Chapter Thirty-Three

We’ve come a long, long way together
Through the hard times
And the Good
I have to celebrate you, baby
I have to praise you like I should.
Praise You
Fat Boy Slim

Daniel collapsed into bed and fell into a deep dreamless sleep with his arms around Calla. Calla woke shortly before dawn to find him cuddled up next to her like he used to do before the stroke and he became afraid of hurting her by holding on her too tightly as he was doing now. She looked down to see his head laying on her breast with his hand cupping the other breast gently.  He was crushing the arm that never did what it was told anymore but she didn’t mind. She smiled as best she could and thought of how much she loved him.  She let out a sigh and put her good hand over his relishing the warmth of it and the love she felt in his touch, a love she might never be able to return.  Wanting to cry but telling herself she must not become depressed because there was much work ahead of them she ran a hand across his cheek and through his sandy hair. She wanted to whisper ‘I love you’ but as always the words were true in her head but they wouldn’t come out through her lips properly so she laid a soft kiss on his forehead instead.

So much work ahead of them. So much to do that it seemed insurmountable especially in her present condition.  They would do it, she was almost sure they would.  Together they would bring New Life to Altair Ain and defeat Wolfgar then she would rest, a long wonderful deep rest.  In her heart she wanted to at least make the attempt to reach her Grandson and bring him into the fold but that might not be possible and her heart weighed heavy with sorrow over it.  The idea of killing her own Grandson was horrible but he was a threat to the kingdom and those who resided in it. Most of all he was a threat to Nicholas and Nicholas’ family and that just could not be allowed. With her lips on Daniel’s forehead and her hand over his she started to drift back to sleep but there was a slight problem in her otherwise perfectly lazy plan; she had a full bladder.  Calla’s eyes drifted over to the bathroom door and she tried to remember how many steps there were from the bed to the door.  She’d made that trip a million times since they moved into this grand old house and thought that, perhaps, there were fifteen steps.  She’d walked yesterday and she didn’t want to wake Daniel so that he could have the joyous task of assisting her to the bathroom.  Calla pulled the covers back and did her best to swing her legs over the side of the bed, when she tried to slide out from under him Daniel’s grip became that of a vice and she let out a little cry of pain.

“Don’t go! Don’t go!” He cried out in his sleep. “Stay Kitty, don’t leave me.”

I’m not leaving you, she thought but was unable to say.  Her eyes filled with as much water as her burgeoning bladder as she kissed his forehead once more and made another attempt to wiggle out of the bed but Daniel wouldn’t let her go. If he didn’t let go soon she was going to have an accident and the last thing she wanted was to suffer through the embarrassment of wetting the bed like a small child.  Legs dangling over the edge of the bed and her good arm reaching for the night stand Calla flailed there for a few moments as she tried to slide her shoulder out from under his head.  The flailing and bouncing only made the need to pee worse and soon she was crossing those legs to hold it in.  Finally she managed to free herself, Daniel’s head fell down upon his pillow and his eyes flew open to see her struggling to get up and out of the bed.

“Where are you going, Cal?” He asked in a voice husky with sleep.

Damn! She looked over her shoulder and gave him a wane smile then looked over to the bathroom door and pointed.  Wiping the sleep out of his eyes he saw her bare legs sticking over the side of the bed and how tightly they were crossed.

“Hold on a second, I’ll help you.”

Calla let out a grunt and then a huff of frustration.  She pointed to the door and then to herself to indicate that she could do it if he’d just let her up and to further that point she picked up his hand which was still cupping her breast and let it flop to the mattress.

Miss Independence.  He wanted to be angry with her but being so silly but it was difficult when she was trying so damn hard. “I’m very proud of you, Kitty.” Daniel said easily and wondered if he’d told her that yesterday. No, he didn’t. He let that little milestone slip by without a word. “You walked with Nick and that’s great, I know you’ll be up and walking around very soon.” Or so he hoped anyway. “Just because you took a few steps with Nick’s help doesn’t mean you can make it from the bed to the bathroom on your own.”  Daniel climbed out of the bed his head groggy and crossed to the other side of the bed but not before Calla could get both feet on the floor.  Using her good hand she made a hefty fist and planted it on the mattress to push herself up.  She stood up, swayed there for a few minutes and then went crashing to the floor.  Her bladder let go and the pretty blue carpet was soaked with urine.  Calla hung her head and covered her face with her hands as she started to sob.

