Author Notes: Fire and Water Part 3. A bit angsty in the opening. Set about a year after Glimpses

The problem was that Abydos was gone. Not just Sha're, or Skaraa or even Kasuf, but the entire planet of Abydos. Just gone. Wiped out by Anubis because Oma had prevented Daniel from interfering. So even the physical traces, the places he might have gone again, the things he might have touched--evidence of this thing he still felt, this tie that still bound them-- had disintegrated. Literally.

So, here he stood, barefoot and leaning on the balcony rail, staring out at the rising sun. Inside, he could hear the shower cut off, and he bit his lower lip. The morning breeze was cold on the bare skin of his chest, but he didn't go back for the shirt he'd left on the bedroom floor. In the pocket of his old gray sweats, the tiny, black velvet lined box seemed to grow heavier with every breath.

"I don't even know how to explain it," he murmured, voice barely audible. "She makes me insane."

"You always say that," Sha're smiled in his mind. "But you love her."

"I miss you," he told her gently.

"I know you do...my Daniel..."

He smiled a little, and for a moment, he could feel her there, the softness of her hand on his. Footsteps sounded behind him, coming from the bedroom, and he looked up, turning his head as Sha're slipped back into his memory.

"Daniel?" Vala's voice. Real. Solid. Warm with life and slightly surprised to find him out of bed already.

"Out here," he called, his smile broadening as she appeared in the doorway, her slight frame wrapped in his soft blue robe.

"Thought you were going to sleep in," she reminded him.

"Yeah. Just talking to Sha're," he replied, turning back toward the flaring red and gold horizon. Her bare feet moved slowly away from the door, crossing the balcony with a soft slapping rhythm that brought her to a halt directly behind him, and he felt her arms slowly slip under his to encircle his chest.

"Everything all right?" she asked, the softness of her cheek pressing against his back.

"Mmmm," he said, feeling his mouth go dry. He nervously wet his lips and took a breath.

"Really?" Vala asked, turning a little to press her warm lips to his shoulder. "Because usually `talking to Sha're' means something's bothering you...or you're losing your mind again..." she added with a teasing laugh.

"No...I mean yes...yes, as in really. No as in nothing's bothering me," Daniel cleared his throat.

"Then why is your heart beating so fast?" Vala whispered, her palm flattening over his pounding pulse.

"Because you`re touching me--" he heard himself say, and broke off hurriedly as he felt blood rush to his face. Her mouth curved in a teasing smile against his skin, but she said nothing.

"Vala--" he began, reaching into his pocket as he turned to face her. "There's something I--" he broke off, clearing his throat again. "Wait."

"What?" she asked, eyes widening with surprise as his muscular arms wound around her, quickly lifting her off her feet to set her on the railing. The green of her eyes began to sparkle with unshed tears as he dropped to one knee and smiled up at her, holding out the box.

"Daniel, you don't have to..." she started to say, the fingers of one hand running softly through his hair while the other deftly opened to box to reveal the gleaming diamond. She eyed it, her tongue roving over her upper lip, then turned to him. He wondered briefly if she'd somehow missed the significance of the ring...something he'd considered, but highly doubted. Mating and courtship rituals were usually the first thing Vala learned on a new world, and she'd had over a year to learn them on earth now.

"It's, um..." he started, then broke off as her eyes crinkled in what he recognized as a clearly appraising expression.

"How much is that worth again?" she asked.

Daniel's face reddened angrily and he leapt to his feet. "Aw, c'mon, Vala! I mean--I mean, I'm trying to be all romantic here, and you--"

She gave a tiny snort of amusement and he broke off, jaw dropping. "Are you...?"

"Yes."

He rolled his eyes in disgust and started to turn away, then halted, blinking with surprise. "Did you say yes?"

"Yes..." she repeated slowly.

"As in yes?" he spun back to face her, swallowing hard. "Yes...yes? Or just yes?"

Vala slid off the railing, her arms coiling around his neck. He stared down at her for a long moment, half bewildered, unsure whether to be furious or amused, before she pulled him toward her mouth.

"Yes."

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