Archiving: Ask, and ye shall receive. Just ask first. Oh, I am so cranky without my meds.

Rating: PG/ Angst, angst, and oh look, more angst. I am the Queen of minor angst. Any one think it's time for a promotion?

Summary: The title kinda says it all. Jane and Sam have that little chat.

Couple: Sam/Brooke

Spoilers: Any episode is fair game. So is my first Popular story, Strange Road to Salvation.

Feedback: Please, my feedback monster is severely undernourished seeing as I don't let my normal beta reader, my sister, read my Popular or Buffy/Willow fics (it has to do with the whole me-being-in- the-back-of-the-deep-dark-closet thing. Oh, so that's where that shoe went. I was looking for that.) So please, feedback is appreciated so I know whether to keep writing or to slam my fingers in a piano to prevent me from ever writing again.

Warning: If the idea of two women involved in a romantic relationship together disturbs you, run, run far far away and never look back. If it's illegal where you live, move quickly. Other than that, enter at your own risk, and enjoy.

Disclaimer: Gee, still not mine, but looking to buy, who's with me? I got $80 and some autographed Farscape cards.

Author's Notes: Just playing with the inevitable `How will Mom and Mike react' scenario. I thought I'd tackle Mom first. Let me know what you think. My muse is now a certifiable speed freak.

Section 1: Mom
|~ Bombs Away ~|~ After The Smoke Clears ~|~ X-Rated Twister ~|

Section 1: Mom

BOMBS AWAY

"Sam," Jane started as she sat down to join Sam at the table for breakfast. "Can we talk?" Sam looked up at her mother and was instantly alarmed. Seventeen years of living with her mother had trained her to interpret certain facial expressions well. And the one Jane was wearing now meant one of two things: either she was in trouble or her mother had bad news. Since she had just cleaned her room and could think of nothing else she could have done to get herself in trouble, Sam figured her mother must have bad news.

"Sure, Mom, what's the scoop?" Sam asked, as her mother seemed to hedge. Jane sighed. Alarm bell number two.

"I'm not sure how to go about talking about this," Jane explained. Alarm bell number three.

"Can't be that bad, Mom. We've always had a relationship were we could talk about anything so, lay it on me." Sam felt a little hypocritical about that last part seeing as how she had yet to tell her mother about the fact that she was in a romantic relationship with Brooke.

But everytime the two of them discussed telling their parents that the reason they were getting along so well and seemed so close lately was because they were, well, close, they always ended up playing out the worst case scenarios. One of them always ended up either in Siberia or buried in the deep forests of Washington State. Neither one of them could manage to be optimists about the outcome of their parents discovering their relationship. They were in no way ashamed by it; in fact, they'd shout it from the mountain tops if they could (insert Sound of Music joke here) but they knew Mike and Jane were not going to take the news well.

"I've always felt that way, Sam, but lately it doesn't seem that way anymore." If the bells in Sam's head got any louder she was sure Jane would be able to hear them.

"Why not?" (Ask a loaded question and you're going to get a loaded answer) Sam warned herself.

"You've been keeping things from me," Jane pointed out. Sam looked away ashamed.

"I told you that copy of Playboy was Carmen's," (when all else fails, deflect the topic and then blame someone else) Jane sighed again.

"When were you going to tell me about you and Brooke?" Sam choked on a mouthful of Rice Krispies and Jane had to pound her on the back to clear her airway.

"What about us?" Sam rasped after clearing her lungs. (Wasn't expecting that one)

"Sam," Jane said in a warning tone. Sam chose to ignore it.

"I mean, yeah we're getting along well lately. So what? We can't be expected to hate each other forever especially now that Mac's around. I mean what kind of environment is that for her to grow up in?" Sam babbled, using her best known defense, words, to keep her mother from the truth. Her mother shook her head.

"Sam, honey, I know about you and Brooke�" Sam interrupted her, continuing her rant.

"And she was there for me after Nicole hit me with her car. OK, so Nic was aiming for her, but still, Brooke never left my side. That sort of thing brings people closer, you know?" Jane put her hand over Sam's to get her attention.

"Sam stop," Jane commanded gently. Sam looked up and to Jane, she looked absolutely terrified. "I'm not talking about that. I think that it's great that the two of you got past your differences, but I know there's more to it." Sam shrugged.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sam lied. She did, she was just praying that Jane didn't.

"That's what I mean, Sam. You never used to lie to me. But you've been doing it for a while now. Don't you feel that you can talk to me anymore?" Jane sounded hurt and it broke Sam's heart.

"Sure I can, Mom. And I do."

"Then why didn't you tell me about you and Brooke?" Sam got up from the table and started to pace.

"Why do you keep coming back to that? God, obssessive much?" Jane smiled despite herself as she watched Sam pace and wring her hands. Seventeen years of watching her daughter's mannerisms had taught her to read her daughter very well. Sam was nervous, upset and a tad bit panicked. Her observations were how she figured the whole thing out anyway.

Even before Nicole's ill concieved attempt at drag racing, Jane had started to notice a subtle change in both Brooke and Sam. It began with small glances, stolen when they thought no one, especially the other was looking. Then small touches when passing the other or reaching across the table at dinner. And the fighting had died down to something liveable, neither she nor Mike were afraid to leave Sam and Brooke alone together for fear of imminent bloodshed. They were actually getting along.

And then there was the look in their eyes when they looked at each other. Never at anytime had Jane seen that look in the eyes of either girl. It was a look Jane had only seen a few times before herself. She saw it when Jack, her first husband had looked at her and now when Mike looked at her. It was love. At first she put it off to her imagination, then she chalked it up to infatuation, a common teen-age phase (denial, she was very good at denial). But then she watched as the look grew in intensity in both girls although they both seemed unaware.

And then the accident happened. And Jane saw how devasated Brooke was. If the girl hadn't been standing there right in front of her, she would have sworn the car had hit her too. As Sam lay in a coma, Brooke's life had effectively come to a standstill until the day Sam finally woke up. It was like Brooke began breathing, living again that day as well. She was no fool, Jane realized then that whatever was going on was no phase and wouldn't go away if she ignored it.

