Chapter Four: Story Time

After seeing Daniel, Zale and Malachi out the front door, Jack was left to wander back to the living room where Zada was sitting on the floor with her younger sisters and brother. She was holding one of the big books that they brought with them everywhere. In a world of Daniel Jackson and his addiction to books and history it wasn't ever a surprise to find half of what Daniel dragged around in his bag was books but this book was special. About a year after Zale and Zada were born Daniel woke up one day and decided that their stories should be written down here in this time and this world. They had been using SG-1 stories for bedtime from pretty much day one and he'd been writing those down but this one day Daniel figured their story should be told as well.

Jack remembered with a smile, laughing at the scattered happiness strung across Daniel's features at the thought of writing out their story from the beginning, there would be snippets of adventures but it would be about them. Jack asked him why they would need it because their story had begun the moment they were dosed by Love and her lackeys and Daniel had given him this 'don't be dumb' look that Jack couldn't help but smile over, even now. He remembered a clear as if it were yesterday when Daniel walked over to him and pressed a finger lightly into Jack's chest and his lips a breath away from Jack's mouth when he whispered, "The first time you wanted more than friendship was when Jack?"

Jack flushed at the time, partially due to Daniel's proximity but also thinking back to the moment when Daniel appeared from the crowd around him after Jack had left him aboard Apophis's mothership to die. He'd known in that moment that he'd left something with Daniel to die, a piece of his heart which had been miraculously returned to him in the Gate Room. He'd wanted to kiss Daniel, instead he could only touch his neck and pull him close, whispering 'space monkey' in his ear when he would have given anything to say 'don't leave me ever again'.

So he understood the importance of that history between them and that was the book Zada was reading from because it was one of the few things that survived the fire set by Lust. Daniel had it at work with him and forgot it there, then someone from the castle (the queen of course) borrowed it because she was a creeper when it came to Daniel and Jack's love story and she gave it back to them about a week after the fire. Daniel cried and hugged her while Jack griped about why she had it in the first place before hugging her too.

Zada's voice brought him back to the story their children they had been hearing their whole lives, apparently it was one the twins and Johnny weren't sick of yet. "The Colonel moved quickly across the floor, sliding as quiet as the Spec Ops man that he was, grabbing the gun before the scientist decided to do something with it after all. Colonel didn't pause as he gripped the scientist close, one hand pressed into his neck before moving to the back of his head as the scientist wept. This was one of the first times, one of those moments for the scientist where he realized there was more to this than friendship for him and then there was one more reason to cry. He would forever have to hide the truth from the soldier because he would do anything to keep the Colonel in his life."

"Papa why did Daddy think he had to hide what he felt for you? Love is all there is in the world," Claire asked, throwing her arms out when she said 'love' and almost smacking Zada in the process. The eldest sister just shifted out of the way and grabbed Claire's hand gently so she wouldn't do it again.

Jack smiled, "Baby girl, you know this story better than me some days, you tell me?"

Claire removed her hand from Zada's gentle grip, climbed off the floor and bounced over to him where he was moving towards the couch. His daughter helped him sit down on the couch, even though he didn't need the help. He was creaking with old age, cresting somewhere close to sixty-two at the moment but due to the magic in the Vannas world as well as the magical pregnancy had in some ways rejuvenated him according to Erica, especially when the curse had been broken in him then also in Malachi. He didn't know if his children were helping with that but they were fine so he was too.

When he was sitting Claire stood in front of him and he smiled, thinking about how much she looked like Daniel so much of the time but right now she was all Jack, the showmanship sometimes that she could ratchet up to ten in about thirty seconds flat. She held her hands in front of her for a moment then smiled and began her silly retelling of Daddy and Papa's love for each other.

"Daddy couldn't tell you Papa because your military is stupid and shortsighted about men who love each other as well as women loving each other," Jack laughed at the harsh judgement of the military and DADT because Daniel said that all the time when the twins were little, especially after they came back from the past, there was more to the little rant and he was sure Claire knew the whole thing, but she continued. "Daddy was scared that Papa would never love him just like Papa was sure Daddy deserved more." She giggled and continued, "Silly Papa."

Jack rolled his eyes dramatically, "Well Papa is a worn down, cranky Colonel and Daddy is beautiful and young, brave and smart."

Claire shook her head, wistfulness filling her bright blue eyes for a moment, "When you love someone like that, it doesn't matter. Plus Papa is brave and funny and knows that Daddy is the greatest Daddy ever."

Jack shrugged, "That's clear for everyone to see though."

"When Daddy and Papa came to the future with Uncle Teal'c and Aunt Sam, Love knew what was there beneath the surface and showed it to them both. They got married and lived happily ever after with all of us."

She spun around in a dancing circle and Jack held out his arms and she jumped up on the couch and cuddled into Jack's side and he looked down at Zada who was smiling with that look of adoration she had sometimes when she looked at Jack or Daniel. She was getting to be a young woman and he hoped that had a few more years before that look ended up being gazed towards someone else, someone she might see the end of her days with. For now though she was a big sister and a beautiful daughter.

