Daniel & Adrienne #58 - Refocus

“Sam, do you really think this is such a good idea?” Daniel asked, turning the memo carefully in his hands, a little apprehensive about the entire idea, considering their current situation. 

“I do Daniel, I do. All of you, the entire team, SG-14, SG-7, the Atlantis crew, all of you are working virtually around the clock, including your future wife. In fact, I honestly don’t understand how she’s getting away with keeping those hours,” Sam accused, gently, hoping he understood her point, but he was frowning, and not in that playful way that he did, but in the way that meant he was just going to continue to argue with her. 

“Do you live with Adrienne?” he answered, rhetorically, setting the paper down onto the desk before continuing, “Unless she is physically ill and vomiting violently, which has subsided during this trimester thankfully, she won’t sit down. She won’t quit, she won’t stop, she’s far worse than me. I at least make it over to the cot or our bed once in a while. Two nights ago Jonas and I came back from getting coffee to find her asleep at the desk.” It wasn’t funny, she shouldn’t have laughed, but Sam just couldn’t help herself; there were just times where it seemed that Daniel and Adrienne were interchangeable. 

“Again, I ask, do you live with Adrienne?” Daniel repeated, “she’s not going to agree to this anymore than I am.” Frowning, no longer laughing, Sam reached across the desk, grabbing the memo to set it aside. 

“Daniel, this isn’t a request. It’s an order. It’s been weeks since we began looking for ZPMs, with no break. Did you and Adrienne even have a Thanksgiving Dinner, because Jack and I sure as hell didn’t. Yes, we need to keep working, help the Langarans, find a way to defend the world against Anubis, but at what cost? We need to understand that life is worth living if we are expected to work our hardest to preserve it,” she stated, plainly, folding her hands in front of her. Letting his head fall back Daniel shook it slowly, bringing it back down and pinching the bridge of his nose. 

“I should make you tell her,” he said, not looking up, knowing full well that she wasn’t going to relent.

“Oh no Daniel. Marriage lesson number one: learn to deliver bad news,” Sam replied, sliding the paper back over, “Can you post this in the mess on your way back or grab a cadet?” 

Taking the paper Daniel stood, rolling his eyes, turning his back on Sam without a word. 

*****

“Christmas Break! What is this, high school?? Are we gonna get a prom next??” Adrienne shouted, as he expected, looking to Jonas for support, but he just stood there, watching one friend rage at another. As much as he was enjoying working with both Daniel and Adrienne what he wasn’t enjoying was being caught in the middle of soon-to-be-marital disputes, which seemed to happen far more often then he would like. 

“No Adrienne, it’s four days, four, that’s all. It’s not Woolsey’s mandatory weeks off, it’s just four days,” Daniel responded, calmly, debating whether or not he should have even said that.  

“My eye! Fo fuckin’ days, dink ah what we could miss in fo days?!?!” the cajun continued to shriek, shout, her face reddening, her accent shining through. 

“Addy, she has a point, I think we all need a break,” Jonas stepped forward, offering carefully, but evidently not carefully enough, as she whipped around, her ebony eyes boring into him. 

“Wha be ya sayin’? Dese be YA people we talkin’ ‘bout, YA people!” she now directed her anger at Jonas, Daniel shaking his head and stepping forward, taking her into his arms. 

“Ja-wer listen to me. Vala said herself that the spies confirm he isn’t doing anything to harm the people of Langara, he’s just using it as a base. It’s like Teal’c said, he has his gate and his hostages so the only thing we need to worry about is exactly how far he is going to go with his research,” Daniel explained, holding her, trying to roll his eyes so that Jonas might feel less uncomfortable. Dealing with his fiancee’s mood swings were enough; he didn’t want Jonas to have to witness the affection he found that she needed when she was having said mood swings.

“I know sha, I know, I just feel, so, useless,” she whined into his chest, burying her face there. 

“Uh, I think I’m going to get, uh, an early dinner, so we can come back and make the most of our time,” Jonas stammered, pointing to the door as he saw himself out. 

“I don’t have a tree,” Adrienne whined from his chest. 

“I don’t either,” Daniel replied, kissing the top of her head. 

“I don’t have any ornaments,” she added, turning her head to the side, wrapping her arms around his waist. 

“I kinda figured that without the tree,” he joked, Adrienne reaching around to his sides to tickle him. 

“I still don’t want to do this,” she said as she backed up, not letting go, gazing into his eyes. 

“She signs your paycheck,” he retorted, his love simply rolling her eyes. 

“I think Jonas is right,” Adrienne said quickly, changing the subject, “we should get food.”  That was one thing he had to give hormones, wild bout of anger one second and a calm hungry animal another, in fact, all he really had to do now, about four months in by his best estimate, was mention food. She still ate like a health freak, so far, but she ate all of the time, and gave in at the very mention. 

“So we can take a break for food, just not to celebrate an international holiday?” he teased as she walked over to her desk, carefully closing the lid to her laptop. 

“You’d bedda watch it sha,” Adrienne smiled as she sauntered over to him, still gorgeous despite the full roundness starting to push through her pants, “I know where ya sleep.” 

*****

“Didya hear?” Cam asked as soon as Adrienne crossed the threshold of the cafeteria, Daniel in tow, buried in a file folder. 

“Yep,” she answered for him, knowing he wasn’t going to answer himself. The only thing that would bring Daniel out of a zone like he was in was if something was wrong with Adrienne or the baby, and right now the only thing Adrienne needed was food, fast. 

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, I felt kinda bad until Jonas showed up,” Cam continued, pointing at the scientist who was sitting at the table with Vala, Ronon and Shepard, “but he said he agrees with Sam, that without time off people get tired and sloppy. He thinks the rest will make everyone sharp again.”

Adrienne, however, rolled her eyes. Maybe they needed to refuel, but she and Daniel hadn’t felt better. True, they hadn’t found any ZPMs yet, but as they had discussed last night, before they went to sleep, the cultural information they had gleaned was invaluable.  Granted, they were missing out on the actual excavation of the sites, but as Adrienne so plainly put it, they brought all of the cool stuff back to them. 

“So I take it you’re going home,” she inquired, a slight tone in her voice that she wasn’t trying to hide. 

“Yeah,” Can answered instantly, “you can’t be telling me that you don’t want to go home. After all of the crazy things you’ve told me about them, and what I’ve seen of them, you don’t want to be a part of that, if not for any other reason than to have more crazy stories?” 

Maybe after the wedding, Adrienne thought, a small part of her still concerned that if Daniel was with her family for more than a few hours he would run for the hills. 

“Ha,” Adrienne replied, grabbing a tray from the stack and setting it on the rack, trying to figure out exactly what food item would calm the maniacal fluttering in her abdomen. 

“Damn mini Jackson,” she cursed her unborn child as her eyes fell right to cheeseburger and fries. 

*****

“John are you certain? I would not wish to intrude,” Teyla argued, gently, Adrienne noticing that she had joined her other friends for dinner, John already shaking his head. 

“I’m sure. I’ve told him all about you, about Kanaan, Torrin, trust me, he wants to meet everyone and my brother told me to bring you back too Ronon,” John explained, happily, Adrienne rolling her eyes. She was about to ask John the very same thing she had asked Cam not a few seconds ago, where there was breath at her ear. 

“A cheeseburger? Good boy,” Daniel whispered lightly, laughing. 

“No bad girl,” Adrienne teased back, although she didn’t care about the gender one way or the other, “this is all your fault you know.” 

“I’m pretty sure that you were a willing participant,” he teased as he took the seat beside her. 

“Daniel,” Adrienne hissed out, shocked, but he just laughed, reaching for his own fries. 

“Well, you’re going to get finish that family trip I interrupted,” she heard Jonas say from the other side of her, with a much healthier meal, she noted, to her disgust. She frowned at him, starting to give her lecture, yet again, when she noticed that no one was paying attention to her enough to listen. 

“We’re not going,” she whispered instead, cutting her eyes at Daniel who did not seem to mind this required vacation at all. 

“Your not? But Sam said...” Jonas started to ask, Adrienne glaring at him. 

“Jonas I can’t, after everything, I just can’t go home and have fun and be happy, it’s just not fair it’s foolish, irresponsible, selfish, it’s it’s i - ,” Adrienne started to protest, wildly, angrily, so much so that Daniel reached out for her, concerned. She was really working herself up today, she needed to calm down, when without warning, she fell over onto the floor, unconscious. 

Daniel’s heart stopped. 

*****

“I feel like at this point in our doctor patient relationship I don’t even need to tell you what she’s done,” Adrienne heard a voice, hazy, distant, a familiar voice, one that liked to yell at her. 

“I didn’t do anything,” she muttered, her eyes still closed, feeling a hand on her own, a larger hand with long fingers, belonging to yet another person that like to yell at her. 

“But they’re alright, both of them?” he asked, in that tone, that tone in his voice she hated to hear, the one where he made her feel like she was incapable of anything on her own anymore. 

