OMG! I finally finished this chapter!!
By Rights
Daniel's blue eyes scanned the neighborhood around Vala's house as he stood on the porch, waiting for her to open the door. He'd just gotten off the phone with her minutes before, and though all she'd really been doing was giving him directions to her house, Daniel had enjoyed hearing her voice. Especially after spending half the night arguing with his best friend Jack over disappearing for a day to chat with some strange woman.
He was started from his memories of shouting and slamming doors as the front door opened next to him, accompanied by the sound of that same soothing voice - though it sounded a bit flustered and demanding.
"I mean it, Hayden. I want you ready in FIVE MINUTES!" The words matched her tone before Vala turned her attention out the door. She offered Daniel a warm smile. "Hey, sorry about that. Sometimes I feel like I'm raising a teenager rather then a young child."
Daniel shook his head. "It's okay...I was enjoying the scenery."
She laughed. "Yeah, suburbia at its best." Vala stepped aside and swung the door open a little more. "Come in, please. I doubt we'll be ready to go anytime soon-" She broke off and turned her head to shout down the hall. "I don't hear you getting ready!" Her attention snapped back to Daniel, and she jumped back into her previous statement flawlessly. "And I don't want you just standing outside aimlessly."
"Aimless is what I do best sometimes." Daniel chuckled as he examined his surroundings. Definitely looked like the house of a single mother raising a daughter - not that he'd been in many like it. "You really have a nice house."
It was Vala's turn to laugh again, but this one was sarcastic. "Yeah, it's amazing what speed cleaning will do." She moved towards the kitchen and Daniel followed her. The wry smile she gave him over her shoulder as she made her way to the coffee pot caused his heart to skip a beat. "Just avoid Hayden's room and mine so you can keep your first impression."
Daniel nodded when she indicated if he wanted some coffee by holding up a mug. "I'll try my hardest." He joked, taking a seat despite being unsure of how comfortable he could get in her house. He was trying to hold onto the fact that they'd barely known each other for more than 24 hours - but it became harder the more time he spent with her. "But you didn't have to worry about cleaning up for me." He accepted the cup from her. "Thank you." She nodded back a 'your welcome' as she took a seat beside him. He sipped from the cup before continuing.
"I'm not a very neat person myself."
Her eyebrow quirked. "Oh no, a flaw. I might have to reconsider this whole inviting you to this barbeque."
He laughed gently. "Yeah, well, I never said I was perfect. Far from it, actually." His blue eyes looked at her with total seriousness, letting her know if she really was uncomfortable with his presence that he would leave.
Vala offered an understanding smile. "Apparently I am too..." Daniel's eyebrow rose curiously even as her voice rose as she continued talking. "Seeing as I can't get my own daughter in gear!" She shouted over her shoulder. "Hayden!"
"Yeah, yeah!" Was the reply that came drifting from the room at the end of the hall.
Shaking her head, Vala gave Daniel an apologetic look. "Like I said..."
"Sounds like a firecracker..." He grinned gently, taking a drink of his coffee.
Vala tilted her head a fraction. "You saying she seems like a handful?"
A blush creeping up his neck, Daniel gulped down the coffee awkwardly. "No, no..." He stammered. "I wasn't implying-" He stopped as she laughed good-naturedly.
"It's alright, Daniel." Her hand went up, and Vala grinned even wider as Daniel continued to blush. "I was just messin' with you." She sipped from her cup, then set it down. Her grey eyes stared at her fingers stroking over the rim, her smile turning almost secretive. "She can be a handful sometimes..."
As if that was her cue, said handful stomped into the kitchen. Daniel couldn't help but smirk at the sight of the five year old. Just from the look of her, with her braided pigtails and bright red rimmed sunglasses, he could tell she was a force to be reckoned with.
"I'm ready!" She announced, flinging out her arms.
Vala rolled her eyes dramatically as she pushed her chair back and made her way over to the little girl. "Finally!" She muttered playfully as she snatched up her daughter, who giggled as Vala spun her around. "I was beginning to think we'd have to not go. Uncle Cameron would be very disappointed."
