Here is chapter four... I wasn't sure where I wanted the story to go, so this one is a little rough.

The Thank You's:

Leighawen - Thank you... I will!!! :)

mynameisme - I'm really glad you're liking the story... and I included your idea in this chapter, it's short though.

LadyMo - Life-altering decisions are fun to write! lol

Fantasy Forest - The life-altering decisions are in this chapter... if you look hard enough. ;)

Leilena - Yeah, chapter two was hard to write... *tissue alert*... but the story is getting happier now, yay!

Alys5 - I'm so excited you're enjoying my story... I know I love writing for you all!

Reviews Are 3

And now - chapter FOUR!!!

Chapter Four

Sam walked back into her room and noticed that there was now a crib inside. How did I miss Jack putting that in here? She wondered. She put Grace's bags beside the crib and picked her up.

"It's been a long day, you're probably tired aren't you?"

"Sweepy," she said, before laying her head down on Sam's shoulder and closing her eyes.

Sam applauded her intuition and before long, Grace was fast asleep. She put her down in the crib gently and grabbed her jacket and a lawn chair. She quietly went outside and put her lawn chair down beside Jack's on the dock.

"The lake is gorgeous, isn't it?" She inquired. She was momentarily afraid she'd disrupted him, but he didn't seem to mind.

"See, I told you. I even tried to advertise with a big bass and loons, but no... your lab work was more fun." She smiled and he laughed. "I'm glad you're here now, though."

"Me too."

They sat there in silence for a few moments, before Sam spoke.

"Well, I should probably get back inside to check on Grace, she's napping."

"Okay. I'll be back inside soon."

Sam stood up and picked up her chair. "Take your time, no rush."

She put the chair back on the deck and walked inside quietly.

She took off her jacket, grabbed her book (nothing work related, Jack should be proud!) and sat down on the couch to read it.

An hour later, Jack came inside and Grace woke up. Sam set down her book and walked into her room, where Grace was, and picked her up out of the crib. She carried her out to the kitchen.

"I bought some steaks for dinner, if that's okay with you," Jack stated.

"Yeah, that sounds really good."

"I'll turn on the grill now."

He left through the back door. Sam set Grace on the floor and poured herself a glass of water. Grace walked over to her bag of toys and pulled out a book. She carried it over to Sam.

"Wead!" She handed the book to Sam and Sam picked her up. They sat down on the couch and started to read the book, Little Red Riding Hood.

They finished reading and Jack brought a plate of steaks in to the house. Sam gave Grace some chicken noodle soup and they all sat down at the table.

"These are really good, Jack."

"I'm glad."

"Yummy!" Grace yelled, prompting smiles and laughs from her parents.

Parents, Sam thought, the word still being very foreign to her. Parents.

After they finished eating, Sam cleared the table and Jack did the dishes. Grace picked up her toys and put them in her bag, arranging them in a very precise manner.

Around 8:30, everyone was growing tired. Grace laid her head down on Jack's shoulder.

"Bedtime?" Sam questioned.

"Sounds good to me."

Sam went into the bathroom to change first. When she came out, Jack had already gotten Grace to sleep.

"Good night, Jack."

"Night, Sam."

Sam made her way to her room and got into the bed, which was very comfortable.

Grace woke her up at midnight, Sam gave her some water and she fell back asleep.

Sam woke up to Grace crying at 3:30, she had a bad dream. It took a little while, but Sam was able to calm her down enough to get her back to sleep. She put Grace back in her crib and got back in bed.

Before she fell back asleep, she heard Jack get up and sneak out the back door. She wasn't going to follow him, but her curiosity of what he was doing up at 4 in the morning got the best of her. She got up, pulled on her coat, and went outside.

She found Jack sitting on the deck, staring out into the dark night.

"Jack."

He didn't know she was standing there, and was briefly confused.

"Sam? Did I wake you?"

"I was already awake. Is something wrong?"

"Just... a lot on my mind."

She sat down in the chair beside him.

"Same here."

They were both silent for a few moments.

"Do you want to talk about it now?" Sam inquired.

"I won't be able to sleep if we don't."

"Okay, so talk."

"Well, we have to figure out what we're going to do about Grace."

"Yes, we do."

"So. Does she trade off weeks at our houses?"

"I don't think that's very fair to her."

"Me neither."

"And what about work?"

"I'll retire."

"I can't let you do that!"

"I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for Grace."

Sam looked down. Jack realized how his last sentence sounded and quickly corrected himself.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

"I know."

"So... I retire and take care of her when you're off-world."

"Jack. She's already lost her mother and her grandmother. I can't let her lose me too."

