Daniel and Ashling had been in seclusion for a month, when Daniel spotted Tomas and Neala approaching from between the hills surrounding the meadow where the cottage was located. He went inside and brought Ashling out, who ran to greet her aunt and uncle. Daniel hurried down to help bring the handcart filled with fresh supplies up to the hut. The four people worked quickly to empty the supplies into the cottage.

Tomas dragged Daniel along on a walk to the lake so that Neala could have some private time with Ashling.

"Ashling, tell me how marriage is working for you." Neala didn't bother to try and hide her curiosity from her niece.

"Daniel is…wonderful. He's considerate, gentle and strong. He's everything any woman could need in a husband." Ashling answered while continuing to drag the large sacks of flour over to store away in the open cupboard.

"But?" Neala stopped her work and turned to face her niece.

"But what? He is a good husband." Ashling kept her face turned away from her aunt.

Neala walked over to her and stood, waiting for her to stand. Ashling stopped her work and stood, finally facing the older woman. "You are keeping something from me." Neala caressed Ashling's cheek, then dropped her hand to the younger woman's shoulder, keeping her from turning away.

Ashling sighed and closed her eyes. "He's so distant. Not physically. Physically he's always here when I need help or want him. He's willing to help with all the little chores that need to be done in a home. He has quickly learned how to hunt with a bow and arrow. He is a good provider, but…" Her eyes drifted down to the floor as her voice softened. "Well, he's never shared anything about who he is. Do you know that I have no idea if he has any family? He's never mentioned his parents, or brothers and sisters, or aunts and uncles, or cousins – nothing."

Neala looked out the door and watched as Tomas and Daniel walked away from the cottage toward the lake. She saw her husband put his hand on Daniel's shoulder as they walked together, a common gesture for him. Even from the distance, she could see Daniel's posture change. He straightened up and she could feel his muscles stiffen. She walked over to the door and watched as Tomas hesitated briefly and then removed his hand from Daniel's shoulder. She could almost hear Daniel let out his breath in relief of having Tomas' hand removed.

Neala looked over her shoulder at Ashling, who had moved and was standing just behind her, watching her husband and uncle walk away. As the two men disappeared into the trees by the stream, the two women turned back into the hut. Neala tugged Ashling over to one of the chairs and gently pushed her down. She took a seat in the other chair and faced her niece.

"Ashling, some people are very private about their feelings. Daniel is a good man, but I sense a need in him to protect himself from emotional pain. The only thing we really know about his past it that his wife died after a brief marriage." She scooted her chair a little closer.

"You saw that he was with her when she died violently. Can you imagine how he must have felt? A strong man, like Daniel, would believe that it is his job to protect his family. Don't you think he might be feeling that it's his fault she died? That he should have prevented it somehow?" Neala placed her hand over Ashling's fingers that were nervously picking at the table between them. With her other hand, Neala turned Ashling's face toward hers.

"You know, he's in that position again. He married you to protect you from your brother and to help you gain your rightful place as ruler of Aeire. Don't you think that might bring back those feelings of inadequacy? Don't you think he might be struggling with the fear that he might fail you, as he feels he failed her? And couldn't that fear keep him from wanting to love you, as he did her? He probably thinks he couldn't survive a loss like that again."

Neala released Ashling and leaned back in her chair, waiting for Ashling to process what she had said. Ashling turned her grey eyes to her aunt's identically colored ones and a tear slowly trickled down her cheek. "Oh, Aintin, I have been so selfish! I've been thinking about what I don't have and not about what I do have. We've been alone now for a month, and I don't feel like I know him any better than I did on our wedding day. That's been making me feel sorry for myself."

Ashling got up and went back to lean against the frame of the open door, looking toward the lake where Daniel had gone with her uncle. "I haven't even thought about how much he's lost. I can't imagine losing my home and family and know that I've have no chance to come back. I guess it would be very difficult to talk about it with anyone." She turned back into the room to face her aunt. "What should I do? How can I help him?"

Neala rose from her chair, walked over to Ashling and gathered her in her arms. "Ah, little one, you can't make him share his heart. A man is different from a woman. He will feel loved by you as you share your body freely with him. 'A man gives love to get sex and a woman gives sex to get love.' An old saying, but often true. Give to him and don't ask anything from him that he doesn't freely give to you. Eventually, he'll hear your heart and share his."

"Aintin Neala, you are so wise in the ways of men and marriage. Uncail Tomas is lucky to have you."

"Aye, that he is girl and I won't be letting him forget it!" Neala leaned over and gave her niece a kiss on the cheek. "You know, it took years for me to teach your uncle how much he loves me. It doesn't happen overnight. Be patient. He'll learn."

Neala pulled back into the hut and began laying kindling for a fire while Ashling finished putting away the supplies. After several minutes of working in silence, Neala cleared her throat and asked, "So, is there a bun in the oven yet?"

Ashling dropped the crock of butter she'd been holding onto the table with a thud. "Aintin! That is something between a husband and wife!"

"Not this little one, Ashling. The first child you bare will become future ruler. That makes the answer one every good citizen of Aeire wants to know. Are you hiding something from Daniel?" Neala's eyes twinkled at the though of a new baby in the family for her to spoil.

"Well, my link with the moon has been broken, but it's too soon to know for sure. In another month, when you come back again, I'll know." Ashling picked up a damp cloth and began wiping down the table. "Um, I haven't said anything to Daniel yet because I don't want to frighten him."

"Frighten him? You think he wouldn't want a child? He's knows that his responsibility in this marriage was to protect you from Iollan and to place a child in your belly. Why would that frighten him?" Neala dug out a couple of onions and began prepare them for making a stew for supper.

