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wardenparker · 2 years ago

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Down the Rabbit Hole - ch 15

Jack ‘Whiskey’ Daniels x female reader Co-written with @absurdthirst

When Jack accidentally shoots a civilian on a mission he takes on not only the guilt of the man’s death, but inherits his soulmate as well. To you, it’s a dream job with more perks than you can imagine - but for Jack it’s a nightmarish complication. Even more so when he starts to develop feelings.

Rating: Mature, but this blog is always 18+ Word Count: 14k Warnings: *Blanket warnings - mentions of deceased spouse, a lot of food and alcohol consumption, family recipes, age gap, cursing.* Flirty and somewhat explicit banter, pregnancy, discussion of symptoms, mood swings, cemetery/deceased loved ones, speaking to deceased loved ones. Summary: A bittersweet return home to Montana brings mixed emotions for Jack, while you get some insight into the young man that he used to be via some unexpected new friends. Notes: Sincerest apologies for any typos/mistakes I missed in editing this week, my loves. Chronic illness has reared its ugly head again. Next week’s epilogue will be the final installment of this beautiful rollercoaster ride, and I am so, so grateful to all of you for sticking with us on this adventure! Though I’m absolutely heartbroken to see it end, when one door closes another opens, and I know that we’ll have just as much fun with the next story as we’ve had with Jack and Sugar. 🧡🤠

Ch 1 ~ Ch 2 ~ Ch 3 ~ Ch 4 ~ Ch 5 ~ Ch 6 ~ Ch 7 ~ Ch 8 ~ Ch 9 ~ Ch 10 ~ Ch 11 ~ Ch 12 ~ Ch 13 ~ Ch 14 ~ Ch 15 ~ Epilogue

The last step off the jet's ramp makes him pause. One little step between him and the ground. Staring at it for a second before Jack Daniels steps foot back in Montana again officially. It's been a long time. Boot hits the tarmac and Jack turns, holding out his hand to help you down even though he's well aware you don't need it. He had decided to bring the jet, the smaller one. Needing the expedience of the private plane if something that required his attention happened, it also allowed him this moment without prying eyes. Swallowing slightly as he offers you a nervous smile. "Welcome to my home state, sugar."

"Looks a lot like every place else so far," you squeeze his hand gently and smile, knowing that this trip has been causing him a lot of apprehension in the weeks leading up to it. He had even called up the board overseeing the ranch to have the main house cleaned up for the two of you to stay in. It was still his house, after all. "I'm sure the rest of the state is lovely beyond this little airport."

"Hell, this airport wasn't even here the last time I was here." He had been shocked when he learned there was an airport within an hour of the ranch. He had purposefully ignored anything about the entire state while he had been an agent and Champ had not given him any missions that would taken him there.

"It's been a long time." With your suitcase in one hand you reach for Jack with the other. He might need an extra bit of grounding on this trip and you're happy to provide it. Especially with the added weight of things sitting on your shoulders. Happy, of course, but still heavy. "Let's find our ride and head for the ranch? I'm excited to see where you grew up."

The ranch. Jack nods, gripping your hand tightly in appreciation before he lets go so he can grab your suitcase from you. His own bag is sitting beside him right as two dually trucks pulls up, both with the emblem of a beautifully scrawled 'D' emblazoned on the side with the Daniels Ranch est. 1851 written underneath. The director of the ranch had told him he would have a truck from the ranch dropped off at the airport for his use. A younger man, obviously a cowboy, hops out from behind the wheel and dashes back behind him to the truck following to climb inside and the second truck takes off.

"I guess that's us." There's no mistaking the yellow logo on the side of the black trucks, and Jack loads your bags in the back before helping you up into the cab where the keys have been left in the ignition.

"Been a long damn time since I've been in a ranch truck." It's obvious that the truck has been cleaned and polished up, but it's a working truck. The toolbox in the back held plenty of tools and ropes for any issues they could run into. "You ready, sugar?"

"Ready as ever." It's a beautiful day and the flight was easy. There's no reason that this drive should be difficult at all beyond the emotional weight that it holds for Jack, and you turn on the radio to see what the ranch hands had been listening to on their way to drop off the truck. Classic rock pours through the speakers - currently a song by the little-appreciated band Little Feat that has you turning up the sound with a gleeful cackle. "This is my mom's favourite song," you explain, when Jack raises an eyebrow at you over the lyrics 'If you'll be my Dixie Chicken, I'll be your Tennessee Lamb'.

He grins, relaxing slightly at the way you start singing the song. Off key and not even trying, but he thinks that might be on purpose. “Should be at the ranch in no time.”

It's a beautiful drive. The Montana countryside is in full bloom as the end of the summer starts to just barely wave at autumn, and there are as many folks out on horses as there are in trucks or in cars. The rolling hills and striking distant mountains remind you of home much more than you had expected, lending a sort of calm to the whole thing. By the time the big iron main gate of the Daniels Ranch comes into view, you're nearly sighing. "I know we just got here, but I kind of love it," you tell him honestly.

Montana does have a sense of magic. At one point in time, Jack would have been content to spend his entire life here. “Wait until you see the main house.” He chuckles. “The master suite is the original log cabin, the rest of the house was expanded over the years.”

"1851." The year is on the gate as you pass under it just like it's on the side of the truck you're in. "That's before statehood, right? I barely remember all those dates from history class. But does that mean your family were early settlers or something?"

“I guess you could say that. Montana became a state in 1889. My family decided to move to the territory because a change of heart.” Jack explains. “The way I understand it, the first Daniels here wanted to go to Oregon in the ‘40s, but didn’t manage to convince his wife until ‘49. Then there was some kind of dispute on the trail and they turned north.”

"Sounds like it took a whole lot of convincing." You laugh, imagining the conversations that must have happened over the course of almost ten years. As he drives further onto the property it's apparent that his family's land is as productive as it is vast. There are fields as far as the eye can see and plenty of activity to boot. "Well you really are a cowboy, aren't you?" Past one pasture, you can see a heard of maybe two dozen head of cattle being inspected by a pair of men on horseback. "Right down to your bones."

“Born on this ranch.” Jack chuckles. “In the same bed we are sleepin’ in.” He breaks away from looking at the activity to wink at you. “New mattress though.”

“That’s a good thing.” Though you’re practically hanging out the windows for a better look at the ranch, you tangle your fingers through his on top of the gear shift. “Hope the bed frame isn’t as old as the ranch, either. Or we might break it.”

“Don’t think you’re gunna break that frame.” Jack hums, wondering what you will think of the rough hew timber bed frame that is polished smooth after over a hundred years of use.

“Maybe not.” Turning to flash him a mischievous grin, you also leave a kiss on the palm of his hand that you’re holding for good measure. “But we could sure give it a good try.”

Humming quietly, he smirks as he pulls your hand across his body to hold it against his heart. “We’ll give it a good try. I know you’ll like the tub that my momma had daddy put in.”

More than anything you just want this trip to be good for him. He has avoided coming back here for decades with good reason but you want this week to give him some new, positive memories to associate with the family ranch. “I’ll love every inch of it. Especially if there’s a good tub.”

“It’s big enough that I used to swim in it when I was younger.” Jack throws you a grin. “It was my swimmin’ hole when I couldn’t get out to go to the real one.”

“I like your parents’ style.” A swimming hole sized bathtub sounds like perfection to you. “We’ll have to have at least one bath while we’re here.”

“Oh yeah. I told them to make sure that we could use it.” He doesn’t mention Abigail. His daddy had still been in that bedroom when she had lived here.

“My back aches from hunching over the line at the restaurant thank you.” There’s been other aches lately, back and hips and those sorts of things, but it doesn’t matter. Life is good these days. Better than good.

“Well then, we’re going to get you set up with a Jack Daniels specialty massage.” He winks over at you and then nods as he spots the main house. “There she is. The old homestead.”

The ranch house is on top of a small hill, sprawling out against the late-summer sun like it’s welcoming Jack back with open arms. “She’s fantastic,” your eyes light up at the sight, already falling in love with every inch of Montana that unfurls around you.

“Lot of memories here.” They aren’t as bitter as much as bittersweet these days. “Most of them good. Unless you count the first time I broke my arm when I got bucked off my horse.”

"First time?" You raise an eyebrow at him as he pulls the truck up the driveway and parks in front of the garage. "What was the second time you broke your arm?"

Jack grins. “Uh…might have been jumpin’ off the roof.” He admits with a chuckle. “Thought I was bulletproof back then.”

