NOTE: I don't own the characters. This is all for fun. Enjoy. Contains spoilers for season 5.
I am posting 2 chapters today. Still looking for a beta-reader. All the drama starts next chapter.
Chapter 3- A Homecoming
John rocked back on forth on his heals as he stood in the gate room with a extra wide grin on his face. He felt like a kid in a candy store because his old team was finally coming back together. Ronon and Teyla were returning and according to his watch it should be any second now. It had been a little over a year since he had seen them. John thought way too long in his opinion. The IOA had put pressure on the SGC to return the Pegasus aliens to their rightful galaxy. It was six months after the city returned to Earth that the Athosianand Satedanwere saying farewell to their friends. With Atlantis returned to M35-117 the Pegasus galaxy natives were allowed to return. The colonel gave a quick look around the room and he saw Richard Woolsey coming toward him.
It was clear to the Atlantis commander that John was excited about this day. The lead exploration team was about to be complete, but the other member already in the city was clearly missing. "I thought Dr. McKay would want to be here for this."
John rubbed the back of his neck, "You know McKay. I woke him up a half hour ago when I called to check if he was ready. So he should be here soon..." his thoughts cut off by the blaring of the gate alarm.
"Off world activation." Chuck called from the control room as he activated the shield. "Receiving Teyla's IDC."
"Lower the shield." Woolsey called to the gate technician. The expedition leader could feel the excitement in the man next to him. Richard could not help but to smile to himself, perhaps the excitement was contagious.
Ronon was the first to come through the gate. "Sheppard," he laughed as he gave his friend one of his bear hugs and lifted John off the ground.
"Chewy, " John laughed as his feet touched the ground. "How have you been buddy?"
"Good." was the simple reply. "Mr. Woolsey." He was always a man of few words. He did not have anything to say to the expedition leader. Ronon never liked the idea of being forced to leave Earth, but it had comforted him to know he would be allowed to return once Atlantis returned to Pegasus.
"Welcome back to Atlantis. I trust you both have been well." Richard played the perfect diplomat.
"John, it has been too long." Teyla greeted her friend in typical Athosian manner.
John was overjoyed that this moment had finally come and it was clear by looking at him. "I'm just glad to have my team back. It hasn't been the same without both of you."
Ronon raised his eyebrow questioningly, "Aren't we missing someone?" he gazed around the room not seeing the last member of their team. He thought after everything Rodney would have been here.
Teyla voiced the same sentiment, "Yes, I expected to see Rodney here."
John shrugged and sighed. He thought Rodney would have been here by now and figured he must have fallen back asleep. "Hold on a minute." he tapped his ear piece. "McKay, this is Sheppard. Come in."
Jennifer was tying back her hair when she heard John calling Rodney over the radio; she thought it could be import but with him in the shower the doctor pick up the earpiece. "Yes, John. What is it?"
Sheppard looked puzzled, however he chose to have a little fun with her. "Rodney? You sound like you had a sex change overnight." The comment drew questioning stares from the trio standing next to him.
"Very funny, John." Ever since she became engaged to Rodney, John felt the need to tease her as he did with her partner.
"Jennifer, where is your other half?"
"Shower. Do you want me to get him? Is it important?"
"Ronon and Teyla just arrived and I thought he wanted to be here for that."
"He did, but Arthur had a little accident and Rodney needed to take another shower. Give us ten minutes and we can be there."
"See you in the mess hall." John clicked off the radio and turned his attention back to his friends. "Rodney wanted to join us, but there was a little problem. Jennifer said the two of them will meet us in the mess in ten minutes."
"Problem? Everything alright?" Teyla showed her concern. It could not be too big of a problem if Rodney was meeting them in ten minutes. Turning to Ronon she smiled. "I believe you owe me a new pair of banto sticks."
John looked between the two. "Wait? What am I missing?"
Ronan looked defeated. "I had bet her that McKay would have screwed things up with Keller."
"But I had more faith in Rodney. I see I was right." she nodded. Teyla knew her time with the two Earthlings had introduced her to the thing they called gambling.
