December 2010

She had officially gotten clearance from the President of the United States. Cameron begged and pleaded, stating that it wasn't fair that the future wife of the leader of SG-1 didn't know what he and their friends actually did for a living.

Sam had written a recommendation, Jack went to Washington with Cameron, Daniel protested and wrote a report as to why it was in the best interest of the woman to know and understand. And Teal'c, he just stood there for moral support, and to stare threateningly at the powers that be.

And now Penny was sitting in the briefing room, surrounded by guards, and the leaders of SG-1 through SG-19. Sam was video conferenced in, and was sitting in the livingroom of her house, with a smile on.

"Okay, let's do this," Jack smiled walking in from his office. "Penny, a few people you need to know, these are leaders of the SG teams one through nineteen, Cameron Mitchell."

"She knows me," Cameron said under his breath, Jack looked at him and moved on.

"Louis Ferretti, Albert Reynolds, Jordan Howe, Kristen Altman, Amanda Barns, Isaac Long, John Strong, Elliot Benton, Henry Boyd, Martin Edwards, Renee Barret, David Dixon, Thomas Graham, Tracey Aston, Ashley Wolfe, Laurel Thomas, Matthew Reeves, and Alison Brown," as Jack announced, each nodded their head at the woman sitting at the end of the table. "Colonels, this is Penelope Dean."

"Nice to meet you all," Penny smiled, as she shot Cameron a look, who nodded in return.

"Miss Dean, all of these men and women before you lead their teams off world, to alien planets, and have helped save Earth from destruction countless times," Jack continued. "This is going to be a long one, so get comfortable. Sam?"

Smiling from the camera, Sam waved and opened her mouth to speak. Penny sat there, taking everything in, how could she believe what they were telling her. Never had she ever thought there was life on other planets, let alone other galaxies. Races that wanted to kill them, take over.

"As you can assume, Teal'c, is also an Alien," Alison Brown, smiled. "He became a part of this on going mission during the first active year of the program. After General O'Neill and his team returned to Earth from Abydos, the first time, Dr. Jackson remained. A year later, our gate was compromised and the first version of SG-1 went through the gate, and happened to recover Teal'c, who was busy trying to overthrow his System Lord."

"However what you might not know," Ashley Wolfe added, "is that there are several SGC approved aliens living on Earth. Those around you know, and I believe you also know them. Cassandra Frasier, was rescued from a planet that was devastated and murdered by a System Lord Nerti. She was adopted by Dr. Janet Frasier the head of medicine on the base for many years until her murder during an off world battle. The other I'm sure you know quite well is Vala Mal Doran."

"Vala?" Penny asked, shooting a concerned look around the table.

"Don't worry, Vala is harmless," Sam replied from the screen. "She and Daniel have a long, and very complicated story, involving linking themselves together by means of an alien device. Their romance sprung from there!"

"Sure, call it romance," Cameron replied. "With permission of the General, I'd like to show Penny the gate."

"By all means, I think we're done here for the briefing. Colonels you are dismissed, and I'm going to get some cake."

"No you're not," Sam said as Jack dropped his head, as the leaders looked at him and smiled knowingly.

"Forgot she was there," he said before turning to the screen.

"Cameron?"

"A lot to take in, I know," Cameron replied. "Come, I want to show you." Nodding, Penny took Cameron's hand and followed him down the stairs. "Walter, my friend. Wanna pop the blast doors open?"

"Of course Colonel Mitchell," Walter replied. "I'm Walter Hariman, I'm the main gate technician here."

"Penny, this is the Stargate," Cameron smiled as the blast doors lifted, and the gate stood in its majestic glory. "You're in for a treat, Ash is taking her team for a little recon," he said as the team walked into the gateroom.

"Dial her up!" Ashley Wolfe called a Walter nodded.

"Well Samantha, let's check that baby," Katie Adams, the base OB/GYN smiled as she squeezed the blue gel onto Sam's stomach. "Still on bedrest?"

"She doesn't get up," Jack replied from his spot at Sam's head. "I make sure she's in bed, and only gets out of bed for twenty minutes everyday, like your instructions."

"Good, we'll get a chance to check how you're doing, see if we can get you off bedrest," Katie smiled, as she ran the ultra sound device over her stomach. "Ah ha, there he is."

"He?" Sam asked, looking at Jack and at the screen.

