Chapter Eighteen
Small nudges against his hand slowly brought Daniel out of his slumber with a smile on his face as he realized those small nudges were his daughter's attempts to gain his attention. She had been moving and kicking a lot more recently and it would never cease to amaze him. Daniel clearly remembered the first time he ever felt her kick; it had been a few days after they came back to Earth and were in his office and she let out a big kick.
"Ow!" Vala had hissed, causing Daniel to look over at her in alarm only to find her glaring at her belly. "If you must kick, darling, kick gently and stop being mean to mommy!" the response she got was another hard kick. "Ellery Clare Jackson, I'll have no more of that!"
Daniel had smiled in amusement. "Vala, she's just a baby; hell, she isn't even born, and I highly doubt she knows what you're saying."
Vala hissed as another hard kick came. "It's never too early to learn some manners," Vala had insisted, "Daniel, come talk some sense into your child; you're good with difficult people!"
Daniel had shaken his head in amusement but did as instructed. He had put his hands where she had last kicked and kindly asked, "Hey sweetheart, can you be nicer to your mommy? She's a bit cranky today." And he was rewarded with a weaker kick that feeling left him feeling high on happiness for a while.
Vala had pouted. "That's not fair! Why is she listening to you and not me, her mother!" she had exclaimed, offended, "and I am not cranky!" she added.
Daniel responded with a smile and said as he rubbed the spot the baby had just kicked, "She's daddy's girl, aren't you sweetheart?" and pressed a kiss there. "And for the record, you are cranky today," and he was rewarded with a smack to the back of the head, but he hadn't minded.
Daniel shifted on the bed, untangling himself from Vala while trying his best not to wake her so he could slither down to be eye level with Vala's bump. He loved waking up before her and relishing alone time with their child. Since moving in together a few months back, they hadn't slept apart unless Daniel was off world – so much for going slow, but hey, Vala was all for it and hadn't told him it was too much for her. Plus, the whole kidnapping thing seemed to bring them closer; he only wished she didn't have to be taken in order for that to happen. Anyways, each morning when he was Earth side, this was how he woke up, almost like clockwork, and he decided that it was the best way to wake up. He gently rubbed the spot the baby was kicking at, trying to calm her down so she wouldn't wake Vala up.
"Morning, sweet girl," he whispered, "I'd much appreciate it if you stopped kicking your mother so she could sleep; you've been tiring her out more and more lately, so do me a favor and let her rest."
"It's cute that you think she'd listen," Vala mumbled sleepily and shifted a little in an attempt to get more comfortable.
Daniel smiled again and pressed a kiss to her stomach before making his way up and kissing Vala on the lips. "Morning," he muttered on her lips before pulling back a little, "how's my other girl doing?"
Vala groaned and struggled to sit up which prompted Daniel to help her. "How do you think?" she grumbled, "Your child has been kicking me all night and I now have to pee after a kick to my bladder."
"Is she always going to be just my child when she does something you don't like?" he quipped as he helped her stand up.
"Yes," she responded with no hesitation or a hint of sarcasm and slammed the bathroom door shut.
"Of course she is," Daniel remarked to himself and sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Vala to return.
Vala exited the bathroom not long after and came to stand in between Daniel's legs, leaning into him and his arms wrapped around her to support her. "Apparently, she will listen to you and only you," she complained.
His hands went to the belly. "She stopped kicking," he stated smugly and kissed where his kid rested, "That's my girl," he whispered to her.
"It's completely unfair!" Vala grumbled, "I'm her mother and the one growing her; she should listen to me, but does she? No! Willful, strongheaded child, and she's still in the womb!"
"She takes after her mother," Daniel asserted seriously, "don't you, little Ellery?"
Vala smacked him on the shoulder. "Hilarious."
"I thought so," he noted how tired she still looked, "Do you wanna go back to bed? You still look tired."
Vala glanced at the clock. "I don't think I'll be able to go back to sleep and it's almost 0800 hours; might as well get ready for the day."
Daniel rose and kissed her on the forehead. "Go shower and I'll make us some breakfast."
Vala didn't argue and headed back to the bathroom and he went to the kitchen to cook up some pancakes – the latest craving she had. As they got closer and closer to the due date, the sweeter the foods she craved, a good portion of it being junk food. When he got to make her food, he was able to add at least something nutritious in it; today, it would be blueberries, along with some eggs for protein – not that he expected her to eat much of it but at least he was trying. It didn't take long to put together, he had the kind you just add water to, and cooking them up wasn't a long process since he wasn't making a lot, and in no to time, breakfast was ready, and he heard the shower turn off shortly after.
