Series: Idioms - A series of stand-alone stories based off random idioms.

A/N: All definitions can be found in From the Horse's Mouth but John Ayto.

Disclaimer: I don't own the show or the characters...unless you count action figures.

Idiom: moment of truth: a crisis; a turning point when a decision has to be made or a crisis faced.

The Moment of Truth

"Daniel!" Vala called out in a slightly panicked voice. "I have something I need to tell you."

"Now?!" he asked, sounding incredulous at her timing.

"No time like the present, eh?" Vala knew he was right, though. Now was probably not the best time to pour out her heart but considering they were currently surrounded by a dozen or more members of the Lucian Alliance and had absolutely no weaponry...well, now seemed to be as good a time as any, what with death looming and all.

"Fine, go ahead and tell me but make it quick."

"I love you." He did say he wanted quick, right? Silence met her confession so she nervously continued. "I don't expect you to reciprocate or anything. I'd just thought you ought to know before we...you know...die." More silence. She wanted desperately to look his way, to see his reaction, but was unwilling to take her eyes off the rapidly approaching enemy.

"Vala, I-" Daniel stuttered but was cut off when they felt a familiar tingle and found themselves on the bridge of the George Hammond.

They stared at each other for a few moments in shock. Neither wanted to acknowledge what had just happened, especially given the fact they were now surrounded by what looked to be half of the ship's crew. After a long while, Vala finally broke eye contact and glared at Samantha who sat in the command chair. "Took you long enough." she huffed indignantly, hoping it hid her embarrassment.

"You're welcome." Sam answered with a cheeky grin and a shrewd look between her former teammates. "We've got quarters all set up for you two. Go relax for a while. We'll be back on Earth in sixteen hours and I'm sure Cam is just itching to get his hands on you."

Vala didn't need to be told twice, high-tailing it off the bridge and away from Daniel. Hopefully he'd simply ignore what she'd said and they could go back to the way it was, back to before she'd opened her big mouth.

"Vala, wait!"

Well, so much for that plan, Vala thought with a groan as she turned to see Daniel running down the corridor toward her. Squaring her shoulders, she resigned herself to her fate and told herself it was better to get this over with quickly. It wasn't as though she could get any more embarrassed than she already was and she could always wallow in self-pity later. Daniel stopped not a foot in front of her, studying her intensely. The perusal caused Vala to squirm but she met it head-on. She could do this.

"Back on the planet...did you mean it?"

"Look, Daniel, I was under a lot of stress. People tend to say the craziest things when caught up in such situations, right? How about we just forget it happened, hmm?" She gave him her most winning smile but he merely scowled at her and took hold of her arms before she could turn away.

"Did you mean it?" he asked again, this time more fervently.

"I thought we were going to die and I wanted my last words to be memorable." she hedged.

"Oh, they were memorable, all right. But were they the truth?"

"What difference does it make?" Now she was beginning to squirm, unable to define the look she saw in his eyes.

"It makes a lot of difference, now answer my question. Did you or did you not mean what you said?"

"Fine, Daniel. Yes, I meant it. I love you. Happy now?" She didn't realise that she'd been shouting until she noticed a large group of personnel standing about, taking in everything being said. They appeared to be awaiting Daniel's answer and he didn't disappoint. Vala watched in confusion as a slow smile crept over his face and he pulled her toward him, fusing their lips together in a passionate kiss. Vala felt her knees grow weak so she wrapped her arms around his neck to keep herself from melting to the ground. She answered his passion with her own and refused to think about why he was kissing her. She simply wished to savour the sensation for a while. Unfortunately he pulled back too soon for her liking and rested his forehead against hers, neither speaking as they attempted to catch their breath.

"Does that answer your question?" he asked with another grin.

"What question?" she responded, still breathless.

He laughed and kissed her forehead. "I love you, too, in case you were wondering."

Vala kissed him again and when he pulled back this time, he wore a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I guess I should thank the Lucian Alliance for forcing us to admit out feelings."

"We'll send them a fruit basket, darling."

"Let's go make use of those quarters Sam so kindly set up for us." Without waiting for a response, he dragged her down the hall with absolutely no resistance on her part.

Neither of them noticed the collective sigh of the crew, not did they see the money changing hands as the losers paid off the winners of the Daniel/Vala pools. And they would have been shocked to realise it was Sam collecting the most winnings.

The End