She watched, as Brooke was there every step of Sam's recovery and how Sam accepted Brooke's help when she wouldn't anyone else's. She noticed how both girls leaned on and counted on the other to get past the hard parts and bumps in the road during Sam's long journey to recuperation. And she saw how something had changed after she and Mike had returned from Utah but she hadn't been able to figure out what.

"Sam, you can either talk to me now or we can wait for Mike and Brooke to come back from Nevada tomorrow and the four of us can sit down together and have this conversation. And set down some ground rules," the look of sheer horror and fear that stuck itself to Sam's face was nearly enough to break Jane's resolve. Sam was obviously terrified to talk to her about this but Jane could understand why. Given the closeness of their relationship, Sam was bound to fear being turned away by the only parent she had left because of who she loved. But Jane wouldn't do that. She just had to let Sam know that.

"No! God, no!" Sam panicked. All the color drained from her face and she froze in place. "You wanna talk? Talk. Just don't drag Mike into this, please," she begged desperately. "He'll kill me and toss me in a wood chipper. Do we own a wood chipper?"

"All right, Sam, calm down. We don't own a wood chipper and no one is killing anyone. Start at the beginning. What is going on between the two of you and when did it start?" Sam gulped down some air and tried to calm down.

"Going on? I suppose it's too late to say nothing?" Jane shot her a dirty look. "OK, well, to put it simply, I love her, am in love with her. And she loves me. I'm sorry if that's hard to handle, Mom, really I am. I never meant for it to happen, it just sort of did."

"When, Sammy? When did you realize this?"

"A while ago, before the car accident if that's what you're asking. Things with George never really went anywhere and the whole Harrison mess. God, don't get me started. I started to see that my feelings for Brooke were leaning towards the not so sweet and innocent. But I swear to you, Mom, I was never going to do anything about them. I know how much you love Mike, as much as I was against him to start with and I would never, ever do anything to ruin that for you. Honest."

"I know you wouldn't, honey. Brooke feels the same way?"

"Yeah, and trust me I was just as surprised as you. I mean, I always thought Brooke was straight. There was Josh and Harrison�" Sam trailed off. (Gee, for someone who claims to never get the girl, Harrison factors in an awful lot here. But then, he still didn't get the girl, or girls in this case, we got each other. Gonna be one heck of a blow to his ego when he finds out)

"I thought you were straight," Jane reminded her. Sam blushed slightly.

"Uh, yeah, so did I. Seems we were wrong, on both counts," Sam joked. Jane scowled.

"This really isn't the time for jokes, Sam," Jane reprimanded. Sam looked away, properly chastised and sat back down.

"I know. Sorry," she apologized.

"So, you and Brooke are together, as a couple?" Jane asked to reconfirm what she already knew. Sam nodded.

"Yeah, we are," she looked back at her mother, a strength and resolve there in her eyes that hadn't been a moment ago. "And nothing you say or do is going to change that. This isn't a phase or an experiment. We genuinely love one another. She makes me feel like no one else ever has, like no one else ever will. You can move me to Australia, or Antarctica but it won't change the way I feel. Nothing will. You can't dictate the will of my heart, Mom. Time, distance, or death is not going to change anything." Jane sat there stunned by the heartfelt and powerful confession.

"I'm not asking you to change, Sam, I'm asking you to be honest with me. That's all," she said when she could speak. The depth of Sam's feelings for Brooke left her momentarily speechless.

"I just was, Mom," Sam put her head on the table. "And I think I'm going to be sick." Jane reached out and stroked Sam's back to soothe her.

"I think you are very brave to tell me all that. Have you said that to Brooke?" Sam shook her head, still keeping it against the table. "I think you should, it was very beautiful." Sam looked up and Jane could see the unshead tears shimmering there.

"Do you think any less of me now that you know I'm gay?" Sam asked, her voice small and vulnerable. One single tear spilled over and fell down her face. Jane wiped it away.

"I could never think any less of you for being honest with yourself and with me, Sam. True it's not a choice I would have made for you but I understand that you love whom you love. I'm not going to take that away." Tears of relief streamed down Sam's face. She got up and hugged Jane.

"Thank you, Mom. I feel so relieved," she cried. "You're not going to sent me away?" Jane shook her head. "Oh thank God." They sat in compatable silence for several minutes before Jane spoke again.

"Honey, I still have a few questions for you," Sam sat back down, a look of dread spreading across her features.

"Please tell me you're not going to ask what I think you're going to ask," Sam begged.

"Have you and Brooke,�have the two of you been intimate," Sam shot up off her chair like she'd been catapulted off of it.

"Mooooommmmm," she wailed. "What kind of question is that? What happened to boundries and respecting my privacy? I just tell you that I'm involved in a romantic relationship with your stepdaughter and now you want to know the status of my virginity? There is such thing as too much personal information, you know. I don't ask you about you and Mike, do I? I mean, is this information really relevant? I mean, hello, personal space!"

"Sam, breathe," Jane reminded her quickly hyperventilating daughter. During her little rant, Sam had been scurring about the kitchen like a hummingbird. It actually would have been considered cute if Sam weren't desperately trying to avoid answering the question.

"OK, I'm breathing. But still, Mom, geesh," Sam complained dramatically.

"So you have," Jane assumed by Sam's violent reaction to the question. Sam shook her head.

"Relax Mom. No, we haven't. I'll be honest and tell you it's not for lack of trying on my part," Jane paled and Sam blushed. "We are 'so' not having this conversation."

"No, no, really, Sam. Tell me, it's all right," Jane encouraged her. "I want you to feel that you can be honest with me again."

"Well, OK, and I can't believe I'm about to tell you this," she quirked an eyebrow and tilted her head. "Are you sure about this Mom?" Jane nodded.

"Yes, I want our relationship to be the honest and open one it once was. This doesn't change that, Sammy, you're still my daughter."

"OK, but I warned you. You see, I've wanted to, you know, take the next step but Brook keeps putting the brakes on. I think her experience with Josh has made her nervous and she's worried that sex'll ruin our relationship but it's not like that, Mom. I mean, sure I love Brooke's body, I mean, wow, but I love more than that. It's never been about sex. I love her mind, her soul and everything about her. I'm not sure she realizes that."

