Author's Notes: - Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
Sarah forced open her eyes confused when the taunting voice didn't come. She flexed her fingers, astonished that she was the one doing it. She could feel someone standing at her side and turned to see who was there. Sarah knew her instantly; she'd fought Isis to try and help her but had failed. Thankfully the woman had managed to rescue herself.
"Sha're?" she breathed.
"Hello, Sarah," Sha're said gently, "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Sarah smiled slightly before forcing through her dry throat, "What happened?"
"You have been freed," Sha're told her, "And once you are ready we shall be taking you home."
"The man, the host of Osiris," Sarah asked, "I don't know his real name, is he free too?"
"His name is Adam Walker," Sha're said before assuring, "And he is free also. Do you wish some water?"
Sarah nodded. Sha're moved away for a few moments and heard a few other voices before Sha're returned with a glass of water.
"Rest," Sha're told her, "We shall be taking you home soon."
x
Jack saw Daniel standing watching Teal'c speak with Adam Walker while Sha're comforted Sarah. He had a look on his face Jack had never seen before.
"Want to talk about it?" Jack asked coming to stand beside him.
Daniel shook his head softly, "If it wasn't for that man I would have been raised by my mom. I wouldn't have spent years being pushed from home to home."
"I know," Jack breathed.
"But it's odd because I've now got three sisters I wouldn't want to have never known," Daniel sighed.
"Danny," Jack rested his hand on his friend's shoulder, "You're a good man. What this guy did is something you don't need to forgive. You're allowed to hate his guts. Don't beat yourself up about it."
Daniel turned to his friend, "Thanks."
"Come on," Jack clapped his shoulder, "It's time to go home."
x
"Thank you," Sha're hugged Kala as they were leaving, "For everything."
"You are more than welcome," Kala told her, "And you are always welcome to return. However for your friends to return you must come with them."
Sha're nodded, "I understand."
Kala smiled at her before turning to Jack, "And for you I have a gift."
"Oh?" Jack asked a little confused.
Kala handed him a disc, "This should be compatible with your computers. It is information that should help you and your people."
"Thank you," Jack told her, "For everything."
Kala nodded once more, she touched the wall and the Stargate was revealed to them. Sha're returned to Sarah's side while Teal'c helped Adam Walker.
"Carter," Jack ordered, "Dial us up."
Sam moved to the DHD to dial Earth and Kala touched Daniel's arm moving him to one side, "Sha're's love for you burns brightly. If she did not love you the way she does then you would never have been granted access. She is the key to returning here but there was always more required. I hope what we gave you is what you needed."
Daniel smiled, "It was."
Maria laughed as her baby sister threw her arms around her.
"So that's a yes," Maria chuckled, "You'll be a bridesmaid."
Kelly giggled, "Of course I will."
Elizabeth chuckled from her seat, "Well now all you need is to talk to Sha're and we can try to get a day to find dresses."
"You're asking Sha're?" Kelly gasped stunned, "That is so sweet."
Maria shrugged before she could say anything the alarms sounded through the base.
"Hey," Steven appeared, "I think they're back."
"I hope everything went okay," Elizabeth sighed.
Maria caught her fiancé's hand letting him pull her up. They started towards the Gateroom, joined by Claire halfway there. Arriving just as the iris retracted the girls all stared at the man walking down the ramp being helped by Teal'c.
"Dad?" Elizabeth breathed stepping towards him.
"I'm so sorry, girls," he whispered, wrapping Elizabeth and Kelly in his arms while Maria held back holding onto Steven's hand. He looked up at his middle daughter, "Maria…"
Maria let go of Steven's hand and stepped forward, "I'm glad you're safe," she breathed before allowing him to hug her.
Steven smiled slightly as he watched his fiancé hug her father. After being rescued from their abduction knowing that they'd had to abandon her father there trapped with that thing inside him, Maria had been both upset and angry. It had taken some time for her to come back from it.
Turning he saw Sarah step off the ramp and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
x
Claire sat listening to Jack explain what had happened on the planet. She turned to look at her son while Jack told them how Daniel had requested the release of both hosts. Daniel didn't look at her instead he kept his eyes on Jack while his hand gripped Sha're's.
Finally the meeting ended and Hammond dismissed them. When Claire stood to leave Daniel caught her arm.
