Stargazers Stargaters Part 40

Author: jane

E-mail: illta1985@aol.com

Category: AU, Futurefic, Crossover(Roswell/Stargate SG1)

Rating: PG13 (A few swearwords)

Disclaimer: The characters of Roswell belong to Melinda Metz, UPN, Jason Katims and all the wonderful people who we all love for starting this fabulous series (but who we are frustrated with, for messing up the beautiful, 1st season story line!). Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement or disrespect is intended. Not to be archived without permission of the authors.

Summary: After college, Alex and Liz (from Roswell) join the SGC. As the Stargate gives up its secrets, will their new colleagues in SG1 learn about the secrets the two friends still carry? Will they ever "dial up" one planet's address in particular? Read and find out!

http://www.roswellfanatics.net/archive/AMB_AP507727887/5602.html

Stargazers/Stargaters Chapter 40

General Hammond stepped through the Stargate back into the SGC and found Teal'c waiting for him at the base of the ramp.

"GeneralHammond." Teal'c greeted his C.O. with a brief bow. "How are ColonelO'Neill, DanielJackson and MajorCarter?"

Teal'c had seen his wounded teammates through the Antar Stargate before he had taken Basset through to the planet where they were holding all of the captured Goa'uld queens.

"They're doing pretty well, considering." General Hammond replied, shuddering at the close call his flag-ship team had just weathered. "Dr. Fraser is administering blood transfusions to Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson and Major Carter has been ordered to rest for the next three days. How did delivering Basset to the safe-planet go?"

"Everything went as planned, GeneralHammond." Teal'c replied.

The Goa'uld queens were being held on a planet uncharted by any of their kind. A team of Antarians and SGC personnel were guarding them just in case they might be needed for some reason, as the Goa'uld continued to fight each other. And while the hostilities wore on, the Antarians were using their psi-powers to probe the minds of the queens for any information they could; genetics, weaponry...and to see if any of the queens might turn Tok'ra.

"Very well, Teal'c. I'll be debriefing SG-1 in a few days, after your teammates have recovered, but why don't you come up to my office and tell me what you can, now?"

"Of course, GeneralHammond." Teal'c agreed.

The two men walked up the stairs and entered the General's office. Teal'c reported what he could about their mission and then requested permission to return to Antar, which was granted.

Over the next several hours, the remaining seven teams returned from their missions; all successful. Only one of the teams had any injuries but they were not severe. And only one of the queens had been killed while evading capture, but the evidence, pointing to another Goa'uld as her murderer, was able to be planted anyway. Reports were also coming in from the Tok'ra already, on the effectiveness and repercussions of Operation Queen Bee on the remaining Goa'uld.

The Tok'ra believed that all Goa'uld might be pulled into the war; System Lord down to minor snake, they were all dependent upon the queens. Battles were already breaking out but because so many Jaffa had left their masters, the Goa'uld were finally having to fight each other, rather than each other's Jaffa armies. Also, most of the Goa'uld no longer trusted their Jaffa after hearing reports in past weeks of their fellow snakes being assassinated by their former slaves and many had dismissed or banished their armies even without Antarian intervention.

~*~

Over the next week, reports coming in and activities going on, both on Earth as well as on Antar became many and varied. Reports of the escalating Goa'uld war were offset by the preparations for the Royal Weddings.

"It's a good thing that Earth is in such a 'back-water' region of space." Jack O'Neill commented, during SG-1's debriefing with General Hammond. "Now that Ra, Hathor, Seth, Apophis and Osiris are all dead, none of the other Goa'uld should be interested in us."

"So hopefully they won't decide to come and fight over us; like dogs over a juicy bone." Daniel added.

"Exactly right, gentlemen" General Hammond replied. "I want to commend you all on the successfulness of your mission. You and the other seven teams have all achieved something very important for Earth, Antar and the rest of this galaxy...being the catalysts for the Goa'uld's final downfall! In fact...there is to be a medal-ceremony, to be held on Antar right after the Royal Weddings. The President and King Zan will officiate."

"Uh...wow, General; that sound fantastic!" Daniel spoke up.

"It was nothing, really." Jack deadpanned.

"Thank you, sir; I don't think any of us were expecting that." Sam replied while gently kicking Jack under the table.

"Indeed that is very good news, GeneralHammond." Teal'c replied.

"My Dan'yel...being given a medal!" Sha're sighed proudly.

"And you too, Mrs. Jackson." General Hammond assured her as Daniel grinned down at her.

"Me? But, but..." Sha're sputtered.

"My brave Sha're, being given a medal!" Daniel repeated her line and Sam blushed when she saw Jack mouth "ditto" at her from across the table.

"Uh, General, do you have any news about the fate of Ba'al?" Sam asked. "Since we killed Apophis, who was supposed to go after him for abducting his queen..."

"That snake was implicated in two other queen abductions, Carter, so at least two other Goa'uld will be gunning for him, never fear." Jack replied all business again.

"Well, are there any other questions?" General Hammond asked. "You're dismissed then." He smiled to his favorite team.

"Great, with just three days until the weddings there's a lot left to do." Daniel said as they all rose from their seats.

"I will see you in three days then." General Hammond said before stepping into his office to answer his red phone; the hot-line to the President.

On the way down the hallway, Jack thought of something he needed to ask his C.O. after all and doubled back towards the General's office. When he reached the door, Jack raised his hand to knock but then faintly heard the General's voice as he spoke on the phone.

"Yes, Mr. President, I know it's been seven days...yes, sir, I've made my decision."

But just then, two science personnel passed by, speaking in technobabble and Jack was unable to hear what the General's decision about whatever-the-problem-was, had been.

"When do you want to tell them?" The General was still on the phone and yet another two men, SFs this time, came by blocking out the General's next words.

The phone call seemed to have concluded, but when Jack raised his hand to knock again, he realized that he had forgotten what he wanted to ask his C.O. and stomped off down the hallway, frustrated. And half an hour after Jack's unwitting and unproductive moments of eavesdropping, SG-1 was ready to return to Antar. Accompanying them were four members of the Secret Service, who were gating to Antar yet again to set up security for the President.

Michael Guerin and Maria DeLuca were waiting to greet them in Antar's Gate-chamber. Michael, the stoic, but efficient General was there to guide the Secret Service agents, while Maria; overexcited to the point of hyperventilating bride-to-be, was to guide SG-1 and Sha're to where the wedding preparations were being coordinated.

"They won't let me go beyond the outer door of the building, to see any of the preparations and it's just killing me not knowing what's going on...I mean, this is My wedding after all, I should know what's going on shouldn't I?...I don't know how Isabel's handling all of this, she's such a control-freak...in fact, I haven't seen her in a day or two...do you think they've, like...sedated her or locked her up in a room without any windows, to keep her from finding out what's going on? Hey, you guys are all into that top-secret-sneaking-around kinda stuff, do you think you could find out what they've done with Isabel? And you'd tell me the truth, right...I mean after you've found out what the truth is...hey, I haven't seen Tess around lately either, do you think they've locked her up too?"

"Maria, Maria! Chill out, will you?" Sam chuckled at her excitable friend. "I know it's nerve-racking, waiting for the big day, but you need to calm down; I'm sure that everything will be wonderful."

