A/N: A little note on Egyptian marriages - as far as scholars can tell, the ceremony itself was very simple, basically an open acknowledgement by both parties that they would be husband and wife from that point forward. I've placed extra emphasis on the importance of the marriage home, because in Sam and Jack's case, that'll be what holds them together when they get back to the SGC. Although there has been some speculation on a wedding procession of sorts, moving the wife's belongings to her husband's home, I don't believe there has been any conclusive evidence to support this. Also, the ceremony itself is believed to have evolved considerably over the course of ancient Egypt's five thousand year history, so what I've represented here is most accurate for middle/new kingdom Egypt. (Women in Ancient Egypt by Gay Robins is a fantastic source for information on daily life in ancient Egypt, including what we know of weddings and marriage, if you're at all interested)
Thank you again for all the amazing reviews and comments, I really appreciate all the feedback! (It helps me write better stories for you guys to read!).
Without further ado...
Teal'c and Daniel retreated back to the cabin shortly after the kissing resumed, setting to work on the necessary preparations for the rest of the day's events. Although Daniel hadn't exaggerated when he'd told Sam that the whole ceremony would be very simple, he still wanted to make sure the day was perfect for her.
With Teal'c's help, Daniel began reorganizing Jack's cabin to accommodate all of Sam's new things. They mounted three small shelves to the wall above the couch, carefully arranging the few books Sam had brought with her along with a few of their own purchases. Fresh throw cushions and a soft knit blanket were added to the couch itself, then on to the kitchen they moved, stocking the shelves with Sam's favourite tea, a new kettle and teapot, and a handful of snack foods they knew Jack wouldn't recognize as anything edible. On the table they placed a simple cotton tablecloth in red, orange and yellow, a thin crystal vase at the centre with a bouquet of silk roses in the same hues as the cloth below.
They had just moved on to the master bedroom when Jack came in.
"How's it going?," he asked casually, casting a suspicious glance around his room.
"We are nearly done, O'Neill," Teal'c replied, removing a stack of Jack's spare clothing from one of the dresser drawers to make room for Sam's things.
"Hey, what are you doing with all that?," he demanded, moving to intercept.
"There is insufficient space in this unit, O'Neill. Colonel Carter will require multiple drawers for her belongings."
Jack's eyes widened in disbelief. "Ohfercryin'out loud!," he grumbled. "How much stuff did you guys buy, anyway?"
Teal'c and Daniel exchanged glances. "It's not just what we bought, Jack," Daniel defended. "You don't seriously expect your wife to live out of a suitcase every time she comes home, do you?" Jack scowled at them.
"Make sure there's some room left over for me too, eh?," he growled.
"Shouldn't you be outside wooing Sam?," Daniel asked pointedly, opening the rest of the drawers to re-arrange their contents.
Jack shifted uncomfortably. "O'Neill, have you and Colonel Carter decided against this union?," Teal'c asked in concern.
"Nope, nothing like that, T. She said it was bad luck to see the bride on her wedding day." Jack shrugged. Daniel smirked.
"I do not understand, O'Neill. You have already seen Colonel Carter today."
Daniel snorted. "It's more likely she wanted him to save his energy for after the ceremony," he explained, still smirking.
"I see," said Teal'c. Jack rolled his eyes.
"Give me a break! There's still plenty of energy to go around," declared the older man, somehow managing to look wounded while glaring daggers at his friends. "Besides, this whole marriage thing is a lot to take in. She probably just needs a little time alone. To adjust."
"What about you? How are you holding up?," Daniel asked, refolding a stack of clothing to see if it would fit better that way.
"Me? I'm fine. Great, even."
Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "On the day of my union to Dray'auc, I was extremely ill at ease," he stated. Daniel shot him a curious look.
"Yes, well, this isn't exactly my first marriage," retorted Jack. "What's there to be nervous about?"
Teal'c and Daniel exchanged glances. "Have a seat, Jack," Daniel said, motioning towards the bed. Jack frowned, but did as told.
"Really, guys. I'm fine," he repeated.
"Uh-huh," Daniel said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And I'm the Dali Lama."
"You could be, with that whole multiple-ascension thing you've got going on," Jack retorted. Daniel ignored the comment.
"It's a big step, Jack," he reminded.
"I know, Daniel! Like I've said before, this isn't my first marriage!"
"But it's Sam's first. And it's your first with Sam."
"What's your point?"
"A wise Jaffa once said that to enter one's marriage calmly was enter as a fool."
"Thank you, Teal'c. And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Are you sure you've thought this through?," asked Daniel. "I mean, marriage is big. You should be struck with some sense of the enormity..."
"Daniel," Jack interrupted. "It's Sam. I've spent nearly every waking moment either with her or thinking about her for the past eight years. The idea of more doesn't scare me."
