Teal'c was woken by soft footfalls padding across the carpet. His hand was reaching for the gun by his bedside before he realized it was one of the servants.

The servant, who was carrying what looked like a long bundle of cloth in her arms, bobbed a curtsy, her face neutral at the intimate embrace of the unmarried couple. "Begging your pardon, Sir Teal'c, but dawn has come and Her Royal Highness will be needed in the throne room shortly."

He gave the woman a nod, then unable to resist, he placed a gentle kiss to Keelah's lips to wake her up.

Keelah drowsily smiled up at him. That wonderful tingle was a glorious way to greet the morning. "Hi."

"Your presence is required," he gestured with his eyes to the servant, who had discreetly lowered her eyes.

"Oh, right." She willed her cheeks not to blush when she realized they weren't alone and turned her head to the servant. And so it had begun. Days that were entirely planned from sun up to sunset. Never a free moment, where every thought and action had to be considered for any repercussions, rather than doing anything on a whim. Boy was she glad that it would only be temporary for her. "Good morning...your name is Rochel, isn't it? You're Evie's grand-daughter?"

"Yes, Your Royal Highness." The young woman was delighted that Keelah knew her name.

Keelah pushed aside her uneasiness at the awe on the woman's face. Tilted her head curiously at the embroidered brocade in the woman's arms. "What have you brought?"

"The town seamstresses made this for you, Ma'am." She bobbed another curtsy. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Keelah smiled, "It certainly is." She fingered the dress. It wasn't exactly her taste, she much preferred a simpler design, but she knew that the women would have worked on it all night. She wouldn't dare offend them by not wearing it, even though she would have much preferred to wear her BDUs. "Be sure to send word to them that I would like to thank them personally."

"Yes, Ma'am," the eager servant nodded. "Shall I draw a bath for you?"

"That won't be necessary."

"Assist you to dress or arrange your hair?"

"No thank you, Rochel," she smiled, though she was a little concerned by the way Teal'c tensed at her side. "I have become pretty self-sufficient. You can leave the dress over there."

"Of course, Ma'am." She placed the gown carefully over the armchair that Keelah had gestured to, then asked hopefully. "Is there nothing I can do for you or for Sir Teal'c?"

"Not right now, no." When the woman started to leave after yet another curtsy, Keelah thought of what awaited them in the less formal dining room where the Family ate in the morning. "Wait, Rochel, if it's possible can you see that there is a selection of herbal teas made available for us in the breakfast room?"

Rochel gave a nod, pleased to have something to do, and nearly tripped over her feet in the effort to do as bid.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness, but that was not necessary. O'Neill brought my tea, along with coffee for the Jacksons, from the base," Teal'c said quietly, throwing the sheet back and sliding from the bed. He knew she had made the request for him and it disturbed him. Not so much the request, but the entire 'scene' with the servant. Over the course of the night he had begun to delude himself that possibly there was a chance for himself and Keelah. The servant so eager to assist Keelah, the town folk showering her with gifts before they had even risen, the way Keelah had responded as the Princess she had been born to be...How could I even begin to compete? And I have no right to even try.

"I know, but I thought you might enjoy trying some of the teas native to here." She frowned at his curt tone and felt a stab of hurt at his formal address. "And please, stop calling me that. I was Keelah to you yesterday morning, I am still Keelah now."

"Yesterday morning I was unaware of your true station," he replied, searching for his pack. He found it tucked neatly in the closet, his clothes hanging neatly. That just irritated him more.

"I'd prefer you address me as Keelah." She watched him prowl the room, the hurt growing with every step he took.

"As you wish, Your Royal Highness."

"Why are you being like this?" She threw the bedclothes aside, knowing that if she didn't make an appearance downstairs soon, Rochel would be sent up to see what was keeping her. She heaved a frustrated sigh; could answer her question herself. "And you wonder why I didn't tell you of my birthright."

Teal'c remained silent, yanking on his trousers, trying to work up the courage to say what he needed to. For the briefest of moments he considered making her angry enough that she would sever their agreement, then immediately dismissed it, cursing himself for such a cowardly thought.

"Would you have made your proposal to me?" she demanded. "Would you have become my teacher of love?"

