Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate SG-1 or its characters.

Chapter One

"Ms. Mal Doran, General Landry would like to see you in his office."

Vala looked up. "Did the good general happen to give any indication as to why?"

"No, ma'am. Sorry. He just asked me to tell you he'd like to see you."

"Well, I'll assume it's not terribly urgent then. I'm kind of in the middle of something here…"

"Go ahead, Vala," Bill Lee said. "You've been a big help, but I can take it from here. I don't want you to keep the general waiting on my account."

Vala shrugged. "All right then. Hopefully it will be something quick and easy, and I can return soon." She followed the airman out of Bill's office.

Perhaps it was a bit more urgent than the airman had realized, for General Landry was definitely waiting for her. Walter was with him. "Is there a problem, General?"

"We hope not. But we realize we perhaps did not handle the situation with your father very well several years ago. We will make every effort not to revisit that mistake. But we have received an off-world communication."

"Jacek's been in touch?" Vala's heart sank. At this point, he'd only contact her if he were truly desperate. And as much as she hated herself for it, she didn't think she could turn him away if that were the case.

"No, not Jacek. A woman named Adria. Says she's your stepmother." The general gave a humorless chuckle. "Gave us quite the start at first, just introducing herself as Adria. I almost retired on the spot, just so I didn't have to deal with a return of the Orici. But this does appear to be an older lady, and she talked at length about her, ah…disappointing marriage to your father."

"That sounds like Adria," Vala said dully. "She's quite eloquent when it comes to logging Jacek's shortcomings."

The general leaned toward her. "I know we all kind of shoved Jacek on you last time, urged you to give him a chance against your own better judgment. I won't do that here, Ms. Mal Doran. You tell me…do you want to see her or not?"

"Where is she now?"

"At the Alpha site. She says she understands if you don't wish to see her, and she will abide by your decision regardless of what it is." General Landry met her gaze steadily. "As will we."

Vala swallowed hard. "Is she…safe there? Do I have time to think about it? Discuss it with Daniel?"

"She's quite safe. Take all the time you need."

"Thank you. Am I free to go?"

"Yes. Just let me know when you decide."

"I will." She fled.

Hours later, Daniel found her, sitting curled up in a grassy area outside the complex. He'd known as soon as Walter filled him in exactly where she'd be. He sank to the ground beside her. "Hey. You okay?"

"Yes." Her voice was muffled, since her head was buried in her arms.

He began to rub her back methodically. He didn't believe her, but she'd talk in her own time. That was one thing he'd finally learned—not to push her before she was ready.

Sure enough, she lifted her head a few minutes later. "Did General Landry tell you?"

"Walter did. I think he's worried about you."

"What should I do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know. I really don't." She looked miserable.

He scooted a bit closer so he could wrap his arm around her. She curled up against his side and rested her head on his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head. "You want to tell me about her? You never really have."

"I know. And…no. I don't."

"Okay." They sat in silence again.

A long while later, Vala asked, "If I…if I go to the Alpha site…if I see her…would you come with me?"

Did she even have to ask? "Of course. Whatever you need."

There was another long pause before she spoke again. "Do you think Cameron would come? I know Samantha can't…"

"He one hundred percent will be there. Sam would if she could at all work it. Teal'c will be there if you want him to be."

She nodded and lapsed once more into silence. Finally she said haltingly, "I think…I think I should see her."

"Okay. Then we'll see her."

Vala was pretty sure Daniel had gotten Jack to pull strings. Because suddenly Samantha had some urgent thing to do at the Alpha site and would be there within a couple of days…right about the time Vala planned to try to reconnect with her long-lost stepmother.

They'd had one short conversation, making tentative plans for Vala to come see her in person at the Alpha site before any final decisions were made. Vala hadn't seen her in so long that it was a bit startling how much older Adria looked now. And she looked tired and hard; life had not been kind to her. But then, being married to Jacek couldn't have been kind to anyone.

Vala thought wistfully of her mother. How she wished it could be Nalini Mal Doran waiting for her at the Alpha site. But alas, just like when she was a child, she was stuck with Adria instead. Always Adria.

Somehow Vala had never learned how to navigate a relationship with either Adria.

She still wasn't fully convinced she wanted to start learning now. But Adria the Original was here and was willing to talk. Maybe Vala would have better luck than she'd had with Adria's namesake.

It surely couldn't go much worse, right?