Author's Note: All disclaimers apply as usual, please review. I love hearing from you guys.

Chapter Nine: Family Trip

Daniel watched as Jack, with the help of several base personnel loaded their suitcases into the cargo hold of the small plane, it was big enough for maybe twenty people at the most and it was more commercial than military but Jack assured him that he could fly the machine and since their children were going to be on board Daniel knew that Jack wouldn't lie or mislead him in any way that could harm the children.

When Jack motioned them over, Daniel hiked Johnny more comfortably on his hip and waved the other children to their Papa. Each of them with a little back pack over their shoulders with small games and learning toys not to mention as least one change of clothes and a snack for the trip. All six kids, since Sam and Teal'c couldn't take Greer at the moment, were wearing jeans and t-shirts, though Zada and the girls were wearing little cutesy blouses that Janet bought from them a few days after they got back.

Everyone climbed up the small stairs and into the body of the plane and despite the smiles and laughter Daniel could tell the prospect of being inside such a cramped and artificial device was making all the kids a little nervous, they grew up with walking everywhere, teleporting for long distances and riding Taj like a pony, this big metal cylinder was going to keep them safe but they had no real way of knowing that.

They only knew to trust their Papa to keep them safe and that was usually good enough for all of them.

Daniel helped everyone into their seats and found their buckles then settled Johnny into his seat, before he sat down as well. Jack would be getting everything ready and Daniel's whole job was to make sure that the kids knew they were safe. He looked around to each of them, glad to see the girls pulling out coloring books and laying them across their laps while Zale and Zada were reading out of their activity books. Greer was sitting next to Zale with a little game they found, which helped with reasoning skills. There was really nothing else to do but wait for take off, then the flight itself.

"Okay campers," Jack called over the system, "We are ready to begin our journey, just remember that I am a really good pilot and I would never let anything happen to any of you."

With that they were off. It didn't take very long to taxi from the private runway and they were in the air. Daniel wiled away the time, speaking to Johnny and showing him things in the workbook/coloring book Daniel found for him.

Daniel moved about the cabin when he was allowed to, making sure everyone was calm about being in the air. So far, luckily it seemed they would have an easy flight, barely any turbulence which might have scared the kids which might just cause crying in some children but for Zale and Zada at least, they are powers that Daniel and Jack still didn't understand for the most part and being in the air was not the time to figure it out.

With the assurances that all six children were content in their seats, Daniel returned to his seat and waited out the rest of the trip in peace if not quiet. He snoozed a good portion of the trip since they'd been up much earlier this morning to pack and for the use of the plane so it surprised him when Jack's voice came over the speaker again, saying they were coming in to land.

Daniel just hoped that meeting Jack's parents would be as simple as the flight was.

Jack stood on the front porch fidgeting from foot to foot, smoothing a hand down over his leather jacket, which covered a white shirt. He also was wearing jeans again since he'd gone for so long without them and tennis shoes. Jack had considered dressing up more for this visit but he'd never stood on such ceremony with his family before and figured not much would have changed in that aspect.

After the peaceful plan trip, Daniel and the children unloaded and they rented a van which would carry them all and found their way easily to the hotel which was a shot distance from his parent's home.

As was previously discussed, Jack left Daniel and the kids in their hotel room that was about a ten-minute drive from his parent's house in the rural area of Boston. He decided when they arrived to let his parents hear this news from him before he brought Daniel here, wanting to protect Daniel and the kids if the response was less than positive.

Finally he reached out and knocked on the door only to have it immediately thrown open to show his mother who engulfed him in a tight hug. He took a deep breath, bringing in her delightful scent of her sweet perfume and the scent of apple and cinnamon. Somehow that's what she always smelled like. She pushed him back to get a good look at Jack and he noticed the grey in her blond hair, the way her body though still mostly slender had put on some weight since he's seen her. Her brown eyes were as bright and intelligent as ever. "Hey Mama," he said with a nervous smile.

"Hey Johnny," she smiled in return before she hugged him again ad drug him inside the door. "I thought you were bringing someone with you dear?"

"They are at the hotel, I wanted to see you and talk to you first," Jack gulped.

"Oh?" Lauren O'Neill gave him one of those looks that just dared him to lie about whatever he was going to tell them.

"Where's Pop?" Jack coughed and cleared his throat.

"He's coming in from his workshop, come and sit. Have some coffee," she suggested and though it just made Jack think of Daniel's love of the caffeinated beverage, Jack was already about to vibrate out of his skin with the nerves.

They were barely in the living room when the big booming laughter of Jack's father came in through the back of the house, "Jack, my boy!" He smiled and drew Jack into a tight hug. Jack returned the embrace and smiled when Ben's smiling blue eyes sparkled with life and passion. He pulled Jack down to sit down next to Lauren and Ben moved to sit in his armchair.

"Okay, I know you can't tell us much because your job is classified since it's been that way most of your military career. Tell us what you came here to say so we can move beyond your nerves and just spend time together."

"Well as you have already said, I can't tell you anything about where we were but I am in love, we've been together for ten years and I know to you guys we have only been gone for four but just take for granted it's a weird time difference."

"You're in love? Well where is she? Why didn't you just bring her with you?"

"Well that's what I wanted to talk to you about, his name is Daniel."

