Whisper   

                                                                                                                                             By:  Lionchilde   

 

 

CATEGORY:  Alternate Universe

WARNINGS:  None

 

AUTHOR’S NOTES:  Dedicated to Sammie and my grandpa. This is a followup story to Rediscovered Hearts and takes place about 8 years after Beachhead if Vala hadn't gone to the Ori Galaxy. Daniel and Vala are married with two kids and be prepared for sap. Oh, it also helps to be familiar with The Crystal Skull as Daniel's grandfather, Nick, has returned from P7X-377

 

AUTHOR’S WEBSITE:

 

  http://so-out-of-ideas.livejournal.com/

 

 

"Grampa Nick!" Manda demanded, slapping her hand angrily down on the bed. Her eyes welled with tears that Daniel knew, this time at least, weren't calculated to charm him.

He sighed and folded his arms, walking slowly and deliberately up to her. It was beginning to seem like both of his children were closer to Nick than they were to him. It was understandable, of course, that Manda would want Nick at naptime; she was used to her great-grandfather being there during the day, especially when Daniel and Vala were off-world. Knowing that, though, didn't stop the twinge he felt at the idea of his daughter wanting someone--anyone--other than himself.

"No," he said firmly. "No Grandpa Nick. It's naptime."

"Daddy! You're so annoying!" the toddler declared in disgust.

Daniel bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing and sternly pointed a finger. "Lie down, young lady. Now."

She scowled for a long moment, but finally scooted back in the bed and settled onto the pillow. Then, she promptly inserted her thumb in her mouth and glared, daring him to remove it. He closed his fingers gently around her wrist and did so, rather surprised at how easily she let him.

"Daddy need a nap," she grumbled.

"I think Manda needs a nap," he replied, fighting a smile.

"Daddy cranky," she insisted, lifting her chin defiantly.

"Daddy is not cranky!" Daniel laughed despite himself.

"Mmm-hmm," she nodded.

"Mmm-mmm," he'd started to shake his head before realizing what he was doing and abruptly sighed. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he attempted, "It's time to face the wall and close your eyes now, Monkey."

"Manda have story?" she asked hopefully.

"Okay," he sighed softly. "One story."

Never one to discourage his children's enjoyment of reading, he walked over to the bookshelf and picked up Goodnight Moon, which fortunately happened to be one of her current favorite books. Manda was sitting up again when he turned around to hold it up for her approval, and she nodded enthusiastically. Returning to the side of the bed, he folded his arms and waited expectantly.

She tilted her head sweetly and offered him a grin that was well worthy of her mother. "What?" she asked, feigning innocence.

"You need to lie down before Daddy can read," replied Daniel, covering his mouth with his hand and trying desperately not to laugh.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because it's naptime, Manda, c'mon," he said, allowing a touch of sharpness into his tone.

She eyed him stubbornly, and he set himself for more arguing, but she reluctantly lowered herself onto the pillows again. "Cranky," she muttered with a smug nod.

Daniel shook his head and perched on the edge of the bed to open the book. The repetition and rhyme, he knew, often had a way of lulling her despite her best efforts to stay awake, but this time he had gotten through the entire poem twice and she was still quite happily willing to recite along with him. She whined a protest when he closed the book without a third read, but he set it on the bedside table and thoughtfully pushed out his lower lip.

"How about I rub your back for a while, Monkey?" he suggested.

"Then more story?" she grinned.

"Maybe," allowed Daniel, though he hoped that a back rub might induce an actual nap.

"Kay," she decided, wriggling onto her stomach. He smiled again as his hand began slow, circular motions on her back. She had him as firmly wrapped around her finger as her mother did, and they both knew it. In fact, he'd known it the day she was born, but he couldn't say he'd ever minded.

After a few minutes, he finally felt her muscles begin to slacken and leaned forward to kiss the back of her head. At the touch of his lips, she tensed again and turned over. He opened his mouth to scold her, but her bottom lip jutted out.

"Dada, stay," she ordered.

"Manda, you don't call me Dada anymore," he frowned.

"Stay," she said again, her chubby arms coiling tightly around his neck.

"Okay," he promised, pressing his lips to her forehead. "If I lie down with you for a while, will you take a nap?"

Her brow furrowed with displeasure at the idea, but she grudgingly nodded. Closing his eyes briefly, Daniel kicked off his shoes and resigned himself to an afternoon spent scrunched up in the purple, toddler-sized bed. A few minutes of jostling later, she was cuddled against his chest, happily humming something that sounded vaguely like Daddy's Girl.

"Shh," he murmured, not particularly minding when she didn't. He rested his lips in her hair and closed his eyes, soothed by the rhythm of her heart next to his and the soft, tuneless crooning. Had it really been three years ago that he'd first held her aboard Ba'al's mothership? Sometimes it seemed far longer, but most of the time it felt as though the days had flown by. Despite his best intentions, he knew he still spent far too much time off-world than he'd ever intended. In another few days, he'd have to go again, but for now at least, he could let his little girl sing him to sleep…

                                                                                                              * * * *

"Grampa Nick!" Manda shouted as her unmistakable footsteps pounded down the stairs.

Eyes widening, Nick snapped closed his book and stuffed it down on the side of the recliner. Pushing his feet down as the little girl burst into the living room, he exclaimed. "Manda! What are you doing out of your bed?"

"Daddy sleeping in my bed!" she grinned.

"Your daddy is not sleeping in your bed," he chided, getting up. He sighed, extending a hand to her before he started for the stairs. "You come with me right now, and we're going to take a nap."

"Daddy sleeping in my bed," she repeated, still grinning as she took the hand he offered and trotted back upstairs beside him.

Nick stopped short in her bedroom doorway, his mouth slightly agape at the sight of Daniel indeed asleep in the little bed. He ducked out again and crossed the hall to the nursery, where Vala was feeding Nicky. He stood silently in the doorway for a moment, waiting for her to look up, then gestured with a finger for her to follow him.

Vala frowned and rose, carrying the baby with her into Manda's room. She stopped in the doorway beside Nick, where she let out a little snort of laughter. Manda spun to look at her, index finger pressed urgently to her lips.

"Whisper, Mama! Daddy need a nap!"

 

 

                                                                               ** The End **   

 

 

Feedback to:  lionchilde@msn.com   

 

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