"She really needs to get a bigger car", he groused as he slid into the seat. This thing was not meant for a 6'2" general with bad knees! "Ha! You're gonna have to drive around in a van soon Colonel. No more of this miniature thing you like to call a car!"

He managed to back it out of her driveway and head towards the SGC to pick up Teal'c. Daniel was making his way over on his own a little later so he'd offered to pick up the big guy. Of course, he'd forgotten about the damn car. He should have let Sam do it.

He pulled up to the gate of the mountain complex, ready to show his ID, when the soldier on duty leaned forward. "I'm sorry Sir", he said, "You'll have to drive around to the other entrance. This is for military and staff only."

He sighed. He hadn't been gone that long, had he? To be fair, though, he was dressed in his civvies. "I think I'm in the right place Airman." He held out his hand holding his official ID. The soldier looked at it and immediately shot to attention.

"I'm sorry General. I didn't realize it was you. You can go right in."

"Thanks." He drove forward and parked his car in a visitor's spot, which gave him a funny feeling, one he didn't like very much.

He had the same problem at the front desk, when the guard there started to direct him to the public entrance. Fortunately Sergeant Gomez walked up at that point and instantly recognized him.

"General O'Neill", he exclaimed. "Sorry Sir – Phillips is new here. It's nice to see you back!"

"Thanks Gomez. How're the wife and kid?"

"Fine Sir", the Sergeant beamed. "Although it's kids now General. We had a little girl just a few weeks ago – her name's Emily."

"Congratulations Gomez! And tell your wife I'm really happy for you both. That's great. I'm uh – just here to pick up Teal'c."

"Of course Sir. Go right on in. Do you want me to call down and tell him you're coming?"

"Nah, that's okay. I'll find him." In actual fact he wanted to wander around a little bit. He was feeling particularly nostalgic today, although if he were to think about it too hard he'd realize he didn't want things to change or to go back to way they had been. No, things were going just fine – that didn't mean he didn't miss the old place though.

When he got off the elevator he immediately headed towards the gate room wondering briefly if Hank was around. He wasn't here in any official capacity and wouldn't mind saying hi to his old friend. But then again, he didn't exactly know what he'd say about why he was in Colorado. No one except Daniel and Teal'c, and now Cassie, knew of his relationship with Sam.

"Sir!"

"Walter! How ya doing?" It was good to see Harriman – he'd tried to steal him away from the SGC when he moved to DC. but hadn't been successful. He figured Hank had heard and had pulled some strings to keep him. It was too bad, really. Walter had saved his butt on more than one occasion when he'd taken over command of the base.

"Fine Sir – and you? Are you here to see General Landry?" Walter was obviously curious as to what he was doing in the SGC, especially since he hadn't been given any warning. He looked both pleased, and worried to see his former boss.

"Nah, just here to pick up Teal'c. I'm not really here Walter", he grinned at the man.

"Right Sir", Harriman smiled back. "I'll remember that and forget I saw you, although it is good to see you. We've missed you around here."

"Landry not treating you right?" He said with a wink. Walter knew he was just joking around and wasn't asking seriously. He would never do that to Landry.

"He's good Sir, although things aren't as – interesting – as they were with you."

Jack smirked. Yup – he did have a way of making life interesting for those he worked with. Better that than boring he thought.

"Have you seen Colonel Carter and Dr. Jackson yet General?"

"Uh – I've seen Carter. Daniel's coming over – I mean going over to her house this afternoon. We're meeting there – all of us – together – the four of us. Uh- Cassie's in town so we came to see her."

"I see. I'm sure she appreciates it Sir – Cassie I mean", the wily Sergeant said, a knowing look in his eye.

Jack looked at him out of narrowed eyes. What did Walter know? "Yes. Quite. Well, I'd better be going and grab Teal'c. He doesn't want to miss seeing Cassie – since she's only here this weekend and none of us have seen her for a long time and we all want to see us – all four of us - together.

"Yes Sir. Say hi to her for me."

"I will Walter, thanks", he waved a hand at his former secretary and began to turn.

"And say hi to Colonel Carter for me too!"

Jack whipped around quickly; almost sure he'd caught a smirk on Walter's face. He couldn't be sure though, so he just glared and then turned in the direction of Teal'c's quarters. Walter stood watching his retreat, a grin on his face.

"Come", Teal'c's voice answered as soon as he knocked on the door. He opened it and stuck his head inside and couldn't help but laugh at the picture his friend made. In years gone by, when he'd come to see Teal'c, more often than not he'd find his friend sitting on the floor, surrounded by candles, deep in kelnoreem. This time, Teal'c was lying in bed, a comic book in hand, and a bowl of popcorn on his lap. How times had changed!

