Daniel & Adrienne #37 - Choices

Cameron stuck his head into the lab, carefully holding onto the door jam just in case they were working on something important. Adrienne was in music mode, typing away at her machine, surrounded by her collection of composition books so Daniel, noticing their visitor, drew his weapon and fired.  He missed her head but she saw the dart fly by her nose.   Pulling her head phones down to her neck, Adrienne glared over at him, a scowl on her face.    

“That’s the last time I buy you a present,” she declared, hunting around her desk for a Nerf dart she intended on keeping.  Daniel had yet to upgrade to a clip, so unless he had figured out a way to pick the lock on her desk, he was going to run out of darts shortly.  She found it, grabbing it quickly to add to her stash as Daniel was laughing and shaking his head.  

“You have a visitor Madonna,” he said pointing to the doorway and Adrienne turned around to see Cam peeping over.  

“Leaving at 7 correct?” he asked.  

“Yeah, but Rodney said we needed to be there no later than 6:45 if we’re choosing to use government resources for our own amusement,” Adrienne shrugged, closing her desk drawer and securing the lock.  She slid her left hand beside her carefully, giving Daniel the middle finger, hidden from Cam’s view.  

“I’ll make it 6:30 then. Should I grab dinner at the mess?” Cameron continued, running through his head the list of things he needed to do before they left, including pack. He would rather not choke down greasy pizza from the cafeteria if he didn’t need to, the commissary’s definition of “new healthy food” he had found was a very loose one. Thankfully, Adrienne shook her head.  

“I told Aunt Barb that we’ll be there at 8 and our flight arrives at 7.  Dinner is at 8 then,” Adrienne started and shook her hand before Cameron could ask another question, “and be prepared.  The later the meal, the greater the hot sauce,” she smiled, reopening her desk drawer. 

“I’ll get some antacids from Carolyn,” he joked, tapped the door and left.  Adrienne turned to face Daniel, throwing the dart she had just retrieved from the drawer over, aiming for his head.  Unfortunately, it just smacked his shoulder sideways and fell to the floor at his feet. 

“Ya know, I’m a better person since I return your ammo,” she said, “And thanks.” 

“For what?” Daniel replied confused, reaching down to collect his dart and return it to his shelf, noticing that there were only nine in his drawer. She must still have one. He really needed to go to the toy store and get another package.   

“You called me Madonna. The only thing that would have been better would have been to call me Shakira,” she smiled, raising her eyebrows before returning to her original task.  

“Like you need a bigger ego,” Daniel responded, standing from his desk and walking over to file his work away.  He glanced over at Adrienne curious about the exchange between her and their fellow teammate, not that their new relationship, if you could call it, meant that he needed to know everything about her and her activities outside of work. 

“Dare I ask what you and Cam have planned that requires the use of government resources?” Daniel inquired, this being the first time he had heard of this little excursion, whatever it was. He shoved the file into the cabinet and closed it, turning to face her, leaning back against the closed drawer. 

“Uh,” Adrienne started, stammering over her words and looking nervous, “My cousin is getting married this weekend,” she said quietly and Daniel made a face, confused. 

“Your cousin Rae. This weekend?” he asked, hurt welling up inside.  He had volunteered to take her months ago. Granted, it had been a gesture of good will then, but since he had just assumed that he would be her natural choice since, well, since they were together, well sort of together. It had been a very strange couple of weeks. In fact, he really wasn’t sure if he could call it dating, since they acted exactly like they did when they were friends, only with some added hand holding, cuddling and an occasional kiss. He didn’t want to push Adrienne, but she seemed to be keeping him at a distance, fearful of her entire world falling apart. He hadn’t heard about the wedding from her in a while, and he had to admit that he was looking forward to being with her and meeting her family.  Honestly, he was crushed, and apparently she could tell, letting out a sigh and standing, walking over to him.  

“Indy, I’m sorry, I am.  I just know how busy you are and Cam really wanted to see the Bayou,” she started to explain, reaching her arms around his waist.  Adrienne felt horrible; she knew it would hurt his feelings, but she just couldn’t let him..... She let out a sigh but Daniel was shaking his head, pulling away from her embrace.   

“No, really, it’s alright.  I’m glad you are taking Cameron, he never seems to get to do anything like that; he’s gotten to be as bad as I am about working,” Daniel tried to cover what he was certain was an expression on his face that she could read.  She could read him better than anyone else had ever before.  Not wanting to upset her, he returned to his desk quickly as Adrienne let out another breath and glanced over, trying to judge him.  He was emotionless, and she knew he was hurt but there was no way she could just show up with him in tow, because even if she tried to explain to Aunt Barbara what was going on, even if she told Daniel not to say a word, her Aunt was a smart woman and would see through the act.  Looking back at her screen, and trying to think of a way to make it up to him, Adrienne started to pull her headphones on when she felt a dart hit her face.  She laughed, ripping them from her head, glaring over at Daniel.  

“Bullseye,” he said, smiling as Adrienne grabbed the dart from her desk.  Playful was a good sign, if he was kidding around then he must understand. She opened her desk drawer again, dramatically holding up the arrow. 

“I’m keeping this one.  They fit my gun too you know,” she joked, dropping the dart into the compartment, slamming it shut. Daniel forced a smile, looking back at his screen, pleased his distraction had worked and trying not to think about the trip.  She needs time, he told himself, you just have to give her some time.

Over the course of the rest of the day he watched Adrienne as she finished up her work for the week.  He tried not to make it obvious that he was watching, but he was heartbroken.  He knew the wedding was coming up, Adrienne had been pretty bummed about it for a while now, and he was hoping that it would be an excuse for them to go do something together without the rest of the group and not work related, maybe even give them a chance to work on a few things, like how they were going to see one another without Adrienne losing her job, a chance to talk about the kinds of things that they had been avoiding. So, not only for her not to invite him, but to take Cameron, who didn’t cease to comment incessantly about how attractive she was, was a double wound. She was his girlfriend, wasn’t she? On the other hand, she didn’t look to excited about the event in the least, so Daniel was secretly pleased, but then maybe she was taking Cam to make the trip better.  He cleared his throat and pushed away the thought, forcing himself to think about work and not their relationship.   

At five she shut her computer and stood up, beginning to pack everything away into her backpack.  Daniel waited for her to say something to him, anything, but she just got herself ready, shoving in her composition books, her headphones and doing so in complete silence. Diverting his eyes back to his own screen, he ignored her in return. 

Adrienne felt horrible.  She kept looking over at Daniel trying to gauge his reaction.  Was he upset? She didn’t want him to be upset, she just wanted...   What she wanted to do was throw up.  She quickly packed her things and headed over to his desk where he was reading some book intently, tapping him lightly on the shoulder.  

