Summary: The children of Earth's primary line of defense journey home to a changed world.

Category: Drama, Hurt/Comfort, AU, Future Fic

Pairings: some S/J, Cassie/Loran, possible others as the story develops

Rating: K+

Warnings: Character deaths.

Disclaimer: Didn't make 'em up, Don't own 'em. I'm simply borrowing them for play and fun. It's a fanfic.. duh... I'm a fan.

Author's Note: Sooo, I kinda have a tendency to try to explain everything, I might overdo it and not realize it, but bear with me on all that. I'm trying to paint a clear picture of this paradise. Anywayz.. this is only a teensie bit shorter than the first chapter. I have Teal'c talking a lot here - yeah..lol.. surprise. I'm also very proud of the second half of this. I absolutely loved it and I was seriously this close to making myself cry as I tried to find the right words to describe that scene. LoL.. That's so lame of me..yeah I'm sad.

LEAVING EDEN

PART 2

The area of the mountain next to the terminal was designated as an academy. Here, experts would discuss a specific area of study and then design a lesson plan that would combine all their knowledge. Of course, with all the laws of science being universal, their basic foundations were always the same, making their task of teaching not much different from how they would've continued to teach back in their worlds. The only difference was that there was much more information from different perspectives. In a way, it was almost easier as the students were able to form more associations between all the subjects they learned. Knowledge was therefore one of the greatest values taught on Echo.

Teal'c stood in front of one of the large lecture halls used to instruction. The room was filled. With a silent patience, he simply stood there and observed them all until he was moved to speak. Instantly, the room hushed.

"It is with great pleasure that I may thank you for such a warm welcome as that which you have given me.

"I know that the establishment of this world was not without difficulty. But you have done well for us all. You have succeeded in creating a place so glorious that it could not have existed even in dreams.

"Your loved ones freely laid down their lives each day in their endeavor to find peace for us all. Even with the Ori and other dangers aside, sometimes diplomacy alone makes that task difficult. Yet what you have done here is profound.

"All the pain that has been endured has now been justified by your. Were they to stand here now to see wehat you have achieved, their joy would surely be immeasureable, as my own is now, and their sufferings diminished.

"In all that I have seen through the years, things that need not be said as they will only spoil this joyous occasion, I never imagined such a paradise could exist."

Many members of the audience stole a glance at the others around them, emotions on high and on the brim of bringing down their tears. Their pride swelled as Teal'c spoke passionately in congratulations.

"As eager as you must be to return, expect that many of you will be met with great sorrow when you come to realize what has become. I do not speak of ruins or distruction to your cities, no, they stand in tact. But I speak of something much deeper - the ruins of your past lives.

"The family that you have with you may be all that you have left. Those not taken or killed live lives that quake with constant fear and uncertainty. And it will be a while yet before they too may reclaim their own sense of stability, if at all possible. Before we are to depart, let me make it clear that you have a choice to stay."

Teal'c dared to glance at Janet O'Neill at the highest row in the far left corner of the room. She matched his look without flinching. Satisfied, he continued on.

"You will continue to bear the great responsibility you have always held here - to maintain peace and create a bright future. You stand as a legacy of all of Earth's greatest achievements.

"Prepare yourselves, for there is no guarantee that what you find will be of any worth. Prepare yourselves, for you may not find anything at all."

Cassie stared in awe at the herculean figure standing the center of the lecture room. That must've been the most the man had ever said in one shot. But danm he never seemed to disappoint when it came to moving a crowd.

Two other rescue teams had arrived before the gathering at the lecture hall. They stood at parade rest in two neat lines on each side of Teal'c the whole time the congregation took place. At the end, their families reunited with them again. Their fears of discovering a dead father or husband, gone.

As for the rest, they waited to see the lists.

"We're not going to line up?" Gracie asked, catching up with her two older siblings and following them out of the crowded lecture hall.

Both stopped and turned. "I can't." Janet choked out. She quickly turned away.

"Just because Jan and I aren't, doesnt mean you can't, Lightfoot." He'd had that nickname for her since she could run because he always needed to scold her about her running wild in the forests.

"The three of them had always done everything as a united front. As badly as she wanted to know, she couldn't know about something as important as whether or not her parents were alive if Jake and Jan weren't. With them as her guardians, as well as Cassie and Loran, she had never wanted for anything more. She truly grew up with a happy childhood. And so, she was strong enough to wait and she continued to be innocent of troubles.

One thing that Grace was desperate to find out was what was hurting her siblings so much. Although they carried themselves the same way, there was still something different about them that nagged at her.

(flashback)

No time for goodbyes. No seconds to waste. Her heartbeat pounded as she tried to follow orders. Watch Gracie. Don't lose her. Don't lose Jacob. Stay close to each other. Always listen to what they tell you. You'll be safe. Stay close to each other. Sam's words kept cycling in her head.

