Yeah...about that 'I'll put the chapters up over the next couple of days'...sorry. College is trying to kill me, as well as my fairly stupid friends. Anway, thank you to my severly diminished reviewers, reviews are love and I love you back for reviewing. One more chapter after this, and then it's all over...

Chapter 11: Last chance

"I'm not sure about this."

"Come on Beckett, we'll be fine."

"You can guarantee that?"

"Well…no, but don't worry. Serai will be there."

"Do you realise what you've just said Major?"

Elizabeth stepped in between the two men before she had a full blown fight on her hands.

"Would you two please calm down?"

They stepped back, but were still glaring at each other. Elizabeth turned to face Carson first.

"Carson, I understand your concerns, but this is possibly the only chance we're going to get to be free of these bands."

She held up her stained wrist to make a point.

"I know, but I've only just released you both."

"And as long as we stick together, we should be okay."

Carson sighed.

"Fine."

Elizabeth smiled softly and placed a hand on his arm.

"Thanks. And John, stop smirking."

Behind her, John's face fell. He had no idea how she did it, but he was amazed by the fact that she could do it.

Not long later they found themselves back at their quarters staring at the last door in the corridor.

"Should we just…?"

"I don't know."

"We could wait for…"

"Perhaps."

"Or we could just go…"

"That works too."

"Oh yeah, you two really have a way with words."

John and Elizabeth spun around to find Serai smiling at them.

"So, ready for this?"

Elizabeth nodded her head slowly.

"I think so."

John just glared at Serai for a long time.

"Well, let's get going then."

Serai stepped around them and pressed the button to open the door. The room looked dark, but she strode in regardless. After sharing a sceptical look, the pair stepped into the room after her. The room was as dark at it had looked from the outside, but once John moved further in, lights began to come on dimly. There were shelves filled with objects neither of them recognised. There were archways leading to other corridors, and draws sticking out in the walls. There were weapons everywhere.

Elizabeth was beginning to feel uncomfortable.

"Serai."

"Yes?"

"Could we get on with this?"

"Sure."

She walked to one side and stopped in front of the wall. Reaching out, she pressed on a little dent on the wall. A section of the wall disappeared to leave a doorway. Serai stepped out of the way to allow John and Elizabeth to enter. Taking a deep breath, John walked in first, with Elizabeth close behind.

The room they entered was like nothing they'd seen before. The ceiling was high up and made of glass. The walls were decorated with murals depicting Atlantis and its people. The room was circular, and with the high ceiling, it felt huge. There was a circular platform at the centre of the room facing a large raised platform that stretched around half of the room.

"You need to stand on the smaller platform."

Serai's voice echoed around the room. The two followed her instructions without complaint. As soon as they were stood on the platform, a wall sprung up around them that stopped at their waists.

"That cannot be good."

John muttered quietly to Elizabeth, but it still echoed around the room. He instantly regretted saying it as three figures began to appear on the higher platform in front of them. They were three men, all tall and wearing white. They looked down on the pair, and they shrank back slightly.

"Speak your names."

Elizabeth took a deep breath and stepped forward. She was trained for this. Well, not exactly for dealing with possibly ascended beings that held the key to a normal life, and quite possibly her sanity.

"I am Doctor Elizabeth Weir and this is Major John Sheppard."

They all hesitated, before the Ancients began to talk in low voices. Unlike the others, their voices didn't echo. It was a few minutes before they turned back.

"You came to this city many years ago. Both of you, but he did not survive. You did however, but you did not leave for Earth with the rest. You lied to the leaders. We are not pleased with this."

John and Elizabeth glanced at each other. Things may not be getting better after all.

"John Sheppard. You have passed the test. You are the new Guardian of Atlantis. We welcome you."

The three bowed their heads to him. Elizabeth could see John was grinning from ear to ear next to her. She would hit him, but she needed to remain calm.

"We are the founders. We created the Guardian so that Atlantis could be protected. Only the strongest was chosen. And the line has continued to now."

