Fall came soon for Sam and Jack. They had decided to put Lupali in pre-K, deciding if she chose to say anything, that they could easily cover her stories for her wild imagination. They decided to home school Myalah with a lot of help from Cassie, Janet, a tutor and study group for homeschooled kids. They simply claimed that she had been adopted and neglected educationally. Both girls enjoyed school, but both complained Sam and Jack were gone too often, and they missed them. Sam and Jack both had guilt, but at this moment, they weren't sure what to do. There had been multiple late-night discussions. They had both taken days off here and there more so than ever before. Sam hated to admit it, but she had no reason to leave the SGC before the girls, and now she had something else in her life that she couldn't let go of.
Elliott was coming up to visit almost every weekend. He had taken Cassie to homecoming, which leads to some disagreements that Sam and Jack had seen coming. Cassie was Junior, and Elliott saw homecoming as a childish time, which wasn't as fun since he had entered his college life. Elliott had his first taste of freedom. He admitted he had allowed his dorm to become a wreck and lost his chemistry book for 3 days in the mess. He also had admitted going out a time or two with some new friends, but he found it to be obnoxious. He had quickly realized that eating out every day was an easy way to go broke and sucked it up and ate on campus in the dining halls instead. When Cassie told him the date of homecoming, Elliott asked who she was going to go with. The school allowed former students to come back if they were under 21, and Cassie just expected him to want to go. In the end, after an argument and some convincing, Elliott agreed to homecoming and prom but nothing else and encouraged her to find another date as friends for the other school dances if she planned on attending.
When Cassie was at Jack's home, she became mother hen to the girls and spent more time with them than Jack or Sam until their bedtimes. Jack was happy Cassie was so excited for the girls and feared she may feel differently as time wore on, but the girls had been with them for 3 months, and although things could change at any time, Cassie seemed happy at being big sister and caretaker to the girls. From time to time, Cassie would babysit for Sam and Jack, allowing them to go out on dates on the weekends Elliott wasn't there. Cassie seemed upset by the loss of not only Elliott but a few close friends who had also graduated in the spring. Sam, Jack, and Janet could tell Cassie wasn't as active as the 2 previous years at school, opting to stay at home more than going out. Cassie was still acting the same, so they figured it was her way of coping, and they were happy she wanted to hang close.
Elliott's birthday was coming up. He would be 19, and in another month, Cassie would be 17, and Jack wasn't sure where his little girl went. He was happy that they had 2 more to raise because if not, he might insist on keeping Cassie locked away in his home or Janet's forever. Jack couldn't believe that a year had passed since Elliott had come to live with them. It's as if he had known the boy for ages. Elliott still hadn't really connected back with his parents as far as Jack could tell. He had met for lunch with his mom on occasions, and Elliott said it was strained and awkward. Texts seem to be the most comfortable form of communication, and although it didn't happen often, Jack was hoping one day all would be forgiven. Jack knew time was needed for Elliot's wounds to heal, and they may never fully. Jack still didn't understand how a family could give up on their child. Jack prayed every day that the girl's parents knew they were safe and cared for, and Sam and Jack had already loved them like their own.
Jack and Sam had headed into the office. The air was cold, and Jack hoped the girls would soon see their first snow. They usually take their own vehicles, never knowing when or if they will get to leave together, but today was a mission, and Sam drove them to the SGC. It was Wednesday, and they had to get their medical screens done. They were going to P3X865. The planet had some unknown tablets at the base of the gate. After a flyover, no civilization was found. The MALP found the planet to be a comfortable climate and only slightly more oxygen in the air than Earth. They were expected to go for 48 hours, see if there was anything of interest, and, if so, who would be the proper teams to send out. Just as the briefing concluded, Janet knocked on the door.
Jack and Sam made their way to the infirmary. Jack sighed, asking Janet for the 1000th time if they couldn't just put in a port so he wouldn't have to be stuck almost every day of his life. Sam had heard him a curtain the only thing between them and rolled his eyes as another a nurse drew her blood. Daniel and Teal'c were behind other curtains, and Sam could hear them ask the routine medical questions. After the four were finished, they went split up for the day, Sam going to her lab. Teal'c assisting Daniel with a project, and Jack had decided he would grab a snack before starting on paperwork.
Sam had been looking through the crystal set that Teal'c had brought back so many months ago, she hadn't realized she was that far backlogged. They had looked like typical crystals but slightly off-color, and she wasn't sure what that meant. She had begun doing necessary tests and giving detailed descriptions of each crystal when she heard someone knocking on the door. Sam looked at the clock; it was still too early for lunch, but she assumed it was one of the guys. Sam was surprised to see Janet on the other side of the door.
"Major, I need to talk to you," Janet told Sam.
"Okay," Sam stated.
They walked back to the infirmary.
