Sunday Ficcing-America’s Son on the Campaign Trail: Family Values
Title: America’s Son on the Campaign Trail: Family Values
Genre: AU RPS
Pairing: Jensen/Jared
Warning: Some Politics
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 4000+
Beta: kathickers who is my saintly rock of beta. She makes it stronger every time!
Summary: Their family values.
Original:
My 2011 spn-j2-bigbang: America's Son
Abroad:
America’s Son Abroad: Jared’s Dirty Little Secret
America’s Son Abroad: Not Just Anybody
"We're going to get killed on family values," Jeff said, looking at the screen.
Jensen had just gone pale under his freckles, trying not to react when his debate opponent alluded to the fact that Jensen’s children weren’t his biological offspring therefore he couldn't understand the plight of parents, then went on to blatantly say that as a gay man he lead a different sort of life style and was unable to speak for people who lived in a ‘more conventional’ way.
Jeff watched with his arms crossed, jaw crushing his molars.
Jared looked worried. "Ignore the first part, you can do it, you know the second part. You know the answer to this one."
The words were spoken to the television monitor but meant for Jensen in the auditorium. Somehow they seemed to have effect on him.
Jensen was calm, cool and composed, again.
"I'm not a woman," Jensen said clearly. "And I am going to assume you aren't either, but for years the person in this office has had to weigh in on issues related to women. I'm also not African American, Hispanic, or Asian, but the person in this office has made decisions that affect them too. The fact of the matter is that the person in this office is never going to encompass all groups, but what a wise person can do is surround themselves with people from all groups who can offer insight, and find the best and the brightest and listen, so he or she can learn and make insightful decisions. That is what I plan on doing. I have a great many skills, but I cannot be everything, and I'm not going to try to be what I'm not. That would be a disservice to the people of this great country. I'm going to try to be the best I can be in service to the people."
Jared had a small knowing smile on his lips. "God, baby, you rock the world."
"So glad you two found each other," Jeff muttered. "The things that turn the two of you on in each other are thankfully rare in this world."
Jared grinned. "Don't pretend like you don't want to make out with him a little right now."
Jeff let out a raspy guffaw. "What I like about you two is that I don't have to worry about any kind of funny business in your relationship. Thirty years of monogamy is a relief after the last guy I got elected to Congress."
"Except the girl during the primaries who claimed that I fathered her child," Jared pointed out. "There was a lurid tale of me playing Jensen with gay sex and gay marriage, while I went made sweet sweet love to her."
Jared made a face.
"Good times," Jeff said. "You know what I liked most was Jensen's response."
Jared grinned, because that was his favorite too. A reporter had blind-sided Jensen with a question about Clarissa Mae Adkins and her involvement with Jared. Jensen hadn't even blanched. He just started laughing and turned to tell Jared.
It had been a non-issue after that. It had also made the world fall in love with them as a couple, something they thought they had put away twenty-five years earlier when they had gotten married with a fanfare that had defined marriage between men forever, much like Queen Victoria’s wedding had redefined dream weddings in little girls’ dreams. Then world had fallen in love with them then as the ultimate in gay couples. The world fell in love with them most recently as just a couple who they would like to see in the White House.
Jeff nodded to the screens. "He's doing closing remarks; get out there and look supportive of your hubby, I know it’ll be hard, but pretend for me."
Jared winked at him and sauntered out, knowing that they would be all smiles until they got back into the prep room and then Jensen would let holy hell fly.
Jeff watched them as they stood on stage. Jared whispered in Jensen’s ear and Jensen's eyes crinkled. Jeff knew it pissed them off that they couldn't kiss on the cheek or touch too much on stage--not that they particularly heeded that advice, but they managed most of the time. There was still a contingent that was tolerant enough of Jensen and Jared, just as long as they didn't have to see too much of it.
"Fucking hypocrites," Jeff always muttered.
The candidates walked off the stage and Jeff made sure all heavy potential projectiles were out of eyesight.
Jensen came in, followed by Jared.
"I'm fucking going to rip his arms off," Jensen spat. "He had the fucking nerve to tell me that I don't understand family values because my children are adopted? Fuck him. I'm sure that the millions of children who were adopted or fostered or who were raised by other family members are so grateful for being fucking invalidated. I raised two boys, who have never been arrested, who know how to manage money, who have two parents who love and adore them. My kids are a doctor and CNN reporter, while his fucking kids live on yachts in Ibiza. Yet I don't understand how to raise productive members of society because I’m gay and he does because he’s straight. Fuck him. Jeff you have to let me take the gloves off; I cannot stand this anymore. I have to protect my family."
"No, you can't. Your job is to speak of public policy, not your personal life. We’ve made a point of that and we can't change it now," Jeff said calmly. Then he turned to Jared, who looked just as stormy. "But Jared can."
Jensen looked at Jared and they held the glance, the simple look exchanging quite a bit in seconds.
“I thought you wanted him to win,” Jared said with a sheepish smile.
He had been by Jensen's side for all of it, for the state senate, for the US Senate run. He had over twenty years experience at this, but he had never sought to be the one in the spotlight.
Over the years he had done it, over the years he had been faced with questions from paparazzi and pundits. One on one he was charming and sweet, but when he was put in front of the press corps, when he felt that he was being attacked, he had the tendency to start talking around people until he had torn them to shreds. He wasn’t one to back down and he really wasn’t one who was good at the diplomacy. He knew how to handle people and he didn’t like to just let things go.
Once, when Jensen was running for the US Senate the press had asked about his sex life, specifically who was on the receiving end with Jensen. He had immediately gone on the defensive, turning the tables without them noticing and then ending what was a barely contained insult with a blatant deeply intimate personal question about the original questioner’s sex life, stating the fact that a candidate’s bedroom behavior with their spouse was none of anyone’s business, but if she wanted to share details maybe he’d throw her some anecdotes.
