Author's Note: Lemony goodness ahead guys, sex at the end of the chapter in case anyone wants to just skip it. Read "Time Marchs On" before this one please. And I love reviews, there is going to be a sequel to this as well, in case anyone is wondering/hoping.

Chapter Twenty: An Understanding

Daniel knew something was up with Jack as soon as he walked into their apartment; Jack was laying on the bed staring at the ceiling. Zada was squirming on the bed next to him, pushing herself into a sitting position while Zale was sitting up in his bassinet.

"Jack what's wrong?" Daniel asked as he picked up Zale and sat down on the bed next to his spouse.

"I talked to the queen after I picked up the twins, and we were talking about the warriors who keep trying to fight me to prove themselves because I went out and survived without powers. They are not going to stop, this is a warrior society and the only way to get them to understand is by fighting."

Daniel frowned, "And this is upsetting you?"

Jack turned to look at Daniel, "No, I don't want to upset you but I need to fight. They need to understand that I can protect my family and myself. This is a part of who I am and there is nothing I would keep from you. Here in this society you and Carter are strong enough mentally and important enough to be protected but Teal'c and I must fight to protect us. We must fight to prove to ourselves and them that not having powers and magic will not keep us from fighting back."

Daniel cuddled Zale who giggled in response and he watched Jack as the older man lifted himself up and kept a hand on Zada so she wouldn't tip over from the movement of the bed. "I understand that you will always be a soldier in your heart, maybe it would be different if we were home and you were retired and we had them but here, it would be cruel of me to not understand."

Daniel had spent so much time thinking about this, that Jack would always be Colonel O'Neill. Nothing could take the assassin out of the man and Daniel had been selfish to believe he could do that. It was part of the reason he loved the man, it was unfair to try to make him be someone else.

Jack leaned forward at Daniel's words and pulled Daniel into a leisurely kiss, a beautiful poem of Jack's love for Daniel and all the young linguist could do is try to reciprocate as best he could. In the realm of physical poetry, Jack was the genius and Daniel just tried to keep up.

Zale grunted in annoyance when they were too close to each other, pressing into him in the process. Daniel grinned down at their son and felt the twins calling out in hunger. Daniel left Zale in Jack's lap and went to grab two bottles, taking Zada and giving a bottle to Jack. Zale didn't like that idea apparently, reaching out for Daniel with a screech so with a gentle sigh and a smile. Zale curled into Daniel's chest and gripped the bottle in his strong hands. Pretty soon they wouldn't need to hold the bottles for them anymore. As Zale ate, Daniel watched Jack feed Zada and looked at Jack's silver streaked hair and those chocolate brown eyes that were focused on their son. Jack's lean body carried no extra weight, he was strong and muscled as he had always been and the world here had somehow created a longevity and strength in all of them that they didn't have before.

"I feel your eyes on me and you are making me hot," Jack said quietly.

Daniel grinned, "Yeah well you feeding Zada is making me hot so it's only fair we both be a little frustrated."

Jack chuckled, "I guess you're right there."

"Keep it in your pants, we should have some privacy as soon as the house is finished," Daniel responded.

"I can't wait that long to ravish you, ya know!"

Daniel grinned, "Maybe."

Later that night when the twins were sleeping deeply in their bassinets which now had little canopies which were closed at the moment. Jack pushed Daniel into the bed, his lips tasting Daniel's with all the pent up passion he'd been holding back from all day. They would still have to be quiet but at least the babies couldn't see anything.

Jack pulled away for a second, "Remind me to thank Sam for finding the seamstresses to make those canopies."

"Maybe we should babysit for a whole day, that way her and Teal'c can have some uninterrupted time together."

"Sounds like a good idea but for now, I have something in mind for us."

"Oh?" Daniel questioned and Jack leaned down to take his lips again before he started pulling at clothes, ridding each other of each piece as quickly as humanly possible especially since they were so wrapped up in kissing each other. Jack finally released Daniel's mouth and his lips and tongue caressed a path down Daniel's chest, across his stomach and dipped into the younger man's belly button. Daniel squirmed and he breathed out a sigh. He bit his lips with a gentle and quiet moan and Jack reached up to rub his palm across Daniel's nipples even as his tongue lapped at the tip of Daniel's straining erection. At the first touch, Daniel strained against the bed and stuffed the side of his fist into his mouth to muffle the sounds of his moaning. Jack grinned then took Daniel's cock into his mouth and sucked deeply. This brought Daniel's hips off the bed but Jack knew it was coming so he moved with his lover then held Daniel's hips still as he worked his mouth around Daniel, sucking and licking at the thick erection. Jack's own cock was straining, pressing into the bed in desperate need of being in contact with Daniel's warm body. Just as Daniel released a strangled groan of Jack's name, he pulled back and let his beautiful husband catch his breath then Jack reached out for the ever-present lube at the edge of their bed and picked up some in his hand. He reached down and rubbing the viscous fluid into Daniel's erection then got some more and reached down between his own legs to prepare himself. Daniel didn't get to top all that often because he loved it when Jack was in charge and inside him but Jack needed it today, more than he needed to take Danny. That would come later anyway.

When he was prepped enough he pulled Daniel up and settled himself on his hands and knees even as Daniel pushed him down and on his back, "I always want to see you Jack," Daniel whispered and Jack's cock hardened even more at the words. He loved looking into Daniel's blue eyes as the only man he'd ever love took him.

Jack nodded then lifted his legs, one high enough to cradle Daniel's hips between his own. Daniel scooted up on his knees and lined his cock up with Jack's waiting hole and slid home quickly. It was suddenly Jack's turn to bite his lip and force back the moans that would undoubtedly wake the babies. Jack watched as Daniel's face lit up in ecstasy and Jack had to recount baseball stats to keep from coming at the sight. Then Daniel started to move and there was nothing to keep him from zeroing in on the sensation of his love within him.

"Come on Jack, I can't wait very long this time. Come with me."

The words were whispered as Daniel leaned forward into Jack's body, pushing him deeper inside and Daniel kissed Jack as his thrust sped up and the bed rocked quietly beneath them. Then as Daniel took Jack's cock in hand there was nothing to stop Jack from exploding, his vision whiting out as Daniel released inside of him.

Daniel waited a few seconds and slid from Jack's body even as Jack sighed from the loss. He watched as Daniel reached down next to the bed and grabbed a damp cloth they placed there just for that reason and cleaned them both up before he threw it towards the bathroom door and curled back up next to Jack's form even as the older man wrapped an arm around Daniel and kissed the archeologist's temple. "Just you wait babe, this isn't over yet."

Daniel chuckled tiredly, "I wouldn't have it any other way Jack."