"Of course you did." Despite huffing and rolling your eyes heavily, you just chuckle until your breath.

Snorting, Jack pulls up to the house and lets go of your hand so he can put the truck in park.

"Mr. Daniels." There's a man in a suit and bolo tie with a crisp Stetson on his head coming out of the house when Jack comes around to help you out of the passenger side of the truck. "Ma'am," he nods to you and tips his hat. "Hope your flight was alright. Did you find the place okay?"

“Like ridin’ a bike.” Jack keeps his eyes away from the northwest corner of the property. The iron fence is small and neat but he doesn’t want this to crumble now. “You always know your way back home.” He holds his hand out to shake the director’s hand. “Everything ready for our visit?”

"Yes, sir. Neat as a pin and fully stocked with essentials. I think you'll find everything in order, and of course you have my number if you need anything additional." Since it was the first time ever that the owner had asked to come out to the property, the director and his team had gone slightly overboard in making sure that everything was here that could possibly be needed.

“Place looks good.” Jack looks out over the front pastures with a hum. “I’ve been looking over the reports and it seems like the ranch is doing well.” Since Champ had retired, Jack had to take over his own oversight of the board for the ranch.

"Very well. Blue ribbons and record profits, actually." And clearly the director credits himself with that, from how puffed up his chest is. "Can I ask, sir...what prompted this visit? It's been a mighty long time since we've seen you. Not that we're not glad you're here, of course."

“My soulmate wanted to see the place.” He’s aware the director has been informed of the circumstances that had caused Jack to leave the ranch. Reaching back, he draws you forward and into his side to hug you to him. “It’s time to put old ghosts to rest.”

"Sounds like a very good reason for a visit." The director commends. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Anythin' you need, you give me a call. The crew knows not to use the main house this week while you're here but they'll be going about their duties as usual."

Jack nods. “Thank you. I’m sure we will enjoy ourselves. Thank you for having the truck brought to the airport.”

"Of course." With one more tip of his hat and another, "ma'am" to you, he gets in his car and heads off for the main road.

“Well, that went well.” Jack blows out a breath and grins at you. “Ready to go inside? I’m not sure if the house has been redecorated or not in the last…well, since I left. So, wanna find out?”

"Let's go find out." He earns a pout from you when he won't even let you carry your own suitcase, but you follow just behind him as he heads into the house with curiosity. It's a comfy little place - even though it looks small it seems to sprawl on forever as you step inside. One room after another with a long hallway and a carved stairwell leading to the small second floor. Everything looks hand hewn even though it couldn't possibly have been, and it seems as though the dormer dining room downstairs has been transformed into a working office. Other than that? You could trick pretty much anyone into thinking that a family still lived here every day.

“Damn.” The place is immaculate, telling Jack that they probably keep a housekeeper on. He doesn’t mind that, the old place deserves the respect. “Bedroom we are staying in is through here.” He nods down a hallway that connects the original cabin to the rest of the house.

"So upstairs was your room?" You guess, glancing up the stairs as you follow him down the hall. There's a little bathroom at the top of the stairs and another closed door. "At some point the attic got turned into a second bedroom?"

“Yeah.” Jack sighs. “Momma and daddy were tryin’ for another. When they remodeled that area last.” She had gotten sick and passed, making his daddy concentrate on the ranch.

One hand rests on his back gently in support, but when you follow him into the master bedroom you end up sighing a little. One entire cabin was now just a room - but what a gorgeous room. Carefully crafted and lovingly done, it's obvious that the whole rest of the house was done to try to mimic the style of the original little cabin and no one could come close to the beauty of the original craftsmanship. "Oh..." You breathe out, looking around as Jack sets the suitcases on the bed. "Jack, it's beautiful."

“The bed is original.” Jack reminds you, showing you the large bed in the middle of the room. “Mattress has to be special made.”

"This bed is from 1851?" You raise an eyebrow at him again, though this time it's in surprise. "That is some damn good craftsmanship."

“Solid.” Jack chuckles. “Hundred-year-old oak.” He sets the bags down and slaps one of the solid wood posts.

"Alriiight," you relent like it pains you. "We won't try to break the antique bed. But we will damn well enjoy having it all to ourselves."

“Oh yeah we will.” Jack smirks as he takes your hand and pulls you through to the bathroom. “Just like you will live in here.”

"Oh yes, yes I absolutely will." The bathroom isn't overly large but it is dominated by an enormous tub that fits neatly into the far corner of the room.

“Told you that you would like it.” He chuckles quietly.

"I'm gonna live in this room every night," you promise him with a grin. "We are going to live in this room every night. Long, indulgent baths after walking around town or the ranch all day."

“That sounds good. That tub has seen many nights of soaking aching muscles.” Jack tells you, smirking slightly.

"You trying to tell me you were conceived in that tub?" The smirk on your lips is barely holding back a giggle, and you lean in to kiss Jack in the doorway. "Let's unpack, baby. I want to drive around town and have you point out all the places that you used to hang out as a teenager that are different now."

“We can do that.” Jack stops you from moving, pulling you close and cupping your cheeks as he stares into your eyes seriously. “A lot of those stories include Abigail, baby.” He reminds you softly. “But I want you to know that I love you.”

"I especially want to hear the ones that have to do with Abigail," you promise him. To you, that really is part of the whole point of this trip. To give him the opportunity and the freedom to tell you those stories about how he came to be the man he was when you met him. The man who was very much formed by his experiences with his first soulmate. "I love you more than anything, Jack. All of you."

Closing his eyes, Jack leans forward and presses his lips to your forehead and then your lips. “Let’s get this trip started then.”

******

The day really is mostly spent in that truck driving around. For as small as Lloyd is, it holds a lot of memories and that means Jack has a lot of stories to tell. It's past dusk when he parks the truck on Main Street and helps you out, intending to walk down the main drag of town and pick out someplace to eat before heading back to the ranch for the night.

“So that little candy show used to be an ice cream shop. Or soda shop.” Jack points out, holding your hand as he slowly reacquaints himself with the little square. “They made the best floats.”

"I can see little Jack pulled up to the counter at the soda shop for a root beer float." The visual makes you grin, picturing a glass as big as his head and how big it would make his eyes with anticipation while he watched it being made. "I can't believe you still had a soda shop growing up. That's positively picturesque."

“The little old man who ran it, Mr. Johnson, he met his soulmate there. So he couldn’t bear to let it go.” He explains with a small smile. “Nearly all of our dates where there.”

"That's pretty much the perfect date place if you're a teenager." You can acknowledge that wholeheartedly. "That, and Lover's Lane." A place which he had already pointed out to you with an especially sly smirk on your drive earlier.

“Remember, nothing too bad happened on Lovers Lane.” He hums. “We were good and waited until our wedding night for the full experience.

"Definitely not something you and I can say." With the wedding still nine months away, you almost have to laugh at the irony of the amount of time you have left.

“No way I could wait with you, sugar.” Jack smirks, sliding a gaze down to your lips. “Not when you look like a sin wrapped angel.”

"Oooo, that's a good one." You crack a grin, beaming at him as you hold hands and stroll down the street. "You should remember that one. It's guaranteed to get a reaction out of me."

“It was good, wasn’t it?” He’s proud of that one. “Maybe you’ll ride me in that bathtub tonight. I did bring a bottle of whiskey with me for tub drinks.”

"Nobody's gonna make a noise complaint on that big ranch when it's just you and me at night." The smile on your face gets a little wider. "So I can all but promise I'll be taking my cowboy for a ride tonight."

“That’s - are you ready to go back now?” He waggles his brows playfully just to get you to laugh. He won’t cut this short, enjoying watching you experience it too much. It solidifies his theory that you and Abigail would have been good friends.

"You promised to take me to dinner on our first night here," you remind him with as pretty a pout as you can manage. It's not that the little town has anything grand to offer in the way of restaurants, it's just that you're enjoying seeing where he came from. The kind of place that brought your Jack into the world is exactly the kind of place you want to explore.

“Anything you want, you know you’re gunna get when you poke that lip out.” He groans, shaking his head even though he’s grinning.

"How about a kiss and whatever they serve at..." Arbitrarily looking around, you blindly point at a store front about a block in front of you that has a big bear's claw on the sign and not much else. "The Bear Claw," you read the name off the sign with a shrug. "If there's not one single thing on the menu containing bear, I'm gonna be disappointed."

