A Hallmark Moment

by Elizabeth Carter

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ase/ecarter/hallmark.php
Summary: It's Cassandra's 1st mother's day on earth and she finds out how special it can become

Cassandra listened to the kids at school talk about the upcoming mini-holiday. She listened to the teacher who gave an assignment in art class to make Mother's day card and all with keen if not hesitant interest. It was apparent that everyone knew that Mother's day was. There were commercials on TV, even as Cassandra would have her allotted hours on the internet to help her with homework research or talk for an hour with her friends in a parent-approved scholastic chat room she saw ads for the day.

Most of the ads she saw had something to do with FTD flowers. Cards from Hallmark and Shoebox greetings all hyped Mother's day. The stores were filled with soft pastel pink colors as if mothers were made out of soft pink hues. Hanka didn't have a Mother's Day, though they had a Parents Day, which the young girl surmised must be similar.

It was funny Cassandra thought it was a year now since she had been an official resident on Earth. She loved Christmas and Halloween of which she went as a dentist as that was the second scarcest thing she could think of, as even a vampire wasn't as scary as a Goa'uld. She liked to see Sam and Janet all cuddly on Valentines Day she thought them cute. There were a handful of holidays indigenes to America that neither Sam nor Janet paid much attention too save for Memorial and Veterans days. On those days both Sam and Janet out of habit from their own youths from their fathers flew not only the American flag but also the USAF flag. Last year when Independent's Day rolled around Sam and Janet both admitted the only cool thing about the day even as kids was the out door barbeques and the fireworks. Because half her family was from England Sam snickered as she sang "God Save The Queen" instead of the States' choice anthem. Of course she said she might have to duck and cover afterwards. But the Fourth of July was fireworks, hotdogs, hamburgers and ice-cream and a swim on the lake where the cabin was. Since the SGC came patriotism started to have a new definition. Patriotism was now for Earth.

Now a year had passed and Cassandra started of thinking of her life with Janet with a little more serious note. She loved Janet just as Sam had said she would. Janet nursed her back to health when she had the flu. Cuddled her during her nightmares. Soothed her fears and her uncertainness. Helped her make friends with the neighborhood kids. Taught her how to ride a horse and go rollerblading. And made special Saturday meals when Sam came over to play chess. Granted Sam came over a lot but every other Saturday when Sam was home they played chess. Janet had come to mean a lot to Cassandra.

As did Sam. Sam was the first 'mom-like' person she loved. Sam was her hero. Sam was everything Cassandra wanted to be when she grew up. Sam taught her how to fight off the bullies at school with wit and if needs be a few quick foot-sweeps. Sam taught her how to ride a swing and a bicycle and a small Yamaha dirt bike much to Janet's unrest. Sam helped out with all her math classes and science that wasn't biology, which of course Janet took over then.

Cassandra loved them both. And after a year she couldn't imagine a life without them. Nor did she want to. They had become everything to her. The child blinked thinking. They had become everything. They had become her mothers.

~*~*~*

Jack was lounging on is sofa feeling proud of himself he actually was able to get his flowers of to his mom on time this year and he would be able to give her a call as well. That's when his own phone began to ring.

"Yeah?"

"Uncle Jack?" Cassie said as she twisted the cord around her fingers. "It's Cassandra.'

"Munchkin what's up?"

"I need you're help." Cassie said in an uncertain whisper.

Jack having had been a father to a ten year old recognized the 'I want something but don't know how to ask you' tone. "Hey if I can help I sure will Sweetie, what's up?"

"I um...need to go to the mall but Janet and Sam can't know right now...its for tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Mother's day. I wasn't to do something for them." Cassie whispered over the receiver

"Oh. Oh! Sure okay. I'll be over soon. Tell your...er...moms...that you and I are going to have an Uncle Jack day okay?"

"Sam's not here, but Janet is here."

~*~*~*~*~

Sam knelt beside a marble monument. A small sad smile upon her lips as she placed a thick bouquet of flowers. Rebecca Carter loved almost all flowers of all colors. Though her favored was the English rose. And so the flowers she brought to her mother's grave consisted of the English rose.

"Mum." Sam said softly. "Boy I sure miss you on days like this. My world centered around you, you know. It always had you gave me everything. My love of the sciences...philosophy. I know one of your greater wishes for me was for me to be happy. It took me fifteen years after you died for me find it but I did.

