Chapter Twenty
Daniel had been wrong. His wedding wasn't the happiest day of his life; no, it was the day he held his daughter, Ellery Clare Jackson, in his arms for the first time. He had never experienced such love before; the love he had for his wife was different but just as fervent, but the love he had for his daughter was completely different and he marveled how easily it came to him in a moment's notice. He didn't believe in love at first sight, he had always been the type of person where love gradually grew with time, whether it was in a romantic or platonic way, but the second his daughter was put into his hands, it had been like that – instant and complete love.
"Are you ever gonna let me hold my daughter?" Vala's drowsy voice asked from across the room.
Daniel's attention flew to her and he walked over slowly, bouncing Ellery lightly as he went. "I wanted to give you time to rest."
"Bullshit," she called him out.
"Language," he admonished and indicated to their infant child.
"She literally has no idea what I just said," Vala shot him a small glare, "and you've been hogging her since the second she was born."
"Like I said, I wanted you to get some rest."
"Daniel," she began firmly, "I've been awake for the last ten minutes and you've yet to acknowledge me, much less look at me! Now give me my daughter, I want to hold her."
Daniel sighed in defeat and transferred Ellery over. He took a seat beside her and wrapped an arm around his two favorite girls. "Gods, Vala, she's so beautiful."
"She's my daughter, of course she is," Vala stated without missing a beat.
"I don't think I've ever been more thankful for the knowledge and training Jack's given over the last decade on weapons and self-defense; I'm gonna need it to keep the boys away," he remarked seriously and ran a finder down the baby's cheek.
"Oh, so you're going to be one of those fathers."
"You bet your ass I am."
"Now who's the one with the potty mouth?"
Daniel chuckled. "Touché," he conceded and kissed the side of her head. "How do you feel?"
"Sore," was her instant reply, "tired, but most of all pure joy."
Daniel was silent for a minute before he spoke, "Thank you for letting me be her father and for taking a chance on me."
"Daniel," she breathed out, tilting her to see his face, "I'm the one who should be thanking you. Had it not been for you, I would've lost my child and she would've never been allowed the chance to live had you not suggested what you did; making you her father was the least I could, especially when that's what you wanted in the first place."
"Even if we didn't have to use my DNA, you know that I still would've loved her like I do now, right?" he needed to make sure she knew that. "I still would've wanted the life we've created, no matter if she was mine biologically or not."
"Don't be silly, of course I do," she admonished lightly before she kissed him.
"I love you."
"Love you, more."
"Not possible," Daniel argued lightheartedly. Ellery let out a cry of discontent and wiggled in Vala's arms. "She's probably hungry," he supplied and grabbed a small blanket to cover the two of them.
Vala winced as Ellery latched on and brushed off Daniel's concerned look he shot her when she winced. As she adjusted the blanket, she asked, "Has Carolyn finished examining her and has the results satisfied your leaders?"
"Yes, to the exam but no the results; at least she hasn't come in yet and shared any, but don't worry, Ellery is human, and all the skeptics will be satisfied soon enough."
"What if she's not, what if Thor missed something? What if they try to take her from me?"
Daniel hated the anxiety in her voice and knowing that he couldn't do a thing to help; only the test results proving his daughter fully human would be sufficient enough to quell her fears. He didn't even realize that she had them until Ellery had been born. Daniel had been the first to hold her but only for a few seconds before Vala demanded her, clinging to her and didn't want to let her go when Carolyn had prompted so she could do a general exam that was performed on most newborn. Vala had refused to let her go at first and that was when he first noticed the fear. He immediately reassured her that it was routine and Ellery would be fine.
"What if they try to take her, Daniel?" Vala had whimpered, "What if they think she isn't human and take her?"
"Vala, the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet personally assured us she is fully human and for everyone on this base, that's all they need to know and trusts his word."
"What about your other leaders, the ones not on the base?" she retorted, "Do they have as much faith in the Asgard as the rest of you?"
"Ellery will be fine with Carolyn," Daniel calmly told her, "You trust Carolyn, remember? It won't take long, and Carolyn needs to make sure Ellery is healthy."
"You go with her then," Vala had countered, "if you want her to have this routine exam, you need to go with her and don't let her leave your sight."
"Vala," he started but then stopped and sighed. "Okay, I promise," he consented, realizing that nothing would change her mind and he would do whatever she needed so she knew Ellery was safe and sound.
