Prompt 10 – "With every fibre of my being."

Jack patted his pocket for the sixth time in as many minutes, making sure that the most important Christmas gift he'd ever brought was still there. Just like it had been every other time he'd checked, it was, the small square box nestled securely in his pants pocket.

He glanced at the clock and then raised his eyes towards the ceiling. He'd gotten up early, to turn the oven on to make sure that the Christmas dinner would be cooked for lunchtime, and had left Sam in bed, sleeping. He had thought he'd heard her moving around a little while ago, and he was almost certain he'd heard the shower turn on, but so far his girlfriend was yet to make an appearance.

He smiled to himself, he still couldn't believe that he could call Sam that, call Sam his girlfriend. It had been a long road but they'd finally reached a point where they could be together. He'd been promoted to DC and Sam had taken a job at Area 51 in Nevada. Geographically they were further apart than they'd ever been in the past, but in every other way, they were closer than they'd ever been.

He checked his pocket again then shook his head. It was just going to be him and Sam today, their first Christmas together without at least one other member of SG1, and he had to admit he was looking forward to it.

Sam had come out from Nevada a few days before and he'd taken a few days off work and they'd just spent the time together, exploring both the city and each other. The long-distance nature of their relationship meant that they hadn't spent as much time together as they would have wanted, but they'd made the most of what time they had had together. Sam would visit Jack when she could and Jack would visit Sam whenever he could. Usually, these visits coincided with an official visit but not always.

He hadn't seen as much of Teal'c or Daniel, and when he had seen them it had been both of them and it was usually if he was visiting the SGC for some reason. They had made the effort to come out and see him in DC a few times but they had both been busy.

This Christmas they both had plans, Teal'c was taking the opportunity to go and visit Rya'c and Ishta, while Daniel was helping out an old friend on a dig in Egypt. Even Cassie couldn't make it, she was spending the holiday season with a friend from college, although she had promised that she would be joining them for New Years, and she'd be bringing said friend with her. All in all, it meant that Sam and Jack were on their own for the holiday season.

He glanced up at the ceiling of the room again and once more touched the box in his pocket. "Come on Sam," he muttered under his breath, "Where are you?"

He debated going upstairs but he'd promised to let her lie in this morning, especially after how long he'd kept her up the night before. He smiled at the memory and glanced at himself in the mirror, checking to see if Sam had left any marks on his skin that were visible above his shirt. He knew there were plenty of marks under his shirt, just like there were plenty of marks that would be under her clothes when she eventually got dressed and joined him, but he was pleased to see that there weren't any that would be immediately visible. He didn't have to be back at work for a while but it never hurt to be too careful.

While he looked in the mirror he also took the chance to straighten his shirt and make sure that he looked at least half decent. He didn't get far though because he heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

He moved to the kitchen and poured some coffee from the pot into two mugs and then met Sam as she came through the door from the hallway.

"Good morning my sweet," he said in a soft voice, offering her one of the cups.

"Morning," Sam replied with a smile as she took the cup in one hand and then grabbed his now empty hand with her other hand. She pulled him towards her and captured his lips with her own.

They kept it light and as Jack pulled back he smiled. "I like this new morning routine," he told Sam.

"Me too," Sam said as she took a sip of coffee. "So what's the plan for today?" she then asked.

"Well it is Christmas," Jack said, turning and heading back into the kitchen, "So I was thinking breakfast and then presents."

Sam followed after him then froze in the doorway. "Wow," she said when she saw the spread of food on the table, "But don't you think this is a bit much since we've got a big dinner later?"

Jack just shrugged. "I wanted to treat you," he said, "We so rarely get to see each other that I wanted to spoil you while you're here."

Sam beamed at him and took a seat at the breakfast bar. Jack sat beside her and placed some pancakes onto her plate. They ate in companionable silence, just enjoying being close to each other. They'd been dating nearly a year but there hadn't been a lot of chance for them to just sit and enjoy each others company.

Sam finished up and pushed her plate away. "That was great, thank you, Jack," she said, kissing his cheek.

Jack smiled at her. "Glad you liked it," he said. He got to his feet. "Now how about presents?" he asked with childlike glee.

Sam laughed. "You're such a big kid sometimes."

Jack laughed as well. "But you love me anyway?" he asked.

"But I love you anyway," Sam agreed. She kissed him again, this time on the lips, and then took his hand a led the way into the sitting room.

They both sat on the floor by the tree, forgoing the chairs for now, and dished out the presents that were there. There was a surprising number of them and they spent the next hour and a half opening presents and laughing at the contents of some. They opened all the presents except the ones from each other, as neither had put theirs under the tree.

Once all the presents were open Jack got to his feet and pulled Sam up after him. She protested but followed and soon both were standing.

"Sam," Jack said, his hand going into his pocket and clasping the little box, "I know this is a total cliché, and you know how I feel about clichés, but I couldn't think of a better time to ask you this."

Sam's eyes went wide at his words and then went wider still as he pulled the box from his pocket and got down on one knee. "I love you more than anything Samantha Carter," Jack said softly, holding the box up between them, "Ever since the day you walked into the briefing room with a chip the size of Texas on your shoulder and challenged me to an arm wrestle, I've spent every day hoping to see you smile, hoping to make you laugh. I never thought I would have this again but you, Daniel and Teal'c have been the best thing that has happened to me since I lost Charlie, and I don't want to go a single day more without letting you know just how much I love you. You know I'm not good with words." Sam laughed even as she wiped tears from her eyes. "So I want to show you how much you mean to me. I want to be able to show you how much I love you." He opened the box, revealing the ring that lay nestled inside. "Samantha Carter," Jack said, his voice quiet but unwavering, "Will you make me the happiest man in the universe and do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

Sam was nodding before Jack could even finish the question. "With all my heart, and every fibre of my being," Sam said, her voice shaking with emotion, tears running unchecked down her cheeks, "Yes Jack. I would love to be your wife."

Jack's face split into a giant smile and he quickly pulled the ring out of its box and slid it onto her finger. He stared at it for a moment before he looked up and into Sam's eyes as she stared down at him, a matching smile on her face. He got to his feet, Sam helping him up, and then the two of them kissed. It was tender and loving and full of feeling and when they separated Sam buried her head in Jack's shoulder. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," Jack whispered back, his lips by her ear and his nuzzled her hair, "So so much."