Archive of Our Own ^beta

You need to... socialize. Ugh.

You're distantly aware that you're a little grumpy from being up at dawn for the past month just so you could plant things in front of your farm. You're not used to this, all right? Your old boring office life was a regular nine to five, so getting up at six every single day has been a trial, to say the least. You definitely don't regret moving but you do miss sleeping in.

There's music playing distantly at the other side of the field from Pierre's booth, and there's a young blond woman in the middle of the field doing... something. She looks like she's vibing to the music, you guess, and you decide you don't want to bother her.

You approach Willy and Gus and Clive because you've had to talk to them before for various chores as you got settled in, so you kinda know them. You talk to Jodi because she asked you for a parsnip the other day and she was nice about it, and you talk to Robin and Demetrius because they know you and they're nice.

The wizard's here. You eye his cowboy hat, cowboy boots and cape, and remember when you saw him do actual real magic in front of you. They sure didn't have that shit in the city. There's also another guy in a cape with an eyepatch and a sword that you don't know, but you go talk to him 'cuz why not. For a remote town in the middle of nowhere, Pelican Town sure has picked up some strange folks.

Eventually you make your rounds and say hi to all the people who look like they have children or are over 40, which just leaves all the people around your own age group.

God, socializing is not your strong suit.

You notice all the young adults are actually dressed up, and you have a tiny freak-out. Were you supposed to wear something nice? Oh god. Were you supposed to like... dance with someone? Like, you know the event title has the word "dance" in it but you don't even know anyone! You don't want to dance with a practical stranger.

You see two of the youths talking by the river. They're both ginger with long hair, and they look nice enough so you approach them and ask for a dance, only to get soundly rejected by each. You also learn their names are Leah and Elliot, but you're stinging a little too much right now to care.

You take a deep breath and move on. There's yet another redhead by a tree looking extremely nervous, but she looks kind and tells you her name is Penny. You make small talk and she worries about remembering the dance moves. When you ask her to dance, at least she's nice about saying no.

You survey the field again and recognize the group of the more alternative looking youth in the corner. One of the men is pretty tall with dark hair that's messy, his bangs uneven. The less tall one is blond and his body language screams energetic. The woman is small with long wavy purple hair. The three of them together give you edgy vibes, but you're not mad about it. You trust they won't immediately neg you, at least.

When you approach them, they turn to look at you expectantly. You try the small talk thing again and almost regret it because it seems dark hair and purple hair very much do not want to be here. The taller guy hates the flower dance so much, talking about it makes him dig in his pockets for a pack of smokes.

You look at the blond guy in their group, who looks mostly amused at his friends' responses to being here. He must be used to it by now.

"How about you?" you ask, already expecting his answer to be the same as his friends'. He'll tell you he hates it here, that he doesn't want to dance or deal with people. (Not that you can't relate, but it's a bummer to be so abruptly negative with someone who just met you.)

"Okay, I'll admit it..." Blondie says, leaning in a little like he's about to tell you a secret. After talking to his friends, you fully expect it to be something like 'I hate everyone here and flowers are stupid and dancing is dumb.' That's why the surprise hits you like a truck when his face lights up in a huge smile and he exclaims, "I really like flowers!"

His two goth friends roll their eyes at him but they look fond about it. You don't quite notice because you're too busy looking at the dimples by his mouth and the simple contentment of his expression. You suddenly feel inclined to buy all the flower seeds at Pierre's so you can start a flower garden and give a flower to this man every day, if he likes them so much.

Shit, are you in love?

"Dance with me," you blurt out, and then try not to blush. The three friends are looking at you kind of funny so you barrel on. "For the thing. Later." You gesture vaguely at the empty stretch of field where the blond from earlier is still dancing(?) and regret barrelling on.

Blondie laughs, and you want to hear it again immediately. "I figured," he says, dry humour in his tone. "We just met though. I don't even know your name. Maybe next year?"

You definitely blush this time and introduce yourself before nodding. "Yeah, next year," you say.

You learn that his name is Sam, that the tall dark haired one is Sebastian and the woman is Abigail. When Mayor Lewis finally starts off the main event, you watch the young(ish) adults pair up in the middle, and you end up watching from the side.

Sebastian and Abigail look very much like they hate it there as they dance together, but they know all the steps and they look elegant when they step back and forth, even though it's clear they're doing it begrudgingly.

