Chapter 42

Epilogue: HALO

One Year Later….

Cassandra Frasier was bored!

Not for the first time, she was sitting on a bed, feet dangling over the edge, in the SGC infirmary waiting for her bi-monthly check up results…well… they used to be bi-monthly. Her current situation meant that they were now monthly, something that Cassie was not in the least bit pleased about.

Come on what is taking so long??? The longer the wait the worse the outcome… please don't be a bad outcome….Please…

Cassie jumped off the bed in favour of releasing her nervous energy by pacing back and forth in the small space between the beds. From the door way she heard someone clear their throat and she spun around to see Paul leaning against the door frame. Cassie's face suddenly changed from a frown to a full smile as she ran to him. He caught her in a hug and held her tightly to his body.

"You're back!" she exclaimed not letting him go.

"Hey you, miss me?" he said in return.

"Always" she said pulling away just far enough to kiss him "It fills like you've been gone forever!"

"I know a week never seemed like along time until I found you" he said kissing her again.

"Has it only been a week since I was in Washington?" she moaned dropping her head to his shoulder and getting comfy in his embrace "feels like a month!"

God this long distance thing sucks!

Paul was still living in Washington and making his fortnightly trips to the SGC. On the weeks that he was not on the Base Cassie would fly up to Washington for the weekend. This arrangement had been going on for the last year and more and more they were both getting fed up with it.

I want him here with me

"Mmm…" he murmured in agreement and then frowned asking "What are you still doing in here, you should have been finished ages ago, is everything alright?"

"I don't know… the doctor has been gone for ages getting my test results…" she trailed off, worry evident on her voice.

Paul sensed her fear and held her closer to him "I'm sure everything is fine"

No! It's not! Do you know what day it is tomorrow? Something's wrong I just know it…

Cassie suddenly pulled away from him and started to pace again "How can you say that? How can you be so calm? Tomorrow's the 18th!" she said suddenly.

Paul just leaned against one of the beds she was pacing in front of and watched her go back and forth. "you need to relax…" he said

"Relax?!? He's been gone for like an hour! How can that possibly be good?" she screeched throwing her hands in the air.

"Cassie…you're being completely…" he said patiently but couldn't get the rest of his sentence out before Cassie interrupted.

"What? Irrational, hormonal, crazy…" she ranted getting louder with each word before sighing and slumping against the opposite bed in exhaustion "I know, I can't help it… it's just with tomorrow being my birthday… and my track record with those… this could be sooo much worse than being kidnapped…. " she trailed off.

"…Sorry for yelling" she whispered miserably as her eyes misted over.

Paul reached over the gap between them and grabbing her hand pulling her to him once again "it's ok, you're allowed to be" he said placing his hand on her slightly emphasized lower stomach.

Cassie laid her head against his shoulder once again and closed her eyes relishing in having him back again. The doctor walked back in to the room to find the two just standing there in silence and cleared his throat to get their attention.

Cassie whipped round to face him with a scowl "where the hell have you been?" she growled through gritted teeth startling the doctor. Paul placed a hand on her upper arm and gave her a look that plainly said 'you're doing it again'.

"Sorry" Cassie sighed again.

The doctor just chuckled to himself "it's alright, mood swings are part of the deal I'm afraid." He said with a knowing smile.

"Well that sounds positive" Paul said with encouragement, looking at Cassie. She just threw him a dirty look and returned her attention to the doctor who was still chuckling to himself.

"Come on doc, I'm dying here, what were the test results? What's wrong?" she pleaded.

"There is absolutely nothing wrong, everything is progressing as it should be" the Doctor said handing her the file he was carrying with a smile. Cassie read through the information in front of her carefully.

"But…"

"Cassandra, you both are in perfect health" The doctor stated.

"We are?" she said still not believing the test results.

"You are" the Doctor repeated "just keep doing what you have been doing and make sure that you are getting lots of rest… oh and you might want to start telling people, very soon they are going to start to notice" he added.

Cassie beamed, suddenly squealed in delight and once again threw herself into Paul's arms. He pulled her to him tightly and lifted her off the ground, inwardly sighing in relief.

