I have reached the end of this story! There ought to be fireworks or something!
I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of you who stuck with it! I hope it lived up to expectations. I certainly had fun writing it!
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131
July 4th dawns clear and hot in Colorado Springs. Five week old CJ is the first one up in the O'Neill household, naturally, letting his parents know in no uncertain terms that he is awake and ready for breakfast. Jack turns over at the baby's cries and looks at the clock.
"Five fifteen. He gets earlier every day."
Sam stretches and reaches over to kiss him. "He knows we have lots to do for the barbeque this afternoon."
"Mmm. Right. I'll go get him." Jack rolls out of bed, and crosses the hall to the nursery. He bends over the crib and takes the baby in his arms. "Hey, kiddo. Hungry? Mama's in there waiting. But first, it feels like you need a didie change. What'd ya say? Food is more important? Well, somehow I don't think Mom will be too happy if I take you in like this." He turns to the changing table, and lays CJ on the top, one hand on his stomach to steady him as he kicks and screams, and grabs a diaper and the baby wipes from the shelf below. "It won't take but a minute, I promise. And you'll feel better. Guaranteed..."
It is a matter of only two minutes work to change the very wet diaper. Jack is good at it. When he's done he cuddles the baby to his chest and kisses his head, rubbing his cheek briefly on his hair, as he heads back to the bedroom. Cj's hair is thick and lighter brown than it appeared at birth. The eyes that began such a brilliant blue have darkened almost to navy now, a shade which enhances the wide-eyed intensity with which he gazes up at his father. Jack gives the baby to Sam, and then climbs back in bed himself. He loves watching her feed CJ. The baby is precious and funny, and Sam looks so content. CJ latches on immediately and nearly chokes himself trying to get it all at once! Sam laughs out loud when the nipple pops out of his mouth and the milk shoots out in a stream, hitting Jack in the chest.
"Looks like CJ's not the only one who needs a change," she says.
132
By three o'clock that afternoon the O'Neill backyard and deck is crowded with over 100 people. Four grills are going strong on the deck, manned by four SG team leaders—Al Reynolds, Dave Dixon, Vic Sharp, and of course Jack. Tables are set up, laden with salads, desserts and all manner of barbeque essentials. Coolers of beer, soda and water are scattered about.
The center of attention at this shindig is little CJ O'Neill, currently in the arms of his grandfather, Jacob Carter, who is seated in the yard with General Hammond, Janet, Cassie and several others, and surrounded by a number of children begging to hold the baby.
People are still arriving; most find their way around the house from the road, following the sounds and smells. Sam is in the kitchen with Barb Dixon, Mindy Sharp, and Marcy Reynolds, preparing more dishes to be taken outside.
Jack's family arrived the day before the party, and are staying here at Sam and Jack's house. His mother and sister are also in the kitchen helping, while his step-father is outside, chatting with Hammond and Jacob. Sam has only met Jack's family twice before, the first time more than a year earlier, on a trip to D.C. where his parents live, before she and Jack were a couple. And then at the wedding. This is the first time Jack's parents have seen their new grandson.
Unofficially Jack is calling the barbeque a combination 'coming out party' for CJ, and housewarming for their new house. They didn't send out the invitations that way because they didn't want people to feel as if they needed to bring gifts. But a few did, anyway—mostly for CJ, but one or two things for the house.
It is impossible for Jack to keep his eyes off of his small son. From the deck he watches as Jacob coos and talks to the baby. Reluctantly, he surrenders CJ to Cassie, who eventually hands him over to Teal'c. Jack smiles, thinking what a wonderful family CJ has to grow up in.
There is a touch on his arm, and he turns around to smile at his mother, and kiss her cheek.
"He's beautiful, Jon," she says softly, seeing the direction of Jack's gaze. "And you and Sam will be wonderful parents."
"Thanks, Mom," he says, hugging her. "Hey, look! Pop's got him now!" He points to the yard, where his step-father has just received the baby in his arms with a huge smile. He looks back at his mother. "Do you think he looks like Charlie?" he asks.
She is a bit surprised at the question. He has almost never mentioned Charlie since his death. "A little," she says, thinking about it. "But his eyes are definitely Samantha's, although they're darker blue. Charlie had your eyes. We'll have to wait until he gets older before we can really tell."
"Yeah. I suppose so," he agrees, casting one more glance at CJ. Sam is over there now, talking to Pop and General Hammond. He turns back to his Mom. "I'm so glad you guys made it out here. And you even brought the Squirt along! How'd you manage that?"
She smiles. "She wanted to meet her new nephew as much as we did. I see she's over there with Dr. Jackson. I noticed that they got along well when you and your team came to D.C. last year. Did you know they've been keeping in touch for the past few months?"
"What! No! Daniel didn't say a word!" He searched the yard, and sure enough found Daniel and his sister, sitting on the ground together under a large aspen tree. "He'd better be careful!"
"What are you going to do?" she asks, chuckling. "She's thirty years old, Jon."
"Really? God. When did she grow up!" he demands. She just smiles, and he smirks. "I guess there's nothing I can do. They've been in touch ever since last year?"
"No. Since February. He came to D.C. for a conference and called her."
"I'm still mad that he didn't tell me," he griped, but there was no heat in his words.
133
It is dusk, which means going on nine p.m., and Jack is leaning on the rail of the deck, watching the crowd enjoying themselves. Everyone has eaten their fill, a few people, mostly those with young children, have departed. CJ is already down for the first half of the night. Jack is feeling very content. It has been an excellent party—it made him very happy to see all the people he cares about gathered in one place, enjoying themselves. His mind runs down the list of people he is grateful for. Sam and CJ. His parents and sister. SG1. General Hammond. Janet and Cassie. Many others from the SGC—Reynolds, Feretti, Dixon, Sharp, Harriman, Siler...God the list is endless! People he'd gotten to know at Peterson are there, too; Mike Braddock and his wife, several members of the 96th Fighter Wing... He could go on and on.
"Hi," Sam says softly, stepping up beside him and putting an arm around his waist. "Penny."
He wraps his own arm around her shoulders. "They're worth at least a nickel," he jokes.
"Okay."
He simply stands there quietly, however, looking down into her face. She raises her eyebrows questioningly. He bends his head and kisses her, then wraps his arms around her. "I'm the luckiest man in the world," he says. "I've never been so happy."
-Finis-
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I hope you have enjoyed this story. I apologize that this final chapter is so short. We are getting ready for house guests over the Holidays, and there is a huge amount to do. I also have many children to shop for!
I have a related story in progress which introduces Jack's family as I imagine them. This will be the same family who appear rather anonymously in this last chapter. That's why I didn't go into much detail about them here. It probably won't be out til after New Years, however. I hope you'll keep your eyes open for it.
Also, I plan to post several one-shot stories that will cover some of the time during Sam's pregnancy. They'll be all under one title, and it'll be something obvious like "Runaway Star; In the Interlude." There may even be a sequel to this story somewhere down the line. So I don't think I'm done with this 'alternate reality' as of yet.
Once more, thank you for reading. This story has accumulated far more hits than anything else I've written — Thanks to you!