The rest of the quarter went by in a whirlwind. During the week, they studied, rewarding themselves for their hard work with kisses under shadow enshrouded benches for a few minutes before he walked her home. The weekends they spent with Jeff, Becky, Zach, and occasionally a few others, studying, doing chores together, seeing the sights, having fun.

Sam grew dearer to her every day. He seemed to bloom more and more as the shell around him was chipped away by friendship, camaraderie, love. She swore sometimes he seemed to shine. As if he'd finally found something he'd been looking for.

She knew she had, though she'd never realized she'd been looking for it.

"You said you were taking classes in the summer, too, right, Sam?"

He looked up from where he'd been busily typing on his laptop. "Yeah. That way I can keep staying at the dorm."

"You sure you wouldn't rather go home and be with your family for a while?" Though he was open with her about everything else, he never really offered much about his family. Aside from the occasional comment about his brother Dean, he didn't say much about anyone else. She was definitely curious. "I'm sure they must miss you."

He shrugged. "My Dad travels a lot. His schedule is never all that firm." Sam's voice grew low. "And we don't get along that well."

That one sentence seemed to speak volumes; she just didn't exactly know the language. "What about Dean?"

A small sad smile showed up on his face and was just as quickly gone. "Dean, he…" Sam shook his head. "He'd want me to stay. He badgered me about it every time I spoke to him. So it's been a while. He wants me to make the first move and I just…" He shook his head again. "It's just easier to stay here, okay?"

He didn't look at her but started typing on his laptop again. Jess bit her lip. Obviously something for the taboo subject list. Still… "What about your mom?"

The typing stopped. "She's dead."

"Oh, Sam, I'm sorry." She reached out and touched his arm.

He looked up. "Don't be. It was a long time ago."

She bit her lip again. This conversation wasn't going anything like she'd hoped. "Anyway, I decided to take a couple of summer courses myself. Figured I could take that art minor then and make things easier for myself."

His expression lightened. "That's great!" A moment later though, it dampened again. "Don't you want to see your own family though? You shouldn't stay here on my account."

"I do. And I'm not." She grinned. "I have my own schedules and plans, just like you, Mr. Winchester. I do what I want." She pushed at his knee with her foot. "So I'm planning to go home and see the family for a few days at the break between the spring and summer sessions. I have to keep them hungry for my company, you know, but not give them too much."

His face relaxed. "When will you go?"

"I thought we might go on the 15th. If it didn't interfere with anything on your end." She watched him closely.

"We?"

Jess nodded. "I'd like to take you home to meet the parents."

"Okay…" Sam only turned a little green around the edges.

The plan was on.

The flight to Sacramento was uneventful. The taxi ride even less so. Sam sat quietly beside her, his eyes drinking in the sights, like the golden spires of the Tower Bridge and the Maya looking pyramid building facing the river next to it as they moved into downtown.

Her parents lived in the suburbs on the other side of the city. She was quietly excited to be coming back, but more so that Sam was there with her. She grabbed his arm as they turned into the familiar block, and pointed out her home. It was a one story, white brick affair, with yellow trim. The short white picket fence and manicured bushes made it look like something out of Better Home and Gardens – her mother's pride and joy.

Sam got their luggage and paid the driver, though Jess noticed he kept sending surprised glances at the house as if he thought it might somehow change at any moment.

"Welcome to the Palace Moore." Jess unhooked the small gate over the walkway to the house. "What do you think?"

"I didn't think houses ever really looked like this." There was awe and amazement in the statement, not the usual snide comments she was used to about the quaint and perfect American home.

"It's my Mom's doing. She's always loved keeping house." She sent him a sideways glance. "I'm not exactly too gung ho about it myself though."

He didn't seem to hear her, going up the walkway admiring the rows of daisies lining the path to either side.

Jess gave Sam a disarming smile then rang the doorbell. She was sure he was nervous, though he was hiding it well. She hoped she was too. She counted the seconds as she waited for the door to open.

She didn't have to wait long.

The door was pulled wide, her Mom standing there with arms outspread. "Jessica, honey!"

