Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis nor any of the plots, characters, places, or things thereof. I wish I did. But I don't.

A/N: I am so incredibly sorry for the wait AGAIN.. I apologize. I really do. I was so proud of myself for getting the previous chapter up so quickly. But then I was gone that weekend and then I got distracted and then I remembered but I didn't have the time and…. Well. I'm really sorry. In an effort to make this up to you I have posted everything that's left together. Even the epilogue. S'all here. Now I have a question. I have the next story mostly hand written but haven't even thought about starting to type it yet. So.

Do you guys: A) Want it like this one, chapter by chapter hopefully not waiting as long and not having to read continuously for too long but the updates won't be consistent.

OR

B) Want to wait until I get it all done and ready to go and then just get the entire story in one go, which will take longer to get up but you won't have to worry about updates…you will however have to worry about the insane amount of time between installment two and installment three which I haven't even started writing yet.

It's up to you. Give me a vote and we'll figure it out.

Thanks: As always to Bann my beta, to Chibi my…chibi, to AkimaDoll, Electric Spyro and lemons and wraith oh my and everyone else who reviewed. Thanks guys. The Reviews made me happy. As usual. Also, I'd like to take this moment to give a shout out to those of you who are reading the story but just not reviewing. Would I like you to review? Yes, but just knowing that people are reading this is enough to lift my spirits…not that I have reason to be depressed….but…..right. Again I am incredibly sorry. So I'm going to stop rambling now and just give you the story kay? Kay.

The New and The Old

For the first time in my life, the lights in the room didn't start flashing wildly. The chair and its platform didn't just randomly power up. Nothing at all happened and for the first time in my life I got to really look at the room. It was rather plain, like any other room. It had consoles around the room and panels on the walls. Taking a deep breath I finally allowed my attention to fall on the reason I was here.

"Wow." I breathed, thoroughly in awe. There wasn't a whole lot else to be said. The platform looked like a kind of spider web and the chair itself was covered in intricate designs and patters that seemed to echo that motif. "It's amazing!" Apparently, I must have spoken into the radio because my dad responded.

"Yeah. It is." He said grudgingly. I walked forward and stepped onto the platform, which lit up beneath me. Moving carefully and reverently forward, I could feel Del and Rayne watching me as I reached out to touch the chair. The very second my finders made contact the chair lit up and I yanked my hand away with a gasp, staring at my fingers in amazement.

"What? What's wrong?" Daddy sounded so helpless and concerned that I began to forget I was mad at him. Finding my voice I reassured him.

"Nothing's wrong. It's just…" I paused, unsure how to continue. "when I touched it, I felt…" how was I supposed to put the feeling into words? That feeling I'd gotten of another presence. Almost as if by touching the chair, I'd touched the entire city all at once and yet only just one being. More than once, I've felt the city whispering in the back of my mind. Rarely, but it's happened. But this, this had been entirely different and I couldn't find words to explain it. "I don't know how to explain what I felt, but believe me, there is absolutely nothing wrong, Daddy."

"Ash…" he didn't want me to do this. I knew that much already, but from the tone of his voice and the way he said my name I realized that it wasn't because he didn't think I was old enough to handle this. It wasn't because he was afraid I'd make things worse and possibly kill everyone or destroy the city. No. He knew I could handle this, he knew I was old enough, and that I would have complete control the whole time.

What he was afraid of was that by letting me do this, he was going to lose me. Whether it was because I may stay linked to the city or because I grew up completely and stopped needing him around, he was absolutely terrified that he was going to lose me. He was clear on the other side of the city, completely helpless, and absolutely terrified.

"Daddy, it'll be okay." I tried to convey to him that I understood, that I wasn't ever going to stop needing him, and that I would be perfectly safe. "Please."

"Ashlei, I can't stop you." His voice was so full of defeat and self-hate that he wasn't here that any anger I had left towards him, completely disappeared.

