Title: Ad Infinitum – Epilogue

Chapter Summary: The anniversary dinner.

Chapter Rating: PG-13 (language)

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Epilogue

Jacob's POV

Our house was packed and the dinner party was in full force. Cassie had got in Friday night and helped Dad and I prepare everything. The food was delicious as everyone helped Mom and Dad celebrate 19 years of marriage. It seemed like every year something always happened that kept them from being able to celebrate this occasion with all their friends and family, so just being able to get everyone together was a major deal. We, the O'Neill kids, had decided to each give a speech to honor them and once we were all done with the main course, Cassie stood up, raising her champagne glass and the chatter around the table slowly died down.

She cleared her throat before starting. "Since everyone at this table has full security clearance, I can speak freely," she started, getting some laughs and smiles. "27 years ago, SG-1 rescued me and gave me a new life. Janet Frasier took me in and I had the honor to call her mother for six years before she was taken from me. I considered myself lucky enough to have had two mothers who loved me and cared for me and I never believed I could be as lucky a third time... but Sam took me in again and continued to love me and raise me even though I believed I was old enough to take care of myself. You and Jack saved me time and time again and I'm proud to be part of this family and I know Mom would be proud too if she were here today. Congratulations!"

When she was finished, there was not a dry eye in sight. Cassie hugged Mom and then Dad as we clapped.

I was up next so when everyone was seated again, I stood up. "Mom and Dad, you guys are an inspiration to me. Your discipline and love for your careers are the driving forces behind my joining the Academy, so I can try to be the best I can be for this country and Earth. I know just how much you two risked so much to be here today and it only makes me respect you even more. So I thank you and I congratulate you on making this far."

I hurriedly sat down after hugging the two of them and Alex's hand covered mine in support before she leaned in and whispered, "Good job."

The twins were up next and they stood up together on their chairs. Jaen, always the extroverted one, started: "Jakey and Cass said we had to tell you Happy Anniversary."

"Happy Anniversary," Olin added.

"Oh and we made you a drawing," Jaen said, producing a piece of paper from under her napkin and handing it to Dad. He looked at it with the excitement that only parents can feign over pink crayon trees and stick figure people with big hair.

"What is this, sweetie?" He asked pointing to two crayon blurs on the paper, I couldn't see very well from my seat. I could see a ring-shaped drawing on the paper, which meant we'd probably have to have the 'Stargate is a secret and should not be included in drawings' conversation with the kids again.

"Dogs!" Olin said excitedly, which was very unusual for him so we knew this was something important. "Cassie also said that we can go to the pound tomorrow and pick up two puppies, 'cause it's a rule."

"Oh, did she?" Mom asked Cassie with a glare and the 38-year-old had the decency to look as innocent as possible.

"Hey, blame it on Jack! I'm only teaching them what I was told."

Mom gave Dad a look that suggested he would probably pay for whatever they were referring to and chuckles were heard around the table.

Everyone thought it was time for dessert but then Uncle Daniel stood up, "I'm not very good at these things and I'm very glad you guys had a secret wedding ceremony and spared me from having to do this 19 years ago." He turned to the rest of us, "I was in Abydos when these two met, so I don't recall their first encounter, but it became quite a legend around the SGC. I don't think I realized how perfect for each other you guys were until a year later when I saw you two engaged in an alternate reality... maybe it was meant to be from the beginning, but after seeing that alternate universe, I started to see you two with different eyes and I spent the next seven years watching you two deny what was there and I for one am incredibly grateful that those times are over. So I propose a toast to the best two people I've ever had the chance to work with."

Everyone raised their glass and toasted. Mom and Dad looked like they couldn't take much more when Teal'c stood up. This should be interesting, everyone thought, "I agree with everything that was said by DanielJackson. Your union has been fruitful and a cause for great happiness." Then he respectfully bowed to the couple.

Vala stood up next, "Well, I'm not very good at these things either but I find it remarkable that your marriage has withstood such a long time. Too bad Daniel won't agree to marry me as well," she finished and people around the table looked at Daniel for confirmation that this was indeed a joke and that they could laugh.

Uncle Cam was next and the toasts continued until everyone in the room had the chance to congratulate them. Finally the cake was brought out to Dad's delight and everyone returned to the story-telling that always took place when the group spent time together off-base.

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Alex's POV

The party had died down and the kids had gone to bed, so Jacob and I had climbed onto the roof. I was lying down perpendicular to him with my head on his stomach as we stared up to the stars. I kept asking him the names of the constellations and I think he made a few of them up to see if I would pick up on it.