“Done.” Jack pulls you close and doesn’t hesitate to cover your lips with his own. Groaning slightly at the way your arms immediately curl around him and hold him to you. There’s a sense of deja vu, he had kissed Abigail here a hundred times before on a rare night in town. Because of the Rollins bullshit, most often they were at the ranch, but on the nights that they ventured into town, it had been just as sweet as this moment.

The enthusiasm and sweetness of the moment has you giggling in his arms, loving how relaxed he is so far. It’s a little bit of a surprise - I had thought he would be more serious or more guarded - but this stroll down memory lane seems to have been a wonderful idea for him. Being wrapped up in each other on the little Main Street without a care in the world is a very good look for both of you.

“Are you hungry, sugar?” Jack pulls away and grins at you. “Might need your strength for later.”

“Let’s get some dinner.” Your nose wrinkles as your smile grows, not wanting to let go of him even for one second. “I’m suddenly ravenous.”

“For food, sugar.” Jack hums playfully, letting you turn and tuck yourself into his side. The lights that are strung over the street come on, giving the Main Street a very quaint and homely glow. Obviously set up for the festival, or maybe the town has them year round now.

“Yup. For food.” Deciding to go see what The Bear Claw is all about, you and Jack walk down the next block and find yourselves in a homey little restaurant-and-bar with a dance floor and pool tables not unlike Shootouts back in Louisville - but definitely more family oriented. There are kids at tables and some arcade cabinets lining one wall, giving you the impression that the place has put more of an emphasis on family dining than being a bar over the years.

“Have to admit, this place wasn’t around when I was here.” Jack tells you as you both walk up to the host stand. “This building used to be an old office humoring for lawyers.”

"I like it." Even at first glance it's homey and welcoming. Exactly the kind of place where you can imagine the owner knows every single regular's name without hesitation. You stay tucked into the side while Jack chats politely to the teenaged hostess and she brings you to a booth along the windows before retreating again. There's a sizeable drink menu, which makes sense, but you spot a section of the drinks list marked Homebrewed Iced Tea with raspberry listed as a flavour and hum happily.

“The menu looks good and I spy something….” Jack taps the menu where it says that all beef is provided by the Daniels Ranch. “Looks like I’m getting the largest damn steak they have.”

"Sounds like I'm going to satisfy my burger craving after all." If you've maybe been having more burgers than usual lately it is probably a complete coincidence, but you've definitely been on a kick lately. "So..." you venture quietly, reaching your hand across the table for his. "How has your first day back been so far?"

“It’s….” Jack pauses and tilts his head. “It’s not as painful as I thought it would be.” He admits quietly. “I thought I would be a mess. I probably would be if it weren’t for you.”

"Then I'm very glad to be here with you." Not that you wouldn't be glad to be with him anywhere, but it seems like it's especially important right now. "I love you, honey. And I'm so glad that this has been easier than you expected."

“I’m sure there will be some moments where it’s not easy.” Sunrise will be one of them. Abigail had loved sunrise on the ranch, often sitting with her tea or coffee on the front porch and soaking it in. “But just bear with me, sugar, and I’ll get through it. I love you so much.”

"I love you, too." You squeeze his hand gently as the waitress comes over, smiling sunnily when she greets you and takes your drink order.

Jack hums when you order the raspberry sweet tea, ordering a plain Arnold Palmer for himself and grinning when you impulsively order the Korean BBQ sliders as an appetizer.

"So the festival starts tomorrow." The little town seems to be booming with excitement - decorations are up and the streets are bustling. Tomorrow morning the town square will be transformed and there will be booths, competitions, and from the flier you saw there's even a beauty queen to be crowned. "Is there anything in particular you want to check out? I know you were peaking at the town website."

“There’s a roping competition.” Jack chuckles, smirking slightly at you. “Thought I might throw my hat in the ring.”

"You gonna show off a little?" It's definitely not something you're going to discourage him from, and you shoot him a sly grin. "You know...they're handing out a blue ribbon for a few categories of baked goods on the second day." The page dedicated to the rules on the town's website had caught your attention and you had wiped away the thought of showing off in your own right, but if Jack is going to throw his hat in literally, you could do it figuratively.

“You gunna make your coconut cupcakes?” Jack chuckles, sending you a wink. “Or that lemon tiramisu you made and nearly sent the restaurant into a frenzy?”

"That tiramisu is incredible." It was the final result of all of your experiments with lemon curd and the combination of the tart fruit with fresh basil had resulted in a new permanent menu item from how popular it was. "They have categories for cake, pie, and cookies. I bet if we took a spin around the nearest grocery store after dinner to look for ingredients, I could find everything I need for the coconut whiskey cake I made back when Champ first brought me to Louisville. Bring a little Statesman spirit into things?"

“I knew you weren’t gunna be able to resist.” He leans back on the booth, grinning. “Tequila owes me a hundred bucks.”

"I wasn't going to!" You groan playfully, sitting back at the table and pouting at him pathetically to keep yourself from laughing. "I was going to resist! I was! And then you said you might try your hand so I figured it was okay."

“Never make excuses for making me money.” Jack teases. “Even better than the hundred bucks is the braggin’ rights.”

“How do you know you’ll get to brag? Maybe someone here is a much better baker than me.” You pause for a moment to thank the waitress when she brings your drinks and appetizer, and you and Jack order dinner at the same time. “It’s not impossible.”

“Pretty damn near.” Jack snorts. “Face it sugar, you’re gunna win that competition.” He winks again. “Just like I’m gunna win mine.”

“I see we’ve come home to show the old town a thing or two about who Jack Daniels grew up to be.” There’s pride in your voice, and you don’t bother to hide it for even a second as you sip your tea. “Sounds like maybe you should get some kind of extra prize if you win.”

“What kind of prize are we talkin’ ‘bout?” His brow arches and he leans in, real interested in hearing a hit this secondary prize he could be winning.

“Let’s see…” His attention is piqued and you grin, always loving the slightly hungry look in his eyes. “The first thing that comes to mind is an extremely sensual massage from your devoted fiancée, but I’m open to requests.”

“Depends on if this massage comes while you are sitting naked, on my cock.” Jack leans in and murmurs the last part quietly.

The corner of your mouth twitches into a smirk. “You don’t want me to do your back first? Weird choice, but alright. It’s your massage,” you tease him, throwing a wink his way when you pick up a slider to have your first bite of dinner.

“How is that slider, baby?” Jack asks, watching as you moan softly after you bite in. “Is that what you wanted?”

“I guess I was hungrier than I thought.” He hasn’t remarked at all if he’s noticed your appetite increasing, but you know it has. He’s fired up the grill every time you’ve asked and let you call the shots when you had something in mind for a meal. “They’re crazy good. Try one.”

Jack does take one, taking a bite of it and then eyeing it. Humming in appreciation as he chews. “That’s really good.”

“No wonder,” you grin, inspecting the shredded beef in the sandwich before taking another divine bite. “I hear the ranch they use is excellent.”

“It’s an old operation.” Jack hasn’t had anything to do with the ranch in forever, but he’s damn proud of the quality. “What else are you getting to eat? Might want to try that too.”

“They have a burger with bacon, onion straws, sharp cheddar, and a barbecue sauce they mark as award winning.” The look on your face makes it clear that it’s as close to heaven as you could get right now. “With fried pickles and tater tots on the side, apparently. It’s called The Hot Mess on the menu.”

“Hot Mess sounds appropriate.” He chuckles. “All it’s missing is a fried egg.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to remake it at home.” The quiet moment between you is so welcome, even with the music playing through the restaurant and the sound of families all around you - and therefore of kids. This is just your personal little bubble of happiness and you couldn’t ask for more. “What did you decide on with your steak?”

“Sautéed mushrooms, onions with potatoes and red eye gravy.” The rolls that it comes with sound heavenly, although he had a feeling he would lose one of them to you. Not that he minded at all.

You moan softly at the choices, any and all god sounding amazing to you right now. “Sounds like we’re going to eat amazingly tonight.”

He chuckles, fully aware that you are going to be stealing some of his meal. That’s perfectly okay to him. “We will.” He nods. “Especially because we are going to be picking up something to snack on later if I’m knowing you.”

“We have to go to the grocery store to get cake ingredients,” you defend, those it’s half-assed.

“Oh, I know. And then we’ll find some shredded beef ‘n jalapeño cheddar dip.” Jack predicts. “Or you’ll get a hankerin’ for some cheeseburger dip. And then we gotta have some of that smoked Gouda.”

