They all took advantage of the day off by sleeping till well past sun up. After lunch the party hire firm specializing in themed functions, delivered the tables, chairs, tableware and false floor, ready to transform the couple's backyard and one side of the grass lawn alongside the house into a festive arena. The square panels that clicked together making an even, stable floor, were designed to look like large stone pavers. Under the supervision of the women, five solid tables of planked wood with simply carved legs were arranged into a U shape, leaving the center clear. Long benches were placed on both sides of the tables, except for the head table where five elaborately carved high backed chairs were tucked beneath the outer side. While the men strategically placed iron braziers that would be lit to ward off the nighttime chill, Sam set up candelabra and pewter goblets and tankards on the tables. Annika took charge of the centerpieces, arranging a mix of wild flowers and fruit in various shaped ornamental bowls of buffed bronze, matching the candelabra. Long sheaths of blue, violet and ivory chiffon were draped over the inner edge of the main table. More chiffon was twisted and hung on carefully erected poles along the fence line creating shimmering curtained walls. As the finishing touch there were half a dozen suits of armor. Two of the tarnished silver knights were lined up behind the head table. The remaining two pairs were standing to attention at either end of the side walkway to greet their guests

"You guys have certainly gone all out for this." Sam admired the engraved pewter plates she was unpacking. "Seems more like a wedding."

Annika put on her best innocent face then gazed around the Arthurian banquet hall they’d created. "I suppose it does. But we wanted to keep in theme with the invitations. Presentation is everything, and plastic cups and paper plates just wouldn’t create the right atmosphere."

"I guess not," the blonde agreed though she sounded doubtful. Knowing how Annika was a perfectionist when came to such things, the explanation was logical. And yet… Her eyes swept the formal set up, coming to rest on the table decorations. The flowers were not local, let alone in season, nor was the perfectly shined fruit. A lot of expense had gone into this supposedly casual house warming affair…

Before the major could probe any further, Daniel interrupted them. "Annika, remember Joyce wanted us to drop by for a few minutes."

Annika nodded, arranging the last of the flatware. "That’s right. Almost forgot." She gave a dramatic eye roll. "The old dear can’t decide on Cruella De Vil or the Wicked Witch of the West." She ignored the narrowing of her friend’s eyes. "We can go now if you’ve finished up with the braziers."

Also studiously ignoring the covert glances from Jack and Teal’c, Daniel emptied the last of the heat beads into the metal cages. "Ready when you are."

The couple linked hands and smiled brightly at their friends who were wearing slightly perplexed expressions.

"Back in a few minutes." Annika waved, before they ducked around the side of the house.

Halfway down the street, she whispered, "Do you think they bought it?"

"Nope, not a bar of it," Daniel chuckled. "They’ve known for weeks that we’ve something planned for tonight. Right now, I can just picture them putting their heads together and hashing out the little hints we’ve given." He activated the mini radio tucked into his ear. "Hey, guys, how are you doing?"

Eight voices radioed in. Hidden in strategic positions around Daniel and Annika’s house, the men were part of the security detail Hammond had organized. At the first sign of trouble the warriors had orders to move in. There was another team stationed less than a block away should they be needed. The general had requested the SGC’s resident psychic carry out her own sweep of the area, hence their contrived departure.

"All’s good from the security group." He tucked his arm closer around Annika’s waist. "Do your thing, My Angel."

Annika took a few deep breaths and opened herself to the surrounding houses. Very gently she searched the minds of the residents, looking for any sign of deception. With Daniel guiding her around the block she searched the homes of their neighbors, expanding her radius to include houses three rows away.

"Um…Annika?" Daniel whispered into her hair.

"Hmmm?"

"The security team has asked that you not look at them. No one is supposed to know that they are there." There was a trace of amusement in his tone.

"Sorry," she grimaced. "But they are lighting up like beacons." She steadfastly kept her eyes lowered to finish her search. "Haven’t picked up any evil agendas, unless you count the little girl two doors over terrorizing her brother."

The security team acknowledged the conclusion of the psychic search and signed off. Daniel slipped the device from his ear and tucked it in his pocket. Arm in arm the couple headed back to their home to finish up the last of the preparations.

A  A  A  A  A  A

Jack’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Those two are up to something."

Teal’c nodded. "I concur."