"I know. Please." No one said anything and I got the feeling that they were trying to listen without listening to give us as much privacy as possible. The silence stretched on and on. I was doing this either way, but it would make it so much easier on everyone if he let me. I wanted him to let me. So I waited for his reply.

"Okay. Fine. Just- be careful." If he'd been in the same room I would have jumped on him and hugged him. Instead I had to settle for a quick 'Thank you'.

I was just about to sit down when I remembered something.

"Del, I have no idea what's going to happen so…"

"Don't worry. I promise I won't panic." She said with a smile and Rayne nodded in agreement.

Closing my eye, I turned around and sat down. The chair reclined immediately and I waited for some flash or something to indicate a change, but nothing happened. Confused, I opened my eyes.

"Del, how-" but I never got around to asking her because she wasn't there. Rayne wasn't there either. Actually, in all technicalities, I was the one who wasn't there, because what I saw around me? Definitely not the chair room. I gaped in amazement at my new surroundings.

I was still sitting in the chair, but the chair was now located in some kind of park. There was a winding path that stopped at the base of the platform. The park was full of flowers and trees and while it looked like something that might exist on Atlantis, I'd never seen anything like it before. The chair sat itself back up and I stood and continued to look around.

"Where the heck am I?" I muttered to myself as I started walking down the path to try and find some indication.

"I am afraid the only answer I can give you, is not very easy to understand." I yelped in surprise and spun around. I was met with quite a sight. It was a woman, but there was something odd about her. She had a kind and gentle face, a very young looking one, but eyes, the color of the ocean surrounding the city, which told of age and of struggle, of war and of peace. They told of pain, of loneliness, of wisdom and of joy. Her hair was an odd shade of white that reminded me of the white that had topped the breakers I'd been surfing earlier today. She wore a loose, flowing dress of sea foam green and her skin was the color of sand. "Hello, dear one. I am sorry to have scared you; it was not my intention." She smiled kindly. Her voice mad me think of late nights in silence with only the sounds of the city, of Puddle jumpers and the 'Gate and the transporters and opening doors. It was all so familiar and suddenly something clicked.

"You're Atlantis." I whispered, amazed and in awe. Her smile grew.

"I am. Thank you for coming here."

"Of course," I nodded. "But where exactly am I?"

"Ah. Yes, of course. Dear one-"

"Ashlei." I corrected. She gave me a confused look. "My name, it's Ashlei."

"I may call you this?" She said hesitantly.

"Well, yeah. Why wouldn't you?" I asked, confused.

"Every other Lord or Lady Voqui have preferred that I refer to them as such."

"Voqui?" Even as I said it, I somehow knew what it meant. "Voice. Well, I don't know why you'd call me that but Ashlei will do just fine."

"Very well, Ashlei. In answer to your earlier question, your body is still in the chair room. Your mind has been brought to a level where we can communicate. As time wears on and you gain experience, you will be able to understand me without the aid of the chair."

"Wait a minute. Why me?"

"You are the Lady Voqui. My voice. You serve as liason between me and the people of the city. In this way, many crises can be averted." She paused a moment. "Will you walk with me?" she gestured to the path. I nodded and we set of at an easy pace. "If you are willing to listen, I can explain everything to you." Atlantis suggested gently.

"Please do." I implored her. I was so confused. Everything felt so surreal, and yet, I knew this was real. It felt so…right.

"Long ago, in the original home galaxy of the Ancients, I was built. Whether I was made to be sentient on purpose or it came about as a result of the level of technology, I do not know. I was well aware of my people. I protected them, I housed them, I loved them. I was always aware of what they were doing, but rarely could I tell them what was dangerous because the only time I was capable of speaking to them was when the city's leader sate in the chair.

"For many years, this was not a problem, but, inevitably, there came a day when the possible annihilation of all of my beloved people was at hand. A young scientist was attempting to create a cure to a raging disease. Unfortunately, it mutated, creating a disease beyond even the Ancient's ability to heal for long."

"The plague." I gasped. Ocean blue eyes glinted as Atlantis grinned wryly and nodded.

