Martouf and Lantash had been dispatched by Dr. Fraiser, and they were given private quarters at the SGC while they waited for any word from the Tok'ra. In the meantime, Sam had to go back to work, leaving them alone.

/Such strange things here Lantash./

\Indeed. Is this the…Tee-Vee which Samantha spoke of?\

/I believe so, but where is the control device which activates it? Ahh.. There, by the sleeping platform, that must be it./

Martouf sat on the bed with his legs crossed in front of him. He pressed several buttons until finally one caused the t.v. to turn on.

"Live from New York, its Saturday Night!" the sounds were followed by cheers and laughter, but he could not see the source of such jubilation. Then there were flashes of people's likeness with their names announced. He kept it on this channel for several minutes, though was disappointed when after some time he was still unable to see the humor in any of it.

/It must be Tau'ri humor Lantash./

\Perhaps there is something else on. Change it Martouf.\

"Are you ready kids!"

"Aye Aye Captain!"

"I can't hear you!"

"Aye Aye Captain!"

/What in the universe…"/

"Oohhh! Who lives in a pineapple under the sea!"

"SpongeBob SquarePants!"

\Sponge what?\

"Absorbent and yellow and porous is he!"

"SpongeBob SquarePants!"

\This is too strange Martouf.\

/Indeed, lets see what else is available./

Coincidentally, the next channel they turned to featured a rerun of and episode of MacGyver.

/That man looks oddly familiar./

knock-knock

"Martouf, can I come in?"

"Samantha! Ahh, of course, enter." Martouf rushed to answer the door, and there she was, as beautiful as ever, and smiling the sweetest smile.

"Hi"

"Hello."

"Uhm. I just wanted to stop by and let you know that ah, that we just received news from the Tok'ra."

"I see."

"They said they won't be able to send anyone here for another week." She paused momentarily, trying to determine what to say next. "So, uhm…" Martouf waited patiently. "I was thinking, since you know, this isn't exactly the Hilton, maybe you'd be more comfortable staying with me in the meantime?"

"I would love that Samantha."

"Really?" she smiled. "I was actually thinking about taking the week off, maybe spend some quality time together?" Martouf didn't respond, he simply took her in his arms and kissed her deeply. A smile lingered on her lips as they ended their kiss. "We gotta get you some cloths first."

Martouf looked down at his attire, he didn't see the problem, they were the same as everyone else's. "Are these not suitable?"

"Not quite." She smiled, "c'mon."

Martouf and Lantash were amazed at the sights that lay before them, they both took turns being in control as they entered store after store. Earlier Sam made sure to inform them that under no circumstance was Lantash to use his natural voice or allow his eyes to glow. He made no objection to her request, seeing that this was not his world and the inhabitants in it were apparently not familiar with his race. Regardless, he still was able to fully enjoy the experience.

\The Tau'ri sure do like their clothing, and food, and numerous other things which proved to have no other purpose than entertainment.\

Something about all this told him it was impractical for his particular lifestyle. The Tok'ra have only what they need, frequent movements and dangerous missions allowed for nothing more. He mainly enjoyed watching Samantha as she walked about picking out jeans and shirts for him to wear. She seemed so happy, as if nothing could change her mood.

They walked past a baby store and Samantha paused in front of the window. Lantash came behind her, wrapped her arms around her and gently rubbed the swelling of her stomach. He placed a gentle kiss upon her head and watched her smile upon the reflection of the window. "We should go in." he whispered to her. With a nod, they walked hand in hand into the store full of little booties, cribs, strollers and baby bottles.

After spending several hours at the mall Samantha turned the key of her house and opened the door. For some reason things appeared far different from before. The air seemed fresher, warmer, and more open. The grim aura which had enveloped the place was now gone. Nothing had been moved, nothing touched since she was there last. But one thing was different, Martouf and Lantash were with her.

"This is it. It's not big or gorgeous or anything, but its home."

"It is beautiful Samantha. But you live here alone, by yourself?"

"Yeah."

"I see. May I ask a question?" he said as he followed her example and placed the bags down in floor.

"Sure shoot…" he didn't quite understand her manner of speech. "It means go ahead and ask."

"You had mentioned earlier that our situation was… complicated. What has happened between us that has, until this very moment, prevented us from being with one another?" she wasn't quite prepared for his candidness.

"Martouf I… I don't know if I'm ready to talk about this right now. Maybe its best if you start to remember on your own."

"No Samantha, I must know it from you, I must know your views on the subject."

Sam took a deep breath, then proceeded to guide them into the living room. She sat facing them with her legs tucked beneath her. She was fidgeting with the pillow she placed on her lap, gathering the words that would most accurately convey her emotions.

"Martouf when I first met you, I had absolutely no idea who you were but I had all these feelings and emotions towards you that I couldn't even begin to understand. They weren't mine, that was all I knew. Our people became allies, and so we became friends." She paused momentarily, trying to prevent the tears from falling, "my heart broke every time I saw you because I had no idea whether or not you were seeing me or… or if you were seeing…"

"Jolinar."