“Yes, perfectly fine, all except for the fact that Adrienne’s iron is low and she’s not sleeping enough. I understand what you three are trying to do down there, but Daniel, she’s a pregnant woman, she needs more rest than normal,” Carolyn scolded, him, thankfully, although Adrienne was fearing already what her dear love’s next course of action would be. 

“No, you’re exactly right and it’s my fault. But I’m taking care of that; we‘re going to take the four days off, go spend Christmas with her family,” he started, Adrienne’s eyes and contacts adjusting so that she could now see him, his expression daring her to argue, “and relax.” She wasn’t going to win, that was clear. 

“Fine,” she spat out, turning her head to look at the door. 

“Good,” she heard his reply, “because your aunt called me too, remember, she likes me. I’m going to call her back. Right. Now.” 

“Daniel...” Adrienne whined from the bed, Carolyn already rolling her eyes, “Come on, I’d love to go down there too but with everything, can’t we just stay home...” 

“We don’t have a tree,” he answered, dialing the number, right in front of her. 

“You said that didn’t matter,” she argued, receiving a finger pressed to his lips in return as he turned around to speak into the receiver. 

“Aunt Barbara, hi, it’s Daniel. Yes, I got your message, and Adrienne and I have great news..” he started, leaving the infirmary. 

“I hate him,” the cajun frowned, looked at the doctor. 

“Um hmm,” she answered, handing over a vial, “now here are some iron tablets that I know that you’re not going to take, so, the cheeseburger that was in your hand when you fell? More of that.” Again, Adrienne just frowned, taking the pills and sitting up, knowing that was Carolyn code for ‘leave and let the real people recover in peace.’

“Are you ok?” a head peeped around the corner asking, sheepishly. 

“Yeah, low iron, need more sleep, but I’m ok,” she answered as Jonas approached the bedside, reaching out his hand to help her upright. 

“Can you go? Where’s Daniel? I can get you to your quarters if you need help,” he offered, pulling her to a standing position. 

“Yea, I can leave, and Daniel’s on the phone plotting ways to make me relax,” she grumbled, reaching for her head as she took a step forward. First order of business when she got back to their quarters: Advil. 

“Addy, he’s right you know. You need to relax,” Jonas offered, reaching behind her back to support her. 

“I know, I know, it’s just that I feel so, well, useless. You know until I came here there really wasn’t a problem that either I couldn’t solve or at least find someone who could, but now, not so much. I just want to help,” she said, quietly, sadness in her face. 

“Adrienne, you are helping. Everyone is helping, but we need a break, all of us. Honestly I could use a break myself,” he added, shrugging, helping her stand. She nodded, stepping slowly, reaching for pills to toss them back on the bed when she paused, smiling, glancing back at Jonas. 

“Come with us,” she said, quickly, excitedly, her eyes lighting up. 

“To see your family?” he asked confused. 

“Yeah, it’ll be fun. There’s music, and dancing and more food than you can imagine. Come with us,” she repeated, nodding her head, racing out of the infirmary.

“Indy!!” she yelled down the hall as Daniel talked into the phone by the stairwell, his finger in his ear to keep out the noise. 

“Dammit, well, what do ya say? It only takes a sec ta add ya,” Adrienne offered, smiling, starting to walk backwards like she would often do, shaking her head quickly, realizing that pregnancy had taken away that balance, stopping in her tracks again, shaking her head. 

“Sure,” he agreed before thinking, the invitation itself taking him off guard. Suddenly it sunk in that he was going to be intruding on a family holiday with his two friends, his two friends that were together, a couple, he’d be a third wheel and he raised his hand to argue but Adrienne was just so very excited that he withdrew his hand slowly. Standing in the hallway, feeling awkward and unsure, Jonas watched his friend and colleague rip the cell phone from Daniel’s hand, yammering into it in that quick cajun speak he would hear her do, delighted at their guest. Laughing, and shrugging, Daniel looked in his direction. 

It was going to be an interesting Christmas. 

*****

“That’s your second cheeseburger,” Vala joked, seeing Adrienne set the sandwich onto her tray followed by a cold glare in her direction. 

“No, it’s my first. Remember, I had a hot date with the cafeteria floor,” Adrienne retorted, tossing two bananas on her tray. 

“How I can forget? I thought Glasses peed himself, but then I realized he just spilt water, but it was still funny,” she replied, laughing, watching Adrienne grab a salad. 

“Why are you looking at my fiancee’s crotch?” Adrienne teased, “don’t you have your own to stare at now?” 

“Yes, and my own is not going to John Sheppard’s for Christmas. He is taking me to New York,” she announced proudly, reaching past Adrienne for an apple. 

“No way,” her friend exclaimed. 

“Oh yes, and I am trusting you will keep your trap shut. No one knows but you and Sam. No one. So no yammering on in bed with Daniel either, you two seem to talk as much as you fuck,” Vala added, watching Adrienne now grab two rolls, and turned headed to the table, their usual spot oddly vacant.  

“If there was ever a doubt as to whose child you were carrying, that buffet you have going on there quells that immediately,” Vala joked, taking a seat, deciding to join her friend for a while. 

“I tell him that all of the time; it’s a cocain amount of food. Don’t tell him, but I think it’s a boy, like he’s claiming,” Adrienne admitted, quietly, looking around herself as though there were secret Daniel spies watching for her to agree with him. 

“You’ve been sick, really sick, you eat like a boy, aren’t those signs?” her friend continued, serious now, for once, Adrienne shaking her head. 

“Nah, ‘ole wives tales, medically there is really no way to know until Carolyn tells us and even then she could be mistaken,” she answered, Vala shrugging. It was odd, but the woman seemed to be very excited about the baby, making jokes that often led to serious conversations. Adrienne of course knew about Adria, from a file, but she hadn’t really thought Vala to be the kind of person excited about babies. This Vala however, seemed tickled that Adrienne was pregnant, in a very sweet, older sister kind of way. 

“So where are you and Glasses going? Anywhere exciting?” she changed the subject instantly, as if she could sense Adrienne picking up on her having actual emotions. 

“To the Bayou. It will be interesting and I’m hoping that he doesn’t go running for the hills now that we will have actual time to really let him get to know them,” Adrienne muttered, quietly, embarrassed to be doubting him, yet again. 

“No, he’s not going anywhere, trust me. Make fun of you till the end of time, that’s another story,” she smiled, popping a fry into her mouth. 

“We’re taking Jonas too,” Adrienne added, “I was gonna invite you, balance it out, but I think NYC with hot Sateadan men beats a Bayou Christmas any day.” 

“Unless you are going to let me have my way with your man, no, a Bayou Christmas is not better,” she joked. 

“You’ll never let up will you?” Adrienne asked, smiling. 

“No. Good looks or not, it’s too much fun to make him squirm, and now that you’ve had that, a lot, makes you get all red-cheeked with him,” she answered 

“You’re a bad friend,” Adrienne replied. 

“Only when I try.” 

*****

“Ahn dis must be ya friend from ova seas!!” Aunt Barbara exclaimed, tackling Jonas at the door as he glanced over at both Daniel and Adrienne panicked. 

“Told ya,” Daniel said smiling, standing and waiting his turn.  The large cajun woman, dressed in a very festive Christmas sweater, large, red, covered in ornaments and candy canes, huged their Langaran friend tightly, swinging him around. One more final squeeze and she let go, of his entire body at least, still clasping his shoulders as she made her loud declarations for all to hear. 

“Naw ya see Addy dis be ‘ow we bring in people ta mah ‘ome. When I be dresst ahn ‘ad time ta make food,” she started right in with her scolding, praising, Jonas wasn’t sure, but either way Adrienne approached her very excited relation, pulling her hands from him. 

“Well, ya look wonderful and it’s fantastic ta see ya,” Adrienne greeted, pulling her aunt into her arms, hugging her with love. It was heart warming to see Adrienne and her closest relation, so much so there was a pang of pain in his stomach, wondering what had become of those he had left behind, but it was quickly interrupted when he saw the woman backing away from Adrienne, glancing behind her. 

“Ahn der he be! Der be dah mahn dat put some sense en mah Addy!” she greeted, shouted really, at Daniel, racing up to him and throwing herself in his arms. Jonas had  to smile seeing someone he had always thought of as just a bit uptight laughing and hugging this large woman, stepping back from her and taking Adrienne by the hand. 

“Der be propa food en da kitchen. Buddy be cookin’ da chicken ahn der be mashed patate en da stove,” Aunt Barbara informed him, Jonas stomach rumbling at the mention of food, heavy hearty food no less, but he froze unsure as to what to do. Daniel, however, seemed comfortable enough, making a beeline into the house, Adrienne laughing happily. 

“Ya’ve known him three weeks, three weeks, met him in person once, and have already figured out how to win him ova,” she laughed, reaching out her hand for Jonas. 

