BOtR, CH.15 - 19 (Celebration, Party Pooped, Afterparty, Threshold, Haggle)
Beginning of the Rest
Chapters 15 - 19 (Celebration, Party Pooped, Afterparty, Threshold, Haggle)
Celebration
"Now, before I let you all go off and have tons of birthday fun..." Vala said loudly so all in the rented party room could hear her. She smiled and waited for the clapping and cheering to subside, her eyes fixed on a certain father who bounced his daughter in his lap. She really couldn't tell who was more excited, the same identical grins of glee on their faces.
The noise finally tapered off, and Vala continued. "We're gonna have to go over some rules."
"Nooo!" Daniel complained loudly, eliciting laughs from all around. Vala pointed at him warningly, and he made a half-assed attempt to hide behind Hayden, who was giggling.
"Yeees..." Vala replied in kind, then turned her gaze to take in all the others at the table. "And these rules are more for some of the bigger children here because without them, there is no doubt going to be mayhem on our hands."
Daniel leaned back and whispered to his fellow 'big children'. "She says that like it's a bad thing-"
Clearing her throat, Vala glared at her fiancé. He just shrugged in return, sharing in a mischievous laugh with the others around the table. She rolled her eyes, fighting a smile, and continued on with her little 'speech'.
"Okay, first rule - I don't want any child running around unsupervised." She stated it like it was an obvious fact, but seeing as only a small portion of the group were actually parents, she felt it was a necessity to clarify. "Second rule-" Her grey eyes found blue. "There is to be absolutely NO drinking..." As Daniel opened his mouth to reply, Vala rephrased her previous statement. "Adult drinking of any kind."
As she expected, sounds of protest erupted from around the room - especially the head table. She held up her hand, refusing to budge on the subject. Slowly, the quiet returned. "Keeping track of a bunch of children is hard enough...having to look after them AND a group of men," Once more, her gaze shifted to Daniel and his fellow troublemakers. "Who become a bunch of idiots when they drink is NOT something I want to do."
"So if I catch some of you by the bar..." Vala grinned impishly. "I'm sure you all know the story of how Daniel and I first," She made air quotes around her next word. "Met." A round of hushed laughter passed around the room and Daniel blushed considerably.
"Lastly..." Her grin widened. "I want everyone to have tons of fun, and will tolerate no pouting, crying, or tantrums. Laughter, running, and playing are most definitely allowed." She made shoo-ing motions with her arms. "Now GO, Play, have fun! What are you all still doing here?" As the rather large group of people began to empty out into the large area that was Boomers, Vala made her way over to 'her' table.
Hayden bouncing up and down in his lap impatiently, Daniel pouted up at his raven-haired vixen. "Party pooper."
Leaning against the table, Vala crossed her arms over her chest. "The fact that you were even considering it worries me."
"Why would that worry you?" Daniel asked with a tilt of his head. "It's not like I was planning on getting drunk. I'm not that much of a terrible father - unless that's what you were implying." His arms crossed over his chest as he leaned back in his chair.
Vala squinted at him. "Did I say that?"
"Not directly."
"I didn't even imply it!"
Sighing, Hayden hopped off her father's lap and stamped her foot dramatically. "Would you STOP arguing!" She said loudly. Her stern stare shifted from blue eyes to grey and back again. "It's MY birthday party and you're both poopin' it."
Daniel and Vala exchanged a look, both mixed with amusement and guilt. As usual, their daughter was right.
"We're sorry, darling." Vala finally admitted with an apologetic smile. "This is your big day, and here the two of us are being all rotten and not having fun." She reached out and took Hayden's hand. "Why don't I make it up to you by letting you try and beat me at one of those racing games?"
Hayden jumped up and down. "Yes!" She pulled out of Vala's grasp and rushed for the door, glad to have finally gotten the go ahead to join the fun.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Daniel shouted after her as he and Vala slowly followed. A smirk graced his handsome face as he looked at Vala. "She's breakin' one of your rules."
Vala shrugged, smiling towards the ground as Daniel took her hand in his. They looked more like a young couple strolling along the beach than two battle-worn parents. "I broke one of my own rules, so there's not much room for me to object." Her eyes found Daniel's.
"I really wasn't-"
Daniel captured her lips in a soft kiss, effectively silencing her. "I know." He murmured as he pulled back. He looked out of the doorway, noting how almost every person he saw was a guest at their party. It was a joy to no end to know so many had come to help celebrate the life of the child him and Vala had made together. He smiled and turned to look at Vala again.
"Let's just forget that behind us with the fun that's ahead."
Laughing, Vala shook her head. "You really do have a way with words, dear." She pulled out of his grasp, skipping out into the mayhem of fun. "And you couldn't have put it any better."
--------
She was flooded in shadow just seconds before her mouth was taken in a hungry kiss from above. Smiling against the mouth now attached to hers, Vala tilted her head back and placed her hand against a familiar warm cheek. Tongues, lips, and teeth duked it out for a good amount of time, and the kiss turned near erotic with every passing second.
As the sounds of whispers and giggles invaded their personal bubble, Daniel finally pulled away with loud slurp for effect. Vala's gaze followed his as he moved to take the chair next to hers at the small table she occupied near the concession area.
"Daniel Jackson, was that beer I tasted?" Vala tried to make her tone firm, but she knew he could see she wasn't so much annoyed as amused.
Daniel leaned his chair back, and revealed the bottle he'd had concealed behind his back. "Nope."
Rolling her eyes, Vala scooted her chair closer to him. "I thought I was specific about the no adult drinking rule."
The chair came back down, and Daniel leaned in close to Vala. "If you get to break the rules, so do I." His voice was challenging. They gazed at each other for several moments, then finally Daniel sat back in defeat. "This is the only one I've had - I swear."
Vala crossed her arms over her chest and nodded slowly. Daniel adopted a look of childlike innocence.
"And you can't possibly deny me my hard earned spoils."
"Oh, hard earned?" Vala laughed, letting her facade fall. She reached out and snatched the bottle from his hand resting on the table. She grinned around the lip of the bottle as Daniel pouted.
"Yes, hard earned." He leaned forward and grabbed the bottle back as she lowered it. "You should be proud of me - I am now the reigning champion of laser tag of the SGC. And Cam bet me a beer I couldn't beat him..." His grin was arrogant and smug, one that she only saw after he'd bested either Cameron or Jack - especially Jack.
Vala couldn't help but grin. "Laser tag king is a title any woman should be proud of."
"Damn straight!" Daniel grinned, then reached out a hand to pull Vala into his lap. "You know I just spent a good ten minutes looking for you..." He murmured into her shoulder, his right arm wrapped around her back with his hand massaging her hip. The idea to play laser tag had been a spur of the moment thing, and he hadn't had time to find her to join them. Playing the game, Daniel realized how much he'd come to rely on Vala being on his six. Not having her there to watch his back made it all that much harder to beat the others. And it made his need to hold her overwhelming.
Sensing his need to feel her, Vala placed a hand over the one on her hip and took his free one in her own. "I was helping the little monster learn to do the dancing game." At Daniel's curious look, Vala shrugged. "She had a little trouble, and tried desperately hard to show it didn't bother her."
"Speaking of our little monster," Daniel looked around a moment. "Where is she?"
Vala shook her head. "Last I checked, she was with Cassie showing Gracie how to whack-a-mole...or was it gator?" She frowned, then shrugged again. "I'm not really sure. All I know is she was being supervised, having fun, and whatsuch."
"Mmmmm." Daniel replied, pulling Vala tight against his chest. He wrapped her in a tight embrace. "Well, while we're absent of young ones, I found this nice little dark niche while playing laser tag..." He placed a suggestive kiss to her neck, and whispered in her ear. "Wanna go makeout?"
She was pulling him to his feet a second later. "Now that's the kind of fun I'm talking about."
--------
"She is going to crash and burn." Jack stated quietly to Daniel as they watched Hayden dancing with Vala to the music blasting from the dj stand in their rented party room. Joining her were Grace, with help from Jake, Simon Wells' daughter Janet, Dave Dixon's entire army of children - mostly boys - , and various other offspring of the SGC.
Daniel nodded in agreement. "Big time." He cocked his head back to get a somewhat better view of his older friend. "I doubt she'll even last the car ride home, but she's having a great time so I can't really complain. Especially since it means some 'alone time' for her mother and I this evening."
"Oh!" Jack laughed. "Like that alone time you two were sharing up in the laser tag room thing?" He poked a finger into Daniel's shoulder. "You're lucky it was Sam who busted you and not one of the kids. Can you begin to imagine how Dave...no, Dave's wife would've reacted to their little Chelsey finding the pair of you?"
He got a dismissive hand wave in return. "It's not like she DID find us." Daniel snipped. "Besides, it wouldn't really be one of our parties if we weren't caught getting a little frisky." He shrugged. "It's tradition."
Jack shook his head. There had been a time when he never would have pictured Daniel as the willingly 'get frisky' type. "That one's really turned you into a bad little archaeologist." He grinned, flicking his eyes to Vala a moment. When his gaze returned to Daniel, his smile softened. Those blue eyes were now glued to the former female galactic version of Jack Sparrow, and they were completely taken in by the sight of her.
"Bad is a subject of perspective." The younger man murmured, almost in a trance-like way as he watched her dance.
Catching his intent stare, Vala smiled sweetly and winked. As the music changed, she knelt down and whispered something to Hayden. Moments later, the girl was taking off in the direction of her father.
Daniel grinned at seeing her approaching excitedly, and looked at Jack a moment. "If that's the cost of going bad, than it was more than worth it." He turned back and held out his arms just at the right moment to scoop his daughter into his lap.
"Hi daddy!" She laughed, no longer looking the part of a typical birthday girl. Where her hair had been beautifully done up when they'd arrived, now it hung limp in sections around her smiling face. Her shirt and shorts had been nice and clean when she'd put them on. After all the cake, candy, ice cream, chips, and a very specific tussle with one of Dixon's boys - which had to be broken up for fear of Hayden hurting the poor kid, her clothes looked more like an art project. Her face was smeared with mud and paint from fun birthday projects, and it was so obvious she was going to pass out the moment the sugar high wore off, but her eyes were alight with joy and that was enough for Daniel.
"Hey babygirl." He replied, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. It was something he did with her mother as well, and only served as a reminder of how much like both of them Hayden really was. "You having a fun birthday?"
Hayden nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Are you?" She breathed in and out quickly, trying to catch her breath from dancing and running. "I mean, are you having a good time? Why aren't you dancing? Are we going home anytime soon because I really really really don't want to, and-"
"Whoa, easy!" Daniel laughed, rubbing her back. "Daddy can only answer one question at a time."
Shrugging, Hayden batted her eyelashes innocently. "Sorry..."
Daniel shook his head, his smile widening. "Yes, I'm having a wonderful time. I'm not dancing because compared to you and mommy I'd look like a total idiot." He paused to glare at Jack, who nodded his head to the statement. Hayden laughed. "And no, it doesn't look like we're going home anytime soon - everyone's having too much fun."
Satisfied, Hayden jumped off his lap and made for the dancing area without so much as a wave goodbye.
"Was that it?" Jack asked around a laugh, to which Daniel shrugged and shook his head. Seconds later, Hayden was dashing her way back over to them.
"I guess not." Daniel laughed, wrapping an arm around Hayden's back as she came to stand in front of him. "Miss us already?"
