"So just out of curiosity, when are you two going to get hitched?" Jack asked, taking another heavenly sip of cognac.

The men were still gathered in front of the fire. An emergency wrapping session had been convened when Jack had produced his efforts in the gift department for under the tree. The women had been banished to the kitchen so that Daniel and Teal’c could salvage what they could and make the presents presentable.

"We were talking of officially moving in together just the other day." Daniel was fighting to remove layer upon layer of sticky tape from one of Sam’s gifts. "Jack, it’s called sticky tape not sticky bandage."

"Ya’ know, traditionally that’s done after the wedding," Jack pointed out. "And I wanted to make sure it stayed stuck."

"Oh, yeah, because we are such a traditional couple," Daniel sniggered. "This is a lost cause. Teal’c, hand me the scissors, the whole thing has to come off."

The Jaffa was battling with another gift with even more tape scrolled around it. "O’Neill, have you recently acquired shares in a sticky tape manufacturer?"

"No, why?"

"I can think of no other plausible explanation for using an entire roll on a single gift except that you wish to keep the company operational."

"So shoot me, wrapping is not my thing." Jack reached for the paper that Daniel had spread out on the floor.

The archaeologist slapped his hand away. "Don’t touch. You’ve terrorized enough unsuspecting Christmas wrap as it is." From his place on the carpet he called out to the kitchen. "Ah, My Angel?"

"Yes, My Love?" Annika’s voice echoed back out. She was giving Sam a baking lesson with a brownie recipe that was guaranteed to work every time. There was a jocular tug beneath her heart. Daniel was in a mischievous mood matching her own. He was up to something and she was more than willing to play along. She responded by sending a tickle of impish delight back through their bond.

The major was looking dubiously at the ingredients. "So you just chuck it all in and mix?"

"How are you at planning weddings?" Daniel was flapping his hand in a vain attempt to dislodge a rogue piece of tape.

"Uh huh, so get stirring." She handed the blonde a wooden spoon. "Weddings? I’ve helped out a time or two. Why? Who’s asking?"

"Jack."

"Who’s the lucky couple?"

"Apparently us," Daniel called back. He could feel her amusement through their bond. They hadn’t really discussed getting married. Their bond made a ceremony seem redundant, since they already had a life long commitment stronger than any marriage certificate could offer.

"Oh," Annika paused. "Sam, the idea is to keep the mixture inside the bowl." Once she was sure the major was back on track she resumed the verbal tennis match between rooms. "Is a wedding really necessary?"

"Jack seems to think so," Daniel shrugged. "Turns out that he’s a traditionalist." He caught the wad of discarded wrap the colonel threw towards the fire. "With the amount of plastic on that we’ll be gassed by toxic fumes."

"I concur." Teal’c held up the parcel for inspection. "Annika Murdoch’s gift is sufficiently rewrapped."

"Okay," Annika absently responded to Daniel’s comment while frowning into the mixing bowl. "You know, it takes great talent to make lumps in a no lump recipe."

"You were warned that cooking is not my forte," Sam reminded her.

"Time to call in the heavy artillery." Annika rummaged around in the cupboards looking for the electric mixer. "Daniel? How about sometime in March…" She had to holler so her voice carried into the lounge from the depths of the cupboard. "…Say around the fifth? There you are, you wonderful invention."

"Sure," Daniel was cutting the paper to fit the square box. "We don’t have anything else on, do we?"

"Nope, not that I can think of." Annika flicked on the machine. "Sam, now don’t switch it off until every last lump is gone."

"What kind of proposal is that?" Jack demanded.

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Annika? Jack the traditionalist wants a formal proposal."

"Well, if it means that much to him…" She raised her voice to be heard over the whine of the beaters. "Have you got anything up your sleeve?"

"I’m a linguist, I’m sure I could come up with something." Pure merriment was being bounced back and forth between their invisible link, and both had to fight back grins.

"Okay, give it your best shot."

"Annika, my world rises and sets with you as my sun. My love for you is like the universe, ever expanding into infinity. I cannot imagine my life without you. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

"Not bad," Annika complimented, greasing the tin for the brownie mix. "I’m guessing that a simple ‘yes’ isn’t going to satisfy Jack?"

Daniel glanced at his friend who was shaking his head and muttering to himself. "Probably not." He applied the last piece of tape to the gift and placed it under the tree.

