It was the end of summer but still a warm day. The sun was shining bright upon the little church which was slowly filling up with wedding guests.

It was a perfect day for a wedding. Everyone was in a good mood, chatting and catching up.

SG1, that means Daniel, Teal'c and Jack were standing outside talking to General Hammond, who had arrived for the wedding of his goddaughter.

He wasn't as enthusiastic as he should be. George Hammond was one of the two people who knew about the background check Pete Shanahan ran on his fiancé.

Lost in thoughts he observed the other General as Sam's brother and family stopped to say hello to George.

Quickly he introduced them to Sam's chosen family. Daniel and Teal'c greeted them in a friendly manner. Jack however was lost in his own thoughts as Marc extended his hand in greeting.

"Jack?" Daniel nudged him.

Jack came back from his thoughts and took Marc's hand. "Hello Marc! Nice to finally meet you."

George Hammond cleared his throat: "Jack, a word please?" he asked and nodded in a direction where they would be undisturbed.

"Of course George." he replied and excused himself from the group.

"So, what's the matter?" Jack was curious.

"What are we doing here, Jack?"

"What do you mean 'what are we doing here'? Carter is getting married, that's why we're here."

"And why is that?"

"What do you mean 'why'? Apparently she's in love with him and wants to share her life with this man. I don't know what that's all about, George."

"That's bullshit, Jack. And you know that. Do something before it's too late."

"George..."

"No Jack. Please be honest at least once. You and I know she will not be happy and that's not only because her husband to be ran a damn background check on her."

Jack closed his eyes and took a deep breath before saying anything more.

Hammond continued "You love her, Jack! She's only about to marry this dork because she's given up hope."

"And what do you think I should do about that?" he nearly shouted, attracting attention from the others around.

"Let her decide! But she can't decide if she doesn't have all the information she needs."

"And then what? Should we wait until I'm finally allowed to retire? I'm old by then, heck I'm old now! She wants a family and she deserves one. With someone her age."

"Again, let her decide what she wants. And for the rest... You'll work this out. Have you even tried to talk to the president about it? I promise you'd be surprised."

Jack's eyebrows shot up as if they would like to give Teal'c a run for his money.

"Just once think about yourself. You can't know if you haven't tried. What's the worst that can happen? She could marry that guy anyway, but then you tried and didn't have to ask yourself for the next 40 years 'what if'!"

"Where is she?" was the only thing Jack was able to ask.

George just nodded in the direction behind the church.

Jack lapsed into a running step and rounded the corner. As he knocked on the door he was greeted by Jackob with a: "Jack! You know it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!"

"I need to talk to her!"

"Finally!" Jacob told him delighted.

Honestly, was everyone waiting for him to do something?

"I'll leave you two alone. Sam honey, I'll be outside if you need anything."

"Thanks Dad!" she replied nervously.

Jack closed the door behind Jacob and turned around, taking his first look at Sam.

"Wow, God you're beautiful!"

"Thank you, Sir."

"Leave the 'Sir' Sam. Do you think you can call me by my name for this conversation?"

"What do you want to talk about, Jack?" she answered defeated.

"Sam, I may not get another chance to say this. I...ahm..I want you to be happy, you know that, right?"

She nodded.

"Are you happy?"

She just stared into his eyes. Her heart beating in her throat.

"Sam, I know it might be a little late but you need all the information to make a decision..."

"I thought I made a decision, otherwise why would I be here today!"

Ok, he knew she wouldn't make it easy for him.

He cupped her shoulders with his hands and looked her deep in her eyes.

"Please let me speak. I'm sure I don't have the right to ask you not to marry him, but I have the right to tell you how I feel about you. Sam, I love you! Don't ever think I stopped loving you. I just wanted you to be happy."

"Jack, I... I... God, what did I do? You should have said something a while ago."

"I know." he said, his head bowed and his eyes closed in surrender.

"No, Jack. I mean you should have said something a while ago, then I wouldn't have to do what I have to do now."

She put her hand on his chest and made him look up.

"I love you too, Jack. And I want to be happy. With you!"

Not a second later he was kissing her, passionately.

A knock at the door reminded them why Sam was wearing the wedding dress.

"Just let me change into something else, I can't talk to him dressed like that."

"A shame, you look so pretty!"

She smiled brightly at him, "Maybe someday I'll wear something similar again."

"I do hope so!" he smiled back. "I'll get your Dad and we'll wait in the church?"

"Yes thank you, it won't be easy but I need to do this alone."

He went outside to get Jacob and together they went inside the church waiting in the back.

Dressed in Jeans and a black t-shirt Sam stepped out of the room walking towards Pete.

Confused Pete was searching for words.

"Sam, what are you doing? Why aren't you wearing your wedding dress?"

"Pete, we need to talk!"

Under whispers from her friends and colleagues she led him aside.

Marc shared a confused look with his wife.

"What the hell is she doing?"

Hammond leaned towards him and whispered "She's finally doing the right thing, believe me." and then he turned to see Jack and Jacob standing beside each other, both men trying to hide their smile.

He got up, walked down the aisle until he stood in front of Jack and handed him an envelope.

"Jacob, you owe me 50 bucks."

Jack took a step back to have a look at the letter.

It was an envelope closed with a presidential seal.

He took the letter out and was shocked to read only five words:

/ Go, get the girl, Jack! / signed by Henry Hayes.

He searched for Hammond not having noticed the side of the groom leaving the church, Pete nowhere to be seen. Hammond just nodded with a smile to tell Jack that it was true what's written on his piece of paper.

He had presidential approval to be with the woman he loved.

Sam stopped in front of him.

"So, what do we do now that I have made a fool of myself?"

"Now we start on being happy!"

He bent down, cupped her face and kissed her as if he had to make up for the last eight years.