Author's Note: Titus, you were warmer the first time...enjoy the reveal.
o0o
Chapter Five
Daniel sat on their bed, waiting for Vala to get out of the shower. The children had been put to bed not long ago and with nothing else to do, he waited for her to come out. They needed to talk about what he learned today, and not just the part where they discovered that his memories were literally not there, but what he overheard.
Things had been tense since they returned from the SGC and they had just gone through the motions once Cameron dropped off the children; they had barely said two words to each other since returning. He understood Vala more now since coming to the knowledge of their impending third child and the complications and possible risks they may be encountering. He only wished she confided in him after Sam left, but she hadn't and when the kids came back, they didn't have an opportunity.
Until now.
Daniel watched as Vala walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. It was like she hadn't seen him or was too lost in thought to remember that he wasn't the husband that used to watch her. But he didn't do anything to alert of this fact and watched her – and not in a creepy or sexual way. He knew what Vala's body looked before she carried and birth their two children, but he didn't know what it looked like afterwards, hence why he hadn't thought twice about the fact that her stomach hadn't been flat as it used to be. Looking at her now in only a pair of underwear, he noticed the slight swell in it; had he never eavesdropped on her and Sam, he would've continued to be oblivious to her condition…at least for another few weeks.
He rose from the bed and quietly walked over to her. Her back was turned to him and didn't see or hear him come up, causing her to jump when his front hit her back and his hands wrapping around her waist, settling on the small bump. He rested his forehead against the side of her head, inhaling the fragrance of her shampoo. "I overheard you and Sam talking earlier," he whispered into her ear, moving one of his hands over his midsection.
Vala froze. "Daniel…" she trailed off, not knowing what to say.
"Were you ever gonna tell me?" he asked calmly, not upset since he knew where she was coming from.
She inhaled shakily. "It's more complicated than that," she whispered, "You don't understand, but please know I didn't mean to hide it from you."
"You don't have to explain," he said gently, "Well, maybe a little."
"Daniel?" she asked, confused.
"How close was I to loosing you and Isla?" he dreaded asking the question, but he needed to know, "How close will I be to loosing you and this one?"
Vala pulled away from him to grab the tank top she used for sleeping in and quickly put it on before she turned to him. "How much did you hear?"
Daniel pulled her into his embrace, holding her close. "I know there was something wrong with Isla's birth and that it led to Carolyn believing you'd never have another child," he confessed, "and I know you're pregnant, in your second trimester, and you shouldn't be but are. So, how close was I to loosing you and Isla and how likely am I to lose you and this baby?"
Vala slid her hands down his chest and to her own belly, grabbing his hand before she led him to the bed to sit down. "Everything was fine with Isla," she started, "but when I went into labor, everything went to hell."
"What happened?" he asked gently and cautiously.
"I almost died, she almost died," she replied, "There's a lot of medical jargon and stuff that I really didn't understand and I was also heavily drugged. All I know is that we almost both died, I didn't ask nor want the particulars. Isla had to be C-sectioned and I sustained damage to one of my flute tubes – "
"Fallopian tubes," he automatically corrected.
"- and my uterus had significant scarring," she continued without missing a beat, "Based on that, Carolyn said the chances of conceiving again was almost nonexistent. She mentioned she didn't think the odds of a fetus surviving in my uterus were high, but she didn't mention what risks I'd be facing if I continued in the pregnancy."
Daniel waited a minute, processing everything. "Why didn't you tell me?" he whispered, "I mean before this happened? Why didn't you go to Carolyn? Why did you choose to do this by yourself?"
"I didn't think it would live," she whispered, "I didn't want to cause you pain or grief and I didn't want anyone else to know, I didn't want the pity looks from everyone, knowing that I had lost another child…but I never lost it and it got harder to say something. I was so afraid I'd lose it at any moment."
