Briefing Room, SGC, 1300 hours, 1 hour after return from Edina.
Willow was standing at the window overlooking the Stargate, waiting for everyone to come in so that she could debrief them on exactly what happened. She remembered that Colonel Carter was the first to greet her once she got back to the SGC. She told Willow that she was surprised when Teal'c and Colonel Mitchell filed their reports with their take on what had happened out in space, that she needed to hear everything from the redhead. Willow had told her that it was going to be one heck of a story.
Slowly, she shifted her eyes from the Stargate to her now completely healed right arms as she flexed it, and moved it around which now pain or stings. Once she got back, Dr. Lam ordered her to the infirmary for a new scan and was told immediately that all the muscles, tendons and bone had been healed. The doctor then slowly removed the sling and broke the cast, much to Willow's silent cheer. As she looked at the palm and them the back of her hand, she made it into a fist and looked at the impressions the small bones made on the underside of the skin before she heard voices from behind her.
Turning around, she saw Faith walking towards the briefing room with Colonel Carter while they were laughing about something. Looking at Faith, at how she laughed, at how her hair bounced as she walked next to the Colonel, at her smile at what the Colonel had said; Willow remembered the promise she made just before she punched through the satellite.
'That's definitely going to happen' thought Willow to herself as she saw Faith looking at her and gave a wide smile. Willow returned the smile as she saw Colonel Carter give Faith a a small push on her back as the brunette Slayer ran towards the redhead just before she gave Willow a tight hug.
"Hey" whispered Willow into Faith's ear just as Colonel Carter walked into the briefing room grinning at what she was seeing, "you alright?"
"Yeah" said Faith as she released Willow and stepped back, but not before punching Willow's left arm.
"Hey" said the redhead as she rubbed her upper arm, "what was that for?"
"For doing one of the most dumbest, most idiotic, and most harebrained things I ever seen anyone do" said Faith as she stood in front of the redhead with her hands resting on her own hips, "and no, that doesn't include going onto another reality to save a version of Dawn."
Willow glanced at Colonel Carter who was trying her best to hide a smile, and the redhead could tell that she was supporting Faith on this.
"You're right" said Willow softly as she rubbed her arm, "it was a stupid thing to do, but I had to try something."
"Red" said Faith softly, "worse to worse; the Prometheus would have been destroyed."
"Colonel Pendergast could have gotten everyone off the ship, Willow" said Colonel Carter as she stepped towards the two women, "if you had been unsuccessful.. then we would have lost you to a needless death."
"Sorry" said Willow as she looked at Faith and then at the Colonel, "I didn't mean to worry you guys, I admit that I wasn't sure that it would have worked… but in the end it did. And most of the crew survived."
"You worried all of us" said Faith.
Faith: "You worried me. Don't ever do anything like that again, we'll be having a long conversation once we get home."
Willow: "But…"
Faith: "When we get home, Red."
"I'm sorry" said Willow as she looked at Faith, and then at the Colonel.
Willow: "I really mean that."
Faith: "I know."
Faith then gave the redhead another tight hug and quickly stepped back just as General Landry, and the rest of SG1 walked up the stairs and onto the briefing room floor.
"Major" said General Landry, "glad to have you back safe and sound."
"Yes, Sir" said Willow as she nodded her head, "glad to be back safe and sound."
"Has your arm been healed fully, Willow Rosenberg?" asked Teal'c.
"Yea" said the redhead as she moved her arm about, "as good as new."
Teal'c smiled and bowed his head before the General asked everyone to take their seats. Willow took her regular seat in between Colonel Carter and Faith, while Colonel Mitchell sat directly across from Colonel Carter, with Daniel and Teal'c next to him; and as usual, General Landry was at the head of the table.
"Major" said the General, "I've read your report."
"Interesting reading" said Colonel Mitchell, "another aspect of your abilities? Super Strength?"
"No, sir" said Willow as she leaned forward, "I mean it's not like Faith's or Buffy's, their strength is natural… or preternatural. Mine is just like any ordinary human's."
"So you used your telekinesis is a different way?" said Daniel.
"Yea" said Willow, "it was what I wanted to try when Teal'c and I have our regular sparring sessions."
"But it was never successful" said Teal'c as Willow nodded her head.
"I don't get it" said Faith as she leaned forward and looked at Willow, "then how is it that during our training sessions, you have that telekinetic field around you?"
"I have no idea" said Willow, "I really don't, maybe I subconsciously activate it? Maybe because I know that any hit you give me could potentially kill me.. maybe that's why I create a field without knowing how. Umm… no offence Teal'c."
"No offense has been taken" said Teal'c as he bowed his head, "however, it is a useful ability to have when in hand to hand combat."
