New Fic - A Ready Made Family
Title: A Ready Made Family
Summary: Still getting his life together after descending Daniel gets a letter that gives him something he wants more than anything - a family.
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author’s Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
This is an AU based on the cover story I used in my story Precious Gift but it’s not necessary to have read it.
Enjoy
*********************************************
Daniel picked up his mail as he entered his house and dropped his rucksack on the couch; he was still having a hard time believing he owned a house. It had been a strange three months since they’d found him on a planet with no memory of who he was. Suddenly given a name and an identity that didn’t feel right before being thrust into an inter-galactic war he’d apparently helped start with very little memory. Now here he was - he owned a house because Jack insisted on it, in fact his words were since he was going to be a permanent part of their lives again he needed permanency.
He was still remembering parts of his life; his most recent experiences were forefront in his mind while his youth was still fuzzy but Daniel felt more like himself than he had in ages. Sorting through his mail he was surprised to find a handwritten envelope in amongst it, taking a seat on his couch Daniel carefully opened it and slid out the folded piece of paper.
Dear Doctor Jackson, it read
I know this letter shall contain several shocks for you and for that I apologise, however I made a promise to a friend that I would find you.
My name is Sha’re Dennison and I am the adoptive mother of your nephew.
“My what?” Daniel asked aloud.
Nicky is four years old and the only child of your older brother David.
“Okay, I may not remember much but I know I don’t have a brother,” Daniel muttered before continuing to read.
I know you are probably saying to yourself that you do not have a brother but you did. Unfortunately he died approximately four years ago in a car accident along with his wife the same day Nicky was born. I only know what he told me and that is how he was given up for adoption when he was a baby. There is more but I do not wish to explain in a letter to you.
The reason I am contacting you, as well as my promise to David is so you can meet your nephew. If you are not interested then I will understand but if you wish to meet him then my number is at the bottom.
I hope you will contact us.
Sha’re Dennison.
Daniel read the letter several more times before he blindly reached out and grabbed the phone, dialling it from memory, “Jack,” he said the instant it was answered, “I’ve something I need you to see.”
Jack read the letter before rereading it. He looked up at his friend who was sitting waiting with an expression of bemusement.
“Well?” Daniel asked.
“I don’t know,” Jack replied, handing him back the letter, “There’s nothing in your background check about a brother.”
“What do you think?”
Jack shrugged, “Go meet your nephew and let me check this out.”
Daniel took a deep breath, “I don’t know.”
“Daniel,” Jack sighed, “Ever since I’ve known you the one thing you’ve wanted was a family and here it is. You have a nephew, Danny. Get to know the kid, I promise you won’t regret it.”
Daniel chewed on his thumbnail for several moments; he grabbed the phone before looking at the letter again and dialling the number.
*********************************************
Sha’re held her son’s hand as they walked up the path to Debbie’s house. She was meeting David’s brother today and didn’t want Nicky to be there. Debbie appeared at the door and smiled hello to them, fondly ruffling Nicky’s hair as he ran over to his two friends, Debbie and Mike’s twin sons Robbie and Ray.
“So, todays the big day,” Debbie noted with a grin, “Are you looking forward to the meeting?”
Sha’re sighed, “Not really. I know I promised David I would find his brother but I honestly never expected to.”
“You can call it off,” Debbie reminded her, “Just don’t show up.”
Sha’re shook her head, “He sounded nice and genuinely interested in meeting Nicky. I can’t miss this meeting, it wouldn’t be fair. Besides I am curious about what he’ll be like.”
Debbie gently squeezed her friend’s hand, “Well have dinner with us after and you can tell me all about it.”
“Thanks,” Sha’re smiled before she turned and headed to her car.
Daniel stood outside the small cafe wondering why he wasn’t going in. Jack had done a background check on the woman who had written to him and found nothing out of the ordinary so two weeks after receiving the letter Daniel was in LA to meet his nephew.
Finally walking in Daniel glanced around and smiled as a woman, an extremely beautiful woman waved him over to a table in the corner.
“Dr Jackson,” she smiled at him, “I would recognise you anywhere. You’re your brother’s double.”
“I’ll have to take your word for that, Miss Dennison,” Daniel replied, “And it’s Daniel.”
“Sha’re,” she told him, motioning him to take a seat, “I’m glad you decided to come. David spent many years trying to find you.”
