A.N~ This chapter will take me up to where I was before I deleted, editing and reposted, so for those of you re-reading it will ALL be new after this one.
To Greb, Thank you for your kind words and support and yes, the bracelet was in reference to one that I saw Daniel start wearing during Chimera (well spotted), but I had no idea that it was actually one of Michael's. I thought it's appearance deserved an explanation and that was what came to mind. As for Pete being left out, there is a reason for that…but you'll have to wait and see, Mwahaha.
Chapter Eleven - In Keeping With Traditions.
"I'm back." Daniel called as he closed the front door behind him.
There was no reply, but he heard the pearls of female laughter coming from out the back. He tossed his keys into the bowl on the side board and followed the pleasant sound out into the rear garden.
Sam and Leesia sat on the lawn chairs at the rear of the garden enjoying what remained of the afternoon sun. He jogged down the garden to join them.
"How is Sarah?" Leesia asked instantly as he approached. He saw the look of concern shine through her warm eyes and wondered why he had ever presumed she would be jealous. She was the most understanding person he had ever met. He inwardly scolded himself for not giving her enough credit.
Daniel touch a kiss on her cheek, a second on the summit of her prominent bulge, before settling himself down with the ladies. "Good," he told her. "Very good, actually. Better than anyone could have hoped for. It's been a lot for her to deal with, but I think she's going to be okay. She's flying home tomorrow morning."
"So she wont be coming to the wedding." Sam said.
"No, I think she's seen enough of the SGC in the last few days. She keen to get home and back on with her life."
"So, what's going on?" Daniel asked, raising his eyebrows questionably towards Sam.
"What makes you assume there's something going on?" the look of innocence Sam wore would have fooled anyone else, but Daniel had known her for too long.
"Because I can count the number of times you've been over here socially on one hand. In fact, I can count it on one finger. Unless you count helping me move on as a social event of course. In which case we can boast your total to a massive… oh, two. If I didn't know how much of a workaholic you were I might take it personally." Daniel teased.
"I've only just got here." Sam told him. "I came to keep Leesia company tonight."
"Tonight?" he quizzed, his forehead creased.
Both woman wore matching hesitant smiles.
"Jack is on his way over." Sam told him, looking apologetic. "He's appointed himself your best man and has decided that whether you like it or not you're having a stag night."
"This is a joke right?" Daniel asked with a hopeful raise of his eyebrow, but Sam merely shock her head with a pained smile.
"Oh, god. Where's he dragging me to?"
Two pairs of shoulders rose and fell in synchronised shrugs.
"I do not understand why this is so bad." Leesia said with a curious tone. "I am confident you will have a good time together."
"You wont be saying that when he drags me to jell-o wrestling again."
"Jell-o wrestling?" Leesia asked.
"Again?" Sam said, her eyes wide, a smile threatening to break her rebuffed look.
"Ermm," Daniel's cheeks blushed pink and he pushed his fingers through his hair. Jerking his thumb over his shoulder he told the woman. "I better go get ready." as he made his escape back into the house. He heard the pearls of laughter return as he wondered through to the bathroom.
By the time he wondered back out into the living room fifteen minutes later Jack and Teal'c had already arrived.
"If you're going to be my best man you'll be needing this." Daniel said handing Jack the box that housed the ring he had chosen for Leesia.
Jack flipped open the lid "Nice." he said, snapping it back shut and hiding it in his pocket. "So you ready to go?" he asked as Daniel fumbled the last of his shirt buttons closed.
"As I'll ever be." Daniel sighed.
Jack shock his head in an unbelieving fashion. "Crumbling down, million year old ruin and you run in without a second thought for safety and yet the prospect of a night out with your friends fills you with dread."
"I know what to expect with the ruins."
"More than me?" Jack asked, doing his best to appear hurt.
"Just promise me one thing." Daniel shifted his weight uncomfortably. "No strippers."
"God, Daniel. You really think I'd do that?"
Daniel eyeballed him over the top of his glasses. "Jack."
"You know I'm actually hurt that you would think that."
"Jack."
He shot out an aggravated sigh. "There's not going to be any strippers Daniel."
"Swear?" Daniel's eyebrows raised in question.
"For crying out loud. Yes, alright, I swear there's not going to be any strippers."
Daniel nodded finally excepting Jack was telling him the truth. He turned to Leesia.