She stepped forward and hugged her Mother and kissed her cheek as expected. She was glad to note her Mom hadn't worn her pearls, as she had a tendency to look a lot like the Beav's mother, always primped, as if she were a reject from the fifties. The blue dress was subdued, the heels for once low, and she only had three pins decorating the side. Jess was very glad now for the twenty minutes of begging for her not to overdo things for their guest on the phone.

"And you must be Sam. How very nice to meet you."

"Ma'am, the pleasure's all mine." His smile was a small supernova. He presented his hand and her Mom took it in both of hers.

Jess tried not to stare. Where had her shy scholar gone?

"Come in, come in. We've been looking forward to meeting you ever since Jessica mentioned you were coming." She pretty much dragged him inside. "Travis will get your bags, so don't worry about them for now. Won't you Travis?"

"Sure, dear."

"Dad!" Jess finally spotted her father, hanging back as usual, under the arch leading to the living room. She gave him a quick hug. She thought he looked pretty good in his polo shirt and slacks.

"Dad, this is Sam." She had to throw a curved brow look at her mother to get her to let Sam go, so she could present him properly.

"It's very nice to meet you, sir." Another supernova.

The two of them shook hands.

"Nice grip there, son." Her father nodded appreciatively. "Good to have you."

"Thank you, sir."

Mom got between them taking over as usual. "Come on into the living room, Sam. Travis will take your bags into the guestroom and Jessica's to her room." She hooked her arm through his and guided him out of the foyer.

A fresh flower arrangement graced the oval coffee table, matching the floral pattern on the sofa.

"Go ahead and take a seat. I'm just going to the kitchen for some drinks. Is iced tea all right? I have a lovely white peach blend."

"That sounds great, Mrs. Moore." If any more wattage came from Sam's smile, or his dimples look any cuter, Jess was sure she might just go blind. What had gotten into him?

"Oh please, no need to be so formal. Call me Laura."

"Yes, ma'am. Ah, Laura."

She gave him a big smile. "Be right back."

The moment her mother left the room, Sam sighed, slouching down into the couch as if tired. Jess was still in shock.

She tentatively approached the sofa and sat down next to him. "Who was that?"

Sam glanced over at her. "Huh?"

"That, that young man a minute ago. The one who just spoke to my parents, and was outgoing, friendly, and everything. Who was that? What did you do with my introverted, bookworm boyfriend?"

He looked away, a momentary smile causing his cheeks to dimple again. "That was 'Meeting the Girlfriend's Parents Sam'." He sent her a timid look.

"Are there any other Sams I need to know about? I didn't know I got more than one." Would he ever cease amazing her? She hoped not.

"A few actually." The dimples were back. "There's 'Get Down to Business Sam', uhm 'That's Not What Really Happened Sam', 'Surely You Could Let That Pass This Once Sam', 'No This Guy is Not My Brother Sam', and a couple of others. They come in handy on occasion."

She took his hand in hers. "Is that right? And what Sam is it that I get?"

He glanced at her again, his eyes bright. "Just 'Sam', no bells, no whistles, just the basic, stripped down core model."

"Stripped down…I like it." She leaned forward to nibble on his ear.

"Here we go!"

The two of them jumped apart like guilty little kids. 'Meeting the Girlfriend's Parents Sam' came back full force. He even got up and offered to take the tray for her Mom. Jess had to fight not to giggle out loud.

It had really been a long time since she brought a boy home. Early high school had really soured her on the whole dating thing. Especially when all those interested in her only seemed to want her because she looked pretty and to get in her pants. None of them seemed capable of understanding why it was she could want more of a life than her Mother had as a homemaker. Guess you could only be progressive if you were ugly, had braces, and wore glasses.

"Ah, Travis, there you are." Her Mom handed her Dad a glass of iced tea as he sat down.

"So, Sam, tell us about yourself. Where are you from?"

Jess could sense Sam wanting to wilt as both parents eagerly centered him in their attentions.

"I was born in Lawrence, Kansas, sir. But my family and I have lived all over the states."

"No steady home?" A light frown touched her father's face.

