Author's Note: So sorry for the long time no update. No real excuses just real life problems. This instalment hasn't been beta read so in particular (and as always) any mistakes are my own. I know it's the end of March and not christmas but hopefully you'll enjoy the concluding parts of this story regardless. Happy Un-Christmas.


"Stop, stop," Finn giggled. Jack paused tickling him for a moment and looked at him with an expression of careful consideration.

"Ok I'll have mercy on you . . . on the condition you go and get ready for bed now."

"Oh," Finn started to pout looking over at the clock on the wall. "But it's only um," he stared intently at the digital clock on the shelf, his tongue sticking out in concentration. "Six," he said with pride that he'd read the clock.

Jack looked amused, "Yes well done, it's six hours past mid-day. However, it's also forty five minutes past six. That makes it nearly seven."

"You want to be asleep so Santa can come don't you?" Sam asked from the doorway into the kitchen. After it hadn't worked out between them as a couple Brian had started coming round less and less, despite what he'd said regarding Finn. Finn needed a strong male figure in his life and she couldn't think of a better one than Jack, he was so good with him. So, she sometimes slipped away sometimes to leave 'the boys' to have some bonding time.

"He's nowhere near New York yet," Finn pointed out causing Sam to look pointedly at Jack who suddenly found something interesting to look at across the room. It had been him who'd introduced Finn to the Norad tracks Santa website.

"Not yet," Sam agreed. "But he can travel across whole countries in minutes and you need to be asleep before he gets here or he won't stop."

Finn stood there for a moment, thinking this through before he nodded decisively. "I'm going to bed right now." He turned but Jack caught him before he could enter his room.

"Brush your teeth first," Jack propelled him towards the bathroom.

"And wash your face," Sam called after him exchanging an amused glance with Jack. Finn was smart; he'd already tried just wetting the flannel and toothbrush. His avoidance just showed that he hadn't thought of another trick yet so they didn't yet need to start standing outside and listening for brush strokes.

"Phew," Jack theatrically wiped his brow at the near miss he'd had. Sam shook her head at him but said nothing. Instead moving over to stand outside the bathroom, Finn barreled out two seconds later. Seeing her standing there with one eyebrow raised up he let out a huge sigh and trudged back to do the job properly.

Jack turned the computer off and then slipped into Finn's room. He picked up the couple of picture books that Finn had pulled onto the floor during the day. He also found Finn's stuffed dog Paddy crushed between his bed and the wall and tucked him in the covers paws over the top to wait for Finn who arrived a moment later Sam following. Due to it being christmas eve Finn hadn't got dressed all day so he just scrambled up into bed ready for Sam to tuck him in.

Jack disappeared into the kitchen. Finn had distracted him sufficiently throughout the day that this was the first time his mind wandered back to linger on his sock drawer. Well, more specifically the ring that was contained within his sock drawer. It had lain there hidden for quite some time as he kept losing his nerve. That wasn't because he doubted what Sam's response would be, at least he didn't think he did, except when he'd worked himself into a state that is. It was that he'd never wanted anything more, that he wanted it to be perfect so that she'd understand how much he wanted this. Their relationship had had so many ups and downs, he'd caused her to doubt them so many times, anything less than a perfect proposal wouldn't be enough.

He poured a glass of wine for them both and took the glasses into the living room settling onto the couch in what he hoped was a casual manner. When Sam came back in she reached for her wine and then snuggled into his embrace. After a moment she shifted and turned to face him placing her wine back onto the table.

"Jack?" she questioned having felt how tense he was.

His mouth felt as dry as the desert, he too placed his wine down onto the table and then surreptitiously tried to wipe his damp palms on his trousers. He didn't think he'd ever felt this nervous, he was usually never nervous. Sam studied him for a moment before laughing softly and placing her hand over his.

"Yes," she said her eyes full of love.

Jack looked at her in confusion, "Yes?"

"Yes I'd love to marry you." Jack's eyes widened in shock causing Sam to laugh softly again. "Who put's your socks away Jack? Honestly it's not the most original of hiding places"

"I ... I ..." Jack stuttered. Sam placed her finger over his mouth.

"Shh," she said before replacing her finger with her mouth in a soft love filled kiss. After a long minute Jack pulled back and rested his forehead against Sam's.

"You'll really marry me?"

"I wouldn't marry anyone else," Sam kissed him again this time the kiss turning more passionate and seeming to last an eternity before she reluctantly extracted herself from his embrace to tug him towards the bedroom.