That Ancient stopped speaking, and another took over.

"We have seen your past, and we can see your present. We know why you have come."

John and Elizabeth moved a little closer to each other. The last Ancient now turned to Elizabeth.

"You have one on Earth. One whom you love."

"Yes."

"We shall see."

Elizabeth didn't quite understand what was going on now. They were all stood looking emotionless. She knew they were talking about Simon, but what were they going to see?

Suddenly, the three moved closer together and held out their hands. A glowing began to form in their outstretched hands and then move closer together. It became a large ball, which then flattened into a circular screen. It floated to one side and became clear. Then an image began to form on the screen. John stared at it looking confused; he had no idea who the figure now on the screen was. It was clear, however, that Elizabeth recognised him.

She was stood, her eyes wide, staring at the screen.

"Simon."

She whispered it so softly, it didn't echo around the room. But John still heard her. He turned to her slowly and whispered back.

"Really?"

She nodded silently and carried on watching the screen.

Simon was sitting down on the couch of the home Elizabeth knew so well. He was watching TV she guessed, though there was no sound. He looked almost the same as when she'd last seen him. He looked happy. Just then, a figure walked around the back of the couch. The same figure then sat down next to Simon.

Elizabeth clamped a hand across her mouth and shook her head.

The figure was a beautiful woman with long jet-black hair and bright blue eyes. She moved across closer to him and pulled her legs up under her. He leaned across and kissed her lightly.

Elizabeth turned away from the screen, unable to watch anymore. John hesitated before turning to the Founders.

"Turn it off."

"As you wish."

The image disappeared and the screen shrank away.

"So you see, he has not waited for her. This is no reason for you not to be wed."

John sighed and turned away from the Founders.

"Elizabeth?"

She turned to look at him. She was clearly upset, but she was forcing back the tears that threatened to fall.

"I guess that's it John. What else do we have?"

"I'm not giving up that easily."

He reached out and rubbed her arm gently.

"I'm sorry about Simon."

"It's okay. I didn't want him to have to wait forever, I just…"

"You just have part of you that wished he had waited."

She sighed and looked away. John felt a little worried about her, but he knew she was a strong person. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to the Founders. They were still looking at them without emotion.

"Listen, why do you have to have one person to defend all of Atlantis? There are plenty of people who have the qualifications, and would be willing to defend Atlantis. Why can't we all work as a team? There is a room full of weapons out there, much more than one person could handle. Let everyone work as a team. If you do that, then why do Elizabeth and I need to be married? The whole purpose is so we can have children to carry on the line. Why not carry on with all of the people on this city? Then, anyone with the gene can use the weapons, and we can much more effectively defend the city. Please, just think about it. It will all work out much better in the end."

The Founders looked at the pair of them, but still said nothing. They suddenly moved closer together again and began to speak quietly. John turned slightly to find Elizabeth had turned around to face the platform. She saw him looking at her, and looked up at him with a smile.

"Well done John. I never knew you actually had the ability to make such a speech."

He grinned back at her.

"We have come to a decision."

They both turned back to the platform and waited with baited breath.

"You make a good point. We can also see the problem caused by your marriage. The Guardianship was created to protect Atlantis. What you have suggested means that Atlantis will be better protected in the future. Therefore, we will remove the bands and remove the title of Guardian. These rooms will be left open so that the weapons can be accessed. The other rooms will also be left open if you wish to continue to use them."

Both Elizabeth and John began to smile. It felt as if a huge weight had been lifted.

One of the Founders moved forwards to them. He stopped just before them and reached out.

"Your arms."

John and Elizabeth stretched out their arms. The Ancient reached out and touched their wrists where the bands were. They both felt a tingling up their arms, and then nothing. When they looked down, they found that the bands had gone.

The Founders bowed their heads to them, and the pair did the same. As the Ancient that had removed their bands began to back away, all three of them began to fade. They had almost gone completely when one of them spoke.

"There is one thing though, before we go, that we would like you do."

John grinned eagerly.

"Name it."

"As you wish."