Disclaimer: I don't own any of the character's, Marvel does. This was inspired by Colin Raye's "Little Red Rodeo" and the other two songs belong to Mindy Macreaty and Lonestar. Thanks to Binkeee for helping with the letter.

"Are you SURE this is what you want to do, Tabs?" Julio Rictor asked the small blonde as she packed her car.

"Yeah. I just…I just can't stay here anymore. Sam just doesn't want me here. It's…it's too hard, Ric." Tabitha Smith said, shaking her head, ignoring the tears that slipped down her cheeks.

"Alright, mijita. Just…be careful, okay?" Ric asked, reaching out his arms to hug his old friend. "It would not be cool if you died."

"Gee, thanks Ric." Tabitha shot back, her voice sarcastic. "Nice to know you care."

Rictor just smiled, and stepped back, crossing his arms. Tabitha pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket and gave it to him, brushing a tear away.

"Give this to Sam for me, will ya?" Tabitha asked.

"Of course. See ya around, kid." Ric said, as Tabitha crawled into her car.

"See you." Tabitha called back, staring the car and driving away. Ric stood watching her go, worried despite himself. (Tabs can take care of herself.)

Sam was sprawled out on the couch, drinking a soda, when Rictor came into the room. Sam looked up and waved at his old friend, to tired to stand. Rictor looked at him for a minute, then plopped into a chair opposite of Cannonball's. Neither man said anything for a minute, Sam still enjoying his drink, Rictor trying to keep from glaring at the blond southerner.

Sam was the first to speak. "Hey, Ric? You haven't seen Tabitha lately, have you?"

"No." Ric said. (And you haven't either, or she'd still be here!)

"Oh. We were suppose to go to a movie tonight--" Sam started.

"But you have to do something with the X-Men." Rictor finished for him, glaring just a bit. Sam knitted his eyebrows, confused at the hostility in his friend's voice.

"Well, yeah Ah do. Do you think she'll mind?" Sam asked, looking at the Mexican. Rictor grinned, a bit cruelly, and threw the folded piece of paper Tabitha had given him into Sam's lap.

"Nah, amigo," Rictor said, rising to his feet, "I'm sure she won't mind at all."

Sam watched his friend strut out of the room, thoroughly confused. (What was that all about?)

Sam turned his attention from his friend's odd behavior to the piece of folded stationary sitting in his lap. He picked it up and unfolded it, still confused. Tabitha's scrawling handwriting stared out at him from the light purple paper.

Dear Sam,

First, I just want to say that I love you more then anything else on this planet, or any other. You are the center of my world, my sun, my moon, and my stars. I love you, so much. I have for so long. That's why this is so hard.

Sam, I can't stay at the mansion anymore. I can't watch you slip further and further away from me. It'll kill me to lose you. I die every time you push me away, like I'm nothing more then a toy, something to play with when you get bored. I love you, so much. But I AM NOT a toy. And I shouldn't have to be treated like one.

I love you, but I don't want to only be your girlfriend when it suits you. I can't keep standing on the edge. You'll pull me close to you, far from the cliff, but then you push me away again, back to the unsteady ledge.

I'm leaving, Sam. In fact, I'm probably already gone. I'm sorry I had to leave like this, but…I don't think I could have left any other way.

I love you. I always will love you.

Yours forever,

Tabitha

Sam stared at the page, his eyes flooding with tears. (This can't be happening…this cannot be happening!)

The blond man continued to stare at the page, the tears slipping down his cheeks. He ignored them. (Tabitha…oh, mah Tabitha…how could you think that Ah didn't see you as anything more then a toy? Ah love you so much, Ah need you so desperately…please come back!)

Sam couldn't move, couldn't think. All he could do was stare at the piece of paper telling him that he had just lost one of the most important things in his life.

Slowly, the shock began to wear off. Sam swallowed hard, and forced himself to his feet. Moving on instinct alone, he willed his feet to move. He had to find Rictor…Rictor would now where his beloved Tabitha was!

"RICTOR!" Sam yelled, running down the hallway. The Mexican turned around, and wasn't surprised to see his old friend come running up to him, his eyes wild, and the letter Tabitha had written him clenched in his fist.

"Si?" Ric asked, his ever-present cocky attitude apparent. Sam didn't notice.

"Where's Tabitha? Where'd she go?" Sam demanded, not even trying to fight back the tears that spilled down his cheeks.

Rictor lifted an eyebrow, surprised by his friend's intense display of emotion. "Why do you ask?"

