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No Matter the Time, II...an Alternate Love Story

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Casey stared at herself in the mirror. Her hair was up off of her shoulders, tiny white roses and baby’s breath adorning the soft curls around her head, a few curled tendrils hanging down in back. Her make-up was soft and perfect. Kelley’s mother had sent out her pearl earrings and necklace, and they looked stunning against Casey's creamy skin. The dress that she had chosen followed the soft curves of her body, looking so beautiful that she was afraid she was going to cry.

Kelley and Sam, dressed in matching black strapless sheaths, smiled at her. "You're gorgeous," Kelley said.

"And then some!" Sam declared.

"Okay, we have the new, that’s the dress and the shoes, the something borrowed, that’s the pearls, the blue is on your garter, which I still say should be higher on your thigh," Kelley grinned, "but what about the old?"

"Would the pearls serve as the old, too?" Casey asked.

Kelley shook her head. "Nope, no double duty here. So what are we going to use as the old?"

Sam shared a look with the redhead. "Do you have anything old on, Case?"

Casey giggled. "Nope. New thong, new dress, new shoes."

"Well, this isn’t good," Kelley declared. She grinned. "I’ll be right back." She scurried out of the room and down the hallway to where Daniel waited with Jack and Teal'c, that guy from Africa. She knocked on the door, almost laughed at the panicked look on Daniel’s face when he saw her.

"She’s changed her mind," he said flatly.

Kelley shook her red head. "Not hardly! She keeps watching the clock, she’s already asked twice if we could just do this already. Trust me, Daniel, she wants to marry you! We do have a problem though. We have the new, the borrowed, and the blue, but we don’t have anything old. I thought you might have an idea on what we can use."

"Huh?"

"You know, ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,’" she replied.

"Oh, yeah. Well…" he frowned.

"Here. Tell her to carry this. It’s given me good luck," Jack said, pulling a worn coin from his pocket.

"Cool! Thanks! I’ll make sure this gets back to you," Kelley promised. She dashed back out the door.

Kelley carefully wrapped the coin in a tissue and stuffed it down among the flowers of Casey’s bouquet. "There, now we’ve warded off any possible bad luck!"

There was a knock on the door, and General Hammond entered the room. Casey had asked him to walk her down the aisle three days after meeting him. The older man had been thrilled. He stopped and stared for just a moment. "Casey you look…breathtaking!" he said.

She smiled, a slight blush colored her cheeks. "Thank you. That uniform looks great," she said, admiring the medals and ribbons that decorated the white dress jacket.

"Thank you. Reverend. Marks says it’s time. Are you ready?"

"Absolutely!"

The women grabbed their bouquets, and headed for the vestibule from where they would make their entrance.

On the platform behind the pulpit, a four-piece string quartet, began to play 'To Have, To Hold' by Yanni. The reverend led a very nervous Daniel, and Jack and Teal'c, to stand in front of a white damask-cloth covered table, on which were two tall candelabras with white candles, the tiny flames flickering merrily, and one unlit unity candle.

The gathered guests, who consisted of the people who worked with Daniel and Casey in the mountain, turned to look when the door was opened by two ushers, SFs from SG-6…a team Daniel had worked with on numerous occasions…recruited to do the job.

Sam started down the aisle, smiling brightly as she looked at Daniel. He smiled back, thinking that she looked good in that dress. He gave a sideways glance at Jack. Apparently the older man thought so, too, from the look on his face.

Kelley was next, her red hair piled on top of her head. Her thoughts were in a whirl, she was excited for her friend, so very happy for her, and wondering when she would find the right man. When the lanky redhead had reached the altar, the assembled guests rose to their feet.

His breath caught in his throat when he caught sight of her. The dress she was wearing was stunning, and it accentuated every beautiful curve of her body. She smiled at him, and for one brief moment, he was afraid his knees were going to give out completely. She was so damned beautiful! His heart was hammering in his chest, his pulse was racing, and it was getting hard to breathe. How had he gotten so lucky?

He was gorgeous, standing there in his tux, looking like an ad for GQ, his hands held casually in front of him. His smile was wide and his blue eyes were so full of love she thought she’d die from the happiness that filled her.

When at last they were near enough, Gen. Hammond took her hand and placed it in Daniel's. "Take good care of her, son. I wish both of you the best," the general said softly, a smile on his face.

"I will, sir, thank you, sir," Daniel replied. He let his eyes move back to the beauty who was now standing beside him, her green eyes shining at him, so full of love that it nearly knocked him off of his feet.

"You may be seated," the reverend said. He waited until the guests were sitting once again.

