Extreme fluff and cuddle bunny alert! Sorry - adventure to come but it has to wait a bit longer!

"Sir, I think I should maybe just -"

"Fine Carter", he sighed. He'd known as soon as he'd seen the damn DHD that she'd want to touch it, to try it. The feeling of familiarity was so strong it was almost frightening. He'd felt like a switch had gone off in his brain, turning him from 'Jack' to the 'Colonel' – the man she'd told him something about but who had seemed like someone else – until this moment.

"Don't dial earth", he instructed. "Just check to see if it works." He suddenly had another feeling of déjà vu. This time he felt a shiver run down his spine, as if a cold breeze had rushed over him. He could see a picture in his mind of Sam, a much younger Sam, looking cold and frightened and trying to get a DHD working. "Antarctica!" he whispered.

Sam looked over at him when she heard his muttered word. "You remember?" she asked.

"Yeah, I think so. We were – trapped and you were trying to get that thing", he pointed at the DHD, "working then too."

"Yes, that's right." He was remembering things more and more quickly now. She was relieved, although also a bit frightened. She wondered if he'd turn back into the Colonel, and they'd be back to square one. She knew this man's sense of duty was strong and he'd be horrified at the idea of breaking the regs. She also knew that these past weeks and months she'd gotten the opportunity to get to know the Jack behind the duty and the rules and she didn't want to lose him. "We made it back", she said softly.

He gave a small smile. "I kinda figured", he said. "So, let's do it again."

She nodded and turned back to the DHD. She wondered if this would be another lesson in frustration, like it had been that time in Antarctica. The only difference was – this time she was almost wishing it wouldn'twork.

She pressed the first glyph and it immediately lit up. She tried the next six and each of them in turn lit up and the gate lit up at the same time and began to dial. She paused briefly and glanced at Jack before pressing the central glyph. He gave a small grin and she nodded. Her hand rested momentarily on the center circle and then she pushed down. There was a fraction of a second delay and then 'kawoosh' – the event horizon erupted into the dry, hot, desert air.

"Wow!" Jack was staring at the blue filling the circle. He felt a frisson of – excitement – fear – wonder – run up and down his body. God – he – remembered this! The stargate suddenly meant something to him. No details came to him but he knew – he knew it meant adventure and camaraderie and exploration and, in some strange way, it also meant salvation – both his and that of his world.

"Does it look familiar?" she said softly. She could tell from his expression that he was experiencing something – but whether he knew what it meant she couldn't tell.

"Oh yeah", he finally said. "Very familiar. Oh God Sam – I can't believe I forgot this! How could I have forgotten?"

"You remember now, and that's all that matters", she told him.

He moved so that he was facing her, his face struggling to contain his emotions. "Is it?" he asked. "Is that all that matters – the stargate? Is that – is it our life?"

She didn't know what he was asking, although she could tell that whatever it was, it was important. "What do you mean?" she said, reaching out and gently touching his hand.

"Is – that" he pointed to the gate, which was still engaged, "Is that what our lives are about? That and our – team? Is there, anything else?" He struggled to put into words what he was feeling. As soon as he'd seen the gate – or no, maybe after the first bit of excitement had worn off – he'd had a feeling of dread as if the gate meant the – death of something important.

"The gate is important, very important. With it we can keep our world safe. But – no, our lives are about more than just that."

"What? What Sam? Please, tell me", he asked in despair. The gate suddenly closed and everything became quiet and still. Jack slowly slid to the ground, his head clutched in his hands. Images began to flash through his mind but he couldn't keep up with any of them. He reached out his hand blindly, needing a touch – no, her touch – to keep him grounded. He was afraid he was about to lose something and he didn't even know what it was.

"Here" she took his hand and put it on her stomach. "This – this is what our lives are about. This is what is truly important."

He lifted his head slowly and peered at her. He then lowered his eyes, a thin line between his brows the only thing which showed his confusion. "What?" he whispered, not understanding.

"Life Jack. New life."

He felt it then – the small 'bump' under his hand which made her words come alive. This is why she'd felt different to him. This 'fullness' meant – life, new life, just like she'd said. He stared in wonder at his hand, held lightly over this growing miracle. For a moment a shaft of joy flew through him – to be swiftly followed by fear. This child – whose - ? He lifted his eyes and looked at her.

She sucked in her breath – realizing that he didn't know, didn't realize. The look of fear and pain made her reach forward and hold him tightly. "It's your child Jack", she murmured into his ear. "It's yours. I haven't been with anyone else – only you – that night. That night we created a new life, together."