For years Jared had been called Jensen Ackles potentially volatile and opinionated husband.
Jared was good behind the scenes, not so much as a mouthpiece.
"Jensen needs to stay on message," Jeff said, arms crossed once again. "He needs to talk about policy and what he will do for the country. You are the spouse of the candidate, so we need you to be the personal side of the candidate. I know you aren't, but for the next--god-willing--eight years, we need you to be the domestic face of your marriage, and the country."
Jared looked over at Jensen again. Finally a resolution seemed to be made.
"He's not decorating the White House," Jensen said firmly.
"But I'll do the 'candid' interview," Jared said, resigned.
“It isn’t the biggest thing in the world,” Jeff said. “We’ll coach you, put a electric collar on you when you start getting mouthy and opinionated.”
“Jensen likes me mouthy and opinionated,” Jared pouted.
“Yeah, but you already won him over,” Jeff sighed. “Now you have to put people who question these things in place.”
"I could just kill the bastards," Jensen suggested.
Jared inhaled and then gave him a soft smile, because being petulant about something he was going to do wasn’t gong to make things easier. "You must be tired. We’ve got to get you more than four hours of sleep tonight. Also, remember we still have those kids that apparently don't really matter, and they'll be so embarrassed if their dad ends up in jail."
"They're adults," Jensen grumbled. "They'd get over it."
"Okay," Jeff said. "I'm going to go make plans before you change your minds, you can have ten minutes for your private pow wow and then I'm going to send in Danneel and Genevieve. And by pow wow I don’t mean anything sexual, be adults and clothed when they come in."
Jeff left.
Jensen immediately stepped into Jared’s space and cupped his face.
"Are you okay?" Jensen said quietly. "You know Jeff has been wanting you to take on the role of the great homemaker for a while now. We've fought him up to this point and we can keep doing it if you want."
Jared shook his head. "I knew what I was signing up for when we moved back here from England, all those years ago. I can figure out that line between honesty and brutal honesty.”
"I just want to be clear. If you take the domestic role, they're going to consider you just the other half. It doesn’t matter that you’ve had a career as a professor and a consultant all over the world, you will just be my wife," Jensen said softly.
Jared nodded. "I know. They're going to say I'm your sidekick. We know what I am, everybody who counts does. It’s okay, I can deal with perception without getting testy."
Jensen gave him a look.
“Now,” Jared amended, recalling him needing to give his resume and references for years, just so people wouldn’t think he was some slacker who was living high on the Ackles prestige. For most of his thirties he always made sure that people addressed him in formal capacity as Doctor or Professor, and always just Padalecki, never Padalecki-Ackles, he spent a great deal making sure that he was established, but that need had faded long ago. “I don’t need the validation now, you’ve always looked out for me and my career, let me do this for you.”
There was a knock at the door.
"We have seven more minutes," Jared yelled.
"Jared," Genevieve's voice came. "We have to start picking you out some pink suits and pearls."
"No pink," Jensen yelled through the door.
"Hey, I'm the little woman," Jared said with a pout. "I want to wear pink."
Jensen laughed tiredly and leaned in for a kiss.
Finally the girls came bounding in.
"Lincoln is on the phone," Danneel said, handing Jensen his cell phone.
Jensen grabbed for it and turned it on speakerphone. "Linc, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, dad. Logan and I were on the phone together watching your debate. We’re sorry we couldn't be there, but we’re going to be there for the next one for sure," Lincoln's tinny voice came through. "That guy is a douche."
The girls made their little 'aww' faces, Jensen shot them a look of death.
"So you're okay?" Jensen asked again.
"Stop worrying, dad," Lincoln said again. "We're fine, we've always been fine, you're usually the one freaking out. I just want you to know that you can talk about us. Logan and I talked about it, and you can talk about us as much as you want."
"Oh, boys," Jensen said tiredly. "You know I love you guys. I'm not not talking about you because I'm ashamed."
"Figured that, dad," Lincoln snorted. "We’re pretty much the most awesome kids ever. Don't worry about us; break into the family values issue and kick their asses."
"I'm not going to do it," Jensen began.
"Da," Logan whined, cutting in.
"Pops is," Jensen told him and Jared smiled from ear to ear.
"Don't you dare!" Lincoln squeaked. "Pa will embarrass the hell out of us and tell naked stories."
"Hey," Jared defended. "I'm the paradigm of family values, the little woman who sat at home while her man legislated. I raised the kids and cleaned the house, and cooked..."
"Sure you are," Lincoln said. "Unless you dressed as a five foot tall, fifty year old woman from Southie to do the cooking and cleaning and kid care taking I highly doubt it.
“I’m very talented,” Jared assured him.
“Not that talented,” Lincoln retorted.
“You know you don’t have to be a stay at home mom to preach family values,” Jensen pointed out. “Nobody really does that any more, you just have to show that you gave your kids values, that you have values. It is just about the fact that you raised them right.”
“So I lie and say that I didn’t sneak them candy and McDonalds,” Jared sighed. “This is never going to work.”
Jensen laughed. “I am already deeply shamed that I know that you did that.”
Lincoln paused. ”I think you’d be good, Pops. But the important part is do you think you can do it."
Jared looked at Jensen, dressed in his suit, ready to challenge for the seat of president.
The answer was, there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for Jensen.
“Yeah, kiddo,” Jared said. “I’m going to become the paradigm of a perfect politico wife, whatever the hell that means.”
Lincoln laughed. “I’m behind you and I’m pretty sure that Logan is going to be too. I’m going to pack up Jenna and the kid and we’re going to parade out on stage at your next debate and show the values in our family. Logan might try to kill anyone who questions our family, but hey, solidarity.”
“Jesus,” Jared swore. “Like father like son. Seriously we’re either going to the White House or the big house.”
“I know, seriously,” Lincoln laughed. “I’m gonna go, fathers. I’m going to call Logan; he needs a heads up. I know that you guys have things to do, so go do things.”
