Title: Into This Life Be Born

Author: Lia

Classification: Romance, some angst

Rating: T

Pairings: John/Elizabeth, Carson/Laura, Ronon/Teyla

Spoilers: No

Summary: Sometimes what we least expect turns out to be what we most prize.

Disclaimers: Not mine. Stargate Atlantis and all its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author´s Note: First of all, big thanks to Pat for beta. She has been a great help with everything, even being a total Sheyla shipper herself (ick!). But, even this has been beta read, there could be mistakes as English is not my first language. Just ignore them.

Feedback is always much wanted and appreciated.

Hope you enjoy!

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White.

And black.

His new favourite colors, he had decided the moment he had seen her walking down to the jumper bay, wearing a simple white tee shirt, black pants, and boots similar to his.

He had nothing against the tight, red shirts she usually wore; on the contrary, a long time ago he had started to think of red as his favourite color. Until now. Now it was most definitely black and white.

It was the smug smile playing on his lips as he leaned against the jumper waiting for her that made her frown softly.

"You´re late." He glanced at his wrist watch.

She offered him a sweet, apologetic smile. "I know. I´m sorry."

He straightened up and offered to take her back bag from her. "Ready to go?"

"Yes."

"Are you two done with the flirting? You think we could get going?" Came McKay´s slightly irritated voice inside the jumper where he had taken a seat in the back, a laptop balanced on his knees.

"We´re going." John followed Elizabeth in and took a seat behind the controls, smiling as she sat on the empty seat next to him. "I asked Rodney to sit back there so you could enjoy the view." He told her.

"I´ve seen the view before, you know."

"I know." He grinned as he easily lifted the jumper into the air. "But I would rather have you here than Rodney..." His eyes were fixed on the controls as he made some adjustments, but he knew she was smiling at him

A few hours later he landed the jumper on the clearing close to the tree line. He stood up and moved to the back where Ronon and Teyla were already gathering their things.

He knew that she would hate to carry the gun he offered her. It had taken a long time for him to finally get her down at the firing range in the first place when they had arrived to Atlantis. But in the late hours of the night, he had taught her to handle every weapon Atlantis had to offer.

Just in case.

She had a basic knowledge of self-defense, but she had started training with Teyla some months after they had found a new home from the city of the ancients.

But she still hated guns.

"Elizabeth." He said softly as the others moved outside, the warm rays of the morning sun greeting them. She lifted her hands a little, allowing his arms circle her as he clipped the holster around her waist. His fingers lingered against her thigh a little longer than intended when he attached the straps around her leg before pulling back and looking at her.

Her hand moved to touch the pistol that rested against her thigh before she turned around to take her vest and pull it on. "Happy now, colonel?" She asked, the tone of her voice light.

"Come on, you two. We don´t have all day." Rodney stood by the end of the ramp, looking expectantly at the two of them before sighing and walking back to Ronon and Teyla.

"Oh, I´m just overjoyed." He replied to her, clipping his P-90 on his vest and gesturing her to go out first. Smiling she walked out into the sun and pushed her sunglasses on before taking a look around them.

"Oh god, we´re back in Kansas." He stopped beside her and stared what looked like never ending wheat field to him and grinned at her happily. "Let´s get moving then."

-----

They reached the small village after a couple of hours walk and were greeted by the large group of children. She glanced back at him over her shoulder, smiling as the little hands took hers and let her down the road.

Both Rodney and Ronon frowned as the children surrounded them, but Teyla let the children to lead her down the narrow road after Elizabeth. John lifted a small toddler in his arms much to the other children´s delight and followed them inside the village.

A few hours later he tore his eyes away from Elizabeth at whom he had been staring since she had been led away to sit with the elders of the village, and turned to look to where Rodney was sitting. Chuckling softly at the miserable look on the scientist´s face, he lazily left his spot on the sun and walked to him.

"Hey kids."

The children looked up from where they were sitting around Rodney and John smiled down at them. "Rodney. Whatcha doin´?"

"Colonel." Rodney jumped up, making the children stand up as well.

"You have quite a fan club here." John stated grinning, glancing around the children that surrounded them again.

"Funny, I was just going to say the same thing." Rodney smirked, nodding his head toward the small group of giggling teenage girls who had followed John.

"Just do your thing, McKay." John sighed and lifted his gun a little as the curious little fingers got closer. "No, honey. That´s dangerous." He said softly at the little girl.

He returned to where he had been sitting on the side of the well, the children following and sitting down on the ground around him.

-----

A small smile played on Elizabeth´s lips as she watched him from where she was sitting with the village elders. He politely turned down the offered drinks and fruits, sighing as the next tray was placed in front of him, the young women ready to fulfill his every wish.

"Not many men have turned one of our daughters down." Said a soft voice next to her and Elizabeth turned to smile at the older woman.

"Well, he hasn´t turned young, beautiful women down before either."

"Well, people change," the other woman patted her arm gently, smiling knowingly. "We would be honored if you would stay for meal."

"We´d love to."

John watched her walking across the small square to where he sat, the group of children sitting on the ground in front of him.

"Elizabeth."

"Hey." She smiled the sight in front of her. "I see you have made new friends."

"Yeah. We had an interesting conversation about the kitten called...what was that again?" He turned to look at the children.

"Shep." They giggled in unison.

"That´s right. Lora´s," he pointed the little dark haired girl, "cat got kittens a few days ago and she named one after me." He told her proudly.

"I can name of after you too if you want me to." Lora said shyly.

"Oh, no..."

"That´s a great idea." John nodded the girl and she beamed at him before the sound of the bell made them run away.

"It´s a meal time. We have been invited to stay." Elizabeth explained "Where are Teyla and Ronon?"

"Taking a look around the village, at least that better be all." He added quietly before reaching for his radio and calling them back.

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So, I´ll try to update daily, if you like this. Let me know.