“It’s ok, honey.”  He reached out to brush a hand through her gray hair but she batted it away.

Ok? OK!  What the hell does he know? When the fuck was the last time he pissed himself!? She wondered angrily as she sat there in a warm pool of her own water.

“Oh, I don’t know, when I was two.” Daniel cracked and then stopped and stared down at her as she raised her eyes to look up at him.  “I heard you,” he in disbelief and then a smile washed over his face. “That’s what you were thinking, right? When is the last time I wet my pants?”

Calla nodded emphatically.  I love you, Daniel she tried to telegraph to him.

Daniel. Not Bear. Daniel.

“I love you too, baby.” Daniel stooped down and put his arms around her. “I love you so much, I can’t stand to see you suffer like this, please let me help you.”

She threw her arms around his neck and held on tight. Say it again! Please say it again!

“I love you, Calla.” Daniel whispered in her ear. “You know nothing will ever change that.”  He helped her to her feet both of them delighted and amazed by the sudden opening in communication between them.  He couldn’t help but wonder how long it would last, if it was only temporary, say, perhaps, the lingering after effect of Morpheus’s magick dust and whether or not she could read his thoughts. Can you hear me? Calla didn’t show any signs of response as she clutched him and kissed his cheek.  Maybe she couldn’t hear him but he could not only hear her now he could feel her as well. She was overjoyed at the idea that someone could understand her again and the absolutely empty feeling of being alone started to drift away from her. “You were never alone,” Daniel whispered, “we’re always here.”  He slipped an arm around her waist and guided her to the bathroom. Calla leaned on him heavily and had little trouble with her left leg but she slowly shuffled the temporarily stupid right foot across the carpet as they went. Daniel counted the steps in his head and ended at 22, she was tired from the short jaunt when he sat her down on the open throne. “That was impressive.” He told her and it was. If Daniel had had any idea that she could walk then he would have had her up and around in the bedroom but Sven kept insisting she wasn’t ready to even try. She was ready to do more than merely try she was ready to do.  He slipped the wet nightgown over her gray head and tossed it in the hamper along with the soaking wet panties.  As soon as he turned his back he heard the sound of water meeting water and knew enough not to turn back around until she was done peeing.

Thank you.

The thought slowly worked its way up his spine until it tingled in his head and made it buzz. “For what?” Daniel asked and began to draw water into the tub. A morning bath would be good for her.

Standing by me.

He hung his head with his hand in the water. “Awww, Kitty.”  Then Daniel turned his eyes to look up at her. She was looking back at him with unabashed gratitude in those emerald eyes. Eyes that looked a bit brighter today but the right one still drooped like a hush puppy. “Until the day comes when you tell me to get the hell out of your life you’re stuck with me no matter what happens.”

Calla smiled her crooked smile, pointed to her heart and then to him. Always my heart. Always my Love.

“Always.” Daniel agreed as he got up and reached for her hands. “Come on, I’ve got a warm bath for you and, it looks nice out there today so maybe after we’ll have breakfast on the balcony. Sound good?”

Wonderful. I’m so hungry. Calla clutched her non-existent stomach for emphasis.

The smile on Daniel’s face faltered a little as he realized the sound of her thoughts was drifting away.  Perhaps this was temporary after all but he’d enjoy it while it lasted and be grateful. “Then we’ll get you some breakfast.”  All done on the throne and the water in the tub steaming Daniel helped her up and then into the bath.  Time was taking its toll on her once graceful form. Still slender, still small, but now the smoothness of her once pink and supple skin was papery, translucent and creased with wrinkles.  “Too hot?” He asked as he held her tight and she ventured to put the foot at the end of the dumb leg into the water.

