"So what was it again that Teal'c was doing?"

Sam sat back in the passenger seat of the air force car as Jack drove them towards Cameron's and Anna's place. She had been surprised to see two cars waiting for them instead of just one after they had left the plane, and even more surprised when Teal'c had walked quickly away saying that he would see them later and had driven off.

"Oh you know Teal'c. He didn't actually say. Just mentioned something about having something important to do in town."

Sam found it strange that Teal'c had left them and gone on his own. Her and Jack would of taken him into town and waited for him. She wondered what it was that was so important. "Something important?"

"Well, it's Christmas Eve. You know T, he loves those Christmas lights. He's probably driving around town hoping to buy some to put on Mitchell's house."

Sam leaned closer to Jack, smiling. "Remember when he put lights up in the gate room."

Jack gave a chuckle back. "Yeah, I don't think anyone could ever forget the look on General Hammond's face. Or Walter's."

"Oh my god, yes. When he walked into the control room and saw Teal'c trying to wrap twinkle lights around the Stargate. The poor guy dropped his coffee everywhere." Sam laughed as she remembered.

Jack smiled as he listened to Sam's laugh; he had always loved her laugh. "Yeah, who knew that he was capable of that kind of language."

"Poor Teal'c, he was so disappointed when he had to take it all down."

"I'm sure Mitchell will let him put up some lights this year." Jack leaned over putting a CD in the car's CD player. In a few seconds the voice of Nat King Cole softly filled the car singing The Christmas Song.

Hearing the song Sam smiled and started to hum along with it. Trust Jack to remember that this was her favorite Christmas song. A minute later she heard Jack quietly hum along to the song also. It was very quiet and slightly off key but yes he was definitely humming.

Snuggling closer to Jack, Sam rested her head on his shoulder, smiling to herself as the two of them hummed together along with the song. As the CD played the next song, the two of them stayed like listening to the music. Sam shut her eyes, enjoying the music and the warmth she could feel from Jack's body. She was just drifting off to sleep when she felt the car stop.

They must be at Cameron's and Anna's, she thought opening her eyes. Slowly sitting up all she could see through the windows were trees and snow.

"Come on, Carter. Come with me." Jack opened his door and got out, walking off into the distance.

Watching him, Sam got out leaning on the door she took in the view. They had stopped in a clearing by the side of the road, and they were surrounded by mountains, trees and snow. It was breathtaking. Looking further around Sam noticed that there was no sign of a house. "Jack?"

Jack turned around to look at Sam. "Carter, come over here."

Going over to him, Sam took a deep breath of the mountain air. It felt good to be back in Colorado. Sam hadn't realized how much she had missed this until now. Joining Jack, they looked out across the mountains, the two of them quiet for a moment.

"It's beautiful."

"Yes, it is." Turning to her Jack picked up her hand. "Carter... Sam. You know I'm not much for words. So I'll say this the only way I know." Jack put his hand in his jacket pocket and pulled out a small square red box with a white ribbon on it. "This is for you." he said, putting the box in her hand.

Sam looked down at the box, then looked up at him questioning. "Jack?"

"Open it."

Sam looked back down at the box, her heart starting to beat fast. Slowly and carefully she took off the ribbon and then just as carefully the lid. As she lifted the lid off she saw a piece of white card with just one word written on it in Jack's hand writing. The word was 'Always'. Picking up the piece of card Sam saw a beautiful blue sapphire ring with small diamonds around it. It looked like an engagement ring, she thought. Then realized that this was because it was an engagement ring. Her heart beating even faster she looked up at Jack who was looking very nervous and unsure, something she had rarely if ever seen on his face before. Jack was always sure of everything.

Suddenly a big smile spread over Sam's face, her whole face coming alight. "Yes."

"Yes?" said Jack, a smile forming on his face.

"Yes!" Sam laughed and threw her arms around the man she loved. The sound of their laughter echoing through the trees and mountains. It really was going to be a great Christmas.

*S***S*

As their laughter eased off Sam became conscious of the fact that she had her arms around Jack. Not only that, she also realized that Jack had proposed to her and she had said yes. Her brain finally catching up with her emotions, Sam eased her hold on Jack, his own grip relaxing also.

"Carter, you're thinking." Looking into her eyes, Jack could see that look she got when she started thinking things through, her mind going logical and analyzing things.

"Jack, it's just..."

"Don't. Don't think. We have spent nearly 12 years thinking and look where it's gotten us. Just feel. Feel this and trust your instincts. Just like I'm trusting mine."

Seeing the certainty in Jack's eyes, Sam knew he was right. Behind the certainty she could also tell that he was nervous, not because it was the wrong thing but because he was worried that she would walk away from this chance. "I was just going to say that we've never even..."

"Never what?" Jack, couldn't help but tease her, now that he could see that she wasn't going to change her mind.

"Not that! I mean... yes, okay we haven't... you know... but that wasn't what I was going to say," Sam knew she was babbling and that her face had in all probability gone bright red. Taking a quick breath to calm her thoughts she carried on, "We haven't even kissed"

"Oh! Is that all that's bothering. I think we can fix that." Jack pulled Sam into his arms and kissed her.

Sam had wondered what it meant to be 'thoroughly kissed' and now she knew. For Jack was kissing her very determinedly, his mouth against hers strong and at the same time gentle. He was a good kisser, in fact he was a really great kisser and any hesitation that Sam had felt was gone and she was kissing him back with the same passion and determination.

When the kissed eventually stopped, they pulled apart again, both of them flushed in the face and breathing heavily.

"Holy... Hannah!"

"That bad, huh?" said Jack, still teasing knowing full well that it had been a great kiss, just like it had been when he has kissed her when he and Teal'c had been struck repeating the same day over and over again. The memory of that kiss had stayed with him all these years.

Sam gave Jack a huge smile. "No. That good." Grabbing him by his jacket, pulling him towards her so that she could kiss him again.

This kiss lasted even longer than the first but eventually they stopped, and for awhile they just stood there, holding each other, unable to take their eyes off each other.

"We should go. The others will be wondering where we are."

"You're right we should. But since I've managed to surprise you with this, I've got another surprise."

Sam looked at Jack wondering how he could surprise her again.

"I'm not big on long engagements. So how do you feel about getting married soon?"

She didn't care about any of the details. Just as long they got married was all that mattered to her now. "Soon's good."

"Great." Jack took a deep breath. "How about midnight tonight?"

"Tonight? You're... crazy!"

"We do crazy. We've waited almost 12 years. I don't want to wait anymore. I want to marry you. Now. So what do you think?"

Sam watched him the whole time he spoke and saw that he meant it, really meant it. Looking at him, knowing how he felt and knowing how she felt, she knew exactly what she wanted to do. "Yes!"

"Yes?"

"Yes! It's completely and utterly crazy and it's exactly what I want. So yes I'll marry you tonight. At midnight."

Holding her, Jack spun her around letting out a loud yell of joy before he put her back on the ground.

Laughing Sam looked at him. "Jack, can we get married tonight? I mean there's so much to arrange, we need a marriage license..."

"It's all arranged."

"It is?" For the third time that day Sam looked at him with utter amazement on her face.

"It is. At least I hope it is. Daniel, Teal'c, they've all helped."

He had done all of this for her, she thought. He wasn't a man who said a lot, especially about how he felt, but then he didn't have to, his actions said it for him

"I love you, Jack," Sam said, kissing him again.

As the kiss ended Jack smiled at her, "Always, Sam. Always," before he kissed her again.

*S***S*