Chapter Thirty-five Summary: They make love, and then while Lantash and Martouf rest, Jolinar and Sam talk about the two of them. When they become aware of them, Sam and Jolinar rejoin them on the bed, where they talk some more and then discuss their future.

Rating this Chapter – M

"Italics" – Symbiote-Host Communication

Mer Cor – My Heart

Pro`n Ma'tae – Our Love

Mer FyCariadon kea – My Dearest One

Author's Note I – Please read before reading this chapter. About the Rating: This contains M material. I would consider it mild M, but because I know that some prefer not to read the romantica, I have marked both the beginning of the section and the end of the section, so it can safely be skipped without having to hunt for the ending.

Author's Note II – This is the end of An Alliance of Friends. I hope you have enjoyed it, and I hope you will take some time to leave me a note, if you did. I'm ruminating about doing a sequel and am leaning that way, since there are so many loose ends in this story. I'd still love to hear from you, if you want one to be written, and I would like to know if there is something in particular you would like to see in it. It won't be immediately, but will perhaps become my next project.

Pagan Twylight

An Alliance of Friends

Chapter Thirty-five

We Will Love You Forever

Sam's hands skimmed their sides, until they met the top of his pants, and then stopped, only to travel across his abdomen seeking the fastening that kept them closed and, by doing so, kept her hands from that which they sought. She could feel the trembling of his muscles as her fingers whispered across them. Finally finding the fastening that she was hunting, she quickly flipped it open, before finding the tab that would allow her eager fingers a more intimate caress. As she moved it slowly downward, she smiled, while keeping her head down, and watching to be sure, since his briefs appeared to be MIA, that nothing…tender…was caught in the teeth that the little tab was parting for her.

Hearing the hiss of an indrawn breath, as her fingers brushed lightly against the heat and steel of him, she smiled slightly, but didn't look up. Wetting one of her fingers, she gently swirled it around some delicate areas, and this time when she heard the sharply indrawn breath, she looked up and placed a kiss on the cleft in his chin, before asking him, "Did I hurt you, Lantash?"

He threw his head back and stared at the ceiling, for the briefest of moments, before bringing his gaze back to her. His determination to withstand her caresses without giving in and taking her straight to their bed, with little or no preliminary lovemaking made his voice strained and somewhat harsh, as he asked her, "Are you trying to drive us to our knees, Samantha? Because if you are, you are doing a wonderful job of it."

Sam blinked up at him in surprise, her lips slightly open and glistening in the low lighting. "Um, are you saying that you don't like it, when we touch you in this way? Please tell me. I wanted to give you pleasure, not discomfort, and Jolinar's memories tell me that you liked it before."

He smiled somewhat wryly, assuring her, "No, Samantha, you are not causing us discomfort…exactly. At least, not in the manner you mean it. Do you have no idea how alluring and enticing you are to us? Dear Goddess, Mer Cor, simply standing next to you like this is enough to make us forget what we are doing, because the only thing we can think about is having you naked, warm, and willing beneath us. Every touch of your hands and your lips sends shocks of desire through us urging us to take you…at once." Reaching out, he stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers, before opening his hand and laying his palm against the side of her face. His other hand came up to cradle the other side and his thumbs caressed her with tenderness, conveying his love of them through his touch. "We do not wish to do that tonight. We do not want to hurry our lovemaking. We want to take our time loving you and Jolinar, Samantha. We want to revel in the feel of our lips on your skin and our hands on your body. We long to hear you moan our names, as we make love to you. Therefore, do not stop your ministrations. Come—love us, Pro`n Ma'tae. Our desire for you is growing stronger; we hunger to feel your touch again, and we thirst for the taste of your lips."

She searched his eyes, and satisfied by what she saw there, she moved her hands back to the place she'd mentally marked. Rewetting her finger, she began her explorations once more. Jolinar's memories bombarded her, but she attempted to push them aside. Tactile memory was a wonderful thing, but she wanted to experience it anew, not from what was already there. She heard her Lifemate chuckle softly and turned her attention to her, for a moment, although her hands never faltered. "Jol? What was that about?"

"Nothing in particular, Samantha. I am simply enjoying feeling these things through you, through your touch. I am enjoying the wonder and fascination you feel. The astonishment and delight that sweeps over you, as you realize, yet again, that these two fascinating, wonderful, and sexy beings belong to us. They are ours to touch, to taste, to scent, to look at, to listen to, and to revel in. Every time you touch them your emotions flow through us, and I feel as if I am with them, for the very first time. It is an incredibly awe-inducing and amazing feeling. I am savoring it. My laugh was from pure joy."

"Oh. I—I didn't misunderstand, then. I believed that you didn't want control, yet. You really don't want it? Are you sure?"

"I am absolutely sure, Samantha. In fact, you will find that I often prefer the inactive role of simply allowing myself to feel everything. I know it is lazy, but I am addicted to the feelings, the emotions that are generated. I find that I cannot give myself over to them so completely, if I am in the active role. However, I am perfectly all right with taking over, so that you may take the position of enjoying the full effect of the emotions and feelings, whenever you want to do that. I realize that we must be fair and share these things, no matter how much either of us likes one thing or the other. Regardless what we are talking about, be it sex, cooking, or reading a book, if we both enjoy the actual 'doing' of it, then we must share it and switch back and forth. As long as the other does not mind and has no real desire to 'do' something, it does not really matter. So, whenever you simply wish to feel the emotions and sensations, I will take over for you. I will let you know, if I wish to come fore, I assure you."

Jolinar could feel the relief Sam felt, even before she told her, "I am glad to know that." She 'cleared' her throat, telling her, "Actually, when it comes to sex, I think I prefer to be in control, although there are times, like when…" unable to voice her preference, Sam sent her an image instead, and then continued, "so I guess we should be able to work it out just fine."

