A Rose By Any Other Name
Spacegypsy1
Chapter Eight – Trouble in Paradise
A/N: I know... it's been forever and a day since I posted anything for Rose - but I wrote this long ago and never posted it...so here it is if anyone is interested... Rose (D/Vs child) and Thorn (T/Is child) story, with a bit of D/V flashback. b
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Oh my god! Daniel!"
"What!? What's wrong"
"They're arguing again."
Daniel came to the window to stand beside his wife. Looking into the back yard he spotted Rose and Thorn, nose to nose, and obviously having a heated discussion.
"Vala. They're fighting. So what?"
"So? So have you EVER seen them arguing before the last two months?"
"No, can't say I have. It seems to have started when she came home from the Academy."
"And in the last two months they have bickered constantly."
"So."
"So he is always annoyed with her."
"Well, yeah, but she's always pestering him."
"And?"
"And what? OH! Holy shit! Their in love! Oh, this is bad. They are way too young."
"Exactly."
"Maybe we're overreacting."
"Open the window."
"Vala, that's spying."
"Daniel, open the damned window!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"And what, Thorn? You expect me to just take off and follow you around the universe while you do the Jaffa thing? You know I've planned on joining the SGC since I was old enough to spell it! S. G. C. !"
"Damn it, Rose!"
"Don't you dare call me Rose! What? You're too high and mighty with the Jaffa to call me Darling?"
"You're the High and Mighty one! You and your sexual innuendo! You're just like your mother!"
Slap! Right across his face. Rose glowered.
Daniel jerked when Thorn grabbed Rose's shoulders, yanking her forward. He spun around, but Vala halted his progress with a hand on his bicep.
"Daniel, stop, you can't!"
"That son of a bitch just…"
"Daniel? How many times did you snatch me up? Hmm?"
"It's not the same."
"Yes it is."
He took a deep breath. "Close the window or I'm going out there and beating the crap out of him."
"Oh, that I'd like to see!"
"Are you questioning my strength? You think that …"
"Well, of course I am, you dolt! Look at him, he's as big as Muscles! And much younger then when you met him!"
Daniel stood glaring with Vala. "You're a piece of work! I could take him."
"Phsss! You couldn't even take me when you were younger!" Vala yelled into his face.
"Oh so that's how it's gonna be! You think I was so lame I would have actually beaten up a woman!? You really don't know me!" Snatching his arm free of her hand, he stormed out of the bedroom.
Vala ran after him. "Oh, please, Daniel, surely you're not saying you were holding back!"
"You're damned straight I was!" He walked right out the front door.
"Where are you going?" Vala held the door open watching Daniel get into his car.
Thea came up behind her mother. "Mom? What's wrong?"
"Your father!" Vala slammed the door and walked off.
"Mom!" Thea dashed after Vala.
Turning sharply with a glint in her eye, Vala confronted her youngest child. "Please tell me you and Benjamin are not dating!"
"Of course not. You and Dad have both demanded that I not date anyone."
"When did it ever matter what we said?"
"It's always mattered to me. Besides. Ben and I are just friends."
"Promise me you are not going to join the Air Force!"
"Heavens no! Both of us are planning on going to Med school. You know that. But…if I were dating, I would be dating Ben. And he's made it plan that when we do date, we will be dating each other. Get used to it. We've all grown up so close, it's going to be the way things go. Well except for the older guys. Lord knows, they'll never settle down."
"You're father's an idiot!" Vala slammed her bedroom door in Thea's face.
Thea scrunched her brows in concern. Though her parents bickered at times, she'd never seen them really mad at each other. Time of a family meeting! Thea marched Vala style into the back yard. "Okay, you two. We've got a problem. Darling, you call the boys, Thorn, you go. This is a family problem."
"I am family." Thorn set his jaw and stood his ground.
"Really?" Thea quirked a brow at Rose.
With a shrug of her shoulders, Rose flashed the large diamond ring on her finger. "Soon enough."
"Holy crap! Is that what their fighting about?"
"They don't know yet, and they're always bickering."