Calla dangled her toes in then turned her face to kiss his cheek. It’s perfect.

“Good.” Daniel helped her settle in. “I think it’s time to cut this again.” He said as he shut off the tap and then began to pour water over her head.

She looked at him and nodded her agreement.  Not too short.

Daniel smirked and nodded.  The last time they’d cut her hair it came out in a botched job and to even it out Colleen had to cut it to just below her ears. She looked like a little old pixie or something.

The day was surely one of the last warm days left in the year and as he’d promised they had breakfast on the terrace. Daniel liked the idea of having a full staff, he could still cook for himself but picking up the phone and ordering whatever he wanted whenever he wanted it had its advantages as well.  He could tend to Calla and the mess she’d made on the carpet while someone else flipped pancakes and scrambled eggs.  Inez, the morning nurse came in while Calla was bathing and Daniel dismissed her. She protested saying she had to take the Queen’s vitals for the morning and be sure she took all of her medications. Daniel assured her that even though he wasn’t ‘that kind of doctor’ he was capable of accurately taking and recording Calla’s temperature, blood pressure and pulse along with seeing to it that she took her pills. Before having their breakfast in the light of the new day, Daniel did all of those things and then put her long gray hair in a pony tail and took the scissors to it leaving a good two feet on the floor it still hung down to her shoulders. Calla was pleased.

The walk back from the bathroom proved too much for Calla and she opted to use the electric scooter chair to get to the balcony and sit in the shiny autumn sun with her Husband.  She looked around the village in the early morning light and saw that it was just starting to wake. Many of the citizens who were venturing out saw their Queen sitting on her balcony and they waved to her, Calla, of course, waved back.  While there was much to do today she just wanted to enjoy the peace and the calm for a few moments. Soon she would call for Duncan and Morgan, Calla wanted to ask them personally if they would volunteer for this little project.  To that end she thought she would need Ares’ assistance and so she would call for him as well.

“I looked at your paintings,” Daniel said as he watched her gazing out at the kingdom below them.  “I guess I sort of take them for granted now, Kitty.  Sometimes I forget how talented you are and how intuitive they can be.”

Calla shrugged her shoulders, she never understood why so many people would think her paintings to be of any value but once she became Calla Jackson World Famous Artiste thanks to one Andrew Hartley, she couldn’t get rid of it.  She’d even stopped selling her paintings for a few years but that only increased demand and speculation.  Once she caught on to the idea that she could use her fame, position and talent to help the kingdom instead of just fattening her own wallet that made it better and a little easier to take.  The warmth of Daniel’s crept over hers.  What is it, my Love?

The voice was getting smaller, a little weaker, but it was still there, still reaching out, still trying.  “You know I have to go for a while, don’t you? I have to find the necklace Kanan made you wear.  I won’t go until after you’ve been to the SGC, ok?  Do you know where it is?”

Calla thought about it. It was so long ago and so many pieces of her brain were mis-wired, misfiring or possibly just missing.  He made her wear it again when he took her from the Mohun planet, she wore under Hephaestus’ chains.  Once Naveen freed her from them….did she leave it behind?  Was it left on Thor’s ship?  Ask Lord Thor if he found it, if not, then it may still be on the planet, in the dust by the wreckage.

Daniel was so hoping Thor had it because the planet where Kanan’s ship crashed didn’t have a Stargate and he would have to get there by ship.  Undoubtedly the journey there and back would be several months.  Several months he couldn’t afford and neither could she.

The one Eros gave me is in the Tower, Father will know where to find it.

“You’ve known about the necklaces?” Daniel asked pushing his plate away. On some level obviously she did. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

I didn’t understand until last night.  Calla was getting very good at using her left hand to eat with she’d made it through the entire breakfast without jabbing herself or spilling anything.  For that she was happy and a bit proud. Is there anymore?

