Chapter 2: Back to Christmas Morning

After their first amazing night together, Sam and Sookie quickly began inseparable. Most people treated their relationship in an "It's about time" kind of fashion. Sam and Sookie had been friends for so long that their relationship began seriously quickly, and for the first time in both their lives they were both truly happy. It didn't take Sookie long to fall head over hills for Sam, and she was saying "I love you" back within the month.

Four months later

Sam was awake staring at a sleeping Sookie. They had spent the night at her house. Sookie had inherited her Gran's house when she died, but her and Sam hadn't spent much time there since they'd been dating even though it was much bigger and nicer than Sam's trailer. They often spent their evenings together after working a long night Merlotte's, so just walking to Sam's trailer out back made the most sense most of the time.

Last night though had been Christmas Eve, and Sookie had invited Sam and Jason and his girlfriend Crystal over to have dinner. She had cooked several of Gran's recipes and everything had been delicious. Baked ham with pineapple, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie for dessert. They had all piled on the couch afterward and watched A Christmas Story together while drinking cocoa. It felt really special. Sam smiled thinking about the still dirty dishes downstairs. After Jason and Crystal had left, he had attempted to help Sookie clean up the kitchen, but admist the hot water and suds, a few stolen kisses led to a few more, and they ultimately decided the dishes could wait and made their way to Sookie's bed. Sookie and Sam had a great sex life. They constantly craved each other and always had a great time. It was something Sam wanted to make sure he held onto forever.

Sam quietly snuck out of bed and downstairs. Sookie looked so peaceful, and he didn't want to wake her. He needed to go outside and get Sookie's present from his jeep and hide it, plus the kitchen was downstairs, so he thought he could probably get the dishes finished up and start making them some breakfast without being too loud. He was right. It was about an hour, and Sam had some cinnamon rolls he'd found in the fridge in the oven by the time Sookie came downstairs.

"Merry Christmas," she said coming into the kitchen. She looked beautiful. She was barefoot wearing a black silk nighty with a matching robe, which she'd left untied. Her hair was tossled from sex and sleep. While Sam looked pretty sexy in his tight gray t-shirt and flannel sleep pants, she put him to shame. He crossed the kitchen, scooped her up in his arms and kissed her. "Merry Christmas to you my love," he said.

Sookie looked around and noticed that not only had Sam cleaned up the kitchen, but he was cooking breakfast. "How'd I get so lucky," she asked as he handed her a freshly made and poured cup of coffee. Sam just grinned at her as he opened the oven to check on the rolls. "Smells good," he said. "Almost done." They chatted while the rolls finished baking then shared their meal on the couch while watching part of the Christmas parade on tv. When they finished, Sookie said, "Do you want to open presents now?" Sam nodded yes. They had put up a small Christmas tree in her living room together earlier that week. Sookie dropped down on her knees to grab Sam's presents from underneath. "You first," she said, depositing 3 gifts onto his lap before taking a seat beside him. Sam hadn't had a girlfriend during the holidays for a really long time, and it was so nice to be getting gifts from the girl he loved so much. Sam ripped open the paper. In a small box, Sookie had wrapped up two tickets to an upcoming Garth Brooks concert in Shreveport. He was Sam's favorite singer. "I already checked with Terry and Arlene to make sure they could cover for us that night so we can go," she said smiling. Sam smiled back. "This is perfect, thank you," he said. In the next box was two pictures of them. Tara had snapped them at Jason's birthday party last month. Sookie had taken them to the drug store and blown them up. She'd turned one black and white and bought nice frames for both. The first pic, black and white just had them hugging smiling at the camera. The other, in color, was a candid shot of them kissing in the corner. Sookie hadn't known Tara had taken it, but she loved it when she saw it. They looked so in love in both pics. "I thought you could put one in your office and one in your trailer," she said. Sam looked at her with tears in his eyes. "These are great Sookie, and so thoughtful. Thank you." Sam was so sensitive. That was one of the things Sookie loved most about him. She leaned forward and kissed him. He tasted like cinnamon rolls—yum. Finally, another smaller box filled with papers—details of a weekend getaway she'd booked them in the spring. She remembered that Sam had said it had been a long time since he'd been to the beach one night and that he missed it, so she had booked them a small vacation in Hilton Head, North Carolina. "Again, I already made arrangements with everyone at work to make sure we can be off," she said. A weekend at the beach with Sookie sounded like paradise. "Thank you so much for everything," Sam said kissing her again. "You're welcome," she said.

Sam put his presents aside and looked at Sookie. He was careful not to touch her because he was afraid she would read his thoughts by accident and ruin the surprise "These gifts are so wonderful Sookie, but I only got you one thing," he said. "Oh Sam," Sookie said. "That doesn't matter. Just being with you is enough of a gift to me." Sam nearly melted. Sam scooted off the couch onto the floor and reached under it. That's where he ended up hiding her present. He was on his knees in front of her when he pulled the box from underneath the couch. Perfect he thought. Sam rose up but only on one knee. He popped open the box to reveal a beautiful diamond engagement ring. It took Sookie a minute to process what was going on, then her eyes filled with tears. "Sookie Stackhouse," Sam started. "I want to spend this Christmas and every Christmas with you for the rest of our lives. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

Sookie choked back tears as she said, "Yes, Sam. I will marry you!" She kissed him wrapping her arms around him and he returned her embrace. When the broke apart, he took the ring out of the box and put it on her left ring finger. It fit perfectly, just like them. "You are such a teaser Sam with that I only got you one gift stuff. This is one hell of a gift," she said laughing. He laughed too. "You have no idea how hard I worked to keep this a secret. I knew which ring I wanted, but I didn't buy it until earlier this week to try and keep it out of my thoughts as much as possible." "Well you did a good job," Sookie said kissing him again. "I love you Sam." "I love you too cher," he said. Their kiss deepened and Sam and Sookie made love on her living room couch with the sun shining in and the lights on the tree dancing.

6 months later

Sam could barely breathe. He was standing at the alter watching the girl of his dreams walk down the aisle to him—to be his wife.

Sookie and Sam didn't want anything fancy, so they had been able to plan their wedding quickly. Jason and Terry stood as Sam's groomsmen. Tara and Arlene were maids of honor. They were married by the local pastor under a beautiful archway in Sookie's yard—what would now belong to them both.

Sookie and Tara had gone dress shopping in Shreveport, and she looked beautiful. The gown was strapless and had a tight bodice with a flowing bottom. She felt and looked like a princess. Just about the whole town was there.

The ceremony was simple, and Sookie and Sam both cried exchanging their vows. When it was time to kiss the bride, Sam dipped Sookie deep and kissed her hard extracting hoots and hollers from the crowd. The held hands and walked down the aisle to everyone cheering after they were pronounced husband and wife.

Everyone drove the short distance for the ceremony at Merlotte's. Sookie and Sam might has well have been the only people there. They did all the traditional dancing and cake-cutting, but they couldn't really focus on anything but each other. As the night was winding down and Sam held Sookie in his arms dancing, he leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I'm the happiest man in the world, cher." She could see inside his head and knew he meant it. "I love you so much Sam," she replied, and right there under the stars Sam and Sookie officially started what was to be a long and happy life together.

*I hope you enjoyed. I know it's a little happy ever after, but I just have such a heart for these two J