Author's Notes: Here is chapter 3. A couple more to go with I will hopefully have ready and posted by Christmas Day at the latest. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: The show Flashpoint and its characters were created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern and belong to them and its respective networks. I am making no money off this story and it is for entertainment purposes only. However, this particular story is my creation and should not be used without my express written permission.

Christmas Green…with Envy

Chapter 3

Despite his intentions of getting through dinner as quickly as possible so he could return to the hotel to spend a much more enjoyable evening with Jules, it was almost eleven before Sam slid the key card into the slot. He couldn't say he hadn't enjoyed himself while at his parents; compared to some other recent visits this one was pleasant rather than just the tolerable he was accustomed to. His parents had been surprisingly cordial, even bordering but not quite reaching friendly. They might not have gone out of their way to be warm and accepting of Jules but they hadn't been cold or outright rude either, at least not as far as he'd seen. That had been Sam's worst fear.

He credited the presence of the Isaacs for his parents' good behavior. They wouldn't have dared to be less than proper hosts while company was present. General Isaacs, unlike his parents, had immediately taken to Jules. He'd been more than enthusiastic in his desire to hear about her time with the RCMP and with SRU. Sam wasn't really surprised; she was just the kind of person his former CO admired the most. He hoped the attention Isaacs had showered on her had softened any sting his own parents' lack of enthusiasm might have caused.

Closing the door to the hotel room, Sam secured the safety chain and slipped out of his coat. Jules had already hung hers in the closet and moved over to the bed to get her things together for bed. Sam hung his own jacket up and silently watched her in concern.

She'd been uncharacteristically quiet during the ride back to the hotel. He couldn't be sure if she was just tired from working the night shift or if he'd missed something. There had been a couple of times Jules had been left alone with one or the other of his parents during the evening. Had one of them said something?

He crossed the room and reached her as she started toward the bathroom. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind and pulled her flush to him, much the way he had before they'd left for dinner. He rested his chin on the top of her head. "What's wrong, Sweetheart?"

For a moment, she allowed herself to melt against him. She wasn't surprised that he'd picked up on her mood; he always seemed to know when something was bothering her. She just wasn't sure she could explain what that was without coming off sounding clingy and insecure; two things that she hated more than anything in the world. She almost wished she could point to something that was said or done as the reason for her current somber, sour mood. She couldn't, though; she only had herself to blame for the way she was feeling.

She couldn't deny that she'd felt out of place from the moment she'd seen the house, but it wasn't anything she couldn't deal with. After all, as she'd assured Sam earlier at the diner, she was dating him not his parents. How often had Sam even commented on the pretentiousness of his parent's house in Ottawa? She'd lost count of the number of times he'd admitted that out of all the base houses he'd lived in growing up, this one felt the least like home to him and not just because he was a grown man who didn't live with his parents anymore.

She could even forgive the lukewarm reception she'd received from his parents. After all, she'd been the one to officially break things off the first time. While they'd both been unwilling to give up their spots on Team One for the sake of their relationship, she'd been the one to force the issue. If she had to be the bad guy in the break-up or if she had to prove herself worthy now that she and Sam were taking a second shot, she was up for the challenge. For Sam's sake more than her own, she hoped they would see that she truly loved him, but she couldn't force them to do so.

What she couldn't forgive was her reaction to seeing Sam with Heather. It had been more than obvious they'd once been a couple. The fact that he was with her now and not Heather should have been enough. The fact that Heather had openly flirted with him the whole night should not have bothered her any more than any of the other women -like the waitress at the diner earlier - who flirted with Sam hoping to win at least a smile from him. He certainly hadn't given Heather any more attention than he ever gave those other women. It shouldn't have mattered to her, but it did. The fact that it had bothered her even in the least upset her more than anything. She was a confident person; she'd had to be in order to not only make it but to thrive in the world she'd chosen for herself. She wasn't the type to doubt herself but from the moment she'd caught a glimpse of Heather with Sam, she'd done nothing but. She hated even feeling that way but to admit it to anyone, even Sam would be even worse.

"Jules?" Sam probed again when she didn't answer right away.

She sighed. "Nothing's wrong. Not really. It's just been a long night last night and then an even longer day and evening today. Tomorrow's going to be another long day with the party tomorrow night. I'd just like to get my shower and get changed for bed. Do you mind?"