"Agreed" said Colonel Mitchell as he leaned back on his chair, "so you had to concentrate your telekinesis into your arm."
"Yes" said Willow, "reinforcing my muscles, bones, tendons… basically everything. I then used my telekinesis to ram my hand through the metal skin, and into the satellite itself. But pouring that much power into my arm isn't something that I'm used to… I mean yes it succeeded but…"
"It also damaged your body" said Teal'c as he looked at Willow, "reinforcing your arm with that much power had a detrimental effect as well."
"Yea" said Willow, "it caused my muscles to tear, and my bones to break."
"May I suggest you don't do that again, Major?" asked the General.
"I concur, sir" said Willow, "at least until I get used to it, if work on it… I think I can do it at will. At the satellite, I needed a lot of concentration."
"Be careful" said General Landry, "we need everyone in top shape."
"Agreed, Sir" said Willow nodding her head.
"Colonel" said the General as he looked at Colonel Carter, "the satellite? Can we learn anything from it?"
"Sir" said Colonel Carter, "even from the data transmitted from the Prometheus, we still don't know how the beam pierced the Asgard shields, I've sent a copy to Thor and Kvasir. They said that they'll get back to us once they've reviewed the data for any shield upgrades."
"It cut through the shield like it wasn't there, Carter" said Colonel Mitchell, "and if the second shot didn't destroy the ship, a third would have."
"Which is why I immediately sent the data the Prometheus collected to the Asgard" said Colonel Carter, "the Ori would be coming after them as well, so they need to upgraded their shields."
"Will our weapons cut through their shields?" asked General Landry.
"The Prometheus fired Naquada enhanced missiles" said Faith, "they didn't even affect the shield. We couldn't even try the railguns since they were disabled after the first strike."
"The weapon is extremely effective" said Teal'c, "we have underestimated the military might of the Ori."
"No kidding" said Colonel Mitchell.
"Ummm…" said Willow as she held her hand up. She waited for the General's nod to speak, "Sir, I left something out in the report, something that if it were read by the wrong people… well….. they may try to use me in not so, shall we say, ethical ways."
"Such as?" asked General Landry.
"Traversing alternate realities" said Willow as everyone, including Faith and Colonel Carter looked at her in shock.
"Explain" said General Landry as he leaned forward and placed his hands on the table.
"After I had released my bio-electrical ability into the satellite" said Willow, "I was unconscious…. As you know it takes fifteen seconds to lose consciousness in a vacuum without any pressure, or oxygen."
"Yes" said General Landry.
"Well" said Willow, "the last thing I remembered was floating before I lost consciousness, and then I found myself in Buffy's house."
"Excuse me?" said Colonel Carter as her eyes opened wide, "Buffy's house?"
"Not the one here" said Willow, "that alternate reality."
"The one you went to the first time?" asked Colonel Mitchell, "or the one where you and Faith went to rescue Dawn."
"Well" said Faith, "technically Red went there to rescue Dawn, and I went there to rescue the both of them."
"Which you did" said Willow with a grin.
"Major?" said the General.
"Sorry Sir" said Willow sheepishly, "anyway, I found myself in their living room, looking at Tara who screamed… actually Xander screamed like a girl. Anyway, my alternate and Mrs. Summers ran out of the kitchen and saw me."
"Without a mirror?" asked Daniel, "is that even possible?"
"I'm thinking that happened maybe because I was near death at the time" said Willow as she looked at Daniel, "I think I was out there for almost a minute by then, so I guess I must have thought about my alternate self and how she was doing… and to warn them."
Upon hearing Willow explain how she may have traversed to another reality while near death, he leaned back deep in thought before he suddenly sat up again, and looked around the table excitedly.
"It's possible" said Daniel excitedly, "it is possible."
"Dr. Jackson?" asked General Landry as he looked at the excited archaeologist.
"Sir" said Daniel, "what Willow said is entirely possible, and that ability should be kept secret… just between all of us at this table."
"But without a mirror…" said Colonel Mitchell as Daniel interrupted him.
"Many cultures believe that when you go into a state of deep sleep" said Daniel, "that the soul is free to wander around. It is even possible for the soul to enter into another reality, or dimension. They believe that the soul is linked by an invisible chain or thread to the body, so that when it's time to awaken from a deep, REM sleep… the soul knows that it's time to head home, as it were."
"Daniel" said Faith…
"Have you ever had these strange vivid dreams?" asked Daniel as he looked at everyone around him, "I mean that you know that you're you, but everything else is different? Maybe you're in a different life, or you're with different people… or you…. well, you know what I mean. I think something like that happened to Willow. She was near death and, what some would call her soul, went… well, wandering around and ended up in the other reality."
