Chapter 4: Piper Jones O'Hara
The following days at his Mom's were idyllic for Evan – there was no other word fitting to describe how he felt spending time with Prue and his family, all together under one roof. It reminded him of holidays of the past, when it was just he, his sister and their Mom, and then later with the inclusion of Drew and then the boys. He'd witnessed his family grow – saw how easily they reformed to include Drew into the mix, how him being there added more than just a single person's contribution to the whole. Now, he got to see another transformation as Prue was welcomed and made a part of the family. It warmed his heart to see his choices supported so fully but even more so to see something inside Prue open and expand as she let his Mom and Elaine into her heart.
He didn't want to leave … Prue seemed equally content to bask inside the Lorne family unit until they were both called back to the SGC. Evan considered leaving it at that for Prue's first visit to Earth but he'd made promises in the past and hadn't kept them the last time he was home. Most notably to Piper and her family – and although he knew she'd understand why he hadn't visited Nebraska last visit like he'd promised he would, still Evan couldn't bring himself to leave without making an effort this time.
"Your family is wonderful," Prue commented softly as they walked the shore near sunrise one morning just over a week into their visit. It had become a regular daily activity, a chance for them to be alone together as they couldn't inside a house overflowing with visitors.
"They are," he agreed simply. They continued on for a time in silence before he spoke again. "My Mom and Elaine have been a constant in my life, even when I wasn't around for months at a stretch. Drew too since we met during the years I spent in Canada … I've been lucky that I've found others who've been there for me when I've been away from home – friends who are just as much family to me now."
"You want to go and visit some of them?" Prue queried.
"Yes – one in particular," Evan replied. "Her name's Piper O'Hara – Piper Jones when I first met her during this week long training program we call Red Flag. She was a fellow pilot even though she's a marine." He stopped, thinking on how much of the story to tell so that Prue would understand how important Piper's friendship was to him. "There was a woman – someone I thought I cared about more than I really did. That part's not important except that Piper was there for me when things blew up in my face. When I was stationed in Afghanistan the first time she was in my unit – just random chance but it really helped to have a familiar face over there and someone I knew I could trust straight up." He grinned, giving Prue a sidelong glance and seeing how interested she was in his story. "Piper has a way of putting things into perspective - putting me in my place she calls it. You should like that about her."
Prue laughed. "How much does she know about me?" she asked.
"Everything that isn't classified," Evan said unapologetically. "Piper's just one of those people you meet and feel instantly connected to. We clicked as friends – and when I met her fiancé Rob it was the same all over again. He's a great guy – nothing ever fazes him. They have a little girl too – Shannon. I'm her godfather but it's been so long since I've seen them in person she won't know who I am."
"They sound wonderful," Prue smiled. "When do we leave?"
Evan put his arm around Prue and hugged her close, pressing a kiss to her temple in gratitude. "After breakfast, if that's enough time for you to be ready to go."
"I won't deny that it would be easier to just stay with your Mom until it's time to go home," Prue admitted. "But then I remember how nervous I was to meet her and your sister and how silly that's turned out to be, so … I trust your judgement and I know if you love Piper and her family then I will too."
"Thank you," Evan stopped, turning to face the ocean with Prue by his side. "I love this time of day," he murmured, resting his eyes on the faint hints of light just starting to appear along the horizon.
"I know," Prue said fondly. "I can't believe I'm going to say this but … me too … now. I always saw getting up so early as a necessary evil – one of many I was forced into because of the Ancients – but somewhere along the way you won me over."
"Sometimes that's all it takes – someone to help you see with different eyes," Evan commented, no longer talking about the lure of sunrise. He knew that Prue had opened his eyes too. Before her, before losing her, he'd seen emotional attachments as a risk and if he were honest, a weakness too. Now he realised how stupid that had been – how much he'd cheated himself. His late night chat with his Mom just cemented how wrong he'd been in the past, thinking she'd have been better off never having loved Jonathon Lorne. No matter how it ended, Evan knew he was better for having loved Prue.