"The mutation resulted in an explosion in the testing facility. The poor man was killed instantly. I tried to war the others. Tried to refuse their entry into the infected room, but they forced their way in and by the time the Head Councilwoman sat in the chair, it was already too late.

"We were forced to leave our beloved Earth and come here. In an attempt to prevent anything of the sort from ever happening again, the geneticists created a gene in much the same way as they created that of the one best able to control the chair. The gene is different from any other and allows the highest level of access. When the bearer of that gene reaches a certain age a ceremony takes place, activating a link between them and me. They grow in experience and in mind until communication between us takes little to no effort. In this way I can ward off impending danger and you can gain a higher understanding of the city." I had remained silent throughout Atlantis' narration. She looked at me in a way that indicated that she was done.

"Oh. Wow. That's…really cool." And it was. It really was. "Oh! I mean, not the part about the plague and the leaving and the other stuff but the rest of it." My voice faded as I trailed off. She gave me an amused look. "Um…before we go any further is it okay if I ask questions?" She smiled gently at me.

"You many always ask questions. Always." There was a bench on the side of the path we were walking on. "Shall we sit?" I nodded and we sat down beside each other. I was silent for a minute, trying to decide where I should start. I opted for the obvious.

"How? How can I possibly have this gene? My parents are both from Earth. My mother doesn't even have the ATA gene."

"What you say is true, and for awhile I wondered much the same. I did some careful and, at times, confusing research into the matter and what I discovered is this: your father is not just a direct descendant of the Ancients who survived the plague. He is a direct descendant of the son of the Head Councilwoman whose gene was used to create the Voqui gene. Why his gene is still so strong even after so many generations I do not know. My theory on the matter is that some how, in some way, your father's gene changed when you were conceived. Possibly it is because you are a triplet, possibly because you were born here in Atlantis. I do not know and I am afraid that I never will." She closed her eyes and sighed. She opened her eyes again and looked off at something only she could see before refocusing her attention on me.

"But whatever the reason and whatever the cause, it happened and I am glad. When your people first arrived here, I thought my loneliness had ended. I was wrong, having them so close and yet being unable to speak to them only hurt more than the loneliness. So I am glad that once again I have someone to talk to when I can." She paused momentarily again. I got the feeling she never felt the need to rush anything, ever. "What else would you like to know?" I considered the various questions that were floating about in my mind.

"Why did that text look so familiar if I had never seen it before? Does it have something to do with the gene?"

"It does. The text was my call to you. My speech. The city's language. Your link to me, activated or not, was still strong enough to recognize it, even if you were unable to read it. The voice you heard this morning was much the same, if anyone else had heard it then all they would have heard was nonsense."

"When I was younger I used to try to get as close to the Chair Room as I could without setting off the systems. Sometimes I could get closer than others. Rodney thought I might be sending off some kind of subconscious command to send the systems haywire like that, but it was you. Wasn't it?" Atlantis gave a short bark of laughter in response to my question, followed by a rather sheepish look.

"I'm afraid it was. I do apologize for that, but the chair provides my strongest sense of people. Every time you came near, all my attention would focus there, hoping that you might come and sit in the chair. The closer you came, the more excited I would become and the systems going haywire were the physical representation. After awhile, I realized that my actions seemed to scare you into moving away, and I resolved to keep control.

"By then, though, your father had banned you from the room in the interest of safety. Contrary and rebellious as you were, even at that age, you were reluctant to defy him on that. So I was forced to find an alternative way of speaking to you. However, the method I eventually managed to devise only seemed to worry you further and finally I let it rest. Waiting and watching you and your friends, getting to know you and your character and trying to discover what would override your internal refusal to disobey your father. It took time but I was finally able to devise my plan.

"I had not meant to enact this until after your eighteenth birthday, the age when the bonding would normally take place. Unfortunately, a situation has arisen that requires that I be able to speak with you and through you to your council."

