A/N: Yeah, inspiration dawns once again. Beta'd by Trickster's Queen of War.

John wanted to kiss her, hell he wanted more than that, but the small voice in his head screamed no. Now wasn't the time or the place, and he wasn't sure he was ready. It was in the middle of the night and he needed to get back to bed, but he couldn't just ask her to leave.

He settled for a lower key approach. He took her hands and held them in his. "That means more to me than anything Teyla."

"There is more to your story?" Teyla asked, it was less of a question and more of a statement.

John nodded in response.

He should've known that something was not right when Angela's smile wasn't present. Something had changed. She still welcomed him with a hug, then led him into the living room, where her parents were waiting.

John suddenly had a feeling of deja vu. He was fairly certain it wouldn't be a yelling match, but just the demeanor of Angela's parents told him that it wasn't going to be a happy day for him. He was certain he knew the reason.

The night he and Angela had spent together was still sharp and clear in his memory. It was hard not think about it during class. He knew it was wrong, but something kept telling him it was right. Then Angela had told him after class that she was pregnant.

At first he hadn't known how to respond. He immediately knew why and how. He'd lowered his head in shame and pity. She'd confessed it was as much his fault as it was hers. They still had time, so they'd decided to keep it quiet, though the rumors had already spread.

As he sat down on the couch, keeping a respectful distance from Angela, he knew that she'd gone to her parents looking for advice. She was in this situation because he hadn't shown the maturity to get up and leave when he should have.

"John." Angela's mom said. "Is what Angela told us true?"
John wouldn't lie, he couldn't. "Yes. It's my fault, I should have stopped before it happened."

Angela's dad held up a hand. "John please."

John bowed his head in shame. "I just wish I could change what I've done."

"We're not casting blame." Angela's mom said. "But we need to decide what to do."

John nodded.

"We're proposing that Angela's baby be put up for adoption." Her dad said.

John nodded again, feeling terrible. "I figured as much."

"We can't keep it John." Angela said, placing her hand on his. "But this is the chance to make things better."

John felt a tear fall from his eye. He never cried, but today was an exception. "I failed you."

"John..." Angela's mother began.

Angela cut her mother off. "Listen to me John. You were this close to leaving that night. If anything I failed you!"

John didn't know how to respond. In truth, he still blamed himself. He'd always blame himself. He did till the day the child finally came and he had to face the horrible consequences.

John stopped, the tears coming to his eyes. He tried to hold them back, bury the emotion behind the sarcasm, but it was no use. The tears came anyway, silently streaming down his face, mercifully hidden behind the darkened shadow.

Yet somehow she knew, her gentle hands deftly brushed away the tears and he found himself staring into her eyes. In them was all the honesty, understanding, and compassion he needed. He shrugged to himself, unable to continue.

Her hands moved to his shoulders, gently massaging away all the pain. He leaned into her, not surprised when she returned the embrace warmly. He could feel her hair on the side of his face, her breath upon his neck.

He desperately want to kiss her again, to let his raging emotions find their solitude, but he knew it'd be temporary at best. Worst yet, they'd spent most of the night talking. He could feel the sun start to shine from his room balcony, highlighting the floor with an orange glow.

She made no move to leave, simply holding him as he was holding her. He finally gave in, gently kissing her, their lips barely meeting. It was enough. Teyla nodded in acknowledgment. This wasn't the time to get carried away.

He released her, his heart racing. "I love you Teyla." He murmured quietly.

Her hands remained clasped with his. "Promise me we will return today."

John nodded. "Just let me get an hour of sleep will you?"

Teyla smiled. "I believe both of us will be very tired by the end of the day."

"It was worth it though. Thanks." He grinned.

"I am grateful to have a..." She paused, searching for the correct word. "...someone who means the world to me to confide in."

John wasn't one to blush, but he turned a slight shade of crimson at the compliment. "I'm not perfect Teyla."
She smiled broadly. "I wouldn't have it any other way... John." She turned and left the room.

XXX

John forced himself out of bed an hour later. He'd made a promise and he intended to keep it. He showered and grabbed a fresh set of clothes, then put his jacket back on. He walked out of his room and caught Teyla passing by.

She looked just as tired as he felt, but that didn't stop her from smiling. "Breakfast first?" She asked.

"Good idea." John replied, sliding back into the usual routine.

The cafeteria was quiet, it was past the normal time for breakfast, but that didn't mean there wasn't food. One of the great things about having the Daedalus was that there was cereal. At first, Teyla had been confused about it, but she'd enjoyed all the kinds she tried.

Today was fairly normal. John filled his bowl as high as it would go with Fruit Loops, Teyla chose the mystery cereal. John didn't have the slightest clue where it had come from, or what it was. It was Teyla's way however and he wasn't going to question it.

"You never did tell me how you knew it was him." John said between spoonfuls of cereal.

"I felt a connection." Teyla replied. "Doctor McKay would call it... 'superstition'... but I know it was him."

"Hey, good enough for me." John replied. "I wonder if I could've ever find my kid."

"I believe anything is possible, if you try hard enough."

He narrowed his eyes. "Now you're mocking me. You've been spending too much time around McKay."

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Teyla said slyly.

After breakfast they both reported to the armory and geared up. There was still the matter of convincing Elizabeth to let them go, but since Ronon and Rodney were still on the planet, it wasn't hard. Within minutes, they were on the other side of the gate and walking towards the village.

XXX

John and Teyla entered the village and found Ronon and Rodney packing up and getting ready to leave. John held up his hand. "Wait a second."

