There's a quote from Romeo and Juliet in this chapter, eventually: which belongs to Shakespeare – not me... when I grow up I want to write at least as half as good as he did. ;o)

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Cassie spent most of the pre-meal toast with her face hidden in her hands, the Hankan feeling absolutely mortified as the rather bland and run-of-the-mill speech of Simon's best man was hijacked and then left in the dust by Jack's impromptu speech. The guests had barely managed to stop themselves from laughing when mini-Jack then delivered his own speech, which had most of them howling with laughter. Simon could barely remain seated as he eventually gave into an urge to laugh, and Cassie ended up joining him.

Nevertheless, she breathed a sigh of relief when at long last, glasses were clinked together all around the candlelit hall. As everyone tucked into their first courses, Simon glanced at Cassie. He whispered, "You okay?"

Cassie nodded as she took a sip of wine. She then looked at him with a relaxed smile. She said, "Yeah. You?"

He nodded and replied, "I'm not as nervous as I was."

"Me neither."

She smiled as she felt his hand reach for hers, and she turned her hand over so she could hold his. He then said, "You know, we'll be watching the video of this for a long while."

She gave his hand a squeeze and then leaned over to kiss him. Ignoring the cat-calls from the Jacks, she whispered, tears glistening in her eyes, "I hope so." She chuckled a little. "... although it'll be all shaky. Cam and Daniel could barely stand up straight."

He hummed in agreement. "Just as well that Daniel didn't go ahead with his speech... I could just about see Jack interrupting him every three seconds."

"It's only because he's secretly in love with him. Jack's just a kid who's mean to the girl... or boy that he likes."

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Jonas was seated at his table, watching as General Landry and Kim fussed over Henry on their side of the table. The Kelownan sat alone, his wife having left to talk to her colleagues. Jonas fiddled with his mobile phone for a little while before feeling the need to walk out and away from everything. He wearily got up and walked away from the table, leaning against a wall the other side of a surging crowd from his in-laws. He smiled and nodded as Vala walked past with one of her infant sons, and then he looked a little troubled as he watched Cam with the baby's twin.

He had started fiddling with his portable music player when someone called his name. He looked up to see Carson standing in front of him. Relieved that it wasn't his father-in-law, he said with a tired smile, "Doctor McKay!" Jonas shook her hand and said, "How are you doing?"

Carson replied with a nod, "I'm good, thanks. How are you? You're looking a lot less enthusiastic than usual... what's up?"

Jonas replied, glancing away from her, "It's nothing. Just been a long day."

Carson moved out of the way of the ebb and flow of the guests, and she stood next to him against the wall. She said, "You know I like you, don't you?"

Jonas and Carson nodded at Teal'c as he led Ish'ta through the crowds. Jonas then said, a touch awkwardly, "Uh, yeah...?"

"... so I say this as a friend. Go back there and spend time with your kid. Don't let your father-in-law muscle in like that."

Jonas smiled at Sheppard who nodded at him and Carson. Jonas shrugged and said, "He doesn't like me."

"Well, boo hoo and call me Susan... name one father-in-law who actually shows their son-in-law that they like them. Don't forget, I've met Rodney's father... that General Landry chap couldn't hold a candle to him." Carson whacked Jonas on the shoulder and said, "Get some balls for once, Jonas."

Jonas looked at Carson in disbelief. He then said, "Maybe a little later. I just had to take a, uh, time-out for now." He smiled a little at the doctor. "So how you and the other Doctor McKay?"

Carson made a face but then smiled at House who looked as though he was going to talk. However, he walked away again on seeing something which he found more interesting. Carson chuckled a little at this. She then said to Jonas, "Daniel said something to you?"

Jonas shrugged. "He didn't need to... it's been kind of obvious."

Carson relaxed a little and her shoulders slumped. She said, "It's okay. Better than before, I think I can say. We're... uh..." She nodded thoughtfully and looked at him with the slightest of smiles. "Yeah. Yeah, we're good."

Jonas patted her on the shoulder. "That's really great to hear. Really. How's his, uh, database research going?"

"Well, he's getting all excited about it but won't admit that it's because Daniel made him see things differently after that whole thing with Janus... and of course, there was the rogue Asgard as well."

Jonas remarked with a grin, "Cam always says the greatest of our adventures are from one little logical leap from Daniel."

Carson raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You're telling me... I'm surprised you're not all dead yet, the number of times you've leaped into harm's way. Bunch of crazies, all of you."

Jonas said with a laugh, "Oh yes, don't get me started about your bunch of crazies."

"Aye, but we're in another galaxy."

"Truer words have never been spoken."

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Daniel walked around the edge of the makeshift dance floor, his tuxedo jacket slung over his shoulder, his tie loosened. He smiled slightly as he saw the bride and the groom dance slowly to some music he wasn't all too familiar with. Around them, were various other couples. He quickly averted his gaze on seeing Jack and Sara, knowing that the General would probably try to embarrass him if he caught him looking. He laughed a little on seeing Cammie standing on General Hammond's feet, the girl frowning as she looked down to see which way his feet were going. He then averted his gaze once again on sighting Grace and Claire chasing Frankie around the dancing couples. If he didn't see it, he wouldn't have to deal with it.