As he set the table, he marveled at the thought of how normal the two of them had become. Almost a year ago, they had been mere acquaintances who constantly butted heads, and here they were, people in a relationship, lovers, and soon to be parents. It was weird, being a normal couple with someone, well maybe not normal but as normal as the two of them could get. He didn't think he'd ever had this type of relationship with someone before. It was different with Sha're since nothing had been normal there. It was a simple existence, something he didn't mind at the time since he loved her. It was different with Sarah but still wasn't a typical relationship; he was always so busy with his work, often putting it before her, and while they worked with each other on many occasions, his work and wonky theories had ultimately destroyed their relationship.
With Vala, it was like nothing he had experience. It was definitely a more normal relationship than he'd had before but also the most different. He was surprised how easily the two of them had fallen into place, more so than he was expecting. They still fought, that hadn't changed, but it wasn't like before. It was becoming more like how the other version of them were like. It was baffling how well that were getting along since they moved in together, not counting the bickering they did – that was simply them. Before he found her and did all of this with the baby and relationship, he knew there was a possibility that he could fall in love with her and after the last couple months, he knew he had, but he hadn't gotten around to telling her that. It was too soon, at least he thought it was too soon to tell her and he refused to scare her off, not when they were in a good place. If he was honest, he was a little scared to, worried that she didn't feel the same or if she said she did, it would only be the extra hormones her body was generating or it would be the baby and idea of them as a family that made her think she loved it. As usual, he was letting fear dictate his romantical decisions, but at least he in a romantic relationship. Progress.
"What has you thinking so hard?" Vala interrupted his thoughts as she joined him and took a seat at the table, helping herself to some food.
Daniel glanced at her and grabbed two mugs before joining her. "You," he answered, "our daughter, and how well things are going." He set a mug of tea in front of her.
"They're going well, are they?" she smiled at him, "Better be careful or you'll jinx it."
"Well, they're going well for me," he amended and arched his brows, "Do you not think they are?"
"You mean besides the whole kidnapping bit?" she quipped.
Daniel winced as he was reminded. "Yeah, besides that."
She chewed her food slowly, thinking. "Maybe I'm the one who's worried about jinxing it," she admitted quietly and grabbed her mug of tea, taking a sip and doing her best to look elsewhere.
"Hey," he said softly, lifting her chin with his finger, "are you worried you'll jinx it or ruin it?"
She bit her lip and tried to look away, but he wouldn't let her. "Ruin it, I suppose," she eventually responded, "and I really don't want to; I don't know how I could live with myself if I did."
"Well, don't be, 'cause I won't let you; you're stuck with me forever, you and our daughter."
"You can't guarantee that," she argued, "and I think you're underestimating my ability to ruin things."
"Maybe I can't," he conceded, "but I know I won't let you go without a fight. I know you're still scared and that's okay, but if you try to sabotage this, you're gonna have one hell of a fight on your hands since I won't go down easily if at all."
"Daniel…" she trailed off, uncertainly evident in her tone.
"Let's not dwell on things that probably won't happen," he suggested, "instead, let's just focus on getting ready for our daughter's arrival; I can't believe we're down to five weeks."
"I know, it's so surreal," she agreed and ran a hand over her belly, "There's still so much to do before she comes; at least Sam's helping me finish the nursery today."
"I thought that was done?" he mused and took a sip of his coffee. Well, there was still the crib he needed to build but he could do that before the weekend was over.
"Well, it was but then we had this idea to put those glow in the dark stars on the ceiling in the shapes of different constellations; wouldn't that be just adorable?"
Since they had met in space and Daniel became Ellery's father in space, they decided on space themed nursery, not the solar system, but space – though their moon did make an appearance. Sam and Vala had already painted the constellations, as well regular star shapes, on the blue walls. Upon hearing their theme, Jack had suggested they paint a spaceship on a wall, using the Starship Enterprise as their inspiration since they couldn't do Prometheus for obvious reasons. Vala had used Daniel's computer to look it up and went for it. Daniel had no clue that she was artistically inclined and did a fabulous job. But glow in the dark constellations on the ceiling seemed pretty cool too.
