A/N: I'm so happy that this story has such a good review base! I love the support I get from all you guys. Frankly, I was a little surprised when I first started posting this...okay, a LOT surprised with the response. Thank you all!

This chapter is for the shipper in you!

It was nearing midnight when the women finally decided to call it a night. Because space was limited, it had been unanimously decided that the women would take two rooms (one for those who really wanted to sleep) and the guys would sleep in the basement with the children…except for Jack who absolutely refused on pain of 'Carter-withdrawals' to give up his room. Coincidentally, that left him in the only bedroom close enough to the girl's 'slumber party' to hear what was going on. It wasn't an accident.

"So, you work with Jack, right, Sam?" Lydia asked as the four women settled in for the night. Everyone could tell that Stephanie was extremely tired, but couldn't get comfortable enough to sleep.

Sam nodded, "Yep. He's my CO."

"He's CO of the base, right? That would mean he's everybody's CO," Tris put in, prodding the woman to share more details of their working relationship.

"Yeah, but I'm 2IC of the base, so I'm one of the few that actually has to report directly to him."

"I'm sorry, but what does 2IC mean again?" Steph asked in a confused tone. "I'm really bad at remembering acronyms."

"That's alright," Sam smiled warmly at the pregnant woman, "It means second in command. Whenever Jack is sick or on vacation, I'm the one that takes over."

Lydia furrowed her brow, "Then who's running the base now?"

"Colonel Reynolds. He's the 3IC of the base. And very happy that he only has to run the base when both of us are gone."

Steph winced, causing the other three to gather around her in concern. "The babies just started kicking last week. It's still a bit of a shock to realize that there's living beings inside of me. And it hurts like hell."

Tris smiled, "I remember when I was pregnant with Ziporah and Pricilla. Those two wouldn't stop moving at all when they were awake. I think it was a contest to see who could make Mom sick faster."

Sam and Lydia smiled at the comment, but it didn't reach Sam's eyes. She just kept on wondering what it would be like to be pregnant with an O'Neill. Hell, she was wondering what it would be like just to be an O'Neill.

Lydia saw the look in Sam's eyes even when the other two women missed it. The red haired woman put her hand on Sam's shoulder to get her attention. When she had it, she motioned to follow her into the other room.

"You know," Lydia started, looking out the bedroom window at the snow falling. "It took me twelve years to get Michael to propose to me." She looked at Sam, "And we were only dating for two of those years."

Sam frowned, wallowing in her misery, "You knew him for twelve years before he proposed?" she asked quietly.

The redhead nodded, "Yeah. I was working at his favorite bookstore and coffee shop. He came in one day when we both had just graduated high school and it quickly became his favorite haunt." She looked down at her shoes; "It was probably hardest when he was dating in those first seven years." She shook her head slightly, "After a really nasty break up with his girlfriend of three years, Michael swore off all women. It took me another three to convince him that I was worth a shot."

Sam sat down on the bed, Lydia following suit; "We met nine years ago when I was first assigned to our base." The astrophysicist's tear filled eyes met Lydia's black ones, "He's been my CO for nine years. There are regulations that prevent anything from happening between CO and subordinate. It's just so hard sometimes." She snorted softly, "Half the time I don't even know if he feels the same way."

Lydia smiled as she gathered Sam into her arms, "Trust me, Sam. He does. I haven't seen Jack this happy and at ease since Charlie. You've done wonders to him."

Sam started crying into Lydia's shoulder. She had no clue why she was crying – she just was. Lydia, however, remembered many nights in which she cried over the stubborn O'Neill male that had captured her heart. The red-haired Jew suddenly had the urge to kiss her husband senseless.

Sam smiled watery at Lydia, "I think I'll be okay now. I'll be back in the room in a few minutes. I just need to clear my mind."

Lydia smiled, "It's all right. I understand entirely. Take your time, Tris and Stephanie are probably both asleep by now."

"Thank you, Lydia."

"Any time, Sam."

A/N: Reviews anyone?