- Guess Who's Coming to Town? -

"Cassie, he's so cute!" Sam awed, sat on the couch, gazing at the baby in Cassandra Frasier's arms.

Cassie had invited her family for Christmas. The year had been quite intense for her, as she and her husband welcomed their first child. The baby boy was now five months old and dressed like Santa Claus. The three people were in the living room, the two adults having a chat, accompanied by Christmas songs as musical background coming from the CD player.

"Isn't he?" the young mother smiled. "We found the outfit at the mall two weeks ago. We couldn't resist."

Sam looked at the child, and smiled. The little one cooed, making the two ladies' heart melt. Sam was happy and grateful that she could spend these precious moments with her family. She had always considered Cassie like her daughter, and Cassie had always considered Sam like a mother. Even more when her adoptive mother, Janet Frasier, passed away many years ago. Saying that Sam was her son's grandmother, his third from his mother's side, felt quite natural. And Cassie was proud to say that. Sam had a shock when she heard Cassie call her granny Sam, when the mother introduced Carter and her husband to the baby. Sam felt too young to be called granny. She eventually got used to that and embraced her role with pride.

The ladies turned their heads as people were coming back from the kitchen. Cassie's husband, followed by two teenagers. A thirteen year old girl and her brother, almost two years younger. The two kids had blond hair and blue eyes, just like their mother.

Cassie asked the group, "So, how's it going in there?", and tilted her head towards the kitchen.

The husband replied, enthusiastic, "Everything's ready for tonight.". The man turned to the kids, "Thanks for your help, guys!", and the trio high-fived each other.

The baby boy's mother smiled, happy to see the good connection between her husband and the kids, who were like siblings to her.

All of a sudden, the people in the living room heard a deep and warm voice that easily covered the low musical background.

"Ho ho ho ho! Guess who's coming to town!"

Cassie glowed like a child would glow, discovering Christmas presents. "Santa Jack!" she exclaimed, delighted by the scene.

Jack O'Neill, dressed like Santa Claus, with a big fake white beard, and as chubby as Santa Claus (the pillow he hid between the costume and his belly was really helpful), appeared in the living room. "I heard there's a little one who's having his first Christmas!" he teased, grinning.

"That would be this one!" Cassie responded, showing her son to Jack while the man was coming to the couch.

Cassie handed the baby to the older man. Jack cuddled the little one. He waved his big beard to play with the baby and said a few words to him. Cassie's son giggled and touched the beard with his tiny hands. His parents and Sam were smiling, enjoying the lovely scene with these two Santa Claus.

Sam's son looked a bit perturbed by Jack's clothing and beard. "This is... so weird..." he said, looking at the big Santa Claus.

"This is a tradition, son." Santa Jack replied.

"A tradition? You haven't done this for years." O'Neill junior objected.

O'Neill senior thought, "Uh... Correct... Because you got too old for that kind of stuff. But now, I can do it again with this one! What do you think?" Jack smiled at the baby, who cooed. Jack took it as a confirmation that the little one was okay. A child he considered like his own grandson. And Jack's mission as a grandfather was to spoil this child. He would accomplish this mission very seriously.

Cassie chuckled and approved Jack's project, "I totally agree with this idea! It's been a long time I haven't seen Santa Jack! I was missing it, actually."

Sam's and Jack's children looked at her, astonished that she was more excited than themselves to see Jack O'Neill disguised as Santa Claus. Cassie caught their startled looks and said, "Oh, you used to love it when you were younger... Well, maybe except that year when you - she pointed at the girl - threw up on your father..."

"You threw up on Jack?" Cassandra's husband reacted, staring at the girl.

Sam provided details, "Yes, right on his Santa Claus outfit. She had been sick for a few days and waited to be held by Santa Jack to do what she had to do."

"Mom!" the girl reacted. "This is embarrassing!" the girl complained with a grimace.

The adults chuckled. Then, the doorbell rang.

Cassie reacted, "That must be your parents!", looking at her husband.

The man nodded and walked to the door while the rest of the family was chatting in the living room. The man opened the door and raised his eyebrows, surprised. In fact, he wanted to laugh, but he resisted.

An old couple was standing in front of him. The man and the woman were dressed like Christmas pixies, with a combination of red, green, and white pieces. They were also carrying bags, certainly presents and more formal clothes.

"Hello, son!" the older man greeted, with a grin.

The son, Cassie's husband, greeted his parents and kissed them.

Seeing his son's curious look, the male pixie explained, "Your mother and I saw these - he pointed at his clothing - in a store, and we thought it could be funny. I wanted to dress like Santa Claus, but the store didn't have anything left."

"I hope it won't traumatize Sam and Jack." the female pixie said.

"I don't think it will, mom." Cassie's husband responded, amused. "I think you're gonna be surprised, actually." he added, gesturing his parents to give him the bags and preceed him into the house.

The parents walked into living room after handing the bags to their son. Cassie's husband closed the door. He heard his father exclaimed, "Jack! I knew you'd be the kind of guy who would do that!", then, Jack responding with a joke, and everybody laughing.

"This family's crazy..." Cassie's husband jokingly concluded to himself. He felt lucky to be with his wife and kid. He felt lucky to have their parents or almost parents with them. Cassie and he were nervous when their parents met for the first time. Hopefully, thanks to their great sense of humor and good wine, the two pairs of parents got along very quickly. To tell the truth, Jack O'Neill and Cassie's father in law were alike. Simple guys enjoying simple things, always ready for a joke. Samantha Carter and Cassie's mother in law were fond of motorcycles and a few reality TV shows. Who knew that General O'Neill and General Carter were so cool? And their kids, fun kids. He loved them.

The two couples wouldn't meet often because of the distance, but when they would, family gatherings would always be joyful. And Cassie's husband was grateful for not having to be the lonesome hero unwittingly caught in unnecessary drama.

He was happy. Cassandra was happy. Three happy families reunited for Christmas, their first together, as a matter of fact. What else did they need?

Perhaps a picture of Santa Jack, mini Santa, and the two pixies all together around the Christmas tree, for posterity.