Stargate Hastings

Chapter Eighteen: Fathers and mothers, daughters and sons

Abydos.

Donald had been avoiding being alone with his father, for the entire two months that he had been here but with him in command of the mission now, he was finding it increasingly more difficult. There was no tension between the two of them, he just knew that if they were alone, they would have to have the talk. It did not help that Hassif kept scolding him, for not calling Jim father. He had explained that he did not consider him to be his father and that his mother's husband, was the only man he would ever call father but Hassif would just say something like. 'He is your blood, you must respect your father'.

Donald did respect the Sargent major, the man had taken him under his wing and had been a mentor to him. How do you just dismiss, the man who had been your inspiration, your entire life and then replace him with someone else. He just could not do that and would not if he could. The man had done his mother a kindness, had done it to honour his friend even. Donald was sure he felt the same way but he knew that today was the day, that they would have the talk.

When he was heading back through the cave system, after his shift down in the mines. The Sargent major was waiting for him, a few caves in. He told the others that had came with him to report to Robert Parker and then asked him to join him, in one of the caves where they would not be overheard by the others. "I know how you feel about this Don and believe me I want to talk about this, less than you do but I am your father and we do have to at least say something about it". Donald nodded, so he continued, "Your father, your real father. He was very good to me and when he died, I was shattered by his death. I went to your mother and we mourned together and it helped".

Donald had heard all of this from his mother but he did not want to interrupt him. He could see that Jim needed to get out, what he was saying to him. "I had been given leave to inform his wife, as it was well known that we had become friends. Your mother was strong but she was sad that she could not give him a child. It was when I was leaving to return to duty, that she asked me. I refused and left her home but I returned. I do not even know why I went back... I never saw your mother again. I knew that you had been born but I did not do what I did, because I wanted a son. In truth you may have siblings out there somewhere but fatherhood was never something I craved". He looked relieved when he had finished, his explanation. He did not look like he felt guilt for his actions.

"I do not blame you for not being there, my mother told me everything about her husband. Believe me when I say, that even though he wasn't there, I always felt like I had a father. My mother explained everything and I hold no ill will towards you but you will never be my father. The man I am named for is and always will be but my son is your grandson, so I want you to have that kind of relationship with him but I could never replace my father with another. Blood or not". He tried not to make it sound too harsh but any other way, would not get the point across.

"It would be my honour, to be his grandfather". Jim replied. He was relieved to have got it out of the way. If he was honest with himself, the way his son had just told him, that he did not need a father. Had hurt a little but as he had told just told him, there were probably other children out there, that he would never know. He had been a soldier for over twenty years, with a constant threat of death and there were never a shortage of willing females, ready to spread their legs for a brave soldier. He had not really thought about it before but now that he did, he saw himself as lesser than the honourable man, he had once believed himself to be.

Rachael Hawthorne's cottage, Earth.

Meera had been made to feel very welcome, on her husbands world. She missed her family, especially her little brother Nasseef. She cared for her other brothers but Nasseef was her son as much as the little boy she had named for his father. She had not wanted to leave him behind but if Nasseef would have left with them, he would have been missed and everyone had agreed, that it would be safer for everyone, that when her father raised the alarm that he was missing, everyone was already safely back on earth. She did not like it but she did not want to put them in danger, so had agreed to him staying, until her Donul returned to her.

The Lady Katelyn Hastings or Kate as she insisted Meera call her. Had spent a lot of time with her and had been teaching her about her new home and the customs of its people. She had explained that the mothers of a woman's husband, were called mother in laws and that they could be very difficult. She had explained in return. That when you married on Abydos, you would just become their daughter and that there was no special name, only mother and father. They both laughed when she told Kate. That her brothers complain about their mothers, all of the time and that some things were probably the same, no matter what world you were on.

Richard, as Lord Hastings insisted she call him. Had told her that her husbands mother. Mrs Mary McCain could not come to see her, because her sister was very ill but she would be here in six weeks time as her other sister would there by then. She was eager to meet her and her grandson but she could not leave her sister. Meera understood and would never expect her, to leave a family member who was sick.

It was something she could relate to, as her people would all rally round to help each other. All they had was each other and was why she and the rest of her people, hated the snakes of Nagada. They were just like the rest and would help their fellow slaves in anyway they could but if someone did something that would displease Ra, they would call him and those people would be punished. Without them Ra would not know but they are the true worshippers.

Her father and the men he knows, the ones who speak in whispers and have supposedly been waiting for their peoples saviours. They have tested many of the snakes and taken punishment from Ra, to learn who they are. Ra would never kill the people that he came to punish, only make an example of them. He would use his magic to torture them and then claim he was showing mercy, by allowing them to continue being his slave. She believed that one day these people could challenge Ra but she had seen his power. These people were strong but Ra's power was real. He could destroy this world from the sky, if the stories here father had told her about how the mines were created, were true.

