Chapter Eight Summary - Daniel and Sam are having a 'special' dinner because Sam has an announcement to make. Before they can get to that, Daniel has to confess to something he did at her house. Lantash astonishes both Sam and Daniel with some rather important information about something he (and Martouf) are giving them. But, what will Daniel think of the most important gift of all? Will he even consider it a gift? How will he respond to the news? Sam and Lantash can only hope he will accept it, along with their growing love for him.

Pairing: - Sam/Lantash/Daniel

Rating - PG – 13

"Italics" – Symbiote-Host communication

Ann'wyld – Beloved

Mer Ann'wyld – My Beloved

Cariad kea – Dear one

Mer Cor – My Heart

Always Be Ours

Chapter Eight

The Gift

Sam smiled at him as he came down the stairs. "I'm afraid the meal's been in the oven for a while, but it was all in foil, so it didn't dry out. Lantash told them we wouldn't know how long it would have to be held, so their suggestions really look like they are no worse for being on warm in the oven."

"Lantash?" Daniel asked, as he took bowls and serving utensils from her.

"Yes, Lantash. I woke up to him calling in the order for the flowers and the meal. He did all of it. I was very impressed. He was even very adept at using my credit card. You might not want to leave yours lying around unless you want the next purchase to be on you." Sam was laughing, and Daniel could tell that she was laughing as much at something that Lantash was saying as what she was telling him, although he also knew that she found it amusing as well.

"Getting to be quite the shop by phone and credit card guru is he? I suppose next he'll learn how to shop online, and then we'll never know what will arrive next."

He watched the glow that told him Lantash was going to talk to him, and he grinned, waiting.

"What is this online of which you speak? Is there a way to purchase items of which I am unfamiliar? I wish to explore all of the possibilities before I decide which is most preferable. Later in her pregnancy, Samantha will not be as likely to wish to go out to shop. I would suspect that the last two to three months she will sit and lie a great deal."

"Women on Earth sometimes work right up until the baby is born Lantash. But, we'll do whatever is best for her, you know that."

"Yes, of course. This online?"

Daniel grinned again, "I'll show you how in a few days, okay? We're going to shop for baby stuff the old fashioned way first. The crib and bassinet will be picked out by all three of us in person, seeing what we are getting. All right?"

"Samantha is in total agreement, so I, too, will agree. She says, however, that it would be prudent to look online to get some ideas about what each of you like, and in that way have things in mind before we set out to do the actual looking. I must tell you that I agree with what she is showing me, Daniel. It seems a logical way to set about this particular expedition."

Daniel nodded, agreeing, "I think that's a good idea, too, Lantash. It can help us narrow down the stores we want to go to, as well."

Nodding his agreement with them both, he said, his voice quite serene and calm, no sign of his excited anticipation showing through, "I will give Samantha back to you now, Daniel," and he smiled as he left. Sam's smile grew as she looked across the table at Daniel. This was nice. She was enjoying it, and he looked like he was, too. She just hoped he was as happy about what Lantash had done as she was.

Maybe she should be angry, but she just couldn't be. Everything they could do to protect this child of Martouf's, no matter how obscure, had to be done. And, if giving Daniel a gift of his own child along with Martouf's would also help to hide that child under one more layer of protection, then she was more than happy to do it. She'd carry triplets if it would help. Maybe she should ask Lantash. "No, Samantha, there is no need."

"Oh, well, all right."

"Daniel, did you finish the basement today, or do we both need to go back again?" Sam asked, as they ate their meal. They might as well get the incidental things out of the way.

"Mm. I think I finished it up for the most part. There are a few things left, but I threw out all the old paint, except for the ones that were house paint, and we'll leave them for whoever buys it. Everything else is boxed and ready to go to the storage building tomorrow evening, as soon as Jack and Teal'c get here with Jack's truck.

"Good, I was hoping we had sorted everything out the other day. I'm glad we didn't miss a bunch of stuff and need to go back. Are we about to get it then?"

"I think so, Sam. All the stuff that is in the house for showing it still has to be packed, but that isn't much compared with what we've moved out."

"No. No, it isn't. Daniel," Sam paused and then forced herself to say in as normal a tone as she could, yet softly, "Daniel, I want to thank you for doing so much at the house by yourself—without—well, without me there helping you to pack stuff up. I know it isn't fair to you that you've had so much of the responsibility for getting things ready to go…"

"Sam, stop." Daniel broke into her obviously painful speech while watching her with sympathy. "You helped to sort everything. That part kept your mind busy. If you had been there as everything was packed as well, you would have had way too much time to think, and there would have been way too many things to jar your memories. I was happy to do it for you. Once the sorting was finished, there was no reason for you to return there and put all three of us through that. Please, Sam, I wanted to do that for us—for all of us—really, because we all would have felt each other's pain. It was better this way, and I think we can all admit that."

Sam blinked rapidly as she gazed at the tabletop. God, Daniel was the sweetest man on earth, or maybe even in the entire universe. She was so very lucky to have him to love and to be loved by him. "No, mer ann'wyld, we are lucky to have him. He is truly an amazingly loving, caring man. I, too, am coming to love him deeply, and I shall care for him to the very best of my ability. Never shall Daniel be hurt physically or emotionally, if there is any way in which I can protect him, this I promise you," Lantash spoke to her in answer to the thoughts she sent out. Of course, they both knew that he could not protect Daniel from a great many things, but each understood the sentiment behind the vow, and exactly what it meant. Lantash would do whatever he could, and if he could not stop or keep Daniel from being hurt, then he would do his very best to mitigate it as much as possible.