"Sam, you're pregnant," Janet claimed.
"What?" Sam asked.
"It's early. I've been testing ever since you went off birth control. You're pregnant." Janet claimed.
Sam's stomach rolled. After she and Jack adopted the girls, she didn't think about talking to Jack about more kids. They had their moments of intimacy, but it had been the same since the girls came into the picture.
"Are you okay?" Janet asked. As Sam's face paled.
"Yeah, so I can't go on the mission?" Sam asked.
"I mean, I'd advise against it, to be honest," Janet claimed.
"Right," Sam claimed.
"I have to tell the General, Sam," Janet explained.
"I know, Janet, but can you just give me time to let Jack know?" Sam asked.
"He needs to know you can't go through the gate. I have to give my report by the end of the day." Janet claimed.
"I know I'll tell him myself. Just give a couple hours." Sam claimed.
Janet smiled and shook her head.
Sam went to one of the spare VIP rooms, opened the door, and cried. She didn't know what to feel and knew that it would all but confirm how she should think by telling Jack. If she's really that early, the baby would be due in June, less than a year after they adopted Myalah and Lupali.
She wasn't sure she was ready for a baby, and now with three kids, this changed everything. She and Jack had already talked about cutting back at work and had even had a conversation with General Hammond about it. He understood their predicament, but it had been a busy time. Sam did find herself going home nightly and had worked about 10-15 hours less a week, but Jack had kept his schedule more consistent with his old one, though he never worked anywhere near as much as Sam had.
Sam began thinking about the wedding. The plans had been put on hold, but they had already set a date and picked the venue. 'There goes that deposit.' she thought. The wedding was going to be in July, and she was going to be due before then. She scrubbed her face. She could imagine her belly that hadn't fully deflated back to normal in a gown, a gown that was 3 size too big because she still was swollen. She bit her lip and let the tears flow again. She couldn't believe she was crying over this and then gave the excuse of hormones and let the tears flow.
Sam knew legally that General Hammond couldn't say anything to Jack about her pregnancy, but it just felt wrong for the General to know and not Jack. She had wished she could plan a surprise, but then again, she wasn't sure what would go through Jack's head. She ran 1000 scenarios in her head. She finally stopped the tears and gave herself time to cool down and allow the redness in her face to go away.
Sam looked down at her belly. It was odd knowing a new life was growing inside, and she wouldn't have known if Janet hadn't told her otherwise. Sam smiled at the fact that she was going to be a mom once again, happy that this time she and Jack would get to enjoy pregnancy and a newborn.
Sam suddenly felt as though it was the most important thing on Earth to let Jack know he was going to be a dad, and she went to his office hoping to find him and tell him her life-changing news. Sam walked by his open door and saw him on the computer muttering to himself, and she let herself in.
"I was looking for you earlier. What do you think about these tablets?" Jack asked.
"No idea," Sam claimed.
"Think it's a trap?" Jack asked.
"Could be," Sam stated.
Jack could tell something was wrong.
"Sam, what is it?" Jack asked.
Sam looked directly into his eyes.
"I'm a little nervous," Sam admitted.
"You have a bad feeling because you know maybe you should tell General Hammond," Jack claimed.
"No, after the girls, we haven't really broached the subject I'm about to bring up," Sam stated.
Jack looked oddly at her.
"Come on, Sam, just tell me what's going on," Jack stated.
"I'm pregnant," Sam said.
Jack looked at her, his eyes wide. He quickly jumped up to latch onto her and hold her tight.
"A baby?" Jack asked.
"A baby," Sam said.
"You sure?"
Janet ran the tests this morning.
"Wow!" Jack claimed.
"Three kids Jack, three kids in less than a year!" Sam stated.
Jack looked at her.
Lupali will be excited to be a big sister. It might take a little while to get Myalah on board." Jack stated.
Sam smiled, knowing it was the truth.
"You're okay with this?" Sam asked.
"You didn't think I would be?" Jack asked.
"It's a lot," Sam claimed.
"When is it not a lot," Jack asked.
Sam nodded her head in agreement.
"Well, it looks like someone isn't going to P3X-865," Jack said.
Jack kissed Sam's lips and put his hand up to her belly, slightly disappointed he couldn't tell the difference.
Sam smiled at Jack.
"Let's get married," Jack stated.
"We are getting married," Sam stated.
"No, I mean now," Jack claimed.
"Jackā¦" Sam stated.
"If you want everyone there, we can have a party later. I want to do this right." Jack claimed.
"We already have 2 kids." Sam giggled.
"You're right, but I love you and this baby, and I don't want to wait to put a ring on my finger or yours," Jack stated.
Sam sighed.
"Can we try to get dad at least have it at the house?" Sam claimed.
"As long as there's cake," Jack claimed.
Sam laughed.
