Just kind of an interlude chapter with some angst and some fluffy goodness. I hope you enjoy!

"What was that?" Jack could hear Cain asking the Innkeeper about the noise. He froze on the stairway, hoping their host could distract the SOB.

Bloody hell, thought Jack as he stood there, hoping he wasn't discovered. Why did the man have to show up now? Couldn't they even have had one full day for their honeymoon.

"That's me other half", the Innkeeper said calmly. "She's up cleanin' the rooms for our guests."

"Guests? What guests?" Cain asked suspiciously.

"What guests? Why the one's as come to stay at me Inn. Would you be needin' a room?"

"No, I told you, I'm looking for a young woman. She's run away from home and her mother wants her back."

"Oy, that's bad. A young girl has no business runnin' off by herself. It's a dangerous world out there. All sorts o' cads who would take advantage of a young thing!"

Jack had to cover his mouth with his hand to keep from snorting in laughter. His host was a keeper! The man was probably used to this sort of thing in his business but still, it was quite funny to hear how he was pulling the man's leg.

"She's not by herself!" he practically shouted. "I told you, she's with a man by the name of Jack. We think they eloped and came here."

"Jack? Why that's a name I haven't heard afore. Short man did ya say?"

"NO! He's tall with brown hair, brown eyes. He's young himself – only 17 or 18."

"Ah, no'but a lad then. I don't think he'll harm the little missy as he's only a young'un."

"Harm her? He wants to marry her!"

"Marry? Ah then she'll be alright. I was worried that he was goin' to take advantage of her. But if he's plannin' to make an honest woman o' her – then that's fine."

"No you fool. She's too young to get married and her mother hasn't given her permission. She's run off with this scoundrel who wants her for her money. Her mother sent me to bring her back."

"Oh, why dinya say so afore? Ye should learn not to talk around things like that. It makes it right hard to understand ya."

Jack was pretty sure he could hear Cain pop some major blood vessels. He just hoped the Innkeeper didn't end up in trouble over this.

"Have – you – seen – them!" Cain spoke very slowly, clearly holding on with a tight grip to his anger.

"Seen em? Nay, we serve respectable couples here. Not for the missus and me any scoundrels. Best try the Crown and Whistle. They're more likely to cater to your sort!"

"The Crown and Whistle? Where's that?"

"A, that's the other side o' town – up towards the hills. It's a rather disreputable place so I'd be right careful. Lot's o' thieves and scaliwags up there."

"Why the hell would they go there then?" Cain dripped venomously.

"Well, you said as he were a scoundrel so that's where he'd go."

"They came to get married. Where would they be able to do that?"

Jack heard the weary resignation in the wealthy man's voice and realized that he'd finally figured there was no point in attempting to reason with the dense landlord. Jack chuckled silently – dense? The man was brilliant!

"Where? Well anywhere. Here all ya gotta do is declare you're married in front of witnesses fer it ta be legal."

"That's IT?" This time he did shout.

"Aye – no need to shout. Well, of course the couple has to-" there was silence and then a cackle of laughter from the Innkeeper. Jack could only imagine what gestures he'd used to describe what the couple had to do.

"You're telling me they have to CONSUMATE THE MARRIAGE?"

"Aye – and I keep tellin' ya that ya don't hafta shout. My missus 'l tell ya my hearin is good!"

"Oh my God. Tell me again where this Crown and Whistle is?"

A few minutes later Jack heard the front door slam and the sound of a horse galloping quickly away.

"There ya be young fella!"

Jack looked down to the bottom of the stairs to see his host looking up at him with a very self-satisfied grin. He couldn't help but grin back.

"Definitely worth the guinea!" he said. "I bow to the master!"

"Aye", the man replied. Jack pretty much figured that was his favorite word. "We get lots o that sort around here. Makes life more interestin'."

"Well, I'm sorry you had to deal with him. I hope you won't get into trouble for keeping us."

"Ney! Tha's our business here. We like to help young love – and it brings a tidy penny! Donna be worried about that man. The people around here won't put up with anyone comin' in and botherin' our citizens. All of us depend on people like you and your missus. You just stay right tidy in your room and enjoy your new wife. He'll leave in a couple of days and by then you'll be well and truly wed. If you're lucky you'll already have put a little wee babe into that sweet wife o' yorn!"

It was a good thing that the man moved away then as Jack was feeling decidedly red in the face. Oh my God – he hadn't even thought about kids – hell, they hadn't even talked about them. They'd only been 'dating' for a few weeks and neither of them had approached anything that heavy.

Crap – there was no such thing as birth control here – except for abstinence of course – and Jack really, really didn't like that idea. And anyway – it could already be too late. With a slightly worried frown he turned back to their room, prepared to talk to Sam.

"Is everything okay?" she asked when he entered without any food or drink.

"Huh?" he asked, still frowning.

"You were gone a while and I was starting to worry. Is Eliazar bringing the food?"

