I'm hopefully going to be posting a chapter a day for the next 12 days, the 12 days of Christmas, unless life gets in the way. The story isn't going to be a typical Christmas one, it's going to be a little darker than the season really calls for.

Anyway, here's the first chapter, I hope you like it.

... my true love gave to me a big happy family

It was Christmas day and SG1 had decided to spend it all together, including Cassie and Janet. Jack and Daniel had no family to spend it with and Sam still wasn't on the best terms with her brother, although it had gotten better since Jacob's visit a few years ago.

For both Teal'c and Cassie Christmas was a fairly new thing, having only been on earth for about six years, which meant that everything always went a little overboard. This year was no different, they'd all arrived at Jack's; he had the biggest house, in the morning and had put their presents under the tree.

Currently they were all sitting around the table, making their way through the piles of food that everyone had brought with them.

They had pulled their crackers and, at the insistence of Cassie, had put on their paper crowns, and then they'd taken photos, hundreds of photos. As they all ate Jack said, "Doc, Carter, I'm impressed. This food is good."

Janet and Sam shared a smile before Sam looked at Jack and said, "There's no need to sound so surprised sir. Besides we didn't cook all of it, some of it you and the guys brought."

They finished eating, talking about anything, catching up with Cassie and how she was, since Jack, Daniel and Teal'c hadn't seen all that much of her recently.

Once they had eaten, and put all the left overs into containers, cleared the table and stacked the dishwasher, they all headed into the sitting room, an excited Cassie in the lead. The last few years they had all agreed not to do presents until after they'd all eaten, which meant, on Christmas, they always had an earlier than normal lunch.

Everybody took a seat, their normal from team nights at Jack's, Sam and Jack on the sofa, Daniel on the arm chair and Teal'c cross legged on the floor at Daniel's side. Once she had handed out all the presents under the tree Cassie would slot herself in on the other side of Sam on the sofa while Janet took her seat on the second arm chair.

Once Cassie had piled everyone's presents in front of them, her pile was larger than everyone else's, she asked, "Who went first last year?"

Each year they changed who opened the first present. "I believe it was you CassandraFraiser," Teal'c answered.

Cassie nodded, "Ok then, this year it's Sam turn."

It was also a tradition they had made up that the person from last year would pick who opened the first present this year. Sam smiled at the girl and picked up the first present on her pile. She looked at the label and then smiled at Daniel before ripping the wrapping paper off. The first time they had all opened presents together Sam had shocked them all by ripping off the paper, they had all assumed that she would open it gently, making as few a tears as possible.

Once the paper was off and Sam had screwed it into a ball and put it back on the floor she smiled over at Daniel once again, "Thanks Daniel."

He returned the smile, "That's ok; I thought it might be helpful."

Sam nodded, a protective case for her laptop would indeed be useful; especially given the amount of times her laptop fell, or nearly fell, off the tables in her lab.

They spent the next hour all opening their presents and throwing wrapping paper at each other. Once all the presents were open and everyone had said their thank yous Cassie said, "I can't believe that you're all going on a mission tomorrow, I mean it's Christmas; can't you have the day off?"

Jack gestured for the girl to come towards him and when she was within arm's reach he pulled her onto her lap. Since she had arrived on the planet she had been like a daughter to all of them, but especially Jack who had become the father figure in her life. Once she had stopped laughing and trying to escape Jack's grip Jack answered her question. "We've got to go because someone does and we all agreed to offer our services since they were going to send SG4, all of whom have little children at home and we felt that since we didn't have family and they did it was fairer to them for us to swap."

Cassie nodded her understanding and gave Jack a hug before jumping to her feet and going over to where Daniel was sitting, hugging him too. She then made her way around the room, hugging everyone.

Jack and Sam shared a smile before Sam's phone started ringing. She looked at the caller ID and smiled lightly before answering it. "Happy Christmas Mark," she said, standing and making her way out of the room.

Everyone watched her and then started talking amongst themselves. Ten minutes later, when Sam hadn't reappeared, Jack stood and went to go and find her, excusing himself from the room quickly.

He found her on the stairs looking happy. She looked up as she heard him approach and gave him a smile. He smiled back and said, "You've been gone a while Carter."

"I hadn't realised, sorry sir," she said, standing and sliding her phone into her pocket.

He waved her away, "Don't worry about it, I was just wondering where you were."

She smiled at him, "I was just enjoying the feeling that came from not ending a conversation with my brother in a fight."

Jack smiled again and offered her his hand, "Well come along Carter, everyone needs to get going soon."

"That a hint that you want your house back sir?" Sam asked as she came down the steps towards him.

He shook his head, "I'd never want rid of you." When Sam froze and he saw the blush begin to creep up her cheeks he hurriedly continued to say, "I was only saying it because like Cassie said, we've got a mission tomorrow and if memory serves it's a fairly early briefing."

She smiled at him and started to walk again. They reached the door to the sitting room but before they could go any further Cassie said, "Don't move you two."

They froze, wondering what was up. Daniel saw their confusion and said simply, a smirk appearing on his face, "Look up."

They both looked up at the same time and saw the little sprig of mistletoe someone, and going by the look on her face, probably Cassie had hung there. They looked back at each other and made to take a stop when Cassie said, in a voice that any General would have been proud of, "It's tradition, you have too."

Jack scowled at her and then Daniel, who had burst out laughing, while Sam narrowed her eyes at her best friend and Teal'c both of whom were finding this very funny. After a few moments they caught each other's eyes and had one of their wordless conversations. Cassie, Janet, Daniel and Teal'c all watched as they slowly leant forward and kissed each other softly on the lips.

When they pulled back Jack looked over at Cassie and asked in a voice heavy in sarcasm, "Happy?"

The girl nodded, "Yes, as a matter of fact I am."

After that everyone picked up their presents and left, taking whatever leftovers they fancied with them, although Janet and Cassie took the most because SG1 didn't want them to go to waste, seeing as how a lot of it would only spoil in their fridges when they went on their mission tomorrow.

Jack stood at the door and said goodbye to everyone as they walked past. Sam stayed to help him clean up and once that was done she too left, giving him a smile and a hug before she walked down his drive and got into her car.

Once the door was shut Jack fell onto the sofa, exhausted, and turned the TV and found an episode of the Simpsons to watch.

A few hours later they were all tucked up in bed, getting nice and rested for their mission the next day.