Okay – two chapters in one night (okay they were short – but you gotta admit there were two). And because there were two I expect (with much gratitude) reviews on both! I like reviews like Jack likes cake.

More silliness – and a touch of romance – the angst and adventure will return – I promise.

"You appear much happier O'Neill", Teal'c sat down across from his friend and placed his piece of pie and glass of milk down in front of himselfl.

"Hiya Teal'c", Jack answered happily, taking a bite of his chocolate cake. "Yeah, I'm doing well."

"What was wrong?" Daniel looked between the two men as he played with his salad. The cake and pie looked way better. "Were you sick or something."

"No I was-"

"He missed Samantha Carter", Teal'c interrupted O'Neill. "That and he had to do officer evaluations."

Daniel whistled. "Really? Wow – I bet he was a bear. Did everyone avoid him?"

"They did indeed", Teal'c nodded.

"Hey – still here guys – and can hear everything you're saying."

"Yeah Jack – so, things are better now that Sam is back?" Daniel grinned, spearing a piece of leaf lettuce. He looked at it for a minute and then scraped it off his fork.

"Mmm hmm", Jack shrugged, suddenly looking self-conscious. "It's always tough when she's away. Siler walks around looking lost and Walter – hell, Walter worries that the gate is going to topple over, and half the science staff begin to mope. It's not pretty around here when she's gone."

"Right – I'm sure you're worried about the SGC. And what's it like at home?" Daniel grinned.

"O'Neill wanders around looking lost, and he worries that the house will fall apart and he spends all his time moping", Teal'c explained carefully.

Daniel laughed. "I'm glad I wasn't here although Sam was almost as bad."

"She was?" Jack looked up, a pleased expression on his face.

"Oh yeah. All she did was talk about you and worry that you were all alone. The only one who enjoyed being with her was Felgar", he said in disgust.

"Felgar?" Jack asked, confused.

"Yeah – he loves it when anyone talks about you. He's got a man-crush."

"Ewww", Jack scowled. "That's just – ewww!"

"You're telling me!" Daniel answered. "What was even more 'ewww' was hearing Sam talk about how cute you are when you're making breakfast – or how sweet it is when you rub her feet – or how adorable you are when you bake her favorite cookies."

"Ewww", said Teal'c, taking a bite of pie.

Jack's head whipped around and he glared at his Jaffa friend.

"I tasted a sour blueberry", Teal'c explained.

Jack's eyes narrowed and he looked at his friend suspiciously. "You're eating apple pie Teal'c."

Teal'c looked down in surprise. "Indeed it is."

Daniel regarded his two friends, a smirk on his face. "Teal'c's right Jack. I mean, you're a good friend but – I wouldn't exactly call you cute."

"Or sweet", agreed Teal'c.

"And definitely not adorable."

"Shove it guys", Jack said, taking a big bite of chocolate cake. "You're just jealous."

This was met by silence from both of his friends. Jack looked at them carefully and grinned. He was right – they were jealous. "So, she really talked about me, did she?"

"All the time", said Daniel, sounding depressed. "Why don't you marry her?"

"That is what I asked Daniel Jackson", Teal'c informed him. "O'Neill practically passed out in fear."

"I did not!" Jack said.

"Really?" Daniel questioned Teal'c, sounding intrigued.

"Yes. He looked as if he might fall over in a faint."

"I did not", Jack repeated. "He was talking about honesty and something and I didn't know what he was talking about. I was confused Teal'c."

"And terrified", his friend argued.

"Was not."

"Were too", Teal'c replied, channeling Daniel. "You do not need to tell untruths O'Neill. We are your friends and we understand."

"Understand what Teal'c?" Samantha Carter asked, pulling out the chair next to Jack.

Jack sucked in a piece of cake and proceeded to attempt to cough up a lung. Sam looked at him in concern, waiting until he could breathe again before offering him a glass of water.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Fine', he gasped shortly, while glaring at his friends.

