Daniel tipped the cab driver and hurried into the hotel's lobby barely acknowledging the doorman's polite nod. Three weeks of lectures, seminars and receptions were taking their toll on the archaeologist and the only thing on his mind was a meal, a shower and eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. He jabbed the elevator call button and leaned against the wall, impatiently watching the level indicator dropping downwards.

He was tired, irritable and he missed Jack terribly. And horny; horny didn't even *begin* to describe it. Sometimes he wondered how he could have gone for so long without sex before he met Jack O'Neill.

On an intellectual level, he understood why it had to be the head of the archaeology department who went to Washington and made nice with the bigwigs over funding and budget allocations. He could play nice when he had to, and Hammond trusted him to get their point across, but it meant a whole month away from the SGC, a month away from the team, a month away from Jack. It was killing him.

Not to mention the little fact that tonight was Christmas Eve for crying out loud. Who worked Christmas Eve? Apparently the paper pushers at Pentagon did. As he waited, he cast a jaded eye over the bright Christmas decorations festooning the reception lobby. He had never really celebrated Christmas until he and Jack got together. The Colonel went in for the whole 'deck the halls' thing in a big way. The glittering baubles and bells only reminded Daniel how much he missed Jack, and he slumped even farther down the wall.

Maybe it wasn't about the sex at all. Maybe it was about the connection, which had existed long before their relationship had progressed onto a physical level. He missed Jack's steady presence in his daily life. He tried to look at the bright side, that at the end of a week he would be flying home, and Jack had some downtime coming so they could escape for a while, maybe go up to the cabin in Minnesota or fly out to Egypt and spend a few days cruising down the Nile. So far, those happy thoughts had kept him going but today only the loneliness registered.

Because not only was this Christmas Eve, it was also their first anniversary.

The elevator doors finally creaked open and Daniel stepped inside, wearily slipping out of his heavy winter coat as he did so. At this late hour the elevator was empty, so he slumped back against the wall again and thought miserably about the distinct lack of Jack. One year ago today, he and Jack had made that leap of faith, taken that final step towards changing their friendship into something deeper. A year ago today they had become lovers. And today of all days, Daniel was in Washington DC while Jack was... well... actually Jack was on another planet. Could they *be* any further apart? Deposited on his floor, Daniel pulled the key card out of his pocket, swiped the door open...

...and walked into a candlelit world of soft music and flickering fire light.

This hotel suite was one of the few perks of being the SGC's resident archaeologist and Pentagon spokesperson. He had loved it the moment he had stepped over the threshold, only wishing that Jack could share the luxury with him. Someone had lit the huge fire and the only other illumination came from about a dozen church candles placed strategically around the room. The music was Jazz, but slow and sultry. A saxophone wailed out softly and made Daniel's breath catch. Nothing moved Daniel more than a good sax solo. As he walked further into the room, he noticed an ice bucket on the table and gasped. Champagne?

Then Jack walked out of the bathroom, a soft white fluffy towel draped around his waist and a red Santa Hat balanced lopsidedly on his head. He smiled and headed right for the bottle.

"Doh, ho, ho!" he grinned, managing a passable Homer Simpson imitation, "I hope you don't mind Danny. I ordered the Dom Perignon. I know it's a bit pricey but after all this IS a special occasion."

"Jack?" Daniel croaked incredulously, "How the hell...?"

"Don't ask." The Colonel smirked. Daniel watched, as his friend opened the bottle, careful not to waste a drop. The champagne fizzed and sparkled, capturing Daniel's entire concentration, until he noticed that Jack had only poured one glass. Jack took a sip of champagne and smiled wolfishly over the rim of his glass. Daniel's mouth went dry. He knew that look! Jack sauntered towards him, eyes glittering and Daniel felt his knees go weak. Jack had the power to do this to him, make him quiver with just one look.

"Ja-ack?" he sing-songed warily, retreating until the back of his knees hit the bed. Jack reached out with one hand and steadied him, gaze still fixed on wide blue eyes as he tugged Daniel's coat from unresisting fingers, letting it drop to the floor. Then he took Daniel's briefcase from his other hand and dropped it too. Daniel licked his lips in anticipation.