Sam is dancing with Penny, and you watch them. For all that she was nervous when you talked to her, Penny's doing great and she looks really cute as her dress twirls. She's smiling faintly. Sam holds her hand firmly, and he confidently steps back and forth--he looks like he's having fun.

Your eyes stay on Sam and his grin and the way he moves with energy bursting from his seams, and you decide right then and there that you're gonna marry him.

First things first though: you're going to woo him, and you're going to do it right.

The next day, you go to Pierre's as soon as it opens and buy the flowers you're reasonably certain everyone in town likes.

You go home and start a little garden, and when you're finished you survey your land. It's done, and you'll be able to start picking and giving flowers to people in about a week and a half.

You grin. You're gonna date the shit out of Sam.

(It's suspicious and you're 98% sure he's a ghost, but hey, if that's the way to be romantic in Pelican Town, who are you to go against tradition? You know Sam will love it and that's all that matters.)

Oh right! Sam's letter. You open it, and it says he wants to meet you tonight by his house. You fold up the letter and stick it in your pocket, excited for your meeting with him. Your farm chores feel like they take a million years because you can't stop thinking about the charming blond boy you know you love and what he might want to talk to you about later.

Finally the sun sets. It's after eight and you figure that's late enough to meet with Sam, so you wash up and head out.

You see Sam sitting on the step in front of his house, his leg bouncing. He looks a little nervous. The porch light casts him in soft yellows and you feel softer looking at him.

He must hear you coming because his head snaps up, and the nervous expression on his face washes away, replaced by a happy smile. "You came!"

"Of course I did," you reply, stepping up to him. You spend a moment looking into each others' eyes like dumbasses in love, but you can admit that's what you are. You certainly feel like it right now.

His eyes dip down to your mouth and then he kisses you. Quick, chaste. Still gets your heart fluttering though.

"Hi," he says, leaning his forehead on yours.

"Hi," you say back, quiet into the intimate space between you.

He breathes in and then takes a step back. "I wanted to talk to you in private..." he starts, then casts a look around him. "It's kinda cold out here though, let's sneak into my room."

You squint at him. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, come on!" He chuckles and heads toward his bedroom window, at the front of the house by a porch plant. He sticks his fingers under the sill and jimmies the window open. You're not above staring at the way his shoulder blades shift under his denim jacket and how his forearms tense, peeking out from his folded sleeves.

You watch his ass in his skinny brown pants, more attractive than they should be on him, as he lifts his leg and steps into his bedroom, and that's when you're taken out of the moment. Right, you're sneaking into his bedroom. Like you're both teenagers and not in your early-to-mid-twenties.

Sam holds out a hand to help you inside and you find yourself charmed by him anyways. Whatever, you didn't actually do any sneaking when you were young(er), so you take this as a life experience that's coming to you later than anticipated.

Doesn't stop you from more firmly committing yourself to getting Sam moved into your farm. No sneaking when the property's all yours!

You take Sam's hand and he lifts you up so easily, you feel like you don't weigh as much as you know you do. You put away any thoughts you might have related to this realization. For now, anyway.

Once inside his room, he closes the window and then takes your hand again, using it to drag you into the middle of his bedroom. You've been there before, and you find comfort in his green carpets and the instruments strewn around. He lets go of your hand and takes a step back, until you're standing a polite distance apart.

"So..." he says, and he looks nervous. You raise your eyebrows. It's rare that Sam looks anything but confident and excited. He bites his lip, and your brows raise further. He's blushing, you think to yourself with mild surprise, and you start blushing too. Holy shit???

"I know I've been talking about nothing but the band for a while now," he continues, "but I don't want you to think that's all I'm interested in." Holy shit! You're definitely blushing now.

"Um... Er... What I mean is..." Sam rubs the back of his head shyly, taps at the floor with his toes. This man has been paid to sing and perform in front of large crowds, and he's barely coherent in front of you right now. You want to hold him forever. "Well, I'm really happy that we've grown so close." He's so fetching with his cheeks so red. He chuckles and it's a little self-deprecating, he seems so embarrassed.

