A/N: You're saying I own this series? I wish. That would be pretty awesome. Too bad it's only a rumor. Haha. Oh well…

Sorry for not updating in awhile. I've been pretty busy lately with different things that have been going on. This story will be coming to an end here shortly, I'm afraid. But don't fret! There will be a sequel. Also, if you enjoy this story as much as I hope you do, I started writing a series of short stories for this story. They are under the title Just Another Day on Atlantis. So far there are 2 short stories up, but I have ideas for more chapters, so don't worry. Go check them out and let me know what you think!

Any ideas, just let me know, like usual. I'm always open for suggestions, ideas, ect. Let me know what you guys like. If you like whump, you'll get more whump. Romance? Just say the word and there'll be more romance. If you want to see scenes based on or around certain characters, just say the word!

***By the way, in Chapter 16, there was a typo. It said that Nikki was 3 months pregnant, she was actually 4 months pregnant. Sorry about that!***

Now…on to the story, shall we?

Chapter 22

John walked into Elizabeth's office first thing the next morning carrying two cups of steaming hot coffee. He had gotten up earlier than usual and had gone on an early run, made a coffee run, and then went straight for her office. Nikki had still been asleep when he had left the quarters.

Elizabeth looked up as he walked in. She eyed the coffee and her face lit up. "Just the thing I needed. Thank you, John."

He set the cup down in front of her and smiled. "No problem. I figured every early morning meeting needs coffee." Elizabeth smiled and nodded as she took a sip of her coffee. She looked back down at her laptop and sighed. "I've gotten a little ways into the list, but not too far. We'll need to talk to every member on Atlantis to see who they would want to come to the city. I took the liberty of putting your family on there already since I know that was the plan."

John nodded and took another sip of his coffee. She looked up at him. "Have you talked to Dave about it yet?" "Actually, I have. Both he and Becca want to come. They said once the plan was approved, they'll talk to the kids about it and get their opinion since they're old enough to know what they want. At least Jayden is. I'll send him an e-mail about it when I get to my office."

Elizabeth nodded. "I plan on sending out an e-mail to everyone in the city about getting the names of family members who could come here. Any suggestions on how we should do this? There are a lot of people to go through."

John nodded, thinking about their solutions. "Well, how about we just say in the e-mail for them to come up with a list of people and e-mail it back. Give them a deadline so we're not waiting forever for the list."

Elizabeth nodded. "That way we don't have to meet with everyone. I like it. I'll make the deadline for tomorrow morning. That way we can get the list together and send it to General O'Neill quickly."

John nodded and patiently drank his coffee as Elizabeth sent out the city-wide e-mail. She sat back once it was finished and looked up at him. "You should start sending out teams to survey the city. The sooner we get that done, the sooner we can fix any damage and then move people in. We still need to find you and Nikki bigger quarters and I'm assuming Teyla and Kannaan will want some as well."

He nodded again. "I'll go make a search plan and then assemble teams. That is, if we're done here?" She nodded and watched him leave her office.

John made a quick stop in the mess hall to grab another cup of coffee and then went straight for his office. He sat down behind his desk and got started on the search plans. It took him a good hour or so before he figured out the teams and which team would search where. John was just about to leave when he remembered that he had to send Dave a quick e-mail. He opened up his laptop and pulled open his e-mail.

"Dave-

Good news: the plan was approved! Dr. Weir put your names on the top of the list to go to the SGC for approval. If you're still interested, I hope you're able to come. It would mean a lot to both Nikki and I. Also, everyone else is anxious to see you all again. General O'Neill or someone from the base will be contacting you shortly. Probably within the next few days would be my guess. I hope to hear from you soon.

-John"

John hit send and then stood up to leave his office. He grabbed the data pad that contained the search plans and headed out the door.

He walked up to the control room and made his way over to Amelia who was at the controls.

She smiled as he walked up. "What can I do for you, sir?" "Can you patch me through to all available military personnel, including Ronon."

She nodded and made the adjustments on her laptop before hitting enter. She nodded to him, signaling that the line was open.

"This is Colonel Sheppard to all available military personnel. You are to report to the gate room in full gear in one hour. You'll be debriefed at that time. Sheppard out." He looked back at Amelia. "Thanks, I'll see you later."

She smiled and watched him leave the control room.

He had a little time to kill, so he decided to grab some breakfast before he had to be in the gate room. John walked into the mess hall and found their whole group, minus him, already there eating. He grabbed some food and made his way over to their tables. Nikki had left a seat open next to her like always.