She smiled, swallowing around her shallow breathing. "I kinda almost forgot." Hayden straightened, and looked upwards as if remembering something. "Mommy wanted me to tell you that you're sexy, and amazing, and super smart, and that she saw you..." She paused, trying to remember the exact word. "Oogling her, and and..." Grey-blue eyes finally looked into her father's. "And that she loves you very very very much."
Sitting up a little straighter, Daniel pulled her closer to him, placing his hands on her hips. "Oh really?" When she nodded quickly, he smiled and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I want you to go give your mommy that kiss for me." He placed a softer kiss against her lips. "And that one too, but I want you to make it ten times more amazing because it's coming from both of us. And a big hug too, okay?"
"Okay..." Hayden twisted in his embrace. "I'll do all that, then I'm gonna go dance lots more."
Daniel made a shoo-ing movement with his hand. "Go forth and dance, my child."
Giggling, Hayden pecked a kiss against his cheek. "You're silly, daddy."
"So your mommy has been telling me for years..." He answered before playfully smacking her on the butt. "Now go! Birthday girls aren't supposed to be spending so much time talking to their daddies at their parties!"
Like lightning, Hayden took off towards the dance floor again.
Watching, Daniel smiled as she ran up to Vala and gave two big kisses. As she moved in for the hug, Vala swooped the little girl up and spun her around, her feet swinging in the air. Hayden's laughter could be heard from where he sat.
From where he sat, Jack couldn't see why being a little bad wasn't a good thing either.
Party Pooped
They hadn't even made it a block from Boomers before Hayden's eyes where drifting closed. Daniel and Vala kept their talk quiet and light the entire drive home, not wanting to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the car. By the time they pulled into their driveway, Jake and Cassie pulling in behind them, it was dark outside.
"You gonna get her?" Vala asked, looking from Daniel to Hayden behind her.
"Yeah, I'll get her." Daniel pulled the keys from the ignition and handed them off to Vala. "Go get her bed all ready, then we can deal with the presents and stuff." As Vala nodded and headed up the walk to the house, he unclipped his seatbelt and opened his door. Moving around the SUV, Daniel opened the rear passenger door. Hayden was listing to the side of the seat, a long strand of hair hanging across her face.
Sitting her up, Daniel brushed her hair back. "We're home, Hayds. Think you can wake up for me, hunny?" She moaned in protest as he leaned over her a little to unhook her seatbelt.
Knowing she wouldn't wake up, he pulled her into his strong arms. "Come on, babygirl. Let's get you to bed." Daniel placed a hand against the back of Hayden's head resting on his shoulder, that arm holding her to his body. The other rested beneath her butt, her arms and legs dangling listlessly. Slamming the door shut with his hip, he carefully, but quickly, made his way to the front door and into the house.
Going down the hall and into Hayden's room, Daniel found Vala pulling back the covers on the bed. She had already laid their daughter's jamjams, as she liked to call them, out on her art table. He sat her down on the table, letting her legs dangle over the edge.
"Hayden, you need to wake up so daddy can get you changed." Daniel commanded gently, brushing all her stray hair back while holding her up at the same time. She moaned once again, this time shaking her head. "Yes, wake up for me please."
"'n wanna..." Hayden mumbled, trying to lean against Daniel.
He reached over and grabbed the nightshirt, one of the air force shirts he'd gotten at the start of the program, that served as her pajamas most nights. "I know you don't wanna, Hayds." Sure she would hold herself up, Daniel released his hold on her and started to pull her shirt up. "Come on, arms up."
Lethargically, Hayden raised her arms up, never opening her eyes. Daniel just shook his head and grinned as he slipped her dirty shirt off and pulled the nightshirt over her head, helping her pass her arms through the proper holes.
"Bed now?" Hayden mumbled, wrapping her arms around Daniel's neck while burying her head just below his chin.
Daniel unlatched her arms and sat her back. "No, we're not done."
A pout formed on her lips. "Daddy..." She whined, her eyes finally open and boring into his.
"Baby..." He mocked back in an identical fashion. "The sooner you let me finish, the sooner you can get in bed." Slowly, Hayden nodded in reluctant acquiescence. "Alright, let's get this messy hair taken care of." Daniel carefully started undoing all the braids and unclipping all the barrettes. He looked up when a hairbrush and damp washcloth were placed on the table.
Vala smiled down at him. "Wipe her face and hands so she's not going to bed completely filthy." She whispered into his ear, and placed a kiss to his neck, as he started to brush the tangles out of their daughter's hair.
As Daniel moved around to brush the back, Vala leaned down in front of Hayden and gathered her in a hug.
"Happy Birthday, darling." She whispered against her cheek as Hayden squeezed her tightly. Pulling back, Vala placed a soft kiss to her still pouting lips. "I love you."
"Love you too." Hayden mumbled back. It was followed by a yelp as Daniel worked through a particularly nasty tangle.
Daniel winced and placed a gentle kiss into the brown locks. "Sorry hunny. I'm almost done." His gaze found Vala's, and he nodded when she pointed out the door. Finally done with her hair, he moved back to kneel in front of Hayden. He quickly wiped the washcloth over her face and hands.
"Okay, let's get you in bed." He gathered her in his arms as before, and moved towards the bed.
"My shorts and shoes are still on." Hayden's words were muffled against his neck.
Daniel nodded as he laid her down gently. "I know. It's easier to take them off over here."
"Oh." Hayden yawned, snuggling into her pillow as best as she could while Daniel finished undressing her. When she felt the weight of her shorts disappear, she turned on her side and pulled her pillow tighter against her.
A soft smile came unchecked to Daniel's lips. Wordlessly, he drew the comforter over Hayden's tiny form. As he tucked it under her arm, his gaze was caught by a lump lying on the floor. He snatched it up, kneeled down, and placed it within her grasp.
"Can't sleep without Larry." He whispered, playful yet serious. Hayden smiled sleepily and nodded, already succumbing to sleep. Daniel ran a hand through her hair as he gazed at her young face. "Happy Birthday, baby." He finally said, placing a kiss to her forehead as he stood up. Quietly, he made his way towards the doorway.
As he reached the threshold, Hayden's soft plea rang out.
"Daddy?"
One arm resting on the doorframe, Daniel turned back to face her. "Yeah, munchkin?"
Her smile was enough to send a warm joy spreading through every inch of his body. "I love you."
And her words made the sensation start all over again.
"I love you too." Daniel nodded, watching her slip back into a peaceful sleep. Satisfied that she wouldn't wake up again, he flicked off the light and closed the door almost all the way, leaving it open a little just incase. It was something he almost always did.
He moved down the hallway, stopping at the door to the guest bedroom. Leaning against the wall on one hand, Daniel knocked lightly on the door with the other. A moment later, the door cracked open just enough to reveal Jake standing in the doorway.
"Just checking to see if you guys needed anything." Daniel grinned at the younger man's Scooby-Doo boxers.
Blushing just slightly, Jake placed an arm along the door and shook his head. "Vala just came and asked us that actually."
"Oh well," Daniel lodged one hand into the pocket of his jeans. "I was putting Hayden to bed." He emphasized the fact by indicating with his thumb over his shoulder. "The party kind of wore her out."
Jake nodded, a knowing grin coming to his face. "That seems to be a general theme around here. Gracie is out like a light and her mommy..." He let out a wince of sorts. "Let's just say Cassie isn't long to follow."
Concern clouded Daniel's features. "She okay?" He knew Jake took good care of Cassie, but he couldn't suppress over a decades worth of gut instinct.
"Yeah..." Jake looked behind the door for a moment. "All that dancing and running around took its toll." He laughed gently as he turned his attention back to Daniel. His gaze grew more serious. "I'll have to remind her that she's not just playing for one anymore...again."
Nodding in understanding, Daniel shoved the other hand into his jeans. "So you're all set for the night?" As Jake nodded, Daniel nodded again. "Well, if you do need anything, Vala and I will be up for a good while - the plan is to make a dead soldier out of that bottle of Jack Daniel's in the kitchen."
"Mommy, daddy alone time?" Jake laughed as Daniel grinned, then shook his head. "As fun as that sounds, I think I'll pass - this time." He emphasized, pointing a finger towards Daniel, who shrugged.
"Hey, it's your loss." He smirked. "Well, if you change your mind, we'll be out on the back porch." Daniel moved to head down the hall towards the master bedroom, but stepped back to catch Jake's attention again. "Oh, and if in a little while, we start getting a little rowdy, don't be scared to tell us to tone it done. We aren't exactly quiet once we've had a few..."
Jake laughed again. "So I've been told."
Afterparty
The unusually chill air nipped at Daniel's face as he stepped out the backdoor. The porch was bathed in pale moonlight, as was the figure already reclining on the lawn chaise they kept up there. She could've passed for a nymph if it wasn't for a rather large cream-colored sweater she wore that barely reached to her thighs. He knew from experience that she had nothing else on underneath, either in regards to the top or the bottom, and the thought pleased him to no end.
To him, she was his nymph. His sweater-stealing, whiskey-drinking, little raven-haired nymph.
His blue eyes drifted to her bare legs as the chill wind brushed against them once more. "You've GOT to be cold." He said as he made his way towards her, in all her relaxing glory.
"Well, I have it on good authority that I will be joined by another warm body." Her accented voice still sent chills through his entire body. These chills were of a good kind, unlike that which continued to blow around the two.
Before Daniel could make a remark about the crystal tumbler she held in her hand, Vala stood and held it out to him with both hands.
"A woman after my own heart." He smiled, wrapping his hands around hers and bringing the overflowing glass to his lips. The familiar burn that went down the back of his throat was a welcome sensation. Vala pulled her hands away from the glass as he took it in one hand. Daniel moved to sit on the chaise while she bent down to snatch the blanket she had concealed beneath it.
The two exchanged items, and Daniel wrapped the large blanket around his shoulders as Vala sipped from the drink. Once he was settled, she sat down between his legs. He wrapped his arms, with the blanket, around her and pulled her back against him. They were at a half-reclining angle, suitable for both of them to drink and perfect for supreme snuggling. Plus it made the view of the starry sky spectacular.
Daniel didn't bother to take the tumbler back. He just brought it to his lips, Vala's hand still attached, to take a deeper drink than before. He kept his hand wrapped around hers as it was lowered back to rest against her thigh.
"Oh, I hate to break this to you hunny..." He sighed after a moment, his other hand playing with the fingers of her free hand. "But I'm afraid I've up and given my love to another."
Vala's head turned against his shoulder so she could see his face. "Oh?" She pulled her hand, with the tumbler, from Daniel's to take a sip. "And what, may I ask, is this other like?"
Daniel's smile was small and dreamlike. "Beautiful long, dark hair. Amazing eyes that could just tear anyone to pieces with their brilliance..." He sighed. "Adorable, funny, wonderful...she told me she loves me."
Shifting a little, Vala placed a soft kiss to Daniel's jawline. As he turned his head to look at her, she took his mouth in a possessive kiss. He moaned pleasurably into her, his fingers lacing with hers. When Vala finally decided to release his mouth, Daniel whined.
"Bet your new found love doesn't do that." She said smugly, settling back against his chest.
It took a moment for Daniel to regain his ability to speak. It amazed him how her kisses, her alone, could leave him fumbling to just exist. He licked his lips lethargically, than extracted the glass from her hand. Once again, he found himself taking a deep drink.
"She better not be doing that." He mumbled around the ice cube in his mouth. The glass came to rest a top Vala's thigh once more. "She's only five."
Vala laughed. "How quickly the daddy in you comes out." A loving kiss found its way to his jawline.
Daniel merely chuckled, resting his head back against the chaise. "Hayden is five..." He murmured as if just realizing it for the first time. His eyes closed. "Five."