"It looks like a boy," Katie smiled. "Just the way he's position, it could be a finger though."

"Nope, that's a boy," Jack replied as she stared at the sonogram.

"Well, he looks good, definitely bigger than I expected, but that's really good," Katie explained. "And there, is the face."

Sam looked at the monitor and stared at the 3D image of the child inside of her. The first real image, the child was alive, and well, and here she was a mother to be. She'd seen pictures before, was with Vala a few times to go to the Doctor, and had seen Lukas before he came to be.

"Let's take a look at you."

"Vala?" Daniel called as he walked into the house, kicking off his shoes, and dropping his bag and coat by the door. "Vala?"

"One second!" Vala's voice called, and he listened, she was upstairs. Walking into the livingroom, Daniel sighed. Hurricane Lukas stuck again, the boy who just began to walk, had learned all his toys could be scattered around the livingroom like there was no tomorrow. Sure they could put them in his room, but both decided that's where Lukas would sleep, not play, so toys were placed downstairs.

Vala was also doing laundry, as the kitchen table held a half folded hamper, and a few pots were sitting on the counter. Dinner, walking into the kitchen, he opened the lid, Spaghetti again. Neither of them could cook, so they had made it so that there was a set schedule of who made dinner. Usually when it was Lukas' turn, it was spaghetti. Lukas got to "cook" once a week, which really meant, it was his favourite dinner, spaghetti.

It looked like they had already eaten, by the mess of his high chair. Which meant, they were in the bath. Grabbing a plate, filling it quickly, Daniel placed his plate in the microwave, before grabbing a few containers so he could put the left overs away.

It was days like today he loved coming home to someone, to warm food and usually a slobbery kiss from his son.

"Hi Darling," Vala greeted the baby plastered on her hip, dressed in his footie pajamas.

"Hey," Daniel smiled as he leaned over and gave Lukas a kiss. "Hi buddy."

"Here take him, I'll finish up," Vala said handing Lukas over to Daniel, who lifted the child high in the air.

"My plate is in the microwave," Daniel said as he set Lukas down on the floor. "Listen we have to talk."

"About what?" Vala asked handing him his plate, and moving to put the leftovers in the fridge.

"I was offered a position, something I've dreamed of doing in a very long time," Daniel replied sitting down on the couch, so he could watch Lukas.

"That's wonderful darling," Vala smiled as she moved towards the laundry. With Daniel home, it meant he could watch Lukas while she finished up what she started.

"Its an expedition," Daniel continued putting his plate down on the coffee table. "On a planet, without a gate. We'd be dropped off by the Hammond, and picked up five months later."

"What?" Vala asked dropping the pair of Daniel's underwear she was folding.

"I," he said looking at Vala, before glancing at Lukas. "I wouldn't be mentioning this if I didn't think it was the opportunity of a lifetime."

"Are you seriously considering this?" Vala asked as Daniel nodded.

"Daniel, you have a 10 month old son, and a pregnant girlfriend, and you want to leave?" she asked, staring at him. "Lukas, no."

Daniel looked over and saw Lukas reaching for his plate. "Lukas," he said grabbing the plate from the baby, who screwed up his face. Moving to put the plate on the island, he looked at Vala. "I understand what I'm asking you to do."

"To be a single mother, all over again!"

"I know, you'd still get my paycheques every month, so you can still be at home with Luke," Daniel explained.

"You think this is just about the money?" she demanded glaring at him. "We're not going to do this in front of him."

"I'll put him down," Daniel said going to pick up Lukas. "Bottle in the fridge?"

"Yeah," Vala growled going over and almost ripping the fridge door open, pulling out a bottle, and tossing it into the microwave.

"Vala," Daniel started.

"No, you go put your son to bed," she said turning around, grabbing his plate. "We'll continue this when he's in bed."

"Fine," Daniel grumbled. "Say night night to Mommy."

"Sweet dreams baby," Vala smiled placing a kiss on Lukas' forehead. "I love you." Giving Daniel the warmed bottle, she placed one last kiss to Lukas before he moved away.

Moving back to the laundry, Vala starred and dropped her head. Call it the hormones, or Daniel and his stupidity. But she was angry, beyond angry. They had chosen to keep this second baby, and now he was willing to leave and return only when she was about to deliver.

Picking up the clothes on the table, she threw into the hamper, and moved to the livingroom, still scattered with toys. Groaning she started to pick them up, and putting them in the toybox.