After teary goodbyes with promises to visit next time they were home Evan and Prue left his Mom's house and headed to the airport for a mid morning flight to Nebraska. The contrast in environment when they landed at Lincoln airport three hours later was stark – from busy seaside city to a slower, rural way of life. After deciding to hire a car, Evan had them out on the road a short time later, heading towards the outskirts of Springfield where Rob and Piper's farm was located. They'd chosen the location primarily because it was only a short drive to Offutt air force base where Piper was now stationed, although no longer in an active combat wing.
Autumn was upon them and the trees were bright with deep orange and red foliage. It wasn't a long drive and Evan almost wished for more than the hours distance they had to travel just for the chance to enjoy the scenery a bit longer.
"This is nice," Prue commented, her posture relaxed as she gazed out the window. "We could be off world back home."
"Sure … if you take away the car and the roads and powerlines," Evan agreed. He could see her point though – aside from Atlantis itself life in the Pegasus galaxy would fit more comfortably inside the setting Piper and Rob had chosen for themselves than it would in San Francisco.
"No one there gets a choice on how simply they want to live," Prue said, her tone somewhat sad. "I can see why people would choose somewhere like this … it's peaceful."
"It does make you wonder just how advanced the Pegasus galaxy would have gotten if the Wraith hadn't stalled development."
"Occulus would rival the grandest of your cities," Prue said proudly. "We were one of the first races to achieve contact with the Ancients. If only we'd focussed on defences instead of music and art we could have helped them win the war."
"You can't know that," Evan countered. "The Ancients were around a lot longer than your people – as far as I understand it they developed here first and then went to the Pegasus galaxy. That's why they came back here when they couldn't defend Atlantis anymore." He straightened abruptly when the notion occurred to him. "You said your family evacuated through the Stargate to Atlantis?"
"That's right," Prue agreed.
"Then they came here too," Evan glanced over and saw the way Prue's gaze sharpened. "Your parents lived out the remainder of their lives here, on Earth. Maybe they didn't end up in the States, but you are following in their footsteps, in a manner of speaking."
Prue nodded, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "They lived here," she repeated in a low tone.
Ever since he'd been shown the fate of Occulus through Fidesia, Evan had felt for Prue. To lose your home and never know what happened to the people you'd saved was a huge weight to bear. "You never felt tempted to check for yourself?" he asked curiously. She'd been ascended for a long time – with the power to go anywhere and any when. If it were him the temptation to make sure his family was okay would have been very hard to resist.
"Every day," she said simply. "But it was forbidden and for many years Fee and I were watched closely, as was anyone newly ascended. They allowed us our reconstructions of Occulus and we spent hours there, adjusting to the changes. They never gave us the freedom to explore on our own, not until it was too late and everyone we knew was as dust. Neither Fee nor I saw the point in going back to witness what was done and could not be changed."
"I'm sorry," Evan reached across to put a comforting hand on her knee.
She clasped his fingers tightly, giving an audible sigh. "I accepted what happened long ago," she told him. "Fee and I knew we'd given our people a chance and when all was said and done it was enough. We took delight in imagining the lives our families might have lived, mapped out entire histories for each of them … I don't need to know how close we got to reality." She smiled across at Evan before her eyes returned to the view outside. "Still, knowing we share something in common, it's nice." When Evan frowned she grinned. "My family – my ancestors – lived side by side with yours Evan. How else do you think you ended up with the gene?"
"Right, sure, of course," Evan shook his head ruefully. "I never really thought about how I got the gene."
"Well, when a man and a woman love each other they want to express that. Your ancestors did and the result was children who were a mix of both of their genetic codes," Prue instructed, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Then those children repeated the cycle down through the years until we get to you."
"Is that so?" Evan teased back. "How do you know they loved each other? Maybe it was just a hot and heavy fling, over before it really began."
"I just do," she insisted.
"Is that what you see in our future?" It was as close as he'd come to asking Prue what she wanted from their relationship – aside from her promise that if he had to leave Pegasus she'd go with him.
