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Chapter Text

Jack saw her standing in line near the counter, perusing the various dishes and desserts on offer. To his amazement she skipped over the blue jell-o, the mash, the chicken, and the vegetables. No, she had to grab a banana. Bemused he shook his head. Carter was having one of those days. He knew full well she was having one of those days as she never swore at one of the doohickeys she was playing with, nor smashed hard on any keyboard, gulped coffee like it was going out of fashion and munch on chocolates like they were vitamins. She liked vanilla. She was vanilla. Sumptuous creamy vanilla with a splash of luminescent blue jell-o. The type he could eat all day long these days, and more days, years, or eons. He fumbled in his pocket, a small bar of Milka White, picked up when stopping for petrol this morning as he’d noticed her demureness the day before. A demureness she’d done off with a frowned sigh of nothingness.

“Carter,” he said, sidling in behind her.

Sam turned when she heard the unmistakable baritone behind her. “Sir.”

Their eyes met a moment, and he smiled ruefully at her use of ‘sir’, with a barely audible sigh. He fingered the bar of chocolate in his pocket and decided he’d feed it to her later, bit by bit, licking his finger after each piece, kissing her lips as she was letting the vanilla chocolates melt in her mouth. He knew the effect that would have on her, liked the effect it had, liked how she responded when he teased her a little. Seeing the look in her eyes now, maybe tonight he shouldn’t tease her. She was on edge for some reason.

“What’re ye havin’?” Jack asked, motioning at the dishes and desserts in front of them.

“Steak, medium rare. Green leaf salad, new potatoes, vanilla dame blance and a rosy wine.”

Jack blinked as the server clobbered a spoonful of mash onto his plate. He pursed his lips. Yep, that confirmed his suspicions and he took pride in the fact that he’d been able to figure out that part of her so quickly. It was that time of the month again. He remembered that only recently, about half an hour from base, a new restaurant had opened. A nice little cozy restaurant. He’d driven past it, stopped and saw the menu looked more than decent – it looked yummy – just the kind of place he’d like to take her too. He looked over at Carter, for a moment admiring her features, the sparkle in her eyes, as she thanked the server for her plate of pancakes – ah yes, pancakes for dinner meant trouble – and turned towards her.

“Sir?” she asked with a frown as he took the tray from her and passed it back with a nod.

“Come on, Carter, steak’s on me,” he said as he took her sleeve and pulled her along.

“We’re not supposed to …” she warned but he simply smiled and whispered: “We’re doing a lot of not supposed to’s, Carter.”

“Jack …” she whispered barely audible, then giggled as she rushed after him. She felt him pull her along to the elevator, saw him thumb the buttons ferociously, felt him pull her inside and let out the breath she’d been holding. “What are you up to?”

“Taking my girl out for a meal,” he said, jumping up and pulling the wire from the camera. He greedily reached for her, cupped her face and drank the giggles into his mouth. He felt her kiss back, hungrily, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and smile into the kiss. He broke the kiss and smiled as well. “If that’s okay?”

“Fine with me, sir,” she said, glad for his comment, wobbly because of the kiss. A hungry kiss. She pressed a kiss in the nape of his neck, feeling his arm around her waist, pulling her in. He’d made her smile again, a smile that could probably overcome the aching cramps she’d started to feel. She looked up as he nosed her ear and whispered: “Anything, Jack.”

“Oh, and I’ve already got dessert covered,” he muttered, savoring the smile that lit up her cerulean eyes.

“Ye have?”

“It’s a surprise.”

They got to the surface and beelined for his truck. He opened door, extended his hand to help her in and tapped her rear as stepped on the ramp. It awarded him with a soft, sad smile but he winked, nodded and closed the door. He got in, started the engine and put his hand on her knee.

“I know, Sam.”

“Our first long weekend fishing,” she muttered.

“Oh, we’ll still do fishing, kissing,” he smiled. “Stargazing, kissing, eat a tonne of vanilla cake, kiss some more, watch a movie whilst kissing, and see what it would be like.”

“Would what be like?” she quizzed, flustered at his openness about his desire to kiss her.

He shrugged, smiled and made the customary move with his head to nothing in particular.

“Jack?”

“Livin’ together, ‘spose.”

“You’re a romantic at heart, sir,” she said with a little giggle.

“Just glad that giggle is back, major,” he said as he drove out of Cheyenne Mountain.

Daniel looked back, looked at the queue and looked back again. He walked up to Teal’c and, with a deep frown, asked: “What was that?”

“What was what, Daniel Jackson?”

“Jack and Sam, rushing off like that?” he asked as he sat down with a plate of mash.

Teal’c smiled. Yes, they were rushing off but not because of the mash. He’d seen the glances surface a few days ago, a pair of hands clasped and let go immediately. He’d known since the Za’Tarc incident, when he had heard their true feelings spoken aloud.

‘A lot more than I’m supposed to’, was what O’Neill had said. ‘I’d have rather died myself … than lose Carter’.

‘I couldn’t watch him die, I needed him … to live’, Carter had said. ‘Because a part of me would have died with him’.

He’d seen the feelings being nurtured, develop, in secret. They were dating and he would not know about it, nor tell about it. Forget he would not, could not. Aid them he would.

“I believe the mash leaves something to be desired, Daniel Jackson.”

Chapter Text

Sam gazed around the cozy restaurant, which was very tastefully decorated. Low lighting, crisp white tablecloths, polished knifes and forks, candlelight, and super shiny crystal glasses. Romantic, and Jack had insisted this time, more so than he’d ever insisted on going fishing. She’d found a little note on her plate, telling her he’d reserved a bottle of golden Château Yuck’em, that he couldn’t wait to see her, a blocked ‘J’ and a small x. She’d put in in her handbag as the waiter passed her a menu, poured her a small taster of the wine – which she found excellent – and recommended a special menu with a shared desert for two called ‘Exploring Vanilla Bean’, which made her smile. He’d arranged the special menu, she knew that for a fact, for a romantic meal on their first night in DC after a hiatus of three months.

“Colonel Carter?”

Startled, Sam looked up from the menu she’d been reading and saw general Landry, in full dress uniform, smile down at her. She mustered an awkward smile and a polite nod.

“General,” she said by way of greeting. “What brings you to DC, sir?”

“Can ask you the same,” he said with a smile, thinking whether or not he should simply sit down as she was sitting alone. His right as a general, after all. “You look different in civvies.”

“Thank you, sir,” she muttered, gazing across to the entrance of the restaurant. Still no sign of him. She checked her watch, quickly, seeing he was only a few minutes late.

“How are things at Area 51?” he asked, trying to keep a conversation going which seemed to be difficult as Carter was more than a little distracted. She was never distracted and it piqued his interest.

“Fine, sir,” she said, mustering another smile.

