Janet hung up the phone and resumed pumping up the blood pressure cuff on Annika’s arm. "General Hammond would like to see you both when you’re finished in here."

The couple exchanged slightly perplexed looks. Had they forgotten something during the debrief?

"Sure." Daniel had also delayed his medical check, though it hadn’t been intentional. He’d become sidetracked by a tablet that SG-12 had found and if Annika hadn’t stuck her head into the office to remind him, he would still probably be there. "How’s Dodger?"

"He’ll be fine. Doctor Kennedy was able to remove the bullet fragments without difficulty." Janet jotted down the readings on the chart. "Dodger was lucky, a centimeter either way and it would have hit bone. He’ll be up on his feet in no time at all."

Annika opened her mouth to speak but the base doctor held up her hand cutting her off. "But no, he won’t be fit enough to attend your house warming."

"Been asked that already, huh?" Daniel caught the exasperated expression on their friend’s face.

Janet rolled her eyes. "By Major Ferretti, Captain Lyndermann, Nyan and Captain Rogers."

"He’s awake?" Annika perked up from the disappointment of Dodger not being able to go to their party.

"No." Janet shook her head ruefully. "He’s still doped up on the anesthesia. But as he was being wheeled into surgery he asked, and was rambling about being a key component to SG-2’s set."

"Did he say what or who they were going as?" Annika asked eagerly.

"Yep."

When the doctor wasn’t more forthcoming, the redhead pressed. "Well, are you going to tell us?"

"Nope. Doctor patient confidentiality," she said seriously.

"Everyone’s being so secretive," Annika pouted.

Daniel playfully nudged his fiancée. "And we’re not?"

"Hey, who’s side are you on?" she huffed, making the others crack up.

A  A  A  A  A  A

After they got the all clear they headed for the elevator. As they rode down, Annika twisted her hands nervously. "Why do I feel like this is a trip to the principal’s office?"

Daniel stilled her fingers with his own. "We haven’t done anything…unusual…that I can recall…have we?" He raised an eyebrow in question at his fiancée. "I mean, no more than we normally do?"

Annika’s shoulders lifted up and down. "Not that I can think of."

Daniel rapped on the general’s door and when he called them in they sat down a little uneasily. For a moment the CO simply studied them across his desk. Just as the couple was beginning to squirm, he spoke.

"While you were off-world Lya and Thor dropped by together. We had a very interesting discussion." Hammond stopped to gauge their reaction. If they had planned this, he would read them the riot act.

The two civilians looked expectantly at him waiting for him to continue. When he didn’t, the archaeologist’s brow creased into a bewildered frown. "Um…how are they?"

"They are both in perfect health."

Silence.

"Is that all you wanted to tell us, sir?" Annika asked hesitantly.

"Have either of you discussed your wedding plans with them?"

The surprise at the non-work related question couldn’t be faked and the general breathed a little easier. Seems like Earth’s allies had concocted this idea all on their own.

"I might have mentioned it to Thor when he dropped by the other week," Annika started slowly.

"And I asked Lya about Nox customs regarding marriage after Annika’s last lesson," Daniel admitted.

"Did we do something wrong, sir? We didn’t offend them in some way, did we?" Her violet eyes were anxious. She considered both aliens to be friends and quite often forgot that Thor was the equivalent of the President and Lya old enough to be her great, great, great grandmother.

"No, you haven’t," Hammond sighed. From their confusion and surprise, he was pretty sure he hadn’t been manipulated, at least not by these two. "Lya and Thor expressed a desire to attend your wedding."

Blue and violet eyes nearly popped out of their heads. "They did?" was said in unison.

"Your description of your upcoming nuptials intrigued them." Hammond tilted his head quizzically. The usually chatty couple had been suspiciously closed mouthed about their plans. Thor and Lya hadn’t revealed any details and Hammond had to admit that he was dying from curiosity.

"Well, what we have planned is a little…" Annika looked to Daniel for help. They had kept their wedding plans a secret from everyone they had invited. And neither wanted to reveal anything until the event itself.