Jolinar smiled as she looked at the images, and replied, "Since neither of us must do much in those particular circumstances, I foresee no problem."

Sam blushed and turned her attention outward to find that she had continued her stroking, during their conversation, and Lantash was standing rigidly, as if afraid that if he moved at all it would be in the direction of the bed. She smiled and moved away from her present occupation and instead knelt and grasping the sides of his BDU pants, swept them to the floor and then encouraged him to step out of them—not that it took much urging.

Begin mild M

Finding herself at the perfect height, she leaned in and kissed him before beginning to give them her full attention.

His hands on her shoulders, he attempted to move her attention to something else, but she was not cooperating. Instead, her hands grasped him firmly. An occasional sharply indrawn breath or soft moan were the only sounds they made, until he felt he was at the end of his endurance, "Samantha, you must stop, now. I cannot continue to maintain control of myself."

Sam didn't answer verbally, but increased her efforts, instead. Lantash finally realized that she had no intention of stopping, his control snapped, and his fingers threaded into her hair to both anchor them, and to increase her rhythm. When he cried out, Sam tightened her hold on him, and savored the knowledge that she had taken him to release. He had lost that incredible control of his…for her.

He lowered them to their knees and kneeling next to her, he placed their foreheads together. "That was magnificent, Mer Cor. Martouf is basking in the afterglow, and I am almost completely enervated."

Sam smiled smugly, to herself and Jolinar, who was enjoying herself immensely. "It is a compliment, Samantha, for Lantash rarely loses his self-control, or admits to being weakened. For him to say something like that, shows how very much it affected him. I am not saying it cannot be done. Actually, we can do it quite often; however, that is accomplished by caressing and stimulating Lantash directly, in the ways that I have shown you. Then, he loses all control. Therefore, that you managed to get this confession from him, for something as simple as a, ah—BJ? Yes?—that is something to savor and feel very good about."

"I'm very happy that he enjoyed it. I enjoyed pleasuring them, so I guess we're even. Enjoyment given and received in equal measure. However, be that as it may, I believe that it's time to move on. We still have our nightgown on! That can't be allowed to continue."

At Jolinar's soft laugh, Sam turned her attention outward. His breath was calming. She was really glad that Jolinar had reminded her of the techniques she taught her.

"Lantash, could we stand up?"

He gave a short laugh, before nodding and getting to his feet and then helping her to stand. "There is that better?"

She smiled at him, and then she stepped close, breathing, "Yes, Mer Cariad kea. It is very much better, but now my lips are cold."

She allowed her hands to take ahold of his hips, to skim his slender waist, and across his ribs, before moving to his chest, and from there to his shoulders. She stepped even closer, until their bodies were barely apart, and began a soft kiss, but as he responded, she deepened it, until it was one of shared passion. She allowed their bodies to touch briefly, and felt his arms slide around her and pull her to him, until their bodies were joined from knee to lips. She slid her arms around his back, one hand going to the back of his neck, and the other only slightly lower.

Fully occupied, and getting his energy back, Lantash was too focused on the kiss and feel of her lips to notice what Sam was doing, and at first, her caresses were feather-light. Soon though, her strokes became firmer, and rather than general caresses, she followed Jolinar's instructions and concentrated on specific areas.

With an uncontrollable thrust of his hips into hers, and a moan of need escaping his lips, he raised his head and looked at her in a surprised way, as he realized what she was doing, what she had already accomplished. His body continued to ache to thrust and rub against her, even though he held himself still, and he grasped her chin, to keep her from looking away. A look between exasperation and amusement crossed his eyes, as he asked her, "Samantha, are you trying to drive Martouf and I out of our minds, or are you just experimenting to see how far we can be pushed before we take you as quickly and hard as we can? Because, you see, should you continue with your present activity, I can assure you that is what you shall reap."

The look in his eyes showed her love and lust; it was a look of longing and desire, a promise that his words were true. It sent a shiver down her back. Should she continue? Did she want him to lose all control? Did she want him completely wild in her arms, or would she regret allowing, no—causing, that to happen? Was he warning her that he might hurt them?

"No, Samantha, he is not. He would never deliberately hurt either of us. He is simply explaining, not very clearly, that if he takes us in that way, he will be without, ah—savoir-faire or finesse. When he says hard and fast that is exactly what he means. I have nothing against that, and I don't think that you do either."

"No. No, I don't have anything against it, at all. I like no holds barred sex. I…" she paused as she saw some memories and felt the emotions. "Rosha didn't like it. It scared her, because she was hurt once, before Lantash and Martouf, but she couldn't let it go and enjoy the two of them. You liked it, and so you only did it, when she was asleep. That's too bad, Jolinar, she missed out on some great sex, I'm sure."

Jolinar sighed. "Rosha could not stand the idea of sex without the accoutrements of love and romance. It always had to be with the love prominent probably because of her…rape, when she was young. They understood, but they missed it. She knew that, and it was her idea that we make love in that way when she was sleeping. They will not feel remorse and guilt with us, as they sometimes did about Rosha. They loved her deeply and would have avoided it completely had she asked it of them."

"I understand; both her fear and her solution. She loved them and she wanted them to be happy. I want them to be happy, too, so I think I can manage to live through his loss of control…actually, it isn't a 'loss of control' completely. My guess is that it is really a controlled 'loss of control'."

Jolinar did not answer for a moment, but then told her softly, "I did not think that you would see that, my Sam. For many years, I did not realize it. You have seen it much more quickly than I did. I am not sure that they even realize it themselves. Were they truly out of control, then they would probably hurt us, but they will not. So, what do you think?"

