When they returned from their honeymoon, Jack moved to Washington. Sam still was attached to the Pentagon and three weeks later, they found their home in a two-bedroom apartment close to her work. Jack keep himself busy during the days and he spent every moment they have together making love to his wife. And on the weekends, they would go and see a movie, to the different museums or simply shopping together. It was months after they were already settled in their home, when Sam found Jack lost in thought standing on the threshold of the spare room.
"Jack? What are you thinking?" She whispered.
"I was thinking," he smiled and turned around to embrace her, "on turning this room into a study. Whatcha think?" She bit her lower lip and blushed.
"I was thinking, how about a nursery?" She raised her eyes to search his.
"Nursery?" He frowned before his mind started to work. "Sam? Is there something you need to tell me?" She held onto his hands
"I know we haven't talked about kids," she trailed. "I don't know if you want kids after what happen to..." She inhaled deeply and looked at his eyes again.
"You are pregnant? Is that what you are trying to say?" He asked softly, caressing her cheek.
"Yes," she nodded biting her lower lip. "How do you feel about it?" She frowned.
"You are pregnant," He stated in shock.
"Yes, we going to have a baby, Jack." She added still feeling a bit concerned. But he started to smile and let go of her hands to wrap his around her body. And then, out of the blue, he started to spin her around.
"We going to have a baby!" He said happily. He stopped twirling and placing her softly on the ground; he cupped her face. "I love you, Samantha Carter-O'Neill."
"I love you, Jack O'Neill." They couldn't pin point exactly who had started the kiss, but all Sam knew was that he had scooped her from the floor and started walking them slowly somewhere.
"Jack? what are you doing?" She panted, smiling.
"Showing you how much I love you?" He questioned more than affirmed before devouring her lips not giving time to add anything and starting to remove her clothes. And she didn't complain either.
Christmas arrived sooner than they noticed, and they had spent their first one a husband and wife. A white Christmas nonetheless, due to the snow storm that had hit DC a week earlier and wasn't doing anything to leave it. Sadly, the airports were closed, and for that, her brother and his family couldn't get to DC to spend the holidays with them.
"You should call him, Sam," Jack told her as he was starting lunch, and she nodded in agreement. She grabbed the phone and dialed the numbers she now knew by heart and waited.
"Hello?" A smile blossomed on her face
"Merry Christmas, Mark!" She exclaimed.
"Sam!" He said happily, "Merry Christmas! How's Jack?"
"He's cloud nine at the moment," she grinned at the back of her oblivious husband.
"Why is that?"
"Well, I gave him an early Christmas present... Uncle Mark."
"What?"
"Yes!"
"You are pregnant?" he chuckled happily on the other side, "Gee! I guess you two didn't get waste any time," Sam laughed, and Jack turned to her with raised eyebrows.
"Mark said we didn't waste time," she explained him.
"Gee thanks, what did he think? We did make out like rabbits on heat," he said wiggling his eyebrows and causing Sam to double over with laughter
"Tell Jack I heard that!" Mark said laughing. Sam shoved the phone to Jack and ran to the bathroom.
"Merry Christmas, Mark," Jack told him warmly.
"Hey, I heard what you said!" Mark answered still laughing
"Very funny, I know." He chuckled. "According to her Doc, she's about ten weeks."
"Ten weeks, you two must have been making out like rabbits…" He affirmed. So, a honey moon baby?"
"Yeah… so, how's the family?"
"Good, we are all sorry we couldn't be there this year."
"Well, there is always next year."
"True. So, what do you feel about the baby thing, Jack? Are you happy?" Jack let out a breath just as Sam walked back into the room.
"I'm … scared, Mark," he sighed.
"Does she know?" He asked sounding a bit concerned.
"Yeah, she knows. We talked about it." He winked at her.
"That's good. Look, you were given a second chance, Jack. So, it's only trying not to blow it. I mean, that's parenting anyway."
"Yeah, I won't blow it. Or Sam will punish me with her technobabble for hours," he joked, and Sam took a step forward with a glare and her hands on her hips. "Oh, crap! I'm in trouble."
"Sam's there?"
"Yeah."
"She's giving you that I'm going to punish you look?"
"That's the one!"
"Good luck to whatever the punishment is."