"Okay, give me a sec." She thought for a moment. "My heart beats in rhythm to your love. You make my soul soar with your very presence. I will joyously spend the rest of my life and beyond with you. Will that do, Jack?"

"For cryin’ out loud!"

"Something wrong?" Daniel tried to keep a straight face at the colonel’s expression.

"You weren’t even in the same room!" he wailed.

"Tradition again, Jack?" Daniel sat back, taking a sip of cognac. "You think you know a guy after eight years, I never would have guessed."

"Is it not also tradition to affirm the alliance with a kiss?" Teal’c enquired.

He gave a long-suffering sigh. "Annika?"

"Now what?" It came out louder than expected because Sam chose that moment to switch off the mixer. "Okay, now all you have to do is pour it into the tin and pop it in the oven for twenty minutes."

"Jack’s put out that we’re in separate rooms, and Teal’c thinks a kiss is in order."

"God, you have demanding friends." She ‘supervised’ the blonde woman slide the tray into the oven and set the timer, then trotted towards the lounge. "We don’t have to repeat the proposal and reply again do we? I don’t think I can remember what I said."

"No, I don’t think so." Daniel clambered to his feet and met her halfway. "But I do like the idea of the kiss." His arms lovingly embraced her.

"Yep, like that part too," Annika grinned.

Daniel lowered his lips to hers and Annika melted against him.

"Are you happy, O’Neill?" Teal’c asked. "Annika Murdoch and Daniel Jackson are now betrothed."

"I’m just peachy," Jack groused. "Can’t you two do anything normal?"

The couple temporarily broke apart.

"Where’s the fun in that, Jack?" Annika giggled.

Munching on the freshly baked brownies and the cookies Annika had made that morning, the rest of the evening was spent watching the movies, ‘White Christmas’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. The end of both left the women needing tissues.

"It doesn’t matter how many times I see them, I always end up blubbering." Annika blew her nose and passed the box to Sam.

"Me too," Sam sniffed.

"If the movies upset you, why do you insist on watching them?" Teal’c frowned.

"Because it’s Christmas!" the women cried reaching for another Kleenex.

"I do not understand."

Jack gave the Jaffa a wry grin, while giving an awkward, comforting pat to Sam’s shoulder. "T, there are some mysteries that will never be explained. This is one of them."

Shortly after they decided to call it a night. The spare bedroom had been set up for Teal’c, while Jack and Sam were going next door to Daniel’s.

Daniel tossed the keys towards the colonel with a cheeky grin. "You can have your pick of rooms, but if you choose the main bed it may end up being a shared experience."

Jack frowned. "Huh?"

"In case you’ve forgotten the ‘visionary’ of our group." He thumbed towards Annika.

The psychic nudged her lover in the ribs. "Stop teasing."

"Hey, you never know, you might learn a trick or two," Jack grinned, pulling on his coat, then helped Sam with hers. "See you in the morning."

They bid good night to Teal’c and headed upstairs.

Snuggling under the covers, Annika rested her head on Daniel’s shoulder. "So we’re officially engaged."

"Looks that way." Daniel’s fingers absently traced up and down her back.

"Mrs. Annika Jackson," she tried out the name, placing a soft kiss to his chest. "I like the sound of that."

"Does have a nice ring to it," he agreed then paused. "Not quite how I pictured proposing to the woman I love."

Though there was smile to his tone, Annika could sense an underlying concern. She lifted her head in question.

"Wasn’t exactly romantic."

"You mean setting the date while I had my head stuck in a cupboard?" she quipped.

"Is that what you were doing? I wondered why you were a bit muffled." Blue eyes crinkled with amusement, but there was still a tinge of guilt.

She tenderly cupped his face. "My world rises and sets with you as my sun. My love for you is like the universe, ever expanding into infinity," she quoted his words. "That sounds pretty romantic to me."

A small smile touched his lips. "I thought you said you didn’t remember."

"Nope, said I couldn’t remember my reply."

"My heart beats in rhythm to your love," he supplied, his voice deepening with emotion. "You make my soul soar with your very presence. I will joyously spend the rest of my life and beyond with you."

"Now, I’m no linguist," she grinned, "but that also sounds romantic." Annika sent the full force of her love to him. "If we could step back in time, I wouldn’t alter a thing…except to maybe set up a hidden camcorder to see Jack’s face."

