Chapter Twelve

01 May 2009 — Earth — 15:00 hours

 

The door to Daniel’s apartment was barely closed before he had his hands in Vala’s blouse, their lips seemingly glued together.  The passion was all-consuming and could not be ignored.

 

Clothes littered the floor from the front door to the living room.  Vala pushed Daniel onto the couch and attacked his chest.  Sucking on a nipple, she ravaged it hotly.  Her hand slid his boxer-briefs down and he soon began writhing under her.

 

Pulling her head up, he consumed her lips again.  He just couldn’t get close enough to her.  He was hard and ready.  Vala stood up to remove her panties and then she was straddling him in an instant.  Without so much as a by your leave, she impaled herself on his shaft with a scream.

 

She rode him hard.  Now was not the time for gentle seduction… it was time for conquest.  And Vala indeed conquered him.  The exquisite sensations sending him to the very height of ecstasy was a ride that Daniel never had in his life.  Now he wasn’t sure he ever actually lived.

 

This wild, untamed woman that scared him so much was now the only one to whom he felt truly connected.  He had loved Sha’re deeply and making love to her had been wonderful, but this was something beyond that.  Sex with Vala was exciting and fresh, tapping a deep part of his being that he had always purposely ignored.  He had never let his baser instinct rule his thinking, yet, this was also a part of him he should not deny.  As this extraordinary woman moved up and down on him in a frantic rhythm, he realized that this was something he needed.  Wanted.  And desired.  His fingers pressed hard into her hips as he kept her centered on him, which was the only cognitive thought he could maintain.  That and reaching their climax together.  When the orgasm hit them, they collapsed into each other’s arms, riding out the last shivers of the explosion.

 

Next time, Daniel thought, next time we will go slowly… maybe…

 

Holding her close, he soaked in the feel of her weight on him.  She was so light in his arms, a feather of exceptional beauty.  And she was all his.  He loved the smell of sex that now graced his apartment for the first time ever.  As he slowly softened inside of her, he whispered his love in as many languages he could.

 

Vala traced soft fingers across his pecks.  She loved being in his arms, feeling his chest rise and fall with his breathing.  He was warm, whole… and now she belonged with him, mind, body, and soul.  His body complimented hers as if they were made to fit together.  Two puzzle pieces that never entirely fit anywhere else.

 

She looked up and smiled.  Daniel had fallen asleep, while idly stroking her hair.  The afternoon sun blazed through the window and glittered in Vala’s eyes, drawing her attention to the silver collar around his neck.  She reached out and gently touched the ornament.

 

With a thief’s eye, Vala began to investigate it carefully, tracing the knot work and ivy delicately carved on it.  Surprised, she noticed that it was warm and it hummed ever so slightly.  Her interest was drawn to the blue stones.  They were beautiful and something that, in a former life, she would’ve liberated from him.

 

Even now, her mouth watered just thinking about what she could get for them.  Daniel said he couldn’t take the thing off, but he didn’t say anything about removing the gems.

 

An admonishing mew called her attention to Daniel’s familiar.  She eyed the cat with interest,  “Don’t worry… I don’t do that anymore.  At least with these people,” she added with a smile.

 

Vala shook her head— that life was over for her.  She had someone she loved completely and never wanted to hurt him with her old tendencies.  As she studied the stones, she saw that they were the exact color of his eyes.  They sparkled and shone just as his eyes did when he was happy.  She hadn’t seen much evidence of enjoyment in the months before he went to the Otherworld.  As she played with the torque, Daniel woke up and watched her with a slight grin.

 

“Hey, beautiful,” he said with a husky voice.  Vala smiled at him and his heart jumped.

 

“We’re kinda sticky,” she purred in his ear.

 

“Yeah, I guess we are,” he agreed as he laughed and kissed her nose.  “We should get up and take a shower, maybe get something to eat and then— go to bed.”

 

Vala loved the plan.

 

“Um… Daniel, darling,” Vala said with amusement in her voice, “will, Aisling be joining us in the shower?”

 

Daniel rolled his eyes and looked back to where the black cat lay on the back of the sofa.

 

“Stay,” he told her, not entirely sure that would work.  Aisling yawned at him and stretched out in a ray of sunshine.  With a smile, he turned to Vala, waved his hand towards the bathroom, sure that they would not be graced with the feline.

