Author's Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.

Yeah, I got a new chapter done and I am working on the next one. Honestly.

I know where this is going and I've got into the swing of it again so hopefully the next chapter will be up soon.

Enjoy.

"Good morning, Daniel," Sara greeted him cheerfully, smiling amused as he winced.

"Quietly," Daniel murmured as he dropped onto the seat across from her stealing some coffee, "I have a slight headache."

"It's called a hangover," Sara laughed softly.

Daniel rolled his eyes taking a long drink, "It's Jack's fault."

"I'll bet," she replied, "So was there any special reason you two were killing brain cells last night?"

Daniel ducked his head, "Sha're's birthday," was all he said.

Sara nodded understanding, offering him some more coffee since he had finished the first mug in about two gulps. Daniel gratefully accepted it, giving her the barest of smiles. Sara was actually quite proud of how often over the past few days Daniel had come to see her on the pretence of having coffee; she had actually managed to get him to talk about several things she knew he would never normally talk about.

"Is your grandfather still here?" Sara asked, trying to start a conversation.

"He left after he talked to my Mom," Daniel told her, "But he has promised to come back in a few weeks."

"That's good," Sara smiled, before they dropped into silence.

"I hear you guys are going out for dinner tonight," Daniel spoke up suddenly, "I hope you're picking the place, Jack has a limited idea for restaurants."

"I know," Sara reminded him, "But he has persuaded me that I'll like what he's chosen. What are you doing tonight?"

"Maria is supposedly making dinner for us all," Daniel grimaced, "I'm kinda worried about it; since every other time I've been fed by her it's been takeout."

Sara laughed, "This must be some occasion then."

Daniel shrugged, "Who knows."

x

"Hey," Steven greeted Daniel when he opened the door, "Come in."

"How's dinner coming?" Daniel asked as they walked to the dining room.

"Well, there hasn't been a fire yet," Steven noted, "But there has been the occasional swearing and considering my offer to help was scorned, I haven't even gone near the kitchen."

Daniel laughed softly, "Is anyone else here yet?"

"No, you're the first," Steven told him.

They stood awkwardly, not sure what to say to one another, finally the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Daniel moved quickly, relieved to find his mother standing there, "Mom."

"Who else is here?" Claire asked as Daniel let her in.

"Just us so far," Daniel replied.

Claire laughed, knowing the very tentative friendship between Steven and Daniel probably didn't stand up too well to just the two of them standing with no work to talk about.

Minutes later the doorbell went again and Elizabeth grinned at them.

"Leave the door," she told Daniel as she hugged their mother, "I picked up a stray on the way in."

"What?" Daniel asked, grinning at the final arrival, "Kelly."

His youngest sister grinned and threw her arms around Daniel before hugging her mother.

Maria appeared and gave a squeal seeing her baby sister there, "You're here?"

Kelly smiled, "Yeah. I have a week before I have to get back."

"This is perfect," Maria grinned at them, "Dinner's ready everyone."

x

Jack knocked on the door smiling as Sara opened it. She was smiling back at him and laughed when he handed her a bunch of balloons.

"You never really liked flowers," Jack shrugged.

Sara took the balloons and tied them to a dining room chair, "So, where are we going for dinner?"

Jack gave her a mysterious smile, "You'll see."

Sara frowned but allowed him to drive her away from the house towards...

"Why are we heading to the mountain?" she demanded.

"It's a surprise," Jack told her.

Sara grimaced, Jack's surprises tended to be a little on the bizarre side but she decided just to let it play out and see what he was up to. As they neared Cheyenne Mountain, Jack parked the car and motioned her out. Sara walked with him, surprised that he dragged her up the mountain stopping as she found a picnic sitting waiting for them.

"Jack," she smiled.

Jack grinned sheepishly, "You should thank Daniel, he helped me set it up."

Sara settled onto the blanket and waited, "Wine, Jack. Open it."

x

Daniel was surprised that the food Maria served was not only edible but actually really nice.

"Okay," Elizabeth said as they were eating dessert, "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Maria asked innocently.

"Maria," her elder sister said, "I know you and I know how much you hate cooking which means there's a reason you did all this. So spill."

Maria took a deep breath and turned to her mother, sisters and brother.

"Steven and I," she started, taking a breath, "We're getting married."

Stunned silence greeted her announcement before Claire jumped up and hugged her middle daughter tightly. The room was suddenly filled with noise as they were congratulated.

Maria found Daniel at her side and looked up at him expectantly, "You're not speaking, Daniel," she said softly, a little unnerved by his silence.

Daniel wrapped his arms around her, "I'm really happy for you, Maria," he whispered before giving her a smile, "And I get to play over-protective big brother on Steven at some point."

