"Given any thought to what you want to do next?" Jack sat at the pick-nick table across from Cate.

"Not sure." Cate chewed her lip in a very Carter fashion as she thought. "I guess I'll get a job, find an apartment. Debbie should be starting kindergarten this fall, and I guess I can find a daycare for Jake...we can't live on base forever."

It had been nearly two months since Cate had brought Debbie and Jake through the Quantum Mirror. Just over a month since she'd gone on the suicide mission to destroy the Titan's fleet. Two weeks ago they'd heard from Thor who had returned to monitory the Titan system. With the central planet destroyed the outer planets were now from from the rule of Menoetius and the Asgard were assisting in the reorganization of their governments. As happy as she was that the threat that destroyed her world was no longer a threat to this one, Cate hadn't planned on surviving and hadn't had a chance to think about what to do next.

"What about this?" He handed her an envelope.

With a raised eyebrow she extracted a single sheet of paper, eyes growing wide as she read what it said. "What does this mean?"

"It means you can start at the Academy this fall." Jack grinned. "If that's what you want. Or, if you'd rather there's the university...here, or up in Denver...or where ever you'd like to go. What ever you decide Sam and I'll support you."

After reading the letter again Cate looked to the swings across the park. Debbie was giggling, begging Uncle Teal'c to push her higher. Jake, now nearly eight months old, was laughing just as much from his perch on Sam's lap in the swing beside his sister. Jake had always been a happy baby, unaware of the chaos he was born into, but it had been months since she had seen Debbie, wise beyond her years, so happy. The thought of leaving them with an unknown family formed a knot in her chest.

"What about Debbie and Jake?" Concern creased her brow.

Jack followed her gaze and caught Sam's eye with a slight nod. With a quick word to Teal'c, Sam settled Jake on her hip and joined them at the table. The little boy smiled brightly and held his arms out, cuddling into Jack as soon as he had taken the boy. Cate watched as Sam and Jack stared at each other for a moment before Sam, with a nearly imperceptible nod of her own, smiled and turned to her.

"Cate." Sam reached across the table and took her hands. "Jack and I...we'd like to adopt Debbie and Jake..."

"You'd do that?" Cate interjected, the knot in her chest easing a bit. "I mean, I'd hoped you would. It would be so much harder on them having spent time with you both only to go to someone they don't know. Debbie still won't talk to anyone else but you two, and Daniel and Teal'c of course, and Jake has been so happy...wait, you said both of you? But I thought..." Cate's eyes dropped to Sam's hand where she found the ring, identical to the one that still hung on a chain around her neck.

"Cate!" Jack interrupted her. "Take a breath! You're almost as bad as Carter." He flinched when Sam playfully punched his shoulder. "If you'd let Sam finish you'll get your answers."

"Yes, we," Sam smiled at Jack as he draped an arm around her shoulders, "I know genetically they are ours, so it's just a legality, but want to adopt Debbie and Jake...and you too if you'll let us." Sam's smile widened at the shock on Cate's face. "We won't be able to make it official for a couple of months, not until after we work a few things out...and the wedding."

As the tears started falling from Cate's eyes, Sam quickly moved around the table and took the young woman in her arms. With a worried look she met Jack's eyes, reassured by his encouraging smile. Silence and tears weren't quite the reaction they had expected, but both understood that so much had changed in her life recently that it would take time to adjust.

It wasn't long before Sam felt Cate's arm snake around her squeezing tightly. "Thank you." Her shaky voice was barely more than a whisper

Sam pulled back, taking Cate's face in her hands, wiping away her tears. "Are you sure you're okay with this? I know it won't be easy, but even though it's only been two months, we both have grown to love you three very much."

"More than okay." Cate beamed. "You know, this is technically the second time you've asked if you could adopt me." She leaned in and hugged Sam again, relishing the feeling of her embrace, a feeling she'd feared she'd never get to experience again.

Cate pulled back, laughing at the sight that was moving towards them. Debbie had Teal'c's hand firmly grasped in hers, pulling him across the park towards their table. Teal'c had a small, affectionate, yet indulgent smile on his face as she chatted away. Once at the table she climbed up on the bench, squirming between Sam and Cate until she could get her arm's around Sam's neck. With practiced ease, Sam wrapped her arms around the small girl as Debbie dropped her head, nestling into the crook of Sam's shoulder.

"Debra O'Neill has informed me that she is in need of sustenance." Teal'c stood stoically at the end of the table.

"Well then, it's a good thing it's time to head home for the barbecue, isn't it?" Sam stood from the table, tickling the little girl and earning a giggle. "Uncle Daniel and Cassie are probably wondering where we are." Cate joined her as they started walking towards the parking lot.

Jack watched as Sam shifted Debbie to one hip and put her other arm around Cate and smiled. Eight years ago he never imagined they were be here now. Things were far from perfect, even now, and he wasn't delusional enough to expect things to ever be perfect, but Jack wouldn't want to be anywhere but where he was. It was going to be hard, but most defiantly worth it.

"Come on, T." Jack clapped him on the shoulder bouncing Jake on his hip. "Let's not keep my girls waiting."