"You've officially arrived Teal'c", Jack said.

"O'Neill!" Teal'c sat up and placed both the comic and the popcorn on his bedside table. "It is good to see you."

"And you!"

Teal'c stood and grabbed his jacket and then turned to Jack. "I am ready."

"Good – let's go then."

The two men walked, side by side down the corridor, not needing to say anything to each other. Their friendship ran deep and neither of them were ones to talk about feelings – except when they thought they were going to die, remembered Jack. They'd always understood one another and hadn't needed speech to communicate.

"How have I arrived O'Neill?" Okay – well maybe sometimes they did.

"Uh – the comic and popcorn", he explained. "You looked like a kid from Earth."

"I am not a 'kid'."

"No – well – okay, maybe not a kid but – you still looked cute – and very Tauri!"

Teal'c was silent for a moment and then gave one, short nod. "That is good."

They were driving out of the compound before Teal'c spoke again. "For what reason are you in Colorado Springs? I believe Samantha said you were busy this weekend."

"Yeah, I was. I uh got a call from Cassie last night. She was kind of worried about something and asked me to come, so I did."

"Was it something serious?"

"No – I mean – yes – but not bad just – it was something I had to be here for."

"I see."

If he wasn't mistaken, Jack thought he heard a note of – hurt – in his friend's. He thought back to the fact that he hadn't told Teal'c about his relationship with Sam and realized he must be thinking that Jack no longer trusted him or wanted to confide in him. The more he thought about it the worse he felt.

He realized that he'd become guilty of taking Teal'c for granted. Unlike Daniel, who would raise bloody murder over not being told things, usually about Jack's innermost feelings, Teal'c was always calm and ready to wait for when – if – he was ready to talk. That didn't mean that Teal'c didn't care – in face, he knew Teal'c cared greatly. It was just so easy to always think Teal'c was fine, that he didn't get his feelings hurt.

Jack glanced at him again and made a quick decision. He saw a coffee shop ahead and quickly pulled into the parking lot.

"Is there a problem O'Neill?" Teal'c looked at him, only his eyes showing his concern.

"No, not a problem." Jack took off his seat belt and turned to face his friend. "I just – thought it would be nice to stop for a coffee. I haven't seen you for a while."

"Are things well with you and Colonel Carter?" Teal'c asked after they were seated, with cups of coffee in front of them.

"Yup - things are great – really great." he'd decided that he was going to tell Teal'c about the baby. He hoped Carter would understand. It was just that – Teal'c was like a brother to him and he wanted to be able to share this with him.

After a moment of silence he sighed and put his hands through his hair. This was harder than he thought. "Look, Cassie called because she was a bit worried about Sam. She hasn't been feeling well – Sam I mean, not Cassie – and she – Cassie, not Sam – asked her, Sam – if she could maybe be – you know. Well, she – Sam,– didn't think it was possible, but she – Cassie, not Sam – insisted and so they bought a test and it turned out that she was – Sam, of course, not Cassie – and so she – Cassie – called me to ask me to come and I thought I'd better, although she didn't tell me why, except she – Cassie, not Sam – sounded kind of funny. So I came and now you know." Whew, he'd managed to do it! He looked at his friend expectantly.

Teal'c stared at him, unblinking.

"Well, what do you think?" Jack asked expectantly.

Finally – Teal'c blinked. "I do not know."

"You don't – but – I mean, you must think something. She was sure you'd be happy."

"Samantha or Cassandra?"

"Sam of course – oh, Cassie too."

"O'Neill, I have no idea what you are talking about. All I understood is that Cassandra was worried about Samantha and you came as a result. What is this 'test' you speak of?"

Jack replayed his words in his own mind. Had he forgotten to actually tell him? He shook his head. What an idiot.

"She's pregnant Teal'c."

Another stare. "Cassandra or Samantha?"

He laughed – he couldn't help it. "Sam – Sam's pregnant", he clarified.

"And you are the father." Fortunately it wasn't a question, but rather a statement. "Are you pleased?"

"I'm – thrilled."

"Then congratulations are in order." Teal'c reached out with his hand and grasped Jack's arm tightly. "I am very happy for you O'Neill – for you and Samantha. This is wonderful news."

"Yeah, it is. I was a little stunned at first. I mean, we hadn't planned this or anything. She was on birth control so it - " he bit his lip. Should he be telling Teal'c all of this? "Anyway, she is pregnant and I'm going to be a father again."

"You will be a wonderful father", his friend told him seriously. "And your child will be brave and strong and very intelligent."

"Yeah?"

"Indeed – it has Samantha as its mother."

