Jack O'Neill was planning some downtime. Samantha would be home on Wednesday, she and her crew had done a remarkable job on the satellites, had earned some downtime. Jack had asked Hank about SG-1's schedule and saw they would all be off duty on Saturday. Jack had invited all of SG-1 over for a cookout, along with PG-1. Jack had beer, brats, and steaks planned for the grill, and had a delivery order in for the rabbit food for Carter and a few others that may want it.
Jack and Samantha enjoyed some time alone together after she caught up on sleep. Saturday morning she woke to find that Jack was already out of bed preparing things for their friends. Samantha took a lazy morning and finally came out of the bedroom ready for the day.
A little afternoon, a knock on the door, it was Daniel and Vala, she had her arm around Daniel's waist.
"Daniel! Vala! Come on in it's good to see you two!" cried Samantha.
"Sam it's been too long!" Daniel hugging her.
Vala taking her hug, "I finally got him" she whispered to Samantha. Samantha winked at her. She had known Vala had chased Daniel for the better part of four years.
"Jack is in the backyard, getting the grill going. You know how he likes to have the grill going all day," directed Samantha.
A few minutes later another knock, this time it was Teal'c and Mitchell.
"Come in guys it's great to see you!" exclaimed Samantha.
Next was Gen. Landry and Dr. Lam at the door, "Welcome General Landry!"
"Enough of that it's Hank today, Col. Carter." winked Landry.
"In that case Hank it's Samantha!" chided Samantha, "Carolyn's it's good to see you as well!"
Not long after that, Jennifer Keller and Rodney McKay were at the door.
"Rodney and Jennifer so glad you could make it come on in!" Samantha hugged them both as they entered. Rodney as awkward as ever.
Lastly came John and Jennifer Hailey, the newest member of the SG-1.
"John, and Jennifer together?" asked Samantha when she opened the door.
John stumbling a bit on his word, "We just got here at the same time."
"Wow, really your that nervous over us coming to the door together?" asked Hailey.
Carter couldn't help but laugh at John, "Is Teyla or Ronon coming?"
"No don't think they will make it, Teyla is handling an issue on Corlan, and Ronon isn't giving the recruits a day off," replied John.
Everyone had gathered around in the backyard. It was a nice break from all the work. The evacuation of Pegasus was underway the teams had been stretched thin this week, with 3-5 planets being evacuated a day. Corlan was growing, quickly. The Daedalus and Apollo were striking hard at the wraith.
Vala and Samantha were discussing their next shopping trip when Jennifer asked about joining them and she was more than welcomed.
Jack was getting the grill ready. Getting a count on steaks v's rabbit food, when he called out, "Jennifer?"
Jennifer Keller called out, "Steak!"
Jennifer Hailey called out, "Salad!"
Jack looked at the two of them, as several laughed, "Your Jennifer, and your Hailey, that's my only order today!" Everyone had a good laugh over it and continued on.
Mitchell and John were sharing battle stories, while Hank helped Jack drink the beer while he was grilling. Daniel and Rodney were arguing over something about the ancients, while Teal'c and Carolyn we discussing how she could help the Free Java Nation. Everyone was enjoying a great time, and relaxed. Jack gazed around his yard, this was his family some of them he had known for years, and other had only recently become a part of it, but they were his family.
Hank watching Jack, asked, "Admiring your family dad?"
"Dad? Yup admiring the family Grandpa!" laughed Jack, "Hank don't ever give it up unless you have to. I only did to be with the women I love."
"Rodney where is your sister?" yelled O'Neill.
"Don't think she is coming, something about afraid her husband would freak out over the transport beam." replied Rodney, "He's an English major or arts major or something like that."
Jack shook his head. Hank just said, "Some of the children are a little special."
About this time a head popped around the side of the house. It was Richard Woolsey. Hank saw him first, "Richard come on around, join in on the fun!"
"Rich! Thought you said you couldn't make it?" asked Jack.
Richard coming on in to join everyone, "Sorry I didn't think I could, but I got freed up."
"Hey Jack, didn't you invite Carson?" asked Jennifer.
Everyone got kind of quiet, then Carolyn laughed, "Jennifer you don't know?"
"Know what?" asked Jennifer.
"Carson is out on his first date with Dr. Porter," replied Carolyn.
"What? Since when?" replied Jennifer.
"Really you didn't know? That's why he brought her in," asked Rodney.
"Why am I the last to know these things?" asked Jennifer.
"Maybe because your happy and in love, with no interest in that anymore," replied Samantha.
"Samantha is a very smart woman, you should pay attention to her," said Rodney.
"Indeed!" stated Teal'c.
"Oh wow you're talking about how smart she is?" asked Jennifer.
"Yes and I think you should think about what she said when you answer my question, Will you marry me, Jennifer Keller?" Rodney asked as he got down on one knee, and held up a ring.
Jennifer was tearing up, everyone else was dead silent, even the wind and birds had stopped, it was like someone had turned on a time dilation field.
Poor Rodney felt like an eternity was passing before Jennifer finally got control of herself and squeaked out, "Yes"
Rodney couldn't make it out and look around at everyone else, nobody could tell what she had said, "Jennifer could you say that a bit louder?"
"Yes!" she screamed.
Everyone was excited, drinks were raised to them. It was another reason to celebrate that day!
"Rodney you ole dog, why didn't you tell anyone?" asked John.
Rodney replied, "I barely had the nerve to ask if anyone else knew I don't know if I could have done it."
Samantha noticed that Vala gave Daniel an elbow in his side, and Daniel seemed clueless on what it meant. Jack looked around at everyone. Cameron and John had Carolyn and Hailey off to the side chatting them up. Hank kept a close eye on those two. Vala and Daniel were acting more like a couple on their 25th anniversary instead of just starting to date. Samantha caught his eye, she was grinning from ear to ear, she enjoyed the new life she had with her husband.
Jack sighed tomorrow was back to work, the evacuation kept everyone busy, getting his family together today probably required the intervention of an ascended being. That night after everyone had left, Samantha asked, "You knew McKay was going to ask didn't you?"
"His sister had told me, she had prodded him making sure it was OK with me if he asked at our party." replied Jack, "I couldn't really tell him no."
"You always were a softee." replied Carter, as she curled up next to her husband in bed.