As Daniel and Annika made their way through the twists and turns of the elegant city, they did their best to do so at a reasonably calm pace. While they knew that the Nox, or at least the Orthalia clan, knew that their visit was equally a romantic tryst as an ‘official’ meeting, they didn’t want to make it too obvious that they were hurrying off to make love. Of course neither realized that their feelings were tangible to the race of people who were attuned more to the spiritual aspects of life than the physical. Their love and desire drifted after them like a wave, and the Nox that they passed found themselves smiling at the youngsters, remembering similar feelings when they had first been joined with their mates.

Annika’s heart was pounding by the time they stepped into their assigned quarters, and before the door had shut behind them, she found herself wrapped in Daniel’s strong embrace. His lips descended on hers, a loving assault that sent a fission of heat right through her body, making her toes curl. It amazed her that the simple act of kissing had such a powerful affect on her. Her previous lovers had been able to arouse her, but never to the depths that Daniel did. A single touch was all it took to have her writhing for more, and right now with him holding her tightly to him, feeling his very evident arousal pressed into her belly, she didn’t try to stop the soft moan that escaped her throat.

That husky sound never failed to fuel Daniel’s passion for the woman he was lucky enough to call wife. Not breaking their kiss, he swung her up into his arms and carried her to one of the bedrooms. Barely noticed that the décor that was similar to that of the sitting room before they had put their ‘personal stamp’ on it. He just saw that it held the one piece of furniture that was necessary, and he sat down on the bed, cradling Annika to him.

For long wonderful minutes they simply kissed. Soft and gentle, slowly exploring each other’s mouths with tongues and lips, then more fervidly, hungry to move on, yet reluctant to relinquish the sweet taste of each other.

Annika could have quite happily sat there for hours necking with her husband, except the gentle plunging of his tongue into her mouth, gave a promise of him plunging his velvety steel manhood deep into her, and the pool of molten heat between her legs was begging for attention. The erection that was throbbing into her side told her that Daniel was feeling the same way.

In between kisses they stripped off their clothes, then fell back onto the bed. Neither wanted to rush, however their need would not be denied. To temporarily sate their body’s craving, Daniel wrapped her legs around his hips and slowly entered her hot well. Blissful sighs blew from their lips before they resumed their exploration of their mouths. Unlike the teasing torment of the night before, their lovemaking was a sensual journey. No less satisfying, for when they did finally surrender to the climax of their union two hours later, their cries of ecstasy were as intense, only in a different way.

Snuggling deeper into Daniel’s arms, she gave a contented sigh. "That felt…different."

Daniel lazily caressed the soft skin of her hip, loving the way they fit so perfectly together when they spooned. "Hmmm…more of a spiritual experience."

"Yeah, kinda reminds me of that love scene from ‘Demolition Man’, a virtual reality simulation." Her limbs were still tingling from strength of her orgasm.

"Bit more than a simulation," he chuckled, flexing his hips a little, reminding her that his now happily spent member was still cocooned inside her, feeling the delightful effects of her aftershocks twitching around him. However he knew what she meant. "Maybe it’s because of where we are. We’re immersed in a culture that takes ‘spiritual’ to a whole new level."

"Could be," she agreed. Her fingers drew an idle pattern on his arm that was making such a comfortable pillow. "Or it could be that you just enjoy finding new ways to make me end up in a quivering heap calling out your name."

"Possibly, although I don’t recall you using that hip swivel technique before," he countered, nuzzling her neck. "So you are just as guilty of that as I am."

A giggle escaped as her sight focused on the walls. "I think we broke the room." While they had been making love, she vaguely recalled seeing flashes of glowing purples and blues and pinks, but at some point the colors had stopped and it was now the pearly white that it had been when they’d arrived. "That’s a first…overloaded a circuit with love."

"Love is one of the most powerful emotions around." He gazed around the room. Noticed the pearly hue was slightly different, it seemed to him more pure than before. He didn’t think the emotive room was broken at all, rather it was reflecting the purity of their love. The bed they were snuggled into had changed, the blankets almost a hazy whiteness, taking on the appearance of a cloud. To him, it conjured up images of what Heaven was stereotypically imagined as. And with Annika tucked into his arms, on a planet where they were entirely safe from any threats, it was his version of Heaven. "It’ll just be a little embarrassing explaining it to our hosts."

"Maybe we should suggest they install safety switches," Annika replied, her hand reaching out to touch the wall above her head. Was relieved to see it begin to change to the same sunny yellow of the outer room. She withdrew her hand, letting it resume the ethereal white glow it seemed to prefer. She’d never considered white in a bedroom as anything except stark before, however in this instance it was soothing, calming, almost celestial. The sense of safety that she’d only ever experienced in Daniel’s arms seemed to now encompass the room. Entirely at peace, she was about to mention it to Daniel, when his snore rumbled softly in her ear. With a happy smile on her face she let herself drift off into the Land of Nod.

