Authors Note: Why, Hello! Thank you for clicking the title and taking an interest in my dear little story here. Anyway, if you haven't guessed yet this is a fanfiction of mine based on the book Shiver by Maggie Stiefvatar, and as you might have also guessed I own absolutely nothing. She owns it all, that lucky little lady. I hope you enjoy it and please tell me what you think once you've finished reading. I love feedback, positive or negative. So without further ado:

Budding

For Ted because you are my own personal Sam, and because you also picked the blue painting.

Chapter One ~ Grace

17 degrees F

We didn't talk about it at first. Talk about what had happened to Sam while he was a wolf. We just pretended like it never happened, and that was the way I liked it. We pretended like it never happened because, hell we had forever now. Forever with both of us human and… human. No more wolf.

All I wanted to do was lye in bed wrapped in Sam's arms, feeling his breath whiff my hair from side to side, so that's what I did. I pulled my knees up to my chest making myself into a little ball and burrowing into Sam's chest. His arms wrapped around me keeping me in, but I didn't protest. The rising sun cast an orange glow through the shades. I turned around so that we were face to face, nose to nose. Sam's eyes were closed, he looked so peaceful, his breath was deep and he had bags under his eyes. He looked so peaceful, so young in his sleep. Like he was this little seven year old kid again, with no scars in sight. I saw Sam's mouth curl into a smile and I laughed.

"Hey Angel." He said before opening his illuminating eyes.

"Hi" I whispered. I put my hand on his cheek, felt my finger tips tingle at the touch. I just wanted to make sure he was still there. That this Sam Roth wasn't some figment of my imagination, created by my subconscious because I wanted him so bad to be here. But once I smelled his musky scent, the last trace of pure wolf on him I knew that he actually was here, that he was real.

Sam held me tighter as if he knew what I was thinking. He could read every part of me. The way my nose twitched when I was annoyed or the way my eyes lingered.

"I love you." He said looking deeply into my eyes. Deep enough, I imagined to gaze down upon my heart which currently and forever would be a glowing picture of Sam.

Sam got out of bed and I sighed reluctantly I just wanted to freeze this moment right here. Sam, me, together curled up with one another, not for warmth but for pure and undeniable, unbreakable love. I didn't respond to his statement for a few moments because it was just a fact. The truest fact I had ever known. Truer then Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1942.

"So what do you want to do today?" Sam asked me.

"Absolutely nothing." I responded with a smile.

Chapter Two~ Sam

17 degrees F

I felt different now. My whole being felt different. There was no more wolf inside my skin waiting to burst out and take over. Even when it had been warm out I still felt my other present. But now it was absolutely and completely gone. At first I had been happy. The wolf was gone and I was completely human, I had forever now with Grace. But now… well I didn't know what. It was like a piece of me had disappeared with the fever. Risen with the heat inside of me. I felt oddly different and I wasn't sure how I felt about it.

Grace sat on top of the counter watching me scramble eggs for the two of us. I pushed the eggs around in small fluffy pieces. I looked out the window at the woods cold and white from the powder on the ground. The woods that I would never return to as a wolf stared back at me.

I internally slapped myself. Why was I having second thoughts? This was what I had always wanted. Grace was the one I loved and she meant so much more to me then a cold forest.

My summer girl turned to my all around girl/ Winter, spring summer fall/ I want it all/ You and me any day

I smiled as I let the eggs fall out of the pan onto two plates. I turned on my heals and went to set the plates on the table then returned to the kitchen to put the hot fry pan under some cold water. Grace sat on the counter not moving. Her face studying the floor. I walked over a looked up at her on her high perch on the counter. She caught my gaze and gave me a small smile.

"What's wrong?" I asked. Grace sighed and slid down from the counter. She was so close to me that our stomachs touched. I did nothing to change this fact though. I just looked down at her and put my hand on the back of her neck and stared into her eyes. She stared back at me and it was as if we were the same person, joined by eyes and pure love.

"Are you going to kiss me?" She asked curious.

"I don't know." I answered. "Do you want me to kiss you?" Grace gave me a long unblinking look. I could hear her saying inside her head. Of course you big fur bag.

So I put my other hand down on the counter top bracing us as I kissed her. Soft and sweet. Grace put her hands on my side and slid them onto my back under my shirt. I felt her fingernails graze over my spin and I groaned. Grace giggled. I took my mouth off hers and opened my eyes Grace's were still closed and I smiled at her. She was so sweet, so lovable, and so incredibly sexy. Not being able to restrain myself I wrapped my arms around Grace and started kissing her neck. Grace gasped and supported us on the counter. This was something new; I had never kissed her neck before. It seemed extremely intimate for her kitchen. I could feel Grace's pulse beating against my lips. Grace let out a small whimper of pleasure and I laughed against her neck.

Just then I heard a deep, low cough and abruptly stopped kissing Grace looking up to see her father.

"Dad!" Grace breathed. "I- I thought you left for work." Grace was still breathless and I suppressed my laughter.

"I forgot my briefcase." He said holding it up in the air.

Grace's dad look at me then, taking in my worn night shirt with wholes in the edges, taking in my plaid boxers. He knew I had slept there. But instead of freaking out all he said was:

"Okay I have to go now! Stay safe you too!" and he ran out the door.

"Unbelievable." Grace sighed. "He still doesn't say anything!" I sighed, an amazing moment ruined. I walked over to the table, Grace following me and we regretfully ate our eggs.