"Yes." She said. Sam could not stop the tears from falling. She tried to maintain some appearance but it was getting harder as the moments passed by. There was an air of tension between them as she fought the urge to build her wall around her. Something in his eyes prevented her from building it up again. He truly sought to understand her, and be there should she fall.

"You came to me after her death, seeking the Tok'ra. I knew not who you were, but you looked to me as if you could trust me. You still can Samantha. I have never led you to believe otherwise."

"You're starting to remember?"

"Yes, though only very little, and only those which pertain to you. Please, continue."

Sam wondered why the things which he remembered were only the things which involved her, but she shook off her curiosity and continued on with her explanations before she lost the courage to do so. "Overtime it was getting pretty obvious that the feelings I had for you weren't just Jolinar's anymore, but mine too. Its just, things were so complicated between us: my being host to Jolinar, you and I never seeing each other, the differences between our people; it never could've worked out. And I wasn't about to give it a chance because I knew you could never love me the way you loved her."

"What would lead you to conclude such a thing?"

"Oh come on Martouf, lets be serious okay. You never really saw me when you looked at me. You only saw the fact that I carried a part of her with me."

"That is untrue Samantha." She gave an incredulous scoff at his response. How could she believe him when they never even had the chance to really get to know her, and if they did, would they have taken it?

"Perhaps we do not know the little things about you; that when you work you focus better with music, or that when you take a break, you like to do so eating what you call 'blue Jell-O'. But we know the important things, Samantha. We know that your intelligence surpasses that of the people of your world, that you have great loyalty to your friends and loved ones, and not only are you a beautiful woman, but a strong warrior amongst your people. Even a blind fool could see these things about you."

Sam was taken aback. She didn't realize either of them knew those things about her. Either she was just really predictable, or they really did see her for her and not just because she was host to Jolinar.

"I do see you my love. I have cared for you since the moment I met you and loved you since our time together in Naetu. But by the gods, Samantha; I have been a fool. I should have told you this the moment I knew. At the very latest, I should've told you that night, when we were together. I feared you would not feel the same, I feared your heart belonged to another. I knew perhaps there was a chance you would regret it, but I needed you then so badly I could not help myself."

"My only regret that night was not telling you. I'm glad it happened, Martouf, and I'm glad I have so much to look forward to as a result. I love you so much, and the thought of having something that's a part of you growing inside me… I can't describe the feeling but I feel so blessed by it." She said as she buried her face in his shoulders and held him tightly. He kissed her sweetly on her head before allowing Lantash to come forth.

"Samantha. That night, before… I remember it so clearly, I remember holding you, and loving you. You are so beautiful my love. I should've told you then that I loved you. I am sorry for all the pain you have been going through. If I could take it away I..."

"Lantash stop. It doesn't matter anymore, you're here now."

"Yes but for how long?" The tears in her eyes fell again as the sound of those words, she realized what was to come. The emptiness of not being able to be together filled her again. "How long before the Tok'ra come and demand that I return with them through the chapai'i? Samantha, look at me." He said, pulling her chin up so that she was looking directly into his eyes. "I will not leave you. I promise you now that I will never leave you."

"Lantash that might not even be possible."

"I have been brought back from the dead and into the arms of my love. Anything is possible. You and I will be together. I promise you I will find a way." He said as he captured her lips in his.

Shortly after, their kiss deepened. Their need for one another which had for so long gone unanswered finally became too difficult to ignore. He moaned as she gently ran her hands down his chest and to the bottom of his t-shirt. She placed feather light touches on his skin before bringing her hand down again to remove his shirt; exposing the handsome physique beneath it.

Lantash ran his fingers through her hair, stopping at the back of her head to pull her closer to him. One hand traveled down to cup her breast, and she sighed deeply at the pleasure she felt as a result. One by one he undid the buttons on her blouse, following his fingers with sweet kisses. He lovingly kissed her stomach before continuing to remove the rest of her clothing. She then helped him to remove the last of his clothing as she made her way down to cover his engorged manhood with her mouth. He moaned and his muscles tensed as she increased her pace. With her other hand she gently played with his scrotum. She looked up and was captivated as she saw his eyes gazing lustfully into hers.

Martouf fame forth and changed their positions, gently placing her on her side to lie before him. Inserting one finger within her, he tested her readiness for him. Not surprisingly, she was fully open for him now. Gently he positioned himself within her and slowly entered her warm channel. His pace began slowly, lovingly, and carefully, so as not to harm his unborn child in the process.

They both collapsed, sated. Sam turned around to face her loves, a smile crossed her face as she saw Martouf smiling back. He pushed the hair away from her face to see the sparkle in her beautiful blue eyes. "I love you Samantha."

"I love you too Martouf." She said, and with that he pulled her in and kissed her as if his life depended on it.