"C'mon, doc, I'm good to go, aren't I?" Jack fidgeted in the bed.

"Well, Colonel, I'd say you're good enough to go home for the day, but…" The curtain around the bed was pulled back and Daniel barreled in.

"Jack, you stupid idiot!" There was practically steam coming from his ears.

"Daniel!" Janet protested.

"Gee, Daniel, thanks so much. Good to see you, too."

Daniel put his hands on top of his head in frustration, and turned a circle before grabbing the bed rail and leaning in toward Jack. "Sam will probably never speak to me again for this, but at this point I really don't care. Listen to me very carefully, Jack, the baby Sam's carrying is NOT Pete's, it's YOURS, okay? Got that ?"

Jack stared at Daniel, slack jaw. "What?"

"You are the father of Sam's baby. Well, technically it's Jonah's, but you know what I mean."

"No, I asked her twice if it was mine and she said no."

"SAM LIED. Deal with it. And now she's planning on getting rid of it. You have to stop her."

"What? Why would she do that?" Jack looked stunned.

"I don't know, but she showed up in my lab this morning and she was freaked out. She was a mess, crying her eyes out, and she said she couldn't go through with it. She'd made an appointment at the clinic downtown for 2:00 today and if I don't pick her up and take her by 1:30 she's going alone."

Jack looked at him for a moment before throwing the covers back. He made a grab for the IV tube. "Get me out of this, now!"

Sam sat quietly on her couch, watching the clock. It was about 1:15. Daniel would be here in a few minutes. Poor Daniel, she was going to throw him another curve. She'd already decided she couldn't do it. Couldn't get rid of the baby. Once she calmed down she knew she was going to keep her. Well, actually Beans and Peeps had helped her decide, silly as that sounded.

She'd come home, still very upset, and the first thing she lay eyes on were the stuffed animals. She'd grabbed them up and had intended to throw them in the trash, when Beans' goofy face caught her eye. She knew she was imagining it, but she could have sworn he was looking at her reproachfully as he hung over the kitchen trash can. Sam took a deep breath and stopped. That's when she knew she couldn't do this. When Daniel got here she'd tell him, and he'd no doubt be greatly relieved.

Beans and Peeps were back in there current places on the couch, and Sam had a feeling of deep contentment. She could do this. It would be just her and the baby, and they would be just fine.

There was a knock at the door, and Sam got up, taking a deep breath. As she opened the door, she said, "Listen, Daniel, change in plans…sir!" It was Jack, his arm in a sling, and he looked terrible.

He just looked at her for a moment before grinding out, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Sam felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. "Daniel told you?"

Jack moved forward backing her into the house. "Yes, Daniel told me, but what I'd like to know is why YOU didn't tell me?"

"Daniel had no right…"

"No right? Well I guess if he didn't tell me no one would, because apparently you'd rather kill our child than admit to me that I'm the father, isn't that right?" Jack's voice broke when he said the words, and his eyes were suspiciously bright.

"No! God, no!" Sam's eyes filled with tears and without thought she moved forward and took Jack's face in her hands, completely moving past his defenses. He tried to pull away, but she wouldn't let him. She put her forehead to his and they stood breathing heavily for a moment. "Don't you see? This baby was conceived when we thought we were other people, with those other people's feelings. I know you're in love with Kerry Johnson, and I couldn't ruin that for you because I was pregnant. As much as I love you, I didn't want you coming to me because you felt obligated, because you felt responsible, and I knew you would."

Jack had his good hand on her back. "No. No. Listen to me. When Brenna was in the infirmary I asked her if they'd programmed us to be lovers, and she said no, that had nothing to do with our imprints. It was us, Jack and Sam, our feelings that came through. Without the barriers of our ranks, we were able to act freely on our feelings. It was us, Sam, you and me that conceived this baby."

"But I came to you the day after I found out. I was going to tell you, but I saw you with Kerry in your office. You two looked so happy together."

"You saw that? I had just told her I couldn't see her anymore. Do you really think I could go from being lovers with you, to being involved with her just like that? I had every intention of going to you afterward and finding a way for us to be together, but you were so distant and cold toward me that I thought you regretted what happened in the plant."

