Janet looked up groggily. As she peered myopically round the room, she realized she was on her own. Mildly peeved at the loss of her warm colonel-shaped pillow, she sat up, intending to go downstairs and find her lover. As she sat, however, the door opened, and Sam entered, bearing two steaming mugs of coffee.

"Mornin'," Sam said softly, smiling as she took in Janet's rumpled appearance, "how did you sleep?" and she passed Janet one of the mugs.

"Great," Janet smiled fondly at Sam. "I always sleep well with your arms around me." She moved over in the bed, leaving room for Sam to slide back in next to her.

Holding her coffee carefully so as not to spill it, Sam climbed in next to Janet. Janet snuggled up next her. "What about you?" she asked, peering closely at Sam, forgetting she hadn't put her lenses in yet and wondering why Sam seemed so out of focus.

Sam laughed, and reached into the drawer on the nightstand, handing Janet her glasses. "Good," she replied, "real good. I feel ready for anything today."

Janet put her glasses on and observed her lover, seeing that she had been telling the truth. Janet could always tell if she had had a bad night. This morning, however, she looked fresh faced and well-rested.

The two women sat companionably drinking their coffee. When she had finished hers, Janet put the mug on the nightstand and leaned into Sam, wrapping her arm protectively around her stomach and holding her tight. Sam took a final gulp of coffee and put her mug next to Janet's. "Hey," she said gently, "you okay?"

"'course I'm okay," Janet's voice was muffled, "I've got you here with me. I'm more than okay." She looked up and saw Sam's beautiful big blue eyes looking down at her, concern visible in her gaze. "Really, Sam," she sat up some and took Sam's hand in hers. "I'm good."

"It's hard on you," Sam said sadly. "Harder than for me. I hate being apart from you, but at least the job, and Atlantis itself, keep me so busy that a lot of the time I don't get time to think. But you're still here," she leaned toward Janet and kissed her gently on the lips, "and nothing's changed for you work-wise. But now when you get to come home in the evening, you're all alone, most of the time."

"Don't let Toby hear you say that!" Janet's tone was gently humorous. "He takes his duties as my protector very seriously you know."

Sam laughed. "You know what I'm saying baby," she said, "and I'm so sorry. Sometimes I forget that you are the one having to do most of the 'dealing'. It won't be forever hon. And," she brightened at the thought, "you're coming out again in just over two weeks, aren't you?"

Janet nodded cheerfully. "Seems Jennifer Keller and I work well together. We've got lots of ideas that we want to implement. So many," she grinned, "that I reckon I'll be heading out Atlantis-way regularly for quite some time," she tightened her grip on Sam.

Sam squeezed her fingers. "That works well for me," she smiled, "after all, it's my responsibility to ensure that every possible effort is made to safeguard the health of all of those in my team, and in the city."

"So," Janet said. "What d'you want to do today?"

"I just want to spend the day with you," Sam told her, "I don't care where we go, or what we do, just so long as you're with me. It's up to you, honey, you decide what to do."

Janet smiled. "In that case, you'd better make yourself comfortable baby, 'cos we ain't going nowhere this mornin'," she said in a Southern drawl. "I have plans for you right here," and she reached up to take off her glasses.

"No," Sam's voice was husky, and she put her hand up to stop Janet. "Leave them on. You know what they do for me. It's that sexy librarian thing all over again," and she leant down to kiss her lover thoroughly, her hand snaking up the inside of Janet's pajama top.

"Okay," Janet gasped, "if that's what you want honey."

"It is," Sam said firmly, taking Janet in her strong arms, "it sure is."

"You're nervous," Anna accused Cassie.

"I am not!" Cassie declared.

"You are, sweetheart, I can tell," Anna smiled at Cassie. "And that's okay. It's quite nice, actually. You're meeting my family for the first time in, what..." she looked at her watch, "three hours and 24 minutes, and you're nervous as a kitten. Don't get me wrong, Cass," she put her hand reassuringly on her arm, "I think it's lovely that you care enough to be nervous. To want to give a good impression. It means you care about me. It's been a long time since somebody's cared that much about me."

"I do care about you, Annie," Cassie said, "I love you. You know that. I have since the first minute I saw you, but somehow I still love you more each day. Each day, I think I couldn't possibly love you any more, but then I wake up the next day and I do. Strange, huh?"

Anna laughed gently. "Well it's the same for me Cass. I don't think I've ever loved anybody so much. And I'm sorry if that means you feel scared of meeting my family, but I'm so pleased that you do, if you follow me."

Cassie grinned. "I know I'm going to love them. I just hope they like me."

Anna pulled her into a tight hug. "They will, Cass, I promise you. Mum was so excited when I told her on the phone yesterday. I've been single for nearly three years, I think she was beginning to despair that I'd ever find the right person."

