Hai again! Just a lil smth for y'all this evening! Felt like writing smth fluffy in between regular updates! ^-^

Disclaimer: TS does not belong to Cresenta. BOO!


.:.16.:.

Jackpot


"It's way more impressive in person," a beaming Samantha said as she stood there looking radiant in her sky blue halter gown, her left hand held firmly in her beloved fiancée's own who looked absolutely dashing in his dark black suit, the smiles on both their faces hiding away the fatigue of the grueling spy mission they'd had not two hours ago while her unsuspecting aunts "oohed" and "ahhed" over the photograph of Tim's mansion in a similar fashion to how they'd endlessly fawned over her diamond engagement ring.

"Looks like our Sammie found herself a real prince," they said in unison, clearly blown away by all they'd heard and seen about her husband- to-be so far.

Smiling Sam turned towards Tim and touched his chest in an affectionate manner, unable to keep her hands off him for even one second.

"A king," she corrected leaving him to smile back at her as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer while he pecked her cheek to thank her for her compliment while her aunts gushed over how cute they were together.

"So when's the wedding?" Aunt Isabella, the youngest inquired as she sipped her champagne contently.

"Well we haven't decided on a date just yet," Sam started to say only to earn a stern look from her oldest auntie.

"What's this I'm hearing?!" Aunt Sophia gasped almost choking on her drink. "Well you better get to it missy," she cautioned holding a up stern finger when she'd recovered. "Don't wanna let a catch like him get away."

Laughter followed her words while Sam blushed holding on a little tighter to Tim's hand as if to say she would never let him go.

"Well we're all here now, why don't we pick a date?" Isabella suggested helpfully.

"I'm on board with that plan, just please make it soon," Tim quipped leaving laughter to ring out again.

Hearing all the merriment, Gabriella soon pulled her daughter aside for a quick chat. "Sooooo as I suspected sweetie, literally everyone LOVES Tim."

The moment those words left her mother's lips Sam couldn't help but grin. She was just so happy. Happier than she'd ever been. The man she'd always dreamt of had been under her nose all this time and now he was finally hers, all hers, and her family adored him too.

All night all she'd received were compliments. Compliments upon compliments about her choice for her life partner. Comments about how amazing, how smart, how incredibly handsome her Tim was.

A happy sigh of bliss left her. What more could a girl ask for? All she knew that whatever date their upcoming nuptials ended up being, she hoped just like Tim that it would be as soon as possible.

About to go rejoin that discussion and put in her two cents, Sam was stopped suddenly when she thought she saw someone coming through the door of her home. Someone she didn't want there at all.

Her smile vanishing immediately, with wide eyes Sam craned her head around to make sure she was seeing right and a moment later any trace of the smile that had been on her face all night collapsed when she saw had been correct. Now coming inside was none other than her cousin sister, Vanessa Simpson.

"Mom!" Sam hissed frantically tugging on her sleeve. "What's SHE doing here?" She asked pointing to the curvy yet slender, tan-skinned, flawlessly made up, 5'9, redheaded beauty that turned heads as she always seemed to when she joined the party.

"Oh…" Gabby responded finally seeing what had her Sammie so upset. Giving her a sheepish smile, she gulped. "Well honey … you did say you wanted me to invite the whole family."

"Mom," Sam sighed tiredly shaking her head. She knew what her mother was trying to do here. She was always trying to rebuild broken bridges and keep the family as close as possible and she knew a wedding was a perfect platform for such a thing but she wasn't on board with this. There was too much bad blood between her and Vanessa (or "Slutessa" as she liked to call her) and for good reason.

"Look honey, I understand if you're not over what she did," she heard her mom say as if reading her thoughts and instantly her mind went back to when she was eleven years old and she'd climbed up the tree house in her backyard to find Vanessa furiously making out with her then boyfriend Bobby.

A grim frown touched her lips at the betrayal she had felt. Bobby had been everything to her back then and in her kid mind she had decided he was the one for her and been convinced that one day they'd be married and grow old together. That she and he were meant to be.