“You’re teasing me.” The wry observation comes with a little flustering in your part, and you bite your lip before sitting back in your seat. For a week now you’ve been walking around with something zipped into the pocket of your leather jacket or sitting in your bedside drawer, and not found the right time to give it to him. You feel like it’s finally crept up on you - finally - and swallow down your nerves. “I have something for you,” you tell him finally, reaching into the interior pocket of your jacket. “I haven’t…really…been sure of how to do this. But I feel like it’s time.” Here, in this little booth in this little restaurant in his hometown - a place that didn’t exist when he was growing up here seems to be an appropriate choice. It’s a new memory, just for the two of you.

Jack frowns slightly at the box that you set down in front of him. Reaching for it and watching you squirm in your seat. Happy or anxious, maybe both. He shakes his head as he flips the lid open and sees a gorgeous watch, butter leather band and gold trim. Obviously an antique that has been lovingly kept, gorgeous and expensive. “Sugar, you shouldn’t have.” He huffs, even as he is already moving to pull his Statesman watch off, so he can try on your gift.

“I know you like the one you were issued, but this one is…special.” It’s not even a birthday present, since you had abided by his wishes and not celebrated it this year. The Statesman watch, thankfully, is just for show and not a necessary gadget now that he’s out of the field. Otherwise you would never think to replace it.

“Special how?” Jack quizzes you, rubbing his thumb over the leather grain of the band and then there is a tiny imperfection on the back. His brows knitting together as he turns it over. Frowning as he reads a date on the back.

March 21, 2019 the date reads. It’s this coming spring but it’s not your chosen wedding date. Not a birthday. Not an anniversary. You exhale carefully when he looks up at you again, and find yourself beaming through the nerves. “I’ve been trying to find the right time to tell you,” you murmur softly, keeping the moment just between the two of you. “I—I’m pregnant, Jack. For certain, this time. That’s our due date.”

Jack’s lips part, his tongue running out to wet them as he absorbs your news. Thumb rubbing over the date again and he swallows harshly. “Pregnant.” The sheen to his eyes is nearly instantaneous and his gaze flickers between you and the watch. “Sugar, I—” he chokes out and slides out of the booth to join you on your side.

“I know it’s not exactly what we planned.” As soon as he slides onto the bench beside you, you feel like you’re going to start crying instantly. “But I think it’s right. You’re out of the field and the restaurant is doing so well. We have plenty of room in the new house to start decorating a nursery whenever we want and…” It feels like you’ve been rambling since your last breath when you finally stop and smile. “Do you want to see them? Ginger sent the last sonogram to my phone.”

“Yes.” Jack breathes before his eyes widen. “Them? Are— are there two?” He asks, breathless at the idea. You could just be using them as ambiguous terms or there could be two babies in your womb.

“Just one this time.” You could melt at how excited he sounds, though. It had worried you that you hadn’t exactly planned the timing. “We just can’t tell the sex yet. It’ll be a couple more weeks.” Digging into your pocket again, you come out with your cell phone and open the message from Ginger that has the picture from your last appointment. “Look…”

“Jesus.” Jack nearly sobs the word as he looks at the tiny little nugget that is in the middle of the sonogram. “I— sugar, you’re pregnant. With our baby.”

"Definitely ours." There's no way it couldn't be, this time. All doubts have been erased from your mind. "I love you so much, honey. I wanted to find some way to tell you that you could always remember."

“I’ll never forget.” Jack promises, lingering gaze on the photo before he reaches out and cups your cheeks to kiss you passionately.

It's a beautiful moment to get lost in, and you don't even hear the waitress come or go but when you part again your dinners have magically appeared on the table. "Ginger thinks she got the due date pretty dead on," you murmur, looking down at his watch and momentarily ignoring your plate even though it smells amazing. "She, um...when she took out my IUD it was crooked. So she asked if there was any particularly active night in the last few months that I could remember."

Jack frowns, trying to remember before his face clears and a slow smirk rides over his features. “You mean the night of Tex and Sophia’s wedding?” He asks smugly. “Where you could barely walk for the entire next day?”

"That's the one." You cover your face with one hand to smother the giggle that bubbles out of you. "If that's the right date, then I'm ten weeks along already."

“Almost through the first trimester.” Jack murmurs in awe. “I can’t- sugar, this is amazing.”

"I'm so glad you're excited." Of course there will always be worry, but seeing how happy he is - how the happiness completely overtakes everything else - makes this moment so worthwhile. "I've been bursting at the seams to tell you but just couldn't pinpoint the right moment."

“I— it’s perfect.” The urge to bundle you up and keep you locked inside a bullet proof room is there, crawling under the surface, but he tamps it down. “I— love you so much. A week? You’ve known for that long and kept it a secret? I don’t know how you did it.”

"I've known a little longer than a week," you admit. "But I wanted to find you exactly the right gift and find exactly the right time to give it to you. I swear it's all I've talked to Ginger about since I went to her for a test. If I didn't have her I would have broken and told you immediately."

Jack grins and shakes his head. “I would have been just as happy, but—” he looks down at the watch again. “I love this. I love you and I love our little nugget.”

******

You knew that after you told him that he would start pampering you immediately, but everything from the gentle way he washed every inch of your skin and caressed your belly in the bath to the slow and gorgeous way he made love to you last night has been amazing. This morning he had caressed you all over again before dragging himself out of bed to make you both breakfast and now he's being as gentle as a breeze in helping you out of the truck when you arrive for the festival.

He knows you won’t put up with him being too protective, but he manages to caress your belly gently only once before he is pulling away to gather your baked treats for the competition. “I’ve got all this, sugar.”

"You're not going to let me carry anything for the next seven months, are you?" You tease, shooting him a grin and sliding the strap of your purse over your shoulder. The little town square is already full to bursting with people even though the festival supposedly only started a half hour ago, and you're excited to see what sort of booths will be around.

“I can’t carry cupcakes for my soulmate?” He pouts, his own grin matching yours. Of course you will carry things, but he was going to dote more than usual. You deserve it.

"Of course you can." It's sweet, the way he has already jumped into high gear to take care of you. "I'm just teasing you, baby."

“I know you are.” Jack doesn’t want you to think he’s upset at you. “Helping mitigates the fear.” He leans in and kisses your cheek.

"Then help as much as your heart desires." That one little explanation is all you need to be nodding and letting him take over completely - leading the way with his hand on your back and a proud smile on his face. If helping is what lets him adjust and be less afraid, then you'll welcome every second of it.

It’s not that you are pregnant, per se, it’s that you’re pregnant here. If he had sat down with the doctor - which he had, but he didn’t know you were pregnant - before coming; he might have cancelled the trip. But you were right to do it this way. He knows the circumstances are completely different and he needs to work through the fear. This is a healthy coping mechanism and if you get to benefit from him pampering you, that was just fine with him.

The tent where they are accepting submissions for the baking and cooking competitions is bustling this morning. Everyone is supposed to drop their items off with a sheet of information and then show up for judging at various points during the weekend. It’s a nice and tidy way of doing things and you step into the line of folks dropping off submissions with Jack easily enough.

“Now that our mission is accomplished…” Jack takes your hand in his hand tucks it around his elbow, resting his hand on top of it. “What do you want to do first?”

“How about we take a walk and see what catches our eye?” There’s plenty here, of course, and you know that at some point this weekend you’ll get sucked into the game booths and the flower displays, but right now the bright excitement of everything is just the right way to begin your day.

“That sounds good to me.” Jack murmurs quietly. “Let me know when you need to rest or a drink.”

“I’m okay, honey. I promise.” Of course he’ll worry, but you’re feeling pretty good about the fact that you’ve made it through most of your first trimester with so few symptoms that you found out about the little nugget from being concerned over missing periods again and not from being sick in any way. The two of you start to walk through the maze of booths, tents, and stands in the town square. Some are new and flashy with colourful printed signs while others are old fashioned and folksy with handwritten and hand painted materials, but either way the effect is always welcoming. The town library has an Adopt-A-Book drive open at their booth and you can’t resist, nudging Jack toward the crowded tables with glee. Each volume with wrapped in brown paper and tied up with twine, with a one or two sentence description of the plot, setting, and characters written out on the paper. “They’re all duplicates,” the young librarian is explaining to the people gathered around. “Books that the library has more than two of, and we want them to go to a good home instead of sitting unread on the shelf.”

