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The yard was full of laughing, smiling people, and children seemed to be running everywhere. Daniel carried another tray of hotdogs to the grill, managed to keep from tripping over his daughter, Evelyn O'Neill and Timmy Anderson as they raced by.

Casey was standing at the picnic table, opening another package of buns. She reached out and grabbed her daughter and goddaughter by the collars of their little blouses. "Hey, what did we say about running? Not today, right? There are too many people here for running."

"'Kay, Mommy," Emily nodded.

"'Kay, Auntie Casey," Evelyn said.

Timmy looked up at her and grinned.

She couldn't help but smile. "Why don't you three go play over on the swings?" Daniel and Jack, with Teal'c's help, had spent a weekend building a 'play center' for Emily and Nicholas. The following weekend had been spent building one for Evelyn and Amber. Sam, Casey, and Carly had laughed quietly behind their hands as they watched the men trying to follow the complicated instructions that they had downloaded from the Internet. What should have taken no more than an afternoon took the men the entire weekend, although they managed to cut the time down by a few hours when the O'Neill's play center was built.

Wade hesitated at the gate. He held the brightly wrapped box awkwardly in his hands. He didn't belong here. He was about to put the gift on the ground beside the gate, and simply slip away when Casey looked over and noticed him. His heart lurched at the welcoming smile she gave him.

"Daniel? Sweetheart, Wade is here," she said softly. Daniel turned, looked at the man, and gave a welcoming smile of his own. She made her way to where the dark haired man stood uncertainly. "I'm so glad you're here," she said when she was close enough.

"I am not so sure this is a good idea," he said, looking around.

"I'm positive that it is," she replied. She looped her arm through his. "Come on, and meet your niece. You'll have to wait to meet Nicholas, he's asleep." She led him to the large wooden swing set. "Emily, come here, Baby."

He would have known the child anywhere. She looked exactly like her mother, with the exception of her blue eyes. Blue eyes like her father's, and his own.

"Emily, this is Daddy's brother, Wade. He's your Uncle," Casey said. She picked the little girl up and held her tightly.

Emily looked at the man. Even though the hair was dark, and he had a goatee, the face was one that she recognized. "Daddy?"

Casey giggled. "No, Baby, not Daddy. See, Daddy is over there cooking hotdogs. This is Uncle Wade."

The tot looked from Wade to Daniel and back again. "Unka Wade?"

"That's right, Baby."

Wade was surprised when Emily held her arms out to him. He cast a nervous glance at Casey, who handed the child to him. He held her stiffly at first. "Hello, Emily."

"'Lo, Unka Wade." She studied him for a minute, then shyly touched his goatee. She giggled when her fingers came in contact with the whiskers. "Scratchy!"

He grinned. "Yes, it can be." He noted that her little giggle was very similar to her mother's.

"Daddy don't gots one of these," she said, still stroking his chin.

"No, he doesn't," Wade replied.

"Come on, you should say hello to your brother," Casey said softly.

"I guess I should," he agreed.

Daniel held his hand out when they were close enough. Wade shook it firmly.

"Daddy, you don't gots one of these," Emily said, rubbing her fingers over Wade's chin.

He couldn't help but chuckle. "No, Princess, I don't. I'm glad you made it," he said to the man beside him.

Wade looked at Emily. "I am as well," he said quietly.

Daniel put his arm around Wade's shoulders. "Hey, everybody! Listen up!"

The sounds of multiple conversations came to a halt, and there were several gasps of surprise when eyes turned to see the two men standing together.

"I want you all to meet Wade Michaels," Daniel said. He looked at the man beside him, and smiled. "My little brother."

He thought his knees would buckle, but somehow, he remained standing. Wade spent the remainder of the afternoon meeting Daniel and Casey's friends, the people they called family, as well as Casey's parents. He was overwhelmed by the acceptance that he felt from each of them. Nicholas was as fascinated by his goatee as Emily had been, and he was amazed at how much the baby looked like Daniel.

A  A  A  A  A  A

He was sitting on the steps of the front porch, his mind still whirling with the events of the day. A beer bottle appeared in front of his face. He grinned, and took it. Daniel sat down beside him.

"Feeling a bit overwhelmed?"

"More than a bit. I don't understand, why?"

Daniel shrugged. "You're my brother. I want my family and friends to know that. I guess because I want you to be a part of my life, my kids' life."

Wade took a swallow of the beer. "I didn't think you wanted me near you, or…her."

"I didn't."

"What changed your mind?"

The young archaeologist sighed. "To be honest, I'm not sure."

"Did Casey…pressure you?"

Daniel took a swig of beer, shook his head. "She never said a word about it."

"She still fears me."

"No. Not now."

Wade gave a sideways look at the man beside him.

"She told me that when she walked into the office the other day, the…fear…was gone."

The dark haired man nodded. "Good."

"We'd better get back, Casey will want to cut the cake soon, and then Emmie will open her gifts."

"Daniel…thank you."

He studied the man beside him for a moment, then nodded. He gave him a pat on the back. "You're welcome."

