Okay, one more short, shippy chapter, then back to the story.

Please review!

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

The sun sank down in the sky, painting bright orange flames across the clouds as it disappeared beneath the horizon. Jack watched the sunset with new eyes, his heart full of a hope that he hadn't thought he would ever feel again.

She loves me.

He had seen it so clearly in her eyes, and it was something he now realized he wasn't fully prepared for. He had always thought of Carter as completely off-limits, but somehow, knowing she was destined to be his made her seem within reach for the first time.

Once he and Sam returned to the patio with Jade, the rest of the evening went by quickly, everyone too caught up with enjoying each other's company to notice how fast the time went by. Teal'c's movie was forgotten, and the full moon above them lit up the deck brightly, so they never bothered coming inside, munching on pizza and taking turns telling Jade stories of past missions.

As the others chatted on the patio, Jack wandered off and ducked back inside the house, wanting to be alone with his thoughts. He plopped down on the couch, his friends in view through the large windows across the room. Sam was leaning up against the railing, one arm around Jade's waist as the two smiled at each other.

Jack sat back against the cushions and tried to think clearly. Maybe there was something he had overlooked. Truth be told, it was never something he'd thought very seriously about, but surely there had to be some way for the two of them to be together. They obviously found a way at some point in the future. Maybe he could just figure it out a little earlier this time around.

The patio door swung open and Teal'c stepped into the living room, giving Jack a concerned look as he closed the door behind him and slowly crossed the room.

"Is there something wrong, O'Neill?"

Jack shook his head, but Teal'c seemed to see that something was up, and he stepped up to the couch, taking a seat next to his friend and folding his hands together in his lap. After a few moments of silence, he turned and spoke quietly.

"Major Carter believes that this timeline has been irreversibly damaged by your daughter's presence."

Jack frowned and rubbed his eyes. He was too confused to think.

"I don't know, T. Maybe it has, but I don't think she had a choice."

Teal'c waited until Jack raised his head, looking him in the eye as he continued. "It is possible, O'Neill, that these changes will create a more positive outcome for your future."

Jack ran his thumb over the seam on the arm of the couch and smiled. "I've been thinking that too. You know…" He turned to look back through the windows at the three friends chatting on the patio. Sam glanced his way and smiled slightly before returning her attention to Daniel and his emphatic gestures.

"I was ready to give up."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"Seriously," Jack continued. "I thought I had no chance. I was just sure she'd find some nice guy, get married, have a couple of kids…I mean, what would she want with me?"

He meant it to be a rhetorical question, but Teal'c spoke up, leaning back comfortably against the couch cushions.

"I believe Major Carter has strong feelings for you, O'Neill. You have many fine qualities which she finds desirable."

Pleased at the words, Jack flashed his friend a smile. "Why, thank you, Teal'c." He glanced back outside and watched Jade as she sat up on the railing, her feet swinging below her as she threw her head back and laughed.

"Do you ever wish you could just go back home?" Jack asked quietly. "Get back with Drey'auc and your kid and leave the SGC behind?"

Teal'c smiled sadly. "I wish this often, O'Neill. Are you contemplating leaving SG-1?"

"No, no," he objected firmly. "From what Jade tells me, we still have a lot of work to do." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "It's just…I don't want Carter to have to wait around, you know?"

His friend looked amused. "Perhaps it is you who does not wish to wait."

"Yes…well, there's that."

The two friends were silent for a few minutes, watching the others in lively conversation outside. Sam sat down on one of the benches at the table, looking up at Jade with a wide smile on her face. The two of them looked so natural together, and Jack let out a loud sigh of frustration.

"This really sucks."

Teal'c leaned forward and clamped a hand on Jack's shoulder.

"My friend, if there is one thing that I have learned about Major Carter and yourself, it is that the two of you have a remarkable tendency to find solutions to problems that seem to have none." He shifted his eyes to the group outside and smiled. "I have no doubt that this situation will prove to be no different."

Jack felt strangely comforted by these words, and he nodded slowly.

"You're right, T. Carter can figure out anything."

He stretched out his fingers, remembering the feel of her soft skin beneath them and the longing he had seen in her eyes. He could hear Jade's cheerful laugh from outside, and somehow it was soothing to him. This girl had shown up and made a mess of everything…maybe even changed the fate of the entire galaxy. Yet, somehow, Jack got the feeling that almost every change that had been made was only for the better. Maybe the Asgard were supposed to die out. Maybe he and Carter were supposed to hem and haw around for another few years before there could be anything between them. Maybe changing these things was destroying the timeline as it was supposed to be.

Jack closed his eyes and relived his brief moment with Sam in his mind, smiling to himself as he remembered the warmth of her lips against his skin and the natural way she leaned into his touch, her eyes wide and full of emotion as she watched him lean in close…

Oh, screw the timeline.