Author: roseofthegate
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em; not even in my dreams. ;o)
A/N: Okay, no excuse for the long time in between updates. Please read and review.
There will be only one more chapter after this one…the story's coming to a close. Enjoy!
This is an un-beta-ed chapter because I was so anxious to get it posted!
Allison's Point of View
Daniel and I had decided not to have a wedding rehearsal mainly because our wedding party consisted of Sam and General O'Neill as the maid of honor and the best man. I mean, I'm pretty Sam can walk down an aisle and that Jack can stand next to Daniel…maybe not still but he could stand there. So, instead of a wedding rehearsal Sam took me out to a karaoke bar…and what an experience that was!
"So, Aly," Sam said innocently from the driver's seat of her Volvo, "what's your favorite song?" Cassie, in the back seat, leaned forward slightly to hear my response.
I looked at her oddly. 'What an odd question,' I thought but then again I was still unaware of where we were going for my 'bachalorette party' as Cassie had dubbed. I really didn't care where as long as it wasn't someplace…untasteful. Luckily, Sam had agreed whole-heartedly. "Well," I began, "I don't really know if I really have a favorite but…" I'm sure if I had looked at Sam at this moment I would have seen a mischievous look on her face; but I didn't. "…I like A Moment Like This, The Trouble With Love Is, and Low, all by Kelly Clarkson. I also like Sara Evans' songs and Rascal Flatts' songs o name a few." Man, did I ever shoot myself in the foot by telling her and Cassandra Fraiser that. Shortly after we'd arrived at the karaoke bar, Sam and Cassie disappeared together after ordering me a strawberry-peach margarita and settling me in a booth. I noticed this but though nothing of it. BIG MISTAKE. About fifteen minutes after Sam and Cassie had reappeared and settled down in our booth, one of the biggest surprises of the night came.
"And our next song is going to be sung by Miss Allison Cornnett, who is having her last bash as a single woman tonight," the DJ announced. "Come on up, Allison!"
I blushed when I heard this. So that's what they'd been up to! Damn it! So I stood up and smoothed my black miniskirt and straightened my top as I made my way up to the stage. "What am I singing?" I asked the DJ softly.
"This time?" he asked and I closed my eyes in mortification. "Well, Low by Kelly Clarkson. Break a leg, miss." With that he gently pushed me to the front by the monitor with lyrics.
The music began to play and I relaxed as I moved away from the monitor. I knew this song well enough to sing it.
"Everybody's talking;
but they don't say a thing
They look at me with sad eyes
but I don't want their sympathy…"
I sang my way through it with ease and earned a loud, roaring applause when I finished. I smiled and placed the microphone back on the stand. Before I stepped off the stage, I stopped by the DJ and asked him something. He nodded and a few moments later I made my way back to Sam and Cassie, thinking, 'Revenge is sweet!"
When I sat down, Sam and Cassie were gaping at me. "Where'd you learn to sing?" Sam asked incredulously.
"Me? Sing? No…" I said in reply. I sing for a hobby because it helps me relax. I often accompanied myself by playing the piano.
"No, seriously, Aly," Cassie said firmly. "You sounded better than Kelly Clarkson singing that song." I looked at her calmly and snorted softly in disbelief.
"Has Daniel ever heard you sing?" Sam asked.
"Yeah. A couple times," I replied faintly, savoring the sweetness of the memories.
"And the next song will be preformed by a duo of ladies, Misses Samantha Carter and Cassandra Fraiser. Come on up, ladies!" the DJ's voice cut into our conversation. Two sets of eyes from across the table narrowed and glared at me. I smiled all too sweetly. "Go on; don't want to keep the audience waiting!" I urged. Wait 'til the saw what song I chose for them! "And these lovely ladies will be performing Brooks and Dunn's latest, Play Something Country," the DJ announced.
The looks on their faces were all too precious. Their song was over all too soon and two very pissed Colonel and teenager were marching back to me.
"I HATE country!" Cassie hissed vehemently at me.
I arched my eyebrow. "So why do you have a Rascal Flatts' CD and a Gretchen Wilson CD in your car?" She blushed and shut her mouth.
Sam had resumed her glare from earlier. "Revenge is sweet, isn't it?" I asked.
"Hmph!" was all she had to say.
"I'm sure I'll be going up again soon," I continued. "Would you like another go at it?"
"No," she said stubbornly.
"Truce then?" I suggested.
"Terms?" Sam was giving out words like a miser gives out his gold.
"No one gives that DJ or any DJ anymore songs and I will complete the songs you put in for me."
I received a long, hard stare before Sam extended her hand and said, "Deal." I shook her hand and then she signaled the waitress for another beer. She's so like the General in matters like this…it's just not funny!
I woke up the next morning and stared at my ceiling for a moment before I realized that it was my wedding day! My wedding day! Today! God!
I quickly got up and put on my running clothes. I didn't have any reason to break my habit of running each morning, and so I ran a good two miles before coming back home and making a pot of coffee. As I sipped my coffee, I thought about last night and smiled; it had been fun.