"Have a good time." she told him.
"Uh huh." Daniel said, sounding doubtful. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her. He only intended it to be a quick goodbye kiss, but as the tingles assaulted his lips he couldn't help but deepen it.
"Okay break it up you two, you're making Teal'c uncomfortable."
The Jaffa's raised eyebrow made Leesia think otherwise, but she reluctantly broke away from Daniel anyway, with a bashful smile.
"Okay let's get this show on the road." Jack said clapping his hands together.
"Oh wait, before you go." Leesia darted from the room, returning moments later with a small box in hand. She handed it over to Jack. "You will need this tomorrow."
"What's that?" Daniel asked.
"A surprise." Leesia told him. "Do not let him see." she said to Jack.
"No problem." he said as he tucked it safely into his pocket and herded the other two men out the door. "Come on, times-a-wasting. Places to go, people to see." but as he was leaving Jack paused. He waited for Daniel to be out of earshot, turned to Sam and whispered. "Can you cancel the stripper for me?"
"Of course, sir." Sam chuckled.
…
"Ready for your hen night?" Sam asked, spreading a towel across Daniel's dinning room table so not to damage the surface should any of the beauty products she had brought over get spilled. "I have to warn you, I'm not very good with the whole 'girly' thing."
"Hen night?" Leesia question, her head tilted at an angle, as she sat opposite Sam studying the many bottles, packs, tubs and instruments that she was pulling out of her bag and arranging on the table top.
"Oh, sorry I keep forgetting your not local." Sam smiled. "It's a term we use for the night before the wedding, the men have a stag and the women have a hen night."
"Oh, I see." she said picking up an eyelash curler and turning it over in her hand looking confused and apprehensive. "Should it not be called a 'Doe night'?" Leesia inquired.
Sam thought about it for a second before agreeing with her. "I guess it should. I don't know why it isn't. Daniel may know."
"I will have to remember to ask him when he returns."
"I take it you didn't have a Hen night before then."
"No, Daniel was very insistent on keeping with as many Earth traditions as possible, but he failed to mention Stag and Hen nights."
Sam smiled, judging by Daniel's reaction to his stag night it was hardly surprising that he had kept her in the dark before. "Shall we start with nails. I usually just keep mine short, but I think I can manage a decent manicure."
"I have no experience so I will let you decide. I trust you know what is best." Leesia laid her hands on the towel and Sam set to work, shaping Leesia nails to equal lengths and rounding the edges.
A comfortable silence fell over the friends and Leesia observed her friend knowingly.
"Something is weighing your thoughts, do you wish to share?" Leesia asked, breaking the silence.
Sam let out a short laugh. "Wow, Daniel was right, nothing does get past you does it."
"Seeing changes in ones I care about is not difficult."
"I was just wondering if you ever regret giving up your Ascension? Don't get me wrong, we're all glad you're here. The change you've caused in Daniel is…well, it's amazing, I didn't even know he had dimples. But, do you ever wish it didn't have to be that way?"
"No." Leesia stated simply. "There are many paths in life, which one you follow is your choice, but I found that only when you follow your heart can you find paradise."
Sam nodded thoughtfully.
"But you are not talking about Daniel and I, are you?"
Sam blushed. "You saw through that too, huh?"
Leesia nodded. "And not just from you. He feels the same. I get the impression that you both have been denying your feelings for each other for a long time."
"There's nothing we can do about it. Our jobs wont allow it. It's just seeing what you and Daniel have overcome to be together has made me think about it more."
"Your time will come," Leesia said eloquently, "but when it does I believe it will have to be you that has to be the strong one. Trust me I speak from experience. Jack and Daniel may be different in many ways, but they also share a great number of similarities. They are both so ready to except self sacrifice that they do not seem to realise the potential for happiness in their lives. Given the chance they would deny themselves the opportunity. I believe you have the inner strength needed to fight for what you want rather than accept the situation as inevitable."
"I can't imagine Daniel and you having any problems getting together. You seem so well matched."
"Daniel may be a linguist and able to communicate in many different way, in many different languages, but like Jack he finds it problematic to articulate his feelings. As we were ascended at the time I was able to feel them for myself, but I imagine had that not been the case it would have been quite arduous."
"Did you ever find out the sex?" Sam asked, gesturing toward Leesia's bump, needing to change the conversation.
