Well, I didn't want to keep you all waiting for too long. Here's the wedding as requested. Hope you all like it.

Thank you so much for those lovely reviews. I hope you will continue to let me know if you like what you read!

NOTHING IS EVER THAT SIMPLE

By LetitiaRichards

Previously:-

"Hey. Can I butt in here Sam? I think this is my role George."

"Dad!"

Chapter 30 – "I Will!"

Sam wore the biggest smile on her face as she prepared to walk up the aisle to the strains of the Bridal March from Wagner's opera, Lohengrin on her father's arm. Her father was actually here, having pulled out all the stops to reach the chapel on time. They'd shared a warm extended hug, though Jacob was careful not to crush her dress. He just stood there utterly besotted, dumbstruck, as he gazed lovingly at his daughter on her wedding day, something that he'd thought he'd never live to see if it wasn't for Selmak. She was beautiful, radiant even, and looking lovelier than ever. He sighed, wondering what her mother would have made of it all. She would have been so proud and probably cried her eyes out too. He was damn proud of her. Even her choice of Jack O'Neill hadn't bothered him. He was a good man underneath all that bullshit, and Sam obviously loved him. He could live with that.

Only George Hammond had believed that Jacob, once he'd heard about the wedding, would move heaven and earth to be there if he could. He'd kept his fingers crossed that his old buddy would make it, and he had.

George left them to pull themselves together while he walked calmly down the aisle to take a seat at the front of the chapel alongside his 'girls'. He had to pull a few strings to get all this organised, but by god, he'd managed it. He'd had the President's backing of course, so when he'd yelled, 'jump' they all had. The result was that here they were holding a traditional wedding in the spectacular looking Academy chapel in Colorado Springs in record time.

Jack looked up when he saw his CO walking towards him. Panic seized him as he began to think that Sam had changed her mind and that Hammond was going to tell him the wedding was off. He felt his knees go weak as the General came nearer. Daniel sensing this, grabbed his arm to steady him, worried too.

"No," he whispered in anguish. He was shaking his head. Was the bottom about to drop out of his world?

Daniel standing beside him wondered what was going on too, but as he strained to see, he noticed that Hammond was actually grinning.

General Hammond approached the Colonel with a sudden realisation that Jack looked about to collapse from extremely worry. He beamed as he stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Jack's arm.

"Relax Jack. Just a slight change of plans is all. Sam will be here in a moment."

Jack didn't look as if he could relax. Although, Hammond's words had quelled the lurching in his stomach a little. He was still nervous. He was it he could face the worst of the enemy without so much as a tremble, but now he was here he was shaking like a leaf? Because he was getting hitched? Oiy!

He nodded to Hammond, unable to find his voice. He needed a good stiff drink. Water. Anything, just to loosen up his tongue in order to be able to repeat his vows.

Teal'c standing alongside his friends, handed Jack a small bottle of water without so much as a word. Jack accepted it with grateful thanks and took a quick swallow.

"Thanks T." He handed it back just as the first notes of the March echoed from the organ.

He pulled himself upright and the minister beckoned him forward ready to receive his bride. Jack looked back down the aisle, pleasantly surprised to see Jacob proudly leading Sam towards him. He understood then, and could only smile in response. Sam had had her wish come true. Her father was walking her down the aisle behind a prettily dressed Cassie.

After a moment to reflect how Sam must have felt at having her dad here, he took note of the dress she wore as she drew nearer. The ivory material shimmered under the light and reflected the multicoloured lights of the stained glass windows. She looked radiant. He couldn't see her eyes under the veil, but he could only guess they were vibrant and most probably moist from emotion.

It still amazed him that they were about to take this huge step forward in their relationship. He still couldn't believe his luck that she actually wanted him. A tired old battle-scarred veteran that he was? He was sure he was dreaming. Especially after all he'd gone through so recently.

Sam only had eyes for him; every step of the way she kept her gaze firmly fixed on the man of her dreams standing there looking so damn handsome in his dress blues. She'd always had a thing about men in uniform, but, hot dang, Jack O'Neill had caught her eye the very first time she'd laid eyes on him and it gave her a thrill every time he wore it in her presence. There was just something about Jack and his now silver hair and that uniform; it just did indecent things to her mind and body. The man was perfection in her eyes, despite his rather embarrassed denial of it when she'd mentioned the fact.

Sam came to a halt and gazed up into Jack's face, slightly blurred from the moisture filling her eyes which were hidden from view for now.

Daniel's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw Janet. He swallowed and knew he was in a whole heap of trouble; especially when she batter her eyelids at him. Pulling his eyes away with difficulty he tried hard to focus on the service.

The minister called to everyone's attention and the ceremony began.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God to join together John and Samantha..."

