Charleston, SC

Buffy lay on the beach, reading her book while Jay was on his stomach asleep. She looked over her sunglasses to admire his body in its tacky Hawaiian print swim trunks. Smiling softly she reached out a gentle hand to brush sand off of his back and he opened his eyes, "Hey babe."

"Hi husband." Every time she said that it gave her a thrill.

He leaned up to kiss her gently, the pushed to his knees and stretched his very fit and muscular body.

"You are sooo gorgeous." Buffy said quietly, the lust in her voice making Jay smile smugly.

"Thank you but now that we're married you're supposed to say that."

Buffy snorted, and began to gather her things, "Yeah, tell that to the women who swallowed their tongues when you stretched just now."

Jay looked around a little self consciously and noticed he was indeed the object of female attention. "Sheesh, like a fuckin' meat market." He complained, making Buffy giggle.

"Meat…mmmmmm." She said, glancing down at his crotch mischievously.

"Stop it!" Jay hissed, chuckling but getting turned on by his wife's attention.

"Do I haveta?" She whined, letting him pull her up and into his arms.

"Never." He whispered, giving her a sweet kiss.

They were walking back to their rental when Buffy glanced around, "I miss the beach."

"You like the mountains don't you?" he asked, putting away their towels in the trunk.

"I loove the mountains. But I love the beach too." They got into the car and began to head back to the Omni Hotel in the downtown part of Charleston.

"So, when we have leave we come to the beach. Maybe a new one each time?" He looked over and was rewarded by her blinding smile.

"Not every leave, but maybe once in a while." She said with satisfaction, it was like he knew her soul.

"Ok, works for me."

They spent a week and a half exploring Charleston and the low country area of South Carolina, including the beaches. It was relaxing and full of fun and discovery for the newly weds. As they drove to the airport Buffy turned in her seat, "This was so great. Promise me we'll always be as happy as we are right now."

Jay took his right hand off of the steering wheel and took hers, pulling it to his mouth for a kiss. "I promise that we'll always be happy, though I'm sure that we'll fight, and bug each other and forget what the other says, but we'll look at each other and remember that we love each other."

"You're gonna make me cry." Buffy murmured.

Colorado Springs

It was late as they pulled up to the house. Buffy looked at it, wondering what was wrong, when she realized that Giles and Willow had already moved and Dawnie was staying with them.

"It looks lonely." She said, and Jay glanced up, "It looks the same as it always did, but now we are going to fill it with love and all of that mushy stuff."

They unlocked the door and walked in, switching on the lights to find the dining room table full of presents and cards and a banner across the room that said, "Welcome Home".

Jay dropped his luggage and sighed, "Well babe, we're home." He looked over at Buffy and raised his eyebrow, "Go back outside."

"What?"

"Just do it." When she looked at him quizzically, he said, "Please?"

Shrugging she walked back outside and was startled as he moved up quickly behind her and swung her up into his arms, (making her yelp in surprise), then turned back, carrying her over the threshold.

"Welcome Home Mrs. Coburn." And in Jay's arms she felt like she was home.

It was on Monday when the alarm went off and Jay got up, "I have to go to work babe." He said and Buffy suddenly sat up.

"Me too." She said, flipping her hair back off of her face. She jumped out of bed and headed into the bathroom, leaving a very surprised Jay still standing there.

Poking her head back out she frowned, "Jay?"

"What do you mean, 'You too'?" He asked.

"General Hammond hired me, I thought I told you?" She nibbled her lip as she thought back over the past few months and realized guiltily that it hadn't come up.

"Ooops."

Jay grinned slightly, "And what are you going to do?" He was enjoying the guilty look on his new wife's face.

"I'm supposed to be Daniel's bodyguard when he's with other SG teams. It's supposed to make Jack happy and keep Daniel out of trouble."

He regarded her for a moment and nodded, "Ok, I guess that we are heading into work in a half an hour then."

"Half an hour?" Buffy yelped and disappeared into the bathroom, a laughing Jay following her in.

As they walked into the SGC they were greeted cheerfully. Daniel swept her up in a bear hug, followed by Jack. "You are so tan Xena! The honeymoon looks like it agreed with you."

Blushing rosily Buffy nodded, "It did."

Jack chuckled as he shook Jay's hand and watched as Sam and Buffy talked a mile a minute about Charleston. General Hammond came around the corner and smiled, "Welcome back Colonel and Mrs. Coburn."