It took a second before he realized that Teal'c was teasing him, and then he cracked a laugh. "Just for that I don't think I'll ask you to be godfather Teal'c. Although you're probably right about Carter's genes being better than mine."

"No – the child will get those qualities from both of you and will be fortunate to have you as father, and Samantha as mother." He frowned suddenly. "What is this 'godfather'? I have no wish to be a 'god'."

"No", Jack laughed. "Not 'god' as in uh god. Godfather is someone who the parents ask to be a special person in the child's life, to be there to guide and support him, or her. It's an old tradition and is very special person. We want both you and Daniel to stand as godfathers to the baby."

"Then I am honored O'Neill, that you would ask me. I promise you that I will take the role very seriously and will always be there for your child – and for you and Colonel Carter."

"Thanks Teal'c."

"What will happen now? I do not believe that she will be able to continue to travel through the gate. Is it not true that women who are bearing a child are no longer permitted to do so?"

"Yeah, that's true. She's going to speak with General Landry tomorrow and she'll be grounded, at least until the baby comes."

"I see. And what of you?"

"I'm already grounded Teal'c." He breathed deeply and let out a huff of breath. "I'm going to retire."

"You are certain? The president will not be happy."

"No, I expect he'll be really pissed but – I missed a lot of moments in Charlie's life when he was tiny – I was overseas. I don't want to do that with this child. I want to spend time with him or her and be there when my child walks and learns to talk and – I want to enjoy him or her."

Teal'c nodded and reached out and grasped Jack's arm again. "I understand and I honor you for this decision, although I know you will be missed in the program. Will you return to Colorado?"

"I think so – as long as Sam is posted here anyway."

"That is good. I would wish to be close to my –"

"Goddaughter – or godson. Crap, it would be a lot easier if I knew what it was going to be."

"Is it not going to be a human child?" Teal'c asked, a confused frown on his face.

Jack laughed again. "I hope so. No, I meant -" he saw the gleam in Teal'c's eyes and stopped. "Okay – you have to stop that Teal'c!"

"Stop what O'Neill?" A small grin appeared on his face.

"Pretending to be so clueless! Come on", he told his friend, standing up and leaving a five dollar bill on the table. "Let's go. Sam wants to see you and so does Cassie."

"Was Samantha pleased?"

"Yeah – after she got over the shock." They walked out to Sam's car and both squeezed into the front seat. Jack figured the two of them must look ridiculous squashed into the tiny car. "She's worried because she doesn't know how to change a diaper."

"I believe that Samantha Carter will learn quickly and will be an excellent mother."

"I have no doubt at all Teal'c." Jack smiled and pulled out into the road.

Sam wondered what was taking the men so long, although she figured that Jack had probably met some people at the SGC and was talking with them. She hoped he wasn't too long – he had to leave this evening and she wanted to spend as much time as possible with him.

It was only a few minutes later when she heard her car and went to the front door, opening it to wait for the two men. She had to laugh at the picture of the two of them in her car. She wished she had a camera.

Jack got to the door first and leaned over, giving her a quick kiss. "I hope you don't mind, but I told him", he whispered softly. She reached up and softly touched his cheek, letting him know that it was fine.

Teal'c arrived then and didn't say a word, he simply reached out and took her into his arms, giving her a big Jaffa sized hug.

"I am happy for you Samantha", he told her. "As I told O'Neill, you will be an excellent mother."

"Thank you Teal'c", she answered, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "That means a lot. I hope Jack told you we want you to be a godfather – you and Daniel."

"He did. I am honored and will fulfill my obligations seriously."

"Thank you", she repeated. "Now come on. Cassie is dying to see you." The loud squeal suddenly coming from down the hall gave truth to her statement.

Daniel

Daniel was pleased for his friends, really he was. He admitted – to himself only – that he was also a little envious. It's not that he begrudged them their happiness, but it was hard seeing them become a couple while he was still single.

Teal'c had his family on Chulak and he'd met Ishta and things seemed to be going well there. It made him feel rather, left out, a feeling he'd never really had with his teammates before. Oh, he knew they'd feel terrible if they suspected he felt that way. It's not really anything they'd done, it was just that things were different now. Life was changing, Sg-1 was changing, and he didn't know if he was ready.

At least Sam seemed to be staying put as part of their team. He knew Jack must hate the long-distance relationship, but he also put duty first and knew that both of them were needed where they were. Really then, it shouldn't be too bad.

He arrived at Sam's and turned off his engine. He sat for a couple of minutes, trying to get into a better mood, before he opened the door and headed up the front steps. He reached out and rang the bell.