"And she felt herself getting beamed onto the Prometheus and being immediately operated on" said Faith, "that brought her back to this reality."
"Is that what you're saying, Daniel?" asked Willow.
"Yes" said Daniel, "I mean most cultures in the world share a variation of that belief, and it just happened to you. It's pretty amazing actually."
"Cool" said Willow as she grinned at Faith, and then at the others.
"Willow Rosenberg" said Teal'c, "while I have no doubt that such an ability is useful, I would recommend against performing it again due to its inherent dangers."
"I agree with you there, Teal'c" said Willow.
"Have you been able to warn your alternate self about the Ori?" asked Teal'c as Willow nodded.
"Yes, and told them the address for Edina just in case" said Willow as she nodded her head, "but I didn't have time to explain everything because by then I was beamed back onto the Prometheus."
"You think they took the warning to heart?" asked Colonel Carter.
"I sure hope so ma'am" said Willow, "I gave them a brief take on what was going on in this reality."
"You mean the fact that we're getting our asses handed to us?" asked Colonel Mitchell.
"Yes, Sir" said Willow, "maybe they'll listen to the warning. It's up to my duplicate and the others to decide what they wanna do."
"True" said General Landry, "hopefully with that warning, they won't have the same problems we're having here."
"I think she was right in not putting this on her report" said Faith, "if some of the blowhards at the IOA read that she could go to another reality if she was near death.. than they could take advantage of that. Don't get me wrong, I think Woolsey's alright… it's the others I don't see doing anything good with ability like that."
"Colonels?" asked the General as he looked at both Colonel Mitchell and Carter, "you agree?"
"I'd be more worried about it getting out to the Trust" said Colonel Mitchell, "and since we know that Ba'al is on Earth somewhere, and his clones are running around the galaxy."
"Very well" said the General as he looked back at Willow, "is there anything else that we need to know about?"
"No" said Willow confidently as she looked over at General Landry, while at the same time she remembered that there was one thing she never mentioned in her original report of the time she went through the quantum mirror the first time; the time she went to save the Dawn from the other reality. She never mentioned the marriage of that reality's Dr. Carter and General O'Neill and their daughter, Grace. She never mentioned them in case the report went to the NID or into anyone else's hands who could accuse this reality's General O'Neill and Colonel Carter of having an illicit relationship, thus ruining both of their careers, "No, sir… I don't have anything else to reveal."
"Alright then" said General Landry as he stood up, prompting the military personnel on SG1 to stand as well, "I agree with the Major that this will be left out of the report, however I will inform General O'Neill verbally about the conversation we just had. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Sir" said Willow.
"Mrs. Summers?" asked the General as he looked at Colonel Carter.
"She's at Willow and Faith's house, Sir" said Colonel Carter, "Dawn drove them home."
"Very well" said the General before he turned and walked into his office, "everyone dismissed, and get some rest."
"Yes, sir" said Colonel Carter Colonel Mitchell and Willow as the General closed his door.
"So" said Colonel Mitchell as he rubbed his hands together, "dinner? O'Malley's at 1700?"
"Sorry, Sir" said Willow, "Mrs. Summers is at the house, so me, Dawn and Faith should probably take her and the kids shopping at the mall. Plus we, as their aunts, need to get them something cool."
"Maybe a Playstation?" said Colonel Carter.
"I was thinking Lego bricks" said Faith.
"Perhaps it would be prudent to have them view the Lion King DVD" said Teal'c as everyone looked at him as he smiled with a twinkle in his eye, "I was told by Sergeant Siler that his children enjoyed the movie. It is why I only recently purchased the DVD, but did not have the chance to watch it."
"Teal'c" said Colonel Carter, "Really? the Lion King? You'll be humming that song for days."
"Oh God" said Daniel as he put his hand up, "can I get out of this?"
"No" said Colonel Mitchell and Willow.
"How about we get some Chinese food for the adults, some burgers for the kids?" said Faith, "in the meantime we'll go have the shopping trip where me, their soon to be favourite aunt will be getting them a Playstation."
"Hey" said Willow, "I thought I was gonna be the favourite aunt."
"Too slow" said a grinning Faith, "you can get them the Lego."
"Fine" huffed Willow.
"I shall bring the DVD of the Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Star Wars" said Teal'c as he gave a small bow.
"Fine" said Colonel Mitchell, "now that we're all agreed, how about we meet at the Major's place at 2000?"
"It's cool" said Faith as the group started to walk towards the hallway, when Willow suddenly stopped at the General's door and leaned in, her ear against the door.
Willow: "Hey, guys!"