He made his way through the crowd of spectators to the tables that filled the rest of the hall. Hanging his jacket on a chair, he picked up Dani who had been smearing flowers in her cake. He sat down at the table and cleaned her up. He then bounced her up and down, and said with a grin,

"Hey there, Dani. How come you're not tired yet?"

He smiled again when she began to babble excitedly as she stood up on his lap to look around. As he got her to sit down, he said, "Yeah, my thoughts exactly, little one."

He looked down at his youngest daughter as she began to play with his shirt buttons, her eyes flickering a little. He smoothed her head and said softly, "It's okay, I'm not too old to carry you yet. Go to sleep."

He looked up on sensing a presence in amongst the noisy fog which had begun to cloud his mind. He smiled on feeling Sam hug him as she stood behind his chair. She kissed the top of his head, and whispered in his ear,

"Looks like that astrophysicist of yours left you with the baby."

He turned to kiss her, and he replied, "Well, she's not around. Wanna sit down?"

"Ooh, I don't know." Sam pulled up a chair next to his and sat down, her head against his shoulder. She reached over to rub Dani's back, and she asked, "How is she?"

"Tired, but artistic as ever. Where are the rest of the monsters? I've seen the girls on the dance floor."

Sam replied, "Oh... they're around. Greg's with Mrs Landry. Jimmy's with Charlotte Sheppard... and I think Jake's with Jack." She sighed softly, and said, "Quite a day, huh?"

"Yeah." He rested his head against hers, and said, "It's one of those moments when I feel really old."

"You're telling me... I just came back from arguing with Simon's parents. They still wanna go half."

Daniel chuckled softly. He said, "I heard." He shrugged. "We all chipped in... it's like Mitchell said, it's an SG-wedding present. So... hell, no."

She replied with a laugh, "Yeah, my words exactly." She cleared her throat a little. "... without the, uh, SG bit, of course." Her smile faded into a sombre expression as she caught side of the bride and the groom from where she was seated. She smiled again, a tear running down her cheek. "She's so happy."

Daniel slid an arm around her and held her close. He whispered, tears of his own in his eyes, "Yeah she is."

"She grew up so fast." Sam sniffed and wiped away her tears. She then smiled when Dani stirred, the little girl looking around wide-eyed. Sam touched Dani's chin and said, "Hey, you."

Dani offered her a toothy grin before beginning to whine as she tried to climb down from her father's lap. Daniel asked, concerned, "Dani, what's up?"

Dani eventually managed to climb down, before running away to join some children nearby. Sam remarked with a shake of her head, "She's a Jackson alright." She glanced around the hall and then reached for his hand. She said, "Come on, I've got something to tell you."

Daniel frowned as they stood up, the archaeologist looking confused that he couldn't feel anything from her. He grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair. He asked as she led him by the hand, "Sam, what is it?"

Sam turned to him with a smile as she negotiated the hall full of guests, who were now clapping along to a Yugoslavian folk song that Daniel had once introduced Cassie to. Daniel glanced back in regret to see that there was a group of Eastern European folk dancers in amongst the fray and a part of him felt a bit disappointed that he would miss it.

Still smiling, Sam said, "Nothing's wrong... but I think I have to tell you away from here. Let the girl have her fun." She appeared momentarily sheepish as she glanced back at said fun. "And... uh, sorry. I'll make it up to you. I promise."

They nodded in greeting at Mark as he passed them. Mark then turned and called, "Sam! Where are you heading?"

Sam called back with a smirk, "I'll tell you later."

Mark suddenly looked uncomfortable as he watched his sister lead his brother-in-law away. He called back, "Whatever... just make sure you don't kill the poor guy."

Sam and Daniel emerged into the lobby but instead of going outside, Sam led him upstairs. As he was half-dragged up the gold winding staircase, he asked, "Sam?"

"I don't wanna be choked by the smokers outside. Come on, not long now."

A defeated looking Daniel sighed and remarked, "Guess I should've seen sudden bouts of insanity coming when I married you."

They ascended the stairs and they slipped into a dark room illuminated only by the street lights via the huge window. As Daniel gaped through the glass, Sam opened the windows and walked out onto the balcony. She gazed up in wonder at the whirl of snowflakes that fell, the streets and nearby roofs already covered with a blanket of snow. She said with a grin, turning back to him,

"Isn't this wonderful?"

Daniel stared from the snow and then to her. He said, surprised, "Sam, it's May and we're in Colorado Springs. Hell, it snows, but it doesn't snow this much in May... so I hope you'll excuse me from cursing when I say... how the fuck is it snowing this much?"

Sam laughed and said, "You know, you swear so little in English that when you do finally do, it's funny."

He appeared distracted as he slowly stepped out onto the balcony and then leaned over the railing to look down. He then closed his eyes and looked away again. He said, "Oh... this... this really better be important. You know I don't like heights."