They snuck a peek at their friends casually walking down the street, each with an arm draped around the other. To the untrained eye Daniel’s hand gave his ear a scratch. To the ex-special ops man it looked like he was checking an earpiece.

"Any idea who these mystery guests are that Daniel’s picking up later?" Sam asked, dodging around the puppies that were having a whale of a time examining the transformation of their territory.

Both of them shook their heads.

"Daniel Jackson and Annika Murdoch have been surprisingly uncommunicative regarding tonight’s festivities."

"They have also clammed up about their wedding plans," the colonel noted absently as he scanned the street. "Whoever these guests are, they have a spec ops team at the ready."

The major and Jaffa scouted the street. If one knew where to look, the positions of the hidden men could be made.

"Sam, you mentioned something about the arrangement of the tables."

The major nodded. "I said it looks more like a wedding than a casual party."

"And Annika’s reply?"

She thought back to get the exact wording. "I suppose it does."

"Daniel Jackson made a point yesterday to ask about the progress of O’Neill’s best man speech." Teal’c was also forming his own suspicions.

"Sam, did you manage to sneak their present from us into your car?" Jack asked.

She nodded. "When I said I was going to the bathroom."

"Good. Because I’d bet dollars to donuts they’re getting hitched tonight."

Sam and Teal’c agreed.

After a moment Sam burst out laughing. "Only those two could come up with a fancy dress, house warming, wedding."

Teal’c’s lips twitched. "They did mention their nuptials would be unconventional."

When Daniel and Annika returned it was to find Jack, Sam and Teal’c standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the main table.

"What’s up?" Daniel asked uneasily, taking in their serious expressions.

"Something happen on base?" Annika was immediately concerned.

Jack paused before speaking. "I’m very disappointed in the both of you."

Two pairs of eyes widened in shock.

The colonel turned to Sam. "Carter, you know, I believe it’s time for me to step down as the leader of SG-1."

"I understand, sir," the major nodded. "Given the circumstances…"

"What circumstances?" Annika could barely squeak out the words from the sudden constriction of her throat.

"I have failed in teaching certain members of my team a vital tactic that is required for working in a top secret facility."

Daniel and Annika were gaping at their friends. What was going on?

"Have we entered an alternate reality?" Daniel half joked, thoroughly confused.

"Are you kidding?" Annika frowned, searching their faces for any signs of cheek twitching but found none.

"I agree, O’Neill." Teal’c nodded solemnly. "It is difficult to acknowledge that you have been unsuccessful as the primary educator in basic military strategy."

"What are you talking about?" Daniel demanded, his heart beginning to pound.

"What haven’t we learned?" The psychic’s eyes were slightly panicked.

Jack was completely serious when he said, "I thought that you," he pointed to Daniel, "after eight years and being a linguist and all, and you," he thumbed at Annika, "with your creative mind…" he paused for dramatic effect. "Would have learned the art of concocting a believable cover story."

Blue and violet eyes blinked.

"I mean, come on!" He gestured with both hands for emphasis. "Checking your neighbor’s costume? Puh-lease!"

The engaged couple finally caught on and the rest of SG-1 finally gave in to the laughter they were barely managing to contain.

"You finally guessed!" Annika exclaimed her face lighting up with delight while her heart stopped thumping against her chest. "That was a dirty trick."

"That’s what you get, for trying to keep secrets from us." The colonel wagged a finger at them. "Congrats by the way."

"It took you long enough," Daniel chuckled. "We dropped enough hints."

"Well, we’ve got a surprise of our own," Jack smirked. "By chance we just happen to have your wedding present here."

The three of them stepped away from the table to reveal a cloth covered item. With a flurry Jack whisked off the sheeting. "Ta-da!"

The couple’s faces lit up when they saw Annika’s angel sculpture from the exhibit.

"Thank you!" Annika encompassed the three friends into a tight bear hug. "It’s the perfect gift."

"We figured you’d prefer to have it in your home rather than some stranger's," Sam explained.

"You got that right." Daniel hugged Sam when Annika released her embrace and shook Jack and Teal’c’s hands. "Thank you."

