At 3:00, Jack was startled awake and turned to the sound that had woken him. Looking around, he remembered where he was, and saw the faint light of Sam's bathroom filtering in through the open doorway, the flush of the toilet dying down. He blinked as her naked form emerged and he appreciated it, until she clicked the bathroom lights off and felt rather than saw her patter toward the bed. To his joy, she climbed back in.

"Did I wake you?" she whispered.

"It's okay," he answered, "I need to go too," he said, and he none-too-gently climbed over her to get out of the bed, kissing her forehead as he went. When he returned, he again climbed over her, but Sam pinched his waist as he went, causing him to partly fall on her, and she giggled.

"Hey!" he said and she giggled more. He used his position and her laughter to cover her body with his and found her hands, bringing them to each side of her pillow, lacing his fingers in hers. With their new position, her laughter died down and she swallowed, looking up at him and giving both of his hands a squeeze. They had both slept deeply, finally rested, and Jack felt like a new person and he could tell she felt the same. After a moment, Jack leaned down, kissing her, and Sam hummed, enjoying the ease with which they were able to do this. They kissed for a long moment, and when Jack pulled back, his mouth traveled to her neck.

"I'm done sleeping for now, are you?" he asked against her skin.

"Oh, most definitely," she answered, beginning to feel him hardening.

"You wanna-" Jack started to suggest but found himself flat on his back as his mate deftly took over, rolling them and taking the upper position in one swift move.

"Yeah, I wanna," Sam answered, no longer giggling, leaning down to kiss him once more as her legs adjusted to fully straddle him. Moving her mouth from his and finally separating their hands, she untangled herself from most of the blankets that surrounded her and looked down, finding him fully ready. She leaned over, and Jack found what she needed easily on the nightstand, and this time, he let her open the foil packet and slowly slide the piece of latex over his shaft. Lifting her hips, she held him with her right hand as she slid down all the way onto him, her body stinging slightly from the activity and the stretch, and she sat for a minute, her hands coming to rest on his chest, her eyes finally searching his face, only to find him waiting to meet her eyes, his hands raising to rest on her hips, not moving at all, but letting her have full command.

Their eyes still locked, Sam started to move, lifting ever so slightly up, and then slowly sinking back down. She repeated the motion, over and over again, so slowly, as if time did not exist. She continued, as their breathing grew heavier and heavier, and Jack's hold on her hips grew tighter and tighter. Sam added a forward rocking motion, making both of them moan, and she repeated everything, growing faster and faster in her movements, everything calculated and exact. Jack grunted his teeth in concentration, not wanting it to end, not wanting to end it for her, and he watched amazed as Samantha Carter rode him, her breasts bouncing above him, her hands leaving marks on his chest. He moved his hand and placed it so that with each of her movements, his knuckles touched her clit, and she looked down, licking her lips, her sounds evidence that she approved of his effort, and she leaned her body forward so that each time she moved, his hand was crushed between their bodies providing the perfect stimulation for her clitoris.

Feeling completely in control of his body now, Jack began jerking upwards with each of her thrusts, and was rewarded with her yeses and moans of pleasure. The pleasure was amazing, and Jack felt the sheen of sweat on her skin as he continued to admire the wanton way she moved above him. Much sooner than Jack thought possible, Sam clutched her legs around his hips and yelped in pleasure, freezing in her movements, her muscles contracting violently and pulling Jack further into her, her thrusts still present but minuscule, her breathing nearly stopped. Jack looked up and again enjoyed watching her face as she came, and feeling her contract with him inside of her overwhelmed him. He lifted his chest and gathered her to him, gently flipping them over and laying her tenderly back on the bed and she clutched at him with her arms. Gently, he began to rock back into her and her sounds let him know that she approved, that he wasn't hurting her, and he thrust over and over into her, surprised at the sound, the slap of flesh against flesh that the movement produced in the bedroom. He wished now that he wasn't wearing a condom, that he could feel her all the way through, and he upped his speed and moved without restraint in and out of her until his climax arrived, hot and sudden, and the sound that escaped his lips shocked even him. He collapsed on top of her, sweat covering them both, and Sam ran her fingers up and into his hair, laying whisper kisses on any part of his skin that she could reach.