The line went dead.
Jared sighed. “Not a very articulate child we raised.”
“He’s the brain. Logan speaks clearly enough for the both of them,” Jensen sighed. “I love those boys. We did something really right.”
Jared made a face. “We are the fucking kings of family values. I cannot even believe that there is any doubt.”
Jensen looked down at Jared’s large, capable hands--hands that had intertwined with his when they were married, soothed their children when they were sick, and comforted him when nothing was going right. Jensen had put himself in those hands a long time ago and there was nothing but implicit trust.
“I’m going to do it right,” Jared promised, as if he needed to still swear loyalty to Jensen, as if Jensen didn’t know that Jared would take care of what he couldn’t. “I love you and I’m going to make you proud.”
Jensen’s eyes crinkled. “You always have.”
**
Jeff made sure that Jared was put into a casual setting, because as much as everyone had tried to help Jared, he just couldn’t do a podium. So Jeff put him at a table with ten reporters and food.
Genevieve stood on a chair and fixed his tie.
“Chew with your mouth closed, please, --if you remember nothing else, chew with your mouth closed,” Genevieve begged.
Jared pretended to sulk. “Can I say y’all? Do I have to forget everything that makes me, me?”
Genevieve gave him a stern look. “For the love of Christ, you’ve been doing this for thirty years. You know the rules. Anything that your momma would be embarrassed about you do not do., you be polite, chew with your mouth closed, and say ma’am and sir.”
Jared whistled. “Grandma Ackles is rolling around in her grave right now. If she knew that one day I would be having a lunch conference for her darling grandson’s presidential run she would probably never have let me come back to the compound. Things like this are not done. Those who are in power do not to human things like eat in front of their constituency.”
Genevieve smiled. “She sounds like an opinionated one, that woman.”
“She was the best, She helped me be good enough to be on his arm,” Jared said with a sheepish smile.
“I seriously doubt that,” Genevieve said. “Unless you were someone entirely different when you met, I’m sure that you were always good enough.”
Jared shrugged, “Thanks, but the reason I can go out there and not perform some kind of horrible table manner faux paux to ruin and scandalize his campaign is because of that woman.”
“Well make her proud,” Genevieve said. “That is all you have to do.”
Jared grinned like a little boy. “Can I still say y’all, she always liked it when I said y’all.”
Genevieve was helpless under that smile. “You can say y’all; that makes people faint of heart.”
Jared dimpled and his voice came out a sweet little drawl. “Yes, ma’am.”
She looked at him. “Yeah, you are rufies on legs.”
**
“Call Genevieve,” Jensen said, getting into the back of the car.
“Hello, Senator,” Danneel said cheerfully, not moving to her phone. “How was the conference?”
Jensen poked her. “Call Genevieve.”
“Real mature, Senator,” Danneel laughed.
“I remember when you called me Jensen,” Jensen said, bouncing in his seat.
“Yeah, and I didn’t listen to you then, either,” Danneel said, taking pity on him and picking up his phone.
She put it to her ear. “Hi, Genevieve. How goes it?”
Danneel looked over at Jensen and rolled her eyes. “Jared is still talking.”
Jensen started to look worried.
Danneel listened, she didn’t smile as she turned towards him.
“I think Jared lost us any chance of getting the hockey vote,” she said gravely. “I think he insulted fans everywhere.”
Jensen looked at her incredulously and spoke blandly. “Well, that is a worry; hockey is going Republican. Spin it that we’re dumb Texans and don’t understand the sport.”
She grinned at him. “You’re the senator from Boston, I highly doubt that will sell.”
“Whatever. Besides the loss of a demographic how is he?” Jensen pushed.
Danneel gave him the small private smile. “He’s charming them all, telling them about the grandkid and the vacation you guys spent in Portland fishing.”
Jensen groaned and this time it was for a very different reason.
“He told the worm story?” Jensen groaned. “I’m never going to be taken seriously.”
Danneel grinned and listened. “They absolutely adore you, it makes you human. Which I would like to point out was Jeff’s mission; he wants Jared to make you human.”
Then her face took on a confused look.
“What’s happening?” Jensen asked.
She shooed him away.
“What the fuck is happening?” Jensen growled.
**
“So, here’s the real thing,” Jared said, pushing back his crème brule. “I mean, all of this talk with you guys, the story telling, has been awesome, but the reason I wanted to talk to you was my kids. We made sure that we had a wide variety of people here today and we just wanted to be clear that those boys are our boys and I personally want to take on anyone who says anything different. They chose us and we were so young, but we picked them up and couldn’t put them down. It wasn’t about being gay, it wasn’t about anything except they chose us and we became a family. I hear that is sometimes how it works--family can come planned or by surprise”
Most of the table had little smiles on their faces.
It was only a woman from a conservative network that spoke up. “We all respect you stepping up to raise your husband’s nephews. I hope I’m not speaking out of turn, but two were so young, it must have been like playing house.”
Jared sat back in his chair. The look on his face was no longer fun and joking, he was no longer light and willing to share. He studied the woman in silence for a minute.
Suddenly the room was aware of who they were sitting in front of. They had been lulled into a sense of security with the goofy guy; he was one of the greatest minds of his generation, this guy they suddenly remembered had been part of the Ackles clan for quarter of a century, and he sat there quiet for a minute in a way that only the truly confident can be.
“What do you call your father’s siblings spouses?” Jared asked her.
She blinked at him.
Jared smiled at her. “I believe you call them your aunt or uncle, so at the very least those boys are my nephews by all common tradition and I don’t take kindly on your implications. Furthermore the State of Massachusetts declared us their guardians, so legally we are at least their guardians. But all that is kind of moot because the boys call us both dad, so that is what we are.”
Her mouth was set in a firm line. Jared leaned forward and kept talking.