"Is this what we are going to do all day? Talk about Daddy and Papa?" he asked gently.

Claire giggled, "It's our favorite story Papa."

"Why? We have not always lived happily ever after, have you forgotten when we went back in time, not to mention the last two years. Zada, what about you?"

"Papa," she crooned then with a click of her tongue and answered, "Happily ever after isn't in the moments, it's in the choice to live and love each other and us. This is our favorite story; mine too, because you are always together and there is nothing you wouldn't do for each other and us. The last year proved that more than anything. We are not just surviving here Papa, we live together and that is happily ever after, not the lack of trouble."

Jack smiled to his daughter and tilted his head towards the rest of them and they wasted no time climbing off the floor and clambering onto the couch with him. Zada was on one side, Johnny in his lap and Janet pressed up on Zada's lap. Jack settled into the love he felt from them and pressed a kiss to each head and closed his eyes. He'd wondered more than once if happily ever after was what Daniel and he had. He didn't know if his children could make it through everything that had happened to them: the fire, Malachi's curse and so on but Zada was telling the truth. Jack and Daniel's 'happily ever after' from the mouths of babes, not just any babes but their babes; wasn't just the moments of happiness but also the times when it wasn't easy but they stuck around to make it work. If Zada and the others truly believed that then they were really their favorite story then it all was going to be okay.

"I love you all so much," Jack whispered gently into Johnny's hair, pressing against the warmth of his wavy hair, something he got from his bio-mom and something that Daniel was loathe to cut every time he had to.

"We love you too Papa," they said in broken uneven chorus and it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever heard. They didn't spend the next couple of hours sitting and reading stories, in fact they only sat for a few more minutes before the younger children bounced up and started playing, leaving Jack to wrap an arm around Zada's shoulder and pressed a kiss to her temple.

They watched as Johnny, Claire and Janet ran and played on the floor with various toys they brought with them. Jack didn't have any ulterior motives or plans so he told stories and watched them race around. He didn't know how long Daniel would be gone for so he sent the rest of the kids scurrying outside to race around while he put some sandwiches together for lunch and served it to them out on the porch, looking up when Daniel and Zale with a very hungry Malachi in his stroller. Jack accepted the squawking child and grabbed a plate that he made for the youngest child and started feeding him. Daniel and Zale accepted their plates gratefully.

"How was your walk?" Jack asked them.

Zale smiled a little shyly and nodded while Daniel munched on his food with a smile, "It was good though I would love to know when Zale gives you a shock."

Jack choked on a bite then looked between Daniel's grinning face and Zale's guilty look, "It was nothing Daniel, I'm fine."

Daniel glared at him for a moment, "That's not the point love, Zale is my son too and this is something he is struggling with and the shock is just the latest in a long line of troubling thoughts and actions. Please don't hide things from me."

Jack gave a snappy salute, "It wasn't intentional Daniel, I just wanted to have Christmas without all the drama of magic and whatnot."

Daniel nodded, leaning down and pressed a kiss to Jack's head and he smiled up at his partner. "Did you know that our children's favorite love story is ours?" he whispered to Daniel in a stage whisper that had the other children snickering.

Daniel smiled and kissed Jack on the lips this time before he whispered, "Yeah? I'm glad the book survived then."

Jack pressed his hand to the side of Daniel's neck and smiled, "They love it no matter what happened in the last year. I think coming here was the right thing to do, to give us some time."

Daniel kissed him again then straightened, with a hand on Malachi's head for a moment before he pressed a hand to Zale's shoulder who looked up and smiled at both of his fathers. "It's my favorite story too Papa," he whispered. "I'm sorry that I shocked you."

Jack smiled at his son, "Z, I'm okay and I didn't blame you. Everything has been so tough on you; we have all gone through so much and now is the time for us to keep living. We stay together and we learn how to get through the things that have happened."

They sat together and finished their lunch, deciding on a game of tag which Daniel decided to take part in while Jack sat and laughed and watched his family be silly and free together. He held Malachi up on his feet, a little wobbly but getting better as he jabbered and cooed at his playing family. Malachi still wasn't far enough along to be talking but every once in a great while, real words fell from his lips. "Dada," he chirped as his eyes tracked Daniel's movements around the trees and the surrounding area.

"Yeah, that's Daddy," Jack responded and Malachi turned in his hands pulling away from his Papa's hands but almost falling in the process. Jack fumbled then quickly righted Malachi and hugged his son. He looked into his multi colored eyes and wondered again what his life would be like and glad that they would have a chance to see it. Jack pressed a kiss to the side of his head then turned him around again so he could see his Daddy making the little boy clap and giggle.

A couple hours of play left everyone exhausted and dirty so they stumbled into the house and cleaned up before relaxing in the living room for a story before dinner. Jack listened as Daniel told the story of one of their adventures; Zada and Zale were on the floor with a card game, listening to the story while Janet and Claire were on one side of Daniel and Johnny and Malachi were tucked in close on the other side of Jack. Pretty soon they weren't going to fit on the same couch or in their very large bed and so Jack was going to enjoy it and the rest of this mini vacation before they returned to the Valley.