"Now can we tell everyone?" He whispered in her ear and she nodded against him. Paul had wanted to yell it from the top of the mountain when Cassie had told him eight weeks ago that she thought she might be pregnant, but Cassie had made him promise that he wouldn't tell a soul until she was certain that everything was ok and that she had past the twelve week stage.

"Tomorrow, at the BBQ, we'll tell them" she whispered back. Paul pulled back slightly and frowned.

"What BBQ?" he asked "I thought we were staying in tomorrow… something about you not risking getting in a car on your birthday?"

"Oh, well that was the plan but Jack had other ideas and when I tried to decline using that excuse, I was told in no uncertain terms that if we didn't go we would regret it for the rest of our lives… then he said something about making sure you would be transferred to Russia if I didn't comply and then said something about being built like a 'Hummer?'" She rambled off. Paul only looked more confused.

"What?" he said shaking his head trying to make sense of what she had said.

"Well the gist of it is we are going to Jack's for a BBQ." She stated.

"Umm…. I'm confused, what does a Hummer have to do with it?" he said.

"Apparently it's some kind of car, supposed to be built really solidly… or something like that."

"I know what a Hummer is, but what does that have to do with…" He asked.

"I don't know! The point is if we don't go there will be trouble so… we're going weather we like it or not" she grumbled.

"Oh… ok" he said completely baffled, but he had decided a long time ago that understanding the General was sometimes just pointless and that it was best just to go with the flow.

When they arrived at Jack's the next day it looked like everyone was already there. In the last year SG1 had evolved and had welcomed two new members. Colonel Cameron Mitchell was now the leader of SG1 giving Sam more time to spend with her experiments between missions. He was a nice, easy going kind of guy with a great sense of humour and Cassie got along with him quite well.

Then there was Vala. About six months ago Daniel had found himself attached to the rather eccentric and vibrant Con woman. The technology that had been holding them together had worn off some time ago but Vala seemed intent on sticking around and was now unofficially part of the team. Cassie instantly liked her, to Daniel's dislike, and they had become instant friends. Personally Cassie thought that Daniel's dislike of her was his way of hiding his true feelings for her. She could tell that he cared deeply for the colourful brunette, she just had to find a way of tricking Daniel into admitting it.

It's about time he finds someone to be happy with…

Paul jumped out of the driver's seat and ran round to help Cassie out the car. "You know I can still get out of the car by myself." Cassie said as Paul closed her door and proceeded to open the back door to get the dessert and Cassie's cardigan off the back seat.

He simply grinned at her and once he had possession of the dessert closed the car door, locked it and pocketed the keys.

She slipped her cardigan on and did up the tie in front to hide her small bump "And don't think that this means you now get to do all the driving Mister." She added frowning at his grin but really struggling to stop one from forming on her own lips. He just kept grinning at her and grabbed her hand.

"You are enjoying this far too much" she said mumbling under her breath but he heard her.

"Now that you will finally let me tell everyone, I am going to enjoy every minute that the woman I love is carry my child." He said kissing her forehead before starting to pull her towards the front door. She just smiled and allowed him to lead the way. He suddenly stopped and turned back around to her, he hesitated for a moment as if to say something but seemed to think better of it and then turned and started walking away from the house and into the surrounding forest leaving the dessert on the hood of the car.

"Um… Paul, where are we going?" Cassie asked completely confused but allowed her self to be pulled along. "The party is that way" she added throwing her head back in the direction of the cabin behind them.

Once they were a little way in but could not be seen by any passers by he came to a stop, turned to face Cassie and took her other hand in his. Cassie looked up at him with confusion, trying to gage what he was thinking. But he wasn't looking at her but his shoes.

"What is it?" she asked with concern.

Paul took a deep breath and finally looked at her with a small nervous smile and releasing one of her hands, brought his hand up to caress the side of her face.

"I love you… I have never loved anyone more in my life than I do you. You have brought a completion to my life that I didn't know I needed and…" he looked away as if to compose him self before he looked at her again "…and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you."

Cassie stood motionless in front of him and could feel her heart beating loudly in her chest as his words brought tears to her eyes. He looked down again but this time seemed to be searching for something. Cassie gasped quietly as he found what he was looking for and produced a small box.