Sam heard what she wasn't saying; whatever was bothering her she wasn't ready to open up about it. It was a trait they had in common. Neither had an easy time discussing their feelings, not without plenty of self-processing time first. She'd eventually talk to him about what was wrong; he was confident in that. In the meantime, he'd be patient and give her that time she needed. "Not at all."

He released her but didn't let her walk away. Instead he turned her around so that she was facing him. He tipped her head up so that he could look down into her eyes. Once he had eye contact with her, he let his hands skim the sides of her neck and down to the top button of her blouse. "We're back at the hotel now; didn't we say something earlier about getting you under-dressed? I'd like to volunteer to help you with that."

He deftly unfastened each delicate button without the slightest bit of fumbling. Once the last button was undone, he slipped the delicate fabric from her shoulders and down her arms before tossing the shirt to the nearby bed. His fingertips grazed her bare arms as she stood there in her camisole, bra, and skirt. Taking a step closer to her, Sam reached down and behind her to unzip her skirt. The material pooled at her feet.

Sam grinned down at her and briefly brushed her lips with his own before whispering. "That's much better. You know, you took a shower before we went to dinner; no reason why we couldn't just go straight to getting 'comfy cozy.' What do you say?"

He expected her to say no. He could almost see the storm of emotions behind her eyes and knew she was struggling with something. He also knew the best way for her to process those thoughts and get to a place where she could share with him what was bothering her was for him to give her the time alone. So while he wouldn't be upset if she put him off, he needed her to know how much he desired her and loved her before she took that time.

Therefore, he was surprised when she took a step toward the bed and tugged lightly on his tie. She chewed on her bottom lip for a second before tilting her head to one side. "Okay."

His clothes joined hers on the floor and he gently pressed her to the bed. Any thoughts he had of making slow gentle love to her flew out the window when she suddenly flipped him onto his back so that she was on top. He recognized an almost desperate feel to her lovemaking but it was so easy to get caught up in the emotions and pleasure of the moment and not think about anything else.

Afterward, they lay tangled in each other's arms with a sheet covering them. Jules's head rested on Sam's chest, and he ran his hand lazily up and down her bare back. Making love to Jules was an intoxicating and addictive thing every time but tonight it seemed like something was driving Jules other than her normal reactions. It worried him and as much as he wanted to give her space, he couldn't help but voice that worry.

"Jules, did one of my parents say something that hurt you? If they did, please tell me. I know you don't want to cause trouble, but they don't have…"

"Sam, relax; it's not your parents. Besides, I'm a big girl; I can handle it if I'm not their favorite person. As long as I'm yours, that's all that matters." On the surface, it seemed like a casual, almost flippant answer but there was just enough of a catch that made him think she somehow doubted her words.

He shifted so that he was hovering over her body and kissed her once again. Pressing his weight slightly onto her, he rested his forehead onto hers. He knew she'd been saying she wanted to be his favorite person but he decided to take her words literally instead. "Oh, you're mine all right; and I'm grateful every day that you are. If my parents are too blind to see how much better you make my life, then that's on them. You're mine and I'm yours and that really is all that matters."

As if to further punctuate his declaration, he kissed her; his tongue darting into her mouth to fully explore and excite. She shut off her thoughts as she gave in to his ministrations. Nothing else seemed to matter as his kisses and touches escalated to a second round of lovemaking.

- FP - FP - FP -

"Jules, I love you but I love Heather more. You understand, don't you? I mean look at her. She's everything you're not. I should have realized it before. I'm sorry, Jules. I never meant to hurt you; it's just the way it is."

Jules sat up with a start. Her heart was pounding as she glanced over at Sam who was still sound asleep. She drew her knees up so she could lean her head against them as she tried to get her breath back. Over and over again, she repeated silently in her head, it was just a dream. Sam would never do that to you.

And deep down, she knew it was true. Sam proved over and over again that he only had eyes for her. He'd never given her any reason to suspect that he could ever be less than faithful to her. That was one of the reasons why she hadn't been able to explain to him the melancholy mood she'd found herself in the night before. How could she tell the man who would give her the moon if she desired it that she was jealous? It seemed petty at best and traitorous at the worst. The night before, despite all the attempts on Heather's part to have physical contact with Sam, he hadn't appeared interested in the least and had instead sought out any excuse to hold Jules's hand or somehow seek out her touch, much to his mother's immediate disapproval about the "public display of affection."

