A/N: Yet another story by my friend. This one is my favorite of hers, probably because it has my two favorite characters (McKay and Beckett) being adorable. I will forward reviews to her and reply to them as she would. Thanks!

My Ain Folk

"Colonel Sheppard on the speakers, ma'am," Chuck called out to where Dr. Weir stood on the balcony over-looking the Stargate. With a few quick steps she stood behind the consol as Sheppard began to speak.

"Hey Elizabeth, we ran into a bit of trouble out here with the Wraith, but we're pretty much all right. Just … don't shoot when we come through, okay?"

"I think I can arrange that, Colonel. Open the iris."

Within a moment Ronan stepped through followed by Teyla and Sheppard each holding a small child.

"John?" Elizabeth asked looking at the two boys. Teyla held a boy that was probably about three, who had a mass of dark brown hair, with ocean blue eyes and little red cheeks, while Sheppard carried a boy probably about six with blond hair, a chubby face, and a pout on his little face. Both boys wore a shirt that was too big for them and which was smeared in blood.

The six year old in John's arms began to protest, "John, put me down. I can walk fine."

"Rodney, I'm not going to let you walk to the infirmary."

"I'm not gonna go to the infirmary! I'm fine. Weird doctors are gonna poke me. Only Carson can poke me."

At the word "Carson" the smaller boy perked up. With a little innocent grin he looked up at Teyla, "Rahnee's bein bad. I don wine, bu ee doos."

Teyla returned the smile, "That's right, Carson. And you're going to be good at the infirmary?"

"Aye. Rahnee willnae," he answered.

"John, can I have an explanation?" Elizabeth asked, with a bewildered look on her face.

"Can we wait until we get them to the infirmary? I want to make sure their okay."

"Elesibet!" The brown haired boy cried out, "Wei seed te Wraith!"

"I expect this will be a very interesting debriefing, and I want to know all about it, Colonel. I'll be in my office."

"Elesibet es mad aht te Kernahl."

"Ya think?" John muttered under his breath.

o)(o

With the two children still being examined in the infirmary the three remaining members of AG-1 sat under Elizabeth's gaze. She held John with her eyes as she began questioning;

"So can I assume that these boys are Carson and Rodney?"

"Yes, and DNA tests have already proven that for us."

"Now how did they end up like that?"

"There's a long story for ya."

"One I would very much like to hear, so please begin."

"Okay. We searched the ship for the ZPM like we were supposed to, each of us taking a room. When I called for an update, Rodney and Carson didn't respond, so we went looking for them. What we found first was a Wraith that was apparently almost drained of life, which we promptly killed. We searched harder for our missing scientists and first came across a little boy who was unconscious. Nearby we found another boy who was awake and shivering. When he saw us he got up and ran over to us saying things like, "Rahnee's hirt. Dhere es ah Wraith!" After getting him to calm down and questioning him a bit we figured out it was Carson. Basically he remembers everything from being an adult but he processes it as a child would. When Rodney woke up we found the same thing. Apparently they both have something, maybe a gene that instead of losing life they take it from the Wraith, thus getting younger. You can question them both, but you might not quite understand their meaning."

"That's quite a tale," Elizabeth said both eyebrows going up.

Dr. Biro knocked on the door with Carson and Rodney standing beside her both wearing large clean shirts.

"So how are they, Dr.?"

"They're both fit as a fiddle and 100 Carson and Rodney."

"Thank you. Carson, Rodney, come in."

Carson scrambled in and up onto John's lap without hesitation while Rodney wandered in at a slow walk.

"Do you mind if I ask you some questions about previous missions and things like that?"

"Nay," Carson said cheerfully.

After a couple of moments Rodney muttered a, "no," under his breath.

"Okay then," Elizabeth said with a smile, "Carson, I'll begin with you. What is your full name?"

"Carson Gavin Beckett."

"When is your birthday?"

"Janeairy fehft, nin-tin sixta- nin."

"Where were you born?"

"Te Ihlans."

"Excuse me?"

"Te place thet esnae te lowlans."

"The Highlands?"

"Tis what I saed."

"Yes, I'm sorry, you did. How old are you?"

"Ah belieh ah'm thety- sein."

"Really?"

"Ah wes. Maebae nae righ na, buht ah wes."

"Alright, then. What do you remember about the identity that came into Atlantis back a year ago? When we first settled here."

Carson settled down on John's lap and began his narrative with an innocent smile on his charming face. "Ah gae Rahnee a shaht an he craed likae babe. Dhen he couldnae dreenk coffee an he couldnae et. A shade cum an huhted Aidahn an Rahnee mahd et go trooh da Stahgaht. Pehter an ah callded Rahnee Captahn Untoochabahl."

Rodney's face was red at the end of the narrative and he pouted, "I did not cry like a babe. You little liar!"

Carson gave a charming grin and looked back at Elizabeth. "An Rahnee callded mae a voodoo dahcter and faented."

Rodney stood up and glared at the little lad and then looked at Elizabeth. "Can I tell you what really happened? That little pig lied!"

Elizabeth tried her hardest not to laugh at his outburst or the still sweet smile on Carson's face. "Alright then, Rodney. You tell me what happened."

With another glare at Carson, Rodney began, "That little rat gave me a shot so that I could touch old stuff and make it light up and work. Then I found a little turtle and it lit up when I put it on my chest and John shot me but it didn't hurt, so he pushed me off the balcony. Then the big black shadow came and I risked my life to make it go away. And I did not faint, I passed out 'cause I was really hungry and couldn't eat."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow and then looked at Ronan, Teyla, and John. "Well, they certainly are Rodney and Carson."

