Story Summary: Vala takes the kids trick or treating.

Ages: Rhen (6) Lilah (6) Matt (3)

Trick or Treat

"Okay, explain this to me one more time." Vala said as she followed her children down the front walk.

"Again?" Rhen rolled her eyes but did as requested. "Okay, all we have to do is ring the doorbell and yell 'trick or treat' and they give us candy."

"And this is legal?" Vala looked dubiously at her daughter. The child was dressed like a pirate, after all. And adorable one, but a pirate all the same.

"Yes, Mommy." Lilah said, matching her twin's eye roll. "Didn't Daddy explain all of this to you?"

Vala managed to hold back a grin as she looked at her mini-Tesla, instead choosing to nod gravely. "Yes, darling, he did. But you know how your father gets when he starts in on a lecture. I think I've gotten too good at tuning him out."

Rhen gave her a commiserating nod while Lilah merely rolled her eyes again. This time, Vala did smile as she felt a tug on her jacket.

"Yes, Matthew?"

"Can we go twick or tweating now, Mommy?" the little Indiana Jones asked.

"Of course, darling. Where to first?" Vala asked and held out her hand for her son.

She laughed as the twins took off at a run while she and Matt followed more slowly. Normally, Daniel would be the one to take the children trick or treating while she was at Sam and Jack's helping to set up for the after party. This year, however, he and Cameron were off-world with Teal'c so the task had fallen to her. She didn't mind, Halloween was her favourite Tau'ri holiday. But she'd always allowed Daniel to take the kids out because it made him so happy. He'd never experienced a proper Halloween as a child and she hadn't even heard of the holiday before coming to Earth, so it seemed a small concession. That didn't mean she hadn't been curious about the custom. Especially the part about the free candy. With a wink and a grin to her son, Vala joined the girls at the first house. Time to see what this holiday was all about.

()()()()

Vala barely cracked an eye at the sound of her bedroom door opening. She was too tired to move, let alone acknowledge her husband's return. She did, however, watch as he got ready for bed before crawling in and pulling her into his body.

"You're back early," she finally said as he kissed the nape of her neck.

"The Jaffa Council finally came to an agreement so Cam and I escaped before any of them could change their minds." He snuggled her close before continuing. "How was your night?"

"Exhausting." Vala sighed dramatically. "Why didn't you warn me about what really goes on while trick or treating?"

"I tried, but I think you'd already zoned out on me by then."

"Probably," she agreed with a careless shrug. "You did forget to mention something else, though."

"Oh, yeah? What's that?"

"Just how generous our neighbours really are."

"What do you mean?"

Vala turned over with a smile and pecked Daniel on the lips before turning back around to reach under the bed. She pulled out a large sack full of treats.

"I had no idea just how much loot I could get. I may never let you take the kids out again."

Daniel laughed as he fell back onto the bed while Vala hid her spoils once more.

"You do realise that Halloween is supposed to be for kids, right?"

"Aren't you the one who's always telling me I'm a big kid at heart?" Vala countered with a grin.

"You've got me there." Daniel said as he covered her body with his own, placing a gentle kiss to her lips. "So, are you planning on sharing that candy?"

"That all depends, darling," she told him and wrapped her arms around his neck, all signs of tiredness gone.

"On what?"

"On whether you're in the mood for a trick or a treat."

"Treat, definitely a treat." Daniel grinned before leaning in to kiss her again and all thoughts of candy fled Vala's mind. For now.

The End