“He ba ah man Addy, dat be ‘ow ya win all of dem,” she answered, now looking at Jonas herself, “go ‘on, I know ya be dinkin wit ya stomach already.” 

He wasn’t sure what it was, hunger, nerves, homesickness, or the lure of the barbecue sauce, but for once he didn’t hesitate, dashing in this strange house right behind Daniel. 

*****

She had to admit that the hormones were part of it, but regardless there was something special about sitting here, in her aunt’s kitchen, eating a simple southern dinner with her family. It was just her aunt and uncle at home tonight, Rae staying in until Christmas Eve with Marc, having preparations of her own. They ate, laughing and talking, Daniel acting like he had just been a part of the family all along, Jonas even lightening up after a while. The meal was good, barbecue chicken, mashed potatoes and greens, with ice tea to drink, a quintessential Southern meal so Adrienne wasn’t surprised when her uncle stood from the table, heading over to the fridge to get some juice. 

“Be ya comin’ fils. Da women gonna be vay yay ‘bout da weddin’ ahn I nah care fo yappin’ ‘bout dresses ahn flowas,” he invited cocking his head for Daniel to join him as he made it to the screen door, Daniel who was now looking over at Adrienne concerned. 

“Go sha, y’all didn’t get ta chat last time,” she said through a smile, Daniel’s eyes growing wider.

“Non possum bibere,” he pleaded in quick Latin, hoping Adrienne would knowing that drinking with her and with this man were two totally different things. 

“Potes ac vis. Tolle Ionae,” she ordered, cutting her eyes at Jonas who spoke enough ancient to understand this broken Latin, that now he too was being ordered to drink with the boys. 

“He nah gonna break ya boy, nah git! I gotta speak wit Addy about dings ya boys nah need ta be parts af,” Aunt Barbara scolded. Sighing, looking at Adrienne one last time, Daniel stood from the table motioning for Jonas to join him.  Quietly, a quiet apprehension to be sure, the two men exited the house out of the back door, leaving the women behind to talk. 

“He’s gonna behave, right?” Adrienne asked the moment the screen door slapped shut. 

“Ah yea,” Barbara responded, “he be dinkin’ dat Daniel be da second comin’ since he’s gots ya all playin’ da Madame,” she added, chuckling. 

“We’re not playing house Aunt Barbara. We both are in the same boat of cluelessness which we’re trying to wade through together,” Adrienne defended, making a face as she started to clear away this dishes, refraining from comment how in her household she and Daniel shared the chores; he didn’t get to go drink on the back porch while she cleaned.

“I know dat Addy, I jus be pain pee po. I know dat ya two fa sho,” she amended, running the water in the sink. 

“We are, don’t worry about that,” Adrienne replied, quietly, waiting for the next barrage of questions. 

“Ya kno ya be breakin’ everee bodies’ ‘arts not havin’ da ceremony ‘ere,” she continued, right on cue it seemed, as Adrienne went back to wipe down the table. 

“Really Aunt Barbara? Dad never talked to anybody but you, and sometimes Uncle Buddy. Half of the family thought I was a lesbian for crying out loud. They just want an excuse to drink,” Adrienne retorted, not wanting to argue, but wanting to put this entire mess to rest. Even Cam had noted when he came that she was a bit of a black sheep among the crowd, only her aunt and cousin really talking to her more than just a quick hello. 

“Dis be da verite honeychile, ya speak da turht,” he aunt replied, scrubbing in a way that Adrienne was just now realizing was more therapeutic than subordinate, her slow methodical hands working the scouring pad across the plates, “but ya donna wanna try? Ya know how ya be, mayhaps da famlee dink ya dink ya bedda den us?” 

Ok, Adrienne thought, she had a point, memories of being told pretty much the same in an elevator by a man that she was marrying in a few weeks did validate her aunt’s point. On the other hand, transporting her strange brood of alien friends, here, to the Bayou, where she would have to keep track over everyone and keep a wedding from falling apart wasn’t exactly her idea of a good time.

“I’m not tryin’ to hurt you Barb, it’s just that DC is where my life is now, my friends. Everything...” she explained, tempering her tone, watching her aunt thankfully nod in response. 

‘“ave ya picked a place yet?” she continued, apparently accepting this excuse, much to Adrienne’s relief. 

“No, it’s too late to do anything conventionally so we are having to use Daniel’s connections and try to find a place that has not already been taken,” Adrienne lied, having really only called one place so far in DC, a cathedral, getting a no strictly because of her religious persuasion. 

“Whacha be wearin’? Didya find ah dress?” she moved right along, peeking over her shoulder at her niece who was now sitting back down at the clean table, frowning. 

“No, not yet. I want that to be last so I don’t look too disgusting,” she explained, truthfully this time, the horror of waking up one morning to a basketball size eruption at her abdomen, an eruption that would rip through her dress like a horror movie nightmare, haunting her every thought. 

“Wha ‘bout da flowas, cahlas, cake?” she rolled on, Adrienne's stomach sinking at the answer she would have to give, her acting skills even worse pregnant and hormonal. 

“No, aunt Barbara not yet,” omission, she added in her mind, just don’t give her any more information, but it didn’t matter. Barbara Verdin was like a voodoo woman of her own, turning around to face her niece, dishes down, cajun glare at full power. 

“Addy ‘ave ya done anyding fa da weddin?” she asked, plainly, her entire attention focus on the young woman sitting before her. 

“Yes actually,” she replied, remembering something, “our friend Jack is a Justice of the Peace, he’s a general at the Pentagon, he’s going to marry us.”

“Dat’s it?” Barbara clarified. Ok Ad, she thought, not enough evidently...

“Is that bad?” Adrienne inquired, feigning ignorance.

“Adrienne Mahgret, be ya serious ‘bout dis weddin’? Do Dahniel kno dat ya ‘aven’t started anyding? Whathca got da paresse?” she fussed, louder than normal, her face back to what she was used to growing up: Addy scold. She almost laughed for a moment, Adrienne realizing why she kind of liked Dr. Grumpypants after all; she fussed like her aunt. 

“No, he doesn’t and yes I am. Things have been really busy at work and I haven’t had a lot of free time,” Adrienne answered again, honestly. Truth was, she felt guilty about doing anything normal now, even more so with a daily reminder sitting across from her desk of their new, and no where near as fun as before, mission. 

“Addy, pleez tell me dat ya nah be backin outta dis?” she inquired, seriously, her look stern.

“Why would I back out of this? I love him, so much, there is no worry about that, trust me. It’s the wedding I’m not too excited about...” Adrienne responded, trailing, sad that she didn’t have a better answer. She didn’t; she wished that her insistence on having a wedding for everyone since Jack and Sam eloped had been a suggestion that Daniel hadn’t taken seriously. Instead, he had agreed, thinking it was a great idea. Not speaking at first, her aunt turned back to the sink, washing a few more dishes, slowly, methodically once again, the scrub scrub of sponge on pot almost lulling Adrienne into a meditation of her own. 

“Maybe I see dat. Ya folks be da same way, jus got mahried at da church, a few folk, sum of da professas from da University fo ya fada, me ahn mine, ya mommas podnas from wahk, dat be all,” she mumbled, from the sink, her back still turned to her niece. Shrugging, realizing it was a pointless gesture as soon as she did it, Adrienne stood, walking over to the fridge to try to find something cool to drink. 

“Why donna ya ‘ire ah planner, like en da cine? I sho ‘round DC dere be lots ah dose,” she offered, Adrienne shaking her head at the door. Daniel had suggested the same exact thing not two nights ago, as he stood on the other side of the shower curtain trying to discuss a wedding when all she wanted to do was bathe. 

“Aunt Barbara there’re starving children in Africa, starving, and you’re suggesting that I waste money on a wedding planner?” she answered, or a wedding she added in her head. I think I’m gonna just ask Daniel if Jack can come down to the lab the day after we get back, have this stop hanging over our heads. Again, her aunt didn’t respond at first, kept washing, when she stopped suddenly, setting the forks down and looking over her shoulder. 

“Wha ‘bout dat gaienne? Dat wun dat likes ta shop all ah da time? Da wun dat bough dat diamond crown?”  

Of course, Adrienne thought, her eyes widening. Why didn’t she think of Vala? She would love this, picking every last stupid little detail that she didn’t even want to think about...

“Aunt Barbara you’re a GENUIS!” she shouted, racing over to her aunt. 

“Ahn all dat time ya be dinkin’ I be sum vielle, sum cooyon. Wun day ya learn ta lissen’ ta me Addy,” she laughed, turning back to her dishes. 

*****

“Nah dis be da apple pie, but Barb dinna ‘ave any cinnamon sah is mah like apple cream,” Buddy apologized, pouring the brackish liquid into three juice glasses, passing them out carefully to his guests. Daniel took his first, having experience’s Uncle Buddy’s brew before, nodding for Jonas to do the same. Honestly, Jonas thought, if this is half as good as the food, he can just keep on pouring. He sipped slowly, judging the strength of the brew, discovering quickly that Adrienne’s second warning had been correct, knowing that he needed to pace himself, at least more than Daniel, who was nervously eyeing his future in-law, quickly chugging his glass. 

