A/N: Thanks for all the reviews and sorry if I made anyone feel guilty about not reviewing I've been having a pretty crappy week. Add feeling bummed about the sudden drop in reviews on top of a crappy week and you get the A/N I wrote in the last chapter.

--

Entering the control room planning to help Grodin out by activating some new consoles Skyler glanced towards Elizabeth's office to see if she was there. Seeing the silent question in Skyler's eyes Grodin indicated the balcony door. Nodding Skyler plopped down in the seat next to Grodin so the man could explain what he needed him to do.

Normally Skyler would have gone out there to say hi before getting to work but ever since the nanite virus outbreak two weeks ago things had been kind of tense between them. They didn't hang out together as much as they'd use to, there hadn't been any late night talks about everything and nothing, no meals shared together, no movie nights, things had changed between them.

Though if he was honest with himself most of those things had gradually been happening long before the nanite virus. Skyler had started to do those things with Aria more and more as time had gone by and Elizabeth had been doing them with Sheppard. Of course after the nanite out break and then everything that had happened with that Ancient woman Chaya, Sheppard was on thin ice himself. After reading all the reports and hearing from people that had been there Skyler had to admit he was glad he'd been off world during Chaya's visit otherwise he probably would have decked Sheppard for the way he'd acted and treated the others.

Grabbing a cup of coffee Skyler watched as Sheppard exited the balcony followed by Elizabeth a short time later. Knowing Elizabeth's expressions as well as he did Skyler could see the hint of an amused smile on her face as she looked at the clay pot in her hands. Looked like Sheppard had found a way to start clawing his way out of the doghouse, now if only Skyler could figure it out.

Catching sight of Skyler, Elizabeth altered her course to walk past him, "Don't think I don't know that it was you who told him." She kept her voice low not wanting to be over heard.

"Told who what?" Skyler scrunched his brow in confusion.

"John, that it was my birthday." Her smile grew slightly as she continued past him. Skyler's eyes grew wide causing him to look like a deer caught in the head lights as he quickly counted the days in his head.

"Shit!" He muttered softly under his breath. He had completely forgotten that it was Elizabeth's birthday she would kill him if she found out. Having to figure out away to save his hide Skyler made some excuse to Grodin then disappeared out of the control room.

--

Hovering unnoticed in the background of the infirmary Skyler watched the elderly woman that had been found in stasis sleep. There was something about the woman that was eerily familiar to him but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was and it was starting to bug the hell out of him.

When she finally woke up he watched in even more confusion as she addressed Carson by name. It wasn't long before Elizabeth and McKay arrived to speak with their mystery guest. There was some discussion between the three that Skyler couldn't hear then they moved over to the older woman's bed, Carson still panicked and Elizabeth and Rodney both intrigued by whatever Carson had said.

Studying the woman as Elizabeth spoke with her Skyler began to notice certain mannerisms that tugged at something in the back of his mind. Shifting his gaze from the woman to Elizabeth and back it suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks why the older woman was so familiar to him.

"Oh yes. I'm you, Elizabeth." About to speak up about his epiphany Skyler paused when he heard the woman confirm what he'd just figured out.

Trying to wrap his mind around every thing he didn't catch the older woman's brief explanation about how she'd gotten there. Dealing with an alternant version of a person wasn't exactly new to him – he'd been at the SGC long enough to know about and even deal with a few alternant realities – but the fact that it was an alternant older version of Elizabeth had Skyler doing a double take.

--

Several hours later Skyler found himself in the infirmary sitting by the elder-Weir's bedside, Sheppard and Rodney sleeping a short distance away. He'd heard her story of how she'd come to be there and wasn't the least bit surprised by the sacrifices she'd made to insure the success of the expedition the second time around.

Seeing her eyes flutter open he gently took hold of her hand and softly rubbed the skin with his thumb. "Hey."

As she fixed her gaze on him her brow scrunched in momentary confusion before recognition took hold, "Skyler."

He smiled softly, "How're you doing?"

"Been better," she turned her gaze to take in the rest of the room. "Where are the others?"

"McKay and Sheppard are both out cold in the corner over there and Beckett pulled rank on Elizabeth forcing her to go get something to eat then sleep." The sat silently for a few moments before Skyler remembered part of the reason he was there, reaching under his chair to grab the object he'd set there and placed it by her side. "Happy birthday."

"Birthday?" She frowned softly before remembering that John had said something about it being her birthday earlier. Looking at the object by her side she smiled fondly at seeing the small stuffed bear. "You still have this?"

"Of course I still have Bubba," Skyler ducked his head slightly before looking up to meet the elder woman's gaze. "You gave him to me just after my mom…you told me that as long as I had him with me I'd never be alone, I'd always have someone watching over me keeping me safe…someone to stop all the bad things happening."

"I remember," Elder-Weir absently fiddled with one of the bear's tattered ears.

"Yeah, I figured you could use him more than me right now. Besides I figure it's only fair that you get a birthday present, seeing as how it is your birthday as well as hers."

"Thank you," she squeezed his hand. "But you know what I'd really like for my birthday?"

