Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Malika…would your date like to have dinner with us?" Lantash asked.

"They're older than me."

"They would have to be, and they watched you grow up, and who initiated this relationship?"

Malika groaned.

"Tell me, at least, that the symbiote is younger than me."

"Faaaatherrrrr."

His jaw tightened.

"Alright, she is younger than you, but not by much."

He made an angry snort.

"Did you want to have dinner with them or just be angry?"

"I will behave."

Malika was unsure.

"So…who is it?"

"Liandra and-"

"Liandra?! She's fifty-three years older than you."

"So? Dad is almost ninety years older than Mom."

Lantash huffed slightly, then retreated.

"He will be polite," Martouf said with a smile.

"Thank you."

Martouf immediately left to find Liandra, and he soon found her dipping a gingerbread cookie into her cider.

She looked up to him. "You know."

"Yes." Martouf stepped closer, looking to her cookie. "I like doing that too."

She smiled.

"Lantash very much wants to give you the 'If you hurt our daughters' speech,' but he promised to behave, and I'm certain you have heard him say it to others."

Liandra laughed. "Yes, we have."

"We would like to invite you to dinner with the family."

"Oh." She smiled. "I would love that, but Per'sus invited me to eat with him and Hurton." She tilted her head slightly. "Perhaps he would be willing to arrange for a larger gathering."

"Perhaps. I will offer any help that I can."

Liandra smiled. "He would like that."

~+~+~.

Much later in the day, Jack approached Martouf in his quarters.

"Samanatha is not here." Martouf looked irritated, holding a small box.

"Look, I'm sorry if I offended you…about the wasps." Jack felt a little uncomfortable. It was rare for Martouf to be annoyed with him.

"I understand." Martouf looked over. "I should not have been so sensitive. I just…miss my people."

"Holidays remind us of those we lost." Jack sat down. "Where's Malika?"

"She is helping Councilor Per'sus prepare our dinner. I will soon be doing the same."

"We're eating with Per'sus?"

"Yes." Martouf looked to the box he held. "I have to get ready for dinner."

"Comb your hair?" Since Martouf had already changed clothes, Jack wasn't sure what else there was to do.

Martouf frowned.

"Never mind."

Martouf did a long blink, hiding the eye glow as Lantash took over.

"Lantash."

"Jack?"

"Yes?"

"Leave."

"Oh." Jack left, annoyed. He saw Sam in the hallway. "I think I angered your husbands. Are they still angry about the wasps? Because I was polite."

Sam smiled, amused.

"I was," he defended. "Actually polite, not Jack polite."

"They aren't angry about the wasps."

"No?" He frowned. "Then I don't know what I did. Lantash told me to leave."

"What did they say before that?"

"They are getting ready for dinner."

"Ah."

"Yeah?"

"They're probably going to put in the prosthetic eye. They don't like even me watching. It's very personal between them."

"Then why not just say so?"

"Jack…"

"I've known them…how long has it been?" Jack frowned. "Twenty…twenty-nine years. Almost three decades, and I'm still kept at an arm's length."

Sam frowned, sensing that he wasn't finished. She waited.

"I haven't retired because when I do…" Jack sighed. "I won't be part of the family anymore."

"Jack." Sam took his hand. "We're not SG-1 anymore, but we are family. We'll always be family. You're Uncle Jack. Now you're Great Uncle Jack."

Jack smiled. "I guess I feel like you all pulled away. Teal'c with his Jaffa stuff."

"He did have to build an entire new nation."

"Daniel is all over the place, married to Anise, and it feels like he's here half the time."

"Not nearly that often."

"And you went and got yourself Tok'rafied."

"That was seventeen years ago."

"And you had to go marry my rivals before that."

"Your rivals?"

Jack gave a small smile.

"Jack, if I ever lead you-"

"Nah. We're good." He sighed. "It actually helps to say it out loud."

Sam glanced down.

"I'm happy for you. I just…wish I could have found the same."

"Well, Martouf is bisexual."

Jack laughed. "Not quite what I meant."

Sam smiled.

Martouf approached them, confused by the last bits he heard.

Sam approached him, taking his hands. She noticed that she had been right about the white prosthetic eye.

"You look very handsome."

"Thank you." He glanced to Jack as the other man left. "Did Jack suggest dating us?"

"No. I was teasing him."

He made a short nod. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

~+~+~.

Per'sus grew a new table to accommodate his guests, then had food brought in.

Thirty years ago, we never would have imagined dining with any Jaffa in our personal quarters.

