September 2010

"Remember, you're from Toronto," Daniel reminded Vala as they stepped off the plane, looking at Vala who readjusted Lukas on her hip.

"I know Daniel, don't say anything out of the ordinary," Vala sighed with mild annoyance. He could tell she was on edge, with Lukas' first flight, the baby did not settle down, and cried the entire way to New York. He wouldn't let Daniel hold him, and clung to Vala when they tried to move parents.

"I'm sorry," he said touching her shoulder with his spare hand. "I'm going to go get our bags, and the stroller."

"I'm going to change his diaper, and feed him," Vala replied as she pointed to the bathroom sign.

"Okay, I'll meet you here in 10?" Vala nodded and moved through the crowd, as Lukas started to cry.

"Baby boy," Vala whispered into Lukas' ear, holding him to her chest. "Mummy knows you're cranky," she continued pushing through into the bathroom marked "Family Room". Finding it empty, Vala sighed and made sure the door was closed before laying Lukas down. "I don't think I like flying without artificial gravity either."

Vala continued to talk to Lukas, who laughed as she pressed her lips to his feet, and blew raspberries onto them. She didn't notice when the door opened and a voice behind her said.

"You finished here?" a young woman, looking no older than 17, said as she readjusted the baby in her arms.

"Oh, yes," Vala said lifting Lukas up, and looking more closely at the girl, and the baby. The teenager looked exhausted, worse than she ever did. "How old is she?"

"Four months," the teenager replied. "Him?"

"Seven, it gets easier, she'll sleep, and so will you," Vala said letting the teenager to the changing table. "Come Lukas, lets go find Daddy." Walking out of the bathroom, Vala smiled when she saw Daniel standing in the same spot he said he was, with their luggage, and stroller. He was talking with a woman, she assumed to be Leah, as Daniel was not much for conversation with strangers. When he noticed her, he smiled and waved, and Vala felt a surge of happiness fill her.

They were both in need of this vacation, the stress of Daniel working, and being new parents was getting to them, and when he mentioned he'd like to take them to New York, she was almost thrilled to be able to get out of the house. It was like they were taking a vacation, then she realized he was bringing her to meet "the parents". Which she had to admit, was the first time, and it just so happened months after Lukas was born. She knew Daniel wanted to go earlier, but with the baby getting sick, and the work that was piling up at the SGC, he just didn't find the time until now.

"Vala!" Daniel called upon seeing Vala walk towards him. "Vala, this is Leah, Leah, this is Vala and our son Lukas," Daniel introduced with a huge grin, as he reached over and took Luke from Vala's arms.

"It's so nice to meet you Vala," Leah smiled shaking her hand.

"You too," Vala replied politely.

"You have no idea how excited we all were when we found out a woman tamed our Indiana Jones, let alone reproduced with him, we decided you must be Wonder woman!" Leah said as she reached for Lukas, and settled him onto her hip. "Come, Mom and Dad are dying to meet both of you. And see Daniel, because apparently he likes to go M.I.A. far to often," she rambled as Daniel picked up the bags, as Vala pushed the stroller, following Leah. "Now, I hope you don't mind, but I hate taking cabs, so I brought the car, it's a little tight, so one of you has to sit in the backseat with Lukas, but I can make sure the carseat fit on the side. I always used to put Krista back there when she was young," Leah rambled on. Daniel leaned over and kissed Vala's lips very briefly as they walked following Leah.

The house was quiet, Ellen and Henry took Lukas out for the day, probably to the precinct to show him off, and even his slight movements in the house weren't heard, as he stood and stared at Vala, who was standing in front of the mantle, admiring pictures. He knew she could feel his presence as he entered the room, but she didn't move.

"Dance with me," he whispered as he took her hand, and pulled her into his arms. Vala went willingly as she laid her head on his shoulder, as they danced together, only sounds guiding their movements was the traffic outside and children playing. Swaying back and forth ever so softly Daniel held Vala. "I'm sorry, for everything."

