New Fic - Meant To Be
Title: Meant To Be
Category: AU, Family, Friendship, Romance
Pairings: Daniel/Sha're
Summary: She never expected to see him again, never thought she'd be in this position but at a Conference she didn't want to go to there he was. Now she had to face the choice she'd made almost three years before.
Author’s Notes: - Thanks to Stonedtoad for the lightening beta.
Enjoy
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The Chandler Regent Hotel, one of the best hotels in New York, was the venue for this year’s Annual Austinberlich Archaeological Conference. Marcus Chandler, owner of the hotel, stood in the reception waiting for one of the guests, one of the few names he recognised from the guest list of the next few days. He looked into the mirror and smoothed his grey hair down slightly, wondering when he started to get so old.
“Mr Chandler,” the receptionist called, “The car has arrived.”
Marcus nodded his thanks; he’d learned straight away when he’d started a business that treating his staff with respect was the way to go, before he walked out the front door to greet his guest. As the car drew up he waved away the doorman to open the door himself, he offered his hand to the woman sitting there who took it with a smile and gracefully exited the car.
“Sha’re,” Marcus smiled at her, “You look wonderful.”
Sha’re Abdoo smoothed her charcoal skirt a little self-consciously at the compliment before exchanging a warm hug with him; “It’s wonderful to see you again, Marcus. I was so glad to hear that you were allowing your hotel to be used for the conference this year.”
She took his offered arm allowing him to lead her inside.
“Well it’s good for business,” Marcus replied, “Not to mention it means I get to catch up with you.”
Sha’re laughed, “I’ve not got much to update you on, I think you have more to tell me. I heard Robert’s wife is pregnant again.”
Marcus nodded, he loved his daughter-in-law as well as his grandchildren but he was still disappointed that Robert and Sha’re hadn’t worked out.
“Your room is all ready for you,” Marcus told her, “And I’m hoping you’ll have dinner with me tonight, especially as I’m out of town for the rest of the week.”
“I would love to,” Sha’re replied, “Tomorrow I get to spend all my time with the ‘cream’ of the archaeological world which will be all business.”
“Say seven?”
“Perfect,” Sha’re replied; she gently kissed his cheek and allowed him to move her to the reception to check in.
Sha’re thanked the man who brought her bags to her large opulent room, once she closed the door and sorted her clothes for the week Sha’re sat on the sofa, kicked off her shoes and picked up the phone.
“I’m here, Father,” Sha’re told him when he answered the call.
“Good,” Kasuf replied, “How is Marcus?”
Sha’re smiled, she knew how disappointed both their parents had been when she and Robert had ended their relationship especially as they got along so well.
“He’s fine,” Sha’re told him, “I’m having dinner with him tonight to catch up, I’ll give him your regards.”
“Good,” Kasuf said.
“Is Karim alright?” Sha’re asked hearing a laugh in the background.
“He is perfectly fine,” Kasuf assured her, “Skaara is giving him his dinner as we speak and we will take great care of him. I raised both of you, I can care for my grandson.”
“Of course, Father,” Sha’re chuckled, “I will call later to say goodnight to him.”
Sha’re sighed as she hung up the phone, this was the first year since she’d had her son that she had come to the conference. She had only left him for a few hours at a time since he was born and to leave him for the entire weekend was a huge wrench but this was part of her job.
Sha’re looked at the picture of Karim on the table, her son was the image of his father with her darker complexion and she always wished Karim didn’t resemble him so closely. Their relationship had been very short, in fact it had lasted only one night but that was enough for her to fall pregnant. They’d met at a party just over three years ago when Sha’re had returned to college to do a Postgraduate course on Archaeology to add to her PhD in Sociolinguistics and Sha’re knew from the moment they met that he was leaving the country the next morning. They had spent almost all night talking, then he kissed her and Sha’re allowed it to go so much further. The next morning Sha’re had arranged to meet him when he returned four months later but two months after that she discovered she was pregnant. Sha’re made the decision to have and raise the child alone so she made sure there was no way that he could find her.
