The next day, the rumor mill went crazy with hypotheses. The only two people who knew for sure how long Sam and Jack had been dating were Sam and Jack.

To: Jackson, Daniel
From: Teal'c
Subject: O'Neill and Major Carter

I have been informed by one of my acquaintances in the infirmary that Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill have engaged in secret nuptials to evade the regulations that have restrained them thus far.

I believe that you have yet to pay the debt, which you owe me regarding such nuptials.

To: Teal'c
From: Jackson, Daniel
Subject: RE: O'Neill and Major Carter

If you can prove it, I'll pay it! Besides, I heard from Janet that they're secretly engaged…not married. In that case, you owe ME money!

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: Rumor Mill

I LOVE getting the rumor mill up and running! I think that it's been working overtime! Maybe we should fuel some more…ready for a lovers' quarrel?

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

What shall the lovers quarrel about? The curtains in the bedroom? Or maybe the bedspread pattern?

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

I was thinking more along the lines of 'You forgot our anniversary, you stupid insufferable man!'

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Ooh, sounds like fun! Just like the thing we did in the supply closet in Lock-up C. From what I heard from my sources, it had the rumor mill spinning for weeks, but the look on Siler's face was priceless!

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Do you think Danny should be our next victim? The rumor mill will spin faster if he is.

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

You underestimate Teal'c's gossiping abilities. He's the most reliable source anyone has about the goings-on around here.

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Both?

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Deal. So, we wing it? Or are we going to choose a scenario?

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

I REALLY like the 'I forgot the anniversary…' It fuels the secretly married rumors.

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Should I go down to the infirmary and tirade about men? You know how much Janet loves it when I do that. She's instantly telling me about her ex.

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Perfect!

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Then, after that, Janet and I will meet you in the commissary, and I'll give you the cold shoulder. Then, you and Daniel can talk about something…you know, the anniversary…all the things that women make you remember…

Since today is the eight-year-anniversary of the day that we met, maybe we could do that.

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

It's our anniversary?

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Yes.

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

I feel like a louse...but other than that, the idea is AWESOME! Then, you and I can have a fight in your lab in front of Teal'c and Daniel. Ooh, and slap me! ('cuz I really did forget the anniversary.)

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Are you sure, sir? You know the saying…hell hath no fury like…

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Carter…

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Sorry. I just don't want you to have a black eye…I have been known to give a mean right hook.

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

I was 'Carter'-ing about the use of 'sir.' What have I told you about that?

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Well, we are using the base e-mail system…

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

You're forgiven…this once. Now, go get 'em, girl! Hey, can we make up on the base? For all to see?

I am REALLY sorry about forgetting...Am I forgiven?

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Yes, you are forgiven...besides, you didn't really forget. We have a date planned tonight, remember?

As for making up, we have to…if Janet's going to help me get ready for tonight…

To: Carter, Samantha
From: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Ah…tonight. Don't tempt me to give you a preview…

To: O'Neill, Jonathan (Jack)
From: Carter, Samantha
Subject: RE: Rumor Mill

Be right back. I'm headed to the infirmary.

Sam stormed into the infirmary. Janet Fraiser walked in. "What is it, Sam?"

"Ugh! I HATE men!" She raged.

"Ooh, so do I." One of the nurses replied.

"Let's take this into my office." Janet replied walking toward the small room.

They closed the door, and Janet looked at her. "What happened?"

Sam was practically in tears. "Janet, Jack forgot our anniversary!"

"Your what?" She asked, practically choking on the cup of coffee that she had started drinking.

"You know, the anniversary. It's been eight years since we met in the briefing room." She said.

"It has?"

"Yeah…I'll never forget how he looked at me when I walked in. Isure wasa cocky little brat."

"I haven't heard about that."

"Well, it's true." She chuckled, despite the 'tears' in her eyes. "I challenged to arm-wrestle him."

"What?"

"Yeah." Then, her eyes hardened. "A promise on which he has yet to fulfill."

She looked up at her friend. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm spouting off about all my problems to you. You don't deserve it."

"Listen, I was just going up to the commissary for some lunch. You want to join me?"

"Sure."

They walked up. Jack and Daniel were sitting in a corner of the commissary, eating lunch. Sam purposely chose the farthest table she could get from them. "I don't want to look at that cocky airman." She spat.

Janet was facing Daniel and mouthed something to him. It's bad.

