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Boxes were strewn everywhere, mostly in the rooms where they belonged. Daniel had surprised Casey with a 'belated anniversary gift' of new living room furniture: a sofa and two side chairs, along with four new tables - coffee table, sofa table and two end tables. The old furniture was in the basement. Daniel planned to put up walls and make a large family room in the near future, where the old furniture could be used.

Casey was unwrapping crystal and china, and wiping each piece carefully before she put it in her new china cabinet. When Sam and Tessa arrived, they moved into the kitchen, and had everything unpacked and in its place in no time. She sighed. "I wish Teal'c and Carly were here," she said.

Sam gave her a hug. "I know. I miss them, too. But Master Bra'tac needed his help with the new Jaffa, and they're working on a plan to infiltrate Penatil's Jaffa ranks."

"I know. At least he'll be here for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I told him he wasn't missing any more family holidays!"

Sam and Tessa exchanged smiling glances. "I’m sure he was thrilled to hear that!" Tessa teased.

"Hey, I told him he's family, there's no getting out of it," Casey said, her eyes dancing.

"What did he say to that?" Sam asked.

Casey giggled. "He said, and I quote, 'Indeed. Then I shall see to it that I am present for each family function'. I told him that he'd darned well better be, and that Rya'c and Kar'yn and little Ro'nac are most welcome as well."

"We'll all be together for the wedding," Tessa said. "Carly told me that they're still trying to decide on the date. Duncan has already arranged for everything they need to go through the 'gate whenever they're ready."

"Jack is already speculating on what Teal'c will be like once they complete the Ceremony of Fire," Sam giggled.

"Yeah, that will be something to see, won't it?" Casey laughed. "It's funny enough watching our guys fight the Fire…it could be downright interesting watching the Jaffa fight it!" Tessa and Sam laughed with her.

Daniel came into the kitchen. "Do you have any idea how damned heavy that bed is?"

"No, can't say that I do," Casey replied. "Is this your way of telling me to come show you where I want it?"

"Perceptive woman," he grinned.

She tossed a wadded up newspaper at him. "Just so you know, Doctor Jackson, I happen to be quite fond of that heavy damned bed."

He grabbed her in a hug. "You just like it 'cause you can tie me down on it," he whispered in her ear.

She giggled. 'Oh yeah! I kinda like the fact that I can be tied down to it, too.'

'Is that a hint, Mrs. Jackson?'

'Too subtle?'

He cracked up. 'Well, I'll see what I can do.'

Tessa and Sam looked at each other and giggled. They had a pretty good idea what the silent conversation between the two was about.

A  A  A  A  A  A

Jack and Duncan were standing in the bedroom waiting. "Tell me where you want this thing now, Jackson, because I’m not moving the damned thing again!" Jack grumped.

"Wow, you even put it back together correctly…without instructions. I'm impressed!" Casey teased when she entered the room.

"We can un-put it together, too!" Duncan threatened, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm.

"Okay, I want in on that wall," she said, pointing, "and I want it centered."

"Figures," Jack said.

She watched them move the huge brass frame. "More to the left. No, my left…no, that's too much. Back to the right…my right, guys, pay attention! No…too much…back…just a little bit…right there!"

The three men were breathing heavily, and they dropped to the floor.

"Did you remember to put the floor protectors under the legs?" she asked.

Daniel groaned.

"I guess I can do it later," she said.

"No, we'll do it now," Daniel said wearily.

"You really get on my nerves," Jack said, rolling his eyes at her. "What's to protect? There's six inches of carpet here!"

Casey giggled at the exaggeration. The main rooms of the house were hardwood, the foyer had a beautiful slate tile inset in the middle of it, the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room were tiled, but the bedrooms all had top of the line carpet in them. "It will keep the legs from catching on the carpet and tearing it," she said.

Jack and Duncan lifted each leg, and Daniel slipped the plastic discs into place.

"Satisfied?" Jack asked.

"Yep. Can you get the box springs and mattress on okay, or should I supervise that?"

"Jackson, so help me god I'm going to get you!" Jack growled.

"Promises, promises!" She danced out of the room before the man could get to his feet and come after her.

He flopped to his back and grinned. "This Immortal business is all right. Give me a few minutes to catch my breath, and I can chase her smart ass down the street!"

Daniel and Duncan chuckled from where they sat on the floor.

A  A  A  A  A  A

Casey called and ordered pizzas, and pulled three six-packs of beer from the fridge. "Okay, you guys did a great job, you didn't break anything, or bang my new walls, so here's to you, the best moving crew in Hope," she said, raising a bottle of Miller Genuine Draft to Daniel, Jack and Duncan.

