Please remember to read "So Tired" before this episode. All Disclaimers apply and please review, I love reading anything you guys have to say.
Chapter Nineteen: Time Marches On
Jack settled into the bed, as Erica checked his mind one more time for any piece of the curse that might be holding on to him. As Daniel hoped, some of the chaos cooled down as Winter did not want to mess with Zarkina, the Magis were no longer attacking the twins and allowing them to grow normally without conflict. It had been weeks of quiet and Jack was pleased when Erica stepped away with a grin on her face.
"You are clear of the curse Colonel Jack," she said happily.
"Did Daniel tell you to call me that?" Jack questioned.
Erica grinned, "A little bird told me about that nickname, who gave it to you?" she asked with a wink.
Jack glared at her, "That is a special name that Daniel calls me, I would love it if you didn't say it again."
Erica held her hands up in surrender, chuckling. "I promise, just wanted to rile you up."
Jack got up from the bed and waved to Erica and passed Elle and Taylor who were playing next to the door as he passed. Now that he had been off the island, and had a humongous cat protector, no one bothered him anymore so this last session with Erica, he went to her healing office.
Outside the building was Taj sitting patiently for him. "Hey Taj, you want to go visit Daniel at his office and get the twins before we go see the house?"
Taj grumbled low in his throat. Want babies, play gently.
Jack chuckled; Taj in recent weeks had fallen in love with their kids, deciding that Zale and Zada needed his protection more than Jack did sometimes. He was also incredibly gentle with them and since the little tykes were now starting to gab at them in nonsensical sounds and starting to sit up and trying to move. It seemed to soon for them but Vannas tended to learn quickly according to the Queen and Erica.
Daniel was back to teaching again but now he was teaching in the building that was attached to the arena. It was a short walk before Jack found himself at Daniel's door, watching him answer questions and smiling at his students. Jack leaned against the door, feeling Taj nudging him in the back. Jack rolled his eyes at the tiger's response and pushed back. Taj took the nudge and backed away from the door so the students could leave. Daniel had another two classes after this before he was done, was only keeping the twins while Jack was with Erica.
"Hey Jack, you ready for the twins?" Daniel asked as Jack walked over and leaned down for a kiss. He nodded gently into the contact.
"Where are they?" Jack asked then realized two of the girls were holding them. He smiled at the cooing and gentle words they were speaking to both of them.
"Good luck getting them back, they have stolen the hearts of my students."
"Well they belonged to us first," Jack griped and reached out for Zale and the young woman kissed him one last time and handed him over. Jack held his son close then shifted him to one side then took Zada and pressed her against his shoulder. He could feel their contentment, being in their Father's arms and he kissed each of them in turn before turning back to Daniel who was smiling gently at them.
"Are you going to see the house?" Daniel asked.
Jack nodded, "They should be getting done very soon.
"Well have fun and make sure Taj doesn't break anything. He gets so excited when he's with the twins and I cannot keep asking the Vannas to fix our furniture."
"Yes dear," Jack said with a roll of his eyes.
Daniel smirked up at him even as other students started wandering into class and Jack leaned down a little to kiss Daniel once more. Daniel lifted his chin to keep his lips against Jack's to the enthusiastic classes approval then blushing Daniel pulled away as the catcalls began. Jack placed a last kiss on Daniel's head, "I love you Danny, come to the house when you're done for the day."
Daniel nodded then brought the class to order as Jack walked out to Taj who was waiting impatiently for him to arrive with the babies. Taj nuzzled each baby's head gently before they started walking back towards the castle. Zarkina agreed to build them a place on the express condition that it was close to the castle so they settled on a site about a half a mile from the front doors of the castle by Jack's estimation and it would be a quick run to help if they needed anything. Zarkina was also working on a 'walkie-talkie' system with some sort of magical addition so Jack or Daniel could contact Zarkina immediately if there was trouble.
Jack stopped at the door of the structure that was quickly becoming a reality with many helping hands. It was going to be two stories with a pretty wide base, a large living room and a great kitchen and dining area that would be big enough to feed all of SG1 as well as their kids and a few more comfortably. There were going to be two master bedrooms each with a master bathroom on opposite sides of the upstairs with two smaller rooms. The plan was for SG1 to all stay together, that's why the place was so big and then in a little more time, Sam and Teal'c would take the plot of land right next to them and have their place built as well.
