Jack awoke with Sam kissing on his neck and rubbing his chest. The sensations she was creating slowly brought him out of his slumber. She looked in his eyes and gave him a big Samantha Carter smile.

"Merry Christmas, Jack." Then she went back to her kissing and ministrations.

His response was gravelly, but he was waking quite quickly, "Merry Christmas to you too. You woke me out of the most pleasant dream, or am I still in it?"

She picked her head up and in the most husky voice he had ever heard from her, "I had quite a pleasant dream myself." Then she straddled his hips.

Jack quickly sat up and wrapped his arms around her waist to bring her closer. He kissed her as she gasped at the intimate contact. As the kiss was deepening, there was a knock on the door.

"Aunt Sam, it's time to open presents!" The voice was from an excited Lisa.

Sam laid her forehead on Jack's shoulder and growled lowly in frustration. Jack snickered. Being interrupted was something Jack had dealt with many times in his life. Hmm first person comes to mind, Daniel.

"Aunt Sam, did you hear me?"

Sam picked up her head and looked into Jack's eyes, "Yes, we will be down in about five minutes."

"Okay." Then they heard the thumping of the girl going back down the stairs.

"You find this funny?"

"Yes and No, but I understand the girl's excitement."

Sam took a big breath in and slowly released it. "Okay, I guess we should do our morning ablutions and head down before she has a coronary."

Jack squeezed her towards him again and gave her a searing kiss before he helped her off his lap.

As Sam climbed off the bed she muttered, "That was just wrong, Jack." And she entered the bathroom.

Jack grinned at her back but muttered to himself when the door shut, "You not the only one frustrated."

Jack and Sam made their way down and grabbed some coffee on the way into the den. Mark and Laura were sipping their coffee on the couch. The kids were under the tree eyeing their gifts excitedly. It brought back Christmas morning memories for Jack, but it didn't sadden him. It was actually nice to see the kids excited.

Sam purchased their gifts to the Carter family for the both of them. He will just nod and act like he knew. The family plans for the morning are opening gifts and heading to the main lodge for Christmas breakfast that the lodge is apparently known for. Again, Jack was clueless, he was just here to be with Sam.

The kids had opened their gifts and Lisa was squeezed next to Jack trying to explain her main gift to him, the iPod mini that was the hit of the year. Both kids received one. Jack was trying real hard to follow Lisa on her explanation, but was failing. He looked up at Sam who was looking at him with mirth.

"So it plays music?" Jack asked.

"Yeah."

"The music is already on there?"

"No, you have to have an apple iTunes account to buy and download the music you like."

Jack blinked and shook his head trying to understand, "huh…I've had bad luck with downloading."

He looked up at Sam and she grimaced, all the other adults were as confused as the young girl next to him.

"Lisa, Jack is horrible with technology. After a while, his eyes start glazing over when you've gone over his head." She gave Jack a smug smile. The other adults laughed.

"He can't be that bad, these are easy to use."

"Even though your Aunt was being funny," giving Sam a pointed look, "she's right. I'm awful with technology. That's why she was on my team. She was the technological expert."

Lisa looked up at him with a smile. Geez, the girl is basically a mini-Sam, which is why he connected with her.

Mark spoke up, "Hey Sammie, you remember the Walkman? Weren't you Lisa's age when they came out? Mom and Dad got you one that year."

Sam smiled, "Yeah, I remember that was the big thing back then. They were lucky to get me one of those. Jack, did you have a Walkman?" Giving him that mischievous grin.

"Nope that was after my time as a youth. I had records and 8-tracks. Those were the good ole days." He said leaning back with his hands behind his head giving Sam a 'you think you're so funny look.'

Jack then looked over at Mark and Laura who were amused at the whole situation. Then Mark spoke, "Hey David, Lisa, why don't you go get ready for breakfast while the adults give gifts to each other."

"Dad, I want to watch." Lisa whined.

Laura responded, "Okay dear, go ahead, but go sit by the tree."

"Yes, ma'am," Lisa said as she moved to the tree and David joined her.

The kids were settled and the adults began exchanging gifts to each other. Laura and Mark gave each other mundane things that older couples tend to give to each other.

Jack watched as Sam got up and picked up a long narrow rectangular box. The wrapping was a nice red and silver color with holly berry designs. There was a silver ribbon and bow. He had no idea what she could have gotten him. She walked over to him and he guided her to his lap. Sam handed him the gift. Jack tore the paper to reveal a white apparel box. Taking the lid off, there was red and green tissue paper. He opened the tissue paper and inside was a greenish satin tie and boutonnière with the same color small silk flowers mixed in with white baby's breath.

In a soft voice Sam explained the gift, "Its peridot. It's to go with your tux."

He looked up, "I thought the color was…um…that blue color you picked."