"Which brings us to why I'm here. I have other questions but they can-" I never go to finish that sentence because suddenly I felt like my body was on fire and my skull was splitting open. I screamed in pain and screamed again continuously as I fell to my knees. I was in pure agony and I wanted nothing more than for it to end. No matter what it meant, I wanted it to end! "Atlantis-" I somehow managed to gasp out from behind gritted teeth and between my howls of pain. "What-" I felt hands on either side of my face and the pain eased to bearable levels. I opened my eyes and saw Atlantis kneeling next to me, her face full of concern and worry.

"Ashlei, you must listen. Your friend is trying to separate you from the chair. Our link has not completely formed. If you are separated from me now, before it forms, you will die. You have to get her to stop." The pain flared and I thrashed in response. Atlantis tightened her grip on my face. "Ashlei, the city has a holographics system. You can use it to project an image of yourself."

"I can tell her to stop?" I pant, helpless to the waves of pain.

"Unfortunately it does not work in the chair room." I groaned and thrashed again in pain. The waves flared horribly again and I twisted my head out of her grip. She grabbed a hold of my head again and forced me to look at her. "Is there anyone in another part of the city that she would listen to?"

"Daddy." I ended up shrieking my answer as yet another wave of pain hit. What was Del doing?

"Alright. Ashlei, listen." She forced my head up to look into her eyes. "You have to stand up. I can activate the holographics and ease your pain slightly, but you must be the one to speak. Understand?" I nod in understanding. The pain eases. "You have to stand up to do this." She helped me to my feet and supported me. "When I activate the holographics you're going to see your father and whoever is in the hallway with him. He'll see you. Tell him that Del has to stop. Tell him if she doesn't, you will die. Don't go into specifics, you won't have the time. Are you ready?" I whimper faintly, but manage a weak thumbs up. All of a sudden the park disappears and I'm standing in a corridor, watching my father pace back and forth. He must have been heading to or from the control room because the corridor was near there. Laura Beckett, formerly Laura Cadman, was sitting on the floor, one elbow resting on her propped up knee and her head leaning back against the wall.

"Hurry, Ashlei." I heard faintly and felt a light twinge of pain.

"Daddy." Laura's head snapped up and she jumped to her feet as my dad spun around.

"Ashlei?" Laura asks in confusion.

"Sort of. Listen, Daddy, whatever Del's doing, you have to tell her to stop." I felt another, stronger twinge of pain.

"Ash, you're passed out in the chair and she can't disconnect it. She-" he protests in confusion.

"Tell her to stop trying."

"But-" He stops as yet another wave of pain hits, my knees shake and I can't quite hold back a slight cry of pain.

"Quickly, Ashlei. You're time is almost up." Atlantis whispers.

"Listen, Daddy. Trust me. If she doesn't stop I'll-" the pain is building and breathing is becoming harder. "She-stop-tell her-I'll-I'll-" I never finish because the pain had returned full force and I scream. My father's image fades to be replaced by the sky over the park and Atlantis' terrified face. I vaguely hear Dad ordering Del to stop and not ask questions. Something about the way he says it must register with my stubborn friend because the pain stops and doesn't come back.

Atlantis lets me go and I lie down slowly. I'm shaking lightly all over and there's this kind of fizzy after-pain feeling. I sit up and stare off into space for awhile, trying to get my mind around what had just happened. Stunned, I say the first thing that comes to mind.

"She promised me she wouldn't freak out." Blue eyes twinkle as Atlantis chuckles softly.

"Do not blame her. She did well for her nature to wait as long as she did. Time passes slower here than it does out there. To her, it has been many hours since you sat down in the chair. It would be well after nightfall to them. Possibly even after midnight." I stare at her in amazement.

"Oh. Well, no wonder it was so dark then." I pause for a second as something occurs to me. "Listen, I know that there's something we need to take care of, but is it okay if I let them know that I'm okay? Daddy was pacing and he really doesn't do that that often. I hate that I'm the one who has pushed him to it." Atlantis levels her gaze at me and I feel likes she's staring into my soul, which, when I think about it, is probably entirely possible. Whatever she sees, it seems to satisfy her because she inclines her head slightly.

