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Reposting this standalone story...

Shout out to Kristy, who's kind enough to keep on reading, no matter how slowly it comes along.

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1. Rock

"Carly, c'mon back."

Awash in the glow of the moon, she simply smiled, easing the straps of her dress off her shoulders. "You said anything, G-man."

Jack smiled. He had said anything. Carly wriggled through loopholes with a speed that charmed, amazed and occassionally terrified him. His celebration of their first anniversary (or as she liked to remind him, their last first anniversary) wasn't all that original; dinner and dancing, where he'd flirt, tease and tempt. And at precisely the right moment, he'd pull her into his body and whisper in her ear that there was a suite at the Lakeview waiting for them to use it.

It probably wasn't his best attempt at seduction, but considering his level of sleep-deprivation, it wasn't bad.

He would have gladly taken her to Chicago; some quaint bed and breakfast in Wisconsin; Montana or the Caribbean. Anywhere she wanted would have suited him. And while he loved their family, it seemed like forever since they'd been alone together.

But in the end, she couldn't bear to leave. Not yet...or at least longer than overnight, even with Emma installed as babysitter. With the city limits as his guide, he'd made reservations ast the newest bistro in town, cajoled Henry into playing some of her favorite songs at Metro, had their overnight bags delivered to their room on the sly, with a pint of rocky road on ice.

It was gonna be great. Romantic. Or at least memorable.

If he could get her there. She hadn't protested when he'd insisted on surprising her, leaving the planning in his hands. She'd dressed up without questioning their destination, her philosophy of dressing "for the company, not the occassion" still the rule. The apple-red dress clung to her curves, held up by impossibly thin straps, showing off just enough to make anyone doubt she had given birth four months ago.

"Where's your sense of adventure, Jack?"

"Alive and well, thank you very much."

Her laughter sent a jolt of desire through him. It was a low, throaty mix of amusement and seduction, a calculated appeal to his inner bad boy. His eyes were riveted on her. Knowing that, she bent down, sliding off one shoe and then the other, tossing them easily in his direction.

Jack ignored them, leaving them where they fell. Diligent, his eyes never left her...devouring every movement...caught up in the spell she wove so effortlessly around them.

They'd left Milltown just before sunset, and somehow, with her head resting on his shoulder and reminiscing about their ceremony at the farm, he found himself taking the back road to the pond, sitting on a blanket by the shore, pulling her into his arms as the sun set over the tree tops.

"I'm glad we started out the night here," Jack said, taking in the serenity the farm always offered.

Carly tilted her head up at him, the barest upturn on her lips. "I never thought I'd appreciate quiet so much," she said with more than a little irony. "I spent my entire childhood vowing to never step foot on another blade of glass, wishing for a skyline full of skyscrapers." Her grip on his arm tightened, emphasizing the emotion behind her words. "Now I can't imagine being happier than I am...here, with you now."

He gave her one soft kiss, pulling back before it could lead to anything more distracting. "I think we've grown up," he murmured, eyes crinkling as he smiled.

"The kids are very proud. Not to mention relieved," Carly quipped. "It's nice having everyone under one roof. Crowded...noisy...hectic...but good."

"I think it's been good for them too. I've never seen Sage so happy. I think it was the reason JJ decided to graduate early and spend the semester volunteering in Oakdale. Even our skeptic Parker seems to have eased up and accepted we're committed. No excuses this time."

"No excuses," she echoed. "It's been a good year."

"It has," Jack agreed. "Almost drama free."

"Well," Carly shrugged, "I wouldn't say that. But your crazy exes have stayed on their side of town. For the most part," she conceded with a chuckle.

"Emma thought it was important to invite them to the farm for Thanksgiving-"

"Yeah, because they're such low-key and soothing personalities," Carly retorted icily.

"It was fine," Jack reminded her, "and they're both part of the Snyder family tree."

"Thank God not your branch," Carly muttered under her breath.

"You agreed to make them both wedding dresses."

"Well, I was out of my mind."

"Or you just couldn't resist having your designs featured in the society columns," Jack agreeably pointed out.

"One small mention is customary."

"And I'm sure knowing Katie worked at WOAK never entered your thoughts," Jack snorted, unable to say it without bursting into laughter.

"They both got gorgeous wedding dresses," Carly answered haughtily.

"Or three, in Janet's case."