Leesia spotted Sam's ploy, but not wishing to make her friend uncomfortable, she allowed the shift in topic. "No, but ever since Daniel recalled one of his memories he is completely convinced we're having a girl. To hear him speak of it you would believe he had an epiphany."
"What would you like?"
"I do not have a preference. It would be wonderful to have a girl and have Daniel's -"
"Epiphany?" Sam inserted with a chuckle.
Leesia giggle. "Yes. To have his epiphany prove correct, but I would also like to see a little boy toddling around the house, with all his fathers looks and qualities."
"You'll have to get him a sand pit and hide some little trinkets in there for him to find."
Leesia smiled as the thought played across her mind; seeing a little boy, a perfect miniature Daniel, rushing in through the French doors, his baby blue eyes twinkling with delight as he excitably showed his parents what he had 'discovered' on his 'dig'. "That is a wonderful idea, Sam. I shall have to insure it is followed through."
"Damn, I shouldn't have said anything, that would have made a perfect first birthday present for him, or her."
"Do not permit Daniel to hear you doubt his epiphany." Leesia warned with a giggle.
"Duly noted. Have you thought of any names?"
"We have not settled on any yet. Jack did suggest Lara or Indiana, but Daniel did not seem like he approved of the choices, though I cannot understand why. They both sounded pleasant to me."
Sam laughed out loud. "I think Jack must have been teasing. They're famous fictional archaeologist." she explained to the confused former Ancient. "Lara Croft and Indian Jones."
"Oh, I see. I think it is going to take me some more time to fully understand Jack's particular brand of humour."
"It does take some getting used to." Sam agreed. "Do you think you'll have any more. Maybe give little Lara a brother?"
Leesia smile grew enormous as she grazed her hand softly across her stomach. "You know Daniel once told me that one of his biggest regret after his ascension was that he never became a father. As ascended beings the prospect of becoming parents was not a possibility. Not a very likely one anyway. There is nothing I would like more than to bear Daniel's children and give him the family he has always desired."
…
"Hey, Honey, he's home." Jack was grinning a bit too widely.
Looking over his shoulder Leesia screwed up her face in confusion as she watched her giddy lover climbing out of Jack's truck…ass first. "What's wrong with him?" she asked, sounding bewildered.
"Nothing. He's fine." Jack assured her, as Daniel fell backwards out of the vehicle landing on his aforementioned backside on the front lawn with a loud thud and a small groan.
Teal'c circled the truck, looking down disapprovingly at the archaeologist as he attempted to right himself, before taking hold of Daniel's belt and hauling him back onto his feet rather unceremoniously.
"You are incorrect O'Neill." Teal'c said, as Jack and Leesia sidestepped out of the way to make room for the Jaffa who was now half dragging half carrying Daniel into the front room, where he dumped him facedown on the couch. There was a muffled " 'ank you 'eal'c' heard from the cushions.
"Daniel Jackson is currently suffering from impaired vision, speech and coordination."
"I can hear you, you know." Daniel griped, as he stretched his arms to lift himself into a wobbly push-up, attempting to right himself.
"However his hearing remains unaffected, thankfully." Teal'c said tonelessly.
Jack leaned back to he could look the big man in the eye. "Was that a joke?"
"Indeed, O'Neill." he said with rare smile.
Concern was engraved on the former Ancients face. "What happened?" she asked.
"Nothing he's just plastered." Jack told her, she frowned at him, her head tilted to the side, not understanding. "Plastered, as in tanked, hammered, smashed, legless, off his head, under the influence, rat are-"
"-He is intoxicated through the consumption of alcohol." Teal'c said interrupting Jack's ramble. "There is no need for concern. Daniel Jackson will be suitably recovered for your marriage ceremony in the morning."
"How much has he consumed?" Leesia asked.
"Four beers." Jack told her.
"As many as four, sir?" Sam said was a knowing smile. The archaeologist low tolerance for alcohol was well known.
"Yeah I know I should have cut him off after his second," Jack said. "but in my defence it was his only stag night. I figured one for each stag night he should have had and one extra for luck."
"That only makes three." Daniel argued.
"Nope, I'm with Leesia on this one. If she says you were married before, then you were married before." Jack insisted. "Looks like third ones a charm."
"He is correct Daniel." Leesia said. "I seem to remember you were very insistent on keeping to as many traditions as possible, but you did not even mention a stag night."
