THREE DIAMONDS

Cam sat in the chair next to the hospital bed. The room was surprisingly tranquil bearing in mind where it was. He sat there silently watching Sam's chest rise and fall softly under the blanket as she slept.

He could have sat there watching forever, but there was something else demanding his attention. His right arm was resting on the rim of the plastic cot to the side of Sam's bed, his fingers gently stroking the soft, warm skin peeking out of the bundle of blankets that lay there. Even the smell was warm, a smell he had never come across before, but was strangely recognisable and comforting.

Cam let his eyes leave the form of Sam on the bed and turned his attention to his son. Yes, his son. As he looked at the scrunched-up face he still couldn't believe it. Not only was he a father, but the mother of his child was none other than Lt. Col. Samantha Carter, his second-in-command, his teammate, his best friend. Nestling beside the baby was a fluffy toy aeroplane with a happy face stitched to the front. Cameron had bought it a few weeks ago and kept it with him, ready for the birth.

Cam remembered when she'd told him she was pregnant. She'd been shaking, terrified and he'd held her for hours as she cried and they tried to work out what they were going to do.

He'd gone with her to General Landry's office, professionally explaining to him the situation. He'd held her hand when her voice cracked with tears at the thought of them both losing their jobs, and more. He'd even shared her shock and relief when Landry had explained the loophole in the frat. regs.

They'd kept it low profile in the beginning, telling only General Landry, the others in SG-1 and, of course, Jack O'Neill. But as time went on, the evidence got harder to miss. Not that they were necessarily hiding it, but the secret was out and soon the whole mountain knew.

And so here he was. Sitting in a darkened hospital maternity ward staring in amazement at the tiny body before him. His own flesh and blood. His new responsibility.

"He's so beautiful," Cam breathed, thinking out loud.

"Would you expect any less?" Cam jumped slightly at the sound of Sam's sleep-filled voice. He hadn't noticed her wake up, and he studied her face and smiled. Twelve hours of labour and she still looked as amazing as ever.

"With you as his mother, I would expect nothing but perfection," he winked at her as she smiled back at him.

"Could say the same about you," she grinned, her eyes still half-closed. Cam huffed out a laugh.

"Now that's the pain-pills talking," he replied with a raised eyebrow, "Get some sleep. The nurse said we could probably take you two home in a day or so. Teal'c and Daniel are finishing the room at your house-"

"Cam," Sam interrupted.

"Yes, Sam?"

"What are we going to do?" Cam took her hand in his, avoiding the IV with a deftness he'd developed only since joining SG-1.

"Sam, baby, I thought we decided to take this as it came. You know, day by day."

"But now he's here," she nodded weakly at the sleeping infant beside her, "And now I've realised what I really want…what I want for the baby…"

Her blue eyes were fixed on his, and his heart beat fast and his mind raced. What was she going to say? Was it what he hoped it was going to be? Was he going to be ready for it if it was?

"Cam? Are you OK?" Cam refocused. His palms were sweaty and his breathing had become a little heavy.

"Sam-"

"I want you to move in with me," She interrupted quickly. There was a silence that stretched on, and Cameron could hear is heart beating in his ears. Then Cam sighed and lowered his eyes to the ground and let his hands fall away from hers.

"Cam, I'm sorry. If you think it's too soon – or you don't want to at all, I understand. I-"

She cut her sentence off when she caught sight of the gold band nestled in the folds of a red velvet-lined box Cam was holding out in front if her. Her eyes widened when the light reflected off the three cut diamonds set into the metal. There were two medium-sized stones with a smaller one lying between them. She tore her eyes off it and met Cam's again, speechless.

"Sam," he started, "when you first told me you were carrying our child, I bought this ring. It was originally going to be a commitment ring, you know, promising I'd always be there to support you," he took the ring out and ran a finger over the stones, "These two are us. And this little one – that's the baby," he smiled up into her face. He cleared his throat, "Over these last months I finally realised that only my biggest commitment is good enough for you."

"Cam-" Sam's eyes were glossy and a single tear rolled lazily down her cheek. Cam reached up to her face with his hand to cup her cheek as he brushed the tear away with his thumb. She reached up a hand and covered his.

"Samantha Carter. Would you do me the honour of accepting my proposal?" Cam's voice cracked a little. Sam didn't say a word, she looked a little unsure, but she leaned her face more into Cam's hand and squeezed it gently, "Will you marry me, Sam?"

"Yes," Sam nodded. This time there was no pause, and no doubt in her mind that this was the right thing to do, and what she wanted.