Six months later.

"Shit!" Grace rolled out the way of a darts beam and stood for a moment. They'd been seeking out food supplies in exchange for medicine when the Wraith had arrived. Their ship was still in orbit for now but it was taking heavy fire and Grace knew Larrin wouldn't stick around much longer. Her radio crackled.

"You got her?"

"No, shit"

"We have to go soon Grace. We're getting torn apart up here"

"Then go, come back for us later"

"No. Find her and get you're arse beamed back up here in the next ten minutes or I'll shoot you"

"Bitch"

Her radio clicked off. "Fuck"

Then she spotted Angie clutching a child and signalling to her. Grace nodded and ran towards her reaching for her earpiece

"Get us the fuck out of here"

Then there was a bright white light.


She opened her eyes and moaned quietly. Since when did getting transported hurt so much? She frowned and pushed herself up onto her elbows.

"Fuck"

Dr Angela Lyon smiled back at her. "Oh good, you're awake"

Grace flipped her off. "A hive, really?! For fuck's sake"

"Yes, it seems they beat our great and powerful leader to it"

"Great, just fucking great" She frowned. "Cassie?"

"Here Gracie"

She looked at the little girl and swallowed. "Shit" she whispered.

Rolling to her feet Grace made her way to their cell door and peered at the opposite wall. "Cool, they've put us right near the lock. You got any knives left on you?"

"Three"

She patted herself down. "Only two for me. You're getting good"

"I have an excellent trainer"

Grace grinned. "Hand 'em over Doc"


Pushing back against the wall the two women looked at each other as a familiar voice drifted through the nearest doorway.

"I will not do this for you!"

"Yes you will, you may be prepared to sacrifice yourself but we have a child on board. It is up to you if she is allowed to grow old naturally"

"No! You wouldn't"

"I believe you know the answer to this"

Grace lay a hand on Cassie's shoulder and placed a finger to her lips. The little girl nodded and sank back further into the shadows. As the last of the Wraith passed their position Angie grabbed her wrist and they slipped into the room.

"Carson?"

The man whirled. "Oh my God!"

"Shh, for fuck's sake"

"Right, right, sorry. I never thought, it's good to see you lassie"

"You too Doc. Lets get you out of here yeah?"

"An excellent plan Lieutenant"

"Where is your radio, IDC?"

"I don't know, I'm sorry. I was without them when I woke up"

"Shit" She turned to the other woman. "Get them to the dart bay, I'll try to find his IDC at least"

"Grace…"

"One person is easier to miss than four Ange. I'll be quick ok?"

"Shit, ok. If it's a no go after twenty minutes give it up. We'll find another way"


They stood in front of the gate.

"Dial it up Carson, I'm so ready to go home"

He grinned at them then cried out as they disappeared into a bright white light. "No! Crap, crap"

He punched in his home's address and ran through as soon as the light turned green.


"It's Beckett's ID!"

"Shit!" John and Evan ran down the stairs, Sam close behind them.

"Doc! You ok?"

The Scotsman waved his hands. "I'm fine, fine. We have to get back there!"

"Uh, where?"

"Where I just came from you idiot!"

"Hey!"

"It was them, I saw them, they saved me!"

"Them?"

"Lieutenant Hargreaves and Dr Lyon"

"What?!"

Carson began hopping from one foot to another. "Dial it up, dial it up. The ship may still be in orbit"

John looked at Sam. She nodded. "Of course, go, take whoever you need"


"Bollocks"

"John!"

"Sorry M'am"

Sam rolled her eyes. "I take it that we couldn't find anything, again"

Dr McKay shook his head. "No, just like last time. It was like they were never there"

"But they were" Carson pointed at him. "I was not imagining it. How else would I get off a hive alone?"

"Don't worry we believe you Doc" Evan smiled at him. "Tell us what you know"

"Well, we didn't have much time but from what I can make out they are now working alongside this Larrin.."

"What?"

"Don't interrupt John"

"…once the repairs were completed on her ship she offered them a place with her crew, when they realised that they couldn't return to Atlantis because they didn't have their radios or IDC's they accepted. Dr Lyon assured me that once they were no longer her prisoners they were treated well and even managed to integrate with her crew pretty smoothly. Lieutenant Hargreaves made the decision to keep their heads down, help out as much as they could and hope to hell that one day they'd run into another member of the expedition. They had been on a supply run when the village they were trading with was attacked by the Wraith, the same hive that had taken me. They rescued me, managed to retrieve my IDC and stole a dart, using that to get us to the nearest planet with a gate"

"And they were planning on coming with you?"