"To activate holographics, search your mind for the trigger and pull as you would any other system, thinking only of where you wish to appear at the same time."

I close my eyes and do as she told me. When I open them again, I'm back in the corridor with my dad and Laura. My dad is pacing again and Laura is sprawled on the floor, her jacket folded up under her as a pillow.

"Hey, Daddy." I whisper so as not to wake Laura up.

"Oh, God. Ash, you're okay? I thought maybe-"

"I'm alright. I'll continue to be alright as long as no one tries to disconnect me again."

"I'll be sure and tell Del and Rayne, although neither is likely to so much as touch you right now. They're terrified. We all are, you've been in that chair for hours now."

"What time is it?"

"Around two in the morning. How much longer is this going to take?"

"I really don't know. I promise you I'll explain everything when this is over." I tell him. "Completely and with detail. But I have to go now." he opens his mouth and for a second I think he might say something, but he closes his mouth again and sighs. I deactivate the holographics and Atlantis and the park reappear before my eyes. "Alright Atlantis, let's hear what the problem is."

"Can you walk, or would you rather sit?"

"If I can walk, I'd like to." I stand up slowly. My legs wobble for a bit, but I stay standing. I take a hesitant step forward and collapse. "On second thought, I'll just stay right here." Atlantis walks over and sits beside me, tucking her legs under her and arranging the skirt of her dress. "Alright. Problem?"

"Since you are the daughter of the then Major Sheppard and Dr. Elizabeth Weir and your friend is Rodney McKay's daughter, I will assume you have heard stories about the raging storm that comes every 20-30 years."

"Yeah, I've heard them. The three of them are kind of reluctant to talk about it. I don't know the exact details."

"Nor do you need to know. The problem has nothing to do with those details. The problem is the storm. I am equipped with sensors that monitor the activity of the ocean and its life and predict when the storm will return. I have never been wrong. The storm is coming."

"How long?"

"Two months. With luck that will be enough time for someone to figure out a way to protect me and all of you."

"Why can't we use the shield?"

"You could, but, as I am sure Dr. McKay will be quick to point out, if you do use it, it will deplete the, what is it that you call it?"

"ZPM?"

"Yes. The ZPM. If you use the shield, it will deplete the ZPM entirely. This means that there will be no more communication with Earth, less systems online, and we will be wide open for attack."

"Okay. So what about the thing they did the first time, with the grounders and the buffer or whatever?"

"It would work, but they'd have to pull the ZPM to avoid overload and after what happened last time, I have a feeling that that plan will be their last resort." She looked at me and I knew she cold tell I was really worried. "Be easy. Last time, Dr. McKay had very little time to think. Now he is being given a little over two months. He should be able to come up with a better solution. But he will need all the time he can get. Our link is finalized. Go and tell them what you have learned." She closed her eyes and then opened them again. "I have lifted the lockdown."

"How do I-"

"Think it." and then she disappeared.

"Think it. Okay." I shut my eyes and think of the chair room and imagine the chair sitting up. I feel myself being forced into and upright position and open my eyes. The first thing I see is the matching worried looks on Del and Rayne's faces. It had worked then.

I stand up and manage to take a few shaky steps forward before I am engulfed in tight hugs from my friends. I hear footsteps pounding towards us down the hallway. They skid to a stop and I am released by my friends only to be pulled into a tighter embrace by someone else. The familiar scent of my dad's shampoo, aftershave, cologne, and laundry detergent assails my nostrils. I get my arms up and hug him back.

"You're okay, you're okay, you're okay." He repeats over and over again.

"Yep. I told you I would be."

"I know. I just-" He stops unable to find the words to explain to me how he felt.