Keelah's eyes widened in shock and the pain that tore through her made it difficult to breathe. "You...you want to end our arrangement?"

"It would be for the best."

"I don't want to end it."

"It is impossible for us to continue."

"Why?" She shook her head in disbelief then bitterness crept into her tone. "I was good enough to be your lover when I was merely a former slave, but not now that I am Royalty? Or is it because I am no longer a victim for you to coddle?"

Teal'c felt like his heart was being sliced in two at the pain he heard in her voice. He dared not look at her, for if he saw even a flicker of the hurt he knew would be on her face he knew he wouldn't be able to set her free. "I can no longer abide by the terms we set. I suggest we inform the others of our deception as soon as it is prudent."

Numbness began to seep through her, the same numbness that had been her primary defense mechanism through the decade of her slavery. It straightened her back and reeled in the emotions that threatened to consume her. Her expression became impassive. "If that is what you wish, so be it, Sir Teal'c. Thank you for expending the time and energy to assist in my re-socialization, you have the gratitude of the Crown." She gathered the gown from the chair and as regally as her breaking heart would allow, disappeared into the bathroom.

Annika wasn't the only one who wore a mischievous grin when Janet and Ferretti entered the breakfast room with their hands linked. "Sleep well?"

"Actually, not a wink," Ferretti quipped, making a beeline for the coffee pot set up along the wall next to an array of assorted food.

"Lou!" Janet felt her cheeks heat up, though her smile beamed.

"What?" He gave her an innocent look. "I was gonna add that it was hard to get to sleep in a strange new bed."

"Hard. Uh huh." Jack barely contained his snort of laughter. "And I'm so going to leave that alone in deference to the Doc and her big honkin' needles."

"Very wise, General," Janet murmured, accepting the cup Ferretti poured for her. "Are Their Majesties not joining us?"

"They've been and gone," Daniel stifled a yawn. He was only on his first cup of caffeine and wasn't fully functional yet. "There's already a queue of people outside."

"I have the funny feeling most of them are here to see Keelah." Sam swallowed down a bite of a sweet bun with her own dose of coffee.

"Speaking of which, where are our two love birds?" Jack finished heaping his plate with a serve of what he hoped were eggs and a type of ham.

As if on cue, Teal'c entered giving a curt nod of greeting and headed straight for the pot of boiled water, plucking one of his own tea bags from his top pocket.

"Whoa, who died?" The quip flew from Annika's mouth before she could stop it. The Jaffa's aura was one of complete misery.

"No one." Keelah glided in with her chin held high. Her gaze coolly flicked to the servant waiting off to one side to replenish dishes and serve should it be requested. "Please, give us the room."

The servant gave a head bow and backed out, though he wasn't quick enough to mask his surprise at the instant undercurrents the two new arrivals had brought with them.

Teal'c forgot about making his tea, startled that Keelah had been so close behind him. He had planned to reveal his deception to his teammates before she'd finished dressing, sparing her what would undoubtedly be an unpleasant experience. His eyes locked on hers, and he saw the defiant pride reflected in them. Damn, he should have known that she wouldn't let him do this alone, no matter if she didn't understand his reasoning.

"Ah, Doc, how about we check out what my team's doing?" Ferretti suggested.

"Good idea," Janet agreed. Whatever was about to go down, she had the feeling it was best handled by the couple's team.

Grabbing their coffee mugs they hurried from the room.

"Well, you certainly know how to clear a room," Jack drawled, as confused as the others by the doomsday demeanor the pair were wearing like mantles.

"I have a confession to make," Teal’c began slowly. "I instigated a deception and enlisted Keelah’s assistance."

The group couldn’t have been more surprised if he had declared himself as Santa Claus.

"What kind of deception?" Jack asked.

"To stave off Annika Jackson’s matchmaking pursuits I conspired to give the illusion of a romantic relationship. When I approached Keelah she agreed for reasons of her own to assist me."

Jaws dropped open in shock even as brows kept their creases of confusion.

Annika was the first to regain the power of speech. "So that’s what that fuzzy light was around your auras." The grey patch of deception had been baffling her for weeks!

