Chapter Four

The following day, their sixth day here, Daniel hiked back to the Stargate. Tomorrow, him and Vala were due back, but he could tell she was nowhere near ready to head back, and if he was honest, he wasn't either. He hadn't had a real vacation in years and he was enjoying his time away. Daniel wasn't sure what Landry's response would be to his request that he and Vala be allowed to stay for just a little longer, but he could only hope it would be a positive one.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Jackson, but I can't authorize anymore time away."

Or not.

"Sir?" he questioned, perplexed. This was Vala and her child they were talking about. After everything she's done for Earth and the SGC, couldn't they cut her a break?

"While the IOA isn't thrilled with someone such as Vala being off world, knowing what she does about Earth, but they reluctantly agreed that she could stay until she's had more time to make a formal decision."

"So we can stay?"

"Vala can stay," Landry corrected, "you, on the other hand, have been denied staying any longer past tomorrow. The IOA, as well as others, want you back on Earth by the agreed upon time."

Daniel deflated but didn't argue. As much as he wanted to stay, he couldn't argue and risk jeopardizing Vala's chance to stay longer with her son with his insubordination. The IOA wouldn't mind the chance revoke their gracious chance for Vala to stay longer. "I see," disappointed leaked into his voice, "I'll be back before 1400 hours."

Landry seemed satisfied and left the room, giving the awaiting members of SG-1 a chance to catch up. Sam and Mitchel took a seat in front of the monitor while Teal'c stood behind them. They all gave their greetings and eagerly awaited the latest news on the recent development.

"Hey guys," Daniel said back but didn't offer more.

"So…" Sam dragged out, prodding for information.

"So, what?" Daniel asked, being coy.

"C'mon Jackson, spill it," Mitchel ordered, "What's the scoop?"

"I don't really know much, other than she never said a word out of fear that somehow the information would make it to Ba'al or Kenan's father. And before you ask, no she hasn't said anything about him other than he's bad news."

"How is she?" Sam asked gingerly.

"I've never seen her like this," Daniel confessed, "She's been so carefree and light. It's a completely new side of her. The love she has for Kenan is so strong. The way they are together is, quite frankly, beautiful to watch."

Sam smiled softly, grateful that her friend was actually happy, truly happy for once. It had been difficult last few years for them, especially Vala. It was about time for Vala to find some happiness. "What's he like?"

"Guys, he's amazing," a smile bloomed on his face, "He's one of the sweetest kids I've ever met. And smart; he's so smart."

"We're still talking about the Princess' son, right?" Cam joked. "Shouldn't he be a hell raiser?"

"I know, it sounds weird, but he is. I swear if he didn't have her eyes and if I believed it was possible, I'd say he was switched at birth or something, but he's hers. Junia says he takes after Vala's mom and brother in temperament."

"What of his intelligence?" Teal'c inquired.

"No clue on that," Daniel responded, "but doesn't negate the fact that he is. He's even interested in ancient cultures. He took us to some old ruins and was so excited to show us…" Daniel told the story of their time there and how much Kenan enjoyed the process and eagerly learned what Daniel had taught him.

"He sounds more like a kid you'd have, not Vala," Mitchel jested and missed the sadness in Daniel's smile.

Sam caught it though and realization struck her. "Vala's not coming back," she declared and ignored Mitchel's exclaim of 'What!' "She's staying there, isn't she?"

Daniel looked away from the camera, staring off in the distance, reluctant to answer.

"Of course she's coming back," Cam insisted and looked at all his teammates but caught the expression on each of them and felt dread creep in. "Isn't she? Jackson, you're bringing our girl back, right?"

Daniel sighed before looking back at the camera. "I honestly don't know," he answered Sam before addressing his CO, "and I can't force her to come back. Vala is trying to figure out what's best for Kenan and right now, it's looking like staying with Junia and Gaius is the answer. It's all Kenan has ever known and Vala's reluctant to disrupt that by dragging him away from his home."

Eleven years. Sam had known Daniel for roughly eleven years and recognize the look on his face and was sure she knew what he was contemplating. "What about you?" she voiced quietly, not wanting to stir up gossip, "If she stays, you're going to as well, aren't you?"

Cam looked at her, bewildered at her assumption, and quickly turned his attention to Daniel. It was then when he saw what Sam saw and even more dread crept in. "Say it aint't so, Jackson."