Einar didn't reply.

Einar?

Yes?

Per'sus smiled. Rest, my love. I'll wake you when it is dinner time.

While some hosts had trouble falling asleep while their symbiotes were walking around, they had been together for so long that Einar had no trouble.

Hurton and Iasis were already there. Iasis had brought them a new drink, one that was rich and creamy.

Martouf and Sam arrived next.

"Martouf…" Per'sus looked towards him, then gestured.

The two of them stepped away from the others.

"You might want to take off the glove."

"Why?"

"The guests I invited earlier will be making it. They find more strength in not hiding one's disability."

Martouf frowned.

"It is up to you."

"Lantash agrees with you." He hesitated, then slowly took the glove off. Looking down at his hand, he slowly flexed his thumb and most of his pointer finger.

"If you ask me, you look better without the glove."

That made Martouf smile. "I am more comfortable without it when it's just us Tok'ra, but…"

"I understand." He gestured. "You can put it away in one of my boxes until later."

"Thank you."

Liandra, Malek, and Aldwin arrived next, bringing in one of the Christmas trees that Einar had primarily decorated.

That made Per'sus smile.

"Merry Christmas," Aldwin greeted.

"And Merry Christmas to you as well. Einar will be most pleased when he awakes."

Iasis approached Liandra, taking her hand.

"Is my hair alright?" Per'sus touched his head lightly.

"You are too worried about your hair," Liandra replied.

"Your hair is perfect," Malek answered.

"Thank you."

Teal'c arrived with Jack, Daniel, and Anise. Jacob and Garshaw were last.

"Is this all of us?" Jacob asked.

"Not quite," Per'sus replied. "We have three more guests arriving." He sat down, pulling out a comb to fix his hair.

"You…smell different," Jack noticed, hoping the councilor didn't take that the wrong way.

"Thank you. Einar and I bathed earlier today with nutty cinnamon scented oils. We wanted to smell Christmassy."

Jack smiled. Never would he have suspected that a Tok'ra would want to smell like Christmas.

They were beginning to settle when Teal'c heard a familiar voice.

"Father."

"Rya'c." Surprised, he smiled warmly as he approached the trio, first hugging his son. "Kar'yn." He hugged his daughter-in-law, then… "Ishta."

"The Tok'ra have invited us to celebrate a Tau'ri holiday that celebrates family. Unfortunately, we couldn't come earlier, but we are here now." She took his hands before kissing him.

"It is a most interesting holiday." Teal'c turned to Per'sus then bowed his head. "Thank you for inviting them."

Wake, love. Per'sus bowed slightly in return. He felt Einar slowly become aware of his surroundings.

"The chef has prepared a number of traditional foods," Jacob said. "At least as much as possible." He gestured. "Roasted waterfowl. Green bean casserole. The tuber and Lon Lon cheese casserole is similar to Au Gratin Potatoes."

"It looks good," Jack said. He could actually tell what everything was, or at least what it was supposed to be. "Is that cranberry sauce?"

"Not quite, but that sauce is made from a tart berry." Jacob smiled. "Our chef is pretty good at reproducing meals from other worlds by description alone. He even made eggnog."

"Ah, where's the rum?"

"Jack," Daniel said in annoyance.

"Oh, come on. You know I'm kidding."

"It has already been added," Aldwin answered.

"Oh." Jack was surprised. He honestly had been joking.

"The meals are what you would call self serve," Per'sus said, 'and Einar and I have personally selected the music for this evening."

"If it were entirely up to Per'sus, it would be the same twenty songs on repeat," Jacob added.

"Actually, I have personally approved of multiple Christmas songs for your celebration," Per'sus replied with a smile. "I particularly enjoyed 'Jesus Refulsit Omnium' and 'Corde natus ex Parentis.'"

"I never heard of those," Jack replied.

"'Jesus, Light of All the Nations' and 'Of the Father's Love Begotten,'" Daniel translated.

"They are from the time period that you call the fourth century." Per'sus smiled. "Einar preferred the much more modern song…'Good King Wenceslas.'"

"Nineteenth century?" Jack guessed, again, keeping the sarcasm to himself.

"Very good, General. The lyrics are indeed nineteenth century, though the tune is from your thirteenth century."

Jack frowned. He was surprised to be right, but he also felt that Per'sus was being a little condescending.

"Anise may have missed your sarcasm," Gete whispered to Jack softly, holding an amused smile. "Per'sus will not."

Jack smiled slightly.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is the most recent song we will be listening to?" Daniel asked.

