"Uh – I guess you really are more than just friends," Daniel finally muttered.

Jack rolled his eyes. "Is that all you're going to say?"

"Does the Air Force know?" Daniel added.

"Daniel," Sam exclaimed. "Aren't you going to say 'congratulations' to us?"

It was Teal'c who answered. "Of course, O'Neill, General Samantha Carter. I offer my sincere congratulations." He paused for a moment. "If you are indeed happy about this."

"Of course we're happy, Teal'c," Jack said, sounding disgusted. "Daniel?"

"Oh – yes, of course you have my congratulations. It's just – hard to believe."

"Why?" Jack's eyebrow went up.

"Well, I mean – aren't you both a bit old for this?"

Jack and Sam looked at one another, and then both shrugged at the exact same moment. They then turned back to Daniel and Teal'c.

"We weren't exactly planning on this – and yes, we're older – in years, but obviously the Furling healing device – uh – made this possible," Sam explained. "It's given us another chance," she said softly.

At that, Daniel's expression softened, and soon a smile appeared on his face. "Then I am happy for you both. I was just surprised."

"You were surprised," Jack said. "I just about fainted!"

Daniel chuckled at that. "So, Sam – are you sure you're ready for this? I mean Jack alone is going to be a challenge, but now you're going to have two O'Neill's!"

"I think I can handle them, Daniel," she laughed. She leaned over, and pretended to whisper "he pretends to be tough, but inside he's a teddy bear!"

"I am not a teddy bear," Jack replied in disgust. "But I am happy that we got another chance," he told his friend.

"And this time, don't screw it up, O'Neill, Samantha," Teal'c told them sternly. "We do not wish to go through that again!"

"We don't either, Teal'c," Sam told him. "You don't have to worry! We don't plan to make the same mistakes again. This time it's for keeps!"

"So," Daniel said after the waitress brought their food and they had all started to eat, "you're gonna have a kid. Wow – that's going to be a change."

"But a good one," Teal'c added.

"Yes, it's gonna be great," Jack said.

"What about the Air Force," Daniel wanted to know. "You're not going to get into trouble, are you? I mean – doesn't Sam technically report to you."

"I was on leave, Daniel," Sam told him.

"Alien influence," grinned Jack. "I suppose technically yes, we could get into trouble, but I doubt the Air Force will make an issue of it, especially as we're going to retire."

"Retire? Really! Are they going to let you?" Daniel asked.

"They can't stop us," Jack told him. "I'd planned to retire this year anyway and Sam has more than enough years for a full pension."

"Sam?" Daniel turned to her. "I didn't know you were thinking of retirement."

"Well, I wasn't – but that's because I didn't really have anything else other than the Air Force," she explained. "But now – I have a whole new life waiting with Jack and the munchkin. I'm excited."

"Will you not miss the Air Force, Samantha?" Teal'c wanted to know.

She thought about it for a couple of seconds. "I'm sure there will be times I miss it – I've been in it for my whole life, either as a child of an Air Force officer, or after I joined up. But now – I'm ready for a change."

"For lots of changes," Daniel told her. "including diapers!"

"That will be Jack's job," she explained calmly.

"What? No way Carter – that's an equal opportunity job. I will be in charge of fishing and skating lessons. You can do homework and play dates and the rest we'll share."

"Feeding?"

"Well – okay, at the beginning that's yours, but once he or she eat solids I'll help."

"Deal," she told him with a grin.

"I really can't believe this," Daniel said, looking back and forth between his friends. "Teal'c, are you sure we're not in an alternate reality?"

"I do not believe so, Daniel Jackson, however I agree that this is very strange. If I was not looking at your gray hair and wrinkles, then I would believe it was many years ago."

"Hey! What about your gray hair, Teal'c? I mean, you're over 100 now – you're a centenarian!"

Teal'c bowed his head. "I was not meaning to insult you Daniel – I am just saying that to look at O'Neill and Samantha, you would think that we were at the beginning of our years together instead of it being more than twenty years since we first met."

"Yeah, it's true," Daniel replied with a sigh, "I am happy for you guys, but kind of jealous too. Hey, maybe the Furlings would let us use that healing device!"