Grey eyes stared at him for a minute, then shifted out to stare at the stars. Unbeknownst to Daniel, her thoughts drifted farther than the stars, farther than time would allow. Vala breathed in deeply as memories, albeit hazy memories, flooded her mind. Her hand instinctively squeezed Daniel's.
He peaked one eye open to look at her. "Whatcha thinkin about?" He swung their entwined hands out, then back in.
"This day..." Vala sighed, snuggling deeper into Daniel's embrace. "Five years ago." She closed her eyes and nuzzled her nose into his neck. "You remember?"
Daniel's laugh was mirthless. "Remember? It was only the single most difficult day of my life." Vala's fingers stroked over his on the tumbler. He turned his head to bury his face in her thick black hair. "How could I forget the day...the moment when I nearly lost both you and our little girl?" Lifting his head a bit, Daniel left his lips resting in her hair. "I was never more terrified in my life." His eyes took in the horizon of their darkened backyard.
"I couldn't tell." Vala replied truthfully. "The one thing I remember most, besides the occasional pain here and there," She paused as Daniel held up the glass to her. Letting out a little laugh, she took a sip. She savored the burn before continuing. "Was you being there every moment I was awake. Telling me to fight them, the Ori, and reminding me that no little girl can live without her mother. Especially when I was destined to become such a fantastically awesome mommy." She grinned as Daniel tried to hide his smirk behind a frown.
He leaned away from her a little to grab the bottle of Jack Daniel's on the porch beside the chaise. "Me? I said that?" He repeated in mock doubt as he rested the bottle against Vala's stomach so he could switch the tumbler to his left hand. He could hardly pour properly with his left hand when he wasn't drinking. With the effects of the first glass starting to take hold, he was positive he'd spill it. Maybe alcohol added onto the exhaustion of the long day wasn't such a grand idea, but Daniel didn't dwell on the thought for too long. "I would never utter such words as fantastically awesome - you must be mistaken."
Vala grinned and took the tumbler from him to test its 'safety'. "No!" She said around the small mouthful of liquor. "That's one thing I remember for sure - You said to me that I would be a-"
"Fantastically awesome mommy." Daniel said along with her, his head bobbing up and down. He looked at her affectionately and kissed her with all the feeling those three words had conveyed five years ago. "I've never been more right in my life," He accepted the glass back from Vala and sipped from it. "And I've been right about a lot of things in my life."
A hand lowered the glass from his lips as he sipped again. Vala had her head cocked to the side as she stared at him. His eyebrows rose in an innocent manner and hers did as well. "What?" He asked, munching on another ice cube as he handed the glass to her.
Instead of drinking from it, Vala stared down in it. She then dipped her finger in it playfully and proceeded to slurp the liquid from the same finger. Daniel scrunched up his nose at her action. "My, aren't we cocky."
"Well," Daniel shifted a little purposely. "Are we speaking metaphorically or..."
Vala licked her lips at the naughty gleam in those blue eyes. "I know one thing you weren't right about." She smirked at the pout on his lips, at the cuteness of his furrowed brow. She pushed herself up a little higher and ran a finger down his cheek, the sleeve of his sweater hanging limply from her wrist. "You were wrong about me."
His eyes fluttered closed as she began to suck on the bottom of his ear. "Wrong...how?" He breathed, totally taken in by the sensation of Vala's warm mouth going to work against him. He regretted asking the moment her mouth pulled away to answer.
She reveled in the euphoric haze of his eyes. "I specifically remember when YOU hated me." Her finger poked him in the chest accusingly.
"I did NOT hate you!" Daniel argued, trying to hide his guilt by slurping their drink loudly. He watched as Vala sat back a little and crossed her arms over her chest. "What? I DIDN'T! I never, ever said I HATED you." His hand waved absently in the air. "I may have...might have been annoyed with you every once in a while..."
"You mentioned killing me." Vala huffed dramatically. Her act faltered the moment she felt Daniel's moist lips come to her neck. "And there's vague recollection of pain..."
"How vague?" He whispered huskily as his mouth continued to explore.
Vala's hand searched for the tumbler blindly. When Daniel slowly placed it in her hand, she sipped from it eyes closed. "Getting more vague by the moment."
Daniel grinned. "Mmmmm..." He took the tumbler back and abruptly pulled away. "We need more beverage."
Gasping, Vala pushed at his face as he moved to retrieve the bottle from the porch once more. "Oh, you big tease!" She pouted, snatching his glasses and tossing them across the porch. Daniel just laughed and poured from the bottle. He settled back against the chaise, and Vala reclaimed the area against his chest.
"That was mature." He said, kissing her neck. Vala just shrugged innocently and twisted a strand of hair around her finger.
-------
"I think the world is listing." Daniel mumbled with amusement against Vala's cheek. She snorted in an unladylike fashion, and patted his hand slowly.
"No darling, that would just be our chair." She snickered.
Daniel looked around lethargically. It was then that he realized their once horizontal chaise was leaning dangerously to one angle. Even as he thought it could tip at any second, and before he could prevent it, the two went crashing to the porch. Vala's yelp erupted through the late night air, and had Daniel bursting out in laughter. She soon joined him.
After a good five minutes of laughing, he finally caught on to how much noise they were really making.
"Shhh." Daniel hissed through his laughs into Vala's hair. She was still firmly wrapped in his arms. "It's late and we're being loud." In direct contrast to his statement, he pushed the chaise off of them with another loud crash. "Whoops."
Vala let out a strangled laugh and moved to sit up. Daniel followed her actions, holding himself up on his arms. He stared at the chair for a moment before turning back to her lazily. "I think the chair is telling us to take it to the bedroom."
"I absolutely have to agree." She answered slowly, pushing herself to her feet. She had to take a step back to steady herself. There had once been a time when she could drink any person under the table, but becoming a mommy had changed a lot for her. And though Vala could still hold her own, it took less to get her in a state of...relaxation.
Daniel was a little slower in following, having snatched up a couple of items before getting to his feet. He placed the glasses on his head, even if it took three attempts. Then he eyed the object in his other hand. "Looks like we've got a dead soldier." He was sure they'd been over that before, and he wasn't exactly sure where the tumbler or blanket had gotten too, but those were trivial things at the moment.
Vala stepped closer to him and eyed the empty bottle. "We drank it all?" She gaped.
Daniel nodded, then took a few steps backwards as it threw the already unsteady world even more off balance. "I think that would explain why I feel this unbelievably..." He waved his hand in the air randomly as they slowly made their way towards the back door. "Wasted."
Nodding, Vala pulled the door open and the pair stumbled into the kitchen. Daniel placed the empty bottle on the counter with all the grace of someone trying to prove he wasn't drunk when he so obviously was. Vala's hand on his back, he turned around, and the two stumbled to a halt.
"Hello there." Cassie was leaning in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest. She was smiling with amusement.
"Hi Cass!" Daniel replied merrily.
Cassie grinned. "How you doing, Daniel?"
"Oh, you know..." Daniel grinned, very apparent that he was swaying more than a little in place. "Nice and..." He side stepped a little and decided there was no need to even try and deny it. Not that he was to begin with. "Totally and completely plastered."
"I got that," Cassie laughed, eyeing Vala.
Vala shrugged. "It was quite an afterparty." She stumbled slightly into Daniel and the two sauntered drunkenly up to Cassie. "Now if you'll excuse us, we have a late night appointment with some furry pink handcuffs."
Cassie grinned and nodded. She gazed around the kitchen, listening to the couple make their way to their bedroom. She laughed as the slightly slurred, highly amused 'who put that table there?' drifted down the hallway. As her gaze fell on the empty bottle on the counter, Cassie sighed.
It was good to know some things never changed.
Threshold
Arms crossed over her chest and lips pushed out in a pout, Hayden refused to turn around. She just continued to stare at a nonexistent thing on the wall, ignoring everyone and the gate behind her. She was hating that thing more than ever at that moment and would not grace it with her gaze. It didn't deserve her look. It was taking her parents away, and she hated it.
"Don't be like this, Hayds." Daniel pleaded from directly behind her.
Hayden sniffed out huffily. "I am being like this."
He placed his hand on her arm, but she shook it off. "I know you are, and I don't want you to be."
"I don't care." She snipped back, which elicited a whistle from the area where the others were. "I don't want you to go, but your going anyways. So if you do things I don't want, then I do things you don't want."
"It usually doesn't work that way..." Daniel sighed. "Come on, hunny. I'm feeling guilty enough as it is..." She could hear the anguish in his voice. Her pout shifted to a sad frown.
"Why won't you tell me why you have to go?" Hayden questioned, feeling both angry and sad.
Daniel sighed again. "I wish I could baby..."
"You can."
"No," His voice grew firm. "I can't."
The kawoosh of the stargate activating cut off any reply she was planning to make. It only drove the fact home that they really were leaving for two weeks, and weren't telling her why. Hayden stamped her foot and stared harder at her imaginary spot.
Daniel's gaze drifted up to Vala standing beside him. Her eyes were compassionate, but it did nothing to ease his guilt. She knew what he was feeling because she was feeling it too, and she was feeling it because of him.
"Please?" He practically begged, brushing some of his daughter's dark hair back to get a glimpse of her face. She just turned her head away a little farther. If Daniel hadn't hated Jacek before, which he certainly had, he definitely did now. And he had yet to even see the man again. What kind of mess had he gotten himself into with this one?
His hand on Hayden's shoulder, he gave her a gentle squeeze. "Okay then..." Daniel sighed reluctantly. He leaned forwarded and kissed the back of her head, just about her high ponytail, as he stood up. "I love you, baby. Guess we'll see you again in two weeks."
Daniel moved up the ramp a little, letting Vala give their little girl her own brushed-off goodbye. He breathed in deeply, and then out slowly as Vala gave him a sad look as she approached him. His chest was tight and he wanted nothing more than to just let the wormhole close without them stepping through it. But they were already geared for and committed to this mission. Daniel wasn't sure which was gonna be worse - finding him or not finding him.
Turning, he ushered Vala up the ramp. They were just at the edge of the event horizon when Hayden's shouted 'no!' echoed around the gateroom. Daniel spun on his heels to see her running up the ramp towards them. He kneeled down and gathered her in his arms as she reached him, feeling wetness against his neck where she buried her face.
"Hey, it's okay Hayds." Daniel soothed, stroking his hand over her hair. "We're only going to be gone for two weeks."
Hayden squeezed her arms tighter around his neck. "That's too long, daddy." She mumbled against him.
Daniel blinked back his own tears. He knew they were both overreacting, but he just couldn't stop them from coming. "I agree, babygirl." He pulled her back and brushed her long bangs back. "But it'll go by so fast, and me and mommy will be back before you know it." His grin was genuine, despite the gloomy moment.
"I love you, daddy." Hayden sniffed.
Nodding, Daniel's voice was a bit hoarse as he replied. "I love you too, Hayden." His hand ran over her hair again. He jerked his head towards Vala, who was watching on patiently. "Now say goodbye to your mommy."
Hayden moved into Vala's waiting arms, and Daniel stood up slowly. He brushed away the wetness in his eyes as Cam walked up the ramp towards them.
"Tough?" The Colonel asked quietly.
Daniel laughed a little. "We do this on a daily basis...why is it so hard now?"
Cameron patted him on the back. "Hey, don't ask me. You're the daddy here." He waited until Vala and Hayden where finished with their goodbyes, then he reached out a hand to the little girl. "Come on, princess jr. Your mom and dad need to get their big secret mission underway."