Daniel sat down across from her and glanced around, “Did you bring Nicky?”
“No,” Sha’re replied, seeing Daniel’s disappointment, “He knows I have been trying to find his uncle and I didn’t want him to get his hopes up then be let down if you decided never to return.”
“Good plan,” Daniel told her, he sighed and grabbed the menu, “So, what’s good here?”
Daniel nodded as the waitress brought them their lunch; he sipped his coffee watching Sha’re as she drank her tea.
“So, what can you tell me about my brother?” he asked.
Sha’re smiled slightly as she thought back, “He was fun, annoying but I never doubted his friendship.”
“How did you meet?”
“About ten years ago I moved into the apartment next door to him,” Sha’re explained, she sipped her tea again, “We became friends quickly. He was an accountant and he had an incredible head for numbers, David worked for one of the larger movie studios, which is where he met Therese.”
“Nicky’s mother?” Daniel asked, caught up both by her story and her voice.
“Yes,” Sha’re smiled, “Therese was the personal assistant to the studio head. She was beautiful with long blonde hair, a stunning figure but she was also incredibly intelligent. Her boss used to have her sit in on meetings all the time to pick up anything he missed because they didn’t believe she was as smart as she was. We used to gang up on David,” Sha’re smiled wistfully, “I was so happy when they married.”
Daniel tilted his head, “What happened?”
“Therese was in labour,” Sha’re explained, “They called me so I would be at the hospital and I was waiting when their car was hit by a drunk driver. David was killed instantly and Therese delivered Nicky in the ambulance before dying an hour later.”
“I’m sorry,” was all Daniel could think of to say.
“Neither David nor Therese had any family,” Sha’re explained, “Other than you. David had been trying to find you since I’d known him with no luck. Anyway, their will asked that I take in Nicky which meant adopting him became easier. I’m the only mother he has ever known and as much as I want you to be a part of his life, I will not let you breeze in before disappearing and breaking that child’s heart.”
“Sha’re,” Daniel licked his lips nervously, “I have no family and finding out I have a nephew is something I treasure. Trust me I intend to be a part of his life.”
Sha’re smiled at him, “Then we can all go out for dinner tomorrow night?”
“Okay,” Debbie said as Sha’re entered the house, “How did it go? What’s he like?”
Sha’re rolled her eyes at her friend, “Where’s Nicky?” she ignored the other woman for the moment.
“Out the back playing with the kids,” Debbie told her, “Don’t worry, Mike’s watching the three of them. Now what happened?”
“He appears to be very nice,” Sha’re told her friend, taking a seat.
“And?”
“He wants to be a part of Nicky’s life, which I want but,” Sha’re sighed, “I don’t know.”
“Is he anything like Nicky’s father?” Debbie handed Sha’re a glass of iced tea, she hadn’t known Nicky’s real parents and met Sha’re when their children were a few months old. “They look very alike,” Sha’re laughed, “But from what I can tell their personalities’ are completely different.”
Debbie curled up in the seat across from her friend, “Really?”
“David was so much of an extrovert,” Sha’re laughed, “He used to smile so much that everyone around him smiled as well, Daniel appears to be quite reserved and much more intense.”
“Mommy!!!” the call interrupted their talk as Sha’re’s son came bursting into the room. He ran over and jumped onto the couch beside her for a hug.
Sha’re happily obliged, kissing her son’s shaggy blond hair before hugging him tightly.
“Did you meet him?” Nicky asked, he was aware that Sha’re met his uncle today but still hadn’t grasped the concept completely of why it was important.
“Yes, I did,” Sha’re hugged him to her, “And we’re going to have dinner with him tomorrow night. Okay?”
Nicky nodded, eating out was a very big treat. After a few minutes of being hugged Nicky squirmed out of his mother’s arms and ran back to his playmates. Sha’re watched him fondly before turning back to Debbie.
“If he tries to take my son from me,” Sha’re whispered vehemently, “I will fight him with every part of me.”
Debbie reached out and squeezed her friend’s hand, “I don’t doubt it.”
*********************************************
Daniel sat in the restaurant waiting for Sha’re to arrive with Nicky. He was extremely nervous about meeting his nephew; he’d never been good with kids unlike Jack and Teal’c and was almost dreading this meeting.