"Daniel…"

"No listen," he said stopping her. "I grew up in such a loving house, where fighting was a rarity. We fight a lot Vala," watching her mouth open, Daniel shook his head. "Its true Vala, we fight about everything. And I want to say that its not who we are, not who we should be. I know this is new for both of us, I really do, but I want you to know that I'm willing to make this work with us."

"Daniel," Vala whispered against his shoulder, as his hands made soothing circles on the small of her back.

"I love you, I truly, truly love you, and love Luke," he continued. "You two are the best thing to ever happen to me. I know I don't always say it, but I am happy."

The two stood in silence, as Vala rested her head on Daniel's shoulder. "I love you too."

"This was my first piano recital," Daniel said picking up the frame on the mantle. "I was 11, and just came to live with Mom and Dad, she had a recital for her students and Mom thought it would be a good idea if I came. It was after the show, and Mom was off talking to parents, I remember sitting down at the piano, and just started playing. Dad took the picture, he said that night that if they could help it, I was never going to another foster home."

"Why do you call them Mom and Dad?"

"They were parents to me, the only ones I had since my parents died. They loved me, truly loved me, and Leah kept telling everyone I was her brother, and not to pick on me. First time I had that. I love this family." Moving down the line, Daniel smiled at the picture of Luke. "I know that they would be the only family I lived with that would proudly display Luke on their mantel."

"Who's this?" Vala asked picking up a picture and handing it to Daniel.

"That's Krista, Leah's step daughter," Daniel explained. "She has to be fourteen or fifteen now," he continued. "She should be coming over for the weekend."

"We're home," a voice called from the doorway, as Daniel and Vala turned as Henry walked into the livingroom.

"Oh look who's here Luke? Mommy and Daddy," Henry grinned as he held Lukas like a football. The little boy squealed in delight upon seeing his parents and reached forward.

"Come here," Vala smiled brightly taking Luke, who laughed in delight. "Was he good?"

"As any boy would be," Henry replied. "How was your afternoon?"

"Oh I went down to the store, got things for dinner," Daniel answered. "Where's mom?"

"Right here," Ellen replied. "Daniel be a good boy, can you empty out the trunk?"

"Mom what did you buy?" Daniel asked with a sigh, looking at the woman who just smiled.

"We just did a bit of shopping for Luke and Krista," Ellen replied.

"You didn't have to do that Mrs. MacLean," Vala said as Daniel shook his head and walked out of the room.

"Nonsense, it's a grandmother thing," Ellen replied with a smile. "Didn't your grandmother ever buy you things out of the blue?"

"No," Vala replied, as she sat Lukas in the play pen that was set up. "They were never really in my life."

"Well, let's not dwell," Ellen smiled.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me!" Vala exclaimed as she stood in Sam's bedroom, staring at the woman lying in bed, laptop plastered on her knees.

"I told Luke!" Sam grinned as Vala put Lukas on the bed, as the little boy pushed his body towards his aunt. "How was your vacation?"

"Don't change the subject," Vala said sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Teal'c mentioned you're on bedrest?"

"That I am," Sam sighed. "Give me a kiss little boy," she grinned as Lukas gave her a kiss on her lips. "I missed you."

"So how long are you," Vala started.

"On bedrest? Until I deliver it seems," Sam finished with a long sigh. "The doctor thinks its best for the baby, its already longer than the last."

"I'm happy for you," Vala smiled. "What do you plan to do lying in bed?"

"Write a book, catch up on some sleep, whine, complain, drive Jack crazy," Sam said with a large grin, as Jack appeared in the doorway. "Hi."

"Gonna head out, base needs me," Jack replied. "Make sure she stays in bed, and no stressing over the base."

"Of course," Vala smiled as Lukas who heard his uncle's voice, perked up and squealed.

"Hi Slugger," Jack grinned and waved, before he winked and tapped the doorframe before disappearing.

"How was your and Daniel's trip?" Sam asked as she cuddled Lukas into her body.

"Good, definitely worth it," Vala smiled as she kicked off her shoes, to sit crosslegged on the bed. "We talked a lot."

"No more problems?" Sam asked, knowing that the couple were fighting more than usual.

"Didn't say that," Vala sighed. "But its better."