Cassie still couldn't believe that somebody as captivating as Anna could have been alone for so long. "Well you're definitely not single now," she said, trying to keep her tone light.

"No," Anna smiled, "and I couldn't be happier about it. It's weird, Cassie. In just over a week we're going to be apart for two months, but I've never felt happier. More settled. More sure of the future. And that's all thanks to you."

"It's thanks to Sam, really," Cassie said, laughing softly, "and her obsession with Jane Austen. If I hadn't spotted that book, I might never have stayed in the bookstore long enough to meet you." Her mouth went dry at that thought. "Oh my God, Annie," she looked distraught, "that's how close it was. We might never have met. 'Us' might not have happened."

"Life is a series of happenings," Anna said thoughtfully, "and we just have to be grateful that one of your 'happenings' coincided with one of mine. And from now on, we'll have to make sure that we share as many of our happenings as possible. I'm not leaving anything to chance," she kissed Cassie gently. "I'm not going to risk losing you."

"It'll never happen," Cassie's voice shook with emotion. "Not even if your family hate me!"

"They'll love you, sweetheart," Anna told her for about the fiftieth time. "And Izzie's bursting with excitement. She thinks you joining the family means she's going to get another sister. I suppose she will, in a way?" it was Anna's turn to look nervous.

"Oh she will," Cassie said with feeling, "I can't wait to meet her. I haven't got a sister, and I've always wanted one."

"Even one with Down's?" Anna wondered.

"If she's half as wonderful as you say she is, then especially one with Down's," Cassie reassured her. "Everybody's different, I know that better than anyone. I'm just hoping she'll want to be my sister when she's met me."

"She will, Cass, she will," Anna said with conviction. "I'm nervous too," she admitted in a small voice. "I want you to love them as much as I do. They've been so wonderful to me, Cass. They've always been there for me, all of them. Even when things got bad, actually especially when things were bad, they've always been there. I'm very lucky."

"When things got bad?" Cassie wanted to know.

Anna kissed her again. "I'll tell you soon, I promise. I had a bad time a few years ago. But everything's okay now." She looked at Cassie. "Everything's perfect now," she said, with feeling. "Just perfect."

"We're all going to be one big happy family, Annie," Cassie returned Anna's kiss. "Well, two big happy families. You've still got to meet Mom and Sam. And Toby, of course."

"Toby?" Anna asked.

"The smartest dog in the state," Cassie affirmed, a wide grin on her face. "He's a deal-breaker actually. Love me, love my dog."

"Good thing I've always liked dogs then, isn't it?" Anna laughed.

"Annie?" Cassie asked. "We'll talk soon, huh?"

Anna nodded, turning away so Cassie wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. Cassie was more observant than Anna realized, though, and she put a soft hand on her back. "I've got lots to tell you about my life too, baby," Cassie said in a quiet voice. "It's all going to be okay."

Anna nodded. "I know it," she said, her voice cracking. "We'll talk tonight, after they've gone. I promise."

Cassie rubbed her hand soothingly over Anna's tight shoulders. "Only if you want to," she said, in a gentle voice. "Whenever you're ready."

"Tonight," Anna whispered.

A knock sounded at the door. Anna squeezed Cassie's hand gently, and went over to open the door. Her father enveloped her in a huge bear hug, lifting her off the ground and swinging her round.

"Hi Dad!" Anna said. "Mum! Iz!" and she went over to her mother and sister, and gathered them both in a warm embrace. "I've missed you!"

"We've missed you too Anna," Izzie said. Her voice was slow, but clear, with a lovely warm tone to it. Cassie's heart melted when she saw her lover slip her hand in her sister's, and pulled her across the room.

"Izzie," Anna said, "I want you to meet Cassie. She's very special to me."

Izzie smiled widely at Cassie, and stepped forward, putting her arms round Cassie and hugging her tight. "Hello Cassie," she said. "I'm really happy to meet you."

Cassie returned her hug. "I'm real pleased to meet you too, Izzie, Annie's told me all about you."

Izzie grinned. "I like her!" she announced to her sister. "She's nice. And pretty."

Anna smiled. "She is, isn't she? Cassie, come over here and meet Mum and Dad," and she introduced her to her parents, both of whom greeted her warmly with affectionate hugs and kisses.

The family then spent the best part of an hour drinking tea and chatting non-stop. Cassie was entranced by Anna's family. Her parents were so young, and so full of life. Her mother, in particular, hardly drew breath as she rattled off all the family news, and updated Anna on all that had happened in their neighborhood. Her father smiled indulgently as 'his girls' chattered away. Cassie noticed that Izzie didn't expect, and didn't get, any special treatment; she joined in happily with the others, and if she didn't understand anything that was being said, she just demanded, and got, an explanation.

"Hard to get a word in edgeways, isn't it Cassandra?" Anna's father Roy said with a laugh in his voice.

Cassie laughed. "It's like Anna times three!" she agreed. She turned to him, "and I just love it!"