John grinned, "None other. And I think it's about time we got them some clothes that fit."

"I know some of the women among my people who would be willing to make Rodney and Carson clothing if they would come along to the mainland for a fitting," Teyla offered with a calm smile at the two boys.

"That sounds like a superb idea," Elizabeth said with a slight nod. "Should we send along some cloth?"
"If you would like clothing as your people wear on this base that would be a fine idea. If you would like the," she hesitated a moment, "… boys to pick out clothes that they like now can be recreated in a smaller size."

"Good. Rodney, Carson, why don't you two go to your rooms with Teyla and pick out three complete outfits for the Athosians to recreate."

Both boys stood up and followed Teyla down the hall towards there rooms, and John and Ronan tried to follow.

"Stay," Elizabeth said and the two sat down again looking a bit uncomfortable. "So what exactly are we going to do?"

"About what?" John said suspiciously.

"We can't keep a three and six-year-old boy here on Atlantis during a war. It just isn't feasible, so I would like to hear your suggestions."

Ronan remained silent but John answered indignantly, "We get the science team to make them big again. Isn't that what they do?"

"Perhaps if it was a nanite problem or something of that sort, but they are actual children. If the science team can't find a solution the only remaining option I see is to return them to earth and find someone to adopt them. They obviously can't go back to their families because that would mean explaining their transformation."

John stood up, face full of anger, "You can't do that! We can keep them here and raise them with the Athosians or something. Sheesh, Elizabeth, we are their family! Rodney and Carson both had a bad round at childhood the first time, and they'll do it again with some unknown person adopting them."

"This could be a good chance to give them that childhood they missed out on. This circumstance goes way beyond my preferences, John. I would love to keep them here and raise them, but we can't."

"Why not?"

"Because we are in a war, and war is no place for children!"

"Look around this galaxy and you'll see children in this war. Rodney and Carson will get along fine. Besides they are still Rodney and Carson and we may need them."

"What can they do for us as children, John? I don't think this discussion needs to go on any further. If I can I will try to let them stay, but if I can't, nothing can be done."

John bowed his head slightly and said softly, "I'm sure you will."

Ronan grunted, "I'll keep an eye out on 'em, if that'll change your mind."

Elizabeth smiled at him, hiding her surprise at his compassion, "Thank you, Ronan, and although I'm sure that would make me feel better, I'm not sure about our government."

Ronan nodded his head, and caught both Elizabeth and John by surprise again as he turned around to catch and lift in the air little Carson who had just bowled into the room. Settling the boy into the crook of his arm, Ronan turned back around with an air of satisfaction. Carson was already babbling, not noticing the stir that Ronan's actions had made:

"Gess wha? Tehla seid thaht I cuhd wear whahe're I wan', an' ah got mesehlf sum jeans, an' Cahgo pants!"

Rodney ran in after him yelling, "You little sneak! Give me back my chocolate!"

Carson placed himself more securely in Ronan's arms before answering, "Ah did nae sich thing. Ah, did barrow your I-pod, howe'er."

As Rodney jumped up to grab Carson from his wall of protection, Ronan carefully grabbed his arm and gave him to John.

"John, let me go! Ronan, what was that for? Gosh it's a consporaci … cy … consparacy … conspora … thing!"

"Thank you, Rodney. Yes, it is a conspiracy. Now, you boys aren't going to be able to sleep in your rooms alone, so you each have your choice of who you'll share a room with."

"No one," Rodney said, glaring, "I don't need nobody watching me."

"Ah choose …" Carson hesitated looking between John and Ronan, and finally declared to everyone's surprise, "Ronan!"

After giving Ronan a quick hug, he jumped down and jumped up to give John a hug, even though he was still holding onto Rodney.

"Ah sowwy, Kehnahl, ah still like ya," he said with liquid blue eyes upturned and staring into John's face.

"I don't mind at all, Carson," John responded good-naturedly. "Ronan is just so much cooler than me. Besides now I can have quality time with Rodney."

Rodney groaned and rolled his eyes. Carson looked up sharply, "Don woll your eyes Rahnee, ma Da alwas seid nae ta."

"And why should I listen to your Dad, huh? Is he gonna come and yell at me?"

Carson looked down with a reserved look, "Nae, he cannae. He wes execuhted fah muhder."

Now everyone stared at him, mostly with shock and pity. Elizabeth spoke first.

"Who did he kill?" she asked as gently as possible with such a hard question.

Carson's eyes filled up, "Ma leedle sistah, Gracie. She wes nobut two. He twied to till Mum and me, and ta others, but he didnae do et. He wes dwunk."

"I'm so sorry," Elizabeth murmured softly.

Carson practically glared at her, "Everybahdy saes that, buht they didnae do et. Cailan saes it es in da past."

Ronan looked at him seriously, "She doesn't know what else to say. No one ever does."

Everyone looked down at their hands, and left the man and boy to read each others hearts and understand that suffering that they both understood so well.

A moment later Teyla walked in with a smile on her face. "Carson, Rodney, I am going to the mainland to procure your new clothes. Would you like to come?"

Carson bounced up and down, "Ah'm tumin! Ah'm tumin!"

Rodney sighed and said boldly, "I'll come to keep an eye on that little bugger for you."

Carson ran over and hugged Rodney saying, "We tan pway tag an esplore an ah tan till all da Wraith an you will be mah side-tick!"

Rodney frowned, "I'm not going to be your side-kick! I should be the hero!"

Gotta love the cuteness. Please review! Next chapter will come eventually!