Roeskva, thank you for the review. Hope you enjoy the next one. :)

Brook, it looks like FF made some changes, but you should be able to review as a guest. I checked my account to make sure I didn't accidentally disable that ability. That seemed fine. I don't know why you had to log in. Thanks for doing so though. :)

Note: Mark and his family know about the SGC and the Tok'ra.

Part 5, There is a New Sandwich Place Tom Says I have to Try

-Still Four Years Old-

Mark was sure to put extra plates as he helped his teenage daughter with setting the table.

"Who isn't coming?" his wife, Betty, asked when she saw missing plates.

"My dad isn't able to make it, and Sam's is still at the SGC. She doesn't want to leave Teal'c." He began setting down forks. "She's been there for the past week."

"Well, we still get to see Malika."

Mark smiled a bit. Even after Sam married, he never though he'd be an uncle. "It'll be the first time Martouf has gone on a plane without my sister."

"It'll be good to see him too."

Mark made a soft grunt.

"I thought you liked Martouf."

"I do... Lantash still makes me nervous."

"You don't need to be nervous around him, Dad," his daughter, Tina, spoke up. "He likes you."

"He does?"

"He told Aunt Sam that Malika has a great uncle."

Mark felt conflicted between telling his daughter not to listen on other conversations and thanking her for the news.

"You're welcome, Dad."

Mark laughed. "Thank you." He couldn't really scold her when it was so obvious that he was grateful.

It wasn't long before a taxi arrived. A type of car that would always remind Mark about his mother, but he knew there wasn't much of a choice. Martouf didn't drive, and with the last minute arrangements being changed, they couldn't pick him up. Still...he was going to be sure to drive his brothers-in-law and niece to the airport.

Martouf headed for the door, followed by Malika who seemed nervous. It was the first time she had taken such a big trip without her moms.

Tina hurried outside, picking up her cousin.

"I miss Mommies," Malika quietly whined.

Tina frowned, feeling slightly rejected. Malika usually laughed and smiled at her. "You'll see them soon enough." Putting on a cheerful mood seemed to help Malika a bit, and she carried her cousin in.

"Not an easy week for Kela'an," Mark stated as soon as everyone was in. "She still hide around Jack?"

"She does," Martouf confirmed. "Lantash used to do the same. He still does at times."

Betty approached, hugging Martouf in greeting before heading to Tina and Malika. "Tomorrow, the three of us are going to the park."

"We are not going?" Martouf asked.

"It's just the afternoon," Mark answered as she gestured them to the couch. "Tina told me they needed an all girl event. You, Tom, and I aren't invited."

Martouf gave a nod, unsure about this. "Where is Tom?"

"My son is late, as usual." Mark chuckled. "He called ten minutes ago. He is helping one of his friends fix his car, and he says it is taking longer than he thought."

"It means they goofed around," Betty supplied.

Martouf frowned, though he had done similar things when he was young. Still...he had been looking forward to spending time with the entire family.

"Dinner is ready." Betty informed before watching Tina dash off to the kitchen.

Mark went in to help his daughter, who was balancing Malika on her hip while trying to serve on to the plates.

"She's so helpful when family visits," Betty whispered to Martouf.

When she was done, Tina sat down with her cousin on her lap. Malika began eating off Tina's plate.

"You never share with your brother," Betty teased as she sat down.

"He doesn't share with me," Tina excused.

"How is everything?" Mark asked.

"Malika has made several new friends. Samantha and I are in the process of arranging her educational needs. Other than that, much is the same. What about here?"

"Tina got all A's and B's on her report card."

"That is good?"

"Yes."

Martouf turned to Tina. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Tina helped Malika with a cup of milk that was too heavy for her to handle on her own. She ended up getting some of it in both their laps.

"She is tired," Martouf said as he helped clean.

The dinner didn't last much longer, and Martouf carried Malika to where a bed had been set up for her. He tucked her in and told her modified stories that his mother had once told him before bed.

Meanwhile, Mark helped his family clean up. When he was done, he peeked in, finding that Martouf had fallen asleep as well. He came out and announced this.

"It's been a long week for all three," Betty replied, "and we all have to get up early."

