Chapter 2 by Natters

Sam's POV – at the Reception

It all started with the General inviting us to his daughter Alison's wedding to Lieutenant Jimmy McDougal of SG-8. It seemed like half the base was there, either invited by the General or the groom. Jimmy's parents were Scots, and with Mrs. Hammond's Irish brogue the atmosphere held a strange amalgam of Scottish, Irish and American accents.

I saw Daniel trying explain to Teal'c why all these men were wearing Kilts. The Colonel was nursing his third beer, leaning up against the bar and keeping an eye on every one in the room. Janet was around somewhere, probably giving Cassie a stern talking to, after her embarrassing mistake earlier during the ceremony.

It was Cassie's first Earth wedding. She was so excited to be a flower girl, and actually part of the proceedings. Jimmy had invited her and Janet thanks to some advice that Janet gave him on how to propose to Alison. When the Priest had asked the usual question "Does anyone here know of any reason why these two should not be joined?" Cassie spoke up in a loud voice, from the front of the chapel, and answered "No."

I've never seen Janet blush so much. Once everyone had stopped giggling I saw Alison give Cassie a wink, and Jimmy was grinning so wide his face was almost split in two.

I think the only two people who made it though the ceremony with a straight face were Teal'c and the Colonel, and he was asleep. He looked great. A lot of men here look good in formal wear, but there's something about Colonel O'Neill in a suit that makes me want to melt into a puddle on the floor. Even if he was snoring softly through a beautiful wedding.

Men.

"Having a good time, Major?" came the voice of General Hammond; interrupting my guilty pleasure and bringing me back to the present.

"Yes sir. Thank you for inviting us General. I've never been to such… an amusing wedding sir."

"Tessa and Kayla seemed to think it was funny too. They were excited enough about their Aunt Ali's wedding."

"I'm sure Cassie didn't mean to disrupt the ceremony sir."

"I know she didn't Major. And it was pretty funny." He chuckles and I take a deep breath in relief. "Never thought I'd see the day that my Ali would be married to a fly-boy though. Especially not one under my Command."

"I guess Lieutenant McDougal never read the unofficial AirForce regs sir. Never court the General's daughter." I quip without thinking.

"Does that include ex-General's too Sam?" asks Janet as she comes up beside us, bringing me a glass of champagne. I suddenly realise just how deep I've managed to put my foot in it.

"Naturally. How's Cassie?" I ask, desperate to change the subject.