"Unconventional," he supplied. The general was fishing for information and he wasn’t going to spoil their surprise if he could help it.

There was a wry twist to the older man’s lips. "That doesn’t shock me in the least."

"What did you tell them?" Daniel shifted the conversation back to Lya and Thor.

"That I would discuss it with you and the President."

"We’d love to have them as guests." Annika face lit up and Daniel nodded his agreement. "I didn’t think it would be possible."

"It will be a security nightmare," the general confirmed. "If the President agrees to it."

"Well, it’s not unprecedented. Allies attend official functions all the time here on Earth," Daniel started supplying the general with ways to convince the President. "Even some of our so called enemies are invited. Having Lya and Thor at the White House wouldn’t be viable, but most of our guests are SGC personnel. It might be good for diplomatic relations. We have always called on each other’s help when it’s a life or death situation. A social gathering would show that we appreciate them as friends rather than only a tactical advantage."

Annika jumped in. "Um…might the President be more open to the idea if there were the possibility the Nox may be willing to open an exchange of…er…culture, like Daniel tried to do the first time they met?"

Daniel caught her train of thought. "The Nox’s main reason for not working with us as a race, is that they consider us too war-like. Our wedding would give them a different perspective…illustrate that we’re more than a young race hell bent on destroying one another."

"Do you think that likely?" Hammond asked curiously.

"Well…not really," the diplomat admitted. "Lya has been given permission to share their knowledge with certain individuals and only specific details at that." He kept to himself that the little Nox had confided that those ‘individuals’ were only Annika and himself.

"But, sir, there is a remote possibility that it could," Annika pressed. "It was my understanding from reading the mission addendum that every possible avenue be explored to open negotiations with such a technologically advanced species."

Daniel hesitated, reluctantly pointing out, "There is also the reality that if Lya and Thor really want to attend…um…there would be no way for us to stop them."

Hammond grimaced. "I’m well aware of that, Doctor Jackson. It’s the only reason I’m even considering their request." He heaved a deep sigh. "We’ve got four weeks to work out the security issues…" His voice tapered off when the engaged couple darted a glance at each other.

"Uh, sir," the young man looked pained, "…our wedding isn’t in four weeks."

"It’s not on the fifth of March? That’s when you’ve requested leave."

"That’s when we planned to go on our honeymoon," Annika explained.

Hammond eyed the couple. "Just when are you getting married?"

Another quick glance and their expressions turned sheepish.

"In three days."

The general tried not to gape at the redhead. Three days…? If he had hair he was sure it would have turned instantly white. Three days…That time frame rang a bell in his head. He switched his attention to Daniel.

"We didn’t want a lot of fuss." He gave a half-hearted chuckle at the irony. "Our house warming party will actually be the ceremony and reception."

"You’re not kidding, are you?"

Mutely they shook their heads.

"And no one knows that this party of yours is a ruse?"

"No. Not even Jack, Sam and Teal’c. We wanted it to be a surprise."

"Mission accomplished," he groused. "How many non-cleared guests have you invited?"

"Well, there’s the significant others of the SGC personnel and we invited Catherine Langford. There are only a few people not connected to the Stargate in any way. Joyce Salanger our neighbor, Margie Devereaux a family friend of Annika’s, and Cassie’s boyfriend if she happens to be speaking with him," Daniel paused. "There’s also eight catering staff including the two barmen, the DJ and photographer. Oh, and the celebrant."

"That’s all?"

"Our friends are either on base or live interstate or overseas…we didn’t want to…"

"Cause a fuss," Hammond finished. He ran a hand over his smooth crown. "How in God’s name are we going to disguise that two aliens will be in attendance?"

After a few seconds, Annika piped up, "Hide them in plain sight."

Daniel grinned, immediately catching on, but the general raised an eyebrow.

"Sir, what costumes are you and your wife going to wear?"

Hammond was momentarily startled by the question. "Doc Holliday and Annie Oakley…" His eyes widened. "Your ‘house warming’ is also fancy dress."

