd have you in the perfect position! Helpless!"
"Samantha, just looking at you can put me there."
Shocked, but elated, Sam said, "I don't think that we'll ask for an elaboration on that comment, not right now anyway. Let's go."
Sliding into a seat on the bus, Sam looked up at Michelle and Kathy as they walked past. Putting her packages on the floor, she smiled at Bobby as he stopped beside her.
Bobby dropped his own packages as he slid into the seat. Turning toward her, he smiled, "I hope you've had a fun day. Even though I was paying, I enjoyed it!"
"Bobby, I don't know how to thank you enough. I've never had the chance to do anything like this before. I've loved every minute of today. What did you like most?"
"I think that I'll have to say that my favorite part, besides doing this for you, was seeing your face light up every time you found something that you really liked, and then hearing me agree with you about it! What about you?"
"My absolute favorite part had nothing to do with the actual shopping at all. I just loved being with you. You are the greatest!"
Not saying a word, he let one hand fall to her thigh. Using his other, he cupped her face and pulled her closer. Tenderly, he kissed her. Then moving to her ear, he whispered, "I want to love you tonight. Will you let me?"
"Bobby..."
Watching the pair in front of them, Michelle said, "I think we can say that we're gonna have a new Dragon Star family member. What do you say?"
"I've kind-of been thinking that the whole time."
Back at the hotel, they took everything out of it's bag or box and laid it all out on Bobby's bed.
Amazed at the number of things they had bought, Sam just stood looking. Slowly, she turned to face him, "How can I ever repay you? This is more than I've ever even dreamed of having!"
"You can repay me by leaving this place to travel with us for the rest of the tour and by living with me afterward. Will you do that? Samantha, do you really love me?"
Face to face with him, she whispered, "Bobby, that's not a question, it's a statement of a dream come true. I love you more than anything. Just tell me that you won't get tired of me and drop me somewhere."
"Oh, I can promise you that. Thank you, Sam, for a fabulous day."
"I should be thanking you, but then, the day isn't over yet."
He reached out and placed his hands on her waist. Then, pulling her close, clasped them behind her. With his lips close to her ear, he sighed, "You're right, and the best is yet to come."
"Bobby?" Robin called as he knocked on the bedroom door.
Letting his hands drop, Bobby shook his head and growled, "I'm gonna kill him yet!" Then aloud he added, "What do you want?"
"I just wanted to tell you guys that we're sending out for pizza. Do you want any?"
Seeing Bobby look at her, Sam shrugged her shoulders and said, "Why not?"
With her consent, Bobby called out, "Yeah, sure. We'll be out in a few minutes."
"Okay."
As they sat around talking after finishing the pizza, Sam, by talking with the rest of the guys and the two women, started to feel like she really belonged there. The guys accepted her as an equal and not just as something to play with. She had never felt as loved as she did right then. Not just by Bobby, but by all of them. She now understood exactly how close these groups really were. "They are just like a family! Hell! They are a family!" she thought to herself.
"Hey Sam, what is your last name? You never have even told us that!" Marc asked.
"My last name? Ferris. Samantha Elizabeth Ferris. That's what my mother named me."
"I like that," Robin smiled.
"Sam, I want to ask you this again while everyone is around. And be completely honest, but then I know you will. Do you want to travel with us? I want you to." Bobby looked straight into her eyes.
"Bobby, guys, Michelle, Kathy, I would love to travel anywhere you all go. Bobby, I want to say this also while everyone is listening. I love you. And I'll go to the ends of the earth for and with you! So, yeah, I'll go."
Quietly, Steve started clapping. In moments, everyone joined in.
Amazed, Sam said, "I'm not sure what that was for, but I'm glad you accept me."
Jason laughed, "Sam, that was because you are the first person that Bobby has ever liked enough to ask to travel with him. And I, personally, am glad that it's you."
Sensing the right moment to do something about the question she had been holding in, Michelle said, "Sam, I was thinking that everyone might want something else to drink. Will you come help me get it?"
"Sure!"
In the kitchen area, she turned to Sam. "Don't get me wrong, but I think something's not right. Is there something bothering you? Do you want to talk about it? I've not being nosy, it's just that you're one of us now and we take care of one another."
"Well, no, not really."
"With that answer, I know something's up. What is it?"
"I might as well tell you and Kathy at the same time," turning, she called to Kathy.
Seeing their serious faces as she walked up, Kathy asked, "What's going on? Is there something wrong?"
"Michelle, Kathy, she asked, so I'm gonna tell you both. There's something that if I tell Bobby, I'm scared he won't want me anymore."
Michelle smiled kindly, "I'm sure that it can't be that serious."
"I'm afraid that it might be to him. It has a lot to do with our future life, if we ever have one."
"What do you mean? Is there something wrong with you?"
"Yes and no. No in that it's nothing like a disease or anything, but yes in that I can never have any kids. I'm scared that he'll want to and I can't have them for him if he ever does. I see what I mean?"
Almost laughing, Kathy just smiled, "Sam, honey, in this life, that's almost a blessing. Or it can be if you look at it right. But now, tell us why, if you will, or do you want to?"
"Oh I don't mind talking about it, cause it wasn't anything that I decided. When I was born, something was wrong that they had to remove all that stuff. So see, it really is a blessing to me because I don't have to worry about those monthly problems or anything! But even though I don't have that to worry about, I still have the mood swings and everything because of the medication that I have to take," smiling now, she paused then continued, "Now that I've told you, what do you think that Bobby will say? Should I tell him now or what? Do you think that it will affect our relationship?"
"Honestly, Sam, I can't say, but I really think that it'll relieve a lot of fears that he has about you. I know he has them, all guys do. So, no I don't think that'll matter to him," Kathy spoke reassuringly.
"I agree with Kathy. That's something that Robin and I worry about every time, but we don't let it stop us, of course."
"Thanks, I feel relieved. I'm not scared to tell him anymore."
Happy and all smiles, they fixed the drinks and went back in with the men.
Two hours later, about eleven-thirty, Bobby slipped his arm around Sam and pulled her closer. Nuzzling her neck, he moved to her ear and whispered, "Don't you think it's about time for us to end this party? I think it is."
Not saying a word, Sam lightly ran her hand part the way up the inside of his thigh. Then, softly, she sighed, "Sounds good."
Catching her hand with his own, he rose and pulled her up with him. Never even looking at the rest of them, he quietly mumbled something akin to "Good-night." Then, with his hand on her waist, they headed toward his bedroom.
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