"Gee thanks, I'll better go and somehow get back to her good books!"
"Good luck, Jack," Mark laughed, "and merry Christmas."
"Thanks, I'll need it! And merry Christmas to you too!" Jack lowered the phone on the counter behind him, a guilty expression on his face. "I'm sorry," he offered as she stepped closer.
"You better be. However, after lunch I'm going to make you suffer," Sam smiled mischievously.
"Oh… and do you have something in mind?" He grinned, his mind already going to the gutter.
"Dishes, of course! Hey, do you smell something burning?" She asked scrunching up her nose.
"Oh shit!" He ran over to the stove and opened it. And she started to laugh.
"You tricked me!"
"I know! I gotcha too," she grinned and Jack shook his head.
"Are you going to give your dad a call?" He asked seriously.
"He's not at home. I left a message on the answer phone earlier today," she said sadly.
"Come here," he said opening his arms, she willingly walked over to him, and he wrapped her securely in his arms.
"At least the rest of the family is happy," she muttered.
"Yeah," He kissed her forehead. "But don't worry, in time, everything will be ok."
"I sure hope so, Jack."
"Now, I must get back to watch lunch, or we might end up not eating." He said, and she let go.
Hour later, with the meal finally ready, they were about to sit down and have lunch when there was a knock on their door. They weren't expecting any one, and they didn't know many people who would come looking for them, so they looked at each other with similar frowns.
"I'll get it," Sam said as she walked to the door. Without checking, she unlocked the door and opened it. She gasped in shock when she saw him. "Dad!"
"Hello Sam, Merry Christmas," he said with a half-smile.
"Ah, please, come on in."
She stepped to the side and allowed her father Major General Jacob Carter in closing the door behind him. She frowned as her old man started to take his coat and shook herself when he passed it to her along with his scarf, hat, and gloves. Still confused by his presence, she took time to hang the pieces as he took his boots out and placed next to the other snow boots.
"This way," she told him, and they started walking to the dining room.
"Who was at the door, Sam?" He called out having heard the door closing a bit earlier. He looked up when she entered the room with a man behind her. He recognized him straight away
"General Carter, sir." Jack stood up
"Colonel," Jacob returned.
"Retired, sir," he added as he often did. Then he looked at Sam with a question written on his face.
"Ah, we were just about to sit down for lunch, care to join us, dad?" Sam offered awkwardly.
"I'll should go," he said but didn't move.
"You are more than welcomed, General. I mean, I did enough food to last us until next year," he added.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Jack said and walked to the kitchen to get extra plates and cutlery and giving them time to exchange awkward glances at least.
"So, dad, how are you?" She started carefully.
"I'm good, Sam, what about you?"
"I'm excellent," she grinned. "I spoke to Mark earlier." She offered.
"Oh! And how is he? How's his family?"
"They are good; they were supposed to join us. But… snow," Sam explained, and he nodded. "Please, dad, take a seat! " Sam offered as she saw Jack returning. Jacob took a seat as the couple fussed over setting up the table.
"Help yourself, sir," Jack offered as they joined him on the table.
"Thank you. Please call me Jacob."
"Then I'm Jack."
"Ok … Jack… Can you tell me a bit about yourself?" Jacob asked with a raised eyebrow.
"There's really nothing much to say," he shrugged. "I was born in Chicago, raised in Minnesota. Joined the Air Force at eighteen. Entered black ops at twenty, but I guess you already know all that," he finished taking a bite.
"Yes, I did." Jacob acknowledged.
"Dad? You didn't run a background check on, Jack, did you?" she asked in shock already knowing the answer.
"Yes. I did. Sam, do you know about his son, right?"
"Charlie, yes. He told me everything, dad. Including how it broke up his marriage," Sam hissed.
"Don't worry, Jacob, I'm not going to make the same mistake twice," Jack affirmed.
"What are you talking about?" Jacob looked from Jack to Sam.
"I'm pregnant, dad," Sam's smiled. "You are going to be a grandfather," she finished noticing he was in shock.
"How?" he started then he shook his head, "I mean, how far along are you, Sam?"
"Well… almost twelve weeks," she bit her lower lip before raising her eyes to meet Jack's. "I'm expecting twins."