A low chuckle escaped from him. "It was priceless." The niggling worry evaporated as her love and merriment engulfed him.

Violet eyes darkened with desire. "Modern tradition dictates that we consummate our engagement." Her hand traveled down his chest and beyond, tantalizing his body with playful fingers.

"Mustn’t mess with tradition." Daniel murmured, surrendering to the fire that Annika was evoking within him. "Love you, My Angel."

"Mmmm, love you too, My Love."

A  A  A  A  A  A

Annika woke early the next morning. It was the one day in the year she was guaranteed to be up before the sun. She couldn’t help it…it was Christmas Morning after all. Determined to be patient she wiggled deeper into Daniel’s embrace, waiting for him to wake up on his own. Her newfound patience lasted all of five minutes. She softly danced her fingers up his arm, from wrist to bicep then slid her nails over his chest like a slippery dip down over the washboard ripples of his stomach. When she moved beyond his hips a small sigh escaped from him. Annika snuck a look at his face. It was still relaxed in sleep, even though his body was responding to her touch. Her mouth replaced her fingers, trailing light kisses over his body, drawing his body to awareness with every tender caress. She knew when Daniel became fully awake from the low moan that echoed around the room as her mouth encased his growing arousal.

"Merry Christmas." He could feel her smile against him.

"Merry Christmas." His voice was slightly slurred from a mix of slumber and desire. "What a fabulous way to greet the morning." Daniel ran his fingers through her hair, loving how the silky softness cascaded over his body, relishing the fire that coursed through his body from the antics of Annika’s lips. He reluctantly tugged her up when a particularly erotic swirl of her tongue threatened to make him burst down her throat.

Hungrily his mouth explored hers, tongues entwining, seeking entry into the warm depths. His hands sought the tantalizing mounds of her breasts, teasing the nipple into stiff peaks then moved to the apex of her legs. Rolling her onto her back, his mouth mapped out every inch of her body, before meeting up with his fingers, licking and sucking until she was writhing beneath him. That beautiful whimper was music to his ears as her thighs quivered against his face and he lapped up the sweet essence that flowed from her.

After a moment to catch her breath Annika urged Daniel back up to her, her mouth craving the taste of his lips once more. Lying on their sides, she lifted her leg over his hip, giving his throbbing shaft entry to her heated opening. With one hand entwining with hers above their heads and the other cupped her smooth butt, guiding the gentle joining of their bodies. The friction of having Daniel deep within her, rubbing against her pearl of pleasure with every thrust started the tingle of a second orgasm. As Daniel increased the rhythm she knew he was almost passed the point of no return. With her free hand she took her own grip on his backside, grinding him to her, while contracting her muscles. A ragged groan rumbled from Daniel’s throat even as his body shuddered. The surge of his life force exploding inside her pushed Annika over the edge and her own cry of ecstasy mingled with his.

"Well, that’s a first for Christmas Morning for me," Daniel sighed as Annika nestled up beside him.

"I considered it adequate compensation for waking you up so early." She lovingly stroked her finger in a zigzag pattern across his chest.

"What time is it?" For the first time Daniel realized that the darkness of the room had nothing to do with the drawn drapes.

"Around five thirty." Annika sounded sheepish.

"If that turns into a daily wake up call, then I think I’ll enjoy becoming an early bird." He placed a kiss to her temple. "Think the others are awake?"

"I’d be betting Jack and Sam never went to sleep," she playfully bounced off the bed. "Wonder if Santa came?"

Daniel threw back the covers, loving the excited sparkle that lit up her violet eyes. "I guess that would depend on whether he played his cards right with Mrs. Claus."

Annika giggled as she rummaged around for some clothes. "You have a one track mind."

He gave an incredulous laugh. "Who woke who doing what this morning?" Daniel led her into the bathroom. "How about we conserve water and shower together?"

"I’m all for conservation," she replied seriously, letting herself be drawn into his arms once again.

A half hour later the couple made their way downstairs to find the others already helping themselves to coffee.

As one they all chimed, "Merry Christmas!"

Once fortified with mugs of coffee, (and tea for Teal’c,) they trooped into the lounge and got down to the serious business of opening presents.