"Elaine asked me how I felt about marriage," Prue shared with her usual bluntness. "She explained that it was what most couples committed to a life together do."
"What did you tell her?"
"That we don't need marriage," Prue revealed.
"I bet that didn't sit well with her," Evan commented.
"No," Prue laughed. "In fact she said that every woman needs marriage."
"No wonder she didn't say anything to me!" Evan laughed too. "I should have known she'd be more subtle than that."
"She loves you and she wants you to be happy," Prue smiled. "I didn't mind her questions."
"You say that now but just wait until you have years of Elaine style manipulation under your belt," Evan warned. Since the opening was there he decided to take it. "What was the custom on Occulus?"
"We didn't call it marriage but our practices were very similar," Prue explained. "A couple would declare their intentions to both their families and then serve a required period of being promised to each other before their joining was made legal and binding. During the promise period they would complete a series of tasks to ensure they were suited before being allowed to formalise their union."
"What kinds of tasks?" Evan asked, intrigued.
"It depended on the couple," Prue smiled. "My people took the union of two people seriously … to break such a union was rare and required as long a period of proof that a dissolution was required as the promise itself. Only after such time could it be broken. The promise tasks were designed to ensure no such dissolution would be required."
"Well that sounds a lot better than what we do here," Evan admitted. "Divorce rates are pretty high – and it's a lot easier to break up a marriage than it used to be."
Seeing the turnoff to Springfield Evan indicated and then pulled off the highway. Prue was silent as he drove around the outskirts of the town towards Piper's home.
"Was I right to tell Elaine we don't need marriage?" Prue asked.
Evan glanced her way but her attention was firmly fixed on the scenery passing in a blur outside her window so he couldn't get a read on why she was asking. "For right now, yes," he agreed. "But I won't deny that it would make a lot of things much simpler for you Prue. The air force provides for the spouses of service men and women – including reassignment and relocation."
"So they wouldn't transfer you from Atlantis without considering me … if we were married I mean?" Prue looked at him them, her expression hopeful.
"No," Evan shrugged. "At least I hope not. To be honest I don't think there're regulations to cover intergalactic marriages. We'd be writing the rules as we go."
"Then we should get married," Prue stated abruptly, her posture too stiff, her eyes everywhere but on his.
"No," Evan said quietly.
They'd reached Piper's farm – pulling up beside their family car, Evan switched off the engine and turned to face Prue. She was staring out the window but he could see the faint tremor of her body and hear the way her breath caught. "You don't want to marry me," she murmured, still refusing to look at him.
"What? No! Yes! That's not what I meant!" Evan grabbed her hand and tugged, urging her to look at him. "Marriage is something you should do for the right reasons, not rush into because it's expedient. When we go down that road it won't be because either of us is afraid of what might happen if we don't."
"Oh," Prue sniffed, wiping at her eyes. "You're right," she tried to smile. "I just … those days when the Ascended kept me from you were difficult Evan. I don't think I can do that again. Not knowing what was happening for you was … painful for me."
"I know," Evan squeezed her hand. "You have to trust me when I say that will never happen again – not while I have breath in my body to stop it. Okay?"
"Okay," Prue said softly.
"Right, so, ready to meet Piper?"
"She's not like Elaine is she?" Prue asked.
"If you mean is Piper going to grill you about my intentions, then no, she's a lot more up front than that," Evan laughed when Prue's expression fell. "Relax honey. I just meant that she'll ask me herself rather than plant the seeds with you."
"And what will you tell her?
"That I could write a book I have so many intentions for you," he said suavely.
Prue laughed. Relieved, Evan got out of the car, moving to open her door. Reaching out he took her hand, murmuring another 'relax' as they walked to Piper and Rob's door.
"Well it's about time," Piper said, opening the door the instant he knocked. "I thought you were going to sit out there all day." She looked from Evan to Prue curiously, not giving Evan time to do introductions. "Hi. I'm Piper. And you're Prue."
"Yes, I am," Prue replied, surprised.