“Ya like?” the man asked, curiosity on his face. So apparently I’m not the only person to notice Daniel downing the alcohol. 

“Yeah, it’s good. Thanks,” he replied, passing his glass over for a refill. Taking another sip himself, Jonas peered down into his glass debating a refill but deciding against it just in case Daniel needed some help later.

“Like I say, da women be vay yay ‘bout weddins’ ahn dings,” the man smiled, heeding the archaeologist’s request and filling the glass almost to the top. 

“There’s not much to talk about,” Daniel started, taking a large swig from the glass before continuing, “Adrienne hasn’t done anything to prepare.” Uh oh, Jonas thought, this might not just be a nerve fueled binge drink; for two people who seem to have so much together their personal life always seems to be a bit of a train wreck.

“She hasn’t?” Jonas decided to clarify, knowing that Adrienne must have done something. She was very excited to be marrying Daniel, he knew that much, he would catch her staring at her engagement ring often during the day. 

“Nope. Don’t expect her to either. She’ll panic a week before, drag me to the mall, not sleep and throw it all together, and I’ll just laugh at her,” he joked, drinking a little bit more. Ok, not a big deal apparently, Jonas amended, figuring he should keep the conversation flowing. 

“Daniel do you really think she’ll do that?” he asked, raising his eyebrows, taking a swig himself.

“Oh yeah, and she’ll come whining to you I promise Jonas, find a good place to hide. No disrespect Mr. Verdin, but Adrienne, just, well, she’s...” Daniel amended, drinking again, eyeing the overall clad man in the lawn chair across from him. This was kind of funny, Daniel seemed so unsure of himself right now, so awkward, Jonas just taking another drink to see how his friend talked himself out of this. 

“Neva wun fa da frills dat girl, I know. I canna believe she ‘greed ta a weddin’ a’tall, verite. Aye still canna believe she done foun ah man she’d mahry,” he joked, reaching out to offer refills, Jonas this time extending his glass, peering over at Daniel. He looked relieved, but his hand was extended again, for more, even though his cup wasn’t even half empty. Maybe he’s just being polite now, he thought, nodding his head in thanks before drinking more.

“I’d have asked sooner, before the baby, honestly, the thought crossed my mind even when we were just friends, we work well together, but I was deathly afraid of her saying no,” Daniel answered, honesty in his voice. That Jonas could believe, Adrienne never struck him as the marriage and children type, she was too tough, too macho, in fact, he hadn’t really thought of her even having a softer side until they had gone out to dinner. Wait, he thought, dinner? If Daniel was thinking about asking her to marry him before they were dating, how did that fit into his own timeline? 

“Wait, when when you were friends?” he asked, his words slightly slurred and spilling out. Wow, his mind was racing, this stuff is strong, shut up Jonas, shut up, “When exactly when you were just friends? Was this before or after the, uh, first, uh,” he stammered, remembering their company, trying to figure out how to word it, “before we had to talk about those illegals we had crossing the border,” that should do it. It must have, Daniel’s eyes widening, he was just as intoxicated as he was, yammering on, because at that moment Jonas was fairly certain Daniel didn’t mean to declare that he had considered proposing to Adrienne long before they were together. 

“Well I mean, of course, then I wasn’t thinking romantically, no, Mr. Verdin, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, Jonas, I, sir, can I get another?” Daniel stammered, finishing his glass, reaching forward, Jonas drinking down his to match him. Maybe it was the alcohol, but this was too funny to watch Daniel squirm; this must be what Vala enjoyed so much. 

“I know you said that you two weren't bothered by, well, but when?” Jonas asked, suddenly fearing what her uncle would think of him if he knew that his niece had gone out with him as well. He caught the older man gazing in his direction, so he did the only thing he could think of doing. He took another drink.

“Before your dinner Jonas, I’m sorry. I think, well, it was a distraction, a failed attempt, hence her reaction,” Daniel explained, Jonas almost laughing at his drunken pronunciation of the word hence, it coming out lacking the ‘h’ like Adrienne’s family would do. 

“That explains a lot,” Jonas admitted, sipping, sitting back in his chair, peeking over at Adrienne’s uncle, who was slapping his knee laughing. 

“Shut da door! Ya gone out wit Addy too! I dunno wha ya’ll did ta my Addy up der but she done come ow ah ‘er shell!!” 

“I find the idea of my wife ever in any kind of shell pretty damn funny myself,” Daniel added, Jonas noting his word choice. 

“I like ‘ow ya call ‘er wife alreadee. Ya know when her dad defan, ah, when ‘ee knew ‘ee was dyin’, ‘ee made us promise ta take cahr ah ‘er. Said we ‘ad ta take cahr ah ‘er, dat dings ‘ad been ‘arder fah ‘er dan we knew. We neva axed, dey be in ah mal pris afta da break in at da ‘otel ahn Addy finally agreed ta come live ‘ere. Barb ‘as always tried ta look afta ‘er as much as she’d letta,” the man rambled on, maybe a few too many himself, searching Daniel’s face for understanding, getting a nod in return. Granted, it had been one dinner, but he had considered her a friend, chatting with her on his more diplomatic missions and they had become pretty close in his opinion since the attack on his world. Right now, however, he had no idea what the men were talking about, and by the look on Daniel's face told him there was something far worse than just living in a hotel. 

 “I will Mr. Verdin, I promise. She’s my entire universe,” Daniel said, quietly, his face despondent. 

“Ok, I don’t know about you guys, but I need another drink. It’s not everyday a man finds out the cute girl used him to make his friend jealous,” Jonas declared, happily, reaching out his glass. Thankfully, Daniel smiled, doing the same. 

*****

She was just drifting off to sleep, the comfort of food and family and her aunt’s brilliant epiphany making her relax when she felt hot breath at her cheek and then at her neck, lips softly kissing behind her ear. 

“Heading to bed,” she giggled, rolling to kiss his lips, flavored now with apple pie moonshine, so sweet she wanted to lick his lips were it not alcohol she would be licking.

“Not to sleep,” he muttered against her, inebriated, sounding almost cajun with his words. Laughing, Adrienne pushing him back slightly, looking at him in shock. 

“You’re drunk,” she accused, pulling him beside her, where he flopped onto the bed heavily, a big goofy grin on his face. Shaking her head, Adrienne crawled onto her knees to undress him, seeing as how he was in no state to do it himself.

“No, I’m nah, I’m...relaxed,” he whispered, not fighting her as she slipped off his glasses and pulled his shirt over his head, letting his head roll groggily to the side. 

“Uh huh,” she laughed, reaching for his jeans, “how many times did Uncle Buddy refill your juice glass?” Frowning, Daniel held his hands in front of his face, counting his fingers silently, one two, three, one, four, before finally glaring at Adrienne. 

“I forgot,” he answered, laughing again, letting his head fall over to the other side. Shaking hers, Adrienne reached carefully, undoing the top button of his jeans and pulling down the zipper, surprised at the reaction beneath. 

“Come here,” he begged, reaching out for her, his intentions clear although his aim was not, his palms slipping down her forearms. Laughing, she was tempted to get her phone to film this and were it not for the fact that he was very ready to be intimate, physically ready, she would have. Grabbing the fabric on his thighs, Adrienne yanked his pants to the floor, pulling off his boots and socks and stripping him the rest of the way down to his boxers.

“Pass out Indy,” she ordered, trying to be stern as she watched him fumble with the blankets, reach for her, and then fumble again. 

“I wanna be close,” he whispered, Daniel code for ‘I want to get laid’, but Adrienne knew there was no way that he could actually do anything, tempting as it was just to take advantage of him right then and there. 

“We will be, this is a full size bed. Pass out Romeo,” Adrienne teased, covering him up sweetly, standing to toss his clothes into the hamper.

“I wuv you ja-wer,” he mumbled, the sleep in his voice obvious. 

“I love you too. Go to sleep,” she answered. 

He was out before she could get under the covers. 

*****

“I thought you said you drank that before,” Jonas grumbled, glaring at Daniel as he watched his friend stagger into the kitchen, his hand at his head.

“Not that much, I think he was trying to kill me,” was his reply, eyes closing as he pinched the bridge of his nose under his glasses. 

“You’re so gah damn dramatic, here,” Adrienne intervened as both men, friend and fiancee stumbled their way to kitchen table, pulling out chairs and sitting side by side, Daniel closing his eyes to force away a headache, Jonas letting his head fall onto his folded arms. The Langaran looked up when she shoved the mug into his arm, taking it into his hand, hugging the warmth.  

“Does it work?” he asked, pitifully, peering down into the contents. 

