Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis
Spoilers: Again, major 'The Gift' spoilers plus everything in season 1
Note: This is the final chapter (sobs) but I already have a sequel in development (yeah).
I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed, you've all been so nice and inspiring. Thank you so much.

ErabuHikariThanks, I absolutely adore Aiden. Personally I'm happy Elizabeth showed her strong side, I don't think she'd be one take that situation laying down. She's tough.
HazeydreamThe whole Elizabeth Kolya thing coming through was a something I was unsure about but I put it in anyway. Glad you like the characters all supporting each other.


Atlantis (Four days later)

Elizabeth sat cross-legged on one of the quieter balconies in the city. Bree was in her arms bouncing happily. Elizabeth just wanted some time alone with her daughter, to watch the beautiful blue water sparkle underneath the deep orange sun.

Elizabeth looked down at Bree.
As she bounced up and down innocently, it was impossible to imagine what she had inside of her. What she was. Elizabeth knew it wasn't Bree's fault, just like it was Teyla's or the other people who had Wraith DNA inside them. But this felt different. This was her daughter, her own flesh and blood and Elizabeth didn't know how she would deal with this. Kolya and the Genii would always come after Bree, there was no way Bree could be safe in this galaxy.

Since returning to Atlantis four days earlier Elizabeth had done some thinking. Lots of thinking. She could never guarantee her daughters safety but she could try her hardest to protect her daughter.

Elizabeth kissed Bree's temple and sighed. She knew what she had to do.

"Please forgive me Bree. I'm doing this for you"

Tears began to piece Elizabeth's eyes.

(Two days later)

John rolled onto his side to see an empty space. The last few days Elizabeth had been avoiding him and he didn't know why. John sighed, reluctantly got out of bed and walked over to the connecting room. He entered and saw the cradle empty. John sighed, walked out of the room and got a shower. Elizabeth was driving him crazy, she hadn't let him near Bree and she'd been acting lukewarm towards him. John wondered if it had anything to do with Kolya, if he'd done anything to her, John didn't want to even think about what Kolya could have done to her.

John stepped out of the shower, got dried and changed before heading up to the control room.

As he entered the control room and saw Elizabeth in her office with Bree playing in her playpen. He walked past the technicians in the control room and over to Elizabeth's office. He knocked lightly on the door before walking in and going straight over to the playpen, picking up Bree and kissing her lightly and the forehead. While still holding Bree he walked over and sat on the chair facing Elizabeth.

"What's going on with you Elizabeth? You've been lukewarm for days now. Talk to me"

Elizabeth shut her eyes and lifted her head up to face him, she opened and her eyes and sighed.

"Its nothing John, forget about it."

Her eyes drifted back to her laptop and John sighed. Elizabeth was being cold towards him. She had never been cold to him before and he was worried.

"Have I done something wrong Elizabeth? If I have just tell me."

Elizabeth shook her head and turned to him. She couldn't let John go on thinking he'd done something wrong, it wasn't fair and while she wasn't going to tell him until the date grew closer she decided that he had a right to know.
Elizabeth shut her laptop and sighed.

"John you've done nothing wrong. If anything you've been amazing, that is what makes this so damn hard."

Tears threatened to fall from Elizabeth eyes but she didn't allow them.

"John, I have to keep Bree safe, I'm her mother that's my job"

John nodded. He knew that, he wanted to keep Bree safe too.

"Knowing that the Genii are going to keep coming after Bree is scary to me, John I've made a decision. I wasn't going to tell you until next week, but…but you have a right to know now."

Elizabeth cleared her throat. She knew John's reaction wouldn't be good, she knew everyone else wouldn't like it, but it was necessary.

"John, you know that sometime within the next few weeks we are going to dial Earth with the ZPM found and send copies of the technology we've found"

John nodded, but he was confused about where Elizabeth was going with this.

"John…please don't hate me…I'm going back to Earth and I'm taking Bree."

John sat, silently trying process it, hoping he'd misheard her but the look in her eyes told him that he hadn't. It told him that she was going. John looked down at Bree, he wanted to cry, John Sheppard never cried but the thought of loosing the two people he cared most for, the two people he would die for, it hurt him.

He drew his hand over Bree's brown wispy hair. He didn't want to loose her, John, probably at the beginning the last person on this trip who wanted to be a parent loved this little girl like his own.
He stayed looking at Bree, he couldn't look at Elizabeth, he couldn't believe she wanted to do this.

