Chapter Text
Kela'an had different ways to wake Sam up. Sometimes she just "spoke." Other times, she thought soft sounds. Bird chirps were one of her favorite methods. She could simply make little adjustments in her host's body, or go into her dreams and tell her to wake up.
Of course, she didn't always wake her either. Sam was capable of sleeping while Kela'an walked around in her body. Today though…
Kela'an wiggled.
Sam slowly woke up to the feeling of movement in the back of her neck. She yawned a bit, touching over her symbiote.
You must wake, my sweet Samantha.
Why? I'm tired.
You asked me to wake you, remember?
Why? Oh. Right. Sam rubbed her eyes, enjoying the feel of warmth on one side of the bed. She looked over to her sleeping husbands.
So handsome.
Lantash is the one in control, Sam thought.
Really? You think you can tell while they are asleep?
Yes. Sam touched the necklace he wore. A simple chain that held his wedding ring. Then she caressed the side of his face, and the slight furrow in his brow relaxed.
You risk waking him.
She carefully slipped away, and the air chilled her skin as soon as she left the blankets.
Cold, Kela'an thought.
Sam quickly dressed more warmly, slipping her feet into slippers.
"Samanatha." It was Lantash's deep reverberated voice.
She turned quickly, but he was still asleep. Then she smiled.
Oh no.
I told you so.
Kela'an groaned. How can you tell while he's asleep?!
You're a symbiote. Figure it out, she teased.
Kela'an groaned again.
Martouf is always more relaxed in his sleep than Lantash. Jolinar noticed it years ago. Sam replied as she slipped away into the night.
Their home, of course, was entirely made from crystals. Their personal quarters had been mostly dark, but the light crystals in the hallway to their quarters were already on.
That means… Kela’an trailed off. Yep. There he is.
"Aldwin," Sam greeted.
"Your father came back last night," he said, still in his pajamas. It was a softer, more comfortable, version of the Tok'ra uniform.
"Lantash and Martouf were up late with guard duty. They'll be out for a while."
"The same goes for Malek and Amb." He glanced over. "Anise has agreed to help."
"Anise? Really?"
"Daniel has taught her about Hanukkah, Rohatsu, and Solstice. Now it is time for Christmas, then Kwanzaa."
Sam laughed a bit, then followed him into another room. Her eyes widened when she saw the boxes.
"All this?"
"Is that not enough?"
"That's more than enough." Sam approached as Anise opened one of the boxes. Already, she could smell the cinnamon scented pine cones.
"Others have contributed, but these are mostly Earth decorations." Anise said as she opened more boxes. "I suppose that puts you in charge."
"First, we need to organize everything, make one box for every room that will be decorated." She looked over what they had. "Is Dad getting the trees?"
"He took a small group to chop down trees," Aldwin answered.
"I hope they return in time." She opened another box, then said in alarm. "They're the wrong color." She picked up a cream colored candle.
Aldwin smiled. "It will be fine."
"Martouf will be offended."
He grasped over her hands. "The candles his people used in rituals were made from beeswax. This is clearly not beeswax."
"You're sure?"
"Remember that Selmak was married to a Kiron. She would not buy anything that is potentially offensive."
Sam nodded.
~+~+~.
A few others joined them as they began organizing. Garshaw walked in, and Sam was amused to see that the councilwoman was not fully awake. She wore a fuzzy nightgown, and her feet were bare. She held a steaming cup in her hands.
"Your father said that hot chocolate was necessary, so our chef has made two different varieties."
Sam smiled, knowing what that meant.
~+~+~.
Wanting that hot chocolate, they went to the mess hall first. Sam poured herself a cup of the "Earth-style" hot chocolate, knowing that the second type would be almost bitter. She dropped in a peppermint candy.
"I didn’t know what those were for," Per’sus said.
Sam smiled as she turned towards him. "It's peppermint candy."
He sipped the "Tok'ra-style" hot chocolate. Sitting next to him was another Tok'ra, Hurton, who was working on center pieces for the tables.
"Did you want to try it?"
"Maybe later."
They strung up garland and lights, and hung up wreaths and bows. Aldwin also focused on the center pieces, and Sam wondered if it wasn't just so he stayed near his hot chocolate.
He's drinking more than hot chocolate, Kela'an thought.
Sam smiled.
Pine leaves, pine cones, ornaments, and slow burning vanilla-scented candles were artfully arranged.
Sam paused, taking in the scent. Soon, the tunnels would all smell like this.
As her blood almost felt like it vibrated, she knew another Tok'ra came into the mess hall. She turned to see Delek.
"Tau'ri trinkets in every major room," he said dismissively.
