A/N: This chapter brought to you by 'She's Always a Woman to Me' by Billy Joel. Vala, Vala, Vala!

Chapter Twelve

"Won't he be angry?"

Jack shrugged. "Probably."

Cassie waited for some elaboration to the answer, her paintbrush nearly dripping onto the clear plastic covering Daniel's floor. When she didn't receive one, she sighed audibly. "So we're doing this anyway?"

"Yep."

"I don't think the General particularly cares, Cassie," Cameron huffed, lugging a second bucket of paint into the bedroom. "In fact, I think he's probably going to enjoy this."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow but did not add to the conversation. They had been on renovation duty for the past three days. Teal'c and Cameron had packed up Daniel's spare room in record time once the Hammond had contacted them. Daniel loved his prized possessions but Jack had taken a sort of glee in ordering them to be packed away. The word 'karma' had been thrown around more than once.

His artefacts were currently being stored in Daniel's living room but would be taken to a government storage facility long before Vala and Grapefruit Jackson would arrive. Cameron and Teal'c had been pleased to hear of Vala's decision and had jumped at the opportunity to help their friend. The base coats had been painted and they were well on their way to finishing.

Cassie delivered one final stroke to the blue feature wall and put her brush down. "I think that's probably me done for now. Beer anyone?"

Jack and Teal'c only glared, still not used to Cassandra Frasier's adulthood. Cameron had no such issue and waved his agreeance. Only when Cassie left the room did Teal'c speak. "Has anyone heard again from Daniel Jackson?"

"Carter said he disappeared after Adria's flashbacks. Not a word since," Jack supplied. "Not a comment about his impending fatherhood either."

"It will be good to see Vala Mal Doran," Teal'c said by way of reply. "I am most pleased with her decision to return to her home here on Earth."

"The Princess isn't stupid," Cameron added. "Completely outrageous and stubborn, but not stupid. I for one would feel much better with her here where we can keep an eye on her before Baby J makes an appearance," he paused, "well, Big J too, if we're making demands."

"Do you think Vala Mal Doran will be ready to leave after our time with the Tok'ra?" Teal'c asked. "I fear that she will delay her return until she is confident that Adria is able to navigate life on her own."

"Well, word on the grapevine is that Ba'al's clone and Adria have been getting close," Jack pointed out. "And while that horrible image is sure to scar what's left of my mere mortal brain for the rest of eternity, I'm sure if Vala feels as if she's not leaving her alone, she's more likely to be back before Grapejuice—"

"Grapefruit," Teal'c corrected.

Jack waved him off, "whatever—before the impending birth."

"Well, she better not wait too long. As it is, she's cutting it way too close for comfort." Teal'c and Jack stared at Cameron, waiting for clarification. "I don't know nothin' bout birthin' no babies."

If Jack thought the image of the two biggest threats to the galaxy snuggling was bad, the image of Cameron Mitchell single-handedly delivering Baby Grapewhatever was decidedly worse.

"Anything else?"

"I told you that I was fine, Mother."

"But—"

Vala was met with a look so like her own. Obstinate. Passionate. Determined. Often Vala would lament the loss of Adria's childhood. She would picture her daughter, ripped from her arms seconds after birth and then place her into safe, loving arms in her mind. It was incongruous, of course—fantasy. She hadn't even seen Adria as a teenager, and yet images and dreams danced in her sub-conscious some nights. She dreamed about painted nails, rides and cotton candy, slammed doors and crying over boys. Adria's face in the moment could replace the one in Vala's dreams.

"I am fine," Adria repeated. "It has been weeks. Nothing has resurfaced. And, if it does, I think I'll be prepared."

Vala remained unconvinced. Daughters always thought they knew better than their mothers. It was certainly true in the case of the original Adria. Vala threw her hands up. "You can't really prepare for these things, Adria. Trauma affects your memories and you can't really predict how you'll react when you're looking at Intef or me or anyone, really, and BAM, suddenly you're in leather and your arms are up trying telekinesis again."

Adria rolled her eyes. "I think I have peace of mind enough to remember that I don't have superpowers anymore. And stop trying to use me as an excuse to stay. You don't even like the Tok'ra. You're trying to avoid going back. Classic Mal Doran."

"You're a Mal Doran too, little big miss! And I am not avoiding anything! I'm being cautious." Adria gave her another one of her looks and Vala had no response. The irony was not lost on her. Her former self wouldn't have used such a word—would never have understood such a concept. But her experiences in these past few years had certainly tempered her. The pain and the heartache had made her as strong as steel, but her heart had become so full it needed to be guarded in a different manner than before. She had so much more to lose. In moments of self-reflection, she often considered the girl she was before Qetesh. Through the lenses of nostalgia, she seemed so young and innocent. Hopeful. Predictable. Maybe, after all this time, she was getting back on course. If not for Qetesh, she would have eventually married, settled in that backwater village.

She had seen and done so much. That old path was gone, disintegrated into nothingness when her body was dragged across the sand and dirt, her fingernails bleeding in futility. Without it though, she wouldn't be here—staring into eyes so like her own, so focused and determined. Tempered and resolute.

Adria obviously sensed her inner turmoil and took her hand. "You have to let me go," she said quietly.

"I let you go once," Vala replied. "They took you right from me, Adria. Maybe if I had held onto you a bit longer…"

"It would not have changed a thing. I don't remember me…her. From before. But I know enough to say that I wasn't human. Even holding me a second or two longer wouldn't have changed the outcome, no more than keeping me on base an extra day or two would have changed the IOA's opinion about me. But you didn't do anything wrong, Mother. To me, for me, you've done everything right. I am going to be okay. It's okay. You have to let me go."

Vala was quiet for what felt like hours, but was only a few moments. "What will you do?" She wiped an errant tear, "I absolutely forbid you to hide under these ridiculous pyramids for the rest of your life, no matter how easy it will be for Grapefruit and I to visit…"

A sly grin played on Adria's lips. "We aren't planning on staying."

It took a full thirty seconds for Vala to realise that she was talking about Intef. She stared blankly at her daughter. "Well," she said squeezing her hand, "it's probably about time we had the talk then."

o0o

"We aren't going to wait forever," the man on the screen growled. "You assured us that your intel was sound."

Karug grunted in response. "And it is. The Tau'ri ship left three days ago. The last Tok'ra tel'tak was called away in response to Rameris' diversion. Soon."

The man on the screen disappeared without words. Karug turned from the screen and looked out in disdain over the Tok'ra homeworld. The Tok'ra had become all but useless following the defeat of the Goa'uld, but they still possessed something he wanted—something the Alliance wanted, that was far too precious to be left in the hands of parasites.

The extraction technology would soon be in their hands.