They were awoken a couple of hours later, when their teammates arrived from their various activities. In between showering and getting ready for the evening event, they eagerly shared what they had experienced in the Nox city that was even more wondrous than they had imagined.

"The engines that keep this place afloat are totally amazing," Sam enthused, slipping a dress over her head, then wandering out of her and Jack’s bedroom into the living room to sit beside Annika.

The redhead was carefully applying makeup in front of a mirror that the adaptive room had created for them. She paused in shading her eye shadow to give her friend a cheeky grin. "Will the scientific explanation you’re about to give contain any words that I’ll understand?"

Sam chuckled. "Actually, you’ll probably understand it better than me. Every piece of technology I’ve seen today has a sort of telepathic link to the Nox."

"Would you be able to adapt this technology to what we currently have?" Teal’c inquired, frowning at the tie he was attempting to knot. "I do not understand the purpose of this item of clothing."

The major shook her head. "I don’t think so. The circuitry seems to be way more advanced than even the Asgard, and from what Lya explained it won’t work without the communal link with the Nox. But that doesn’t make it any less fascinating." She paused in thought, lipstick halfway to her mouth. "Although, it has given me an idea on how to make the engines of the Prometheus work more efficiently."

"Ties serve no purpose whatsoever." Jack finished adjusting his own piece of useless clothing and had moved on to help Teal’c with his. "They have got their own version of a holo-deck. Very cool. I’ve snagged it for tomorrow if ya’ wanna check it out."

"Ties do so have a purpose." Annika clicked shut the lid of her blush. "They finish off a suit. And they come in handy. Observe…" Daniel had been leaning over slightly to adjust the knot of his tie. Annika tugged gently on the dangling ribbon of material, pulling her husband down to her seated level so she could plant a kiss on his lips.

The Jaffa regarded her solemnly. "And if I’m not in a relationship? Which I might remind you, I am not."

Daniel came up for air, biting back a snort of laughter as Jack lifted the tail of his own tie imitating a hangman’s noose. Thankfully neither woman caught the action. "Then it will catch any soup spills from dinner."

Giving her hair a final brush, Annika drew in a slightly unsteady breath.

"Nervous?" Sam asked, having the luxury of only having to run her fingers through her short locks to have them behave.

The redhead nodded. "I researched some of the Orthalia clan, found my Family Tree. It’s kinda intimidating to be able to trace back thousands of years of relatives…and now to suddenly have over a hundred and fifty living family members, is a little overwhelming."

"They’ve already added Annika to their official records." Daniel informed them, giving her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. He caught the nervous flutter of her hand as she tucked her hair behind her ear, then changed her mind and let it fall naturally. He bent down placing a kiss to her cheek, whispering in her ear, "You look beautiful and they’re going to love you."

"Thanks." Annika knew their bond had told Daniel precisely what she was feeling, however the more time they spent together, the more he was able to identify the why as well. It was a strange and wonderful concept, one that she was still getting used to, one that she’d never thought she’d experience, one that she would always treasure. Taking another deep breath Annika rose, giving herself a final once over and Sam did the same. Lya had arrived just as they were getting ready, her arms laden with dresses, one each for Annika and Sam. The soft shimmering material was loose fitting, yet at the same time emphasized their feminine curves. From the appreciative looks they were receiving from the men, they surmised that they didn’t look half bad. Annika linked arms with Daniel. "Okay, so let’s go meet the kinfolk."

Lya had pointed out where the banquet was being held during their earlier tour, and the team set out at a leisurely stroll through the streets. The Nox who they passed smiled in welcoming, if a little shyly at them, as they went about their evening business.

As they drew near to the hall, Sam, who had also taken possession of Jack’s arm, gave a sigh. "It’s nice not to be running for a change."

The others agreed. All of them were enjoying the ‘novelty’ of being off-world and not have to worry if a Goa’uld was going to poke his nose around the corner and screw up their day. Walking the quiet streets, each was struck by the notion that nowhere else did they feel as completely safe as they did right now. Even when they were at home, the constant threat of a Goa’uld or other alien invasion was always in the back of their minds. The irony wasn’t lost on them either. The Nox, the most passive race in the known galaxy, who wouldn’t even lift a finger to defend themselves, were the ones who made them feel protected.

Rounding the final corner they saw Nafrayu sitting at the top of the steps, obviously waiting for them. As soon as he saw Sam he was down the steps and hugged the major around the waist. "Car-ter, you’re here! You’re sitting with us at the main table!"

Lya more sedately followed her nephew. "Nafrayu, why don’t you let Opher know that we can begin?"

The boy nodded, then giving an adoring look at Sam ran back towards the banquet hall.

"He doesn’t look a day older than when we last saw him," Sam commented. She’d been expecting him to now be a teenager given that it had been six years since they had first met him.

The Nox explained the seemingly anomalous age. "We age approximately four times slower than yourself."

SG-1 were surprised by the knowledge. Though in all honesty they hadn’t known much about the Nox lifespan other than them living for over five centuries, they had for whatever reason assumed that they aged ‘normally’ until reaching adulthood, then physically aged at a slower rate.

