Disclaimer: We own nothing
A/N Tinuviel Undomiel: Aside from the dark side of this chapter, there is a bit of hilarity in it. All of you Shweir fans will enjoy this bit, but you Teyla/Ronon fans aren't going to be too happy. Tissues are required.
A/N Nerwen Aldarion: This was definatley the hardest thing I had to write, I near about cried a billion times and more than once I yelled out "I can't do this, it hurts too much!" But here it is the dreaded chapter. Que the omniscent music. But the two chapters after this are my favorites so stick around and please please please don't kill me.
Chapter 8: "We're done."
Three months later
"I'm going to tell Ronon about the baby," Teyla announced. She and Regina were in Regina's office, Teyla was snacking on some pretzels.
Regina was surprised, "You think it's time?"
Teyla nodded, "I have to…I'm already starting show…it's not noticeable yet but it will be." She continued, "I think Colonel Sheppard is getting suspicious about it, he said that I was beginning to look like someone called Dolly Parton." She turned to Regina, "Who is she?"
"She is a celebrity on Earth famous because she is large in certain areas," When Teyla looked confused Regina explained, "She has rather…well huge breasts."
Teyla nodded wide eyed, "Oh…I see, well that make sense now."
"So when are you going to tell him?"
"Well he's going off world to see Solen today and I'll tell him afterwards," She took a deep breath, "You don't think he'll be angry do you?"
Regina smiled, "Teyla you're going to have his baby; he isn't going to be mad." She grinned, "It's not like it's all your fault…though you did have a hand in it."
Teyla laughed a little, "True." She sighed, "But I do have a responsibility and it's time that I told him the truth."
It was in the evening when John walked into the Control Room and saw Elizabeth still hard at work in her office. Carson had told him earlier that she needed to unwind more and he could see that she wasn't planning on heading the advice.
"You know you could take a break," John said as he entered the office.
Elizabeth glanced up from the report she was writing, "I've tried before but then the whole city falls apart so I just gave up on the idea."
"But it's not healthy, Elizabeth."
"I haven't dropped dead yet, John," she replied.
"The only time you are out of this office is when you're off-world or on Movie Night," he continued.
"So?" Elizabeth asked.
"When do you ever have fun?"
"I have plenty of fun," she defended.
"Doesn't look like it," John remarked.
"I have fun all the time," Elizabeth said with an offended tone, "I probably have more fun than you."
Seeing that this was getting to her, John smiled, "I don't think so."
With a determined look burning in her green eyes, Elizabeth stood up from her desk, "I'll prove it. I'll stay away from this office for the rest of the night doing what you normally do."
John smirked, "You're on."
The next thing she knew, Elizabeth was sitting in the Media Room with a video game controller in her hands as the words Counter-strike scrolled across the scene. What had she gotten herself into?
The sounds of guns blazing made her drop the controller and John started laughing.
"What is this?" she asked.
"It's Xbox."
"A video game?" Elizabeth asked, "How old are you John Sheppard?"
"You said you wanted to do what I do to have fun," John said and picked up the fallen controller, "So here you go."
Elizabeth spent the next couple of hours trying to push buttons on the controller and shooting men who looked exactly like hers, but apparently weren't because they kept killing her. When the game declared "Terrorists Win!" for the 18th time, Elizabeth threw down her controller, which bounced when it hit the floor, and screamed out a curse in German.
"Whoa, don't get you mad," John commented.
"How could you beat me every time?" she asked.
"Because I'm in the military and I play this game all the time."
With her pride at stake, Elizabeth declared, "I will beat you at this stupid game!"
"Really?" John replied, "Alright then, I'll challenge you to three games tomorrow. Whoever wins the most games gets…"
"Chocolate?" Elizabeth asked.
"Nope."
"Money?"
"Nope."
"Then what?"
"If I win…" John thought then gave her an evil grin, "You have to down a whole bottle of tequila."
Elizabeth looked at him with an appalled face, "No."
"Oh yes, or you forfeit," John said.