 

***

 

01 May 2009 — Earth — 20:40 hours

 

Sitting at the kitchen table in Daniel’s blue terry-cloth robe, Vala watched him.  He was going to fix her a meal but then remembered that he hadn’t been home for six months.  He was actually scared to open the refrigerator.  So he called for Thai food to be delivered with a small side dish of chicken for the cat.

 

They sat in a comfortable peace while eating, talking about nothing important and stealing heated glances every so often.  They were always touching somewhere, a hand, a foot, a knee, hating to be out of contact for more than a few minutes.  Aisling was sitting on the table savoring her chicken.  He had to remember to get cat food and a litter box, although Aisling seemed happy using the toilette.  Would she prefer a litter box?  He never had a pet before.  This was all new to him.  He smiled affectionately at his new companion and casually stroked the warm, soft fur.  When dinner was finished and leftovers put away, Daniel led Vala by the hand to his bedroom.

 

This time, Daniel was patient, exploring Vala with the care that years of archeology had honed.  He wanted to know every place that made her purr with delight.  Moving down between her legs, he gently spread her folds.  She was so moist already.  With a smirk, he went to work with his tongue.  Taking wide, slow licks over her clit, he had her bucking in response.  Enjoying the sounds she was making, he began to fuck her with his tongue.  He was having fun making her twitch and moan.  Inserting two fingers, Daniel continued to slowly pleasure his lover, feeling her climax with a shiver.  Women were lucky— they could have multiple orgasms with no real recover time.  He wished he could’ve kept it up for hours, but his body wasn’t playing along.

 

As he kissed and nuzzled his way up to her breast, he began to pull slowly on his dick, just hard enough to keep it this side of throbbing in need.  He could tell that Vala was completely into what he was doing to her.  Her soft moans made his blood rage.  Eyes dilated with passion, he made his way up to capture her mouth.

 

His body began vibrate with need now.  Vala felt him shudder and decided to turn the tables, trailing her fingers down his chest, leaving chills that burned.  Starting with his lips, Vala licked and nipped a path down to his neck.  She paid particular attention to the soft spot just under his Adam’s apple.  He whimpered in total bliss.

 

Daniel dropped his hands to her ass, squeezing the round globes gently as she continued to feast on his throat.  Vala proceeded southward, taking in his nipple she sucked and bit the hard point.  He knew he wasn’t going to last much longer.  He needed to be inside her, loving her, showing her how much he desired her.

 

Rolling her under him, Daniel settled between her legs.  Vala reached her arms around him drawing him closer.  He effortlessly slid inside her— slowly… he was in control for the moment.

 

Setting a deliberate pace, the restored man made quiet love to his girlfriend for the first time.  He was determined to make it last.  Daniel continued his leisurely tempo, driving Vala insane.  She bucked under him, trying to coax him to go faster.  Leaning down to consume her lips, he echoed each thrust with his tongue.  But he couldn’t keep the slow pace for very long; he needed more friction as well.  Their climax rolled over them in waves as they clung to one another, making sure that neither was left behind.  Together they cried out in pure delight.

 

If they got out of Daniel’s apartment in the next two weeks, it would be a miracle.

 

***

 

02 May 2009 — Earth  — 12:10 hours

 

Vala and Daniel did make it out after the leftovers were gone.  He felt like a

schoolboy walking hand in hand with his girlfriend through the grocery store. 

He just couldn’t keep the silly grin off his face, he was so happy.  After getting

all the essentials, they made their way to the pet aisle.  Vala picked out a pink

collar with little skull and crossbones on it. Daniel smirked at her when she

showed it to him.  It fit, however, and they got it.

 

He wasn’t entirely sure how he was going to do his household shopping with

Aisling trailing after him like his shadow, as she had done ever since she

claimed him.  But, when they started out the door, he looked back to see that

Aisling was perfectly content at lounging in the sun.

 

When the couple pulled into Daniel’s apartment parking lot, they saw Sam waiting by her motorcycle.

 

“Hey, guys,” she greeted them as she pulled a package out of her backpack and handed it to Daniel.  “I was thinking, and well… I got this for you.  Well— actually, it’s for Aisling.”

 

Taking the gift, Daniel eyed her suspiciously.  As he opened it, Sam explained, “It’s good to know people in high places.  Usually it would take a long time to get the creds for this.”