Knowing further sleep was not in the picture, Jules slipped from the bed and gathered her clothes before heading into the bathroom. After showering and dressing, she stepped back into the outer room. Sam hadn't moved in the time she'd been in the bathroom. She smiled at his sleeping figure. She'd never loved anyone the way she loved Sam. Never felt as loved by anyone as she did by Sam. Just as she'd thought the night before, the idea that she could feel jealous when she had everything she could ever want was ridiculous. There was absolutely no reason for it but there it was again this morning as fresh a feeling as it had been last night.

She made her way over to the window and peeked out the window. The snow that fallen overnight had stopped but in its wake was a beautiful blanket of white that covered everything. Without touching the window pane she could tell the temperature outside was brisk and frigid. She glanced back at Sam. She needed to get her thoughts in a better place before he woke up. They had a long day before them; brunch with his parents and then the party that night. She needed to be in a better frame of mind before facing either activity. Perhaps the bracing cold would help snap some sense back into her.

Slipping a key card into the back pocket of her black jeans, she reached into the closet and retrieved her coat. Jules double checked to make sure her gloves and hat were in the pockets and that the scarf was still around the neck before throwing it over her arm. Making sure she hadn't disturbed Sam, she quietly left the hotel room, closing the door firmly behind her.

- FP -

Sam rolled over in the bed to pull Jules closer to him. When his arms met only air, his eyes opened and he sat up. He rubbed the sleep from his face and glanced around. Her side of the bed was cool indicating she hadn't been in it for a while. He didn't hear any noise inside the hotel room that would clue him in to her whereabouts.

"Jules?"

No answer. He frowned. She'd been upset about something the night before but he didn't think she'd been so upset that she would leave all together. Reaching for his pants, he pulled them up and checked the bathroom to confirm he was really was alone in the room. He was about to get worried when he stopped at the window and looked out at the little park across the from the hotel.

A lone figure was determinedly working on a snowman. Despite the distance and the fact that the person was bundled up in a heavy coat, hat, and gloves, he knew it was Jules. Not just because he recognized the jacket as hers but because he would know her at a glance, no matter how far she was from him or how disguised she was by heavy outerwear.

He stood at the window and watched as she rolled the middle ball of snow up the side of her base and settled it into position. As much as he might would enjoy just staring at her as she completed her creation, he wanted more to be closer to her. He dressed quickly and grabbed his coat and key card before leaving the room. The cold air whipped through him as soon as he stepped out of the hotel. It felt colder now than it had when they'd returned from the base the night before.

He crossed the parking lot to where Jules was placing the head on her snowman. The lot had already been cleared so guests would have a place to park, so he bent down and picked out three slightly larger rocks and a handful of smaller pebbles. Once he reached Jules he held his hand out for her to see.

"You need a face for this guy."

Only her eyes were visible as she'd wrapped he scarf around her face to protect it from the bitter cold. But they almost sparkled at him when she saw what he was offering and he was glad to see she didn't look quite as haunted as she had the night before. "Thanks."

He grinned at her, thinking she might have the right idea about covering up so completely but not as sure he could pull off the mummy look as well as she could. "I'd kiss you but I'm not sure I could find your mouth under all that."

"As much as I would love a kiss, I'm not sure I could feel it even if you did find my mouth. I'm pretty sure I lost most of the feeling in my body about the time I finished the bottom ball of snow. You want to do the honors of making him a face while I find a couple of sticks for arms?"

"Sure, is he happy or sad?" He was really asking if she was happy or sad, and he was sure she knew that. She cocked her head slightly to one side.

"It's a beautiful day; the sun is out even if it feels like the North Pole out here; and the future is bright with possibilities. I'd say he's happy. Besides, when have you ever seen an unhappy snowman? They've got crystallized vapors where their brains should be; they don't know how to be sad."

