Title: Christmas Gifts
Rating: G
Pairing: Joyce/Jacob; FFA #305
Disclaimer: I don't own BtVS; Joss does. I don't own Stargate either.
Summary: Arguments can sever ties so completely that they may never be renewed. And attempts, even during the holiday season, can backfire. Really, really badly.
"Why are you here?" Her manner was hostile; her attitude was colder than a glacier. Anise was friendlier than she was at that moment.
"It's been a while," he allowed.
"Twenty years is not 'a while.' It's two decades, Jacob!"
"I thought I should give you your Christmas present?" If looks could kill, he'd be beyond what Sel'mac could revive.
"Out."
"I'm not actually in your house so you can't order me out." I like her, Sel'mac laughed.
"My daughter will be home in a minute. I do not want her to see her mother losing her temper."
His jaw dropped. "D-d-d-daughter?"
As if on cue, two girls rushed up the driveway. "Hey Mom, old guy." The blonde looked like a more feminine version of his Sammy.
"Hey Mrs. S, older-than-G-Man-and-not-as-sexy." The brunette flashed a smirk as she followed her friend before both stood still.
"Mom, what's with the weird snake thingy inside your friend?"
"I don't know. Maybe he'd care to enlighten us?" She was glaring and he suddenly remembered who Sammy had learned that glare of hers from.
"It's a long story?" he offered lamely. Now all three of the Tau'ri women are glaring, Sel'mac noted.
"Don't give me that, Jacob Carter," Joyce snarled. She held open the door in a silent invitation.
Once inside, he shrugged. "I don't know what to say."
I am a Tok'ra called Sel'mac, his symbiote spoke up oh-so-helpfully. Your people call me an alien. Jacob is my host.
"You're an alien?!" All three shouted in unison.
"Could you learn the meaning of top secret?" Jacob groaned.
Your other daughter knows. It's only fair your oldest does as well. She spoke this too out loud.
"Your oldest?" The two girls looked confused as they spoke in unison.
"Faith, Buffy," Joyce's smile was strained, "give me a few minutes before you demand an explanation. I need to talk to Jacob first."
Once the two girls left, he stared incredulously at his daughter. "Please tell me Faith is the blonde one. Please tell me no daughter of mine named my first grandchild 'Buffy!' It sounds like something one would name a dog."
"No daughter of yours named their daughter Buffy," she snapped. "Because, in case you haven't recalled, I left. I left and swore I'd never come back. In fact, I seem to remember that you were quite happy to assist me in leaving."
"It was a bad time for all of us," he sighed. "Besides, how many times do I have to apologize?"
"Tell me this," she hissed. She does not acknowledge his understatement; her mother's death does not excuse his throwing her out. "What does Sam think happened to me?" She didn't ask what Mark thought; she knew her father well enough to know that Mark believed her to be dead.
"If you really wanted to 'be rid of this entire Godforsaken family' then she couldn't know that you were still alive."
"Fine." She stared at her father. "Then take your alien symbiote, and whatever security code I'm certain it violated when it opened /your/ mouth, and leave. Tell yourself what you told your son and daughter. Forget you have a granddaughter who has your sense of humor and her grandmother's smile. Just leave and never come back."
"Joycie…"
"You told me that you were giving me a Christmas present. Then let this be my Christmas present."
"Take these pictures first," he pleaded.
She accepted them and then pointed to the door. "Leave, Jacob."
"Merry Christmas." As he shut the door, she could hear his quiet, "I love you, little girl."
Her eyes watered as she remembered their tradition. "I love you, daddy. That's what I'm supposed to say…But the question of the day is, Do I really?"
A/N: Well…Tell me what you think!