"Have you told her?"

"I think so," Sam tilted her head again. "Are we actually having this conversation?" Jane laughed.

"Yes, and I asked the original question, not to butt into your person space, but to make sure you didn't jump into something you're not ready for. But it looks like I had nothing to fear. If you're telling me the truth, and I have no reason to think otherwise, than I trust you to do what is right for you and Brooke. But I really think you need to tell Brooke the things you told me. I think she needs to and would like to hear such loving and kind words."

"So you're OK with all this?"

"OK? No, but I will be. I'll just need a little more time. I believe you when you say that this is for real, Sam. You can't fake the feelings you're talking about or the way I've seen you look at Brooke, or the way I've seen her look at you. So, yes, eventually I'll be OK."

"What about Mike?"

"Why don't we talk to Brooke first and let her know that I know and try to figure things out from there?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"Until then, behave yourselves, OK?" Sam grinned impishly.

"I always do, I have no idea what you may be insinuating," she said innocently.

"Sam," Jane started in that `Mom' tone everyone loathes to hear. "You two share a bathroom, don't make us have to move your rooms."

"Oh, kinda like turning the car around if we don't behave, huh?" Jane nodded. "OK, got it. I'll pass the word on. No passing go, no collecting 200 dollars, so noted. Is that everything?"

"Are you happy?"

"My final answer? Yes, completely, totally, utterly and exhaustively happy. Like I never was before. I never realized I wasn't happy, Mom. I guess I needed to have my eyes opened to see what was missing in my life: Brooke."

"You really should say these things to her, you know," Jane advised.

"I will. How long until they get back?" Sam whined.

"Tomorrow night, Sam. Don't worry, you'll make it," Jane hugged her tightly. Sam sighed with relief.

"I don't know about you but I feel much better now," Sam admitted.

"Me too, Sammy. I'm just sorry that you felt you couldn't be honest with me to start with."

"I'm sorry too, Mom. But I swear that's the last secret I'll ever keep from you," Sam promised.

"I hope so. So you really thought you'd be tossed in a wood chipper?"

AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARS

It had been a very long twenty four hours and Jane couldn't wait for Mike and Brooke to get home for more than one reason. She had missed them both for the week that they had been gone but more than that she wasn't sure she could take much more of Sam in her present condition. Sam was almost literally bouncing off the walls with anticipation. And it wasn't a pretty sight. The last time Jane had witnessed her daughter in such a state was when Sam was seven and had eaten the entire stash of Easter candy. The hyperactive, hopped up, sugar rush aside, the binge left the poor girl vomiting for the next two days straight and promising never to touch a piece of candy ever again. Of course, said vow was never kept.

And now she was at it again, bouncing from room to room on an aimless journey to find something to do with herself. Sam was on her umpteenth circuit through the house, too wired to sit, too fidgity to simply pace. And it was driving Jane nuts but at the same time, she found it incredibly sweet. Sam obviously cared for and missed Brooke very deeply. It was plain to see in the way she watched the windows for a sign of their car, counted the time on her watch and waited for the turn of the key in the door.

"Sam, honey, after they get home, I'll take Mike in the kitchen while you tell Brooke that I know about the two of you," Jane suggested. Sam nodded and Jane was instantly reminded of those dashboard dogs whose heads bob up and down whenever you hit a bump.

"OK," was the anxious response. "I hope she takes it OK and doesn't get mad at me."

"I'm sure she'll be fine, hon," Jane reassured her daughter with a hug. They both jumped when they heard the car pull in the driveway.

"They're home!" Sam exclaimed happily jumping up from the couch. She beamed from ear to ear and balanced on the balls of her feet. Jane rolled her eyes.

"Calm down, Sam, or Mike will guess the second he looks at you," she told Sam gently. Sam frowned.

"I'm sorry," she all but whined. "But I've missed her so much."

"I know you have, but if you don't calm down and keep yourself from bursting into flames at the mere sight of Brooke, than Mike will know that something's going on and we'll all have a lot of explaining to do," Sam slumped back onto the couch.

"I know, I'll try," the doorknob turned and in walked Mike and Brooke with wide smiles on their faces.

"We're home!" Mike announced as he hugged Jane. Sam got up and gave both Mike and Brooke quick hugs before sitting back on the couch. She was afraid that if she hugged Brooke too long she wouldn't let go. And she had felt the way Brooke ran her hands over her back. Brooke hadn't wanted to let go either.

"It's so good to see you," Jane said as she saw Brooke's face out of the corner of her eye. The smile on Brooke's face at seeing Sam could light up New York for a century, the girl just seemed to glow. And the same look was mirrored on Sam's face. (How I didn't see it for so long and how Mike doesn't see it now I'll never understand) she thought to herself.

"Did we miss anything?" Mike asked. Jane shook her head as Brooke and Sam continued to stare at each other. (Oh, brother)

"No, just the usual, right Sam?" Sam looked away with a slight blush and nodded. "We did have a small earthquake that scared me and Mac but Sam slept through the entire thing," Jane laughed remembering the jolt that had awoken her and the baby a few mornings ago. When she hadn't heard from Sam, she found her curled up on Brooke's bed, completely oblivious to the entire incident. It was then that she decided that the two of them really needed to have a little heart to heart.

"Figures," Brooke scoffed, speaking for the first time since coming in the door. Seeing Sam for the first time in a week had rendered her momentarily speechless. "You sleep like the dead, McPherson." Sam stuck out her tongue.

"Have to with the way you snore, Princess," she shotback. They were deeply in love with one another and they didn't fight like they used to but they still tried to keep up the appearance of mild malice between them, even if it did only come across as friendly fire. Mike sighed.

"There's the two girls I recognize," he joked. "Aren't you the least bit happy to see each other?" He was answered by two bright smiles.

"Sure I am, Dad," Brooke responded.

"Me too," Sam confirmed. "but I still need to harass her every once in a while or I shrivel up and die. Very ugly way to go."

"But oh so tempting," Brooke added. Sam arched an eyebrow.

"Not gonna happen. Too much ammo." Brooke flopped down on the couch next to Sam but kept a discrete distance between them.

