After breakfast Elizabeth took John on a tour around the house and property showing him where she grew up. All the younger kids were off running around while everyone else was either chasing after their children or just soaking up the warm sun, taking time to relax.
Later that afternoon watching as John chased Karen, Rico, and TK around the yard Elizabeth allowed a content smile to form. She had to admit at first she'd been worried about how her family would react to John and vis-versa, but she could see that those worries had been un-necessary.
"He's gonna make a great dad."
"I couldn't agree more." Elizabeth looked up as he father approached.
"So why haven't you told him yet?" Marcis plopped down next to his oldest child. Grinning at the surprised look on Elizabeth's face he continued, "Don't try to deny it. You have that same glow about you that your mother, sister, and Jared's wife – god rest her soul – had when they were all expecting."
Sighing Elizabeth gave a slight nod, she'd never been very good at keeping things from her father. "I wasn't even sure 'til the day before we left." Elizabeth turned her gaze towards John. "I was going to tell John after we got back, he was stressed enough already about meeting the family."
"Sounds reasonable. I'm also guessing that the two of you are already married, but you told your mother you were only engaged so that she didn't flip."
"Six months." Elizabeth saw no reason to try and deny what her father was saying since it was all true anyway.
"Well Elizabeth you by far are one of the bravest people I know, letting your mother help plan a wedding that doesn't actually need to happen. Your secret is safe with me." Giving Elizabeth a loving kiss on the forehead Marcis stood up and headed for the house.
'Actually it does dad seeing as how the first one was in another galaxy and is therefore technically not legal any where on earth.' Elizabeth thought as she went to go find where John had gone off to. Finding John sitting under a tree with Ryan and Seth, Elizabeth hung back listening to the conversation.
"So you're really in the Air Force?" Ryan questioned wide eyed.
"Sure am and it's a good thing too or I'd never have met your sister." John got a dopey look on his face thinking back to the first time he saw Elizabeth in Antarctica.
"So what kinds of planes have you flown?" Seth asked eagerly. Seth loved flying and wanted to be a pilot some day, whether Air Force or civilian he didn't care.
"You name it odds are I've flown it. Cobra, Apache, Sea King, Black Hawk, Osprey, Sea Harrier and some other things you couldn't even imagine." If there was one thing John could spend all day talking about it was flying.
Feeling someone watching him John craned his head back and smirked when he spotted Elizabeth. Reaching a hand out John pulled Elizabeth down into his lap giving her a playful kiss, ignoring the gagging sounds coming from the two teens. Breaking apart Elizabeth noted that her brother and cousin had run off.
"I think we scared them away."
"You're point being?" John pulled Elizabeth back in for another kiss.
"Walk with me." Elizabeth stood up pulling John with her.
The two quietly walked towards the woods holding hands. John was enjoying the peace and quiet, but he could tell that there was something on Elizabeth's mind. About to ask what was wrong John stopped when Elizabeth broke the silence first.
"My dad…he knows about us…the truth."
"He does?" John could swear his life had just flashed before his eyes.
"I don't know how he figured it out, but he's ok with it and won't tell anyone…especially my mother." John let out the breath he didn't realized he'd been holding in.
Falling into a comfortable silence the two arrived in a beautiful clearing over looking the lake and sat down to watch the sun set. Laying back on the ground John watched the stars coming out. It still amazed him how different yet similar earth's sky was to Atlantis' sky. Resting her head on John's chest Elizabeth listened to the steady beating of John's heart while John wrapped his arms around her.
"Elizabeth?" John questioned when Elizabeth suddenly sat up and got a far off look on her face.
"John do you ever think about having children?"
"Sure I do, I'd love to have a little mini-you running around someday." John sat up pulling Elizabeth closer.
"Really?" Elizabeth stared John right in the eyes.
"Yes really." And to prove his point John captured Elizabeth's lips in a passionate and loving kiss. "Now can I ask you something?"
"Go for it."
"Are you pregnant?"
"What makes you say that?" Elizabeth pulled back in surprise, not quite meeting John's eyes.
"Its just that from what little I know about women, which is very little mind you, but from what little I do know when a woman asks a guy about kids its usually because she's about to tell the guy she's pregnant."
"Well in this case you're right. I only found out the day before we left to come here. I was going to wait and tell you after this trip since you already had enough on your mind, but after talking with my dad…" Elizabeth trailed off seeing John's stunned look.
John blinked and stared at Elizabeth. Feeling her hand close around his John looked down at their joined hands then back up at Elizabeth's face. After a moment a small grin spread across John's face.
"This is for real? You really have our child growing in you?" John pulled Elizabeth close again, resting a hand on her stomach. "Does anyone else know?"
"Just Carson and my dad." Elizabeth let out a relieved breath.
An hour later the couple decided they should head back to the house. Arriving back the two were nearly plowed over as Karen, TK, and Rico came rushing out of the house to greet them. Untangling herself Elizabeth watched as John chased the kids around the yard again. When John got an impish look on his face and gathered the three children into a huddle, Elizabeth began to wonder if John was being such a good influence on her niece and nephews.
So caught up in her own thoughts Elizabeth squeaked when John grabbed her around the waist dragging her down to the ground. Once on the ground three little kids and one big kid pounced, tickling Elizabeth with no mercy.
"You…are…so…sleeping…on…the…couch…John…Sheppard." Elizabeth gasped out between laughs.
"And there's our cue to split." John grinned as he got up chasing after the kids again. Elizabeth sat up trying to catch her breath.
"Hold it right there mister." Elizabeth warned as John came back her way.
"I'll be good, promise." John smirked innocently holding a hand out to Elizabeth.
Eyeing John disbelievingly Elizabeth accepted the hand up. Instantly she was swept into John's arms, being carried back into the house.
