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Knock-knock

Sam looked up at the knock, a small grin spreading across her face. That knock had become very familiar over the past few weeks. Rising to her feet, she was at the door moments later. Her CO was reclining casually in her doorway, two bags in his hands, a smile on his face.

"Sir."

Jack O'Neill frowned and raised an eyebrow. "Carter," he began, "I'm only going to say this once. You retired. You don't have to call me 'sir'."

"Right." She let him slip past her and then followed him into the kitchen. "What did you get?"

"Chinese and beer."

The Major smiled. "Good choice."

"Oh, stop the flattery, Carter- you'll embarrass me." He set the bags down and began pulling the Chinese cartoons from the bag. "Whatcha doin'?" He asked, gesturing to the papers that Sam held.

Sam flushed and sat them down on the counter. "I'm filling out the adoption papers," she explained, playing with the pen in her hand. "I never actually signed them. I've been so busy with-"

A wail came from down the hall. Sam and Jack looked at each other.

"Good timing," Jack commented.

"She has impeccable timing, sir," she said wryly.

"Carter," he began warningly, "it's-"

"Jack," Sam hastily corrected herself. There was another cry, this time louder. "I'll uh... go get her."

The Colonel nodded and watched her leave. Once she was gone, he looked down at the food.

He had about a minute to make up his mind on what could be one of the most important questions of his life.

"To do or not to do… that is the question," he mumbled. Pulling a beer out from the bag, he twisted the lid off and took a long drink. Setting it down, he smiled as Sam entered the kitchen, a grin on her face. Natalie was wide-awake and happy. Once the baby had spotted Jack, she began squirming, clearly wanting him to take her.

Jack laughed and obliged, reaching across the counter for her.

"How old is she now, Carter?" He asked, bouncing and making silly faces at the baby.

"About six months," she replied, sitting on one of the stools and giving him her hundred-mega watt smile, "give or take a week or two."

He nodded and ran his hand over Natalie's head. "She has a lot of hair for a baby her age."

"Does she?" Sam questioned. "I wouldn't know. I'm not acquainted with many babies."

Jack stifled a grin. "No, I imagine you don't."

Sam remembered her first few days with Natalie and how she secretly panicked over everything and grinned back. "I was a bit of a mess, wasn't I?"

"Carter, the kid couldn't move without you having a heart attack."

She rolled her eyes. "I wasn't that bad."

Jack cleared his throat loudly. "Of course not." He pushed her plate of food over to her. "Eat."

"Is that an order?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

The Colonel pulled open the silverware drawer and took out two forks. He handed one to her. "No."

She shrugged and ate her food quickly and then took the baby so her former CO could finish his food.

After Jack finished, he rinsed both their plates of and then prepared a bottle for Natalie. As the little girl happily sucked it, Jack began slowly, "Carter, I-"

Both their cell phones rang simultaneously. Jack reached for his phone, mentally promised to zat the person who had interrupted his first attempt of his proposal. "O'Neill," he said as Sam answered hers.

"O'Neill. General Hammond wishes me to inform you that you are required at the S.G.C."

Okay… the next person who called would be zatted.

"Thanks, T."

"You are welcome, O'Neill."

Jack hung up and glanced up to see Carter doing the same. "Hammond need you?" he asked.

She nodded and stood up. "Can you put her in her car seat?" Sam asked, handing Natalie over. "I'll get her stuff."

Jack shrugged his agreement and she slipped out of the room.

Å

Jacob Carter strode down the ramp as the Stargate disengaged. "Where's Sam?" was his first question.

"She's on her way," General Hammond assured him.

The Tok'ra nodded and glared at the SF who seemed amused to see a man in a 'skirt'. The kid was obviously new if he found that amusing. "How is she? And the kid… Natalie."

"Dr. Carter is well," Teal'c answered as he entered the room. "As well as young Natalie. Greetings, Jacob Carter."

"Hey Teal'c," Jacob said automatically. "That's good- Doctor Carter?" He questioned, looking at his best friend, a question in his eye. "Sammie retired?"

"Major Carter resigned from the Air Force- and SG-1- and has taken a job as a scientist here," Hammond began, readying for a blow up. "I-"

Jacob suddenly bolted. Teal'c and General Hammond were startled but instantly followed. They found him in the control room, whispering something into Walter's ear. The technician nodded. "I understand, sir."

The Tok'ra stood up and gave the General and the Jaffa an innocent smile. "What?"

Å

"They're in Daniel Jackson's office."

