The first days after the funeral weren't easy and it was clear to Sam that she needed more time off work. It'd be a few weeks before she was able to go back working part time. Realization hit the boys and they finally became aware that their dad won't come back. Cassie did her best to support them and Sam, who's morning sickness hit her hard so she was constantly exhausted. She tried to keep her struggle with the symptoms for herself, but she knew it won't be long before she got to tell them.
She saw her obstetrician to confirm her pregnancy and get all the vitamins she would need. For the first time she saw her little miracle, the baby they hadn't planned, but made its way into their life anyway.
Afterwards she sat crying in her car, calling Jack.
"Hey there! How are you?" Jack answered his phone, happy to see the caller ID, but his mood changed instantly when he recognized that she was crying. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She sniffed, "not really. I just came from my gyn and when I saw the ultrasound picture of the baby… I… my emotions came crashing down on me. Blame it on the hormones, but seeing it made it so real. Jack, I can't do this! This baby will never meet its father. How do I tell the boys? I can't even think straight and I'm sorry to bother you with this." She cried harder and he could tell.
"Don't be sorry, Sam. I'm here for this! I've got a big shoulder you can cry on and we'll figure it all out together. It's not as bad as it may seem. It might not get to know its dad, but it will know what a lovely father he would have been. I just wish I could be with you right now, then you wouldn't have to cry on your phone."
She sighed. "That'd be great. But it helps anyway. Thanks for listening to my sniffling."
He chuckled when he heard her soft laugh through her tears. "Anytime, Carter. I guess that everything else is looking good?"
"Yes, despite my age everything looks exactly like it should. At the next ultrasound they should be able to tell the sex of the baby."
"Wow, further along than you thought huh?"
She blushed and she was glad he couldn't see it. She really had thought she would start menopause when her period was overdue.
"Yeah, looks like it. I might have to tell the boys soon."
She sat in her car, her head against the headrest, biting her lower lip unconsciously.
"They will love the news Sam. They'll get another playmate, I'm sure they'll be happy. Don't worry too much. If you want to wait I can be with you when you tell them, but I honestly think it should only be the three of you. I won't be long though. I'm just leaving the white house. I planned on surprising you, but if I can put a smile on your face right now I just might tell you that you're talking to Lt. General Jack O'Neill, officially on leave pending retirement, the president finally accepted my letter."
He heard her gasp. "Jack! I… I don't know what to say. Wow!" And then she heard voices talking in the background. "Where exactly are you?"
"Just outside the oval office! Oh wait a second."
The next thing she heard was the voice of the President, talking to Jack.
"Jack, what are you still doing here? I thought you'd already be on your way to Colorado Springs again." Henry Hayes patted him on the back.
"Just talking to Colonel Carter, Sir. She called while I was leaving."
"Tell her how sorry I am for her loss. And take care of her, son."
"Yes, Sir. "
"And don't forget, Jack. Retired doesn't mean I won't ever call for your expertise."
"I know, Sir."
Not long until Jack was back on the phone with her. "Sorry, just got interrupted by your commander in chief. I should say hi and tell you how sorry he is."
"I've heard, thanks. How long does it take for your retirement to be official?"
"It'll take a while, but I'm out. However Hayes wants me as a civilian advisor every now and then. You know how some of our allies are. They just love me!"
"It's good to know you're still looking out for us in some way. So, do you need to get picked up from the airport?"
"No, thank you, it'll be in the middle of the night. I'll just let some airmen drive me home. Should I come by tomorrow?"
"Sure, Cassie will be home by 1530,why don't you come over and we can put something on the grill?"
"Sounds great, I'll get the meat on my way over. Anything you're not comfortable with at the moment?"
She was silent just a little too long.
"Sam?"
"I don't know, I haven't eaten that much lately. But I'm sure gonna try what you'll bring. I'll take care of bread and salad."
"Alright, see you tomorrow then. Go home, Sam. It will all work out okay in the end, I promise."
