Notes: In trying to find the right words for Paul’s handfasting, I ran into this wonderful site: ArtKetubah.com. There was even text for same-gender vows. I did a little editing and it seemed to call Paul’s name. I hope you like it. The song Jonathan and Ninurta are singing is from Rent. It is called I’ll Cover You.

***

“Paul, if you don’t keep still, I’m going to tie you to a chair,” Daniel threatened. Davis was in the midst of a panic attack two hours before his handfasting. His younger cousin, Rebecca, wasn’t sure what she could be doing, so she was standing out of the way from all the commotion.

Paul paused and then shook his head. “Don’t tease me, Danny.”

Daniel yanked him still again and adjusted his tie. Across the room, Jack was having a glass of wine with Nick whose own panic was more subdued. Jack took the glass from Nick’s hand and shoved his head between his knees.

“Don’t you dare faint on me,” Paul warned him.

“You know, you’re being pretty mouthy lately,” Nick commented from between his knees.

“Just offering excuses,” Paul said helpfully.

“Sams may not get played with,” Nick told him.

“What?” Jack tilted his head.

There was a soft chuckle from across the room and Paul looked over. Rebecca smiled gently at him.

“I’ve been called a sam quite often,” she told him, watching him closely and nervously ignoring the others in the room.

“Oh, thank God!” Paul breathed. He brushed Daniel aside and hustled across the room to hug her. “Are you allowed to attend my collaring tonight?”

“I don’t have a Master,” she said. “I’d be glad to attend.”

“Daniel.” Jack waited.

“SAM. Smart-Assed Masochist.”

“And?” Jack waited again.

“Rebecca is a slave, too,” Daniel told him. “Because the collaring is a Leather event, Paul asked if she needs to call home and ask her Master for permission to attend. She doesn’t have a Master, so she doesn’t need to call anyone.”

“They’re not Leather, but they’re friendly,” Paul explained to her.

Daniel went to pull him back into place and brushed the jacket.

“Sam’s wondering if you’re going to invite her,” he commented. Paul tugged worriedly at his cummerbund. “Colonel Carter,” Daniel clarified to Rebecca. She nodded. She had met many high-profile people that day, and certainly the lovely and gracious Colonel Carter was memorable.

“I’ve been debating it,” he confessed. “I think our relationship has improved. Do you think she’d be alright with it?”

“If she does accept, I think she’d be fine with it,” Daniel told him. “I’ve told her about the ceremony in general, and I think she’d like to improve her relationship with you, too, so she’d like to be a witness, if you’re comfortable enough with her.”

Paul looked at Nick.

“I have no objections,” Nick said. “I’ll invite her, if you want me to.”

Paul considered it as he tried to get a small cowlick to lay flat against his head. “No, sir, thank you; I’ll invite her.”

The door opened and Gabriel came in with Tony and his twin sons, Jeff and Parker, and Jeff’s partner, Natael. Paul breathed another sigh of relief and fell to his knees, hands locked behind his back. Gabriel gave a hoarse chuckle and touched the top of his head.

“Stand, boy, you’ll wrinkle your suit. And try to relax,” Gabriel told him. His throat was still a little raw from the operation.

“Yes, sir. Sir, may I present my cousin, Rebecca?” Paul asked. “She is also Family.” Gabriel looked around and discovered a young lady on her knees. He accepted her honors, touching her head and telling her to stand.

“Sir, I recognize you,” she told him. “I saw you give a seminar on Ethics in Leather in Portland a couple of years ago.”

Gabriel nodded, pleased. “Yes, I remember Portland. A wonderful community there. Who is your Master?”

“I don’t have one, yet, sir.”

“Well, I’m glad you are here to support Paul.”

Gabriel held out a hand to Daniel and Jack. Jack held the hand for a moment before releasing it. It took Gabriel a moment to realize what he was doing.

“You’re going to put me out of business, you know,” Gabriel told him.

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Daniel said, lifting his mug of coffee. “His focus is still off.” Gabriel stared at the dark blue mug and tapped on it.

“Is that….?”

“Yup. Makes the coffee taste a little weird, but it’s drinkable.”

“Do we need to keep cameras off you?” Daniel asked quietly, switching to French.

“Not for this,” Gabriel said. “I’m here, officially, at Jack’s invitation. I will need to stay out of pictures for the collaring. I don’t do many seminars; I usually grow a beard and use a nom de plume when I do them. The young lady should know enough to keep my name to herself.”

