Sam was exhausted. She fell asleep with her head on Jack's shoulder as they rode with Jamale to the clinic. Jamale took his time so the ride was smooth and Sam could nap a little longer. Jack woke her up when they pulled up to the clinic. She walked in groggily and they were shown to an examine room. Sam curled up in a chair before Jack had a chance to offer her the exam table.

Leila came into the room about ten minutes after they arrived. Jack was just beginning to drift off and Sam was asleep when she entered.

"I guess you're both pretty tired."

Jack opened his eyes and nodded.

"Since you're on the examination bed you'll go first. Lift up your shirt and lower your pants. I want to make sure those rope harnesses didn't do any damage." Jack lifted his shirt.

"How do you feel?"

"Tired and a little sore but nothing I haven't dealt with before."

Leila examined the bruises that were appearing on Jack abdomen. She poked his belly a few times and declared him fit enough to leave. Jack put his shirt down and nudged Sam awake.

"Your turn."

Sam unfolded. She started to stretch but she was too sore to finish. "Ok." Sam climbed up on the small bed and Jack took the chair.

"I know you're tired so I'll make it quick. Just lift your shirt and lower your pants a bit so I can examine you." Jack winced when he saw the bruises developing across Sam's abdomen. He knew her harness had gotten a work out but he hadn't realized she was this injured. Leila gently probed Sam's abdomen. Sam winced.

"How are the Moril's doing?"

"The boys and baby Jan are fine. Cami has a small liver laceration but we're keeping an eye on it and she should be fine. Nara's leg has been set and we are monitoring her to be sure that she doesn't have any bleeding."

"And Hilner?"

Leila's face fell. "He died before we got him to the clinic."

"Damn" Jack sat back and pounded his fist on the arm of the chair.

Sam shook her head. "If we'd gotten him here sooner…"

"It wouldn't have made any difference. I expect to find major internal injuries when I do the autopsy. Even if he had gotten here as soon as it happened I doubt we could have saved him." Leila moved her hands around and spent much longer poking Sam than she did Jack. Leila turned to the young woman that had come into the room with her. "Could you bring a scanner in here please?" The girl left quickly.

Jack sat forward. "A scanner? Why?"

Leila looked at Sam. "I feel a mass in your lower abdomen. It might be a pulled muscle or internal bleeding and I want to check it out."

Sam nodded. Jack leaned forward and grabbed Sam's hand. "Bleeding?"

Leila nodded as the technician rolled the scanner into the room. "Let's see what we're dealing with before you panic."

"I'm not panicking." Sam squeezed Jack's hand as he tried to look calmer.

Leila placed the scanner against Sam's lower abdomen. "When was your last menses?"

"About two years ago."

Leila stopped moving the scanner and looked at Sam. "Two years? You're too young to have experience mensend."

Jack's face scrunched up. "What's mensend?"

Sam grinned, "She mean menopause." Sam looked back at Leila. "I've had a few mensend symptoms, like night sweats, but that isn't why I don't have menses." Sam turned her left arm so Leila could see the three small bars just below her armpit. "These deliver a drug that prevents my menses as well as pregnancy."

Leila went back to moving the scanner across Sam's lower abdomen. "Interesting. Do they work for your whole life?"

Sam shook her head. "No, they're good for about three years."

"I think yours quit a little early."

Sam and Jack both cocked their heads to the side."What?"

"Based on the size of your uterus I think you are almost four months pregnant." Jack's grip on Sam's hand loosened slightly.

Sam shook her head. "That's….that isn't possible."

Leila saw a shadow pass over Jack's face and quickly realized the issue. "How about we find the baby and get a better estimate."

"Sam nodded as she squeezed Jack's hand. "Let's."

Leila spoke to the technician and switched out the long flat probe for a rounded one. "This will let me estimate the baby's age once we find it."

"Ok." Sam and Jack were both watching the small screen on the scanner. There were grey fuzzy marks but nothing either of them recognized.

"There it is." Sam and Jack both squinted. Leila clicked the scanner and dots appeared on the screen. "Based on this it looks like you are about three months into your pregnancy."

Sam squeezed Jack's hand and he returned the squeeze. "That makes a little more sense."

"So you had no idea?"

"None."

"Good. Well, I don't really mean good but I'm glad to know you weren't hanging out over that pit knowing you were pregnant."

"Right." Sam kept nodding her head, trying to accept the idea that she was pregnant.

"How about we listen to the baby's heartbeat."

Sam and Jack nodded in unison, unaware of their coordination. The technician flipped a switch and the room filled with a hypnotic swishing sound.

"Why isn't it regular?"

"That's a good question Jack. I might have an idea that would explain a couple things." Leila started moving the probe around and the swooshing sound ended. Sam worriedly stared at the screen. Jack's thumb was rubbing circles on the back of her hand.

