Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dawn hangs in the air, slowly melting away into morning. Sam spent the last forty or so hours with his progeny. This time of year is triggering for the pair of young vampires, and someone seems to be having a crisis every other day. Sam has spent the last forty hours or so juggling the chaos. 

As the sun begins to peek over the trees, Sam unlocks his front door and steps inside. Clearing his throat, he kicks off the sneakers had thrown on when he was in emergency mode. Sam knew that the moment he fell into bed he would easily sleep until it was dark out again. 

Sam has never been good at sleeping during the day and being awake at night thing. His sleep schedule is constantly bouncing around. It’s weird to feel his instincts almost clashing with each other, the vampiric side of him needing to sleep during the day and the human side of him refusing to sleep when the sun is out. There have been countless times that Sam has exhausted himself in an attempt to “fix” his sleep schedule, just for him to not be able to sleep because it’s light outside. 

Sam decided to get some things done before attempting to sleep though. He had been putting off laundry for a little too long and he needed to also wash the bag of clothes he took with him. As the lid to his old washing machine falls, Sam hears what he thinks is someone on his porch.

Pausing, he listens and feels for whatever it might be. 

A strong, familiar magical signature fills his senses. Sam can immediately identify the werewolf, moving to go to his front door. Sam pauses again though, they hadn’t knocked. 

Sam focuses further on them, sensing that they’re upset. They’re very upset. Sam can hear them sniffling and attempting to steady their breathing. 

A part of him wants to allow them this time to get themselves to calm down, they don’t want him to see them like this…but a significantly stronger part forces him to pull his door open. 

They’re bathed in the golden morning light. Despite their sadness, they look beautiful. Sam reaches an arm out as they turn to look at him. 

“I’m…I’m sorry.” They whisper, hugging themself as they almost step backward. 

Sam smiles softly. “It’s all right, Darlin’.” He whispers, knowing that telling them not to apologize won’t help. “Come in,” He gestures for them to come closer. 

They slowly walk closer, avoiding Sam’s touch as they step inside. 

Sam watches as they aimlessly stand at his front entrance. 

“Do you want to talk about what’s got you so upset?” Sam tries, taking a deep breath in an attempt to fight off his exhaustion. 

They shrug, before finally taking their boots off. Sam takes another deep breath before going to his kitchen. He knows how they take their toast. 

“When was the last time you ate?” He asks as they sit at his counter, the old barstool chair creaking a little. “Did you sleep or have you been up all night?”

They look like they're about to cry again, looking down at the countertop. “I…I slept a little bit yesterday afternoon.” They whisper, obviously trying not to cry. “I had dinner with some pack members last night and…ugh.” They take a shaky breath. 

“It didn’t go well?” Sam puts the toast in front of them. “Was David there?” 

“He was…he was kinda the problem.” They shrug. 

Sam frowns. “What did he do?” 

They sigh almost annoyed seeming. “It’s what he didn’t do. Or rather what none of them did. I was a little late to the pack meeting, which was fine but at the meeting, no one said a word to me. Not even David, and like, he almost always finds an excuse to say something to me. I don’t know, it wasn’t a big deal until dinner.” 

“Did something happen at dinner, or were you just feeling ignored?” 

“I wasn’t feeling ignored. I was being ignored.” They say. “Asher didn’t even talk to me.” Their voice breaks as they talk and Sam round the counter to stand next to them. 

“I’m sorry, Darlin’.” He whispers, offering a hug. 

They fall into his head first. Not moving off from the seat as their forehead lands on his collarbone. Sam chuckles, his hand running up and down their spine. “Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?” 

They smile softly, almost sadly. “You’ve already done it.” 

Sam nods, kissing the top of their head. “I’m sorry it’s been a shitty go for you.” 

They chuckle softly. “Me too,”

“Eat,” Sam lifts the toast off the plate, putting it in front of their mouth. “And then we can go to sleep. Because we both need it.”

“You’ve been having a rough go at it too?” They ask after biting into the toast. 

Sam steps away, brushing their hair back. “Fred’s been having a rough go,” He clarifies. 

“Right…” They’re focused on their food now, and Sam sits down next to them. 

“I was staying with him since Tuesday night.” 

“Oh damn,” They finish their first piece of toast. Sam smiles when their eyes land on him. “Is he all right?” 

“He’s better now…you don’t need to worry.” Sam assures them. 