"Can I talk to you for a few minutes, Mom?" he asked softly.
Claire nodded, "Of course."
Taking her seat again Claire watched Daniel talk to Sha're for a moment, the young woman nervously glanced at Claire before she nodded. Claire smiled slightly when Sha're kissed Daniel quickly before she joined Jack who was waiting for her.
"Danny," Claire took his hand when he sat beside her, "I wanted to thank you for saving Adam. I will never forgive him for taking me away from you for all those years but he is the girls' father."
"I know," Daniel whispered before shaking his head, "But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about."
Claire frowned confused at how serious he looked, "Then what is it?"
Daniel took a deep breath, interlacing his fingers as he sat forward on his seat, "Mom, you know that Sha're isn't happy here on Earth. Well she wants to go home and I…I've already spoken with Hammond to allow us to return to Abydos."
"Of course," Claire nodded, "I understand. How long will you be gone for?"
Daniel licked his lips, "Other than the occasional visit, for good."
"What?"
"Mom, Sha're needs to go home," Daniel continued, "And I can't be without her. I came back to earth only to save her. The plan was always to go back to Abydos. Please understand, Mom. Please."
Claire reached out and rested her hand on his cheek feeling tears fill her eyes, "I do, sweetie. I don't want you to go, either of you but I know how Sha're feels. Trapped in a world she doesn't really understand. I've been there."
Daniel let out a long sigh of relief.
"When are you leaving?"
Daniel sniffed back his own tears, "In about a week. To give me some time to pack up and pass over any outstanding work."
"I'm going to miss you so much, Danny," Claire said, her voice thick with emotion, "But I am so glad I found you again and got to have this time with you."
"Mom?"
Claire wiped her eyes as she heard Maria's voice, turning she saw her daughter standing in the doorway to her office.
"Are you okay?" Maria took a seat beside her.
"I'm not sure," Claire sighed.
Maria frowned, "Is it about Dad?"
Claire shook her head, "No. Daniel and Sha're are returning to Abydos for good."
"Oh," was all Maria said.
Claire squeezed her daughter's hand, "I'm alright. I just need a few minutes to get myself together."
Maria hugged her mother tightly.
"Where are your sisters?" Claire asked when they parted.
"With Dad," Maria replied, "He seems…different. I guess no one can go through what he did and not change."
Claire nodded, "So, did you tell him about the wedding?"
"Yeah, he was happy for me," Maria shrugged softly. Hearing a noise behind her Maria turned to find Sha're standing in the doorway.
"I apologise," Sha're said softly, "I will come back."
"It's okay," Maria said, "Come on in. I'll talk to you later, Mom."
x
Sha're watched Maria leave before she turned back to her mother-in-law. After he'd told Claire about their leaving Daniel had returned to his office and Sha're had found him there. He hadn't said a word but when Sha're had stepped over to him Daniel had wrapped his arms around her waist resting his head against her breast and she knew what he was sacrificing for her.
"I…" she hesitated, "I did not know if you would want to speak with me."
Claire moved over to Sha're and hugged her, "Of course I do. Come and sit with me." As they sat together Claire squeezed Sha're's hand, "I understand your need to go to home. I just wish it wasn't so far away."
"I tried, Claire," Sha're whispered, "I tried to fit in here but I could not."
Claire rested her hand on Sha're's cheek, "You do. We love you so much."
Sha're's eyes filled with tears, "I never thought I could love you all. I do but I need to go home."
"We'll come and visit," Claire pulled her close again.
x
Daniel winced as Sam and Teal'c simply looked at him.
"Guys, are you going to say something?" he asked after several minutes of silence.
"You're leaving?" Sam asked stunned.
Daniel sighed, "It was always the plan, Sam."
"I guess I thought the things might have changed with your mother and sisters here now," Sam noted.
Daniel winced.
"Sha're wishes to return to her home," Teal'c spoke up finally, "It is understandable."
"So go for a few months," Sam stated, "And then come home."
Daniel sighed annoyed, "Sam," he knew she had never truly understood, "Abydos is my home and it is Sha're's. And she needs to be there."
"So what Sha're wants she gets?" Sam demanded.
"Yes," Daniel stated sharply, "Sam, I don't want to fight about this because you are my friend. But Sha're is my wife and she comes first."