"I think that we should see if they still have a 'point of no return'."

"I believe that you should tease the dragon, my Sam. And then, we will ride the firestorm that follows."

Sam nodded to her Lifemate and gave her attention back to her mates. She was still stroking him, but it was very lightly. Smiling up at him, she placed her lips close to his and began to caress him again, more firmly, as she whispered, "I think we can handle it, Lantash. Don't worry about it, just make-love to us."

"All right, but we need to change a few things first."

Sam leaned back and questioned him with her eyes and eyebrows. He smiled and before she could protest, she was in his arms and being carried to the bed. Setting her down beside it, he stepped back a short distance and looked at her. Smiling, he reached out, even as he told her, "It is quite lovely and sexy, but I think it is time for you and your gown to part company." The nightgown was missing before she realized his intentions. He threw it aside and it landed near the matching peignoir. Next, he pulled the covers on the bed back and down. Returning to her, he once more swept her up, only to deposit her in the center of the bed and follow her there. He laid on his side, and leaned on his forearm and elbow hovering over her, watching her responses. Then cocking his upper leg, he laid it across hers, effectively keeping her pinned to the bed.

Sam smiled up at him, undeterred from her purpose. She slid her arms back around him, and started over, allowing her fingers to find just the right places once more. He was going to fight it; she could see the determination in his eyes. She gave a mental shrug. He could try, but according to Jolinar, neither he nor Martouf had ever been successful in ignoring or overcoming direct stimulation to Lantash, especially when coupled with direct stimulation of Martouf. She kept her gaze pinned to his and watched as his eyes darkened. She'd never seen anyone's eyes actually do that, although you read about it all the time in novels. She watched them, fascinated for a time, before deciding that she needed to pay more attention to other things.

Kissing him would be difficult the way he was holding himself away from her. With her legs pinned to the bed, she couldn't scoot closer either. He was attempting to stop her from adding other physical stimulation to what she was doing with her hands. No lips on his body to incite his desires. No little nips or love bites. No nibbling, laving, or kissing. Okay, she could do this. Continuing her caresses on the back of his neck with one hand, she slowly moved the other to the side of his face. Since he was watching her closely, she licked her lips with the tip of her tongue, leaving them glistening. She used her thumb, gliding it across his lips, her touch barely there. He leaned into her hand, kissing her thumb gently, before nipping it lightly.

She slowly allowed her hand to move away from his lips, faintly brushing his throat, and smoothing across his shoulder. She followed the line of his arm down, until it touched his waist. Her other hand changed its rhythm, and pressure, satisfactorily pulling his arm away and allowing her access to the more sensitive parts of him. While his attention was taken by the ever more intensifying pleasure she was giving directly to him, she took other matters in hand. As soon as she began gliding her hand up and down the length of him, she once again changed the rhythm she was using on Lantash, so that the caresses were the same. They were neither so slow as to be frustrating, nor so fast as to finish things before they actually began. Still using his distraction, she managed to flip him off her legs and bending one of her own, she was able to keep him from pinning her again. She also encouraged him to lie down, and as he did, she used every wile she'd ever tried, been told about, read about, or that Jolinar suggested, as she turned her attention to driving him to lose all control.

"It will not be very long now, my Sam. His breathing has changed, and all of his muscles are tensed. Soon he will turn on us and begin to make some very exciting love to us. Nor will he be alone in his need to reach his peak, for he will bring us with him. Do not stop stimulating Lantash. You may safely release Martouf when the time arrives, but continue to caress Lantash."

"I understand. Whether or not I will be able to continue once he begins to distract me, though, is yet to be seen."

Jolinar gave a quiet laugh. "I will do what I can to help you, my Sam, though I must admit that he is very talented, and it will be very hard to keep our focus. We must hope that he is to a point where he has little control left, and once he starts making love to us; our response to his abilities should be enough to finish what we have started."

"All right. I think I'll head south again. That seemed to rev him up before."

"Yes, that is one of his triggers. Just as our throat is one of ours. He enjoys the feel of our lips on him in that area, as well."

Sam nodded her agreement and turned her lips to travel upward leaving his chest, his skin smooth and almost luminous in the faint light from the two small lamps she'd left on earlier. She stopped at his throat to enjoy his gasps of pleasure, as she left her mark upon him. As she moved slowly upward again, she was suddenly shocked to hear a growl issue from Lantash's throat. Suddenly she was on her back, her hands pinned beside her head.

He watched her for a very brief time, before swooping down and locking onto her throat in the exact place that a large love-bite now resided on his. He did not stay long, but instead moved to her jawline spreading small whispering kisses along it, before moving up and claiming her mouth in a deeply passionate kiss. Long drugging kisses followed the first one, and she didn't even notice, when he slid to one side of her and released one of her hands. Making no stops during his downward movement, he quickly cupped her. The rhythm he set up was one that would push her quickly forward, and she was soon gasping much as he had been. Her loosened hand, found its way back to Lantash, and she matched the rhythm she used on him to the one he was using on her. When she realized that she was very close to going over the top, she changed the rhythm she was using to the one that Jolinar assured her would see him finally abandoning all restraint.

She was correct and, within minutes, he was back above her. This was no gentle, careful lovemaking. This was mating pure and simple. Their moans of encouragement to one another, and the feel of their bodies was all that entered their awareness. He pushed her toward her peak…as well as the head of the bed.

Feeling himself nearing completion, he reached between them. Sam tossed her head and gasped as she felt herself rushing toward the edge. They leapt over it together, and he collapsed onto her, his breathing rapid and heavy.