Daniel and Teal'c exchanged amused glances. "What?," demanded Jack.
"Oh, nothing," breezed Daniel, shoving another pile of clothing into an already packed drawer. "Just wondering when it's really going to hit you, that's all." Teal'c did his best to hide his own amusement. Jack glowered at them both, getting to his feet.
"Nothing's going to hit me, Daniel. I've never been more sure of anything in my life." Daniel beamed.
"Glad to hear it, Jack. Why don't you go clean yourself up? We'll take care of the rest."
"Fine," snapped Jack. "But nothing leaves this room, understood?," he ordered, eyeing the pile of his favourite fishing clothes stacked homelessly on top of the dresser.
"Whatever you say, Jack," replied Daniel, frowning at another pile on the floor. "We'll manage something."
Jack shaved carefully, making sure he didn't miss a spot, then hopped into the shower for a long, hot soak. He still didn't understand why Daniel and Teal'c had looked so smug as he'd left the room. They usually reserved that sort of behaviour for when he'd done something truly bone-headed, and as far as he could tell, he hadn't. What could possibly be wrong with marrying Sam?
She was young, beautiful, smart, sexy, funny as hell, and appreciated his own warped sense of humour. If anything, she was too good for him. Too young, too beautiful, way, way too smart... Jack lathered more soap absently, rewashing his arms and chest without fully realizing what he was doing.
What could she possibly see in him, anyway? He was old. Really, really old by her standards. And who in their right mind would think he was beautiful? He was an Air Force General, for crying out loud! USAF Generals had never struck him as being overly attractive. Hardened, yes. Bitter, occasionally. Incapable of seeing anything more than two feet beyond their own objectives... always. These were the same men he'd spent his entire career poking fun at. The bone-headed nincompoops who came up with the half-cocked missions that got good people killed.
Not that they were all bad, he eventually conceded with some relief, absently washing his hair for the third time. Hammond had been one hell of a CO. But was he as good as Hammond? Somehow, he didn't think so. He was still so out of his element with this new job...
Somebody knocked on the door. Jack dropped the soap with a clatter, fumbling to retrieve it.
"O'Neill," called Teal'c from the other side of the door. "Do you require assistance?"
"What?!," Jack exclaimed, dropping the soap again. Cursing, he fished it back out of the water pooling over his feet. Crap. Had he washed his feet?
"O'Neill. It is nearly time."
"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute!," Jack called distractedly, quickly washing his legs and feet for the second time.
Grumbling, he emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later clad in only a towel, his hair sticking up at odd angles. Teal'c greeted him with a shadow of amusement, ushering him back to his room to change.
"I've got it, Teal'c," Jack snapped, spotting his new suit on the bed.
"Indeed?," Teal'c asked, a smile quirking at his lips. "Then I shall not inform you of the shampoo currently still in your hair, nor of the wounds which will most certainly stain your new clothing."
"What!?," exclaimed Jack, running back to the mirror in the bathroom. Crap. He was a mess. Groaning, he dropped his towel, stepping back into the shower for round two. Teal'c hovered just outside the still-open bathroom door, eyes carefully averted, saying, "I believe you are now prepared for your marriage, O'Neill."
"That makes one of us," Jack growled. "What could she possibly see in me, anyway?"
Teal'c smiled one of his rare Jaffa smiles. "I believe she sees a strong leader, O'Neill, and a man of great worth."
"In me?," he asked incredulously.
"Indeed," replied Teal'c, unable to keep the smile from reaching his voice.
Deciding the Jaffa probably wouldn't lie to him just to spare his feelings, Jack was somehow able to relax enough to rinse the rest of the soap from his body, quickly toweling dry before heading back to the room to find his clothes.
His hands were so unsteady on the tiny buttons of his good shirt, he had to get Teal'c to help, and even fully dressed, he felt as jumpy as a new recruit, first time on the shooting range.
"I think I'm going to be sick," he confessed as Teal'c led him outside a while later.
"You will be fine, O'Neill," reassured his largest friend. "Of that, I am certain."
"Hey, Sam," said Daniel, casually strolling down the length of the dock towards his lounging friend.
"Is everything ready?," she asked, straightening in her seat and closing her book.
Daniel smiled. "Just about. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute."
"Yeah, of course," she said, motioning to the vacant seat next to hers.
"Let's walk," he said, nodding towards the main road. She shot him a curious look, but he ignored it, falling into step beside her as they headed away from the cabin.
"What's this about, Daniel?," she asked at last, curiosity getting the better of her. "I already know about the birds and the bees, if that's what you're worried about," she joked. He grinned.
"I know this is all kind of sudden," he said, "but I want you to know that we really did put a lot of thought into it," he added.
