Sam arrived the following day in time for lunch. When Jack opened the door it already smelled heavenly. He stepped aside to invite her in, and as she brushed past him, wrapping him in a brief, affectionate hug, he leaned in to place a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"Hey, are you hungry? Lunch is nearly ready."

"It smells great! Yeah, I'm very hungry. Seems like eating is all I do at the moment." She joked, nodding towards her belly as to show him the reason for her constant craving for food.

"Right, just let me finish it quickly. The boys are hungry too."

"Did they behave yesterday?" Sam wanted to know.

"They are angels, Sam. You've got two very special kids. They're outside in the sandbox, not sure how you'll get them to go home, they hardly leave the sand."

"Thank you! They're not always angels, but I'm pleased to know they can behave when not at home. I'll go and check on them, let's see what you three got to build yesterday."

"Hey mom!" Alex shouted when he saw his mother enter the backyard, but didn't bother to leave his spot. Ben just waved in her direction, hardly looking up from what he was building right now.

"Hello to you too!" Sam moved closer until she was able to sit on the edge of the sandbox. "Wow, did you guys really build this? I can't believe it, it's great."

Now both boys were eager to tell their mom all about it.

"Uncle Jack let me use the drill…"

"I've got to roll the wheelbarrow…"

"We made the edge around the box wide enough to sit on…"

"I was in charge of the screws… And uncle Jack got us work gloves…"

"And we built a sandcastle yesterday, with towers and a moat and…."

"Oh mom, we've slept outside tonight in a tent…"

Sam smiled at how excited her boys were and was grateful about what they had experienced yesterday.

"Wow, that sounds like you two had a lot of fun yesterday! It's a really great sandbox. I can't believe you helped build it."

"We had so much fun, mom! Jack is the best. He made hot dogs and we had lemon juice and we made a fire when it got dark. And now he's cooking spaghetti bolognese." Alex told her. "Do you want to play with us until it's time for lunch? Look, you need to make the sand wet, so it will hold together better."

"Okay, show me." Sam said, knowing fully well how to create sand sculptures, but she loved it when Alex explained things to her.

After a while they heard Jack set up the table and bring out the food.

"Come on guys before it gets cold, lunch is ready!"

The boys ran up to Jack and with just one look from him they went inside to wash their hands.

"Wow, can you tell me your secret? At home they always argue with me about washing hands."

"Well, I bet they would argue the same with me if they lived here permanently."

A brief moment passed by before Sam answered and got inside to wash her hands too. "Yeah, maybe."

Why was it that only the slightest hints at a life with Jack O'Neill threw her off balance lately? In truth she knew why, and she swore to herself to act on those feelings as soon as she felt ready for it.

"I want to sit next to Jack!" Alex shouted as he exited the bathroom first.

"I sit next to mom!" Ben shouted back at him and crashed into Sam who was about to enter the bathroom while he was leaving.

"Sorry mom! Sorry baby girl!" He said, hugged his mother and kissed her belly before he left.

They enjoyed lunch and played together in the backyard before Sam and the boys had to go home.

"Thank you uncle Jack! Can we do this again sometime?"

"Of course we can, Alex. You and Ben are always welcome here." Jack kneeled down so he could hug them both.

"Can we keep building things with you? That's a lot of fun."

"We can, we just need to find another project."

"I have an idea, uncle Jack!" Ben was grinning from ear to ear, clearly proud of his idea. "But it's a secret. Mom, can you go to the car?"

Jack looked up to her to find out if she was okay with it.

"Alright, I'll go ahead. But if Jack says no I don't want any discussion about this, am I understood?"

"Yes mom!"

"Okay mom!"

Despite Sam being far enough away the little boy whispered and told Alex and Jack about his plan.

"That's a really good idea Ben, I bet your mom will love it. I'm all in! Now we just need to find a time for you to come over so we can do this. Let's go and ask your mother."

Sam, who had moved the stuff of her boys in the car, had the driver's door open and leaned onto it.

"So, you wanna tell me what this is all about?"

"Nope!" Jack smirked, "But you'll find out eventually. In order to do so I need the boys over maybe once a week. You can say no if you don't want that."

"I won't say no, Jack. But are you sure you want that? I mean, you're retired now and could enjoy your newfound freedom."

"Sam, I love having them here. They're part of the reason I did retire. What would I do with all this freetime all on my own? I could take them once a week and you would have that day for yourself. I bet you like a day off once a week."

"Yes, they can come. Do you want to schedule a fixed day or see from week to week?"

"I could get them from daycare on Fridays and when you come to get them we can have dinner together, how does this sound to you?"

"Alright, you're okay with that, boys?" She turned to see Alex and Ben nodding excitedly.

So for the next thirteen weeks Jack picked them up from daycare, made them sandwiches and started on their newest project.

Sam came around in the evening and brought dinner.

"So when is this mysterious project finished, huh?" Sam wanted to know.

"I think we just need one more working session to complete it, it's nearly done. Right boys?"

"Yes, we're nearly finished mom, and then you can see what we've been working on."

"But we need to skip the next week." She told them and looked into three disappointed faces.

"What? Why?" Alex asked.

"I've got another appointment next Friday and it will be the last ultrasound before the baby is born. I thought that maybe you wanted to come to see your sister."

"Oh I would love that, mom." Alex was already excited, while Ben wasn't so sure about it.

"I don't know if I want to."

"That's okay Ben, you don't need to if you don't want to. I just thought it might be fun."

Unsure about what to do, she glanced at Jack.

"I could come with you." He offered, "And if you don't want to join your mother and Alex I can wait outside the examination room with you."

"Would you do that, Jack?" He looked at him with his big blue eyes.

