SPOILERS for season four and I really REALLY could not think of anything suitable for Author R's last sentence - So anyways, I had a really hard time with this one as I'm sure you will be able to tell! Hopefully my next one will be better!! MUCH better.

(Part 7) Author M.

John smirked and started to pick up his clothes.

As he began to dress, pulling his pants on and zipping his fly, the smirk started to fade as the events of the past day flew through his head.

I deserve this……I don't owe anybody anything……..

He turned back and looked at the mane of brown hair covering the fluffy white pillow from the woman's still form where she remained sleeping on the large comfortable bed behind him.

She was beautiful but still something felt wrong, severely wrong, and Sheppard knew it, though everything inside him wanted it to be right.

He sighed, taking one last look towards the woman, and walked slowly towards the door leading out.

Waving his hand over the crystals, he watched the door slide open with its soft hiss and walked out quickly into the halls of Atlantis.

It was late but not very late as he made his way towards his own quarters in hopes of getting a good nights sleep though the surprise he received when he arrived in his own hallway was like nothing he had expected.

Teyla stood outside his door, her back resting against the nearest wall and her hands placed carefully on her round tummy. Her eyes were closed and the dark circles around them reminded Sheppard how tired she must be though the intrigue within him grew strongly at her presence.

He made a point to accentuate his footsteps as he neared her and her eyes opened quickly at the sound. She straightened up as he approached and gave him a small smile before she spoke.

"Hello John."

"Hey Teyla, whats up?"

"I wish to speak with you, if that is all right.."

"Of course," he said waving his hand to open his own door. "Come on in…"

She entered first after he held a hand out politely and he watched her walk slowly inside, her hands never leaving her stomach.

When they were both inside and the door hissed shut behind him, she turned to him with an expression Sheppard could only describe as complex.

"So, what's this all about, Teyla? Are you okay?" His mind quickly roamed towards her physical state and hoped all was well with the child.

"Yes I am fine John and the baby is fine as well," she said noticing his gaze. "I….I needed to speak to you about us."

"Us?" he repeated strangely, confusion welling inside him.

What us? What the hell is she talking about...

"I feel I have deceived you in many ways John, by not telling you the truth a long time ago," she said calmly.

"The truth about what Teyla?" he replied back slowly as he became increasingly anxious with every passing moment, though he realized he probably sounded very stupid repeating everything she said.

What is she……

"I understand that you and Larrin have been spending….time…together …." Her fingers twirled together tightly as they remained intertwined atop her belly.

John's face instantly went red as he had not been aware anyone had known about them yet, least of all Teyla.

"Um…."

"You do not need to explain yourself Colonel. This is not about you. This is about me," she said hurriedly as she saw his stammer. She looked down at the floor for a long moment before looking him straight in the eye and continuing.

"There are truths that exist that I have long since denied and though I may be emotional as of late, I feel honesty and openness is the right thing to do………I have feelings for you John, as much now as I once had. Long ago, I believed it possible that you might return those feelings, though after much time passed and nothing came from it, I put all such thoughts out of my head…."

Is this a joke…….

"Spending time with my people, Kanan and I became close friends and soon something more, as I put my heart aside and listened to reason. Kanan is the logical, appropriate choice, one that my people would rejoice for, and he has many great qualities that I admire and respect. He could be…..will be…a great husband and a great father to our child…."

Stop, please stop……

"After my people's disappearance and the situation I find myself currently in, I saw very little of hope for my people and my child's father, but you were there for me, the way you always have been, and you lightened my heart of its heavy burden. All the feelings I thought I had buried away deep came crawling back. And as much as they are not what should be, nevertheless, they are true."

She watched his face, the splotchy red cheeks, the shifting eyes, and anxious teeth gnawing at his own lower lip and went on.

"I know my timing is not the best since you seem to be at the brink of a new relationship and I do not wish to interfere but I thought some of the air and unspoken tension between us could be lifted by my revealing of the truth and perhaps I can move past this once and for all."

She gave him a comforting smile seeing the confusion and emotion plastered on his warped, twisted face.

"You owe me nothing John."

John looked at her and spoke clearly for the first time.

"You're not the only one who's kept secrets Teyla..."