"Mike, I know Mac would like to see you. And Sam and Brooke have some things they need to talk about so let's give them some time to themselves, shall we?" Jane advised. Mike followed her out. Brooke watched them walk out through the kitchen and when she was sure they were gone, she shifted position so that she was straddling Sam's lap, eliciting a giggle from the other girl.

"A little brazen, aren't we?" Sam teased as Brooke kept one eye on the kitchen.

"Can't help it, I feel like I'm going to burst if I don't touch you, kiss you," Brooke leaned over and kissed Sam lightly on the lips. "You have no idea how much I needed that," she breathed. Sam sighed.

"I think I have a fairly good idea," she confided as she traced her fingers down Brooke's nose and over her soft lips. "I missed you so, so much. Are they still gone?" Brooke nodded. "Good, c'mere," Sam pulled Brooke closer and kissed her deeply, passionately, wildly. She felt Brooke moan into her mouth and almost forgot about who was in the other room. Almost.

"Brooke," she panted when she pulled away. "Brooke, we need to talk." Sam looked to see Brooke sitting above her, eyes closed, lips slightly parted and face flushed. Slowly her eyes fluttered open and the considerably darker hue focused on Sam.

"If we have to. I've been thinking of some more interesting activities for your mouth, though," Brooke whispered saucily, her voice husky. Sam's eyes widened as she chuckled.

"Harlot. Maybe later. Oh yeah, definitely later, but this is serious, Brooke," catching the vibe from Sam, Brooke instantly sobered up.

"What's going on? Everything all right?" Sam swallowed and bit her lip.

"Mom knows," she blurted out. (Smooth, Sam, real subtle. Nice job. Give her heart failure why don't you?) She watched as all the color drained away from Brooke's face and left her lipstick standing out in stark contrast.

"W...what? How? When? W...what?" she stuttered blinking rapidly in confusion.

"Apparently she figured it out awhile ago on her own. Guess we aren't very subtle with the smoldering looks and wanton glances. She ambushed me at breakfast yesterday," Sam explained.

"And you told her?" Brooke asked, her voice several octaves higher than normal as panic set in. Sam ran her hands up and down Brooke's arms in an attempt to soothe her.

"After she practically had to heimlick me when I choked on my Rice Krispies. Trust me, it wasn't my idea." Brooke looked thoughtful for a second.

"How did she take it?" she asked as she played with a lock of Sam's brown hair.

"Pretty good since I'm still breathing. Actually, once we got passed the mutual panic phase, the this-is-not-a-phase-section, the I-really-love-her confession," Brooke blushed and Sam brushed her cheek with the back of her hand. "Because I do, you know. Once we got passed all that, we were able to talk it out. She's a little weirded out about the whole thing but, who wouldn't be? That's to be expected. I don't think this is covered in 'Mom' school. I seriously doubt she saw this one coming. It's not everyday that your daughter falls truly, madly, deeply, head over heels, completely in love with her stepsister although I think Jerry Springer did an episode on it just last week."

"Actually I think it was Rikki Lake but I see your point. Oh, God, she's not in there telling my Dad is she?" Panic set back in on Brooke.

"No, she wants to talk to the two of us first so we can figure out exactly what we're going to tell him."

"Thank you, God. What are we going to tell him?" Brooke asked fearfully. Sam shrugged.

"I don't really know but Mom reassures me that we don't own a wood chipper," Brooke looked at her in confusion. "Sorry, gory personal joke. Anyway, we have to tell him sooner or later, preferably sooner so that he doesn't accidently stumble across us."

"You have a point," Brooke agreed. Sam shifted a little, accidently causing Brooke to rub harder against her thigh. Brooke moaned a little loudly.

"Brooke!" Sam hissed in a mild panic as she looked over her shoulder for any sign of their parents. Brooke didn't move.

"Shhh, I don't think they heard that. It was your fault anyway," Brooke admonished with a Cheshire cat grin. Sam scowled unthreateningly.

"You're cutting the circulation off in my legs, silly," she shifted again. Brooke giggled.

"Oh, move again," she gasped. Sam rolled her eyes.

"And I thought I was bad. Come home from your trip a little horny, did you?" Brooke shook her head.

"No, a lot horny," she joked. Her face suddenly turned serious. "Sam, I had a lot of time to think about this, about us." Panic flashed across Sam's delicate features before Brooke could stop it.

"You have regrets, don't you? Especially now that Mom knows. Oh God, I knew this was going to happen. What was I thinking? Thinking that you could ever feel this way for someone like me�" Sam ranted while trying to get Brooke off of her lap. She desperately wanted to get away from Brooke before she totally lost it. But Brooke wouldn't let her up. Brooke for one, was very confused.

She couldn't figure out what the Hell just happened. (When did she lose control of the conversation? What the Hell was Sam talking about and where was this insecurity coming from?)

"Brooke, get off me, please," Sam begged, losing her composure. Brooke sat where she was and placed her arms on either side of Sam's shoulders on the back of the couch, effectively pinning her in place.

"Not until you listen to me. You didn't let me finish. God, Sam, are you really that insecure? I have absolutely no regrets about anything, especially not about us, about you. You are the one positive thing in my life, the one good thing that I can look at and say I'm proud of. And what do you mean `someone like you'? I hope you mean someone beautiful, intellegent, sensitive, funny�"

"Stop, Brooke, you know what I meant," Sam interrupted her annoyed.

"No, Sam, I don't. Tell me."

"A have not. How could someone like you, a `have' care for a `have not'? We learned all about the dangers of rising above your station in life, Brooke. Maybe I was a fool to think this could work." Brooke leaned closer into Sam's face.

"Somedays, I wonder who the Hell you are. It's like loving Miss Jeckyl and Miss Hyde. You pretend to not care what anyone thinks about you and then you turn around and all you can think about is whether or not anyone will ever see you as anything other than what you think you are. And you apparently have pitiously low self-esteem."

"Your point being?" Sam asked curtly.

"Geeze, Sam, my point is that I love you and I have no regrets about us. Do you understand that?" Sam nodded. "Do you regret us?"

"God, no!" Sam exclaimed. Brooke gave a sigh of relief.