"Evan talks about you all the time – I would have known you anywhere," Piper revealed. Moving aside she grinned. "Come in – and excuse the mess. We weren't expecting visitors … not that notice would have mattered. With an eighteen month old in the house mess is a way of life."
"Speaking of eighteen month olds, where is the lovely Shannon?" Evan asked, glancing around and noting the small changes made to the décor since the last time he'd visited.
"Out back wrapping Daddy even more firmly around her little finger," Piper replied. "Go on out – I'll grab us something to drink and meet you out there."
Nodding Evan took Prue's hand and led her through the house towards the back yard. It was large and rambling – a picket fence meandering in its own path to delineate the residence from the rest of the property. Rob O'Hara ran a small but growing stud service, breeding horses as well. It was a long way from his first career as a lawyer but suited the man and his family situation better than running his own practice ever had.
Back in the kitchen Piper put both iced tea and water on a tray with a few glasses. Seeing Evan was a welcome surprise, even more so because he'd brought Prue with him. Almost from the first mention of the other woman in his letters Piper had known that Evan had found something he'd always denied he was looking for. With the standing of a long time friend Piper was reserving judgement on whether Prudence Darnell was good enough – in the end it wouldn't matter because Evan clearly thought the world of her.
Picking up the tray she carried it outside, smiling to see Shannon held firmly in her godfather's arms. It wouldn't be obvious from the surface he presented but Evan Lorne was such a pushover with children. She'd long thought he'd be a wonderful father … as great as it seemed his own father had been.
"You look comfortable there," she commented, pouring Prue a drink and handing it to her with a gracious smile.
"We're just getting reacquainted," Evan returned, tickling Shannon's tummy and getting delighted giggles in return. "Isn't that right sweetheart," he smiled down at the little girl.
"Da!" she declared loudly, giving her mother a cheeky grin.
"How long can you stay?" Rob asked, watching the scene with a fond smile.
"A couple of days, if that's okay?" Evan replied. "We can get a room in town."
"No you can't!" Piper denied firmly. "You'll stay here – and don't argue Evan Lorne. We have plenty of room."
"Okay, great, thank you," Evan winked at Prue who was watching them both curiously. "See – in my place," he quipped.
Prue laughed. "Evan's told me a bit about you as well Piper," she shared. "He said you had a knack for putting things into perspective."
"That's a very diplomatic way of saying you're bossy," Rob commented to his wife, amused.
"Say what you will," Piper waved a hand airily. Her expression turning serious she met Evan's eyes. "I'm just glad to see you in one piece. We didn't hear from you for so long I was worried."
"You called my Mom," Evan realised abruptly, wondering why his Mom hadn't mentioned that before they'd set out for Nebraska.
"Of course I did," Piper retorted. "Do you know how long it's been since we haven't heard from you at all in more than three months? I'll tell you – never! Even when you were away for a year we still got a regular letter every month of so. When it got to two months I had to call Grace."
"I made her call," Rob admitted, putting a hand over his wife's in support. "She was driving herself crazy imagining the worst."
"I'm sorry," Evan apologised. "I ah … I didn't think."
"It was my fault."
Piper's eyes shot to Prue at the other woman's stark words and she frowned.
"I did something and Evan got hurt," Prue explained.
It was vague but Piper understood that it had to be. They lived on a classified base after all.
"And then?" she asked, her eyes tracking from Prue to Evan and back again, intrigued when Evan remained silent, letting Prue tell the story in her own way.
"And then I was lucky enough to get a second chance," Prue said simply. "Don't be angry with Evan for not contacting you. It was a," she hesitated, "difficult time."
"You were injured," Rob queried Evan.
"Ah, yeah," Evan admitted with a shrug. "Nothing serious."
"Second degree burns, a concussion, and severe exhaustion," Prue said at the same time, giving Evan a pointed look. Piper smiled, charmed at the byplay between the two. Clearly Prue was no push over – Evan didn't need that. He needed someone who'd stand up to him and push him when he was digging his heels in for the wrong reasons.
"How'd you …?" Evan trailed off with a frown.
"I asked, because I knew you wouldn't tell me yourself," Prue said without a trace of remorse.
