A/N:

Hi everyone. I'm really grateful for all the comments you posted along the way. This has been a great month for me as a writer. This story is coming to an end with this last chapter - epilogue. I'm leaving some things unfinished on purpose - to give your imagination place to work and make an end you like best. Now I'm going back to my original story since I finished every fanfic I had idea for.

I hope you liked the whole story and when I finally come up with another idea you'll be there to go through it with me.

Thank you again for reading.

Ludwisia


John cursed again hiding behind a large rock with Teyla.

"Why does this happen every time we really need to go back, Teyla, why!?" he whined reloading a clip. "It's like some kind of curse I seem to inherit from O'Neill since he no longer goes through the gate."

"Relax, John" she handed him a bottle of water to sip. "I know these people. We need only to get through the next hour until the sun sets and they will return back to their village leaving us here."

"Right" he said with an irony. "Because they like to sleep through the night even if they feel threatened."

"They fear the creature that like to roam in the dark."

"Creature?" John startet worrying hearing that. "What kind of creature?"

"It is the size of the elephant, roughly, but more resembling a mountain lion. It hunts in packs so it can be quite dangerous and the people here learned to build strong walls that protect them. They are sure to retreat to their enclosure for the night."

"That's supposed to make me feel better and worry less?" he almost screeched.

"The creature fears certain kinds of fire and certain smells" Ronon supplied. "It's very easy to repent it with simple trick. Believe me, the natives are much more problematic in comparison."

"So we wait until sunset then make a run for the gate."

"No."

"Of course not" John growled in frustration. "Ronon, my friend, please tell me what do we do."

"We wait for just before the sunset, get the fire and our defences against the creature prepared, wait through the night and then, just after sunrise we make a run for the gate before the natives get here. If we run just before the sunset we would just be inviting the creature to hunt us."

"For once I'm glad Rodney is not here."

"Yeah, he would be even more unhappy than you" Ronon countered. "And he would complain about this burn wherever he is so he better do it in the infirmary."

"I just wish I could be there for Elizabeth."

"Carson is taking very good care of her, remember" Teyla tried to assure her friend.

"I know."

John saidd what he knew they needed to hear from him to let it go but still the uneasy feeling in his stomach wasn't settling. The worry he was accustomed to. He learned to ignore it more or less in the months since Elizabeth started feeling tired and nauseus all the time. He took her to Carson eventually, dragged really, just to be informed that it was perfectly normal for her state. Even if her state was what was completely unthinkable for most medical proffessionals in Atlantis.

In their third month as a married couple they found out that despite all the surgical interventions she endured after her rescue, that should have rendered her unableto have children, Elizabeth was pregnant. Changes to her internal organs were really minor, so much that nobody really noticed them without looking specifically for them but they were there. And they enabled a pregnancy. She became a frequent visitor of the infirmary from that day on with unending checkups of her and the child but everything seemed to be in order. Up to a point where she went into labour three hours ago, almost two weeks before her due date. Since she was put on bedrest a month before, she was in the infirmary already and everything seemed to be going smoothly so far but everything could have changed in three hours.

John and his team decided to finish the survey quickly after the information was passed through the gate and go back ASAP but the attack from the natives just crossed their plans. Now John was stranded on this god forsaken planed not even knowing what was going on with his family.

The night passed without any incident even though they made small camp in the open. Ronon took out three small packets and his method obviously worked. The creatures were visible in the distance but not one of them decided to come closer than half a mile and the natives were nowehere to see.

They woke before the sunrise and prepared. As soon as sun rose the creatures retreated much farther and the team made a run for the gate.

"I need to get to the infirmary!" John shouted throwing all his gear on the floor of the gateroom and running straight to his destination.

Jack and Woolsey, standing on the small balcony of the control room both smiled at the scene. After a few seconds all the place erupted with a good wishing laughter.

John made it to the infirmary in the record time but stopped in his tracks when he entered and small room the nurse directed him to.

"Elizabeth?" he asked sure he must have mistaken someone for her. "What are you doing?"

Elizabeth lifted her head and her slightly tired eyes met those of her husbands. She smiled widely and then seemed to remember what she was doing.

"I... I meant to tell you as soon as our child was securely in your arms, John." She smiled. And reached his hand for him with the second resting on the crib Athosians send as a gift for them. "Will you help me to the bed? I was about to call for Carson."

John quickly approached her and hugged tightly. When he felt the reality of the situation it suddenly got to him. Elizabeth was standing, STANDING by the crib. She was vertical, on her own legs. Then he felt a slight pull and realised she was trying to move.

"I can't stand for long, I need to sit, John."

"How is that even possible?" He asked as soon as he had her situated on the bed and the child safely in his arms after she nodded he could disturb him.

"I don't know. Carson and Sam don't have an idea either" she admitted. "The only speculation is that carrying an ATA positive baby increased my connection to the city and in consequence nerve regeneration. But it's just a theory without any way to test it. We don't even know if the effect would be permanent or will my nerves go back to 'normal' in time."

"So, two miracles in one?"

"Even if it doesn't stay, yes."

"You know, we should check this theory" he winked at Elizabeth and leaned in to plant a very unplatonic kiss on her lips "make another try as soon as possible."

"You're insatiable, aren't you." They both laughed happpily.

"We named her yet?" John asked which earned him a shove in the arm. "Kidding."

"I told you we'd wait with official part of it until you're here if you happen to be off-world and I stuck to my word. So now you get to announce it to the city, Proud Daddy."

"Oh, I can't wait." He said, with a miechevious smile. "You and me, the balcony over the gate room, all the Atlantis gathered, Woolsey taking her up and painting her forhead-"

He didn't finish his joke because a well thrown pillow hit him straight in the face elegantly flying far enough from their child.

"I could have dropped her" John said with fake exasperation.

"I knew you wouldn't" Elizabeth smiled at him sweetly. "But, really, she should be known by her name, John. And since I am not sleeping right now and you're back here..."

"I will get my team and some other people inside" John said standing up and handing the little bundle safely into Elizabeth's arms "to meet Jana Sheppard."

The end