End mild M

Sam was drifting a little, not really aware at first, but it cleared some and she realized that breathing was somewhat difficult. Since her mind was still a little clouded, it took her a minute to figure out why, but when she did, she brought her hands up and to his shoulder, pushing against him feebly and making no inroads on rousing him or getting his attention.

As she began to take stock, she became aware of discomfort in a few other places. He had his arms locked behind her knees, which meant that she was practically folded in half.

She was getting a cramp in her left hip, she couldn't breathe because he was lying on top of her, and her head had made it to the top of the bed where it was pressed against the headboard, and her neck was bent. His breathing was slowing, so she decided to try again. She pushed against his shoulders again, this time with a slight increase in strength, but he was completely limp and the only response she was getting was an unintelligible grunt. She wasn't sure how to get out of this and began to wonder if he was asleep. That would have to be some kind of record, if he was. He hadn't even slipped to the side before he lost it. Poking at Jolinar, she realized that she was in torpor and wondered if perhaps Lantash was, too. She groaned at that thought.

She heard a faint moan from the body on top of her, and it gave her hope. "Lantash? Lantash!"

"Yes, Samantha? What do you need, my love?"

"Well, being able to breathe would be a nice start. Do you think you could move off me? I've got a cramp in my hip and a crick in my neck.

Lantash pushed himself up and glanced around. Suddenly understanding that Samantha literally could not move, he quickly sat up, releasing her legs, and grasping her hips, he pulled her down in the bed, thereby relieving the pressure on her head and neck.

Sam sent him a mischievous smile, asking, "Next time can we start lower in the bed?"

He lay down beside her, and smiling in return, he assured her, "I will be sure that we do so, Samantha. I am sorry that I went into torpor so heavily…and so quickly."

She nodded her understanding. "Jolinar went into it immediately, too."

"I do not doubt that at all. It was a very intense bout of lovemaking. I am sorry if I hurt you at all."

"You didn't. I enjoyed it very much. I'm already looking forward to experiencing it again. Perhaps not tonight, but soon, I promise."

"I am glad that you do not have your heart set upon it, my love, for I am not sure that we could accommodate you tonight."

"I'm sure you could manage, but I'm just as sure that I couldn't do it." She sent him another smile, and then swung her legs out of bed. Standing, she grimaced, until she noticed that there were some tissues being thrust into her hands. "Thank you. I'll be right back."

"Take your time, Samantha; there is no need to hurry. We will be here when you return."

She sent him a dazzling smile and made her way to the bathroom. She'd never considered that being, well—married—she supposed, would work this well with the nature of her job. She couldn't have found a better solution and lover, if she'd gone out and deliberately looked for one. Finished with her body's needs and her ablutions, she returned to the other room.

She walked soundlessly to the foot of the bed and stood there…doing nothing more than watching them. They were on top of the rumpled bed covers, their eyes closed, one arm curved upward, and lying under their head, which was turned slightly toward the side of the bed, on which she would lie down. The other arm lay at their side, their hand relaxed with the fingers open instead of curled into a fist indicating just how very relaxed they were. Their body was turned very slightly toward her side of the bed, and the leg that would be nearest to her was bent at the knee with his foot lying under his other leg. He was totally relaxed, except for a certain portion of his anatomy. That was amazing in itself, after two such intense lovemaking sessions where they peaked hard both times.

She smiled softly at the unintentionally erotic pose, and Jolinar awoke from her torpor, joining her in her unashamed enjoyment of gazing at them. He was certainly a handsome man, but more important than that was that he was also handsome on the inside. She hadn't known him long herself, but the centuries that Jolinar had known him, and the century that they had been joined, showed her that he was everything that he appeared to be. He truly was handsome, kind, gentle, extremely intelligent, no doubt reaching her and Daniel's level with ease, and then surpassing them, loving, logical, and just plain wonderful. And Martouf shared every one of those attributes in equal quantities. He, too, was everything she could possibly have wanted in a mate, a partner, and a lover.

Jolinar reminded her softly, "We must also admit to Lantash's other side, Samantha, the side that is Goa'uld. He can kill the enemy, without a second thought, but then so can most soldiers…at least, with very few second thoughts, for the most part. He is capable of torture; he can close himself off from any of the gentler feelings, if it is necessary. He can slit your throat in a heartbeat, if you threaten him, anything he considers his, or the base and the other Tok'Ra. He is sometimes impatient, has a razor-sharp, sarcastic tongue, and he has a seriously vicious temper; although, he would never take it out on a woman, regardless the reason. He must be the most stubborn being I have ever met, and once his mind is made up, it is as if it were set in stone. Only very good reasons, sound logic, and/or proof that he is incorrect will cause him to change it. His anger is quick to come and at times, just as quick to go, though not always. And last, but by far not the least, he is arrogant, and has to actively work to keep that trait inside. He has become less so over the years, so perhaps there is still hope. Martouf, on the other hand, has almost no arrogance in him and that tempers Lantash."

Sam answered, after thinking over her comments, "Well, Jolinar, if arrogance is his worst personality trait, besides the sharp tongue, and vicious temper, I'm pretty sure that I can live with it. I might have to point it out to him on occasion, but I think I can handle it."