"Good, you scared me for a minute there. Now, that aside, will you let me finish what I started to say before your little panic attack?" Sam nodded. "OK then, I was saying that I had a lot of time to think about everything, us, the sex thing and I came to a lot of realizations. The biggest being that I love you, Sammy. Truly, deeply and like I never thought it possible to love another human being."

"When you're not here, Sam, I feel like there's no air in the room. Without you there's no light in my life and no stars in the sky. Nothing has any color, no vibrancy and my life is only half lived. But with you by my side, everything is in bright technicolor; it's loud and alive and I'm alive and that's all that matters. I need you Sam, to live, to breathe, to exist."

Sam sat shock still as she listened to Brooke's confession. She was afraid to speak and break the spell that they had fallen under. Looking into Brooke's eyes she could only see the honest and raw emotion of what Brooke was saying looking back at her.

"I feel the same way, Brooke," Brooke lifted a hand and covered Sam's mouth with it.

"I'm not finished yet," Sam nodded mutely in understanding. "When I slept with Josh, I did so partially out of obligation. I felt it was something I had to do because I was his girlfriend for so long, he wanted it and it was expected of me. I ignored the fact that my heart really told me it wasn't what I wanted and did it anyway. And once it was over, I knew I'd made a mistake. Josh and me, we weren't meant to be. I meant it when I told you that your first time should be with that someone special. And Josh wasn't that someone for me. It took me a while to realize this, Sam, but that person for me, is you. Should have been you. " Brooke broke the intense eye contact that the two had maintained throughout the long oration and looked down, a few tears falling onto Sam's lap.

"I'm so sorry I didn't wait for you," Brooke cried softly, causing Sam to cry with her.

"Hey," Sam lifted Brooke's face up to meet her own. "You have nothing to apologize for. You didn't know this was going to happen, neither of us did. If someone had told me a year ago that I was going to fall in love with you and that you would return those feelings, I would have called the men with the little white coats that tie in the back to come and take them away." Brooke smiled.

"Cute visual," she laughed.

"Yes it is, but you get my point. Whenever you're ready for the next step, Brooke, is fine with me. I'll wait. I'll fantasize and you'll drive me absolutely insane, no doubt�"

"Short trip�"

"Don't help. Where was I? Oh, yeah, whatever is right for you is right for me. I'm not going to force you into something you're not ready for. But please know this, Brooke. Sex is not going to destroy our relationship like it did yours and Josh's. It didn't work with you and Josh because, like you said, it wasn't meant to be. We are. If, when we have sex, it'll be beautiful, Brooke, just like you are. And we'll be stronger for it." Brooke hugged her.

"How do you always know just what to say?"

"I'm a writer, it's my job, remember?" Sam joked.

"Oh, yeah. But that's what I wanted to tell you. I think I'm ready, Sam. For that next step, when you are," Brooke said shyly. Sam's eyes got wide and then a slow grin spread across her face.

"Well, Mom said we had to behave, you know, no hanky panky where we might get caught. But I'm sure we can think of something, somewhere discreet." She leaned up to kiss Brooke. They stayed that way until they heard Mike and Jane's voices carrying through the kitchen. Brooke scrambled to get off of Sam and sat in the armchair across from her instead.

When their parents walked into the room they looked like the very paragons of innocence. Although they both looked like they'd been crying, Mike chalked it up to one of their thankfully infrequent fights.

"Well, Sam, looks like Brooke and I didn't miss much while we were gone, did we?" Mike asked. Sam shook her head.

"Nope, just the same old crap, different day," Sam responded. Mike yawned.

"Well, I'm tired, that drive always takes a lot out of me so I'm going to head to bed. Jane?"

"I'm going to stay up and talk to the girls for a while. I'll be up before too long," Mike nodded and gave her a kiss goodnight.

"All right then, good night everyone."

"Good night, Dad."

"Good night, honey."

"Night Mike."

After Mike went to bed, Jane focused her attention on Brooke.

"I trust that she told you?" Brooke nodded nervously. "Good, let me tell you a few things young lady," Jane started sternly. Sam and Brooke exchanged alarmed glances.

"Sam is my firstborn and is very dear to me, I don't think I need to tell you that Brooke. I don't like to see her hurt. I've seen too many people who claim to care for her hurt her in the past and I won't stand by and watch it happen again." When Brooke opened her mouth to protest, Jane held up her hand to stop her.

"Let me finish. I won't stand by and watch her get her heart broken again, Brooke. I just won't. But I don't think that it's something I need to worry about with you, is it?" Brooke shook her head emphatically `no'. "Good, now that that's clear, let's get some other things straight."

"Sam cares for you, Brooke. In her own words, `you can't dictate the will of my heart Mom. Time, distance, or death is not going to change anything.' Pretty heavy stuff, even from Sam. This isn't a game to her Brooke so it had better not be for you. Is it?" Again Brooke shook her head `no'.

"OK, now we're getting somewhere. Sam's not the most emotionally available person on the planet, don't glare at me like that, Sam, it's the truth. Anyway, Brooke, because of that she finds it hard to express herself sometimes but please be patient with her. If you could have heard half of what she told me yesterday, you'd be floored."

"I'm sure I would, Mom. So, aside from the normal amount of freaking out about this, are you going to be alright with us?" Brooke asked. Jane nodded.

"I think I all ready am. I saw your faces when you came through that door, Brooke. I love your father but I swear he's a little slow sometimes. You both absolutely glowed when you laid eyes on one another."

"I love your daughter, Jane. With everything I am. With more than words can express," Sam slapped her lightly on the arm.

"You're getting all mushy," Sam protested as she wiped away a few stray tears. "It's embarassing." Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Get over it, McPherson. Seriously, how are we going to tell my Dad?" Jane shrugged.

"I have no idea. He has some pretty antiquated ideas when it comes to things like this no matter how hip and with it he tries to act. He might not take it well."

"Hence my sudden pathological fear of wood chippers," Sam mumbed under her breath.

"For the last time, he is not going to kill you and throw your remains in a wood chipper, Sam," Jane sighed. Brooke scrunched up her nose.

"Ew, Sam. Ew. How could you even think that?"

"Because we don't have snowblowers in California?" This earned her double smacks from her mom and Brooke. "What?"

