April 5th, 2011

"But I'm five weeks early," Sam breathed, as she held her stomach, after a contraction hit her.

"At this point Samantha, we're going to take him," Pierce replied, patting her hand.

"We haven't even finished the nursery," she turned to Jack, who was holding her other hand, a look of concern washed over his face.

"You won't be coming home right away," Jack spoke softly, as Sam looked between him and the doctor, who nodded in agreement.

"I'm going to give you a few minutes, but Samantha, I'm going to perform a cesarean. Its dangerous to keep the baby in their any longer, especially under distress." Sam nodded her head, as she turned to Jack.

"What if…"

"Nothing is going to happen," Jack mumbled leaning down and placing a kiss on her head. "I know you're worried, but in less than ten minutes, you'll be holding out son." Sam nodded her head and let the reality that she was going to be having this baby today sink in.

Vala sat holding Daniel's hand, as they waited hear what was going to happen to Sam. He had arrived back to Earth the night prior, earlier than he intended, but thrilled to be wit his small family again. Vala, with less than two months until her due date was constantly looking like she was hiding a watermelon in her shirt.

"They're going to pull him now," Jack said coming out, looking at the four members of the SGC who sat in the office of the base doctor.

"What?" Cameron asked, looking at his temporary commander.

"C-Section, she's going toxic, and he's in distress," he explained. "They're taking her in now, I'm going…"

"Go Jack," Daniel urged.

"T?"

"I will join you," Teal'c agreed standing up, and moving towards the infirmary. Watching the two exit, Vala looked at Daniel, and squeezed his hand.

"Eight weeks," Daniel replied softly, as Cameron reached over and squeezed her thigh. The three sat in silence, waiting for someone to emerge with the news of the baby.

"Okay Samantha, you're going to feel a little tug, but it shouldn't hurt," Pierce said through her mask, as she gently reached in and started to pull the baby from his mother. "You doing okay?" Sam nodded, as she closed her eyes at the sound the baby start crying. "Oh, that's a surprise," Pierce added.

"What?" Jack asked, as he stood up, ignoring the fact his wife was laying with a slit in her stomach in his line of sight.

"Well, the ultrasound was wrong," she said, almost amused. "Sam and Jack, welcome your daughter."

"A girl?" Sam questioned in almost disbelief. Knowing that this was going to their only child, she looked at Jack, who had tears in his eyes, and he let go of her hand, to go follow the infant.

"It happens," Pierce replied. "Now, just lay back, we're just about finished. You're not going to be wanting to move for a while.." as she finish the procedure, she continued to talk, as Teal'c held his friend's hand. Jack had taken to following the baby. Sam's mind was racing, a daughter, they hadn't planned for a girl, they had boy clothes, and a few gender neutral, mostly hand-me-downs from Lukas.

"It's a girl," Jack smiled brightly as he walked into Pierce's office. Daniel's face lit up, as he quickly stood up and embraced his best friend.

"Oh congratulations!" Daniel said. "A daughter!"

"A daughter," Jack grinned brightly. "Vala, she's wants to see you."

"Of course!" Vala beamed reaching for Daniel's arm, who helped her to her feet. "I'll be fine," she replied to Daniel's look. Nodding, he turned to Jack.

"I thought it was a boy," Cameron asked as Jack nodded.

"We all did, but they aren't always accurate, we have a bunch of shopping to do now," Jack chuckled. "Come on."

The news that the base's commander and the most famous man of the SGC were parents spread like wildfire. Sam had more visitors than she imagined, and with each visitor, came the inevitable question, "what's her name?". To be honest, Sam and Jack had no idea what to call their daughter. They were sure Elliot was not a name suitable for a girl, and never thought about a suitable girl name.

By the time the two were released from the infirmary, Sam was more than anxious to leave and have some time being just a family.

"I have a surprise for you," Jack said as he guided Sam into their house, holding the baby carrier.

"What's that?" Sam asked as she moved to gently remove her shoes, being mindful of her cesarean stitches. Jack grinned, which caused Sam to raise a brow, and he gently guided her down the hall.

"Surprise."

"You did laundry?" Sam teased.

"Ha ha," Jack shot back, the two stood in front of a closed door.

"The nursery?" she asked, looking at Jack who shrugged. Placing the carrier down, he bent down and unclipped the little girl and brought her into his arms.

