"Your regular rooms," Jack told Ilse.

She nodded and picked up her baby daughter from her playpen. "Matt?"

Matt picked up their son, Sebastian, who was lying on the couch. He'd been sitting with them at the table during lunch, but he was still recuperating from a nasty stomach bug so he tired easily. Ilse and himself had almost been expecting that they wouldn't be able to come by today, but luckily Sebastian was feeling a lot better since Christmas. At first they thought their son was a bit quiet during the holidays because of all the excitement, presents and visiting relatives, but when they had come home the 27th and he got sick they'd gone to their doctor. Apparently, Sebastian was already almost over it by then and the doctor had told them that the infectious stage was over, so it was no problem to visit family with New Year's Eve as long as he got plenty of rest. Luckily, no one of their friends or family had been infected. Since Sebastian had been chatting almost non-stop during the one-hour drive over to Jack's house, Matt had expected him to get tired as soon as he was reunited with his cousins and when his son had started yawning after finishing his lunch he told him to go lie down and helped him get settled on the couch.

Now, everyone had finished their lunch, the table had been cleared and the dishwasher loaded. Jack and Sam had gotten everyone something to drink as they'd started moving towards the living room. Ilse had asked Jack if it was okay to bring Sebastian upstairs so he could sleep for an hour or two, while she would go feed Simone. Jack had offered to help carry Sebastian, but Matt had declined and said he might as well bring his son up so that they could also unpack their overnight bags. "We'll be back in a bit," he told everyone as he followed his wife out the living room and up the stairs.

"I think Jack put the bags in our room," Ilse said over her shoulder as she crossed the landing heading to their usual rooms. When Lily was still alive she'd always had a room for her sister and her mother prepped, next to the other guest rooms and now that Jack owned the house her room was still hers – and Matt's – and Anna's room had been assigned to Sebastian after her passing and now that they had Simone too, they shared the room. She pressed the handle of the door to the children's room down with her elbow and turned so she could push the door open with her shoulder, while making sure her daughter was comfortably lying in her arms.

"I'll get the kids' stuff," Matt replied as he stepped into the room after her and walked over to the bed. "Do you think he'll be all right in there?"

As she sat down in chair in the corner, Ilse looked up at him. He was gesturing towards the bed – it was an ordinary bed – and she shrugged as well as she could with her daughter in her arms. "I guess we'll find out. I mean, it's not his usual toddler bed but we had already talked about this, right?"

"I know," he said in a soft tone as he placed their son on the mattress and stood back. "I just hope he won't fall out while sleeping."

"He'll be fine," she reassured him with more confidence than she felt. They had discussed this a few weeks ago after friends of theirs had asked them when they were planning to let Sebastian sleep in an ordinary bed now that their daughter had turned two and they weren't sure if it was the best option for her. Ilse had been of the opinion that they could wait it out a bit longer, after all Sebastian was only twenty months old and they had started looking around for a new bed and other furniture for their son in the meantime. It had been a while since they had stayed over at Jack's and now Simone needed the crib to sleep in so there really wasn't any other option for Sebastian.

"I'll be right back," Matt said, pointing at the door over his shoulder.

Ilse nodded and made herself comfortable on the chair, before positioning her daughter in her arms and unbuttoning her blouse. She took the small safety pin she'd placed on the right strap of her bra earlier as a reminder off and placed it on the window sill. With a practiced move, she quickly uncovered her right breast and stroked Simone's left cheek to get her attention – and mouth – to her nipple so she could start feeding. She looked up when the door opened again and Matt walked in, holding a small green backpack and a diaper bag in his hands. "Found everything?"

"Yeah," he whispered, watching her for a moment. He had never been the emotional type but he couldn't help watching enthralled whenever his wife was breastfeeding their child. The sight nearly took his breath away and touched something inside of him; pride, love, possessiveness… sometimes just lust or even jealousy, but it never failed to stir something inside. If anyone would have told him five years ago he'd be married to her with two kids and living a very content life, he probably would've laughed in their face. It was true that he'd always lusted after Ilse, had even developed a little crush on her which he had always thought was because she was one of few who didn't reciprocate his advances and actually turned him down on several occasions.

Something about the chase that kept him interested, wanting to conquer her just for once. Then, when he had finally succeeded in seducing her, he had wanted more and that surprised – even scared – him. He wasn't the type for steady relationships, he preferred flings or just casual sex with a beautiful woman without getting attached. There was just something about her that had caught his eye the first time they met and, apparently, it weren't her looks as he had always thought. No, it went deeper than that and for the first time in his life he had actually fallen in love with a woman who wasn't really interested in more than a one-night-stand.