"There." Leila smiled.

"What?" Sam was getting very agitated.

"You're having twins." Sam's face went blank. Jack's mouth fell open and his eyes were wide open. "That's why your uterus was larger than would be expected at this stage of the pregnancy. It also explains why the heartbeat sounded off. I was picking up both heartbeats."

"Twins?" Jack was staring at the screen. "Really?"

Leila giggled. "Really. You both look like you've been struck by lightning."

"Twenty minutes ago I didn't think I could get pregnant and now you're telling me I've been pregnant with twins for months. That's a lot to take in."

"It is. I'll give you both a few minutes to process this while I get you the vitamins I want you to begin taking."

Leila and her assistant stepped out. Jack lept out of the chair and leaned over Sam. He was about to kiss her but he stopped when he saw tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry Jack. This is my fault."

Jack shook his head as the tears spilled over Sam's lids and ran down her cheeks. "Sorry? Sam I'm thrilled. This is amazing."

Sam shook her head and whispered between her developing hiccups, "I'm too old. What if they aren't ok?"

"There's no reason to invite trouble. The babies will be fine. Our babies…Us…Parents. You're having my children. That is so incredible." He wiped away the tears running down her cheeks and kissed her. "You are going to be a fabulous mother."

"I'm scared Jack."

"We'll do this together. We've defeated pure evil together. We can do anything we put our minds too. We can do this." Sam locked eyes with him. His confidence helped her feel a little calmer.

Leila returned and gave Sam the vitamins. "I think it would be best if we took out the medicine dispensers that were supposed to be preventing you from getting pregnant. I assume they aren't working but I'd like them out, just I case."

Sam nodded. "Makes sense. You can slip them out if you make a small incision just above them."

Leila rubbed a numbing medicine on Sam's inner arm before making the small incision. Once the birth control rods were out Leila closed the incision with a couple stitches. "That was easy enough. I want to see you back in two weeks."

Sam stopped at the desk on her way out to set up her appointment. As she and Jack headed out the main door the Moril boys walked towards them.

The eldest boy had his arms around his younger brothers. "Thank you for saving our mother and sisters."

Sam gave him a polite grin, "I'm glad we could help. You did the right thing by coming to get help."

The boy looked away and twisted the toe of his shoe into the ground. "If I'd been faster…"

Sam shook her head and reached out towards the boy."Don't even think it. Leila told us that even if we had gotten to your dad faster his injuries were too severe. There was nothing either of us could have done to change the outcome. You did well and I can tell you're doing a good job with your brothers too. Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?"

"Yes, they do. " Jorl stepped forward out of the shadows from under the clinic eves. "I talked to their mother earlier and she agreed to let them stay with me for now."

Sam gave Jorl a polite grin. "I'm glad they will be well cared for. You are a good man Jorl."

He gave her a curt nod. "I appreciate what you did tonight. I hope you and Jack will come by tomorrow and look at the trucks. I am sure we can come to an arrangement." Jorl nodded toward the Moril truck parked beside the clinic. "You guys can use that truck for tonight. There's no reason to just let it sit here."

"Thank you."

Jorl gathered the boys and led them to his truck. Jack put his arm around Sam's waist. "Guess that's taken care of."

"I guess so." She gave Jack a small smile. "Let's go home." The ride passed quickly. Sam leaned her head on Jack's shoulder and watched the few things lit by the trucks headlight pass in the night. Jack got out and went to the back of the truck to grab their gear. Jack dropped their stuff just inside the door. "We can put all of this away tomorrow. Why don't you go ahead and get a shower while I make us something to eat?"

"I'm not really hungry."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "Well, it will still be ready when you get out."

Sam gave him a small grin. "Ok, I'll be quick."

Sam carefully stripped down, avoiding her bruises, and got into the wonderfully hot shower. Her plan to take a super fast shower so she could get to bed was derailed by the tornado of thoughts swirling in her head. Motherhood had been something she just assumed would happen when the time was right. She adored Cassie and seriously thought about adopting her but the time wasn't right. She wouldn't have felt right leaving Cassie two or three times a week to go off world but she also wasn't ready to step down from SG-1. She was lucky that while talking it over with Janet her best friend had volunteered to be Cassie's mother. The aunt role was familiar to Sam and she played it well. About five years later her biological clock kicked into high gear. She had even investigated artificial insemination but it didn't feel like the right choice for her either. Part of her rational for accepting Pete's marriage proposal was her belief that it might be her last chance to be a mother. When the engagement ended she finally gave up all hope of ever being a mother. Now she was terrified by something she had wanted so much just a couple years ago. She knew it didn't make any sense but she couldn't dispel her fear. She hadn't been doing all the things a woman should do when she is trying to get pregnant, like take vitamins and not drink, and she was of advanced maternal age, a fancy way of saying her children were more likely to have a chromosomal abnormality.

