Hi!

To those of you who read and reviewed for the last chapter... thank you!

It's final. I'm terrible at writing fluff when I have too.

(Sigh)

I hope you like this chapter... be warned, Daniel/Melanie be in this chapter!

Daniel stepped through the gate, followed by the SG team and Teal'c, and sighed.

Safe. All good. He was home.

He hurried to the infirmary to be 'checked out' then headed toward the showers. He went to the thirty-minute briefing then grabbed his stuff and headed to the car with the silent Jaffa.

"Has something occurred at O'Neill's?" Teal'c finally asked as Daniel weaved maniacally through traffic.

Daniel blinked. "I don't think so. Why?"

He raised an eyebrow. "This behavior is most unusual for you."

Daniel didn't think telling him that he wanted to see Melanie again was the reason that he was speeding, was a good idea. "I uh… just wanted to see Sam and Jack again."

Teal'c stared at him.

"It's been a long time," he insisted.

The large man raised the other eyebrow and turned to face the dashboard. "I see."

Å

Knock Knock...

A few seconds passed but there was no answer. He tried again.

"Perhaps O'Neill is not home," Teal'c offered.

"His car's here," Daniel mused staring at the door.

Teal'c inclined his head. "Should we not go in? O'Neill has said-"

Daniel nodded and pushed the door open.

"Oh my... Sam? JACK!"

He watched as his friends turned a fiery red and untwined themselves from a DEFINITELY not USAF approved position. Jack rolled himself off of his friend and Carter buttoned up her blouse so fast that Daniel was almost dizzy watching her.

A chuckle from the doorway made them look up. Teal'c stood there with a wide smile on his face.

"Did I miss something, guys?" Daniel demanded. "I mean…"

Carter gave him a nervous smile. "Um…" She began holding up her hand. "Uh, yeah."

Daniel stared at the diamond ring. "You're… what?"

She sucked in a breath. "Engaged."

"You?"

"Yeah," she answered, not taking offense.

"Since when?"

"Yesterday."

"Oh."

She studied him anxiously. "Daniel? You okay?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You go off and get engaged and you don't even have the curtsey to tell me until two days later?"

"One day," Jack corrected.

"Whatever."

"So? What do you think?"

He sighed. "I think…'

Jack and Sam leaned closer.

"FINALLY!"

The couple grinned widely.

Å

The 'O'Neill' clan returned. Jack and Sam had opted to stay home from the bowling alley citing the excuse 'they were too tired'. Much to Nicole's delight, 'Mister T' was there.

Melanie was equally happy to see Daniel though her exuberance was covered with a smile and a friendly 'Hello'.

The two men were swamped by the children's' requests for them to come and look at their toys. Being obliging men, they looked at the toys then headed back to the living room to talk with the adults.

Daniel was slightly disturbed by the amount of 'petting' going on between the two Air Force officers. 'For cryin' out loud," he finally cried, "that's what ROOMS were for… PRIVATELY!'

Plus, he had to admit, watching the person whom you felt for like a sister necking with, Jack, it was… well, disturbing.

"Get a room, Jack!" Zack hollered, clearly in good humor.

"Zack," Leslie reproved lazily. "You shouldn't say such things in front of Gabrielle."

The young girl was in giggles and he winked at her. "Let's go, kiddo… we'll leave your aunt and uncle in private."

Jack looked over at his second-in-command as the door closed. She was yawning.

"Tired?"

She blinked rapidly. "No! I'm just... exhausted."

"Didn't sleep?"

"Couldn't. I was thinking all night."

" 'Bout what?"

The Colonel turned a becoming light pink. "You," she said finally.

"Me?"

She nodded. "I was just thinking... out of all the women in the world you could have... why me?"

Jack reached for her hand. She gave it to him and with a sudden jerk, she went flying into his lap.

"Sir!"

He stared into her eyes. "I wonder the same thing."

She shrugged. "Why worry about me?"

He coughed. "Carter, you're..."

"Hot?" She asked.

