{sams pov}
Despite everything, the beauty of the island never failed to amaze Sam. Tall, swaying palm trees, bright green shrubbery, crystal blue ocean. It was even more beautiful from above. Sam sighed, resting his head back against the seat he was sat in, eyes taking their last glimpses of Hawaii out of the plane window. He was finally going home. Back to L.A. Back to his little apartment. Back to his girlfriend. After weeks of laying in a hospital bed waiting for the all clear from the doctor; the four of them were finally leaving. Colby sat next to the blonde, head down as his fiddled with his hands, fingers gliding over the marks on his tanned wrists. Tears were clouding his vision, but the brunette wasn't about to let them fall. Colby Brock was a strong, strong man. Sam knew that. The blonde sighed, glancing down at his own wrists. Identical rope burns lay indented on his pale skin. A reminder of what they'd been through. A reminder of how he felt laying on that cold basement floor, unable to move. How it felt to look at colby, and share that private little conversation... because they truly feared it'd be their last.
"whatever happens, i want you to know... you changed my life. hear me?"
Colby's words rattled in his head. He squeezed his eyes shut, took a deep inhale. He didn't want to focus on that anymore. He wanted to push that aside, focus on the excitement of going home rather than the anxiety bubbling in his chest. He settled back into his seat, turning his head to look at Alex and Nate, who were seated beside sam and colby on the opposite isle. Nate was videoing the island, on the only phone that had survived this trip. The four had been able to go back to their holiday home they were staying at and retrieve some of their belongings; but Georgia and Trey had taken all their electronics, and there was no way they were going back to get them. Nate's phone was never taken from his back pocket, remarkably- which was such a relief. It was reassuring to know there was something they could use to contact people at home. And the fans, who were wondering what the hell was going on. This experience was gonna make one hell of a video- but Sam felt it was too intense for a video, it deserved something even cooler, but whatever. He'd think that through later. Besides, he was nowhere near ready to have what happened to him released to the public. He didn't know if he ever would be, but Sam let those worries bury themselves in the back of his brain for another day. Alex sat beside Nate, hunched over himself; fiddling with his fingers. The boy hasn't quite forgiven himself yet, but hopefully with time; he'd heal. Hopefully with time, they'd all heal.
Walking out of that airport into L.A, was a feeling sam would never forget. The beeping of horns and the movement of traffic rattled in his ears, such a contrast to the quiet, stillness of Hawaii. But, sam didn't care. He was home.
"SAM!"
The blonde spun around, eyes dancing around the crowd desperately. He knew that voice. Finally, he saw her. Blue hair racing through the mass of bodies climbing into taxis. Racing towards him. He shoved his bags to the side, hurrying to meet her halfway. She crashed into his arms, well- as best she could. The big, white, bulging cast on his arm kinda got in the way, but they made it work. The blonde buried his face in blue hair, the familiar scent of his beautiful girlfriend filling his nose.
"Kat.." he sobbed. He didn't know when he'd started crying, but he didn't care. She was crying too, he could feel it seeping through his shirt and dampening the skin of his shoulder, but that didn't matter right now. He was home.
"I- god, Kat," he spoke shakily. She just nodded, she knew exactly what he was trying to say.
I love you. I'm so glad you're here. I never thought I'd see you again.
So many words sam wanted to speak, he'd planned a whole speech on the plane. But now the words stuck in his throat, got lost in the steady flow of tears cascading down their cheeks. Finally, they broke the hug to look at each other. Katrina smiled softly, giggled; though it mixed with a sob. It was a strange noise, it made sam laugh. And that made Kat laugh. And soon they were just two crying kids laughing in the midst of a crowd of people. Sam could've laughed forever. Could've stood there with his girlfriend forever, laughing. But there was something he had to do. So, he leant forward, hand pressing to her damp cheek, and gently pressed his lips to hers. Finally. He was home.