The statue was carefully relocated to their bedroom and after a celebratory pre-wedding drink, it was time to get ready. Annika and Sam showered first, claiming they had a lot more prep work than the men. The caterers and DJ arrived together just as Annika was toweling dry. Temporarily dressed in a bathrobe she relinquished her bathroom spot to Daniel, who’d been given next priority since he had to collect Lya and Thor. She hurried down the stairs to help with the set up in the kitchen, only to be shooed away by Teal’c. He claimed he needed only a few minutes to don his costume, thus he could supervise the food arrangement. Jack gave the DJ a hand while waiting for Sam to finish up in the downstairs bathroom.

Annika returned upstairs but instead of entering the bedroom, she called through the door, "Daniel, can you hand my costume to me please?"

"Sure. Hang on a sec." His voice was muffled by the shirt he was stripping off over his head. Without looking, he reached for the hanger behind him holding the cream dress with the amethyst robe trimmed in gold and embroidered symbols. When he felt a piece of lace beneath in his hand he paused. He didn’t recall lace being part of her outfit. He fingered the delicate material and his breath caught. Damn… Annika had loaded the hanger with every part of her costume, right down to her underwear and stockings. The lacy scrap in his hands was a thong that matched the half-cup bra and suspender belt looped over the hook.

"Daniel? You fall asleep in there?" She sounded amused.

Asleep? Far from it! The sight of the additions had awakened one particular part of his anatomy…especially when he envisioned how the intimate apparel would look on his brand new wife. She’d planned this. The tone of her voice told him that. He had thought it odd that she had closed the bedroom door when she left a couple of minutes ago. Annika wanted him to know precisely what was waiting for him beneath the soft material of her dress. He’d be in a permanent state of arousal the entire night! He opened the door to see her cheekily leaning on the hall wall. "You are one wicked lady."

"I don’t know what you mean," she replied innocently. "It was just easier to have everything together. More practical."

"Practical. Of course," he agreed sagely, all the while thinking how glad he was that he would be wearing a robe that flowed around his body. It would hide what her ‘practicality’ had caused. Two could play at that game. He let his fingers caress the thong, running his index finger over the lacy edge. "I can’t wait to feel this against your skin…you know how I love to trace the outline of these sort of things before exploring the treasures they hold."

He smirked at the immediate lust that darkened her eyes.

Annika took the offered clothing and couldn’t resist capturing his lips with her own. She had intended to quench some of the fire that was beginning to rage through her, but the warmth and need from his response only fuelled it. They raggedly separated when the sound of the DJ testing the speakers reminded them they didn’t have the time to indulge their basic desire.

Using the spare room as a dressing room, Annika put on the delicate lingerie and dress and then began applying her make up. After a few minutes Sam joined her. She paused in her application of foundation, grinning at her friend. "Let me guess, Jack is the fisherman who caught you."

"Yep," the blonde smiled back. "I even have a hook here somewhere." Sam patted down the tail of her mermaid outfit to find the three inch plastic hook threaded through a fin. The ‘tail’ was made of a glittery aqua green and blue material with a split up the back so she could walk, and the cups of her bikini top were shaped into clam shells. A single pendant of a three inch banded tulip shell hung around her neck, with matching smaller earrings.

Sam produced a long blonde wavy hairpiece and Annika scooted over to share the mirror. Attaching the wig with bobby pins and two side combs with seashells to disguise the join, Sam started to apply her own makeup.

"Aren’t you the slightest bit nervous?" she asked brushing on green glitter eye shadow.

"Of marrying Daniel? No." Annika twisted the top off the mascara. "Of forgetting my vows? Yes."

"I suppose with the bond you two share, you know with certainty how you both feel." Though the words were light hearted, there was an underlying insecurity.

"It does." The bride-to-be rifled through her cosmetic case and passed over a shimmering body-powder to dust over Sam’s shoulders to give a mystical effect. "But I don’t need our bond to know Daniel loves me. I see it whenever he looks at me, in all the little things he does for me."

Sam was silent, the jar of powder clutched in her hand.

"Don’t tell me you’re having doubts about Jack."

"Sometimes," she confessed. "He’s not very…talkative…when it comes to emotions."

"Sam, anyone can see that he’s head over heels in love with you, has been for years from what I understand."

"But he doesn’t say it, at least not where anyone else can hear," Sam sighed. "I hear Daniel say he loves you almost every day…"

"You can’t compare Jack with Daniel," Annika protested. "Daniel’s Daniel, and Jack’s Jack. They’re like chalk and cheese. Jack’s an action man, not a linguist."

