Daniel sat across from Vala in the canteen, trying to ignore the looks they were getting from the SGC personnel that surrounded them. They had been more or less an official couple for over a month now. The first few weeks had been, well, amazing. Both of them had been put on medical leave after their respective injuries on their last mission – him with a concussion, and Vala with a laceration on her abdomen. They had quite literally had nothing to do except be together, and after spending so much of their last mission worrying about waiting too long to tell Vala about his true feelings, it was exactly what he needed.

But now that they were back into their normal routine, Vala didn't seem to understand how to differentiate between their personal lives and their work lives, and it was making a lot of people in the SGC uncomfortable. Even now, Vala didn't seem to notice the looks they were getting as she held his hand in her vice-like grip. "It's not that I don't appreciate the SGC giving me quarters here on base. All I'm saying is that it would be nice to be able to get away every once in a while."

Daniel managed to pull his hand out of hers and took a bite of his food. "I get that, Vala, I do. But keep in mind, Teal'c was a member of SG-1 for over seven years before they let him live off base."

Vala slid around the table so that she was now sitting next to him and wrapped her arms around his arm. "I know, and I honestly don't think I can wait that long. It's already been nearly four years for me!"

"Uh, I'd say more like three. I don't think we can really count that first year, since, you know, the only reason you came along on missions was because of the bracelets."

"I mean, it's not like they can't trust me!" Vala continued, ignoring Daniel's interjection. "I'd be careful!"

"Let's face it, Vala. You're not exactly discreet."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Daniel looked pointedly at his arm, to which she was still clinging. Finally, Vala became aware of her blatant PDA and how uncomfortable it was making everyone around them. "Wait, I'm not embarrassing you, am I?"

For a minute, Daniel thought Vala might be upset, so he quickly tried to defuse the situation. "No, not embarrassed. I just-"

"Good, because you know if you were embarrassed, I would just do it more to make you blush." She kissed him on the cheek, but then moved a few inches away.

"It's not that I'm embarrassed. It's just that I don't think everyone enjoys our . . . PDA."

"PDA? Oh, yes, Mitchell taught me this one. Let's see; it stands for Public Displays of . . . Adoration?"

"Affection."

"Right. Look, I have a new boyfriend, and I think I have a right to show some affection. Besides, I don't remember you complaining, especially not last night, when we-"

"Okay," Daniel interrupted before Vala could continue. "Why don't we go to your room for a while? I think we could use the privacy."

"Ooh, okay!" Vala said instantly lighting up. "I didn't think you wanted to do that here on the base, but I'm all for it."

"Not that," Daniel said, rolling his eyes. "I just think we should talk."

"Oh." Vala pouted. "I guess that's fine too." Daniel rolled his eyes, but stood up from his spot at the table and let Vala lead him out of the Mess by the hand.

When they reached Vala's quarters, he made himself comfortable on the bed while Vala shut the door behind them, and then proceeded to jump on top of him, kissing his neck.

"Vala!" he cried, pulling her off of him.

"What? You were the one who wanted privacy." She pouted a bit, but didn't fight.

"Look, Vala, it's not that I don't enjoy . . . spending time with you." She smirked at his euphemism. "But it could get us into a lot of trouble."

"Why? Because it makes people uncomfortable? Who cares?"

"It's more than that. Being in a romantic relationship with a coworker is frowned upon on Earth. And the fact that this is a military operation makes it that much worse. Fraternizing with fellow officers can get you kicked out."

"But we aren't officers. We aren't even military."

"No, but we work for the military," Daniel pointed out. "And if they think it's a problem, they will do something about it." He grabbed her hand and pulled it close to his lips. "It took us way too long to finally find each other, Vala. I don't want to lose you now."

She smiled at him as he kissed her hand. He smiled back, but behind that smile was the fear that had been creeping up on him since they went back to their normal SGC lives. The SGC could do something about this. At best, they might split them up and put them on different teams. At worst, they could kick them out, and the more he thought about it, the more he realized that Vala didn't really have anywhere to go. Her home was the SGC. If she wasn't working for them anymore, would she even be allowed to stay on the planet?

Vala's hand on his face, her lips on his, distracted him from his fears, if only for a moment. Despite his earlier rejection of Vala's advances, he fell with her back onto the bed.

"Vala!" Mitchell's voice yelled through the door. "You in there?"

Vala cursed under her breath as she sat up and straightened her shirt. "Coming!" she called pleasantly as she went to the door.

"Cameron, what can I do for you?" she asked as she opened it.

"Landry wants us. Apparently, SG-10 brought back some interesting information."

"Oh, alright. When?"

"One hour. By the way, have you seen Jackson? I can't find him anywhere." Mitchell paused for a minute and even though he couldn't see the colonel, Daniel could picture the look of annoyance on his face. "He's in there, isn't he?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Cameron," Vala said innocently. "Daniel's not here."

"Uh-huh. Just tell him to get his butt to the briefing room in an hour!"

"If I see him, I'll tell him," Vala said, keeping up the ruse as she closed the door.

"You know, lying to him isn't going to make it any better," Daniel told her as she walked back to him.

"Maybe not," Vala said as she leaned over to kiss him. "But it is fun." Chuckling, he pulled her down to the bed with him.