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The two teams waved back at the villagers, forced smiles on their faces, as they finally took their leave.

Teal'c went ahead, his tall stature a beacon to the rest of them, as he competently made his way down the Via Mauricia, the main road that connected one part of the country with the capitol, named after Mauricius Gaius, the emperor who'd ordered the road to be built.

From what they'd been told by the villagers the Stargate was located only a quarter of a mile from the road.

And to think they'd laboured through a forrest and thick undergrowth for hours on their way to the village when they'd first come to this world...

The only reason this prosperous civilization had not been enslaved by the Goa'uld was because the only record of it's coordinates had been in the Ancient Depository Jack had stuck his head into a few years back. With the huge amount of coordinates found on Abydos the SGC was only now beginning to explore the worlds Jack had put into the computers before he'd gone to meet the Asgard for the first time.

Jennifer glanced at Daniel, who was looking around wide-eyed, taking in the countryside. This was what he lived for, why he'd stayed with the SGC after Sha're's death: he was a historian and the chance to go back in time and experience on his own skin the life of extinct civilizations was something worth any money in the world, worth killing and dying for. He was in heaven and, even though this world had brought complications into her life she couldn't even begin to figure out how to resolve, she had to admit it was also a beautiful one. Privately she envied these people their lives, in this paradise. Jennifer's eyes then went over to Carter who was marvelling at the mastery of road construction the builders had proven.

In Ancient Rome main roads, called Via-s, had been primarily built for trade and the military. Good roads had meant swift relocation of armies and goods.

Her eyes then finally took in the sight of Colonel O'Neill, her... her... her husband, and she was still having trouble processing that bit of reality, walking beside her.

Jack enjoyed the slow, comfortable march and the warm, bright sun. If he thought of it, this part of the world reminded him somewhat of Tuscany.

For reasons unknown to either of them, Jack and Jennifer had quickly gravitated to each other after they'd started on their way back, walking together, even though they had started on the opposite sides of their little group.

The constant action of the past few hours had prevented Jennifer from really thinking about this morning's revelations, but now she had peace to do so.

She couldn't help stop her mind from flitting back to the moment she'd woken up in Jack's arms. The second her senses had fired up and she'd detected another person in her bed, beneath her, she had almost bolted out of the bed shrieking. Thankfully her memory had returned just in time to stop her from embarrassing herself and concerning the neighbors. This new experience of waking up on strong, warm male chest, being anchored to Jack's body by his arms, had felt strange, but not unpleasant. Definitely not unpleasant.

And then he'd had to go and ruin it by opening his mouth. True, she wasn't a bride passionately in love with her new husband, but Jack's comment had nonetheless hurt. Thankfully he'd apologized and explained why he'd reacted that way and it had soothed the hurt.

Then they'd gotten their tattoos, something she still thought was unique. The hidden romantic side of her found this custom pretty appealing and the designs themselves were quite beautiful. They criss-crossed her forearm from her elbow down to the tip of her ring finger and, after the paint had set, they'd taken on a blood-red color. They reminded her of the Tribal style car tuners used for their cars, but much more complex. They truly did look like they were meant to be there for a long time, for life even.

Hang on.

For... LIFE!?

Jennifer stopped in shock for a second then resumed her march, only now the little, but very important, tid-bit of information coming to the fore of her mind. The chief said the type of wedding they'd had meant there was no divorce, that they'd gotten married for life.

She was no fool, she knew of the international agreements her country had signed, acknowledging marriage ceremonies that had taken place in foreign countries according to those customs and laws.

So... it seemed she was going to be stuck with Jack for life. She honestly didn't know how she felt about that. Would she want to try for a relationship with him? He was 20 years older and he... well... he was grouchy most of the time.

Okay, so it wasn't as if Jen was any different. Jennifer Hailey could be a damn grumpy person when she wanted to. Or when she hadn't had her coffee yet.

Jennifer Hailey. Or was it Jennifer Hailey-O'Neill? Or just Jennifer O'Neill? Her parents were traditional people and had raised her in that spirit. A couple of years ago she'd asked her mother if she had ever regretted taking her husband's name. Her mother's answer had been a confident, firm 'no'. Would Jack expect of her to take his name? Would she do it herself without prompting because she wanted to have his name if they decided to give this marriage a go? She didn't even know it herself so she decided to think about this matter later.

She looked at him, walking by her side, and didn't know what she was supposed to see. Her leader? Her superior officer? Or her husband?

How was she supposed to act? On a mission? Off duty? And if they decided to make the best of the situation and try for a relationship, how was she supposed to behave when around him in private?

She wasn't a touchy-feely person, she'd never been in a relationship, so she had no clue how to should act around someone you've decided to be with. She simply didn't know how to be affectionate in a romantic way.

There were so many nuances to being in a relationship that scared her and that would plainly feel weird. Holding hands... Kissing someone. How does one even kiss romantically? She'd seen the movies, but watching and doing it yourself are two different things.