"I have had this ever since May had her accident in Colorado Springs. She brought it with her to give to me in the hope that it would knock some sense into me." he said smiling at the memory. "I've been trying ever since to come up with the right way to give it to you, to ask…" he looked back up and into her eyes.

Cassie couldn't help the tear that escaped and ran down her cheek. She brushed it away quickly with her free hand.

Paul took a deep breath and opening the small box in his hand he asked "Cassandra Frasier, will you marry me?"

OhGodohgodohgod

Cassie opened her mouth to say something but all that came out was a sob and more tears running down her face as she looked down at the box to find a beautiful gold ring with a black sapphire in the centre surrounded by small diamonds. She looked up with wide eyes to look at a still very nervous looking Paul. She tried for words again but not succeeding she settled for nodding her head and smiling through her tears in response.

The change in Paul's face was instantaneous. He had a huge smile on his face and reached forward, wrapped his arms around Cassie, lifted her into the air, spun her around and kissed her. She immediately wrapped her own arms around his neck and returned the kiss with everything she had.

Both needing to come up for air, they parted only far enough away that Paul could take the ring out of it's box and slide it into it's new home on Cassie's left ring finger and then kissed her hand.

"I love you" he whispered as he rested his brow against hers.

"I love you too" she responded and then sighed in contentment. She shifted her head a little to get a better look at the ring on her finger and added "It's beautiful… it looks old." She admired as Paul pulled her to his chest to embrace her.

"It was May's engagement ring, I remember when I was young I told her that it was beautiful and she said that when I met the right girl she would give to me to give to her." Paul explained and Cassie smiled at the thought of the old woman.

"She gave it to you a year ago?" Cassie asked, to which Paul nodded.

"I've thought of a million times to ask you, but none ever seemed like the right time…" he trailed off.

"You picked the perfect time" she said smiling and snuggling into his chest.

After several minutes more of just standing there together they finally made a move back towards the house. Paul was holding Cassie securely to his side as they made their way back to the car to pick up the dessert and moved up the steps to the front porch of Jack's cabin.

The door swung open before they had even had a chance to knock to reveal Jack and Sam standing in the doorway.

"Where have you been?" Sam started up.

"Carter, knock it off! They haven't even made it in the door yet!" Jack scolded before ushering her out the way to allow Cassie and Paul in the door.

"Hey Kids!" he said as they passed by and he closed the door behind them. "Get a bit lost did we?" he asked. "I thought that it would have been pretty straight forward walking from the car to the front door."

"And how would you know that we didn't come straight from the car to the front door? Weren't waiting by the window were we?" Cassie threw over her shoulder at Jack with a knowing smile.

"Not me! Her!" he said pointing at Sam who gasped in horror.

"You were there too!" she exclaimed glaring at the General.

"That's 'You were there too, Sir'" he replied, then seeing the look he got in return, knew he was going to pay for that later.

Sam threw one last dirty look at Jack and then turned her attention to Cassie.

"Happy Birthday, Honey!" she exclaimed grabbing Cassie away from Paul and hugging her tightly. Then letting her go and taking a look at her with a frown "are you alright? You look like you've been crying"

Cassie smiled and said "Couldn't be happier."

"Sure?"

"Positive!" she reaffirmed.

Sam looked between the two of them and satisfied with Cassie's answer ushered them through the house and out on to the back porch where everyone else was located. As soon as they stepped out they were greeted with hellos and, in Cassie's case, more Happy Birthdays.

She was showered in hugs as she made the rounds and then found a seat that she could collapse in to. Jack appeared with a couple of drinks for Cam and Daniel and asked what the new arrivals would like.

"I'll just have a lemonade, thanks" Cassie said and looked to Paul to see what he wanted before adding "I'll drive" to him.

Paul gave her a wearily look before giving in and requesting a beer.

"That's the spirit, Paul! Now Cassie I'm sure that you could have one slightly more exciting drink, it's going to be ages before you leave and it is after all your birthday" Jack quipped.

"No, lemonade's fine." She said a little too firmly.

"Oookaayyy!" Jack said a little bit put out before heading back inside.

Once he had returned with their drinks they all sat around the porch with their beverages and chatted and joked about all sorts until Vala, who had managed to find her self sitting on Daniel's lap, started chomping at the bit to give presents.

