The air was crisp and cold as Sam Guthrie made his way toward the stump where he could see Tabitha Smith's slumped figure sitting. He couldn't tell if she was crying or not, but something about her posture told him that she would rather be alone. He bit his lip and decided that it would probably be better for them both if he left.
He never got the chance, however.
"I know you're there." Tabitha said without turning around.
"How'd you know?" Sam asked, stepping into the light. Tabitha turned to look at him, her face slightly pale with dried tearstains on it.
"As amazing as it may sound, 'cause I hardly believe it myself, I actually pay attention when the Big Kahuna is yellin' at us. Shocked?" The girl asked, smiling slightly.
"Definitely." Sam agreed, smiling back in return. The two fell into silence for a minute, neither really knowing what to say.
"Feels really weird. Bobby, Dani, Rahne, Xian, Doug, 'Lock, Amara, Ric-we're all that's left. Sometimes Ah wonder if mah entire life is gonna be spent on the run-fightin' a war Ah don't even think we got any hope of winnin'." Sam finally said, desperately searching for something to say.
Tabitha nodded her agreement. "Ditto. You all packed?"
Sam sighed sadly. "Yeah. You?"
Tabitha looked out at the stars for a minute, her mind seemingly a million miles away. She looked back at Sam and ran her fingers through her hair.
"Uh-huh. Took me all o' five minutes to decide whether I should split or not."
Sam looked at her curiously. "What made you decide to stay?"
"What made YOU?" Tabitha threw the question back at him.
Sam studied the stars for an instant, trying to find the words to express the reason he had decided to stick with the team.
"It might sound corny to you--" He began, his eyes dancing to her face. The large green shades she habitually wore covered her eyes, but he could tell she was looking right at him. "But Ah think we can honestly make a difference in this world. Do something to help people, mutants and humans, get by and live better lives." He stopped and looked at her. She had risen from her seat on the stump and moved to stand by his arm. "You probably think that's pretty stupid, huh?"
Tabitha smiled at him, the bright smile that he had gotten used to seeing on her face. That smile could warm him on the coldest winter day, he decided, smiling back at her.
"Well, really big time stupid, actually." Tabitha told him, a hint of a giggle in her voice. "But it's sweet. And so are you, Guthrie. You're a good egg."
"Why thank you." Sam said, his own eyes sparkling. Tabitha playfully swatted him on the arm. She pushed her glasses up onto her head, looking at her with pure blue eyes. In their depths, doubt glowed brightly.
"Sam? Do you think we'll be okay?" Tabitha asked him, chewing on her lip. Sam turned to her, and, before he could lose his nerve, pulled her into a hug.
"Ah know we will, Tabby." He told her truthfully, looking deep into her eyes. Tabitha smiled up at him, and laid her head on his chest.
"So tell me why you're sticking around?" Sam breathed, inhaling the scent of her hair. He felt Tabitha smile into his chest.
"Well, what you said kinda works for me too. Just don't tell anybody I sad so! Totally ruin my image!" Tabitha said, her voice slightly muffled by his chest.
He pushed her back a bit and looked into her eyes. He lifted a finger and traced her jaw line, his eyes glowing slightly.
"Ah won't Tabby. You can trust me." Sam swore to her, studying her face as though he was memorizing it for a test.
"I know Sam…with my life. And…with my heart." Tabitha said, her voice so soft he thought he might have heard that wrong.
"Do you mean that?" Sam asked, moving closer to her in the embrace.
"I do…" Tabitha said, nodding her head for emphasis, her eyes round as saucers.
"Ah'm glad." Sam said softly, bending his head until his forehead rested against hers. "Ah'm very, very glad. Cause Ah…Ah think Ah trust you as much."
The corners of Tabitha's mouth turned up into a grin, and she reached up to touch his lips. "Really?" Her question almost sounded plaintive.
Sam nodded his head, not trusting himself to speak. He bent down further, and his lips stopped, a mere millimeter away from hers. She stared at him with hopeful eyes, begging him to finish what he had started.
"THERE you two are. Hurry up, we're leaving!" Domino's voice broke through the stillness of the woods. Tabitha and Sam both jumped back guiltily.
"Already?" Sam asked, his eyes dancing to Tabitha who pushed her shades back down on her face.
"Yeah. Come on, we need to get going." Domino informed them, turning on her heel. Tabitha looked over at Sam for an instant, before turning to follow her.
Before she could make it two steps however, Sam caught her arm, and turned her to face him. With his free hand he lifted the shades from her eyes, leaving two very confused blue orbs looking at him.
"Sam…?" She asked, looking at him like he had sprouted another head. "They're, like, waiting on us."
"You're never on time anyway. What's one more gonna hurt?" Sam asked, stepping forward. Tabitha mock glared at him, but couldn't deny it.
Once more, Sam leaned forward toward her lips. She pressed herself up on her toes, closing her eyes in anticipation---
"I SAID NOW!" Domino bellowed, once more breaking the mood. Tabitha let herself down in annoyance, and Sam straightened back up, equally irritated.
"Ah guess we better go, huh?" Sam whispered handing Tabitha her glasses back.
"I guess." Tabitha agreed. Turning, the two made their way quickly toward the transport, Tabitha hopping up onto it.
"Everything's loaded up? Everyone's ready?" Cable asked, looking over to Tabitha and Sam.
Tabitha shrugged her shoulders. "As we'll ever be, Big Kahuna."
Sam looked over at her, then back at Cable. "Let's get it over with, sir…let's just go…"
Tabitha laid a consoling hand on his shoulder, as the jet lifted off and flew into the early dawn sky. Sam patted it gently, looking over to her. She smiled again, and he smiled back.
It looked like things were just beginning…