“I can remind her, just in case,” Daniel offered. “You do know it’s pure luck that’s kept this part of your life from interfering with your job.”

“Oh, yes, I know,” he said, cocking an eyebrow. He rubbed his throat; his voice was beginning to clear. “I’m not sure what will happen if and when it does get out.”

“A lot of people in high places will back you, if it does get out of hand,” Daniel said.

At everyone’s urging, Paul sent a handfasting invitation to his parents. They did not reply. Paul brushed it off but everyone could tell he was hurt. Daniel reminded him that he had chosen his family, unlike most people who had no choice, and his chosen family loved and accepted him. He had siblings everywhere and two fathers, Jack and Gabriel, and Abigail spent time mothering him. Mrs. Arthur was discovering him, too, since she had begun coming to HomeSec to help Daniel. Much of Paul’s problem was that he was afraid to accept the love being offered; after all, his own parents kicked him out.

Jack had no idea that he affected others the same way he affected Daniel, who was also in need of a father from time to time. In many ways, Sam also tended to choose older men, having had a distant relationship with her own father until almost the end of his life. Hammond shared fatherhood duties with Jack when it came to Sam. Jack was finding this growing collection of strays to be interesting. He set a reminder to himself to discuss it with Daniel. Jack found himself missing his own father.

A lot of the conversation in the room was interesting. He didn’t understand much of it, they seemed to be speaking in code much of the time, especially since Paul’s cousin Rebecca ‘displayed her colors,’ as he had heard Paul say on a couple of occasions. He still didn’t understand why anyone would want to play at Master and slave, but they seemed happy about it.

The door opened and Inanna came in.

“Speaking of queens,” Jack commented. She swatted at him.

“You shush. Are you gentlemen deliberately being fashionably late or will you be joining us shortly?” she looked at Paul and Nick. They looked at watches.

“Oh, shit!”

Everyone hustled to their posts while guests watched in amusement as the wedding party hurried out to the yard behind Paul and Nick’s house. There were a couple of ducks in the pond. Jack wondered how they managed to get ducks to attend. Zu was in a tree, eyeing the ducks with a look Jack was sure boded ill for the ducks.

“And they pick on women for being late,” Cassie said from the sidelines. There were chuckles around her. Harper sat next to her, trying not to look uncomfortable with gays, lesbians, and people wearing leather, multiple piercings, and tattoos all sitting near by. Others in uniform were also wiggling, trying not to stare at the small, select crowd. Most of the immediate troops, SG teams who had known Paul for a while, expected the incongruity. Some assumed that the oddities were from Nick’s side of the guest list.

The party was hastily reassembled, the grooms having been three days late due to off-world complications. Daniel stood at the front of the isle, facing the guests.

“We apologize for being late,” he said. “Three days late.” There were smiles and soft laughter of understanding. Paul and Nick tried to rush to the front of the isle.

“NOT…..that late,” Daniel scolded them. Jack and Gabriel each caught the back of a jacket and pulled. The men slowed and walked properly, much to everyone’s amusement. They came to a halt in front of Daniel and nervously waited as Jack and Gabriel stood a step behind them.

“Looks like a shot-gun wedding,” someone murmured. There was laughter and the tension was released. Paul smiled and hung his head for a moment before taking Nick’s hand.

“I’ve known Paul for a long time,” Daniel said. “If anyone deserves to be loved, Paul does. And having gotten to know Nick over the past year, I encourage everyone to see how his heart shines for Paul. This is truly a match made by the gods.

“As we all know, same-gender marriages are not legal in this state. This is a handfasting. Paul and Nick’s contract with each other can be viewed and witnessed after the ceremony. Marriage or handfasting, the words are merely semantics. Paul and Nick love each other and have invited us all here to witness their promises to each other. Please give them your attention and bear them your witness.

“Paul and Nick are here to confirm in the presence of witnesses a lovers' covenant between them and declare a partnership to establish a household together. This agreement into which Paul and Nick are entering is a holy covenant like the ancient covenants of old, made in faithfulness and peace to stand forever. It is a covenant of protection and hope. It is a covenant of devotion, joining hearts like the covenant David and Jonathan made, as it is said: And Jonathan's soul was bound up with the soul of David. Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. It is a covenant of mutual loving kindness.