“That’s pretty good.” Jack nods. “You guys still have the Book-Mobile?” He asks, turning towards you. “Back when I was a kid, because we were so far out of town, they had this old van that would come and bring books to the ranch.” He explains. “All the kids on the ranches loved it because we didn’t have time to run to town to check out a book.”

“Yes sir, we do.” The young woman beams happily, obviously proud of that particular program. “Where’d you grow up, if you don’t mind my asking? I thought I knew just about everyone in town.”

“Daniels Ranch.” Before you or Jack can answer, a deep, smooth voice answers for you. Been a long time since we saw Jack Daniels’ face around here,” the man tells the librarian. “You were probably still in diapers back then.”

Jack stiffens slightly, wary, but not upset about hearing that voice. It’s been a long goddamn time though. Turning, he finds his former brother-in-law watching him with the same sense of appraisal. “Aiden.” Jack murmurs quietly, nodding his head towards the man. “Good to see you.”

“Surprised to see you.” There’s a ghost of a laugh in the imposing man’s voice, and he nods to you politely but without bothering to mask his curiosity. “What brings you back to town?”

He probably should have called the man. Warned him, but there’s nothing for it now. “It was time.” Jack admits quietly. “Past time. We’ve come to visit ‘em. Pay respects.” Jack subtly takes your hand and displays where the tiny bull’s eye tattoo rests on each of your left hands. “Finally got the sons of bitches that killed her, Aiden.” He manages, emotions and sorrow thick in his voice.

“You said you would.” Aiden nods solemnly, remembering the way Jack had railed about it years ago. How nearly unhinged it had made the man. He shakes his head, banishing the anger that he’s worked so hard to be rid of, and levels his eyes on you again. “I take it this is the second Mrs. Daniels?” He asks, not meaning to be unkind but able to read the situation easily enough.

“Not yet.” Despite that, you offer to shake his hand and smile warmly. “You must be Abigail’s brother?” The name does ring a bell, after all, and Jack has told you a little bit about her and her family over your time together. “I’ve heard some very nice things about you.”

Jack knows that this is going better than he would have ever expected, but Aiden knows how he had grieved Abigail, there has been no question of his devotion to his first soulmate.

Aiden accepts the handshake and you chat for a moment, mostly with him asking polite questions like what you do for work and if you’ve chosen a wedding date yet. The kind of low key chit chat one would expect to make with a new acquaintance or friend of a friend. “I have to be getting back,” he tells you both after a time, looking curiously once more between you and Jack. “You should stop by the farm’s stand later. We went all out this year.” He wants to say more - the urge to reconnect for Abigail’s sake is strong - but he doesn’t know how you would feel about it. “I’ll…I’ll put together a basket for you?”

Grinning, Jack shakes his head. “You’ve done it now.” He warns his former brother-in-law. “She’ll be askin’ for shipments to Kentucky.” He laughs. “Aiden’s place produces the best damn fruit and vegetables in the state.”

“Then we will definitely be stopping by.” Your eyes light up with possibilities, thinking of autumn and winter menu specials. When Aiden’s hand extends to you again you shake it warmly and offer him a smile. “I’m very glad I got to meet you. We’ll be sure to stop by the farm stand this afternoon.” Aiden finds himself chuckling, moving to shake Jack’s hand after yours. While he had first felt a twist of sadness to see his late sister’s husband with a new woman, even he had to admit that it wouldn’t be healthy to cling to old memories. Abby wouldn’t have wanted Jack to be miserable. “I’ll save you a bottle of cherry blossom honey to take home,” he promises. “It goes fast and it’s too good to pass up.”

Jack chuckles at the way you gasp in excitement, squeezing Aiden’s hand slightly. “You still visit ‘em?” He asks quietly. The Daniels cemetery still hadn’t been visited, although that will be something that is done soon.

“Every month.” The way Aiden nods is solemn, but not sad. He’s grown accustomed to the loss, as all survivors must after losing someone. “I planted some flowers. Keep their headstone clean. Nothing fancy, but I like to talk to her from time to time.”

“If you’ve not visited this month….” Jack shrugs, trying to extend the invite as casually as he can. “I’m plannin’ on visiting day after tomorrow. Properly introducin’ ‘em.” He licks his lips and looks up at the older man who had once kept him from doing something extremely stupid. “If you’re wanting to visit with us some more?”

“That…” For a moment the older man hesitates, but it’s a mixture of surprise and perhaps gratitude. The idea that Jack is remarrying but hasn’t pretended that Abby never existed is comforting in an unexpected way. “I’d like that,” he says finally, looking between you. We’ll have lunch? I—” He shrugs and grins slightly. “If you’re alright with it, I’ll bring Sheila? You guys always got along well, if I remember right.”

“Sugar?” Jack turns towards you, wanting to confirm that you are okay with the idea. “Sheila is the sweetest little spitfire you ever did meet.” He promises. “She runs that farm, truth be told and shame the devil. Always had since she came into the picture.”

"I think it sounds wonderful." Which isn't even an exaggeration, or an attempt at being polite. For you, this was part of the hope for this trip. A glimpse into Jack's past and the young man that he was before he grew into the man you fell in love with. "But you won't be able to stop me from cooking if we're having company. Consider yourselves warned."

“I know.” Jack sighs softly and shakes his head. “That’s why I was askin’.”

"He's making noise, but he likes to be kept on his toes." Aiden shakes his head and chuckles under his breath. "I really do have to get back, but come by the stand later and we're figure out what time we're doing this." "He's nice." When Aiden is out of sight again, you snuggle into Jack's side and leave a kiss on his cheek. "and obviously still thinks well of you."

“I’m glad that he does.” Jack admits with a loud, exaggerated exhale. He had been worried about what the man would think about him having a new soulmate.

"We'll talk to him more in a few days. But I'm glad we ran into him." Both of your arms rope around Jack to give him a squeezing hug. "Now I have someone I can ask for stories of when you were a kid."

“Great.” Jack rolls his eyes, but he’s grinning at you. “You know he was the one who convinced me to jump off the roof, right?” Jack chuckles. “I was in Abigail’s room and he had told me that his daddy was gunna stomp me. We weren’t doing nothing but kissin’.”

"Oh, I am going to enjoy this lunch." You practically cackle as you give him another kiss. "I can't wait to hear every single story."

Jack pouts at you, knowing that Aiden will tell you everything. “Well then don’t be surprised when you learn I ran down Main Street in my birthday suit.” He grunts, shaking his head.

"You did what?" The shock and glee on your face are joined by an absolutely delighted peel of laughter. "I have to know. I have to know why."

“I’ll let Aiden tell you that story.” Jack grumbles, smirking slightly. “Again, that was his fault.”

******

When the time for that lunch comes just two days later, Jack has resigned himself to the fact that there is nothing he can do to calm the whirlwind of you in a kitchen. The lemon tiramisu was made last night and will be the perfect thing to cool off after the enormous platter of spicy, smoky steak tacos with plenty of sides that you went overboard in spending all morning preparing. You've been perfectly honest about wanting everything to be perfect for Aiden and Sheila's visit, and since you're hosting in a house that is technically Jack's but he hasn't lived in in decades, you don't truly feel that comfortable. It will all be okay, of course, but it has you a little more jittery than normal.

“I put a gallon of that raspberry tea you liked in the fridge.” Jack murmurs, watching as you scrub the same spot on the counter for the millionth time. “There’s some coolers, I put some waters and beer in them.” Anything he can do to help calm your nerves, he will. “Anything else you need, sugar?”

“No…I’m just nervous.” Finally realizing that the spot you’ve been trying to clean is a natural dark spot in the granite countertop, you sigh and force yourself to step away from the counter. “I’m sorry. I just…Aiden seems like a very nice man, but I don’t want him to think you’ve picked some inferior after his sister. That’s probably stupid, but I can’t help it.”

“You are not inferior.” Jack frowns and steps in front of you, wrapping his arms around you to pull you into his embrace. “Sugar, Aiden will love you. Shelia will too. He knows you aren’t Abigail, and he doesn’t resent you for that.”

“I’m just glad the baby’s not making me feel sick during all this.” Although you do reach over and rap your knuckles on the wooden dining table just so you don’t jinx yourself. Your morning sickness has been next to non-existent so far. Hopefully that doesn’t mean it will come back with a vengeance in the second trimester.

“Come sit down with me, sugar.” His hand immediately goes to your stomach and he caresses it gently. Marveling at the still fresh news that you are carrying his baby. “Take a little rest.”