“Enjoying it there?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Dinner alone? I could join you?” he asked, curious as hell whom she could be waiting for, dressed like that. Black sleeveless shirt that hugged perfect round breasts, long tan skirt with a slit down the front and, as he had peeked, high-heeled black pumps. He saw her cross her legs, seeing a toned leg and two bare knees peek out through the slit of the delicate fabric. Delicious, yet so remote and distant. He admired the splash of silver around her wrists and neck, admired the small freckles in her neck, her starlit cerulean eyes. “Or are you waiting for someone?”

“She is,” a baritone rang out. “Hello gorgeous. Sorry I’m late, you know how often I take a wrong turn in DC. Had to get some directions.”

“General O’Neill,” Landry said as he watched the tall man take off his uniform cap, lean over and kiss Carter gently on her smiling lips, drinking in her smile. “What a surprise.”

“Why?” Jack said as he put his cap on the table and moved the chair back.

Jack let his gaze travel across Sam, who was trying to hide her embarrassment without much success. For a moment he was mesmerized by her glittering blue eyes, her toned arms, her licking her bottom lip a moment, and he saw she was drawing comfort from his gaze. He let her take what she needed, giving it freely. He saw her eyes flicker up, and saw she liked what she saw. He smiled, albeit a little ruefully at the unwanted interruption, but when he saw her take in a breath with an almost open mouth, he winked.

“Well, I wouldn’t take you for a place like this,” Landry said as he stood erect, seeing the admiration flash between the two as if something unknown star had just gone supernova.

“A place like what?” Jack asked as he sat down. He smiled at Carter and asked: “d’Yquem any good? President recommended it but I’ve passed on it till today.”

“It’s really nice,” Sam said breathlessly.

She knew why on occasion he passed up things, like probably the vanilla dessert, like the wine, a type of fish, anything tasty so they could enjoy it together first. First tastes. She drew in a little breath. Three months apart had her going, for sure. Their last night together before the hiatus, he’d nudged her and had told her about the magic of the first tastes. She’d blushed badly but had given it right back, to which he’d blushed, badly. It had become a thing, like other things – like the code word: ‘fishing’, or a set of coordinates, or his statement when walking in at SGC ‘been in Malibu’ whereas he’d been in their bed in their house in Colorado Springs, or ‘Raton without Boca’ when she’d booked a nice hotel just to get away a bit.

“Anything else, general?”

“No, sir, enjoy your meal,” Landry stammered. He nodded respectfully at Carter, then at O’Neill and turned on his heel. Uh, oh, the guys back at SGC wouldn’t believe it if he told them. They were dating. Seriously dating, more than dating, they were … a couple.

Jack watched him go, his primal instinct high, his possessiveness higher and his protectiveness maxed. He turned and all those feelings were washed away by shimmering starlight. “What did he want?”

“Beats me,” Sam said as she reached out under the table with her foot. She lodged it between his feet and smiled her naughty smile. “Exploring Vanilla Bean?”

Jack smiled, seeing the smile he’d longed to see. “Never had it.”

She looked back, sighed and said: “Lose the macho, my sweet romantic.”

He smiled, ruefully, and said: “Can’t help it, Sam, jealousy is a new emotion for me.”

“And you need that emotion why?”

He looked up and Sam immediately knew why. The time it had taken them to finally bend, break and burn the rules, the time after P3X-567 – the mission that had almost cost SG-1’s lives – the Za’Tarc, the Prometheus, Mad Maybourne. Losing each other became no longer an option, being together became the only option. His eyes conveyed all those emotions in one big one. Love. She put her hand on his, knowing he needed it. She smiled and saw that smile reflected in his eyes.

“Untamed equines, Jack,” she whispered. “Add to that black holes, a Jaffa incursion, a misguided chieftain, NID, brimstone and fire, freezing planets, bunch of asshole system lords, replicators, need I go on?”

“Sam,” he said with a little smile. He stroked the back of her hand as if it was the most precious thing in the world.

“Am yours Jack,” she said. “Wanted to be yours since – since as long as I can recall meeting you. You stir within me. Even if we’re miles apart, I know when you have a nightmare. I know.”

“Same,” he said softly, squeezing her hand gently. “I love you. I guess when I see men on my turf, I just want to …”

“Remove them with absolute force, nuclear if possible,” she said with a smile. “I … have the same.”

He looked up, puzzled. She smiled towards her plate as the waiter came up.

“Have you decided?” he asked, filling their glasses with a taster of wine.

“Just dessert,” Sam said, pointedly. “In a box. Decant the wine in a flask please. We have somewhere we need to be.”

“I apologize for my tardiness.”

Jack felt even more puzzled. He did his signature nod, frown, but felt her squeeze his hand, saw her smile and gave her a quizzical look.

“Ye’re not the only one that can dish out orders, sir,” Sam said bemused. “I too can plan a couple of surprises. And I want to tell you this under starlight.”

“Right,” he said with a frown. “Lead the way, colonel.”

He followed her as he always would, having her back, backside, back-everything. Well, wouldn’t you with a view that splendid? Outside Jack put on his cap but Sam took his hand, paused his movement with a smile, and kissed him. A kiss he took in, all of it, her breath, scent, luscious lips. He let his hand travel across her back, up to her arms, drawing her in. He felt her push her body flush with his, felt her tongue across his lips, felt her. A few passers-by smiled at the obvious display of affection, but Jack simply pulled her into an embrace before hailing a cab, holding her close. He needed Sam close, always.

“Naval Observatory, please,” Sam said as she got into the cab.

Jack scooted next to her with a frown. “The N.O.? That a hint, or an answer to a question I don’t know about?”

Sam took his hand and placed it into her lap. “I’ll never say no to you, Jack.”

“Really?”

“Really,” she said, giving his fingers a gentle squeeze as the cab took off.

She put her head on his shoulder and felt his arm sneak around her back. She felt a soft kiss in her hair as the lights of DC passed them by. She wanted to stay like this forever, blissfully happy, a little magic despite the ongoing threats.

He pulled her in, close to him, as DC flashed by outside the window of the cab. He wanted her in his arms, always, kiss her, always, and get lost in those shimmering event horizons. But alas, moments like this never last long enough and when the cab pulled up he simply took her hand.

They got out and she smiled her sunny smile as they walked up to the N.O. He opened the door and watched her walk up to two security officers, who openly admired his Sam. He felt it again. Jealousy. He was carrying their dessert and the wine, and waited with pursed lips.

“Colonel Carter,” she said to which the men saluted and blushed – because hey, she simply looked gorgeous. “I’ve booked three hours, is everything set up?”

“Yes, colonel,” the younger of the two said with a nod so quick and heavy, Jack thought his head would roll off of his shoulders. “The coordinates have been entered, colonel, but there is an hour yet …”

“I know,” Sam said and she knew Jack could almost see the smugness on her face. “As an astrophysicist I know when stars appear. Jack?”

