A fight with Happy ending

by dunnia

Hello, my dear readers. This is a romance-story between Colonel John Sheppard, my absolute favorite character in SGA and Dr. Caitlin Summer, a fictional character of my crazy mind. I wish you a lot of fun reading it, just enjoy, my friends.

1. Chapter 1

Hello, my dear friend,

Do you believe in love at first sight? In everlasting love? Do you believe that there's a fitting match for everyone, somewhere in this world, the soul-mate that makes you whole and complete?

Well, I do. Yes, I admit that I'm a hopeless romantic fool in this matter, and I also admit that I've a huge crush on Colonel John Sheppard, my most favorite character of SGA. Not only because he's outstandingly handsome, but also because he's such a fascinating and very complex personality, with a lot of depths, and it's a pity that the SGA writers has given us so little about him or his past, his innermost thoughts and secret fears – or maybe not as it left a lot of guesswork for us.

So here it is: My very own version of John Sheppard and his life in Atlantis, where a certain woman called Dr. Caitlin Summer (a fictional character of mine) plays a big part in it. It's in great parts a love-story, with focus on their private life and moments, even though there's the one or other adventure or action-scene between, and it's also still in progress as meanwhile I've fallen so deeply in love with my couple I simply can't let go of them. So, I hope you'll have as much fun reading my story as I'd when I've made all this up – and still do.

Yet, before you start reading this chapter, I think it's just fair to warn you that this first chapter is a forward-looking one, riddled with flashbacks, means it contains a few spoilers to the other following ones. So if you rather like to start without any foreknowledge, then you better skip this one and jump directly to chapter two. But if you don't mind getting a bit spoiled, then just go ahead, read further and enjoy.

A special day in Atlantis

Sitting behind his console, Chuck checked the incoming ID, and recognizing it as a familiar one, lowered the shield. "Voilà, and another load of guests we can scratch from the list. Damn, are we good today or what?" He called out merrily while he glanced down from the control-center gallery level at the group of Athosians just entering the gate room, and sent them a big wide welcome-smile, together with the loud and jaunty greeting:"Hello and very welcome to the pleasure-dome, folks." The Athosians laughed hearty due to that cheery shout and hurled some hefty jokes back at him as they left for the guest quarters, attended by a soldier acting as their city guide.

Amelia, sitting next to him, looked up at his remark, with an amused chuckle, then heaved a deep heart-felt sigh. "You can bet we're good. Jesus, I've the feeling as if I'd work at the New York Central Station, with all the traffic we've today." Rolling wildly her eyes, she slumped back into the chair. "I just hope that we'll make it to the party in time."

When Chuck heard her muttering, he let out an amused laugh and turned towards her. "Oh, don't worry, Mellie. We're still on schedule and as almost all invited guests are arrived by now, there's plenty of time left to get ready." He assured her, with a quick smile and a short eye-twinkle. "But hey, I'm a guy, means jump in the shower, jump in the suit and I'm ready to go, whereas you always need hours to get all dolled up, as we both know. Right, honey?" He added teasingly, and flashed her a broad grin, then ducked fast as Amelia threw a paper ball at him.

"Careful, Chucky-darling. You better don't get fresh with me here or I'll have to spank you first before we hit the party." She replied with a short laugh, which turned into a wild giggle as he answered with a brassy grin. "Oh yes, punish me, baby. You know I love it when you do that. Tell me that you'll wear your tight leather-dress and bring the handcuffs and the whip, and I'm your humble servant, for now and ever." Amelia was shaking with laughter at the funny dreamy face he made, not to mention the hilarious gasps and moans he uttered. "Stop that, damned, I'm already dying here with laughter, you crazy fool." She pressed out between another giggle-fit, and attacked him again, this time with a series of paper balls.

But Chuck dodged them, then countered her assault by throwing them back to her, and in two shakes of a dog's tail there was a merrily paper ball fight ongoing, until the next gate-activation reminded them of their duty. Yet, even though they both immediately stopped their foolish game to dedicate their entire attention back on work, they still couldn't stop laughing and joking, as simply nothing and nobody could damp their high spirits today.

And they weren't the only ones. In fact, the whole city seemed to stand on it's head today, literally was bustling with activity, like a bee hive - a noisy and buzzy one, with people swarming around like busy little bees, down the floors and back again to deliver or fetch someone or something while chattering away cheerfully.

Here and there was a shouted command to hear, or a low muttered curse, but overall, the air was humming with a joyful anticipation, despite of the lot of work that obviously had to be accomplished today - or maybe just because of it.

The reason for all this sedulous activity also had a name: "The Friendship-day". It was a self-proclaimed holiday set up by Dr. Elizabeth Weir back in her very first year here in Atlantis, with the key note to create a feast they all could share, despite the differences of their nations or the various religions people might have. A common holiday that bound them all together, and also cemented ties and friendships between them and the established population of the Pegasus galaxy – that was the origin purpose of this feast, which admittedly had started small, yet meanwhile had blossomed out to a huge and colourful event nobody wanted to miss.

And as it also seemed that even their enemies restrained themselves today - like they'd done all the other years before - each and every one in the city concentrated his full energy onto the elaborate preparations such a huge event brought along, uncomplainingly - as 'Party' was the miracle word that inspired simply everyone today.

SO, whilst some parts of Atlantis were still in a frenzy of activity - like the kitchen, where a band of cooks took up the huge challenge to serve a delicious buffet for a few hundred people, or the great fair hall, where some gave the richly decoration its last finishing touch - there were other sections where life went at a more leisure pace; like the large apartment complex of the city, perfectly geared to the needs of the people who lived in it.

It started with the simple and proper military quarters, strategically located at the below-stairs to grant a fast and easy access to the cities armory and short ways to Gate room and jumper bay. The middle part of the complex were occupied by the civil members of the expedition, nice comfortable one- or two-room apartments with all conveniences to make one feel at home after a long working-day. Above that were the plenty of comfy guest lodgings the city provided it's visitors.

And still further up, there the Ancients had build a row of flats perfectly suited for families - with up to six rooms, kitchen with all mod cons, more than one bath and large balconies; some even went over two floors. Most of them were still waiting for new owners though, but the one or other family was already living there - like the one of Colonel John Sheppard.

It was nearly five years now since he'd moved in here with his family, and mostly he enjoyed the time he could spend in his snug home to the fullest, was in a real good and cheerful mood then – though obviously not at that precise moment, as his highly annoyed-sounding voice, coming out from the lavish bedroom, revealed very clearly. "Come on, you stupid thing, don't mess with me here, damned." Freshly showered and with nothing on but a pair of boxers and a white shirt, John Sheppard stood in front of a large mirror and looked as miserable as sin.

Jesus, it still was a good two hours till the party started off, and one would think that this was plenty of time to get ready – but god damned, not with this stupid, uncooperative thing of a tie, as this was already his third attempt to get an at least approximately decent tie-knot.

"God, I hate these fuckers." Frustrated with himself and the whole matter, John breathed a few other dark curses and ruffled wildly his dark, rebellious hair, just to leave it more rumpled than before. Boy, he surely was a calm person, normally, but this here – impatiently he tore the crooked tie-knot open – this was more than a hard test for his patience. Uttering a deep heart-felt sigh, he shoved again his hands through his hair, then paused for a moment to slow down a bit.

The mirror reflected a tall good-looking man in his early forties, with a for once clean-shaved face, a sensual mouth that was equally appealing in a grin or snarl, and remarkable hazel-green eyes- remarkable insofar as their intense look was so mesmerizing it could easily cast people under a spell. Specially the womanhood got into a tangle then, once his gaze rested on them, just to run into deeper trouble the very moment their mind acquired the rest of him - as his tanned body was the perfect female fantasy of tough muscles, strong hands and lean lines.

So it was hardly surprising that his name had been frequently used in one breath with titles like heart breaker, rake or lady killer, all the more as he indeed had lived up to this reputation for quite some time, until, well, until one day about eight years ago he'd set his amazing eyes on Caitlin Summer, one of the newly arrived doctors – and that ole devil called love had struck him like lightning.

Whilst John still looked somewhat of absently at his reflection, the memory of that special moment flashed across his mind, so vividly as if it had happened just yesterday and bright amusement flared up in his eyes and the corners of his mouth started to twitch. "Well, John Sheppard, who'd have ever thought that one like you would feel so bloody good about getting caught for lifetime. And still is, huh? Certainly not you." He murmured to himself, and a smug smile flashed over his face.

At that very moment, he heard the door from the external bath fly open with dash, then little feet stomping over the floor and into the nearby child-room, together with the merrily screamed challenge. "Catch me if you can, Mommy." There were soft steps following, and a pleasant female voice announced with a funny growl. "Huuuuuh, I will, don't worry, and then you're all mine, sweetie, and you know what I'll do then, do you?" John chuckled softly at the cheery noise from next door while he gave this pesky tie-business another shot.

"I'll tickle you until you're done, because I'm the tickle-queen. Hah! Gotcha!" Bright laughter and happy squeals rang through the flat. "Oh, look at this sweet naked foot…oh, and there's another one,…and I also found a cute belly, let's see if he's as ticklish as the feet…" The wild squeals turned into a helpless fit of giggles. "Come on, give up, Miss Wiggly-Giggly, or the torment continues. What was that? Was that a 'yes I do'? Louder, I can't hear you." Caitlin's voice was filled with laughter. "Yes, yes, I do, I give up…" The little girl managed on hitching giggles.

"Yeah, I've won, …oh, is that my prize? Mhmmm, what a sweet one, thanks." There was the loud noise of several smacking kisses to hear, then the soft request of his wife. "Okay, darling, now it's really time to get you dressed. So, you start putting on your underwear and socks while I get your dress and shoes out of the closet." As now the conversation hushed to a normal level, John half-listened to it's familiar, relaxed lilt and chuckled again softly several times at the one or other funny snippet he picked up here and there.

But then he noticed that their cheery chit-chat slowly but surely drifted towards one of their usual little quarrels, and a broad grin spread over his face while his eyes started to gleam roguishly. "Uh-oh, sounds to me as someone is pretty unhappy with the dress-choice here, huh?" He mumbled, still grinning, and pricked up his ears, as he knew very well that both his women, the big one as well as the little one, were blessed with a good portion of stubbornness, not to forget their fiery temper.

"Lizzie, will you stand still now while I'm fixing the sash tie, honey. You know that in a few minutes Ronon comes to pick you up, together with Liam and Torren, and if you wiggle around so much, you ain't ready then. So stop it, okay?" He heard Caitlin saying, very calmly – even though he was wondering for how long as he already discerned a slight edginess in her voice.

Okay, the game's afoot I would say. John smirked to himself while he gave his tie-knot the final touch, and waited cheerfully for his daughters reaction - which came prompt and without any delay. "Oh, Mom, I hate this. I hate this dress, it's scratching my neck. And I want my boots, not these stupid-looking ballerinas." Laughter bubbled up inside him at Elizabeth's crabby riposte, and John let out a bright chuckle - and another one right away the moment he heard the sound of little feet stomping on the ground, vigorously.

'Guh! That's it! Lizzie sweetheart, I think, now you have reached the critical point by your mom.'He thought, with a quick grimace; even though he could understand her perfectly as he also hated it to dress up like this. "Elizabeth Kelsey Sheppard," was all Caitlin said, but it was all it needed, because Lizzie knew exactly that getting called by her full name in that very special tone, she did well to just zip her lips and simply give herself up to fate. And suddenly it became pretty quiet in the child room, except for some deep agonized sighs Elizabeth just had to get rid off. Though it didn't last no more than a few moments and John heard them laughing and joking and chatting again.

Smirking, he turned his attention back to business and couldn't do other than to flash himself a happy smile at the sight of his perfect art-work when suddenly his daughter stormed into the bedroom like a wild whirling dervish - a sweet delicate nearly five year old girl with an obviously inexhaustible hoard of energy. "Hi Daddy!" With that cheery outcry, Elizabeth speeded past her father, heading towards the huge rosewood canopy-bed in the middle of the room.

"Hi Lizzie." John replied amused while he turned around, then added teasingly because he simply couldn't resist. "Wow, are you looking pretty today or what, little Missie, very fancy, I like it." And couldn't suppress a soft chuckle as Elizabeth stopped on the spot at his remark to dart a dark glance at him. Folding her arms on her back, she scowled down her fine dress, made of white satin with embroidered flowers on the skirt and a red sash around her waist. "If you say so." She all but grumbled it, and plucked poutedly at the neatly bound sash-tie on her back while she slanted him another sulky glance - one that said very clearly 'Right, tell me another!' – before she simply skipped to other, much more important things. "I know something you don't know, Daddy." Already in motion again, she scrambled quick as a flash onto the huge neatly made bed and started to jump up and down.

"Now, what could that be?" John shook laughingly his head as he watched how his daughter abused their mattress as a trampoline. "That Ronon comes in a bit, with Liam and Torren, and we'll see the fair hall before you do, and we'll blow up balloons and scatter paper streamers and a whole lot more." Elizabeth shouted in a funny sing-sang while she hopped up and down like a bouncy ball. As did the shoulder-long brown curly hair of her, tamed with red scrunchies into two thick pigtails. It just was too cute to watch this little live wire in action, and a bright warm smile appeared on Johns face as he approached the bed. "Wow, that sounds absolutely wonderful to me, sweetheart." He said softly, his eyes resting tenderly on his bubbly daughter. "But you know what I know?"

Without interrupting her wild game, Elizabeth shook her head and cast him a curious glance, her sweet little face a big question mark. "That we both will get into big trouble when Mommy catches us; you jumping on the bed with your shoes on" - John pointed first at the crumpled-up bedspread beneath Elizabeth's little feet, then to himself - "and me saying nothing to it. And we don't wanna spoil things with Mommy today, right? I mean she's able to ground us both for the rest of the day. Horrible image, isn't it?" He continued, with a funny face and a devilish wiggle of his eyebrows that threw his daughter into wild giggles.

"So, how about you jumping right into my arms and we'll play the fly-game. What do you think of that idea?" He enticed her, and spread out his arms. "Yeah, flying, I love that." With a whoop of joy, Lizzie leapt right into his stretched out arms and flung her small arms tightly around his neck. "And I love you, Daddy." She whispered into his ear, then rained his face with tiny little kisses.