Daniel stopped briefly when Teal'c rested a hand on his arm before marching out.
x
Sha're watched Daniel while he packed the apartment they were sharing after dinner that night. He'd been in a pensive mood most of the night and she'd left him to it for the moment.
Finally when she heard the thud of books being slammed into a box Sha're walked into the room and sat on the bed.
"I'll just pack a few more boxes tonight," he told her.
Sha're picked up one of the books, "Are you going to tell me why you are in such a bad mood?"
"Sha're…"
"Husband," she cut him off, "I have let you be ill-tempered all night. Now you are going to tell me what is troubling you."
Daniel sighed sitting beside her, "Sam isn't happy about us leaving."
"She is your friend, my love," Sha're reminded him, "She will miss you."
Daniel let out another sigh sliding his arm around her.
"Are you sure," Sha're whispered suddenly, "Are you sure you wish to return to Abydos?"
Daniel hugged her close, "It's our home and it will be so good to be back."
Sha're kissed him softly smiling as he leaned her back on the bed, packing could wait for a while.
"I can't believe you're leaving tomorrow," Kelly hugged Sha're when they arrived at Jack's for their leaving party.
"We shall still see one another," Sha're assured the younger woman.
Daniel rolled his eyes, "Kelly, at least let us in the door."
His youngest sister pouted, "Fine. Come in."
Daniel chuckled wrapping his arm around her as they headed into the lounge where those who had come to wish them well were already sitting eating and drinking. Sha're smiled watching her husband taking his seat with his mother and sisters. She turned finding Sara standing beside her.
"Are you all ready?" Sara asked handing Sha're a glass of wine.
Sha're smiled, "Yes. I am so looking forward to being in my home with my father and brother. To go walking across the sand dunes with Dan'iel's hand in mine…"
Sara hugged the younger woman when she trailed off with a contented smile.
"Well, I have already spoken with General Hammond to allow me to visit at some point," Sara told her.
Sha're beamed, "That would be wonderful. I can show you everything."
Sara hugged her again.
x
Daniel listened to the chatter all around him. Sha're was with Sara looking happy and relaxed knowing that this time tomorrow night they would be back on Abydos in the home they'd made theirs for that wonderful year.
"What?" Daniel looked up suddenly as he realised Maria was talking to him.
"I said," Maria stated with a roll of her eyes, "Do not get her pregnant until after my wedding. Her dress is perfect and I am not having a panic the day before trying to get it altered."
Daniel chuckled, "Whatever you say."
Maria grinned before bouncing away to get another drink leaving Daniel with his mother. They sat together talking generally for a while before Daniel saw Sam, beer in hand across the room looking sombre before she disappeared into the kitchen.
"You need to talk to her," Claire told him, "You don't want to leave with this festering between you."
Daniel sighed, "She doesn't want to talk to me."
"Of course she does," Claire squeezed his hand, "Sam is just going to miss you. We're all going to miss you."
Daniel smiled back at her before standing and heading to find Sam.
x
"Okay, Carter," Jack grabbed a beer from the fridge, "Knock it off."
"Sir?"
Jack frowned at her, "I know Daniel leaving sucks but do you want him to leave when you're not talking?"
Sam sighed but before she could say anything Daniel walked in. Jack nodded to her before he headed to join the party clapping Daniel's shoulder on the way past. Daniel grabbed a bottle of beer before he leaned back against the countertop.
"I'm not abandoning you, "Daniel said when he realised Sam wasn't going to speak, "I know it might feel like that but Sam we'll still see each other all the time."
Sam sighed, "I know. I'm sorry, Daniel but like you said I felt like my brother was leaving again. I know I have no right and I shouldn't have said what I did. You deserve to be happy and I remember how happy you were on Abydos."
Daniel smiled in relief.
"I'm just going to miss you so much," Sam told him, "It won't be the same without you."
Daniel hugged her tightly, "I'll miss you too."
Sha're hugged her mother-in-law tightly, stunned that a short time ago she wanted to stay as far away from Claire as possible. After a few minutes they parted and Sha're found herself in a group hug with her sisters-in-law.
Daniel finished his conversation with Hammond just as the Stargate burst open before picking up their bags. He hugged his mother once more, all the other goodbyes had been said and it was time to go.
Sha're took her husband's hand and with a smile she couldn't stop walked up the ramp towards their home.