"Okay then, let's tell the General," Sam claimed.
Jack and Sam walk into the general' office.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we're going to have to scrub the mission," Jack claimed.
"Jack, I don't see why it's an issue." General Hammond stated.
Sam smiled, "Well, Janet will give you the official report any minute, but I'm pregnant." Sam claimed.
General Hammond dropped the pen her was holding and saw the gleam in Sam and Jack's eye.
"Well, I'll be. Congratulations. I'll get Jacob here as soon as possible. You're going to have your hands full. I'm so happy you two deserve it." General Hammond claimed.
"We decided to move up the wedding," Jack claimed.
General Hammond just nodded.
"See you next Saturday, our place?" Jack asked.
"Nowhere else I'd rather be." General Hammond claimed.
He picked up the red phone before his door shut all the way.
Jack and Sam could hear the General, "I believe I have just won a bet."
Sam rolls her eyes.
"Let's see if Janet can show us the baby, and we'll go tell the guys," Jack stated.
Sam nodded her head as they head to the infirmary.
Janet admits she's not the best, especially with early pregnancy, but she does the ultrasound and shows Sam and Jack the tiny dot inside.
"I'm guessing your only about 4 weeks. I just want to warn you the first trimester is when the most miscarriages happen but, you're healthy, and this looks textbook, so I wouldn't worry." Janet claimed.
Sam was still nervous despite Janet thinking everything was fine.
"Should we hold off telling the guys?" Sam asked.
"Up to you," Janet claimed.
Sam smiled. "Janet, please tell me that you're free this Saturday," Sam said suddenly.
"Yes, it's my weekend off." Janet was confused.
"We moved the wedding up. I guess I'm having a fall wedding!" Sam claimed.
Janet smiled.
"Well then, will I be calling you Mrs.O'Neill," Janet asked.
"No, Jack and I discussed it. I'm keeping my last name, but the kids all have O'Neill." Sam claimed.
"Right, okay then, I wouldn't miss it for the world," Janet stated.
Sam and Jack meandered their way to Daniel's office first and excited to see Teal'c so they could tell them together.
"So, you know how Sam and I have a wedding coming up?" Jack asked.
"Yes," Daniel claimed.
"Yes, it is several months away from this summer," Teal'c claimed.
"Well, not anymore, see you Saturday at our place," Jack claimed.
"What?! Why?" Daniel asked.
"Well, it will work hard for Carter here to get fitted if she's just going to keep getting bigger," Jack claimed.
Sam gave him a look.
"Jack, that's really mean thing to say," Daniel claimed.
"Sam, you haven't gained any weight," Daniel stated.
"No, but she will," Jack claimed.
Daniel looked at Jack oddly again.
"Sam, a little help here," Daniel asked.
Sam smiled.
"Well, he is right. If we have the wedding in July, I don't think I can lose all the baby weight by then." Sam claimed.
"NO!" Daniel claimed.
"Yes!" Sam claimed.
"I do not understand," Teal'c claimed.
"I'm pregnant!" Sam smiled.
Jack beamed every time she said the words.
Teal'c simply smiled, Daniel hugged Sam and then Jack.
"I'm sorry, Sam, but good luck with his DNA." Daniel laughed.
Sam smiled.
Jack and Sam felt like they were floating the rest of the day as word got out people smiled at them in the hall.
The day ended, and Sam and Jack were heading home. They decided tonight wasn't the night to explain it to the girls, but they did tell Cindy, who had smiled widely. After dinner and the girls were in bed, Sam and Jack were on the couch, Sam had been leaning into Jack.
"Jack, I think I'm gonna give it up. I'll contract out and work at the SGC part-time." Sam said suddenly.
Jack whipped around and looked at her.
"You have 9 months to figure it out, Sam," Jack claimed.
"I know, but I feel bad enough leaving Lupali here and Myalah. With this third baby coming, I can't be away for so long. I told myself if I got pregnant, I would be there. I love my dad, but he missed out on so much, and they're still a lot of heartaches, Jack." Sam admitted.
"So you think I should retire too?" Jack asked.
"They won't let you retire. You know that." Sam claimed.
"I'll talk to General Hammond, and Janet sees what we can do. You're right; I don't want to miss a thing." Jack admitted.
Sam looked at her soon-to-be husband and saw a new light in his eyes. Sam wasn't sure how they would manage the chaos, but it wasn't like they were the first people to have 3 kids. Even though Sam wasn't sure how it would work out, she knew it would and leaned back on to Jack, ready to see where the future takes them.
A/N: Only 1 more chapter and an epilogue I tried to tie up the biggest loose ends but if you guys are wondering about something let me know. Thanks for your continued support and reviews and favorites. Look out for my new Story Group Outings. I should have it out soonish. I tried so hard to make it group focused but it has a lot of S/J that just sort of happened.