"I know," she replied softly, nudging his shoulder affectionately with her own.
"We've been careful not to leave any kind of paper trail," he continued seriously. "Everything was paid in cash, and we even put in a brief appearance at a casino to explain our withdrawals if anyone ever asks."
"Daniel, I'm sure you've been as careful as you could be. I'm not worried about getting caught," she said, gently placing a hand on his arm.
"Yes, well, if anyone ever does catch on...we came up with a plan for that, too." She raised an inquisitive eyebrow, but didn't say a word, so he continued. "If anyone ever starts snooping around, asking about our soon-to-be regular visits up here... We're saying the more feminine items are relics from Jack's first marriage, and we'll all be leaving a few odds and ends behind to cover for anything identifiably yours."
"Sounds reasonable," Sam said, nodding. "Though you do understand, if we are ever caught, you and Teal'c will be charged with conspiracy just as quickly as we'll be charged for breaking the frat regs..."
Daniel shrugged. "Teal'c was given diplomatic immunity for his role in forging alliances with between Earth and the free Jaffa, and I have diplomatic immunity in Russia, if it ever comes down to that... Though I really hope it doesn't."
"Me too," she said, looking down at the ground.
"There's something else, Sam," he said quietly, glancing away. She looked over at him, but he refused to meet her gaze.
"If any more personal additions are made," he said vaguely, "I'm your cover." Sam frowned.
"Daniel...?" Daniel blushed a faint shade of pink, still refusing to meet her eyes.
"Ah, what I mean to say is... If you and Jack find yourselves in a family way, before the whole work situation has been resolved...I'm your cover."
"And you're okay with that?," Sam asked, surprised. Daniel chuckled nervously.
"Probably more so than either one of you will be if it comes down to that," he replied, glancing quickly at Sam's face. She gave him a curious look, and he shrugged. "I've never really minded the idea of being a dad, even if it was only in name."
Sam sighed, sensing the truth in his words. "Remind me to find you a new wife when we get back," she answered gently.
"Yes, in all that spare time of yours," he teased.
Sam grinned. "If it means we all get a little piece of happiness, I'll find the time," she vowed. Daniel laughed.
"Don't worry about it, Sam," he answered candidly. "I'm not sure I'm even ready yet."
Sam snaked an arm around his waist, leaning in to him for a hug as they walked. "Then I'll wait. But you deserve a family too, Daniel."
"I already have one," he said, smiling fondly at the top of her head as he returned the embrace with a firm squeeze of his own. "Now, lets get you married!," he teased a moment later, maneuvering a quick turn that nearly toppled them both.
Sam stared at the dress in amazement. It was stunning, a simple daylily-orange halter sheath dress, floor-length and backless, with delicate pleats all around the gossamer-thin skirt. Extra pleats had been added at the back, joining the flared hem to form something reminiscent of a train. The long ties of the halter draped elegantly behind, adding their own pleated grace to the flow of material trailing down to the ground.
"It's perfect," she breathed, fingering the smooth, silky fabric.
"I thought you might like it," replied Daniel with a grin. He'd already changed into a dressier button-down shirt and pale cargo pants, before escorting her, blindfolded, through the house to get changed in the spare room. Teal'c and Jack were nowhere to be seen. "It's not white, but I figured since we weren't really going traditional anyway..."
"No, Daniel, it's perfect," she repeated, obviously meaning it. "Now get out so I can get dressed," she added excitedly, pushing him from the room.
Eyes dutifully closed as she emerged from the room, Sam missed seeing her friend's appreciative look of awe as he caught sight of her in her wedding gown. Gently guiding her hand up to his arm, Daniel slowly led her outside, telling her to open her eyes once they had cleared the entryway.
Jack and Teal'c stood side by side before a backdrop of sun-kissed trees, grass and ferns, talking quietly. They both glanced up as they heard the door close, Jack staring noticeably as he caught sight of his bride. Sam's face lit up in a radiant smile, her large blue eyes sparkling with unrepressed joy as she made her way towards her groom. Jack was, she noticed absently, dressed in a crisp new suit of smoky grey, his pale orange shirt a perfect compliment to the colour of her dress. His warm brown eyes slowly took her in, finally finding their way to her face. He swallowed hard.
"Sam...," he breathed appreciatively, and she laughed. Daniel cleared his throat.
"Oh, right!," Jack exclaimed, turning to Teal'c. The massive warrior, clad in black pants and a silver and black stripped shirt, carefully removed a long jewelry box from his back pocket, handing it to Jack.
"This is for you," he said, gingerly opening the case to reveal a small diamond encrusted eternity pendant. Sam gasped.
"I managed to find one with thirty-nine stones, just like the Stargate," he explained, nervously removing it from the box to fasten it around her neck. Sam giggled.