More?  “Sure,” Daniel said easily and took the silver dome off the nearest platter to reveal more pancakes and scrambled eggs which he dishes out to her. “Hungry today, honey?”  Maybe they hadn’t been feeding her enough and she’d been hungry all along but today she could actually communicate that to him.  That would awful!  He sat there watching her graceful struggle with the egg dangling on the tines of the fork knowing she didn’t want him to help her so he would not. Daniel thought that she probably didn’t understand her own work until someone pointed it out to her. Calla painted with the fury and the passion of a heated muse but once the painting was done it was done and unless it was special in some way she just put it up for sale or put it away never giving it a second glance.  In any event, Daniel wasn’t going to argue with her over it and spoil the enjoyable morning they were having. “The last painting, Kitty? Alpha Omega Alpha?”

I am the Alpha and the Omega. The First and the Last. I am the Beginning and the End.

“Revelations.” Daniel said dryly he didn’t like the ominous sound in that phrase.  There wasn’t going to be a goddamn end if he could find a way to do something about it. “Not exactly your book.” Not exactly the way he’d originally interpreted the title of the painting either. Calla nodded her head and did her best to turn the corners of her mouth upward. “Did you invite a young man named Ivan to the show?”  Now the slightly upturned corners fell and she shook her head.  “A Russian boy, about eighteen maybe nineteen, he was here with his uncle and they said he applied to the school and you had invited them to come.”

Calla sat back in the electric scooter chair and picked her own brain. So much of her life in the days and weeks before the stroke seemed lost to her. She couldn’t even remember her time on Sengul but Annie said that wasn’t unusual and in some cases the memories were lost forever but in others they returned over time.  In Calla’s case the last thing she remembered with any clarity before the stroke was meeting with Sovereign, the Vedic and John Watson in the SGC.  She didn’t remember going to the planet at all and the next thing she remembered clearly was waking up in the infirmary with Daniel sitting at her side. She was in and out a lot after that and everything blurred together. Nonetheless she couldn’t remember any applicant by the name of Ivan. Look in my office.

“Nick’s doing that,” Daniel admitted, “I just thought I’d ask.  The Uncle is the one who bought Demonic Decisions for a million gold pieces.” Although he didn’t want to he leaned forward and spit out the rest. “I think there’s a chance it was Wolfgar, Kitty.” Daniel held onto her hand as the Ichor ran out of her face.  “I think he was checking things out, getting the lay of the land.  Are you sure you haven’t had contact with him?”

No. I’m not sure of very much before the stroke, Daniel.  He was here? In my kingdom?  She shuddered and raised her dumb hand to her forehead.  Is he a demon? Do his eyes glow?

Daniel almost laughed but the tone of her thoughts in his head was so serious the laughter died before it could reach his lips. “He’s just a boy, Kitty, that’s all.  Just a boy.” Deep in his heart Daniel was elated that Calla couldn’t read his mind because Daniel thought Wolfgar was anything but a boy.  Just over fifteen and nearly as tall as Ares, he seemed a very kind and mild mannered young man but that was just the disguise, the costume, he was wearing.  He showed no signs of being shaken or rattled in the slightest when Daniel just wandered up to them out of the blue and struck up a conversation. No, Wolfgar, Grandson to Daniel Jackson, was as cool as cucumber and smooth as ice. “Can you tell me what your dream was?”

Calla found that not only could she tell she so desperately wanted to tell! Her good hand clutched at his and their fingers laced together as the terrifying image flooded through her addled mind. Blood! Blood! He was bathed in it. Soaked with it! Lightning… thunder…the man, so frightened when the demon entered him and drew Excalibur across his throat!  She started to shake and within moment was shaking so hard that the items on the table began to rattle.  Another man…dark…cold…crazy eyes, he chanted, he chanted, he chanted, he read from the Book of Shadows. The demon within overtook the man without and his power became great as his body was bathed in the blood of an innocent man.

Daniel caught every word and the pictures that came along with them. Calla wasn’t telling him about the setting to her it was unimportant but he saw the ruins of an old church. It was filled with stained glass some of the windows were still in tact but many others were broken by vandals or storms.  “I’m sure it seemed very real.” He said easily as he pried Calla’s hand from his own and kissed it. Daniel could stand here and testify in front of any God or Goddess you wanted that his dream last night had been more than real enough. Looking down he noticed the crescent shaped notches that had made a home between his knuckles.  “He’s just a boy, that’s all.”

