Once again, I'd like to thank all of you who sent in a review, so here's an extra long chapter for you to enjoy.
There's just two more chapters after this, and then the Epilogue, so I hope you all like the fluff that's in this chapter and those to come. No more angst...I promise.
Sorry Froggy0319 but you won't get your wish. Not the way you wanted anyway.
Junior
By Lingren.
Previously:-
"Oiy!" he groaned, his shoulders slumping, and with a smirk he shook his head. She was sooo gonna be the death of him.
Chapter 34
There was a knock on the door and Jack went to answer it. The smile was wiped off his face when he found Jacob standing on his doorstep, shivering with the cold.
"Jacob!" Jack stood there, not knowing what to say.
"Don't I get to come in? It's kinda cold out here!"
Jack shook his thoughts free.
"Ah, yeah, c'mon in Dad," he reacted without thinking, 'oops!' He blew out a protracted breath, hoping he hadn't blown their father/son-in-law relationship already. "Coffee or beer?"
"Coffee would be great, thanks." Jacob sat down and stared around the room, taking in the furnishings and the display cases of medals; the model airplanes, and the general cleanliness of the place. There was no doubt about it, Jack's place was as neat as a pin; even Junior's toys were stacked away neatly in the corner of the room. He was pleasantly surprised.
Jack came back in and placed the coffee down on the table, noticing that Jacob was giving the place a quick reconnaissance, but he didn't make any comment. Sam followed him into the room and smiled sweetly at her father, giving Jack a smirk and a little nudge on the way past him.
Jacob stood up again and greeted her warmly with a hug and then he gripped her shoulders looking directly into her eyes.
"Are you sure this is what you want Sammy?"
"Yes Dad. I love Jack and I want to marry him," she replied with a wide beaming smile, locking onto her dad's eyes so that he could see she meant every word. Jacob nodded with satisfaction, released her and turned his attention back to Jack. Sam retreated to the kitchen to finish breakfast and clear up, as well as keeping an eye on Junior; therefore allowing the two men in her life to talk in private.
"So," Jacob began, sitting down once more and sipping the hot liquid from the mug. "You really want to marry my Sam?"
"Yes sir, I do," he stated firmly, though he had butterflies with boots on marching round inside his gut.
Jacob replaced the cup back on the table and stood, rising to his full height to meet Jack face to face, his expression was stern, his demeanour menacing. Jacob was not a man to be messed with despite how aged he looked. Jack unconsciously mimicked his stance, ready to face the man's wrath; and still, he didn't know about the baby.
"Jack, I won't beat about the bush here; you're not my first choice of a husband for Sam. You always were a Maverick kind of guy; quick to rouse, and ruthless too. There's a lot of dirt under your nails but that's all in the past. You're also an honest, hardworking man too Jack. So I've only one thing left to say to you." He paused, dragging out the tension until Jack thought he would snap. "Welcome to the family son, for what it's worth." He grabbed hold of Jack's hand and shook it, whilst he draped the other arm along Jack's shoulder, and slapped him on the back. "I take it I don't have to tell you what would happen if you ever hurt her, do I?"
"No sir!" Jack snapped back quickly, he understood perfectly. "I would never, ever, do anything to hurt her, Dad! Trust me, I love her."
"That's good son, make sure it stays that way!"
Jack was totally dumbfounded. He'd expected a right rollicking from the older man about leading his daughter astray, but no, he seemed genuinely happy for Sam to marry him. So what of telling him about the baby? He decided to let Sam tell him, later, and preferably when he wasn't around.
They strolled into the kitchen where Jon greeted the Tok'ra shyly. Jacob was amazed at the difference in the boy from when he had first delivered him to the SGC. They all sat round the table with fresh coffee and chatted like any other family.
OoOoOoOoO
The door opened and a miniature whirlwind blew down from the steps. Jack climbed out from behind the wheel of the truck feeling stiff with the long drive and lifted his six year old niece into the air, tickling her tummy.
"Hey! Bethany! Wow! You've grown so big!" She giggled shyly at his teasing.
