A/N: This story came about as a result of the 2018 Christmas SJ Ficathon on tumblr, where my prompt was 'Anything Cliché' from NellieOleson. This is actually the second fic I wrote in response to that prompt; clearly I really loved the prompt! It started off as a bit of silly fun, and then slowly morphed into something with a little more depth than I originally intended, but it has been incredibly fun to write and I'm kind of sad it's over.

Thank you so much to Sarah_M for being a fabulous beta, especially towards the end when things got stuck and a bit serious.

This story is finished (9 chapters total), and is already published in full on AO3. Because FFnet is a PITA to publish on, it takes ages and so I'll be sticking the chapters up as I get time and can be bothered. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1: She looks good in blue

"Well," Colonel O'Neill says. "This is a cliché."

"It is?" she asks doubtfully.

"Well, it's starting to become a bit of a thing," Daniel says, oh-so-helpfully. "You know, alien cultures wanting to dress you in blue."

"He does have a point," the Colonel agrees.

"You look amazing though," Daniel says, as though this is the important part.

Sam's not entirely sure that she's happy about Daniel's assertions.

"I'm not dressedin blue, I am blue. I look like a smurf," she says, trying hard to sound like the Air Force Captain she is.

"Wrong hat," the Colonel disagrees.

"What is a smurf?" Teal'c asks.

"Tell me again why I have to be blue?" Sam asks Daniel.

"Tonight is the festival of Kai-Um, which appears based on the Japanese language for 'ocean'-"

"Cut to the chase, Daniel," the Colonel orders.

"You have blue eyes, Sam, and they think you've been sent by their ocean goddess, Kai."

Sam stares accusingly at Daniel. "You have blue eyes too."

"Yes," he agrees. "But I'm male. And their goddess is female."

She's trying really hard not to think about the fact that the bikini — which is apparently a part of the ceremonial dress of their goddess— is very much accentuating the fact that yes, she is female.

"You really think this algae is worth it?" the Colonel asks.

"Yes," Sam says without hesitation. An algae the local people have incorporated into every single aspect of their daily living – including medications, diet and clothing – could be an incredibly valuable resource for sustainability going into the future. And the potential in pharmaceuticals… It's definitely worth the embarrassment and awkwardness if it helps foster a relationship with these people.

"As long as I'm not kidnapped again," she adds as an afterthought.

"Carter," the Colonel says, "I'm not going to let you out of my sight tonight."

She's pretty sure he means keeping a close watch on her to prevent any kidnapping attempts or other cultural misunderstandings, but something in his eye and the tone of his voice makes her belly jolt and her skin tingle in a way that it has no business doing. She swallows, her throat suddenly dry.

He keeps his promise; all through the festivities he stays with her, not close enough to hover but close enough that she feels the solid reassurance of his presence. It's silly really, to feel reassured by his presence; the people on this planet are simple and friendly, and she is quite capable of defending herself. But it's nice to know that he's watching her back - and perhaps her front too at times, even though she tells herself that she's not wondering if he finds her attractive.

The people here throw a great party, and as the representation of their goddess she's dragged deep into the dancing and celebration. She finds herself forgetting about blue body paint and inappropriate attire and enjoys the atmosphere - the pounding beat of the drums and the smooth call of their stringed instruments as they stamp and swirl their way across the sand. Clusters of shells hanging from palm trees accompany the music, while the beach is ablaze with periodic bonfires. Really, this planet - and party - is one of the better ones they've been too.

She's dancing with some children when suddenly he's in the crowd with her. He's a dark shadow in his regulation t-shirt and BDU pants, with his skin glinting burnished gold under the firelight. Her skin tingles with a warm buzz of recognition, something flickering to life inside her belly at the sight of him.

"Having fun?" he asks as he sways along with the music and scatters sand with his bare feet. She's never seen him join in with festivities willingly before, unless it involves trying the local moonshine with the Abydonian boys.

"Not a bad way to spend a night, or a mission," she says, feeling free with the breeze in her hair and the smell of driftwood burning on the air.

"You look good in blue," he tells her, and her feet stumble in the sand. He disappears back into the crowd, close enough to feel him watching but not too close that he's hovering.

She doesn't start dancing again until the children take her hands and encourage her, and when she does there's a grin on her face and a tingle in her belly.