Perhaps once he was a boy but something has awoken in him, my Love, and he is a very dangerous creature now.  He means us great harm, Nicholas most of all.

The kid he met didn’t seem all that dangerous but that could just be part of the plan.  Someone who wasn’t considered a danger would surely be allowed closer than a known enemy or even a suspected one.  Calla pulled the shawl tighter around her shoulders and Daniel noticed the breeze was starting to kick up. Her plate was empty for the second time and he was very pleased with that. “Still hungry?”  She shook her head. “Let’s go inside. We’ll let someone else clean up this mess.” To him she looked tired again and that soft voice in his head, while still clear, was down to a mere whisper.  “Do you want to rest now or do you want me to go get Morgan and Duncan?” Daniel asked as he closed the balcony doors and then knelt down beside her chair.

And Ares.  Then I will rest before the meeting tonight.  Whatever magick the Dream Dust held it was fading rapidly. I love you, Danny. Calla reached up with her good hand and traced her fingers along his cheek to the jaw.  Always and forever, I love you.  I miss making love with you.

Daniel laid his forehead against her. “I love you, Calla.” His soft lips planted a gentle kiss between her eyes. They hadn’t made love since before her stroke and Daniel was afraid to make love with her now. He didn’t want to stress her or exert her in ways that may be unnecessary.  She looked so sad and so lonely when she telegraphed that last thought to him and he began to think perhaps it was time to try and certainly before he went offworld for any extended amount of time.  Ares, Daniel supposed he was going to find out what Calla meant by Ares being her voice and to tell the truth he was rather interested to see what that was going to be.  “What did you ask Ares to do for you?” Daniel asked and kissed the palm of her hand.  She looked back at him with quizzical eyes.  “Last night, in the Underworld, you asked him if you did what you asked him to do on the planet. He said he had. What was it?” That had been on his mind most of the night and this day.  Obviously she hadn’t asked Ares to bust Nick out of prison, Nick was released by the Sengul people after negotiations.  Other than that, Daniel couldn’t think of a thing she’d ask him to do.

I don’t know. I don’t remember.

Now his mind had to strain to hear her.  “Ok, you rest a few minutes and I’ll get them.”

Seeking an answer to his query Daniel went to Ares’ home first, when the door opened he realized he’d gotten the old wolf out of bed. Ares stood there shirtless with sleep still heavy in his dark eyes.

“What do you want?” He grumbled.

“The Queen requests your presence.” Daniel smirked. “Get dressed,” he pushed his way past the big man and into the humble home in which Ares now resided. “Go on, I’ll wait here.”

“I thought the two of you would still be heavily in Morpheus’ clutches,” Ares grumbled as he past a hand through his unkempt hair and then made his way up the stairs and out of sight leaving Daniel in the foyer.  Daniel looked around a little bit not that there was much to see. Ares lived very simply and his bedroom home reflected that fact as it was sparsely furnished and the only artwork hanging on the off-white walls had either been done by Calla or weapons that he’d hung up.  “I’m ready.”

Daniel looked up and saw Ares standing there dressed in black jeans and a matching black cashmere sweater.  “What’d she ask you to do?”

“When?” Ares asked with a grin.

“Don’t play innocent with me it really doesn’t look good on you.” Daniel quipped. “What was it?”

Ares had the chance to say something crude or keep his mouth shut and he’d promised Calla he would never tell Jackson that he, Ares, was in full working order.  “It wasn’t important.” If Jackson never found that out then that was all the better as far as Ares was concerned. Perhaps then the new King would give up on this ridiculous idea of all them jumping into bed with her.

“It is important because she doesn’t remember it now but she did last night.”

Like everyone else, Ares knew about Calla’s little memory lapse but hadn’t thought about it to any great length.  Perhaps she’d even forgotten Jackson’ dalliance with the two little tarts. Determined to keep his word to his Daughter, Ares went no further. “She’s waiting for us, shall we leave now?”