"Not like this. Dad just stormed out of the house and Mom's got that twitchy evil-eye look that she generally reserves for Danny and Jake."
"Oh, shit!" Rose sat on the swing.
"They were observing us from the window, RoseDarling." Hands clasped behind his back, and jaw twitching, Thorn looked towards the house.
Rose groaned. "Oh, shit."
"What!?" Thea took a seat on the swing next to Rose.
"I slapped him."
"I reacted. I pulled her forward."
"He snatched me forward. Roughly, he knows I like it!" Rose giggled. "We like to fight sometimes, keeps us on our toes, besides, he wants me to wait on applying for the Dad's old job!"
"You just graduated, Darling. You can't apply for head of the Archeology department."
"No, not yet, but there is a spot open on SG-3." Rose began to push the swing with a foot.
"I have asked RoseDarling to accompany me to Dakara where I will take my place on the Jaffa council. Bray, as you know, wishes to stay with SG-1." Thorn bowed his head slightly and began to pace, hands behind his back.
"Darling?" Thea prompted her sister for an answer.
"I'm thinking about it. But he knows I've always wanted to be on SG-3! It's been years since anything opened up on an SG team. It's not like the best spots come along everyday."
"I believe your father wished to beat the crap out of me and your mother has intervened. That is most likely why they are arguing. I will leave, find him and explain. I should have asked him for your hand in marriage!"
"Oh gods, Thorn! No one does that anymore." Stopping the swing, Rose stood. "Let's get mom out here. Danny and Jake are off world anyway. The four of us can figure this out."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Vala gasped when the ring flashed in her face. "Engaged!? You're both much too young!"
"Mom, don't be silly. We've practically been engaged our whole life." Rose took her mother's hand and led her towards the back yard. "Now, come on. We have to figure this out before it blows all to hell."
"You have potty mouth, young lady!" Tossing her hair, Vala frowned at her daughter.
"I learned from the best, mom. Come on. We've got to do this. You look awful! I've never seen you so sad."
"Hmph, you should have known me when I first arrived here. Horrible years, just horrible."
The foursome lay on the grass, heads together, bodies pointing out in four directions. Thorn was the first to speak.
"I will confront DanielJackson. It is the best course of action. Enlighten him on our…impending nuptials. Make clear my intentions. Try to explain I would not hurt RoseDarling. I am sure he misconstrued the actions he witnessed. I…"
"Enough, Jaffa!" Rose rolled over to her stomach. "We get it. I've never seen Dad really mad. He's always been so calm and sweet."
"Not always, Darling." Vala frowned. "And he didn't misconstrue anything. He's fuming because he's done it himself."
"Daddy? I can't imagine. And what did you mean by horrible years, Mom?"
"Nothing. But your father can…could be a bit of a…"
"What?" Thea came round, placing her elbows on the grass, chin in hand and face screwed up in dismay.
Thorn sat up, folded his legs and looked around at the Jackson women. "Tell us, for we have not known of his past actions. It would help to understand."
Vala closed her eyes and once again lay on her back, hands under her head. "It was always the same between us. For years. The day before we conceived Danny…"
"I'm busy. Will you please get the hell out of my office? You're driving me nuts!" Daniel slammed the heavy book closed and glared at Vala.
"Darling, I just wanted to see if this dress was okay for our dinner date."
Daniel looked up with a squinty-eyed scowl. "Too dressy. We are not going for a candle light dinner. We are not going to a four star restaurant. We are going for pizza. We are meeting the team. I begged you to ride with Sam. You insisted I take you. You make me so frustrated; I relented just to shut you up. Jeans. Wear jeans and none of those ridiculous high heels you parade around in. Now get out."
Vala blinked back the sting in her eyes. "Sometimes I hate you."
"Thank god, just hold on to that." He bit out unkindly, opened the book and continued to study it, ignoring her. From the corner of his eye he saw her leave.
After a good five minutes, Daniel dropped his head with a sigh. What the hell made him treat her like that? It was always the same. Now he had to find her and apologize before she caused havoc all over the base. Before she broke his heart with those sad eyes. Before he made a complete fool of himself and just capitulated to her sultry wiles. Gods! He was so crazy about her and he couldn't do a thing about it. His life was a total mess and no relief in site.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He couldn't find her anywhere so he wandered back to Sam's lab. "Do you know where she is?"