"Twins!" Jack and Jacob said at the same time. Sam smiled at the shocked look they were giving her.
"Sam?" Jack asked she shrugged.
"I had to keep that surprise until today," she grinned. Jack looked at Jacob
"When Sam told me she could be full of surprises, she wasn't joking, right?" He asked her old man.
"Don't I know it," he answered. "Does Mark know?"
"I texted him while Jack was talking to him. So, I guess he got a double surprise."
"I bet he did," Jacob said.
Somehow that erased that weirdness that loomed over them before, and they ended up talking while they enjoyed lunch. And afterward, Jack made coffee and hot chocolate for the Carters and ushered them to the living room while he took charge of the dishes.
"Twins…" he shook his head. "Do you know what you are having yet?"
"No, all I know is that they are identical twins," she offered.
"I remember when Carol told me she was pregnant. I was so happy; then she did exactly what you did when we told our family the news. They were all so happy with the news of her pregnancy and then, she went and dropped the twin bomb. Boy, was I shocked," he shook his head, his eyes bright with the memories. Sam smiled tenderly at him.
"I bet you were, Dad."
"Enough about me, where did you two meet?"
"At the Pentagon. He looked lost, and I couldn't stop myself from offering my help," Jacob grinned.
"I that feeling, I got lost in there myself the first day I was assigned there," he chuckled making Sam smile.
"I the feeling too, Dad. But after a couple of days, I knew where I was going and how I was going to get out of there afterward," she grinned.
"That's good; I always knew you were the smarter one. Don't tell anyone but it took me two weeks to find my way around," he confessed making her laugh. "What does Jack do? Now that he is retired I mean."
"We are negotiating the nursery theme."
"Who's winning?"
"We are still working on it. He wants it green; I want it blue."
"I see what you mean."
"Don't worry, Dad. We will work it out."
"I'm sure you will."
"Dad? Can I ask you something?" She said placing her cup on the table, he nodded. "What made you come here today?"
"Well, it's the strangest thing really. Yesterday, this letter was slipped under the door of my apartment," Jacob said pulling an envelope out and giving it to his daughter.
"That's your writing," she affirmed.
"Yes, and what's more strange is that it looks like I've sent it to myself," he shook his head. She returned the envelope to her father.
"So, what did it say?" She asked knowing that hers was the one thing which pointed her to Jack.
"Well, apparently, I'm telling me that the time to mend fences with you and Mark has come. That in the end family is more important than one's career."
"NASA…" she trailed, knowing he still wanted her there.
"Yeah," he nodded.
"Dad, you must know. You are not the only one who has been getting these letters," she bit her lower lip.
"What do you mean?"
"Jack and I also got them."
"What? Why?" He frowned.
"We are not sure."
Jack joined them at that point, and they talked well past into the afternoon. When the weather looked like it was going to get worse, Jacob left his apartment was only blocks away. The phone rang a couple of minutes after and it was Jacob, to let them know he arrived home safely.
Later that night, they were curled up in bed when Sam looked up at Jack. She was curious to know if he purposely didn't tell her about sending a letter to her father to surprise her for Christmas.
"Jack? Did you go to dad's place yesterday?"
"No. I don't even know where he lives. Why?"
"He received a letter from himself," she chewed her lower lip.
"That is strange."
"I guess I'll give the SGC a call tomorrow to find out if the gate been activated," she sighed.
"Ok, but in the meantime, let's get some sleep."
"Sounds good to me," she whispered tiredly and closed her eyes falling into a peaceful sleep.
The next morning with roads still closed Sam couldn't get into work. It wasn't until after the new year that the storm moved over, and she finally had a way to get to the Pentagon. Once in there, the first thing on her list was calling the SGC. That night when she arrived home, Jack was waiting for her.
"Hey, how was your day?"
"Busy," she answered as she plopped herself on the couch by him. "When did the power go out?" she asked noticing the candles around the house.
"Couple hours ago," he shrugged. "We are lucky; we got a gas stove, hot water, and heating," he wriggled his eyebrows.
"Yeah, that we are. What's for dinner? I'm starving," she said placing her head on his shoulder.
"I made pasta. Go and get changed while I'll dish it up."
"Ok," she sighed walking to their bedroom. "Mmm smells wonderful," she said entering the dining room later.
