Homecoming Heroes by catescorner

Aww, thanks so much for the reviews - they've been very kind, and I'm so glad you're enjoying this story!

So, Evan's home, and facing a bit of a dilemma, with all those plans that Kevin and Andy have for him. Of course, there's only one way to settle it - and we all know how resourceful our favourite Major can be!

Of course, that goes for keeping his CO in line too - and it's about to come in very useful!

Enjoy!

Homecoming Heroes

Chapter Four - It Runs In The Family

After much debate, Evan Lorne had settled the barrage of demands around him in time honoured tradition. With deadpan innocence that even his CO would struggle to beat, he favoured his nephews with a finely honed mix of patient amusement, and gently playful teasing.

"So neither of you want to go flying with me?"

The reaction was all he'd hoped for. Kevin stared at Andy. His brother stared right back. Flying with their Uncle Evan was the best idea of all. And neither of them had thought of it.

In the minds of two young boys, this was a serious problem, and there was only way around it. An exchange of sweetly frowning glances, followed by perfectly synchronised, hopeful flattery.

"Yeah, we've got to do that too, Uncle Evan! We always do that!"

"Yeah, Uncle Evan! That's even better than the zoo!"

"I'm glad you think so," Evan chuckled, bracing himself for another, unavoidable reaction as he gently straightened two mops of identically tousled hair. "Well, if this weather holds, we can take Holly out tomorrow, okay?"

And come it did. Not just from Kevin or Andy this time, who were still celebrating beside him. No, it came, just as he'd expected, through polite curiosity from five puzzled friends, all voiced through his CO's infamous smirk.

"Holly?"

"Yeah, she's our… um… pet helicopter," Evan explained through a ruefully sheepish grin, knowing there'd be hell to pay for that little gem, but also knowing the perfect way to return it. If his CO kept smirking at him like that, he'd just set mom on him, and… aaah, yes. Blackmail, in all its forms, was a truly wonderful thing.

"My cousin runs a flying school, and… yeah, the best way to see this city's from the air."

It worked like a charm. The threat of teasing hell turned to a smile of barely concealed, 'can-I-come-too?' appeal. And as the tide turned back in his favour, Evan grinned too. Yeah, that had him. However sneakily he'd done it, and he'd had plenty of practice, his CO was now putty in his hands.

Better still, and with genuine pleasure, their pet Ranger would have an extra passenger tomorrow. And if his mom had anything to do with it, this unexpected tour of their hometown wouldn't end there.

As he'd already noticed, she was in all out 'mom-mode.' And John Sheppard was square in her sights.

"I take it you'll be home for a while too, Colonel," she said at last, looping her arm through his, and smiling up at him. "Do you have family here too, that you'll be able to visit?"

Never comfortable with discussing his personal life, but not daring to offend her, John smiled back at her, and shook his head.

"No, ma'am, my...uh, parents have passed on. But I still have a brother, back east," he said quietly, grateful that he and Dave had settled their issues, but still sorry that it had taken them so long to do it. In that respect, he envied the easy closeness that Evan enjoyed with his family, and… say what?

"Well, since I'd guess you don't have anywhere to stay, I'd love to have you stay with us."

Caught completely off guard, John threw an instinctively 'help me out here' glance towards Evan – dryly thinking that his ever reliable, ever loyal XO had chosen one hell of a time to go silent. Or maybe he'd just learned, the hard way, that arguing against his mom wasn't a good idea. Especially when his sister joined in, pitting him against two, equally determined women.

Their lives might have taken different paths, but Tanni Donnelly clearly had the same, practical nature as her brother. She shared his generosity too - not to mention her mother's powers of persuasion.

"Yes, you'll be more than welcome, Colonel. We've just added an extension, but we haven't quite finished with the paintwork. So if you don't mind a few rough edges, we'll be thrilled to have you share the holiday with us."

Pausing for his response, she then added another three-way family trait - the uncanny knack that Evan had always had for reading his mind.

"And there won't be any charge. I know Evan sees you all as family, so that makes you family to us too, and... well, what kind of family would be so mercenary through such a special time? Certainly not mine."

It was an offer that, in truth, John had been grateful to hear. They'd arrived out of the blue, in every sense, with limited funds, and nowhere to stay. So this offer that had come, with such familiar generosity, was too good for him to turn down. It was certainly more appealing than the thought of trying to find a hotel over Thanksgiving weekend.

Thinking it only polite to consider it a little longer, he then found that decision taken out of his hands – the broad grin on Evan's face reinforcing the astonishing similarity between him and his sister.

"Just say yes, sir. Trust me, when my sister makes her mind up, you're never going to… aaaiiiee!"

Rubbing his ribs, Evan threw his most fearsome glare into a deceptively innocent face. Damn, he'd forgotten about that. His sweet natured little sister could still pack one hell of a pinch. And the glare that could stop a charging Wraith in its tracks had diddly-squat of an effect on her.

Still, at least some people were happy. His mom, CO, and the rest of Team Sheppard, were definitely happy. As Evan ruefully noted, they'd enjoyed that little tickle-pinching contest just waaaaay too much. And from arriving as strangers in a new town, they'd found a safe, and free, place to stay - though not before some charmingly chivalrous bargaining.

"Let us help you out with this last bit of decorating, and you've got yourself a deal."

Still smiling at the thought of Ronon wielding a paintbrush, Evan kept that thought wisely to himself as the newly extended family Lorne headed for the parking lot. The quiet homecoming that he'd had planned had just been turned, completely, on its head – bringing the family he loved, and the friends he cared about just as deeply, under the same roof. Six friends, and two kids, who could cause complete havoc between them.

Yes, life at his little sister's guest house was about to get very, very interesting.