Sam woke up as warm and comfortable as she could ever remember having been in her entire life. Sighing contentedly, she rolled onto her back, smiling as she caught sight of the tousle-haired man sleeping beside her. Snuggling in closer, she draped one arm lazily across his bare chest, nuzzling her head into his strong shoulder. Sam closed her eyes, enjoying his warmth and the gentle rhythm of his breathing. His warm, clean scent infused her nostrils, and she inhaled deeply, greedily, drawing herself even closer against his exposed skin. Without waking, he wrapped his arms tightly around her, securing her firmly to his side. Smiling again, Sam allowed herself to drift back to sleep, glad she had nowhere else to be that day.
Sam was jolted awake again mere moments later by the sound of pattering feet and a tiny voice drawing ever closer shouting out, "Mommy! Daddy! I'm up!". Preparing to rise for the day, her husband suddenly drew her back down, nuzzling her cheek and ear as he said gently, "I'll get her. You stay here and rest." Then he kissed her head, disentangling himself from their earlier embrace to greet the owner of the small voice now standing in their doorway, preparing to launch herself at their queen sized bed.
"Hold on there, you!," said Jack, scooping the giggling little girl into his strong arms for an enormous bear hug. "We're going to let Mommy sleep a bit today, okay?". "Okay!," squealed the little girl, squirming to get down. Shooting Sam an apologetic grin, Jack ushered their daughter from the room, bribing her with Froot Loops for breakfast if she could be quiet on the way downstairs. Sam grinned at the two of them as they retreated down the hall, impossibly grateful for everything life had given her in the past few years. It seemed like an eternity ago that she and Jack had been unable to so much as voice their feelings for one another without risking severe reprimand, if not severance from the military. Yet here they were now, happily married with a beautiful little girl, and another baby on the way. Smiling gently, Sam moved her hands to rest lightly on the growing mound of her belly, feeling the baby nudge softly against the sudden warmth hovering around it.
Her only real complaint was how weary this second pregnancy was making her. She felt more than a little guilty for missing so many family activities on account of needing extra rest, though to be fair, Jack and Mia were great about the whole situation. They wanted the new baby to be safe and healthy as much as she did, so they let her rest as much as she needed. Sam sighed, closing her eyes again as her mind drifted in and out of sleep. Starting a family would have been much simpler ten years ago, but again, she couldn't complain. Ten years ago she wouldn't have been with Jack, and she shuddered lightly to think of the man she almost married back then. No, exhaustion and all, this was better. She fell asleep again listening to Jack and Mia bang around in the kitchen looking for their preferred breakfast food, a smile still on her face.
When Sam woke again an hour or so later, she felt even weaker than she had before. Sighing, she shifted her weight, gingerly rolling out of bed and padding sluggishly across the bare floor to the door. This pregnancy was definitely taking its toll on her; it would probably have to be her last. Sighing again, she rested one hand affectionately against her growing child, slowly making her way down the stairs for breakfast. The house was oddly quiet as she entered the kitchen, but a quick glance through the back window had her smiling again. Jack and Mia were out in the yard playing airplane, Jack running around the yard with Mia braced up over his head, squealing and laughing in delight. Sam leaned her head gingerly against the windowsill, taking in the sight of her fun-loving family. For all Jack claimed to be too old and infirm to do half the things he'd like to do, she couldn't help but marvel at how limber he seemed playing with their little girl. With their daughter, he may as well have been twenty years younger than he actually was, though he'd probably pay for it later on. She smiled again to herself. No matter what anyone might say, this was worth everything they had been through together, including the heart-wrenching years of patience to finally come to this point.
Pushing herself away from the window, Sam perched on one of the bar stools lining the kitchen counter, pouring herself a bowl of the Froot Loops Jack had left out. Munching half-heartedly on the sugary cereal, Sam let her tired mind wander back to the days of SG-1. In all her years of service, she had never been so close to any three people as she had been to Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c. The four of them together had faced insurmountable odds time and time again, and had always gone back for more. The SGC was full of the best and brightest Earth had to offer, yet somehow, they had all always felt as if the fate of the galaxy depended on them and their efforts. They had held themselves accountable for anything and everything that went wrong out there, and fought body and soul to give the entire galaxy the same security and freedom that still eluded the planet Earth as a whole. Sam shook her head, marvelling at the life she had once led. Not that she would change any of it; it simply wasn't what she would choose now that she had something closer to home worth fighting for.
Sam's mind wandered over the final battles to overthrow the Goua'ld, sorrowfully lingering over her father's dying days in the SGC infirmary and the dissolution of SG-1 shortly thereafter. That had been the real turning point in her life, when new possibilities had at last opened themselves to her. She could remember clear as day standing in Jack's office, nervously asking if he'd like to go out with her sometime, as if he had ever given her true cause to believe his feelings for her had altered over the years. She grinned at the memory, the look of surprise on his face and his casual response affirming his desire to spend time with her outside of work.
But here, Sam's memory faltered. What had happened on that first date, she mused to herself, concentrating to remember. Nothing came to mind. Sam flushed, embarrassed that she couldn't remember the event that had set this new life of hers in motion. She tried other memories instead, more important memories, such as their wedding day, and Mia's birth. Again, nothing. Sam's pulse quickened as she began to panic. Why couldn't she remember her life with Jack? Everything leading up to it was crystal clear in her mind, yet she had no true memory of Mia or Jack as they were now before that very day. Her head reeled sickeningly, and she lurched in her seat, bracing herself against the smooth surface of the countertop. Something was wrong with her.
Stumbling to her feet, Sam tottered unsteadily over to the back door, bracing herself against the door frame as she called out, "Jack! I need to see a doctor, right now!".
A/N: I should probably warn you that we're fast approaching the end of this tale, which is still in the making... I sincerely appologize for any delays for new chapter posts over the next few days. I will do my best to keep them to a minimum as I continue to write.