A/N: Okay... so sorry for the delay on this. Would you actually believe that I wrote three different endings to this as I wasn't happy with the other two? Well this is the one my muse prefered. Hopefully you will too. Enjoy folks!
"Jack?"
"Out here," He called back, his fingers continuing to adjust the dial, eyes still glued to the telescope. "You all packed?" He asked, the minute he heard Sam appear beside him. Pulling his head back, he raised his eyebrows at her to accentuate his question and momentarily divert her attention from what he was doing.
Sam narrowed her eyes at the scene before her briefly, before answering his question. "Yeah... I just called Cassie too - told her we'd meet her for lunch once we've arrived."
Jack merely nodded. "Sounds good. What about your brother?"
"He's good."
"Still happy with us coming to visit?"
"Yeah he said he wants hear all about my time 'abroad'... Jack?"
"Good luck with that one." He replied, ignoring her other question.
"Jack?" Sam asked again, her arm slipping round his shoulder.
"Hmmm?"
Jack shifted slightly in his seat and Sam took full advantage by lowering herself into his lap. "Why have you set up the telescope?"
Jack merely shrugged. "Full moon. Wanna have a look?"
Sam smiled and nodded her head briefly, allowing herself to shift in Jack's grasp before leaning forward to peer into the lens.
Hands on her hips to steady her, Jack felt the moment she stilled, her breath catching in her throat. Holding his own breath, he could feel both their pulses racing through him, all sounds disappearing but for the heartbeat echoing in his ears.
After what felt like an eternity, Sam pulled back. She looked back at him, eyes wide and boring into his for a moment before diverting back to the lens to check that yes, she really was seeing what she thought she was seeing.
Instead of the telescope being pointed up at the sky, it was aiming at a sign. A handmade sign. One in Jack's handwriting, and spelling out the words 'Will You Marry Me?'
The second time Sam pulled back, she was sporting the biggest grin he'd ever seen.
Jack couldn't help but grin back. "So... What do you say?"
Sam slowly slipped her arms around his neck and drew out her reply. "Yes..."
Their eyes gazed into each other's before Jack leaned forward to kiss her. Long, slow and sensuous; hot breaths mingling one into the other as their hearts pounded in their chests.
Pulling back, Sam shifted to rest within Jack's arms, her back against his chest, their heads side by side. She bit her lip to curb her grin, feeling his warm breath cascade onto her shoulder.
"So," Sam murmured, her eyes sweeping the area around them. "How did you do it?"
"Do what?" She could feel his smile even without turning her head.
"Put that sign up?" She replied, eyes still following the direction of the telescope. "You would have had to light it up somehow, and I don't see any position where you could do that without it being obvious... let alone anywhere to hang a sign like that..."
Jack merely pressed a kiss to her shoulder. She could still feel that smile upon his lips.
"Jack...?"
"Hmmm..." The vibration of his voice ran down her body to her toes, leaving a tingling sensation in its wake. "You said surprise you..."
"Yeah... I did didn't I?"
"Yes... and if I told you it would ruin the surprise... so let a guy keep his secrets huh?"
A rumpled laugh worked its way up her throat. "Okay..."
She gazed back out at the night sky, the moon and stars twinkling high above them as they sat cocooned together on a rickety old lawn chair.
"You're not going to stop trying to work it out are you?" Jack asked, another smile on his lips.
"Nope!"
He chuckled, sending another wave of shivers down her spine.
"So what took you so long?"
Jack rose an eyebrow at her as she canted her head, giving him a sideways glance. A sly smile traced her lips.
"I wanted it to be perfect."
Sam stroked the arms that encased her. "You could have done anything and it would have been perfect..."
Jack simply squeezed her tight in reply. "But it wouldn't have been much of a surprise, would it?"
Sam shrugged. "I don't know, maybe..."
"Besides," Jack continued, "Your brain normally works everything out way in advance... I gotta keep you on your toes sometime you know..."
She chuckled again, this time sending tingles down Jack's spine. He pulled her closer, feeling the heat from her body seep into his chest.
"I love you," Jack murmured, his hot breath whispering across her ear.
She turned her head, her own lips skittering across his cheek. "Always?" She practically whispered.
"Always."
