Hell on Earth Pt. 1 (Sequel to The Twinning of Aeryn Sun series) Author: blueaeryn Rating: R

Summary: John, Aeryn and Lucky Go To Earth

Notes: Spoilers through the end of S3 Disclaimer: Not mine.

Packing up and leaving Moya was one of the hardest things John Cricthon ever did. For four cycles he dreamed of Earth and going home, and when the day came he mourned leaving this place, this ship he had come to consider his home. He dreaded parting with his friends who had become his family and John didn't know if his life would ever be the same for meeting them.

Aeryn's hand was securely in his as they stood in the maintenance bay. John held Lucky in his arm's, the little boy's head resting on John's shoulder.

Prior to their departure, John and Aeryn had found a surgeon that had grafted an artificial leg for Lucky. Now with his unsightly silver artificial limb gone, it appeared the little boy had a real leg. He still limped but the surgeon said even that would disappear when Lucky acclimated himself to the new limb.

John had tried to persuade Aeryn to have the surgeon look at the scar that ran down her abdomen. He was sure the surgeon could lessen the harshness of the jagged flesh, but Aeryn refused. She told John it was a reminder of what she went through, the promise she made to herself to survive. John conceded and only shook his head.

What John didn't know is what Aeryn did next. While he was helping Lucky adjust to his new leg, Aeryn took the surgeon aside and asked him a few questions. She had the surgeon run a scan on her and check to see the possibility of having more children.

The surgeon shook his head in a morose manner. "It doesn't appear you will ever be able to conceive again," the surgeon said. "The damage was too great."

"But there is still a chance," Aeryn asked hopefully.

"A slim chance."

"Then can you release the genetic coding that places a pregnancy in stasis?" Aeryn looked back through the doorway to make sure John wasn't coming.

"I told you the percentages are very low that you would even conceive." The surgeon packed up the scanner and placed it on the table. "There is no need."

"I have the need and the currency so do it," Aeryn said glaring at him.

"Fine, but I just didn't want you to get your hopes up."

"Hope is all I have." Aeryn sighed and lay down on the table.

John and Aeryn hugged their friends tightly as they prepared to leave. They had all been through so much, helped each other through so much that it almost felt wrong to leave.

D'Argo noticed the hesitation in his friend's faces. "Don't even think about not going." He pointed his finger at both of them. "Get in that bucket of dren and go home. Take this boy to meet his grandfather."

Reaching over, D'Argo plucked Lucky from John's arms. He held the boy close and hugged him tightly. Lifting him away, D'Argo smiled at the boy and he smiled back. "I love you, Lucky. Remember your uncle D'Argo."

"'kay," Lucky said with wide grin. "Love you." Lucky wrapped his tiny arms around D'Argo's neck and squeezed.

"What about me," Chiana asked walking up to the duo. "Where's my Lucky love."

Lucky scrambled from D'Argo's hold and into Chiana's awaiting arms. "Love you too," Lucky said hugging her.

"Oh, I am going to miss Lucky love." Chiana felt tears forming in her eyes and she used her free hand to wipe it from her cheek. "Now you be a good boy." Chiana kissed Lucky on the cheek and moved to give him back to John.

Settling Lucky back on his hip, John turned back to his friends. "We're going to miss you guys so much," John admitted. "Sure you don't want to come?"

"No, we can't John," D'Argo said. "We'll stay here and keep an eye on things."

"If we can, we'll come back," Aeryn told them. "I promise."

"I hope you don't," D'Argo admitted. "That means you found happiness."

"Take care of my Prowler," Aeryn said as she and John prepared to get into his module.

"You know I will," D'Argo promised.

John and Aeryn settled into the module with John in front and Aeryn sitting in the back. Lucky was sitting on Aeryn's lap. Maneuvering the module out of the hanger John accelerated the engine as they cleared Moya. Beyond them, to the left, was the wormhole he and Pilot had found the day before.

"Ready," John asked turning his head to Aeryn.

"Do it." Aeryn held her breath. This had to be the biggest step of her life, even bigger then standing up for John against Crais those long cylcles ago.

"Here goes." John turned the controls to the left and set a course for the wormhole. He held his breath as well, as the module dipped in. A sudden jolt sent John's head snapping back and he shook his head and cleared his vision, trying to focus on the hundreds of paths the wormhole offered.

Closing his eyes, John listened for the hum. He couldn't explain where it came from or why he heard it that way, but he knew what he was listening for. It was a beeping hum and he knew in his bones that when he heard it, then it would be the path to Earth.

"Left, then right, then left again," John said aloud but mostly to himself. "That's it."

"Look, Mommy it is all blue outside," John heard Lucky say. "Pretty."

Aeryn kissed Lucky on the top of his head and rubbed his light brown hair. "Shh," she said putting her finger up to her lips. "Daddy is trying to concentrate."