"It's too early in the morning for a joke." Daniel absently pushed his glasses up his nose. "You should have waited until we at least had our second cup of coffee, it would have had more impact."

"Our relationship is a farce," Keelah said softly but firmly. She may be hurt and angry by Teal'c's behavior but she would support him in his decision, no matter how much her heart may be shattering into tiny pieces.

"So all this lovey dovey, holding hands thing is an act?" Jack wasn't buying a bar of it.

Both nodded.

"Even now?" Sam asked equally skeptical, her gaze dropped between the couple.

Keelah and Teal’c followed her line of sight. For a second they stared blankly at their entwined hands, which they had automatically joined together in silent support for each other. They instantly sprang apart.

"So you’re telling us now because you want to admit your love for each other with a clean slate?" Annika asked brightly, thinking it was the only possible reason, though it didn't explain their funky auras. Her confusion returned when they shook their heads 'no'.

"Then why are you coming clean now?" Sam frowned. She wasn't exactly an expert in these matters. Truth was she usually missed the 'tell tale' signs, due to her own experience of having to hide her love for Jack for years. But even she could see that Teal'c and Keelah had fallen for each other hook, line and sinker.

"To remove the complication of the situation..."

"Yeah, you've done a bang up job on that," Jack quipped sarcastically.

Teal’c continued on, "So that it will free Keelah of any obligation she may feel to our agreement and can remain here with a clear conscience."

"Wait," Keelah butted in. "Is that why you’re doing this? Because you think I’m staying here?" Teal’c’s chin lifting was the only answer she needed for the affirmative. She spun around to the others. "Is that what you all think?"

"Well, yeah," Jack answered. "Who’d want to give all this up for the daily perils of working at the SGC? The daily special is enough to send anyone running."

"When did I ever say that I intended to stay here?" she demanded. "Did I come here with my bags packed? Did I even bring a change of clothes?"

"Um...well..." Sam hesitantly wagged her finger at Keelah indicating the gown she now wore.

Keelah waved her hand at the gown. "This was a gift. Not exactly my style, but the ladies who made it probably spent the entire night stitching every little symbol and bead. I will not insult their efforts by not wearing it." She hiked the floor length skirt up a few inches. "But as you can see, I'm not completely out of uniform."

Daniel's blink at the incongruous sight of the black standard issue boots that peeked out beneath the elaborate gown, mimicked the rest of SG-1. "We thought that was more to do with your concern about how you'd be welcomed back."

"No! I came back to see my brother, to assure him I was alright, to end the not knowing of what had become of me. That is all." She didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the incorrect assumption. "It has never been my intention to remain here. I love this place and the people...not because of the lavishness and luxury of royalty, but because of the memories. My bother and I created cubbyholes and forts in the formal sitting room. We got in trouble for creating a slippery-dip down the main staircase when our father had an important dignitary visiting. I love the ballroom not for the extravagant parties but because I loved to watch my parents dance.

"Of course you're welcome." Daniel was the first to get the assurance in and everyone else immediately agreed. The archaeologist's tone took on a teasing lilt. "It took nine years to find someone who understands my filing system."

"I second that!" Sam grinned. She'd lost countless hours looking for translations that had been buried in that office.

"And you can't leave now, Queenie," Jack drawled. "I've officially given you a nickname, there's no going back from that."

"I don't have a nickname," Sam pointed out.

"Sure you do." Jack leaned in close to her ear, but everyone heard anyway. "I distinctly remember using it last night."

"But that's only a recent thing," the blonde protested, feeling her cheeks turn red.

"No," he contradicted, a cheeky grin on his face that was oddly serious. "It's only recently that I've been allowed to say it aloud." Sam was momentarily lost for words and Jack was quite proud of himself. It wasn't often he could do that to his genius fiancée, who could really talk Daniel under the table at times. He was on a roll! First Operation Matchmaker with Janet and Lou went off without a hitch, now Sam blushing quite prettily. He diverted the conversation back to the matter at hand, confident he'd be able to resolve this new spanner in the works T and Queenie had created. "Okay, sweet, with that settled you can forget about this pretend break up and things can go back to normal."