John laughed, knowing it was only a matter of time before his and McKay's little bets would become contagious. "Yes, those two are still together."
"What have you been up to the past year?" The Athosian asked as the group walked to the mess hall.
"Was given my own SG team for a while. It wasn't the same without the three of you. Yes, I missed having Rodney on my team," John answered with a shrug. "You can thank Rodney and Radek for getting this place back in working order. What about you guys?"
Ronon was the first to answer. "Nothing much. Wraith haven't been causing much trouble."
Teyla was next. "I help my people with their new settlement.. Things are going well and Torren has taken a likening to the word no."
"I hear kids been be like that." John responded. Maybe she could give the new parents some pointers. "Speaking of which how are Kannan and Torren?"
"They are well. They plan on rejoining me here in a few days time."
"Sorry we are late. Hope we did not miss anything." Rodney's voice boomed as he looked over at the rest of his teammates. In his arms was Arthur who was amusing himself by sucking on a pacifier. Jennifer stood next to him with Elizabeth who was entertaining herself with a small toy.
"We ran into a small issue. Sorry we could not meet you are the gate." Jennifer added.
The couple took the last free seats at the table. Rodney was trying to gage what kind of reaction. Teyla was an easy read because she was smiling. Ronon on the other hand was... Ronon and it was difficult to figure out what was going on in his head.
"Rodney, Jennifer." Teyla looked between the two infants. "Congratulations. They both are beautiful babies. Jennifer, I had no idea you were pregnant before we left."
"That is because it probably happened at the party we had for you." Rodney said, sticking his foot in his mouth. He winced as felt a hard kick to his shin and immediately started to blush. He knew he had gone too far.
"RODNEY!" Jennifer scolded him. He deserved that kick.
The rest of the team laughed. Leave it to Rodney to make a comment like that.
"Tell me more about these two little angels." Teyla found it amusing how comfortable Rodney seems with his son in his arms when a few years ago he was very awkward while holding Torren.
Jennifer beamed when it came to talking about her children. "They turned three months last week. This is Elizabeth," she nodded to the girl in her arms. "And Arthur." she smiled at Rodney.
"Elizabeth. After Dr. Weir?" Teyla assumed and was given a confirmation nod by both of the parents. The sentiment sat well with Teyla. "And Arthur..." she tried to figure out where the name came from.
John chose to answer this one, "After me!"
"But your name isn't Arthur." Ronon was confused.
"Actually it was McKay's twisted way of naming the kid after me. He refused to just name the boy John." Ever since the second childhood incident Rodney sometimes called John by that name. He thought it was his way of saying thank you for all he did during that time, but with Rodney being Rodney it was his way of expressing it.
"Whatever." Ronon replied. "It still find this whole thing strange, but congratulations to the both of you." The tone was sincere.
"There is one other thing... Something we wanted to ask all three of you." Rodney drummed the fingers of his free hand on the table.
"What is it?" John spoke up on behalf of all three.
"You see. Last night Jennifer and I were talking and we set a date for the wedding. Six weeks from now. Actually August 26th. I wanted to know if you two," he directed his words to John and Ronon. "Um, if you two would stand up for me sorta of, okay not really sort, but actually be my best man. Actually it would be best men since it is two of you." Rodney did not know why he was nervous about this. He also wanted to ask Carson, but he was on permanent assignment at Stargate Command.
John could not resist himself. "Does that mean I get to throw you a bachelor party?" There were so many wicked things he could plan or not by the icy glare that Jennifer gave him.
"What's a best man?" Ronan was not used to Earth customs.
"Just say yes. It's a honor that he is asking you. Plus it means we can torture him for the next six weeks." The colonel explained. This was going to be good.
"Okay, yes then." Ronon was not sure what he was getting himself into, but he would follow John's lead.
Jennifer looked over at Teyla."I would like you to stand up for me as well." The doctor had planned to also ask Marie the same.
"It would be a honor." Teyla was touched that the doctor thought that much of her.
John leaned back in his chair and smiled. This was how things were supposed to be.