Sam smiled as she looked from Helena to John and back. Then she looked around the room. "Where's the camera?"

Helena and John exchanged curious looks.

"Excuse me?" John asked, his eyebrows rising to his hairline.

Sam stood. "This is a joke, right?"

Helena swallowed and glanced over to John, who suddenly looked concerned. She cleared her throat and looked down to her hands, then back to Sam. "No joke."

Sam sat back down, hard. "You're sure?"

Helena smiled, suddenly. "Sure of what? That it's not a joke or that I am pregnant?"

Sam shook her head, as if the clear it. "Both."

Helena nodded. "Yes. It's been confirmed by blood test and by scans run and rerun by Doctor Cole."

Sam suddenly looked at a loss for words.

Helena sat forward from her relaxed position in Sam's plush chairs. "Are you okay?"

Sam smiled, then. "I'm just imagining General O'Neill's reaction: 'What, again?'"

Helena smiled. "It's for real this time."

"Is this going to be a problem?" John asked, cutting to the chase.

Sam shook her head. "If we were at the SGC, I would say 'none' provided, again, that you two are not in each other's direct chains of command," she lifted a hand to curtail Helena's response. "Which I know you're not. We've established that." She took a deep breath. "I honestly don't know. I would assume you want to stay here."

Helena frowned. "I – Of course!" She tilted her head with her eyebrows up. "Sam, if they try to recall me, I'll resign."

John frowned. "Hold on," he sat forward and motioned to the computer on Sam's desk. "Can't you look up the Army Regulations? I mean, since she's Army and not Air Force – not that I would know what the Air Force regs would be, but, well" he motioned again. "You know."

Helena heard "well, you know" and snorted a small laugh through her nose without meaning to.

John looked at her askance.

She shook her head, furiously, with her eyes dancing.

He frowned, clearly not understanding, and looked back at Sam, who was already looking up the regulation.

"Okay, let's see…'must confirm with medical personnel', done. 'Physical profiles', Doctor Cole will be doing the paperwork on that. Oh, here we go 'the soldier should not be reassigned to or from overseas commands until pregnancy is terminated.' There you go." She looked up from the computer. "You don't have to go anywhere."

Helena frowned. "I don't like the term 'terminated', though."

John reached over and patted her hand. "The important thing is that you don't have to go anywhere."

She smiled at him.

Sam smiled, too, and stood and moved around her desk. "So, let me ask one important question, Helena, not as the base commander or lead administrator of the expedition, but as your friend. Are you truly happy about this? I know it had been a sensitive spot between you and…" she glanced at John and sort of grimaced. "Mike."

Helena stood. "I am, Sam. I really am. I'm scared to death, but I'm also happy."

Sam beamed and hugged her friend. "Then, congratulations."

John stood, then, and was surprised when Sam hugged him, too.

"Congratulations, John."

He smiled. "Thanks, Sam."

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Rodney and Ronon arrived at the door of the cafeteria at the same time.

"Oh. Hello, Ronon."

Ronon nodded. "Sheppard call you?"

"Yeah. You?" At Ronon's look, he rolled his eyes. "Of course, he did, if you're asking me."

Teyla arrived then. "Rodney, Ronon."

"Do you know what's going on?" Rodney asked.

Ronon frowned. "I wonder if it has something to do with Helena."

Rodney suddenly looked concerned. "Why? What do you know?"

Ronon shook his head. "Only that she wasn't feeling well and very upset yesterday."

Teyla frowned. "I think that we should go in instead of standing out here, imagining the worst."

She walked in first, followed by Ronon and Rodney.

It was late and the cafeteria was deserted. They looked around and saw John and Helena sitting next to each other at the team's usual table. They appeared to be speaking quietly to each other until John saw his team and signaled them over.

"What's wrong?" Rodney asked, without preamble as he sat down. "Ronon said you were upset and not feeling well. Are you okay?" he asked Helena, then looked at John.

Helena laughed softly. "Relax, Rodney," she smiled. "I'm fine."

"It's actually what we wanted to talk to you all about," John said.

Teyla nodded. "Tell us, John, please."

Helena looked at John and he looked at her. She nodded to him and he shook his head, which made her laugh. "Chicken shit."

He frowned at her. "I am not."

"No?" She asked with her eyebrows raised in challenge.

His eyebrows rose. "No. I just think you deliver the news better."

"What? Hey, I have 'delivered the news' twice in two days, Mister."

He started to smile. "And, therefore, you have more experience than I do."

"Will you two just spit it out, already?" Rodney snarked.

Helena narrowed her eyes at John and then took a deep breath. "We wanted to let you know that you'll be getting a new member to your team in about thirty-one weeks."

