"Strawberry pancakes and chamomile tea."

Jack turned around incredulously. Sam was sitting at the counter, her hands folded in front of her and trying to look innocent.

"Since when do you drink tea?" he asked, waving a spatula at her.

"Tea, for your information, happens to be a healthy alternative to coffee."

"I'll ask again," Jack said, cocking his head to the side. "Since when do you drink tea?"

"I'll have you know that they never question their patrons over at Marty's." Sam said, referring to the little coffee shop down the street.

"That may very well be true, but you're not exactly a patron, Sam." Jack set down the spatula and crossed his arms.

"You know, you're right," Sam smiled. She lifted up her left hand. "These little things right here gives me a few more privileges than a regular patron." Her gold bands glinted in the sunlight. Jack shook his head and poured some batter onto the griddle.

"Keep in mind that there's such a thing as abuse of power."

"Ah, yes, but I plan on using my powers for good, not evil," Sam quipped as she went around the counter and poured herself a mug of hot water. She peered over his shoulder as she grabbed a tea bag. "You could pour a little bit more batter."

"Hungry today, are we?" Jack asked, complying with her request. Sam sat down again and dunked her tea bag into the mug.

"Well, I am eating for two," she said with a smile and then picked up the newspaper. "Hey, did you see this article on the city council's meeting last night? Can you believe the nerve of --" She broke off as she heard a spatula clatter to the floor.

"What was that?"

"What was what?" Sam asked, sipping her tea.

"Sam…" Jack looked like he was going to faint. She smiled and then nodded at him. "Really?" She nodded again. Jack let out a yelp and jumped over the counter. Sam shrieked happily as he scooped her up and twirled around the empty diner. He stopped abruptly and set her down gingerly. "Uh…maybe I should…do you want a chair? Maybe you should sit down?" He pulled a chair over to where they were standing.

"Jack, I'm not a porcelain doll," Sam complained, but decided to humor him by sitting. "I'm not about to break."

"Hey, I don't want to risk anything happening to our daughter."

"And what makes you think it's a girl? For all you know, it's going to be a boy."

"A father knows these things." Jack beamed at the word 'father'.

"And what about my maternal instinct?" Sam argued.

Outside, a small crowd was gathering by the diner door. A man clutching a briefcase tapped someone on the shoulder to ask what was happening.

"They're at it again!" the little old lady responded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. The man, clearly an out-of-towner, tried to get a look through the blinds. A little boy tugged at the man's arm.

"Mister, you're got really big teeth." The little boy was pulled away by his mother and the man inched his way forward.

Inside the diner, Sam and Jack were nose to nose, their favorite position for verbal sparring.

"There is no way in hell that we're naming our son after your father, Jack."

"What's wrong with the name Ezekiel? It's a perfectly good name." Jack exclaimed, running an exasperated hand through his hair. One of these days he was going to go bald because of her, he thought.

"Yes, if you live in 500 BC!" Sam waved her arms at him. He groaned. He knew better than to keep arguing with her once she started flailing her arms about. In one swoop he had her pressed against him. "Don't you dare --" He crushed his lips to hers before she could finish the sentence.

Outside the diner, the crowd started cheering Jack on.

"That's 5 bucks for you!" A short man slapped a tall thin fellow on the back. The man with the briefcase hopped up and down trying to get a look through the glass. The crowd began to disperse and the man pressed his nose against the glass window. 'What in the…?' he thought, raising his eyebrows. 'Have I been away that long?' Turning, he shook his head and started walking down the street, only to be stopped by a storekeeper sweeping the sidewalk in front of his shop.

"Who won?"

"Jack did." The man said.

"Ha! That's another $5 she owes me!", the storekeeper said, running back into his store. Dan Haber shook his head again. 'Jack and Sam, now there's an odd pair. Who knew that so much could happen in a year? I suppose stranger things have happened." He laughed and walked away.

Inside the diner, beyond the half closed blinds, Sam pulled away, out of breath. Jack grinned at her.

"Now, don't think you can win every argument just by kissing me." She said in a shaky voice. Jack laughed and pulled her back to him.

"I wouldn't dare to assume that," he said before kissing her again. "I just think it's fun to try."

The End

Author's note: Thank you so much for all your reviews and support! I hope you liked how I tied it up at the end!