Italia is pronounced 'tal-e-uh' ('case you were interested.)

Maya IS Spanish- she was adopted.

Thank you so much for reviewing! Enjoy this chapter!

Carter stirred restlessly as a small figure crept up to her side and shook her shoulder. As Carter opened her eyes, she started as she encountered two green eyes that were staring at her curiously. "Who are you?" Sam asked, sitting up.

"Italia," came the reply.

"Italia?" she repeated, "it's a nice name."

She nodded.

"Who's your mom?" She asked after deciding it wasn't one of Zack's kids.

"Her name is Maya."

Carter nodded. "I didn't get to meet you last night."

The little girl shook her head. "But you'reMiss Sam."

Sam smiled. "Yes, I am."

"We're the first up so we have to make breakfast," she whispered.

The Air Force Colonel pressed the button on her watch. "It's only 4:42," she whispered.

Italia's forehead wrinkled. "But look," she said showing Sam her own watch. "6:43."

Sam smiled. "Where do you live?"

"Maine. We moved there four years ago."

"Well, I bet where you live, right now it's that time, but here, in Colorado Springs, it's only 4... 4:43." Carter stared at the small figure. "How old are you?"

"Nine," Italia told her with a little shiver. "It's cold downstairs," she complained. "Can I stay up here? I'll sleep on the floor and everything."

Before Carter could answer, the basement door squeaked open and a tiny figure immerged.

"Mama?" it whispered.

Sam stood up and hurried to the pink clad child's side. "Nicole?" she asked.

The little girl nodded. "I wan' Mama," she wailed.

Sam looked helplessly into the dark basement. There was no way she could find Jenn or Melanie down there. "Um," she tried. "What do you need?"

The little girl sniffed. "Firsty."

"Firsty? Um... oh, thirsty!" Sam smiled at her. "You want some water?"

"'ees," Nicole said decidedly following her into the kitchen. "'ess, I wan' water."

"Can I have a drink too?" Italia asked joining them. Sam nodded and handed her and Nicole glasses.

"I tan't dwink dat!" Nicole said indignantly. "I two!"

Sam pulled open the cabinet door again. To her surprise, several sippy cups were in there. She filled one up and gave it to her.

The door squeaked open again. Two boys joined them. "Whatcha doin' up so early 'talia?" one of them whispered.

"Which one are you?" Sam asked.

"Max," he said shyly. Brown haired, brown eyed, he looked like a mini Jennifer.

"I'm Alex," the other boy said with a grin.

"What are you guys doing up?" Italia demanded.

"We just woke up!" Max hissed, "And then we heard Nicole come up..."

Nicole grinned at hearing her name.

"Why don't we all go into the living room," Carter suggested. She had seen her brother's kids occasionally and had admired many but as to actually entertaining them, she was clueless. Cassie had been easy.

Italia gestured to the floor where a sleeping bag had been laid out. "See? I can stay up here now, right? Please?"

"Hey!" the two boys protested, "We were!"

"But I was up here first!"

"But-"

"Shh," Sam cautioned, "Emma is sleeping up here."

The children instantly quieted, even little Nicole.

"Why don't you all sleep up here?" she offered. "I think that there are sleeping bags in the closet..."

Italia shook her head. "I got it already."

She sighed. "Why don't the boys have the sleeping bag, there's a quilt..." she trailed off and pulled it from a small cabinet. "You have this."

"Wha' 'bou' me?" Nicole demanded.

Carter looked at the bossy two-year old. "You want me to take you downstairs?"

She shook her head. "No. Wan' 'o seep with 'ou."

Carter gave her a dubious look. "I-"

The little girl scrambled up the sofa. "Come!"

Sam carefully lay down and allowing the girl to cuddle against her.

Italia giggled. "Night, Aunt Sam!" She called.

"She's not our aunt," Max protested.

Alexander looked up. "Not yet, goof brain, but she might..."

"Dork head."

"Pea-"

"Enough," Carter said firmly. "If you want to stay up here, you need to be quiet."

The children muttered various agreement and silence fell over the room, which was broken only a few minutes later by the basement door creaking open.

"Can I sleep up here?"

Å

Jack looked up as his alarm went off at 6:30. With a yawn, he turned it off and got up slowly. After stretching, he stumbled into the living room and stopped short.

Carter lay on the floor, surrounded by children. One of his nephews (Alex he thought) lay on the sofa while Max laid on a sleeping bag next to the old couch. Carter was in the middle of the room and three little girls surrounded her. Nicole in her arms, Italia laid curled next to her and 'Reese' was at her feet.

As he looked at his second-in-command, the urge to grab her and run for... a planet, any planet grew stronger. God, she was beautiful...

She stirred slightly which caused Italia to wake up.

