A silent tear escaped Sam's eyes as she recognized the familiar handwriting of her father.

'Dear Sam,

I can't tell you how glad I am that you're reading this letter. Because that means you finally came to your senses and put your happiness before your duty and are in a relationship with Jack O'Neill.

I know that I often complained about him and yes, he annoyed the hell out of me, but I never respected anyone the way I respect him. As childish as he is sometimes, and I came to think that's mostly an act, as honorable is he. I believe you've never been in better hands as in Jack O'Neills.

When I first met him at that ceremony in Washington I thought it was like Jonas all over again, when you're in the military as long as I am you've heard about Jack. The perfect black ops soldier. And you get a little wary when someone like him is the new CO of your daughter. I recognized the way he looked at you even then, and that got me scared for many reasons. His record, being your CO...this could have ruined your career.

But I came to know him, and I saw how much he cared for his team, for all of you and that he'd go beyond his duty to keep you all safe. He rather risked his life than yours. Especially yours, Sam.

He would have let you marry this man because your happiness was worth more to him than his own. I'm glad I talked some sense into him. You deserve everything Sammy!

I had to talk to him because it seemed like my words had not reached you. You can imagine how surprised I was when he told me that you came to see him that day. He was pretty sure what you wanted to talk about. That gave me hope!

Only after my blending with Selmak I relearned that there's something else beside your career. I had this with your mother, but after her death I buried myself so deeply in my work, out of guilt.

And I'm truly sorry for not being there in time to pick her up that fateful day.

I'm so sorry for many things I did in my life. I should never have abandoned you two the way I did.

Mark's accusation about your mother's death hit me hard, it was the way I felt too, so it was a shame that drove me away from you. I should have been stronger.

I am very grateful for the last few years, that we grew stronger than ever before. And that Mark chose to forgive me.

You are such a remarkable young woman Sam and I am so proud of you!

You're brilliant, smart and funny. And you do look a lot like your mother. In fact you also act a lot like her. Sometimes I had to remind myself it was you instead of her. I miss her every single day, but when I look at you I know she lives on through you.

All I want for you is to be happy! Maybe start a family?

I hope Jack was smart enough to ask you to marry him at the first opportunity. I would have loved to walk you down the aisle, although I can imagine that you two just went to the County Court and signed the papers.

And I made Jack promise me some grandchildren, so if you haven't started on this, go ahead! A little girl with your bright blue eyes and curly long hair, maybe brown like Jack's. Or a boy, it won't matter. Just make babies, Sam. Children are worth everything! And with Jack you have the most loving Daddy you can get. I only regret not being able to see these little miracles.

I know I haven't nearly said enough how much I love you and how proud I am of the woman you've become.

It's hard to say goodbye to you while I feel there are many things left to do, but I'm glad that you'll be here with me.

Be happy!

Don't hold back on anything!

You can do everything and you deserve it all!

Love,

Dad'

Sam put the letter down on her knees. She had to fight the tears that were about to fall. She had to force herself to breathe evenly because otherwise there was no guarantee she wouldn't break down right here and now. Her gaze went up in the night sky while she chewed nervously on her bottom lip. As she closed her eyes there was no chance of holding back. Tears streamed unstoppable down her face.

She was grateful for the time with her dad she was gifted with after his blending with the Tok'ra. He should have died years ago and although he was away more than home for the last years they got closer as they ever were.

"Thank you dad!" Sam whispered. She was overwhelmed by the emotional last words of Jacob. She knew what he was trying to tell her back then. That she shouldn't marry a man she didn't love, but out of love for her he would never have said it in these unmistakable words. If only he had told her so. If only anyone would have said something earlier, then maybe she wouldn't have foolishly agreed to marry Pete and hurt him in the process.

When he told her not to let rules stand in her way she had long made up her mind in not doing so. That's why she was at Jack's house before she got the call. Hearing her dad approve her feelings meant everything to her.

And reading this letter now, knowing he always believed in them was what she needed, even if she didn't know that she needed it.

A shiver ran down her body, the fire had long since gone out and she chose to join her husband in bed. Picking up the blanket, she opened the backdoor and stepped into the cozy warm living room.

Jack was still awake when she entered their bedroom. He saw that she had cried and suddenly wasn't sure if he had made the right decision to give her the letter. But his father in law had asked him to, right?

"Hey!"

"Hey! I just quickly go to the bathroom and then I'll join you under the covers." She told him.

"Is everything okay, Sam?"

"Yeah, don't worry."

It took her only five minutes to get ready and join him in their bed. He yelped at the contact with his quite frozen wife and that made her giggle. A sound he loves so much.

"Damn, c'mere. You're icy!" He made sure to cover as much as possible of her to get her warm.

"If you like to, you can read dad's letter." She started.

"It's yours, Sam. You don't need to show me."

"Oh he wrote a few pretty nice things about you. He liked you very much, even if he didn't show it all the time."

"I know. I want to believe that he was a really close friend of mine. Whenever he was on earth we managed to meet for beer and a chess game. Maybe a few whiskeys too." Jack chuckled.

"What?" Sam was stunned.

