Chapter Three
Shortly after waking up the next day, Daniel contacted Earth and told them he and Vala were staying a few more days, a week at the most, and asked if they could send them a few essentials and supplies. General Landry was understanding, having been fully briefed by the other members of the team, and had allowed the two of them to remain. The SGC made fast work at gathering the items requested and sent them through the 'gate within an hour. Daniel made his way back to the farm with a large pack and two duffle bags – Sam had overpacked for Vala and included a few small items for Kenan.
The next few days were spent with Vala getting reacquainted with her son and Daniel getting to know Kenan as well. It was their fourth day here, three days after she discovered Kenan was alive, and it was the first time she left the boy's side. Vala stilled watched him like hawk, keeping him in her sightline at all times, but knew she couldn't keep smothering him and had to loosen the reins a bit. Besides, Daniel was with him and would never let anything happen to Kenan. Daniel also needed to have that one on one time with the five-year-old if he wanted to be a permanent part of Kenan's and Vala's life.
Daniel was good with him. The two of them had spent most of their time with her son, getting to know him, and Kenan had responded positively to the man she loved. It gave Vala some relief to know and see that. One less thing she had to worry about. As she dried dishes, she gazed out the window, watching the two of them. Daniel was showing him how to do something boring, to her at least, and Kenan appeared to be quite intrigued.
"Daniel is very good with him," Junia commented as she put away the dishes Vala dried. "and Kenan seems fond of him. Daniel Jackson is a good man and will make an excellent father."
"I don't know what you mean."
"Gaius and I heard your conversation by the fire the first night," Junia confessed, "Aside from that, it is obvious. I saw as much when I first met him. I knew he thought Kenan was a former lover and saw how it affected him. He cares for you greatly and now for Kenan as well. His adoration for the boy isn't just for your sake either. He genuinely cares for him. That's something hard to find in a man."
Vala dropped the towel and leaned forward on her hands, eyes still focused out the window. "I've been in love with him for some time now," she admitted aloud, "that's why I can't ask him to give up his life at the SGC or on Earth. That's where he belongs, and I belong here with Kenan and you all."
"You're wrong, my old friend," Vala looked at her in surprise, "you may at onetime belonged to this life, but your time with the Tau'ri has changed you, for the better, and this life is no longer meant for you. Nor for Kenan either."
"How can you say that? This is all he knows. You, Gaius, and the children are all he knows. This is his home and where he belongs. I'll not take away it from him."
"Surely you've noticed how smart your son is," Junia chastised, "He is intelligent like your Daniel; they even share similar interests. Remember how excited Kenan was to show Daniel and you his special place at the ruins? Do you remember how excited he was when Daniel could read the writing and he showed Kenan some tricks of his trade? That boy and Daniel are so alike, even in their appearance. If I didn't know any better, I'd even say they were blood. Surely you've seen it."
Vala thought back to the previous afternoon. Kenan had been excited to show her and Daniel some old ruins leftover from an old settlement, believed to have once been inhabited by the Gate Builders. Daniel confirmed that they were here at some point, recognizing the writings in several places. Kenan had been so ecstatic when he discovered that Daniel could read Ancient and asked to be shown. Daniel took him under his wing and showed him what his process was when he came across structures such as this. He even let Kenan do some rubbings. It had made the little boy so happy.
As for their similar physical appearance, Vala could see that as well. The only thing Kenan had really got from her was her gray eyes. Other than that, Vala had always thought he resembled her younger brother, but on closer inspection, he did look like Daniel a fair bit. They almost had the exact shade of brown hair. As odd as it was to note, their nose and ears were also alike. If one didn't know any better, with his hair and gray eyes, he could easily be mistaken for Daniel's son.
"I hadn't noticed until you said it just now," Vala consented after her thoughts caught up with her. "I mean, I saw that he was smart, but not how scary alike he and Daniel are. You're trying to make a point though, and I can't see it."
"The village school only teaches so much and there's no opportunity for Kenan to expand his knowledge. All he'll ever learn is to read, write, and only enough of number figures to be sufficient for this type of life. The Tau'ri can offer him a better education, more than he will ever be able to receive here."
"Is that really enough reason to take away everything familiar to him?"
"You are not Jacek nor will you ever be," Junia told her sternly, addressing her friend's unspoken concern, "Kenan will be fine, as long as he has you. All he has wanted for over three years is you. That little boy has done nothing but hope and pray for your return. He will need a mother who isn't longing for the life she left and the man she let go. Kenan's life is with you and yours is with the Tau'ri."