At Willow's mental shout, SG1 stopped and watched as a grinning Willow leaned close to the General's office door and grinned. Curious as to what was going on, Colonel Mitchell walked to the door and placed his ear to the door and grinned as well. This was followed by Faith, Colonel Carter, Daniel and then Teal'c who took turns listening and grinning to themselves as they heard General Landry humming 'Hakuna Matata' from the Lion King.
Everyone tried not to laugh when the door suddenly opened and the General looked at the small crowd that made up SG1, who suddenly acted as if they were just milling around in the hallway outside his door.
"Sir" said Colonel Mitchell, "didn't see you there, we were just….."
"Major" said General Landry as he looked at Willow, "if you really want to torture Mrs. Harris, and Miss Summers… get the children the Beauty and the Beast Sing-A-Long DVD… General Hammond's been tortured by that ever since he gave it to his grandkids."
"Thanks for the idea, Sir" said Willow.
"And make sure you get the giant Lego tub" said General Landry, "you'll be the cool aunt for sure."
"Cool" said Willow with a smiled as she nudged Faith, "thanks, Sir."
"Now" said the General as he looked at SG1, "get out of the hallway, and go home."
The Girls' House, 2200 hours.
The night had gone on without a hitch; once the girls had returned home, they took Joyce and the kids, along with Dawn for a shopping trip at the mall where Rose had clung tightly to Dawn's neck while looking at all the people mulling about their day. Jay, on the other hand was keeping Joyce busy by running in and out of every store he could find excitedly. Eventually, the small group had broken up with Dawn taking Rose to get some accessories for the little girl, and Willow having taken Jay inside a toy store he was looking into. While the groups were doing their own things, Joyce and Faith were exiting one of the many chain coffee stores carrying a large cup for themselves and sat down at one of the benches outside.
"It's all so different" said Joyce as she looked at the bright lights all around her from the shops, the people going about their day, family's going in and out of the shops, "it still feels unbelievable."
"Ten years will do that" said Faith as she took a sip of her coffee, "Sunnydale's still the same, but then again… it's different."
"I'm afraid, Faith" said Joyce as she leaned forward, "I'm afraid of what kind of a life Jay and Rose will have in Sunnydale, the monsters… the vampires…. I mean if I had known then that Buffy was a Slayer, then I may never have moved there. Am I doing the right thing in bringing Jay and Rose back home?"
"Mrs. Summers" said Faith, "you know that those things are everywhere….. so nowhere is really safe. But Sunnydale is safer than before, you have B and the Potentials patrolling every night, the police force is competent now after the NID and FBI helped to clean it up and, although you have the occasional vampire attack or apocalypse… it's not so bad there. From what I heard, people are actually moving into town more than those who are moving out."
"Guess they have more tolerance for the supernatural now?" asked Joyce.
"Yeah" said Faith, "thanks to all those so called reality shows on the stuff. You should see the few that Sunnydale was featured in. Talk of ghosts, vampires and demons brought about weirdo's and supernatural enthusiasts to the city, even an outfit called 'Ghostfacers' or something. Others moved in to prove that all of that was just a publicity stunt, but either way it worked… Sunnydale's on the map but not for having the highest number of murders, instead it's for being one of the most active supernatural hot zones."
"And that's what I worry about" said Joyce, "things on Edina were simple… no vampires, no monsters… just live a life. I know that was different, but now I have to get used to life back here on Earth."
"You have Buffy and the others to help you" said Faith as she held Joyce's hand, "Red and I will be there too."
"Oh God" said Joyce as she sat up and looked at Faith worried, "what will I do for work? I mean, I used to teach on Edina but to do that here…. oh dear… do I still even have my gallery? Is it…. I mean…. I have so many things to think about now… especially for Jay and Rose."
"Breathe, Mrs. S" smiled Faith as she held on to Joyce's hand tightly, "as far as I know, Buffy never sold your gallery. I guess she couldn't part with it, and when she created the Council she kept it as one of its properties. After the council fell, the government took over everything and it was eventually transferred to the BPRI. But I think it's empty though, no one's held an exhibit there since… well, since you died."
"Right" said Joyce as she shook her head, "well, the gallery is still there, I can work with that. Now I have to think about enrolling those two in school… that's going to be really exciting."
"Shouldn't be a problem" said Faith, "heard the new Principal is pretty cool and all. His name's Robin something or other. B said she met him during some poltergeist incident in the basement."
"Mother, mother!" shouted Jay as he ran over to Joyce, followed closely by Willow who was carrying two bags with her, "look what Aunt Willow got me."
"Willow?" asked Joyce as Willow sat down next to Faith and handed both of the bags to the older blonde. She looked into both the bags, and then looked back up at a grinning Willow, "a Lego Death Star, a Lego Millennium Falcon and a large tub of Lego? Really?"