They had decided earlier in the month that instead of giving individual gifts they would chip in giving one special gift from all of them with a couple of smaller ones thrown in. However it didn’t go unnoticed that Sam was sporting a brand new pair of diamond earrings, nor that Jack was wearing an expensive looking watch different from the one he’d worn the day before.

Taking turns playing Santa, it wasn’t long before the room was a mass of torn wrapping paper and discarded ribbon.

Jack was over the moon with a mint copy of the first issue of Mad Magazine, a book on the best fishing spots in the world, (at which he announced he’d planned to visit every single one,) and the barbeque cooking set, complete with Homer Simpson apron and chefs hat.

Teal’c was most impressed with the original Star Wars figurines of Yoda, Luke Skywalker and Hans Solo in their initial packaging, the pair of carved candlestick holders for when he meditated and the 1001 joke book.

Sam immediately tried on her motorcycle jacket made of soft black leather and the matching gloves to go with it, and couldn’t help but laugh at the ‘Cooking for Dummies’ recipe book.

Annika loved the Smurfs t-shirt and socks and meditation crystals, but she could only gape at the framed picture the wrapping paper revealed. It was a photo from the Bon Jovi concert she had attended a few months before. Not only was there a personalized autograph from the singing star himself, but the picture had been taken when Annika had been pulled up on stage. "How did you get this?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"Well, it was my idea," Daniel grinned. "There’s this civilian organization called the Airforce Association. There’s a guy whose official title is Film, Documentary and Special Events Coordinator…"

"Who happens to be a friend of mine," Jack jumped in. "He managed to pull a few strings and it turns out the Bon Jovi promoters taped the concerts."

The picture was straight away given pride of place on the mantelpiece.

Daniel laughed over the travel coffee mug with the words ‘Space Monkey’ engraved on it and he couldn’t wait to have a game of the limited edition Scrabble, with a carved mahogany board and hand crafted tiles. But his voice temporarily failed him when he opened up the leather-bound photo album. Page after page revealed pictures dating back over fifty years and each and every photo was of two people Daniel hadn’t seen since he was a child. His parents smiling faces stared back at him, everything from candid shots of the couple growing up to numerous images of them on archaeological digs. Halfway through another person, albeit a very small one, who steadily grew older as he turned the pages, made the duo into a threesome. There were even a few that included Nicholas Ballard bouncing Daniel as a toddler on his knee. He smiled at the picture on the final page. It was of Daniel at the age of six, holding up a chipped vase he’d unearthed, his parents proudly by his side. "I remember this," he murmured. "It was just an everyday water jug, but Mom and Dad made such a fuss over it because I’d found it…" His big blue eyes looked up at his friends. "How…?"

"I was doing some research on the internet," Annika explained softly. "I wanted to read some of your thesis’. When I typed in your name, a stack of articles came up including some written by your parents. It got me wondering if there was still anyone around who knew them. Sam helped me track down some of the people who were on their digs."

Sam picked up the story. "Lucky for us they all seemed to be hoarders. They sent us the pictures, most of them were happy for us to have the originals, but we sent them copies back."

"Thank you," He tenderly ran his hand over the album. "That seems so inadequate, but thank you." Daniel’s other hand linked with Annika’s, however he included everyone in his statement. "It’s the best Christmas present I’ve ever received."

Before it got too emotional Jack produced two last presents from under the tree. "I believe these belong to our hosts."

Annika recognized her gift to Daniel, but she was surprised that his gift to her was of the same size. She ripped off the paper with excited anticipation. When she lifted the lid of the small jewelry box, her smile faltered. She stared at the ring nestled inside. Had Jack handed her the wrong gift? Swapped them somehow? She looked over at Daniel who was holding his box with an equally puzzled expression. Both simultaneously peeked at the other’s gift.

"What’s wrong with you two?" Jack demanded, when the couple simply stared at the pieces of jewelry in their hands. "Don’t you like ’em?"

A bemused smile touched Daniel’s lips. "Actually, I love it."

"Then what is the problem, Daniel Jackson?"

Daniel and Annika turned the boxes around for their friends to see. Two identical rings, side by side.

"Daniel, when did you get this?" Her voice was small.

"On P35-XR2 when we separated in the marketplace. After the meeting with the elders we had a couple of hours to kill, remember?"

Annika nodded. "Sam and I went off in one direction, and you guys went in the other. We met up after doing a full circle."