“Get yourself a companion. This teaches that a person should get a companion, to eat with, drink with, to study with, to sleep with, to confide all one's secrets, secrets of the heart, and secrets of worldly things.

“Paul and Nick commit themselves to a life of kindness and righteousness as a family and to work together toward the communal task of mending the world. Paul and Nick pledge that one will help the other at the time of dying, by carrying out the last rational requests of the dying partner, protecting each other from indignity or abandonment and by tender, faithful presence with the beloved until the end.”

Daniel paused, looking out at the guests and Jack and Sam for a moment, smiling quietly at them, before looking at the grooms.

“Paul, will you speak the words?”

Paul turned to face Nick, taking both hands in his and clearing his throat.

“I will espouse you forever. I will espouse you with righteousness and justice and loving kindness and compassion. I will espouse you in faithfulness and you shall know my heart is true. I shall treasure you, nourish you, support you, and respect you.” His hands trembled slightly as he slid a ring on Nick’s left hand.

Daniel waited until Paul had himself together.

“Nick, will you speak the words?”

Nick was silent as he tried to find his voice.

“I will espouse you forever. I will espouse you with righteousness and justice and loving kindness and compassion. I will espouse you in faithfulness and you shall know my heart is true. I shall treasure you, nourish you, support you, and respect you.” His hands were also trembling as he put a ring on Paul’s finger.

“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is stronger than death.” Daniel motioned to Davy to come forward and took a length of blue silk from the boy’s proud hands, and sent him back to Sam’s side. Daniel held the silk up to the sky for a moment.

“The Lover's Knot is a symbol of the harmony that is found between two people who, in acknowledging one another's individuality and uniqueness, acknowledge their own. With the closing of this ceremony, celebrating their commitment to each other, Paul and Nick intend to: 1. Continue living together and sharing all expenses and ownership of their assets. 2. Practice honesty and understanding with respect to their physical and emotional lives. 3. Strive to support each other's aspirations as they change, evolve, and possibly separate them professionally. 4. They intend to leave a space to re-evaluate these intentions on or around their anniversary each year of their lives together. With this Knot, they seal their promises to each other and embark on their journey unending.”

With their hands together, Daniel wrapped the silk around their wrists and arms, gently draping the end of the silk over their joined hands.

Together, Paul and Nick turned to face their guests and said together,

“We promise to try to be ever open to one another while cherishing each other's uniqueness; to comfort and challenge each other through life's sorrow and joy; to share our intuition and insight with one another; and above all, to do everything within our power to permit each of us to become the persons we are yet to be. We also pledge to establish a home open to the spiritual potential in all life; a home wherein the flow of the seasons and the passages of life are celebrated through the symbols we hold dear; a home filled with reverence for learning, loving, and generosity; a home wherein ancient melody, candles, and wine sanctify the table. We declare this union to be valid and binding.”

They faced each other and, looking into each other’s eyes before leaning in to press their lips to one another’s. Nick, usually reticent of public displays, flushed at the applause and cheering.

Jack was resigned when Jonathan and Ninurta stepped up to the front with a guitar. At least it wasn’t Shara signing.

Before anyone could move, Ninurta shouted,

“Zu! NO!”

With a startled squawk, Zu dropped the struggling duck. Laughing, everyone surged forward to congratulate the couple. Much to Paul’s own shock, Cousin Rebecca wasn’t the only familiar face in the crowd.

“Becca, what….?”

She pecked his cheek and took his arm.

“Paul, you always were a bit of a twit,” she told him and waved at their cousins. “I made a few phone calls and got you a wedding present.”

Jack leaned against Daniel’s shoulder and watched as Paul welcomed his family to his home.

“Parents didn’t make it?” Sam asked quietly. She stood in front of the men and leaned back into their chests. Someone kissed the back of her head.

“Nope,” Jack said.

“Looks like the younger half of the family did, though,” Daniel commented. “That’s nice. I’m happy for him.”

Jack kissed his neck. “You and Stacey will be spending time with your family next week,” he reminded Daniel.

Daniel shook his head. “I wasn’t thinking about me,” he said. “I’m just finding it strange that it took so much for our families to either find us or accept us.”

“It’s mostly the younger ones,” Sam said. “Maybe it has something to do with the rest of the changes. A lot of the argument against the changes has been coming from the older generations and not so much from the younger ones. I still don’t talk much with Mark.”