"You make it sound so cold and…and hard. As though his only use is like a horse sent out to stud and once I'm with child he's back in the barn, waiting for his next opportunity to sire another foal." Ashling plunked several potatoes on the table to scrub and dice for the stew. "I'll not be saying anything to him until I'm sure."

XXXXXXXXXX

Tomas dropped his hand away from Daniel's shoulder as they walked away from the cottage toward the lake. He was mildly surprised at the younger man's uncomfortable reaction to the casual gesture. It appeared that Daniel had more going on in his mind than the charms a new bride could offer.

"So, Daniel, how's married life?" Tomas hoped to divert Daniel's attention to something more pleasant.

"Fine. You know I've been married before, so it's not nearly the adjustment I had to make the first time." Daniel kept his eyes focused on the path ahead, not wanting to look into Tomas' face.

"Yes, I knew you were married for a short time and that your wife died." Tomas stopped, waiting for Daniel to explain or add something else to his comment about his first marriage.

"Ashling's been teaching me how to hunt with a bow and arrow."

Well, that was certainly a quick change of subject, Tomas thought to himself.

"It's certainly much more challenging than I would have ever thought. I think she was embarrassed that her husband was unskilled in the manly art of archery." Daniel smiled at the memory of Ashling's shock when Daniel asked her to teach him how to use the archery equipment.

Tomas glanced sideways at Daniel as they continued their slow walk. "Ah, Ashling was brought up with more 'masculine' skills than most of our young women because she's the next ruler of Aeire. As such, she'll be expected to lead our army, if needed. She's really very good, better than most men, at fighting. She's also very educated."

Daniel was aware of Ashling's intelligence. He'd been teaching her how to play chess with the travel set he had in his backpack and while she hadn't beaten him yet, he could see her quick understanding of the game's strategy. He had hoped to find time to play a game with Sam during their last mission. Sam. Jack. Teal'c. Home. Oh, god, am I ever going to get used to being alone?

For eight years, he'd been able drop in on Sam in her office to talk out a solution to a problem, or count on Jack to wander into his lab and fiddle with priceless objects as if they were children's toys. Teal'c had been available at night when he couldn't sleep because of nightmares. Then they were all gone. Sam to Area 51. Teal'c to organize the free Jaffa. Jack to Washington. And he'd been alone – again. Now he was gone and had little chance of seeing any of them again.

Ashling wasn't aware that he'd walked back to the DHD twice in the month they'd been at the cottage. He was still hoping they hadn't given up searching for him. He knew Jack and Sam would never give up, but he could hardly expect Landry to permit a continuous search.

Tomas watched Daniel's expression flicker though several emotions before settling into a frown. This was not the face of a man on his honeymoon, when his only concern should be how soon he could get his bride back into bed. He remembered his month at this cottage with Neala and how they simply lived to be with each other, knowing that when they returned, they'd have to shoulder responsibilities again, and willingly for sure. But for that one month they'd only needed to think about each other. Daniel seemed to have much more on his mind than his beautiful – and willing – bride.

Hoping to lighten Daniel's mood, Tomas asked, "So, any signs of a new páiste?

Daniel stumbled, thrown out of his sad reverie by the unexpected question. "Um, well, she's…" He blinked several times and then continued, "Ashling hasn't said anything to me, but in the month that we've been together, she hasn't had… Um, there's been no…" For god's sake! I'm an anthropologist! I'd have no trouble talking about the mating habits of any culture, but I can't answer a simple question about a baby from my wife's uncle!

"Ah! So, it's possible she's carrying a child. That is wonderful news." Tomas was amused by Daniel's uncomfortable behavior, but glad to see that he hadn't be too embarrassed to fulfill his job as a husband. He unconsciously clapped Daniel on the shoulder in congratulations, only to have Daniel pull away at the too familiar touch.

The path finally broke through the trees and the two men found themselves on the shore of the lake. Tomas turned to Daniel, "Fall will be here soon. It gets very cold up in these mountains. I brought you an ax and a saw so that you can begin to cut wood for fire on the cold days. If Ashling is with child, then you'll be coming back down to the village in the early spring for the birth, but that means a long, cold winter. Next month we'll bring enough supplies for you for about five or six months. Between that and hunting, you two should be able to get through the winter quite well."

Daniel nodded. "I really should get back and help Ashling put the heavy things away." He chewed on his lower lip for a moment. "Um, Tomas? Ashling doesn't know that I think she's pregnant, so don't say anything to her. She needs to be able to tell me when she's ready."

They headed back to the cottage.

SGC

Sam hesitated at General Landry's door. If he had been Hammond or O'Neill she would have known what to expect, but she didn't know Landry well yet. Throwing back her shoulders, she knocked on the door.

"Come in, Colonel."

Sam entered and stood in front of the large desk that dominated the room. "You wanted to see me, sir."

"Sit, Colonel." General Landry looked up and dreaded what he had to say next. "I know how much Dr. Jackson means to you… Hell, how much he means to Earth, but I can't authorize any more time spent on a fruitless search." He raised his hand in a gesture that said stop, when he saw her open her mouth to begin a protest. "Look. You've spent over a month focusing on a search and no trace of him has been found. Our allies are all aware of his disappearance. You've done everything you could think of the figure out what happened. It's time to stop."

Sam knew when the subject was closed. "Yes, sir." She stood and turned to leave, then hesitated.

"Colonel?" Landry was impatient to his next meeting.

"Sir… It's just that… God, sir, it's Daniel! How am I supposed to just give up?" Sam's blue eyes betrayed her feelings for the missing man.

"Colonel, you just do what soldiers have been doing for thousands of years. You suck it up and just go on."

páiste – child