Author: shannyfish
Title: Stars
Chapter: 6 – "Making the Future Happen"

Summary: Sequel to "Mistakes of the Past". The twelve future children must race to put into motion events to save the future that had destroyed everything they held dear.
Genres: Alternate Universe, Angst, Baby!fic, Drama, Future Fic, Humor, Hurt/Comfort
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none

Author's Note:Please note the time jump from 2006 to 2007. This chapter takes place several months after the last chapter.

…………………………..

2007 Infirmary

"I still wish you'd have talked to me about this more before you two…went…and did…well…" Carson said and then let his sentence muddle off. He really didn't need to get into that conversation with him. He also didn't need any imagery in his head.

"We did discuss it," Elizabeth said quietly looking down.

Carson frowned, "You asked a question and I gave an answer. There was no discussion…you just went off and got yourself pregnant like that was the answer to the problem."

"Are we going to give us this lecture every time we come in for a check-up?" John whined as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I just…"

"We know," John admitted, "It's just we want to help Lily. And we've discussed this…"

"I know," Carson sighed, "I guess I want to make sure that you two know exactly what you're getting yourselves into. A baby is a lot of work."

Elizabeth smiled up at Carson, "But rewarding… I've been thinking about how it used to be. When we were first came to Atlantis. The Athosian children on Atlantis…they had sometimes been a bit of a handful, but they were always so happy. I think they also made Atlantis a bit happier."

"Except when we'd loose children…" John said remembering when they'd lost an Athosian child and it'd taken them a bit to find him.

"Aye," Carson agreed with a smile.

Elizabeth smiled brightly; she could imagine their child being just as curious. "So, Carson," she said prompting them to change the topic back to where they were supposed to be. "Do we get to see the baby today?" She was excited about the idea of being able to see the tiny life that she held inside of her. She was already going on six months pregnant. She had been scheduled for ultrasounds before, but the baby had always decided that it didn't want to have its picture taken, along with hiding its sex. They didn't yet know if their child would be a boy or a girl. Elizabeth was happy with either prospect, especially if the child helped them help Lily.

"Well," Carson started, "As long as the wee babe cooperates perhaps we can get a shot of he or she." He waited until Elizabeth relaxed back into a comfortable position before moving her shirt upward to expose her pregnant belly. He had already pulled the ultrasound machine over to the room expecting the check-up appointment. He was even starting to get curious about the child Elizabeth was carrying. It wasn't all unborn children that hid themselves from view. He applied some cold gel to her belly before reaching for the ultrasound wand, "Have you two talked about marriage?" Carson asked casually. It had been a thought as he wasn't sure if children out of wedlock was something that Elizabeth and John wanted to promote. He knew that they had their reasons for their unborn child, but was it something that they had thought about?

"We haven't discussed anything of…that nature," John said looking up at Carson quickly at the mention of marriage.

Her attention was solely on the monitor that displayed the black and white of her womb. She could see the outline of the head and slowly as Carson moved the wand around saw the distinct outline of the body. The baby was finally cooperating. Her happiness showed as her smile spread across her face. The gender of the child she was carrying felt like it was nearly in grasp.

"What's that?" John asked pointing to the screen.

Carson sighed, "Don't you know what your own son's arm looks like when ya see it?"

John was about to argue about not being an ultrasound analyst when it hit him. "It's a boy?" he asked to make sure he heard it right and then turned to Elizabeth to see her amused expression.

"Aye, Lad. Better start pickin' out names…"

"John Junior, doesn't work?" John teased and got an eye roll in return from Carson and a light hit from Elizabeth.

……………………….

2007 Puddle Jumper Bay

"Command, this is Puddle Jumper One," Caitlin Caldwell spoke up as she readied the jumper. "We are ready to ship out on your command."

"Good God! What? What you been watching too many Star Trek movies?!" Rodney exclaimed.

Caitlin rolled her eyes and tried to ignore him as she saw Sheppard take his seat beside her at the head of the jumper out of the corner of her eye. Ever since she'd joined the team months before, Rodney McKay had been a thorn in her side. She still hadn't figured out if it was because he thought she was far too young or if he truly doubted her abilities.

((This is command. You are a go when you're ready. Jumper Two will be a go on your mark.))

"Understood," Caitlin acknowledged and went to work on what she needed to do.

"How are we looking, Number One?" John asked looking over to the young Caldwell. It'd been his nickname for her ever since Rodney had started making jokes that she'd been raised on Star Trek and had no skills in being in any kind of command. He knew it irritated Rodney to think that the teenaged girl could easily boss him around if he was out of commission.

"We're primed and ready when you are, Colonel," she reported levelly as she looked over at him.

"Make it so."

A small smile pulled at her lips as she turned back to the front window, "Aye, Sir," she whispered as her smile widened. "This is Puddle Jumper One, Puddle Jumper Two, are you ready to follow suit?"

((Ready when you are.))

Being part of the team was getting easier as time went on. It was mostly because her brother, Rowan Dex, and Jeff Tripp were also on teams. Aubrey McKay and John Beckett would join teams as needed, which was rare, but still…it felt a little less like she was an outcast. In Jumper Two was Sean, which made her feel a bit at ease. They'd learned over the years to work in harmony when it came to missions of any kind. She wasn't sure if it was some kind of twin thing that made them work so seamlessly together, but it definitely helped. "Understood," she said as she got ready to fly the ship to the gate room. "Try not to scrape either ship this time, Sean," she joked as she hovered the ship and then gently guided it to the room.

((I'll try. No promises.))

"That doesn't make me feel any better about your flying capabilities," Rodney retorted.

Caitlin just smiled and then looked over her shoulder at him, "Relax Doctor McKay, I've never crashed a jumper…"

"And you've flown how many times?"

((At least not unless it was on purpose!))

Her smile widened and Caitlin severed comms with Jumper Two before looking over at Sheppard, "I passed my Jumper licensing test last time, didn't I?"

"That's right, Rodney. She's got an official Atlantis Jumper License and everything," John told him as he turned around in the chair. "Has her picture on it and everything."

"Jumper license? What kind of crap is that?" Rodney asked indignantly.

Ronan laughed, "I think you're just jealous because you don't have one, McKay."

((Jumper One, this is Doctor Weir. Be safe out there.))

"I promise to bring him back in one breathing piece, Doctor," Caitlin promised. "Doctor McKay I make no promises about."

((Understood. Check back in five hours.))

She could hear a hint of amusement in the woman's voice, which just added to her own amusement in the whole situation. "Light speed or warp, Colonel Sheppard?" she teased before taking the jumper through the gate.

………………….

TBC…