“Yeah, it works,” Daniel answered for him, reaching to take his mug. 

“Experience?” Jonas joked, eyeing his equally miserable friend. 

“Do you see what I am marrying? Yes, experience,” Daniel replied, laughing, regretting that the instant the pain surged through his head again. 

“Serves you right, would you like me to tell Jonas about last night?” she teased, raising her eyebrows a touch before turning back to the counter to get her own cup of tea. She might not have had anything to drink last night like the two hungover fools here, but blackberry tea was always good, no matter what. 

“What about last night?” Daniel asked, screwing up his face at her in confusion. He didn’t remember, she thought, this is great...

“Never mind, lets jus say I have more fuel for da fire,” she replied, smiling, holding back a chuckle that had him automatically rolling his eyes. 

“What else is new? Did you get to bed alright?” he answered, redirecting his attention to Jonas, who was quietly nursing the mug in his grasp. 

“Yeah. Addy’s aunt said I was the cutest lil thing and she wanted to introduce me to Adele, whoever that is, tonight at dinner,” he replied, remembering the large kind woman escorting him to his room as he had watched Daniel try to navigate the stairs. 

“Shut the door! She’s got me almost married off to Daniel and now she’s turned her sights on Adele!? No offense Jonas, you’re adorable, but Aunt Barbara has a one track mind that that track is weddings. Period,” Adrienne exclaimed, shaking her head and crossing her arms trying to think of a way to get Jonas out of meeting Adele. 

“”ow be everya one feelin dis morning. I see dat Addy gots out da fruit tea...” the focus of Adrienne’s current mood sauntered in, happy, smiling, the way she got with a house full. I hate her, Adrienne thought, it is physically impossible to be mad at her. 

“Yeah, and it’s not morning Barb, it’s noon. Don’t lie to the boys,” Adrienne laughed, cutting her eyes over at her fiancee to gauge his reaction. 

“What? Noon?” Daniel questioned, reaching into his pants for a phone that was not there before grabbing Jonas’ wrist to turn it to face him.  

“Yea, sha, like I said you were OUT last night. We’ve been up for a while,” she answered, pulling out the chair beside him, lightly resting her hand on his arm. 

“Ya gots ta lie ta dem sometimes Addy, makes ‘em feel bedda ah at least break it ta dem gently,” her aunt joked, firing up more coffee, reminding Adrienne the source of her addiction. Only in the Bayou did coffee brew all day. Damn, she thought, I miss coffee, damn mini-Jackson.

“Never again,” Daniel mumbled, letting his head fall onto the table. 

“You said that the last time handsome,” Adrienne taunted, mussing his hair. 

“Being with you is just like one life long fraternity hazing isn’t it,” he picked, turning his head to the side, as she playfully pushed his face. 

“Jonas, chile, can I getcha someding ta eat? Dahniel can ya eat?” their hostess asked, reaching into the cabinets to get what Adrienne knew was pancake mix, keeping it simple and absorptive. 

“Ha! That’s the million dollar question,” Adrienne shouted, laughing, sipping some more tea. 

“Hush Mrs. cheeseburger. Yes ma’am, but it’s late, I can get it myself,” Daniel replied, standing, started to very slowly, very very slowly Adrienne noted, making his way over to the counter. 

“Nonsense, ya boys jus sit dere ahn I be makin’ ya somedin’” she insisted, walking over pushing Daniel, carefully Adrienne noted, back to his seat. 

“Addy your family is seriously great; they are so nice. Why were you so worried?” Jonas asked in a whisper, remembering the car ride from the airport, Adrienne’s long explanation of insanity this visit would bring, Daniel laughing and nodding his head. Honestly, if it was the accents and country behavior she was worried about he thought the food canceled that out completely. 

“No they are, they’re just different, not like me at all,” she stressed, laughing, watching her aunt prepare something from scratch that while Adrienne herself could cook would definitely need a recipe and a reason. Like Daniel. He’d been the reason she turned on a stove for something other than a chicken breast in years. Damn distracting man. 

“She lies. Get a little shine en ‘er ahn she shows dat she’s from da Island,” Daniel joked, unable to pull off the accent, but just enough to send Jonas into a fit of laughter. 

“Indy, it’s just weird when you speak Cajun, weird and wrong,” Adrienne replied, rubbing her face. 

“What’s she making, not that I’m picky, just curious,” Jonas asked, leaning around trying to figure out what in the world was going on at the busy stove, his stomach telling him that food of some sort may or may not be a good idea, depending on the food. 

“If you’re lucky grits and pancakes. It’s is simple, inoffensive and you guys need it, trust me,” she answered. 

“And it we’re not?” Jonas continued, worried.

“If we’re not it might involve feet,” Daniel responded for her laughing as he did. 

“Indy you have never been served feet here, nor have I ever mentioned feet. Stop referencing the internet,” she fussed, frowning. 

“Ja-wer sometimes, with you, the internet is the only reference that I have, although I think there needs to be an in depth archaeological study of your people, given I have time in the future,” he added, Adrienne walking in his direction, laughing, headed to do exactly what Jonas wasn’t too sure. Evidently this wasn’t an act for work; they quite literally went back and forth like this all of the time. 

“Come on, ah tree ah ya gonna eat. Addy ya need ta be eatin’ mo too; ya be a skinny mullet fah dat baby,” Aunt Barbara ordered, a bowl of grits in one hand and a plate of pancakes in another. Smiling, Jonas’ eyes widened and at the moment he decided to just eat his way through the next two days. 

*****

“Can we keep her? I used to think that the commissary was good but this is amazing,” Jonas teased not seconds after Aunt Barbara had cleaned up breakfast, a breakfast the three of them, Adrienne included much to Daniel’s smart ass delight, had torn though. 

“Amazing and a heart attack waiting to happen. most of the health statistics involving death before age FORTY are skewed the way they are because of MY home state,” Adrienne admitted with a sigh, holding her belly, cursing a mini-Jackson in her mind as she instantly regretted her choice to eat yet again. 

“Ignore her,” Daniel defended, quiet pleased to have a few days of non-rabbit food, “it is amazing, it’s Christmas and it is a nice break from the usual. Besides, Adrienne’s just mad that it’s not a cheeseburger,” he continued, laughing as he looked over at her. 

“I’m gonna start taking those iron pills just so I don’t have to hear about cheeseburgers anymore,” she spat, shoving his leg, making a face. 

“I’m just playing with you, come here,” Daniel apologized, seeing in her face he had offended her; her uncontrollable eating habits being something that she was a little upset by. She came, sitting on his legs, letting him wrap his arms around her and rest his head onto her back. 

“Ad, is there I place where I can shower, I feel like I am sweating out alcohol,” Jonas asked, wanting more of an escape than anything as his friends sat cuddled at the kitchen table. Third wheel, Jonas, you’re back to being the third wheel. 

“That’s da shine clean, yeah, let me show ya, it’s right down here,” Adrienne said, standing, urging her friend to follow her down the hall. 

Daniel, on the other hand, just lay his head on the table, still tired, hungover, and insanely full. 

*****

“So....,” Adrienne started, slowly, having debated the words down the hallway once Jonas got himself situated and seemed to be alright,”I’ve been thinking about the wedding.” 

“Really?” Daniel replied, surprised, especially since he really had thought that she would just panic a week before and throw something together. Not that he would mind that, he wouldn’t and she’d still make it look like it took her a year, but honestly he just wanted to get married. 

“Yes, really, smartass,” she answered, noting his tone, “I’m gonna let Vala plan the wedding.” 

“WHY!!?!” he asked after a pause, letting the words sink in, because there was no way in the world that he was hearing her correctly. 

“Because I hate things like that. I like to shop on occasion, but you know me, usually I have a goal, go get it and leave. I don’t want to go and browse through flowers and cakes,” Adrienne explained, thinking to herself nor did she want to deal with the ten thousand other details that had been racing through her head since she had tried to watch one of those TV shows on wedding planning. 

“Again, WHY!?! Why do you insist on letting her nose her way into our relationship?” Daniel demanded, sitting straighter in his chair. Dear god, he thought, if I was never able to get rid of her before...

“I dunno, she’s like the sister I never had,” Adrienne answered honestly, her face screwing up at the realization of how strange that really was, especially for Daniel. 

“Which is not a bad thing, the never, not the sister,” he replied. 

“Can’t you be nice?” she shot back. 

“Ad, just for a moment can you consider how strange it is for me to have you be so close to someone who spent most of the time I knew her trying to get into my pants?” he asked, Adrienne thinking to herself, yes, I did think that, nearly word for word, but refraining from comment. 

“Why does that matter? I’m the only one allowed in there now, right?” she teased, biting her lower lip coyly. 

“That’s not the point,” he said quickly. Noting his discomfort, Adrienne tried to come with another reason, anything to assure him that Vala would not be “measuring” him for a tux any time soon.  

“She’s dating Dex,” Adrienne spat out before she could think not to.

