Jack was puzzled, to say the least.

For the past three years, Sundays were dedicated to visiting his girlfriend. No matter how busy he was, or how different the time zones were, Sunday at 6pm Eastern Daylight Time was solely reserved for Sam. After meeting her in Florida (out of all places), they kept in touch even as she moved her entire life to Burgess for college. He thought that his best moment was being seen by Jamie for the first time. But it couldn't compare to when him and Sam first locked eyes; without anything being said he already knew that she could see him, and so much more.

So when he snuck in through her bedroom window at 5:53pm on Sunday the 19th, he was concerned at the deafening silence around him.

Her room was lit only by the dwindling sun, and the door was open.

Jack's brows furrowed in confusion. All was quiet in Sam's small apartment. He gripped his staff defensively and held it in front of him, ready to use it as a weapon instead of an accessory. Jack was too worried to remember that Sam was his oldest Believer. Even if there had been an intruder or something similar, he wouldn't have been the most help.

He looked both ways down the compact hallway and spotted bright light from under the bathroom door. Glancing over his shoulder, Jack checked the bright red numerals of her alarm clock: 5:55pm. Sam has always been punctual for their dates. While yes, they were always set in her apartment, she always made sure to be completely ready for him a half hour in advance. If she needed to use the bathroom, she would have found a way to plan it hours beforehand.

Another anomaly struck him as he stared at the white light under the door. There were no moving shadows, or sounds of running water, or sounds at all. His girlfriend had a longstanding habit of singing (or rapping) theme songs from the early 2000s in the bathroom, no matter what she was actually doing in there. Jack was thinking too much. It must have been 5:56 by now and she could be lying on the floor in dire need of medical attention and-

Before he could fully register his actions, his staff was abandoned and falling to the floor as he ran toward the bathroom. Jack's hands couldn't work fast enough to turn the doorknob, and when he finally forced the door open, he was stunned.

There she was, leaning on her arms against the porcelain sink. A terrible scowl was laced onto her features but it was quickly replaced with momentary fear then surprise as her eyes met his.

They blinked at each other, too shocked to do anything else. Then after what seemed like ages, Jack's eyes dared to dart down at what caused the silence. Sam was completely undressed.

Sure, they've had steamy moments here and there, but never have they been naked in front of each other. Their relationship was purely emotional, intellectual. The love they shared ran deep and the lack of sexuality was something that neither partner had a problem with. It was refreshing to be so open with a person without having to sign your body over like a contract; at least that's the way Sam described it. Not that those thoughts have never come up, of course. So when Jack's eyes found Sam's again, he was completely dumbstruck. He was frozen to the spot with his death grip still choking the doorknob.

"I honestly don't know if I should apologize first or compliment your complete and utter beauty."

Sam's slow smile spread across her cheeks in waves, apprehensive at first but happy nonetheless. She was fully aware of Jack's wandering eyes but didn't feel naked under his gaze, weirdly enough. She wasn't encouraging the staring but didn't mind it completely.

"I just-you weren't in your room like normal and I didn't hear you singing in the bathroom. I thought something happened to you. I'm sorry." He strained to look only into her eyes but her dips and curves were calling to him like sirens. The deep brown skin was smooth and littered in light stretch marks in some places. Along her thighs, hips, and chest were gorgeous stripes, and...seemingly fresh red patches?

Before Sam had a chance to respond, Jack frowned fretfully and inched a half-step forward, releasing the doorknob.

"Are you okay?"

Sam's face flushed at the question and proximity, embarrassment flaring up her neck and reaching her ears. She didn't feel the need to cover herself and didn't even try, Jack taking that as an invitation to get closer and assess her irritated skin. Starting at her sternum and trailing down to her left thigh in red splotches were mild burns.

"I made some tea while waiting for you," she breathed out evenly. "Leave it to me to get spooked by a stupid transformer blowing and spill the whole cup on myself." She was obviously more embarrassed at the story than her current predicament, and Jack couldn't help but to shake his head playfully.

"Wow, Sam. Really, leave it to you."

It's a miracle that her eyes didn't get stuck while rolling as hard as they did. But Jack quickly diffused her and planted a kiss on her cheek, murmuring against her ear. "I'm really glad that you're okay, babe." His hand lingered behind her, wanting to rest on the small of her back. He decided against it in case Sam was uncomfortable, and opted to smile sheepishly at her. "You really scared me back there."

Sam's lips curved slightly as she watched his face. His blue eyes seemed to get deeper and deeper the longer she looked, and now she wasn't sure if she'd be able to swim out of them. The logistics of their relationship would start to flare up eventually, but until then, she was his and he was hers. Unquestionably.