I had a quick breakfast of granola and orange juice. Then I made sure my house was sparkling clean; the wedding ceremony and reception were taking place here. Sam would be coming over around 09:30 and my neighbor's daughter, Kelli, would be here around 11:00. I had invited all my neighbors to my wedding and reception because we are very close. Oh! Mom and Dad's flight gets in at 08:30; can't be late for that! I checked my watch; it was 07:00. I had time to shower.
"Allison, sweetheart, come give your parents a hug!" my mother instructed the second she laid eyes on me.
"Ma! Dad!" I cried happily. "How was your flight?"
"Lovely and uneventful, Al," my dad replied as he hugged me. I was a huge tomboy when I was younger and Dad had called me Al because I wouldn't tolerate any 'femininish' nicknames.
"We can catch up while I take you home," I said and began working my way to the door.
"What's the rush, Al?" Dad asked, following me.
"The army of people start arriving at 9:30. My maid-of-honor will be there then. My wedding coordinator and her crew, the caterer will arrive at 10:00. I want to be there when they arrive." My parents nodded and we hurried to my car and homeward bound.
"Is that what you always wear?" my mother asked snidely as I drove. I glanced quickly at what I had thrown on in my rush to be on time to pick my parents up. It was a slightly revealing black camisole and a pair of nicely fitted jeans. Before I could answer, my mother continued, "Because if it is, I now know exactly what type of man you're marrying." I pressed my lips together and let my mother continue. "You're marrying a man who's going to sit at home all day in his underwear, drinking while you're working your fingers off and when you come home, he'll have nothing but emotional and physical abuse for you."
I tried to imagine Daniel like that and found it impossible. "Mom, most days I get up and put on my dress uniform for work, heels, make-up, the whole enchilada. If not that, I'm in my BDU's. I threw this on to come and get y'all because it was quick and there and honestly…I can't see my Daniel like that. He has a Ph.D. in archaeology and knows over twenty-three languages, okay? Don't worry about me. I've been in the Air Force for years now. You pick up things."
Shortly afterwards we came to my home. Laura, my wedding coordinator, was early and waiting for me. I signaled Laura to wait a moment as I showed my parents to the guest bedroom in the basement. After making sure my parents were set for a while, I went to see Laura. "What's up?" I asked, noting the look of worry on her face.
"You know that second sweetheart table you requested?" I nodded. "The company we're renting from is refusing to rest it to us unless we pay full price for another separate table; before they were giving us a discount."
Jack had informed me the other day that he'd been promoted and put in charge of Homeworld Security, Hammond's old post in Washington, which means he's no longer Sam's CO and, well, I think the picture paints itself. The problem is Jack doesn't have the guts to just tell Sam what he told me. So Daniel and I decided to set up another sweetheart table, a table for two, on the balcony off the guest bedroom, which overlooks the patio where the reception is taking place. The point is to give them some one-on-one time without a ton of people watching them. To me, it seemed worth the extra seventy-five dollars.
"Get it. It's important enough. You have the flowers and linens for it, right?" Laura nodded and whipped out her cell phone, talking into it a million words per minute.
I smiled. Everything was going perfectly.
Sam arrived soon after with Cassie in tow. One look at my friend's face and I went to start up the coffee maker. She came and settled into a chair in the breakfast nook. "One too many last night?" I asked. Sam nodded wearily and a few minutes later I gave her a mug of coffee and two Advils.
Just before the hairstylist and make-up artist showed up, I changed into the undergarments that I would wear underneath my dress and put a robe on over them. Then the torture began. Don't get me wrong, I'm fond of being pampered and all but getting my hair done for my wedding was shear torture. I had picked a simple hairstyle: a bun with my long bangs side-swept. Very chic and sophisticated. Instead of a tiara, I had flowers placed around the bun where the tiara would be. The flowers were white lilies, red roses, and golden orchids and mums to be exact.
I glanced at my watch when my hair was finished. Oh man! Three hours to go!
Sam's Point of View
The beauticians were done with me fairly quickly and Ally asked me to go meet the guys when they came. I had already changed into my deep midnight blue silk gown when I went to meet General O'Neill, Daniel, Teal'c, and Sergeants Harriman and Siler. They came early too because Daniel wanted to meet his parent-in-law-to-be's in person before he married Ally. Sergeants Harriman and Davis were the official photographers of the ceremony and reception. Apparently it was what they both did for a hobby and had offered their services.
Anyway, the first person I saw was Ja—I mean General O'Neill. I glanced over him and had moved onto inspecting Daniel from a distance when I realized that the sun was glinting off the insignia of a Major General…not a Brigadier General. I made a mental note to ask the General about that as I walked over and greeted them with a smile.
Jack's Point of View
My God, did Sam look gorgeous in that dress. I mean, unearthly gorgeous not just hot and sexy…I have to find a way to tell her the great news…and risk being rejected, but Spacemonkey's got a terrible case of the pre-wedding jitters…may be T could watch him for me….
