Hello All!

Thank you for all the great reviews. They make my day… and with the mess things are right now… I need them all. This is the umpteenth time I am writing this intro. I am without my laptop (pixels went funky so it went to the Geek Squad) and I have been pirating my kids and my husbands. For some reason I am not having any luck with any of them and I am beginning to think I am the black widow of laptops.

Some of you have mentioned that Jack and Sam are different… that is intentional. In this AU I wanted to show what they would be like if they had made different life choices and in Sam's case if she had a close friend/sister. I don't see Sam as the "tough soldier" but more determined and confident. Not fighting for a space in the military man's world would enable her to be a bit more compassionate and feminine. I love writing the Alpha Female as a true Female… not a woman trying to be a man in a man's world. Many of you won't agree but as a long time stay at home mom who is now in the working world I have seen how strength and determination come in many forms.

Sorry… I will hop down off of my soapbox.

I love Jack's softer side and for a man that sexy, in my world he is a modern "cowboy romantic." The man who's not afraid to slam you up against a wall and kiss you till your bones melt.

I am not an action scene person so as one of you guessed, I don't write for episodes. Honestly I know I would just make it sound pathetic so I don't even try.

I am still looking for a beta. Thank you to the reviewer who pointed out my Carter/Cater flub. I appreciate it when people spot things like that for me… I will go back and fix it. I want you to enjoy the story not grimace over typos. (though I think commas are evil and I know I will never get them right) Also, I realized that I put Lizzie at George Washington when I meant Georgetown.

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Grace started bouncing in Jack's lap and then finding his large hands very interesting decided to try and shove them into her mouth.

"Ow," winced Jack, "I forgot how sharp little teeth can be."

"You can bring her to me if you want?" said Sam a bit concerned, she had no idea how Jack felt about children. Was he just humoring her by smiling so much?

Jack couldn't help but laugh as Grace flopped down into his lap, leaned back and steadily began to gnaw on his thumb. "No that's ok," he chuckled, "I don't think she would let me go. She's got quite a grip."

"She just as stubborn as her mother was," she said with a sad smile.

"You knew her?" he asked gently.

Sam looked up through glistening eyes, "She was my foster sister and best friend."

She paused for a second as she looked at Grace and took a deep breath, "You are probably wondering why I have never mentioned her."

She took another deep breath and wiped at her eyes, "It is just so hard to think about her sometimes."

Jack easily got up and moved over to the sofa. He balanced Grace against his chest with the arm she was currently drooling all over and reached a tissue box with the other.

Sam smiled when Jack sat next to her. She laughed through her tears as Grace immediately reached over for her.

"Mama!" she squealed as if she just noticed her in the room.

Sam snuggled the little girl under her chin and then kissed her soft curly blond hair. "I love Gracie to pieces but I miss Lizzie so much it hurts."

She continued to snuggle the little girl as she talked. "We met in High School and immediately became best friends. Lizzie had lived with foster families her entire life. Not everyone can handle a kid that is smarter than they are at the age of seven so she had moved around a lot and being a military brat and fellow prodigy I could relate. We were both so much younger than everyone else that we naturally fit together perfectly. We helped each other through everything. She was even with me when my mom was killed in a taxi accident. I was thirteen and she was fifteen. It was just three months later that her latest foster family decided to move and not take Lizzie with them. My dad knew that she was the only thing keeping me going so he immediately filed for guardianship and she moved in with us that month. Lizzie was the perfect cure for a family that was falling apart. She was so grateful for every little thing. She kept us together as a family."

Jack handed Sam another tissue and used this movement to sit a little closer. He so wanted to hold her and comfort her though this, he of all people knew what it was like to lose someone you loved.

Grace looked like she was getting bored so Jack reached over and picked up a few of the toys from a basket on the coffee table. He handed her a soft book to chew on. Seeing the other toys in his lap the curious little girl pulled herself up off her mother's lap and over to Jack's.

The sight made Sam cry harder. She'd never seen Grace interact with someone so freely before. She was usually shy and the delighted look on Jack's face was priceless.

He gave a crooked smile, "What can I say," he said softly, "I am a sucker for beautiful blonds."

Sam tried not to blush, he was too smooth for his own good.

"You would have loved Lizzie," she sighed, "She had this gorgeous curly blond hair and the most amazing blue eyes. She and I were the same height and coloring so people often mistook us for actual sisters." Sam reached over to the end table and picked up a framed photograph. It was of Lizzie and Sam in Ireland. "After graduation from High School we took our savings and traveled around Europe and the UK for a year. It was one of the best times of my life."

