He stirred as the first rays of sunshine tickled his face. Turning sideways he watched Sam slowly waking up too.

"Good morning!"

"Mmhh, good morning!" She groaned, not fully awake yet.

"How are you feeling?"

She opened her eyes to look at him.

"Happy, tired and a little sore."

"Sorry!" He answered, placing a kiss on her nose.

"No, it's the perfect kind of sore." She smiled, kissing him back. Anyway, she has been smiling a lot since yesterday. "But as much as I enjoy lying here with you, I need to go to the bathroom. That little one is pressing on my bladder. I'm not going to miss that."

"I can imagine. I should put on some clothes, the boys could come in anytime. I don't want them to see the glory details all at once."

But before they slipped into their pajamas he took the opportunity to look at her perfect body again. He ran his fingers over her silhouette, tracing a line lovingly over her protruding belly before she got up.

The boys were still asleep so they took the time to cuddle when she climbed back into bed with Jack.

"I could get used to this so easily." Sam sighed, blissfully.

"Yes, me too. But you do realize that these quiet mornings will soon no longer exist, right?"

"Don't remind me" She wailed, "I'm not looking forward to being constantly exhausted and tired. I will look terrible and you'll wonder why you got yourself into it."

"Nah, I'm just here for the kids." He teased her. "No, honestly, you couldn't look terrible if you tried. I want all of you Sam, including the messy and tired one. I've seen you exhausted before and you've always been beautiful to me."

"Charmer!" She pouted and gave him a light nudge with her shoulder.

"At your service, ma'am. Have you thought about names already?"

"Names?"

"Yes, for the baby. We can't keep calling her 'the little one'. Might be embarrassing in high school."

"I was kind of putting it off."

"I recognized! Any reason why you do? I've got a feeling we won't have unlimited time until she's ready to be born." He gently stroked her bare arms, creating goosebumps with every change of direction.

"I don't know. I guess it makes it even more real to me if she has a name."

"She is real, Sam and she's ready. We have the cradle and all the baby stuff, we're ready too."

"Are we? It's such a big step again. " There was uncertainty in her question.

"Yes, we are and we're going to take that step together. But you have to be the one to name her."

"Why me?"

"Because she is your daughter."

"No, that's not what I meant. Why only me? If you're going to be around permanently you're the only father she'll get to know. You can also suggest names."

"I…I didn't think…" He gently placed his hand on her belly, feeling every slight kick of the baby's feet against his hand.

"You didn't think what, Jack? You told me we're in this together. I trust you with the kids and that means I'm not the only one making decisions regarding them. I haven't really thought about a name for her, there is a name that I always thought was nice for a girl, but first I'd like to hear your suggestions."

"Why not tell me your idea?" Now he was curious.

She took a moment to find the right words to tell him and not reveal the name.

"Because you might not want that name. So I want to be able to discuss alternatives when we dismiss this particular one."

Before he could answer properly they heard the boys getting up.

"Alright, you're off the hook for now, but we'll continue this later. Maybe Alex and Ben have suggestions too."

"I bet they have. We can ask them over breakfast."

Their bedroom door opened and two energetic little boys jumped into bed with them.

"Jack! Jack! You're still here!" Ben was relieved.

"Of course, I've promised." Was the only thing he was able to say when he was buried underneath the boys, both ready to cuddle. Sam laughed, grateful that the bed was big enough to fit them all.

"Good morning, boys. Did you sleep well?"

"Morning mom! I slept very well." Alex abandoned Jack to snuggle up to his mother.

They started slowly into the morning. It was Sunday and no one needed to get out. Sam wasn't working anymore this late in her pregnancy, Jack's retired and there was no preschool for the boys. That challenge was about to come tomorrow.

Ben and Alex had a lot of ideas to name their sister, but not one Sam was seriously considering. She would have to wait till tonight to hear Jack's thoughts. When they planned the day they opted for a walk in the woods, fresh air would do them good and if things go perfectly, the children would be tired by the end.

Walking those familiar paths Jack remembered his hikes with Sam when she was pregnant. Having the boys with them now felt like a circle that closes.

On the way home Jack had to stop at his house to get a few things as the kids had asked him to stay the night again. And if Sam was honest with herself she could get used to him living with them. They had talked about it and thought that he would sleep over on weekends until the baby is born, trying to figure out if this living together would work out. Then he'd be around even more. But to be honest, they already knew it would work and that this is what they wanted. Sam wouldn't be surprised if he stayed for good as soon as he started sleeping over.

However they had to decide what to do, if Jack wanted to move in with them, if they would move to him or if they would find a fresh start with a new house.

Sam was used to living in her house now, the kids had their room and that's the only home they knew, but she had always loved Jack's house, and if she dreamt about a life with him she always pictured herself there. Whatever they'd decide, she knew a new home wasn't an option, if Jack didn't want to live in a home she'd built with Pete, she was ready to move her family into his home.

When he stopped the car to get his things it was Alex who asked about something very important to him.

"Jack, what are we going to do with the sandbox we've built? When you're with us all the time we wouldn't need to come to visit you and play in your garden."