"You are not going to help decorate?" Aldwin asked.
"Most certainly not." He headed towards breakfast.
"Oh, you have to wait. Garshaw has ordered that until the decorating is done, only the decorators can drink…outside of water of course." Aldwin gestured.
Delek looked to the chef, who was still putting out food. "Is he serious?"
"He's serious. Not even the larvae have eaten yet."
"Most aren't even awake yet." Delek looked to Per'sus.
"Garshaw doesn't outrank me," Per'sus replied with a bit of a grin before retreating, giving Einar control.
Aldwin chuckled.
"Are you finally awake?" Hurton said as he gave Einar a small kiss.
"Yes." He frowned as he looked down at his cup. "What am I drinking?"
"A beverage made from hot milk and black cocoa."
Einar drank. "I must decorate?"
"Relax and have fun. I have you covered."
"And Per'sus already hung the socks up," Aldwin added.
”Hung socks?" Delek replied in disbelief.
"Yes."
"I don’t know what that means." Delek went to a pitcher of water, but his eyes were drawn when a Tok'ra came out with another drink.
"Gun rex tea?"
"Freshly made," the chef said.
"That takes days of preparation," Delek said in awe.
Sam looked to Aldwin with confusion, who retreated so that Gete could answer more quietly.
"His favorite…for a few hundred years now," Gete answered in a quiet whisper. "However, it is complicated and time consuming to make."
"Made traditionally?" Delek asked the chef.
"Of course."
~+~+~.
This isn't that bad, Delek's host, Tian, thought as Delek tied a bow.
Grumble, Delek grumbled.
Sam was amused until Delek somehow ended up in charge of decorating.
That's rude, Kela'an thought.
Well, he does outrank us.
Garshaw is helping, and she didn't take charge.
However, despite her worries, he didn't just dictate, but worked with everyone else. He also took the job seriously. Too seriously. Way too seriously.
Sam was happy to have a chance to leave when told that her dad was returning. She went to the surface and saw a Tel’tac landing nearby.
"Dad," she greeted when he came out. She looked inside. "Dad? Really?"
"What?"
"How many trees is that?"
"Hey, this is the first Christmas for my youngest great grandchildren. It has to be special."
Sam smiled as the Tok'ra that had been with him began taking the trees out.
"I thought we were just getting a few trees. I volunteered to help," Liandra said as she approached. "No, first your father only takes four of us. Then waits until he has all of us on another planet before announcing that he is getting one for each grandchild."
"Thirty-four trees?" Sam replied in surprise.
"Thirty-five," Jacob corrected, then teased, "and shame on you for not knowing how many grandchildren you have."
"So he has five foot, hundred pound me hauling trees that are each half my weight," Liandra continued.
Sam laughed.
"I was going to get less trees," Jacob explained, "but Selmak thought more was better."
"Malika and Iasis each need a tree?" Sam asked. "They share a body."
"There are still two of them. They might each want to decorate a tree."
"I’m taking a bath." Liandra stormed off.
When they went down to the tunnels, they saw that Delek was already decorating one of the trees.
Delek is helping? Selmak was surprised.
I’ve never seen someone look so angry while hanging candy canes, Jacob replied as he picked up one of the presents. He was amazed by how perfectly wrapped it was. Instead of bows, each box was decorated with a personalized and handmade ornament.
"Delek made Aldwin wrap the first one three times before it was 'acceptable.'"
"Who are the presents all from anyway?"
"Shouldn't it be obvious?" Sam scoffed in a teasing manner. "Santa Claus."
Jacob laughed, shaking his head. "Sam, I need to get some sleep. It's been more than twenty hours…at least. More so for Selmak."
"Yeah. We have this."
~+~+~.
Sam decorated her quarters last, and it was just her so that Martouf would not accidentally be woken. She knew Aldwin was doing the same for Malek.
"Samantha?" Someone came in.
"Liandra…" Sam approached. "Martouf is still asleep."
She nodded. "Why is it dark?"
"That would wake him, and he's been extra sensitive to light since he lost an eye."
"Oh, yes. That would make sense." Liandra was holding a tray with three pitchers and five small fruit tarts. "I was asked to deliver this to you."
"Thank you." Sam took the tray.
Liandra left.
When it was almost time for him to wake, Sam turned off the alarm and put on soft Christmas music. She watched Martouf shift in his sleep.
She set up the small breakfast for five. Grabbing glasses, she poured two Tau'ri-style hot chocolates, one bittersweet, and two hot apple ciders.
"Are Fathers awake?" She heard a whisper.
"Not yet." Sam gestured for her daughters to come in.
