Chapter Four - Lilith
~0i0~
There was complete silence in the taxi all the way to Daniel's apartment.
When they arrived Vala got out before Daniel, who paid the fare. Once he got out, he found her standing there staring at him.
"How much do you care for me, Daniel?"
Hand on her back he guided her forward, through the door and into the elevator. In the elevator he shoved his hands into his pockets. "I'm falling in love with you. Or. I've fallen in love with you."
As the elevator opened she let out a little squeak and grinned. "When?"
Unlocking the door to his apartment he ushered her in. "I'll admit it's been a slow process. I think, though, I first realized I cared more than I wanted to on Ver Ager."
"Before or after I was a roasted marshmallow?"
"During, and after. Maybe before."
They stood face to face just inside the door to his apartment.
Vala bit at her bottom lip twisting to and fro. "Me too." She said in a small voice.
Cocking his head to the side, Daniel raised a brow.
"In... well... you know. Love. In love with you."
He pulled her closer, mouth nipping at hers. She melted against him as he deepened the kiss.
"You taste like passion fruit." He whispered.
"You taste like pure happiness. And I think that that passion fruit is working." She told him re-initiating the kiss.
Daniel worked her top off over her head, barely stopping the contact of their mouths.
"Really, Daniel? Right here?" All the while Vala was yanking his shirt tail out and undoing his pants.
"Mmm hmm, right now."
~0i0~
Flat on his back with the white sheet tangled around his hips, Cam slept unaware that Lilith stood over him, smiling.
Slowly, eyes blinking open, Cam woke up and jerked upwards, pulling the sheet up.
"Thank you, Cam, it was much better than I remembered and one of the best things about being on the lower planes, being human."
"So, you're thinkin' of staying around?"
"No. Not much longer."
"Your mission's nearly done?"
"I've come to the realization that all is well in the universe as long as the human race continues – and that those Alterans, like Oma's and the other's, interest in them will continue and should. On a small scale. By blocking all human interaction – interference we Alterans seem to have lost the one thing we vowed to protect. Universal love – love as divine power."
He gave her a peculiar look. "Glad to hear it."
She turned suddenly, "I have something to do." And she disappeared in a flash of light.
Cam's cell phone rang at the same time she disappeared. "Damn. Where the hell are my pants?"
~0i0~
Moving strands of raven hair from Vala's face, Daniel took a jagged breath as he leaned over her on his elbows. "We should have done this a long time ago."
Vala grinned, "Well, still, it was certainly worth the wait. Though, a nice soft bed might have helped a bit."
"Sorry." He pulled her up, grinning back. "I think we can move to the bedroom now."
"Lovely plan. I hope we continue this every day for the rest of our lives." Once she accidentally let that out she ducked her head.
Pulling the covers down on his bed, Daniel stopped and looked back at her. "A lovely plan, indeed."
"You know, darling," she crooned crawling into his bed and pulling him behind her, "we surely hooked up on that time dilation adventure that everyone says never happened. Just imagine, after the first time certainly we continued throughout the fifty or sixty years."
"Mmm," He leaned in and kissed her. "That had to be a wild scene."
Her arms locked around his neck and she laughed. "Lots of yelling!"
His arms slide under her, holding her closer. "Probably."
"You probably cried, poor Daniel."
"And you probably yelled."
Her legs snaked up around his waist. "Well, let's skip the yelling and crying. Kiss me, again, darling."
Both of their cell phones went off as their lips touched.
~0i0~
As the missing SG-1 members materialized from their respective area's Vala was still straightening her mussed hair. Cam was jerking his jacket on and Daniel frantically tried to get his tee shirt down over his belly.
Daniel and Cam exchanged challenging glances as Sam and Teal'c rushed into the room.
"Good, you're finally here. I think our guest is leaving." Landry nodded towards the Stargate where Lilith stood.
Lilith, bowed. Now regressed to a woman of 20 years, belly large with child, and looking remarkably like an iconic painting of the Virgin Mary in white dress topped with a light blue veiled robe.
Cam's mouth fell open since he'd seen her not ten minutes ago at least a decade older and certainly not... "Shit!"
Lilith eyed him with a sweet smile and approached, whispering in his ear. "This has nothing to do with you."
General Landry spoke up. "We've just received a report that Orlin has been released from the home."
"Released?" Sam said, shocked.
"Reportedly," the General told them, "his 'Mother' showed up with all the papers she needed to check him out."
"Paperwork and a few Jedi mind tricks, I'm sure." Cam glared at Lilith.
"Do you know anything about this?" Sam took a step towards the figure of Lilith that had begun to glow.
Lilith placed her hands across her stomach. "He is here. It will take time to heal him, to bring him back. I have chosen this method of gestation – the way the Orici was brought into the physical world. I will retain this form until after he is reborn. This, Samantha Carter, I do for you and all you have done for Orlin."
Sam nodded, unable to voice her feelings.
Lilith bowed again and turned to Cam. "Thank you, Cam, for all you have taught me. And you, Teal'c," she bowed to the Jaffa, "For helping me understand the people of Earth so well."
"And Vala." Lilith said kindly, taking her hand. "You are an inspiration. Your tenacity, and strength and kindness was so refreshing. In another life, we could have been friends." Lilith took a quick look at Daniel. "And I am very happy for you."
"In gratitude, Daniel Jackson, I have a gift for you also." She turned fully toward him. "Though you must return it in a very short time." With grace Lilith moved a hand from her belly, and walked back up the ramp to the Stargate. The Gate slowly shimmered open without so much as a kawoosh.
A young man appeared beside Lilith.
"Shifu." Daniel whispered.
With a gentle smile Lilith spoke to Daniel. "Sha're, though she did not know, was already pregnant when she was implanted with Amaunet. Amaunet knew this and put the 3 week old fetus into stasis and there she manipulated the child's DNA with Apophis'and her own creating a Harsesis. Like the Ori with Adria, Amaunet programed Shifu to accelerate his growth. The Goa'uld Queen planned to conquer the universe using the Harsesis to maneuver her husband and all the Goa'uld. Shifu, while carrying the DNA of Apophis' and Amaunet, is still your's and Sha're's child."
Vala's eyes lifted to Daniel's face as he smiled in bewildered amazement.
Daniel reached for Vala's hand and squeezed it, pulling her close as his gaze shifted to Shifu who stood to his other side. Silence engulfed the room. For what seemed like eternity all stood still.
All of a sudden, the Gateroom filled with the rumble of everyone talking at once. Hugs exchanged, tears glistened in happiness. Delighted chaos bloomed.
Without notice, Lilith disappeared through the Stargate as quietly as she had come.
~END