“Hey, I’ve gotta pack, so I’m heading out,” she said and he glanced up at her, shrugging. 

“Have fun. Bring me back something alligator,” he requested, cheerfully, and Adrienne smiled, hoping that was a sign he wasn’t torn up about it and leaned over, kissing him lightly on the cheek.  

“I love you,” she assured him, nuzzling lightly at his ear, “Leave your phone on and I promise to send you a play by play of the insanity.” 

“I love you too,” he answered, squeezing her hand quickly. She stalled for just a moment and pulled away from his grasp, returning to her desk to get her bag.  Letting out a quiet sigh, once she was safely out of sight, Daniel returned his attention to the book once again, trying to remember what he had been reading in the first place.  

“Girl I was getting worried for a moment there,” Cam said as Adrienne strode into the auxiliary bay home to the Puddle jumpers SG command had borrowed from Atlantis. Glancing over at the ships, Adrienne thought it was a damn shame that it had been so long since she’d ridden in one, so long ago in fact it was before she and Daniel were friends, unless of course you counted the day that never ended. That was a nice puddle jumper memory, but they both seemed like an eternity ago, and her world now was such a different place since she was no longer just his assistant. She wasn’t his girlfriend, she didn’t think, in reality the only thing that had changed was that now she kissed him on the mouth instead of the cheek and told him that she loved him and vice versa. She hadn’t told a soul what had happened, and as everyone recovered from that horrible mission, life at the SGC just went on as normal, well, sort of normal. She guessed kissing Daniel on a regular basis was probably not normal. There was fussing ahead, familiar fussing, breaking her train of thought and a quick glance at her watch told her it was 6:47 p.m.  Rodney had already begun to rant.  

“Dr. Rowan, I just don’t understand how a simple thing like being on time is such a difficult concept for someone as intelligent as you’re supposed to be,” he scolded as she entered, large duffel over her shoulder.  

“Sorry Rodney, sorry.  It’s not like I want to go to this thing anyway,” Adrienne apologized, muttering a few things to herself, and slowing down her stride to a crawl. Sensing the change in her mood, Cam walked over and put his arm around her. 

“It’ll be alright girl, trust me.  We all have to survive our families,” he whispered.  Adrienne made a face at him, both of disbelief and warning, as they both stepped over to the area that Rodney had designated to be beamed to the ship, set up to look like a Star Trek transporter.  Of course he had, Adrienne thought to herself.  She gave Rodney the thumbs up and with a few clicks of his tablet, the two friends disappeared into space.  

Daniel stood to lock up the lab; he hadn’t really been honest with Adrienne; he had nothing to do this weekend.  Looking over at the clock, he saw that it was 8 p.m. and thought to himself that Adrienne would be arriving at her aunt’s house any moment now, with Cameron and her entire family to swoon all over her high ranking military date. He understood that she had promised Cam, but he also thought that after everything he would be her default companion at things like this. Fine, they were not technically together and he honestly wasn’t sure if they could be, his one conversation with Sam skirting the topic not going so well, but really, even being her best friend should have gotten him on that transport to Lousiana. Trying not to imagine the scenario, he walked over to the exit and shut off the lights, pulling the door behind him. 

“No plans tonight?” he heard a voice behind him and turned to see Teyla, standing in the hallway dressed casually and alone.  Daniel shook his head.  

“No,” he answered hoping she wouldn’t hear the sadness in his voice but Teyla smiled gently as she did, that mothering look about her. There was no hiding anything from her; Sheppard had said as much himself for years.  

“Where’s Addy?” she asked and Daniel let out a breath.  Yeah, no hiding. Off with Cameron, he thought to himself, parading him around the southern United States with pride.  Not with me.  Not where I want her to be.  Why didn’t she take me? He looked up to see Teyla had walked over to him, glancing up as if she was reading his mind and at that moment he was very glad that her understanding of people only went so far as to empathy. 

“Hello, Daniel, where’s Addy? Don’t you two usually go to the movies on Fridays?” she asked, turning her head and waving in his face to get his attention.  Daniel shook himself back to reality.  

“She had to head to New Orleans, some things to take care of,” he answered flatly and Teyla smiled again, accepting his answer. 

“Well, John and Ronan have decided to start a ridiculous tournament in the gym.  Would you care to join me?” she offered and extended her arm politely requesting escort.  She was such a kind person and maybe watching John and Ronan act like idiots was exactly what he needed.  Daniel breathed out a bit, but accepted her invitation, taking her arm and walking with her down the passageway.  

******

“And then I pulled the son of a bitch up and boom, left him in the dust. Do not screw with a pilot from the US of A!” Cameron was finishing up his loud story of flying antics at the dinner table, a crowd formed around him. Adrienne’s uncle and some other more distant family members were laughing in approval as if they had any clue what it was to be a fighter pilot, but Cam didn’t seem to care, just finished his hand motion and slammed his beer bottle onto the table.  Given the cue, the younger of her cousins started right in asking questions about shooting down bad guys and horsepower.  Rolling her eyes, Adrienne excused herself from the little party to go get herself a drink.  By the time she got to the fridge, she had decided to start right in with the moonshine, skipping the obligatory weaker beverages.  Pulling a mason jar out of the fridge, the one stuffed with booze and peaches, she opened it up, giving it a sniff: strong and fruity. It was just what she needed considering her evening thus far.

They had arrived a few minutes after seven, on time for once so Adrienne stalled.  She insisted to Cam that in New Orleans it was rude to arrive anywhere on time, so they stopped at a 711 for some coffee.  It was hot, even for nearly eight at night, so they stood outside, sipped cheap coffee with ice cubes leaning against the rental car, allowing Adrienne time to properly prep her companion.  

“Alright, there are a few things we need to go over first,” she began and Cameron looked over at her funny.  

“Shoot,” he said, taking a sip cautiously as he frowned at both her and his beverage. He knew Addy pretty well and he didn’t like the look on her face right now; he was even starting to wonder if there was going to be truth to these family horror stories. 

“One, the food.  Like I warned you, it’ll be spicy and may contain parts of animals you wouldn’t normally eat.  Inform them you are a runner like me and that will get you out of most of the stranger food items,” Adrienne began and Cam couldn’t help but chuckle at both the warning and the dead serious look on her face.  Clearly, she was blowing this all out of proportion, especially if food spiciness was a genuine concern. 

“I have a feeling there’s more.  Continue...” he declared, smiling brightly and even Adrienne laughed this time.  

