I'm horrible! So many nice reviews and it took me forever to write! I was in Irvine one week, San Diego the next... I have a huge school load, I'm driving a lot so I can get my license... our computer was unusable for days… it's been hectic.

(Shakes head)

THANK YOU for those lovely reviews... I loved every one of them!

I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Several weeks later...

"Hey! Wait! Hold the elevator!"

Dr. Daniel Jackson slid into the elevator just before the doors closed. He sighed with relief and looked to see the other occupants were Teal'c and Siler. Greeting both of them, he began perusing the folder he carried and remained absorbed until the elevator stopped at the third floor, dropping off the technician, and letting Jack O'Neill aboard. The sight of the Colonel made Daniel begin curiously,

"Jack, where were you yesterday? I tried calling both you and Sam, but never got a call back."

Jack was quiet for a moment. "Busy, Danny boy, sorry," he said briskly, not meeting Daniel's bright eyes, "was it important?"

"Not really," the archeologist admitted, "but Sam's downtime was over so I thought she'd show up on base..."

"She was busy too."

"Is she coming in today?" Daniel asked hopefully. He had an artifact he wanted her to see before he had to ship it to Area 51.

"I doubt it," came the short reply.

"Okay."

A comfortable silence fell and lasted until Teal'c asked Jack in a casual tone,

"Is Natalie O'Neill all right, O'Neill?"

"She's fine, Teal'c," Jack answered, shoving his hand into his pockets. "Er... tired. Both of them, actually. Natalie spent the day with Cassie."

"And Major O'Neill?" inquired Teal'c.

Jack shot a surprised glance at Teal'c. How did the big guy-? How did he learn these things? He had to get the house swept again for bugs. "Carter's fine." He looked at the archeologist who was immersed in the folder he carried. Good. The space monkey missed it.

"That is good," Teal'c replied, giving Jack a big congratulatory smile. The Colonel let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. If Teal'c approved... that was good. Not that he had been worried or anything, he knew the big guy had their best interests at heart…

The elevators rumbled open and Jack stepped off. Daniel looked up as they began to close. "Wait... Teal'c... Major O'Neill?"

A big smile crossed the Jaffa's face. "Indeed," he said simply.

"You mean... Sam? Jack?" the archeologist was gaping.

"Indeed."

"How do you know?" Daniel demanded, "Jack never said anything to me! Or Sam or Janet!" There was a definite sulky note in his voice.

"He wore a ring on his left hand, Daniel Jackson."

"Jam? Sack?" After five years, they had finally given in… and hadn't told him?

Teal'c raised an eyebrow, "Daniel Jackson-" he began, "are you referring to-"

The Jaffa was cut off by the archeologist screaming, "JACK!"

Å

"Sam!"

Sam looked up, surprised. "Janet?" She called, getting to her feet and running her fingers through her blond hair, "In the bedroom."

Her friend appeared in the doorway, her lab coat disarrayed, her hair half out of its bun. "When were you going to tell me?" she demanded.

"Tell you what?" Sam asked, genuinely bewildered.

The doctor grabbed her friend's hand and examined it. A thin gold band circled her ring finger. She dropped it and dropped into the chair nearest the door. "When!" It was a demand for information than a request.

The ex-Major sank onto the bed, careful of Natalie who lying in the center. "How'd you find out?"

"Daniel! I had to find out from Daniel and not my best friend!"

"How'd he find out?"

"Teal'c," answered Janet matter-of-factly.

Sam sighed. "Damn- I thought we were so careful..."

"How could you not tell us?" Janet demanded, sitting on the bed, a mixture of annoyance, laughter, and joy on her face. "I would've placed a bet!"

"Janet!"

Her friend didn't look repentant. "Teal'c, Daniel, and Walter made off with a few hundred…"

"Really?" Sam smoothed Natalie's damp curls- the baby having just been bathed prior to the doctor's arrival-, and wondered if she could guilt Daniel into giving her half of that… "I'm sorry about not telling you, Janet," she said sincerely, "it's just that… well…" she trailed off. "It was yesterday, Janet. Nothing big. We dropped off Natalie at your house, went to city hall, and then...well..."

Janet watched with amusement as her friend blushed deeply. "So," she began, deciding not to probe too much, "when's the party?"

Sam looked up. "What do you mean?" she asked innocently, "What party?" She saw the look in her friend's eye and shook her head vehemently, "No, no way. Nuh-uh. Janet, don't even think about-"

"Come on!" the doctor leaned back and grinned, "That's the only way Cassie is going to forgive you, you know."

Sam groaned. "Not a party... Janet... please..."

"It's either that or you have a real wedding..."

She groaned again.

Å

A week later…

"Admit it... you're having fun."

Sam tilted her head up to look into her husband's face. "I am." She grinned, "Natalie is too."

Jack looked over at Teal'c who was currently holding their small daughter who was giving him a gummy smile, "That she is."

"How is she?" Jacob asked. He had shown up in time for his daughter's party and was planning to stay for a few weeks, much to her delight.

"Janet said that she is around eight months." Sam smiled as her daughter was returned to her. "Thanks, Teal'c."

"You are welcome, Samantha O'Neill," The Jaffa sounded incredibly smug about something. "I believe young Natalie wanted you."

"She did?" Natalie seemed happy enough as she beamed at everyone. "Well, thank-"

"Mama," she giggled and looked up into her mother's blue eyes. "Mama."

Sam stared. "Jack… she's speaking!"

"It isn't uncommon for babies to mimic people at that age," Jacob said. "You did."

Jack grinned. "We shoulda known… with Super Carter as her mother, what else could we expect?"

"Super Carter?" Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Do you really call her that?"

Sam was turning red. "Only sometimes, dad." She turned away. "Can you say… Dada? Daddy?"

"Mama!

"You're the favorite," Jack said, with a mock hurt glance.

"Poor baby." There was laughter in her dancing eyes, "Want me to kiss you and make you all better?"

Daniel, Janet, Teal'c, and Jacob looked contentedly at the small group in the corner (though Jacob looked pointedly away when they began kissing).

They were a family. And that's all that they had ever wanted.

Mission accomplished.

Smiling smiles of congratulation, the four nodded to each other and went their ways…

Å

Later that night…

Jack laid on his bed, still awake. It was late, but he had a question he needed to ask his wife. Looking at her, he noted that she was in the drowsy state that she entered before falling asleep.

"Carter…" he whispered.

Sam opened one eye. "Yes, Jack?"

"Do you think we can get a dog?"

She laughed and kissed him. "Good night, Jack."

He took that as a yes. "Night, Carter."

Well... I could continue this for a few chapters, show Natalie growing up, and then end it... what do you think? End it like this or continue?

Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments?

PLEASE review!