"Calm, who says I'm not calm? I think I have the right to not be calm okay...so deal with it!" Maria cried out before turning on her heal and leaving them at the door to the building where the preparations were being finalized. She had never stopped talking during the entire trip down the hill from the Gate-chamber.

"Do you...think that we'd better warn Michael about the mood Maria's in?" Daniel asked concerned fro his fellow male.

"I bet Michael already knows all about it. For two such different people, those two really seem to know what the other one is feeling...and how to deal with it." Sam replied, looking up into Jack's brown eyes.

"That's an important thing to have in a relationship." Jack said, gazing back into Sam's blue eyes.

Inside the building was a sort of organized chaos; there were dozens of people at work...including, the teammates were surprised to see, Jeff Parker, Philip Evans and Jim Valenti.

"Hey folks, when did you get here?" Jack called out before hand shakes were exchanged.

"Yesterday" Jeff answered. "And I guess we were getting under foot a little too much, so our darling wives sent us over here to help out."

The kitchens in another part of the building were putting out mouth watering scents, but overlaying that were the scents of many, many different variations of flowers, which were being plucked from their parent flower.

"I thought they began stringing those garlands weeks ago, aren't they done yet?" Sam asked.

"Yeah and why are they doing everything by hand; why not just wave their hands...use a little alien-mojo and be done with it?" Jack asked.

"Yes, we began all of this work weeks ago." Seria, who had just walked up to them spoke up. "We use our alien-mojo, as you call it, Jack to keep them fresh, but we will not only be hanging them in our holy clearing, they will be strung all over the city and along the walkway out to the clearing and that takes a lot of garlands! And before you can ask your question again, Jack; we do all of this work by hand for special occasions, such as weddings because as each person works, they say prayers for the person or people the occasion is being held for...For health and happiness...and fertility in a new marriage and so forth."

"That is lovely." Sam and Sha're both sighed.

"Yeah, that is nice." Daniel agreed.

"So many well wishes must hold considerable power." Teal'c agreed.

"How can we help?" Jack asked, knowing that there was no way he was going to get out of this.

"Come on, I'll show you." Seria said, smiling.

Several hours later, Jack and Sam entered their quarters with a sigh of relief; they had put in a great deal of work.

"I feel as though I should go for a five mile run and then take a mud bath; get really dirty and sweaty." Jack remarked.

"Well, I don't know about the running and sweaty part, but mud baths are supposed to be very beneficial for your skin; keeps it well moisturized." Sam replied.

"Must you ladies turn every pleasure of being a guy into a 'girl-thing'?" Jack asked. "I was meaning that after being inundated by flowery, perfumy smells for hours on end, I'm feeling the need to get Dirty...with a capital D. Get rid of the perfume and get back to looking and smelling more like a kick-Goa'uld-butt, bad-ass, Air Force, Black-ops-trained Male!"

"Really?" Sam asked, softly. "I think it's very manly and sexy to see the softer side of a man; you know...cuddling a baby, picking apart flowers...while still wearing camouflage fatigues..."

"Manly, huh? Sexy!" Jack asked.

"Mnhmm, it takes a Real man to pick apart thousands of flowers and endure their overwhelming scent for hours at a time..." Sam said before grabbing the front of Jack's shirt and tugging him towards their bedroom. "In fact, why don't you come with me, airman and show me just how much of a man you really are?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Jack replied, following behind her.

~*~

Meanwhile, Daniel and Sha're returned to the Royal manor to find a visitor waiting for them on the back patio.

"Dr. Jordon!" Daniel cried out, seeing his old mentor. "Wow, it's great to see you; I'm so glad you could come." The men shook hands heartily and then Daniel introduced Sha're. "David, this is my lovely wife, Sha're; she was away on her home planet of Abydos during the whole Osiris matter, but I'm sure you'll remember me mentioning her a time or two."

"Or three, or...forty times." David Jordon added and Sha're stopped pouting at her husband's mild joke and smiled happily instead. "My dear, it's a great pleasure to finally meet the woman who has made my young friend so happy." David said charmingly as he took one of Sha're's hands in both of his.

"It is very nice to meet you as well; my Dan'yel speaks of you with great respect and affection." Sha're replied.

"David, have you been shown where you're to be staying?" Daniel asked.

"Oh yes, I've already left my suitcase there; I'm just a short walk that way." David waved his hand vaguely to the left.

"Well, if you'd like, we could show you around a little; this is a beautiful city and a fascinating culture, even if it has no ties to ancient Egypt." Daniel offered the older Egyptologist.

"That would be wonderful." David replied.

"Would you two gentlemen excuse me? I need to go speak to Liz." Sha're said.

"Okay, Sweetness, I'll see you in a little while." Daniel said, kissing her gently on her brow.

A moment later, Sha're watched as the two men strolled away and heard Daniel's voice drift back to her.

"I guess Sarah won't be coming, even to celebrate the end of the Goa'uld?"

"No...I hear from her from time to time of course." David said.

"As do I." Daniel added.

"But she just wants to forget that the Stargate even exists. She's happy where she is." David assured Daniel.

~*~

The next day dawned bright as more wedding guests arrived, including representatives from the other four planets in the Antarian alliance. General Hammond was scheduled to come through in the mid-afternoon, to attend the wedding rehearsal; he was acting as father of the bride to Tess, whose own father had died long ago, during the Antarian Civil War.

Earlier in the day, the large group of people who were making the preparations for the weddings, including SG-1, Sha're and David Jordon all trooped out to the clearing, to finish hanging the floral garlands from tree to tree.

"Hey everyone, back off for a minute, they're going to test the screens." The leader of the volunteers called out and everyone stepped away from the ring of trees.

"They're what?" Sam asked.

"Watch." Seria said, pointing to one area of the trees.

Suddenly there was a shimmer and then a twenty-foot face appeared between two of the trees.

"Whoa!" Jack exclaimed.

"See, over there." Seria pointed to a space between two more trees, several yards to the right and then on around the clearing.

Each time a large face or a group of people would appear and say a few words, sometimes in Antarian, but sometimes not.

"What was that?" Sam asked, walking towards the trees again, once the test seemed to be completed.

"We produce a mild electrical field between the trees to create a visual screen...sort of like the movie screens you were telling me about, Sam." Seria explained. "The ceremony is being recorded and the signal sent out to everyone in our alliance, since it is the wedding of our king. They can watch at home or in the gathering spaces within each of their communities. They in turn will be recorded and displayed on these screens so that the entire congregation, no matter where they are, here in the clearing or elsewhere, will be visible to us as well."

"Cool." Jack said casually.

But Sam had been watching her superior officer, friend and lover and had noticed that Jack had not been his usual self all day. He had been quiet and introspective...so Not Jack O'Neill. When all of the work in the clearing was complete, everyone returned to their homes; the wedding party especially, to bathe and rest before the rehearsal.

"Jack is anything wrong?" Sam asked as soon as they had entered their home-away-from-home and closed the door behind them.

"Hmm?" Jack asked, coming out of his deep thoughts.

"Is everything alright, Jack?" Sam repeated, concerned.

"Yeah...yes, everything's okay; I've just had some...uh...stuff on my mind, that's all." Jack replied, not looking her in the eyes. "Say, would you mind if I take my shower first? There's something I need to do before the rehearsal. Thanks." Jack said, before Sam could respond to his request and then he bounded up the stairs two at a time and almost slammed the bathroom door behind him.

