After - The Society Fanfic.

21.

"Right. So. Right." Grizz sat, his head resting on top of his hands, staring at the half-eaten brownie on the table. He had been repeating the same two words for a good thirty seconds now. Sam hadn't moved either, staring straight at Grizz. That wasn't helping. Grizz couldn't quite process the information he was hearing. One. Sam isn't the real father. Gwen hadn't known that either and boy did she go off on one for a second. Immediately chastising the two for putting Grizz through that pain and then claiming she knew it; she'd known all along. Two. Becca refuses to say who the father is and for the rest of Eden's life it will be Sam. No matter what, Sam is the father. Three. Becca apologised for her reaction and doesn't want to get in the way of Sam and Grizz. However, she's not quite sure how to manage this. She's also not promising she won't have other freakouts, it's a big thing to trust everyone to be there and not forget about her.

This brings them to where they are now. Grizz talking like a broken computer, staring at a half-eaten brownie whilst Sam intensely watches him. Gwen's making another pot of tea, whilst Becca's not wandering about the café, trying to calm a restless Eden. Grizz isn't sure what he's feeling. He's not quite sure what he's meant to do now. He's slightly annoyed with Sam but also sorta ecstatic that he could hold him again, feel his touch against his skin again without the shame or guilt that shrouded it before. He shifts uncomfortably as something twitches in his crotch. Maybe it's best not to focus on that right now.

"I'm sorry." Sam's whisper echoes across everyone to Grizz. He glances up. He's fed up of seeing the pain in those eyes. "I'm sorry I have to keep apologising." Grizz scoffs slightly.

"Yeah, starting to sound like a broken record." He offers Sam his lopsided smile which fades for a second as Gwen scoffs in his direction. "What?"

"This coming from the guy who literally just spent like two minutes saying Right, so, Right, over and over again." She rolls her eyes as she tops up everyone's drinks. Grizz continues to stare exasperated at her but nods a thank you for the tea. She smiles.

"Look, you are Eden's father. I think we all know that it's not just about blood when it comes to parenting. I mean I wish you'd told me, but I get why you didn't." He reaches out to hold Sam's hand and hesitates. Sam grabs it and squeezes gently. They both smile, warmth floods through Grizz. Gwen coughs and Grizz turns to Becca. "I, I honestly don't know what to say. I want to say sorry and thank you and... Becca I don't want to take Sam away from you and Eden, I'd never want that."

"No, I know that deep down. Just with everything that's happened and been happening, it's hard not to get a bit selfish sometimes." She glances towards Grizz and Sam's hand intertwined. She expected to feel nervous, scared for what this meant for her family but instead, she felt relieved. The joy sparkling behind Sam's eyes as he stares at Grizz talking away is heart-warming. How could she be so selfish? At least Gwen brought some sense to her. Here's hoping that sense lasts.

"So am I going to get a thank you?" Becca and Grizz turn to face a smug looking Gwen. Sam glances at Becca, who clumsily, one-handed, signs what she said. Sam stares at Gwen deadpan. "Oh, come on! If it hadn't been for me, you three would all be leading miserable lives. Gwen saved the day!" Their expressions don't change at all.

"So humble, Gwen." Becca's dry tone causes Gwen's eyes to narrow. Grizz smiles.

"Thank you, Gwen." Grizz rolls his eyes as he says it, but he means it. She did do good, even if she went behind his back. "However, you aren't completely off the hook. You did go behind my back; did you even have a meeting with Kelly?" The mention of Kelly causes Gwen to jump to her feet, diving behind the counter and pulling out a thick binder and notepad. She dumps it onto the table, Grizz and Sam only just managing to move their hands before it landed. The loud bang it makes causes Eden to cry again. Becca glares once more towards Gwen, before circling and shushing around the café floor once more. Gwen smiles an apology towards her, before turning her attention back to Grizz. "Five am's on Sunday, it's the only time she can do." Grizz rubs his face as Gwen pats him on the back. Becca reappears, coat on, Gwen's coat in her other hand. Sam stands.

