Heart to Tell

Daniel lethargically awoke to the feeling of a warm body wrapped in against his chest. He inhaled deeply, smiling sleepily at the sweet scent that greeted him. His blue eyes slowly opened to confirm that he hadn't just dreamed it all - that he really was waking up in Vala's bed with her wrapped in his arms.

Her breathing was deep and peaceful as she lay asleep in his embrace, one hand lightly resting against his against her sheet-covered stomach. Daniel pushed himself up on his elbow and watched her breathe in and out for a few minutes, stroking his thumb over the sheet covering her.

Vala shifted at his touch and Daniel's smile returned. He sat up a little, pulled back her dark hair covering the side of her neck, and leaned down to place a gentle kiss there.

"Morning." He whispered into her ear as she shifted again.

"Hmmm..." She murmured, a soft smile coming to her lips. "It's morning already?"

Daniel nodded even though she'd yet to open her eyes. "Yep."

Vala moved to lie on her back, smiling up into his happy face. "Where did the night get to?"

He laughed quietly and brushed the bangs back from her face. "I think we both know the answer to that..." He answered mischievously before leaning down again, this time to take her mouth in a hungry kiss. Vala laughed into his warm mouth and nodded, bringing her hand to the back of his neck. Her fingers tangled into his hair.

Daniel pulled up slowly, making sure he placed a smaller, softer kiss to her lips as he went. Vala continued to smile up at him as he continued to smile down at her. After a moment, his smile dimmed just a fraction.

"They're gonna read us the riot act..." He left the rest unsaid.

Vala tilted her head to the side and brushed her fingers over the hair sticking up above his forehead. "Does that matter, really?" She questioned honestly, not really knowing where she stood on the answer herself.

"Well..." Daniel looked up, considering it. "No, it doesn't." He shook his head, bringing his gaze back down to meet hers. "Just now we're gonna have to explain and defend where our relationship is going."

It was Vala's turn to sit up as Daniel flopped down on his back. "Where is our relationship going, Daniel?" She asked seriously. "Where has it gone already?"

Daniel gazed at her for a long moment. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes, could see the fear lingering in those grey depths. It made him just want to pull her tight against him and kiss her until all that uncertainty and fear went away. And yet he didn't because he knew that wasn't what she wanted from him right then. Vala wanted Daniel to give her the right answer - the truth.

"I can't say for sure where we might be heading by taking this chance." He finally said, taking her hand in his. He pressed the back of it to his lips tenderly. "But I can say I care for you, a lot, and that makes all the chance and unclarity worth it."

Nodding, Vala relaxed down against him, pulling the sheet up over their bodies again. "Thank you."

Daniel brushed a hand over her hair. "For what?"

"For being honest." Vala said matter-of-factly. "And for not saying love."

"Love takes time to be whole..." Daniel replied back.

Fingers stroking over his firm chest, Vala nodded against him. "It does..." She shifted her head so she could gaze into his beautiful blue eyes. "But it can work it's magic in an instant."

He smiled and placed a kiss on her nose. "Like a tire-fixing instant."

She laughed gently. "Yeah..."

"Do you think they'll buy all that?" Daniel whispered thoughtfully, bringing his other arm around to hold Vala tighter to him.

Vala shifted in his grasp so she was lying on top of him. She rested her hands flat against his chest, and placed her chin down on them. Her grey eyes looked up into blue. "We'll sell it in a way that they can't possibly resist."

Daniel grinned mischievously again and brought his hands to her hips. Holding her in place, he sat up and kissed her fiercely. She planted her knees into the mattress and wrapped her arms tight around his neck. Daniel brought one hand up her back, splaying flat between her shoulder blades. They were so wrapped up in each other that they didn't register the knock at the bedroom door. The muffled voice that followed through the wood did catch their attention.

"Mommy?"

Breaking away abruptly, Vala gave an apologetic glance to Daniel.

"Yeah, baby?" She called out as he nodded his head in understanding.

"I'm hungry..." Hayden replied with the door remaining closed. Her voice sounded hesitant, as if she wasn't sure it was okay to be telling Vala that.

Vala closed her eyes slowly and rested her forehead against Daniel's. She took a moment to give him a kiss. Then another moment for another small kiss.

The tentative knock came again. "Mommy?"

Sighing, Vala reluctantly climbed off Daniel and out of bed. "I'm coming, Hayds." She absently picked up a shirt off the floor, snatching a clean pair of her shorts from the chair as she passed to the door. Reaching for the knob, she looked back at Daniel to make sure he was properly covered. As he nodded, Vala sighed again and opened the door.

Staring up at her was the sleepy face of her five year old.

"Morning, munchkin." Vala grinned.

Hayden yawned in return, looking into the room beyond her mother. Her eyes landed on Daniel lying in the bed, watching them both patiently. "Daniel slept over?" She asked curiously, looking up at Vala for the answer.

"Oh, uh..." Vala looked back at Daniel, who grinned and gave a half shrug. "Yeah, he did." She turned her attention back to Hayden. "Mommy and Daniel had a sleep over last night." If she didn't know any better, she could have swore there was a choked off laugh barely muffled from behind her.

Little grey eyes watched her for a moment. Then Hayden tilted her head. "Is that why you're wearing Daniel's shirt?"

Daniel's muffled laughter came again. Her own grey eyes widening a little, Vala quickly looked down at her attire. She was, in fact, wearing the vintage t-shirt Daniel had donned just the day before. The shirt he had so hastily dropped to the floor that previous night.

"That's exactly why, Hayds." Vala finally said with an embarrassed smile. Wanting not to have to explain the 'sleepover' to her five year old, Vala rushed on. "Why don't we go and make some breakfast, huh?"

Yawning again, Hayden nodded enthusiastically. "Okay..."

Vala nodded too. "Good...why don't you go and start getting the stuff we're gonna need out, and I'll be right there?"

"Yep." Hayden said, giving Daniel one last curious look before turning and heading back down the hall to the kitchen.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Vala turned around to find Daniel snickering at her in amusement. She squinted at him. "It's not funny." The statement didn't really have the effect she intended as she started to giggle too.

He nodded his head emphatically. "Yes it is." Daniel rolled onto his back, looking upside down at Vala as she came to stand beside the bed. Her hands came to her hips. "Nice shirt." He laughed in an approving tone, enjoying the view.

Vala shook her head, leaning down to kiss him. "I need to go make breakfast." She tapped her hand against his shoulder.

"Mind if I take a shower then?" Daniel asked, his hand taking her own. Vala smiled and leaned down to kiss him again.

"That perfectly okay..." Her hand brushed over his hair. "And don't worry about asking permission to do something - we've had sex, Daniel. I think we've crossed that awkward line. This house is open to you."

Daniel smiled and nodded. "Okay."

A/N: Hmmm, what to say about this chapter?? Of course Hayden had to pop up in there somewhere...it's just a child's prerogative to interrupt something like that! LoL...Anywho, maybe it's just everyone is uber busy and whatsuch, but haven't gotten many reviews for the last two chapters yet...or maybe everyone has come to hate my stuff -shrugs- Either way, I would really look forward to more - it would make this week of upcoming finals much more bearable...

So Reviews please! They are LVOE (and will spur me to get the next chapter out as soon as possible)!