Jack came tumbling through the Stargate again to find Daniel, Sam and Teal'c standing at the base of the ramp, seemingly awaiting his safe arrival. "Sir!" Sam said, running toward him.

He rolled over, looking into her blue eyes. "Carter!"

"You're all right?"

"Well, I don't have the headache from Hades anymore…if that's what you mean."

"What happened?" Daniel asked, curiously.

"Well, let's see…there were these little guys that took that stuff out of my head…other than that…"

"What'd they look like? Were they humanoid aliens? Were they…I don't know…little green men?"

"Actually, they were like aliens out of really bad…old…sci-fi movies…think Roswell…"

"Really?" Sam asked, surprised.

"Colonel, good to have you back." General Hammond said, walking into the Gate Room.

"It's good to be back…for real this time…"

General Hammond nodded, slightly amused by O'Neill's sense of humor. "Have Dr. Fraiser examine you and then, we'll debrief."

Jack nodded, but all of SG-1 could hear him rant as he walked down to the infirmary. "More needles…I have the headache of the century and he sends me to the infirmary where they think that a needle in my butt will fix anything. And that penlight flashing into my eyes…"

Suddenly, his thoughts returned to Samantha Carter's clear blue eyes. They were so beautiful. It was a cliché, but he was positive that he could see through to her soul if he stared at them long enough. But unfortunately, any glimpses he got of her soul were few and far between as he never got the chance to stare into her eyes long enough to get there.

Now, those same blue eyes that had convinced him to retire and pursue a relationship with her were closed in sleep. He rolled over onto his side and propped himself up on one elbow, taking the opportunity to embrace the quietness of the house and study his bride of the last six years. She was glowing and he smiled with pride. This was the mother of his children. She stirred as he placed heis arm on her stomach protectively. Her eyes opened slowly and they stared into one another's eyes.

"Hey." He said, tenderly.

"Hey." She replied, a smile gracing her sleepy face.

He bent down and kissed her.

"What was that for?"

"Nothing."

She smiled even more. "Maybe I should do 'nothing' a little more often."

He laughed and kissed her again. "I love you."

"I love you too."

He settled back into the pillows beside her and let his fingers play with the sheet covering Sam's belly. "How's Junior?"

"Fine." She replied, a smile on her face. Ever since Grace, it had been Junior. They had tried UBO (Unborn Baby O'Neill) but the name was just too…awkward, and it hadn't stuck.

"Great."

"What were you thinking about?" She asked, allowing her arm to extend and started to play with her husband's hair.

"The Asgard."

"The Asgard?"

"Yep. After all, they had a hand in letting me ask you out."

"Maybe." She acknowledged.

"Maybe?" He asked, rather loudly.

"Shh! You'll wake up the kids." She said, with a chuckle.

"What do you mean 'maybe?'" He asked, pretending to be angry. "If they hadn't taken that stuff outta my head, I wouldn't have been alive to ask you out, let alone to ask you to marry me…and all that history stuff…"

She chuckled again, curling up against his chest. It always sobered her to realize just how close they had come to not having any of this…and just how close they came, rather frequently, to losing all of this. "I know."

He put his arm around her and held her, knowing that her mind was drifting to the dangerousness of their careers. "Hey, everything's going to be okay…"

She nodded and Jack kissed her again as JJ wailed. "MOMMY!"

"That kid has worse timing than Daniel!" He muttered as she pulled away from him.

She chuckled. "I don't know, Daniel's timing was perfect for you yesterday…"

"Huh?"

"Jack, I know you bolted from the room yesterday to avoid my question."

"What question?"

She shook her head. "You're hopeless, you know that?"

"Oh yeah…hopelessly in love with a brilliant astrophysicist United States Air Force Colonel."

"Lieutenant Colonel." She corrected as she rolled over and threw her feet over the edge.

"Yeah, maybe…"

She sat up, but as she did so, JJ wailed again. "MOMMY!"

