Total fluffy silliness ….

She woke up to soft murmurings and a finger drawing circles on her belly. There was no doubt as to who it was and so she smiled, relishing the fact that she and Jack were finally, truly together.

"Whatcha doing?" she asked, looking down and seeing the top of his head lying beside her stomach. The finger stopped, then started up again.

"Talkin' to the sprout", he said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Telling him to be good and to turn out like Mommy."

She smiled even more broadly and placed her hand on top of his head. "I want him to be like Daddy too", she said softly.

He shook his head. "Then he'll be a lot of trouble", he told her.

"And anyway, what if 'he' is a 'she'?"

"Well then I definitely want her to be like Mommy." His hand stilled and lay on her stomach. "You're starting to look pregnant." Sam had been worried about the fact that she wasn't showing, even though she was almost 17 weeks along. The doctor had explained that that was normal for a first pregnancy, especially in someone so tall.

"Yeah – I'll have to get a maternity uniform soon."

"You could wear mine", he looked up at her and grinned.

"Right – I'll just suddenly show up wearing a Colonel's uniform. I'm sure General Hammond won't mind."

"Well, he probably wouldn't say anything. He knows not to mess with a pregnant woman!"

"Jack" She swatted him on the head. "That's a terrible thing to say – and sexist."

"But you proved my point", he answered, rubbing the back of his head. He pushed himself up the bed until his face was parallel to hers at which point he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. "Morning lover."

She could feel the blood moving up her neck and into her face. God – she was blushing. "Morning. It's true, isn't it?"

"Oh yeah", he answered, sounding very pleased with himself and the world. His arm snaked around her and pulled her close. "You're my lover all right – and you know what?"

"What?"

"I'm the luckiest guy in the universe – and I don't' say that lightly, since I've travelled around a chunk of it."

She snuggled into him. "I just wish …"

"What?"

"That's we'd done this sooner", she sighed. "We missed so many years."

"No we didn't. We've worked together and been friends and saved each other's asses. It wasn't wasted at all. You've been part of my life for years – and now we get an added bonus."

"Sex?"

"That too", he grinned. "But I really meant that now we didn't have to say goodbye at the end of the day and pretend there was nothing more than friendship between us. We're together now Carter – and I refuse to waste time on regrets. I want to look forward."

"Me too", she kissed him gently. "Thank you Jack."

"For what?" he looked at her in surprise.

"For loving me."

"You're welcome." There was a short pause. "Can I do it again?"

Much later …..

"So – when are we going to -"

"Tell the children?" he asked, as they lay curled up in each other's arms, both gleaming with the after effects of more incredible loving.

She giggled. "Yeah."

"Let's have a 'team night' and we'll do it then."

"Do you think they'll be surprised?"

A glint appeared in Jack's eyes. "Oh yeah. It's gonna be so much fun!"

Jack called Daniel and invited him to go to dinner on Friday. "I'm gonna ask Teal'c too and Carter said she'd come", he explained. "I thought it would be nice to go out as a team. We haven't been out since Carter was bed-ridden."

"Mmm – yeah sure", a distracted sounding Daniel answered. "Jack – you didn't take my book did you? I can't seem to find it anywhere."

"What book Daniel?" Jack asked into the receiver.

"Uh – Early Sumerian Oral Tradition and the Introduction of Cuneiform. I left it here on my desk and it's gone."

"And you think I may have taken it?" After a couple of seconds he continued. "Yeah Daniel, I did."

"You did?' Daniel sounded only slightly surprised. It must have been a very interesting book.

"Uh huh. I needed some good bathroom reading and that looked so interesting."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few beats. "So, I guess that means you didn't take it."

"No", Jack sighed. "I'd check with one of the other geak – ur – scientists. It sounds like something they'd be interested in."

"Right. Uh Jack?"

"Yeah?'

"Why did you call?"

Jack shook his head and glanced over at Sam, who was grinning at him. "To invite you out on Friday for a team night", he answered patiently.

"Oh right. Yeah, I'll be there. Do you want me to pick up Teal'c?"

"Sure – that would be great. We'll meet at 7:00 at Diablos."

"Good – oh by the way Jack – have you talked to Sam lately?"

He looked at the beautiful naked woman curled up next to him and smirked. "I talked to her a bit yesterday", he answered. "Why?"

"Oh – just wondered how she was doing. I was kind of surprised you let her move home."

