AN: Another story floating around my head and I needed to get it down before I finish the other one. I'm not a fan of the Sam/Pete thing they had going for a while, but this story does start off with them together. This starts during Threads but is definatly an AU fic. Enjoy...

Jack cursed as he reached the observing room next to the infirmary. He was too late.

When Kerry had left his office, she'd given him something to think about. Not that he'd never thought of it before. He knew his feelings for Carter were still there, pushed deep within. He hadn't realised they'd come to the surface recently. Sam showing up at his house unexpectedly had thrown him off balance, so he'd assumed he'd let his guard down then.

He had received a phone call just after she left his office stating that Jacob didn't have much time. He'd dashed down to the infirmary to be there for Sam when Jacob did pass. Now he stood in the doorway, unnoticed, as Pete held Sam close. He left as silently as he could and meandered back to his office. He had known about Carter and Pete for months, knew she had said yes to him, but held himself back from saying anything to her. Seeing them together, her holding someone else, tore at him in ways that nothing else could. He sat down hard in his chair and buried himself in paperwork.

Several hours later, Carter knocked on his door. She requested some time off to bury her father and he granted two weeks immediately, taking note of her pale face and blue eyes, bright with unshed tears. He yearned to take her in his arms and comfort her, but the knowledge of Pete in her life, prevented him. He wanted her to be happy, and if Pete was the path she had to take, he wasn't going to stand in the way. He let her go.

Sam could barely believe how the past two weeks had flown by. It had been a roller coaster of emotions, with Daniel returning, and the funeral for her father. She had seen Mark and his kids for the first time in a while and he had expressed his joy in her acceptance of Pete's proposal. Pete had been her rock throughout her rough week. He had held her when she cried, made her laugh, and stayed away from discussions of their wedding. General O'Neill had spoken at the funeral at her request and he had told her it was a pleasure to speak about a man whom he respected and valued in his life. Since then, she hadn't seen or heard from him. Daniel and Teal'c had stopped by her house and stayed for supper one night, but other than that and the funeral, she had not had any contact with the SGC. She had moved into their new house a few days after the funeral and there were boxes everywhere. The house was gorgeous and had much more space than her current one. Pete's transfer to the Colorado Springs PD had finally been approved, and he would be moving in today. That meant no more Pete driving up from Denver on his days off, and less overtime for her at work. Her thoughts drifted to her future as she sat on the bench surrounded by the flowers the previous owner had planted. The house had many bedrooms and she wanted to have children to fill them. Hear their laughter, wipe their tears away, comfort their sorrows.

Pete arrived at their new house to find his fiance sitting in front of it, a dreamy look on her face. He walked up the sidewalk and thrust a bouquet of flowers into her lap. She looked up in surprise and smiled. He bent down to kiss her, and asked what she was thinking about. He smiled when she responded with the future. He couldn't wait for their future together. He had been worried when she took two weeks to say yes. He couldn't understand why she needed to think that long. Had she been waiting for someone else? He had his suspicions who, but dared not to voice them, fearing he would find them true. When she had said yes, he had still been unsure as to the sincerity, and the reason why she had agreed. When she called him from work to tell him about her father, he knew that he was a part of her life. He had gone as fast as he could to get to her, hold her, and show he would be there for her, forever.

The original wedding day was kept, despite Pete's offers to postpone it after her fathers death. She wanted to keep the date, fearing if she didn't, something would happen to cancel it. The day was beautiful, and the ceremony had gone off without any problems. Half of the SGC had filled the church, and lavished her with gifts at the reception. She had noticed General O'Neill the second he had entered the delicately decorated hall. He looked amazing in his dress blues and she never failed to blush at the sight. Today had been no different, but fortunately no one had noticed. She had accepted his congratulations, and watched as he walked away to sit with Daniel and Teal'c. They all given moving speeches, bringing her close to tears. The Generals had been humorous, yet she could sense the sadness in his voice. She forced herself to forget it, reminding herself she was married to Pete. There was nothing left between them, besides a friendship, and the working relationship.

Jack had arrived home, changed immediately, turned on the TV, and started on a six pack. He had to admit the wedding had been perfect and he was envious of Pete. If only he had let Carter know how he felt when she had shown him the ring. The replicators gone, the goa'uld defeated, he could retire now. Had he known that then, he would've said something, anything, to keep her. The reality was, he had no way of predicting the future, and would've risked everything, including her career. Above all, he wanted Carter to be happy. She was now, but not with him. There was nothing he could do to change that.

AN: Let me know if you want to continue.