A/N: no beta, all mistakes are my own.
Fun fact. This is basically how my mum asked my dad if they could get married in 1985.

THE PROPOSAL

He wondered if it was too soon to be asking her such a big question. She had only been out of his command for a week, but he knew it wouldn't stay that way for long.

Jack breathed a long sigh and shook his head. Technically they had only been on one date. It was not the time to be asking too many questions.

He quickly averted his eyes from the rings before him, and caught sight of her at the other side of the store. He was meant to be looking for a graduation present for Cassie. Not thinking about engagement rings.

He walked to another section of the store. Earrings. Earrings were good. Now he just had to figure out which set to buy.

Gold? Silver? What did she prefer again? He pinched his nose and tried to picture the young woman before him. He'd seen her wear both. He was sure of it.
He sighed again and turned around. Sam would know. He looked in the direction he had seen her last. He frowned. He turned again and spotted her on the other side of the room.

He smiled and wondered how he had gotten so lucky. It had been years since they had decided to keep everything in the room. He was happy that she still felt the same and had agreed to go on a date with him.

It had been the most awkward yet comfortable date he had ever been on. They already knew everything about each other. But the transition from commanding officer and second in command had been weird.

He walked over to her and saw that she was looking at rings. A tray was on the counter in front of her, the sales lady, Stacey, behind it.

She smiled shyly at him as he stopped beside her.

"Does Cassie prefer gold or-?" He stopped and looked questioningly between her face, the tray and her hands. "What'cha doin'?"

"Oh... I was uh... just looking," she stammered as she put the ring back in the tray. Right before she picked up another one, a simple white gold band with a small diamond set inside.

She held it out to him and blushed slightly. Jack raised his eyebrows as he looked between the ring and her face. He took the offered ring and examined it closely. It was beautiful in its simplicity. Just the kind of ring he would have picked for her... if he were to ask her the question he was debating asking her.

"Can I have it?" She asked quietly.

"Why do you need my permission to-" he stopped short as he realised what she was asking him. "Oh!" He smirked. "This is the one you want?"

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She nodded.

"It'll look better on your finger," he smiled at her as he handed the ring to Stacey.

He watched as Sam got her finger measured and smiled as Stacey searched for the correct size.

Jack reached out and took Sam's hand in his, pulling her towards him. He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers. She smiled sweetly at him and he felt himself go weak.

"You know, traditionally, it's the man that does the asking," he stated, his voice soft and low.

"Because that's worked out so well for me in the past," she answered before tensing. "Sorry. I should never have brought any of this up. I'll tell her to stop looking."

"Sam-"

"I don't know what I was thinking. We've been on one date. It's too soon-"

"Sam," he said, cutting off her rambling. He gazed deep into her eyes and noticed how self conscious she had become. "I was looking at rings before I started looking at the earrings."

"You were?"

"It may only have been one date. But I didn't even need that date to know that one day I'd be asking you to be my wife."

"And I didn't even give you a chance to ask. Nice going Sam."

"I like this proposal best," he smirked at her before returning his attention to the lady behind the counter. He watched as she placed the ring inside a box and push it towards them.

"You're sure this is the one you want?" He asked as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.

"I'm sure."

"Credit card," he smiled at Stacey as he put his card in the terminal.

"Thank you," Sam whispered as she squeezed his hand.

Jack smiled sweetly at her before wrapping am arm around her shoulders and pulling her to him. He kissed her forehead as she wrapped an arm around his waist.

Jack thanked Stacey as he took his card out of the machine and put it back into his wallet. He kissed Sam's forehead again as he slipped his wallet back into his back pocket before picking up the small bag on the counter.

"So where are we going so I can slip this baby onto your finger?" He asked her as they left the store.

"Home," she replied, a small smile on her face.

"Home? No fancy dinner first?"

"We're not exactly dressed for a fancy dinner Jack," she replied while laughing and shaking her head at him.

"We could get dressed. Boost our date count up to two."

Sam stopped walking and tugged on his arm. He turned to face her and looked at her questioningly. She stepped up to his chest and wrapped both arms around him. Her lips gently brushed his earlobe and she felt him shiver. She smiled.

"Clothing is optional at home," she whispered into his ear.

"Ok," he swallowed hard. "Let's go home."

It was the longest yet quickest walk back to his truck that he could remember. It wasn't until he started the truck that a question started to form.

"Wait," he said as he let go of the steering wheel and sat all the way back. He laughed at the impatient look on her face.

"What?"

"Whose home?"

"Yours. It's closer," Sam replied after a seconds thought. "And my car is already there."

Jacked reached over the console and took her hand gently in his as he drove. He raised her hand to his mouth again and kissed where her new ring would sit.

He dropped his keys onto the table by the door as he kicked off his shoes. He heard the door lock behind him before she took his hand and started making her way towards his bedroom.

"Impatient, are we?" He asked as he closed the bedroom door behind them.

"You're not?" She asked in response as she pushed him into a sitting position on the bed. He gripped her hips as she straddled his lap.

He smirked wickedly at her before raising himself just enough to turn his body and pin her to the bed. Sam laughed lightly in shock at the change of position.

"Can I at least put the ring on your finger first?" He shook his wrist to indicate the bag still attached to his arm.

Sam smiled as he pulled them both into a sitting position, watching as he took the bag from his wrist and pulled out the small box. He opened it and smiled at the ring inside.

"I've wanted to do this for a very long time," he told her as he took the ring from the box and held out his hand.

Sam placed her hand in his and grinned as he slipped the ring slowly onto her finger. Tears pooled in her eyes as the ring came to a stop at the top of her finger.

"I love you, future Mrs O'Neill," Jack whispered as he wiped away a stray tear making it's way down her face.

"I love you too Jack," she whispered back before closing the distance between their faces.