Until Vanessa got in the way.

"But you can't put the entire blame on just Vanessa. Bobby didn't have to you know … go for it," Gabby tried to reason with her clearly upset daughter that people couldn't just be stolen away because they had free will and that had Bobby truly felt about her the way she had about him then he'd never have kissed Vanessa back.

"And besides…" she smiled raising Sam's chin and looking her in the eye in a knowing way. "You can't possibly stand there and tell me you have any sort of interest left in a Bobby Robinson after finding yourself a Tim Scam."

Where Sam had found her a gem of a son-in-law like him she'd never know but she did know that she'd raised her girl to be a lot smarter than to pine over a lump of coal when she'd bagged herself the Hope Diamond.

Unable to help but smile at that Sam nodded in agreement. "Of course not. I know that," she admitted. "I have no doubt about that. It's just…" She trailed off looking for the right words. "This isn't about Bobby mom, I'm over him and have been for a long time. It's … the betrayal. It's Vanessa's lack of boundaries and selfishness," she sighed sounding strained. "It's like every time I have something wonderful in my life she always … steals it away."

It wasn't just Bobby. No he was just the final straw. Before him she always wanted to play with her favourite toys, read her favourite books, wear her favourite dresses. And she always ended up getting them all.

"I'm sure she's matured dear," Gabby assured her. "I'm sure she's just here to wish you like the rest of the family."

Although highly disbelieving that, Sam decided to give Vanessa the benefit of the doubt. It had been a long time since they'd seen each other after all. Maybe her mom was right?

"Fine, I'll make my peace with that. As long as she stays far away from Tim," Sam mumbled warningly knowing that Vanessa would climb a guy like him like a tree if given the opportunity.

Deciding not to take any chances Sam turned and left intent on finding her fiancée before Vanessa got anywhere near him.

Asking around, she was told that he was on the balcony speaking with an uncle of hers and she was just about to join him when she heard a familiar voice that she hadn't heard in a long, long time.

"Congratulations Sam."

Turning her head over her shoulder Sam noticed the black-haired, medium height, brown-eyed man standing there and almost rolled her eyes when she realized that it was Bobby. She honestly couldn't believe the nerve of Vanessa bringing him here as her date.

But then again of course she would do something like this to try and hurt her. To try and make her second guess her engagement to Tim by reminding her of the time when she used to think Bobby was the boyfriend jackpot and there simply couldn't be anyone better out there.

She said nothing for a long moment, just staring back at him with her mouth sealed. And the longer she did that, just looked at him she realized just how much he paled in comparison to the man she was actually marrying and it only made her appreciate him, her actual soul mate more.

Seriously? She asked herself; she had ever found Bobby to be attractive? Irresistible? She found it hard to wrap her head around that idea now because he just seemed so terribly plain. So totally … boring.

Her eyes glancing at what was once her favourite feature on his face, his eyes she decided that they were probably still his best feature, still nice eyes but compared to a certain pair of breathtaking, enigmatic sea foam ones that she always lost herself in? They were nothing.

A strange sense of pride sweeping over her she found herself smiling for the first time in forever at the boy who had once made her cry seemingly endless tears.

"Thank you," she found herself saying, although she wasn't sure if she was saying thanks for his congratulations or expressing gratitude for him ending what they had so long ago so she could move on.

All she knew standing here now in this time and place was that if someone had shown her a crystal ball and even a foggy glimpse of the man who was waiting for her in the future within it, the one that she'd now found, then she would never have ever shed even a single tear over Bobby.

"You're absolutely glowing," she heard him say and she nodded her head as if to say that she knew she was now that she'd found her true love before saying another simple thank you and a "thanks for coming" to her former boyfriend before going back to locating Tim, feeling an overwhelming need to kiss him passionately as soon as possible.

Remembering that she'd been told he was on the balcony she wondered if he was still there and walked as fast as she could in her heels towards her destination. Reaching the archway that led out to the balcony she paused, grinning brightly before stepping outside…

Only to gasp when she saw that he wasn't alone and it wasn't her uncle standing there talking with him.