Sam sent him a warm embrace in return, saying, "I know, cariad kea, and I agree. We will both protect him as much as we can from as many hurts as possible."

Lantash hesitated for a moment before saying, gently, "He and Martouf are much alike, my Samantha. Both have tender hearts and loving ways. We will cherish Daniel always, because he truly deserves to be cherished by those that love him. My Martouf was so much like him—." He stopped, his voice suspended by emotions too deep to control if he continued speaking of his missing mate. "Enough of that. Do not misunderstand; he is not Martouf, and I have come to love him for who and what he is, not because he reminds me of Martouf. That is simply a bonus in one way—and a heartache—in another. Now, you must answer him, Samantha, mer cor. Do so knowing that we both love, admire, and appreciate him deeply, for himself, just as he is."

Sending her heartfelt agreement to Lantash, she brought her eyes up to Daniel's and told him, "I appreciate it more than I'll ever be able to tell you, Daniel mine. And, I love you more than words can possibly convey."

Daniel cleared his throat before continuing, "You are very welcome, Sam, you know that. I'll do anything and everything I can to help you through this."

He cleared his throat again, and Sam realized that he looked a little apprehensive. She sat quietly, waiting for whatever it was he had to tell her, not knowing what to say to put him more at ease, but wishing she could think of something, anything.

A third throat clearing and a quick deep breath and Daniel told her, "I—as I packed the stuff up—I realized that there were some things in the pile to be thrown out that I really think you may want someday. I know you don't think you do now, but I, I really believe, that, someday, you might. I set them aside and boxed them separately from all of the other stuff, and they are in the storage unit. I really, really think that the day will come that you will want our son to have them."

Sam caught her breath, knowing exactly about which things Daniel was talking. Long ago, after she had met Martouf and Lantash, she had found herself doing silly things. She had coffee mugs made with their names on them, and when they spent the weekend with her, they had used them both, looking at them and smiling every time they once again saw their names on the mugs. Their eyes had shone at the message that had sent to their hearts. Or, so they had said, and Sam no longer disbelieved them. They had truly meant it when they said it made them deliriously happy. She could feel that it had done so.

She had managed to get some pictures made from photos taken for their base ID card. She had managed to get some very good shots of them because the photographer was a friend of hers, and she had taken some very, very not regulation photos. Martouf and Lantash had not known the difference. They looked great without their shirt on.

She'd made a scrapbook of those pictures and some others that she had managed to get Daniel to take during missions a few times. One was of the two of them, as they sat near the campfire. Looking at it later, she had realized that Daniel had caught them perfectly together, gazing at each other, obviously in love to anyone looking, although she had been unaware of it at the time. Daniel had it framed and gave her an eight by ten of it for her birthday that year. She had kept it in the drawer of the table by her bedside. She had often taken it out and sent her wishes out across the stars to them to be safe and take care of themselves, as she gazed at it before going to sleep.

Then there was the afghan they had stretched out on in front of the fire as they made love, and the one that they had wrapped up in after making love outside in the backyard under the star-strewn skies.

There were the empty wine bottles. They had played with them, and using some old, old art supplies of Cassie's that she still had, they had decorated them and made some crazy looking candle-holders; they used them beside the bed to make love by. Each of the bottles had their names together inside some rather lopsided hearts. It had made them all the more special because they were obviously done with love, not perfection. There were the photos she had taken of them as they slept that weekend. She had even caught Lantash coming fore one time. And rings they'd made of leftover yarn and golden thread. Then, then there was the circlet of yarn Martouf had presented her with, as a token of their love and the promise of their intentions on this, the day of our first joining. He had woven it so beautifully; she had been amazed. It was quite sturdy considering it was only yarn and some gold metal thread that she had left over from another one of Cassie's art projects. Oh, yes, she knew exactly about which things Daniel was talking.

Holding herself quietly, she looked at him and nodded. "I agree, Daniel. The day may come when he wants them, and the day may also come when I can look at them and not fall apart inside—and out. I just couldn't pack them myself that day, but I really appreciate you thinking about it and deciding to keep them. Thank you." She slowly relaxed and then managed to smile before changing the topic.

Her voice firm, she asked him, "How did the meeting with the realtor go? Did you like her?"

Daniel wouldn't be put completely off, but he did respect her need to talk about more mundane things. "About the other. You are very welcome, Sam. I was happy to do it for you. As for the realtor, yes. I did like her very much. I'm glad you steered us in her direction. I like her a lot better than the one I had. I let her know what we wanted, and she said she'll have a list for us day after tomorrow. So we'll keep that day free if that's all right with you?"

"Yes, that sounds fine. I had hoped it would work that way."

"What's the matter, Sam?" Daniel asked, knowing without her saying anything that there was something on her mind, and he didn't think it was their previous conversation. This was something else entirely.

She shook her head, but then she sighed, saying, "I'm still thinking about our conversation the other night. About living with the Tok'Ra and whether or not we should buy a house. I know you think we should, and I know I said we should, but now, I'm not so sure. I mean, why buy a house, if we live with the Tok'Ra?"

"For the very same reasons we went over the other night. Two cultures. And two homes. Our children will grow up in both the tunnels and here, Sam. I don't want them to never know half of their heritage. It wouldn't be fair to them. It's bad enough that his child may never get to know Martouf's, if his world continues to be fought over by the Goa'uld. If we are living in the tunnels, even most of the time, we can still come home for holidays and things like that. We need a house, and it's not like we can't afford it."

"That's just it, Daniel, are you really sure we can afford it? We really don't make much when you get right down to it."

"Samantha, is this what is bothering you?" Lantash interrupted abruptly.

