Title : Love After Love

Author : ElaineDex
Date : 07.05.07

Part 14 of 15
Characters : Ronon, Ellie, People of Atlantis and the SGC, Lyssa Hunter.
Archiving : None
Spoilers : This part of the storey has bits in it that follow on from Kazavid's 'Reunions' explaining what happened to Lyssa
afterwards (my version of events). Also a small reference to a part from Behind The Mask (in Part 13).
Disclaimers : Only Ellie is mine, Stargate/Atlantis and all their characters do not. Lyssa Hunter is kindly on loan from Kazavid.

Feedback : Yes

Summery : Will Ellie and Ronon's love stand the test of time and all that fate has to throw at them?

Chapter 14

Dr. Beckett worked frantically for ten minutes trying to stop the haemorrhage that had lead to Ellie's early labour. When he finally decided she needed to have the baby there and then Ronon was ready to kill anyone who didn't stop Ellie's pain.

"Ronon calm down, you're not helping", Ellie bit out as another contraction gripped her.

"I just don't like seeing you like this", Ronon said, frowning as she grabbed his hand and squeezed his fingers in a death-like grip of which he'd had no idea she was capable of.

"Ouch", he mouthed to Beckett who shook his head as he began to prepare things for the birth.

"I can't do this now...it's not the right time", Ellie said as she realised what Beckett was doing and he patted her arm comfortingly and said,

"Ellie love, it'll be alright. Babies born at seven months can be much healthier than a baby born at eight or even nine months".

"Don't lie to me", Ellie cried beginning to get upset and Ronon yelled,

"Don't lie to us", but Beckett just glared back at the taller man.

"I have no reason to lie to either of you", he said in an offended tone and Ronon lowered his head.

"Sorry Doc".

"No problem", Beckett replied knowing Ellie was just terrified and Ronon was probably just as scared.

"Now, shall we do this?" he asked, turning to look at Ellie who nodded and squoze Ronon's hand again, making him squirm.

Hours later Ellie finally gave birth to her and Ronon's daughter who was quickly placed in the make-shift incubator that Beckett and his staff had made up whilst Ellie had been in labour.

"Is she ok?", Ellie asked feeling totally exhausted as Beckett returned from seeing to the baby to sort her out.

"She's holding her own. She's a strong lassy, must get that from her father", Beckett replied as he smiled at Ellie and then glanced at Ronon who looked as though he may pass out at any moment.

"Are you alright son?", Beckett asked and Ronon nodded.

When Beckett had finished tidying her up he left them to go and check on the baby again and Ronon moved close to the head of the bed Ellie lay on.

"Are you alright?", he asked gently and Ellie nodded, her eyes filling with tears as she looked up at him.

"I just hope she is", she replied nodding in the direction the baby had been taken.

"You heard Beckett, she's strong", Ronon replied, sitting on the edge of the bed and gently moving Ellie so she rested against him as his arm went around her shoulders.

Ellie relaxed back against Ronon and closed her eyes. Ronon kissed the top of her head, relieved she was ok. She had scared the hell out of him up on the storage level.

Just then Sheppard poked his head around the doorway to the infirmary.

"Hey", he said, trying to get their attention. "What's going on?".

Ronon eased Ellie off of him and back against her pillows before he moved to the doorway, surprised to see not only Sheppard but Rodney, Weir, Teyla, Emerson and Lyssa all sat around outside.

"How is Ellie?", Weir asked and Ronon smiled.

"She's ok. We had a girl".

Various congratulations sounded and then Rodney piped up.

"Oh a girl, thank God there won't be another one of you running around this place tormenting me".

Everyone turned to look at him and he returned their stares innocently.

"What?!", he asked.

Ronon shook his head, too happy that Ellie and his daughter were doing ok to be mad with Rodney.

"You should probably all come by later if you want to see Ellie, she's exhausted right now", he said and they all nodded and with a few more congratulations they began to move away.

As Lyssa turned to move though, Ronon caught her arm.

"About before...", he began but Lyssa gently extracted her arm.

"Now is hardly the time Ronon", she said and he nodded.

At the end of the hallway, Sheppard paused and looked back, his brow furrowing when he saw Lyssa pull her arm from Ronon's hand.

Sighing he continued on his way.

Once Lyssa had gone, Ronon moved back inside to find Ellie had fallen asleep. He kissed her forehead and then moved over to the incubator where the baby lay. She was tiny, "Just like your mom", he murmured to himself, his heart constricting suddenly and he glanced back over at Ellie who still slept.

"I'll always be here...for both of you", he whispered.

ooOoo

Beckett made Ellie stay in the infirmary for a week which she was more than happy to do so that she could be with the baby.

Everyone was pushing her and Ronon for the baby's name as they were all sick of referring to the tiny bundle who was doing so well as 'Baby Dex'.

"What are we going to call her?", Ellie asked one afternoon when Ronon arrived and they stood over the incubator looking at their daughter.

"I'm not sure. Do you have any ideas?", Ronon replied, turning to look at Ellie when she didn't respond immediately and he saw she was blushing.

"I thought...I kind of liked...Hope", she said eventually, glancing at him to see his reaction.

Ronon smiled.

"I like it", he said and Ellie released a kind of nervous laugh.

They both looked back at the baby and Ellie said quietly,

"Hello, Hope Dex, welcome to Atlantis".

ooOoo

As the weeks went by the baby got stronger and Ellie felt comfortable enough to leave her in the infirmary whilst she went back to the lab to do some work.

When she was with Ronon, when he came to see the baby, she wanted to ask him how he was feeling but her pride stopped her. She had heard on the grapevine that Lyssa had got a placement on one of the other Atlantis teams so it looked like she was definitely staying around.

Maybe Lyssa and Ronon were already together but Ronon hadn't said anything to spare her feelings.

Suddenly Rodney's voice penetrated the upsetting thought.

"Hey, have you seen this?".

Ellie moved to Rodney's side and looked at the mail shot he was reading from Elizabeth.

"She wants us to put the tracking devices into operation. Everyone in the city is to have one", Rodney continued, his voice rising by the extra octave that told her he was excited.

"That's a lot of people Rodney. We're going to have to make hundreds of them", she replied and he looked at her as though she had two heads.

"And that's a problem because?", he asked and Ellie shrugged.

"It'll just take time that's all".

"Yes, well, don't be going all soft on me now you're a mother and all that. You were quite a hard worker before and I expect the same performance from you now", Rodney chided her and she was just about to erupt into a speech about separating him from his breath when Emerson appeared in the doorway.

Ellie shut her open mouth as she spotted him.

"Dr. McKay", Emerson said politely and Rodney nodded in response.

"Colonel Emerson. How's The Odyssey these days?" he asked and Emerson folded his arms.

"Funny you should ask. I was wondering if I could borrow Dr. Harrison? One of the consoles is acting up".

"I'll take a look..", Rodney began but Ellie cut him off.

"No you stay here. I'll go. You can make a start on those tracking devices".

Rodney began to huff indignantly but Ellie ignored him, linking her arm through Emerson's conspiratually as they left the lab.

They went along the walk-way laughing at the look on Rodney's face unaware that Ronon was watching from below.

So Emerson was still interested in Ellie was he. But the question was, was Ellie interested in Emerson?

End of Part 14