Jolinar agreed with her and then continued to explain the two beings, "Martouf does not share these traits, except for a few. He finds applying torture almost beyond him, no matter how important it is to do it, and he tends to allow Lantash to cut him off from it, if they are in a position where it is necessary. He cannot completely close himself off from gentler feelings. He can slit your throat, for the same reasons that Lantash can, and he is rarely impatient, unlike Lantash. He has a temper that is worse than Lantash's, for Lantash has his under complete control, whereas Martouf, though he would never hurt a woman, tends to break inanimate things. Like Lantash, he has learned to control his anger, but unlike Lantash, his control over it lasts only up to a certain point. It almost never comes out, but when it does, you can expect broken things. He has to be under a great deal of stress to allow it out, whereas Lantash allows his out fairly often, simply because he controls it. He is just as stubborn as Lantash is, so they are doubly stubborn, something that drives me to total exasperation with them. Once either of them get an idea in their heads, it is almost impossible to remove it. However, Martouf is an excellent diplomat, as is Lantash, if he can be convinced to take on that role. His tendency to allow his temper out has to be curbed during those types of missions, and it leaves him feeling—cranky."

Sam almost giggled aloud at Jolinar's final statement. But then, she quickly returned to her perusal of their body, and the information that Jolinar was giving to her.

Her attention was caught by Jolinar as she began to explain more about the two beings that they loved so deeply. "Lantash is afraid of very little, and I would probably call him fearless. He is an excellent operative, doing whatever he has to do to accomplish his mission. However, he will not follow orders blindly, as some of the Tok'Ra will. If he feels that what the Council wants is wrong, he will not do it. I am speaking of things such as Colonel O'Neill did when he refused to carry out his order to destroy Abydos the first time they went there. I am not talking about small things, things that he may disagree with, but which will have no major results or affect anyone, in a negative way. The Council never sends him on a mission he disagrees with, for they know that he will not carry out their agenda. Over the years, he has been proven correct, in what he felt the results would be, and things have turned out, exactly as he predicted they would. It is one of the reasons that many on the Council will welcome him, and also, why they often seek his Counsel. Lantash is a very strong being, in a physical sense, a mental sense, and an emotional sense. Martouf shares these traits, however, he does not have the iron control over his emotions that Lantash usually has. There is nothing wrong with that, and truth to tell, his control over his emotions is actually very impressive, even if it is not as hardened as Lantash's is. Of course, Lantash has had two thousand years in which to learn that control."

Sam sent her understanding, before glancing at the sleeping forms again. They appeared comfortable, and so she made her way to a nearby chair, and curled up in it. She gathered her thoughts, then turned her attention to Jolinar and told her, "I…Jolinar, I can't believe I've fallen, so far into love, so fast. Is it because of your love for them? Do I not really love them, but since you do, it appears that I do as well?"

Jolinar was quiet for quite some time before she spoke, softly, telling her, "I cannot truly answer that question, my Sam. I have never been in your position. I will tell you that it is why we attempt to withhold our own emotions, at first, so that our Lifemate can come to know and care for their new mate. I believe that you were very attracted to them, even before we knew they were our mates, so at that point; we know you were not influenced by my emotions."

"I still kept my emotions back from you, as much as I could, even after we found out that they were our mates, and you continued to care more for them. To me this means that you were on your way to loving them, then, and, if you will remember, you were sure you loved them a few days ago. I see no reason that your love would have stopped developing. As far as I know, they have not disgusted or repelled you. You enjoy their lovemaking and being with them. In fact, we both look forward to being with them. And I am not speaking of making love. I am speaking of looking for them to enter a door and walk into a room. As soon as they appear, the entire area is brighter and happier, although nothing has really changed about it."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right. It just, you know, bothers me sometimes. Don't be upset, but it's almost as if my will is gone, and I have to feel what you feel, whether I want to or not."

"Ah, I see. You have heard us say that we love as one, and we mourn as one. Do not take it quite so literally, my Sam. Yes, we do love as one. Our emotions blend and so, we love as one. However, there is a caveat to this. It only works this way, if we wish it to. If you had taken either of them in dislike, then it would have been very difficult to change your feelings. Just as you can make the blending difficult or easy, you can refuse to feel what I feel, just as I can refuse to feel what you feel. It is the intent with which one approaches anything."

She paused, thinking, before saying, "Do you remember my first taste of coffee? I disliked it intensely. Your feelings about it are very different. You almost have a love affaire with it. Now, I could have continued to dislike it intensely, but that made no sense, as it would only have caused problems. You would feel guilty for 'forcing' me to drink it, or you would have resented having to stop drinking it. So, our emotions were totally different, and they would have remained that way, except that I made a conscious decision to learn to like it. So every time you drink coffee, I allow your feelings for the flavor to enter my own emotion. As you are aware, I have come to a point, where I am thinking more kindly of it. Soon we will love coffee as one. Do you see what I mean?"

"Love is not so different. Had you taken them in dislike, my emotions would never have entered yours, and you would have retained your dislike of them. Perhaps over time you would have learned to like them better, when you saw things about them that you liked. But you did not dislike them; you were drawn to them rather strongly. You began to love them as you, Samantha Carter. Since you were not against them, your own emotions accepted mine, and so they were incorporated into your own. For us, we love as one and we will mourn as one. So, it is true that we do love as one; however, that is a choice, not an absolute. Does this help any at all?"

It was Sam's turn to sit quietly and think before turning back to Jolinar, and telling her, "I understand it better now…and, something else occurred to me, as I was thinking about it. You said that my emotions take yours and blend them. So in essence, you are correct, and I did accept your feelings for them. But something else occurred to me. I, me, Samantha Carter, feel these emotions. There is no maybe, might, or could about it. It occurred to me that, if I feel them, then it doesn't really matter whose they were to begin with because they are now mine. I feel them; whether or not they started out as yours or as mine, no longer matters. They are mine and I accept them. And that is that."

Jolinar indicated that she understood what Sam was saying. "I think that is very true, Samantha. You are feeling these things. All you must do is claim them as your own, and they are your own."

Sam uncurled her legs from beneath her, and stood. "Let's go see if we can give our lovers a wakeup call, if they haven't recovered yet. What do you say?"