"It's okay, Daddy. I get it." While I may never understand exactly what he went through in the past five hours, I saw the look on his face the second time I had activated the holographics, and I know that he had been terrified. I pull back and he reluctantly lets go, keeping a hand on my shoulder. "Nice as this is, we still have a bit of a problem. I need to talk to Senior Staff. It's really important." I add when he gives me a look.

"Sweetie, it's three in the morning. Can it possibly wait?"

"Uh-uh." I shake my head no apologetically. He looks exhausted, everyone is probably exhausted, but this cannot wait.

Dad considers me for a long moment. Just as I am about to stress the level of importance, he lets out a deep sigh. "Never any peace." He mutters as he reaches up with the hand not on my shoulder to activate his radio. "This is General Sheppard. All Senior Staff report to the Conference room. Now." he adds, I assume to cut off Rodney's protests. He looks at Del and Rayne. "I suppose you two are going to want to come along, too?"

"We may as well." Del answers calmly. "I mean it isn't like Ashlei isn't going to tell us everything anyway."

"I'd assumed as much." He sighs. There's a pause and then "Oddly, that doesn't bother me at all. C'mon." He beckons us to follow him as he walks out of the room. Del and Rayne share an excited look behind his back that is quickly replaced by looks of calm when Dad turns around to look at me. "There isn't really a whole lot I can say to you to warn you or prepare you for this. I'll do what I can to keep them from grilling you too badly but…" He trails off for a minute. "Be ready for the Spanish Inquisition."

"The Spanish what?" I ask, confused. He narrows his eyes, decides I'm being completely serious, which I am, and lets out another deep sigh. His hand leaves my shoulder and rakes through his hair in the odd habit we share that usually indicates our frustration.

"I can't believe I'm letting you do this." He drops his hand back to his side. "Well, c'mon you three, before they get really mad." That was pretty much the end of any talk between us until we reached the Conference room.

Four and a half hours later, I'm standing on the balcony that wraps around the tower, watching the sunrise. Sunrise is always beautiful in Atlantis, the light bounces off the water and creates all kinds of pretty colors. Today, for some reason, it seems different. It seems…Better.

I spent nearly three hours with the Senior Staff. First, I told them what exactly had happened to me. Then I had to tell it twice more because they kept getting a little confused and lost. Then I had to give Merric a reason, a good one, as to why they should believe me. To my utter surprise and delight, the rest of the Staff had glared at him and demanded that he give them a good reason they shouldn't.

Once that problem had finally been settled, I explained the more pressing issue of the storm. This resulted in slight chaos and harried explanations from Rodney about why they couldn't use the shield. The fact that the previous solution wasn't even mentioned by Merric, only got me all the more interested in finding out what had happened. Once things had calmed down, there was a question and answer time. Rayne, Del, and I were then asked to leave so that they could debate over possible solutions and do whatever else it is that they do in there.

Upon reaching our tower, I was not in the slightest bit surprised to find all of its occupants waiting for us in the lounge. The oldest were still awake, the youngest were fast asleep. We woke them up and I gave a quick, condensed version of what I'd told Senior Staff. They didn't ask questions and after I reassured them that I was fine, they had all gone to bed. My head too full to even think of sleeping right then, I had come out here.

Behind me, I hear the familiar sound of a door opening and faint footsteps as someone else walks out onto the balcony. I don't bother turning around. I know who it is. I hear the door close again and he stands there for a minute or two in silence before joining me against the rail.

"I need to apologize." Daddy starts. "No," he corrects himself. "I want to apologize. I want to apologize for the way I've treated you. It wasn't abusive or cruel or unkind in anyway, or at least I don't think it was. The extent of the overprotection was almost worse. You have to understand that when you and your brothers were born, I promised myself three things. First, I wasn't going to spoil any of you. Second, I wasn't going to stand in the way of the three of you doing what you wanted with your lives, with a few exceptions of course. Third, when you were old enough, able to, and wanted to, I was going to let you take care of yourselves.