"So what should we tell him?" Brooke asked, bringing the conversation back on topic.

"The truth, however painful," Sam suggested seriously. At the two dubious looks, she shrugged. "Look, it's like this; either we come right out and tell him `Hi, Mike, Brooke and I are gay and oh, look, in love with each other'. Or he finds out by accident by walking in while we're kissing or something, which is bound to happen no matter how careful we are. Or he finds out from one of our friends when we get around to telling them. Eventually someone is going to let the cat out of the bag and the shit will hit the fan. It's that simple. Plus, if he finds out Mom knows and didn't tell him it might destroy that relationship. God, we're damned if we do, damned if we don't, huh?"

"Looks that way," Brooke conceeded. Jane agreed.

"Afraid so. Let's give him a few days to settle in and then we'll tell him. Until then, be careful you two. I'm not saying live like a pair of nuns, but don't be obvious either. I think it'll be worse if he figures it out on his own and we didn't tell him." Sam and Brooke nodded their agreement.

"So, a few days then?" Sam asked.

"Yes, until then, I'm going to bed. Good night you two." Jane got up and headed to her bedroom.

"Good night Mom," Brooke called.

"Night Mom," Sam echoed. Brooke got up and sat next to Sam after Jane left and played with the girls' long brown locks.

"Whatcha thinking about?" she asked as she twirled a few strands around her fingers. Sam sighed.

"How complicated our lives have become. And how tired you must be from your long trip." She sighed dramatically. "And here I am wide awake with all this extra energy." Brooke tsked her.

"Aw, Sammy, that's too bad. We really should find something for you to do with all that extra energy," Brooke cooed, leaning into Sam's ear and nibbling gently. Sam shivered.

"Hmmm? Any ideas?" Sam asked innocently. "Cards, Monopoly, Parcheesi?"

"I had a much, much more physical activity in mind," Brooke whispered huskily. Sam turned her head and grinned at her. Brooke decided that that grin in particular was very sultry. It made her blood boil and her heart race.

"A rousing game of Twister?" Sam offered.

"Only if they make an X-rated version, beautiful."

"I think we'd better move this to one of our bedrooms unless you want to give the neighbors a show," Sam suggested, her voice just as husky and her eyes full of hunger. Brooke nodded and stood up while offering Sam her hand.

"Let's," she said as she silently led Sam up the stairs.

X-RATED TWISTER

Author's Notes: Blame this one on my meds. My mind is in the gutter WAY too often lately. And while it's not as good as Harper's or Hope's or Bry's, well, I tried. Hee hee, that rhymed. (God, someone shoot me)

When they reached the top of the stairs they encountered a small problem. They looked from Brooke's bedroom doorway to Sam's and then at each other in silent question. After a moments thought, Brooke pulled Sam towards Sam's own room after which she closed and locked the door.

"My room, Princess?" Sam asked, her voice low as she played with Brooke's hair. Brooke smiled.

"I told you I thought a lot about this. Your room is on the opposite end of the house," she whispered back captivated by the way Sam was running her hands through her hair. She turned slightly and put her hands on Sam's hips. She looked into Sam's eyes, which looked slightly frightened. "What's wrong?" Sam bit her lip.

"Ah, what if�what if they hear us?" she asked just above a whisper while blushing fiercely. Brooke had never seen anyone turn that dangerous a shade of red. She was almost afraid Sam's ears were going to burn. "Not that I plan on screaming but you never know�" Sam trailed off and the blush deepened.

"Geez, Sam, stop blushing before you stroke out on me," Brooke laughed.

Sam smiled and tried to hide her face with her hand in embarrassment. "It's a valid concern," she pointed out quietly.

Brooke nodded. "Yes it is," she agreed. "Hang on a sec, I've got an idea." Brooke left Sam and went into her own room. A few seconds later, Sam could hear the radio blasting. Brooke returned to Sam's room, shutting both bathroom doors as she did.

"There, now all they'll hear is the stereo," Brooke declared happily. "Now where were we?" Sam smiled and pulled Brooke to her for a heated kiss. The kiss intensified and soon hands began to explore. Sam reached up and unbuttoned Brooke's blouse. She pushed the material off of Brooke's shoulders and it slid unnoticed to the floor. Sam took a step back and looked at Brooke standing there in her pants and light pink lacy bra. Brooke watched as Sam reached out and traced the outline of the edge of the bra covering her left breast almost in a state of awe. Her touch was featherlight but Brooke could still feel the heat from Sam's hand.

"Sam?" she asked wondering if maybe they were going too fast for Sam and Sam wasn't ready. Sam tore her eyes from Brooke's chest and fixed them on Brooke's eyes. The look there stole Brooke's breath away. It was pure, boundless love.

"Brooke?" Sam answered her voice gravelly. Not waiting for Brooke to answer, Sam took a step closer to nuzzle Brooke's neck and reached around to undo the bra. She slipped the straps off Brooke's shoulders and it followed the blouse to the floor. Brooke was slightly self-conscious as Sam again took a step back to observe the vision in front of her. She looked to see unshed tears in Sam's eyes. Before she could ask, Sam placed a finger over her lips to silence her.

"Perfect," Sam whispered. "You are utterly and beautifully perfect," she said in awe. Tears splashed down Brooke's face at Sam's words.

"Sam," she half-complained in obvious embarrassment. Sam shook her head.

"You are," Sam insisted quietly in a tone that allowed for no argument. She reached out and spread her hands across Brooke's chest, barely touching and ran her fingers over the silky skin. She went down Brooke's sides, across her abdomen and up again, stopping at Brooke's breasts. Brooke watched her, slightly confused until Sam cupped a breast in each hand gently, as if testing their weight. When Sam brushed across her nipples with her thumbs, Brooke couldn't help the gasp that escaped her. She looked to see Sam watching her with a worried look on her face. She reached out and stroked Sam's face.

"It's OK, Sam," she purred. Sam smiled and repeated the action, this time adding a pinch to the already erect nub and Brooke pulled her into a fierce kiss. They backed up until they hit the bed and then promptly fell onto it with Sam on top. Sam giggled. Brooke had to ask.

