One more chapter to go after this ...
"So, when are you going to do something about this?" The older man leaned back in his lounge chair and took a swig of beer.
"About what?" The Colonel took a sip of his beer as well, although he was looking carefully out of the corner of his eyes at the speaker.
"Jack", the former General sighed. "You've been living with my daughter for months. She's about to have your baby – she gave up her career with the Air Force – and you say 'about what'. I know you're not the idiot you want people to think you are. Now I ask again – when are you going to do something?"
Jack took another sip of beer and silently consigned former generals, the Tokra, and fathers of girlfriends to some place far away. He wondered briefly if the Asgaard would come and take Jacob? "I don't know what you're talking about. Sam and I are happy and things are going well. The baby's coming soon – everything is fine."
Jacob sat up suddenly and put his feet over the side of the lounger and leaned forward. Jack was pretty sure his eyes glowed – but not from the Tokra Selmac within – but with the righteous anger of a father. "Cut the bull Jack. When the hell are you going to marry her?"
"Marry?" Jack looked slightly panicked, before he remembered that he was a highly decorated, former black ops Colonel in the Air Force. "Uh – when we're ready to S – ur Jacob."
"It looks like Sam's pretty ready, even if you aren't!" he snorted loudly. "What are you doing? Keeping your options open in case it doesn't work out? Deciding whether or not you really want to be burdened with a wife and child?"
"Shut up Jacob!" Jack was suddenly getting angry and he turned and sat up as well. He glared at the man next to him. "Whether or not we get married now – or later – or never is none of your god – dammed business. It's between Sam and me and no one else. And I'll have you know that I'll never change my mind. I am not keeping my options open because for me there is only one option – and that's to love her and spend the rest of my life with her. As for being burdened – how dare you! I am honored to be with her and to be the father of her child. There's nothing I want more than to be with both of them!"
Jacob stared at him for a few seconds and then grinned, turned and lay back down. Taking a sip of beer he closed his eyes. "Good. Just checking. Although I still think you should ask her to marry you."
Jack watched him, his eyes narrowed. He wasn't quite sure whether to kill the man or to laugh. He was going to have to be on his toes with Jacob Carter as his father-in-law – or whatever you called the man who was the father of your girlfriend.
Instantly he frowned. Although it was true it wasn't Jacob's business, he too had been fretting about the whole marriage thing. It wasn't that he didn't want to marry her – he couldn't think of anything he wanted more. It was just that he didn't know how she'd react, or if he could do that to her. It's not that he planned to ever leave her but he figured she wasn't getting the best deal in the world and not being married would make it easier for her to – leave – if she wanted to. The thought sent a shaft of pain through him, but it didn't matter – he loved her more than life itself – more than his life or honor or soul – and he didn't want to trap her into -"
"She's waiting for you to ask her you know", Jacob's soft voice interrupted his gloomy thoughts.
"Huh?" he looked over in surprise, only to see Jacob still lying with his eyes closed.
"She's waiting for you to ask. She wants to marry you but she doesn't want to pressure you – and she's afraid it's not what you really want – some stupidity about you having been married once already and not wanting to go through that again."
"She – what? How do you know this? Did she tell you?"
"Not in so many words, no. She told me it was none of my business when I brought it up. But I read through the lines. She is my daughter Jack. I've known her for a long time and I know how her mind works – and how yours works too! You're both idiots. You love each other and want to spend your lives together so why the hell don't you just ask her. What do you have to lose?"
His world, he thought to himself. But then he considered what Jacob had just said and began to feel a sliver of hope. Did she really want to marry -"
"Yes." Jacob said as if reading his mind, his voice certain. "She does and so do you. Ask her Jack. Please?"
It took a few more minutes to gather his courage but he finally stood up and placed his beer on the small patio table. Without another word he turned and headed into the house. Sam was cleaning out drawers or something – the nesting urge had hit with a vengeance – and both men had been relegated to the back yard for the duration. As he entered through the back door he didn't see the grin on Jacob's face – or the fact that he gave a small toast with his beer bottle, and then lay back down and closed his eyes.
