The graduation ceremony was held in the high school gym. It was tastefully decorated, however, and the bleachers were filled with people who couldn't have cared less if the walls were bare and the floor wasn't covered with a temporary matting that protected it from hundreds of pairs of dress shoes and sandals. The graduating class of Cassie's high school numbered about 250, and they all had parents, loved ones and friends there to see them graduate – as well as many students from the other grades, and the school orchestra playing Pomp and Circumstance for them.

"There she is!"

Janet Fraiser was smiling widely, clasping the graduation program booklet tightly in her hand as she watched the students file into the gym, all dressed identically but easy to sort out, nonetheless. Since Cassie had won the Merit award and was also in the top ten of her class (number three), she was also wearing a wide swathing of orange around her neck and shoulders that played off the black of their gowns perfectly, allowing the group from the SGC to spot her effortlessly.

Everyone else looked the way she'd pointed – except Ian, who had already spotted Cassie. It was a large contingent of people he was sitting with, though, and they were mainly military. Several whooped loudly and Cassie glanced up at them quickly and flashed a smile at the crowd. She'd known most of the base would want to come for this – they'd all known her since she was a little girl, after all, and most of them – but not all – knew that she wasn't exactly from Canada like it was claimed. They also happened to know just what a lousy start she'd had on things, and were extremely proud of their Cassie's ability to make a go of things and bounce back into a wonderful young woman – who had garnered a full ride scholarship to one of the best schools in the world.

Ian sat between Sam and Teal'c, holding Jacob, who had started screaming the moment they'd entered such a crowded area filled with so many noisy people and lights. Sam had handed the baby off to his godfather immediately, and Ian owed Sam for taking him shopping that morning (early afternoon) so he didn't even do the customary scowl. He'd simply cuddled Jake, who had stopped crying immediately and had started rooting against Ian's neck, looking for a good place to start gnawing. Sam had protected his shirt with a thick towel designed exclusively for catching drool, so Ian didn't care. His eyes were on Cassie, even though his hands were carefully tight on Jake to make sure he didn't drop him.

The ceremony itself went off without a hitch. After all, the school had plenty of practice sending its graduates off with a good ceremony, and this one was no exception. There were songs sung, and speeches made, and when Cassandra Fraiser's name was called out and she took her diploma the room reverberated with the cheers and applause from the section of the gym that held her admirers. Sam quickly glanced at Jake, to see what her son would make of the sudden loud noise, and found him looking around with interest but no trace of panic, a slimy line of drool connecting the corner of his mouth to Ian's neck, where she could see the tell tale red mark of gnawing. Satisfied that her son was fine, she turned her attention back to the ceremony once more, clapping as loudly as the rest as Cassie, blushing a brilliant – but pleased red at the extra attention – headed for her seat, her diploma in hand.

Within an hour, the ceremony was finished, and everyone was heading for the parking lot. There was a barbeque at the Fraiser's in honor of the occasion, and some people needed to get there and get it set up, while others needed to go get their dogs, who were disgruntled at being left behind when everyone else had left and had probably spent the afternoon ceremony chewing up the carpet and sofa in retaliation. The crowd waiting by Fraiser's car wasn't too large, considering the amount of people that had been in the gym; Janet and Emmett, Sam and Jake (Jack was already on his way to the house to get Jack (the dog) and Jaffer), Daniel and Teal'c, and Ian. River, Shawn and Gina had already gone ahead to the Fraiser's to get the barbeque started and make sure the house was open for anyone who might arrive early.

As Cassie made her way through the crowd, hugging her friends who had graduated with her and smiling thanks at those who continually congratulated her, Ian moved a little to the side. This was Janet's time, after all, and he wanted to make sure that she knew he was more than willing to wait his turn to greet Cassie.

"I'm so proud of you," Janet said, wiping a tear that had managed to escape her meager control and hugging her daughter tightly.

Cassie smiled, hugging her mom back.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Good job, Cass," Daniel said, the moment they'd broken apart. The archeologist swooped in for a hug, too, as did Sam – who was now holding her son, and had to settle for a one-handed hug.

"Thanks, you guys."

She looked over at Ian and smiled, but it was clear she was a little hurt when he hadn't swooped in as well. She didn't have a chance for much of a look, however, because Emmett claimed a hug of his own, and then handed her back to Janet, who was smiling in anticipation now.

"Let's get going, you guys," Janet said. "The parking lot is all well and good, but there's a lot of food waiting at the house to be eaten, and I happen to know that if we don't beat the dogs back there, we're going to end up with scraps while they eat the steaks."

There was plenty of laughter, and everyone started to turn towards their vehicles to get going. Luckily they were all parked in the same area. Cassie looked around, curiously, at then at Ian, who hadn't moved.

"Where's your car?"

It was pretty hard to miss his car, after all.

He shrugged.

"I didn't bring it. I came in a different car."

"Is it broken?"

"No."

There was a jingle of keys, drawing Cassie's attention from the odd conversation – she couldn't ever remember a time Ian had willingly left his car at home – and she saw Janet holding up a key chain. Attached to a couple of keys. Cassie looked at the key chain, confused, but everyone else in the group turned to their right, and she noticed for the first time the Powder Blue Volkswagen Beetle that was sitting only a few cars away with a bright blue bow on the hood.

Her heart thumping, she looked back at Janet, who was smiling broadly, now, and jingled the keys once more.

"Happy Graduation, Cassie."

And she tossed the keys to her daughter, who caught them, stunned.

"Really?"

She looked at the car again, feeling her heart leap in her chest. It was exactly what she'd wanted – exactly the right color and the right model and the-

"You should probably get in," Emmett said, smiling as well. "Make sure it fits, and everything."

Cassie squealed, and hugged him, and then hugged her mother, and then Sam and Daniel and Teal'c, and even Ian, who hadn't expected to be in on the love-fest with Cassie still mad at him. Then she raced over to the car, dignity forgotten, and unlocked it.

"I'd say the car was a good choice, Janet," Daniel said with a smile as they all watched her get in.

Janet nodded, still smiling.

"It was that or a chemistry set, and she's going to need wheels next fall."

She walked over to the car, where Cassie had already slipped behind the wheel and was looking at everything excitedly.

"We'll meet you at the house," she said, after Cass had turned the key and rolled down the power window. "I don't have to tell you not to speed, do I?"

Cassie didn't even roll her eyes like she might have – a sure sign of just how excited she was.

"No."

"Well, I'll tell you anyways, because I'm your mother and it's my job. No speeding. Understand?"

Cass nodded.

"I promise."

"I'll meet you at home."

The girl nodded again.

"Thank you so much…"

Janet's smile was filled with love, and pride and happiness, and it made Cassie turn to goo inside when she knew it was all for her.

"I love you."

"I love you, too, mom."

Janet moved away from the window, and glanced at Ian, who had been waiting just to the side where he wouldn't be in the line of sight. A tilt of her head told the young man she was finished, and she headed for her car, followed by the others who were also dispersing. Ian walked over and knelt by the driver's window of the car, smiling at the excitement in Cassie's expression at her new gift.

"Can you give me a ride?"

"You're not going to side-seat drive?"

He shook his head, glad that she didn't seem to be quite as angry as she had been – either that or she was simply biding her time.

"I promise."

Cassie nodded, and the other door lock popped up.

"Hop in."