She appeared thoughtful as she reached over to smooth his jaw. "Yet you still looked."

He shrugged, appearing uncomfortable. He said, "What I can say, always jumping in harm's way as you all say." He then smiled as he gazed at her and he reached for her hand. He said, "Well, it is a relief to be away from all the people downstairs. I just hear a lot of murmuring in my head when I'm tired."

"I know. Me too." She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry about bringing you up here but it had to be somewhere where we could be alone."

He regarded her sceptically, and asked, "So are you gonna tell me or are you gonna just tell me how you're gonna tell me?"

Sam smiled in amusement on sensing tired snippiness in his tone, knowing that she was the only person in the world from whom he would at least try to hold it back from. She reached for his remaining hand so that she now held both of them. She looked down at them with a soft sigh which he only just about heard. She then looked up at the snow falling down onto the roads below. With a small smile tinged with some worry, she looked at him again.

She said softly, "You're going to be a Daddy again."

He stared at her, unsure of whether he had heard her correctly. She sniffed and she finally cried tears which had been long suppressed. She looked away, downwards to the street below, cursing herself for crying. She only looked up when she felt him touch her cheek, and she saw the tears in his own eyes. The only words he could manage, which were almost choked out, were,

"How the hell did you hide it from me?"

She laughed through her tears, and retorted, "I'm a woman... I could hide a hurricane."

"You're telling me." He finally laughed and said, shaking his head, "God... how is it even possible?" He cleared his throat and glanced downwards. "I... I thought we'd taken care of me firing live rounds by, you know... and besides..." He cleared his throat again. "Okay, okay, before you kill me, you're not too old... to me anyway."

Sam laughed again, her tears forgotten. She hit him on the arm. She then said, "Well, I'm glad I'm not too old for you." She made a face. "Seems like I'm too old for me sometimes." Her cheeks reddened a little as she said, "Well, anyway, the, uh, night we came back from Dakara when you and Jonas were going over the new Treaty with all the parties."

He frowned a little and then appeared surprised once again. He said, "Really? I didn't even think... you know..."

"I have a pregnancy test that'll prove your exceptional abilities while inebriated, Doctor J."

"How long have you known?"

She looked down at their hands, and she pressed her lips together thoughtfully. She said, grimacing a little, "A while."

"A while?! And you didn't think to..."

She quickly looked up to see that he was annoyed but worried too. She said, reaching up to touch his cheek, "I couldn't. I just couldn't. We all needed to be there for Cassie. I didn't want to steal her thunder."

Daniel suddenly grinned as he said, "I can only imagine what everyone is gonna say when we tell them we're gonna have eight kids." He chuckled softly. "I can barely believe that we have seven."

She appeared somewhat insecure as she stood before him. She said, "You're not mad?"

He appeared shocked as he regarded her. He said soberly, "You know everything I'm thinking, and everything I'm feeling, Sam. Believe me when I say that I am far from being mad... in the angry sense, anyhow. It's unbelievable." He then looked at her bashfully and said,

"'If I profane with my unworthiest hand, this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand, to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss...'"

She laughed and then smiled as he kissed her gently. She clung onto him as though afraid that he would disappear if she let him go. She whispered silently, 'We're going to be parents again.'

She heard his laugh inside of her mind, and he said, 'I know. We'll never sleep again until our sixties.' His smile widened as he finally let her go, and he stroked her cheek. He said aloud, "... but I don't care."

She retorted with a grin, "You might one day."

"Hell, but one day isn't today... and besides, if there's anyone I'd rather stay awake with... it's you."

He kissed her once again and then put his arm around her, holding her close as they looked up at the snow falling from the night sky. She kissed the hand that was on her shoulder and she leaned into his embrace, feeling warm and protected, and loved. She closed her eyes and felt his heart beat, and the rise and fall of his chest as he took each breath. There had been many close calls over the years: too many. Not for the first time, she considered herself to be impossibly lucky to still have him.

Moments later, he kissed her hair and looked down at her. He said, a twinkle in his eye, "I wouldn't say impossibly, Samantha."

She retorted with a playful grin, "There isn't a lot that you wouldn't say."

"You'd be surprised." His arm dropped to his side, and he grabbed her hand. He grinned at her and said as he led her back indoors, "My turn to insanely drag you away now."

Sam asked with a frown, "Where are we going?"

They emerged onto the first floor lobby, and he carefully led her down the winding staircase. He flashed her another grin, and said, "I wanna start a snowball fight before Jack does... I think I'm long overdue."

As they headed outdoors instead of back into the hall, Sam retorted, laughing, "You're right... you are insane."

– Fin

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Thanks so much for reading, reviewing, favouriting, and story alerting! I can't believe this story is finally over! Goodness. I really appreciate all your support and kind words. It's been great. I'm not sure whether I'll write a sequel yet to cap this whole series off, so for now, this is the end. I can't believe I've been writing this whole series since 2006. It sounds crazy. Thank you so, so, very much. I really hope you've enjoyed it at least as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Thank you. :o)