A/N: Thanks to ladygris, dwparsnip and Shadows-of-Realm for their thoughts and opinions on this story. Ladygris was kind enough to act as Beta for this story as well as other stories that aren't ready to be posted yet.

Time period for this segment is just over six years after the end of Threads II.

Gracias, Mi Amiga,

Sandy

Threads III

Sew Very Happy

John and Amanda

Locking the wheel of the stroller Amanda reached over to gently squeeze the tomatoes. She selected five she was happy with, shoved them into a biodegradable bag and added it to the already full basket she carried. The fruits and vegetables looked good and she was certain they tasted just as good, but she and her family were used to what they got from their trading partners in the Pegasus galaxy. Unfortunately, bringing such things from Pegasus was forbidden. Moving on to the next stall in the farmer's market, she'd just reached for a bell pepper when she heard her name being called. Turning, she saw her old college roommate.

"Amanda Cole? Is that you?"

"Nancy?" Amanda glanced over her shoulder, but her husband was nowhere in sight as she was hugged by the other woman. "It's good to see you again. What are you doing in SoCal?"

"Visiting friends." Nancy pulled off her sunglasses and peered at the sleeping baby girl. "Looks like you've been busy." The dark-haired woman gestured at the stroller and the boy tugging on Amanda's arm. "Want to introduce me?"

"Oh, of course. Sleeping Beauty is Caroline Elizabeth, she's almost two, and this little devil is JR." Amanda pulled him to her, forcing him to turn and face Nancy.

"Hello, JR. My name's Nancy Gordon." She extended her right hand and the four-year-old took it without hesitation.

"Hi. Who are you?"

If Nancy were surprised by the blunt question she didn't show it and the crooked smile and open, curious expression kept her from being annoyed. "Your mom and I are old friends."

"Hey!" Amanda objected good-naturedly, "Watch how you say 'old'."

The women laughed and Amanda watched Nancy's expression turn thoughtful as she looked at the boy who had unruly hair brown and hazel eyes. "Beautiful kids." Lowering her voice, she said, "You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say he looks just like…"

"…his father?" a male voice intruded on the reunion. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Tilting her head back to look up into the man's face, Nancy couldn't say anything except, "Uh…"

"Nancy. Good to see you again." Full-bird Colonel John Sheppard leaned down to kiss his ex-wife on the cheek then slipped an arm around Amanda's waist and brush a lingering kiss over her lips.

"You, too. This is quite a surprise. When, uh…"

"Six years as of the Festival of Selene." Amanda almost kicked herself for using an Athosian time reference. "I mean, August sixteenth."

"Festival of…"

"Sort of like Valentine's Day." John added quickly, his hand clenching on his wife's waist. To distract her from Amanda's slip he turned the conversation back on her. "So how's Grant?"

"Fine, the last I heard." Though Nancy's face continued to smile, her eyes narrowed just a little at the mention of her second ex-husband. "We're divorced."

"Oh. Sorry."

"I'm not. He cheated on me with law students interning in his office." She was obviously trying to keep the tone of the conversation light. "He always was a big supporter of our forty-second president."

"Monkey see, monkey do."

"Apparently."

John and Amanda laughed politely then John looked down when JR tugged on the tail of his unbuttoned casual shirt. "Daddy?'

"What, pal?"

Amanda watched Nancy's eyes go very wide as John's voice and face softened when speaking to his son. It was funny in a sweetly sentimental way.

"When're we goin' t' the park?"

John crouched in front of his son. "In a bit, buddy. We have to finish shopping and Stefan gave us a long list." He stood again, lowering his voice. "He thinks Dave's back yard is a park."

Nancy gave him a wry smile. "Don't blame him."

To keep the conversation going, John asked, "So, what're doing out of DC?"

"Vacation. With my fiancé."

"You're engaged? Great! Who's the lucky guy?"

"That would be me, Colonel." The familiar voice had an immediate effect on all three adults but John's transformation was the most extreme. He went from being a guy out spending the day with his family to career soldier in less than a millisecond. Automatically straightening his posture, he made a surprised about face, deliberately letting his features and tone go flat, or so he thought. "General O'Neil, sir."

~~O~~

Hands in his pockets, General Jack O'Neill (retired) strolled carelessly in the same direction as his fiancée of less than a week. Nancy was standing with Sheppard and his family. Racking his brain, he tried to remember the kids' names. He gave up and waited for just the right moment to announce his presence to the ex-husband of the woman he was going to marry.

And it was well worth it. The deer-in-the-deadlights description was so overdone, but there was no other way to portray the wide-eyed startled expression John aimed at his former CO.

Both hands came out of the pockets of his knee-length shorts, the right extended. "I'm retired, so you can drop the General, John. It's Jack."

"Yes, sir." At Jack's lifted eyebrow, John did as ordered. "Um, Jack."

