Guys, thank you for your reviews. Okay, this chapter is being told from Halling's point of view. This chapter and the last couple of chapters have been about providing information and some hints. I wanted to address that it couldn't have been easy for Teyla after becoming a mother. I don't think that was adequately addressed in the show by the writers. Listening to a recent interview of Rachel Luttrel, where she expressed that she would have loved to had explore more the affect on the team with Teyla being a mom is one in a long list of affirmations to me the writers' failure with continuality, follow through and character development for Teyla, Ronon and John. I can't tell you how disappointed and frustrated I am at the writers and tptb of SGA for their storylines emphasis in the last season of the show, their woeful neglect of writing for characters like Teyla and Ronon, their uncreative writing...I think I will stop right here.

Chapter 7

Halling looked at Teyla with understanding and concern as she spoke of her son's inabilities to sleep at nights, giving her a knowing look. Remembering all too well the sleepless nights when he and his beloved Jara had spent with their son, Jinto when he was a baby. His son who was now on the verge of entering adulthood in the coming months, whose body was unscarred by their months of captivity, but whose mind was just now beginning to heal from what he had witnessed and they had endure at the hands of Michael and his men. Jinto still had the bad dreams, but not as frequently as when they had first arrived on the planet. Halling was however grateful that the focus of Michael's experiments seem to centered on the men more so the women and children. That focus did however center on the men and women known to have similar gifts like Teyla.

Halling's eyes quickly locked onto Teyla assessing her for a moment. He could see the darken circles under her eyes upon closer inspection of her face. He also noticed something as well. The fire of Teyla's spirit that was always present in her eyes was a little bit dimmer now. Her jovial spirit seem tapered and in its place a kind of somber. He knew she carried many concerns, concerns for her son, concerns for him and the rest her people.

Concerns that the threat to her and her son, Torren from Michael was still real, it was well known in the encampment that Michael was able to escape from Colonel Sheppard and his people and that he was still out there, fixated on Teyla and Torren. It was that fear that permeated the encampment, the fear that their lives were still in danger especially, the lives of Teyla and her son. That none of them were truly safe from this Michael until he was found and dealt with.

He had wondered these many months after his and his people's captivity at how Michael and his men were able to find their village on their former home world. Under the cover of darkness, Michael and his men appeared suddenly, attacking their village, beams of lights cutting across the village capturing them from the Darts that streaked across the night sky. Then being held at Michael's compound while he did his experiments on them. The days and the nights became the same, but it was in those times he began to wondered how this evil and cruelty had befall him and his people. Did one of their trading partners betray them?

Since, it was known by his people that many in the Pegasus Galaxy did not like some of the actions of the people of Atlantis, because those actions had resulted in the destruction of several worlds, by the Wraith and Replicators, and even Michael. Or the power it seems they wielded in the galaxy. And since it was no secret to many in the Pegasus Galaxy of the Athosians and their leader connection to the people of Atlantis, with that realization in mind, the Athosians' village location was kept closely guarded.

He hoped to one day find the truth to this question. But for now, he had faith that Teyla's friends from the city of the Ancients would protect her and her son and this encampment if the need arise in the future. It seems that Teyla's faith and belief in Colonel Sheppard and his people had also grown a root in him too. Although, it took him a lot longer in accepting the ways of these people who lived in the city of the ancients – where from the beginning Teyla had felt that these people would one day will be able to defeat the Wraith, believing so strongly that she joined the Colonel's team and stayed on Atlantis when it became eventually uncomfortable for him and the rest of their people to stay on Atlantis when their people were faced with mistrust and accusations of collaborating with Wraith.

There were some of their people who did question the wisdom of her decision to stay especially since she and her people had been put under a cloud of suspicion when they had resided in the city of the ancients which had facilitated their departure from the city. But, it was that decision that showed Teyla strength of conviction. She would do what she thinks is right even if it meant going against her own people's wishes. It was thought by some of elder of their people that she would eventually be seduce with the life she led living in the city of the Ancients and that she would not returned to her people when hearing the tales of her many adventure with these strangers from a different galaxy. But Teyla had always returned home. And her association with these people who was once their accusers had become beneficial to the Athosian's people and to Colonel Sheppard's people, with their past discord muted.

Halling also knew Teyla would never complain or asked for any assistance, preferring to shoulder those burdens on her own, never allowing her self to express weakness. Knowing she carried the guilt for what done to him and the others from their earlier such talks. Thinking that maybe he could provide some assistance to Teyla. His strength was returning. His body had gain back some of the muscle mass it had lost during those months of his captivity. He was feeling his old self again, for the first time, in a long time.

"You know, Teyla, I think many of us here have regained some of our former selves. I think we can make this encampment a home for our families. We can plant the seeds for the crops for the coming harvest. The climate on this planet does seem to be in our favor. I know our numbers have been reduced, but we are a strong and proud people. Our ancestors have been displaced before."

Both thought about the cullings by the Wraith that their ancestors had suffered through for hundreds of centuries, but neither voiced it. There was no need to. These cullings were documented and scribed on the walls in the cave back on their old home world. Their history as a people was told through those markings on those walls.

It was expected when a young Athosian's male or female was about to entered adulthood; it was a right of passage that that young boy or girl was required to spend a day in the cave to learn the history of their people. And from that day forward, to continue with preserving that history and updating it with each new event the Athosians as a people would face. So the survivors of a culling would document that culling, the lives lost as a result of the culling any other information they deem relevant. They did this for their heritage and history. This was also useful in tracking the bloodlines and families of their people.

"And they have always found a way to move forward and this time is no different even if the circumstances that brought us here are somewhat different."

Halling watched the varying of emotions that his words brought to Teyla's face and eyes. He saw the tears that were gathering in the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill their banks, staining her face. Teyla walked over to Halling, moment later the foreheads of the two life long friends touch together.

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"Thank you my old friend you have given me reason to smile today."

Halling nodded – he was happy to see the light of spirit in Teyla returning somewhat. It would do him to good to use his hands again, to build, and to create. A sense of purpose renewed in him.

"And now, I must to go and check on my son." Teyla provided, feeling a happiness that has long eluded her these past many weeks even with the birth of her son.

"Teyla, I look forward to spending some time with that young son of yours."

"I would love that Halling."

"So will I. It will be most interesting to see which of his parents that he takes after."

"Well, I hope he has the best of both of his parents. Now, question is where is that son of mines? I left him in the company of his father, Ronon and Carson when I came to check on…ah…when I came to visit you old friend."

"I know what you came to do." Halling giving Teyla a knowing look, he knew Teyla had been very corncer for him.

"I am almost back to being myself as you can see. (He smiled proudly.) Come I will walk with you to get your son."

As Halling and Teyla left the tent and began their walking toward the tent that was used as the medical lab in the encampment.

"And how are things between you and Kanaan?"

"As well as can be expected I suppose. He wants to be a part of his son's life."

"And you want this as well?"

"I want my son to know his father. I can not deny either of them that right. "

"So does this mean you intend for you, Kanaan, Torren to be a family together?"

"Sometimes, it is not a matter of what I want, but what must be my friend."

TBC

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