"Shall we?" he asked as he opened the door, letting Sam walk in. He watched as she looked around the charcoal painted nursery. Splashes of lime green, bright yellow and pinks, and oranges.

"Oh Jack," she breathed, bringing her hand to her mouth. "How did, when did?"

"Mitchell's wife," Jack shrugged. "Their present to us."

"It's beautiful," she said. "Isn't it baby girl?" Taking the child that Jack handed her, she moved to sit down in the rocking chair. Jack smiled and moved to sit on the ottoman.

"We should name her. It's been close to two weeks," Jack said reaching over to touch the infants head. She was sleeping in her mother's arms. "We can't refer to her as baby girl the rest of her life."

"That's true," Sam smiled. "Ellie?"

"No, doesn't suit her," Jack said softly. "Jocelyn?"

"No," Sam shook her head. Taking her lower lip between her teeth, she looked down at the little girl. "Abigail?"

"No," he shook his head. "Grace."

"Grace," Sam repeated as she looked down at the baby. "Her name is Grace."

"Grace," Jack smiled as he moved to kiss the baby's head.

"Grace Hannah."

"Janet."

"Grace Hannah Janet O'Neill," Sam suggested as Jack nodded. "Little Gracie."

"We make one cute kid," Jack remarked as Sam laughed.

"We do," laughing she placed a kiss onto Grace's forehead. The two remained quiet for a few moments, watching their daughter sleep. Healthy enough to come home, the two knew they were in for a few rougher months than they anticipated. It wasn't until they heard the familiar squeal of delight from their living room that they knew that Daniel, Vala, and Lukas had arrived.

"You put her down, I'll go say hello," kissing Grace again, Jack moved out of the nursery and moved towards the livingroom. Sam took a breath, and looked at the young baby, smaller than Lukas was, even what she expected. She had held Grace every day, and it didn't feel real until this moment, sitting in their nursery, and her name made it even more real, Grace.

She had never told Jack of her time on the Prometheus, and her hallucination of Grace. But the moment he suggested it, she knew that no matter what other name they gave her, it wouldn't be her.

"Sam!" a voice in the doorway said excitedly, as Sam looked up and saw Cassie, who's smile grew even wider. "Is that her?"

"This is Grace," Sam smiled as Cassie almost bounced over.

"She's beautiful," Cassie praised. "May I?"

"Of course," Sam handed Cassie the young infant.

"Hi Gracie," Cassie whispered as she cradled the child to her body. "I'm Cassie. And I'm going to look out for you. I'm gonna be your big sister, don't worry, you can tell me everything."

Chuckling Sam leaned back and watched Cassie interact with her daughter. Daniel and Vala had offered to pick her up at the airport earlier the day so they could get the baby home.

"Cassandra, what is that?" Sam asked reaching over to pull at the young woman's left hand.

"Surprise," she laughed. "John proposed!"

"Cassie! That's great!" Sam beamed as she squeezed her hand, being mindful of the other arm holding her daughter. "When?"

"This past weekend," she explained. "We set a date, October 21st, this year."

"So early," Sam smiled as Cassie readjusted Grace in her arms.

"Well, John was offered a fellowship in Neonatal, and we want to get married before he starts that. So we'll be moving," pausing before she added. "To Boston."

"Boston? Cassie, that's…"

"Far, I know, I've been in Nevada for a few years, and its time we just, start a new life."

"I'm happy for you Cass," Sam smiled softly, squeezing her hand again. "You're getting married here or?"

"New Mexico, John's family is from there, and I figured, one state over wouldn't be too much a travel," Cassie explained. "And Gracie here would be, about 6 months, so I was hoping she'd be one of my flower girls."

"Cassandra."

"Hey, she's the only 'sister' I'm ever gonna get," she beamed.

"You three comin' or what?" Jack asked from the door, breaking the little moment the two were having. The view in front of him was something he never pictured being, as he watched his wife, a young alien woman who struggled more in her life than he ever wanted, and his daughter. After Charlie's death he never considered, ever, having another child. It was too painful. But as the years passed, it was becoming, somewhat easier. He was hesitant about having a child with Sam, and his chest tightened when the doctor said it was a boy. He didn't want another Charlie. But the moment their 'Elliot' was a girl, he knew this round of fatherhood would be different. For one, as soon as Sam was ready to go back to the base, he would become a stay at home dad, which he was actually looking forward to doing.