It wasn't fair. She had come all this way and everything seemed to be falling apart.

This won't be easy. They're not just people you're trying to save. They're your parents. It'll be harder for you to go through with this because you won't be able to reveal your true identity to them.

Janus's last words before he left rang true in her ears. "No one ever said this would be easy. And I'm not asking for easy, I'm just asking for help. I want to get to know them, but at the same time ... it'll hurt more in the end if I'm attached."

You're already attached.

What do you know?

Well ... considering I'm your conscious ... I'd say I know a lot.

I don't want to leave them, but I have to. There's no other way.

Just because you're doing this to save them doesn't mean you have to push the people around you away. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Maybe you've been given the chance to come here so that you can gain back some of the time you lost with them.

But in the end, it'll only be harder to let go.

Maybe, but do you really want to spend the next year ignoring them? Can you even do that? You saw how they reacted back there. They love you. All of them do. From the beginning Rodney felt like he needed to protect you. You heard his thoughts remember? He was afraid to let you out of stasis. He wasn't sure whether there would be negative side effects. And John ... you saw the way he looked at you. Elizabeth looked at you the same way. They love you. All of them do. And the time you've spent with Carson ... they don't deserve to be shut out.

When'd you become so wise?

We take after our mother. If you recall, she's a diplomat. Just like her, we've always had the answers we were looking for deep down. You just need to trust in yourself. Trust your heart – your instincts. They won't ever fail you.

So what now?

What do you think?

She knows I'm out here. If they wanted to talk to me they would.

That's just a cop out and you know it.

They're giving me time to think.

Gwen set her gaze on the crashing waves below. No matter what's going on in my life these waves always know how to calm my nerves. Something that she recently found out she had in come with her mother. The sun was starting to set.

"Time for damage control." And with that Gwen took one last glimpse at the warm colors of the setting sun and made her way back inside to get to know her parents before time ran out.

"You two really disgust me." They had been stealing glances at each other for the past hour and a half. "I mean ... really. Get a room. It's bad enough that I lost a bet because you two couldn't control yourselves for another month. Now I have to sit here while you two rub the out come in my face. Rude." Rodney picked at what appeared to be chicken. "Is this lemon chicken?"

"Rodney, if you're so disgusted why don't you go eat over there ..." Carson said pointing toward the corner table currently occupied by a certain scientist whom everyone loved to hate. "I'm sure Kavanagh would love to hear about your squabble. And no it's not lemon chicken."

Carson smiled proud of himself for the moment. But just as Rodney was about to retaliate a certain eighteen year old walked over to their table.

"Oh ... hi Gwen." John and Elizabeth immediately looked up at Rodney's words.

"Hi. Mind if I join you?"

"No not at all." Carson scooted down allowing her to seat just across from the Colonel and Dr. Weir.

Elizabeth smiled at the young woman that was yet to be born. She couldn't believe how she had never noticed all the similarities before. Her smile, her long brunette hair that curled ever so slightly. Her sense of humor. The way she always seems to be getting into trouble. Something that she obviously inherited from her father. She was the spitting image of the both of them.

Gwen smiled back. It was good to hear her mom making the comparisons. She wasn't going to tell her that she was listening in, but the feeling that she was getting from the two sitting before her was overwhelming. But in a good way. She could literally feel how much they loved and cared for her.

"How was the sunset?" Elizabeth asked her not thinking twice about what she knew the response would be.

"What colors do you think it was?"

"Wait ... where'd you watch it from?" John piped in, only to be ignored.

"Deep reds and oranges. Maybe a little pink and yellow."

It hit him. "When'd you take her to the balcony?"

"I didn't."

"I found it one night after the Wraith attached one of our cargo ships. I sort of just stumbled upon it by mistake. But ever since ... I go to it whenever I need to get something off my mind. It's ... hard to explain. But ... it makes me feel ..."

"Safe." She looked at him.

"Yes. Safe."

"Like mother like daughter." John grinned ear to ear at that one.

"Oh please ... you spend just as much time out there as I do."

"Yes ... but I only go because you're out there waiting for me."

"No, you go because you can't stand to be away from me. Not because I'm waiting."

"Hey ... I object to that. I do believe that there have been times when my aid has been needed and ..."

"Alright! So agree to disagree on this one and get over it already."

"What's his problem?" Ronon and Teyla had just set their trays down to join the others.

"Oh ... nothing much. Rodney here's still upset that Carson won the betting pool. It cost him all his precious coffee." John tucked Elizabeth's hand into his own.

"And my chocolate and the tea! Although all I really care about is the coffee. The chocolate's been disappearing periodically for the past few months or so. I swear Zelenka's been stealing it, but the man won't admit to the crime. Just keeps saying he has no idea what I'm talking about. But I saw the way he looked at me the other day. He had culprit written across his forehead."

John spit out the water he had just tried to down. Spraying Rodney in the face – causing everyone at the table to burst out in laughter. Secretly knowing what the cause of John's garrote, Elizabeth covered her face in embarrassment.

Flashback

"John ... he's going to start noticing if we keep doing this."

"Oh come on. Where's your sense of adventure? Beside, please tell me the benefit of doing this is worth the risk?"

"Oh ... you mean sneaking into his lab at midnight every Thursday while he's off watching that same episode of the Twilight Zone to steal one chocolate bar to share? That benefit?"

"Okay so when you put it like that it doesn't sound as rewarding." Then he looked at her with that, 'I have an idea that's probably not the smartest idea, but I'm going to do it anyways,' grin on his face. "I guess that means we'll have to steal two this time."

"Oh joy."

End Flashback

"Ewww!" He shot up out of his chair. "I can't believe you just did that! I'm ... disgusting! Look at this ..." He pointed to his attire. "I'm soaked in you saliva filled water! Disgusting!" And with rushed out of the cafeteria mumble something incoherent under his breath.

Okay so it's a shorter chapter and it doesn't really shed light on anything in particular, but what can I say. I love picking on Rodney. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's more upbeat. Comments? Constructive criticism? Please Review! I need help in forming ideas. So do you have any ... I'll be sure to thank you later. Please review. Oh and continue to enjoy!