“Two, they talk funny.  Really funny.  Imagine every time I’ve ever cussed out Daniel and kick it up a few notches.  If you don’t get what they’re saying just laugh because chances are it was meant to be funny anyway,” she continued as requested.  Cameron shook his head; that was going to be a hoot.  He loved when Addy let loose on Daniel, it was like watching an episode of Swamp People Live.  

‘Three?” he asked, wondering what else she could possibly be concerned with and Adrienne nodded, sighing heavily as she looked down at her coffee, the humor leaving her face. 

“Their number one goal in life is to marry me off.  Sooner than later.  They’ll assume not only that are you my boyfriend but that our wedding is next,” she answered honestly, and the words pained her for more reasons than he could know. Daniel should be here, she cursed herself, why couldn’t you just have been brave enough? Noticing her change in demeanor, Cam stopped laughing and looked over at her with sincerity in his glance. 

“And the best response to that one?” he asked and Adrienne shrugged.  

“I got nothing; just don’t make them think they’re right,” she answered, her insides aching for Daniel, longing for his embrace right now. Forcing herself to not think about him, just for one evening, Adrienne reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone to check the time, peeking back up at Cameron, before crunching the coffee cup in her hands.  

“Time to go mon ami,” she announced and tossed the cup into the nearby trashcan before opening the car door.  That was how her evening started, with her warnings. That was exactly how it shaped up to be.

“I luv ‘em Addy!  Gar ici, if you don’t marry dat man I am sho one of yo’ cousins will!” Aunt Barbara declared as she entered the kitchen, an armful of dirty dishes in her hands, walking them over to the sink.  Adrienne rushed over to help, but was shooed away, so she just returned to the fridge and closed the door.  Aunt Barbara had been gushing over Cameron since they arrived, just as Adrienne feared: he was tall, he was handsome, he was a pilot, he was a Colonel.  And of course, in true Cameron fashion, he had about a thousand stories to tell and was happy to share them all. The Rowan family was in love.  Trying to ignore the fact that the word ‘marry’ had already come from her beloved aunt, Adrienne excused herself past the woman to reach over into the kitchen cabinet and grab herself a juice glass.  Aunt Barbara thought that good God-fearin’ women didn’t keep shot glasses or liquor in the house. Apparently, Uncle Buddy’s shine didn’t count as liquor and a juice glass was better than one made for only taking shots.  Thankful that the jar was nearly full, as she was going to need it, Adrienne opened the top, setting the lid aside on the counter.  

“Addy, donna be hont,” her aunt continued, “ee’s a gud mahn.”  Adrienne just poured the strong clear liquor into her glass letting Barbara continue to gush. 

“Aunt Barbara, he is NOT my boyfriend.  I told you, I’m not seeing anyone, I don’t have time for a relationship,”  she said, putting the lid back on the jar. Oh, and I’m in love with my boss, and he’s in love with me, so I kinda have a boyfriend, but not really since I’m too damn scared to let him touch me or acknowledge that there is something going on between us, but let’s not talk about that now.  You’d love him; he’s a complete dork just like me, no fancy fighter pilot stories but he looks hot with a gun.  Daniel on her mind again, along with Aunt Barbara’s two cents, Adrienne chose not to return the moonshine to the fridge.  Aunt Barbara was shaking her head with concern.  

“Addy, don’t ya go makin a bahbin. I promised ya fadder that I wud look after ya. I know ya think ya so smart, so indeependent, but erebudy needs somewun,” Barbara pleaded. but Adrienne just brought the glass to her lips and sipped, not answering; this was all going exactly as she had predicted.  Shaking her head, knowing that Adrienne would never listen to her, Barbara sighed left the kitchen, deciding not to bring up Adrienne’s large glass of shine. Adrienne made sure she was gone and slammed the rest of the moonshine from her juice glass down her throat, turning to open the jar again. She heard someone opening the door, beginning to mentally prepare herself for another lecture from her aunt when she saw that it was Cam who had entered. Frowning, he pointed at the jar. 

“I really don’t think they’re so bad as to turn to the corn liquor after only a few hours,”  he joked. Scoffing, Adrienne turned around to procure another juice glass, stacking hers into it, grabbing the moonshine jar and heading for the back door.  She paused only to glance back over her shoulder.  

“Come on, I want company in my bahbin,” she said, her accent exaggerated and thickest at the last word. Cameron smiled at the invitation, but was a bit lost at the end.  

“Bahbin?” he questioned, as he followed her out.  

“Pouting,” she clarified, pushing the screen door open and heading out the back.  

*****

When Teyla had said competition, Daniel was thinking sparring because for a while there, there had been an organized little match-up, one in which he remembered Adrienne bruising her back pretty bad.  Daniel had joked maybe it knocked the magnets out of her spine but Adrienne didn’t find that was very funny. 

Instead of fighting,  however, what his Atlantis based friends had in mind was a video game competition.  John had set up a large screen in the area where they sparred and he, Ronan, Rodney and Carson were hollering at the screen, little black ops soldiers fighting off hordes of blood thirsty zombies.  Except for the fact that video games bored her, Daniel’s first thought was how much Adrienne would enjoy watching this and began to wonder what she was doing at that very instant. What did the Rowan family do for fun? A thought of her dancing close to Cam popped into his mind, causing his stomach to clench and worry to flood his thoughts. 

“Stop it,” he said aloud.  Teyla, who was sitting beside him on the gym flooring, looking equally as bored, glanced over, that concerned look on her face yet again. 

“Stop what?” she inquired, looking confused. Stop thinking about Adrienne, Daniel thought to himself, it doesn’t mean anything, it doesn’t mean that she loves you any less. Glancing over at Teyla, Daniel shook  his hand in front of his face, clearing his thoughts and hers.

“Oh nothing, it just looked like John was going to get his little person killed, but that just goes to show how little I know about video games,” he covered quickly and, thankfully, Teyla smiled, at his comment rather than see the lie behind it. 

“I understand. I have no idea what is going on either, but since Torrin is out playing tonight with some other children from the base, I am enjoying just sitting here being confused,” she answered.  So that’s where the little guy was, Daniel noted silently, glad she had been able to find him some friends among the children of the other SG members.  

“How’s he doing?” he asked, pleased for a chance to change the subject and his train of thought.  Teyla shrugged, a tinge of uncertainty in her gaze.

“Well. He is starting to ask questions about things, home, his father.  I try the best I can,” she replied.  Daniel nodded his head, not in sympathy but empathy. It was not a position he would want to be in; he couldn’t imagine being a parent, let alone one that would have to explain so much.  

“That must be hard,” he said, not knowing what else to offer.  Advice on this matter was something he certainly didn’t have.