"You didn't know?"

"No! He never told me."

"Well, we had to kill some time when you were working in your lab. And after a while it became a habit. We looked forward to our meetings. Had some good conversations too."

"You are full of mysteries, Jack O'Neill." She smiled before she kissed him goodnight. "I love you so much, thank you for taking dad's advice."

"Always! Love you too. Now go to sleep, it won't be long until Janet will wake up. And we have a house full of Carters tomorrow."

Mark and Penny came around for breakfast, the kids still in their pyjama's. Jack and Ben had kitchen duty and prepared pancakes for everyone.

"Uncle Jack!" Lisa shouted through the house before entering the kitchen. "Can we open the rest of the presents after breakfast?"

He smiled at the impatience of the little girl. He had to admit that he wasn't very patient himself.

"Of course we can. Eat some fruit with your pancakes and you'll be on the good side of your parents."

"Okay. Is the table set already?"

"No, but you can do this with your brother if you like."

"Great, David, come help me set the table. As soon as we finished breakfast there are presents waiting for us."

That impatience of the little girl made everyone else laugh.

When finally everyone had finished, they retreated into the living room. The kids, busy with unwrapping their gifts, sat on the floor. Penny shared a couch with Mark and Sam, Jack and Janet got the other one. Ben didn't complain about the armchair, it made Cassie sit on his lap the whole time. It only helped, while the newly engaged couldn't keep their hands off each other.

"I hope it really wasn't a bother for you that the kids slept here last night." Penny asked again.

"No Penny, don't worry. We loved having them around. And anyway, as soon as their heads hit the pillow they were fast asleep." Sam answered.

"Thanks."

Christmas day went by too fast and suddenly it was time to say goodbye. The Carters had to catch an early morning flight back to San Diego so they were the first ones to leave.

Cassie and Ben went out for a few drinks a bit later. That left Sam, Jack and Janet alone at home, but the baby was already sleeping soundless in her room.

"Wow, it's very quiet here." Jack noticed.

Sam came up to him to sit sideways on his lap, giving her the opportunity to cuddle him and look him in the eyes at the same time.

"Yes, it is. Strange, but I could get used to it."

"Is this the calm before or after the storm?"

"Don't jinx it, mister."

"You know there won't be any silence with a second child for a long long time, right?"

"I know, but that's noise I'm looking forward to."

A longing smile appeared on her face. "You know it might not be that easy for me to get pregnant this time. It was a miracle the first time. We still don't know how my protein marker could affect this, even if I hadn't had any problem getting pregnant the last time."

"I know this, Sam. No pressure. If it works that's great, if it doesn't then that's okay too. I love our family regardless of how many we are."

He fumbled in his front pocket, while he tried to keep her from standing up.

"What are you doing?"

As soon as she asked the question he reached his goal and drew out a small velvet box. "I've got something for you. But I wanted to give it to you in private. Just us."

He handed her the box and she took her time to open it.

"Jack, I got nothing for you. I thought I had more time for everything before I had Janet."

"I don't need anything, Sam. You gave me the best present ever. You gave me back a family, and for this I want to thank you." He nodded in the direction where her hands were holding the box. When she opened it, it revealed stud earrings made of Janet's birthstones. That night Jack O'Neill got one heck of a Christmas gift from his wife.

Cassie stayed until Sam's birthday while Ben already had to leave because of work. They went out to dinner with Daniel and Teal'c, Cam and Carolyn were already on their way to see Cam's parents.

So it was the original SG-1 and that girl from Hanka, eating steaks at O'Malleys. Janet slept well in the stroller.

"This is so good guys." Cassie said.

"I'd say it's the best steak I've eaten in a long time." Jack answered.

"Not the steak. I mean us. It was you four who changed my life all these years ago and I am really glad you're all still a part of my life. I can't imagine what life would have been if someone different had adopted me."

"And we are thankful that we are able to be a part of your life Cassandra Fraiser." Teal'c told her.

"Yes, I would have missed the joy of countless school projects I had the pleasure to help you with." Daniel joked. It wasn't his favorite activity on some rare free weekends, but the delight on the young girls face was worth it. "But I still think you should have asked Sam to help you with that Vulcano for the physics presentation."

"What?" Sam didn't know which question she should ask first. "You asked Daniel to help you build a volcano? Daniel and a physics project? Why hadn't I known anything about that project at all? Do I really want to know the outcome of this?"

"Hey, you were busy saving uncle Jack from that planet he was stuck on. We nearly didn't speak for about three months because you refused to leave the base. Daniel did okay. I mean, I didn't blow up the physics department,at least not the whole. I just had to clean the ceiling, a few walls and the floor. But Daniel helped me with this too and also Teal'c."

"I clearly remember that incident. It was a most unpleasant task."

"Wow, I'd have loved to see that. I'm sorry I got so carried away in my work."

"That's okay, Sam. I also wanted to get Jack back. And it was so funny when that stuff exploded from the volcano."

"Sounds like I missed out on some good stuff." Jack joined the conversation.