They quietly finish their second piece of toast, Sam watches as they get up and get themself a glass of water. They smile at him from behind the glass, “Are you tired?” 

“Very.” Sam answers. 

“Me too.” They round the counter to him, Sam lets them slip their hand into his. “Take me to bed?” They smile sleepily. 

“Happily, Darlin’.” He stands up and walks them to his bedroom.

Sam gives them clothes to change into while he makes sure his black-out curtains are in place. They come out of the bathroom and changed into his baggy shirt. 

“You look…sleepy.” 

They giggle as they sit down on their side of the bed, Sam changes out of his jeans into sweatpants and just throws his shirt in the direction of his dirty clothes hamper. 

The couple gets under the covers together and finds themselves in their usual position. Sam laying on his back and their head on his chest. Habitually, their fingers gently run up and down his arm. 

In the familiar comfort, Sam feels himself drifting to sleep quite quickly. 

For a brief moment, he is jolted back awake by them shifting their legs into a different position. They take a deep breath, and Sam can feel their rising anxiety. 

His hands move to lie on their back, he moves his fingers in a small circular motion. “Go to sleep, baby.” He mutters. 

With that, they relax and drift off. Sam shortly follows them into slumber.

Chapter Text

You hadn’t been feeling that good almost all day, having returned to your apartment after work and passed out on your sofa. You could have easily slept all night if it wasn’t for a light knock on your door. 

Coming back to reality, you could feel throughout your entire body that something is wrong. Sweaty, heavy, tired…yeah, that sounds like an illness of some kind. 

Another knock gets your attention, and you fly off the sofa. Flight or fight kicks in as you unlock it and throw it open. Your tired mind was expecting the worse. 

But instead, you find the best. 

Sam. Grocery bags in his hands, a soft expression on his face. 

“Oh.” You sigh, stepping aside to let him in. “Did I…” You let the question die, too exhausted to talk at the moment. 

“You look like…well, yourself.” He replies, entering the apartment and walking to your kitchen. You ignore him (and the comment), making your way back to the sofa. 

Throwing yourself back down you could have easily fallen back asleep. 

“Darlin’?” Sam’s cold knuckles brush your cheek, and you grab his wrist to keep him where he is. “You’re burning up. Have you been feeling like this all day?”

You swallow, your mouth and throat irritated with dryness. “Kinda.” That was the truth, you were feeling perfectly fine this morning, it was around after you had lunch that you started feeling not right. Not exactly as bad as you feel now, but you could tell after eating that something was wrong. Maybe you have food poisoning? 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asks, using that sweet talker voice that always gets you. 

You open your eyes, looking up at him. “I don’t…I did?”

“You told me that you were feeling tired and that you thought you were getting a migraine. Not that you had a fever.” 

You take in a breath, he moves his hand to press his palm to your forehead. “I didn’t do it on purpose.” You slurred out. You wondered if he even understood what you had said.

Sam smiles, a fond warmness in his eyes. “I know…I just wanna give you shit.” 

You almost chuckle, but can’t bring yourself to. “I ugh, my head does hurt, but not like a migraine. I feel hot and nauseous.”

“You do feel nauseous?”

You nod. 

“All right…feel good enough to shower?”

You shake your head. 

“Okay.” Sam looks over at the kitchen. “How about you go and get into some comfortable clothes, then into bed and I’ll get some stuff ready to help you feel better.” 

“You sure?” You ask. 

Sam leans over, placing his lips near yours. “Of course, Darlin’.” He places a sweet kiss on your lips.

Taking your time, you get off the sofa and go to your bedroom. You get changed into pajamas and then crawl into bed. Your sheets are surprisingly cool. You find your TV remote and turn the TV on to a random show to fill the silence. 

You’re nearly sleeping again when Sam comes into the room. You listen to him carefully as he makes as little noise as possible. You open your eyes when you sense him standing in front of you. 

Sam has placed a water bottle on your nightstand, a new bag of your favorite chips, your phone on its charger, and two pill bottles. 

“I was surprised to see any medicine in your bathroom.” 

You let out a breathy chuckle, “You mean painkillers.”

“A lot of painkillers help with illness…here.” He hands you two pills and the water bottle. 

You swallow the pills dry, “Say illness again.” 

