A/N: Thank you so much for the nice reviews! Here's the next chapter and I hope you'll like it although John and Liz don't meet again, yet. They will, I promise:-)

Anyways, more reviews would be great! Tell me whatever you think!

2. An Innocent Invitation, Part I

Four weeks later

"Elizabeth!"

Standing a little lost in between all the chairs and tables of the small street café, Elizabeth turned around and finally spotted the woman she'd been looking for. "Sam!"

Samantha Carter, one of Elizabeth's eldest and closest friends, jumped out of her chair and they both hugged each other enthusiastically. "It's been so long!" Sam exclaimed dramatically as they sat down.

"I know! I'm so sorry and I'm sorry that I'm late now." Shrugging, Elizabeth smiled sheepishly at her friend. "I seem to have lost my sense of orientation in this town completely. I suck at finding things here and unfortunately this café was no exception." Although Elizabeth was now living back where she'd grown up at, she wasn't exactly familiar with the town of Washington. All those years, first at college, then in New York and on foreign travel had changed a lot of things, for her as well as for the town.

"No problem, I only arrived five minutes ago myself. Just glad you're here now." Sam beamed, honestly and deeply happy to see the friend she'd known from her first day on college. "And you might remember that it takes me forever as well to get used to new surroundings." It took a second for Elizabeth to understand what Sam was hinting at, but then Elizabeth laughed out loudly at the memory. One time, at the very beginning of their college time, Sam had gone completely lost on the campus. Some guy had helped her and had never let it live down. Since then he had told everyone who wanted or didn't want to hear it that he and Samantha Carter were meant to be.

"You think that guy – what was … "

"Rodney McKay" Sam groaned.

"Yeah, that was his name! Do you think he's still waiting for you to come to terms with your immortal love for him and propose?" Elizabeth teased, grinning. After all those years, still only the mentioning of the name McKay brought Sam to sheer horror.

"Hell no! Yuck!"

Three cups of coffee, more than one hour of reminiscing on the good old times and one near death laugh attack for each Elizabeth and Sam later, there was a pause of comfortable silence which gave Sam the possibility to advance to more serious topics. "It's good to hear you laugh again, Liz."

"I know. I'm so glad to be here now, away from … you know … New York."

Sam nodded sadly, instantly remembering her husband's fury after his return from New York. "Jack was, and actually still is, extremely mad with Woolsey and his hyenas. He can't wait to meet him next week again." Sam grimaced while Elizabeth nodded sympathetically.

"I was so grateful he was there. Frankly, another verbal battle with Woolsey was the last thing I needed back then."

"Who ever does? But just for the record, you would've kicked his bald ass!"

Elizabeth laughed once more and slowly she realized this was one of the things she'd missed the most lately: being with true friends like Sam, talking and having fun, miles away from constant headaches, endlessly depressing negotiations and scavenging bureaucrats.

"So, how's everything going? How's little Jacob doing?" Elizabeth asked, calculatedly changing the subject.

"He's becoming more and more like Jack every day. It's scary, actually."

"And daddy Jack's proud as hell?" Elizabeth grinned, grateful that Sam hadn't decided to push any subjects.

"You bet. But what's new with you? When are you gonna start at the university?"

"Tomorrow's my first day, and the day after that I'm gonna give my first course." Elizabeth smiled insecurely. "I'm as afraid as the worst freshman."

"You'll do great. I'm sure the students and the staff will like you. You always were a wonderful teacher."

"We'll see. But I can't wait to see Daniel there; I haven't seen him in ages."

"Say hi from me to him as well when you meet him! Since we're all in the same town for once, maybe we can breathe new life into the famous tradition of the Weir-Carter-Jackson movie nights!" Sam grinned devilishly.

"My liver, if I'm not wrong, is not the only one that's not that young anymore." Elizabeth stated dryly. Back in college those "movie nights" always had suffered from a certain nasty tendency to end in headaches, rings under the eyes and therefore missed courses in the next morning.

"Don't go sell yourself short! Your liver always could keep up fairly remarkable." Just as dryly, Sam answered.

"Oh shut up!" Playfully Elizabeth threw her napkin at Sam. "But since you're asking what's new, here's something." Elizabeth grabbed her bag, took some white envelope out of it and put it on the table.

"What's that?"

"A letter apparently."

"Smartass. What's in there?" Sam took the envelope only to become aware that it hadn't been opened yet.

"I had a … a … something like … a bad feeling about it." Sam frowned at Elizabeth's uncharacteristically stammering. "I mean could you … you know … "

"… open it?" Sam finished the question for Elizabeth who simply nodded.