Annika winced at a sudden thought. "Oh, I do not envy you. Thirty years of puberty? That would try the patience of a…"

"A Nox?" Jack butted in with a mischievous grin.

The Nox woman gave a chuckle. "Puberty is a great learning curve for all involved." She linked her arm with Annika’s free one and led the way up the stairs. "The Matriarch and elders of our clan will greet you first, and then the others will approach less formally over the night so as not to overwhelm you."

"Okay." Annika gripped Daniel’s arm tighter and was grateful for the soothing caress he responded with through their bond. It was odd, she thought as they entered the high arch of the building entrance, she could face down a Goa’uld with nary a flutter, yet meeting a bunch of the most placid, non-judgmental people they’d ever known made her nervous. Lya guided them to a side chamber where a dozen Nox were waiting. The first person she saw was a familiar face and Annika felt some of the butterflies tamper down.

Rosettym approached with a warm smile. "Hello again."

The redhead grinned. "Fancy running into you here."

"You have met?" Lya asked surprised.

Daniel nodded. "In the library this afternoon."

"I didn’t realize you were one of the clan elders," Annika commented. Beyond the woman’s shoulder she saw Opher standing a little way back and she gave him a little wave. The people he was standing with looked far more elderly than Rosettym.

The woman gave a mischievous grin. "I am not one of the elders."

"Oh." She frowned in confusion. "Sorry, but I thought the first meet and greet was going to be the elders and…" She cut off as her mind registered that the elders were standing a respectful distance from Rosettym. "Ohhh, holy shit, you’re the Matriarch." Annika felt her cheeks heat up at her mortifying habit of swearing at the most inopportune times. "Can we please go out and come back in again, pretend the last ten seconds did not just happen?"

A low chuckle burst from the Matriarch’s lips and she leant forward to embrace the impulsive newest member of her clan. "And miss such an honest response? I would not even if I could." She saw that Daniel was also looking a little uncomfortable, not because of his wife’s faux paux, but because he was recalling how their last encounter had ended. She included him in her hug, keeping her voice low so only husband and wife could hear. "Would you have danced your ‘tango’ with such abandon had you known whom I am?"

"Oh, God, no."

Daniel answered but Annika also shook her head.

"Then I am glad I did not include my title at our introduction. A love such as yours is a rarity and should not be denied." Rosettym drew back only once she sensed that the couple was no longer embarrassed. "Come and meet the others."

The next round of introductions went a lot more smoothly. After Annika and Daniel, Jack, Sam and Teal’c were presented as Annika’s family and the Nox accepted them as honorary kin. From there, with Rosettym leading the way, they moved on to the main hall.

The set up of the long cavernous room was reminiscent of the thatched housing planet-side, though on a much larger scale. The walls were decorated with the bundled reeds and the tables and chairs were closer to naturally carved out pieces of wood than man made structures.

"If you as a people love the forest so much, why don’t you live there all the time?" Annika asked. She could feel how happy and content the Nox were to be surrounded by the forest the room had created.

"The huts are our residence for when there is a desire to reconnect with oneself and family. The city offers us protection and relaxation. Up here we do not have to concern ourselves with any unexpected visitors. It is also where the Council permanently reside."

"Your Council is made up of all the Matriarchs?" Daniel asked.

Rosettym nodded. "Each have an equal say in our decision making process."

"You’ve never considered having a man as a clan leader?" Annika was curious. She knew that a truly matriarchal society was rare.

"All life began as female, then evolved into male. We saw no reason to alter that hierarchy."

The Nox led them to a table in the center of the room where Anteaus sat with two more people who were evidently Nafrayu’s parents. The boy was practically bouncing on his seat between them when they approached. With the introductions started, the long procession of family to Annika and Daniel began. No longer nervous, Annika’s biggest concern was remembering all the names, putting them to faces and trying to pronounce them.

Jack didn’t envy the couple. Though the clan members also stopped to chat with him, Sam and Teal’c, the pressure wasn’t on them to remember. Which was just as well, because Jack’s ability to screw up a name, whether intentional or not, was becoming iconic amongst the SGC personnel. The colonel was ecstatic that Annika had found herself some relatives, however distant they may be, and that Daniel had been included by virtue of marriage. He knew both of them had craved that sort of association, no matter how much of a family SG-1 had become. And he was totally stoked the wee tree folk had also accepted him and the others as in-laws. It was just he wasn’t exactly a social butterfly. And what mingling skills he had were iffy in a room full of humans, let alone the Nox who didn’t seem to get the punch line of his jokes. Jack felt a nudge at his elbow.

"These celebrations don’t normally take so long," Opher said reaching for a healthy handful of shelled nuts.

"Oh, why is that?" Jack really had a hankering for a steak with all the trimmings, but had to satisfy himself with a stuffed mushroom-type thing. Mushrooms were considered meat for vegetarians, right? He could pretend the actually quite tasty morsel was a juicy steak.

"The ‘welcomee’ is not normally so talkative," he responded dryly. "Usually it takes place within the first few weeks of life before talking becomes an issue."