“It is, at times, but he is a strong boy.  He will survive,” she answered, looking back at the game.  So much for a subject change, Daniel thought, seeing the end of the conversation. Leaning back on his hands as he sat on the gym floor, he looked back at his entertainment for evening, trying not to let the crazy images on the screen remind him of  the one person he wanted to be spending his Friday night with, the one person that wasn’t there. 

*****

“Girl, don’t you think you need to slow down.  We do have a wedding to go to tomorrow,” Cam warned Adrienne as he watched her pour yet another juice glass of peach moonshine, of what number he had lost count. She shook her head and slammed the glass to her lips, downing the shot and setting the tumbler beside her.   Sitting back on the old wooden bench in Aunt Barbara’s side yard, she wiped a stray bit of alcohol from her lips and gazed back out into the overgrown swamp woods of the Bayou. 

“Cam, I’ve been drinkin’ moonshine since I was 15 ok? And the wedding is at 4.  Plenty of recovery time.  Wouldn’t be so bad if I forgot it anyway,” she replied, sitting up yet again, poured more, throwing back the liquid.  Cameron sighed and just refilled his glass, thankful at the very least that she wasn’t filling her cup since it didn’t look like she had any intention of slowing down.  He closed the lid on the jar and looked over at Adrienne before drinking himself.  

“Can I ask why they affect you like this?” he asked, unsure as to why she was drinking so much. Sure, they were a little country, but her family had been nothing but pleasant with him and they seemed to be a very loving and caring family. Adrienne just shrugged.  

“I love them, I do, but I don’t fit in their little world.  They have the best of intentions, the best, just not for me.  The wedding will be fine and I am happy that Rae is happy, but the reception. I just can’t sit around and listen to them tell me my life clock is ticking away or something,” Adrienne answered as she played with the glass in her hand.  Cameron nodded his head in understanding, noting that they had seemed quite excited that she had brought a male companion and were very interested in the details of their personal relationship. 

“That’s just what they do here, but they are trying to show them that they love you, that’s all. They worry about you because they love you,” Cameron replied, reaching to put his arm around her but she shrugged away quickly, and he pulled back looking confused.

“Addy, I’m not trying anything; I was just trying to be nice,” he said as he placed his arm back at his side, “Besides, maybe they’ll think there is something going on between us enough to lay off of you for a bit.”  Eyes wide, Adrienne whipped around, glaring at him, a shocked expression on her face. 

“Oh no, we can’t do that!” she said quickly, too quickly, too insistent and Cameron laughed at her, wondering what brought on that reaction. 

“Why not? I think it’s a great idea, I mean, you don’t talk to your family much anyway, so just enough to survive the weekend.  You and Jackson do that shit all of the time to mess with Vala. So we can’t for some reason, for a REAL reason?” Cameron added but Adrienne looked up at the sky and didn’t answer, she didn’t want to answer.  Of course she did that with Daniel, at first for fun, but now, well, now she guessed she wouldn’t be playing anymore. Puzzled by her silence, expecting a loud, inebriated foul-mouthed defense and not getting one, Cameron turned his head, looking at Adrienne’s face, watching redness form in her cheeks.  She was blushing; she was blushing over mentioning her and Daniel, together. That couldn’t mean...could it?   

“No way.... there is no way....” he said and sat back a bit looking at Adrienne, “Look, you guys are flirty I know, he has become a real flirt for such a dork, but you have got to be kidding me!”  he exclaimed.  Sure, it was very obvious that Daniel had a thing for Adrienne and she and he were very close, but nothing had come of any of that and they seemed to have cooled it down considerably.  Still, Adrienne didn’t answer, just reached between them and grabbed the jar of moonshine, unscrewing the top once more.  Pouring herself another glass, she reached in, securing a peach and plopping it into her glass, maintaining her silence. 

“You’re not kidding are you?” Cameron asked as Adrienne began to sip more moonshine.  Unable to believe what was happening, what she was admitting by her silence here on a worn wooden bench in the of Louisiana, Cam just shook his head. He knew Addy and he knew her well and that look on her face, the way she was so insistent that no one think they were together, the way she had been acting lately.  They might have been attracted to each other at first, but Adrienne was clearly in love and he was willing to bet that Daniel was too.  

“No shit,” Cameron said aloud, sitting back and drinking his peach nectar. 

“I know right,” was all the admission she was going to give him.  She didn’t quite know how to interpret Cam’s reaction, Daniel did always say that Cam had a thing for her but she knew better, if anything he treated her like his kid sister, like someone he needed to look out for. Her biggest fear with Cam was if Daniel were to do something stupid that her running buddy might box his ears. His face still in shock, Cameron reached over and opened the jar of liquor once more, pouring himself a second glass.  He screwed the cap back on and leaned back, yet again, taking a long swig.

“When?” Cameron asked, his inquiry growing more personal, he could tell, as she looked down at the trodden grass, rolling her empty cup in her hands. 

“When what?” she clarified, peering up at him. 

“Did you two...?” he continued, leading her for an answer, the look on his face making it perfectly clear what he was asking. Choking, even more embarrassment rushing to her cheeks, Adrienne spit out a little of the moonshine she was drinking, shaking her head as she tried to swallow the rest. 

“No, no. No.  Not even once.  No,” she said, trying to make it clear to Cam that she was not the kind of person that was just going to hop into bed with someone even if she could.  He stared at her puzzled for moment and spoke again without thinking.  

“Why not?” he just kept up his inquiry, baffled that nothing had happened between them, hell, they might as well move in together for the amount that they were actually apart. Furious, Adrienne stood, staring him down. 

“What is this? The Spanish inquisition?  I need a reason or something not to be sleeping with Daniel? Ok, let’s give you about fifteen.  One, he’s my boss.  Two, he’s a fellow team member. Three, I like my job. Four, the redneck brigade inside. Five, I will NOT become somebodies little woman. Six, he’s WAY older than me. Seven, he’s got WAY more baggage than a man should have.  - “Adrienne began to list when Cameron held up his hand, shaking it and laughing at her.  

“Wait, wait, wait, THOSE are your reasons? Those? So what he’s older. The baggage, christ girl we all have baggage; I’m beginning to think it is a prereq for the job.  And becoming “the little woman?” Addy, you’re starting to sound like your family. Ok, I get the work thing, I get it, but Sam and Jack make it work and maybe they’d look the other way....,” Cam offered, taking another drink, his tone not supporting his words. Plopping back down on the bench beside him, Adrienne dropped her head into her hands, letting out a long and mournful sigh.  