Jack raised his champagne glass to Daniel's lips and allowed him a small sip, but immediately reclaimed the sip with a searing kiss that left Daniel swaying. The Santa hat dropped unnoticed to the floor as the two men reacquainted themselves with each other's taste. Drawing back reluctantly, Jack's fingers loosened the knot of Daniel's tie and tugged it slowly from around his neck; then his fingers began work on the first three buttons of Daniel's shirt.

Never breaking eye contact, Jack dipped a finger into the glass of Champagne and trailed it down Daniel's exposed throat. The alcohol was cool against his flushed skin and a stark contrast to Jack's hot tongue, which followed the glistening trail to the hollow where shoulder met neck. Daniel clung desperately to his lover's shoulders. He wasn't going to be able to remain upright if Jack kept kissing him there.

"Happy anniversary, Danny," Jack whispered roughly against his neck. Jack's free hand hooked inside Daniel's shirt and began popping the remaining buttons while his talented mouth moved to the other side of the younger man's neck. When the last button gave way, Jack took another sip of champagne then closed his mouth over Daniel's nipple, letting the cold alcohol fizz around the sensitive nub. Daniel gasped and his hips surged forward, slamming himself hard against Jack.

"Oh...wow that feels...Wow!"

Jack swallowed and laved the tight nub with his tongue. His hand was working Daniel's belt buckle and a moment later Daniel felt himself exposed to the elements. He shivered as Jack's hand enclosed him, moaning desperately at the feel of those long fingers sweeping up and down his cock, pulling him impossibly closer. Jack's wicked mouth moved back up to suck hungrily at his neck.

"Jack!" he sighed into the silver hair tucked under his chin. Suddenly his hands lost their grip on Jack's shoulders as the older man sunk slowly to his knees. Daniel forced his eyes open and looked down to find Jack gazing back up at him, a smile of pure devilment twinkling in those expressive brown eyes. Jack placed his glass carefully on the floor and guided his lover out of his trousers and underwear. Then picking up the glass, he took another mouthful and raised an eyebrow suggestively.

Daniel groaned in anticipation and as his hands found their way into Jack's hair, the feel of Jack's fingers locking onto his hips made him tremble. Then he was enveloped in a mind-blowing combination of cold sparkling liquid and hot moist mouth. He'd never experienced anything so sensual and he couldn't help but cry out. Jack smiled around his mouthful and swiped his tongue over the sensitive tip.

"Ohgod!" Daniel's hips were rocking forcefully now and it was all Jack could do to hold on. He swallowed hard and the mouthful of champagne fizzed along Daniel's cock. That, combined with the sensation of Jack's throat muscles contracting as the liquid went down, nearly finished Daniel there and then. He now had twin handfuls of Jack's hair in his clenched fingers, his head was thrown back, teeth bared, shirt hanging off his shoulders and he could no more stop the frantic bucking of his hips than command the tide not to come in.

His voice became guttural and thick as he thrust into Jack's willing mouth. "Jack... can't... hold... on.... ah.... Christ... YESssss!" Jack locked both arms around Daniel's legs under his buttocks to keep the other man from collapsing and sucked him dry. Daniel bucked and writhed in ecstasy for a moment longer before his body finally let go the last aftershocks and he slithered down onto the bed.

Jack flopped down beside him, and immediately Daniel's strong arms wrapped around him. When his eyes cracked open Jack was watching him intently. "Like I was saying.... happy anniversary Daniel," he grinned. The corners of Daniel's mouth quirked upwards and he smiled back at the incredible man beside him.

"Has it been a year already?" he asked softly. Jack reached up and drew him into a long, slow, sloppy kiss. When he released him, Daniel was panting again, and Jack grin became a smug smile. "Time flies when you're enjoying yourself huh?" he asked. Daniel drew back, his eyes fluttering open again.

"Oh yeah. So, do I get my present now?"

Jack looked blank. "I thought I just *gave* you your present?"