"I love you too, my little sunshine, very very much." John whispered back, with a bit of a rough voice, and wrapped tenderly his arms around her small body to just hold her tight for a moment. Then, when Elizabeth started to wriggle impatiently, he let her fly, like he'd promised her, spun her wildly around, and up and down and back and forth, and enjoyed the frisky screams and squeaky noises she let out the whole time, to the fullest.

Finally, when both felt dizzy in their heads from all that twirling and twisting, they switched over to another, also very favourite game of them: Making faces! Turning towards the mirror, they both started to pull funny faces, amidst wild giggling and frantic tickling, and the air was filled with his deep and her silver laughter.

In the meantime, Caitlin had returned to the bath to clean it up a bit, despite the fact that she'd to dress up herself as well. But she couldn't help it, as it simply went against her conception of tidiness to leave the bath like this; wet and messy, with the floor scattered with Lizzies careless dropped clothes and damp towels. "Thanks for passing that quirk on me, Mom." Caitlin muttered quietly, but smiled at it and shrugged. You can't go against your nature, can you?

Anyway, this would only cost her a few minutes, and as she was pretty good on schedule anyway, even ahead of it, she could easily give in to that quirk and still would have plenty of time left to fix the hair, slap on some colour and pick a dress - which was the hardest part of all, at least for her.

Yes, she'd to admit that this was another foible of her: Dilly-dallying over the choice of what to wear. John always was teasing her about it, that she would spend more hours before the open wardrobe than the feast itself. But not this year! Nope. This year he wouldn't even have the ghost of a chance to make fun of her indecision because she'd taken good care of that. Just this morning she'd used some spare time to take a look into her closet.

And wasn't it a good thing that she'd narrowed the choice of dresses from five down to only two? This time John wouldn't have the ghost of a chance for even starting to complain about being late. Not that he'd ever had a reason to complain that she wasn't ready in time. Because she always had been, somehow. Though it was a very close call sometimes.

A quick broad grin rushed over her face at the memory of some delicate situations and with a cheery hum she energetically plunged herself into work, hung up the damp towels over the rack, wiped quickly through the bath-tube and threw the dirty towels into the laundry bin.

A long strand of hair slipped out of her loosely twirled up knot when she bent down to pick up the last remains of Lizzie's bathing fun, and with an impatient hand-move she shoved it back while she straightened herself.

Letting out a soft sigh, she turned towards the sink and sighed again when she caught a short glimpse of herself in the mirror. 'Oh dear, how awful she looks. With a huge huff, she ran her fingers through her messed up hair, rubbed her hand over her unmade-up face. She'll need hours to get ready, just to fix the hair will take quite some time.

Venting a deep-drawn sigh, Caitlin hurried up to come to an end. Though when she left the bathroom, she heard the cheery noise coming out from the master-bedroom, and curious about what was going on in there, she sneaked towards the place of crime.

Quietly, she leant against the door frame to watch the whole scene and a bright smile passed her face as she did. Because seeing her husband so blithe and light-hearted just made her incredibly happy, as she very well could remember of other, of darker times. Times where it had happened right in front of her eyes that John had struggled with himself, had fought a tough battle against the demons of his past, against his own fears.

Oh yes, they surely had gone through some troubled water in the past years, sometimes till the breaking point – such as they'd lost the one or other good friend or had feared for each others life and limb, more than once. But somehow they'd managed it successfully to get through all this, for the simple reason that they'd been there for each other, always. And equal how hard fate had struck them, it only had welded them tighter together.

It takes both the sun and the rain to make a beautiful rainbow.

When suddenly this line her grandmother had told her once rushed through her mind, her smile became even brighter. And at this point clearly the sun's reigning. Caitlin thought happily while she watched with great delight her wonderful husband joking and laughing and cuddling with their adorable daughter - and her mind started to wander back to the day they'd met each other for the very first time.

It was one morning in the mess hall about eight years ago, there she'd spotted him sitting at a table, together with his whole team: Atlantis' famous military-leader Colonel John Sheppard – charming, devastatingly handsome, and, according to hearsay, the most notorious rake in the city, whose wicked reputation was matched only by his wicked smile.

Though she never had given much credit to rumours, she'd been curious after all. And as he surely was more than easy on the eyes, she'd cast quite a few prying glances at him, not noticing that he'd done exactly the same, until suddenly their gaze met - and she'd looked into the most fascinating eyes she'd ever seen. It had been just a brief moment, but this breathtaking moment had been enough to let her fall madly in love with him. All the more, as she'd discovered soon after that he was anything but the notorious rake they all labeled him to be.

Well, he certainly wasn't a saint either, and never will be. Caitlin thought smirking. But bit by bit she'd become acquainted with the real John Sheppard - a very reliable, protective and sensitive man, always helpful and caring about his people. Though she'd also noticed very fast that he was one of the brooding kind, used to solve his personal issues all by his own, to keep it all secretly inside - his true thoughts and feelings, his fears and worries. It surely hadn't been an easy task, but with not always soft patience she'd found a way to get through to him, had convinced him that he could entrust himself to her, unconditionally - and slowly he'd opened himself to her, not only his heart, but also his very soul. And what could a woman asked more from life as what she'd already?

Absolutely nothing. Caitlin decided still for herself. Gently, she stroked with one hand over the soft round of her belly, and her smile became even more radiant by the thought that in barely five months they would welcome their second child.

"Now, so far I can see, you two seem to have a lot of fun. Am I right?" With that cheerful call, she bounced off the door frame and strolled slowly towards John and Lizzie, who were so deeply engrossed in their game, and each other, that they hadn't even noticed her entrance. Yet, at the sound of her voice they both turned their heads to throw her a charming smile before they wrapped their arms tightly around her, overwhelming her with kisses. Letting out a merry laugh, Caitlin returned the fierce-tender kisses and hugs with some of her own while she snuggled deeper into their loving embrace to simply enjoy this light and wonderful moment.

Which was over the minute they heard the ringing of the doorbell. Immediately, Lizzie started to struggle wildly to get off John's arm. "Let me down, Daddy. That's Ronon with Liam and Torren." When John put her laughingly down, she dashed like a whirlwind out of the room, shouting a merry "I'm coming" in advance as she clattered downstairs to open the door. "I wonder from whom she got that bubbly temper and enormous energy." Caitlin remarked with a smirk and a tender side-glance at her husband. "Hey, don't look at me, because I'm as innocent as a lamb, honey." John replied chuckling while he closed the cuffs of his shirt, and slanted her one of his irresistible smiles, knowing that it never failed it's target.

And he was right, as Caitlin felt her stomach quiver in anticipation. God, he still can turn me on in a second with that special smile of him. She thought amused, enjoying the jolt of desire that rushed through her. "Says the wolf in sheep's clothing when he recites his most favourite line." With a soft laugh, she stepped up behind him and curled her arms around his waist to lean shortly against his strong-muscled back. "Uh-oh! Bull's eye," John smirked, covering her hands with his. "So, how about you spoil your innocent wolf a bit?" He asked with a bold grin while he slid the pads of his thumbs over the insides of her hands, teasing her sensitive spot there with agonizing slow strokes and exactly that amount of soft pressure he knew it would make her hot in no time.

And he was right again, as he felt her trembling against him. John's grin became even bolder, and thinking that it couldn't harm to extend his little tease a bit, he skimmed his fingertips feather-light over her wrists and up the insides of her forearms until he heard her purring with delight. "God knows, I would love too, because it just feels so darn good." Caitlin whispered as she buried her face into his back to simply drink him in, and with it his purely male and absolute intoxicating scent she was so addicted to.

"But unfortunately there's no time for it." Letting out a deep regretful sigh, she took a last deep breath, then rose on her tiptoes to press a soft kiss on the nape of his neck while she wriggled her hands out of his. "And it's sneaky wolf, not innocent, sweetheart." She said with a soft laugh at the sight of his wicked smile and gave his firm butt a good pinch before she turned to also go downstairs. "But isn't that what you love so much, honey?" John called after her, and let out a guffaw when he heard her laughingly ranting. "Darn, I forget to add presumptuous and cocky to it."

STILL chuckling, Caitlin crossed the spacious living-room and hadn't even reached the door when she already heard the excited voices of two little boys. "I hope you're ready by now, Lizzie, because I don't wanna miss blowing up the balloons." That was Torren's voice. He was Teyla's and Kanaan's son and only a day older than Lizzie – a lean boy with light brown hair, dark-brown eyes and a bronzy skin, very active and always up for a little shenanigan or two.

"Sure I'm ready, what do you think? And don't say because I'm a girl, I warn you." Was Lizzie's catty answer to Torren's hidden insinuation. "Hi, Uncle Ron. " She beamed a bright smile at Ronon before she sent another fiery glance at Torren. "I didn't said that." Torren grumbled, but his cheeks had gone fierily-red. "But you wanted to, I bet on it. You moron, you know better. Lizzie isn't such a girl like the others, she is more like you and me." This huge compliment came from Liam, who was the youngest with his four years, but surely not the smallest and weakest of the three.

He was the son of Ronon and Mary - a powerful handsome boy, who seemed to be a minor carbon-copy of his father. At least when it came to his body-frame, as he not only was extraordinarily large for his age – almost half a head taller than his two older friends - but also pretty sturdy built already. His thick wavy hair was a touch darker than Ronon's, and it was as rebellious as his fierily temper, which he'd inherited from his mother, together with her impressive eyes.

Deep-blue in colour and framed with long, dark eyelashes, they surely were a salient part in his nature-tanned face. And right now they sparkled very brightly at Lizzie while he gave Torren an inconspicuous nudge with his elbow. Well, it was supposed to be inconspicuous, but as Liam had underestimated his power a bit, not for the first time, his 'gentle' nudge almost lifted Torren of his feet.

"Hey Liam, behave yourself, will you?" Ronon gave his son a short, but very mild sounded warning while a quick grin rushed over his handsome face, just for a moment. "Okay, sorry Dad." Liam mumbled in a rueful tone, but flicked a cheeky smile at Lizzie, who immediately started to giggle wildly. Caitlin laughed quietly by this sight and exchanged a knowing glance with the tall, attractive Satedan, as they both knew that Liam definitely had a strong foible for Lizzie. And for Lizzie, Liam was just her hero with his sharp-witted mind and his strength. It was really cute to watch them together.

"Hi Ronon and hi boys, are you struggling again?" Caitlin greeted them, and suppressed a chuckle while she watched amused the following scene. Of course, Torren didn't want to be left with egg on his face and returned Liam's nudge with a good tackle from aside, but for his bad luck Liam didn't even waver. Instead, he just shrugged merely his shoulder and this time, he did lift Torren from his feet. Or better said Torren lifted himself off his feet because of the heavy recoil of his own tackle.

"Hi Linnie. Yep, you can say that, like they always do." Ronon confirmed calmly, with his deep and low voice while he smoothly reached out his hands to grab one boy with the left and the other with the right. He seized them by their collars just to held them easily like two limp rag-dolls up in the air while the boys struggled wildly with their feet. "Hey, I said it's enough okay? Otherwise you two can celebrate in your rooms. Copy that?" When his deep low growl rolled down the floor like thunder, the two boys just knew that they'd reached the end of the rope, and both nodded approvingly while they cautiously turned their heads up to peer at Ronon's face.

Yet, seeing the twitch around the corners of his mouth, a big cheeky smile spread over their faces and both started to giggle whilst Ronon shook them back and forth. Caitlin laughed heartily, and Lizzie joined her with her silver laughter. "Hey Chewy, you've trouble with the wild gang?" John had heard the noise upstairs and came also down to take a curious look. "Hi Buddy, and nope, everything is under control here." Ronon answered, and a big grin spread over his face when his best friend approached the door.

He released the boys and the two just slumped on the floor and started to giggle again. "Hi Uncle Shep. You look funny, you know that?" Liam laughed and his eyes sparkled joyfully. "Why's that?" Eyebrows deeply furrowed, John looked down at himself, then added with a quick glance at the fine-dressed Satedan. "Hey, your father looks funny with his monkey-suit, that's for sure, but me, I'm perfectly dressed. Don't you think too, Linnie?" Totally unimpressed by the dark scowl Ronon shot at him, John flashed a cheeky smile into the round while curling one arm around Caitlin to pull her closer, and watched amused the two boys, who were rolling laughingly on the floor. "Absolutely sweetheart, you'll be the star on the party with that daring outfit." Caitlin replied laughingly, and brushed a kiss on his cheek while she leant against him.

Liam stood up and came closer, tugging at Johns boxers. "No, you're not, because you forgot your pants, Uncle Shep, and you're wearing pink-checkered boxers." The little boy couldn't stop giggling, his face was gleaming with joy and his blue eyes were sparkling so bright and clear, it was a pleasure to look at him. "Let me tell you a secret, Liam." John let go of Caitlin and knelt down to the boy. "The girls are totally crazy about you when you wear pink-checkered boxers, believe me. They're absolutely fond of it." He wiggled his eyebrows and his hand came up to ruffle Liam's wild hair while he threw a conspiratorial glance at him. "Though if you don't believe me, just ask Aunt Linnie or Lizzie."

With a broad grin on his face, Liam shot a proofing glance at Caitlin and Lizzie. Caitlin nodded smilingly and Lizzie beamed a bright smile at him. "Oh yes, I love them. They're real cool, you know, like my whole Dad." She answered with utter conviction and her small hand came up to shape Johns face while she squeezed a heartily kiss on his cheek. "Thanks very much, my sweet angel." John whispered softly and gave his daughter a tender hug.

Liam looked up to his father. "Dad, I need pink-checkered boxers." He stated with such a serious face the adults had a real hard time to stifle their laughter. "Not my department, son. That's something you should tell your Mom." Ronon answered with an amused smile and stroked softly through Liam's hair while his eyes rested lovingly on his son. "How is Mary today, Ronon? Still feeling sick or is it a bit better by now?" Caitlin asked, throwing a concerned look at Ronon.

"She feels great today, thank God, and I really hope it will stay that way." Ronon answered and heaved a deep sigh of relief, in unison with his son. Mary was also pregnant at the time, but only just in the very first weeks, and as even the sight of food had made her sick, she hadn't been exactly in the best mood lately. So, no wonder that both her men were more than happy that this time of misery seemed to be over, as they both had suffered not a little under this nasty side-effect of the pregnancy. "But don't even think that this had stopped her big mouth, oh my. I would say just exactly the opposite. I'm sure not even a hundred wraith could manage it to shut her up, believe me." Ronon rolled annoyed his eyes, but at the same time, a tender smile played around his sensual mouth by thinking of his Mary.