"Lya if asked, could say she was…um…" Annika searched for a suitable character.

"Mother Nature or a wood sprite," Daniel suggested. "And Thor could be…"

"A Roswell Grey would be too obvious," the redhead mused.

"He’s kind of skinny to be human…"

Hammond sat back and watched the verbal tennis match.

"I don’t think Margie would accept that he’s a malnourished midget…we’ll have to dress him up…"

"What are some short fictional characters…?"

"Mighty Mouse…Speedy Gonzales…"

"Don’t think Thor would like to be a rodent…"

"Hey, what about Yoda?"

"Perfect…we’d have to pad him out, but a mask would disguise his features and help with his voice…"

They turned bright eyes to the general, asking for his opinion of their solution.

He gave slow nod of agreement, though in his head he was picturing the satirical sight of Thor dressed as an alien. "Are you sure you didn’t plan this?" Hammond eyed the psychic suspiciously.

She gave an emphatic shake of her head. "No, I swear I didn’t…at least not consciously."

"I actually came up with the idea," Daniel revealed. "Annika’s first cake design for Jack gave me the idea. Never had a costume party before."

"We thought it would be fun," Annika backed up her fiancé.

Hammond gave a resigned chuckle. "I’ll discuss it with the President and if he’s agreeable I’ll organize the security detail. I’ll need that list of the non-cleared people."

"I’ll call you with it as soon as we get home, sir," Annika promised.

Hammond nodded and the couple rose, the meeting adjourned.

They waited until they were in the privacy of their office before discussing the unexpected additions to their guest list.

"Our wedding is going to be perfect," Annika declared, throwing her arms around his neck.

"That was pretty sneaky of Lya and Thor to approach the general like that." Daniel willingly hugged her back.

"I think those two have a soft spot for our young species."

"Me too. They always seem to be the ones who turn up when we call." The warmth of her against him reminded him that it had been almost a whole working day since he’d enjoyed the pleasures of her body. "Ready to go home?"

She nodded. "More than ready."

Daniel reluctantly released her to pick up the box of artifacts he was taking off base with him. They had been given the next three days to finish up moving the last of Daniel’s belongings and to prepare for their party, but decorating wasn’t one of Daniel’s fortes. Annika had urged him to take some work home, if only so he wouldn’t ‘get in the way’ while she ran about setting everything up.

"Doctor Jackson!" Siler caught them just as they were stepping into the elevator. He blocked the doors from shutting and held out the holo-device they’d just brought back. "All the preliminary tests have been done from our end, so it’s all yours to translate."

"Thanks, Siler." He took the manual and added it to his box of ancient goodies. "We’ll see you at the party."

"For sure," the tech sergeant agreed.

"Hey, what are you going as?" Annika asked curiously.

"You’ll just have to wait and see,’ he teased letting the doors ping shut.

When they arrived home, after indulging themselves with each other’s bodies, they fell into an exhausted sleep, their minds suddenly realizing that they hadn’t slept for over thirty hours. Waking late but fully refreshed, the day was a whirlwind of activity for the happy couple. In between the many trips back and forth from the neighboring house, Annika finished decorating their wedding cake and had prepared a couple of special dishes in consideration of their two unexpected guests. Daniel packed and unpacked boxes while liaising with the general about the security measures being taken to protect Lya and Thor. By mid-afternoon on the second day they had their home fully organized. With Annika’s artistic flair she had managed to incorporate both of their belongings into a tasteful arrangement of furniture and ornaments. Jack, Sam and Teal’c were arriving later, coming over for dinner and staying the night to help set up for the party the next day.

Just as the couple were about to relax in their redecorated home the phone rang.

Daniel answered. After a few seconds of listening he held out the receiver to her with a shrug. "Someone called Dotti."

Delighted by the surprise, she took the call. "Dotti! Where are you calling from? Last I heard you were heading to Vienna with your toy-boy."