"Oh yes, I have no doubt. But this Larrin must have a tracker in them or something. We'd only been on the planet's surface five minutes when they disappeared"

"Shit"

"They also had a child with them. Her name was Cassie, she had been allowed to accompany them on the supply run. It appears that most of these Travellers are female and train their children as we would our military"

"Jesus"

Carson looked thoughtful. "From what Dr Lyon told me whilst we were waiting for Hargreaves in the dart bay they weren't always like this. They had a home, lived as we do. But it was desecrated by the Wraith until they were eventually forced to take to their ships. They have been living like this since"

"How did they seem?"

He looked at Davis. "Good actually. Maybe a little pale but they've been living on a spaceship for eight months. Watching them on the hive I would say both of them are fitter, faster, stronger than they've ever been. They are now, as Colonel Sheppard would say, not to be fucked with"

"Fuck"


"God damn it!"

"Going somewhere were we?"

Angie rolled her eyes at Larrin. "Yes, the only place we thought we could go. You've been tracking us"

"Just in case you found a way home"

"I thought we kinda trusted each other these days Larrin"

"We do, to a point"

"Great" Grace smirked at her. "For your information we were just about to go home. Lost your chance now"

"Fuck"

"She loves that word"

"You shouldn't have taught her it"

"Why not?"

"She makes it sound dirty"

Grace snorted.


Two months later.

"Really?!"

"Yes"

"Yes?"

"Yes"

"Shit"

"Are you ok Ev, do you want some water or something? Maybe you should sit down"

"Shit"

"Evan!"

He sat on the edge of their bed. "Shit"

"You're angry" Eve twisted her fingers together, looking down.

"What?"

"I'm sorry"

"Hey, no, no. I'm just, you know, absorbing"

"Absorbing?"

"Shit"

"I can uh, stop it if you want"

"What?!"

"If you don't, you know.."

"No baby, that's not what I want" He pulled her into his lap. "I'm sorry, it's just not what I was expecting you to say that's all"

She smiled sadly. "What were you expecting me to say?"

"I don't know"

"So, its ok?"

"Yeah, its ok"

"Really?"

He grinned at her. "Yeah, really ok. You wanna watch when I tell Sheppard?"

Eve rolled her eyes. "A photo will do"


John gaped at him. "Uh, what?"

"A baby John. Eve is pregnant, we're gonna have a baby"

"A baby?"

"Yes, you know, a miniature human"

"Jesus"

"I don't think its Jesus but that's a good example"

"Lets hope it takes after its Mother"


John wrapped himself around her and tried to sleep. She'd arrived on the third wave and was pretty and funny, and smart. When she'd shown an interest he'd hesitated for a lot longer than he usually would have, especially as she'd insisted that she wouldn't accept being a one night thing. But the only other woman he'd ever considered giving up his singledom for was God knows where and had always made it blatantly obvious that she wasn't up for it.

Lieutenant Grace Hargreaves still haunted him though. Her name sitting at the top of his MIA list, taunting him, reminding him he had failed, again.

He let his mind drift. His 2IC was gonna be a Dad, another baby born in Atlantis. He tried to imagine himself and the woman in his arms in the same position. As sleep took over he was still trying.


Eight months later.

Dr Lorne scowled at the two men sat opposite her at the table in the mess. "I hate Sheppard's girlfriend"

Evan raised a brow at his wife. "Isn't hate a little strong my love?"

Colonel Mitchell snorted. "No"

"See, Cameron agrees with me"

"Well, then it must right and true"

"Fuck off Lorne, and your wife's right. She's completely wrong for Shep and you know it. I know he was always a bit of an arse but that was half his charm. Now he's just.." Mitchell waved his fork around "..blah"

"Blah?"

"Yes, that's exactly the word" Eve pointed at Mitchell. "Blah, he's lost all his, you know.."

"All his..?"

"Mojo"

"Mojo?"

Mitchell nodded. "Yeah, definitely. Bye bye cocky 'I'm so hot it hurts' flyboy, hello boring, old Colonel"

Uh.."

