A/N: Can't. Stop. WRITING!!!! AAAAAAHHH!!! I think my muse has taken control of my fingers and rubber-cemented them to my keyboard. Anyway, I promised forward momentum, so here it is. Enjoy!

Chapter 18

Three weeks. It had been three long weeks since Sam had last heard Jack utter the "M" word. Not that they'd been unpleasant weeks – she spent her days busily poring over maps and artifacts from the Ancient site on P3X-812, and her nights in Jack's arms – but the uncertainty was starting to wreak havoc with her concentration. The only thing stopping her from cornering Jack and forcing the issue was fear of making him bolt.

She was perfectly happy with their current arrangement, and was profoundly grateful to have him in whatever way he was available to her. But his casual comments about marriage had made her heart leap in her chest. He hadn't sounded afraid of the topic, only worried that he was unworthy. Looking back on it now, Sam wished she had violently squashed the notion that he wasn't good enough for her.

In truth, there were a few million things she'd like to add to that discussion. Like, "Marrying you would be an honor," or, "I can't imagine being with anyone else," or maybe just, "I love you, you idiot. Now shut up and propose."

Sighing, she finished buttoning her blouse and stood. Her personal quarters on the SGC base had always been Spartan, but her closet here was now almost completely bare. At nearly fifteen weeks pregnant, Sam was starting to give up on her regular clothes. She was still able to squeeze into non-maternity pants, but only those with elastic waistbands. Regular blouses and t-shirts were still okay, so long as they weren't fitted. And, as Jack was quick to tease, without clothing, she had a very noticeable and rather cute pot-belly.

She was on her way to meet Jack in his office so they could head to the perinatologist together. She was glad that the appointment had finally arrived. If everything looked good today, they'd officially announce their situation to the base. At this point, only SG-1 and a few high-level officers had any inkling of what was going on with the two of them. Sam knew there had been talk about the change in command structure, and some speculation on whether there was anything romantic going on between them. Worst of all, she was almost certain she'd seen people taking bets in the mess hall yesterday. It seemed like people were constantly getting very quiet just as she approached them. She'd be very glad to have the whole truth out in the open.

Walking to Jack's office, she felt her heart quicken, as it always seemed to do when she was going to be seeing him. After all their years of easy camaraderie, she was a little surprised that he could still have that effect on her. There was no denying it, however. Jack O'Neill made her knees weak, illogical or not.

She reached his door, and, seeing that it was open, she poked her head in. He was standing behind his desk, closing a small manila envelope. Like her, he had already changed into civilian clothing, and was clearly ready to get moving.

"Hi," she said softly.

His head snapped up, and Sam saw a flash of affection in his eyes before he pulled on the General O'Neill mask. Tucking the envelope in his coat pocket, he stepped out from behind his desk. "Hi. Ready to go?" His warm smile was enough to make her toes tingle.

"You bet," she replied.

As he walked closer, he fixed her with a quick, scorching look of desire that could have melted her shoes to the floor. Just as fast as it had emerged, however, the piercing stare was gone. Sam loved these private moments between them. While the rest of the base was going about its business, Jack was able to communicate his feelings to her, without causing a scene, and without saying a word. She smiled knowingly in return.

As they walked to the elevators, they said little. Sam knew that every inch of the base was monitored by surveillance cameras, so they had to be very circumspect about their conversations until they were outdoors.

When they hit the elevators, however, Jack surprised her by asking, "Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?" Usually, they dined at home. This was mostly to allow the natural flow of conversation between them. It was hard to eat at a restaurant when half of the available discussion topics were highly classified military operations.

Still, she supposed a night out might be fun. And, if everything was clear on the ultrasound, it would be a great cause for celebration. "Sure, that would be great."

Jack smiled, clearly pleased with the decision. A few more moments of silence fell as the elevator took them back to the mountain's ground level.

As they walked out of the base, Sam couldn't help smile at the natural, easy companionship between them. Jack had never been a man of many words. Anyone spending a lot of time with him had to get used to the concept of a "friendly silence," or risk going nuts. Sam enjoyed these quiet times. Sometimes she felt that more was said between the two of them in moments of silence than in hours of discussion.

