Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate. I wish I did, but I don't.


Warning: MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH


Finding Peace

Daniel's POV

Raising a child on your own is hard. But when that child has just lost her mother tragically in a way she isn't even allowed to know about, that makes it all the more difficult and heart-wrenching.

As I look across my office to the five-year-old girl seated cross-legged on the floor, I feel a familiar pang tightening my chest. Faye is the image of her mother, from her raven locks tied up in pigtails to the mischievous glint that never completely leaves her grey eyes to the quirkiness of her smile. Of course, I can see bits of myself in her, too, but when she looks as she does now, lip caught between her teeth as she concentrates on building a tower of blocks, it feels as if Vala is still with me, with us. And perhaps she is. Suddenly the memories of the day we lost her fill my mind and I am unable, or unwilling, to stop them.

It was just a simple mission, but aren't they all? With most of the intergalactic baddies defeated, the SGC was able to concentrate their efforts on more diplomatic missions, an opportunity I relished. We'd gone to deal for naquadah with a planet designated P3X-691. The deal had been completed quickly and we'd been sitting down to a feast to celebrate the new alliance when a dozen gliders attacked from out of nowhere. We led the villagers to the Stargate, saving as many of them as we could. After they were safely through to the Beta site, Cam and Teal'c followed. Vala and I were about to enter the wormhole when we heard a piercing cry from across the meadow. We turned to see a young boy kneeling over the body of a woman, presumably his mother. Before I could stop her, Vala had raced across the field to grab up the child. I yelled for her to hurry as a glider bore down on her. She was only a few feet away when the ship let rain a barrage of blasts. Vala went down, protecting the child from injury. But in her heroism, she'd been hit and couldn't move. Blood seeped from a gaping wound in her back and I couldn't remember ever being so frightened. She told me to take the child and leave her behind. I tried to argue but she wouldn't listen, as usual. In the end, I did as she asked. I made it through the 'gate, dropped to my knees still clutching the child to my chest, and told the tech to shut it down. When I was finally able to raise my head, I saw the shocked looks worn by SG-1 but I could only shake my head as tears flowed from my eyes. Vala was gone and I hadn't been able to save her.

SG-1 immediately tried to get back to the planet but whoever attacked had shut down the 'gate. We had to take the George Hammond and it took three days to reach our destination. By the time we arrived, the whole planet was in ruins and there was no sign that anyone was there. SG-1, along with SGs 3 and 15, searched the planet for life but found none. We sifted through bodies but were unable to locate Vala.

A week after returning to Earth, we learnt that it had been the Lucian Alliance who attacked. Apparently they'd wanted to lay claim to the naquadah on the planet and had zero qualms about killing to get it. Especially once they'd found out that SG-1 would be there. Sam surmised that they'd lay low for a bit before they set up mining on the planet but they'd protect it at all costs.

Mitchell and Sam held onto the hope that she'd somehow survived, that maybe she'd been captured by the Alliance. They vowed to search for her until they had answers. But I knew better, I knew she was gone. I can't say exactly how I knew, just that I hadn't felt this emptiness in my heart since Sha're died. Only thins time it was worse. When you love someone as deeply as I do Vala, you just know. But I allowed them to believe what they needed to in order to get through this. I even helped in the six-month search but once the IOA decided to call it off, I didn't fight them. Eventually everyone else came to the same conclusion I'd reached long ago; Vala was gone and there would be no miraculous reappearing act this time.

It's been a year now and, as I watch my daughter playing on the floor, I can finally make myself smile, even if it is a bittersweet one. I know Vala would want us to be happy. Her main goal in life, other than to annoy the hell out of me, was to make sure that the people she loved were happy.

Faye must have felt my regard because she looks up quickly and upon seeing my sad smile comes over to crawl into my lap. I hug her tightly as she lay her head against my shoulder.

"It's gonna be okay, Daddy."

This time when I smile, it is a much happier one. I rest my head on hers with a sigh, thinking that she is definitely her mother's daughter.

Vala's POV

As I stand back and watch the scene before me unfold, I can feel tears fill my eyes. Okay, I know that they're not actual tears but they feel very real to me. This whole incorporeal thing is something I am still getting used to even though I've been ascended for a year now. An entire year without my Daniel and my Faye. I shouldn't even be here now and I'm sure to get pulled away any second but I had to see them. Had to make sure they're okay.

Daniel seems sad as he holds our Faye on his lap but I can sense his healing and it makes me grateful that they have each other. I know I shouldn't but I walk up to them and place a hand on each beloved face. I feel more than hear Daniel sigh deeply but he doesn't open his eyes. It's as if he's trying to absorb my touch and I can't help smiling at the thought. When I look over to Faye, she is staring directly at me. I am somewhat surprised, not realising she'd be able to see me. But I have heard of children being able to see ghosts so perhaps this is one of those instances. I place a finger to my lips in a silent request for her to remain quiet. She nods and we share a smile. Suddenly I feel the pull of the Others and my smile begins to fade until I hear the tiny voice of my daughter.

"I love you, Mommy."

"And I love you, my Faye."

I continue to wear the smile even as I acknowledge that this will be the last time I ever see them. I feel a sense of peace in knowing they are going to be okay.

The End