disclaimer same as beginning. If I owned Stargate all of this would be canon, hmm...
I've combined the last two chapters into one. So this is the end.
Wow, love all the long reviews. I'm sure you will all let me know what you think of the ending.

Great thanks to Mira for reading this story through and encouraging me to post it, despite my uncertainty.
Thanks to my brother. Semper Fi.
And thanks to everyone that has reviewed this story.

-

"Semper Fidelis" ("Always Faithful") is the motto of the Corps. That Marines have lived up to this motto is proved by the fact that there has never been a mutiny, or even the thought of one, among U.S. Marines.

-

The morning started off early. She rose, bathed, and brought an entire thermos of tea with her, waiting for the onslaught of typical problems to appear. More flowers were being brought in today, and the ones that had been placed last night were gently being misted and blown at to assure they were fully open. The fragrance from the blossoms was overwhelming. Keeping the groom from poking into the church was a harder task than she had thought it would be. Thankfully, Daniel had gone to pick up the suits and dresses, which took a bit off of her load. The restaurant called with a list of complaints and the cake was apparently lost in the mail. Things were just heating up.

Daniel came back earlier than expected with the garments and asked if he could peak into the now finished church. She nodded, needing to show him his part in the ceremony anyways and opened the door. His facial expression was more than rewarding.

"Wow." He took in all the flowers and looked back at her. "This is incredible. Sam will love it."

She nodded, certainly hoping so, before taking him over to his position and explaining his role. He listened in awe as she spoke, and as she finished he pulled her into a hug.

"Thanks so much."

Sam really had found great friends. They both shared a moment looking around the lush area, before she looked at the time and reminded him to deliver the clothes to their respective owners. The mail had thankfully found the cake and the restaurant had received its list of needs. Putting the last ladder away and thanking the last aide, she opened the doors for the guests to come in. It was time for her to be a friend and not a planner.

Sam was pacing alone in her little room as the girls had gone off to change. She opened the door and took a step in, measuring her mood. Sam looked more nervous than ever, nervous and not in her wedding gown. Seeing her enter, Sam stopped.

"Do you think I'm doing the right thing?"

As a wedding planner she'd heard these words more times than she could count. But those were strangers, this was a friend. The pat answer was not the correct way to go in this situation. So, it was to come down to one last desperate conversation, after all the time they had had before. She carefully chose her words, deciding to ask instead of answer.

"What do you think?"

Sam's pacing started again, each pass and her agitation grew.

"I don't know."

Sam stopped and turned to her for advice. It was something she had been waiting for for years, and yet now she really didn't want it.

"I can't tell you how to live, Sam. I don't know your heart as well as you know it."

Sam's fingers clasped and she looked down at the floor.

"Were you nervous before you married Brian?"

She laughed. "No, I didn't have any time." Truthfully, even if she had time the answer would have been no. Anxious and terrified that she wouldn't be good enough for him, yes, but nervous.. no.

"But you knew you were doing the right thing?"

Sam's eyes were now frantic. Everything she had mettled in and said had lead to this moment, had granted her this influence over her young friend. Now she stood at a crossroads, either she was to be a faithful friend or a commanding one. A little word here or there from her and she realized she could change the course of Sam's life. She really didn't want that power.

"I knew that I loved Brian and that if I let him get away I would never forgive myself."

Hopefully that threw it back as Sam's decision and hadn't tainted it with her own opinion. Sam pondered her words carefully, before slowly pacing again. Finally after what seemed like a millennia, Sam turned to face her.

"Would you help me put my dress on?"

She nodded and knew that Sam had made up her mind. She turned to pick up the dress and let out a wistful sigh. Semper fi, she thought with a smile.

She zipped up her own dress and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was not so old and perhaps she was still beautiful. Not that it really mattered, why be beautiful if there is no one to be beautiful for. She walked back out into Sam's room and opened each flower box, handing out the bouquets. The girls attempted, mostly unsuccessful, to keep their squealing down. Jacob sat in his wheel chair and smiled proudly at her for a moment, before turning to look at his daughter.

The girls began to walk in front of her, each a little faster than rehearsed, but that was to be expected. It was her turn to walk. She paused, realizing that she had never done this before. Her first step into the magical room nearly took all of the breath out of her. She wished she could see Sam's expression as she stepped out on the petal covered floor and looked out toward the flower covered arbor. The drab church had been turned into a fairyland that was worthy of any royal wedding she had ever done.

Looking up at Pete, who was still enchanted, she smiled and he offered her a teary thanks. He had won this little battle, quite unwittingly. Pete's friend nodded a thanks to her as well. Teal'c stood proudly offering her a warm smile, Daniel was barely able to contain himself and the general's face was indescribable. Her heart slowed down for a moment as they locked eyes and an odd smile crossed their faces as she made her way up. Just as she was about to turn, she lost eye contact with him and the music gave way to Sam's theme.

She missed Sam's first moments as she took in the room, but the tears that Jacob had as he slowly walked his baby girl down the aisle sufficed. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as he made it to the front of the church, gave his girl a kiss and handed her over to the man that was now to take care of her. Jacob sat slowly, clearly winded, but without a hint of how much that walk had cost him.