Jack and Sam thanked the Captain and made their way to the archeologist's lab. As they neared it, they could hear Daniel, talking excitedly. As Sam rounded the corner into the lab, she grinned as she spotted her dad standing next to the archeologist. Handing Natalie to Jack (who dropped the bag with Natalie's essentials), she hurried to her father's side and hugged him.

Jacob held onto her tightly for a minute and then pulled away a bit. Last time he had seen her, she had looked stressed and exhausted. Now, her eyes sparkled and she looked well rested.

"You okay, kiddo?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"So…" he stepped away and looked her in the eye. "What's this I hear about you retiring?"

Sam tensed. "Dad, can we talk about this later?"

To her great surprise, he nodded and then glanced at her daughter. "How old is she?"

"About five and a half months," Jack answered, ruffling the baby's golden fluff.

"She's rather small for her age."

Sam ignored her father and took Natalie from her CO; Natalie gleefully went to her mother and gave a gummy smile to everyone. Daniel wrapped up his informal Ancient presentation, and handed his notes to the Tok'ra. To Sam's surprise, he then turned and said, "I have to go now."

"So soon?" Jack asked. "You just got here."

"I was supposed to drop in, drop out. The Tok'ra need this stuff."

Å

They stood by the Stargate. Sam touched the event horizon and turned to her dad. "I wish you could stay longer… Mark mentioned the kids were wanting to see you."

"I wish I could stay longer too, but I'm needed else where." Seeing the look of protest on his daughter's face, he added, "But I'll be coming by for a visit soon."

She gave him a small smile. "I'll count on it."

"Are you sure that this is what you want?"

Sam stared at him a moment and then understanding flooded her face. Her father was referring to her retirement. "Yes, dad," she said, not hesitating as she spoke. "I know this what I want."

He studied her a long moment before pulling her into an embrace. "Sam," he began, "whatever… Whatever happens, just remember… You can still have everything you want."

"What are you talking about, dad?"

"You joined the Air Force because of me. Now, you're out of it… You can have what you want."

"Dad," she began, a look of confusion on her face. "I-"

He kissed her on the forehead. "I love you, Sam. I'll see you later."

Before she could say anything, he stepped through the Stargate.

"Carter?" a voice said from behind her. "You okay?"

She turned around and wiped away the few rouge tears that had come to her eyes. "Yeah," she said quietly. "I'm fine."

Å

SG-1 laughed as one. It was late. After Jacob's departure, they had gone to Sam's lab and then to the commissary where they had been ever since. Jack, Sam, and Teal'c were debating about the Simpson's (Sam and Teal'c versus Jack) while Daniel consumed cup after cup of coffee in a vain attempt to keep awake. He finally gave up.

"I'm going to turn in," Daniel mumbled. "Night, Sam." The archeologist stumbled out of the commissary. Teal'c excused himself to kelnoreem minutes later.

Sam looked around the commissary. The staff has all left hours ago and the room was dark. Yawning, she poured herself a cup of coffee and pushed one over to her CO.

"Want me to take her?" Jack asked, gesturing to Natalie who was fast asleep in her mother's arms. Sam nodded gratefully, passing her over and rubbing her arms. She stifled a yawn.

Jack studied her for a moment then sighed. "Oh crap."

Sam looked startled. "Sir?"

"This isn't exactly how I pictured myself doing this," he grumbled, carefully getting on his knees. "Don't even have a damn ring..."

Sam stared at him, a mixture of astonishment, surprise, and hope on her face. "Sir, what are you-"

"Shush," Jack ordered, "I'm trying to propose."

She was suspended between shock and laughter. "Sir, I-"

"She won't stop, will she?" he said, apparently addressing Natalie.

Sam leaned back as the humorous part of this caught up with her. "You're proposing to me at three o'clock in the morning, in the middle of the commissary, with a sleeping baby in your arms?"

He shrugged. "Why not?" Jack studied her for a moment. "Carter, you know me- I'm not romantic. I'm simple. You're like… our national treasure." He struggled for a moment. "I-"

"Sir."

He continued. "I don't deserve you- hell, I don't think any guy does but-"

"Jack."

"-I love you."

Sam stopped him right there by kissing him. "Yes," she whispered, pulling away. "Yes."

He had a dazed look on his face that made Sam want to laugh. "I uh... what?"

"Yes." Leaning forward, she looked into his eyes. "I'll marry you, Jack O'Neill."


Anyways, I hope you liked the chapter… it wasn't a very well-written but I tried.

(Grin)

Well...

Please review!