"It's over, so over. The sun is shining, but my heart is sober. Pretending I'm alright, sleep all day 'cause I stay up all night. Don't tell me it's over. I need you more than the sun. She's telling me that we're done. I can't believe that it's over." - Hawk Nelson, "It's Over"

It was only about a week later that Evie first began developing strange eating habits. Summer made a face as she watched her friend place a layer of pickles between her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Grabbing a salad bowl, Evie spooned a sizable amount of ranch dressing into it. When she turned to leave, Michael asked, "Uhh…don't you want a salad to go with that?"

"No," Evie said with a smile.

When they sat down at with Johnson at a table, Evie took a big bite out her sandwich. "Oh, mam," she said, her eyes lighting up. "Thiff iff weely goo'." Summer and Michael exchanged looks. "You want a bite?" she said, offering the sandwich to Summer.

"Oh, no thanks," Summer politely declined.

Evie shrugged and ate a spoonful of ranch dressing. "Dude, this tastes even better without the salad," she commented, more to herself than the rest of the table. The other three laughed silently to themselves and continued their meal.

When they were finished, Summer turned to Michael and asked, "Do you know what today is, babe?"

Michael stiffened. It was either Valentine's Day…or Summer's birthday…or their anniversary. He swallowed. He had a one in three chance of getting this one right. "Our first anniversary?" he guessed timidly.

Summer grinned. "You remembered!" Michael shrugged with a relieved smile. "So, I was thinking that after dinner we could--" She whispered the rest of her thought in his ear, the detailed message causing his jaw as well as his spoon to drop.

Summer grinned devilishly, having accomplished her purpose. "Well, have a good afternoon," she teased as she left the mess hall.

Michael groaned and dropped his head into his hands. Johnson and Evie laughed. "You aren't getting anything done today, are you?" Johnson joked. Michael just shook his head.

XXXXXX

"And Evie's having his child?" Zelenka asked with a raised eyebrow as he and Sheppard entered one of the labs.

"Yeah, won't it be great?" Sheppard said, grinning. "Having a little toddler running around the city?"

Zelenka smiled. "It will be interesting, that is for sure. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work."

Sheppard nodded and turned to leave, but was stopped by Mary, who had overheard the last half of the conversation. "Colonel, what's all this I hear about Evie expecting?" she asked with an excited smile.

Sheppard nodded with a grin. "Yeah, she's due in April."

"Who's the father?" Mary asked, curious. "Or is that supposed to be hush-hush?"

Sheppard bit his tongue. He wanted to proclaim to the world that it was his child, that Evie was his wife, and that he loved her more than life. Instead he answered simply, "Rodney."

"O-oh," Mary said. Sheppard didn't notice her countenance sadden at this.

Sheppard's watch suddenly beeped. He grinned slightly as he turned off the alarm. "If you'll excuse me, Doctor, I have to go."

"Of course," Mary answered with a nod. "I'll see you later."

Sheppard turned and left the inwardly distraught young woman as he began walking to his wife's quarters. Time for their bi-weekly tryst, or as Sheppard liked to call it, "Happy Hour." The fact that they had not yet been caught still amazed him as he slipped, unnoticed, into Evie's room. He saw Evie working on her laptop and walked over to stand behind her. "I think you're a bit overdressed, dear," he teased, tugging on her shirt.

"No," Evie said, jerking away.

"Oh, c'mon, Evie," he said, attempting to pull her out of the chair.

"Would you stop?" she said, frustrated. "What part of 'No' do you not understand?"

"Why not?" Sheppard asked with a frown.

"I'm tired. I don't feel well. I don't want to. I have a headache," she said, returning to her laptop. "Pick one."

Sheppard sighed. "Please, Evie?" he begged.

"Go away."

Grinning slyly, he lightly placed his hands on her shoulders and lowered his head beside hers. "I love you," he murmured softly in her ear. When he heard her breathing hitch, he grinned. "What if I promise to do all the work?" he whispered breathily.

A chill shot down Evie's spine and she shifted uneasily in her chair. "John…"

"Please, sweetheart," he whispered again and Evie's eyes slowly fluttered shut. He began flicking her ear with his tongue and Evie moaned.

"You don't fight fair," she growled, her head slowly falling back.

"Can I take that as a 'yes'?" he murmured, gently sucking on the top of her ear.

"Fine," she muttered, slowly standing up.

He grinned. "Sheppard wins again."

XXXXXX

"So, Mary," Rodney said, entering the lab and walking over to "his girl". She didn't look too much like her sister, Kate, except for that same sweet smile. While Kate's eyes were an emerald green, Mary's were a sapphire blue. Her dark, short hair was in contrast to her sister's long, blonde tresses. Rodney placed his hands on her shoulders and looked over her shoulder at the lab culture she was examining. "Are we still on for tonight?"

Mary shrugged away from his touch. "No… No, I don't think so," she said quietly.

"What? Why?" Rodney asked, leaning against the desk.

Mary bit her lip, then turned to look at Rodney. "When were you going to tell me about Evie, Rodney?"

"Oh…crap." Mary crossed her arms. Rodney hadn't foreseen this consequence when he had agreed to help Evie. "Mary, I…i-it's not," he stammered. "I mean… Aw, dammit!" he cursed, kicking the leg of the desk. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath and trying to think of an explanation for poor Mary. "Look, Mary… Evie and I aren't still…" He made a rolling motion with his hand, saving himself(and Evie) the indignity of directly referencing their supposed affair. "A-and I really… I really like you." Mary didn't look convinced. "Mary, you gotta believe me…" He looked up at her, his eyes pleading with hers.

"Rodney, Evie's due next April," Mary said with a frown. "That means the baby was conceived in July… You and I started dating in February."

Rodney looked down. How could he possibly explain his way out of this one? "Mary, I--"

"There you are Rodney," Evie said, walking into the lab. "Think I could tal-- Oh, sorry. I didn't realize you two were talking. I'll come back later."

"No, it's all right, Lieutenant. I was just leaving. It's over, Rodney," Mary said tearfully, leaving quickly and not bothering to put away her equipment.

Rodney folded his arms on the desk and dropped his head onto them with a groan.

After a pause Evie asked, "Was it something I said?"

"This isn't fair," he mumbled, fighting several different emotions.

"What's not fair?" Evie asked, plopping down into an empty swivel chair.

Slowly turning to face Evie, Rodney answered with a frown, "Mary's breaking up with me."

"Why?" Evie asked, surprised. Rodney merely gestured to Evie's stomach. "Oh." Evie bit her lip. "Oh man, Rodney, I…I'm so sorry." There was an awkward silence, then Evie asked, "Do you think there's anything I could do t--"

"What could you possibly do?" Rodney snapped.

Evie looked down. "Rodney, I jus--"

"Just leave me alone, okay?" With that, Rodney trudged out of the lab.