Part 8: Macroscopic

Seventeen-year-old JJ came through the front door and could hear his dad and younger sister in the kitchen talking. Lilly was likely telling Dad all about her good grades and singing every perfect note in choir practice and yadda, yadda, yadda… to steal a phrase from Dad.

JJ rolled his eyes. Lilly was too perfect. Not that he disliked her, nope. But he was often glad she was the younger sibling so that he didn't have to follow in her footsteps and live up to that impossible standard.

JJ ambled into the kitchen and stuffed his hands in his pockets. Dad was chopping up veggies that were apparently part of tonight's dinner.

All of JJ's friends had fathers that were nothing like this one– the Dad who cooked dinner every night, made Mom's lunch in the morning, did laundry, and took Lilly to choir and dance lessons. He didn't clean house. Oh, no, Dad stopped short there and was pretty good at giving the maid who came in twice a week the evil eye if she missed a spot.

Dad got the occasional call from the highest government officials to go in and discuss big time, top-secret stuff. But otherwise he was stay-at-home Dad. Which was a good thing, because Mom could get pretty busy. Busy and distracted, and therefore someone had to make sure that they didn't all starve.

Also not a normal parent, but then JJ really wouldn't want his mom to be any other way. Mom had the ability to walk in the room and it seemed like every ray of sunshine came in with her. She listened patiently when anyone had a problem or worry. She hugged, she laughed, and she was the thing that glued the family all together. JJ was pretty sure that Dad must have been pathetically useless before he met Mom.

Then there was darling Lilly. With her long, curly blonde hair, dimple in her left cheek, and dark chocolate eyes. The one who had Dad wrapped around her little finger and wowed Mom with her good grades and gracious manners. Yup, little annoying sister. Who JJ would never admit even under pain of death, actually was his confidant and his other half.

There was also the fact that they had their unique link that bonded them together, even more than being brother and sister.

Rarely the family talked much about the things they kept secret. But once in a while, Lilly and JJ would link minds and have a conversation that was silent to the rest of the world about their stuff: the past, their abilities, their futures. Sometimes it came up. But most days, life was about making dinner and watching the maid clean house and Lilly's good grades.

"JJ," Dad snapped his fingers, "I asked how was practice?"

"Huh?" JJ was pulled out of his thoughts. "Oh, sorry, spaced for a second." He rounded the kitchen counter and grabbed a chuck of tomato before it got added to the pot.

"Good. Fine." JJ tossed the tomato in his mouth and said while chewing, "What's for dinner? I'm starved."

"Pasta, and we're not eating until your mom gets home."

JJ rolled his eyes. "I can't wait until next week."

Dad gave JJ a look that said shut it. "She called and she's on her way."

"And what wonderful thing did Lilly do today?" JJ asked while tugging slightly on her ponytail. Not hard, but enough to annoy her.

"I passed with Aces on my chemistry exam." She sat up even straighter as she said it.

"Of course you did."

Lilly eyed practice clothes that were covered in mud. "Did you do anything today other than get all stinky and dirty?"

"Yeah, good point," Dad added, "go shower while we wait for Mom."

When JJ ambled out, in much the same way he had ambled in, Lilly smirked a little. JJ was too much sometimes, unpredictable, sarcastic, and yet if it came to it– her protector. Always.

By the time JJ had showered, changed, and came back downstairs, Mom breezed in through the front door.

"I'm home," she called out.

Lilly could hear the sounds of her mom taking off her shoes and dropping them along with her bag in the front entryway.

How Mom was a brilliant researcher, ordered others (mostly men) around all day and yet did it all in heels, made Lilly look up to her even more. Lilly wished she could be just like her mom one day. Maybe on day, but first other things would come.

Lilly watched her mom enter the kitchen in bare feet. Upon seeing her family, Mom's face lit up.

"Hi," she said, placing a kiss on top of Lilly's head, ruffling JJ's still damp hair, and then moved over to Dad. "How was everyone's day?"

Lilly watched her parents. They were cute sometimes, dopey, but cute.

Dad swept Mom up in his arms, "Better now," and kissed her fully.

There was tongue involved and just as Dad's hand floated south and settled over her butt, JJ interrupted. "Eeeuuwww. Gross. Could you at least not do that in front of us?" It effectively broke them apart.

Dad narrowed his eyes at JJ. "There are worse things than your parents being in love."

"Yeah, but scar us for life, why don't you?"

"How do you think we got you?" Dad threw back.

"Dad."

"JJ."

Mom chuckled. "Jack, I hadn't realized you replaced Daniel with your son."

Then she turned to JJ. "Could you set the table please?" She eyed the sauce on the stove. "Is it almost ready? I'm starved."

Dad winked at Lilly, both realized the same thing, Mom's eerie echo of JJ's exact words earlier. They were always in tune together, Lilly and Dad.

Dad said, "Yeah, we were just waiting for you."

Out of the corner of her eye, Mom saw a spoon fly through the air and land at the perfect position next to a plate on the table. Because of course it was JJ, not Lilly, that would dare defy Mom's orders, she tuned to face him.

"JJ," she said with a warning tone. "When I asked you to set the table, I thought the 'without superpowers' part was understood."

JJ groaned and Lilly smiled.

JJ sent her the thought, What's the point of having cool powers if we can never use them?

There will be plenty of time for it soon enough. Lilly answered. I think it just worries her when she sees it. Reminds her of something she can't understand and can't protect us from.

Ah-a! I don't need lectures from you too.

You stared it.

During dinner, Mom wanted to hear all about JJ's practice and Lilly's perfect test score, and Dad– he just grunted, shrugged, and said he dug out the dead bush in the backyard. As they were finishing, the doorbell rang.

Dad returned from answering it with a woman in tow. The woman was someone that none of the O'Neill family had ever met. But Lilly had seen her and knew exactly who she was and what she was about to say.

Lilly always knew this day would come. Not that she ever told her parents that she had this particular vision. Lilly had told them about every vision she ever had since it started at the age of 6, except this one. Every single one had come true. So why assume otherwise with this, the one she'd had many times over the years? That was the reason this vision was different from all the others, it was the only one that had come to her more than once. Over and over it came, and it was always the same.

Lilly had told JJ about it, of course. This particular vision was about the first day of what they were destined to do. Lilly knew this because every vision she had was about fate. There was plenty about life that was chance, free will, chaos, and those things could not be predicted. But some things were fated to happen no matter what. Today was one of those days.

"Mom," Lilly said softy, "don't cry." But Lilly knew she would, knew because she'd seen it. "You can't change this. It has to happen."

All four turned their heads and looked at Lilly. They knew she must have had a vision, but only Mom and Dad believed it was a new vision, a sudden one.

Lilly spoke matter-of-fact. "This woman is Oma Desala and she's here to tell us that the fate of the universe hangs in a balance. The final battle between the Ori, Goa'uld and the Ancients for ultimate power and control is about to happen. JJ and I are the key. We have to go."