Sam frowned. "Yes, it's a big part of it. A really big part. We're going to need a really big house if we stay on Earth even half of the time. We both need dens or else a room large enough that we can both have our own space in it; I need a lab, Daniel deserves a library, and the children will need their own space. I just don't see how we can afford that kind of house on officer's and consultant's pay even with hazardous duty pay thrown in." Sam sighed deeply, trying once again to see her way clear to buy the house, pay taxes, insurance, someone to watch over it, and all the other hundred and one things that would have to be settled.

"I can see that it is time to set your mind at ease. There is no need to be concerned about finances," Lantash said quietly.

"What do you mean, Lantash?" Sam was still frowning, not understanding what he was getting at, unless he thought they'd just stop the entire plan, which was what she was suggesting.

"Samantha, I have lived for two thousand of your years give or take a few. Do you really believe that I would not have accumulated some wealth in that time? Do not let the fact that the Tok'Ra do not emulate the Goa'uld fool you into thinking we have not invested our assets wisely. The fact that we do not adorn ourselves, or our home, does not mean we have nothing, it simply means we have other uses for what we have. What do you think pays for our supplies and equipment? Our clothing and our food? We have communal assets as well as personal assets. You now own Martouf's personal assets as you inherited them as his, I believe your word, is widow."

"I do? That's not right, Lantash. It should go to his family. Not to me."

"You and his child are his only family, Samantha, and you are a moderately wealthy woman. I will take the matter up with Daniel and Jacob. You are being unreasonable. I will see to it that our home is paid for from my own assets, if you will not use Martouf's."

"You will not. I forbid it."

"You cannot stop me, Samantha. I, too, am your mate. Are you telling me that you do not accept me as such? Because refusal to share my assets, as a mate is entitled to do, is the same as refusing me as your mate."

Sam gasped as she gave his words consideration. He was right. If it were Daniel's assets, she would accept them as 'theirs'. Was she shutting Lantash and Martouf out of her life? No, she wouldn't do that. He was her mate and, as such, there was no question of his or hers. It had become theirs, as had Martouf's. Still, she felt uneasy, as she still had not grown accustomed to the idea of communal property yet. "I understand, Lantash, and I have no intention of not acknowledging you as my mate. Just—just—give me a little time to assimilate this."

"Instead of upsetting yourself, why do you not ask me what you now own that was Martouf's?"

"All right, Lantash, what do 'we' own that is so valuable that I can afford a house like we need?" She turned his words back at him in a not so subtle way, as she asked her question.

"What was Martouf's is strictly yours, Samantha, not mine, or Daniel's. Martouf wished to have it this way, and I cannot do less than what he expected of me as his mate, so you must accept that fact. Have you no idea how pleased and proud Martouf would have been to claim you as his mate and give to you everything that he owned? Do not regard his wishes, as less than what they were, Samantha. He left instructions with me, many months ago, of what to do if he died, and I did not. You were his only heir, even then. Therefore, I know of that which I speak."

Sam sat, almost in shock, at Lantash's words. Martouf had considered her his mate even then. Lantash was correct, she could do no less than honor his request. She nodded her understanding and acceptance, saying, "Thank you for telling me, Lantash. I will not attempt to force you to go against his wishes. I didn't know; I didn't realize how he felt. I will accept as gracefully as I can."

Lantash embraced her. "Now, I shall tell you some of your assets. For a start, you own a naquadah mine. No, it is not mined with slave labor; the miners are well paid, and they have food, clothing, and shelter. There health is taken care of, and they are not worked to death. The conditions in the mine are very good and accidents are rare. You also own several thousand pounds of gold of a very good quality, quite pure." Sam choked on her water, and Daniel was on his feet immediately and then around the table to her side.

"Sam, are you all right? What happened?"

"Yes, I'm fine, Daniel," she finally managed to gasp out as her coughing spell lessened.

"What in the world did Lantash just tell you that caused you to spit water halfway across the table?"

"He realized that the problems I'm having about getting a bigger house is the expense."

"Sam, we talked about this and…"

Sam held up her hand and silenced him. "I know we did, but it still bothers me. The point is that Lantash is telling me that all of Martouf's assets are now mine. And it seems that the Tok'Ra are not without assets, Daniel."

"No, after living that long I would imagine they have acquired some wealth, although with their expenses running a war, I don't know how much it would be."

"Well, the assets for that are separate from their own assets. So, I inherited Martouf's assets, which Lantash tells me makes me a, in his words, moderately wealthy woman." They will more than take care of a house."

Daniel's brow's rose. "Really? Well, I don't care what they are; you aren't paying for all of it. I'm using all the money from this house as well as some other money I have from a trust fund."

Sam frowned. "The house I agree. The trust fund, I don't. That will go to our children. That's final, Daniel. That should be set aside for them." She waited for his reluctant nod before going on, as she wiped up the water. Thank goodness, it was only a very little water.

"I don't think he has told me everything."

"I have barely begun."

"But, he started by telling me that I own a naquadah mine and several thousand pounds of gold. That's where he stopped because I choked and spit out my water. I really don't think I'm going to worry anymore about getting a house or finding the money for college funds."

Daniel sat back down in his chair, and he and Sam stared at each other across the candlelit table. Both of them wondered if they were suddenly going to wake up and find out they were sharing a particularly pleasurable dream. Barring that, they wondered what the catch was.

As neither of them spoke and the minutes dragged on, Lantash took control of Sam and said to Daniel, "I assure you that there is nothing to stop Samantha from claiming her inheritance. She can access it any time she wishes. We will simply travel to a world which holds part of her assets in trust and retrieve some of it, and so on and so forth, until we have retrieved what you need."

