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Casey pulled on her boots. "I never realized how absolutely wonderful going barefoot is," she grumbled.

"I kind of liked the naked part, myself," Daniel grinned, pulling his tee shirt over his head. He took his glasses from the case where they had been for the past three and a half days, and put them on.

She looked up at him. "That was nice. Seeing you...all of you...all day long..." She gave an appreciative shiver.

"View wasn't nearly as good as what I had," he replied. He checked the straps on his pack. "Ready?"

"Yep." She stood up, shrugged the pack onto her back. She glanced around. "I'm going to miss this little hut."

"Me, too," he said softly. For three days and four nights they had made love, had laughed and talked and held one another. They'd played in the ocean, and made love in it several times. Precious moments that he would treasure in his heart forever.

Casey popped the last bit of fruit into her mouth, a few pieces of which had been all that was on the tray that morning. "After a two hour hike, I'm going to be ready for lunch," she declared.

"Sonic?"

"Deal!"

They stepped out of the hut. Neither were surprised to see the young man who had led them to the hut standing nearby, waiting for them. Daniel smiled and nodded, received a shy smile in return. Without a word their guide turned and disappeared into the jungle. Their respite in paradise was over. It was time to return to their own world, and their duties therein.

The hike was much easier during the cooler morning hours, although their guide stopped at the same small stream where they'd taken a much needed break on their trek to their hidden paradise. At least, Daniel thought, it looked like the same stream. He wondered briefly if it was the same as the narrow stream of water that fed the small pool that had served as their bath...where they'd made love numerous times as well. He couldn't help but smile at that thought. He was certain they had made love more often during the past three days than they had on their honeymoon. That, he was sure, was due to the fact that they were more in love than ever, and more comfortable with each other...able to indulge their whims and fantasies.

Casey looked up to find Daniel staring at her, a slight smile tugging at his lips. She couldn't help but smile back at him. "I don't think any day can get better than the three we just spent together," she said softly.

"It was incredible," he agreed.

"You were incredible," she replied.

"So were you."

Her smile widened. "We're good together."

Daniel reached out, pulled her close. "We're the best, together."

The guide cleared his throat softly, grinned widely at them, then pointed toward the path. When the light skinned man nodded, he led the way, well aware that the hands of the two visitors remained entwined.

A  A  A  A  A  A

The members of the team emerged from various paths at nearly the same time. Gracie blushed brightly when the others looked over at where she and Teal'c waited, having been the first to arrive, just minutes before the others. The guides gave the group large smiles and waves, then turned and disappeared once again into the jungle.

Jack heaved a sigh. "Let's go home, campers."

The Stargate was visible several hundred yards away. Casey fell into step beside the older man. "So, Jack, get sunburned on any sensitive parts?"

He jerked, looked at her, caught the innocent glance. Innocent my Aunt Fanny! "You're a smartass."

"Should I take that as a yes?"

"No, you should not," he replied. He glanced at Daniel, who was walking on the other side of his wife, a smirk on his face. "Daniel have any sunburns I should worry about?"

"Nope. But he's got a few hickeys. In some very creative places, too."

Daniel's cheeks went crimson, and Jack coughed twice. Both men watched the slender blonde bounce ahead of them to join the other women. "She's a smartass," Jack repeated.

"Yep."

"So uh...where are they?"

"Beats the hell out of me," Daniel replied. "I haven't found any."

"You should know where she put them," Jack insisted.

"Jack...damned near dead. Needed to go over the edge. She could have hit me with a sledge hammer and I doubt I would have noticed at the moment."

He narrowed his eyes, studied the back of his best friend's wife. "That's where Sam learned all those damned sadistic tricks!"

Daniel chuckled. "What a way to go."

"Damned straight."

A  A  A  A  A  A

General Hammond was waiting for the team at the bottom of the ramp. "Welcome home, SG-1."

"Thank you, sir," Jack grinned. "Rested, relaxed, and ready to kick some Goa'uld ass."

The general smiled. "Glad to hear that. Briefing at oh-seven hundred."

"Anything we should know about?"

"Just a first contact mission," Hammond replied. "MALP and UAV images show a fairly large town, and there has been quite a bit of interest in the equipment. You'll see footage tomorrow before you leave."

"Any idea of who these people might be, who they might be related to?" Daniel asked.

"I'll leave that to you to determine," the general replied.

Jack glanced at his watch. It was just after seven p.m. "With your permission sir," he said.

"I'll see you all first thing in the morning," the general said. "By the way, happy anniversary, Doctor Jackson, Casey."

"Thank you, sir," Casey smiled.

"Thanks, General," Daniel said.

A  A  A  A  A  A

The restaurant was one of the finest in Colorado Springs. Daniel looked striking in his black suit, his black shirt and tie making him look dashing and sophisticated. Casey was wearing the black dress that he loved so much. They were on the dance floor, holding one another tightly, moving to the soft strains of Celine Dion's 'Because You Loved Me'.

"Happy anniversary, Angel," Daniel whispered.

"Happy anniversary, Sweetheart," Casey whispered in reply. She sighed happily. "I never thought I'd ever say those words, to anyone," she admitted.

"I've never said them to anyone, either," he told her. "I'm in uncharted waters now. Sha're was taken from me just a few weeks before our first anniversary. The longest relationship I'd had before that was four months."

She contemplated what he had said. "Destiny."

He smiled, pressed his lips against her temple. "Destiny. Ready for dessert?"

"I couldn't eat another bite," she objected.

"You're sure? We could order something to go," he suggested.

"Now that is a wonderful idea!"

"I have them, from time to time," he teased. As soon as the last note had faded away, he led her back to the table, signaled for the waiter. Poured the last of the champagne while they waited for the man to reach them.

"Thank you," she said softly. "For a perfect anniversary. For a wonderful year. For loving me."

"Thank you," he said. "For making me complete, for bringing happiness and laughter into my life...for loving me."

The waiter had arrived, listed the desserts available, answering Casey's eager questions with charm. She decided on the layered Devil's Food Cake, Daniel chose the Chocolate cheesecake. When the desserts arrived, packaged and ready to go, they agreed that their evening had ended. They had a mission briefing to attend early in the morning.

It was cold, the wind had picked up, and there was a hint of snow in the air. Daniel kept his arm around her, held her close as they hurried toward the parking lot and the jeep.

"To think, just this morning I was running around naked in a tropical paradise," she grumped.

"Someday we'll live in Sicily. Doesn't get this cold there."

"A little house on the beach."

"Just the two of us."

"Sounds perfect to me!"

He smiled. Held her fingers to his lips as they waited for the jeep to warm up. "I love you."

"I love you," she replied.

A  A  A  A  A  A

Daniel turned out the light, she snuggled closer to his side. The poking that always meant something was going to 'come through', and that had started as soon as General Hammond had mentioned a mission, was growing stronger. When she heard Miss Eloise's warnings echo in her head, she groaned mentally. Something told her that the coming months would be as trying as the previous spring had been. Mondays and spring. What was it about them that were so damned annoying? She pushed the troublesome thoughts away. There was nothing she could do at the moment. She didn't have a clue what was ahead for them...although she was certain that the information would be dumped into her head sooner or later...hopefully sooner. She closed her eyes. Hoped that their few days of peace would be enough to see them through what they were about to face.

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