“They didn’t sleep for weeks after their parents died,” Jared said very softly, almost deadly. “We were the ones who held them, made them feel safe in a world that didn’t make sense to them any more. When Lincoln started talking he called us Dad. We weren’t playing house, it wasn’t pretend. We made the hard decisions. We weren’t loaned out children, we raised our children. We were young, but we wanted them and we made a family and I challenge you to tell me what could possibly be more “family values” than that. The thing you are questioning is what both Jensen and I hold most sacred, and it is rude and condescending and downright ignorant.”
Jared stormed off.
**
Genevieve came up quietly.
“Don’t,” Jared growled. “Just don’t. I did what everyone said I was gong to do. I was supposed to hold my tongue, but that woman started and I just couldn’t stop myself by proving how wrong she was in front of fifteen reporters and three news cameras. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
“Jensen is on the phone,” she said softly.
“Tell him I’ll talk to him at the hotel,” Jared said through clenched teeth.
Genevieve looked at him; he looked like he was ready to cry.
“Okay,” she said softly. “Let’s just go.”
The car ride was silent. When they were almost there she spoke up.
“I miss when I could just give you a hug,” she said softly.
Jared looked over at her and lifted an arm, she came and snuggled under it.
**
She followed Jared up the stairs. He paused at his door and looked back at her, his face full of so much angst and despair.
Genevieve gave him a smile and walked away.
With a heavy heart Jared opened the door. In the sitting room was not just Jensen, but Lincoln and Logan as well. Nobody would make eye contact with Jared.
Finally Jensen looked up.
“God, Jared,” Jensen said, emotion in his voice.
The boys looked up.
“What he said,” Lincoln agreed.
Jensen walked up and threw his arms around Jared.
“I love you so much,” Jensen said, his voice muffled in Jared’s shoulder.
Jared’s hands went around him. The boys came up and joined in the hug.
“I’m confused,” Jared said, starting to feel awkward.
“You just killed every president ever on family values,” Logan said.
“And I think that we’re electing you favorite father,” Lincoln added.
Jared pulled away and looked at Jensen for answers.
“That was awesome,” Jensen said shaking his head. “You, I mean. You’ve gotten good at that whole speech-making thing.”
“I just yelled at America,” Jared said, tears threatening to fall. “I might have just ruined your candidacy.”
Jensen shook his head. “Not even close. Don’t you see baby? You spoke our truth, you told them on no uncertain terms how it was going to be. How our family looks to us. Anybody who heard you and doesn’t vote for us because of that wasn’t going to vote for us anyway and I’m pretty sure that it endeared you to a whole lot of people.”
Jared looked up at him, eyes a little lost.
Jensen stroked his face and whispered huskily. “I nearly lost it when you brought up the days after Josh’s death, when the boys would sleep with us. That is the important part for me, those moments. Remember the first time Logan called us dad and Linc ran around the house yelling dad, dad, dad? Remember when we realized that they were talking to us?”
Jared felt something well up in his throat and he was speechless. Fortunately their sons knew how to keep the moment light.
“I remember Lincoln, he was buck naked,” Logan added.
Lincoln blushed. “I don’t remember that at all.”
“You were only a few years old,” Jared said with a smile.
“This is why I waited on running until after the boys were grown up,” Jensen said. “I wanted to make sure that we were able to be dads before going into the spotlight. You made me so proud; I mean, I would have been more proud if you had socked that woman, but what can you do?”
“Dad,” Lincoln whined. “We don’t hit girls.”
“We don’t condone violence,” Logan added.
“He’s joking,” Jared said sternly.
And they all started cracking up. The mood had been lifted. Jared suddenly didn’t feel the weight of dread at all.
Jared looked at his husband and his sons.
“What are you guys doing here?” Jared asked. “Don’t you have jobs and families?”
Logan and Lincoln shrugged.
“They came for you,” Jensen finally said.
Jared just looked at his smiling face.
“So me being me is gong to work?” Jared asked.
Jensen laughed. “You were perfect. You were Jared and you were honorable, and funny and sweet. You are quite possibly the most perfect person on this adventure with me that is life.”
Jared blinked rapidly. “Oh.”
Lincoln was gagging.
Jensen shot him a withering look. “Seriously, you are older than four.”
“Seriously, the honeymoon should be over, Mr. Senator,” Logan pointed out dryly.
Jared messed up his hair. “Am I going to get reward sex when I do good jobs? I think I would like that.”
Lincoln and Logan blinked repeatedly at him.
“That sounds vaguely scandalous,” Jensen said laughing.
Jared smiled innocently. “So no sex reward? It will make me be really really good.”
“Seriously, stop,” Logan muttered.
Jensen sighed. “The boys are here and the girls gave us like half an hour so the right thing to do in the name of family values seems to be spend time with our wandering children.”
“But the mean woman at the table said they weren’t ours,” Jared fake-whined.
Logan looked at Lincoln and they exchanged ideas without talking, then they lunged at Jared. Jared couldn’t stop laughing as his sons wrestled him to the ground.
Jensen just sighed. “I’m ordering lunch, anyone want anything?”
“Club sandwich,” Logan called, not breaking his stride to twist the still taut skin on Jared’ stomach.”
“Roast beef,” Lincoln said as he tickled Jared who was very ticklish.
“Jensen make them stop,” Jared squealed.
“Say we’re your sons,” Lincoln demanded.
“You two are almost thirty, behave,” Jared said trying to slap their hands away.
“Say it, dad,” Logan pushed.
“You’re my kids,” Jared managed to gasp. “Always.”
They stopped and huffed down next to him.
Jensen hung up the phone.
Jared put his arms around the boys. “They’re my kids, but you on the other hand with your indifference to my agonizing plight makes me think not only are you a terrible husband, you will be a terrible president.”
Jensen came over to him and kissed him on the head. “I love you.”
