As promised – another chapter. Sorry that the last one was so sappy! What can I say – my muse got carried away into the realms of the sublime, and the ridiculous. Oh well, it's my world and I was in a sappy mood! More answers revealed here (and more sappiness). Thanks again.

She became aware of something tickling her face. She swatted it away, but when it continued she finally forced her eyes open. The first thing she saw was Jack, looking at her, his hand poised above her face.

She felt a profound sense of wonder, of rightness. It rushed through her making her want to shout with joy. When she looked at Jack she saw the same sense of joy on his face and could feel it surging through him as well.

"So?" he asked

"So?" she answered right back.

"How ya doin'?"

"Fine."

"Just 'fine'?"

"Okay – really fine."

"Really fine? That's … nice."

"All right – gloriously, wonderfully, amazingly, stupendously fine! Is that better?"

"Yes, much better!" with that he reached forward and kissed her again.

"I'm gloriously, wonderfully, amazingly, stupendously in love with you Samantha Carter. If I could, I'd jump up and holler it to the world. You. Were. Absolutely. Incredible!"

"Yeah – back atcha Flyboy! Come here", she motioned with her finger, getting him to move the two or three inches available so his face was almost touching hers. "I love you Jack O'Neill!" and she reached up and kissed him right back. The kiss began to deepen – when all of a sudden, the chamber began to open.

"Whoops – hold on there. Give us a minute here!" The two soldiers quickly grabbed whatever clothes they could find and attempted to dress in the confined space.

By the time the chamber had opened completely, Jack had been able to put his shorts and tee-shirt on. Sam had managed a bit more, getting her pants and shirt on (although she couldn't find her bra anywhere.

Once the chamber was open, the two, now joined, looked up. At first they could see nothing, then a face appeared. It was the face or the beautiful alien. They looked at each other and both thought "Glinda!".

"Welcome O'Neill, Samantha. Welcome back to the world. We hope your joining was 'pleasant'."

"Oh yeah, very pleasant! Very, very pleasant. Ah, we could use some help here. The walls of this place are a bit smooth and we'd kinda like to get out of here."

"You have the ability O'Neill."

"I do? Okay – what do I do exactly?"

"What do you need to get out?"

"A ladder would be nice!" Just as he said the words, a ladder appeared at the side of the chamber.

"Wow – okay then, that's really cool! Come on Sam – let's get going." Grabbing their remaining clothes (there was her bra - how in the world did it get under Jack?) Sam climbed up first, followed by Jack, until they were both in the clearing. They both quickly donned most of the rest of their clothes. Sam looked at her bra, not quite sure what to do with it, she didn't want to dress in front of a whole bunch of aliens. Jack grinned and grabbed it, putting it into his back pocket. She heard his voice in his mind "reward!". She laughed.

This time, Sam didn't need to touch Jack to see the wonders around her. It was still the most amazing, beautiful place! Taking a deep breath of sweet air, she turned and looked around her. Standing around the clearing were all the aliens. For the first time they were completely solid, their clothes a sparkling white. There was no translucence, no shifting of colors.

"You have done it O'Neill, Samantha. You have taken hold of your destiny. Together you will bring back peace and harmony."

"How, how will we do that? Do we now have some miraculous powers?" Sam asked.

"Some straight answers would be nice!" Jack added.

"What 'powers' you have, I do not know. Some yes, the joining will allow you to work together, for good. The Ancient Gene will give you some ability – what all those will be have yet to be seen. But, that is not where your destiny lies. Your abilities, whatever they are or become, may help you but that is all."

"So what then, is our destiny? Do you know now, cause I'm getting kinda tired of this whole destiny thing?"

"The destiny you have chosen is to create a new future for the world, the universe. Through you, the two of you, new generations will come which will carry this hope and goodness forward. You are the father and mother of a new world. It is a great destiny, a blessed destiny for which you are both worthy."

"Are you telling me that this is about having kids? Do you mean to tell me that we went through all of this to determine whether or not we were fit to be parents!"

"Yes, but it is more than that. This is a great responsibility – for your children will bring a new world. They will be special."

Jack and Samantha looked at each other in dismay. Oh no, this couldn't be happening, they both thought.

Sam had realized, when she gave up Pete, that she was effectively giving up any chance of having a family. She had very little time, at her age, to get pregnant and have children. Added to that was the fact that Janet had told her, years ago, that there was a good chance she wouldn't be able to get pregnant because of all her body had been through. Now, she was in her forties. Oh, she knew it was still possible to have a child – maybe one if she were really lucky – but at her age that was about all she could hope for. Even then, she knew it was unlikely.