He saw Sha’re enter the restaurant and felt his heart leap slightly as he saw her smile down at the little boy standing with her, Sha’re saw him and smiled at Daniel as they walked over to the table.
“Hi,” Daniel stood up as they reached him before he turned to the child, “Hi.”
Nicky pressed against his mother’s leg shyly, “Hello.”
Daniel held out a seat for Sha’re after she deposited Nicky on the final one. She gave him another smile as he took his seat again.
“Are you really my uncle?” Nick asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had fallen over the table.
“That’s what I’m told,” Daniel replied, looking down at the boy amazed at how much of himself he saw there.
Nicky shrugged and turned to his mother, “Can I get fries?”
Dinner went quite smoothly, Sha’re told Daniel more about how she’d adopted Nicky as well as her work as language tutor while he told her about himself, well as much as he could. It was actually an enjoyable evening to Sha’re’s surprise especially as Daniel spoke to Nicky like he was an intelligent person not a thing that couldn’t understand anything. Sha’re smiled as she realised how enamoured her son already was with his new uncle but this started her worrying again both about Daniel wanting to take Nicky full time or disappearing from their lives and breaking the child’s heart.
Daniel surprised Sha’re by suggesting they go for a walk after dinner. Once they’d paid their bill and started out he’d scooped the little boy up carrying Nicky as the child talked, Sha’re walked at their side watching them. Daniel laughed as Nicky told him about his friends and their games.
“Can I get ice cream?” Nicky asked when he saw the stand in the park, “Please Mommy.”
“Please,” Daniel grinned at Sha’re with almost identical innocence making her roll her eyes.
“Just this once,” Sha’re told them with resignation.
Daniel placed Nicky next to his mother, “What flavour?”
“Chocolate,” Nicky cried instantly.
Daniel glanced up at Sha’re, “What about you?”
“Nothing for me,” she told him, “I’ll share Nicky’s. It’ll be too much for him.”
“Okay,” Daniel grinned and headed over to get them their dessert.
Nicky was fast asleep on Daniel’s shoulder as they walked towards Sha’re’s home, a lovely beach side property that Daniel was very impressed by.
“This was David and Therese’s house,” Sha’re explained as she led him inside, “It was also left to me and I decided that this would be the best place to raise Nicky. It has a large garden out the back where he can play and it overlooks the sea which I love.”
Daniel smiled, he gently shifted Nicky to a slightly more comfortable position on his shoulder, “Where’s his room?”
Sha’re guided him through the house to Nicky’s bedroom. Daniel carried Nicky into the large cheery, toy-filled space and placed him gently on the bed.
At that moment his phone rang and he grimaced as he grabbed it, “Hold on,” Daniel said when he answered before turning to Sha’re, “I have to take this.”
“Just go back to the lounge,” she told him, “I want to put him into his pyjamas.
Daniel nodded and left them placing his phone at his ear again, “What?”
“Daniel,” Sam said, “We’ve got problems.”
Sha’re slid her compliant son under his covers and slid his favourite bear in beside him before placing the quilt over the sleeping boy. Gently she pressed a kiss to his forehead, smiling as he cuddled down and sighed in his sleep. As much as she missed her friends, as much as she wished they were still alive, she couldn’t imagine her life without this little boy in it. She just hoped that Daniel wouldn’t try to take him from her but she was beginning to hope he’d stay in their lives.
“He’s settled for the night,” Sha’re said as she entered the lounge where he was standing, “Do you want some coffee?”
“I have to go,” Daniel told her, “I know I was meant to take Nicky to the park tomorrow but...”
Anger filled Sha’re’s eyes, “Why?”
“It’s my work,” Daniel told her, “And it’s important.”
She folded her hands across her chest, “You told me you wanted to be a part of your nephew’s life and two minutes later you’re already breaking promises to him?”
“That’s not...”
“Yes, it is,” Sha’re snapped, anger flaring in her dark brown eyes, “Get out.”
“Sha’re...”
“Get out,” she told him again, “You’re not welcome here. You’ve met Nicky, you’ve spent time with him so leave and don’t come back.”
Daniel opened his mouth to say something else but couldn’t find the words against her anger.
“I’ll call as soon as I can,” he managed to say before the door slammed in his face.
