Moonlight shone on a quiet desert civilization and all were asleep as light lined the horizon. The air was hot and only one was stirring, not yet used to the climate of this alien world. On the edge of the city, Daniel lay sprawled on his back and slick with sweat, his blanket tossed away. He had been counting the pieces of straw in the ceiling before he finally sat up, beads of sweat rolling down his chest. What he wouldn't give for an electric fan.
Then again, if it wasn't the heat keeping him awake, it was the light. Three moons was enough to give off quite a bit of shine in the summer. Each night, they lit every corner of the small room from the fire pit to the low bed where he and his wife lay. She had absolutely no trouble sleeping through these difficulties and Daniel was not shy with voicing his jealousy.
He turned and smiled down at her.
Only a short time had passed since their victory over Ra, an event that marked the beginning of a truly happy time for the people. His people. After this victory, they had unanimously lifted Daniel and Sha'uri into leadership, the chief included. To say Kasuf was eager to step down would be an understatement. He was eager as well to see Daniel rise to the appointment.
From what he could gather, the system was caught somewhere between a democratic council and an oligarchy. Their concept of a leader fell somewhere in the middle. New chief Daniel suddenly found himself at the receiving end of an entire peoples admiration and loyalty, which was taken to a new level when he and Sha'uri made an announcement a few months prior.
Daniel gingerly laid a hand on his wife's rounded stomach. Conceived on the day of their victory, her pregnancy had become a symbol of hope and renewal for everyone. Most thrilled of all was Skaara, who's excitement rivaled Daniel's own, much to Sha'uri's delight.
The months went by and he was flourishing. In this short time, the power couple had turned the city upside down with advancements and most were readily embraced. A voting system was created, school's were under construction and public forums became a monthly occurrence.
Tomorrow was going to be a particularly eventful forum, one that he couldn't get his mind off of. They would be meeting with the scouts that had returned from a three week desert expedition with green foliage and full canteens. With nothing to hold them to the mine any longer, a new home was within their reach!
A small kick brought Daniel out of his reverie and broadened his smile. This little one couldn't come soon enough for him. Tomorrow was a big day and as he rubbed his thumb over the spot, he wondered if it would be a big day for all of them. He hoped it would, as Sha'uri was just about to lose her mind.
Daniel laid back down and kept his hand where it was. He resumed counting the straw in the ceiling, now a bit rosier in the first morning light. Running his other hand through his long, damp hair, he sighed. It didn't seem that sleep was forthcoming, so he gave up and began his day, a day that started with building a fire for breakfast.
He always chuckled at it, the wife's chore, and not something for husbands to do.
A/N:/ A triumphant return to fanfiction not within the Inuyasha verse but within Stargate's. Stargate was the only movie aside from the former to catch my mind and heart enough to write. I hope you enjoy this epilogue as much as I enjoyed crafting it. A wonderful, if brief, yarn to weave.
As always, thanks for reading.