"I believe that, while you were thinking so deeply, they went to the facilities and cleaned up. I think we will find them awaiting our return. Probably very impatiently."

She turned around from where she stood up and saw that Jolinar was indeed right. They were leaning against the headboard. They even had the sheet drawn over them, sort of, so she guessed it was an attempt not to embarrass her. She hoped that, after what just took place between them that her embarrassment would be a thing of the past anyway.

"Martouf and Lantash are not overly modest, no."

Sam laughed softly, as she walked toward the bed. "I never would have known if you hadn't told me, Jol."

Jolinar grinned back at her, as she pulled her gown up, so that she could get into bed. Sam gave Martouf a smile, asking, "Has Lantash awakened, yet? Jolinar is up and around."

"Yes, he is very much awake. Come lie down beside us, Samantha. Let us simply hold you close to us for a time. I know that we should be readying for sleep, however, I am not sleepy, and you do not look as if you are either."

She shook her head no. "No, I'm not sleepy. In fact, I feel full of energy. I would imagine it will catch up to us all at once."

"I am quite sure that it will." He agreed with her comments, as she snuggled up to his side. His hand found its way to the neckline of her gown, and one of his fingers ran slowly along its edge a few times, before his hand slipped down to cup a breast. She heard the sharp intake of breath, just before he pulled his hand away. "You are like an addiction to us. We see you, and all we can do is think about touching you."

She looked at him, and he could tell that whatever she was going to say, it was a serious thing. "If that's true, Martouf, then we can't be on the same SG team. You can't allow yourself to be distracted by me or anything else. All of our lives depend on all of us giving a hundred and twenty-five percent."

He wanted to discuss her comments, but first he had to know why she gave an odd number of percentages for them to give. He could not let it go; he had to ask, "Samantha, why did you give such an odd percentage?"

She grinned at him, her face and eyes alight with mischief, before she answered his question, "Because, we have to take up the slack that Daniel leaves. He rarely notices anything around him, unless it is very old, long dead, or written in some obscure language that neither he nor anyone else on Earth has ever seen or heard of before."

His eyes lit up and he laughed aloud, nodding. "I have only been here a few days, and yet, I believe that I was already aware of that. It is just such an integral part of him that, he would seem incomplete without it. So, I believe that I was aware of it, but had not yet had cause to put it into words. Lantash agrees with me." He stopped talking for a moment and his voice sobered, as he told her, "I should tell you that Lantash will be very protective of Daniel Jackson."

Sam looked startled and immediately asked for clarification, "Why? Why would he be more protective of him? Well, other than, he isn't a soldier. Of course, that's reason enough, really, and that's why we all protect him. Well, and because we all love him. He really is a wonderful person."

"Daniel Jackson is very much like an old friend of Lantash's. He was quite a bit older than Lantash, a Goa'uld that came over to Egeria's side. He was just as absent minded, as our Daniel is. He studied history. Historical buildings, caves, temples, anything that was old, would find him there, completely lost to the world around him. He spoke a great many languages, and he would talk to people from different cultures, as long as he could, before they pulled him away. He was kind and caring. He would do anything that was within his power to do for a friend, and he did not lie. Lantash still misses him upon occasion when something reminds him of Set'tash and Aethelon. Daniel even looks very much like him, Samantha. All of these things will weigh on Lantash, and he will take a great interest in protecting him, I assure you."

"I have to assume that something happened to him?" Sam asked, although she was fairly sure that she knew the answer.

"Yes. They were on an unoccupied world, where they found some ancient Temples. He was working on some translations when Jaffa arrived. There were only three Tok'Ra there, and many more Jaffa than they could dispense alone. They could tell by the number of footprints that they were badly outnumbered."

"I'm sorry. I know how much it hurts to lose a friend."

Martouf's eyes glowed, and Lantash came fore, accepting her condolences. "Thank you, Samantha. It was a very long time ago now. However, Daniel Jackson does resemble him to the point that it is almost eerie. Believers in reincarnation would no doubt swear that he is one and the same." He smiled at her, and hurried on before she could comment, saying, "But, must we speak of long lost friends? I would rather feel your lips upon mine, Mer FyCariadon kea. Or talk of something that is filled with less sorrow. Perhaps like our future, and what it means to Martouf and I that Jolinar has finally accepted her Council seat and both of you will now be with us more often than she was before she took it."

Jolinar came fore and reached out to caress his face. "I am sorry I did not listen to you, Lantash. I should not have gone on that last mission, although in the end it is for the best. Cordesh could have done a great deal more damage than he did, and we might not have found him for a very long time."

"Rosha and I missed you very much. More than we ever have before, I believe. It often felt as if a piece of us was missing. That piece is now in place. You are back in my arms, in Samantha's arms. She loves you herself, Lantash, not only from my emotions. I think we decided that, since she was so very attracted to you, before we knew what you were to us. She was concerned that the love was all mine, and not really hers, but I believe that she has worked through those thoughts and beliefs. Now that you are aware of that, let us move on to some happier topics."

He smiled at her, agreeing, "Very well, Jolinar. Tell me, how do you believe the new hosts will turn out? Do you believe that it will work?"

"I do. If we are careful and make sure that they understand what they are getting into, then I see no problems." She frowned, as she listened to Sam.

"There is still the problem of families. They haven't decided on exactly who will be told. Wives or husbands are the first concern and then older children. And then parents. The Tok'Ra probably won't want a bunch of kids running around the tunnels. I would assume that a wife with no children would be accepted, as a mate would be. Our government will have to make some tough decisions. It's one thing for a husband or wife to be in one of the specialty branches of the service. It won't last the rest of their lives, so they'll eventually put it behind them. But this is forever. It won't be going away. I think they are going to have to brief them and give them a chance to go or stay."

