As they stood on the balcony, Sam realized that Daniel was staring at her and not out at the view around them. She shook her head, looking down with soft laugh at his compliment.
"You're hopeless, Daniel," she told him. And it was one of his most adorable traits, really. It had always made her feel special.
At the touch of his hand, she shuddered a bit, her head tilting toward him. A moment later, she was looking up at him, and it really hit her. He was here. Daniel was here on Atlantis with her, just like they had both wanted last year when she had been offered leadership of the expedition. She knew at the moment she had only bought them a week, but they could deal with the long-term later. She just wanted to enjoy the fact that they had finally just managed this.
"I love you too," she said softly before his lips captured hers. Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled herself closer, feeling herself throb a bit as they pressed together. Oh God, she had missed this.
Carson was right - they really had been kidding themselves.
When they parted so they could breath, Sam looked up at him before backing up slightly and hitting the button on the balcony door to lock it. She gave him a smile. "Just so no one bothers us before we're ready to leave."
Taking his hand, she led him over to one of the benches that ran along the balcony wall and tugged him to sit down next to her. Once they were settled, she ran her hand through his hair and then leaned in to kiss him again.
"I really missed you," she whispered against his lips.