He was an artist, painting being one of his specialties and he liked using his emotions, his passion for life and his love for pretty women who warmed his bed to create a piece. According to those that were important in his area of expertise, he was quite good at it. Only when he had experienced his first case of heartbreak did he realize how important his passions were for his work. After Ilse had rejected him – again – he had created some of his… darker work. Surprisingly, it had sold pretty good as well. Apparently it was some kind of phase he had to go through and the work he produced in the meantime was highly valuable because of that, according to the experts that was. It was comparable to a limited edition, his agent told him. He couldn't have cared less as Ilse had been the only thing on his mind – he was already settled for life, if not due to his work then thanks to his successful parents.

Then, out of the blue she had contacted him. Something had happened the last time they'd been – physically – together and a bond for life had been created at that moment when she had gotten pregnant with his child. He had been elated as it meant more contact – and hopefully more – between the two of them and scared shitless at the same time. A child! If anyone wasn't parent material, it would be him. However, Ilse had informed him politely that she would be keeping the baby and that if he were to insist he would be allowed a more involved role in the unborn child's life. And, indirectly hers. He had thought long and hard about it, even though he knew he could never turn his back on his own flesh and blood – which was why he usually used a condom as he had when they'd been rolling around – and had tried talking to some of his friends about it, but most of them were like him; childless and loving it. Without thinking about it further, he had contacted her again and said he wanted to be there for her and the baby. She had been cool at first, almost distant and so unlike the woman he'd fallen for that it freaked him out a bit.

Eventually, he had informed his parents too – who were ecstatic, never expecting him to actually settle down – and had dragged Ilse with him for a visit. His father, a successful businessman already knew of her because of the industry and Ilse and Anna's work and had been practically smitten with her. Matt couldn't blame him and apparently, neither could his mother who had welcomed her with open arms too. Slowly, but surely Ilse had opened up a bit too during the week they'd been staying with them and she had shown him that side of her he loved. From then on, things had only gotten better and it hadn't taken him long to propose and although shocked, he'd been able to convince her and before Sebastian was six months old she was pregnant again. Now, he couldn't remember what he'd loved about his life before getting together with her and having those beautiful children.

"You're staring," Ilse remarked, cocking her head to the side as she studied him.

He could feel his cheeks burn and averted his gaze. "Sorry, was just thinking," he said in a soft tone, not wanting to wake their son. He bent down and took off Sebastian's socks, jeans and sweater, leaving him in his underwear and diaper before pulling out his PJs from the backpack. With a few creative moves he quickly changed the diaper for a new one and was able to dress his son without waking him and he gently pulled the covers over his small frame, hoping that his wife was right and the boy wouldn't fall out of the bed. Matt looked up in time to see Ilse put her pinky in Simone's little mouth to unlatch their greedy daughter and switch breasts. He waited until Simone was happily gulping down milk again and sat down at the foot of Sebastian's bed. "I love you, you know" he spoke up.

Taken slightly aback, Ilse glanced up and held his intense gaze. He usually wasn't the type to declare his love for her out of the blue, although he could be romantic at times – but that was usually when they were alone and she knew exactly what his goal was at those times. "I know," she responded, giving him a small smile before returning her attention to their daughter.

"So," Daniel drawled out as he leaned back into the couch, cradling his coffee in one hand.

"Daniel?" Jack prompted, raising his brows at his friend.

Figuring they could talk now that Ilse and her husband were upstairs, he gestured towards the entry hall – more specifically, trying to indicate the door to the basement. "A secret lab in your basement?"

"Well," Jack smirked, "it's no bat cave but it'll do."

"No seriously," Daniel rolled his eyes, "your office is in your basement?"

Frowning, Sam decided to join the conversation. "Why does that surprise you?"

"I don't know," he answered truthfully. "It just seems so…."

"Secretive?" Cassie supplied as he failed to find the right word.

Jack chuckled when the archeologist shrugged helplessly. "I am the director of Homeworld Security, Daniel. One needs top level clearance to even know about the department."

"I guess you have a point there," he admitted.

Cassie took a sip of her orange juice before setting the glass back on the table. "I think it's kind of cool, to have your own secret lair."

"Indeed, a warrior and leader of high position needs a covert base of operations," Teal'c agreed, bowing his head slightly towards Cassandra Fraiser.

"Especially now that we've installed the beaming technology here as well," Sam elaborated. "It's not as if Jack can just close the blinds every time someone needs to be beamed over or whenever he is having a videoconference with the JCS or the President."

Daniel nodded pensively, seeing that they made a good argument. "So, how did you explain it to the builders? I mean, this entire place must have needed reconstruction… what, did you tell them you wanted a bunker or something?"

