A Friend in Need (Final Space)

Chapter 2: Welcome to the Family

"Hey, buddy. I want you to meet someone," John said, wrapping an arm around his five-year-old son's shoulders. "This is Jack. He's my good friend and co-pilot, and... well, he's going to be living with us from now on," John explained, running his other hand through his hair sheepishly.

The green-skinned alien in the doorway stepped closer, a gentle smile on his face as he gazed from John to Gary. "Hello, the Gary. Your father has told me a lot about you."

"You're my size! Are you a child, like me?" the little boy suddenly asked, racing around his new housemate.

Jack laughed pleasantly at the child's enthusiasm. John, on the other hand, groaned. "Gary, that's not very nice..."

"It's alright, John. To answer your question, Gary, no, I am not a child. My species is just a great deal shorter than yours," the little alien insisted patiently.

"I thought an alien would have a weirder name. Jack is soooo normal," Gary suddenly stated, rolling his eyes.

"Gary," John warned, narrowing his eyes at his son.

Meanwhile, Jake couldn't keep the smile off his face. The child was utterly adorable. "Actually, Gary, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. My Greytrexian name is actually Jaxxtrixxriiandraneek, but most other species find it hard to pronounce, so I just go by 'Jack,'" the little alien explained.

"Really? All this time and I didn't even know your real name," John realized with a start.

"Don't worry about it. What is the human expression? Ah yes, water under the bridge," the alien insisted.

"Gary, we're going to bring Jack's luggage in from the car. He's, uh, going to be bunking in my room," John announced, smiling nervously.

Gary took a moment to think this over, before blurting out, "So, you're like... BEST FRIENDS! That's so cool. I want a best friend like you someday!"

John and Jack could only chuckle at the innocent statement. "Sure, kiddo. I hope you find someone special someday," Jack said, ruffling the boy's blond hair.

***

(several years later)

"Jack... can I talk to you?" Gary asked, pausing in the doorway to his father's study. Granted, John didn't use it half as much as Jack did. Jack just seemed to have a rather voracious love of literature, so there were more books in this one little room now than Gary had seen outside of a library.

"Of course, Gary," the Greytrexian answered, setting his novel aside.

"Are you and dad, like, boyfriends?" the eight year old asked curiously. Jack's cheeks went a little pink at the question.

"Yes, I suppose we are," the pilot answered.

There was a long silence before Gary announced, "Are you going to get married?"

"Oh, well, we never really talked about it. To be honest, your species is still a little weird about the whole same gender couple idea," Jack admitted with a regretful sigh.

"I'd like it if you got married. Then you could be my dad, too," Gary said, trotting across the room to wrap his arms around the little alien's shoulders.

"Well, thank you, Gary. You can still think of me as your other father, even if your dad and I don't get married. If you want, that is," Jack chuckled, returning the hug. Once the boy pulled away, Jack was quick to suggest that they get started on dinner.

***

"Awww, how are my two favorite guys today?" John asked, hanging up his coat as he came in the door.

"You and Jack should get married!" Gary yelled the moment he saw him.

Oh my gosh. Jack buried his face into his hands and breathed in a long breath. Peeking through his fingers, he waited to see what his lover's reaction would be.

"That's a great idea, son. Want to be my best man?" John replied with a laugh, ruffling his son's hair.

"Uh huh! Is Jack going to wear a dress?" the boy asked curiously.

"The traditional male Greytrexian wedding garb is actually a long robe," Jack supplied, his cheeks feeling warm at the thought.

"So, yes, he's going to be wearing a dress," John said. "Why don't you go get washed up for dinner, son."

The two adults faced one another as the boy ran out of the room. "Kids, they're so full of ideas," Jack finally commented, trying unsuccessfully to hide his nervousness at the topic of the conversation.

"Why don't we do it?" the captain announced, striding over the couch where Jack was sitting.

"You want to get married?" Jack heard his voice squeak at the end of his words, but his attention was fixed on his tall, human lover.

"I always meant to ask you properly. You know, with a ring and everything," John admitted, getting down on one knee. "We've been living together for 3 years now. We're not getting any younger."

"We don't have to get married. Think about your reputation. And what about our jobs? What if they separated us?" Jack commented, looking away.

"Hey now." John reached out a hand and caught his lover's chin, pulling the Greytrexian's face back toward him. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it - Together.  Now..." and at this, the captain pressed a gentle kiss to the back of his lover's hand. "Will you marry me?"

The little pilot was so overcome with emotion that he leapt off the couch and into his lover's arms. "Yes, yes, yes!"

***

It was a lovely spring ceremony. Close friends and family only. John wore a black tux, and Jack stood next to him at the altar in a traditional Greytrexian robe. A purple robe. Jack's favorite color.

Little Gary wore the cutest white suit, and had chosen to bear the rings – and throw flower petals down the aisle as the flower boy/ring bearer.

It was a beautiful wedding, and when all was said and done, their family was better for it. Now everyone knew, not just a select few. And, to Jack's surprise, the majority of the Galactic Federation supported them wholeheartedly. Oh sure, there were a few grumblers and naysayers, but the new couple couldn't be bothered with them. John and Jack and little Gary were now one big happy family.

***

Note: I'm going to end it here. It's a good start to their relationship. There are so many ways it could go, some of which I plan to write. Next up, "Evil Parents of DOOM!"