"Oh, Jack" Sam sniffled. "We've both been going on some very flawed assumptions, haven't we? But, wait. What about Kerry's ring? She said she was getting married in two weeks."

"She is, just not to me." Sam frowned. "When we broke up she went to her ex-boyfriend to cry on his shoulder, apparently, and he took her back with open arms. He asked her to marry him right then. Seems like they're going to be very happy."

"Oh."

"Sam," Jack took her hands in his. "I know it's your decision, but please don't do this, please don't get rid of the baby."

Sam gave him a watery smile. "I already called and cancelled the appointment. I couldn't do it. Beans made me see that."

"Beans? The bunny?"

"He can look very disapproving when he wants to."

Jack almost smiled. "That's my bunny." He took her in his arms, well, arm again. So, you love me, huh?"

"Yeah, I do. Lots."

Jack nodded in approval. "Me, too. You, that is." He kissed her softly. "And we're having this baby, right?"

"Yep, come September we're having a baby."

"September, eh? Sooo, maybe we could do a June wedding?"

"Wedding?"

"Yeah, wanna get married? You know, since we're having a baby and all?"

"Not just because we're having a baby."

"Okay, how about because I love you like crazy. Always have, always will. Does that work?"

Sam kissed him quickly. "That works out great, because I feel the same about you." Things got a little heated until Jack pulled back suddenly.

"Oh, and Sam?"

"I get to come to every sonogram and doctor's appointment from now on, right?"

"Absolutely!"

They had to get it all cleared with General Hammond and the Joint Chiefs, but due to extenuating circumstances, there wasn't too much trouble getting permission to get married.

In the months that followed, Jack was with Sam for everything concerning the baby, including Lamaze classes. They had a June wedding on Jack's deck, with Daniel and Teal'c as co-best men, and Janet and Cassie stood up for Sam. Sam was showing a bit more in her empire-waist wedding dress, but Jack thought she looked beautiful, and it was a lovely day.

As she got bigger Jack seemed more hesitant to make love to her, and she finally asked him why. "Is it because I'm getting so big? Am I not attractive to you anymore?"

"No, no." Jack took her in his arms. "To be quite honest, I find you very sexy like this."

"You do?"

"Yeah, all ripe and rounded in the right places, and Pamela Anderson has nothing on you at this point." He cupped her breasts gently and Sam giggled.

"To be honest, I don't really remember what it was like when Sara was pregnant with Charlie. I'm afraid of hurting the baby," he finally admitted.

Sam shook her head. "No, see, Janet explained it to me. Let's say you decide you want to put your car in my garage, right?"

"Uh, okay." He looked a little confused, but seemed to be following the gist of what she was saying.

"Well, the baby's inside the house and you putting the car in the garage doesn't affect the baby at all. As long as it's comfortable for me, then it's fine."

"Sooo, if I put my, say, Expedition, in your garage, the baby is safe inside the house, right?"

Sam grinned. "You got it."

"Okay, fine by me."

Sam's water broke during the Labor Day (no pun intended) picnic in Jack's back yard. Jack rushed her to the hospital, glad that Janet was with them, followed by Daniel, Teal'c, Cassie and General Hammond in Teal'c's SUV.

Approximately nine hours later, Grace Thera O'Neill was born, weighing eight pounds six ounces. She was twenty two inches long and had a very healthy cry. Jack had not only been Sam's Lamaze coach, he'd actually climbed onto the bed behind her, long legs on either side of hers, and let her push back against him during contractions, holding her hands and helping her push during the rough ones, then let her lean back against him in between.

They were both hot and sweaty when the bundled baby was put into Sam's arms. Sam was laughing and crying at the same time. Jack buried his face in her neck and she realized he was really crying. This had to be an emotional time for him after losing one child. She leaned her cheek against his. "Hey, you okay?"

Jack raised his head with tears on his cheeks and a big smile on his face. He palmed the tears away and took the baby in his hands. "Couldn't be better. Isn't she gorgeous? I'm instantly in love." As the baby let out another howl, Jack looked at Sam with a watery laugh and kissed her.