"It is in many places, not all in one. That is a safeguard, you understand, so that should one place become unstable the others are not affiliated with it in any way. Your lists of assets are in with Martouf's belongings. I had forgotten that Samantha has not yet been able to go through them."

"It is also why we keep our assets in so many diverse ways. Samantha owns similar amounts of platinum, and silver. She has lesser, though still considerable, amounts of copper, nickel, and many others too numerous to mention, many that you will never have heard of. There are stones of all types. From what you call the emerald, some absolutely perfect and so deep a green it is astounding, to diamonds of the finest cut and clarity, to rubies, sapphires, topazes, opals, and stones you have never seen before as well. She has a small fortune in the silks and jewels alone, Daniel."

"That day, in General Hammond's office, I spoke the truth. Samantha will never want for anything again. By declaring her our mate, Selmak assured that she would gain, not only the title of our mate, but our assets, should something happen to us and she survive. Not only Martouf's, but mine, should anything happen to me. The Tok'Ra already believes that she owns both of our assets, and they shall continue to do so."

"If our blending does not go well and I die, I will be sure I do not release the poison, just as Jolinar did for Samantha. Then the two of you, along with my offspring are my heirs. You will inherit my assets, and neither of you, our children, nor any subsequent children of yours, will ever be in want for anything. It is how I wished it to be."

"Lantash, you didn't have to do that. We didn't expect, or want, anything like that," Daniel said softly, feeling uncomfortable, but at the same time incredibly touched, that he would trust them to see to it that his child was taken care of in this way. "You have my word that if anything ever happens to you, your child will be taken care of to the best of our ability, and it will know both cultures, I promise you. In fact, the first thing it will learn is what a very wonderful being Daddy-Lantash was. However, since nothing is going to happen to you, this baby won't have to just be told, because it will grow up knowing that Daddy-Lantash is a wonderful man. Even if he does look like Daddy-Daniel."

When Lantash was finally able to control his voice to speak, he said, "I will be honored to share that designation with you, Daniel. The documents have been drawn up, and I have signed them, but I am reiterating this now, so that you both will know that what I am saying, I mean. Our assets, Martouf's and mine, are to go to you and all of the children born of the two of you, not only those of Martouf's or mine. All children born of you."

Smiling then, he continued, "Furthermore, now that we know how we will pay for the house and its upkeep, and Samantha is over her shock to some extent, I will retire once again into the background, so that the two of you may finish your meal and talk comfortably."

As Sam came back, Daniel leaned forward and caught her hand in his, "Sam, I know what you want to say, but you can't. This is Martouf's child and it is Martouf's assets. The child deserves to benefit from those assets. If Martouf had lived, you would have bought a big house, and it would have had a big yard and a lot of rooms. You would have had more kids, and you probably would have spent at least part of your time in the tunnels."

"I know you think you don't deserve the assets, and maybe you're right, and maybe you're wrong. However, that baby does deserve them, and it deserves to have everything it would have had if Martouf had lived. And, so do you. So accept it as gracefully as you would have if Martouf had given it to you. Because in a way, he is. It's just being handed to you by an intermediary."

Sam nodded and smiled slightly, "I agree, Daniel. I'm not arguing or refusing. It seems that, well that, Martouf made his wishes known months ago. He wanted me to have his assets even then, so I won't refuse them now. He is giving them to me."

Daniel frowned, "The other part, about Lantash's assets, well, those we and our children do not have a right to."

Sam looked at Daniel for a long time, but it was obvious she was listening to Lantash. She finally nodded, and said, "However, they will be Lantash's children as well, Daniel. Therefore, if I accept and honor Martouf's gift, and all that it can afford for us to have, then if Lantash is gone, we have to do the same with his gift to us and his children. He—he…" She stopped, swallowed, took a breath, and then continued, "He considers us his mates and, therefore, our children are his children, in his eyes, just as they will be in ours."

"He also says that, even if he died, he wants any subsequent children of ours to have it. Since both he and Martouf will live on in us, he feels very strongly that any children we have will also belong to him, whether he is living or not. I-I can see his point in a way, Daniel, and I won't hurt him by refusing it. And, your refusal does hurt him. I can feel it. So, we will take it with our thanks."

Daniel frowned and was obviously deep in thought. He looked back at her, and sighed. "Yes, of course, you are right. I apologize, Lantash, it was very rude of me to refuse your gift. Please, don't think anymore of it, and write it off to my clumsiness."

"He says he understands, Daniel. He believes that once you and he are blended you will understand his reasoning better. I have to agree with him; I think you will, too."

She paused for a moment before saying softly, her eyes luminescent with her love, "I hope Martouf knows how grateful I am, and how much his actions mean to me. Not for the monetary value, but because of what the gift says to me about how he felt, and what it means emotionally to me."

"I'm sure he does, Sam. Just as he knows about the baby." He watched her closely as she wrestled with her emotions about Martouf and his child.

When he was sure that she had control again, Daniel sat back in his chair. More relaxed now that the crisis had passed, and Sam seemed to have regained her equilibrium, he said calmly, "Sam, this was really good, but I ate too much. I feel like I'm the thanksgiving turkey and have been fully stuffed."

"I guess you don't want dessert, then?"

"Tell me you're kidding? There really is dessert after all that?" Daniel groaned as he dropped his head back. "Can we at least wait a little while and maybe have some coffee with it later?"

Sam laughed at him. "There's no reason not to. For that matter, it can wait until tomorrow. Why don't I just clear off these plates? I won't be a minute."

"I'll help you."

"Thanks, Daniel, but you don't need too, there really isn't much here."

