Fourth Vector Ch. 50

"The blond hair is a dead giveaway," added Jack with a friendly look as he shook Howard's hand. "It's quite a long story how I ended up in Java but the short version is that I was moved for my protection as a baby. It's only as an adult that I found out about my real heritage."

"And a king no less," said Lydia as she gave a triumphant smile to her husband. "See, I told you my inclination was spot on."

Abigail looked back and forth at her parents. "What do you mean?"

"We've just been so worried about what happened to you," explained Lydia to Abigail. "Especially after what happened to your sister. We knew your ship was one of the few that went with Jack. It was demonized with him in the newspapers and everyone claimed you were a traitor."

"It was hard times for our family," added Howard, shooting an intense look at Jack. "Very hard times."

"Hard times, but here we still are," said Lydia, soothing the issue. "Anyway, when Jack came back with this invasion and we heard he had his old ships with him, we figured you were here too. But that was also when he heard that he was a king and that he had a Queen Abigail with him."

"We put two and two together," chimed Andrew, Abigail's brother. "And that's why we're here. We figured Abigail was still alive and she was with you." Andrew turned to look at his sister. "So it's true then. You're really a queen?"

Abigail smiled and nodded. "It's true. I'm the Queen of Galicia by the default of being Jack's wife."

"Interesting," grunted Howard before he finally noticed that Kat was in the room. He looked at her for a moment before looking back to his daughter. "And who is this? Another Fourthie by the looks of her?"

Now it was time for the truth to come out. Jack braced himself for the response.

"That is my sister-wife," explained Abigail with all the coolness in the world. "This is Katherine Kincardine, Queen of Galicia, Jack's wife, and my best friend. We call her Kat for short."

Kat barely had a chance to extend her hand before Howard looked ready to burst a blood vessel.

"I don't understand! How are there two queens?" He turned to glare at Jack. "You have two wives? What kind of game are you playing with my daughter?"

"Dad, relax," said Abigail quietly, putting herself between Howard and Jack. "This is the life that I chose. I love Jack and Kat is as close to me as my own sister, if not closer. I love the family that I have with them."

"Please understand, this is part of our custom," said Kat, speaking up for the first time. "Galician kings will typically have a land wife and a sea wife. It's part of our ancient traditions."

"Some custom," growled Howard. "All I know is that this man, no matter how important that he is, is running around on my daughter with another woman!"

"Howard, please try to calm down," said Lydia, putting her hand on her husband's arm.

Jack saw the situation was starting to spiral out of control. Not only was Abigail's father upset, but now her brothers were both looking like they were willing to enforce any verbal threat that their father was going to make. He saw this turning ugly quickly.

Thankfully, Abigail knew just how to handle her father.

"Dad, I'm old enough to make my own decisions," said Abigail, planting her hands firmly on her hips. "And this is the life that I want. I'm not a child anymore, no matter what you might think. And here I am about to have a child of my own. It's time to let me grow up and make my own choices. Don't you remember what happened when I enrolled to be in the Academy?"

Howard somewhat relented as he remembered his reaction to his oldest daughter becoming a naval officer. He still didn't seem pleased with the situation.

"That was different," he said, showing the first signs of a chink in his armor.

Abigail giggled and shook her head. "It's not different at all and you know it. You just want to still be the protective father bear but you know that I've grown up. I don't need protecting anymore, Dad. And in a few months, you're going to be a grandfather. I can't have you getting mad at the man who made that possible."

Abigail's plea seemed to have done the trick. Howard's cool exterior melted somewhat and he didn't appear like he was ready to challenge Jack to fight. That didn't mean that he was ready to accept Jack with open arms either.

"Come on, Dad," said Abigail, pulling on his arm. "I think we need to have a heart-to-heart. Let's talk for a little."

As Howard let himself be pulled away, Jack finally understood the relationship between them. Abigail was used to getting her way as the oldest daughter, and even now she still knew how to melt his fury.

Luckily for all of them, Abigail's speech seemed to mollify the brothers, and they no longer appeared to be flexing their muscles. Lydia even managed to look partly amused.

