A/N: This one took longer than I expected, partially because another story messed with my vibe and had me second-guessing myself. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Disclaimer: I still don't own Rookie Blue, or F.R.I.E.N.D.S., or football fields. Also, I don't have a beta, so apologies for any grammatical or spelling errors.

Andy: 14

Sam: 17

"Shoot," Andy muttered under her breath when she heard Sam let himself in her front door. "Almost ready Sam, I'll be down in a sec!" she called down the stairs. He chuckled and took a seat at the kitchen table, grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl in the center. She was always running late, Andy was. Like she never has enough time to do everything she wants to, he thought as he peeled his breakfast.

He had just stuffed a chunk into his mouth when Tommy walked through the door in his work suit, looking like he hadn't slept in days.

"Sam," he greeted with a nod. The younger man swallowed before he had quite finished chewing so he could respond, causing his eyes to water a bit.

"Good morning. How was work? Tackling a big case?"

Tommy poured himself a drink and sat down heavily across from Sam. "You could say that. Got a murder case that's not looking too good right now. We're looking for new leads at this point."

"I'm sure you'll find what you need to help the family of the victim." Sam said after a pause.

Tommy peered at him, thinking. He had just reminded the detective why he started this job in the first place. "Are you thinking about joining the force, son?"

Sam took another bite of his banana, chewed slowly and glanced upstairs where they could hear Andy's hurried footsteps. "Maybe. I'm not sure yet."

Andy hastily pulled some crew socks on and felt under her bed for her hiking boots. She jammed her feet into them and flew down the stairs.

"Hey, Dad." She pecked his cheek quickly and sat down on the floor to tie up her laces. Sam grinned.

"You do know there are chairs two feet away from you?" Andy raised her eyebrows.

"You do know there's banana on your face?" He immediately wiped his hand over his mouth. She laughed and hopped up as she finished her knots. "I'm just teasing. You ready?"

"Yup," he answered, glaring playfully. "So you can walk, I'll meet you there." He rattled his keys and smirked.

She rolled her eyes. "Like you would let me walk anywhere alone. C'mon, let's go. See you later, Dad. Get some sleep, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. You kids stay safe."

"So why'd you want to come up here anyway? You hate camping." They were sitting on a rock, sharing a power bar and enjoying the cool breeze.

He smiled at her. "This isn't camping." She rammed her shoulder against his, maybe a little harder than she meant to.

"You know what I mean. Nature, and stuff." He looked back to the view they had from the top of their short hike. From here they could see most of Toronto.

"I guess I wanted to see the city." They had left early enough that the morning sun was now sitting on the horizon, light filtering through the buildings and chasing away the last remnants of night.

"It's beautiful." Andy felt his gaze settle on her.

"Yeah, it is."

He caught the distant wail of a siren and a phrase ran through his mind. Serve and Protect. He thought about joining the force frequently. He didn't have the money for college, but he could go the police academy right out of high school. Serve and Protect. He could do that for Toronto. For his sister, for Andy. For himself.

Andy: 15

Sam: 18

It was the start of Andy's sophomore year at Valley High, and she found herself at the first football game of the season. She'd only gone to one or two her freshman year- she and Sam usually found something better to do- but Zach had wanted to come. She hoped to see Sam here at some point, since she didn't know Zach's friends very well, but wasn't holding her breath. Sam disliked Zach; said he was bad news.

They were hanging out under the bleachers, doing and talking about nothing of interest, and Andy was starting to regret coming. A huge roar sounded from the crowd above them and their school's band started another round of the fight song.

TOUCHDOOOWN, VALLEY!

She glanced up at the loud speaker and sighed, crossing her arms across her chest. The people who surrounded her didn't even react to the sudden increase in volume. What's the point of coming to a football game if you don't even watch it?

"Hey," Zach said, leaning close. "We were thinking of heading over behind the bathrooms. No one ever goes there, so we'd have more… privacy."

"All of us?" He nodded. "Uh. Sure, I guess." It couldn't be any more boring than standing here. They began walking.

"Good. Kevin says he has some stuff we can share."

Andy nearly fell on her face. Does he mean what I think he means? They had only been dating a couple weeks, but Andy hadn't known him to use drugs.

"Um, I don't think-" but no one was listening to her, all already walking away. Andy glanced around, then followed. Maybe it's not how it sounded, she reasoned.

It was, uh. Exactly how it sounded.

Andy stared at the joint Zach was trying to hand her and wondered if he could hear her heart trying to escape her chest.

"I don't really-"

"Andy!" She cringed and turned to look at Sam, who was striding toward them, his hands and jaw clenched and his eyebrows drawn together. He was livid. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing, I was just…" she trailed off when he started shaking his head.

"Come with me." His voice was deadly calm, and she didn't argue. As she stepped away from the group, Sam advanced, towering over Zach. "Stay away from her." Zach just looked away.