How bad? He returned.

Anniversary.

Uh-oh.

"Jack, is something wrong? I mean, Sam's over there, and you're over here." Daniel began.

He ran his fingers through his hair. "Daniel, what do you do if you forgot your anniversary?"

"Anniversary?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah. We met in the Briefing room exactly eight years ago today."

"You're in the doghouse over that?" He asked.

"Uh-huh."

"Well…I'd go and talk to her about it."

"She locked me out of her lab."

"Jack, she's right there."

He looked up and spied the two women sitting in the opposite corner. "She'd probably just kick my butt."

He looked stumped for a minute. "So, send her an e-mail."

"She's blocked me from her account."

"Uh-oh." He thought for a little longer. "Hey, why don't you do a big fancy dinner? It could be waiting for her when she gets home. You know, go all out romantic."

"Hey! Danny, I knew you'd be good for something."

"I'll see if Janet will help her get ready…you know- the women's solidarity movement. They seem to have to go out for a girls' night out on the town if someone gets dumped."

"Hey, I didn't dump her!" Jack insisted.

"I know. But from what I can see, it sure seems like Sam thinks you did."

Jack reached into his pocket. "You see, I was going to ask her this question..." He said, pulling out a velvet box with a solitaire diamond ring inside.

"You're going to…you know?" Daniel practically yelled.

"Well, if she'll let me…but maybe tonight isn't a good time."

"What better time than on an anniversary? Hey, you can say something about wanting to surprise her. Listen, I'll help you at her house. We'll leave at…I don't know, four o'clock. I'll have Janet bring Sam over later. Okay?"

"Sure."

Sam had a single cup of coffee. "Janet. I don't know what to do. I…I don't think I'm being unreasonable. It's just that…this means a lot to me."

"I know." Janet said, soothingly.

"Do you think that maybe…he doesn't want me anymore?"

"I don't think that…I think that, he's just a stupid guy. Listen, you come to my house. We'll dress you up, and you'll just happen to show up at his place, and…then, you'll know."

Sam pretended to cry. In truth, she was trying not to laugh hysterically. "Well, I'll have to grab a few stuff from my house."

"Be at my place at 1600 hours. Okay?"

"All right." She sniffed. "I have to get back to the probe from P4C 957."

"T, Sam won't tell you to get lost. But if she thinks that I'm outside the door, she will. Trust me." Jack said.

"O'Neill, Major Carter is not as upset as you seem to speculate. I have seen her earlier today."

"Teal'c, do Jaffa celebrate anniversaries?"

"I am unfamiliar with that term."

"Days that are…special? Like a birthday. You know, special days that come around every year?"

"Such as the date of one's marriage?"

"Exactly. Well, I…I, uh…sort of…"

"Have you forgotten such a date?"

"Well, yeah…"

"The anniversary of your marriage?"

"T, I'm not married." Jack pointed out.

"Indeed." The Jaffa returned, somewhat skeptical.

"But, I did forget that today is theday that I met Carter. It was eight years ago. And now, she's locked me out of her lab."

"That is why you require me to come to your aid."

"Exactly."

"Do you have preparations to make amends for your omission?"

"Yeah…I'm going to do the whole…romantic candle-light dinner thing."

"I have heard the females who assist Dr. Fraiser in the infirmary reference this Tau'ri ritual. It is often used when a male wishes to…"

Jack placed his hand over Teal'c's mouth. "That's enough, buddy."

"Indeed, O'Neill."

They walked to Sam's lab and the Jaffa raised his hand and knocked on the door. "Major Carter. I wish to communicate with you."

"Is the Colonel with you?"

Jack shook his head, pleadingly.

"I cannot tell a false truth. He is. However, he would like to make amends regarding his accidental omission of the importance of today's date."

The door opened, and Sam looked at him, almost crying. "Really?"

Jack nodded. "Carter, I…I'm sorry I forgot. It's just with the whole mission thing, and then, I had to get a physical. You know how I am about those things…"

She shut him up by kissing him. In fact, she pulled him inside the room and closed the door. Teal'c smiled. "Daniel Jackson indeed is in my debt."

"Do you think he bought it?" Sam asked when she finished the kiss.

"Man, you know how to shut a guy up!"

She smiled. "It's a skill."

"All right, if everything goes right, Daniel and Janet are going to think that they set up this date tonight."