“What!?!?” Daniel questioned, frowning. 

“She said not to tell you, well, tell you in bed, but we’re not in bed. We’re sitting at the kitchen table. She is dating Dex and he took her to NYC for Christmas,” Adrienne explained, slowly, watching Daniel’s face change from general disapproval to amusement. 

“That poor man,” he finally said, as dramatically as possible.

“Stop it Indy. You’re impossible. Just hear me out. I’m not going to give her free reign. I will give her restrictions, very clear guidelines. Do you still have that magazine I gave you? I will use that, make her a large to DO NOT EVER EVER do list and make her check in with me,” Adrienne offered, seeing her window, the window in which he would give in and cave at any moment. 

“You do realize that we’re never going to get anything done, ever again. She’ll be at the lab every second with one stupid question or another. Like do you prefer lilac or lavender?” Daniel added his final argument, hoping that with Adrienne’s near obsession with finding ZPMs that she would reconsider this insane idea. 

“Do YOU know the difference between lilac and lavender, because if so I think I’ve picked the wrong planner,” she joked, knowing she had won.  

“Fine,” he answered, rolling his eyes, “Do what you want, but don’t think though that I’m just going to let her shut down all lab and cease all intelligence operations,” he warned. 

“Since when did Sam die and leave you in charge of the SGC?” she retorted smugly. 

“Cute Ad, very cute,” he chuckled, reaching out for her to stand and come sit with him again like they were before, wanting more than anything to rest his aching head against her skin. 

“I know and you’re almost stuck with me forever. Now go change. Dinner’s business casual and as much as I can stare at your ass in jeans all day we need to look nice. People are gonna start arriving in a few hours,” she teased, not standing, just squeezing his hands and cocking her head upstairs. 

“Yes master,” he relented, standing, alone, heading for the stairs. 

“I don’t find you funny,” she said, smiling. 

“Yes you do. That’s why you are marrying me, I have this whole dry sardonic comedy thing you can’t get enough of,” he said over his shoulder, laughing as he trudged to their room. 

*****

“I thought you said never again,” he heard from behind and felt arms around his waist. There she was, he hadn’t seen her in a good half an hour, maybe longer, since the rest of the Bayou had converged on the Verdin home. Ushered proudly by Aunt Barbara, Daniel had been introduced to more cousins and kin that he could have ever imagined, each with that same thick accent as the last and to be honest, it was very overwhelming. 

“I thought you said that we’re here we might as well enjoy,” he defended, leaning back into her, enjoying, literally every moment of this. 

“Ok, but,” she leaned forward, her lips softly at his ear, “I kinda wanted to fulfill your request from last night...”

“I had a request?” he whispered, confused, tilting his head back.  

“Yeah Indy,” she started, pausing for effect, “you were very ready to be close...” 

“What!?!,” he hissed, pulling to turn to face her, “I missed that!?!” 

“No,” she giggled, reaching for his waist again, pulling him into a loving embrace that he let himself melt into without hesitation, “I didn’t fulfill that. You couldn’t even talk right.” Why did she have to bring that up, he thought, feeling the tinge of arousal inside his abdomen, but it wasn’t just that, it really was the closeness, the intimacy. He just longed to share that trust and love with her again. 

“Ok, I’ll control myself. I didn’t mean to over do it last night; your uncle’s persuasive and he was lecturing me on taking care of you. I got nervous,” Daniel admitted, feeling bad for an event that he didn’t remember. 

“He did?” Adrienne questioned, pulling back and ignoring his apology.  

“Yea, but it’s alright. Everything is just fine. He actually told me good luck dealing with you for the rest of my life,” Daniel replied, smiling, reaching for her to take her into his arms once more. 

“He really doesn’t know you,” Adrienne joked, laying her head onto his chest and closing her eyes. 

“Save me,” Daniel heard Jonas’ plea, lifting his head from Adrienne’s to find his friend frowning, nervous, peeking back over his shoulder. 

“From?” Adrienne asked, stepping back from Daniel fully aware that this had something to do with her family.

“Your aunt. I met Adele, and, well, she’s ...” Jonas started, stopping, stammering, feeling horribly awkward and terribly rude all at once. 

“Loud, pushy and obnoxious?” Adrienne guessed, laughing. 

“She IS a relative of yours,” Daniel teasing, taking her lightly by the fingers, not wanting to lose contact with her for a second. 

“Requests...” she reminded him quietly, smiling, winking her eye and squeezing his fingers. 

“Shutting up,” he answered, noting the lost expression on Jonas’ face. 

“Do you want me to talk to her?” Adrienne offered, pulling Daniel along behind her. 

“No, just, uh, I’m such a bad liar,” Jonas answered honestly, not wanting to offend anyone nor break up what seemed to be a tender moment between his friends. He was so glad that they came, so glad that Sam forced this upon them if not for any other reason than to see two people who had given their entire life and focus to helping him, enjoy time together without worry.  

“Hang on, let me think,” the cajun shushed him, her eyes scanning nothing but she was in her zone, that impossible zone that she would go into, a zone he never believed existed as Daniel had said until he had seen it himself.

“Fast Addy please, because she is headed over here,” he begged not wanting to be more of an intrusion but unable to think of any other excuses himself. It hadn’t even been a conversation, it had been a lecture, one in which Adele had talked to him about the evils of the federal government, the heat of the Bayou, the role of a man in a relationship, and much much more, but he had tuned her out once she starting listing the duties of a husband. 

“Who Adele or Aunt Barb?” Adrienne said as she looked up, her eyes still a million miles away trying to solve this tiny problem as though it were some large scale tragedy. 

“Does it really matter?!” Jonas hissed, looking to Daniel for help now getting a shoulder shrug in return. 

“Got it!,” she exclaimed, loudly, that glazed over look gone, but her voice continuing at the same volume, “Doesn’t Uncle Buddy make the best shine!? Come on, I’m sure I can find you boys some...” she led, suggesting with her eyes that they follow, seeking out her uncle for a second round.

“Ad, requests...” Daniel cleared his throat, trying to be discrete. 

“Oh come on, Jonas’s being Valaed here. I’ll double owe you,” she whispered back. 

“I never forget. Anything,” he promised, both to her and to himself inside that he was going to keep it to a minimum, after all it was only four in the afternoon, so he could be close with her tonight. He was imagining her skin, her touch, when he noticed he was being pulled away, back from the living area where the family had gathered and into the kitchen where her uncle buddy was standing at the fridge, evidently having heard Adrienne’s announcement. 

“Ya boys want some mah!?! Gar ici I be impressed!!” he greeted the men with open arms, literally, a fistful of juice glasses and a jar of shine. Daniel shot one final desperate look at Adrienne who simply mouthed “Go help Jonas” before turned to head out of the house. 

“Adele! it is so good to see you shug! And Aunt Barbara, thank you so much for letting Jonas come, really, poor Daniel having to deal with me and hormones and whew, he needed some guy time. He just snapped up Jonas just now to go have a few with him and Uncle Buddy,” Adrienne lied, deftly, reaching her arms around her relations to lead them back into the living room. 

Daniel Anthony Jackson, you’d better not drink too much, she thought as she walked away. 

*****

“Mais, Jonas, dat be ya name righ?” Constance, Buddy’s youngest sister started right in, grinning at her eldest, Adele, who was back to pursing Jonas full tilt now that it was time for dinner and ‘the boys’ could no longer hide on the back porch, “Addy say ya be from Sweden, but ya donna ‘ave an accent.” 

“No ma’am, I don’t, but it has taken years of practice. You see, since I work for the government and we have to deal with so many different nations, English is a universal language and I try to keep a neutral accent,” Jonas answered, perfectly, just as he and Adrienne had rehearsed. 

“He’s a better actor than you are. You should get HIM to teach YOU,” Daniel hissed from behind his napkin, his mouth still partially full of Jalapeño Cranberry Sauce. Adrienne, however, didn’t answer, frowning at him and elbowing him in the side. He swallowed and reached for her thigh, squeezing it, wondering if this entire charade that Jonas and Adrienne had concocted the night before they left would work. It was so stupid, if Adrienne had just said something easy, like he was from New England or Canada, they wouldn't question, but no, she had to say that he was from the same damn country as that damn stupid actor. 

“Dat make sense, people no be liken‘ accents, dat be why Addy vay yay like she nah wun ah us,” Aunt Barbara interjected, shooting a glance over at Adrienne, “‘Ow be ya Christmas?” 

Ok Adrienne, the two of you sat in the kitchen till nearly two in the morning eating cheesecake and reading websites about Swedish Christmas, let’s see if you can pull this off.  

“Well, actually, we begin celebrating on the thirteenth of December, with the festival of Santa Lucia. The girls dress up in robes and serve their parents, it is sometimes celebrated in cathedrals as well, but my family is not religious,” he started, carefully, sounding like an encyclopedia entry. They call me a nerd, Daniel thought, they spent their evening concocting this crap while I went to bed. 