She clutched the confused 14 month old tightly and prayed she wouldn't start screaming. It would be impossible to quiet her down with everything going on around them.

The airmen and marines around them orderly marched to thier teams and positions like they'd rehearsed it a dozen times.

But now it wasn't a drill.

She could tell by their quickened pace and the air of urgency that something was happening. Something would be changing.

"Daddy," she whispered.

Jacob straightened up and stood as tall as he could as Jack approached them. He tried to show him how he was a great soldier like his parents. Their eyes connected for a long while as though he was trying to tell his father he could be trusted to protect them. He'd be strong for them. In comparison to his small size, young Jacob's promise was titanic.

Jack gave him a smile. Accepting his son's assurance, he kneeled down and pulled all three of them in a tight bear hug.

Normally, they'd have tried to wriggle while fussing that they couldn't breath.

Normally, the tight embrace would've started a tickling war or some light wrestling between father and his children.

Normally...

Jack held them close, little arms wrapped tightly around his neck as they clasped onto him just as hard. Gracie gave a little cry in complaint and tried to push herself out of the circle. Jack just chuckled and gave her a long loving kiss on the forehead. When he pulled back, she just stared at him in confusion. Not liking the expression she saw on his face, because it was diffferent from the way he would normally look at her, she squeeled with delight and flashed him her adorable smile, because one O'Neill smile always made all the other O'Neills smile - guaranteed.

That almost broke him. He'd have crumbled and broken down right there in front of his children if it hadn't been for Sam running up to them at that moment and turning their attention to her.

She slowed down and gazed at her children, eyes sparkling with emotion, before kneeling down and joining them in another embrace.

For what seemed like hours, their parents held them, kissing and reassuring them, perhaps more for themselves as well. Trying to hang on. Trying to preserve the moment. The last they'd have as a full family.

"It's time," Sam sobbed painfully.

Jack's expression suddenly hardened to a focused determination like the trained soldier that he'd been his whole life. He gently picked up Grace from Janet's arms and stood. Jacob followed his father's example, but Janet froze - resisting.

Her eyes never left her mother's face as she was urged onto the back of the truck and buckled in. Her father busied himself with securing the infant between her and her twin.

She stole a glance at the gate.

Others were already filing out through to the other side. There were dozens of other trucks lined up. People, supplies, enough weapons to arm and protect each groups, and anything else that didn't need to be in the front lines, heading towards whatever place offered more safety than the Beta site.

She turned her eyes back to her mother.

Determination. Strength. Courage. Her anguish no longer showed. This was Carter, ready to put her life on the line for those she cared about. Nothing could scare her away. Nothing could shake her resolve.

Gliders wooshed above their heads piloted by rebel Jaffas that had joined their forces. Fleets of fighter jets were coming in formation from the distance. Several obtained Al'kesh hovered in a large radius above the Stargate as did the Promethius in the distance, all to make sure that the last of the people to be relocated had safely gone through the gate, before they themselves engaged in the long-prepared-for war.

Cassie was in the front seat in order to stay close to the children that she had adopted as her cousins, and whom she vowed she would always be there for. The driver waited until the children were all settled before he got in line to go through the gate. The truck would be one of the last to make it through becuase they had stalled in order to steal some time. Safely buckled and ready to move, there would be no turning back now.

Just then, they heard the radio crackle and an urgent voice became clear. "Go! Go! Go! We're under attack! Repeat, Beta site is under attack!"

Jacob and Janet both tried to turn in their seats to get a look back. The Promethius engaged its force field and lifted off, as did the gliders and Al'kesh. Two large ships were landing, firing at everything and anything they could. Explosions went off and large fires could be seen from where few camps still stood. The sky grumbled with a deep rolling thunder as the ships broke through the clouds to a slow stop above the camps. It was as if the heavens were suddenly rolling in to reveal the enemy. Everything transformed into a dark, firery netherworld.

The thunderous booms and firing were wooshed away by the fluid distortions of the continuum and they found themselves on the other side of the gate, quickly driving through some distance in oder to allow the last 3 trucks room as they too, sped through the gate behind them. The last few had gone through so quickly they were inches away from getting into an accident with each other at the other side of the wormhole. As the even horizon disintigrated, Cassie and the twins, shaken by the horror they witnessed, were unable to tear their eyes away from the ring, etching the haunting images into their memories forever.

(end flashback)

Ok so... I changed things around so there's no old characters brought in for this chapter. It'll be in the next one, I promise. No I won't tell you who they are... chhaa... are ya kidding me? Just wait and see. ;) Also, I'll be spending more time with Grace too. Pls review: D Feedback would be sooo helpful and greatly appreciated!

SheBop aka. QueenOfSheba