From the next couple of minutes of chatter that he heard, Daniel determined that the phone call wasn’t going to end any time soon, so he busied himself in his newly set up study with some of the artifacts he brought back from the base. An hour later he felt two wonderfully warm arms wrap around him. He swiveled his chair around and pulled her onto his lap. "Finished gasbagging?"

"Dotti, can talk underwater I’m sure of it," Annika giggled. "It was good to hear from her again. We email each other, but it must be three or four years since we last spoke."

"How’d you meet?" he asked curiously. He was always eager to learn about Annika’s past.

"On the plane from Australia. I was heading for England to see what that side of the world had to offer." She snuggled into his embrace, loving how his hand lightly traced up and down her arm as they spoke. "We ended up exploring London together before coming back home. She had an apartment in New York and I stayed with her for a bit while she was redecorating. Dotti’s…um…artistically inept and wanted advice on color schemes."

"She just rang to catch up?" He loved moments like these. Cuddled up together just talking.

"Not quite," she grimaced. "Dotti’s like a flighty super-nova, once she gets an idea into her head then there’s no stopping her. Her latest obsession is running charity events. She’s doing them all over the country and right now she has organized an art exhibition in town where the proceeds go to a children’s charity."

"She wants you to do something for it?" It wouldn’t surprise him. He’d seen the sketches that she’d drawn for her cakes, not to mention the couple of stone sculptures she had lying around the house. And then there were the dozen or so phone calls she was still receiving every week with people clamoring for one of her sugar creations.

"Apparently I’ve already done something for it. She’s auctioning off a piece of sculpture I did for her apartment. She wanted my permission to sell it. Plus she’s invited me to the exhibit."

"Sounds like fun." It had been years since he’d been to an actual exhibition. He enjoyed them, but since discovering the Stargate he hadn’t had much free time. "When is it?"

"Tonight."

"Tonight? Doesn’t give much warning, does she?"

"Did I mention that she’s a bit flighty?" Annika laughed. "Do you think Jack, Sam and Teal’c would want to go?"

"We’ll ask them when they get here." He kissed the top of her head. "Now, do you realize this will be the last night we will be living in sin?" His fingers lightly trailing the hem of her shirt, sought the soft skin beneath.

"Then I guess that calls for a wickedly fun night of sinful activities," she murmured, her lips placing gentle kisses along his neck. The wonderful fire that erupted from his very touch made her sigh blissfully against his jaw line.

Their hungry mouths met and for a few minutes they lost themselves in a world that was their own…until the maddening ring of the doorbell interrupted them. Reluctantly they drew apart and went to greet their friends.

A  A  A  A  A  A

"So Teal’c, what do you think of your first art exhibition?"

"It is most interesting, Annika Murdoch." The Jaffa cocked his head to study a metal sculpture that resembled nothing he could identify. "However certain pieces are difficult to understand."

"That’s the beauty of art," she grinned. "It only has to make sense to the artist."

"Have you noticed that you and Daniel are getting quite a few interesting looks?" Sam whispered.

"Hmmmm?" the red head asked absently, she was studying a painting of what could have been a pair of lovers. "No, not really."

The archaeologist pushed his glasses up with a touch of self-consciousness. "Thank god you’ve noticed it too. I was beginning to feel paranoid."

A woman with a predatory gleam focused on Daniel. Her gaze traveled from his face and down his body, like she was undressing him with her eyes. He casually stepped behind a large sculpture to move out of her range. He saw a man study Annika in a similar fashion. She was totally oblivious to the look. What is going on?

Before he could ask, Jack cleared his throat. "Ah…Annika? Where exactly is your piece?" The colonel had also seen the stares.

"I don’t know. Up the back I guess."

"Why don’t we track it down?" he suggested, popping a morsel of food into his mouth from a tray-laden waiter.

"Okay."

"What is it of exactly?" Jack kept his voice neutral but from the double takes his two civilian teammates were getting he had an inkling of what it was.

"Dotti said she wanted a heavenly expression of love for her bedroom." Annika was leading the way through the crowd. "She had redecorated with the theme of angels and cupids, so I…" her voice tapered off only now seeing the glances from the other guests. "What’s going on?" she hissed.