He loved and adored his strong beautiful wife very much, and he was grateful and happy that he'd ventured the step into a new partnership. After his first wife had been killed through the hands of the wraith during the huge attack on his home planet, he actually never wanted to bond himself so tight to a woman again. But never say never!

It was round John's and Caitlin's wedding seven years ago that it suddenly had clicked between them and he'd found an equal, reliable partner in her. She loved him the way he was, with all his little peculiarities and had never tried to change him. They were very lucky together and he was proud as a peacock of his wonderful wife and their gorgeous son, and utterly happy that another child was on it's way. Life really had turned to its best for Ronon Dex.

"Hell yes, you can say that, buddy. She surely can talk you into the ground just like that. I love your crazy wife, you know that?" John smirked by reminding of all the little banter he'd with Mary over the last years. Caitlin smirked too and a warm feeling flooded through her body by the thought of her best and dearest friend who was very special to her, like the sister she never had. "I'm glad to hear that, Ronon. Let me guess, she'd kicked you and Liam out the door, right?" She knew that Mary loved to have an hour for her own, and she loved to spend that time with a hot relaxing bath and nice music in the background.

Ronon laughed heartily and his eyes sparkled brightly when he looked at Caitlin. "You guessed right, Linnie. Just like that, with the explanation she needs time for her own to look perfect." Liam shook his head by his fathers words and made a funny face. "Yes, don't know why. I think, she looks always beautiful." He mentioned with the wisdom of a four year old boy, who loved and admired his mother to pieces.

Ronon shot a gentle glance at his son. "You're right buddy, she surely is. Okay, I suggest we just go and look what we can discover. What do you think, guys?" He asked and at once, all three kids clung enthusiastically screaming on him like a leech. "Alright, I take that as a clear yes. So, let's go, you little rascals." With a loud hearty laughter he grabbed all three easily under his arms, and shouting a short "C'ya!" over his shoulder at Caitlin and John, he strode down the floor and thereby spun his fidgety package so wildly around that the kids all but squealed with sheer delight.

"SEE you later, and you be a good girl, Elizabeth, you hear me." When John heard his wife calling after them, he chuckled amused. "Spare your breath, honey, because they won't hear you anyway." He remarked with a slight smirk, and pecked a kiss on her cheek before he turned back into the living-room, where he made a direct beeline towards the round cookie-jar, standing on the square coffee table, next to a thick colourful bouquet of flowers.

"I bet you're spot-on with that." Caitlin agreed laughingly while she closed the door. "God, I really love our life here, you know, specially on days like this." She said with a happy sigh, and gathered in passing one of Elizabeth's ardently beloved cuddly animals from the floor as she slowly followed her husband. Poor Bailey Bunny, looks as if one of your floppy ears could use some stitches again. She surely loves you to death, huh? Caitlin thought with a soft smile while she laid the battered rabbit next to her sewing-basket on the side-board for later repair.

"Yeah, it's a pretty good life we've here, huh?" John replied with a wide smile that faded away the moment he opened the lid of the jar. "Even though it has its downs sometimes…" He mumbled surly as he peered into the down-to-the-ground-emptied cookie-box. "Damned, there's not even a crumb left over." Eyebrows deeply wrinkled, he tossed the lid back on the jar, and turned to his wife. "Linnie, why's it that all cookies are gone again?" John muttered, and the tone of his voice was as accusing as the glance he darted her, or better said her back.

Hearing her husband grouching so miserably, Caitlin snorted a short, amused laugh. "Well, let me think…" Smilingly, she tapped one finger against her lips." …Oh yes, now I remember…wasn't it just yesterday early evening that you and Lizzie had watched some Disney movie together, with the cookie-jar between you…" Her smile deepened into a warm one as she remembered of watching them while she'd done some ironing. Because it had been just to sweet the way the two had snuggled up on the broad sofa, munching cookies together while they'd enthusiastically watched Robin Hood – with wild cheery "Oo-De-Lally"-whoops every time Robin Hood tricked Prince John and his riff-raff, and fierce "Boo"-shouts the moment the bad guys tried to stop or harm the hero or one of his pals.

"Guess, that's where all the cookies are gone, don't you think too?" With eyes sparkling with delightful mockery, Caitlin turned to look straight at her husband - and burst out into a heap of giggles as seeing him standing there so all in the pouts was just too much for her. "Oh my, you're too cute when you look like this, honey." Laughingly, she walked up to him and raised one hand to ruffle his hair, but John warded her off with a quick move of his. "Stop that, woman. You know I hate it when you say that." He said with a disgruntled huff and darted a dark glance at her which only made her laugh even more.

"Okay, I'll rephrase - you're simply irresistible when you're sulking. Does that sound better for you?" Caitlin replied smirking and leaning into him, rose on her tiptoes to brush a slight kiss on his still pursed lips. "Mhmm, much, much better…" John mumbled against her soft full mouth, and snaked one arm around her waist to pull her closer. "Now, you just add absolutely gorgeous and outstandingly handsome to it, and I'll forgive you your little faux pas… " He nibbled playfully at her lower lip, and noting that her lips slowly curved into a smile, he added with a broad shameless grin. "…and the fact that you've forgotten to refill the jar. Damn, a man's entitled to find a well-filled cookie-box in his home, you undutiful wife, specially on our wedding anniversary, and all the more if this man rose with the sun to spoil you with flowers and breakfast in bed. This is an unwritten law, you know."

At his last words, Caitlin tossed her head back and laughed heartily. "That's the silliest rule I've ever heard of till now." She managed to press out between two giggles, and looked up to him, her green eyes dancing with bright amusement. "Oh my, I don't know how you always come up with such nonsense, but I love it when you do." Still chuckling, she reached out to shove lovingly her fingers through his hair. "I just love it when you make me laugh, John." This time it was her who nibbled tenderly at his lower lip.

"Or when you rise early to pick me some flowers, knowing that I'm a real sucker for field-flowers." She added with a dreamy side-glance at the rich bunch of wild-flowers which were more precious to her than the priciest spray of roses from some posh florist's. "Not to forget the wonderful breakfast, perfectly served by you with candle and such. That was just a sweet thing of you I've enjoyed very much." With a tender gesture, she framed his face with both hands and kissed him, so soft and gentle, it made his body zing all over.

"And though I know I shouldn't say this, as your ego surely is already big enough…," she whispered teasingly against his mouth, and her lips quirked into an amused smirk when she felt his curl into a smug smile. "… I'll say it anyway. You're the most wonderful husband a woman can get, John Sheppard, and I'm so very lucky that you're all mine." Caitlin brushed another tender kiss on his still smiling mouth. "Even when you look so damn pleased with yourself, you arrogant smug rogue, you." Laughingly, she tilted her head back to look up to him, with wickedly green eyes, and gave him a good poke into his belly, then slipped nimbly out of his embrace.

John laughed hearty as he watched her going upstairs, but his eyes were glinting hotly at the soft sway of her hips. "Whoa, not so fast, Mrs. Perky…" Quickly, he hurried after her, and catching her halfway, he elicited her a delighted squeal when he snatched her waist. "How about if you show your deep love for this arrogant smug rogue here in a, let's say, more physical way, my little minx?" John chuckled into her ear as he tightened his grip to draw her closer against him. "I would so appreciate that, believe me." He whispered enticingly, and nuzzled her neck to underline his words.

"Why doesn't that surprise me much?" Caitlin replied with a soft chuckle that ended in a low purr the moment she felt his teeth scraping tenderly over her skin. "Although I've to admit you're doing so nicely here that I'm really tempted, you know." Purring again, she tilted her head to give him better access while she snuggled tighter against him at the same time, simply enjoying his fondlings - and the more than pleasant sensations he created inside her with it. Yet, when they reached the stair head, she skilfully cork-screwed out of his arm. "But as I still have to dress myself up, I've to turn you down – again. I'm so sorry, sweetheart, really." Caitlin rejected him, with a voice as sugary as the smile was she sent him, and blew him a kiss in twirling before she crossed the threshold to the bedroom.

"No, you're not." With a soft chuckle, John walked right in behind her. "Tell me, honey, who's now the smug one here, huh?" But Caitlin obviously was already somewhere else with her thoughts, because he only got a short grunt as answer. Idly, John crossed over to their broad canopy bed and leaning with his shoulder against one of it's posts, he started regarding her intently. "You know, John…" Slipping out of her shirt and sweatpants and throwing them carelessly aside, Caitlin went directly towards the huge carved armoire and opened the middle part where she kept her evening dresses. "…I'm really happy that Mary is over this annoying part of her pregnancy."

With wrinkled eyebrows, she sifted through her clothes, faltering between the midnight-blue gown and the crimson one, then frowned down at the row of dress-shoes, standing neatly in rank and file on the bottom of the closet. "And I'm surely happy as hell that I've been spared from this awful sickness this time. I mean, just remember when I was pregnant with Elizabeth, now that was real hell, wasn't it? At least the first weeks…" Caitlin ran on and stroked absently over her belly while she silently gave her high-heeled stilettos a flat refusal, instead chose some silvery ankle-strap sandals with a kitten heel of only 2 inches.

"Uh-huh, me too," John tossed casually in, though he wasn't really listening to her flood of words, as his mind was pretty busy with other, more carnal thoughts. 'Hot! Hot and beautiful and sexy.' Was all that rushed through his head while he sized her up from aside, his hazel-green eyes smoldering with heat. Smoothly, he bounced of the bed-post and prowled silently closer, sampling every delicious detail of her on his way. He was really fond of her curly long hair that cascaded like a wild silken curtain down her shoulders when she wore it unbound, and he surely loved her fine porcelain skin and her gracious face with those amazing emerald green eyes, fringed by long dark lashes, and such a sinful mouth, he could spend a life time of kissing her full red lips.

His burning gaze slid along her tempting neck down to her flawless décolleté, where it got stuck on her beautifully formed breasts, encased in a bra, it's fine silk fabric so sheer he could spot very clearly her rosy areolas through it, and the colour… John grinned lewdly. Damn, this little minx knew exactly that he'd a weakness for black lingerie, as it was such a nice contrast to her ivory skin. And so perfectly made to snag his libido like a fish-hook.

Unconsciously, he licked his lips as he halted one step behind her, with a body hard as stone and the urgent need to quickly free those full round beauties of their lacy cage, so he could kiss and stroke and caress this soft creamy flesh of hers to his heart's content - like he'd done last night. John sucked in a sharp breath as just the mere thought of it made his blood swimming. Hot and fast.

"And it's a real pity that Evan and Carolyn and little Rosie aren't here today. Though I'm sure they'll have a good time on earth. What do you think?" Blissfully unaware of what was going on behind her, Caitlin grabbed the red dress from the hanging rail, then bent forward to pick up the shoes. "Uh-uh," John negated absently while he stared onto her firm round butt, also covered in black lace, she protruded so nicely in front of him; the glassy look in his eyes clearly one of a drowning man. "Don't think so." Mumbling it, he angled his head for a better view, and went under a second time, without even the chance to gulp in air.

"You think they'll not? Why?" Puzzled, Caitlin straightened herself. With the sandals dangling from one hand, her dress in the other, she turned around – and threw both startled away when she suddenly found him standing only scant inches behind her. "Geez!" Though one hand fluttered to her chest, her lips twitched in amusement. "Damned, John Sheppard, I bet you haven't even heard a single word I've said, you sneaky man. Am I right?" Placing her hands on her hips, Caitlin tipped laughingly her head back to look up to him, and caught her breath the moment she met his eyes, burning with such sharp desire she could nearly feel the need his body sent out at her.

"Yes, you are, my little minx." John bared his teeth in a wolfish smile and with a neat motion, pulled one arm around her waist to tug her closer. "And you know why?" He pressed her body tighter against his, and was pleased when he felt her shivering. "Because I was too busy looking at my very beautiful, very tempting wife, you know." He whispered, with this very special low and sensual voice of him that vibrated so pleasantly through her body, it made her shiver again.

"And I'd some real nice ideas while I was doing it." Raising his free hand, John stroked softly over her hair to free it from it's tight knot, and when it fell smoothly down her back, tangled his hand into the silk mass, let the curly strands slide through his fingers. "Like how much I love it to touch your wonderful hair for example." Still trembling lightly, Caitlin closed her eyes while she melted against him, like soft fragrant wax. "Or how much I love to feel your warm skin under my hands." His voice was as gentle and tender as the touch of his fingers he stroked along her face, skimmed slowly over the seam of her full red lips. "So soft and smooth, I can't do other than touching you, Linnie." Caitlin exhaled a helpless pant when he stroked gently along her neck, her collar bone and farther, still, to caress softly the swell of her breasts, and clawed her fingers into his shirt, not out from defense, but for the need of a halt as she just felt deliciously weak and utterly female in his arms.

Oh God, yes, this feels so good. She thought dizzily and panted again a desperate sigh, and another one with every tender touch of his hands running so skilfully over her skin it shot vicious spurts of fire into every cell of her body. Though there was this wee little voice of sanity in the back of her head that reminded her to stay rational after all…. "John, don't -" Caitlin whispered in the try to stop him, though it was no more than a breathy sigh, but who could blame her at the feel of his strong muscled body so close against hers, tight with tension and steaming with heat.

"Don't what, honey? God, I love to touch you, to kiss you, to feel you, you know that?" John murmured and leant forward to let his lips follow the hot trail of his fingers while his hands glided teasingly up and down her body, searching and finding her intrigued spots. Smelling his pure, masculine scent and feeling his hands and lips skimming so gently over her bare skin, Caitlin fought for breath, fought to stay upright as what was left of her mind went to mush.

"Time…We don't have time, John. The party…." She tried it a second time, though she knew it was too late as her body had already made its own decision. And he knew it too, from the way she melded against him, so fluid and pliant, and those sexy sounds she made in her throat thereby, damned, his blood was pumping like wild in response. "Sweetheart, we're alone and we got nearly two hours, still…" John whispered roughly, amazed that it still was possible to speak with all that blood roaring in his head. "But if you want me to stop, you just have to say it." He rasped against her mouth, then kissed her, so soft and gentle Caitlin melted even more under his touch. She felt his lips, smooth and warm, sweeping lightly as a moth's wing over hers, felt his tongue, sliding softly over the seam of her lips, his teeth, nibbling gently on her lower lip, and had no other chance than to let him in.