“You guys knock it off?” They looked to see Cassie standing with her hands on her hips. “It’s a party. Go have fun and stop analyzing everything to death. And, Jack? We took a vote. You’re singing at least once today.” She turned on her heels and strode back to Harper.

Jack watched her.

“It does say General on my uniform, doesn’t it?”

“……well, I’m hungry, too.” They turned to see Shara trying to reason with the bird. “If you cannot wait, then go into the mountains to hunt. Leave the ducks around here alone. Just make sure you clean off the blood before you come back or you’ll scare the civilians.”

Zu squawked something at him and flew off toward the tree line. Daniel winced.

“He really does have a colorful vocabulary,” he commented.

“You have no idea,” Shara groaned. “You try living with him for a couple thousand years.”

They made the rounds, meeting and greeting before finding food and settling at a table. Olivia was in a mood to be held and fed by Sam, so Jack took care of Davy while Daniel answered as many of Stacey’s questions as he could. Starting with why she couldn’t go with them. Her age didn’t seem to be the answer she was looking for.

“Daniel, have you ever heard of that old wives tale about having children just like you?” Jack asked.

“I am not like this,” he protested.

“Yes, you are,” came a response from several other tables nearby. Daniel looked around and glared. He pushed his glasses into place.

“An intelligent mind needs a constant flow of information,” he said.

“Daddy, my flow is blocked,” Stacey informed him, patting him on the arm.

There was laughter all around them as Daniel tried to come up with more answers. Jack noticed Harper was intent on something in the distance. Cassie was walking with Jonathan, talking and listening, their arms around each other’s waist.

“Oh, chill out, Dean,” Jack told him. “He’s her best friend, that’s all. Go dance with someone.”

Harper glared for a moment and then took a breath.

“Yes, sir.”

Children screeched as they ran around and played, mindful adults keeping them from getting too close to the pond. Without Jonathan to sing, several of the Anunnaki beamed down drums and got a strong beat going. A few of the women and a couple of elegant, pretty men, danced in a seductive blend of middle eastern and off-world styles. Colonel Reynolds, although as exhausted as the rest of them, was continually running after Harley who had a 2-year old’s energy and kept trying to get in the way of the dancers.

“Kevin, let him dance, if he wants to,” Ninurta called out. “He’s fine.”

“Can I dance, too, daddy?” Davy asked, looking over his shoulder at Jack.

“Sure, go for it,” Jack said. Davy slid off his lap and ran out to the dancers. He held his arms out and twirled around. The dancers smiled at him and helped him to coordinate his feet.

“Well, this looks familiar,” Jack commented, slinging an arm across Daniel’s shoulders.

“Almost a déjà vu,” Daniel smiled. “He’s come a long way, Jack.”

“Yes, he has,” Jack nodded.

“Sir?”

Jack saw Paul standing near by.

“May I introduce you to my family?”

“Absolutely,” Jack nodded and stood.

All in all, seven more people came down at the last minute from Oregon and California. Most of Paul’s family were either his own generation or the next younger. They were proud of Paul as they stood somewhat rebelliously behind him.

“While everyone was away over the weekend, Cassie showed me around,” Rebecca told him. “Seeing how many people were standing behind Paul made me realize how wrong our parents are being. We decided to make a united front. If the parents are going to condemn one, they’ll need to condemn all of us.” Even the man in the yarmulke agreed.

“Power to the people,” Daniel said, smiling and shaking hands.

“I think some of this may have been my own fault,” Paul admitted. “I assumed that since my parents and their siblings rejected me, my own generation would, too. I didn’t ask.”

Daniel tugged gently on an ear in reprimand.

“Martyr complex,” Daniel informed him.

The man in the yarmulke, Shafir, put an arm on Paul’s shoulder. “He was always reticent to express himself. It probably didn’t help that our faith is very opposed to homosexuality. I’ve known people to commit suicide over the internal war. I’m glad Paul has found his peace.”

“Shafir is a councilor,” Paul told them. “He talks like this all the time.”

“I have a question,” Jack said, raising his hand. Daniel and Paul were slightly worried. “Why do you have a name from the New Testament?”

They relaxed.

“It’s just the American version of Saul.”