"She's gone! She's…" Sam broke down completely, sobbing like a child. Rictor stared at him, shocked. He had never seen Sam cry like that. It was…unnerving. And for some reason, it proved to Julio that Sam honestly was in love with Tabitha.

"You really love her, don't you?" Rictor voiced his new revelation.

"Ah love her more then nearly anything." Sam said through his tears. Rictor sighed gently, and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell her that, man? That's why she left!" Rictor said, shaking his head at his friend's apparent lack of insight into the minds of women.

"She left because I love her?!" Sam asked, incredulously.

"No! She left because she DIDN'T think you loved her anymore." Rictor explained.

"Why would she think that?" Sam asked, genuinely confused.

"How many dates with her have you broken to do something with the X-Men? How many times have you blown her off, because 'the team needed you'?" Rictor asked, lifting his eyebrows.

Sam didn't say anything, going back through his memories. All the times he had done those things blossomed in his mind, and more tears slipped down his face.

"Ah've treated her so bad." Sam whispered, burying his head in his hands.

"Yep." Rictor agreed. But then he took pity on his heartsick friend. "Listen, amigo, I'm sure she'll take you back. All you gotta do is catch her."

"But-but Ah don't even know where she went." Sam said, sounding like nothing more then a lost little boy.

"You know amigo, Tabs and I have a mutual friend, who lives in Austin, Texas. Names Demona Wagner." Rictor said suddenly.

"What has that-oh." Sam said, a slow smile spreading over his features. "Thank you, Ric."

"What? I didn't say nothin'." Ric said, shaking his head. Sam just grinned and ran for the door. He grinned, and said softly, "Hope you catch her, amigo."

Sam sprinted out the door, and vaulted into his truck. He didn't even bother to tell anyone where he was going; he didn't even pack. He just started the truck and took off, headed south.

He drove for nearly three hours, his mind full of the young blonde that had run off with his heart. (Ah'll find her. Ah have too.)

Sam sniffed, trying to keep the tears from pouring down his face once more. To distract himself, he flipped the radio on, switching the channels until he could find something worth listening to. He flipped it to a country station, just as an upbeat song began to play.

Sam rolled his eyes, reaching to change the station. (Definitely not in the mood for that.) But then the lyrics started, and he froze right where he was.

Sam clenched the wheel tightly as the song faded from the radio. He reached out a long fingered had and switched the radio off, and swallowed. Then he slowly began to smile. With new determination, he pushed the gas pedal a little closer to the floor.

Tabitha checked her review mirror, and sighed. (What, were you expecting him to come blasting after you? He's probably glad your gone.)

The small blonde sniffed, and angrily dashed the tears off her face. (I've GOT to knock this off. It's over, Smith. So GET over it.)

Tabitha sniffed again, and tried to concentrate on driving. She noticed the gas station on the right, suddenly realizing that she was hungry…and almost out of gas.

"Must be a sign from God." Tabitha noted, pulling off the road. She pulled up next to the gas pumps and climbed out, her legs stiff from sitting so long. She stretched her back, hearing her spin pop, and reached for the pump.

After the car was filled, she made her way to the building, to pay, and perhaps find something to eat. She pushed the door open, smiling at the musical chimes of the bells. An old man looked up from his paper and smiled at her. She smiled slightly back, and began to browse through the assorted junk food the convince story offered.

After much internal deliberation, she decided that she might as well go a tad bet healthy. She picked up a few granola bars and a bottle of apple juice. Looking at her stash, she added a chocolate bar for good measure.

Tossing them all up on the counter, she reached for her wallet. "I had sixteen dollars off gas too."

"That'll be twenty three eighty five, miss." The cashier said, smiling at her. She smiled back, and her eyes browsed the papers on the wall. "X-MEN: HEROS OR HELLIONS?" one of the papers read. Tabitha swallowed hard, the image of Sam dancing into her mind.

(No, I won't think about him. I won't think about the X-Men. I won't. I won't!) Tabitha could already feel the tears sliding down her cheeks. Sniffing, she dashed them away with her hand, angry at herself.

"Miss, you okay?" The old man asked.

"Yeah-I'm okay." Tabitha lied, collecting her merchandise.

"You leaving your boyfriend or sumthin'?" The old man pressed, smiling encouraging.

Tabitha stared at him with wide blue eyes. "How did you now that?"

"Wild guess." The man said. He smiled at her again. "Don't let it get you down, honey. If I was him, I'd be chasin' you down!"

"I doubt that. But thanks anyway." Tabitha said, smiling a slow sad smile. She carried her bag to her car, tossing it in. The small girl slide into the car, started it up, and pulled away from the curve.

