Prologue

North America – Washington DC

Evening

John Sheppard sat at the small table in the little restaurant, waiting uneasily for Elizabeth's arrival. He remembered a time not that long ago, when he would wait in this restaurant in anticipation of the wonderful night he would be about to spend with her. Not anymore though. Now he sat here dreading seeing her again. She had phoned him this morning, much to his surprise and asked him to meet her at their favourite restaurant. He hadn't heard from her in months, and in all honesty he hadn't expected to hear from her. Under other circumstances he would have been happy for the possible chance to win her back. However he could tell from her voice on the phone earlier that she had no such thing in mind. That said when she had asked him to meet her for dinner he couldn't say no. The chance to see and spend time with her even for a small amount of time was too good an opportunity to pass up.

The moment she entered the room his heart leapt out of his chest. She was beautiful. He found himself wondering not for the first time in the last few months. Why on earth he had let her go? She was the same as he remembered her. Except she was slightly larger in the waist then he remembered. He smiled at her nervously as she approached the table. At first she did not return his smile but as she got closer she greeted him with weak small smile of her own. He opened his mouth to speak to her as she sat down but was interrupted by the waiter.

"Can I get you both something to drink?" The waiter asked cheerfully.

"A Beer and glass of white wine?" John asked consciously looking at Elizabeth for confirmation.

"No, I'll have an orange juice, please." Elizabeth told the waiter politely. The waiter smiled and left to get their drinks.

"Eliza…" "John." they both started at the same time. They smiled weakly at each other.

"John, I have something I really need to tell you." Elizabeth told him nervously

"Well I don't like the sound" John replied defensively

"It's not bad, or at least I hope you won't think it's bad. What I mean to say is I'm happy about it and I hope you will be too." Elizabeth babbled nervously. She took a deep breath. "I'm Pregnant John. You're going to be a father."