Lucky put his pudgy little finger up to his lips repeating what Aeryn had done. "Me quiet." Laying his head on Aeryn's chest, Lucky stared out the module's window with an awed expression.

John watched as the various openings came and went, shaking his head at each one. Then it came, the hum, it sounded like the one he wanted. Yeah, that was the sound, but there was a moment of uncertainty. Was it THE one, than he convinced himself it was? It had to be. Steering his module to the right, John took the opening and fought the controls to keep the module stable. An opening appeared and just like that the module was pushed out of the wormhole and John found himself orbiting Earth.

"Is that it?" Aeryn leaned over John's shoulder. "Is that Earth?"

"Yeah." John breathed a sigh. "It's home."

"Earfh," Lucky said with a smile. "Daddy home?"

"Daddy's home," John said to Lucky. Turning around he ruffled the little boy's head. "Let's get this over with."

John knew he wouldn't get a ticker tape parade or the key to the city for his return. Earth and humans were a suspicious lot and he knew what was in store for them. He just hoped Aeryn didn't hate him afterwards.

Checking his coordinates, John set a course for Florida and IASA's home base. He turned on his comms and was surprised at what he heard. "Sir, we have another one coming through. It looks like the same craft."

"What are they talking about?" Aeryn leaned over John.

"Shh," John said. "Here goes." John turned on his communication device.

"This is John Crichton, United States citizen and former member of the IASA program." John waited for a reply. "Can anyone read me?"

"Did you say John Crichton," a voice asked.

"Yes, John Crichton," John said. "Contact my father, Jack Crichton he can vouch for me."

"I want more than a confirmation from Jack Crichton," the voice said angrily. "I want some kind of proof."

John cocked his head and closed his eyes. Damn, that voice sounded familiar. "Who are you?" John knew he had heard that voice before.

"I am asking the questions," the voice said in disgust. "Now, who are you?"

"I told you, I am John Crichton." John was getting frustrated. All he wanted to do was land his module, get his family on terra firma and see his dad. "Now, who are you?"

"I am Aeryn Sun," the voice replied. "And you can't be John Crichton. Because John Crichton is dead."

"Well, I am John Crichton and I am not dead," John said angrily. "And how am I to believe you are Aeryn Sun?" John looked back at Aeryn behind him and shook his head.

"Because I know who I am," she said.

"So do I," John said.

"John is that you," his dad's voice came over the comms.

"Finally," John said. "Yeah, dad it is me. I don't know who the frell, hell, that is but that is not Aeryn Sun. Now, can I get clearance to enter US airspace so I can land."

"Of course, of course," Jack said. "Go ahead and begin your decent and you will have clearance."

"We don't even know.." John heard the woman say as the communication was cut off.

"What was that all about," Aeryn asked John.

"I have no idea." John shook his head. "I mean, you are Aeryn Sun and I don't know what that woman's problem is but she has got some explaining to do."

Aeryn smiled at John's statement. He had told her that in his mind she was Aeryn Sun but with everything that happened it was good to hear it again.

With a fluid grace, John entered Earth's atmosphere and then set a course for Florida and IASA's airstrip. When he located it, John aimed the module for the landing strip and landed it softly.

Numerous official looking vehicles were there to greet him. He had been expecting this, but he couldn't even imagine this many.

"Welcome to Earth." John popped the canopy and felt the breeze hit his face. There was his smell. It was like mom's apple pie resting on the window ledge when you first come back home, it enveloped you, embraced you and welcomed you home.

Jumping down from the module, John pounded his feet on the pavement. Earth, terra firma, he never expected to feel this again. Looking up into the module, he saw the look of hesitance on Aeryn's face, in contrast Lucky's face beamed.

Turning toward the group gathered before them, John noticed his father coming toward him and someone else. She had shoulder length dark hair and her walk exuded self-assurance.

"Dad," John yelled when his father stood before him. "It is good to see you."

"John," Jack's words were formed in a question. "How can this be?"

John smiled at his dad and then turned his attention to the woman. Damn, if she didn't look like Aeryn. John turned his head to look in the module. Yeah, she was still there. "Aeryn."

"Yes," two voices said.

"Come on," John said to the Aeryn in the module. Aeryn was in shock at the woman standing on the ground. A foreboding sense of deja vu swept over Aeryn as she jumped from the module and to the ground Lucky in her arms.

Lucky, always bashful when it came to meeting new people, looked up at the two people standing before him and laid his head back on Aeryn's shoulder. "That lady looks like you," Lucky whispered to Aeryn.

The woman claiming to be Aeryn looked at Lucky with a stunned expression. "Oh my," she exclaimed. "It can't be."

"What is it, Aeryn," Jack asked her.

It annoyed John that he called her Aeryn. The woman behind him was Aeryn, not her. In an afterthought, John realized the woman was speaking English, which puzzled him further.

"That boy looks just like TJ," the other Aeryn whispered. "My son."