"Okay, see you tomorrow, Jack."
"Okay!"
For a long time Jack stood outside the white house, staring at his phone. He wondered what life would be now for him, now that he was retired. He always thought that if he'd retire it would be to finally be with the women he loved. For that he had waited just a bit too long, she ran off and married someone else years ago.
Now she was free again, but grieving the loss of her husband. Frustrated he ran his hand through his salt and pepper hair, that was as unruly as always. Only time would tell how their friendship would develop and he decided not to worry about it any further but to support his best friend as best he could.
At home Sam just parked her car in the driveway when she heard the laughter coming from her backyard. It immediately made her smile and dispelled her sadness.
She got out of her car and made her way towards the garden. She stepped onto the quaint little path that wound delicately through the lush greenery. The cobblestones, worn smooth by time and footsteps, beckoned her forward. Sunlight filtered through the branches overhead, casting dappled patterns on the ground. The air was fragrant with the sweet scent of blooming blossoms, inviting her to lose herself in the beauty that surrounded her. With every heartbeat, she felt a sense of tranquility enveloping her, as she stepped into the garden, filled with the soft giggles of her boys.
"Mommy!!!" They flew in her arms as soon as they spotted their mother.
"Hey boys! I could hear your laughter already outside the house. Sounds like you've got a lot of fun with Cassie!"
"We do! Cassie is the best, we've built a pillow castle with her right before we came outside. You can have a look in the living room. We left it there so that you could crawl in there with us."
"That's a great idea, Ben. Just let me put on some comfortable clothes and you can show me."
She left for her bedroom to change quickly, knowing that Cassie was going to meet some friends as soon as Sam was ready. However she stopped in front of the floor length mirror when she was only in her underwear. When she looked closely, she could see that her body was already beginning to change. How she could have missed that she didn't know. She was still in very good shape, and her slim figure was starting to show the signs of pregnancy. Her breasts, more sensitive now, just barely fit into the bra.
When she viewed herself from the side she couldn't deny the little bulge between her belly button and her most intimate part. Still in awe she laid her hand carefully where her baby was growing as she heard the door crack behind her.
It was Cassie, who was looking for her. The boys still chasing each other through the backyard, Cassie took the opportunity to sneak into the house to see how Sam's appointment was. Standing in the doorframe she observed Sam attentively.
"You're beginning to show!"
Sam looked at her through the mirror, a slight smile crept up around her lips. "Yeah!"
The young woman came towards her and stopped just behind her.
"This is always such a miracle, I'm so curious how it feels to be pregnant."
Her eyes gave away her question and Sam understood and with a nod she gave Cassie permission to touch her belly. It also always amazes Sam every time anew.
"Don't let Jack hear you talk like that, he might get a heart attack." Sam giggled. "Despite his age he thinks he's not old enough to be a grandpa. And also you're his little girl, I'm very sure he tries to ignore that pregnancy is even a possibility for you."
"I'm sure about that too." Cassie laughed. "There's no one serious right now I'd consider having children with, but it is a possibility in the near future. He should get comfortable with that thought."
After Sam let that sink in she told her: "I'm going to tell the boys later that they're going to be big brothers. I talked to Jack earlier and as he said it should be just me and them when I drop the bomb."
"Take all the time you need, I might stay over at Laura's tonight."
Cassie carefully caressed Sam's belly before she hugged the woman that became like a mother to her.
"Get dressed, I say goodbye to Alex and Ben. Good luck Sam. I'm sure they'll be ecstatic, don't worry."
"Thanks Cass and you go and have fun tonight."
"Oh I will, Sam, I will."
You could hear the soft laughter while she disappeared down the hallway into the backyard.
When Sam was dressed and Cassie was gone, she prepared a few snacks for the three of them. Four, she corrected in her mind. And took them with her into the living room.
"Boys, come on in! You wanted to show me your pillow castle."