“And that’s the kicker. Everything else aside, you don’t date your teammates. You don’t date your boss,” Adrienne admitted, the other reason that rather than taking the physical part slow that she was afraid of. So what if they could finally be intimate, so what if Daniel was the one man who could fix her and take away all of her pain? The minute Woolsey or any other of those IOA desk jockeys got wind that Daniel Jackson was bedding his assistant, her job would be history, as would her friends, her home, and her life. That was part of the distance, she knew, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it, so for now, loving him and being able to kiss him lightly while they watched a movie was going to have to be enough. Lifting her head from her hands, Adrienne reached over for her glass, but Cam saw and anticipated her next move, stealing away the jar of moonshine.  

“No more; I don’t do puking,” Cameron joked and that seemed to lighten her up just the tiniest bit.  

“I don’t puke,” Adrienne retorted, a smile creeping across her face.  

“That’s what everyone says,” he responded and continued, feeling the need to figure out what was going on with his friend, a person he had grown to think of as family. 

“So what are you guys then?” 

 Adrienne threw up her hands, that smile gone as quickly as it appeared.

“I have no fuckin’ idea,” she replied, “it’s complicated. I do but I don’t and I can’t and.....UGH...” 

“Are you listening to yourself Addy? You’ve completely flipped, over Daniel! I honestly can’t believe that we are having this conversation. Alright fine, you guys are in nerd love limbo, that’s great, but why aren’t you two trying to figure this out? Trying to analyze it like you do everything else? Wait, don’t answer that, because I’m actually kinda scared that you already have, more so than the bullshit excuses that you just gave me. Ok, than explain to me this one, why am I here?” Cameron demanded, his tone harsh, feeling used. Was she doing this as some little love ploy? To make him jealous?  

“I needed a date to the wedding,” she replied simply.

“Uh huh, and if Jackson’s the love of your god damn life why not just bring him? Sit in the back and do that little code speak you two do?” Cameron retorted and Adrienne looked away, angry herself. 

“Don’t answer, you don’t need to. I can think of at least two reasons right away. First, you’re afraid of what he’ll think. Afraid of his opinion of you changing if this is your family.  Second, they would see right through you. You knew your aunt’s was gonna play matchmaker, and that terrifies you. Dammit girl I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that you think or that he might think less of you comin’ from country folk or the fact that you are so damn scared of being happy that you’d go through this entire fiasco with me. And if he really loves you, which I am pretty damn sure he does, think about how this is making him feel right now,” Cam spat, his words coming out harsher than he intended. He didn’t mean to hurt her, he just meant to talk some sense in to her, but as Adrienne looked back, the look in her eyes indicating that hurt was exactly what he did. 

“You finished?” she asked, that smile from before having changed into a menacing scowl.  Cam couldn’t tell if she was pissed off or on the verge of tears and Adrienne wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing which. Reaching out again for his friend, he placed his hand gently over hers.

“Addy, he loves you, he truly loves you. I wouldn’t kid about something like that. Daniel will never hurt you, at least intentionally. And I won’t say a word,” Cameron explained. Adrienne pulled her hand away and stood once more, grabbing the jar of moonshine and sealing it tight, her eyes still viciously cutting back down at Cam.  

“I’m heading to bed.  See you at breakfast,” she responded cooly, heading back to the house. Deciding that he had said enough, Cam remained silent and watched her walk away.  

“That damn lucky bastard,”  Cameron said and looked back out into the jungle.  He just hoped Jackson realized how lucky he was. 

*****

John was jumping from his chair, pointing his finger into Rodney’s face and bragging, loudly, about some level up and new weapon he had acquired when Daniel decided it was time to leave. Between the constant visual reminder of Adrienne on the screen and the incessant whining coming from Rodney, who apparently was terrible at video games, Daniel had had just about enough excitement. What surprised him, though, was that Teyla got up when he did.  

“Teyla, where are you going?” John asked, noticing her stand as well out of the corner of his eye as Rodney sat back down in the chair, still demanding a redo. 

“To bed.  I have no child tonight and I do not desire to sit and watch older children any longer,” she stated simply, smiling as she did.  John looked at Daniel, who had already started to speak, making his own excuses.

“I am too.  Quiet night, I might as well take advantage of it,” Daniel said, hoping that would be enough of an excuse.

“Suit yourselves, but you are missing the most epic ass whipping of Rodney in the history of video games,” John replied.  Shaking her head, Teyla laughed and waved goodbye, exiting the gym behind Daniel, who couldn’t get out of their fast enough, even though he knew he was just going to go back to his room and obsess. Maybe this was all a bad idea, maybe this is what Adrienne was worried about; he could barely function for thinking about her so much. Hands in pockets, Daniel trudged toward the elevator, hearing light footsteps coming from behind him. Pausing he turned to see Teyla trying to catch up to him, still shaking her head as she ran.   

“There are many things about this planet I like, but that is something I just do not understand,” she said and Daniel laughed, nodding his head in agreement. 

“Me neither; I just humor them and make them think I know what they’re talking about.  But I’m pretty sure they see right through me,” he answered, a smile finally creeping across his face. Teyla was so kind, and insane video games or not, this was a pleasant distraction. Holding out his hand in front, indicating that she should proceed, they continued to walk down the hall and toward the elevators.  

“So is everything alright in New Orleans?” Teyla asked the question he had been hoping he wouldn’t get. Daniel breathed out a bit, trying not to show what he was really feeling.  Watching his friends from Atlantis act like idiots for a few hours had almost taken his mind of Adrienne completely, almost.  It had worked when he wasn’t thinking about zombies, which led to those stupid comics, which led to Adrienne. 

“Yeah, it’s fine. Her cousin’s getting married, that’s all,” Daniel replied, shoving his hands again into his pockets as he strode forward. Surprised, Teyla pulled her head back and frowned.  

“She didn’t ask you to go with her? I thought here it was customary to bring a guest with you to such ceremonies?” she questioned.  Not slowing down for a moment, Daniel shook his head, dreading the answer that he was going to have to give.

“It is; Cam went with her,”  he answered plainly. Letting her shoulders slump, Her face matching her body’s reaction, Teyla looked at him, concern in her eyes. 

“How does that make you feel?” she asked, stopping in the hallway and grabbing his arm.  Forced to a halt, Daniel peered down his glasses at her, unsure as what exactly he should say. Like shit, was what he was thinking, but he hadn’t told a soul about what had happened in his room a few weeks ago and he was certain that Adrienne hadn’t.  

“It’s just a wedding and they’ll be back Sunday.  She probably took Cameron because he is the closet thing to a redneck friend she has, and she’s always telling us how redneck her family is,” Daniel repeated out loud the reason he had been giving himself in his head, and Teyla squeezed his arm, as if she knew, as if she understood...  