The wizened old man gave him a sideways glance then motioned for Jack to lower his cup below the tabletop. Curious, Jack followed the directions. After darting a furtive look to make sure no one was watching, Opher pulled a small skin from the folds of his robes, pulled the stopper and poured a generous amount into the cup, then added as much to his own mug. With a grin he softly clanked the two cups together in the apparently universal sign of ‘drink up’, giving a slight nod toward the crowd of his kin. "One needs a bit of fortitude to make it through these things."

Cautiously Jack sniffed at the concoction. Fruity, flowery and definitely alcoholic. Took a sip and savored the smooth velvet warmth that pooled in his stomach. He grinned in appreciation at the man beside him. "Opher, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship."

The two clanged cups again and took another sip. They managed to drink two cups of the secret beverage when they got busted. Lya had been bringing in another platter of food when her sensitive nose caught a whiff of the alcohol.

She frowned at the old man. "Father, I thought we agreed you were going to refrain from the lysera tonight."

"I’m four hundred and forty cycles old, if I want a drink then I think I’m old enough to have one,’ Opher retorted.

Lya was still looked disapproving but she let her father be.

"Young sapling, only one hundred and seventy-five cycles and she thinks she knows everything," he grumbled, but there was true affection in his tone.

"Ah, kids, what can you do?" Jack commiserated, finding it hard to keep a straight face. It seems that the typical family unit was another universal truth. Sitting back, Jack had to admit that watching the Nox in their ‘natural habitat’ was an eye opener. Take away the twiggy hairdos and they could have been an average family at a reunion. There were distinct clicks that clearly had more contact with some than others, kids running around between the tables, parents a little exasperatedly trying to keep order. As sweet and lovable as Lya was, she was still as much an ‘alien’ as the Tok’ra and any of the other allies they had made. Now they were a tad more human, especially with Opher sneaking him more of that fruity brew to him under the table.

Under the guise of reaching for another meat substitute, he snuck a peek at Annika. The redhead was looking more than a little overwhelmed, which really was a Kodak moment in itself. Since she had learned of the Stargate and all the freaky crap that went with it, Casper had taken everything in her stride, at least as far as he knew. However there was also a happiness around her, a different kind of contentment as each new family member was introduced. And of course there was that ever present look of love that had been with her since meeting Daniel; the same look that Daniel had. As much as Jack teased the couple about it, he was so damned happy for them. It was either tease them mercilessly or walk around with a goofy grin, which so didn’t go with his image.

Sam looked up at him from across the table, not breaking conversation with someone called Hippie…no, Hopper...no, that wasn’t it either…Huppie? Well, whoever he was. Hmmmm…it seemed that his fiancée had that lovey-dovey twinkle too. He was proud as punch and still a little stunned that Sam found his crotchety self even part way appealing, let alone that she had agreed to marry him. Following Carter’s scientific theory of logical progression, that ‘look’ was also plastered across his face. He wondered if it was as obvious or if it was just noticeable to those who knew the subtle nuances of his team. In the back of his mind the little voice that always was on duty nudged him, saying that that could become a problem. Jack pushed that thought away. That was a dilemma to be saved for another day.

In a temporary lull between the next set of relatives, Daniel took the opportunity to ask about something he’d seen. "Lya, is there a pattern to the light density of the city walls? I noticed when someone leaves their home the entire building seems to turn a little duller, like it’s in standby mode."

The Nox woman nodded. "I suppose the best comparison I can make is that the building sleeps when it is unoccupied."

Annika reached for a grape. "I’ve seen different colors as well, yellow and blue glows. Does the color itself mean anything?"

Another nod. "The colors are similar to auras though more simplified."

Rosettym called their host away for a moment, and Annika leant into Daniel. "That’d be neat to have back home. The house gives a pissed-off vibe and you know to come back later."

"Of course it would also be a failsafe for crims to know when the house was empty," he pointed out, resting his cheek on the top on her head.

"True." She popped the grape into her mouth just as the significance of what the living walls would and had revealed. The fruit stuck in her throat and she started choking.

Daniel thumped her on the back. "Went down the wrong hole?"

Annika nodded her cheeks turning pink, then she caught a case of the giggles. "So much for trying to be discreet."

"Huh?" Daniel passed over a glass of juice for her to clear her throat.

"The buildings reflect feelings." She took a sip then practically burrowed under his arm.

"Yes…" He didn’t quite understand the reason for such acute embarrassment. He didn’t think anyone had noticed her food mishap. And her giggles were another mystery.

"What were we feeling four hours ago?" she managed to get out.

Daniel blinked then his own face heated up, recalling that they’d been in the middle of ravishing each other. An embarrassed chuckle of his own joined with hers. "Let’s just keep this little revelation to ourselves."

Annika followed his glance towards Jack and Sam. Despite being ‘allowed’ to show affection, the couple very rarely did more than hold hands in public, especially when off-world. If they knew their room reflected what went on behind closed doors, they’d be even more mortified than Daniel and Annika. They’d spend the next five days on eggshells. "Good idea."