"Two weeks and we should be safe to ditch the condom," she said to him, reading his thoughts. "I started back up on birth control two days ago."

He nodded into her chest but didn't speak.

"I wish I could feel you without it," she said, even as he was still inside of her. She felt no embarrassment over speaking to him this way. She felt completely able to be fully intimate with him, physically and emotionally, and maybe Miri was right, maybe she was now a fuller being than she had been when she arrived on Damin; maybe they both were.

"Me too," he mumbled against her. "Sam…," he paused, filling his lungs with air and getting ready to tell her how much, exactly, he loved her. "You're the best thing that's happened to me since Charlie," he said with meaning, and Sam tightened her grip on his hair and used it to lift his head up to meet his eyes.

"You're the best thing to happen to me too, Jack," she replied. "I mean it."

"I can't believe we wasted six months," he added and she smiled up at him.

"We didn't… not really," Sam said, thinking they had spent six months slowly falling in love with everything about the other person that they hadn't already known. Sam wondered if they wouldn't have felt this strongly about each other if they had just fallen into bed together at the very beginning.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you, too," she said as he rolled off of her, using another wipe form the table, then laying down next to her, both facing the ceiling in the dark.

They were silent a while, letting their bodies cool, letting their breathing return to normal until Sam asked, "are you ready to talk about D.C.?"

"Sure," he answered, but to Sam he sounded on the fence about the decision to talk and she giggled, which caused Jack to turn and face her as he lay.

"What did the Generals say?" she asked as she moved to mirror him and look into his face in the darkness.

Jack took a deep breath before he began, moving his hands to her touch her bare hips. "I gave them an overview of the mission, then of life when we were stuck, the gate trouble, the cave, the writing," he paused to move impossibly closer to her. "I told them about the society and the women, but I mostly focused on what I did and the men."

"Did you tell them I was the one who made the decision to come back without bringing anything, without taking Miri's device?" Sam asked, wondering how much trouble she had gotten him into.

"They had all read your report, and I very clearly told them at the beginning of the meeting that you were in charge, that it was a command decision I had made since it was the only way to proceed in their society. I told them that while getting our research from our cottage would have been beneficial before coming home, that you were right to leave immediately, that the village people couldn't be trusted. You were also right to leave the device; taking it would be theft, and I highlighted that our directive to procure a means of defense for Earth should not cross that particular line of ethics, otherwise we'd be no better than the Goa'uld," he drew swirlies on her skin with his fingers that caused her goosebumps.

"And what did they say?" Sam asked.

"They want the device."

"Of course," Sam huffed.

"But they can't understand why you never asked Miri to have it. I told them they were crazy, that there was no way on Earth or Damin that woman would have handed something that Mother Damin herself left for the people's protection," Jack explained.

"You're right," Sam agreed, thinking this over. "Don't tell me they're gonna send a team to try to negotiate for it?"

"They asked me if a team of all women would work," Jack stated, waiting a beat to add, "and they're gonna ask if you'll lead the team."

"Over my dead body," Sam said immediately. "I am not going back. They should not go back."

Jack nodded. "That's about when I offered my resignation," Jack said, very calmly.

Sam was silent, but Jack heard her heavy sigh.

"They asked about you and me, if I wanted to resign so I could continue any relationship that might have started with you there."

"Astute," Sam added.

"They actually understood my side, understood that on a six month lost on a planet with the love of my life that I'd want a change when I returned. Apparently, they hear this all the time," Jack said rather calmly.

Sam breathed in and out. "Love of your life?"

Jack was very still but refused to apologize for his choice of words. "Does that scare you?"

"A little," Sam was honest.

"Which part scares you?" Jack pushed.

Sam inched closer still to his body. "What if you retire for this and we don't work out."

Jack had very little doubt they would work out just fine. "Any time I have with you will be well worth my retirement. We've already lived six months in near isolation, sharing a tiny space and we didn't kill one another." Sam smiled, and he added, "it's okay to be a little scared, you know,"

She hummed. "Aren't you scared of anything about this?" she asked.