"Thank you Sir." Jay said, shaking his CO's hand. Buffy came up and gave the General a kiss, "Thanks for the wedding, you did such a great job."

"It was my pleasure. Now, you need to go through training and the Colonel needs to get to work. Jack, come with me and Mrs. Coburn. We have something to discuss."

"Yes Sir." Jack looked over at Jay who shrugged and everyone went where they were supposed to go.

During the first couple of weeks Buffy went through the orientation and the training with the new recruits to learn the ropes of the SGC. She was a star pupil and the instructors all loved her. Except the self-defense instructor.

Jack and General Hammond were aware that the 6'3" Marine advanced self defense instructor was arrogant, and that no one liked his classes, but he was a thorough instructor and when the trainees left they had a complete knowledge of the course curriculum. They hoped with time that the man would mellow.

Unfortunately Buffy was not impressed. She listened and practiced everyday, but as each trainee was humiliated her stomach roiled into knots. This was NOT the way Giles had trained her.

"Coburn!" he barked.

Buffy gracefully stood and walked over to him. "Captain." She replied politely.

"Attack me." He demanded, making a 'bring it on' gesture with both hands.

"Ok."

Buffy lunged forward, startling the man with her speed, feinted to the left, grabbed the Captain's left wrist, planted her feet and tossed the man over her shoulder, to land with a thud in front of her shocked classmates.

Buffy turned and placed her hands on her hips, "Whoops! Too much?" she asked cheerfully.

The Captain shook himself and slowly stood, glaring mightily at the petite blond.

"Let's see you try that again." He growled. A student tried to bolt for the door and get help, absolutely sure that his classmate was about to be pulverized in front of him, but the Captain yelled, "Freeze!" and the student slunk back to his spot.

"You know," Buffy had seen Jack pause in the gym doorway, "I don't remember this as part of the curriculum."

The large Marine lunged at her and she nimbly stepped out of his path, shaking her head at Jack as he made to come in.

"I understand…." she paused and moved again as he tried a roundhouse kick on her, "…that instruction in self defense.." another growl from the Captain, his fist heading toward her head when she caught it in an iron grip, not even moving from the impact, "…is important. But humiliating people doesn't seem to be the way to go about it." She slowly squeezed, dropping the shocked man to his knees, his face red.

"Buffy." Came Jack's voice and she immediately let go and stepped back.

"Colonel O'Neill." The Captain scrambled to his feet, rubbing his hand furiously.

"Captain Overton." Jack's voice was flat and deceptively calm. He turned to the students, "You're dismissed for your next class." Everyone scrambled up and beat a hasty retreat. Buffy was about to follow when Jack shook his head. Sighing she stayed, eyeing the Captain with barely concealed dislike.

When the gym was empty Jack looked at the Marine, "So Captain. You've enjoyed serving here at the SGC?"

"Sir, yes Sir." The Captain barked.

"Good, good." A long pause, "So, what did happen in here?"

The Captain blushed with humiliation. "I'm sorry Sir. I don't know what came over me. I have no excuse Sir."

Now Jack was exasperated, "Do you wanna be a perimeter guard in Antarctica?"

"Sir no Sir."

Jack eyed the man with exasperation, "Then cut the crap Captain. I know what happened. You thought as an almighty Marine that you are better at combat than anyone, especially a woman student. Then Buffy rains on your little parade and you snapped."

The Captain looked at his boots silently.

"Well, Buffy's right about one thing. Humiliating the students is no way to teach, so here's what I'm gonna do. Buffy, you have an extra job in addition to playing shepherd to my sheep. You get to take over the self-defense classes and Overton here will be a student of yours."

"What?" they yelped in unison, then glared at each other.

"Why am I being punished? He's the one that flipped out!" Buffy protested.

Jack shook his head, "Like you were even in the remotest bit of danger." He snorted, "Please." He watched her expression turn mule stubborn and used the last card in his deck, charm. "Please? Do it for the kids."

She huffed and turned to the Marine, "You pull another stunt like the one you tried on me and I'll make you eat your boots. Understand me?"

A rebellious look at Jack then a, "Yes ma'am."

Jay came to the doorway, "Ready for lunch babe? Oh, hey Jack, Overton." Jay nodded to the men.

Buffy gave Jack a warning look that he had no trouble interpreting and she turned and smiled, "You bet, I'm starving."

