Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis or any of its characters; I only own Emily and Melody.
Four hours later I found myself sitting in the same cell with Todd, I leaned my head against his shoulder and I felt like a piece of crap. I hadn't been able to save the Hive, so many Wraiths had died...Adults and children...How could Todd bare to be in the same space with me?
"You could not have known," Todd said suddenly as he put his arm around me, something I was not used to him doing when there were others around. I cuddled into him and wrapped my arms around him before putting my head on his chest; if the guilt, shock, and sadness weren't enough on their own my hormones made them a thousand times worse, I started crying again.
"I could have found a way to save them, I didn't know in time-"
"There was no way you could have known in time," Todd replied, "you offered to stay with the Hive and die with the Wraiths of the Hive...That is what a Queen would do, you are a Queen. You stood by the Hive every minute, if you had not my second in command would not have ordered the Dart Pilot to take you here."
I heard the door slide open and ignored it, from the sound of footsteps and the sigh I knew it was John standing in front of us...I love John more than words can say, but this he just doesn't understand...He's glad both Hives are gone and that I'm alive and safe. I'm glad the enemy Hive is gone but devastated our Hive was destroyed as well. The faces of all the Wraiths I had met and passed flashed through my mind non-stop as if silently blaming me for their deaths; the drones would look my way then vanish into the back of my mind.
"Sheppard," I heard Todd exclaimed.
"We need your help with the coding," John said softly, "I'm...Sorry about your Hive...I know what it's like to lose the people you live with and work with...The people you've grown to love, then suddenly their taken."
"I see you have experience in loss," Todd said, "who did you lose, Sheppard?"
"That's a story for another time," John replied in his, 'I really don't care to talk about that to anyone right now' tone of voice. "Hey Emily, we uh need your husband."
I sat up and pushed my red hair out of my face, I was temporarily human again; Todd had worked with Dr. Beckett to change me back so I could wander around Atlantis without armed guards. Dr. Beckett had been far from happy about having to do such a surgery on a pregnant woman, Todd told him it was fine. The surgery had been rather quick since it was mostly resetting the Wraith technology that was within me that made me into a Wraith. I sniffled and saw Ronon standing outside of the cell a hand on his gun, his eyes met mine, he gave me a slow nod.
"Emily," Todd said as he looked at me, "you should walk around Atlantis and visit friends," he looked at John, "and family," he looked back at me, "you did all that you could have done, you must know and accept this."
I nodded, I knew Todd was more upset than I was because he had been on his Hive much longer; from what I could see the Hive was the Hive he had been with before being captured by Kolya.
"If you need me-"
"Do not worry, if I need you I will simply ask your brother to get you for me," Todd replied, I nodded and walked out after him. I was still dressed in the Wraith Queen clothing, John was going to let me use his room to change into a pair of sneakers, jeans, and blouse; which were all maternity clothing. I would have to thank Dr. Elisa, a Botanist, for letting me borrow a set of her clothing; like me she was pregnant as well.
I walked to the familiar lab with John, Todd, and the marines, Rodney stood up and walked over to me, "Emily, I am so sorry. Are you ok?"
I nodded, "I'll be ok," I replied then said softly to him, "Todd would not appreciate me saying this, but would you watch over him?"
"Wh-What?" Rodney asked not looking overly thrilled at the idea of keeping an eye on Todd for me, "he's a big boy - well - Wraith, he can watch over himself."
"Rodney, it was his Hive, I had just begun to know the Wraith on that Hive, Todd has known them for over 10,000 years, please Rodney?" I asked.
"Oh, alright," Rodney sighed, "but if he tries to eat me I'm staying far from him and I won't watch over him."
"He won't try to eat you," I smiled.
"He'll try," Rodney replied as he crossed his arms, "he's threatened to feed off me twice, the first time when I was with he others in putting him into the cell, the second time when Sheppard and I told him his Hive was destroyed."
"If he tries to eat you I'll whip his ass, ok?" I asked, my voice cracking, I was trying not to cry again. I was worried about Todd, I knew he bottled up his feelings, he didn't want anyone but myself and a few others to see the kinder and gentler Wraith within him.
Rodney paused, "ok," he replied, "hey uh...Listen, I'm glad you're ok and safe...To tell the truth, I'm glad your back on Atlantis, it isn't the same without you here and having you on missions with us. We've gone through eight different nurses so far...and well...None of them are anything like you, maybe you can convince Todd to stay? Maybe Sheppard will let him feed off of Kolya's men that we catch?"