The awkward lull that followed the announcement that John's former CO was marrying his ex-wife was suddenly filled with the loud voice of JR. "Mommy, didn't you say it wasn't p'lite to stare?"

"Yes, sweetie."

"Then why's daddy starin' at that man?"

Amanda crouched in front of the boy, lowering her voice. "He's just surprised. Mommy's friend is your dad's ex-wife and General O'Neill is his ex-boss. Now they're getting married."

"Oh." The boy digested that for a millisecond. "What's an ex-wife?"

"Um…"

"You'll tell me later?"

"Yeah."

JR's eyes narrowed and he pointed one small finger at her. "Gonna hold you to it."

The four adults laughed at the exchange between JR and Amanda, the tense atmosphere finally easing.

~~O~~

Dave and Kelly, holding JR's hand and carrying Caroline respectively, walked John and Amanda to the door. "No need to worry, big brother. Kel and I are experts at kid watching."

"I know but…"

"But nothing, John. Go." Kelly raised her free hand. "Say bye-bye to mommy and daddy, Caroline." The little girl did as she was told curling her fingers in a wave.

Amanda took John by the hand and dragged him to the rental car. As he out her into the passenger seat of the sedan, she smiled drolly at him. "Honestly, John, you act like we've never left them with a sitter before."

John got in and buckled his seatbelt before starting the car. "This is the first time we've done it on Earth, and this is a scary place."

"Scarier than home?"

"Hell, yeah." He pulled out the gate at the end of the drive and turned toward the beach. "There have clowns here."

~~O~~

Their meal eaten, the two couples kicked off their shoes and moved out onto the sand. John's arm around Amanda's shoulders and Jack holding Nancy's hand. Though John had been more than a little freaked out when he'd found out that his ex-wife was marrying his former commander, he had to admit that they looked good together. A sense of déjà vu hit him every time Nancy looked at Jack with that smile of affection she'd once bestowed on him. Thankfully, it got better the more he saw it. He was certain the weirdness would always remain and vowed to get over it. Not that he expected the four of them to become great friends or anything. And he really was happy for them both.

Amanda left him for a few moments and he spent the time watching the water while the band covered a Beach Boys song. Taking a sip from his glass, he felt someone come to stand on the other side of the rail near him. Without looking, he knew it was Nancy. He turned to face her, leaning his elbow on the wood railing, not really certain how to start the conversation he wanted to have with her, so he waited for her to speak.

"You and Amanda seem very happy."

"There's a good reason for that." John let one side of his mouth lift in a half-smile. "We are very happy."

"I'm glad. You know, when we first met, I thought there was something between the two of you. I was surprised when you asked me out." Her smile of remembrance of that first date made him smile, too.

"Yeah, well, things were different then." They stayed still, letting the atmosphere wash over them. "You and Jack, I can see how much you care about each other, and I'm happy you've found someone who does that for you."

"Thanks." Impulsively, she reached up to kiss him on the cheek, both hands squeezing his shoulders as she'd done the day of his father's memorial service. Unlike then, he let his hands rest briefly on her waist in response. This moment felt different. Before, she was offering comfort. Now it felt like she was letting go of one final piece of the past. Being completely honest with himself, he realized that he'd held on to that same small morsel and was finally able to-he grinned internally-release his burden. She let him go and he watched her walk away knowing that tonight would most likely be the last time he ever saw her.

Draining the last of his drink, John used one bare foot to dig into the sand at his feet, his head down watching as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. Hearing the soft crunch of sand as someone drew near he saw a pair of big male feet stop in front of him. Jack, hands in the pockets of his baggy shorts, his Hawaiian shirt open to show the white T-shirt he wore underneath, stood there watching him with his best unreadable expression.

Without speaking, both men turned with their backs to the patio, again watching the water. After some time, John cleared his throat. "A piece of advice, if I may, sir."

"Sure."

"Don't ever, uh…" John motioned him closer and murmured in his ear.

Jack listened for several seconds, nodding. "Got it."

Silence settled around them again until the women returned.

The band segued into a slow song and John took Amanda's hand, leading her to the dance floor. Seconds later, he saw Jack do the same with Nancy. As they turned, swaying gently side to side, John and Nancy's eyes found each other in the dim light. The two of them would forever be connected in a special way no matter what had happened in the past or might happen in the future. But now they each knew the other was happy. And that made them happy too.

TBC: Rodney and Jennifer

A/N: The Festival of Selene is a holiday celebrated by the Athosians and is similar to Valentine's Day. On that day, you go to your family and closest friends to tell them how much you care about them as well as how enriched your life is with them in it. Kind of the opposite of Festivus. It's also a day for couples to reaffirm their love, marry or to express affection for someone you've loved from afar. It was created by toosweet4u_57 for Chapter 20 of her "How Jennifer Made the First Move" series, More Than Words and is used with permission.