"If they agree to a treaty, they might," Jack answered. "But it really doesn't matter Daniel. You're still plenty young – and your wife and kids keep you even younger. And we all know that Teal'c will live for a long, long time yet – especially with Ishta to keep him in line!" He grinned at his Jaffa friend, who simply bowed his head in acknowledgement. "And now Sam and I can actually have a life without feeling guilty for not doing our duty."

"Yeah, that's true." Daniel lifted his glass of beer. "Here's to Jack and Sam – may you have many years of joy ahead of you!" he toasted his friends, and the others joined in.

"That was fun," Sam said later that night, as they lay curled up together in Jack's bed. She'd had to sneak in to his room and just hoped that no one would decide to look at the security tapes. But there was no way she was going to spend her first night back on Earth alone in a VIP room.

"It was," Jack nodded. "Teal'c was right – it really felt like old times!"

"And not just because we look younger," Sam said softly – "but we're happy again – not like the last few years. I think it was hard on our friends."

"Not as hard as on us," he pointed out.

She nodded in agreement, and rested her head on Jack's chest. After a few minutes she spoke again. "We have to get in touch with Cassie."

"Mmm," he nodded. "I look forward to seeing her and the kids," he said. "I think she's going to be happy!"

"Definitely," grinned Sam. "I just wish Janet and my Dad were still alive," Sam murmured, "and General Hammond. I think they'd all be happy at how things have turned out."

"Your Dad? I'm pretty sure he'd want to kill me," he stated, "especially when he found out you were pregnant."

"He would not," Sam laughed. "He liked you!"

"Maybe as a colleague," he replied, "but not as his son-in-law!"

"You're wrong," she told him. "He knew I loved you and basically told me to go for it."

"When did he tell you that?" Jack asked, lifting his head and looking at her with a frown. "You didn't tell me that before."

"I don't know why I didn't tell you," she said. "Somehow – I guess it was part of my doubts. But he told me before he died. And Janet knew how we felt."

"Mmm hmm. And so did Hammond," Jack mused. "It's amazing really."

"What's amazing?"

"That he let us continue to serve together," he said. "He knew very well how I felt about you but he never said anything and only alluded to it once."

"I think he figured as long as we didn't break any regulations, then it was best to leave us alone. We were the best team there was."

"That we were," he agreed. "Ever get the urge to go adventuring again?" he asked softly.

"Absolutely," she nodded. "In fact, I plan on starting my adventures soon."

He lifted his head again and peered down at her. "You do?"

"Mmm hmm. I plan to start a life with this amazing guy I know, have a kid, get some pets and a new house. Sounds like an amazing adventure to me!"

Jack slowly smiled. "Me too," he replied, laying his head down once more on the pillow. "An amazing adventure and no over-the-top bad guys to screw things up!"

The next day was once again spent debriefing with General Dooley and Colonel Davis. Both Sam and Jack decided not to tell anyone about the fact that they could still communicate silently with one another. Neither of them relished being lab rats for the foreseeable future!

"Jack, I heard from the Pentagon – they're expecting you to fly out tomorrow," General Dooley told him. "They want to debrief you and General Carter. I assume they want you back in the saddle as soon as possible. General Cummings has been filling in for you and I don't think they're that happy with him."

"Cummings?" Jack exclaimed. "I should say not! The man's an idiot!"

"Jack," Sam was watching him with a frown. She switched into "think-talk" mode. "You're not thinking of -"

"What? Going back to my old job? No way," he answered silently. "But I want to make sure whoever they put into that job is someone we can trust. The last thing we need is some paper-pusher who doesn't know an alien from his butt-hole!"

"Okay – as long as they don't convince you to stay," she warned. "I want that house in San Diego!"

The others were all looking at them strangely, so Jack grinned and shrugged. "Well, he is an idiot," he told them, hoping they hadn't clued into the fact that they were communicating. When he glanced casually around the table, only Teal'c appeared to be looking at him strangely. Jack grimaced slightly. Teal'c always was too smart for his own good.