She was on her feet a moment later, only to land on the floor thirty seconds after that.

She awoke to find Jack leaning over her. "You okay?"

She nodded. "Sorry…I guess I just moved too fast."

"Yeah, well, take it easy."

She gave him a look that reminded him that she hated to be told to take it easy, but then she softened as she tried to get up. Jack helped her up only to lead her back into bed.

"But…JJ!"

"I'll get him. And if he really needs to see his mommy, I can bring him in here, ok?"

She nodded, the room still somewhat fuzzy. They heard footsteps pad softly down the hallway and Jack turned to Sam. "You know, I bet that's your dad."

She nodded. "They're too heavy to be Grace's or JJ's."

Within a few moments, they could hear the soft giggling of both JJ and Grace.

"Well, there goes the rest of our quiet time." Jack said, pretending to be extremely mournful.

Sam laughed. "You are absolutely crazy…but I manage to love you anyway."

Jack smiled and shook his head as there was a timid knock at the door. Suddenly, Sam could hear Jacob: "Grace! No! Come on, Grampa will make pancakes."

"But I want Mommy and Daddy!" The little girl said, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

Jack couldn't bear to listen to his little girl cry, and so he instantly opened the door. In the back of Sam's mind, she chuckled and thought: alone time? And he opens the door for the kids…that's my husband…

"Don't worry, Jake. We're awake. But thanks for the thought."

"No problem, Jack." Jacob said, handing JJ over to Jack while Grace scrambled onto the bed with Sam.

Jacob noticed Sam lying on the bed still, and knowing that Sam was usually up and functioning by the time the sum came up, took a step in. "You okay, Sam?"

"Yeah." She said, sitting up. "It's been a long week at work, and I'm just tired."

Jacob looked between Sam and Jack. "Well, you two, Selmak and I need to talk."

Jack nodded. "You're right…but this isn't the right time. I have to go in to the base today, but…I'll be back around 1400 hours, give or take a few emergencies." He looked into his son's face. "Right?"

"Wite!" The two-year-old affirmed.

"Do you really have to go?" Sam asked, somewhat vulnerably.

He turned. "Huh?"

She shook her head. "Never mind…it's…it's stupid."

"Sam…" Jack said, gently, but firmly.

"I just…I think I will go in to the infirmary."

"Okay…"

Jacob looked from his son-in-law to his daughter. "Grace, JJ, who wants to help Grampa make pancakes?"

Both children looked at their parents for assurance that they could go, and both parents gave their permission with the slight nod of the head. They both ran toward Jacob, nearly toppling him over with their combined strength. Sam couldn't help but chuckle, and Jacob went down laughing. It was another few moments before Jacob managed to get up and reached for the door handle. "I'll try to keep these two entertained while you two talk."

Sam smiled her gratitude. "Thanks, Dad."

"Hey, what are grampas for?"

"For running and jumping and playing…" Grace began, taking the rhetorical question as an opportunity to list off all of the favorite qualifications she saw in her grandfather.

The door was swiftly shut after this monologue began and Jack turned back to Sam, chuckling. "She's just like you." He said, with a smile.

"And Teal'c." She said, referencing the alien's initial questions regarding Earth culture.

"Hey! I'd like to think that she takes after her old man!"

"You're not an old man!" She said as he walked toward the bed.

"Maybe not, but I'm older than she is, and to her, I will always be an old man."

Sam shook her head, and Jack looked intently at her. "Sam, what was that about earlier?"

She shrugged. "I just…I want to spend today with you. I…I'm just disappointed that you have to go in today, that's all."

"Sam, if you don't want me to go in, I won't."

"Jack, they need you. You're their commanding officer, for cryin' out loud!"

Jack smiled and kissed her forehead. "For cryin' out loud?"

She closed her eyes, her body almost begging for sleep again. "Um-hm."

"I guess I'll see you at 1400 hours when I get back." He said, standing up.

She nodded absently, already half-way to the Land of Nod.