Finally I have posted the final chapter. Enjoy.

Back in the bar, Sam and Anya seemed to have attracted the attention of two men.

"Would you look at them just staring at us" Sam said

"Who are they anyway. Do you recognise them?"

"No. Dunno if there civvies or not. And there's a lot of Cog soldiers that I don't recognize as they always had helmets on"

"Well, lets just ignore them"

"It's ok for you. If they know who you're with they'd have to have a death wish to hit on you" Sam said.

Anya chuckled at that. Sam was probably right though.

"Oh look, now they're coming over"

Sam and Anya still didn't recognise them. They didn't properly introduce themselves.

"Can we buy a couple of pretty ladies a drink" one of the men said.

"Thanks, but I'm spoken for" Anya said.

"Well, what about you?" the other man said to Sam. "Are you spoken for?"

"No." She replied. "But I'm not really interested thanks"

"Aww come on, it's only a drink" he pestered.

"Look, I said I'm not interested ok" Sam said with a hint of anger in her voice, causing the guy to back off.

"Ok I get the message. We'll be over there if you change you minds"

"We won't" Sam said

The two guys left them alone to go back to where they were sitting by the bar.

"Wow, you know how to scare the guys away" Anya said.

"Yeah, you just need the right authority and tone of voice. Kinda like dealing with a misbehaving dog.

That made Anya smile.

"So" Sam begun, "You gonna tell Marcus that you got hit on tonight?"

"Yeah, I don't think that's a good idea, he'll probably try and track the guy down or something."

"I guess he's the jealous type huh."

"Not so much jealous, protective though."

"That must be kinda nice though. To have someone who cares about you that much."

"Aww Sam, you could have that to you know. With a certain, blond . . "

"Ok Anya I see what your getting at"

"I do think you two would make a perfect couple Sam"

"You really think that"

"Yeah. I do"

"Ugh, look those guys are still looking our way, I wander what they're thinking"

"Maybe they didn't get the message Sam"

"Don't worry Anya, if they come over again, I may just punch one of them."

Anya didn't doubt that for a second.

Baird and Cole made their way back into the bar. Baird looked over to where Sam was. He went straight for the bar. Cole followed him.

"I thought you were gonna talk to Sam. What gives?" Cole asked.

"Yeah. I am. But I need a drink in me first. Or two drinks, or 5 . . ."

"Ok, well lets start with one"

These days there wasn't a wide choice of wines ciders and beers like there would have been years ago. Right now Baird was more than happy to have a glass in his hand with something strong and alcoholic. He took a large swig.

"This is strong stuff"

"Yeah you got that right baby. Still not a strong as Dizzy's home made hooch though"

"Ugh, don't remind me"

Baird noticed two guys at the bar looking in Sam and Anya's direction. He listened hard to their conversation and could just about hear them over the drone of the noise in the bar.

"So you don't think I have a shot with the blonde one then" he heard on of the men say

"No, she's way out of your league"

"And she's taken"

"Yeah, cos that's why you wouldn't get her"

Baird was listening so intently to their conversation he wasn't even listening to whatever Cole was going on about. Baird was wondering how the two guys knew that Anya wasn't available. They must have already gone over and spoke to them. The thought of some random guy hitting on Sam made him a little bit uncomfortable. Maybe they hadn't been over, maybe they'd seen Anya around the place with Marcus. Not that Anya and Marcus showed much affection in public. He carried on listening.

"Well, that other chick is hot, sounds like she's from the South Islands or something. Not that I care where she's from. It's not like I want to start a budding friendship with her or anything. I don't even care what her name is" The other man said.

Hearing that angered Baird. Them talking about Sam like she was some kind of object and not a person. Even though he was sure he'd probably said the same thing about women in the past.

"Why don't you wait till she has a few more drinks in her"

"Then go over and get her more drunk. Good idea"

Baird was so close to confronting the two men. But what would he say.

". . . .Aint that right baby" Cole said.

"What?" Baird replied

"You haven't been listening to me have you"

"No. But are you hearing this. Those two guys are talking about Anya and Sam. Sounds like they've already tried there luck with them"

"Oh, Marcus won't like that"

"Forget about Marcus. I just can't stand to hear them talk about Sam like that. I'm gonna go talk to them"

"Don't be to hasty Damon. Lets just keep an eye on them ok?"

