Sam was happy that her box of stuff that Rick has given her was too small. The room had everything spread out so it didn't seem as much. But the box was filling up fast.

Gigi plopped on her bed. "Finally, my last…final. I'm free…well until next semester."

"You think you passed?"

"At this point, I'm just glad it's over. I'll deal with passing later."

"Where you are going for the holidays?"

"Colorado, with all the snow I can take."

"So how is your mom?"

"She's good, doing well after my dad died."

"Did she like the card? I didn't know what to say or to give."

"She really liked it. Everyone else was either giving food or some kind of food related item, she liked the fact that it wasn't edible or didn't have any mention of food."

Gigi noticed the box filling up quickly.

"Did you need a bigger box."

"I think I kind of like it stuffed. Gives me a sense that he really loves me with all the stuff that won't fit into this box. If I get a big box, not so much love to go around."

"So Rick gets to spend Christmas with your family. Are you excited."

"Yeah, and Rick is too. I think he feels more at home with my family than his own."

"That's a good thing, right? Potential future there."

"Yeah, it's great."

"If it's so great then why are you strangling my teddy bear."

Sam threw the bear back to her. "I've had experiences where things are good, then something goes wrong. Like I found out who Jack's brother was or something even worse."

"Or you think something is gonna happen because you're so happy."

"I am happy." She started to smile.

A knock at the door sounded, in came a messenger.

"Package for Sam." He handed her a clipboard.

"Me? But I didn't order anything, does it say who it's from?"

He looked at his log book. "Julian Baker. Friend of yours?"

"He's my dad."

"Oh, well, there you go."

Sam was torn between opening it or throwing it with the other care packages she's been sent throughout the week.

"So you're not even the least bit curious of what's in the box."

"I don't think he realizes whatever he sends, I have to pack up and take back to Tree Hill."

"Tree Hill? I thought your family lived in New York?"

"Well the extended family is in Tree Hill, where we will be for the Holidays. And the old house was given to me, so it's going there."

"A whole house to yourself. No one wonder Rick is nervous."

"How is that?"

"Figure it out…Baker girl."

Gigi left the room and Sam picked up the package. She tore it open and opened the box.

She opened up the flight information. "Finally, something useful."

He picked up his cell phone. "Hey Sammy."

"Hey Julian, thanks for finally giving me something I don't have to pack up."

"You got the tickets."

"Signed sealed and delivered. I see you got one for Rick too."

"Your welcome. And as an added bonus, you get first class."

"Seriously." Sam checked the ticket. "That is really awesome, thanks."

"Brooke's idea. She wants only the best."

"She is Brooke Davis after all."

"Something I wanted to tell you."

"Sure."

"You know, it can wait until you get home."

"Are you sure, you sounded really fatherly serious."

"Well fatherly serious has to get back to work or actors won't have jobs."

"Oh whatever will they do with their twenty million something or another salaries."

"Sam, you know it's only independent films, there are no Denzel Washington's around here."

"I had to try."

"I'll see you in a few days, have fun, and don't bring too much stuff home, your room is crowded enough as it is."

"Oh, then could stop sending me these care packages. Between the stuff Rick has given me and the stuff you're sending me, I'll need a second car just for all the extras."

"Note taken. Love you, and see you in a few days.""Love you too."Sam threw her cell phone on the bed and saw Rick standing in front of her.

"So…he appears."

"And who do you love."

She remembered the phone call. "Oh, yeah, I meant to tell you. I met this wonderful circus performer, his name is Bucko, we're totally the new item that Circus O something or another is looking for."

"Oh, I guess the juggling thing turns you on."

"Yeah, it does, especially when it…okay, this is just getting too weird, even for us."

"What's all the boxes?"

"Stuff you've given me and stuff my parents keep sending me. Only one out of the twenty something boxes he's sent actually does you and I some good."

"What would that be?" Sam handed him a ticket. "First class, nice job."

"Which means, I'll have like a million bag checks because of all of this stuff."

"I think I might have a solution."

"I will take anything."

That afternoon, Sam was reading a book silently and in came a trunk carried by Rick.

"This is your solution, another item to take with me?"

"It's empty." Rick opened it up. "And as I see it, big enough to fit everything."

"Oh, great, thanks babe." She kissed him.

"Where's Gigi?"

"A car was sent for her this afternoon, she's probably home by now."

"So you're all alone in this big room."

Sam looked around. "I wouldn't think big, but it's a room."

"I have a roommate that blares videogames all day long."

"You can sleep in Gigi's bed, just don't bother Mr. Waffles."

"Excuse me?"

"Her teddy bear. She's very attached to it."

"Then why is Mr. Waffles all alone."

"Because I got lonely. I don't know, Gigi is strange."

During the middle of the night Sam had a hard time trying to sleep, she looked over at Rick who looked to be soundly sleeping.

She tried to settle and heard his voice. "What are you thinking about?"

