Summary: Another little scene from Unending. It's part of the series, but they are all basically stand alones.

Timeline: During Unending, but part of it is Vala remembering Memento Mori. They have been on the ship 5 months. It's been 3 months since their first night together.

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate. I did not invent Stargate. Nothing is mine. I do this for fun only.

When You Say You Love Me

The car ride was quiet. No one spoke except for some grumbling from Mitchell in the front seat. The woman had drove, which left the muscular man and Daniel in the back seat with her. Vala sat between them and was happy for the silence. She hadn't wanted to talk.

Part of her felt this was crazy. She didn't know these people, not really. Somewhere in her mind a voice screamed at her to get out and run back to Sal and the diner. That part was overruled by a part of her that didn't ever want to leave Daniel's side. For the first time in a long time she felt safe. She didn't know why or how; she just knew it was him. His words had ignited a need to be near him. It was as if there was an invisible tie between them and at that point she was holding on to it with a death grip. Daniel…just his name was all she needed to know she belonged there. Strange since she wasn't able to say why that was.

Daniel pressed his hand against hers, stopping her from fidgeting with her jacket zipper. The sensation of his skin against hers sent a jolt of electricity through her. She bit her lower lip and glanced over at his face. "Sorry."

He smiled; he had a gorgeous one she had to note.

"We're almost there. Everything's going to be okay," he had said.

She believed him, simply because he was the one who said it.

The candlelight and a small lamp in the corner is the only source of light in the room except for the stars that have become their permanent day. A red blanket covers the table set in the middle of the small quarters. Daniel's desk is pushed up against the wall to give them a little more room. They are making do with what they have since the ship was not built to accommodate dinner dates. It isn't any where near lavish. Not with plastic cups and meal trays that hold food cafeterias serve. Not that it matters to her. It's the thought that counts.

"This is becoming normal," Vala says.

Daniel wipes his mouth with his napkin and smiles just slightly. "Anything becomes normal if you are around it long enough."

It doesn't escape her that the 'we' they have become is included in that. "I'm starting to forget things."

"What kinds of things?" he asks.

"Oh, just silly things I guess. What sunshine feels like, looks like. The schedule and what it feels like to have something to do. Just things I guess I never really thought about until now," she says.

"Hmm," he thinks a moment, "I can't remember the feel of my own bed."

"It's getting to the point I can get through most of the day and the thought doesn't cross my mind that this isn't right. That everything is supposed to be different." She looks out the window at the stars, trying to remember anything she is scared she might forget.

While she was being checked out by Dr. Lam the others had been asked to wait outside. Daniel had glanced at her almost apologetically when he had walked out. She wished he had stayed. She was in a strange place surrounded by strange people. She barely knew anything about anything and he seemed the only person in the world that could calm her down. She wondered why that was? She knew nothing about him. Still his absence made her…anxious.

He was the last thing she saw before they put her under to give her back her memory. The feel of his hand in hers was the last thing she felt. When she awoke she would know exactly why she needed him.

"Hey." He hooks his finger under her chin and makes her look back at him. "I lost you there for a second."

"Teach me how to dance."

"What? Where did that come from?" he asks.

"I don't know. It just popped into my head. I tried to get Cameron to teach me at his reunion, but he said it was very complicated. It didn't look that complicated."

He stands up and extends his hand towards her. "Oh, it's not. He just didn't want to dance with you."

"You know I got that impression when he dumped me for Blondie." She takes his hand and stands beside him.

He takes her right hand into his left and they interlock their fingers. "Okay put your left hand here." He guides her hand onto his upper back and then places his on the small of hers. He pulls her close to him.

"Good morning sunshine," Mitchell had said.

She opened her eyes one at a time. Daniel had sat next to her, keeping his hands to himself this time. Mitchell was in the next bed, lying on his back and looking over at her. Teal'c and Samantha were beside him.

"Do you know who you are?" Samantha asked her.

She had looked up, as if taking inventory of her memory. "I think everything is there. How would you know if you didn't know something?"

"I think our girl is back," Mitchell chimed in.

"Just so you know I cannot be held responsible for anything I did because I didn't know what I was doing," she said.

"You handcuffed me to a bed," Mitchell reminded her.

"I didn't know which side you were on."

"And left me half naked."

"Optimism my dear Cameron…I left you half dressed."

"Yeah, she's definitely back," Mitchell said.

He places one foot between hers and with his knee separates her legs just slightly.

"Just follow me." He begins to move slowly. Guiding her body to follow his in a slow turn circle. He pulls her closer so that her entire body is up against his. "And you are dancing." He tilts his head down and smiles, catching her eyes with his. She leans up just slightly and gives him a quick thank you kiss.

"You, Daniel Jackson, have been holding out on me."

"I have a few moves." He dips her down low. Her hair cascades down, almost touching the floor. His face is very close to hers. "My mother used to teach me in our living room. She said a way to a girl's heart was through the conversation your body has when you dance. She made sure I knew how." He leans down just a bit as if to kiss her and then brings them both back up.

"Tease," she says.

They had talked for a while, but Dr. Lam reminded everyone both her and Mitchell needed rest. Daniel lingered a moment. She didn't want him to go, pull a curtain around her and turn her overhead light off. She didn't want to be alone, left in the dark. She'd spent two weeks in the dark of her own mind, not knowing anything. The last thing she wanted was to be back there, memories or no memories. She felt silly. She felt like a little girl afraid of the dark without a night-light.

Daniel noticed. "Will you be okay?"

"Truthfully…" Just say it. Ask him to stay. "I'm not sure."

"Do you feel okay? Do you need me to get Dr. Lam?"

