Author's Note: so sorry I haven't updated, after I started using ArchiveofOurOwn, is so time consuming but I won't leave you, I promise.
Chapter Two: Strange Relations
Jack watched as once again Daniel easily proved to him that he was always the better man. Mitchell and Vala were trapped with each other and instead of allowing the two of them to gripe at each other and make everyone else uncomfortable, he forced them to get into the back yard and play with the kids. Vala was running around with the girls, showing them how to walk sexy which Jack was about to put a stop to but Daniel just shook his head. Sometimes it was hard to believe that Daniel and he had three daughters and some day they were going to be teens and adults and others are going to find each of them attractive and in relationships. Daniel somehow understood all that stuff in every decision he helped Jack with. They were equal in every aspect of their relationship but when Jack's first choice is to freak, Daniel's was to think about the long run. He always thought about their children before he thought of himself or Jack, it is what made him such a good Dad.
He heard the phone ring inside even while Cam, Daniel and Sam were playing soldier games with all the boys. He couldn't stop grinning, especially when he answered the phone to hear, "Jackie!"
"Hey Pop," Jack responded warmly. He didn't remember much from his life with Sarah as he was constantly traveling with the Air Force but he did know that his mom had always called to chat with Sarah but his Dad rarely picked up the phone, which was no true anymore.
"How is everything in your neck of the woods?"
Jack grinned, "We're doing good Pop, did you have a reason for calling or you just calling to talk to your fan club?"
"You know me better than that Jackie, I want to talk to my favorite son-in-law."
Jack chuckled, "Who is the leader of your fan club."
"You know I love you Jackie," his father said and there was a hint of question and seriousness to the question so Jack answered it seriously.
"Pop, I have been blessed to have a loving father and mother my whole life and Danny hasn't, I love you so much more because you care enough about him to call constantly."
His father gave a relieved sigh and Jack reversed direction to walk to the backyard where he called out to Daniel, "Its Pop, Danny."
Jack enjoyed watching the light turn on in Daniel's smile, Ben O'Neill and Daniel Jackson definitely had a mutual admiration society all to themselves sometimes and it was a thrill to see. Lauren, Jack's mother, seemed to have opened up to Daniel but still held him and the kids at a distance. Daniel waved towards everyone, excusing himself as he took the phone from Jack.
"I'm going to start dinner while we chat," Daniel said to Jack, trading phone for kisses before he headed inside. Jack had much of dinner prepped already but Daniel liked having privacy for his phone calls with Pop, Jack was sure it came from the amount of information Daniel shared with the older man, and Ben gave him a father's love and attention which of course was something he hadn't had since he was nine.
He looked out to where Teal'c was lifting the kids like weights. Mitchell was siting on the porch, drinking out of a bottle of water. He turned and caught sight of Jack, moving close to share space against the ledge. "Where did Daniel go?" the Colonel questioned.
"He's talking to my father," Jack responded as he watched Johnny and Greer running through the swing set only to pause and talk, using their fingers and hands. The sign language was an incredibly opportunity for Johnny to speak in a way that was 'allowed' in this world and Greer loved having secret conversations with Jack's little boy.
"How did your family take the news of your sexuality?" Mitchell asked and he looked at the younger man.
"Why would you possibly care?" Jack asked, not unkindly just curiously.
"I heard your name a lot and it came as a shock to learn that you and Daniel Jackson were married and that you have this family and life together. I heard your name a lot especially when I became the leader of SG-1. Everyone wanted me to be you and I wanted to be me, but I wanted to respect the name of Jack O'Neill."
"And now you can't because I married a man?" Jack demanded quietly.
Mitchell shook his head vigorously, "Not in the least, you are more a hero to me now then before because you gave up the Gate and everything for Daniel and your family. I always heard about Colonel Jack O'Neill who only lived for the Gate and the Air Force and I may feel the same way in a lot of ways but that shouldn't be the thing we live for."
Jack stared at the man in shock, it was possibly the first time he'd ever heard someone from the military ever commend him for his relationship with Daniel. He felt it only fair to share the information the man asked for, "My family didn't take it well at first, my mother denied Daniel and the kids. My brother assaulted Daniel even."