"What, I thought you were sleeping."

"With you thinking so loud, not really, what's up?"

"How I thought I would never be in a place like this five years ago, living day to day."

"What about now?"

"I don't know, I'm very grateful."

"But you worry about the people who don't get the chance you did."

"Yeah, and the ones who are forgotten about."

"Like Jack."

"Wait, where did that come from?"

"Sam, it's obvious."

"He was adopted, so it doesn't matter."

"Sam, I'm not too crazy about Jack, but he was a big part of your life. You don't have to feel guilty about whatever you're thinking about."

"So you wouldn't be the least little mad if I would want to see him when we got to Tree Hill."

"Considering my ex girlfriend interrupted our first time together, I doubt it."

"Wow, I think I almost forgot about that."

"I don't think I ever will."

"Well, it's in the past and the future of getting up for our flight to Tree Hill comes in a few hours. I'm gonna try and get some sleep."

Brooke was trying to get Leighann to eat her lunch. Sam came up behind Brooke, making Leighann laugh.

"At least you laugh at something, even if it is me…come on." Brooke kept hearing noises and turned around, smiling…then being serious. "Out of all the hours in the day, you had to pick lunch time."

"So the flight was early, can't help that."

"I thought Julian was picking you up."

"Oh he did. I wanted to come and see you, they're outside getting the luggage."

"You know, now that you and Rick are pretty serious, it's not about getting the luggage, that' just the code word."

"What do you mean?" Sam laughed.

"Julian, even though it's like ten years older, he sees you as a daughter and he doesn't want to let that go. You have a special bond with Julian. He is kind of sad to see it go."

"But who says it has to."

"Because another boy makes you happy. He's not the one you go to with all your problems anymore."

"He doesn't say it."

"And since when does a man project his feelings?"

"Brooke, if you were go to see Lucas like out of the blue, do you think Julian would be weird about it?"

"Umm, no, why? Lucas and I were over years ago…remember, he's married to my best friend. But why do you ask?"

"I sort of haven't told Rick that Jack sent me a text that he's in town for a few days…with Kelly, his new girlfriend, and I said I'd try and see him."

"And Rick doesn't know?"

"Nope. I'm kind of wondering if I should tell him."

"Okay, think this through. If ever in a tight situation, if it's bought up you went to see Jack and he doesn't know about it, start looking for a new boyfriend."

"That bad?"

"Sam, women are stronger then men in the relationship area, no matter how hard that is to believe. Men need a woman to keep them happy and the minute that something shatters that, it's over. Believe me, I was the captain of that ship sailing away like many times in high school." Brooke picked Leighann up out of her high chair. I'm only a few months along and already it's getting hard to lift her. I'm gonna go clean her up."

"Mind if I do it?"

Brooke heard Julian's voice. "As nice as that offer sounds, it seems that you are making excuses about not talking to your boyfriend."

"I know, I'm being baby."

Julian and Rick sat the trunk down in Sam's room.

"What's in this thing?"

"According to Sam, all the boxes and care packages you sent, and everything else."

"I do go overboard."

"She loved everything, but just had no idea why you kept sending everything when she would just have to box it up and bring it back."

"Oh, yeah, I never thought of that."

"According to women, we men never think."

"No, we don't."

Rick looked around, having no idea what to say.

Julian saw Rick's nerves all over his face.

"I trust Sam."

"What?"

"I know that when kids come back to their parents house they sleep in separate beds or even separate bedrooms. But I trust Sam and she loves you and I guess I have to trust you too."

"Not that this isn't awkward enough…we're not…doing anything."

"And I don't wanna know if you are."

"Even though this is awkward, this is more, right now, than me and my dad ever talked in all the times I came home for the holidays."

"You're welcome here…anytime."

"Thanks…that's nice."

"So, we should probably go…"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

Rick swallowed hard, hands in his pockets. "Can I marry your daughter."

"Excuse me?"

"I wanted to do the right thing and ask…"

"Now I know what a heart attack feels like."

"If it's not okay, I get it, it's too soon, or whatever reason you have."

"Are you planning to ask her soon?"

"No, probably not for a long time, but I know I want to be with Sam forever. So, I wanted to ask now, see what you thought."

"I barely know you, and I like that you are asking, doing the old fashioned thing, but I'm not saying no…but I'm not saying yes. I just want to see you with Sam and not see Sam. I know she's happy, but we've all been happy, but happy doesn't last forever. That's my answer."

"Yes, sir."

They went back into the living room area, Sam and Brooke in the kitchen cutting up vegetables.

"Knives…is that safe?" Julian got a soda out of the fridge.

Brooke gave him a glare. "I thought you weren't gonna make fun of me."

"But Sam and Rick should be warned."