It seemed that no one was eager to leave and the banquet continued long into the night. The ensuing days were as relaxing as any of them could want. Daniel and Annika spent their time getting to know some of the Orthalia clan, exploring the wonders of the city and more than occasionally sneaking off for a private hour or three. Jack and Sam skipped off just as often as the married couple. When on the third day Annika noticed that Teal’c was also disappearing for unexplained periods of time, she became all excited that maybe the big guy had found himself a partner as well. That is, until she followed him halfway around the city streets to a park. A park full of children. The warrior spent hours playing games with the youngsters who were fascinated by the gentle giant. The redhead snuck away without making her presence known. It seemed that this trip had made all of them let their guards down. The two couples of SG-1 had used the time to enhance their personal relationships. Teal’c used it to reconnect with his softer side that he’d had to deny as a Jaffa.

"It’s been a perfect few days," Sam sighed as they strolled through the forest surrounding Opher’s hut.

It was their last night on the idyllic planet and they had accepted the invitation to spend the night planet-side.

"Do you know what’s been strange about it though?" Annika was tucked into the one armed embrace of her husband.

"More strange than spending our honeymoon on a floating city?" Daniel teased.

"Uh huh," she nodded. "I haven’t had one vision."

Daniel blinked in astonishment. "I hadn’t realized."

"Your hocus pocus isn’t on the fritz, is it?" Jack’s concern was evident. He’d been working with Casper long enough to know that she had at least one vision a day, even if it was a useless tidbit like what the new mess menu would be.

"How would I know?" she shrugged.

"Has this happened before?" Teal’c asked. To the Jaffa who had spent over a century in battle, something anomalous whether good or bad was always viewed with suspicion.

"With individual people, yes. I’ve never received a vision from Scarecrow, but he shields himself as naturally as breathing because of the auras he sees. But never with an entire place before."

"Maybe because the Nox are also spiritual by nature they also shield themselves," Sam suggested.

"If that’s the case, then this could be the ultimate place of refuge for me," Annika mused. "But not for too long. It’s freaky not having them." A wry chuckle escaped. "Strange how things change. A year ago I would have been over the moon not to have any visions, now it just seems wrong." She paused. Turning serious she addressed all of her team. "Thank you."

"For what?" Jack raised an eyebrow. Had he missed part of the conversation?

"Without all of you…you’ve helped me accept my abilities as part of who I am, and not something to hide. You…you saved me from myself."

For a moment the four members of SG-1 were silent.

Daniel’s arm tightened around her. "Well, we’re family, that’s what we do."

"Hey," Jack quipped. "Save the world, save one of our own, it’s all in a day’s work."

Nafrayu came skipping towards them. "Evening meal’s ready."

With warm smiles to each other, the group headed for the Nox hut.

"Lya, have we met everyone of the clan?" Annika asked as they were finishing the last of the berries in a tangy syrup that Lya had made for dessert. For the last couple of days she’d had the feeling there was someone else, someone very important she had yet to meet.

"Almost. There are a few who are visiting other planets."

"No one else here?" The psychic was pretty sure that whoever it was, was nearby. "Someone quite…elderly?"

A soft smile graced her cousin’s lips. "She calls to you?"

Annika nodded. "Someone is, for the last two days."

Lya raised a questioning brow to Opher who gave a nod and she turned back to Annika. "I will take you to her." She rose gracefully, then her eyes took on a distant expression.

The psychic recognized that she was receiving a message. After a moment, Lya gestured to the other members of SG-1. "She considers you honorary kin and would like to meet you as well. She has requested that you all spend the night with her."

Curious they all got to their feet, when Nafrayu came running into the thatched hut waving a piece of paper.

"Your General Hammond just sent a message through the Stargate!" Rather than give it to Jack, the youngster handed it to Sam, wrapping his arms around her waist in an affectionate hug. His crush on the blonde major hadn’t ebbed since that first meeting seven years ago.

Sam took the note, her free hand automatically hugging him back, and passed the note to Jack.

The colonel saw the indulgent smile on his fiancée’s lips. "No, Carter, you still can’t keep him," he quipped, quickly scanning the note. "Well, kids, looks like we’re leaving early in the morning. Hammond wants us back by 0800. Seems that the President is going to fit us into his busy schedule."

"Oh, really?" Daniel pushed his glasses up on his nose, feeling a nervous flutter beneath his heart from his wife. His fingers automatically threaded with hers in a reassuring squeeze. "Does the General say why?"

"Nope." Jack seemed unconcerned.

"You can bring your belongings with you then," Lya suggested, "the Matriarch is closer to the Stargate than here, it will give you more time to spend with her."

The comment distracted Annika’s sudden bought of nerves at meeting the President for the first time. "Matriarch? I thought Rosettym was the clan’s matriarch."

"Rosettym is our flesh and blood Matriarch. Whom I take you to now, is the entity from whence our clan came."