"Who?" he asked in confusion.

"Eliazar – the landlord."

"Oh – I didn't know his name. Uh – no – I actually forgot to ask about the food."

"Jack, what is it? What's wrong?"

"Cain – he was here."

"Oh my God! Did he see you?"

"No, fortunately I heard his voice before I got downstairs. The la – Eliazar managed to convince him we weren't here and sent him away. He suggested we stay here for a few days before heading back."

"That sounds okay. You're sure he doesn't suspect?"

"No, I don't think so. He didn't sound like it and I heard him go tearing off."

"So what's the matter then?" She asked gently. He looked worried about something and she didn't think it was the appearance of Cain.

"Uh – Sam?" he walked over and carefully sat beside her on the bed. "I just had a thought."

"Yeah? What is it? You're kind of freaking me out here you know."

"Sorry, I don't mean to – it's just-"

"What?"

He turned and faced her, his expression unusually serious. "Have you thought about kids Sam?"

"Kids?" she asked, confused.

"Yeah – have you thought about having kids?"

"Well – yes. I mean, in theory. It's not something I've thought about in any immediate sense – just that I'd like to have them some day."

"Some day? But not now?"

"Jack – what is this about?" She was starting to worry. God, they hadn't even talked about kids. What if Jack didn't want any?

"It's just something the landlord said – he suggested you might – we might – hell, he figured we'd be in luck if you got pregnant while we were here. It made me realize we've never even talked about it and – there's nothing we can do except not-"

"Well, that's not an option", she snorted. He looked at her in surprise – she didn't seem too upset or worried.

"It's not?"

"Hell no. I'm sorry Jack but I've waited years to be able to - uh - so don't think that we're going back to a platonic relationship. Nope – it's not gonna happen!"

"Not?"

"Nope!"

"Okay – that's – hell", he grinned, "sweet!" Soon after his face grew serious again. "But we still haven't talked about kids."

"Do you want them Jack?"

"With you? Oh yeah, if you do."

"You're not – "

"Not what?"

"Well, I just thought – after –"

"Charlie?" he said softly.

She was pretty sure this was the first time she'd ever actually heard him refer to his son by name, at least to her. It was a topic he avoided like the plague and certainly wasn't something any of them – except maybe Daniel – ever brought up.

"I don't mean to bring up bad memories Jack, and I know you don't like to talk about him. I just don't know how you feel about having more children."

He knew he had to talk to her about this but it was difficult. It was something he'd kept close for so many years, never discussing it with anyone. Daniel had tried, on one or two occasions, to bring it up but Jack had let it be known that it wasn't something he was willing to discuss. But now he was married again and he was going to spend his life with Sam. She needed to understand, at least a little, about the terrible hole in his heart. It didn't mean he would love her less, but it did mean that there would always be a part of him that was wounded beyond healing.

He sighed and then took a deep breath. Closing his eyes for a moment he allowed himself to think of his son. Usually he refused to let himself to think too deeply about Charlie, knowing it would send him into a tailspin of grief. It was strange really, that after so many years it sometimes felt as if no time had passed. The sharp agony of the loss would hit him as hard as it had right after his son had died.

"He was my world", Jack said softly. "I'd always wanted kids – ever since I could remember. When Sara and I got married we used to talk about having a whole hockey team. When Charlie was born I was crazy happy. – I missed his birth – I was overseas – but when I got back and first saw him, I realized that that moment – that instant when I looked at him and saw that he was a part of me and Sara – that I'd never felt such an overwhelming sense of love, of completeness. He was the cutest little thing – and I'm not just saying that because I was his father. Everybody thought he was adorable. Sara could barely go shopping with him, she'd get stopped so many times."

Sam watched as Jack began to speak of his son, knowing that she was seeing something rare and very precious. He was opening up to her in a way he never had before. She suspected he hadn't opened up to anyone like this – except maybe his wife – although even there she wondered. They had gotten divorced after all, and Daniel had hinted it was because of the way Jack had closed himself off after the tragic death of his son.

"I hated being away from him", he continued, "but I was sent to Iraq when he was just two years old. He was what kept me going when I was captured – he and Sara."

Sam could tell that he was lost in his memories now, and she didn't think he even realized she was there. She sat quietly, not wanting to disturb him, but ready to be there if he needed her.

He spoke softly for the next half hour, telling her stories of Charlie's childhood – precious memories that any parent would treasure – but which must be both painful and sweet for a father who had lost his son.

Jack spoke of the day he'd returned and had heard the gunshot, and then he stopped. Tears had gathered in her eyes and she was having trouble keeping them from escaping. Jack's eyes, on the other hand, were dry. She wondered how often he had allowed himself to cry – or maybe he'd cried so much there were no more tears left.

He didn't say anything for a long time. He was staring as if at something that was etched deeply into his soul, which she was sure it was. She so wanted to reach out and hold him, but didn't feel she had the right to intrude on this, his very private grief.

