So How Did I Meet Your Mom Again?19

Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate: Atlantis or any of its characters or story lines. No infringement is intended upon anyone or any subsidiary connected to Stargate: Atlantis or its parent series, Stargate: SG-1 or Stargate The Movie. I'm poor, you'll get nothing out of me!

Summary: When the team discovers McKay's future daughter living with their trading partners, the search is on for the mother because his daughter will have to be conceived in 16 months or cease to exist. No pressure, right?

Rating: PG for language.

Warnings: Possibly some adult situations or at least ideas.

Category: Friendship/Romance/Humor

Author note: I got more requests to bring Isabel in, so I'm writing her in, but I don't want it to be a huge issue between the couple, so there will be a lot of introspection showing why it isn't in the next chapter. Hope that makes everyone happy! Oh and I'm skipping ahead like half a year, so take a deep breath and get over it. :) Getting really tired of writing and school starts Tuesday.

It was on a briskly cold morning that found Rodney keeping pace with Col. Sheppard as they jogged the twelfth and final lap around the tower before walking two more as their cool down. Three miles. Who'd have thought? Rodney thought happily to himself. It was at Lexi's insistence that he started jogging. He went with John twice a week and Lexi only once because she really liked to go far. Well, 4 and a half miles, out to the far pier and back, but John was nice enough to reduce two of his four weekly runs to accommodate Rodney better.

The last six months of dating Lexi had been the happiest in his life. He still couldn't believe half a year had passed since that fateful day in the gate room. Time just seemed to pass faster since he'd met Lexi. But he tried not to think of time passing too much as it made him uncomfortable. In two months, Isabel is conceived.

He still hadn't told Lexi about it yet and knew he would have to, sooner rather than later. It was one of the main reasons he still hadn't been with her in that way yet. There were a few times that past month that she made her wishes clear that it more than fine with her, but Rodney had made excuses and taken off. He just couldn't go through with it when such a huge secret was hanging over his head. It seemed dishonest to him. And he didn't want to remember their first time by it. So they waited.

Rodney snapped himself out of his ponderings to talk to John about something that had been on his mind for the last 3 weeks. "Hey John?" He asked.

Sheppard looked over at Rodney, "Yeah?"

"I was wondering," he tried to say with as little of the discomfort he was feeling to come out. "Okay, here's the thing. I want to ask Lexi to marry me." He blurted out finally.

John smiled back at him, no trace of surprise on his face. "Figured you'd be asking her soon."

"Really?" Rodney asked interested.

John just smiled back. "So what's the problem? Can't find a ring? The right time? Too jittery?"

"I still haven't told her about Isabel." He admitted.

John frowned. "Why do you have to tell her at all?"

Rodney glared. "Cause it's the right thing to do. Because, every time we're almost together, I can't stop thinking of this huge secret I'm hiding from her. The thing is though, I know she's going to mad I kept it from her. I'm not sure how to tell her in a way that she knows that us being together, wasn't about just that. Does that make any sense?"

"Sort of." John drawled. "Maybe you should propose and then tell her."

"Why?" asked Rodney, his forehead wrinkled.

"Well, that way, she knows that even though you didn't tell her, you do really love her."

"I have a feeling it's not going to be that easy." Rodney sighed. Can't I catch a break, just one more time?

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Alex glared at Isabella and swatted her arm. "He is not!"

"Trust me girl," Isabella said in a knowing tone of voice. "He's going to ask soon."

"We haven't even…he takes off every time I've even hinted at it! He is definitely not ready to ask me to marry him!"

"Denial ain't just a river in Egypt you know. I've seen this look in men's eyes before, he's gonna ask. I'm just telling you to prepare you, that's all."

Could she be right? Is that why he's been so nervous lately? Alex wondered.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Lexi?" He asked, walking into her quarters.

"Yeah, honey?" She asked, looking up from her desk where papers were spread out. Rodney grinned at the small thrill that went through him every time she called him that.

"I was wondering if you'd like to go out for dinner tomorrow night? Just the two of us? On the pier?"

"Sure Rodney. What time?" She asked, trying to cover up her nerves at the invitation.

"I'll be by at 8. Wear something nice." And with a kiss, he left.

Oh god, Isabella was right! He is gonna ask me to marry him!

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

It was a much calmer Rodney that waited in his quarters for their date that night. He had the ring in his pocket from his last trip to Earth.

"It's funny," John said from where he was slouched by the door. "You're calmer while waiting to ask her to marry you, than you were when you were dating."

"Yeah, well," he blustered. "I know she loves me now. She was a little hesitant about us in the beginning, but that's all over now. I know we're meant to be together and I think she does too."

"Awww! Look at you! I never knew you were such a hopeless romantic at heart, Rodney." John crooned.

Rodney glared at him. "You're just jealous cause Teyla's making you two take it slow."

Sheppard looked awkward now. "Yeah, well, the decision was mutual. And we've only been dating for like a month." He added defensively.

Rodney just smirked, point made.

"So, are you telling her about Isabel tonight?" He asked.

Feeling uncertainty for the first time that evening, he answered truthfully, "I don't know."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Alex was trying to get her breathing under control at Isabella's insistence. "Look, I don't why you so nervous Alex. You love the guy, right?" Alex nodded. "And he loves you, right?" another nod, "So just say 'yes.' You've had a whole day to consider it. Why the sudden nerves?"

"It's not nerves!" Alex exclaimed, "It's more like…I don't know, excitement. Anticipation! I'm gonna get married!"

Isabella smiled at her. "Not if you hyperventilate first. Now, do it with me, breathe in… breathe out…. breathe in…"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Rodney chimed her door, and straightened his tie, the flowers getting in the way. He got a feeling of déjà vu when Isabella answered the door and pushed Alex out. Just like the first time they had gone out, her beauty almost made him gasp. She was wearing a clingy, red dress that stopped a few inches above her knees and showed some cleavage while still leaving enough up to the imagination. She was wearing some sort of strappy sandle and was looking at him lovingly.

"You look beautiful." He found himself saying, huskily.

"You don't look so bad yourself." Alex replied, looking him up and down in his suit, complete with tie, she noticed. She took the proffered flowers and handed them off to Isabella who had gotten the vase from their second date.

Rodney offered her his arm, and they walked off towards the pier and destiny.

Author's Note: Sorry for the short chapter, but all this writing really is exhausting. I'm hoping to post the next chapter this evening when I get to writing it. I am now taking ANY request for romantic sappiness, as I want the next chapter to almost drown in it, cause there will be angst. So the more cute/sappy stuff that happens before, the better. Seriously, any suggestions are welcome.