The two of you make silent eye contact for a moment. You could tell that he was debating on what to say to you. Either address the dry-swallowing of the medication, give into you, or talk about something else entirely.

“Illness.” He says while rolling his eyes. “What? Sound funny to you?”

“No…” You flush, dropping eye contact. “Illness is a funny word, nothing to do with how you talk.”

“You ask Milo to repeat himself all the time. It’s an accent thing. You have a thing with accents.” 

You chuckle, “Yeah? So?”

Sam places a gentle hand on your forehead, feeling your temperature. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired, a little better though.” 

“I’m glad. Can I lay with you?”

“I’m gonna fall asleep.” You warn. 

Sam moves to the other side of your bed, getting in with you. Sam chuckles as he reaches over to you to put his phone on your nightstand. 

You grab his hand, “Hold me?” You whisper, allowing yourself to feel and sound needy. 

Sam happily grabs you, pulling you into him, arms around you. “I love this.” He whispers. “Holding onto you.” 

You smile silently, pressing your face into his chest. Like always, you run your fingertips up and down his arm and back. It's a gentle reminder for both of you. That you’re here, with each other.

Chapter Text

You come around the back of the house, to see four large square planters with endless flowers in them. From what you could see, all of them are native Californian flowers. And then it hits you. 

They’re Sam’s flowers. Sam grows flowers in big planter boxes behind his house. Native flowers, so that they’re better for the environment, and also have a genuine chance at thriving. It’s very Sam. 

Turning your attention away from the flowers, you go up to his back porch and check his back door. It swings open to your surprise and disappointment. Having an unlocked door is not like Sam's. Not at all. 

You begin to mentally prepare your apology for essentially breaking into his house, kicking your boots off, and walking them to the shoe rack by the front door.

Coming into the kitchen for a drink, you notice his phone sitting on the counter. And that’s why he didn’t answer…he forgot his phone. Which is also unlike him. You click the home button (Sam’s phone still has a home button, you note) to see that he also has a missed call from Vincent. 

Weird. 

You get your drink and go to the living room. You’d love to lay in bed, but Sam doesn’t believe in having a TV in the bedroom. You lay down on the sofa, find the remote on the coffee table, and turn the TV on. 

You had signed Sam’s TV into David and his mate’s streaming services ages ago. David’s mate told you that they and David use his profile on it so that you could get away with using their profile without David noticing. 

You put on something for noise and bury your face into the throw pillow that always sits on the sofa. You assumed that Sam would eventually be back, and he has assured you countless times that if you come over and he isn’t home you’re welcome to be inside. 

After about forty minutes of laying on the sofa, you hear his truck pull into the driveway. A spike of anxiety hits you as you sit up. Turning the TV off and got up to wait at the door. 

Sam unlocks the door and steps inside. Once his eyes land on you, he smiles. “Darlin’.”

“Hi.” 

Sam doesn’t say anything, he doesn’t take his jacket or boots off as he walks up to you. Unexpectedly hugging you. 

“Oh,” You whisper in surprise, your arms flying up to hug him in return. “Sam?” 

“Sorry,” He says as he goes to pull away. You keep a tight hold on him, however, telling him silently that you want to stay in the hug. “I ugh…I’ve been having a bad day.” He admits, hugging you again. This time the hug is softer, just holding onto each other lightly. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” Sam isn’t one to talk about his thoughts and feelings that often, not because he doesn’t want to tell you or that he thinks he shouldn’t…he’s just bad at it. You’re trying to help him get better at it. 

“William called me at about three in the morning.” 

“Last night?”

“Yeah…ugh, he wanted to tell me that,” Sam pauses, looking away from you and at the floor. “Alexis has been…AWOL for two weeks now.”

“Oh.” 

“Neither of us expect her to come around me…she knows better, but he was kinda just letting us all know. Just in case.”

“I’m sorry.” You whisper, smiling softly. “You shouldn’t have to worry…about her.” 

“I’m not,” He cuts himself off. “I don’t.” 

“I know, I didn’t mean it to sound like that,” You admit, eyes drifting away from him. “I meant that William shouldn’t put that on you. I understand his intentions…but if this is the results then his intentions are…null and void.” You say, keeping your voice soft and careful. 

“I’m okay, darlin’.” Sam assures. “Now that you’re here.” 

You blush, putting your forehead against his collarbone to hide it. 