"I'll have to feed off them too," I reminded, "the surgery is only temporary, Rodney...In a week or so I'll start changing back."
"Well, we'll just have to find a cure for that change because I need a good nurse taking care of me and I really don't care to die of malpractice because of a nurse who does not know what she is doing. You know what you are doing, therefore you can help me, but the other nurses-"
"Rodney," John exclaimed as he walked over, "get over there with the Wraith."
I watched as Rodney went to join Todd, I overheard him saying something about an Ancient Hyper Drive, Todd sighed looked exasperated before threatening to feed on him...Again; Rodney turned and glared at me.
"Todd, please don't eat Rodney," I said, "he's much too salty."
"What? Well thanks a lo--" Rodney started before Todd growled.
"Do not speak to my mate in such a tone," Todd exclaimed, "of the threats will be real."
"You're joking? He's joking," Rodney said, "right?"
Todd glared him.
"OK...I think I will just go and work over here...Now.." Rodney exclaimed as he put a desk between himself and Todd. I smiled to Todd before walking with John, I actually found myself smiling and laughing a little.
"Hey you're smiling," John smiled to me.
"Yeah, Rodney really cracked me up back there."
"Well I'm glad he did," John exclaimed, "how have you been?"
"Pregnant," I smiled, "besides for the Hive, good. I had just won all the Wraiths respect-"
"What made Todd want our help anyway?" John asked.
I paused, "well...a few days ago we went onto a destroyed and abandoned planet, it was the Halgeriths' planet, I remembered we left some computers there for people to contact us and we left a few people there for an off world base. When we heard it was destroyed we wanted to see if one of the computer's drivers was still in tact, so Todd sent me and a few other Wraiths down to see-"
"He sent you down?" John asked me as he narrowed his eyes, "you're pregnant, what if you fell? What would happen to you and the baby?"
"John, he wanted to be the one to go down there, but I was feeling cooped up I had do something - he did not want me off that Hive, he wanted me safe - or I was going to lose my mind. Anyway, while we were down there a group of Replicators found us and the Wraith started fighting the Replicators, I wanted to help but they wouldn't let me; a group of them died protecting me...That's when Todd decided he - we needed your help," I explained before putting my hand on the small of my back.
"Are you alright?" John asked me in concern.
"I'm fine," I replied, "my back just hurts now and then...So um, how about those clothes?"
--
John waited outside his bedroom door as his sister changed; when he had gone to her the moment he saw her he knew it was odd that he was hugging the creatures he hated, Wraith. But Emily used to be human, and a part of her still was and always would be human; no matter what she would always be his kid sister. Even though she had matured and changed, she was still like a kid; she still gave him that look of absolute adoration as if he were some hero or Greek god to be put up on some pedestal.
"Hey Sheppard," Ronon exclaimed as he walked over, "how's Emily?"
"She's still upset," John replied, "but she's doing better now, Rodney took her mind off it and made her laugh. I found out what convinced Todd to ask us for our help."
"Yeah? What?"
"A group of Replicators ganged up on a group of Wraith that were protecting Emily on a planet; Emily was down there to help them find an old drive with the Replicator activation code in it."
"What was she doing down on that planet alone?" Ronon asked, "Todd should have been down there, not her."
"I know, I told her the same thing," John replied, "she said she needed to get into some open air before she lost her marbles."
"I don't know how she can stand being with a Wraith on a Hive, and become one," Ronon exclaimed, "I'm glad to see her human again, even if it's only for a little bit."
John paused and looked at Ronon, "you like her."
"So?"
"If you had asked her out she'd still be human right now," John exclaimed, "she wouldn't be on some Hive nearly get blown to smithereens."
"Hey, I didn't think she liked me," Ronon replied.
"She liked you, she asked me once if I'd ever caught you looking at her."
"Really?" Ronon asked.
"Yeah," John replied, "but when you started drooling over Dr. Keller she figured she didn't have a chance with you and gave up."
"Why did she give up if she wanted me?"
"Well...Emily's one of those people who like to see others happy...If you and Dr. Keller wanted to be together...She wasn't going to stand in you two's way," John replied.
"Huh, I was about to ask her out..."
"You were?"
"Yeah...But..." Ronon paused, "I was planning to ask her as soon as we got back on Atlantis...But that Dart got her before I could say anything."
John fell silent for a moment, "listen, I'm...Sorry for blaming you, you had nothing to do with it-"
"Hey, you were blowing off steam, it's fine," Ronon replied, "you nearly lost your sister, I understand. Is she interested on staying on Atlanti-" He started before the two heard Emily's cry, the two both looked at each other before John waved his hand in front of the control crystals. The door slid open.