Daniel propped his head up on a hand and trailed the other one down Jack's chest, delighting in the tiny shivers the action caused. He lowered his eyelashes seductively and trailed the hand back up, making sure to catch one tightly puckered nipple with his thumb. "It's our first anniversary, Jack, and it's Christmas Eve. Surely you got me a gift. It's traditional," he purred, blowing on the nipple, only a little surprised to see it contract even tighter.

Jack captured Daniel's questing fingers and squeezed them tightly. He drew Daniel's hand to his mouth and began idly sucking on his fingers one by one, while returning the seductive gaze steadily. Daniel loved when Jack did that, but he refused to let himself be distracted. Finally Jack smiled. He sat up and began routing about in the nightstand drawer.

"It better not be flavoured condoms, or one of those sex toys you keep going on about." Daniel muttered indignantly, wondering what on earth Jack could have in mind. Finally Jack cheered loudly and pulled out a tiny wrapped package, which he handed to Daniel with a flourish. The archaeologist handled in carefully, as if it were a thousand year old relic, or perhaps a bomb about to go off.

"What is it?" he asked with curiosity, the tiny shake yielding no clues. Jack made himself comfortable against the headboard and waited, his face impassive, giving nothing away. Daniel peeled back the tape from one corner of the package and tipped out its contents into his palm. For a long time, he stared at the gift, suddenly unable to find any words.

Attached to a long gold chain was an exquisitely crafted golden amulet in the shape of two entwined gate symbols. They were the symbols for Earth and Abydos. He turned it over and saw the letters D.J.O engraved on the back. At his raised eyebrow, Jack explained.

"Well 'Jack and Daniel 4 ever' would have been a little obvious, so I went with combining our first and last initials see – (D)aniel (J)ackson / (J)ack (O)Neill, get it? It's sort of a merging of identities thing."

"That's... it's..." Daniel trailed off, unsure what to say that would adequately describe the beautiful gift Jack had given him. Did Jack even know how much the gift meant? He looked into the soft brown eyes and sighed. Oh yeah, he knew. Although Jack did look a little uncertain, as if he wasn't sure Daniel liked the gift, or if he even 'got' the significance. Daniel squeezed his hand closed over the precious thing and leaned in for a kiss that made his feelings more than obvious. Jack smiled as they drew apart, taking the chain from Daniel's fingers and fastening the clasp behind his neck. "So what did ya get me?" he murmured against the warm flesh at his nape.

Daniel let his head roll back until it was resting on Jack's shoulder, turning slightly so that he could see the shit-eating grin. "Nothing as wonderful as this." Daniel fingered the gold symbol gently. "But I think you'll like it." He scrambled off the bed and padded over to retrieve his shirt, aware of Jack's avid stare focused in the region of his butt. He pulled out the envelope and trotted back to the bed, deposition the plain, white envelope on Jack's chest. Jack squinted down at it curiously.

"This had better not be a 'dear john' letter."

Daniel scooted under the covers and waited patiently for his lover to open the gift. He watched with worried concern as Jack pulled out the neatly printed certificate describing angles of ascension and galactic co-ordinates, which would make sense only to someone who was interested in astronomy. Someone like Jack.

"You bought me a star?" breathed Jack in wonder. His eyes flew from the paper to meet Daniel's hopeful regard. "You bought me my very own fucking star!" Jack grabbed his lover by the shoulders and pulled him in close, hugging the bejeesus out of him. "Damnit, Daniel, You're going soft in your old age." But the softly spoken words assured Daniel that Jack was more than happy with that fact.

Daniel pushed him gently and pointed at the co-ordinates. "Well, you don't get to own it, and actually the name isn't even officially recognised by the scientific community, but it's the thought that counts right? It already had a star catalogue number but look at the co-ordinates Jack. I couldn't give you Abydos, but this star is very close to it. On a good night you should be able to see them both clearly. I hope you don't mind...I picked out a name for you."

Jack looked down at the name Daniel had chosen to give his star. "My star is called Charlie? Oh God Daniel..." Jack swallowed back the big lump that was threatening to choke him and hugged his lover again. He had never felt so content in his entire life.