With a low groan, John took eagerly what she offered him and dunked deep into her dark and hot mouth, let his tongue tangle and twine in a slow erotic dance with hers while he revelled in her sweet delicious taste, a mixture of spice and honey he never could get enough of. Even as he changed the angle of the kiss, he skimmed his hands lightly up her back to open the clasp of her bra, then slid the straps down her shoulder. "I don't hear you, Linnie." John whispered tauntingly against her lips, and stroked softly over the white creamy flesh of her breasts, caressing them with slight tender touches, his fingers tugging gently at her nipples, turning them into hard peaks.

"Don't, don't stop, John." Caitlin managed to gasp out as every teasing touch of him sizzled over her skin like fiery little whips until her entire body was burning for his and she thought she was going up in flames. "I mean, oh God, this is a real mean assault of you, honey, but I love it. So don't you dare to stop, just get rid of your clothes. Now." Her voice filled with needy desperation, she arched her burning body demandingly against him. Her hands were shaking when she tugged wildly at his perfect bonded tie, nearly ripped his shirt off him, her fingers fighting with the buttons of his shirt. God-damn, she wanted, no, needed to feel his bare skin, touch him everywhere, all at once. A dark curse left her lips when she struggled with his cuffs and chuckling, John gave her a quick helping hand, then they both started to laugh as they struggled to get him rapidly out of his boxers and her out of her panties at the same time, jigging and jumping.

But the laughter subsided and the lust prevailed the second they both were naked. "Yeah, much much better," John groaned when he felt her skin to skin and dragged her roughly closer to kiss her again, not soft and gentle, but hard and demanding. And while his mouth conquered, his hands plundered. Touch, taste, possess. On a sheer moan of delight, Caitlin pressed herself tighter against him, urging him to take more, and when she felt his erection, thick and hard, against her womb, steel to velvet, she moaned again throatily, sleeked her hands eagerly down his perfect muscled body until she reached his strong thighs. He uttered a dark groan of pleasure when she stroked him from balls to head and when her hand wrapped his silken length, her fingers sliding deftly up and down, teasing with wicked purpose his velvet knob, his body blazed with wild crazy need.

Snarling with desperate greed, John pushed himself deeper into her hand while he broke the kiss to devour her neck, her throat, just to return to her sinful mouth to plunder it again, so ravenously it left them both breathless – and it seemed also a bit disoriented. "Now, Linnie, I want you now." He whispered hoarsely and swung her up in his arms, then muttered in half-turn. "For God's sake, where in hell is our bed, damned?" There was again laughter in the air when he tumbled to the bed with her. On top of her. "Guess, you've found it." Caitlin said on a soft chuckle that ceased abruptly the moment she felt his hands and lips streak over her, so gently she couldn't get her breath, though she could hear it, feel it coming slow and heavy through her lips.

It was his sudden change of course that left her breathless, as there was no fevered embrace, no hurry or impatient greed she'd anticipated, but sheer tenderness and an inescapable possession. Her whole body was tingling, yet he was barely touching her. "John." His name was no more than a breathed sigh when he whisked his lips over hers, roamed her face with kisses, lightly, gently, like a faint summer-breeze. "I want you to let go, my sweet Caitlin, just forget everything but you and me. Think you can do that?" John whispered, skimming his mouth down her throat, up again, and smiled slow when she only sighed again, but tilted her head back in surrender.

He drew her closer, so gingerly as if she was a fragile flower, easily to crush, and she let herself slide into it, a warm pool with flames licking at the edges. Her arms seemed impossibly heavy as she wound them around his neck and she could do no more than cling as he stroked her hair, her face, with gentle fingertips that felt no more substantial than a whisper on the air. And when he moved again his lips gently over hers to capture her mouth in a moist, deep, sumptuous kiss that went on endlessly, she was all but drowning in the warm, waiting wells of his tenderness. Drifting away, helpless and without any control as she was all his now.

And he knew it. And revelled in it, in the way she responded to the tiniest touch of him. Shuddering, arching, flowing. She was like putty in his hands and he relished it, wanted to wallow in her complete devotion to him, with no hurry, not any more. Though his first intention had been to wolf her down ravenously, to just take her for a quick wild ride, his mood had shifted the moment he'd seen her laying sprawled out in front of him, with the subtle sun-light playing over her soft curvaceous body, straying through the long curly hair, fanned out on the bed in a wonderful wild disarray. God damned, she'd looked so dazzling and tempting to him, he could do no other than to linger, to savour, to just take his sweet time.

And for God's sake, when was it the last time that they'd the luxury of being so completely on their own, just the two of them, with no need to stay alert of little feet tapping over the floor? It'd been a good while, John thought, and clutched this rare precious gift with both hands. Only sipped, where he could have feasted. Long, luxurious kisses, first so sweet and gentle it made her heart ache, then laced with such fire it liquefied every single bone of her. And seduced, where he could have ravished. Slow tender caresses, that slid light like the air over her skin and sent it quivering. And at each quiver, he lingered.

He heard her moaning, little feral purrs of pleasure, while she moved under him, fluid like water, reacting to every gentle whisper of his fingertips and every tender brush of his lips over her silky skin. Her breath trembled out, and she arched against him when he cruised his mouth lazily down the long line of her throat. Flowed back, as if boneless, when his tongue slid toward her breast, his hand journeyed down her belly, slowly, hardly seeming to move at all. Like a puppet on a string, with him as master.

It thrilled him beyond measure. But even as the blood pounded in his head, his loins, he kept his caresses light, teasing, waiting for her, watching her sliding from one into the next melting sensation. Flying, it was like flying on smooth broad wings, higher and higher. Was all she could think as her body got flooded with sensations, her flesh quivering from them. She could hear her own moans, her own ragged breaths, but could do nothing to control them. Though it didn't matter, as long as he never, never stopped touching her.

With airy kisses and light love bites, he circled her breast, moving inward until he captured the peak, his tongue swirling, his teeth tugging softly. And felt it grew hot and hard in his mouth while she strained her body against him, with her hands fluttering restlessly over his body, through his hair, seeking for a hold as she was floating in a world between passion and urgency. He felt her tremble heavily as he teased her inner thigh, just barely teased a fingertip over her loins, felt her heart thundering under his mouth when he with deliberate care repeated the same aching journey around her other breast, and with a soft growl, he merely buried his face against her breast, struggling to hang on to his control.

Not yet, he ordered himself, suppressing the urgent need to rush, to just take and satisfy the grinding in his taut body. Though it was pure torture he did to both of them, he gloried in it – and brought them both to the edge of delirium the moment he cupped her soft bare mound, his fingers cleaving her wet hot folds. Moaning his name, she pressed him closer to her while she opened to him, craving for more, and elicited him another soft growl of deep pleasure. "So soft," he murmured, teasing the petals of her body and revelling in the way she blossomed even fuller under his touch. "So hot and wet. Damn, you are so fucking sexy, Linnie." He rasped against her hot and damp skin and made her panting with pure need as he slowly penetrated her with first one finger, then a second.

"Oh, God," Caitlin gasped at the sheer heat that raced through her body and reared up, her fingers digging into his shoulders, clutching his hair. "More," she whispered, huskily. "Give me more, John…more." Her throaty moan spilled into his mouth like wine, rich and drugging when he took her lips in a rough desperate kiss, rocked his palm against her, tongue and fingers delving deep, giving and taking until he'd her writhing under him, helpless as a raft on a storm-tossed sea. God, he so loved it when she gave herself up to be all his. His eyes were molten lava as he raised shortly his head to absorb the sheer beauty of her body, flushed with desire.

Fiery needs whipped at him now, urged him to speed up, but he banked them again, as he wanted to take her deeper first before he took all. "I'll give you all I have." John murmured seductively, his teeth scraping lightly over her heated skin. "You just have to take it, honey." He pressed his face against her delicate skin, dewed with the clean sweat of good sex and lost himself in the sweet fragrant softness of her while he tormented her with the play of his hand, with his hot mouth and teasing tongue.

And Caitlin took, with desperate greed. Each tug, each nip, of his clever and hungry mouth and each dip of his skilled fingers shot arrows of golden heat straight into her centre where they erupted into a dozen more flame-tipped missiles that streaked under her skin, over it, with dizzying speed until she thought she would die from pleasure. The air was ripe, thick, and tasted of him on each gulping breath she took while he urged her up and up, higher and higher until she trashed under him, with his name bursting like a sob through her lips.

John growled darkly as he felt her body shudder, felt the violence of the orgasm rip through her and raised his head, looked into her eyes. Eyes which were clouded with desire, burning as fiercely as his did. "Now, John, for God's sake, now…." She panted, her voice just a desperate plea and gripped his hips, tugged impatiently at him, spread her legs wider in invitation.

He glanced down on her as he shifted slightly to oblige her, and the air hitched in his lungs at the sight of her fully aroused body, yearning for him, begging him to fill her, to take her over completely. "God, you're so darn beautiful Linnie." He whispered, almost reverently, and gave himself the quiet delight of brushing once again along that hot soft flesh of hers until it quivered with need at the mere touch of his fingertips, then bent over her to take her mouth in a fierce-tender kiss while he settled between her thighs; his body finding the entrance to hers with an ease that spoke of all the practice they'd had and….

Oh, yeah, still as good as the first time. Letting out a deep growl, John pushed his hard cock deeper inside her hot wet haven, then stilled for a moment to simply enjoy the feeling of being inside her before he started to move his hips, very slowly. "Oh, this feels so good, honey. You feel so good. I'll never get enough of you." He whispered huskily, and looked down at her, watching the pleasure and sensations written on her face while he pushed even deeper through her tight velvet folds, tormenting her with long slow strokes.

"Damn right, it feels good. Oh God, yessss, this is it." Caitlin moaned with pleasure and arched against him. Her fingers clawed into his shoulders, she watched him through heavy-lidded eyes while they rocked together, skin to skin, in perfect unison, and shuddered a ragged sigh at the sheer male beauty of him. Sweet God, he was so gorgeous as he moved so expertly on her, inside her. The sunlight, diffused by the gauzy white drapes of the bed, bathed his smooth tanned skin in a golden light and accentuated perfectly the wonderful play of his well-defined muscles, every time he pushed - or retreated. Fine drops of sweat glistened in his unruly hair, let it appear even darker, almost black, and then there was his beloved face, with those amazing hazel-green eyes of his, now dark with passion, searing into hers as he looked down on her, watching her like she did.

God, yes, he was just gorgeous. Caitlin sighed again with utter bliss, and when John lowered his head to swallow her next soft moan, she wrapped her arms and legs around him and simply forgot everything around her but the sheer joy of making love with him in the bright daylight. To feel his warm skin under her fingers and his wiry chest hair as she let go of his shoulders to stroke over his broad chest, enjoying the flex of his muscles under her palms. To squeeze her hands over his biceps, just to feel the coil of strength in them, in the muscles of his back as he kissed her again into oblivion, into that misty place where there was nothing but pure pleasure.

"I love you." There was a soft glance in her eyes when she breathed it. She searched for his gaze, but he'd his eyes closed. Then his mouth was at her ear, and through her own gasping passion she heard him whisper the same while he rocked her in an unhurried pace, relishing every sigh and gasp of bliss she gave him. Her moan was long and deep when he drove her to a peak, and ended into a shivery cry the moment he pushed her over the brink. John growled low in his throat as he felt her body shivering, quavering under him, felt the muscles of her silken channel clamping tight around him, gripping him hard, and a deep shudder of pleasure ran through him, let him swell even more inside her.

Slowly, he increased his tempo, plunged even harder and deeper inside her, and she went with him, writhing and arching beneath him, lifting up to meet the hard surge of his body into hers, stroke for desperate stroke. He didn't felt the bite of her nails on his back. With vision blurred and dimmed, he watched her, saw each stunning sensation flicker over her face, felt how the tension inside her built higher and higher while he pounded into her, over and over - until she couldn't do anything but screaming loud his name, her body writhing and wrenching uncontrollable under him, her hands flailing helplessly for purchase, clutching the tangled sheets as they might a lifeline.

God, she's so utterly beautiful. Rushed it once again through his mind as he stared into her eyes, gone dark and glassy with mindless pleasure. Then the animal inside him took over to claw aside everything but the urgent need to mate, and when it leaped free, it swallowed them both. Helpless to resist, he rose above her and clamping her ankles to his shoulders for the perfect angle, he plunged in deep, pistoned into her, faster and faster, like a mad man. A hard primal beat that propelled her to the edge, and over.

Her eyes locked with his, Caitlin opened her mouth, but made no sound as the explosion ripping through her body was a storm of such intensity, she couldn't even cry out any more. Dimly she heard him uttering a hoarse cry while her entire body convulsed around him, clasping him tightly like a hot, silken fist to milk him dry - and then there was nothing but a bright shower of sparkling stars blinding her while she drifted into another dimension - taking him merciless with her.

Drowning in the wild sea of her green eyes, John felt a huge wave of violent unrelenting pleasure roaring up from his toes and pouring down from his head to center in his groin, even as his body and brain shattered into a million scorching, ecstatic pieces, and could do nothing but surrender. He felt himself shake, felt her grip him tightly, heard himself cry out, heard her whispering his name again and again, and felt his knees go as he emptied himself into her and pulse after hot pulse jetted deep inside her.

WEAK. Deliciously weak and utterly spent, that's how he felt after, with his mind still hovering somewhere in paradise. However, there obviously was a tiny spark of sense left in his addled brain that ordered him to let go of her ankles and help her legs to the bed first before he graciously allowed himself to settle over the soft cushion of her body. With a low, very satisfied grunt, John buried his face deep into her hair, and for the next few moments, while the warm sunlight danced over the damp tangle of their bodies, neither of them moved as they both were to busy to slow down their wild thumping hearts and their ragged breathing.

Caitlin was the first who found the strength to at least raise her arms and close them around him. With her eyes closed, she combed lovingly through his damp tousled hair, stroked softly over his neck down his slick back while she absorbed the delights of being a well-loved woman. Her body felt gloriously heavy, her mind wonderfully muffled. And from the way he lay over her, like a man suffering from blunt force trauma, with his heart still thundering, she knew he felt exactly the same. Smiling to herself, she traced again her fingers along his back, nibbled gently his ear and her smile deepened when she felt him shivering.

"Mhmm, that's nice," John nuzzled into the curve of her neck, enjoying the soft pleasant shower that ran down his spine at her fondlings. Beneath him, her body continued to quake, the aftershock of good, satisfying sex, and he enjoyed that as well. God, he felt so marvellously limp and relaxed, he didn't had the slightest ambition to move. Though he knew, he should, as it was more than possible that he was crushing her with his weight.

