It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

A/N: After writing "Baby It's Cold Outside" I received so many wonderful reviews and a request from Natters to write more. So, I am writing a chapter for each of the 9 years of the show except for the first year. I am going on the premise that having Cassie in their lives made the members of SG1 want to celebrate Christmas together. Each chapter is the title of a Christmas Song.

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"Hey Janet, what's up?" Captain Samantha Carter asked casually as she walked into the Doctor's office. The Captain stopped suddenly as she realized that all of SG1 was now standing in the petite Medical Officer's office.

"Janet?" Sam asked nervously.

"Don't worry, Sam, there's nothing wrong. I've got some good news that I wanted to share," Doctor Janet Fraiser explained.

The members of SG1 looked at the Doctor expectantly.

"The Air Force has approved my adoption of Cassandra!"

"Wow! That's great!" Exclaimed Daniel as he moved to give Janet a hug.

"Yeah, congratulations, Doc," Jack said.

"Hey! That's wonderful!" Sam also gave Janet a hug.

Teal'c nodded and said "I am pleased for you Doctor Fraiser."

"Well, you should all know that part of the reason I'm being allowed to keep Cassie is because of you guys. With all she's been through, the psychologist thought it would be best if she could have as much interaction with the members of SG1 as possible. Cassandra requested it."

"I don't know what to say, Janet," Sam spoke for the group.

"Just tell me you will give her as much quality time as you can."

"You know we will," Daniel replied.

"There is one more thing. Cassie has been on Earth for about 6 weeks now and with the Christmas Holidays coming up,... well, she's a kid and I want her to experience Christmas, but...she's an alien. She's never even heard of Christmas. I want this to be special for her and I need help doing that."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow and asked "What is a Christmas?"

"Oh, Teal'c, I'm so sorry. I forgot that this is new to you as well!" Janet replied, flustered.

Jack puffed out his cheeks as he blew out a breath he wasn't aware he had been holding.

"Oh, Janet...I don't know..." Sam began as she looked uneasily at Colonel O'Neill. Sam was afraid that the Holidays would dredge up painful memories for the Colonel.

"We'll do it!" Jack announced suddenly.

Everyone turned to look at Colonel O'Neill. Knowing that he had lost his son, and holidays were not a happy time for him, made everyone surprised at his conviction.

"Look, none of us can even begin to imagine what this little girl has been through. We've all experienced loss, but not on the scale that Cassandra has." Jack looked meaningfully around the group.

Through divorce Janet had lost her husband, Sam had lost her mother, Daniel had just lost Sharae and had lost both of his parents when he was a child. Jack, of course, had lost his son and Teal'c had lost his home.

Jack continued, "This kid lost her entire family, everyone she's ever known, her home, hell, she lost her entire planet! Not to mention the little 'gift' Nirti left inside her."

"You're right, Colonel," Sam said softly.

"Ok, so where do we begin?" asked Daniel.

"Well, I have been taking Cassie to Sunday School," Janet began "so, she is learning the basis for the holiday..."

"I am unaware of the basis for this Tau'ri holiday," Teal'c stated.

"I'll explain it all to you later, Teal'c," Daniel said.

Teal'c accepted Daniel's offer with a nod.

"At 10 Cassandra is too old for Santa Claus, but we can still explain the spirt of giving and hang stockings," Janet began.

"Why would one hang foot wear to celebrate a holiday?"

"Teal'c, it's a long story. I'll tell you all about it later."

"Very well, Daniel Jackson."

"Well, I'm going to take Cassie to a tree farm where we can pick out the biggest tree we can find and then we can cut down together." Jack gestured to indicate the size of the tree.

"She'll enjoy that, Colonel." Janet said gratefully.

"I'll take her shopping and we can buy small gifts for everyone." Sam offered.

"I'll buy her some DVD's like Miracle on 34th Street and watch them with her," Daniel suggested.

"Oh, fer cryin' out loud! Miracle on 34th Street? I'll get her a couple of good videos, like A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" Jack exclaimed.

"Sir, you and Daniel can both buy videos for Cassandra and watch the ones you buy with her to explain things she doesn't understand." Janet said in a calming voice.

"May I watch these videos with you as well, O'Neill? I would like to fully understand this Tau'ri holiday."

"Of course Teal'c! You'll love The Grinch!"

Daniel rolled his eyes.