The way she reverted the question caught him off guard, and Sam could tell there was definitely something that came to his mind that he still had not shared, and she moved her hand to his back and scratched her nails on his skin encouragingly.

"I…" he began.

"You can tell me, I won't bite," Sam whispered.

"I…" Still, Jack struggled to get anything out, he hadn't planned on ever talking about this, just on waiting to see if she ever brought it up. Sam moved her hands tenderly over him, assuring him she was with him. "I loved Charlie," he said at last.

Sam licked her lips. "I know you did." Sam wondered where this was going, if he feared loving Sam more than he loved Charlie.

"I loved him," he repeated. "I loved being a father," he paused as Sam listened, gave him space. "Sometimes I think… sometimes I wish I could be a father again," he got out, and ended on a long exhale, showing Sam how much revealing this had cost him.

Sam swallowed. "And you think maybe with me," she paused too, "that maybe you want to have another kid?"

"No," he said immediately, then, "yes, I mean, I don't know, but maybe," he rambled on quickly. "The thought of talking to you about it scares me. What if you don't want kids? What if it's just a mood and I'm too old for it? What if… what if we have a kid and anything happens to our kid?"

"Those are a lot of ifs," Sam said, their breaths mingling.

"I want you; I want this. I don't even know about this other thing, it's just something I think about," he rambled.

"But it scares you," Sam added. "What I might say about it scare you. What might happen if we have a kid scares you."

"Terrifies me," he corrected.

Sam moved her hand and stroked his neck, landing on his face, and with her thumb she soothed him. "I had a dream," she said, "on our last night on Damin."

"Yeah?"

"We were on Damin, we must have gotten stuck there for good, and you were fishing," Sam explained.

"Huh," Jack half laughed. "I liked the fishing there. Were you with me?"

"Yes," Sam said, "and there were others…"

"Who?"

"A little girl, on your lap, holding your fishing pole. She was blond and had you wrapped around her little fingers." Sam heard his breath hitch and continued. "I was there… sitting by the big tree," she paused taking in more air, "and I was breastfeeding our son." She talked, unafraid of being completely seen by him; he was showing all his cards, and she wanted him to see who she was too.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he said.

"I… I didn't understand the dream. I thought it meant we were going to be stuck on Damin forever and that you and I were going to have to build a life there."

"Yeah," he said.

"But we came home," Sam stated.

"We did."

"I remember the feeling of the baby at my breast," she explained as she moved to touch her breast now. "I've never felt that content before, that satisfied. A million Air Force missions well done still couldn't compare to how I felt holding that baby, watching you with that little girl."

Jack swallowed.

"So maybe we're both terrified about that… but maybe it will be just fine in the end. Maybe we'll both get what we need. And maybe, if we have a kid, maybe that kid will be alright in the end too," Sam said; not every kid ended up like Charlie. Some kids lived. "Before we ended up on Damin, I was…content, satisfied, happy even. But I was alone."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Me too."

"I think… I think the experience on Damin showed me that we need to seize any opportunity for happiness that we have," she said with confidence. "It's time to let go of the things that keep us from loving and being loved."

"Nothing is keeping me from loving you. Never again," Jack said.

Sam nodded, and they watched each other for long moments. Finally, Sam spoke, "So, you're retired now?"

"Not quite," Jack evaded.

"Not quite?"

"There's some extensive planning going on regarding the future of the SGC and the fact that Hammond is planning to retire in about a year," Jack said.

Sam furrowed her brows. "Wow. They want you to run the base?"

"Yeah."

"So, you and I could never…" Sam concluded.

"Not exactly, which is why I said no. I want this more. I want you more," Jack stated.

"So right now, you and I are seriously breaking some frat regs," Sam said, hands on his chest, knowing that it was the one thing they had avoided for 8 years.

Jack ignored her. "I told them I'd run the base, if only I can have what I want."

"Which is?" Sam asked.

"You."

"What did they say?"