"No, but putting leftovers in the fridge, while you load the dishwasher, will be faster than you doing it all. I want to spend time with you, not sitting at the table while you run back and forth to the kitchen."

Sam smiled at him, "Good point. I'll go get some of the other stuff. One more batch should get everything, I think."

"I think I'll help just to be sure. Ah, see there, you'd have had to make another trip. Come on, I'll hold the door."

"Why, thank you, kind sir."

"You are most kindly welcome, my lady." Laughing and playing, they had the entire kitchen and dining area cleaned up in no time. Daniel decided that maybe he could eat just a little bit of the mousse, and so, they ended up back at the table looking at each other over the candle's flame.

"Lantash, I think it's time to tell him," Sam said softly.

"Yes, you probably should. I will be right here, and I will help you," Lantash assured her of his support.

Having learned how from Lantash, Sam released control and stepped back leaving him no choice but to take control, or drop the spoon and the glass of water. "Samantha, what are you doing?"

"I think you should tell Daniel. It's something that you did for him. Basically, you got me pregnant with Daniel's child, so you should be the one to tell him that he is going to be a father. Go on, Lantash; I think he will be thrilled. Maybe not at first, because he will be shocked, but when it sinks in, well, I think he'll be over the top."

"Are you sure, Samantha? Are you sure, you would not rather tell him yourself? You are the child's mother. Is it not your place to do so?"

"No, I think that, from one father to another, you should tell him. Please, Lantash. Go on, now. You can do it. You know how excited he'll be."

"All right, Samantha, but if he gets angry, I do not want him to take it out on you. If I am what he knows is here, he might."

"Lantash. Now. I'm not coming back until you do," Sam's response was very firm, but her voice was loving and encouraging.

Lantash sighed, resigned, "All right."

Lantash looked up from the dessert he had been studying, while talking to Samantha, and found himself staring into intense blue eyes. He lifted his glass of water and took a drink. How difficult could it be? All he had to do was tell him he was about to become a father.

Finally, Daniel broke the silence, "What's up, Lantash? Is something bothering Sam? She's been leaving you in control a lot tonight." He frowned. "You said she took a nap this afternoon, too. That's not like Sam at all. Lantash, is there something you're not telling me?"

How much more perfect a lead-in could he get? He grasped at it gratefully. "As a matter of fact, Daniel, there is something that I wish to talk to you about, although I would not classify it as anything that is bothering her, or as anything being wrong. She is fine, so do not jump to any erroneous conclusions."

"All right. I won't jump to conclusions, if you'll get on with explaining what's wrong with her."

"There is nothing wrong with her. She is fine," Lantash repeated testily. "I have told you that. She was tired and needed to rest. She must be a little more careful now, and that is why I suggested she take a nap. If you will stay quiet and calm, I will explain what has happened."

Daniel leaned back in his chair, removed his glasses, and rubbed his face. "All right, Lantash. Cut to the chase. What is going on? Now, no bark on it, plain English. What is it?"

"Very well, Daniel. In plain English. Samantha is pregnant."

"Well, that's a big surprise. I think we've known this for a few days now. So, what you're telling me is that she's going to get tired easier? Should she be doing that already?" Daniel frowned trying to remember what he had read about the progress of a fetus, and the effects of it on a woman's body. He came up blank. He pinched the bridge of his nose, threw his head back, and sighing, closed his eyes, still trying to figure this out.

"Had you allowed me to explain in my own way, it would have made much more sense. Samantha is now carrying two babies, the first of which you are already aware. The second was conceived five days ago, and you are the sire. Congratulations, Daniel, you are going to be a father."

Daniel didn't move from his position in the chair. He sat calmly and quietly, his hand still on the bridge of his nose, his head still partially tilted back. He did not appear to be breathing. Very slowly, he leaned more forward, brought his head up straight, removed his hand from his face, and sent a piercing gaze across the table at Lantash. "What did you just say, Lantash, because I could have sworn you said that Sam was pregnant with my baby. Now, Sam is already pregnant with Martouf's baby, so she can't be pregnant with my baby. Therefore, that wasn't what you said. So, just what did you say?"

"I said that five days ago, Samantha became pregnant with your baby. She is now carrying two fetuses; one is approximately eleven days old; the other is approximately five days old. The eldest child was fathered by Martouf, the younger one, by you. Your child is just seating itself into the uterine wall, a somewhat delicate stage, which is why I insisted that Samantha rest this afternoon. I would like for her to rest at least some each day for a few days."

"I know she will not wish to, but I also know that if it means one of the lives of the babes, she will see to it that she finds time to do so. It is also the reason that I remarked earlier that the final two or so months of her pregnancy, Samantha may not feel like doing much walking. Two children will become quite heavy toward the end of her pregnancy, as I am sure you are aware. It is very possible that she will be in some discomfort. At least, that is what I have read, and it does make a great deal of sense to assume that to be true."

"And you are absolutely sure of this information. There is no, she might be? There is no, but it may not be viable? There is no, it might not survive?"

"No more so than there was of Martouf's at that point in time. I am watching it closely, and so far, it is fine. The cells are dividing as they should, and it appears to be perfect as far as it can be, just as the other one was at this stage. We will know more as they mature. I am a little concerned about its attachment. As I said, this is its fifth day, and it is attaching, so I am watching. I do not want Samantha overdoing, and I believe she did today, which is why I had her take a nap and rest."

Daniel got up and paced the floor, running his hands through his hair. A father. He was going to be a father. How had this happened? There was more here than a simple statement of fact. Had Lantash somehow made this happen? And, if so, why? Furthermore, did it really matter if he had—or what the reason was? The outcome was the same, regardless. Whether it was engineered by Lantash, or happened naturally, he was still going to have a child that would bear his DNA.