"Don't worry, Alex. We'll find a solution. That's a conversation I need to have with your mother, but when I'm going to live with you guys I'm sure we can move that sandbox to your backyard." He assured him.

Satisfied, the boy nodded and leaned back, waiting for Jack to get his things.

Meanwhile in the car Sam tried to figure out how much of a change the boys were willing to make.

"So, you're okay if Jack would move in with us?"

"Of course, mom."

"Yes!"

Their answer was unanimous, so Sam tried to test the waters. "And what would you think if we'd move in with him? Into his home?"

"Why should we? Doesn't Jack want to live in our house?" Ben wondered.

"We haven't talked about it, but I'm sure he'd be okay with whatever we decide. I just thought that maybe it is strange to him to live in a house that your father and I bought together."

"I would be okay with either of it. I like Jack's house." Ben told her.

"Would we each get a room or could Ben and I keep sharing a room?"

"Jack has plenty of room, I'm sure you could get a room each, but you wouldn't need to if you want to keep sharing a room. I will talk with Jack, but I'm glad that you're not completely against moving. We will make the final decision together, okay? As a team. But it's not something we have to decide right now. We have all the time we need."

They all twitched when Jack opened the driver's door. They hadn't heard him coming back so the noise surprised them.

"Sorry, I didn't want to scare you. Did I interrupt anything?" Jack asked when he started the motor.

"Not really, we can talk about it later, we were just discussing our living situation."

Jack's eyebrows shot up, he had been able to compete with Teal'c, but Sam just shook her head to tell him he didn't need to worry and rested her hand on his thigh for the rest of the drive.

"We will decide as a team." Ben shouted happily from the back of the car and Sam tried to hide her giggle. She was truly happy today and it showed on her face.

While Jack packed away his belongings, grateful that Sam had made room in her closet for him, she started to cook dinner. Ben and Alex were waiting for him, sitting on their mother's bed, watching him put away his stuff.

"Do you like this house, Jack?" It was Alex, testing the waters.

"Of course I like this house, Alex. Why wouldn't I?"

"We lived here with dad, so maybe you like your house better." Ben interjected.

Ah, Jack thought, this is what this conversation was about. Living arrangements.

"I do love my house." He told them honestly. "I've lived there for quite some time now. It's a quiet spot, but I like being here at least as much."

"We love your house too, Jack. We're good with whatever you and mom decide. Ben and I talked and we just wanted you to know that it wouldn't bother us to move in with you to your house."

"Thank you both for telling me. I think your mom and I will have enough to talk about tonight."

He took a seat at the edge of the bed, a boy on either side of him. Ben pulled him back so they could cuddle comfortably on the large bed. That's how Sam found them when dinner was ready. She leaned against the doorframe, her heart swelling with warmth as she watched the three of them together. A sense of deep love and security enveloped her as she caught sight of the man she had loved for so long. There he was, surrounded by her children, who embraced him wholeheartedly. She felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and contentment, knowing that the boys accepted him in their lives.

After dinner and tucking them in Jack took a detour to the kitchen to get himself a beer and a orange juice for Sam, another craving she had developed almost at the end of her pregnancy.

"They've stopped calling me uncle!"

They already asked if they should call him daddy before, but however today he felt like they would do this sooner than later.

"Huh?" She looked up from her magazine, trying to piece together what Jack wanted to tell her.

"It was always 'uncle Jack this' or 'uncle Jack that' in the past, but they haven't called me uncle in a while yet. It just came to my mind."

"Does it bother you, or is this a good thing?"

"It's good." He smiled before the tip of his bottle came in contact with his lips and he downed the first sip.

They settled comfortably onto the couch, their bodies gently touching, allowing them to look into each other's eyes. It felt as if they were seeking the physical closeness that their conversation might be lacking, creating a warm intimacy that enveloped them both.

"So, the boys spilled the beans earlier. You're thinking about moving out of your house?" He wanted to know, not wanting to avoid the topic any longer.

"No, they were asking about the sandbox and one thing led to another. I don't want you to feel obliged to move into a house I have made my home with another man. I like the house, but my heart isn't necessarily set on it. I love your house too, always have. The boys told me they wouldn't mind moving. You have plenty of room, so they could each get a room for themselves. Or we could look for a new one. I don't mind as long as we're together, I just want you to be happy about the decision we'll make."

"I can live with any of this too. I'm not uncomfortable living here, I bet there are memories of first steps, first words from the kids that happened here. You wouldn't have that in a new home."

"I wouldn't, but we can make new memories. It could be a fresh start and maybe that's a good thing. I was holding back because I didn't know what Alex and Ben were feeling, but they sounded really excited about the idea of moving in with you. And I can't imagine you without that house, I always dreamt of living there with you. I mean it might be a bit stressful and I'm not sure if we could make it before the little one shows up." She drew small circles over her belly while she spoke, "but we could start and prepare the move. We needed to set up the boys room and make a plan to fit my things into your house, but there's no time pressure."

"You're forgetting that I'm retired now." He smiled, "I'm always home and I bet Daniel and Teal'c will be happy to help. When we bring the little one home I want it to be the right home and when you want to move in with me I'm very happy about that."