"What? That's horrible!" Mitchell paused, "I think I heard about that. There was also an assault on base?"
Jack nodded but said nothing.
"General Hammond sat me down when I first got here and demanded to know what I felt about gays and their rights and so he explained that one of the consultants had been injured on base because of some small minded prejudice. I didn't realize that was Daniel though." Mitchel paused and looked back towards the door where Daniel had disappeared a few minutes before, "He seems okay though."
"We have had a long road back after it but he's doing okay. My father and Daniel love each other so they talk like twice a week but he was always supportive and my mother is doing better. I never considered myself gay and I don't fit into people's ideals for someone who likes to sleep with men because I don't want to sleep with men, just Daniel. We were both married to woman before and this thing we have isn't a lifestyle."
"Its love and your lucky to have it," Mitchell said and Jack smiled at the younger man.
"Right," Jack said.
It was another fifteen minutes before Daniel rejoined them and started handing the phone to each of the kids, including Greer, to talk to their grandparents. Despite Greer's hand in them being stuck in this time, Greer had been lovingly adopted by Jack's parents and probably in a weird way it was easier for Lauren to love on Greer because he wasn't 'Jack's children' or 'Daniel's kids' in the midst of her personal issues.
Daniel went back to the rest of the kids while the phone was still making the rounds. Jack watched his husband play with the children as he kept fighting off the weird advances from Vala. He nudged Mitchell and gestured to the dark haired woman who was trying to grab Daniel's butt.
"Why is Vala trying to grab my husband inappropriately in front of our children?"
Mitchell chuckled, "She's actually being really well behaved right now. She is a compulsive flirt, Daniel's handling it well."
"That's because he's been stalling my inappropriately timed advances for over a decade."
Mitchell laughed again, "What? Aren't you married or were you groping him long before you married?
Jack shook his head, "Daniel and I were best friends, hiding our true feelings until we were lost to our people but also he is a resolute professional, doesn't allow groping in front of students or most people or the kids, and tends to cut down on the touching."
"Seriously?" Mitchell asked with a laugh.
"Yup," Jack said and kept watching as Daniel pushed Vala's hands away again. Jack was distracted from the amusing display when Johnny ran up with the phone so Jack put it close to his ear, "You there?" he asked.
"Hey, its my other Johnny!" his mother said as Jack walked to the kitchen to check on the roast and potatoes with cooked vegetables which had a little while yet to cook.
"Hey Mama, did you talk to the kids too?" he asked.
"Only after your father gave up the phone which meant I only got to share a few greetings and asked a couple questions before they were gone again."
Jack chuckled, "Sorry Mom, Daniel is playing with them in the backyard and you know how much they love that."
"Daniel told your father about the kids being ready for school in a couple weeks, that's great Johnny. You did great with them."
"Thanks Mom, when you guys coming for your visit?"
"Hopefully soon Johnny but you know it takes money to do the traveling."
"I told you Daniel and I would send you two tickets so you could come stay with us for a week or so."
"I know baby, let your father and I discuss the time away."
"What's up Mom?" he asked her as the timer went off and he checked the food. He put on an oven mitt and pulled the large tray from the oven and put it on the stove to cool as his mother decided to answer.
"Sarah is here visiting and I'm not ready to spend time with you guys right now. She's been having a really hard time lately."
Jack rolled his eyes, "Are we back to picking between Daniel and Sarah again?"
He heard his father shout, "NO! We are not, we'll see you soon Jackie!" before the phone was hung up. Jack stared at the receiver for a minute before he put it on the counter and turned back to the stove where he could prep some dinner for everyone. Luckily they made enough for both their family as well as Teal'c and Sam's so Vala and Mitchell weren't going to stretch the dinner especially when Daniel picked up some extra garlic bread and salad on the drive home.
"When your parents coming to visit? Pop said he was going to talk to you about a date to send them tickets," Daniel raved as he came into the kitchen to grab plates and silverware.
