That night, there was a great feast in Nagada, with music and dancing and laughter. If Sha're and Skaara could be returned to them, then surely there wasn't an evil that couldn't be defeated.
"Is Sha're all right?" Kasuf asked Daniel as they took a walk together though the city. "She…has not seemed herself."
He looked down – so it wasn't just his imagination. "Some days I wonder what 'seeming herself' means anymore. But, yes, good father, I have noticed that she's been different lately. More emotional, mostly, and clingy. I assumed it was homesickness and then Skaara, but…I don't know."
Kasuf smiled slightly. "Perhaps there will be another in the family in a season?"
Daniel froze in his tracks, feeling a blush rise to the tips of his ears. "Um…I don't think so, good father." He decided not to elaborate any farther than that.
The older man kept walking. "She was a surprise as well."
Daniel couldn't get the notion out of his head the rest of the night. He and Sha're hadn't been together since her return, so he knew that wasn't what was going on with his wife – but what about the future? He was having trouble picturing their lives on this world. For right now, their trip was still temporary, or at least it was for him. He hadn't officially given his resignation at the SGC, sold his apartment, or said good-bye to his friends. For Sha're, however, he knew that this was supposed to be a permanent return. How could he ask her to leave her family once more, to live on a world where she was apparently so unhappy? She had been through so much already; he had to do what was best for her. He could still keep himself busy for years studying the caves, and could get new information from Earth if he wanted other challenges. He could be happy here, as long as Sha're was happy. Right?
His wife disappeared off with a few of the other women at one point, and so Daniel headed back to their tent alone. After pulling out his journal, he began making a record of the day and his thoughts – in Russian, so that Sha're could never read it. He didn't hear footsteps approaching, or the quiet giggles and whispers outside. His eyes only finally lifted from the book in his hands when he realized that someone had come in through the curtain. And then he was stunned speechless.
Sha're smiled shyly, her face obscured somewhat by a red veil. She was wearing the same dress she had the night that they'd met, the night that her father gave her to him as a gift, believing he was a messenger of Ra.
"Sha're, what is this?" Daniel asked when he was finally able to use his tongue again. She looked even more beautiful to him now than she had before.
"A gift," she said as she pulled back the veil. Her hands didn't shake nearly as badly as the first time, but she was still nervous. In the months since her return, he'd never asked for this, never wanted more than to simply be able to hold her in his arms as they fell asleep. Would he still find her desirable? He had said many times that he still loved her, but this would be the test.
Daniel got up, knowing what was coming next and stopping her before it got that far. Sha're's heart sank. "You do not want me," she deduced, turning away from him.
"I do, more than anything," he corrected her. "But it isn't about me. I've been patient, and I can continue to do so. Are you really ready for this?"
She leaned forward to kiss him. "I love you, Dan'iel. This is what I want."
"You're sure?" he felt obligated to ask again, but didn't receive a response as her lips met his.
When Daniel awoke in the morning, Sha're was already up and had fixed breakfast. "Good morning, my husband," she told him as she put down their bowls on a little table. He smiled.
"Morning. Come here, you." She giggled as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back into bed.
"Dan'iel, we must prepare for the day."
"Later," he promised before kissing her. Sha're indulged him for a moment, but eventually started to pull away.
"Father said he wanted to speak with you this morning."
"Right this second?"
"No, but we should eat first and dress."
"Well, I wouldn't mind skipping breakfast."
Sha're smiled. "You forget how busy your day will be, my husband."
Daniel groaned slightly. "All right…How about we watch the sunset tonight from the dunes?"
"I will look forward to that."
He smiled, murmuring, "Good," before leaning forward to kiss her once more. Before Sha're could chastise him again, they could hear her brother's voice from outside.
"Sha're, Father is looking for Dan'iel…Should I tell him you are still 'sleeping'?"
She rolled her eyes at Skaara's antics. "Not unless you wish to walk with a limp," she responded, making her husband laugh.
"Gotta love your family," he whispered.
TBC...