After Buffy and Jay left, Jack grinned at the very pale Marine Captain. "Yeah, you saw the connection didn't you. Buffy is Colonel Coburn's new wife."

"Sir, just kill me now."

"Don't tempt me." Jack replied tartly.

***

Buffy filled her tray, still fuming and Jay watched her closely. "Something you want to tell me?" he asked.

She slid him a glance, then picked up her glass of milk and sipped it. "Want to tell you? No. Probably should because guys gossip worse than women? Maybe. Am I gonna right now?" she grinned at the look on his face as he narrowed his eyes.

Words floated through the air in the busy cafeteria, "Did you see him fly through the air? It was like he weighed nothing to her." Two trainees walked by, chattering animatedly. Buffy winced.

Jay carefully rested his arms on the table, "Buffy, did you break the Captain?" A tray thumped next to them and Jack chuckled as he and the rest of SG-1, including Daniel who had his nose buried in a book, sat down.

Buffy glared at Jack, then looked at her husband, "He's fine." She said shortly and began to eat.

Jack took a bite of the lasagna and chewed thoughtfully as Jay watched him, eyebrows raised. Finishing his chewing he swallowed, and took a sip of his Pepsi, "Imagine my surprise when I went to the gym to see how Xena here was doing and found Captain Overton doing a pretty good impression of a beached whale on the floor."

Buffy snorted and continued to eat.

"Buffy?" Sam asked.

Teal'c laid down his fork, "What did Captain Overton do to you Buffy Coburn?" His voice was placid but Buffy looked up to see his stern expression.

"See?" she looked at Jack, "Thank you Teal'c. It was not my fault. The man said 'attack me'. What was I supposed to do?" She exclaimed, then looked down are her salad, "Plus it was making my stomach hurt watching him be so nasty to the trainees." She mumbled. By now Daniel had put down his book and was listening.

Jack continued, "So, there I was and the Captain got to his feet and asked her to do it again."

Sam rolled her eyes, "Yeesh. Must be a Marine, not very bright."

There were several snorts but Jack held up his hands, "I'm not finished. He jumped her and…"
"What?" Jay said, sitting up in surprise.

"Cripes Coburn, let me finish!"

Buffy groaned and covered her face with her hands.

"So he jumps her and she steps to the side and he stumbled less than gracefully by. Then he tried to kick her but missed. And all this time she's delivering a lecture about poor training techniques." Jack laughed, "Shoulda seen his face. Anyway, after he tried to punch her, calm down Coburn, she caught his fist and made him sink to the floor like he was a trainee himself." He took another bite of lasagna.

"Well? Is he on his way to Alaska?" Sam demanded.

"Nope."

"And why not O'Neill?" came Teal'c's very disappointed voice.

Jack grinned, "I had a Solomon moment." He paused as everyone except Buffy, who was now muttering underneath her breath, looked over at him.

"Well?" Daniel asked exasperatedly.

"Buffy is going to take over the self defense classes and Overton will be her trainee."

Everyone gaped and heard Buffy say huffily, "I'm being punished and it's so not fair."

"Come on Xena. You have tons of teaching experience, and you'll be teaching the Captain at the same time on how to deal with people without being a chowderhead. I'm killing two birdies with one artifact, er, rock." He gave a glance to Daniel who just rolled his eyes.

Jay sat back and looked at Jack thoughtfully, "You are devious Jack."

Teal'c even looked mildly impressed, "Indeed."

"Thank you."

Buffy sighed, "It's a good thing I love you Jack or I'd tell you where to stick your idea." She looked at her husband, "And you aren't even to go near my trainee, got it?"

About to protest he saw the look in his wife's eyes, "Fine. I'll behave."

"Good thing, I didn't think you wanted to change our sleeping arrangements this early in our marriage." She said, making Jay wince. Grinning she got up, "I've got class. Later." And was headed for the door when Overton entered. There were murmurs in the cafeteria as the tall, broad shouldered Marine and the petite blond saw each other.

He flinched as their eyes met and she stopped, "When's the first class tomorrow?"

"0800."

"I'll be there. You be there at 0745. We need to talk."

A subdued "Yes ma'am." From the man and Buffy walked on. It was obvious that the larger man was cowed by Buffy's presence.

Sam turned to Jack, "Wow."

"Told ya. I'm Solomon and I didn't even have to cut the baby in half."

Jay watched as his wife disappeared. "I really love that woman."