When they reached his black pickup truck, he opened the passenger side door for her and helped her up into the cab. Sam chuckled when he snuck a prolonged pat of her backside into the assistance. He wiggled his eyebrows roguishly in response.

As he climbed into the truck, Sam allowed herself to fantasize about being married to him for about the millionth time that month. She imagined it would be a life of quiet affection, delightful amusement, and fierce passion. She sincerely hoped he eventually did give in and propose, because she was entirely certain that he'd ruined her for any other man. She simply couldn't imagine a better mate than Jack O'Neill.

Evidently, something of her thoughts showed on her face, because Jack was eyeing her curiously. "What are you thinking about?"

She smiled. "You."

Now that they were in the privacy of his truck, he felt free to reach over and take her hand. "Really? Because you had this far-off, enraptured look on your face. I figured you had to be thinking about electro… magnetic… something-or-others."

Sam chuckled. "Nope. Just you." She grinned. "Though you do have a rather magnetic effect on me these days."

Jack squeezed her hand. "I'm fine with that, just as long as I don't start catching paper clips, too."

Sam smiled, shaking her head. That was Jack. Settling in for the ride, she allowed her mind to wander. As she contemplated the appointment ahead of them, a thought struck her. "Jack?"

"Yes?" He glanced at her as he drove.

"If the doctor can tell the sex of the babies, do you want to know?"

He inclined his head thoughtfully. "I hadn't really considered it. Do you?"

Sam blinked. "I suppose I would like to know. Everything else in this pregnancy has been a total surprise, so it might be nice to actually be prepared for once."

He laughed. "Well, yeah. There is that." Pausing, he seemed to ponder the idea. "I suppose I agree with you."

She smiled. "So it's settled. I'll ask the doctor as soon as she gets started."

Jack glanced at her again. "Do you have any preference?"

"About the babies' genders?" Sam shook her head. "None at all. Since I had no intention of getting pregnant, I can't say I really had my heart set on either a boy or a girl." Then she grinned. "Or both, I suppose." She examined him closely. "You?"

The flash of sadness in his eyes told her he'd just thought of Charlie. But it was quickly replaced with something resembling anticipation. "Nah. As long as the little boogers are healthy, I'll be thrilled."

Sam cringed. "Little boogers? I'm not sure I don't like 'Juniors' better!"

Jack just flashed her his O'Neill half-smile. "If they're anything like their daddy, then 'boogers' might be the nicest thing we can call them."

Laughing, she squeezed his hand. One thing was certain. Life with this man would never be dull.

Sam lay on the exam table with her shirt unbuttoned and hiked up, exposing her round tummy. The doctor hadn't yet appeared in the room, so she and Jack had a few moments alone before the ultrasound started. Glancing at him, she smiled.

"You look nervous," she murmured.

He shrugged, smiling slightly. "I suppose I am. It's not every day a guy gets to see his kids for the first time."

She reached over and squeezed his hand. "I'm sure you'll all get along famously." Her words were tinged with humor, but held sincere affection underneath.

He returned the squeeze, and nodded. Before he could reply, however, the door swung open. A short, middle-aged woman wearing a white coat and a stethoscope entered the room, carrying a file folder. "Hello," she said warmly, "I'm Dr. Lindeman. You must me Mr. and Mrs…" she glanced at the folder. "Oh, I'm sorry! You're not Mr. and Mrs. at all!" Her eyebrows shot up as she read the information. "Doctor Carter and General O'Neill?" She smiled. "Impressive. I see your little ones have a lot to live up to!"

Sam relaxed as she realized there was no censure in the doctor's tone. She always worried about appearances, especially outside the military. She and Jack had decided to see a civilian doctor, because she was very highly recommended. However, the respect always granted an Air Force officer in the military was not guaranteed in the rest of the world. Sam hated the idea that she might be viewed as just another unwed mother. It didn't seem to be a problem, however, since the doctor was chatting happily as she washed her hands.

"So tell me a little more about your pregnancy, Doctor Carter."

Sam smiled. "Please, just Samantha is fine. Or, if you must be formal, then I prefer Colonel." She considered the question for a moment. "Well, I had some cramping around the eighth week. That's when my base physician discovered we were having twins."

Dr. Lindeman nodded. "Are these twins 'all-natural,' or are they the result of fertility drugs?"