"Yes, sir, Colonel." Sam gave his back an irritated salute.

Then going upstairs to their bedroom, she lay out their cloths to wear to the rehearsal; a navy-blue suit, reminiscent of his dress-blues, but not...Sam loved to see Jack in his dress uniform; and a blue-gray sheath dress for herself. Several minutes later Jack came out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his lean hips, but Sam ignored him as she passed by him on her way into the bathroom. But Jack was too engrossed in his own thoughts to notice; a good thing as his self-confidence and courage were not as strong as they usually were and Sam's attitude might have sent them plummeting down through the floor.

Sam came out of the bath twenty minutes later and got dressed in their silent bedroom. She was reminding herself that she had fallen in love with Jack O'Neill, being well aware of his moodiness and that whatever was bothering him now they would solve together, eventually. She was calm enough as she descended the stairs to notice how quiet the entire house was.

"Jack?" Sam called out.

"In here." Jack called back from the livingroom.

Sam's breath caught in her throat as she entered the room and she paused to look around. Lit candles were everywhere including on the fireplace mantle where a beautiful bouquet of flowers were arranged in a lovely crystal vase. Jack stood beside the mantle, almost at attention.

"Wow...you look...great!" Jack all but sighed out.

"You do too." Sam replied, walking over to him. "What's all this for?"

"Uh, well..." Jack floundered. Where had all the words which he had memorized gone all of a sudden?

"Jack?" Sam prompted gently and then gasped again when he dropped down before her on one knee.

"I had all of this planned out, memorized a speech and everything, but I can't remember any of it." Jack confessed looking pleadingly up at Sam. "The thing is...we've known each other for three years now, we've been though heaven and hell together...You know me better than just about anyone in the world...and I'd like to think that I know you pretty well...although you're still a mystery to me sometimes...Anyway, what I'm trying to say is...Samantha Carter, I love you with all my heart...and I'd be the happiest man alive if you'd marry me." Jack stiffened his legs so that he could continue to kneel and not just flop down onto the floor, after getting all of that out.

"Oh Jack..." Sam knelt down in front of him. "What about the regulations, our careers?"

"To hell with 'em!" Jack exclaimed. "We'll talk to Hammond beat him And the President over the head with their red-phones if we have to, until they agree to bend the rules for us...Hey, how many times have we saved the world? They owe us! But no matter what they say...I love you and I want to tell the world..."

"Okay..." Sam began to say but Jack was on a roll.

"Anyway, with the Goa'uld gone, I predict that the rest of the Earth's governments at least will have to be told about the Stargate; the potential for exploration and colonization will be phenomenal. Daniel can lead his own archeology team; dig up rocks to his heart's content and Teal'c will be busy with Bray'tac; dealing with all of those Jaffa...SG-1 won't have the same mission imperative that it used to...we would no longer...have to be teammates...you could devote yourself to your research and I...could stay home and raise our kids..."

Jack...JACK!" Sam exclaimed to finally break into his words.

"What?" Jack asked almost forgetting his original question.

"I. Would. Love. To. Marry. You!" Sam said slowly, emphasizing each word.

"You would? Really? Woo Hoo!" Jack exclaimed drawing Sam into a rib-cracking embrace. "Oh man, I have never been so scared." He admitted.

"As if I could say anything else...I love you Jack." Sam told him seriously.

"I love you." Jack repeated. "I um, didn't buy you an engagement ring; I didn't think that was your style...Instead, I thought that we could buy matching wedding bands and wear each other's around our necks or something."

"You don't mean to suggest that we wear each other's ring with our dog-tags do you?" Sam teased.

"Now there's a thought." Jack said, deadpan.

"Jack!" Sam cried out, half-exasperated.

"I was just kidding...maybe we could each buy gold chains or something." Jack suggested.

"Much better" Sam agreed. "But now that you've asked and I've agreed, we better get going or we'll be late for the rehearsal."

~*~

While SG-1 and friends were finishing up wedding decorations, General Hammond came through the Stargate along with Janet Fraser and Cassandra. Michael met them and took them down to the Royal Manor where the General was to brief the Royal Four on the success of Operation Queen Bee and the two Earth-women would be taken to see Liz and Maria.

"We've had reports from our physicians and your personnel as well, who are dealing with the Jaffa. But please tell us what you've heard from the front-lines." Max requested as soon as they were all seated in his office.

"According to the Tok'ra, the operation is proceeding exceptionally well. All of the remaining System Lords took the bate we left behind, implicating each of them in the abduction of one or more of the queens. There have been no negotiations for their return or questions as to why they were taken, or to verify that any of the Goa'uld actually abducted the queens...It's just been a blood-bath." The General reported seriously and somewhat regretfully. "The Goa'uld have made a few retaliatory strikes against each other's Jaffa home-worlds, but that has only inflamed the senses of the freed Jaffa. They have put forward plans and asked permission to be allowed to fight and kill any remaining Goa'uld or loyal Jaffa at the end of this. They badly want to hunt down the last of the Goa'uld and kill them."

"Looks like our catalyst really worked." Michael replied, satisfied.

"We may not be taking part in the battle, but we'll be mighty busy afterwards; contacting all of the slave-planets and giving them the good news besides helping them to improve their life-styles...without overwhelming them." George replied.

"We may need to bring someone in to help us with that, so that we don't do irreparable damage to those cultures who've been enslaved by the Goa'uld so long." Max suggested.

"The President and I believe that the State Department at least should be brought into this eventually; perhaps within the next year...and quite possibly some of the major governments, as well. This galaxy is going to be opened up wide for us if the Goa'uld threat can be eliminated...the possibilities for exploration and colonization are incredible." The General got a far-off look in his eyes for a moment.

"But first, we have to try and help all of those poor people on all of those slave-planets." Tess reminded him gently.

"Yes, of course and to get that started I've already spoken to the SGC's base chaplain, Father Michael O'Connor. He has several friends who are missionaries and he's already made contact with them, discreetly...and they've given him a basis for us to begin with." The General said.

"That sounds like a good place to start." Isabel replied.

"Fr. O'Connor's friends reminded him and us...that no matter the oppression that these people have been living under, they will have their own government of sorts; elders or a council...their own ruses or taboos by which everyday life is regulated. We can't just go in and impose our ways over theirs; if we did, we'd be no better than the Goa'uld. We need to learn their ways and what their needs are. Is there anyway we can improve their lives without wiping out centuries of tradition and ways of life. He suggested setting up a system of trade between the slave-planets. According to Daniel, even though Abydos was a mining planet, the people had communal farms and were expected to be self-sufficient; the Goa'uld never brought in supplies for them, they only took the naquada, which the Abydonians mined. He believes that other mining planets will be set up the same. Teal'c told me that, that was indeed the case and that the Goa'uld also had slave-planets on which there were great farms to grow grains, vegetables and fruits or raise animals, but only one of each and all of it was to be given as tribute to their god. The people still only had a meager life-style."

"What are we to do with the freed Jaffa?" Isabel asked.