"To date I have failed in all three with you, though I have somehow managed to mostly succeed so far with your brothers. You…The first I failed with you almost immediately, but every time I strengthen my resolve on the matter, I'd remember the way you looked at me the first time I held you." He gives a wry snort. "God, your mother was so mad." He finally turns his head to look at me. "Did I ever tell you about that?" Unwilling to speak lest I ruin the mood I shake my head no. "The doctor had put Aaron in the cradle so he could have his hands free. Alan came so quickly after you that he wasn't able to put you in the cradle and just handed you to me instead. I looked at you and our eyes met and that was it. From that moment onward, you've had me wrapped around your little finger, and so I failed the first.

"In the second, I've failed you twice now. Once was today, by trying to stop you from sitting in the chair. I don't blame you for not listening and I am definitely not mad at you for it. Just in case you thought I was. The other failure…" he stops completely here and turns his head to look back out at the sunrise. "My earlier and current failure…" he trails off again for a moment before sighing. "Ashlei, nobody really wants their child in the military. Especially not people who have been through everything I've been through. But today you showed me two things. First you showed me that you wouldn't blindly follows orders. You're willing to defy them to protect people. The other thing you showed me shocked me. You were in the chair room. As you pointed out earlier, I never could have stopped you. You still asked. You could have just done it, but you didn't. it takes a strong person to ask for permission to do something when they can't be stopped. Later you even made sure we knew you were okay. You demonstrated an understanding of other people's feelings." He looked back at me. "I don't regret not wanting you in the military. I still don't particularly like the idea, but after what you showed me today, I'm more open to it." I feel excitement welling up, but I control it. He hadn't said I could and besides, we were still in the middle of a very serious discussion.

"The third promise I made, I have no good excuse for breaking, except maybe that I don't want to lose you. That's it. no complicated explanations, no trying to rationalize. You meant the world to me and I would rather have you hate me for the rest of your life than lose you. It was while I was trying desperately to convey over a radio my exact feelings on the matter that I realized this. When you somehow managed to not only understand but also managed to tell me that you understood, I realized the fault in my reasoning. I wasn't protecting you to keep you from pain; I was protecting you to keep me from pain. You don't even really need the protection. You can take care of yourself and you want to do it, so I'm going to let you. So tomorrow, or later today come find me. I'll drop whatever I'm doing and give you a serious flying lesson." At this I couldn't contain my excitement anymore.

"Really?" I ask to dispel my doubts.

"Yeah. Really. A real serious flying lesson like the kind I should have given you years ago. Plus full permission to fly out to the mainland as long as your mother or I okay it first and you tell us where you're going." I let go of the rail and hug him. He laughs, and it's a full, heartfelt laugh. "Radios will be required but your mother, Ronon, Teyla, Rodney, Marissa and I have decided that you girls are old enough to head over there alone if you go together." I hug him even tighter. I can't believe it. I really can't believe it. I eventually let go and look up into laughing hazel eyes. "I have to go now, Sweetie. I haven't slept in twenty-four hours and if Ronon catches me before I make it back to bed, I'll be running with him. I'm already exhausted and I'd probably pass out so I have to go so I don't run into him, okay? Give me a couple of hours for sleep and the come find me whenever you're ready. I'll be all yours for that lesson, okay?"

"Yeah, Daddy. Thank you."

"Don't thank me. It shouldn't have taken me this long to offer." He pulls me into a last hug, kisses my forehead and looks out at the water and the now full dawn. "That really is gorgeous. Twenty-five years I've been living here and I never get tired of that. I'll see you later, Sweetie." He leaves with a faint bounce in his step that I haven't seen for awhile. He's humming some song or another. AJ was right, I realize. He really is like a kid.

'He is' I hear Atlantis whisper faintly in the back of my mind. The whispering that had always been there if I had just listened. 'Your father is very dear to me, and you are more so. He need not worry; I will care for you as much as possible. But your father is also right. It is dawn. You must sleep. There will be time for thought and worry later. Sleep, Ashlei.'