Sparing one last glance at her parents, Hayden took Cam's hand. "Are they like secret agents?" She asked as she allowed him to lead her back down the ramp.
Cam leaned in and whispered. "Yeah, can't you tell by how silly their clothes are?"
"Hey!" Daniel snapped. "I heard that!" He grinned as the two sent conspiratorial glances back their direction. He turned his blue eyes on Vala, who was looking both relieved and apprehensive. "All that man does is fill her head with crazy stories." When all he got was a slight half-smile, Daniel stepped closer to her and ran a hand up her bare arm. "Hey, it's going to be okay."
Vala sighed and gazed down towards the group watching on. Hayden smiled and waved, obviously already over her gloom. That, or she was hiding it very well. "Things are going to be nothing but difficult from here out." She murmured, turning her eyes back to meet Daniel's. "All that Jacek is is difficult."
Kissing her softly, Daniel offered her a smirk. "Difficult is nothing we haven't handled before." He cocked his head towards the event horizon. "Go." Vala closed her eyes in response, taking in a deep breath. Hefting her pack a little, she stepped through. Daniel spared one last wave to the others before joining her.
Haggle
The aroma of cooking foods and foreign spices filled her nose. Shouts from bidders and hagglers, disgruntled customers, and salesmen trying to catch a passing person's fancy with a pretty thing rang in her ears. Colors of all kinds danced in her vision, all of various shades on a vast selection of items ranging from veils and clothing to armor and weapons. Every sensation Vala felt was on the verge of being so familiar and right, and still they were so wrong.
This planet, once the 'summer retreat' of a sorts for the now dead false god Camulus, had been turned into a vast merchant's paradise at the fall of the Goa'uld reign. The leveled city was a bustling marketplace all day until the setting of the pale suns. Then with the darkness came the wild nightlife, a hazy maze of constant celebrations and bonfires. One would fall asleep, or pass out in most cases, to the continuous sound of musical drums of different kinds and wake to the lively atmosphere of commerce. These people had taken their newfound freedom and made the best of it, and still somehow managed to stay off the radar of the Ori.
It was an excellent place for 'business transactions' and had been one of the few safe havens left to Vala in the time just before she'd stumbled upon the Tau'ri. And though she felt a small sense of happy nostalgia strolling through the bustling streets now, the once enjoyable feeling of always being on guard wasn't quite so welcome anymore.
She couldn't say she wasn't glad to feel an ever present gaze watching her. Looking over the rim of the collar of her long leather jacket, Vala caught his blue eyes from the next 'aisle' over. He too was clad in leather, this outfit a little more different than the last time they'd gone 'haggling.' Most notable was the brown jacket he wore, long like hers as to conceal the weapon strapped to his leg.
Vala couldn't deny he definitely looked the part. And unlike before, Daniel trusted her more than enough to follow her lead. Also unlike before, Vala had trusted him enough to let him in on the 'plan'. She knew she could rely on him not to muck it up. He couldn't, not when it'd been a long time since she'd done this and was quite out of the loop.
Her gaze returned ahead of her. She finally spotted the stall she'd been searching for. Keeping everything casual, Vala slowly strolled her way over to it. Before stepping out of the glaring afternoon sun and into the shade of the tent's overhang, her grey eyes watched a shadow slip through the back unnoticed.
Good...everything was going to plan.
Plastering a playful smirk on her lips and lifting her head, Vala sauntered under the overhang. She pretended to browse the obviously fake 'priceless' trinkets, or so the stall's owner was trying to persuade his current customer into thinking. She rolled her eyes. What a load of crap he was laying on the poor unsuspecting woman. Vala couldn't allow that, not with having had Daniel rub off on her after so many years.
"It's a fake." She stated matter-of-factly as she stepped up to the woman, looking from the medallion in the seller's hand to the woman, who was shocked by her intrution.
"It is?" The timid woman asked, looking to be no more than twenty. She obviously was very impressionable.
The seller shook his head. "No ma'am." He turned his withering glare on Vala. "This is just a petty con artist trying to rob an honest, hard-working man of his earnings." Vala laughed at the title he gave himself, but he ignored it. "I can assure you it is genuine."
"I can assure you it's not." Vala retorted, making sure she truly captured the woman's gaze. "I know I'm just some random stranger, but trust me..." She pointed her finger at the merchant, never breaking eye contact with the young woman. "I know this character, and he is anything but honest and hard-working. That little medallion right there," Her eyes flicked to it and back. "Is nothing more than a child's imitation of the original."
The woman seemed to connect with something she saw in Vala's eyes. She nodded and shot a disgusted look towards the stall owner. "Thank you." She said appreciatively to Vala, whose face suddenly dawned with understanding at the look in her young eyes. As the woman moved to leave, Vala caught her hand.
"You are lucky. It is the most wonderful change in the world." She murmured, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Those terrified eyes widened in shock and Vala smiled gently. "And trust me, it's worth all of the struggle."
Finally the woman nodded, thanking Vala again before making a hasty retreat. Proud of her good deed, and even happier knowing someone in particular had to have seen it, Vala turned her eyes back on the merchant. He still shot daggers at her with his eyes.
"If there's one sure fire way to lose business, it's to send Vala Malduran strolling into my tent." His voice was a mix of pleasure and hatred. "But never in a million years would I expect her to do it out of the goodness of her heart." He laughed harshly. "What am I saying? Goodness of the heart!"
Vala sat seductively atop the table separating them. "You know insulting doesn't work, Jensen."
Jensen nodded and placed his palms flat on the cloth-covered table. "Whatcha got going with that fine lady, huh? Some kind of sweet deal you want to let me in on?" His eyebrows, in need of a good trimming, rose curiously.
"No deal." She answered. "I'm not in the business anymore."
Another harsh laugh escaped his chapped lips and Vala had to turn her head away to avoid his toxic breath. "Not in the business anymore? Ha! That's like saying there ain't two moons at night." Jensen pushed off the table and moved over to one of the shelves behind him. He picked up a 'valued' artifact and started to clean it with the cloth hanging over his shoulder. "Though I did hear some nasty little rumor about you going and getting all child-heavy. I found it hard to believe you'd let some pathetic mark of yours pop you like that, but you did practically disappear from all the town talk across the galaxy." He eyed her eagerly for a response.
Vala simply shrugged, her flirty smile never wavering.
Jensen shook his head and turned back to the shelving. "I will say this, Vala. Wherever you've been these past several years, it's definitely made you..." She tried to see what he was doing, but his heavy girth hid his actions until it was too late. Vala found herself staring down the muzzle of a pistol. "Soft." His sneer was sickening.
She pushed off the table, turning to make a quick getaway. If it wasn't for the burly man with arms as thick as her waist blocking the exit. She spun on her boots to offer Jensen an apologetic smile. "Jensen, darling, I'm sure whatever this is about we can-"
"Did you REALLY think you could come strolling back in here without some kind of retribution taking place?" Jensen spat. "The last time I saw you, you left me strapped to a bed naked and robbed me off all my most valuable, unreproducable fakes!"
Vala placed her forefinger and thumb to her lips in a worrying gesture. "But it was such a marvelous time right before that." She let out a nervous laugh, her smile shaky.
He shook his head, enjoying the sight of the once insurmountable Vala Malduran caught off guard. "You really have gone soft to this game, Vala dear." He laughed in an unbelieving way. "Coming in here unarmed and all alone-" His words caught as a powerful arm squeezed over his left shoulder and down his chest. Jensen was very much aware of the barrel of a gun pressed dangerously close to his manhood.
"Now why would you think she's alone?" Daniel asked calmly. His other hand came from around his back, aiming his second pistol at the guard who moved to snatch Vala. "I wouldn't try it." He glared at the large man a moment, then turned his attention back to Jensen. "Toss her the weapon."
Jensen shifted his neck in disgust.
Daniel squeezed his arm around the man's chest a little tighter and cocked the gun in his hand. "Unless you're willing to take a vow of celibacy for the rest of your life, I'd toss her the weapon."
Vala skillfully caught the pistol as Jensen practically threw it at her. She turned and pointed it at the guard, allowing Daniel a little reprieve. He holstered his second gun.
"What do you want?" Jensen asked, trying to fight the sweat from beading on his brow. This was not a game he was used to Vala playing.
"We need you to make a call for us." Daniel replied. He stepped back and Jensen went scrambling away from him. The fat man backed against the table, hands in the air, and Daniel made sure he still had aim for his prime target. Jensen swallowed at having the gun pointing that direction once again.
Confusion passed over his face. "Y-you need me to do what?" His head turned to look at Vala as she started speaking.
"What my partner..." Her lips quirked at the word, and Daniel blew her a kiss, unseen by Jensen. She broke out in a full grin at the action. He was actually having fun doing this. Vala figured it was because he was still so frustrated at having to be away from their daughter for so long. She couldn't blame him. "Is so cryptically saying is..." Vala gave Jensen a significant look. "Our mutual contact. I need to see him."
Jensen's eyes widened, and he shook his head. "No. I can't. He specifically told me that under no circumstances was I allowed to send for him because of you."
Daniel stepped up to the man and squeezed his shoulder. "I'm sure he didn't mention castration in those circumstances?" He asked conversationally, all the while his gun almost completely pressed against Jensen.
The fat man swallowed and shook his head.
"Well then, in that case, I'm sure you can make an exception?" Daniel asked and Jensen nodded nervously. "Good!" He grinned, patting a pudgy cheek. Easing back, he moved around the table to join Vala. He stepped close to her, and placed a hand on her hip. Looking at the guard, Daniel jerked his head towards the exit. "You can leave." The man backed out quickly.
Vala smiled at the amusement shining in Daniel's blue eyes before turning her head to look at Jensen. He was now watching them with interest. She could see the wheels turning in his head. "So you'll tell him I need to see him?" She asked, trying to cut off whatever personal questions Jensen was planning to ask.
He tried to suppress a smirk. "Will you be wishing to meet on this planet?"
"Yes." Vala looked up into Daniel's eyes. "We've done enough traveling to get here." She sighed as he brushed a tender finger across her cheek. She had to fight to look from his handsome face to Jensen's not so handsome one. There was a grin cutting his chubby face. "You'll do it?"
Jensen nodded, moving around the table. "I'll do it." His eyes never left Daniel. "She's got you wrapped around her slimy little finger, ain't she?"
"Stay out of this." Daniel glared at him, taking a step back from Vala. Jensen held up his hands in a sort of surrender.
"Hey, if you want to try and tame that thing, it's less trouble to me." Jensen leered. "But I'll warn you, she will rape you, quite literally, of everything you've got. So I don't know what sweet deal she's got you tied up in, and I do know how amazing the sex is, but it's not worth it." He looked at Vala. "She's too sneaky to ever know everything about her. And I would know...she played me for a long time. I know her every trick"
Daniel laughed and stepped close to Vala once more. In direct contradiction to Jensen's warnings, he took her mouth in a heated kiss. As they separated, Vala licking her lips happily, Daniel turned to see Jensen grinning disgustingly.
"Played." Was all the fat man said.
Shaking his head and rolling his eyes, Daniel grinned as he reached unseeing into Vala's bodice. She let out a huffy breath as he extracted the medallion she'd hidden in there. The way Jensen's face fell in disbelief was fantastic. Blue eyes examined the piece hanging from a gold chain. "Guess that's what makes me so completely different from you. Where you THINK you know her every trick, I really do know them all." He tossed the trinket to the floor.
Vala winked at Jensen's open-mouth expression. "You know where to find us should he contact you." With a wave, she let Daniel lead her out of the tent and back into the hustle of the day.
