Something to Remember
Chapter 14
Memories and Legacy
"Are you catching dinner?" Sam asked as she walked onto the deck that led to the pond by the cabin.
Jack turned and smiled at her. "Well, it is his first lesson." He answered as he stood fishing rod in one hand a chubby one-year-old wrapped in his other arm.
"Momma." The baby squealed reaching out for Sam.
Sam shook her head for a moment. "You ok?" Jack asked her.
Sam smiled, taking her son in her arms. "Yes, just some really strong déjà vu." She told him as she kissed her son.
"Momma, Daddy can we go on our picnic now?" Five-year-old Catherine asked as she came out of the cabin.
"Did you and Momma finish the cake?" Jack asked scooping her into his arms.
"Yes, with extra sprinkles." She giggled.
"Sounds perfect, let's go," Jack said.
An hour later they were settled in their spot in the meadow. Catherine chasing butterflies, Jake asleep between them on the blanket.
Jack leaned over and kissed his wife running his hand through her blonde hair that now fell well past her shoulders. "Are you sorry we didn't have a big party for his first birthday?" He asked her.
Sam shook her head. "No, there will always be a part of today that is bittersweet, and I wanted to spend his first birthday here, just the four of us."
Sam's mind drifted back five years to the time following the final mission and her father's death. As the child of an Air Force Officer who had already lost one parent the reality of death had always been close to Sam. She had almost lost him to cancer before the Tok'ra and Selmak gave him a second life. The last few years with him, repairing their relationship, fighting alongside each other, had been a gift. Still, to lose him when she did seemed a cruel joke. The war with the Goa'uld was over, she was married and had just given birth to her first child. These were the years he should have been a part of.
In the end, though his legacy lived on, Selmak had a new host who carried her father's memories. He was a younger man named Norimi. He would live a long life with the Tok'ra and carry Jacob's legacy.
A week after the final mission Teal'c had returned with Jacob's body. After a military funeral, Sam sent some of his remains back to the Tok'ra homeworld to be scattered. True to his word Jack retired a month after their final mission. Sam took a six-month leave of absence before returning to the SG-C. She, Jack, and Catherine spent most of that time at the cabin where they scattered the remainder of Jacob's ashes across their meadow.
The Air Force had approached them both several times about resuming their roles, but each time they had refused. For the next four years, Sam continued at the SG-C in her civilian capacity. Then four years to the day that his Grandfather had given his life for a young Tok'ra spy and for Selmak, Jacob Carter O'Neill was born. Sam had resigned from the SG-C and spent the last year at home with her family. In the fall she would begin teaching at the Air Force Academy, training the scientist and officers who would continue her work.
"Earth to Carter." Jack's voice teased through her thoughts. "Whatcha thinking about over there?"
Sam smiled, "Just remembering, we have made a lot of memories."
Catherine made her way back to the blanket with Jake who had woken from his nap following her. She carried a dandelion in each hand.
"Show Jake how to blow them, Daddy." She said handing one to her father.
Jack kissed Sam, "We're going to make a lot more." He told her before pulling his son into his lap and helping him scatter dandelion wishes into the wind.
The End
A/N: Thank you all so much for reading this story! I have greatly enjoyed writing it and getting a chance to tell a story for a couple I have shipped for so long. Thank you for all of your feedback it meant more than you know.