It was Vanessa.

And even from this distance she could tell that she was flirting with him. She could hear her annoying giggle as she watched her twirl a lock of her hair around her finger and bat her hazel eyes up at him, and how often she reached out and touched his arm or shoulder, and how she did all of it with that look in her eye, that greedy glint, the exact look of a crow having noticed something shiny that it wanted to take home to its nest and was figuring out how to do so.

Part of her so badly wanted to scream and run over, rip Tim away, slap her hard across the face for even daring to get this close to him, rip out all her hair and just push her over the ledge right then and there to make her pay for this and everything else she'd ever done to her, and finally get revenge.

But being the girl that she was, having the manners that she did and knowing her entire family was here right now left her to do nothing but simply stomp off in silence to a place where she could be alone and not have to see Vanessa anymore.


A smirk growing across his lips, Scam's eyes lit up with mischief when he opened the kitchen door and finally found his beloved Sammie. She was just standing there with her back to him doing nothing and much to his delight for the first time this entire evening … she was all alone.

Soundlessly closing the door behind him and tiptoeing behind her, he made sure to not make a sound as he snuck closer to her. When he finally reached her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her back against his chest while burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"There you are…" he whispered huskily into her skin, his lips darting around and placing warm, tender kisses up and down the side of her neck all the way down to her bare shoulder and then back up over and over. "I swear to God I thought I'd never catch you alone," he chuckled, almost intimidated by how enormous her family was.

It was a huge adjustment for him after being alone for so long but he was okay with getting used to it for her, more than happy in fact.

Smiling at that thought he gave her another kiss, this time on her cheek as he continued whispering to her lovingly while holding her close to himself. "Do you have any idea how beautiful you look tonight Sammie? Hmm? Do you? I can hardly keep my eyes off you."

Sam said nothing as she listened to his honey sweet voice saying sweet nothings to her. He sounded so sincere, as if nothing had changed. No he seemed as lovey dovey as ever she thought as she felt him nuzzle his cheek against hers and squeeze her tight to himself as if trying to make up for the last few hours where he had to show some restraint being surrounded by her family and he wasn't allowed to fully touch her and show her how much he loved and desired her.

But he'd met Vanessa now … Hadn't she woven her magic spell over him? Over him just like she did to everything and everyone she ever held dear? Or did he somehow escape her charms? Quietly sulking she doubted that was even possible. No one ever got away from Vanessa unscathed and she was positive she'd left her mark on him as well.

"You still want me?" Sam said before she could stop herself, her voice coming out grumpy and miserable.

She felt him laugh as he continued to snuggle against her, the vibrations of his laughter caressing her flesh as if comforting her without even trying.

"What kind of question is that my love?" He inquired making it sound like her question had been downright ridiculous. But it hadn't been. Not for her. And she wanted an answer from him. Wanted it now.

"Oh … so you didn't notice her?" She started sarcastically knowing he had to have when he'd had that chat with her in the privacy of the balcony with her standing so close to him that she literally was breathing his air into her lungs.

"Who?"

Annoyed at his apparent cluelessness Sam put an end to his necking her by wiggling out his warm embrace and turning to regard him with sour look.

"The prettiest girl in the room," she frowned unable to describe Vanessa as anything but that after dealing with years of inbred inferiority thanks to her.

"The redhead who was making thirsty eyes at you?" She went on. "Couldn't keep her hands away from you? Kept complimenting you?"

"Oh her!" Tim finally said, a look of recognition flashing in his eyes as he gave her a nod letting her know he knew who she was describing now. "Yea I noticed her. How could I not?" He shrugged his broad shoulders and smiled his charming smile that she'd fallen head over heels in love with years ago.

"She's very pretty."

"Pretty?!" Sam gasped loudly, outraged to hear such a compliment for a girl she despised out of her Tim's mouth.

But he didn't seem to pick up on her displeasure as he continued saying nice things about her. "Nah, pretty doesn't quite cover it. She's…" He paused as if searching for just the right words before his eyes lit up again and he continued.

