I've been in a bit of a creative slump the last couple of days but I want to thank my lovely friend Dana (PrincessStarWarrior) for writing such a beautiful story that she inspired me to get up and do some of my own writing. And thanks to the equally lovely Sarah who keeps filling my head with an endless supply of plot bunnies. It's a real zoo up here but I am loving it. Keep 'em coming! Oh, I think I'm going to regret that...Oh well, now that all the mush is over, on with the story!

Chapter 2

Vala's quarters...

Vala sat on the edge of her bed, hugging a pillow to her chest and biting her lip. Why had she badgered Teal'c into revealing what happened on the Odyssey? What made her think that was even a remotely good idea? She knew better than most that some things should remain a secret and this was one of them. Really, it wasn't as if she could actually do anything with the information. Those were extreme circumstances. Daniel didn't feel that way for her in this reality...did he? No, he'd always brushed her off. Sure, sometimes he acted like he felt the same spark she did. Every once in a while he would give her that smile, the one that told her he was proud of her. She found herself working for that smile more and more these days. But was it only friendship or something more? She was more confused now than she had been when she'd gone to Teal'c. She should have left well enough alone. But it wasn't enough any more, simply having his friendship. She wanted more. A lot more. Apparently they'd had just that on the Odyssey. Maybe they could have that here...Or maybe it was a disaster just waiting to happen. Seriously, who was she to think she could have a normal relationship with a man, any man, least of all Daniel. They'd kill each other. Oh hell, she loved him. She'd known that for a long time and it scared her like nothing else ever had. Could she really put herself up for that type of rejection? She'd always been the one in control of her relationships but she knew it would be different with Daniel. She'd never have control with him. He was the one person in the universe that could make her lose control and that scared her, too. She didn't like losing control. She'd fought too long and hard for it to ever give it up willingly. But maybe that was the point of loving someone, being willing to give your entire self and having them reciprocate. She found she wanted that with Daniel. She wanted to share her secrets with him and allow him to lessen the burden of her past. She wanted to do the same for him. She knew he carried a lot of grief and she wanted to be the one he turned to when it got to be too much. She wanted the be the one who got to see the demons he hid from the world. But could she do it? Would it all be worth it? The answer to that was a resounding yes. She knew it would be worth it to have Daniel's love. She just had to take the chance...

Vala finally made up her mind, throwing the pillow back onto the bed and heading for the door. Reaching for the doorknob, she didn't allow herself a chance to second guess her actions. It was now or never...

()()()()

Daniel's quarters...

Daniel paced back and forth in his quarters, periodically rubbing a hand over is face. The idea that he and Vala could have been in a relationship for half a century boggled his mind. Teal'c had said they loved each other. Did that mean she loved him now? Did he love her? He'd been denying his emotions for so long, he wasn't sure what he felt. He knew he trusted her professionally, but did he trust her emotionally? Could he trust her? She was an emotional wreck, but so was he. How could they even consider having a normal relationship given the amount of baggage they both carried? He knew he was ready to find someone to spend his life with, but was Vala that person? He was stunned to realise that it hadn't been until she came into his life that he'd started having these thoughts, that he was finally able to release the burden of Sha're's death. He found himself able to speak to her about things he hadn't even shared with Jack or Sam. Somehow he just knew she'd understand. Okay, so apparently he trusted her with his secrets. He was even able to admit that he cared about her. But was it as a friend or something else, something more? He thought back to all of the times he'd nearly lost her. Each time the sense of loss grew heavier but he'd attributed it to the idea of losing a friend. But would he have been so worried over any of his other teammates? He knew he'd be upset but would it be the overwhelming sense of loss he'd felt each time she disappeared? He took a few minutes to really ponder this and was shocked when he concluded that what he'd felt each time Vala disappeared was exactly what he'd felt when Sha're was taken. Only this time it was worse because he didn't have the same naïve optimism he'd had a decade ago. Did that mean he loved her? It wasn't like he didn't know what love felt like. He'd loved Sha're with all of his heart. He knew it wasn't fair to compare his feelings for each woman, they were too different. He was different. Instead, he thought about how Vala really made him feel. She annoyed him when she pestered him, angered him when she put on her flirty routine. He hated that she still tried to hide so much of herself from him. She was always poking and prodding him for personal information but didn't feel the need to reciprocate. When she did finally seek him out, though, he felt proud that he was the one she turned to before anyone else. He was even willing to admit, at least to himself, that he actually liked it when she called him darling in that smoky voice of hers. He loved her curiosity, her self-assurance, her carefree attitude toward life. He loved that she could always make him laugh, no matter how dire the situation. He loved...Oh god, he loved her. This thought finally made him stop pacing. How had he not known this when it seemed so obvious to him right now? He loved her and the thought of not being with her filled him with despair. He had to tell her. They'd loved each other on the Odyssey, who's to say they couldn't do so here? Now that he knew what he wanted, what he needed, he was desperate to have it.

Daniel came to a quick decision and, without another thought, made his way to the door. It was now or never...

A/N: Just one more chapter to go!