The two of you stand there like that just for a little while longer. Before you’re reminded of something. Sam smells like flowers. 

“Sam?” You look up at him. 

He gives you a curious look. 

“In your yard.” You start, and he looks confused for a moment. “You have flowers.” 

Sam blinks in surprise before he smiles softly. “I do,”

“They’re pretty, and you smell like them.” You explain. “I always noticed the smell, ugh,” You overthink your words for a moment. “You’ve always smelt like flowers and soil, I just never realized why or what from. I thought it was just your natural scent.” 

Sam chuckles. “You smell like…eucalyptus and coffee.” 

“My shampoo is eucalyptus scented and…I drink a lot of coffee.” You giggle. 

“I know.”

You smile. Of course, he knows. It’s Sam. 

Chapter Text

“How’d you get it?” Sam asks, almost in a rush. 

Darlin has a moment of pause, looking over at the vampire. “Ugh,”

Sam wants to tell them they don’t have to say…but he needs to know. 

“How?” Darlin is grinning now, and Sam is hit with a wave of relief. “I won it in a bet.” 

“What was the bet?” 

“That I was the fastest wolf in the pack…which isn’t true anymore.” They chuckle, looking upwards at the starry night. “I was…thirteen? Or maybe I was twelve? I can’t even remember now.” 

Sam also looks up at the sky, wondering what has caught their attention. 

“I had issues back then.”

“Back then?” Sam whispers, sarcastically. 

They ignore his remark. “I was in and out of foster care. My parents were pack hoppers. I never really knew stability. Not until I met…” They swallow, looking away from the stars and Sam. “Gabe.” 

Sam understood immediately. 

“It’s not abnormal for pups to have their bouts of friendly competition. It lead to a lot of different shows of strength, most of the time as wolves, but sometimes it was arm wrestling contest, or holding our breathes at the lake, or climbing trees…or whatever other shit we would think of. We were bored, I guess.”

Sam chuckles. 

“I was younger than everyone, but I was…I don’t know, I’m different,”

“What do you mean?” 

“I was eleven the first time I shifted. That’s…abnormal. So abnormal that it catches the attention of others. My parents, they,” Darlin pauses, thinking about how to finish what they’re saying. “They didn’t like all the eyes on me.”

“Darlin’?” Sam whispers. “What’re you getting at?” 

“My parents didn’t join the Shaw Pack, not really. They joined to get me in, and then dipped only a few days later. I don’t,” Darlin swallows their anger and sadness. “I don’t know where they are, or if they’re even alive.”

Sam doesn’t know what to say. So he remains quiet. 

“Gabe became my legal guardian. And he…he took that position seriously.” They smile, and Sam is relieved. “Anyway. I was obsessed with Gabe, I-I never really knew a connection like that before. He was my whole world, especially when I was younger.”

“Let me guess?”

“The jacket was Gabes,” They confirm with a smile. 

“And you won it in a bet against David?”

“And Asher and Christian, technically . But okay, so on the first day of our camping trip that year, David found the jacket buried somewhere and asked his dad if he could have it. Gabe told him that he had gotten the jacket the same summer that he met David’s mom…” They pause, before snickering a little. “So basically, David got it from Gabe, and I got…jealous. Because I was possessive and weird with Gabe, I got all angry and sometime during the trip, I challenged David to a race as wolves. The winner got the jacket. And mind you, I had been trying all kinds of tricks and shit to get the jacket as it was. So David thought he’d get an easy win out of it.”

Sam laughs, nodding along to the story. 

“And I had agreed that if I lost, I would stop bugging him about the jacket.” Darlin is smiling like a devil. “But ugh, yeah, David, I, Asher, and, Christian did one lap around the lake. Milo wanted to but his dad wouldn’t let him. I ugh, I barely made it. But Amanda and Milo both agreed that I did beat Ash, who also beat David, I might add. And so…David gave me the jacket. He didn’t even throw a fit or tell Gabe about it or anything.” 

“Well, damn Darlin’ that is…quite the story.” 

“That’s not where it ends.” Darlin quickly interjects. “Gabe noticed I was wearing the jacket. And I mean, I know it seems obvious but David and I didn’t exactly get along, so Gabe thought it was weird that I was wearing it. But, so Gabe asked me where I got it and,” They pause, frowning.

“And?”