"This isn't the time or place," Daniel replied sternly, "I'll talk to you guys when I get back tomorrow. Jackson out," he turned off the camera and the Stargate shut down moments later.

"Well, crap," Cam grumbled, his sentiments felt by his other teammates.

While Daniel was checking in with the SGC, Vala used his absence to talk to Kenan about possibly bringing him to Earth with her and how he would feel about that. Though he was only five years old, he was plenty smart and could weigh in on the decision. Shortly after Daniel's departure, Vala and Kenan began to bake some sweets, something her mother used to do with her and her brother. She instructed him on several steps as he stood on a chair and she let him do most of it.

As they both stirred the mixture in two separate bowls, Vala decided it was time to bring it up. "Kenan?" she gingerly said.

The little guy looked up from the bowl he had been concentrating so hard on. "Am I doing it wrong, mama?"

Vala smiled at him encouragingly. "You're doing wonderfully," she reassured him, "I just wanted to talk to you about something. And you're allowed not to like it and tell me so. I need to know what you really think, okay?"

"Are you going away again?" he asked quietly, his voice somber.

Vala released the spoon she had been using to stir and gather her son into her arms. "Oh my sweet boy, no, I will never go away like that again. I promise. You understand that, right?"

He nodded, his head under her chin. "I understand."

"Good," she pulled away from him and sat him on the table, taking a seat on the chair in front of him. "What I want to talk to you about is where we're going to live. As I've told you, I've lived with the Tau'ri for about two years now. It has become home for me and I would very much like for it to become your home too. What I'm trying to say, how would you feel about coming to Earth to live there with me?"

Kenan tilted his head. "Is Tante Junia and Onkel Gaius coming to?"

"No, love. They would stay here on Lyria with Elam, Nahum, and Aquila. If you don't want to leave them, we won't. We'll stay here and find our own house near them."

"Would Daniel stay or go to Earth?"

"Daniel belongs on Earth, my love," she told him softly. "Do you like Daniel?"

He nodded enthusiastically, grinning wide. "He's really nice! And funny!"

Vala raised a brow skeptically. She would never call Daniel a funny person, though he had his moments. "Is that so? Hmm, I've never really noticed, but I'm glad you like him."

"So he would go back to his home on Earth and Tante Junia and Onkel Gaius would stay here?"

"Yes, that's right," Vala confirmed and bit her lip. "Where would you like to live? All I've ever wanted was what's best for you and right now, I don't know what that is, so I need your help. You've been through so much and I don't want to put you through anymore."

Kenan's expression was one of deep concentration, well as deep as it could get for a five-year-old. Vala worried she was putting too much on him. "If we went to Earth, could I go to school? I'm not allowed to here until next year."

Good gods, seriously, who was this child? Vala had a hard time believing he was really hers. He certainly didn't get his brains from her. Sure, she was intelligent in her own way and after her time as host to Qetesh, she was able to understand technology, Goa'uld mainly, better. She even had a better understanding of languages as well after her stint as a host. But that was because of Qetesh, right? Her time at the SGC had also helped expand her learning capabilities and she knew more and was able to understand more. But where did her son originally get his intelligence from? It certainly wasn't her or the man who provided the necessary genetic material to create Kenan. It would most likely remain a mystery.

"I believe you would," Vala answered with a chuckle.

"Can I go to the one Daniel did? I want to be an ark…ark-ee, ark-ee –"

"Archeologist," Vala said slowly and he repeated it after her. Vala brushed her hand through his hair. "It'll be several years before you can go to that type of school but yes, if you want to, you can." Kenan beamed, making her chuckle again. "Sometimes, I don't know where you came from. You get none of this from me."

Kenan shot her a puzzled glance but got nothing in response. "If we went to live on Earth, would we live with Daniel?"

"I don't think so. Why, would you want to?"

He bobbed his head energetically. "I like Daniel," he declared.

"I'm glad," she breathed out in relief. "How would you feel if I started seeing Daniel, if we started dating?"

His face scrunched in confusion. "You see him every day."

"No, what I meant is, Daniel, he…he wants to court me. Do you know what that means?" at his nod she continued, "If I'm I honest with you, my dear boy, I love Daniel very much, and he loves me. It's different from the way I love you," she tried to explain.

"Like the way Tante Junia and Onkel Gaius love each other?"

"Yes, exactly!" she sighed in relief.

"If you and Daniel dated," he tested the new word on his tongue, "would Daniel become my papa?"

Vala's breath caught in her throat. She let out a slow breath before answering, "Would you like him to be?"