Eve pointed her knife at her husband. "We need Grace back"

"We do? I mean, we do, but what's that got to do with Sheppard's girlfriend?"

"She'd be really rude to her, Sheppard would get pissed, they'd argue, then he'd be back to being a charming asshole again"

"That…well, that makes no sense hon"

"Yes it does Lorne" Mitchell poked him. "We need to find Hargreaves"

"I haven't exactly not been looking guys"

"I know dear, just try a bit harder ok? For me?"

"Ev, I think I'm a little in love with your wife"

"Back off Mitch" Evan grinned at him. "Anyway, I've already knocked her up, you're too late. Ow!"


Colonel Sheppard eyed the young woman who was currently pointing a gun, that looked scarily like Ronan's, at his head. Her three companions covering the rest of his team. He gestured slightly with his own weapon, keeping her in range just in case. "Look, we're obviously all here for the same thing. Perhaps we can come to some kind of agreement, you know share"

Rodney rolled his eyes. "Do they look like they're open to the idea of sharing? Or even know what it means?"

A safety clicked off. "Be nice Rodney" He looked at the four women. "He didn't mean it. He gets nervous around…"

Teyla cleared her throat. "Be quiet John"

The one covering the Athosian quirked a smile. "At last the voice of reason makes herself known. We should have guessed it would be the woman"

"Hey!"

Another of them snorted. "We're well aware of the concept of sharing but we will need to know how much you would require"

"Two canisters" Teyla lowered her weapon. "Some of our people are sick, and we need to immunize"

She nodded. "That would leave us three. It should be enough but let me check in with my Captain"

"No way"

"John!"

"Tey, we need this and if they check in it means they could have back-up here fast and we'll be left empty-handed, and possibly dead"

"They will not harm us John"

"We have no desire to hurt you, or kill you. We are worried for our people also. It is imperative we get them this medicine"

John sighed. "Why do I get the feeling I'm going to regret this?"

"Oh, come on!"

"Shut up McKay" He nodded to the woman in front of him. "Go ahead"

"Thank you" She slowly reached up to her ear and John suddenly realised their radios were similar to his. "Captain?"

"We have run into others who require the medicine" She tilted her head.

"They need two of the five"

"Their leader identified himself as Colonel John Sheppard"

"Sure" She nodded and pressed her earpiece. "Your terms are acceptable" She waved at the others to lower their weapons. "I apologise for before, it is rare to run into friendlies in this sector"

John lowered his weapon. "No problem. Us too"

He blinked as a white light engulfed them leaving his team alone with three canisters of the medicine. "Well, that went well"

"We must get these back John"

"Yeah, sure"

Ronan cursed in Satedan as they were blinded once more.

"Holy shit!"

"Hello Colonel" Dr Lyon smiled at him. "I was hoping you could take me home"

"Holy shit"

"John!" Teyla smiled at her. "It is good to see you safe and well Dr Lyon. Is Lieutenant Hargreaves not with you?"

"She is staying for now"

"Staying! What the hell is hap…"


"..penning?! Shit!" He glared at her. "That is incredibly annoying"

"Good to see you too Sir"

He looked at her. Her hair was longer now, and there was a lot more leather than he remembered, she had a light tan and looked, well great. He pointed at her. "Beam us both down to the planet now"

"No"

"Lieutenant.."

"Actually its Captain now"

"Gave yourself a promotion did you?"

"Decided to continue being a prick did you?"

John clenched his fists. "I am not discussing this with you now. We're going home"

"You sound like my Dad"

John growled quietly.

"And actually the crew made me Captain after Larrin was killed two months ago. So, this is my ship, which makes me in charge" She grinned at him.

"You're the most…"

"Not enough time for insults. Come on I want to give you something"

"Uh, you do?"

She rolled her eyes. "Not like that"

He glared at her. "Actually, I'm seeing someone"

"Huh, cool. Good luck to her. Come on Sir, this won't take long"

John sighed and followed her off the deck, absolutely, definitely not looking at her arse. That was clad in black leather and swaying unfairly in front of him.


Two hours later.