Brooke rolled her eyes, set the knife down. "Okay, since I will never live this down, everyone should know this story…since Peyton would be dying to tell you anyway. Thanksgiving I was helping Haley, okay, everything is fine. Then the pot on the stove started to boil over, so I tried to do the multi task thing and look like I could cook and accidentally, might I stretch the word accidentally, had knife in my hand and it flew out of my hand, and landed in the wall."

Sam was sitting there, silent, but couldn't hold in the fact that she was laughing. Rick was fixing his face to try and not laugh Finally, Sam couldn't do it anymore and her fit of giggles just busted out. "I'm sorry, but, the image of a knife flying in Haley's kitchen…Brooke really." She left the kitchen laughing and could be heard from her room.

"See, now everyone is gonna make fun of me."

Julian wrapped his arm around Brooke, kissed her on the side of her head. "That's why I love you, for being so damned unpredictable."

"Really, so is this going to be comedic dinner table discussion when Leighann brings her prospect husband home?"

"She can't date until after she's married."

"Yeah, but…" Brooke put the words together. "What was that?"

"It's a new Baker house rule." Julian sipped his drink.

"Yeah, and we'll have like ten more kids, oh, wait, but not have sex…figure that one out."

"Oh, your second husband."'That's right, he gets all the goods after tonight."

"Really, then I guess you'll be pretty lonely without…" Julian whispered in her ear. "Think about it."

"Okay, you win."

"As I always do."

Julian made sure Rick and Sam weren't in earshot.

"Rick as me if he could ask Sam to marry him."

Julian took the knife out of Brooke's hand when her hands slammed down on the counter out of shock. "As in here comes the bride?"

"And all dressed in white."

"Now?"

"He says for the future, but he wanted to get my reaction to it. I doubt it. He wants to marry her and if I said yeah, I give my blessing, he would probably propose to her before going back to school."

"What did you say?"

"That we don't know him and I can't say yes or no."

"Good answer."

"What would you have said…mom." Julian popped a piece of celery in his mouth.

"I wouldn't know what to say. Sam is…home for once and he wants to take her away…like forever."

"So we're in the same boat, huh?"

"Yep, sailing away together in the sunset." She kissed him on the cheek.

Julian came out to the balcony with his coffee and leaned up against the column, Sam joined him, but without coffee.

"Morning…you're usually not up this early."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Bad dream?"

"No, just a bad reaction to reality."

"What does that mean?"

"Rick told me what you said." Julian shifted around, preparing for the worst. "Why did you say it?"

"Did you want me to say yes?"

"Why didn't you?"

"Rick is not only asking you to marry him, Sam. He's asking you to spend the rest of your life with him. I'm not saying you're not ready, but I don't know this guy. I'm not gonna let you go out and spend your life with a guy that I barely know. I know that sounds weird, coming from me, but I want you to be sure you're making the right decision."

"And what makes you think I wouldn't be?"

"Because everybody, has that great love they think is gonna be the one…the one to spend the rest of their life with. I don't want you to believe in that with the first real relationship you've had…"

Sam cut Julian off. "So Jack was just an experiment?"

"Can you say you really loved Jack and he really loved you back."

"Yeah, I can."

"I'll never be ready to let you go, Sam…but I just want to know that when it happens, I will feel better about it than I do right now."

"Well, contrary to popular belief, and I'm sure Brooke feels the same…this decision is not your decision, it's Rick's decision and it's my decision."

"I never said it wasn't."

"Yeah, you did. You said no to him asking, which is pretty noble if you ask me."

"I respect that and I always will, but Sam, just trust me on this one…I know a little bit more on this than you think I do."

"Really? So you think that coming to Tree Hill to get back with Peyton who was engaged to Lucas makes you think you have more experience in this area. Seriously, your ideas are a little flawed. Honestly, the day you got here, Brooke hated you. She had every right to. I love you like a dad Julian, I do…but at times, like now, you be such a jackass." Sam went back inside.

Julian wanted to go after her, trying to iron things out…but was she right? He came to Tree Hill for Peyton, wouldn't give up on that, but it all changed when he started sleeping with Brooke.

Brooke tied her robe before coming outside. "I heard some, or a few words, and a slammed door. What happened?"

"She's right."

"About what?"

"I really have no business telling her she can't marry Rick. I came to Tree Hill for Peyton, and I started off a sex based relationship with you."

"Julian, people change."

"And I want Sam to know that, but she's a little blinded by love right now that come off as the devil."

"Give her a few days. She'll be fine. You're her hero in this department."

"Yeah, then why do I feel like I've failed big time."

"Because sometimes succeeding involves stumbling and even, in your words, failing at a few things. And remember when you told me you loved me and I said the painful words…'I like you a lot'."

'Yeah, that's sort of etched in the brain."

"But you never gave up on me, or us…or Sam. And she won't give up on you, you're her dad…no matter if there is only a ten year difference. You're still the number one guy, and I think that scares her too."

"Thanks." He kissed her. "You help me, and I love you for that."

"I love you too, so does Sam."

"I know she does."