He slowly lifted his arms and placed them around her and held her, gently, lightly, as if she was the most precious thing in the world. He laughed softly – she was the most precious thing, her and the life within her. He breathed in the scent that was uniquely hers and allowed himself to feel the joy that had first surged through him. No matter what happened, no matter what he remembered or didn't remember – he had this moment.

"Thank you", he finally whispered, when he realized she didn't know how he felt and that she was frightened. "Thank you Sam."

"You're - happy?"

He grinned slightly and then lifted his head. He allowed the tears to run, unashamed by his emotion. He did reach up though and try to wipe them away. "Happy? No – I'm not happy – I'm so far beyond happy there's no word for it." He put his face down again, into the crook of her neck, and simply allowed himself to feel.

"Maybe we should ask Daniel", he murmured into her skin.

"Huh?" she asked, confused, and still slightly stunned at his reaction.

"For another word – something beyond 'happy'. He's good with words."

She giggled – she couldn't help it, and it was a release from the fear and tension she'd been feeling. He was happy – no, beyond happy – and she was – god, she was the same. She hugged him tighter. "That's probably a good idea", she said, "although I don't really care if there's a word for it because I know exactly what you mean."

"You do?" he asked, his lips and breath tickling her neck.

"Oh yeah", she told him. "Although I was afraid you'd be -"

"What?" This time he lifted his head fully and sat back a few inches, although he still kept hold of her. "You were afraid?"

"Yes. I didn't know if you'd want -"

"You didn't know if I'd want a child with you", he stated seriously. "Sam – I – I know we've not really spoken about this, and I'll understand if you'd rather not – have a – relationship with me. I mean, I know I'm damaged and I may never be the person I once was. I get that – and I'll understand if, when we get back to earth you want -"

"Stop!" she said, covering his mouth with her hand. "Just tell me one thing Jack. How do you feel about me?" There – she'd asked. The elephant had been following them around for much too long now. It was time to name it and get on with their lives.

"How do I -" He looked slightly panicked, but then his face evened out and his shoulders relaxed. He became, not the Jack who had looked so lost and wounded for the last year, but the supremely confident man she'd come to know over the years. "How do I feel about you? I love you", he answered simply. "I think – no, I know I've loved you for a long time. I may not be able to remember it here" he touched his head, "but I know it here", he touched his chest. "You're my soul Samantha Carter."

Okay – she wasn't going to cry, she really wasn't, she sniffed. Oh, why the hell not? She felt the tears spill over onto her cheeks and reached out and threw her arms around the man seated on the ground opposite her. "I love you too", she said simply. "and I have for a long, long time."

They held each other for countless minutes, until they were finally interrupted by a small animal that ran right up and stared at them. They pulled away from each other then, and both laughed, realizing that they'd been there so long the local animals were no longer frightened of them. "So", Jack said, a little self-consciously.

"So?" Sam asked with a grin.

"So – the uh – gate works?" he said hopefully.

"Yes, it does."

"So we can – uh – go home?"

"We can", she nodded.

"So."

"So?" she repeated.

He sighed and rubbed his hand through his hair. "You know Carter, it's really not fair that you know me and have all your memories and I'm just learning everything." He was half joking, although a part of him was still worried. There was something lurking in the back of his mind that made him think things weren't going to be as easy as they seemed right now.

"So I guess we'd better get back home so junior here can be born on earth." He reached out with his hand again. Before he touched her he looked at her, silently asking permission. When she nodded he placed his hand on her tummy. "I can't believe I'm going to be a father."

The pain was so intense he thought it was a physical hurt for a few seconds. He gasped and pulled back, almost falling from the intensity of his emotions.

"Jack! What is it? What's wrong?"

He rolled onto his side and covered his face. Oh god! How could he have forgotten? How could he forget his son? He groaned and rolled again, as if the movement could help ease the pain. Except he knew nothing could do that. He groaned again and could feel the tears begin to fall.

Sam was calling desperately, trying to figure out what had happened. She was terrified that it was his head – that something had happened and that there was something seriously wrong again. She called again and again but he didn't respond. Each time she tried to touch him he'd groan and roll away.

Finally – he seemed to settle. She called his name once more, and this time he seemed to hear her. "Jack, what's wrong?" She tentatively placed her hand on his shoulder and he didn't flinch or move away. "Please, speak to me. What can I do?"

"Nothing", he whispered. "I'm sorry – I'm okay", he told her, although he didn't sound okay.

"Please, tell me what's wrong?" she begged, beginning to cry herself.

The sound of her tears finally got him moving. He forced himself to sit up and look at her. "Charlie", was all he said. "I – remembered. I guess when I said – about being – a father –"

"Oh god!" she gasped, holding her hand over her mouth. "I'm so sorry Jack! I didn't think how it would affect you. "I'm so sorry", she repeated.

