"Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep."

Tears rolled down Elizabeth's face as she recited the words of a poem that was said at every funeral. As she looked out at the crowd around her she wondered why?

"I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain."

He was all those things, had been since they first met. He was often the only reason she got up in the morning. When the terrors of the Pegasus galaxy got too much for her, he was always there to help her through it.

"When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night."

Elizabeth paused closing her eyes, remembering this morning when she woke up and felt his pressence there with her. She had almost felt his arms around her, his breath on her neck, his heart beating in time with hers.

"Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!"

Elizabeth looked out at the crowd, she saw his team, the other Atlantians, Athosians and even SG1 and General O' Neill. All had come to repay their respects to a great man. She didn't fail to notice how General O' Neill had his arm wrapped around Doctor Carter's shoulders and she silently wept for her lost friend.

"I never quite understood why that poem was recited at funerals. It seemed such a major contradiction. John Sheppard has died, his body lies in the coffin before me."

There were some hurried whispers among the congrigation who were no doubt upset by her statement.

"However while we will soon be putting his body in the ground his soul will always be with us. He is in our hearts and lives through our memories. So you see while we live John Sheppard will never truly die."

She looked down at the podium and tried to control the emotions that ran through her. She must be strong..

"John was a unique individual. He was corageous, generous, funny and smart. He was always there when anyone needed him. John saved my life and indeed all our lives a dozen times over. He gave all he had and never asked for anything in reurn. He will be missed."

She couldn't go on anymore and signalled for the guards to prepare the coffin. John was going to be burried in one of the indoor gardens on Atlantis beneath his favourite tree.

-------------

People slowly filed out of the garden, tears still in their eyes. Elizabeth remained, a little girl in her arms and looked at the inscription on the tombstone before her.

John Sheppard

Leader, hero, husband and father.

Atlantis will never forget you.

End

(A/N) So what do you think. Please review and let me know. By the way the poem is by Mary Frye.