The two gushed with professions of love and devotion, rings were exchanged and a kiss was shared. She quickly motioned to Daniel and the youngest blonde, who took their places and pulled on the ribbons that allowed the rose petals to fall on the oblivious couple. Sam squealed looking up at the falling petals, and offered Pete another kiss. Then they slowly walked back down the aisle, man and wife.

-

The reception went on splendidly. She mumbled through a toast, hoping it sounded all right. Sam and Pete fed each other cake, both being cruel in the process. Everyone had at least two pieces, affirming her choice of a larger size for the small crowd. She was showered with compliments for her work. Normally this would be a positive thing, instead she felt more than a little guilty for nearly breaking up the newlyweds.

Jacob, rejoined with his wheelchair, wheeled over and thanked her for the event. He said it was peaceful to know that both of his children were now married and cared for. He added that he hoped she might be cared for too, and wheeled off without an explanation. The dinner finished and the nervous couple made their way over to the makeshift dance floor. They danced slowly as she watched, the old song having a familiar effect on her.

She stood alone, taking in the sight. She had orchestrated everything that led to this moment, and now she was forced to reap the consequences. Sam was married to a man that undoubtedly didn't deserve her. She being the loyal friend had not been able to stop it without taking insurrectionary action. She watched the general as he sat alone in a corner, sipping on champagne and taking in the moment with Jacob. This would have been the ideal moment for her to make her escape, but Teal'c bowed and led her to the dance floor. Daniel cut in mid way and praised her all over again for the event, making a note of their progress with the ancient site they had found and its possible positive ramifications for Jacob's life. A smile tugged at her lips as he went over the details of the find. Quite possibly a miraculous find. She really had thought too little of him, he could be quite charming.

A small friendly debate broke out as they talked, which was broken up when Mark motioned her over to chat with the family. In all the activity, she found that she was not the outsider she had thought. Instead, in this tiny little place she had all the friends and family she needed. Finally tiring of the crowd, she went outside to get some air. The sky was just as starry as every night, but tonight it seemed brighter.

"Leaving?"

She turned around to see the general standing in the doorframe.

"No, wedding planners are usually in charge of the clean up committee."

He nodded and took a step in her direction. He turned and looked at the starry sight that had preoccupied her.

"We should probably go back in."

He nodded again, opening the door for her and ushering her in. They wove themselves through the crowd and turned to look over at Sam and Pete. Both waving, they turned and laughed nervously at each other.

"She looks happy."

She nodded at his assessment and turned to look at him.

"Then you got what you wanted."

He nodded and leaned his head in the direction of the dance floor. She followed blindly, knowing it would seem strange if she danced with everyone but him. He pulled her in closely and looked down at her. Wordlessly, they made their way around the floor.

"You did a great job planning this thing."

She was tired of flattery. "Oh please. If it was up to me this day wouldn't have happened. I deserve absolutely no credit."

He smiled, finding her amusing.

"Well thanks anyways."

It came out in a playful tone and she laughed softly at the comment.

"You planning on staying in the neighborhood?"

She didn't know. Didn't know why he was asking or why she didn't know if she was staying. Jacob rolled by at that moment and offered her a sly smile, confirming some sort of conspiracy on his part. Of what, she had no idea. She flinched as an idea came to her. In all her conversations with the general he had never confessed to loving Sam. He had avoided the topic at every turn. Her instincts were usually correct, but there was the off chance.. She bit her lip and pulled back a little to be able to see his face. Flustered, her breathing quickened and she looked down at their enlaced hands.

"I don't know. I have an assignment for six months in a remote area of the world."

"Specific."

"Wish I could be."

"I know how it is." He paused, before his tone returned its seriousness. "Could I say anything to get you to stay?"

She didn't know. Stay, stay where? Here in this room? In this town? Or did he mean with him? Sinking into his embrace further, she contemplated the idea and softly laughed. He did have that knack of saying the right thing at the right time. She looked over once more at the happy couple and decided to take Jacob's advice. Perhaps it was better to be happy in the present tense.

-

Late September - Six months later.

"Have you caught anything yet?" Her head looked up at him from the awkward angle, but he could still make out the smug grin.

"No, getting fish is not important." He paused and gestured out at the great outdoors. "Fishing is important."

"Well, that's all well and good, but what am I going to eat?" Besides the food in the fridge, of course.

"You know, you are ruining this fishing experience." Despite the annoyance, she could tell he was smiling.

"What happened to 'Please come, it won't be the same without you'?" Now they were both grinning. The steam from the tea warmed her face as she sat out on the dock. She offered him a cup and he begrudgingly took it.

"It's either warm tea or cold beer."

His grumbling continued as he drank the warm liquid. He held the empty cup over as she filled it up for the fourth time. Putting the cup down, he pulled her in with his now unoccupied arm. She rested her head on his shoulder, and pushed back a few stray curls that had caught themselves in a breeze. A pleasant silence took over them, along with the hope of a future.. possibly even together.