Daniel frowned at her. "Who shide are you on?" he slurred.
She turned to the others, seeking an explanation for his distorted speech. "I did not realise that beer was that potent."
"It's not." Jack told her with a quick shake of his head. "That's just our Danny boy, he never can handle his booze."
"So, what happened, sir?" Sam asked.
"Well the start of the night was taken up with him trying to convince us that Leesia was actually the reincarnated version of Aphrodite which then turned into a detailed explanation of his meaning of life stuff." Jack made speech marks with his fingers. "Complete with peanut atoms and bottle top beans."
"Beings." Daniel insisted finally managing to right himself on the sofa.
"Whatever, anyway I had to destroy about a thousand napkins that he made notes on, most of which where classified. Although I might keep this one." Jack pulled a single napkin from his pocket. Four figures where crudely drawn on it. The first was a stick figure with a bulbous head and huge almond shaped eyes. The second had what appeared to be a tree or plant growing out of its head. The third looked like a squid with a face and the forth resembled an Ewark character from Starwars. The napkin had been entitled 'The Four Races' in Daniel's untidy scrawl.
"I think Thor for one would be interested so see how he is viewed. The rest of the evening he followed around some red-head insisting that it was Hathor and demanding to know why she wasn't dead."
"I'm telling you it was her." Daniel insisted.
"Yeah, right." Jack said sarcastically.
"If that wasn't Hathor why was would she be dressed like that huh?"
"She was in fancy dress, Daniel. She was meant to be Cleopatra."
Sam burst out laughing. "I wish I'd been there."
Jack rounded on the giggling Major. "Oh no you don't, trust me. We had to leave after that, before she started to think her new stalker was a threat and called the cops."
Still chuckling Sam pulled Leesia aside and lowered her voice in the hope that Daniel couldn't hear her. "Okay, few things you'll need to know to cope with drunk Daniel. Rule one; Don't let him drink any coffee. He'll be hyped enough as it is without the caffeine.
"Rule two." Jack interrupted. "Don't let him goad you into a debate. I mean it. If you think he's stubborn normally…" Jack shuddered in mock fear. He tapped his watch. "There's only twenty-six hours till the wedding. It'll never be enough time."
Sam laughed and continued. "Rule three; He will have a hangover in the morning, but a couple of Paracetamol and some water should do the trick."
Leesia nodded, taking it all in.
"And no matter how much he begs, never ever fed him after midnight." Jack concluded with a taunting grin. "Right shall we leave the lovebirds to their last night of sin. Or before Daniel starts tossing his cookies."
"Oh cookies!" Daniel exclaimed excitably. He shot up from the sofa, somewhat unsteadily, stumbled past them and disappeared into the kitchen. Leesia and the remaining members of SG-1 could hear the banging and rustling sounds of his impulsive cookie hunt echoing through to the living room.
Jack and Sam rolled their eyes. Both hugged Leesia goodbye, Jack whispering a "Good luck." to her as he did, Teal'c merely nodded and they left.
In the kitchen every cupboard door was open, much of their contents strewn across the counter. Daniel was up on his toes trying to see into the very back of the topmost shelve. He huffed and started his search again, even checking under the sink this time, where only the cleaning supplies where housed. After finishing his second raid fruitlessly he turned to Leesia, disappointment shining on his pouting face. "We don't have any cookies do we?"
"I do not believe so." Leesia chuckled, slipping an arm around his waist. "How do you feel?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah I'm fine." he answered, speaking way too quickly. His hands stroking her back. "I'm good, actually, really good." his speech slowed as he focused his attention elsewhere and his hands wondered lower, over her bottom. At the same time his mouth trailed slow kisses along her jaw, down her throat to the apex of her shoulder. "You're so goddamn sexy." he breathed into her skin. All thoughts of cookies disappeared in favour of devouring his sweet bride-to-be. "I need you. I have to have you, right now."
"Daniel?" It was not like him to be this forward. He was guiding her towards the bedroom.
"Hmm?" he asked, his mind fogged with lust. His mouth didn't leave her skin as his fingers began working off her clothes.
As his arms encircled her now naked torso the tingles stung into her deeply causing her to groan loudly in pleasure, stroking his ego and fuelling his desire.
Her fingers twining in his hair and she lifted his head so she could claim his lips with her own.
"I love you, Daniel." she sighed. He began fumbling off their remaining clothing.