"Tío Jack," she whispered loudly. "What are you doing up?"

"It's six-thirty, kid," he whispered back.

She yawned. "We all hafta make breakfast, gringo."

"Hey, watch it, little miss," Jack said with mock seriousness, "'member who's buying you presents this year," He scolded affectionately. "What are you all doing up here?"

Italia shrugged. "I don't know. I came up here 'cause it was cold down there and I thought it was time to make breakfast 'cause my watch was wrong- well, Sam said it was wrong and then Nicole came up and then the boys came up and then-"

"Reese came up," he finished. "I see."

She gave him an uncertain glance. "You aren't mad... are you?"

He shook his head. "Nope."

"Good." She yawned and stood up. "What are we going to make for breakfast?"

Carter yawned and sat up slowly, careful of Nicole in her arms. Carefully, she transferred the little girl onto the quilt. Impetuous Italia flung her arms around her.

"Good morning!" She cried.

Jack had to laugh as Alex and Max bolted up at the same time staring bleary eyed at him.

Sam awkwardly hugged the girl. "Hey, did you sleep well?"

She nodded.

"Looks like we have to make breakfast, Carter," Jack said rocking on his heels. "You game?"

Carter grinned. "Absolutely,"

Å

Jack watched with amazement as Carter dealt with the kids who trickled in slowly. She set Max, Alex and Harry to work cutting holes in the refrigerated biscuits and Italia to mixing the cinnamon sugar. Reese was allowed to pour the oil into the pan while Nicole tested the power sugar and pronounced it, "Dewicious,"

"So, how exactly do we make these?" Carter asked.

Jack laughed. "We just drop the biscuits in the oil, let them cook, pull 'em out and drop them in sugar and there you have it!"

"Done!" the boys called simultaneously.

"Done too!" Italia cried.

"I beat you all," Shareese said smugly.

Nicole pouted. "I din' do anything,"

Carter picked her up and twirled her around, "Yes you did, sweetie- you helped me. Now, look, isn't that your aunt?"

Jenn had appeared on the scene. "Hello Jack, Sam," she called.

Carter released the little girl who ran to her aunt. Jenn snatched her up and kissed her. "You sleep well?" she asked.

"ees." Nicole assured her. "Tame up here and seep wifh Sam."

Jenn looked up. "Did she?" She asked, "I'm sorry if she bothered you, I-"

"It's fine," Carter said quickly. "She was no trouble."

Jenn gave Max a hug. "Hey, son, you sleep well?"

He squirmed away. "Yeah."

"And you, Alex?" She asked turning to her nephew.

He nodded. "Until around 4:30 then we came up here."

Italia frowned at him. "I came up here then all of the sudden, everyone else came up too," She said sounding rather disgruntled.

Jenn gave a suspicious sounding cough.

"I didn't mind," Carter assured her. "They were a blast."

Two more figures appeared. "Good morning," Wilhem said formally while Ellie merely waved a hand and hurried to the coffee pot.

"How's Emma?" Jack asked.

Ellie had dark circles under her eyes. "Okay- she's still getting use to being here."

"What can we do now?" the boys clambered.

Jack took the question. "Go get dressed. Go, go, go, go, go!"

The children dashed off except Harry and Nicole.

Jenn looked down at her niece. "Want me to help you dress?"

"'ess,"

Jenn grinned. "I'll be back in a bit,"

Jack looked at his nephew, "Harry, you wanna help me with the doughnuts?"

He nodded eagerly, "Yes, sir. If I won't be in the way, sir."

Carter watched as the young boy joined his uncle. "I'll be back in a minute, sir," she called.

Jack nodded.

Sam smiled and hurried into the living room where she grabbed her purse. From there she went to the bathroom. Once in there, she brushed her clothes off and combed her hair. A slightly mussed reflection met hers.

"Oh well," she muttered. "Can't always look perfect." She placed the brush back in her purse and dropped it on the sofa. In the kitchen, she found Ken, Wilhem, Dan, Dayvid and Zack all eagerly arguing about their favorite hockey team while Ellie, Maya, and Leslie all drank coffee in the corner.

"Sir?" she called over the noise. "Sir!"

Jack looked up. "Carter?"

"I'm going to the base to turn in my reports, need anything?"

He shook his head. "I'm good. What time will you be back?"

She shrugged.

"Be back by 11:00... we're going to eat lunch then going to pick out our trees..."

She nodded. "11:00- got it."

"Bye Sam!" everyone chorused. Jack whispered something to Harry and followed her to her car.

"So... see you later?" He asked.

She nodded. "I'll swing by my house and get my stuff."

He grinned. "Gotcha. Bye."

She shut her door and pulled out of his driveway.

A lot of people don't think Pete will say away... I wonder...

Anyone ready for fluff?

Please review.