Now completely intrigued by the cryptic description, SG-1 said their farewells to Opher and Anteaus and gathered their packs. Nafrayu managed to wheedle his way into coming with them and he was happily being swung between Sam and Jack.

"Can you tell us a bit more about her?" Annika asked as Lya led them from the thatched hut and into the forest. "Like her name for starters?"

"She is simply the Matriarch."

"Oh," the redhead frowned. "Seems a bit formal."

Lya gave a chuckle. "I assure you she is far from formal. I’m not sure that she would even understand the word."

Daniel exchanged a puzzled look with his wife. "You said she is the entity from whence the clan came, is she immortal, or similar to one of the Ascended?"

"No, she is very much of the earth. She is not immortal in the sense that you know. She will live only as long as there is one of her children living." The Nox woman paused, tilting an inquisitive head to Teal’c who had stopped short and was studying the surrounding trees. "Is something wrong, Teal’c?"

"This forest has eyes."

She seemed surprised that the warrior had picked up on the presence. "They mean you no harm. I assure you what you are sensing is only curiosity. You are the first non-Nox who have been granted an audience."

Jack had also felt like he was being watched. Normally that sort of sensation had him either reaching for his P-90 or ducking for cover. However in the calm serenity that was this Planet, that was the last thing on his mind. "You can come out and say hi," he called out to the hidden beings. "No need to be shy, we promise not to bite."

Nafrayu erupted into a fit of giggles. "They are out."

"They are?" Sam couldn’t see hide nor hair of anyone between the trees.

Before the boy could answer, Lya beckoned them on. "Come, we are almost there."

The team followed. As they drew deeper in the forest they were overcome with the sense that they were walking on hallowed ground. The air seemed to sing with the sanctity of life, of love and happiness and the joy of simply being. The team was respectfully reverent of the atmosphere and fell into silence until Lya brought them to a stop at the base of a large tree whose trunk was over two meters wide.

The Nox opened her mouth to speak, then promptly shut it as her eyes once again turned distant, receiving another telepathic message. "As you wish," she murmured. Then with a soft caress to the smooth trunk she turned to SG-1. "Our Matriarch has requested an errand of me, however I shall return presently."

"Oh, okay," Annika said. "I take it the Matriarch knows where to find us?"

Her cousin gave an enigmatic smile. "She will make her presence known." Lya gestured to her nephew. "Nafrayu, it is passed your bedtime."

The boy gave each of them a warm hug goodbye, his one to Sam extra long. "I’ll see you when you visit next, Car-ter?"

"You can count on it," she promised.

The boy skipped over to Lya giving them all a wave goodbye, before the older woman took him by the hand and hurried away.

"Careful, Jack, looks like you’ve got a bit of competition," Annika teased, leaning against one of the lower branches of the massive tree they were under.

Jack grinned, looping an arm around Sam’s shoulders. "Yeah, but he doesn’t have my wit or charm."

"You say that like that works in your favor," the blonde replied mischievously.

Daniel had circled the wide trunk, fascinated by its sheer size. "Wow, I wonder how old this beauty is."

"I have never seen its equal." Teal’c was also studying the ancient specimen of nature.

"When I was a kid, my grandma had a tree like this." Annika ran her hands over the bark. "Well, not quite like this, it was tiny by comparison, but it had a branch like this." The one she spoke of curved down from about four feet high in a gentle arc to almost brush against the loamy ground. On impulse she dropped her pack and climbed up to the next lowest branch. Hooking her legs she let herself swing upside down. "My sister and I were always getting into trouble for playing on it…but oh, the adventures we had…"

"I loved climbing trees as a kid." Jack was also drawn to the massive tree. Though he hadn’t had the urge to climb for nigh on to three decades, he had the sudden compulsion to do so now. Not questioning it, he shimmed up the trunk. He didn’t notice when he almost lost his balance that the branch closest to him subtlety moved to provide a handhold "I spent hours in the canopy of the tallest tree I could find. With the wind making it sway, it was the closest I could get to flying."

Daniel found himself happily caught in the arms of his upside-down wife. He planted a lingering kiss to her lips, then decided that he’d join her to see what the world looked like for a monkey. "There weren’t many trees on the digs Mom and Dad took me on, but I remember there was one foster home that had an elm right by the bedroom window…" He swung himself up from the other side, and the two of them gently swayed back and forth. "There were five kids living there and I used to escape there for some peace and quiet."

Teal’c was still almost reverently circling the tree. "Climbing trees was part of my Jaffa training. It taught us agility. The aim was to climb to the top without making the leaves or the branches rustle."

"You never did it just for fun?" Annika tilted her head so that she could see her friend right side up.

"I did not."

"Oh, Teal’c, that’s so sad." She swung back a bit to capture him around the waist into a hug.

"I survived." The Jaffa returned the embrace then continued his perusal of the tree.

"How about you, Sam?" Jack had stretched out on his branch and was lying belly down. He reached down to give Sam a hand up.