"In Ancient." he pleaded. "It's such a turn on." he confessed in his drunken state.
Whatever the reason for his low levels of tolerance for alcohol so far she loved it. "Ego amor tua, Daniel." she said complying to his request. She felt him growing firmer against her thigh and smile at her newfound knowledge. She decided to test how far she could push this.
"Daniel," she leaned into him and whispered in his ear. "mia amator, ego deserde tuut suavior, tuut subblandior, tuut calor oris…" her tone turned into a seductive purr and she concluded. "Et ego deserde stupró tua."
He groaned and his knees went weak. "Your wish is my command."
…
The loud alarm Jack-hammered into his skull. It's pulsating buzzing pushing his hangover beyond his tolerance.
"Ow!" he groaned, burying his delicate head beneath the pillows. The cool underside providing some small relief.
A moment later the beeping feel silent. "Thank you." he sighed from his improvised refuge.
Leesia lifted the corner of the pillow so she could peek at him. He screwed up his eyes to defend them against the stabbing sunlight. "How are you feeling?" she asked.
He merely groaned and pushed the pillow back over his face.
"That good huh?" she asked.
She didn't get a reply, instead he draped his arm over the pillow, preventing her from lifting it again.
She muffled a giggle in her palm and climbed out of the bed. There was only one way guaranteed to coax him out of bed.
Five minutes later she was back and the aroma of his favourite coffee wafted through the bedroom. The scent tempting him out of his hiding place.
"That's cheating." He huffed in defeat, accepting the mug she offered to him.
"You will have to forgive me. I am not familiar with the rules, but Sam said this would help." Leesia said handing him two Paracetamol tablets.
"You're an angel." he said knocking them back gratefully with a swig of the coffee.
"I thought I was Aphrodite." she raised her eyebrows inquisitively.
He groaned, keeping his face hidden in his coffee mug as the memory of the night before came back to him.
"You need to get dressed. Sam will be here soon to pick me up."
"She will?"
"I intended to tell you last night but it proved difficult to converse with you while you were distracted."
He threw back the covers and frowned. "Why am I naked?" he asked. He didn't remember stripping and rarely slept in the nude. "Did we make love last night?"
"No. You got quite…" she paused thinking of the right word for his brazen attitude the previous night. "…lustful, but as soon as you fell upon the bed you passed out with your clothing around your ankles."
He groaned again and scrubbed his face roughly with his palms, vowing to himself to never touch beer again. "I'm sorry." he told her, but as he glanced at her he saw she was smiling.
"There is no need to apologise to me. I found the experience very informative. Although I do not understand why a perfectly intelligent human being would willingly get themselves into that condition."
"Willingly is not how I would put it."
"How would you put it then?"
"Jack made me?" he tried with a cheeky, childlike grin.
"Get dressed." she told him. "As much as I enjoy the sight of your naked form I do not believe that Sam will feel the same."
As he headed to the bathroom she took hold of his hips from behind, halting him. She leaned up on the tips of her toes so she could whisper in his ear. "Daniel, mia amour, hác nocta ego propono ut ador tua dónec tuut trancus palpitó penes désideró."
His breath caught in his throat as his body responded to her words. She peeked around him to see if her speech had had the desired effect. It had.
"That's not funny!" he shouted after her as she ran off giggling. "…I'm gonna hold you to that."
…
Daniel's heart thumped so hard it was threatening to beat its way out of his chest. He fiddled with his fingers nervously and took a deep breath.
Jack noticed his friends anxious appearance. "Why so tense? You've done this before."
"Well actually with Sha're I was married without even realising it and I don't remember marring Leesia before, so as far as I'm concerned this is my first time."
As the wedding march began his heart started pounding so loudly it nearly drowned out the music. Leesia slowly made her way down the isle towards him. He knew that image of her radiating beauty, with her eyes fixed on his and a smile tugging up the corners of her mouth as she made her way to join with him, would be tattooed onto his memory forever. He heard her give a tiny sigh of contentment was she arrived at the front and took hold of his hand. She was where she belonged, by his side.
As silence fell in the room the minister took her queue. "We are gathered here today to bless the union of Daniel and Leesia in matrimony. Marriage is a journey that comes with many climbs and descents, trips and…" the couple both were aware that the minister was speaking but her words were muted as they enjoyed the sight of each other. Daniel ran his thumb lovingly across the back of her smooth hand, sending a wave of the tingles up both their arms. They beamed at each other getting lost in the feelings. Luckily Daniel caught the end of the ministers speech. "…have written their own vows. Daniel?"