"Let her? Daniel, this isn't the 19th century. I'm pretty sure Carter is able to make her own decisions. In fact, she'd probably shoot me if I tried to tell her what to do – outside work that is."

"You know what I mean", the disgusted voice of his friend travelled through the phone lines. "I'm just worried about her and I kind of thought that maybe – you know – you two would work things out."

"Daniel – just worry about your cute Sumatran form book. I'm sure Carter is just fine. In fact, she's probably curled up in bed right now – relaxing", he yelped as a cold hand reached out and grabbed his – "huh – oh sorry, just stubbed my toe." He glared at the woman by his side, who was sporting a wicked grin.

"Okay", Daniel sighed. "But I wouldn't let things go too long because it'll be a lot harder to deal with."

"Right", Jack just about choked – things were already getting pretty hard. "Uh Daniel – sorry, got to go – something's come up." This time Sam choked, flinging her hand over her mouth to muffle the sound. "If I find your book I'll give you a call. Bye." He hung up the phone, growled and flipped Carter onto her back. "Think that's funny do you? I'll show you."

Daniel sat frowning at the phone, wondering suddenly if something was wrong with his friend. He shook his head. Jack was a strange man sometimes. Maybe it was better for everyone if he and Sam didn't get together.

Jack was sitting in the restaurant when Daniel and Teal'c arrived. "Beer?" he asked them as they sat down. He waved the waiter over and they ordered. He then faced his friends.

"So – how ya doin'? Teal'c – what's hangin buddy?"

"Everything that is supposed to be hanging is, O'Neill. I am fine."

"Good, good. Hey Danny – find that book?"

"No", he sighed. "And I was only half-way finished. I suspect it's that new guy Sinclair. He thinks he's smarter than everyone, but he knows nothing about the ancient Babylonians and his knowledge of the Ubaidians is practically non-existent. He thinks that because he's supposed to be an expert in the Akkadian period that that's enough. I really don't know why the Air Force hired him. He's not going to be very much help."

Jack's eyebrows went up and he glanced at Teal'c, who had an interested (Jack was sure it was fake) expression on his face. "Uh – I guess one day we could land on a planet that's full of these – Acacians."

"Akkadians", Daniel snapped. "That's possible – but what's the likelihood? And even if we do, they'll have been transported by the Goa'uld and Sinclair doesn't know the first thing about the snake-bastards – other than what he learned in his orientation. He probably has a father or mother with lots of money."

"Sure – right", Jack nodded. "Because if you have really rich parents you definitely want to get a job doing translations of ancient languages under a mountain. I know that's what I'd want to do."

"Daniel Jackson", Teal'c interposed, his voice sounding serious. "I suggest you forget about your book and enjoy this evening. Until you have proof that it was this Sinclair, you must put your mind to other things."

"Fine", Daniel grimaced. "But I'd just gotten to the good part, where the author was discussing the shift from using cuneiform to simply record -"

"Uh uh uh", Jack interrupted, his fingers in his ears. "I don't want to hear about anything to do with reports or ancient civilizations or coon – whatever the hell it is. Just drink your beer and do what Teal'c says and enjoy the evening."

There was silence as the three men looked at one another and then each took a long, cool drink of beer. It was Teal'c who broke the silence. "Is Samantha Carter not joining us?"

"What? Oh – she said she might be a bit late. She had – uh – something to do."

"Really? I wonder what?" Daniel took another sip.

"I don't know – probably some kind of woman thing", Jack muttered.

"Woman thing?"Teal'c looked at him strangely. "What kind of thing would that be O'Neill?"

"Well Teal'c, if you don't know about 'woman things' by now, then you obviously have missed some important Tauri lessons."

"It appears as if I have. Will you explain 'women things' to me O'Neill?"

Daniel was grinning and Jack looked suspiciously at his Jaffa friend. "We – ell – hi Sam", he stood suddenly, sounding happier to see his former 2IC than either of the other two would have thought. "I'm glad you made it. Did everything go okay?"

Sam smiled at her three best friends. "Everything went fine", she said as she took the chair beside Jack. "It's great to see you guys. I feel like I hardly ever get to see you now that I'm not on SG1."

"We have missed you as well Major Carter. O'Neill informed us that you were doing 'woman things'. I hope they were successful."

Sam's head swiveled to the man beside her. "Woman things?"