Jack cleared his throat. "They said no, so I again submitted my resignation… called it a retirement this time."

"Oh, boy."

He chuckled.

"You turned down running the base? Just to be with me?"

"Yes," Jack answered immediately. The choice was not a difficult one in his mind.

"I can't believe this," Sam protested, thinking he was missing out on a wonderful opportunity. "Think of all you could do! For the program!"

"You're not gonna change my mind. I've had six months of someone else telling me what to do, what I can't and can't do, and I'm done with that. They're not gonna tell me that I have to do this one job and that I can't have the woman I love. I won't do it," he said, determined as ever.

"So, you are retired then?" She asked, confused.

"No."

"Jack!" she sat up and slapped his arm for good measure.

"They wouldn't accept my resignation and I wouldn't accept not having you," he paused, explaining the standstill that ensued. "I told them if they reached a plan B, one that did not involve keeping you from where you are going with your career, that I'd consider hearing it."

"And?"

"And I walked out."

"You walked out on three Generals?" Sam asked as Jack sat up as well.

"Four."

"Oh, my god, you're crazy," she said. Their eyes had fully adjusted to the dark and they could see each other's emotions as the conversation played out.

"I'm not worried, I already have what I want and I'm not backing down," he said, cupping her face.

"You think they'll compromise. You think they're gonna call you back and let you run the base and let us be together while I'm on SG1," she suggested.

"I do," he nodded. "And if they don't, I'll be home every night, waiting for you to come back from the stargate."

Sam looked at him for a minute. "Do I get to have an opinion in this?"

Jack pulled his head back. "You don't like the plan?"

She tilted her head and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not saying it's a bad plan…"

Jack smiled. "You just got a bit used to calling the shots, huh?"

"Maybe," Sam said honestly, "it's just, I still want to work with you. I like to work with you."

"You will. We're both integrated into the Stargate program, he kissed her. "And at home… we'll both be…very integrated."

Sam giggled, leaning forward to lay a kiss on his lips.

"Sam?" he said while still kissing her.

"Mmm?" she mumbled into his mouth.

"I have something else in my duffel bag," Jack said, pulling back slightly.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Her heartrate sped up even as she filled the silence, "More peanut butter?"

He didn't laugh, keeping his tone serious. "No. It's… a box. A velvet box." He heard her exhale. And again. "There's a diamond inside."

"Is it for me?" She asked nervously.

"Yeah."

Sam inhaled again, exhaled. "Did you just buy it?"

Jack shook his head. "No. Had it for…. years."

All Sam could do was breathe. She exhaled again. "Family heirloom?"

Again, Jack moved his head, shaking. "No. It's brand new."

"But you didn't just buy it," Sam swallowed.

"I wanted to buy one… for you, way back. And I didn't know if you and I were ever going to be, if we would be able to or even if you'd say yes. But I wanted to buy it, so I did," he said all at once.

Sam swallowed. She breathed in, breathed out. "Can I see it?"

"Is that a yes?"

"Was that your actual proposal?" her voice carried both humor and skepticism.

"I can take a knee," he started to move out of her embrace but she stopped him, laughing.

"Don't. Don't move," she said.

"Okay," he said.

"You want to marry me?" Sam confirmed.

"Yes."

She remained silent.

"I'm not… I'm not doing this because I feel like I have to marry you. I don't have to marry you. I want to marry you. I want to everything with you," he said and Sam couldn't believe the words that left his mouth, how romantic and thoughtful he could be.

"It's so strange," she said instead of an answer, "but I feel like we're already married."

"Yeah. We were…mated," Jack remembered.

"In a way," she said.

"I like the idea of being… mated… for life," Jack said out loud.

"Afraid a village man is gonna carry me away?" Sam joked, remembering how that had been a huge fear of hers.

"Or… a scientist," Jack said, rather seriously.

Sam laughed. "Hardly."

"Still…"

"Jack," she said.

"Sam," he said.

"I wanna marry you too," she answered his proposal and he leaned in and kissed her, embracing her for all that she was, all that he loved her for. Sam gave in to his passion, overcome by his confessions to her, by his very presence in her bed, by his arms around her.