"That's our Evan," Piper broke in, lightening the serious mood. "Never one to talk about himself!"
"So I'm forgiven?" Evan asked Piper, ignoring her teasing.
"You're forgiven," Piper replied.
"Da-da-da," Shannon bounced up and down on Evan's knee, determined to get her father's attention. "Hos!" she declared as soon as Rob looked at her.
"Horse," he translated for those who didn't speak 'Shannon'. "She wants to show you the newest foal," he told Evan. "He was born last week and seems as intrigued by Shannon as she is by him."
"Great," Piper got in before Evan could organise things to his liking. "Prue and I can stay here and get acquainted."
"Right, sure," Evan said blandly, sharing a speaking look with Prue before whatever he saw in her eyes reassured him that she'd be okay. "We'll be back soon," he promised, touching a hand to Prue's hair before he let Shannon and Rob drag him away.
"Thank you for being so understanding," Prue said as soon as they were out of earshot. "I know it wasn't Evan's choice to not stay in touch with you. He thinks the world of you Piper – you and your family."
"I know, and we think the world of him," Piper replied. "I'd forgive him anything … he just doesn't see that. Evan's all about honour and duty and service – that's why he appreciates so much his family and his friends. He's always been so concerned about the times when he's not here I don't think it occurs to him how much he gives us."
"What was he like, back when you first met?" Prue asked curiously.
"Wow, that was so long ago," Piper chuckled. "You know, he was a lot like he is now in many respects. Mature, responsible, so much in control. And God, so capable in everything he did you'd hate him for it if he wasn't such a nice guy. The best pilot I've ever flown with, hands down."
"He loves being in the air," Prue smiled.
"Always has," Piper agreed. "He's had some tough times – you should ask him about Afghanistan sometime. " Prue nodded, waiting for Piper to continue. "I think the biggest difference between the Evan I first met and now is that he seems more settled, at peace within himself. There was always a part of him he used to hold himself back from life. He's always been a great officer, a great friend, but he never let himself be anything more. Until now."
"Really?" Prue looked touched and it just made Piper like her even more than her first impressions.
"Really," she said firmly. "You're good for him Prue. Don't let him hold back from you okay. He needs to share his stories – he just doesn't see how much of a difference it will make."
"It's in the past, that's what he always says," Prue offered. "I could never push him because I always had secrets of my own."
"And now?"
"Now he knows everything there is to know about me," Prue laughed, "the important stuff anyway."
"Then push," Piper advised. "He loves you … he won't be able to shut you out once he realises how important it is to you."
Prue nodded again, eying Piper curiously.
"What?"
"I'm just … surprised," Prue admitted. "I thought you'd be questioning where we're heading and what our intentions are … that or thinking I couldn't possibly be good enough for him."
"Evan loves you and he's the best judge of character I've ever known," Piper shrugged. "That's a good enough reference for me. As for the rest of it, I don't need to ask about Evan's intentions because they're written all over his face every time he looks at you. When it happens doesn't really matter because I can see it will happen. For the guy who never wanted to even say the word marriage let alone apply it to anything about himself, that's plenty of progress for the time being."
"Perspective," Prue said with a smile.
"Exactly," Piper agreed approvingly. "I am curious about something though."
"What's that?"
"Do they allow children on that secret base of yours?" Piper watched as Prue flushed. "Not something you've talked about yet?" she asked gently.
"Ah, no, not exactly," Prue said vaguely, sounding so much like Evan when he was trying to avoid a topic that Piper had to laugh.
"Don't worry – plenty of time for that too," she soothed, deciding she liked the woman Evan had chosen for himself very much. "Do you like horses?" she changed the subject.
"I've never been close enough to one to say," Prue admitted.
"Well, that's something we can fix right now," Piper jumped up, grabbing Prue's hand and urging her up too. "Let's go see how much my daughter has charmed your man."
Prue grinned and Piper just knew it was because she'd labelled Evan as Prue's man. Yes, she really liked Prudence Darnell … and thank god for that because she'd have forced herself to pretend with the best of them if she hadn't, but it would have been an effort.
