"I don't understand," Ronan said, ignoring the fact that his lip was bleeding from a particularly nasty tackle before they'd left the playing field to the Jaffa and the Athosians, while the others headed for the control room. "What babies?"

Mitchell grinned, ignoring Sheppard's flush. He, too, was a little beat up, but his mind was obviously on their current topic and not on the football game.

"The first time we met the Light Ones – on their planet – John and McKay here had a little-"

"They seduced us," Rodney interrupted.

Ford snickered, just as amused now as he had been when they'd first ben told about the pregnancies.

"Yeah, right."

McKay threw him a dirty look.

"You're just jealous that-"

"Oh, no. I'm not jealous at all, doc. I'm going to have kids some day – and we'll go to the park and play ball – and I won't have to call it playing fetch when they change into dogs."

Melony snorted, and even Weir couldn't bite back a giggle.

Not surprisingly, McKay scowled.

"Very funny."

Ford just grinned. He was having a ball with this.

"Kale sent word that Aron and Derna are doing fine, and are willing to allow us to see the babies."

"They're the fathers," Teyla said. "Shouldn't they be allowed to see them?"

"The Light Ones are pretty over protective of their young," Mitchell said as they entered the control room.

"Nonetheless, Kale says that Colonel Sheppard and Rodney are welcomed to come for a visit to meet the babies."

Carson hesitated, and then spoke up.

"I'd like to see them, too…"

Weir looked over, not at all surprised. Carson was a doctor, after all, and learning to be something of a xenobiologist. The Light Ones were a fascinating people, and a chance to see the young of a race of self-transformers wasn't something to miss out on if you could.

"I'm sure the invitation extends to you as well, Carson."

She looked at Melony.

"As much as I'd like to go, someone has to hold down the fort, but I can send them a message telling them when to expect you. It'd be a good time to introduce the Jaffa to the Farmers, as well."

"It is, yes, but I can't go."

Everyone looked at her.

"Why not?" Carson asked.

"Because we need to check out the planet that our ambush planet is orbiting."

"We already checked that planet out," Rodney said. "It's scantily inhabited, and those people that are there aren't –"

"It needs to be checked out, Rodney," Weir interrupted. "What you and Teal'c did was only a preliminary search with scanners. We need a hands on approach to them to make sure that the Wraith won't pose them any danger – on the off chance that they head for that planet instead of the little one."

"They won't."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do."

"We're going to check it out," Mitchell said, shrugging. "If there aren't that many people, then it shouldn't be all that dangerous."

"We can wait to go see the babies," Sheppard said. He wasn't all that certain he wanted to go, anyways. "I'll have a team assembled and-"

"You have babies to go coo over," Melony told him. "Ronon and I can handle this. You go see your kids."

Weir smiled at the pained look on John's face, but she nodded her agreement.

"Colonel Mitchell's right."

"I will accompany you," Teyla told Melony and Ronon.

Mitchell nodded.

"I'll assemble a team in the morning."

Weir looked at Sheppard and McKay.

"When should I tell Kale you're coming?"

John looked at Carson and Rodney, and sighed.

"We'll leave as soon as we get changed."

"Aye."

Melony smiled.

"I'll go find some cigars."

John gave her a look that was just as pained as McKay's.

"Funny…"

OOOOOOOO

"Are you sure you won't change your mind?" Carson asked her only fifteen minutes later. "I'm not sure I should go without you…"

Melony sat down on Beckett's bed, watching as he packed up some of his things into a pack that could be easily carried and tightly closed. Something that was necessary when you were being carried by a giant bird.

"No, you should go. And take lots of pictures of the babies. I'm interested in seeing whether they look like their dads."

Carson looked over, grinning.

"A baby that looks like Rodney? Poor thing."

"Kale told me once that the Light Ones' breed true on their mothers' side – meaning the little ones should be light-haired and pale-eyed."

"And not arrogant and annoying?"

She shrugged, amused.

"That'll have to be seen."

He finished packing his things, and she caught his jacket as he walked by the bed, stopping him before he could head for the door.

"I'll miss you."

He smiled.

"Really?"

She nodded, and pulled him down to steal a kiss.

"Of course, you're going to have plenty of beautiful naked women to keep you company, so I don't think you'll miss me much."

He was worried for a moment, afraid that she was jealous, or had second thoughts about wanting him to go – even though she hadn't seemed to mind his addition to the away team when he'd asked to go.

"I'm not going to do-"

Melony cut him off, a smile reassuring him that all was well between them.

"Carson… you're a grown up, and as much as I love you, I certainly don't own you. I know what kind of effect the Light Ones have on people – I was there the first time, remember?"

"Aye…"

She kissed him again, and then pushed him towards the door, her arm going around his waist as she picked up his pack with her other hand.

"Come on. I'll go see you off."

He just nodded, again, wondering if she'd just given him permission to do whatever he wanted while visiting the Light Ones.