*********************************************
“Wow, this is impressive,” Sarah Gardener noted as they entered the hotel lobby, “Daniel, I am so glad we decided to come this year.”
Daniel chuckled, “Yeah, I’m betting Tom won’t be saying that when you let him know where we are.”
“My husband gets to travel all the time,” Sarah tossed her hair, “This time I’m getting the nice hotel.”
Daniel laughed and headed over to the reception to check in; the place was teeming with people as all the guests for the conference were arriving. He wasn’t sure if it was a good idea coming here; in all honesty he hated New York, it was a place of so many horrible memories that he avoided it as much as possible but since Stephen had broken his leg Daniel had to come.
“So are you going to try and actually enjoy this weekend?” Sarah asked teasingly.
“What?”
“You know talk to a woman,” Sarah replied flatly, “Maybe find someone to spend some time with who isn’t a work colleague.”
Daniel rolled his eyes, “I’m happy with my life.”
“You hate your life,” Sarah retorted, “You’re still mooning over the fling you had the night before the trip I met Tom. You need to move on.”
“Thanks,” Daniel sighed, “I’ll move on when I meet someone who doesn’t make my ears bleed when they laugh or bore me to tears about their cats.”
“Both Alison and Gwen were lovely people,” Sarah frowned at him.
“Yeah,” Daniel murmured, smiling at the woman at reception who handed him his key, “I’ll see you for dinner?”
Sarah nodded smiling to herself as he left her to go to his room.
Daniel looked around his room, it was definitely one of the nicest he’d ever been in and Daniel spent a lot of his life in hotels. Dropping his bags on the bed he picked up the phone to call Dr Jordan and let him know they’d arrived so he could send Daniel any additional notes for his talk. It was the only reason Daniel was here.
Sitting down for a few moments he thought back to Sarah’s words and sighed, he hated that she was right. He was still completely obsessed with ‘her’, the woman he’d met the night before he’d gone on the dig and still couldn’t understand why she hadn’t been there when he got back.
“Hi David,” Daniel greeted his mentor when he answered the phone; “Sarah and I are here. Is there anything you need to add to the speech?”
*********************************************
Sha’re laughed as Marcus continued his tale, it was nice to relax over her dinner. Usually she only managed a sandwich if she was lucky as Karim made mealtimes a battle. The restaurant within the hotel itself was of the highest standard and Sha’re knew at least her meals for the next few days would be delicious.
“How’s your little one?” Marcus asked softly.
Sha’re reached into her bag and pulled out a photograph of her baby boy, passing it over to her dinner companion.
“He’s adorable,” Marcus smiled before glancing at her, “He doesn’t look much like you though.”
Sha’re sighed, “No, he is his father’s double in looks. And I am not talking about his father, Marcus.”
Holding up his hands Marcus smiled, “I would never pry into your life, Sha’re.”
“Of course you wouldn’t,” Sha’re replied with a roll of her eyes, “I made the decision to have Karim. His father, although a wonderful man, did not want children. When I discovered I was pregnant I knew that if I told him then he would have given up everything he’d worked so hard for, I could not let him. Although I wish things were different I would not give up my son for anything.”
Marcus reached out and squeezed her hand, “How about we get a drink in the bar?”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea.”
The small residents bar on the third floor had only a few people on the sofas spread across the room. Marcus rested his hand on Sha’re’s back and moved her to a booth just in the corner which was set aside for him whenever he was in the hotel.
They thankfully moved on to completely different topics far away from her son and her ex-boyfriend, Sha’re relaxed properly and they discussed everything from movies to the upcoming conference. When Marcus’s phone started to ring Sha’re slipped away to get them both another drink. She quickly ordered their drinks, another beer for Marcus while she got herself a sparkling water.
“Thank you,” she smiled as the drinks appeared in front of her. Turning she stopped staring at the man she’d almost walked into, “Daniel?”
