Author's Note: Sorry for the late update but work has been crazy and it's been a day.

Anyways, enjoy!

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Chapter Twelve

Their walks to work quickly became the time of day when they caught up with each other. Sure, it wasn't the only time they were able to talk, but it was the most convenient and became their thing.

"What do you have planned for today?" Daniel asked as he shut the door.

Vala slung her bag strap over her head. "I'll be working with Jero today."

Lately, she had been working with the engineering team, trying to come up with a design that would work for a naquadah generator using what Thessa had available. They didn't have access to the same resources as Earth, so she had to try and find alternatives that could work similarly to what Earth's naquadah generators had.

Feeling playful, he gave her a teasing smile. "He likes you, you know."

She huffed and smacked his arm. "Stop it," she told him sternly.

Despite demeanor, he saw her fighting a smile. "No, I'm serious," he persisted. "He's really into you."

"Daniel!"

His grin grew. "Perhaps you like him too?" he ignored the weird feeling he felt when he said that. "Does the lady doth protest too much?"

Vala's face scrunched. "What?"

He laughed at the true confusion on her face. "Shakespeare," he explained even though she didn't understand. "It means you're protesting too much which indicates you actually do like him."

She snorted. "I've no interest in Jero."

Given the way she said it, he took it at face value. "I was only messing with you," he told her remorsefully. "But if it means anything, I really do believe he likes you."

Why was he pushing the issue?

"Trust me, I know that," she looked at him briefly, "but even knowing that, I still don't have any interest in him."

Brows furrowed, he asked, "Why?"

Vala sighed. "Because of our situation, Daniel," she stated like it was obvious. "I'm still navigating and figuring out living here. My focus needs to be on making sure we survive."

"Vala, we're set up pretty nicely, thanks to you. We'll be fine if you wanna pursue something."

"We may be set up, but winter is coming soon, and we need to be prepared for whatever comes. We can plan all we want but you never know what might happen," she said in a pragmatic way that he would never get used to. "That's why I haven't put much thought into getting separate lodgings – it'll be easier to survive the first winter together."

Daniel grabbed her arm and stopped her in her tracks. "Wait, what?" She wanted to eventually get separate places?

Vala frowned at him. "Did you think we were going to live together for the rest of our lives?" She was genuinely confused.

She had a point. "Uhh…I, uhh, I never really thought about it."

Despite knowing this was it for him – this planet, that is – he never really thought much into the future aside from a month or two ahead. He certainly never thought about his living situation and if he would be living with Vala long term. He guessed it was always something they would talk about eventually, but it looked like eventually was now…and he didn't know how to feel about it.

"Well, maybe you should," she smiled smally at him. "You should start thinking beyond a few months in the future. I know I have. I've got a job now and given the wages I'll be paid, I should be able to afford a place of my own come spring."

Daniel didn't know why but for some reason, her answer stung and left him confused. Why? Yeah, he didn't know, but that was a whole other can of worms he would unpack later. "You don't have to. Vala, I don't mind living together. You don't have to go."

Vala smiled again but there was something about it that didn't sit well with him. "I know that, but darling…we're not just visiting here. This isn't some long mission that we get to go home afterwards. This is it – we're not going home."

How many times would she bring that up? "I know that. You don't have to keep reminding me."

Her expression clearly said she didn't believe him. "But do you really?" something about the look she gave him made him feel like she could see through to his soul. "You need to accept it, like really accept it. If we were on Earth, there's no way we'd ever live together."

There she went again – being all logical. "I know that."

"So why would it be any different here?" she challenged, and when he didn't say anything, she gave him a smug look. "Look, once we know for certain we're safe and settled here, and maybe a little more financially stable, I think it would be best if I looked for a place nearby. We'd still see each other, of course, but we'd live our own lives similarly to how we did on Earth."

He stood there like an idiot, and she eventually got tired of waiting for him to respond. She gently pried her arm from his hold, jerked her head in the direction of the town, and resumed walking to work.

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Daniel couldn't stop thinking about their conversation all day, and because of it, he was constantly distracted all day. Thankfully, he didn't have any classes to teach or else he would be completely useless. The thing was, he didn't know why it bothered him. Vala made some solid points – ones he should have been making or even at least thinking of, but ever since ending up here, never once did he think about splitting up. Why? He couldn't tell you.

Maybe that's what was getting to him.

The fact that he hadn't thought about it whatsoever. It was completely out of character for him. He would have never consented to living with Vala back on Earth. The idea would have been shot down so fast, it would make your head spin. So why was it different now? Here? What she was suggesting made so much sense and it was better for them in the long run. How long could they continue to live together before they fall back into their ways? Before they started to be at each other's throat again? Before the fighting and the bickering started up again?

Why did the thought of them going back to the norm sadden him?

Daniel liked the way things were going. He liked the collaboration at work, the deeper conversations they were having, and working together to make a life here. He liked spending time with her. They had never gotten to this level of friendship during their time on Earth and that was something he regretted. There was a lot more to Vala Mal Doran than meets the eye – a lot more than he gave her credit for.

The direction of his thoughts began sending out warning signals and as a default, he shut them down, and tried to focus on his work, but a part of his mind never shut down those thoughts – they were still there, and they were growing. It was only a matter of time before he couldn't ignore them anymore.