She had been followed by her big sister, who was about to descend upon Jack too. "Uncle Jack!" the ten year old shrieked with delight.
"Josie?" Jack cried, grinned back; good grief, how she'd grown too, he mused.
The ten year old had barely made it to the truck and was about to leap into Jack's arms too as soon as he put Bethany down, when a deep voice halted her in her tracks.
"Josephine Stuart, don't you dare. Remember what I said, that Uncle Jack was getting too old to lift you now?"
"Hey!" Jack cried indignantly.
Sam, who was helping Junior out of the truck, giggled at this exchange.
"Not so much of the old," Jack grunted with a pout. "Geeez, I've still got a couple of years on you yet!" he laughed, sticking out his hand as his brother-in-law approached. "Adam," he said by way of a greeting.
"Jack. How ya doin'?" Adam said.
"Ah. Adam, this is Sam, and this..." he said, bringing Junior closer to stand in front of him, and ruffling his hair with affection. "...is Jonathon Junior; my son."
Adam smiled, and stuck his hand out to shake the boy's hand.
"Pleased to meet you Jonathon Junior," Adam said, then looked up at Sam. "Hi Sam. Come on in, it's freezing out here."
Adam shooed the girls back inside, and they followed. Jack and Adam took the bags and Sam took Junior's hand, following the men. Although Jon wasn't so shy about visiting his Grandparents, so much as meeting all his cousins, and uncles and aunts.
"Hey," Sam whispered to the boy as they approached the steps up to the house. "I'm new here too Jon," she said with a smile and a wink, making him relax slightly with a grin. He still held on to her hand tightly though as they entered.
Once inside the house, a rich aroma of coffee and baking assaulted their noses. It smelled like Christmas. Melissa greeted them warmly, hugging each of them in turn, before she had to retreat to the kitchen to finish making the Christmas goodies.
There was a flurry of activity as Jack was greeted enthusiastically by his family. Sam and Jon stood back, watching this and feeling a little lost. Once all the hugs were over, Jack yelled for attention, using his best General voice.
"Okay! Enough!" he cried over the ruckus. Once he had their attention he introduced his new family. "Everyone...this is Samantha Carter, who is fool enough to want to marry me next month, and this is my son, Jonathon Junior, or Jon for short." He called them over to introduce them, and Sam nudged him for his comments, but he just grinned.
"Sam, Jon," he said, pulling them closer to him, one arm draped round Sam's waist, the other pointing out his family. "This is, brother Sean, with his wife Lorraine and their kids Michael and Lisa; brother Brendan and his wife Annie with Craig, Jason, and Brett. Then there's my little sister Sinead, and her other half, Adam, whom of course, you've already met and Josie and then the baby of the family, but not the least important..." Jack teased, "...little Bethany."
"I'm not little any more uncle Jack!" she cried, giving Sam a startling resemblance to Jack when she pouted. It must be an O'Neill trait, Sam mused. "And besides, he's the baby of the family now," Bethany accused, pointing at Jon who looked as if he wanted to hit her.
"No I'm not. Mommy's gonna have a baby!" he cried defiantly, turning to smile up at his father and future Mother in all innocence.
"Oiy!" Jack sighed as all hell let loose.
There were congratulations all round and Melissa hurried in from the kitchen, wondering what was going on.
"Jack's gonna be a dad, Mom," Sinead cried, hugging Jack and then Sam.
"I am a dad already," he said bluntly, pointing out Junior.
Melissa shook her head in confusion.
"Mom, Sam's expecting our 'first' child," he said, with a grin. "We wanted to tell you first, but Junior here let the cat out of the bag already," he laughed, ruffling the boy's hair in mock annoyance and a little frustration.
"Oh Jonathon. Oh, Sam, that's wonderful. When are you due?" she asked, hugging both of them and then Junior.
"Sometime in May."
Everyone made a big fuss over Sam and Jack felt so proud of her. It seemed to him that his family had already taken to her so well. During a quieter moment, he handed out their wedding invitations and it seemed like the only topic of conversation that night was their forthcoming wedding and the birth of their first child. He didn't mind, he was more contented now than he'd been for a very long time. The only black cloud on the horizon was her eventual return to work.