Paul’s family also relaxed at discovering that the general wasn’t intimidating like generals were shown to be in movies. A few of them had books to be signed, which Jack, Daniel, and Sam willingly signed before Paul excused the group to go and find Walter.

“Jaaaaaack…….”

There was good-natured laughter as Jonathan leaned against the microphone. Jack pointed to his throat and waved.

“Get up here, Jack.”

“You may as well,” Sam said, jiggling the baby on her knees.

People clapped, laughing as they encouraged Jack to his feet.

“Jonathan Charles!”

“Shit,” Jack moaned, putting his face in his hands. Maggie stood up and pointed to the stage, much to the entertainment of the crowd.

“On one condition,” Jack said, standing up.

“What condition?” Jonathan asked.

“Daniel plays the piano.”

Daniel went to the front and started pounding out Chop Sticks as people laughed.

“Hey, Daniel.” He looked up and saw Harper waiting. “I’ve been meaning to ask –why the piano? You can’t take it on digs. Wouldn’t a guitar have been more useful?”

“Maybe,” Daniel acknowledged. “But I had run into a couple of finds that seemed to be musical and there was a piano nearby, so I learned the scales in order to use the tones. That was an interesting…..”

“Daniel!” several people yelled, laughing. Daniel pouted for a moment.

“Ok,” he said. He turned and pounded on the keyboard. “And now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain….. Oh, sorry, Paul, wrong theme….”

“Come to me, cover, hold me, Together we'll break these chains of love…. No, not that one…..”

“I said Hey Dizzy Mama let me go into your…. Oh, no, not in front of the kids….”

“Dizzy, dizzy, let’s see….Dizzy, I’m so dizzy my head is spinning, Like a whirlpool it never ends….” Daniel paused and looked at Jack.

“I know that one,” Jack said, shaking his head at Daniel’s antics as the guests laughed. They entertained with a few oldies with Daniel finally losing Jack with the Purple People Eater. Jonathan kicked them off the porch and went back to Paul’s requested list.

“Why does he goad me into that?” Jack asked as they caught their breath.

“For the same reason Davy likes to dance,” Daniel said. “It’s good for you.” He planted his mouth on Jack’s for a moment and then released him to go and dance with their kids.

“I don’t know why you fuss about it,” Sam said. Olivia was asleep in the crook of her arm and Sam wasn’t of a mind to set her down anywhere. “You have fun, so what’s the deal?”

“I sound like a frog,” Jack complained.

Sam smiled at him. “You sound fine,” she assured him once more. “Your voice is a little husky but you’re enjoyable to listen to. In fact, I like it even more when you croon into my ear when we’re taking a bath.” Unable to resist, Jack smiled and kissed her while Mary smiled indulgently. Sam was discovering the friendship of other women, a welcome change from her life with mostly men.

“Oh, way TMI,” Matthew said as he came up to them.

“Hey, you just wait,” Jack told him, pulling the boy into a loose choke hold. “Bubbles are a good thing.”

“Noooo, daaad,” Matty complained as he wiggled. “I want to go to the mall with Vinnie and Rob and Tommy.” The young boy was enjoying his visit to his old home and seemed more relaxed. Even Tommy’s mother seemed to have a healthy glow about her.

“Alright,” Jack said, releasing him. “Go home and change your clothes, first, and call me if you go any place else. Eight PM. You may have $40 out of my stash.”

“Thank you!”

“Don’t spend it all on crap!”

“I will!”

“I thought he’d sleep for days, after the weekend you guys had,” Mary said. Harley was finally asleep and napping against her shoulder.

“He’s a boy,” Jack shrugged. “He slept for about 9 hours and then he was on the go again.”

“Jack’s brother Michael was down for the count until just before the ceremony,” Sam told Mary. “Called this morning and did nothing but complain about all his aches and pains. He forced himself out of bed.”

“He’s an old man,” Jack said, the side of his mouth tipping up in amusement. He flexed an arm, making a muscle. Sam shot a napkin at him. Jack’s cell phone rang.

“O’Neill. Hey, Andy, what’s up? Who? Where is he? Ok, thanks; I’ll deal with it.”

“Do we have anyone in orbit?” he asked Sam. She shook her head.

“Just the Heaven’s Bow,” she said. “What’s going on?”

Jack looked around and motioned to Reynolds. “Colonel, take a couple of guys and get over to the Mountain Deli on 3rd. Corporal Servi has apparently parted with a fuse and is zatting the cold cuts.”

