John wiped the steam from the mirror and stared at his reflection. It was the same face and yet a different man. Once a man alone, he now had everything, and nearly lost it all. That damned stupid…… He sighed and shook his head. "Do not dwell on the past or what might have been. Live now. Love now. Take what happiness you can, while you can." Words to live by and Teyla would know that better than anyone. She'd lost her family, many of her people, and her home. John glanced at the door. He could hear the baby's soft cry coming from the bedroom. He smiled. John slipped his shirt over his head and tucked it into his pants. He smirked at the image in the mirror.

"Live now. Love now. Go help your wife….right now."

Teyla glanced up as the bathroom door slid open.

"Good morning."

John sat on the edge of the bed and gave her a kiss. He glanced down at the baby latched onto Teyla's breast and grinned.

"Greedy little monster, isn't he?"

She nodded.

"He is big."

John tugged on the chubby foot that rested against Teyla's thigh. He smiled as a pair of large hazel eyes popped open and stared up at him. Nathaniel Tyler Sheppard, born six weeks ago at a whopping nine and a half pounds, was the latest addition to the Sheppard clan. He, like his brother's before him, was the spitting image of his father.

"What time will you be leaving today?"

John met Teyla's eyes.

"Off world? I don't expect to leave until after lunch. Maybe one o'clock or so, but I have a few reports to finish and a de brief once the Daedelus arrives, so I'm going to the office at seven thirty."

He glanced at the clock which showed it was five thirty-eight in the morning.

"I'll get the twins dressed before I go."

Teyla placed a hand on his arm.

"I know you have a lot to do today. I can dress the boys if you'd like to relax before you start your day."

John dropped a kiss on her shoulder and rose from the bed.

"I want to. I'm not sure how long we'll be at the Alpha site, so I want to spend a little time with them now. What about you? When are you going to lunch?"

Teyla lifted Tyler to her shoulder and rubbed his back.

"We have a checkup with Carson, so I'm taking an early lunch."

John grunted before turning to the nursery and opening the door. He turned on the lights and found both twins awake. Jared sat in his crib rubbing his eyes, while Jay jumped up and down.

"Good morning double trouble."

Both boys burst into giggles at the silly expression on their father's face.

Elizabeth stood with John in the gate room awaiting the arrival of their guests. She watched as he shifted his weight to his left side.

"Are you excited or anxious?"

John glanced around as if he'd just realized she was in the room.

"Who me?"

She nodded her head in exasperation.

"Who else?"

He sighed.

"Sorry, I guess I'm a little anxious to get this mission over with."

Elizabeth rested a hand on his arm.

"Don't worry John. With the experiment taking place on the Alpha site Teyla and the boys will be fine."

He grinned, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"I know."

They both glanced up as a white light flashed and three bodies materialized. Elizabeth gasped.

"Simon!"

John looked at her brows raised. He turned to 'Simon' and introduced himself. "Welcome To Atlantis. I'm Lt. Col John Sheppard, military commander of the expedition."

They shook hands.

"Thank you. I'm Dr. Simon Wallace…."

Elizabeth listened as John greeted their visitors and tried to gain control of her self. The initial rush of emotion she felt from seeing Simon again nearly overwhelmed her. Old memories, old hurt swelled up and washed over her leaving ripples in their wake. She still cared for him. A part of her always would, but it wasn't love. Her heart belonged to someone else. Rodney. Elizabeth sighed in relief. There was nothing to fear; only questions. The first of which being 'what was Simon doing in Atlantis'?

John glanced at Elizabeth and she smiled.

"Forgive me Simon, Daniel, Cameron, welcome to Atlantis. It's good to see you again. All of you."

She turned leading the group up the stairwell to the Control room.

"I know that you've been cooped up in the Daedelus for weeks so I'll leave you in John's capable hands. He'll show you to your assigned quarters and get you settled in."

She glanced at John.

"If you need me I'll be in my office."

John nodded at Elizabeth and watched as she excused herself from the group. Talk about a hasty retreat. Something, or rather someone had upset her and all fingers pointed to 'Simon'. He made a mental note to speak with her later, but for now duty called.