A murderous look entered her eyes, "Fine, but if I win…I get to choose your uniform for the day."
John shrugged it off, "Sure cause you'll never win."
"We'll see about that," she challenged before marching out of the room. Her destination was Rodney's lab where she had been told Major Lorne was being used to test some Ancient equipment, "How do I beat John at Counter-strike?"
Both men looked at her like she'd suddenly grown a second head, "I think we need to call Carson," Rodney said.
"John said I couldn't have fun, so I said that I would do what he does for fun and he made me play Counter-strike and I couldn't win. So now we've challenged each other to three games tomorrow," Elizabeth explained.
"You know, he's my commanding officer," Lorne said, "I think I should stay out of this."
"Please," she begged, "this is a matter of pride and self preservation. If I beat him I get to choose what he wears tomorrow."
Rodney's hand flew up, "I'm in!"
Lorne looked at him strangely, "what can you do?'
"I can rig the game to make it harder for him to win."
"Okay, that helps," Elizabeth said, "but I need to learn how to play the game properly and somehow gain an edge over him."
"I know what you need," Lorne said, "follow me." Both of them followed the Major to his room where he disappeared for several moments before returning with a book, "This is a walkthrough."
"A what?" Elizabeth asked.
"A walkthrough," he repeated, "It lists all the steps you need to beat the game and gives you some short cuts and other hints. Sheppard doesn't have this."
A look of joy crossed her face, "Thank you!" she cried and hugged Lorne's neck.
"Yep," he grinned, "Walkthrough, works every time."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, "And I thought John dirtied everything up."
Teyla looked at herself in the mirror contemplating the changes that were occurring due to her pregnancy. It wasn't all that noticeable except that her stomach had a slight bulge to it. What was really a problem were her breasts which were swollen because of the pregnancy, she had to resort to wearing much larger shirts to hide it as best as she could.
She was a tired from staying up all night, she had been contemplating what she should tell Ronon, how she should break the news about the coming baby. Then the most amazing thing had happened, she had felt something, like the flapping of a butterfly's wings, her baby kicked. She scarcely dared to breathe after that praying and hoping to feel it again.
Now standing in front of the mirror she felt the tiny movement again. Teyla placed a hand on her belly, holding her breath she felt a tiny kick against the palm of her hand.
Teyla smiled with a beautiful glow, she could feel in her heart that everything would be okay. That her fear of the coming conversation was just nerves and that soon she and Ronon would be sharing moments just like this…together.
The door to her room opened and Regina came in, "You'll never believe it;" Teyla said excitedly, "the baby is kicking."
"Really?" She asked and rushed over to feel and squealed happily when she felt that tiny kick.
"Have you told him yet?"
Teyla shook her head, "I'm waiting until after he sees Solen, he should be in a good mood then."
Regina nodded and took her hand from Teyla's stomach just in time because Laura came rushing through the door. "There you are," She said panting a little, "You have GOT to come; Dr. Weir and Colonel Sheppard are having a video game match on Counter-strike!"
"What?" Teyla and Regina asked at the same time.
"There are bets all over the place, you have to come!" Then the excited Lieutenant rushed out the door.
Teyla and Regina looked at each other amused, "We can't miss this," Teyla said and hurried out the door with Regina on her heels.
When Teyla and Regina made it to the Media Room the walls were already packed with personnel. Ronon saw them and gestured for them to join him near the front. Nervously, Teyla followed Regina towards the father of her baby.
"Did we miss anything?" she asked.
He shook his head, "No, you're right on time."
Teyla nodded and tried to not look at him, something Regina noticed and smiled at.
Elizabeth was sitting on the couch and was continuously wiping her sweaty palms on her pants. Oh god, what was she thinking?! John might as well hand her a bottle of tequila and a sombrero, there was no way she could beat him.
On the other side of the sofa, John had a smug look on his face which sunk her even lower. Lorne saw this and came up to whisper in hear ear, "Arrogance will be his weakness." That helped a little.
