Pegasus Galaxy, Lantea, Atlantis, Weir Quarters; October 14, 2009, 09:45
Elizabeth went to her daughter's room to wake her only to find the now nine year old gone from her room. She found a note on the bed, she read it and smiled at the contents.
"Mother,
Happy Birthday, I left for Rodney's lab early this morning to finish your gift. Sleep in, I will see you later. Enjoy your birthday morning.
Ardelis"
Elizabeth took her note and headed back to bed, knowing her daughter was enjoying her time making a gift for her with Rodney's help.
Rodney and she had grown closer, spending more time together due to Ardelis. Ardelis was with Rodney 75% of the time and if she wasn't, she was either asleep, eating or learning something new.
It had taken a while but the scientist has worked up the courage and with Ardelis's help, asked Elizabeth to dinner. Ardelis chose to play chess with John that night.
Pegasus Galaxy, Lantea, Atlantis, Rodney's Lab; October 14, 2009, 10:00
Rodney and Ardelis were working on a hologram projector for Elizabeth; it was a holographic photo album.
"Rodney, do you love Mother?" Ardelis looked at Rodney and the scientist eyed the child before him, he'd only been dating her mother for half a year.
"I don't know, how do you know you love someone?"
"Mother says that you know you love someone because you can't stop thinking about all the good things they do for you. You like the little things like how they smile or look at you; she also says that you'd do anything for them."
"Then yes, yes I love your mother." Rodney smiled at Ardelis and the nine year old smiled back. "Do you think she'll like this?"
"I think she'll love it, are you finished with the upload?" She looked at Rodney as he detached a cord from the device.
"I am, turn it on and see what you think." She turned it on and pictures began to show, Ardelis stopped at one and pointed.
"Who are they?" She was looking at a picture of her grandparents.
"Those are your mother's parents, your grandparents."
"Okay." She let the album continue and both watched as it played different pictures.
In the end, both liked it and Ardelis looked at Rodney.
"Rodney what are you getting Mother for her birthday?"
He pulled out a small box and opened it, inside was a necklace. "I got it on a planet during a trading mission."
"She'll like it."
Ardelis turned off her gift and placed the hologram projector in a box Rodney gave her before letting her wrap it. Rodney watched in wonder as the nine year old wrapped the gift with precision.
He found that Ardelis had a habit of applying science to everything in her life, something he enjoyed helping her with. He told himself that if he did in fact end up marrying Elizabeth in the future, he'd adopt Ardelis just like his counterpart had. He loved the little girl and loved the fact that he had someone besides Radek to talk Ancient Technology with.
Everyone kept Ardelis's counterpart a secret, placing the files that had been on the computer under classified material and as she was one to obey things, Ardelis never got into classified material. She didn't know about her counterpart and had not four two years.
"Let's go see Mother." Ardelis got down and Rodney followed her, they made their way to Elizabeth and Ardelis's quarters.
Pegasus Galaxy, Lantea, Atlantis, Weir Quarters; October 14, 2009, 10:30
The two found Elizabeth reading as she sat on the couch, Ardelis hugged her mother and smiled.
"Happy Birthday Mother." She handed Elizabeth the gift and after pulling Ardelis into her lap, Elizabeth opened the box carefully and slowly.
"Let me guess, some type of Ancient technology that will help me with diplomacy?" Ardelis shook her head and Elizabeth looked at Rodney, he was silent as she continued to open her gift.
Opening the box, Elizabeth found the small device; she pressed the button and found the album as it began to play.
"Oh Ardelis, I love it. Thank you Sweetheart." She hugged Ardelis and kissed her head, "where did you get all these pictures?"
"Your computer, Rodney copied them onto the holographic photo album. I typed in your password so he could get on it."
"Happy Birthday Lib." Rodney kissed her cheek and handed her his gift, she opened it to find the necklace. "I got it on Hurana."
"I love it Rodney, thank you." She kissed Rodney and looked at the two people in her life, "this is one of my favorite birthdays of my whole life. I love you both."
"We love you too Mother."
"I love you Lib." Rodney smiled and Elizabeth looked at both, she watched as the pictures changed.
"I hope I have more birthdays like this in the future."