Aww... this is so, so bittersweet... Thanks for joining me on this super angsty trip. I hope you all had fun, tears, and well, enough chuckle-worthy moments.

Enjoy!

M.

Chapter 102

Friday, February 22, 2013

Sam couldn't remember a day in her life that she'd felt as tired as she was feeling today. She could only remember one day in her life where she was this happy. It was a hundred and forty-three months earlier, the day she'd become Mrs. O'Neill.

She looked like crap, too. With dark circles under her eyes, that were silent evidence of the rocky night she'd just spend next to Jack. Rocky, rewarding, and utterly delectable night of confessions riddled with overwhelming passion and so much love.

Jack had always managed to bring out her everything she tried to hide. Be it magical plans to save the world or more creative ways to be thoroughly fucked. She felt drained, but at the same time, lightweight.

It was impossible not to. Especially knowing that once work was over, Jack would be following her home. They would get to not only explain, but to show Parker what home really felt like. Then, drop the bomb that she wouldn't be the only kid in their family anymore.

Jack wasn't looking a whole lot better than she was. By ten am, he'd already depleted a whole jug of coffee by himself. Not even that was working to keep him fully awake. He couldn't be happier when lunchtime rolled around. He could be finally able to stop fighting with the files he needed to read but wasn't able to concentrate on, without his eyes closing on him more often than not. No, he definitively wasn't that young anymore.

By the time they went for lunch, the rumor mill was exploding with stories about how she'd smiled and he had, too. About how there were now wedding bands sitting in both their fingers, although no one fully knew how that could've happened. Rumors about how tired they both looked. How suspicious it was that Frasier was missing.

Lunch, though, was a casual affair as they sat with SG-1 minus Janet. They smiled in the right places and nodded at the right times too. Not quite speaking that much. They both noticed Teal'c's approving eyes, even when their friend didn't say a word. Not that he needed to. He was way better than them at conveying his emotions with a glance. They could say they'd learned from the best.

Teal'c had approached Sam later that day and eyed her for a brief second. "Happiness suits you, Samantha Carter." He said. "I hope this time it gets a chance to last."

"So do I, Teal'c, so do I." She hoped, and although he had his suspicions about the rings, he said nothing of the sort. He knew they would come clean to him whenever they were ready for that. Not that he needed the confirmation. He only needed and wanted them to be as happy as he felt when he could hold Janet in the nights.

A knock on her door interrupted the meaningful exchange, and Jack's head peeked inside. "Hey, mind if I join you?" He asked.

"Not at all, O'Neill."

"Carter, I was just wondering if you were almost ready to go?"

"I'll be in a moment." She smiled brightly at him. A smile that had finally reached her eyes. He smiled back. Teal'c ignored them both in favor of something that had caught his attention lingering on the shelves behind Sam's back. He walked to it and picked it up.

A blue pebble.

His smile grew large as he examined the small piece of rock. Jack frowned in confusion, and Sam turned around to find him observing it. She blushed.

"Do you know why I gave this one to you?" He asked. Sam nodded.

"You said it reminded you of my eyes." Teal'c raised the pebble close to her eyes level and turned towards Jack.

"Do you see what I saw then?" Teal'c asked him. Jack frowned for a second, and then he understood. They were the same shade of blue as Sam's eyes when she looked at him in the way she was looking at him now. Happy, loving, mesmerizing blue eyes.

"What?" Sam asked confused, crossing her eyes a little to try to see what they saw. Jack chuckled at the funny face she was making. "Okay, I'll give up! To be honest, I could never figure out why you thought it was the same blue." She shrugged, "It was just a nice memory to hold on to."

"Oh, but they are, Sam. Now, they are…" Jack smiled at her.

"Don't ever let it fade again, O'Neill," Teal'c warned.

"I'll do my best, T. My damn best."

"That's all that's required. I wouldn't stay too long coddled up in here. The rumors are growing fast and steady. I'm still wondering why Janet is stuck in the middle of them." Sam blushed.

"I… You guys didn't hear that one?"

"Which one?" Jack asked after exchanging a weird glance with Teal'c.

"Ah… There was a rumor when we stopped talking to each other, that we were... Hmm… Engaged in a threesome and somehow Daniel walked in on us."

"Really? They think the Doc has it on her?" Jack asked, a bit surprised. Sam and Teal'c exchanged a smile.

"Janet certainly is… Creative…" Teal'c said before he left the room.

"Wait? You…?" Sam chuckled at his reaction.

"Janet's my friend, Jack. She tells me things she won't discuss with anyone else. After all this time, she still does," she added the latter with an awed expression.

"That's good. I'm glad you got a friend in her." He smiled. "So, ready to go?"

"Yup. Oh, I need to call Jessica first, to let her know I'll be a bit late." She said, turning off her computer and picking up her phone. She waited for a second, tapping her fingers on her desk. "Jessica? I'll be a bit late. I just need to make a pit stop before I can get there… Yes. I'll see you both soon." She lowered the phone. "Ready?"