“Daniel, I am sure she had a good reason for not taking you.  A good reason.  Don’t let that change how you feel about her,” Teyla advised and stepped away, approaching the elevators, lightly pushing the button to go up.  

He froze, not knowing at first what to say. Sure, it was a base rumor that they were sleeping together, and yes, Vala had pretty much seen through both of them, but the Athosian woman standing in front of him knew; she understood. He knew what he should  do, ignore her statement and not risk anything, his job, this fledgling relationship with Adrienne, but his curious nature would not let him. 

“How did you know?” he asked in amazement before he could stop himself, but she was already grinning at the word how. 

“That you love her or that she loves you? Or that you are together now, or at least trying? Daniel, you have the same look in your eyes when you look upon Adrienne that I used to see in Kanaan. That you were together, your distress would be uncertainty were you not,” she answered simply. Daniel didn’t say a word as the elevator doors opened, just followed behind trying not to let his mind linger on her words or the distress that she spoke of weighing down his heart. Picking his index fingernail with his thumb, his hand s still stuffed inside his pockets, he waited for the elevators doors to close before he looked over at her.  

“I’m a little disappointed,” he said quietly and again, Teyla smiled softly, one of comfort and caring.

“Don’t be. I’m sure she had her reasons. I have noticed that this world is not as family oriented as I am used to. She probably didn’t feel the need to introduce you to her family just yet. Perhaps things need to be, what is the word you use, serious before she introduces you to her clan,” Teyla replied but Daniel shook his head, missing the last comment completely.   

“That’s really an American thing, lots of other cultures keep their families much closer.  Adrienne was close to her father but she just feels like the rest of her family is...” he trailed off a bit, a light bulb going off in his head.  Adrienne didn’t want him to see her family.  She must not cared what Cameron saw, of any of the other team members she and Cam seemed to share the most when it came to upbringing, but she did care about what he saw; she cared, and she was embarrassed. She must have thought that meeting her family would change his opinion of her and in that instant of realization he felt like a complete idiot.  

“Are you alright Daniel?” Teyla asked, noticing her friend staring off into space. Breaking the trance, that sickness in his stomach that he had all night lifting, he nodded his head emphatically. 

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.  Really,” he answered, smiling a bit.  Teyla looked pleased at his change in demeanor and said no more, glancing up, watching the floors change.  

*****

Cam heard a knock at the door.  

“Almost ready!” he shouted yet he saw the knob turn and the door open and there was Adrienne, wearing blue jeans and a peach colored blouse with sandals, scanning him from head to toe. Cam looked at her strangely, trying to figure out why she wasn’t dressed yet when she started to giggle, covering her mouth with her hand. 

“Cam, shug, I forgot to mention,” she said as she laughed a bit more, “this is a Bayou wedding. Outside, no church, jazz band and preacher.  You should wear jeans.”  

Glaring at her in frustration, Cameron was standing in from of her in a very nice light gray suit with a greenish shirt, a look of disappointment in his face. He’d carefully picked this out before they left not only because he wanted to look nice for his friend’s family, but because he really never got a chance to dress up and not in Air Force dress.  

“Really? Jeans? Even in the midwest we wore a suit,” Cameron said, but had started to reluctantly remove his jacket.  A playful look of her face, Adrienne walked pass, squeezing his arm apologetically, sat on the bed where his suitcase was sitting opening, the clothes neatly folded inside.  

“This is New Orleans mon ami.  Our funerals are parties,” Adrienne added, reaching into Cam’s suitcase and grabbing some jeans.  

“Hey,” she shouted and he turned, just in time to catch the blue jeans, “leave the shirt on just switch to these jeans.  That color looks nice on you.”  Cameron turned his back to her and began to switch, pleased that at least she had appreciated his effort. 

“Anything else you need to warn me about?” he asked over his shoulder, beginning to make the change.  Adrienne laid back on the bed, trying to allow him some privacy and gazed at the ceiling, thinking, when suddenly she sat up, snapping her fingers.  

“Aunt Edna might speak in tongues.  Don’t be alarmed.  If she does, everyone will gather like she is foretelling prophecy or something,” Adrienne said from the bed.  Not quite sure if she was kidding or not, but thinking she was, Cam erupted into laughter as he zipped up his jeans, reaching onto the floor to pick up the suit pants.  He turned around to secure tennis shoes, slightly worried as she remained silent laying on his bed. 

“And you’re not laughing, so that must be true....” he said.  

“Yep, but they don’t do snakes.  No worries about that,” she answered flatly.  

“You do realize Daniel would run for the hills,” he teased her, knowing that he wouldn’t, but that his old friend might be tempted to visit these “swamp people” for further study which would embarrass Adrienne more than just not liking them.   

“Which is why you are here my darling,” she said and stood seeing that he was dressed, sliding her arm through his, “Let’s go watch some rednecks get hitched.” Together, and much more at ease than last night, they made their way to the ceremony. 

*****

Sam walked into her office to see Daniel sitting at her desk, drawing something onto a legal pad.  She made a face as she walked behind him, curious, peering over his shoulder to discover that he was drawing a cartouche of some sort down the center of the yellow paper.  

“What are you doing Daniel?” Sam asked, puzzled as to why he was sitting in her office doodling at 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning and why he was drawing cartouches but he just held up his finger to shush her and kept drawing.  Thoroughly confused, Sam sat down on the corner of her desk beside where he was intently working, his glasses falling down his nose and his face held close to the paper.  Carefully filling in the botton of the final ring, Daniel sat back in her chair looking up and smiling, holding the legal pad up into the air.  

“It says O’Neill,” he said as he handed it over to her.  

“Okay,” she started, “Why are we drawing my surname in hieroglyphics on a legal pad?” And why are you acting so weird? she wanted to ask but refrained. 

“Oh no reason, I was just waiting for you to get back that’s all,” Daniel answered and stood from the chair directing her to sit.  She waved her hand at him that everything was alright and she was fine leaning against the desk and he sat down on the desk beside her but didn’t say a word.    

“Did you need something?” she asked. Daniel shook his head. 

“No, I just needed to go over something with Adrienne before I kept working in the database and SG-8 is not due back for at least twelve hours with those photos I wanted so I’m just trying to occupy myself till then,” he answered, “so I was hoping you needed something done because I am at a bit of an impasse....” Sam laughed.  She had expected as much and was honestly quiet shocked that Adrienne didn’t take Daniel to the wedding.  She knew that her friend was still trying to hide everything from him and Sam was just dumbfounded as to how Daniel had been completely unable to figure it out, unless, of course, he loved her too, in which case he would be playing his own game.  

