The next morning instead of being woken up by a too cheerful child John was woken up by the sensation of lips on his. Opening his eyes John welcomed the site of Elizabeth leaning over him.

"Mmm…a guy could get used to wake up like this." John mumbled, stretching lazily.

"Morning to you too." Elizabeth gave John a quick kiss before pulling back, trying to get out of bed.

"Come back to bed." John wrapped his arms around Elizabeth's waist, hauling her back down next to him.

"Can't it's time to get up. Breakfast should be ready and after that the families spending the day at the beach, remember?"


"Maybe someone should go check on them." Hillary stated as she sat down next to her husband at the table.

"Leave 'em be." Marcis peered over the top of the newspaper at his wife.

"Yeah mom it's not like they're teenagers." Andrea added as she grabbed a piece of toast. Seeing the 'Don't argue' look on her mother's face Andrea sighed putting her toast down. "Fine I'll go."

Knocking on the bedroom door Andrea poked her head in the room when she heard a muffled 'com in'.

"Not interrupting am I?" Andrea questioned seeing John and Elizabeth snuggled up together.

"Naw." Elizabeth yawned.

"Well you'd better get up, mom's starting to pace."

"But I'm comfy." John whined, tightening his hold on Elizabeth.

"Come on, we don't want to keep mom wanting." Elizabeth tried untangling herself from John.

Conceding defeat John slid off the bed bring Elizabeth with him. Arms firmly around Elizabeth, John started for the door. Breakfast went much the same way it had the day before. Afterwards everyone changed into their beach cloths and set off for the lake.


Reaching the beach John grabbed Elizabeth and hauled her into the water with him. Standing waist deep in the water John wrapped his arms around Elizabeth from behind and started kissing her neck lightly causing Elizabeth to shiver slightly.

"John…" Elizabeth groaned out a warning. "Not now."

"Why not?" John questioned innocently, not stopping.

"Because one we're in a public place and two the majority of the males in my family are watching you like a hungry Wraith watches his next meal."

"Damn it I hate it when you have a point." John reluctantly stopped with a sly grin forming on his face. Before Elizabeth had the chance to decipher what that grin meant John was splashing her.

After about another 15-20 minutes of splashing around in the water John and Elizabeth called a truce and headed for the shore where the rest of the adults were lounging around. Stretching out on a large beach towel the two soaked up the sun just enjoying the moment. It was nice not having to worry about all the problems they had to deal with, in Atlantis, the responsibility , the life and death decisions, all of it, not that they would ever give it all up with out a fight, but still it was nice to have a break every once in awhile.

"So have you two made any definite plans for your wedding yet?" Andrea questioned her sister.

"Not yet, but I was thinking something simple, not too fancy." Elizabeth propped her head up on one arm.

"What's wrong with fancy? I like fancy." John piped up trying to act serious. He was more than content to let Elizabeth figure out all the little details – that was part of her job after all – the less fancy and complicated the better. Of course that didn't mean he couldn't have a little fun with it.

"Yes I'm sure you do," Elizabeth grinned playing along. She and John had already discussed this, so she knew he was only playing. "But you're completely hopeless at these kinds of things, which is why I'll be doing most of the planning."

"Oh don't worry all men are." Hillary threw in her two cents. "I have to constantly remind myself that your father is male and therefore extremely flawed."

"Hey! How did I get dragged into this?" Marcis demanded. "I'm just sittin' here minding my own business being a perfect little angle when all the sudden it's, let's bash the male species."

"Yeah, besides where would you be with out us?" Brian jumped in.

"He does have a point, without men we'd go extinct." Andrea leaned back against her husband.

"Yes and they are fun to look at." Elizabeth added.

"Well there you have it guys, our sole reason for existing, reproduction and eye candy." John propped his head up.

"I think I could live with that. Besides women ain't too bad to look at either." Brian laughed as he grabbed Andrea, dragging her to the water with him.

Shaking his head John buried his head back in his arms, while Elizabeth and her mother continued talking about wedding plans.

"Hi John." Hearing Rachel's voice caused John to groan silently.

"Hey Rachel." John waved a hand in unnoticed dismissal.

When Rachel spread her towel out next to John, the man couldn't help wishing a Wraith would just show up out of nowhere and put him out of his misery, whether it be by feeding on him or Rachel, John really didn't care at this point. Turning his head towards Elizabeth, John poked her in the side to get her attention. Elizabeth couldn't help finding John's misery adorable.

"Come on John let's go for another swim." Elizabeth took pity on John pulling him towards the water with her.

"Glad to." John went eagerly. "What are you laughing at?" John demanded once they were in the water.

"You've taken on the Wraith, the Genii, and any number of other things in the Pegasus Galaxy, but you can't handle my cousin." Elizabeth wrapped her arms around John's neck.

"All those things were a walk in the park compared to dealing with Rachel. Heck why don't we bring her back to Atlantis with us and send her after the Wraith? They'd never stand a chance."

"John Sheppard!" Elizabeth admonished playfully as she whacked John's shoulder.

It wasn't until the sun began setting that the group finally packed up and headed for the house. Everyone sat out on the back deck enjoying the warm evening air, talking and such. Sitting in one of the lawn chairs John silently watched and listened to the others, not wanting to risk waking up Cale who was contently curled up on John's chest fast a sleep.

John wasn't quite sure how he ended up with the young boy, one minute he'd been happily holding Elizabeth when the next thing he knew she was out of his arms being replaced with Cale, not that he was complaining he could use all the practice he could get. Elizabeth now sat next to John resting her head on his shoulder.

Eventually people started dragging themselves off to bed. Deciding that sleep sounded like a good idea John carefully got up – still holding Cale – and headed for bed, Brian following so that he could put his son to bed – once he figured out how to get John to give the kid up.