The love seat in the living room is where you’ve taken to sitting, and you relished the stories from Jack on the first night about how it was his mother’s favorite place to sit. Now you let Jack lead you over and plop down in his lap with your arms around each other. “Sorry if I’m a tornado,” you murmur near his ear.

“In a trailer park.” Jack jokes, squeezing you tight. “I know that you’re nervous, but you don’t need to be. I’ve known them both my entire life, and despite Aiden being Abby’s brother, he wants me to be to happy.”

“I think I’m nervous because of that,” you admit, laying your head on his shoulder. “Like somehow…” A sigh escapes you, resigned and acknowledging. “Like I know I’ll never have Abigail’s approval to be with you and make you happy. Her brother’s approval is the next best thing.”

“She would have loved you.” He promises, turning his head to kiss your forehead. “I know she would have, sugar. Aiden is going to love you.”

“I know it’s silly to worry.” Sniffling slightly, you snuggle deeper against Jack and huff softly. “Maybe I’m having my first overly-emotional-pregnant-lady moment.”

“Might be.” He honestly thinks it’s more to do with wanting approval by his original soulmate’s family, but he doesn’t say that. “And you are completely justified in feeling that way.” His hands slide up and down your back soothingly. “No matter what sugar, I’m going to be right here with you. Your backup.” He teases playfully.

"Thank you, honey." He's damn good at not making you feel like an idiot when you're being emotional, which you appreciate, and you trail your fingers through his hair softly while you sit firmly in his lap. "I love you so much."

“I love you too, sugar.” Jack hums, closing his eyes and smiling softly. “It’s good to be back.” He admits. “To see them. It doesn’t hurt like I expected it to.”

"If you still feel that way when we leave in two days, we'll have to see about making the trip more often." It will always be up to him whether or not he wants to come back to the place he called home for the first part of his life, but you've thoroughly enjoyed spending time here. It's quiet and homey, and feels like a world away from Louisville just for the slower pace of life. "It might be nice to have family vacations out here."

“I can see your family gettin’ a kick out of the place.” There’s plenty of room and it might be fun to see your dad on a working ranch. “The kids would shit themselves over the horses.”

"By the time we do another family vacation, we'll have another family member." Your hand drifts fondly over your belly. "I can't wait."

“Yes we will.” Jack nods. “Maybe we can figure out how to do some kind of reveal or somethin’ for your folks.”

"Yeah?" You had just figured on FaceTiming with your parents to let them know, but they would adore a reveal. It would be fun to see your father a blubbering, excited mess again like he was when he found out about both of your sister's kids.

“Maybe we should fly up there? Bring them some baby themed gifts?” Jack offers, wanting to make it special.

"They would lose their minds." It's such a sweet thought, and absolutely characteristic of Jack. "Do you think there's a store for baby things around here that we could go poke around this afternoon or tomorrow?" Without knowing how long Jack's former brother-in-law and his wife will be comfortable staying or how emotionally taxed you'll both be after the visit, it's good to be flexible.

“Whatever you want to do.” Jack smiles, happy you liked his idea. “We can do that for sure.”

"Let's see how we feel tonight." Like a cue in a play, the doorbell rings just as you're tipping your head back to kiss Jack's cheek.

Patting your thigh, Jack gets up after you do and throws you a smile. “It’s going be a good visit, sugar. You’ll see.” He promises, walking towards the door to let his brother-in-law and his wife in.

"Jack!" Sheila is an energetic woman with a personality as strong as she is physically, so when she opens her arms to hug Jack after crossing the threshold of the house she means business. "I'm so sorry I missed you at the festival! Heard you took home a shiny prize though, good for you."

“Hey Sheila.” Jack allows the other woman to scoop him up into a hug that would crush a lesser man’s ribs. “It’s so good to see you. How have you been?”

"Good!" Her exuberance is shining through at seeing an old friend again, and her head bobbles on a nod. "Really good. Farm is doing great and the kids are grown so the house is mostly quiet these days."

“That’s good.” Sheila had just found out she was pregnant with their second when Abigail had been killed. Their oldest boy had just been a year old, so the idea of the cousins growing up together had been very real. “Real good.”

"Let the man breathe before you start giving him the whole rundown." Aiden chuckles softly, obviously used to his wife's boundless energy. He pats Jack's shoulder but steps past him with a basket in hand to offer you a warm, if polite, hug. "Brought you something, hon. As promised."

"That's so sweet of you. Thank you, Aiden." You easily accept the small embrace as well as the basket, looking inside eagerly. There are all kinds of jars and a few fresh things as well as a bottle of the first batch of cider of the season.

“He was eager to show off.” Sheila appraises you with unabashed interest as she walks over towards you. “Something about you being a professional chef and wanting to show you farm to table.”

“That’s true, I do have restaurant.” Something about the way she’s looking you over makes you hesitate self-consciously, but you still put your hand out to her to shake. “You must be Sheila. It’s really nice to be able to meet some of Jack’s old friends.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Sheila shakes your hand heartily and pulls you towards her. “I can see why Jack likes you. Besides the obvious part of being soulmates.” One arm goes around you in a quick, half hug.

"It was...a surprise. To say the least." When you and Jack had gone to get your playing card put back on your arm he had also gotten a bullseye on your hands, and Sheila smiles softly at the mark now before letting you go. "Who knew that kind of thing actually happened in real life?"

“I know that it’s not something to be taken lightly and it looks like you aren’t.” She sends you a devilish grin. “So what embarrassing stories do you want to know about Jacky? He used to get so mad about being called that, but it was that or Jackson.”

"I want to hear everything." You return her grin with glee, already feeling much more relaxed than you had been a second ago. Maybe it was just a mood swing after all. "Why don't you both come in? We can have lunch before we go up and make our visit, if you want?"

“I wish you hadn’t gone through the trouble.” Sheila huffs, shaking her head. “We could have brought something from town. But I have a feeling it’s hard to keep you out of a kitchen.”

Jack snorts and nods. “Yeah it is. Practically impossible. Swear that’s why she moved in with me, I’m convinced. For the kitchen that I had.”

"And then we moved and now our kitchen is even bigger." That grin is now flashed at Jack, and you reach out to squeeze his shoulder gently as he and Aiden trail behind you and Sheila through the living room and into the kitchen. The basket sits neatly on the corner of the counter while you go about checking on the food that you have cooking, and Jack starts pulling out drinks from the cooler before pouring you a glass of tea. It's the small amount of caffeine that you're allowed each day and you relish it, hating having to give up coffee.

“Really thought you would have brought a bottle of that Statesman.” Aiden chuckles, lifting the tea. “Since you run the company.” Shrugging, Jack grins. “We aren’t big on drinking whiskey right now.” He admits, glancing at you before he decides to go ahead and break that other news when you give him a subtle nod. “Don’t think it’s quite fair for me to drink when she can’t.”

"Well damn." Aiden looks between you with dawning realizing. "I, uh...congratulations. That's real good news." It stings a little, in that deep part of his heart that misses his sister most, but this isn't about him. Feeling jealous on Abby's behalf isn't going to bring her baby boy back.

“It’s not something that we— well, it’s a little earlier than we planned but I am trying not to smother her.” Jack huffs with a slight grin. “It don’t replace Timmy in my heart one bit, just like Abby’s still there too.”

"We only just found out." As you bustle around the kitchen, it's easy to see how comfortable you are in this particular room versus every other. "And I mean just. I only told Jack a few days ago."

“That’s wonderful.” Aiden watches Jack, wondering if the other man is worried about the loss of another child. He knows he would have many sleepless nights. “I mean that.”

"Do you know what you're having yet?" Not willing to be impolite and assume she can tell how far along you are by your figure - something that the mother of three knows is pretty impossible to do anyway - Sheila just offers you a soft smile with the question.

"Not yet. It's a little too early." It comes with a shake of your head and you step back from the counter to go to the fridge for all the accoutrement you made. "It's a little nerve wracking, but we're excited. Everything right now is...it's really going pretty perfectly."

“I swear I almost didn’t believe it.” Jack admits, glancing down at his watch that you had given him. “But we are going to be good parents.”

"So your fiancée has a restaurant," Aiden sips the beer that Jack handed him as he sits down at the table with his former brother-in-law. "And you work for Statesman?" He hadn't been clear about it during their quick conversation during the festival. "What is it you're doing there?"

“I’m the Director of the distillery.” Jack admits, taking a sip of his tea. “I own the operation.” He doesn’t tell Aiden about the other side of Statesman, but he shouldn’t have to.