Elizabeth observed Sam opening the envelope and taking out another a bit smaller envelope with flowers and hearts on it. Bad sign. Elizabeth's premonition seemed to be verified as Sam made contact with the concrete content of the letter, a card of a soft pink. Damn. Being right sucks. Elizabeth hit her head on the table when she recognized one of the names on the card.

Since usually neither of them was known to get overly theatrical at every more or less appropriate occasion, seeing Elizabeth, her rational and calm friend, like this was something of a rarity for Sam. What kind of letter was that? Sam opened the card and … almost forgot to breathe for a second.

Elizabeth Weir and Guest

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sheppard

and

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Wallace

request the pleasure of your company

at the marriage of their children

Madeleine Vivien Sheppard

and

Dr. Simon Gregory Wallace

on the first Saturday of October

two thousand and seven

at four o'clock in the afternoon

St. Paul's Church

WashingtonD.C.

"He's getting married?!" Sam was genuinely shocked.

"I had heard he was back with one his ex-girlfriends, but I didn't think he was that eager to get down the aisle." Elizabeth had feared it could have been Simon's invitation, but the confirmation of her presentiment still stunned her. It's been less than 3 months. Elizabeth shook her head slightly in disbelief.

"You knew that he was seeing someone? Without telling me?" Sam shrieked practically.

"I haven't …" Elizabeth started to react, but was interrupted by a male voice coming from behind her.

"Ladies." Elizabeth turned around to see Jack O'Neill approaching. Reaching Elizabeth's and Sam's table, Jack bent down to give his wife a peck on the lips. "Mrs. O'Neill."

Sam only exhaled unmistakably annoyed, whereas Elizabeth used the chance to tease the Air Force General. "General Carter, as always it is a pleasure to see you."

Jack put on his best I'm-so -cute-and-innocent-and-you-hurt-me-nevertheless-face as Sam giggled and Elizabeth broadly smiled. "Together again for ten seconds and already conspiring. Life's not fair." Dramatically Jack wiped away a non-existent tear from his cheek.

Another heartbroken sigh later Jack ultimately had sat down as well. Straight away he became aware of the card that was lying on the table. "What disease in pink is that supposed to be? Only looking at it causes me headaches."

"See yourself." Throwing her hands up slightly in a gesture that spoke of defeat, Elizabeth allowed Jack to take a look at the invitation himself. Accordingly, he picked the card up and examined it.

"The guy wants you to be at his wedding?" The Air Force General was also taken aback.

"Our families have known each other forever. He's just being polite."

"Yeah, and I'm Mary Poppins."

"Jack, … " Elizabeth ran her hand through her hair, trying to find the right words to explain a complicated situation she didn't really seem to fully grasp herself.

"Don't tell me you're actually sorry not be the lucky gal that gets to become Mrs. Doctor Dense!"

"No, I'm …" Realizing Jack's use of the nickname he'd given Elizabeth's ex-fiancé Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Simon" She emphasized his real name "is a nice man and …"

Jack broke her off pretending a yawn. "... only hearing his name makes me yawn."

Elizabeth stuck her tongue out at her friend who just laughed. "You know I'm right! There was a reason you broke it up with him." As soon as the words had left his mouth Jack wished he could take them back. A desire that was reinforced by his wife who immediately slapped him on his upper arm. Sometimes he could be the proverbial bull in the china shop.

Elizabeth merely flinched for a second at the mention of the unceremonious end of her former relationship. She honestly wasn't proud of that day of her life. But at the moment she was determined to appear indifferent.

The pretty uncomfortable silence was fortunately finished promptly by the waitress who emerged with the bill. As soon as Sam had paid for both herself and Elizabeth despite the latter's objections, they got ready to leave the café. Shortly before they would've separated Sam came up with an idea. "Come on, why don't you accompany us picking up Jake now? He'll be thrilled to see his favorite auntie Lizzie again."

Elizabeth's face immediately lightened up at the prospect of meeting the little boy. "I'd love to."

As the threesome reached Jack's car and were about to enter the vehicle, Sam abruptly turned to Elizabeth, as if she'd all of a sudden remembered something important. "Umm, Liz?" Sam coughed quietly, which made Elizabeth meet her eyes, looking expectantly.

"Umm … who, you know, the wedding … umm … who are yougonnagowith?"

Although Sam had asked the question with the speed of light, Elizabeth had gotten it. And all at once her head dropped again. Damn. Back to the headaches.