September 10th, 2006

JC looked at the clock and he grinned. It was only 4:30 in the morning and he was wide awake and ready to go. His Denali was packed up in the garage with everything they needed, including her makeup and toiletries, just like Paris. In the kitchen, he was preparing a hot tea and coffee in a carafe for later. He knew that upstairs, her alarm would be going off. He set it to a gentle song with a message of Good Morning Baby. He sighed, leaning against the counter. 

Sam came down the stairs in a pair of old shorts and a tank, her hair a mess and she was holding her phone and rubbing her eyes. "Baby what in the world..." she mumbled.

He was dipping her tea bags in her big Contigo mug, smiling so cute. His glasses were on and his hair was a mess. "Hi sweetheart," he was smiling so cute. He walked to her, putting his lips to her temple. "Come with me." He held his hand out. 

She couldn't help but have a sleepy smile because he was so adorable. She took his hand, mumbling, "I thought you told me that you weren't a morning person."

"I can be on occasion," he smiled, leading her slowly to the garage where the car was already started. Her seat was leaned back and there was a pillow and blanket too. It was still pitch black outside. 

She looked at him with a sleepy and confused look. "We're going somewhere?"

"We are, and you can fall right back asleep because it'll be a few hours." He helped her into the car, buckling her in and covered her up with the blanket, adjusting the pillow behind her. He was all smiles as he ran back into the house, making sure she had everything she was going to need. He locked up the house, put their coffee and tea in the cupholders and pulled out of the garage, playing some light jazz as they made their way to the freeway. Every once in a while he stole glances at her asleep and it made him smile. He knew she was the peace in his life. 

She was out cold for the first 45 minutes of their trip, snuggled warm into her blanket. When her eyes fluttered open, it was still dark outside and she noticed him smiling out at the road. It made her too have a sleepy smile. 

He was humming along to some Sade, and he glanced over to see her awake and it made him smile bigger. He reached over and messed with her hair gently. "Hello gorgeous."

"Sorry for sleeping while you were driving." She smiled, fixing her seat so she was sitting up a bit more. She rested her hand softly on his leg. "I like to keep you company while you're driving before sunrise. Or always."

"Honey, it was early and I planned for you to sleep. Besides, you were fucking adorable okay?" He glanced at her quickly before looking back at the road. "We're going to start getting into the mountains soon and I wanted to watch the sun come up with you."

She smiled so cutely at him. "Once we get up a little higher can we pull the car over and just sit and watch?"

"Absolutely, that's why I packed your tea extra hot and the blankets," he grinned, "You are so inside my head baby."

"That's why I'm wifey Mr. Chasez." She snuggled into his arm, sighing softly. She noticed he had his "Samantha" playlist from his iPod plugged into his system on his Denali. The screen had the names of the songs and the playlist name there. She makes a soft little noise when one of her favorites came on, You are the Best Thing. She started singing along softly, almost into his arm. "Baby... the way you move me it's crazy, it's like you see right through me and make it easier.... Believe me you don't even havvvvvve to try!"

His grin was huge, humming along, letting her sing along. He leaned over and kissed her head. "You are wifey and already are to me. Missing that last name though, but you'll always be my wifey."

"Soon enough, baby," she grinned cute, "Samantha Chasez in like 8 months!" She leaned up and kissed his cheek softly. 

"Now THAT is a number I can work with." He turned his head so he grabbed at her lips, still driving. No one else was on the road with them. "Mmmm. I should pull over."

"Mmm, that would be wonderful," she grinned softly against his face, pushing his head a little bit more to look back at the road. 

He drove another mile or so and pulled over when there was more of a shoulder, parking lot type area that served as a lookout. He turned the car off, then smiled and leaned over, letting his lips give her a true good morning kiss. "Mmmmmmm. Now that's more like it."

She smiled on his lips, leaning in a bit more to really give him a few good kisses, letting them linger just right. "Mmm is right."

He let out a little grunt. "Ok...must... get out of the car." He sighed and made himself hurry to get out, he went to the back and opened it up. He pulled out another blanket and put it on the hook of the Denali with two pillows. He set it up as she watched him through the front window. He helped her out of the car and lifted her up onto the hood with a grin. After he handed her the two carafes, he climbed up after her. 