"Hell, yes!"

They hurried to the elevators. Mitchell, Vala, Daniel, and Teal'c had joined them on level 25, heading for the mess hall.

"General…" Mitchell started. Jack turned slightly back to watch him, an amused smile on his face.

"I'm on my wait out, Mitchell. Whatever it is… Will have to wait." Jack answered.

"Actually, sir… I was talking with General Carter…" Cam said. Sam grinned.

"I'm on my wait out too, Mitchell. Whatever it is, it will have to wait." Sam answered in the same manner. The doors opened, Vala dragged Daniel out.

"Have an excellent weekend," Teal'c said, walking out of the elevator himself. "My regards to Parker Carter."

"Will do," Jack answered. As Teal'c pulled a confused Mitchell out of the small space. The door closed and Cam frowned.

"Will I ever manage to understand those two?" He asked.

"What's there to understand?" Vala answered.

"I don't know. One minute they barely talk or even smile at tall. Then they are kinda friendly, then they don't talk and avoid each other, and now…" He waved. Vala laughed.

"They fuck, Cam... What's there to understand?" Vala said before she linked her arms with Daniel and walked away.

"Wait, what?" Cam asked, rushing behind them. "You mean… They're… Together?" he whispered, looking at the three people in front of him.

"Who is?" Janet asked as they reached her. Teal'c gave her hand a light squeeze and a meaningful glance.

"So they finally solved it?" She asked him.

"Indeed."

"Great. It was about damn time!" Janet smiled.

"I just hope they find it in them to forgive me…" Daniel said, a glint of hope in his eyes.

"They already have…" Vala answered.

"Will I ever understand what's going on around here?" Cam whined. They looked at each other and shrugged.

"Maybe… One day," Vala answered.

Friday, February 22, 2013

"Remind me again, why we didn't do this yesterday?" Jack asked.

"Because, if I remember correctly, we could barely move?" Sam grinned.

"Oh, I remember moving all right."

"I remember you complaining about not being able to get me off of you." She pointed out. "But you're right, that was this morning, not yesterday." Sam shrugged before he could say something else. "So, anything else you think you'd need?"

He looked down at the duffel in his hand and to the one in hers. "Nah, can't think of anything else from here that I need. Besides, we aren't that far away if I need to get something."

"Right. Ready to go then?"

"No?" He said. She smiled softly and walked to him. She enveloped him in a hug. He tightened it, breathing her in.

"Don't be scared, Jack. Parker will have your head filled with all kinds of information before you have time to process it."

"That's easy for you to say. You've known her, her entire life." He mumbled.

"And you've seen most of it, Jack. It's not that complicated. Believe me, she's not that complicated at all. She's surprisingly easy for how much of a screw up I am."

"You're not a screw-up." She snorted.

"Yes, I am." She broke the embrace. "And so are you…" she added before pecking his lips. "And as the screws-up we are, we have our first appointment with Doctor Moore, next Tuesday. Now, let's go before we find another wall or door." She giggled, pulling his hand and walking towards the door.

They drove back to her house, and once again they parked side by side in her driveway. She smiled and got down of the SUV, turning around to watch him. She walked to him and embraced him from behind.

"Hey, what's that for?" he said, tangling his hands with hers.

"You are here." She said. He turned around in her arms and kissed her.

"Until you don't want me here anymore." He said.

"Then you're stuck with me forever." She grinned. "Need some help, old man?"

"Just for that," Jack chuckled, pushing one of his bags into her hands.

"Follow me, we'll be late for dinner." She threw over her shoulders, leading the way inside. "Honey, I'm home!" Sam shouted out of the blue as she dropped his bag on the floor. Behind her, Jack chuckled and turned her around to kiss her. She whimpered as his lips collided with hers and kissed him back fiercely.

Someone cleared her throat. Breaking them out of their bubble. Sam turned around to find Jessica looking at her with a surprised expression on her face.

"Jessica."

"Miss C." The young woman said. Parker stopped next to her.

"Jessica, have I ever introduced you to my husband?" Sam asked as Parker's eyes widened.

"You mean?" P asked, unable to contain the smile blossoming on her face.

"This is Jack, Parker's dad." Sam finished, leaning back against him.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, sir. So, Mrs. C?" Jessica wondered. Sam chuckled and nodded. Getting a smile from the younger woman.

"Dinner should be ready in half an hour. I was just waiting for you to go home. Ah, if I were you, I'd get rid of the uniforms… You know, tomato sauce stains are awful on dress blues." She winked at them. "Parker, enjoy your family," Jessica added, patting her head.

They watched Jessica go, but Parker was still looking at them closely.

"You never said..."

"That we were married?" Sam asked.

"Yeah."