"I know but…"

Annika cut her off. "Who brings you breakfast in bed every chance he gets?"

"Jack," Sam admitted.

"Who sneaks in the extra packets of peanut M & Ms into the ration packs because he knows you like them?"

"That’s Jack?"

"Well, it isn’t General Hammond," she teased. Annika had another example to offer up, but she hesitated. Ever since she had discovered her psychic ability, she had devised a personal set of guidelines she'd nicknamed ‘Rules of Visionary Discretion’. Looking at her friend she made the executive decision that this ‘secret’ needed to be told. "And who was on the point of retiring before Christmas because he’d rather give up going through the Stargate than not be with you?"

Blue eyes widened. "He was?"

Annika nodded. "Why do you think I was so desperate to find a loophole for you two to be together?"

"Jack told you?" Sam’s voice was small.

"No." The psychic tapped her head indicating a vision. "He handed me a towel that last day in Mooloolaba. He was considering it even then."

"I didn’t know that." Sam’s eyes welled. Everyone knew that despite Jack’s eternal grumbling of being too old for active duty, he loved his job with a passion. The Stargate had drawn him back into the world of the living after Charlie had died, stopped the suicidal thoughts he’d almost surrendered to. It was true that Daniel, and later on the rest of SG-1, had played a big part in that, but going off-world was now in Jack’s blood. That he would even consider giving it up for her was humbling, and was a bigger testament of his love than those three little words, no matter how much she wanted to hear them more often.

"No one did," Annika said quietly. "He didn’t tell anyone, not even Daniel."

"Thank you," she sniffed.

Annika handed her a tissue, then hugged her friend who returned the embrace tightly.

"Hey, what’s with chicks and weddings that starts the waterworks?" Jack drawled from the doorway, though his brown eyes were concerned. He’d been on his way to discuss a dilemma with his best friend and had heard the rare yet distinctive weepy sniff from his lover. He was startled when Sam sprang to her feet and nearly busted his ribs with a bear hug. She planted a deep, toe curling kiss to his lips, which did nothing to allay his suddenly confused mind, but certainly stimulated another part of his body.

"I love you, you closed-mouthed colonel," she said softly. Jack’s arms automatically wrapped around her and looking into his chocolate depths, Sam saw what everyone else saw, what deep in her heart she had known for years. She didn’t need the words. Annika was right, actions spoke louder than words, at least where Jack was concerned.

"Closed-mouthed?" His mouth quirked into a mischievous smile and he whispered, "Your tongue just kinda opened that."

Sam gave a delightful chuckle before coaxing his lips open again.

As much as he wanted to pursue this lovely sidetrack, they were all on a schedule and he really needed to talk to Daniel before he left for the base. With great effort he released the woman in his arms. "Gotta do the best man checking on the groom thing. Make sure shoes are on the right feet, clothes not inside out."

Annika chuckled. "His costume is fool proof."

"You’ve never seen a man on his wedding day," he contradicted. "And Daniel is off with the fairies at the best of times." Jack smiled at Sam before striding down the hall. He had the nagging suspicion that he had forgotten something. He recapped the last puzzling minute or so. Sam teary, then lightning bolt switch to happy and planting a kiss that knocked his socks off, the comment about being closed mouthed, his quip back, another few kisses…Ah! He backtracked and poked his head around the door jam. "Hey, Sam!"

The blonde swiveled from her resumed place in front of the mirror to look at him.

"Love ya’ too, honey."

Before ducking back into the hall, he saw Sam’s eyes once again become suspiciously moist and Annika’s murmur, "I heard that one." And the colonel was once again back to being confused. He couldn’t work out women on a normal day, but add a wedding into the mix and he was even more clueless than usual. Still mulling over life’s little mysteries he found Daniel in front of the bathroom mirror, trying very hard to shave without needing a paramedic on standby.

"Bit shaky there?"

Daniel glared at the razor that was annoyingly trembling in his hand, then threw down the implement in disgust. "I don’t remember being like this last time."

Jack flipped the toilet seat down and firmly grabbed Daniel’s shoulders making him sit down. "As I recall Sha’re was pushed into the room with a ‘Here take my daughter’." He picked up the razor and carefully began shaving his jittery friend.