"She liked adventure," said Jack with a soft smile, "I am sure I would have loved her."

"After our graduation from Harvard Lizzie went straight to Brown with a teaching scholarship where she got her masters in Literature and after that she went to Georgetown to teach and to get her Doctorate. She loved to learn but more than that she wanted to have a family of her own. She had never known any of her actual family and even though we were extremely close and she actually called the General dad, she wanted more. She was so full of life, she made everyone happy. She would have been a great mom," Sam leaned down and kissed Gracie, "she was a great mom."

They sat quietly for a few minutes until Mrs. Winterbourne walked into the room with a tray full of tea and pie. Jack's stomach rumbled at the absolutely heavenly aroma.

"I warmed it up a bit," said Molly as she set everything out. She smiled warmly at the scene before her. Sam and the Colonel were sitting comfortably together while Grace played on their laps. She said a silent prayer that this was only the beginning. She counted herself as a good judge of character, and Colonel O'Neill was as good as they got. He reminded her of her own beloved Richard, may he rest in peace. She reached over for Grace and picked her up from Jack's lap.

"I think it is time for Grace and I's afternoon walk. I can't let these old bones get too lazy and Miss Grace loves to throw bread crumbs at the squirrels. Can't let the little fellas go hungry. Can we Gracie?"

Grace clapped her hands, "Nana!" she squealed. "We'll be home in two hours. I am going to take the jogging stroller and get in a good brisk walk to the market at the end of the development. We need a few things for tonight. I trust you'll be joining us for dinner Colonel?" she asked sweetly.

Sam tried not to act too surprised at the sudden invitation. She was about to protest and say that Colonel was much too busy but she was cut off by the man himself. "If this pie is any indication of your delicious skills I will have to continue to join Sam for her evening run." He looked over at the purple cast, "Well, I guess I will have to run by myself for a few weeks."

"The more the merrier," sang Molly as she rubbed noses with Grace and walked out of the room.

Sam and Jack finished their pie in silence. Jack didn't know what she added to it, but he was sure there must have been some addicting chemical because he couldn't help himself as he slid a second piece onto his plate. It was like heaven between the flakiest crusts he had ever tasted. He had to force himself not to lick his plate clean.

"I know," laughed Sam, "I hate to say it but it is all that good. I have no idea how I lucked out but I can't see myself ever letting her go, even after Grace goes to college!"

Jack couldn't help but agree and he would do anything and everything to continue to get invitations for dinner. Well, the incredibly hot blond glued to his side may have been his other reason, but he was still fighting himself on that one. He didn't even want to start in again with his thoughts of how much better Sam could do than a broken down old soldier like himself.

"So tell me more about Lizzie," he asked.

Sam smiled, "Lizzie was at Georgetown for a few years but I could tell she was restless."

Sam took a deep breath and hiccupped so Jack reached over and took her hands in his. She smiled up at him through teary lashes.

"C'mere," he whispered as he reached around and pulled her to his chest.

"A year and a half ago Lizzie called me with shocking news."

Jack listened as she took a few more shaky breathes, "She was pregnant. She told me that the "donor" was incredibly healthy and extremely intelligent. I had a feeling that it was one of her Georgetown colleagues but she never said anything, even to me. She assured me that he was a willing participant but had no interest in becoming a father and she wanted it that way. I wasn't surprised. Lizzie had always been self-reliant. She said it was from the foster care system. By the time she was ten she could pack herself into one giant suitcase and cook dinner for an entire family. She said kids in foster care always felt like they had to earn their keep."

Sam was getting lost in her thoughts as she snuggled against Jack's warm chest and he lightly rubbed her back in comfort. She felt so safe encapsulated in the cocoon of Jack's strong arms. Her voice sounded far away, like she was telling someone else's story. She started again when she realized they had been sitting in silence for at least five minutes. "I wasn't worried because Lizzie was making good money and could support a child on her own. She also had the support of the family. Originally dad wasn't thrilled with her decision, but she just told him that he had been the perfect role model for a single parent. How could he be angry with that? Of course Mark was happy because his kids would finally have a cousin on our side of the family. So over a conference call Lizzie told us how she had it all mapped out, she even emailed us her life plan. She had already bought a house, knew what schools she wanted her child to go to and had several nannies in line to interview. By the way it was Uncle George who introduced us to Molly and we hired her on the spot. She even has top secret clearance."