"Breathtaking, exquisite, absolutely divine and to be honest … the most incredible woman I have ever met."

Listening to him with her mouth wide open from shock, Sam could not stop herself from feeling absolutely crushed. He sounded completely and utterly mesmerized by Vanessa. As if he was in love with her and she owned his heart. As though she was the one he was about to marry instead of her.

"In fact, I can't wait to marry her," he suddenly said just as she had that thought.

"WHAT?!" Sam half shouted, half shrieked. "You're gonna marry her?" She cried tugging on his arm trying to bring him back to his senses. He couldn't do this. He just couldn't. Not him. She couldn't lose him to Vanessa or she wasn't sure what she might do. He was the love of her life and she couldn't live without him. Tears were threatening to fall and mess up her makeup when he spoke again.

"Of course I'm going to marry you Sam," Tim scoffed crossing his arms over his chest almost defensively. "What? Don't you want me to?"

"….Me?" Sam finally breathed out several long seconds later quietly looking at him like a deer caught in headlights leaving Tim to cock his head to the side and gave her an odd look as if asking her if she was feeling all right before he continued .

"Yea, YOU. You know … the girl I proposed to?"

Sam licked her lips and looked at him still dumbfounded. "Y-you mean … All this time you were talking about me?"

"Who else?" He asked sounding annoyed.

"V-Vanessa," She mumbled barely audible.

"…Who's Parissa?" She heard him say, sounding absolutely lost.

And she stood there for a few just staring back at him wordlessly until all the pieces came together and she felt completely stupid. Then she instantly remembered what he mum had said to her earlier this evening.

"People can't be stolen away sweetheart. What's yours is yours and it can't be taken away."

And she smiled to herself contentedly. Clearly while Vanessa had been up to her old tricks again, Tim hadn't bought into it. Not even enough to remember her name which meant that she hadn't left an impression on him whatsoever.

"No one," she said finally knowing he was waiting for a reply before she slowly reached out and hugged him burying her face deep into his chest. "No one at all…" She whispered and smiled harder unable to stop as she nestled herself in his arms and felt herself melt into puddle of mush. "I love you."

Glad that whatever that had been about was over with Scam slowly wrapped his arms around her and returned her hug. "So should we go out there and finalize a date for our wedding?" He said into her hair as he rested his chin on her head.

"Mmhmm," Sam replied. "But…" She sighed, her eyelids fluttering in relaxation as she breathed in his cologne and absorbed his warmth inside her skin. Her grip on him tightened even more. "Can we stay here for a little while though? There is something I want to do first. Something I can't do out there."

"Like what?"

In reply she lifted her head up giving him a look of endless affection and pulled his face down towards hers letting her lips meet his in a passionate kiss.

Instantly he was kissing her back, his fingers softly gliding through her silken tresses but soon running wild when she moaned needfully and deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him even closer.

He responded by sliding his hands down to her hips and tugging her flush against him, eliminating the last millimeter of space left between them, merging their bodies into one while they kept kissing each other feverishly.

Their eyes sealed tight, they were so caught up in their make out session that neither of them picked up on the sound of the door opening nor their new audience until one of the spectators finally spoke up.

"Well … one month might just be too long of a wait for these two lovebirds."

Her eyes widening in surprise Sam broke the kiss the second she recognized her mother's voice. Flustered she looked past Tim only to discover not just her mother but almost her entire family stood there watching.

A squeak escaping her she turned red, only turning the darkest shade possible when everyone started laughing at her expression at being caught in the act.

Too embarrassed for words she looked for a place to run and hide and felt relieved when Tim chuckled and pulled her back in his arms letting her seek refuge there while she stopped hyperventilating.

But just before that she caught a glimpse of Vanessa's jealous face in her peripheral vision.

And she grinned to herself knowing that this time, she'd definitely hit the jackpot.


Aren't they adorable together? And Vanessa mayyyy just show up somewhere else at some point. *cackles*

More to come!

Love,

Cresenta :D