"Hey" said Willow, "it's fun."
"True" said Faith as she nodded her head, "I bought the Death Star for myself last month, haven't finished it yet though."
"You didn't have to, you know" said Joyce as she looked at both Faith and Willow as she put the bags next to Jay who was looking at the boxes excitedly.
"We're competing for favourite aunt" said Faith as she grinned at Willow, "speaking of which."
"You gotta go get it?" asked Willow as she nudged Faith.
"Yeah" said Faith, "got a surprise too."
"Alright" replied Willow as Faith got up and ran towards the escalators.
"Where's she going?" asked Joyce as she saw Faith running up the escalator before she made a left turn at full speed.
"Her gift" said Willow as she waved at Dawn who still had Rose in her arms.
"Willow" said Joyce, "you guys don't have to do all this, really."
"Mrs. Summers" said Willow, "it's not every day that we have someone return from the grave… wait.. scratch that… it's not every day that we have…. You know what… we're just happy to do it."
"Mom" said Dawn as she sat down next to Joyce, "where did Faith run off to?"
"Willow said something about a gift" said Joyce as she took Rose from Dawn's arms, "hey kiddo, what did your older sister get you?"
"Check it out, mom" said Dawn as she handed Joyce the small bag filled with accessories of all shapes and sizes, "she liked everything… so yeah… I got everything."
"Wow" said Joyce as she looked at a grinning Rose, "did you try them on?"
"Yes" said Rose as she vigorously nodded her head, "Dawn said I looked cute."
"You do" grinned Dawn as she looked at Rose before she looked at Jay, "hey Jay, what did Willow get you?"
"Something called Lego" said Jay.
"Neat" replied Dawn before she looked up when she noticed a grinning Faith walking towards them carrying two large bags.
"Hey" said Dawn as Faith placed one of the bags on the table and another next to a surprised Willow, "what did you get the munchkins?"
"Oh something cool that eventually every kid, old or young, will want" said Faith as Dawn stood up and looked into the bag.
"You're kidding me" said Dawn as she pulled the bag down to reveal a large blue box inside, "this is the latest one isn't it? And four controllers?"
"Faith" said Joyce as Jay and Rose looked on excitedly at the picture of the console on the box, "you didn't have to."
"Nah" said Faith, "think of it as an early Christmas present, well… seven months early… but still."
"How come you got two?" asked Willow.
"Well" said Faith as she grinned at Willow, "you've always said we need to do better things than movies and poker on team nights."
"No way" said an excited Willow as she opened the bag to find the same box, four controllers and two games, "sweet. But now they'll wanna come to our house for team nights."
"Good" said Faith as she rubbed her hands together and grinned, "I'm planning on challenging Cam and the Big Guy on C.O.D."
"Nice" laughed Willow as she saw Dawn take out three games.
"C.O.D, really?" said Dawn as she glanced at Rose and Jay, and a confused Joyce who gave Willow and Dawn a disapproving head shake once Dawn explained to her what the game was about, "you trying to corrupt my younger brother and sister?"
"No" said Faith shaking her head, "the racing ones are for them, the other one's for anyone at the Summers household who wants to challenge us for a online massacre."
"Oh" said Dawn grinning, "you know Buffy's not gonna be happy about this, Xander'll be spending late nights playing C.O.D. Kennedy, Vi and Rona too, probably."
"Yep" said Faith with a grin, "but you're missing a DVD inside there."
"What DV…. No… no.. no.." said Dawn as she took out the 'Beauty and the Beast Sing-A-Long' DVD, "Buffy's definitely gonna kill you…. so will Xander and Kennedy. Tara will probably be alright with it."
"We'll risk it" laughed Willow before taking out the 'Lion King' and the normal 'Beauty and the Beast DVD' and handing them to Joyce. She looked at the cases, and then told Jay and Rose that she took Buffy and Dawn to watch the movies in the theaters several years ago. And it made the two children smile at their mother..
The group had spent a few hours at the mall with Dawn taking Joyce away into one of the stores, before the finally headed back to the house. It was a few hours later that SG1 had arrived with Chinese food for the adults, and burgers and fries for both Jay and Rose who hungrily ate their fill. It was Colonel Mitchell who was the most excited of all about the PlayStation and made a decree that from that moment on, all SG1 team nights will be held in the house of the three young women.
"Sir" said Willow as she noticed the Colonel getting antsy, "you're more than welcome to set it up, but we promised Jay and Rose some 'Lion King'."
"It's ok by me" said an excited Colonel Mitchell as he ran over to the box, opened it, and started to hook up the system to Willow's TV.
