The Mystery of the Missing Hyper-Drive Element – Chapter 1

A/N: Yes, it's a new story from me. Finally! This one is set in my Everett/Missy universe, and the group that went to Altera at the end of The Best-Laid Plans will be prominent in this story. Now, this first chapter is pure fluff, but I promise, there will be lots of intrigue. Please read and review and let me know what you think. On with the story!

Squeals of excitement greeted Dr. Melissa Young as she and her friend Dr. Lisa Greer opened the back door of the home they lived in with their friends and family from Earth. Two young children, a boy and a girl, ran up to her. The girl, whose name was Kathryn, but who was called Katie, greeted her mother. "Hi Mama!" She motioned to the tray Lisa was carrying, "Is that our cake?" indicating herself and her twin brother Matthew.

Missy smiled at her daughter. "It is….munchkin. Are….you…ready…for your…..party?"

The two children jumped up and down excitedly. "Yes Mama." Katie motioned to the people in the yard. "Everyone's here, and baby Livvy is awake." She pointed to the blonde woman walking towards them wearing a baby sling. "Aunt TJ said we wait for you."

Lieutenant Tamara McDonald greeted Melissa and Lisa telling Melissa, "Your husband has had all kinds of trouble keeping them corralled. Apparently, someone told them how good chocolate was." She turned and gave the four men who had come up behind her a mock glare. "I wonder who that was."

Her husband, Mac, held up his hands. "I had nothing to do with it."

"Neither did I," said Ron Greer, an African-American man who was married to Lisa. "But I know who did." He pointed to the older man with shaggy brown hair. "It was Grandpa Nick."

Everyone standing there gave Dr. Nicholas Rush withering glares until he acquiesced, answering them in his Scottish brogue, "I admit it. It was me. I thought the little lass and lad should know what kind of treat they were getting."

Missy grinned at the man who was like a father to her. "It's okay…Nick." She asked her husband, Everett, who was standing next to him, "Were they…that bad?"

Smiling tenderly at his wife, Ev replied, "Naah, they were fine, honey." He motioned to the older woman who had walked up to them. "Linda and I had them running races to get the wiggles out."

"That's good." The slender brunette woman smiled at her friends and family who all lived together on the planet Altera. "So…who wants…to get…this show on…the road?"

Matthew and Katie both shrieked with excitement. "Me Mama! Me!"

As Melissa and Lisa took the cake and other refreshments over to the table that had been set up outside, the young mom reflected on everything that had happened in the year since her children had been born. Shortly after their birth on a planet near the Alteran spaceship Destiny where they had been marooned after coming through the ship's stargate from their own galaxy, they and their other crewmates had met a group of present-day Alterans. These Alterans had enabled them to dial the ship's stargate to their own planet, and people from Earth had come through to negotiate an alliance. Unscrupulous people had also come through the gate, and in their subsequent attempts to sabotage the negotiations, several people had been injured, some more severely than others. The injuries Missy had sustained to her brain continued to affect her although she had made significant progress through her therapy. After the saboteurs had been captured, Everett had been offered the chance to be Earth's ambassador to Altera. He had accepted, and he, Missy, and their children as well as their friends had all come to Altera. She was startled out of her reverie by her husband's hand on her shoulder. When she looked up, he smiled at her. "Are we going to have birthday cake first or open presents?"

Missy grinned. "I…think…we…should sing… and…have cake…first. If we…don't, the…kids will…riot."

"I think you're right." He called for everyone's attention. When the group was quiet, Everett began speaking. "Today is an important day for a couple of reasons. First, it is the nine-month anniversary of our arrival on Altera, a day which changed the history of two planets in two different galaxies." Everyone clapped and cheered enthusiastically. "Second, and most important…" He smiled at his children. "It is Matthew and Katie's birthday. So, without further adieu, let's begin the party!"

The group began singing Happy Birthday. "Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Katie and Matthew! Happy Birthday to you!" When the song was done, Everett and Melissa each lifted a child where they could see the cake and candles with their father saying, "Okay munchkins, time to make a wish and blow out the candles."

Katie and Matthew both looked at the cake with interest, their parents, and then at each other communicating in the silent way that twins have. They blew out the candles, and each grinned with satisfaction while the rest of the group clapped and whistled. Katie asked her father "Is it time for cake now?"

"It is." He looked at her curiously. "What was your wish?"

The young girl gazed at her father thoughtfully. "We wished the mean people would be nicer to Mama. Right, Matthew?"

Matthew nodded eagerly from where his mother was holding him. "Right, Katie."

After glancing at his wife questioningly and seeing her shrug, Ev responded to his daughter, "Why would you say someone was being mean to Mama?"

"Well," said Katie, "the people that came two days ago made her cry and said she was slow." She glanced at the adults who had all suddenly quieted and shook her head determinedly. "Mama not slow. Mama just Mama."