"Yeah – you know – things", he said sheepishly.

"Right." She lifted one brow and then faced Teal'c. "I was just packing up some stuff", she said. "And I wouldn't class that as woman 'stuff'. And it was very successful, thank you for asking Teal'c."

"Packing?" Daniel's forehead developed craters from his frown. "Why are you packing? You're not planning to go anywhere are you?"

"I – uh –"

"She wanted to start getting ready for the baby", Jack jumped in. "You know – get rid of all the breakable stuff."

"But it'll be months before you even have the baby, and after that it will be months before it can crawl."

"You know Carter", Jack said, sounding a teeny bit desperate. "She likes to plan ahead."

"And I'm ready to start looking at baby things and want to make sure I have space", she informed her friends. "Now – enough about me. How are you two doing?"

The evening progressed with a lot of laughter and teasing – a usual team night – and not once did Jack or Sam let on that things had changed between them. It was only after the table had been cleared and they were drinking coffee – or in Sam's case, herbal tea – that Jack figured it was time.

"So", he announced suddenly, "I have a bit of news."

Three pairs of eyes immediately turned to him, their owners silent but curious. At least two were curious – the third was holding back a nervous smile.

"What is your news O'Neill?" Of course it was Teal'c who finally asked.

"Well, you see – I've met someone", he announced.

"You've -" If anything, Daniel's frown grew even more pronounced. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I've met someone – someone special."

"By that do you mean you have met a potential mate O'Neill?"

Jack almost choked on his coffee and the next thing he knew, Sam was slapping him on the back.

"I'm okay – okay", he finally got her to stop. "Uh – yeah – I guess. OW!"

"What happened?" Daniel's brows were practically fusing together in the middle of his face.

"Sorry – just – uh stubbed my toe." In actual fact he was trying to surreptitiously rub his leg where Sam had pinched it.

"Wow, you've been doing that a lot lately", his friend pointed out. Even as he spoke Daniel was glaring at him – looking at him as if his name was actually Benedict Arnold.

"What?" Jack asked. "Can't a guy meet a girl and ask her out and – plan a life with her."

"What? You're already planning -" Daniel couldn't help but look over at Sam, his heart breaking for her. "God." He knew it was bad because she had her face pressed into her hands – he thought she might be crying.

"What Daniel? What's wrong? Carter – you don't think it's wrong of me to want a little – happiness – in life, do you."

She shook her head but didn't look up. Daniel wanted to kill O'Neill.

"See – even Carter agrees."

"She did not say anything O'Neill", Teal'c told him, sounding rather – angry. Yes – this was working perfectly, thought Jack.

"No – but I could tell she meant it. Look, I wanted to tell you guys so that you'd be happy for me. This doesn't look like happy."

"But Jack", Daniel made a jerky movement towards Sam.

"What? What are you doing Daniel? Do you have a hair on your eyeball or something? Want me to get it out?"

"No", his friend hissed. "Sam", Daniel mouthed.

"What about Carter?" Jack answered clearly. "She's okay with this – aren't you Sam?"

"Yes" she managed a muffled sound to come out. "I'm fine."

"There – see", Jack told his companions. "No problem."

"But – Jack, how can you - . I mean – what about the babies?"

"The babies? Oh yeah – I think the woman I'm dating loves kids", he told the others. "She'll be a great Mom."

"Jack! What are you doing?" Daniel practically screeched. A number of other diners looked over towards their table, giving them glares. "Sam", he turned to his friend. "You're not really okay with this, are you?"

"It'll be okay Daniel", she answered softly, her face still buried. "He'll probably get tired of her anyway. You know Jack – easy come, easy go."

This time it was Teal'c who actually choked on his coffee. The spray was quite spectacular – coating the mirror that was behind them.

"Yeah", Sam continued. "It was probably just for the sex." She moved her body slight so she was half facing O'Neill. "Isn't that right Sir? This is really just about sex with this woman."

He grinned at her – God she was amazing. "What can I say", his expression changed abruptly and he immediately looked somber. "It was the most amazing sex ever – sorry", he grinned. "You guys don't want to hear that." He paused briefly. "But it wasn't just the sex anyway."

"It wasn't?" Sam answered, sounding surprised. "What else was it?"

"Hmm, let's see. She's gorgeous and really, really smart."

"That's good." Sam nodded. Out of the corner of her eye she could see both Teal'c and Daniel looking at her as if she'd grown antennas. "What else?"