"We were… We are…" Sam said, biting her lower lip.

"And those bags?" Parker asked, looking from the bags to her parents. Jack shuffled his weight awkwardly.

"Will you mind if we become a family?" Sam wondered.

"Really?" Parker asked, widening eyes filled with hope and joy. Sam nodded. "Like a real family?"

"That's the idea," Sam agreed.

"And you agree with it?" Parker asked, looking at Jack. He cleared his throat, not trusting in his voice, and nodded. She rushed to them and embraced them tightly. "Best day ever!"

"P, there's something else…" Sam said.

"More?"

"You're going to be a big sister."

"What?"

"Yup. We're pregnant…" Jack left out, still awed by that whole concept.

"Oh my God! I'm so happy!"

"You are?"

"It's all I've ever wanted and then some!" They both released the breath they were holding. "Wait? You thought I wouldn't?"

"We were a bit worried, yes."

"Gosh! I need to call Mia! And Anna! Holy Hannah! Cassie will flip!"

"Just don't mention the baby yet!" Sam shouted as their daughter rushed down the hall.

"Will do!" P shouted back.

"Cassie?" Jack asked, placing a kiss on her neck as they watched amusedly Parker's disappearing form.

"Cassandra Fraiser… It's quite amazing how those two hit it off. Age difference and all." She turned around in his arms again and bit her lower lip. "Whatcha say if we get rid of the uniforms as Jessica has recommended, huh?" She wiggled her eyebrows. Her hand found his head, lowering it down for yet another kiss. He undid the buttons of her jacket and she chuckled richly.

"I think we might need to take this elsewhere." He mumbled against her lips.

"Well, Jessica did mention there's at least half an hour until dinner's done." She bit her lower lip and grabbed one of his bags. "Are you coming, General?" He shook his head, grabbing the other one and following her inside.

She threw her jacket on the floor, and turned around, buttons of her blouse already half undone. He watched her with widened eyes as she stalked towards him. Closing the door behind him and pressing herself against him.

"Wha- watcha' doing?" he asked breathily.

"Whatcha' think?" she said, fumbling with his jacket and shirt buttons.

"What about Parker?"

"She's on the phone," Sam shrugged, then she nibbled his ear. "Besides, didn't I mention that I soundproofed this room when we had to remodel the bathroom?" She whispered before she moved to the side and locked the door. She sashayed her way to the bed, losing her blouse on the way. "Aren't you getting rid of those blues, sir?" She asked innocently, lowering her now fully naked form onto her bed.

"Yes, ma'am." He said before he joined her.

Half an hour later, they were sitting at the table. Parker eyed them closely for a while before she shrugged it off.

"So… Dad, are you going to live with us now?" She frowned.

"I... I would like that."

"And you agree with that, mom?"

"Yes." She squinted at them again. Sam's hand found Jack's and held it gave it a light squeeze. He, in turn, grabbed the hand she'd laid on him. Settling their linked hands on the table. Parker squinted at the linked hands on display, for a second.

"Okay." P shrugged.

"Okay?" They both asked at once.

"Yup. Besides, you're awfully cute together." She said. Jack's smile grew impossibly big.

"Did you hear that, Carter? We're cute."

"It seems we are," she nodded. He placed a kiss on her cheek then and ruffled Parker's hair. His eyes widened when he noticed the look on his daughter's face.

"I'm sorry… I …"

"It's okay. I just… Usually, it's only mom or Jess doing it. I like it," She grinned. Jack let out the breath he was holding. "Why, were you scared?" Parker frowned.

"P… I explained it to you." Sam replied.

"Really? You're afraid I won't like you?" P asked, not understanding how that could even be possible.

"Yeah." He said.

"Didn't you watch my videos?"

"I have."

"Then?"

"That's someone you thought I was, Parker. What if I'm not who you think I am?"

"Don't you love me?" She frowned then.

"I do."

"Isn't that the only thing it matters?" She asked. "Mom said that I could hate her sometimes. That she could hate me sometimes, but the only thing we couldn't ever do is stop loving each other. If we love each other, then no matter the screw-ups, everything will be okay." Jack smiled at her, then turned towards Sam.

"I knew you were the smartest of the two." He said. Sam shook her head, eyes twinkling with amusement.

"She said you taught her that." P shrugged.

"I did?"

"Yup."

"When?" He frowned.

"Several times throughout the years." She shrugged. "Does it matter when?"

"I guess not." Jack shrugged.

"Aww… It's almost as if you're only missing some background music," Parker giggled.

"Remind me to check what movies you watch when you're with your friends!" Sam laughed. "So, how was your day, P?"

As Parker started telling them about their day, Jack figured out that Sam was right. P was going to allow him in, even if he hadn't fully tried before. He had his girls, everything was perfect in his world.

The end?

... I thought it was it back then... but no... see you in the next and sadly, final, chapter... :)