"Well, I hope it tastes as good as it smells then," he said placing the plate before her and then lowering his. "Enjoy," He added sitting down. She hummed in delight after the first bite.
"I called the SGC this morning, they said the gate hasn't been active," she commented after a while.
"That is strange."
"Yeah."
After dinner, they did the dishes together before preparing a hot drink and walking over to snuggle on the couch where all the candles that Jack had lit were still shining.
Soon, January ended, and February arrived, and on Valentine's Day, Jack got up early to cook blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes with raspberry jam, whipped cream and maple syrup on top, a. k. a. the craving of the month. He placed it on a tray along with orange juice, and a single red rose he bought the day before. With everything in place, he walked to the room where Sam was starting to stir. The first thing she was when she opened her eyes, was Jack holding the tray. She sat up with a bright smile on her face; he held the tray until she was sitting still and then she placed the tray on her lap and kissed her.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Sam."
"Happy Valentine's Jack," she grinned. "Thank you! It looks amazing. And I got something for you, it's in the crisper, in the fridge." He frowned he hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary.
"What is it?" She chuckled.
"Go and have a look?"
"Ok."
With a grin, he walked to the kitchen and straight to open the fridge and then he opened the crisper and frowned. All he was able to see was vegetables on top of more vegetable. Grunting, he grabbed them until he saw a box. Maneuvering the packages he had on his hand, he managed to get the box out and smiled when he read the 'Happy Valentine's Day, Jack' sticky note on the top. The cold of the veggies made him place the box down and return the bags to their previous home before closing the door and finally looking at his gift. With widened eyes, he returned to the room where Sam was still enjoying her breakfast.
"Did you like it?" She asked biting her lower lip.
"You are kidding, right? Irish chocolates?"
"Yes, so..."
"I love them, Sam! It's such a shame you can't have any. Or maybe not," he grinned.
"I know," she grinned back placing her hand on her expanding stomach. Jack walked over and sat on the bed beside her and placed a kiss on her shoulder.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"You are welcomed."
"Tonight, we are going out for dinner."
"Oh? Anywhere in mind?"
"You will find out when you get home from work."
"Will I?" she grinned and he nodded. "Ok, then."
Later that night, Jack took Sam to Zola restaurant for romantic dinner. Then, Monday arrived, and Jack was passing nervously while they waited for Sam's turn for her checkup. They were going to find out the sex of their twins, and he was going insane with anxiety.
"How are they, Doc?" Jack asked as the Doctor did the normal measurements.
"They are fine. They have a very good size for twins. Do you want to know what you are having?"
"Yes!" Jack said. Sam rolled her eyes.
"He says it's girls and I'm placing my money on boys. It's a bet we are having," they grinned, and the doctor laughed
"Well in my years I can't say this is the first time I hear of a bet on it. What's yours?"
"If they are girls, he decides what to get for the nursery. If they are boys, then I get what I want for the nursery."
"Oh, interesting. So, you both have a theme in mind?" The Doctor asked, and they both nodded.
"Green, Irish. It's been in my family for generations."
"And yours, Sam?"
"Blue, with stars and moon theme."
"Oh, so you are hoping they'll follow your steps then?"
"Dear God, I hope not," Jack said, and Sam gave him a punch in the arm making the Doctor grinned. The doctor wiped the gel out of Sam's stomach and then saved the recordings and printed them a copy of the ultrasound and gave it to Sam.
"Well, I guess we are ending the bet. Congratulations, it's going to be stars and the moon. You are having twin boys."
"Yes!" Sam grinned.
"Boys, are you sure?" Jack asked
"I'm sure, see this here?" He pointed to a point in the image Sam was holding.
"What is that?" Jack asked, and Sam chuckled.
"It a penis." She said
"That's right. Sorry, Jack. Perhaps next time."
"Hey! I'm the one who has to carry them. You guys do the easy part thank you very much," Sam faked annoyance.
"Sorry, Sam and your right. Now, you can get dress, and I'll see the four of you in a month's time."
"Sure. Thanks, Doc," Sam said, and he left the room. Jack sighed and helped her to get dressed.
"I'll guess now I have no more excuses to go and get the paint and start working on the nursery."
