WARNING: Some language.

C A D Y

The last hour we just spent hanging out.

Well, it's more of Faye, Ryder, Mason and Chrissy coddling Bella and Severus. Jax had went to do his own thing. Amos had found a book in the shelves that he had found interesting and sat down to read it. Tyler and Sam were sitting in front of each other, talking in hushed tones. And me?

Well...

Tyler looked up to Sam's head and where I sat behind him. He tried to hide a smile, let out a snort and then started cackling.

"What?" Sam was probably frowning, confused. Poor guy...

Still laughing, Tyler picked up a hand mirror from the small table and handed it to him. He held it in front of his face and stared at his reflection. He was speechless for a moment, then it turned to horror.

"Cherry!" Tyler laughed even harder. That caused the others to turn to us. Even Amos raised his eyes from his book.

"Oh heavens..." That was Ryder.

There was the snap of a camera as Faye whipped out her phone and snapped a picture.

"That is art!" Mason grinned.

He walked over to me and ruffled my hair tenderly, "I have mad respect for you, Cady." I blushed and gave him a smile. Sam scowled.

Mason saw that and grinned wider, "Hey, don't worry. I'm not trying to steal your lady, Sam." For some reason that made me blush even more.

I adjusted the blue bows on Sam's pigtails.

"Cherry," He whined, tugging on a copper strand that had come loose.

"What? You look cute with bows and pigtails!"

"Cadance, that's bloody awesome," Amos spoke from behind his book.

I bowed my head mockingly, "Why thank you, good sir."

"Why didn't I think of this sooner?" Chrissy asked no one in particular.

I met Tyler's eyes. He was still staring at me, as if deciding what to think of me. Then he smiled.

"I can tell you're going to be a wonderful addition to this already hectic group," He said, "Cady Carter, the girl who tied Sam's hair into a pigtail half updo complete with bows and frills.

"Obviously she's gonna do even more marvellous things that that," Sam said, "She is my Cady, after all."

I raised my eyebrows at that. He spotted my reflection behind him in the mirror.

"What? Do you not want to be?"

I swatted his shoulder, "Of course I want to be, you jerk."

I can't believe that over the course of nearly two days, I had grown fond of this... infuriating boy.

S A M

Cherry had been yawning a lot the past ten minutes we had been watching the movie, so I took it as a sign that she was tired and needed sleep.

"Hey?" I whispered to her. She looked up at me, blinking.

"Hmm?"

"You're sleepy, aren't you?" I slid my arm across her back and she leaned into me. For reasons I very well understood, my stomach felt like like someone had released a horde of butterflies in there.

She nodded.

"Come on," I stood up, gently straightening her as well, "I'll get you to the bed."

I bent down a bit and she looped her arms around my neck. I placed my other arm below her knees and picked her up. She rested her face in the joint of my shoulder and neck, closing her eyes and hummed contentedly.

I walked out of the room, ignoring the stares of the others.

Carrying her to the bedroom, my mind started noticing little things. Like how she smelled like cocoa and strawberries, with a hint of my lavender soap, and something just purely Cherry. Her scarlet hair was soft and had the gentle smell of roses and apples. Where my arm was on her back... her scarred back...

My precious Cady. Who had done this to her?

She hadn't even done anything to deserve it. I admit, I may not know anything about her past. But I knew for a fact that Cady had and would never do such things. I still feel like I forced her to join Twilight Raven.

It was going to get her hurt in many different ways. Though I will protect her with all I've got.

I realised she was now snoring soundly against my chest. And that I had reached the room.

Pushing open the door with my foot, I stepped inside, closing it behind me. I walked over to her bed and lowered her down onto the sheets.

Just when I was about to remove my hand from her back did I realise she was shaking, badly.

I was just about to touch her forehead when she jolted awake, gasping. Her hands were fisted in my shirt, clutching it as if it was the only thing keeping her alive.

"Sam?" She whimpered, and that broke something inside of me.

I cupped her cheek, softly stroking, "It's me."

She looked up at me, and even though it was dark, I could see the tears glimmering in her amber eyes.

"Please don't leave me here alone."

I wrapped my arms around her petite build and pulled her close to myself. Her arms found their way around my neck and she buried her face in my shoulder. I could feel her tears soaking into my shirt.

I kept rubbing her back and stroking her hair gently, and said, "Hey. It's okay. You're safe with me. No one can hurt you." I was aware of her hair tickling my neck and collar as she shifted her face on my shoulder.

"I'm gonna have to go back to them sometime," She mumbled, swallowing a lump in her throat.

My brain automatically put two and two together.

No...

Those bastards...

I could feel my eyes stinging. But I knew they wouldn't solve anything. So I just held her as she silently cried in my shoulder.

I kissed the scarlet locks atop her head, as she sniffled.

"Sam? You're not going to leave me alone in here, are you?"

"Never," I kissed her hair again, "I'm going to be here. Always, I promise."

Her breathing eased as she drifted off, hopefully to a nice dream this time.

I sat there for a few minutes, holding her in my lap as she slept, and thought.

Mom had probably guessed that she had an abusive family. That's why she had arranged a marriage between us. So she could at least get Cherry out of there. Even after that she had asked me to look after her, take extra good care of her, without suffocating her.

Cherry probably thought I would be no better than them. She had probably said no, but had been forced into it

I didn't realise I had started crying until I felt the wetness on my face.

Well look at me getting all sappy and emotional.

I quickly wiped at my face. The others were probably thinking what was taking me so long. Knowing them, they had probably already decided that I was going to sleep with her.

I swear they were all perverts.

I didn't know how long I sat there, but after some time, I fell asleep as well, never letting her go.

There you go!

I had written like, 6/7 of this, and just needed to figure out the ending for a long time. I finally figured it out today! Also, since it was my birthday yesterday, I decided I might give you guys a present!

This chapter was great to write, and it made me feel fluffy and warm from the inside. Aren't Sam and Cady one of the cutest things ever?

I've been real busy with things these days, but ah well.

How have you guys been?

And how was the chapter?

Any new thoughts or theories?

I'd love to read them!

Well, I think that's enough for this author's note. If there are any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments or message me! I'm more than happy to talk to you guys. No spoilers though...

Ah, bye, I guess!