“Wha do ya eat?” Adele chimed in, her fork running slowly, seductively, grossly in his opinion through a perfectly edible dirty rice. If you’re gonna just play with that while you try to hit on my friend, I am happy to take that off of your hands, he thought. 

“Ham, pigs feet, codfish, lots of sweets, but nothing as good as this,” Jonas complimented, taking a large forkful of cajun spiced turkey breast, salivating over it as much as he was. He should have dared Jonas to say blood, but apparently Adrienne had moved onto to real information after her Skarsgard gush session. 

“We be eatin’ feet tah, just like turkey bedda at dah big dinnas,” Uncle Buddy responded, a heavily spiced turkey leg in his own hand. 

“Aint nutin’ wrong wit da feet,” Constance added quickly, her eyes telling Daniel that feet of some persuasion must be a personal speciality. That I wouldn’t eat, he thought, reaching for the plate of roast pig, his soon to be wife eyeing him with contempt. 

“Wha ya fav food?” Adele continued, completely ignoring her meal with a dreamy, bedroom like stare at Jonas, who was trying hard not to meet her gaze. Poor guy, Daniel laughed inside, the man just wants to eat before his food gets cold and avoid being betrothed to a swamp monster. 

“To be honest, it’s not served at Christmas, but, well it’s moose stew,” Jonas answered Daniel almost losing complete control right then and there. Moose stew was Mr. Alexander Skarsgard’s favorite dish, so evidently they did not deviate very far from the fan websites. Wait, Daniel thought, why do I know what that man’s favorite food is!?! Damn Adrienne. 

“Eewww ya be eatin’ moose!?!” a small child spoke up, Daniel unable to remember his name, but his face was cute enough, making Daniel start to wonder who their baby would resemble more, he or Adrienne. 

“We be eatin’ gata, same ding,” a slightly older girl responded, Jonas taking the opportunity at the children’s argument to eat a few more bites, clearly savoring the food. I hope the baby has those eyes, Addy’s dark mysterious eyes, Daniel couldn’t help but wish as he watched the little cajun plea her case. 

“Wha ‘bout da sweets?” Adele continued, stressing the final word, so much so Rae even rolled her eyes, having been, Daniel noticed, very quiet throughout this entire affair. 

“They make a lot of different cookies, with honey, but I usually just want vanilla ice cream, but I have to admit, the gingerbread biscuits are pretty good,” Jonas swallowed quickly, answering, joking, Daniel laughing along just not at the same thing. Daniel was already plotting their Valentine’s Day meal, a Skarsgard special, Moose Stew and Vanilla Ice Cream. 

“I’d love ta get one ah ya momma recipes, just nah da moose stew. We canna get nah moose,” Barbara spoke, Daniel cutting his eyes at his fiancee. Ok, ja-wer, how are you gonna pull this one off? Dear Alex’s favorite meal? Oh my love, one hug and a photo does not a best friend make.

“Aunt Barb, he’s a boy, ya think he’s got recipes?? Besides, if it be his favorite den his momma probably hide it like ya hide ya recipe fo Key Lime Pie,” Adrienne replied, quickly, her acting skills better than normal. 

Nice save ja-wer, Daniel thought, you never cease to amaze me. 

“I be gettin’ da dessert ahn ya need ta meet at da fire for da lighten’” Barbara stood, heading out in search of said secret pie, Daniel hoped, leaning back to whisper to his companions. 

“You’re both serious nerds. I’ve got nothing on the two of you, nothing,” he joked, watching both Adrienne and Jonas suppress laughter. 

*****

Dessert hadn’t been Key Lime pie, but there were Prailines in various stages of candied, Gingerbread, Chocolate pie and Fruitcake, which he had always been too scared to try until tonight, and he was glad he did. There was more drinking, eating and talking, Jonas still going on and on about Sweden until Daniel finally had to excuse himself to the bathroom, not to pee, but to laugh hysterically. By the time he had returned to the table, his “Uncle” Buddy asking him, loudly, in front of everyone if he had fallen in, the table was nearly clear and Adele and Rae were organizing people into cars, vans, various vehicles outside all headed to what Adrienne called “the lighting.” 

“Where are we going?” he asked Adrienne quietly, not wanting to look stupid. 

“It is the annual bonfire lighting, we will head into town, closer to Algiers and participate in the lighting on either someone’s property or maybe the lanterns on the rivers themselves,” Jonas answered in that encyclopedic way he did, smiling at this knowledge. 

‘Let me guess, more research?” Daniel asked his friend, grinning. 

“Considering this is your girlfriend’s family you would think that you would have looked it up too,” he joked back. Daniel started to respond, or at least try to, racking his brain for a witty response, when he heard his name being called, his, Jonas’s, Addy’s and looked up to see Rae, her striking auburn hair sparkling in the light, signaling them to join the group.

That had been about two hours ago, after a surprisingly long and boisterous van ride in a vehicle driven by Rae’s husband Marc. Now, though, as they sat on the edge of the Mississippi, a bonfire to their right and a sea of floating candles ahead, Daniel could think of nothing else but Adrienne as he watched her eyes glisten softly in the firelight. 

“Come here,” he requested, reaching out his arms, feeling that she was too far away even though she was sitting beside him. Smiling, she turned to face him, scooting back into his welcoming embrace. He pulled her tightly to his body, nuzzling her close, smelling her hair.  

“I hope you didn’t drink too much so I can honor my agreement,” she giggled, leaning back to peck his lips.  

“Adrienne, I don’t care about you honoring any agreement, you know that,” he scolding gently, running his lips softly at her forehead. 

“I know, I just like to tease you. I’ve never been able to tease anyone like that before,” she whispered, turning back around to cuddle into his arms. He knew, she had told him so many times that it was so much more than making love to him, that it was feeling safe again, feeling like it was alright to be this way with another person. 

“I know, remember, I know,” he answered, squeezing her tighter, “I like it from you, makes me feel, wanted,” he admitted so quietly, a truth he was unsure that he ever told her. She did make him feel wanted, important, and not because she needed him to fix her, to take care of her, to do anything else that every other woman in his life had expected him to do. Adrienne just loved him, as he was, every quirk, wrinkle and flaw.

“And only you Daniel, only you,” she whispered back, feeling a flutter in her stomach. Laughing lightly, she reached for his hand, sliding it to her abdomen, holding it there so he could feel. They sat there in silence, together, feeling their child move until it finally ceased, the small human evidently drifting off to sleep.  

“It’s so beautiful I just had no idea. You do this every Christmas?” he asked as he pulled his hands back, adjusting her where she had slipped down, not wanting to hurt her back. 

“No, I haven’t done this in, well, three years,” she replied, hesitation in her voice. 

“Didn’t you come home last Christmas? I thought you did, you left for a few days,” he asked, sitting up, reaching for her chin to make her face him, soft tears sparkling in the light of the flames. 

“I did. I went to see dad and then I stayed in the French Quarter for a night, had a good meal and then went back to my apartment, I, I didn’t come here,” she explained, blinking the moisture away from her eyes. 

“Adrienne, why didn’t you tell me!? We could have gone to dinner, something, I didn’t know,” Daniel reached for her shoulder, apologizing, counting back time, knowing that they had been friends then, close dear friends and somewhat hurt that she hadn’t come to him. 

“Daniel, love, you’re the only person I’ve told anything to in years, other than dad. Aunt Barbara was great, she tried to make up for being mom, but I even kept her at a distance. I kept everyone at a distance, everyone, until you,” she whispered, a tear loosening itself from her eye, trailing down her face, a tear Daniel quickly brushed as aside, taking her face into his hands. 

“I’m honored, more than you will know,” Daniel said, gazing into her eyes, pulling her back into his arms to watch the show again. 

“You know ja-wer, next year, when we come back, we won’t be alone,” he added once he could tell that she was watching again, no longer trying to hide her tears. 

“You want to come back?” she asked surprised, leaning back and cocking her head to see if he was joking. 

“Of course I do. This is amazing and your family, believe it or not, is pretty spectacular. I’d hate for our son to miss this,” he replied, smiling, hoping to quell the second set of tears welling in her eyes, which it did, as she was now turning to face him. 

“Is there something you know that I don’t?” she inquired, her playful eyes cutting at him.  

“We’re having a boy,” he stated simply. 

“How do you know?” she asked, sitting up again, frowning, curious. 

“More of those ascended leftovers. I can also read minds and light fires with my touch of my index finger,” he joked, finally allowing himself to laugh. 

“You’re so stupid Indy,” she laughed, leaning back once more into his arms. 

*****

It was late. maybe even as late as two in the morning, when they arrived back at the Verdin house, most of Adrienne’s younger relatives carried into the home or back to their own in their parents arms. She was tired herself, but not enough to go to sleep, in fact, she just wanted to go to bed with Daniel, to hold him, caress him, kiss him. Jonas lumbered sleepily ahead of her, seemingly drunk with food this evening, waving goodnight and heading upstairs himself, to his room down the hall.  