As the two came to a stop facing Daniel, fierce little grey eyes finally landed on him for the first time. Hayden frowned. "Who's that?" She pointed her finger at him.
"Remember the nice man who helped mommy out yesterday?" Vala said as she walked towards Daniel, Hayden against her hip. The little girl nodded, her sunglasses nearly falling off. "Well, this is him."
Hayden gazed down at Daniel, who was giving her a friendly smile. "He doesn't look like a hero."
This time the blush spread across Vala's cheeks, especially as Daniel's eyebrows rose.
"Well..." She had to take a moment to figure out how she'd explain this so Hayden could understand. "All heroes have to look like everyday people to fit in and hide how..." Vala trailed off, fighting not to say the words 'amazing' or 'beautiful'.
Daniel, sensing her discomfort, stood up and stuck his hands in his pockets. "Heroes need their secret identities." He focused on Hayden and her critical stare from over the rim of her ridiculous glasses. Standing his ground, he offered his hand out to her. "I'm Daniel Jackson."
She hesitated a moment, then placed her small hand in his. Daniel squeezed it gently as he shook. "I'm Hayden..." She said eventually, as if she was trying to determine something.
Vala nodded in approval of the exchange, checking her watch. "And we're gonna be late..." She placed Hayden back down and ushered her towards the front door. "Go on, munchkin - lead the way." As her daughter happily marched forward, Vala crooked a finger to indicate for Daniel to follow.
"This way, sir." She joked as they made their way out of the house and down the porch steps. Vala didn't bother locking the door, knowing with the nature of the Mitchells' barbeques, her house would be well watched. Daniel fell in step beside her as they moved down the driveway.
He stuck his hands in his pockets again as they walked, Hayden humming as she strutted a few steps ahead. "So your friends live right down the street?"
Vala nodded. "Yep, just a few houses down." She sighed. "It really does make things a lot easier, considering how much Carolyn looks after Hayden."
"What about me?" Hayden asked loudly, having overheard her name.
Her mother rolled her eyes. "Talking about you, not to you - go back to your humming."
Hayden stamped her foot, then started walking at a brisker pace. She stopped at the curb, eyeing the street before her with curiosity. Vala saw the look on her daughter's face.
"Don't even think about crossing that street without me." She ordered, giving Daniel an exasperated look for her child's actions. "Sorry if she seems a little bratty - She's not exactly happy with mommy."
Daniel tilted his head at the admission. "And that would be because...?"
Vala shook her head while shrugging at the same time. "Because I got in an argument of sorts with Carolyn last night..." She stopped, dropping her voice so Hayden couldn't hear. "Over yesterday..." Her grey eyes looked almost apologetic as they gazed into Daniel's blue. He was listening intently. "And you." She finally added.
Blue eyes widened slightly with understanding, but before he could say anything Vala walked away and moved to help Hayden across the street quickly. It took a few minutes for his mind to kick into action, then he finally followed.
He jogged to catch up with her. Daniel touched her arm as Vala stopped just short of the front lawn to the house Hayden was now racing towards. She turned to look at him, a mix of apology and frustration clouding her beautiful features.
"It really is stupid, Daniel." Vala pouted, crossing her arms and looking away from him. "We had such a good time yesterday, and I wanted it to continue today. But no, Carolyn had to go and be all uptight and tell me I don't know you and this is all too soon..." She shook her head, still not looking at him. "She tells me to go and find someone, and when I finally do..."
Daniel reached up and touched his fingers to her chin. "Hey..." He stated softly, and Vala finally turned her gaze on him. He could see her eyes were a bit watery. "I know exactly how you feel - Jack gave me the same riot act last night about you."
Her hands came up, and Vala turned and stepped away quickly. "Now I feel much better! And it's gonna just get better and better when we go inside and I have to deal with Carolyn, and Cam - Oh God, Cam!"
Wincing, Daniel stepped closer to her once more. "Vala, hey..." He placed a hand on her shoulder and she turned to face him. "I don't want you all to be on bad terms because of me. I can just go home." He nodded as she shook her head at his words. "Yeah, I think I should - it would be for the best probably."