Six weeks later Sam sat in the rocking chair in Gracie's room nursing her. Jack had nicknamed her "Little GTO" and hummed the tune to her day and night—including the "Whah, whah" parts-- to the point Sam wondered if it was too late to change her name. Sam glanced down at Grace and rocked a little. The baby's eyes were at half-mast and she was making little fists against Sam's breast as she fed. Sam sighed. Total contentment. She couldn't believe that even for a second she had considered getting rid of this baby, and felt a rush of maternal protectiveness come over her. She leaned down and kissed Grace's head softly, then ran a finger over her little cheek.

Sam heard the front door open and Jack yell, "I'm home!"

"Back here!' Sam called.

Jack pushed the door open and smiled at the sight before him. "Hello, my beautiful girls." "Hello wife." He leaned over and kissed Sam's lips. "Munchkin." He kissed the top of Gracie's head. He rubbed a knuckle against the arch in the baby's foot. Grace opened her eyes and gave him a milky, gummy grin, little legs pistoning in and out in excitement.

"I know you say it's just gas, but I swear she recognizes me."

"Yeah, she knows her daddy," Sam agreed.

"Who's your daddy, huh? Who's your daddy?" Jack asked in baby talk, making Sam roll her eyes.

Jack watched Sam nurse a little while longer, and Sam realized he was a bit fixated on her breast. She raised an eyebrow. "See something you like?"

Jack roused himself at her words. His eyes flew up to hers, then he shook his head. "I'm a sick, sick man." He fled from the room.

Sam chuckled. She raised Grace up and lay her on her shoulder to burp. "Daddy's been deprived way too long. I have a big surprise for him tonight, though. That is, if you cooperate by going down early, kid."

Later that evening Jack finished feeding Gracie. Sam expressed some milk so Jack could feed her, too, and they kept several bottles in the fridge. Jack was a hands-on dad, feeding Gracie and changing her diapers. Sam was very lucky to have a mate who wanted to share it all with her.

He put Grace up on his shoulder to burp her and strolled around the room patting her on the back. He was rewarded with the sound of a deep belch. He grinned.

"Whoa! Good one, princess. Such a lady." He checked the towel he had thrown over his shoulder. "Get any on me?"

She hadn't, so he put her down in her crib under the watchful gaze of Beans and Peeps.

Grace was wearing a little pink sleeper, and Jack couldn't believe how small and how beautiful she was. Her hair was somewhere between the blonde of her mother, and the brown his hair had been in his youth. More a golden brown, he guessed. Her eyes were blue, but the doctor said they could turn brown any time or just stay blue. It would be interesting to see how they developed. Brown was a dominant color, but he sort of hoped they'd stay the color of her mother's.

He covered her with a little white blanket, and smiled when her little lips worked up and down like she was still feeding. He couldn't believe how incredibly lucky he was. A beautiful wife and daughter, it couldn't get much better. He gently stroked Gracie's head with a thumb, then leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Sweet dreams, my sweet girl." He murmured softly.

He turned on the nightlight and baby monitor, and left the door ajar, wandering into the bedroom. Sam was in the bathroom, but called out, "Did she go down okay"

"Out like a light." Jack flopped down on the bed, fully clothed. "I don't think I'm too far behind." He put his hands behind his head and waited for Sam to give up the bathroom.

"Gee, I hope you're not too tired." Sam appeared before him wearing a very sexy black negligee.

Jack sat straight up. "Wow. You look…amazing. Wow."

Sam smiled. "You said that."

"You just decided you wanted to torture me a little, is that it?"

Sam shook her head. "Nope. Went to the doctor today. He gave us the green light to 'resume intimate relations again,'" She made quotation marks with her fingers. "As long as I feel comfortable with it--and I do."

"You do?" Jack was on his feet.

"Yep. How about you?"

Jack pulled her close. "Doesn't it feel like I'm good to go?"

"Oh yeah." Jack had lowered the straps to her negligee and was exploring the area with his lips.

"I love you Sam." His voice was muffled into her neck.

"Love you, too."

"Wanna work on a little Jonah to go with our Thera?"

Sam huffed out a laugh. "Uh, I'm still sort of recovering from the first one, can I take a rain check on that for a while?"

"Sure, practice is always good, right?"

"Yep, practice makes perfect." Sam managed to get out before Jack kissed her passionately.

Fin