A month later, she was laying on an infirmary bed while Janet got prepared to do her eight week ultrasound. Footsteps approached from the far side of the room, and a voice could be heard clearing his throat to get their attention on the other side of the curtain.

"May I come in?"

They both recognized the voice. Janet looked at her, and she just nodded.

"Come in."

He looked nervous, like he wasn't sure if he was welcome. The silence was deafening as he starred down at his shoes. Everyone was frozen in place, waiting for the silence to be broken. Finally, he looked up. She knew he was doing his best to maintain his strong military persona.

"Look, I went looking for you, and Teal'c told me you were down here for this. I know that I may not exactly be welcome, but..."

She looked up in anticipation of the words that came next. She could feel her heart beginning to race a mile a minute.

"...I was kind of hoping that I could be a part of this since it is my baby, too, and all."

Janet just looked between the two of them, hesitated slightly, and began moving out of the cubicle.

"I'll just leave you two to talk for a minute."

Then, it was just the two of them standing face to face. Yes, there was awkwardness slowly beginning to fill the space between the curtains, but there was something else there too...understanding. Words came gushing out of him as if the hypothetical barrier between them had came crashing down.

"Look, Carter. I wasn't trying to avoid you. I was just trying to sort everything out. This was a lot for me to take in, you know. I never thought that I would be in this type of situation. I didn't think that I wanted to ever have children again, and this was definitely not planned. Plus, on top of it, I admitted in front of General Hammond and Dr. Frasier that I had been having dreams about you. I was embarrassed. You were never supposed to find out about that. I thought you would for sure be mad. So, I ran and hid from it all..."

He walked over and put his hand on top of hers. A shiver ran down her spine.

"...then I had this dream of you. A different type of dream. One I thought I'd never have. You were pushing our child on a swing in the backyard while I was at the grill, fixing dinner. I know, it's a little cliche, but I realized how much I desperately wanted that."

"Sir, you know that will complicate things."

"Yeah, and you know what, for once I don't give a damn. What happened between Jonah and Thera was no accident, Sam. You're only kidding yourself if you tell yourself differently. There have been these unspoken, un-acted-upon feelings floating between us since, oh, I don't know, day one."

"Sir..."

"NO. I know I'm right about this. I may not be the brightest crayon in the coloring box, but I know a good thing when I see it. For GOD'S SAKE, we are having a baby together, Sam! Yes, these feelings between us were definitely unintended but that doesn't mean that they aren't real. And no, I didn't think I would want another child, but that doesn't mean that I'm not happy about this unexpected gift."

"Sir..."

"I'm already talked to Hammond about it. I told him that I had full intentions of being a part of this child's life, that is, if you forgave me and gave me the opportunity. He told me how he was already planning on moving you to the head of the scientific department on base. And yes, it will be hard to break up the team, but he said that he can no longer overlook the glances and subliminal messages that float between the two of us any longer. And do you know what that means? It means that I would no longer be your commanding officer."

"Sir..."

"Now, I know that is a big step, but I..."

"JACK!"

He jumped slightly, and she could tell that he finally realized that she was trying to say something. Suddenly, he stopped and turned towards her.

"I was TRYING to say that I would love for you to be a part of this pregnancy. And yes, I already knew about the transfer to the science department. I had asked Hammond for it because I knew I couldn't raise this child and continue to go off-world with SG-1. And of course I forgive you. I knew how difficult this all had to be for you. You don't have to apologize for the dreams because I was having the same ones. And I know that what happened between Jonah and Thera was no accident. Those feelings that they felt were just the strong feelings that we have had for each other from the beginning. And yes, I would love to try to start a relationship with you."

She knew that things weren't going to be easy. Things never were for them. Their lives were just one emotional stepping stone after another. However, she had also never been happier about anything in her life. She could feel the happiness swelling within in, and when he leaned down to kiss her out of excitement, she didn't care about who would see or what people would say, she just kissed him back with all her heart.