"It's not my fault she couldn't make up her mind. Dusty didn't squawk paying the bills."

"No, it's not," Jack conceded, one last laugh bubbling to the surface. "Katie, on the other hand..."

"At least she looked damn good pulling a Runaway Bride on Chris at the church."

"Poor Chris...Simon arriving on a white horse, charging into the sanctuary to "object" just as the preacher asked if there was any reason those two shouldn't be married. I'm not sure laughter was all that appropriate..."

"I was five months pregnant and exhausted listening to Princess Bobblehead's plans for the coronation...I mean wedding," Carly protested. "The idea Her Royal Nastiness had been meeting Simon on the sly during that...tickled my tired funny bone. Yes, Chris was humiliated once WOAK's coverage went viral. Still better than being married to her. In my opinion."

"At least that...that...rotten...him," Jack flustered, "isn't skulking around you."

Carly smiled smugly, slapping his arm. "Down, boy. Nothing and no one would ever dare try and stop us, remember? Don't go get that handsome face punched, okay? It won't get you out of the three a.m. feedings."

"I'm much more likely to punch Craig, don'tcha think?" Jack asked with aplomb.

"Out of the billions of people in the world...sure. It seems like a long way to go..though I hear the Montagean penal system has some of the loveliest gardens in the Caribbean," Carly replied with mock seriousness.

Jack smiled broadly. "One of the proudest moments of my life...my professional life," he amended hastily, but not quickly enough to avoid another slap on his bicep, "was watching the FBI drag him away in cuffs. Embezzling from the Montagean Disaster Relief Fund was low, even for him. Remind me not to piss you off if you ever become President of any country. That ex of his was out for blood."

"I don't blame her," Carly nodded. "Thank God Rosanna never hooked up with him again."

"Can we stop talking about our exes-"

"Gladly," Carly agreed. "Where were we?" she prompted, settling back against his chest. "Oh, yes... our drama-free year."

"That's right...aside from Parker getting caught in his first robbery attempt, and talking the kid out of it. Or JJ, who decided to "experience the streets" and broke his arm skateboarding with a street gang. Or Sage who's decided a eighteen year old boy is her "soulmate"."

"Wait-that kid was more scared than Parker was, and he knew he wasn't armed. And those kids JJ were with weren't a "gang", they were dropouts, and he helped some get their GEDs. And Sage isn't in love with Daniel."

"Then tell her that-" Jack said forcefully.

"It's a crush, Jack." Carly turned, patting his shoulder soothingly as she looked into his semi-distraught eyes. "A tiny, tiny crush on her brother's friend. One that's shy and so tongue-tied that he barely speaks to girls."

"That's exactly how Parker started out. When Liberty first came to town, he spent more time with his hockey stick."

"And where is Daniel now? Far, far away at the University of Chicago, studying law. I don't think he even realized Sage was at the pool every day this summer, praying he'd say "hello" to her. Every time I saw him, his nose was in a book. By the time he comes back for winter break, she'll have had three more crushes and forgotten all about it."

"That scares me more. I'm not ready for a parade of pimply faced little twirps with only one thing on their minds."

"Face it, Jack. Your little girl is growing up. I had a very honest talk about the do's and don'ts of dating. She's going to be just fine with the ones you don't scare away."

"Scare away?" Jack said, trying to sound innocent.

"Yes, scare away with those ominous scowls and interrogations masquerading as small-getting-to-know-you talk. Don't think I don't know that you and Parker have conspired to teach her takedowns and chokeholds either."

"It never hurts to know some self-defense."

"I taught her where to aim above and below the waist, Jack. You're going to have her ready for the Marines."

"Now that's an idea."

A swift, checked blow to his ribs expressed her displeasure. "Don't make me demonstrate on you, Snyder."

"As if-"

Carly turned and pinned him to the ground so swiftly, he got lightheaded.

"Haven't you learned by now, G-man, I pack quite a wallop?"

"I knew that the day I met you," he replied smoothly, enjoying the feel of her body on top of his.

"Damn straight." The flash of temper faded, and the serious line of her mouth softened. "You pack quite a wallop yourself, y'know," she confided. "I had everything figured out-who I was, where I was going and how I was getting there-before I met you. And then-"

"-it all changed," they finished in unison.

"It's been a good year."

