Roeskva, thanks for the review.

Part 3, You've Been Patient with Me

-One Year Old-

Returning to the tunnels, Jack was greeted by Jacob. "Shouldn't the party be on Earth?"

"Iasis can't go to Earth unless it's an emergency," Jacob explained as he lead them down the halls. He looked to the three men. "You don't expect her to miss her sister's first birthday."

"How does Mark feel about missing the party?"

"We celebrated with him last week."

"Oh." Jack frowned. He knew they had visited Mark and his family, but he hadn't known he missed a party.

"It wasn't planned," Jacob added after seeing Jack's expression. "We came to see Mark, and he surprised us. Actually, his kids did most of the work. Besides, Daniel and Teal'c were off world at the time, and you were in Washington." He grinned in pride. Seeing three of his grandchildren all together. He wished Iasis could have been there too. He had no doubt she'd be accepted into the family, but Iasis had to remain a secret.

"Right," Jack replied, feeling better with the knowledge that he wasn't being pushed out. What had once been SG-1 was still family.

In a large room, Lantash eyed a cake as though he was staring at the enemy. Across the top were blocks made of graham crackers and frosting, spelling out "Malika Jolan."

"Relax, Lantash," Sam said, seeing how tense he was from across the room.

"This is mostly sugar, and you wish to give the entire cake to our daughter?"

"She's not going to eat it all."

"If I understand this ritual correctly," Aldwin said from the corner of the room, putting up decorations, "she will mostly play in it."

"Right," Sam confirmed.

"That's a waste of a lot of sugar."

A lot of food in general, Kela'an thought, think of the flower, eggs, and milk that went into the cake.

Sam smiled. The sugar is probably is his big concern.

Out of those ingredients, it is usually the most expensive... Your friends are here.

Sam quickly went to greet them.

"Lots of pink," Jack said as he looked around the room."

"I understand pink to be a feminine color on your world," Aldwin answered, confused by Jack's surprise.

"In Western culture," Daniel started, "which was assigned in the 1940's. Before that, pink was considered a masculine..." He trailed off he saw Jack starting to get bored. "Uh...pink is appropriate."

"I believe it makes a nice contrast to the blue crystals," Aldwin replied.

Sam gave a slight nod before turning to Teal'c. "How's Rya'c?"

Pride moved through him, noticed only by those who knew Teal'c best. "Rya'c regrets that he is unable to attend. He has recently been sent on many important missions."

"From what I understand, the free Jaffa have been quite busy," Garshaw added as she walked into the room. Though it was not said, everyone knew they had been especially busy now that the Tok'ra had been forced into hiding. Though many Jaffa would not admit it, the change made them realize that the Tok'ra did much more than they ever would have ever acknowledged.

"The forces have been spread thinner," Teal'c admitted. "We will become stronger." He had not been as surprised as his fellow Jaffa, but he had no doubt that the challenge would only strengthen them.

"Be careful not to spread too thin," Garshaw advised, though her advice looked less serious when a runaway balloon bounced off her head. She glanced up in confusion before seeing the pink bubble continue to float around the room.

"That's not very full," Jack noted as he noticed it was halfway between the ceiling and floor.

"If we fill them all the way, they puncture upon hitting the ceiling," Aldwin informed.

"Aldwin enjoys decorating," Sam added as she gestured for her friends to follow. "Gete is probably still asleep. He doesn't enjoy decorating."

"That's one way of getting out of helping." Jack smiled a bit. "So, where is the birthday girl?"

"Asleep. Lantash is watching her and Iasis."

"Does Iasis really need watching?"

"Not to the extent that Malika needs, but it does show her we love her."

"I imagine it also allows her to enjoy her...larvahood," Daniel added.

Sam smiled before gesturing to some plates in the kitchen they entered.

"I thought we were guests," Jack said as he knew he was about to be put to work, though they all knew he wasn't serious. He was pleasantly surprised to see some of the food looked normal. Aside from being familiar with what he was looking at, this meant it had a better chance of tasting good.

Soon, they were bringing all the food into the other room.

The start of the party had a lot of catching up in the latest news. It didn't really start until Malika woke up. Lantash sat on the floor with her. Sam sat in a chair nearby, holding Iasis. Malika crawled away as Lantash was given a present.

"I suppose it will not be a surprise," Aldwin said as he indicated to his gift, which was of the exact same size and shape he had given them for Iasis' birthday.