*********************************************
Daniel left the infirmary annoyed that his arm was now in a sling after a disastrous mission, a disastrous mission that had pulled him away from getting to know his only family and headed to his office. He was avoiding Sam and Teal’c for the moment blaming them for completely ruining his time with his nephew - even if it wasn’t their fault since he was the only person on Earth who could understand the language to release the trap. He wanted to head back to LA and apologise to Sha’re, to explain to her but he was sure that she’d probably slam the door in his face once more.
“Hello,” Daniel said with a sigh when he answered the phone.
“Daniel, it’s me,” his friend replied.
“Jack, you have great timing.”
“Well you weren’t at home and you weren’t answering your cell so I called here,” Jack said, sarcasm in his voice, “I didn’t think your flight got in so soon.”
“Problem offworld meant I had to leave after two days,” Daniel replied, dropping into a seat, “I was meant to take Nicky to the park and I had to break that promise.”
“Daniel...”
“I wanted to be part of his life and now,” he slammed his good hand on the desk, “Jack, I think I just lost the only family I had left.”
“Call her,” Jack told him.
“Jack...”
“Call her and apologise,” Jack told him, “Danny, she’s had a while to calm down. Explain how important leaving was.”
Daniel sighed, “Do you think that’ll work?”
Jack laughed, “You can always try.”
Daniel had tried to talk to Sha’re several times but she hung up on him every time so here he was at their house waiting for her to open the door and hoping she wouldn’t slam it in his face - again.
Sha’re opened the door, she wore a plain green sundress with her long hair hanging loose around her shoulders, “What are you doing here?”
“I thought this way you couldn’t hang up on me,” Daniel told her, he shrugged slightly, “You can slam the door in my face but I will sit here until you decide to talk to me. I want to see Nicky and I won’t leave until I do.”
Sha’re smiled slightly before frowning as she saw his injury, “What happened to your arm?”
Daniel glanced down at the sling holding his left arm to his chest, “Slight accident, I tripped over a friend.”
Sha’re giggled at his wry reply, “Come in, Nicky is playing in the garden.”
Relieved, Daniel followed her inside.
“Uncle Daniel,” Nicky cried as he ran through the room, jumping at Daniel who caught him with his good arm, “You came back.”
“Yeah,” Daniel sighed, hugging his nephew tightly, “I’m sorry I had to leave.”
Nicky wriggled out of the hug and was about to grab Daniel’s hand when he saw the bandage and sling, “Are you hurt?”
“Just a little,” Daniel told him.
“When I’m hurt, mommy kisses it better,” Nicky told him as he gently patted Daniel’s injured hand, “Maybe that would help.”
Daniel caught sight of Sha’re and bit his lip to stop himself grinning, “I don’t think that would work for me.”
“Nicky, why don’t you take Daniel into the garden,” Sha’re told her son, “Everyone else will be here soon.”
This caught Daniel’s attention, “Everyone?”
Sha’re smiled, “Friends of ours are coming for lunch, it’s our turn. Don’t worry, there is at least one man coming as well.”
Sha’re stepped out onto the deck and smiled as she saw Daniel and Nicky running around kicking a soccer ball, Daniel being careful of his hurt arm. Relief filled her that Daniel had fought to see Nicky again, she’d been so angry that, within a few hours, he’d broken his first promise to Nicky but the fact he’d come to LA so that she had to talk to him meant that he was determined to be a part of his nephew’s life and that was a good thing.
When the doorbell rang Sha’re headed to answer it smiling as Debbie, Mike and their two boys stood there, “Come on in,” she told them before smiling at the two boys, “Nicky is in the garden, on you go.”
The two boys ran off to find their playmate leaving their parents with Sha’re, the three adults headed slowly to the back garden and Debbie grabbed her friend’s arm.
“Who is that?” she asked.
“That is Daniel Jackson,” Sha’re replied, smiling as she watched him include the two new boys into the game, “Nicky’s uncle.”
“Wow,” Debbie murmured, receiving a slight shove from her husband, “I love you, honey but wow.”
“I suppose so,” Sha’re replied as she handed them both their usual drinks.
“You suppose?” Debbie cried, she turned to her husband, “Honey, go away.”
Mike rolled his eyes and headed out the back to introduce himself to the other man leaving the two women to gossip.
“Sha’re, I know you haven’t dated much since you became Nicky’s mother,” Debbie said, “But even you have to be able to see how gorgeous that man is.” Sha’re blushed slightly and Debbie laughed, “Oh, you have. And?”