The 'backyard' of his house was a three acre wooded area with a natural pond that was smaller than the one up at the cabin but still provided enough ambience to be relaxing.

"I think I see your parents making out," he said after a while and I moved my hand to cover my eyes. I groaned and he laughed, "just kidding but they seem to be hugging as they talk to my parents."

Hugging I could deal with so I uncovered my eyes.

"You really shouldn't be so embarrassed about your parents," he added with a grin.

"Oh come on! You've seen them when they start arguing. It's like the whole world disappears and then there's the face-sucking and the noises," I shuddered. "Why can't they be well-behaved like your parents?"

"I don't know, maybe because they never had to hide their relationship." Jacob offered and I felt slightly guilty.

My parents probably did have it much easier than his parents ever did plus I always knew that between the fighting and the inability to keep their hands off each other, my parents did love each other and they loved me. Planned or unplanned, they've always been honest and caring towards me... I wasn't about to let them know I knew that though, I thought with a smile.

"For crying out loud, I think your Mom just asked my parents how their sex life is," Jacob groaned. From his position on the slanted roof, he seemed to be testing his developing ability to read lips which his Dad kept insisting would make a big difference in combat. "I see your Dad apologizing," he added with a chuckle. "Maybe there is a reason to be embarrassed about them."

I laughed. "I've been telling you that for years, Flyboy. Hey at least she didn't ask about it at the dinner table. Trust me, she's fully capable of it."

He smiled at that and his hand moved to entangle itself in my hair and I continued to stare up at the stars. With any luck, my parents would be convinced to let me be home schooled and I would be able to go on more missions to keep my mind busy. "What am I going to do when you leave?" I asked as I counted the days in my head. Twelve days and then we'd be apart for months until he came home for Thanksgiving.

"Maybe without me around you'll actually get a life." He joked.

"Come on, I have a life. One that includes my best friend and wormholes and top-secret projects. I can't just go to the mall and find me a new friend - what am I going to tell them? What would I talk about? I don't know anything about the latest fashion or the movies that are out or what is on TV."

"It's only for 4 years, and I'll probably graduate in 3. Next summer I'll have to do on-campus training but after that my summers will be spent at SGC. Plus it's only 30 minutes away..." He tried to appease me.

"Might as well be a light-year. It's not like you would disrespect curfew and sneak out to hang out with me if I went to visit you."

"How do you know? Maybe I would," he argued and I laughed.

"Yeah right. What am I going to do if I get stranded somewhere off-world? Who's going to figure out how to get me back?" I was being childish and I knew it, but I didn't want to give up my best friend. I figured maybe if I spent enough time asking these questions, he would finally realize it was a bad idea to join the military.

"You know the SGC has plenty of capable people... they would figure it out... and if they didn't, I promise I'll come back long enough to figure out how to find you."

I sighed and continued to stare at the stars. "At least we'll have the bracelets," I said glancing at the device on my wrist. "Do you think they'd work across the galaxy?" I asked concerned.

"Not sure... but if they don't, you can always dial the gate home... I'm sure the SGC wouldn't object to keeping a wormhole open for a few minutes because you need to tell me about a new artifact you found," he joked and I pinched his arm.

We had just returned from the adventure of our lives, and he was leaving before we had even come to full terms with it. I felt anger but I knew it wasn't really his fault. He sat up and pulled me onto his lap, keeping his arms tight around me.

"I'm not abandoning you, Alex... I'll be back before you know it." He promised.

I knew it was right for him to leave. A brief glance of him in full uniform, blonde hair adorned by those silly little hats and shoulders decorated by a silver eagle or a star, and I realized how proud that would make him, and how proud I would feel by default. I didn't respect the military institution like he did, but I respected Uncle Jack, Aunt Sam and Cam after so many years in service and I had to respect Jacob's decision too, even if it would take him away from me for a while. "I'm gonna miss you," I told him trying to keep the sniffles away.

"I'm gonna miss you too, Alien Girl."

Suddenly a rock landed near us, followed by another and we looked down to see Uncle Jack throwing them. "We're thinking of going up to the cabin next weekend, what do you guys think?" He asked and Jacob and I looked at each other.

Cassie, my parents, his, the kids and maybe even Uncle Cam; it'd be a full house – or cabin, in this case. At the same time, we'd get to spend time together and I could imagine a lot of fun things to do that the adults wouldn't approve of. "It sounds great!" We replied together, my grin seemingly reflected in his face.

Oh, yeah… Summer wasn't over just yet.