"It's beautiful," she said, touching the pendant at her throat.
"Do you remember your vows?," Daniel interrupted as he watched the two of them, Jack instinctively reaching for both of Sam's hands. They nodded. "Okay, then," he said with a smile, taking his place beside Sam.
Jack took a deep breath, holding it as he held Sam's gaze, one moment drawing into another before he said, slowly, purposefully, "Samantha Carter, I am your husband, and you are my wife." Sam beamed, flushing slightly under his gaze, and the mesmerizing power of those few simple words.
"Jonathan O'Neill," she declared, "I am your wife, and you are my husband."
Jack's answering grin sent fireworks through Sam's being, and she laughed brightly as he scooped her up into his arms, his chocolate gaze searing into her as he said, "In that case, Mrs. O'Neill, welcome home." And he carried her up to the cabin, carefully pushing his way inside with her cradled to his chest, kissing her senseless as they crossed the threshold into their new life together.
"I think we're going to want to get out of here for a while," Daniel noted as they watched their friends make their way to the cabin.
"Indeed," said Teal'c with the shadow of a knowing grin.
"Dinner out?," Daniel asked, turning to his sole remaining friend.
"Perhaps a movie would be in order as well, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c added sagely.
Daniel nodded slowly. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea, Teal'c."
"In that case, I will drive," replied the large Jaffa, already half-way to the vehicle before Daniel could catch up.
"I wasn't going to fight you on it," Daniel muttered, circling around to the passenger door.
"What are you thinking about?," Jack asked casually, tracing lazy circles along her shoulder and arm with one finger.
"Nothing," Sam answered vaguely.
"No, nothing is what you should be thinking on your honeymoon," Jack said with emphasis. "But that isn't your 'not thinking' face. What's on your mind?"
Sam sighed. The problem with suddenly finding herself married to someone who knew her as well as Jack O'Neill meant that she would never be able to hide anything from him...
"Just something Daniel mentioned earlier," she confessed, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Hmm. Someone else who thinks too much," Jack mused. Sam giggled. "So, are you going to tell me what it is?," Jack pressed lightly, curiosity evident in his voice.
"Part of one of your contingency plans. In case anyone ever catches on to us...," she said.
"Something you don't agree with?," he asked. She shook her head.
"It's not that, really," she replied. "It's just...it has to do with kids," she confessed at last.
"Ah," he said simply. "That one."
"Yeah, that one," she replied.
"So, which part in particular has you in breach of the standard honeymoon code of conduct?," he asked. Sam snorted, trying to hold back a laugh.
"Well, I guess I was wondering if that's something you'd even want, at some point...," she trailed. He grew thoughtful for a moment, his finger still spiraling across her bare skin.
Finally he sighed. "In general, I'd have to say no," he confessed. "Not because I wouldn't want to have children with you, but because I'm just getting too damn old to go through all that again." Sam nodded.
"I chose my career over family a long time ago," she confessed, absently playing with the silvery hair on his chest. "Didn't want anything to stand between me and NASA," she continued.
"Any regrets?"
"Not really, no. This is the life I wanted."
"Still, you're wondering..."
"I'm only four years away from being forty," she admitted quietly. "If we were going to try, I'd rather do it before then."
Jack moved his hand to touch her face, trying to ease the worry growing there. "You know whatever happens," he said at last, "I won't be disappointed." She smiled, reaching up to kiss him.
"That's good to know," she replied, kissing him softly before snuggling in closer to lay her head on his chest.
"Sam?," he asked gently a few minutes later, no longer certain she was still awake.
"Hmm?," she responded contentedly.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too, Jack," she murmured, holding him tight.
"Do you think we should go in?," Daniel asked, his hand resting tentatively on the knob.
"It has been several hours, Daniel Jackson," responded Teal'c.
"Still...They did wait eight years..."
"Daniel Jackson. There is no discernable sound coming from the interior of the cabin. I believe we are safe," replied Teal'c. Daniel narrowed his eyes in suspicion. If he didn't know any better, he'd say the Jaffa was actually mocking him.
Daniel turned the knob slowly, gingerly peeking around the door to get a look inside. All the lights were off, and, as Teal'c had already observed, the place was silent as a tomb. Daniel opened the door the rest of the way, stepping inside with Teal'c close on his heels. Teal'c flipped on the light, momentarily blinding them both. The place was exactly as they'd left it. Daniel was secretly impressed. He hadn't thought Jack would make it much past the door before succumbing to the charms of married life.
"I believe I will retire to the sofa, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said, heading in that direction.
"Yeah, all right. See you in the morning," Daniel replied absently, making his way toward the spare room. It was a little odd, knowing their other two friends were now sharing a room, but at the same time...it was right.