A few minutes later the snowman was complete. If they were at home, they would have found an old scarf or hat to adorn him with, but would have to forego that part since they were in a public place. Sam drew her bundled figure close to him for a hug. Her outer clothes felt frozen stiff and he was worried she was just as cold beneath the layers.

"Damn, Jules, how long have you been out here?"

She shrugged, at least he was reasonably sure the slight rise of the heavy garments meant a shrug. "I don't know. My watch is covered by the coat and my gloves. It was just before six when I came out here."

The current time was about a quarter past eight. Two full hours in the freezing cold; had she lost her mind? "Jules, I don't care what that jacket is rated, you've got to be an icicle. What were you thinking?"

He could definitely see the eye roll through the small opening she'd left. "Please, like you don't spend longer in the cold when you go hunting with Ed. Still, I would like to return feeling to my toes and fingers before we have to meet your parents. What time did you tell them we'd be there?"

"Mom requested that we get there by ten. Why I don't know because she won't let any of us eat until closer to eleven." He could almost imagine the way her nose would wrinkle up at the thought of eating so late, especially since they'd more than worked off dinner after arriving back at the hotel last night. "Tell you what, why don't you head back up to the room and jump into a hot shower while I pick us up some muffins and coffee in the hotel café."

She nodded. "That sounds wonderful."

Despite her earlier protests about having no feeling in her face, she pulled the scarf down long enough to expose her lips which she then pressed against Sam's for a quick kiss. Her lips were cold but not as much as he would have feared. Still, his hand crept to the back of her head, holding her in place as he continued to kiss her. Then they linked arms as they headed back inside.

Jules rode the elevator up alone as Sam made the stop to get the muffins and coffee. She felt better after her time spent communing with the cold. She'd been ridiculous to let Heather's presence the night before bother her so much. Sam wasn't interested in the leggy red-head; he loved her instead. She'd never been one of those women who worried every time another woman looked her man's way and she wasn't going to start now. She trusted Sam and she trusted the love they had for each other. If Heather thought she was going to come between them, she was going to be sorely disappointed.

- FP - FP - FP -

About ten minutes after arriving at the Braddock home on base, Jules began to rethink her earlier resolve. As much as she trusted Sam and trusted their love, she hadn't counted on two very important factors. One, Heather had apparently come to Ottawa prepared to win Sam back. Usually this wouldn't have bothered Jules in the least; there had been plenty of women who had thought they had a chance with Sam only to find he only had eyes for her. But Heather had things working in her favor that those other women didn't have. Though no one had really given her the details, Jules knew there was a history that existed between Heather and Sam that the woman was counting on to help win him back, and she had the second important factor on her side - Sam's mother. Mrs. Braddock apparently wasn't only pulling for a reconciliation between her son and the leggy redhead but was also determined to do everything she could to help make it happen.

Almost as soon as she and Sam had arrived, Mrs. Braddock had pulled out the old photo albums. Jules had been excited to see glimpses of Sam's childhood but Heather had situated herself on the couch between Sam and his mother leaving no room for Jules. Sam had immediately solved the problem by pulling Jules into his lap so she could see the pictures as well. Mrs. Braddock had shot him a look of disapproval which he promptly ignored. The hand he had pressed against her back was comforting and reassuring.

She had to admit that Sam was even more adorable as a little boy than he was now. With that tow head and blue eyes, he was undeniably the cutest kid she'd ever seen. The impish grin smiling back in the pictures suggested that he'd known how cute he was as well and had used it on numerous occasions to get out of trouble. She noticed there were pictures missing from the album and wondered if the empty spaces indicated where pictures of the sister Sam had lost as a small boy had been. It made her sad to think they'd been removed from the family albums but she knew as hard as it was for Sam to talk about that the whole family had taken the loss hard.

There were plenty of pictures of Sam and Natalie as they grew up though. She wished Sam's baby sister had been able to come for the party but Natalie was coming for Christmas Day instead of the party. Jules could have used a friendly face that supported her relationship with Sam. The thought irritated her as much as her mood the night before. Since when did she need support? She'd faced down the opposition and nay-sayers who had claimed she couldn't hack it on an SRU team, faced them down and proved them wrong.

As Sam went from adorable little boy to handsome teenage boy in the photographs, Heather's presence because more and more clear. It was obvious they'd been close, maybe even closer than Jules had wanted to admit. Sam tried to speed through the photographs but his mom and Heather seemed determined to tell every single story.