"Yes. And gorgeous, smart..."

"Sexy?" She asked waggling her eyebrows.

"Oh for cryin' out loud Carter," he complained. "You make it hard to think smirking like that?"

The smile left her face. "Seriously, Jack, why me?"

" 'Cause I love you."

"Since when?"

He thought for a moment. "I don't know... maybe since you first walked into the briefing room and challenged me to a game of arm wrestling."

Sam blushed.

"Or when you tackled me in the locker room."

She sighed.

"Or maybe when you saved my butt from staying on the planet forever."

"Edora?"

"Yeah..."

"You didn't want to leave," Carter whispered, her mood suddenly going somber. "I worked so hard to get you home and… you wanted to stay."

"I know. Carter, you have to know, I was... well... I never thought we would see each other again... and sometime.. I-I-I'd pretend that Laira was you- that we had retired off world.. And- well-"

"Jack," she whispered. "It's ok... I understand."

They both looked at each other uncertainly for a moment then exchanged smiles.

"Should we go see what everyone is up too?" He asked, pushing her off his lap playfully.

She gave him a dazzling smile and darted towards the door. She pulled it open and her eyes widened.

"Holy Hannah!"

Å

Earlier...

Melanie and Daniel were conversing rapidly about the ancient Egyptians when Daniel finally realized one of the reasons Jack must have taken to him. He and Melanie and were much alike. They were both history buffs, Melanie had wanted to be an archeologist, though Nicole had spoiled that plan. Both tended to be very passionate about their chosen subjects... passionate in general...

Leading to having Jack find his sister lip-locked with one of his best friends.

"MELANIE BRIANNA!"

The brunette pulled away. Her eyes widened as she took in her brother. "Jam! Sack! So nice to... see you."

"Jack, Sam," Daniel corrected. "Um... this isn't what it looks like."

"On the contrary, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c began calmly, "I believe it is exactly what it looks like."

"Thanks, Teal'c," Daniel muttered. The Jaffa inclined his head.

"So... what's going on?" Jack asked calmly.

Melanie's jaw dropped. "You're okay with this?" The two shrieked simultaneously.

"Sure. Of course there is a little matter of him being significantly older then you, the tiny thing about you being a mother to two children and oh- I don't know... care to think of something Daniel?"

"The age difference between us is less then between you and Sam," Melanie protested.

Jack ignored that. "You have two kids! Daniel is off dying every other week- he can't be get-" He froze. "Shoot."

"Dying?" Melanie questioned. "Daniel?" She asked turning to face him.

He sucked in a breath. "Classified."

"I see."

"The General exaggerates. Daniel has never died," Carter put in.

"Just joined the Oma Desala Fan Club a few times."

Carter glared at him. "It is classified but… I'm sure we could work something out."

"Just call the President," she suggested. "He takes calls from Jack."

"How do you know?" Jack asked, startled.

"I was in the basement when you uh... called him. A few days ago."

"You were?"

"He threatened him with a ball."

"Ba'al?" Carter squeaked. Her CO had threatened the President of the United States with the second worst Goa'uld in the galaxy?

"I didn't get that either."

"I didn't threaten him," Jack whined. "Honest."

Daniel finally spoke up. "Jack, I don't know what's going to happen between us... if anything. But... we want to give it a chance."

The Air Force General studied him for a moment then gave him a slight nod. "Then it's all settled. Cake?"

"Beer for me," Carter mumbled plopping down on the table.

"Me too," Melanie called.

Jack frowned. "I am not giving you beer Melanie... you're just a-"

"I'm almost twenty six, Jack! I'm not a-"

"Here they go again," Daniel and Sam muttered.

Å

The next day Zack, Leslie, Ariel, Cody, Corin, and Tyler all departed suddenly, Zack's mother being in the hospital.

Jennifer, Ken, and the boys departed only hours later.

The rest of the families were due to leave the next day, with the exception of Melanie who was leaving New Year's Eve.

Eleanor decided before the rest of the families left, they would all go ice-skating.

