Series: Idioms - A series of stand-alone stories based off random idioms.


A/N: All definitions can be found in From the Horse's Mouth by John Ayto.


Spoiler Warning: This takes place during S10 E18 Family Ties right before Sam comes into Vala's room.


Disclaimer: I don't own a single piece of Stargate SG1.


Idiom: hope chest: a chest containing linen, clothes, and household items stored by a woman in preparation for her marriage.

Vala's Hope Chest

Pulling out the little box from beneath her bed, Vala placed it on the end of the bed. She sat down, smiling as she opened the lid and saw its contents. They were nothing special, really. A few riings, necklaces, and other useless trinkets from across the galaxy. No, for the most part, they were indeed worthless but, as she stared at them, she realised just what each piece meant to her and why. They were all grifts from her father. She used to tell herself that they were simply a way to curry her favour, to get on her good side, but now she was re-thinking that. Perhaps he was trying to make up for all the lies he'd told. Oh, she wouldn't delude herself into thinking he'd ever completely stop doing those things. It was his nature and one couldn't change who they were at their core. But she'd seen love in his eyes when she'd visited him at his apartment. And she'd seen it again when he told her he didn't want her risking her life in the cargo ship. Yes, that had been a ruse but the love was there. She'd seen it. So maybe that was the reason she'd kept this box for so long, why she hadn't just thrown it away. To remind herself of his love. With that in mind, she carefully placed her newest trinket inside and smiled at it for a moment. One thing she'd learnt since coming to Earth was that there was always hope.

The End