She gave him a gentle smile, "Ah, Aquamarine. It is. For everyone else. I picked it because it complements peridot."

His heart was thumping. He was overwhelmed with emotions and he was trying to keep them in check, so he wouldn't embarrass himself. All he could get out was "Oh" while looking down at the items.

Sam spoke softly, "Do you like it? I hope it's okay."

Jack looked up at her trying to convey that he did, but he couldn't speak at the moment. Sam's eyes seemed to show that she got the message.

Laura spoke up, "What's the significance of peridot?"

Jack was still looking at Sam, and she gave him the 'it's your story to tell.' He nodded. Clearing his throat to remove the lump that had lodged there, Jack fought to keep his voice even as he said, "My son…Charlie…was born in August. Its stone is peridot."

David asked, "You have a son?"

Mark replied, "David…"

Jack interrupted, "Mark, it's okay." Mark nodded as Jack explained, "I did. He…he umm…died 10 years ago."

"I'm sorry Jack."

"It's okay kid, it happened a long time ago."

David nodded in understanding and Jack looked over at Lisa who seemed to be interested in a gift she had received but he saw the tears on her face.

Jack was getting real uncomfortable, but he remembered what Sam had said about people hurt when someone they're close to hurts. Over the last two days, he had become close with the Carters. "I didn't mean for this become a downer."

Mark stated, "It's okay, Jack."

Jack, not liking the emotional attention he was receiving, slapped his hand down on the arm rest and stated, "It's Sam's turn."

He laid his box on the table next to the chair. Before guiding Sam up off his lap, he whispered in her ear, "Thank you." He got up and went to the tree and pulled out a small package that he had hid inside the branches. Sam raised an eye brow at him. He walked back to the chair and they resumed their spots. Then he handed his present to her. "Merry Christmas, Sam." Giving her a kiss on the cheek.

He watched as Sam slowly unwrapped the present. Her reaction was exactly what he expected. She gasped with a hand over her mouth. She turned her body towards him as she was trying to gain the words.

"Jack, this is beautiful." He had gotten her a necklace with a pendant matching her engagement ring. Her engagement ring is platinum with diamonds in the band and a solitaire blue diamond. The necklace was also platinum. In the center is a small blue diamond with smaller diamonds circling it, both as a reminder where they came from.

Jack was gleaming at her, "I'm glad you like it."

Mark and Laura walked over to get a closer look.

Laura spoke first, "Oh Sam, that matches your engagement ring."

Giving a whistle, Mark stated, "Beautiful Jack, you sure know how to pick out jewelry."

Laura turned to Mark and asked, "Mark, do you know that he had that ring for four years?"

Surprised, Mark answered, "No, I didn't know that."

With a big smile, Laura said with a wispy far off voice, "It's quite a story."

"It was after the mission where she was trapped wasn't it?" Mark asked.

Jack gave him a small smile. "Yeah, it wasn't too long after that."

Sam gave him a look. It had a hint of guilt. Jack wanted to stop her train of thought, so quietly to her, "Hey, I told you no dwelling."

She gave him a small smile. Mark cleared his throat, pulling them out of the conversation they were having with their eyes, and asked, "What is the light blue stone in the middle of the ring and the center of the necklace? They are too light to be sapphires."

Laura answered, "Mark, those are blue diamonds."

"Whoa! That had to be expensive."

Jack acted as if it wasn't a big deal. "Well, being a single Colonel with flight and hazard pay, you tend to make a pretty decent nest egg."

"I guess so. What if she….never mind. Kids, let's all get ready for breakfast. I hear the Christmas breakfast here is delicious."

Jack knew what Mark was going to say and was happy that Mark ended his train of thought. Jack grabbed his box of goodies, and grabbed Sam's free hand. They all headed to their rooms to get dressed. Jack gently closed and locked the door behind them after they entered the room. Sam turned to him and he pointed to her new necklace. "Let me put that on for you." Sam turned and Jack reached around, bringing the necklace to the back of her neck and then secured the clasp. He wrapped his arms around her and began to untie her robe that she had over her pajamas and began to kiss her neck. He heard her gasp and felt the shiver he caused in her. Jack smiled against her neck. Keeping his lips there while he spoke, "Like that do you?"

Sam cleared her throat but her reply still came out in a whisper, "Yes."

Jack couldn't help but chuckle. He continued to kiss her on her neck and nipped on her earlobe. Then, he gently turned her around. Jack slid the robe off her shoulders and it fell to the floor. He looked down at the necklace on her bare chest above her tank top. Then looked into her loving glassy eyes as he said, "The necklace is even more beautiful on you." He smiled and leaned in to kiss her.

A knock on the door broke their kiss and Mark told them they were going to go ahead to breakfast. He and Sam acknowledged that they would join them shortly.