 

Daniel pulled out some documentations and started reading.  It was for a PTSD companion animal and had Aisling’s name on it.  There was also a red vest that had a patch proclaiming her to be a PTSD service animal, and would allow her to enter any establishment with him.

 

Smiling, Daniel hugged his friend, “Thanks, Sam.  Not too sure about the PTSD part though,” he laughed.

 

“It was the only way I could get this pushed through.  Besides, if anyone at the SGC has a right to the term of PTSD, it’s you.”

 

“What’s PTSD?” Vala asked as she looked at the vest.

 

“It means, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Daniel answered absentmindedly.

 

“It’s a mental ailment that many people suffer from if they’ve had something horrible happen to them.  A lot of soldiers have the disorder because of things that happened in battle.  With Daniel… I’m sure he has it and is just not letting anyone know how hurt in the head he really is.”

 

With a wounded pout, Daniel hit her on the arm lightly, “I expect that from Jack, not you!” he whined.

 

Vala and Samantha laughed.

 

***

 

05 May 2009 — Earth — 09:30 hours

 

On the fourth day of their time off, Daniel took Vala and Aisling— dressed in her new vest and draped across his shoulders like a scarf— to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  Vala had never been to a place like that and was fascinated by everything they saw.  Daniel amazed her with all his knowledge and even had a few other people stay to listen to him explain in detail about one exhibit or another.

 

When they were about to leave the Egyptian exhibit, an elderly couple of about 70 stopped them.  The woman put $50.00 in Daniel’s hand.

 

“Mark and I have been coming to this museum for twenty years.  This was the first time we understood just what it would have been like in ancient Egypt.  It was almost as if you lived that life.  You, my boy, have a real gift.”

 

Daniel was turning red and tried to give the money back to her.  She folded his fingers around the cash with a smile, “No, son.  Take your beautiful lady to dinner— on Mark and me.  You make such a lovely couple.”

 

“Thank you… erm…”

 

“Martha, dear boy.  Mark and Martha.”

 

Vala couldn’t restrain herself, she just had to ask, “How long have you been together, Martha?”

 

“Fifty years, dear.  Not all happily, but always together.  We have three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.”

 

Vala was the picture of shock.  Fifty years— with one person?  Then she turned to look at Daniel, still talking with Mark, and realized that fifty years was doable.  Especially with Daniel.

 

After the museum, Daniel took Vala out for a nice dinner, a real date.  It was still amazing to him that no one commented about the cat.  Her vest seemed to be the key for every door.  They sat and talked about everything as if they were the most ordinary family in the world.  It was one of the best days either of them ever had.

 

***

 

12 May 2009 — Earth — 18:45 hours

 

The couple’s first week off went by much too fast for Vala’s liking.  They were getting ready to join the rest of the team at O’Malley’s.  Daniel was thumbing through a book he had bought at the museum, absently petting Aisling while he waited for Vala to get ready.  Over the last week, he realized that the cat seemed to know when she needed to be with them and when it was okay to let them be.  He wondered if she would be going through the ‘gate with the team.  Maybe not… which he was sure would make Landry a mite happier.  And he wouldn’t have to worry about losing her on another planet.

 

When Vala appeared in the living room, Daniel’s mouth dropped open and the book fell to the floor with a soft thump.  She was in a red, slinky, satin dress with matching heels.  Her hair was pulled up and back showing off her deliciously long neck.  The dress accentuated all her assets extremely well and Daniel could not stop staring.  She waited for him to say something, but he was utterly lost at the sight of her.

 

“Daniel…,” Vala said with a smile.  She loved that she could render him speechless.  “Darling, we need to go or we’ll be late.”

 

“Ah… um…,” he was trying to kick his brain back into gear.  “Yeah… right.  Um… let’s go then.”

 

It didn’t escape Vala that his loose fitting slacks were no longer very loose in the front and grinned.

 

Holding the door open for Vala, Daniel looked back and said, “We’ll be home later, Aisling.  Hold the fort for us.”

 

The cat meowed in answer.

 

They got to O’Malley’s at the same time as Sam and her date rode up on two very loud Harley’s.  Daniel was a little surprised.  He thought she was still pining for Jack.  He was a nice looking man with an athletic quality.  His hair was sun-bleached which told him that he spent a lot of time outside.  She introduced the newbie as Tim Grady and told Daniel he had started at the SGC a few months ago, working with Dr. Lee.