"Please don't take what my husband says personally, Jack," she said as she watched them leave the room temporarily. "He can be a little rough around the edges but he's a very good man once you get to know him."

"I understand his position completely," said Jack, shaking his head. "Believe me, I know how it looks. Our relationship isn't the norm but it's extraordinary if you ask me. I get to dedicate my life to two very incredible women. I wouldn't change a thing about it but I know it can appear odd to outsiders."

"It's not that odd, dear," said Lydia, patting Jack's hand and leaving him confused. Before he could ask about it, she turned to embrace Kat. "And it's wonderful to meet you as well, Kat. Anyone that Abigail says is close enough to be a sister to her is a very rare person indeed. She had many friends growing up but none of them particularly close. The bond between you two most be very strong."

Kat smiled fondly. "It really is. I love her as much as I love him. We've created a family together. Jack and I have a son already and with Abigail's child on the way, I'm looking forward to seeing how big our family can get. I don't know if I could have handled half of what's happened in the last few years without Abigail."

Alex gave Kat and Jack a knowing look. "Abigail has always been a rock for the family. She's always been one of those that you turn to when you need help. I'm glad to see that it's still that way."

"It definitely is," confirmed Jack. "There's no lack of love or appreciation for what Abigail brings to our relationship."

The two brothers looked at each other and then shrugged. "If it's good enough for Abigail, then it's good enough for us," said Andrew. "But the usual caveats still apply to the situation."

Jack chuckled. "Let me guess--if I break her heart, you'll break my legs, right?"

Alex laughed with him and nodded. "We wouldn't stop at your legs though."

"Well, you don't have to worry about that," said Jack. "This is for the long haul. Abigail is my queen and we're going to spend the rest of our lives together."

"Now that's the kind of future that I hoped she'd always have," added Lydia before focusing on Jack. "Jack, may I have a few moments with you as well? Not too much of your time but there are some things I'd like to say privately."

"Of course," replied Jack before he looked over at Kat. "Okay with you?"

Kat nodded and turned toward the brothers. "How would you two feel about seeing some more of the palace? I've only just gotten here recently but I've explored a good bit of these halls. Would you like to see some of the sights?"

That seemed agreeable to Abigail's brothers and the trio soon left the room, leaving Jack alone with Lydia.

Once alone, Lydia took a deep breath and locked her brown eyes on him. At that moment, Jack felt like he'd truly been transported back in time, to when Anna used to give him the same look.

"It seems my family's visit has been a little volatile so far," she said with some amusement. "And I apologize that it's been that way."

Jack shrugged. "I expected this to be honest. Abigail will tell you that I've been nervous since she first told me you were here. Their reaction, I expected," said Jack, gesturing to the door that Abigail's father and brothers had just left from. "But it's yours that surprises me. It almost seems like you're not that bothered by my relationship with your daughter. I'm trying to figure out why that is."

A guilty look appeared on Lydia's face. "Funny you should ask that, Jack. Would it surprise you to know that I have a sister as well? An older sister?"

Jack shook his head. "No, but why would it?"

Lydia took a deep breath. "Well, we might have shared a man once. Just once, long before Howard. In any event, I'm not exactly a stranger to strange relationships, especially with my own blood. From what I've heard from my daughters, that seems to be the case with you as well. I mean beyond Abigail and Kat?"

Jack felt himself turning red. "You knew about Anna."

Lydia nodded. "I did. She told me at the time. Abigail didn't but that's nothing new. In the dispatches that Anna would send home, she mentioned you quite frequently. I knew that once I heard about you and Abigail, that it was the same man. So you see, I'm very understanding of your situation."

Jack had to give her credit. She had a much deeper understanding of the situation than she let on earlier.

"I still miss Anna from time to time," said Jack, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "We weren't right for each other but funny enough, I think it was the relationship with Anna that made Abigail get off the fence about me."

"Hmm, jealousy will do that," said Lydia. "In most cases, those threeway relationships don't typically last very long because of the jealousy. But it seems like what you have with Abigail and Kat is the real deal. I can tell that you cherish that."

