Jack waits with Abby and Rick outside the room as Ellie steps in to see how Dave is doing. After a moment she pokes her head out with a smile.

"He said you could all come say hi," she says.

Abby smiles at Jack and follows Ellie into the room with Rick behind her. As they disappear into the room Jack takes a breath and tries to work up the courage to enter the room. He walks thru the door and stand quietly in the shadows while Ellie and Abby talk softly to Dave. Jack sees his brother turn his head slightly in his direction then back to his wife. Something inaudible to Jack's ears leaves Dave's lips directed at Ellie. She touches his arm and then the two girls leave the room with Rick in tow. Once they are gone Dave shifts his attention to Jack causing a knot to form in his stomach.

"I'm sure you don't want me here but no matter your opinion of me I am your brother and I do care very much about my family, even if I have a hard time showing it," Jack says.

Dave shifts in his bed and sit Up to look more directly at his big brother, "You finished?"

Jack squares his shoulders and readies himself for what's coming next.

"Look Jack, I know why you did what you did when you left and if I'm being honest, the reason I have treated you like I have all these years is because I'm jealous of you getting out of here when you did. The truth it I never had the guts to stand up to dad the way you did. I guess getting shot gave me some time to think about all this. I know it wasn't bad but it made me think about you and some of the stuff I know you've gone thru. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry for being such an ass all these years."

"I know part of this is my fault…"

"No it's not. You just wanted your own life and you had the right to want it. I've been angry with you for leaving me trapped here but I could've made the same decision as you."

For the first time in longer than Jack can remember he looks at his brother and feels a brief relief that he had the courage to leave and do what truly mattered to him. Growing up Dave had always dreamed about playing pro hockey but their dad wouldn't hear of it any more than he had wanted to hear that Jack wanted to join the military.

"Do you regret your life?" Jack asks after a long moment.

"No, not the parts that involve Ellie and the boys. But I do wish I had at least tried to pursue my dreams, now I'll always wonder if I would've made it if I had just tried."

"Well once your shoulder is healed I think a little one-on-one is an order," Jack says, with a wink.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Sam stands at the back door, one hand on her belly and the other on her lower back, watching Jack and Teddy chasing each other around the yard with water guns. A smiles creeps onto her face as she thinks about the two new players that should be arriving any day. She can hardly believe that nine months has already flown by.

Another sharp pain shoot up from her lower back causing her to winch slightly. As she waits for it to fade she strokes her belly gently.

"Alright you two, knock off the funny business," she mutters as she moves back into the house and sits in a chair at the kitchen table.

As the pain fades away slowly she is filled with a sudden sense of urgency. She looks out the back door.

"Jack?" she calls.

To her relief she sees his head turn toward her.

"You okay in there?" he asks, making a move to head toward the house.

"I'm not sure, but I think it may be time to call Abby."

As Jack and Teddy head for the house another pain beings in her back, slightly more dull and throbbing than the last one.

"I think we might need to hurry," Sam says.

Jack nods and looks at Teddy, "Alright buddy, do you remember when we made you a bag to take to Aunt Abby's house? Go grab it and go put it in the car. I'll be there in a minute to help you in okay?"

"Okay daddy," Teddy says before running off to his room.

Jack turns and looks at Sam, "Alright, do you think you'll be able to get to the car on your own?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Okay then I'll grab your bag and be just behind you."

Before he turns to leave she grabs his arm and does her best to lean in for a quick kiss.

"Do you know how much I love you Jack O'Neill?"

He smiles at her, "I have a pretty good idea."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Several weeks later

Sam opens her eyes. Soft crying is coming from the next room. She takes a breath and gets out of bed but as she approaches the nursery she hears two voice inside so she pauses outside the door and listen.

"Why do they cry so much?" she hears Teddy's voice asking.

"Because they don't know how to talk or tell us that something is wrong," Jack answers.

"Then how do you know what is wrong with them?"

Jack chuckles softly, "Practice buddy. Livvy needs a diaper change and I have a feeling she woke Oli up when she started fussing."

Sam smiles as she peeks around the corner at her family. Jack is standing at the changing table with Olivia on the table in front of him and Teddy is sitting in the rocking chair in the corner holding Oliver in his arms. A warm feeling fills her chest as she watches them all interact and as she thinks about what the future has in store for the O'Neills she feels like sometimes life allows you to find your happily-ever-after after all.

AN: Okay, so I have decided that since this story started as a one-shot and lasted a little longer than I had planned that I would end it here. That being said I am not entirely sure there won't be a sequel down the road but that will have to wait till a later date. I wanted to thank all of you that have enjoyed and left your thought throughout this little adventure. You have all been a great encouragement in ways you may never know. Thanks for being so great.