"That depends on how the wars ultimately turn out. Your physicians have been able to get a sense of what sort of personality each Jaffa they've healed, is. You've reported that most of the Jaffa who've had their symbiotes removed are good people. That's why they deserted their masters so easily. But even so, we are reluctant to allow any interaction between the Jaffa and their former slaves. And besides, the way that the Goa'uld are destroying each other's ships, big and small, there may not be enough left at the end of the war to ferry supplies back and forth. The Jaffa need to become self-sufficient as well, which may be a difficult thing for them to learn, since they were always supplied by the slave-planets. Most Jaffa communities never had so much as a backyard vegetable garden or a chicken coop." The General reported.

The group continued to discuss things; throwing ideas back and forth for some time, but eventually the meeting broke up. General Hammond stayed behind as the rest exited Max's office, but their king's voice could be heard until the door swung shut.

"So, General, what is your decision?"

~*~

The rehearsal went well for all four couples and the entire wedding party and the dinner which followed afterward was enjoyed by them all. It allowed them to release some of the tension which had been building during their fight against the Goa'uld. After the party, the brides-to-be, along with Sha're returned to the Royal Manor, while the grooms and Daniel split up and bunked with either Seria and Beneck or with Sam and Jack; one night apart so that the grooms would not see their brides before the wedding ceremony.

~*~

The day for the Royal Weddings dawned sunny and cool, but promised to warm up to the perfect temperature in time for the ceremony. Inside the Royal Manor, the brides were joined by their mothers and bride's-maids. The morning was spent in the female rituals; scented bubble-baths and then lotions spread over smooth skin afterwards. Manicures and pedicures, hair curled or hair straightened. The mothers told stories of their own courtships and weddings to their daughters and both generations shared stories about their sons or future husbands.

"You all seem so calm, how can you be so calm?" Janet Fraser asked in wonder.

"I've been on warp-speed for months, trying to find out what Valaria and all of you, our loving mothers were planning for our weddings..." Isabel glanced pointedly at Diane Evans. "Plus all the work that went into Operation Queen Bee...I'm just too exhausted to be nervous anymore. I'm just so happy that my wedding day is finally here!" Isabel broke out into her thousand-watt smile.

"I'm much the same as Isabel." Liz replied smiling happily. "I've been so busy attending classes with Valaria on how to be a queen...plus, I had a melt-down a few days ago, but Max helped me through it...and today I just feel...joy! Max and I are finally getting married, after all we've been through in our relationship, today's the big day!"

"I spazed out a few days ago too, when once again I was thwarted in my plan to get a peek at what all the preparations look like." Maria admitted and then sighed. "I guess I'm just resigned to my fate...being married to Spaceboy."

Laughter broke out all around Maria at her suffer-in-silence tone of voice.

"Maria, we all know ho much you love Michael and how much he loves you; you can't fool us." Cassandra, Maria's bride's-maid said, her young heart fluttering in her chest with the whole idea of being a part of a royal wedding.

"I do, I really do...and he loves me too...sometimes I just can't believe how much I love him...and now I'm gonna start crying...Cassie, I had it all under control; why did you have to ruin it?" Maria cried out.

"No you are not going to cry at your wedding." Amy DeLuca-Valenti ordered her daughter. "That's my job."

"Thanks Mom." Maria said soggily as she hugged her mother and both DeLuca women fought to control their emotions, for now.

"Tess...are you okay, you've been really quiet all morning." Isabel asked but her friend did not respond. "Tess?"

"I think she's in shock." Liz said worriedly, lightly slapping the other girl on her cheeks.

"Oh man, she's starting to cry!" Amy exclaimed equally worried.

"What made me think that I'm anywhere near good enough to marry Kyle?" Tess murmured softly, her eyes still blank. "He's so handsome and sweet and funny...he deserves someone way nicer than me..."

No one knew what to say to that.

"Maybe we should risk tradition and ask Kyle to come over here." Nancy Parker suggested.

"I can't see him now!" Tess wailed, tears streaking her mascara down her face. I don't deserve him...I...I...can't go through with this!"

"Is she hyperventilating?" Maria asked.

"No, she's not going to hyperventilate." Amy DeLuca said determinably as she took Tess by the shoulders and shook her a little. "Tess, can you tell me that you no longer love my step-son?" Amy asked.

"I love him so much...enough to give him up for his own good..." Tess wept.

"Now you listen to me, Tess Harding. Kyle loves you so much that it would kill him if you backed out now (though why he loves such a cry-baby, ruin-everything-for-everyone-at-the-last-minute little fool, I have no idea.)!" Amy said with a certain light in her eyes as she watched Tess closely for her reaction.

"It wouldn't kill him...would it?" Tess asked a little hope in her voice. "I'd be disappointing him?"

"And everyone else." Amy reminded her; not unkindly. "Do you truly love Kyle?"

"I...yes I do, with all my heart." Tess said slowly coming out of her shock.

"Then-show-him!" Amy bit out, but in a soft voice. "Go out there, marry the young fool and make him the happiest man alive."

"I can do that!" Tess said excitement building in her voice.

"Make sure you do." Amy said softly as she gathered Tess into a motherly hug. "He's my son now." And all Tess could do was nod and wipe her nose with a tissue Diane passed her.

"I think some of us could use a make-up redo." Isabel said, passing her hand in front of her own face before passing it in front of Tess', repairing the ravages left by her tears.

Liz, who was becoming quite good at using her own growing powers to fix her own appearance, swept her hand over Maria's face and a few other's as well.

"There, all set." She said.

"Just in time, we better get going." Sam said glancing down at her watch.

They all exited out the back of the Manor and as they crossed the patio, they saw Valaria coming towards them with the President walking beside her; Secret Service agents discretely just beyond earshot.

"My, don't all of you ladies look lovely on this special day of yours." The President said charmingly.

"Yes, you do all look absolutely beautiful." Valaria agreed as she came over to Liz and took her hands in hers. "All of your fiancés are very lucky men." She said to all of them before returning her gaze back to Liz. "And this world is very lucky to be gaining such an exceptional queen."

"Th-thank you, Your Highness." Liz said formally.

She gently squeezed the older woman's hands, which still held hers between them, as she made a quick but graceful curtsy. Valaria smiled down at her petite daughter-in-law-to-be.

"That is the last time you will ever call me that or need to curtsy to me. After today it will be I who calls you 'Highness' and curtsies to you." She said softly.

"Oh I don't know about that, Your Highness." Liz said deliberately. "You will ever be the King's Mother; always respected, always loved by all of us."

"As I said, you will make an extraordinary queen." Was all Valaria said before disengaging her hands from Liz's and walking away with the President and his Guard.

"Let's allow them a few minutes to get seated." Isabel said.

"Don't even think about sitting down on that patio furniture!" Amy cried out as Maria made as if to do just that.

"I'm too nervous to sit down anyway." Maria pouted before slipping her arm through Liz's and making her pace around the patio instead.

'They Are all so beautiful.' Nancy Parker thought to herself as she watched her daughter circle around the rest of them. 'The dresses turned out so beautifully.'