"What's so funny?" Sam giggled again.

"Left hand green," Sam said, referring to the `X-rated version of Twister' comment from earlier. Brooke rolled her eyes but giggled also.

"Incorrigible," Brooke sighed.

"Beautiful," Sam whispered as she leaned over for a kiss, letting her hair fall around them like a curtain. Brooke tried to lift the hem of Sam's shirt up but for some reason Sam stopped her. There was a pleading look in Sam's eyes that Brooke didn't understand. She'd all ready seen Sam's breasts once, why was Sam so shy all of a sudden?

"Not yet, OK?" Sam whispered. Brooke nodded although she was confused. Sam kissed her way around Brooke's throat, pausing at the pulse point and savoring the way the beating underneath was rapid and the way Brooke's breathing was sometimes only shallow gasps. Her hands had never actually left Brooke's breasts and she was eager to see what they tasted like. She kissed her way along Brooke's collarbone tasting the tang of salt from the slight sheen of sweat they were both developing. She ran her tongue down Brooke's right breast until she reached the nipple, which she sucked into her mouth.

"Saaaam," Brooke moaned lowly. She felt Sam smile. Sam swirled her tongue around the erect nipple in her mouth while continuing to suck and Brooke was slowly going insane. She tugged at Sam's shirt again.

"Please Sam, I need to feel your skin," she said, not caring if she sounded like she was begging. Sam bit down slightly and Brooke decided that maybe she could wait a little longer for Sam to take her shirt off. Sam repeated the process on Brooke's other breast and moved her hands lower, dipping her fingers just below the waistband of Brooke's pants. Brooke sat up so fast she almost knocked Sam off the bed.

"Sam," Brooke panted, wanting nothing more than for Sam to continue but wanting them to be on equal footing, as it were. She put her hands on either side of Sam's shirt. "Please." Reluctantly, Sam nodded. Brooke pulled the shirt up over Sam's head and tossed it to the floor. Sam immediately wrapped her arms around herself in a protective gesture. Brooke reguarded her in her plain white bra questioningly.

"What's wrong?"

Sam shook her head. "Nothing, I�" Sam stopped and frowned.

"I've all ready seen the goods, Sam," Brooke said with a smile, hoping to ease Sam's sudden discomfort. Again Sam shook her head.

"It's not that," Sam said softly. "I just�" she stopped again and Brooke reached out to unwrap Sam's arms. Her arms came away surprisingly easy and Brooke saw what Sam was uncomfortable about. The crisscross network of scars that marked her chest and abdomen and served as a reminder of Prom night.

"Oh, Sammy," Brooke said in understanding. A few tears fell down Sam's cheeks.

"Do you think I'm ugly?" Sam whispered in fear as she looked away. Brooke cupped Sam's chin in her hand and brought her face back to meet her own.

"Never," she said honestly. Sam's face lit up. "You're beautiful and I love you. A few scars don't mean jack."

"But you're flawless," Sam countered quietly. "Not a blemish to be found and meanwhile I look like Frankenstein's monster's pet." Brooke sighed. She ran her fingers over the scars making Sam shiver slightly.

"You're not ugly and you're not a monster," she explained patiently. She leaned down to kiss a few of the scars, making Sam shiver harder. Brooke reached around and undid the clasp on Sam's bra and it followed its predecessor on the floor. They both sat there staring at each other topless for a few minutes.

"I've never done this before," Sam admitted quietly, blushing again. Brooke tilted her head slightly.

"What about George?" Sam's blush deepened as she shook her head.

"He was a nice guy and all but, he wasn't `the one'," she looked up into Brooke's eyes. "You are."

Brooke smiled. "If it makes you feel any better, technically, I've never done THIS before either," she said with a small laugh. Sam stretched out her hand and brushed away a lock of blonde hair that had fallen into Brooke's eyes. Brooke grasped her hand.

"We find out together, huh?" Sam asked. Brooke nodded as she lay back on the bed bringing Sam with her. She ran her hands over Sam's warm skin hardly believing that this was really happening, that Sam was really here with her and loved her as much as she loved her back. She never would have thought it possible and yet, as she ran her hands over the expanse of Sam's back and felt Sam's hands on her own body, Brooke knew this was no dream.

Again, Sam's hands found their way to the waistband of Brooke's pants where she paused slightly. She really had no idea what she was doing. She really didn't want this to be another bad sexual experience for Brooke. She really, truly and deeply loved the girl and wanted this to be special. Sam was no prude. Everytime she dreamed of making love to Brooke (which was fairly often) she always seemed to instinctively know what to do and she had seen the movie Bound. Several times. But still, she was afraid of being a bad lover.

"Sam?" Brooke's gentle voice brought Sam out of her internal worry. "We don't have to if you're not ready." Sam looked up into the loving face of the person she cared most for in the world and her anxiety disappeared.

"I'm ready, I just want this to be special, Princess. You've had some bad experiences and I want to do this right," she explained. Brooke smiled in understanding.

"It will be special because it's you," Brooke whispered. Sam returned the smile and slowly unzipped Brooke's jeans and slid them down the slender legs. Brooke helped her slide them off and they joined the growing pile of clothes on the floor, as did Sam's jeans a few seconds later.

Sam stared at the pink panties that matched the bra she removed from Brooke earlier. She arched an eyebrow. "Matching set? How cute," she joked, as she moved her body up to lie beside Brooke.

Brooke looked at Sam's underwear and mimicked the eyebrow. "Leopard print?" she asked.

Sam blushed. "I was feeling frisky this morning," she explained shyly.

Brooke's eyes widened. "Oh really? Me-ow," Brooke purred as she draped her body over Sam's. Kisses and hands grew more insistant and again Brooke found her role reversed with Sam on top. Sam said nothing but grinned wickedly and straddled Brooke's waist for a second before moving down, kissing and licking any skin between herself and her ultimate goal. When she reached the waistband of Brooke's panties, she dipped a finger beneath it to gauge Brooke's reaction. Brooke sucked in a breath and rose off the bed slightly to meet her hand.