But his body refused vehemently to do so, and so did his mind, as in his opinion, the next best thing to making love was floating along on the warm river of satisfaction after making love. And laying on top of Caitlin's incredibly soft and lovely body, surrounded by her wonderful sweet and very unique female scent was exactly the right place for that. Though he really should move by now.

Just another second or two, then he would find the energy for it. John assured himself while he buried his face deeper into the warmth of her neck to drink her eagerly in, and cracked a smile when she whispered "- You're not crushing me, so take your time -" into his ear. "Hey, since when can you read my mind?" Caitlin smiled at the sleepy slur in his voice. "Maybe I am really a witch like you always claim. Who knows?" His chuckle tickled her throat. "Me. I knew it, from the very beginning." He pressed his lips on her skin. "Because the moment I've laid my eyes on you, boom, the spell was on me and I was irretrievably lost." He lifted his head, grinned. "Means you're stuck with me till the cows come home."

An amused chuckle bubbled out of Caitlin's mouth at his last words that turned into a cheery laughter as he wrapped her close to boisterously roll over with her until she lay on top of him. "Oh my God, I just love it when you get so all poetic, you know." Still laughing, she braced her hands on his chest and her long brown hair rioted down to curtain his face, smothering him with silk and scent as she glanced down on him, with bright sparkling eyes.

With a sly smile, John fisted his hands into the wild mass, then gave it a gentle tug. "Do I hear there a slight mocking tone in your voice, woman?" He growled softly, lifting one arrogant eyebrow. "Oh, Goodness! No! I would never dare making fun of my lord and master, never ever." Caitlin replied, with perfectly feigned indignation, then burst out in a wild giggle as he started to tickle her. "Okay, yes, yes, I admit it, I've lied…." She managed to press out on a crazy giggle, squirming and wiggling under his teasing hands. "….damn, I do everything you want, just stop tickling me, will you? Please, John, stop it." Her plea for mercy sounded muffled, as she'd her face buried into his chest.

"Hah, now I've got you." With an amused chuckle, John stopped his torment and took her face in his hands, lifted it up to him. "Let me think…I want you to -" He forgot what he wanted the second he looked into her bright green eyes, filled with so much warmth and love, it swamped him. Silently and with deliberate care, he pulled her down to him and captured her lips with his in a long, dreamy kiss that came right out of his soul and stirred hers to the core.

"I love you too, John, very very much." Her fingers trembled slightly as she threaded them through his hair, and so did her lips when she brushed them over his. "Specially when you kiss me like that." Caitlin purred softly, and dropped another tender kiss on his mouth, then nibbled her way down his throat. "You might change your mind when I give you my very long wish list." John whispered teasingly, but she was too pleased to jump on it. "You can't get me with that, honey, at least not at the moment." Her voice sounded as dreamy and sated as her smile was when she lifted her head to kiss him again, lightly. "Guess why?" She trailed one finger along his jawline, nipped at his bottom lip.

"I've not the slightest idea." John murmured casually, but shot her a devilish grin. "Liar." Caitlin hissed, and grabbed her teeth into his lower lip, though it only made him grin even more. "You just wanna make me say it, am I right?" Her face clouded into such a sweet pout, he just had to catch her mouth for a soft kiss. "Make you say what? That I'm the master of seduction? That I've provided you with earth-shattering sex? That I've magic hands? That I…mph-mph..." The rest of his words went under as she laughingly closed one hand over his mouth. "That you're the most impossible smug man in the world, oh yes, you are." Caitlin laughed again at the funny scowl he threw her.

"But the worst is that I can't do nothing else but to agree with you, in every point." She felt his lips spread into a broad grin under her fingers and shook amused her head while she replaced her hand with her lips to sweep them over his. "Oh yes, you just smile in victory, you arrogant bastard, I don't mind -" Playfully, she plucked at his chest hair and pecked another soft kiss on his lips before she rested her head on his shoulder. "- because I just feel sooooo good at the moment, thanks to you." Caitlin whispered with a soft sigh while she snuggled deep in, using one hand to outline the muscles on his chest.

"Hey, it was at least fifty percent my pleasure." John said with a crooked grin, tinkering with a long strand of her hair, and chuckled softly when he heard her contentedly purring "- Good, then we're even, right? -" while she entwined her arms and legs around him to cuddle even tighter against him. Letting out a contented growl by himself, he wrapped his arms around her and in this tight embrace they remained still for quite a while, doing nothing but simply enjoying each others body warmth and closeness until Caitlin bestirred herself into motion, eventually.

When she rolled of him to stretch herself languorously, the light already was changing, gradually softening toward early evening. It should set her alarm-clocks ringing, but it didn't as she still was hovering way up in the world of bliss, her mind as well as her body. "God, I still feel so wonderfully loose and relaxed, you know." She looked at him, with a tender smile on her face and reached out her hand to comb her fingers through his hair. Something she just loved to do as his hair was so incredible soft, despite its unruliness. "Actually, we should thank Ronon that he gave us this spare time. Just you and me, I really enjoy this rare gift." John rolled on his side, propped his head with one hand and looked down at her, his eyes sliding lovingly over her face.

"Hey, you're right. I can't wait to see his face when I do that, thank him I mean, in my very own way of course." He smiled cheekily at her while his hand stroked in long caressing circles down her body just to rest gingerly on her belly. "Don't you dare, John Sheppard. I warn you." Caitlin muttered indulgently and looked up to him. A soft smile played around her full lips and her green eyes sparkled brightly at him, radiating so much love and happiness, it swamped him again, so fast and unexpected he simply felt drunk with bliss.

As in that fleeting moment, he once more realized how privileged he was, because he had all a man could wish for in his life: A good home, very good friends and a wonderful family, with a beautiful strong wife who truly loved him and a sweet adorable daughter who spent him so much joy and love every day. His hand brushed gently over the soft roundness of her belly where the next visible proof of their love grew up, and his eyes shimmered a bit blurry as he glanced down at her, his lips curled into a lost smile.

Caitlin noticed it, and her hand came up to cradle his face. "What is it, John?" She asked softly while her fingertips stroked tenderly along his jaw line. "Nothing," John whispered back. "It's just -" His voice went thick, and he pressed his face against her neck. "- I only thought what a damn lucky guy I am - and how glad I am that you came along, that's all." He added, then let out a soft chuckle that trickled pleasantly through her body. "God help, I'm going all squishy here." John moaned in feigned desperation and buried his face deeper into the curve of her neck.

"Oh, that's okay, honey," Caitlin answered highly amused as she felt him smiling broadly. "Because we women have a strong weakness for men who go all squishy from time to time. Strikes the romantic chord in us, you know." She said with a smirk, then chuckled softly when he suddenly shifted to press his ear against her chest. "John, what in hell are you doing?"

"Checking if I can hear that chord swinging." John snickered, and angled his face up to look at her. "And damn, am I good, because there's a whole violin-concert playing inside you." Hearing this and seeing the wide brassy grin that spread over his face, Caitlin couldn't help but to burst out into a cheery laugh. "God, John, you're beyond price, you know that?" Still laughing, she ruffled wildly his hair, then stroked a hand down his back, and over his very fine ass, just because she could. "Hey, I hope for you that you mean that in a good way." John grumbled softly, and made her laugh again as he wiggled devilishly his eyebrows thereby. "In the very best way." She assured him with a warm smile that turned into an amused one when she heard him murmur - "That's all I wanted to hear" - while he huddled up against her, his head rested cozily between her full soft breasts, to just savour the warmth of her smooth body and the wonderful feel of her soft skin.

"Oh, come here, you crazy fool." Lovingly, she enfolded him into her arms and for the next few minutes it became very quiet and peaceful in the room while her hands ran softly through his hair, skimmed gently over his skin, and he just gave himself up to the feeling of perfect harmony and oneness they shared. Caitlin laughed faintly over the deep humming sound he made while she caressed him, and her soft laughter was reason enough for him to raise his head. "What's so funny?" He asked, and drew his eyes brows together. "Come on, I want to laugh too."

Caitlin smirked down at him and gave his hair a gentle tug. "You're funny or better said the sound you've made. I just thought I've a huge tiger laying on my chest, purring contentedly." A small grin appeared on his face, let him look so much younger, almost boyish. God, how much she loved this special smile of him. "Okay, I like huge tiger. I like it very much. Tiger sounds real good to me." John blinked at her and spread soft tiny kisses on her breasts. "Oh, and you've lied earlier about that we're alone. We are not, wife, you forgot our son."

Caitlin chuckled softly while she enjoyed the feel of his lips, brushing gently over her skin all the way down to her belly. "You don't know if it will be a boy or a girl, John." He lifted his head and a broad smile rushed over his face. "Oh yes. I was right with Elizabeth the first time, and I'm right again, you'll see." Bending his head down again, he brought his mouth near her belly and brushed a soft kiss on him. "Hi my little sweetheart, how are you feeling today? Feeling comfortable in there, now the earth quake is over?" He whispered softly, and his low and deep voice vibrated through her body.

Caitlin started to giggle and John looked up, his eyes sparkling joyfully at her. "Hey, it must be an earth quake for him when I rock you, right?" Still giggling, her hand came up and she tipped against his nose. "Maybe, but that's harmless. And you said him again. You can't know that by now, maybe it's a girl after all." His eyebrow shot up and he shook unbelievingly his head before he turned his attention back to her belly. "Don't listen to your very beautiful but sometimes foolish mother, son. You and I know it better, right? Ouch!" He flinched and sat straight up, pretending a frown. "Stop pinching me, you violent wife." Caitlin laughed heartily about his funny face. "Hey, what am I now, foolish or violent?"

John flicked a cheeky smile at her. "I would say both, and you forgot beautiful. I said that too, right?" Caitlin also sat straight up and her eyes sparkled brightly at him while she captured his face with both hands to kiss him. "Right. So I'm foolish, violent and beautiful? That sounds like a crazy wife to me, don't you think?"

His sensual mouth curled up to a broad smile and his mesmerizing eyes turned into a warm green as he returned her bright look. "Oh yes, and I love that crazy woman very much, you know. And you'll see that I'm right. In here there grows a very healthy, very good looking boy. Right, Joshua Ronon Sheppard?" Tapping with his finger against her belly, his smile widened by looking at her face. "Hey, don't look so surprised. It's a great name for a boy. And it's practical too, we can call him just JR if we want to. Sounds good to me."

Caitlin laughed again, and curled her arms around his neck. "And I'm crazy, huh? You've watched to much Dallas, or what?" She kissed him softly. "But it's okay for me. If it's a boy, you can name him so if you want." With a winner smile on his face, he bent his head down and spread another kiss on her belly. "You hear that son? Now you already got a name. All you have to do is to grow up to a strong healthy boy."

He laid his hand on her belly, in a loving and protective way and a tender smile appeared on his face while his eyes glanced softly at her. "I love you, sweetheart. And I love our kids. I can't wait to feel him moving and kicking, you know?" He whispered and kissed her softly while his hand stroked in a gentle caress over the faint roundness of her stomach before he stood up to walk in a slow lazy pace over to their adjoined bath.

Caitlin laid her hand on her belly and smiled quietly. "I guess you don't have to wait long for that, maybe a week and you can feel the first tender twitches. And in about a month my belly will start looking like a bowl." She heaved a soft sigh by that thought. "Then you must be very imaginative again, honey." John threw her a devilish smile and his eyes started to sparkle roguishly. "Hey, no problem for me. We've done that before when you've carried Lizzie. And I'd a lot of ideas then, remember?"

Caitlin chuckled softly and shot an amused glance at him. "Oh yes, I remember. I still wonder where you've learned that. No wait, don't tell me, I really don't want to know." John cast another cheeky smile over his shoulder at her. "I wouldn't tell you anyway, honey." A soft laugh was her answer while her gaze followed him on his way to the bath, eagerly, as she just loved to watch him, to watch the smooth motion of his strong muscles when he moved - and the delicious sight of his perfect sculptured firm butt wasn't bad either.

"I know exactly, where you're looking at, you naughty girl!" He teased her and jerked laughingly aside to avoid the flying cushion she threw after him. With a broad smile he turned around. "Oh, and remember honey, we've a party to catch, still." Startled, Caitlin jumped off the bed. Sweet Jesus – the party - she really totally had forgotten it. Cursing under her breath, she rushed through the room, following him into the bath.

"John Sheppard, you could have reminded me a bit earlier, don't you think? Damned, now we've to hurry up. At least make sure your tie-knot is perfect at the first go, will you?" She muttered, with eyes spraying with anger, and gave him a good punch against his flat belly. John laughed aloud at her wild outburst. "Oh Linnie, I just love it when you lose your temper. You're absolutely sweet then, you know." He chuckled, his eyes dancing with bright amusement while he swiftly caught her waist to haul her up close.

Enraged, Caitlin tried to pull away, but she'd no chance as he already had wrapped his strong arms around her, simply holding her tight against him. She felt his hands stroke softly over her back and his fingers tangle in her long silky hair while he brushed a soft kiss on the top of her head, and at once, all her rage was gone just like that and she just felt safe and beloved and cherished. "Oh, I hate it when you do that." Caitlin muttered again, though it was a very mild objection as she already nestled up to him.

"Do what?" John chuckled amused, and brushed another soft kiss on her hair. "Do exactly that. Mollifying me with tender strokes and kisses. That's sneaky of you, you know. But also very nice, so don't stop it." John had to chuckle even more as he heard her mumbling that, but continued his fondlings until he heard her purring with delight. "Oh, but I have to stop, my little minx, as we've to hurry up now, right?" Just as he stirred to let go of her, she cuddled deeper into his embrace. "Only a tiny moment longer, please. Because I just love it when you hold me like that." Caitlin mumbled drowsily and leant heavily into him, with her eyes closed, to simply savour the wonderful moment of laying in the arms of the man she loved more than her life - and her heart ached as she did so. God, she really loved him so much, that it hurt sometimes.

It was a solid half hour later, when Caitlin gave herself the finishing touches. She swept her hair back from her face with two diamond-crusted pins, then let it fall as it chose. Turning side-ways in front of the full-length mirror, she nodded approvingly. The lines of the tea-length dress were simple, except for the surprising plunge in the back that dipped just below the waist. It was a bold choice of her, she knew it, but the wicked woman inside her called out for some showing off, just for the fun of it.

