A/N – Yeah, so I got a couple requests for something like this…so here ya go! Now I swear I'm done with this story, because I have to move on to my next one… :P
Epilogue
The bright northern sun shone down, reflecting off the snow and giving the world a bright, clear look. Jack sat for a few minutes on the edge of his bed, staring out the window, entranced by the sight of the frozen lake and the snow covered pines. Finally he stood, putting a robe on over his pajamas and walking out of the bedroom.
The eastward facing window over the sink was letting in long beams of the wintry light and as Jack stood there in the doorway he felt his heart skip a beat. Sam was standing with her hands resting on the edge of the counter, staring out the window with a thoughtful expression on her face. Her long hair, which shone in the light from the window, hadn't been brushed yet and hung in a shaggy cascade about her shoulders.
Jack smiled, walking over and standing behind Sam, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"You're up," Sam said, leaning back against him and covering his hands with hers.
"Uhuh," Jack rested his cheek against hers. "You got up pretty early, Sam, couldn't you sleep?"
She shook her head. "The baby was kicking. Here…" she took his hand and pressed it to the swell of her stomach, and Jack laughed softly when he felt the slight pressure beneath his hand. He turned his head to press a kiss to her cheek and Sam grinned. "Selmak said our baby's going to be special…"
"Well, yeah, it was conceived under the Tree of Life, for cryin' out loud." They turned and walked over to the kitchen table, where Jack pulled a chair out for Sam and helped her sit. "Besides, it's the progeny of two amazingly awesome people, why wouldn't it be special?"
Sam laughed. "Yeah, that's true too."
Jack sat down across from her, reaching over to take her hand. He looked down, gently rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand, then lightly fingering the gold band on her ring finger. He looked up and caught the thoughtful expression on her face. "Whatcha thinkin' about?"
"Oh, nothing," Sam shrugged. "Just the other night while you were out doing errands there was this movie on, and there was a character in it who had the Tree of Life tattooed on her back. So I was thinking…"
"No! No tattoos. Bad Sam."
Sam broke out giggling. "What? Did you seriously just say…" she spluttered, "I'm not a dog, Jack!"
"Shush before I make a complete idiot of myself." Jack said, scowling a little. He stood up, rolling his eyes as he strode out of the kitchen. Sam was about to get up and follow when Jack returned with a hairbrush, walking so he was standing behind her chair. "What'd I do to deserve you?" he murmured, gently running the brush through her hair, letting the golden strands slip between his fingers.
"You saved my life, for one…" Sam said, closing her eyes and leaning back in her chair.
Jack nodded, then was silent for a few minutes as he finished brushing her hair. When he was done he let the brush fall to the table. Then walked around and knelt before Sam, taking her hands in his and staring up into her eyes with a serious expression.
"This isn't real, is it?"
"Jack, stop." Sam stared back into his eyes. "You can't doubt this. You can't."
"I know, but this is just too much…"
"Jack…" Sam took his hand, guiding it under her shirt to rest on the bare skin of her stomach. The baby kicked again. "Does this feel real to you?"
"Yeah." A smile spread across Jack's face and he stood to place a lingering kiss on his wife's lips. "It feels very real."