"I certainly do," replied Jack before taking a deep breath. "And I know Anna had a part in making that happen. The last time we were in Java, Abigail and I visited her grave. We both still miss her and her memory is still with me. She was a great person."

"Yes, she was," replied Lydia. "And she died fighting for what she believed in. I miss her greatly and not a day goes by that I don't think of her. That's why when I heard that Abigail was alive, I had to see her. I can't lose both my daughters, Jack."

"Now that the war is over, you won't lose Abigail," promised Jack. "We'll always be there for you, especially with your grandchild on the way."

Lydia gave him a sad smile. "Tell me something, Jack. How long does it take to get to your Galicia from Java? What is the travel time?"

And there was the rub.

"Four weeks to get across the great ocean," said Jack. "And another two to cross the breadth of the Fourth Vector to get to Galicia."

"So six weeks of sea travel, one way," said Lydia, pursing her lips. "And you're intending to go back soon, aren't you? With the war over, you won't stay in Java for very long."

Jack winced and then nodded. "That's right. I know it might seem like our stay is short but I have a very large army that wants to go home. Soldiers without anything to do usually find themselves in trouble, and I want to make sure that it doesn't get to that point."

Lydia nodded. "I understand, unfortunately. But from the sounds of it, I'm going to miss the birth of my grandchild. I only just found out about the baby very recently, but I can't say that I'm happy that I'm going to miss it."

Jack put his hands on Lydia's shoulders. "You are welcome in Galicia any time you choose to come. We can arrange it so that you're there for the birth, and you can stay as long as you like. I know the travel will be tough but I don't want it to be a barrier between you and your daughter. You've been separated enough."

Lydia smiled at him. "Thank you, Jack. I appreciate your offer, I do. It does still make me sad that I won't get to see her often but I know my daughter. I know the conversation she's having with her father right now, and all of it is based on something that I already know--she's happy. I can see it in her eyes. I can tell when she smiles. She's yours completely, you know? Her heart is entirely in your hands."

"I promise you that I'll never give her a reason to doubt putting that trust in me," vowed Jack. "I promised to cherish her on the day I married her and I meant every word. She's in good hands."

Lydia reached over and patted his shoulder. "As a mother, that's the best thing you can hear. Marriage isn't easy, especially when there are three of you but I have a feeling you'll be one of those marriages that makes it the long haul. You all have a certain quality about you. I know my Abigail is safe with you."

At that point, Jack embraced his mother-in-law genuinely. Nothing more needed to be said except for one thing.

"Thank you," he whispered in her ear.

Lydia chuckled. "Don't thank me just yet," she said as she gestured behind him. "You still have a tough job in front of you."

Jack turned to see that Abigail and her father were now coming back into the study. Howard Wainwright looked a little less peeved than before but by the look in his eyes, he still had much he wanted to discuss.

"Come on, Mom," said Abigail as she grabbed her mother's hand. "Let's give them a chance to talk."

Lydia started to laugh again. "Don't you think one of us should stay to mediate just in case?"

Abigail shook her head. "I think we're going to be just fine. They're adults. They'll be just fine."

Abigail gave Jack a wink before she shut the door behind her, leaving him alone with her father. Jack found himself temporarily lost for words, not knowing how to start the conversation with him. He'd learned much from her mother, who seemed very understanding and wise for her years, but despite Abigail's lack of anxiety, he wasn't sure what to expect.

To his surprise, Howard was the first to start speaking.

"You know, Jack, there have been quite a few times in my life when I've let my temper get the best of me," said Howard, pausing to take a breath. "This time is one of them. I should have known better than to sprout off like I did, especially considering the fact that you're one of the most powerful men in the world now."

Jack shook his head. "Trust me, that has nothing to do with it. I was just as nervous to meet you, and even after what I've been through, the moment you walked through the door I felt like a young man about to meet his girlfriend's father for the very first time. The need to make a good impression went above anything else."

Howard started to nod. "I haven't felt that feeling in years. I still remember the first time I met Lydia's father, Abigail's grandfather. The man squeezed my hand so hard that I thought he broke something. Of course, I couldn't let it show in my face. I wanted to show him that I was a tough man, the kind of man that he might have always envisioned his daughter ending up with but inside, I felt that anxiety--the same anxiety that I'm sure you're feeling now."