"No," Jack drawled out, slowly shaking his head. "Actually, the basement didn't need that much work; Lily had this place built with a spacious recording studio in the basement… most of downstairs was already made soundproof and as director of HWS I just have to snap my fingers and a couple of airmen will come running to secure the house and make the necessary changes."

"Well, it was definitely secured all right," he replied.

Teal'c raised an eyebrow at his friend. "Are you suggesting an underground base of operation wished to remain inconspicuous would not need extreme security measures, Daniel Jackson?"

"What, no of course no- Oh, very funny, Teal'c," Daniel rolled his eyes. "So, you're going to keep the beaming technology here, Jack?"

"Of course," he nodded, a bit surprised by the question. "Everyone important connected to HWS has access to it so that communications and emergency situations can be handled even better. You don't want to know how many times I've been flying around the globe going from Brussels to Paris to Beijing to London only to end up in DC again whenever there isn't a ship in orbit. This will ensure less travel and saves us all a lot of frustrations, time and money – and of course, pollution."

"So, can I have one?"

Narrowing his eyes at him, Jack leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. "You know, I would've expected something like that from Cassie, not you though."

Daniel smirked and pushed up his glasses before downing the last of his coffee as Cassie giggled at the remark. "Well, it would save me a lot of time and money if I want to visit you, Jack."

He shrugged casually. "I'll be going back to DC in a couple of weeks and then I'll stay there for the next couple of months."

"Then why install it here?"

"In case I need to be here, or want to be here."

"Because he can," Cassie piped up, smirking.

Grinning, Jack winked at her. "That too."

"But isn't it dangerous?" Daniel asked, looking at both Jack and Sam. "I mean, what if the Trust or some other enemy finds out?"

"Well, they would need an implant first," Sam started, referring to the locator beacon they were all – with the exception of Cassie – implanted with. "Or a bracelet, like Cassie. In addition, someone would need to know how to operate the computer terminal, because it isn't as simple as typing in 'beam me up, Scotty'," she continued.

"And it only works if someone here uses the computer, so they would actually have to be here," Jack added.

"They would also need a personal identification code that would have to be recognized by the program and needs to match several things, like the locator beacon and personal as well as biological data."

Turning to Sam, Cassie cocked her head. "Is that why Boomer couldn't have his own bracelet and I had to hold the nape of his neck?"

"Yes," she nodded. "So far, we've added human DNA of course and Teal'c is also recognized – although that is not standard for all Jaffa – but we haven't felt the urgency yet to include dog DNA. Since skin contact, like your hand and Boomer's skin, can extend the molecular transportation simply holding hands can be used in case of lacking a locator beacon."

"What if someone is being beamed away and their attacker grabs them?" Daniel asked, seriously.

"Well," Jack huffed, "we try to avoid those situations, but you know those pesky politicians…."

Sam smirked and shook her head, rolling her eyes at Cassie who giggled in return. "Anyway, like I said; it requires a lot of security. The specific computer terminal has a palm scanner so it will only recognize those who have access and only after confirming your identity with the PIC and the subsequent check from the computer system will it allow a transfer."

"Not to mention that there is a palm and iris scanner combined with a security code needed to actually enter my cozy little office," Jack commented. "And the ones transferred will always end up on the platform in the office as you've noticed when you arrived, which is protected by one of those force fields so they're trapped unless the one operating the terminal deactivates it."

"Well, if that person is the same one who actually beamed them over willingly…." Daniel mentioned with a shrug.

Jack huffed. "At least they'll still be locked in my office," he stated petulantly.

"A lot of good that's going to do if you're in there with them."

"Are you saying I would actually let myself be overpowered in my own office, my own house by someone with evil intentions?"

Daniel blinked at him. "I guess I am."

"Well, I won't."

"You don't know that, what if-"

"Daniel, Jack!" Sam exclaimed frustrated. "Look, we've taken as many precautions as we can, okay Daniel?"

"What if there is a power fluctuation?" Daniel tried again. "I mean, that thing has got to suck a lot of juice."

Jack rolled his eyes at him. "It's powered by one of Carter's naquadah generators so it won't. And even if it would, a power shortage would mean the actual beaming wouldn't work either, now would it?"

"Actually," Sam spoke up again, "if the naquadah generator would fail in that scenario it would probably overheat or malfunction or if it's tampered with the results would be similar to a feedback loop…."

Looking at her, Daniel scrunched up his nose. "Which would mean…?"

"Well, let's just say we wouldn't have to worry about the consequences if it happened."