She smiled and immediately snuggled into him when he found his place. "Look at the tiny crack of orange that's starting. Wow..."

He pulled her in close, putting his arm around her. "Just wait until the mountains are backlit with the orange and pink. I bet it's going to be beautiful." He needed her to be closer to he maneuvered her to be all up between his legs and against his chest with his arms tight around her. 

She smiled, leaning into his body. "Mmm. I bet it is. You know baby, when you went back to LA after that first week we started really talking about seeing each other in New York, I'd sometimes sit up on the rooftop drinking coffee just like this, watching the sunrise and thinking about how you were on the other side of the country waiting for me. Or hoping you were waiting for me."

He leaned forward and put his lips down against the side of her face, then kept them there while he continued to watch with her. He hummed for a moment, then his voice was low. "I was waiting for you the second I left New York. You never left my mind, and you were the only thing I could think about anytime I had free time. I even sat out on my patio and looked up at the stars when I knew you were already sleeping because of the time difference and I would wish that you would be dreaming about me at least once."

She smiled and he could feel the goosebumps that he made appear on her neck. "I loved dreaming about you, but at the same time it was awful because I'd wake up feeling like I had so much with me, and then it was gone when I'd wake up."

"Mmm," he kissed along her face and down to her neck where her goosebumps were. "Thank goodness the universe heard those dreams and got us back together soon. I couldn't wait to see you again you know."

She couldn't help but laugh softly. "Yeah, the universe decided to have a music video shoot in a couple weeks," she grinned, tilting her head a bit as he was kissing on her, "That was a long two and a half weeks." She shook her head a bit. "I don't know that I've ever been so anxious to see someone."

He grinned on her skin as the sun began to peek out a bit more, casting a pretty orange pink glare through the cracks of the mountains. "I knew that I had to play it extremely cool when I saw you onset, okay? Like I already wanted to run up and hug you but I wasn't trying to be weird."

She grinned and interlocked her fingers with his that were resting on her tummy. "Yep. I didn't want you to think that I had spent that 2 weeks fantasizing about seeing you again."

He squeezed their hands together a bit, and he was looking down at her, taking a long moment to cherish this exact moment. "Did you fantasize about seeing me? I mean what were they like? Did I kiss you in them?"

Her laugh was soft and light. "Well in one, you really wanted nothing to do with me. That wasn't such a good one."

He growled playfully. "Excuse me?" He laughed, "That would never even remotely happen."

She laughed, "It played out in a few different ways. That one you saw me and were just appalled and that was it," she smirked at him, "Then there was the one where I ran straight into your arms and you lifted me up into a spin around kiss because you were so happy to see me. I liked that one. There was no way in hell I would have come to the shoot that way though," she giggled. 

He smirked. "You wouldn't have come to the shoot wanting me to pick you up and spin you around? Actually, don't I end up doing that at some point in the video with you?" He pulled her chin up to look at him as best as she could with the way she was sitting on him.

She smiled as she looked up at him. "Pretty sure you tossed me up into your arms to take me outside. That was hot." She grinned, snuggling a big more as the orange glow began to make its way to the beginning of the blue sky. Her voice dropped to a whisper, "Let's get married at sunset."

He put his forehead down to hers and made a cute ass noise just thinking about it. His eyes closed and he whispered as his lips touched her face, "It's perfect for us. And the reception can be under the stars."

"Perfect," she whispered, taking his lips into a slow and lazy kiss, she just loved him and this moment. He kept his hand on her chin to keep it lifted up to his face, as he slowly loved on her lips while the sun continued to rise and the lightest breeze pushed around them. His lips parted, then closed on hers a few times until he had them in a good lock. She smiled on his lips a bit, letting him take the lead on the kiss while her hand went up into his hair, getting tangled in the slight curls he had. Her lips danced with his lazily. The breeze felt cool against them, and the sunrise around them making the hood of the Denali glow only added to the moment. 

He let out the softest of moans, just a sensual, this woman makes me feel good and I love when we have moments like this kind of moan, appreciative. He reached to pull her up against him more, almost on his lap so he could touch her face and kiss again really slowly. There were no cars passing, no one around for miles, just them and the sunrise. 