"No, Daniel, it won't." Vala argued, pointing to the house. "Because even if you leave right now, and call me in a week and ask me out, and we go on a date - they'll still think it's too fast. Too fast because no matter how you look at it, I met you in a damn parking lot and invited you to my house the next day. They'll forever look at me and you like some lovesick teenagers who don't understand what's really at stake."
Daniel shook his head. "I'm sure that's not true." He closed his eyes as she rolled hers and nodded adamantly. "Either way, it's obvious me being here is upsetting you. It's making things harder than it needs to be. I don't want there to be any problems, and if my being here is a problem-"
"It's not a problem."
Both jumped slightly and looked up at the newest addition to the conversation. Carolyn was standing in the middle of the yard, one hand purposely stroking the back of her neck. She offered them a guilty smile and then moved closer. The hand at her neck shot out towards Daniel in offering. "Carolyn Mitchell."
Daniel accepted the hand and gave it a firm, yet gentle, shake. "Daniel Jackson."
"It's nice to meet you." Carolyn gave him a friendly smile and then turned an apologetic one on Vala. "Why don't you two come inside and stop making the gossip mill fuller than it already is?"
Hesitantly, they nodded. Carolyn led the way up the yard and into the house. They moved through the living room, where Hayden had joined Carolyn's own screaming, excited children, and into the kitchen. Daniel hesitated in the entryway, placing a hand on the wall.
"Are you sure it's okay for me to be here?" He asked, but didn't wait for Carolyn to answer. "Because if I'm going to make people uncomfortable..."
Carolyn laughed. "Daniel, once this barbeque really gets going, people won't remember the meaning of uncomfortable." She turned to give him a playful grin from the counter. Vala was leaning against the kitchen table, eyes locked with the floor. She was awaiting the outcome of this first exchange. Vala was waiting to see if Daniel would pass or fail with Carolyn.
"I personally," She continued, holding her hands to her chest to indicate herself. "Have started to come to terms with it all, mainly because I can't stand being on bad footing with my best friend." Carolyn saw understanding flash across Daniel's face. "I won't say I like the pace whatever this thing between you two is taking, but I will say you, Daniel, aren't unwelcome here because of it."
Daniel nodded slowly at her words. "Okay..."
Carolyn walked over to Vala. "I don't want anyone here to feel like they aren't welcome... Just have some fun today and we'll worry about everything else at a later time when there isn't a delirious amount of alcohol waiting to be consumed."
They all laughed at the truth in that, and Daniel finally relaxed a little. He stepped into the kitchen fully, and looked around. "Is there anything you want me to-"
"No." Carolyn's hand came up. "Don't need any help." Her brown eyes fixed him with a serious look. "But I'm sure my husband Cam needs some help on the back porch." She pointed to the sliding glass door that was on the far end of the living room.
"Right." Daniel drawled as he eyed the door warily. He offered Carolyn a sweet smile, then gave one to Vala who had finally looked at him. "Guess I'll go see what I can do." Knowing there was no use in stalling the inevitable grilling he was about to get, Daniel casually headed toward the door, slid it open, and headed out for his next 'test.'
"I'll give you one thing for sure..." Carolyn said as he slid the door shut, watching him stride in his slightly snug jeans. "He's hot!" She breathed into Vala's ear appreciatively
Finally feeling somewhat better, Vala let out a laugh. "Yeah, didn't pick up on that!" Realizing she was still a little too tense for her liking, she pushed off the table and moved to the counter. Vala snatched one of the bottles from the cooler sitting by the sink. Popping the top on the counter, she took a decent sip before turning on her friend.
"You really are cruel...making him think he got through relatively unscathed, then sending him out to my overprotective not brother." Even as she felt a little concerned for Daniel, Vala smirked a little.
Carolyn gave her an innocent shrug, then stepped up to her and snatched the bottle out of her friend's hand. "We're just trying to make sure he's okay for you, Vala." The bottle pressed to her lips, and she took a large drink herself.
Nodding, Vala sighed. "I know, and I love you guys for it." She gave Carolyn an apologetic look. "I'm sorry about last night."