“Why won’t you answer me?”

“I promised her I would not. All you need to know is that it isn’t important it had nothing to do with you or anything that happened while we were away.” Ares insisted and let himself out of the house.

It was clear that Daniel wasn’t going to get an answer here and now but he’d find out what it had been.  Fine, for now, he had another question anyway. “What’s in that dust Morpheus uses?”

They’d been making their way to Morgan and Duncan’s house when Ares stopped and looked down at Daniel. “Excuse me?”

“First it’s innocent now it’s stupid, huh?” Daniel cracked. “What’s…in…the….dust?” He said slowly.  “I could hear her this morning in my head and I think it’s got something to do with the Dream Dust.”

Ares pondered the question for a moment. “I’ve never thought about it before. Dreams are such incidental things I never even understood Morpheus’ purpose.  If you think there’s something in it that will help her, by all means, ask him.”

“Ya know, sometimes you’re no help at all.” Daniel groused and resumed walking.

“What do you want from me, Jackson?” Ares asked. “It’s not my dust but I’m sure if you want some of it for Calla Morpheus will be happy to give you a handful or more. All the Gods know he’s got more of that dust then he’ll ever use.”

Ares was probably right and there wasn’t any logical reason that he should know what Morpheus’ dust contained other than the eons he’d spent with his Cousin that was. Next they stopped at Morgan and Duncan’s home. Morgan was upstairs dressing for the day and Daniel took the opportunity to take Duncan aside and ask a great favor of him.

“Oh, you can’t be serious.” Duncan said in a low voice as he looked around to see if Ares or Morgan had heard Daniel’s request. “Why me?”

“It’s either you or Morgan and to tell you the truth I hate to put her in that situation.”

“I see, but you’ll do it to me, thanks Daniel.”

“You’re welcome. So you’ll do it?”

Daniel made a great argument certainly one Duncan MacLeod couldn’t argue with. “I’ll try,” Duncan agreed. “She’s going to hate this. I hate this,” he protested, “isn’t there something else? Anything else?”

“We know but it has to be done.”

“What has to be done?” Ares asked as he loomed in the doorway.

“Never mind, you’ll find out soon enough.” Daniel said.

Morgan was ready and before they knew it then they were back in the bedroom of the main house where they found Calla lightly dosing in her electric scooter.  “Perhaps we should come back another time?” Morgan said quietly as she looked over at the sleeping old woman by the balcony doors.

“No,” Daniel said, “this is important to her.”  He made his way over to the chair and knelt beside it. “Hey, Kitty, sweetheart,” he whispered, “Morgan and Duncan are here.”

Calla stirred and her eyes fluttered open and she gave him with a slight grin and put her hand over his. Sorry, I guess I dosed off.

“Sweetheart, you all right?”

No, I’m not.  Calla looked off toward the balcony doors and the sunlight streaming through them knowing her Love couldn’t hear her anymore.  There was no mistaking the sorrow on her weathered face or in her eyes.  Still she turned back to him and tried to smile as she nodded her head.

“Ok,” Daniel kissed the side of her head.

Using the controller she turned the chair around so she could see her company. Morgan and Duncan looked so happy together as they stood there him with his arm around her shoulders.  It was Ares that made her smile and she held out her good arm to him.  Ares didn’t hesitate to go to her and show his undying affection by hugging her gently and whispering that he loved her.  When he broke away from her Calla pointed to floor indicating that he should kneel beside her and he did.  Taking one of his hands in her good hand she laid it over the stupid one that just wouldn’t cooperate.  Letting out a sigh she took up his other big mitt and brought it to her throat.

“Hey!”

Before Daniel could get the protestation out of his mouth Ares balked and pulled his hand back in shock whenever he put his hand on someone’s throat it usually meant the end of their time on Planet Earth. “What are you doing, Daughter?”

