A/N: Tiff wanted me to put something in here, and she knows what that is, so here ya go Tiff!! And I hope everyone enjoys…

Part Three

Teal'c raised an eyebrow while staring at the present that lay in front of him.

"Isn't it great?" Jack asked, grinning.

Teal'c chose not to respond, but instead continued to have his eyebrow raised as he picked it up. It was a book on fishing. Sam grinned, Jack hadn't seemed to catch onto the fact that Teal'c had absolutely no interest in fishing whatsoever.

"Next," Daniel said, handing another package to Teal'c.

Teal'c opened it quickly. Inside was a Santa hat and a book on Ancient Egypt. Teal'c smiled this time.

"Thank you, DanielJackson," Teal'c replied.

Daniel nodded a 'you're welcome'. Sam reached forward and handed Teal'c his last present. Star Wars DVD's. He opened it and a smile spread across his face.

"Thank you ColonelCarter, I have been wanting these for months," Teal'c said.

It was the closest to a grin she had ever seen on Teal'c's face.

"Thought you might like them," Sam replied.

"OK who's next?" Daniel asked.

"You," Jack said, handing him a parcel.

Daniel opened his presents in turn. Jack had given him DVD of The Mummy Returns, Sam gave him a book on 'Modern Archaeology' and Teal'c gave him an Indiana Jones DVD box set. Daniel smiled. "Well I have plenty of TV to watch later…."

"I enjoy the third one," Teal'c stated.

"Uh, yeah, me too," Daniel replied. "OK…Sam?"

"Oh…the General can go first if he wants…" Sam said.

"It's fine, Carter," he replied.

"OK…" Sam said.

First present was from Daniel. An astrophysics calendar and a box of expensive looking chocolates. She grinned.

"Yum," she said. "Thanks Daniel!"

"You're welcome," Daniel said.

"ColonelCarter," Teal'c addressed her while handing her his present.

She opened it, inside finding a CD of Christmas songs and a blue shirt, which looked extremely pretty.

"Thanks, Teal'c!" she said, giving him a hug because he was close enough.

She turned to Jack who was next to her on the other side. After all that had happened tonight she wasn't so sure she wanted his gift, it represented something much too dangerous. Especially if it was what she thought it was.

"Merry Christmas, Carter," he said, handing her the small, flat, square package.

She took it from him, smiling as she did so. Opening it slowly it revealed a blue jewellery box. She opened the box slowly, inside was a silver necklace. At the end hung a small water-drop shaped blue sapphire. The outline of the water-drop was a thin gold strip.

She picked it up slowly and stared at it. It was the most beautiful necklace she'd ever seen in her life.

"Thank you," she said quietly, looking up at him.

A soft smile was on his face, "You're welcome…"

She smiled back, a familiar warmth coming over her. The happiness she had felt hours earlier when in his arms rose within her again. She wanted to give him a hug, but decided against it, it was probably too risky.

As Daniel handed Jack his first present Sam put the necklace on around her neck. It sat perfectly. She looked around and saw Jack grinning at his present.

"Fishing gear! Just what I needed to," Jack said. "Thanks Danny-boy…"

Teal'c handed him his present next. Jack opened it and a big grin cracked across his face.

"Great minds think alike," he said, holding up the exact same fishing book he had already given Teal'c.

Sam didn't want to give her present to him anymore. It seemed so insignificant and meaningless compared to what he had just given her. She handed him the small square packet, catching his eye again as she did so. He was still smiling at her lovingly, making her inside jump every time she saw it.

He took her present and opened it carefully. Inside was two new lenses for his telescope and a book of star constellations containing a star map. He smiled at it.

"Thanks, Carter," he said.

"I put a mark on all the pages where there are places we've been," Sam said.

"Sweet," Jack said, smiling. "We'll have to get out the telescope later on."

The doorbell rang and Jack stood up. "Must be Cassie."

He made his way up the steps towards the front door and opened it. From the evident look of surprise on his face Sam gathered it wasn't Cassie.

"Merry Christmas, Jack," came an unfamiliar female voice.

"Sara…come in…" he said, moving aside and letting her in. "We were just exchanging gifts…"

Sara? As in Sara ex-O'Neill kind of Sara? What on Earth was she doing there?

"Actually I just came to give you yours…I'm on my way home," Sara replied, handing him what was obvious a wine bottle.

"Come in," Jack said. "Please…there's plenty of food and beer for all."

"Are you sure…" Sara started.

"Of course," Jack replied.