It was Carolyn's turn to laugh. "Hunny, if that turns into what you've been looking for, I'm gonna need to be the one apologizing for last night."
Taking her drink back, Vala raised it in a semi-toast. "I'll sure as hell drink to that."
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Daniel took a long draught from the beer in his hand. It was the only thing he found he could do comfortably under the daunting gaze of one Cameron Mitchell. The man was watching him from the lawn chair across the table, his own beer bottle twirling in his hand like it was criticizing just as he was.
"How old did you say you were again?" Cam asked, feigning casualness.
Lowering the bottle to rest atop his leg, Daniel tilted his head a fraction. "Twenty-six."
Cam nodded. "And you're an..." He was trying to process all the information he'd already gleaned from Daniel. He had to admit the young man was harder to read then he'd first imagined when Carolyn had told him the story of what had gone down the day before.
"Archaeologist." Daniel stated automatically out of habit, then shook his head. "No, technically, I'm a student trying to get his doctorate in archaeology."
Nodding again, Cam sipped his beer. The information correlated with what his wife had been told by Vala. "So you don't have a job?"
Daniel shook his head. "No, I do have a job. I'm a T.A. at the college. I teach a class on Ancient Egyptian History. It's not much considering the cost of tuition and everything, but it helps get me by."
"You alone, but what about a girlfriend and her daughter?" Cam asked protectively. "Because you can't forget that fact - that Vala has a daughter."
Daniel sat up a little straighter. "I won't." He said defensively.
Leaning forward, Cam placed his bottle on the table carefully. He gave Daniel a stern glance. "Are you sure you won't?" He didn't wait for Daniel to answer. "You sure you won't win Vala over, pretend to like her daughter, then find some way to get the girl out of the picture when you've found a nice place for yourself?"
"No." Daniel said with conviction.
Cam pointed his finger at Daniel. "You've never dated a woman with a child, have you? Do you even know what it's like to deal with children? To have to give up the 'quality time' with the woman you think you love to take care of her son or daughter?" He could see Daniel getting upset by his questioning. "Do you understand this, Daniel?"
Daniel's blue eyes flashed with indignation. "Of course I understand this."
"Do you really?" Cam pushed, staring straight at the younger man. He just stared right back, not bothering to emphasize again how he did understand. Realizing this was where Daniel would make or break himself in regards to Vala, Cam pushed that one step further.
"When was the last time you had a real girlfriend, Daniel? And I don't mean some drunk college girl one-nighter, I mean a true girlfriend - someone you've really, truly loved. Of course, if you've ever loved someone like that I would have to wonder why you're not still with her." He paused, seeing the troubled look on the young face. This was it - Daniel was about to flunk completely.
"Just tell me when you last had a girlfr-"
"High school!" Daniel snapped suddenly, causing Cam to jump in surprise. He hadn't expected him to sound so defensive and...sad. Two sets of blue eyes met and Cam wondered if maybe he had pushed, had protected, too far.
Daniel took in a shaky deep breath, and broke the stare. "The last person I truly loved like that was in high school, my senior year." He eyed the label of the bottle in his hand. "Her name was Sha're, and she was a real girlfriend - until she died from a car crash the night of graduation, three hours before she was gonna walk across the stage as valedictorian."
Flopping back in his chair, Cam could barely hold the hard gaze Daniel had turned on him.
"She was my last," Daniel made special emphasis on the word. "I've never had some drunk college girl one-nighter. I prefer to drown the memory of the night of my graduation spent in an emergency room waiting room in the company of my best friend, Jack." He held out his bottle, and examined it. "Whose six year old son, I might add, is my godson."
Daniel toasted Cam and gave him a tight smile. "Cheers." He drained the remainder dry and angrily chucked the bottle at the tree just off from the porch. Blue eyes burning bright, he looked back at the man whom Vala entrusted to 'protect' her. "So how was that? Did I pass your damn test?"
Snatching his beer back up, Cam took a long drink. Pulling the bottle away from his lips, he ran a hand through his hair. "Damn, man..." He sighed, feeling like a total ass. "I'm...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you like that."
"You're right, you shouldn't have." Daniel replied, his face angry. It quickly merged into an understanding look. "But I get why you did."
