After a few hours of plan making, it was now past midnight and Nathan wouldn't stop yawning. "You guys can stay the night. The spare bedrooms upstairs, Nate knows it well by now, right?"

"Like a second home." He teased with a sigh. "Thanks, Tash... and I'm sorry to drag you into this." He rested his hand on her shoulder, frowning.

"What's family for, right?" She smiled at him before her eyes trailed to Sam. "I'm gonna go to bed. See you two losers in the morning."

Once Tasha had retired to her room, Sam stopped Nate from leaving the room. "Why is Avery's treasure still such a touchy subject for her?"

Nathan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably. Sam was his brother, but he hated speaking about Tasha behind her back. The two were probably as close as two friends could be, and he didn't want her to hurt any more than she already was. "Look, after you died — Rafe kept looking for the treasure."

"Well, yeah. Of course he did. I didn't think he would stop."

"Yeah, well... he didn't stop, ever. He bought the fucking cathedral and he looked for years — I'm pretty sure he's still looking. Anyways, after a while she... well, they —" Another sigh. "They broke up."

"Broke up?" Sam raised his eyebrows in pure shock. "Seriously? Those two were inseparable."

"You've been gone a long time, Sam." Nate sighed. "I wish I was joking, but they haven't spoken in years."

"Wow, I just... I can't believe they broke up... who...?"

"Tasha. She... uh, she left him... they were together for a long time...six years, I think. Rafe was gone for months at a time... It took her a long time to move on— it was rough for a long time. She... I'm not sure how she made it but I looked out for her."

"Is she..." Sam rubbed his forehead as he tried to fathom how heartbroken Tasha must have been. "How is she now?"

"She's..." Nathan rubbed the back of his neck with a long sigh. "She's never been the same after Rafe. I don't even think she's been with a guy since... She's different, and not for the better... she's darker, and more manipulative. She can be... scary."

"Tasha... scary? You sure were talking about the same girl?"

"You've been gone a long time, bro." Nathan patted Sam's shoulder. "Just... be gentle with her. It took a long time to get her to where she is now. If we didn't need her help, I wouldn't have ever even imagined involving her."

•••

Tasha was sitting on the edge of her bed, scrolling through her phone when a gentle knock came from her doorway. She smiled slightly as Sam leaned against the doorframe. "Mind if I come in?"

"Why not." She shook her head, patting the spot next to her before turning her attention back to her phone. Sam slowly examined her room, frowning when he saw the lack of photos. "You have a nice house."

"Thanks. It's..." A sigh left her lips as she forced a smile. "well, it's... yeah. Nice, I guess."

Sam frowned once more when he heard the distant tone in her voice. He slowly sat on her bed, stretching his arms out. He looked over to her phone, pointing towards the screen. "That's new."

"I totally forgot you probably don't know half of this shit, hey?"

"I know a little." Sam chuckled. "It's... different. A lot different than before Panama."

"Yeah, a lot changed after Panama I guess."

There was silence for a while as Sam tried to think of what to say.

"So... you were there for Nate after what happened...?"

"Of course I was." Tasha scoffed, almost insulted that he could even think otherwise. "Sam, you were my best friend and his brother... losing you was really hard on Nate."

"And Rafe?" Sam asked cautiously, gauging her reaction.

"What about him?"

"What happened between you two? Last I saw you were engaged."

"It doesn't matter."

"I think it does." Sam grabbed her phone which seemed to hold all of her attention, setting it on her dresser before sitting next to her once more. "Do I need to kick his ass?"

Tasha laughed, but it wasn't the sound he remembered from so long ago. No, this laugh held a deep rooted sadness that could make even Sam's heart break.

"How long has it been?" He asked after a few moments of silence.

Tasha hummed sadly. "Um, I don't — Ten Years, maybe? A little less? I try not to keep count anymore..."

"And you've been alone since then?"

"Yeah, haven't really... had any reason to be with anyone, yknow?"

"Not really."

"I guess you haven't gotten laid in a long time, huh?" Tasha giggled and for a moment she finally was beginning to sound similar to the girl he once knew.

Sam shrugged, a small smirk on his face. "From what I heard you haven't either."

"Nathan needs to learn to keep his big mouth shut." She sighed. She glanced over at him, blushing slightly when she realized he was staring at her. His hand was resting next to hers, his fingers gently brushing the edge of her hand.

"You're looking at me like that again, Sammy."

"Like what?" Sam asked with a knowing smile.

"Like you want to kiss me." Tasha looked at him, caressing his cheek with a small smile. "Losing you hurt a lot worse than it maybe should have. Not just for Nate... You were my best friend, Sam."