"Emily?!" John asked.
"I thought babys...weren't supposed...to be ready to be...Born for another four months..." Emily cried out.
John paled, Emily was only...Five months pregnant, that was too early to be giving birth. He ran over as Ronon ran to get Dr. Beckett.
"Emily, are you sure it's labor?" John asked as he knelt beside her, she was fully dressed except for the fact she didn't have any shoes or socks on.
"No, I think there's a jack hammer trying to push its way out of my body," Emily replied, "what do you think?!" She shouted.
John jumped, "ok, ok, sorry...Dr. Beckett's coming, hold on..."
--
Todd was working on the 3rd line of the code with Rodney when he felt a pain travel up and down his spine, then heard his mate's cry in his mind, Todd, I'm giving birth! It's too early! What's going on?! He heard her shout in his mind. His eyes widened.
"What?" Rodney asked, "you figure out how to finish these codes before-"
"My mate is giving birth," Todd replied as he stood, he sneered when four marines stepped forward aiming their guns at him.
"Emily can't be giving birth it's only been five months," Rodney replied, "it takes at least nine months -sometimes a month or two less if the baby's premature - to have a baby. Five months isn't even long enough for the fetus to develop-"
"Wraith Queens have babies every four to five months," Todd growled, "we are not like you humans."
"Emily is - was - and is right now, human...You twos baby is half human."
"I know that, but my DNA that was put into her is Wraith and strong Wraith, she had Wraith DNA mixed into her own DNA. The DNA Kolya put into her was so strong that there's only a very small percent of human in her any longer. She needs me, now," Todd shouted the last part.
"OK, I'll get you to-"
"No need," John said as he walked in, "she's giving birth, the baby's fully developed and it's ready to be born."
--
"Emily, lass, deep breaths, how far apart are the contractions?" Dr. Beckett asked me.
"They started 5 hours ago," I panted, "I thought I just had a stomach ache or because of what was going on beween the hives or stress or..." I cried out as another contraction hit, "a side effect of the surgery-"
"Lass, yer babblin' ye need to tell me...How far apart?"
"Half an hour," I replied.
Dr. Beckett's eyes widened, "are ye sure? The usual labor-"
"There isn't anything usual about this," I replied, "can't you just drug me already? Please?" I begged.
"I can not, lass," Dr. Beckett replied, "ye still have the remains of the pain killers I gave ye during the surgery, I can't give ye anymore yet."
I cried out, "she's ready, she's ready!"
"Emily!" I heard Todd exclaim as he rushed over to my side, I was glad to see that he wasn't cuffed, I grabbed his hand.
"It's only been five months! It's too early!" I exclaimed.
"No, you are Wraith now, you only look human right now you are almost fully Wraith. Hive Queens have babies once every four to five months," Todd said.
"I can get pregnant again right after birth?" I asked.
Todd nodded.
"I am going to kill Kolya!" I shrieked as another pain traveled through me.
"Lass, take a deep breath and push as hard as ye can," Dr. Beckett exclaimed.
I nodded and took a deep breath in before pushing and giving another scream as pain wracked my body again, I squeezed Todd's hand. At one point my vision blurred as tears gathered in my eyes, I could hear Dr. Beckett telling me to take deep breaths and push; it felt like forever then finally I heard him tell me to give one last great big push, I did so the pain was gone. I heard a smack followed by a baby's loud cry.
After Dr. Beckett had cleaned the baby he wrapped her in a pink blanket and handed her to me, "she is beautiful, lass."
Todd had helped me sit up, I looked up at him and beamed before looking down at the tiny baby in my arms. She was pale skinned and had the two little holes in her cheeks just like her daddy's; her hands were so tiny, I beamed at seeing her hair was red.
"Should we name her the name we talked about in the cell?" Todd asked.
Emily nodded, "Melody Jonatha Todd."
John smiled as he walked over, "I like the name."
"We used the female version of your name Sheppard," Todd smiled, "she is a beautiful child."
"You named her after mom too," John smiled.
I nodded, "John, meet Melody, Melody meet your Uncle John," I smiled, "Melody meet your daddy," I smiled as Todd carefully picked her up. I watched the two wraith and human look at the baby before I fell to sleep.
--
"Emily, she's-" John started before he saw his sister's head was bowed down, her eyes were closed. His heart skipped a beat, he remembered hearing how sometimes women died during or after child birth. He checked her pulse and calmed down at feeling it beating strong.