Maria laughed and hugged him tightly again.

Claire was heading to her office a few days later, she'd heard the return of SG1 but since there were no medical teams running through the corridors, she assumed they were fine. She also knew they'd only been going to Abydos so wasn't worried.

Then she saw her son, pale faced and grim as he walked through the corridors, a small boy walking with him.

Daniel glanced at her for a second before turning away but it was long enough for her to see the pain filling his eyes. She continued to watch until her son was out of sight, turning to walk to her office, she found Jack standing there.

"What's happening?" Claire asked, worriedly, "Who is the child?"

Jack sighed, dropping his head, "That's Sha're's son."

Claire spun to where the boy had been before spinning back to look at Jack. He nodded grimly and Claire sighed, just as they were getting Daniel back to semi-normal. This would very possibly send him back into the deep depression he'd only recently emerged from.

x

"I want to speak to the boy," Claire demanded.

Jack shrugged when Hammond glanced over to him. He wasn't sure he trusted the child, Daniel was in some sort of coma that Dr Fraiser was completely stumped by and allowing Claire time alone with the child was something he wasn't sure about.

"George," Claire said softly, "In a way, he is my grandson. I wish to speak with him, I need to know that he isn't hurting Daniel."

"I'll go in there with her, sir" Jack spoke up, receiving a grateful look from Claire.

Hammond nodded finally, "Alright."

Claire gave him a soft smile, "Thank you, George."

Jack motioned Claire out of the office and they started along the corridors to where the boy was being kept.

x

Shifu looked up as Claire entered the room, interest in his eyes.

"Who are you?" the boy asked; his voice soft and filled with curiosity.

Claire took the seat across from him, "My name is Claire. Daniel is my son."

Shifu tilted his head as he thought this over, "He is sleeping."

"I know," Claire replied, she nervously interlaced her fingers, "Will he be alright?"

Shifu nodded, "He is learning."

"Learning what?" Claire leaned forward; she studied the child in front of her.

He had a sweet face, reminding her a little of Skaara when he was teasing Daniel but there was a deep intelligence in the boy's eyes.

Shifu tilted his head, studying her intently, "Daniel is, in a way, my father."

"I suppose," Claire replied, "He was the husband of your mother."

"He is mother's husband," Shifu corrected, "He should be my father."

Claire blinked, a little surprised by the intensity of the boy's statement. She nodded, seeing the child before her as the child he was. She moved closer to boy and let him climb into her lap.

"If Daniel is my father," Shifu said, "And you are Daniel's mother then…"

"I'm your grandmother," Claire finished for him, amazed as he smiled at her.

He nodded, "Good."

Claire was surprised as the boy cuddled against her; she gently rocked him aware of how afraid this boy was.

"Daniel will be fine," Claire asked, "Won't he?"

Shifu nodded, "I would not harm him," he stared up at her with wide eyes, "You do know that?"

Claire smiled and nodded, feeling the boy relax even deeper into her embrace. She continued to gently rock him smiling as he fell asleep in her arms.

Daniel sat on the top of the mountain, staring up at the stars. His experience in the dream he'd had made him shiver every time he thought about it.

"I did not wish to make you sad," the voice made Daniel turn.

"Shifu," Daniel smiled at the boy.

Shifu stepped forward towards Daniel, smiling as Daniel hugged him.

"I thought you'd found everything you needed here?" Daniel said, confusion covering his face.

Shifu shook his head, "There were too many people. I wanted to speak to you alone."

Daniel nodded; he pulled one leg under him and waited.

"Oma sent me here," Shifu started.

Daniel nodded, "To learn about your mother."

"To meet my family," Shifu explained, "She knew that I needed to meet those I protect by not knowing."

"Sha're would…she would be so proud of you," Daniel told him again, "You have her spirit, you know. I hear her in your voice and I would give anything to be able to keep you here with me."

Shifu's smile brightened, "I wish to stay with you also but Oma has told me I can never remain here. There is too much danger."

"I'm afraid there is," Daniel dropped his gaze to stare at the grass he was sitting on; "You'd never be safe staying here with me. And I promised you would be safe."

Shifu hugged him once more before stepping back to leave, "Her dreams are of you," Shifu said as he turned to light and left Daniel alone once more.

x

"Daniel?"

Daniel wiped away the tears that had filled his eyes as Jack called to him, "Yeah?"

"Just came to see if you were okay," Jack said, dropping to sit by his friend's side, "Claire's worried."

"I'm fine," Daniel told him, "Just needed some air."

Jack nodded, turning his attention to the starlit sky in front of them, "Have you heard?"