"She's like Marry Poppins," chuckled Jack against her hair, "Practically perfect in every way."

Sam laughed but then winced a bit as her leg awkwardly twisted. Immediately Jack arranged them so that they were lying at a more comfortable angle with Sam's cast resting on the arm of the sofa.

"So everyone was happy for her?" he asked encouraging her to finish her story.

Sam smiled at his interest. "We all knew how much it meant to her and we were thrilled. I had never seen her that excited about something and I was happy for her because she was living her dream. Both our lives were pretty great actually. I had just finished my fist five years in the Air Force and had planned on sighing up for several more. I was happy in my own career because I had just been promoted to Major after completing my first year at area 51. I was actually being considered for an SG team."

"Jack looked down at her, "I was wondering why you hadn't been assigned to a team. You are more than qualified and I am sure your brain would be helpful in getting us out of half the messes we seem to get ourselves into."

"I was actually being considered for SG-1 before I resigned my commission and though they do take civilians I would never risk anything happening to me."

"You know you could still come through the gate," he added. "We have missions that are not life threatening all the time. It just doesn't seem like it because SG-1 has a tendency to attract trouble. I know I have personally pissed off several Goul'd who would love to see me on the wrong side of a zat."

"I know and maybe one day I will. But just not right now. I know what it is like to grow up without a mother. Grace has already lost one, she doesn't need to lose another." She took a deep breath because she knew this next part was going to be the hardest to get through. She'd been so busy with getting settled and adjusting to parenthood that the only person she had talked to about Lizzie had been Molly. And since she had been there since Lizzie was still pregnant she was almost as close to the situation as she was.

"Two months after Lizzie's announcement I got a call from the hospital. Lizzie had collapsed during class and after several days of testing they discovered that she had Cardiomyopathy. She had refused all medication and treatment because she didn't want to hurt the baby. They had asked her to terminate but she refused."

Jack squeezed Sam a bit tighter because he knew where this was leading.

"I try not to feel guilty that I never pushed her to abort but I could tell right away that she was adamant in her decision. I know it was selfish of me but I wanted to spend whatever time we had together happy, not arguing. We cried for a few days but then plowed ahead like we always did. She was put on hospital bed rest and I retired my new rank of Major and moved out D.C. to live with her. Miraculously Lizzie carried almost to full term and then finally it was time. They sedated her for the delivery to put as little stress on her heart as possible. Because she was so heavily sedated I was the first person to hold Grace. I couldn't believe it when they brought her into the room. She looked just like Lizzie, all wide eyes and bright blond hair. When Lizzie finally woke up I got to put Grace in her arms. She knew she was dying but at that moment she was the happiest woman on earth because she had a daughter of her very own. Her lawyer visited us that day and we signed the adoption papers. Lizzie had been planning this from the moment she had received the diagnosis. She knew that after she delivered the baby she would not last till they found a new heart. She had been put way down on the list because she had refused treatment. Luckily she and Grace were able to come home just a few days later. The doctors said she only had a few months left and she would be most comfortable at home with her baby. She was now bedridden and on oxygen. After letting Grace nurse for the first week she allowed them to give her medication to make her comfortable. She still did everything she could for Grace. She fed her every bottle and even helped change her and bathe her. They were rarely separated even while they slept. Grace was always so happy and content to be in her mother's arms. It was actually a very happy time for all of us. We laughed a lot and watched every chick flick ever made. We were watching Beaches when it had all sunk in. The main character was dying of the same disease Lizzie had. She had made her best friend promise to take care of her daughter and tell her all about her life. I had to leave the room when it was over because I couldn't control myself and Lizzie and Gracie had drifted off to sleep. The next day she asked me if I watched the entire movie. We cried together as we looked at old photo albums and retold each other stories of all the crazy things we had done. It was like she wanted to make sure I hadn't forgotten any of them. She wanted to make sure that I would tell Grace all her favorites. When we were done I don't think there was a tissue left in the house. We even had the Hospice worker and Mrs. Winterbourne crying."

Sam took a shaky breath and rested for a few minutes just enjoying the warmth and security of Jack's embrace. She had never considered herself a woman who would ever be dependent on a man to make her feel complete, her father had taught her better than that. But right then, enveloped in the arms of a man who made her feel like the most cherished woman on earth, she could get used to it.