Daniel and Sarah finished their meal in the small café a few blocks away from the hotel; they were going to spend enough time in it over the weekend so they’d decided to go out for dinner. Daniel was grateful that he and Sarah had managed to remain friends after they’d broken up. Then again it did get very disheartening being the only single in amongst a group of married people - not that he didn’t like Sarah’s husband Tom or Steven’s wife Ellie, he did but sometimes it was just extremely depressing being the fifth wheel.
“Okay, we could head to our rooms at ten at night,” Sarah noted, “Or, alcohol?”
“Alcohol,” Daniel agreed with a grin.
The main bar was full so they headed up to the residents bar to see if they might actually get a seat.
“Get the drinks, I’ll grab a table,” Sarah said sending him to the bar.
Daniel nodded and stood just back from the woman getting her drinks, she turned and Daniel was about to move out of her way when he saw her and felt his mouth drop open as she stared at him.
“Daniel?”
Daniel gaped at the woman standing in front of him; she was just as beautiful as he remembered as she stared at him in astonishment.
“Hi,” Daniel managed to say calmly, “You look great.”
“So do you,” Sha’re replied softly, nervously, “I didn’t realise you would be here, your name wasn’t on the list.”
Daniel smiled slightly, “Last minute replacement. I’m here to take over Dr Jordan and Dr Rayner’s talk.”
They both lapsed into silence trying to find something to say to one another, something that didn’t have Daniel demanding why she hadn’t been at the rendezvous they’d agreed on.
“I should take these to my friend,” Sha’re finally said, moving around him, “It was wonderful to see you again.”
“You…” Daniel started as she left him standing, “Too.”
Quickly he ordered drinks and headed to Sarah who was waiting impatiently for him.
“What were you doing?” Sarah demanded, “Crushing the grapes?”
“Not exactly,” Daniel sat down, “I just ran into Sha’re.”
Sarah’s eyes widened, “What? Sha’re, the woman you’ve been mooning over for three years?”
Daniel rolled his eyes, “Who else?”
“Where is she?” Sarah demanded, wanting to finally see the woman her friend kept thinking about.
Daniel let out a long sigh, “The booth in the far right corner.”
Sarah snuck a look at Daniel’s fling from a few years before and turned back to him, “You okay?”
Daniel nodded before shaking his head, “I just want to ask her why. And I don’t want to know.”
Before Sarah could say another word he downed his drink, “I’m going to go get some sleep. See you in the morning.”
Sarah opened her mouth to try and get him to talk to her but didn’t get the chance to get a word out as he was out of the seat.
Sha’re tried to pay attention to what Marcus was saying but all she could think of was Daniel. She’d convinced herself that he hadn’t been as wonderful as she remembered, that he wasn’t as handsome and that his smile wasn’t able to melt her the way it had.
Coming face to face with him she realised that she hadn’t imagined it. After a few minutes she made an excuse and bade Marcus goodnight. As she reached the elevator it was about to close, she caught it and slid in. As the doors closed she touched the button for her floor and realised she wasn’t alone, Daniel was standing watching her.
They rode up the ten floors in silence, it felt like the elevator ride was taking an eternity and she didn’t know what to say to him. When the elevator stopped and the doors opened she glanced over at him.
“Goodnight,” she whispered before walking smartly to her room hoping that she would be able to focus properly after some sleep.
As she began to open the door the sound of the elevator doors closing reached her and she managed to relax but as she entered the room a hand stopped the door from closing.
Daniel jumped when Sha’re pushed into the elevator, the look on her face when she saw him made him frown. As they started moving Daniel tried to think of some way to start a conversation, some way to get her to tell him why she hadn’t been there but he couldn’t find a way to ask. When the elevator stopped and she rushed away Daniel was about to just go to his own room before he decided he wouldn’t be able to rest until he knew. Rushing along the corridor Daniel saw her enter a room and moved managing to stop the door from closing.
“Daniel,” she breathed as he stepped into her room.
“I just want to know why,” Daniel stated as she looked up at him, “Why did you stand me up?” He started to pace as she watched him, “I know it was one night and I know I’ve no right to expect anything from that but…” Daniel sighed, “I can’t stop thinking about you. I haven’t been able to move on from that night because I thought it was real.”