“And nothing,” Sha’re replied sharply, “Daniel is Nicky’s uncle, he’s David’s brother and nothing more to me.”
Debbie patted her friend on the shoulder, “You’re lying to yourself. A long distance relationship isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”
Thankfully before Sha’re could reply the doorbell went, indicating more of the group had arrived so Sha’re left her friend who was grinning at her.
Daniel staggered over to the deck exhausted after running around with the kids; he smiled at the women sitting there, “Hi.”
“Daniel,” Sha’re said, “This is Debbie, Marissa and Alice. You’ve already met Mike.”
“Nice to meet you,” Daniel smiled at the women, very aware of how outnumbered he suddenly was.
“So,” Debbie, the ringleader of the group said, “Where do you live?”
Taking his seat Daniel sighed, “Colorado Springs, but I travel a lot for my work.”
“And what do you do?”
Sha’re smacked her friend’s shoulder slightly as she walked past.
“I’m an archaeologist and a linguist,” he replied, “I’ve been working as a translator for Air Force for the past eight years.”
“That’s sounds interesting,” Debbie continued, “How many languages do you speak?”
Daniel hesitated; he always did when someone asked that question, “About twenty.”
Mike choked on his drink, “What?”
“Most are dead languages,” Daniel assured them, “But at last count it was about twenty.”
They continued to talk not noticing as Alice slipped away to help Sha’re.
“If you don’t want Daniel,” Alice said when she caught the other woman in the kitchen, “Can I have him?”
*********************************************
Sha’re was relieved when her friends finally left, as much as she enjoyed their company they did take a lot of energy. She saw Daniel come back down the stairs and smiled, she did like him but it was complicated.
“He’s asleep,” Daniel told her, “I almost joined him, who knew kids could exhaust you so much.”
Sha’re laughed, “You should have been here when he woke up every few hours to feed. That was exhausting.”
Daniel dropped onto the couch, “I can imagine.”
Sha’re took the seat across from him, “How long are you here for this time?”
Daniel sensed the sharp edge behind the soft question and winced, “Three days. I have to get back to work after that.”
Before Sha’re could say anything else Daniel’s phone rang making him groan, pulling it out of his pocket and seeing who was calling Daniel sighed.
“What is it, Jack?”
Daniel was beginning to think his friends were doing this to him purposely as his phone rang just at the most inopportune moment.
“What is it, Jack?” he demanded.
“Hello to you too,” Jack retorted before launching in to his question, “Where the hell in your office is the file on P34 R2F?”
Daniel could see Sha’re looking annoyed as he turned away from her slightly “Why?”
“I need it,” Jack told him, “And your filing method is insane.”
“What are you doing in my office anyway?” Daniel asked him, “Never mind, go to the computer and you’ll see a shelf in front of you.”
“I’m there,” Jack reported.
“Okay,” Daniel sighed, “Third shelf, under F.”
“Dare I even ask why F?” Jack muttered, “Got it. Thanks, Danny. By the way have you got any food in here?”
“Don’t you have an office of your own?” Daniel demanded before cutting off his friend before he could answer, “Never mind, just don’t break anything this time.”
Jack laughed, “Before you hang up on me, since your birthday is in a few weeks I thought barbecue.”
“I hate...”
“And you can invite your nephew and his mother along,” Jack continued, “Let us meet the kid.”
“I’ll think about it,” Daniel said, “Bye, Jack.”
Hanging up he turned to find Sha’re watching him intently.
“So,” she said sharply, “Are you leaving again?”
“Not yet,” he smiled slightly, “Just a friend trashing my office for some reason of his own. I’m not breaking another promise to Nicky.”
Sha’re nodded allowing a smile to touch her lips, “Good.”
Sha’re invited Daniel to remain for dinner which pleased Nicky who was looking to play some more now he was awake. Thankfully this time it was a board game that Daniel, to his disgust, was losing.
“I won,” Nicky cheered as Daniel groaned, “Mommy, I won.”
“I see,” Sha’re smiled at them before turning to Daniel, “Beaten by a four year old.”
“Thanks for the humiliation,” Daniel told her before turning to the still bouncing little boy, “How about we watch a movie now?”
Nicky nodded and climbed into his uncle’s lap, “Nemo,” he said imperiously.
“What do we say?” Sha’re said sternly.
“Please,” the blue eyes batted innocently at them.