Reviews and comments are LVOE!
Chapters 15 - 19 (Celebration, Party Pooped, Afterparty, Threshold, Haggle)
Celebration
"Now, before I let you all go off and have tons of birthday fun..." Vala said loudly so all in the rented party room could hear her. She smiled and waited for the clapping and cheering to subside, her eyes fixed on a certain father who bounced his daughter in his lap. She really couldn't tell who was more excited, the same identical grins of glee on their faces.
The noise finally tapered off, and Vala continued. "We're gonna have to go over some rules."
"Nooo!" Daniel complained loudly, eliciting laughs from all around. Vala pointed at him warningly, and he made a half-assed attempt to hide behind Hayden, who was giggling.
"Yeees..." Vala replied in kind, then turned her gaze to take in all the others at the table. "And these rules are more for some of the bigger children here because without them, there is no doubt going to be mayhem on our hands."
Daniel leaned back and whispered to his fellow 'big children'. "She says that like it's a bad thing-"
Clearing her throat, Vala glared at her fiancé. He just shrugged in return, sharing in a mischievous laugh with the others around the table. She rolled her eyes, fighting a smile, and continued on with her little 'speech'.
"Okay, first rule - I don't want any child running around unsupervised." She stated it like it was an obvious fact, but seeing as only a small portion of the group were actually parents, she felt it was a necessity to clarify. "Second rule-" Her grey eyes found blue. "There is to be absolutely NO drinking..." As Daniel opened his mouth to reply, Vala rephrased her previous statement. "Adult drinking of any kind."
As she expected, sounds of protest erupted from around the room - especially the head table. She held up her hand, refusing to budge on the subject. Slowly, the quiet returned. "Keeping track of a bunch of children is hard enough...having to look after them AND a group of men," Once more, her gaze shifted to Daniel and his fellow troublemakers. "Who become a bunch of idiots when they drink is NOT something I want to do."
"So if I catch some of you by the bar..." Vala grinned impishly. "I'm sure you all know the story of how Daniel and I first," She made air quotes around her next word. "Met." A round of hushed laughter passed around the room and Daniel blushed considerably.
"Lastly..." Her grin widened. "I want everyone to have tons of fun, and will tolerate no pouting, crying, or tantrums. Laughter, running, and playing are most definitely allowed." She made shoo-ing motions with her arms. "Now GO, Play, have fun! What are you all still doing here?" As the rather large group of people began to empty out into the large area that was Boomers, Vala made her way over to 'her' table.
Hayden bouncing up and down in his lap impatiently, Daniel pouted up at his raven-haired vixen. "Party pooper."
Leaning against the table, Vala crossed her arms over her chest. "The fact that you were even considering it worries me."
"Why would that worry you?" Daniel asked with a tilt of his head. "It's not like I was planning on getting drunk. I'm not that much of a terrible father - unless that's what you were implying." His arms crossed over his chest as he leaned back in his chair.
Vala squinted at him. "Did I say that?"
"Not directly."
"I didn't even imply it!"
Sighing, Hayden hopped off her father's lap and stamped her foot dramatically. "Would you STOP arguing!" She said loudly. Her stern stare shifted from blue eyes to grey and back again. "It's MY birthday party and you're both poopin' it."
Daniel and Vala exchanged a look, both mixed with amusement and guilt. As usual, their daughter was right.
"We're sorry, darling." Vala finally admitted with an apologetic smile. "This is your big day, and here the two of us are being all rotten and not having fun." She reached out and took Hayden's hand. "Why don't I make it up to you by letting you try and beat me at one of those racing games?"
Hayden jumped up and down. "Yes!" She pulled out of Vala's grasp and rushed for the door, glad to have finally gotten the go ahead to join the fun.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Daniel shouted after her as he and Vala slowly followed. A smirk graced his handsome face as he looked at Vala. "She's breakin' one of your rules."
Vala shrugged, smiling towards the ground as Daniel took her hand in his. They looked more like a young couple strolling along the beach than two battle-worn parents. "I broke one of my own rules, so there's not much room for me to object." Her eyes found Daniel's.
"I really wasn't-"
Daniel captured her lips in a soft kiss, effectively silencing her. "I know." He murmured as he pulled back. He looked out of the doorway, noting how almost every person he saw was a guest at their party. It was a joy to no end to know so many had come to help celebrate the life of the child him and Vala had made together. He smiled and turned to look at Vala again.
"Let's just forget that behind us with the fun that's ahead."
Laughing, Vala shook her head. "You really do have a way with words, dear." She pulled out of his grasp, skipping out into the mayhem of fun. "And you couldn't have put it any better."
--------
She was flooded in shadow just seconds before her mouth was taken in a hungry kiss from above. Smiling against the mouth now attached to hers, Vala tilted her head back and placed her hand against a familiar warm cheek. Tongues, lips, and teeth duked it out for a good amount of time, and the kiss turned near erotic with every passing second.
As the sounds of whispers and giggles invaded their personal bubble, Daniel finally pulled away with loud slurp for effect. Vala's gaze followed his as he moved to take the chair next to hers at the small table she occupied near the concession area.
"Daniel Jackson, was that beer I tasted?" Vala tried to make her tone firm, but she knew he could see she wasn't so much annoyed as amused.
Daniel leaned his chair back, and revealed the bottle he'd had concealed behind his back. "Nope."
Rolling her eyes, Vala scooted her chair closer to him. "I thought I was specific about the no adult drinking rule."
The chair came back down, and Daniel leaned in close to Vala. "If you get to break the rules, so do I." His voice was challenging. They gazed at each other for several moments, then finally Daniel sat back in defeat. "This is the only one I've had - I swear."
Vala crossed her arms over her chest and nodded slowly. Daniel adopted a look of childlike innocence.
"And you can't possibly deny me my hard earned spoils."
"Oh, hard earned?" Vala laughed, letting her facade fall. She reached out and snatched the bottle from his hand resting on the table. She grinned around the lip of the bottle as Daniel pouted.
"Yes, hard earned." He leaned forward and grabbed the bottle back as she lowered it. "You should be proud of me - I am now the reigning champion of laser tag of the SGC. And Cam bet me a beer I couldn't beat him..." His grin was arrogant and smug, one that she only saw after he'd bested either Cameron or Jack - especially Jack.
Vala couldn't help but grin. "Laser tag king is a title any woman should be proud of."
"Damn straight!" Daniel grinned, then reached out a hand to pull Vala into his lap. "You know I just spent a good ten minutes looking for you..." He murmured into her shoulder, his right arm wrapped around her back with his hand massaging her hip. The idea to play laser tag had been a spur of the moment thing, and he hadn't had time to find her to join them. Playing the game, Daniel realized how much he'd come to rely on Vala being on his six. Not having her there to watch his back made it all that much harder to beat the others. And it made his need to hold her overwhelming.
Sensing his need to feel her, Vala placed a hand over the one on her hip and took his free one in her own. "I was helping the little monster learn to do the dancing game." At Daniel's curious look, Vala shrugged. "She had a little trouble, and tried desperately hard to show it didn't bother her."
"Speaking of our little monster," Daniel looked around a moment. "Where is she?"
Vala shook her head. "Last I checked, she was with Cassie showing Gracie how to whack-a-mole...or was it gator?" She frowned, then shrugged again. "I'm not really sure. All I know is she was being supervised, having fun, and whatsuch."
"Mmmmm." Daniel replied, pulling Vala tight against his chest. He wrapped her in a tight embrace. "Well, while we're absent of young ones, I found this nice little dark niche while playing laser tag..." He placed a suggestive kiss to her neck, and whispered in her ear. "Wanna go makeout?"
She was pulling him to his feet a second later. "Now that's the kind of fun I'm talking about."
--------
"She is going to crash and burn." Jack stated quietly to Daniel as they watched Hayden dancing with Vala to the music blasting from the dj stand in their rented party room. Joining her were Grace, with help from Jake, Simon Wells' daughter Janet, Dave Dixon's entire army of children - mostly boys - , and various other offspring of the SGC.
Daniel nodded in agreement. "Big time." He cocked his head back to get a somewhat better view of his older friend. "I doubt she'll even last the car ride home, but she's having a great time so I can't really complain. Especially since it means some 'alone time' for her mother and I this evening."
"Oh!" Jack laughed. "Like that alone time you two were sharing up in the laser tag room thing?" He poked a finger into Daniel's shoulder. "You're lucky it was Sam who busted you and not one of the kids. Can you begin to imagine how Dave...no, Dave's wife would've reacted to their little Chelsey finding the pair of you?"
He got a dismissive hand wave in return. "It's not like she DID find us." Daniel snipped. "Besides, it wouldn't really be one of our parties if we weren't caught getting a little frisky." He shrugged. "It's tradition."
Jack shook his head. There had been a time when he never would have pictured Daniel as the willingly 'get frisky' type. "That one's really turned you into a bad little archaeologist." He grinned, flicking his eyes to Vala a moment. When his gaze returned to Daniel, his smile softened. Those blue eyes were now glued to the former female galactic version of Jack Sparrow, and they were completely taken in by the sight of her.
"Bad is a subject of perspective." The younger man murmured, almost in a trance-like way as he watched her dance.
Catching his intent stare, Vala smiled sweetly and winked. As the music changed, she knelt down and whispered something to Hayden. Moments later, the girl was taking off in the direction of her father.
Daniel grinned at seeing her approaching excitedly, and looked at Jack a moment. "If that's the cost of going bad, than it was more than worth it." He turned back and held out his arms just at the right moment to scoop his daughter into his lap.
"Hi daddy!" She laughed, no longer looking the part of a typical birthday girl. Where her hair had been beautifully done up when they'd arrived, now it hung limp in sections around her smiling face. Her shirt and shorts had been nice and clean when she'd put them on. After all the cake, candy, ice cream, chips, and a very specific tussle with one of Dixon's boys - which had to be broken up for fear of Hayden hurting the poor kid, her clothes looked more like an art project. Her face was smeared with mud and paint from fun birthday projects, and it was so obvious she was going to pass out the moment the sugar high wore off, but her eyes were alight with joy and that was enough for Daniel.
"Hey babygirl." He replied, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. It was something he did with her mother as well, and only served as a reminder of how much like both of them Hayden really was. "You having a fun birthday?"
Hayden nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Are you?" She breathed in and out quickly, trying to catch her breath from dancing and running. "I mean, are you having a good time? Why aren't you dancing? Are we going home anytime soon because I really really really don't want to, and-"
"Whoa, easy!" Daniel laughed, rubbing her back. "Daddy can only answer one question at a time."
Shrugging, Hayden batted her eyelashes innocently. "Sorry..."
Daniel shook his head, his smile widening. "Yes, I'm having a wonderful time. I'm not dancing because compared to you and mommy I'd look like a total idiot." He paused to glare at Jack, who nodded his head to the statement. Hayden laughed. "And no, it doesn't look like we're going home anytime soon - everyone's having too much fun."
Satisfied, Hayden jumped off his lap and made for the dancing area without so much as a wave goodbye.
"Was that it?" Jack asked around a laugh, to which Daniel shrugged and shook his head. Seconds later, Hayden was dashing her way back over to them.
"I guess not." Daniel laughed, wrapping an arm around Hayden's back as she came to stand in front of him. "Miss us already?"
She smiled, swallowing around her shallow breathing. "I kinda almost forgot." Hayden straightened, and looked upwards as if remembering something. "Mommy wanted me to tell you that you're sexy, and amazing, and super smart, and that she saw you..." She paused, trying to remember the exact word. "Oogling her, and and..." Grey-blue eyes finally looked into her father's. "And that she loves you very very very much."
