Generations - Reunion

By the time they reached Centre Neptune, it had gone from being “late at night” to “early tomorrow morning”. Jason was feeling decidedly uncomfortable with his daughter currently clinging to him, albeit fast asleep, however he had no intention of moving her until it was into a bed. He stroked the black hair gently, marvelling as he had so many times since her birth how she had taken a hold of his heart. He would do anything for his daughter – except for the one thing that she had asked for all her life, and was asking now.

Not that the decision to not marry Princess had been 100% his own. Her determination not to divorce Mark had been one of the factors. The other was Jason’s own feelings.

In his heart, he had always felt that he had somehow betrayed Mark by becoming involved with Princess.

A naturally reserved person, Jason had loved the Russian girl since the first moment he saw her. However, he had never acted on it because of her obvious adoration of Mark and his for her.

Mark’s leaving had left him with almost as deep a sense of hurt and betrayal as it had Princess. He could barely remember his own family – but he could clearly remember Anderson bringing him home. Could remember Mark there, the other small boy holding him as he cried, understanding as only another child could the loss Jason had been feeling.

He remembered Mark refusing to let him sleep alone until the time the nightmares that happened every night had stopped. Oh yes. Those nightmares. SO much blood. He remembered waking in terror, crying out, only to have those blue eyes reach into his soul giving comfort. The small hand rubbing his shoulder and Mark’s uncomplaining acceptance that Jason would lash out at the closest thing when he was hurt, and willingly putting himself in the way.

Of all the people in the world, Jason had always felt that Mark had been the first to completely accept him for who he was – and the first who had an understanding of him.

He watched Mark who was obviously in pain, his breathing shallow and his eyes closed. He could see the darkening on his face where a stubble was coming through; see other contusions from their fight. But he was most conscious of the pasty look to his skin. His migraine was going to be a doozy, Jason noted. He began to plan the massage necessary to try to relieve the worst of the symptoms. It was the least that he could do – Mark did ask so rarely for help that when he did, the rest of the team knew it was serious.

He was too gaunt, Jason thought. Oh yes, the muscle was there and to the casual observer Mark appeared to be in top form. But not for somebody who knew him so well.

Jason was a few inches taller than his friend, but other than that they had always been the same size. He knew that Mark only looked slighter than him. Their fighting styles had always been slightly different – Mark more of the gymnast than Jason, who relied on his speed and power rather than the almost inhuman agility and grace that Mark and Princess seemed to possess.
But he was too gaunt. He had noticed it whilst they were fighting, and it had been highlighted when they had gone into the light of the house.

Jason knew part of it was because of the fight Mark had every day against drugs – one that he himself had been fighting for longer and no longer really thought about.

Mark had been completely open about his addictions – and the real reason that he had not contacted them.

One of the things that Jason had always envied about Mark had been his self-control. That iron control that made him appear god-like to friends and foe alike. Nothing could get to the Eagle.

And now, that control had almost completely gone. Mark admitted that whilst he had relapsed with the drugs a few times over the past eight or so years, he had been completely clean there for eighteen months – something that Jason acknowledged was impressive considering Mark’s other addiction.

Another addiction that Jason recognised, along with Mark, as being much more of a risk to their security. He knew he would have to talk to Mark sooner rather than later about it further. Vivian’s revelation about the website that mentioned Mark had impressed on him just how serious things were.

Jason wondered if this was behind Mark’s decision to hole up in Neptune. After all, it would be harder for him to surrender to his sex addiction there. It made him wonder, though, if Mark realised that this particular addiction stemmed from before his capture.

As far back as he could remember Mark had had this sexual aura about him. It was part of his charisma, and drew both males and females to him. He knew Mark had lost his virginity at fourteen – and Jason had envied him the confidence that had let that happen. He also knew that sexually, Mark had been far more adventurous than he would ever dream of. It had been evidenced the first time he slept with Princess, and had been more than a little shocked at some of her suggestions.