Sam was speechless for a moment. She couldn't very well tell the doctor that she'd been given an alien harvest beverage that had induced ovulation. But, at the same time, if it was important to her twins' care, she wanted to be as thorough as possible. Glancing at Jack, she saw that he wasn't going to be any help. He looked completely flummoxed.

She decided to get creative. "Jack and I are strong believers in Eastern medicine. We used an ancient herbal fertility treatment, but no prescriptions, if that's what you mean." It was close enough to the truth to be useful, she supposed.

If the doctor thought the explanation odd, she gave no indication. Instead, she smiled. "Then you must be very pleased that your planning has resulted in two babies, yes?"

Jack almost choked at that. Dr. Lindemann had just implied that the pregnancy had not only been planned, but actively pursued. It was so far from the truth that he had to stifle his first reaction.

Sam, too, felt like snorting at the suggestion. Instead, she politely returned the doctor's smile. "Yes, we're very glad that we're having twins." That much was true. At least it was for her. She felt Jack reach over and touch her arm, as if to reassure her that he felt the same way.

Dr. Lindeman then proceeded to squirt some warm, goopy ultrasound jelly on Sam's tummy. Seconds later, the transducer was gently set on top of it. The doctor directed their attention to a small monitor on top of the large instrument. "Okay, now look sharp. The last time you saw these two, they probably looked like jelly beans. I think you'll be impressed by the changes."

Suddenly, Sam's breath caught in her throat. There, on the screen in front of them, was an incredibly detailed picture of two, tiny people. Two perfect spines curved down, supporting two miniature rib cages. A host of little arms and legs twitched and wiggled at random intervals. And, most amazingly, two gorgeous profiles stood out from the black background, sporting tiny, pert noses and delicate chins. "Oh my God," she breathed. For a moment, she was transfixed. It hardly seemed possible that in a few short months, these little angels had sprouted up from nothing.

Realizing that Jack hadn't said a word, she glanced over at him. His face was almost expressionless, save for a slight widening of his eyes. She watched him absorb the scene on the monitor, slowly digesting the flickering images. As she examined him, he began blinking rapidly. Sam felt her heart skip a beat. He was clearly holding back tears.

She reached over and took his hand. As if awakening from a dream, he looked down at her. Awe shone in his eyes. "They weren't this clear with Charlie. This is…" He took a breath. "It's amazing."

Dr. Lindeman smiled. "Ultrasound technology is indeed amazing these days." She glanced at Jack. "You have other children?"

Sam waited for some sign of distress, but he was clearly expecting the question. "I had a son, but he passed away years ago." Jack's voice was solemn, but not grief-stricken.

The doctor nodded. "I'm very sorry. No one should outlive their children." She paused for a moment, looking back at the ultrasound screen. "Well, I have some good news. Your two little ones are both measuring on target for their gestational age. No signs of spina bifida or cleft palette, and both are attached to the placenta with a 3-vein umbilical cord. In short, everything is looking perfect. I'd like for you to come back in another four weeks for a more thorough exam, but you all appear to be doing very well."

Sam smiled brilliantly. "Thank you so much, Doctor."

Jack looked down at Sam expectantly. When she just returned his stare with a blank look, he rolled his eyes. "Didn't you have something you wanted to ask Dr. Lindeman?" Seeing that her expression was still not changing, he sighed and tried again. "Something about what she saw on the ultrasound?"

Suddenly, it registered. Sam's eyes lit up, and she smiled. "Oh! Right!" Turning to the doctor, she asked, "Could you tell the gender of the babies?"

Dr. Lindeman smiled. "I'm never one-hundred percent sure at this age, but I'd be willing to make a good guess. I take it that you'd like to know?" Seeing Sam and Jack both nod, she continued. "Well then, congratulations. It appears you're going to be having 'one of each,' as we in the business like to say."

Sam's eyes flew to Jack's. The joy and delight she felt were clearly mirrored in his own gaze. A little boy and a little girl. It hardly seemed possible that they could be so blessed.

Jack leaned over and placed a kiss on Sam's forehead. In typical O'Neill fashion, no words were exchanged. And that was just fine with Sam, who couldn't have forced a word out past the happy lump in her throat.