"Why, Sam?" Cassie asked, curious but already having a good suspicion.

"Because we won't be here anymore," Jack answered instead. "Right?"

"Who won't be here when anymore?" Ilse asked as she came down the stairs, overhearing Jack's answer.

"Ah, you're back," he responded, avoiding an answer.

She smiled as she stepped into the living room, Matt on her heels. "Classified?"

"Indeed," Teal'c intoned.

"Aren't you afraid the children will overhear?" Matt asked, as he plopped down on one of the chairs pulled from the dining room due to a shortage of seats in the living room.

"Nah," Jack made a dismissive wave with his hands as he turned to look over his shoulder, "they're busy playing… or not."

Shaking her head already, Milou looked at Daddy with wide eyes. "We didn't hear anything."

"And yet it appears you are aware you and your siblings were the current subject of our conversation, Milou O'Neill," Teal'c gently scolded her.

"No," Maddy chimed in from her place next to Milou, also shaking her head. "You weren't talking about us until Uncle Matt and Auntie Ilse came downstairs."

"Indeed."

Letting out a deep sigh, Jack glared at Daniel. "You see, that's why I need a secure office."

"Daddy," Milou ran into the kitchen. "Can we take Boomer for a walk?"

Looking past her, Jack saw Matt standing by the door with the dog's leash in his hands. "Sure, if that's all right with your uncle?"

Matt grinned, nodding his head as he walked towards his niece. "Yeah, that's fine. I don't mind being in the company of two pretty girls," he winked at Milou and Maddy, who giggled. "Besides, my wife is busy anyway and I don't want to wake the kids yet."

"Are Daniel and Ilse still talking?" Sam asked as she was making tea.

"Yep," Jack confirmed after glancing in the living room. "They look quite engrossed."

"Apparently they can bond over their love for artifacts," Matt rolled his eyes as he handed Milou the leash. He didn't really mind Ilse talking to Jack's friend because he knew she enjoyed discussing such topics, but they had been at it for two hours already!

"Yeah, Danny boy definitely loves his rocks," he replied in an exasperated tone. "I probably should've given you a heads-up."

Matt shrugged, knowing it wouldn't have made much of a difference. Ilse had already told him that she and Daniel had gotten off on the right foot a few years ago when they had met at Sam's engagement party and they talked occasionally when she was staying over at Jack's and the archeologist would visit. "Milou, why don't you and Maddy go get Boomer ready, huh?"

Nodding, Milou grabbed her sister's arm and ran over to the fatboy bean bag in the corner of the living room Boomer had claimed as his pillow. "C'mon Boomer," she told the dog as she reached for his collar. Cassie had shown her how to do this a while ago when she'd been old enough to do it herself before joining Daddy and Cassie while walking Boomer.

"Cassie," Maddy turned towards the couch where she was sitting on as her sister was taking care of the leash. "Can we take some cookies for Boomer with us?"

"I gave them to your Dad," Cassie replied, glancing up from the book she'd been reading. She knew she wasn't being very sociable right now, but she figured she could read up on the latest medical journals before they were really going to celebrate New Year's Eve. With everyone around, it was surprisingly quiet and once she was engrossed in her reading she could hardly be disturbed.

"I've got them," Matt exclaimed as he ushered the girls and the dog towards the door.

"Bye!"

"Bye, be careful," Jack replied and went into the living room. "We got you coffee."

Sam stepped up to Jack and looked at the occupants of the room. "Daniel, Cassie, Ilse?"

"What?" Daniel looked up. "Did you say something?"

"Coffee," Jack smirked as he handed him and Ilse a cup and sat down.

Looking around, Ilse frowned. "Where is everyone?"

"Matt took the girls and Boomer out for a walk," he explained.

Sam placed Cassie's cup on the coffee table and sat down next to Jack on the sofa, her own mug of tea cradled in her hands. "He said Sebastian and Simone were still asleep and that he didn't want to wake them yet."

"Oh, well he could've at least said something," Ilse huffed, finally looking at her cup. "Jack, I don't drink coffee."

He smirked at her. "I figured you wouldn't have noticed, what with you and Daniel getting all excited about ancient things."

"Well I did," she replied, still frowning at the black liquid. "Matt can drink it when he gets back, is it all right if I make myself some tea?"

"Oh, I already made some, help yourself," Sam told her, holding up her mug as she jerked her head towards the kitchen.

Surprised, Daniel glanced between her and her mug. "You're drinking tea, Sam?"

"Yes?"

"Something wrong with that?" Jack asked, glaring at the younger man.

"No, of course not," he hastened himself to say, smiling sheepishly. "It's just that Sam usually drinks coffee too."