"She won't..."

"But if anything did happen to me... I couldn't let that happen to her."

"So, you resign? You ask to be taken off SG-1?"

"I could still work at the base when they needed me."

"So, you work as a civilian and I stay on SG-1. What about Grace?"

"I take care of her when you're off-world."

"And when I'm on Earth?"

"We could take care of her together."

"We could."

"Does that solve everything that was on your mind, Jack?"

No, Jack thought, but he wasn't willing to share the other thoughts with Sam. Especially with Sam.

"That's about it."

Sam glanced at her watch.

"It's already 5."

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm going back to bed."

He got up and she followed. He went to his room, she went to hers.

Elated that Grace was still asleep, she curled up in her bed and drifted off.

Around 7, Grace woke up and Jack came in and took her out of the crib. He grabbed some toys and books out of her bag and sat down on the couch.

That's where Sam found them an hour later. Jack and Grace on his lap, facing him, and he was reading her a book. The identity of the book was quickly disclosed to Sam (who was hiding around the corner so she could watch), as Jack put on his best voices to read the next portion of the book.

"Papa Bear said, 'Someone's been sleeping in my bed!' Mama bear said 'Someone's been sleeping in my bed too!' Baby bear yelled 'Someone's been sleeping in my bed and there she is!' "

With that Grace giggled and Jack started to tickle her. Pleased that they were having such a good time together, Sam went back into the guest room and got dressed. She ran her fingers through her hair and inspected the dark circles under her eyes. She sighed and went out into the living room, where Jack and Grace were still having a tickle-fight.

Upon seeing Sam, Grace got away from Jack and ran up to her. Sam picked her up and gave her a hug.

"Did we wake you?" Jack asked.

"No, I was awake."

"Are you hungry?"

"Gwace hungee!"

"I'm hungry, too," Sam replied.

"Well, how do pancakes and eggs sound?"

"That sounds great!"

"Yum," Grace yelled.

With that, Jack walked into the kitchen and started to prepare breakfast. Sam sat down on the couch and played with Grace until he was done.

After breakfast, Jack politely asked Sam if he could go out and fish.

"You're a big boy, Jack. You don't need my permission."

"So... is that a yes?"

Sam smiled.

"Yes, Jack. You can go fish."

"Thank you!"

He grabbed his pole and went outside.

Sam set Grace down to play with her toys and sat down on the couch with her book.

She didn't notice when Grace walked away or what she found on the floor. Grace walked over to Sam and held up the treasure she had found on the floor.

"Look!" she said to Sam.

Sam was not as excited as Grace was when she saw that Grace had found a fishing hook. She carefully removed it from her hand and scolded Grace.

"I'm sorry," Grace said, tearfully.

Sam set the fish hook on a high shelf, assuring herself she'd show it to Jack when he came back inside.

When Jack did come back inside, Sam wordlessly picked up the fish hook and showed it to him.

"Where did you find that?"

"I didn't find it. Grace did."

Jack stood up from the table and walked over to the closet. He pulled out a tub full of baby-proofing equipment and got to work.

Sam didn't know how to operate half of the things in the tub, but figured it out quickly. A half-hour later, the cabin was completely 'Grace-Safe'.

Jack took Grace for a walk around the lake and surrounding areas, while Sam took a nap on the couch.

Sam woke up shortly before Jack and Grace returned. Grace ran inside with a flower in her hand and raced over to Sam yelling, "Mommy!"

Sam was startled by what Grace had called her. She took the flower from Grace and gave her a hug.

"Thank you, Grace."

Jack was equally shocked by Grace calling Sam 'mommy'.

"Did you put her up to that, Jack?"

He shook his head. "No, I was just as surprised as you are."

Sam felt overwhelmed by how quickly Grace had adjusted to her new parents and started to cry.

"Mommy sad."

Grace climbed onto Sam's lap.

"No Grace, I'm happy."

Grace was obviously confused until Sam started to smile. Grace smiled back.

Jack couldn't help feeling just a little left out, but the feeling passed quickly.

"Do you want a snack, Grace?"

"Yes, pwease!"

She ran over to him and leaped into his arms. Sam wiped her eyes and Jack walked Grace into the kitchen.

I can't believe how lucky I am, Sam thought. I have everything I've ever dreamed of having. A great job, wonderful friends, a daughter... well, almost everything.

Sam put on her jacket and headed out on a walk to clear her head.

I have more than anyone can dream of! There are so many people who don't have anything I do. So why do I keep wanting more? I have everything I need and more... why can I never be happy until I have the one last thing on my list? The one thing to make my whole life complete?

Jack.

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