A/N May 4, 2019: If you currently are reading this story, note that all chapters have been updated. See author's note for chapter 1.

Chapter 23: Meeting the family

"I told my mum about you", Jack unexpectedly said over breakfast next morning, watching her reaction of the brim of his cup.

Georgie snorted, nearly choking on the tea.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you", but his smirk contradicted his words. He was definitely amused.

"I just didn't expect you would have..."

"I know, I didn't really plan to, but she is so sad after dad and I wanted to share something with her that might cheer her up a bit and then I just happened to tell her."

"What did you say then? That you're sharing bed with a colleague?"

"I said I have met a girl... she is something special and I like her very much."

"You do, do you?"

"Is that a surprise?"

"No... but I'm just getting used to you showing me that I mean something to you. A week ago, I had no idea I what you felt about me, if anything. Honestly, I have been hoping for quite long that you had some kind of feelings, but I didn't know… Every time we met after that first night you just put on this poker face. First, I didn't even admit to myself that I cared what you thought, but after Estonia... I knew I wouldn't be able to forget you, but I had no idea how to get to you until you showed up at my door."

He hesitated briefly about how honest he should be. He decided he was not ready to tell her that his feelings had been there already long before that night in Bangladesh. Instead he told her just part of the truth.

"After our first night together, I decided there could be no more, no matter what I wanted. I felt I had to stick to army regulations and not risk anything, not let feelings distract me on duty. I kept thinking about you though. Then I heard you had a boyfriend back home and I figured our night was just a spur of the moment one-time thing for you and you didn't have any feelings for me. So, I just tried to forget you, but I wasn't very successful. Every time I met you it was more difficult. After what happened in Estonia it was totally impossible and then I also dared to hope again. The other day I felt I had to take the risk and go see you."

The mutual confessions of feelings hidden for a long time were hanging in the air, almost like something physically tangible, and it felt like a new bond between them.

"I was really jealous of that boyfriend of yours...", he added.

"So silly, if anyone had a reason to be jealous it would have been him. When we met at the regiment back in December, I so wanted to kiss you. I realised then that I shouldn't stay with him when I felt like that with you."

"So did I... want to kiss you that time."

They kissed now, because they could and because they could not get enough of it.

When he finally leaned back in his chair again, he raked his bottom lip with his teeth, looking at her intently, as if he continued to taste her lips even when the kiss was over or was deliberating if he should kiss her again, but instead he spoke

"Returning to the subject; my mum invited us to dinner tonight. It isn't what I had planned but would you want to go? My brother and sister will be there too. I know they very much want to see me before I leave again, but if you think it is all too soon we just skip it."

This was a very unexpected acceleration of their relationship, a bit scary to meet family but she was also curious.

"You mean you actually would be fine with taking me there? To meet your family?"

"I think I would."

He held her gaze without turning away and his seemed to twinkle with happiness.

"Okay, if you promise to save me in case they interrogate me."

"Oh no, Georgie Lane, then I will listen to hear what secrets you may hide."

'But I don't have that many Jack, it's you who keep bringing on the surprises' she thought. Compared to him, she felt like an open book.

"Everyone has secrets, but I'm sure yours would only make me like you more", he smiled.

During the day, they took a stroll enjoying the beautiful April weather along Chelsea Embankment and the Physic gardens and sat down for a long lunch at a nice little restaurant. It was long since she had been in London except for the interview. When she was together with Elvis it happened every now and then as he was a Londoner but that was such a long time ago now, a life time it felt like, and Jack had other favourite places, so it was like discovering the city anew.

"Have you always lived in London? I mean, before Sandhurst and traveling with the army."

"No, I was away for boarding school much of my childhood and then university in Cambridge."

"Really? I had thoughts about studying in Cambridge when I decided for the army instead. What if I hadn't and we had met as students."

"Then I would have missed the opportunity to save your life and you would probably never have fallen for me. Remember I was this nerdy thin guy back then."

"I think I might have liked you anyway and who says there wouldn't have been an opportunity to save my life there, falling off during a punting tour maybe."

"Well, I have always been a mean swimmer."

They both laughed at the thought of what different turns life may take.

"Is Cambridge where you have applied for med school now?"

"One of the places, I'm trying several universities to increase my chances. I'm hoping to be accepted in Manchester, but I've applied to Cambridge and King's College too."

He raised an eyebrow but did not comment further and she almost felt embarrassed when she had said that, hoped he would not think London now emerged as her number one option just because it was his hometown, when they only had seen each other for a week. She did not want to appear too needy. On the other hand, it was Jack who was planning on introducing her to his family already tonight. That was a leap big enough.