“When does Addy get back?” Sam asked, receiving the face from her friend she had expected and even a slight eye roll.  She just chuckled again at the reaction.   

“Don’t play me; you miss your little partner in crime. Typically, one of the two of you would be waking up at the other’s apartment right about now and be planning some more craziness,” Sam joked and Daniel rolled his eyes completely this time. 

‘We’re not that bad,” he defended but Sam stood, grinning like a Cheshire cat as she walked over to the cabinets on the side, opening the top drawer carefully and glancing back at him.  

“Yes you are,” she said, “but it’s cute.  You guys are cute together.”  Daniel stood again.  

“We are not together,” he said, “Why does everyone think that?” Because you are dumbass, he thought, you have been for a while it just took the two of us forever to say anything. Are we really that transparent? But wait, Sam wasn’t really keen on it before, why does she seem to be alright with it now?

“Because it’s quite obvious Daniel, come on, you’re sitting in my office on a Saturday morning when I know that you could very easily find something do to if you wanted to, but you must not be able to focus and the one reason that you’re not able to focus is because Adrienne is in New Orleans with Cameron and not you,” Sam stated, as she dug into the file cabinet.  Although she had not said a word to anyone since that night at her house, not even to Jack, who had his own ideas about what was going on between the two of them, she had kept her eyes open.  She had noticed things, on both of their parts.  Adrienne was more obvious, mostly because Sam knew, Sam had heard her say it, but she had started to notice Daniel too, how he and Adrienne had grown closer and closer and then there was his visit last week, where he had made a casual comment about Rodney and Jennifer and how well they were working out much to his surprise. As much as she hated to do it, she had reminded him that they worked in separate departments, on separate floors, and that they had concealed the extent of their relationship when Atlantis was still in the Pegasus galaxy. Needless to say, Daniel hadn’t taken that well, but as much as she wanted him to be happy, she couldn’t lie to him. If he and Adrienne were together they would have to keep it quiet for as long as possible because Sam really didn’t know how much power she would have to stop Woolsey and the others from steeping in. Yet her personal curiosity was killing her, she wanted him to just tell her, one way or the other, so she stood there, awaiting a response.  

“She took Cameron because she thinks for some reason I can’t handle her family.  Forget I’ve traveled the entire damn galaxy and half of the Pegasus and seen all sorts of people but for some reason I can’t handle some folks from New Orleans,” he explained, irritation in his voice. At least I am hoping that’s the truth, he thought, because it’s about the only thing keeping me from going insane right about now but Sam started to laugh the moment he finished.   

“So, we’re not hurt or missing her, we’re offended,” she stated, trying to cover her face and contain her laughter.  Not amused, Daniel picked up the legal pad, glaring, and walked it over to her.  

“This took me twenty minutes so I hope you appreciate it,” he spat, handing it to her and unable to hold it back, Sam erupted into riotous laughter as her friend stormed out of her office.  

****** 

“That man is carrying a gun,” Cam whispered to Adrienne as quietly as he could as if he was afraid the man might use it. Seriousness in her face, she nodded.  

“Yeah, he’s the best man,”  she replied, “they usually have a gun and shoot it after the ‘I do’.” She squeezed his leg before he could comment, “That’s Rowan family tradition, well Verdin family tradition, not a Bayou thing, more of a I came from redneck hell thing.”  

“I really wish I could see Jackson’s reaction to all of this,” he teased her and she pinched his leg, but he wasn’t totally kidding, it would be interesting to see Daniel’s reaction to all of this.   

The ceremony itself wasn’t that eventful, for a Bayou wedding.  Cameron noted that the groom was wearing what looked like some odd combination of hunting gear and cowboy attire, clean and new, but definitely not a suit. As he had pointed out, the best man held a rather large shotgun and himself was dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt.  Cam scanned the other guests of the wedding it seemed that he and Adrienne were overdressed even in jeans and dress shirts, all except for Aunt Barbara, who was wearing a lovely yellow sundress.  The music began, a nice light jazz and Rae processed in wearing a simple white sleeveless dress.  A thought popping into his head, Cam leaned over to Adrienne again as Rae came down the aisle.

“Where’s Aunt Edna?” he asked and Adrienne giggled, pointing over a few rows ahead to a small old woman.  Cameron nodded and made sure to watch her for any outbursts fueled by the Lord. Peeking up he could see Rae had made it to the altar, the preacher beginning the service, a rather robust holy man with an accent that made Adrienne angry sound like perfect English. He called everyone to order, at least that is what Cam thought he was saying, and asked the crowd to stand to sing a hymn so Adrienne dragged Cam up to his feet and he mouthed along like he knew the words while Adrienne sang in that beautiful voice of hers. He wasn’t interested in Addy in that way before, like he had been in the beginning, he thought of her like the sister he never had, but listening to her sing he felt his heart heavy, hoping that Daniel wouldn’t screw this up; she deserved so much more than him jerking her around.  He was mid thought when there was tugging at his wrist, Adrienne pulling him down, the song over and the preacher starting the sermon.  

“Love is patient, love is kind.  It is not boastful and it does not....” he started, the typical Corinthians wedding sermon, just delivered in that thick Bayou speak. Cameron had started to lean back to Adrienne to make a comment about that very accent when he saw it, a tear streaking down her cheek that she was reaching quickly to wipe away.  

“Girl, you alright?” he asked and Adrienne just nodded, sniffing in a bit.  It wasn’t like Adrienne to cry, but Cam knew what this was about. Reaching over, he took her hand into his own, squeezing it tightly. 

“See Addy, being happy’s not so bad,” he whispered, and held fast to her hand, turning back to watch the ceremony. 

*****

Daniel tried to take a nap but couldn’t.  He tossed and turned in the bed, trying to get comfortable, trying to stop thinking about her, until he finally sat up and opened his nightstand drawer.  Inside was the journal Adrienne had placed in his dresser, he had found it a while ago and moved it here, the one from Abydoys. He opened it and started thumbing through the pages slowly, before slamming the book shut, letting his head fall into his hands. 

“Adrienne I can’t do this,” he said out loud and looked up again reaching for his phone.  There was not one text and she’d promised a text but had sent nothing.  Feeling alone and forgotten, Daniel laid back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. 

******

Once they were pronounced man and wife, Aunt Barbara stepped up to announce the reception would be at the Elk’s Lodge in a few hours and for everyone to get changed for the party and come on over. Leaping up, Adrienne grabbed Cameron’s hand, pulling him to his feet and ahead of the crowd. 