“Oh, Daniel,” Sha’re moved her hand touching his arm, “I’m so sorry. You have to believe me.” She dropped her head as she took a few deep breaths, “I’m sorry,” she repeated.
Daniel gently touched her chin tilting her face up so she was looking at him finding her with tear filled eyes; gently he brushed the tears sliding down her cheeks. As they stared at one another Daniel moved and gently kissed her. The kiss became deeper very quickly and Daniel lifted her moving them to the bed. Sha’re pulled him onto her as they kissed and for a few moments everything disappeared.
Daniel suddenly pulled back, breathless trying very hard to get his mind focussed.
“Sha’re,” he whispered, turning slightly a photograph sitting on the cabinet caught his eye, “What the hell?”
Moving off the bed Daniel grabbed the picture staring at the child Sha’re was holding in it. His breath caught and he turned to her.
“What?” was all he could manage as he turned the photograph to her, “What?”
Finally unable to do anything else Daniel turned and left the room hearing her call his name but Daniel couldn’t stop.
*********************************************
“So, how’s the hotel?” Eleanor asked Sarah as she brushed her hair out.
Sarah laughed, “Very interesting. You’ll never guess who we ran into?”
“I thought we were having a meeting about the presentation?” Steven’s annoyed voice took over.
“At this time of night,” Eleanor reminded her husband, “Seriously, honey this is a gossip phone call.”
“Great,” Steven groaned.
“Anyway,” Eleanor cut him off, “Sarah, who did you meet?”
Sarah chuckled, “Daniel’s dream girl.”
“You’re kidding?” Steven cried making both the women laugh, “Fine. Just tell us more.”
Sarah quickly described what had happened in the bar to her friends.
“What’s she like?” Eleanor asked.
Sarah sighed, “We hate her.”
“What?” Steven spoke up a little confused.
“She’s prettier than us,” Eleanor translated for him making Sarah laugh especially as Steven protested he found no one more beautiful than his wife.
A knock on the door interrupting them was followed quickly by Daniel’s voice. Sarah let him in confused to see him holding a photo frame.
“Thought you were going to bed,” Sarah noted as he began to pace, “Steven and Ellie are on the line by the way.”
“Heard you met an old friend,” Steven’s voice came over followed by a smack, the sound of his wife hitting his arm.
“I…em…I just…” Daniel stammered, he took a deep breath, “I know why she didn’t show up that day.”
Before Sarah could ask he handed her the photo and she let out a gasp, “You got her pregnant.”
“What?” two voices echoed over the speaker-phone.
“Looks that way,” Daniel replied sitting down and dropping his head into his hands, “I have a son.”
“Daniel,” Eleanor asked cutting in, “Did you talk to her about it?”
“No.”
“Then you know what you have to do,” she replied.
Eleanor was Daniel’s best friend in many ways. She’d met Steven through him and had helped bridge the rift that had appeared between the three of them due to Daniel’s area of study.
“Ellie,” he whispered, “What do I say?”
There was a pause before Eleanor spoke again, “How about you start by asking his name.”
Daniel sat in his room leaving Sarah to get some sleep, he couldn’t even think about trying to sleep just now because all he could do was stare at the photograph alongside the picture of himself from his father’s book.
There was no mistaking that this was his son.
The knock on the door didn’t surprise him much and he took a deep breath before opening it to find Sha’re standing there.
She’d changed into a pair of jeans and a pale grey t-shirt making her look fragile as she waited for him to either let her in or slam the door in her face.
“Come on in,” Daniel moved out of her way closing the door behind her.
Sha’re sat on the chair and folded her hands in her lap, she took a few deep breaths before looking up at him.
“His name is Karim,” she began, “And I thought I was doing the right thing not telling you.”
“The right thing?” sarcasm filled Daniel’s voice, “Denying me my son?”
Sha’re pushed her hand through her hair as she jumped to her feet, “You told me that you didn’t want children. That you would never want them.”
“So I didn’t get a choice?”