The woman stepped into the hallway and Jack shut the door behind her. He lead her into the living area.

"Uh Sara this is Teal'c, Daniel and Carter," he said.

They all waved. Sam felt a small surge of jealousy. This was the only other person in the world who Jack talked to in the soft, caring way he sometimes did to her. It was over between them, she knew that much, had been for almost nine years. But it still made her feel uncomfortable.

"Hi," Sara said, smiling.

Jack sat back down next to Sam on the floor. They had decided to sit on the floor as it was easier to pass presents around that way.

"Do you want a chair?" Jack asked his ex-wife.

"No, I'm fine," she said, sitting down next to him.

"Anything to drink? Eat?" Jack asked.

"Jack…I'm fine," Sara said, then looked over to Sam. "I love your necklace…where'd you get it from?"

Sam looked at Jack quickly before looking back at Sara. "It was a present."

"Oh…a secret admirer, huh?" Sara said, smiling, picking up the fishing book that lay next to Jack. "Trust…you haven't changed one bit…"

"Well, unless you count the grey hair…" Jack muttered.

"I shouldn't really stay long…Dad will be waiting," Sara said.

"Oh…well, thanks for the present," Jack said. "I'm sure it'll be greatly appreciated…and Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," she said, then turned to the others. "Merry Christmas everyone! It was nice to meet you all…again…I think I've met you all before."

"Indeed," Teal'c said. "It was good to meet you again as well."

"Merry Christmas," Daniel said.

"Merry Christmas," Sam repeated, then turned to Jack. "I'm gonna get out the telescope…"

She stood up and was on her way to the cupboard where she knew he kept it when the doorbell rang again. She stopped and pulled it open.

"Sam!" the high pitched squeal of a teenage girl reached her ears.

"Hey Cassie," she replied.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Cassie shouted. "I would hug you but my hands are a tad full."

She had two large bags, one held in each hand, obviously full of presents. Just at that moment Jack and Sara made their way to the door.

"Who…?" Cassie asked.

"Ah, Cass…this is my ex-wife Sara, she just dropped by to say hi…Sara this is Cassie, the daughter of a late friend," he winced as he said the last couple of words.

Cassie seemed to ignore them, not wanting a damper put on her good mood. "Oh you're Sara! Nice to meet you," suddenly noticing Daniel and Teal'c standing behind them she squealed again and pushed past them to see the others. "Oh Sam, by the way, nice necklace."

Sam felt the uncomfortable feeling rise inside her again. Why did Sara have to turn up now?

"Jack always had good taste in jewellery," Sara said, smiling at Sam.

Sam felt her heart stop. How did she know? Of course she knew, she'd lived with Jack for at least nine or ten years, she could probably tell just by walking into the room his emotions concerning certain people. Sam didn't even know why she cared. This was someone that was completely out of Jack's life, maybe bar a few Christmas or birthday presents.

She looked at Jack, he also looked like he'd swallowed something whole and it was stuck in his throat.

"I'm not blind, Jack," Sara muttered, aware that Daniel and Teal'c couldn't hear her. "You don't have to hide anything from me."

"I'm not," Jack replied.

"Carter…what's your first name?" Sara asked.

"Sam," she replied.

"Sam, it was nice to meet you. I wish you and Jack all the best," Sara said.

Sam opened her mouth to protest but she was cut off.

"Merry Christmas, hope you have a good one," Sara said.

And with that she was gone.

Sam didn't particularly want to turn around and face Jack, but that was the only way to get back in from the freezing cold winter air. She turned slowly to face him.

"Look up," he said.

She looked up, above them hung mistletoe. Of course he'd put it there, so he'd known all along where it was.

"We…I can't…" Sam said.

"No, but I could try," Jack said. "Here's what I should have said when you asked me…"

Asked him what? Then she realised…

"What about you? If things had been different…"

"I wouldn't be here."

"…If things had been different, I would have left my job a long time ago, had I known what I know now I would never have let it get this far, and knowing what I know I have to say it. Please don't marry him…I mean if that's what you want I'll be happy for you…but…" he stopped and winced. "This isn't coming out right."

"I understand," Sam said.

"And…?" Jack asked.

She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, a way to show him what she felt without being too intimate, without having to feel guilty thinking about her fiancé.

"Merry Christmas, Jack," she said.

"Merry Christmas, Sam," he replied.

They turned around and went back inside. Everything would turn out fine. She knew it, because it was Christmas.

Merry Christmas Everyone

and

Happy New Year!!