"Vala, I wouldn't have mentioned it if I wasn't seriously thinking it would be a fantastic opportunity. It's only five months, I'll be back before you're due."

"What about Lukas? He adores you, what's going to happen when he can't see you Daniel?"

"We'll be able to talk, the Hammond is dropping satellites, so we can, so he'll be able to talk to me…" Daniel tried to reason.

"That's your solution?" she demanded.

"God damn it Vala! I'm trying here," he yelled back.

"This is your family Daniel!"

"You think I don't know that Vala? You don't think I didn't think this all through before I came home to tell you? I know what I'm asking you to give up, and I know what I'm giving up, but I'm asking you to understand Vala!"

"Understand that you're willing to give up your family?"

"I'm not giving you up! Why can't you understand that? I'm working, on something I always wanted to do, which happens to be what they pay me for!" Daniel argued back as he threw a toy into the box.

"It's not the same Daniel," Vala sighed. "Look if you think it's best for all of us, then go, I'm not your wife, I'm not going to stop you."

Daniel looked at Vala. "I…"

"No Daniel, you make the choice," she said looking at him straight in the eye. "You have clean clothes on the table, don't bother coming to bed. At the moment I don't want to talk to you."

"Jesus Christ Vala," Daniel groaned as he watched Vala walk upstairs.

"Hello!" Sam called as she entered the Jackson house, since coming off bedrest she was out and moving more and more every day.

"In the kitchen," Vala smiled from the kitchen, Lukas plastered on her hip, to keep him away from the presents that surrounded the tree. Ever since their argument a week ago, Daniel had been staying at the base. Which meant Vala was doing everything for Lukas, from the time he woke up, to about Dinner, when Daniel would come home to bathe and put their son to bed. Usually she'd have Daniel's help in the morning, and on days like today, she didn't want to admit she missed it. Lukas had been throwing a fit all day, since the moment he woke up, and Daniel wasn't there to greet him in his crib. Which meant Vala was still in her pajamas, as he had decided, no Daddy, meant he did not want to be put down.

"Daniel already leave for work?" Sam asked as she held her stomach staring at the kitchen, and seeing no sign Daniel was there. She looked at Vala, who was still pajama clad, and Lukas who was fighting a she tried to slide him into his high chair.

"He didn't come home last night," Vala replied, as she readjusted Lukas.

"What's going on?" Sam asked, her brows furring.

"We fought, he's been staying at the base," Vala replied as she placed Lukas in his highchair. "Can you pass me that bowl of cheerios?"

"What do you mean Daniel's been at the base?" Sam asked handing the bowl. "What happened?"

"He's going on an expedition," Vala replied putting the box of cheerios back in the cupboard. "To a planet without a gate, for five months."

"What?" Sam exclaimed staring at her friend. "You're serious?"

"Leave it to Daniel to run away," Vala sighed as she turned to Lukas. "Your Daddy is driving me wacko."

"I'll talk to him," Sam said pulling out the stool, that was tucked under the kitchen island.

"He's set on going," Vala replied. "He came over to put Lukas to bed last night, and said that it was now an order. There is no saying no."

"Jack surely can reverse orders. It's my base, he can't go, if I say no," Sam reasoned, as she took a bite of an apple, from the bowl sitting in front of her.

"Samantha," Vala sighed as Lukas threw his cereal at her. "It is what it is. Lukas, stop throwing food!"

Lukas screwed up his face, and burst into hysterics, as Vala closed her eyes and turned around. Grabbing the baby from his highchair, Vala sighed almost angrily. "I'll be back."

"Give him to me," Sam said standing up, taking Lukas and placing him on her hip. "Go take a minute, I got him."

"Thank you," Vala whispered softly, as she turned and basically ran out of the kitchen and upstairs.

Sam looked at Lukas, who had his face screwed up, as he clung to his aunt. "You feel it don't you? Your mommy and daddy are fighting." Grabbing the box of Cheerios, she moved to the couches. Sitting on the couch, she placed Lukas on her lap, and he started lightly smacking her popped stomach. "What do you say we eat some breakfast?"

"Ba ba," Lukas chimed as he openly took the cheerios handed to him. Sam smiled and allowed her nephew to continue to hit her belly while he ate, chiming "ba ba".

"Thank you Samantha," Vala whispered softly as she walked back into the room, watching her son eat.