And as this probably was her last chance of wearing such a daring, sexy outfit for the next months, she just indulged into her whim. "I would say you look just great, girl." She smiled at her reflection while she stroked her hands down her sides, enjoying the feel of smooth silk against bare skin. "So, let's see if your husband thinks the same." With a last checking glance into the mirror, Caitlin grabbed her evening bag and started downstairs.

SHE found him sitting on the couch, deeply absorbed into one of his surf magazines, and halted a moment to watch him with silent delight as it was more than rare to see him so dressed to the nines in his fine dark-blue suit and white shirt. Dressed to kill, huh? Caitlin thought with a loving smile while her gaze rambled appreciatively over him. But when her eyes reached his tie, they started to sparkle amused. Crooked as always, but somehow it fits him, makes him look even more handsome. Her smile broadened as she walked over to him, the thick carpet swallowing her steps.

"Hey, lover boy, I'm ready to go." John shrugged slightly at the sound of her voice and looked up, then let out a loud wolf whistle. "Wow, sweetheart, you just look…breathtaking." Throwing the magazine carelessly aside, he jumped off the couch. "Dr. Caitlin Sheppard, consider your tonight's dance card as fully booked." He rasped, and took her hand to brush his lips over her knuckles, then swept her into his arms for a fast twirl through the living room. "Is that so?" Caitlin laughed when he spun her out just to draw her back into his arms right away. "You can bet on it, honey, even if that means I've to beat up a few guys tonight," John said with that special shameless grin of him. "Because a man's the right to defend his possession, you know. That's another unwritten law. Especially when the possession's as beautiful as you are, and I mean not only tonight." He whispered in his most charming cadence while he pressed her tighter against him.

"Well, aren't you gallant?" Her witch-green eyes sparkling like bright stars, she looked up to him, and raised her left hand to palm his face. "Although, I've to object here, because I'm nobody's possession but me." Even as she said it, he took her hand, pressed his lips into her palm, then glanced down on her, with eyes filled with pure love. "Objection overruled, honey. You belong to me, every tiny inch of you. You've sworn it, seven years ago." He whispered as he twiddled with her plain golden wedding ring. "And I've sworn the same to you, remember?" John gave the brilliant heart dangling on a silver chain around her neck a short flick, then leant in to brush his lips over hers, gently.

"Yes, I remember. I remember very well." Caitlin said with a bemused smile. "For always, for ever. That's what we've sworn, and it still counts, always will, because I love you, John Sheppard, I love you more than my life." She shivered when she said it, then shivered even more when his mouth moved over hers, his hands ran down her shoulder, her bare back, as sweet and light as a butterflies wing, and her heart wanted to burst when he whispered to her. "Thanks for making my life so whole and complete." And it really almost did when he captured her lips into a long, incredible tender kiss, but before that could happen, he released her, and the dreamy sigh she let out then turned into a surprised squeal as he pulled a small box wrapped in white paper with a glossy red ribbon out of his suit pocket. "For the best wife ever."

Intrigued, Caitlin glanced at the present he handed her, but felt obliged to utter a protest after all, though it was more a rhetorical one. "Oh, that's so not fair, John, as we've agreed we won't make us any presents." Saying it, she already urged him to hold her evening bag, so that she'd both hands free. "I know, but every woman, particularly such a special one like you, deserves a present at her anniversary-day, and that is also an unwritten law, you know." His mouth kicked up on one side in amusement as he watched her admiring the gift, for about three seconds at most, before she started to tear paper and ribbon ruthlessly off.

"Oh my, I really start to develop a deep fondness for your unwritten laws, John." Caitlin noted on a sly glance, then let out a happy scream when she opened it. "Oh my God, they're gorgeous! Oh, thanks so much, honey." Her eyes were sparkling as bright as the earrings in that small box - two tiny diamond hearts dangling from the stud of a third in a delicate elegant trio. "God, I love you, I love you, I love you." Wrapping her arms around his neck, she rained his face with kisses. "Thought you would like them." John called after her with an amused laugh as she already had spun away to dash to the mirror of the hall stand.

"No likes, I truly deeply love them." Caitlin called excited back while she put the earrings on. "And they fit so perfectly with the heart-chain you've given me on our wedding, you know." Tipping her head from side to side, she watched them glint. "How do they look?" With a bright smile, she swirled around. "A little dim compared to your eyes, but they'll do." John said with a huge grin as he sauntered over to her, and chuckled again when she flung herself against him to rain another shower of kisses all over his face. "Oh, that's awfully nice said of you. Thanks again, John, you're simply the best. So, I'm wondering how I ever can match this." Her lips curled into a sweet smile, she batted skilfully her eyelashes at him while she adjusted his crooked tie.

" Oh, you can, after the party you can do a lot to match this." John suggested with a wily smile, and let his hand play down her back until it covered her ass while he manoeuvred her out of the door. "You're absolutely right, I could do that." Caitlin's eyes started to glint with wicked mischief as she thought of the lately purchased sexy lingerie she'd stashed away for special occasions - like that flimsy excuse of a robe she'd paid entirely too much money for. Well, tonight it would be worth every penny, she was sure about it.

It was the mischievous undertone in her voice that aroused John's attention. "Why do I've the impression that you've something special in mind, my little minx?" His lips curved into a lewdly grin, he gave her firm butt a soft squeeze. "Maybe because I have." Caitlin answered laughingly, but wriggled quickly out of his arm at the same time before he'd a chance for another grope. "And no, I won't tell you, no chance." She said with a grin, and laughed at the feigned pout he threw her, then let out a cheery squeal when he reached out for her, quick as a flash to snatch her around her waist. "Oh, I could get it out of you if I wanted to, but okay, surprise me." John laughed and elicited her another cheery scream as he simply swept her from her feet to swirl her wildly around.

"God, you're just crazy, John, you know that." Caitlin gasped as he set her down again. "Yes, I am. Totally crazy in love with you, honey." John answered with a devilish smile while he shoved her backwards into the elevator, pushed the button for the right level. "Should I show you how crazy?" The door hadn't nearly closed, there already was Caitlin's bright laughter to hear, and then some.

THEY still were laughing and fooling around as they walked hand in hand down the floor towards the feast hall. They just ambled around a corner, when they ran into the McKays. "Hi Rodney, hi Jenny, nice to see you." Caitlin welcomed them and let go of Johns hand to squeeze them heartily, first Jennifer, then Rodney. "Wow, Jenny, you look fabulous, you know that?" John flashed Jennifer one of his killer smiles, then turned towards McKay. "Hey Rodney, I hope you've told your wife already how beautiful she looks tonight or do I've to remind you again?" He teased him, with a soft slap on his back.

On a bright sincere laugh, Jennifer gave the lavender empire-dress she wore a quick glance over, then rolled wildly her eyes. "Don't make fun of me, John, because I not only feel like a hippo with thinly legs right now, but also know that I look exactly like one. Gosh! And my back is killing me." She muttered, but her eyes sparkled brightly while she laid her hands on her heavy swollen bulge. It was more than obvious for everyone that she was heavily pregnant, for at least another two weeks.

Rodney made a face at John before he cast a proud glance at his wife, with a contented smile on his face. "Of course I told her that, more than once. But she won't believe me." He muttered softly and put his arm around her shoulder, brushed a soft kiss on her cheek while Caitlin's gaze flicked from Jennifer over to Rodney, noting the fine grey suit he wore tonight. "Wow, Rodney, you also look great this evening, even dashing I'd say." She said with a sincere smile, then added with a twinkle in her eye. "You better watch it Jen, because I bet there are surely enough women who'll throw an eye on him."

At her remark, McKay cast a quick side glance at her, just to check if she was kidding him. But as her face was absolutely sober, he smiled even more. "Thanks Linnie, that's nice of you to say. And you really seem to mean it." Caitlin looked astonished at him. "Of course Rodney, what do you think?" Jenny giggled and nudged her softly. "Because you're married to Mr. I-love-teasing-Rodney-McKay, you know?" She prompted, with a short joyful glance at John. "Oh right, how could I forget that." Caitlin answered chuckling, then gave her friend a gentle poke with her elbow. "Hey Jen, look here." With a broad smile, she pointed at her earlobes, and Jennifer's eyes went wide at the sparkle. "Wow, those are just gorgeous. Look Rodney, aren't they just gorgeous?" With the sweetest of all smiles, she turned towards her husband who cast a short glance at Caitlin's ears, and the moment he did, his face clouded into a frown.

"Yeah, very gorgeous, and yeah, I got the hint." Rodney all but grumbled. "Well, thanks a lot for that, John." He scowled at his friend while walking further. "Hey, I don't have a clue what you mean, pal, I only made my wonderful wife a little present for our anniversary, that's all." John replied with a slick smile and curling Caitlin's waist, he drew her closer to brush a flutter of a kiss on her temple. "Yeah, right, and set the mark for all of us here with that. Did it really had to be something shiny and expensive…damned…what happens to the good old nosegay-tradition…. You just wait until Ronon hears that, he won't be amused either, believe me."

Not only the two women were laughing about Rodney's wild rant, but John too. "Imagine, I did the good old nosegay-tradition too, plus the also old but still very popular 'Breakfast-in-bed' custom." He said with a huge brassy grin, and snickered highly amused when Rodney's baleful stare hit him. "God, I really actually should hate you for doing always the right thing, you know." Rodney retorted snappily. "But you wait, one day I'll outdo you and then it's me who's laughing, you can bet on it." He uttered fiercely, and made John laugh again hearty with it. "I hardly can't wait for that." He snorted on a chuckle. "Oh, and about Ronon, wait until you'll see him. Because Mary had forced him to get all spiffy, you know, with fine suit and everything, so he looks very…..unusual tonight."

Hearing that obviously heightened Rodney's mood again because he smashed a fat mocking grin at John, who returned it with one of his own. "Will you stop that, John Sheppard." Caitlin muttered amused and gave her husband a soft nudge. "Because Ronon looks absolutely fabulous tonight. He's a very handsome man, you know." With a gleeful side glance at his wife, John jostled McKay. "Can you believe that, Rodney? My wife looks at other men while she has the best looking man at her side." McKay grinned at him. "Hey, this must be the wild caveman-image of Ronon. We can't cope with that, my friend." He joked, then started to imitate the Satedan in gesture and habit and did it so well, that both cringed with laughter at the end.

Caitlin shook her head about them. "You two are really too foolish." She smiled softly and curled her arms around Johns waist. "But I love foolish and you know what else? You aren't only the best looking man, you're the best man in here and the very best part is, you're mine alone." She whispered softly against his ear. "And that makes me to the luckiest woman of Atlantis. I love you, John." Snuggling closer against him, she brushed a slight kiss on his neck and sparkled happily at him.

"Love you too." John mouthed at her and returned her bright smile while they entered the ball-room, where stirring music and cheerful laughter welcomed them, and for a moment, all four halted for a quick round-up over the richly decorated and already well-filled hall before they started to plunge slowly their way through the crowd. Attentively, Caitlin let her gaze wander over the mass of people on the search for Ronon's long huge shape, but John discovered him first and with an amused smirk, he nudged his wife softly to draw her attention on it.

As Caitlin followed Johns pointing finger, she'd to smile too because the sight really was hilarious. Ronon stood together with Mary and the kids next to Carson Beckett, who was clad in an original tartan kilt, even though he didn't look very happy at the moment about his choice because the kids tried to lurk under his kilt the whole time. Rodney and Jenny also saw it, and both started to chuckle amused at this hilarious picture.

"Poor Carson, I bet he wishes by now that he'd chosen another outfit, right?" Laughingly, Caitlin half-turned towards her friends while they still moved slowly forward, and would have bumped right into Richard Woolsey, if John hadn't prevent it by snatching her around her waist to stop her. "Easy, woman, you can't overrun the civilian leader of Atlantis just like that." He said and laughed softly when he felt her flinch because Woolsey's face was just a few inches away from hers. "Oh my, Richard, I really hadn't seen you, I'm sorry." Blushing slightly, Caitlin flicked him an apologizing smile.

But Woolsey, whose manners were as impeccable as his made-to-measure suit, only replied. "Oh no, I'm the one who needs to apologize because I got in your way. Must be that I was so distracted by your beautiful appearance, Ladies." And with a perfect bow, took her hand to brush a brief kiss on it.

It wasn't only Caitlin's lips that twitched dangerously when faced with such starchy behaviour, but Jennifer's too the moment he turned towards her to approach her in the same way. "May I say that I'm really delighted to be surrounded by such beauty tonight." He added and flashed both women a charming smile before turning smoothly towards the men. "And also a bit envious. John, Rodney, you two really can consider yourself very lucky, you know."

A fast amused smile rushed over John's face as he'd very well noticed the short covetous spark that had flared up in Woolsey's eyes when he'd looked at Caitlin. "Hey, I certainly won't argue with you about that, Richard." He replied with a prideful side glance at his wife who was, together with Jenny, already engaged in some conversation with Amelia and Teyla, then mentioned casually. "So, I see we've a full house again tonight, and from what I can see everyone's amusing himself here. That's pretty good, huh?"

At John's remark, Woolsey threw himself into a pose."Oh, I even dare to say that meanwhile our yearly feast has become very famous. So yes, it is indeed pretty good for us," he replied with such a smug tone in his voice, John just had to grin again, broadly. "Always thinking of business, are you, Richard?"

"Hey, nothing wrong with that, John." Woolsey grinned back. "I mean you know me by now, and when there's a chance for a good trade, I'll go for it, right?" He said with a twinkle, then leant closer. "And I already had an interesting talk or two, with Holland for example, he's mentioned that he's some good connections to a few cattle dealer. It's worth a thought, John. I mean look at that agriculture-project we've started in teamwork with the Athosians, it's a big success, and raising our own cattle would make us even more independent."

With knitted eyebrows, John cast a serious glance at Woolsey, then nodded slowly. "You're right, it really is worth a thought. Rearing our own steaks sounds good to me." As up to this point, Rodney hadn't paid much attention to the conversation, rather had felt bored, but the moment the word 'steak' dropped, he suddenly was all ears.

"We got steaks tonight?" He cut in, with an eager face expression that turned into a puzzled one as Woolsey and Sheppard started to laugh. "Hey, what's so funny? I heard you talking about food and as I'm already starving here –" Rodney felt the need to defend himself, but as both men just laughed even harder, he simply gave up. "Oh, right, make fun of me, as always, I don't mind." He said on a huff. "Come on, Jenny, let's storm the buffet, I bet the baby's hungry too by now." Saying it, he swivelled around and clasped his wife's arm, then made a straight bee-line towards the buffet, with a totally surprised Jennifer in tow.