Daniel rolled his eyes at the brunette but didn't seem to be minding her position too much.

Jack got a rather odd gleam in his eye "What a brilliant idea Vala!" he exclaimed glancing at Sam who disappeared in to the house followed by Tealc and Cam.

What's going on?

They returned a few minutes later carrying numerous gifts. They placed them on the table in front of Cassie.

"I thought I told you guys 'no gifts!'" she said looking at the packages in front of her.

"Cassandra, I have yet to meet a woman who doesn't like gifts! Even you!"Vala said matter of factually as she handed one to her. "This is from Daniel and I. Don't worry I picked it out, not him." She added with a smile.

Cassie took the offered gift with a smile and tore in to the wrapping. Inside was a jewellery box with a lovely gold bracelet.

"It's beautiful!" she said taking it out of the box and admiring it.

"Here, let me" Paul said from next to her and taking the bracelet looped it round her right wrist and fastened it.

"Thankyou!" she said once again looking at it on her wrist.

"You're welcome" Daniel said from his seat. Cassie looked up at him and couldn't help notice that he was absently rubbing circles on Vala's back.

Yay!

"Ok! Next!" Cam piped up before giving Tealc a light punch on the arm.

Tealc stepped forward and placed another box in front of Cassie. "This one is from Colonel Mitchell and I" he stated. She smiled at the large man before working on the paper surrounding the gift. This time she found a new touch iPod in a brilliant yellow colour.

"Cool! Thanks guys" she exclaimed beaming at them.

Sam came and sat down next to Cassie and handed her a bag "This is from the General and I, this is the first part." She said with a smile. Cassie opened the bag and found a stunning dress. It was a deep purple colour and had tiny beads sown into the empire line bodice and around the hem of the skirt. It was knee length and would show off her legs rather nicely.

Sam leaned over and whispered in Cassie's ear so no one else could hear "thought you could wear it to the Xmas Party next week with those shoes" she said referring to the shoes that she and Cassie had bought a year ago and had yet to worn.

Cassie smirked at Sam and secretly hoped that the dress would fit with her current condition.

"Sounds like a plan" she whispered back before saying louder "I love it! Thank you!"

"Now for part two!" Jack said stepping forward with two envelopes in his hand. But instead of giving them to Cassie he handed one of them to Paul. Cassie turned towards her fiancé who was looking at the envelope with a frown.

"Sir?" he questioned.

"Just open it!" the General bristled.

Getting a better look at the envelope Cassie frowned too, it was rather official looking. Paul opened it and pulled out the contents and silently read what it said before looking up in surprise.

"I…"

"Congratulations, Colonel." Jack said extending his hand to Paul.

Paul snapped out of his trance, handed the letter to Cassie and stood to shake Jack's hand. Cassie not believing her ears quickly opened the letter and skimmed over the contents.

He got a… promotion! He got a PROMOTION!

"Thank you Sir, thank you very much!" he said.

"Hang on! There's more!" Sam said practically bouncing up and down in her seat and urging Jack to hand over the other envelope. Finally she got fed up waiting for him and snatched the envelope out of his hand and handed it to Paul, before seating down and taking the letter still clutched in Cassie's hand so that she was once again focused on Paul who was now reading a different letter.

"It's…" was all he could say completely blown away with what he was reading. He looked at her with surprise and awe, and again, handed the piece of paper to Cassie.

Cassie barely got past the words 'transfer' and 'SGC' before she gasped and her eyes started watering up.

I get to… I get to keep him here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She let out a little shriek and threw her arms around Paul whispering a 'congratulations' in his ear. She then let go of him and threw her self in to Jack's arms.

"Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou!" she exclaimed tears pouring down her face.

"Well…!" Vala prompted "what's going on! I'm confused!"

"No more long distance!" Cassie exclaimed stepping back from Jack and returning to Paul, this time sitting on his lap rather than on her chair. He immediately hugged her close and Cassie snuggled into his chest.

"Ohh! So that's what all the secrets have been about for the last couple of weeks…." she stopped then and her eyes went wide and she gasped getting a look at Cassie's hand as she wiped away the last of the moisture from her cheeks. ".God!"