Jack managed to chuckle. "I'm grateful that you didn't attempt to break my hand. I already have a bad foot that's trying to heal."

Howard didn't laugh but turned to face Jack. "I love my daughter, Jack. I love her to death. She's my only daughter now, and so I have to be extra protective. The problem with that is that my daughter is a grown woman. She can take care of herself. There used to be a time when I had more of a say in her life but that time has long since passed. Abigail doesn't hesitate to let me know that she's capable of making her own decisions, and I've had to rely on her instinct ever since."

Howard let out a deep sigh. "Some of those decisions haven't been easy. The decision for her to go to the Academy and become a naval officer was one of the toughest. We fought with each other and almost didn't speak for a week because of it. She's stubborn, that one. Stubborn like her father. Thankfully, this decision isn't as hard as that one."

Jack raised his eyebrow, waiting for the other man to elaborate on his train of thought.

Howard looked somewhat sympathetic. "My daughter loves you, Jack. She's in love with you. She just spent the last thirty minutes telling me all about the last three years and what she's been through with you. I know the emotion in her runs deep, and it all runs for you. Like I've done in the past, I'm going to trust her instinct."

At that point, Howard extended his hand to Jack, something that Jack immediately recognized as the gesture.

It was a peace offering. It was acceptance of their relationship.

Jack took the other man's hand and shook it firmly.

"I promised Lydia that I'll always take care of Abigail," said Jack. "And I meant it. To my last breath, I'll always take care of her and our children. I love her so very much."

Howard nodded. "I'm trusting you, Jack. I can tell by your words and your tone that you mean what you say. Though I don't know you very well, I know my daughter does. And if she trusts you, then so will I."

"I was telling Lydia that we'll make sure you can come see us whenever you want," said Jack. "For the birth of your grandchild, for any visits afterward, you know it. We'll never be much further apart than a trip across the ocean."

"I would like that very much, Jack," said Howard. "It's been a long time since I was last on the open waves. I miss it in a way, and I would very much like to be a part of this child's life. I want to know my grandchild, and I want to see my daughter become a mother. I've wanted that for her since she was a little girl."

Jack started to smile. "She's going to be a great mother. She already is. She's just as much a mother to our son, John, as Kat is. She's going to be amazing."

Howard smiled with him. "I couldn't agree more. It's hard to believe that my little girl has grown up. I've missed so much of the last few years and it seems that I missed her getting married and becoming pregnant. I don't want to miss anything else. I want us to be involved, and if you'll help us get across the ocean, we'll take it."

"Dad?"

Both men looked over at the door to find that Abigail had snuck into the room. They still hadn't stopped shaking hands from before, but as Abigail closed the distance between them, she watched warily, almost as if she didn't believe the truce that was now evident.

"Everything okay in here?" she asked, looking at each man.

To Jack's surprise, he pulled his hand closer to Abigail, and then Howard grabbed her hand in turn. He released Jack's grip and then put Abigail's hand in Jack's.

The message was certainly clear at that point.

Howard smiled as he looked at his eldest daughter. "Everything is just fine now."

*****

For the first two weeks after the declaration of peace, the city of Belfort remained in a state of flux. While the Treaty of Belfort ultimately ended the war, there still remained the massive task of demobilizing the state and getting everyone back to normal. Bancroft had instituted a policy that was very close to total war, whereas every industry and resource was utilized to further the purpose of winning the war. That meant that industries had to readjust to peacetime, and vast amounts of Javan soldiers had to come home and get back to their old lives.

There were a lot more faces than there used to be in the capital city. For the first time in ages, young men appeared in droves, many having been released from their units.

For the majority of them, it was a bittersweet reunion with their loved ones although there was a small minority who came back to nothing, finding that their family members had perished under the weight of Bancroft's industrial conscription. Those men would have the hardest time readjusting back to society but more generally, there was hope in the city once more.

The hope that the difficult times were over and that with a little hard work, the good times could resume once again.