A little apprehensively she eyed the high branch Jack was on. "Um…the military bases Dad was assigned to didn’t really have much by the way of flora decoration. First tree I really climbed was in college…" Slowly she began to climb. "And I fell out of it."

Jack bit back a grin. "It’s unlike you to be so clumsy."

The blonde sighed a tad embarrassed. "It was a drunken dare. I bruised my butt as well as my ego…couldn’t sit down for a week." Her boot slipped its footing and she gripped tighter to Jack’s supportive hand. Her other hand flayed for a second point of balance and blessedly found a smaller branch shooting out from one side. From below she felt a supporting hand catch the around the back of her thighs steadying her. "Whoa, thanks, Teal’c."

"It was not I, Major Carter."

The Jaffa’s voice came from above.

Her head shot up to see her friend peering down at her from a crook in the trunk. He had just climbed the tree from the opposite side.

"So if it’s not you…" She craned her neck around to look below her. She was stunned to see that it wasn’t hands that had caught her at all. It was a branch of the tree. "That wasn’t there before."

The others were curiously looking down at her, equally perplexed. They watched amazed as the branch seemingly of its own accord gave a gentle push, lifting Sam up until she was level with Jack.

"What’s going on?" the colonel asked, as more of the branches shifted, forming a woody net beneath Sam so that there was no way she would be able to fall through if she lost her footing again.

There was an almost shy rustle of leaves, in response.

One of the upper branches lowered down in front of Annika and Daniel, and both would swear that it waved at them in greeting. Tentatively they waved back and the branch gave an excited shake, showering them with sweet smelling blossoms.

Annika reached out to the branch and it leant into her caress. Through the strangely warm bark she could feel the life and energy flowing within the wood. It was so strong she wondered how in the world she could have missed it before this. "Hello."

A vine swung gently down and brushed her cheek.

"Um…I’m Annika, and this is my husband, Daniel."

The vine moved to Daniel and gave him the same gentle greeting.

"And this is Jack, Sam and Teal’c, my family of choice if not by blood."

The vine acknowledged the others in a similar manner.

"The Matriarch is not a being." Teal’c sounded slightly in awe. "It is this Tree."

Uncomfortably aware that they were climbing all over the most sacred member of the Orthalia clan, they started to scramble down, however the Tree looped vines around their waists to keep them where they were.

"I guess she wants us to stay put," Jack said, cautiously leaning back against the trunk.

The Tree gave what they assumed was a shake of approval.

The vine around Annika lifted her off the lower branch she was hanging from and took her higher into the canopy. The higher she went the stronger the life force emanating from the Tree became. It seemed to thrum through her entire body. She could feel the Tree’s excitement and curiosity, as well as her immediate and unconditional love for her. Though she knew it was impossible, she could have sworn that the minute traces of her Nox DNA began to stir to life. A tingle filtered through her and images formed behind her closed lids. Flashes of the Nox clan, though it was more visual images of the emotions the Nox had felt than portraits, showed her who they were, who they’d been. The Nox had come to the Tree to share the poignant moments of their lives, both happy and sad and the Tree now in turn shared them with Annika. She found that she could communicate with the ancient Matriarch on a basic level and by simply thinking of the key moments of her life she was able to send them on to her. Time became immaterial as the new ‘mother’ and ‘daughter’ got to know each other.

"She’s okay up there, isn’t she, Danny?" Jack asked. Casper had been ‘upstairs’ for over half an hour. Not that they had been twiddling their thumbs waiting. The Tree had been immensely inquisitive about them all and had carefully examined the ‘oddities’ of the people whom she had brought into her branches. She was particularly fascinated by Daniel’s glasses, Sam’s short blonde hair, Teal’c’s golden tattoo and Jack’s baseball cap.

Daniel very gently probed their bond. He’d been keeping a back seat, not wanting to intrude. The response she sent back was immediate, one of bewildered awe and joy. "She’s more than okay," he replied, then gave a start as he felt an unfamiliar ‘bounce’ against the invisible link his wife had created between them. He was able to identify it as curious a second before the branch he was straddling started to rise up like an elevator and a vine twisted around his waist to lift him up to the heart of the Tree. "Um…I think I’ve been summoned."

Jack’s response was lost in the foliage as he was gently deposited next to Annika. At the sight of her beaming smile, his own smile spread across his face and he shuffled over to her. Wrapped in each other’s arms they let the Tree continue her exploration of their bond. Both could feel her utter delight that their love had created such a tangible connection.

"Amazing doesn’t even begin to cover it, does it?" he murmured, feeling the Tree cocoon them in a bubble of Motherly love.

"Nope." Annika reached out to stroke the sentient Tree’s bark. "I’ve never felt anything like it…I feel like I’ve come home to place I never knew about." She snuggled into his arms. "This has been a magical few days…I wish it didn’t have to end."

"Me either." He held her closer. "But the ‘real world’ unfortunately awaits us."

There was a subtle shifting in the attention of the Tree and they heard the soft voice of Lya from below. At the Tree’s urging they climbed back down to join the others.

