C is for Carter
"I still can't believe that after all these years, you call me by my last name."
Sam eyed her husband carefully as he gave her a wounded look.
"You sound like Daniel," he complained.
"But we're married. And my name isn't even "Carter" anymore, it's "O'Neill" now."
Jack took a sip of his beer, setting it on the table between them while he looked out over the lake.
"Ever since we first met, I called you "Carter". Or possibly by your rank. It was my thing. Did you ever stop to notice that I was the only person who did that? I was the only person who ever called you just by your last name."
Sam's brows knitted, she actually hadn't really thought about it if she was honest.
"So "Carter" is like a term of endearment?"
"Yeah." Jack answered casually, as if though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"You loved me from the beginning, didn't you?" Sam asked, a smile spreading quickly across her face.
Her hand sought his across the table and her eyes twinkled. Jack met her gaze and grasped her hand tightly.
"Yeah. Even if I didn't know it at the time."
And as silence fell over them, and their hands remained connected, Sam thought to herself that "Carter" was now the most beautiful name she had ever heard.
So maybe this one was a little heavy on the mush, but I'm rather pleased. =)