"Name it."

"I'd like to hear you play one last time." She smiled again and sighed as her eyes fluttered closed. "I know you brought your guitar with you."

"Yeah I can do that." Skyler gently kissed her forehead as she drifted off to sleep again. He continued to hold her hand a moment longer before pulling away. Setting the bear on the bedside table he quietly made his way out of the room.

--

Entering the infirmary Elizabeth silently made her way past the sleeping forms of Rodney and John. Sitting in the chair by her older version's bed she paused at seeing the stuffed bear she'd given to Skyler years ago sitting on the bedside table. Carefully, almost as if handling an ancient artifact, she picked it up, remembering the day she'd given it to Skyler. It had been just after his mom's funeral and Skyler had been having a hard time, Elizabeth had wanted to do something to help so she'd given him Bubba.

When she'd been a child her dad had used to bring her a stuffed animal every time he returned home from negotiations – Bubba had been the first and had always been her favorite. For years she had dragged Bubba everywhere with her, he always made her feel safe and loved. She was surprised to find that Skyler still had the bear.

"Damn! Fell asleep again!"

Hearing her other self speak up Elizabeth set the bear back on the table, turning her attention to the other woman. "Well, you're not the only one." She looked over at John and Rodney then back to the older woman. "Are you in any pain?"

Walking back into the infirmary, guitar in hand, Skyler paused in the doorway watching the two Elizabeth's talking. It was interesting watching the two together; they were so much alike and yet so different from each other.

"Enjoy the moment -- what's here right now. The sun, the breeze ... our birthday!" Skyler couldn't agree more with the older woman's words.

"Skyler couldn't keep it to himself, huh?" Elizabeth tried to look annoyed – try being the operative word.

"Sheppard actually." She smiled faintly. "I'm just saying stop being so damned hard on yourself. Life is quick."

"Not for you."

"It was my choice, Elizabeth. I didn't second-guess it then, and I don't regret it now."

Quietly sliding into the room Skyler propped the guitar against the wall and sat on one of the stools in the room, listening to the elder Weir tell the rest of her story. When she finished and told Elizabeth about the note she'd had with her he subconsciously moved in closer as Elizabeth roused Sheppard and McKay. Hearing the heart monitor flatline his gaze snapped to the older Elizabeth, his heart dropping.

--

Later that night Skyler sat out on one of the many balconies with his guitar playing a slow beautiful tune. The music swelled with feelings of hope, fear and a range of other emotions. The song finished, trailing off into silence, and he sat still for a moment, his eyes closed as he breathed.

"That was beautiful."

Startled by the unexpected interruption Skyler's head snapped up, seeing Elizabeth standing in the doorway. Moving over to the railing she leaned against it folding her arms around herself.

Setting the guitar aside he moved to join her. "It's what she wanted, to hear me playing one last time."

"She would have loved it, I did." Unfolding an arm she held Bubba out to Skyler. "You left this in the infirmary."

"Keep him," he shrugged not taking the bear. It seemed appropriate especially since he still hadn't figured out what to give her. "Happy birthday."

"You sure? I know how much you loved this bear." Elizabeth held the stuffed animal in front of her.

"Yeah you need him more than I do." Nodding her head Elizabeth folded her arms again. The two fell into an uncertain silence.

"I'm sorry." Elizabeth finally broke the silence.

"For what?" Skyler looked at his aunt questioningly.

"For being so distant lately. Things have been tough for me lately and I guess in away I've been taking it out on you using the nanite outbreak as an excuse. But the older me made me realize that life is short and I don't want things to be like they are between us now."

"Elizabeth you have nothing to be sorry for. You have every right to be angry with me about what I did, but I agree I don't like the way things are between us right now."

"Do you think we can fix things between us?"

"I don't know if things will ever to be exactly like they were before, but we're family and we can do anything we set our minds to." It wasn't going to be an over night thing but he had no doubt they'd be able to fix things between them.

"Good." Reaching over Elizabeth hugged her nephew, before turning towards the door. "I should get going somebody's probably looking for me."

Grabbing her hand Skyler stopped her leaving, "Are you okay?"

"Honestly I don't know yet. Just when I thought things couldn't get any weirder around here I find an alternate version of myself. It's strange but I'm not sure how exactly I should be feeling. I should know how to feel, but I don't and it's frustrating."

"You just faced your own mortality that's liable to throw anyone for a loop. On the bright side though at least you know you're going to age nicely."

Elizabeth had to laugh, "There is that." She gave him another hug, "That's one of the things I like about you Sky, you always seem to find the humor in things."

"I do what I can." He shrugged.

"Thank you," she kissed his cheek then pulled away. "Now I really should be going." Elizabeth headed for the door.

"You work to hard." Skyler spoke under his breath, knowing it was pointless to try telling her that.

Elizabeth paused at the door looking over her shoulder, "oh and Skyler I forgive you for forgetting it was my birthday this morning."

"Wha? How?" Skyler felt his jaw drop. Elizabeth just smirked disappearing through the door. Shaking his head Skyler turned back to the view, there were just some things that he was never going to understand about his aunt.