As Reynolds nodded, kissed his wife and touched his son’s head and left after motioning to his team, Jack had an image in his head. He looked around and swiped a crayon from the kids’ table. Sam and Mary watched him begin drawing on a napkin. It only took five minutes before he paused, considered his sketch, and then nodded. He handed it to Sam.

“It’s a zat,” she said, looking from the napkin to Jack.

“It’s how to turn off the third setting,” he said. “I don’t think they were meant to stay on a 3-zat setting. It was probably a war-time thing and the Jaffa didn’t know to change it back.”

She looked at it again and patted his shoulder. “Good Jack. It’s a start.”

“And let’s find out why Corporal Servi has a zat, shall we?”

Daniel came up behind Sam and gently lifted the baby from her, handed Olivia to Jack, and took Sam’s hand. Jack watched them head to the dancing section of the grass.

“So. Mary. How’s tricks?”

The party list had been small, just immediate friends. Paul wasn’t too sure that anyone else would be interested but Daniel convinced him to invite a few of the SGC and HomeSec personnel that he had worked closely with over the past year. Paul was sure they would make an excuse not to attend but to his surprise almost everyone on his list accepted. Some of the old-timers like Mrs. Arthur politely refused. The new Mrs. Hammond made her regrets only because the timing was bad. Her youngest daughter was in labor and she and George were heading to Maine to greet the new grandbaby. Ronnie showed up, and on the arm of Nyan who was almost a complete head shorter. Jack wondered exactly how much Nyan was aware of with his new date.

What stunned Paul more was the addition of his own family once Rebecca made a quiet phone call home. His cousins chided him for not contacting them sooner. Not all of them were so conservative. They lived in California and Oregon, for the love of G-d! Jack made a mental note to send out invitations to his own family for their summer cookout. Joey had already knocked him in the shoulder and threatened to arrest him, if he didn’t keep the lines of communication open.

“Mary, is it a good thing for our kids to be making eyes at each other?” Jack asked, looking out over Olivia’s tiny shoulder. Mary followed his gaze. Katie and Josh were sitting close and smiling shyly at each other as they talked.

“Well, I supposed I can deal with you as a possible in-law,” Mary informed him.

“Much better than Malek,” Jack muttered.

“I’ve met Malek,” she said. “I thought he was a very nice person.”

“He has a snake in him, Mary.”

Harley was waking up and she wiped the sleep-sweat from his face.

“Isn’t there a difference between Tok’ra and Goa’uld?” she asked.

“Yes,” he reluctantly admitted.

“So you’re damning him for the color of his skin?”

Jack looked at her from over Olivia’s shoulder. “Kevin has lived with you for how long?”

“I have allowed him to live for 20 years come this November.”

“I thought this was a patriarchy?” he asked the sky.

“That’s a fallacy,” Mary commented, pressing kisses to her son’s round cheeks.

Jack looked suspiciously at her.

“Davis!” he called out. “Remind me to have a conference with Colonel Reynolds.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Jack.” Inanna came up and sat, buzzing Olivia before handing Jack her palm pilot. “We need to talk.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jack sighed. He put Olivia down and she immediately grabbed legs, trying to keep on her feet before falling to her knees. She wasn’t happy about it but spotted Daniel and Sam and began a determined crawl toward them.

Henry would be relocating to Colorado come the following January after officially transferring the reigns of the presidency to whomever won the November elections. The HomeSec council had accepted Henry’s nomination as the Tau’ri representative to the United Worlds council. When not dealing with galactic issues, Henry would be a full-time grandpa.

The world was beginning a steadily increasing demand for alien technology and alien cures, and Henry’s current job was to study up on projects and determine the order of what would be released to the public, when, and the timeline. Henry thought it would be easy until he was handed the list of projects verses needs. Once he was the Tau’ri representative, he was going to have to think as a Tau’ri, not an American.

Inanna needed Jack to look through a few borderline admissions to the unification. The council was split down the middle and unable to come to an agreement. Just before Jack put his 2-cents on the board, he paused.

“I’m missing something,” he guessed, seeing Inanna in her ‘waiting for him to get it’ mode.

“Are you?” she asked. “What?” She was speaking Ancient. Daniel or Sam had gotten to her.

He thought about it. “I can’t reach across the galaxy,” he told her. She shrugged.