Everyone's eyes got wet as Missy leaned over and kissed her daughter's forehead. "Thank you…Katie."

"You're welcome. I want cake now." The children eagerly clambered down to the picnic table, and Melissa and Lisa started cutting the cake.

After everyone had been served the cake and an Alteran treat called glacies crepito, they sat around the table talking and laughing. Missy, who was sitting at one end of the table with Everett, Nicholas, and his wife Linda, looked up when Nick spoke to her, pointing to the children, "Lass, you're teaching them well."

The younger woman gazed at Katie and Matthew who were sitting on the other side of her husband. "I didn't…know…they had…heard…those people…from the…Scientific…Institute…the other day."

Nick wryly chuckled. "Well, it's probably lucky they didn't hear what I said. I don't think you and Everett would have wanted them learning that kind of language." He gave her a thoughtful gaze. "Lass, you are more than ready for this opportunity. Just because it takes you longer to get your thoughts out doesn't mean you don't understand the principles behind the new hyper-drive element. I thought that man was being quite ridiculous."

Lisa interrupted them. "I did too." She grinned at her friend. "You've worked hard on your therapy, and you deserve a chance to show them you understand the science." Looking over at Everett, she continued, "So, what was the final verdict? Are we gonna get to go?"

Putting his arm around his wife, Ev smiled gently at her before responding to Lisa. "Gaius and I went to see the Interior Minister and let our displeasure be known. And then, I think the Sovereign Leader's office got involved because I got a call this morning…" He impishly grinned at Missy. "Saying you could go!"

The women jumped up and down with excitement while Nick smiled in satisfaction. "Nice job, Ambassador."

Ev nodded in response. "Thank you, Doctor." He turned to his wife who had sat back down and softly stroked her cheek. "Does that make you happy, baby?"

His wife leaned over and kissed him. "It…does. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Everyone continued to eat and celebrate the children's birthday. After they finished, Ev and Missy brought out the presents which Matthew and Katie eagerly opened. Their favorite present was a silver ball and a matching stick which looked very similar to a baseball and bat from Earth. For the rest of the afternoon, they enjoyed practicing their hitting skills and especially enjoyed it when Ron and Mac pretended like they couldn't hit the ball. When their parents were putting them in bed at the end of the day, Matthew said, "I had fun, Mama."

Missy smiled at her son and tucked the blanket around him. "I'm glad…munchkin." She turned to Katie. "What about…you, Katie?"

"I did too," said Katie. She glanced at Everett. "Daddy, can we play stickball tomorrow?"

Leaning down and kissing her forehead, Ev replied, "Sure, munchkin, but you need to go to sleep now, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy. I love you."

"I love you too."

Everett and Melissa quietly left the room after telling both of the children good night. They went to their room and got ready to go to sleep. A few minutes later, they were lying in each other's arms on the bed. Missy said, "A lot has…changed…in a…year."

Her husband replied, tightening his arms around her waist, "Yes, it has. I remember watching you deliver both of them and being scared to death. I remember Matthew dying and not knowing how I was going to go on."

"But then the…Alterans…came."

"Yes." He smiled gently at her. "And they brought our son back to life, and we got to come here. Even with everything, I have been so happy this year."

"Me too." Melissa tenderly kissed his lips. "You're…my soul…mate, Ev. You know that…right?"

"You're mine too. Are you excited about tomorrow?"

"Yes!" She grinned at him. "The new…element…is going…to change…what space…travel means. I…can't wait…to see…it."

"Very cool! Well, while you, Lisa, and Nick are doing that, I'm going to be getting a briefing on the Par Pro Aulum terrorist group. You would think they wouldn't have those kinds of problems here, but, in some ways, Altera is not a whole lot different from Earth."

"You're…right. Who is…gonna watch…the kids?"

"Linda and TJ. They'll be fine." Ev smiled at her reassuringly as he pulled her close to him once more. "Now, how about we focus on each other?"

"I'd like…that."

They began kissing each other passionately. Everett edged the straps of her gown off her shoulders and her gown off the rest of her body after which Missy lifted her husband's t-shirt over his head and slid his boxers down his hips. When they were both naked, he gazed at her in wonder. "You are so amazing. I want you."

"I want…you too."

Getting on top of her, he slid his hardened length into her, and the two of them began making love with the feelings and passion that had been there for many years. It didn't take long for something to start building in both of them. Ev gazed down at his wife almost overwhelmed by his feelings of love and tenderness for her. "Missy, I'm gonna…"

"Me too, me too!"

They each then had a release, and Everett tumbled off the top of Melissa. He cradled her in his arms. "That was amazing, honey. I love you."

"I love…you too. Are you…ready for…bed?"

"I am." He reached over and turned off the light. "Sweet dreams, Missy. See you in the morning."

"Good night, Ev."

He placed his arms around her protectively, and they drifted off to sleep content in their love for each other and their family.