Introduction: This collection of drabbles and one shots will consist mainly of glimpses (hence the title) of Nycole's (or Ben's or Marion's) life before the trio time-traveled in an effort to save Atlantis as seen in my story Fluctuat Nec Mergitur (hereafter referred to as FNM). Some of them were intended to be included in that story in flashback form, but were left out when the story threatened to become entirely too long and involved.
Some of them will be alternate universe stories as well (like maybe how a certain scene from FNM would have changed if other people had survived the attack on Atlantis or how an episode would have changed if Nyc had come back in Season 1 or 2, etc.).
I will also take suggestions for things people would like to see, though I don't guarantee that I'll get to them all. This collection will be updated even more randomly than my fics usually are (which is bad enough) due to its nature… unless people keep me supplied with usable ideas.
If you have a suggestion, please PM me so as not to spoil others on what may be coming… I will of course give credit for ideas where it is due.
Reading Key: Thoughts and emphasis are in italics. Telepathic conversation is underlined.
Any continuity info will be found at the top of each "chapter."
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis or its characters and worlds. They are the property of MGM Television, SciFi Channel and others. I mean no infringement or disrespect (if I didn't love the fandom I certainly wouldn't waste my time writing in it), nor am I making any monetary gain from my efforts.
I do, however, own Nycole, Ben, Marion and many other original characters that may appear, as well as the world Prizax and others that may be noted. No touchie!
"Chapter" Summary: A short, somewhat silly bit of fluff opening to the series in which the Sheppards search for a name for the soon-to-arrive bundle of joy. Canon to FNM, takes place about two years after the altered events of "McKay and Mrs. Miller" which led to Atlantis being cut off from Earth and twenty-eight or so years before the events of FNM.
x FNM:G x FNM:G x FNM:G x FNM:G x FNM:G x FNM:G x FNM:G x FNM:G x FNM:G x FNM:G xFNM:G x FNM:G x FNM:G xFNM:G x
Glimpse 1: Baby Girl Sheppard
"Desiree," John Sheppard suggested to his wife.
He had his laptop open and set on a pillow on his legs. She sat on the bed beside him, going over a report from one of their off-world trading missions on her own screen. Ever since they had found out the baby growing inside her was going to be a girl, he'd been anxious to give their unborn daughter a name. After much cajoling and liberal use of his kicked puppy look, Elizabeth had agreed to let him pick a name, with the caveat that she had final approval.
John had a file of baby names open on his laptop. The data had been downloaded for him by one of Carson's nurses. The woman was an avid reader whose "one personal item" from Earth when she'd come to Atlantis had been a digital device that held downloads of thousands of books on a variety of topics. Oddly enough, a baby name book had been among them and she had offered it to John and Elizabeth when news of their bun in the proverbial oven became common knowledge.
Having a very common name himself… Elizabeth's was as well, though not to the same degree… John wanted their child to have an original name. Just not oddly original. Teyla and Ronon had each suggested names from their cultures, but though his daughter would probably never go to Earth, John wanted her to have some ties to the world her parents had come from.
Elizabeth shot him a look, "No."
"Why not? It's pretty," he commented.
"It also sounds like a stripper name," she fairly growled at him.
John's mouth dropped open and he stared at her for a few minutes. "You do realize that of all the planets with different customs we've been to, there hasn't been a single one on which I've seen a strip club?"
"There better not have been."
" 'Lizabeth," he whined slightly. "There is no way anyone is going to make that connection in the Pegasus Galaxy."
"There are enough people from Earth in Atlantis that might." A hurt expression filled her face suddenly. "Did you know someone with that name, is that why you're lobbying so hard for it?"
"No!" he immediately retorted, shifting toward her to embrace her tenderly.
He'd become almost ridiculously gentle with her since they'd learned six months ago that they were going to be parents. John knew, of course, that she was not going to break if he hugged her, but the awe he felt over the fact that she was carrying a life they'd made together within her was overwhelming when he stopped to think about it.
There were times when he was afraid that he wouldn't be gentle enough when their child was here, in their arms instead of nestled inside Elizabeth's swollen belly. Both he and Elizabeth were a bit old for first time parents, and neither of them had much past experience with small children. But John knew despite his fears that they'd be fine once the baby came. They both already loved the little girl more than he would have believed possible. A close call with premature labor less than a month ago had shown them how much she meant to them. Which made the fact that they'd yet to pick a name for her all the more frustrating to him.
Once Elizabeth had relaxed, he eased back enough to look into her face.
"Did you have any suggestions?" he asked diplomatically despite her already having given him the honor of naming their child.
A small sigh escaped her. "No. I'm sorry, I guess I'm just being hormonal again."
John knows better than to laugh, but allows himself a smile and attempts to lighten the mood further. "How about Buttercup?"
Elizabeth laughs at the reference to the heroine of his favorite movie. "I don't think so, John. Imagine how much she would have been teased on Earth with people singing Build Me Up Buttercup to her."
John made a face as the song played in his head. "Well, we've eliminated two more then."
"Mhmm," Elizabeth murmured, gently kissing his cheek before going back to her work, knowing his attention would be returning to the list of names.
"You know Zelenka suggested Meredith to annoy McKay," he remarked as he scrolled almost absently through several pages.
"It would probably backfire and just make his head even larger," Elizabeth responded. "As a good a friend as Rodney has been to us, if we were going to name our daughter after someone, it wouldn't be him."
"Agreed."
Minutes passed in silence, each of them focusing their attention on the computer screens in front of them… Elizabeth's on a special lapdesk Ronon had carved for her when he'd seen her having trouble with keeping her laptop where it belonged with her baby bump in the way. Then John made a thoughtful 'hmm' noise, a considering frown on his face.
"What?" Elizabeth prodded.
"I like the meaning of Nicole, 'Victory for the people'," he read to her.
"Nicole Sheppard," Elizabeth tested aloud. She smiled. "I like it."
John grunted. "Me too, but it's not all that original."
Elizabeth grabbed a notepad from her bedside table and scribbled quickly on it in her neat writing. She handed it to John. Nycole Sheppard, it read. A happy smile lit John's face, and he snatched the pad from her.
After crossing out the name and scribbling something else, he told her solemnly, "I've decided to name her after the woman who has influenced me more than anyone else with her bravery, intelligence, stubbornness and love."
Touched tears burn the back of Elizabeth's eyes as she glanced at the paper, fairly sure she knew what she was about to see.
Nycole Elizabeth Sheppard, the pad now read.
Elizabeth set her laptop aside and somewhat awkwardly straddled John's lap once he moved his, the firm swell of her tummy pressing against his abdomen.
"I love you," she told him very seriously.
John cupped her face in his hands and studied her before lightly brushing her lips with his. He did this occasionally, often before missions when she had the feeling he was memorizing her in case something happened to keep them apart.
"I love you, too," he finally replied, moving a hand down to palm her belly. "Both of you."
Elizabeth pulled back from a tender kiss, a disgruntled expression on her face. "Do you realize our daughter has the same initials as the Nintendo Entertainment System?"
John's laughter shook them both.
End Glimpse 1