Chapter Nineteen
"I love it," Vala sighed as she took in her daughter's room. It was finished, mostly, all it needed was the crib, which Daniel was currently building.
"It's amazing," Sam agreed, standing next to Vala. "I'm actually kind of jealous."
"Of what?" Vala asked, glancing at her friend, confused.
"That you guys chose space for the nursery theme; I was hoping that Daniel would do Egypt or something," Vala's look of confusion didn't go away and Sam added sheepishly, "I was also wanting to use it for Jack and I; he loves astronomy."
Vala's mouth fell open for a moment before she forced herself to talk. "Samantha, are you…?" she trailed off.
"Four weeks," Sam nodded tearfully, "we found out earlier this week."
Vala squealed loudly and hugged Sam. "I am so excited for you!" she exclaimed, "I didn't know you were even trying!"
"We weren't, it just sorta happened," she confessed, and they hadn't. Yes, she had gone off her birth control, but a specialist didn't seem to think it would happen, so she and Jack had decided to start the adoption process when this happened.
"What's wrong?" Daniel barged in, breathing slightly elevated, "I heard Vala scream."
Vala giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck in attempts to calm him. "Nothing's wrong; I was squealing in excitement and you've worked yourself up for nothing."
Daniel sighed in relief and relaxed into her arms. "What's got you so excited, huh?" and he looked around the nursery, "Wow, it looks great in here. You were right about the stars on the ceiling."
"Constellations, darling," Vala corrected and ignored his first question since it wasn't her place to share Sam's news. "I still need that crib before it can be absolutely perfect."
"A few more pieces need to be put together but it's practically done," he said and untangled himself from her, "I'll go finish it," he said in mock reluctance.
"Thank you!" she called out after him as he left.
"Thanks for not saying anything," Sam said appreciatively, "Jack and I decided that we probably should wait a bit, just in case."
"Why'd you tell me then?"
Sam shrugged. "I'm not sure; I think I just needed to tell someone," she deduced, "that or I really am just jealous of your nursery."
"I don't own the theme, you know. You could always do a different version of it."
"I appreciate that, but I want our kids' rooms to be unique from each other since they'll be in each other's lives for years to come. I'll think of something else," she assured, "Though I have to say, I'm a bit surprised that you went this route; I'd figured you go for something more…girly."
Vala chuckled. "While I'm not opposed to it, I love space; I loved being out there amongst the stars and miss it. Don't get me wrong, I don't miss my former occupation whatsoever, but I miss being out there, traveling among them," she confessed, "Besides, it's where Daniel and I met; its where it all began. Without space, we wouldn't be here."
"I'm gonna miss it too," Sam said wistfully.
"Trust me, it'll be more than worth it."
o0o
"Vala, come here for a second!" Daniel called out to from where within their home.
Vala's scrunched in confusion and she finished folding a towel. "How do you ask nicely?" she retorted and picked up another piece of laundry from basket to fold.
"Seriously?"
"Daniel, honestly, how do you expect our daughter to have any sort of manners when you refuse to have any at all?" she questioned in mocking patronizing fashion. She couldn't see him, but she knew he was rolling his eyes and sighing at her logic.
"Please?"
"Well, since you ask so nicely," sarcasm lit her tone as she walked out of their bedroom. "Where are you exactly?"
"Nursery."
The nursery was only a few feet down the hall and it took her only a few seconds to stand in the doorway. "Now, darling, what's so important?" she asked before she caught sight of why he called her in here.
Daniel spread his arms wide, as if showcasing the room. "It's officially done," he declared and then gestured to the crib not only in place but made up with the bedding they picked out.
"Daniel, it's beautiful," she breathed in awe as she took in the complete room and then tilted her head, "What's this?" she asked and came closer. There was a baby mobile hanging over the crib, something she didn't remember picking out. She fingered one of the hanging parts. "Is this…?"
Daniel wrapped his arms around her from behind and tugged her closer to his body. "Prometheus, why yes, it is," he finished for her and pointed to another one, "that's the Daedalus, and that, unfortunately, is the Enterprise. I think the smaller ones are from Star Wars or something."
Daniel had wanted something that represented how his daughter's parents met besides in outer space; he wanted the Prometheus to be present and since he wasn't allowed to have it painted on the wall, unlike the Enterprise, this was the next best thing. The baby mobile was custom made, comprised of three main spaceships with smaller identical ones in between. He only included the ones from Star Wars and Star Trek so if anyone outside the SGC saw them, like the people who custom made it for him, they would just assume it was from some obscure, unpopular TV show or movie. He had wanted to put an Al'kesh or something on it alongside with the Prometheus to commemorate their first meeting, but as it was, he was already taking a risk with their two Earth ships.
"What do you think?" he mumbled into her neck, pressing a kiss, "Do you like it?"