"Not your fault", he attempted to smile but the pain was still too intense. "Nothing you could have done."

"I thought about telling you", she said, "many times. But then – you know what you said about wanting to remember important things yourself?"

He nodded. "You did the right thing Sam. I needed to – remember this myself. I just – I can't forgive myself for forgetting. How could I forget my only son?"

"How can you blame yourself for that?" she tried to reason with him. "You forgot everything. Whatever they did to you practically destroyed you Jack. It's a miracle you've been able to come back. For a long time I thought -" she licked her lips, unable to continue.

"But when I started to remember – I should have remembered him first", he cried. "He was the most important thing him my life – and I – I "

"You can't blame yourself for that! Look, you had a long way to come back – you had to heal from a terrible injury. I'm sure your body and your mind knew what they were doing in giving you back small memories, one at a time, until you could begin to handle more. Do you really think you could have dealt with this one when you were still weak and – and -"

"Out of my mind?"

"Not that Jack – but – you know what I mean. I think your brain is giving you the memories you need, that you can cope with when you're ready to deal with them. I know this is a hard memory for you – but you're at a place where you can deal with it – and where you can really remember your son. It's not just about remembering the bad – but about remembering everything about him. Now you're ready for that, whereas before, I don't think you were."

He sat quietly, pondering what she was trying to say. He knew she was right, although he still felt guilty. God, since when hadn't he felt guilty where Charlie was concerned? He had a sudden thought of his son as an infant and, as painful as this had been, was glad that he'd remembered. His memories were all he had left of his son and they were precious.

He sighed and attempted to smile. "I'm sorry – not such a great reaction when I should just be happy about -" he gestured at her stomach. "I – I am happy about that you know."

"I know Jack, and don't feel bad. I know what Charlie meant – means to you – you don't ever have to hide that, or your pain. I really do understand."

He smiled at that and pulled her to him so she was resting with her back against him. He laid his chin on her shoulder and then sat that way, not speaking, while Jack allowed himself to think of his first born son.

"So, do you think it's a boy or girl", he finally asked. He felt Sam start and realized she was still worried about him.

"I don't know. What do you want?" she asked, a little worriedly. Would he want another son or would that be hard?

"Doesn't matter" he told her. "As long as it's as smart and good looking as you I really don't care either way."

She smiled and wanted to kiss him – not because of what he'd said, but because he was trying so hard to make her feel better when she knew he still had to be hurting. She wiggled around until she was facing him and leaned forward and kissed him. "I really do love you, you know?"

"I know", he grinned, his face finally starting to lighten up. "It's my – uh – " he tried desperately to think of something but this was one of those times his memory was acting up and everything was blank. He must have something she'd want.

"Your ass", she said, settling back in his arms, her head leaning against his chest. "I've wanted it for a long time."

"You have! Shame on you Carter! Coveting my ass!"

"Hey, don't tell me you didn't covet something of mine!"

"Me? Hell no. I just wanted to get to know you better", he said.

She didn't think anything of his comment, although she was certain she could feel his grin. Suspicious, she turned around to look at him. "What?" she asked, seeing his evil grin.

"Well – you know what you said about the best way of getting to know a girl!" he told her, with a smirk.

It took her all of five seconds to remember their conversation of earlier that day. "Jack!" she screeched, turning and hitting him in the arm. "You were coveting my -"

"Yeah those", he grinned, "and your ass, and your legs, and your mouth, and – hell – just about every part of you. I am a man, you know, and you're a gorgeous woman. Of course I wanted you – all of you."

"So you remember coveting my – my body?", she asked him, narrowing her eyes.

"Maybe not with my mind" he told her, "But other parts remembered just fine!"

They ended up laughing and – making out – on the side of a hill in a little valley in front of the stargate. They both knew this was a moment out of time – but it was a good one, and they were determined to enjoy it.

"I guess we should be heading back", he finally said, "Or Janet's going to send the cavalry." He struggled to his feet and brushed himself off and then pulled Sam up beside him. "And you – you need to look after yourself and our baby", he touched her again, gently.

"I will Jack, don't worry."

"Of course I worry! It's what I do. Come on, let's get going."

"What are we going to do about the gate", she finally asked. They hadn't once spoken of it all afternoon, but she knew they had to deal with it soon.

He sighed. "We'll worry about it when we get back", he told her. "For now let's just – enjoy this time together."

"Yes", she agreed. She took his hand and together they walked out of the valley and found their horses. They mounted them and side by side turned towards the Stone Circle Ranch. They knew that tomorrow things would change – but for now, they allowed themselves to be happy and to dream.