Changing Lives 50/55 (Sam/Janet femslash) Stargate SG-1
"C'mon, it'll be fun!" Cassie had a wild glint in her eye as she tried to pull her wife from the big bed.
"Midnight swimming?" Anna sounded cautious. "Are you sure you want to do that?"
"Not swimming," Cassie stressed. "Skinnydipping. Much more fun!"
"Skinnydipping, huh?" Anna grinned. "Oh well, in that case...!" She slid off the bed, reaching for her robe. "What?" she demanded. "It might be cold on the jetty. I'll take it off when I get there. You too," she held out Cassie's robe for her. "I want to have something to unwrap once we get there!"
Cassie smiled back, and grabbed her by the hand, pulling her outside.
"Wow," Anna was startled by the full moon reflecting eerily on the water. "It's so beautiful. It's perfect, Cass."
"Just like you," Cassie said softly, reaching up for a kiss. The kiss was passionate and long. After several minutes, she stood back and casually removed her robe, reaching out to untie Anna's. They stood naked in front of each other.
"Come here," Anna's voice cracked as she took Cassie's hand. "I want to hold you," she said, pulling her toward her. As she closed the gap between them, she nuzzled affectionately into Cassie's neck. "Thank you for agreeing to be my wife," she said softly. "You've made me happier than anyone deserves to be."
"Me too," Cassie replied softly. "This is perfect." She pulled back, almost reluctantly, and led Anna to the side of the jetty. "Ready?" she asked, as she started to move down the steps.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Anna smiled.
Cassie slid into the water first, gasping at the temperature. "Jeez it's cold," she said, "but it's wonderful."
Ann smiled at her wife, and dived elegantly into the water, surfacing behind Cassie and wrapping her arms round her. "This is amazing," she said, "what a great idea of yours." She turned Cassie carefully in her arms, and kissed her. "Race you to the other side!" she said grinning.
Before she could finish her sentence, Cassie took off like a bullet, slicing efficiently and rapidly through the water. She easily beat Anna to the far bank of the lake.
"Wow!" Anna said, when she finally caught her. "Where did you learn to swim like that?"
Cassie grinned. "Sam taught me," she said triumphantly. "Said everybody should be able to swim."
"And so they should," Anna agreed, "but you were amazing. That's no ordinary swimming."
"Sam's no ordinary swimmer," Cassie told her. "She swam competitively until she was 14. She only gave it up when she found she didn't have enough time to study. She's still the best swimmer I've ever seen, leaves me in her wake every time."
"How come I never knew that about you? Or about Sam?" Anna pondered. "D'you realize, this is the first time we've been swimming together? Apart from on the beaches in Australia, and that was just playing in the surf."
"Playing's good," Cassie said with seductive smile. "I like playing."
"Oh so do I sweetheart," Anna grinned back, "it's one of my favorite things." Treading water, she took Cassie in her arms again. "I'm so glad we came here," she said with feeling. "It's so much better than staying in some hotel somewhere."
Cassie smiled back. "Yeah," she agreed. "We've got more freedom here too, we can do whatever we want, when we want."
"Like staying in bed for four days straight you mean?" Anna's eyes twinkled.
"We got up!" Cassie protested.
"To eat, and to use the bathroom," Anna smiled.
"We ate breakfast on the porch yesterday morning," Cassie said. "Surely that counts?"
"Breakfast at 4pm?" Anna reminded her.
Cassie grinned. "Well, we had better things to do at breakfast time."
"Yeah," Anna agreed. "We really did, didn't we?"
= = =
"They've had good weather," Janet passed a mug of tea to Sam, who was sitting at the kitchen table, a sleepy Albie in her lap.
"Yes," Sam said, "the whole fortnight's been warm and sunny. Though I'll bet they've hardly noticed the weather," she winked at Janet.
Janet grinned. "Annie's real good for Cass, isn't she?" she said.
"They're perfect for each other," Sam agreed. "I can't believe our little girl is married," she said, not for the first time.
"And they're moving into their own apartment," Janet said, and Sam noticed the sadness in her eyes as she spoke.
Sam reached out and put a hand on Janet's arm. "We'll still see them all the time, Jan," she said gently. "They need their own space."
Janet turned away, trying to hide the tears in her eyes from her lover. "I know that," her voice was muted. "It's just been so wonderful, having them here. The house has felt... alive. More than ever before."
"And it will again, baby," Sam's voice was tender. "Soon there'll be three of us, don't forget. And," she tried to sound cheerful, "Cass and Anna'll be back tomorrow, and they're staying with us for the next ten days, while the decorators finish up in their apartment."
"Yeah," Janet tried to pull herself together. "They are, aren't they?"
"So," Sam said, "the guys still coming over for a barbecue on Sunday?"
"Yes," Janet replied. "Jack, Teal'c, Daniel and Vala; they've all promised they'll be here. It'll be like an 'end-of-honeymoon' party." She turned and looked deeply into Sam's eyes. "We'll be okay, won't we Sam?" she asked, her voice suddenly fearful. "All of us?"