 

“I’m working on my doctorate and Dr. Lee offered to be my mentor.  I’m quite interested in talking with you also, Dr. Jackson.  I’m ashamed to say I was really disappointed that you were in the field when I first started,” Tim said as he shook hands with Daniel.

 

The linguist liked the man immediately.  He had a quality about him, “I’d be happy to, Tim.  Anytime.  I’ll be back to work next week, maybe we could grab some lunch in the mess hall.”

 

“That would be great!” he said enthusiastically, then turned to Vala with a warm smile, “Hey, Vala. Missed seeing you around this week.”

 

When Tim gave Vala a kiss on the cheek, Daniel felt something awaken inside of him.  A growling, angry beast that had been dormant for many years.  Sam caught the look in his eye and ushered Tim inside.  Vala took Daniel’s arm and followed.  She hadn’t seen what the other woman did.

 

Mitchell showed up shortly after with the woman that Vala recognized from her and Cam’s ill-fated high school reunion in Kansas a few years back.  She wasn’t very tall but definitely looked fit and wore her blonde hair in a style that screamed easy to care for.  She didn’t seem out of place at all.  In fact, she seemed rather comfortable on Cam’s arm.

 

“This is Amy Vandenberg,” Mitchell introduced her to Daniel and Sam; “I’ve known her since high school.  We’ve been seeing each other for about a year now.  Thought it was time to have her meet the band.”

 

Daniel grasped her hand with a smile, “I believe I did see you at the very end of the evening.  You might not remember.”

 

“Oh, I remember alright! The best damn reunion I’ve ever been too!  Little scary.  You guys need to come to our next one though,” she laughed.

 

They went into the bar for drinks while they waited for the last member of the team to show.

 

“I called to see if he wanted me to come and get him, but he said no,” Cam explained.

 

Just then, Teal’c walked in with, to the astonishment of his teammates, the beautiful Hak’tyl leader Ishta.  She was tall and had golden skin.  Her long blonde hair, braided in some places, hung loosely down her back and make-up covered the tattoo on her forehead that all Jaffa wore.

 

As all were present, they took their seats at the table in a room at the back of the restaurant.  The conversation was light and the camaraderie insightful.  It felt to all the SG-1 members as if they were simple working stiffs, out having a good time.  None of them felt the weight of planetary defense on their shoulders.

 

As for the non-members of SG-1, they could tell just how close the five of them were.  Amy actually felt honored at being accepted into the group.  It seemed to her that she was the only one that didn’t entirely know what SG-1 did.  But the talk was easy and they made sure to keep her included.

 

Vala seemed to be back to her old self, flirting with all the men.  She took particular delight in teasing Tim.  Daniel tried hard to not mind, but the beast inside was taking notice.  He knew she was his, but jealousy was lurking.  He attempted to remember that this was just a ‘Vala’ thing and it meant nothing.

 

At one point, she was leaning over and whispering in Tim’s ear.  Daniel had to fight the urge to hit the man.  When Vala looked over and saw his face, she knew something was bothering him.  Reaching out, she ran her hand up his thigh and put her head on his shoulder.  When he didn’t react, she knew that he was upset with how she was acting.  She had forgotten that Tim had started at the SGC while he was gone.  Vala and the new guy had many times eaten lunch together and were friends.

 

She stood and excused herself to go to the ladies room.  Once out of sight of the rest of them, she opened her phone and texted Daniel.

 

*I forgot my purse, please bring it to me.*

 

Daniel snatched it up and went to find her.  As soon as he got to the out of the way hall that led to the restrooms, Vala grabbed and kissed him.  Rubbing her barely restrained breast against his chest and running a foot up the back of his leg, he could feel the heat course through his body and melted into the embrace.  When they broke apart, she looked him in the eye.

 

“I.  Love.  You.  Daniel Jackson,” she said softly.  “And only you.”

 

When they returned to the table, he seemed much easier.  As the night was winding down, each couple made their good-byes.  Daniel couldn’t wait to get home.  With the way Vala looked and the kiss she had given him earlier, the last part of the evening he was sporting half an erection.