"I don't know Danny, Mom is pulling her crap again," Jack said and watched in frustration as Daniel's smile fell. Jack pressed a hand to Daniel's cheek as he walked closer and Jack pulled Daniel close to hug the other man. "Dad's gonna come whether she's here or not, you know that Daniel."
Daniel nodded into Jack's shoulder, "I was just starting to enjoy the peace, and I would hate to see it end." His voice was muffled against Jack and the heated air wafted across the curve of Jack's throat. After a moment Daniel heaved a sigh and pulled back to kiss Jack before he started putting plates and silverware out for everyone to grab what they wanted and Jack turned to cut the meat.
He turned around to say something and found Daniel had left but the reason became clear when he came back with a gaggle of children and headed for the bathroom. Sam did the same with her three, heading for the kitchen sink while Teal'c, Mitchell and Vala walked in after the 'moms' took their chicks away.
Jack finished getting everything ready just before Vala started shoving piles of food on her plate, he grabbed her wrist gently and she stopped to look at him in surprise, "If you want to put your hands on me, I could find some better spots." She said the words in a sultry voice and leered up at him. Jack had to snort in humor but also in the ultimate realization that even with easy women throwing themselves at him, Daniel was always going to be the only one Jack wanted. Vala was barking up the wrong tree.
"Do not eat all the food, we have nine kids to feed."
Vala nodded but stuck her tongue out at Jack just as Daniel walked back into the room. She then turned sultry and stepped closer to Jack just to watch Daniel's reaction. Jack was glad to see his husband shake his head at her antics while Daniel stepped up behind Jack and pulled him into a kiss as Vala moved away from Jack with a sigh, "Such a waste," she said as she moved away with her plate. Daniel chuckled into Jack's mouth and pressed a closed mouth kiss to the edge of Jack's lips before both of them started serving various plates to their six kids while Sam got plates for her kids and Teal'c. Mitchell came and put together a plate and Jack and Daniel were finally serving themselves before everyone spread out around the kitchen counter and the table.
Jack stood shoulder to shoulder with Daniel even as his brilliant husband started speaking in Latin, making Mitchell and Vala stare at the children in shock and awe. Jack listened as Daniel smoothly moved into another language, Arabic, Jack thought. He started slow with translating word for word and then putting together some short sentences though clearly this was not the first time they worked with this new language, the kids were picking it up quickly but at this point they were fluent in Spanish so it wasn't that surprising.
"Do they do this often?" Mitchell asked Jack as Daniel moved close to the table to work on some pronunciations.
Teal'c, Sam and their kids plus Greer were all chatting in English and Vala was trying to hit on Teal'c and Daniel. He turned and looked at Mitchell and smiled, "Almost every night of their lives."
"Isn't it annoying?" Mitchell asked.
Jack shook his head, "Of course not, all of my children are incredibly intelligent and most of it has to do with my husband. I don't need to learn the languages, don't think I have the patience for it but they have found themselves taught by one of the most genius minds of our time."
Mitchell nodded, "They don't use it to talk about you or anything who doesn't know the language?"
"No, Daniel and I are very serious about talking behind people's back. They adhere to that pretty well."
Mitchell nodded, "You have a pretty interesting house here General."
"Just the way I love it," Jack responded and moved away from the other man to close ranks around his children and husband. Daniel and he talked about taking Mitchell and Vala back before bedtime but they chose to keep them out a little bit later. Jack watched as Vala wished Sam and Teal'c goodnight, trying to kiss the former Jaffa only to fail once more before she sighed and turned from the departing family. They settled into the living room after dinner and Daniel tugged out one of the short educational shows they watched before bedtime and slipped it into the DVD player. Jack and Daniel settled into the loveseat, Jack curling his nose into the curve of Daniel's neck and enjoying the ease in which they could now share these moments once more. It was a long time after Henry assaulted Daniel that Jack was allowed to press his nose into his husband's neck without causing a panic attack in him.