"...John will you take Samantha to be your lawful wife? Will you love her, honour and keep her in sickness and in health and forsaking all others keep only unto her so long as you both shall live?"

"I will." Jack's response was quiet but determined.

"And Samantha, will you take John to be your lawful husband? Will you love him, honour and keep him in sickness and in health and forsaking all others keep only unto him so long as you both shall live?"

Sam kept her eyes on Jack, sending him all her love in the simple words that she uttered in reply.

"I will."

Jack felt his heart swell with love for his bride while the minister rambled on and before he knew it, they had moved on to the exchanging of rings.

"Samantha, with this ring, I thee wed." Jack repeated, his voice wavering with emotion as he slipped the gold band onto Sam's finger with a big smile.

"John, with this ring, I thee wed," Sam replied pushing the ring onto Jack's third finger and holding his hand for longer than necessary. She didn't want to let go.

"You have consented together to be bound to one another in lawful marriage. You have made special promises to each other which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, taking of vows and by the giving and receiving of rings. By the authority vested in me, according to the laws of Colorado I now pronounce you to be husband and wife. Now that the ceremony is over and the experience of living day by day is about to begin, go and meet it gladly. You may now kiss the bride!"

Jack needed no encouragement and moved into Sam's arms without hesitation. The kiss was languorous and sweet and held a promise of things to come.

The minister held his breath as the kiss continued, much to everyone's raucous amusement, he politely coughed and Jack pulled back rather sheepishly. Sam giggled and dropped her gaze to the floor, heat flooding her cheeks.

"Please give a warm welcome to Colonel and Mrs. John O'Neill." The minister announced to the congregation and Jack and Sam turned to face their friends and family.

All too soon, though not soon enough for Jack, they were walking back to the chapel's entrance to the strains of Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary, played by the Academy's musicians who had been practicing the piece ever since their presence had been requested.

There were photographers waiting outside and Jack and Sam waited patiently for the pictures to be taken. Apparently, General Hammond whispered in Jack's ear when he'd been surprised by the appearance of the official photographer, the man was there at the request of the President, who unfortunately couldn't attend. So he'd ordered the next best thing as a wedding gift to the happy couple. A permanent reminder of their special day. Unknown to the couple at the time, there was also a video being taken.

The whole thing had been possible due to the President's intervention. Without his help, there wouldn't have been a wedding ceremony; not here at least. It would have been a quick civil service over in Las Vegas if the President hadn't stamped his official seal on things. Jack didn't mind at all. It had been Sam's dream to have a traditional wedding and anything she wanted; she got! According to General Hammond, the service and the hastily put together reception and catering was the gift of a grateful nation for saving them against the Goa'uld and anything else they had fought against. It was the least the President could do for them without giving away the biggest secret on earth.

OoOoOoOoO

The function room at the Academy was filled with guests, though Jack swore he didn't know who half of them were.

He and Sam mingled as much as they could while trying to snatch a bite to eat from the odd passing tray of food that came their way.

Most of the top brass, who hadn't been invited but were there at the President's behest, had drifted away during the afternoon, leaving only those special guests that the couple had requested for the main reception.

Jacob was catching up with Mark and his family; his grandchildren having fun with their little seen grandpa.

General Hammond had been looking after his granddaughters as well as entertaining the top brass.

As the afternoon turned into evening, it was time for the dancing to commence, and the musicians set up their gear. Being an old tradition the happy couple were to be the first to take to the floor, encouraged by whistles and hoots of approval from people like Ferretti and Dixon who cheered them on.

The music began and Jack led Sam into the middle of the room. The crowd fell silent as the song began. Jack pulled Sam into his arms and keeping his eyes on her brilliant blue ones, they started to sway to the rhythm.

"This is for you Sam. These words are meant for you," he whispered in her ear before brushing a feather-light kiss on her neck just below her ear, causing her to shiver with excitement. As the song played out, so her smile deepened to one where she thought she would actually burst. As it was, tears filled her eyes as she listened to the song unfold.

"Together feels so right
The two of us are so alike
This must be destiny
You and I are meant to be.

Two hearts, one love
A love that's deeper than the night
A love forever burning bright
Two hearts, one dream.

A dream that's coming true for us
'Cause baby here we are
Now you're part of me
We're in one love with these two hearts.

I didn't know til now
You're the one thing I can't do without
In your arms the whole night through
I can't help lose myself in you.

I know that heaven was listening
'Cause I was only existing
Til I saw forever in your eyes
And now we'll be for all our lives."

"I love you Sam!"

Sam wept tears of happiness and held him close. This was the happiest day of her life.

TBC

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to this song. I don't even know where it comes from but there is no copyright breach intended.