"There’s something to be said for tribal customs," the anthropologist groused, thankful that Jack had taken over the procedure. At the rate he was going he’d end up with a beard of blood stained tissue to go with his sorcerer’s costume.

"Don’t think Casper would like that though."

Both men shared a grin at how Annika would react to being offered up as a sacrificial wife.

"You worried about being married again?" Jack asked, being careful to not nick the man’s chin. He knew that one of the reasons Daniel had shied away from any form of romance since Sha’re was the fear that history would repeat itself.

"No." Daniel’s response was immediate. "I can’t wait for the moment when I can introduce her to people as my wife."

"So what then?"

He sighed. "I guess…I’m just scared that this all isn’t real, that the last few months have been a wonderful dream and I’m going to wake up in my bed tomorrow next door, alone."

Jack removed the last of the stubble and handed Daniel a hand towel to wipe off the excess foam. Then he gave his friend a sharp kick in the shin.

"Ow!" Daniel automatically kicked him back. "What was that for?"

"Proving that you’re awake," Jack smirked. "Consider it one of my best man duties."

The groom grimaced, rubbing his leg. "Maybe I should make Teal’c my best man."

"Teal’c would have kicked you harder, plus he’s got his Vadar boots on."

"Good point." He splashed on some aftershave.

"Ah, Danny," Jack cleared his throat. "Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when we had that hypothetical discussion about scallop shells and what surprises they could hold?"

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Yes."

"I…um…had planned on doing that tonight, until we figured out this party was gonna be your wedding."

Pulling on the soft cream under-robe, Daniel adjusted his glasses back on his nose. "Had?"

The colonel shifted uncomfortably. "Well, this is your special day…er…night, whatever, I don’t want to intrude on your jamboree."

"Jack, if you want to do it tonight, you have my blessing,’ Daniel assured him.

"Casper won’t mind?" There had been a distinct role reversal. The groom’s nerves had been transferred to the best man.

"She’ll be over the moon," he promised, giving his friend’s shoulder a squeeze. He cinched a gold cord around his waist and drew on a teal blue cloak with the same trim as Annika’s and the ‘magical’ symbols embroidered on it, then stood back from the mirror. "So, how do we look?"

Jack stood by his side and the men surveyed their appearance.

Daniel dressed as a sorcerer, and Jack as a fisherman, complete with moleskin waders, fishing vest and cap decorated with the traditional fishing lures and hooks.

"Like the oddest damned half of a bridal party I’ve ever seen."

Chuckling, the friends headed downstairs to check on the final preparations. Realizing the time, Daniel grabbed his car keys and set off to collect the two guests who by far could claim they had traveled the farthest to attend the wedding of Miss Annika Murdoch and Doctor Daniel Jackson.

A  A  A  A  A  A

The guards on base grinned at Daniel’s state of dress as he approached the checkpoint.

"Forget something, Doctor Jackson?"

"Nope. Picking up some guests."

The first guard scanned the list in front of him. Next to the archaeologist’s name was ‘+2’. "We’ll see you soon then." He waved him through.

Daniel hurried down to his office. He was just pulling out Thor’s costume when the telltale bright light flashed and the little alien appeared.

"Greetings, Doctor Jackson."

"Hello, Thor." Daniel shook out the tunic.

"Is that the attire I am to wear?" Big black eyes blinked in curiosity.

"Yep, and Thor, since you’re a friend and coming to my wedding, you can call me Daniel. No title is necessary."

The Asgard nodded. "Which fictional character am I to portray?" Tapered fingers examined the mask.

"His name is Yoda, from a classic science fiction movie series. He’s the wise leader of the Jedi Knights, who are a group of warriors that use the Force…uh…mind power.

The alien considered the description. "You mean as Annika does?"

The comparison made Daniel start. "I’ve never looked at Annika’s abilities like that before, but yes." He held up a plastic light saber. "Except they use this too. Teal’c is going as your arch enemy Darth Vader…which now that I think about it, is kind of ironic."

Thor was studying the bits and pieces with a perplexed frown.

"Uh…would you like some help putting it on?"

He gave a slight nod. "The notion of clothing is not something I am familiar with. Tell me Doct…Daniel," he corrected, "are chocolate truffles traditionally part of Tau’ri nuptial cuisine?"