It had now been six weeks and her new mother was scheduled to arrive today. She had been very busy in those six weeks and had become a valued member of the team, that was teaching the soldiers how to speak the language of the Gau'auld. She had made friends with her colleagues and had even had them over for a meal, that Kate helped her to prepare. She still felt different to everyone else but she no longer felt like an outsider. Although she loved her father very much, she did not miss him. The freedom that she now had, made her realise, that he would have kept her hidden forever, if not for her Donul. She knew why he had done what he had but his fear would have cost her, her freedom.

Her son was a joy and gave her very little trouble. Mr and Mrs Hastings would happily take care of him, when she was working and when she had heard about a custom, where a child's parents would choose two people, to become Godparents and those people would take care of the child if anything happened to them. She had asked them and they had accepted. She had also learned that those people, were also responsible for helping the child become a good person. She liked the sound of that part the most of all and believed they would be perfect.

The cottage that she lived in was very big but when you were inside, it felt much smaller. It had many rooms, with only the place where they would eat, being a large room and the others much smaller, she liked it. When she went to the big house, she felt very small in its huge rooms. Because her new mother would be arriving today, she had been given the day off of her duties. She had cleaned everywhere, twice and the meal they would eat on her arrival, was almost ready to be served.

Just as she was changing her son into the clothes that she had picked out, for his first meeting with his grandmother. She heard voices coming from the people, that were approaching the cottage. She recognised the first voice as Kate's and the second must have been Donul's mother. She sounded how he had, whenever he would speak English. Kate did not knock on the door before entering, she never did. When Donul's mother spoke to her she did not understand and thought she had done something wrong.

When she had received word, that her son was still otherwise engaged, on some secret assignment. She had at least been thankful, that it had not been the news his father had delivered to her, all those years ago. Instead it was the opposite, the lad had gotten married and had a wee burn of his own but his wife and child were in England and would need family to help here settle in. She had wanted to get herself down to her, as soon as she had heard but her sister was very ill and she could not leave her. Not until their other sister had arrived, anyway.

She had been forewarned that the girl was foreign but that meant nothing to her, if her son loved her, then she would love her. She just could not wait to see her grandchild. they had told her he was a bonnie wee lad and that he was no trouble for his mother. If he was anything like her Donald, that would change once he got up on his feet. He was an angel before he could walk, then he became a little devil and would laugh as you were going crazy at him for running off, for the umpteenth time.

She came from a modest background herself and apart from the fancy buildings that she had seen, while in India with her husband. She had never seen anything like the estate she was now on. Even the cottage she was now approaching was bigger than any home she had ever lived in. When they approached the door, she had thought that Kate, as she had introduced herself, would have knocked but instead she just walked straight in.

When she saw the young woman, who was dressing the baby boy on her lap, she could not believe how beautiful she was. She looked Mediterranean in her skin tone and hair but it was her eyes that were captivating. She should not have teased the girl but Mary had always had a wicked sense of humour. "There is no way that this girl is married to my son". She said in a very serious tone.

The poor girl just sat there not knowing what to say, Kate however looked like she was about to throttle her". Realising her mistake, she quickly added, "My son is far too ugly, for such a beautiful girl". With a warm smile now on her face and not the stern look, she had used in her poor taste joke. She then looked down at the little boy on her lap, he had the same look on his face that all babies that age usually had. One of not quite understanding what was happening around them.

When her new mother had finished what she was saying and then began smiling, Meera was struck by how much the woman, reminded her of her father. Not in appearance but he would always act very serious, before making a joke. Even the way she was smiling, reminded her of him. She saw her eyes go down to her son, so she quickly finished buttoning up his top, then stoop up and said, "Mother, l would like you to meet Don ald McCain Junior". She had tried to pronounce his name, in the same way that the others did, so that she would know that she had named him for her son. She still called him Donul, as she did his father.

As Mary McCain reached out her arms, to hold her grandson for the first time. The little boy smiled at her and leaned forward, so she could take him in her arms. He had his mothers skin tone but the boys features were all his father. Before she was told about her new daughter and grandchild, Mary had been worried sick about her son. Her sisters illness was one of the mind, not the body. Her other sister was usually her carer but the woman needed a break, so she had volunteered to give her a couple of months off. Now all of that worry was almost gone, she had other things to worry about now. "I am sorry if I scared you darling, my Donald always said that I have a wicked sense of humour".

"It is fine, my father is the same. He think that he is funny also".

Kate noticed the subtle joke and tried not to laugh. Mary however, did not try to stop herself, "I am going to like you and what is that lovely smell". With the ice broken, the three sat down to their meal. The two women spent the rest of the night, doing what all mother in law and daughter in laws did. They talked about the man they both loved, even if the only things they spoke about, was his faults.