Daniel cleared his drying throat. He tried to forget about the others in the room, he wanted to say this only to Leesia. Gazing down on her he smiled and said. "Ego semper transeo astria porta ego adipiscor sensus stupor," he began in perfect Ancient, causing Leesia to gasp in surprise, then smiled, touched by his thoughtfulness. The minister stared in bewilderment, unsure of how to handle this. The guests chuckled. Beside Daniel, Jack smiled in amusement, he should have seen that coming.
"Agitatus viso quodcumque nos volo comperio. Sed sólum nunc ego sensus idem commotio nam revertor iter. Ego viso multi miraculum, unusquisque palléscó luí comparo tuus pulcritudo. Ego mortuus ut invenio tua sed ego gaudeo denuo quia solem cum ego apud tuus amplexus ego sum véré vivus. Ego prómissus ut done totus egomet in perpetuum."
The minister, who was stunned into silence, looked around for someone who could explain or translate and caught sight of the best man. Jack shrugged and shock his head, his gesture clearly saying that there was no point asking him, he was just as clueless as she was, before he prompted her to continue. Flustered, she turned to the bride. "Leesia?" she encouraged.
Leesia beamed back up at him and followed his lead, quickly able to translate her own vows into her natural language. As she spoke she studied his face very carefully, looking for any sigh that her idea had been successful. "Hoc ego voluntarius secundum tua ut tuus amacuse et comes ubícumque noster profectio potis duco ambo. Ut sum tuus asylum apud tempus deserde et tuus subsum apud tempus difficultas. Abs ego tua adeptus non sententia, tantum subsum et eetiumas. Etiamis nos muto quoties et tempusoria ego ador nam tua volo maneo cónstans. Ego libere eligo cohaereó meus animus, forma et anima ut tua et tua solus." she smiled as she concluded and noticed his expression change to one of deep thought, his eyes wonder up to the right.
The stunned minister turn her attention back to the groom. "Will you Daniel accept the vows that Leesia has made to you? Will you take her to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and protect her and forsaking all others to be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"
When he didn't respond to the ministers prompt Jack, easily recognising Daniel's lost-deep-in-thought- face, pocked him in the ribs.
"I will." Daniel said sounded a little started and smiling apologetically.
Happy that she could at least now understand what was being said the minister turned to Leesia and repeated the question to her. "Will you Leesia accept the vows that Daniel has made to you? Will you take him to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him and forsaking all others to be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"
"I will." Leesia said, the silk of her voice sending the words right to his heart.
The minister turned to Jack. "Do you have the rings?"
"Oh, yep." Jack reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out the small box. He handed Daniel the simple white gold band he had chosen for Leesia. He flashed her a peek at the inscription inside. In Ancient script it read; 'my love'.
They shared a smile as he took her left hand. Holding the ring to her finger he said. "I give you this ring as a symbol of our marriage. With my body I honour you. All that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you. Ego amor tua." he slide the ring up her finger until it found it's resting place. Daniel pulled her hand up to his lips and placed a kiss on top.
Leesia smiled warmly up at him, but as she took the second ring from Jack her smile changed to one Daniel recognised as one of mischief. She was up to something, the question was what?
Daniel didn't have to wonder for long. The ring she had chosen for him was a white gold band the same as hers, but this one housed nine trillion-shaped orange gems spaced evenly around its circumference. He chuckled as he took in the sight of the tiny representation of the Stargate, chosen by her to be his wedding band.
"I give you this ring as a symbol of our unity. May its presence on your hand serve always to remind you of my unending love and devotion. Ego amor tua quoque, mia pertinax maritus." She concluded.
"By the power enthroned to my by the state I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." the minister finished.
Leesia seemed to be glowing with happiness as he pulled her as tight to him as the roundness of her belly would allow and he kissed her, earning a cheer from their guests.
"Ladies and gentlemen I present to you Doctor and Mrs Jackson."
Unseen by anyone in the cheering and clapping crowd, the bright figure of Oma Desala smiled contently at the couple she had come to think of as her children. Happy that they had found each other once again. It had been very precarious for a while there and she had been worried for them, but all was now as it should be. Before she vanished she sent a silent hope to them. Wishing them all the luck and love they deserved.
