A/N: This is it. Thank you so much to everyone that kept up with this story over the years. I am always so ashamed when stories take so long to come to me. I've abandoned stories because of this lack of a muse. But I was determined to finish this. I still love Stargate as much as I did when I first watched it, all those years ago. I would think about how to get through tough scenes before I drifted off to sleep at night.

Determination and motivation came to me when I was on a short break away from work. My wonderful husband was around to help look after our daughter so I used my time wisely.

I have a plan for a sequel, however, I am going to try and write the entire thing before posting. So who knows when (or if!) it will come.

I'm frequently over on Tumblr, elle-vee-bee, if anyone wants to flail about Stargate or Daniel and especially Vala.

Again, thank you! Enjoy the conclusion to my little tale.

o0o

Epilogue

"Considering the religious connotations of water, I'm surprised such a similar ritual existed on Goa'uld occupied worlds," Daniel mused. One bonus was that he was able to wear his most favourite and comfortable BDUs to the event. Earth customs were much more specific about appropriate clothing to wear to a baptism. He wasn't surprised to learn that the role of the father was almost irrelevant in the rituals. Even the Goa'uld-occupied worlds adhered to outdated gender roles.

He and Vala had had a healthy debate about it and she had actually won, fair and square. She hadn't even used her 'you forgot about me' advantage, although she was not above doing so when it suited her.

"Really? Nothing surprises me much anymore," Jack responded, shifting his weight slightly. "Except for maybe that Cameron Mitchell is about to baptise...christen...whatever the hell this is...your kid. And I'm not."

The sun was shining and picture-perfect clouds hung in the sky as if they were decorations. There was a glow in the late afternoon sun and the temperature was mild, thankfully, considering some of the specifics of the ritual. "Sure you don't wanna change your mind, Jackson?" Mitchell grumbled as he joined them. "I'm sure the General would be happy to accommodate."

"He's taking the next one," Daniel replied. "This one's all on you. Did you want to argue with Vala? After all the organisation it took just to get everyone here?"

The number of people was small but significant. The entire day had worked around Sam's vacation time away from the Hammond. That had been the easy part. Organising a day trip through the Stargate had been far trickier. However, the fact that Vala was technically a dual citizen of planet Earth, and therefore, so was her child, had ultimately won their favour. Vala had chosen a place not dissimilar to her home planet. Her first trip through the gate with her son had been uneventful and it warmed Daniel's heart to see her so enthused, particularly her reunion with Adria and Intef.

"That's weird," Jack had exclaimed as Vala placed her son into Ba'al clone's waiting arms. "I thought things were going to stop being weird now."

"The universe is weird," Sam chimed in. "I mean, look. Vala's baby is holding her other baby. We are almost pleased to see Ba'al's face. Cassie is off-world. There's a creepy-looking village priest standing by a river. And Mitchell's about to lose his pants again."

He groaned in response. "Are you sure you can't talk her out of it?"

Sam grinned in response. "Sorry."

"Being asked to assist in this ritual is of great significance, Colonel Mitchell," Teal'c added. "You should be honoured Vala Mal Doran and Daniel Jackson have requested your participation."

"We really do appreciate it...Colonel." Daniel added. "Besides, she said you didn't have to do it completely naked."

"What a relief," he deadpanned. "I'm sure the weird village priest is thrilled about it."

Before anyone could reply, Vala began waving from the side of the river. "Cameron! It's time. Can you get your clothes off, please?"

"Not. A. Word," he breathed and solemnly joined his teammate with the weird village priest. Daniel moved their group closer to the river. Vala was holding their son, now six weeks old, close to her chest. Her hair was out and she was wearing civilian clothes, from a life she left long ago. She looked radiant, as if she couldn't believe her luck. Every time Daniel looked at her, he couldn't believe his.

The priest began to speak, and despite the obscure Goa'uld dialect, Daniel found it almost soothing. Adria and Intef hurriedly joined their group. "Hello Daniel," she whispered. "Do you mind explaining the ceremony to me? I'm not familiar and Intef does not have any relevant memories from his time as Ba'al's host."

Daniel had had less time than the others to adjust to Adria's new personality, but she was Vala's daughter, and he had supposedly transformed her himself, which meant he owed it to her to at least try and be civil. "The priest, Colonel Mitchell, Vala and Mal will go into the water and Vala will symbolically name Mitchell as Mal's 'godsparent'."

Her eyes didn't move from the familial scene in front of her. "And the impending nudity?"

"It's supposed to represent the willingness of the 'godsparent' to serve as a parent if the child's birth parents were to die. Which I guess happened a lot under the Goa'uld regime."

Daniel looked on with interest as Cameron partially undressed. Vala looked happy as she followed the priest into the water, clutching a now-naked baby. Still clad in his BDU pants, Mitchell also followed them in. "Don't forget my dry ones," he called out to the group, as he threw his sodden pants onto the riverbank. Daniel looked down the line and saw a number of tight-lipped teammates and no pants in sight.

As the priest spoke, Vala placed a kiss on the top of Mal's head. Baby Mal Doran had eventually turned into Mal Jackson, an honour to both of his parents. Today, he would become Mal Cameron Jackson. The chattering went quiet as Vala, her dress floating around her, handed their precious bundle into the capable hands of his new godsparent. Daniel studied his C.O, who was looking down in reverence at his son.

As much as he loved Jack, and would gladly have him baptise any subsequent children, this honour did belong to Cameron Mitchell. He had already performed his duties as a 'godsparent'- he had kept Vala and his son safe and Daniel would forever be grateful.

The priest called out something Daniel couldn't quite translate and poured water over Vala, Mal and Cameron. The ritual was over.

With another look down the line, Daniel rolled his eyes and grabbed the Colonel's towel and spare pair of pants. "Spoilsport," Jack whispered into his ear. Daniel just ignored him and walked down to meet his family at the river.

"Thank you, Cameron," Daniel said earnestly as Mitchell handed Mal over gently into his waiting arms. "We're honoured."

"Were you wearing those underpants the whole time?" Vala called out after him as Mitchell grabbed his towel and spare pants. Daniel looked at her expectantly. "Right. Thank you!" She frowned. Mitchell only waved as he bolted for the privacy of a large tree. "Daniel, did you forget to pack my clothes?"

He grinned as placed a quick kiss on his son's head followed by Vala's. "Sam has them. We thought you'd prefer to change out of everyone's view."

She scoffed. "Daniel, please."

The group had begun to follow Mitchell, fully clothed, who was directing them to the small feast awaiting them at the top of the hill.

She clapped her hands. "I'll change, we'll eat, he'll eat, and then I am more than ready to go home."

And so was he.