"Mum...I fell in love. God she captured my heart Mum. Yeah I am...well gay. Her name is Janet Fraiser. She's in the military like me and she's a doctor of medicine. Mum you'd love her. She's perfection. Smart, warm a wicked since of humor that most never see." Sam blushed and whispered. "We have this silly thing we do...Minnie and Turylin...don't ask how it got started it just did. We do theses voices...and giggle incessantly like little girls at a slumber party." Sam smiled gently.

"Specking of little girls. I rescued a refugee about a year ago. She was just a little bit of a thing...lost her parents were killed...murdered actually. I think I understand with it means now when parents fall in love with their kids. She had such a warm heart..." The tall blonde chuckled. "Right her name. At first she would tell it to me, but its Cassandra. And she's little sweetheart. And I love her. I can't keep her because of my work. But Janet took her in and I can see her when I am...home. Home. I live in my house but home is with my Janet and Cassandra."

Sam touched the headstone. "Mum I think you'd adore Cassie. She's so smart. You know with her hair coloring she rally could be Janet's daughter. Janet just adores her. I cried when she said she'd take Cassie. I wasn't a bit surprised however when Jan decided to keep her for herself. Ya I know you and I talked about little girl fantasies with a house on a lake with a passel of grandkids you could spoil. But...I guess that's up to Mark now. But if I were to have a child...a girl...I'd probably name her after you Mum. I miss you so much." She sighed. "I love you Mummy."

*~*~*~*~

"Mom!" Janet chirped happily over the phone. "Happy Mother's day."

"Jan honey." Kate Fraiser answered warmly. "Thank you. I got the bouquet you sent me. Your sister-and-laws and I are going to the spa in an hour. Thank you for that. It must have cost you a pretty penny."

"Mom...I get hazard pay it's fine, don't worry about it. Moms should be pampered every so often." The petite doctor snickered. "I can't take you out so it's left up Christen and Jessie to do it for me."

"I'll be thinking of you the whole day as they cater to my every wish." The older Fraiser said. "Soooo tell me Jan what is it with you and Sam, that tall blue eyed blonde your dating?"

"Oh...um...Sam..." Janet took a breath. "Mom...we're good."

"Tell me more about her."

"Her!" Janet had yet to tell her mother the truth of Sam.

"Oh Honey, you didn't think I didn't know Sam was short for Samuel did you?"

"I...ah...well..." Janet let out a breath again. "Samantha. Actually she and I are great, right now she's out."

"Spending some quality mom time?"

"Well her mom as killed when she was fourteen...in a car accident. Right now she's at the cemetery."

"Oh...I am sorry to hear that." Kate said softly. She had heard so much about Sam from Janet that she felt she already knew the woman. The only thing her eldest child left out was the gender of her lover. Kate always had an idea her daughter 'played for the other team.' She also knew the three year marriage to Richard had been cover, something to hind behind for the world and for Janet herself. The best thing that ever happened to Janet was her divorce. Until little Cassandra came into her life.

"So how's Cassie."

"She's good. Though she's out as well spending time with 'Uncle' Jack. They're out at the mall."

"You know honey I just want to tell you how wonderful I think it was of you to take her in like you did. You have a heart like a marshmallow under all that Napoleonic power."

"Hey I am taller then you are!" Janet retorted.

"By an inch Honey that doesn't measure up to much."

"Details, details." Janet laughed.

"Seriously Jan, you have to stop protecting me from the world and your life. Because next year I expect a mother's day card from a tall blonde airforce officer. Got that?"

"Yes Ma'am." Janet smiled widely. "I think Sam would love that. Days like this are very hard on her."

There was a small silence on the phone. Then the dove set tones of Kate Fraiser said warmly: "Then it is up to me to be her mom. You're not the only healer in the family Janet."

"Oh Mom, I love you."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sam arrived in the driveway at the same time Jack pulled up in his large black Ranger pickup.

Cassie came tarring out of the passenger side with a large smile. "Sam! Sam! Sam you're here!" She bolted and leapt into the tall young woman's awaiting arms. By the impact of Cassie's leap Sam nearly lost her footing but quickly regained her holding.

"Hey there kiddo." Sam nuzzled the child that was so dear to he heart. "You know your getting a little big for this." Sam let the girl back down to earth. She ruffled the strawberry blond locks. "I'd say in three years you'll be taller then Janet."