"Hello Melody," exclaimed Todd and smiled, "Sheppard, she has opened her eyes."
John walked over, Melody had her father's eyes; she looked at her father and at John before giving a big yawn.
"What a big yawn for one tiny little baby," John smiled.
Melody watched him before her eyes shut again and her arm reached up, Todd smiled and put his finger into her tiny hand; his smile widened as he watched her fingers curl around his index finger...Her fingers didn't wrap around his finger at all, in fact they barely covered his index finger.
"She is beautiful," Todd said softly as he and John were shooed out of the infirmary so Dr. Beckett could give Emily a sponge bath. John had a bad feeling, he didn't know what it was, but it was bad.
--
"Hey," Ronon exclaimed as he met up with John and Todd in the hallway, with him was Teyla, Rodney, and Colonel Carter. "Can I see the baby?" He asked.
Todd looked at Ronon, "you may," he replied, still holding Melody close to him, "her name is Melody."
"Melody," Ronon smiled, "hey here Melody, I'm your uncle Ronon."
"And I'm your Uncle Rodney-" Rodney beamed when the baby giggled.
"His real name is Meredith," John smirked, Rodney glared at him.
Teyla and Colonel Carter introduced themselves as Melody's aunts, that's when John noticed Todd was pacing, something was wrong.
"Todd?" John asked, as two marines lowered their guns.
"Something is wrong with my mate," Todd exclaimed, "I can feel it."
"You can feel what she feels?" Rodney asked.
"Yes," Todd replied, "when two Wraiths have gone through the mating ceremony-"
"The Mating Ceremony?" John asked narrowing his eyes.
"Yes, and yes it is what you think it is," Todd replied, "the two Wraiths become connected and can feel what the other is feeling."
"So that's why she wanted me to watch over you," Rodney said.
"What?" Todd asked.
"Nothing," Rodney replied quickly.
"Something is wrong, I do not know what...But something is-" Todd started when Dr. Beckett walked into the hallway with a frown on his face.
"I don't like the looks of this," John exclaimed as he walked over to Dr. Beckett, "what's going on?"
"Colonel, Todd," Dr. Beckett said, "Emily...She is not doing well..."
"Her pulse was strong when I checked it," John exclaimed.
"Aye," Dr. Beckett replied, "but it seems after a woman has given birth to a baby that she is no longer needed, at least that is what Kolya must have been thinking...She's dying."
John felt as if someone had just punched through his chest and grabbed his heart before slowly ripping it out, "no...Maybe it's just because she needs to be back in Wraith form, I can find some bastard for her to feed off of, one that's killed people or-"
"Colonel! It is nothin' Wraith related," Dr. Beckett replied, "Kolya's test DNA that he mixed with Emily's DNA was experimental."
"Can we do something to fix it?" John asked.
"Maybe reverse the surgery, make her into a Wraith again," Dr. Beckett replied, "Todd?"
Todd stared at him, "I will help you, I will not lose her."
--
Three Hours Later...
John paced, his heart pounding if she died he would hunt down Kolya and kill him slowly; he'd make that monster regret the moment he laid eyes on Emily.
"Colonel," Dr. Beckett exclaimed, "the surgery was a success..."
"And?" John asked, Ronon, Teyla, and Rodney listened, they hadn't left John's side.
"She's goin' to be alright," Dr. Beckett replied, "Todd managed to save her. However, she cannot be turned human ever again, or she will die."
John nodded, "Can I see her?"
Dr. Beckett paused then nodded, "aye, but not for too long...Also do not test the Wraith; when he is worried he becomes rather...edgy."
John walked in while the others waited in the hallway, he saw Emily was sleep and back in her Wraith form. The heart monitor beeped steadily, he looked to see Melody in a tiny cradle beside Emily's hospital bed.
"She lived," Todd exclaimed, John froze Todd was crying, his tears were so thin John had nearly missed them. "She nearly died twice," Todd continued, "like you, Sheppard, she is strong and stubborn. I must also admit you have good doctors here, Dr. Keller watched over our daughter while we were giving Emily surgery."
John nodded not sure what to say about the compliment; Todd rarely gave compliments. He walked over and took Emily's hand, "hey kiddo," he said as he called her one of her nicknames he used to call her when she was little, "I'm proud of you, you made it through with flying colors. When you wake up we're all waitin' to see you, so is Melody, plus you and have me and Todd on edge here. So, think about waking up soon?" He smiled. His heart pounded in happiness, she had made it, she was going to live, she was going to be alright.