Jack waited for them to respond, he looked at his father and mother. They were both shocked by the announcement. His mother watched him closely, then turned to watch Jack's father. Ben stared down Jack who refused to drop his gaze once his father started the challenge. He had to stand his ground otherwise they would question the sincerity of the pronouncement. They would think this was some weird mid-life crisis and accuse Daniel of changing their prodigal son.

"You're telling your mother and I that after all these years, after Sarah, that you're gay?"

Jack sighed, it was so weird to deny that label but again Jack felt the childish need to defend the fact that he didn't want to have sex with me, he wanted to make love to Daniel and only him. "I fell in love, after feeling dead inside for so long, and the person who saved my life countless times and revived my soul just happens to be a man."

"So not just a good friend, you are having sex with this man?" Lauren asked quietly.

"Sex is a part of a relationship Mama, so yes ma'am. I make love to Daniel."

"And you want us to meet him? You are serious about him?" Lauren asked for clarity sake. Jack sighed, at least no one was screaming or cursing about anything yet. He hoped this wasn't just the calm before a wicked storm. He didn't want them to be nice about this and then scream and rail against Daniel later.

"Yes, I want you to know him for what he is, my partner and my soulmate."

"Sarah was your soul mate!" Lauren exclaimed.

Jack flinched at the anger; Lauren had always hoped that Jack would go back to his ex-wife. That the couple would find a way to start over possibly, for Jack that possibility died when Charlie died but furthermore, when Daniel convinced Jack not to kill himself in the beginning, Jack reawakened and it wasn't for Sarah. It would always be for Daniel for the rest of Jack's life and beyond.

"No Mom, Sarah was the woman I was married to, the love I feel for Daniel is the sun and what I felt for Sarah was nothing in comparison. He brought me back for a suicide run and turned me into a better man, a man that I could be proud of. He made me into the man you always wanted me to be."

Jack held his mother's gaze and watched as the tears fell knowing this might be the only time he gets this chance. So he went for gold, "We also have children, five of them together."

"What?" they both called in shock.

"Yeah, Zale and Zada are almost nine. Janet and Claire are close to seven and Johnny is six."

"You adopted?" Lauren asked.

"No, we used surrogate women and adopted each other's kids. They all belong to both of us. If you cannot accept Daniel and I, then when I leave here I won't be coming back but I wouldn't mind letting you meet your grandchildren if you can be civil to the man who I have chosen to spend my life with."

"Which of the children are biologically yours?" Lauren asked.

Jack sighed sadly, "Zada and Johnny," he replied.

"You named your son Johnny?" Ben asked with a small smile.

"Actually that was Daniel's idea. He wanted me to have a namesake and I agreed. Zale, my other son's middle name is Charles for Charlie's memory also Daniel's idea."

"So you have two sons?" Ben asked.

"Zada and Johnny as biologically my children while Janet, Claire and Zale are biologically Daniel's children but they have been raised not knowing the difference. They are all my children and they are all your grandchildren."

"I would love to meet your children," Lauren said with a sniff.

Jack chose to ignore the importance she put on the word 'your', "Daniel and I can come back tomorrow with them for you to meet then."

"No," his mother returned sharply and Jack watched his father glare at his wife, "I would see Zada and Johnny, not to man who forced you to turn from your wife and the children he pretends are yours."

"Lauren!" Ben snapped finally, "You won't even meet Daniel and the children as a family?"

Jack watched as his little mother stood and moved away from him, "He had a family and he left Sarah after Charlie, now years later he comes to tell us that he's in love with a man and they had a family like the life with Sarah never existed! You can't expect us to be okay with this!"

Jack stood, taking a deep breath and staring down his mother. "Mama, I love you so much and I wanted you to meet my partner and children. I'm sorry you don't want the same."

His father stood and touched Jack's shoulder and turned him towards them, "Jack, whether or not your mother is open to this we do love you and I want to meet all of my grandchildren. Please bring them over tomorrow and we'll spend some time together. It's my house too. Your mother can come meet them or not."

Lauren groaned and walked out of the room; Jack hugged his dad gently. "I'm sorry about this Pop."

Ben shook his head, "Jack, did you plan to fall in love with a man?"

"No," Jack replied.

"Did you come here to tell us to hurt us?"

"God no!"

"Then just love your family and love us, but don't feel bad about feeling alive and love the person you chose to spend your life with, it's the best any of us can ask for in life."

Jack pulled his dad close, squeezing him into Jack's chest. He didn't know how to deal with his mother's anger and disappointment but he was glad that his dad seemed to be able to see past the anger he could see in his mother. He never expected one parent to be more accepting than the other; his parents always seemed to be of like mind.

"Thanks pop, I don't want Daniel to be hurt by this."

"I will do the best I can to keep that sadness and anger from lashing out against Daniel and your family. Just go and see him and let him know we will have some lunch and get to know each other tomorrow and go from there."

Jack nodded and released his dad before he walked out of the house and to the rental van that was large enough to cart all of them around when necessary while they were here. What Daniel didn't know about two days from now was that in Massachusetts, same-sex marriage was legal and though it wouldn't be legal everywhere, it would be a start.

He just hoped his mother and father as well as his brothers and family might all choose to be with him when he proclaimed his love for Daniel once again. For them it would be a renewal but it would be great to have his family with them.