(I wish, oh how I wish you would come after me.) Tabitha pushed that thought away and flipped on the radio, trying to take her mind off her problems.

Tabitha began to cry softly as the words of the song registered in her mind. "Oh my God." She whispered, clenching the steering wheel tightly. (Now, if only my life ends the way the song does…)

The sound of a siren and flashing blue and red lights pulled Sam out of his daze. Looking up into the review mirror, he winced when he saw the cop car right behind him. Sighing, the young man pulled off to the side of the road.

The cop pulled off right behind him, and the police officer climbed out. He was rather young, probably not much older then Sam himself. His hat covered short black hair, and warm brown eyes. The young officer quickly strode up to Sam's window.

"Sir?" He asked, looking into the window. Sam shut his eyes for a brief second then looked back out the window, attempting a smile.

"Yes, sir?" Sam asked, looking over at him.

"May I see your license and registration?" The young cop asked, holding out a hand.

"Of course." Sam nodded, reaching into the glove department, pulling out his registration card. He pulled out his wallet, and removed his license, and handed them to the young copper.

"Thanks sir." The officer said, calling them in. "You do realize you were doing ninety-eight in a fifty -five zone, right?"

"Ah'm sorry officer. Ya see, Ah'm tryin' to catch up to mah girlfriend." Sam tried to explain.

"Excuse me?" The officer asked, knitting his eyebrows together.

"Mah girlfriend left me, and is headed down to Texas to a friend of hers. Ah have to catch her and tell her Ah'm sorry, and that Ah still love her." Sam explained.

"Umm-hmm." The officer said nodding his head. "And why is she leaving you?"

"Because Ah never paid attention to her." Sam said mournfully, his eyes glazing over.

"Oh, well, sir, I'm sorry. But you're going to have to step out of the truck." The young officer asked, stepping back from the truck.

"Um, alright. Why?" Sam asked, stepping out of the truck.

The young officer sighed, and said. "Under state law, any person that goes over thirty miles faster then the posted speed limit has to be taken in for a blood test."

"Blood test?" Sam asked, lifting his eyebrows.

"Yes, sir."

Tabitha had to hold back a sudden flood of tears when she crossed the line into Kentucky the next day. (Oh Sam…)

She had spent the night in a cheap, out of the way hotel. It had been rather-not clean, but not too terrible. Now all she wanted to do was make it to Texas by Monday. Tabitha sniffed, and pushed the pedal to the floor, wanting to get away from this state as fast as possible.

Suddenly, the cell phone she had brought with her in case of an emergency rang. Lifting her eyebrows, she picked it up, and asked. "Hello?"

"Tabitha!"

"Ric…what's up? Why are you calling me?"

"What, can't a guy be worried?" He asked defensively.

"A guy, yes. You, no." Tabitha shot back, smiling just a little.

"Haha. Very funny." Ric snorted. "Anyway, I just thought I'd call and let you know, because, knowing you, it's all you've been able to think about since you left."

"Okay, now will you tell me what it is I need to know?" Tabitha asked, rolling her eyes.

She could practically hear Ric's cocky grin. "Just that someone is chasing after you."

Tabitha couldn't catch her breath. "Who?"

"Who do you think?"

Tabitha slammed on the breaks, pulling her car over to the side of the road. "He's…he's coming after me?"

"Yeah Tabs. You didn't REALLY think he was going to let you go without a fight, did you?" Rictor asked.

"Well, yeah, I did." Tabitha said, her eyes shining with tears.

"Well, he's coming after you. He just got a little…detained." Rictor started to laugh.

"Why, what happened?" Tabitha asked, worried.

"He was arrested for doing ninety-eight in a fifty five zone." Julio chuckled, obviously amused. "They let him go today."

"Rictor?" Tabitha suddenly asked. "How does Sam know where I'm going?"

Rictor was silent for a long moment. "Ummm…I don't know. Maybe you and him got a rapport, you know, like Scott and Jean have?"

"You told him, didn't you?!" Tabitha accused.

"No! Okay, yeah, I did. But Tabitha, he was-crying! Had to tell him, he would have gone insane!" Rictor defended himself.

"Sheesh." Tabitha muttered, restarting her car, and pulling out onto the road.

"Yeah. But, anyway, I just wanted you to know." Rictor said.

"Thanks, but I'm still heading down to Demi's. I just need some time to…think." Tabitha said softly, readjusting her grip on the phone.

"Yeah, I know. Say hey to that cute thing for me!" Rictor had always liked Demi.

"I will. Later."

"Later."