"Pictures," Iasis squeaked.

Lantash smiled as he carefully peeled away the paper, letting Malika bat at it.

"I think she likes the paper more than the gift," Jacob said as he watched his granddaughter play.

"It was made on Gete's world," Aldwin added. "The same man who made Iasis' frame. Malek and I selected the pictures." The frame had several pictures of Malika, each a month older than the last.

"Dada," Malika whined when Lantash took her paper away. She was soon distracted by another box with colorful paper around it.

The next was a toy from Jacob, which distracted her from what else was going on. Halfway through the gifts, Martouf took control. Malika pulled herself up before attempting to walk to her mom. Still unsure on her feet, she largely used various people and objects to reach her goal.

"Time for her to eat soon," Sam said as she picked the girl up.

"Sis," Malika said as she leaned over and tried to grab at Iasis.

"Gentle," Sam reminded as she made sure Iasis wasn't accidentally gripped too hard.

"Is that short for Iasis or sister?" Jack asked.

"We don't know," Sam answered as she encourage Malika to gently pet.

"We'll find out when she adds another syllable," Martouf added with a grin.

Iasis enjoyed the attention, not too worried. If Malika got too hard, she still wasn't strong enough to keep Iasis from slipping away.

It wasn't long before it was time for cake. There were two, one for the adults and another for Malika. Jack watched as the baby discovered frosting, both in taste and as something to play in. He couldn't help but think of his son's first birthday. The boy had too few of them. He'd be an adult by now. What would he have become? What would he be like?

He was happy for Sam, but he couldn't help but hurt in these moments. He was thankful she had a daughter. Watching Teal'c with his son was too much at times. He came to love R'yac like he would a nephew, though he had no idea how R'yac felt about him.

Relax, Sam thought as Malika played.

This is a strange ritual, Kela'an replied.

Lantash is already worrying about that. By looking at Martouf, she could tell he was probably telling Lantash to relax as well.

You've come to read them very well.

Jolinar helps.

She does.

You helped with that. Since blending with Kela'an, Jolinar's memories were stronger. Much was still buried, but Sam had control over what she had. With all the memories. Even her own childhood memories were clearer.

That's part of what we do, Kela'an answered. How else could I know so much about each host, even of their lives before they blended with me? I cannot keep my hosts' memories alive if I only remember their Tok'ra lives.

Sam felt a sense of warmth as Kela'an spoke. I think she's had enough. Sam went over and picked up the frosting covered child, who fussed when separated from the sweet food.

"She'll find it on her hands soon enough," Jacob said as he noticed Iasis sneaking into what was left of the cake. "Are you having cake too?"

"Yes."

"That's what the high council needs to see," Gete said with a grin, glad that certain members were away at the moment. "The future queen, covered in frosting."

Delek would become quite upset, Aldwin agreed.

Iasis was more interested in all the different textures. She tested each. The frosting was smooth and the only thing soft enough to absorb. The graham crackers were were hard, but they broke easily when she bit them. The cake was spongy, and she quickly learned she could burrow into it. That only made the whole thing fall apart. Memories that were not her own gave her an idea of what it would taste like. As she was picked up by her dad, she remembered Egeria eating cake on some special occasion with Per'sus.

"Berry," she squeaked, remembering the flavor.

"The cake was vanilla," Martouf answered, thinking she was referring to the current cake.

Iasis looked up to him and buried the memory.

Martouf followed Sam, who was cleaning off Malika, who was sucking frosting off her fingers. The child fussed again when her hands were cleaned.

The time is right, Lantash assured as he felt his host become nervous.

Martouf gave a slight nod. "Kela'an?"

The transmission of switching over was smooth. A slow blink, and Kela'an was in control. She didn't respond, knowing that Martouf could spot who had control through their minor differences. Posture. Expression. Movement. There was no need to speak.

"You've been patient with me," Martouf continued.

Kela'an looked towards him. "It wouldn't show much of my love if I wasn't. I know you feel the same about me."

Martouf smiled. "You know that I've been the delay...to become a family." He glanced down to Iasis, who was looking back up at him. He took a silent deep breath breathe. "I should have accepted you sooner. As painful as the thought of losing Samantha was, I married her knowing that I'd probably outlive her." He moved closer, letting Iasis slip into his pocket as he took the fussy Malika. "I spent years quietly wishing for Samantha to blend, if nothing else, to extend her own life. You've given me what I wanted, after the lost of... Drack was a good man."