"We both know there's always been something here, Tash..." Sam chuckled as he ruffled her hair, letting his hand move her rest on her neck.

"Maybe." She laughed softly. "You were too much of a ladies man, Sammy."

"You were too young." Sam sighed. "If I was younger, maybe—"

"Age never mattered to me. Rafe's older than Nate, and Nate's older than me even."

"I'm a lot older—"

"Sam." Tasha sighed. "Yes, I liked you a little, okay? Happy? But we're not compatible. Not like that. You're infuriating."

"You and Nate? You're home to me. I'd say you're like a sister but that'd be lying." Sam chuckled, caressing her face as he leaned into her. "I've missed you, princess."

Tasha bit her lip as she felt tears threatening to come to her eyes. "Sam — I've missed you too."

Sam pressed his lips to hers, moving one of his hands to her waist. He wasted no time, slipping his fingers under the sides of her shirt to caress her bare skin. Tasha smiled slightly as she ran her tongue along Sam's lip, who eagerly met her tongue with his.

She giggled softly as she pulled away, staring up at Sam with bright green eyes. Gently, she trailed her fingertips along the bird tattoos that were on his neck. Shivers went across his skin as he stared at her. "Nice tattoo, Sammy. Looks hot on you."

"A compliment from the princess herself, I must be dreaming." Sam teased as he began to kiss her jawline. He noticed the tattoo that covered her right shoulder, nibbling on her skin. "You got ink too, huh?"

"You like?" She hummed as she pulled back, taking her shirt off before turning to show him her back. He stood, gently tracing his fingers along her tattoo until he reached her bra strap.

"Hmm, your bras in the way."

"Oh?" Tasha hummed, trying not to smirk. "Maybe you can do something about that?"

Sam chuckled, undoing the clasp before pulling the straps down her arms. "Mmm, that's better." He paid little attention to the tattoo, instead turning her around and pushing her back onto the bed.

"Ah!" Tasha squealed as Sam spread her legs, laying between them as he smirked down at her. "Sam..." She let out a soft mewl as he took one of her nipples in his mouth, moaning against her skin as his other hand slipped into her pants. He moaned when his fingers met her bare pussy, realizing she wasn't wearing any underwear.

"No underwear, huh?" Sam kissed a trail up her neck, nipping the skin lightly. "What a naughty girl."

"Are you going to punish me, Sammy?" She whined as he pressed his thumb against her clit.

"Maybe, princess." He breathed heavily as he pulled her pants off, tossing them aside before pulling off his own, leaving them both naked. He was going to take his time with her, but Tasha seemed to have other plans when she pulled him onto the bed so she was straddling his waist.

"Let's have some fun, Sammy."
•••

"I'm — fuck, Tash — I'm not gonna last long." Sam mumbled almost apologetically, making Tasha giggle.

"Me either, Sammy." She moaned his nickname with a small smile when his fingers began rubbing harsh circles into her clit.

"Cum for me, princess."

Both of their chests heaved as they tried to catch their breath. Sam caressed her hip gently, a smug smile on his face.

"Hey Sam?"

"Yeah, princess?"

"I'm... I'm really glad you're not dead."

"Me too, princess. Me too."

•••

"You better get up before Nate does." Tasha mumbled as she rolled over, squinting her eyes through the darkness as small rays of light began to flutter through the purple blinds that hung lightly over the window. "I don't need your little brother giving me another lecture."

"He lectures you?"

"Someone had to." She grinned cheekily.

"Fine, I'll go before Nate wakes up... but only if you'll tell me what really happened with you and Rafe."

"Why is it you want to talk about me and Rafe so bad? Can we just go back to sex?"

"Sorry, princess. Not a chance."

"Why do you care so much?" Tasha sighed as she stretched her arms out. "It was a long time ago."

"Tasha..."

"We... we fell apart! I don't know, Sam... He became this person who only cared about one thing, and that wasn't me. He... he changed. I changed.
We just... wanted different things, I guess...I stayed a lot longer than I should have."

Sam nodded, dropping the subject as he saw the pained expression on her face as she pulled on her clothes. "When was the last time you dated someone?"

"Other than Rafe?" She hummed as she tapped her index finger against her chin. "Probably as long as it's been for you, buddy."

Sam sighed, shaking his head. "You deserve so much better."

"Rafe just didn't care anymore, alright? Don't worry about it. It was a long time ago." Tasha sat up, pulling her underwear on. "I'm fine."

"So, was that a one time thing, too?" Sam smiled smugly at her once the tension in the room had died down.

She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Once every fifteen years."

•••

A/N: please keep commenting :)