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Can anyone tell me if it's true that in some states it is a legal requirement for a child, who's paternity has been confirmed beyond doubt in a court case, to have the father's last name? For example, if a paternity test has been made and the father is not married to the mother?
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"Um..." Jack started uncomfortably, breaking her out of her musings. "While we're on the subject... We obviously didn't use condoms..." there was plenty of proof for that oversight. "... are you on anything?"
Cue in green eyes wide in shock. It obviously hadn't occured to her.
"You're not." it was as much a statement as a question.
"No." her lips shook from anxiety. "I haven't been with anyone seriously since the girls' father died. I mean, I've been on a few dates these past few years, but neither one progressed far enough for me to need birth control. They all vanished as soon as they heard I come with an instant family."
Now her reaction to his surprise at hearing that part of the deal was clear. "Which is what you expected me to do too."
"Yeah." her eyes were still wary, though, especially with the latest revelation.
"And I'm not gonna do that." he shook his head. "I like kids, I loved having a family and I miss it. This is kinda the second chance for me, but we've already covered that. The question now is whether I should drive you to the hospital for you to get a morning-after pill or not."
"No need to." she shook her head emphatically after having quickly done the math. "My fertile time was almost two weeks ago. It's impossible right now, but 10 days ago you would've caught me. Besides, I'm not a teenager anymore, I don't get pregnant that easily."
"Good." he nodded satisfied and she couldn't blame him. Bringing a child into a completely new relationship, a relationship that existed only because they'd been both drunk and horny at the same time, was one of the worst things they could do.
"What are your daughters' names?" she recognized a change of topic when she heard one, but when looking into Jack's eyes she realized he genuinely wanted to know. "And do you have any pictures?"
"Um, they're Theresa and Kaileen and..." she said looking around lost "... I'd show you pictures if I knew where my purse even was."
There was just one last thing she needed to know.
"Um, look, not to offend you or anything, but are you clean?"
She didn't have to explain the question since an identical one had been buzzing in his mind about her since he'd woken up. He was just glad she was the one who had asked it first because with his ability with words he would not only make her angry, but insult her too.
"Yeah, I am."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I had a very thorough physical, complete with bloodwork done, just days ago..." the kind of physical Janet had submitted him to after he'd de-aged was like nothing he had ever experienced before. "... and I have them regularily, with complete checks of every nook and cranny every six months."
"Military?" she eyed him.
"Yeah." he shrugged and fished his dog-tags off the floor, handing them to her to check them out. "How'd you guess?"
"A number of men I know are lifers and they always complained about those 6-month physicals."
He nodded understandingly. "What about you? You clean?"
She nodded. "Yeah. And I'm sure you're gonna get checked out as soon as you get back to your base."
He had to admit, her frankness and directness was a surprise, she didn't play any kind of coy games, just stated the facts and let him deal with them. A surprise he welcomed. He didn't have any patience for coy women.
She minced for a second before coming right out with it. "Look, you're probably wondering why all these questions from someone who had a one night stand with you."
He narrowed his eyes dubiously to which she just waved her hand. "Just forget for a second the 'married' part, okay?"
Shrugging his shoulder he complied.
"Anyway." she took up her monologue "That's because one-night-stands and sex-only relationships is not my style, I don't do them. EVER. And while I'm sure those who do them regularily or even semi-regularily aren't worried about STDs and don't ask their partners about their medical history, but this is me. I'm the sex-only-in-a-real-relationship kind of woman, besides the fact that I have two daughters who depend on me and even just because of them I don't go sleeping around and now need to know the score."
"Understandable and quite right." Jack commented.
"Glad you think so."
She stopped to think then came back with another question. "Where ARE you stationed at, anyway? We didn't take that into consideration earlier when we decided to give it a try. Cause let me tell you I won't be moving my two children and give up my job to move across the country to live with a perfect stranger, even if he is my husband. If we were in love and had gotten married because of that, yes, but not with the way things stand right now. I would be perfectly willing to first try a long-distance relationship, but wouldn't be moving or giving up my job until I knew we'd work."
He hadn't even thought for a second she would and he honestly wouldn't want her to. He wouldn't be willing to either were he in her shoes. As for his own job... well, it was more something to pass the time with, to combat the loneliness that had been his companion since he'd lost his family, something to finally make himself feel useful and good about, to fill his time with and be around other people. If they were sure about a real start, to make this marriage/family thing a go, he would be requesting transfer to the nearest base, SGC or no SGC, and renting a house for himself near there. So far the SGC had cost him his best friend, the memory of Kawalsky's gruesome death still having the power to make him feel as if he was about to be sick, and it was looking like it would cost many more people. When choosing between a lonely life before an untimely death or a family life with a deskjob, the family life would always win. He was old, mature and experienced enough to know that family gives better dividends than some adrenalin-packed dangerous job. "Colorado Springs, Air Force."
She looked relieved. "That's great, cause I live in Denver myself. If this works out it won't be hard to find some middle ground, a place to live that's half-way between Denver and the Springs."
"What do you do for a living anyway?"
"I'm a criminal lawyer." she explained.
He couldn't help himself. The opportunity was just too good to resist. "I thought all lawyers are criminals... Or did I marry a criminal who is a lawyer just by education?"
Her lips twitched, no matter how bad the joke had been she couldn't stop the smile. "Har har. Very funny."
He grinned. "Sorry, but it was just too good to resist."
Getting them back on-topic "Good, so now it's all settled. Would you mind if I had the shower first?"
He shrugged "No problem, go ahead" then gave her the privacy to get into the bathroom without being oggled. When she came back 20 minutes later he took his turn, but didn't try to hide his body. Being in the military he was used to people seeing him naked. Nor did he try to puff up to look better, something she appreciated. He was being himself and not pretending to be someone else.
Still, watching his naked form disappear into the other room, she couldn't help but look him up and down appreciatively. For a guy 10 years older than she he was looking pretty damn good.
Maybe this wasn't the worst thing she'd done in her life after all...
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