Then there's the hugging... from what she knew there was a lot of that in relationships.

Whenever she thought of kissing and hugging another person and being affectionate with him she felt stiff, like a wooden board. She didn't know how to do that, how to initiate it, how to just enjoy it. She knew she'd feel and act awkward the first dozen times she'd do it, perhaps even a little distant and standoff-ish. She didn't want to hurt Jack, but she knew that if she didn't tell him she'd never been in a relationship, he would be hurt by her behaviour, believing she found him repulsive. But admitting to another person outloud that you're a virgin isn't easy. Nowadays being a virgin at her age was almost seen as a disgrace by her peers.

Which brought her to sex. Sex... frankly, the sole idea of having sex terrified her in a way. She'd never had sex before. Sure, she masturbated frequently and had even watched a couple of porn movies, but this is like apples and oranges. How and when would she tell Jack about her untouched condition? Would she even tell him or would she let him find out for himself?

That was when she realized the decision, whether to try for a relationship or not, had already been made.

If she was worrying whether she would tell Jack before they'd have sex or not, and how long before the act, it was clear to her she'd already decided on making the best of what they'd been given.

Well, now that she'd decided on a course of action the only thing left was to notify Jack of her decision. And fast, considering she could already see the top of the Stargate over the trees.

Jennifer moved closer to him. "Sir.... Jack..." she blushed, still trying to get used to the fact she was allowed to call him that now.

Jack startled and looked at her "Yeah?"

"Can I talk to you for a second?" she shot her eyes at the rest of the teams "About our situation."

Jack hid a wince and looked around "Teal'c!" he finally called out. The big man turned around questioningly "Dial the 'Gate and go on through, but keep the light on for us."

Teal'c nodded "As you wish, O'Neill." and quickened his step, the other 6 people following silently.

When the two newlyweds fell back enough to insure a private conversation Jack turned to Jennifer and motioned for her to start.

After taking a deep breath to brace herself, Jen launched right into it.

"What the chief said... about us being married for life. I gather this means no divorce and since Dr Jackson has been quiet and didn't suggest anything, I'm also taking this to mean he doesn't know of another way either. I know of the agreements the US signed, about recognizing marriages created in other countries. What I'm trying to say is, I know we are now legally married according to our legal system. I also know we can't lie in the debriefing and say nothing happened. We also can't demand of the others to keep quiet about it. It would have to come out in debriefing since it's the reason we were released. Besides, these tattoos are kinda hard to hide." Jen lifted her arm, the blood-red designs clearly visible against her pale skin.

"Yeah, about that.." Jack drawled and scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully, but was cut off by Jennifer.

"I want this, sir." Jennifer blurted out, then stopped, embarrassed at how forceful she'd sounded. She tried again."Sir..." then thought better of it. This was too personal for 'sir'. Besides, they were married...

"Jack..." the name tasted strange on her tongue, but she forged on "What I mean to say is that I want to give a relationship with you a try. Okay, so we didn't voluntarily choose this, but why not make the best of it?" Jack just looked on as she went on a tangent, not being able to get a word in. Jen was just too far gone to notice, trying to get this all out before she lost courage "Yes, there are things that could make it difficult for us... the difference in ranks, the age gap and so on, but we still got a better chance of making this work with each other than we would with anyone else we're allowed to be with, which means someone outside the SGC. We know everything about the other's job, there would be no secrets between us, we like each other and we respect each other. We have a better basis for marriage than many married couples have."

"Gah!" Jack exclaimed, trying to stop the tidle-wave of words. "Hailey." nothing, no reaction, Jen continued rambling "Hailey." still nothing. Desperate times call for desperate measures "Jennifer!" he finally called out.

That one worked.

Jennifer stopped and blinked up at him. She tried to say something, but Jack raised a single finger and an eyebrow "Ah!" Obediently she subsided, but not before shooting him a dirty look.

Somehow, Jack had a bad feeling the times she would obey his direction to be quiet, were numbered.

"Okay." he then said and headed for the Gate.

"Okay?" Jen stood there, looking after him dumbly. Then she got her feet in motion and ran after her husband. Grabbing him by his bicep she halted him, prompting him to turn around.

"I prepare this whole speech and you let me go on like that and the only thing you say is 'okay'?"

For a reason unknown to Jack she was looking pissed. Women!

"Yup." Jack shrugged "What more should I say?"

Frowning, she realized he was right. What more was there to say right then? Shrugging, Jennifer turned to the Gate and walked to it, Jack only a step behind. Instinctively holding her breath, and feeling foolish for it, Jennifer walked into the puddle.

When only the back side of her person was still visible the devil on Jack's shoulder, the one that had had him give Carter that forceful shove through the Stargate, whispered into his ear.

Jack grinned.

The last thing Jennifer felt just before she disapperead into the vortex completely was a strong swat on her butt.

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