As of now the foundation and walls were done and in a few more days, the inner walls would be completed and the plumbing and power would go in next, Sam and the Vannas had found a way to marry technology with their ways of plumbing and power, to resemble what they left at home and Sam of course was enjoying the challenge of the Magis and the problems the beings had with certain electrical currents which made some power and technologies impossible to use.
Jack didn't pretend to understand anything Sam was saying when she was babbling on about Vannas and electricity but all he cared about was the niceties of life and he was getting them so good for Sam. Zale decided he was hungry and started fussing and Jack could hear in his mind the need for some food for the boy then Zale transmitted the idea of food to his sister and she started fussing as well. Jack sighed and started walking towards the castle, as the children kept whining and wriggling Taj started growling low under his breath.
Make cubs happy Jack. Now please!
Jack rolled his eyes, "They are hungry, I need to get back to the castle to feed them. They are not going to die in the next couple of minutes while we walk.
You not drop them.
"Of course I'm not going to drop my babies, knock it off Taj!"
Sometimes having a big talking tiger as a companion was really obnoxious. Taj really made up for it when he growled at would-be attackers who felt they needed to prove something by beating up Jack but when the cat was accusing him of starving his kids and dropping them, it was hard to keep himself from saying 'get lost' to Taj.
By the time they got to the castle doors, Zale and Zade were wailing in frustration and hunger. Taj was growling in protest under his breath and Jack was struggling to hold both children so they wouldn't slip from his arms and prove the tiger right. Zarkina was there, seemingly appearing out of thin air and took Zada from him. Jack sighed even as Zarkina took off towards the throne room, apparently kidnapping his daughter but then she was probably taking Zada for some food, so Jack followed. The babies weren't drinking just mother's milk anymore but also mashed up vegetables and fruit. Zarkina sat down at one of the dining tables off to the side of the room and sure enough there were several bowls with child friendly spoons and as Jack sat down next to Zarkina and reached for a bowl she did the same and now that Jack wasn't seconds from dropping the twins Taj settled at their feet like a huge soft puppy dog.
"You took to long to feed them huh?" Zarkina asked.
Jack smiled, "Longer than they pleased anyway."
"Taj griping at you about it again?" Zarkina asked though it didn't really sound like a question.
"You know how he feels about the twins, gotta protect them from everyone, including their father!" the last words were snapped in the big cat's direction who just heaved a great sigh and ignore Jack.
"Yeah Zale and Zada definitely have him wrapped around their little fingers, do they not?"
Jack nodded, "Yeah though he still protects me but I think it has everything to do with the twins. He does keep the thugs at bay."
"Thugs?" Zarkina asked as she started tucking small spoonful's into Zada's waiting mouth. His baby girl was grinning and eating even as he started in with Zale.
"Yeah those Vannas who think they should fight me to make a name, I don't understand why they think beating me will do anything since it wouldn't be a fair fight."
"Actually my people are very good about sparring without magic if their opponent is unable to spar in such a fashion, same can be said for physical altercations, sometimes a person is strong in their Magis but physically cannot compete."
Jack nodded.
"Have you accepted any sparring matches since you came back from fighting and defeating the ConjoCrea, many of my people would love to see your prowess in the field and learn from you how you took the beasts on without powers."
"No because I just got back and if I got into a fight right now I would be kicked out of my bed by my very beloved but slightly pissed off husband."
"Daniel must understand that you left to protect him and the children," Zarkina responded as she replaced the empty bowl on the table and grabbed on of the bottles, leaned Zada down and started letting her drink that down as well.
"He understands but you have to understand that Daniel is incredibly sensitive and he thought I was leaving him, that I didn't want to be with him and now because of Winter and that damn curse Daniel thinks I could leave again at any time."
"What does that have to do with sparring?" she asked.
"I just don't want to lose him because I immediately stepped out on him to go throw punches after I had done just that for over a week."
"Then he did not demand you leave behind the fight?"
"No, I decided to kick back to training and no out in the field fighting, Daniel understands that I am a warrior and I have already left behind much of my self to become just a teacher."
"You must allow your partner to see all of you otherwise you shall be forever hiding something from each other. Daniel will come to understand that the way you earn respect is on the arena of battle."
As both babies were finishing up their last bites and bottles, Jack carried them both upstairs to rock them into sleep while he let Zarkina's words dance across his mind and he understood without a shadow of a doubt that she was right, Daniel had a right to know every part of him otherswise this relationship and family would fold under pressure.
As the babies settled into their beds to sleep, Jack climbed into bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering how to say what he wished to say.