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This must be how Vala felt.

All those times he was too wrapped up with work or chose it over any plans they may have made, this was payback. No wonder why she was always angry with him. Being stood up or put off was not a good feeling, and right now, it was downright awkward.

They had made plans to get together with Gai'la for dinner, but when he went to her lab, she had been in the thick of it and claimed she couldn't get away and told him she'd catch up later. So he was forced to go to their somewhat friend's house by himself, but Gai'la was more of Vala's friend, hence the awkwardness. He was used to making small talk or engaging someone in conversation, but it had been a while since he had to call upon those skills, and now, he just felt emotionally tired from the day.

Gai'la was a perceptive woman and took pity on him and instead of engaging him in conversation right away, she put him to work helping her finish dinner. They said very little outside of prepping food, but as everything finished, she took pity on him again and struck up a conversation.

"Do you know how late Vala will be?"

Daniel grabbed the plates she held out and set the table. "No, she didn't say, but she had this look our friend used to have whenever she was close to a breakthrough or solution," he smiled wryly. "So, at this point, I don't even know if she'll show up."

Gai'la tilted her head and observed him for a second. "This bothers you?" she guessed.

"Yes – No," he shook his head and sighed. "Maybe a little but only for petty reasons. I'm glad she's excited about something. I'm happy she has this drive. It's been a while since I've seen her like this."

Her facial expression was one of understanding. "Yes, I sensed that about her," she mumbled. She hesitated before continuing, "She has known great sadness, has she not?"

It hadn't been what he meant, but he was genuinely surprised at her observation. It had taken him much longer to truly understand Vala and the emotions she kept hidden from everyone. He'd seen glimpses every now and then but for the longest time thought they were just flukes. It was well into their fight with the Ori to see just how fragile she was and how deeply she felt things. So, if it took him this long, how the hell did this woman already know that about Vala?

"H-has she said something to you?" he asked curiously. Vala wasn't the type to share her feelings or hardships..

"Not regarding this." She nervously played with her fingers. "It goes much deeper, does it not? She once mentioned a child to me."

Daniel couldn't help but be surprised. "She told you about Adria?" he couldn't keep the astonishment out of his tone. Vala refused to talk about her once they got back from the Ori galaxy, and believe him, he tried.

"Just in passing, when we found the caves. Sh-she called her demonic," Gai'la frowned in confusion at Vala's description.

He chuckled humorlessly. "That's an understatement," he muttered to himself before sighing at the woman's curious face. "It's not my story to tell."

Gai'la stepped closer. "There was more than bitterness to her words," she continued as if she hadn't heard him. "More than hurt and anguish. There is a darker side to the story, is there not? And I am not inferring to the child's character."

Daniel blinked, fairly stunned at the woman's level of perception. "Why would you say that?" he asked cautiously.

She turned away from him and went to the stove. "We are not a perfect world," she stated with sadness. "I have observed many traits in Vala that I have seen in other women who have suffered at the hands of men. It may be subtle in her, but it's there."

He felt his hands curl tightly around the back of a chair as he registered what Gai'la was saying. He knew what Vala went through with the Ori, but up until now, he'd never seen her as a sexual assault victim. The situation with the Ori was complicated and while it might not be the traditional, straight up rape, it was nonetheless – and that wasn't even taking into account her time as a host. Hell, her experience there was more akin to being sex trafficked. He felt sick as he realized the extent of what the woman had gone through. No wonder why she was closed off and held things close to the vest.

It was amazing she was even functioning at all. That level of trauma could psychology break a person, but here she was, living a full life. She helped save not one but two galaxies, she contributed to the progress of humanity in multiple ways, and for the last few years, she made a difference. She had her quirks, an annoying personality at times, and had an overly sexual side, but when he thought about her past, it all started to make sense.

He always thought Vala was that way because it was just who she was, not because it was who she needed to be in order to move on from the ordeal with Qetesh. After being deprived of control and not having any say, of course she would need that control over her life once she was finally free, and she obtained it the only way she knew how – her sexuality. At that point, it was probably all she knew, and she turned it into a weapon – a tool to be used. It may not personally be his favorite, but it enabled her to survive and not only that, but to thrive after Qetesh.

Daniel had no doubt those scars still ran deep and they would always be there, but Vala obviously refused to let them dictate her life, and he couldn't help but admire her for that. In fact, this changed his whole perception of her. Using this lens to view all his interactions with her since the beginning made him reevaluate her and his relationship with her.

There was so much he missed – so much he was wrong about.

"Like I said, it's not my story to tell," he repeated thickly. "You'll have to ask her."

He certainly wanted to.

A loud knock startled the both of them, and Vala came barreling in a second later. "Sorry, I'm late!"

The heavy atmosphere lifted the second she appeared, and they both smiled at her.

"Nonsense," Gai'la lifted the warm pot from the stove to set it at the table. "Everything's ready. Come eat."

Daniel helped her with her outer garments and hung them up. "How was your day?"

Vala smiled at him. "Thanks, darling," she combed her fingers through her hair. "And it was good. Yours?"

He stared at her for a moment before answering. "Enlightening."

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Author's Note: Danny boy starting to think about our girl differently now...