"Daniel!" Jack was standing there, a huge grin on his face. Without waiting for Daniel to move he reached forward and pulled him into a hug.

Daniel's eyebrows went up. Jack usually wasn't this demonstrative unless someone, usually him, had almost died – or actually died. He knew that Jack considered him a close friend but he usually wasn't the man to show it so overtly.

"Hi Jack", he said as soon as the other man released him. "It's good to see you. How's it going?"

"Good Daniel – really good. Come on in."

Okay – that was weird", thought Daniel. It just confirmed how much things had already changed. Jack had never, in all the years they'd been together, invited him into Sam's house. He had always been extremely careful to not overstep – and, in fact, had often aired on the side of caution when it came to Sam. Now he was acting as if it was his house.

"So, I didn't think you could come this weekend. Sam said you were really busy with some things in DC."

"I was", Jack admitted. "But Cassie was here and I hadn't seen her for a long time so -"

"So he blew off the president Daniel", Cassie called from across the living room.

As soon as Daniel saw her he grinned and opened his arms. Cassie ran and threw herself at one of her favorite uncles. "Hey Cassie, it's good to see you!"

"You too Uncle Daniel. I'm so glad everyone's here."

At that Daniel glanced around to see Sam and Teal'c standing side-by-side, huge grins on their faces. Sam looked good, he thought, really good. In fact, he didn't remember her ever having that particular – glow – about her before. He gave a silent sigh. He really couldn't be resentful of the fact that she and Jack were finally together. They both really deserved it after so long.

"You're looking great Sam", he told her. "What's this guy been doing to you?" He looked in surprise at Cassie, who'd choked on a laugh. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine", the young girl said, although she instantly went off into peals of laughter.

Daniel turned to Jack, who had a completely blank look on his face, then to Sam, who wouldn't look at him and whose face was red. Finally he turned to his friend, the man he could always trust to be honest. "Teal'c?" The big guy grinned and shrugged. "Okay, what's going on here?" he asked, looking back and forth between his friends.

"Nothing Daniel", Jack answered. "Ignore Cassie, it's just teenage stuff."

"It is not Uncle Jack!" Cassie exclaimed. She opened her mouth to say more when she got that look from Sam. Geesh, she was already acting like a mother!

"Come on, let's all sit down. It's great to see you guys." Jack bounced into the living room and sat on the couch. Sam instantly went and curled up beside him. Teal'c sat in the big armchair and Cassie curled up on the floor at his feet. Daniel stayed standing, leaning against the fireplace mantle. "So, how are things going Danny? Found any interesting rocks lately?"

Daniel sighed and shook his head. "Since you get daily reports from the SGC", he informed Jack, "I'm sure you know as well as I do what's new. In fact, you probably have a better idea than I do."

Jack shrugged. "Nah – I see 'artifacts' and unless it says honkin big space gun in brackets beside it, I ignore it."

"Mmm hmm, I'm sure. So you're nothing but a pretty face in DC, right?"

"Yup, that's me – Pentagon eye candy!"

Daniel snorted – along with Sam. "So, why are you really here? Not that I don't think Jack would come and see you Cas, but I get the feeling there's something he's not telling me, that you're all not telling me. So – what is it?"

Sam stood up and went to stand beside Daniel. She gave him a big smile and then hugged him. "You're right Daniel, there's another reason."

"Is everything okay?" He was immediately frowning, regarding everyone, Sam especially, with a worried look. "Has something happened?"

"Well, you remember when you asked Sam what Uncle Jack has been doing to her -"Cassie chirped in.

"Cassie!" Sam spoke to her sharply. "Be quiet. This is not the time for that."

The young woman grimaced and nodded. "Sorry", she said, although she didn't sound terribly repentant. She even grinned when Jack winked at her.

"I just found something out Daniel", Sam faced him once again, "and Jack and I wanted both you and Teal'c to know right away since you're family."

"What?' Daniel frowned again. What was this all about?

"I'm pregnant."

It took a few seconds for it to register. Daniel stared at her blankly, trying to figure out what she meant. She was pregnant? Then it sunk in. "What? You're – but – you've only been seeing each other for a few weeks."

"That's what I said", Sam agreed. "But as Cassie reminded me, it only takes once."

"Only once if you have super -"

"Don't say it Jack", Sam warned. Cassie gurgled.

"What? What were you going to say?" Daniel faced his friend, highly suspicious. He was also desperately trying to avoid thinking about what he'd been just told.

"Nothing Daniel", Sam said with a groan. "It's just some silly nonsense that Cassie started and now Jack won't stop. He's just feeling very -"

"- proud", Cassie added.

"Yes, proud – about the fact that I got pregnant while on birth control."