So he had went with Ellery and watched over her every second, just like he promised; he even went so far as to make sure he was always physically touching her, mostly holding her hand. It didn't take long and when he came back, Vala anxiously took her back, but after nineteen hours of giving birth, she soon fell asleep from exhaustion, leaving Daniel to gently scooped up his precious bundle. He held Ellery the entire time as both of them slept, switching between sitting and walking her around the room; he'd only wished that Vala slept longer than an hour.
"Daniel, are you even listening to me?" Vala's voice dragged him back to the present.
"Of course I am, sweetheart," he automatically replied, "No one is going to try to take her away and if, if, they try, they'd have to go through you and me, through SG-1, and the entire base. We have friends in high places; she's fine and safe with us."
"I'm sorry," she whispered shakily, "I know I'm being stupid and irrational, but I can't help it."
"Don't apologize, you have nothing to be sorry for," Daniel leaned his head against the side of hers and tightened his hold on her. "Want me to go find Dr. Lam and have her give us the results?"
Soon as the words came out, the door to Vala's room opened and in walked the doctor in question. "You're awake," she noted, "and I see you're already breastfeeding; good."
"Do you have the test results for Ellery?" Vala asked anxiously, "I know you must've run more extensive tests ordered by your leaders. What do they say?"
Carolyn smiled reassuringly. "Everything came back normal, aside from some naquadah in her blood but we were expecting that, but otherwise, little Ms. Jackson is a perfectly healthy human newborn."
"And that'll satisfy your leaders?" Vala bit her lip.
"Yep," was the doctor's reply, "Few very were skeptical, and the tests just prove what Commander Thor had already assured us of. Everything is fine and no is going to try and take your child."
Vala relaxed into Daniel and sighed in relief.
Daniel kissed her head again. "What did I tell ya?" he whispered and glanced at Dr. Lam, "Thank you."
"My pleasure," she replied, "I'll leave you three alone for now, but I'll be back to check on Vala later," she promised and left.
"She's human," Vala whispered.
"Of course she is, did you really think she wouldn't be?" Daniel retorted lightly.
Vala chuckled humorlessly. "With all the luck I've had in life, I wouldn't rule it out; life always seems to be out to get me and ruin whatever happiness I may find."
"That was then," Daniel disputed, "this is now. Things are different now and will be from now on."
"You can't promise that."
"Maybe I can't," he relented, "but I can promise to do everything I can to make sure it does. Vala, together, we can do anything; we just need each other."
Vala snorted softly. "Now you're being a cheese."
"Cheesy," he automatically corrected, "and I don't care if I am, it's true. Us as a team, we're unstoppable. I love you and I know I can get through anything with you by my side."
Vala was quiet for a minute before she spoke, "I normally wouldn't believe something like that, but coming from you, I do. Before you, I never thought such a thing was possible and I've never been so glad to be proven wrong. You make me believe in things and want things I would've never dreamed of before meeting you and I love more and more because of it. So I believe you when you say we can do anything as long as we're together."
"I won't let you down," he vowed.
"Nor I you," she echoed. She lifted Ellery away from her chest and laid her on her lap, quickly fixing her gown. "Look at her, Daniel. Isn't she precious?"
Daniel's face softened when he looked at his daughter and let her grab onto his finger. "She is," he agreed softly. "I remember that moment," he said offhandedly and didn't go on.
"What moment?" Vala inquired curiously.
"The exact moment I chose to find you, the moment I decided I wanted relationship with you, or at least give it a go," he admitted, not looking away from his daughter, "Funny how one choice defined the rest of my entire life for the better. I never thought I'd ever get married again or a have a child, but here I am, happier than I have ever been in my life."
"We all have moments in our lives that can define how our life will changed and will be like; it's the choices we make in those moments that count. We just need to make sure we make the right decisions in those moments," Vala added.
Daniel glanced over at his wife and gave her a soft smile. "I will always remember the moment I chose you," he told her, "it was the best damn decision I made in my life."
Vala caressed his cheek, bringing him closer to her. "Choosing to risk it all with you was mine," she whispered, "I love you, Daniel Jackson."
"And I love you, Vala Jackson."
While life would never be perfect and they would have their fair share of trials, they faced every challenge head on, together.
The End.
o0o
Author's Note: Yes, that was a big ball of cheese, but I'm a hopeless romantic, what can I say?
Thank you to all who read it to the end, who reviewed, added it their favorites, and followed it! Thank you to those who helped me with your words of encouragement! You all rock!
God Bless,
-DesertKactus