Not sooner had she said that, the two of them came charging in. The clattering and cheerful chatter that filled the house instantly brought a smile to Sam's face. Yes, they would be okay.
"Mom, look at that area…" Alex already started to explain their construction.
"Just a minute, Alex. Why don't you two get rid of your dirty clothes and wash your hands first? In the meantime I can close the blinds and dim the light to make it more cozy."
"That's a great idea, mom. Just what we need to show you the best thing about the castle."
It took them only the blink of an eye to get ready. Ben stepped forward to show Sam the entry. The whole living room was filled with pillows and blankets, forming a castle on the outside but it was like a cave inside. Sam thanked God that she wasn't further in her pregnancy otherwise she wouldn't have fit through the opening.
Inside the whole floor was designed with the comforter of the boys beds and even more pillows. Sam briefly wondered if that were all hers, she couldn't remember owning that many. Behind her Alex and Ben followed inside, bringing the snacks with the.
"Lay down, mom."
Alex guided her to the spot where she should lie down. Both boys snuggled up close to her. Alex reached for something that looked like a rope, and with a small crackle, Sam realized it was a switch. With that, a string of lights illuminated throughout the castle, wrapping the interior in a warm, soft glow.
A gasp of surprise escaped her. It was so beautiful and it was the perfect time and place to tell her son's that they're going to be brothers.
"Wow, look at that. That's really beautiful, guys. Whose idea was this?"
"I had the idea!" Alex told her proudly.
"And I went to get the lights." Ben sounded even prouder.
"Cassie helped to place them right, so that we could put them into the socket." Both kids explained.
After Sam appreciated their work adequately they laid back down, staring up to the lights that looked like the far away stars.
"There's something I need to tell you." Sam whispered, not sure how to start, but none of them moved an inch. All three were still looking up into the lights. "When your dad left, a part of him stayed behind. He left us something….someone."
In unison her sons moved up a little to look her in the eyes.
"What do you mean, mommy?"
A while ago she had the talk with Alex about how babies were made, curious as his little brother was, he had listened too, so she knew the next thing she would tell them, they knew what it was about.
"Your dad gave me another baby. So, in a few months the two of you will be big brothers."
"A baby?" Ben's voice was just a little louder than a whisper, so Sam concentrated on her youngest son.
"Yes honey, a baby. Do you like to become a big brother?"
"I'm not sure yet." He answered honestly.
"Oh come on, Ben." Alex interrupted, "Being a big brother is the best! I like to be your big brother very much and now you can teach the new baby all the stuff I could teach you."
The boy was over the moon and Sam's eyes filled with tears from the euphoric reaction of her eldest son, she desperately tried to not let her tears fall.
She wasn't prepared for the stormy embrace of her son, but as soon as Alex was wrapped around her Ben was on top of them too.
After a while, Ben had thought about the baby and about becoming a big brother, he said: "You know mom, Alex is right. I'll love the baby and the best thing is I'm not the youngest anymore."
Sam hugged him even closer, not able to answer him.
"Do you know if it's another boy or if we finally get a girl?" Alex wanted to know.
"I don't know yet, but it won't take long to find out. I mean we can't change the outcome of this, but do you have a preference?"
"I'd like to have a sister. We already have Ben, so a girl would be great. Two boys and two girls, you know?" Alex told her.
"It would only be fair, wouldn't it?" She said, smiling at the thought. She recognized that despite her heavy cry in the car earlier, she was smiling a lot today. The reaction of her boys gave her hope that they'll be okay and that baby is wanted and will be loved. She had the support of her most important people and that is what took it for her to be happy about the baby.
They ate the snacks and Sam read them a book. Alex only snuck out once to get another blanket they could put over them. Comfortably placed between the fluffy pillows Alex and Ben drifted into sleep, cuddled closely to her mother. Shortly before Alex fell asleep she heard him mumble: "Thank you daddy!"