"Gods, Vala, this isn't like you losing Adria! You should've told me!" he said, upset that he hadn't been able to help her through this, "You shouldn't have had to do this on your own."
"I know, I know," she admitted, "and I was going to, but then your memories were gone, and I just couldn't. I had lost a husband in a way and I was worried I'd scare you off."
Daniel stared at her incredulously. "Vala, I don't care if I remember or not, I would never leave my wife and children," he declared emphatically.
"You were dealing with suddenly having a wife and two children, adding another pregnancy that literally could end at any moment didn't seem like a good idea."
"But you've been dealing with this on your own!" he snapped, "You've been living in fear of losing the baby all this time when I could have helped!"
Vala let out a small sob and lowered her face into her hands. "You aren't my Daniel," she cried, "You were someone else, someone who I wasn't sure would stick around. You last memory is us fighting and telling me that never in a million years would you consider a relationship with me. What was I supposed to think?"
Daniel winced, hating himself for such harsh words. "I understand," he mumbled, "and I'm so sorry you didn't feel like you could confide in me."
Vala sniffed and wiped the tears away before lifting her face to look at him. "I'm sorry too," she whispered, "I made a mistake by not telling you. My only excuse is that I was afraid."
One of his hands went to her cheek while his other hand's finger tangled themselves in her hair. "Don't be afraid of me," he pleaded, "Don't be afraid to tell me things. I may not be the man you married, but I can be, and more importantly, I want to be."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that in less than a week, I've fallen completely in love with our family," he responded, "I'm saying that in this last week, I've come to realize that I love you, and just how much I love you. I'm saying that if you're willing, I want to be your husband, I want to be a father to our children. I probably won't ever remember the last four years, but if you're willing, we can new memories. You can show me what our life was like during those years with the Galaran device if you'd like, but just know that I want this, I want you."
Tears streamed down her face. "Really?"
"Really," he assured her, bringing her face closer to him, "I love you, Vala Jackson."
Vala let out a sob and her hands went to the back of his head. "I love you too, Daniel Jackson."
The moment their lips touched, it was pure bliss, that feeling of letting go and opening his heart to her, to the knowledge that he did in fact love her. As much as he wanted those memories, they probably weren't coming back, and he had to make peace with that and move on with his life with Vala. But what he did want, what he decided to do was be fully committed to was Vala and their children. He had been so indecisive about her for so long and it felt amazing to actually choose her. He'd never remember the first time he chose to take a chance with Vala, but he would always remember this one.
Mere second after their lips touched, Daniel felt that feeling again, the one he felt shortly before he ended up four years in the future, and suddenly, he was gone.
o0o
Daniel sucked in a sharp breath at the abrupt change and frantically looked around him. "Vala!" he yelled, slightly panicked, but he didn't see her; all he saw blinding white light all around him. "Vala! Theon! Isla!" he yelled helplessly and moved around but the scenery didn't change.
"They are not here," a calm voice said, suddenly appearing in the space.
Daniel whipped around and glared at the newcomer. "What've you done with my family?"
"Nothing," the man replied, "they are safe, I assure you."
Daniel continued to glare. "I don't who the hell you are or what gives you the right to take me away from my family, but I demand you take me back!"
The dark skinned man smiled sadly. "I am afraid I cannot do that."
"Why the hell not?"
"You do not belong in that time," the man said simply.
That gave Daniel pause and he eyed the man suspiciously. "Who the hell are you?" he asked.
"I am not surprised you do not recognize me," he said simply, "I have taken on a different form since we last met."
"You're an Ancient," Daniel said accusingly.
"Yes."
"What do you mean that I don't belong in that time?"
"Just that," the man said vaguely.
"Meaning?" Daniel pressed.
"Meaning your consciousness was placed four years in the future."
"Why?" Daniel asked in disbelief, "Why would you do that?"
"To show you," the man said simply, "I had tried to use dreams to help you along, but you continued to ignore them, even though dreams teach."
