Chapter 3

As we came through the worm hole, I had my arms around both Sam and Daniel. Teal'c had his left arm around Grace and she was crying. I heard Sam whisper with thick emotion, "Oh my god, Jack. That's my Grace? She's so beautiful!"

"Yeah, you better go to her. She looks like she needs her mom."

I let go of Sam and let her finish going down the ramp by herself. Teal'c let go of Grace and everyone backed off to give Sam and her a moment. By time Sam was off the ramp and the gate had shut down, she had her hand up over her mouth trying to hold back her emotions. Grace just stood there sobbing and Sam enveloped her in her arms. They both crumbled to the floor from the weight of the moment. The heaviness of in the room became too much for everyone, and there wasn't a person in that room that didn't have tears going down their face, even the hardened SF's standing guard in the room. I looked from my wife and daughter to older Daniel with his arms around Cassie crying. Teal'c stood a couple inches away with tears in his eyes.

Their sister was home.

I wiped my face with my free hand then looked down at my son. He looked up and smiled.

He spoke in a low voice, "Mom worked really hard to bring us back to our family."

"That my son, I have no doubt, your mom is pretty amazing that way. Come on let's go meet your uncles."

We finished walking down the ramp. Sam and Grace were just holding each other now and I could hear Sam talking quietly into Grace's ear to calm her down.

I walked over to the others and announced, "Hey, guys." When I had their attention, it was hard to keep the emotion out of my voice as I continued, "I want you to meet my…son."

They all looked at me with surprised expressions on their faces. I looked straight at older Daniel when I spoke again, "I like you to meet Daniel Carter O'Neill." Then I looked down at my son, "Daniel, this is Uncle Teal'c, Uncle Daniel and Cassie. Cassie is your honorary big sister." His smile covered his face. Sam must have already told him all about this extended family.

Little Daniel stayed next to me, but spoke politely, "Nice to finally meet you. My mom told me lots of stories about you."

Daniel spoke up first with a big smile on his face, "I bet those were some stories." Then he gave me a big hug while saying, "Jack, congratulations! I am so honored. Although, I guess that was all Sam." He pulled back from the hug.

I responded with a grin on my face, "Thanks Daniel. Actually, Sam and I named our children at the cabin a day after our engagement."

His eyes went big. "You're kidding."

I gave him a big smile, "Nope, we both mutually wanted Daniel. I chose Carter after Sam and Dad."

Daniel was speechless.

Teal'c took that moment to talk to my son, "It is a pleasure to meet you DanielO'Neill." He also gave me a hug, "Congratulations O'Neill, he heavily resembles you."

I didn't have a response to that.

Cassie gave little Daniel a hug and welcomed him to the family, she then gave me a big hug too.

To my thanks, none of them made mention of him looking similar to Charlie. I'm sure they were thinking it though.

I turned around just as Sam and Grace were getting back on their feet. Grace was holding onto Sam as if she were to let go her mother would disappear again. Sam looked at me with her big poofy eyes giving me the signal that she needed me back. With my arm still around little Daniel, I walked over to her. Sam let go of Grace and wrapped her arms around my waist and buried her head. She took a big shuddering breath in as if she was drawing strength from me. I put both my arms around her and asked, "You okay?" She shook her head.

She spoke lowly in my neck, "This is just too overwhelming. I haven't even gotten to them yet."

I rubbed my hands up and down her back. "I know. I think Cassie is going to lose it if you don't go to her soon."

She took a deep breath, "Just give me another minute."

"Take all the time you need."

After a minute, she looked up at me with unshed tears in her eyes, "Jack, Grace is perfect! Thank you!"

I smiled, "I can't take all the credit, but she is pretty great. Both of them are."

She nodded her head and pulled out of the hug. "Let me go say hello to the rest of my family."

As she walked over to Cassie, the tears and hugs began again anew.

I looked at my two children who were both standing there awkwardly not knowing what to do themselves. They didn't know each other. I put my arm around them and smiled at the both of them. "I guess you need to be introduced."

After I introduced my children, they gave each other a quick hug. I have no doubt it's going to take awhile for them to get to know each other. Grace turned, gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, "I can't believe I have a little brother."

"I was shocked too."

"He looks like my big brother Charlie."

"I know."