Daniel and Leesia turned to their friends as husband and wife. Leesia was overwhelmed by the volume of people wishing them congratulations and hugging her. She hadn't thought there were this many people attending. Although that was probably due to the fact that she had only had her eyes on Daniel.
"I can't believe you done this." Daniel said as he grazed his finger over the jewels in his ring.
"You like it?" she asked.
"I love it. How did you come up with the idea?"
"Sam was telling me about Orlin. She said that he had made a jewel that symbolized her month of birth. She did not inform him that Emerald as he had created was generally thought of as to represent May and not December. When she was telling me this I thought it would be a nice personal touch for your ring to have your birthstone on it. I did not wish to repeat Orlins mistake so I was very thorough in my research."
Daniel eyed the ring. The jewels were a distinct yellow-orange and not bright red. He kept quite not wanting to hurt her feelings by telling her that she had also got it wrong.
"While many areas suggested that Ruby was the birthstone of July and also of the zodiac sign Cancer I discovered that some believe it to be Onix or Turquoise and many others. This would not do. I wish it to be correct and I got very disheartened with the idea. Then I thought of the other creation that Orlin had made for Sam."
"The Stargate in her basement." Daniel nodded, seeing where she was going. "You put two an two together and came up with this."
"Yes. I decided that a Stargate was a perfect and unique representation of you, as you were the one that opened it for your world and much more personal than that of a birthstone that you would share with approximately five hundred and twenty-six million others."
"Good point." he agreed.
"The jewels set in it are called Clinohumites. I thought them to be a ideal portrayal of the Stargate chevrons as like their real life counterparts these gems are also only found in two places on Earth. I also hoped it would remind you of me because had you not opened your Stargate we would never have met, when you are away it is the means for you to return to me and…" she paused for dramatic effect. "it was made by the Ancients."
He chuckled. "It's perfect. I can't thank you enough." he said pulling her closer and kissing her.
"You just did." she said with another of her mischievous smiles.
"Where did you find it?"
"I had some help from your friends."
"Speak of the devils." Daniel said as the rest of SG-1 joined the newlyweds. Drawn to each other like magnets. Their bond extended to their youngest members new bride.
"So vows in Ancient huh?" Jack said his eyebrows raised in question.
"Did you recognize any of it?" Daniel asked.
"No. Why?"
"Never mind."
"Why not English?" Jack asked.
"There were some things I wanted to say, but couldn't in front of the minister."
"Oh…" Jack nodded. "What kind of things?"
"Uh, you know, like the Stargate and um when I died." Daniel added, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his tux.
"Ah." Jack said with a slight nod of comprehension. "Of course that means that none of the rest of us could understand a word of it either."
"Yeah I realised that but," he shrugged his shoulders. "Needs must."
"Yeah. Sounded nice though, whatever it was you were saying." Jack said with a smile.
"Thanks." Daniel said.
Sam caught Leesia's eye and both women hid a giggle, wondering why it was so hard for men to just say what they mean. Jack was clearly fishing for the translation but wouldn't come out and ask for it and Daniel was no better, he either was oblivious to the fact or he was deliberately choosing to ignore it.
Either way Sam decided to end it. "What was it you said?"
Daniel smiled, trust it to be Sam to bail Jack out of his torment. "I said; Every time I go through the Stargate I do so with a sense of amazement, excited to see what we will find, but only now to I feel the same excitement for the return trip. I have witnessed many wonders, all of which pale to your beauty. I may have had to die to find you but I would gladly do it all again, because only when I'm in your embrace am I truly alive. I promise to give you all that I am forever."
"Sweet." Jack nodded.
"I can see why you couldn't say that in front of the minister." Sam said.
Teal'c looked between Daniel and Leesia knowingly. "I find it informative that both of you chose to pay homage to the Stargate, thus proving your compatibility for each other. Gifted brains think in a similar way."
"Great minds think alike, T." Jack corrected. "And speaking of, we know you said that you didn't want any gift but…" he pulled a small wrapped box from his pocket, as he did the other two also revealed decorated packages. "since when do we follow orders."
Seeing the flash of excitement in her eyes, Daniel nodded for her to open them. Leesia eagerly took up the first one, held out by Jack and ripped off the wrapping with ease. From inside she pulled a silver key attached to a key ring shaped like a trout. Both looked confused and turned to Jack for an explanation.
