If someone would have asked, Jack never would have been able to describe the ceremony to him. He was in a daze pretty much the whole time. He took Sam from Jacob with a smile, and the two of them had turned to the preacher who smiled reassuringly to both of them, then had started in on the actual wedding ceremony.

Janet had wanted them to write their own vows. Sam hadn't been interested in that, and Jack had absolutely panicked at the idea. Bad enough he was going to have to repeat what the preacher said, there was no way he was going to be able to read – or worse, memorize – something of his own concocting. Janet had given way, and the two would go with the traditional vows, repeating what the preacher said to them. Now Jack was glad, since he knew he'd been right about not being able to focus enough on anything to be able to do his own vows. He couldn't believe he'd been able to get through the one the preacher led them in.

He said the words, watching Sam the entire time he swore to her that he'd take her and love her for the rest of his life, and when he finally pulled the ring from the pocket of his slacks and slid it on her finger, he saw in her eyes the realization that the ring he was presenting her with wasn't a new one – and she looked at him almost quizzically, until her whispered that it'd been her mother's. There were tears in her eyes when Sam glanced over at Jacob, and then took Jack's own wedding band from Janet and slid it on his finger as she repeated the vows the preacher led her through.

Jack smiled. Jacob had been right about giving Sam her mother's ring. No matter how much Jack had wanted to present her with a brand new ring, the one he gave her was perfect, and he knew it. As he slid the slightly worn ring on her finger next to the sparkling engagement ring he'd given her months before, Jack wondered how he ever could have thought a new one could have been better.

"Do you, Jack O'Neill, take Samantha Carter to be your wife?"

Jack couldn't say I do fast enough. As he said the words, he was looking directly in her eyes, the crowd of people behind them forgotten completely. Sam smiled, and looked down at the ring once more, then back up at him.

"Do you, Samantha Carter, take Jack O'Neill to be your husband?"

She nodded, and almost whispered the words, her hand in his, her eyes brilliant and sure as she took the last step towards becoming his wife and permanent partner. Something that was so long in coming she couldn't believe it was finally here.

"I do."

Jack's smile was a little relieved, and Sam couldn't help but smile as well. He couldn't really believe that she'd say no at the last minute, could he? Well, yeah, it was obvious he could. She knew better, though. And now, he did as well.

"By the power given to me by the state of Colorado, I now pronounce you husband and wife..." The preacher smiled again, as if it were all his doing that the two people standing in front of him looked so deliriously happy. "Kiss the bride."

Jack did just that.

"I love you..." he whispered as he leaned toward her and brushed his lips gently against hers. Sam smiled, and melted against him for just a moment. The two didn't stay too close for too long; all the ribbons on Jack's chest were far too capable of getting tangled with all the lace and frippery on Sam's dress, and as much as they wanted to be together, they didn't want to be stuck together.

The preacher waited until they'd separated, then addressed the crowd.

"May I be the first to present to you Jack and Samantha O'Neill?"

There was a roar of applause and cheers. One thing the Military did; it taught you how to yell, and the cheer that went up at those words raised the roof of that huge church. The alien delegates at first thought something was wrong, but looking around at the cheerful faces, they soon applauded along with the humans in the crowd. Obviously it was a good thing to present them?

Jack looked at the kids that were ranged out in front of them, and smiled. The kids were cheering just as loud as anyone, and Jack thought Shawn's hands were going to fall off he was clapping so hard. He reached for Sam's hand and held it, standing there for another long moment as the cheers rolled over he and his new bride – new bride! Then he led her carefully down the steps.

Jaffer broke ranks first, predictably, and went straight to Jack's side. Daniel smiled and offered his arm to Janet, and the two followed the newlyweds down the aisle, with the boys pairing up with the girls behind them for the short walk back to the back of the church.

There were shouts of congratulations as they walked past, and Jack grinned foolishly at everyone, thanking them and nodding his head a lot. He'd done it! He looked over at Sam. They'd done it. He finally had proof that good things do come to those who wait. Jack had the best of things, now.

"Samantha O'Neill..."

Sam grinned when she heard Jack whisper the words, even over the crowd of people who were yelling at them as they walked past. She looked over at him, and squeezed his hand.

"Sam O'Neill..." She murmured. "Major O'Neill?"

Jack smiled. "Major and Colonel O'Neill..." He was positively giddy. "That could get complicated."

"Just wait until they promote me to Lt. Colonel someday," Sam told him, smiling. There was no doubt in her mind it would happen, eventually. There wasn't any doubt in Jack's, either.

"Well, at least we won't have to change the mailbox."

Sam laughed, and slid her arm around his waist.

"You did good, Jack."

"I was terrified..."

"I know. Me too."

"I don't believe you."

"I was."

"Uh huh." She'd looked far calmer than he'd felt.

Sam looked down at the ring on her finger. She'd have to thank her father for that. How on earth had he come up with such a wonderful surprise? Sam hadn't even considered her mother's ring. Obviously, Jacob had had a different plan. She wondered how long Jack had been keeping it a secret. He was far better at secrets than she'd ever given him credit for.

"So, we make it through the reception, and we're home free..." Jack said as they reached the door of the church. There was a long black limousine waiting to take them to the hall where the reception would be.

"It's just a reception, Jack," Sam said, smiling as the three of them headed down the stairs, Jack holding Sam carefully so she wouldn't trip over her dress. "We've already done all the hard stuff."