"Anytime, I've been thinking," Sam said as she looked at Lukas and made a face at him. "I can send The Hammond, complete with a gate, so if anything happens, he can be beamed and gated back to Earth."

"Sup Jackson," Cameron said coming into Daniel's office.

"Cameron," Daniel replied looking up. "I thought you were heading to Kansas?"

"I am in the morning, takin Penny to meet the whole fam," he explain as he picked up a notebook that was on the table.

"Its Lukas' first Christmas," Daniel smiled as he looked at the picture of Lukas sitting in Santa's lap, a giant smile on his face.

"Maybe you should consider going home Jackson," Daniel looked at up Cameron and raised his brows.

"Beg your pardon?"

"You've been staying on base, everyone knows this. My guess, you and Vala fought over this expedition thing," Cameron explained looking at him. "You need to grow some balls, and go home. You have a pregnant girlfriend and a baby. Grow up."

"How dare you," Daniel said almost loudly, standing up.

"Go home," Cameron said again, not backing down. He stared at Daniel, hands on his hips. "Go Home. It is a few days before Christmas. Go home, see your family, be with your family before you leave. Don't be stupid Daniel." Putting the book down, Cameron turned heel and walked out of the office. "Go home Jackson."

Daniel slammed his hand against the table, knocking over the picture of his son. Looking at the picture, he smiled softly, Lukas was his world, and he didn't want to admit Cameron was right, but he had to go home. It was the worst week of his life, being away from Lukas, and Vala. When did he become the man whose family was more important than his work? He loved his work, and loved his family.

Walking up the stairs to the house, Daniel fiddled with the keys. Lights were on, he could hear laughing, Lukas was up, Vala hadn't gotten him down for his nap yet. Unlocking the door, he stepped into the house.

"Vala?"

Vala looked up from the floor where she and Lukas were playing with his saucer, and smiled softly. "Hi Daniel."

"I'm home," he said walking over to the two. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too," Vala replied. "He missed you, I missed you."

"I missed both of you too," Daniel whispered as Lukas leaned forward reaching for Daniel. "Hi buddy."

Vala smiled and moved out of the way, letting Daniel reaching and picking Luke out of his saucer. "I'm glad you're home," she whispered, noticing Luke's mood change the moment Daniel showed up. The tension was there, but it wasn't heavy on their bodies and mind.

Daniel placed Lukas between the two, bringing him to his feet, letting him 'walk' between him and Vala's legs, holding onto their hands. It was the first true family moment they had all month, just being with Lukas together. Now at 10 months, Lukas was just starting to discover walking, and enjoyed when he could walk.

"Sam and Jack are coming over for Christmas Day, so I'm thinking, we should spend Christmas Eve with them, at their place," Daniel said as Lukas walked between the two and leaned down to slobber on Vala's stomach.

"Sounds wonderful," Vala smiled as she laughed at her son. "What are you doing?"

"He's kissing the baby," Daniel laughed as he held onto Lukas' hips. "Jack mentioned something, that I think you might like."

"Oh?" Vala asked leaning down kissing Lukas' head.

"He said that he's going to send The Hammond to orbit the planet, have a spare gate on it, so I can gate back," he said looking at Vala, hopeful this wouldn't spark another argument.

"I know," Vala replied nodding. "If you have to go, and want to go, then I want you to go, we'll be okay."

Daniel smiled softly as he looked at Vala. "I also asked to make sure I would be back in time before you're due. I know I'm asking you a whole lot. I know I'm asking you to be a single mom, but I want you to know that I'm here, always will be."

"I know Daniel," Vala replied. "I think we should just talk this out later, let's just focus on this," she said motioning to Lukas, who looked happier than he'd been all week. "He's going to miss you."

"I'll miss him to, but with the gate on board, we should be okay when it comes to communicating," Daniel smiled as he pulled Lukas to his feet. "We should put him down for a nap."

"Yes, he's been up since 4am," Vala replied, looking at the wall clock.

"Why were you up so early buddy?" Daniel asked as Lukas fell happily into his arms. "Did you want to go take a nap? Mommy and Daddy could nap too, want to nap with us?" Standing up he placed Lukas on his hip, holding his hand to Vala, pulling her up. "What do you say Mommy?"

"Sounds like a good plan," Vala smiled placing a hand on Lukas' back.