Though muffled by the brown tunic being pulled over his head, Daniel heard the hope in his voice. "Not traditionally. But Annika added them to the menu when we found out you wanted to come. We also made sure there are some vegetarian dishes for Lya."

"That is greatly appreciated, Daniel."

He turned at the soft melodious voice to see the Nox woman in the doorway.

"Congratulations on your love commitment ceremony."

"Thank you, Lya." He glanced down at the woman’s dress. Instead of the usual mauve garb he’d always seen her in, the trim of layered hems were lined in silver and the material shimmered as she moved, from pale green to blue.

The Nox followed his gaze. "It is a special occasion, is it not?"

"You look perfect. In case anyone asks, you’re Mother Nature."

She small smile touched her lips. "An appropriate mythical figure of your planet."

Daniel caught the odd phrasing. "Appropriate…"

Doe eyes blinked serenely back at him.

"One of the Nox was Mother Nature? The real Mother Nature?" His voice was incredulous.

"This knowledge surprises you, Daniel?" Thor was battling with one of the prosthetic hands of Yoda.

"Well, yes, to tell the truth."

"But you know that the Asgard and the Goa’uld impersonate gods," Thor pointed out.

"But Mother Nature is different from a god. She was benevolent, only interested in making things grow, cherishing life…" His voice drifted off as he realized that he was describing the Nox way of life. "She’s like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny…" he groaned. "Don’t tell me the Easter Bunny is a Furling."

The two aliens shared a smile.

"No, as far as I know the Easter Bunny is not a Furling," Lya assured him.

"So how did a Nox end up on Earth?" Daniel helped Thor on with the other glove. "More importantly, why?"

"We have been watching your planet for many eons. Naturra was one of the first to see the potential of the Tau’ri becoming the fifth race," Lya explained. "Though she knew you as a species had a lot to learn, there was one man who embraced the way of the Nox. Naturra fell in love with him and chose to remain on Earth. They shared a long and fruitful life together."

Daniel let the concept sink in. His mind got stuck on the word 'fruitful'. "You mean they had children."

Lya nodded. "Yes. Even today there are some of your species who carry certain genes from that union."

Daniel recognized that pregnant pause again. The Nox was trying to guide him to something that had to be worked out on his own. Blue eyes blinked, then widened. "Are you saying that Annika is one of Naturra’s descendants?"

The Nox nodded. "I had wondered at the possibility from the first time Annika visited my dreams. The ease in which she developed the ability to hide solid objects from sight confirmed it. It is a specific Nox trait."

"Is that why you’ve been helping Annika with her training?"

"In part," she confirmed. "However even if she were not genetically linked to the Nox I still would have tutored her. Such power could not go unchecked." Lya hesitated. "Naturra was also the matriarch of my kin, many generations ago."

"So Annika’s family." Daniel wasn’t surprised by this curve ball. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Annika was part Nox. It went a long way to explaining her mental abilities.

Another nod. "And as family, the elders would like to invite her to visit our world. I believe you have a custom called a honeymoon?"

Daniel thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head. "I’m invited as well?"

"The presence of both of you is required for the honeymoon to be a honeymoon, if I understand the custom correctly."

This time it was Daniel’s turn to nod, trying to keep a lid on the excitement that coursed through him. "Usually."

"Do you think Annika will find this knowledge appealing?" There was a trace of doubt in the Nox’s voice.

"Lya, I know she will be overjoyed." Daniel laid her concerns to rest. Considering how her Earth family had treated her, Annika would be ecstatic to find that she was related to the Nox, to someone who understood her gift, probably more so then the psychic did herself.

He helped Thor on with the mask. "Can you see alright?"

"Perfectly, Daniel." The alien’s head bobbed up and down.

The three of them headed for the elevator.

"Daniel," Lya started. "We would prefer that the true nature of Annika’s heritage remains hidden. I would not expect you to keep this from your teammates and General Hammond, but if it could remain unofficial…"

"Say no more, Lya," Daniel interrupted. "We won’t breath a word of it. Certain people already want to get their hands on Annika as it is because of her abilities. Announcing that she is part Nox would make not only her more of a target, but any other people who are psychic as well."

When they emerged from the underground base, Daniel guided the two aliens towards the black SUV the base had provided for the trip.

They looked a little disappointed to see the vehicle with the dark tinted windows.

"Something wrong?"