"You were on birth control?"

"Of course. Daniel you know that women going through the gate have to be on it."

"Oh – yeah."

Jack looked at Daniel with narrowed eyes, suddenly realizing that his friend was reacting rather strangely to their news. "Daniel?"

"Yes Jack?"

"Did you hear what Sam just said?"

"About being on birth control?"

"No", he looked disgusted. "About being pregnant?"

"Oh – yeah." Daniel stood for a second, seeming to look out blankly into space. "Uh – congratulations."

Jack frowned, wondering what had gotten into his friend. He noticed that Sam was looking rather disappointed and he wanted to shoot Daniel. "Danny?" He tried again. Maybe Daniel was in shock.

"Yes Jack?"

"Is that all you have to say?"

"About what?"

"Daniel! Are you okay?" Sam moved over to him and took his arm and led him to the couch, where she forced him to sit. "Are you feeling sick?"

"Sick? No, I'm fine." He peered at his friend and teammate and suddenly realized that he hadn't reacted well. He'd felt stunned at first, and then a wave of resentment had washed through him – resentment that Jack and Sam had a life together and were moving on, resentment that Teal'c seemed to be getting his life together and resentment that Sg-1 was clearly at an end. Now though, as he sat looking at the worried faces of his friends, he realized that he was being not only petty, but was forgetting an essential fact. Sg-1 might be at an end, but their friendship, their family, would continue. They had been through too much together – through life and death, love and tragedy, hurt and comfort – to ever lose what they had.

He regarded Sam and Jack and noticed again how she seemed to glow. And then there was Jack. He thought back to that first mission, to the dark and tormented man who wanted to die, and saw that that man was gone. There was a look in Jack's eyes, a purpose, a contentment, a hope that he'd never seen before. Standing in front of him was a man who had been given a new chance in life and he was grasping it tightly with both hands and wasn't letting go.

Suddenly Daniel felt a surge of hope himself. He'd lost the woman of his dreams, his wife, but he knew that it did not have to mean the end of joy or family or of the future. Things were changing and it was going to be hard, but it was also an opportunity to look for new adventures, new lives – and new hope.

And besides that – Jack was going to be a father again and he was going to have the opportunity to tease the heck out of the man from now on. He slowly started to smile. A baby Jack! What a wonderful thing for all of them. He was going to be an uncle – again. "Congratulations", he said again. This time it was uttered with heart and with true joy. He walked over to Jack and pulled him up and gave him a hug. "I'm happy for you", he said softly.

"Yeah", Jack spoke seriously. "I never thought – It's been a long road Daniel, but I made it, and so will you."

Daniel nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I think you're right." With another smile he turned to Sam and enveloped her in a huge hug. "Hey you!" he said. "What the heck are you doing having a baby with Jack? Don't you realize that you're taking your life in your hands by reproducing him?"

Sam laughed and returned Daniel's hug. "I'll just have to rely on you and Teal'c to keep him in line", she told him.

"Him? Jack or the baby?"

"Both", she replied. "We want you to be godfather, along with Teal'c", she told him. "We also want you all around a lot!"

"That's cuz she doesn't know how to change diapers and needs the help."

"I think she'll pick it up pretty quickly Jack", Daniel told him.

"Darn right she will", O'Neill answered. "No way I'm doing all of them. I didn't' make general to change a bunch of dirty diapers! That's a job for – colonels."

"In your dreams O'Neill", his loving girlfriend snorted. "I'll feed em, you change em!"

Everyone laughed and settled in to enjoy their time together. As the day wore on it was increasingly evident that everyone was happy for the couple. Even Daniel, who'd had some pangs of envy in the beginning, was now thrilled with the thought of being an uncle again.

"Hey guys", he came over to where Jack and Sam were sitting together.

"What is it Daniel?" Jack took a swig of pop and looked at his friend.

"If it's a boy you can name it 'Daniel' and if it's a girl you can name it 'Danielle'." He smiled as if he'd just invented the cure for cancer.

"Uh -"

"I also believe Murray is a fine name for a boy", Teal'c glared at him, ready to do battle.

"Maybe, but it doesn't work as a girl's name." They could all hear Daniel's silent so there.

"No, but Muriel is an attractive name and works as well as Danielle - better." Teal'c rebutted.

"Hey – if it's a girl it'll have to be Cassandra", threw in their almost-daughter.

Jack sighed and looked at Sam. "We're created a bunch of monsters!"

"Yeah, and just wait until Walter, Ferretti and Hammond weigh in."

"Oh crap!"

His girlfriend and the mother of his child nodded. "Mmm hmm. Crap indeed!"