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After several long days of debriefs and meetings, reports and paperwork, it turns out that the Hammond was thrown off course and was damaged. They made an emergency landing on a planet with no Stargate. There wasn't a Stargate on any planets in that system. Luckily though, the people of the planet they landed on were welcoming and not hostile, and very similar to humans. They were behind technologically, and the only true hardship was time it took to repair the ship and everyone wanting to make it home to their love ones. It took many years to trade and create new hardware for the ship. Not to mention, supplies.

Then six months for the trip home with the degraded hyperdrive. Unfortunately, only three-fourths of the original crew survived. Some died from the original incident, some anomaly they encountered while in hyper-space, and others through injuries or illness on the planet. Turns out my son wasn't the only child born on the ship, just the oldest. Several people hooked up and started families.

Also some people stayed behind on the planet, it had become their home. Sam and her department heads had kept detailed records and logs of everything that happened over the years. It's going to keep Homeworld Security and the Joint Chiefs busy for a while.

Listening to the stories made me proud. Sam was held in high regard for her leadership over the entire ordeal. Ten years is a long time to be in charge of a ship and crew while being stranded. I have no doubt if she decides to stay in the military that she will immediately make the rank of General and be given another command, most likely the SGC. Before that though, she is receiving at least six month of forced leave. All crew members are if they remain in the Air Force. It's was going to take at least that long to go through all the reviews and reports of all the crew for promotions, awards and placements.

In the last several evenings after the meetings, we spent time as a family to get acquainted with each other. I won't lie, it's going to be difficult. The biggest adjustment is Sam and I, plus co-parenting kids that have only been parented by one of us. We plan to seek family counseling to make all transitions into a full family easier.

We started redecorating one of the guest rooms for Daniel. He is a real special kid and just a few months short of his ninth birthday. He does have some of my O'Neill charm and wit. He is a genius like his Mom, but I think it is because he spent most of the last few years helping Sam rebuild the Hammond. He is more down to Earth though and knows when to stop and enjoy life.

When Grace gets out of school, we plan to head to the cabin. I can't wait to take Daniel fishing. I had the pond refilled years ago, so there are actual pesky fish.

Last night, we had a big welcome back party for Sam and Daniel with the gang. Of course there was steak and cake. After everyone said their goodbyes, we put our kids in their respective beds and kissed them both good night. We quickly went downstairs and grabbed some glasses and nice wine, and then headed into the master suite. It was finally time for Sam and I to celebrate and get reacquainted. We started off with a nice warm bath and made our way to bed where we made love for the first time since her return.

This morning, we went for a walk at park on the same trail that Grace and I had walked almost a week ago when we received news that the Hammond had been found. This time, however, Grace and Daniel are animatedly talking together ahead of us, while Sam and I held hands walking behind them.

This all just seems like a dream. Sam must have sensed my train of thought because she stopped suddenly, turned towards me and put her arms around me, "Hey, you okay?"

I smiled, "Yeah, I was just thinking that I must be in a dream. This is all so surreal."

She smiled back, "A pretty great one. I am so happy. It feels great to be back in your arms. I never want to leave them."

"Really?"

"You doubted whether or not I would still love you didn't you? Don't deny it, I saw it in your eyes when I first looked at you."

"Well I was afraid you might have moved on."

"That's pretty stupid because I think we both established a long time ago that our love for each other will never go away. I know it's cliché to say this, but I firmly believe that we are soulmates." I had to smile at that.

"Did you doubt?"

"Are you kidding, I know that the great Jack O'Neill would never give up looking for a teammate. He might go a little nuts though." She was smiling at that comment.

"Yeah, thank goodness I had Grace to keep me sane."

"She told me that you never gave up on me returning."

"She's giving away my secrets."

"Your bond with her is pretty extraordinary."

"She was all I had left of you."

Our conversation was getting pretty heavy now and I need to change directions before I end up crying and blubbering like an idiot at the park. So I leaned in and gave her a spectacularly passionate kiss.

"It does feel pretty good to have you in my arms too. The kissing is really great. Are you sure you want to spend all this time with this old retired guy?"

"Jack, seriously, your age has never been an issue. Last night was a very…good…example." Pecking my lips with the words.

"I still got it, huh?"

She gave me equally spectacular passionate kiss back to prove her point. Breathlessly she replied, "Yeah sure you betcha!"

We leaned in for another kiss and I could vaguely hear the kids complaining of their parents kissing again. I firmly believe that this woman is going to be the death of me. My heart has stopped, raced and pounded constantly since she has been back. Although I have to admit, it would not be so bad to go out this happy. I have two great kids, and more importantly, my Carter is home!