- OG -

Georgie was grateful she had brought one nice dress and put it on for the evening. It was crème coloured, elegant yet quite sexy, knee-length with a slit and showing off her slender figure. As she came out from the bathroom it, Jack's reaction was what she had hoped. For a moment, he just looked at her, taking in the picture of the dress wrapping her body in such a flattering way, her dark hair loose and high heels on.

"You look just amazing" he said with deep, hoarse voice and came over to stand in front of her.

"I have never seen you in a dress before. In fact, I think I have seen you naked more times than I have seen you in civvies and then only trousers."

"And which do you like best?"

"I really love this dress on you... but I think you know the answer to that question..."

She saw in his eyes what he wanted, and she wanted it too but put up some resistance.

"Oh, no Jack McClyde, I don't want you to mess up my hair before I meet your mum, so she sees what we have been up to."

"She won't suspect anything. She probably thinks her little boy is still a virgin", he grinned and placed his hands on her hips, stroking with his thumbs over her belly through the thin fabric. He was still only in boxers, fresh from the shower and smelled heavenly from a musky aftershave. The thought that anyone would think this very masculine man a virgin was beyond ridiculous.

"As if", she smirked.

He placed his lips to her neck, making her skin prickle.

"If I promise not to mess up your hair?"

His hand reached for the zipper at the back and she was unable to say no, instead met him in a kiss. Then, almost like magic the dress went off and on once more before they finally made it out of the door and headed for his mother's home.

- OG -

Georgie was a bit nervous as they arrived. The wonderful house of the elder McClydes was even larger than Jack's and in contrast fully furnished. Even though she was a girl with good self-confidence who seldom felt inferior to others, this family was obviously in a whole different league than her own. What would they think of her? And what would she think of them? What if she did not like his family at all? If they were snotty and unkind it would be awkward. She was very happy about her nice dress and the fact that Jack had kept his promise and her hair was falling tidy over her shoulders.

From the stories Jack had told about his upbringing and family expectations on him, Georgie had expected that his mother might be strict and stiff, but she was nothing of the sort. It seemed like all of that must have come from her late husband. When they entered the house, Mrs. McClyde gave them a warm welcome.

"Welcome, I'm Elle, Jack's mother. How nice to meet you Georgie! I'm so glad my boy could convince you to join us tonight."

Despite that she was an aging lady, she was still a beautiful woman with blonde hair with silver streaks and only few wrinkles. She seemed very hospitable, kind and caring. From the way they were with each other, it was apparent that Jack loved her and she him.

Georgie was also introduced to Jack's brother Will, his wife Meghan, and the younger sister Sarah who were there with her two sons. One could easily see that Will and Jack were brothers as their features were similar, but Jack was taller, and Will apparently did not put himself through the same strict exercise regime as Jack did because he had some extra weight around the waist. Sarah was a younger copy of Elle, with the same blonde hair but without the silver streaks.

"We have met before", Georgie said to her.

Sarah frowned as she tried to recall the situation.

"In Bangladesh, when you came for Jack's coffin. I was in uniform then and I realise it was a special situation, so I'm not surprised if you don't remember me."

"That awful day… It was like everything was in a haze, I don't think I have ever cried so much, it was all so horrible. I was so mad afterwards that Jack put us through that."

"I've explained why."

"Yes, yes, I know, to make it believable and all that, but it was still cruel." She turned to Georgie again "When he called me up when I got home... I couldn't believe it was just an empty coffin we had brought back. I was so happy and relieved that I cried and cried again. Can you understand that feeling?"

"I think I can." Georgie briefly thought about how it would have been if anything had brought Elvis back from the dead for her. Of course, she had known for sure that was not going to happen, because she had held his dead body in her arms and looked into his open unseeing eyes. She met Jack's eyes now and saw that he understood what she was thinking. He put his arm around her shoulder.

"But this time it all ended well."

She leaned her head against his shoulder, but she and Sarah looked at each other, both thinking 'But what if it doesn't end well next time?"

"Were you a couple already then? That day?" Sarah asked.

"No, luckily we had not really noticed each other then, so I only thought I was saying goodbye to a commander who thought I was the worst soldier in history."

"You know I never thought that", he pressed his lips to her hair.

"I know it now. Just as good I didn't know then, so I did not grieve you as much."

Sarah noticed the flicker in her brother's eyes and got the feeling that he had noticed Georgie before that day, even if she was unaware of it both then and now.

