Mitchell and Teal'c arrived in the mess early, followed by Sam and Landry. Vala added her last ingredients and just as she closed the lid a small amount of the smell seeped out. Luckily she had held her breath.
As she brought out her home style "alien" stew and placed it on the table Sam said "Vala, you looked really nice. Isn't that dress a Dior? I'm sure that I saw it on a mannequin in Neiman-Marcus right before we left Earth. I love the way the silk drapes."
In shock Vala had the first inkling that the evening might not go exactly according to her plan. She was starting to question whether "Alien Nation" had been such a good idea. Maybe it would have been easier to leave SG-1 and Daniel behind if she had the help and support of friends. But she would no longer have that option once she served her stew.
Mitchell added "I agree it's a snazzy dress. But you still look awfully tired. By the way, lately you've been looking a lot like that Goth geek lab girl on NCIS. Not that she isn't sexy in a slightly disturbing way."
Landry chimed in "I can't wait to try whatever it is that you cooked for us."
Filled with trepidation she reached over to lift up the lid. Before she could finish Sam spoke up "Vala, aren't you going to wait for Daniel?"
She couldn't keep the panic out of her faltering voice as she gave her hesitant answer "I just checked in with him and he's a little involved right now. If he doesn't get here soon I'll go and grab him."
Sam gave her an odd look. "When I took him lunch he told me that he planned on coming tonight. I didn't mention your special surprise but I did encourage him not to skip dinner. I told him that we all missed seeing him these past few days. He also said that you hadn't spoken to him today, although he did find a note you had left. He seemed a little confused, he had been waiting for you to stop in so he sat and wrote in his journal so he wouldn't miss you. He couldn't understand how you could have been there and left a note without him hearing you."
Teal'c said "Vala can be amazingly quiet when she is trying to avoid possible capture or exposure."
"But why would you want to avoid Daniel" asked Sam? "Is everything okay between the two of you?"
Without answering Vala uncovered the pot. The smell was the first thing to assault their senses. It was unclear if the color or the eyeballs came next. Mitchell took one look and started to laugh.
"You have got to be kidding Vala. No one cooks, let alone eats, food this disgusting. I don't care what planet you're from. I get it! We are being "punked". Has Ashton retired and now it's the "Punked" by Vala Show?"
Vala just stood still and stared. Mitchell started in again. "The eye balls are a good touch I must admit. You are definitely in charge of the Halloween Haunted House."
"Trust me; I'm familiar with appalling food. My Aunt Emma has tried to feed me pickled pig's feet, jellied eel, tongue, blood sausage and even chitlins. And believe me you do so not want to know what they are. She even tried to make us eat the ultimate nasty food, boiled okra!"
Mitchell was stirring the pot in admiration of her creativity when he spotted proof of her joke. "Oh my God, it's boiled okra! There is no way okra exists anywhere else in the universe."
Everyone, except for Teal'c, was laughing. They all thanked her for the most fun and the best laugh they'd had in ages.
Landry, in tears from laughing, said "I can't believe we fell for that I miss my mother's "alien" cooking line. Vala you have such a great sense of humor, it is a pleasure to be stuck on this ship with you."
Sam added "We really appreciate all your work setting this up. "
"A lot of people appreciate your unique approach to life. My mother is always asking about you, Mom loved the way you devoured her pie without a thought about how you looked. She thinks a woman as beautiful as you, without vanity, is a rare bird."
"And I know that sometimes Dad thinks I might have made a mistake even looking at Amy with you around."
As Mitchell laughed Vala could see his body start to relax. Over the past months his stress had become almost palpable. As he told her about his parents he stood up, hugged her and then pulled her onto his lap as he sat down. It felt like they were two kids laughing with their friends over a silly childish joke. Vala could hardly stand the pain in her stomach. Everything was cockeyed; these people weren't following her carefully scripted scenario. At the moment she couldn't imagine what they would think if they knew the truth about her treachery.
Fighting back tears she went to hug Teal'c. She stood up on her toes and whispered in his ear. "Please don't ever tell them what I tried to do. I am so sorry." He nodded and she knew she could trust him.
Living on the base Vala spent a lot of her off mission time watching hours of TV and movies both for entertainment and to help her understand Tau'ri culture. Though she didn't spent as much time once she discovered the public library and therein its treasures of literature and poetry. Some of her favorite shows were where they gave people awards. Vala thought it was nice how they paid tribute to people they thought had done something well, everyone got dressed up and had a fabulous party. Everyone was praised; even the losers were made to feel appreciated. So it was no surprise that she quoted Sally Fields' famous Oscar acceptance speech before stumbling out of the room leaving a very confused group of people.
"You like me, you really like me!"
Sam asked Teal'c "Do you know what just happened?"
"I think that Vala Mal Doran was not fully aware of the affection you feel towards her. It has been a difficult time for her as she attempted to sort out her feelings. It was not as easy for her to ignore her false memories as she pretended. However I think now that she truly accepts your friendship."
Mitchell asked "Is that why she has seemed a little withdrawn and depressed the last few days?"
"No. She feels badly because Daniel Jackson has convinced her that he holds her in contempt and has no feelings for her. And even worse that she does not deserve his affection."
Landry and Mitchell speaking at the same time said 'But Daniel is in love with Vala!"
Sam looked as if she was going to faint. "Even if he didn't love her why would he say such things to her?"
"I suspect that he was trying to convince himself and deny his love." replied Teal'c. "Sam, I had planned to ask you to please speak with Daniel. Perhaps you could attempt to find out what happened and what he actually meant to happen."
"I fear that I would strike Daniel Jackson if I were to visit him." Everyone stared, Teal'c never threatened violence. And the idea of Teal'c cold cocking Daniel was almost impossible to imagine. Then Mitchell had to laugh at the image of Daniel hitting the floor with Teal's standing above him saying "Indeed."
Sam left the room assuring Teal'c that she would report back to him after her discussion with Daniel.
Mitchell and Landry wondered if they should go see to Vala. Teal'c told them he thought it would be best to leave her be for now. He hoped that Daniel would be with her soon. Teal'c was sure that Daniel, though in no way innocent, had not meant to destroy Vala. He wasn't sure exactly what had happened between them but he expected that Daniel would open up to Sam.
The three of them disposed of Vala's "alien" stew laughing at how Vala had created the most disgusting mess any of them had ever been unfortunate enough to see. They were impressed by her ingenuity and style. They wondered what had made her think of such an outrageous prank. Had she realized how much they needed to take a break from their grave situation? They had been so serious, tense and uptight, so focused on finding answers that they had lost sight of an important part of themselves, each other. Perhaps it was another of the group activities she arranged. After she practically forced them to participate they ended up feeling grateful to her. They always felt closer to each other afterwards.
Teal'c said nothing but simply nodded as if he agreed with them. Vala deserved her secrets. Whatever she had expected the consequences of this evening to be was no longer important. If nothing else, she was now be sure of their friendship and thankful to have them in her life.