Jack could almost see the two guards’ eyeballs roll out of their heads as he walked towards Sam. “At ease,” was all he could say. “Sorry gents, matter of national security.”

“Sir, yes, sir, general, sir,” both men practically shouted in unison.

“It’s something General O’Neill should see,” Sam said with a quirky smile. “This way, sir.”

Jack sighed. Why she drew out this rank like warm molten toffee was a mystery to him. It completely set him alight. He eyed her and saw her eyes shimmer with cheekiness. He followed her to the elevator and watched her shapely behind move in a gentle two-step underneath the fabric of her skirt. Her smile said it all as they reached the top floor, where a telescope was trained to the heavens. The waning sunlight bathing everything in a soft red and golden glow. He looked round, two low chairs and a small table, just like the jetty outside his old cabin in Minnesota. Their first kiss, interrupted.

“Like this devilish side of you,” Jack said with a grin. “Where would you have me put the dessert, colonel? The wine?”

“Table is there for a reason, general.”

He watched her move just that tiny bit. Taking a ISO 12312-2 filter and bending a little. He liked her backside, a lot, but it should be in his lap not prancing round and about a telescope. It gave him odd thoughts, odd penetrable thoughts, odd …

“Jack?”

“What?” he said, feeling caught in the act.

“Where’s your head at?” Sam asked bemused, seeing the soft blush in his neck.

“Examining the gutter,” he muttered. “As always.”

Sam walked back and decided to tease him just a little more. She let her tongue slide across her bottom lip, saw his eyes go a little darker, saw what it did to him. She bend down and kissed him, with that one little lick. She felt his hands across her waist as she smiled into the kiss.

“Saw it,” she whispered as she let her tongue walk across his bottom lip.

“Saw …?”

“As I said, no need for jealousy.”

“Right.”

“Ye should be tellin’ me that.”

“What?”

Sam hoisted up her skirt just a mere inch and sat down across Jack’s lap. She felt his hands on her hips immediately and bend down to kiss him again. She decided to quit the teasing for a while, as jealousy was an emotion she felt too. Especially after an hiatus of three months.

“Don’t ye think I get a little jealous at times?” she whispered against his lips.

“Ye do?”

“Hell yeah, Jack.”

“What for?”

She moved a little across his lap, clearly feeling how he needed to come undone. She opened the dessert box and picked up a small chocolate-coated almond. She licked it, once, and smiled. It tasted like heaven, much similar to how he tasted.

“Vanilla bean?” she asked with a small smile.

“Sam,” he muttered, claiming her lips coated in white vanilla chocolate. He felt her take his kiss with more than a little fever, almost as if he were her dessert. He let go, simply drowning into blue flickering starlight. “Tell me?”

Sam nosed him gently and whispered: “I see them look at you.”

“Who?” Jack asked, completely confused.

“Let’s just say, in civvies it’s a good thing am not armed.”

“Sam,” he said with a smile, scooting her a little closer. “No need.”

“That’s what I’m telling you practically every day. Yet, there we are.”

“You’re gorgeous.”

“So are you.”

“C’mere.”

Sam lay down across his chest, hearing his heartbeat, feeling him, all of him, against her. She felt his hands across her back, her hips, her backside, her legs. She nuzzled him as the sun slowly set and the first stars appeared. A moment of perfect bliss. Their moment, everlasting. Take that Orion.

Chapter Text

Jack parked on the driveway next to Sam’s gray Volvo and killed the engine. He tapped on the steering wheel and looked up at their house. He hadn’t called ahead, wanting to surprise her with a breakfast from Shuga’s that was now securely tied on the passenger’s seat. He hadn’t seen her in three months, and it had driven him crazy to be that long without her. He got out, grabbed the Shuga bag and locked the door of his truck. He tucked the key into the pocket of his dress uniform, grabbed the house keys and sauntered to the front door. She’d still be asleep, seeing as it was just half past six, so he could set the table and kiss her awake. With the plan made, he inserted the key and opened the door.

He put the bag on the table and looked round. Just like Sam, their place in Colorado Springs was sunny, bright, and it always made him smile stepping into her, their, well-stocked kitchen. He opened one of the cabinets and took out two plates, two mugs and two glasses before grabbing a tablecloth, cutlery and napkins. He set the table and knew immediately he was missing one crucial part. A rose. A sunny rose. He carefully opened the back door, seeing his birthday present from last year full in bloom and grinned. He cut off one yellow blooming rose and walked back. He got a little vase, filled it halfway with water and put the rose on the table. Smug as he was, he smiled at his accomplishment and took off his shoes and socks before sneaking upstairs.

He pushed the bedroom door open and heard a soft snoring. He smiled as he watched her turn in the pillows, her blond hair mussed, deeply asleep. He padded forward. He couldn’t tear his eyes from her raising chest, bare, and simply admired her for a moment. She was beautiful. She took his breath away, every time he saw her. She took his senses away, every time he kissed her. She undid him, every time she screamed his name. He loved her. He sat down carefully, not wanting to wake her just yet, and lay down beside her. Somehow, in the deepest crevasses of sleep, she knew he was here as she turned practically immediately, and pushed her whole self against him.

“When did ye get in?” a sleepy mutter came.

He pulled her into his arms and whispered: “Half hour ago.”

She moved against him and kissed his shoulder. “And you’ve been doing?”

“Surprising my girl.”

Sam raised sleepy herself up and gazed down into her beloved chocolate pools. “With?”

“You’ll see,” he muttered, drowning in her shimmering ceruleans.

He kissed her and they stayed a moment, just like that. Kissing, feeling, being. He felt the three-month absence coil through him as she straddled him with nothing but her own self. When she kissed him again, sitting atop, he knew he was in trouble.

She took her fill. Feeling him buckle ever so slightly. Feeling him grow slowly as she smiled into their kiss. The absence had been a lot for her, and she tossed that feeling aside just to feel how she felt about him. Love. Then her stomach growled like a large hairy moleman, and she giggled.

Jack practically drank in her giggle, and couldn’t help one himself. “That’s the surprise.”

“Ye were never able to keep things from me,” she said as she licked his bottom lip. “Shuga?”

“What else?” he asked, pulling her in a little closer.

“Tiffany’s?”

“More suggestions?”

“Sandy’s?”

“Pancakes?”

“Milkshakes?”

“Jolinar’s fault,” he laughed. “Right the first try.”

She lifted herself up and immediately drowned in his loving eyes. “Shuga? Really?”

“Really, really,” he said. “I’ve missed you Sam.”

“Same,” she whispered before claiming his lips in a demanding kiss. “I seriously hate being away from you, Jack.”

“Same,” he whispered before answering her kiss. He felt her lift off of him and as he gazed up, saw her eyes shimmer. “I love you.”

“Same,” she said with a sunny smile. “So if I walk into our living room?”