All of the brides' dresses had the same skirts; a baby pink underskirt over a hoop just showed below the white over skirt, which topped it, but which was drawn back to each side in the front; ala "Sleeping Beauty" or "Cinderella". And all of the dresses had long, tight sleeves made of delicate white lace with the tiniest of pink, silk rosebuds dotting them all over. To make each dress slightly different, each white bodice had a different neckline. Isabel's was square, Maria had a sweetheart neckline, Tess' had a scoop-neck and Liz had a tight, high necked collar, which emphasized her slender neck. Additionally, to distinguish Liz's dress from the rest, the designer had also insisted on embroidering the Antarian Royal Crest in a delicate, pale pink, lace-like pattern all over the skirt and around the high collar. Liz had not liked the idea when it was first mentioned to her, but loved it when she saw the finished product. All of the brides had their hair swept up into elegant buns and wore wreaths made up of several different types of white flowers. Liz's wreath was again distinguished with the addition of a few pink flowers as well.

The bride's-maids wore simplified versions of the bride's dresses but without the hoops and the white overskirt was not drawn back in front, but hung down in soft folds over the pink underskirt, which peaked out from underneath by three inches. Each bride's-maids' dress had the same lace sleeves, but without the pink rosebuds and each neckline matched that of the bride they were accompanying.

"Valaria and the President have had enough time to get seated, let's go." Sam said again and all of the women carefully got into the waiting and flower-bedecked hover-craft and off they went to the Holy Clearing.

~*~

That same morning, out in the shared backyard between Seria and Beneck's houses, the grooms and their best men spent their time playing field hockey (instigated by Jack), basketball (suggested by Max) or even wrestled each other after Kyle goaded them all into giving it a try; anything to work off some of their excess energy and nerves. Jim Valenti, Jeff Parker and Philip Evans sat on the sidelines drinking fruity drinks and talking amongst themselves, but every once in a while they would be pulled into a hockey game or some basketball. Over an early brunch, some manly advice about the pleasures and pitfalls of the wedding night was passed on by the fathers and memories were shared about when the brides-to-be were little girls. But finally it was time for showers and shaves; getting dressed up and they all rushed inside. When the fathers and the best men; Jack, Beneck, Dr. Ebron and his son, Nardo arrived back after getting ready themselves, they found the four grooms all ready but restlessly pacing around outside.

"The only good thing about these monkey-suits is that we don't have to wear ties with them." Michael exclaimed, tugging on the stiff, high collar which encircled his neck.

"You all look pretty snazzy though, even without ties." Philip replied looking over the grooms and best men.

They all wore sharply pleated dark maroon slacks with a thin white stripe running down the outside seam of each leg, a white, hip-length, long-sleeved shirt worn outside of the slacks and had that stiff high collar which Michael was complaining about. Over the shirt the grooms wore tailored, knee-length, long-sleeved collarless jackets which had no fastenings in front. And pinned over the left side of their chests was a single dark red rosebud.

"Snazzy, Dad?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, snazzy" Jim Valenti shot back. "Don't ya know what snazzy means?"

"Yeah I know what it means...thanks, Dad." Kyle said sincerely.

"The sash looks fine, Max; stop fiddling with it." Philip told his son.

To distinguish Max from the other grooms, he was wearing a wide maroon sash tied around his waist on the outside of his jacket. The Antarian Royal Crest was embroidered delicately onto it in gold.

The best-men wore the same outfits except that their jackets were shorter, coming down only six inches below the waist. Nor did they wear the boutonnières.

"Time for you guys to get over to the clearing, before the brides do. The hover-craft are waiting out front." Daniel reported. "I'll see you over there once I pick up Dr. Jordon and Sha're."

Daniel, Dr. Jordon and Sha're managed to arrive at the clearing just a few minutes after the others did and they fanned out to the head of each aisle, to greet the guests as they arrived. There were eleven of them, with Sha're helping Dr. Jordon and there were ten aisles to man. Not only the clearing was circular, but the set up for the sanctuary inside was circular as well, with ten sections for seating radiating out from a central raised dais. The platform was empty; no altar and no pulpit were upon it. Anything which was needed for any given ceremony was brought to the dais by the people involved.

Finally, Valaria and the President arrived; the last of the guests and Max and Jack escorted them up to a front or inner-most seat; before joining the rest of the grooms and best-men up at the dais; each of them was standing around the outer edge of the dais, facing outwards. At the same time, a priestess, an old woman with a kind face, dressed in simple long, green robes, her white hair in two long braids, which hung down her front, came in from the other side and joined them on the dais. Each bride was to enter the sanctuary from a different point on the compass; North, South, East or West and proceed up the aisle to the dais...and her groom.

And Jack noticed as he stood looking out over the congregation that the ten aisles continued on out along, it seemed, natural aisle-ways through the trees which circled the clearing. He had not noticed it before, but today with the garlands marking out those paths through the trees, Jack could see that from the central point in the clearing, one could look out and see for miles. Down three aisles, he could see the Capital, down three more aisles on the other side, he could see great mountains off in the distance and down three more aisles between those two extremes, Jack could see the much closer hills just outside the City, where the Stargate made its home. This holy place was all about being at the center; at the center of the world, both natural and man-made and being at the center of the immense congregations which had worshiped there for centuries, perhaps even millennia...and giving thanks for it all...

Suddenly four horns sounded from the four quarters of the clearing and everyone went silent, but no one stood; instead they waited expectantly and gazing down the aisles opposite from where they sat. Then a gentle music began to play, the melody as soft as a breeze. Other instruments joined in adding to the anticipation, but still fluid and soft. Next came the ringing of tiny bells, but there was a rhythm to them, as if to denote the slow marching of faeries. Then Jack noticed the gazes and craning of necks of the people seated in front of where he stood, trying to see something behind him and he turned his head enough to see. Janet Fraser had begun to slowly walk up the aisle with Tess on General Hammond's arm, following behind her. Janet had just reached the dais, General Hammond had kissed Tess on the cheek and put her hands into Kyle's and taken his seat when Cassandra started down her aisle, ninety degrees away from the one Tess had traversed. Maria, on Jim Valenti's arm came slowly after her. Step-father and daughter had just made it up to the front when Seria began walking down the aisle across the clearing from the one Maria had just walked down. Necks swiveled as Isabel began to walk down the aisle behind her bride's-maid. Philip Evans kissed his daughter on the cheek, put her hands into Alex's and took his seat, but then there was a slight pause before Sam began to glide (there was no other word for it in Jack's mind) down the aisle. Everyone's eyes were glued as Liz, on her father's arm, followed after and came up to the dais to face Max. Jeff kissed her on the cheek, put her hands into Max's and then took his seat beside Nancy.

Now the wedding party shifted around a bit. The priestess remained in the center of the dais and the brides stepped up onto it, to face their respective grooms; the couples showing their profiles to the congregation. The groom's-men stood two steps below the dais facing each of their respective bride's-maids and these couples stood two steps away from each other so that they did not block the congregation from seeing the brides and grooms who circled the dais. Sometime between Maria's and Isabel's walk down the aisle, Jack had noticed that the huge screens between the trees had been lit up and he could see thousands more people gazing out of those screens, watching with the same joy on their faces as those sitting here in the clearing.

After all of the preparations, the ceremony was a very simple one. The priestess lifted her hands and head up to the sky...

"I call upon The God, who has no name and no form, but who caused everything to be created...to bless these four couples who stand here with me in The Center today. They have come to begin their new lives together, in Your Presence and before all of these people they make their vows to one another..."

The priestess brought her head and hands down and smiled gently at Kyle and Tess, indicating them to begin their vows to one another. Their voices were soft with nerves and yet everyone in the congregation; near and far away, could hear them easily where they sat.