"There was a jeweler there about three quarters of the way round. I liked the design, thought you’d like it, except I got him to switch the stones…"

"Amethyst to match my eyes, sapphire blue to match yours," Annika finished.

He nodded.

"And the symbols?"

Sam realized what had upset the psychic. "Annika, you didn’t have a premonition or vision. I was with you. You haggled with the man for fifteen minutes to switch the stones and to get him to add the glyphs. You had to ask me what the Ancient glyphs were for ‘Love’ and ‘Eternal’. If you were having a vision you would have known what they were."

"I would have, wouldn’t I?" She thought the logic through. "So I didn’t pick up the idea from you?" She turned to Daniel, who seemed to be amused by the bizarre coincidence.

"Nope. But it does explain why the jeweler gave me a bewildered frown and muttered something equivalent to deja vu."

"What made you choose those two words?"

Daniel flashed that wonderful smile of his. "Clearly the same thing as you, they were a perfect combination." He plucked the ring out of her hand and placed it on her finger. It was too loose for the second finger but was a perfect fit for the middle one. By another freaky coincidence his ring also fit snugly on his middle finger. He gently tilted her chin up, making sure that he could read the sincerity, the love in his eyes. "This just proves that we’re on the same wave length." Daniel sent a wave of his joy through their bond, banishing her worry about the origins of their identical gifts. He drew her close to him, and kissed her until she was breathless.

It was Jack’s good-natured quip that broke them apart. "Okay, you two are officially creepy. If you start finishing each other’s sentences I am calling an exorcist."

Both of them grinned mischievously.

"Jack, we wouldn’t…" Daniel began.

"…do that," Annika completed.

They all cracked up at Jack’s pained expression. "Arrrgh! Stop it!"

Suddenly there was a bright white beam and when it dissipated there was a small rectangular box sitting on the floor in front of Annika. The ‘paper’ was a thin opaque plastic film and a floppy lilac bow made of similar material decorated the outside. There was a tiny milky white stone attached to one corner.

"It appears to be a miniature Asgard communication device," Teal’c observed.

Annika pressed the stone and Thor’s voice echoed around the room. "Greetings, Annika. After much deliberation I determined that a reciprocal gift was indeed required to express our friendship. The decorative container has been programmed to only open at the touch of your and the other members of SG-1’s hands. Merry Christmas." Another flash of light and the device disappeared, leaving the gift behind.

"Thor’s giving you a Christmas present?" Sam was surprised.

Annika grinned as she untied the bow. "Looks like it." The wrap wouldn’t budge and had to be cut off. "I gave Lya one as well to thank her for helping me with my training. She gave me this cute little plant, like a bonsai. She called it a ‘Tree of Life’. I had to keep it at the SGC because of quarantine."

"Thor’s never given me…uh…us a present before," Jack groused.

"Have you ever given him one?" Annika countered.

"Well…no," he admitted.

"So what are you complaining about?" She snipped off the last piece of wrap and curiously opened it up. "Oh, wow."

She held up the gift for the others to see. It was a silver box with an elaborate design etched into the metal. There were four small blue jewels, one in each corner and a larger oval stone in the centre. When Annika touched the centre stone the lid flipped open to reveal the inside divided into four compartments lined with a velvet-like material.

"It looks like a jewelry box," Sam commented. "Who’d have thought the Asgard would have something so…."

"Pretty?" Jack joked.

"I was going to say frivolous," the major contradicted.

"The workmanship is astounding." Daniel traced the design on the outside.

Hathor who’d been happily ripping the discarded wrap to shreds trotted over to investigate. When her little paw hesitantly poked at the trinket box the lid immediately snapped shut with such speed the puppy jumped back in fright. Giving an indignant bark she leaped into the safety of Daniel’s lap.

"Not as frivolous as it appears," Teal’c remarked.

Sam tapped the metal. "I’d have to run some tests, but I’d say this is naquadah blended with the metal the Asgard use for their ships."

"Well, it’ll definitely come in handy," Annika placed it on the coffee table. "Now, who’s ready for breakfast?"

While the men tidied up the lounge from all the Christmas wrap, Annika convinced Sam to help out with making the waffles for breakfast. Actually the major set the table and whipped up the candied cream and Annika handled the waffle iron. After they’d eaten their fill of the delicious pastry, Jack, Daniel and Teal’c offered to wash up the dishes. Not one to refuse an offer of domesticity Annika and Sam retreated to the lounge, playing with the puppies. When they had finished Annika shooed them out of the kitchen and began preparing the food for their Christmas lunch.