Jared pouted for a second, but he couldn’t hold it. “Okay, that works. I love you too.”
Genre: AU RPS
Pairing: Jensen/Jared
Warning: Some Politics
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 4000+
Beta: kathickers who is my saintly rock of beta. She makes it stronger every time!
Summary: Their family values.
Original:
My 2011 spn-j2-bigbang: America's Son
Abroad:
America’s Son Abroad: Jared’s Dirty Little Secret
America’s Son Abroad: Not Just Anybody
"We're going to get killed on family values," Jeff said, looking at the screen.
Jensen had just gone pale under his freckles, trying not to react when his debate opponent alluded to the fact that Jensen’s children weren’t his biological offspring therefore he couldn't understand the plight of parents, then went on to blatantly say that as a gay man he lead a different sort of life style and was unable to speak for people who lived in a ‘more conventional’ way.
Jeff watched with his arms crossed, jaw crushing his molars.
Jared looked worried. "Ignore the first part, you can do it, you know the second part. You know the answer to this one."
The words were spoken to the television monitor but meant for Jensen in the auditorium. Somehow they seemed to have effect on him.
Jensen was calm, cool and composed, again.
"I'm not a woman," Jensen said clearly. "And I am going to assume you aren't either, but for years the person in this office has had to weigh in on issues related to women. I'm also not African American, Hispanic, or Asian, but the person in this office has made decisions that affect them too. The fact of the matter is that the person in this office is never going to encompass all groups, but what a wise person can do is surround themselves with people from all groups who can offer insight, and find the best and the brightest and listen, so he or she can learn and make insightful decisions. That is what I plan on doing. I have a great many skills, but I cannot be everything, and I'm not going to try to be what I'm not. That would be a disservice to the people of this great country. I'm going to try to be the best I can be in service to the people."
Jared had a small knowing smile on his lips. "God, baby, you rock the world."
"So glad you two found each other," Jeff muttered. "The things that turn the two of you on in each other are thankfully rare in this world."
Jared grinned. "Don't pretend like you don't want to make out with him a little right now."
Jeff let out a raspy guffaw. "What I like about you two is that I don't have to worry about any kind of funny business in your relationship. Thirty years of monogamy is a relief after the last guy I got elected to Congress."
"Except the girl during the primaries who claimed that I fathered her child," Jared pointed out. "There was a lurid tale of me playing Jensen with gay sex and gay marriage, while I went made sweet sweet love to her."
Jared made a face.
"Good times," Jeff said. "You know what I liked most was Jensen's response."
Jared grinned, because that was his favorite too. A reporter had blind-sided Jensen with a question about Clarissa Mae Adkins and her involvement with Jared. Jensen hadn't even blanched. He just started laughing and turned to tell Jared.
It had been a non-issue after that. It had also made the world fall in love with them as a couple, something they thought they had put away twenty-five years earlier when they had gotten married with a fanfare that had defined marriage between men forever, much like Queen Victoria’s wedding had redefined dream weddings in little girls’ dreams. Then world had fallen in love with them then as the ultimate in gay couples. The world fell in love with them most recently as just a couple who they would like to see in the White House.
Jeff nodded to the screens. "He's doing closing remarks; get out there and look supportive of your hubby, I know it’ll be hard, but pretend for me."
Jared winked at him and sauntered out, knowing that they would be all smiles until they got back into the prep room and then Jensen would let holy hell fly.
Jeff watched them as they stood on stage. Jared whispered in Jensen’s ear and Jensen's eyes crinkled. Jeff knew it pissed them off that they couldn't kiss on the cheek or touch too much on stage--not that they particularly heeded that advice, but they managed most of the time. There was still a contingent that was tolerant enough of Jensen and Jared, just as long as they didn't have to see too much of it.
"Fucking hypocrites," Jeff always muttered.
The candidates walked off the stage and Jeff made sure all heavy potential projectiles were out of eyesight.
Jensen came in, followed by Jared.
"I'm fucking going to rip his arms off," Jensen spat. "He had the fucking nerve to tell me that I don't understand family values because my children are adopted? Fuck him. I'm sure that the millions of children who were adopted or fostered or who were raised by other family members are so grateful for being fucking invalidated. I raised two boys, who have never been arrested, who know how to manage money, who have two parents who love and adore them. My kids are a doctor and CNN reporter, while his fucking kids live on yachts in Ibiza. Yet I don't understand how to raise productive members of society because I’m gay and he does because he’s straight. Fuck him. Jeff you have to let me take the gloves off; I cannot stand this anymore. I have to protect my family."
"No, you can't. Your job is to speak of public policy, not your personal life. We’ve made a point of that and we can't change it now," Jeff said calmly. Then he turned to Jared, who looked just as stormy. "But Jared can."
Jensen looked at Jared and they held the glance, the simple look exchanging quite a bit in seconds.
“I thought you wanted him to win,” Jared said with a sheepish smile.
He had been by Jensen's side for all of it, for the state senate, for the US Senate run. He had over twenty years experience at this, but he had never sought to be the one in the spotlight.
Over the years he had done it, over the years he had been faced with questions from paparazzi and pundits. One on one he was charming and sweet, but when he was put in front of the press corps, when he felt that he was being attacked, he had the tendency to start talking around people until he had torn them to shreds. He wasn’t one to back down and he really wasn’t one who was good at the diplomacy. He knew how to handle people and he didn’t like to just let things go.
Once, when Jensen was running for the US Senate the press had asked about his sex life, specifically who was on the receiving end with Jensen. He had immediately gone on the defensive, turning the tables without them noticing and then ending what was a barely contained insult with a blatant deeply intimate personal question about the original questioner’s sex life, stating the fact that a candidate’s bedroom behavior with their spouse was none of anyone’s business, but if she wanted to share details maybe he’d throw her some anecdotes.
For years Jared had been called Jensen Ackles potentially volatile and opinionated husband.