“Maybe, maybe not,” she admitted. “The Ancients can tell when someone violates their laws from anywhere in the universe.”

Jack carefully considered her. “Why don’t you read them?” he asked.

She smiled. “I could,” she said with a nod. “But how would that help everyone else? If we know that one proposed representative has a negative agenda and we refuse to allow the planet in because of that person, how do we know that the person wasn’t set to be immediately replaced by someone who DID represent the good of the planet? We can’t judge an entire civilization based on one idiot. Take your former president as an example.”

Jack lifted an eyebrow and considered only the summary commentaries on the screen. “Point,” he acknowledged. Both Inanna and Bre’tac gave a tentative thumb’s up, so Jack granted a provisionary status.

“You contacted Argos?” he questioned, seeing the planet on the list. “Do you really think they’re ready to take on the galaxy? They haven’t even cut their primary molars yet.”

“They are an innocent people, yes. A visiting SG team mentioned the United Worlds and the people all agreed that they wanted to discover what they’ve been missing.” Inanna frowned in memory. “It’s a terrible thing that was done to them, I agree; I have volunteered to look after them myself. I explained to them how a few of us take on the role of mentor for certain civilizations and they were grateful for the guidance. Their growth should prove interesting. Jack, I do ask that you grant me this favor.”

He thought about it. “This will be a seriously big favor,” he warned. “I don’t think they’re ready.”

“No, they’re not,” she agreed. “Which is why I’d like to be their guide. And I accept the onus.”

“Alright,” he said, shaking his head as he signed the list.

“Jack, you should know that Edora is on our agenda.”

He sat back, watching the party settle into small, friendly discussion groups. Paul and Nick were surrounded by cousins all intent on updating Paul with information and getting the low-down on his life during the past ten years.

“She asked after you. She’s happy, Jack; she remarried. Would you like to….”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m glad she’s doing well. Add Edora to the Protected Worlds list. I’ll sign it.”

Inanna nodded and stood. She pressed her mouth to the top of his head and took her note pad back.

“Salim, ahu,” she murmured, touching his cheek and going to find something to eat.

Jack searched himself and found that he was at peace with his decision. He had been right to leave Laira. It was loneliness that had made his initial decision to stay on Edora, and it had been Sam and Daniel that made him return home. He was fine with it. Davy leaned against his knees, holding his face up. Jack smiled and kissed his cheek.

“Daddy, will I get married one day?” he asked.

“I hope so,” Jack said. “Do you have anyone in mind?”

“No,” Davy smiled and shook his head. “Is it ok if I marry a girl and a boy like you did?”

Jack studied him. “Do you like boys, too?”

“I guess so,” Davy said, lifting a shoulder. “I think some boys are pretty just like I think some girls are pretty.”

“As long as you are happy, you can marry anyone you want,” Jack told him, stroking a lock of silky hair from the boy’s face. “You need a haircut again.”

Later in the evening, Jack was still smiling to himself as he stepped out of the shower and returned to the bedroom.

“What are you smiling about?” Sam asked, taking off her earrings.

“Davy,” Jack said and told them about his conversation with the boy.

“Not surprising,” Daniel said around a pen in his mouth. He took the pen out. “He sees a person’s heart, not their gender.”

Since Sam was ‘indisposed,’ Jack crawled onto Daniel, dislodging the notebook.

“You know, one of these days I’m going to make you say pretty please first,” Daniel informed him as Jack wiggled Daniel’s pajama bottoms off.

“Pretty please,” Jack said. Daniel’s cheeks were raspy against Jack’s face, scratching at him as he kissed Daniel. Jack found his head suddenly lifted away from Daniel.

Sam kissed them and returned Jack’s face to its previous position. “As you were.” She headed off to her shower, leaving the boys to their own devices.

Daniel’s mouth was warm and welcoming as Jack sucked on the full lower lip before finding Daniel’s tongue. They kissed lightly, gently, looking into each other’s eyes as took turns with each other’s mouth. Daniel wrapped a leg around Jack’s hip, lost in the sensation of Jack’s lean, strong body covering him. Jack traced Daniel’s face, absently noting the fullness of his cheeks and the pronounced dimples; Daniel was losing his boyish look as age began to take over, bringing out the man with a universe of experience.

“I’ve gained about ten pounds,” Daniel commented.