"Don't worry, Jack. Perhaps we can try again in a couple of years, and you get lucky." She grinned, placing a kiss on his lips before walking out of the room. After getting the card with the next appointment, they walked out of the hospital, and Jack drove her to the Pentagon. She detoured from her normal path and entered her father's office.
"General Carter?" She called, and he turned with a grin.
"Sam! This is a surprise," he walked towards her and hugged her. "You are getting bigger every day."
"Thanks, dad, here." She said giving him the ultrasound.
"We didn't have these things on my days, do you know what you are having?"
"Yup, Jack's not happy." Jacob laughed
"Boys, huh?"
"Yes."
"Did you pick the names already?" She shook her head.
"We are not telling until after they are born," she explained.
"Ok. Hey, thanks for showing me this, Sam." He said returning the ultrasound
"No, keep it."
"Thanks. Okay, no matter how delighted I am I must get back to work," he sighed.
"Yeah. Same here, we should have you one night for dinner," she said from the threshold.
"I would like that."
"Great, talk to you in few days?"
"Sure." He walked to her for one last hug.
"Hey! He kicked me," Sam giggled.
"They are saying 'Hey grandpa! You are squeezing us!'"
"Funny." She rolled her eyes. He kissed her on the cheek before Sam turned around and walked out the door.
On Saturday morning, the couple went shopping for the nursery. Jack watched happily as Sam enjoyed herself checking out different baby clothes. It was a complete contrast to Sarah, she didn't like baby shopping, and she went out and bought whatever was available and was out as fast as she could. Sam, however, she took her time, there were too many options to choose one lightly.
"Can I help you with anything, ma'am?" A worked asked Sam as she saw her picking the price tag on a crib.
"Yes. Why is this crib more expensive than the others?" She asked curiously.
"Ah, it's because it's made from recyclable cherry timber."
"Really? It's beautiful." She looked over to Jack and signaled him to join her.
"Hey, found something you like?"
"Yes, this." She said placing her hand on the crib.
"It's cherry, isn't it?" He asked the vendor.
"Yes, sir. I guess you know your timber."
"A bit," he shrugged. He peered at the price tag and then to Sam.
"Recyclable timber, Jack"
"Ah, so is this what you really want?" He asked looking at her carefully.
"Yes, I love it!" She said smiling at him. He shrugged and turned to the sales assistant.
"Any chance of getting another one of these?"
"We will have to order it, but why two?"
"I'm carrying twins," Sam explained.
"Oh, congratulations. I'll go and sort out the paperwork then. Is there anything else while you are here?"
"We will keep looking and let you know, thanks."
"Ok." She removed the tag and walked back to the counter while Jack and Sam looked around some more. An hour later, they walked out of the store carrying bags between them.
"Sam?"
"Yes?"
"Why did you buy cotton diapers?" He asked curiously.
"They are cheaper than disposable ones," she explained.
"Ah, ok."
When they arrived at their home, Sam placed down her bags on the couch and sat raising her feet on the table to give them a rest. Jack smiled at this and went to get her a drink joining her a few minutes later.
"How are you feeling, Sam?"
"Tired but good." She grinned. "How about you? I noticed you were miles away in the store. Care to share?" He shook his head.
"I was thinking about the time when Sara was pregnant with Charlie," Sam extended her hand, and he took it. She gave him a light squeeze. "She didn't like shopping, when she was six and half months pregnant, she would go into a baby store and out again within twenty minutes. She never looked around the way you did."
"Oh?"
"It's that… When I looked at you, you were checking everything out with this big smile on your face and truly considering what you wanted to buy. And I could tell you were happy," Sam smiled
"And you, Jack? Are you happy?" She asked.
"I'm happy because you are happy. And that's what's important to me."
"Were you happy with Sara?" She questioned him after a while.
"I was, once. She's my past, Sam. And you and these two," He placed his hands softly on her growing stomach, "you three are my future," he finished, and she placed his hand on top of his.
"You won't forget, Charlie, Jack. I'm certain of that."
"I know, but this time I'll make sure I won't make the same mistake again," he clenched his jaw.
"You won't." She agreed. "You do know that what happened to Charlie was an accident, right?"
"Yes, I know." He let go of her hands and placed his arm around her shoulder; she snuggled up to his side