"I'm really sticky because of the tea. Was actually about to shower when you came in."

It was incredible how well they were dealing with Sam's prolonged nudity. She barely had time to process what she was saying until it was out in the open.

"Do you want to join me?"

Jack opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, surprise blooming on his cheeks. Sam blushed minutely, waiting patiently for an answer. No matter what he said in response, she'd be more than okay with it.

"Can I?"

The innocence in his voice was palpable. Sam stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist loosely, pecking the tip of his nose.

"Yes, you can. The water will have to be on the warmer side but I think we can compromise."

Jack smiled down at the small woman in his arms then. Cupping her face in his cool hands, he kissed her tenderly. Love was radiating from them, bouncing off the thin bathroom walls and encapsulating them again. Their kiss was fervent yet soft; their connection magnetic. Sam's fingers encircled his hips and danced around the lip of his hoodie.

Jack smirked promptly, ending their kiss with a peck to Sam's nose. He stepped back to remove the garment but was stopped.

"Let me," she smiled warmly. Jack could've sworn he felt a flutter in his chest and his body temperature rise just a little. Maybe it was an illusion but it was a powerful one. Their eyes were connected the whole time, seemingly caressing the other with only attention and longing.

Sam pulled up the old hoodie slowly, standing on the tips of her toes to get it off completely and dropping it on the floor. She'd find something else for him to wear when they were finished; it was past time for his clothes to be washed anyway.

She stepped closer to him, wrapping her arms around his slender hips and pressing her chin against his chest. He held her as well, burying a hand in her curls while the other rubbed her back gently.

"I love you," she whispered into his skin. Jack nudged her cheek with his nose then, planting a small kiss there.

"I love you too, Sam."

She hummed contentedly, turning slowly and moving towards the shower. Her hands automatically went to her hair to tie it out of the way. "Leave the rest on the ground," she instructed. "I'll take care of them before you go." She turned on the water and stepped inside when it was warm, then adjusted the temperature to suit the both of them.

Jack watched her from the crack in the shower door, discarding the rest of his clothes on the tile. With light steps, he slipped in behind her.

If he was feeling chilly under the shower head then he could understand why Sam was trembling. "Baby," he started softly. "You're going to get sick." He reached around her to adjust the temperature but couldn't figure out what to do. The Guardian of Fun didn't really have knowledge of showers, aside from some advertisements he'd seen every couple years. And even so, it seemed that the technology was always changing.

She glanced over her shoulder, looking even smaller as she hugged her chest for warmth. "Are you sure?"

Jack felt so grateful in that moment. His girlfriend was willing to freeze half to death in her own shower for the sake of his comfort. He couldn't help but to wrap his arms around her completely, pressing close against her back. A kiss was planted on her neck and she relaxed a little bit.

"I'm sure."

With a small nod, she turned the dial until her shivers ceased. It was a tad warmer than he'd care for but Sam already had an ice block hugging her from behind. He didn't mind the trade-off.

She turned around in his arms, grabbing a red spongy thing and what he'd assume was liquid soap. The metal thing-holder hanging from the shower head swayed slightly due to the shift in weight.

"What's that called?" He jut his chin out towards the thing-holder.

She glanced over her shoulder and grinned. "That is a shower caddy. It holds my shower stuff."

He'd thought as much.

"And these," she gestured to the items in her hands. "Are body wash and a bath pouf. Turn around and I'll show you how they work."

"I think I have a pretty good idea-" Sam was already physically turning his body for him, and lathering the pouf as he chucked deeply.

He felt a faint tickling on his back, up and down then in circular motions. Jack sighed loudly. This was very nice.

Jack couldn't remember the last time he was drenched in water. He wasn't exactly alive so bathing wasn't exactly a necessary thing for him. His body odor: cold. Besides, after his lake accident all those years ago, he still wasn't eager to get wet. But he couldn't deny the sensations against his back. A sweet smell was engulfing the mist around them and he recognized it as a part of Sam's usual scent. Jack placed both palms against the wall in front of him, groaning in delight.

"This is Heaven," he mumbled. Sam laughed behind him. She had finished scrubbing all the way down his back and was now kissing up his shoulder blade gently. When she reached Jack's neck, she nipped behind his ear. "Turn around, love."

Jack's eyes were closed when he did so, ready for the massage to continue. It took a while for him to open them after Sam didn't make any moves.

"You're really gorgeous, Jack."

They were completely vulnerable to each other in that moment. Yet instead of admiring bodies, they were admiring souls.

Jack hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her under the water for a fervid kiss. If Sam hadn't been so in love, she would have screamed at getting her hair wet after working so hard on it. But she was in deep for Jack. The lukewarm water spilling down her neck was worth it.