It was already 2200 hours when Willow slipped out the main door as everyone was watching the second movie, Beauty and the Beast, with Jay and Rose sitting transfixed in front of the TV as they sat on Dawn and Joyce's lap respectively. As Willow silently opened the front door, she saw Faith sitting next to Daniel and Teal'c on the couch, while Colonel Carter lay down on the bean bag chair they bought last month and Colonel Mitchell was lying on the carpeted floor with his eyes closed.
Smiling at the scene before her, Willow walked out of the house and closed the door quietly before she walked around the back of the house and climbed the ladder up to the observation deck. Pulling up on the chairs, she made her way to the telescope and looked through the lens before she silently sat on the wooden floor and simply looked up at the stars that sparkled in the sky. She and the others were informed a few hours ago that the Prometheus had made it back to Earth and that the Odyssey was going back to Tegalus to search for more survivors. An hour after that message, they were told that one of the Ha'tak vessels sent by the High Council to the planet managed to pick up another two hundred refugees from both Rand and Caledonia, and they were being taken to Edina.
'General O'Neill and Woolsey are going to have headaches' thought Willow to herself as she leaned back against the sides of the observation deck and brought her head back, 'we need this quiet, a quiet to gather ourselves and think.'
As Willow closed her eyes for a little while, she heard the door close again and smiled when she recognized the feeling she was getting. She smiled as Faith slowly climbed the ladder and then she walked onto the observation deck and silently sat next to the redhead. After a few minutes, Willow put her head on the brunette's shoulder and sighed.
"I'm sorry" said Willow softly, "I never meant to worry you, or the others you know."
"Yeah" said Faith as she lay her head on Willow's, "it was just a shock, seeing you transported out into open space. I had no idea if you'd survive or…."
"Just don't do anything like that again?" said Faith as she gently cupped Willow's face and brought it up, "never do anything like that again. You're one of the smartest people I know, I'm sure you have an idea for a short term survival suit that people can get in it within minutes. You know, in case you.. or anyone else has to do something like that."
"Colonel Carter has some ideas, I think" said Willow softly, "but we'll come up with something."
"Good" said Faith as she kissed Willow.
"I'm sorry" said Willow as Faith broke the kiss, "Listen, I made myself a promise."
"Oh?" said Faith as she caressed Willow's cheek, "what was the promise?"
"That if I survived" said Willow, "I make sure we get married at the Academy, because you deserve something spectacular."
"Red" said Faith, "as long as it's with you, anything is spectacular. How about we just go for the simple ceremony at the cabin? I don't need anything big.. unless you want it."
"No" said Willow, "it's just that… well, I survived and…"
"It's ok" said Faith as she gave Willow a deep kiss as she pushed her gently down onto the deck floor, "it's us, what could be more spectacular."
"You know" said Willow as she flipped Faith over until the redhead was on top, "I still haven't shown how sorry I am."
"You naughty girl" said Faith softly as Willow ran her hand under Faith's shirt, and along her back, "you know that the others are just downstairs, right?"
"They're busy watching the movie" said Willow as she leaned down and kissed Faith's neck before she bit her ear lobe which made the brunette Slayer yelp loudly before covering her mouth with her hands, making Willow laugh.
"Hey" said Faith as she looked up at Willow, "they could hear us, you do remember why Dawn has to wear those noise cancelling headphones that Dr. Lee developed right?"
"Let's make it a challenge" said Willow as she pecked Faith's lips and then her cheeks, "how about we see how quiet we could be. I promise no powers."
"Red" said Faith as she flipped Willow under her and smiled as she looked down at the grinning redhead, "I like being on top."
"So do I" said Willow, "but, I'll let you have this one."
"You'll let me?" smirked Faith as she raised an eyebrow, "You'll… let.. me?"
"Oh yea" said Willow as she pulled Faith down and kissed her deeply. The two of them were simply kissing each other with hands from both women going all over each other when Willow suddenly stopped.
"Red?" asked Faith who was breathing heavily, "just so you know, I didn't make a sound… although you were about to."
"It's not that" said a panting Willow whose face was flushed as she looked up at Faith while she rubbed Faith's back, "I really was scared that I'd never come back, but I hope you understand why I did what I did."
"I understand" said Faith softly as she gently cupped Willow's cheek, "I was even more horrified when I saw the flash of light that deposited you outside, then we saw that beam coming towards the ship. I thought that was the end for us; I thought that was the end of you. I was afraid that that beam would have destroyed the ship, and then you'd be left alone out there. Couldn't you just have disabled it from in the ship? I mean you know, crushed it... or pushed it into he gravity of the planet so that it could burn up in the atmosphere?"