Jack, with a gleam in his eyes whispered, "Perfect," before he began kissing her again. He felt a smile on her lips letting him know that she knew exactly what he was thinking.

He pulled out of the kiss and guided her backwards towards the bed with his eyes never leaving hers.

"I'd like to give you one more gift, if that's alright with you."

She gave him her big Sam Carter smile, "Oh yeah." After a pause, "I think this gift is for both of us."

He gave her his big grin back, "I have waited for a long time to unwrap it."

"Me too."

Jack gently put his hands on either side of her face and leaned in to kiss her.

They made love for the first time.

Jack woke up from his post coital doze in pure bliss. He was lying on his back with Sam cuddled into him drawing patterns on his chest. It felt nice. Her head was raised, resting on her hand as she looked down at him. The necklace was dangling between and tickling his shoulder. Jack looked up at her and smiled.

Sam returned the brightest smile he ever seen, before she spoke, "Hey."

"Hey…I'm sorry I fell asleep."

"That's okay, I did too for a bit."

"That was…" Her voice trailed off and tears were building .

"Hey, c'mere." He pulled her down into him and hugged her. "I know. It was a little overwhelming for me too."

"She lifted her head with a wry smile, and her eyes were dry, "That and I never had anybody make love to me like that before."

Jack contemplated what to say, he really didn't know what to say really. He never made love to anybody like that either. Maybe it had something to do with them. The love they shared. The slow burn over the last 8 years. He simply said, "Me either." He stared at her for a moment and then continued, "Your amazing Sam."

She looked at him incredulously, "Really?"

All he could say was, "Spectacular!"

Jack had a huge smile on his face. One that Sam is not used to seeing, so she grinned back as she spoke, "Do you know that you have a beautiful smile, Jack?"

Taking a bit of her hair and placing it behind her ear. He smiled again, "Not really. I don't typically look at myself."

She blushed and giggled into his chest, "Well you do." She lifted her head. "I kinda like it."

"Well, I kinda like yours too," Jack said as he grazed her cheek with his hand. "I love seeing it and I loved that I put it there."

Sam leaned in as she said, "You did often."

"At first," Jack said, "but then that smile waned as time went on. It bothered me that the job was wearing you down." Looking into her eyes he added, "Both you and Daniel."

Sam started running her fingers along his chest again, breaking the eye contact as a serious look flashed on her face. "Do you have regrets, Jack?"

He took a deep breath in and thought about what she asked before stating, "Yeah, sometimes."

Nervously she asked, "This?"

"A little, but I don't think we would have the same appreciation we do now. Although, I think the regs hurt us." He saw her confusion. "It's like a few months ago when we thought we were going to die. I so badly wanted to hold you at our end. We were friends too, right?" She nodded. "And all I could think about is military decorum. Why did I care? We were going to die. Sometimes we went too far and trying to save face. We didn't have to be so drastic. I could have held your hand in the infirmary as long as it looked like a caring comrade. I guess that sort thing looking back was kinda ridiculous and regretful."

She nodded. "Anything else?"

"I regret my son dying." He took a long pause. "But, then again, I wouldn't have you if he lived."

"I'm sure you rather have him."

"To be honest Sam, that's a struggle and not one I want to think about. I don't want to choose. I guess that's why people say, things happen for a reason. It sets you on a different path."

She just stared at him.

"I don't know, maybe there is some lucky Jack O'Neill in another reality that has both. He's a lucky son of a bitch."

"That is a possibility. Do you ever wonder what he would be like?"

"All the time. What about you?"

"The same. If I had my Mom, would I have taken the same path? Would I even be the same woman? Not sure I would want to change things either."

Jack decided it was time to lighten the mood. He pulled up on his elbows to kiss her. She puts a hand on the side of his face to deepen the kiss. As the need for breath was grew, she pulled back. "We probably should get ready and join them."

"Think it's a little too late for that?"

"You think they will know?"

With a mischievous smile Jack stated, "Oh, yeah."

Sam gave him a questionable look.

"You're glowing."

Sam lowered her head to his chest, "Oh God!"

Jack laughed, "We're adults Sam,"

She lifted her head, "It's my brother."

"And?" He gave her another kiss making her moan. That made him smile. "Besides, I think I could go for another round."

She smiled "We probably should join them," adding, "eventually."

Jack looked into her beautiful eyes, "We will…eventually. Right now, we're having a little Christmas of our own."

Their second time was as magical as their first, both of them drained as they laid in the bed holding each other.

Sam was the first to speak, "We really should go out and join them." Looking at the clock on the wall she realized, "for lunch?"

Jack, breathing heavy, nodded and said, "I think I'm ready for some pie."

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A/N Thank you for reading! Merry Christmas!