One Day of Peace
By: dvshipper
CATEGORY: Romance
SEASON/SPOILERS: Season 10
WARNINGS: None
AUTHOR’S NOTES: Thanks to my beat Lisa Michelle. This is set after Season 10 but before Ark of Truth. Hope you like it!
AUTHOR’S WEBSITE:
http://dvshipper.livejournal.com/
Daniel pulled on his leather jacket and headed toward Teal’c’s quarters, two brightly wrapped boxes in his hand. As Daniel approached the door, he could hear two people laughing. When he came face to face with the door, he could tell whose laughter it was. What’s Vala doing in Teal’c’s room? Daniel thought when he recognized Vala’s sweet laughter.
Daniel knocked on the door before he let himself in. He saw Teal’c and Vala watching the movie he hated that was always on this time of year: A Christmas Story. “You two ready to leave?” Daniel questioned, ignoring the young boy in pink bunny pajamas and glasses on the screen.
“Yeah, I’ll just get my stuff and then I’m ready,” Vala replied. She was wearing jeans and a white long sleeved shirt with little ornaments printed on the chest. She grazed her hand across Daniel’s shoulder as she walked out the door. Daniel shivered. Partially because of the small velvet box that was burning a hole in his pocket and partially a reaction to her touch.
Teal’c grabbed three brightly wrapped boxes that were sitting at the foot of his bed. “I am ready to go to ColonelMitchell’s house, DanielJackson,” Teal’c told Daniel in his usual stoic tone. “Is something bothering you?” he said, being able to read Daniel like an open book.
“No, just wanting to get going,” Daniel replied, the butterflies in his stomach turning into giant man-eating moths.
* *
Vala met Daniel and Teal’c at the elevator doors, presents in hand. Daniel swiped his ID card in the reader which beeped green as the doors opened. Vala got in first and pressed the button that would take them to the parking garage. She noticed Daniel’s anxious manner as he stood next to Teal’c. What’s he so nervous about? Vala wondered. She’d never seen him like this before, which made her both curious and worried.
The elevator opened to reveal cars parked in neat rows. Vala shouted shotgun when she spotted Daniel’s car a couple spaces down from the door. Teal’c apparently had been teaching her more of Earth culture. She saw the taillights blink as Daniel unlocked the doors. They put their gifts in the small trunk that popped open. Vala hopped in the front seat as Daniel put the key in the ignition.
She loved getting off the base, especially when there was such beautiful weather. She looked out the window when they checked out at the security booth. Everything was covered in white fluffy mounds. She had only seen snow once, when her father took her to the moon of Lokous when she was a little girl. Taking her gaze from the window, she moved her focus to Daniel. She noticed he was tapping his fingers on the steering wheel even though the radio wasn’t on. “And you say I can’t sit still,” Vala told Daniel, questioning his anxious behavior.
“What? Oh, nothing’s wrong. I’m fine,” Daniel replied, eyes still on the wet road before him.
“I never asked if anything was wrong, you must think something is,” Vala told Daniel with a slight smirk. Whatever it is it must be something important if he’s this nervous. Vala figured.
“I too noticed his unusual manner, Vala,” Teal’c said as he shifted his eyes between both Daniel and Vala.
“See, Muscles senses it too,” Vala said.
“Nothing’s wrong!” Daniel replied to both of them, frustrated he was so obvious.
* *
Cameron pulled open the oven door releasing the smell of
pumpkin pie into the air. He had gotten the recipe from his mother, who was
with the rest of his family in
They hung their coats up on the hooks of a coat rack in the corner and walked into the kitchen, following Cameron. “Oh, you can put those under the tree,” Cameron told Teal’c and Vala who were carrying the gifts from the car. Cameron pointed across the open kitchen towards a tall green pine tree decorated with tinsel, ornaments, and a shiny gold star on top. They followed his instructions, carefully placing the boxes under the shimmering tree.
“What smells so good?” Vala asked as she walked back into the kitchen, led by Teal’c.
“Pumpkin pie. Just pulled it outta the oven,” Cameron replied, proud he actually baked something. He pulled a beer off the shelf inside the refrigerator. “You guys want anything to drink?” he asked, popping the top off his own bottle.
“Sure!” Vala replied, opening the fridge, picking a beer for herself and a bottle of water for Daniel.
Teal’c simply took a glass from the cupboard next to the
sink, filled it with water and drank the whole thing at once. Daniel took a sip
of the bottle Vala had handed him. He walked over to the sliding glass door
that led to the back porch, on which sat a large metal pot atop a propane
burner. “Are you deep frying the turkey?” Daniel asked
“Yep. Ever had turkey that way?”
* *
“Perfect!” Cameron exclaimed as he started carving the now fried turkey. Vala and Teal’c had set the table and Daniel put a Christmas CD in the player next to the TV in the living room. The team sat down at the table in the dining room that was open to the kitchen. The round wood table was covered in food.
Vala was excited because this was her first Christmas. She was glad to be taking part of an important Earth tradition. “Cameron this all looks wonderful!” she said with a wide grin on her face. She was sitting next to Daniel, who was scooping mashed potatoes onto his plate from a large bowl in the middle of the table. He still seemed on edge about something and she hadn’t been able to figure out what it was.
