"Ups." She blushed and chewed her bottom lip.
"If I had known how much you like it…" He joked to lighten up the situation. It worked because she began to laugh.
"Thank you so much!" Then she turned around again to where her boys were standing. She let them tell her what they did to make this cradle. From the first drawing, over buying the right wood, cutting it and treating the wood so that it was safe for a baby to sleep in.
"You did an amazing job! Your sister is really lucky to have you two as her brothers. Now we just need to figure out where to place it. I'd say the first time she has to sleep next to me so that I can feed her during the night. It will fit perfectly next to my bed until she's ready to move to her own room."
"Jack says he will bring it over next week."
"I'm looking forward to that. Thank you, boys!"
Jack watched her sitting in the middle of his shed, next to the cradle, 9 months pregnant with her boys in her arms. She looked more at ease than he had seen her in a long time.
"Alright everybody, let's get inside, I'll fix us a quick dinner, you must be hungry by now."
He reached down to help Sam get up and when Ben stretched his hands towards Jack, he knew exactly what the little boy wanted. So Jack picked him up and with his other hand on the small of Sam's back he guided her outside. Alex just stopped to close the shed.
While Sam helped Jack prepare dinner the boys sat down to play with the building blocks that Jack got out from the attic, a leftover of Charlie's toys.
Sam stood at the sink when Jack reached around her to wash his hands, he was so close she could feel his breath on her neck. They savored this brief moment until Jack stepped back to dry his hands.
She turned around, her hands grabbed the worktop behind her.
"I can't believe that you've built a cradle for me… it's so beautiful."
"It was Ben's idea, I only drew it, got the dimensions right and helped them make it."
He closed the distance between them and took her in his arms, her belly pressed against him. She reached around his waist and hugged him back, letting her head fall to his chest, suddenly in need for physical contact.
When they sat down for dinner they sensed that Ben and Alex were up to something. It didn't take long before Alex spoke.
"Mom, can we sleep here tonight?"
"Alex, don't you think it might be a little too much? You've been here all day yesterday and today, give Jack a break, would you?" She gently tried to talk them out of it.
Jack cleared his throat.
"You know, it wouldn't bother me. I mean only if you agree, I don't want to undermine your authority."
"I don't want them to bother you."
"They don't, and it's late. Why don't you all stay? I've got enough rooms for all of us, or you could share a bed with the boys."
"Oh please say yes, mommy! You've never slept here before." Ben begged and Jack joined in.
"I've got nothing to sleep in, I would need to drive home to get something anyway." Sam argued, because the thought of sleeping in jeans and her shirt that she wore all day wasn't appealing to her.
"We'll find something for you, I'm sure you'll fit in my shirts." Jack offered, smiling at the thought of Sam in one of his shirts.
"Please, mom!"
"Alright, alright. Yes, we can stay here."
Alex and Ben jumped around excitedly and started with their night routine. They had their own toothbrushes and pajamas at Jack's by now, so they don't need to bring everything over all the time.
Jack and Sam tucked them in together and Sam listened while Jack read them a bedtime story.
"Good night, mom! Good night, Jack!" They said in unison.
"Night boys!" Sam said, placing soft kisses on their forehead.
Outside of the room Jack motioned her to follow him.
"Let's see if we can find something for you to wear. I admit it might be a tight fit, but I've got some very loose shirts."
"Just say it out loud, Jack. I am huge!" Sam complained and he chuckled.
"You're gorgeous, Sam. And I don't want to hear otherwise!"
"I'm ready to explode, I wasn't that big with the boys."
"Maybe girls need more space." He joked. "You couldn't be more beautiful to me!"
And after a moment of silence he opened a drawer and picked out sweatpants and a worn out air force shirt.
"The pants might not fit over your belly, but I'm sure the shirt will. Just let me get my clothes, I can change in the bathroom. You're welcome to search my drawers for a better fit if you need to."
"Thanks, for everything, Jack!"
"You're welcome!"
When he left Sam was glad to get rid of her clothes to finally wear something more comfortable. Jack was right, the pants didn't fit over her belly, but she could easily secure them so that they wouldn't fall down. The shirt on the other hand was a tight fit, although it was one of his biggest shirts it stopped a few inches under her belly button. Despite the gap between the shirt and the pants, where bare skin was visible, she was comfortable. Surrounded by the scent of Jack O'Neill.