The other issue was Jack. Although she really didn't care about his age she knew it would be difficult for him to enter fatherhood again. He was in his fifties already. He would be in his 70's by the time any child finished high school. Again, the chance for more than one child was remote. How could they be the parents of 'generations' if they only managed one child?

Jack too felt dismayed. He loved children and had always hoped to have lots when he and Sara first married. But he had also given up any hope of more children a long time ago. It's not that he begrudged Sam the opportunity to experience motherhood – and if it was something she really wanted he would certainly agree to try. It's just that the thought of being the age of most kid's grandparents bothered him. He could imagine picking his son or daughter up at school and having the other parents and kids call him grandpa. He also didn't know how he could manage to do all the things fathers were supposed to do with their children.

These thoughts quickly went through the minds of each as they looked at each other. With a profound sense of sadness and loss they turned and looked at their alien guide.

"You don't understand", Sam said. "We're really too old to have a family. Humans can only have children for a few years and no longer."

"She's right", Jack agreed. "As much as I love kids, I'm too old to be a father. I think someone's made a huge mistake here. I think you got the wrong 'Chosen One'."

"No O'Neill, we were not wrong. Look, look at each other. You are not too old. There are many years left for both of you and many children in your future."

"Uh – sorry – I don't think so."

"Jack!" cried Sam

"What, what is it?"

"Look at me please. What do you see?"

"I see the most beautiful woman in the world."

"No, look at me, really look at me."

This time he looked at her carefully. As far as he could see she was still the same Sam he had loved for so long. He slowly started to realize something, however. Yes, she had always been beautiful, but she was a mature woman. He knew she was in her forties, although still gorgeous and sexy. What he hadn't noticed was that she had changed. Since first coming to Trelea she now appeared much younger. It had happened gradually, so gradually he hadn't even noticed. But, looking at her carefully, he realized she only looked to be in her twenties.

There were no lines around her eyes. Her face was slightly fuller, her skin a shade brighter. She looked amazing and so young!

'My God, Sam. What's happened?"

"Do I look younger?"

"Yes – by at least 15 or 20 years! I can't believe I didn't notice before."

"I know. It's the same with you. I noticed you were looking better, but at first I just thought it was because you weren't feeling so down and depressed. But now, looking at you – you look like a man in his thirties. Even your hair is starting to go brown at the roots. Please", she said, turning to the aliens, "what does this mean."

"The Joining brings many things – including healing and long life. As I said, you will have many years ahead of you and the chance for many children. But as always, the choice is yours. You can refuse, but we hope you do not. Now, it is time for you to return to your world. You have done all that needs to be done. My brethren and I thank you. We can now depart but we have been blessed to know you.. We pray that one day, we will also know your children. Go in peace."

Everything around them faded out. The clearing, the rock, the 'aliens', everything. They were back in the fields where the Guardian's place had been. The field was still filled with flowers, but now they were no longer white but masses of colors filled the whole area. It was beautiful – and alive.

"Well – this is a whole new adventure Sam. Whatya think?"

"I don't quite know Jack. I guess we'll just have to process this along with everything else. I can't quite get my mind around it yet. What are you thinking?"

"Don't you know?"

She realized that she did in fact know. The sensations were all so new that she didn't quite recognize them – but now she could feel Jack and sense what he was feeling. She also realized that she could tell what he was thinking when he opened up to her. It wasn't all the time. She guessed that the other person had to want to open up, to be 'read'. It allowed for privacy but also an incredible sharing. This was going to be very interesting. There was so much to discover about each other still.

So, she stopped a moment and read him. She felt that he was excited, happy, pleased – but also afraid and unsure. The idea of starting a family was scary when it was something you had thought was no longer part of your life. She also felt one other thing from him.

"Yes Jack – you are incredibly sexy now. I mean you always were – but now I'm going to have to keep more than just 'Jennifers' away from you. And I'm very happy your knees don't hurt and yes, that will make for some interesting and more versatile positions!"

He simply grinned at her. Okay – this new, younger Jack was going to be a handful!

"We'd better get back. What do you think General Landry and the Joint Chiefs are going to say?"

"Don't know … and frankly, don't care!"

"But what if we get in trouble? We could be court marshaled."

He looked at her and grinned again (oh boy – was she in trouble!)

"Alien influence, Sam. Alien influence!"

Jack then turned and started heading back to the gate. After a couple of feet he stopped and turned towards her. Holding out his hand he smiled.

"Come on Sam, let's go home."