"Damn, Jacky!" Sheila spins around to face him with an impressed look of surprise on her face. "That's a pretty huge company, isn't it? I heard they - you - have an operation in Europe somewhere now?"

“We’ve partnered with a company called Kingsman in the UK.” Jack leans back and smooths his mustache down. “They make tailored suits. All keys to being a gentleman. It actually has been a very profitable venture.”

"So it's what..." Aiden tilts his head curiously. "Scotch and fancy suits?" That's a hell of a long way from the little town he grew up in, yet somehow he still fits here as much as he ever did.

“Pretty much.” Jack chuckles and pushes back from the table. “I’ll get that bottle for you to take home and try.” He offers.

"Sounds like you've been doing damn well for yourself," Sheila commends, offering him a genuine smile. "Running a bit company like that isn't easy." When she thinks about it, her smile softens a little. "Good job, happy wife, and a kid on the way. Sounds like you're settling down again. That's...that's really good, Jack. I'm happy for you."

“Peace only came after getting the men who killed Abby.” Jack can admit that. He glances over to you with a wry smile. “Fought the idea for awhile, make her and myself miserable until that happened.”

"It wasn't always smooth sailing, but it's good now. Everything is so good now." You step back, setting the tray of things on the table so you can leave a kiss on Jack's cheek. You're not going to be overly physically affectionate in front of his first wife's family, but you are so fucking happy. It's worth showing it just a little.

The bottle is retrieved from the side board, and set down in front of the couple. “Want you to know that it’s my involvement with Abigail that got her killed.” He murmurs quietly. “It’s not my fault, but she died because of me.”

"What happened?" Aiden hadn't wanted to sully the good atmosphere of the lunch with the question, but he needs to know. He has to know who the bastard was that killed his baby sister and unborn nephew.

“Rollins.” Jack grunts, still of a mind to go by that spread and burn it to the fucking ground. “Crazy ass Rollins killed her because he couldn’t have her.”

"Jesus." Aiden and Sheila exhale in unison, shaking their heads as their eyes cast down to the floor. The five of them - Aiden, Sheila, Jack, Abby, and Hank Rollins - had all been in the same class at school together. Grown up together. They had watched Rollins' madness grow over the years without understanding more than the fact that he was crazy. Dangerously so, apparently. "How did you find out?" Aiden asks, shaky breath hovering just below the surface.

Jack moves over to you, wrapping his arm around you protectively. “He kidnapped her.” Held her so I would sign over the ranch to him and let him kill me.” You shudder and his hold on you tightens, reassuring you. A lot has healed since that time, but he knows you still think about it sometimes. “He confessed everything. I have a video of it.”

"I—Jesus H. Christ." Sheila shakes her head with one hand clutched to her heart. "I don't think I need to see that." The shudder Aiden gives could be discomfort or disgust, it's hard to tell, but either way he shakes his head along with his wife. "Whole goddamn family needed help. They haven't been back to the valley in years. Bank repossessed the ranch near a decade ago."

“None of them will be back…ever.” Jack promises ominously.

“Just glad you’re both okay.” What else can Aiden say, really? He’s not glad to know that men have died - though the death of his sister’s murderer doesn’t pain him at all. It’s just not as comforting as he thought it would be during the many years he imagined it.

“Appreciate that.” Jack leans in and kisses you again before he lets you get back to finishing up and walk back over to slap Aiden on the back. “Tell me about the kids.”

“Tyler’s married.” Immediately, Aiden is reaching for his wallet to pull out family photos. “Actually…he and Faith just made us grandparents.” He beams when he holds out the photo. “Kayce is seven months old. Happiest little baby boy in the world.”

“Jesus.” Jack’s eyes wide dramatically. “I can’t believe Tyler is a daddy.” He looks over at you. “Last time I saw that boy was right before his second birthday.”

“He keeps talkin’ about wanting to move out and see the whole country,” Sheila shakes her head and laughs. “I told him it’s gonna be mighty hard with that little baby to think of.”

“Yeah it will be.” Jack smirks slightly and looks over at you. “Only reason we are as travel ready as we are is the company jet.”

Aiden whistles, making you grin as you finish putting lunch on the table. “Company jet, huh? That’s a pretty perk of being the big man in the building.”

“Sometimes it’s good to be the boss.” He agrees, winking at Aiden and Shelia and standing to get your tea from on the counter. “Sit down, sugar. I’ve got it.”

“Everybody dig in,” you encourage, knowing that you made something social and familiar on purpose. Tacos aren’t exactly a formal meal and that’s what you like about them.

“Tacos.” Aiden chuckles. “I’m guessin’ the beef is straight from the freezers in the big barn?” He asks, knowing that Daniels Ranch produces top quality beef.

“It’s been sort of a craving lately,” you admit, knowing that you’ve been eating a lot of beef than usual lately. “But how could we pass up such quality ingredients?”

“I see now why you wanted cilantro.” Jack teases, well aware of your cravings and completely okay with that. “We’ll see about having some beef shipped home with us.”

Settling himself across the table, Aiden slides another photo over to Jack for him to see - the other two of his grown children, the photo looking to be just a few months old if the little bundle they’re holding is indeed their nephew Kayce. “That’s Wayne,” he explains, indicating the boy on the left. “And our youngest is Abby. After her aunt, of course.”

Covering his mouth with his hand, Jack studies the photo, staring at his first soulmate’s namesake. “You— you named her Abigail.” He breathes out quietly, watery smile on his face.

“They have the same birthday,” Sheila explains, a little teary eyed. “It seemed like a sign.”

“That does seem like a sign.” Jack nods, handing the photo back to Aiden. “Beautiful family, brother. I’m happy you have that.”

“You will too.” The smile Aiden offers is to you this time as he tucks the photo away. “You’re already on your way there. Abby would… she’d be glad to see you happy.”

“If they knew each other…” Jack points at you. “I would never know peace.” He jokes, laughing at himself.

“Not in your whole damn life,” Sheila agrees with a chuckle. “And you wouldn’t ever mind.”

“Not a lick.” Jack winks at you again. “Not one damn lick.” He picks up a taco and takes a bite, moaning at the perfect balance of spices.

“Please tell me you have tacos on your restaurant menu.” The twin groans from Aiden and Sheila are music to your ears, and she looks up at you immediately.

“It’s a family favourite.” The compliment has you beaming, though, and you have to admit this is a particularly good batch. “The restaurant menu is a little different. But I made one of our specials for dessert.”

“This woman makes a crawfish salad that would make you slap your momma for another bite.” Jack promises, grinning at you. “Her cooking won me over slowly. I couldn’t stay away.” It’s a lot more than that, but it’s an easy, playful tease.

“Oh, wait a minute.” Like she’s just remembered an amazing fact, Sheila smacks her hand in the table and points at you. “You ran away with a baking prize this weekend, didn’t you?”

“Yes she did.” Jack puffs up proudly. “Just like I knew she would.”

“That cake recipe means a whole lot to my family, so I’m glad it went over well.” Jack looks as proud as a peacock beside you, and you can’t help but be pleased by it. It doesn’t matter that Tex will tease you mercilessly when he finds out you couldn’t resist entering. It just matters that it made one more happy memory.

“So you feel Jack’s sweet tooth?” Aiden grins. “He would bring candy out onto the ranch. Can’t imagine he’s gotten better.”

“Oh no, he hasn’t.” That makes you laugh, conjuring the image of young Jack on the ranch with a pocketful of sweets. “His desk has a secret candy drawer he thinks nobody knows about, and he’s my taste tester for all my desserts.”

“Hey.” Jack pouts. “You said you liked me trying your desserts.” Just because he’s had to start using the treadmill in his office doesn’t mean he’s eating too many sweets. He’s not running around on missions like before.

“I do!” His little pout makes you laugh, delighted that this meal is going so much easier than you expected. “It’s sweet, pun very much intended. And you’ve given me some great ideas.”

“What can I say? I know my sugar, sugar.” Jack smirks when Shelia and Aiden laugh, happy that this is going well. He hadn’t anticipated them not liking her, but it has to be odd to see Jack happy with a woman who is not Abigail.