"No, no, it's fine. I can't get her down here, I'm going to go to a loop of town. Gwen can accompany me since she's the one that startled her. You guys stay." She smiles at them both. It feels weird. Everyone admits to themselves it feels weird but not wrong. Sam signs something and Becca signs something back to him. Grizz really needs to start taking lessons off Sam again.

Sam helps with getting Becca and Eden outside. Gwen gives one cheeky wink before they start to walk away. Sam turns and stares at Grizz. Grizz doesn't have a moment to think as Sam strides towards him with all the confidence he had the day he left on the expedition. He cups Grizz's head and kisses him. With Grizz still sitting he has to tilt his head back; he can't help but love being the smaller one for a change. However, the want bubbling inside him causes him to rise, picking Sam up as he does so. Sam laughs for a second, the giddiness causing him to feel a little light headed. They rest their foreheads on each other's, Grizz setting Sam on the café's counter. His eyes are shut. For a moment it feels surreal, it's a dream. The person he's holding isn't real. This café isn't real. Today hasn't been real. When he opens his eyes again, he'll wake to the lonely silent house. Sam kisses him again and Grizz can feel the smile he has.

"Is this real?" Sam can't hear him. He knows he can't, but he needed to say it. However, he felt it, felt Grizz move slightly. Sam goes to pull back so he can see his lips, figure out what was just said but Grizz pulls him back in. No. He's not going anywhere. He shakes his head slightly and Sam melts into Grizz, their heads sliding to rest on each other's shoulders for a moment, enjoying the embrace.

Sam is the first to pull back and Grizz finally opens his eyes. The dazzling smile of Sam is still in front of him. It's definitely not a dream. "This is a bit weird." Sam laughs and Grizz just continues to smile, in awe of the man in front of him. His heart swells and aches as it just grows too big for his chest. He didn't think he'd be this happy right now.

"Yeah. But also, happy." Sam laughs, Grizz can't help but follow suit. It's the giddiness, joy, and everything just rolled into one coming out in booming laughter. They don't realise they're crying until the tears fall from their faces, dampening their clothes. Grizz rubs his face and for once wipes a tear away from Sam. "Well damn. I thought I was all cried out."

Grizz strokes Sam's cheek and slowly leans in to kiss him. This kiss is a softer one, an intimate one. Everything Grizz has ever wanted to say to Sam is being told in this kiss. He doesn't understand how that is possible but the way Sam grips him lets him know he feels it. This isn't a hungry kiss, it's not a celebratory one, it's so much more. It's freedom and joy bursting through him, it's the electricity dancing between them. Nothing matters anymore, time doesn't matter anymore, it's just them and this kiss.

Grizz leans forward slightly, placing his hands on the counter. Or at least he tried. The bruised hand smacks against the counter sending Grizz backwards, jumping up and down in pain. Sam is confused for a moment, slightly disorientated from the intensity of the kiss before laughing at the jumping Grizz. "Fuck. God. Fuck." Sam slips off the counter and takes the hand. Grizz had reopened a few of the cuts. He sighs.

"This better not be a usual occurrence." Grizz shoots a glare towards Sam. However, it just comes across as a sad puppy stare. Sam smiles, lifting the hand to his mouth, his lips lightly brushing his fingers, avoiding the cuts. "No more punching concrete."

"I mean if I have too, it'll be tough, but I guess." Sam raises an eyebrow, feeling the sarcasm dripping off Grizz's words. "You're hanging out with Gwen too much." They smile at each other once more, before sitting back down again reaching for a brownie. Grizz bats his hand away.

"I wouldn't. Gwen made them." Sam grimaces, reaching for his tea instead. It's gone slightly cold, but he doesn't mind. Grizz's arm rests around him. This may be one of the last moments of genuine peace and quiet they can have. Allie and Will's trial is in two days. Whatever is to come of that, they both know peace and quiet will not be a part of it.