"Let's see." His face crinkled in concentration. "She's warm and compassionate."

"Really?" Sam was leaning on her hand, looking at him carefully.

"Oh yeah – and she loves kids – did I say that already?"

"Mmm hmm – but that's good, considering you're going to have a couple soon."

"Oh – and she loves animals too – although I think she might be more of a cat person." He said that as if it was a negative.

"She could probably learn to like dogs just as well", Sam told him. "In fact, she probably only prefers cats because they're easier."

"Hmm – that's good to know. I'll suggest getting a dog and see what she says."

"Anything else?" By this time Teal'c and Daniel's heads were zipping back and forth between the two of them like meerkats.

"Yeah – she laughs at my jokes."

Sam laughed at that. "She sounds perfect Sir."

"She is Carter – absolutely perfect."

"What the hell is going on?" Daniel glared at both of them. "This is crazy. The two of you have been mooning over one another for years so how in hell could you have found -" He stopped dead, his mouth hanging open, and looked at both of them. "Teal'c?"

Teal'c was also staring at the two of them intently. "I believe they may have been pulling our feet Daniel Jackson."

"Legs – and yeah, I – okay Jack – what is going on? You're not seeing anyone."

"Yes I am Daniel – scouts honor."

"You were never a scout."

Jack sighed. "Fine – then – Air Force Colonel's honor. I am seeing someone – and she's exactly the way I described her."

"Gorgeous, smart, warm and compassionate and laughs at your jokes?" Daniel asked, his brows raised. "You know that that sounds just like -"

"Samantha Carter", Teal'c interrupted – his eyes smiled, even though his lips weren't.

"Yeah – that's exactly who that sounds like." Daniel was regarding them both with narrowed eyes, his arms crossed in front of him. "Care to share anything with us, guys?"

Jack lifted both brows at Sam. "Do we have anything to share Carter?" he asked.

She grinned. "I think maybe we do Sir."

"Would you guys stop!" Daniel practically screamed – again drawing attention from other tables. "And just tell us!"

"Okay fine", Jack sighed. "Carter and I are together – as in together", he told them bluntly. "We are an item, a pair, a two-some, a brace, a duo, a -"

"Really?" Daniel asked, interrupting Jack's soliloquy of synonyms.

"Yes Daniel", Sam smiled and reached across the table to take his hand. "We're sorry – Jack insisted we tease you a bit -"

"Et tu Sam", Jack clutched his chest as if he'd been stabbed. "You were just as much in on it as I was."

"Okay", she admitted with a look. "What can I say – we just couldn't resist." She giggled. "You two should have seen your faces. I thought you were both going to kill poor Jack."

"We would have", Daniel agreed. "If he'd been stupid enough to date anyone else."

"Indeed. It is a good thing that he has chosen you – and that you have chosen him. It is – a relief."

"A relief?" she asked.

"Yeah", Daniel nodded vigorously. "The angst level was going to kill us all – and the tension. So I'm really glad – wait!" His eyes grew round and he looked back and forth between the two of them. "You had sex? - Aaargh!" He covered his ears with his hands. "I didn't need to know that! It's like – like – your parents! Yech!"

"Daniel, grow up", Jack told him. "It doesn't bother you, does it Teal'c?"

There was silence from the big guy – the only indication that he was listening were his expressive brows. He eventually opened his mouth to answer the question. "I believe that Daniel Jackson is correct. There are certain things that it is better not to know. I believe the two of you having intercourse is one of them."

Jack wrinkled his nose. "Okay – even I find that kind of creepy when you say it that way. So – no talk of Carter and me doing the -"

"Stop right there!" Daniel glowered. "I am sure I speak for Teal'c when I say that we are thrilled the two of you are together. It's been a long time coming, but we know you will be very happy together so congratulations - there are no two people who deserve happiness more than the two of you. But – if you ever tell us anything about your sex life again, Teal'c will zat you."

"Indeed."

"Okay fine", Jack sighed. "I guess I can do that. Carter?"

"No problem Jack", she answered.

'Alright guys – so now you know that Carter and I are an item. Let's have cake!"

"You are certain about this", Teal'c leaned over and whispered to Sam. "O'Neill is – unusual."

"I'm certain Teal'c. And yes – he may be unusual – but I love him for it."

"And she loves really well!"

"Jack!"