"What the heck..." Wondering about that sudden weird exit of their two friends, the other women turned towards John and Woolsey to cast them a quizzical glance. But when John enlightened them chuckling, they all broke out in a good hearty laugh.

"Oh my God, poor Jennifer." Caitlin said, with a regretful glance at her disappearing friends, though she couldn't repress another soft chuckle, and the others couldn't either, as the sight was just too hilarious, because meanwhile Jennifer was wildly muttering at Rodney, who stoically endured his wife's outburst while he barged his way through the crowds, very ambitiously. "I guess, when it comes to food, Rodney always will be simply unstoppable." Laughingly, Teyla turned to John. "Maybe, when we're in a hairy situation again, we should take that for our advantage, John. Just tell Rodney there's a large buffet waiting for him at the end, and he'll struck our enemies all down at one blow, believe me."

Teyla's joky suggestion amused the group again. All the more as John not only agreed laughingly, but also delivered them such a priceless performance of how that might look that they all burst out again with laughter. "God damn, will you stop it, please, I'm dying here." Amelia gasped, and wiped a few laugh-tears away, then shrugged slightly when she felt a hand touching her back. Though when she heard the voice that belonged to that hand whisper - "Hi babe, I've missed you" - into her ear, a delighted smile flashed over her face.

"You know, Colonel, if you hadn't chosen the military, you could have made a brilliant acting carrier." Chuck said with a broad grin while he slid his arm around Amelia's waist to pull her smoothly closer. "And deal with a pack of slick pompous holier-than-thou blood-suckers? No thanks, Chuck, that's a tad too dangerous and unpredictable for me. I rather stick with the Wraith instead, you know." John retorted dryly, and aroused the next gale of laughter with it.

"Oh yeah, let me guess, it's because they don't suck your blood, only the last spark of life out of you. Yes, that's the far better choice, I can see that." Woolsey quipped with such a funny cackle, that for a second they all but stared at him as if seeing a ghost. "Geez! Humor? From you, Richard? God, it seems that there's still hope you'll loosen up a bit, at last." John prompted on a frantic chuckle, and aroused another laugh fit with it, which only increased the moment Woolsey retorted with a broad grin. "Hey, even a dry pencil-pusher like me has his moments."

IT was some time and a few good laughs later, when Caitlin and John departed the group. Slowly, they weaved their way through the crowd, pausing here and there for some small talk, until they finally reached the bar where Ronon and the others lingered. Caitlin laughed heartily when she looked at the Satedan because all three kids clung on his legs and every time he shook one, the air was filled with cheery screams and laughter. "Hey Buddy, you do know that you've three little ticks at your legs, huh?" John called out, and chuckled amused.

Ronon grinned at him. "Yeah, and somehow I can't get rid of them." Saying this words, he shook his legs again and the screaming laughter started all over. Yet, hearing her fathers voice, Lizzie immediately let go of Ronon just to jump over to her parents. "Mom, Dad! I was waiting for you, for soooooooooo long, you know that?" She called out, spreading wide her arms to underline her words, and looked reproachfully up to them, but only for a second.

The moment, John pulled his arms around her to lift her up, her eyes sparkled brightly again and a sweet smile curled around her little mouth. "Oh, really? I'm sorry my little angel, but your Mom needed so long to get ready, you know." He answered with a broad smirk on his face and cast a cheeky glance at Caitlin. "Sure, blame it on me. I don't mind at all." She laughed softly and bent forward to brush a kiss on her daughters cheek.

"Do you have fun with Ronon and the boys, sweetheart?" Lizzie flung one arm around her neck while she curled the other around Johns neck and spread tiny kisses on their cheeks, in turns. "Yes, a lot of fun." She admitted with a beaming smile and started to tell them what they all had done till now. John and Caitlin listened amused to the lively speech of their daughter. But then, Lizzies gaze fell on Rodney and Jennifer who were just roaming closer, and she interrupted herself to shout a loud "Hi Aunt Jenny, hi Uncle Oddly!" at them, with a wild hand wave.

Whilst Jenny waved smilingly back at her, Rodney stepped closer, with a bit of a grumpy face. "Lizzie sweetheart, I know exactly that you can speak my name perfectly by now. So stop calling me Uncle Oddly, okay?" The others tried to suppress their laughter. When Lizzie had started to speak, she couldn't spell his name correctly and the result was Oddly in place of Rodney. The best thing was, that the other kids had adopted the nickname right away, so Rodney was commonly called Uncle Oddly.

John had found that very funny, in his opinion the perfect name for his friend, who hadn't been exactly overly excited about it then - and obviously still wasn't. Lizzie signaled her father to set her down and stepped towards McKay. Standing in front of him with her hands on her hips, she looked up at him and pursed deprecatingly her lips by his request.

"No, I won't." She answered steadily, underlining her negation with a wild head shake. "Because I like Oddly much more than Rodney. Sounds much nicer to me and so cuddly, don't you think?" Was her perfect and absolutely logical answer - well at least in her opinion - and, beaming one of her irresistible smiles at him, she glanced up to him, waiting for his approval.

Rodney rolled his eyes and threw resignedly his hands in the air before he knelt down, looking in her amazingly green eyes. "Okay, I give up Lizzie. Just call me Oddly, if you want it so much. I don't mind, sweetheart." He sighed softly, but a tender smile rushed over his face when Lizzie bent forward and, curling her arms around his neck, gave him a hearty kiss on his cheek. "I like you very very much, Uncle Oddly." She whispered and kissed him again before she turned around, jumping back to the boys.

The others couldn't restrain themselves any more and burst out laughing. "Hey Uncle Oddly, come on, let's drink to that. Slàinte mhaith!" Carson grinned at his old friend and pushed a glass of whisky in his hand. First, Rodney tried to look insulted, but it failed, so he just gave up and joined their laughter. "Slàinte mhaith!" Returning Carson's Scottish toast, he bravely raised his glass and drank the whisky in one gulp, just to start coughing right away. "God damned, Carson, you killed a mangy cat and bottled her, or what? Jesus, that stuff burns a hole in my stomach." He gasped out while wiping a hand over his fairly watery eyes. "No, Rodney, I killed two, just to be sure it's strong enough to make you whine. And as far as I see it, it's working." Carson replied with a broad grin, and made the other men collapse with laughter.

Meanwhile, Caitlin had turned towards Mary and cast a bright glance at her. "Mary, I'm so glad to see you so well. You look absolutely great, you know that?" She said, admiringly while her eyes slid approvingly over the sensational appearance of her best friend who wore a sleeveless gown of crushed burgundy velvet – pretty simple in its pattern, even prissy with its high collar. Though the way it clung to Mary's exciting curvaceous body, like a second skin, it was miles away from prissy. Gorgeous, exciting, arousing, that were more the words that came into Caitlin's mind as she looked at her friend.

Her deep-blue eyes sparkling vividly, Mary flashed her a bright smile. "Thanks sweetheart, and the best is that I also feel absolutely great today, thank God. She said on a deep relieved sigh, then added after a quick checking glance at Caitlin's wardrobe. "But you look just as amazing, Linnie. Really. And the backside, wow, daring, I like it." Caitlin laughed softly when Mary whispered to her as she flung her arms around her to hug her friend tightly. "Hey, we surely have to make full use of it tonight because it won't take long and we can forget sexy wardrobe for the next months, right?"

"You can bet on it, sister," she whispered back, then giggled. "I mean, just look at Jenny, and you'll see our destiny – round like a water melon, and waddling like a duck. Though I hardly can't wait for that exciting time to come, you know." As Jenny heard her two friends laughing and giggling, she curiously came closer, and the three women immediately started chatting and laughing, like they always did when they were together.

"Hey Mary, you really look absolutely heart-stopping tonight." John stuck his head between the women's round and gave Mary a charming smile while his eyes lingered on her exciting body shape. "Tell me, how many men has your husband already beaten up this evening to keep them away from you, huh?" He smirked, directing an amused side-glance at the admittedly impressive huge frame of his friend. Even though Ronon merely grunted at Sheppard's potshot, he couldn't hide the pride that crept into his eyes as his gaze lingered on his wife who was anything else than silent.

"Hey Prince Charming, thanks for your compliment. You surely know how to make a woman happy, sweetheart." Turning the smirk into a wide cheeky grin, John moved closer to Caitlin and curved her waist. "Damn right I do. Just ask my wife, and she'll gladly confirm that, right Linnie sweetheart?" Her lips curled into a light smile, Caitlin turned slightly her head to look at him, though the gaze she darted him was more a warning than an amused one. Mary let out a heartily laugh as she'd not only caught the glance, but also knew to read him, at least she thought so.

"Oh John, you never misses a trick, do you? But god, I love you for that, honey." Still laughing, she gave him a little peck on the cheek. "And to answer your question, none until now. Normally it's more than enough when Ronon shoot a sharp dark look at them, you know?" Just when Mary turned towards her husband to lean into his huge frame, Caitlin flipped with a casual hand-wave her long hair back.

Freezing in motion, Mary stared mesmerized at Caitlin's earlobe, then let out a shrill squeak. "Oh my God, how could I've missed that?" She called out, totally excited, her hand already raising to give the sparkly earring a soft nudge. "They're new right? Because I've never seen them before."

Caitlin laughed at her friends excitement. "Yes, they are. Totally brand spanking new. My anniversary gift, from the best husband ever. Pretty, huh?" Her green eyes sparkling brilliantly itself, she flung a private smile at the aforementioned one whilst Mary almost got swept away with excitement. "Pretty? Jesus, those aren't just pretty, those are absolutely gorgeous." She all but breathed it, almost reverently, then tilted her head back to smash a huge smile at her husband.

"Aren't they just gorgeous, Ronon?" Eyebrows deeply furrowed, the Satedan glanced down on her, and heaved a deep sigh when he saw the wild glitter in her eyes. "Yeah, I got the hint, wife." He answered grouchily, though there was a smile tugging at his mouth when he said it, knowing that she pointed to their own anniversary which was coming up in three months.

"Always knew I've caught a smart man. Oh, I love you so much." Even as Mary flung her arms around him to squeeze him tight, Ronon turned his head to dart a sinister look at Sheppard, who stood aside him, with a broad grin on his face. "Great job, buddy. Thanks a lot." The Satedan all but hissed it. "Do you had to come up with bling-bling, huh? Tell me, what's wrong with a nice bunch of flowers, damned." Cursing, he turned fully towards the still broadly grinning Sheppard whilst Mary let go of him to cluster with Caitlin and Jenny together.

"He did that too, plus breakfast in bed. Can you imagine that?" Rodney hurried to squeeze in, his gaze switching eagerly between his friends, and a gleeful smile appeared on his face when he heard the deep growl that rolled out of Ronon's throat. "You're so going to pay for that, pal, for screwing the curve for all of us, believe me." The Satedan darted another dark glance at John, who wasn't in the least impressed, rather the opposite.

"Guys, let me tell you a secret: Keep your wife happy, particularly at special occasions like anniversaries, and you'll have a good life." He said with a bold smile, and pointed towards the cheery group of women. "Now, you just look at her. Does she look happy or what?" At that precise moment, Caitlin looked up and cast him a sparkling bright smile. "Oh yes, utterly happy I would say." John said while he smiled back at her, and his voice was dripping with self-satisfaction when he added. "Means I'll receive a biiiig reward tonight which makes me utterly happy, just by the thought of it."

Confronted with so much cockiness, Ronon and McKay couldn't do other than to burst out in a loud laugh. "Damn, Sheppard, you're one son of a bitch, you know that? Let's drink to that." Ronon called out cheerfully and gave his friend a good hearty slap on the shoulder before he dragged him towards the bar. "At your costs, of course."

"Of course, what else?" Laughingly, John made the order and when they all had their share, raised his glass. "To our wonderful women, may they always be happy." He shouted with a broad grin, then emptied it in one large gulp. With an approving laugh, Ronon and Rodney followed his example. "Hey, you're drinking without me? That's not nice, guys." Beckett said with an eye-twinkle as he squeezed himself between them.

"Hey Carson, where have you been? Come here, mate, drink some of the good stuff for once." Chortling, McKay motioned the bar-keeper to tap another beer. "Rodney, you're lucky that I'm in a too good mood tonight to argue with you about good stuff." Carson replied laughingly while reaching for the beer the barman held out at him. "And by God, thirsty too. Cheers, everyone." With that, he raised his glass and took a long swig, then let out a satisfied burp. "Just what I've needed. Boy, dancing really is a hard business, specially when you haven't done it for a while." He said with a deep heartfelt sigh, and made the others laugh because his joyful sparkling eyes betrayed his words.

"That's what you get when you swirl around with women far too young for you, Carson. Better you pick one at your age next time, old boy." Rodney called out with a funny cackle, and raised another laugh with it. "Hey, someone has to entertain all the lovely ladies here, as you obviously rather prefer to hold on to a glass of beer than to a pretty woman." Beckett fired back, with a broad grin and a wild wave of his arms. "But that's okay, leave them all to me. I can handle them, all of them." He added loudly while waving again extensively his arms, and nearly knocked out John with it.

"All but one." John objected laughingly as he nimbly dodged Carson's unfocused hand-wave. "Because Caitlin's dance card is already fully booked tonight, namely by me." He said in a casual tone, but vanity was oozing out of every pore of him when he added. "And that is the icing on the cake so to speak to make this anniversary-day perfect, believe me." Smashing his friends the boldest smile he'd in his repertory, he bounced off the bar, straightened his tie. "Now if you excuse me, guys, but the master of seduction has a mission to accomplish here."

"Jesus Christ, what a terrible show-off." Chuckling, Ronon watched him as he approached the group of women. "But a very successful one." Carson said on an amused laugh when he saw Caitlin's face gleam with happiness the moment John lead her to the dance-floor. "You should follow his example, lad, otherwise I feel the need to step in for you, you know. Because your wife is far to beautiful to stand around all by her own." With a huge grin, he gave Ronon a firm slap on the back to shove him forward.