She pulled away from his lips just a bit, bringing her forehead to his. Her voice was a whisper, as to not to disturb the moment. "Do you think we're ever going to run out of these moments?"

Without hesitation, he didn't miss a beat and he whispered back, "Have the sun, moon or stars run out of days?"

She made a little sigh and laughed softly. "Of course I'm engaged to a songwriter."

He grinned. "Baby, if I had anything to do with it, we are never going to run out of moments. Some will be new, and some repeated ones for our memory lane purpose. I promise that for the rest of my life, I am here to show you how much I love you." His lips brushed against hers once again. 

"And likewise," she smiled on his lips, letting hers graze again in a few more lazy and soft kisses. "Even when things repeat, they'll always be special, because we'll be at a different place in our lives, whether it's the two of us, or we're with family members or friends. Or eventually our own family will grow and change and the experience will be shaped by those around us."

He whispered on her lips, "I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I have started to have dreams about what our family is going to look like. What have you done with me?"

She grinned softly, rubbing her nose against his. "Oh have you? What does it look like baby?"

He licked his lips. "I don't know. There's a nanny involved." He was trying hard not to smirk. 

She crinkled her nose at him. "What? So you can sleep with a nanny?"

"Oh my god." He laughed, "Are you crazy? I'm kidding. No nanny. I just had this one dream last week, with a dark haired, blue eyed baby. It was chunky. Like, Cabbage Patch Kid chunky, the cheeks and the arms and the thighs. And I was holding this baby. Then I woke up."

She grinned. "Probably in a sweat. Joshua Chasez holds dream baby that could potentially be his. Breaks out into a cold sweat." She rubbed at his arms playfully. 

"I'm not gonna lie, I think I did wake up in a sweat." He smiled softly, "But, the baby was actually kinda cute and kinda looked like me. I just wanted to tell you that I had a dream, because I know that you've talked about family with me."

"You are going to be my husband," she smiled, "That does kinda make us a family even if we chose not to produce any offspring, handsome."

"I want to share something with you before we get back on the road. And it was a realization that I had." He touched her face, waiting a few moments before he spoke. "I think the thought of having a wife and a family always scared me so much because of my adoption. And I'm not entirely sure why, but I know there is a connection there that makes it scarier to me."

She was looking at him thoughtfully, nodding a little bit. "Sure. Baby, I can see why you would feel that way. I mean I often stop and think about my own mother and father and why they had to have the circumstances surrounding their relationship the way they did... and to just... give up your kid to someone else that way."

He nodded, pulling her into his arms for a hug because he needed that close touch, but also because he just wanted to. He put his lips into her hair. "I just know that God made you for me because there is no way we would have that very thing in common."

She snuggled into his hug, needing it too, even though she didn't realize that she did. She whispered, "And baby, I want you to know that I want what you want, ok? If we get to the point where we're thinking about what the Chasez family will look like, and you're not comfortable, I'm okay with it. Completely."

He slid his hand into her hair and looked down at her, taking a long look into her eyes. They were having an intimate moment, because of the big subject matter, and he knew she could see everything written in his eyes. She smiled softly up at him, with an unwavering glance of her own. She was telling him that she was there, willing to talk about all of that with him because she was his woman and that wasn't changing. 

"God am I lucky..." His voice was just above a whisper, almost a breathless tone. You could see in his eyes that he was having a real moment, one that he hadn't had yet, like he was making a connection to his past, and to her and this very moment in his life. 

She smiled, leaning in to touch his face gently. She didn't say anything, just the gentle touch, letting her fingertips graze his cheek and jaw, and her eye contact didn't break his.

He sucked in the softest breath and let out a sigh, almost one of relief, then he broke into a smile. He took her hand on his face and kissed her fingers. "Let's get to our gorgeous lake house baby."

She smiled at the way he was kissing on her fingers. She leaned in to place one more soft kiss on his lips before she went ahead and made the first move to slide off the hood of the car, back onto the ground. "Let's go baby."

He grabbed the blanket and pillows and tossed them into the back before jumping back inside the drive off. "Would you pour me some of that coffee? I could use a little more wake up baby..."

"Of course honey. Do you need me to drive the last part? I did get some sleep." She poured some of the coffee for him into his travel mug. 