Sitting up a little straighter, Daniel pulled her closer to him, placing his hands on her hips. "Oh really?" When she nodded quickly, he smiled and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I want you to go give your mommy that kiss for me." He placed a softer kiss against her lips. "And that one too, but I want you to make it ten times more amazing because it's coming from both of us. And a big hug too, okay?"
"Okay..." Hayden twisted in his embrace. "I'll do all that, then I'm gonna go dance lots more."
Daniel made a shoo-ing movement with his hand. "Go forth and dance, my child."
Giggling, Hayden pecked a kiss against his cheek. "You're silly, daddy."
"So your mommy has been telling me for years..." He answered before playfully smacking her on the butt. "Now go! Birthday girls aren't supposed to be spending so much time talking to their daddies at their parties!"
Like lightning, Hayden took off towards the dance floor again.
Watching, Daniel smiled as she ran up to Vala and gave two big kisses. As she moved in for the hug, Vala swooped the little girl up and spun her around, her feet swinging in the air. Hayden's laughter could be heard from where he sat.
From where he sat, Jack couldn't see why being a little bad wasn't a good thing either.
Party Pooped
They hadn't even made it a block from Boomers before Hayden's eyes where drifting closed. Daniel and Vala kept their talk quiet and light the entire drive home, not wanting to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the car. By the time they pulled into their driveway, Jake and Cassie pulling in behind them, it was dark outside.
"You gonna get her?" Vala asked, looking from Daniel to Hayden behind her.
"Yeah, I'll get her." Daniel pulled the keys from the ignition and handed them off to Vala. "Go get her bed all ready, then we can deal with the presents and stuff." As Vala nodded and headed up the walk to the house, he unclipped his seatbelt and opened his door. Moving around the SUV, Daniel opened the rear passenger door. Hayden was listing to the side of the seat, a long strand of hair hanging across her face.
Sitting her up, Daniel brushed her hair back. "We're home, Hayds. Think you can wake up for me, hunny?" She moaned in protest as he leaned over her a little to unhook her seatbelt.
Knowing she wouldn't wake up, he pulled her into his strong arms. "Come on, babygirl. Let's get you to bed." Daniel placed a hand against the back of Hayden's head resting on his shoulder, that arm holding her to his body. The other rested beneath her butt, her arms and legs dangling listlessly. Slamming the door shut with his hip, he carefully, but quickly, made his way to the front door and into the house.
Going down the hall and into Hayden's room, Daniel found Vala pulling back the covers on the bed. She had already laid their daughter's jamjams, as she liked to call them, out on her art table. He sat her down on the table, letting her legs dangle over the edge.
"Hayden, you need to wake up so daddy can get you changed." Daniel commanded gently, brushing all her stray hair back while holding her up at the same time. She moaned once again, this time shaking her head. "Yes, wake up for me please."
"'n wanna..." Hayden mumbled, trying to lean against Daniel.
He reached over and grabbed the nightshirt, one of the air force shirts he'd gotten at the start of the program, that served as her pajamas most nights. "I know you don't wanna, Hayds." Sure she would hold herself up, Daniel released his hold on her and started to pull her shirt up. "Come on, arms up."
Lethargically, Hayden raised her arms up, never opening her eyes. Daniel just shook his head and grinned as he slipped her dirty shirt off and pulled the nightshirt over her head, helping her pass her arms through the proper holes.
"Bed now?" Hayden mumbled, wrapping her arms around Daniel's neck while burying her head just below his chin.
Daniel unlatched her arms and sat her back. "No, we're not done."
A pout formed on her lips. "Daddy..." She whined, her eyes finally open and boring into his.
"Baby..." He mocked back in an identical fashion. "The sooner you let me finish, the sooner you can get in bed." Slowly, Hayden nodded in reluctant acquiescence. "Alright, let's get this messy hair taken care of." Daniel carefully started undoing all the braids and unclipping all the barrettes. He looked up when a hairbrush and damp washcloth were placed on the table.
Vala smiled down at him. "Wipe her face and hands so she's not going to bed completely filthy." She whispered into his ear, and placed a kiss to his neck, as he started to brush the tangles out of their daughter's hair.
As Daniel moved around to brush the back, Vala leaned down in front of Hayden and gathered her in a hug.
"Happy Birthday, darling." She whispered against her cheek as Hayden squeezed her tightly. Pulling back, Vala placed a soft kiss to her still pouting lips. "I love you."
"Love you too." Hayden mumbled back. It was followed by a yelp as Daniel worked through a particularly nasty tangle.
Daniel winced and placed a gentle kiss into the brown locks. "Sorry hunny. I'm almost done." His gaze found Vala's, and he nodded when she pointed out the door. Finally done with her hair, he moved back to kneel in front of Hayden. He quickly wiped the washcloth over her face and hands.
"Okay, let's get you in bed." He gathered her in his arms as before, and moved towards the bed.
"My shorts and shoes are still on." Hayden's words were muffled against his neck.
Daniel nodded as he laid her down gently. "I know. It's easier to take them off over here."
"Oh." Hayden yawned, snuggling into her pillow as best as she could while Daniel finished undressing her. When she felt the weight of her shorts disappear, she turned on her side and pulled her pillow tighter against her.
A soft smile came unchecked to Daniel's lips. Wordlessly, he drew the comforter over Hayden's tiny form. As he tucked it under her arm, his gaze was caught by a lump lying on the floor. He snatched it up, kneeled down, and placed it within her grasp.
"Can't sleep without Larry." He whispered, playful yet serious. Hayden smiled sleepily and nodded, already succumbing to sleep. Daniel ran a hand through her hair as he gazed at her young face. "Happy Birthday, baby." He finally said, placing a kiss to her forehead as he stood up. Quietly, he made his way towards the doorway.
As he reached the threshold, Hayden's soft plea rang out.
"Daddy?"
One arm resting on the doorframe, Daniel turned back to face her. "Yeah, munchkin?"
Her smile was enough to send a warm joy spreading through every inch of his body. "I love you."
And her words made the sensation start all over again.
"I love you too." Daniel nodded, watching her slip back into a peaceful sleep. Satisfied that she wouldn't wake up again, he flicked off the light and closed the door almost all the way, leaving it open a little just incase. It was something he almost always did.
He moved down the hallway, stopping at the door to the guest bedroom. Leaning against the wall on one hand, Daniel knocked lightly on the door with the other. A moment later, the door cracked open just enough to reveal Jake standing in the doorway.
"Just checking to see if you guys needed anything." Daniel grinned at the younger man's Scooby-Doo boxers.
Blushing just slightly, Jake placed an arm along the door and shook his head. "Vala just came and asked us that actually."
"Oh well," Daniel lodged one hand into the pocket of his jeans. "I was putting Hayden to bed." He emphasized the fact by indicating with his thumb over his shoulder. "The party kind of wore her out."
Jake nodded, a knowing grin coming to his face. "That seems to be a general theme around here. Gracie is out like a light and her mommy..." He let out a wince of sorts. "Let's just say Cassie isn't long to follow."
Concern clouded Daniel's features. "She okay?" He knew Jake took good care of Cassie, but he couldn't suppress over a decades worth of gut instinct.
"Yeah..." Jake looked behind the door for a moment. "All that dancing and running around took its toll." He laughed gently as he turned his attention back to Daniel. His gaze grew more serious. "I'll have to remind her that she's not just playing for one anymore...again."
Nodding in understanding, Daniel shoved the other hand into his jeans. "So you're all set for the night?" As Jake nodded, Daniel nodded again. "Well, if you do need anything, Vala and I will be up for a good while - the plan is to make a dead soldier out of that bottle of Jack Daniel's in the kitchen."
"Mommy, daddy alone time?" Jake laughed as Daniel grinned, then shook his head. "As fun as that sounds, I think I'll pass - this time." He emphasized, pointing a finger towards Daniel, who shrugged.
"Hey, it's your loss." He smirked. "Well, if you change your mind, we'll be out on the back porch." Daniel moved to head down the hall towards the master bedroom, but stepped back to catch Jake's attention again. "Oh, and if in a little while, we start getting a little rowdy, don't be scared to tell us to tone it done. We aren't exactly quiet once we've had a few..."
Jake laughed again. "So I've been told."
Afterparty
The unusually chill air nipped at Daniel's face as he stepped out the backdoor. The porch was bathed in pale moonlight, as was the figure already reclining on the lawn chaise they kept up there. She could've passed for a nymph if it wasn't for a rather large cream-colored sweater she wore that barely reached to her thighs. He knew from experience that she had nothing else on underneath, either in regards to the top or the bottom, and the thought pleased him to no end.
To him, she was his nymph. His sweater-stealing, whiskey-drinking, little raven-haired nymph.
His blue eyes drifted to her bare legs as the chill wind brushed against them once more. "You've GOT to be cold." He said as he made his way towards her, in all her relaxing glory.
"Well, I have it on good authority that I will be joined by another warm body." Her accented voice still sent chills through his entire body. These chills were of a good kind, unlike that which continued to blow around the two.
Before Daniel could make a remark about the crystal tumbler she held in her hand, Vala stood and held it out to him with both hands.
"A woman after my own heart." He smiled, wrapping his hands around hers and bringing the overflowing glass to his lips. The familiar burn that went down the back of his throat was a welcome sensation. Vala pulled her hands away from the glass as he took it in one hand. Daniel moved to sit on the chaise while she bent down to snatch the blanket she had concealed beneath it.
The two exchanged items, and Daniel wrapped the large blanket around his shoulders as Vala sipped from the drink. Once he was settled, she sat down between his legs. He wrapped his arms, with the blanket, around her and pulled her back against him. They were at a half-reclining angle, suitable for both of them to drink and perfect for supreme snuggling. Plus it made the view of the starry sky spectacular.
Daniel didn't bother to take the tumbler back. He just brought it to his lips, Vala's hand still attached, to take a deeper drink than before. He kept his hand wrapped around hers as it was lowered back to rest against her thigh.
"Oh, I hate to break this to you hunny..." He sighed after a moment, his other hand playing with the fingers of her free hand. "But I'm afraid I've up and given my love to another."
Vala's head turned against his shoulder so she could see his face. "Oh?" She pulled her hand, with the tumbler, from Daniel's to take a sip. "And what, may I ask, is this other like?"
Daniel's smile was small and dreamlike. "Beautiful long, dark hair. Amazing eyes that could just tear anyone to pieces with their brilliance..." He sighed. "Adorable, funny, wonderful...she told me she loves me."
Shifting a little, Vala placed a soft kiss to Daniel's jawline. As he turned his head to look at her, she took his mouth in a possessive kiss. He moaned pleasurably into her, his fingers lacing with hers. When Vala finally decided to release his mouth, Daniel whined.
"Bet your new found love doesn't do that." She said smugly, settling back against his chest.
It took a moment for Daniel to regain his ability to speak. It amazed him how her kisses, her alone, could leave him fumbling to just exist. He licked his lips lethargically, than extracted the glass from her hand. Once again, he found himself taking a deep drink.
"She better not be doing that." He mumbled around the ice cube in his mouth. The glass came to rest a top Vala's thigh once more. "She's only five."
Vala laughed. "How quickly the daddy in you comes out." A loving kiss found its way to his jawline.
Daniel merely chuckled, resting his head back against the chaise. "Hayden is five..." He murmured as if just realizing it for the first time. His eyes closed. "Five."