"I'll wait up for Tom," Mark offered.

"Thank you." Betty helped Tina with the last of the dishes before going to bed.

"Daddies?" Malika questioned the next morning.

"I'll be near. If you need me, Aunt Betty will call me."

Malika kissed her dad. "Father." She smiled when Lantash took control before giving him a kiss as well.

Mark quietly hoped Martouf would take control again while the rest left. "I thought we could go out as well."

"To where?"

"There's a new sandwich place that Tom says I have to try. We can walk there."

"Walk there?" Tom asked as he came into the room, still not fully awake. "Why can't we drive?"

"It's only a few blocks away," Mark replied. "Come on, get dressed." He watched his son groan as he left.

"What if Betty calls?" Lantash asked.

"We'll actually be closer to the park. It's only a couple blocks away from the restaurant."

Lantash nodded in approval before leaving to get ready. Tom was their delay, who seemed reluctant. As they got out, Tom walked ahead of them, and Lantash wondered if it was less to due with walking and more to due with whom he was walking.

Don't ask, Martouf thought as he heard Lantash's wonderment on if they were fighting. I believe it is normal for Earth children.

Strange.

Mark found himself regretting the decision. What could he talk about with Lantash? Or Martouf for that matter? Most of what they spoke about was best said within the privacy of his home. He regretted it more when turned a corner and saw his son caught in a conversation with one of his dad's old friends. General Cyrus Glenwood, a man who never approved of Mark's choice to not join the Air Force.

Cyrus looked up. "Mark...Martouf."

"General," Mark replied, knowing he wasn't well liked by the guy. He glanced to Martouf, knowing Cyrus disliked him even more. Without knowing the truth, Cyrus blamed Martouf for Sam leaving the Air Force.

Let me have control, Martouf thought, though Lantash was already giving it to him. He smiled politely. "General."

"Where is Sam?" Cyrus asked.

"She is helping out a friend, and while visiting the United States, she felt I should bring Malika to visit her uncle."

"Where is Malika?"

"She is with Betty and Tina."

Cyrus didn't acknowledge much before looking to Mark. "Tom tells me that he's looking into becoming a mechanic."

"He's good with cars," Mark replied, wondering what Cyrus was even doing around here. He glanced to Tom, who looked uncomfortable.

"The Air Force could use those types of skills."

"He doesn't want to join the Air Force."

"We were on our way to have lunch," Martouf put in before Cyrus could respond. "Would you care to join us?" He saw a slight look of panic on Mark and Tom.

"No, thank you."

"Then we'll be on our way. It was good seeing you. I will tell Jacob."

And you say I would cause problems, Lantash thought, both knowing that Cyrus didn't like Martouf calling his father-in-law by his first name.

"Goodbye," Martouf continued before walking off.

Mark and Tom followed after.

"Did you know he'd say no?" Tom asked once they were far enough away from Cyrus.

"I knew he'd not want to have lunch with us."

"He doesn't respect any of us." Tom muttered.

"Most people here do not respect me or my friend," Martouf replied, knowing they'd understand he meant Lantash. "The important people do, however, and that is all that matters." He smiled a bit. "I did not know you were going to become a mechanic."

"Yeah."

"You must be good with your hands. Sam is as well. She and Malek work on projects that I do not understand."

Tom smiled a bit. "Aunt Sam still misses her motorcycle."

"She's talked about bringing it with her, but there is no where to drive it."

Thankfully, Lantash thought, not fond of the dangerous looking thing.

"She might find a way," Mark added. "She might be trying to get Teal'c to drive it right now." He suppressed a grin as he watched Martouf frown.

That might actually be interesting to see.

Martouf touched his head slightly before looking forward. "Is that the sandwich place?"

"Yeah." Tom moved up ahead. "I'll get you the sandwiches. Find a place to sit."

"I guess we're sitting." Mark found a nice table outside.

Martouf smiled before sitting down. After the encounter with Cyrus, Tom seemed much more talkative, which made it a nice afternoon for the four of them.

A few days later, Sam called Martouf was called to return. He had enjoyed the visit, but he looked forward to finally returning home.

To be continued...