The great ballroom of the Diamond Falls Lodge was spectacularly decorated. Garlands of evergreens with fresh flowers entwined draped over the stone fireplace and along the balcony railings inside and outside. The lighting was low, complimented by flickering candlelight. The setting could not have been more perfect. Daniel turned away from speaking to General Hammond and smiled as he spotted his wife on the dance floor with her father.

It had been six months since the events on Raahe. Daniel had returned to active field duty two and a half months after the incident on RA1-786, one month after that he had proposed to Sam and she had said yes. Earlier that day they had exchanged their vows under a magnificently clear Colorado sky in the state park's outdoor chapel with the sound of the waterfall cascading into the pool far below as their wedding music. Now, amongst their closest friends, Sam's family, soft waltz music, and laughter, Daniel watched Major Samantha Carter Jackson whirl gracefully around the dance floor in her father's arms and felt his chest tighten with emotion as he gazed at her.

"Well, Daniel," O'Neill wandered up, beer glass in hand, and the throat of his dress uniform loosened, "I have to say, you took long enough." Teal'c was across the room investigating the buffet and Captain Mitchell was on the dance floor with Janet Fraiser. Madison had taken herself off to the lady's room to put on her dancing shoes so she said. O'Neill suspected she was about to shed the gown she had worn to the wedding in favor of something far more comfortable. A number of the guests had.

"We did have a few roadblocks along the way," Daniel responded wryly.

"True," Jack acknowledged and smiled.

SG-1 had returned to the field and although command had kept a close watch on Daniel and Sam, they had proved that they could handle the change in their relationship and maintain professionalism in their work. As Jack had told Hammond, they did not love one another any more or less than before simply because they now shared a home and bed. The team would still be scrutinized closely for a long while, but nothing new there. Getting all the paperwork sorted for their nuptials had been far harder than the adjustment to returning to the field. Jack's smile was warm with affection as he, like Daniel, watched Sam dance with Jacob Carter.

The dance ended and there was a round of applause for the band hired for the event. Sam stood smiling at her father. "Have I mentioned how happy I am that you made it?"

Jacob's grin grew wider. "My kid gets married and you think I'd miss it? Selmak might take offense to that." Laughing, he pulled her into a tight hug.

From over his shoulder, Sam spotted Daniel with Jack. They were talking, not that it was new or all that rare, but just looking at Daniel made her smile soften. Husband. It went through her, making her heart swell with emotion and excitement. The unending depth of love she felt for that man never ceased to amaze her. Everyday was something new and amazing. After eight years of gate-hopping around the galaxy who could have guessed that this love would be the biggest adventure she'd know. She certainly hadn't.

Sam leaned back to smile at her father. "I think I'm going to go and rescue Daniel before it gets too deep over there."

Jacob followed her gaze and laughed. "Probably not a bad idea. Go on."

Her gown rustled around her as she made her way across the dance floor, easily moving through the crowd of guests and well-wishers. She passed Janet with Mitchell, who was doing his very best to be charming and laughed at the look the petite doctor shot her direction. If the young Captain was enthralled by the beauty of her Maid of Honor there was little that Sam could do about it. They'd all been lovely, Sam reflected. Janet, Cassie, and Madison in their pale blue gowns. The men were equally handsome in their uniforms and suits. Daniel in his Armani. Her thoughts were brought back around to him, as they usually were. Sam's bright smile was only for Daniel as she approached the pair.

As Daniel's wife reached them, Jack straightened and sent another affectionate smile toward his friends. Leaning forward, he gave her a kiss, "Carter...Samantha...you are radiant. Congratulations. You need to drag your husband out for a dance while I go find my date."

Daniel chuckled softly at Sam's faint blush over Jack's uncharacteristically warm and public show of affection. Taking her hand, Daniel led her back to the dance floor as the first strains of Yanni's Reflections of Passion began. Pulling her into his arms, Daniel guided them into the steps of a simple, old-style waltz. Gazing into her brilliant sapphire eyes, he knew he was the luckiest man on Earth...or any other planet for that matter.