“We’ve got some time to run to town; I completely forgot!” she exclaimed, reaching into the pocket of her jeans, beginning to type frantically.  

Daniel had finally fallen asleep when he felt buzzing in his hand.  He opened his eyes slowly and saw that he had fallen asleep holding his phone, which was currently glowing with a message.  A text message.  

Sadly, no speaking in tongues and no brawlin’. 

What kinda gator? 

He sat up fast, recognizing the number. It was from Adrienne and his heart racing like he was 15 years old. Overjoyed, he quickly typed back his response.  

So sad; I was expecting something good.  

Surprise me...

Adrienne smiled at the message; he wasn’t angry, she had been afraid that he would be upset that she hadn’t messaged him, but she had to admit, her family had been pretty tame this time, so there really had been nothing to say. Then there was the having to explain to Cameron the nature of she and Daniel’s little relationship, but she didn’t feel she needed to get into that with him now, especially via text. Turning the rental car onto the main road, she remembered a very tacky tourist spot close by that would let her avoid the traffic of New Orleans proper and it was only ten minutes away.  

The phone buzzed again in his hand about thirty minutes later.  

I want to send you a picture of this so bad...

But you’ll have to wait.  

Adrienne thanked the nice man behind the counter and tucked the gift into the bag, smiling back at Cameron.  

“You sure you don’t want something. I think I owe you for putting up with all of this,” she said, pointing to a pair of alligator boots but Cameron shook his head.  

“You can make it up to me by dancing with me all night at this party,”  he said, putting his arm around his friend, hoping that while he wasn’t Daniel, they could at least have a good time together tonight. 

*****

Daniel was asleep when he heard a sound from his living room and sat up in the bed quickly, looking over at the clock.  

4:15 a.m. 

He heard footsteps heading to his room and turned to see a figure walking up and standing by his bed. Still half asleep, he tensed reactively. 

“Indy, wake-up, get your ass up!” the figure said.  Wait, that figure just said Indy. Shaking his head, he rubbed his eyes, peering at her in the darkness. 

“Ad?” Daniel asked, “What are you doing here?” 

“I didn’t want to enjoy another moment of southern love.  We dropped off the rental early and beamed back. I was gonna to call you tomorrow, but I couldn’t wait, I, well, I missed you,” she said, the last part quietly, plopping a bag down beside him and reaching across him to click on the light.  He squinted at the sudden brightness and opened his eyes slowly to see that sitting on his bed was a large yellow plastic bag with a huge alligator picture on the front. Making a face of sheer disbelief that such things even excites, he looked up to see Adrienne was taking off clothes, pulling her jeans from her legs and tossing them over to his hamper. He reached for the bag, his curiosity burning inside of him, but she jumped back onto the bed, smacking his hand out of the way.  

“Patience Indy,” she ordered, pulling the bag onto her knees. It was then that he noticed she was sitting there, in front of him, wearing just a small t-shirt and underwear and his heart beat a little faster in his chest. 

“First is this,” she said, breaking his gaze as he looked back to the bag, from where she produced and handed him a jar. Daniel put it up to his face trying to read the label without his glasses only to find that there was no label and the jar smelled of alcohol.  

“Let me guess. Moonshine?” he ventured and Adrienne smiled.  

“Yep.  We’re gonna save dat till tamarra.  We’re going to take da top off da Jeep and jump over the doors wit da shine en da back, jus so I can call ya Bo Duke,” she teased, letting her accent slipped.  He just laughed, it seemed she was determine to turn his Jeep into some television fantasy, but before he could comment, she crinkled the bag in her hands as if she was trying to quickly wrap a present.  

“Now dis,” she said, handing it over.  Opening it up slowly, Daniel reached his hand inside pulling out a hat.  An alligator hat.  A fedora alligator hat.  She was smiling at him waiting for him to catch on and he did, they had been friends long enough, she had been such and important part in his life long enough, the only person he had ever let give him a nickname that he actually answered to and wasn’t annoyed by. 

“They didn’t have a whip. I’m still working on that,” she said, leaning over him to click off the light.  The hat was still in his hand, but as she leaned across his body he had the overwhelming urge to toss it aside, take her into his arms and kiss her, tell her how much he’d missed her too, but he didn’t and then she was gone, back over to the other side in the darkness.

“I plan on wearing this at the very next briefing,” he informed her as he felt rustling beside himself, his heart warming as she got into bed with him, scooting over closer to his body. 

“Ya’d betta not.  I’d be axed ta leave.  We’d be axed ta leave,”  she replied, hunkering down on the pillow.  She’d missed him and had no intention of leaving, Cameron’s words haunting her thoughts. He had seen what she spent so long denying, that Daniel really truly love her. Maybe she could be happy with him, and not just like they were now, maybe she could be with him, in every way. 

“I assume you’re staying?” he asked, interrupting her thoughts. There was more movement beside him and then he felt a hand on his stomach, Adrienne’s body curling close to his own. 

‘Yea, an if ya even tink ah movin’ me befo 11 I’ll nah be sharing dat shine.  An trust me, it’s GUD shine....”  she said, pulling her head to his chest. He smiled; he really did love that silly way she talked late at night or when she just wasn’t trying. 

“I love you Ad and I’m glad to have you back,” he whispered, feeling her rubbing him lightly in return. 

“I wanted to take you,” she said quietly, running her fingers around his chest, gently, the fabric of his t-shirt tickling his skin. 

“I understand why you didn’t,” he answered, kissing her head. He expected her to go to sleep, but instead felt a pushing against his chest and looked down to see her palms pressed against him, holding herself upright against his body. 

“You do?” she asked, the tone of her voice drastically different than before. 

“Yea....” he answered confused for only a moment when he felt a leg thrown across his body, peeking up to see her straddling his waist. She didn’t say anything else, just leaned forward, bringing her lips to his slowly, carefully, running her fingers along his cheek. Tensing at first, unsure as to what she was doing, he moved very slowly, bringing his hands to her hips only and leaving them there, but she was kissing him more passionately, more frantically, and he couldn’t control everything, feeling hardness forming in his pants. Adrienne adjusted her body, moving her lips from his, kissing his cheek lightly and then his neck, lingering there so slowly, before sliding herself backward when she paused and he knew she had noticed. The kissing stopped and she laid forward onto his chest, tucking her arms underneath of herself protectively. 

“I can’t go any further shug, I’m sorry,” she apologized. Smiling, he wrapped his arms around her kissing her head.

“It’s ok. I like this too,” he whispered in response, pulling her back over to his side and taking her into his arms, content just to hold her while they slept.