Jack was already waiting on the couch as she came down the hallway. He took a moment to look at her. Her hair, that has grown over the years, tied back in a ponytail, wearing his clothes, he noticed that his shirt was too short and could see the skin showing. Lately the urge to touch her has increased, and seeing her here in his house, so domestic, it was nearly painful.
"I was sure it would fit." He said, apologetically.
"I'm bigger than you thought, huh? No, that's okay, I'm really comfortable and it's not cold, so I'm good." She said, sitting down next to him, trying to find a position where her back doesn't hurt and she could put the feet up on the couch table next to Jack's.
"You're okay?" He asked concerned as she didn't seem to be able to find a comfortable position.
"It's not easy to get comfortable when a foot is pressed in your pelvis. And my feet are killing me. But it's only 6 more weeks, right?"
"So why don't you lay back down and place your legs over me? Come on, you know I give good foot massages, remember?"
"Yes, I do remember." She hesitated just one moment before she lay down and gave him her feet.
He turned on the tv and handed her the remote, but she was fine with watching whatever he chose to, her eyes closed the second he started to massage her. She didn't fall asleep, but savored every moment.
Jack didn't pay attention to the ice hockey game that was playing on tv, that was just for background noises. His hands gently knead the balls of her feet. He gradually made his way from her toes moving up over her foot and toward her calf.
Sam hadn't felt that good in a long time, she yearned for physical contact more and more these days and couldn't stop herself moaning when he hit just the right sore spot.
He watched her rubbing her stomach and wondered if the baby was awake or not.
"Is she asleep?"
"Definitely not!" Was her answer before she rolled up the shirt to reveal her belly, showing him the movement of her daughter.
"Oh wow, that's scary!"
He watched in awe as the baby gently stirred and shifted within her belly, the subtle movements creating soft ripples beneath the surface of her skin. It was a mesmerizing sight, a beautiful reminder of the life growing inside her.
"It doesn't hurt, just a little uncomfortable when she hits the wrong spots." Sam explained. "She seems to sense when I'm relaxed, that's when her party begins."
Jack's hand moved from her feet to her belly. He began to apply a gentle massage there too. As he worked, the baby inside responded to his touch, settling down and becoming calm, as if sensing the love and warmth radiating from both of them, allowing Sam to fully relax for the first time in a while. It felt as though they were all connected in this shared moment. The baby's quietude seemed to echo the serenity that filled the air, and they each savored the intimacy of being together.
Jack placed a soft kiss on top of her belly, he knew he needed to stop, otherwise he couldn't guarantee anything. He wanted this woman so badly, wanted to make love to her and show her how much she meant to him. But he knew and respected that this wasn't the right time. And judging Sam's reaction she felt the same.
And when he sat back he pulled the shirt back over her stomach as far as possible.
She also sat back up, pulling her legs underneath her so that she was kneeling next to Jack.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Everything!"
"Cassie already offered to look after the boys when I go into labor. But honestly I'm a bit afraid of doing it all alone. Would you stay with me during the birth? I mean, I can totally understand if you'd say no, I can ask Cassie, but then I need someone for the boys...would you…"
He silenced her by placing two fingers on her lips.
"Would you please take a breath. Of course I'm coming with you. I'm honored that you want me there and I could think of anything I would want more."
She breathed out in relief, unaware that she had been holding her breath. She leaned forward to place her head on his shoulder, his arm wrapped protectively around her, enjoying the moment having her in his arms.
"Let's go to bed, you're tired." He said, gently pushing her in a sitting position.
"I am, but I haven't been able to have physical contact in a long time. It seems my body is craving it." She explained her reluctance to get up.
"I like that, too. Sleep with me. I mean, next to me. We don't have to do anything, but I'd like to sleep next to you tonight."
"Okay!" She took his hand and got up, walking down the hallway together towards his bedroom. They each took their turn to use the bathroom and when Jack joined her in bed he positioned himself behind her, one arm underneath her head and the other one carefully placed on her stomach.