"No, no, I just wanted to wait to drink it until the sun was at least coming up." He smiled at her and took the little mug and took a good, long sip. "I wanted to wait for you."

She smiled and took a sip of hers as well, then her head went back down onto his arm. She didn't say much, but she knew she didn't need to. 

As they drove the next portion of highway, the mountains were gorgeous in front of them and they were together listening once again to their favorite jazz. He caught a glimpse of her smiling at him and he looked at her, and started to smile as well. "I just had an idea. What if we got a jazz ensemble to play at the wedding while drinks and dinner are being served?"

"That would be romantic," she smiled, "I like that idea. Keep the vibe classy and chill"

"I mean, that's kind of like us anyway, right?" He smiled, "I can see everyone being all dressed up too. Should we make this semi formal at least?"

"I think we should go formal. Honestly you and I both love to get dressed up and we look damn good when we do it. Our friends and family can do the same." She grinned. 

"THAT'S my girl. That's what I'm talking about. Yes, okay so that's also settled." He smiled so big, "We're gonna have this whole thing planned before we know it. I'm so happy."

She laughed softly, bringing her hand onto his leg where she rubbed it softly. "Baby, if you don't mind me asking you, what changed your mind about getting married?"

"You did. You changed everything for me. You changed what I wanted out of life, and what I saw in my future." He watched the road, but took a second to look at her.

She smiled a bit, looking up at him as he drove. "I was just asking. I mean earlier you said how being adopted made you scared of having a wife and kids. So I was just curious about the wife piece, that's all." She kept rubbing his leg. "I'm happy that you were able to see your future differently, especially because it includes mine now."

"Well, it was clear to me like it's clear when I am about to write a song and it all fits together. When you became my girl, my heart had never grown so attached to anyone in my life like it did for you. I could no longer imagine living in a world where you weren't in my future, and that was just it for me." His voice was soft.

She smiled, letting out a soft little hum, snuggling back into his arm as they continued to drive. She knew she didn't need to reply, she was content. 

It wasn't more than another hour and they were pulling into an extremely secluded area. This time, there was nothing but words on either side of the road. JC drove up a hill that turned into a dead end, just before the dead end there was a driveway that led them to one of the most beautiful lake houses they had ever seen. It belonged to Max Martin, and JC had been there once before.

"Oh wow. Josh, this is beautiful," She grinned and sat up, looking out the window. There was no one around for miles and she giggled slightly when JC pulled the Denali into a garage.

"Oh man, I almost forgot what this looked like. We came here one time early on in our career." He got out of the car, opening the door for her. "Finally. I'll get some serious time with you."

"I don't even want to know what you boys were doing up here this far into the woods. Because it probably wasn't good boy material." She laughed a little bit more as he pulled her in for a kiss. 

"Totally not good boy material. This was the first time Joey got high and it wasn't on weed." He took her hand and led her up to the door to the house. He entered a code on the keypad that let them in. "Let's take a look around before I come back to bring our stuff in."

Her laugh was soft, letting him lead her inside. "Oh wow." Everything was big, open air and rustic feeling, but super charming. "Oh, nice pool table." She smirked. "Ummm, a hot tub in the living room with a water fall? Shit."

"Okay, so I don't remember that being there but damnnn, I'll take it," He grinned and stepped right up to her, "I can't wait to make sure that's warmed up and used to relax in with you..."

"Maybe y'all weren't mature enough to have friends with sophisticated tastes like that back then. I'm sure it was all PBR, flipcup and drugs." She grinned and leaned back into his body, "We'll break that in whenever you want to baby."

"Today, definitely today," he smiled, moving her still messy hair away from her neck so his lips could rest there. "And it was definitely PBR, flip cup and drugs." He smiled on her skin. 

She laughed softly, "Now that you're all grown and shit. We should probably go look at the rest of the house." Her eyes closed and she smiled, leaning back into his body. She had to let out a soft laugh because she felt him getting hard against her already.

"Don't laugh at me. You're sexy." He growled playfully and took her hand to lead the way through the house. "And we have been pretty damn good so..."