"No. I will not resume the deception," Keelah answered firmly. "There is no longer a need for it." She wanted to add, 'because I love him' but the words refused to come out. It wouldn't be fair to put that kind of pressure on Teal'c. Falling in love was not part of their agreement and she did not want him to feel obliged or guilty for being such a superb teacher that somewhere along the line she had given her heart to him, especially since he so clearly wished their association to end.

"What deception?" Annika asked, genuinely baffled. Their auras were practically blinding her with the brightness of their love for each other. How could they not be aware of what they were feeling? "Any idiot can see you two are head over heels in love with each other."

"That's right!" Jack agreed.

"See what I mean?" Annika grinned, her smartass quip earning her a cushion from one of the spare chairs thrown at her from the general.

"Perhaps our acting abilities are better than you give us credit for," Keelah replied.

Everyone noticed that neither Teal'c nor Keelah denied the redhead's comment, but also that they didn't agree to it.

"Nobody's that good of an actor," Daniel said dryly. He recalled his friend's recent behavior, including before their 'arrangement'. A man didn't put in the kind of effort Teal'c had, show the caring and concern he had for a mere impersonal agreement.

"For goodness sake, Teal'c," Annika was exasperated. The psychic had a hunch that out of the two of them, Teal'c would be the hardest to get to admit his feelings and she focused on him. "Who do you think I wanted to set you up with in the first place? You did all my hard work for me!"

The Jaffa's eye widened slightly at her revelation. "My feelings are irrelevant. The fact remains that developing a romantic attachment was not part of our arrangement..."

"Nuh uh!" Jack butted in. "Let's not complicate the issue. Forget your agreement, which on a personal note, totally backfired on you. T, are you in love with Queenie? It's a simple yes or no question."

Teal'c was frustrated. He'd started this conversation in total control. His teammates were not supposed to turn the tables on him, forcing him into a defensive position where he had to confront the shocking revelation he'd had last night. "I do not want to be in love. That was the whole point of my proposition, to avoid this."

It took a second for his word's to sink in and with her heart in her throat, Keelah hesitantly asked, "So you do love me?"

Teal'c only just realized what he'd said; that his heart had spoken despite his personal protests and logical reasons for why it was not suitable or convenient or wise. The fight went out of him. He knew when he had lost and now was the time to accept it, regardless of whether his feelings would be reciprocated. "I do," he admitted as if it were the greatest sin he'd ever committed. "I apologize for putting you in such an awkward position. I have broken my word to you..."

His voice cut off when Keelah placed a gentle finger to his lips. "We are both guilty of breaking the terms of our agreement. You were too good a teacher. You taught me how to love and my heart chose you."

Time seemed to stand still for Teal'c. With the admission now voiced, the emotion he had tried so hard to deny pulsed through his body, taking over every molecule. He didn't try to hide it, but at the same time didn't want to break the spell of this magical moment. Keelah also wanted to prolong the moment of relishing the pure unfettered love that bound them together stronger than any chain could. Almost of their own accord their hands entwined together again, the simple gesture that they now realized over the last few weeks had come to mean more than a mere touch. Through their hold, a gentle squeeze, a caress of a thumb, they could identify the emotions of the other. And for the longest moment that's all they did.

"T, you're supposed to kiss her now," Jack said in a loud whisper.

A smile tilted the Jaffa's lips, though his gaze didn't leave Keelah's radiant face. He didn't possess Annika Jackson's abilities, yet he would swear that Keelah was glowing with happiness, her love flowing through the air to cocoon him. "Is that an order, O'Neill?"

"I'd say it's more of a royal command," Annika chuckled. "If you know what's good for you."

Teal'c released his hold on one of Keelah's hands, raising his hand to tenderly cup her cheek. Feeling like his heart would burst with the love he felt for her, he whispered, "I live but to serve My Queen."

"And I to serve the King of my heart," she replied, losing herself in Teal'c's dark gaze, soaking in the love for her reflected within.

When their lips met, neither heard the happy sighs from Annika and Sam, nor were aware of the indulgent smiles from Jack and Daniel. Unbridled by deception of any kind, they were only aware of each other, of experiencing the magic of their love's first pure kiss.