The Ori threat finally diminished, thus they could all look to the future. With that the scientific aspect of the SGC began to take the forefront, but knew the military would always been needed. Jack immediately put in for his retirement and Hayes reluctantly agreed, with the proviso he stay available. Jack didn't mind, he knew he'd go bonkers without something to do even if he had plans for his time. He would move back to Colorado Springs, to work with the same boys and girls club, the Challengers, which he had done as Mac. Even though his knees wouldn't allow him to play to the extent he wanted, he also coached a youth hockey league.

Landry gave most of SGC teams down time after the conclusion of the Ori threat. Sam and Jack planned a getaway to go to their private island. However, when they arrived, they saw recent storms had ravaged the small beach; also the weather report from NOAA wasn't promising so they just stayed one night, then went to Jack's cabin in Minnesota. Jack thought it a good idea to be away from civilization since it was Mothers Day weekend and glad, for Sam's sake, they were away. She'd told him she didn't want to do anything for that holiday.

They'd decided when Jack finally retired they'd build a home with their future in mind, if they were not blessed with children they knew the Malloy family, Ian and Cassie would visit. Jack's bad knees were a consideration; they built the house with wheelchair access in mind. They had enough property to build a sprawling one-story home. Jack spent the first weeks of his retirement with various architects and contractors, planning to be in their house no later than Thanksgiving.

The second week of June Sam was working in her lab, working on what her husband still called a 'doohickey'; her stomach upset for a few days, she'd eaten a sandwich days ago that hadn't agreed with her, shrugged it off, not wanting to bother the medical team busy with annual physicals. For the sake of variety, the doctors decided to do them in a completely random order, so for once she wasn't among the first 'victims'. Jack insisted she keep Carter professionally, in her private life, Sam was an O'Neill.

Sam had her physical later in the morning, still uninspired to eat even though it was after two in the afternoon; she looked up as she sensed someone standing in the doorway. "Hi, Teal'c, let me finish this" A moment later, she was able to give all her attention to her long-time friend.

"I didn't see you at the cafeteria; I checked. I know you haven't eaten anything. Here is a banana, you need to eat." Teal'c guessed why she'd not been hungry but it wasn't his place to ask.

Sam knew he was right, she needed to eat something, and a banana didn't sound bad. "Thanks Teal'c." She took the banana and proceeded to peel it a bit at a time while she ate it.

Teal'c didn't say anything other than "your welcome." He'd stayed, to make sure she ate it.

Her phone rang "Carter...yes, I'll be there in a few minutes." She hung up, and looked scared, in Teal'c opinion Sam didn't scare easily. "That was the infirmary, they want me to talk to Dr. Lam, they found something in one of my tests…Will you come with me?"

'I will" and he accompanied her the short distance to the infirmary. As far as Sam was concerned, it was like taking a twenty-mile hike in heels, rather than a stroll of less than a hundred yards. She couldn't figure out why she was so apprehensive.

"Lt. Jacobson, I was told to report to Dr. Lam."

"Right this way Colonel' Lt. Costello guided her toward Carolyn Lam's office.

"Teal'c I want you with me." He went in the small office, and very soon, Lam joined them.

The look of apprehension on Sam's face told Carolyn that Sam was thinking worst-case scenario. "Colonel, when we ran your blood work we found something. You're quite healthy although a little dehydrated. I understand you haven't had an appetite the past few days, there's a valid reason for that. You are pregnant, approximately six weeks along."

Sam was stunned as she'd not even considered the possibility. With her medical and family history, she'd feared that she had cancer.

Teal stood, "ColonelCarter I will go now. Congratulations." He would not tell anyone this news. It was not his story to tell. Sam knew this.

Sam went to ask Landry for permission to leave for the day. She needed to let Jack know. Landry told her not to come back until Monday, thus giving her a three-day weekend. He had an idea why she wanted the time off; after all, he was a father.

Sam knew Jack was at the site working with contractors. They'd just begun to lay the foundation. This gave her time to make a special supper. Until the house was ready to live in, they would stay at her place then sell it.

A few hours later Jack arrived home. The first thing he noticed was Sam's car was in the driveway, when it was just past time for her to leave the base. Then noticed delicious smells emanating from the kitchen, if his nose was not mistaken, she'd taken time to fix most of his favorites. He could hear her still in the kitchen. He went in, found her at the stove, stirring a pot, and gave her a kiss, not getting too close, as he needed to take a shower after playing with the kids at the center.

"I thought we'd eat out on the patio Jack. Everything is just about ready so we'll eat right after your shower."

"Wanna join me" Jack wiggled his eyebrows."

"As much as I'd like to say yes, I'll take a rain check." She gave him a kiss so he wouldn't feel she was completely rejecting the idea. Fifteen minutes later, they were sitting down to eat. Sam was relaxed for the first time in days knowing that she was pregnant not ill with cancer, and actually felt hungry. Jack was glad to see Sam's appetite was back. He hadn't said anything to her, he'd been concerned about her appetite; if she hadn't had a physical already scheduled for today, he'd have insisted she have one.

"How did your physical go?" he asked, knowing the best thing about working at the Pentagon had been few visits with any medical staff.