"Ok" Baird said reluctantly.

Anya and Sam couldn't help the two guys pointing and talking about them.

"There still staring at us"

"Just ignore them. Look, maybe we should go join Cole and Baird over there. They'd be stupid to hit on us with Cole there" Anya said.

"No. We can look after ourselves. After fighting locust and lambent for years I'm not gonna be intimidated by a couple of guys."

Back over by the bar, Baird was getting more and more agitated. The two guys were still talking about Sam.

"Ok" one of the guys began "If you can get her into bed tonight, I'm buying the drinks tomorrow night"

"Your on" the other guy answered

Cole had to put a hand on Baird's shoulder to stop him from following the two guys as they walked over to the girls.

"Sam can look after herself. We'll step in if we have to"

They watched the two guys approach the girls. Sam and Anya looked very unimpressed. He couldn't hear what they were saying but he could tell Sam wasn't interested. The guy interested in Sam didn't seem to be taking the hint. Baird was surprised that Sam hadn't punched him out yet. Baird couldn't take it any more. He went over and Cole followed.

"Look, I'm not interested Ok" he heard Sam say

"Oh come on, we all need to celebrate now that the war is over"

Sam heard a voice from behind say

"The lady said no"

The guy turned around to see Baird behind him.

"What's it to you" he asked

"She said no so just back off ok"

Sam was cringing, but she thought it was sweet that Baird was standing up for her.

The guy wasn't to intimidated by Baird but the sight of the Cole Train standing behind him was enough to make him cautious.

Baird wanted Sam to know exactly what a sleaze ball this guy was.

"Oh and I heard your little conversation by the bar. How you were gonna get her drunk and your friend betting that you could get her into bed. Oh, and her names Sam by the way. Not that you care."

Sam was shocked and surprised at Baird's words. He got carried away and people in earshot started to listen.

"She's a person not an object. You don't know her. She's one of the bravest women I've ever met. She's smart, she's beautiful and she deserves someone that appreciates all that, not some sleaze ball like you" He said pointing in the mans face.

The guy had been put on the spot and felt embarrassed. He just said,

"She's not worth it" and walked off back with his buddy.

Baird got a round of applause.

"Ok folks shows over, go back to your drinks" Cole said sensing how uncomfortable Baird was with all the attention.

Baird walked out of the bar, avoiding Sam's gaze.

"I think you should go after him" Cole said

"Yeah" Sam was pretty speechless at what Baird had said "I will"

Sam went outside and found Baird sitting outside on the floor. She sat beside him. He said nothing. After about two minutes Sam spoke.

"Thanks. For standing up for me"

"Don't mention it"

She was still thinking about the words he said.

"Damon?"

It was weird her calling him by his first name. But he didn't mind.

"Yeah"

"Did you really mean everything you said about me"

Baird didn't answer.

"Did you mean it" She asked again.

"Of course I did Sam. I meant every word"

Sam smiled. He still wasn't looking at her.

"So when we had that talk, you couldn't have just told me how you felt then?"

"No. I thought it would be better to shout it out in a bar full of people"

Sam chuckled. Baird turned to face her. "It's time to be honest"

"I'm sorry Sam. I've never been good at, feelings and stuff. The truth is, I haven't been able to get you out of my head since the night I spent in your room. And I did something nice for you that night because. . . I really do care about you. I guess I just had a funny way of showing it."

Sam was touched by his words and glad that he finally decided to open up.

"You know I care about you to Damon" She said softly.

He smiled, something she rarely saw him do.

"So you don't think I'm a complete ass hole"

"Of course not. Well, not a complete one anyway"

"Sam. I still think you deserve better than me" he said.

Sam moved closer to him and put her hands around his neck.

"I'll be the judge of that" she said planting an unexpected kiss on his lips.

Baird kissed her back, properly this time. He then pulled her into a hug. It felt good to be in him arms again.

"Are you sure this is what you want Sam? I don't have much to offer you"

"I'm sure." She replied.

Baird closed his eyes. For the first time in as long as he remembered he actually felt happy, and he was determined to do everything he could to make Sam happy. Even if that did mean being nice once in a while.