Jared was good behind the scenes, not so much as a mouthpiece.
"Jensen needs to stay on message," Jeff said, arms crossed once again. "He needs to talk about policy and what he will do for the country. You are the spouse of the candidate, so we need you to be the personal side of the candidate. I know you aren't, but for the next--god-willing--eight years, we need you to be the domestic face of your marriage, and the country."
Jared looked over at Jensen again. Finally a resolution seemed to be made.
"He's not decorating the White House," Jensen said firmly.
"But I'll do the 'candid' interview," Jared said, resigned.
“It isn’t the biggest thing in the world,” Jeff said. “We’ll coach you, put a electric collar on you when you start getting mouthy and opinionated.”
“Jensen likes me mouthy and opinionated,” Jared pouted.
“Yeah, but you already won him over,” Jeff sighed. “Now you have to put people who question these things in place.”
"I could just kill the bastards," Jensen suggested.
Jared inhaled and then gave him a soft smile, because being petulant about something he was going to do wasn’t gong to make things easier. "You must be tired. We’ve got to get you more than four hours of sleep tonight. Also, remember we still have those kids that apparently don't really matter, and they'll be so embarrassed if their dad ends up in jail."
"They're adults," Jensen grumbled. "They'd get over it."
"Okay," Jeff said. "I'm going to go make plans before you change your minds, you can have ten minutes for your private pow wow and then I'm going to send in Danneel and Genevieve. And by pow wow I don’t mean anything sexual, be adults and clothed when they come in."
Jeff left.
Jensen immediately stepped into Jared’s space and cupped his face.
"Are you okay?" Jensen said quietly. "You know Jeff has been wanting you to take on the role of the great homemaker for a while now. We've fought him up to this point and we can keep doing it if you want."
Jared shook his head. "I knew what I was signing up for when we moved back here from England, all those years ago. I can figure out that line between honesty and brutal honesty.”
"I just want to be clear. If you take the domestic role, they're going to consider you just the other half. It doesn’t matter that you’ve had a career as a professor and a consultant all over the world, you will just be my wife," Jensen said softly.
Jared nodded. "I know. They're going to say I'm your sidekick. We know what I am, everybody who counts does. It’s okay, I can deal with perception without getting testy."
Jensen gave him a look.
“Now,” Jared amended, recalling him needing to give his resume and references for years, just so people wouldn’t think he was some slacker who was living high on the Ackles prestige. For most of his thirties he always made sure that people addressed him in formal capacity as Doctor or Professor, and always just Padalecki, never Padalecki-Ackles, he spent a great deal making sure that he was established, but that need had faded long ago. “I don’t need the validation now, you’ve always looked out for me and my career, let me do this for you.”
There was a knock at the door.
"We have seven more minutes," Jared yelled.
"Jared," Genevieve's voice came. "We have to start picking you out some pink suits and pearls."
"No pink," Jensen yelled through the door.
"Hey, I'm the little woman," Jared said with a pout. "I want to wear pink."
Jensen laughed tiredly and leaned in for a kiss.
Finally the girls came bounding in.
"Lincoln is on the phone," Danneel said, handing Jensen his cell phone.
Jensen grabbed for it and turned it on speakerphone. "Linc, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, dad. Logan and I were on the phone together watching your debate. We’re sorry we couldn't be there, but we’re going to be there for the next one for sure," Lincoln's tinny voice came through. "That guy is a douche."
The girls made their little 'aww' faces, Jensen shot them a look of death.
"So you're okay?" Jensen asked again.
"Stop worrying, dad," Lincoln said again. "We're fine, we've always been fine, you're usually the one freaking out. I just want you to know that you can talk about us. Logan and I talked about it, and you can talk about us as much as you want."
"Oh, boys," Jensen said tiredly. "You know I love you guys. I'm not not talking about you because I'm ashamed."
"Figured that, dad," Lincoln snorted. "We’re pretty much the most awesome kids ever. Don't worry about us; break into the family values issue and kick their asses."
"I'm not going to do it," Jensen began.
"Da," Logan whined, cutting in.
"Pops is," Jensen told him and Jared smiled from ear to ear.
"Don't you dare!" Lincoln squeaked. "Pa will embarrass the hell out of us and tell naked stories."
"Hey," Jared defended. "I'm the paradigm of family values, the little woman who sat at home while her man legislated. I raised the kids and cleaned the house, and cooked..."
"Sure you are," Lincoln said. "Unless you dressed as a five foot tall, fifty year old woman from Southie to do the cooking and cleaning and kid care taking I highly doubt it.
“I’m very talented,” Jared assured him.
“Not that talented,” Lincoln retorted.
“You know you don’t have to be a stay at home mom to preach family values,” Jensen pointed out. “Nobody really does that any more, you just have to show that you gave your kids values, that you have values. It is just about the fact that you raised them right.”
“So I lie and say that I didn’t sneak them candy and McDonalds,” Jared sighed. “This is never going to work.”
Jensen laughed. “I am already deeply shamed that I know that you did that.”
Lincoln paused. ”I think you’d be good, Pops. But the important part is do you think you can do it."
Jared looked at Jensen, dressed in his suit, ready to challenge for the seat of president.
The answer was, there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for Jensen.
“Yeah, kiddo,” Jared said. “I’m going to become the paradigm of a perfect politico wife, whatever the hell that means.”
Lincoln laughed. “I’m behind you and I’m pretty sure that Logan is going to be too. I’m going to pack up Jenna and the kid and we’re going to parade out on stage at your next debate and show the values in our family. Logan might try to kill anyone who questions our family, but hey, solidarity.”
“Jesus,” Jared swore. “Like father like son. Seriously we’re either going to the White House or the big house.”
“I know, seriously,” Lincoln laughed. “I’m gonna go, fathers. I’m going to call Logan; he needs a heads up. I know that you guys have things to do, so go do things.”
