Chapter Two

The moment she held her child, an overwhelming love swept over her and she knew she was fucked as hell. Ever since finding out about the pregnancy, Vala had distanced herself emotionally from the baby in order to protect herself. She had no idea how this would all turn out and she couldn't bear to give birth to the baby only for it to be taken from her and used against her. But that went out the window the second she held her daughter – her beautiful daughter. It was strange, she had never fallen in love with someone so quickly or as deeply, yet she had with this little girl. Though she played no part in the child's conception, her daughter was the best thing Vala had ever done and probably would ever do.

Gazing down at her daughter, Vala did nothing to stop the cry that rose up. "Hello, my love," she sobbed.

Daniel lifted her chin so she'd look at him. Seeing the tears, his fingers gently brushed them away. "What's wrong?" he asked gently.

She sniffed and glanced back down. "I love her so much already," she confessed brokenly.

"You know, that's normal," he teased lightly, "You're allowed to love your child."

"Even when she's the creation of the enemy?" she asked, her voice small as she looked at the infant, "I distanced myself since finding out about her. I was only meant to be an incubator, a shipping crate across enemy lines, and I tried to not to love her, I really did, but I can't anymore, Daniel."

"It doesn't matter how she was created," he told her, "not if you want her, which you obviously do. If you want to love, then love her. We'll keep her safe and I'll get you two off this ship."

"I couldn't stop, even if I tried," she said quietly and looked back at Daniel, "Thank you, Daniel. I don't know what I would've done if you weren't here."

He gave her a smile. "I'm glad I could be here," he said sincerely and ran a finger across the baby's cheek, "You know, she's the first girl I've delivered – the others were all boys."

"Really? Did you hear that, darling? You're Daniel's first little girl," Vala was looking at the baby and didn't see Daniel's face at her words and missed the wistful look he gave the baby, "You make one hell of a midwife," she teased then winced as pain shot through her. It wasn't as bad as it had been but it still hurt.

Daniel noticed the wince and glanced down. "It's okay," he assured her, "it's just the afterbirth."

"It's a little weird that you know all of this."

"Like I said, delivered two babies on my own and assisted with another one," as the afterbirth came, he quickly disposed of it and looked at his hands before wiping them on his pants with a grimace. "Don't suppose you have a change of clothes with you? Or water?"

Vala gave him a sheepish smile. "Sorry, running off to have the baby in secret was a spur of the moment decision and I didn't have time to grab the proper stuff."

"Yeah, I figured," he looked around them again, trying to find something he could use to clean her up but only saw her dress, which she would need since her shift wasn't the cleanest. "Vala, I need to get you cleaned up or we risk infection. Where's the closest place I can get water and maybe some clean linens, towels, whatever?"

"There's nothing like that in this part of the ship," she told him, suddenly weary, "Don't worry, I won't get sick – I never do."

"Maybe not from illnesses but this is different," he argued lightly, "I'm no doctor but I'm pretty sure you tore a bit and I'm not sure if it needs stitches or not, and my point is, you could easily get an infection if I don't clean you up as best I can, which requires at the least water and preferably, clean cloths. Now, where can I get that?"

Vala closed her eyes, imaging the schematics of the ship in her head and where she was within it. Eyes still shut, she told the directions he needed to find what he wanted. "Be careful," she warned, "and see if you can find some better clothes for yourself while you're at it. A soldier's uniform would be best."

"Okay. Will you be alright?" he asked.

The baby got fussy and she tried to gently bounce her to stop. "I'll be okay," she assured him, sparing him a small smile before focusing back on the fussy baby.

Daniel's eyes went to the child. "Try feeding her," he suggested, "Just know that your uterus will contract every time you do so be prepared for some discomfort. Your body will also be having smaller contractions for a while."

"I find it a little disturbing how much you know about labor and delivery," she told him and adjusted her shift so she could try to feed the baby.

Daniel chuckled and grabbed his pocket knife. "Yeah, after the third baby I delivered, I did a little more research since midwifery seemed to keep popping up in my life," he smiled, "but I haven't delivered a baby in almost eight years so…" he trailed off.

