Title: To Jess In April
Pairing: Sam/Jess
Rating: PG
Warnings/Spoilers: None
Summary: It's Sam and Jessica's anniversary.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the universe they live in.
Sam had been feeling weird all day and he couldn't quite place his finger on what it was. The tingling in the back of his head was telling him he'd forgotten something important. It's only when Sam flops down on his motel bed and his lap top, seeing the date, does he remember. It's April 17th.
It had been raining and Sam had walked her up to her dorm building, so she could share his umbrella. Maybe it was just an excuse to kiss her good night. Jess had giggled and blushed a bit and Sam blushed to. The felt like teenagers on their first date.
"April 17."
"Huh?"
"In case, we end up having a relationship or something, April 17 would be our anniversary." Then she'd laughed, embarrassed, and tried to turn it into a joke, "Don't you forget it mister, I expect tulips and wine."
"Tulips?"
"Tulips." Jessica confirmed, "A spring flower. Roses are lame."
"Okay." Sam promised, with a laugh. If it didn't work out, no harm. If it did, Sam really doubted that he'd mind.
Jessica was surprised when Sam showed up with a bouquet of tulips in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.
"Oh, Sam," she cooed, taking in a big whiff of flowers, "What's the occasion?"
"April 17th, of course. Tulips and wine, just like you wanted."
The blank look on Jess' face gave Sam a moment of panic. It had been Jess he had had that conversation with, right? Could he have been thinking of some other girl? No, that wasn't possible. There had only ever been Jessica.
And, much to Sam's relief, recognition flooded Jess' eyes.
"Our anniversary," she moaned, hiding here face in her hands, a blush creeping into her cheeks, "I can't believe I forgot. I'm such a horrible girlfriend."
Sam laughed. He can't help himself.
Jess glared at him through her fingers. "That night was so embarrassing, too. I thought you'd take off in the other direction for sure."
Sam pulled Jess in a hug and kissed her forehead, "Not a chance."
It's the evening of April 17th and Sam's wandering around the local cemetery, a bouquet of tulips in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.
It takes him a while to find what he's looking for.
Her name was Gillian Forester and though she died four years before Jess was born, her name and age are close enough for Sam.
"Hello, Gillian." Sam said, laying the flowers on her tombstone. "I'm Sam. You don't know me but I'm hoping you don't mind me spending the evening with you."
Sam sat on the grass, the dampness from the earth soaking into his jeans.
"You see, my girlfriend, Jessica, died in November and today would have been our anniversary, of our first date. And, well, it's my job to bring tulips and wine, except that she's all the way in California and I'm all the way over here. So I hope you don't mind the company 'cause I could sure use it."
Sam looked down at the wine bottle in his hands, feeling less silly than he thinks he should be feeling.
"I believe in ghosts, so if you don't want me here Gillian, just give me a sign and I'll leave."
Sam looked around the cemetery but nothing out of the usual stirred. Sam hadn't expected it. Most spirits move on after death. It is only the rare few that hang around.
Sam settled more comfortably into the ground and began to unscrew the bottle of wine, "I hope you don't mind that I only brought one glass. I know it's rude to drink in front of others but..." Sam shrugged his shoulders and pored himself a glass of red wine.
"I prefer white but Jess always liked red better."
Sam raised his glass, "To Jess" and drowned the glass in a single gulp.
End