"It would," he admitted warily, "but please tell me that Sam will be doing that and not you. This late into your pregnancy, you really shouldn't be on a ladder."
"I'm not a complete idiot, Daniel."
"I never said you were," he was quick to reply, "I just want to be sure. I worry," he shrugged innocently.
Vala rolled her eyes playfully. "Yes, Samantha will be doing them for me," she promised his, "but you need to build the crib before it's too late."
"We got time."
"Daniel, she could come early, you know; babies do it all the time."
Daniel's cup froze halfway to his mouth before he abruptly lowered it to the table. "Shit, I hadn't even thought of that," his eyes widened slightly at the thought, "Do you think she will? Did Dr. Lam say anything? Is there a possibility because of what the Ori did to you and what Thor did to fix it? Thor would've told us if an early arrival was a high possibility, right?"
"Daniel!" Vala exclaimed, putting a hand on top of his, "Calm down! She's fine, I was merely teasing. I don't think she'll come early and I'm sorry for worrying you."
He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it. "Sorry," he said sheepishly, "it's just the thought of something happening to either of you gets me…"
"I know," she broke in, "it's how I feel every time you step through the 'gate, despite the fact that the Ori are gone, the Priors have been taken care of, and their follows been set straight."
"You know I'm careful, right?" he asked, "Ever since I found you again, every time I step through the Stargate, I make sure I'm extra careful, more careful than I've ever been; I now have something to come home to."
Vala couldn't help the ridiculous smile that spread across her face. Gods, she was happy with him. "You're so squishy."
Daniel's face furrowed and he thought for a second. "Do you mean mushy?"
"I knew that was the wrong word," she muttered to herself.
Daniel heard her and chuckled at her adorableness. "Yes, I'm mushy. Ever since we got back from the Ori galaxy, I've been mushy, sentimental, and sappy. I can't help it; you make me happy and bring it out in me. Do you mind it when I am?"
"No," she confessed softly and if not a bit sappy herself, "I love it when you are; it lets me know that you care for me and you're not just with me because of the baby."
"I was gung-ho on finding you before I knew about the pregnancy and before I had Thor use my DNA," he pointed out, "It was always about you; the baby is just an added bonus."
"There you are again, being mushy," she teased.
"Again, you make me happy," he reiterated with a grin.
"You make me happy too," she told him and went back to her food.
Silence fell and Daniel watched her eat for a few minutes. Their conversation made him remember something that he'd forgotten. After getting back from the other reality, he discovered that video from his other self and that man had told him that life was too short and to essentially not to waste it being afraid of something. His marriage and time with Sha're had been way too short and before she'd been taken, he had taken that for granted, always thinking that they had more time – but they hadn't. It was that video which prompted him to take a chance on Vala, well that and seeing how a relationship between the two of them could be. Let's not forget the whole incident with Athena; if that didn't make him realize how fleeting life, what would? And that Daniel had been right; their relationship was working and though it may not be perfect, but what relationship was? He already knew that he loved her, so what the hell was he waiting for?
"Vala," he caught her attention and waited until she swallowed her bite. When she looked at him questioningly, he confessed it, "I love you."
Her silverware clanked against the plate as she stared at him in stunned silence. He didn't want to freak her out and knew there was a chance she wasn't quite there yet and didn't want to pressure her.
"You don't have to say it back or anything," he assured her, "I just wanted you to know. Life is too short and I don't want to regret anythi –"
"I love you, too" she whispered back, still slightly shocked.
Daniel could feel the huge grin on his face and couldn't remember a time where he'd ever smiled this big. He moved so he was crouched down in front of her, trying to get eye level with her, and grabbed her face, laying one on her. It was a kiss filled with passion, love, and promise.
Daniel knew he would never come to regret his decisions that led to this moment – how could he? Instead of letting fear rule his life, he chose to face it and take a risk with a woman that could've easily destroyed him. He was never so happy or relived than he was in this moment for the choices he made that brought him here – to the two women he loved most in all the universe.
o0o
Author's Note: So, I'm wrapping it up. The main focus of the story was Daniel finding Vala and everything with the baby. I don't want to drag it on or come up with new, weird plots to keep it going. I'm sorry if that disappoints. In the future, I hope to edit this more to where I really wanted it but I lost some of what I wanted to incorporate within the story so it isn't completely where I want it, but overall, I'm happy with it.
Thoughts?