"Well, I for one am glad that you were here," she said earnestly, "I really don't know how I could've managed by myself. I had nothing with me," she winced as the baby latched on to nurse.

"You would've figured something out," he said confidently and glanced at the baby, "She's beautiful, Vala," he said softly.

Vala looked at her as well. "She really is, isn't she?" she murmured, "Well, she's my daughter, of course she is," she added on.

Daniel chuckled. "You got a name?"

Vala didn't look away from her daughter. "No, I spent the last nine months distancing myself from her, not allowing myself to feel anything for her, let alone think of a name for her," she said quietly.

"I get that," he said, "and you don't have to name her now. You got time."

Vala looked back at him and smiled. "I guess I do, partially because of you."

Daniel stood. "It was all you," he brushed off her praise and slowly backed up, "I'll be back as soon as I can. Until then, try to keep her quiet."

"I'll do my best," she promised, "Good luck."

o0o

Daniel followed Vala's directions to the letter. Instead of heading for the water and cloths he needed, he first went to where she said he could find some clothes to blend in. He wasn't psyched to be wearing the Ori's uniform, but it would help him get the supplies he needed to ensure that Vala would recover and not get an infection – her daughter needed her.

Daughter, it was still so surreal to him. He hadn't seen her in almost a full nine months and the change he saw in her was surprising. This whole experience had been life altering in so many ways, whether she knew it or not. He knew she was pregnant and would be delivering soon, but he never in a million years thought he would be the one to help deliver her child – he had only been trying to survive and the rings were his only option. He never once thought he would ring aboard the Ori mothership that carried Vala.

Daniel never anticipated that the small noise he heard in that room would've led to her. And to think, he almost left the room entirely until he heard her cry of pain. Seeing her again, after all this time, it made him…feel something – what that was, he wasn't sure. Helping her deliver her daughter certainly didn't help whatever he was feeling, especially when she had said 'Daniel's first little girl.' He knew she didn't mean it like that, but it still struck a part of him he thought he long ago dealt with and put to rest – guess he hadn't. The last time he had done this, it was with Sha're and it hadn't been his child and that had been one of the most painful moments of his life, her death being the first. Daniel had always wanted children and he wanted them with Sha're, but that dream died with her. After her death, he never imagined having children, and thought that desire had all but gone away.

Until he looked at baby Mal Doran, until Vala had uttered the words 'Daniel first little girl.' They made him think about kids and awoke a yearning he thought he let go of. The crazy thing that was scaring the hell out of him was that when he looked at the baby, he had a longing for her…and possibly her mother.

Yeah, he was going crazy or something. Maybe he hit his head during the explosion. Concussion, that must be it.

Instead of focusing on his insane thoughts, he put all his energy towards finding what Vala needed. Fortunately, he found what he needed relatively easy when he followed Vala's instructions. The Ori uniform came with their version of a canteen, so it was easily blended into his outfit, and he stuffed the few cloths he found underneath the armor. The few people he passed didn't look at him twice or stop him and no sign of any Priors. He was extra careful as he went back to the shield generator room, not wanting to lead anyone to the Mal Doran women.

With one last look around him, he opened the door. When it shut behind him, he called out softly. "Vala, it's just me."

When she didn't respond or make any noise of acknowledgement, his pace quickened to her, but his worry was over nothing because once she was in his sight, he saw that she was simply sleeping. They both were. He sighed and knelt beside her again. He grabbed the canteen of water and the cloths, setting them aside, and gently rubbed her cheek to wake her up – he would not start without her knowledge.

"Vala," he said softly, "wake up."

Vala stirred and her eyes fluttered open. "Daniel?" she mumbled sleepily.

"Hey," he gave her a small smile and grabbed the canteen, holding it up to her, "you should drink something."

"Can you open it for me?" she asked, shifting the baby so she could free a hand and grabbed the now opened canteen to take a sip. "Thank you."