Which is why SG-1 found themselves whizzing across the ice... hardly.

Daniel, perhaps the most accident prone of all of them, was doing remarkably well. Teal'c and Sam on the other hand…

Teal'c was accustomed to running across icy fields but with the blades O'Neill had provided it was most difficult. However, Jaffa did not fall or give up so he struggled on.

Carter laughingly had fallen a dozen times the few first minutes. After several more minutes, she decided to sit with the children and let Ellie and Melanie have a turn.

Little Nicholas looked around with wide eyes. Melanie had been afraid the infant would have been startled by the noise but he merely nestled in Sam's arms, covered with blankets, and watched the scene.

Emma sat in her chair next to Sam. She too was watching the scene with wide eyes. Nicole sat next to her, chattering away.

Sam was just putting an almost asleep Nick back into his car seat when she heard a soft voice saying:

"Pretty Emma, I wuv Emma, Emma nice."

She tucked little Nick and then looked over at the little girls. Nicole was smoothing Emma's hair and smiling at her. Emma stared at her then made an indistinguishable sound that made Nicole beam. The little girl looked up and saw 'Miss Sam' right there.

"She say wuv!" Nicole cried. "She say it!"

"She said love?" Sam asked kneeling beside her. "Neat!"

Nikki giggled. "Neat," she echoed before giggling again.

"Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Emma shrieked.

"Is she all right, Miss Carter?" Wilhem called skating closer, his wife in tow.

"She's fine!"

"Do you want me to watch her and the children?" He asked, sliding to a stop.

"I have it," she assured him giving him a big smile. He inclined his head and skated off.

She watched the various couples on the ice show off their moves.

Daniel was doing well but still a novice. Melanie skated circles around him, laughing and smiling. Anna and Dan skated side by side, holding hands. Gabrielle, Miguel and Harry were having races, skillfully weaving in and out between the various people. Maya carried baby Tabitha in a baby sling, while Dayvid patiently helped Shareese and Wylie along the smooth ice. Italia helped Alexander with his skating, the two giggling like maniacs. Wilhem and Eleanor could really skate.

"We lived in Canada for three years as kids and EVERY one skated," Jack announced, skating closer. "Eleanor actually got on the boy team... Since there was no girl one."

Carter smiled at her fiancé. "She's really good."

He watched his sister for a few moments then nodded. "She tell you the story 'bout how they met?"

Carter shook her head and rocked Nick's car seat.

"They actually met at an ice rink. She signed up for some lessons and he was the teacher's assistant."

"Ah..."

Teal'c came to a stop in front of them. "Shall I take young Nicole for a short ride?"

Nicole's eyes brightened. "Tan I?" She asked eagerly. After Sam nodded, she jumped up and ran towards him. After letting Sam lace the miniature skates, she was about to push off when she saw Emma. Her face fell but she slowly tugged at the laces.

"What is it, Nikki?" Her uncle asked.

She pointed at Emma. "She wonwey."

Jack and Sam were touched by the little girl's devotion to her cousin. "I'll tell you what," Jack said, kneeling down to her level. "I'll play with her until you get back. Okay?"

"Weally?"

"Yes. Now go have fun!"

She gave him a big hug and a minute later Nicole was receiving her first 'lesson' from Teal'c.

Å

"TIME TO GO!" Jack hollered.

The kids groaned. "Can't we stay longer?" Italia pleaded looking at her mother. Maya laughed and shook her head. The girl sighed and jerked at her laces.

"Dinner and hot chocolate when we get home," Jack reminded them.

The skates were off and the 'O'Neill' clan was headed home ten minutes later.

Å

"CARTER!"

Jack O'Neill dashed into his kitchen and pushed his former 2IC out. He then dashed back into the smoke filled kitchen and pulled out an unrecognizable 'thing' from the oven.

"Carter, what was that?" He yelled, pushing open the windows.

She winced. "It's… lasagna."

Jack stared at the burnt topping. "Oh."

"I forgot about it," she explained.