"I wanted to die Sam", he finally whispered. "I knew I couldn't go on. Daniel knows – he's the only one who does. I went to Abydos to die because I was too much of a coward to do it myself!"

"No Jack!", she couldn't help but interrupt him. "You were not a coward – never that. If there's anything I've learned about you is that you are one of the strongest, bravest men I know. Killing yourself – that would have been the act of a coward. Instead you kept on going, through the most unimaginable pain. Only someone truly brave could have done that Jack! And in doing that you saved Daniel – and Skaara – and all the people of Abydos."

"But it didn't bring him back Sam", he cried. He looked at her and she could then see the tears in his eyes. She was shocked – it was the first time she'd ever seen Jack O'Neill cry. "I couldn't bring him back!"

"Oh my love." She leaned forward and gathered him in her arms where he stayed although stiff and unyielding. It was only when she spoke, whispering into his neck "let go, let it go Jack. I'm here for always", that she could feel the tension begin to melt. Soon afterward, however, he began to shake. Soon, he was sobbing silently but desperately, into her shoulder. She held and rocked him for what felt like hours as he let go of the pain and anguish he'd held for so many years.

She was not naïve enough to think that he'd be all better after this. No, she was pretty sure that the pain and guilt would always remain. But maybe, just maybe, he could get some relief from letting her share his pain. Oh, she knew him well enough to know he'd be mortified at first, but then he'd feel better, even if only for a short time. She also knew that she'd just been shown the strongest demonstration of his love for her. By letting himself be vulnerable he proved how much he trusted her. That was a very rare thing for Jack O'Neill.

He eventually calmed down, although he didn't move away from her. She was actually starting to feel stiff but didn't want to disturb him. It was when she realized that he had moved to the 'embarrassment' stage that she finally pulled back, slightly.

"Are you okay?" she asked lovingly.

"Hmmph", he replied – which really didn't tell her anything.

"Jack?"

"Hmmph", he said again, burying his head even more firmly into her neck.

"Jack – you will have to eventually eat and drink you know – and then of course your bladder will become very uncomfortable!" She could feel, rather than hear, his snort. At least he finally lifted his head.

He was embarrassed and tried to surreptitiously wipe his face to remove evidence of his tears. She simply reached over and grabbed a handkerchief off the night table and handed it to him.

"Thks!' he said gruffly.

"Jack." When he didn't respond she said it again. "Jack."

"What?" he asked, not looking at her.

"Thank you."

"Thank me? What for – for having me blubber all over you."

"No – for trusting me and loving me enough to share something so important with me. I've known for a long time – we all have, Daniel, Teal'c and me – that Charlie is a huge part of your life, of who you are. We – I – would never take that away from you or belittle it. The fact that you told me about him, that you shared his life with me – means more than you'll ever know. I love you Jack O'Neill – and don't you dare be embarrassed about letting me in to your life and your thoughts – and sometimes into your pain. Believe me when I say that all I feel is fortunate that you were willing to share and it also makes me know that I can do the same to you someday."

He finally lifted his head and was able to look at her. She wanted to cry herself at the expression on his face. God – what he'd been through. She really didn't know how he'd been so strong as to survive.

Just then, a small smile broke out on his face. His eyes still mirrored his anguish – but his lips showed the indomitable spirit that was Jack O'Neill. "You promise?" he said softly.

"Promise – oh – to let you in to some of my deep secrets? Yes, I definitely will – but not right now, okay?" she smiled softly.

"Too much 'angst' for one day?" he said, a soft, lop-sided grin on his face.

"Just enough", she answered with a returning smile.

He leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. It wasn't a kiss of passion – or even of a husband to a wife. No, it was a kiss of gratitude and of trust, between one good friend and another. "Thank you Sam. I've never – you're the first person I've – shared Charlie with."

This time it was she who leaned forward – but she kissed him on the lips. "I know, and I'm honored. I'm glad to know him."

The two sat beside each other for a long time. They didn't cuddle – they simply sat, shoulder touching shoulder, thinking about life, about their new life together, on this planet. It was Jack who finally broke the silence.

"So, this started out about having kids!" He took a deep breath and turned to her. "The fact is Sam – yes, I'd like more – even though the thought terrifies me and excites me at the same time. But it wasn't something we talked about and I feel terrible if it's not something you want – or at least not something right now."

"Jack – I can't say as I've given it that much thought before, although I'm happy to know you want children. If you hadn't well – I would have accepted that and been happy with just the two of us – but I would like to have your child. As for the timing – well, I admit that I worry that with a child we'll never make it home. It would be too difficult to travel and possibly too dangerous. If I do get pregnant well – we'll just have to maybe decide that this is where we're meant to be and give up on going back to earth."

"And you'd be okay with that?" he asked.

"Well, it would be hard, and I suppose we'd grieve – but at least I'd be with you and with our child or children. I know I could be happy here as long as we're together."

"God, I love you Samantha Carter! What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"You lived."