Sam let the water run over head as she leaned against the wall of the shower. She needed to find a way to box up her worries, for Jack's sake as well as her own. She had plenty of experience at boxing up inconvenient emotions. She hoped once she was rested and over the shock she'd have more success pulling herself together.

Jack was eating a sandwich when Sam got out of the shower. "I made you half a sandwich, in case you felt like eating something." He nudged the plate beside him in her general direction.

Sam sat down and took a bite. "It's good. Thank you."

Jack swallowed, washed down his bite with a gulp of juice, and grinned. "Glad you like it. I added plenty of pickles, just in case you had a craving."

Sam grimaced, "I guess you didn't think ice cream would complement the pickles?"

"That part never made sense to me."

Sam giggled. "Agreed."

Jack stood up and put his plate in the sink. "I'm going to get a shower. I'll be back in a few."

Sam nodded as she took another bite. The sandwich really did hit the spot. She got up and got herself a drink as the water turned on the bathroom. She hoped she had left him enough hot water. He was back just as she finished her sandwich. She wasn't sure if he had been that fast or if she had been eating that slowly.

"I'll clean up. You go get ready for bed." Jack picked up her empty plate and turned towards the sink. She was exhausted so she didn't have to be told twice. He was in bed when she walked out of the bathroom. Instead of walking around to her side of the bed she climbed over him. He pulled her down on top of him and started kissing her. She relaxed into him.

"I can't even begin to tell you how amazing I feel tonight. Not only is Samantha Carter having my baby but my sperm were so powerful that they defeated your birth control and got you doubly knocked up."

Sam laughed out loud as she buried her face against his neck. "I think you are missing a key concept about the conception of twins."

"Oh really?"

"Men are always able to make twin, triplets, and more. You guys pump out hundreds of sperm every time you do your thing. The determining factor is how many eggs the woman releases."

"Our thing?" Jack laughed. "You can try and take credit but I know it was my super powerful sperm." He moved his head so he could see her face and then kiss her again. "I guess now we know why your vest didn't fit."

"What?"

Jack ran his hand over her breasts as his eyebrows moved up and down. "They've gotten bigger."

Sam looked down at her chest. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. I'd noticed earlier but even I'm not dumb enough to saying something about any part of a woman getting bigger, even if it is a part I really like getting bigger."

"I hadn't noticed."

Jack grinned. "It's my job to keep an eye on your breasts, not yours." Sam playfully slapped his arm as he kissed her again. "I love you Sam."

"I love you too Jack." She rolled off of him and snuggled up beside him. They both fell asleep quickly.

They visited Jorl and the Moril boys the next day. Jorl offered them a great deal for one of the broken down trucks as well as some parts from the second truck. They used the Moril truck to tow their new truck home. Over the next four days Sam worked on the truck while Jack started preparing the fields for the first planting. Jack smiled when he heard the rumble of their truck. Sam had completely taken it apart and put it back together, cleaning and repairing as she went.

Sam hadn't thought Jack could get any more affectionate but she had been wrong. Every time he saw her he touched her. He would squeeze her hand, touch her arm with his finger tips, rub her back or shoulder, or give her a sneak attack kiss on her cheek, neck or lips. He even climbed under the truck from the opposite once so he could kiss her on the top of her head. His affection and excitement was rubbing off on her. She hadn't forgotten her worries but she knew worrying wouldn't change anything so she gave in to Jack's enthusiasm.

Sam used the now running truck to go back to Jamale's the next day. She was surprised to find Leila and Jamale talking in Jamale's small office.

"Good morning, Samantha. Leila and I have been talking."

Sam's eyes narrowed. She had not yet told Jamale about her pregnancy and she was surprised Leila would divulge the news without talking to Sam first. Leila grinned when she saw Sam's face change.

"It isn't what you think. Jamale and I were discussing a commitment ceremony for you and Jack."

Sam's face relaxed. "We are thinking about having one as soon as the first planting is done."

Leila shook her head and Jamale smiled as he leaned back in his chair. "See, that's the problem. You can't throw your own commitment ceremony."

Sam leaned against the door frame. "I know our families are supposed to throw it but since we don't have…"

Leila was too excited to let Sam finish her sentence. "You're wrong. You do have family here and we've decided after the first planting would be the perfect time for a commitment ceremony. All we need from you some of those jams you made."

Sam's brows rose. She added extra sugar to her jams and her friends had fallen in love with her recipe. "That's all you need? We've been saving some nice roasts for the occasion."

Leila glanced over at Jamale who shrugged his shoulders. "We might be willing to use a roast or two, since you were saving them especially for this but that's all. You let us do the rest of the work."

Jamale leaned forward placing his elbows on his desk. "Except for your commitment tokens. Those are up to you and Jack."