Laura walked in front of the TV and smiled, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now about to begin. Players take your controllers," Elizabeth and John picked up the remotes, "May the best man or woman win." She smiled even harder, "Let the games begin."
After staying up all night studying that walkthrough and the fact that she was terrified, Elizabeth found it hard to concentrate. Even though John's side of the game had more resistance, he still managed to beat her.
"Yes!" he cheered when he won, then tossed her a smirk, "Get ready to get super drunk," he teased.
Now this was war. Elizabeth pushed back her fear and exhaustion and recalled everything the book had said. Second round went to her. "You were saying?"
John was more than a little shocked, but he blamed it on the fact that for some reason he seemed to have more trouble finding weapons and his men kept getting lost.
"We have reached a tie," Laura announced, "This is the final round, the winner gets all and the loser received total humiliation."
Both players were now determined to beat the other, no matter what. As John controlled his players, he kept wondering why his section seemed so hard. Then he realized Elizabeth's player he was tracking had somehow disappeared. Scanning frantically for where she'd gone, the sound of gunfire coming from a secret compartment surprised him and then his player sank to the ground with blood spattered everywhere. His jaw dropped as he realized he had lost.
All the girls in the room cheered and patted Elizabeth's shoulders while John continued to stare at the screen, frozen to where he sat. Impossible, there was no way she could have beaten him.
Elizabeth leapt up from the sofa and ran over the Rodney and Lorne, "Thank you guys so much!"
John snapped his head around, "You cheated!"
"Now what gave you that impression?" she asked innocently.
"You asked them for help!" he exclaimed, "This doesn't count!"
"You never specified that I couldn't cheat," Elizabeth said. Realizing he was cornered, John just stared at her in disbelief. "That's what you get for being cocky and using tequila against me," she grinned, "Now you can enjoy this nifty number."
Laura came up beside her bearing an item of clothing draped on a hanger. John fiercely shook his head, "No way, I am not wearing that!"
"Rules are rules, John," Elizabeth smiled.
He was never ever going to live this one down.
Grudgingly he took the skimpy black dress from Laura's hands.
All of Atlantis was still laughing from the results of the game. Lorne had begged Chuck, the technician, to put on "Dude Looks like a Lady" over the city wide radio. John was less than amused.
Everywhere he went, guys whistled at him and girls giggled. The damn dress Elizabeth made him wear was so short it didn't even come close to reaching his knees and the spaghetti straps chafed at his shoulders. She even made him wear stilettos which caused him the twist his ankle three times already. Women are insane, he thought to himself as he stumbled again.
"You look good in drag," someone commented as he passed him. John waved him off bitterly.
Ronon was waiting for Chuck to dial the Gate to Belkan. The Satedan smiled when he saw John, "I hear they're calling you Lt. Colonel Joan Sheppard now."
"Yeah, and I know who started it," he glared at Rodney who was sitting behind a computer trying not to laugh.
Rodney grinned, "It fits."
"I almost regret leaving," Ronon admitted.
"Oh don't worry," Rodney assured him, "I'm taking pictures." He held up a camera with a grin. Immediately John made a mad dash for the camera, but Rodney was already running away from the desk. The colonel hobbled after him, barely moving in the heels.
"He'll never make it far in those things," Ronon said with a smile. The Gate activated and he was given an all clear to see his friend in Belkan.
Ronon was still laughing inwardly at the way Sheppard looked in a dress; there was never a dull moment on Atlantis that was for sure. He was rounding the corner of the building when he saw Caldyn, another agent from Sateda, one that he had never gotten a long with. Caldyn was talking with his cousin Jrenor.
"It seems like the only wives that survived Sateda are the ones who fell in love with their husbands," Jrenor complained. Ronon rolled his eyes, he knew about those two, they were famous for bedding down with every promiscuous wife they could.
"I know," Caldyn agreed, "It's a shame Inaya Holta didn't survive or Melena Dex for that matter."
Ronon couldn't believe his ears. There was no thinking involved when he came up from behind and grabbed Caldyn by his collar lifting him in the air, "What did you say!" He growled out dangerously.
