Chapter Fifteen

"So," Mitchel stared down two of his teammates once he was seated across from them, "you two wanna explain what the hell you meant back on Elgara?"

They had gotten back hours ago and already debriefed the General on what the Chancellor had admitted to doing. Considering that the people most affected decided to forgive and move on, the General didn't see any reason to sever ties with the people of Elgara. There was a mountain of paperwork that now had to be done but at least they wouldn't have to try to find another planet to negotiate with for naquadah. After the debrief, they had been dismissed, leaving the General to his paperwork.

Vala had stayed with Daniel in his office, helping him with everything that had been backlogged for a while now. Daniel hadn't even noticed just how much she had done in his office until she hadn't made an appearance for seven weeks, he never realized how much he had relied on her. Mitchel had come in about an hour before quitting time and ordered them to O'Malley's in one hour – mandatory team meeting. They should've expected this, seen it coming, but they hadn't. As they sat across from him in a booth at O'Malley's, they both sighed wearily, knowing the inevitable was about to happen.

"Wanna specify a bit more?" Daniel asked, mentally preparing himself as well as snagging Vala's hand under the table.

"All that stuff you said to Chancellor Gornal," Mitchel said as if that explained everything.

"Cameron, you already know that I'm pregnant," Vala pointed out, "you know Daniel's the father and that we're raising her together."

"Her?" Sam asked curiously.

"Isn't it too early to know the sex?" Mitchel added in.

"Daniel has this thing where he can't stand to call the baby an it so he takes turns each day calling it a he and she. Today, it's a girl," Vala explained with a smile.

"Awe," Sam cooed at her surrogate brother, who pinked up slightly.

"Cute," Mitchel quipped, "but that's not what I was talking about."

"You're gonna have to be more specific," Daniel told him.

Mitchel sighed. "I guess it wasn't what you said but rather the way you said it."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Daniel asked, getting more confused by the minute.

"I believe he is referring to the feelings you two hold for each other," Teal'c supplied.

"Yes, exactly!" Mitchel exclaimed, pointing at Teal'c, "Thank you!"

Vala and Daniel a brief shared glance. "First off, thought that was obvious to everyone since you guys never shut up about how one of us should make a move," Daniel shot them all a stare, "and second, I don't remember discussing our feelings with the Chancellor."

"You kept saying how you weren't in a relationship last time you were there," Sam chimed in, "and you made it sound like you guys are in one now."

"And there was the whole bond thing you guys apparently radiate," Mitchel added, "So, spill."

Daniel rested his head against the booth's seat, feeling like he was back in High School or something. He also really didn't like to talk about his feelings. Opening up to Vala had taken him a long time to do as well as an enormous amount courage; the last thing he wanted to do was explain and defend his relationship with her. It was none of their business.

Seeing his reaction, Vala took the reins. "Fine, Daniel and I have decided to start dating," she declared, holding up their intertwined hands as proof. "Next question."

"How long have you known about the pregnancy?" Mitchel fired off the next question.

Vala did the quick math in her head. "Nine days for me. Found out last team night. I wasn't buying tampons when you took me to the store; I was buying multiple pregnancy tests," she smiled when Mitchel grimaced at the word 'tampon,' "Daniel's only known for five days."

"So you didn't have the stomach bug?"

"Nope. Morning sickness is a bitch."

"Last question," Mitchel promised, "you coming back to SG-1 after the baby's born?"

Everyone stared at her, including Daniel, waiting for her answer. Vala hesitated, not sure of her answer. She honestly hadn't really thought about it, too focused on the present. She just wanted to make it through the day without vomiting once. "I don't know," she responded honestly, "and that's the truth. That's a decision Daniel and I will make together after she's born."

Daniel gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"I appreciate the honesty," Mitchel smiled sadly, hating that things were changing. "Sorry, one more question; I am the godfather, right?"

"Oh, hell no!" Sam said in mocked outrage, "If Jack isn't the godfather, Daniel would be a dead man…again!"

Mitchel looked to Daniel for support and he shrugged. "Don't look at me like that, she's most likely right."

"That's not fair!" Mitchel pouted, "Will I least get the next one?"

"Excuse me!" Vala squeaked, "What next one?"

"There has to be a next one, right?" Mitchel reasoned.

"You are more than welcome to carry my second child and birth it as well, Cameron Mitchel," she told him deadpanned. "I will not be volunteered to carry another child without my full consent."

Cameron winced. "Sorry, Princess."

"What can I get you all to drink?" a young waitress asked as she stepped up to the table.

One by one, everyone gave her their drink order, but when Vala ordered a diet soda, Daniel stopped her. "What? Why can't I have it?"

"Research says it's not good for a pregnant woman to drink diet soda because of the artificial sweeteners in it," Daniel explained.

She pinned him with a look and ignored the uncomfortable waitress. "What did I say about the research, Daniel?" she reminded him, "Why do I have to give up one of the few things that I can actually stand to ingest? Is one cup of it really going to harm the baby?"

"She's right; in moderation, it shouldn't harm her or the baby," Sam chimed in and winced at the glare Daniel shot her.

But Daniel sighed in defeat. "You're right, sorry," he reluctantly acknowledged.

"So, diet coke?" the waitress double checked.

"Yes, and a glass of water as well," Vala replied, "Thank you."

Drink orders written down, the waitress scurried off.

"So, obviously I'm the godmother," Sam declared once the waitress left, "I will fight anyone who dares to lay claim to it; it's mine."