“Alright,” Sha’re told her son, “but you have to go to bed as soon as it is finished with no arguments.”
“Okay,” Nicky said with a long suffering air making Daniel smother a laugh.
Sha’re put on the DVD and put the lights down before taking a seat on the couch, Nicky pouted and tugged his mother’s arm until she moved next to Daniel allowing the boy to sit with both of them. A little embarrassed Sha’re sat stiffly until Nicky moved to sit on both of them meaning she had to relax.
“That wasn’t bad,” Daniel noted when it finished realising Nicky was asleep across their laps, “Has he ever seen the end?”
Sha’re laughed, “Once or twice. Would you mind taking him to his room?”
“Before I do,” Daniel said, “I have two things to ask.”
Sha’re looked at him intrigued, “What?”
“I want to take Nicky for the day tomorrow,” Daniel told her, “Just so I can get to know him some more and it’ll give you the day to yourself.”
“Okay,” she agreed, although a little reluctantly before asking, “What’s number two?”
Daniel shifted uncomfortably, “In a few weeks it’s my birthday and my friends, against my wishes, hold a birthday party every year. I thought, actually Jack thought you guys might like to come,” he glanced at her surprised face and grimaced, “Only if you want.”
Sha’re smiled, “That would be nice.”
*********************************************
Daniel dropped relieved onto the bench just across from the swings exhausted.
“If four year olds could be used to power the city,” a voice made him look up to see Debbie coming over to the bench, “It would stop any energy crisis.”
“Hi,” Daniel smiled as he saw her two sons run over to join Nicky in the sandpit, “Pull up a bench, exhausted people are more than welcome.”
Debbie laughed and took him up on his offer, “Here,” she reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of water, “You look like you need this.”
Daniel gratefully took the offered liquid, “How do you do it?” he glanced over to where the three boys were running around in circles, “How do you manage not to collapse exhausted in a heap.”
“Oh I do,” Debbie told him, “Just at the end of the day. They are exhausting but I wouldn’t give them up for anything.”
Daniel followed her eyes to his nephew, “Yeah.” He leaned back and drank some of the water sensing Debbie at his side shifting slightly; “Is something wrong?”
“The first day I met Sha’re was at a mother and baby group,” Debbie explained, “It was a group of new mothers and almost all of us already knew one another. She was hanging back uncertainly because she hadn’t been through everything we all had. I didn’t let her hide.”
“I bet,” Daniel laughed.
“Sha’re’s so enamoured by that little boy,” Debbie continued, “I know she barely leaves him, she doesn’t date and suddenly you’re here.”
Confusion covered Daniel’s face, “What?”
Debbie folded her hands on her lap, “I’m going to ask you something that she never would, mostly because she’s afraid of the answer.”
“Ask me what?”
“Are you going to try and take Nicky away from Sha’re?” Debbie asked bluntly.
Daniel stared at her in complete astonishment, “What?”
“You are a blood relative,” Debbie noted, “And you would have a strong case.”
“Hold on,” Daniel stopped her, “Why would she think that?”
“You’ve never said that you won’t,” Debbie reminded him with a shrug.
Daniel sighed, “My work is something that means I couldn’t care for a child but even if I could I would never do that. Sha’re is Nicky’s mother, nothing will change that. I lost my parents when I was a child, Debbie and I would never take that boy away from his mother.”
Debbie smiled and nodded, “That’s good to know, Daniel but you need to tell her that.”
Daniel wanted to tell Sha’re that he didn’t want to take Nicky away from her that night but he didn’t get the chance. When he brought Nicky back from dinner fast asleep on his shoulder, the house was invaded by several of Sha’re’s friends. Daniel quickly deposited the sleeping child in his room, stopping for a few minutes to watch the boy. The thing was he did want to be Nicky’s father, he would love it but he knew that he’d never be able to do it with his work at the SGC. Daniel leaned against the wall and smiled as Nicky cuddled the teddy-bear sighing softly in his deep sleep, if he was being truly honest with himself Daniel knew that he wanted Nicky as his son but he also wanted Sha’re. Quickly leaving the room, he wished Sha’re good night and they agreed to meet for breakfast before his flight home. As he headed back to his hotel that night, Daniel decided that it was best to keep things the way they were because if it went wrong then it would possibly destroy the amicable relationship they had just now - even if he was falling in love with her.