Part Four: Goodwill to All Men
Author Notes: Thanks again to all the positive reviews. It really means a lot; you've all prompted me to get back into writing fanfic. And I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it! Some of the technicalities here aren't quite accurate (forgive me!)
"So."
"So." Jack responded with a not quite innocent smirk on his face, sipping slowly from his bottle of beer. They were sat in front of the fire, bundled on his couch under the snowman blanket. Night had fallen many hours ago and whilst the temperature hadn't dropped inside the house, being encased inside the comforter felt an apt way to finish Christmas Day. Sam was curled with her legs underneath her, wine glass on the table beside the couch. Jack reclined next to her, the blanket draped over his knees and his arm around Sam's shoulder.
"Do you want your present yet?" She said eventually, sounding positively eager to give him the large box underneath the tree, one of only two remaining. The rest of the tree was surrounded with discarded festive wrapping paper from the variety of gifts exchanged earlier in the, rather hectic, day; Cassie had been her usual excitable self, Teal'c had been surprisingly merry, Daniel wore a festive jumper and drank too much mulled wine.
"Sure...though you didn't have to get me anything you know..." He trailed off as she moved from the couch, pulling off the blanket from her body. She brought out his present; a large square box wrapped in shiny blue paper, white glittery ribbon with a bow as the crowning glory.
"Of course I'm going to get you something Jack," She responded with a roll of her eyes, "That's what you're supposed to do. It's Christmas. And you bought me something..." She gestured to the last present under the tree, with a label bearing her name.
Jack held up his hands, "Okay, okay..." Sam presented the box to him on his lap, "Right, what have we got here then?" He muttered to himself as he attacked the blue wrapping paper from all angles, "Wow, you've wrapped this one pretty good."
He wasn't sure if he saw Sam blush or if it was just from the heat of the warm fire.
Slowly, he ripped the paper to reveal a less than elegant cardboard box. He looked up to meet Sam's eyes and she bit her lip, "It gets better. Honest."
He opened the box and in the relative dimness of the living room, he could see there was fabric inside the box so he reached in to bring it out. Unfolding what felt like white jersey material, he finally revealed the team colours of the Minnesota North Stars, his favourite childhood ice hockey team. The yellow and green was unmistakeable as he turned over the jersey to find a black signature pride of place in the centre of the shirt. He looked up at her and met her eyes with astonishment obvious in his own. She looked almost embarrassedly down at her lap where she sat, the blanket wrapped around her again, her blue eyes glistening.
"I hope it's right..." She trailed off before suddenly speaking again, "It's Leo Boivin's signature..."
"My favourite player..." Jack murmured as he turned over the jersey in his hands, almost unable to believe it was in his possession. His hand instinctively reached for hers over the blanket, "How did you know?" He uttered his words quietly, the kindness of her gesture preventing anything more verbose.
"I listen." She responded with a small grin. He felt her eyes watching him, watching for approval.
"I honestly can't believe you found this."
She shrugged nonchalantly but Jack knew the lengths that she must have gone to. He hadn't felt like this since Charlie had presented him one birthday with a clay model version of the pair of them, painted and decorated so minutely that Jack couldn't believe the detail his son had accomplished. "Just needed a little investigation, that's all." There was an self-conscious smile present on her lips.
She seemed almost embarrassed and Jack's heart leapt with a sudden burst of love for this woman sitting in front of him, cross legged under some ridiculous Christmas-themed blanket that he had thought it wise to purchase, with her tousled blonde hair just touching her shoulders when she moved and her sparkling blue eyes watching; always watching. It was he, Jack O'Neill (retired General and all-round pain in the ass) that got to share his life with her; he got the good, the bad and everything in-between.
"Marry me."
Sam's eyes widened instantly in surprise. (And was that her mouth agape, or was he imagining that?) "What?" She managed eventually, her voice husky with an edge of disbelief.
"Marry me." He repeated again, confidence surging in his voice, "We don't have to get married next year. Or even the year after that." He paused, "But I want you to marry me."
She had a certain look on her face that Jack knew meant that she was less than convinced. She looked in his eyes, almost trying to ascertain where his proposal emanated from and why. Eventually, she spoke, "Jack, you know I love you..." She gripped his hand tightly in reassurance in case he thought anything else, "But we've been together for less than a year. Less than eight months."
"And?"
"And, you don't really know me..."She spoke quietly and before Jack could interject, "Yes, I know you know me as a friend but as a girlfriend-slash-partner-slash-future-wife, you don't."
"I know that you hate anchovies." Jack replied and Sam narrowed her eyes with suspicion, clearly wondering where he was heading, "I know that you like evenings better than mornings and to fall asleep you recite the principles of physics to yourself. You hate films with a sad ending. Or starring Gerard Butler. Your favourite childhood book was Matilda. You like cats better than dogs. Your first car was a blue pick up that your dad bought but you hated. You think that sushi is overrated and that I should definitely not take you to anywhere too hot for our honeymoon because you burn easily." He smiled with self satisfaction. "I can go on but I think you get my point."
Sam shook her head, "Fine, you know me. But living with someone, marrying someone is committing the rest of our lives to each other."
"I'm aware of the concept of marriage."
"Smartass," She thwacked his chest lightly, "I'm talking about all the annoying little things that I do. You have to put up with those for The. Rest. Of. Your. Life." She emphasised each words, trying to impart it with gravitas.
"I love you. I love you because of all the weird-Carter-type-neurotic-things that you do." Jack's eyes flickered to his lap, "I guess I just want you to know that this is for real."
"I do." Sam moved closer and Jack's arm slipped around her shoulder once more. She laid her head on his chest and their joined hands rested in his lap, "I don't think it is anything other than real."
"But...?"
Sam exhaled with a slight groan, almost imperceptibly, "I'm not the easiest person in the world. I work too much for far too long. I'm fussy about tidiness..." ("You're so anally retentive!" "Shut up Cass.") "...I'm used to being on my own." She paused for a moment, "I just don't want you to leap into this thinking I'm someone that I'm not."
Jack stroked her arm softly and Sam could feel his chest rumble with a exasperated sigh as she laid her head on him, "I'm not the easiest person in the world either y'know." He could almost see Sam's grin without being able to see her face, "I can be loud and annoying. I know that. But we're both human. But I know that I would experience a thousand of your less-than-easy traits for just one of your amazing ones." He sighed again, "Sam, I love you more than pretty much anything else in the world. I finally feel alive again after years of feeling like...like I was dead. It's all because of you."
She moved her head from his chest suddenly, lifting it to look directly into his eyes. "Yes."
It was obviously his turn to be surprised as he responded, "What?"
"Yes, Jack." She grinned at him, her eyes brighter than he'd seen for a long time. Maybe ever. "Yes, I will marry you."
She leaned forward, pressing her lips against his, a tender kiss as her stomach seemed to turn into knots. Butterfly-filled knots. She. Was. Getting. Married. She hadn't felt like this before. Ever. And certainly not with Pete. This felt right, like everything in the world had culminated to this one point where she knew that she would be honestly, truly happy. They separated, their foreheads leant together and Jack's hands weaved their way around her waist. Her eyes were closed, almost trying to suppress the tears that felt close to falling. Happy tears, she reminded her self so that was okay. Really, really happy tears.
"This is probably the best Christmas ever." He announced after a moment of silence.
"Hasn't finished yet..." She slid off the sofa with an impish grin, discarded the blanket and took his hand, leading him towards the staircase.
"Hell yeah."
End of Part Four