"Sam," Brooke complained when Sam removed her hand. Sam smiled and proceeded to remove both Brooke's underwear and her own. She kissed her way up from Brooke's ankles to her knees, up past her thighs, placing gentle, tender kisses on the inside of Brooke's upper thighs making her whimper slightly before moving up to her abdomen. The scent of Brooke's arousal made Sam dizzy and made her own arousal almost painful in its intensity.

"Please, Sammy," Brooke begged softly, feeling as if Sam were driving her insane. Sam looked up into the half-lidded eyes of her love. She moved to take one of Brooke's nipples in her mouth and slid one finger into Brooke's warmth. Brooke moaned at the double attack and clutched desperately at the sheets as Sam slowly started to move her finger inside of her.

"God, Saaaam," Brooke gasped as she moved her body to meet Sam's hand and Sam added another finger to the first. Brooke had never felt like this before in her previous experiences, her nerve endings were on fire and she was hyperaware of everything Sam was doing. She felt Sam's mouth leave her breast and almost leapt off the bed in pure pleasure when she felt the first flick of Sam's tongue on her clit.

"God, don't stop," she rasped as Sam continued to lick and suck around her fingers as they pumped in and out in a steady rhythm. Brooke felt the abyss approaching but tried to hold on. She wanted this to last. But when Sam started to suck harder on her clit, the battle was lost. Brooke was vaguely aware of shouting something but was unsure what it was as she came.

Sam, for her part, was happy and content to stay where she was for the rest of her life. The sounds Brooke was making and the way Brooke was moving were telling her that she was doing everything right. And when she had tasted Brooke, she knew that there was nothing that you could ever offer her that she would ever give that up for. Sweet, tangy and uniquely Brooke. She just couldn't get enough. And then she felt the stiffening of Brooke's body, the contractions around her fingers and the soul-searing cry that came from Brooke's throat. Although lost in a sexual haze, part of Sam's mind was really glad that Brooke turned on the radio in her room. They'd have a lot of trouble explaining why Brooke yelled: "OH GOD YES SAAAAAAAAM!" to Mike in the morning.

Brooke opened her eyes slowly and looked directly into a pair of chocolate brown ones. She smiled and they smiled back.

"You OK?" Sam asked as she brushed Brooke's sweat dampened hair out of her face.

"You are amazing," Brooke gushed making Sam blush.

Sam let out a relieved breath. "I try," she joked. Brooke leaned over and captured Sam's lips in a passionate kiss. She was vaguely aware of herself on Sam's lips. Brooke shifted so that she was covering half of Sam's body with her own. She loved the feel of bare skin on bare skin.

"My turn," Brooke growled. Sam's eyebrows went up but she said nothing, surrendering to the cheerleader's affections. As it was her skin felt like it was on fire and her blood was boiling. She was afraid that if Brooke didn't do something soon she was going to burst into flames anyway.

Brooke kissed her way along Sam's jawline while her hands wandered lower, caressing Sam's breasts and making Sam gasp slightly. She kneaded the soft mounds with her hands, loving the way the pert nipples dug into her palms. Sam moaned and moved her body underneath Brooke in desperate pleasure.

"Brooke, please," Sam begged as Brooke kissed her way down towards her breasts. Her whole body was humming and begging for release. Her hands unconsciously clenched and unclenched the sheets as Brooke took one erect nipple in her mouth and began to suck ardently.

"Oh God," Sam gasped as one hand buried itself in Brooke's silky hair encouraging her. Brooke smiled and continued her mission, to drive Sam insane. She used her thumb and forefinger to pinch the other nipple even tighter before switching places and repeating the process. Brooke continued this until she felt Sam pressing down on her head and squirming beneath her.

"Brooooke," she whimpered. Brooke could feel the heat coming from Sam and knew the other girl couldn't wait much longer. She moved back up Sam's body and placed a passionate kiss on Sam's lips as she placed her hand palm down on Sam's abdomen. Sam's entire body arched off the bed towards her and another whimper escaped her throat.

"Easy, Sam," Brooke whispered as she slid her hand down to Sam's core and slowly slid one finger inside the wet folds and into Sam. Sam sucked in a pained breath and Brooke looked at her in concern. Her eyes were clenched tightly shut.

"Sam?" she asked quietly, remembering the pain associated with what she was doing. Sam's body moved to meet her hand even as her eyes opened and met Brooke's. The normally brown orbs were black with desire and filled with pleasure.

"Don't�stop," Sam panted as her body kept moving. Brooke smiled and nodded, beginning to rhythmically stroke Sam. Sam continued to speak but no longer made any coherent noises and Brooke was glad she'd turned on the radio in her room to drown her out even though she herself loved it. Being careful not to hurt Sam, she slowly added another finger to the first and Sam let out a low gutteral moan.

Unable to resist anymore, Brooke moved down to join her fingers. Sam gasped as Brooke's tongue joined her fingers in their stroking and she bit down on her lip to keep from crying out. Brooke had found her Heaven. She wanted to taste and experience all of Sam and did so energetically. Sam bucked and jerked on the bed until her breath hitched one last time and her body stiffened for an instant before convulsions overtook her. And Brooke was there for the whole thing, drawing it out as long as she could until Sam collapsed back onto the bed spent.

"Oh God," Sam whispered when she was capable of coherent speech again sometime later. Brooke smiled at her as she held Sam tightly against her.

"No, only Brooke," she answered. Sam giggled softly and looked at her wide-eyed.

"I had no idea," Sam told her.

"Neither did I," Brooke blushed.

Sam frowned at her. "Huh? I don't understand."

Brooke lovingly brushed some damp hair away from Sam's eyes. "I may have had sex before, Sam, but it was never like that," Brooke explained. "And that wasn't just sex, that was love."

Sam smiled. "Oh," was all she said although she looked extremely happy. She snuggled against Brooke. "I'm glad I waited for that `someone special'," Sam whispered as she traced a pattern on Brooke's chest. "That was beautiful." Brooke captured her lips for a gentle kiss.

"Yes, it was, Sammy. You were right. Thank you," she said.

"You are more than welcome," Sam responded. She looked shyly up at Brooke. "Uh, I don't suppose you have any energy left cuz I'm not tired," she said wickedly.

Brooke laughed. "I was hoping you'd say that."

The End or more accurately, a beginning.