"Then that's settled. The boys will be over the moon when we tell them tomorrow." She leaned in to kiss him, to seal the deal and he responded immediately. His fingers wove through her hair, tenderly drawing her face closer to his.

"Hm, you mentioned the little one. I think there is one topic we need to discuss too." She whispered against his lips.

"I think we handled the first topic very well, how bad can figuring out a name possibly get?"

Sam let out a deep breath. "That depends… But first, do you have any thoughts on girl names? Names that you like?"

"I'm happy with whatever you decide, honestly. You did a good job naming your kids, I trust you."

"She will be your kid too…"

"But she isn't!" Jack had no idea why he said that, especially not why he said it the way he had. His voice was laced with anger and despair. He loves those kids and he will love this little girl and it didn't matter to him that they weren't his, because they were hers, but in a way it did. He was sad that after all he would have been ready to father another child. To have a baby with Sam, but that's not in his cards anymore and reality hit him hard at this moment. His shock reflected in Sam's eyes that immediately filled with tears, his heart clenched at her sight and he would immediately go back in time to undo it, to unsay what he said, because he was proud to be loved by the boys in return.

"Gosh, I'm sorry Sam! That's not what I wanted to say…"

The tears were now streaming down her face and she couldn't control the sob that escaped her.

"But it's what you feel, Jack." She sobbed even more.

"No, that's just the point, it's not what I feel and I don't know why that came out like this or why I've even said it. I just realized that I wasn't ready to be a father again for a long time, but when I met you, that changed. I would have been ready to father a child with you, but that ship has sailed now. I didn't even know that I cared about that. And it doesn't matter now because I can't turn back time. They may not be my biological children, but I love your kids beyond compare, you have to believe me. Please stop crying."

He wiped away her tears, his thumb was rough over her cheek.

"I need to know now if this will stand between us Jack, I would understand. It wouldn't be easy to let you go again, but my kids are my life and they always come first."

"And they should, but they are my life now too. I'm sorry I made you cry and I'm really sorry I said those things. I didn't mean them. I was being an idiot and I can't explain why."

"Okay." She sniffed and dried the rest of her tears, she believed him. This was a sensitive topic for him and she bet it wouldn't get easier if he heard the name she wanted for the baby. He moved closer so that he was able to lay his arm around her shoulder. His fingers started to play slowly with her hair.

"And we thought it would be easy to talk tonight. We didn't plan on my stupidity."

So suddenly a smile spread over Sam's lips.

"Do you think we still should talk about little Marge or should we postpone it till tomorrow?" He knew how to lighten the mood.

"Oh no Jack O'Neill, you won't name any kid of mine like one of those yellow cartoon figures."

"Lisa?"

"Nope."

"Maggie?"

"No, Jack!"

"Alright, so what do you suggest?"

It took her a while to answer his question, she thought for a long time about how she could tell him carefully.

"I would love to name her Charlotte." Sam finally told him and she could feel him tense next to her. She knew the name was very close to his son's name, but she always liked it, even more when she knew about Charlie. For her it felt right to make this connection. Seeing his reaction or the lack thereof, that's exactly what she dreaded. He spoke so little about his son and she feared that she overstepped the boundaries by suggesting the name.

"Why?" His voice was a mix of fear and awe.

"I like the name. Always have. I know it's close to Charlie, but maybe that's exactly why I love the name so much. You don't talk about him, but I want you to know that you can. I'd have loved to get to know him."

"Sam…"

"This is exactly why I was holding back on the name. Just let us call her little one, she'll have to get used to being teased."

"No, I… I was just surprised. That's all. I'm honored that you want to have a connection to my life by naming her Charlotte. Charlie, he was my biggest failure and I'm astonished that you trust me with your kids after all."

"Oh Jack!" She kneeled next to him on the couch so that his head could rest on her chest. She held him close and her fingers played soothingly with his short hair while he sobbed. He swung his arms around her waist as if he needed to hold on to her like he was drowning. Memories of that fateful day came back, the shot ringing in his ear and he saw the dead body of his son before his eyes.

But he wasn't drowning anymore, he had Sam now and to cry now felt different. He felt like he was finally allowed to and not being judged.

"You haven't failed him. It was an accident, no one is at fault. Horrible things happen and it's okay to be sad or angry about it. But don't ever think you weren't enough. You're doing a great job with the boys, they adore you and I trust you with my life and theirs."

She felt the sobs lessen against her body.

"And I promise you that I will do everything that something like this won't ever happen again."

"I know!" She kissed his temple,her fingers still playing with his hair.

He dried his tears and leaned in for another kiss.

"So, Charlotte, huh?"

"Only if you're okay with it. There are other names we could think of." Sam tried not to corner him.

He trailed soft kisses down her throat, gently lifting her shirt to expose her bare belly. Jack's lips wandered over her sensitive skin, his hands resting delicately on either side of her waist.

"Hello Charlotte, I can't wait to finally meet you. Now that you have a name we've got everything settled. We're ready for you!"