Vala was sitting on one end of the couch and Mitchell on the other, and Jack watched as Zada stood and walked over to her. She reached out and took Vala's hand as the woman watched their daughter. Zada smiled gently and they all watched as a shimmer lightly surrounded Vala and she gasped in awe. It seemed though that Mitchell was pretty hard to shock, working for the SGC can do that to a guy, Jack should know.
"Zada, honey?" Daniel whispered.
"Daddy, her heart was hurting. I just wanted to help," Zada's words were whispered.
Vala frowned at their little girl before she smiled and the expression was brilliant on the woman's face. Jack could see now why she wouldn't usually have such a hard time finding bed partners but that look was one of happiness and relief, not the sultry look of a woman trying to hide from herself as she appeared to be much of the afternoon and evening. With that Zada leaned forward and hugged Vala before she sat down and watched the rest of the show.
"Yeah so, ummmm…." Jack started.
Vala shook her head, "Whatever happened, do not fret. No one will ever know."
"Same here, I saw nothing," Mitchell said with a laugh.
"Thanks," Daniel said while Jack was staring at the two strangers sitting in his living room, surprised that they cared enough to keep their silence. "Our children are special and the less people who know the better."
"If you find a way to get me unshackled from Vala I will be more than happy to call it even," Mitchell remarked with an inelegant snort.
"Hey!" Vala returned just as the show came to a close.
All the children were sent upstairs to wash up for bedtime then Daniel walked upstairs and grabbed the book to read to the kids and Jack looked to Mitchell and Vala, "Well you can sit here and watch another episode of this show or you can sit here doing nothing or watch us read bedtime stories, up to you."
With that he clapped and rubbed his palms together and walked upstairs where Daniel was leaning against the headboard with all six kids curled up around him. Jack grinned as he pressed himself against the edge of the bed, thanking God as he did every night that they had a king size bed otherwise he'd be sitting on the floor. He heard when Vala and Mitchell sat down against the wall and listened to Daniel's retelling of historical stories retold and watered down into kid friendly versions. Daniel didn't really believe in telling stories that had no meaning to the world at large, plus history lessons were the only bed time stories he'd had growing up as well. If the kids wanted something fictional, Jack could read them stories but after all this time they still loved learning as well as being entertained. They were definitely Daniel's children, that's for sure.
Soon goodnight hugs and kisses were passed to each kid before they were sent to bed with strict instruction of lights out in ten. Mitchell and Vala said goodnight to Daniel and thanked him for a lovely evening and Mitchel practically begged for a repeat offer especially if the wristbands remained on. Jack sent the visitors downstairs before he pressed Daniel up against the nearest wall and pressed his lips to Daniel's waiting mouth. Daniel huffed a laugh when Jack pulled back just enough to breathe hot breath down onto Daniel's throat, "I love you so much Daniel Jackson."
"Oh yeah, why now?" Daniel husked back.
"Rebuffing Vala, letting the girls talk to her to get some sort of female influence despite the source. You are always the best man I know."
"Right backatcha Colonel Jack," Daniel said before he kissed Jack and pushed him towards the door. "Deliver Vala and Mitchell back to the SGC and come home to us."
Jack gave a snappy salute and walked downstairs and grabbed the keys to his truck where the three of them crammed into the front seat with Vala in the middle and Mitchell pressed against the door.
"Why couldn't we take the jeep again?" Mitchell asked.
"Because that is Daniel's car and I'm not making him take you back, if he goes on base I will never get to sleep with my husband."
Vala laughed at that, "He does like to work, doesn't he?"
"Very much," Jack responded and grabbed Vala's hand as it snuck back onto his leg. "Are you going to try and grope everyone you come into contact with? I can see how that might cause problems."
Vala sighed, "This whole being in love with someone who isn't me is just depressing."
Mitchell laughed but said nothing. Jack was happy to sign them back into the base and waved to the Colonel, "Thank you for the night out and letting us play with your family."
Jack nodded and turned to go back home to his family, glad that he didn't even want to walk into the SGC. He was happy to be a retired husband of Daniel and father to his genius children though he couldn't believe he was capable of feeling that way but he was grateful for the new life he'd been given and happy with the contentment it brought.