"That's not hard to do." Cassie chuckled. "She's little for an adult."

"Don't you let her hear you say that Munchkin." Jack balanced on the balls of his heals. Then he held his hands out as it measure the space between them. "I gotta tell you she had theses really big needles..." He gave a mock wince. "And she really jabs it in there."

'That's only because you hit on her girlfriend.' Cassandra wanted to say. At thirteen she was just starting to notice the intricacies of relationships. Though to the girl the thought of 'swapping spit' with a boy was still gross.

"So where'd you go with 'Uncle Jack'?" Sam asked warmly her eyes twinkling.

"We went to the mall."

"You went to the mall with a teenage girl, sir?"

"You know me Carter a glutton for punishment." The silver haired man shrugged

"I licked him at Mortal Combat 4, Sam."

"Yeah well I never played that version I told you."

"You totally lost..." Cassie beamed.

"It doesn't help that you have Carter to practice with all the time."

Sam giggled. "You used the combinations I showed you."

"Yah and I so kicked his butt. He might be able to fly a plan but he's not so good at video games. Well not like you Sam."

"Yeah well you watch out kiddo I am going to get that game for my own X-Box and I'll bet you next time."

"No you wont." Cassandra said with the smugness that comes with teenagers. "Cuz' I'll be practicing with Sam and I'll still win."

Jack ruffled her hair. "Promises, promises. Your on next time we have an Uncle Jack day, you are so going back to that arcade and we'll see who wins."

Cassie was beaming.

"Well I have to scoot. I have to make sure Sara's okay."

Sam nodded knowing that Jack was tentatively rebuilding at least a bridge of friendship with his astringed wife, since the incident with the Crestline entities that had taken on the form of Jack then their son Charlie. "Send her our best." Sam smiled warmly. Today would be hard on the former Mrs. O'Neill as it had been on Sam herself.

"Will do. See you around Munchkin and I am serious I want a rematch." Jack hugged his "niece" then headed for his truck.

He was already gone by the time Janet had said goodbye to her mother on the phone and came out to see what all the commotion was about.

"Hey Sweety." Janet greeted her 'ward'. "did you have a good time with Colonel O'Neill?"

"Yeah." Cassie smiled. "He's kinda like a big kid even if he's way old."

The two women chuckled.

"Sooooo share what'd get." Sam said sounding like a large kid herself, trying to take a peek in the sacks Cassie was carrying.

Cassie bit her lower lip. "I'll show you guys in the house.' She slipped a very nervous smile.

Once inside Cassie escorted them to the large living room of the renovated ranch home. She had both women sit on the comfortable sienna velveteen sofa. "Um...I know today is special for mothers. And...and well I wanted to do something for you guys today since...well you're my new family....and um...well...here."

Cassandra pulled out two identical ebony felt square boxes. That looked suspiciously like necklace cases.

"Honey what is this?" Janet asked amazed. The boxes came from what had to have been very expensive jewelers.

"Well I gave Uncle Jack my allowance money and my birthday money and he said he'd hold it for me because the store wanted plastic."

Both women looked at woman other then opened up their cases in synchronized manor.

"Cassandra!" Both uttered in the same breath.

Within each box was a heart shaped pendent. Shaking hands took hold of the gold chain then looked up t the bright blue-hazel eyes of the angel before them.

"Open them up they're lockets."

The women stunned did as they were asked. In side each of the lockets was a picture of Cassie being held by the recipient of the locket. On the other side of the heart inscribe with delicate hand were the words:

"I love you Mum" which belonged to Sam

"I love you Mom" belonged to Janet.

"Oh Cassandra.' Both woman chorused then in the same precision they took hold of the young girl into their arms and held her tightly letting the tears of pure joy and happiness stream down their faces.

*~*~*~*~

A day later Sam standing at her locker in the locker room preparing to go off world. She was fully garbed in the olive SG1 uniform when Jack tiptoed up to her.

"Hey Carter what you gat there?" He asked with a knowing smile. As he watched his 2IC pull the golden heart shaped locked from under her black shirt and place it in the protective case.

Her entire face was glowing, as Jack had never seen it. "Something special Cassie gave me yesterday."

Jack clapped her on the back causing her to lurch slightly forward. "Happy Mother's day Carter." He winked and left her to finish getting ready for their mission.