The drive home was very, very quiet.

The fight they had when they got there wasn't.

"You don't have to protect me from everything, Sam!"

"Clearly, I do! They had drugs!"

"It's not like I was going to smoke it." She got out of his truck and slammed the door. Sam followed, heading around the hood to face her. "Why don't you trust me?" she asked.

"I do, Andy. That's not the issue or the point. If they were caught, you would get in trouble just for being there, regardless of whether you'd actually done anything."

When she didn't say anything, he continued. "Even if they weren't caught, is this really who you want to be? Are they the people you want to be involved with? You're better than this, Andy. I know you. This isn't you."

Andy was suddenly, overwhelmingly ashamed. "You're right," she whispered. "You're right. I'm sorry, Sam. I don't know what I was thinking even dating him in the first place."

He stepped forwards, lifting his hand to brush her face. "It's okay, Andy. Don't do that, it's okay." She was surprised to realize she was crying.

"He's getting really bad." She leaned into him and he automatically wrapped his arms around her.

"Tommy?"

She nodded, and he pulled her closer.

"I know."

"Can I stay with you tonight?" Her voice was small, though she already knew what his answer would be.

"Of course." He kissed the top of her head and pulled back. "Hey. What do you call a pepper that won't leave you alone?"

She smiled despite of herself. "What?"

"Jalapeño business."

"Dork," she muttered; but she was smiling.

Two cans of coke and three episodes of "F.R.I.E.N.D.S." later, she turned and studied his profile. His dependability still amazed her; how she could always, always count on him. If you were a tree, Sam Swarek, she thought, you'd be an oak. Like the one between their houses, strong and lasting. He must have felt her staring because he glanced at her, then back at the T.V.

"Penny for them?" he asked.

"It's nothing."

He laughed. "You're always thinking about something. That brain of yours never stops."

"I was just thinking how thankful I am to have you in my life."

The plain honesty caught him off guard. He looked at her again. "Me too, Andy. You're the most important person in my life." She bit her lip.

"Thanks for having my back tonight."

"Partners," was his simple response.

Andy: 16

Sam: 18

Sitting in a plastic chair on the football field on a warm night in May, Sam feels invincible. Tonight marks the end of his high school days and the start of a new chapter in his life. He can be anything; do anything. He sits with his graduating class waiting for the last speech to finish, barely able to contain himself. He looks again to where Andy is sitting in the crowd. Every time he catches a glimpse of her, a grin has been firmly planted on her face, stretching across from one ear to the other. Their friendship had grown closer and stronger this past year, something he thought wasn't even possible. Every day he felt more drawn to her than the last, and he knew she felt the same.

He winks at her, smiling, and she points frantically toward the speaker's platform, telling him to pay attention. He can almost hear her unspoken words. You're missing it, Sam! You only get to hear this once!

Finally, the woman tells them to move their tassels to the other side of their caps and the ceremony comes to an end. He stands with the rest of the graduates as they threw their caps and, after retrieving one, heads over to his family. His mother and sister and Tommy stand behind Andy, who is bouncing on the balls of her feet and beaming.

The necklace he had bought her for her birthday last month catches his eye. So you remember I will always be with you, he had told her when he presented it to her. Walking towards her now, his heart starts to beat more firmly. Not faster, but with more force, and adrenaline rushes through him. He has never felt more strongly than he does now.

It must show in his expression, because she stops bouncing and her eyes widen.

Five steps away. His heart is in his throat now. Four steps. The look in her eyes let him know she understands exactly what is about to happen, and he draws in a ragged breath. Three. He drops his graduation cap. Two. They reach for each other, drawn to the other like they had been since they first met. One. I love you I love you I love-

He fastens his mouth to hers and tugs her tight against his body. One hand finds a place in her hair as their lips move together, and she feels so familiar and warm and right that he doesn't want to stop, but eventually he realizes Tommy is clearing his throat repeatedly and looking slightly embarrassed to be watching his daughter make out with her best friend. Sam pulls back and leans his forehead against hers, his eyes still closed. After a while, he finds his courage to look at her and finds her eyes shining back at him. She rests her hands on his chest and laughs freely and he can't help but smile back as she launches herself into a hug.

Standing there on the field, he is invincible. He presses a kiss to her head and vows to remember this moment for the rest of his life. His partner by his side, their family behind them. He wonders if the rest of his class is feeling part of what he is feeling right now.

Their entire lives are ahead of them, which is slightly daunting; but if only one thing is certain, it's that they will stick with each other, protect each other, and love each other. Like partners.

A/N: I'm thinking this will be the last chapter. Sorry, but I don't have any more to write. I do plan to do different stories though, so look for a new one from me. I hope everyone has enjoyed this piece. I like hearing all your responses. Love always,

Bon.