Of course it failed as the Satedan was a good deal larger and sturdier than the doctor. He didn't even wavered, not one bit, unlike Carson. Driven by his own motion he couldn't stop himself and bounced with full weight into Ronon's back. "Ouch, my nose. Geez, Ronon, are you doing anything else besides exercising? Because it truly feels as if your back is rather made out of stone than of flesh and blood", Carson grumbled while rubbing viciously his nose and threw a reproachful gaze at Ronon who just broke out into a broad grin. "Oh, that wasn't on purpose, Carson? And I already thought you make a romantic pass on me." Laughingly, he jumped aside to avoid Carson's admittedly very lax punch before he took the doctor into a loose, friendly headlock. "But if you're up for a friendly match, I'm all in."

At first, Carson wriggled like an eel to free himself, his arms flailing wildly around while he muttered a whole range of Scottish swearwords, much to the joy of everyone standing around them. But then a huge laughing fit gripped him and his laughter was so contagious Ronon couldn't do other than to join him. Shaking with laughter, Ronon let go of him and embracing each other they both slumped against the bar, tears running down their cheeks.

"Oh come here, you crazy Scotsman, its good to have you back. I really have missed you, you know." Ronon called out and squeezed him tighter. Finally, he released the doctor out of his tight embrace and Carson smashed a huge smile at him, even though he was gasping for air. "Oh, that's sweet of you to say. You know I've also missed you guys, I really have." He said with a slight sniffle. "You know, the last years surely were interesting, all the different planets and projects, but honestly, I'm glad to be back." He let his gaze roam around and smiled happily at the fun all had, obviously. "Here is my home, you know, well my second home, after Scotland of course."

Ronon smirked at his limitation, as well as Rodney and John who'd joined them again, together with Kanaan, Teyla's husband. "Well, Carson, we are more than happy that you're back for good now." McKay said with an open honest smile. "I am for sure, my friend. And Jenny too. She couldn't come up with a better replacement for her than you, once the baby is born. You're the best. Her words, not mine." He said with a broad grin, then added. " Of course you know how to run the house, as you've done it before."

Beckett shot an amused glance at Rodney. "Yes, that's true," he said, "but honestly, you really have surprised me, Rodney. I'd have never thought of you wanting to be a father. I hope the child will come after his mother, you know."

The others started laughing while Rodney made a face at Carson. "Oh yeah, make fun of me like you always do. You love that, right?" McKay tried to look hurt, but he'd no other choice than to join the laughter of his friends while Carson invited the men to another round whisky. As they enjoyed their drinks, John's eyes were fixed at the table where the women had sat down for a moment, as specially Jenny had her troubles to stay so long on her feet. Watching them chatting vividly while the kids hopped around, chasing each other, he broke out into a smirk. "Look at our lovely, beautiful girls. They're surely talking about kids and about us, you wanna bet on it?" He glanced at Carson who stood next to him.

Becket laughed softly. "No, because you would win the bet, son. I would also say they talk about their kids, the small and the big ones." He joked and the men agreed laughingly. John grinned at him. "That's probably true, Carson. Hell, it really is good that you're back for good now, as we've desperately missed you, you old Scotsman, you know that."

Beckett ordered another round of scotch and raised his glass to his friends. "Slàinte mhaith! To our wonderful, great friendship, guys." They all drank to that true spell and Carson looked round his friends, happily when suddenly McKay clapped on his shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. "You won't believe it, you old Scottish mate, but I've missed the little banter between us, I've missed that a lot. Good to have you back, my friend." And to Beckett's surprise, he pulled his arms around him and squeezed him tight. After that surprising declaration of love the next round went on Rodney, of course.

THE evening passed by, with a lot of laughing, dancing, drinking and eating. Steven Caldwell, Caitlin's Uncle could also manage it to pass by and got welcomed very heartily, specially of John, Caitlin and of course Lizzie, who adored her great-uncle very much. Everybody had his fun and a great wonderful time. The kids were always and everywhere until they got slowly but surely tired and it became a little quieter. It was a real good, relaxed and cheerful atmosphere and when it was almost time for the firework, all people assembled on the big balcony to watch this amazing spectacle.

Carson Beckett stood next to Woolsey and looked happily at his friends, standing a few steps aside from him. "You know Richard, when I look around, I'm very glad. We surely have a real good great fellowship here and to see that they also find together, and see the kids, I'm very happy. You know what I mean?" He glanced at Woolsey, with a soft glance in his eyes.

Richard Woolsey, normally a very reserved man, had a real broad smile on his face and his eyes sparkle brightly. He nodded in agreement. "Oh yes, I know exactly what you mean, Carson. Atlantis is very special indeed and the credit to that belongs to these special and very remarkable brave citizens, with their great courage and effort and…." He remarked until Beckett gave him a short punch.

"Oh bloody hell, stop that Richard, you aren't on some political event tonight, buddy. You're between your friends, so just loose up a bit and drink with me to the love and the spirit of life. Cheers, Richard." First, Woolsey looked astonished at him, but then he started to laugh loud and hearty. "You're so right Carson, that's all that counts. Cheers, my friend." The two men raised their glasses while the firework started and everyone looked up, watching how the sky turned into a colourful spectacle just to bath the entire city and the ocean around into an unreal, wonderful and magical light.

But Carson Beckett had only eyes for his friends, and a bright and a bit wistful smile rushed over his face while his heart ached by watching them, knowing that it had been everything else but easy for all of them over the last years, sometimes even a matter of life and death. But to see them all standing there together with their wonderful women and their kids, made him utterly happy.

Rodney McKay held his Jennifer tight in his embrace while his hands rested gently on her arched belly. Mary snuggled close against the huge frame of her beloved Ronon, who'd curled one arm around his wife while he held their son Liam caringly in his other arm. Carson's eyes swept over to Teyla and Kanaan with their son Torren who built also a strong unit, just to rest on John Sheppard with his family, who looked right at this very moment at Beckett and, with a broad smirk and a short wave of his head, signalled him to join them.

Carson shoved himself through the people until he reached his friends and his eyes sparkled brightly at John while his gaze slid lovingly over Caitlin and Lizzie. "Isn't it just wonderful, John?" He whispered and when John looked at him, he really saw a sheen of tears in his friends eyes. "Yes Carson, you're right. It's absolutely wonderful." John answered, with a breathy voice while he shot a happy glance at his friends and his family.

He'd his right arm laid around Caitlin's shoulder, who snuggled close against him, her head leaning against his broad chest, and carried on his left arm his daughter Lizzie, who'd her small arms curled around his neck, her head rested on his shoulder. He felt the warmth and closeness of both of them and a sense of pleasure flooded through him at once, so strong that it shook him and he shivered. To stand here with his beloved family and all his friends, marvelling the wonderful spectacle of colour on the sky, John just felt very lucky at this very moment.

IT was far after midnight and the city came slowly to rest. Almost everybody seemed to be asleep. It was peaceful and quiet in Atlantis, as well as it was in the Sheppard-apartment. Wide awake, John lay in his bed and listened to the smooth and steady breath of Caitlin, who was already deep asleep, and enjoyed the warmth of her body and her close proximity.

As usual, Caitlin lay in his arms, her head rested on his bare chest and one arm curled his waist while she'd her legs wrapped around his thigh. As she sighed softly in her sleep, he brushed a soft kiss on the top of her head and tightened his arms around her when he suddenly heard a gentle crying, coming from the next room.

Cautiously not to wake her, he moved Caitlin with great care aside and sneaked out of the bed. John padded bare-footed over the floor and entered the child-room. Lizzie sat straight in her bed, half-asleep and sobbed quietly. "Hey, sweetie, what is it? What's wrong, my little angel?" John whispered as he approached his daughter's bed and bent down to take her into his arms. Lizzie pulled her arms around his neck and cuddled tight against him, laying her head on his shoulder while she mumbled something about a bad dream.

John stroked gently over her hair, patted softly her back and murmured soothing words into her ear until he felt her relaxing in his arms. "Don't worry, sweetie. Nothing can happen to you. I'm here and I'll take care of you, my angel." He comforted her and brushed slight kisses on her soft cheek. Lizzie lifted her head and her small hand covered one side of his face. "I love you very much, Daddy." She whispered and smiled at him before she smothered his face with tiny kisses.

"Oh, I love you too, Lizzie. Very, very much." He whispered back and his voice sounded it a bit rough while he cradled her into his arms, dandling her gently back and forth and hummed her favourite song since she was a baby. "You're my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are blue...". With her eyes closed, Lizzie rested her head on his shoulder again and hummed with him. When he'd finished, she turned her head to cast him a questioning look. "Daddy, can I sleep in your bed, with you and Mummy?" She whispered drowsily. A tender smile rushed over his face. "Sure you can, sweetie. Come on, let's go to Mummy, what do you think, hmm?" John answered softly, already on his way back to the bedroom.

Carefully, he slipped with Lizzie under the cover and tucked them in. Caitlin lifted her head, half-dazed and a slight smile appeared on her face. "Someone had a bad dream?" She whispered and stroked gently over Lizzie's head who was almost asleep again. "Yes, she'd. Why are you awake? You were sleeping deeply when I stood up." John asked quietly.

Caitlin smiled tenderly at him and brushed a soft kiss on his shoulder. "Yes I was, but I missed you and I missed the warmth of your gorgeous body, you know?" She whispered softly and moved closer, nibbling his neck up to his jaw and kissed him gently. "I need you for a good sleep, honey. Oh, it feels so good to lay here in your arms, together with Lizzie. I love that and I love you, very much."

John smirked while soft tremors ran through his body under her soft touches. "So, I'm your hottie, right?" Caitlin laughed faintly. "Oh yes, you can say that. Absolutely." His smile broadened and turned into to a big grin. "Okay, I can live with that, very well. So just come closer to your hot-water bag, sweetheart." He joked and pulled his arm around his wife to tug her closer. Caitlin curled her body around his and huddled real tight against him while Lizzie cuddled on his other side close to him.

"Oh yes, that's cozy, you're a wonderful hot-water bag you know that?" She brushed a soft kiss on his neck before she rested her head on his chest. "And I think that our seventh wedding anniversary was just wonderful. A real great day. What do you think?" She mumbled lazily while her hand stroked softly over his chest and brushed gently over Lizzies head. Her daughter sighed softly and contentedly by her touch and snuggled deeper into Johns embrace.

"I think you're right. It really was a wonderful day, honey. So we're in our seven-year itch now?" John mentioned quietly with a soft smirk and tightened his arm around Caitlin for a soft squeeze, his hand skimmed gently over her soft bare skin. "No, we passed that already. We start into our eighth year now. I thought you're such a maths-genius, huh? Always good with numbers, that's what you've told me once." She laughed softly and turned her face to look at him in the half-dark.

"Hey, it was a long day, sweetheart." John defended himself, with a faint laugh. "Oh yes, and a lot of whisky and beer too, right?" Caitlin teased him and cast a tender smile at him. John smiled broadly back. "Maybe, but it was fun and I'm very happy that Steven could make it in time. I'm always glad when I see that old warhorse again."

Caitlin joined his broad smile and shifted slightly to spread soft kisses on his chest. "Yep, he surely is an old warhorse, but also a real sweetheart." Suddenly she stilled and her hand slid down her body to linger on the soft arch of her belly. John noticed that and drew his eyebrows together. "Is something wrong, Linnie?" He asked, with a worried gaze. Caitlin shook her head and a happy smile rushed over her face.

"No, everything is just perfect, honey." She pulled out of his arm, rose a bit and grabbed his hand to lead it to her belly. "Can you feel it?" She whispered, barely audible and cast a questioning glance at him. John went quiet for a moment, held even his breath while his hand rested gingerly on her belly.

At once, he felt the softest of all moves under his fingers and then another one and another one. All kinds of emotions flooded through him by the feel of this soft gentle kicks under his hand. John couldn't even name the particular emotions that were rushing through him in this moment. He just felt as if he were the luckiest man in the entire Pegasus galaxy and was so utterly happy that his eyes really went a bit dewy.

"Yes, I can feel it. That's our baby. Damned, it feels so great, just wonderful, honey." He whispered huskily and glanced tenderly at Caitlin while a soft smile curled around his lips. "God, I love you Linnie, I love you so much. You and Lizzie and the little one inside you." His voice became even hoarser, were just a barely rough whisper by now.

Caitlin bent down to him and framed his face with both hands, her fingers stroke tenderly over his skin, in a slow caress. Her lips brushed softly over his and her eyes became a soft dreamy glance as she looked in his wonderful hazel green eyes and the look he gave her, let her shiver. There was so much love and happiness in his gaze, her heart beat faster, even stumbled while a sense of pleasure ran through her body.

Realizing once more, what a great gift it was to be beloved by this gorgeous, remarkable and generous man Caitlin was moved to tears and tried hardly to choke them back. "I know, John and I love you too, very much. I'm the happiest woman around here because I've found you, my wonderful gorgeous husband." She whispered huskily and captured his lips for a soft and tender kiss. John closed his eyes and, curling his arm around her, he tugged her closer and returned her gentle kiss, revelled in the sweet taste of her, mingled with the salt flavour of her tears.

Again, Caitlin snuggled tight against him and buried her head in the hollow of his shoulder, inhaling his delicious scent while her lips skimmed softly over his skin. She spread feather-light kisses on his neck and one hand of her crept up to tangle in his full wild hair. John tightened his embrace and squeezed her softly.

"To feel our baby, that was my highlight of the evening, Linnie, you know that?" He whispered and his voice still sounded a bit breathy and rough. "Thanks honey, for everything. Sometimes I can hardly believe my luck and I really have to pinch myself, you know." He felt her smiling against his neck. "I know what you mean. And don't pinch yourself, honey. That's my job." She answered with a soft chuckle and yawned hearty. "God, I'm tired now. Good night, John." She whispered, her voice already sounded a bit drowsy.

"Then just go to sleep, my little minx." He whispered softly back and kissed her gently. Caitlin slipped deeper into his safe embrace and it didn't took long until she fell into a deep sleep. But John refused to sleep. Holding his entire world into his arms, he just laid there quietly and listened to the smooth breath of his wife and his daughter while he savoured their closeness and the feel of their smooth warm bodies, snuggled so close against him.

A deep feel of satisfaction and peace spread through him and he was grateful for that wonderful feeling. In the silence of the night he gave his thoughts full scope and his mind wandered back eight years ago, back to the day and the moment, he'd met Caitlin for the very first time, and a bright smile rushed over his face by reminding himself of this special day. The day that had changed completely his whole life to turn it into a better one. The day that had brought him his luck and the love of his life.

And if you want to know how everything had begun, just read the next chapter, if you feel for it…:)