The line went dead.
Jared sighed. “Not a very articulate child we raised.”
“He’s the brain. Logan speaks clearly enough for the both of them,” Jensen sighed. “I love those boys. We did something really right.”
Jared made a face. “We are the fucking kings of family values. I cannot even believe that there is any doubt.”
Jensen looked down at Jared’s large, capable hands--hands that had intertwined with his when they were married, soothed their children when they were sick, and comforted him when nothing was going right. Jensen had put himself in those hands a long time ago and there was nothing but implicit trust.
“I’m going to do it right,” Jared promised, as if he needed to still swear loyalty to Jensen, as if Jensen didn’t know that Jared would take care of what he couldn’t. “I love you and I’m going to make you proud.”
Jensen’s eyes crinkled. “You always have.”
**
Jeff made sure that Jared was put into a casual setting, because as much as everyone had tried to help Jared, he just couldn’t do a podium. So Jeff put him at a table with ten reporters and food.
Genevieve stood on a chair and fixed his tie.
“Chew with your mouth closed, please, --if you remember nothing else, chew with your mouth closed,” Genevieve begged.
Jared pretended to sulk. “Can I say y’all? Do I have to forget everything that makes me, me?”
Genevieve gave him a stern look. “For the love of Christ, you’ve been doing this for thirty years. You know the rules. Anything that your momma would be embarrassed about you do not do., you be polite, chew with your mouth closed, and say ma’am and sir.”
Jared whistled. “Grandma Ackles is rolling around in her grave right now. If she knew that one day I would be having a lunch conference for her darling grandson’s presidential run she would probably never have let me come back to the compound. Things like this are not done. Those who are in power do not to human things like eat in front of their constituency.”
Genevieve smiled. “She sounds like an opinionated one, that woman.”
“She was the best, She helped me be good enough to be on his arm,” Jared said with a sheepish smile.
“I seriously doubt that,” Genevieve said. “Unless you were someone entirely different when you met, I’m sure that you were always good enough.”
Jared shrugged, “Thanks, but the reason I can go out there and not perform some kind of horrible table manner faux paux to ruin and scandalize his campaign is because of that woman.”
“Well make her proud,” Genevieve said. “That is all you have to do.”
Jared grinned like a little boy. “Can I still say y’all, she always liked it when I said y’all.”
Genevieve was helpless under that smile. “You can say y’all; that makes people faint of heart.”
Jared dimpled and his voice came out a sweet little drawl. “Yes, ma’am.”
She looked at him. “Yeah, you are rufies on legs.”
**
“Call Genevieve,” Jensen said, getting into the back of the car.
“Hello, Senator,” Danneel said cheerfully, not moving to her phone. “How was the conference?”
Jensen poked her. “Call Genevieve.”
“Real mature, Senator,” Danneel laughed.
“I remember when you called me Jensen,” Jensen said, bouncing in his seat.
“Yeah, and I didn’t listen to you then, either,” Danneel said, taking pity on him and picking up his phone.
She put it to her ear. “Hi, Genevieve. How goes it?”
Danneel looked over at Jensen and rolled her eyes. “Jared is still talking.”
Jensen started to look worried.
Danneel listened, she didn’t smile as she turned towards him.
“I think Jared lost us any chance of getting the hockey vote,” she said gravely. “I think he insulted fans everywhere.”
Jensen looked at her incredulously and spoke blandly. “Well, that is a worry; hockey is going Republican. Spin it that we’re dumb Texans and don’t understand the sport.”
She grinned at him. “You’re the senator from Boston, I highly doubt that will sell.”
“Whatever. Besides the loss of a demographic how is he?” Jensen pushed.
Danneel gave him the small private smile. “He’s charming them all, telling them about the grandkid and the vacation you guys spent in Portland fishing.”
Jensen groaned and this time it was for a very different reason.
“He told the worm story?” Jensen groaned. “I’m never going to be taken seriously.”
Danneel grinned and listened. “They absolutely adore you, it makes you human. Which I would like to point out was Jeff’s mission; he wants Jared to make you human.”
Then her face took on a confused look.
“What’s happening?” Jensen asked.
She shooed him away.
“What the fuck is happening?” Jensen growled.
**
“So, here’s the real thing,” Jared said, pushing back his crème brule. “I mean, all of this talk with you guys, the story telling, has been awesome, but the reason I wanted to talk to you was my kids. We made sure that we had a wide variety of people here today and we just wanted to be clear that those boys are our boys and I personally want to take on anyone who says anything different. They chose us and we were so young, but we picked them up and couldn’t put them down. It wasn’t about being gay, it wasn’t about anything except they chose us and we became a family. I hear that is sometimes how it works--family can come planned or by surprise”
Most of the table had little smiles on their faces.
It was only a woman from a conservative network that spoke up. “We all respect you stepping up to raise your husband’s nephews. I hope I’m not speaking out of turn, but two were so young, it must have been like playing house.”
Jared sat back in his chair. The look on his face was no longer fun and joking, he was no longer light and willing to share. He studied the woman in silence for a minute.
Suddenly the room was aware of who they were sitting in front of. They had been lulled into a sense of security with the goofy guy; he was one of the greatest minds of his generation, this guy they suddenly remembered had been part of the Ackles clan for quarter of a century, and he sat there quiet for a minute in a way that only the truly confident can be.
“What do you call your father’s siblings spouses?” Jared asked her.
She blinked at him.
Jared smiled at her. “I believe you call them your aunt or uncle, so at the very least those boys are my nephews by all common tradition and I don’t take kindly on your implications. Furthermore the State of Massachusetts declared us their guardians, so legally we are at least their guardians. But all that is kind of moot because the boys call us both dad, so that is what we are.”
Her mouth was set in a firm line. Jared leaned forward and kept talking.