"So, are we cleared to go?" Jack finally asked. They'd had two days of briefings and he was tired of going over everything repeatedly. He wanted to get on with his life with Sam.

"Yes, you're cleared," Dooley told him. "There's a flight this afternoon out of Peterson and both of you – and Colonel Davis – are booked on it."

"I wish we didn't have to go to D.C.," Sam said at lunch. They were having a "goodbye" meal with Daniel and Teal'c and both she and Jack were sad not to be able to spend more time with their friends.

"I'll be heading back in a couple of days," Daniel told them. "We can get together when I'm home. I know that Jennie and the kids will be happy to see you both. They were all really upset about Jack's stroke."

"And I will speak with Ishta. It may be that she and our children can come for a visit. Maybe we should all go to your cabin, O'Neill. That would feel like "old times."

"That's a great idea, Teal'c!" Jack exclaimed. "What do you think about that, Sam?"

"Absolutely! I think that would be lovely. Tell Ishta and everyone hi from me, Teal'c – and thank you, both of you, for all you did for Jack. Without you -", she shrugged and smiled.

"We are pleased that everything worked out," Teal'c answered seriously.

"Although we're totally jealous that you guys look so young. I really think I need to ask for leave to go and visit Furlin!"

The four friends said goodbye and Jack and Sam headed to the airport with Davis accompanying them.

"It was so good to be together again," Sam said softly. "I didn't realize how much I missed our times together."

"Yeah, it was nice," he agreed. "It'll be fun to have everyone up at the cabin. We should invite Cassie and Dan and their kids."

"Where would we put everyone?" she asked.

"We'll figure it out," he answered with a grin.

The trip was uneventful and soon they were back in D.C. They said goodbye to Davis, and made their way to Jack's house. According to Dooley, someone had been checking on it occasionally so when they arrived it was clean, although slightly musty smelling.

"Home sweet home," Jack murmured, as he opened the door.

"Miss it?" Sam asked.

"No, not really," he answered, "not since you were with me on Furlin," he said, pulling her to him and giving her a hug. "Although I guess I did miss having my space, or should I say our space," he smiled and kissed her nose. "Why don't you take your things up to the bedroom – top of the stairs, straight ahead. I'm going to grab the mail and check to make sure everything's okay."

Sam gave him another quick kiss and then grabbed her suitcase and made her way upstairs. She looked around as she walked, curious to see what Jack's house was like. It was very different than his place in Colorado Springs – more traditional and it had less of a cabin-like feel. It really was lovely, she thought, although not something she would have pictured for Jack.

She easily found the master bedroom. It was neat and tidy, but very masculine looking – which didn't surprise her. She rather liked the simplicity of it. She definitely liked the king-sized bed.

"What?" she whispered, as she saw something on Jack's night table. She slowly walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. She reached out and lifted up the picture frame. It was a picture of her.

She suddenly felt overwhelmed and the tears began to gather and then fall. He hadn't been back to his house since having the stroke, so this must have been here before then. He really had loved her all these years, she realized.

She continued to cry, again feeling guilty for all the years they had been apart – but also feeling incredibly touched that he had stayed faithful to the memory of her.

"Hey, what's wrong?" his worried voice made her look up and she watched as he quickly moved towards her and knelt down.

"Sam, what is it? What's the matter?"

She couldn't speak, but instead looked towards the picture. Jack followed her gaze. When he realized what had made her cry, he looked uncomfortable.

"I'm – sorry," he said softly. "I forgot that was there. I should have taken it down."

"Why?" she hiccupped. "It's beautiful. I love you so much," she told him. A moment later she was in his arms.

"I don't know why I've been such a watering pot," she told him. "I never cry this much!"

He just hugged her tighter, feeling rather overwhelmed himself. "Well, you have been through quite a bit," he said, with massive understatement. "And remember – you are pregnant."

"You're saying it's hormones?" she asked, leaning back and frowning at him.

"I'm not saying anything," he told her carefully. "Just – I love you too."

She giggled and rested her head on his chest. "I can't believe you kept my picture all these years," she finally told him.

He shrugged, too embarrassed to answer.

"I kept yours in my wallet," she told him softly.

They didn't make it downstairs for a long time.