He would love both of them. Whose DNA they carried wouldn't really matter when it came to that. He knew himself well enough to know that it wouldn't make a difference in his feelings for either of them, but there was just something about the thought of a child of his own that he had actually helped to create. It was just the idea, he supposed. Both of them were Lantash's and both of them were Sam's. However, the most important thing of all was that both of them would be loved.

He turned around and pulled Lantash/Sam out of the chair and bent him/her over his arm for a long slow, thank you kiss. She still looked like Sam—but she sure didn't kiss like Sam.

It wasn't long before Daniel lifted him/her up and looked down into eyes that were aghast, before Lantash finally gasped, "Daniel, how could you? You kissed me in the way a man kisses a woman! That was—that was, unpalatable and—and displeasing. It was—was, oh, Daniel, it was disgusting and—How could you? How could you do that? What were you thinking? We agreed that was not to be done while I was awake." Lantash wiped the back of Sam's hand across her mouth, a very disgruntled look on her face. Daniel was laughing, until he finally saw the truly affronted look she/he was wearing.

"Oh, come on, Lantash, I was just kissing the mother and father of my child. I assume you had something to do with it happening, so I figured I might as well kiss you both at once. It wasn't that repulsive was it? Aw, come on. It was just a little kiss. It's not like I felt you up or anything. I didn't try to slide my hand up your dress or undo your garter belt."

Lantash shook his head at the laughing Daniel. He would never understand Tau'ri humor. "I suppose it was not all that terribly distasteful; however, I do not wish to repeat it, please." He shuddered again and changed the subject, "Do you not wish to know how it came about that you are to become a father?"

Daniel stopped grinning at him, and nodded, "Yeah, I do. And, Lantash, I am sorry about the kiss. I wasn't thinking clearly, and I didn't mean to upset you. I hope you'll forgive me."

Deciding his best course would be to change the subject, he asked, "So, I guess I should hear the story on how this baby came to be?" His face became shadowed as an unpleasant thought came into his mind. His voice carefully neutral, he asked, "Um, another thing, why didn't Sam tell me? I mean, doesn't she want it?"

Starting with answering his apology for the kiss, Lantash told him, "You are forgiven, Daniel. Samantha is berating me for being a stuffed shirt, and I find that I must agree with her. It caught me off guard, and I believe that I overreacted. I should have accepted the kiss in the spirit in which it was given."

"As for Samantha's feelings about it, she wants it very much, Daniel. However, she felt that, since I was so instrumental in seeing that it came to pass, that I should be the one to explain what steps I took to ensure that it occurred. She wished for me to explain how I watched over the process to ensure that it succeeded, and that nothing went wrong. She was very happy at the thought of you also having a child of your blood. She was also, at one point, thinking that they would be playmates for one another in the tunnels where children are quite rare, as you know."

"Very true. I hadn't thought of that, but it is something to think and be glad about."

"Nor had I. It sometime seems to me that women think about those types of things far more often than men do. I know that it is not something that I would have given any thought to, at least, not for some time yet."

"Yes, I think that they do, too. I'm glad because like you, I probably wouldn't have thought of it for a while yet."

"I shall tell you now how it came about that you now have a child which truly carries your DNA. Do you remember when we first talked about Samantha's pregnancy? I believe I told you, at the time, that I did not yet know if there would be more than one child."

At Daniel's nod of agreement, Lantash continued, "You see, Daniel, there was another egg ripening in one of Samantha's ovaries. Dependent on a multitude of variables I continued to make sure that it received what it needed in order for it to continue ripening. I did, in fact, hasten it's ripening somewhat, as more and more variables fell into place."

"When it appeared that you and Samantha were very much in tune with one another; that in fact you loved one another, and I would be transferring hosts to you, the last of the outside variables was then in place."

"Now, the only things that remained, which must occur for it to happen, were the inner ones; those things that only you and Samantha could control. It was already approximately six days since the first child was conceived, so it was already nearing a time restraint. Unless the two of you made love soon, it would be too late to allow it to occur. I allowed release of the egg at the correct time for fertilization to succeed, if conditions were met five nights ago. They were met, the egg was fertilized, and a new fetus has now joined its sibling in Samantha's womb."

"There is one more thing about this second fetus, though, Daniel. Its appearance has allowed me to effectively mask the DNA in the first child to any of the tests known today on Earth and actually to many off Earth. The child's actual DNA has not changed; it has simply been painted over, so to speak. And if one gets a DNA from one sibling from a womb where two were born at the same time, then one is likely to be satisfied with a preliminary check to see if they are the same."

"I understand. You see what you expect to see. I think it is just another layer of protection for the child, and I don't have a problem with it, Lantash. We have to protect this baby, this child, from all those that would love to get to it, if they knew, so the best thing is if they never know—or even suspect."

"Yes. Exactly. That is all I have to say on the subject. We must hope that the second fetus will catch up with the first. I will do my best to help it, but there is only so much I will do. I will not actually tamper with DNA, or anything similar to that."

"I can encourage faster development of all the important organs: the lungs, the kidneys, the brain, and the heart. I do not mean a lot faster, only enough to allow the little one to catch up with the older one, at least at first, for that is a concern. Then, if it causes no problems, and all goes well, I will continue to encourage some faster development of both of them, as another layer of safeguard, unless you and Samantha object. However, we shall see how they fare first. To be completely honest, I do not foresee or anticipate any problems."