Daniel was barely able to eat he was so nervous. This should be an easy thing to do considering how many times he’d run through the scenario in his mind. He could smell the spicy perfume Vala was wearing, which wasn’t helping matters any. “So, Mitchell how come you aren’t home for the holidays this year?” Daniel asked, trying to make polite conversation and keep his mind off the anxiety he was feeling.
“With all that’s goin’ on with the Ori, I didn’t want to be
to far from the base. Besides, if I went outta town, I couldn’t have Christmas
with y’all,”
“I’m glad you stayed here, because otherwise I would be eating a turkey sandwich right now. You’re deep fried turkey is much better,” Daniel said, forking a piece of the white meat that was on his plate.
Dinner continued in silence except for forks scraping and mouths chewing as the four people ate their fill of the food Cameron had made. Throughout the meal Vala continued to try and figure out Daniel, unsuccessfully.
* *
Cameron cleared the dirty dishes as Vala and Teal’c helped
take the leftover food into the kitchen. Daniel had slipped away to the coat
rack in the entryway. He reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out the
small black box that inhabited it. He opened it, smiling at the sparkling
contents. He heard footsteps behind him and quickly snapped the box shut. “Come
on
Daniel held out the velvet box and Cameron eyed it inquisitively. “Well that looks suspiciously like a ring box,” Cameron commented.
“It is,” Daniel replied as he opened the box to reveal a beautiful emerald cut diamond set atop a gold band.
“Whoa, that must have cost a pretty penny. Wait, are you going to….” Cameron stopped, the realization hitting him.
“Yes, but don’t give her any clues. She already thinks something’s up. Okay?” Daniel eyed Cameron.
“Yeah, of course. Way to go man!” Cameron slapped a hand on Daniel’s back as Daniel closed the box he was holding. “We better get back in there, though. I think Vala’s ready to open her presents,” Cameron started walking back into the living room. Daniel followed.
* *
Teal’c and Vala were sitting on the leather couch across
from the tree. When Cameron and Daniel entered the room Vala’s face lit up.
“Well go on,”
Vala got up and reached underneath the tree to grab a medium sized box wrapped in green paper with little bells printed on it. The tag read: To Teal’c From Vala. She handed the box to Teal’c who was still sitting quietly. “Here you go!” Vala told him excitedly. He took off the wrapping paper carefully, revealing the Star Wars trilogy collector’s set. He smiled a small smile, which made Vala giggle. “Thank you, Vala,” he said in his deep voice.
Daniel saw Vala turn back to the tree. OK, you can do this! He told himself. He looked at the black velvet box in his hand and put one knee on the soft carpet. Vala turned around smiling, ready to hand him a gold package with a green ribbon. Daniel looked up at her with vibrant blue eyes. “Vala, I need to ask you something,” he told her. Cameron was standing next to him with a big grin.
“Darling, I think I know why you were so nervous. Because now I feel the same way,” Vala replied, her smile dropping to a smirk.
“From the moment I saw you, I knew that I would never lose my way if I had you in my life. Even though you’re frustrating at times, that frustration makes me love you all the more,” Daniel told Vala, who now had a tear streaming down her cheek. “I can’t imagine my life without you. Hopefully I won’t have to. Vala, will you marry me?” Daniel asked as he opened the box, worried at what the answer would be.
Vala rushed into his arms, more tears coming down her face. She brought her lips next to his ear and whispered, “Yes.” She pulled herself away just enough to look at Daniel’s face. He was smiling and his blue eyes were sparkling. He caught her lips with his. She kissed him back, feeling as if they were the only two people in the universe.
Behind her back, Daniel pulled the ring from its case. He pulled away from Vala and brought her hand to his lips. With the lightest of touches, he kissed the ring finger of her left hand. Still holding her hand, he stood, pulling her with him. Daniel put the diamond ring on her finger and he could see her become even happier.
“Yeah!” Cameron exclaimed.
“It is indeed a time for celebration,” Teal’c said.
“Yes, I believe it is,” Vala replied, never breaking her gaze from Daniel’s eyes.
* *
After unwrapping the rest of their presents and eating the
pumpkin pie Cameron had made earlier, they all sat comfortably in the living
room. Daniel had his arm around Vala’s shoulders and a cup of coffee in his
other hand. Teal’c was reading the back of the Star Wars DVD’s Vala had gotten
him.
Vala relaxed against Daniel’s side, staring at the lights on the tree. She felt complete peace for the first time in years. That peace was all because of the man she was now going to marry. He made her feel safe and loved. This was her first Christmas with Daniel and thankfully it would not be her last.
Daniel smiled to himself as he took a sip of his coffee. He was finally able to love someone as much, if not more than Sha’re. Never in a million years did he want to leave Vala’s side. This woman he was now going to marry truly was, cheesy though it may sound the light of his life. She was always there for him, whether he wanted her there or not. She knew him better than anyone. They were such polar opposites, but he knew that’s why they were so great together. That’s why he loved her, because she completed him.
Vala looked up at Daniel. “Daniel,” she said. “I love you.”
Daniel gazed down into her eyes. “I love you too.” He was finally able to say it.
Vala turned her head back to the Christmas tree, perfectly content. She was beginning to like this holiday very much. Daniel pressed his lips against her hair, kissing the top of her head. Vala smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder. The lights blurred and became out of focus as she surrendered to sleep. She knew that Daniel would be there when she woke up and that comforted her. He would be next to her every morning after that for the rest of her life.
** The End **
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