“Aunt Barbara, I’m tired and my back hurts. I think we’re gonna head to bed, fais do do,” she lied, hoping Daniel would catch the excuse, reaching for his hands and rubbing the inside of his palm with her index finger. 

“Ya be hurtin’ Addy. Iva got some tielaynahl if ya be needin’ it,” she offered, worried and for a moment Adrienne felt bad for her fib. Damn Daniel, making her have to fib and making her feel bad about doing it. 

“I have some Advil and some meds from her doctor in our bag upstairs but thank you,” Daniel covered, squeezing her fingers twice to tell her that he understood. 

Nodding, the kind woman came and embraced them both, kissing Adrienne lightly on her cheek, watching the couple as they trekked upstairs behind their friend. 

Daniel was closing the door behind them when he felt her hands at his waist, his body being turned to face her. She was smiling, like she had at the lighting, letting her hands trail down his arm to clench his fingers.  

“Adrienne I told you....,” he started, feeling guilty, not wanting for a second for her to feel obligated to do anything. 

“Hush, lock the door. I wanna be close,” she teased, using his own line, reaching for his face to bring him into a slow kiss, his lips again sweet and tempting. Fumbling behind himself slightly, Daniel did as she requested, locking the door, and returning his hand to hold her, letting his tongue carefully explore her mouth, pulling away to peck her cheek, high on her face, down to her neck. 

“I love you,” she whispered quietly, her fingers tracing the top of his slacks ever so slightly, coming to rest at the button. Pulling gently, she undid the clasp, gliding the zipper to the base as he reached for her side, pulling her dress upward.  She shook her head, guiding him by his open pants to the bed, still giggling, teasing, wanting to pull him on top of her when they arrived at their destination, but afraid, as she remembered the bulge in her stomach. 

“Let me, I don’t want to hurt him,” he offered, smiling, Adrienne shaking her head. 

“SHE,” Adrienne replied smartly, “appreciates the gesture.” Laughing now, Daniel laid down onto his side on the bed, pulling Adrienne to him, his hand sliding down to the base of her dress, guiding the gold fabric up her thigh deliberately, letting his fingers caress her skin on the way up. She giggled at his touch and then gasped out, Daniel noticing that her senses had been heightened lately and wanting very much to take advantage. Quickly, he changed his mind, deciding not to remove the flowing golden garment, instead reaching for her panties and pulling them to her knees, letting her kick them off the rest of the way while he returned his digits to her thigh, touchy softly. She hissed in again, reaching for him herself this time, pushing his khakis down, boxers along with them, trying to grasp him, so he shifted his hips, wanting to feel her hands on him as well. Losing his breath for a moment, like he did every time she touched him, Daniel tried his best to refocus on Adrienne as she slid her soft hands up and down slowly. 

“You’re driving me crazy,” he admitted, wanting to be inside of her so bad that he was throbbing. 

“Then my work here is done,” she joked, letting go, pulling away as he laughed, rolling onto him playfully and taking her into his arms. 

“I love you ja-wer,” he whispered softly as she scooted forward onto him, letting him slip inside of her, rocking gently as their bodies linked. 

*****

“Addy!!! Papa Noel he CAME!!! Ya ahn Daniel get up ahn wake ya friend!!” the scream came up the stairs bringing Adrienne slowly to reality, that it was Christmas morning and she was actually being expected to move. 

“Seriously Aunt Barbara, I’m thirty two years old. I haven’t believed in Santa since I was six. Let me sleep!!” Adrienne screamed back, rolling over, burying her face into Daniel’s bare chest, the touch of his skin making her thankful that he had chosen to only put back on his underwear to sleep. 

“You know, if Papa Noel DID come, I think Jonas might enjoy that,” Daniel whispered, holding her anyway and kissing her head, “And it’s good practice,” he added.

“Wait,” she said, pulling away, adjusting her tank top,  “are you gonna be one of those parents?”

“Define THOSE parents...” he requested with a smile. 

“The one up at four to make a hot breakfast and cocoa and waiting with the camera,” she explained. 

“Oh THOSE parents,” he clarified, laughing, his brilliant blue eyes sparkling with life, happiness, everything she always wanted and just never bothered to look for, “Most definetly.” 

“There needed to be more disclosure before I said yes,” she teased, nuzzling back into him. 

“ADDY!!!” the voice from downstairs repeated. 

“I’M UP!!! FAIT PAS UNE ESQUANDALE!!!” she screamed back, Daniel wishing his wife to be hadn’t chosen to make her own racket right in his ear. Frowning, Adrienne stood from the bed, her usually too huge pj pants finally fitting her swollen middle, practically stomping to the door. 

“You’re going to get Jonas? I can, if you’d prefer,” he offered, sitting up, watching the performance unfold in front of him. 

“No, I’m upright, might as well stay that way,” Adrienne replied, turning the door knob to trudge down the hall. It only took a few steps to get there and his door was open, making Adrienne worry for a moment if he had heard anything last night, but she pushed the thought away, certain they had been quiet. Pushing the wooden slab into the room, she saw that Jonas was still asleep, laying quietly on his side, his back to her, when suddenly she had an idea. She smiled, rushing forward, crawling into the covers beside him, nudging him with her elbow. There was a groan, his hands came to his face and he rolled over confused, his eyes widening at his new guest. 

“Addy! What are you doing?” starting to sit up confused. 

“Aunt Barbara is insisting on acting like she had a house of ten year olds, so you’re going to get up and play the delighted child on Christmas morning and I’m going to stay right here. Oh, and take my husband with you, although the food might have already incited him down the stairs,” she declared, turning her back to him and closing her eyes. 

“Wait? She bought presents? When did she have time? We don’t have any presents? Do we?” he was sitting now, frantic, worried about offending his hosts.

“We do, I put them under the tree when you and Daniel had your first binge drinking spell. And for her, I have no idea what’s she done, so don’t rule out a tacky Christmas sweater that she will make you wear,” Adrienne joked, not turning around.  Jonas made a face, a mental image of a male version of Mrs. Verdin’s attire the night before creeping into his head. 

“Jonas?” Adrienne asked. 

“Yeah?” he answered, shaking his head to break the trance looking over at her. 

“You’re still in the bed, with an almost married and very pregnant woman,” she teased, rolling over to laugh at him. 

“You use me Addy, I’ve figured you out,” he joked as he stood, heading over to the dresser. 

“Only because I adore you shug.” 

***** 

December 26th

So as much as I kid her about her rabbit food, I don’t think I could eat like that for the rest of my life and I am not sure how her family does. I hurt, or at least my stomach hurts, and I did sneak a few of her ginger root pills when she wasn’t looking, but I am sure she knows I do that by now. 

The only reason I thought to go really was for her, I’m worried, she is driving herself to the edge of this Langaran mess and I have every paranoid thought possible all of which involve her miscarrying or something else that I just don’t even want to put into words. I guess I am just surprised how much fun it was. 

We got presents, good presents too, not that anything would have been bad, but to hear Adrienne talk you would think that all she got her entire life from these people were gator skin purses and boots. Her aunt gave Adrienne a very nice folio, leather, an A embossed on the front, for her iPad and some very cute cajun themed seat covers for the beetle, Apollo as Adrienne is now calling it, claiming that Eric having a name will hurt it’s feelings. The woman managed to include Jonas too, getting him a USA sweatshirt and a cajun cookbook, both of which he loved but has given me the sinking feeling that he is going to be spending a lot of time at our place. Doesn’t bother me, he’s a great guy and he needs his friends now, and Adrienne is the best friend a person could have. 

Barbara got me a wallet, with a little note inside listing all of Adrienne’s favorite things, colors, gemstones, etc., most of which I already knew except for the favorite song, “Somewhere Out There,” some song from some children’s movie when she was a child. She doesn’t know, but I looked it up as soon as we got home and, well, I had to take a moment. Because there was no way I could have known that any of this would happen, no way, and there was a part of me that was, wondering, thinking that maybe there was someone out there who was, well, just more like me, someone I wouldn’t have to explain myself to, prove myself to, someone I could just be myself with. There was, there is, and she’s snoring right beside me (That’s a new addition with pregnancy, I promise). Adrienne said that once, before either of us knew what was happening, that Vala told her God had to make her go through things, horrible things to get her ready for me. I feel foolish even remembering that, but what if she’s right? Not about religion, or anything like that, but what if I had to go through everything I had to go through just to get to this point, to find her? 

We’re going back next year, even Adrienne agreed, and taking our son, who is probably the only person reading this. See? I knew all along you were a boy, remember THIS entry to rub in your mother’s face, but remember this too. I loved you the moment I knew you existed, just like I loved your mother the moment I let her in. Everyone has someone and even though it may not always seem that way, I can promise you, it’s true. Never forget that.