"It was too large" said Willow, "and I'm not that powerful that I could simply crush a large satellite with my mind. I mean I wish I was 'cause you know that would be so cool, but it's out of my abilities. As for pushing it into the atmosphere? I don't know... it could have worked but we would have wasted time in trying something like that. In case it never succeeded, the Prometheus could have been destroyed. I made a gamble, Faith... and I swear to you... I really do.. I'll make this promise."
"Which is?" asked Faith.
"I promise I wouldn't do something like that again" said Willow as she looked into Faith's eyes.
"But if you do" said Faith as she gently lay her head on Willow's chest, "just let me know before you do? You know, even a telepathic shout would suffice. The only reason why I know about it in the Prometheus was because you were thinking about it too much and I 'heard' your calculations through our link."
"I will" said Willow as she ran her hand through Faith's hair, "I promise I will."
Faith slowly closed her eyes as she lay on Willow's chest as it moved up and down due to the redhead's breathing. The brunette Slayer gave herself as small smile as she fell asleep with her arms around Willow's waist, and her head of the redhead's chest while listening to her heartbeat. Willow smiled as she felt Faith's steady breath on her chest while she looked up at the sky that was glittering with stars. She knew that the others were going to continue with the movie, and then Colonel Mitchell and Teal'c would play some games. In the meantime, Willow just wanted to close her eyes and stay on the observation deck with the person she loved. She knew in her heart that times such as this would be rarer and rarer as time went on.
It was an hour and a half later that the movie ended with Joyce carrying the sleepy Jay, and Dawn was carrying the already sleepy Rose up to the guest room. Joyce remembered that when they first got into the house, both Jay and Rose had easily taken to the guest room without any fuss as they usually would on Edina when they went to visit, and stay with, friends in another village. Oddly enough, even Joyce had felt a sense of calm when she walked into that room the first time. Even now, as she put Jay down on the bed next to her sister, she felt a sense of serenity within the room.
"Dawn?" said Joyce as she looked at her younger daughter, "do you feel that?"
"What mom?" asked Dawn as she took a blanket out of the closet and put it over Jay and Rose.
"The room" said Joyce, "I mean, it's as if there's a calmness about this room… something I haven't felt in yours or Willow and Faith's."
"Really?" asked Dawn who was genuinely confused, "I don't feel anything mom."
"Strange" said Joyce as she and Dawn turned on the nightlight and closed the door halfway through, before turning off the main light. She then looked at the yawning Dawn and told her to get some sleep. After Joyce kissed Dawn's cheek, she then walked back to the living room where she saw Colonel Mitchell and Teal'c clearing the coffee table while Daniel was asleep on the couch.
"Ma'am" said Colonel Mitchell as he and Teal'c put the trash into a large plastic bag, "it's time we set off, we have a long day tomorrow."
"You're more than welcome to use the new console" said Joyce as she motioned towards the Playstation.
"It would be inappropriate as your children are asleep" said Teal'c, "we would not want to awaken them when Colonel Mitchell is in loud disagreement with me after I defeat him in virtual combat."
"Hey" said the Colonel as he looked at Teal'c, "did you just… no, you didn't.."
"I think he did" said Colonel Carter as she walked up behind Joyce and stood next to the older blonde.
"Next week then" said Colonel Mitchell as he turned and looked at Teal'c as he gave the younger man a small bow, "me and Faith, against you and the Major."
"Very well" said Teal'c.
"Speaking of Willow" said Joyce as she looked around, and was unable to find Willow or Faith anywhere, "where is she?"
"I think they went to the observation deck" said Colonel Carter, "I'll go and check up on them, meanwhile the both of you should wake Daniel up. It's time we went home."
"Sure" said Colonel Mitchell as he and Teal'c went to wake up Daniel.
Colonel Carter then turned around and walked out of the house, together with Joyce. Once they were outside, the two women talked about their lives and their pregnancies. Joyce had told the Colonel as the walked towards the ladder, that having Buffy; the memory of having Dawn and the Jay and finally, Rose was, as she described it.. 'painful as hell' but that she wouldn't have it anyone way. Joyce told the Colonel that there was no way to describe the joy of having a child, but she then looked at the Colonel and told her that she should know that already. That she should know the joy of having her child growing inside her. The Colonel smiled as she rubbed her abdomen as they almost reached the ladder, which was when the Colonel stopped and held on to Joyce's hand.
"Colonel?" said Joyce as she turned around, "are you alright?"
"Please call me Sam, Mrs. Summers" said the Colonel as Joyce nodded her head.
"As long as you call be Joyce" she said as she looked at a worried look on the Colonel's face.
"I know it's a personal question" said the Colonel, "but… I mean… have you ever thought that maybe your husband… I mean marrying Buffy's father was a… I Mean."
"Was he the right one?" asked Joyce as the Colonel nodded.