"I love it," she replied quietly, "It's perfect, Daniel."
"I have something I want to ask you."
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
Daniel led her to the glider rocking chair, gently pushed her so she'd sit, and crouched in front of her. "You may think this is too soon, that I'm moving too fast, and maybe I am, but I know what I want and I'm gonna go after it. But if it's too much for you, that's okay and I can wait; I just know that I need to ask you."
"Darling, you're not making any sense and you're talking in circles; just ask," Vala urged.
"I wanna marry you," he blurted out, "like I really wanna marry you. I know we've only been together for a few months, but in that time I know that this is right and I don't want to waste any time. Who the hell knows what could happen tomorrow so why wait when I know this is where it's meant to lead? I don't wanna regret wasting time by not seizing the greatest thing that's happen to me in years, and that thing is you, Vala."
Vala stayed silent and Daniel couldn't see any outward emotion on her face. "Are you not gonna answer or something?" he asked warily, wondering if he had just made a big mistake.
It took all of her self-control to show no emotions and to stay silent when she wanted to do the exact opposite. "You haven't asked me a question," she replied in a calm, cool manner but was anything but inside.
Daniel huffed out a laugh, briefly looking away before he got serious. "That's fair," he gave her, pulling something from his pocket and held it up to her. "Vala Mal Doran, would you make me the happiest man in the universe by becoming my wife? Will you marry me?"
Her facade broke and she launched herself at him. "Of course I will," she whispered in his ear.
He grabbed her face and brought it in front of his. His face was pure happiness, something that had never been at the caliber before. Resting their heads together, he whispered, "I love you."
Vala gave him a quick kiss and responded in kind, "I love you, too."
As he slipped his grandmother's ring of her finger, he felt complete, he felt whole as he held his future wife and their child in his arms.
o0o
Wedding plans began the next day at Vala's insistence since she was adamant that she didn't want to have the baby while they weren't married. Despite how she was and seemed, Vala had been raised in a strict village where one didn't get pregnant out of wedlock, much less have a child out of wedlock. Though she was a modern woman, if you will, she still wanted that, even though she knew her friends wouldn't judge her, especially since it hadn't been her fault in the first place! But some things were just deeply rooted, so much so that she didn't even realize it until it hit her hard.
Daniel didn't care either way. He had been the one doing most of the pushing in their relationship, to the point where he often worried that he was pushing too hard, that it was a nice change of pace when it was her doing the insisting. They both agreed that they didn't want a big or fancy wedding; they also didn't have many people to invite, just their closest friends, who had been Daniel's family for almost a decade and had recently become family to Vala. That's all they wanted.
So it was a small ceremony that took place a week after Daniel proposed. While he wasn't worried, sure of his decision, he was worried that he was pressuring Vala into this. Yes, he knew she loved him, but was she actually ready?
"Relax, Space Monkey," Jack admonished as the archeologist fidgeted next to him, "your Space Princess will show."
"Such a ridiculous name," Daniel muttered, "and I'm not worried about that."
"First off, it's a cool name and isn't as cliché as Pirate Princess," Jack defended, slightly insulted, "and second, if you're not worried about that then what is it?"
"That she's not ready and she's just doing this to make me happy," he blurted out quickly.
"You know, her and Carter have gotten pretty close," Jack commented.
"So?"
"They talk, Daniel," he replied as if he was talking to a child. "You may think she isn't ready, but I can assure you that she is. Yes, she's had a crappy life that has jaded her, but you stood by her and never wavered in your promise to her. She told Sam that when you ask her to move in with you, she saw the change in you – I'm sorry, I mean growth," Jack amended when Daniel gave him a look and continued, "and that's how she knew and why she's never doubted you. You let your guard down with her, you talked to her about your life and not the generic stuff, but the hard stuff. Vala's ready and wants this just as much as you."
What little doubt he did have was gone just like that and he felt every last worry he had left off his shoulders and felt lighter than he'd ever had. "Thank you, Jack," he told his best friend, his best man, sincerely.
"Think nothing of it!" Jack gave Daniel his trademark O'Neill grin, "Just don't let Sam know I heard and told you."
"You were eavesdropping?" Daniel asked, stunned at Jack's actions.
Jack ignored him and nodded towards the double doors. "Music's about to start," he predicted.
And it did.
Daniel would forever that moment; the instant where he became Vala's husband. When he had married Sha're, he hadn't known he was married until way after the fact and it hadn't really been a choice for either of them, but it the end, they were happy for the year they had together.
With Vala, it was a choice, something he chose, and he would forever remember taking her as his wife – how could he not? It was the happiest day of his life and would forevermore be.
o0o
Author's Note: One more and the it's finished!
Was it too rushed? Let me know what you think!