“Go on,” he said as she got up.

He simply watched her wondrous peach move like delicate dance. He turned and gazed after her, knowing he had to cool down just a little before his pants became too tight and too uncomfortable. When he heard her call for him he got up. He walked to the living room, saw her standing in her birthsuit near the table, yellow rose to her nose, and the sunniest smile that would make the sun absolutely jealous.

“Ye did this?” Sam said with a lot of breath.

“Yeah,” he said, holding out his hand.

She took it, never taking her eyes off of him. “Thank you.”

He smiled as her smile went supernova. He took off his uniform jacket and draped it around her shoulders before kissing her. “Don’t want you to get cold.”

“Heat me up later?”

“Never have to ask,” he said, letting his hands grab her backside. He felt her nose in his neck and savored how she felt in his hands. “Ever.”

“Jack.”

“Oatmeal,” he whispered into her ear. “Remember we had to do that time and time again?”

She gazed up at him, quizzically.

“Three moths of fruit loops?”

She smiled and then frowned. “Ye never told me what …”

“I kissed you.”

“What?”

“Yeah. I kissed you,” he said. “Because I wanted to. Needed to. I needed to kiss you, Sam. I resigned, then I kissed you. And ye know something?”

“What?”

“You kissed me like I’d never been kissed before. You taste so much better than fruit loops.”

“Jack,” she said with a barely hidden giggle. “Anything else?”

“Nope,” he said, enveloping her. “Just a kiss.”

“You could have …”

“Nope, not with you. Never.”

“When …”

“Because I think I fell in love with ye when I met ye.”

“Did?”

“Yeah.”

“Same.”

The morning could be the morning, the sun could be fabulously jealous, the moon absolutely angry, whatever. Jack held onto Sam as if it would be the last thing he’d ever do in his life. He felt her hands across his arms, across his backside and he knew this time he was responsible for the increasing heat. And he’d take that responsibility, fully, totally, completely, as Sam pushed her nose into his neck. He held onto her as he would do so for the rest of their lives.

Chapter Text

Two taps and a gentle rap on the door of her lab made Sam look up into smiling brown eyes. She giggled as Jack walked in and put the spanner down, wiping her hands on a cloth. Jack put his cap on her workbench and dumped himself onto the one vacant chair. Sam did a double-take when he patted his uniformed lap with a cheeky grin. She walked over, biting her lip as he ran his hands across her hips and pulled her down. She straddled him, putting her hands on his waist and giggled again, moving just that little and seeing the movement reflected like lightning in his eyes.

“What are you doing here?” she breathed with a sunny smile. “What brought this on?”

“Have a little surprise for ya,” he said, before claiming her lips in a sweltering kiss, feeling how his body reacted to her gentle move across his groin.

“Ye do?” she muttered, letting her tongue dance across his, teasing him.

“Mm,” he said, savoring the taste of her lips, drinking in her breath. “How quickly can ye pack? Couple days?”

“I’ve already packed,” she smiled with a nod towards her backpack in the far corner of her lab. “Was going to catch a plane up to DC this evening to surprise you.”

“You were?” he asked surprised. “Why didn’t ye say?”

“Mm,” she said, kissing him again. “That would ruin the surprises I have.”

“You’ve got surprises?”

Sam sat back and let her hands trail across his chest. Three months ago, when she got the plane out to Nevada from DC she’d made a quick definite decision as she didn’t want another three month hiatus. She wanted to be with him, full-time, every day, morning, noon and night.

“You first,” she muttered, still feeling a little sad despite sitting on his warm lap. The memory of that dratted flight, the sad see-you-soon kiss he’d given her, when she’d cried silent tears against the airplane window, was still fresh in her mind, still too vivid.

“Ah, now,” Jack said with a grin. “You’ll see. C’mon.”

“Now?” she asked with a puzzled frown.

“Yeah, now,” he said, pointing at her backpack. She slid off of his lap and walked to the far end of her lab. She picked up her backpack, slung it across her shoulder, and took his hand. “You’ll like it. I promise.”

“Lead the way,” she said, motioning to the door.

The waves were gently lapping at the shore, the sand warm beneath her bare feet, the breeze mussing her hair and tugging at her blue linen dress. She laid her head back against his shoulder, savoring the moment of being just them.

“Where did ye pick that one up?” Jack asked as he kissed her bare shoulder.

“New store in town,” she said as she turned around in his arms, admiring him in his white linen shirt and khaki pants. “Like?”

“Mm,” he said with a wink. “Like more when I take it off.”

Sam giggled and took his hand as he led them towards a small beach-side restaurant. They walked slowly, enjoying the late afternoon sun, the gentle rolling of the waves and the soft cooing calls of the seagulls overhead.

“So, surprises?” Jack asked as he sat down on the steps leading up the boardwalk. He shook the sand out of his shoes and put them back on. Sam dropped her sandals and deftly stepped into them, pulling the straps around the back of her heels. He looked up as she hadn’t answered him and saw a small frown on her face. “Sam?”

“Am still flying to DC in a few days,” she said as she reached out to help him stand back up. “I’m meeting some fellows at Georgetown.”

“Fellows?” he asked with the customary nod to nothing when he didn’t immediately understand what she was saying. “What sort of fellows? As in …”

“The university.”

“And?”

Sam looked down at her hands. She sought for the words, wanting to be absolutely honest with him about how she felt and what she wanted, needed, and for the first time she wasn’t sure how to say it. When she looked back up, she knew she’d startled him, as she felt the tears prickle in her eyes.

“Sam? Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Jack asked alarmed, taking her hands in his, squeezing gently and kissing away the tear that had escaped one of her cerulean eyes.

“I can’t do it anymore, Jack,” she muttered. “Three months apart every time. I love you, I want to be with you, full-time, every day. Yanno? Making dinner for when you get home, stealing your coffee in the morning, stepping in the shower with you. A life, together. Not miles and miles apart with long pauses before seeing you again. It’s driving me crazy. I need you in my life.”

Jack pulled her into his arms and tucked her head under his chin. “Same, Sam.”

“So I’ve been talking to some old friends of mine. At Georgetown. Fellowship, teaching maybe, research, just looking at some options. Nothing definite yet.”

He started to laugh and felt her move in his arms before her glittering blue eyes met his. He saw a myriad of emotions, questions and mirth as he claimed her lips in a warm, loving kiss.

“Yeah, same, Sam,” he said with a smile. “Been talking to a few people out at Nellis.”

“Ye have?” she asked incredulously.

“I have, and I’ve been looking at a couple places out there, middle between Nellis and Area 51. Means you can stay at R&D and I get to kick some new recruits’ butts.”

All tension left her as she burst out laughing. The clattering sound mimicked by the bright cooing calls of the seagulls overhead. She threw her arms around his shoulders and buried her face into his neck, feeling him shudder with laughter too. Then she heard his stomach growl like an angry bear and gazed up. Their lips met in a loving kiss before they walked into the restaurant.