"Now this is what I’m talking about," Jack grinned. He downed half the bottle in one swallow.

The group of friends opted to sit on the deck and eat their pizza and drink beer, watching the sun sink below the mountains that surrounded them.

"I'm glad we're all living in the same neighborhood," Casey said softly.

"Me, too," Sam replied. "I don't think I could handle not being just up the street from you…I'm too accustomed to being able to see you every day."

Casey leaned her head against the taller blonde's shoulder. "I know exactly what you mean. Just like the day that Emmie got her fingers caught in the door, Jack was right there to help out. And now my other best friend will be just around the corner," she said, reaching out and grabbing Tessa's hand.

"I too, will enjoy being near my best friends," Tessa said softly.

Duncan took a drink of beer. "It makes me more comfortable knowing that we're all closer…if we need each other for whatever reason." The men shared a knowing look. Duncan still hadn't confirmed what Unlinkil had said to Aaron. The men had opted to keep quiet; so far, the five of them were the only ones aware that Nergal might still be alive. Duncan had called them all together, and they had discussed the pros and cons of letting the news out. Since it wasn't verified, was actually nothing more than a suspicion, they had decided that it would be better to keep the…news…between them. Especially for Casey's sake. None of them believed Casey would fare well knowing that the Goa'uld who had tortured her was still alive. The men had also discussed the latest report from Methos' spies among the NID. There was still a chance that the group would attempt to kidnap Daniel and Casey. Living in the secure neighborhood was one step in protecting them.

"Now, all we have to do is convince Carly and Teal'c to buy a house here, and we'll have the team together," Casey said.

"I heard that Evan Parker and his wife are getting a house over on Lynden Drive," Jack said.

Casey giggled. "Want to bet that the major will have a long list of boys not allowed to come visit his daughter?"

Quiet laughter ensued. "I predict it won't be long until two other fathers are doing that," Sam giggled.

"Don't have to worry about that for several years," Jack said calmly, grabbing another slice of pizza.

Casey giggled again. "Don't bet on it. Wait 'til Evvie starts preschool," she said. "Emmie told me this morning that she couldn't be late because Brandon was going to be waiting for her."

"Brandon? Who is Brandon?" Daniel asked immediately.

"Her new boyfriend," Casey replied, smiling up at him.

"New boyfriend?" he asked. He shook his head.

"Yep. Last week it was…I think Tucker was last week," she said, looking up into her husband's shocked face.

"You've got to be kidding! She's three years old! She doesn't even know what the word 'boyfriend' means!" Daniel exclaimed.

"Oh, yes she does," Casey informed him. "In fact, she told me that Brandon was going to marry her, he told her so, and that he liked playing house with her."

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Please! They're just kids. It doesn't mean a thing."

Jack and Duncan were chuckling. "Better be careful, a few more years and some boy telling Emmie that he likes playing house with her will mean a long talk with a shotgun involved," Duncan warned.

Daniel looked at his two friends. "Emmie will be fully aware of all she needs to know to avoid…that," he replied.

Casey burst into giggles again, and turned to Tessa and Sam. "Think I should tell him that LouAnn told me that Tucker gave Emmie a kiss?"

"He what?" Daniel demanded to know.

"Oh, honey relax, they're only kids. She's three, he's four. It's no big deal, happens all the time," Casey said soothingly, her hand moving gently over his shoulders.

"I need to have a talk with that teacher," Daniel grumped. "That is not acceptable behavior for school."

"It's perfectly normal for children this age," Casey informed him.

"Then I'm going to have a talk with Emily. She shouldn't be letting them kiss her!"

Jack and Duncan were in hysterics. "If he's this bad now, wait until that first date," Duncan gasped.

"I want film footage of that," Jack laughed.

"Just wait until Evvie's getting kissed by some boy at preschool," Daniel predicted. Which brought a frown to Jack's face.

The three women began laughing. "You guys are just sad," Sam said, shaking her head.

"As if they have any control over the situation," Casey added, giggling at the looks on their faces.

Jack and Daniel tossed pained looks at their wives. Neither man was willing to admit that they were aware that the women were right.

A  A  A  A  A  A

It was late when the O'Neills and MacLeods finally left. Casey led Daniel to the master bathroom, where they took a shower together, delighting in the twin showerheads, then quickly made the bed and fell into it, too exhausted to do more than cuddle. A plan was already forming in his head before Daniel gave in to sleep. He grinned at the ceiling. If Casey wanted to be tied down, well, it was only right that he gave her what she wanted. And he remembered just how good whipped topping tasted when it came directly off  her sweet skin. Yep, he'd have to give her exactly what she wanted.

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