Everyone was laughing and having a good time at dinner. The conversations went from reminiscing of old missions that went haywire, to favorite moments in their lives, to outragesly funny jokes and comments. After dinner, everyone sat comfortable around the fireplace. Night had descended quickly around the cabin and the flames flickering from the fireplace, gave a soothing and serene atmosphere.

All eight sat either on the floors or the soft cushions of the couch and chairs. Each were either sipping wine, coffee, tea or as Jack put it, a smooth bourbon. Sam had melted into Jack's arms, while the other three woman head their spouses head in their laps. Vala sat silent, but observed everyone as they chatted or not. She enjoyed the safety of just being around individuals who just like sitting around, not particularly saying anything, but conveyed thru touches and looks, a sense of caring and love. This was something she was not use to and being with Daniel in this particular moment and time, had a feel of mild uneasiness.

Daniel could feel the shift in Vala's wait, as if she wasn't sure she wanted to be held by him. He pulled her closer, and yet Vala couldn't be comfortable. Finally Vala stood up and went towards the back of the cabin exit. She was finally outside, and with Daniel close behind her. She finally stopped at the lakes edge and sat down.

Daniel sat down behind her with a sense of deep concern in his eyes. "Vala; what's wrong? Are you alright? Did I do something wrong?"

Vala shook her head no vigorously. She kept her form looking out towards the lake, not wavering from where she sat.

Daniel pulled her hand into his. "Vala, please; talk to me. What's wrong? I'm here, I'm not going anywhere."

Vala continued to sit silent, both not noticing that Jack and Sam had stood at the back door watching also, concerned about Vala walking out.

"I wonder what's wrong Jack?" Asked Sam, as Jack held her close.

"Well, I'm no psychiatrist, but I think she's scared."

Sam looked at Jack confused. "Of what?"

"Being loved."

"Oh." Sam turned back to scene outside. She trusted Daniel would handle the situation with care.

"Come on, let's get back to the others. No sense worrying them until I tell them I'm making my famous pancakes with beer in the morning."

Sam smiled, laughing a little to herself. "Oh, yeah, that will put a scare into them." Both looked outside one last time and returned to their guest.

Outside, the lake was luminous with small lights positioned down the side paths of the lake. Firefly's were everywhere, with the songs of crickets echoing throughout the night.

Both Daniel and Vala sat in silence, while Daniel let Vala sit in silence, but letting her know he was close and waiting when she wanted to speak.

Vala had her head tucked down, and between her knees. Her hair cascading over her arms and face if to hide her emotions. Without looking up, Vala finally spoke.

"Dan……Daniel?"

Daniel could barely hear her, under all her hair. "Yeah, I'm here."

Again Vala fell silent for a few moments. The in between silence was scaring Daniel. But he didn't want to push her.

"My……..my past, what I was or forced to be. Can………can you deal with me being so…….so damaged?"

Daniel felt shocked that Vala would see herself as not worthy of him.

"Vala, you are not damaged. If any one is damaged it's me."

"No…….I…..I mean, not being able to…….to have children."

Sam's pregnancy. Daniel thought. 'so that's what's bothering her.'

Daniel pulled her close to him. Daniel could see the anguish in her face, once her hair fell away from.

"Vala, how do you know that you can't have children? I mean is there something Carolyn told you?"

Vala voice was still but a whisper. "I…..I asked her a while back." Vala paused looking out at the lake again. Daniel could tell this was hard for her to discuss. "She told me I have a scarred uterus. That it may be almost impossible to conceive. That…….that my or as a host, partners at Quetesh's beck and call may have brutally scared me for life."

"Oh Vala." Daniel pulled her even closer. He could see tears forming in her eyes.

"Listen to me." Pulling her face towards him. Looking deep into her eyes. "I care a great deal about you…….no I love you. I know I do, because I've only felt this way once before with Shar'e. You are the single most important person in my life and I know now that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don't care what's happened in your life. I know that the impossible is possible and that you are a wonderful and caring person. If it be to the gods that you can't have children, then there are other ways. I've seen miracles happen amongst our friends and others. If you can believe this, then believe what I say. I believe that you will be a loving and caring mother one day. I've seen you with children on other planets, and they adore you. I adore you; everyone adores you. You have the capacity for such love, it scares me. I've never felt so in love with another person before you came along. How could I not love you. You're everything I want and need Vala. I need you more and more each day and I can't stop loving you, even if I wanted to."

"But…….but want if I can't ever conceive Daniel? I…….I want what Sam has. I want a child. It's all I think about these days. Adria was my child, but now that she's gone, I so desperately want a family. I know it's selfish, and I know it's too soon to think about having a family. But the look of love between Jack and Sam is so real and true. I want that Daniel, and I hate myself for being…….being jealous of that. I just need to hold onto something to love, something that loves me back for me; just me." Tears began sliding down Vala's face. She turned to Daniel and folded herself into him.

Daniel could feel the raw emotions, rippling off Vala. He secretly too wanted a family. But finally admitting that he loved Vala seemed the right thing to do, and for the first time, he understood why Vala wanted reassurance from him.

"Vala; marry me."

Vala was not quite sure she heard Daniel right. She thought she was in a dream and she would wake up with Daniel pushing her away.

"Wha……what?"

"Marry me and I promise, I promise that we'll have that family. We will find a way to have children, and you will be this great mother that I know you have the capacity to be."

Vala sat up stunned at Daniel's proposal. When she looked deep into his eyes, she knew Daniel would not play with her heart.

She finally shook her head vigorously up and down yes. Daniel smiled happily back at her and laughed out loud to himself for finally saying those words he feared he would never say.

They both fell back down on the grass and laughed at one another at the shared happiness of that moment. Vala fell on top of Daniel and both turned their heads a little sideways to finally share a loving kiss.

Jack and Sam had silently moved back to the door to check up on them. Jack smiled at the scene before them. He hugged Sam closer to him.

Jack smiled into Sam's hair. "Seeeee, they made up."

TBC