"Alright." I concede as I slip back through the lounge and into my room. I change quickly into my sleep pants and camisole before stretching out happily on the bed. Suddenly I feel tired beyond measure. "Atlantis, just one question?" I yawn.

'Very well.'

"It wasn't an accident when I found the corridors today, was it?" her laughter reminds me vaguely of waves crashing against the pier and that sound lulls me to sleep. Her laughter is answer enough for me.

Epilogue

The old woman pauses in her narrative at the chiming of her door. She glances out her window and realizes with surprise that it is almost dusk already.

"My, my. Look at the time. Come on in Nikki." A lovely young lady in a flowing light green dress walks through the now open door.

"Grandma, how do you always know that it's me?" she asks in a tone that suggests that they've had this conversation many times. A pair of twin boys and the littlest girl, the one that had been hiding in the closet, run over to Nikki with cries of 'mama, mama!' Nikki smiles and picks up her daughter after hugging her sons.

"Because dear, Atlantis always sings when you ring a door chime." Nikki shakes her head.

"Come on kids. I'm to take you back to your parents." She is met with collective whining from all of the children.

"Oh, go on, munchkins." The old woman laughs. "I'll be here tomorrow to continue the story."

"You promise?" a little girl asks.

"Of course I will. Maybe we'll go some place else and sit, but I'll be here to tell the story."

A young man joins Nikki in the doorway. She smiles at him, but the two are clearly not related.

"Hey, Nik. Grandma. Come on kids, let's go." The children reluctantly get up and follow the two adults out of the room. The old woman watched them leave with a smile on her face. Right before he leaves, the young man turns back. "Are you coming down to Council tonight?"

"Am I welcome?" She asks sweetly. He blinks in surprise.

"Why wouldn't you be?"

"I've retired."

"You retired a long time ago. You're always welcome and it's good for us to have an opinion from someone who has experience with such things." He walks back into the room and sits on the bed. "Not to mention the fact that I'd think you'd want to get down from this tower more often. You are the only one up here, what with the decision to leave the rooms vacant out of respect to their former occupants. I know you aren't actually my grandmother, but you've been as much of one as my real grandparents were."

"That was the whole adopted family thing. Your grandmother, Nikki's grandmother, myself and our friends agreed that we would be adoptive family to each others children. And yes, Jonathan, I think I will come down to Council tonight. Would you be so kind as to escort me?"

"Of course." He bows and holds out his arm to help the old woman to her feet. She takes a moment to place the book back in its place. She touches it lovingly and for a moment her mind seems to be elsewhere.

"You really miss them don't you?"

"I do. It's hard not to. They were powerful people, but they were kind. They would always make time for me. If I needed them, they were always there. They were dynamic, charismatic people. They could make a day brighter just by walking into a room. I do miss them and it hurts, but I'd be more worried if it didn't. Now, dear, let us go to this council meeting." The two walk out of the room and the door swooshes closed.

A picture sits in a silver frame on the bedside table. One single picture of five young women. All five of them are laughing and in the middle a far younger version of the picture's owner is being hugged tightly by three of the others while the fourth with dark brown hair and laser blue eyes sits slightly away, laughing but seemingly more concerned with the cake on her face. The remains of the cake are in the hands of the girl in the middle.

The End, (for now)

A/N: YAY!! It's finally done. Finally!! Hoorah. I offer cookies to all who have made it this far and also candy to those who have reviewed and will review. I am pleased to announce that I have created the titles and basic plotlines for all four parts of this story. The titles have more than one meaning btw. See if you can figure it out. Also, as I recall, I have also challenged you to discern the identity of the old woman. This Epilogue is your second hint. I can promise that every prologue and epilogue will follow the same pattern of hint giving. I can also assure you that the name will be given in the final epilogue and that, regardless of whether or not someone figures it out, there will be a prologue and epilogue to every story. If only because I have half of them written already. So that's that then. Hoorah for the end of this story. Give me your vote on how you want the next story and until then:
This is Nimeria OUT!!