Special thanks to…
Ilovesg1
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ALIMOO
Skwerels
stargate-princess
And all the other reviewers. These are just a few names I remember off the top of my head who have constantly reviewed from the beginning. Thanks everyone!
Mornings and Love Part 27
"What was I thinking!" Jack groaned three months later. "A family reunion? Sam, they'll eat us alive!"
Sam giggled. "Maybe you were thinking that Ma O'Neill would come after her Johnny with a rolled up newspaper or a willow branch if he didn't tell her his girlfriend was pregnant."
"Worse: iron frying pan."
Sam laughed and rubbed his arm. They were on a plane to Minnesota; the reunion was to take place at his cabin. "Neutral territory," he'd whispered to her in explanation when the final arrangements had been made a month or so back; in reality, he was probably only half-joking.
It was to be a family reunion-slash Christmas celebration. There were a lot of firsts: Sam's first time meeting Jack's family, their first Christmas as a couple, and Sam's first time going to Jack's cabin.
"Would you two like anything?" asked a flight attendant as she wheeled a food trolley past them, filled with numerous snack and drink varieties.
Sam shook her head and Jack verbally declined before turning back to Sam. "You look so calm!" he complained. "Not fair. You're supposed to be the one in a nervous wreck, not me!"
She just smiled. "If you say so, flyboy," she said amusedly, digging into her backpack – her carry-on item – and digging out a book.
Jack was immediately suspicious, it seemed. "That's not work, is it?" he asked, eyes narrowed.
"No, Jack," Sam sighed. She held up the book for him to see. "It's only a perfectly normal novel. And besides that, what did we talk about in October?" She gave him a pointed look. It wasn't low to remind him not to crowd her.
"That you're a grown woman, capable of kicking…other people's asses as well as cleaning the house, that you're strong and independent – Sam, I know all that," he said.
Sam sighed and smiled, taking his hand and threading her fingers between his. "I know, Jack," she said – it was impossible to stay mad with this man – "I'm just paranoid of my free rein," she ended jokingly.
He grinned. "Naw, I had no idea!" he joked back, leaning over to kiss her.
"The plane will be landing shortly. Please fasten your seat belts."
SJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJ
A couple of hours later their luggage (a suitcase and duffle each) was piled into the trunk of their rental car, and they were cruising down the back-roads. When they finally got to the cabin, Sam gasped softly. It was beautiful, picturesque.
Jack looked over and grinned. "Knew you'd love it here," he murmured, lightly stroking her forearm. Sam smiled widely at him. "It's got two guest rooms and one master bedroom. Guess where you'll be staying?" He waggled his eyebrows. Sam giggled.
"Ah ah! No giggling, maj – man, I can't even call you 'Major' anymore!" Jack whined jokingly.
"Looks like someone already arrived," Sam commented, looking at two cars already strewn to the side.
"Three 'somebody's," Jack corrected bitterly, taking the keys from the ignition and shoving them in a coat pocket. He pointed at the rusty pickup truck. "That's the truck of the terrible twosome," he muttered, "the junk that it is…and that's probably my sister's car," he waved at the shiny, purple-blue beetle. "I doubt my parents are here yet."
"John?" a distant voice called as a female head poked out of an open door. "John!" A young – maybe early thirties – woman rushed out. Auburn hair streaked behind her and a delicate, feminine face awarded "John" with a broad beam. The young woman yanked the driver-side door open, jumped halfway into the car, and strangled him in a huge hug through his seat belt.
"Ohhh, I missed you!" the young woman squealed girlishly.
"Missed you too, Liz," Jack gasped through the woman's tight embrace.
"Oh my god, when you told me you wanted a family reunion I nearly fainted! I thought you were joking but, well, here we are!" Liz pulled back and beamed at him from further distance. "Your hair's sticking up all over the place again; Ma'll have a fit, you know." Before he could reply, Liz acknowledged Sam for the first time. "Are you ever going to introduce me," she demanded, "to your…" Her eyes fell to Sam's six-month pregnant belly. "Very pregnant…friend?"
"More than friend," Jack said quietly, taking Sam's hand and squeezing it. "A lot more than friends."
Liz seemed to have gone immediately somber. "Forget the hair," she whispered. "Ma'll flip!" She hastily added, "A good flip. Dad'll go nuts though."
"Dad went nuts years ago," Jack muttered.
"The twins'll never let you see this down," Liz continued thoughtfully.
"Like I care?" Jack said sarcastically.
"But I think it's great!" Liz said, grinning again, genuinely.
"So glad I have your approval," Jack finished with a scowl. Sam squeezed his hand hard; a slight warning.
"Jack," she said, her tone saying, 'Let's not make enemies. I want your sister on our side. Comprende!'
Jack sighed and nodded. "Well," he said, shooing Liz off him and exiting the car himself, "Liz, meet Sam. Sam, my half-crazy little sister, Liz."
"Hi," Sam said, smiling.
"Hey!" Liz replied jubilantly, tossing her hair back. "So you're the infamous 'Sam' we've all been hearing about – when he actually calls." Liz threw her brother a glare, then smiled back at Sam. She reminded Sam eerily of Mrs. O'Neill.
"I guess so," Sam said.
"Well, come on in. Richard and Robert will want to finally meet you, too. Though," Liz hesitated and stole a glance at Jack, who was busy pulling luggage out of the trunk, "you shall be warned: they are every bit as tormenting as Jack makes them out to be."
Sam smiled, trying to look and sound mysterious. "We've handled worse before." Inside, she was shaking slightly. Her mother had never given her advice on how to handle the evil twins of one's lover, either…