"To our little family," Sam said, raising her water goblet to Jack's glass of chardonnay.

They sat in an intimate Italian restaurant that clearly catered to couples. The lighting was dim, and the tables were set in tiny, secluded alcoves. Soft, Mediterranean music played quietly in the background while the scents of garlic and wood smoke filled the air.

Jack gazed back at his gorgeous dinner companion, and found himself amazed at her presence here. If anyone had told him four months ago that today he'd be sitting in a romantic restaurant with a pregnant Carter, reflecting on their unborn twins, he'd have laughed in their face. But here they were. And he honestly couldn't remember feeling happier.

After accepting her toast, Jack took a sip of his wine. He'd offered to abstain from alcohol since Sam clearly couldn't have any, but she'd insisted that he enjoy at least one glass. That was Carter, he reflected. Always looking out for everyone else's comfort. He'd been absolutely right when he'd last spoken to Jacob - he didn't deserve her. But, being the selfish bastard that he was, he knew he'd take her, anyway.

"So, Sam, how's work these days?" It seemed odd, but they really hadn't talked much while on base. He supposed that the temptation to get personal was too strong, and that avoiding each other was just easier.

She smiled and shrugged. "It's good. Not getting anywhere with the…" she hesitated, glancing around, "the artifact." That seemed safe enough. In truth, short of standing up and yelling that she was part of a top-secret government agency that traveled to other planets, she suspected anything they spoke of here would be safe. Still, she liked to be cautious. "I've been working with Daniel and Teal'c when they're around, but so far nothing has jumped out at me. Other than that," she said, reaching for a piece of bread, "things have been pretty normal. Although, I have been getting some weird vibes from the enlisted folk. They whisper and giggle a lot when they think I'm not looking. I'm pretty sure they're on to us, though I have no idea how it happened."

Jack smiled. "Yeah, I thought that was the case. My fault, I'm afraid."

Sam looked surprised. "Your fault? Why?"

He paused a long moment, examining her closely. Then, apparently satisfied with what he saw, he continued. "I asked for some help on a project, and evidently word got out. It's funny," he mused, "for being a highly classified military operation, none of those guys can keep a secret worth a damn."

Intrigued, Sam ripped off a piece of bread and started nibbling. "What kind of project?" Jack wasn't exactly the self-starter type.

"Actually, I was researching a possible application for Naquadah." Jack set down his salad fork and watched her reaction.

Sam's eyebrows shot up. "You were?" The surprise in her voice was nearly comical.

He nodded. "Yeah. It took some doing, but I was able to get the help I needed. We really had to dig deep for someone with just the right background. I had to pull a few strings, but it was worth it."

She stared at him, mouth open. "What on earth were you researching?"

"Not researching, exactly," he said, reaching into his coat pocket. "Constructing is more like it." He pulled out the manila envelope he'd held in his office earlier in the day. "Since few people on Earth have any experience working with Naquadah, the talent pool was limited. And we weren't creating anything ordinary, which made it even trickier. But, in light of all that, I think it turned out pretty great, don't you?" With a flick of his fingers, the envelope opened, allowing something small to slide into his other palm. He picked the tiny object up and held it out to her.

Sam stopped eating. She was pretty sure she also stopped breathing.

It was a ring.

The dark luster of the metal was unique, as was the large, deep green emerald set at its apex. Delicate engravings were etched into the surface of the band. It took her a moment, but she finally realized that they were two, tiny, point-of-origin symbols for Earth. Eyes wide as saucers, she looked at Jack with what was surely the most stunned expression she'd ever worn in her life.

He gestured to the engravings. "I wanted to put the six home address symbols on it, but Hammond thought that might be too much of a security risk."

She just continued to stare at him. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she registered the thought that even Hammond was in on this. But at the moment, she was far too bowled over by the ring's possible implications to do more than gape.

Seeing the look of total shock on Sam's face, Jack could only smile. "I know, it's not a traditional ring, but then, nothing about our relationship has been very traditional, so far." He reached across the table and took hold of her left hand. Then, gently, he slid the ring onto the third finger, softly caressing her hand as he did so. When his gaze once again found her enormous blue eyes, his expression was heartfelt and solemn.

"So how 'bout it, Colonel?" Jack's voice was thick with emotion. "Marry me?"