It had always been a source of amusement to both Jason and Mark that it was Jason with the reputation. The secret was – Jason was the romantic who loved to charm and woo women.

Mark had been the practical one, whose idea of seduction (unless it came to Princes where he was completely inept) was a kiss or two and then an invitation to bed. Sometimes, Jason had discovered, Mark hadn’t even bothered to learn their names.

That had been the real reason Mark had moved to the airfield as soon as Anderson had consented – and before that had spent as much time there as he could. In his own place, with his own security monitoring in place, Mark could indulge as much as he wanted, and with whomever he wanted. All the while, Jason knew, longing for Princess.

He remembered the day he had confronted Mark and they had their first “adult” heart to heart conversation. How Mark had poured his heart out about the girl they both adored, and the fact that both Anderson and Cronus had impressed on him that, for duty’s sake, he could not act on his feelings.

Anderson had had the same conversation with Jason – but had also made it clear that if, for some reason, both Jason and Princess wanted a relationship, he would not stop it provided they used care and discretion.

Jason had intended to pursue her until his conversation with Mark. How could he possibly add to Mark’s heartbreak? How could he betray Mark and try to take away the person who seemed to be the guiding star in his life?

Mark confessed that he would give all of it up – being the Commander of G-Force, the constant stream of sexual partners, even flying – if he could be with Princess.

And it was more than obvious to the world that she felt the same way.

It had taken nearly five years for Jason to even think of entering into a relationship with Princess after Mark had left. And had only done so after he had walked in on her one evening and seen her using a sex toy. She had looked up and he had seen in her eyes the despair and frustration there.

She hadn’t loved him – well not in the way you were with a lover. Not at first. She had been quite clear to him that she was still deeply in love with Mark, and that her relationship with him was purely sexual.

Or so she had thought. Tiny and Ann had assured him it was otherwise, that they could see the difference in her when he was there. That it was only when they were together that they saw the Princess they had known return – heard her laugh, seen her smile. Take an interest in life.

She hadn’t said the words “I love you” until just after Vivian had been born. He had been so thrilled with his daughter that he had blurted out to her “Princess, I love you.”

Her response, whilst not as romantic as he could have hoped, had finally reassured him that they did have a future. It had only been then that he had felt confident enough to give her the one thing he had left of his mother – that he had treasured all his life and determined not to give it to anybody but the woman he intended to spend his life with.

The ring he could see on her hand. He looked at the faint glint of the stones – none of them of any great worth, but his romantic soul loved that they spelled out the word “dearest”. He had understood though why she would not take off her wedding ring and had never asked her to.

Most people had forgotten that they weren’t married. Most people they met just assumed they were – the rings on Princess’ left hand screamed it.

Jason opened his eyes and sighed, looking again at Mark. He had every right to her. Had every right to want to make love to his wife. Especially since Jason knew Princess still loved him. Occasionally, when they made love, especially when he allowed her to take the lead on a more unusual path, she seemed to forget who she was with, and with her eyes closed, her climax immanent, she would call his name.

Mark.

His honour said that he should step away. Allow Mark and Princess to rebuild their lives. Knew that to do so, he would have to sever his ties with them, see them only professionally.
His heart… His heart said he couldn’t do that. His heart was overjoyed at Mark’s return. The missing part of his heart had returned, and he was feeling whole again. His heart said that if he let them go, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

His heart said that Mark would know the answer.

His head said to fight for Princess. That Vivian was right – to keep his family together he had to fight Mark for her and to treat him the same way as any other threat.

But his whole being knew that for any of them to be whole, they needed a solution. This was more than sex, more than family. This came to the core of who they were.

G-Force.

Anderson had always impressed on them that they were the core of G-Force. Keyop’s inclusion had been an afterthought, and Tiny was only ever really to be the Pilot of Phoenix.