At the mention of her previous host, pain flickered through Kela'an's eyes. She felt a quick response in sooth her. Thank you.

"I rejected you over a loss that I should have finished mourning before I ever remarried."

"Martouf..." Kela'an moved some hair behind his ear, though with it being so short, it didn't stay. "There will always be a part of you that mourns Jolinar and Rosha. Samantha knew that when she married you, and I knew that when I blended with her."

"It's time we..."

"I don't need a ceremony," Kela'an replied, knowing that was his thoughts. It was usually done to make the new spouse feel more welcomed, but it wasn't needed when one's blending partner was joining a marriage. "Tomorrow, call me your wife, so that our anniversary does not fall on our daughter's birthday."

Martouf smiled. "Tomorrow."

Feeling lighter and unable to stop smiling, Kela'an gave him a light kiss on the cheek before heading out to check on the guests.

Martouf set Malika down next to the crystal sink that had been used to clean her. Finding the water had been warmed, he took over cleaning the last bits of frosting. "Tomorrow, I'm going to marry your mother." He gave his daughter a kiss.

There was no ceremony. An announcement made it official the next day, and morning wasn't even over before everyone knew.

In her quarters, Freya found herself jealous of Martouf.

Kela'an hasn't been our husband for some time now, Anise thought. We also have Daniel.

Though it was selfish, Freya founding herself wishing she could have Drack, Kela'an, and Daniel.

I don't think the three of them would want to share, especially Drack and Daniel.

Freya smiled a bit to that. I would let them bring another woman into the marriage if I could have all three. She closed her eyes as her expression fell. I know. Drack is gone, and Kela'an...I am happy for... She sighed, and her thoughts seemed to soften. Kela'an is female now, isn't she?

Kela'an has always taken the gender identity of her host, just as I have.

Freya smiled again. If anyone saw her and didn't know about Anise, her constant change in expression would look almost insane. You've only had one male host.

Yes, but I was happy being male at the time, and should another come, I'll be happy again. With that, Anise waited for response, but her host seemed to go quiet on her. The thoughts were there. Anise felt them, but Freya had mentally pulled away. It was a lonely feeling. Freya?

Freya was quiet for another moment before... If we live all our years, Daniel will die before me.

Yes.

Is he worth that pain?

He is.

Freya closed her eyes.

He knows that pain, and he is willing to risk it again. If we die, he loses both of us. At least we only have him to worry about.

Freya sighed.

A week later, Jack couldn't believe it. Years of "Don't you ever stop by just to say hi," and a Tok'ra finally came over just to say hi. To Daniel, but still. Progress!

"He's in his office," Jack answered before watching Freya head off. Jack followed all the way, speaking up as soon as Daniel was within eyesight. "Look. She's visiting. A Tok'ra. No emergency. No threat to the galaxy."

Daniel smiled, both to Jack's excitement and Freya's confused look. "Sam visits all the time."

Jack waved his hand. "Aw, she doesn't count." Of course, he enjoyed every one of her visits, but that was Sam. Of course, she was going to visit. Besides... "She always finds work when she's here. That's not just a visit."

"Well, it's Sam." Daniel replied in a what-would-you-expect manner. He waved Jack away, glad he took the hint before approaching Freya. "Hello."

"Kela'an entered the marriage," Freya sort of blurted out.

"Oh... That's...that's..."

"Good."

"Good," Daniel echoed, unsure if it was supposed to be good or not.

"It made me..."

"...unsure?" Daniel offered. "Sad?"

"And I missed you... We missed you. I... I told Drack to be safe. He promised me he was going to be safe. Then...he didn't come back from his mission. Kela'an came back in the wrong host...and female." She sighed as she looked to Daniel. "I mean no insult to Samantha. I'm happy she was burned-" She frowned. "That didn't sound right."

Daniel smiled a bit at her expression. "If she hadn't been, she wouldn't have blended."

"-and Kela'an would have died as well..." She touched Daniel's sides, her mind now on him. "I don't know how I could handle another loss."

"I don't plan on dying anytime soon."

"You have died."

"I came back."

Freya kissed him. He was a bit startled at first, half expecting her to end their relationship. He pulled her closer, still unsure.

"We love you," she whispered after the kiss.

Daniel's expression brighten. "I love you...both." The last bit added a bit awkwardly. "I love you," he repeated in Goa'uld, using the plural version of you.