Chapter One: Exchange of Families
Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate: SG1 or any of the charactersAiden scowled out the car window as her foster mother drove down another side street. Her older foster brother Toby laughed at their foster mom. They were lost trying to find the IHOP in which they were meeting Aiden's biological mother at. Of course Aiden hadn't seen her mother in almost ten years and now her mother was getting custody of her again.
"Mom the street coming up on your right turn there." Toby said. T.J. shook his head and looked at Aiden, who still refused to talk to any of them.
"I don't see why the state couldn't have let you adopt me; it would be so much easier." Aiden said as they pulled into the parking lot ten minutes later.
"Because," Her 'mom' started, "your mom never gave up her parental rights to you. If she had we wouldn't be doing this now Aiden."
Aiden scowled at the window yet again hoping it would make a noise back at her. It never did. The teen just resorted to rolling her eyes with an audible sigh. Things just weren't going her way this summer.
"How am I supposed to make friends in my last year of high school? It's not worth uprooting someone in their senior year of high school." Aiden said as they all got out of the car.
T.J. threw an arm around Aiden's shoulders saying, "Yea I agree. Maybe you could convince this lady to move to New York so you can finish school with me."
"Or maybe I can convince her that she should allow your mom to just adopt me T.J. Then I'll never have to see her again." Aiden said.
"Give her a chance Aiden, maybe she'll surprise you." Toby said as they entered the restaurant. Aiden growled at her older foster brother who just in turn looked at her.
"Like you gave your family Toby?" Aiden asked. T.J. got between the two. Toby and Aiden were both in the foster system. T.J. and his younger sister were the only biological children his parents could have due to complications. Therefore, his family turned to foster care and adoption.
"Ok you two. Stop please for the sake of being in public." T.J. said playing moderator between the two teens. Toby and Aiden were 6 months apart in age at 17, where T.J. was exactly a year younger then Aiden and Sierra was 8 years old.
"Will you two ever get along?" Their foster mom asked them, as they were lead to a table with three women sitting at it.
"Not in this lifetime." Aiden said not to happy still. She hated the situation still and did not know if her mood would ever change. The woman at the table stood up to greet the group.
"Hi you must be Samantha Carter, I'm Joan McAlister." Aiden's foster mother said shaking Sam's hand.
"I am. Please call me Sam. This is my friend Janet Fraiser and her daughter Cassie." Sam said introducing the other two women with her.
"And this," Joan started, "Is Toby, T.J. and Aiden. Sierra, my eight year old, is at home with her father. She came down with the flu and couldn't make the trip with us."
"I hope she feels better soon." Janet said. The group sat down as a server came over. They gave their orders and Sam and Joan quickly got into the legal conversation about Aiden's switch over.
An hour later, they were moving Aiden's belongings into the pickup that Sam had borrowed from the SGC. Aiden was saying bye to T.J. when Sam called for her to get in the truck.
"I'll call you in a day or two from the road, k?" T.J. asked her. Aiden nodded feeling the tears approaching. T.J. gave her a hug and walked her over to the pickup.
"Be patient with her Mrs. Carter." T.J. said with his arm around Aiden's shoulder, "If you want her trust show her you trust her. You be careful ballerina." T.J. said the last part to Aiden using his nickname for her. She had taken ballet for five years when they were younger. They didn't know where the nickname came from but it stuck and T.J. was the only one who was allowed to use it when talking to Aiden.
"I'll be as careful as I ever am." Aiden said giving her brother one last hug. She then gave Joan and Toby each a hug then went to the pickup.
Aiden looked at Sam and said, "You may be biologically my mother but you're not my mom." Aiden then got into the truck.
Sam sighed as she got into the truck with her friend and surrogate niece. The ride to Sam's house was long and silent until Cassie tried to break the silence.
"So Aiden," Cassie started choosing her words carefully, "What do you do for fun?"
"Sit in my room and think of horrible spells to put on pricks." Aiden said seriously as she looked out of the window. Cassie crossed her arms clearly offended. Aiden started laughing. Cassie looked at her funny. "I was joking Cassie. I used to dance and I write songs for my sister Sierra to sing."
"Oh. Why don't you dance anymore?" Cassie asked, as Sam pulled into her driveway grateful she brought Cassie along. At least Aiden was talking.
"I messed up my knee real bad during a ballet competition a couple years back and don't have full range of motion in it. What's there to do around here for fun?" Aiden asked as they got out of the truck. A group of people came out of Sam's house.
"Carter, we're almost done with her room." An older guy said. Aiden looked at as if he was an alien. Jack O'Neill didn't like the look from the younger Carter.
"Sir, please be nice to her." Sam said then introduced Aiden and her team to each other. There was Daniel, Teal'c, Jack, and Jonas Quinn. Aiden thought Jonas was somewhat cute.
"What's left to do in 'my' room?" Aiden asked once the introductions were done.
"Making the bed and hooking up the computer." Daniel said.
"I'll make my bed and hook up the pc," Aiden said, "Cassie can help if she wants. No point in y'all killing yourselves over lil' 'ole me." Aiden said in a southern accent walking towards the house with Cassie following her.
Sam sighed. This was going to be difficult for her to cope with. On top of it all, she had Jonas temporarily living there, her father was due for a visit soon and Mark was due in a week with his family for a visit. There was no way she would have room for all of her guests.
As Aiden was making her bed Cassie was plugging the computer up. Some how Cassie knew something was wrong with Aiden still.
"Stop looking at me as if I'm an alien." Aiden said as she put the pillows back on the bed. Cassie looked away offended again. "Not you Cassie, the guy in the doorway."
"How'd you know I was offended?" Cassie asked getting up.
"Because you look away every time you feel offended by me. Who are you again?" Aiden asked.
"Daniel, and I wasn't looking at you like an alien. I don't even know what an alien looks like." Daniel said.
"Then maybe I am alien after all and so is my mom and we're faking the whole human being thing." Aiden said as Sam came into the room.
"What about humans?" She asked.
"Aiden said that maybe you two are aliens masquerading as humans." Cassie supplied.
"Sarcasm huh Carter? Seems to run in the family." Jack said entering the room followed by Janet and Jonas. Teal'c was watching t.v.
"What would you know about my family?" Aiden asked.
"Careful Aiden, he is my C.O." Sam said trying to diffuse any arguments about to rise up.
"And? Want respect as a person give respect. He ain't anything but an elder to me." Aiden said walking out of the room and leaving the house. Jonas followed since he hadn't been part of the discussion.
"Aiden wait up, you don't know where you're going." Jonas said.