"Sam", he called. He wandered around for a moment until he found her in the spare bedroom, the dresser drawers pulled out and clothes scattered everywhere. "Whatcha doin'?" he asked.
"Hmm? Oh hi Jack. Where's Dad?"
"Still outside. What are you doing?"
"Oh – just sorting out some drawers. I figure we'll need more room for the baby, so I'm clearing out these old things."
"Sam – we purchased all new furniture for the baby with more room than we could possibly use."
"Well, the shower is this Saturday and I expect we'll get lots of stuff."
He sighed – knowing that he wasn't going to stop her. She was obsessed with cleaning out every nook and cranny in her house and in his. He'd practically had to tie her hands to keep her away from his fishing equipment. She's wanted to 'organize' his hooks and lures. He'd stopped her from doing that but hadn't been quick enough to keep her from alphabetizing his DVD collection. He'd had it organized nicely by genre but that didn't seem to be good enough for her. However, it had been when he'd caught her organizing his underwear and socks that he'd put his foot down. The last thing he needed was to have a color coordinated underwear drawer. If any of the guys ever came over and caught a glimpse he'd never hear the end of it.
"So what are you doing", she suddenly asked, a sweater held in her hands. "Did you and my father get into a fight?" she asked suspiciously. Even though he and Jacob had reached an uneasy détente, Sam lived under the fear that one day they'd kill each other. He'd tried to assure her that things were – well stable – if not good, but she was skeptical. He guessed she knew her father best – and although a good man, Jacob Carter was as stubborn as an ass!
"No", he said, sounding like a ten year old. "We didn't. We had a beer."
"And -?"
"And nothing. We were lying in the sun – kicked out of the house by the way – just relaxing."
"And -?" she asked again.
He sighed and rubbed his hands through his hair. "He asked me why I haven't asked you to marry me yet." He watched carefully as her eyes grew bigger and her mouth opened slightly. She appeared frozen for a few seconds – which didn't tell him anything. He was hoping for some sigh – something that told him what she wanted.
Before he could see anything in her eyes, one way or another, she had dropped them down to look at the floor.
"What did you say?" she asked softly.
Damn! He should have known better. Why the hell had he brought this up now. He should have let sleeping dogs lie.
"Jack?"
"Uh – I told him it was none of his business", he replied. Her only response was a short nod, although she didn't look up. Instead she started folding the sweater she was holding.
He waited for a few more seconds but realized that he had to do or say something. "Uh – but -"
"Yes?"
"Well, I wanted to tell him -"
"That you wanted ?"
"That I wanted to marry you more than anything else in the world but that I didn't know if that's what you wanted. And if you don't – that's okay – I mean, I'm happy the way we are, although being married to you would be the best – but I can understand if you don't want to. I mean, you could probably do better and I'm older than you – and I have a shi – ur ship load of crap that I've been through so I'll totally understand if you -"
"JACK!" She laughed, breathlessly and a little nervously, and pushed herself to her feet. "Is that a proposal?"
He stared at her in shock. A proposal? God – that's not what he'd – "Yes." The word came out of his mouth under its own volition. He wondered briefly if a Goa'uld had snuck up behind him and taken control – except for the fact that he really wanted to ask -"
"Yes."
"Huh?" he frowned. What did she mean? He reached around to the back of his neck to double check. Had she actually seen a Goa'uld?
"Yes – I'll marry you."
This time his eyes grew big. "You will? Really? I mean – you're sure?"
She laughed again and walked up to him. Reaching up she put her hands on either side of his face. "I've been waiting for you to ask me", she told him. "I'd finally decided that you weren't going to do it so I was going to ask you."
"You were?" He was still half in shock and didn't know quite what to say.
"Yes. I mean, I am an Amazon", she told him, half laughing, half worried at how he'd react to her words. When he continued to peer at her with a dazed look she began to worry – but then his expression slowly changed, a twinkle appearing in his eyes.
"So – an Amazon eh? I guess I'm pretty lucky then that you said yes. You realize of course that every man in America is going to be jealous of the fact that I'm married to a real, live Amazon."
"You think?" she leaned forward, wishing she could get closer to him, but her almost nine month pregnant belly was definitely in the way. Still, he managed to put his arms around her, which made her feel both safe and loved.
