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It was at least ten minutes before Jack finally realized he wasn't still dreaming.
In his defense, he'd had this dream and variations thereof so many times over the years that he'd lost count. He'd pretty much accepted it would never become reality when Carter knocked on his door three nights ago and, after explaining that she'd given the potato his ring back, uttered the four words that would change their lives forever.
Jack, take me fishing.
Now, they were in his cabin and she was in his arms and he never, ever wanted this moment to end.
Sam snuffled in her sleep and snuggled even closer to him, nuzzling his neck. Jack kept one hand on her back and moved the other up to entangle his fingers in her hair, marveling at the silky softness and the faint yet persistent scent of fresh cotton and daffodils.
Jack planted a soft kiss on her forehead just because he could, and the tiny smile that appeared on her face in response would have sent him tumbling head over heels if he weren't already an absolute goner beyond any hope of retrieval.
He was considering kissing the rest of her face until she woke up when her breathing subtly changed and she began to slowly blink her eyes open, her nose wrinkling and her eyebrows furrowing in adorable confusion. Jack watched, mesmerized, as her disorientation cleared and her gaze found his, drawn inexorably like the needle of a compass to true north.
"Morning," he said, cupping her face gently as he stroked her cheek with his thumb.
Her sleepy smile sent his heart soaring. "Morning, sir."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Carter— I mean Sam—" He cut himself off with a sigh and smiled ruefully as Sam giggled. "I guess we're both gonna have to work on that."
Sam reached up to touch his face; slowly, almost hesitantly, as if she were afraid the illusion would be shattered upon contact. When her thumb met his lips, he kissed it, and she giggled again.
"Jack…" Her eyes widened, and a triumphant grin spread across her face. "Hey, I did it!"
In reply, Jack kissed her smiling lips, savoring the sensation of her joy against his mouth and her soft giggles vibrating through his entire body. "Carter— Sam— dammit—"
"It's okay." Sam ruffled his hair gently, letting her hand linger. "I like it when you call me Carter."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You're the only one who ever calls me that. It's almost like a… a pet name, or something— what?" Sam raised her eyebrows in response to Jack's snort.
"I started calling you Carter instead of Sam because I thought it would help me remember that you were off-limits. Keep the feelings at bay, as it were."
"Really?" Sam's smile became a teasing smirk. "And how'd that work out for you, Jack?"
Jack lost himself in her bright, laughing eyes for several moments before he managed to reply. "Better than I ever dared to hope for."