Tabitha threw the cell phone onto the passenger seat, and couldn't help the small grin that crossed her face. He was coming after her! She must mean SOMETHING to him!

Sam sighed in relief when he finally crossed into Austin. It had been a long four days.

Now that he was actually IN Austin, he had to think about what he was going to say to her when he saw her again. He didn't think 'I love you, please come home' was going to work so well. He definitely needed to say it, but not only that.

Thankfully, Ric had called him and given him Demona's address. At least he didn't have to spend time looking for her.

Sam's hands began to shake when he pulled up opposite Demona's small ranch style house. He swallowed hard, and pushed the door open, stepping out of the beat up old truck. He was shocked that it had made it this far.

He slowly made his way across the street, his eyes falling on the small red car parked in the driveway. It was definitely Tabitha's.

Sam's hands were shaking harder then ever when he reached out a finger to press the doorbell. He laced his fingers together tightly, and stood up straighter, nervously chewing on his lip.

Then he heard Tabitha's sweet voice ring out: "I'll get it!"

The door was pulled open, and Sam was face to face with the love of his life. He was suddenly struck dumb. When had she gotten this beautiful?

"Hello, Sam." She shocked herself with the calm way she said those words.

"Hi, Tabs." He answered back, his voice shaking. He reached up a hand to rake through his messy blonde hair, suddenly aware of how awful he must look. "Can we…can we talk?"

"I guess…" Tabitha said, stepping outside the house, and shutting the door behind her.

She walked around him, and moved towards a bench set up in the front yard. She sat down, and motioned for Sam to do the same. He did, clasping his hands between his knees, and studying the ground. He was silent for a long stretch of time.

"Ah miss you." Sam started, so softly Tabitha had to strain to hear him. "Ah miss you…so much. Why did you leave?"

"I-I…Sam, I need more then what you've been giving me." Tabitha explained, wiping her eyes with her hand.

"Ah'm sorry. Ah'm so sorry! Is there anything Ah can do to make it up, to make it better?" Sam asked, looking up at her with tears on his cheeks.

"I don't know, Sam. I don't…I don't know." Tabitha told him, shaking her head back and forth.

"Ah'll try harder! Ah'll never leave you alone again! Please Tabitha, just come back to me." Sam wasn't ashamed to beg.

"I don't know if I can." Tabitha said softly. Tears pricked at her eyes, and she blinked quickly trying to keep them from following.

"Is there nothin' Ah can do to change your mind?" Sam asked softly, reaching to take her hand. Tabitha stared down at their linked hands for a moment, then pulled her hand from his.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I just…please, just give me some time." Tabitha whimpered, looking away from him.

"Alright…if that's" Sam's voice broke, "what you want."

"Thank you." Tabitha sobbed, tears slipping down her face.

Sam just nodded, turning away from her. His heart shattered into his chest, the pieces stabbing him with their sharpness. He swallowed hard, ignoring the tears that splashed down his cheeks like rain. The only thing that hurt more then the pieces of his heart stabbing him, were the pitiful sobs of the small woman he loved with all his heart that wept behind him.

He was able to hold his tears inside until he reached the truck. He laid his head down on the hood, and began to sob in earnest.

Tabitha sniffed slightly, watching his strong back walk away. (Why did I do that? Why did I let him go?)

She turned sadly to walk into the house, when a sound caught her ears. Sam had his head down, and was weeping openly.

Her heart twisted painfully in her chest, as she stood staring at the man that she loved. She balled her tiny fists into fists, tears streaking faster down her face.

Suddenly, she started forward, surprising even herself. She started at walk, then a jog, and then a full-blown run. She stopped a few feet from him

"Sam!" She cried, her voice husky with tears. Sam lifted his head off the truck, and turned to look at her. He lifted a hand to brush away a few stray tears, his eyes wide.

"Tabitha…?" He asked.

And then he could say no more, as she threw herself into his arms, kissing him hard. Sam hugged her so tightly he lifted her off the ground, her small feet dangling. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held him to her tighter.

The broke after a long moment, gasping for breath. Sam stared into her eyes, stunned and happy.

"Tabitha…what?" He asked, trying to think coherently. He wasn't having very much luck.

"I couldn't, oh God, I couldn't leave you…I couldn't let you leave me…I couldn't stand to hear you…Oh Sam! I love you so much…I want you so much! Please…will you come back to me?" Tabitha asked, her eyes pleading.

Sam didn't say anything, just pulled her into another soul searing kiss. When they broke, he smiled gently at her.

"Ah love you so much."

"I love you too."

And no more words were needed.

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