She grinned at the way he was growling at her. "You get a sticker for being such a good boy, baby." They wandered through the laundry space, and the game room with an overlook of the water. There were some chaises out on the patio, overlooking the lake. They wandered up the stairs to the top level which were all bedrooms. The main master had floor to ceiling windows, the room was full of natural wooden and red undertones, with a canopy bed and another hot tub that basically looked out into the sky, the mountains and the water. 

"I'll agree to that," he laughed, "And remember that you just said all that I wanted so," he smirked, being playful. He left her in the top floor bedroom as he hurried down to the car to bring everything inside. He was grinning away, happy as can be, knowing that no one was going to bug them here. But also, that he got serious time with her with no time limits or places to be.

Sam opened the sliders in the bedroom to the top deck, looking out with a big smile. She took a deep breath of lake air, feeling at peace. 

JC was behind her, carrying their bags up to the bedroom, setting them on the ottoman at the foot of the bed. He looked up as he could feel the breeze coming through and see her standing there. He smiled, noticing both of them were still in their pajamas and it was only 10AM. "I bet all the trees keep this cool even on the hottest summer day."

"Absolutely, and it happens to be a beautiful September day, so I can't complain too much." She turned around to look at him with a smile. "Would you like to swim a little bit and lay by the water or I'll be selfish and let you kayak me around." She smirked. 

He laughed all light hearted as he walked over to place a kiss on her cheek. "Is that what you want? I'll happily kayak you around the lake. I'll do anything for you."

"Maybe after lunch we kayak." She walked over to her suitcase and smiled as she opened it. "How much fun did you have packing all these bikinis and lingerie Joshua Scott?"

"Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll," she smiled, "I just wasn't sure what you would want so I packed at least half of what I knew you liked." He smiled real cute and pulled his shirt off.

"You did good, as always baby." She reached into her suitcase and pulled out her blue and floral bikini, and her PJs were coming off and she pulled the bikini on. She walked to the mirror to make sure the girls were in and the bottoms were on her hips the way they were supposed to be.

JC was staring at her through the mirror with a smirk. "I think I really like that one." He pulled on a pair of trunks that were white with dark grey palm trees on them. He was tying the waist, and they were sitting low on his hip muscles. 

"I think I really like those too," she kinda grinned, "Hey baby? Can you come here for a minute?"

"Of course," he took his glasses off and left them on the nightstand too before he walked over, standing behind her in the mirror.

She smiled and took his hands, wrapping them around her. She brought one of his hands down to her hip and let his fingers play at the skin there. She mumbled, "I think I'm gonna get a tattoo right here, what do you think?"

He swallowed really hard. "Two things. I think you knew that I would be totally turned on by touching your sexy hip, and that I'd be okay with your tattoo idea." His fingers really did graze at her skin back and forth a little bit, and he wanted to keep on grazing. 

"Two things. One, you are always in love with my hips. So maybe slightly yes to that. And two, I really want a key. Like the skeleton key you gave me in Paris. And I want our initials on the handle." She looked up at him through the mirror, smiling softly as his fingers were grazing her skin. She was totally feeling herself, but she had every right to.

He tilted his head, looking at the space on her hips and he was deep in thought, imagining it there. "Only if I get to be the one to draw it for you..." He was licking his lips, dead serious.

She grinned cutely, "Well, I mean, you kinda put the lock on that area so I guess it's only fitting you draw the key. I just want it to be super small, nothing razy. Covered by my bathing suit and panties most of the time. Something kinda like there just for us..."

"I think it's sexy. And I would love to see that there and know that it was for me and only me." He couldn't stop playing with her skin, his fingers were all under her straps. "I'll draw on you tonight to see if you like it."

She smiled, looking down, she truly loved his hands on her. "Okay honey... I'd like that."

He started biting his lip. "I better stop touching on you right now. Yes." He pulled his hands back around her back and looked at her with a smile. "Shall we get out in that sun?"

She laughed softly. "Right. Good boy still. I forgot." She grinned cute, "Let's go, will you give me a piggyback ride downstairs daddy?"

He grinned, rubbing his hands together before he bent down in the doorway. "Your chariot awaits you..."

She laughed so cutely. "I know you do shit like this in the gym all the time. If it's too much let me know." She climbed up onto his back and wrapped her arms all around him. 

