The Next Night
It's quite a domestic scene. Daniel reading a book in bed, and Vala spreading some lotion that she keeps on the bedside table all over her legs before pulling her pajama pants down to cover them.
"I really appreciate you giving me so many drawers and so much closet space," she says as she turns toward him in bed.
"I don't want to get married again, ever," he says abruptly, putting down his book.
Vala misses only a beat, although her heart is nearly bursting within her, "If the closet space is too much, you can have it back. I'll go get her things from the basement, and hang them up for you."
He shakes his head, "It's not about the closet space. You're still married. I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't even a way to divorce among the Ori, and if there is, you probably can't do it when you are on a different planet than your husband. I'm not even sure a marriage between us would be legal, at least not in intergalactic terms. Besides that, I've already been married twice."
"I get it, I'm not exactly a fitting follow up to Sha're and Janet. They definitely deserve to be in a league above me."
"That, my dear, is quite untrue. The point is I've had two wives die. I can't actually deal with the loss of another women that I love. It's probably superstitious nonsense, but I feel like if I were to marry you, I would be tempting the fates to kill you too, and I don't want that to happen. I just wanted you to know, marriage isn't going to be on the horizon for us, and if that's a deal-breaker for you, maybe you want out now."
Vala knows that she doesn't want out now. That even if she knows this ship she is on is doomed to sink, she is going to cling to the mast until the last moment. Some people are worth having your heart broken over. "Ok, so what kind of a future do you picture for us? You don't picture us married, but do you picture us together?"
He smiles, "Yes, I picture us together. I can you see eventually living here full time. I picture us raising the kids. I can see the grandkids coming over. The two of us sitting on rockers on the front porch when we're old and gray talking about how we used to fight aliens."
"Do we have any kids in your vision?" she asks.
His face grows grave, "I've got four children, Vala. I don't know if I'm willing to have any more."
She sighs, and tries not to show what a bitter disappointment this is to her, "I'm not going to lie. I really want kids. You saw how I was after Adria. But you have kids, and grandkids, for crying out loud, it will be enough."
"I don't want you to settle," he whispers.
She smiles, "You Daniel Jackson, are not a consolation prize."
"Vala, I know you want kids. I saw you with Adria. I don't want you to end up missing out on part of your life because of me."
"You have kids," she says smiling.
"I know, but you don't."
"Well, maybe someday your kids will be my kids. Apart from Cassie, she's all grown up, and hates me."
"She doesn't hate you."
"It's ok. It's really to be expected."
"She's the one who told me that I had to talk to you about all of this."
A Month Later
"Father, the people of this planet do have goats, do they not?" Rya'c asks.
"Of course, have you not read about them in your studies?" Teal'c asks.
"Indeed, but I have not yet seen any, although I have lived here for several years. I have come to understand that many of the things that are written about in their books are not things that really exist. When we studied Greek mythology in my literature class, it was a most unnerving experience."
"Goats are not creatures of myth."
"Where could I procure one?" Ry'ac asks.
"Son, do you not have enough food to eat without getting this animal?"
"I do not need the animal for food. It is for a ceremony."
Teal'c turns to his son in surprise, "You have not seen Amy for many months. Are you still certain that you would like to spend the rest of your life with her?"
"Amy and I are no longer together, it is with Cassie that I want to spend my life."
Teal'c's brow furrows in surprise. His emotions are becoming more and more human as time goes by. "When did you begin courting her?"
"Almost a month ago."
"Did you not think this was relevant information to give to your guardians?"
"I am passed the age of majority in this country. I was unaware that I was still required to consult with you about my decisions."
"You are no longer required to do so; however, I would like it if you still did," his father tells him.
Rya'c bows his head by way of showing that he agrees with his father.
"What about Cassandra Jackson has led you to believe that she would be a fitting wife for you?"
"Do you not think she is a suitable mate?"
"I think that she is a fine person; however, I am curious as to how the two of you came to be together."
"Through meditation, I came to know how beautiful a soul she had," Rya'c says.
"That is well," Teal'c agrees, and there is no more to be said about it.
Two Days Later
"Mom, there is a goat in the living room," Kiesha says as the family enters the house after a shopping trip. Cassie's arms are filled with groceries, but if she shifted, she would be able to see the living room. She just doesn't bother.
Cassie sighs, "What have I told you about you telling stories?"
"When I tell a story, mom, you're going to know, because it's going to begin with 'once upon a time'."
Cassie puts down her bags in order to have a more serious discussion with her daughter about fact and fiction only to discover that there really is a goat in the living room. "What the…" she says, stopping herself just in time.
"No-one ever believes the kids," Kiesha says with a roll of her eyes.
Rya'c enters the room, "Are you not pleased?" he asks concerned.
"Pleased? With the farm animal in the living room? Not really. I'm assuming that thing isn't house-broke. Do they make goat diapers? What am I saying? Just put it on in the back yard, please."
"Should I count this as a rejection?" he says, looking downcast enough, that though he's a Jaffa Cassie figures out that there is more going on here than she is realizing.
"Is this some part of your culture that I don't understand? I don't mean to offend you."
"I'm supposed to give you a goat, and then you're supposed to give me a garland of figs."
"Figs? I'm not even sure where the closest fig tree is, but my guess would be a couple of states away. What holiday is this for anyway?"
"It is not for a holiday, it's a betrothal."
Cassie blinks in surprise, "So you're asking me to marry you?"
"Indeed."
"Did you think of actually asking?"
"I thought the goat did that for me."
"Well, unless it's a talking goat, you would be wrong about that."
"It's not a talking goat. Do you have such things on your planet?"
"You've lived on Earth long enough that you should know that there is no such thing as a talking goat."
"I recently found out that there was no such thing as a minotaur."
"I bet that was a relief."
"Indeed, it was almost as much a relief as it would be if you answered my question about the marriage."
"Marriage!" Keisha squeals as she starts to dance around the adults. Her sisters follow suit, even though it's not quite clear whether or not they actually understand what is going on.
"Only if I answered the question in the way that you want me to answer it. I'm pretty sure a 'no' right about now wouldn't bring relief," she teases.
"I've read your mind, Cassandra," he says, taking a step closer to her.
"I will marry you," she says, placing her head against his. The goat models this behavior by butting his head into Cassie's bottom.
"You know," Cassie says, looking down at him, "Some women get rings."
"I'm going to name him Mr. Nibbles," Keisha declares as the goat starts to bite at Cassie's skirt.
"We're not actually going to keep him," Cassie informs her.
"The engagement will not be in effect if you reject the betrothal gift," Rya'c says with genuine concern.
"You have got to be kidding me! I mean, there has got to be zoning laws that makes it illegal to have a goat here! We don't have the room for it!" Cassie protests.
"I will no longer be required to mow your lawn," Rya'c informs her.
"You were never required to mow it in the first place. You make it sound like I'm your mother giving you chores. You volunteered to mow my lawn, and then you insisted when I protested."
"I was made to understand that mowing the lawn was a task reserved for the man of the house in your culture."
"You aren't the man of the house."
"I will be soon."
"We can hire someone to mow the lawn."
"The goat will mow for free."
Cassie lets out a big sigh, "Well, this is what I get for marrying an alien. Come on, Mr. Nibbles, let's see if we can get you a nice little place to sleep set up outside."