Daniel nodded, obviously deep in thought. Then smiling across at Lantash and Sam, he agreed, "I think it's a really good plan. That would be a great safeguard, if we could have it born earlier than it should be and yet still obviously be an at term birth. It would certainly throw dust in anyone's eyes that was the least tiny bit suspicious. Not that I think anyone will be. We're covering our tracks really well, as far as I can tell, and as long as you aren't discovered and found in Sam, we should be okay—better than okay—we should be in really great shape with these last two pieces of our cover in place."

"Yes, we can do that for a while yet can't we, Lantash? Allow you to monitor and take care of them and their development? You aren't feeling like you need to go to sleep yet are you?" Sam asked, concerned that Lantash was beginning to think he would need to leave her right away.

Lantash acknowledged Daniel's comment before turning inward and answering his Samantha, "No, not yet, my Samantha, but it may be sooner than we thought, especially with two fetuses instead of one. I want to be sure the second child is well and on its way. I am gaining strength very quickly. As soon as the children are stable and viable, I may leave you for Daniel. We can monitor and help any problems through the healing device once I have fully blended with him."

"I understand. You and he should discuss it soon, then. If you can monitor the babies from him, as well as you can from inside me, then, I agree that you should make the change as soon as possible."

Sam paused before saying softly, with an ache in her voice, "Lantash, I am beginning to find myself wanting you physically, but I am also growing very attached to you within my mind. I have become so used to having you within me, that I will miss you when you are gone. So, for my peace of mind, if nothing else, I think we need to make the switch as soon as it is physically safely possible for you to do. I have to believe that if I am having these urges, then you are as well. And, since you are within my body, constantly aware of it, it must be much worse for you. I really think you need to discuss the entire situation with Daniel, soon."

"I will do so, Samantha, and you are correct in your assumptions. I am beginning to crave your body. I want to hold you, to stroke and caress you, to feel you shudder in my arms. It is becoming harder for me as time goes forward. However, I will not leave before I am in optimal condition, and I am sure that the children are as well. Furthermore, I promise I will help you as much as I possibly can when it comes to our parting, mer ann'wyld."

"I can agree to those two things, of course. It goes without saying that those conditions must be met first. But, as soon as they are, we will become lovers again. I really think that the sooner our body's physical bond is broken the better it will be—for all of us."

"Yes. It will. And yet. I will never forget this time we were together, my Samantha, never. For it will always be ours."

"Yes, it will. Just as some of the other things will always be ours: Martouf's memory, our love for him, our child, our time together as blended beings. In some ways, perhaps we are lucky to have seen, felt, and know these things about one another. It will help us to understand each other better."

"Why did you sigh, my Samantha? The things you mention are not things that should be sighed over."

"No, and that wasn't what the sigh was about, ann'wyld. I was sighing because I am already missing you, and you are not yet gone. I am dreading losing you, Lantash. The very idea of you being gone and my mind being silent is beginning to frighten me. It's odd. A few weeks ago, if you had told me I would feel that way about being blended, I'd have told you that you were insane. Now, I want to have our children and blend as soon as possible, so I will no longer have this emptiness in me."

"I do not believe that all of your feelings are only from the idea of losing your symbiote, Samantha. I believe some of them stem from Martouf's death. You are still holding me as a part of him. If it was not for that, it would still be difficult, but not as difficult, I promise you. Daniel and I will do everything we can to help you through the aloneness. I do not believe it will last more than a few days. I think you will still feel the urge to blend, but it will be as a pleasant event to look forward to, not a need that dwells within you. I cannot explain it, all I can do is ask that you trust me to know that what I say is true."

"You have never yet steered me wrong; I doubt you would start now. I trust you, Lantash."

"I will not, my Samantha. I should return to Daniel to see if he has any more questions."

Lantash looked back to Daniel now that his conversation with Samantha was finished, and Daniel asked, "Is there anything else you need to tell me?"

"Not that I can think of, Daniel. I hope I have not forgotten anything. Is there anything you wish to ask?"

"I'm sure there will be, but right now, I think I'm still in shock."

"I understand, Daniel. I hope it is a pleasant shock, though."

"It is a very pleasant shock, Lantash."

"I am glad, for I hoped it would be. Perhaps you and Samantha would wish to relax, now. I believe she should rest some more this evening. This one is still not firmly attached, but it is better than it was earlier today."

"If you are trying to tell me, in code, that I should let my mate go directly to sleep tonight without stopping by our playground, I get the message, Lantash." Daniel smiled at him, not sure if he was being completely serious. No doubt, he would find out later.

Lantash smiled and nodded, immediately releasing Sam and giving her control. It was quite early, but it would not hurt Samantha to sleep a longer time tonight. If they did a leisurely bedtime routine, then they could perhaps be in bed early enough that he and Daniel could talk, but not so early, that Samantha would realize that he was making her sleepier than usual.

Sam didn't question him, but Lantash knew that she realized he had said something to Daniel that he preferred she not hear. No doubt, she would mention it at some point; however, at the moment, she was more concerned with being with Daniel, than with confronting him, which was good. Perhaps by the time she asked, he could pretend to have forgotten what it was that he had said.

Sam looked across the table at Daniel, the love shining from her eyes, but there was some worry mixed with it, and it was very plain to see. He waited to see if she would bring up whatever it was that was bothering her and she did, almost immediately.

"Daniel, it never occurred to me that you would think that I didn't want this baby, or I would have told you myself instead of having Lantash do it. I honestly did have him do it because I thought it was very appropriate, father to father, that he be the one to tell you and explain how he—well, basically—how he impregnated me with your baby. I am thrilled to be carrying this child of yours, Daniel mine, I promise you. I can hardly wait to hold it in my arms and see a miniature you looking back at me. You have no idea what an incredibly wonderful gift I feel Lantash has given us by doing this for us. A gift of your child, Daniel, along with one from Martouf; I can't imagine anything more wonderful than that." She smiled gently, her eyes soft with dreams, and her love for them.