"Yes!" Kenan bounced excitedly in his seat.

Did not see that one coming, she thought to herself, stunned at her son's reaction and strong attachment to Daniel after only a few days. "No, darling, he wouldn't. For Daniel to become your father, he would have to marry mama first and he hasn't asked me to."

"Will he? You said he loves you. Isn't that what you do when you love someone, you get married?"

"You are too smart for your own good," she muttered, "Yes, that's usually what a lot of people do, but they get to know each other first and date for a while before getting married."

"But why? If you love him and he loves you, why not get married now?"

"Goodness, we have gotten way off topic," Vala was not ready to deal with this yet. She just needed to know for sure where Kenan wanted to live. "Back to our original discussion: do you want to stay on Lyria or go to Earth? There is no right or wrong answer."

"Where do you wanna live?"

Vala couldn't lie to him. She told herself she'd be honest with him about everything. "I love Earth very much. It has been a home to me for a while and I love it there. But I love you more and if you want to stay on Lyria, we'll stay here and I'll love every moment of it."

Kenan was quite as he thought over the dilemma. As smart as he may be, he still was only five, just a child, and it was a lot to comprehend let alone ask him to make the final decision. "I wanna go to school. I wanna be an… an archaeologist," he said the word slowly to get it right, "like Daniel. And I like Daniel and I've decided that I want him to be my papa."

"Oh you have, have you?" Vala was astonished at his declaration. To be fair, she had only known Daniel mere hours before she knew she liked him. It was one of the reasons why she sought him out, finding an excuse to see him again. It shouldn't surprise her that her son was drawn to Daniel the same way she was, the same way many people were. "So you want to go to Earth? You want to live there?"

"Yes!" he stated seriously, more serious than a five-year-old should be.

"I must warn you, there will be rules we both have to follow," she told him firmly. "You wouldn't be able to tell people about the Stargate, the chappa'ai. You couldn't tell them that it exists or that you're from a different world. You may even have to live on a boring base and share a room with me for a couple of months before we could leave."

She wanted him to know what the future may hold for him on Earth. It could go either way. One never knew with the IOA. Yes, it may happen just like that or Daniel could make good on his promise and have Jack pull some strings to allow her and Kenan to live off base. Surely if they let a man like Jacek live in the Tau'ri world, they could allow Vala and a small boy as well. She had proven herself multiple times, helped save Earth and the galaxy from the Ori, destroying her own daughter in the process. If that didn't prove her loyalty to the Tau'ri, she didn't know what would.

Vala also wasn't entirely convinced the experience of living on the base would be boring for her son. He'd probably begged to spend all his time with Daniel in his office so he could watch Daniel work with his boring, dusty relics. Either way, Kenan needed to know what the possibilities were before making up his mind.

"I would be with you, right?" he asked and then added, "Would we see Daniel too?"

"Yes, darling. I would be with you and Daniel would be there too. We could see him every day if you'd like."

"I want to go to Earth," he announced, "I will miss Tante Junia, Onkel Gaius, Elam, Nahum, and Aquila, but I want to go to Earth with you and Daniel."

"Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes! When will we leave?"

"Daniel will have to go back tomorrow," she answered. He was requesting to stay longer, but she knew the SGC wouldn't allow him to. He was too essential, while she was not. "But we can stay as long as you need to before leaving."

"I wanna go with Daniel tomorrow," he proclaimed. "Can we?"

"If that's what you want, yes we can."

"Yay!" he jumped down from the table. "I'm gonna go tell everyone!"

"Don't tell Daniel!" she ordered as he ran from the house and sighed, turning back to her baking.

"That went better than I thought it would," Junia commented as she entered the kitchen.

"Indeed," Vala quoted her Jaffa friend's favorite word. "Sometimes, I don't know what to make of him. He is a peculiar child."

"Yes, yes he is," her friend agreed and took the spoon from Vala. "It looks like you have packing to do. I will finish these."

"Are you sure?" it was a question that asked two separate questions.

"I am. You know I love to bake," Junia smiled sadly as she continued, "and yes, I'm sure this is the right choice – for the both of you."

Vala gave her a brief hug before heading to go pack.

Author's Note: I don't think I mentioned that this story will be fairly short... I had originally seen it as a one-shot but kept writing until it was over 20k, so fairly short. I won't be going into a lot or expanding certain things and I do apologize if that upsets people or something.

Let me know your thoughts!