The others shrugged their own bewilderment.

A group of people had gathered around a sculpture displayed on a pedestal. When the five friends managed to sneak a peek at what was captivating their attention, all of their jaws dropped open.

"I believe I know the reason for the unusual stares from the patrons," Teal’c announced.

"Ya’ think?" Jack smirked.

"Holy shit!" Annika gasped, her face burning up. "How in hell is that possible? I made that years before we met."

Daniel’s own flush was making its way up his face. "Well, you do have premonitions."

Sam was studying the piece, unsuccessfully trying to hold back a grin. "Your attention to detail is amazing. You’ve even put in Daniel’s scars."

"Indeed," Teal’c agreed. "And the representation of Annika Murdoch has the star marked on her forehead."

The sculpture in question was of a naked man sitting, his legs tucked beneath him. A woman with a pair of majestic feathery wings, also naked, had her legs wrapped around his waist. Their positioning made it clear that they were in the middle of mind-blowing sex. The faces were very obviously Daniel and Annika.

"Daniel, I’m so sorry." She buried her face in his shirt. "I honestly do not remember sculpting my face, let alone your face, I didn’t even know you existed…"

He tilted her head up. "Annika, it’s okay, really." Gentle lips brushed hers. "Just a little surprising," he paused. "But it does prove one thing."

"What?"

"That we were destined to be together."

Despite her mortification Annika smiled. "Certainly looks that way."

"And I told you, you were an angel. My Angel." His voice became husky and Annika felt a rush of desire through their bond.

Daniel’s mouth descended on hers and for a moment she forgot everything except the glorious taste of him.

"Annika, darling, keep that up and I may just have to raise the reserve price."

Reluctantly they broke apart at the loud voice that erupted from behind them.

"Dotti." Annika smiled at the spaghetti thin woman who’d started off as a fellow passenger and ended up a friend. "I’d like you to meet my friends." She introduced the others.

The vivacious woman shook their hands and then air kissed Annika. She eyed Daniel. "Darling, you never mentioned you used a deliciously scrumptious model."

The archaeologist willed his face not to turn red again.

"An artist never reveals all her secrets," Annika grinned.

"Grand Prize?" Sam queried.

"This exhibition is also a competition," Annika explained. "The guests get to vote on which piece they think best captures the theme of the evening."

"Which is what?"

"‘Expressions of Love’, darling," Dotti exclaimed then turned to Annika. "I know you didn’t want it publicly displayed, but as soon as I worked out this year’s theme I just had to add your little creation, and it’s for such a good cause. Please say you’re not mad at me."

Annika’s lips twisted into a rueful grin. "It’s a bit late to be worrying about that, isn’t it?"

"I knew you’d understand."

"Annika Murdoch, do you know that woman?" Teal’c interrupted them.

"Which woman?" She twisted in Daniel’s arms to see who the Jaffa was talking about.

"She is standing to the right of the picture of a crude depiction of male genitalia." A slight frown creased his forehead. "I do not like the way she is observing you."

Daniel knew the moment Annika recognized the dark haired woman. Her light heartedness died instantly, to be replaced by the bizarre mix of anger, pain and love. "Annika, who is she?" He didn’t like the sudden tension coursing through her body, or the way the blood drained from her face.

Annika didn’t answer, but she reflexively leant back into him, needing the strength of his support.

The others watched warily as the middle-aged woman approached. To Daniel she looked vaguely familiar. She stopped a few feet away, her eyes locked on Annika.

Neither woman spoke.

Jack shifted uncomfortably. "Shall I make the introductions?"

"No." The psychic’s voice was taut. "She doesn’t care who you are."

"You’re looking well." The words were polite, however, the tone she used was downright nasty.

"Don’t start with the false pleasantries. I ‘see’ right through them," she replied coolly.

The woman glared at her. "That is a vulgar display of sex."

Daniel waited for one of the smartass comments that normally shot from Annika’s mouth, but there was only silence. "On the contrary," he stepped in. "It’s a pure representation of our love."