She shrugged as she snuggled closer to Jack, allowing him to throw his arm around her shoulders. "Well, I like tea too." He was right though, she usually drank coffee but now that she knew she was pregnant she didn't want to drink too much of it and had decided to start drinking more tea.

"When did Matt and the kids leave?" Ilse asked as she rejoined them and sat down next to Daniel, giving him a small smile.

"Oh just now," Jack glanced at the clock. "Can't have been more than five minutes ago, why?"

"Well, I don't want the kids to sleep too long. Sebastian needs to get some sleep tonight too and it will only be more difficult for him to fall asleep once the fireworks start. Simone isn't really a problem, she can sleep anytime anywhere but I need to feed her in a few."

Sam cocked her head and gave her an inquisitive look. "I thought the fireworks wouldn't start until midnight? Surely Sebastian will be asleep by then?"

"Oh no, fireworks are allowed since ten o'clock this morning. We're just lucky Jack's neighbors haven't started yet but it won't be much longer. The kids around here usually love to start early and I doubt they will be able to get rid of everything they've bought if they wait until midnight."

"Yeah, I was surprised too, last year they were much earlier," Jack commented. "Well, I guess it's a good thing because I doubt Boomer would've liked to go outside with all the fireworks around."

Hearing her dog's name, Cassie finally looked up from her journal. "What is that about Boomer?"

"That he doesn't like fireworks," Daniel replied. "Can't blame him, I don't really like them either."

"Oh, I have a sleeping pill for him otherwise he's going to be scared all night," Cassie explained. Boomer had been scared out of his mind the first time they had been celebrating New Year's Eve and since then she made sure to give him a mild sedative so he could sleep through most of the evening and the night. "I'll go get it before I forget."

"I don't like the explosives," Ilse said, "but I do like the skyrockets. Can watch those for hours, to be honest."

Sam took a sip from her tea before responding. "I usually love blowing things up, but I get to do that a lot already at work so…."

"I like the Jumping Jacks," Jack smirked. "The kids love the firecrackers too."

"You let them use fireworks?" Daniel almost gasped in shock.

Making a dismissive hand gesture, Jack sighed. "I got them some bang snaps, they're harmless and they can hold some sparklers."

"Matt and I brought safety fuses with us," Ilse offered. "Maybe we can give those to the kids and let them light a fuse of a skyrocket with those. Lily and I used to do it all the time with those and your Dad used to let me use his cigar."

"We'll see," he replied, "have to make sure it's safe before even considering it."

"Of course," she agreed, sipping her tea. "Where are Teal'c and Nathan?"

"Nathan insisted on showing Teal'c his collection of toys," Sam smirked, imagining the tall Jaffa playing with Lego or G.I. Joe.

Cassie walked into the room again and wordlessly handed Jack the pills she'd gotten Boomer, which he pocketed. "I was just thinking," she started, turning to Sam as she sat back on the comfy chair she'd only vacated minutes ago, "I haven't even seen your engagement ring yet!"

"Me neither!" Ilse and Daniel simultaneously exclaimed.

Sam smiled shyly as she glanced at Jack, before pulling out the dog tags from under her collar. The elegant white gold ring was dangling from the ball of chain and she quickly unfastened the chain to place the ring on her finger. "I love it," she said, extending her hand towards Cassie and smiling gratefully at Jack.

"It's so you," Cassie replied, in awe. It certainly wasn't that gaudy ring Pete had given her and looking at it just said 'Sam' to her. "Good choice," she told Jack, who was smiling smugly.

"Sam, let me see," Daniel reached for her wrist and inadvertently almost pulled his friend from the couch. "Yeah, really you, Sam! Simple, yet elegant and the white gold looks a lot better with your complexion than, ah…" he was about to say Pete's ring, but quickly changed his mind, "yellow gold."

"You should wear it around your finger all the time," Cassie continued, smiling slightly. "Well, once you get married and it's legal of course. But I'm sure you could still work it while working in the lab, at least the diamond won't get caught on anything."

"It's lovely," Ilse agreed as Daniel steered Sam's hand in her line of sight. "Round brilliant-cut natural diamond gemstone, crossover shoulders, highly polished white gold band," she murmured to herself as she grabbed Sam's fingers and moved the ring into the light for a better view. "A bar-set 0.10ct diamond solitaire in a handmade solid 18ct white gold band?" She asked Jack, glancing up from her examination.

"Dead on," he smirked, before reaching to grab Sam's hand himself and press a kiss to the ring.

"Well, I did work a lot on jewelry in the past," Ilse replied, smiling proudly at the fact that she still had it.