"Neither is Iasis." Malika walked in, holding a bowl. She set it down on the table. "Just the thirty-eight of us?"
"Your grandparents are sleeping, though we could invite whomever you are secretly dating."
Malika blushed.
"Christmas would be the time."
"I don’t think father would approve of spending Christmas morning with the ones having sex with his daughters."
"Probably not," Sam admitted.
Malika smiled, then went to a chest high river and tapped a bell.
Sam smiled.
The river was soon filled with thirty-three larval symbiotes. Nine were clones that Per'sus had rescued. They varied in age. Iasis had since given birth to the rest of them.
"Merry Christmas," they squealed softly.
"Merry Christmas," Malika replied. "Are you ready, children?"
"Ready."
Malika turned off the music.
Sam was curious.
The larvae all began squealing a tune.
"Mmm." Martouf turned, slowly opening his eye.
They kept singing as Sam smiled.
"Good morning, Dad…Father," Malika greeted.
"What is that song?" He slowly sat up, looking very confused.
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
"Oh, right. Christmas. That was today." He looked up as more people came into the room. "Malek, why are you blindfolded?"
"Uncles!" The larvae all squealed.
"I have no idea," Malek answered as he waved to greet the larvae.
"You can take it off now," Aldwin said.
Malek removed his blindfold.
"Surprise!" Aldwin declared, as if this was the surprise. "We are all eating together today."
"We haven't done that since…yesterday."
"Enjoy the Christmas spirit."
"Hm." He yawned.
Sam laughed. "Aldwin, did you even give him a chance to wake up, or did you drag him out of bed while slapping a blindfold on him."
"I haven't even had a chance for my morning relief," Malek complained as he headed to their restroom.
"Why are there objects all over our walls?" Martouf asked as he yawned as well.
Sam smiled. "You’ll have to see for yourself."
He frowned, then laid back down.
Aldwin grabbed his hand. "We have hot apple cider," he said in an enticing tone.
"Do you realize how late we were up last night?"
"Come on. Don't be a Delek."
That got Martouf to sit up.
Malek came out, drying his hands.
Martouf headed to the restroom.
Sam turned on the lights, knowing that Martouf would do the same for his morning routine.
"He'll be a bit."
Malek sat down, still looking half awake.
Sam smiled as she pushed his drink towards him.
"I do not favor chocolate."
"No added sugar," Aldwin explained. "Trust me, you'll like it."
Malek tasted it. "Hm. Interesting. That tastes quite good." He yawned, then laid his head on the table. "Wake me…when Mar…"
"He doesn't take that long," Aldwin argued, then… "Malek?"
Malek snored softly.
"Amb," Aldwin whispered, calling for Malek's host.
No response.
"Amb."
Martouf came out, then better explored the decorations. "This reminds me of your brother's house in December."
Sam smiled.
"It's beautiful." He approached and kissed her. "Thank you."
Sam kissed him.
"Can you help me?" Of course, he already knew the answer.
"Sure." And she knew what he was asking.
He went to a shelf and opened a small chest. Inside were a few different eye patches. After he selected one, she carefully helped him, tying it behind his head.
"We tried making one that was sewn to the size of my head, but it didn't seem to fit right."
"Oh? You didn't tell me."
He looked to her after. "Lantash was a bit embarrassed about the failure."
Sam nodded.
"Does this look right?"
Sam responded by kissing him. "You are always handsome."
"We can help you, next time," Aldwin said.
"Are your friends coming?" Martouf asked Sam as he walked over to the larvae.
"Later, yeah."
"Good morning, my favorite grandchildren." Martouf smiled.
They all squealed in laughter. That greeting always made them feel special.
Martouf rubbed each one, "Have you eaten yet?"
"No." They kissed his hands with gentle nips.
"I'm getting their food ready right now," Malika said. "It's the first Christmas for most of them, so I made something special." She stirred cold soup in a large bowl.
"Is that carbonated?" Martouf asked.
"Yeah. Iasis liked the feel of carbonated liquid on her skin." She brought the bowl over to her children.
The larvae all made little splashes as they jumped in.
She brought the bowl to the table. Not all the larvae came from Iasis, but she and Malika had unofficially adopted the clones.
Martouf went back to the shelf and took out a brown leather glove. He pulled it on to his left hand. It gave the appearance that he still had all of his fingers, though there was very little strength in the artificial fingers.
"They were up later than me," Martouf said as he saw Aldwin rubbing Malek's back. "Let them sleep."
Aldwin nodded, though he was a little disappointed. He moved Malek's tart and drink so that they weren’t accidentally knocked to the floor.
They waited until Martouf sat down before they began eating.