A very long time later, they lay on the moon washed, white linen sheets, gazing through the open French windows at the stars. The air was cool on their sweat soaked skin, but it didn't matter. There was still plenty heat between them. Daniel turned in Jack's arms so that his back was pressed tightly against Jack's front. Jack stirred, slipping his arms even farther round his lover. "Danny?"

"Hmm?"

"Next year, how do you plan on topping the star? I mean how can you hope to beat that?"

"I'll think of something," murmured Daniel sleepily. Then a sudden thought brought him upright. "Jack, you never told me how the hell you managed to get here. SG1 were supposed to be helping out the Asgard."

"Yeah well we got finished a little ahead of schedule so I had Thor beam me down here. Ya gotta love the little guy."

Daniel grinned and snuggled back down under the covers. "Oh yeah – love you more though." Jack kissed the top of his head and tucked the sheets around them.

"Sure, you say that now, but tomorrow you might feel differently."

Daniel wriggled himself into a position where he could see Jack's eyes. "Why would I feel differently tomorrow?" Jack grinned and hooked a finger through the gold chain of Daniels anniversary gift, gently pulling him closer.

"I was in such a hurry to see you that I didn't stop home first for some fresh clothes. I only have my uniform, so I can't even leave this room."

"In what way is that a problem Jack?" asked Daniel, trying to keep his face straight.

"So you want me to lie here all day until you come back from your meeting, keeping the bed warm like some kind of a sex slave?" Jack demanded, a hint of humour evident in his tone. They were both silent for a moment, contemplating that image, but finally Daniel sighed and snuggled even closer.

"You can borrow something of mine Jack. I doubt I could make it through a meeting with the President of the United Stares of America while thinking of you lying here naked and hard, and covered with baby oil...."

"You have baby oil here...?"

"...and panting with desire...."

"Okay, that does it!" Jack moved quicker than Daniel would ever have given him credit for, pinning his lover to the mattress in a manoeuvre Daniel hadn't seen outside of their sessions in the gym. Jack let his weight settle slowly onto Daniel, gyrating his hips to illustrate that 'panting' could be a definite possibility in the near future.

"Do NOT mention the 'President of the United States' and 'baby oil' in the same sentence again, Daniel. There will be dire consequences for you if you do."

"Oh?"

"I might only have the clothes I was standing up in, but I also have a handgun and some nylon cuffs. Add the camouflage body paint, and we could be in for an interesting week."

A sudden thought struck Daniel. "The general knows where you are right, Jack?"

Jack pulled Daniel's wrists up over his head and pinned them against the pillow. "Relax. George still thinks I'm on the Asgard ship. I have one of those nifty egg shaped communications devices, so when you get bored with me, I can get Thor to send me back to the SGC. But if you really want a sex slave for a week, them I'm all yours."

Daniel sighed and allowed Jack to kiss him tenderly before bursting his bubble. "You have no idea how appealing that sounds Jack. But the truth is that I have an incredibly full schedule for this last week and frankly, I can't afford the distraction. I think it would be best if you went back home. At least there, you could find something constructive to do."

Jack looked a little crestfallen but didn't argue. It was a nice idea, but they both knew that tonight was stolen time only. He released Daniel's wrists and ran his hands down the rippling biceps.

"In which case, Dr Jackson, may I direct your attention to the half bottle of bubbly with my name on it?"

"You want a drink, Jack?"

"No I was hoping you did, Daniel." The colonel leered suggestively. Daniel tumbled out of the bed and came back a moment later with the ice bucket which miraculously still contained a little ice. He popped a cube into his mouth and grinned at his lover. Jack's eyebrow shot up and he grinned right back.

They might only have one night together, but damn, it was going to be a *hell* of a night. Jack decided that next year, they were definitely coming back here, and no tantrums from a Goau'ld System Lords, rebel Jaffa uprisings or special requests from the Nox, Asgard, Furling or God himself would prevent it. Then rational thought fled completely in the wake of Daniel's freezing cold lips making contact with Jack's fever hot skin.

"Happy Christmas Jack, and Happy First Anniversary." he whispered softly round his mouthful. Jack gasped but managed to reply.

"May it be the first of many."