"What?" McKay quipped. "We were up into the late hours retrieving a dead ZPM."

"Teyla needs to find the kid that made her feint yesterday."

"Why? It's just a kid."

John glared at McKay, making the scientist immediately shut up. Ronon cast a curios glance at John, then turned his attention to Teyla. "You alright?"

"I will be." Teyla replied.

John led the group to the tent where they'd previously found the boy. He didn't see any sign of the kid, but that didn't mean he was here. They were confined to the front of the tent, which served as a store.

He cautiously peeked behind the curtains, but jumped back when the boy came crashing through. John forced himself to keep his P90 down even though he'd been startled, and his instinctive reaction was to raise his gun.

"Kylen." Teyla's voice was quiet, turning all eyes to her, including the boy's.

"Who are you?" Kylen replied, instinctively backing up.

"I am your mother." Teyla replied, passing her P90 to Ronon. She took a step forward, extending her hand. "I am sorry I never knew you, but I did know your father."
Kylen flinched.

"Your father was taken?" Teyla said quietly, lowering her head.

Kylen walked cautiously towards Teyla. "How come I don't know you."

Teyla swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat, then told her tale.

Teyla was the last mother to give birth. It was both a process she was glad to take part in. The shear amount of effort had left her exhausted and in Charin's care. Rylan stood in the corner, a sleeping infant wrapped in a blanket in his arms.

"You should see your son." Charin's voice beckoned Teyla to look as Rylan showed her the child.

Teyla nearly passed out again. Never had she seen anything so beautiful. Never had she felt such a connection with such a small being. Her mind was abuzz with the babies quiet comforting thoughts. She'd never had a bond with someone like that before.

Rylan's expression was pained. Teyla could've sworn something was wrong, never did she realize what was bothering him would hurt so much.

"Teyla." Rylan said, taking a deep breath. "My people must go."

The shock settled in, causing Teyla's eyes to shoot wide open and not even her fatigued body could prevent her from sitting up and glaring at Rylan. "He is as much my son as yours."
"I admit that." Rylan said. "But... we cannot stay here on Athos. We must find a place to hide where the wraith will not find us."
"The wraith will find you no matter where you go." Teyla replied, still shocked he would leave, especially with their son.

"But it is my people's way to try and find that place." Rylan continued. "I can never repay you for bringing me a chance at a new life."
Teyla took one last look at her son, knowing it was the last time she'd ever see him. "Promise me you will tell him about me."

"I swear it." Rylan placed the baby in Teyla's arms. "I will call him Kylen, and he will know he is the son of Teyla Emmagen."

Teyla kissed Kylen's forehead and then handed him back to Rylan. "May the ancestors be with you." Teyla turned away, pain and anguish rolling over her in waves. She should've known this would happen. She'd even come to like Rylan.

Never again would she do that. Her duty was to her people and the Yalisians had taken advantage of that. It didn't change who she was however, she was the daughter of Tagan. She had done everything she could for him, now it was up to him.

"You are Teyla?" Kylen asked, in his modest eight year old voice.

Teyla nodded, feeling John's hand on her shoulder, his presence by her side.

Kylen crossed the room and engulfed Teyla in a big hug. "Dad told me all about you, before he died."

"Kylen, who are you..." A tall, dark haired man entered the tent, suddenly trailing off as he saw Kylen with his arms around a total stranger. "What are you doing?" He exclaimed.

"Uncle Malen!" Kylen jumped up and down with excitement. "This is Teyla, my mother."

Malen looked at Teyla, his expression impossible to read. "Are you Teyla Emmagen, the daughter of Tagan."

Teyla nodded. "I am Kylen's mother."

Malen glanced nervously at his feet. "Kylen, go to your room and play, I need to talk to these people."

Kylen looked to Teyla for confirmation.

Teyla blushed. He must be feeling the same connection that I am. "Go."

Kylen obediently ducked back into the back of the tent.

"It seems he knows you, at least deep down." Malen said, motioning for them to sit around a small table.

"What happened to Rylan?" Teyla asked. Deep down, she already knew the answer.

"He was taken in a culling that took almost all of his people." Malen said quietly. "All that were left were a handful of children and adults after the culling. I took Kalen in when he was five."

"At least he ended up in compassionate hands." John said. "A lot of bad things can happen to a fatherless child at that age."

"Rylan's people had been staying with ours for a few weeks. I was friends with Rylan. He told me that should anything happen to him, he wanted Kylen to know about his mother, his real mother. He told me of what you did for him. Can't say I would've done the same."

"Is Kylen happy here?" Teyla asked.

"He's as happy as one can be when threatened by the wraith in their daily lives."

"What if we told you we could take him to a place where he'd never have to worry about that again?" John asked, quietly laying the offer on the table.

"Colonel, would Doctor Weir approve?" Teyla asked, her voice quietly betraying the concern.

"I'm not talking about Atlantis... although that certainly is an option... I'm talking about the mainland, your people Teyla." He'd never seen Teyla chew her lip, but she was now.

"I would ask when?" Malen said. "This place is no home for me or for Kylen. We are outsiders."

"Would you come with him to continue to care for him, as if he were your own?" Teyla said, her voice betraying her slight disappointment with the outcome.

"Teyla, I have spent the last three years of my life as a father to Kylen. Of course I would."

Teyla smiled, her son would be coming home, to live with his mother's people.

A/N: One more chapter, two tops. Think happy shipping thoughts.