Daniel rolled his eyes, "Heard what?"

"That Elizabeth is joining Sara's counselling team," Jack grinned at him, "I make that three of your family working here with me and Carter only at one each."

"Elizabeth's a journalist," Daniel shook his head, "And she loves her job."

Jack shrugged, "Just thought I'd let you know the gossip."

Daniel sighed.

"Want to talk about it?" Jack asked, getting to the real reason he was here.

"I'm fine, Jack," Daniel smiled at his friend, "Honestly, I just need a little time."

Jack patted his shoulder, continuing to sit beside him silently lending all the support he could.

Daniel rubbed his eyes as he dropped the file on the table. He glanced over the table at where his mother was watching him.

"Mom, I'm fine," he told her, getting annoyed that three weeks had gone by and she was still treating him like he was going to shatter at any moment.

"Of course you are," Claire smiled at him, "I for one am exhausted. We've been working all night."

Daniel glanced over at the clock and winced at the time, that was why he was tired.

"How about I make us some coffee?" Claire stood up and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Daniel who stretched out on the couch for a few moments.

He jumped slightly as the door burst open, "Mom!" Maria stalked into the apartment, "Mom!"

"She's in the kitchen," Daniel sat up and frowned at his sister, "What's up?"

Maria looked a little shocked to see him there, "Hey?"

"Hey," Daniel replied blandly before asking again, "What's wrong?"

Maria waved an envelope at him, "This is what's wrong."

Daniel rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Maria, speak slowly for tired older brother."

Making a disgusted noise, she handed him the cream and gold envelope. Daniel opened the offending item and slid out the contents.

Mr Edwin and Mrs Trudy Halling, invite you to the wedding of their daughter Anna to Mr Derek Unwin.

Daniel read it aloud and looked up at Maria again, "So?"

"They're getting married," Maria told him in disgust, "And they had the nerve to invite me."

Claire re-entered the lounge to Daniel's relief, "Mom, please translate what she's on about."

"Did you get your invite?" Maria snapped before Claire could reply to Daniel's question.

"I haven't checked my mail but I'm guessing I have," Claire told her soothingly before turning to Daniel, "Anna used to be Maria's friend. They haven't spoken to one another in a few years."

"She's a bitch," Maria told him.

"Maria and Derek had been a couple for a few years," Claire continued, "And well…you can guess."

"He's scum," Maria added on, she sighed, "Mom, I'm not going."

Claire laughed, "You're going to give up the opportunity to go back there with your own fiancé and your new brother?"

Maria narrowed her eyes at her mother, "That's not fair."

"Ah," Daniel raise a hand, "Who says I'm going?"

Claire and Maria turned on him at the same time, identical smiles covering their faces and Daniel started looking for an exit.

"You mean you'd let me go alone?" Claire asked, "Especially when I'm going to be seeing these people for the first time since I've got my memory back."

"This is blackmail," Daniel told her with a grimace.

Claire handed him his coffee with a smirk, "You could call it that, if you want."

x

Daniel, Maria, Elizabeth, Steven and Graham Simmons got out of the car as Claire finished talking to Kelly on the phone. They walked together to the garden filled with people and stopped dead.

"Oh my God," Maria grimaced in horror, "We're in hell."

"Actually," Daniel stated wryly, "Hell had better décor."

Elizabeth frowned, "It's …"

"Disgusting," Steven suggested.

"A crime against good taste," Graham grimaced.

"Pink," Elizabeth finished her sentence, "Hot pink at that."

The five of them stared taking in the pink streamers and ribbons, the pink bridesmaid dresses and the men with pink bowties and carnations.

"Why are you all standing here?" Claire asked, joining them before she stopped, "Oh dear God."

"We've just covered that. Mom," Maria told her, "By the way, did you mention to anyone your real name?"

"Amanda," a voice called from the garden, answering Maria's question, "I'm so glad you could come."

Elizabeth and Daniel shared a look as Maria sighed, "Guess not."

"Hello, Trudy," Claire greeted the woman, "Thanks for inviting us."

"How could I not invite you," Trudy smiled before glancing at the girls, "Where's Kelly?"

"She's out of the country with her archaeology studies," Claire explained, "It's just the three of us."

"And these handsome men," Trudy eyed the three guys who looked slightly uncomfortable, "Well we can talk after the ceremony. I have to go. Mother of the bride duties, I'm sure you'll find that out someday."

Claire grimaced as the woman left, "Daniel, you didn't happen to bring a zat did you?"

"Jack wouldn't let me," Daniel smiled at his mother as she took his arm.

"Pity," Claire murmured, leading them into the garden.