Daniel reached across the table and took her hands in his, rubbing the backs of them gently with his thumbs, before looking back up and into her eyes, his own eyes matching hers, now luminous and full of tenderness. "Had I given it even one second of thought I would have known that, Sam of my Heart, and please believe me now, when I say that I do know that. Furthermore, you are absolutely right. It is an incredibly wonderful gift, and I thank you both from the depths of my heart and love. God, Sam, I love you so damn much, I can't ever tell you in words. I'd do anything to prove how much I love—and trust—you."

Sam smiled at the opening he had just given to her, saying, "In that case, Daniel, there is one thing that I want from you tonight before we go to bed, if you wouldn't mind. But, it's to tell you how much I love you, not the other way around."

"What's that, Sam?"

"Dance with me, Daniel?"

Daniel smiled. "Yes. Yes, I'll dance with you, Sam."

Unclasping her hands from his, Sam stood and walked over to the entertainment center. Daniel realized then that she turned the music to something she had set up earlier. He followed her over and stood behind her.

Turning slightly so she could look into his eyes, she said quietly and simply, "Before I start this, I want you and Lantash to know that this, these lyrics, are the way I feel about you. Both of you."

When it started, he caught his breath. Alabama. There's No Way. A love song. One that told him how she felt. He took her in his arms and sang the words she was giving to him, back to her. There was no doubt that she had given this song some thought.

There's No Way

(Lisa Palas/Will Robinson/John Jarrard)

As I lay by your side and hold you tonight,

I want you to understand,

This love that I feel is so right and so real,

And I realize how lucky I am.

And should you ever wonder if my love is true,

There's something that I wanna make clear to you.

There's no way I could make it without you,

There's no way that I'd even try,

If I had to survive, without you in my life,

I know I wouldn't last a day,

Oh baby, there's no way.

It means so much to me, whenever I see,

That "wanting me look" in your eyes,

I don't know how I could do without,

Holding you close every night.

I've waited so long just to have you to hold,

And now that I've got you, I'll never let go.

There's no way I could make it without you,

There's no way that I'd even try,

If I had to survive, without you in my life,

I know I wouldn't last a day,

Oh baby, there's no way.

I never knew until you, what I was missing,

Now you say forever, and I find my heart is listening.

Yes I'm listening.

There's no way I could make it without you,

There's no way that I'd even try,

If I had to survive, without you in my life,

I know I wouldn't last a day,

Oh baby, there's no way.

Baby, there's just no way.

By Alabama

Daniel was lost to the words before it finished. He didn't need to hear them all because he knew the meaning of the song. She was telling him that she was sure this was right and real. He knew it, too.

Sam leaned back and looked at him. "I know it isn't exactly right, Daniel, but it says it the best that I could. I have waited a long time; I just didn't allow myself to know it, not about Lantash and Martouf, and certainly not about you. We talked about that the first night. I still love Martouf. I think you know that I always will, just as you will always love Sha'uri, but the love I have for you is right and real and true. Don't doubt that, please. It doesn't mean that I'm finished mourning for him. I think we both know that is not true. For now, that wound is still too new, too raw, and too painful to be glossed over and dismissed with platitudes. We both know that it will last for a very long time."

"It won't stop my love for you from continuing to grow, though. I never realized you could love like this. Love one man so much, and yet, ache and hurt so much for another one. It's redefined my views on love; what it means and how it works. I'm glad. I think that sometimes we have much too narrow a view of what constitutes love. All I know is that I do love you and Lantash."

Daniel smiled. "I won't doubt your word, Sam of my heart. And you are, you know. You are the one that is there, in my heart. Yes, Sha'uri's there in her place and always will be, as you say. But, her place is no longer the center of my heart, or my world. You and your place in it are that. I do love you, Sam of my heart. More each day." He drew her close as they danced until the song finished a second time, allowing it and their feelings for one another to flow over and through them. As it finished, and they slowly stopped moving, Daniel watched as Sam frowned slightly. "What's wrong, Sam?"

Sam sighed. "While Lantash approves of our sentiments, and assures me that his are the same, he says that if we are finished proving how well I can maneuver on pencil erasers on slick floors, then he believes we should go to bed. Something about two babies and sleeping. He is also forbidding me to wear these kinds of shoes any more until after the babies are born. I'm not sure how he thinks he will stop me, since he will either be in you or asleep, but…" her voice trailed off. Then her eyes brightened, as she asked, "Do you think he could be jealous of my ability to walk in them, Daniel?"

It was obvious to Daniel that she was teasing Lantash, so he helped her. Laughing aloud at first, he then choked his chuckles off, commenting very solemnly, "Well, he was a little disgruntled that you could do it so effortlessly, you know."

Sam's eyes sparkled; she shrugged, turned adroitly to shut off the table lamp, and headed for the stairs, Daniel by her side. Then she looked at Daniel, saying, quite seriously, but with eyes that still held laughter, "You know, this is probably the one thing I will not mind losing."

Daniel's forehead creased in thought. "What's that, Sam?"

Sam continued to tease Lantash with her answer to Daniel. "Lantash's lecture mode. Martouf complained about it, too. He tends to be somewhat like an old mother hen, cackling constantly at its one chick." She winked at Daniel in the light from the hall.

Sure enough, exactly as they expected, Sam's eyes glowed, and Lantash came forward to protest, both vociferously and voluminously, this flagrantly libelous assault upon his character.

TBC