"Working as a chaplain on a military base, so often my work is done in hospitals, being the bearer of sad news to families and friends. But occasionally, I get to do something good, something wonderful. Today is one of those occasions.

"I haven’t known Daniel or Casey very long. What I do know is that I have never met a couple more in love, more…right…for one another. That they should be standing here before you today, pledging themselves to one another before God and their friends is not surprising, not unexpected.

"As is required of me, I must ask now, if there be anyone among you who can show just cause why this man and this woman should not be bound by the bonds of Holy Matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Sam almost giggled out loud when Teal'c turned to look at the assembled faces, daring anyone to speak out.

"Daniel, Casey, you have chosen to write your own vows, and I ask that you now exchange those vows," the reverend said. The couple turned to face one another.

"Casey, from the moment you opened the door, I knew that I loved you, and wanted you with me for the rest of my life. You bring me laughter and sunshine, and happiness like I never imagined existed. I can’t live without you, can’t breathe without you. I need you beside me, for all of eternity. I promise to stand by your side; To encourage you, and be open and honest with you; To laugh with you, and cry with you; To always love and honor you; Both freed and bound by our love. I vow myself to you, heart, mind, body and soul. I belong to you, and no other. My love is yours for all time," he said quietly, firmly.

"Daniel, from the moment I looked up into your blue eyes, I was yours. My heart, my soul knew that at long last The One had found me. You bring me such love and happiness, and peace like I never dreamed of. I can’t live without you, can’t breathe without you. I want to be at your side for all of eternity. I promise to stand by your side; To encourage you, and be open and honest with you; To laugh with you, and cry with you; To always love and honor you; Both freed and bound by our love. I vow myself to you, heart, mind, body and soul. I belong to you and no other. My love is yours for all time." Her voice was soft and strong.

"Daniel, Casey, you have vowed your love to one another. I ask you now, do you accept these vows? Casey do you accept this vow of love from Daniel?" Rev. Marks asked.

"I do," she said firmly, smiling brightly.

"Daniel, do you accept this vow of love from Casey?"

"I do." He winked at her.

"Will you be exchanging rings?"

"We will," they said together. Casey turned to hand her bouquet to Kelley, who in return handed her Daniel’s wedding band.

Daniel turned to Jack for Casey’s wedding band. With a grin, the older man began to check every pocket before finally handing the ring over, bringing laughter from the observers. Daniel shook his head and grinned.

"Daniel, take Casey’s left hand, and place the ring on her finger, and repeat after me," the reverend said.

He took her hand, noted that she was trembling, gave her fingers a gentle squeeze before putting the ring on her finger.

"Casey, I give you this ring,"

"Casey, I give you this ring," Daniel repeated.

"As a token of my vows to you…"

"As a token of my vows to you." He grinned at her as he pushed the band up beside her engagement ring.

"Casey, take Daniel’s left hand and place the ring on his finger and repeat after me."

Casey took his hand, the long, strong fingers again squeezed hers reassuringly.

"Daniel, I give you this ring,"

"Daniel, I give you this ring," her voice quavered slightly.

"As a token of my vows to you,"

"As a token of my vows to you." She pushed the ring onto his finger, sighed that at last it was visible that he was spoken for.

As they had rehearsed, the reverend and the attendants stepped away from the table, and Daniel and Casey stepped forward. They each took a lit candle and held them together over the unity candle.

"As we light this flame together," Daniel said, "let it be a symbol for the love that burns within us for all to see."

"Let this flame burn on in our hearts forever," Casey said softly. "Let its light guide our way."

They returned the candles to the holders, and stepped back, Kelley stepping behind her to move her train.

The minister moved back in front of them. "With the vows given, and rings exchanged, these two have become one in the bonds of love and matrimony. What God has joined together, let no man tear asunder. It is with great pleasure that I pronounce you man and wife. Daniel, you may kiss your bride."

Daniel put his hands around her face. "Love you," he whispered.

"Love you, too," she whispered in reply, just before his lips claimed hers.

"Ahem," came a familiar voice a few moments later. "Come up for air, will ya?" Again the onlookers laughed.

Daniel grinned against her lips, then slowly pulled away.

The minister gently turned them to face their audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is a distinct honor and privilege to be the first to present Doctor and Mrs. Daniel Jackson."

Applause and cheers broke out as Daniel led Casey back down the aisle. Once in the wide vestibule, he stopped and pulled her into his arms. "Love you, Mrs. Jackson," he whispered, holding her tightly.

"Love you, Doctor Jackson," she replied. She snuggled against him for just a moment.

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