"Of course buddy! No pressure, and if you decide you want to go in that's okay too."

With watery eyes Sam mouthed a silent 'thank you' towards Jack.

And as silent as she did he told her she was welcome.

"So, why don't I pick you up Thursday instead of Friday? We can finish the project and show it to your mom on Friday after her appointment."

"Yeah!!! Is that okay, mom?"

"If it's okay with Jack, it's okay with me."

Jack picked them up on Friday to drive them to Sam's appointment. He had a chat with Ben yesterday and was sure the boy was going in to see his sister too.

As much as Ben loved to cuddle with his mom's belly it scared him to actually be able to see the baby. He had felt his sister kick for quite a few times now, but it was different to see it from the outside than from the inside. So Jack talked to him about his fears and tried to explain what would happen at an ultrasound as child-friendly as he could.

When they entered the office Dr. Jennings was already standing at the front desk.

"Hello Sam, and who do we have here?"

"Hey Dr. Jennings, this is Alex, my oldest son and this is Ben. And you know Jack O'Neill from the last ultrasound appointment."

"Yes, I do. Mr. O'Neill." She greeted him before she leaned down to shake the boy's hands. "Hey Alex, hey Ben. I'm Dr. Jennings. Are you ready to see your sister today?"

Alex nodded excitedly and as Sam was about to explain that Ben would probably wait outside with Jack, the little boy stepped forward and told her that he was ready.

She quickly exchanged a look with Jack who only smirked in response.

"Alright, it might be a little crowded in there, but we'll manage." Dr. Jennings showed them the way into her room.

When Jack fell back to give them room for the three of them Sam stopped and looked at him.

"Jack, are you coming?"

"Oh I'm just here for Ben, aren't I? And as he's willing to go in I'll just wait here." He explained.

"He still might need you. And honestly, I want you in there too, please."

She held out a hand to him and he took it.

"I'd like that, thank you."

Sam lay back and lifted her shirt. He hadn't seen her bare belly for over thirteen weeks now. He had seen her belly grow over the weeks, but it was always hidden under a shirt or a dress. Seeing her soft light skin stretch firmly around the baby did things to him he couldn't explain. Even with the third pregnancy there was no stretch mark. And while he was staring at her the Dr. explained everything to Ben and Alex what she was going to do.

You could see a little foot kicking from inside and he was amazed how clearly you could recognize the shape. He was wondering if this hurts Sam when he heard her hiss and adjust her position, at least it might be a bit uncomfortable having a baby moving around inside of you.

Dr. Jennings put the gel on Sam's stomach and Ben climbed onto Jack's lap so that he could see better and to have his support. Alex stood in front of them, his gaze fixed on the screen, watching his sister.

Sam on the other hand was watching her boy's reaction, she loved to see the excitement in their faces. The doctor moved around to show them the feet, hands, the spine and finally her face.

Jack reached unconsciously to take Sam's hand, grateful for his support she squeezed it. As soon as she could tear her eyes away from her kids her focus landed on Jack. His eyes were filled with tears and he was fighting to not let them fall. As kick ass soldier that he was, when children were involved Jack O'Neill was a softie.

"Do you want to hear something really cool?" The Dr. asked the boys and pushed a button.

"What's that?" Ben wanted to know.

"That is your sister's heartbeat." She explained.

"It's really fast." Alex wondered.

"You're right, it's faster than ours, but that's normal for babies. You don't need to worry. Everything is looking good. In about 6 weeks you'll have a baby sister in your arms."

"Wow!"

In the end she printed out some pictures and scheduled Sam's next appointment with her while Jack left the room with one boy at each hand, to give Sam the privacy to dress herself properly.

On the drive home they listened to the boy's chatter if the other one had seen the little nose, or if he had recognized how tiny those fingers were, or… They wouldn't stop talking about the baby until Jack parked his car in the driveway.

"Uncle Jack, can we show mom the surprise now?"

"Sure we can! Do you want to have a drink first or are you ready for your surprise?" Jack asked her.

"I'm good thank you, I really want to know what you've been working on all those weeks."

"Okay, come on, mom!"

Ben and Alex took her hands and led her to Jack's shed where they've been working.

"Oh wait! Do we have a blindfold or something? She has to close her eyes when we open the shed."

Jack smiled about how excited they both were. He himself was nervous about what Sam would say, but as it was built by the boys she would love it.

"I can put my hands over her eyes and guide her in while you two open the door, how's that?"

They thought about it for a moment. "Yep that will do."

So they stood in his backyard just outside his shed. Sam closed her eyes and felt the weight of his right hand on her face, he placed the left one on her hip, so he could guide her. She was surrounded by Jack's scent and even without the anticipation it drove her crazy. The door cracked open and he let her in.

"Ready?" He asked her.

"Ready!" She told him.

He lifted his hands and she opened her eyes.

"Oh my god!" Her hand covered her mouth and she tried not to cry. "This is beautiful!"

"We made this for our sister, mom." Alex explained.

"It was my idea and uncle Jack helped us to design and to build it." Ben beamed and finally she wasn't able to hold back the tears. She kneeled down to embrace her boys, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the wooden cradle they had made for the baby.

When she stood up again she took a closer look at the light wooden cradle. There were stars cut out in the headboard and it could sway from one side to the other. They had even thought about a construction to place a white heaven over it.

"We briefly talked about painting it, but we came to like it the way it is." Jack told her and for the first time she looked at him, realizing that this man had just built her a cradle for her unborn child, with the help of her boys.

"It's perfect!" That was all she got out before she took his head between her hands and kissed him.

They heard Alex whisper "I think she likes it!" before they separated again.