"You know, I could sleep on the couch downstairs." Sam tossed over her shoulder as she and Janet prepared for bed.

"Why bother? Apparently the world thinks we're gay. Be comfortable." Sam chuckled at Janet's response as she slid into the wonderfully soft sheets. "We do need to make a preemptive strike, though. It is bound to get back to the base eventually." She rounded the corner from the bathroom and gave Sam a look that said and you know it.

"Don't worry about it. I'll talk to General Hammond tomorrow." Sam said confidently.

Janet climbed into bed and settled the covers to her satisfaction. "And if he asks to talk to Cassandra? Honestly Sam, we're going to have to tell her about the birds and the bees just so she'll understand how we aren't gay."

Sam considered that for a moment. "Well, you're the medical expert. You talk to Cassie and I'll talk to General Hammond."

Janet snorted a laugh. "Why do you get the easy talk?"

"Because I'll do much better explaining why we shouldn't lose our jobs to our boss than I would do explaining sex to a twelve year old." She deadpanned a look at Janet.

"Ok, fine, I surrender. But honestly, I wish it didn't matter. She's happy. Who cares whether her parents have sex with each other? We both love her. Now I understand what all the gay rights people are fighting for. It really is ridiculous."

"I know." Sam was mulling over how much she would miss going off-world and all the new technology she was learning about if she somehow lost her place with the Air Force. Her career was the reason she hadn't adopted Cassie herself. Sometimes she wondered what that really said about her as a person.

"What's wrong, Sam?" Janet had seen her eyes suddenly darken.

"Well-" Sam stopped, gathering her words. "Sometimes I wonder what I would give up, you know? I love... I love having a reason to come home. But I didn't adopt Cassie. We both know it's because I put my career ahead of her. But here I am, night after night, staying at your house, loving her like she's my child. And now we have to make sure the base knows we're not gay, or we could both lose our jobs. Is that fair? Is it right? Should I have just let her... detach from me so she could move on with you? I just, I wonder which part of this is the most selfish." She grunted in frustration and continued to stare up at the ceiling, still thinking.

Janet laid quietly. She would never have thought of Sam's actions as selfish. Sam had, despite an insane commitment to her work, made an effort to spend time with Cassandra even though she had no real obligation to do so. Her love for the girl was clear. Janet certainly didn't think less of her in any way just because Sam had chosen not to petition for adoption. Understanding your own limits was a thing many people struggled with. She rolled onto her side to face Sam and propped her head up.

"Sam, nothing you have done for that child has ever been selfish on your part. And that includes understanding that you weren't available to be a single mother. I know you love your job, and I know you love Cassandra. The fact is, if you hadn't done you job, we wouldn't even have her." She paused to let her friend consider that. "How many amazing things do you find and bring home through that gate, and then entrust to someone else?" She waited for Sam to look at her. "You are an explorer. You don't just stop looking because you've found one thing - you keep going. And loving someone doesn't change who you are. We need you out there, keeping us safe. We'll be here, every time you come home."

Sam rolled on to her side, eyes pleading with her best friend. "But see, Janet? It's not just her. It's you, too. I know you care for me as a friend, but you need your own time and space with Cassie. And I don't want to be the thing that gets in the way of you meeting some great guy and having a real family." The words stung her as they came out.

Janet reached out and took Sam's arm, squeezing gently. "Sam, as far as Cassie and I are concerned, you are family, and you know that. Real family is made of love, not marriage certificates and same last names - I should know. And as a matter of fact I have already decided not to pursue any new romantic interests until Cassie is older. I don't want people so freely going in and out of her life like that. She needs stability, at least for a while. In a few years, when she starts dating, I'll do the same. But you certainly aren't getting in the way, do you understand?" She released her light hold on Sam's arm and ran her hand soothingly down the long limb to Sam's own hand. Taking it, she pulled it back to her own heart. "Right now all I want is to be with my two girls. I enjoy my time as a family with you and Cassandra more than I enjoyed my marriage most of the time. You two are much better company."

"Ok." Sam said quietly. "I just don't want to be in the way of anything."

"You aren't. You are always welcome here. You will always have a place here." She smiled a little. "If anyone is selfish here, it's me. All I have to do is ask and you come running for that girl. I know you'll always take care of each other." She waited for Sam to relax. After a few moments, a small smile told her she had gotten through. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to try to go to sleep so that the base can call me in at 2 am to take care of our favorite team of scientists." Sam raised an eyebrow. "Ok, second favorite." Holding Sam's hand with her other for a moment, she reached back and turned off the bed side lamp, then resettled, keeping the back of the claimed hand against her chest.

"Janet?" Sam heard the soft hum of reply. "Thank you." She felt the light, reassuring pressure of Janet's hand around hers. It was incredibly comforting. She found herself reaching for Janet's free hand before she could think. Janet felt her searching fingers and curled her own hand into them. Again she pulled the back of Sam's hand toward her, but this time she lifted the hand up and softly kissed the long fingers before pressing them to her heart.

Sam felt a feeling of contentment grow and spread from her spine, relaxing her entire body. As she let herself accept that she was not just needed, but wanted in the odd little family they had made, she let out a contented sigh and melted further into the warm bed. Slowly, Janet's hold on her hands loosened. Stretching out slightly, she let her arms relax into the middle of the bed with Sam's. Comfortably entangled, they both drifted off to sleep.