She nodded. "I'm going to Janet's so that I can knock your socks off…"

"And Daniel's going to make sure I don't blow up your kitchen."

She laughed. "But what about the time that he and Teal'c tried to make chocolate chip cookies in my kitchen?"

"Well, I think he thinks I would be worse off in the kitchen than he would."

She smiled. "All right. So, I'll see you at my house when I see you?"

"Yeah."

She opened the door. "All right, Colonel. I'll meet you at your house of dinner."

"And don't forget to dress up." He added.

Janet and Cassie pampered Sam and spent all that afternoon dressing her up.

"Sam, Jack's not going to have any idea of what hit him. You look HOT!"

"Cassie..." Janet said, sternly.

"What, Mom? It's true."

"I have to admit, Sam. He won't know how to respond."

"All right. Now, we have to go to his place." Sam said, looking in her purse. Just then, she sighed. "I forgot something at my place. I need to go over there, but if I do, I'll probably be late."

Janet smiled and looked at Cassie. Both knew where Jack really was waiting, and they were only too glad to send her back to her house. "All right. Don't panic. He didn't give you a specific time to be there, did he?"

She blushed. "We never got that far."

"Okay. We'll just get you to your place, and then,you can drive to his place."

Sam smiled. "Thanks."

At Sam's house, Jack was busy with the fettuccini alfredo he had been fixing. Daniel and Teal'c had just left, having dropped off the raspberry cheesecake that would be for dessert. Jack grinned. They had teased him about not getting blue jello, but Jack knew why Sam went for blue jello. It was simply a substitute for her absolute favorite dessert: raspberry cheesecake. The one dessert that she only indulged in once a year.

The pasta was finished and Jack turned the stove off. Then, he went into the bathroom and changed into the tuxedo. He had the 'nice blue shirt' in case, but he didn't want to propose in THAT.

Then, he walked into the living room and turned on the CD. It was the perfect background music. Now, I just have to wait for her to show up...

Sam looked at her sidewalk in surprise. "Janet, what's that?"

Janet tried to look surprised. "I don't know. They look like roses."

She had expected dinner, but she hadn't expected it to be that romantic. "Well, I'll be back in a little bit."

"Actually, I think Jack's trying to apologize." Cassie began.

"You mean you think this was him?"

They shrugged. "Listen, if you're not back in five minutes, we'll leave. Don't even worry about telling us. We understand."

Sam smiled. "Thanks."

She got out of the car, and she picked up each rose that was carefully placed on the ground. She had collected ten roses by the time she reached her door.

She took a deep breath and walked inside. The lights were dim and the table was set for two with breadsticks and wine. There was a small vase with two red roses inside. She gasped.

"Hi."

She looked over and found Jack in a tuxedo. "Hi."

"Welcome home."

She smiled. "I didn't expect you to go through all this trouble."

He chuckled. "It wasn't any trouble." He said as he closed the door.

She took a deep breath as he took the flowers from her. "Can I put these in some water?"

She nodded, still dazed by the sight that lay before her. He returned and scooted her chair out from the table for her. Then, he slid it back to a comfortable distance for her. Then, he sat across from her.

"This is...nice." She said, unable to find the words to describe the feelings that it evoked in her.

"Thanks."

Dinner went smoothly, and Sam was impressed by Jack's culinary skills. He went to pour another glass of wine for her when she stopped him.

"Why did you do this?" She asked.

He smiled. "I've been waiting all night for you to ask me that question."

She had a confused smile on her face. "Really?"

"Uh-huh."

He got up and walked over to her, his heart pounding with every step he took. He knelt down slowly on one knee, and took her hands into his. Then, he looked into her brilliant blue eyes. "Samantha Elizabeth Carter, I have a question to ask you."

She took a deep breath, trying to still her heart. She could swear it was pounding twice as loud and fast as it had ever done before. "You do?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the velvet box. He opened it and presented the ring to her. "Will you marry me?"

She gasped at the sight of the ring, and tears fell unchecked from her cheeks. "Yes." She breathed.

He placed the ring onto her finger. "Really?"

She slid from her chair onto his knee and kissed him. "Yes."

He smiled. "Then, you have made me the happiest man in all of the worlds that we have explored thus far."

She giggled.

"Hey, what'd I say about giggling?"

She tried to restrain herself. "I'm sorry...Jack."

Then, she kissed him again. Their 'anniversary' was absolutely perfect.