“So, shall we go house hunting?” Jack asked as they were seated.

Her smile set the place alight as she reached over and took his hand. “As soon as we get back. I’ll take a few weeks off, still have plenty time left. What about you?”

“I’ll get onto that transfer,” he said as the waiter poured them both a glass of wine. “Couple days. Sell up the place in DC, move across.”

“I’ll put up my house as soon as we find something,” she said as she gave the waiter her preference for this evening. “Furniture?”

“We’ll pick out new things,” Jack said as he tapped his glass to hers and took a sip. “Mm. Living together with my gorgeous sunny Sam. Life just went from blissful to magical.”

“I love you Jack,” Sam said as she squeezed his hand. “Incredibly much.”

“Same, Sam,” he chuckled, repeating himself once more. “Absolutely the same.”

Outside the sun was slowly setting, but inside, at their table, the sun shone brighter than ever before, and they basked in the warm rays that filled them both.

Chapter Text

Sam padded about the livingroom on bare feet in Jack’s black boxers and t-shirt, as she simply loved the smell of him all around her. Soft pine, a little note of sandalwood, and gentle citrus, his scents a great comfort to her. They always lingered when he’d showered, and she’d secretly been using his showergel the past few days as he’d quite soon got the call from DC. He’d gone back to finish up the sale of his house, leaving her to be the boss of the painting and decorating, the pool and the gardens, and the unpacking and stashing away of their things. She ignored the bemused looks the workmen gave her as she quietly sang to herself whilst unpacking one of his boxes with books. They’d already moved all of their things into the new house, set most of it in boxes in one of the spare rooms which they’d do up at a later stage, as their first and main goal was living together which meant livingroom, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Their things in their house, together.

She smiled as she saw one of her own favorite novels amongst his collection of fishing and survival books. He’d asked her to borrow it, for on the plane, a little bit of her musings during the endless flights between Colorado Springs and DC that were now no longer needed. She flipped through it and saw some little notes in his handwriting to the side of a few stanza’s in pencil. She put it aside on the table for a little read later on when one of the painters came up.

“All done ma’am,” he said. “Should be dry by the evening.”

“That was speedy work,” Sam said as she looked around the livingroom. They’d gone for a classic country style, a style they both loved. Cream walls, tall off-white curtains, yellows, greens and deep browns. A little bit of Minnesota in the warm desert of Nevada. “Thank you.”

“Understood there will be some more work?”

“At a later stage,” Sam said with a smile. “Unpack and settle first.”

“Without unwanted guests,” he said with a wink which made her smile. “Good thinking.”

Sam watched the painters leave and turned back to the box in front of her, taking out the books and setting them in the respective cases. Fiction with fiction, fact with fact, alphabetized by author name or topic as needed. She knew her organization skills would make him laugh, and also knew she’d have to reorganize everything at least once every six months, but she didn’t care. She’d love to do that, for him, for them. She looked round in the now quiet house and walked back to the kitchen. Plates and everything else that belonged in a kitchen had already been put away, and she dipped into the large drawer to fetch a pan. She decided on making a quick pasta bake, which could sit in the oven whilst she kept pottering about. Because that’s what she felt she was doing; pottering. She missed him. Missed his arms around her, missed his gentle snore at night after they’d tired themselves out, missed his call for her when he came undone, missed calling out to him in ecstasy, missed making him coffee in the morning, dinner in the evening, brunch on a Sunday. Without him she felt just a little empty, even if it was for only one week.

“Ma’am?”

Startled, Sam turned to one of the last workmen. He held out a clipboard and smiled. “Pool’s cleaned and filled, ma’am, all filters have been replaced. Lights are on a timer, pool should be heated enough in a couple hours. Left instructions out on the table. Just sign here.”

Sam took the clipboard, read quickly, and signed just as a white delivery truck parked outside. She frowned as a burly man with a sweaty face walked up the back garden. “Miss Carter?”

“Yeah?” Sam asked.

“Delivery for you from a Jack O’Neill,” he said with a deep sigh, wiping his forehead. “A barbecue grill combo, ma’am.”

Sam dipped her head and smiled at her bare feet, wondering when he’d found the time to make his choice for outdoor eating. She motioned to the separate section of the back patio. “Right there please. Which one did he get?”

“The meg, ma’am.”

“The what?” she asked, confused.

“Megalosaurus, ma’am,” the burly man sighed with ill-contained fatigue.

“Right,” Sam said with a small smile.

Obviously, Jack got the largest barbecue grill available and that would mean long lazy evenings together. She signed for it and the man got to work setting up the monstrosity. When they’d gotten the house, he’d shown her his ideas and she’d make sure they were followed to the letter. The tables and seats would come in a few days, so he could finish the patio dining area how he’d envisioned it. She walked over to the pool and unwrapped the two loungers for their lounging area. It looked just like Jack had wanted, when he’d told her about the the pool, the coffee breakfasts, the swims, and the setting sun. She pushed the headsides closer together and placed a table at the footends of the beds. She sighed, nodded with a pleased feeling, and went back to the kitchen. She wasn’t really hungry, so the finished pasta bake went into the enormous fridge, with icemaker, Jack had wanted and she grabbed a beer instead. She gazed out at the garden just as the lights of the pool switched on, casting a soft blue hue across the bushes and trees that still needed the touch of a gardener, but she could already see herself sitting there on a warm Sunday evening.

‘So we can watch the sun set, then go up the roof for some stargazing.’

Sam smiled. His words, albeit in her head, were soothing, the memory of his arms around her that first afternoon was soothing, and she let out a deep sigh. She walked out, sat down in one of the loungers and put her beer on the table, marveling at the gentle quietness that descended on their garden. She looked up, one of the first things they’d done aside from the bedroom, is set up the garage rooftop with a sofabed and a new telescope she’d surprised him with, and she’d gotten him a low leaner so he could gaze out in comfort. Few more days, she thought to herself, before she would pick him up from the airport and she wanted most things done before that. Except the heavy stuff, she’d need his help with that. Tomorrow she’d take out her motorcycle and go about town a bit, maybe pick up a few things she’d see on the way, maybe even a little flying saucer just to tease him with. She grabbed her book and opened it, but found her mind wandering to the upcoming days and evenings. She knew they’d have to tell Daniel and Teal’c at some stage but for now, in the quiet and despite missing him, she was content with being as they were. Together and no longer in chain of command, no longer collecting airmiles. She must have dozed off at one point, as she suddenly felt a throw being draped around her shoulders. She gazed round, and saw Jack, in blue dress, sitting in the other lounger, her beer in his hand.

“Jack?” she asked with a gentle yawn. “What?”

“Got done quicker,” Jack said with a nod. “Could’ve taken the return flight but got the first flight out available.”