The original members of SG-1 started up a game of scrabble. As she sliced up the potatoes Annika couldn’t help but chuckle at the banter flying across the board.

"‘Pickler’ is not a word," Sam declared.

"Sure it is. One who pickles is a pickler." Jack sounded very sure of himself.

"Nope, sorry Jack." Daniel sided with Sam.

"But it uses all my letters on a triple plus I’d get fifty bonus points."

"Only for real words, O’Neill."

Grumbling Jack removed the letter R. "Still say it’s a word." There was a pause. "Hey, Daniel, you’re two letters short."

"No, I’m not. The word you’re thinking of is M A S T U R B A T E. Mastaba is a word."

"Pffh, in what language?"

"It is a form of Goa’uld martial arts," Teal’c informed the colonel.

"We’re only using English words here," Jack protested.

"Wasn’t specified in the rules when we began."

"Sam, just whose side are you on?"

"Jack, a mastaba is also an Egyptian tomb," Daniel explained patiently. "A poor man’s pyramid. So that’s M on the double word score…"

"Wait up, now I know one of your joining words ka, is Unas for no…not English."

Daniel heaved a sigh. "Ka is also spirit or soul in English."

"You sure?"

"Look it up."

There was a flapping of dictionary pages turning then further grumbles from Jack about smartass archaeologists with high IQs.

Daniel restarted the count of his score. "So that’s double points for the ‘M’, triple word for both ‘ka’ and ‘mastaba’…sixty, plus four for ‘ob’, another five for ‘ha’, plus fifty for a seven letter word…one hundred and forty-nine."

Not surprisingly Jack gave up after the second game and contented himself with reading his Mad Magazine.

When Annika was arranging the table centerpiece, a wreath of poinsettias with candles strategically placed in between the red leaves, Teal’c entered to mix up the Wassail. He eyed what appeared to be giant pieces of candy wrapped in colorful foil lying beside all but one of the plates.

"I do not believe I have seen candy of such magnitude before."

For a moment Annika could only give a blank, if slightly perplexed look, until she realized what the Jaffa was talking about. She tried not to grin as she explained. "You don’t eat them, you pull them apart. They’re called Christmas Crackers. It’s a tradition I picked up from my stay in Australia. They’re a bit hard to find over here, so I made these ones up myself."

"You are one short."

"Nope, got the last one here." Daniel appeared waving a cracker in his hand.

"When did you do that?" Annika asked surprised. "What’s in it?"

"It’s just like the others," he grinned mysteriously, placing it next to Annika’s plate.

When the timer announced that the turkey was ready, they all congregated at the table. With admiring comments at the festive presentation they all sat down. Like little kids, the first thing they reached for was the crackers, and five snaps echoed around the room as they tugged them open.

Annika had filled them with a mix of confetti and candy, and keeping in mind that the ‘prizes’ were traditionally fun, she’d carefully chosen key rings that would appeal to each of them. Teal’c had a mini light saber that flashed on and off. Daniel’s had a highly appropriate saying, ‘Save the Earth, it’s the only planet with coffee!’. Annika was delighted to find her mystery prize was a key-ring of the cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost. Jack and Sam on the other hand were frowning at their identical prizes.

"We can’t use these," Sam’s expression was confused. "We could never let anyone see them." The key-rings were inscribed with ‘S. C. 4 J. O.’

"Oh, almost forgot." Annika plucked a magnet from the fridge, releasing the plain white envelope it was holding up. "This goes with it." She handed it over to Jack.

He ripped it open and frowned at the SGC logo at the top of the page. "I thought this was a work free day."

"Believe me, you want to read that memo, Jack." Annika didn’t try to hide the amusement from her voice.

The colonel heaved a deep sigh. "Well, if I must…" his voice trailed off as he began reading the official announcement.

Jack frowned and reread the memo. Was it saying what he thought it was saying? His eyes locked on five words ‘exempt from the non-fraternization clause’. Nah…it couldn’t possibly be true… "Carter?…uh…Sam, this is in your language." He slowly handed it to woman beside him. "Translation?"