Cam nodded. "I'm just trying to protect her."
"I understand." Daniel sighed, slouching down in his chair a little. The tension of the moment was starting to drain from him.
Hand reaching in the cooler beside his chair, Cameron relaxed a little. "Vala is my wife's best friend, and even more so, she's like my sister. I love her, and I love Hayden too. I've helped raise her, hell both of them, and they are part of my family. I just don't want to see them taken advantage of and get hurt." He leaned forward, reaching the fresh beer across the table.
Daniel hesitated a moment, staring at the bottle. Finally, he shrugged and accepted it. "I don't know how much you'll truly believe this, but I wouldn't do either of those things to Vala or Hayden." He popped the top off of the beer on the side of his chair and took a drink.
"To be honest, I don't think I can I believe you just yet." Cam said honestly.
The younger man nodded he was okay with that. The two sat silent for a while, thoughtfully drinking their beers.
Cam cleared his throat finally. "So Daniel..." He looked up at the man, who was watching curiously. "How do you feel about hockey?"
Smiling , Daniel felt the last shred of tension slip away. He slouched down comfortably in his chair and began to explain the religion known as hockey in the O'Neill house.
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The sounds of the barbeque turned block party continued to roar on behind Daniel and Vala as they slightly stumbled their way back to her house. Hayden was happily skipping ahead of them, sucking on a popsicle she shouldn't have been having. It was the only way Vala could persuade her to leave for home without a tantrum. It was a compromise sprung from too much junk food and soda on one part, and a few beers too many on the other.
Vala smirked at that. She hadn't been quite this tipsy in a long time. In toast to the fact, she sipped from the bottle she still carried in her hand. Focus elsewhere, she didn't notice how her foot wasn't quite on the sidewalk.
A hand came to her elbow to keep her from stumbling too much.
"Easy..." Daniel laughed, guiding the slightly looped woman back onto the sidewalk. "You feeling okay?" Hell, he knew he was.
Vala grinned at the huskier quality to his voice - the sexier quality. "Fine..." She turned her eyes on him. "Just...fine."
He nodded as he clinked his beer against her own. "Me too."
They walked the remaining short distance in silence. As they got in her house, Vala ordered Hayden off to bed in a half-assed tone, knowing full well she'd just go to her room, close the door, and turn on the tv. She didn't really mind, as long as the girl was out of trouble and not underfoot. Especially since Vala's feet weren't as steady as they normally were.
Hayden out of the way, Vala led Daniel into the kitchen like she had earlier that day. He took a lazy seat at the kitchen table while she sauntered over to the fridge and pulled out the six pack Cam left in there for 'emergencies.'
"I thought we left the party behind..." Daniel laughed as she took the seat next to him, placing the beer on the table. He reached over and took his even share, lining them up just off to his right on the table. Vala did the same, except she placed her own beers on her left.
She smiled at his comment. "No need to stop the fun because we left the playhouse."
Snorting softly, Daniel leaned forward a little. "You sound like you have some experience in this regard."
Vala gave him a secretive smile. "I used to be quite a party girl in my day..." She sighed, leaning back in her chair and draining the beer she'd walked in with. "Of course that was before 'mommy' came attached with my name."
"And what about mommy now?" He asked curiously, also sitting back and draining his bottle. Unlike Vala, Daniel was quick to open the next one and take a tentative sip.
"Now..." Licking her lips, Vala smiled softly and closed her eyes slowly. "Right now, mommy is seriously buzzed." She laughed, opened her eyes and reached for a new beer. Opening it, she placed her elbows on her knees, leaning in close to Daniel. "To be totally honest, I'm borderline drunk right now."
Daniel gave a half-assed laughed. "Borderline?" He drank from his bottle and laughed mouth closed after the bitter liquid slid down his throat. "I think I just crossed that border." His eyes closed.
Placing her bottle down on the table, Vala carefully stood up, took the step over to Daniel, then lowered herself into his lap. Her arms wrapped around Daniel's neck as his eyes opened up to look at her.
"Vala, what are you doing?" He asked quietly, his voice having lost some of that huskiness.
