Author's Note: Okay, now there are officially 14 people in the O'Neill house – not to mention 4 dogs, and I'm going to try to do them all justice without getting them tangled up, but if you feel I left someone out, please understand why it happened!

OOOOOOOO

"Jasmine!"

Jack reached out and took the squirming puppy from Gina, who smiled and relinquished her hold on her. Tucking Jasmine neatly – and expertly – under his arm, he gave Gina a hug with the other one, pulling her close and ignoring Jasmine's annoyed little growl when the baby lab got pressed between the two of them.

"Hey, Gina, how are you?"

Gina hugged Jack just as tightly – Jack was really one of her favorite people, and he'd given her Jasmine, which was a priceless gift in itself. She loved him.

"I'm great, Jack," she said, truthfully. "How are you?"

"Stuffed to the gills with Sam's good cooking – which you've all missed by less than an hour." He said, adding in River and Shawn with the last part of his sentence.

River was looking around him – at the dogs and the room filled with people – but Shawn simply smiled his lopsided Jack copy grin.

"Mom said we weren't allowed to eat, anyways," he told Jack. "If we eat here and spoil our appetites for her meal, she said bad things would happen to us."

Jack laughed, and waded through the excited dogs to shake River's hand, pulling the cadet into the room at the same time.

"Everyone's here, guys, come and say hi."

With Jasmine still tucked under his arm – there was no way Gina was going to get her back any time soon – Jack led them into the dining room, just as Cassie was walking out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel. She knew Shawn and Gina, of course – had known them for years – but she was really looking forward to seeing what was so great about this River guy that had everyone so agog.

And then she saw him, and she understood.

Sam suppressed a smile at the sudden shock she saw in Cassie's eyes and was glad for Cassie's sake that no one else seemed to be looking at her.

Oh, God... no one was that perfect. Cassandra thought she actually felt her heart skip a little beat in pure reaction when she saw him for the first time. He was blonde – incredibly blonde – and he had blue eyes that were a match for Nathan Brooks'. And the tan! Oh, goodness, was he tanned everywhere like that, or just his face and what she could see of his arms? It didn't help that he was wearing a white sweatshirt that showed the tan even better. Perfect, even features that made her wonder which parent he got them from, and he was almost the exact same height as Ian – which meant he was the perfect height, too.

Her mouth went dry as Shawn started introducing him to everyone around the table – although Jack's son barely knew Nathan, and didn't know his wife at all.

"River, this is Sally, Daniel's girlfriend and General Carter, who is Sam's dad... you know Teal'c and Daniel, of course, and Doctor Fraiser, and Ian's dad, and –"

"You're definitely Ian's mother," River said, smiling broadly, stepping forward and taking Maggie's hand easily – as if he'd known her all his life. "You're beautiful – if I may say so – and I can't imagine how your son ended up so ugly."

Oh, he had a perfect smile, too! Cassie felt her mouth go dry.

Maggie Brooks smiled, liking this young man already. She didn't blush – oh, sure, he was a good looking young man, but she had a son who was just as good looking – and she was used to compliments from him – and others.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, River," Maggie said, taking her hand from his. "I'm Maggie-"

"You're Margaret Brooks!" Gina said, suddenly, almost squealing.

Everyone in the room turned to look at the teenager, and all of them looked surprised.

Maggie nodded.

"I love you! I've got every performance you've ever-"

"You know her?" Shawn asked, surprised.

"She's only the most famous ballet dancer in the country," Gina said, excitedly. "Oh my God, I'm soooo happy to meet you."

Maggie smiled, broadly. She wasn't used to being recognized – except by much older people who were usually the ones that frequented the dance theaters and the various Broadway theaters that she danced at. Sam decided that when she smiled like that, Maggie Brooks was even more beautiful.

"I'm happy to meet you, too, my dear," Ian's mother said. "If your friend would introduce us properly-"She looked at Shawn, pointedly, and he blushed.

"Sorry. This is Gina. Gina... um... this is Margaret Brooks... Ian's mom." Like she needed an introduction? Apparently she was famous.

Everyone was staring at Margaret, now – except Jack, who knew she was a dancer, and her husband and son – who obviously did, as well. Although Nathan was looking pleased that his wife had been recognized.

River turned to Ian.

"Why didn't you tell us that your mom was famous?"

He shrugged, looking smug – which only made him better looking, too.

"You didn't ask."

"We asked what she did-" Shawn said.

"And I told you she was a dancer," Ian said. "And as I recall, Hayden, you made fun of me for knowing how to dance..."

Shawn nodded, remembering, now.

"That's right, River, you did."

River scowled, "I don't remember that."

Of course he did, but he wasn't going to admit to it. Not in front of her, especially.

"I do."

"Me, too."

River looked around the room for something to distract the attention from that particular conversation – and saw Cassie. His eyes lit up – both because here was a perfect distraction, and because she was pretty – and female.

"Don't tell me?" He said, walking over and taking her hand smoothly. "You're a famous actress, who has lit up the world of stage and song..."

Cassie blushed a brilliant shade of red and felt as awkward and gangly as a newborn colt.

"I'm Cass-"

"She's Doctor Fraiser's daughter," Ian said, stepping forward with a scowl of his own for his roommate. He was using Cassandra to hide his own embarrassment, and was embarrassing her in turn – not fair. "You remember Doctor Fraiser? The one you shot?"

River flushed and looked at Fraiser guiltily, but Janet only smiled. Cassandra smiled as well, grateful to Ian for taking the attention from her and was able to find her voice far sooner than she would have ordinarily.

"I'm Cassandra," she told him. "It's nice to meet you." Oh and by the way, would you take your shirt off so I can see if you're as beautiful under it as you are with it on?

"The pleasure is mine, Cassandra," River said, and this time his smile was just as genuine as she could have hoped for. His blue eyes – oh those impossibly blue and wonderful eyes – met hers and he shook her hand gently. "Doctor Fraiser never mentioned you were so pretty."

"She was too busy being unconscious," Ian muttered, but he didn't say it loud enough for anyone but Shawn to hear.