Vale practically launched her self off of Daniel's lap and pushed Jack out the way to get to Cassie. Sam, retracing Vala's own eyes, also found what Vala had seen, gasped, and was immediately in Cassie's now empty chair reaching over to grab Cassie's left hand so they could get a better look.

"That's on your left…" Sam said trailing off

"Yes it is" Cassie stated and waited for Sam's reaction.

"It's huge! And expensive" Vala said dreamily taking Cassie's hand from Sam and admiring the sparkling ring up close.

"But that means…" Sam tried again.

"Yes it does" Cassie said.

"Oh my god!" Sam breathed out and then grabbed both Cassie and Paul in a hug together. From around them she heard a chorus of congratulations.

Vala was squealing "he proposed, their getting married" over and over again from behind them and bouncing up and down impatiently waiting for Sam to release them. The minute that Sam moved back she too swooped down and had them both in another rather tight hug.

"How? When?" Sam asked with excitement.

"Just now outside…but hang on! There's more!" Cassie said repeating what Sam had said earlier as she tried to pry Vala away from them so that they could breathe. Vala finally let go after Daniel lent in and looped his arm around her waist moving her back to her position on his lap.

"More? That's pretty good news so far what more could there be?" Jack said slapping Paul on the back in non verbal congratulations.

Cassie turned to face Paul making eye contact with him and smiled. He returned the smile and squeezed her side lightly in encouragement. With out breaking eye contact with her fiancé she said warmly "We're having a baby."

There was silence from all around them. But Cassie didn't care, she was lost in Paul's eyes that were shining brighter than she had ever seen. He eyes were filled with love, awe and happiness. All he saw was her, and she him.

Suddenly noise rushed back to her ears as the others around reacted to what she had said. Vala was squealing and jumping up and down on Daniel's lap. Daniel was attempting to calm her down with little success. Cam had moved over and was slapping Paul on the back in congratulations. While Jack eyed Paul suspiciously and something non verbal passed between the two men before Jack smiled and shook his hand again and Tealc caught Cassie's eye and bowed his head to her with a small smile.

But when Cassie met Sam's eyes she stopped dead. Sam was failing miserably at trying not to cry as she looked at the younger women in front of her.

"You're going to have a baby?" she whispered in Cassie's direction.

Cassie could feel her eyes misting up as she nodded at her. Sam let out a strangled sob as her tears spilled over. "That's… that's… I'm..." she struggled to get out before she just settled for standing and pulling Cassie into another hug.

"I'm so happy for you." She whispered into Cassie's ear as she held her. "Your mum would be so proud of you."

"That's been you for the last few years, you know." Cassie said back before pulling away and smiling at the older woman.

"I…" was all Sam could say back, left speechless.

"I love Janet and she was my mum but… you… you were the one who…" Cassie trailed off. Sam nodded back in understanding before her expression changed to one of realisation.

"That means I'm going to be a…"

"Grandmother" Cassie finished for her and waited to see how that title sat with Sam.

"Am I old enough to be a… grandmother?" she questioned before turning sharply towards Jack who looked like he was going to say something "don't even think about uttering a response to that." She stated sharply. Jack just threw his hands up in surrender.

Vala chuckled from Daniel's lap before piping "well Samantha, if your going to be a grandmother than that would make him a grandfather, wouldn't it?" she questioned but at seeing the looks of the others she added "oh come on just 'cause no one will actually acknowledge it' she said waving her arms between Jack and Sam "doesn't mean you all weren't thinking it!"

"Well we can worry about titles later, all that matters right now is that Cassie and the baby are both strong and healthy." Paul said brushing Cassie's hair over her shoulder as she returned to her place on his lap.

"I'll toast to that" Mitchell piped up and they all raised their glasses in a toast.

"To Cassie, Paul and creating new families" Daniel suggested making eye contact with Cassie and winking. Cassie smiled brilliantly back and nodded her head slightly to him.

Everyone cheered and Cassie turned back to make eye contact with Paul. As she bent down and captured his mouth in a warm lingering kiss she couldn't help thinking…

…Everything worked out just… perfectly…

...Daniel was right…again…

THE END!

Well there you have it! My labor of love is complete! I'm going to miss Cassie & Paul.....

I hope you have enjoyed their journey as much as I have! Happy Reading!

Mya