"It's the spare for my cabin by the lake." Jack told the perplexed couple. "I figured it'd be a while till you could go on a decent honeymoon and thought you could borrow the cabin for a weekend or something in the meantime."
"Jack." Daniel was touched. "Thank you."
"It's nothing." Jack grinned, waving away their gratitude. "I just didn't want to shop for a real gift."
The next box contained a ornate knife with a carved pearl handle.
"For the rite of oronac." Teal'c smiled and nodded.
Leesia gazed at the very sharp looking knife nestled in the tissue paper, looking confused. "Thank you Teal'c." she said politely returning his smile.
"Yes, thank you Teal'c!" Daniel snapped sarcastically. There was no way in hell that was going anywhere near him tonight. He shock his head at Leesia when she looked at him with questioning eyes. "I'll explain later." he whispered in her ear.
He took a large oblong box tied with a red ribbon. The label attached read: 'Congratulations. Open in private. Sam xx.'
"Thank you." he had a sneaky suspicion he knew what would be in that box.
…
With the chairs cleared out of the way Daniel lead his new bride onto the make shift dance floor.
She took his hand a little too confidently for a beginner and he looked at her for an explanation. "You insisted on this part before." she told him. "But this is a new song. I do not know this one."
"I thought the words were perfect." Daniel admitted, as the lyric began.
Every time our eyes meet
This feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby when you touch me
I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
"Except that one?" she asked.
He shock his head. "Including that one."
I can hear your thoughts
I can see your dreams
I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
it just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you.
"You are correct. They are perfect." Leesia smiled, hearing the last line of the chorus. "You have chosen impeccably."
The smell of your skin
The taste of your kiss
"The way you whispered in the dark." Daniel said quietly to her, in time with the original words. Making his subtle change to the lyric. He was rewarded with one of her giggles that he loved.
Your hair all around me
Baby you surround me
You touch every place in my heart
Oh it feels like the first time every time
I wanna spend my whole life in your eyes
I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you
Every little thing that you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby, I'm amazed by you.
There were tears in her eyes when the song finished. He tilted her head up to him. "Are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded. Smiling, the tears broke free and made their decent down her cheeks. "It was beautiful." she said with a sniff.
He smiled back, holding her close. "I meant every word."
…
"So," Daniel turned to Leesia as he turned the key in the ignition. "Were you cheating or was using the same vows as our first wedding a plan to jog my memory?"
Leesia's mischievous grin was evident even in the failing light of the twilight. "I will admit that was my intention."
"You always refused to tell me anything." he was a little shocked.
"I still do, but even though I wont push you down your path that does not mean that I wont provide clues to help you along your way."
"I'm glad it worked. Though it is quite ironic." he said.
"How so?" she asked
"Well, they say the quickest way to find something you have lost is to replace it, but I would never have thought the same rule would apply to memories."
"How much of it did you remember?" she asked keenly. He could see her eyes sparkling brightly with interest out of the corner of his eye.
"Everything." he told her sneaking a peek at her reaction. "Bits of it came back to me throughout the day. Now I remember all of it. Our whole wedding, everything I was thinking about, how I was feeling, everything." he met her eyes with a grateful and serious expression on his face. "… And what you did before it."
A pink blush stained her cheeks as the corners of her mouth where tugged up in a heartfelt smile.
"Thank you." he said sincerely.
Her blush deepened. "It was nothing."
"It was everything." he corrected.
She hid her shyness behind a smile. "I insist that you tell me everything. Start at the beginning and do not leave any details out." she said with all the innocence of a child asking for a bedtime story. She was practically bouncing in her seat with glee and excitement.
"Okay." How could he not when she asked him like that, with her eyes twinkling with joy. "The first thing I remember was thinking…"
A.N ~ Sorry another cliffhanger. Don't hate me and please review as I may need your encouragement to get through the next chapter: as it will be Daniel telling the story I have decided to write it from his POV. This will be my first attempt at writing in this way and I have to admit, as it is not my usual style, I'm finding it challenging.
Thank you to 'PrincessBi*ch' for the song suggestion, I found the words perfect for Daniel and Leesia and Thank you to 'Hugesy' for your ideas for the stag night, couldn't have done it without you, X's to you both.