"You didn’t think to mention that the Matriarch was a tree and not a person?" Jack asked dryly as the Tree hoisted Lya up into her branches.

The Nox smiled. "Must have slipped my mind." She caressed the ancient bark in greeting. "The Matriarch wanted to learn a little about you before introducing herself."

"Can you give us a bit more detail about how your…er…relationship evolved?" Sam queried.

They were all eager to learn more details, especially Annika and Daniel. What the Tree had shown them was a little on the vague side.

Lya nodded. "Each clan has its own Family Tree within this section of the Forest. This Tree belongs to the Orthalia clan, as we belong to her. The day she was planted was when the first of the clan was conceived. She is a part of us."

"You mean that literally, don’t you?" Daniel didn’t find that knowledge entirely surprising given that the Nox’s physical appearance, namely their hair, looked like vines.

"Yes, part of our genetic makeup comes from her." Lya gave them an apologetic smile. "I do not know how a mammal and flora can be melded together. We just are what we are."

"She showed me so many wonderful images," Annika changed the subject, sensing a slight unease from her cousin regarding her people’s origins. "Some were extremely old."

"Within her, she holds the memory of every Nox born to her. It is customary when a new life is created that they be brought here on the eve of their first night in the world so that the Matriarch can welcome them." She smiled at Annika. "You are a few cycles late in arriving, but she is willing to overlook that."

There was a gentle rustle of the leaves around them. Both Annika and Lya tilted their heads to translate the gentle request of the Matriarch.

"What does she mean?" Annika asked. "She wants to see us in our ‘usual bark’. She doesn’t want us to strip, does she?"

The Tree gave a rustle of amusement that was shared by Lya. "I believe she is referring to your uniforms."

"But doesn’t the military garb reflect the antithesis of what the Nox stand for?" Daniel frowned.

"The Matriarch doesn’t understand what your military is," Lya explained. "Just that those clothes represent what brought you together and that you wear them with such pride."

The team exchanged glances, considering the request.

Jack shrugged. "If we change now, it’ll save us a few minutes in the morning."

They climbed down out of the branches and made quick work of stripping off their casual clothes and swapping them for the olive green BDUs. When they stood before the massive tree, they would later all admit to feeling like it was their first day of school, standing before their parents in their school clothes, seeking approval. A vine tentatively reached out and examined the Earth symbol patches on their arms and the insignia of SG-1 and Air Force patches on the other side. Then she gave a delighted rustle and scooped them back into her branches.

"I will now take my leave." Lya lightly hopped down to the branch that Annika and Daniel had been deposited. "The first night with the Matriarch is usually spent alone for you and her to bond."

"Thank you for a wonderful few days." Annika hugged her cousin close. "You have no idea how much it means to me to be accepted into your family."

"It was my pleasure." Lya hugged her back. "And thank you for accepting us." She swiveled to Daniel, also hugging him. "Welcome to the family." Her doe eyes swept to the others including them all in her statement.

"And welcome to ours," Daniel responded. "We’re an odd bunch, but we fit together."

"That you do," she smiled and the Tree gently lowered her down to the ground. "Our summit starts early in the morning, so I shan’t see you before you leave. Please know that you are all welcome here at any time."

Jack, Sam and Teal’c also expressed their thanks for the mini vacation and for the extended invitation.

Lya gave the Matriarch a final caress then looked up at them. "Send General Hammond my regards, and I wish you safety and peace until we meet again."

Now alone, at the Tree’s urging, the team spent an enjoyable couple of hours simply chatting. The Matriarch seemed to understand all that was said and Annika for the most part was able to pass along any messages or questions she had. It was late into the night when yawns escaped from the humans, and the Tree offered her branches for them to sleep in, somehow twisting her limbs into mattresses of leaves.

Settling in for the night, Sam snuggled into Jack’s willing embrace, caught Annika’s absent expression. "Nervous about tomorrow?"

"No, the Matriarch was wishing us the equivalent of goodnight." Annika replied, wiggling into the crook of Daniel’s arms. "Tomorrow?"

"Meeting the President," the major reminded.

"I had managed to forget about that." Annika tried to stifle a bout of butterflies.

Teal’c didn’t understand the nervousness that the Tau’ri exhibited at the idea of conversing with their leader. "He is but a man." He tested the security of the leafy mattress by giving a slight bounce.

"That’s right, he’s just an ordinary guy," Jack butted in. "He has drop his trousers to sit on the toilet like the rest of us."

Sam gave herself a little shake. "Now there’s a visual image I really didn’t need."

"I didn’t vote for him, " Annika admitted.

"Well, actually, none of us did." Daniel tucked an arm under his head creating a pillow, then made himself comfortable spooning with his wife. "Election day we were off-world."

Annika blinked. "That kinda put things in perspective." The last of her nerves drifted away. She gave Daniel a leisurely kiss goodnight. "Goodnight, everyone. Sweet dreams."

The others responded in kind. A soft rustle of leaves and a gentle caress from the Tree to each of them and the team drifted off to sleep.