Sam scanned the memo, her curiosity turning to shock. "Holy Hannah," she breathed, then she too did a second read.

From the way the major gripped his hand beneath the table, the colonel knew he hadn’t misunderstood. His head swiveled up to Daniel and Annika who were wearing matching Cheshire cat grins. "Is this some sort of joke?"

"Nope," Daniel assured him. "It’s being officially announced even as we speak."

"What is it, O’Neill?"

Numbly Sam let the Jaffa read the memo.

"It appears the ban on sexual relations between military personnel has been rescinded."

Jack and Sam nodded dumbly. "But how?" Both asked at the same time.

Annika answered. "Daniel helped with the legal babble and I gave Thor my spin on subsection 42.11, who then went on a little visit to the President."

"What did you say?" Jack still dared not believe.

"Wait a sec, let me get this right," she cleared her throat. "We have the best examples of the Tau'ri species working at the SGC. The nature of Tau'ri procreation requires a psychological link based on honesty and trust from both parties involved. Those at the SGC are unable to attain this link with their mates because of the confidentiality of the Stargate program. The very genes we should be replicating to further our evolution are being denied the opportunity because of the military non-fraternization regulation."

"I’m guessing you didn’t mention the fact that most women on the base are on some sort of contraceptives," Sam chuckled.

Annika slapped her forehead in mock self-rebuke. "Damn, I knew there was something I left out."

Jack sprang to his feet and wrapped Annika in a tight bear hug. "And I knew there was a good reason to make you part of SG-1."

Daniel tapped him on the shoulder. "Jack, I think you’re hugging the wrong woman."

"Damned straight!" He dropped his arms and reached for Sam, pulling her close to his body. He swung her around in a circle. "Merry Christmas, Major Carter!"

"Merry Christmas, Colonel O’Neill!" Sam’s eyes were sparkling with excitement and love.

Still spinning their lips met in their first officially allowed kiss.

"It is about time," Teal’c declared. "Perhaps now you shall refrain from sneaking to the storage facilities so frequently."

The two officers flushed. "You knew about that?"

"Indeed. Jaffa are not blind." His lips twitched. "Jaffa also have an acute sense of smell. I found it highly amusing when you returned from your liaisons smelling of Major Carter’s perfume. The scent of Jasmine suits you well, O’Neill."

They rest of the day was spent relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. Not surprisingly Jack and Sam feigned tiredness and retired early to the bedroom. Teal’c, Daniel and Annika played a few more games of scrabble before calling it a night. When Annika emerged from the bathroom, she found Daniel sitting up in bed, once again flicking through the photo album of his family.

Annika joined him. "There’s a second part to that particular gift."

"There is?" He looked up at her curiously. "I don’t think anything can top it."

Annika turned the pages back to the beginning. Slowly she placed a finger to the edges of the first photo of his mother, being careful not to leave fingerprints, then raised her palm to Daniel’s forehead.

He gasped as the picture came to life in his head, he could feel his teenage mom’s happiness as she laughed into the camera, had a flash of the photographer, his dad, playfully teasing her about the floppy hat that she wore.

She touched another and then another transferring vision after vision of his parents. Daniel had to fight back tears when he felt the overwhelming joy and love emanating from the family snapshot of mom, dad and their newborn son swaddled in their arms. Not all of the pictures had visions and others were not from the perspective of his parents. Some were of the friends and colleagues who had taken the photos, but even those revealed the high regard his parents were held in and the friendship they enjoyed with the young archaeologists.

"Thank you." Daniel’s voice was thick with emotion after all the treasured images were unlocked from within the album. He hauled her into his arms his embrace conveying what he couldn’t say in words.

Annika tenderly cupped his face. "You’re very welcome."

"You’re an amazing woman," he murmured, his lips descending to hers. "I’m the luckiest man in the world to have you in my life."

"Not half as lucky as I am to have you in mine." She returned the kiss.

Their lovemaking that night was slow and sensual, the depth of their emotions pulsing through their bodies with every touch and caress.

Jack and Sam left late the next morning. They dropped Teal’c off at the base, who’d organized to spend the afternoon with Rya’c. As much as they loved having their friends over, it was just as wonderful to have the afternoon to themselves. The newly engaged couple spent the day lazily pottering around the house and tidying up in preparation of leaving the next day for their mission.