You smile at him, heart going a mile a minute. "Sam..." you start, stepping closer and reaching for his hand. The words 'me too' are almost out of your mouth, but you're interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

"Sam?" Jodi asks. Holy shit, is his mom really knocking? Right now? Sam startles so bad he jumps about a foot in the air, and Jodi announces she's coming in.

"Quick!" Sam hisses at you. "Hide in the bed!"

You dive into the bed and burrow underneath his sheets at the same time you hear the door open. You know you said you'd accept this as a late life experience, but you didn't want it to be accurate to the point of getting cock blocked by your boyfriend's mom. You feel distinctly too old for this. Sam better move into the farm asap.

Jodi tells Sam she heard weird noises (which, what? What weird noises? You weren't even touching for most of that conversation) and she asks if he was doing something bad (you wish). He says he was just doing push-ups and you resist the urge to snicker--he's so bad at lying.

His mom giggles--actually giggles--and says, "That's why you're all red and sweaty." Again, you resist laughing at your boyfriend. Jodi will catch you in his bed if you make any movements.

They finally make their good night pleasantries and Jodi leaves the room.

Sam is still a very bright red. "That was close," he sighs, swiping a hand over his face in exasperation.

You finally let yourself laugh, albeit quietly so his mom doesn't come back in asking about more weird noises. Sam huffs too. "That was so awkward," he groans, rubbing his face into his hands like if he scrubs at his face hard enough, it could undo the last five minutes of your lives.

You take pity on him and lift the corner of his bedsheets in invitation. You find you're comfortable underneath them but wouldn't mind some extra company. "Come on, Sammy," you say with a fond smile.

He looks at you in his bed with his eyes full of appreciation and almost reverence. It makes you feel a little shy and you make up for it by flapping the hand with the besheet still in it and giving him an expectant look.

Sam's face is still red but he takes up your invitation and slides underneath the sheets, right next to you.

"By the way," you say quietly, trying not to hide from his gaze. There's something big in it, something important that makes you nervous and excited all at once. "I'm happy we've grown so close too."

Sam's face breaks into the softest smile you've ever seen on his face. It makes your heart ache, seeing him looking at you like this. You know it's an expression just for you, and you know you'll hold it close to your soul forever.

He leans in close enough that you practically feel his eyelashes brushing your face. "I knew there was something special between us," he whispers, and while you're still processing what he said, he presses his lips against yours.

You breathe in through your nose and respond eagerly, pressing back with just as much fervour. The moment feels precious in a way you can barely grasp.

He moves in and presses more of his weight onto you until all you're aware of is Sam from every angle. Your legs tangle while your lips stay busy. His hand brushes up your side and finds its way underneath your shirt, hot on your lower back. You tug at his jacket until he gets the idea and removes it completely, tossing it off to the side. He pauses for a nervous moment and then removes his shirt too, a shy but determined look in his eyes. The blush he's been sporting on his face all night has delightfully traveled down his neck and chest, and you lick your lips, wondering how far the blush might go.

Wonderfully, you get to find out.

You wake up slowly, and the first thing you're aware of is the heat pressed up against your side and across your stomach. You yawn and stretch, and the heat at your side shifts and grumbles, burrows his head further into the crook of your neck and tightens his hold around your waist. You huff and brush your fingers through his hair.

Sam's cute in the morning, even with the drool starting down his chin. You eye his bare shoulder and his mussed hair and you smirk. That was a good night.

A glance at the window tells you the sun hasn't quite risen yet, which means you're on time for your farm chores. Your chicken especially will miss you if you don't get back soon.

"Sammy," you whisper, shaking him. "Sammy, let go. I have to feed my chickens."

He blinks a few times before squinting at you, and then he smiles. "Morning, babe," he says.

You chuckle. "Morning." You lean in and kiss his temple. "I have to go."

He pouts and kisses your cheek and then your shoulder and then your neck. He lingers at your neck and you shiver. "Are you sure?" he asks, adorable pout audible in his voice. You are genuinely tempted, but then you remember what happens when your chickens get metaphorically peckish: they get literally peckish too, and you get the pleasure of rubbing ointment into bruises in many unfortunate places.

"I'm sure," you reply, regretful. "I'll find you later today though, promise."

Sam smiles at you. "Good." He leans in and presses another kiss to your cheek and squeezes you a little tighter for a second before letting you go.