Grey eyes stared at him for a minute, then shifted out to stare at the stars. Unbeknownst to Daniel, her thoughts drifted farther than the stars, farther than time would allow. Vala breathed in deeply as memories, albeit hazy memories, flooded her mind. Her hand instinctively squeezed Daniel's.
He peaked one eye open to look at her. "Whatcha thinkin about?" He swung their entwined hands out, then back in.
"This day..." Vala sighed, snuggling deeper into Daniel's embrace. "Five years ago." She closed her eyes and nuzzled her nose into his neck. "You remember?"
Daniel's laugh was mirthless. "Remember? It was only the single most difficult day of my life." Vala's fingers stroked over his on the tumbler. He turned his head to bury his face in her thick black hair. "How could I forget the day...the moment when I nearly lost both you and our little girl?" Lifting his head a bit, Daniel left his lips resting in her hair. "I was never more terrified in my life." His eyes took in the horizon of their darkened backyard.
"I couldn't tell." Vala replied truthfully. "The one thing I remember most, besides the occasional pain here and there," She paused as Daniel held up the glass to her. Letting out a little laugh, she took a sip. She savored the burn before continuing. "Was you being there every moment I was awake. Telling me to fight them, the Ori, and reminding me that no little girl can live without her mother. Especially when I was destined to become such a fantastically awesome mommy." She grinned as Daniel tried to hide his smirk behind a frown.
He leaned away from her a little to grab the bottle of Jack Daniel's on the porch beside the chaise. "Me? I said that?" He repeated in mock doubt as he rested the bottle against Vala's stomach so he could switch the tumbler to his left hand. He could hardly pour properly with his left hand when he wasn't drinking. With the effects of the first glass starting to take hold, he was positive he'd spill it. Maybe alcohol added onto the exhaustion of the long day wasn't such a grand idea, but Daniel didn't dwell on the thought for too long. "I would never utter such words as fantastically awesome - you must be mistaken."
Vala grinned and took the tumbler from him to test its 'safety'. "No!" She said around the small mouthful of liquor. "That's one thing I remember for sure - You said to me that I would be a-"
"Fantastically awesome mommy." Daniel said along with her, his head bobbing up and down. He looked at her affectionately and kissed her with all the feeling those three words had conveyed five years ago. "I've never been more right in my life," He accepted the glass back from Vala and sipped from it. "And I've been right about a lot of things in my life."
A hand lowered the glass from his lips as he sipped again. Vala had her head cocked to the side as she stared at him. His eyebrows rose in an innocent manner and hers did as well. "What?" He asked, munching on another ice cube as he handed the glass to her.
Instead of drinking from it, Vala stared down in it. She then dipped her finger in it playfully and proceeded to slurp the liquid from the same finger. Daniel scrunched up his nose at her action. "My, aren't we cocky."
"Well," Daniel shifted a little purposely. "Are we speaking metaphorically or..."
Vala licked her lips at the naughty gleam in those blue eyes. "I know one thing you weren't right about." She smirked at the pout on his lips, at the cuteness of his furrowed brow. She pushed herself up a little higher and ran a finger down his cheek, the sleeve of his sweater hanging limply from her wrist. "You were wrong about me."
His eyes fluttered closed as she began to suck on the bottom of his ear. "Wrong...how?" He breathed, totally taken in by the sensation of Vala's warm mouth going to work against him. He regretted asking the moment her mouth pulled away to answer.
She reveled in the euphoric haze of his eyes. "I specifically remember when YOU hated me." Her finger poked him in the chest accusingly.
"I did NOT hate you!" Daniel argued, trying to hide his guilt by slurping their drink loudly. He watched as Vala sat back a little and crossed her arms over her chest. "What? I DIDN'T! I never, ever said I HATED you." His hand waved absently in the air. "I may have...might have been annoyed with you every once in a while..."
"You mentioned killing me." Vala huffed dramatically. Her act faltered the moment she felt Daniel's moist lips come to her neck. "And there's vague recollection of pain..."
"How vague?" He whispered huskily as his mouth continued to explore.
Vala's hand searched for the tumbler blindly. When Daniel slowly placed it in her hand, she sipped from it eyes closed. "Getting more vague by the moment."
Daniel grinned. "Mmmmm..." He took the tumbler back and abruptly pulled away. "We need more beverage."
Gasping, Vala pushed at his face as he moved to retrieve the bottle from the porch once more. "Oh, you big tease!" She pouted, snatching his glasses and tossing them across the porch. Daniel just laughed and poured from the bottle. He settled back against the chaise, and Vala reclaimed the area against his chest.
"That was mature." He said, kissing her neck. Vala just shrugged innocently and twisted a strand of hair around her finger.
-------
"I think the world is listing." Daniel mumbled with amusement against Vala's cheek. She snorted in an unladylike fashion, and patted his hand slowly.
"No darling, that would just be our chair." She snickered.
Daniel looked around lethargically. It was then that he realized their once horizontal chaise was leaning dangerously to one angle. Even as he thought it could tip at any second, and before he could prevent it, the two went crashing to the porch. Vala's yelp erupted through the late night air, and had Daniel bursting out in laughter. She soon joined him.
After a good five minutes of laughing, he finally caught on to how much noise they were really making.
"Shhh." Daniel hissed through his laughs into Vala's hair. She was still firmly wrapped in his arms. "It's late and we're being loud." In direct contrast to his statement, he pushed the chaise off of them with another loud crash. "Whoops."
Vala let out a strangled laugh and moved to sit up. Daniel followed her actions, holding himself up on his arms. He stared at the chair for a moment before turning back to her lazily. "I think the chair is telling us to take it to the bedroom."
"I absolutely have to agree." She answered slowly, pushing herself to her feet. She had to take a step back to steady herself. There had once been a time when she could drink any person under the table, but becoming a mommy had changed a lot for her. And though Vala could still hold her own, it took less to get her in a state of...relaxation.
Daniel was a little slower in following, having snatched up a couple of items before getting to his feet. He placed the glasses on his head, even if it took three attempts. Then he eyed the object in his other hand. "Looks like we've got a dead soldier." He was sure they'd been over that before, and he wasn't exactly sure where the tumbler or blanket had gotten too, but those were trivial things at the moment.
Vala stepped closer to him and eyed the empty bottle. "We drank it all?" She gaped.
Daniel nodded, then took a few steps backwards as it threw the already unsteady world even more off balance. "I think that would explain why I feel this unbelievably..." He waved his hand in the air randomly as they slowly made their way towards the back door. "Wasted."
Nodding, Vala pulled the door open and the pair stumbled into the kitchen. Daniel placed the empty bottle on the counter with all the grace of someone trying to prove he wasn't drunk when he so obviously was. Vala's hand on his back, he turned around, and the two stumbled to a halt.
"Hello there." Cassie was leaning in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest. She was smiling with amusement.
"Hi Cass!" Daniel replied merrily.
Cassie grinned. "How you doing, Daniel?"
"Oh, you know..." Daniel grinned, very apparent that he was swaying more than a little in place. "Nice and..." He side stepped a little and decided there was no need to even try and deny it. Not that he was to begin with. "Totally and completely plastered."
"I got that," Cassie laughed, eyeing Vala.
Vala shrugged. "It was quite an afterparty." She stumbled slightly into Daniel and the two sauntered drunkenly up to Cassie. "Now if you'll excuse us, we have a late night appointment with some furry pink handcuffs."
Cassie grinned and nodded. She gazed around the kitchen, listening to the couple make their way to their bedroom. She laughed as the slightly slurred, highly amused 'who put that table there?' drifted down the hallway. As her gaze fell on the empty bottle on the counter, Cassie sighed.
It was good to know some things never changed.
Threshold
Arms crossed over her chest and lips pushed out in a pout, Hayden refused to turn around. She just continued to stare at a nonexistent thing on the wall, ignoring everyone and the gate behind her. She was hating that thing more than ever at that moment and would not grace it with her gaze. It didn't deserve her look. It was taking her parents away, and she hated it.
"Don't be like this, Hayds." Daniel pleaded from directly behind her.
Hayden sniffed out huffily. "I am being like this."
He placed his hand on her arm, but she shook it off. "I know you are, and I don't want you to be."
"I don't care." She snipped back, which elicited a whistle from the area where the others were. "I don't want you to go, but your going anyways. So if you do things I don't want, then I do things you don't want."
"It usually doesn't work that way..." Daniel sighed. "Come on, hunny. I'm feeling guilty enough as it is..." She could hear the anguish in his voice. Her pout shifted to a sad frown.
"Why won't you tell me why you have to go?" Hayden questioned, feeling both angry and sad.
Daniel sighed again. "I wish I could baby..."
"You can."
"No," His voice grew firm. "I can't."
The kawoosh of the stargate activating cut off any reply she was planning to make. It only drove the fact home that they really were leaving for two weeks, and weren't telling her why. Hayden stamped her foot and stared harder at her imaginary spot.
Daniel's gaze drifted up to Vala standing beside him. Her eyes were compassionate, but it did nothing to ease his guilt. She knew what he was feeling because she was feeling it too, and she was feeling it because of him.
"Please?" He practically begged, brushing some of his daughter's dark hair back to get a glimpse of her face. She just turned her head away a little farther. If Daniel hadn't hated Jacek before, which he certainly had, he definitely did now. And he had yet to even see the man again. What kind of mess had he gotten himself into with this one?
His hand on Hayden's shoulder, he gave her a gentle squeeze. "Okay then..." Daniel sighed reluctantly. He leaned forwarded and kissed the back of her head, just about her high ponytail, as he stood up. "I love you, baby. Guess we'll see you again in two weeks."
Daniel moved up the ramp a little, letting Vala give their little girl her own brushed-off goodbye. He breathed in deeply, and then out slowly as Vala gave him a sad look as she approached him. His chest was tight and he wanted nothing more than to just let the wormhole close without them stepping through it. But they were already geared for and committed to this mission. Daniel wasn't sure which was gonna be worse - finding him or not finding him.
Turning, he ushered Vala up the ramp. They were just at the edge of the event horizon when Hayden's shouted 'no!' echoed around the gateroom. Daniel spun on his heels to see her running up the ramp towards them. He kneeled down and gathered her in his arms as she reached him, feeling wetness against his neck where she buried her face.
"Hey, it's okay Hayds." Daniel soothed, stroking his hand over her hair. "We're only going to be gone for two weeks."
Hayden squeezed her arms tighter around his neck. "That's too long, daddy." She mumbled against him.
Daniel blinked back his own tears. He knew they were both overreacting, but he just couldn't stop them from coming. "I agree, babygirl." He pulled her back and brushed her long bangs back. "But it'll go by so fast, and me and mommy will be back before you know it." His grin was genuine, despite the gloomy moment.
"I love you, daddy." Hayden sniffed.
Nodding, Daniel's voice was a bit hoarse as he replied. "I love you too, Hayden." His hand ran over her hair again. He jerked his head towards Vala, who was watching on patiently. "Now say goodbye to your mommy."
Hayden moved into Vala's waiting arms, and Daniel stood up slowly. He brushed away the wetness in his eyes as Cam walked up the ramp towards them.
"Tough?" The Colonel asked quietly.
Daniel laughed a little. "We do this on a daily basis...why is it so hard now?"
Cameron patted him on the back. "Hey, don't ask me. You're the daddy here." He waited until Vala and Hayden where finished with their goodbyes, then he reached out a hand to the little girl. "Come on, princess jr. Your mom and dad need to get their big secret mission underway."
Sparing one last glance at her parents, Hayden took Cam's hand. "Are they like secret agents?" She asked as she allowed him to lead her back down the ramp.