"A song from Amb's world," Per'sus answered as he went to the music player. "It was formed in what you would call…early twentieth century." His fingers graced over the controls.

Malek bowed his head, giving Amb control. They listened to the song.

Daniel tilted his head, and soon heard a rhythm from flutes, percussions on stone and drums, rattles, and at least one bullroarer. Soon, there was chanting.

"This was approximately…1905." Amb smiled. "It tells the story of how night fell upon us during midday. It was…quite exciting and terrifying at the same time."

"You are from Woods, are you not?" Ishta asked.

"Yes."

"Then such an eclipse could last quite a while on your world, especially if both moons were involved."

"Both were involved." He gestured to Anise. "Anise calculated that that particular solar eclipse have lasted 36.459 minutes."

"Long time," Jack said as he saw people begin to gather food. "No kids?"

"They have no interest in a formal dinner," Malika replied. "They are playing with their new fish instead." She smiled.

Formal dinner. Jack suddenly felt underdressed, wearing his fatigues. At least Teal'c was as well. Daniel had changed, and while that was his usual when visiting the tunnels, he did seem fancier than normal.

"Daniel, did you dress up for this?" He asked.

"I just put on what Anise picked out for me," Daniel replied with a shrug.

"She dresses you?"

"Sometimes."

"On Earth's surface, he returns the favor," Anise added. "He knows local clothing far greater than Freya or myself."

"Oh." Jack noticed Aldwin whispering to Martouf, who shook his head. It was only then that Jack noticed Martouf's missing glove.

"Jack," Daniel said in a warning tone.

"Nothing." He frowned at Daniel, annoyed that Daniel thought that he might say something inappropriate. He shook his head and scooped tubers on to his plate. After, glancing back and seeing Martouf struggle a little, Jack suspected that Aldwin had offered help.

They sat down to eat.

"I understand a prayer is often traditional," Per'sus said. "How…precisely does that go?"

"To their deity," Anise answered. "I shall attempt. First, we must put our hands together."

Jack smiled in amusement as the Tok'ra interpreted that as pressing their hands to each other.

"Dear deity of Christmas," Anise said. "May you protect the galaxy from the Goa'uld, and Happy Birthday to your son. Amen."

"Very good," Daniel complimented.

"Thank you."

Jack sipped his eggnog, then coughed as his eyes and throat burned.

"Are you alright?" Garshaw asked.

"That's less eggnog with rum and more rum with eggnog…and not just rum."

"We could bring in the eggnog made for the larvae. That does not have alcohol."

"I'm good."

"You have become open about your relationship," Teal'c said as he looked to Malika.

"Yes." Malika blushed a bit.

"Liandra and Pel are strong warriors. You have chosen well."

"Oh, I don't know if I'm officially chosen," Liandra said, then noticed Lantash giving her a look. She could have sworn that Martouf was in control about two seconds ago. "As honored as I am to be chosen to be involved with the larvae-"

"Wait." Jack frowned. "As I understand it, a queen can reproduce asexually, correct?" He gestured to Malek. "He taught me that one. No man friend needed."

Lantash almost choked on his drink while trying not to laugh.

"'Man friend?'" Aldwin questioned.

"Yes, that is correct," Malika answered Jack.

"But…" Jack continued, ignoring them, "in order to increase the chances of the larvae having a successful first blending, the queen prefers to use DNA from humans."

"Yes," Malika answered. "It is only a tiny percentage of a symbiote, like the mitochondria in our code of life. Egeria used the code of life of her hosts and from Per'sus' hosts."

Per'sus smiled to that.

"And the male's DNA was always transferred with…" Was he actually saying this in front of his nieces?

"Sex," Per'sus answered.

"So…how did that work with Liandra?" Jack frowned. "I mean…" He did not want to finish that sentence. However, since Tok'ra baths were public, he had seen more than he wanted of Liandra multiple times.

"Jack, really?" Daniel looked over to him, thankful that the Tok'ra were amused.

"I am being polite about this."

Liandra smiled. "The easiest way to get my code of life to Iasis was a simple blood transfusion to Malika. She gestured. "Hurton carried out the procedure.

Hurton bowed his head. "I was happy to help, though staying longer with Malika did make Lantash suspect me as a…'man friend.'"

"I don't think Per'sus would like that," Jack said.

"Per'sus and I are not together."

"What?" Jack frowned.

"I am dating Einar, not Per'sus. In fact, Per'sus has his own lady friend."

"How does that even work?"