You get out from underneath the covers and shiver in the less-warm air of the room in general, and then cast about for your clothes. You hop a little to tug your farm jeans back on and when you glance at Sam, you find him watching you intently from his place under the still warm covers. You blush and he smirks, which makes you shake your head but you're smiling. You slip your shirt on quick and head for his window, sliding it open so you can slip out again.

"Love you," you hear from the bed.

You turn back to Sam and blow him a kiss. Cheesy but it makes Sam grin. "Love you too," you reply.

You stick your foot out the window and straddle the sill while you shift so you have both legs out the window. When you stick your head out to follow, you hear a clatter.

Just to your right and underneath the window sill outside is Jodi, crouched by the porch plant. Her watering can is on the ground, all its water seeping out, and she is staring at you, dumbfounded.

You stare back for a second and then laugh nervously, and very loudly for the quiet streets of Pelican Town before dawn. "Good morning, Jodi," you say with a wave of your hand, forcing as much cheer into your voice as possible. Maybe if you pretend this is all normal, everything will be less awkward.

"Good... good morning," Jodi replies weakly.

You hop out the window and close it from the outside. "Have a good day, yeah?" You wave again, possibly a little too aggressively, and skip out of Sam's front yard without waiting for her reply. You hope it looks like a jaunty morning skip, and not like you're about to make a break for it.

That's it. Sam is moving in with you tomorrow.

He's still in bed now, actually.

"You okay, baby?" you ask, sitting on your shared bed by his hip.

He looks up at you from his pillow and gives you a soft smile. "Yeah, babe. Just don't feel like getting up today, you know? One of those days."

You dated Sam for the better part of a year, and you've been married to him for a month and a half. You know that maybe the both of you moved a little fast but your heart still soars when you think of him as "my husband" and you're confident in the fact that he's gonna be the one for you forever.

And it's not the first time he's been like this. He's trusted you enough to be vulnerable around you before, and it makes you happy that he feels he can be himself with all his flaws, and that you feel the same.

It doesn't make you happy to see him feeling so down, but you know you're going to be there for him to keep him company while his brain does this. Not many people know that Sam, who goes around town being a mischievous ray of sunshine, has days and sometimes weeks and weeks of this. You love him more for just telling you instead of trying to hide it.

You reach out and comb your fingers through his blond hair, soft and spread out on the pillow. His eyelashes flutter and he leans into your hand, and you lean down to press a kiss to his lips. "I'll be back soon," you whisper, leaning your forehead on his.

"Love you," he says back quietly.

"Love you too."

You head out the door and do all your many, many chores around the farm, then head into town to run errands. On your way out, you stop by the Saloon and buy three pizzas because you know it's Sam's favourite, and when you get back to the house it's still afternoon.

Sam's still lying in bed, but it looks like he's actually sleeping. You stick the pizzas in the fridge and change into house clothes and then climb right back into your spot in the bed.

The jostling stirs Sam a little. "Babe?" he asks, voice rough.

"It's me," you say quietly, scooting right up to his back and wrapping your arms around his waist as much as you can. You bury your face in the back of his neck and breathe him in, and he squirms a little.

"Not the back of the neck, it's ticklish!" he says.

"I know," you reply with a smirk. He huffs out something like a chuckle.

He turns in the circle of your arms until he's facing you. Despite having just woken up from extra sleep, he still looks quite tired, but there's amusement on the lines of his mouth. "You're back early," he says.

You smile at him. "Missed you."

He looks at you for a moment. "You don't need to keep me company, you know. I know myself, I know this'll pass."

"I know," you reply, "but I love you. If you're gonna be in a bed all day and I realize I can finish up early to join you, of course I'm gonna."

Sam bites his lip. "I'm not in the mood to do anything," he says. There's a little bit of regret in his tone, but it's clear his decision is firm. 

"That's fine," you say. "Wasn't expecting anything. I just want to be with you." Sam's lips quirk up and then he leans in and presses his mouth to yours. You open your mouth and kiss him back, and you spend an extended moment just feeling, lying down in your soft cushy bed with your husband in your arms. He nips at your lower lip and it makes you giggle.

He pulls back and moves so he can push his face into your neck. "I wouldn't mind some cuddles, then, if you'll be staying."

"Of course," you reply, wrapping your arms more firmly around him. He breathes out and it sounds like relief. You're happy to be there with him. "Any time."