Daniel took it from her and soaked one of the cloths he found. "How're you feeling?" he asked. She frowned and hesitated. "Vala?" he inquired, concerned.

"Did you give me something for the pain?" she asked.

He eyed her warily. "No, why?"

"I…I feel…normal," she said, confused.

"Normal?" he repeated skeptically and began to wipe away all the blood and other gunk.

Vala didn't even wince, which she thought was odd. "Yes, normal."

Daniel paused in his task. "Vala," he looked up at her, "you're completely healed down here."

"What?" she gasped, sitting up straighter.

"It's as if you never gave birth," he told her but finished cleaning her up, tossing the rag aside.

"How is that possible?" she asked, glancing down and her hand went to her stomach, "Daniel, my stomach is normal, but I still have milk. What's going on?"

Daniel thought all the information he knew regarding her pregnancy and an idea formed in his mind. "Why would the Ori want the baby so much?" he asked, rhetorical on his part, "What could they possibly need an infant for?"

"Something tells me you already know the answer to that question," she said warily.

"A baby wouldn't do much good in a war," he pointed out, "and I know the Ancients, when in their human forms, had special abilities. I know of one genuine Ancient who had healing powers. When my friend, Jack, had an Ancient database downloaded into his brain, it gave him the ability to heal as well."

"Fascinating," she said sarcastically, "but could you get to the point?"

"She was fathered by the Ori, she's kind of half human, half Ancient," he tried to explain, "it would stand to reason that she'd have powers and I suspect the Ori probably genetically altered her in some way. As I said, a baby isn't going to do them any good in a war, which is why they had a plan for once she was born and it explains why the Priors are frantically searching for you and her. They need her to complete something."

"Like what?" she asked, dread filling her.

Daniel hesitated. "It's just a guess," he warned her, "but my guess would be to somehow genetically alter her so she'd grow faster and be able to lead the Ori armies, be the figure head."

"Oh my gods," Vala whispered in horror, hugging the infant closer to her.

"We're not gonna let them have her," he told her firmly and confidently, "I'm not gonna let that happen," he promised – for more than one reason.

Vala looked up from the baby. "So, you think she healed me?" at his nod, she continued, "How could she possibly know I needed healing at all?"

Daniel shrugged. "It's possible that she can just feel what you feel," he theorized, "Maybe you guys share a connection that goes beyond a typical bond between a mother and her child. Whatever it is, it's a sure sign that she obviously loves you."

Vala smiled. "You really think so?"

"Yeah," he smiled at her, "and the Ori are gonna rue the day they decided to pick you as her mother. Boy did they screw up."

Vala laughed. "I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted."

"Probably a bit of both," he said teasingly, "But you being healed is a good thing, it means we can get to the rings easier."

"Are we out of hyperspace?"

"No, not yet, but I think we will be soon."

"Okay," she nodded slowly, "Well, when we are, we'll be ready. Until then, I'd like to change. Would you mind holding her while I do that?"

"Of course not," he smiled again and gently took her from her mother, "Hey there, sweetheart," he muttered, almost lovingly, to her.

"Thank you," Vala said and grabbed her brown dress, disappearing behind a weird looking mechanism.

As Daniel stared at the baby, he felt that desire again, and he swore, he fell hard for the little girl in that moment. "Hey, have you thought of a name?" he asked, lifting his head and raising his voice slightly.

There was a brief pause before Vala said, "Alora. Her name is Alora, after my mother."

Daniel gazed down at the infant. "Welcome to the galaxy Alora Mal Doran," he whispered to her, "I have a feeling that we're gonna be in each other's lives for a while."

o0o

Author's Note: This story is based on the assumption that since Adria didn't grow rapidly in utero and the fact they took her immediately from Vala without even letting her see her baby, that the process of her rapid growth had to be...activated and since Vala prevented it in this story, the Orici didn't age rapidly.

I know growing in utero and outside are different, but not that different, so I'm going with it.

And yes, I named her something other than Adria. Don't think Vala would've named her that had Adria not been almost a preteen and essentially evil.