They were stood in the same spot Colonel Sheppard had been beamed up from a little while earlier and it was getting a little…messy. For a start he was really regretting letting his CO's girlfriend accompany him even if she was a close second to McKay in the genius stakes. "So, let me get this right. Hargreaves is now Captain of the ship and crew that originally kidnapped and beat you. You've spent the past eighteen months or so travelling around, gathering supplies, fighting battles and, since Larrin's death, looking for expedition members so you could get home?"

"Pretty much"

Major Davis glared at the woman who had once been his fiancé. Now he wasn't sure what she was. "And Hargreaves is staying?"

"For now"

"And she's kidnapped Sheppard?"

Angie rolled her eyes. "No, she's just borrowing him for a bit"

"Borrowing him?!" The stunning, but Angie had decided, incredibly rude woman standing next to Paul glared at her. "What the hell for?!"

"Sarah, just calm down ok?" Evan tried not to smirk a little.

"Calm down! Some crazy arse ex-marine turned space pirate whor…."

"Hey!" Angie pointed at her. "Keep going and I'll knock you the fuck out"

Major Davis felt his lips twitch. Ronan grinned at him over their heads.

"There was just something she needed to give him. He'll be back soon" She checked her watch. "Not sure what's keeping him actually. It shouldn't have taken this long"

Sarah whirled at the sound of a snort of laughter but Colonel Mitchell's face was blank, eyes cooly meeting hers.

"I don't fucking believe this"

"I expect he is trying to convince her to return with him. He was most troubled by both of your disappearances" Teyla turned and smiled serenely at Sarah. "I am sure if she chooses to stay there she will return him to you as he was when he left"


He pulled her in closer and slid a leg between hers. "I am so dead"

"She'll never know"

"Yeah, she really will"

"You can say I forced you if you want"

"Right, cause that sounds so much better"

"Drugged you?"

"Just creepy"

She wriggled trying to free herself from his grasp. John groaned. "Stay the fuck still"

"Nope. You have to go. So do I"

"Come home"

"Not yet"

He sighed and released her, rolling onto his back. "Lorne and Eve are gonna have a baby"

Grace paused, hands behind her neck as she was fastening the leather halter. "Fuck me"

"Pretty sure I just did"

She rolled her eyes and reached for her jacket. "Is she uh, ok?"

John propped himself up on his elbows. "Yeah, she's really good. They got married"

"Huh"

"Elizabeth died"

She sat down in the chair at her desk. "Shit"

"And Carson"

"What?! But we…"

"Explosion"

"Shit"

"Mitchell's training our pilots"

"Um.."

"Vala left, took off"

"Oh, he ok?"

"Please, it's like he gives off some kind of pheromone"

"Yeah, I remember"

"Hey!"

"Get dressed Colonel, my crew get a little antsy if we stay in one place for too long"

"As much as I'm loving this whole space pirate thing you have going on I'd prefer it if you came back to Atlantis. What is it that you need to do so bad?"

Grace shifted slightly. "Sorry, that's need to know"

John sat to lace his boots. "Why do I get a bad feeling about this?"

"Take your present and go home. Beg for forgiveness"

"I do not beg"

"Hmm, not very manly I'll admit. Would you like to look over our spoils from a recent treasure-house raid? Perhaps something sparkly will do the trick"

He ran a hand through his hair and stood. "No, thank you. And no more stealing"

Grace pointed to herself. "In charge"

John grabbed the bag at his feet and trailed his fingers over her cheek. "Please be careful, and come home when you're done"

"Maybe" She smiled sadly at him and tapped her radio. "The Colonel's going home"


Colonel Sheppard looked at the three men in front of him. Mitchell propped his arms on his P90 "Good trip?"

John glared at him then grinned. "I got a present"

"I bet you did"

He rolled his eyes and held out the bag. "Actually it's more for McKay"

"It is?"

"Yep"

The scientist stepped forward. "Give it up then Colonel"

John handed him the bag and watched his friend peer inside.

"Oh my God!" Rodney pointed at him. "I demand you marry her, right now"

"Uh.."

"Rodney?"

"A ZPM, she gave you a ZPM!"

"We negotiated"

"I bet you did"

John flipped off Evan.

"Oh my God!"

"I think McKay is cumming in his pants"

"It's fully charged"

Rodney gave a little excited yelp.

"This is slightly disturbing to watch"

John smirked at his 2IC. "Where's everyone else?"

