Something Forever

Vala paced the claustrophobic space that was her quarters in agitation. After being beamed up by the Odyssey, she'd managed to avoid Cameron, who'd thankfully been confined to sickbay for the entire trip home. Then, of course, Carolyn had taken over control, forcing him to have a complete work-up. It had given her ample time to think about his confession. It wasn't that she didn't believe him or even that she didn't feel the same way. It was just...Was she ready for everything she knew would come next? She chewed nervously on her nail, knowing that soon avoidance would no longer be an option. That's why, when a knock sounded on her door, she immediately answered it and wasn't at all surprised to see a battered Cameron standing on the opposite side.

"Hey, Princess," he said softly. "Mind if I come in?"

"Not at all," she responded with a small smile, stepping back so he could enter. "Carolyn finally set you free?"

"Yup, but I'm under strict orders not to leave base." He chuckled but Vala could see a slight twinge in his features.

"Sit down, then," she scolded, pointing toward her bed. She was relieved when he actually listened and knelt before him, taking his face in her hands. "I wish you had let me finish healing you."

"Ah, don't worry about it, Princess." He took her hand in his, kissing the palm and making her heart jump. "I'll be okay in a few days, the doc said so."

"Sometimes you can be so stubborn." She huffed and stood straight. She once more took to pacing, not wanting to look at him right now.

"Look who's talking." Cameron said in a serious tone.

"I don't know what you mean. I'm not the one who refused to be properly healed. If it had been me, I would have taken the offer immediately. I mean-" Vala's rambling was cut off when Cameron caught her arm, spinning her around so they were facing each other.

"Vala," he said with a soft smile, placing a finger under her chin and coaxing her to look at him.

When their eyes finally met, he leant in and their lips met in an insistent kiss. Her hands went to the back of his head, pulling him closer, needing the physical reassurance of his presence. She released every emotion she'd felt over the last few months into the kiss and felt him do the same. After a few moments, they both reluctantly pulled back, resting their foreheads together and breathing deeply.

"You have no idea how long I've waited to do that." Cam told her.

"Six months," she responded, anger starting to bubble up inside her.

"Huh?"

"Six months, Cameron." Vala pulled away from his embrace and stalked to the other side of the room. "You were gone for six bloody months!"

"Wow, really?" Cameron sounded somewhat incredulous. "Never mind, that doesn't matter-"

"It doesn't matter?!" Vala stared at him as if he'd grown a second head. "It doesn't matter that I spent the last half year worried sick about you? It doesn't matter that I had to watch each time an SG team came back with no news? It doesn't matter that I thought you were dead?!"

"That's not what I meant." He moved to reach for her but she backed away. "I only meant that I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere."

"You can't promise that."

"You're right." He sighed, wiping a hand over his face before looking her in the eye again. "You're right, I can't promise that I won't get captured again. I can't promise that I won't be killed. But neither can you."

"I'm not the one-"

"Not this time, but it's happened before and it could happen again."

This time when Cameron stepped toward her, she didn't move. She couldn't. Tears burnt at the backs of her eyes but she refused to let them fall even as he took her face in his hands.

"Honey, we have dangerous jobs. Anything can happen to us at any time. Do you have any idea how worried I am every time we go on a mission? How afraid I am of losing you?"

"That's my point. If we're constantly worried about losing each other, is it really worth it?" she asked, not sure which answer she wanted.

"It is for me," he said without hesitation. "I meant what I said, Vala. I love you. You are worth it for me. I'm not trying to force you into anything here. If you don't feel the same, I'll understand, but-"

"But I do."

"You do what?" Cameron's face took on a look of hopeful anticipation.

"I do love you, Cameron Mitchell." For the first time in too long, a genuine smile lit her face. "I love you so very much and that's why this is so difficult. I can't lose you."

"You love me?" Cameron's grin grew when she nodded and he threw his arms around her waist, twirling them in a circle before setting her down again with a laugh. "Baby, that's the most amazing thing I've ever heard."

"I'm glad you're so thrilled, but this doesn't solve anything. All it does is compound the problem. I don't know if I can live like that."

"No matter how much time we have together, isn't this worth the risk? Aren't we worth the risk?"

"I want us to be," she told him desperately.

"Then you need to believe it."

"I'm not very good at that."

"That's okay because I am. I'm going to fight to keep this because I love you. I just need you to trust me."

"I do." Vala finally gave in. She really wanted what Cameron was offering, not sure she could live without it even if she tried. "I do trust you, Cameron. And I love you."

"So, we're in this?"

"Yeah, we're in this." Vala took a deep breath before continuing. "I've never had something like this before."

"Something like what?" he asked, a bemused smile on his adorable face and she was forced to kiss him before responding.

"Something forever."

The End