"Don’t bother trying to explain. She’s only trying to bait you," Annika sighed. "Bait me."

"It’s an abomination of a holy symbol."

"Still trying to make me feel guilty?"

"It’s a disgrace to put your sex life on display."

"You’re entitled to your opinion," Annika shrugged. "Thankfully I stopped worrying a long time ago about what you think."

Though her voice was cold, Daniel felt how untrue her words were. The urge to defend the woman in his arms kicked in. This woman, whoever she was, was intent on embarrassing Annika. "How my wife and I choose to express our love life is not your concern."

"Wife?" The woman’s eyes widened.

Daniel saw a flash of hurt in her eyes and something clicked in his head. He realized where he’d seen her before She was from one of Annika’s visions. "Yes. Wife." He lifted Annika’s left hand with his own, displaying the amethyst and sapphire rings. "And if you’d bothered to open the Christmas card that Annika sent, you’d know that." He’d seen the scrunched envelope marked ‘return to sender’ a couple of days before New Year. Annika had attempted to reconcile with the woman after she’d received the letter from her dad.

He felt a jolt through their bond and Annika gave his hand a squeeze. She knew that he recognized who the woman was. There was a tickle of relief and then a spark of that fire he loved so much.

Annika’s mouth tilted up into a smirk. "We had a wonderful time deciding which position to use. Very hands on, if you know what I mean."

Jack added his own two cents. "If you don’t like sex, lady, I’d say you were at the wrong exhibition."

"I’m surprised you showed up." The woman ignored the others. "Your ‘sight’ fail you again?"

"I am not going to have this argument again." She turned to Daniel. "Let’s go."

"Darling, no, you can’t leave," Dotti protested. "We’ll have this person, whomever she is, escorted out."

"Don’t bother." The woman flapped her hand. "I’m leaving."

The group of friends watched her stalk away.

Everyone except Daniel looked at Annika quizzically and she sighed. "And there she goes. So, how did you enjoy meeting my mother?"

"That was your mom?" Sam asked incredulously. "What a…er…"

Annika gave a rueful grin. "You can say it. Bitch is the first thing that comes to my mind."

"Hypocrite is another," Daniel murmured, in her ear. Only he knew what had caused the rift between Annika’s family.

Annika couldn’t help a sad sigh at the angry pulsing aura encasing the retreating woman. "She’s so bitterly unhappy." Despite her own unresolved feelings, it pained her to see the misery surrounding her mother.

"That is something you cannot alter, Annika Murdoch. The quest for happiness begins with oneself."

She gave the Jaffa a grateful smile, shaking off the negative feelings her mother had forced to the surface. Unlike her mother, she had moved on from the death of her dad and her life was now better than she had ever dared to imagine.

"That’s right," Jack agreed. "Now my happy quest starts with me finding that waiter with those pastry thing-ummys."

They spent the next hour or so examining the numerous exhibits of art. At one point while Jack and Sam were trying to explain an abstract piece to Teal’c, Daniel sensed a pensive, yet happy, shift in Annika’s mood. He glanced over his shoulder to see her standing to one side, silently watching them, an odd expression on her face.

"Everything alright?" he asked, draping an arm around her. She’d been unusually quiet since the confrontation with her mother.

Annika nodded taking a sip of her wine. "I was just thinking about a saying I read somewhere. Friends are the family you choose for yourself."

"You picked an odd bunch," he observed with a grin.

The three military people were currently tilting their heads sideways in a vain attempt to work out what they were looking at. Jack had almost bent into a right angle to get a better view.

"Nope, Sam, it’s definitely an arm."

She wrapped an arm around his waist. "Yep, and I wouldn’t have it any other way."

"I’ve got nuthin'...where are our art experts?" The colonel beckoned them over.

With identical grins the couple stepped up to educate their artistically challenged family.

"Add a third person into your equation," Daniel supplied helpfully.

"And a fourth," Annika added.

Three heads tilted in the opposite direction. "Ohhhh."