"Gentlemen, this way please."

Of all the places he'd rather not be and of all the things he'd rather not do, John was pretty sure this was on the top of his list. He sat at one end of a long table listening as Drs. Rodney McKay and Daniel Jackson discussed the object sitting in the small black case. John had only seen it once before when it was discovered at the dig site on Clanthos. It was a box. A small grey box made of some type of foreign metal, no bigger than a Rubix Cube. It was supposed to be some great source of power, but so far it'd been nothing but a pain in the ass. Mind you, it was powerful, but more importantly it was dangerous; dangerous enough to nearly cost him his family, dangerous enough for him to order that it taken to the Alpha site and stored underground. John sighed. Oddly enough, he'd dreamed of coming here to retrieve the device on many occasions. The only difference was that he was usually alone….. and it normally ended with him filing an incident report involving 'friendly fire'. But today he was here on orders. Not kicking the device off the table and crushing it with the heel of his boot. Not empting his clip and making it dance across the floor. Not strapping it to a pack of C-4 and tossing it into the valley below the camp site. Nope, his orders were to escort, observe, and if necessary assist. So he escorted, he observed, and the rest he'd left open to interpretation. And from the looks of things he wasn't the only one. John glanced across the tent at Aiden Ford, Ronon Dex and Cameron Mitchell as they swapped mission stories. The first two had lost interest in the mission when they found out that the device wasn't being destroyed; the latter after seeing how small it was. They preferred spending the last four hours recounting close calls on some mission gone bad and radioing status checks to Atlantis.

Rodney checked the readings on his hand held.

"I think we're ready."

John rose from his chair and stretched.

"Finally."

The others approached the table, gathering around the device.

"Ready?"

Rodney glanced at John. He nodded. Stopping just short of touching the device, Rodney sighed.

"Here goes nothing."

He flexed his hand and began the activation sequence.

Elizabeth sat in solitude by the window. It was a little early for the dinner hour and the dining hall was nearly deserted. She liked the quiet. Closing her eyes, she titled her face towards the sunlight. It was warm, comforting.

"May I join you?"

She opened her eyes and found Simon staring down at her. Somewhat startled she breathlessly replied.

"Yes, of course."

He placed his tray on the table and eased his long frame into a nearby chair.

"It is good to see you again Elizabeth. How are you?"

She smiled.

"I'm fine and you."

Simon grinned.

"I haven't seen you in over five years and you're just 'fine'? Come on Lizzie, I though we were closer than that."

Elizabeth leaned back in her chair.

"As you say, it's been a while. Surely you don't expect me to start gushing out my inner most secrets just yet? Besides, you still haven't told me what you're doing here. The last I remember you weren't too keen on coming to the Pegasus galaxy. So what changed your mind?"

He leaned forward.

"I wasn't interested in coming to Atlantis on a permanent basis. This is temporary; a last minute favor for a friend. Dr. Sun had a family emergency and had to pull out at the last minute. I was the only other doctor with a majority of the necessary paperwork completed. The only thing I needed to do was sign the non-disclosure agreement. Besides, all of that is in the past."

Elizabeth nodded.

"You're right, it is."

Simon reached across that table and caressed her hand.

"I've missed you."

She pulled her hands back and placed them in her lap.

"I've missed you too. There have been many times when a familiar face and friendly encouragement could have done me a world of good, but I've learned to adapt."

He sighed.

"Maybe time alone has helped each of us realize the mistakes we've made."

Elizabeth frowned.

"Time alone? I thought you-."

"That was a lie. Lizzie, it was all lies. When you left the first time I was angry. One day we were together and the next…..you were gone. There was nothing but a tape. You didn't even take the time to say goodbye to my face."

"I'm sorry Simon. I never meant to hurt you. I though you of all people would understand."

He laughed.

"Well, I didn't and for a long time I hated you. I couldn't wait for you to return so I could tell you just how much I hated you, but when you did…..I was so happy to see you again that I knew deep in my heart it wasn't hate. It was hurt, anger. But you came back and we could start again or at least that was what I thought. When you asked me to come to Atlantis the anger returned in full force. There you were choosing work over us again, but this time you were kind enough to try to include me. So I lied."