"Back on Atlantis. We thought it might be a good plan to remove your girlfriend"

"You brought Sarah?!"

"Davis did"

"He is so fired"

"Wait til tomorrow Sir, he's getting to know his fiancé, again"


Grace stood and looked out the large window on deck. There was something strangely beautiful yet terrifying about watching hyperspace speed by.

"Grace?"

She turned. "Eisha, there is something wrong?"

"No, just wanted to check in before bed that's all. Are you ok?"

"Of course"

"We would have understood if you wished to return with him"

Grace sighed. "I'm not sure I belong there anymore, especially with him. And I made a promise to you and Larrin"

"Angie was happy to leave?"

"It was a difficult decision, you've become good friends. But she had someone to return to"

"You do also?"

Grace shook her head. "He was never mine, even less so now"

The younger woman nodded. "The way he watches you…he is yours"

"Goodnight Eisha"

"Goodnight M'am"


Three months later.

"Uh Sir?" Evan stood at his door eyeing his CO.

"I'm here to offer my services Lorne"

"Uh, what?"

"Mitchell too"

"I'm confused and a little disturbed"

"That's because you have a highly perverted mind" His wife pulled him back. "Come in guys, thank you for this"

"Not a problem Doc"

"Whats going on?"

"We're babysitting"

"You are?"

"Yes"

"Shit"

"Come on Ev, before they change their minds, or she wakes up" His wife looked thoughtful. "Or someone tries to invade us again"


Colonel Mitchell sprawled back on the couch. "So, she's gone huh?"

John looked at him from the desk chair. "Who?"

"Your ex idiot"

"Oh, right, um, yeah" He ran a hand through his hair. "I feel a little bad"

"You were an asshole, however she was a cray bitch"

"Thanks"

"No problem. So, you waiting for Grace?"

"What?!"

Cam hissed "Shut up"

"Shit"

They both looked at the door of the nursery, everything stayed quiet.

"No, I am not waiting for Grace. Why would I?"

"Uh, cause she's the only one you want"

"Did you get turned into a girl again?"

Cam flipped him off. "You know I'm right, as usual"

"Well not this time. Anyway, she's currently getting her jollies thieving her way round the galaxy, don't think she's coming back anytime soon"

"She will, and I get the impression it was something a bit more than treasure that she was going after"


"You ok baby?"

"Um hmm" Eve smiled at her husband. "I was just thinking how much Grace has missed"

He squeezed her hand. "I know John filled her in on everything. She'll come back, I'm sure"

She nodded. "I hope so. Then I can bollock her properly"

He grinned at her. "Can I watch?"

"No"

"Spoilsport"

She sighed. "I thought maybe he could have convinced her to come back"

"I believe he gave it his best"

Eve rolled her eyes. "He's obviously losing his touch"

Evan snorted. "God, I love you"


As the last of their enemies ships split in two and began to drift apart Grace nodded and turned to her second. "Get us out of here Eisha. This place stinks"

"Pleasure M'am"

"Stop calling me M'am"

"No" The young woman grinned up at her. "Where to?"

Grace sighed. "We rendezvous with the others. I make the next trip alone"

"No"

"Yes. It's not dangerous Ish, just personal"

"Are you going to share?"

"Soon"


Two weeks later.

"Colonel!"

Sam looked over at Chuck and frowned. "Whats wrong?"

"Theres a hyperspace window opening over the planet"

"Raise our shields and cloak us Chuck"

"Yes M'am"

She tapped her radio. "All military to your posts, possible enemy ship in orbit"

Colonel Sheppard ran through the gateroom for the transporter, he'd be heading to the chair. Her radio crackled and Mitchell's comforting drawl sounded in her ear.

"All pilots to the jumper bay. Gear up, wait for further instructions"

"M'am"

She looked over at Chuck.

"They are attempting radio contact"

Sam briefly closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. They knew they were here, there went their advantage of a shield and cloak. "Open a channel. Patch in Sheppard, Lorne and Mitchell"

"Yes M'am"

She pressed her earpiece.

"Please identify yourself"

"This is Captain Grace Hargreaves. I am alone onboard. Feel free to run a scan"

"Initiating scan now"

Sam blinked, the ship was huge, and Ancient, and the former expedition member was indeed the only life sign.

"Welcome home Captain. Or is this a flying visit?"