"Nope."
"Sam?"
"I don't know, Daniel." Displeasure was apparent in her voice.
"Crap! I think I hurt her feelings." Daniel perched his six on the stool beside Sam.
"No! Really? How could that be? Surely, you didn't do it on purpose?" Sam stood, snatching up her laptop and walking towards the door.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Daniel stood staring after her.
"I wish somewhere you are not. But unfortunately we have a briefing. Right now. I don't have time for this today. And actually, I'm over the 'make Daniel feel better for being an ass' scenario." Sam turned towards him in the doorway. "You know, Daniel, this is way out of hand. When are you going to admit you're in love with her? I think you've been in love with her from the beginning. And frankly, we're all getting tired of your crap. If you don't want to admit how you feel the least you could do is be kind about your denial. She deserves better. Stop holding her back. Stop giving her mixed signals. Stop showing her you care until you get scared and back off. Let her go, so she can move on." She walked out without another word.
"Move on?" Daniel mumbled, slammed his hands in his pockets, and returned to his office to gather his notes for the pre-mission briefing he was late for.
When he arrived Vala was missing from the table. "Where's Vala?"
General Landry looked up. "She volunteered to help Reynolds. Major Clark's father is in the hospital. They were one man shy and she's not necessarily needed on you're mission.
"Oh." Daniel took a seat feeling his team's eyes boring into the top of his head as he read the mission briefing before him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The first thing Daniel saw as he exited the Stargate down the ramp was Vala waiting. But her eyes were on everyone but him.
"Hey. I'm sorry…" He whispered, coming to stand beside her.
She tossed her hair and looked away, back straight and head high. "Miss me?" She asked the others, eyes pooling with unshed tears.
"Vala, please. We need to talk."
She looked at him, tears beginning to trickle down her face. "Talk? Ha! You mean, Daniel, you yell, I listen?"
"No. Please. I'm sorry."
Teal'c, followed closely by Sam and Mitchell, came up behind Vala in support.
She swiped at the deluge of wetness that she couldn't stop. "Don't be. I'm not. I just need to stop pestering you. It's a habit, nothing more. I realize it's getting old. You don't want to play that game anymore. And it is just a game, Daniel. So don't be sorry. No need to talk. You know I feel the same way you do. We are teammates, sometimes friends. In the past, it was funny. I guess it's not anymore and I've decided to move on."
General Landry watched from the control room, confused. "SG-1?"
Mitchell looked up. "We're fine, sir."
"We'll debrief after your post-mission exam." Landry watched a moment more, noting Sam and Teal'c's nod, and Mitchell's grim features. Vala and Daniel were nose to nose, glaring at each other. Landry sighed and walked away.
Everyone but SG-1 had cleared the Gateroom.
Daniel took a second for a quick gaze upward to find the control room empty. "Look, guys," he told the rest of the team, "can I have a moment alone with…"
"Nope."
"Not a chance."
"That, DanielJackson, shall not occur."
Unable to hold back the tears, Vala cried openly, turning away to leave.
Daniel took her arm gently, pulling her close. "Vala." His hand came up to take her face, brushing at her tears. "I've…I've been an ass…"
"Right." Sam said, moving closer to Vala in case she needed to intercede.
"Yep." Cam crossed his arms defiantly and glared.
Teal'c raised a brow. "Indeed."
Daniel, eyes squinted dangerously, mouth set in a hard line, looked at all three teammates. "Get out!"
Vala pulled back trying to break the hold he had on her, but Daniel held on. No one moved.
With a loud gulp, Daniel continued in spite of his audience. "Okaaay. Vala. Er. I'm…well…I am in love with you. And…ah…I've been…well…trying to, sort of, discourage you. Because…I'm just not what you deserve. I don't do relationships well. I wouldn't give you the attention you need. I'd be working and ignoring you. I'd get caught up and hurt your feelings. And I'd hate that. I'd want you to be happy…"
"Daniel," Vala said with a tinge of reproach, "you've been hurting my feelings for years."
