After a few months had passed, Sam found herself six months pregnant and busy in the kitchen preparing dinner. The aroma of the meal wafted through the air as she heard the sound of Jack coming home. However, he had been in a grumpy mood for several days now, and Sam couldn't quite figure out why. The constant negativity had begun to grate on her nerves, and she knew she couldn't take it any longer.

As Jack entered the kitchen to greet her, Sam steeled herself to confront him. She was determined to get to the bottom of his bad mood and put an end to it once and for all.

He poked his head into the kitchen, mumbled a short "Hi." and turned to leave.

"Jack wait." Sam demanded. Her voice filled with certainty, just like her military voice, made him stop in an instant. "We need to talk."

"What's wrong, Sam?" concerned it was something with the baby, he knew she has had an appointment with Janet earlier today he wasn't able to attend because SG-1 was off world. "Something wrong with the baby?"

"No, it's not the baby, Jack. It is you I'm concerned about."

"Me? What?"

"You're really moody for some time now and I don't know why. Is it something I did? Then please tell me. I know I'm not the easiest person to live with. Especially while pregnant, but I thought so far we were doing pretty good. The last few days you are grumpy, taciturn and sort of ignoring me. You don't touch me anymore and I don't know what I did wrong. Please talk to me Jack. I can't stand it anymore. Shout at me for crying out loud, anything is better than this fucking silence with which you punish me."

Jack hadn't known how his mood affected Sam and he was ashamed of this. He didn't want to hurt her feelings just because he couldn't control his.

He bowed his head and a silent tear slipped from his eye. This had Sam even more worried, Jack O'Neill doesn't cry so easily. What ever made him cry must affect him very deep.

He searched for her eyes and spoke ever so soft while opening his arms "C'mere."

She stepped as close as her rounded belly would allow her to.

"I'm sorry Sam, I'm so sorry. I didn't recognize what I was doing. I'm doing the same thing as every year, but I forgot that this year I'm not alone."

Confused she looked in his deep brown eyes. "Tomorrow is the day of Charlie's death. I promise the day after tomorrow I'll be my old self again. The days before are always the hardest. I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner."

"Oh god, Jack. If I had known I wouldn't have said anything. I don't want to burden you any more. Take your time. Do what you have to. I'll not stand in your way. I am sorry that I didn't waste any thought on the day. But please know I'm here for you. If I can help you with something, please let me. Your not alone any longer."

"Thank you Sam." he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "See, every year on this day I'll meet with Sara at the cemetery. I wasn't sure how to tell you. Or if it would be ok for you if I do this. After all she's my ex wife and I'm not sure how you feel about this..."

"Stop thinking so much. Of course it is ok. You two shared something special and you have every right to meet up at the cemetery to grief for your son. Don't ever apologize for that."

He hugged her even tighter if that was even possible.

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"I'm not sure if this is a good idea. I would love nothing more, but Sara doesn't even know I'm seeing someone. Not to mention that I'm going to be a father again."

"Yeah it might be best if you tell her in private."

"You could drop me at the cemetery before you head to the mountain if you like." he offered, hoping that she knew how important her support is for him.

"I can do that. I can wait in the car till you're done. I'm on medical leave for a few days so it wouldn't bother me to wait."

"What? Why are you on medical leave, I thought you said everything is fine."

"Everything is fine. Don't worry. I'm just a little exhausted because I have done a lot more hours than I was supposed to and Janet recognized it. So she put me on medical leave, she knew only saying I should cut it a bit shorter wouldn't make me rest as much as I should."

"And she was right with that. I would love for you to wait for me. Possibly after I told her I need you more than ever." he placed his hand on both sides of Sam's face and drew her head closer to him. His thumb caressing her soft cheeks before he placed his lips on hers to give her the most gentle and at the same time passionate kiss. "Go sit down and put your feet up, I'll finish dinner for you. Just ignore your grumpy hus...parnter. I'll be myself again in a few days."

With a kiss on his cheek she left the kitchen. If she noticed his slip, that he nearly called himself her husband she didn't acknowledge.

He found himself thinking about this a lot these days. If he was ready to be a father again than sure he was ready to be a husband for Sam, but he had to make sure she also was ready for this step before he proposes.

After their conversation he felt like the weight on his shoulders lighten a bit.

He woke up early, hadn't selpt good at all this night. But lying here watching Sam in her sleep it was all he needed to calm him down. Seeing little movement on her belly he placed his hand on the spot. There it was again. A kick from inside. The little feet of his unborn child kicking his hand. He smiled.

"It does this a lot these days." Sam said while she placed her hand over Jack's.

"Wow, I'm sorry I didn't pay attention lately."

He pushed her nightgown up to cover her bare belly with kisses. Her skin more and more sensitive as her pregnancy progressed. A soft moan escaped her, but she knew today they had more important things to do.

"There's no time for this right now, but remember where you stopped flyboy. Maybe we will catch up on this later.

What time do we need to leave?"

"Let's eat breakfast and then we can go."

Jack only sipped his coffee but made sure Sam got to eat a healthy breakfast.

As Sam parked the car in front of the cemetery Sara was already waiting at the entry.

"This could take some time Sam, sure you want to wait?"

"Of course I'll wait. Maybe I take a walk in the park over there. I've got my book with me, everything is fine." she squeezed his hand for support.

"Thank you." was all he said as he exited the car and headed towarts Sara.