OoOoOoOoO
"Oh wow Mom. You still have these?"
Melissa had dug out the Christmas box and everyone was helping to decorate the tree. Jack held up a small collection of rather battered home made ornaments with a smirk, showing them to Sam.
"We made these at school. Every year we'd each come home with one that we'd laboured away at making," Jack said, recalling all the hard work he'd put into creating something unique to hang on the tree.
He handed them to Sam who examined each one. Turning the first one, a small highly decorated wooden bell, upside down, she saw the initials JON printed on the underside. She smiled and hung it on the tree behind her, turning to look at Jack.
His twinkling eyes held hers, and she gave him a brilliant smile that took away his breath.
"I guess this is something that will be carried on in the family," she said, smiling. It was good, a family tradition which she could carry on with their children. She reached over and hung the other home made ornaments on the branches too.
Jon was sitting on the sofa watching everyone at work. He'd helped too, but was fascinated by the transformation of what was an ordinary tree. He sat in silence watching as the other decorations were placed around the room too; his face full of wonder. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw all the presents being piled under the tree, but was filled with disappointment when he was told that's where they stayed until the morning.
OoOoOoOoO
"Daddy! Daddy! Mommy! Wake up. Is it time to open the presents yet?"
Jack opened one eye and looked at his son with loathing. He'd been sharing anecdotes and drinks with his brothers after the kids were tucked up in bed, and the ladies and his father had retired. He glanced at his watch, sitting on the dresser beside the bed and groaned. He'd forgotten how excited kids never seemed to sleep long enough at Christmas.
"No! Go back to bed Junior, it's 05:00hrs for cryin' out loud!"
Sam who had woken too, sniggered. It sounded like someone had indulged a little too freely last night and was feeling hung over.
"No giggling Colonel!" Jack sighed, shutting his eyes again.
"But I'm not tired any more Daddy!" Junior wailed in disappointment.
Jack groaned again, and shifted over in the bed.
"C'mere!" he held the blanket open as Jon shivered slightly in the coolness of the morning, inviting him into the bed. He shifted back slightly against Sam who wound her arm around his waist. Jon snuggled under the covers, held there by Jack who promptly went back to sleep. Sam soon joined him in the land of nod and so did Junior.
OoOoOoOoO
When Jack woke, it was to find the bed empty, besides himself.
He rose and headed for the shower, vowing to take a couple of aspirin for his headache when he'd finished if he still didn't feel a hundred percent.
It was amazing what a hot shower could do though.
He joined everyone downstairs for a late breakfast of coffee and toast, about all he could manage after indulging too much again last night. By the look of Sam she wasn't enjoying being awake this morning either. He greeted her with a kiss, and a whisper in her ear.
"What's up?"
"Guess!"
"Have you had some toast?"
"Not yet."
"You should, ya know. It helped last time."
"I know," she sighed, not relishing the thought of food just now. "How about you; you drank..."
"I'm of Irish stock Sam. What did you expect? You know I don't normally indulge that much, but it's hard not to when we O'Neills all get together," he whined. He looked round wondering where all the kids were, including Junior.
"They're all out back building a snowman," John informed him, correctly guessing what Jack was looking for.
"Ah! I thought it was quiet! Nice!"
Jack smiled, and shifted in his seat to peer out of the window at the kids. They were creating a huge snowman with the held of the older boys. Jon looked to be having fun too, joining in.
"Are you up for this. It's time ya know?" Jack asked Sam.
"Yeah. I don't want to miss this," she nodded, feeling a little better for having nibbled on a piece of toast, that Melissa pushed into her hand, insisting she ate it.
Jack cleared a path to the door and opened it to stand out on the deck. He raised his voice, yelling to the kids. They all looked up at him, excitement clear in their faces.
"Okay kids! Time for the presents!"
Once the words left his mouth, he stood back, protecting Sam from the stampede.
TBC