Jack looked down at the woman in his arms and sighed. He was afraid of just how much he wanted this. Nothing had ever felt this right before, not even with Sarah. They had been young and foolish and gotten married because she had thought she was pregnant and he was being shipped overseas. He was never home so it hadn't really mattered when she found out that she wasn't pregnant. When Charlie finally arrived he had thought that everything would be better. It was, Charlie was the glue that kept them together. Jack had poured all the love that he had into his family and cherished every moment he was home. When Charlie was gone there wasn't much holding he and Sarah together and the divorce was finalized while he was on a mission in the Middle East. Jack had given Sarah everything without question, what did he need it for? He threw himself into his job and spent whatever downtime he had at his fishing cabin and avoiding his family. His mother was beside herself, she had already lost two sons from war, her husband from cancer and now she was losing him from depression. She didn't question when he had come back after his first mission to Abydos a different man. All she knew was that her son had returned and she was grateful. She had no idea that it took him going to another planet to find himself.

Sam was afraid to look up because she knew she would be in trouble. They were already way too comfortable with each other and if she looked up into those sexy chocolate brown eyes she knew she would make a fool of herself. She decided to focus on the material on Jack's shirt.

"We celebrated Grace's birthday every week. Lizzie said she wanted to celebrate as many as she could with her precious little girl. One morning I was woken up by the sound of Grace crying and I knew Lizzie was gone before I entered the room. At the funeral the Hospice nurse gave me an SD card with a recording of Lizzie and I the night we told all those stories to each other. I still haven't been able to listen to it. That was six months ago."

Jack was speechless and couldn't help but wipe the tears from Sam's eyes. He leaned down and gently kissed her cheeks and forehead. "Thank you for sharing that with me," he whispered.

Sam smiled up at him, "Lizzie had made it to Grace's three month birthday and I don't know how I am going to handle her actual birthday in another three months."

"Well," said Jack as he adjusted them so they were a bit more comfortable, "Every one year old should have a great party. Do you think Mrs. Winterbourne would make the cake?"

"I think she would be hurt if we didn't ask her."

"Well then I think it is time that Grace meets her SGC family. We can have a BBQ right here with lots of decorations and tons of presents."

"Thank you Jack," said Sam as she reached up and softly kissed him on the cheek.

"It's my absolute pleasure," he smiled back tempted to kiss her again but knowing that both of them were pretty raw and he didn't want it to get too carried away for all the wrong reasons.

They looked up when they heard Mrs. Winterbourne opening the door. "Oh Colonel," she called. "Could you come get Grace while I put the groceries away?"

He looked down at Sam and grinned, "How could I refuse anything from the woman who has won my heart with her fabulous pie."

Sam couldn't help but laugh at the perfection of it all. She had just poured her heart out and he had sat there and listened intently the entire time, even asking the right questions to get her to open up and finish her story. He knew it had been hard on her and instead of taking advantage of the emotionally charged moment he had been sweet and the perfect gentleman. Where had this man been all her life! If she was smart she would do everything she could to get this man off the market.

But was that fair to him? Did he want an instant family? She knew he had been married and for all she knew he could already have enough children and didn't want to burden himself with any more.

She was such a mess. She had just gone from frustrated with her broken ankle, happy as punch with her visitor, sad and grieving by finally telling someone about Lizzie, happy about how wonderful Jack was to depressed with the thought of him not wanting her and Grace.

If she were Jack O'Neill she would run for the hills.

Just as she was going to tell Jack that he didn't have to stay for dinner, the man in questions walked over with Gracie in his arms looking like the happiest man on earth. She watched in awe as Jack lifted Grace into the air and made her giggle not even getting upset when she grabbed onto his hair and wouldn't let go.

She almost lost it when he plopped down on the sofa beside her, "Mommy help me," he said in a playful voice. "I am stuck on top of this man head and I can't seem to let go."

Grace giggled when Jack shook his head a bit and leaned over so that Sam could pry her fingers off Jack's hair.

"Ba ba ba ba!" yelled Gracie as she banged her little fists onto Jack's head.

"Princess, I am not a bottle," laughed Jack, "But if you let me go I promise to get you one."

Sam couldn't help herself as she burst into a fit of laughter.

She then realized something.

She may emotionally drained but she was happy and it was all going to be ok.

T.B.C

Wow... that was a bit heavy at times... but that is the last of it. It's all fun from here. We just had to get that big bonding sequence out of the way. Jack is going to get a chance to pour his heart out but it won't be as draining.