Later that evening Piper stood on the porch, her husband beside her. They watched the sun set every day, in those moments after Shannon was settled for the first part of the evening. Of course she'd wake up multiple times and demand her parents attention but for now they had silence and a chance to appreciate the other.
"He's happy," Rob commented, nodding to where Evan was walking towards the back fence with Prue, the two holding hands.
"I know," Piper grinned. "Can you believe it?"
"After all these years, not really," Rob admitted. "I think I'd decided that Evan was going to be our single friend we'd include in all our family events – once he retired from the air force. He'd dote on Shannon and worry us whenever he wasn't here because we'd know he was probably spending most of his time alone."
"You were worried about him too?" the thought hadn't occurred to Piper before.
"Of course I was," Rob frowned down at his wife, surprised. "After I don't know how many years he's my friend too … he was from the day I met him because he helped you get through Afghanistan and I don't think you'd have taken that command without his encouragement. Maybe we wouldn't be where we are today if you hadn't realised what you could do and that you didn't need to do it anymore."
"Maybe," Piper agreed. Evan had been around during crucial times in her career – his support and just seeing what he'd gone through at Kandahar had been enough to have her examining her priorities and deciding to put Rob at the top. Now they had a good life – her job, the farm, their daughter, and …,"
"How do you feel about a brother or sister for Shannon?" she asked wistfully.
"Favourable," Rob turned her into him, gathering her close. "Very favourable," he added, leaning down to kiss her, the two forgetting their guests still walking in the garden.
"They're a lovely couple," Prue commented, she and Evan stopping just shy of interrupting Piper and Rob's embrace.
"Yeah, they are," Evan agreed. "Been together since before I met Piper, so they're solid." He glanced at Prue curiously. "Did she grill you?"
"Of course not!" Prue returned.
"Then what did you talk about?"
"You mostly," Prue looked amused at Evan's expression – dismay and dread. What the hell had Piper told Prue about him? "Nothing bad. I just asked her what you were like when she first met you."
"What did she say?"
"Much the same as you are now only not as settled," Prue summarised what Evan was sure had been a much more detailed conversation.
"I am settled," he agreed, pulling her into his arms and hugging her close. "With you," he intoned, dipping to kiss her lightly.
"She also asked me if children were allowed on the base?" Prue assessed his reaction as she continued. "Ours that is."
"What?" Evan swallowed too quickly, coughing when he succeeded only in choking himself. Letting her go he cleared his throat, looking at her quizzically. What the hell had Piper been thinking asking a question like that?
"She wanted to know if we'd be allowed to have children and still live on the base?' Prue clarified even though he didn't need it.
"Oh," Evan wasn't sure what to say. "Do you want children?" he found himself asking.
"Do you?'" Prue returned.
"I asked you first," he shot back, knowing how immature that made him sound. He didn't want to answer first though – he wanted to know her thoughts without his own desires colouring her answers.
"And Piper said you were mature," Prue commented. When his brow rose and he looked at her expectantly she smiled. "Okay, yes, I do. I want children. I never did before but now, with you, the idea of a child we could create together … what they'd be like, which parts of you and I they'd inherit … it's captivating."
"It is," Evan agreed, feeling a little like he was on shaky ground. "I've never given any thought to children Prue … but the idea of a little girl just like you … when we're both ready … I couldn't say no to that."
"You'll be a great dad," Prue said softly. "I see it in how you are with your nephews and with Shannon. I like seeing that side of you."
"Yeah, well just don't let it get out that I have a soft side," Evan complained for form.
"I wouldn't dream of it," she returned. Reaching for his hand she tugged, turning to walk beside him again. It was peaceful in a way he didn't get anywhere else. With Piper and Rob back inside the house and Shannon sleeping; the horses bedded down in the stables too, it felt like he and Prue were the only two people awake in the world. The feeling of contentment that washed over him, how comfortable it was to walk in the twilight with Prue beside him, was something he hoped he never got used to.