"What was that about?" Sam looked between the three men. "What were you talking about that just about killed the Colonel?"

"Nothing/nothing/nothing", three men replied simultaneously.

"Okay, now I know that you're up to something. Come on – you can tell me. What was it?"

"Uh – Daniel was talking about Felgar", Jack explained, giving Daniel and Teal'c his infamous Colonel eye.

"Felgar? What about him?" Sam regarded Daniel quizzically.

"I told Jack that he had a man-crush on him."

Sam giggled. "I'm afraid it's true J – Colonel. He wanted to hear everything about you."

"Everything?" Jack asked, sounding worried.

"Well – I didn't tell him everything", she said with a waggle of her brows. "I mean, there are certain things I would never tell – at least not to Felgar."

"Like what Sam?" Daniel asked curiously.

"Oh, like the fact that -"

"Uh uh", Jack reached over and covered Sam's mouth with his hand. Normally he was careful to observe proper protocol while on base, but there were times that situations called for extraordinary measures – and this was one. "That's classified."

"But we have clearance Jack", Daniel said, pointing to himself and Teal'c.

"Not about me you don't. There are certain things you will never find out."

"Really? Now I'm really curious. Sam – can you be bribed?"

"Hmmm – maybe", she said, looking impishly at Jack. "It depends what's on offer."

"Okay, us Air Force officers have to get back to work", Jack said, standing up. He reached over and grabbed Sam's hand and – carefully – pulled her up. "Come on – officer evaluation time."

"What? You're not doing officer evaluations", she said in surprise.

"Yes I am", he told her. "Hammond has me doing them. I'm almost finished – you're my last officer." He began to pull her through the Commissary.

"But wait", she tried to resist. "You can't do mine – that's not allowed."

"Sure it is", he told her. He paused briefly and glared back at his friends. "And you two will not bribe her, not if you know what's good for you!" He continued to pull Sam behind him, much to the amusement of everyone eating lunch.

"Cute!" Teal'c said with disgust, pulling the rest of O'Neill's cake over so that he could finish it.

"Yeah and 'adorable'. It was really creepy Teal'c", Daniel agreed, grabbing a piece of the cake with his fork. "If ever I meet another woman and start acting like that, shoot me, okay?"

"I promise Daniel Jackson."

"Thank you Teal'c. I knew I could count on you."

"Always my friend, always."

"Jack, where are we going?" Sam laughed as she continued to be pulled behind the man she loved. He had a strange expression on his face – a combination of determination, stubbornness and – was that fear? "What's going on?"

"I told you – evaluations", he said with a smirk.

"No – because General Hammond told me he'd be doing mine himself because of our relationship."

"Hey – I didn't say I was going to evaluate your work", he told her. He arrived at the gate room and opened the door and gently pushed her in. No one was inside although Walter and an Airman were standing in the Control Room. "Hey Sergeant", he called.

Walter leaned over and pushed the button and spoke into the microphone. "Yes Colonel?"

"Is anyone expected back through the gate?"

"No Sir. No teams are out right now and you have a little while before anyone is scheduled to leave."

"Okay good. Then can you close the blast doors for a few minutes?"

"Jack – what are you doing?" Sam regarded him suspiciously.

He glanced at her but didn't answer. Instead he looked up at Walter, who was conferring with the Airman. "That should be fine Sir. I can give you ten minutes."

"That's good Walter – thanks." Jack waited until the doors were closed and then looked around at the silent room. "There, that's better."

"For what?" his love asked. "Jack, what are you doing?"

He turned to her and put both hands on her arms. "Sam – "

"What is it?" she asked gently, worried that something was wrong. His sudden smile relieved her, but she was still confused. "Why are we here?"

"Because I thought this was the most appropriate place."

"Appropriate place? For what?"

"For this." He leaned down and gently, slowly placed his lips on hers. After a moment he allowed the kiss to deepen – but it was still gentle and soft – and full of love and longing and respect and caring. Eventually he lifted his head and allowed himself to peer into her deep, deep blue eyes.

