A/N: I missed posting yesterday, so you get a second chapter today.

9th Valentine's Day – February 14, 2006

Jack stared down at the small blue box in his hands. It was the same one he'd given her nine years ago on their very first Valentine's Day. She'd kept it. He'd discovered it when he'd helped her pack up her belongings to move back to Colorado. The small heart that had been inside it all those years ago still hung around her neck, nestled close to her heart. But he didn't know she'd kept the box.

It was fitting, he thought, that he'd found it just in time for Valentine's Day this year. The perfect vessel to carry the extra special present he was giving her.

"Jack?" Sam called to him as she entered their house – which was really Jack's old house -- in Colorado Springs. She'd been staying here since moving back. Seeing as he lived in Washington the majority of the time, no one batted an eye when she simply decided to "rent" it from him.

"Living room," he called back then took a steadying breath. He shouldn't be nervous, he thought. It wasn't like they hadn't talked about getting married. On the contrary, they already discussed every aspect of it from the effect on their careers to the logistics of a long-distance marriage.

But as she walked into the room, all his doubts drained away when she flashed him her megawatt smile. This was Sam, his Carter. And while he still wondered what she saw in him, he never again would doubt her love.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he said, crossing over to her. He pulled her into a kiss, at the same time thrusting the blue box into her hands.

"What's this?" When they finally separated, Sam looked at what he'd given her, then up into his chocolate brown eyes. Her own blue eyes were shining with surprise.

"It's a gift, Carter," he drawled. "Ya know, for Valentine's ."

His repeat words from their first Valentine's Day made her giggle as she popped open the lid.

"Oh, Jack" she breathed out. Nestled in the box was a brilliant blue diamond, the same color as the Stargate.

"Marry me, Sam," he said simply, his eyes full of love.

Jack's arms were suddenly filled with Sam, her entire body colliding with his as she conveyed her answer without words.

When they parted a few minutes later, he tucked a stray curl behind her ear and with a straight face asked, "I assume this means yes?"

Sam rolled her eyes and nodded, then gave him her hand so he could slip the ring onto her finger. "I love it," she breathed.

"Yeah?" He kissed a spot behind her ear, making her shiver.

"I also love the box," she giggled, having recognized it immediately. "I thought I'd lost it during the move."

"I can't believe you kept it all these years," he responded, tugging her toward their bedroom.

"Of course, I kept it, it was from you," she smiled. "You didn't find the others, did you?"

"What others?" he cocked his head, not following.

"Here," she knelt beside the bed and pulled out a leather box from underneath. Placing it on the bed, she lifted off the top. Inside was every Valentine's gift he'd given her over the last nine years – even the wrapper from the chocolate bar. "I kept them all."

He picked up the silly pickle he'd bought her for their second Valentines, the one that was supposed to help her 'dill' with things. Under it was the glass jar that once held a strawberry scented candle. He knew the astrophysicist mug was in her cupboard and the snow globe sat on her desk at work. All his notes were in a little pile and tied with a blue ribbon.

"You know I keep these close to my heart," she pulled out her dog tags, revealing the first heart pendant and the engraved dog tags he'd given her five years ago.

Her thoughtfulness touched him, made him wish he could be as romantic. Tugging her to him, he kissed her deeply, telling her without words how much he loved and adored her.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Sam," he murmured between kisses.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Jack."