"I do believe you found ways to keep you busy!" Even now the subject of Laira was a sensitive spot for Sam and they all went silent.

"One night Sam. It was just one night. I waited over one hundred days and then I got drunk at that shindig. I can't even remember most of it. I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't been drunk or believed you found a way to get me back or that Hammond would allow you to work on this for such a long time. And I can't stop apologizing for not trusting you on this."

"I know, it's okay. You and Daniel broke quite a few hearts on some planets around the galaxy."

Shocked, Daniel spilled his beer and Cassie couldn't stop laughing.

Jack reached out to take his wife's hand and sought her eyes to make sure they were okay. And what he saw relieved him. She smiled brightly and mouthed a silent 'I love you'.

New Year's eve was spent all by themselves. They were outside, Janet warmly wrapped in the sling around Sam's body, and they kissed under the light of the fireworks. Ringing in a wonderful new year.

It wasn't until March that they received the wedding invitation from Cassandra. Jack was out shopping for groceries early in the morning. He had taken Janet with him as he sensed that his wife didn't feel well. It was unlike her to stay in bed longer than him, but Janet had the flu just last week so maybe she was infected too. And by god she deserved to sleep in.

So when Jack set the sleeping baby with the carseat inside he went back to collect the groceries and stopped to empty the mailbox. A smile spread across his face as he saw the white envelope with the silver applications: the wedding invitation. This was a card he wanted to open together with his wife, so he made his way around the house to search for her.

"Sam! Look what was in the mail today. "He shouted. "Where are you?"

He found her on the bathroom floor with her back against the tub. "Wow, you look really shitty."

Just when she was about to thank you for his comment she had to throw up again. She reached the toilet just in time. He immediately wet a wash cloth for her and waited until she finished to give it to her, the invitation instantly forgotten.

"Thanks. Apparently I do look like I feel." She said, sitting back against the bathtub. Not daring to stand up, because she knew exactly that she'd get dizzy in an instant. He took a seat next to her, knowing that there's no rush because Janet would sleep for a while, and Sam rested her head on his shoulder.

"What can I help you with?" he asked worriedly. "Not even Janet had to throw up this time with the flu. I didn't think I would hit you that hard."

He was greeted with silence and that worried him even more.

"Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"What aren't you telling me?" He asked, now rather concerned.

"I don't think this is the flu, Jack."

"What else could it be? You don't think it's something serious, do you?" He tried to look at her but only saw the blond hair on his shoulder.

"Nothing serious, no. But…"

"But?"

"I think I might be pregnant." It was so quietly whispered that he wasn't sure if he heard her right. His heart was pounding like a jackhammer.

"Could you please repeat that?"

"I said, I think I might be pregnant, Jack!"

"You think?"

"Well, I have no proof of it yet. But I've been feeling a little queasy for a few weeks now and for the last week I got dizzy when I stood up too quickly. I blamed it on the stress of dealing with a sick baby, not getting enough sleep at night and it wasn't until I found myself throwing up today that I realized there is a possibility of being pregnant."

"Should we go to see a doctor?"

"It's Saturday, Jack."

"We could go to the SGC, I know Carolyn is working today, because Cam complained about it when I helped with the new cadets on wednesday."

"No need to bother her. Besides, I don't feel like driving. Maybe you could just run in the store to buy a test."

"I can do that." He got up quickly and was out of the door, but stopped dead in his tracks just to return to his wife, still seated on the floor. Surprised, she looked up to him and saw him smile.

"Sorry, I nearly forgot to tell you how much I love you." He said, kissing her on top of her hair. "Should I help you get up?"

"No, I think I will stay here a little longer. I'm not sure if I'm finished yet."

"Okay, I will be quick. Is it okay to leave Janet here? She's in the living room, sleeping in her car seat. I think she won't wake up until I'm back."

"Of course that's okay. I'll be here, waiting for you." She smiled. "And I love you too."

Normally she would have told her husband to try not to be that euphoric because they haven't got a proof right now, but she was pretty sure that the test will be positive. Only five minutes later he returned with two packs of tests and when Sam gave him a questioning look he only shrugged and told her "Just to be sure."

He held his hands out to help her up. When Sam was steady enough to make the test he went into the kitchen to make tea for her. They met in the living room, he held the cup of tea in his hands and she held the plastic stick in hers. When they sat down she placed the test on the table in front of her and took the cup. Both gazes went towards the sleeping baby next to them.

"How long?" Jack wanted to know, his voice was shaking. He couldn't remember the last time he was this nervous.

"Only a few more minutes."

The minutes passed in silence until she turned towards him. "Do you want to have a look?"

"Wouldn't you be the one to have the first look?"

"I couldn't do it the first time and I can't do it now. The last time it was Cassie who looked first, now I want it to be you."

"Okay!"

"Okay." She said as if to reassure her.

Jack took the plastic stick in his hand and turned it to look at the test field. He was sure he felt his heart stop for a beat or two.

It showed two clear pink lines.

He swiftly spun around towards Sam and embraced her passionately. He kissed her with such deep affection and he heard her giggle in between the kisses. Those two little lines on the test meant they would soon be a family of four.