Apart from that moment, when the two girls reflected over Jack's mortality, the evening turned out to be very nice. Dinner was informal and they all chatted without Georgie ever having the feeling she was being measured or interrogated. Will turned out to have a great sense of humour, which she somehow had not expected either.

"Will is so different now that my father isn't around." Jack told her. "It is like he is a different person now that he doesn't have our father looming over him. I feel like we have found each other like brothers over the past weeks in a way we never did before. Before, everything was competition about my father's liking, with him gone we're coming closer. He seems to like you too, that also gives him plus points."

"I like him too, all of them. I'm glad you took me here."

A bit later Georgie sat on a couch, next to Elle. They both watched Jack and Will who were engaged in a conversation at the other end of the room.

"It was not easy to be sons of John, not for any of the boys. He didn't know how to express his feelings and show them affection, only how to be harsh., but I know he loved them under that hard surface of his.", Elle said. "You know, when we thought Jack was dead, we got to read that "letter from the grave" they make all soldiers write. I cried then of course, but so did John. Then when we were told Jack was alive, we could not have been happier. It was just that John still wasn't capable of showing it. He was so proud of Jack, proud of the man he had become."

"He doesn't know. You need to tell him."

"Thanks, love. You're right, I will."

"He really needs to hear it, even if I haven't known him for long I have understood how complex their relationship is and that it grieves him they will never be close. I think knowing this might make him come to terms with that."

Elle nodded.

"The boys are different from John, though. They know how to show affection and express their feelings. That's my legacy to them."

When Georgie first got to know Jack, she had thought that he was like everyone described his father; hard and incapable of showing emotions, but she knew now that was far from the truth and she was immensely grateful for that.

"In the end, I think it has been hardest for Will to live in the shadow of John, Elle continued Even if Jack didn't want to join the army, he found his place there and an escape. I have missed him and worried so much but still I have known he was fine all these years. Will, I'm not sure he really wanted to take over the family business and John was always watching over him like a hawk to see he made no mistakes. I'm not sure what will happen now when John is gone. Maybe both my boys will change and live a life they rather wanted."

"And Sarah?"

"Oh, it was always different with her. She was a girl and to her John felt he could be soft. A parent shouldn't have a favourite, but he did, and she has always been able to do what she wanted."

While she said this, Elle's gaze rested at Jack and Georgie had the feeling she had a favourite too. Maybe it was like he said, that she still saw him as her baby boy no matter how far from that he seemed to be to anyone else.

"She studied art, got pregnant with one of the teachers. They were together long enough to get a second child but then he thought it was time to make an exit, left her to bring up the boys alone. I think he was unfaithful asshole all along, to be honest. John was furious but could for once not do anything except helping Sarah economically. The one who has been like a substitute for the children's father has always been Jack, whenever he was home from tour."

No wonder he had been missed when they thought he was dead, if he had been the only dad they knew.

"You know, you're the first girl he has ever brought home."

Georgie blushed.

"Really?"

"Of course, there has been girls, but none that he cared about enough to bring home."

Elle seemed to await Georgie's reaction.

"I like him a lot." She thought that was a lame description of what she felt but she was not comfortable telling Elle she was in love with Jack, when she had not said those words to him and he had certainly not said them to her either.

"Sometimes it just scares me what he does," she added as an afterthought.

"That he's a soldier? But you are too?"

"It's just that I've been through it before. I loved another man that was special forces too, and he died in front of me. To be honest, I don't know if I can handle that again. I don't know if anyone can go through that twice."

Elle put her hand on Georgie's arm and squeezed it softly, with sympathy.

"I hope you find out, because he is very fond of you for sure."

It was such a pleasant evening, she truly enjoyed the company of Jack's family. Still, the conversation with Elle got her thinking again and she was lying awake long after Jack had fallen asleep. The evening evoked such mixed feelings in her. She had liked being with family and she had liked the way he was with his family and that he seemed to enjoy having her there, but she had once again been reminded of the harsh reality of a special forces soldier and the risks of it. Tomorrow evening she would travel back to the regiment and return to duty but if she was accepted to ed school as she hoped, only a few months remained and during these she would be training new medics here in UK, no hazards there. Jack on the other hand would also return to duty and go God knows where and for sure risk his neck. Could she cope living with that always hanging over them? She looked at him lying sleeping and was not sure if she still had a choice, a possibility to back out now.

She moved closer, wrapped her arms around his sleeping form from behind and pressed her lips to his back. For the first time, without him hearing it, she said;

"I love you."