"Simon-."

"I still love you Lizzie. I came here-."

"Simon don't-."

"Dr. Weir, this is Control."

Elizabeth stared at Simon.

"Dr. Weir, come in."

She turned away, activating her ear comm.

"This is Weir."

"Ma'am, please be advised that Col. Sheppard's team has returned from the Alpha site."

"Is everything alright?"

"Col. Sheppard is unconscious. He's being transported to the infirmary as we speak."

"I'll meet them there."

"Copy that. Control out."

John could feel someone tugging on his clothes. He smiled; Teyla. She grabbed his arm and pulled his flak vest over his shoulder. John's brow knotted in confusion. Those weren't Teyla's hands. He opened his eyes and stared at the male medic stripping him of his gear.

"HEY!"

Sitting up, he glared at the newbie.

"I'll take it from here, if you don't mind."

He slipped off his vest and holster and handed them to the medic.

"Thank you."

Carson appeared at his side.

"I see you are awake, Colonel."

John rolled his shoulders, still glaring at the departing medic's back.

"Yeah, what happened?"

Carson frowned.

"I was about to ask you that very same question."

John shrugged.

"All I remember is that damned thing started glowing and shooting out bursts of light. My head started hurting and I woke up here."

Carson jotted down a few notes.

"You've only just returned from the Alpha site. You've been unconscious for about ten minutes."

He patted John's shoulder.

"Looks as if I'm going to have to run a few tests lad."

John lay back against his pillow and sighed.

"You and your damned tests."

Teyla and Elizabeth, closely followed by Simon, arrived a few minutes later, but were denied access until standard post op exams were completed. Simon went into the infirmary to assist where he could. With no other option but to wait, the two women continued on to the daycare center to pick up their children. Elizabeth sighed.

"Well, at least he's conscious and complaining, that's always a good sign."

Teyla smiled.

"Who was that man from earlier?"

Elizabeth grinned.

"Dr. Simon Wallace."

Teyla titled her head.

"Your Simon?"

Elizabeth nodded.

"Does Rodney know?"

"No, not yet."

After arriving at the daycare center, they collected their children and began the slow journey back to the infirmary. Elizabeth held Rebecca's hand, while Teyla held Tyler's carrier in one hand and John and Jared toddled behind them.

"Do you think I should tell him?"

Teyla glanced at her friend.

"How would you feel if you were in his place?"

Elizabeth frowned.

"I would want to know."

Teyla nodded.

"This is Rodney. You know that he will overreact, but given time he will see reason because he loves you."

Elizabeth smiled.

"Yes, he does."

As they neared the infirmary John and Jared took off running sensing that their father was near. Rebecca, not to be left behind, followed suite. Elizabeth and Teyla laughed when the children's arrival caused a significant increase in the room's volume. They entered a few moments later, in time to see Ronon toss Jared into the air. The toddler's face beamed with joy as he let out an eerie Wraith like scream.

"Ronon!"

Ronon caught Jared and sat him on his hip. He smiled sheepishly at John and Teyla.

"Sorry."

John turned to Teyla, he took the carrier and gave her a quick kiss.

"I was just about to make a break for it."

She smirked.

"Oh, really?"

"Hello Teyla."

She glanced behind John and smiled.

"Daniel, Cameron, it is good to see you."

Daniel smiled.

"And you. You look wonderful."

Teyla blushed slightly.

"Thank you."

"These are your boys?"

Cameron glanced down at the twins. Both now stood clutching John's pant leg and staring at the strangers.

"Yes, the one on the left is John and on the right is Jared."

John lifted the fussy baby from the carrier.

"And this is our newborn, Tyler."

Simon's brow knotted.

"New born? How old is he?"

John grinned.

"Six weeks."

Cameron's eyes grew wide.

"Holy shi-!"

"He's a big boy."

Daniel glared at Cameron.

"Baby, baby, baby."

Simon lifted the little girl into his arms.

"Yes."

He pointed at Tyler.

"Baby."

She dimpled and clapped her hands. Simon smiled.

"And whose lovely child is this?"

Elizabeth reached for Rebecca.