Lightly she patted his hand and brought it back to her throat. This time he let her put it around her neck.  Oh please let this work, I’m so tired of being misunderstood and of

As Calla thought her words a strange surge went through the God of War and not only could he hear her but he felt compelled to say what he swore he was actually reading in her eyes. “Oh please let this work, I’m so tired of being understood and of fighting for every syllable.” When he looked up at her she was smiling widely and nodding her head.  Morpheus told her this would happen and that Ares would be able to speak for her Calla felt very relieved that he was right.  “Say whatever you want, to whomever you want, I will gladly be your voice.” Ares promised and gazed on her with love.  Like Daniel, just knowing that she really was still in there somewhere was enough to send the God of War’s heart soaring. It was he who wanted to sing, to clap and to dance now that he was sure she wasn’t lost to them. Instead Ares nuzzled his forehead against hers. “You will get through this,” he promised softly, “we are all here for you.”

A new voice joined the group unexpectedly. “What are you doing up here? You’re supposed to be in the solarium.” Nick said as he walked through the door. “Oops,” he said looking around at those gathered. “I guess I interrupted something.”

“Hi, Nick.”

“Dad. What’s going on?”

“Nicholas!” Ares cried out suddenly. “Oh Nicholas!”

Ares had never been that happy to see him in Nick’s entire life but Calla was bouncing up and down in her chair and holding her good arm out to him. Nick took an instinctive step forward before he stopped. “Is that,” he looked at his Father, “is that Mom? I mean, is it really her or is he fuckin’ around?”

“I think it’s your Mother.” Daniel said wondering how that could be happening.  “Go on.”  He stood there with Morgan and Duncan watching Nick cross the room to hug the elderly woman in the electric scooter.

“Where are my Grandchildren? Why haven’t you sent them up to see me?” Ares asked for Calla as he sat there on his haunches watching Mother and Son embrace. “I miss them.”

“Why have you got your hand on her throat?” Nick asked.

“So she can speak.” Ares countered. “Now answer her, where are Colleen and Danny?”

Nick felt funny about it but he knelt down next to Ares so that he was at eye level with his Mother. “They got school, Mom, lots to do. You know kids.”

“I know you’re lying,” Ares said as he saw the words in her eyes.

“Fine, I don’t want them to bother you, ok? Danny’s a handful and Colleen,” he let out a rush of air, “the older she gets, Mom…”

Calla smiled and then snickered, finally she nodded her head.  “Send them soon?” Ares asked for her.

“I will. You’re supposed to be downstairs.”

“I must speak with Morgan and Duncan first. I will meet you in the solarium there in a little while.”

“This is fuckin’ weird.” Nick muttered.  “How do I know you’re not making this up?”

“Why would I do that?”

Good question.  Why would Ares care if the kids came to visit with Mom? He wouldn’t not unless it upset her and for him to know that she’d have to tell him.  “Not too long, we got work to do.” Nick stood up and left the room taking one last look back at the strange scene.

“Mother, Duncan, will you come closer so that I can see you better?”

“Looks like we’re on.” Duncan said and took Morgan’s hand to lead her to where Calla was sitting knowing he’d just found the perfect way to do just what Daniel asked him to do when they were in the kitchen. It just fell into his lap and now he had little choice but to comply when the Town Meeting was held tonight.  Calla smiled her crooked smile as they neared and held out her hand.

“Mother, how are you?”

Morgan looked down at Ares and didn’t know which of them to respond to. “I’m well,” she stammered still staring at Ares.

“She’s over there,” Ares pointed to Calla and Morgan redirected her gaze.

Of course Calla was over there and so Morgan turned toward her. “I’m well, Calla. You?”

Ares let out a snicker. “I’ve been better,” he said for her. “Duncan? You haven’t come to see me either.”

No, he hadn’t come more than a handful of times and Duncan felt very guilty about that. It was just so damn hard to see her this way even now he was fighting back the tears that wanted to choke him.  “I’ll come more often.” He promised and kissed her hand. “You’re looking better than the last time I saw you. Daniel tells me you walked quite a bit today.” She smiled and her gaze shifted to her Husband who was now sitting on the couch by the fireplace watching the scene. There was no mistaking the love and gratitude in her eyes when she looked at Daniel. It made Duncan want to cry all the m ore. “What did you want to see us about?”