"Jack?"

"I missed you so much when you were away", he said softly. One side of his mouth abruptly lifted in his trademark half smile. "Just ask Teal'c – hell, just ask half the base – I was miserable."

"Were you?" she asked dreamily. "So was I. I think I drove everyone crazy talking about you."

"Good – I want them to remember that you're mine – and yes, I'm yours", he quickly continued, lest her feminist sensibilities got riled. "And – while I was missing you Teal'c said something to me that made me think."

"He did?"

"Yeah – he said I should be honest with you."

She frowned. "But – you have been honest with me."

"I have", he nodded. "But he got the expression wrong – although in a way he was still right."

"What? Jack, you're not making any sense."

"No?" He leaned forward until their brows were touching. "He made me realize that I needed to be honest with myself – and with you. And the fact is – I can't live without you Samantha Carter. You're my life – and I want you in my life – always."

"You have me Jack", she whispered.

"I know – and that means more than you'll ever know but that – kind of gets to what Teal'c actually meant to say."

"Which was?"

"That I should make an honest woman of you", he told her softly, his heart beating way too fast."

"Make - ? You mean –?"

"Yeah – and I don't know if it's something you want or not – and if you don't I'll understand – but I realized after he said it that I do – I want it if you do – more than anything. And I thought – where was the best place to ask you – and here seemed right. I mean, this is where it all began for us and where we've spent so much time together – searching the stars. So – I thought I'd ask you. I didn't really plan this the way I should have. I mean – I should have had flowers and a fancy dinner and a ring and everything, so I'll understand if you say -" a hand suddenly came up and covered his mouth, stopping him cold.

"Jack", she laughed softly. "Are you asking me?"

"Uh – to – uh marry me? Yeah – kinda."

"Kinda?"

"I mean – yes, yes I am – if you'll -" the hand stopped him again.

"Just say it."

He stared at her, noticing the small smile and the fact that she was leaning closer. Although his heart was still thudding and his knees felt like they were going to give out any minute and his hands were clammy, he felt a stirring of hope. "Uh –" he straightened up and looked deep into her eyes. "Will you marry me Samantha Carter?"

She looked at his face – at every inch of it – and realized that she was officially, at this moment, the happiest she had ever been in her life. This was right. "Yes", she answered simply.

He looked startled for a moment, and then that damned crooked grin appeared – the one that meant so much and that was something he shared only with her. With a short 'whoop' he leaned forward and took her lips in a fierce, celebratory kiss. And it went on – and on – and on – and neither of them heard the blast doors open. Nor did they see the faces of Walter and General Hammond peering out at them from the Control Room. Nor did they see the grin on the two men's faces, the handshake they shared or the fact that Walter picked up the phone and began to speak into it.

It was quite a few minutes later before the General smiled and leaned forward to the mike. "Uh Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter – is it okay if I get my gate room back? Sg3 will be leaving shortly."

"Uh", Jack lifted his head and squinted up to the Control Room. Ah shit! He could feel the red creep up his neck. "Yes Sir. Sorry about this." He pointed between him and a very pink looking Sam.

"That's quite all right Colonel. Can I assume that this means you are finally doing the right thing?"

Jack looked up in surprise. "Uh – by right thing you mean -"

"Have you finally asked her to marry you Colonel?"

"Oh – yeah", he grinned. "And she even said yes."

"Well congratulations. Now get out of there so my people can get back to work."

"Yes Sir", Jack saluted and then grabbed Sam's hand. "Come on."

"Where are we going?" she laughed, still feeling embarrassed but very, very happy.

"Back to the Commissary. I didn't get a chance to finish my cake."

"Cake?"

"Yeah", he grinned. "Cause now I'm gonna have my cake and eat it too." And he whistled all the way, holding on tightly to the hand of the woman he was going to marry.

He should have done this a long time ago, he thought. He'd have to buy Teal'c a present for this – maybe a piece of blueberry pie, he grinned. Yup – life was sweet.