They got out of bed, Sam donning the diamond ring that had sat in Jack's bedside table for 3 years. Without needing words, they climbed into the shower, Jack washing Sam's back and hair, both finding they needed the ritual, needed the connection again now that they were on Earth. For the first time, Sam washed Jack too, lathering his hair with her shampoo and scrubbing his chest with the soapy loofa that had hung in her empty shower for six months.

They had coffee, ate breakfast, and ended up back in bed, making love, tasting each other like they had always wished to, then napping until nine in the morning, waking up in a tangle of naked limbs. At 10, Jack's borrowed cell phone rang, a new one assigned to him since his and Sam's had been long disconnected, and the brass had reached an agreement, that in exchange for Jack's continued service to the Air Force, Jack and Sam could maintain a relationship, albeit out of the public eye, at least until Jack was made a General and had taken command of the base, which was due in a year. Jack didn't share that they had plans to eventually get married, and the brass didn't ask. In the afternoon, Teal'c and Daniel came over and the four of them talked about the mission, really talked, Sam and Jack revealing that the team was going to change a little, that Jack and Sam's relationship was not something they were willing to compromise on, that they promised to be as faithful to their responsibilities on the team as they ever had. Thrilled to still have a team, all four clinked glasses, three with beer and one with lemonade, and they embraced, ready to return to the mission rotation, ready to return to saving the Earth.

It had taken a month to send Jacob a subspace communication that Sam and Jack had made it home and three months for Jacob to turn his al'kesh around and return to Earth's solar system, abandoning his journey to rescue them himself. When he walked down the gate ramp at the SGC and saw Sam rushing toward him, he knew immediately something was different, that something about her had changed. That evening, he'd gone to her house to find that Jack O'Neill had taken his daughter's heart and given her the world. Jacob didn't care about any of the details, save that his little girl felt loved, was loved, and could love the man of her choice in the four squares of her home. Jacob asked about the planet, about Damin and the village people, and the three of them sat in Sam's living room, talking about the people, about their religion, and their forest, Jack explaining about the bread and the heaven-berry jam, Sam telling Selm'ak all about the cave, and Hippodamia and the statue that collected the village people's blood.

Laying down on her bed, Jack at her side reaching for her fingers, with her dad and Selm'ak asleep down the hall, Sam felt free, and happy, and whole. Her heart and soul were full, and she smiled, thinking that despite the SGC's gloom, and the threat of Anubis and super-soldiers and whatever evil might come from the stargate, still, she could laugh at the days to come, a future bright ahead of her.

She turned her face toward him, her foot raising and trailing his bare legs and enjoying the feel of him. "Jack?"

"Hmm?" Jack said, watching the moon outside, shining into their bedroom. The moon was waxing, nearly full.

"What did you want to tell me earlier, when dad walked in and interrupted us?" Sam asked, her voice already sleepy.

"Oh," Jack remembered, then drew her hands up to his lips to kiss them tenderly. "I wanted you to know that," he paused to kiss her fingers, "back on Damin…" he paused and she laid a kiss on his chest.

"Yeah?" she wanted to know.

"I learned how to make the full-moon wine," he revealed, smiling in the darkness, remembering each ingredient. Next to him, Sam sucked in all her breath, then exhaled on a laugh.

"Whoa-ho-hoa!" Sam sang out, propping herself up to look down on him, "you have no idea how good that wine made it feel."

"Oh, I have some idea," he interrupted, pushing his face up to hers and using his hand to gather her hair, "I heard you, remember?"

Leaning down to kiss him, Sam did, then ran her tongue on his bottom lip. "When are you gonna make it for me?" she said in a low voice.

He smiled, turning on a dime and pinning her down, his body over hers now. "Well, Sweetheart," he said affectionately. "When there's a full moon," his lips sinking down to hers.

On the planet Damin, Miri smiled, kneeling in prayer, grateful to Mother Damin that her task to guide the lost human leader was now finally complete.

The End

Author's Note: Thank you for reading and for those who left a comment. I do appreciate it.