"Oh yeah - I definitely think – although not too much right now. In fact – right now I'd like to -" he leaned forward and down and began to kiss her. It progressed until they were lying together on the bed, facing each other. It was only the door slamming down the hall that made them realize where they were – and that this probably wasn't a good time to continue. With a groan Jack sat up and pulled Sam up gently beside him. "Your Dad", he explained.
"Oh!" She looked adorably flustered and immediately started to straighten her hair.
Jack watched her, happier than he could ever remember being, and also amused at how she was desperately trying to hide the fact that they'd just engaged in a session of hot petting. He silently cursed Jacob for being here – until he remembered who it was who had put the idea of marriage into mind in and given him a gentle – but not subtle - push.
"So", he said, standing up. He reached down his hand and pulled her up beside him. "Shall we go tell him?"
"That we're engaged?" she asked.
"Yeah."
She got a strange smile on her face and shook her head. "No – let's let him suffer for a while longer. It's good for his soul."
"Sam! You're evil."
"I know', she laughed. "But if you'd had to live with a busybody father all these years you'd take every chance to exact revenge that you could."
He regarded her with narrowed eyes – realizing he still had things to learn about this woman – and then he smirked. "Sounds good to me!"
In the end they didn't make Jacob suffer too long, only leaving the news for a couple of days. He was only with them until the baby was born – which was to happen soon and they wanted to get married before then.
Telling Jacob was fun – and of course Jack drew it out as long and painfully as possible. By the time he told the older man Sam was sure her father was going to burst a blood vessel. She finally – and laughingly – told Jack to shut up and informed her father.
"What Jack is trying – so irritatingly – to tell you, is that he asked me to marry him and I said yes." She waited to see how her father would react.
"He – really?" Jacob's eyes grew narrow and he glanced between his daughter and Jack. "Jack?"
"Yes Sir?" the Colonel said, a serious look on his face (which was belied by the definite gleam in his eyes).
"Did you finally ask her to marry you?"
"Yes Sir", he answered.
"And she said yes?"
"Yes Sir."
Jacob glared at him – and this time his eyes really did glow. "I told you so Jack!" he smirked. "Finally got some balls did you? Well I'm happy for you both – congratulations." He reached out and hugged his laughing daughter. "I am happy for you kiddo", he whispered in her ear, "but don't tell Jack. I don't want him to think I've gone soft."
"Okay", she whispered back, "although I think he already knows that."
"Damn! So how am I going to scare him?" he asked solemnly.
She laughed again – "You won't need to Dad", she told him. "He loves me you know."
"Of course I do – otherwise I wouldn't let him marry you."
She finally pulled away and gave him a half-serious glare. "You couldn't have stopped me. I'm an adult and make my own decisions."
He nodded but gave a small grin, which caused her to look suspiciously at him – and to realize she was very glad he liked Jack.
"So – Colonel." Jacob turned and faced the man who was going to be his son-in-law. "I don't have to say it do I?"
"You mean that you'll rip out my testicles if I hurt her?"
"Mmm – sounds about right."
"No, you don't Jacob. I'll look after her – I promise."
"Hey", Sam interrupted. "Mabye I'll look after the Colonel. I am an Amazon you know. And I can certainly look after myself"
"There you go Sir. You're daughter will look after both of us. I'm gonna be a 'kept man'," he grinned. "Sounds good."
"Right!" Sam looked at both of them in disgust. "Men! Come on – I want to call Mark and then Daniel and Teal'c and Janet. I want to get married before the baby comes."
So they all went into high gear planning a wedding in five days. Sam complained about not being able to buy a beautiful gown – instead going for a simple white maternity evening dress. Jack promised that they'd have a real wedding after the baby came and she could buy a real dress. For now they were marrying in Jack's back yard – only their closest friends and family in attendance.
Although Jack knew Sam was a bit sad at not having a beautiful, traditional wedding right away, as far as he was concerned there was nothing better as far as weddings were concerned. The only thing that was missing was – hell, nothing was missing.
He was getting married to the woman he loved in front of his closest friends. Yup – he was officially the luckiest man in the universe.