"Thank you all so much!" Janet was almost in tears. "I know I can't ask you to be with us on Christmas Eve, so how about we have a Christmas party the Saturday before?"

"Hey, I'm not doing anything Christmas Eve, I'd be glad to come over."

"Are you sure, Colonel?"

"Yeah, sure, you betcha!"

"That would be wonderful!"

"Janet, I'm not going anywhere for the holidays. I would love to spend Christmas Eve with you and Cassie too."

"But Sam, what about your own family?"

"My brother and I don't get along that well, and Dad...well, he's never really been there for me. He's...well, let's just say he's really too busy to think about the holidays."

"Thanks, Sam!"

"Hey, can I come over too? It's just me and my Grandfather now, and he's...well, he's in a home. I'll go see him on Christmas day." Daniel offered.

"Yeah, that would be great, Doctor Jackson!"

"We do not celebrate this day on my planet. As it is not a special day for my people I would like to accompany Daniel Jackson to your party."

"Thank you, Teal'c! It's all settled then, Christmas Eve at my place!" Janet enthused.

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As the Holidays approached the individual members of SG1 spent time with Cassie whenever they were able. Jack took her to a tree farm where they selected and cut down a lovely Scotch Pine.

Daniel and Teal'c watched Miracle on 34th Street with her.

Jack and Teal'c watched the cartoon version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas with the young girl.

Janet started a tradition of her own. On the last day of school before the Christmas break, Janet picked Cassie up at the end of the day. When Cassandra got into the car Janet said "Cassie, we are starting a Christmas tradition of our own."

Janet handed the girl a CD. "Music is a very important part of this holiday, so every year I'm going to get you new CD of Christmas music."

"Can we listen to it on the way home?" Cassie asked.

"Of course!"

The next day Sam arrived to take Cassandra Christmas shopping

"Ok, do you have a list Cassie?"

"A list? I don't even know what to get anyone."

"Well, do you have a list of who you're buying gifts for?"

"Um...well, there's Jack, Teal'c, Daniel, Uncle George, You, and...Mom." Cassandra was still having trouble calling Janet "Mom" but she was trying.

"That's a start! Do you want to go to the mall or to Walmart?"

Cassie thought about that for awhile then said "I think we should go to Walmart. I can find something for everyone there."

As Cassie and Sam began to peruse the aisles at Walmart Cassie asked "Jack likes cartoons doesn't he?"

"Well, I guess so, Cassie."

"Then can we go to the video section? I want to get him a cartoon."

After selecting something for the Colonel, Cassie decided that Teal'c would also like a video. "You know, he's an alien like me, and I think he would like a movie because it helps us to understand this place better."

Next she selected some gourmet coffee and a mug for Daniel and a box of chocolates for General Hammond.

"That leaves just you and Mom."

"You can't buy anything for me when I'm with you Cassie."

"I know. Besides I made you something at school."

"You did?"

"Yeah, but I can't tell you what it is," Cassie grinned.

"Ok, what do you want to get for your mom?"

"Well, I know she likes to read these books with pictures of people kissing and hugging on the cover. I think she called them romance something. She said I wasn't suppose to tell that she liked these books. Are they bad?"

Sam chuckled, "No, Cassie, they're not bad, they're just...well, what some people call light reading."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, when you have to read journal articles and medical reports, and well, doctor books, sometimes you just want to read a story that doesn't require you to do a lot of thinking."

"Oh." After a long pause Cassie said "I understand, I think. So can we get her one of these romance books?"

"Sure."

With a couple romance novels in the cart, the shopping was completed.

"Now comes the fun part," Sam began "we get to go home and wrap the presents. You know, wrapping presents involves cookies, hot chocolate and Christmas music!"

"Really? Mom gave me a Christmas CD of my own! Can we listen to that while we wrap presents?"

"Of course kiddo!"

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Janet baked cookies while Sam and Cassie wrapped presents and placed them under the tree. Cassie plugged in the Christmas tree lights and said "Isn't it pretty? Jack helped me decorate it!"

"You got Colonel O'Neill to help you decorate the tree!" Sam was amazed.

"He said that since it was my first Christmas on Earth that I needed to be taught how to decorate a tree by an expert."

"Yeah, that sounds like him."