"Clear communication, honesty, and the truth is, our relationship is what you would call open."

This Tok'ra stuff could get too complicated for his liking. Jack nodded slightly, then glanced to Garshaw with curiosity.

"I am not the lady friend," she quickly declared.

"Perhaps it would be best if we just ate," Malek said.

"That sounds good to me," Jacob agreed.

~+~+~.

After they helped clean up, Anise quietly went to Teal'c.

"Anise," he greeted.

"If your family is interested, we can show them the rest of the tunnels. I assure you, the councilors would understand."

"That would be most kind of you." Teal'c bowed his head.

"I would like that," Ishta added. "Thank you."

The small group went to Einar, who was looking over the decorations that had been brought into his quarters. The tiny Santa symbiotes in the garland amused him.

"I could hear you. It sounds like a wonderful idea." Einar turned to the group. "Thank you for coming. I know you are all very busy, but… It is wonderful that the Jaffa, Tau'ri, and Tok'ra could celebrate a holiday together, regardless of what that holiday is."

"Yes," Teal'c agreed.

"Thank you for inviting us," Ishta added.

Einar smiled.

Rya'c and Kar'yn also gave their thanks. As did Daniel, who planned to spent all the time he could with Anise and Freya. They soon headed out, and Jacob and Garshaw followed.

Jack frowned slightly. "I wasn't expecting your Dad to go."

"He was looking for a reason," Sam replied.

"He's not one for such dinners," Einar added. "Though Selmak enjoyed herself." He went to sit, then picked up the eggnog, taking a sip.

Malika, now open about her relationship, was sharing a larger chair with Liandra. Her arm was around her girlfriend, and the two were quite comfortable to be practically cuddling in front of everyone.

Aldwin handed Jack his cup, refilled.

"Thank you." Jack accepted it before noticing that Einar seemed to be glaring at his drink. "Is something wrong?"

Aldwin joined Malek, Sam, and Martouf on the most uncomfortable couch that Jack had ever seen. Somehow it looked worse than their chairs and beds, a smooth surface of sharp angles and edges.

"This is foul," Einar replied.

"Oh. I thought Per'sus was enjoying the eggnog."

"He does. I don't." He set the glass down a little too hard.

"How have you enjoyed the day?" Malek asked.

"This has been an interesting holiday. I had seen some of it, of course, as Malika and Iasis grew up, but not to this extent."

"You should come to Earth," Jack replied. "Next Christmas. I'll throw a party at the base. Tok'ra and Jaffa."

"How would you convince your commanding officers to have a party at Stargate Command?" Malek asked.

"It strengthens the alliance between all of our people."

"Tok'ra, Jaffa, and the Tau'ri…" Aldwin said as he raised a glass. "Bonding over Santa Claus."

"For the past several years, just about every time I leave the base, something goes wrong." Einar picked up the drink, sipping it out of habit before frowning. He sighed before putting the cup back down.

Martouf quietly got up, grabbing a glass and a pitcher of gun rex tea.

You can do it, Lantash encouraged.

Martouf smiled. While losing an eye had messed with his depth perspective, he hadn't spilled in a while. Still, he enjoyed Lantash's confident wiggles. He touched the pitcher to the glass before pouring.

You did it!

Thank you.

"I am staying here," Einar continued, "where it is safe."

"You have had a string of bad luck," Sam agreed.

Picking up the glass, Martouf headed back to Einar, offering him the tea.

"Thank you." Einar took the glass.

"You can still do the Christmas party, Uncle," Malika said. "I'll have more children by then…though I don't think I would be allowed to bring them all."

"Did Egeria have so many so fast?" Jack asked.

A head bow and glowing eyes announced Iasis taking control. She immediately moved her arm, touching over the back of Liandra's neck instead.

"No," Iasis answered, "for a number of reasons. I have benefits that she did not, including knowledge that she had to learn through experience."

Martouf settled between Sam and Malek, and after grabbing Sam's hand, he absentmindedly began rubbing his thumb over the back of it.

The conversation continued, though it wasn't really about any one particular thing. Jack felt comfortable…in spite of his chair.

Iasis and Liandra were next to leave, and that seemed to be the cue for everyone to leave. They were followed by Per'sus, who walked them down the hallway.

"Thank you for coming," Per'sus said. "It's…been a while since I hosted a dinner party."

"Thank you for inviting us." Martouf bowed slightly to him. As did the other Tok'ra.

Jack could almost hear Daniel's voice telling him to bow as he belatedly did so towards Per'sus.

