Here it is. The next installment. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed my story. Hope you enjoy. This one is short, but man is it good! If I don't say so myself.
"Oh, Daniel," Vala sighed, "that was wonderful."
"Well, don't thank me yet. I'm not done," Daniel answered. They were on their way back to his house.
"There's more?" The archeologist nodded, a smile curving his lips.
"And I don't suppose you're going to tell me what the 'more' might include?" For answer, Daniel's smile widened and he shook his head. "You always were stubborn," Vala told him.
"Yep." They reached the house and Daniel helped Vala out of the car. Once inside, the archeologist sat Vala down at the couch, told her to wait there, and then headed into the kitchen. Vala's curiosity nearly drove her nuts, but at last she heard Daniel coming back. When he appeared in the doorway, the ex-con gasped. Held in his hands was a cake with lighted candles.
"Happy Birthday to you," sang Daniel in a gentle tenor. "Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday, dear Vala. Happy Birthday to you." By the end of the song, he had reached Vala and set the cake down in front of her on the table. "Make a wish," Daniel said. Vala did so and blew out the candles.
"You really shouldn't have," she told her companion as he cut the cake.
"Everyone has to have cake on their birthday," came the reply.
Vala smiled and took a bite.
"Mmmmm," she said. "That's good."
Daniel smiled. "Good," he said and left the room again. He returned with several somethings wrapped in bright paper. Vala stared at them and then Daniel. "Just open them," he said before she could open her mouth. Vala did so and smiled. Two packages held DVD's: 'Moulin Rouge' and 'Pride and Prejudice'. The other package held a CDL the soundtrack to 'Moulin Rouge'.
"Thank you," Vala said and squeezed Daniel into a warm hug.
The next day, Monday, brought an end to the enjoyable weekend as Daniel, Vala, and their teammates were back on duty at Stargate Command. Thus is was several weeks before Daniel was able to implement the plan he had devised on Vala's birthday. One night, however, the team had the evening off and Daniel - for once - didn't have a truckload of work. Vala was in her room, listening to the CD Daniel had bought her. When the knock sounded, she leapt up to answer the door.
"Hey," Daniel greeted. "I just came by to ask if you were free tonight."
"I don't have any plans if that's what you mean," said Vala in reply, curious as to why the archeologist was asking.
"Good. I was asking 'cause there's something at my house that I want to show you . . . well, tell you rather."
Vala smiled. "Hang on one sec," and she closed the door. She was out a few minutes later, dressed in something more comfortable. Not much later, they were at Daniel's house. Vala expected to be led to the living-room, but the archeologist took her instead to the room with the piano.
"I thought you didn't play," Vala exclaimed as her companion sat down on the piano bench.
"No, I said that I hadn't played in a long time," Daniel corrected. "This is sort of a late birthday gift." Turning to the piano, he laid his fingers gently on the keys and began to play. Vala recognized it immediately. It was "Come What May" from "Moulin Rouge". Suddenly, to her surprise, Daniel began to sing in his rich, light tenor.
"Never knew I could feel like this. Like I'd never seen the sky before. I want to vanish inside your kiss. Everyday I love you more and more." His voice rose in volume as his playing became more confident. "Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing? Telling me to give you everything. Seasons may change. Winter to spring." He paused a brief second and looked up at Vala, his blue eyes earnest and tender. "But I love you until the end of time. Come what may. Come what may. I will love you until my dying day." With a sudden beautiful shock, Vala realized that he meant it. And now it was her turn.
"Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place," she sang in a voice so beautiful that Daniel almost forgot what he was playing. "Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace."
"Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste," they sang together.
"It all revolves around you," Vala added.
Then, once again in unison, they sang: "And there's no mountain too high. No river too wide. Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side. Stormclouds may gather and stars may collide." They looked at each other, tender eyes to tender eyes.
"But I love you," sang Daniel.
"I love you," echoed Vala.
"Until the end of time," they both sang. "Come what may. Come what may. I will love you until my dying day." Daniel played the last few chords and then everything was silent.
"Oh, Daniel," Vala whispered, "I don't know what to say."
The archeologist rose and approached until they were face-to-face.
"You don't have to say anything," he said gently and kissed her. Vala allowed her heart to take over and kissed him back. That night, Daniel's bed was occupied and the couch was untouched.
Like it? Yes? No? Please review and let me know. Note: the lyrics to the song Come What May are not mine. If you're interested I'm sure you can find this song on youtube. It is simply beautiful.