Dreams Come True, Chapter 7
"Michael, please don't talk with your mouth full. Eh! Chew first, then swallow. That goes for you too, Marcus."
John and Marc can't help laughing as the boys each try to chew through a huge mouthful of food. They've been eager to tell their parents about their day spent sledding with their uncle, but are hindered by the amount of food they're trying to stuff into their mouths.
"Don't encourage them," says Elizabeth to her brother before turning to John. "And you're in enough trouble already."
Her husband sobers immediately, but Marc continues to laugh.
"Come on Lizzie, you know-"
There's a knock at the door. Elizabeth and John look at each other, silently debating who is going to get the door. They don't notice the concerned look that passes over Marc's face. John pushes his chair away from the table and stands.
"I'll get it. You guys keep eating."
John is more than a little surprised to find Ford, Teyla, and Dr. McKay on the other side of the door.
"I know we said you could come for dinner any time, but we were thinking you'd call first."
"We need to talk to you," says Ford without cracking a smile.
"To both of you," adds Teyla.
"Uh, we're kind of in the middle of dinner," responds John.
McKay looks past him into the dining room and sees the twins sitting at the table. He turns to John incredulously.
"You have kids?"
"Yeah. Michael and Marcus, they're four." Johns says automatically. "What's going on?"
"We must talk to you and Elizabeth. It is important."
Something in Teyla's voice gets through to John. He looks over his shoulder and calls to his wife.
"Hey Legs. You mind coming over here for a sec?"
Elizabeth frowns, but gets up to stand next to John in the entryway. She looks up at him quizzically.
"They say it's important," John explains.
"Maybe it's better if we talk outside," says Ford. He's noticed that the twins and Marc are quietly watching them from the dining room.
Elizabeth looks hesitant, but John grabs their coats off the stand and shrugs.
"I'm just curious as to why they're here."
Elizabeth puts on her coat and the group goes out to the front yard.
"So we're outside," says John. "You guys care to explain yourselves?"
"We're not sure if we can," answers Ford.
"So we're all standing out in the cold for something you can't explain?" asks Elizabeth.
She shivers and John moves to stand directly behind her. He wraps both arms around her in an attempt to keep them both warm.
"It's not that we can't, we just don't know how," responds McKay.
"And you are?" requests Elizabeth. John motions between her and McKay.
"Elizabeth, this is Dr. Rodney McKay. Dr. McKay, this is my wife, Dr. Elizabeth Sheppard."
"Nice to meet you," says Elizabeth.
"Thanks, but we've already met," replies McKay and Elizabeth's brow furrows in thought. "Not here. Not that you'd remember."
Elizabeth raises one eyebrow and John rolls his eyes. This is really not helping him dig his way off the couch tonight.
"Okay. You guys are going to need to start making sense," demands John. "If not, we're going back into the house."
Ford and Teyla look at McKay who squeezes his forehead in frustration.
"Alright. Humor me. Tell me if any of these words ring a bell. Stargate, Wormhole, Ancients, Puddle Jumpers, Chevrons, uh..."
"Atlantis," says Elizabeth softly.
John squeezes her a little and says, just as softly, "Wraith."
"I had hoped you could be happy enough here not to remember your old lives."
Startled, they all spin around to find Marc standing in the yard behind them. None of them had heard the front door open or close.
They are suddenly bombarded with a jumble of memories. The Stargate in Cheyenne Mountain. Atlantis rising from the water. A puddle jumper going through the gate. Lastly, walking through the Teyne Stargate, headed for Atlantis.
They watch in amazement as Marc takes a few steps toward them. With each step, he slowly takes the glowing form of an Ancient.
"As you've already figured out," the Ancient says. "This isn't the world you know."
TBC...