"Good night." Per'sus returned the small bow before going back to his quarters.

Only Hurton stayed, and he was sipping apple cider when Per'sus returned.

"Is Twig awake?"

"Yes, though he is tired."

Per'sus gave Einar control, who walked over to him.

"This holiday is…unusual."

"My people had some unusual customs too," Einar replied, "though I really don't understand the socks."

"Ah. No. I didn't understand that either," Hurton pulled him closer. "Did you get your sock?"

"No. Not yet."

"I'm sure there is no harm in waiting until tomorrow."

"What if this Santa Claus takes the socks back?" Einar teased.

"Oh, excellent point. Are you willing to take that risk?"

Einar smiled and kissed him, holding him close. After a moment, he pulled away as his scalp tingled.

"Good answer."

~+~+~.

It was getting late, and Jack was getting tired.

"You can stay the night," Aldwin offered when he saw Jack yawn."

"No. Thank you."

"Teal'c has left, and I believe Daniel wished to stay."

"Yeah, I already gave him permission."

"There is one more thing before you go," Aldwin said as he gestured to another Tok'ra, Jalen.

Jalen made a short nod, then left.

"Yeah?" Jack glanced to Sam and saw she didn't know what this was about either.

"A tradition that your father mentioned," Aldwin explained as he turned to Sam. "I thought it would be fun to surprise you as well."

Sam smiled.

Jalen returned with a small crystal box, handing it to Malek, who looked curious.

"As I understand it, this is usually a tradition for children, but I didn't think you would mind." Aldwin opened the box, then took out a sock. An empty, plain sock. He was very pleased as he handed it to Jack.

"Oh." Jack would not laugh, not even smirk…and it took every fiber in his being to not do so.

"Though, I must admit, I don't understand getting one sock at a time," Aldwin added with a slight frown.

"Oh." Malek smiled, believing he suddenly understood. "Socks are often lost when the Tau'ri do laundry." He looked to Sam. "This is quite a clever tradition to replace the lost socks."

"Yes, very clever of us," Jack replied, seeing that Sam was just as amused. "Uh. Thank-Thank you…for the sock."

Aldwin grinned, then handed Sam two socks.

"Thank you." She saw Martouf smiling with amusement. "Kela'an also thanks you," she added before Jack could ask why she got two.

Jack smiled, and they walked him to the rings.

"Merry Christmas," Martouf said as they approached.

"Merry Christmas…and thank you. This was fun."

They smiled, and Sam hugged him.

He held her gently, knowing it might be a month or so before he saw her again.

"Bye Jack."

"Bye." He waved before going up through the rings.

"Was something wrong with the sock?" Aldwin asked.

"It doesn't matter." Sam grinned as she turned to him. "I guarantee you, he's going to hang that sock up to remember today."

Aldwin grinned, especially when Malek hugged him from behind. Aldwin turned his head to kiss him.

"Do we get a kiss as well?" Martouf asked as Sam approached him.

"First, I have a gift for you." Sam placed two fingers behind his wedding ring, lifting it slightly. She ran her fingers up the chain. Unclipping the necklace, she took it off.

"Hm." One of his eyebrows quirked slightly.

"Since you don't mind wearing pendants…" Sam slipped a gold ring on to it.

He examined the ring as Aldwin and Malek watched. He recognized the language as his own, and the engraving made him smile.

"Beloved Fathers," and "Cherished Grandfathers."

"This is beautiful." He tilted his head slightly. "Do the stones mean anything?"

"The birthstones of our daughters and grandchildren.

"You are going to need a bigger ring," Gete teased, now having control.

Sam laughed. "They'll have to share stones." She put the necklace back on Martouf.

He kissed her as soon as it was on.

"Mmm." She felt his hand over Kela'an, sending a shiver down her spine. When his kiss changed, she knew Lantash had taken control.

"Thank you." Lantash said in a hushed tone.

She gave him another, much quicker, kiss before they turned to the Malek and Gete.

"If we get ourselves chains, will we get uncle rings?" Malek asked.

Lantash smiled as he approached. "Oh, is that a hint?"

"Maybe. Though Amb would probably take it off every time he was in control. He was never one for fancy jewelry." Malek smiled as he examined the new ring. "This is lovely, and you have certainly earned it." He brushed Lantash's hair back before taking Aldwin's hand. "Shall we go play with the larvae?"

"That sounds fun," Lantash replied. "I have not swam with them since yesterday."

"Then we shall."

Sam grinned.

They all headed back.