"It seems that more introductions are needed. Dr. Simon Wallace, this is Teyla Sheppard, leader of the Athosian settlement on the mainland, my daughter Rebecca McKay, and my husband Dr. Rodney McKay."

John's finger traced a drop of sweat as it rolled down Teyla's spine. He dropped kisses along her lower back and smiled when she wiggled her behind.

"That tickles."

He rolled her onto her back and kissed her deeply.

"I know."

Teyla wrapped her arms around his neck and caressed John's cheek.

"What?"

He shook his head. Teyla pulled him closer.

"What?"

He gazed into her eyes.

"I keep seeing Dr. Wallace's face when Elizabeth introduced him to Becca and Rodney. He looked as if he'd been sucker punched. It wasn't pretty."

"Seeing Dr. Wallace in pain bothered you?"

"Not really. I've seen that look before, not too long ago actually."

Teyla's brow knotted.

"When?"

"On Clanthos, when Marta singled me out as your husband. Yathan had that same look." Teyla ran her fingers through his hair.

"Are you jealous of Yathan?"

He laughed.

"Are you kidding? Yathan may dream of being with you, but I am with you. I can hold you in my arms, kiss you, make love to you. Yathan is a fool."

Teyla smiled slowly. She eased her hands under the cover and smiled when John stiffened.

"Then let us not waste anymore time with thoughts of Yathan."

John rested his forehead against hers and moaned. He brushed his lips across hers and grinned.

"Yathan who?"

Elizabeth glanced across the bed at Rodney.

"Simon is my past. You and Rebecca are my present and future. When Simon arrived I had every intention of telling you who he was, but it never seemed to be the right time."

He glanced over his shoulder.

"You could have told me after the de brief."

"Rodney, the Clanthos device was dangerous enough on its own. I didn't want to distract you from your mission."

He rose from the bed and paced back and forth.

"Why haven't you told me about him before?"

Elizabeth sighed.

"Have you ever told me about any of your girlfriends?"

Rodney paused.

"You knew about Katie."

"Honey, everybody knew about you and Katie."

He started pacing again.

"I'm talking about someone from before you came to Atlantis."

Rodney paused again and smiled smugly.

"Samantha Carter."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"Rodney, imaginary girlfriends don't count."

He held up a finger, but she cut him off.

"Even if they are real people."

Rodney frowned, momentarily stumped. He snapped his fingers as something came to him. Swaggering around the corner of the bed, he stopped in front of Elizabeth and crossed his arms.

"My neighbor on Earth."

Elizabeth rose onto her knees.

"Sweetheart, she hated your guts and imaginary dates induced by alien manipulation don't count either."

He pouted.

"Rodney."

She caressed his face.

"None of that matters. The only thing that does matter is that I love you. Not Simon. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Rodney looked at her and sighed.

"Beth, I know you love me, but he's tall and handsome and tall."

Elizabeth grinned.

"Yes, but you're cute, and brave, and smart."

She pulled Rodney forward and whispered in his ear.

"Teddy Bear."

He grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I am aren't I?"

Elizabeth giggled and gave Rodney a slow, tender kiss.

"Yes, you are."

Cameron Mitchell took a swing out of his beer as he lay gazing up at the main tower of Atlantis.

"Man, this place is beautiful. You're a lucky SOB."

John grinned.

"I know."

Cameron sat up and turned to look at John.

"No, you don't. This place is amazing, your wife is…"

"Attractive?"

Cameron rolled his eyes.

"Dude, no offence, but your wife is shit hot. And you have three super kids running around the spitting image of you. You're the military commander of the city and one of the leaders of the Athosian village. Not to mention being one of the best pilots in this galaxy. How much more of an ego booster do you need?"

John raised his brows and shrugged. Cameron shook his head.

"How in the hell do you stay grounded?"

John jumped on the one question that he could answer.

"Wraith and Ancient replicators."

Cam sighed.

"I see your point. But you've got this amazing woman waiting for you at home-."

John shook his head as he took a drink.