 

When they opened the door to his apartment, it was the same as the first day they had gotten home.  Taking Vala in a searing kiss, he backed her into the wall.  His hands were sliding her dress up and ripping off her panties, as she was undoing his belt.  In record time, his pants were pooled around his ankles as he reached around, placing his hands on her firm ass and lifting her up.  She wrapped her legs around his thin waist as she mussed his hair.  Their tongues wrestling with fervor, building up the heat. Soon he was slipping into her while kissing her deeply.  Daniel was never the kind of guy to have sex against the wall before, but Vala made him lose his prudishness with one smoky-eyed look.  All he could think of, and was fast becoming his motto, was— Carpe Occasio.  Seize the opportunity— and that was precisely what he was going to do—every chance he got.

 

As they rocked together, Daniel closed his eyes.  A bright light flashed in his mind.  In a jumble of confused images— he saw Sam and Vala in off-world gear.  Their faces twisted with fear.  Next was a mob of angry men, yelling, and spitting at someone he could not see.  Then an image solidified with the words, a bhaint as an dlí.  Daniel tried to plumb for more, but right then, Vala let out a particularly loud moan and he opened his eyes.  The vision faded quickly with the feel of her surrounding him.  As she neared ecstasy, her walls contracted and she screamed as he spilled inside of her.  Clinging to each other, they kissed again and Daniel forgot the vision completely.

 

***

 

17 May 2009 — Earth — 19:10 hours

 

On the last day of their vacation, a knock at the door startled the two people sitting in one chair, kissing.

 

“Who the hell could that be?” Vala groaned.

 

Daniel picked her up and placed her on the couch.  Crossing to the door, he let out a surprised grunt.

 

“Jack,” he said slowly, dropping his head to the door jamb.  Being off work and with Vala, he had totally forgotten to call his friend back.  The look on Jack’s face told him he was in trouble.

 

“Daniel,” O’Neill returned.  “So… I get back from places I can’t name and decided to call my former 2IC to see how things were.  And low and behold, she just happens to mention that a certain SG-1 team member that had been missing for the last six months had returned.  I was rather taken aback.  ‘When did he come back and is he all right?’ I ask and what does she tell me?

 

“‘I’m sorry, sir.  I thought he told me that he called you.  He’s been home for two weeks.’  And I answer her, ‘Two weeks?’  And to think that I call myself this man’s best friend.”

 

Daniel had the decency to look admonished, and open the door for Jack to come in.  Strolling into the living room he saw Vala, half reclined on the couch in one of Daniel’s old Air Force tee shirts and a pair of his soft boxers.

 

With one eyebrow raised, Jack turned to Daniel, “Ah… it’s all so clear now.”

 

The scolded younger man shook his head and asked, “Get you a beer?”

 

“Yes, I think I will have one,” he turned to Vala, “Princess?  Beer?”

 

“Oh, no, thank you, Jack.  I’ll just drink some of Daniel’s,” she purred to him.

 

Then Jack noticed the black cat curled up beside her, “Um, Daniel…” he said with a look of incredulity on his face, “what’s with the cat?”

 

“That’s… ah, that’s Aisling, Jack.  She is my companion.  She came back with me.  I guess I’m her pet now.”

 

The older man raised an eyebrow, “Really… does this mean she goes where you go?”

 

Aisling turned piercing blue eyes to Jack and sniffed at him.

 

With a shy smile Daniel turned to get their beers.  When he came back Jack was sitting with Vala practically in his lap.  With a sigh, he handed the beer off to his friend and sat in his recliner, Aisling jumping onto his lap.  Vala gave him a look that said she was in full play mode.  Shaking his head, Daniel just looked at his beer.  Vala’s flirting was something that drove him nuts before, and he still didn’t like it.  But having Aisling purring against him alleviated the level of his annoyance.

 

“So, kids,” Jack started as he lifted his bottle to his lips, “how are things?”

 

Daniel fidgeted in his chair and mumbled, “Ah, quite well.  You?”

 

“Couldn’t be better.  Especially now that I know you are safe, sound, and whole again.”

 

“I’m really sorry, Jack.  I did call… you weren’t available.  Then things just kinda… started going at a breakneck speed.  I didn’t mean to keep you in the dark.”

 

Jack pulled another long sip of his beer, eyeing the other man.  After a long moment, he slapped his leg, “All’s well, Danny, my boy.  And I see you are in excellent hands here.  And, er… paws.”