"I see." He prodded the burnt mass then sighed. "Pizza anyone?"

Å

One by one the kids finished their dinner, brushed their teeth, played a quick game of freeze tag then trotted off to bed while the adults searched the whole house for toys and articles of clothing.

Teal'c and Daniel slept in the living room and were up at 5:00 helping Maya and Dayvid looked for the various suitcases that were 'misplaced'.

Jack cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast before then Maya's family departed for the Airport.

Anna, Dan and the children left later that afternoon, to Sam's dismay. She had really gotten fond of the perky mother.

Å

"Need help, Ellie?" Jack asked loping towards his sister who was standing by her car, staring into space.

His younger sister sighed and slammed the car's back door closed. "No."

He stopped short. "What's up?"

"Nothing really," she admitted. "I'm just in a bad mood."

"Emma not feeling well again?"

Tears welled up. "She's always so sick, Jack. So helpless...'"

Jack pulled his sister to him. "It's okay, Elle... it's okay."

She stood there for a moment then burst into sobs.

Å

"Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssm."

Daniel watched as his best friend smiled at the little girl. "Hungry, Emma?"

"Sssssssssssssssssssm."

She nodded. "That's me."

The little girl gave her a smile that looked more like a grimace.

Carter rocked back on her heels as Wilhem picked up his daughter and strapped her into her car seat.

"Leaving?" Daniel asked.

Wilhem inclined his head. "Yes. It was a pleasure to meet all of you."

Carter gave him a warm smile then stroked Emma's soft hair. "I'll see you later, squirt," she said kissing her nose.

Emma blinked. "SSSSSmmmmm!"

Wilhem quickly shook hands with Teal'c and Daniel. "Goodbye."

Å

Ellie pulled away and fixed her long black hair. "I'm sorry, Jack," she apologized, "I don't know what came-"

Jack playfully slapped his sister's shoulder. "It's okay, sis. What are big brothers for?"

She gave a shaky laugh. "Right."

The front door opened and Wilhem and Sam stepped out. Ellie sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Bye Jack," she said throwing her arms around him again, "Be safe."

"You too, kid."

Ellie hesitated a second then hugged Sam as well. "It was nice to make your acquaintance."

"Yours as well," Carter said stepping back.

Wilhem strapped their daughter in, and then, with many waves, they drove off.

"That's all?" Carter sighed.

"You'll see them next year," Jack said rocking on his heels. "The next reunion is at Ken and Jenn's house."

She smiled. "I like your family."

"So do I."

After a few minutes, Jack headed into the house to 'check on Daniel and Melanie'. Carter stood outside for a few moments longer, fingering the ring he had given her. 'How differently would have everything had turned out if I hadn't spent Christmas with Jack' she thought. For a second, she dwelled on Pete. She gave a small sigh.

"What is the matter, Colonel Carter?"

She didn't even look up. "Wondering how Pete's doing."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "Do you still have feelings for him?"

She shook her head. "No. I just feel... guilty. I-"

"Colonel Carter, I do not believe you two would have been happy together. You have saved the two of you from a marriage which would have brought you great unhappiness."

She thought about that for a second then smiled. "Thanks, Teal'c."

He smiled back. "Shall we go inside and save Daniel Jackson and Melanie O'Neill from much annoyance at the hands of O'Neill?"

She inclined her head and the two friends hurried inside.

"Finally," Jack huffed.

Sam walked over to him and kissed him, Daniel looking away.

"I love you, Jack."

He looked surprised but dusted a few snowflakes off her shoulder. "Backatcha."

And on New Year's Eve, her resolution was to A. Tease Daniel to death, B. Thank the President for lifting the fraternization rule within the SGC, and C. Marry Jack.

And as her fiancé turned towards her, she thought she could keep all three.

The end.

I hope you guys aren't too disappointed in the ending... there will be an epilogue if anyone wants one.

THANKS MILLIONS TO WARMTEA FOR EVERYTHING!

I hope you enjoyed it and PLEASE review!