Vala scoffed as she remembered Daniel saying the exact same thing. "Why do I feel like you're trying to get rid of me and my son? Was he really that bad? A hellion like me?"
Junia laughed heartily. "That child inherited none of your wild ways. He has your mother's temperament," she sobered slightly, "and I'm not trying to get rid of you or Kenan. It will hurt greatly if you two should leave, but we know it's for the best and that you will visit us when you can."
Vala sniffed and blinked away the water from her eyes. "Do you truly think so?"
"I know so."
"I just got you back."
"And you'll always have us. We will be here, for whatever you need," Junia promised, "But don't let fear hold you back from something amazing. Don't use us as a reason. You deserve to be happy and loved by someone. That someone is Daniel Jackson."
The next day, Gaius found her leaning against the barn, watching Kenan teach Daniel a game. Daniel was terrible at it, but Kenan didn't seem to mind and was having a blast. Gaius leaned next to her.
"Junia spoke with you, didn't she?" Vala asked rhetorically.
"Last night," he didn't even try to deny it.
"Your turn to add your two cents?"
"My what?" he asked, confused.
Vala chuckled. "It's an Earth expression. It means to state your opinion, I believe."
"Oh, well then yes," he paused momentarily, "It's actually not different from hers."
"So she sent you here to convince me to leave and take Kenan with me."
"She didn't have to send me; I volunteered," he confessed, "I agree with her, Vala. I know you're worried about disrupting his life like this, but it would be for the better. For both of you."
Vala remained silent for a few minutes and bit her lip before whispering, "Are you disappointed in me?"
"For choosing to leave?" he asked, "Of course not. Your place is with the Tau'ri. That is now your home. Kenan will thrive there, and I know Daniel will take good care of the both of you. He is completely taken with you two."
"That's not what I meant," she admitted, "I meant, are you disappointed that I took that job, that I stopped searching so soon? Are you disappointed that I went back to those ways? I know you always hated that I chose that life."
"I can't honestly say I'm not," he reluctantly answered, "and I don't mean about giving up on us. I understand that. Ba'al would've left Elvana destroyed completely. I am a little bit about you choosing that life again, but I also understand. You forget, I know Jacek, and I know there wasn't many options for you after Qetesh. But look at where it led you, look at what its given you. You have Kenan and now Daniel. You're a warrior of the Tau'ri and I couldn't be prouder."
"Really?" she whispered skeptically.
"Really," he said earnestly.
His approval had always meant a lot to her, whether she like it or not. He had been an older brother to her growing up. He was the only positive male role model in her life growing up. Gaius had always treated her like a sister and looked out for her as a brother would. The day Qetesh's guard came to their home world, he had been the only one to try and stop the Jaffa from taking her. Not even the man she was betrothed to had tried and she had been sure that he loved her just as much as she loved him. But no, he did nothing. Only Gaius had tried to stop it from happening and paid dearly for it.
When their village had tried to stone her, he tried once again to save her, to be the voice of reason among their people but had ultimately failed. Had that vicious storm not blown in, she never would've made it out of that situation. Gaius had always been there for her, looking out for her as a brother should, even when she, as Qetesh, had tortured him. Gaius knew it had been Qetesh and never held a grudge, unlike their people. Knowing he was disappointed in her hurt, but it ultimately had led her to who she was today. Someone he was immensely proud of.
"And you really think I should do this? Take Kenan with me back to Earth?"
"I do," he confirmed gently. "He will be able to have more than we can offer him, more than this world, maybe even this galaxy can offer him."
"What about you all? Do you think he could bear it, being taken away from his family?"
"You are his family and as much as we would miss him, he needs to be with you. That's all he's wanted since he last saw you," he paused before continuing, "He would also have your friends. I can see they mean a lot to you and you to them. And then there's Daniel. I know you would be safe with him and Kenan as well."
"What do you think of Daniel?"
"I think he's an intelligent man, known widely for it as well as his bravery and heroism. He has fought for many noble causes and has helped rid the galaxy of the false gods and the Ori, ending slavery for many," he listed off, "I know he loves you and is half in love with Kenan already. I believe he is partially responsible for who you are today. He's good for you and you for him. I like him for you and I approve."
"I don't need your approval," she denied, but admitted to herself that deep down that a part of her wanted it.
"Of course not," he smiled at her.
"So, I guess that settles it," she murmured. She wanted to go back to Earth with Daniel, taking Kenan with her but had been hesitant until this moment. Knowing her son would really be okay was all she needed.
"Guess so. When will you tell him?" he alluded to both Daniel and Kenan.
"Soon," she promised. She first needed to find the correct words to tell both of the men she loved the most.