Sam got up from the chair, the snoozing Albie still tucked under one arm. She drew Janet into a one-armed hug. "Of course we will, sweetie, of course we will." She drew back slightly, and looked at Janet's face. "What's brought this on, Jan? Are you okay? This isn't like you."
Janet kissed her softly. "I'm okay, baby," she said, "just hormones, I think. Most of the time, everything seems real good and then... then I panic a bit. But every time I panic, you're there. And suddenly," she smiled tenderly, "everything's okay again."
"I'll always be there, baby," Sam said. "Even when I'm not physically here, if I'm on a mission or something, I'll always be with you. And I'll always come back to you." She carried Albie to his basket at the other end of the kitchen, and gently laid him down. "C'm'ere," she said, wrapping her arms round Janet. "We'll go have a nap on the couch, huh? That always makes you feel better."
Janet nodded, and allowed Sam to lead her to the couch. They snuggled up together and, despite the warm day, Sam reached up and pulled the comforter over Janet. "Sleep," she said to her lover, holding her tight, pressing kisses into her hair, and running her hand over her ever-growing belly.
= = =
"They're here!" Janet cried, as she heard the sound of the horn as Cassie drove into the driveway. She ran to the front door, and was down the steps ready to greet her daughter and her wife before Sam realized where she had gone. By the time Sam arrived at the car, Cassie and Janet were locked in a tight hug, and Anna was lifting their bags out of the trunk. "Hey Annie," Sam called, stepping forward to embrace her warmly. "You look great," Sam remarked, noticing the girl's fresh, rosy complexion and relaxed air. "Did you have a good time?"
"The best," Anna said with feeling. "It couldn't have been any better."
Cassie finally let go of Janet, and flung herself at Sam. Sam hugged her tightly. "Hey," she said softly, "so what's it like, being an old married lady?"
"It's perfect, Sam," Cassie told her. At that moment, Toby and Albie, realizing they were missing out on something, came hurtling down the front steps, and starting yapping excitedly.
Eventually everybody, including the dogs, made it back into the house. "We'll do the laundry later," Janet announced. "Come into the living room, and tell us all about it. Did you like the cabin, Annie?"
"I loved it," Anna replied. "And we just had the best time. Ever. We should get married every year, if we can celebrate it with a honeymoon as special as that!"
"The guys are coming over tomorrow, for a barbecue, and to welcome you back. Is that okay?" Sam asked.
"It's great," Cassie told her. "As long as we don't let Uncle Jack cook. I'm not sure Annie's ready for his beer-marinaded meat quite yet!"
"I think I can take anything your family throws at me, Cassie," Anna smiled.
Sam realized that Anna was referring to Jack O'Neill as family, and she realized that that was exactly what he was. The whole of SG-1 were family, not only to her and Janet, but also to their daughter and her wife. It was an odd family, she mused, but it worked; better than most, she thought happily.
= = =
"Vala, you look amazing!" Sam cried, as she greeted Daniel and Vala on the Sunday.
"Thank you, Samantha," she said, "and you are as beautiful as ever."
"We're not staying long, Sam," Daniel said as he kissed her on the cheek, "Vala..."
"Oh hush, Daniel," Vala said, with a scowl. "He's just fussing, as always."
"I'm not fussing," Daniel protested, "you can't tell me your back isn't real sore right now."
"It's just a bit of backache," Vala waved her hand dismissively. "I didn't want to miss the party. Anyway," she smiled conspiratorially at him. "We have news for everybody, don't we?"
Daniel grinned back. "Not yet," he said, and kissed her. "We'll stay for a couple of hours, tops, deal?"
"Deal!" Vala smiled back at him.
"News?" Sam asked, curiously.
"Soon," Vala promised. "Once everybody's together."
= = =
"You got married?" Cassie asked, incredulously, looking from Vala to Daniel and back to Vala again. She could see from their expressions that they were serious.
"I'm sorry, guys," Daniel was apologetic. "We were gonna wait, have a big celebration, with everybody there. But then Vala decided....."
"We decided," Vala corrected him.
"That's true. We decided that we wanted everything to be legal before the baby was born. Just in case. It just makes life simpler, in case something happens to one of us. So we got married on Friday. We're gonna have a church blessing later, once this one," he pointed to Vala's belly, "has put in an appearance. And you're all invited to that. You all have to be there for that." Daniel was talking even faster than usual.
"That's wonderful news," Sam hugged first Daniel, and then Vala. "How does it feel to be Mrs Jackson?" she teased Vala.
"It's great," Vala's smiled was wide, "I didn't think I'd feel any different, but somehow I do. And now," she grinned, "now I can be a nagging wife!"
"You can nag me all you want," Daniel slid an arm round her. "Just don't expect me to join you when you want to shop for soft-furnishings."
Vala smiled again.
= = =
"Five weeks to go?" Sam asked Vala, later that afternoon, after everybody had eaten and settled on chairs in their large garden.