When they came across one picture of Sam standing next to a snowman, she grinned when Sam chuckled suddenly at the memory the picture evoked. It was one of the first she'd seen in recent pages that hadn't included Heather which might also account for Jules's ability to smile. Heather practically squealed with delight, however.

"Jack Frosty. Oh my God, Sam do you remember that? I don't know when I've ever seen your dad so ready to kill you. That was hilarious."

Jules shook her head, not understanding how a simply snowman could cause such a reaction. "What? Don't tell me snowmen are against base rules too?"

Heather rolled her eyes. "Of course not. Getting one a visitor's pass however is a bit nervy. Dad's right hand man at the time was a real hard ass about IDs. How many times did the MPs haul you in because you forgot to carry your ID?"

"Like they didn't know who I was without it. They were just being jerks; making a point because they could. So as winter approached and they started predicting snow for the first time, I filled out the paperwork to get a visitor's pass for a Mr. Jack Frosty. Then after it came in, we built the snowman and I put the visitor's pass in its hand so the MPs couldn't say a word."

Jules giggled, amused to hear of Sam being a rebel. It wasn't a side she got to see of him often. "I take it your father wasn't amused."

"Not hardly. I thought that vein in the side of his head was going to burst he got so mad."

"But Sam talked himself out of trouble." Heather explained, her hand going to Sam's arm. "He's nothing if not convincing. He always could talk me into anything."

Jules could tell by the woman's tone that she was wanted Jules to wonder just what all things he'd talked her into, but she didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she smirked. "He doesn't usually have to talk me into anything. We're usually right into the thick of things side by side."

Heather looked disappointed but didn't remove her hand from Sam's arm. Elizabeth Braddock cleared her throat and closed the album. "I think it should be just about time to eat. Sam, your father and John are out in the garage tinkering with that old jeep. Will you go ask them to come in and wash up?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Sam stood and gave Jules a quick hug before following his mother's orders.

"Can I help you with anything, Mrs. Braddock?" Jules inquired politely but the older woman waved her off.

"No, that's all right. Heather will help me. She knows the kitchen almost as well as I do."

This time it was Heather that looked triumphant as she followed Sam's mother into the kitchen. Jules frowned. She would have followed them into the kitchen regardless to insist on helping as well, but thought better of it. She didn't have to prove anything. A vintage gun on the mantle caught her attention and she stepped over to check it out. She would have loved to take it down to really examine it but she wouldn't dare do so without permission.

"It's a beauty, isn't it?" Jules jumped at the sound of General Braddock's voice in her ear. She turned to look at him, a warm smile on her face.

"Yes sir. It's a Remington-Rider double action percussion belt revolver isn't it?"

General Braddock looked surprised. "Yes it is. I'm impressed. I don't think Sam has ever brought a young woman home that could recognize it. Or did he tell you what it was beforehand?"

"No sir. He did tell me you are a bit of an avid collector. I know more about modern weapons that I do the vintage stuff but my grandfather had one just like that one. It was his pride and joy outside my grandmother, sometimes maybe even more."

General Braddock smiled. "Sounds like quite a man. Do you get to see him often?"

Jules shook her head. "No, sir. He died about five years ago. We donated the gun to a museum; figured it was too special not to share with everyone."

There was a new respect in the man's eyes as he nodded. "I guess it is. Maybe one day I'll do the same. For now, though, I'm a little too greedy to share. We'd better get in there to eat before my wife has our hides. Maybe after lunch I can show you the rest of my collection."

Jules nodded, smiling. Perhaps she had a supporter after all. "I'd like that."

She followed the man into the dining room to find only two chairs remained unoccupied. The head of the table where General Braddock would sit and one next to General Isaacs. The seat next to Sam, which should be hers was already taken by Heather. Sam didn't look happy about the seating arrangement but she knew there was little he could do about it without causing a scene. She took her place next to General Isaacs and tried not to let her disappointment show. Heather smiled broadly at her from across the table, the look of triumph on her face unmistakable.

Jules stared back at her with her own silent message in her eyes. Don't get too comfortable over there. You might have won that round, but the war is far from over. A war I don't plan on losing.