Chapter Twenty-Two: Home Magical Home

Daniel looked around the room at the people all crowded into the well lit throne room and noticed the platters of food and turned to look at Akina. "What's all this?"

"I told my people to prepare for your arrival when Greer and I gave this a dry run. Everyone is here to welcome you home."

Daniel looked around again and smiled, seeing his students and Jack's students as well. The room was filled to capacity and they were all waiting with bated breath for Akina to say something. Possibly to let them know they were welcome to be excited and screaming and then hugging the arrivals.

"Everyone look who's home!" Akina shouted.

The cheer was almost overwhelming in the level of sound, Daniel flinched a little and Johnny looked at him, "I'm okay baby. You're home."

Johnny nodded and wiggled to be let down. Daniel did but retained his hold on Johnny's little hand. The sea of people parted and there was Adrian with his short black hair and his wife, DK, walking next to him. They were each holding a child, Daniella in DK's arms and Neil in Adrian's gentle grip. They walked straight to Daniel and Jack and each hugged them. Daniel curled his free arm around Adrian and smiled into the man's shoulder, "Adrian how are you?"

"Glad you're home Daniel," Adrian said and pulled back with a grin.

Adrian released Daniel and moved to hug Jack as well. The children all took their turns to say hello to their adopted uncle. Daniel allowed them to mingle and talk to some of their friends for about an hour before he tugged on Jack's wrist, "The kids are tired, lets get the children home in bed."

Jack nodded and he turned and looked around with a confused look, "Where did our bags go?" he asked.

"I took the liberty of transporting them to your house," Akina said as she walked up to them. She pressed a hand to Daniel's wrist, "Take your children and put them to bed. Tomorrow we shall get the children learning schedules as well as your teaching schedule back in order."

Daniel nodded and he and Jack wandered around, collecting children and saying goodnight to their friends and associates before walking out of the castle. Johnny was dragging his feet and the twins were wavering as they walked. Zada and Zale were still pretty alert but they were quiet all the same. The walk was about fifteen minutes as usual, they walked up to the porch of their home and noticed a few differences, it seemed like the Vannas had done some changing to the house which made Daniel smile, they really had wanted the team and their family to return that was clear from the welcome they received in the throne room as well as this. When Jack opened the door he realized why it was bigger, Daniel's office was the same as was the kitchen and dining room as well as the living room but there was an extension towards the back where a room had been added which problem meant the same for upstairs. All the children would have their own rooms for the first time in their short lives. Daniel made all the kids sit down after they each took turns in the bathrooms, which there was another one of those as well, to change into their pajamas while Daniel and Jack looked through each of the bedrooms. The master bedroom was now downstairs and there was a master bath as well and there were five rooms, each with one child's belongings in each. They called each child upstairs to see their rooms and deal with the fact that they would be separated.

"You don't have to if you don't want, this is the first night back," Daniel told Janet and Claire who were looking at the two bedrooms across from each other. They were holding tightly to one another and they nodded and slipped into one of the bedrooms. Jack and Daniel followed to give them hugs and kisses goodnight before they looked in on Johnny who was huddled close to Zale on the older boy's bed. Daniel shared goodnight kisses with them as well before he found Zada curled up in her own bed.

He sat down next to her and rubbed a gentle hand down the side of her face, "You could go sleep in Janet and Claire's room."

She shook her head, "I just want to sleep and get back to living in this world and being together but I don't want to be surrounded by my siblings right now."

Daniel frowned. None of their children had ever wanted separation but he didn't want to assume this was because of what happened. All of the children, whether they wanted it or now, deserved alone time. Daniel would have to talk to Jack about getting each of them some isolation if they needed it. The fallout from the kidnapping was not going to be over quickly, same as it was for Daniel after the attack.

"I love you beautiful girl," he whispered as he leaned down and kissed her gently on the cheek.

She smiled at him, "I love you too Daddy, I am glad we are home again."

"Me too baby, good night."

"Night."

"Papa will be in to say goodnight in a minute."

