Start Chapter 25

Teyla waited for the rest of the Ancestors to leave before standing and talking with John and Ganos. The council meeting had been very boring and Ganos and John had explained that it was a mere formality with everyone already knowing what measures would pass and who would be voting for what. She had decided against returning the next day but the third and final session she had been promised would be more interesting. After they had departed leaving John, Morgan, Daniel, General O'Neill, and Mr. Woolsey she stood and moved towards John and Morgan. "Sheppard thanks for the help there," O'Neill called from across the room.

"Thank you John and Morgan," Teyla said more respectfully towards the pair.

"Oh it was nothing a few basic measures and some other boring stuff. Daniel if you want we can discuss your ascension later and I've got a few other things you will be very interested to see."

"Ok what time?" Daniel said gathering his many papers on which he had written notes.

"John I will speak with you later and Daniel I look forward to speaking with you as well," Ganos said quietly leaving through the doors. Daniel, O'Neill, and Woolsey departed heading out to relax and take in the city or work on more ancient research in Daniel's case.

"Why do some of the ancients oppose you?" Teyla asked as she took a seat next to John.

He sat next to her, "Because they feel that it isn't right it's more civil now they've accepted that I'm going to do some of this stuff and are just opposing to look good and avoid looking like a hypocrite."

"So why does Morgan or Ganos support you?"

"She and others like her have taken my position and believe that it is sometimes necessary to interfere in the lower planes," he voice was quiet and he seemed happy to retell his history with the Ancients.

"Why did you adopt that position?"

"It was taught to me by my creators," a sad smile spread across his face as he remembered them.

She thought for a moment about what Ganos had told her about his influence, "John you offered to stop interfering with my mind and told me that you would do it whenever I asked correct?"

"Yes I will stop immediately however in case you ever wish to escape I will allow it to continue in my old quarters to which you have free and unlimited access of course. Unless you are bothered by me allowing it to continue there? It will take some time to wear off."

"No and thank you for stopping John," she rose from the table and headed towards the door she paused at it for a moment and turned back to him, "Good luck tomorrow."
"Et tu and thank you," she disappeared through the door leaving him alone in the conference room.

***

As she approached her quarters it dawned on her that she hadn't been in there for days. When she opened the door it was just as she had left it. The meeting had been long and it was already late at night but she wasn't tired and decided to finally seek out her lover Kanaan. She headed for the quarters she had learned he was assigned. She quietly opened the door and entered his quarters she found that he was still awake laying on his bed. "Teyla I have been looking for you it is good to see you."

"Kanaan I am sorry I have been busy," she said taking a seat on a chair next to his bed.

He sat up and moved over towards the chair, "I am just happy to see you again."

"I was…I...We…I lost our child," tears formed in her eyes and streaked down her face.

He sat there for a moment in utter disbelief at having a child and then losing it. He looked up at her again, "We will get through this," he gently wiped the tears from her face. "Won't we?"

She sighed he was always so unsure of himself, "Yes." He brought her into their first kiss in many months and she reciprocated happy to finally have him and her people back safely in Atlantis.

He broke the kiss just as she had moved to deepen it, "When should we have the bonding ceremony?"

Her face dropped and she leaned back into the chair sighing, "I…I…I do not know."

He withdrew back towards the bed confused he had been so sure that she wanted to be to be with him. Perhaps it has something to do with where she has been in the past few days? "Teyla where have you been these past few days?"

She blushed realizing immediately how it would seem to Kanaan with her rejecting him and having spent the last few days in John's quarters. She looked up their eyes locking, "I have been around I have spent much time learning from Colonel Sheppard."

"What has he been teaching you?"

"Of himself he fought against the wraith with the Ancestors he has learned much of the years and sacrificed much in those years."

He nodded accepting her answer, "Where are you sleeping tonight?"

She smiled at him knowing what he was really asking, "In my quarters." She gave him another quick kiss and stood up to leave. He scrambled out of bed behind her, "Alone," she added with a smile.

***

After visiting the other Athosians she retired to her room and as she lay in bed remembering Kanaan she felt an unusual emotion tug at her heart. She tried to ignore it and get some sleep however it ate away at her. She did not understand why she felt guilty but she felt as if kissing Kanaan had been a mistake. "Morgan," the name was out of her mouth before she could even think of why she needed her. Her door chimes sounded a moment later and the eerie realization that everything she was doing and saying was being monitored by Morgan hit her. She opened the door and admitted Morgan entrance, "Is this what you were referring to?"

"Yes, I understand your actions and so will John however that will not lessen the impact it will have on him."

"What if…What if…No never mind," she closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the wall.

"What? I'm here to help you if John or myself can help you need only ask."

"Do you know what I feel?"

"No, John would never allow it."

"I feel guilt but it does not make sense to me I have no reason to feel guilty for being with Kanaan."

"Teyla I don't know everything about you but I think I know enough to know that perhaps you have or had feelings toward Colonel Sheppard," Morgan's voice was quiet almost a whisper.

"He is no longer that man even if I had feelings for Colonel Sheppard that man died on the Hive."

"No he didn't Teyla and we both know that the Colonel and John may have had differences but they both profoundly affected each other and are remarkably similar. The only real difference is the way John's past has affected him."

'What are you saying?"

Morgan smiled and stood, "You know what I'm saying and I cannot help you with your decision it is your own to make."

"He still has feelings for me?" Teyla asked nervously unsure of what answer she wanted to hear.

Morgan turned in the doorway and smiled, "Yes."

Teyla returned to her bed after the door closed she felt more at ease with Morgan than she had ever thought she could.

As she drifted off to sleep her dreams were filled with John and Kanaan. She knew that she was being forced to choose between two men whom she cared for deeply.

End Chapter 25

A/N Wow considering how short this chapter is I feel kinda bad not posting it with the previous one or the next one.