His words gave Daniel paused. "Who they hell are you and why are you interfering?"
The man smiled. "You have many friends on the other side and we were tiring of seeing you choose unhappiness out of loyalty to someone who is no longer among the living."
"The Ancients are playing matchmaker?" Daniel asked incredulously, "Why send you? I don't even know you!"
"But you do," the man corrected and light beams spring from him and his form changed to a familiar one, "Many were capable of this task, but I was chosen to do so. It was believed you would listen to me above the others."
Daniel gaped. "Shifu," he breathed.
He smiled. "Hello again, step-father," he greeted politely.
Daniel shook his head in disbelief. "Why are you doing this?"
"I have been trying to guide your dreams," he confessed, "Dreams teach after all."
"What were you trying to teach me?"
"To move on from my mother," Shifu replied, "To recognize and admit your feelings for Vala Mal Doran, but it seemed to have an adverse effect."
"You gave me those dreams?" Daniel asked, shocked.
"Yes," he admitted, "but I fear it caused more discord and distance between two, leading to a most unfortunate argument."
It had. Daniel had been dreaming about Vala since they got back from the Ori galaxy, but she was still technically married to Tomin, though that was taken care of by the time he left, and he hadn't been ready to admit his feelings for Vala and actually fought them harder. When she has brought up that she wanted something more with him, he freaked out and lashed out at her to protect himself.
"Why are you trying to play matchmaker?" Daniel asked again, "Why did you send my consciousness four years into the future?"
"The loyalty to hold to my mother, while noble, is unnecessary. You also use her death as an excuse to never love again, even though you do love another," Shifu explained, "By doing this, you hurt the one you love. You and Vala Mal Doran have saved the Ancients from the Ori and the Orici and the friends you hold on this side want to repay that debt."
"As sweet as that is, why send me four years into the future?" Daniel questioned, "That doesn't make any sense!"
Shifu smiled sadly. "After the fight with Vala Mal Doran, we all saw you were at a crossroads, a pivotal one at that, and whatever path you took would be permanent and no going back once you chose," he explained seriously, "One path led to what we showed you; a life with your family, filled with love."
"And the other path?" he asked warily.
"You have read Charles Dicken's A Christmas Story, have you not?" Shifu asked, "You remember what the Ghost of Christmas Future held for Scrooge."
Daniel raised his brows. "So, I die alone if I don't chose Vala?"
"In heart and spirit," Shifu amended, "If you chose the other path, Vala will leave Earth and you will never see her again. You will not recover from such a loss."
"And you interfered to show me what I would be giving up?"
"Yes," he confirmed, "You were put into the future so you could see what life would be like. I only pulled you when you could finally admit your love for her."
"Why do you care?" Daniel asked, "I get I have friends, but you all have the knowledge of the Universe, so why focus on me and my love life?"
"I never knew my mother," Shifu said sadly, "But I've learned about her from her family, and I know she would not want this for you; to set her on a pedestal and to never be happy like that again. I am her son, and I am telling you it is okay to move on. As does Skaara and Kasuf. Be happy, step-father."
Daniel rubbed his head. This was all too much, but if what he was saying was true, he could have that life he experienced with Vala and he would remember it this time around. He couldn't give her up, he couldn't give up his children. He could never go back to a life where she wasn't his wife, not when he knew how wonderful life would be with her in it.
"If you want me to make a decision, I choose Vala," Daniel declared, "I chose my wife and children."
Shifu smiled widely and transformed back into his adult form. "I will return your consciousness to your correct time."
"Wait!" Daniel held his hands out, "Will I remember this? Will I remember this last week with her?"
"No."
"Then how will I choose the correct path without remembering?"
"Don't worry about that," Shifu assured him, "We will make certain you do."
Before Daniel could say anything else, he felt that feeling of falling again before the world went black once again.
o0o
Author's Note: Duhn, Duhn, Duhn! Who guessed it?