"What's this?"

Sally bent down to pick up the little box – an automatic reaction when something lands at your feet, after all – but Jaffer was there first, following his own automatic reaction. Something in the kitchen had fallen on the floor, and that almost always meant food. He lunged for the box, snapping it up in his strong jaws before Sally could even get her hand close enough to worry about being bitten.

"Jaffer!"

Daniel's cry was a mixture of annoyance and concern. Annoyance because it was a damned expensive ring and he'd already done the whole wait until my artifact comes through the dog's system and get it a few days later thing – not to mention he needed that thing today – and concern because the box was probably big enough to choke the lab, and Daniel couldn't even imagine trying to explain to Jack why he'd allowed his precious dog to be choked by a box he had no business getting anywhere near him.

"Drop it!"

Shocked by the note of command in the archeologist's voice, Jaffer did something he'd never done before when it came to Daniel. He obeyed him. The box fell to the kitchen floor, only slightly drooled on, and clattered at Sally's feet once more. The black lab looked over at Daniel, who was completely at a loss. He couldn't just go launching himself after the box, and there was no hiding it now. Even as Sally reached down once more to pick it up, Daniel cringed.

"What is this, Daniel?"

One thing was sure; it wasn't a steak, Jaffer could tell her. He moved as Daniel crossed the kitchen to come over and try to take the box from her.

"Um…"

She moved her hand away before he could take hold of the box, her mind suddenly freezing. She was a woman, after all, and she knew what these little boxes held usually. And her curiosity was definitely getting the better of her.

Her eyes were on him even as she brought her other hand up to hold the slightly slimy box while she opened it with the other. He had a helpless expression on his face, like he didn't know what to do, and Sally felt sorry for him without even knowing for sure what was wrong.

She looked down at the box, which was now open, and smiled. It was a ring – like she'd thought – but far more beautiful than she'd expected. She had half expected that it was maybe a forgotten Christmas present – or maybe a New Year's eve present or something. Neither occasion warranted such an exquisite ring, however. And this one was.

It was white gold – Sally's favorite – with a delicate trim of Black Hills gold and a sparkling diamond set in the middle that caught the light coming from the window of the breakfast nook and sent glimmering prisms against the soft velvet case that held the ring.

She looked up at him, a question in her eyes, and Daniel did the only thing he could think of.

He dropped to his knees.

"Sally? Will you marry me?"

"What?"

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

"What's that?"

Doctor Sawyer smiled, and ran a pen along the image on the monitor with on hand while the other held the flat scooping device over Sam's stomach.

"This is the head, right here, and this is the spine…"

Now that she was pointing things out, Jack was able to separate shadow from baby. And it was a perfect picture of the baby – once you knew what to look at.

"He's sucking his thumb…" Sam said in wonder, looking over at the monitor as well. Sure enough, one arm was bent, and the hand was pressed against the baby's mouth, and there was a clear sucking motion. "Amazing…"

"She's sucking her thumb," Jack corrected – even though he couldn't really tell one way or the other.

"It's a boy, Jack…"

Sam and Jack both looked at Maria, who smiled, and shook her head.

"Actually, I'm not sure what it is…" She pointed to where the baby had its knees bent at just the right angle to keep them from being able to see its sex. "Its shy…"

"Then it must be a girl," Jack proclaimed. "A boy would be more than willing to show the world what he's got."

"Hold on," Sawyer said, pulling the examination light down and aiming it at Sam's stomach.

"What are you doing?" She asked, curiously. The light wasn't even on – otherwise they'd be having a hard time seeing the picture on the monitor in the glare.

"Your baby is already sensitive to bright light," the doctor explained. "If I shine the light on your stomach, there's a chance he or she might turn away and give us a quick peek."

Clever.

They all three watched the monitor as the doctor turned the light on, and sure enough the baby moved. Unfortunately, Jack had a glare from the light and couldn't see, and Sam wasn't positive what she'd seen. A second later the baby had its back to the three, and all they could see was what was obviously a butt. Both parents turned to the doctor.

"Well?"

Maria shrugged.

"I can't be positive. The leg was still in the way when it turned."

"What do you think it was?" Jack pressed. "Did you see any outdoor plumbing?" How hard was it to see that? At least, if you knew what to look for.

"I didn't see anything," Maria admitted. "But-" She held up a hand when Jack's expression turned gloating and excited. "That doesn't mean it wasn't there. I'm not going to say it's a girl."

"Well how about if we roll Sam over and shine the light on her back? Maybe the baby will turn again and you can get a better look…?"

Sawyer smiled and shook her head.

"It doesn't work that way, Jack." She looked down at her clipboard. "'Sex of baby; unknown.'"

"Awwww…" Jack looked at the monitor again, and then tapped Sam's stomach tenderly. "Hey! Turn around kiddo."

"He's ignoring you," Sam told him, smiling, and looking at the monitor. "Might as well get used to it…"

Jack scowled, and pressed his cheek against her belly, avoiding the lube that the doctor had spread on her stomach to slide the scooping device.

"Lily, this is your dad speaking…"

"Lily?"

Jack ignored Sam.

"Turn around and give us a peek at-"

Sam giggled suddenly, and Jack looked up. Her and Maria were both looking at the monitor where the baby had moved once more – now its hands were covering its ears.

"Hey!" He scowled, and looked at the doctor, who shrugged.

"At this stage, his or her hearing is just fine, and noises can be annoying to them. Remember, she's in fluid, and-"

"He's in fluid," Jack corrected.

"It's in fluid," Maria corrected. "Sounds travel in fluids like that, so when you speak to Sam's belly, use gentle tones." She continued looking at the monitor, and smiled at Sam. "Everything else looks great, Sam. I count ten toes and fingers, and nothing looks like it shouldn't. He's perfect."

"Of course he is," Sam said, taking Jack's hand, and squeezing it. She couldn't help but feel a little weepy, and Jack reached out and tenderly brushed away the tear that ran down her cheek.

"Look at who she has for a mom," he murmured, the doctor's presence forgotten as he met Sam's gaze. "How could she be anything but?"