The Relationship: The Wedding by John O'Connor Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. Rating: PG-13. United States Air Force Academy Chapel, five years after Sam and Janet broke off their affair... Jack O'Neill stood back and looked the bride over. She was radiant! Even more beautiful than when they had been married. "Janet, you look fantastic!" And she did in the specially designed gown. Jack had spent a small fortune on it but he didn't regret on dime of it. Janet blushed, "Thank you, Jack. I'm so glad you talked me into a big wedding. And all your help too. Without you and the rest of the gang, I don't know if we'd be here today." "Hey, I owed you. When we got married it was a justice of the peace and you didn't get that big wedding every girl wants," Jack said. "General O'Neill, you've gone soft in your old age," Janet laughed. "By the way, you look very handsome in your dress tux. Those stars look good on your shoulders." "Yeah, well, they weigh a ton!" Jack groused. He found out quickly how difficult a job George Hammond had before he was promoted and was sent to the Pentagon. "There are days I wish George had picked someone else to take over for him. But then there are days like this... Did I tell you how honored I am to be allowed to give the bride away?" Placing a hand on his arm, Janet said, "Yes, many times. And I'll repeat what I told you too. There is no one else I'd rather have escort me. "We've been through some interesting times, Jack. All of us. But none of it ever scared me as much as this does..." Jack hugged her and whispered, "Regrets?" "Some," Janet admitted. "I never thought I could love again after Sam and I..." "I know," Jack said, nodding in understanding. "But that was the past, and we all grew and I learned to ignore past pain and grab what it is that I really want. Now, though, I'm just scared. But it's a good kind of scared," the bride-to-be said. Jack smiled again, "You know, it's not too late to run screaming from here..." "Not on your life! This is going to be a beautiful day and I am going to remember every moment, including this swarm of butterflies in my stomach!" Janet declared. Just then, Cassie, in a bridesmaid gown, walked in. "Are you two ready? Everyone is getting pretty antsy out there. Daniel's so nervous, he's gone to the bathroom twice!" Janet laughed and Jack said, "Tell him if he wets that tux...Ah never mind, I should've bought him some Depends or something..." Then glancing at Janet, he asked, "Well? Ready?" "Let's see: old, new, borrowed, blue," she recited like a checklist. Satisfied, Janet nodded and said, "Now or never!" "Go on, Cass. Tell them we're on our way," Jack gently pushed her towards the door. "May I be the first to kiss the bride?" Jack asked. When Janet nodded, he hugged her and kissed her cheek. "I want you to be happy." Helping her with her veil, he then led his friend and ex-wife towards the same door Cassie had just exited. As he opened it, they heard the strains of "The Wedding March" from the chapel's organ. Jack led her to the end of the aisle and they waited. Janet looked around, seeing almost everyone from the SGC and the Academy Hospital in attendance. She smiled when she saw Lieutenant General George Hammond sitting in one of the forward rows. "He made it!" she whispered to Jack in delight. "Of course! You don't think he'd miss this, do you?" Jack asked. And with a nod to their left, he said, "Hey, they're here!" Janet looked over and smiled happily. Her heart even skipped a beat! There was her love, the person she was going to marry and be with for the rest of her life. Standing there on Jacob Carter's arm, was Samantha Carter. She was gorgeous in another designer wedding gown. Through her veil, she was beaming, her face almost splitting in two in her happiness. "Jacob." "Jack." The two men acknowledged each other just before the music hit their cue and the four of them proceeded down the aisle. At the head of the aisle, the minister and Cassandra Fraiser waited. Cassie had the singular honor of being Maid of Honor for both of her mothers. At the base of the altar, Jack lifted Janet's veil and kissed her on the cheek. Jacob did the same with his daughter. Then the two men stepped back and retreated to their designated pew. "Never thought I'd see the day..." Jacob whispered to Jack as they stepped down. "Yeah, but aren't they a cute couple?" Jacob smiled in agreement and shook Jack's hand before they sat down. They sat next to Teal'C, looking uncomfortable in a traditional tuxedo and a fidgeting Daniel Jackson, also in the traditional tux. The minister, an Air Force chaplain, smiled at the two women in front of him and began the ceremony, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here on a very special day for two very special friends. It's also a day for the history books. This will be the first gay wedding ever performed by and for military personnel. And it's an honor for me to officiate at this celebration. Thank you, ladies." He gave a brief nod to the two women in white. "And now, if you will all rise..." The ceremony proceeded as most weddings do. The prayers, offerings, blessings, and then the vows. Both Sam and Janet loudly proclaimed "I do!" when it was their turn. Then the minister looked out to the crowd and said, "The ladies, having exchanged traditional vows, wish to give each other very personnal vows of love and fidelity. Ladies..." Sam took Janet's hands in hers and began, "Janet, ever since we met, I knew we were destined to be close. At first, I was happy to call you friend. But in our years together, I have been delighted when our friendship blossomed into the love we share. Janet, you are my colleague, my confidante, my partner, my lover, and my best friend. You captured my heart and I give it to you willingly. I will cherish, protect, and embrace our love as I will cherish and embrace you. You are my love, my life, my all. Thank you for being my wife." "Sam," Janet began after a moment. "When I first met you, you were brash, arrogant, intelligent, funny, responsible, reckless, and I soon realized that those were only the most obvious of your qualities. As we worked side by side, and as you helped me raise Cassie, I found another facet to you. The caring, loving, nurturing side. And once I discovered that, I knew you were the only one I could ever love. You complete me in a way few could understand. I will always love you and I am proud and honored to call you wife. I look forward to a long life as your loving wife." As eyes were dabbed with tissue and handkerchiefs, the rings were blessed and then exchanged. Each gave the other a simple gold band. They didn't need more than that to proclaim their love. Finally, the chaplain said, "And so, by the power invested in me by God, the Father almighty, the United States Air Force, and the State of Colorado, I now pronounce you..." He paused with a wry grin, "I now pronounce you wife and wife." Looking back and forth between Sam and Janet, he said, "You may now kiss the bride." As the women kissed, Jack gave out a loud whistle and began to applaud. The applause spread as every celebrant rose to their feet, clapping Holding his hands up for a brief respite, the minister said, "Please ladies and gentlemen! Please! Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, at this historic moment, it is my distinct privilege and honor to introduce for the first time anywhere Janet Fraiser-Carter and Samantha Carter-Fraiser." As the two women turned, hand in hand and smiling, to bow to the congregation, pandemonium filled the chapel and the loudest of them all was Jack O'Neill. (c) John O'ConnerComments May Be Mailed Here