“They didn’t sleep for weeks after their parents died,” Jared said very softly, almost deadly. “We were the ones who held them, made them feel safe in a world that didn’t make sense to them any more. When Lincoln started talking he called us Dad. We weren’t playing house, it wasn’t pretend. We made the hard decisions. We weren’t loaned out children, we raised our children. We were young, but we wanted them and we made a family and I challenge you to tell me what could possibly be more “family values” than that. The thing you are questioning is what both Jensen and I hold most sacred, and it is rude and condescending and downright ignorant.”
Jared stormed off.
**
Genevieve came up quietly.
“Don’t,” Jared growled. “Just don’t. I did what everyone said I was gong to do. I was supposed to hold my tongue, but that woman started and I just couldn’t stop myself by proving how wrong she was in front of fifteen reporters and three news cameras. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
“Jensen is on the phone,” she said softly.
“Tell him I’ll talk to him at the hotel,” Jared said through clenched teeth.
Genevieve looked at him; he looked like he was ready to cry.
“Okay,” she said softly. “Let’s just go.”
The car ride was silent. When they were almost there she spoke up.
“I miss when I could just give you a hug,” she said softly.
Jared looked over at her and lifted an arm, she came and snuggled under it.
**
She followed Jared up the stairs. He paused at his door and looked back at her, his face full of so much angst and despair.
Genevieve gave him a smile and walked away.
With a heavy heart Jared opened the door. In the sitting room was not just Jensen, but Lincoln and Logan as well. Nobody would make eye contact with Jared.
Finally Jensen looked up.
“God, Jared,” Jensen said, emotion in his voice.
The boys looked up.
“What he said,” Lincoln agreed.
Jensen walked up and threw his arms around Jared.
“I love you so much,” Jensen said, his voice muffled in Jared’s shoulder.
Jared’s hands went around him. The boys came up and joined in the hug.
“I’m confused,” Jared said, starting to feel awkward.
“You just killed every president ever on family values,” Logan said.
“And I think that we’re electing you favorite father,” Lincoln added.
Jared pulled away and looked at Jensen for answers.
“That was awesome,” Jensen said shaking his head. “You, I mean. You’ve gotten good at that whole speech-making thing.”
“I just yelled at America,” Jared said, tears threatening to fall. “I might have just ruined your candidacy.”
Jensen shook his head. “Not even close. Don’t you see baby? You spoke our truth, you told them on no uncertain terms how it was going to be. How our family looks to us. Anybody who heard you and doesn’t vote for us because of that wasn’t going to vote for us anyway and I’m pretty sure that it endeared you to a whole lot of people.”
Jared looked up at him, eyes a little lost.
Jensen stroked his face and whispered huskily. “I nearly lost it when you brought up the days after Josh’s death, when the boys would sleep with us. That is the important part for me, those moments. Remember the first time Logan called us dad and Linc ran around the house yelling dad, dad, dad? Remember when we realized that they were talking to us?”
Jared felt something well up in his throat and he was speechless. Fortunately their sons knew how to keep the moment light.
“I remember Lincoln, he was buck naked,” Logan added.
Lincoln blushed. “I don’t remember that at all.”
“You were only a few years old,” Jared said with a smile.
“This is why I waited on running until after the boys were grown up,” Jensen said. “I wanted to make sure that we were able to be dads before going into the spotlight. You made me so proud; I mean, I would have been more proud if you had socked that woman, but what can you do?”
“Dad,” Lincoln whined. “We don’t hit girls.”
“We don’t condone violence,” Logan added.
“He’s joking,” Jared said sternly.
And they all started cracking up. The mood had been lifted. Jared suddenly didn’t feel the weight of dread at all.
Jared looked at his husband and his sons.
“What are you guys doing here?” Jared asked. “Don’t you have jobs and families?”
Logan and Lincoln shrugged.
“They came for you,” Jensen finally said.
Jared just looked at his smiling face.
“So me being me is gong to work?” Jared asked.
Jensen laughed. “You were perfect. You were Jared and you were honorable, and funny and sweet. You are quite possibly the most perfect person on this adventure with me that is life.”
Jared blinked rapidly. “Oh.”
Lincoln was gagging.
Jensen shot him a withering look. “Seriously, you are older than four.”
“Seriously, the honeymoon should be over, Mr. Senator,” Logan pointed out dryly.
Jared messed up his hair. “Am I going to get reward sex when I do good jobs? I think I would like that.”
Lincoln and Logan blinked repeatedly at him.
“That sounds vaguely scandalous,” Jensen said laughing.
Jared smiled innocently. “So no sex reward? It will make me be really really good.”
“Seriously, stop,” Logan muttered.
Jensen sighed. “The boys are here and the girls gave us like half an hour so the right thing to do in the name of family values seems to be spend time with our wandering children.”
“But the mean woman at the table said they weren’t ours,” Jared fake-whined.
Logan looked at Lincoln and they exchanged ideas without talking, then they lunged at Jared. Jared couldn’t stop laughing as his sons wrestled him to the ground.
Jensen just sighed. “I’m ordering lunch, anyone want anything?”
“Club sandwich,” Logan called, not breaking his stride to twist the still taut skin on Jared’ stomach.”
“Roast beef,” Lincoln said as he tickled Jared who was very ticklish.
“Jensen make them stop,” Jared squealed.
“Say we’re your sons,” Lincoln demanded.
“You two are almost thirty, behave,” Jared said trying to slap their hands away.
“Say it, dad,” Logan pushed.
“You’re my kids,” Jared managed to gasp. “Always.”
They stopped and huffed down next to him.
Jensen hung up the phone.
Jared put his arms around the boys. “They’re my kids, but you on the other hand with your indifference to my agonizing plight makes me think not only are you a terrible husband, you will be a terrible president.”
Jensen came over to him and kissed him on the head. “I love you.”
Jared pouted for a second, but he couldn’t hold it. “Okay, that works. I love you too.”