Found

She stood in front of the familiar door, hesitating. It had been too long, too long without her. So much space and time between them, that she was afraid what they had was long gone.

They had observed her, quarantined her for three whole days. She had been prodded and scrutinized, always guarded by at least two marines. Men she knew, trusted to keep her and everyone else safe. She had seen their faces, but not hers. Not Kate's.

Kate. Her Kate. Kate.

She waited, counting, debating until at last she reached up to the chime. She could hear her own beating heart, every fiber of her being anticipating to see that familiar face. Her mind drifted to the last time they were together, to their last night and then she had been gone aboard the Apollo. In their last moment together she had wiped her tears away, had shushed her fears and held her until it was time to part.

She jumped at the sound of the door opening, meeting a familiar face, yet not the one she was hoping for. "Teyla?" She said slightly startled.

"Elizabeth." Teyla didn't seem in the least bit surprised she was standing there, waiting. "Kate's asleep." The Athosian continued. "She was exhausted."

"Can I come in?" She needed to see her face, touch her, feel her warm body underneath her hands, in her embrace. Teyla nodded and stepped aside to let her enter. Elizabeth slowly made her way over to the bed, eyeing the outlines of Kate's body underneath the blanket. She looked slightly flushed, sleeping on her side of the bed. "She looks beautiful." Teyla nodded as she sat down on the other side, Kate's side. Slowly realization started to dawn on her and all started to make more sense, yet she wasn't yet ready to accept that. "Can I wake her?" There was another nod, and she perched herself on the edge. Her hand moved on its own accord as it touched her hair, stroked her cheek, down to her shoulder and her bare arm, lying on top of the blanket. The tingling sensation going through her fingers, up her arm and all the way to her heart, made her realize the feelings were still real. "Kate..." Elizabeth whispered, her voice carrying the love she had for this extraordinary woman. "Kate, I'm home."

Kate stirred and murmured softly, turning away from Elizabeth. Teyla tilted her head a little as she noticed the hurt in Elizabeth's eyes.

"Maybe I shouldn't..." Elizabeth got up as if she had burned herself. "It's been too long." She shook her head and took a few steps back.

"She loves you." Teyla said, without looking at the diplomat. "She needs you." Her voice was steady, which surprised Elizabeth. "You are the one."

"Teyla..." Kate stirred some more, her hand reaching out to the other woman, voice slurred and filled with sleep.

"It is okay." Teyla shushed, stroking her hair down gently. "There is someone here to see you." She noticed sleepy eyes open, a frown spreading across her forehead. Kate slowly turned back to the door, and to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth didn't dare to move, her arms still next to her body. Her eyes focused on the woman staring back at her, absorbing the image of her, burning her frame into her mind. She hadn't changed much since she had last seen here, maybe lost some weight. Her face looked thinner than last she remembered. Kate's green eyes were wide, her mouth slightly ajar, gazing at her, not believing.

"Elizabeth..." The sound was soft, pleading. She stretched her hand out to her, inviting. Elizabeth moved back to the edge and sat down, allowing her to touch her face. And with that first touch also came the first tears.

Elizabeth held her arms open, inviting Kate in which she did, burying herself in the embrace, holding on for dear life. She closed her arms and held the other woman tightly. Home, at last. She watched as Teyla sat on the other side, at a loss of what to do. She noticed the hurt in her eyes, which locked on the woman in her arms. The final piece of the mystery falling in place as she held out her hand for the Athosian to take, which she did. "Thank you." Teyla nodded, understanding.

They sat together for a while, entwined, before Elizabeth eased down onto the bed. It was a tight squeeze with the three of them together. But they were huddled together so tightly, that neither Elizabeth or Teyla had to worry about falling out. Kate held them together, like glue. Elizabeth sighed, for the first time since coming home to Atlantis, she truly felt like being home, with the woman she loved and with the woman she was about to embrace in her heart, just like Kate had been for the last three years.