'It's as if we're all wearing earphones.' Jack thought to himself. 'Their voices aren't booming over us, it's as if they're standing next to each and every one of us, all at once.'

Each couple had been encouraged to write their own vows with only some gentle guidelines from the priestess on what they should include. As each couple took turns saying their vows and exchanging their rings, their words of love, commitment, healing and forgiveness rose like a light filled mist to float and pulse above their heads.

"You may now seal your unions with a kiss." The priestess told the couples, once Max and Liz; the last couple, finished saying their vows and all four couples did just that.

Jack noticed that the gazed of many in the congregation were raised above the young couples, to the pulsing mist above them and he unconsciously began to count the pulses himself. But finally the couples broke their passionate lip-locks to the gentle laughter of those watching and the mist began to dissipate.

At this point the best-men and bride's-maids stepped away from the dais to go and sit in seats reserved for them and began to clap along with the congregation; everyone grinning happily. After a few moments the priestess whispered to three of the couples and as in their rehearsal, they also left the dais to go and sit in their reserved seats, leaving just Max and Liz up on the dais with the priestess. But she too left the dais and walked down until she stood before Valaria and then bowed before her.

"Your Highness..." The priestess said indicating with her hand that the Queen Mother should now approach the dais. Valaria stood and with great dignity approached the dais but did not step up onto it. At the same time, Sam had stood up from her seat and quietly come to stand beside and just below Liz.

At the same moment the priestess had stepped off of the dais, another priest in green robes walked up to it between two Antarian Guards. In his hands he carried a crystal tray with an intricately cut crystal dome on top of it. Inside the dome lay a crown. With very little fanfare the priest bowed his head to Max, lifted the dome up off of the tray and presented the crown to his king. Max, who was blushing slightly under his tan took the crown and placed it on his own head. The priest nodded to him (to indicate that the crown was on straight) and then stepped back with the guards.

As Max was turning back to Liz with his crown on his head, Valaria stood up and with great dignity approached the dais, but did not step up onto it. Instead she curtsied deeply before Max who bent over, took her hands in his, kissed them and then pulled on them indicating that she should stand up before him.

"Your Highness." Valaria said to Max as Liz looked on with tears swimming in her eyes. "As my King's Mother did, years before, so I do now. I hereby retire my title as Queen of Antar so that you may bestow it upon your soul-mate...and my new Queen, Elizabeth Claudia Evans."

Valaria reached up and carefully removed the crown from her head and presented it with a bow, to Max. At this, Sam quietly stepped up behind Liz and carefully removed the bridal wreath from her head and then stepped back down off of the dais and took her seat again. Max then turned to Liz, the Queen's crown in his hands.

"Elizabeth Claudia Evans, I hereby ask you, here in the Presence of The God and all of Our people, do you wish to become Queen of Antar and will you accept all of the responsibilities and privileges which accompany that high rank?"

Liz gazed up into Max's serious, yet love-filled amber eyes and saw also his pride and respect for her and spoke clearly.

"I do, Your Highness." Liz then bowed her head a little to Max and lowered her eyes humbly.

Sometimes she still could not believe that all of this was happening to her; as she had called herself once years ago, "the smallest of small-town girls". Liz then felt the weight, both physical and emotional, as Max gently placed the crown on her head and then tucking his index finger under her chin to lift her face and gaze back up to him. He leaned in and chastely kissed her on each cheek and whispered "I love you" in her ear before turning back to the congregation.

"In the Presence of The God and all of you assembled here, I present your new Queen of Antar!"

Everyone cheered, there in the clearing and back on the screens as Max gently guided Liz to turn on the dais so everyone could see her. She was in a daze; this had been her wedding day and Now she had been crowned queen of an entire planet! She looked up to Max for encouragement and he smiled back down at her and then mouthed "You're doing great" as his arm tightened around her waist and his hand tightened on hers. When they finally circled back around to where Valaria still stood before the dais, Liz saw happy tears in her eyes. Valaria then curtsied deeply to her new queen, as did everyone out in the congregation, even those people from Earth and other planets. It was Liz's turn to bend down, take her mother-in-law's hands and draw her back up to stand before her. She kissed Valaria on both cheeks and whispered "Thank you for giving me such a great example and allowing me to marry your son; I love him so much." before straightening back up to stand next to her new husband and king.

After a new round of applause and cheering, the priestess came to stand before the dais, bowing to her new Royal Couple and then turned to the congregation.

"Let us celebrate these new marriages as these four couples step out into their new lives, together. The reception is out in the Park. Please come and join us."

"Thank you, Mother." Max told the priestess as he and Liz stepped down from the dais.

"May you have a wonderful life together, Your Highnesses." She said smiling.

The priest came up now carrying two crystal trays and passed one off to the priestess. They bowed and removed the crystal domes from the trays.

"Here, let me help you." Max murmured as he removed Liz's crown from her head and placed it on its crystal tray and then just as easily as he had put it on, he took off his own crown and placed it in its crystal home as well. The priests placed the domes back over the crowns and left the clearing with their guard escorts.

"Here's your wreath, Liz if you want to put it back on." Sam came up with the rest of the wedding party and held out the ring of flowers.

"Do you think I should bother putting it back on won't I be just taking it off again in a little while to throw over my shoulder?" Liz asked.

Antarian brides wear flower wreaths rather than carry bouquets, so Liz and Maria had decided that they would throw their wreaths over their shoulders as a unique way of doing the traditional "bouquet-toss".

"We're going to eat first and then dance together before any of the fun and games start, Liz." Max reminded her. "Why don't you put the wreath back on until later; you look so pretty wearing it."

"Okay." Liz said happily as Max took the wreath from Sam and placed it back on his bride's head for her. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Max replied. "Now why don't we all get to the reception?"

"Yeah, I'm starved." Jack said.

The wedding party and other family and friends hopped into the hover-craft which were waiting for them and arrived at the reception in good time. The planning committee had gone all out and there were tables loaded down with food and drink. Everyone helped themselves; Max and Liz fed each other, which got the other three couples to give that a try with varying success. After everyone had had a chance to eat, the toasts began; from each of the best-men, the fathers and even the President. Then everyone was ready to dance by the time everyone had had their say and the fathers took their daughters out onto the dance floor.

'My little girl's not only all grown up and a bride, she's a queen...of an entire planet! And I even saw her wearing a crown earlier today.' Jeff Parker thought in wonder as they slowly circled around the floor.

"I am so proud of you, Lizzy; me and Mom too. You've made so much out of yourself...the secret life you had to live as you fought to keep your boyfriend alive and all that while you were still a teenager...getting your Ph.D. and then being recruited by the SGC...And now you've finally been reunited with Max after so many hard years apart, you've married him and now you're even a queen! Ah Lizzy!" Jeff fought to keep the tears back.

"Daddy...I love you and Mom so much." Liz said also trying to keep the tears in her eyes from falling. "And I'm so glad that you found out about that secret life I led...and that you're proud of me...that means so much to me."

Father and daughter hugged wordlessly, swaying back and forth a little for several moments before breaking apart.

"Let me take you back to your anxious groom, he hasn't taken his eyes off of you once." Jeff whispered to Liz, who giggled wetly...

