Chapter 9
Sam sat eating a bowl of cereal with a bridal magazine open on the table. It was an old magazine that she had gotten a few years back, just for the fun of it. Now her the feelings that welled inside from the pictures were very different. She and Jack would be having a simple, small, casual wedding. Just them and a judge. She smiled fondly at a page she had dog-eared. She had noted the dress as one of her favorites; simple with some beading along the bodice, strapless and long.
She wasn't fussy about these kind of things, but a girl's wedding day is what she dreams about forever, right? Was it wrong to still want all the details she had aspired? She wondered if she should have even said as much as she had last night to Jack over the phone.
"So, any ideas about when you want to get married?" Jack asked, grinning.
"Well…actually…"Sam hesitated.
"What's the matter, Sam?" Jack asked quickly.
"I'm just not so sure about eloping anymore." She confessed. He didn't respond, so she continued. "I mean, marriage is supposed to be two lives joining, and it's not going to feel like that if we're both hiding the fact that we're married."
"You're right. I shouldn't have suggested it." Jack said.
"No! Jack, I still want to marry you, and that's the only way it will work. Its just something we're going to have to live with for now."
The conversation had turned away from their wedding there, but Sam still wished she hadn't voiced her true feelings. She would find a weekend she was free and give the date to Jack. It still wouldn't seem real; eloping…
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"They're getting closer, we've got to do something." Sam sighed, watching the Mega-ship on the screen.
"Yeah well, a bunch of Ori against us puny humans doesn't look good." Cam added.
Vala twirled a bit of her hair around her finger thoughtfully. Now was probably the time to speak up.
"We can beam up there or something, right?" She asked.
"Well…yeah, but I'm not so sure that we're going to be able to talk any sense into them…" Daniel turned toward her.
"You might not be able to…But Tomin's there, and I think I have an idea." Vala told them.
They all stared at her like she had gone berserk. "I'm quite serious. I'd like to talk to Tomin."
"And you really think that you have a chance at changing his mind?" Sam asked.
"Yup." Vala smiled confidently.
"Ok…I'll pass it by General Landry. Let's meet in the gate room in 30 minutes." Sam suggest, giving them a skeptical look as she rose to get ready.
HALF AN HOUR later they were all fully geared in the gate room, and boarded a ship to take them alongside the Ori Mother Ship. Vala slept until they got there, carelessly laying across one of the benches in the back. They prodded her away when they were near enough.
"Ok, we're going to have to use the ring technology to get you on board. It would probably be a good idea to open communication waves with them first, and tell them that you're coming." Daniel explained.
"Nah, I like the tactic of surprise." Vala said decidedly, and stood beneath the rings.
Daniel and Sam exchanged frustrated glances, and then beamed her on.
"Do you think she stands a chance?" Cam asked, sitting with his elbows on his knees.
"Nope." Sam and Daniel replied at the same time. Teal'c just nodded in agreement, and then closed his eyes in meditation.
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Tara sat in her room sketching with her headphones on, listening to her favorite music. It was good to have time to work on projects that she felt like doing, instead of having to complete her school projects. A loud tumult from downstairs caused her to turn her volume up, so that she could continue in peace, but Sawyer was soon behind her, knocking her headphones off.
"What was that for?" Tara spun around, giving her brother a menacing glare.
Sawyer backed off with his hands up in surrender. "The crowds here to go skiing. Come on, you've been in here forever, you need to get out and have some fun."
"I think our ideas of fun are a little different." She informed him, but put down her sketchbook nonetheless and followed. A group of young people was gathered in the foyer, but were directed back outside so they could don their ski gear.
Tara's friends were all busy or away, so she followed silently behind, balancing her skis over her shoulder. It felt good to be out in the fresh air, but she had an overwhelming sense of loneliness still. The resort was crowded with people for the holidays, and the group of family friends quickly went off in their own directions, some skiing on various hills, other skiing, some snowboarded, and the non-athletic ones opting to sit in the main lodge, drinking hot chocolate around the fire place.
Tara chose a medium hill to ski on. She wasn't a black-diamond type of person, and enjoyed the repetitive swoosh of the wind in her ears, and the feeling of gliding, and control as she steered, and watching the other skiers as she rode back up to the top.
By the time night had fallen and the bright lights were guiding the customers, Tara was cold, and ready to head back home. Perhaps there would be an interesting movie on TV, or her mom would feel like going out and doing something.
Inside the main lodge, she sat changing her boots when a masculine voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Doing anything tonight?" She looked up to see Daniel standing casually watching her. His was wearing his coat, and stood with his hands in his jean pockets.
"Daniel! I didn't expect to see you here." She admitted.
"Sawyer invited me, but I'm not really much of a skier. We're throwing a small New Years party at Cam's house. Would you like to come?" he asked.
Tara stood up, now wearing her sneakers, and considered the proposal. It could be incredibly boring and uncomfortable, or she could have a blast, and be glad she went.
"Well…I didn't really have any other plans…I guess." She shrugged. "I just need to drop my stuff of at the house. Join me?" She offered. He nodded and fell in step behind her.