"I believe I said that already," Carly teased.

"I know." Jack gazed up into eyes, smoothing a silky strand of hair over her ear. For just a moment, with the crickets chirping and the faint swish of the water, he was back in their boathouse, needing her more than anything he'd ever needed in his life.

As great as it had been then, it was infinitesimal compared to how he needed her now.

"I love you."

Carly brushed his cheek, taking in every detail of his face. "I love you too, Jack."

He could feel the warmth of her body through the thin material, and he let his hand skim down her spine, feeling his way over the curves and planes he'd explored intimately over the years. Every inch held a memory, every memory had a place in his heart. "Let's go. I had this great "plan" for how tonight should go, but all I want to do is get you into bed." Her eye raised as he rested his palm against one rounded bottom cheek and squeezed. "There's a modest suite at the Lakeview in our names." His other hand lazily traced a path from the top of her hip, over her ribs, to the side her breast where he lingered for a heartbeat before slowly retracing his route. "And a warm, soft bed I can't wait to lay you out naked on."

Even lying down, Carly felt her knees grow weak as her cheeks flushed. "What if I want you now?" she asked, words barely hanging together as dry as her throat suddenly was.

Jack brought his lips to hers, sliding his arm to the small of her back and molding her against him as his tongue slipped alongside hers.

Carly flattened herself against him, her breasts tingling against his chest and her core growing wet as rocked together, savoring the heat slowly building between them.

Sitting up, Jack moaned as her lips moved to his neck and her thighs pressed tightly against his hips. "Carly..." A ticklish sigh escaped as her tongue brushed his collarbone. "Baby...," he groaned, resisting the urge to grind her against him, "...let's go."

Chuckling, Carly pulled at the back of his shirt while sliding buttons free down the front.

He kissed her hungrily, while capturing the hand at waistband and pulling it away. "We can be at the Lakeview in fifteen..." A tug on his earlobe momentarily distracted him. "Ten minutes," he laughed nervously. "Tops."

"I can get us there faster than that, G-man," she said, her hot breath caressing his neck.

"Oh...I know you can," he panted, shuddering as her tongue flicked against his earlobe and she tugged it just a little harder. "But we're...anyone..." Half-formed thoughts died on his lips as Carly continued her seduction, making him feel powerful and weak at the same time. With the last of his resolve, he backed her away from him. "I will do anything...ann-ee-thing you want."

"Anything?" she asked.

There was a wicked gleam in her eyes that made his mouth water. "Anything," he promised. "As soon as we get to the room."

"You never used to be shy," she teased, running a fingertip down the center of his chest. "The boathouse, IR, that police van. The winecellar, hell, we even skinny-dipped here. We used the couch so much you once said we should get one for our bedroom."

"We're not kids anymore."

"The hell we're not." Carly rose, holding out her hand. "C'mon...I feel like skinny dipping."

Jack snorted. "You can't be serious. It's almost the end of September. It's still nice during the day, but after sundown? Carly...we'll freeze. C'mon back."

"You said anything."

"At the Lakeview," he reminded her stubbornly.

"Afraid you might damage something?" Carly teased. "Your loss," she said impishly, withdrawing her hand. She backed up, easing the straps of her dress down as she headed to the water's edge. "You said anything, G-man. And tonight, I want to take a swim. Where's your sense of adventure?"

"Alive and well, thank you very much."

The air around them seemed to crackle; Carly felt the heat of his gaze as her hand slid down her legs to remove her heels, the skip of his heart as she waded out to her knees, sliding the dress up her thighs to keep the hem above the water line.

"Are you sure you won't join me?" Jack shook his head no. But she knew. It was just a matter of time.

Carly ran a hand through the surface of the water, feeling the sand squish between her toes, watching the ripples play in the moonlight. "I love the sound of water at night." She waded a little deeper, gathering the material up as she slipped into waist deep water. "I guess you were right, Jack. It's a little colder than I thought it'd be."

"You're not going to ruin that dress... are you?"

Smothering a victorious smile, Carly glanced over her shoulder at him. His tie was gone, the shirt she'd left half unbuttoned hanging open, no shiny belt buckle at his waist. Every muscle of his body seemed taunt, ready.