"Here and there. My father is a traveling salesman, and we went wherever there was work."

"That must have been awfully hard on your mother." This came from Laura.

Jess squeezed Sam's hand, noticing he was starting to look a little frayed about the edges. "His mother died when he was very young. It's just been his brother, father, and him."

"Oh, you poor dear!" Her mother gushed concern.

"It's no big thing, really." The mask was firmly back in place. "We managed okay for ourselves. And I don't mean to follow in my father's line of work. I plan to set roots down somewhere and stay."

"Sam is in pre-law." She hoped this bone might get her parents away from the current topic.

"A lawyer!"

Jess saw her Mother's eyes light up. She lived with the old adage that the best outcome for her daughter would be to marry a doctor or a lawyer, as if careers could guarantee a good marriage or even happiness.

"Why don't we hold off on the twenty questions till dinner?" Jess suggested. "That way I can show Sam around and freshen up?"

"Oh, oh, of course!" Her Mom stood up. "You have to forgive us, we were just so excited to meet you."

Sam followed suit. "No, ma'am, I mean, Laura, it's perfectly all right. I'm just thankful for your hospitality."

Jess's Mom smiled, looking totally pleased. "Dinner should be ready within the hour. I'll call for you when it's ready."

"Thanks, Mom."

Still smiling, her Mom tapped her husband on the shoulder and had him follow her out.

"You have a very nice family. So normal."

Jess raised an eyebrow and turned at Sam's wistful tone. "I think you have some strange notions on what's normal. Because a typical family, we are not."

Sam gave her a disbelieving look, but said nothing.

"Come on, let me show you the house."

#

"This was truly delicious, Mrs. Moore." Sam took a last enthusiastic bite.

Jess tried to hide a smile, knowing he'd just unknowingly scored a bunch of points with her mother. She had to admit, in the short time she'd known him, eating food just seemed like something he did to continue to function, not a task he enjoyed. Not that most of the stuff they tended to eat at school could be called culinary. She supposed with no mother, and as much travel as it sounded he did as a kid, a home cooked meal might really be a treat. She'd have to remember that. While she was nowhere near as versed as her Mother, she could cook a thing or two.

"I'm so glad you liked it. Though really, it's just a pot roast, nothing to get too excited about." The glow on her face said the total opposite. Yeah, Sam was in her good graces all right. Poor thing.

"Jessica, help me with the dishes, won't you?"

"Sure, Mom."

"Is there anything I can do?" Sam half stood, looking a little sheepish, as if not sure of the protocols of the situation.

"No, no, wouldn't think of it. You just sit there and talk to Travis while we girls straighten up a little. Let your food settle before we bring out desert." She gave Sam a wink.

"Yes, ma'am." He sat back down.

Jess helped her Mom pile up the dishes and take them to the kitchen. The moment they were out of sight, her Mother started talking.

"He's so tall! And just how old is he? He can't possibly be a sophomore."

"Mom, he's only four inches or so taller than me. And he's a junior, a year older than me. He just has that kind of face." Jess turned on the faucet and started rinsing dishes so they could be put in the dishwasher.

"Those bangs of his are a little long, and he dresses a little too rustic, but he's so nice and polite…I like him." Her Mother smiled, her gaze a little unfocused. "Oh and he wants to be a lawyer. Jessica, this one's a keeper!"

Though she normally wasn't too fond of her Mother's analysis, for once she had to agree. Sam was a keeper.

"When do you think you two might marry?"

Jess almost choked. "Mom!"

"I'm not getting any younger, you know. I'd love to have a grandchild to spoil rotten. It'd be good for your father, too."

"We've only recently started dating, Mom. And we have our degrees to think about! It's way too early to be talking about marriage and even more so about kids." Why could she never understand she didn't want the same life she had? There were more options to choose from than just raising children and keeping house.

"Okay, okay, but a mother can dream, can't she? Wonder if I could talk the Hendersons on selling their house to the two of you…"

"Mom!"

"But it would be ever so convenient! And he did say he wanted to set down some roots."

"Mother."