"Yes, you are very right, Samantha. It is something that they must decide upon soon. I believe that the first candidates we get will be unmarried. It makes sense to take them first, as it will be less likely to be a problem."

Jolinar turned back to Lantash, saying, "Samantha was pointing out what could prove to be a stumbling block. Wives, children, and parents. As you are aware, the people of this world know nothing about the Chaappa'ai, or aliens. Their government still has to decide who they will tell and who they will not. Samantha believes that at the least they must tell wives or husbands as the case may be. It may even have to be a joint decision between husband and wife. There are still many things for us to do and accomplish. This is a new type of venture for us, Lantash. It is new in every way. Never have we actually sent people to join and live with a new ally. Never before have we had a chance to have hosts waiting rather than having to look for one and hoping against hope that one will be found in time. Although I miss Rosha…I must confess that I believe that something very good came out of her death. I would not be here, and we would not now be allied with the Tau'ri. I believe it is a goodness, and that we will find that the Universe has blessed us."

Lantash nodded, as he gave thought to her words, and he was surprise when Jolinar addressed him again. "Lantash, I am still somewhat tired. I know it is not like me, however, neither is it unheard of for me to be totally 'wiped out', as my Sam would say, after I have gone through something as traumatic as this has been…for many months, now. From the time that Cordesh alerted Cronus to our presence, I have been under a great deal of stress, and I have had a great deal of trouble sleeping, sometimes going for days at a time without sleep. I have talked to Janet about it and also to Arwanna. She checked me over thoroughly and agreed with Janet. Physically, I am fine; however the mental and emotional turmoil, the constantly needing to be alert to attack, just everything all together, now that I am finally safe, is telling me to sleep, rest, and sleep some more. Would you be terribly insulted, if I went to sleep now?"

Leaning down he kissed her very softly, assuring her, "No, Mer Cor, I would not mind. I am quite sure that you are in need of the extra rest. I know how you usually respond to being under stress for long stretches. I have no problem with speaking to Samantha."

She reached up and twining her fingers into his hair, she kissed him deeply. "Thank you, my love. I do appreciate it. Goodnight." As she whispered the last word, her eyes gleamed and Sam came forward.

"Goodnight, Jolinar. Um, did you want to be awakened if we, ah, well, if we make love again?"

"No, thank you, Samantha. I may awaken on my own, but if I do not, then do not bother to awaken me. I may, and probably will, awaken Lantash or Martouf later in the night and spend some time with one of them, so I will miss nothing, I assure you."

"Very well. I'll allow you to continue to sleep. May your dreams be pleasant."

"Thank you. Goodnight, my Sam."

Sam looked up into Lantash's eyes, and smiled at him, saying, "I'm sorry. I was saying goodnight to Jolinar."

"I suspected that was what was happening. There is no need to apologize, Samantha. If you do so every time you speak to Jolinar, you will spend a great deal of time just doing that. We all understand, and it is an accepted part of our lives."

"Yes, I suppose that's true. I wasn't looking at it from that point of view, but I can see that you're correct. I'll try to remember not to do it."

"Good." He leaned down and kissed her, whispering, "We love you and are looking forward to spending our time with you. With both of you." He gave her a small smile and asked, "Are you looking forward to what lies ahead of us, Samantha? I realize much of it will be routine to you, but to us, it will be an entirely new way to do reconnaissance and search for weapons to use against the Goa'uld."

"I'll admit that most of the time it's pretty routine, but when it's not, it really goes FUBAR."

"FUBAR? What is this?"

"It, um, means…Fouled up beyond all repair."

Knowing she was not telling the entire truth, he decided to let it drop. Obviously, something about it made her slightly uncomfortable. He would ask Teal'c or Daniel. "I see. Interesting."

"Yeah, well, that's how it goes around the SGC. Things can go south very quickly." She smiled at him, adding, "You'll see what I mean, I'm sure. Give it time."

"I do not doubt you, Samantha. I suspect that disruptions are fairly regular."

"You're right."

They lay quietly for a moment, before Lantash asked her, "Do you believe that you will enjoy being a host?"

Sam moved down in the bed, and encouraged him to follow her, which he did. Once they were situated with nice soft pillows under their heads, she moved closer than she could when they were both leaning against the headboard, which became hard after a while. She cuddled up to him and then answered him briefly, "Yes."

As he frowned down at her, she raised her head, and smiled at him. "Yes, Lantash, I am quite sure that I will and am enjoying being a host. I enjoy Jolinar. I like her company, her sense of humor, her knowledge, and her personality. If something were to happen to her, I would be devastated."

He smiled down and her, saying, "Thank you, Samantha. I would find it very difficult if you were not happy. Your happiness has become very important to Martouf and I. Our love for you has grown swiftly, until now you mean so much to us that only the thought that you might be less than happy bothers us greatly."