She smiled. "Taking advantage of our current situation." Her lips hovered close to his.
Daniel placed a hand on her chest and pushed her back a little. "You mean advantage of me and the fact that I'm..." He swallowed and blinked. "Drunk."
Nodding, Vala played with the hair at the nape of his neck. "We can have fun, Daniel, and tomorrow blame it all on the beer...which will be true, but will it? Come on.." She breathed, shifting in his lap. "Let's take advantage. Don't you wanna take advantage of me?"
"Yes. I mean no." Daniel mumbled, looking into her beautiful grey eyes. This was all wrong - he felt it. But he couldn't seem to stop himself from wanting it. As Vala leaned in slowly to kiss him, Daniel closed his eyes again. He wanted it - he wanted her. He wanted her to kiss him, and love him, and be with him. He wanted her to be the one that he woke up to every morning. He wanted to be there for her and her daughter. That's when he realized how wrong this really was because if they did this now, all of it would be ruined.
Just in time, Daniel turned his lips away. Vala's slipped past his cheek, and he made sure to keep her from falling over.
"I should go." He said quietly.
Blinking from the rapid change, Vala suddenly realized what she'd almost done. As gracefully as she could muster, she climbed off Daniel's lap. "You, uh...You can't drive home."
Daniel slowly rose to his feet, allowing himself a moment to adjust to his unsteady balance. Sitting down in the chair might have been a bad idea. "I'll call Jack." He fumbled with his cell phone in his pocket, finally pulling it out and flipping it open. He had to bring the screen close to his face to somewhat be able make out the numbers.
"Okay..." Vala crossed her arms over her chest and moved towards the counter. She leaned against it. Looking up, she watched him weave his way slowly to the entryway.
"I'm just, uh..." He waved his hand toward the front door absently. "Gonna go outside and call him." Daniel couldn't help but laugh a little. "He's gonna kick my ass for this."
Vala winced internally. "I'm sorry." Whether Daniel took it as a universal apology or not, she left that up to him. He simply nodded and made his leave. She felt like crying - he didn't even say goodbye...
"Hey, Vala..."
She looked up suddenly at the sound of his voice again. He was giving her a cute grin.
"I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" Daniel asked, but Vala could tell it was more a statement. She nodded her approval nonetheless. His smile softened. "Promise."
This time when he walked beyond her sight, Vala heard the front door open and close. Uncrossing her arms, she sighed. As quickly as her slight inebriation would allow, she picked up and headed down the hall for her bedroom. She stopped at Hayden's door, pushing it open a little.
Hayden, lying in bed, turned her attention from the tv to her mother. "You okay, mommy?"
Vala nodded, giving her a gentle smile. "I'm fine. Now I want you to go to sleep."
Yawning, Hayden flicked off the tv with her remote and snuggled deeper into bed.
Sure she was gonna go to sleep, Vala blew her a kiss from the doorway - not really trusting herself with walking to the bed. "Night, babygirl."
"Goodnight mommy." Hayden yawned again. Her mother flicked off the light and about had the door closed when she called out again. "You sure you're okay, mommy?"
Vala poked her head back in and smiled. "Yep...Mommy's fine." She pulled back and brought the door almost all the way closed. She rested her forehead against the wall beside the door.
"Mommy just may have blown the greatest opportunity to be happy she ever had." Vala whispered to herself, pushing off the wall and finding her way to her room and her empty bed.
A/N: -pauses a moment while she listens to the rest of Hoist the Colours- Okie day... So yeah, how about this chapter?? The beginning of it has been sitting on my harddrive now for a good little while, and i finally reopened it last night and finished it up. My bunnies SOOO wanted me to get Vala and Daniel to hook up, but I kept them at bay for the sake of the fic! It was hard, but I did it. This chapter actually turned out longer than I had originally intended because of the whole 'grilling' scene with Cam and Daniel - that took a way different turn from how it was first planned out. But a turn for the better, I think. Anyways, to make up for my lagging in this, the next chapter is following RIGHT on the heels of this one (i had it written before this one, so it's been waiting to be posted for a while now).
And as always, reviews are LVOE!