Omnipotent, Third Person
About ninety minutes to "I do"
"Knock-knock"
"Kelli, honey, could you get that?" Allison asked as Sam, Laura, and Cassie finished buttoning up the back of the bodice of her dress. The blonde teen opened the door to find a serious-looking, gray-haired USAF officer. Her eyes widened in awe. "Uh…hi…"
General O'Neill smiled kindly. "May I come in?" Kelly nodded shyly and moved out of the way. Allison turned when she was finished to see her visitor.
"Jack!" She moved as quickly as she could to hug her friend. "How are you? I'm really nervous, ya know? I mean, think about all the things that could go wrong—"
He grasped her firmly by the shoulders. "Allison. Inhale." She did so. "Exhale. You okay now?" She nodded. "Okay. Siler and Walter want you to be down for the pre-wedding photo-shoot in twenty, and I was wondering if I could steal Sa—uh Colonel Carter for a moment."
"Of course. Um, do you know if my relatives have arrived yet?"
Jack nodded. "They have. They're in the gardens, near the ceremony site."
"Thanks," Allison said as he and Sam left.
When Sam and Jack emerged from the house, he gallantly offered her his arm. She took it and they began strolling in the extensive garden.
Across the street at the same time
There she was. Today was the perfect day. The perfect day to ruin all of their lives. O'Neill, Jackson, that woman who called herself a psychologist and most of all his 'precious' ex-wife.
Omnipotent
"When did you get promoted, sir?" Sam asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Last Monday," Jack continued on hurriedly before he lost the moment and the courage. "I'm moving to Washington to be Head of Homeworld Security. You…"
"You're not in command of the…Complex any more?" she asked softly, her eyes full of hope.
He nodded. Looking into each other's eyes, they found what they were looking for, hoping for and embraced. She melted into his arms, happy to finally be there.
But the moment couldn't last. "You!" Pete Shanahan came hurtling into the garden towards Jack and Sam. He threw a wild punch at O'Neill and missed. He was quickly subdued by Jack and the police were called to arrest one of their own for disturbing the peace and assault. Laura, Allison's wedding coordinator, oversaw this and made sure it didn't reach Allison's attention until well after her honeymoon was over.
Daniel knocked on the door to Allison's parents' room in the finished basement. Robert Cornnett, her father, answered and beckoned Daniel in. Daniel took the initiative. "I'm Daniel Jackson. You must be Aly's dad." He extended his hand. Robert took and shook it.
"I'm Rob. I believe we spoke when you asked for my daughter's hand?" Daniel smiled; noticing that Aly's mother was scrutinizing him. Robert, also noticing this, beckoned her to come join them. "This is my wife, Janice."
"Pleasure to meet you," Daniel said politely. Janice smiled grudgingly and offered no words to Daniel. Daniel and Robert spoke for a few more minutes before heading up to the garden where Daniel and Allison's family and friends were waiting for the ceremony to begin.
It was the time, the time for Daniel and Allison to be joined in marriage. Allison's mother was playing the harp sweetly on the corner of the raised pavilion, which was elegantly decorated with red roses, white lilies, and golden chrysanthemums and orchids, where the ceremony would take place. At a signal from Laura, Janice changed to an elegant, almost march like song. Daniel and Jack filed out from behind the hedge and onto the dais. Then Sam glided down the aisle in her silk gown to stand opposite Jack on the dais. When the wedding party was in place, Janice began the wedding march. In the house, behind the closed and curtained French doors, Allison nervously fidgeted with her bouquet of red roses, white lilies and yellow orchids and chrysanthemums one last time before she took her father's arm. "You ready, sweetie?" Robert asked. Allison nodded and looked at Laura. Laura held up three fingers, and she and her assistant grasped the handles on the doors. Two fingers…and one. The doors opened and Allison could be seen by all.
On her father's arm, Allison smiled nervously as she was conducted down the aisle. When she reached the dais, Daniel stepped down to take his bride. Robert kissed his daughter's check and then placed her hand in her groom's. Daniel leaned forward slightly and murmured in his bride's ear, "You're beautiful."
"Thank you," she whispered back, and they stepped up to the minister, who was Allison's uncle and godfather, to be married. They exchanged their vows first in English and then they said vows of their own creation in a mixture of Spanish, Italian, and Russian.
The minister then instructed Daniel to take Allison's hand. He did so and repeated the vow intoned by the minister as he placed the wedding band on her ring finger on her left hand. "Allison, with this ring, I thee wed."
Allison did the same, also saying, "Daniel, with this ring, I thee wed."
And moments after they had exchanged both rings and vows, Daniel and Allison were declared before God and everyone present, man and wife.
A/N: Okay, that the end of the chapter, but not the story. There's an epilogue after this, which will be S/J shippy and will (hopefully) tie up all the loose ends and question that you may have. As always please, read and REVIEW! (I think 'review' is one of my most typed words! lol
Love from Ohio,
Jenn
P.S. I wrote a one-shot called "The Story of the Alterans". It's not long and my muse and myself would be much obliged if you would go and read it!