Author: atlantis child/innocent choir girl

Title: The Heirs to Atlantis

Chapter Title: Chapter 1 "The Little Princess"

Summary: Major Sheppard and Doctor Weir are quite confused at new arrivals that appear on Atlantis. They know too much for strangers.

Genres: Alternate Universe, Angst, Drama, Future Fic

Rating: PG

Warnings: none

Author's note: okay, I know I spelled Anthosian wrong in this chapter I apoligize ahead of time for it!

Atlantis' glow amazed her, it was so beautiful. It was also comforting in a way. She wasn't sure how. But she knew it was. She could feel it. A smile spread across her face. It was like a wonderland…all the lights that seemed to be painted into the room.

"IDENTIFY YOURSELF!"

Her green eyes widened as she saw the weapons pointed towards her. She just froze, standing there. Not knowing what exactly to do, tears rolled down her cheeks. Why were there weapons pointed at her! She didn't do anything wrong! She hadn't even done so much as to touch anything…just admire.

"IDENTIFY YOURSELF!"

"Sergeant! I think that's enough!" Doctor Weir yelled at Atlantis' chief of security. She hurried down the stairs.

"She appeared out of nowhere, Ma'am! Won't identify herself!" Sergeant Bates reported.

Elizabeth pushed his weapon down, "Probably because you've scared the poor girl," she told him. She turned to the small girl and smiled at her, "Hello there." When the girl didn't speak, Elizabeth walked towards her and kneeled down so she was at her level. "My name is Elizabeth, what's yours?"

Again, Elizabeth waited, but the girl didn't answer. She studied the girl in the silence; she figured she couldn't be more than seven years old. She was curious as to the child's attire; she was dressed in all white. A tunic-like top and pant bottoms, her shoes even matched. Her hair was short, above her shoulders and a brownish red color. Her eyes were a vibrant green, but Elizabeth could see fear and worry in them.

"I bet Sergeant Bates scared you, didn't he? He was just…surprised. Can you tell me how you got here?"

The girl shook her head, her hair swaying a bit. A worried look still etched across her face.

"Can you at least tell me your name?" Elizabeth asked hoping to at least get one piece of information. At least with a name she could try to further her relationship with the child and possibly get more information.

The girl studied the woman for a minute before finally replying in a tiny voice. She was quiet and acted in quite a shy manner, "Zaira."

"Zaira? That's a beautiful name," she said smiling at her. Elizabeth straightened and held out her hand, "How about we go for a little walk."

Zaira nodded and took the woman's hand. This…Elizabeth seemed like a nice enough person. She could trust her, couldn't she? She sensed she could. "Zaira means princess."

"Does it?" she asked smiling down at the girl leading her away from the Stargate and wanting to get her to see Doctor Beckett. Elizabeth was happy that at least she knew the girl's name and that she could talk, but there were far more questions that needed answering.

"I don't like this room," Zaira said frowning as they reached right outside of the medical bay. She backed up a bit still frowning at the doors of the place. "Can we go somewhere else?"

"No, my friend, remember? His name is Carson. I wanted him to meet you," she told the child and wrapped her arm around her before using a tad more force to get the girl into the medical bay. "There. That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Zaira shuddered, "I don't like this place."

"A lot of people don't, lass," Carson said smiling at the girl, his Scottish accent thick as he spoke. He kneeled down and held out his hand, "I'm Carson. I hear you're the special guest."

She hesitantly held her hand towards his, "I-I-I guess…" she whispered and finally shook the man's hand. He didn't seem scary. He actually seemed nice. And he didn't have a weapon so he couldn't be as bad as the mean man who had wanted to hurt her when she had first come there.

Carson picked the girl up and set her on a medical table nearby. "Now, how about telling me your name?"

"Zaira…"

"Isn't that a lovely one?"

Elizabeth smiled, "It's like Sara…it means princess."

"Ah, and ya look like a little princess," Carson told the girl smiling. "Ya just need a crown."

Zaira smiled. "Really?"

He nodded, "Now, I'm gonna to do a test, okay? I need to make sure you're not sick or anything. It'll hurt for a second, but that's it," he said as he got his things ready in order to draw blood.