Sam sat up and mussed her hair. “What time is it?”

Jack gave her the beer and watched her take a sip. “Just gone seven.”

“I missed you.”

“Same. Badly.”

“Have you eaten? Got a pasta bake ready.”

“That, and the house?” he said with a soft grin.

“I can multi-task,” she said with a giggle that set Jack alight. He reached over and pushed an errand stray of blond hair behind her ear, simply admiring her sunny smile. Sam gave him the bottle back and stretched. “Forty minutes in the oven.”

“I’ll set the table,” Jack said getting up. He held out his hand to Sam, who took it and got up as well. “Right after this.”

Jack pulled her into his arms and found her lips in less than a second. Life was good, the thought. Dinner, Sam, house, Sam, living together with Sam, waking up next to Sam, making love to Sam. He felt her smile into his kiss and gazed, no, drowned, into glittering cerulean pools that looked at him with nothing but love. In that moment a bomb could go off, and he wouldn’t notice a thing.

“I got a little folding table,” Sam muttered against his warm lips. “We can eat on the garage rooftop, it’ll be darker soon so we can do some stargazing.”

“I’ll sort that,” Jack said, nosing her jaw. “I’ll have a quick rinse, unpack my case.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Sam smiled. “You may be a little low on showergel, but I’ll venture out tomorrow. Need another couple of things too.”

“Thought I smelled myself on you,” he quipped.

Sam laughed and patted his backside. “Go on, see you up on the roof.”

Sam lit the fourth fake candle and curled up on the sofabed. In the distance the sun was casting its last rays across the land and on the other side the first stars were glittering right above the horizon. She heard the stairs creak a little and looked back to where Jack stepped atop the roof, hair still wet and no longer in blue dress but a cream linen shirt and khaki combats. She patted on the sofabed next to her and he sat down, pulling her back towards his chest and letting his hands roam across her stomach, thighs and hips.

“Another fifteen on dinner,” she said, leaning back in his arms. She felt a soft kiss on her temple and sighed. “And I think another hour maybe before we can gaze.”

“Am already gazing,” Jack said, laying back and enveloping her in his arms. Suddenly he growled and sat back up.

“What is it?” Sam asked, alarmed. “You got bit?”

“No, got poked,” he muttered. He got out a rectangular book and put it atop the headrest of the sofa. “Took this with me to DC. Went to the observatory one evening, wanted to find our stars.”

“Jack.”

“Well,” he said with a smile, pulling her back into his arms. “It’s all nicely annotated, even though I probably understand only half a percent of it.”

“The Messier Cloud?” she asked, steering away from her usual annotations.

“Yeah. It reminds me of your eyes.”

“Jack.”

“Anyway, maybe we can find it tonight.”

“It’s still summer, so yeah, I think I can,” she said getting up. “Dinner’s ready. You set up the scope? Be back in a bit.”

Jack nodded and watched her walk to the staircase. Her backside moving pleasantly in his boxers, and he decided to give it a little attention in bed tonight, maybe even a gentle massage. He got up and removed the cap from the scope, shoving the leaner underneath and gazing out across the darkened landscape. He remembered how she’d taken his hand, pulled him to the garage roof and surprised him with the new scope. They could now gaze here as well as at the cabin in Minnesota, a place she loved just as much as he did. He turned as he heard the stairs creak, and walked over to help her with the pasta bake. He set it on the folding table as she put two forks and two napkins down, and pulled a beer from her, his, boxers.

“No plates?”

“Two hands,” she quipped as she grabbed a fork and dug in.

He smiled as he followed suit, the bake rich and filled with fresh vegetables. “Let’s do the groceries together tomorrow. Take the truck. Venture out, have lunch.”

Sam looked round and nodded. “You hate grocery …”

“Fill the freezer,” he said, chewing. “Saves lugging. Besides, we’re out of fruit and milkshakes. We can find us a little breakfast place at the same time.”

“Alright,” Sam said getting up. She looked up at the star-streaked skies and smiled before adjusting the telescope. “There we are.” She sat back down and took another scoop of pasta bake. “Skies are very clear here, we may be able to discover some new constellations we like.”

“Am all up for discovering new things,” he muttered as he pulled her in for a tomatosauce kiss. He felt her smile and nosed her gently. “Maybe in an hour I can show you my latest discovery.”

“Can’t wait,” she muttered with a blush.

“Where two halves meet,” he said cryptically, but saw she knew what he was getting at.

Sam almost choked on her dinner as pursed her lip. She decided on a little tease herself. “You mean peaches?”

“Ripe ones too. Juicy. Works for me.”

Coughing she muttered: “Lime in the coconut.”

“What?” he asked with a frown.

“Coconuts. Hard,” she chuckled with a blush. “Limes. Pliable. Works for me.”

And it did work as she saw him harden right before her eyes. She put her fork down and got up. She turned whilst taking off her, his, t-shirt and dropped it on the garage roof. She turned again and saw his eyes darken as she took off the boxers, letting them fall around her ankles. She saw he’d accepted her challenge, taking off his shirt, seeing him grow even more. She walked back and undid his belt, slipped down the zipper of his khaki’s and stroked him once, feeling him harden further under her delicate touch, boxers straining. Then she pushed his pants and boxers down, and stroked his full length as it came free from its constraints.

“Why talk about peaches when I can have a banana?” she teased, turning her back to him.

He pulled her back by her waist until he could kiss her peach, his own banana reaching a dangerous hight. He let his tongue slide a little, feeling her hands take him into her gentle caress.

“Ditch the fruit salad, c’mere,” he muttered as he pulled her down atop of him, hearing her giggle just a little before he pushed inside of her searing wetness with one swift move, holding onto her hips and sneaking a kiss on her lower back.

He’d missed her, more than he’d realized, loving the way she fit snugly around him. He heard her groan as she pushed down, feeling his hardness slide inside her heat right up to the hilt as she adopted a firm, steady pace. He’d never ever have to let go of her again, missing her was the worst feeling he’d had since almost losing her. And he couldn’t lose her, ever.

She craned her neck. She’d missed him so much, and feeling him needing her was overwhelming her. Above her head the stars shimmered as brightly as the stars coiled and sparkled within her. Tickling, shimmering, twinkling. She knew she never had to let go of him again, ever. She craned her neck once more, bearing down hard on him as a bright glittering star shot by through the endless darkness above. She made a quiet wish: ‘Forever yours, forever mine’.

Chapter Text

Sam pulled her backpack a little tighter around her shoulders and climbed the ladder to the rooftop. They had taken a short break away, their new duties and assignments starting in just one week, to the cabin in Minnesota to have a little breather after decorating and settling into their new house in Nevada. She didn’t step onto the roof straight away, but simply stared at him for a moment. Jack was setting up the low folding table, putting a small fake candle next to a small vase with one single bright pink peony, her favorite flower. He looked relaxed, rocking back on his haunches on bare feet before looking over at where he saw her. She watched him get up and pull his tight black tee from his khaki’s, giving her a little glimpse of his trained abdomen. Something she’d run her hands across when the stars came out. Something she could hardly wait for.