"It is nice," she replied slowly, caressing the silky cloth bunched under her breasts. Feigning reluctance, she sighed, emerging from the depths to let the material drop. Contorting, she worked the zipper down, pulling the dress up over her head. She left it on a rock by the shoreline, folding it neatly before wading out again. "If you're concerned about the rest of my wardrobe...you're gonna have to remove it yourself," she laughed, sliding beneath the surface.

Jack watched her effortlessly glide, the moonlight catching blonde strands of hair, a delicate arm, or part of a shapely leg to indicate where she was. He waited until she swam beyond the cattails to shuck down to his boxers. Who was he to play stick-in-the-mud on their anniversary? If swimming in the moonlight made her happy, it made him happy.

Wading in, he shadowed the shoreline, hoping to catch his slippery mermaid unaware. He was just past the rock she'd left her dress on when he stumbled, a sharp pain shot through his foot. "Ow! God damn it!" he swore.

Carly popped back into sight as he hobbled back to the rock, bracing against it as he grabbed at his foot.

"Need a lifeguard there, stranger?" she asked slyly.

"Maybe a doctor," he fired back painfully.

"What happened?" she asked as she swam over to him, realizing this wasn't a cute ploy.

"I twisted it, stepping over some rocks. Ahead of me, about two feet," he warned as she got closer.

"We've got a flashlight in the car, don't we?" Carly swam wide, coming left of the rock before she stood up and splashed over to Jack.

"I probably just rolled it."

"Just the same, we'd better look at it," Carly replied, the seductive lure of skinny dipping forgotten. "Can you put your weight on it?" She slung her dress over one shoulder, and butted her body up against his, steadying him.

"I'm pretty sure nothing's broken," Jack hissed, wriggling his toes. They waded slowly to shore, Jack grimacing with each step.

"At least the cold water should keep the swelling down," Carly said, trying to lighten the mood. It was shot down by a tight smile.

"Oh goody."

The words had no more left his lips than he pitched forward, this time taking Carly down to the water with him. "Sonofabitch," he sputtered in disgust, splashing an armful of water in frustration, hitting Carly with another wave of water inadvertently as she sat up in the knee-high depths.

Wiping her face, Carly stood up, wringing the excess pond from her hair. "What the hell happened?"

"I stepped on something! Stupid rock or something!" Jack cursed. Thrashing around, he picked up the first hard object he could put his hand on and cocked his arm back, aiming at the shore.

"Hold on there," Carly said, plucking it from his hand easily. "No use blaming an innocent rock for being an innocent rock."

"Says you."

"Says me." Jack smiled in spite of himself, and Carly helped balance him as he pushed himself to his feet and they limped all the way to the car. "That's my big, strong G-man. We'd better go to the emergency room."

"Let's get a good look at it first," Jack insisted.

"Okay," Carly smiled, resting her palm against his cheek. "But I don't want any arguments. If I think we need to go, we go. Understood?"

He nodded obediently before she pressed a light kiss to his forehead.

"You better move over and let me drive."

"Sure," he readily agreed.

"This is going to be one of those funny stories we tell our kids one day," she said, closing the door and turning the key. The engine purred to life, headlights shining into the darkness automatically. "After we clean it up a little, that is."

"Just one thing-"

His hand slide over the shifter, and Carly gave him an annoyed look. "What?"

"Can we get dressed first?"

Carly looked down, flushing. Her damp bra and panties seemed even chillier, and she turned the car heater on. "Good idea." She found her dress easily, slipping it over her head. Her shoes were laid next to the pile of Jack's clothing, which she shook free of sand. "Let's at least get your shirt on," she said, holding one side up as he slid his arm into the other sleeve.

"You're a very efficient nurse."

"You might be okay after all," she stated brusquely, ignoring the boyish smirk and suggestion in his voice.

"What did you do with my rock?"

"Your rock?" Carly asked blankly, buttoning his shirt. "Oh, right, the rock. It'll make a nice little memento. Kids, this is why we spent our last first anniversary in the emergency room," she mimicked in a grandmotherly voice. "I think it skidded under the seat."

Carly carefully patted the floorboard, searching. Her eyes lit up when she felt a smooth circle of something. "Odd shaped rock." It was too regular...too smooth to be natural. Rubbing the muddy surface, it suddenly felt very familiar. She brought it into the moonlight, barely able to make out a dialface.

"Are you putting me on?"

Jack grimaced. "What is it?"

"Our compass."