Leila actually bounced up out of her chair. "And your outfit! I'd be happy to help you pick just the right outfit."

Sam laughed at Leila's excitement. "That would be great."

Jamale got back to work as Leila followed Sam out to the main part of the shop. Leila was excitedly talking about colors, foods, and clothes. Sam agreed to come over to the clinic after work to discuss more specifics. During lunch Sam told Jamale about the twins. He enthusiastically congratulated her and spent the afternoon reminding her to not over tax herself. By the time Sam got to the clinic Leila had already made lists and fleshed out her plans. It had clearly been a slow day at the clinic. Sam gave Leila the thumbs up on the plans and promised to come over the next day to go get flitted for a dress.

Sam stayed busy for the next week. Lots of broken equipment showed up at Jamale's as people started getting their fields ready. There were also plenty of people who waited until the last minute to bring in their tractors for a bit of spring maintenance. Thanks to the truck Sam was able to work later and still get home for dinner each night. Jack knew better than to tell Sam to take it easy, working made her happy and she was well aware of her physical limits. He could also tell Jamlae's repeated reminders to slow down were driving her nuts.

Jack joined Sam for her check up with Leila a few days later. They were led into a room that included a scanner. Leila was all smiles when she came into the room.

"Good morning." Leila went over and turned on the scanner as she talked. "There's been a bit of a change in our plans. I was worried about it being a bit cold for the commitment ceremony if we did it outside and my house it a bit too small but luckily Jorl offered his home."

Jack's eyes got bigger. "Jorl's?"

Leila nodded. "He offered. We didn't even ask him. I think having Nara and a house full of kids around him has helped him mellow."

"I'm glad." Leila put the scanner on Sam's lower belly. She found the lower of the two babies and turned on the speakers so Sam and Jack could hear the heart beat again. They both smiled and held hands.

"Would you like to know the sex or let it be a surprise?"

Sam looked over at Jack and made the decision for both of them. "We'd like to know."

"It's a girl."

Sam beamed as she locked eyes with Jack. "Cassandra Janet O'Neill?" She and Jack had been discussing names for the last few days but they hadn't come to any final decisions. Jack nodded, unable to actually answer.

Seeing the joy on her friends' faces made Leila's heart swell. She had been worried two weeks ago when she told them the news but now that the shock had worn off it was clear they were looking forward to having children.

"Let's take a peek at baby number two." Leila moved the scanner around as Sam rubbed circles on the back of Jack's hand. It only took Leila a couple minutes to locate the second baby, which was sitting higher in the uterus. "It's a boy."

Jack started rhythmically nodding his head. Sam watched him closely as she suggested another name she had been pondering but had not said aloud before. "Jacob Charles O'Neill?" Jack just looked at her as what she said sank in. "If that's not ok with you we could go with Jacob Daniel or Daniel T O'Neill. We don't have to decide now. We have plenty of time."

Jack shook his head. "I like Jacob Charles. Thank you." Sam smiled.

"Does everything look ok? I mean does everything else about the babies look ok?"

Leila nodded."Their heart rates sound good and they're growing as expected." Leila put the scanner away. "Have you been experiencing any nausea?"

"Not a bit. I'm not usually hungry in the morning but I have no trouble eating by midday."

"Being pregnant isn't an excuse to eat as much as you want but if you eat when you're hungry and you don't eat when you aren't you'll be fine."

"Sounds like good advice whether or not you're pregnant."

Leila nodded. "True. Are you picking up your dress tomorrow?"

Sam sat up. "Yes. Hopefully it will still look right. I'm really starting to show."

"Widow Isles will have accounted for that. You aren't the first pregnant woman to have a commitment ceremony." Sam rubbed her belly with her free hand and smiled.

It was the night before their commitment ceremony. Sam had gone to the bathroom more than twenty minutes earlier and Jack was wondering what she was doing when he heard her calling him from the bedroom. He put down the drinking glasses he had been putting away and went to the door of the bedroom. Sam was lying on the bed. She was mostly naked which made him extremely happy.

"Come here, quick."

Jack was all about following her orders but as soon as he got close to her she grabbed his hand and put it on her belly, not exactly the response he was expecting. Just as he was about to ask what was going on he felt it. A wave rolled across her belly. His eyes widened and he looked at her with a big grin on his face.

"I've felt little movements lately but they are really going wild tonight."

Jack sat up beside her and put both of his hands on her belly. He could imagine the little feet and hands pushing from the inside as bumps appeared and disappeared. He beamed as he felt his children moving within her. She put her hand over his.

"This is amazing Sam." Jack couldn't help but look up at her naked chest. "But if you want me to keep concentrating on the babies you're going to have to cover up a bit."

"I never said I didn't have an ulterior motive for calling you in here." Sam grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down into a long kiss.