Her words caused everyone to laugh, lightening the mood.

"Of course you are, Samantha," Vala assured her, "Who else would it be? You're my best friend."

"Hey!" Daniel exclaimed, pretending to be offended, "I thought I was your best friend!"

"You are, just in a different way," she told him, "You're my best guy friend, as well as my…boyfriend?"

"Gods that sounds juvenile," Daniel commented, "but yeah, boyfriend is the technical term I guess."

"Partner? Mate?" Vala threw out other options.

"Soul mate?" he threw back, eliciting a smile from her.

At their sappy, lovey dovey look, Mitchel rolled his eyes. "Kill me now," he groaned.

"Shut up," the new couple said together.

"Is this how it's gonna be from now on?" he asked, dread seeping into his voice.

"Probably," Vala answered, giving him a goofy smile.

"Great," Mitchel dragged out the word.

Vala shrugged. "What can I say other than I love him."

"I love you too," Daniel mumbled back.

"Okay, you two, knock it off," Mitchel ordered and look to his remaining teammate for support, "A little help here!"

"I don't know, I think it's kind of cute," Sam commented.

"It is indeed nice to see both of them happy," Teal'c agreed, having to stop himself from adding the word 'again.' It had indeed been some time since he had seen either of his two friends this happy. He was only glad they had found each other once again.

"Great, four against one," Mitchel complained but did end up smiling as he took in the sight of his two friends. He was happy for them and sincerely hoped that they made it work, no matter what it would do to the team. "You know, Cameron would make a great name for a boy or a girl."

"We are not naming our child Cameron," Daniel instantly denied, "nor Jack, Sam, or Teal'c, or any characters from Star Wars," he quickly added.

"I don't know, I kind of like the name Luke," Vala teased.

"Over my dead body," was Daniel's reply.

"Knowing you, that probably could be arranged," Sam quipped, earning a mock glare from Daniel.


o0o


"So," Sam began once she and Vala entered the ladies' room, "how's it really going with you two...I mean after...everything."

Vala understood what she meant. "We're moving past it," she answered, "I mean, it hasn't been easy, but I've forgiven him."

Sam paused. "Can I ask you something? You don't have to answer it if you don't want to," when Vala nodded, Sam gingerly asked, "How could you forgive him? I know you would've eventually, but how could you forgive him so easily? If it had been me, I know I would've held on to that anger for a lot longer."

Vala only thought of her answer for a few seconds. "I love him, Samantha," Vala told her, "and love can go a long way in situations like this. I also understand where his mind was at; it doesn't excuse what he said, but I can understand it. And then there's the baby and the whole situation. So much is going to change in such a short amount of time that I don't want to spend these moments being angry. I didn't let myself enjoy being pregnant with Adria because some part of me always knew she wasn't mine; I don't want to miss out this time and I don't want the upcoming moments tainted with anger and resentment. It is so much easier to forgive. Had I not been pregnant, I'm sure I would be holding a grudge against him, but I am and he's made up for it in more ways than one. Love can cover a multitude of wrong doings; it doesn't fix everything, but it makes things possible. I love him and he loves me; we're always going to fight and say things we regret, but as long as we love each other, we'll be alright."

Sam absorbed the alien's speech; though she didn't understand fully, she understood enough. "I really am happy for you guys," she said, not knowing what else to say, "and I always be here for you when Daniel says something stupid."

Vala laughed and hugged the Colonel. "Thank you, Samantha," she said sincerely, "Now, if that's it, I really have to pee!"

Sam laughed and released her friend.

Overall, it was a good end to a great day. It hadn't gone exactly as they had expected but that wasn't anything new; nothing ever went according to plan. But it felt good to have everything out in the open.


o0o


On the ride home, Vala interrupted Daniel's silent thoughts. "Daniel?" she waited until he acknowledged her, "The other night when I was having that nightmare, you said you knew I needed you because of this bond we share."

He waited for her to continue but she didn't. "Yeah…" he dragged the word out.

"Chancellor Gornal said she saw that bond we have. You know, she was the second person that's mentioned a mysterious bond between us – you were the first. Wanna tell me about this oh so special bond we have that I know nothing about?"

"You feel the bond, you just didn't know what it was," he stated confidently, "While I sometimes think it may have formed when we met aboard Prometheus, it most likely started when you slapped the Kor Mak bracelets on us. The Ancient communication device deepened it, and though the physical effects wore off, the bond remained, binding us for life."

"So, what you're saying is that the bracelets created a link between us and that's why we feel the way we do?"

"No, not necessarily," he corrected, "It may have linked us, but it couldn't make us feel what we do; it could never make me love you like I do."

"So, what's the point in this bond? What's it's deal?"

"I think it was almost like fate," he speculated, "without us being linked by the bracelets, we would've never spent the time we did together, I would've never fallen in love with you without them."

"Daniel, you couldn't stand me in the beginning."

"Not in the very beginning," he agreed, "but you grew on me and when you destroyed that Supergate and were lost, I…I don't know if I can even described what I felt; dismay, an emptiness inside me that only went away when you came back. The bond was meant to help you get past my defenses and visa versa; which it did. So, no, it isn't responsible for the way we feel, but it helped up get there; at least that's what I like to think."

"I think I'd like to believe that as well," she stated quietly and grabbed his hand and held it for the remainder of the car ride.

As Daniel continued to drive them back to his place, he noticed that he had that feeling of joy and peace. He could tell she was feeling it to, and he just somehow knew that they would be okay, that they would make it, no matter what.