"Teyla doesn't wait. Between the children, off world missions, Athosian issues, self defense classes, working as a liaison with between us and old Athosian trade partners and advising Elizabeth on planetary customs in the Pegasus galaxy, it can get pretty hectic." Cam stared at him.

"Damn!"

John nodded.

"Yeah, I really don't get that much time to gloat."

"Are you happy?"

Elizabeth turned from her view of the ocean and watched as Simon stepped out onto the balcony.

"Yes, I'm very happy."

She glanced down at her clasped hands.

"I'm sorry you had to find out that way. I tried to tell you in the dining hall, but-." Simon smirked.

"Duty called."

She turned back to the railing.

"You've changed. The Simon that I knew seems to have vanished."

"That man died a lonely death a long time ago. The only thing that's left is me." Elizabeth looked at him.

"Why do you say such things?"

Simon stepped forward, his face twisted in an ugly sneer.

"Because it's the truth! Do you want me to lie and say I'm happy for you! Do you want me to smile at a man that has the wife I should have had and the child that should have been mine! You left me! You left me twice! And you want me smile and tell you, 'oh don't worry Elizabeth its okay'! Well sorry, it doesn't work that way! But as luck would have it I leave tomorrow and believe me when I say, I will never step foot I this galaxy again."

Elizabeth stared at the stranger before her. She was at a loss for words.

"Elizabeth, come in."

"Beth, this is Rodney, come in."

She turned away from Simon and activated her ear comm.

"Go ahead Rodney."

"Daniel's just made an interesting discovery about the Clanthos device and wants to brief A.S.A.P."

"I copy. Contact John, Carson, and Stephen. We'll meet in the conference room in ten minutes."

"Ten minutes. McKay out."

Elizabeth turned back to Simon.

"You're welcome to join us."

He sighed.

"Thank you, but no. I need to pack."

"Well, please excuse me."

Simon smirked.

"I know, duty calls."

Daniel scrolled through the images on the display screen until he found the correct one.

"Something about the inscription on the Clanthos device nagged at me, but I didn't make the connection until this afternoon. In Ancient text the words for knowledge and power are the same. You can only differentiate between the two by the context in which the word is used."

Daniel adjusted his glasses and glanced around the room.

"I took another look at the inscriptions on the device and taking into considering what's happened so far, I now believe the Clanthos device to be an Ancient repository."

Elizabeth brow's rose.

"You mean like the one that was downloaded into General O'Neill?"

Daniel smiled.

"Yes and no. The Clanthos device is a significantly smaller version of the Ancient repository than the one we found back home. The energy signature alone is less than one tenth of the repository that Jack encountered."

Rodney frowned.

"Why?"

Daniel gestured to the display screen.

"This repository doesn't contain all the knowledge of the Ancients. There would be no need of something like that with Atlantis just a Stargate away. I think that it contains information that pertains specifically to Atlantis and the destruction of the Wraith."

Colonel Caldwell shifted in his chair.

"Dr. Jackson, that's a nice theory, but as we all know the device doesn't seem to work anymore. It's burned out."

Daniel shook his head.

"It didn't burn out. It's just empty."

Caldwell frowned.

"So where did the information go?"

Daniel glanced at Elizabeth, Elizabeth turned to Rodney and Rodney looked at John. John glanced up from the stick figure that he'd just drawn on his notepad. He frowned when he realized everyone was staring at him.

"What?"

Cameron, Daniel, and Simon stood in the gate room ready to depart. They'd said their goodbyes earlier this morning and now awaited clearance from Control to gate back to the SGC. Cameron sighed. He was anxious to be home again, back in the thick of things. He'd enjoyed his visit to Atlantis. John had given him a tour of the city and taken him for a ride in a Jumper, but an uneasy feeling had settled over him these last few days. Cam couldn't put a name on it or rather he didn't want to. Truth be known, he'd tried and hadn't liked the results.

"Stargate Command has given us the green gentlemen. You're clear to go."

Together the three men walked towards the event horizon. Two paused briefly to glance back at the Control room and wave goodbye. Cameron smiled at John and Teyla. Envy wasn't a word with which he'd normally associate himself. Turning back to the wormhole, he let his smile fall. But then no one ever liked to consider him self a jealous man.