Chapter 11 Where is home?

Elizabeth awoke the next morning, curled safely in Simon's arms; it had been
so long since she had just lain in his arms after a beautiful night together. She felt him kiss her bare shoulder

"I've missed this" she said

"Me too" he kissed closer to her neck, she rolled over to look at him and he
kissed her lips gently and powerfully, she gave in to his kisses and they
made love again. Who knew how long it would be till she saw him again.
Much later that morning they got out of bed and moved to the kitchen for
breakfast, as they were eating Elizabeth's phone rang

"Hello?" she listened intently to the man on the other end of the line

"Yes, OK I'll be in as soon as I can" she hung up the phone and turned to
Simon "I'm sorry Simon, I have to go back in today, I don't know what for
but I promise that I will be back to say goodbye if we have to leave"

"OK, I'll miss you" he picked up their plates and kissed her forehead, she
went up stairs to shower and change before heading into the SGC.

As she sat waiting for the general with the other Atlantis staff she thought of Simon, waiting for her, it wasn't fair to him, she was surprised to find that he was happy with it and was still faithful. She thought of the beautiful night they had shared with dinner and then at home, she could still feel his hands and lips on her body. The General snapped her out of her reverie as he entered the room; she listened intently and gave her input ant reports where necessary, they were talking about the wraith and supplies they needed when her mind turned to John and Teyla

"We will need baby stuff too"

"Did you say baby stuff?"

"Yes sir, Major Shepherd's reason for not coming for this trip, his wife is pregnant and they will need a crib, bottles, diapers, clothes and everything else a baby needs" She noticed what she had been saying was being written down on a list before the conversation returned to the wraith. Babies, with the way things were going to be with her and Simon, their plans for children may not happen, they couldn't bring a child into a life like this, unless they could find a way for Simon to go to Atlantis too. Maybe she was looking at is the wrong way; maybe it was her that should leave and go to him. She continued to mull over these things as they chatted, usually she was attentive and conversational but not today. When they finished she approached General O'Neill

"Jack"

"Yes Elizabeth"

"I would like to talk to you about my husband"

"Simon, yes?"

"Well it isn't really fair on him that I will be here for less than 6 months in a year"

"You know they won't let you resign"

"Well if not that can he come back with me as a civilian, he is a doctor, we could use his help"

"I'll have to put it to the higher powers but I'll get back to you"

"Thank you" she turned from the General and left the compound to meet Simon for lunch.

"Hey baby" Simon said greeting her with a gentle kiss

"Hey" she said as they sat at their table

"I'm glad you could come"

"Yeah, well I have time off until it is time to go home"

"Home?"

"Oh No! I'm so sorry, I've been so used to the idea that I wasn't coming home to you. I feel horrible, I'm so sorry"

"Don't worry, just this time I'll make sure you won't forget where home is," he kissed her palm gently

"I thought we weren't going to make it and that you'd move on"

"Was it that dangerous?"

"I think it still is but we have back up so we have a better chance of surviving now" They were interrupted by a woman coming to take their orders and they fell silent

"How much longer have you got here?"

"Two weeks maybe?"

"That's good" They started talking about what had been happening but Elizabeth kept finding she would mention something she wasn't supposed to and have to stop because of the classifications

"I'm sorry about this, I want you to come with me when I have to go back"

"Am I allowed?"

"I don't know, I've asked but they will probably say no. I find myself looking out on a balcony and wishing you were with me"

"Can you tell me about were you live?"

"Well it is all kind of joined so I don't think so. I'd love to" She squeezed his hand

"Let's go," he said, they got up and he paid at the counter before they walked out into the park, they spent the rest of they day wandering and talking. Later on they found themselves on a bench watching families taking an afternoon walk, she knew that might never happen if she stayed on Atlantis but she wasn't a person to desert people who needed her. 'Simon needs me too though' she thought to herself 'it is so unfair on him' she sighed as she watched people walking in the park. Not long after they wandered back to the car and returned home.

Back on Atlantis

John and Teyla looked over Atlantis on one of the balconies

"It's so quiet when no one is here" John said

"It is, do you wish you could have gone also?"

"Only a little bit, Carson wasn't comfortable with you travelling there so I'd rather be here with you" he kissed her gently "Plus there is only a little over a week left before they come back, then we can both go next time.

"Simon, I wish you could come with me" she stood securely in his arms, he leaned down and kissed her gently

"I'll miss you"

"I'll be back" she hugged him tightly

"I love you baby" he kissed her deeply

"I love you too" they then heard the doorbell ring "That's my ride" they opened the door and an airman entered and took her bags to the car

"You're always welcome here, this will always be our home" they kissed gently before she was escorted to the car, they hugged tightly once more before Elizabeth looked deeply into his eyes. A tear made it's way down her cheek; he swept it away with his thumb before she got into the car

"I love you," she said

"I love you too," he said as he watched the car pull away. Elizabeth composed herself as they made their way to the SGC. She changed into her clothes and looked at herself in the mirror and sighed, her duty to her country was overtaking her duty to her life. Once she had dreamed of a child or two or three with Simon, now it haunted her, she fought out of remembering what she was missing, put on her Atlantis jacket and went to her medical tests.