The original “plan” for G-Force had been Mark, Jason and Princess. It was why Anderson had trained them as a trio, had deliberately made them dependent on each other.

Had deliberately programmed their cerebonic implants to enhance that closeness.

Anderson had been lucky. They had clicked as children, fighting and loving each other with equal intensity.

But what use was all that with this current coil?

His heart said that the answer lay with Mark. He didn’t know how. He would have thought that Princess, normally their emotional centre, would be the one to come up with the solution.

But somehow, he knew that in this she would need to be given the solution before she could accept it.

It meant that somehow he and Mark had to come to terms. And Jason wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what the terms were.

He tightened his hold on Vivian and looked to where Chris was sitting on the floor, resting against his mother’s leg. He couldn’t give up his children. Chris, the child of his heart, and Vivian the child of his body.

No matter what, he would not accept anything that would tear apart their family.

“Daddy?”

“Yes kitten?”

“Are we nearly there?”

He finally managed to shift her into a position that was more comfortable and she snuggled closer into him. Jason kissed the top of his daughter’s head. She was no longer the bratty teenager, but the child who had always come to him when in need.
“Nearly, Vivian. Go back to sleep, you’re safe now.”

“ ‘m sorry, Daddy. Sorry I was so horrible. Tell Mama?”

“We know you’re sorry, Viv. I’ll make sure Mama knows though.”

“Love you and Mama, daddy.”

He hugged her tight, and finally let himself cry the tears that had been threatening all evening. The fear that had gripped him when he had thought that this miracle child he and Princess had produced had been lost. “We love you too, Vivian.”

He looked over at Princess and took the hand she reached out, taking comfort from her touch.

Jason nearly jumped at the third touch as Mark, silent as always, had taken up position between and behind them, one hand on each of their shoulders, the slight rubbing virtually invisible to casual observers.

It felt right. Then Jason felt another touch on his other shoulder and saw the tip of a white wing wrapping around his arm. He looked up and saw Mark flex his shoulders slightly, allowing those wings to flare out and around them.

The man could barely stand, and was still trying to keep them safe. His and Mark’s eyes met and Jason could see the tears that matched his own.

“They’re both incredible children,” he said softly to Jason.

“Yes. It’s hard to imagine my life before them.”

“Thank you for Chris.” Mark’s eyes rested on his sleeping son, and then on his wife who had again fallen asleep, one hand in Jason’s, the other reached up to cover his own. “I probably would have fucked him up.”

“I doubt it, Mark. Somehow, I don’t think it would have been possible to fuck up Chris.”

“Between my father, Anderson and I, we probably would have been able to do it.”

Jason chuckled. “Give our Prin some credit. I suspect she would have forestalled any interference. And Anderson was too much of a doting grandpa.”

Mark’s laughter was almost beyond hearing. “Now that is something I would pay a lot of money to see.”

“Stick around, buddy. Viv has him wrapped around her little finger.” Jason felt Mark’s hand tighten briefly. “Go and sit back down before you fall over. Can you survive until I put this one into a bed?”

“As long as I de-transmute over a toilet bowl.”

“Charming.”

Jason almost missed the caress on the back of his neck. “Jase, you know I’ll be out of it by the time you’re finished. So, thanks. I know that your wacky-reiki will do more to help the migraine than any drugs.”

He was gone again, dropping back into the co-pilot seat beside Tiny. Jason felt the slight change as the Phoenix hit the water. Nearly home. Soon, he could have a shower, and then sleep.

The feeling of being watched came back, and he saw Princess looking steadily at him, her green eyes burning. He felt her fingers stroking his palm, and watched her stretch slightly in the chair, letting him see her breasts thrusting forward.

Sleep later then. And then he relaxed. She had turned to him, not Mark. When she was terrified for their children, she turned to him. And now, when their normal after-battle lust was burning through their exhaustion, she turned to him.

His heart sang. He wasn’t going to loose his family.