Calla was unsure if Ares could actually read her mind and thoughts which were not intended for him so she tried to keep it clear, if nothing else to keep him from accidentally saying something that was to be kept private.

“I’ve something important to ask of both of you but you must feel free to decline.”

Morgan and Duncan looked at each other and then agreed that they would say no if that was what they wanted.

“You are a wonderful Mother,” Ares almost choked but he went on, “you should have children of your own. You, my dear Stan, you are a wonder Father,” now Ares did choke and cleared his throat. He’d promised to say whatever she wanted and he wouldn’t go back on that now but he didn’t like sitting here telling Duncan MacLeod and Morgan Le Fey what wonderful parents they’d been to his Daughter before he even knew of her existence. “Sam says they’ve found the answer to our fertility problem, soon I will go to the SGC for more tests and to provide what she’s needs to finish her task. Tonight we are going to ask for volunteers at the Town Meeting but I wanted to ask you personally if you would consider volunteering for this.  This risk is great, I won’t lie about that, we don’t know how well or even if it truly will work and I could be setting you up for great heartache and for that I’m sorry but I can think of no better people than the two of you to carry our lines forward.  No two people who have more love to give or knowledge to share than you. Will you do this? Not for me but for all of us?”

A baby. They’d wanted a baby for so long now and had been thinking about adopting a child if the outside world would let them.  Now they had the opportunity to have their own and they had been talking about Sam’s discovery for the last day as well.  Could they risk bearing a child without a soul?  To bring such evil into the world would be a horrible thing.  Perhaps it was best to let someone else try first, Morgan didn’t know if her heart could stand it if something was so terribly wrong with their child.  To carry a baby for 9 months, to feel it grow and kick inside her only to go through the pain of child birth and be presented with a monster.

The silence was long and thick with anticipation.  Morgan and Duncan did not openly confer though they did not possess the ability to read each other’s minds they’d been together long enough to know each other’s heart.  “Yes,” Duncan answered quietly. “Yes, we will do this. All right?”

“Yes,” Morgan said suddenly realizing she was excited at the prospect she reached out and hugged her husband. “Thank you.”

Duncan held her close and kissed the top of her head while he looked down to see Calla sitting there smiling her crooked smile at them. How was he ever going to stand up tonight and do what Daniel wanted? How could he possibly do that to her when she’d just given him the opportunity of his overly long-lifetime and sat there gazing up at him with so much love and admiration knowing that after tonight she might well hate him for the rest of her life?  Best not to look at that now. Best to focus on the positive.  “We’re going to be parents.” The joy and the anticipation that Duncan felt at the prospect were overwhelmed by the responsibility and the weight of it all for a moment but it soon passed.  “We’re going to have a baby.”

“You’re sure? Both of you?” Ares spoke for Calla.

“Yes,” Morgan answered, “we’re sure. Thank you for this most wonderful opportunity.” Morgan sank to her knees and wrapped her arms around Calla’s neck knocking Ares out of the way in the process. She held on tight and began to cry tears of joy which landed on Calla’s cheek, warm and wet. “Thank you.”

Calla’s good arm wrapped around Morgan to return the embrace, feeling the woman’s intense joy she wanted to congratulate her to thank her to tell her that she thought she was the most wonderful Mother ever to walk the Earth but Ares’ hand was gone now and Calla was mute once more.  She tried on her own.  The word was con-grat-u-la-tions, it was a big word but she knew it, she knew what it meant and how to say it but when she tried to force it through her lips. “Con-stab-a-lat-shins.”  That wasn’t right at all and she knew it and was instantly disheartened.

The men in the room snickered, they couldn’t help it, it was funny and they knew what she meant but the laughter on their lips died a quick death when the look of dejection fell over Calla’s face.  Ares reached between the two women and lightly put his hand around Calla’s throat.  “Congratulations, Mother.” He said.  “I know you’ve wanted this for a long time.”

End of Chapter Thirty-Three of
Golden Years
by Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling
Go to
Chapter Thirty-Four