She nodded and he walked out of the room to head downstairs, it was odd that the master bedroom was separated from all the children but they would find a way to make it work and adjust. It was the largest room now and the room where they were sleeping before had been shifted and redesigned so most of the rooms upstairs were comfortably the same dimensions which was nice, it made the kids equal instead of one being favored over another.

Daniel walked downstairs and into their new bedroom, finding the bed frame that Jack had built as a wedding gift for him all those years ago and the matrass looked fresh and clean. He pulled some pajama pants out of the duffel bag he brought along and pulled back the covers before he stripped out of his clothes and climbed in. He dropped his shoulders gently even as he removed his glasses, which he probably wouldn't need in a couple weeks due to the restorative powers of the Vannas Island. He heard when Jack walked in but his husband stayed silent as he rooted around and the shifting of clothes before finally Jack climbed into his side of the bed and Daniel looked over to see Jack's eyes on him.

Daniel smiled tiredly as Jack opened his arms and he slipped close to the older man with a sigh of happiness. "Hey Danny."

He mumbled into Jack's throat.

"Are you glad to be home again?"

Daniel nodded, "Are you?"

"A world of magic and goa'uld like symbiots, evil corporations and warrior caste living," he paused and Daniel could hear the smile in his husband's voice, "For the sake of the relative safety and acceptance of my children then hell yes I am happy to be home. It never occurred to me before we went back that not only would we have enemies but we would have friends who became enemies and those who would use the kids against us and the other way around. I would rather live in this black and white world where the people are incredibly straight forward about their dislike of us and they take care of it in the arena instead of steal our children or attempted murder and assault."

Daniel huffed a laugh, "You do know that you were kidnapped more than once and beat up pretty soon after we got here, how is this place any safer?"

Jack chuckled, nuzzling his nose into the side of Daniel's face and his lips skidded gently across Daniel's chin. Daniel sighed into the contact that had been sorely lacking for a while due to awful circumstances. "Well, for one; no one has ever tried to kidnap our children and no one has ever attempted to rape you."

"Winter tried to seduce me," Daniel returned.

"Tried and failed then she cursed me. I would much rather selfishly deal with anything that comes my way rather than watch you and the children take the brunt of other people's judgments and shortsightedness."

"Jack that is the dumbest thing I think you have ever said to me," Daniel said with a groan.

"What? Seriously because that's a pretty high bar to reach for."

Daniel chuckled again and kissed Jack's throat, pleased that they both decided against wearing a shirt to bed. It was always pretty warm in this house, as Daniel recalled and he was much more pleased to touch all of that muscle down Jack's shoulders and back. He may have been older but Jack had always taken good care of himself and as the kids grew older and loved to run around and be incredibly active it was all the more reason for both of them to take good care of themselves. Not to mention their bedroom activities were always improved by good health and vitality.

"I would love to continue this conversation or possibly not continue this conversation and do something else with your mouth," Daniel whispered as he leaned up to take Jack's mouth in a slow kiss that lasted several moments before he pulled away, "But I am tired."

"Then sleep my beautiful Danny and I will be here when you awake in the morning."

It was hard not to listen so Daniel closed his eyes, snuggled into his husband's comforting arms and slipped into sleep. It amazed him how quickly he slept and how deeply he sank, there was nothing like the undeniable safety of being in Jack's arms and no matter where he was, Daniel always felt loved as well. He dreamt of hands slipping down his neck and over his pecs and down across his stomach. He felt the worshipping lips and tongue as it tasted every scrap of skin on the way and Daniel moaned in his sleep as he slowly rose from that deep and restful place.

His hands reached out and trapped the fingers that were touching him, mumbling, "What time is it?"

"Time for this dry spell to go away, also sometime around sunrise. The kids are sleeping and probably will stay that way for a while. Now just let me do this, okay Danny?"

Daniel closed his eyes and nodded and let Jack go to work of pleasuring his body and the man knew so well.

Author's Note: I think this may be the end of this story but please don't worry I am hoping to start a new one as soon as I have something to write about beyond a few things left open from this book, drop me some plot bunnies if you have any.

~ Crystal