Cam leaned in and whispered. "Yeah, can't you tell by how silly their clothes are?"
"Hey!" Daniel snapped. "I heard that!" He grinned as the two sent conspiratorial glances back their direction. He turned his blue eyes on Vala, who was looking both relieved and apprehensive. "All that man does is fill her head with crazy stories." When all he got was a slight half-smile, Daniel stepped closer to her and ran a hand up her bare arm. "Hey, it's going to be okay."
Vala sighed and gazed down towards the group watching on. Hayden smiled and waved, obviously already over her gloom. That, or she was hiding it very well. "Things are going to be nothing but difficult from here out." She murmured, turning her eyes back to meet Daniel's. "All that Jacek is is difficult."
Kissing her softly, Daniel offered her a smirk. "Difficult is nothing we haven't handled before." He cocked his head towards the event horizon. "Go." Vala closed her eyes in response, taking in a deep breath. Hefting her pack a little, she stepped through. Daniel spared one last wave to the others before joining her.
Haggle
The aroma of cooking foods and foreign spices filled her nose. Shouts from bidders and hagglers, disgruntled customers, and salesmen trying to catch a passing person's fancy with a pretty thing rang in her ears. Colors of all kinds danced in her vision, all of various shades on a vast selection of items ranging from veils and clothing to armor and weapons. Every sensation Vala felt was on the verge of being so familiar and right, and still they were so wrong.
This planet, once the 'summer retreat' of a sorts for the now dead false god Camulus, had been turned into a vast merchant's paradise at the fall of the Goa'uld reign. The leveled city was a bustling marketplace all day until the setting of the pale suns. Then with the darkness came the wild nightlife, a hazy maze of constant celebrations and bonfires. One would fall asleep, or pass out in most cases, to the continuous sound of musical drums of different kinds and wake to the lively atmosphere of commerce. These people had taken their newfound freedom and made the best of it, and still somehow managed to stay off the radar of the Ori.
It was an excellent place for 'business transactions' and had been one of the few safe havens left to Vala in the time just before she'd stumbled upon the Tau'ri. And though she felt a small sense of happy nostalgia strolling through the bustling streets now, the once enjoyable feeling of always being on guard wasn't quite so welcome anymore.
She couldn't say she wasn't glad to feel an ever present gaze watching her. Looking over the rim of the collar of her long leather jacket, Vala caught his blue eyes from the next 'aisle' over. He too was clad in leather, this outfit a little more different than the last time they'd gone 'haggling.' Most notable was the brown jacket he wore, long like hers as to conceal the weapon strapped to his leg.
Vala couldn't deny he definitely looked the part. And unlike before, Daniel trusted her more than enough to follow her lead. Also unlike before, Vala had trusted him enough to let him in on the 'plan'. She knew she could rely on him not to muck it up. He couldn't, not when it'd been a long time since she'd done this and was quite out of the loop.
Her gaze returned ahead of her. She finally spotted the stall she'd been searching for. Keeping everything casual, Vala slowly strolled her way over to it. Before stepping out of the glaring afternoon sun and into the shade of the tent's overhang, her grey eyes watched a shadow slip through the back unnoticed.
Good...everything was going to plan.
Plastering a playful smirk on her lips and lifting her head, Vala sauntered under the overhang. She pretended to browse the obviously fake 'priceless' trinkets, or so the stall's owner was trying to persuade his current customer into thinking. She rolled her eyes. What a load of crap he was laying on the poor unsuspecting woman. Vala couldn't allow that, not with having had Daniel rub off on her after so many years.
"It's a fake." She stated matter-of-factly as she stepped up to the woman, looking from the medallion in the seller's hand to the woman, who was shocked by her intrution.
"It is?" The timid woman asked, looking to be no more than twenty. She obviously was very impressionable.
The seller shook his head. "No ma'am." He turned his withering glare on Vala. "This is just a petty con artist trying to rob an honest, hard-working man of his earnings." Vala laughed at the title he gave himself, but he ignored it. "I can assure you it is genuine."
"I can assure you it's not." Vala retorted, making sure she truly captured the woman's gaze. "I know I'm just some random stranger, but trust me..." She pointed her finger at the merchant, never breaking eye contact with the young woman. "I know this character, and he is anything but honest and hard-working. That little medallion right there," Her eyes flicked to it and back. "Is nothing more than a child's imitation of the original."
The woman seemed to connect with something she saw in Vala's eyes. She nodded and shot a disgusted look towards the stall owner. "Thank you." She said appreciatively to Vala, whose face suddenly dawned with understanding at the look in her young eyes. As the woman moved to leave, Vala caught her hand.
"You are lucky. It is the most wonderful change in the world." She murmured, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Those terrified eyes widened in shock and Vala smiled gently. "And trust me, it's worth all of the struggle."
Finally the woman nodded, thanking Vala again before making a hasty retreat. Proud of her good deed, and even happier knowing someone in particular had to have seen it, Vala turned her eyes back on the merchant. He still shot daggers at her with his eyes.
"If there's one sure fire way to lose business, it's to send Vala Malduran strolling into my tent." His voice was a mix of pleasure and hatred. "But never in a million years would I expect her to do it out of the goodness of her heart." He laughed harshly. "What am I saying? Goodness of the heart!"
Vala sat seductively atop the table separating them. "You know insulting doesn't work, Jensen."
Jensen nodded and placed his palms flat on the cloth-covered table. "Whatcha got going with that fine lady, huh? Some kind of sweet deal you want to let me in on?" His eyebrows, in need of a good trimming, rose curiously.
"No deal." She answered. "I'm not in the business anymore."
Another harsh laugh escaped his chapped lips and Vala had to turn her head away to avoid his toxic breath. "Not in the business anymore? Ha! That's like saying there ain't two moons at night." Jensen pushed off the table and moved over to one of the shelves behind him. He picked up a 'valued' artifact and started to clean it with the cloth hanging over his shoulder. "Though I did hear some nasty little rumor about you going and getting all child-heavy. I found it hard to believe you'd let some pathetic mark of yours pop you like that, but you did practically disappear from all the town talk across the galaxy." He eyed her eagerly for a response.
Vala simply shrugged, her flirty smile never wavering.
Jensen shook his head and turned back to the shelving. "I will say this, Vala. Wherever you've been these past several years, it's definitely made you..." She tried to see what he was doing, but his heavy girth hid his actions until it was too late. Vala found herself staring down the muzzle of a pistol. "Soft." His sneer was sickening.
She pushed off the table, turning to make a quick getaway. If it wasn't for the burly man with arms as thick as her waist blocking the exit. She spun on her boots to offer Jensen an apologetic smile. "Jensen, darling, I'm sure whatever this is about we can-"
"Did you REALLY think you could come strolling back in here without some kind of retribution taking place?" Jensen spat. "The last time I saw you, you left me strapped to a bed naked and robbed me off all my most valuable, unreproducable fakes!"
Vala placed her forefinger and thumb to her lips in a worrying gesture. "But it was such a marvelous time right before that." She let out a nervous laugh, her smile shaky.
He shook his head, enjoying the sight of the once insurmountable Vala Malduran caught off guard. "You really have gone soft to this game, Vala dear." He laughed in an unbelieving way. "Coming in here unarmed and all alone-" His words caught as a powerful arm squeezed over his left shoulder and down his chest. Jensen was very much aware of the barrel of a gun pressed dangerously close to his manhood.
"Now why would you think she's alone?" Daniel asked calmly. His other hand came from around his back, aiming his second pistol at the guard who moved to snatch Vala. "I wouldn't try it." He glared at the large man a moment, then turned his attention back to Jensen. "Toss her the weapon."
Jensen shifted his neck in disgust.
Daniel squeezed his arm around the man's chest a little tighter and cocked the gun in his hand. "Unless you're willing to take a vow of celibacy for the rest of your life, I'd toss her the weapon."
Vala skillfully caught the pistol as Jensen practically threw it at her. She turned and pointed it at the guard, allowing Daniel a little reprieve. He holstered his second gun.
"What do you want?" Jensen asked, trying to fight the sweat from beading on his brow. This was not a game he was used to Vala playing.
"We need you to make a call for us." Daniel replied. He stepped back and Jensen went scrambling away from him. The fat man backed against the table, hands in the air, and Daniel made sure he still had aim for his prime target. Jensen swallowed at having the gun pointing that direction once again.
Confusion passed over his face. "Y-you need me to do what?" His head turned to look at Vala as she started speaking.
"What my partner..." Her lips quirked at the word, and Daniel blew her a kiss, unseen by Jensen. She broke out in a full grin at the action. He was actually having fun doing this. Vala figured it was because he was still so frustrated at having to be away from their daughter for so long. She couldn't blame him. "Is so cryptically saying is..." Vala gave Jensen a significant look. "Our mutual contact. I need to see him."
Jensen's eyes widened, and he shook his head. "No. I can't. He specifically told me that under no circumstances was I allowed to send for him because of you."
Daniel stepped up to the man and squeezed his shoulder. "I'm sure he didn't mention castration in those circumstances?" He asked conversationally, all the while his gun almost completely pressed against Jensen.
The fat man swallowed and shook his head.
"Well then, in that case, I'm sure you can make an exception?" Daniel asked and Jensen nodded nervously. "Good!" He grinned, patting a pudgy cheek. Easing back, he moved around the table to join Vala. He stepped close to her, and placed a hand on her hip. Looking at the guard, Daniel jerked his head towards the exit. "You can leave." The man backed out quickly.
Vala smiled at the amusement shining in Daniel's blue eyes before turning her head to look at Jensen. He was now watching them with interest. She could see the wheels turning in his head. "So you'll tell him I need to see him?" She asked, trying to cut off whatever personal questions Jensen was planning to ask.
He tried to suppress a smirk. "Will you be wishing to meet on this planet?"
"Yes." Vala looked up into Daniel's eyes. "We've done enough traveling to get here." She sighed as he brushed a tender finger across her cheek. She had to fight to look from his handsome face to Jensen's not so handsome one. There was a grin cutting his chubby face. "You'll do it?"
Jensen nodded, moving around the table. "I'll do it." His eyes never left Daniel. "She's got you wrapped around her slimy little finger, ain't she?"
"Stay out of this." Daniel glared at him, taking a step back from Vala. Jensen held up his hands in a sort of surrender.
"Hey, if you want to try and tame that thing, it's less trouble to me." Jensen leered. "But I'll warn you, she will rape you, quite literally, of everything you've got. So I don't know what sweet deal she's got you tied up in, and I do know how amazing the sex is, but it's not worth it." He looked at Vala. "She's too sneaky to ever know everything about her. And I would know...she played me for a long time. I know her every trick"
Daniel laughed and stepped close to Vala once more. In direct contradiction to Jensen's warnings, he took her mouth in a heated kiss. As they separated, Vala licking her lips happily, Daniel turned to see Jensen grinning disgustingly.
"Played." Was all the fat man said.
Shaking his head and rolling his eyes, Daniel grinned as he reached unseeing into Vala's bodice. She let out a huffy breath as he extracted the medallion she'd hidden in there. The way Jensen's face fell in disbelief was fantastic. Blue eyes examined the piece hanging from a gold chain. "Guess that's what makes me so completely different from you. Where you THINK you know her every trick, I really do know them all." He tossed the trinket to the floor.
Vala winked at Jensen's open-mouth expression. "You know where to find us should he contact you." With a wave, she let Daniel lead her out of the tent and back into the hustle of the day.
Reviews and comments are LVOE!