"Too much? PFFFT." He hoisted her up with ease and held onto her legs as he took her downstairs. "I bench more than you weigh sweetheart."

She grinned, resting her head on top of his. "Why do I feel like you upped that when we met just so you could say shit like that."

"Oh yeah, totally my intention, just for this day," he grinned, carrying her out to the boat dock where they had everything. Chairs and rafts for lounging, kayaks, row boats, wakeboards, a fire pit... everything was there. 

She grinned so big, peeking at everything from on top of his shoulders. "Oh! Lots of things to do. You want to just get a raft and lay with me on it for a bit?"

"I would love that." He leaned down to help her off his back carefully, and his hands didn't let her leave him either, not before he made sure to get a kiss in as she was about to walk to the rafts. He made sure to pull her right back in to get a hold of her lips.

She grinned so cute on his kiss, letting it linger just a few seconds longer than a sweet little casual kiss. She gave his bicep a little squeeze with the sweetest little smile, then she walked to the rafts and took one of the big double ones out for them. "I should probably oil you up and let you get me. I don't want you to be out of commission tonight because you're burned and stiff."

"I will never be out of commission," he grinned, "And I'm going to take care of you first. I'm also NOT going to take my time on oiling you up because with my hands on you I can't EVER make any promises. So strictly business."

She laughed at his honesty. "Make it quick baby." She opened up the outdoor supply closet, taking out some suntan lotion and handing him the bottle. "Strictly business."

"Business." He made a serious face and lathered his hands up and really rubbed the oil into her neck and shoulders, down her back and hips. He got her arms and even squatted down to get her legs. "Should I let you do the front?"

She smirked, taking the bottle from him. "I can take care of it myself."

He let her get her front side while he started on his own. He lathered down his chest, arms, hip muscles and his legs. "Now all I need is my back and shoulders and we will have succeeded."

She lathered up some more in her hands once he was all set and she finished herself. She got the back of his neck, making sure his ears were done too. She got to work on his back and shoulders, the backsides of his arms too, all the way down his back to the band of his shorts. 

"Baby, I never even think to get my ears. And they always get red." He looked over his shoulder at her.

"And here I was thinking you were always blushing because you thought I was so beautiful." She grinned and gave his butt a playful smack. 

"Nahhhh," he smirked and took the raft and then her hand to pull her in the water with him. When he got in deep enough, he reached in and pulled her up to place her on the raft. 

She giggled softly, laying down on her back on the raft. "Don't pull me in. I know you're coordinated enough to climb up on here without getting me wet."

His laugh was low and nasty. "Don't even get me started girl. Because I WILL get you wet." He threw his leg on and slowly lifted himself up onto the raft next to her. "Then I'll send you down the lake by yourself." He looked at her with a smirk.

She laughed and smacked his arm playfully. "Joshua Scott Chasez." She shook her head and put her sunglasses on from the top of her head, letting out a good, long sigh. She had nothing on her schedule but Joshua Chasez time. The feeling was so foreign but so wonderful. 

His laugh was light and cute like he always did. His arms went above his head and he sighed. "I'd come after you in like... 2.5 seconds of course. Send you to your dangerous death but save you anyways." He was grinning, feeling playful, in such a good mood being with her.

"Well gee, some lifeguard. At least you look good in the red lifeguard shorts." She smirked. 

"Listen, you laugh. But just because they didn't properly carry my size. I can't help it that I'm over the national average in the size of the goods, ok?" He looked at her with pursed lips. 

She started to laugh and shake her head. "Joshua. You."

"You love me." he smiled to himself and kept his arms above his head, looking over at her. His eyes squinted a little bit. He knew he had left his sunglasses back in the cabin but he didn't care.

She smiled, leaning over to kiss his temple. "I love you and your need for extra length shorts."

"I love you more." He smiled, leaning into her kiss. He reached his fingers in the water and then pulled his arms in so the drops of water fell along her stomach.

"Oh!" she giggled against his face. "That's cold. But it feels nice." She closed her eyes and hummed softly. She let her hand that was up against his reach for his fingertips and link them together loosely.

He smiled, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "If you start to get too hot, let me know honey. We can go for a swim."