All four grooms got their brides back from their fathers-in-law (and General Hammond who had danced with Tess) and happily danced with them for some time. During dinner and while they had been dancing, Liz had been hearing quite a few people refer to "the twelve pulses", but she could not figure out what they were talking about.

"Max, I've been hearing nearly everyone refer to twelve pulses...what are they talking about?" Liz asked finally and Max blushed a little.

"I don't know if you noticed, during the ceremony, while we were saying or vows, a white mist began to form over our head and it gave off a pulsing light." Max began.

"Oh yeah...what was that?" Liz asked.

"It's an Antarian thing that happens during weddings, the intense emotions of the bride and groom causes it." Max explained. "Anyway, once we were invited to kiss, people began counting how many times the light pulsed, until we stopped kissing. With the four of us combined, the light pulsed twelve times...and many people believe that that signifies how many children we'll have."

"What? We're going to have twelve children?" Liz exclaimed, but Max shushed her.

"Between us four couples, Liz; not just the two of us; and it's only a myth, nothing to worry about. It's a lot like the belief that whoever catches your bouquet will be the next to marry; just some harmless fun." Max said.

"Except for today, right Max? Is everything set up?" Liz asked quietly.

"Yep, the General will set up the groundwork for us." Max replied grinning.

"Great!" Liz exclaimed happily.

Just then Amy DeLuca waded out onto the dance floor and insisted that it was time to cut the cake. And after they had fed each other a piece of cake (and Maria had been cleaned up from where Michael had missed her mouth), the other fun began. With a wink from Max, General Hammond went up to the stage and had a word with the band leader before stepping in front of the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please? For those of you who don't know me, I am General George Hammond, commanding officer of Stargate Command. I also played Dutch-uncle to Lady Tess and walked her down the aisle since she has no living male relatives to fulfill that little duty for her. And it was my honor to do so. But what I'm really up here for is to explain to anyone who's not familiar with Earth customs, two of the little games we're going to play in the next few minutes. At many Earth wedding receptions, the 'bouquet-toss' and the 'garter-throw' are two such games. The idea is that all of the unmarried ladies gather 'round the bride; she turns her back to them and throws her bouquet over her shoulder to them (or in the case of our four new brides here today, their wreaths). And it is believed that whoever catches the wreath will be the next person to marry."

There was quite a bit of giggling after that.

"Now, for all of our bachelors, we play a similar game. The groom removes the garter from his bride's...uh...leg...uh...turns his back to all of the men and throws the garter over his shoulder. I'm not sure if the same belief holds true with the men; that whoever catches the garter will be the first to marry, but I do know that whoever catches that little bit of elastic and lace here today will get a dance with the lucky lady who caught the bouquet."

"You know, George..." The President called out from where he stood nearby. "What I've always heard is that quite a few couples meet for the first time when they dance after catching the bouquet or the garter...and quite a few long and happy marriages have resulted from their having met during that one dance."

"That's very interesting, Mr. President; thank you for bringing that up, sir." The General said, winking at his co-conspirator. "So...uh...would anyone here like to play?"

Dozens of hands went up in the air and the young ladies scrambled into a grouping to one side of the stage, while the bachelors grouped themselves together on the other side. Sha're and Daniel shoved Sam and Jack, respectively, into their appropriate group and then stood back to watch.

"I think we'll do this one couple at a time since we have four couples with us here today." The General continued. "And Mr. and Mrs. Evans have told me that they would like to throw their own particular projectiles at the same time, so if that lucky couple would like to come up here onto the stage, we can all watch as Mr. Evans removes his wife's garter."

The General gave a chuckle as Max simply picked Liz up and sat her down on the edge of the stage. Max tried to slide his hand up Liz's leg without raising her skirts too much ('Thank goodness her hoop is soft enough that it can be pressed down enough so that Liz's skirts didn't just fly up in front of her face.' Max thought.) but her garter was trickier to find than he thought...or at least that is what he told the audience as he ran gentle hands up and down his lovely wife's leg...But then Max finally drew the lacy garter down and over Liz's foot and the games could commence.

Max helped Liz take off her wreath and handed it to her, winking as he did so and then both Liz and Max turned so that their backs were to their audience. Liz could feel the little tag, which Max had magically added to her wreath and concentrated on throwing it over her shoulder...and right into Sam's startled hands. Max threw the garter over is shoulder at the same time...and low and behold, if it did not just land in Jack O'Neill's outstretched palm.

General Hammond left his M.C. duties as well as Isabel and Alex, to take their turns at the wreath and garter toss and walked around the crowed to the back where Sam, Jack, Max and Liz had gathered together. He saw the President casually closing in on the two couples as well.

"I think something fishy happened during that toss." Jack told Max, half teasing, half serious.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Jack." Max replied, a twinkle in his eyes.

"What will the General think of us catching this stuff?" Sam asked, concern in her voice.

"Why don't you take another look at your wreath, Major...and your garter, Colonel?" General Hammond suggested, his own eyes twinkling with anticipation.

Sam and Jack did as they were asked and both found a surprise as Liz began to giggle and Max chuckled next to them.

"There's a medallion attached to the wreath." Sam observed.

"The garter has one too." Jack added as they took a closer look at the small metal discs.

"Mine has the Air Force seal on it." Sam exclaimed, puzzled and excited at the same time.

"Mine has the...Presidential seal." Jack said cautiously, looking up at his superiors. "What's going on here, sir...sirs?"

"These are an extra little gift to the two of you for all of your extraordinary work over the last three years." The President said. "I assume that you both understand what they and the delivery method employed here, signifies?"

"I think so...General?" Jack asked, not wishing to give anything away until he was positive that he fully understood.

"It came to our attention that you and Major Carter have...fallen in love..." General Hammond said. "And while that is against regulations, it was also pointed out to us how professionally and exceptionally you have performed your duties, in spite of, or...perhaps because of your relationship. And in recognition of the many times you have saved this planet, especially during your most recent mission...the President and I have decided to grant you a special dispensation to pursue your relationship with each other...as long as you continue to act professionally while on duty."

"Thank you very much sir...sirs." Jack replied smiling, but then he became serious again as he turned to the General.

"I've asked Sam to marry me...and she's said yes...And we were going to come and tell you after tonight, sir. To see if something could be worked out...and we were prepared to pay the consequences as well, sir."

"I think that the Goa'uld have dealt out all the repercussions that anyone can stand, Colonel; almost dieing...several times in the line of duty is good enough for us. No mention of your actions together will be made in your permanent records." The General assured them.

"Thank you very much sir." Sam said again after a moment of shocked silence.

"Thank you, General." Jack added, his shoulders losing some of their tension.

"So...have you two picked a date yet?" The President asked smiling.

"Not yet, Mr. President; Jack only asked me this morning..." Sam answered.

"Well, unless you have anymore questions, perhaps we should rejoin the party for a little while before we have to pull you away to attend the awards ceremony." The President suggested, looking around.

The other three newly married couples had almost finished their wreath and garter tosses and because of the President's tight schedule the awards ceremony, to recognize everyone who had taken part in Operation Queen Bee was being held right after the Royal Weddings, at the nearby amphitheater.

"Thanks again, General, Mr. President." Sam said sincerely.

"Yeah, thanks again, sirs." Jack added as the other two men walked away well satisfied with the conclusion of their surprise.

As soon as they disappeared into the crowd, Sam threw herself into Jack's arms and kissed him senseless.

