Since people wanted Christmas chapters for both of my Christmas stories, I decided to oblige... however, I wanted to try and wait to make sure this was beta'd as I was rather unsure about it. (Thanks, WarmTea!)
Sorry for the delay...I hope you like it!
As if they were one, the 'O'Neill' children awoke. The few who didn't were promptly awoken. Creeping up the stairs and trying not to giggle TOO loudly, they pushed open the door and gasped.
"Maybe there is a Santa Clause," Alexander whispered to Joseph who nodded vigorously.
The pile of presents piled around the two trees would have made ANY child happy.
'Tan we open 'om?" Little Nicole asked.
Italia shook her head. "We have to wait for the adults."
"Why?"
"Because we have to," Italia said firmly. The kids looked over at the table. Seventeen stockings laid on it.
Joseph frowned. "Max, leave them alone," he ordered as his brother drew near the table, "You too, Connor."
They scowled at him but backed off.
"When can we?" Cody asked.
Wylie squinted at the clock. "It's eleventy hundred seventy five."
Reese looked at her cousin with admiration. "I'm learning about math and weading. Not cocks."
Ariel, who had remained silent until this moment, broke in. "It's not whatever you said Wylie… it's four-nineteen."
The half asleep twins mumbled something indistinct to their older brother then stumbled back down stairs. Cody looked after them then at his sister. "They're going back to bed," he explained.
She nodded and tossed her red braid out of the way. "We should all go to bed," she ordered bossily. "We'll need our sleep."
Apparently no one liked picking a fight with Ariel as they all slowly began the ascent back into the basement.
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Wylie crept out of the basement. She didn't care WHAT Ariel or Italia said… she wanted her present now.
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Carter sighed and punched her pillow. For whatever reason, sleep would not come. As she continued to lay awake, she heard footsteps tiptoe past the couch and stop at the tree. She poked her head up and saw the little girl about to rip open a present.
"Stop," she ordered.
The little figure whirled around. "Miss Carter!"
"Whatcha doing?" she asked, casually.
The little girl's shoulders slumped. "I wanted my presents now."
Carter found it hard to be stern with the sad face in front of her. "It's only three hours away…"
She nodded. "But it seems like forever…" she sighed.
Carter stifled a smile. "I know- but it will come."
The little girl nodded again and then hurried to the basement door. "Night, Miss Sam!"
Carter smiled. "Good night, Wylie."
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"IT'S CHRISTMAS!"
The adults watched indulgently as the kids hurried through their breakfasts and then grouped around the tree.
"Now may we?" Nicole pleaded.
Jack nodded and the kids launched themselves at the tree.
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Carter curled up on the couch and grinned at Miguel who handed her another present and slowly pulled the paper off of it.
It was the pajamas. She smiled her thanks at her CO and then looked at her pile of presents sitting next to her on the couch.
Every family had given her some trifle. Teal'c, as usual, had given her gift cards while Daniel had bought her various assorted items.
"For 'ou, Miss Sam," Tyler announced bringing her a box.
Carter's stomach lurched. The other box...
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Jack watched as his 2IC with trembling hands accepted the present. He swallowed hard and moved closer...
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She pulled off the lip and promptly gasped. Looking up, she saw her CO kneeling in front of her.
"Sir?" she whispered.
Jack reached into the box and pulled out a little black box trying ignoring the stares of his whole family. The room went absolutely silent.
"Samantha Carter," he began pushing open the lid, showing a diamond ring. "Will you marry me?"
Several gasps were heard.
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Carter exhaled sharply. Marry him... Marry Jack. How? She silently begged him not to do this. Unbeknownst to him, she had tried to resign... and failed. The Joint Chiefs had refused to accept hers... unless he was planning on giving up his career...
"No," she said quietly.
"What?" Gabrielle hissed.
Jack didn't seem fazed. "Carter..." he drawled. "It's time an old man like me took a break... 'Sides, you-know-who gots it all worked out."
She swallowed. "Really?"
Jack stared into her eyes. "Really... really, Sam."
The Colonel forced her eyes downwards towards the ring. "Yes, Jack... I'll marry you!"
Jack looked completely stunned for a moment before kissing his new fiancée, pouring eight years of longing into it. As they pulled away, they heard a voice asked.
"So Unca Jack is mawwying Aun' Sam?"
Melanie picked up her daughter and buried her face into the little girls' neck. "Yes, Nikki... they're getting married."
She grinned. "Sweet."
Next chapter...
Daniel and Teal'c return home... Fluff (Coma alert... if everything goes right, the hospital should be full!) and... yep!
Happy Holidays! Hope you all had marvelous days...
And...
PLEASE review!