“You told me your choice,” Sha’re snapped back, she paused, “I didn’t want to see you again only for you to turn away from me. That’s why I didn’t show that day, why I didn’t tell you about him because I couldn’t bear for you to reject me, to reject us.”
“Oh, Sha’re,” he sighed, “I would never reject you and I want to meet him.”
Sha’re wiped away the tear that managed to escape, “I want you to. Goodnight, Daniel.”
Daniel watched her leave, “Night.”
*********************************************
Daniel smiled when Sarah opened the door the next morning; it had been a long sleepless night.
“You look like hell,” she stated as she joined him in the corridor and they started walking.
“Couldn’t sleep,” he replied before frowning at her questioning look, “Not like that. I just kept thinking about how I have a son who’s two and has no idea who I am. How do I suddenly appear in his life?”
Sarah shrugged, laughing as he frowned at her.
“Daniel, listen to me,” Sarah said softly, “You’re his father. Even if he doesn’t know you he will.”
“Kids hate me,” Daniel reminded her as they entered the elevator.
“I don’t have an answer to that,” Sarah said.
They fell into silence until they reached their floor, Daniel continuing to brood while they were shown to their table for breakfast. Taking his seat Daniel caught Sha’re’s entrance and couldn’t stop his eyes following her as she was shown to her seat. This morning she was dressed for business in a black skirt and jacket with a light green blouse beneath it.
“Daniel,” Sarah clicked her fingers in front of his eyes, “Try and focus. You need to eat so you can throw it up before the lecture, remember?”
He narrowed his eyes at her and ate breakfast with only occasional glances over at Sha’re sitting with the same man she’d been with the night before.
“Am I boring you?” Marcus asked making Sha’re look up.
She sighed, “I am so sorry. I’m just…”
“The man you were talking with last night,” Marcus took over when she trailed off, “He’s Karim’s father.”
Sha’re stared at him a little surprised he’d worked that out after only seeing Daniel briefly from a distance before she nodded.
“I’m just a little overwhelmed to see him here,” she admitted, “Especially as he found out about Karim accidentally.” She licked her lips, “Marcus, I wish you were staying for this. I could use a friend.”
Marcus squeezed her hand, “I wish I could as well. I’d love to watch you deal with this. I’ve never seen you so rattled, Sha’re. Robert always said you could keep your cool even in an oven.”
Sha’re gave him a dark look before she took a deep breath and glanced over to where Daniel was sitting. She knew she needed to talk to him but there was so much today she had to concentrate on otherwise George wouldn’t be happy.
“Alright,” Marcus said suddenly, “I have to get going. If you need to talk to me just call.”
“Thank you,” Sha’re replied, she stood and they exchanged a quick hug before he disappeared leaving her sitting trying to get the courage up to go over to the man she needed to talk to. Finally she finished her coffee and stood smoothing her skirt getting her mind focussed before she walked over to the table where Daniel was sitting.
“Hi,” he greeted her with a smile as she got close to where he and his companion were finishing their coffee.
“Good morning,” Sha’re replied, she glanced at the woman sitting with him and gave a soft nod.
“Sorry,” Daniel jumped in instantly, “Sha’re, this is my colleague Sarah Gardener.”
“Nice to finally meet you,” Sarah grinned, Sha’re noted the English accent tinged by all the years she’d spent in the states, “Daniel, I’ll see you for the talk. Remember to brush your teeth.”
Daniel rolled his eyes as Sarah bounced up and away, he frowned at Sha’re’s confused look.
“I was sick once before I gave a lecture,” he explained as they started walking away from the restaurant, “They’ve teased me about stage fright ever since.”
“And was it…”
“It was food poisoning,” he smiled, “Doesn’t stop them.”
“I suppose that’s what friends do,” Sha’re laughed, they stopped at the elevator and silence fell for a second.
Daniel let out a soft sigh trying to work out what to say.
“Could we have dinner tonight?” Sha’re asked, “So we can talk?”
Daniel smiled at her, “Sure. I’d like that.”