Sam felt her heels hit the door of her bedroom as the strength of Jack's kisses forced her backward. She gently pushed him away as he started to kiss her neck. There was an unnamed emotion in his eyes, if anything he looked a little disappointed.

"Do you want a cup of coffee?" he asked; she could almost see the plan forming behind his brown eyes that were twinkling with mischief.

"No thanks Jack,"she said, her tone gently warning, "Good girls don't go home for coffee on the first date."

And with that she opened the door of her room and escaped to her private sanctum beyond, leaving Jack alone, facing the closed door. He sighed, but happily, as his hands slid compulsively behind his head. Carter smiled too a few minutes later as she heard him whistling cheerily in the bathroom.

*

There was a knock on the door at half past seven the next morning. Carter rolled over as her door sprung open to admit the grinning form of Jack O'Neill, clutching the biggest bouquet of flowers she had ever seen in her life, apparently freshly picked from outside. "Fancy a walk?"

"Five minutes!" she moaned, "For cryin' out loud, give me five minutes!"

O'Neill closed the door with a chuckle. Fifteen minutes later they were walking arm in arm on the leaf-litter.

As soon as he had lead her away from the main settlement O'Neill immediately pulled Carter into his arms and kissed her again. "You're tenacious, I'll give you that," she laughed when they broke for a breath.

"I've waited so long I want to enjoy it while I can. I really thought that I'd had it when you... Ben..." he trailed off sheepishly.

"Yeah. Me too. With Laira," she replied.

"So, girlfriend," Jack said, hurriedly changing the subject as the current proceedings had got too serious for his liking, "What do you want to do tonight? Watch a movie? Paint the town? Or a quiet night in?"

"Movie, I think," she said firmly.

"Your wish is my command. I have to go and splinter wood now," he apologised, after glancing at his watch, "But I'll be back."

She kissed him on the cheek. "See you soon."

"You call that a goodbye kiss?" he scoffed, proceeding to show her *his* idea of one. When Carter had the use of her mouth back again she grinned widely.

"But I'll see you in a few hours, Jack," she said plaintively.

"That long?" he replied, looking sad.

"Bye bye," she waved as he walked away backwards from her in an attempt to keep his sad eyes locked on hers. She laughed as he nearly fell over a tree root, decided that forwards was the best option and walked out of sight, glancing over his shoulder periodically to wave her goodbye again.

How old was he? Fifty? She'd met more mature sixth graders, but she understood the childish play was Jack's escape mechanism from the horrors in his past and in his own very unique way, he was quite sweet. She just hoped he wasn't going to keep testing her resolution on 'not taking things too fast too soon'... she had a feeling she wouldn't last very long under the full force of the O'Neill charm.

*

"Well you're certainly in a good mood," Janet remarked as she completed Sam's check up.

"Hmm," Carter replied, her ever-present smile widening slightly. "Can you keep a secret?"

Janet's eyes drifted over to the tall man waiting just out of earshot for them to finish. "No!" Janet exclaimed, her mouth dropping open in shock.

Carter simply raised her eyebrows for reply. Janet took in Jack's now completely brown hair, and the definition of the muscles under his white shirt. "I saw him first," carter muttered faintly.

"So have you-" the doctor began as she started to pack away her equipment.

"No!" Sam answered sharply. "We're taking things slowly."

Janet couldn't quite keep the knowing smile from her face. "Yeah. Well, just in case things speed up..." She reached into her case of equipment, back expressively towards O'Neill. "Cassie will be thrilled," she continued as Sam pocketed her 'present.' "And Daniel, he's taking money on how long it'll be before we have to come out here for the wedding."

"Are they coming to visit soon?" Sam asked, unable to keep the hope out of her voice.

"Very soon," Janet promised, "Even sooner when I tell them about you two!"

"Secret, I said!" chided Carter, although she had no real objection to Daniel and Teal'c finding out. The General however was another thin entirely.

"He's been expecting it since Jack's resignation letter," Janet said, as if reading her mind.

"Still... Do you think I should send a message to Dad?"

"He's your father," Janet replied, holding up her hands to symbolise she could offer no counsel.

"Probably not," Sam laughed, thinking that if he found out he would probably come rushing out to Eden, demanding Jack's intentions for his daughter.