Pete stood at the sink his hands elbow deep in suds. Well, it was only fair that he tidied up after Sam had cooked him a wonderful meal. He could hear the low hum of voices on the TV from where Sam was currently resting. He turned and hollered over his shoulder.

"Hey honey, did I mention that Mark's coming up with the kids this weekend?"

"What was that?" She responded in the distance and the sounds from the TV cut out.

"I said Mark and the kids are here this weekend!"

There was a scuffling from the other room and suddenly Sam appeared at the doorway.

"Why didn't he call me?" She asked, leaning against the doorframe in her robe and fluffy slippers, arms folded across her chest. Pete shrugged nonchalantly and resumed his dish washing.

"Probably assumed I'd remember to tell you. He's got a long weekend before a conference in Denver so he figured why not come and see his little sister and his best friend?"

Pete smiled and Sam scowled.

"Well, a little more notice might've been nice but that's great! I'm not working this weekend so we should do something."

Drying off his hands, Pete surveyed his work.

"Not bad if I do say so myself." He turned to Sam and slung his arms loosely around her waist, pulling her towards him. "I'll give him a call tomorrow, I'm sure we can sort something out with him and Marie." He paused a moment before resting his head against her forehead. "Now how about that dessert you promised me?," he mumbled suggestively.

Sam smiled obligingly although it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Give me a sec, I just need to check something first." At the disappointed look he gave her, she tried again. Smiling a bit wider she nodded her head towards the bedroom. "Why don't you go on ahead and I'll be right through?"

Pete paused for a second then stepped back and nodded.

"Sure thing, just don't be too long!"

Sam watched him retreat down her hallway, wondering not for the first time why this was suddenly feeling harder than it should. Shaking those thoughts to the side, she smiled to herself. At least she'd get to see Mark and the kids this weekend, she hadn't seen them in ages!

...

Saturday morning the doorbell rang at 1000 sharp. Sam put down her paper and shook her head chuckling. However much Mark had hated his military upbringing he had never lost his lessons in punctuality from their father. Pete flew in from the other room.

"I got it!" He exclaimed, bounding towards the door. No sooner was it open, a small, blonde mop of curls flew through straight past him towards Sam.

"Auntie Sammy!" She shrieked, "I missed you!" The little girl clung to Sam's leg and she beamed up at her. Sam grinned and bent down to pick her up, placing her on her hip.

"Hi Abby! I missed you too. Where's your brother?"

"I'm right here!" Said the newcomer, "Dad asked me to give him a hand with the bags."

Joe was 12 but he was rather tall for his age.

"Hey Joe, you need a hand with that?" Sam asked but he just smiled and shook his head. "Nah, that's ok, me and Dad have got them. Besides, I don't think the little monster will let you go!" He chuckled, eyeing his little sister. She pouted.

"Auntie Sammy, mommy said Joe wasn't allowed to be mean to me this weekend. Tell him!"

Sam chuckled.

"I think I'll leave that one to your mom and dad!"

Speak of the devil.

"Hey Sam! How you doin', kiddo?" The guy with an armful of bags announced. Sam put Abby down and raced to the door. She smiled warmly.

"Mark! It's great to see you again!" She said giving him a bear hug. When he released her she turned to his wife. "Marie," she said warmly, giving her a hug, "how've you been?"

Marie returned the hug.

"Oh, we're doing great, thanks. It's good to see you, Sam."

"Likewise!" Sam turned to the group just as Pete closed the door. "So, drinks anyone?"

...

"So how's my little sister these days? Still working yourself to death under that mountain?"

Sam rolled her eyes.

"It's been hectic," she confessed, "but I am trying to cut back my hours."

Pete snorted.

"Yeah, now she only works 50 hour weeks instead of 70!"

Everyone chuckled and Sam elbowed him playfully in the ribs. Mark smirked.

"Sounds like Sam." His smiled dropped slightly. "I hear your boss is a real hard-ass."
Sam's head snapped up and she looked between Mark and Pete and frowned.

"Ah, no actually, he isn't."

Mark lifted an eyebrow.

"Come on Sam, he's an officer in the US Air Force, I've yet to meet one that doesn't have a flag pole shoved up their a-"

"Mark!" Hissed Marie, "the kids!"

Mark apologised insincerely and turned back to Sam.

"My point still stands. You spend far too much time at work."

Sam grimaced. She knew that Mark had never seen eye to eye with her when it came to the military but she resented the way he spoke about her friends. She also didn't like the implication that he and Pete had been discussing her CO behind her back.

"Mark, my job requires long hours. And, yes, I admit the higher ups can be a bit intimidating but Colonel O'Neill is actually ok once you get to know him."

Mark raised his bottle and pointed towards a picture in a frame on her cabinet.

"That your team?" He asked before taking a long swig of beer. Sam nodded. "I take it the older white guy with the grey hair is your CO?" Again Sam nodded the affirmative, not quite sure where he was going with his point. Mark regarded the picture for a few seconds. "You seem... close."

"We're a close-knit unit," Sam replied flatly. In the photo SG-1 were standing in a line with Teal'c to the far left scanning the horizon and Sam sandwiched between Daniel and Jack. Sam's hand was touching Daniel's arm, obviously laughing at something he had said as he was snapped mid arm fling but it was Jack, not Daniel who had the slightest trace of a smirk across his features as he looked at Sam. It was so subtle that any casual observer would have missed it completely.

Mark nodded.

"I can see how that would be necessary... In deep space radar telemetry."

Sam gave him a pointed look.

"Mark..."

Pete, sensing this was about to turn into an argument, cleared his throat.

"I don't know about you guys but I'm famished! You guys fancy pizza or Chinese?"

"Chinese sounds great!", chimed Marie, grateful that Pete had stepped in so she wouldn't have to. She glared at her husband. His eyes dropped from Sam's, the frustration subsiding for now.

"Yeah, sounds like a plan!"