O'Neill felt a mental pull and turned to see Madison crossing the room, headed in his direction. She looked as lovely clad in her dark jeans and light top as she had arrayed in the simple, ice-blue satin bridesmaid gown earlier. Six months had seen lots of changes with them as well. They had grown closer and Jack guessed they would be considered a couple now as off-duty, their time was mostly spent together at his place or hers. He had yet to actually say the words I love you, but they were there, and shown in lots of little ways. He planned on making his own proposal...soon. It felt right to wait until after the Jacksons' wedding so that one event did not overshadow the other. Besides, there was time. Jack and Madison were only growing closer as the days and weeks passed. Smiling at Madison, he reached out and took her hand, his dark eyes warm with affection that only she could see. "Feel better?"

"Much," she said on a relieved breath. She smiled up at him, blue eyes sparkling with an answering affection and the happiness his proximity usually provoked. "You're thinking about something awfully hard standing here all by yourself." He may or may not tell her what it was, and that was always okay. She didn't have to know the every inner working of his mind to be secure or satisfied in the relationship that had grown between them. Instead, she left that opening for him to share if he so chose and inclined her head at him. "Have I mentioned how much I like that uniform." The corners of her mouth were quirking toward a playful grin.

"Actually, I was thinking about the future and how much brighter it looks than it has in years," Jack answered, "and that the bride looks radiant and the bridegroom looks happier than I think I've ever seen him." He gently drew Madison to him and began swaying slowly to the strains of the beautiful New Age waltz. "I was also thinking about what a wonderful day it was, how lovely you are, and how soon I can get out of this uniform."

"I'm sure something could be arranged very soon." Her hand slid up to cup the back of his neck, fingers toying with his closely cropped hair. "It was a beautiful day," she agreed, "and they deserved it." She glanced over to where Daniel and Sam were swaying together, eyes only for each other. Her gaze returned to her date and softened. "You're looking very pleased yourself." He wanted this for them as much as they'd wanted it for each other. "You're a good friend, Jack. They're lucky to have you in their lives."

"I'm sure one or the other would argue that point on any given day," Jack replied with a laugh. "What about you, do you feel lucky to have me in your life?" He watched her expression carefully as he asked the question.

"As a matter of fact, I do." She grinned up at him. "You're stubborn, occasionally grouchy, and downright ornery sometimes." Her eyes lit with amusement, but more than that it was warmth and love that shone in their blue depths. "You're also very charming when you want to be, and you make me laugh with that sarcastic wit of yours." Her expression grew more serious for a moment. "You're a good man, Jack. I do feel lucky to have you in my life, even with everything that put you there. I have no regrets."

"Good," Jack responded rather enigmatically. "Bodes well for the future." He swung her around to the music with a practiced flourish. In fact, Jack thought, as he danced with the woman he hoped to someday make his wife and looked out over the gathering of friends and friends who had become family, the events on Raahe had come close to destroying them. Jack knew that he would not have survived himself if Daniel had died at his hands. Instead, Daniel had recovered and was stronger than ever due to having finally recognized and admitting his feelings for Carter. She too, Jack noted fondly, seemed to take on a new confidence and that had to have blossomed from the fact that she could now acknowledge long-buried feelings. For something he deplored dealing with, feelings had a lot of power over everyone's lives. Jack sighed softly. He would never wear his heart on his sleeve, but he guessed he would have to admit...on rare occasions...that feelings affected him just like they did everyone else. For the colonel, this was quite an epiphany...perhaps of epic proportions.

Epilogue

Colonel Jack O'Neill glanced around the Gateroom, scowling. He was on the verge of demanding Harriman call Daniel again when the blast doors opened and his errant team member dashed in, running late as always. Daniel glanced at the team and his wife with a sheepish grin, "Sorry, I'm late. I wanted to look over the protocols on when it was correct to refer to the Prime Minister's wife as a cow and when it wasn't." Blue eyes regarded Jack guilelessly.

"Oy," O'Neill snorted before turning and looking up at the Control Room expectantly. The sound of the stargate spinning to life and Harriman counting down the chevrons turned him back toward the stargate. As the wormhole flared to life and then settled back into its shimmering pool of light, he felt his team gather around him, expectant and ready. There was only one thing left...

"Godspeed, SG-1," Hammond's voice called over the intercom system as Jack settled his cap on his head and nodded to his team.