She made a soft little noise and they both lay there in the sun, drifting off to sleep. About 45 minutes went by before she stirred slightly, feeling her hand still interlocked with his. She glanced over at him and smiled as he peeled his face off the raft.

"Mmm. You okay baby?" He pulled a little water up to rub his face with.

"Yes," she laughed softly, "Sorry that was just and I'm waking up sound. I think it's time for a swim." She grinned, rolling herself off in the raft right in the water.

He grinned, watching her. "Okay, bye then..."

She popped up under the raft and tipped it over, sending him flying into the water as well, giggling as she watched him come up to the surface. 

He was shaking out his hair as he came up. "Ohhhhhhh.... You don't even! NOPE!" He swam up to her and picked her up over his head, throwing her into the water.

She let out a squeal and a scream before she hit the water, then swam underwater back to him and grabbed at his ass playfully before she swam away. 

He grinned, watching her with a look in his eyes. "You're so lucky that I love you more than wanting to get revenge on you..." He pulled the raft up out of the water and put it back where it was, then he began to walk over to where the shore became more grassy and wooded. He continued along the edge, where he climbed up onto a log, then walked across it to get to a tree that he began to climb. 

Sam was treading water, relaxing as she watched him  going up the tree. "Josh, what are you doing?"

He pursed his lips with a great big grin, then climbed up some more. It was a big oak tree with a sturdy branch that hung out over the water. He was grinning and excited to jump in. Sam kept watching him, shaking her head, then crossing her arms across her chest. He continued to climb and it made her frown.

"HI BABY!" JC called out. He smiled brightly, waving down at her from the high branch.

"Baby..." she made a face, "That's high."

"I know! It's kind of amazing up here." He walked a little further out on the branch and smiled down at her. "I'm coming for you!" He jumped and did a little flip before he hit the water.

Sam's arms were crossed in the water while she waited on him, her eyes locked on the surface of the water waiting for him to pop up.

Moments later, he popped up and had a fit of JC-specific giggles, the kind she had only heard from him. He looked up to see her waiting like that and it made him grin. "Baby..."

Sam made a face and shook her head as she began to walk to the shore to get out of the lake. 

He made a face as he thought, "Oh shit," to himself. He hurried out of the water right after her. "Honeyyyyyyy."

She popped off the cap of her bottle of water and took a long sip, looking up at him and the way he tagged after her like a puppy. 

"You are mad at me," he ran his hand through his wet hair. "But... why...."

She let out a soft sigh. "Watching you up on that branch made me think the worst. You were going to fall and snap your neck or something and never be able to dance and walk again. Or worse, be taken from me." She crossed her arms again and her lips curled out into a pout. 

JC walked right up to her, wrapping his arms around her. He pulled her pouty face right up against his. "Oh honey," His lips went right against her face. "I'm so sorry for scaring you like that."

"I just," she sighed and wrapped her arms around him. "I know you always talk about how you're protective of me and you want to keep me safe all the time. Know it's no different than how you would feel watching me on the branch or getting myself into trouble. 

He made a face because he knew she had a point. "Baby, this is why you women are so much smarter than us. I literally only thought about how much fun it would be to jump in the water from that branch, but you thought of all the logical things first. See, I need you."

"I'm being neurotic and overprotective," she laughed softly, "But I can't help it. It's how I am when it comes to you." She took another sip of her water. "Not sure that it's going to stop me from trying the rope swing later but..."

"Later?" He grinned, "Or do you want to try it right now?" He gave her a little squeeze.

She laughed at his eagerness. "We probably should try it before lunch..."

"Speaking of lunch, I'm going to need a snack." He grinned. "A good one. Something rich in body..." 

She laughed lightly, with a small smirk. "Something full bodied huh? I mean I could interest you in a glass of Malbec or an IPA if you prefer beer..." She licked her lips, "And we could have a little plate of snacks along with that."

There was a long pause and JC pursed his lips together. "Ummm..."

Her eyes sparkled. "Oh I'm sorry... were you asking me for another kind of snack?"

His lips stayed pursed together as he finished making sure he was dry. "Nope. I'll have those snacks. It's fine. I'm pretty hungry. Guess I'll worry about dessert later..." He ruffled his hair with a towel and hung it over the rail of the porch before walking up the steps with a salty, playful pout.