It was Thor who spoke. "We had hoped to be transported in your automobile...the ‘jeep’," the Asgard sounded out the unfamiliar term slowly.

"You know I have a jeep?" Daniel was surprised that they knew about Earth’s models of cars.

"Annika told us. She described driving with the ‘top down’ as an exhilarating experience."

Daniel hesitated. The SUV had been chosen for security purposes to protect the allies. Two sets of hopeful eyes stared back at him and he shrugged. This was officially a diplomatic affair, and what the two aliens wanted, the two aliens got. "Okay." He led them to the open topped car. As he was helping Thor into the back seat, his cell phone rang. Daniel knew without looking that it would be the security detail assigned to follow the trio. Before he could even say ‘hello’, the black ops commander spoke.

"What are you doing, Doctor Jackson?"

"Our guests would like to ride in my jeep." Daniel kept his voice light.

"That is not part of the arrangement. Your vehicle is a huge security risk."

Daniel knew he was referring to the exposed nature of his car rather than anything mechanical. "True. But would you like to be the one to order our guests into the SUV?"

There was a slight pause on the other end of the line and Daniel guessed correctly that the soldier was weighing the pros and cons of forcing the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet and the Nox representative into the safer car. "Proceed with caution, Doctor Jackson. And do not stop for anyone. Don’t care if the President himself pulls you over."

"I’ll just give him a good old wave and drive right on by," Daniel promised, tucking the phone between his ear and shoulder to show Lya how the seatbelt worked. He heard the commander mutter something about Daniel hanging out with Jack too long before he cut the call off. He hopped into the driver’s seat and started the engine. "Everyone set?"

The two aliens nodded.

With a wave at the checkpoint guards, he drove out of the base. Glancing in the rearview mirror he saw the security escort following at a discreet distance. Lya wore an expression of almost childlike enthusiasm as the wind whipped her vine-like hair behind her, big eyes eagerly soaking in the scenery they cruised by. He couldn’t see Thor’s face through the mask, but from the way his head swiveled from side to side, the Asgard was also enjoying the car trip. Daniel realized that this was the first time either of them had stepped foot outside the grey walls of the base. He eased up on the accelerator to prolong their view of Earth, playing tour guide. They peppered him with questions as they drove through the local shopping district. Being the true diplomat he was, Daniel managed not to crack a smile when Thor asked, "What was a burger and why would it have royalty status?", nor when Lya enquired, "What sort of secrets are hidden by Victoria?" When they turned into Daniel’s street there was already a line of cars parked along the sidewalk and music could be heard.

Annika appeared from the side of the house, closely followed by her teammates and General Hammond, all in full costume. Jack and Sam as fisherman and mermaid, Teal’c in black body armor and cape with the distinctive Darth Vadar mask. Hammond was wearing the largest ten gallon hat Daniel had ever seen, with typical cowboy vest and chaps.

The groom however temporarily forgot all of his guests as he drank in the sight of his bride. A gust of wind billowed open her coat to reveal the close fitting bodice of her dress, enhancing her slim waist and ample cleavage. Her hair was left down to fall in shiny waves around her shoulders, with tiny crystal beads decorating her fiery crown. But it was the excited smile on her lush lips and the sparkle of love in her violet eyes that made his heart beat erratically within his chest. He leapt out the car and swept her up in his arms, unable to resist the lure of her presence. "A beautiful sorceress that wove a spell to capture my heart."

"And you’re the sorcerer who bewitched me with a spell of his own," her voice husky.

Before they totally got lost in each other’s eyes Jack gave a loud cough, reminding them where they were. The others had already said hellos to the newcomers while the couple had indulged in a delicious kiss.

Annika twisted in Daniel’s arms, to greet the two aliens. "Welcome to our home."

"Thank you for allowing us to attend," Thor replied with a slight bow to his head. Then he dropped all sense of formality when there was an excited little yip around his feet.

The puppies that had been playfully inspecting all the strangely dressed arrivals in their backyard had followed their Mistress. The puppy Thor had recognized his namesake’s voice and was currently spinning in circles around the Asgard.

Thor picked him up, delighted that the canine remembered him and gave him a gentle scratch over his ears. "Greetings, Thor."

Annika embraced Lya, which the Nox returned. "I’m so glad you’re here. It makes tonight extra special."

"So," Jack clapped his hands together. "Who’s ready to party?"