"Well said!" he replied, "you're going to fit right in I think! Come on, let's see if we can interrupt them, I've booked a restaurant for lunch, we should be leaving."

So, still chattering away, the group of them made their way to a nearby restaurant. Cassie saw Anna slip her hand into her mother's as they reached the street, and she was enormously touched when Izzie came up to her and, very naturally, took Cassie's arm. "It's this way," she said, "Dad took us here last time. I'll show you."

"Thanks Isabella," Cassie smiled warmly at the affectionate girl.

"Call me Izzie," she replied. "All my friends call me Izzie."

After their morning in bed, Sam and Janet finally got up, showered and dressed. "C'mon," Sam announced. "I want to take you to lunch. Somewhere outside. It's a beautiful day. And then," she groaned dramatically. "I've really got to go shopping; I've got to get Cass something for her birthday. Will you help me look?"

"Of course I will hon," Janet said. "It'll cost you a steak and a half bottle of Merlot though. And you're driving home."

"Deal!" Sam grinned.

Three hours later, Sam was looking excitedly through the shelves in the store. "Samantha Carter!" Janet chided, in her most schoolmarm-y voice. "Just because you're a geek doesn't mean you have to buy everything from CircuitCity!"

"Jan!" Sam ignored her, "look at this. It's perfect! She'll love it."

Janet smiled, and looked over her lover's shoulder. "For once, you may be right, Sam, you may be right."

Sam grinned. "I'm getting it!" she decided, and looked round for a sales assistant.

"It's been a real pleasure to meet you, Cassie," Roy told her as they said goodbye outside the door to the apartment.

"Roy!" shrieked Anna's mother Carolyn. "Don't be so formal! Cassie's one of the family now!" she said, and flung her arms round her daughter's girlfriend. "I don't know when or where we'll see you next," she told her, "but it'll be soon, we'll make sure of that."

Izzie nodded enthusiastically. "We'll come and see you somewhere on your trip," she said, "won't we Dad?" Roy smiled his assent. "I really like you Cassie," she told her, "you're nice. Not like Tina, she was horrible. She hurt Anna."

Carolyn looked sternly at Izzie, and shook her head. "What?" asked the girl. "It's true, isn't it? She made Anna ill."

Anna put her arms round her sister. "It is true, Izzie, you're quite right. And Cassie and I have already agreed we're going to talk about it all tonight. It's okay Mum," she saw Carolyn about to protest. "It's over now, and I want Cassie to know everything about me. Once she does, I'll never have to think about it again."

Cassie took Anna's hand and squeezed it gently. "I'm gonna head up to the apartment," she told them all. "It's been a real blast. Thank you so much for lunch, and for welcoming me into your family. Anna, you walk them to the parking lot, you can say goodbye there." She kissed Roy gently on the cheek, and gave Izzie a warm hug. "I'll be good to her, I swear," she told her new sister. "I'll look after her."

Izzie smiled back. "See you soon!" she said.

Cassie made her way upstairs, and watched out of the window as she saw Anna and her family round the corner on the way to the parking lot. She swallowed; her mind was in a turmoil. She was glad, and grateful, to have been welcomed so warmly into this wonderful family. But she could tell from what Izzie had said, and from Carolyn's reaction, that Anna's 'bad time' had probably been worse than she had imagined. She would not ask Anna to reveal more than she was comfortable with, but she would do her utmost to support her.

It was nearly half an hour later when Anna returned to the apartment, and Cassie was in the kitchen, washing up the mugs they had used for tea earlier in the day. She heard the apartment door open, and looked round to see Anna standing in the kitchen doorway.

"They love you," Anna told her, smiling gently, "I told you they would."

Cassie shook the remaining water off her hands and dried them on a towel that lay on the counter. "I love them too," she told Anna, with complete honesty. "You have wonderful parents. And Izzie's just a peach."

Anna grinned with pride. "She really is, isn't she? They love her at the old people's home, the matron there says she cheers them all up on the days she goes in."

"I can see why," Cassie agreed. "She's beautiful, and she's got a beautiful personality to match."

Anna stepped forward and gathered Cassie in her arms, and held her tight. "Can we go to bed before we talk?" she asked in a small voice. "I promise I'll tell you everything afterwards. Making love to you makes me feel so good, so happy."

"Of course we can," Cassie reached up and kissed her lover deeply. "If it were up to me, we'd never get out of bed. But you don't have to tell me anything, not if you're not ready Annie."

"I want you to know," Anna's voice was small and frightened. "I don't want there to be any secrets between us."

"Okay, baby," Cassie told her as she led her towards the bed. "Whatever you need."

Two hours later, Anna wrapped her arms round Cassie, and pulled her gently onto to her lap. She ran her hand through Cassie's hair. "I had a breakdown," she started in a halting voice. "Nearly three years ago."