Rodney frowned and glanced over to Ronon, who looked confused.

"What do you mean 'another team member'?" Rodney started. "And thirty-one weeks? That's almost eight months from now; why are you telling us now? Who is it?" Rodney's eyes widened. "Does this mean that one of us is being replaced? Sheppard, are you being recalled? Oh, god. Is it me? Am I being recalled?"

"Rodney!" John shouted after trying to get his friend's attention three times during his litany of questions.

"What? Come on, John, you know I can't stand surprises."

Helena smiled. "Well, that is obvious."

Ronon looked faintly amused, but concern shown clearly from his eyes as he looked at Helena. "Are you okay?" he asked, lowly.

She smiled. "It depends on your definition of 'okay'. Actually, I'm really good." She glanced at John, whose gaze back at her was intense, and warmed. "Getting better all the time."

"Helena and I are expecting a baby," John announced suddenly.

Ronon, Teyla and Rodney stared at him in stunned silence.

Helena and John looked back, waiting.

Ronon was the first to react. He catapulted out of his chair, sending it flying out behind him, reached across the table and pulled John up, by the shoulders, and into a bear hug that would put all bear hugs through the course of history to shame.

Teyla then stood, smiling broadly.

Helena, who had stood when Ronon's chair went flying, met her halfway around the table.

When the two friends hugged, Teyla said. "Congratulations."

When Ronon was finished banging on John's back, he approached Helena. He looked like he wanted to grab her as he had John, but refrained from doing so.

So Helena hugged him.

When she released him, he tilted her head up, leaned down and gently kissed her cheek. Then he wrapped his arms around her. "Congratulations," he said, softly.

When he released her, she was beaming. She looked over to John who was being hugged by Teyla. Then she looked at Rodney.

He was frowning.

"Rodney?" She moved over to the chair Teyla had abandoned, next to him, and sat down.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes."

"How did this happen?"

John smiled. "Rodney, do I have to explain the birds and the bees--?"

"Well, I know that part," Rodney snapped. "I mean, I didn't know you were trying. I thought you," he looked at Helena. "didn't want kids. I mean you and Carson—"

"Rodney," John warned.

"It's okay, John; it's a fair question." Helena put her hand on Rodney's arm. "Carson and I ended it because he wanted kids and I didn't. This wasn't planned. I never thought it would happen; in fact, I was taking steps to keep it from happening." She glanced over to Teyla and Ronon, who were now looking concerned. "But it has happened."

"So is this not a happy occasion?" Teyla asked.

"It is!" Helena assured them all. "It's a gift fate has given us and, though I am scared to death, I am very happy."

Rodney looked at John, who nodded. Then he looked at Helena. He patted her hand. "Congratulations, then."

She smiled at John, who smiled back at her.

Rodney, then, stood and went over to offer his hand to John. "I'm sure you'll be a great dad, and whatnot."

Helena chuckled softly at the two men who were more uncomfortable with emotion than anyone she'd ever seen.

They shook hands, then parted awkwardly.

Teyla took Rodney's vacated seat. "So you are how far along?"

"Nine weeks."

"Have you had any sickness?"

"Just nausea."

"I know that none of the women here have children, so if you feel that you need to speak to someone for advice, I have friend who has been through this many times. I can bring her hear to talk to you – or you can go to New Athos – "

"Helena's not allowed to go off-world until after the baby is born," John interrupted.

Teyla smiled. "I see."

Helena too her friend's hand, gratefully. "I would love the opportunity to talk to your friend, though, Teyla. Thank you. I have no idea what I'm doing."

"I'm sure it will come to you," Teyla reassured her.

"And you're not going through it alone," Ronon smiled, clapping John on the back hard enough to make him stagger.

Helena smiled, even as John glared at Ronon. "Careful, there, big guy, I'm going to need in him in one piece."

Ronon's grin was wide. "Why? Didn't he already do his job?"

"Ronon!" Teyla scolded as Helena laughed.

John shot the taller man a dirty look to which Ronon responded with a chuckle.

"Oh, his job's not over by a long shot." Helena chuckled, as she winked at John.

John sighed and shook his head. "If today is any indication, I'll be dead by the time this child is born." He looked pointedly at Helena.

Helena gasped aloud, turned red and stared at him, wide-eyed.

He grinned back at her as if to say "You had it coming."

"Oh, come on!" Rodney groaned. "Will you two stop already?"

"What's the matter, Rodney?" Teyla teased. "You can't stand to see two people in love?"

Helena's breath caught in her throat and she glanced at John, who was now staring at the table. Quickly, she looked away.

Ronon caught this non-exchange and clapped John hard on the back again.