The other woman chuckled down the radio. "I have another present for Colonel Sheppard. My crew aren't here as I didn't want to reveal your location"

"How very generous of you. You don't trust them?"

"Some of them can be a little…enthusiastic"

Sam tried not to grin. The transporter doors slid open and Sheppard stalked in.

"Stop pissing about Hargreaves and get your…"


"..arse down.." He scowled at her and clicked off his radio. "I wish you'd stop doing that. And how did you do that?"

Grace shrugged. "This ship is Ancient too. I think Atlantis likes it"

"Likes it?"

"Yeah, Ancient tech is kinda sentient right? I think they're communicating"

"Great, just great. What do you want?" His radio beeped. "Shit"

"Sheppard"

"All ok John?"

"Fine Sam. I won't be long"

"That's what he said last time"

"Shut up Mitchell"

He pressed his earpiece and folded his arms across his chest. "Well, you coming or not?"

She rolled her eyes. "First, I found you another ZPM"

"Are you growing them or something?"

"Yes, I have a highly illegal ZPM growing facility where I bag them up and sell them for lots of money"

"Grace…"

"Also, you left something behind last time you were here"

"Uh, I did?"

"Yep"

He frowned at her. "Uh.."

"My fault really, completely forgot my implant ran out like a year ago"

He closed his eyes. "Shit"

"Don't panic Colonel, I'm not demanding marriage. I just thought you should know that's all"

"Shit"

"I'll be gone as soon as you are"

"What?!"

"I will be leaving, and I'm sure you don't want to be trapped with me on a spaceship for several months"

"You are not leaving"

"Yes I am"

"For fuck's sake, what the fuck happened to you?!"

"Um, I got kidnapped, recruited by my kidnapper, spent nearly two years living off a ship, got knocked up by my ex-CO and then blew up a load of crazy arse aliens who killed my most recent CO"

He rubbed his temples. "You took our unborn child into battle?"

"It was a very quick and victorious one"

"That is not the point!"

"Stop shouting or I'll beam you back down"

John sighed and stepped forward, swallowing her surprised yelp as he slid his tongue into her mouth and pulled her in tight.


Colonel Carter eyed the duffel that had been revealed once the light of the transporter had faded. "Shit"

Mitchell pushed her back and crouched down in front of it.

"Cam.."

"Its ok, think I know what it is" He carefully unzipped it and grinned up at her, pulling down the material.

"Another one?!"

"McKay's right, he should marry her"

"What?"


"I have noticed you use sex as a distraction"

"You're complaining?"

"At least you can't knock me up again"

"So romantic"

Grace made a little disgusted noise. John propped himself up on his elbow and ran his fingers over her stomach. "Please come back"

"Colonel…"

"And stop calling me Colonel, its weird now"

"Sheppard?"

"Very funny. Look, Tey and Eve have both had babies so I know there are tests and scans, and sometimes there can be problems. I don't want you pregnant floating about in space"

"This ship is well equipped"

"Please Gracie. You really want to do this stuck on board a spaceship? Raise your kid like they have?"

"It's my home"

"No it's not. Atlantis is your home"

"I have friends here, good friends"

"So Eve isn't your friend anymore? The woman who you risked your career for by bollocking your CO in a store cupboard"

"You deserved it"

"Yes I did. Which is why I didn't fire your insubordinate arse"

"Gee, thanks"

"We don't have to be together, but I want to be involved in this. Its unfair of you to take off with my child, calling in when it suits you"

She shifted in his arms.

"Grace?"

"Ok"

"Ok?"

She nodded. "I need to return the ship to them, it's too important to keep here. I'll be back in a month"

"A month!"

"I'll have to make my way back. Without a ship it'll take a while"

John rolled his eyes and reached for his radio. "Take this and just dial home"

He watched her lay on her back and turn the radio over in her hands. She chewed her lip.

"I know it'll be tough adjusting but you managed it once" He waved a hand round the deck. "You will again"

"Right. How's Angie doing?"

"Ok, I think Davis took a little while to get used to his new kick arse fiancé but they seem to be good now"

"Yeah, I'm an awesome trainer"

"Modest too" He tugged on her hand. "Come on, I'm not sure lying on the floor of the control deck is a good idea"

"You're gonna drive me insane aren't you?"

"Probably"