"Oh man, I can't believe it!" Sam exclaimed after pulling away, but continuing to hug her fiancé.

"It's not as if we haven't earned it." Jack said irreverently.

"Jack." Sam scolded, pulling back a little.

"I know, Sam; we are so lucky not to be in the brig right now." Jack became serious and pulled her back into another hug.

They were brought out of their self-involved haze by giggles and chuckles coming from behind Jack.

"I'm glad that worked out so well, aren't you Liz?" Max asked.

"Yes, I am, Max." Liz agreed between giggles.

"Wait a minute...did you two have something to do with that?" Jack asked, pointing his thumb behind him in the direction the President and the General had walked in.

"Do you know how much trouble we would have been in if they hadn't decided to make an exception in our case?" Sam asked incredulously.

"Hey, hey calm down." Max said smiling gently. "Yes, I had a few words with the President, that last time he was here on Antar; I asked him how many times SG-1 had saved Earth and whether that didn't earn some special consideration for a couple who loved each other so much...But..." Max said loudly to stop any protests from Jack. "We would not have allowed them to punish you for your love...I would have wiped their memories of my conversation with the President and any talks he had held with General Hammond if necessary." Max promised.

"We don't feel guilty for what we did or what we were willing to do, to protect you and neither should either of you." Liz said sternly. "Just in the general order of things, you two deserve to be happy and in your love with each other...not to mention the extra you deserve for all you've done to keep the Earth safe."

"It wasn't just us; it was Daniel and Teal'c and all the rest of the SGC who helped save Earth." Sam said fairly.

"True, but I have a feeling that Daniel and Teal'c will receive the prize they each desire within the next year or so. And anyway, being in the military you two've lived under stricter regulations than Daniel and Teal'c have all these years." Max pointed out.

"I hope so, I really hope so." Jack said after a few moments of thought.

"Are we clear then?" Liz asked her two friends and they both nodded. "Then let's have a quick hug before you two go and change into your dress uniforms for the awards ceremony."

The friends hugged and then the two Air Force officers quick-stepped their way back to their home where they could change. A short while later, looking very impressive in their dress uniforms, Sam and Jack made it to the amphitheater, attached to the park where the wedding reception was still going strong.

The eight teams who had gone after the Goa'uld queens were there as well as many of the Antarians and SGC personnel. Most of the Antarian physicians were still busy working with the Jaffa on other planets, to remove all of their symbiotes and get their immune systems working properly. And SG-teams ten through fifteen had been left behind on Earth as a skeleton-crew, just in case something happened while everyone else was on Antar. But video equipment had been set up to send footage of the ceremony to Earth and to everyone else who wished to see it on other planets; physicians and Jaffa alike.

"We are here to acknowledge and commemorate all those who have fought the Goa'uld over many, many years, especially those who lost their lives during that fight...let us all take a moment to remember our friends and comrades who have fallen." Max Evans said as he stood on the stage and everyone bowed their heads and remembered.

SGC personnel remembered Charles Kowalski and the others from amongst their ranks who had been killed protecting Earth. Sha're remembered all of her people who had died under Goa'uld enslavement or directly at the Goa'uld hands. The Jaffa watching the ceremony while waiting to have their symbiotes removed or who were recovering from having the procedure done, remembered the hundreds, maybe even thousands of their brethren who had died while protecting and/or fighting for the false-gods they had served. And all Antarians remembered those who had died during Apophis' short-lived attack on their planet.

"But today we are here to celebrate." The President announced proudly. "And to award those of you who took part in this latest and greatest battle against the Goa'uld. Operation Queen Bee has succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. The latest reports I have received as of this morning, Earth-time, tell us that almost all of the Goa'uld have killed each other and will finish the job in the next few weeks. Those who are left, if any, will be hunted down by the Tok'ra or their own Jaffa. And all but one of the Goa'uld queens have been destroyed; one of them...we don't have her name as yet...has agreed to become the new Tok'ra queen!"

There was a spontaneous outburst of joy from the audience, begun by Jacob Carter and a few of his fellow Tok'ra, who had come to the ceremony.

"The Antarian physicians caring for this queen have scanned her thoroughly and are certain that she is honest in her wish to spawn only Tok'ra symbiotes." The President concluded after everyone had calmed down. "I would like to add that once all of the Goa'uld have been handled, we plan to inform our world about the Stargate program in perhaps one year. First Congress, then the leaders of the other major powers; China, England and France (since Russia already knows about the Stargate.) will be told. Then the rest of the U.N...and the general populace will be told at least the basics of the Stargate's existence. At that time, all Earth Stargate military personnel will be awarded this medal."

The President held up a jeweler's box and opened it. The large screen up on the stage showed a close up. The medal was an intricately carved replica of the Stargate, with its nine chevrons and all of the address symbols surrounding the inner ring and even a blue crystal in the middle to affect an open wormhole.

"Until that day, when I will be honored to hand each and every one of you this medal, the Stargate must remain top-secret. But I am here today to tell you how proud I am of all of you; the work you are doing and the sacrifices you are making..."

The crowd erupted again before General Hammond brought them to order again and everyone sat down.

"At this time, however, we will present awards to the eight teams who participated in the most critical part of Operation Queen Bee. When your name is called, please come and stand on the stage." General Hammond said before he began to read off the names.

Fifteen Humans, sixteen Antarians, one Abydonian and one Jaffa; thirty-three in all, equaling eight teams, came to the stage as their names were called under their team designations.

"And finally, I call SG-1; Colonel Jack O'Neill, Major Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson, Teal'c and Mrs. Sha're Jackson, please come forward." The General called out and the five teammates came to line up next to the other teams on stage.

The President and Max Evans then began at the far end from SG-1 to award the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal or the Antarian equivalent, respectively to each team-member; General Hammond and Liz Evans (also wearing her crown again) guiding two floating trays bearing the medals and congratulating the awardees as well, as the audience joined them in applauding each team-member.

"To Mrs. Sha're Jackson, for her heroism during Operation Queen Bee, I award the Air Medal..." Daniel kissed is wife after the medal had been hung around her neck and then joined his teammates in proudly applauding her.

There had been some discussion about which medal to award Sha're. The Air Medal was decided upon as it is allowed to be given to foreign military personnel in actual combat, alongside U.S. military personnel.

And now for SG-1." The President said, coming up before the rest of the team. "Not only for your extraordinary heroism during this most recent and most important mission, but also for your exceptional meritorious service during your years of being the SGC's elite, first-contact team; opening up the galaxy to us and protecting us from it as well...I award Colonel Jack O'Neill, Major Samantha Carter and Teal'c the Air Force Cross."

General Hammond had explained that they would have been awarded the Medal of Honor; the highest military honor, but that Congress was required to approve the awarding of that medal and they could not be informed about the Stargate, just yet.

"And to Daniel Jackson, I award the Presidential Medal of Freedom; the highest honor which may be bestowed upon a civilian."

The President, General Hammond, Max, Liz, the other seven teams up on stage and the entire audience...as well as quite a crowd of people who had gathered around the upper rim of the amphitheater, all broke out into applause and happy cheers as SG-1 were all given their awards. Everyone agreed that no one else deserved such high awards than SG-1.

To Be Concluded Soon with the epilogue (a look ten years into the future)...stay tuned!