******

The rest of the lunch goes about the same way, small jokes and stories shared as the four of you graze the taco platter and eventually break out the lemon tiramisu to have a sweet ending to the meal. It's midafternoon by the time you get up from the table, and though the mood shifts it doesn't become uncomfortable. It's easiest to bring both trucks up to the family cemetery on the east side of the property, and you climb into the vehicle that you and Jack are borrowing from the ranch beside Jack with a look on quiet concern on your face. "I was thinking," you turn completely to face him in the cab of the truck. "If you wanted to spend some time alone with them - with Abigail and Timmy, I mean – I can go for a walk so you can have some privacy after Aiden and Sheila leave. I wouldn't mind at all."

“Sugar…” Jack picks up your hand and kisses it. “I appreciate that, but I would like you to be there. If you’d rather not, that’s one thing.” He wanted to share this with you, but not if you didn’t want to.

"I absolutely want to." Originally, of course, it was the entire reason for the trip. "I just wanted you to know that if you want privacy, I totally understand."

“I’ve got nothin’ to hide.” Jack promises. “I might cry, but don’t blame me for that.”

"I would honestly be surprised if you didn't." He might not cry in front of many others, but you certainly have shared your fair share of tears between the two of you.

“It’ll be okay, sugar.” He kisses your hands again and he squeezes it slightly. “Let’s go introduce you to Abby.”

The drive up to the site doesn't take long. Maybe twenty minutes of driving total, and that is filled with quiet music pouring from the truck's speakers as Jack steers down the long ranch trails. When you pull up beside Aiden and Sheia's truck, Jack hustles around to help you out and you give his hand a squeeze before lacing your fingers together. A hundred and fifty years of his ancestors are buried up on this hill, and there are plenty of headstones to prove it.

Jack’s stomach flips and rolls as he holds on to you. His momma and daddy are buried here. Along with every other Daniels. In the newer potion of the cemetery, there’s a large angel rising up from the ground, standing guard over two headstones that are covered in colorful blooms.

The tulips all around the headstone have been planted in every color imaginable, and it's obvious that the other buds of flowers you don't recognize as easily have been very carefully tended to over the years. Aiden's expression is set in pride and sorrow and Sheila swallows a lump in her throat, but you hold on to Jack like a pillar. His need to do this is very different than yours, and you won't let go of him for a second unless he makes the move to let go of your hand first.

Abigail Monique Daniels April 24, 1976 - August 12, 1998 Beloved Daughter, Sister, and Wife A Light from Our Life is Gone

Timothy Charles Daniels Too Precious for This World

The two headstones stand side by side, and the fact that Abigail's can't even credit her as a mother breaks your heart. Tim's stone doesn't even have a birth date listed. It's agonizing in a way you truly didn't expect, and you can feel the tears pushing at your eyes immediately trying to imagine what kind of agony losing your baby before you ever got to hold them would be.

“Hello sweetheart.” Jack’s voice catches and he has to clear his throat. “It been a long time since I’ve been to see you. I’m sorry, I couldn’t do it before now.” In his minds eye, he still sees the raw ground, broken open as they lower the caskets in the ground. No one would dare interrupt Jack in this moment but the wind, a gentle breeze picking up and making the tulips wave in their own little hello. “There’s so much I want to say, that I should have said.” Jack stares at the dates on the stone and his heart aches but it’s not the bleeding agony that he had thought. “I got ‘em baby.” He manages first. “I got the bastard that took you and our little boy away.” Your hand tightens in his slightly, always the silent 'thank you' for keeping you safe. “I know you’ve been watchin’ from up there, shaking your head and chewing me a new one, so I won’t tell you about the last twenty years. But I—” he brings you up closer. “The universe gave me something special, sweetheart. I have another soulmate.”

“I wanted to come and meet you.” Unlike Jack, you kneel down beside the stone, instinctively feeling closer this way. It’s also so you can take the daisy blossom out of your jacket’s lapel that you’ve been saving there since you bought it from a florist at the festival. Jack has shared some wedding pictures with you and you had loved Abigail’s bouquet of daisies. “And to say how sorry I am we didn’t get to meet. Jack seems to think we would’ve made the best of friends,” you tell her softly, laying the daisy in the grass.

Jack’s lip trembles and he bites it to keep from crying already. Listening to your compassion, the flower, it makes him see that you are just too damn good for this place - for him. The universe has messed up, but it was to his benefit.

“I know you’ve been watching us, like Jack said, but just…please know that he’s loved. And taken care of. And that he thinks about you and Timmy every day.” There’s no denying it, and you never would, but as you stand back up with Jacks hand still in yours, you wipe away a few tears with your free hand. Saying goodbye is never easy, but sometimes saying hello can be just as emotional.

“I do think about you two all the time. You’re always in my heart, sweetheart. You and our baby boy.” Jack rasps out. “I’m not ever gunna forget you.”

“He’s going to have a brother or sister in about seven months.” You place a hand on your belly and try to bite back tears. “Not sure which yet, but the next time we come back, they’ll be with us.”

“I’ll protect them this time, Timmy.” Jack promise, his choked sob muffled by his hand. “I p-promise.”

Your arms come around Jack quickly and without hesitation, letting him bury his face in your shoulder to cry as much as he needs. There’s no reason to be ashamed of this moment of emotion, or to leave or anything like that, but you want him to feel safe and supported.

Jack knows that Shelia and Aiden are there, witness to this, although he feels no shame. They have seen him at his lowest, prevented him from destroying the place after coming home that first night. Stayed with him so he didn’t do anything stupid. They know how he has grieved Abigail. So he feels no shame in sobbing into your shoulder in front of them, letting the anger, sorrow and rage flow out of him cathartically.

“We are safe,” you remind him quietly, knowing that while there is nothing in the world that can bring back his first family, his second is going to love them with everything you’ve got. “We’re safe and no one’s ever going to hurt us again, because you saved us.”

“I know, sugar.” Jack clings to that fact and to you as the tears start to ebb. “I know. I know.”

Nothing will change what happened before, all of you know that. But even Aiden’s shoulders slump a little knowing Hank Rollins won’t be hurting anyone else ever again. “You’d like her, Abby,” he murmurs to his sister when he steps forward to lay his hand on the top of her headstone in an old, accustomed gesture. “I’m sure you’ve been watchin’ and shaking your head at Jack like always. But I promise I won’t lose track of them this time.”

That vote of confidence means the world to Jack. He knows you have been worried about what Abigail’s family would think, if they would accept this. He pulls away from your shoulder and kisses your forehead softly. “Thank you, sugar.”

“I love you.” Small words, just on a whisper, but right now they mean more than anything. Your arms around Jack are tight and sure and you know in your heart that this trip needs to happen more often from here on out. Coming home has been good for him. Not running from his past has lifted something almost visible from his shoulders.

“I love you too, sugar.” Jack stands in front of the graves of his first soulmate, his love, and the sweet baby boy he never got to meet. For the first time since that horrible day years ago, his soul is completely peaceful and at rest. His heart open to the future and what is to come with you, the other third of his soul. “What a journey.” Jack murmurs quietly, turning you in his arms and tipping your chin up slightly. “Thank you.” He whispers. “Thank you for going down the rabbit hole with me.”

“Any time, my love.” The shared ink on your skin, the twists and turns in the beginning, the ups and downs and in-betweens; all of it has brought you here to his arms. And from now on, that’s the only place you ever want to be. “Any time.”

______ Master Tags: @pixiedurango @chattychell @winter-fox-queen @lady-himbo @artsymaddie @princess76179 @paintballkid711 @missminkylove @pedrosbrat @ew-erin @sarahjkl82-blog @sharkbait77 @justanotherblonde23 @lv7867 @recklesswit @mylittlesenaar @f0rever15elf @gallowsjoker @steeevienicks @athalien @sherala007 @skvatnavle @thatpinkshirt @jaime1110 @girlimjusttryingtoreadfanfics @goodgriefitsawildworld @greeneyedblondie44 @katheriner1999 @littlemousedroid @harriedandharassed @churchill356 @ajathegreats-blog @hardc0rehaylz @beardsanddetectives @kirsteng42 @ladykatakuri @adancedivasmom @madiebear @tanzthompson @emilianamason @bigsdinger @xocalliexo @pedr0swh0r3 @avaleineandafryingpan @charlyrmv @avidreader73 @iceclaw101 @loveslide @elegantduckturtle

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My Masterlist!

#Pedro Pascal #Pedro Pascal character fanfiction #Pedro Pascal fanfic #Jack Daniels #Jack Daniels x reader #Jack Daniels x you #Jack Daniels x female reader #Jack Daniels x f!reader #Jack 'Whiskey' Daniels #Agent Whiskey #Kingsman Golden Circle #soulmate au

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