"There is nothing to be worried over. I'm quite happy to be with Jolinar." She paused for a moment. There was something in the back of her mind that was nagging at her. Had they been talking about something that was never finished? Yes, they had. She turned farther over, throwing a leg across Lantash and leaning on him, as she raised herself on her elbow. "Lantash, we were talking about what Martouf said about not being able to concentrate when you are around me. If that is true, then…"

He pressed his fingers to her lips, and then explained, "He did not mean all the time, Samantha. I will let him explain himself in a moment, if you still wish it, but I will tell you what I believe to be true." He paused and gathered his thoughts, before telling her, "When we are on a mission, other things do not interfere with our concentration." He smiled wryly, as he continued, "Would we still want you while we are on a mission? Of course. Will we allow you to invade our minds and override all other considerations? Of course not. Are you a distraction? Most of the time, yes. But, and that is an important but, Not while we are on a mission. It would be folly to allow ourselves to become so enraptured by your presence that we lost all concentration. If for no other reason, Samantha, we will not allow our need and desire for you to take over our minds during missions because to do so could cause your death. That is what will be in the forefront of our minds, while we are on a mission. We could get you killed, if we are less than…ah, a hundred and twenty-five percent…alert. So, please put it out of your mind. It will not happen. As for what he meant, I will allow him to tell you himself." Leaning forward he kissed her quickly before lying back down. He gave her another slight smile and added, "You are, however, always on my mind. You may not be taking the center of my thoughts, but you are there in the back of my mind. And that is not a bad thing at all. I know, too, that you are always on Martouf's mind. It is not something that will cause us to be distracted; you and Jolinar are always a presence there."

Sam watched as they traded places. Martouf smiled quickly, as soon as he had complete control. "I am sorry that I worried you, Samantha. I must also apologize for not answering that question of yours earlier. We began to talk of other things, and I am afraid that I forgot it. So, to reassure you, Pro`n Ma'tae, Lantash is correct. Missions are not a place where we would allow our thoughts to linger on you, much as we would like to do so. Should we be so reckless and irresponsible, as to allow our concentration and alertness to wander, and be less than it should be, then we might get all of us killed. The thought of losing you through our own carelessness is not acceptable. As Lantash told you, there is nothing for you to worry about, I promise you."

Sam smiled at him. "I'm glad. I'm looking forward to working with you." She looked down for a moment, before lifting her head and gazing into his eyes. "I'm looking forward to doing a lot of things with you and Lantash, Martouf. I look forward to waking up in the morning with you next to me. I look forward to doing all kinds of every day, mundane things with you. I look forward to looking at the stars with you, and watching a storm cross over the mountains. I want to know you both, and I look forward to being as we are now, and listening as you tell me of your life before I entered it. I want to know everything from your favorite color to your favorite food. I want to know everything about the two of you, and I look forward to the times we spend together, as I learn those things. I know that I could learn them from Jolinar, but I don't want to do that. I want to learn about you, from you. I want to walk into our future together."

Martouf gave her his sweetest smile, the one that caused her to want to melt. "I, too, am looking forward to learning of you, Samantha, as is Lantash." He reached up and brushed her hair aside from where it had fallen over her forehead. "We are looking forward to all of the things which you mentioned. And we are looking forward to experiencing life here on the Tau'ri world with you as our guide and mentor in all things, er, American, as well as Tau'ri.

Daniel has begun to teach us of the Tau'ri world. Of this country, how young it is, of the other countries, both allies and enemies. We have started with the beginnings of this country and the one above us, Canada, I believe, and he said that the first people to settle this world were considered to be European, but that there were native people already here. Many of today's citizens come from that area of the world; however, he has also explained that the United State is called a 'melting pot', because people from all over the world have come here to start a new life. Not all stay within their own ethnic group, but marry outside of it, which mixes and melts the people together, as does the fact that they all live in this country together, many nationalities merging into one new one…American, or in the case of your neighboring country, Canadians. He said that many, many countries take in other nationalities, but Canada and the United States have been populated almost entirely by other nationalities, since only the American Indians were here before the Europeans came and settled here. It is very interesting to us, my love; however I can see that it is perhaps not your favorite subject, so we will resume our previous discussion."

Sam gave him a wide smile and a quick kiss on the cleft in his chin, as he returned to their previous discussion, saying, "We look forward to meeting Dr. Kennedy and the first of the possible hosts. We look forward to working with you on the Advisory Council and eventually the High Council." He paused for a short time, before saying, very softly, "And we look forward to the day that you become our Queen, should it ever happen." He reached up and gave her a sweet and lingering kiss, just after saying that. After searching her eyes, and evidently being satisfied by what he read there, he continued, "There are exciting things in our future, my love. Some will happen soon, and some will happen later, but whatever, wherever, and whenever they happen; we will face them, see them, and live them together. That is our promise to you and Jolinar."

He pulled her lips towards his, and soon they settled, at first, as light as a butterfly. But as they drank from one another, the kiss deepened. He sat up and helped her to do the same. Then he stated, as he carefully moved it from under her and swept it over her head, "This is a truly lovely gown, Samantha; however, did we not remove it once already tonight? I distinctly remember Lantash flinging it halfway across the room."

A soft laugh was his only answer, as her mouth was too busy placing kisses across his shoulder, up his throat, and across his jawline, to answer him verbally. He lowered her back onto the bed, and pulled away from the heat of her mouth, even though he did not want to. He gazed his fill at her. She was so beautiful. And she was theirs. She was their mate, and they had a lifetime to discover everything there was to know about her. But first, they would practice making love to her. You could never get too much practice; he and Lantash definitely agreed on that.

Soon soft moans interspersed with quiet words filled their room. They were lost in a world of their own. The world they were building for one another. The one they were building together.

Martouf gazed at her, love shining from his eyes, before he lowered his lips to hers once again, and breathed across them, "We love you and Jolinar, Samantha, more than our own lives. This is our vow to you and Jolinar. We will be with you and love you, forever."

Sam gazed back at him, drowning in his eyes, and he could see the love gleaming within her eyes for them, as she murmured softly, "As we love you, Martouf, you, and Lantash. We will love you, until the very end of time and beyond. This is our vow to you and Lantash. We will be with you and love you, forever."

The End

Thank you for reading. Feedback would be appreciated, and don't forget to leave me a note telling me what you would like to see resolved in a sequel.

Pagan