"Oh. Right. But I didn't mean to. Well, honestly, I guess I did. But with the best of intentions."
"Did you say you love me?" Looking up with misty eyes filled with wonder, Vala touched his cheek.
Daniel smiled. "Yes."
"And you weren't mean because you thought I didn't love you?"
"No."
"You were mean because you wanted me to stop loving you, because you aren't good enough for me? Is that right?"
"Yes."
Vala's hand left his cheek just far enough for momentum. It came back with a resounding slap. "You are an idiot! I can't believe what a coward you've been!" She roughly wiped at the remaining tears on her face.
Cam almost cheered out loud. Sam was shocked, but grinned. Teal'c cocked a brow, but remained steadfast in his effort to remain calm.
Hand to his stinging cheek, Daniel blanched, stepping back. "Coward!?"
Vala marched off, arms swinging, back ramrod straight. "Yes! I've never heard such a ridiculous story in all my life. I can't wait for the chance to tell our children what a complete ass you were!"
Rushing out behind her Daniel called out, "I can't wait to tell them what a total freak you were!"
After a quick exchange of confused looks, the other three took off at a run to catch up.
"After you're done with the post-mission crap, we're going home!" Daniel demanded.
"We are home!"
"Not anymore, we're not! I mean it, Vala! We're out of here."
"Over my dead body!"
"Fine! I'll just haul you off like I did on the Prometheus!"
She stopped, turning abruptly, and slamming her hands on her hips. "You wouldn't dare!"
"The hell I wouldn't!" He'd stopped and mimicked her hand slamming on hip gesture.
Sam, Teal'c and Cam came to a quick halt behind them.
"This is just too good!" Cam grinned.
"O'Neill will be displeased that he was not here."
"Oh, yeah. He'll sulk for days." Sam smiled at the thought. "I wonder what Daniel meant by 'hauling her off like on the Prometheus'?"
The three watched as Daniel wrapped an arm around Vala as they headed for the infirmary.
"It wasn't in the report." Cam pointed a finger forward to get the remainder of his team on the move. "I'd remember that."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thorn glanced at Rose who sighed dreamily with a starry-eyed look at her mother.
"It's so romantic." Rose whispered, coming to sit close to Thorn.
Thea frowned, indignantly. "I just can't believe Daddy was such an…ass!"
"Well," Vala said, pushing herself up. "He hasn't been like that since then…"
"Until today." Daniel said, his shadow falling across Vala. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I guess I just got overprotective. I felt threatened." He looked at Thorn, nodding in apology.
Vala came into his arms and he kissed her with open passion.
"Oh, god!" Thea closed her eyes. "Are they ever going to stop that!?"
"Never." Daniel confessed letting go of his wife. He looked from Thea to Thorn and at last Rose who held up her hand, palm in front of her face, waggling her fingers at him.
"What the hell is that!?"
"Daniel, darling, calm down." Vala had her hand on her husband's chest.
"We're engaged, Daddy. Thorn and I are getting married. I'm off to Dakara … for a while…" she glanced at Thorn, her meaning clear, and he bowed in acceptance. "Then, after a few years I'm coming back and joining the SGC. I intend to be the CO of the entire Archeology department. That way I can be close so you and Mom can babysit."
"You're pregnant!?" Daniel took a threatening step towards Thorn, who took a cautious step back.
"Of course, not! But one day I will be. Don't you want grandchildren? God knows, your son's are far behind in the baby making scheme!"
"I need to sit down." Daniel took a seat on a swing.
Vala sat in his lap. "I want grandbabies!"
"Of course you do."
As Thorn and Rose took off out the back gate towards their car, Thea followed, turning towards her parents. "Me too, I want kids one day. I'm naming the first one Prometheus!" She scurried off with laughter before her father could yell at her.
"You told them?"
"Not everything. Just the highlights and the tossing me over the shoulder thingie."
Hands on her hips, Daniel pushed her up and stood.
When he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, Vala squealed in delight. "Are you ever going to stop this madness?"
"Never."
~NOT THE END