“I thought I was in trouble, so I started panicking. My parents were always so…mean when I would do something wrong and I thought that Gabe would get angry, so I’m standing there, hyperventilating because Gabe asked me where I got the jacket. Milo’s mom was trying to comfort me and I just remember being so…scared.” 

Sam can’t help the concerned look on his face. 

“And then David came up and was like, ‘oh, I gave it to them’.”

“And?”

“I started to calm down because David telling Gabe that made Gabe smile, so I knew he wasn’t mad. Gabe then like did that thing where he sat us down and explained the original story behind the jacket.”

“Which was?”

“He bought it because it matched his favorite pair of jeans, and then later that same summer he met David’s mom. I mean, it’s a special story to Gabe, and I’m sure it’s special to David…but the story I gave it is,” They hesitate for a moment. “More exciting?”

Sam laughs lightly, “It’s defiantly…something, Darlin’.”

Darlin smiles up at him. “You think so?” 

“Of course…and I wouldn’t say you won it in a bet.” 

“What?” Darlin snaps happily. 

Sam smiles wickedly and Darlin’ is already rolling their eyes. “I’d say it was a gift from David. Because that’s how you got to keep it.” 

“Oh! Shut up! It is not a gift from David!” 

“I don’t know Darlin’...” Sam throws his arm around their shoulders. “I think that David thinks that.”

“You’ve gotta be fucking, kidding me.” They mutter to themsleves. Sam imagines that they’re mentally plotting how to murder David and hide the body without anyone noticing. 

Sam leans in close, causing them to pause. He places a delicate kiss on their cheek, “I love you, Darlin’.”

Chapter Text

Darlin takes a step back, seeing if the bed is in the center of the wall. Nodding to themself as they shove it a little bit more to the left. As they go to step back again, they didn’t realize their pant leg got caught on the sharp edge of the metal bed frame. Darlin falls forward as the motion of trying to pull their pants knocks out their other leg from under them. 

As soon as their face comes in contact with a nightstand, they realize just how nasty of a fall it is. And then Sam is next to them, trying to help them up. 

“What happened?” 

Darlin puts their hand to their nose, it’s throbbing in pain. “I fucking fell.”

Sam is quiet, staring at their face. 

Darlin looks up at him, wondering why he is just staring at them. “What? What is it?” Darlin’s brain goes to the worse place, wondering if there is a fucking nail in their forehead or something. 

“You’re bleeding,” Is all Sam says as he reaches out to pull their hand away from their face. Darlin fights him a bit, the pressure is making the pain not as bad. “I know it hurts, darlin.” He whispers as he successfully pulls their hand away. 

Darlin watches as he makes a face of surprise, very gently touching their nose. “Ain’t broken.” He says, which is surprising to both of them. 

“It hurts really fucking badly.” 

“I know, I know…you’re getting blood everywhere.” Sam grabs the front of their already blood-stained shirt and lifts it to put to their nose to catch the blood. “C’mon.”

Darlin takes his hand and lets the vampire lead them to the bathroom. “I’m sorry,” They mutter as he sits them down on the toilet lid. 

“Don’t go apologising for something that isn’t your fault. Accident happen.” Sam says, grabbing an unopened first aid kit from under the sink. “New this thing would come in handy…now that you’re around.” 

Darlin looks away as they focus on holding their shirt to the bleeding. Sam leaves the bathroom, quickly returning with a frozen bag of peas. “Here, put this cloth under your nose to catch the blood and put this over your nose to help with the pain. 

“I should take my shirt off.” Darlin says, voice quiet. 

Sam makes a confused face but nods as he helps them pull the shirt off without getting more blood all over themself. 

Darlin does as Sam told them, and Sam leans against the bathroom counter. “It’s not broken, but I’ll bandage it when the bleeding stops.” 

Darlin stays quiet, nodding softly. 

“What’s wrong, darlin?”

“I…” They sigh, “I don’t know.” 

Sam just looks at them, seeming to be thinking. “Pain is…rough. It can sometimes bring you to a bad place, in your head.”

Darlin nods, confirming to Sam that this is what’s going on. 

“What do you need, darlin?”

Darlin smiles weakly, “Can I have a hug?”

Sam sighs with a smile. “Of course you can have a hug.” Sam very gently wraps his arms around them, kissing their head. “I’m sorry you got hurt,”

Darlin chuckles, wrapping their arms around his waist. “You make it better.”