They drifted to sleep and shortly before he fell asleep, thinking Sam was asleep already, he placed a kiss on her shoulder, whispering "I love you."
He never noticed the happy tear that ran down Sam's cheek.
She woke up in the middle of the night, that wasn't unusual, she never slept through the nights closer to her due date, but tonight was different. Jack's hand had moved from under her head down towards her breast. That's what woke her. She didn't dare to move, just took her time to enjoy the feeling of his hands on her.
Sam could tell the exact moment Jack awoke because his hand stilled. She was breathing faster by now, not ready to stop this. And when he tried to remove his hands as tactfully as possible her hand caught his, stopping his retreat.
"Please, don't!"
"You sure?" His whisper gave her goosebumps.
"I'm not ready for more, but this feels amazing."
He left his hand on her breast and watched her go back to sleep.
The room only lit by the moon bathed her curves in a wonderful light.
It was still early, but the sun was shining through the curtains. The door to Jack's bedroom opened carefully and Ben and Alex came sneaking in, rubbing their eyes still sleepy.
"Jack, do you know where mom is?"
They stopped right in front of the bed, seeing her mother still asleep next to Jack.
"Oh!"
"She's still sleeping, shall I make you breakfast or would you like to come and cuddle?"
Not sooner had he said that, the boys hopped into the bed, Ben climbing in between him and Sam, Alex snuggled up on his other side.
"Psst, don't wake her up."
"Did she have a bad dream?" Ben asked. "I need someone to snuggle too when I've had a nightmare, I usually climb into mom's bed then."
Not sure what to say Jack tried to give away as little as possible.
"Yeah, sort of! You know, sometimes we need someone to comfort us. That's why your mom sleeps here tonight."
"That's good." Ben yawned.
"Try to get some more sleep."
They nodded and yawned at the same time and it didn't take them long to fall asleep again, their little bodies wrapped around Jack's.
A few hours later Sam awoke and turned around to see if Jack was already up. There he was, buried beneath her sons. The sight of them made her smile. She took her time to watch them until she recognized that Jack was awake.
"Hey!" He whispered, not to wake the boys.
"Hey, good morning! How long have these two been here?"
"A few hours, they were looking for you."
"Do you think they mind me being here? In your bed, I mean."
"I don't think so. We shouldn't make this a big deal for them, they know we're friends."
"Okay!" She agreed. "I need to use the bathroom and then I'm going to start making breakfast. They are going to be hungry when they wake up. They haven't slept that long in a while."
Jack carefully crawled out of bed to help Sam in the kitchen.
"You know, it's Ben's birthday in two weeks, I thought about inviting the guys over and Cassie." Sam told him while mixing the ingredients for pancakes together.
"That'd be great, it's still warm outside, even for October, I could fire up the grill. Hot dogs and burgers, the boys like it and you would only have to prepare a salad. I could grill some vegetables too. Oh and I'm sure Cassie will bring dessert."
She was touched by his dedication.
"I'd love that, and Ben of course too. We could invite Cassie's boyfriend, get to know him in a casual environment."
"Cassie's boyfriend?" His eyebrows shot up.
"Seriously? You don't know she's seeing someone? When was the last time you've talked to her?" Sam wondered, getting out the pan and put it on the stove to start on the pancakes.
"It's been a while. She is busy and now I know why."
"Jack…"
"What do we know about him? How long has she been seeing that guy?"
"His name is John, he's a Doctor at the hospital too, he's five years her senior and from what she told me a really nice man."
Jack grumbled, "Five years, huh?"
"Don't go there buddy, you know it will backfire." Of course, she was alluding to their own age difference.
"Alright, I'll give him a chance. Is it serious?"
"I'd say so. She's madly in love, Jack. Try to not scare him away immediately."
"I promise! So, any ideas on what I could get Ben for his birthday?"
"He loves spending time with you. Maybe you could give him time with you. Last winter I promised to show him how to ice skate, but for obvious reasons that's not possible for me."
"That's a good idea, I'd love that and…oh, psst!"
They heard the pitter patter of little feet coming down the hallway. And as soon as the boys were awake the chatter began, as if they had to make up for the time they were asleep. They ran up to Sam, kissed her good morning and hugged Jack before they sat down. Laughter filled the room and Jack loved it.