"Yes" replied the Colonel.
"Well" said Joyce, "at that time he was. We loved Buffy, and later when the monks created Dawn and changed our memories, we loved her too. But, I guess we just drifted apart…. Maybe he wasn't the right one, but I'm not going to say that having Buffy and Dawn weren't right. They're the best thing that happened between us. But from what Dawn told me, he married his secretary and he's out living the life. And I'm living mine."
"I see" said the Colonel.
"You don't think you married the right one?" asked Joyce as she walked closer to the Colonel.
"I don't know" said Colonel Carter, "I love him, and I know he loves me… but sometimes he makes me what to….. argh!..."
"You mean shove him through the Stargate into a distant planet where he can never come back from?" asked Joyce with a smile.
"Yeah" said Colonel Carter as she covered her eyes and tried not to laugh, "but… I mean…"
"You love someone else?" said Joyce.
"We can't be together" said the Colonel as she wrapped her arms around herself, "I mean.. it wouldn't be right, and with our jobs being what they are…. Defending the planet comes first before anything else… well, except for my son or daughter; he or she will always come first. But a relationship between me and him can't happen."
"Is it Colonel Mitchell?" asked Joyce in a very low whisper as the Colonel shook her head vigorously.
"No.. no.. no.. no" said the Colonel, "no… Cam and I are just friends, and colleagues."
"Ah" said Joyce as she smiled at the Colonel, "I can tell you that having a baby changes everything… your husband may change once he or she is born."
"And if he doesn't?" asked the Colonel.
"I had to divorce Hank" said Joyce, "I found out that he was unfaithful, and we divorced. It was hard on the kids… but eventually they took to Rupert as a father figure. Hank became the very definition of a deadbeat dad, and I moved on… made new friends in Sunnydale.. met Brian… and then…"
"Kidnapped to Edina" said the Colonel as they got closer to the ladder.
"Yes, and met Jayden with whom I really did know was the right one, and had two beautiful children with him" replied Joyce as she climbed the ladder, followed by Colonel Carter.
As the both of them reached the top of the ladder and stepped onto the deck, the two women were smiling at the two young women who were sleeping on the wooden floor in each other's arms. The Colonel then quietly walked to one corner of the deck as Joyce looked on and took out a bundle from a compartment.
"Blanket?" whispered Joyce as the Colonel unfurled the blanket and placed it over the two girls.
"Yep" grinned the Colonel as she crouched down and made sure that the both of them were covered. She then kissed both Willow and Faith's foreheads before she stood up and pointed downwards to Joyce. Joyce nodded her head, understanding that Colonel Carter meant that they should be heading back down and letting Willow and Faith sleep. Colonel Carter was the one to get on the ladder first and climb down, followed by Joyce. Once they had reached the bottom of the ladder, Colonel Carter helped Joyce off and they slowly walked back to the front of the house.
"I think you'll make a wonderful mother" said Joyce as she smiled at the Colonel.
"Thanks" said the Colonel as they reached the front of the house where the other members of SG1 were waiting for them. Joyce had smiled at the yawning Daniel who had his hands in his pocket and was slightly shivering.
"Ma'am" said Colonel Mitchell, "thanks for having us tonight, but it's time that we left. You and the others should get some rest too. A Major Davis should be coming by tomorrow morning to give you, and Jay and Rose some new I.D's, passports, birth documents and such. You'll have some extra paperwork to fill out, and then you're free to return to Sunnydale or stay here or, well… go basically wherever you feel would be appropriate."
"I've already talked to Cordelia" said Joyce, "she said that they've been officially notified about my cover story, and that she'll provide any help I need to move back to Sunnydale. I was actually thinking about talking it easy for a week or so before getting back."
"That sounds like the reasonable thing to do" said Daniel.
"And if you require anything else, Joyce Summers" said Teal'c as he bowed his head in respect, "we are always here to aid you."
"Thank you" said Joyce as she bowed her head in respect as well, "I really can't do anything else, except give you all my thanks."
"Don't mention it" said Colonel Mitchell as he nodded towards his car, "I hope we'll see each other soon."
"We will" said Joyce as she saw the three men wave her goodbye before getting into the Colonel's car. Once they got in and started the engine, Colonel Carter gave Joyce her card and told Joyce to give her a call if she needed anything, or if she just wanted to talk. The Colonel told Joyce that the back of her card had Cassie's number, just in case. After Joyce nodded her head and hugged the Colonel, she watched as the younger blonde walked towards the car before getting into the back seat with Daniel. Joyce waved the group goodbye as the car reversed, and then drove off onto the main road.
Joyce then smiled to herself as she turned around and walked back into the house, and closed the door.
TBC.