A  A  A  A  A  A

Daniel was lying on the bed, his hands behind his head when Casey finished in the bathroom. She watched him from the doorway for a minute. She was so proud of him. He had taken the steps necessary to connect with his brother. She wasn't sure why, but she was glad that he had. Wade's smile when he left had been one of genuine happiness, and she knew that she had seen tears in his eyes when Emily had hugged his neck. It was so typical of Daniel, to reach out, to be the one to make the effort to bring peace between them. She knew that he had been angry, furious with the man, when he had pulled Wade off her in that pleasure house. That anger had been intensified when he had learned of their shared parentage. But somewhere along the way he had realized the truth of what had happened, recognized that Wade was his only link to his parents, had decided that it was more important to forgive, and forget the past, and move on.

She dropped her robe to the floor, and crawled into the bed beside him. "Love you."

He smiled, and pulled her close. "Love you too, Angel."

"You are an incredible, wonderful man, Daniel Jackson," she said softly.

His cheeks reddened, shook his head. "Not really."

She put her fingers beneath his chin, turned his face toward her. "Yes, you are. I was…and am, so proud of you - and you were so amazing when you introduced Wade as your brother."

He shrugged. "Just trying to do what's right."

She smiled, kissed his cheek. "Which is why you're The Chosen, my Beloved."

He shrugged again. "Couldn't be The Chosen without you."

"Yes, you could. It just wouldn't be as easy," she added with a wicked smile.

He laughed. "I wouldn't exactly call any of what we've been through 'easy'."

"I didn't say it was easy, I just said it wouldn't be as easy."

"Wouldn't even want to try doing it without you, Case." He put his hand behind her neck, pulled her gently toward him. "I need to hold you," he said softly, just before his lips claimed hers. His hand moved from her neck to her throat, down to caress her breast. He shifted them, pushed her slowly to her back. His lips moved from her lips to her jaw, down to her throat, marking her at will.

Her hands went to his hair, she loved to run her fingers through the dark-blond locks when he was making love to her. His kisses were setting her body on fire, the hand that was moving against her body was adding fuel to those flames. She marveled at how easily he aroused her, how quickly he could bring out the need in her. She closed her eyes when his mouth went to her breasts. The sensations that his lips, his tongue, his teeth incited resonated between her thighs. His every caress sent thrills down her spine, made her needier. She gave a tiny whimper of approval when his hand moved down to that aching spot between her legs. Her hips met his hand with each gentle stroke his fingers made against her skin. She almost cried out when his mouth moved down, and he began to worship her.

The taste of her was driving him mad. He licked at her, every pass that his tongue made over her sweet flesh bringing a shiver to her body that he could feel. When at last he gave her what she wanted, and needed, her hands tightened in his hair. He smiled against her skin, knowing that he was driving her as crazy as she was him. The flames were roaring through his body, his arousal growing with each passing second, with every drop of her sweet honey on his tongue.

"Please, let me taste you," she whispered.

Her breathless whispers always burned through his brain, and each time she begged to make love to him, it made his heart race with love and desire. He kissed his way up to her breasts, her lips, then rolled to his back, offering his body to her.

She slid down, took him into her mouth, and began to make love to him. As much as he loved worshipping her, she adored making love to him the same way. Her mouth and hands worked together to please him, to take him to the brink, beyond if she was lucky. The taste of him, the way he smelled, the way he felt in her hands, in her mouth were enough to make her shiver with delight. Before she could send him all the way to paradise, he pulled her away, and eased her back against the pillows. He moved over her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He entered her slowly, tormenting her as her body clamored to be filled. He felt so good, always felt so good!

He closed his eyes as he sank slowly into her body. His hips pushed against hers, he could feel her move her slender hips up and down just the tiniest bit. "You feel so damned good," he whispered.

"So do you," she whispered in reply. Her hands moved over his shoulders, down his arms, as he rose up and began to move in and out of her. "Oh, god, yes," she moaned softly.

"Like that, huh?" he asked, his breath coming faster.

"Oh, yeah," she said softly. Her hips met his thrust for thrust. With a moan she grabbed his hips, slid her hands over his ass, grabbed him firmly and began to grind against him.

"That's it babe, take it," he groaned, pushing against her, letting her move the way she wanted to, needed to.

She locked her legs behind his thighs, her body pushing, grinding, rubbing against his. "Oh, god," she whispered. 

"Do it, babe. Come for me," he commanded, moving his hips against hers. That sweet whimper filled her throat, and she cried out, her body arching beneath him. He began to drive into her, hard, deep, fast…her cries and whispers of pleasure urging him on.

"Fill me, Daniel, love me," she whispered. She was clinging to him, her hands on his biceps, her legs back around his waist, holding on as he continued to take her on that ride of pure ecstasy.

He grunted softly, pounding into her well; her body clutching at him, squeezing him each time he filled her completely, just before he pulled away again. He could feel his release coming, sweet and hot. He threw his head back and cried out, his cock throbbing hard and fast as he exploded inside her. He dropped down onto her, nearly gasping for breath. Her arms pulled him closer, her hands caressed him. Not willing to crush her with his weight, he slid his arm under her hips and rolled over. "Love you, Angel," he whispered.

"Love you, Sweetheart," she whispered in reply. She snuggled against his chest, smiled when his arms tightened around her. Tomorrow she would be leaving on the Phoenix. No one was sure how long the ship, and the crew, would be gone. She shivered as a feeling of dread washed over her. She closed her eyes. This plan was the best, perhaps last hope of dealing with Nergal. Unless she had a feeling, one that warned of impending danger, she would say nothing. She fought down the feeling of panic that settled in her stomach. She would be back in Daniel's arms soon, within days if all went well. If it didn't…she forced any thoughts of failure from her mind.

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