Who: Jack O’Neill and Samantha Carter What: Jack and Sam discuss the wedding When: After Daniel and Vala’s Wedding Where: Their Home Rating: low
The moment they walked through the front door of their house, Sam kicked off her heels and gave a sigh of relief. Her feet were killing her and she wanted nothing more than to give them a rest. She set the bouquet of flowers she was carrying on the coffee table as she sank down into the couch and looked up at Jack with a tired smile.
“I’ll love you forever if you make a cup of tea,” she said, swinging her legs up so her feet were propped. Sam had a feeling her ankles were going to be swollen tomorrow. It wasn’t fair that men were able to wear shoes that were so much more comfortable.
*
Sam looked gorgeous. The truth was she always did, but since Sam rarely wore dresses or heels, it was always a treat. It was nice to wear a tux instead of the Full Service Dress that he’d normally have worn. Plus this was Daniel’s wedding. While he occasionally butted heads with Vala and she rightfully concerned him from time to time, they were a good fit and Jack was happy for them.
“Your wish is my command.” He said it a bit dramatically as he whisked himself into the kitchen and put on the kettle. From the kitchen, he spoke a little louder to talk. “Strawberries?” As in, did she want anything from the fridge, like the strawberries.
–
“No thanks, I couldn’t eat another bite,” Sam said. “The food was excellent and I ate way too much.” She wasn’t even sure if she’d be hungry tomorrow. Between the meal, the cake, and the late night snacks, they had really outdone themselves. Daniel deserved it and she was glad that he found love again after losing Sha’are. Sure, Vala could be a handful, but it was good that she kept Daniel on his toes.
She glanced over at the bouquet and shook her head. Maybe Vala had a little too much influence on Daniel though. Sam had no doubt that it was his idea to engineer the bouquet and garter toss so that she and Jack would catch them. It was the opposite of subtle, which would normally scream Vala’s doing, but Sam assumed she wasn’t the one who knew the supposed meaning behind the tradition.
*
As he let the water boil. Jack’s mind also went through the night. He had jokingly told Daniel he’d been to both his weddings and he’d like there not to be a third if he could help it. The thought of it again made his smile. Like Sam, Jack was happy for Daniel. Also like Sam, he was aware of the staging of the events for them.
He came back with the tea for her and a water for him. He sat down and took another long pull of the water. “So what did you think of tonight?” That seemed like an easy place to start..
–
Sam accepted the cup of tea with a smile, wrapping her hands around the mug as she shifted so she could lean against him. “It was a beautiful wedding,” she said. “They are good for each other. Daniel’s a lot less… uptight… than he was when I first met him. And Vala is far more responsible.” As far as she knew, Vala hadn’t even stolen anything for a while.
“Everyone seemed like they had fun,” she added. “Lots of dancing and everything.” She wasn’t sure how she felt about the whole bouquet thing. It wasn’t like she didn’t want to marry Jack, it just wasn’t something that she needed to be satisfied with their relationship. “What did you think?”
*
He nodded a few times as he listened. He felt the same way as Sam in a lot of her assessments which didn’t really surprise him that much. Of course she didn’t bring up the two tosses of the night and so Jack realized it was up to him. Had this been a briefing back home, he’d have pretended to continue to play dumb and talk around the subject, but Sam knew better and deserved better.
“...You look good with a bouquet in your hands.”
–
While it seemed like something of a non-sequitur, Sam was only mildly surprised that Jack brought it up. It was a subject that had been lingering in the background for a while, since an offhand remark when they were doing paperwork to adopt Six about how it would be easier if they were married. She knew it was only a matter of time before they talked about it.
“Subtle, Jack,” she teased. “That had to be Daniel’s doing.” It was far too understated of a gesture to be Vala’s idea.
Sam took another sip of her tea as she studied him. “I guess it’s something we should talk about.”
*
“That’s me, king of subtly.” He offered a small grin before he went for the water he had. Unlike Sam, he had been married before and last time he royally screwed it up. He was a different person now and much older. He’d learned lessons along the way. Yet there was still the worry somehow a new title would suddenly turn him into the same man he had been years ago.
“Sara wasn’t a fan of being married to me.”
–
“I can’t really blame her for that,” Sam said. “You had to keep so much of yourself hidden from her. That’s a nearly impossible obstacle to overcome in a relationship.” It was something she knew firsthand from her relationship with Pete. Even though he knew the basics about what she truly did, there were so many things that Sam couldn’t share and it ultimately put a wedge between them that couldn’t be dislodged.
There was also the part where she’d been in love with someone else for the better part of eight years. “It’s why Sheppard got divorced too. And probably dozens of others, especially in the Stargate program.” Seeing the things they saw and not being able to discuss them with your partner was going to create tension.
*
“I was also not as fun as I am today.” He offered her a soft sort of smile that was meant to be self-deprecating, even if it was true. Certainly after Charlie’s death he hadn’t been much fun at all. It was only for Daniel that he was here at all.
“You know how I feel about you. You know you’re the only one for me.” He looked a bit more serious, but in that sort of Jack way. “If you want to get married, I’d be happy to. But if you’re happy the way we are, I’m good with that too.”
–
Sam leaned forward to set her mug down on the coffee table and then turned so she could take Jack’s hands. “I love you,” she said. “I don’t need a ring on my finger or a piece of paper to legitimize our relationship.” Back home, it was always in the back of her mind that it might become necessary if the wrong people in the Air Force found out about them. Spouses were afforded certain privileges that unmarried airmen weren’t.
“If we do decide to take that step, I wouldn’t want anything like tonight,” she added. “I figured out that much when I was engaged to Pete.” He’d had grand ideas of what he wanted their wedding to be and every time he voiced them, Sam cringed inside. One of the many reasons they didn’t work.
*
He squeezed her hand. Despite their conversation, the first thing that ended up leaving his mouth was a joke. “Something more over the top then?” He quickly followed it by an actual reply. He had a bunch of things floating around that big head of his, but he ended up with. “...What would you like instead?” The idea of marrying again in a big wedding like he had in the past was equally unappealing to Jack.
–
It was difficult for Sam to imagine what ‘more over the top’ would look like. Vala had gone for the full traditional white wedding, which was kind of hilarious in a lot of ways. She laughed. “Yes, you know me. The showier, the better.”
With a roll of her eyes, she let go of his hand so she could pick up her tea again. “I don’t know. Something small. Just our closest friends.” The ones who were essentially family. “If we were at home, I’d say on the water by your cabin. Or in the gateroom.” That was mostly a joke.
*
That got a grin from him. Though he did agree with what she’d like to see. It was perfect and something he’d like too which didn’t surprise him. They were usually on the same wavelength.
He listened to her and then let silence settle over them for a good minute or two as he looked at her with quiet fondness. Then he spoke, his voice soft and warm. “Let’s do it then.” Jack didn’t just leave it at that, though. He sat forward and reached for Sam’s free hand. “Samantha Carter. After we go to the store and you pick out the ring you want because your taste is way better than mine, will you marry me?”
–
This was certainly not how Sam expected the night to go and damn it, Daniel was going to be insufferable when he heard about this. “Of course, I will,” she replied, setting her mug down again so she could lean in and give him a proper kiss.
“I love you, Jack O’Neill,” she said when she pulled back and met his eyes, her own a little wet with emotion. “You were worth waiting for.”
*
Had he thought about it, he’d determine she deserved the whole kneeling on one knee thing, but at least it was in private which was how he’d always have done it for Sam. That she said yes, even if he was confident in their relationship, brought a large smile to his lips. “I love you too.” He leaned in and kissed her a lot more thoroughly this time.