“There she is,” he said, as he walked up to help her atop the roof.

He took the backpack from her and enveloped her in his arms, finding her lips and kissing her as he always kissed her: full of love. He felt her kiss back, felt her lips part and he seized on that immediately by meeting her tongue with a gentle stroke. He felt her smile, break the kiss and felt her push her nose into his neck, humming just a little. He felt her arms around his shoulders, pulled her back and gazed into her bright blue eyes, drowning immediately. Easiest thing he’d ever done.

“Hi,” she breathed.

“You look gorgeous,” he said, admiring her tight blue jeans, knit sleeveless top and amazing shimmering eyes that held a secretive twinkle.

“Not bad yourself,” she said, running one finger across his stomach. “I have a little surprise for you.”

“You do?”

“Mm,” she said with a smile that outshone the sun. “Got us some Nepalese. New little place in town and smelled great. Chicken sekuwa, gorkhali, chatamari and juju dhau for after.”

“That supposed to make sense?” Jack said with a nod at nothing.

Sam smiled, pushing her forehead against his chest and taking a deep breath. “I got the menu. You can read it later but it’s something Cam pointed out, so figured, why not try something new.”

“We can try something new,” he muttered into her hair. “Anytime.”

“Mm, what did you have in mind?”

“You’ll find out later.”

She gazed up and saw a soft smile flash across his face. “Wait till you try the juju.”

“Am having your juju in a moment,” Jack said with a cheeky grin, seeing Sam purse her lips. A decent blush crept up her cheeks, which he simply had to kiss. “Anything needs heating?”

“All foiled up,” she said, letting go and walking towards the small sofabed.

She sat down and gazed at the surrounding landscape, tapping on bed left of her. Jack sat down and pulled the backpack towards him. He took out two Gurkha beers and set them atop the table. He screwed the caps off and handed one to Sam. They toasted and for a moment he was lost in her twinkling starlight as the sun cast a soft red and orange haze around the grass and trees, almost setting her alight. The lake below shimmered beautifully, but the shimmers in her eyes captivated him. He sighed as he took out the four foil-wrapped packages and set them down. He unwrapped them and took a deep breath of the fresh, herbaceous, and spicy scents that greeted him.

“Smells nice,” he said. “Start with?”

“Sekuwa,” she said, as she leaned forward and pointed. “This one.”

Jack handed Sam one of the plastic sporks before taking a careful bite. He chewed slowly, loving the deep, savory taste, and nodded appreciatively. “That’s really nice. Thank Cam from me.”

“I will,” she said, taking his hand and playing with his fingers. “He suggested we may like Cambodian too, but I can’t find any here.”

“Make it ourselves?” Jack suggested. He saw Sam turn, eyebrows raised, and took another bite of the food. “Why not? Sure there are toko’s about? Am not adverse to cooking but, just, yanno?”

“Alright, deal,” she said with unveiled amazement. Jack and cooking, cooking with Jack, that would seriously be something to experience. “Try this, gorkhali. It’s with lamb.”

Jack took a bite and nodded again. “Ah, that’s really nice.” Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sam sigh deeply, looking up at the setting sun. “You alright?”

“Mm,” she muttered, putting her spork down and taking a sip of beer. “Am now.”

“Sam?” he asked, squeezing her fingers.

She turned and squeezed his fingers as well, momentarily lost in his deep brown glittering eyes. Then she smiled a little and said: “I think we were caught.”

“What?” Jack asked, completely confused as they had been so careful when sneaking around on-base before their transfers had come in.

“Mm,” she muttered and drew a couple of sheets out of her back pocket. “Level 17 is now a restricted area. Effective since this morning.”

“When we – engaged in some team building?” he joked but saw she didn’t think it funny.

“And I haven’t been able to find out any other reason than that. No new tech, no aliens, no workspaces, lab, more teams. Nothing. And. No one has mentioned a thing so I guess we’re fine.”

“Who d’ya think –”

“Only one I can think of is that tech guy.”

“The one with the duct tape hanging off his arse?”

Sam nodded. “He has a thing for me, so yes, seeing me with you –”

“He has a thing for you?” Jack almost growled. Jealousy still not having left him, and he felt it wriggle like a nasty snake. “When did you figure that out? And what thing? A thing-thing?”

Sam giggled and entwined their fingers. She didn’t mind his jealousy, but she also didn’t understand it. She looked round at him, seeing the frown on his face. “Jack.”

“Well,” was all he said, looking at their joined hands.

“I was packing up my lab,” Sam said as she sidled in to him. “Hammond’s letting me take the naquedah reactor with to Area 51. He came in to help out with the packing and then I found this.” She handed him a red envelope with a bemused smile.

He took it, opened it, and found a valentine complete with bad poetry. “You – like this sort of thing? This is a thing-thing? Cause, yanno, I can write worse poetry than this.”

Sam laughed and squeezed his fingers. “Whatever you write to me or for me, I’ll treasure always. You know that. There is no need for jealousy, I’m yours.”

Jack nonchalantly tossed the valentine on the floor and finished his beer before turning to Sam. He saw her look at him expectantly and put their hands on her leg. He did have a surprise planned but he wanted to wait till the stars were twinkling in the evening sky. Stars like the ones that shone in her eyes, that brightened when they were making love, lit up like constellations when he went inside of her, that exploded like a supernova when she came undone.

“Yeah, you are,” he said, motioning for her to scoot in. He enveloped her in his arms and pushed his nose into her hair. “Can’t help it.”

“Jack,” she muttered, leaning back as he pulled her down on the sofabed. He drew her into a spoon and kissed her shoulder. She put her hand on his thigh and sighed. “I love you. No one else for me, ever. Always you.”

He kissed her again, neck, shoulder, back up to her neck, letting his hand stroke her arm to her hand and entwining their fingers. He loved the way she felt against him, feeling his need for her rise slowly. He pulled her leg back across his hips, pulling her a little closer, moving back a little so she lay flush against him. The stars started to shimmer in the eastern sky, and in the west the sun cast its last rays. He let go of her fingers and ran his hand across her thigh, sucking on her neck a little too hard. He heard her giggle a little and felt her hand move in between them, stroking him gently.

“Jack.”

“Yeah,” he breathed. “I won’t leave a hickey here.”

“Maybe a little lower?”

“Maybe later,” he muttered as he pulled up her shirt, letting his hand roam across her side.