"R…Ronon…" Caldyn choked out, "I d...d…didn't know you were there."
"What did you say?!"
Solen had seen the whole thing and had rushed down; he made a guess at what Ronon had overheard. "Ronon let him go."
Ronon complied and Caldyn and Jrenor scrambled away, "You knew didn't you?!"
"Ronon calm down and think about this…"
"You knew and you didn't tell me!" Ronon was beyond anger now.
Solen sighed, "We thought it would be better if you handled your grief with out it."
"WE?!"
Solen nodded, "Teyla said it would be best because of what was happening between you two."
Ronon was so shocked that for a moment he forgot his anger, "Teyla knew?" But then it came back full force, "SHE KNEW!"
With that Ronon stalked away as Solen gave a silent prayer to Teyla because she was going to need it.
Rodney was still snapping pictures at John dressed in black. John glared at him angrily, he'd been standing up all day because he couldn't sit without showing the rest of himself and the heels were killing him. Teyla and Elizabeth couldn't stop laughing and every so often somebody came up and made some remark about his attire that made them laugh harder.
"Alright," John began, "are you going to tease me about this for the rest of my life?"
Elizabeth thought for a moment, "Pretty much."
Teyla started laughing again just when the gate opened. Chuck announced that it was Ronon's IDC and the four friends looked at each other surprised to hear there friend was back so soon.
"Hey you're back early," Teyla said when she saw Ronon.
Ronon disregarded the remark and suddenly Teyla saw what was in his eyes: rage. "You knew Melena was having an affair." He said it in this icy cold voice that sent chills up her spine and straight into her heart.
She looked at her friends shocked faces, "Ronon could we talk about this somewhere else?"
"No we are going to talk about this now!" She was startled by his voice and stayed put. "You lied to me!"
"No I never lied." She defended herself.
"You withheld the truth it's the same thing."
"I…I just…I couldn't tell you," Teyla said.
"Why not?!"
"I didn't want to hurt you!" She explained, "You would have blamed me for your pain if I told you the truth."
"So you did this for yourself!"
"No Ronon I…" She began but he cut her off.
"No Teyla, stop talking!" He yelled at her, "Just stop!" Teyla stood there silently trying not to let her tears fall; nothing swayed him now "We're done!" He said icily, the words seeming to echo across the room before storming away.
Teyla stood watching him walk away her tears streaming down her cheeks as her dreams came crashing down. She turned her misty eyes to her friends who stared at her with mixed looks of surprise and sympathy. Teyla rushed out of the room before they could see her break down completely.
"Okay," Elizabeth said slowly, "I think we have something else to talk about now."
Regina was in her office all alone doing paperwork when Teyla walked in silently. It was obvious Teyla had been crying, Regina had heard all about the scene in the Gate Room. "Hey," She spoke softly not sure what else there was to say.
"I just…I came to," Teyla began again still fighting tears, "I came to say goodbye."
"What? Why?" Regina asked.
"I'm going to the Mainland," Teyla explained, "I can't stay here anymore not with the way Ronon feels towards me."
"But what about the baby?"
"I'm not going to tell him," She said, "I can't, I won't hold onto him that way, besides with the way things are…it will only make everything worse."
Regina wasn't surprised, "What are you going to do?"
Teyla shook her head, "I don't know…I can't let Ronon know," She choked back tears, "but that means I might not be able to keep the baby."
"You have to, it's your baby!"
She nodded, "I know but…if I did he would find out." Teyla sighed, "I want to keep it, I want to so badly…I just…I don't know what I'm going to do." She wiped away a tear, "That's why I'm going to the Mainland, to think about what I should do…I'll come back after I have the baby."
"Are you sure?" Regina asked not wanting to lose her friend.
Teyla nodded, "Leaving is the only thing I can do…I've lost Ronon which means there's nothing I can do but leave."
TBC
A/N: Please don't kill me please don't kill me, what did you think, please don't kill me please don't kill me.