Her smile fell, "NO! I don't like shots! PLEASE! I'm not sick! I'm not!" she cried completely terrified.

Elizabeth sat behind the girl and held her trying to comfort her, "Shhh…it's okay. I promise. Carson will be very gentle."

"NO! PLEASE! I'm NOT sick!"

Carson frowned, but took the advantage of Elizabeth keeping the girl somewhat still and was able to draw a vial of blood. "See, that wasn't so bad…"

Zaira just cried.

"Honey, how about telling me how you got here?" Elizabeth questioned rocking the girl a bit.

"I've always been here."

"You've always been where?"

"At-lan-tis…"

"Honey, you know where you are?"

Zaira nodded, "Home."

Elizabeth just stared at the girl, "This is home?"

"Yes."

"How did you get to Atlantis?" Carson tried again. She was obviously a confused little girl and didn't know what she was saying.

"Where did I go?" Zaira asked him looking worried.

"Did you use the Stargate? A jumper?"

Zaira frowned, "Is this a test? I'm not allowed to play with the Stargate controls or in the jumper bay…"

Carson put his hand on Elizabeth's shoulder and guided her a distance away. "Perhaps she's been traumatized in some way or is merely confused. Maybe you should try questioning her later…or even see if someone else more…child-like could get more out of her. We may even want to have her evaluated. I mean, she knows so much about Atlantis…"

"Yes, that worries me. Perhaps I should check with Teyla…maybe it's a child that was accidentally brought here or belongs with the Antholosians."

"Yes, that could be an idea, but," Carson started. "She's not dressed like an Antholosian."

Elizabeth just looked at him for a minute before looking back at the girl. He was right. And her clothing was crisp and clean. "Can you keep her here while I go find Teyla?"

Carson frowned, "I don't think she'd take very kindly to you leaving her here, she's already stated she doesn't like it here."

"Yes, she said that before she came in… Like she knew what you were going to do…" Elizabeth said slowly thinking about it. "There's something very odd and out of place about her."

"Well, she seems to like you, why don't you talk to her?" Carson suggested. "Take her with you, maybe walking would do you both some good."

Elizabeth nodded; she walked back over to Zaira and helped her down before taking her hand once again. "How about a walk?"

"As long as we get to go away from here," she said looking back at Carson as they left. She didn't like being poked.

Elizabeth had found Teyla and Major Sheppard in the gym and had left Zaira at the door while she talked to them, "Are you /sure/ she's not one of your people?" she asked.

"I am positive, Doctor. She's not even dressed like my people," Teyla pointed out.

"She looks more like an Atlantean," John said adding his two cents.

Elizabeth just stared at him, "You're not serious."

John shrugged, "Well she did say that this was home, didn't she? She knew that this was Atlantis and she was afraid of the medical bay before you entered with her. She…knows…things…"

Teyla just looked at him, "What are you suggesting?"

"Time travel," Elizabeth said. "But why just her? And why just appearing like that? In the past SG-1's time-traveled using the Stargate and solar flares… The Stargate wasn't activated."

"Hey, I like my idea. She's cute anyways," John said smiling over at the little girl and waving at her. He smiled more when she waved back. "Ya know…she actually looks a lot like you, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth frowned, "She's not mine. I think I would remember having a child and raising them."

"You sure?"

"John—"

"Okay, okay…it was just an idea…geez…"

Teyla smiled. "What will you do with her if you don't know where she belongs?"

"I don't know yet," Elizabeth admitted. "She's been a bit shaky about other people. Bates scared the hell out of her when she first showed up. I really don't know. I was hoping she was Antholosian. I don't know what we'll do now. We'll have to find some temporary home for her."

"Well, you seem to be doing a good job," John told her. "I elect you."

Elizabeth just stared at him, shocked at what he had just said.

"I agree, she does seem very comfortable with you," Teyla added.

Elizabeth sighed and watched as Major Sheppard walked over to the girl. She just stood there with Teyla thinking about how she was supposed to take care of this child and still do her duties on Atlantis. Though, she had an idea to make John help as he seemed to also do well with the girl.