Elizabeth sat watching John waiting for him to say something, but he didn't he just kept his eyes firmly on Bree. She knew how much he loved her and that was what hurt the most. She knew John couldn't leave Atlantis, he was too important to the expedition and she knew he wouldn't want to leave the expedition. Elizabeth didn't know how she felt about that, she figured she never would, but there was no time to reflect on that.

"John…John please talk to me, say anything."

John looked at her, eyes blazing.

"How can you even…consider leaving?"

"John, please don't…"

John cut her off and walked out of the room, still holding Bree.

(9 days later)

Elizabeth stood near the Stargate and embraced Teyla.

"Be safe Dr Weir. Both of you be safe."

Teyla tried to hide the tears forming in her eyes but failed miserably and eventually allowed them to flow freely.

"You too Teyla"

Elizabeth pushed back her own tears and hugged Carson who was standing next to her.

"Good luck lass and remember we're here if you ever decide to come back."

Elizabeth smiled at the Scott and moved over to Rodney.

Rodney had been upset about Elizabeth wanting to leave, if he admitted it he still was. Elizabeth was like a sister to him.
Elizabeth, knowing that Rodney didn't go in for the whole hugging thing placed her hand on his shoulder.
She tried hard to find the words but couldn't. She decided light humour was the best way to go.

"Don't go blowing anything else up okay."

Rodney's head snapped up.

"Kavanagh was the one that blew up the machine not…"

Rodney realised what she was doing and smiled.

"I'll miss you too."

Elizabeth moved and tightly hugged Aiden, perhaps the sweetest person she'd ever met.

"Good luck Elizabeth"

Elizabeth nodded still hugging him.

"Thank you for everything Aiden."

She pulled away and smiled at him before looking at the man who'd just entered the room holding Bree.

She knew John was reluctant to let them out of his life but…Atlantis needed a leader and he was the only person with the experience to do it, plus he didn't want to leave.

Handing over Bree would be the most difficult thing John would ever have to do, watching the two people he loved walk through the Stargate would be the most difficult thing to see.
He walked into the 'Gate room, holding Bree in his arms. He saw Elizabeth hugged Aiden before turning to find John.

She walked the short distance over to him with a sad smile. She kissed on the cheek and she could feel the wetness coming from his eyes. She looked at him with a pleading

"Please don't make this more difficult then it is."

John nodded

"Please reconsider"

Elizabeth shook her head.

"I can't"

John closed his eyes briefly before looking down at Breen and kissing her forehead.

"I love you sweetheart, be good"

He handed Bree to Aiden before grabbing Elizabeth in a long hug.
John didn't want them to go, but he also knew his two girls would be okay without him. He knew how strong Elizabeth was and he knew she needed to do this alone. As much as he wanted to be with them, he knew that he couldn't. This was Elizabeth's journey in life, her rite of passage and he knew that it was one thing she had to do alone.

He kissed Elizabeth's forehead.

"If anything ever happens get the SGC to dial a wormhole back here. No messing around, no waiting"

Elizabeth nodded

"I will."

She lightly pressed her lips against his and kissed him. She savoured the taste and the feel of it, because she knew she might never feel it again.
She pulled herself from the hug and John grabbed her hand.

There were three little words he could say now, but that would only make things harder for all of them, instead he opted for something else.

"Keep her safe, keep both of you safe and remember I'm always here and there are always people who care for you and if all the Genii are sadly culled and it's safe again I will send for the two of you."

Elizabeth nodded, she knew the Genii part was a try at humour on his part, but she also knew he meant it.

She pulled her hand from his, barely keeping from breaking down into tears and took Bree from Aiden's hands.
She looked at the group, the people who she cared dearly about and nodded to John.
She could do this part but she felt it was important that he did it, so he could let go.

Tears fell from John's eyes, he looked up at the control room and to Peter who was awaiting his word.

"Di…"

He took one last look at Elizabeth and Bree

"Dial up the 'Gate"

Peter nodded and the inner ring of the Stargate began to spin round. Elizabeth kissed John one last time before the event horizon splashed out.
Elizabeth took that as a sign and calmly entered her IDC.

This was were her journey ended

Fin…

Please keep the flames, rotting fruit and desire to slap me at bay; I ended it this way because the sequel requires a clean slate on which to paint on. The sequel is coming soon.