 

“Exquisite hands, Jack,” Vala said as she took Daniel’s beer for a sip.

 

“Great!  Actually, now that I’m here I do have a bit of business for you.  When I talked to Hank, who by the way also told me you were home, said that SG-1 was having a much-needed break, but that it was over as of tomorrow.”

 

Jack took another swallow and cleared his throat.  “It just so happens that there is a planet that the SGC is interested in establishing trade relations.  SG-2 had the privilege of the initial meet and came back with some Naquadria.  At first blush, it looks like it may be more stable than any of the stuff we’ve used before.  Carter and her geek department were practically slobbering when they saw it.  And they have some interesting medical knowledge too.

 

“SG-2 also came back with a very large book of law that someone of intelligence needs to examine carefully before anyone can go back.  Care to take a look, Daniel?”

 

Daniel had been only half-listening to him as Vala was nursing his beer in the most erotic way.

 

“Hmm?  Oh… yeah, yeah.  I’d love to,” he tried to cover.  “Has anyone from J.A.G. or Major Kovacek gone over it yet?  I mean, I only know so much about law, it’s not really my strong suit.”

 

Jack smiled at him, “Oh yeah, the sharks have already circled.  They didn’t seem to think there would be any trouble.”  He handed Daniel a flash drive with a grin, “The book is on here, thought you’d like to go over it before tomorrow.  Hank says to let you know the briefing is at 09:00 tomorrow with SG’s 1, and 2, and the aforementioned sharks.  And, of course, yours truly.”

 

Vala sat up and pouted at Daniel, “Back to the grind-rock.”

 

“Stone,” both men said.

 

Jack stood and moved towards the door and Daniel followed him, “It is really great to see you, Daniel.  Let’s try and keep you in one working piece for a while, okay?” the silver-haired man said in a low voice as he hugged his friend.

 

“I’ll try, Jack,” he said as he looked over his shoulder to Vala.  “I have a good reason to make sure I do.”

 

Jack set the empty bottle down and went out the door with a wave to Vala.  Daniel padded after him  Once they were in the parking lot Jack turned back to his best friend, “Daniel,” he began, “does Hank know about the cat?”

 

Looking startled for a second, Daniel answered, “Yes, he knows.  Aisling is my sole responsibility.  And, I’m not entirely sure if she will go with me through the ‘gate.  I guess we’ll find out soon enough.  She will be coming to the SGC with me though.  Sam got her a service animal vest so she can accompany me while on Earth too.”

 

Jack hung his head for a moment.  Then he reached out and cupped the back of Daniel’s neck, hauling him in for another hug, “If that cat and that pirate can keep you out of trouble, I welcome their help.”  With a grin, the general got into his truck, leaving Daniel smiling after him.

 

***

 

18 May 2009 — Earth — 04:30 hours

 

Daniel had stayed up very late reading the laws from the planet named Volzar, otherwise known as P5X-221.  Between the preliminary reports from SG-2 and the huge book of law, he was able to deduce that the planet had three separate countries.

 

The primary country was called Ertieg.  Its citizens held the most sway over the citizens of the whole planet.  They were the elite, almost to the point of royalty.  However, they were currently in a bitter dispute with the country of Sengo.  That country’s populace was made up of miners and other working class folks.  One of the main reasons that Ertieg wanted trade relations with Earth was so that the Tau’ri would help mediate an agreement to end hostilities that were beginning to grow between the two nations.  The Naquadria was mined in Sengo whose leaders wanted a larger share of the profits that Ertieg obtained from trading the mineral to other planets.

 

Daniel hated going into a potentially explosive situation for his first mission back.  But the mineral and the medical samples SG-2 had brought back would help Earth greatly, so it was a good mission.  Plus, they didn’t ask for weapons of any kind, which was extremely unusual.  It wasn’t until the very last page of SG-2’s report that he found out about the third country.  It was actually a penal colony for both nations that they simply called The Island.

 

He figured that things would go smoothly with three teams going.  There were only a few issues that they had to address as a team in order to accommodate their legal requirements.  He was sure that neither Sam nor Vala would like it, but he would cross that bridge later.

 

Turning in at around four AM, Daniel snuggled up with Vala.  It seemed to him that she made sleeping easier than he had ever known it to be.  The dreams stayed sweet and the night terrors were gone.  He could definitely get used to this.