“Don’t care,” Jack said, nuzzling his way down the smooth chest. More like fifteen, Jack thought to himself. He still didn’t care.

“I’m not getting the same exercise as I was going off-world several times a week,” Daniel continued to whine.

“Danny, if you’re concerned about it, go to the gym,” Jack said, lifting his head from the musky hair. “I’m not concerned about it. Now shut up. Your legs are in my way.”

Daniel chuckled and moved his legs.

“The other way….. no, not crossed……wider…… feet, too….. Daniel!”

Daniel laughed as Jack grabbed his ankles and forced his legs open. Before Jack could dive in, Daniel touched the tip of his own cock, slowly circling it as Jack paused and watched. Daniel played with a drop of pre-cum, making a string from the tiny hole to the tip of his finger before bringing the finger to his mouth and slowly licking it. Jack growled and dove in.

“Jack. Jack, listen,” Daniel said, tapping him on the head. “Stroke my prostate while you suck me.” He handed Jack the lube, and a long, slim finger was entering him moments later. Daniel lay back, pulling the pillow out from behind him and laying flat on the bed to better enjoy it.

Taking a cock in his mouth was still a little disconcerting at times, but there was something addictive about the taste of Daniel that Jack couldn’t deny. There were times when Sam admitted that she didn’t care for the taste of it at all, and sometimes she wanted more. She thought the guys would be turned off by her admission but they told her that if she wanted to get it out of the way, let them know and one of them would take care of it for her so that she could get on with enjoying the rest of it. She wondered if they should milk it and store it for a snack at later times. Both men wrinkled their noses and made gagging noises. She offered them access to the stored samples at the lab. They ganged up on her for a tickle-fight until she begged for mercy.

Jack gently raked his teeth across the sweet, velvety spot between butt-cheek and leg, and Daniel melted even more. He slid a second finger into Daniel and tried to get the tip of his tongue into the tip of Daniel’s cock. Jack found it painful but Daniel found it erotic. Sam had found that even the sensitivity of their balls were different. Jack was more sensitive, and Daniel could take more pressure, nails, and teeth before it began to hurt. Jack pulled on a testicle with his teeth, gnawing gently on it, enjoying the sounds coming from Daniel’s throat. He slid another finger in as he bit gently and discovered that Daniel was wide enough for a fourth finger. Suddenly curious, Jack moved to the other testicle and growled around it as he gnawed. Daniel gasped and grabbed the bedding, his legs automatically going high into the air. Jack slid his thumb in.

“Fuck, what the hell are you doing?” Daniel gasped.

“Not sure,” Jack admitted. “Is it ok?”

“Yeah,” Daniel said, gulping for air. “Keep going. Stings a little but it’s good. Do it.”

Jack lubed his hand and slowly slid the rest of it into Daniel. His hand disappeared up to his wrist. His hand twitched and brushed Daniel’s prostate. Daniel cried out and shot hard against his stomach. Jack moved his hand gently, soothingly as he licked.

“Oh, my God, that feels incredible,” Daniel breathed in amazement. “No one’s been able to do that before.”

Jack snorted. “I’ve never done it before,” he said. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Positive. Am I bleeding?”

Jack carefully removed his hand, watching the muscles slowly close. “A drop or two,” he said.

“I’ll be fine by morning,” Daniel assured him. Jack took a couple of wipes and cleaned Daniel up. He cleaned his hand the best he could, tossed the towel across the room, and spooned into Daniel’s side.

“Really?” Jack asked. He kissed Daniel’s cheek and shoulder. Daniel took Jack’s arm and wrapped himself in it as he turned onto his side, pushing his back into Jack’s chest. He winced.

“Really.” He chuckled. “Your hand smells like butt. Go wash and come back to me.”

Jack leaned over him, took a slow kiss, and got out of bed. “Water,” he warned Sam when he entered the bathroom.

“’kay,” she called from the shower. Jack peeked in. She was doing her legs. Jack told her what they did and Sam’s eyes grew wide. “Are you sure he’s alright?”

“I’m sure,” Jack insisted. “Take your time; I’m still owed cuddle time.”

Daniel was still on his side so Jack slid up to his back. “Mmmmm….Paul is going to be jealous,” Daniel murmured, half asleep.

“Don’t tell him about our stuff,” Jack said.

“He’s never been able to do that. I always told him he was a tight-ass.”

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