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Finally Christmas Eve arrived. There was a fresh blanket of snow on the ground and a crisp, star filled sky. The members of SG1 arrived at Janet's house around 1900. After having a buffet style supper, they visited for awhile in the living room before opening their gifts from Cassandra.

Jack's gift from Cassie was a video with a selection of Looney Toons Cartoons. Teal'c received a video of The Santa Clause, since Cassie figured that Teal'c needed to understand Christmas just as she did.

Janet was slightly embarrassed by the romance novels but was also very touched and thanked Cassandra for her thoughtfulness. Daniel appreciated the coffee and the mug as well.

Sam's gift was a pencil holder and paper weight that Cassie had made for her in school.

After all the gifts were opened the group decided that they would watch The Santa Clause. Teal'c placed his gift in Janet's DVD player and everyone settled in to watch the movie.

After the film was over Janet announced that it was Cassie's bedtime. Naturally, with all the excitement she didn't want to go to bed. Finally she consented but only if Sam and Jack would tuck her in. "Mom tucks me in every night. I want Sam and Jack to do it." She pouted.

"Alright, you go put on your pajamas and brush your teeth then Colonel O'Neill and I will tuck you in." Sam offered.

"Ok!" Cassie replied as she ran off to her room.

She appeared a few minutes later in pink pajamas and announced that she was ready to be tucked in. Jack scooped her up in his arms and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Cassie giggled all the way to her bedroom.

"No giggling, Cassandra!" Jack ordered. She giggled louder.

Sam pulled the covers back on her bed and Jack put her down. Both of the officers sat down on the edge of her bed to say goodnight.

"Jack, how come you and Sam aren't married?"

"Whoa! Where did that come from?" asked Jack

"Um,...Cassie, we ah, well, Colonel O'Neill is my boss. There are rules that say that we can't, um,..."

"We can't get married," Jack finished for her.

"But don't you guys like each other?"

"Well, um, yes, but not in that way," replied Sam.

Jack looked at Cassie with a pained expression on his face.

"We're co-workers. Friends, you might say." Jack stated.

"Well, I think you should get married." Cassandra stated in a matter of fact manner as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Cassie, two people have to have special feelings for each other to get married." Sam explained.

"And there are rules, regulations..." Jack added.

"There are rules about feelings?" Asked Cassie unbelieving.

"Well,...I,...ah...they can't stop you from feeling things, but if you do have special feelings then you can't work together." Sam tried to make the little girl understand.

"But why?"

Jack frowned and rubbed his temples. "Because, Cassie, what we do is dangerous. People can get hurt if feelings get in the way."

"Oh."

"Now, you need to get to sleep so that Santa will come!"

"Sam, there's no such thing as Santa!"

"Ok, but if you don't go to sleep then Daniel, Teal'c, the Colonel and I won't put anything in your Christmas stocking."

"Ok. Goodnight."

"Goodnight sweetie." Sam kissed Cassie's forehead.

"Sweet dreams." Jack said and he kissed her goodnight too.

The Colonel and the Captain left the little girl's bedroom then stopped in the hallway to look at each other.

"Well, that was, uh,...weird," Jack said

"Um, yeah. So, let's not say anything about this to anyone Ok, Sir?" Asked Sam.

"Not a word, Carter."

They returned to the living room and announced that Cassandra was all tucked in. The group enjoyed a drink while they sat around visiting until midnight.

"I had no idea it was this late. Let me put a couple things in Cassie's stocking and then I better go home," Sam announced.

Each of the members of SG1 put some presents in Cassie's stocking or under the tree for her.

Janet thanked them for spending Christmas Eve with her and Cassie.

"It was nice," Sam said.

"I know we can't make this a tradition, but thank you for making Cassie's first Christmas special."

"Thank you for making my first Christmas special as well." Teal'c stated with a bow.

"It was nothing," Jack said as the four members of SG1 stepped out into the cold, crisp, Colorado air.

Sam looked up at the star filled night sky. "On a night like this it's hard to believe what it is that we really do, I mean traveling through the stargate to other worlds..."

"Yeah, pretty amazing, Carter."

"Good night, guys. And Merry Christmas."

"Yeah, same to you Carter."

Teal'c nodded and Daniel said "Merry Christmas everyone."

Soon it would be back to business as usual, but for now, the members of SG1 could enjoy a brief moment of normality. A chance to live the life they were fighting to protect and save, and a chance to give a little girl the wonderful gift of a first Christmas on Earth.

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