"No, no. I feel fine. I just…it's been a long day," she said.

"Get some sleep, you'll feel better tomorrow."

Ask him.

He shoved both his hands in his pockets, gave her a re-assuring smile and started to leave.

Ask the damn question. "Daniel?"

He turned back toward her.

"Stay…please. Just until I fall asleep?"

He didn't answer or even hesitate. He closed the curtain around them, sat back down in the chair beside her and propped his feet up on the bed.

"You know, not to complain, but I was shot today and she is getting all the attention." Mitchell yelled out.

"Goodnight Mitchell."

"Yeah yeah, just keep it down over there," Mitchell yelled back.

Daniel regarded her with concerned. She could always tell because of that little crease between his eyes.

"I had nightmares a lot…about being a host. Of course I didn't know what they were or understand them. They were just scary dreams. I became so afraid to even close my eyes for a second. One night I guess I was talking in my sleep and Sal came in to check on me. He sat next to the bed until I fell back asleep and I didn't have them anymore. And considering I just had the entire host chapter of my life re-written I'd feel better if you kept me company for a little bit."

"I'm right here," he whispered.

She stared at him a moment, taken back by his intense concern. She had very rarely seen this side of Daniel and never to this degree. She knew he cared, but the guy had stepped in front of a pointed gun for her today. "Can I ask you a question?"

"You know most people just ask without permission," he answered.

"Oh, I just meant-" she started to say.

"I know what you meant, yes."

"How did you know I wouldn't shoot you?" she asked.

He thought a moment and then answered. "You tried to treat Mitchell's wounds. You could have left him there bleeding, but you didn't. Even if you didn't remember who you were you were still you. Of course I didn't completely know how you would react to being cornered, but I figured I was safe." He explained.

"You were right, I don't think I could have even if I wanted to, which I didn't." She wanted to ask another question. How come she had spent all that time with Mitchell and nothing happened, but a minute with Daniel brought her home? She doesn't think he would know the answer any better than she does.

They sway together in a slow circle, their music only their soft footsteps. She lays her head against his chest and he rests his chin on top of her head. He unlocks his hand from hers and slowly lets his fingertips run up and down her palm.

He fell asleep first, poor guy. From the look of the circles under his eyes she wondered how much he had slept lately? She probably should wake him up so he could sleep in his own bed, but the agreement was until she had fallen asleep and she hadn't done that yet.

What a strange day. To wake up not even knowing you're name and then to be like this. Her memory seemed old and new at the same time. She knew they had been there somewhere all along, but she had gone two weeks without them. They kept replaying in her head. Well, the ones with him kept playing in her head. When she looked at it like that, one moment on top of the other, she could see things she'd never noticed before. She saw little looks and moments when he could be so tender to her. She'd never noticed them before, not like this. She'd never thought of him like this. Not seriously. Now that was all changing. She was becoming very aware that she was in danger of falling in love with him. She wondered if he could ever love her. Not likely. Hadn't he always made sure she knew the boundaries? Silly Vala. She knew better. You don't invest yourself in anything until you are sure of a payoff. Still as she closed her eyes, for once not afraid of what she would see, she couldn't help but wonder about the possibilities.

He says it so softly the first time she asks him to repeat it.

"I love you," he says a little louder.

She stops immediately and she feels her body tense just slightly. She raises her head to look into his eyes. He just stares at her hand as his fingertips caress her palm.

"You love me?" she asks.

He looks into her eyes with all seriousness. "Yes."

She feels a little weak in the knees. Of course she knew they were building to this moment, but she hadn't expected it to be like this. The intensity of it fills her up, like the person she was just ten seconds ago is completely different from herself now in this moment. She doesn't say anything at first and she realizes this is making him a little nervous. When he played this out in his head she probably said it back to him. "Give me a moment." If she is going to say it then she is going to really say it. Not because it could get her something or because she thinks it is what he wants to hear, but because she wants to say it. Because every piece of her is filling up with him to the point she can't feel anything else.

"You don't have to say it back." He shakes his head as if it is a silly idea for him to expect her to.

This time she hooks her finger under his chin and makes him look at her. "I love you too."

He smiles his trademark smile and then leans down and kisses her. Both his arms start to wrap around her when she pulls back. "What's the matter?" He asks, searching her eyes with his.

"I just want you to know I've never said that to anyone before and really meant it. I don't want you to think I've thrown it around over the years." She says.

"I don't think that."

"I just mean you're the first person I've ever really said that to."

"Says the woman who's been married how many times?" He says with a soft hesitant smile on his face. He knows how vulnerable and open they both are right now.

She places one of her hands on his cheek. "My poor naïve boy, there are a lot of reasons to marry a man. None of mine have ever been for love. That takes staying put…something I've never been good at. It was always about what was next and then you came into view."

"By me you of course mean an underground cave of treasure, right?"

"Well it started out as that. Then it became a sort of game. I've never had a conquest turn me away before. You were different than any other man I knew."

He takes one of his hands and brushes a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "And when did it stop being a game?" he says losing the smile and becoming serious.

"When I realized I needed you to say yes more than I just wanted you to." She puts her hand in his, taking her dance form again. He follows and soon they are swaying to silent music once more. She lays her head on his chest and for one moment when the world is already standing still around them, neither of them can think of anywhere else they would rather be. Even stuck on a ship they hesitate to call a home, missing the lives they've left behind. For just that one moment in time they said they loved each other and for them that was enough. All is right with the world because she is in his and he is in hers.

TBC

"In my wildest dreams, you always play the hero. In my darkest hour of night, you rescue me, you save my life."
--Bliss and Cerney