"Well Elizabeth, you're good to go," she'd been poked, prodded, ahhed and had blood taken, now it was over, finally. She walked to General O'Neill's office to report for her briefing.

"So Elizabeth all your stuff is ready"

"Thank you" she said solemnly

"About Simon" she looked up immediately

"Yes"

"I'm sorry, they said no, he's not necessary at the moment, but it can be argued if you give it some time"

"Oh, Ok. Thanks"

"Look, I'm really sorry"

"No, It's Ok"

"Good luck out there" they got up and walked to the gate room where everyone was beginning to assemble

"All right people, Is everyone here?"

"Yes ma'am I just did a head count," said Harriman

"Then let's move out" They all turned and watched as the gate dialled and walked up with their supplies and equipment Elizabeth thought before she stepped through the gate it must have been harder than the first time just over a year ago.

"Shepherd" Ford yelled at his friend waving a package

"Hey man how was the trip"

"Excellent, my grandparents were so excited to see me"

"How's the cousin doing?"

"She's good too, your sister gave me this" he handed over a huge package with John written in huge letters on the top

"Thanks man" Then Elizabeth came over to them

"We got you some stuff for the nursery" she said to them

"Thank you Doctor Weir" said Teyla

"No problems"

"Did you speak to Simon?" Elizabeth just nodded

"They wouldn't let him come too for now"

"They will, sometime they will" she nodded, picked up her bag and walked away from them "Shall we?" he motioned away to Teyla

"I believe so" The walked back to their room and out onto the balcony where John tore open his package, Some microwave popcorn, videotapes of that years world series, some movies, 3 CD's, a pink baby jumpsuit and a letter that looked about 10 pages long fell onto the table

"Wow!" he said and held up the baby sleeper "that's so cute" he handed it to Teyla as he looked through the rest of the stuff. CD's from his favourite bands and matching friendship bands for him and Teyla, he picked up the letter, opened it and began to read aloud

"Dear John,

Thank you so much for the necklace and letter, I didn't know you had such great taste! Congratulations with your new wife trust you to not find anyone serious until you go some place classified! She's gorgeous! I packed a little something for your baby girl, it's not much but from her auntie. The friendship bands come from Mexico, I bought them from Church where a man was talking about persecution, and they are hand made by women whose husbands have been sent to jail because they are Christian.

I miss you a lot, you said you wouldn't be able to come back at all and now I hear you are coming back in a few short months with a wife and child no less. Ahhh my little brother is growing up, you will always be my little brother you know that? Zach is 5 now, he keeps asking where Uncle John is, I just tell him you're away, he was so excited to hear you are coming back and Lizzie misses you too. What you don't know is that Zach and Lizzie now have a little brother Thomas Jonathon Smythe; there are photos in the envelope of the three of them with Geoff and Me." John pulled out the photo and looked at the happy family before handing it to Teyla, That's my family Teyla, well all I have really

"It's beautiful" John chuckled slightly "John, Where's Mexico?"

"It's south of America, where I live, I'll have to show you a map some time, it's on Earth"

"What's Jail?"

"It's a place where people who do something wrong go as punishment, like out holding cell in the brig in Atlantis but lots of them with metal bars and really bad food"

"What is a Christian then?"

"It is a belief or religion with a God and stuff, it's the reason for most of our Earthly celebrations, like Christmas and Easter. They have a Bible, which is a big book on everything they need to know. I'm not the best person to ask about this, maybe when we go to see my sister she can explain it to you"

"So those men who are Christians, did they do anything wrong?"

"Well not by our standards but I don't know the laws in their village so I don't know" Seemingly satisfied Teyla nodded and motioned for John to continue reading the letter.

"What else can I say? There is so much I can tell you but I don't know where to start, Zach started school the other day and Lizzie preschool, Geoff got promoted to CO and is really enjoying his job. I won't tell you who won the World Series because I sent it to you on tape with as many games on it as I could and obviously a stash of popcorn that you love so much. Does Teyla like popcorn? I'm sure you have made her watch all the games you have with you at least twice, am I wrong? Well The kids say hi and so does Geoff, I have sent some drawing by them but I'm running out of time and have to pack all this up to send off by tomorrow so I'll sign off now.

Love you lots.

Sara" John turned the page to find finger paintings and drawings from Zach and Lizzie their forms of pictures of him and their family and anything else they felt like

"She sounds wonderful"

"I'm sure you'd love her"

"If she's anything like you I'm sure I will" John picked up all the stuff and put it back in their room, he came back out and he and Teyla sat on the balcony for the rest of the afternoon, catching the last of the sun.

TBC

A/N: I'm so sorry that it has been so long since I updated but I have exams coming up and long busy and crazy life right now, It is going to slow down in less than a week so when that happens I'll type faster anyway I have a few surprises for you and I promise Elizabeth will be happier again. Teyla will have the baby and we get a new member of Atlantis :b Anyway time for me to sign off, thanks for reading and staying patient

CharmedAli

:b