"Pretty good, I went back to my lab and ended up missing lunch. Teal'c stopped by and insisted I eat a banana. So he was there when Lam called me, and told me" Jack stopped mid-bite. He knew Sam had long held worries regarding cancer, after all Jacob had been terminally ill with cancer before becoming a Tokra. "I asked Teal'c to go with me I was worried" Sam confessed. "I don't know why. It isn't cancer, its good news. I'm pregnant, our time on the island or the cabin." This gave Jack a period "I don't know why, but I feel better this time. I'll be on light duty. Certain experiments will now have to be done by Doctor Lee; I'll only be an observer for those."

"So this little one will be here about Valentines day?" Jack confirmed when the baby should be born.

"I think so. Jack we have to make changes to the house plans. I want to have the nursery next to our room. It's early in the process so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. "

Jack smiled with a devilish grin "I'll just tell them you changed your mind, you know...a woman's prerogative." Sam just glared at him, "I'm going to pay for that big time, aren't I?"

"Yes. I think the punishment is k.p. duty tonight." Sam just grinned. She didn't often cook as she did tonight, one main reason, the clean up of the pots and pans. Jack had been pleasantly surprised at how well she cooked when she had someone to cook for and with on a regular basis.

"I'll do that, if you go into the living room, and look at the plans for the house while I do these. We need to call Jan Wentworth and let her know we need to change things…again."

Sam went into the living room and looked at the plans to see what, if anything, she wanted changed. She knew she wanted a room that would be good for an infant as well as throughout the childhood of the child. The room that would have been their office would now be on the other end of the house.

The home office they'd put in could not be a normal home office since Jack would be an advisor to the President. They'd have the most secure home office in the state of Colorado, if not the western half of the United States. Until the home was built, Jack would continue to have an office at the SGC.

Even though deemed safe, the O'Neills decided they'd use the beaming technology as a last resort--after the weekend. They'd already made plans to be in DC as Jack's home in the nation's capital had sold he needed to sign papers.

The only hitch selling his house in DC was Jack now needed to make sure that it was safe to arrive at the Malloy home, in other words they were going to beam directly there, so after cleaning up after dinner he called his son to see if it would work to come that way or if they needed to take a more traditional mode of transportation. Shaun answered and told Mac they'd had neighbors over earlier in the evening but everyone had gone home a few minutes ago. It was safe. Harry was due home in a matter of moments from Rock Creek Park. "Call us; we'll be ready to go." This gave Sam and Jack a chance to make sure they had everything they needed to take.

Ten minutes later, they heard the phone ring; it went to message immediately. "This is the Carter-O'Neill residence; please leave a message and one of us will get back to you as soon as we can." They heard Sam say the coast was clear they could come. He'd drive to get Harry, while there he'd get Sam and Jack. He'd walk in the park to find a secluded spot then use the stone Thor gave his father. Because they knew they were going to appear in a park they used duffel bags, instead of suitcases. Jack had to go to the White House and meet with the President so he made sure he had suitable clothing. They'd return via Air Force transport and made sure everything would fit in the duffel.

Harry was very happy to see the two people with his dad, he hadn't any idea they were coming. With Sunday Father's day, he could get the gift he wanted, if his grandfather would help him. As they walked to the van, Jack correctly sensed his eldest grandchild wanted to speak privately and he gave his duffel to son Sam. "Harry and I will meet up with you; I need to ask him something."

"Dad, don't be too long, Harry has school in the morning, even if it is just a half day."

Jack promised they would be along shortly and they were. Harry had wanted to know if he could help build him something to give his father on Father's Day. "As soon as I get back from the White House, you and I can go to the store, and get what we need." Sam dropped Jack and Sam off at the hotel where Shaun made reservations. There was no bed for them to sleep on at Jack's. All the furniture was in transit to Colorado. The former guest room was now Jim's bedroom.

During the meeting at the White House the President surprised Jack with the news Sam was under consideration to be Atlantis' next commander. If something happened to Weir, he, President Hayes wanted someone who really knew what they were up against to take command. Appointing a woman to the post helped him politically, even if no one knew what the project was. Jack hadn't wanted to let the President know, as they had not told anyone in the family, it was obvious that certain people had to be notified. Fortunately, Jack had clearance to be alone with the President. Henry Hayes had an avuncular look on his face upon the news. He commented that he hoped nothing happened to Doctor Elizabeth Weir for close to a year, as Sam wouldn't not be cleared for space travel until after the birth. "Jack, the reason I'm telling you this, I'd like for you to go with her, you and the baby, if the time comes she has to take over, and if for some reason she's unable to lead, you are to temporarily take command. I'm not running for re-election, I don't know if my successor wants you to continue as advisor. You've waited for far too long to have a family, to raise a child, I don't want you to miss out just because you are a galaxy away from each other." Jack was squirming a bit, Hayes was reading him like a book. "I know, from reading the reports there's a definite need for people with the gene to go. There really is a need for a teacher for those who live on the station. I've already informed Landry anyone who has clearance for the SGC or Atlantis can, under certain restrictions, allow their family to join them on Atlantis.