Tracing
"I've had a lot of steak in my life," Sam said as her and Freddie walked out of the fancy restaurant he had taken her to for their five-year anniversary. "But I think that was the best I've ever tasted."
"Told you this place would be worth the two hour drive," Freddie laughed, holding her hand as the couple walked back to their car. "Happy anniversary, baby."
"You too," Sam said, smiling as she stood on her toes to kiss her boyfriend. "So, are we going back to Seattle now?"
"Nope," Freddie said, grinning as he opened Sam's door for her. "Hop in. I've got a another little surprise for us..."
"This isn't going to be another trip to a museum, is it?" Sam asked skeptically, getting into the car. "Because I nearly fell asleep at that planetarium you dragged me to last month."
"No, it's not another museum," Freddie promised her.
"Well then what is it?"
"You'll see," Freddie said mysteriously, starting the engine.
Freddie pulled out of the parking lot, chuckling as Sam continued to badger him to give up the location of their next destination, but he didn't budge.
"Will I like this place?" Sam asked after Freddie continued to keep his mouth shut for nearly twenty minutes.
"Sam, we've been dating for five years now," Freddie reminded her. "Do you really think I'd take you to a place you wouldn't like?"
"Um, hello, the museum," Sam reminded him.
"Oh come on, you had fun there," Freddie said.
"Hmm, well I guess making out behind that dinosaur exhibit does qualify as fun," Sam smiled. "But seriously Benson, can't I at least get a hint?"
"All I'll say is that we're almost there," Freddie said firmly.
"Ugh, you're so frustrating," Sam moaned, crossing her arms.
"Well you've managed to survive five years with me, so I can't be that bad, can I?"
"You have your perks," Sam admitted.
"Alright, we're here," Freddie said finally, bringing the car to a stop.
Sam looked out the window. "The beach?"
"Yup," Freddie nodded. "I know how much you love it."
"Aw, your surprise didn't suck baby!" Sam exclaimed, leaning over and pulling him into a long passionate kiss.
"Well thank you," Freddie laughed. "Come on."
He stepped out of the car and opened up the trunk, revealing a small picnic basket and a blanket. "I thought we could eat desert here," Freddie said.
"We had desert at the restaurant though," Sam pointed out.
"And since when has one desert ever satisfied you?"
"Good point," Sam grinned.
The couple took off their shoes as they walked across the sand, hand in hand. The set the blanket down at a spot only a few feet from the waves, the sea air filling their lungs.
"Here you go," Freddie said as the couple settled down on the blanket. He opened up the picnic basket and handed Sam a glass. He then pulled out a large plastic cup filled with a think, pink substance.
"A Fat Shake!" Sam exclaimed happily as Freddie poured her drink.
"Your favorite," Freddie laughed. He raised his glass. "Heres to five amazing years with the most amazing girl I could ever imagine."
The two clinked glasses and then Sam proceeded to chug down her shake.
"I really love the beach," Sam said, finishing her drink as she scooted closer to Freddie.
"I know you do, that's why I brought you here," Freddie told her, putting his arm around her.
"Thank you for doing all this," Sam said, resting her head on his shoulder and taking one of his hands in hers.
"It's our five-year anniversary, Sam, of course I wanted tonight to be special," Freddie said.
"Well yeah," Sam said softly, tracing tiny circles on the back of his hand. "But, I mean, it's not just on these special occasions that you do stuff like this. Like a few weeks ago you filled my car with those roses I said looked really nice in that magazine. Heck, you even put a strip of bacon in each bouquet for me!"
"I like doing that stuff for you," Freddie smiled, kissing the top of her head. "I love you."
"I love you too," Sam whispered. "But I feel bad..."
"What? Why?" Freddie frowned.
"Because I never do anything like that for you," Sam said. "I just hit you and call you names and steal your food."
"I don't mind that," Freddie told her.
"But," Sam mumbled. "It's like...you're a much better boyfriend than I am girlfriend."
"Hey," Freddie said firmly, looking down right at her. "That's not true."
"Oh come on," Sam said. "You know it is."
"No, it's not," he said. "You have any idea how lucky I am to be with you? You're beautiful, funny, energetic, unique and so much more."
"But I'm-"
"Aggressive and loud," Freddie finished for her.
"Well, yeah," Sam nodded weakly.
"Have you ever thought, Sam," Freddie said, tilting her chin back with his finger gently, so he could look directly into her eyes. "That that's what I love about you?"
"You-you do?" Sam asked.
"Yup," Freddie smiled. "I love how you don't let anyone push you around or tell you what to do, and that you're far from shy about saying whatever it is that's on your mind."
"Okay, but still, I never do any of that mushy romantic stuff you do for me," Sam said. "I'm terrible at that!"
"What are you talking about?" Freddie said. "What about the time you went all the way to Canada to get me that NugNug helmet from Galaxy Wars, in the middle of a thunderstorm, for my birthday? Or when you stayed back from that big MMA fight to take care of me when I had that bad cold?"
"You-You really remember all those things?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, Sam, because I know it's things like that that show me how much you love me," Freddie said. "You're the most amazing girlfriend any guy can ask for. And I still can't believe that you, a girl who could literally have any guy she wanted, picked me to be her boyfriend."
Sam leaned back against Freddie, letting her wrap his arms around her. "You know, I'm sure a lot of other girls would go out with you too."
"Well, I'm not so sure about that," Freddie chuckled. "But even if that is true, I wouldn't care. I've already got the perfect girl."
"You're really cheesy," Sam smiled. "But I kind of like that..."
Freddie pulled her closer and kissed her gently. "You want to go down to to the ocean? Get our feet wet a bit?"
"Yeah," Sam nodded, giving Freddie another quick kiss.
The couple walked over to the ocean, letting the salt water wash over their bare feet.
"It really is beautiful, isn't it?" Sam asked, looking out at the water.
"It is," Freddie agreed. "Is that why you like the beach so much?"
"I used to go to the beach a lot when I was younger," Sam told him. "I would take a bus when I was six and ride down here. I think i spent more time here than I did at home; I liked it better here."
"Sam," Freddie said gently, wrapping his arms around her once more. "That's another thing I love about you."
"What is?" she asked, confused.
"That you tell me these things," Freddie said. "I like that you let down your walls for me."
Sam said nothing, but continued to stare out to the ocean.
"I like seeing this side of you when we're alone," Freddie continued. "As much as I love your tough-girl outer shell, I really do love this softer side of you..."
Sam squeezed his hands. "Yeah, well, who else am I going to tell?"
"I love you so much, Sam," Freddie said, letting go of her and turning her away from the ocean so that she was now facing him. "These past five years have been...unbelievable. I've loved every minute of them. Talking with you, holding you, kissing you. I can't think of anything that could possibly make me happier than being with you."
Sam was now blushing fiercely.
"Which is why," Freddie continued, putting his hand in his pocket. "I'm finally going to do this."
He got down on one knee and pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket.
Sam's eyes widened as Freddie opened the box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.
"Freddie-" she whispered.
"I love you, Sam, I know I've said that a lot," Freddie cut her off. "And the idea of spending even a day of my life without you in it is just terrifying to me. I want to spend my life with you. So Samantha Joy Puckett? Will you marry me?"
Sam could no longer hold back the huge smile that she had been trying to control.
"Yes," she nodded, her smile so wide now. "Yes, I'll marry you."
Freddie smiled just as wide as Sam and quickly slid the ring onto her finger, and then stood back up and kissed her deeply.
He had finally done it. He was finally going to marry Sam Puckett, and he could not have been more thrilled.