John glared at him. He smiled back at John and motioned for John to walk with him as Rodney walked over to the snack table to get a snack and water for them.

Teyla leaned close to Helena and lowered her voice to speak in hushed tones. "I hope I didn't speak out of turn."

Helena frowned. "When?"

"When I said you and John were in love."

"Oh," Helena looked at her hands on the table.

"Helena?"

"Don't worry, Teyla. You didn't say anything wrong." Helena smiled.

Teyla frowned, her eyebrow raised. "But you do love him."

Helena took a deep breath. "We've never actually put it into words."

Teyla smiled, knowingly. "Anyone can see it, Helena. It was no surprise to me when you two decided to pursue each other. I hope you and John will come to terms with it." She chuckled. "It is odd how you are so expressive and affectionate – a 'mother hen' – but the idea of loving John makes you uncomfortable."

"It's not that." Helena shrugged. "I guess I just don't want to complicate things."

Teyla looked at her intently. "I would say 'things' are 'complicated' now, aren't they?"

Rodney arrived back at the table and their conversation turned to things like morning sickness and swollen feet.

Meanwhile, Ronon and John were a few tables away when Ronon said to John. "Exciting news."

John nodded. "Yeah, it is."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

John looked up. "What do you mean?"

"On Sateda, when a man and a woman decide to have a child together, there is a marriage involved at some point."

John paused. "That's usually the case on Earth, too."

"Well?"

John frowned. "If you're asking me if we're going to get married – "

"I am."

"I don't know. We haven't talked about it," he began to walk again.

Ronon caught his arm. "I want you to know, Sheppard, that I think of you as a brother and my commanding officer, but I also think of her as a sister. I'll do what I need to protect her honor."

John turned to face Ronon. "Are you threatening me?" his eyes were narrowed.

Ronon smiled his feral, animalistic smile that told an opponent he was ready to kick ass. "Take it as you wish."

John took a deep breath to calm himself and keep his voice level. "Look, I don't need you to tell me what my responsibilities are, Ronon. Even if I asked her, I'm not sure she'd say yes. She doesn't even want to get married."

Ronon's smile remained. "Things change, Sheppard. She didn't want kids either, right?"

John pursed his lips.

Ronon dipped his head. "Listen, I just want to make sure she doesn't get hurt," he said, lowly.

John suddenly felt his heart swell with appreciation. He knew, now, without a doubt, that if anything ever happened to him, Ronon would be the fierce protector of Helena and his child. He nodded. "Thanks, Ronon."

Ronon nodded and walked back to where Rodney was looking increasingly uncomfortable with the women.

John looked over to the table as Ronon turned a chair around and straddled it. What he saw was his family: a fierce kid brother, an intellectual almost-twin brother, a big-hearted sister and the mother of his child.

He stared at Helena and thought of Teyla's words. He knew eventually he'd have to say the words but something kept him from it. He knew he wanted her with him forever – he'd figured that out way back when she'd gone out with Lakatos and the thought of her with someone else almost drove him to madness. And now, they were having a child together. It was almost too much to take in.

"If I had to choose from all the men I know to have a child with, it would be you."

Her words came floating back to him and his gut did the same tight, twisty thing it did when she first said them.

She looked over at him then and his insides flipped around. He smiled at her and she smiled back.

He still didn't know if they would ever get married, but he did know he would be with her as long as she would have him and maybe someday he'd find a way to put his thoughts and feelings into words.

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Late that night, John and Helena lay in her bed, his hand resting on her abdomen and hers on his hand. He propped himself up on one arm and looked down at her, lying there with her long hair splayed out on the pillow, like a crown, and the flush of their love-making still in her face. He kissed her swollen lips, very lightly.

She smiled up at him as he drew back. "Are you very happy, John?"

"I've never been happier."

She smiled.

"You?" he asked. "Are you still scared?"

"It's a more manageable fear, now. I can get through it as long as you're here." She reached up and touched his cheek, now stubbly.

He looked intently into her eyes. "I'm not going anywhere, 'Lena. I'm here as long as you want me."

Her eyes moistened. "That may be a rather long time, John."

His eyes darkened and his eyebrows furrowed. "As long as you want me."

She reached up and kissed him, then, a sweet gentle kiss. Then she turned to her side, her back to him, and curled up into him, still holding his hand on her stomach.

He curled up with her and relaxed to drift into sleep, holding her. After what seemed like a long time, just as he was about to doze off, he thought he heard her say:

"What if I want you forever?"

She said it so softly that he was sure she hadn't meant for him to hear it, so he pretended to be asleep. After a while, he could tell she's fallen asleep, so he tightened his arms around her and pulled her close, finally drifting off to sleep himself, with a smile on his face.