"Yeah," Vala said tiredly. "Honestly Sam, I've just about had enough of it by now. Up to now, it's all been fine, but my back has really been killing me, especially in the last few days."
"Want me to give you a massage?" Sam offered. "Janet swears that it helps her when her back goes into spasm."
Vala looked at her gratefully. "Would you really do that?" she asked. "Daniel tries, but he just hasn't got the knack."
"Of course," Sam smiled, standing up and holding a hand out to Vala. "We'll go inside, you can lie down on the spare bed, let's see if we can't do something to help."
Vala shot her a grateful look. She stood up and took a step forward, when she suddenly cried out in pain, grasping her belly. "Oh God," she panted.
"Vala?" Sam asked, concerned. "Janet!" she called urgently, "need some help here." She reached out and took Vala's hand, noticing that the kooky alien was sweating and struggling to pull herself together. Daniel was already at his wife's side, having heard her call out from across the garden.
"Sorry," Vala whispered, "must be Braxton Hicks. It's been happening for a few days now. I'll be okay in a few minutes, I just need to.... ah!" she cried out again, and looked aghast as warm fluid poured down her legs.
At that moment, Janet appeared at her side. "It's not Braxton Hicks, honey," she told Vala in a gentle voice. "Your waters just broke. This is the real thing. Your baby's decided he wants to join the party. That's not backache you've been having Vala, my guess is you've been in labor for the last couple of days. It's okay," she saw Vala's shocked expression. "You'll be okay, Vala, I swear. Both of you. All three of you. Daniel," she instructed Vala's husband, "you and Teal'c help her into the downstairs bedroom. Sam, call the mountain, tell them what's happened, tell them to send a wagon. Cassie, can you get my medical bag from the trunk of the car?"
Cassie nodded, and sprinted toward the car. Annie ran into the house, and took a pile of towels from the closet, spreading about half of them over the bed. By the time Daniel, assisted by Teal'c, got Vala into the bedroom, Janet was in there, and was already snapping on a pair of surgical gloves. Daniel helped Vala lie down on the bed.
"It's okay, Vala," Janet repeated. "I just need to take a good look, check how far along you are. Sam," she asked her lover who was hovering, "help Vala into one of your big shirts, and put a sheet over her knees."
"It's too early," Vala whispered fearfully.
"It's all going to be fine," Janet's tone was both professional and gentle. "Women have been doing this for thousands of years. And we in the medical profession have been getting the dates wrong for just as long." She took Vala's hand reassuringly. "Even if the dates are right, Vala," she said soothingly, "that's still plenty of time to bake a baby. Okay, let's take a look," she said.
Just a couple of moments later, Janet stood up. "Well, Vala, Daniel, it looks like your baby's gonna be born right here, and sooner rather than later.
= = =
The ambulance arrived from the SGC within twenty minutes, but Janet instructed the crew that it was too late to move Vala until the baby was born. Janet banished everybody but Daniel and Sam from the room, and they all gathered in the living room just outside the door.
Less than an hour later, they heard a baby's cry, and just over five minutes after that, a grinning but shaken Sam emerged from the room. "They've got a boy," her voice cracked with emotion. "A beautiful baby boy," tears started to run down her cheeks. "He's a little small, but he's fine. He's perfect."
Cassie stepped forward, and took her parents in her arms, hugging her tightly.
Half an hour later, Vala was transferred to a gurney to take her and the baby to the hospital, "just to check everything," Janet said, though she reassured them all that everybody was "doing just fine".
A smiling Vala was wheeled through the living room, a beaming Daniel by her side. Daniel cradled a sleeping baby in his arms. "Hey everybody," his voice was quiet, "we want you to meet our son. Reuben George Jackson; named after my Dad and General Hammond, who would have been so proud today."
The happy family departed in the ambulance. Sam realized that Janet hadn't emerged from the bedroom, so quietly slipped into the room, while everybody hugged and celebrated the new arrival. Janet was standing by the window, looking out sightlessly into the garden. "Hey," Sam whispered.
Janet turned and looked at Sam; Sam saw the tears that tracked down Janet's face. "Hey," Janet said in reply.
"You did good," Sam said simply, taking Janet in her arms. "Real good."
"He's beautiful," Janet whispered.
"He is," Sam said. "'nother couple of months, that'll be us."
Janet looked up at her lover and smiled. She kissed Sam softly. "Yeah," she said, "it will, won't it?"
"You okay, baby?" Sam asked gently.
"Yeah," Janet said. "I am. That was just...."
"Emotional," Sam supplied.
"Yeah," Janet said again. "The miracle of life. I've seen it so many times, but every time it just seems so.... miraculous," she smiled, knowing she wasn't making too much sense. "They'll be great parents," she added.
"So will we," Sam said.
"You already are," Cassie's voice came from across the room. "Sorry," she said, "didn't mean to intrude. That baby you're carrying," she gestured to Janet's belly, "doesn't know how lucky he is."
"Jan thinks he's gonna be a girl," Sam smiled.
"She might be right, huh?" Cassie said.
"Time will tell," Janet smiled. "Time will tell."