He felt her hands wriggle, felt his belt being pulled off, felt his khaki’s being pulled down to just below his hips, and felt a hand massaging his hardening heat. He zipped her jeans open and pulled them down to just below her hips, his hand moving forward and cupping her heat. He saw her hand grab the fleece and pull it across their hips. He smiled into her sweet-smelling neck as he dipped his hand a little lower, hearing her moan softly, feeling her push back against him, stating her need.

She felt his hands dip into her panties, feeling the gentle caress that set her alight. She felt herself sigh, deeply, as he found her cherry and circled it with a tight stroke. An electric shock went though her and a moan escaped her lips. She reached back, cupping his heat with her hand and squeezing gently, drawing out a soft groan as he latched his lips onto her shoulder. It would leave a mark, for sure, but she’d stopped caring about him leaving marks because right now he needed to and she would let him. Always. She felt his fingers circling slowly and pushed back a little harder. She needed him inside of her, now. And he obliged. Dipping in one, then two, then three fingers, and her hips moved down to meet his careful but demanding thrust.

She was heated beyond belief, for him, just for him. He felt her cream his fingers, felt her flow freely, wanting to have a little taste of what he’d now affectionately call ‘her juju’. He pulled back gently, bringing his fingers to his lips, tasting her subtle muskiness that softly smelled of bluebells.

“Sam,” he muttered as she craned her neck a little.

“No fair,” she whispered as she reached back, feeling him harden under her touch. “Want.”

Jack pulled her jeans down further, feeling her kick them off just as she pulled his khaki’s down further. He shoved her panties down, feeling her kick them off as well as she pulled down his boxers, releasing him and tucking him between her legs. He then shoved her top across her back, watching her take it off at the same time with her bra. He took off his shirt and pulled her back against his chest, kissing the nape of her neck, hearing her moan a little, egging him on.

She felt his heat between her legs and knew she had to be quick if she was going to get what she wanted, a taste of him. She sat up a little and scooted so she could look at him. His eyes were broody, a look she loved and knew was only for her. With a gentle push of her arm, she rolled him onto his back, not straddling him, but moving into a little spoon. She saw he knew what she wanted, and with a gentle smile he let her have it too. She moved down, kissing him across his chest, his abdomen, hips. She let her hands trail across his warm skin, grabbing his hips, letting her tongue slide along his entire heat once, as slow as possible.

“Want,” she muttered, hearing her voice go throaty.

“Take,” he growled, hearing his voice hitch, feeling her lips around his tip.

She drew his tip between her lips, gently pushing them around the head, tasting his sweet saltiness, smelling his sandalwood aftershave, succumbing completely to him, her Jack. She felt his body react immediately and couldn’t help a little smile as she savored him, hardening him. She wanted it to last tonight, this entire week, before they’d go back to Nevada. She heard him moan guttural and let him slide out of her mouth before kissing her way back up.

Seeing the sheen on her lips from his own ‘juju’ made every fiber in his body tremble. He pulled her back into the big spoon and draped her leg back across his hips, finding her core and pushing two fingers in with a swift, demanding push. He felt her push down on his fingers, feeling her need rise, feeling her hand on his arm starting to tremble. He let her go when he felt her hand guide him, and with a demanding thrust felt his tip slide inside of her. He heard her groan, felt her grab his behind as he thrust in a little more. Even though at this angle he couldn’t go in deep, it was enough for the moment.

She felt him sink into her and grabbed his backside, pulling him in, feeling his need. She pushed her backside into him, willing him in deeper, needing him as much as he needed her. She felt him pull her leg back a little more, thrusting in further, felt his tight circles around her cherry. She wanted to turn so he could have his fill but his grip on her was too tight. She felt him suck on her shoulder as he punched into her. And again. Again. And again. She craned her neck and rolled her head towards him, seeking his lips, finding them and sucking with an urgent need.

“Jack. Wait.”

He let her go, felt him slip out as he watched her stand up. He looked up into her heated eyes, saw the glistening between her legs and reached out his hand. He watched her take his hand and he drew her towards him, watching her straddle him before leaning down. He took her face in his hand, the other running across her thigh, and found her lips once more. The kiss deepened quickly as he felt her hand in between them, guiding him back inside. The brightest constellations greeted him as she bore down, taking him in fully. This time, as so many other times, he simply gazed into the blue event horizons, seeing shimmering starlight as she took her fill. He saw exactly what she wanted, him. Just him. As badly as he wanted her. He pushed up, going in as deep as he could, feeling her hands on his abdomen, pulling him in even deeper, hearing her moan. He pushed up a little firmer, finding a new rhythm, gentle but hard, his fingers finding her throbbing cherry, pushing his thumb into a tight, demanding caress as she rode him. The fingers of his other hand found her nipple, caressing the rosy bud in tandem with his thumb on her pulsing cherry. He saw her crane her neck as she came undone a mere second before he came undone with an almost primordial cry.

“Sam!”

Sam claimed his lips in a sweltering kiss. Hearing him call out to her like this was something she’d heard before, a deep, guttural cry of ecstasy. A cry she’d answer, a cry she breathed in, a cry she savored. It always came when he had a bout of jealousy, and even though she didn’t mind, she would make sure he knew that it wasn’t needed, ever. She lay down and caressed his hip with one hand, the other the side of his face. She felt him drape the throw across their bodies, felt his heart beat against her cheek, felt his breathing still ragged. She felt his hands roam across her back and pushed up, arms to his sides. She nosed him, seeing him smile.

“Some juju,” he muttered, ears still ringing a little from the explosion.

Sam giggled and nestled in. “Seriously?”

“Mm,” he said, pushing her up a little. “Something new.”

“Jack?” Sam asked as she raised herself up again and sat up across his lap. She saw hesitation but also determination as he reached for something from underneath the pillow. A small, black velvet box.

“Trying something new?” he said, as he opened the box with a shaky breath.

“Jack?” Sam asked again as she saw the gorgeous blue diamond ring.

“Reminds me of the starlight in your eyes,” he whispered as he felt her breathing become slightly ragged. “How about we try to be engaged?”

“I –”

“Marry me, Sam,” he whispered. “Let me love you, take care of you, make you laugh, protect you, surprise you, write you silly poetry, spoil you –”

“Yes.”

“I hadn’t finished,” he muttered, heart leaping at her rapid answer.

It didn’t matter, all he saw was her cerulean eyes tearing over and her supernova smile as he carefully put the ring around her finger. He took her hand in his and squeezed gently.

“Let me do the same?” she asked in a whisper, getting lost in his electric pools of chocolate.

He kissed her with a gentle nod. “Always.”

Nothing else needed to be said, their feelings contained in a few simple words blessed by starlight. Jack wrapped Sam up in the throw, embracing her tightly, feeling whole. Sam nuzzled in, feeling complete, simply listening to his soft breathing and the rhythm of his heartbeat against her cheek. Above their heads the stars shimmered brightly, but on that sofabed pure sunlight outshone them all.