He sat down next to her and smiled. "You got up early this morning. When did you leave?" "Oh, about 04:00. I went for an early run before my meeting with Elizabeth and then I had some things to do back in my office."

Nikki nodded, but stayed silent. Ronon looked up at him. "So, why are we all going to the gate room, Shep?" Lorne and Kira looked up towards Sheppard. "We'll be searching the city today. I made a search plan a little bit ago."

Ronon nodded and continued to devour his food. Kira was still vibrating with excitement that she would get to lead her very own team for the first time on Atlantis.

Everyone finished their breakfast while conversing about what the day may bring for each of them. Nikki looked up at John.

"You know, we're going to need to get some stuff for the babies for when they come. We don't have anything right now." John nodded and finished off his coffee. "I'll request a few catalogs be brought over with the Daedalus." "Why don't we just go back to Earth and pick some things out ourselves?"

He looked up at her with a serious look on his face. "You know why, Nikki. Last time you were back on Earth, you almost died."

She shook her head and placed her hand on his. "It'll be different now. Nancy and the others are locked up. They can't get to me. And you'll be with me all the time. It would be fine." He shook his head again. "I'm not willing to take that chance."

Nikki was starting to get frustrated. "You know, I can take care of myself, John." "Nikki, you're four months pregnant. With twins. If someone attacked you, do you really think you'd be able to outrun them or fight back effectively?"

She removed her hand from John's and balled her hands into fists on her lap. "I'm pregnant, I'm not incompetent."

John shook his head again, he was starting to get frustrated as well. "I just don't want you or the babies to get hurt. It seems like every time we go back to Earth, something happens. I just want to steer clear of as much danger as possible until you've had the babies."

"John, we're in the Pegasus galaxy. Everywhere is as much dangerous as going back to Earth. And it's not like you're going to let me do anything once they're born anyway."

His brow furrowed. "Let you do anything? Nikki, where is all of this coming from?" She shook her head and stood up to leave. "Like you don't know." John stood up as well. He was about to fire back, but then he realized they were in the middle of the mess hall and weren't exactly whispering. "How about we take this somewhere else? Somewhere more private?"

"Fine." She turned and walked towards one of the balconies, the one farthest away from anyone in the mess hall. Everyone at their table watched them walk away.

Teyla turned to Ronon. "What was that all about?" He shook his head, and they continued to watch their friends, worried.

John put his hands on the railing and looked out over the city, taking deep breaths. Nikki was still fuming next to him. "Nikki, what is going on?"

She turned to look at him. "I'm just tired of all of this, John. I'm tired of being afraid that something will happen if I take one wrong step. I'm tired of worrying about you every time you walk through the stargate, wondering if you'll come back. And now I have to worry every time I go back to Earth? The one place that was safe for me, and now it's not. How the hell do you think that makes me feel?"

"I will always come back, you know that. My team has my back just as much as I have theirs. I understand that it can be overwhelming-." "Oh really? Do you now? Are you carrying two human beings around with you everywhere you go 24/7? Do you have to worry about how you act and what you do? Do you have everyone watching you because you were knocked up by the Commanding Military Officer of Atlantis?"

He whipped around to face her. "You don't think everyone watches every step I make? I have everyone here and everyone back on Earth watching every move I make, criticizing me if I make the wrong decision. I can't afford to make the wrong decision. I'm the one who makes the life and death decisions, the one who puts his ass on the line for every person in the city, in this galaxy, and everyone back on Earth. I have to live with the fear that I might lose my job, my family. That I might lose you. I make decisions to protect you so that doesn't happen."

Nikki shook her head. "That doesn't have to be your job. You don't have to risk everything for everyone, you know. You have a family now. A family that…I don't know if your family could survive without you. How do you think every person sitting at that table would react if you died? Ronon would probably leave, so Amelia would be crushed. Teyla and Kanaan would go back to the Athosians. Lorne…he'd be put on the frontline and that would end his relationship with Kira in a heartbeat. Rodney? He'd probably never trust anyone ever again. And then there's me. The woman who's having your children. I don't want to have to explain to them one day why they have to grow up without a dad."

"So what are you saying? You want me to quit my job? Resign from the Air Force like my father always wanted me to do? What then? We go back to Earth and I find some boring job pushing papers and we become a normal family? Or would we stay here on Atlantis so you can help save the day while I become Mr. Mom? If I quit, those same things would happen to those people out there and you know it. Your job is just as dangerous as mine and you know that too. You never know what some of those Ancient devices could do. All I've asked of you is for you to take it easy, do some light work and not as much heavy, late into the night research. I would never ask you to do what you're asking me to do."

She was about to say something, but John cut her off. "If you really want me to resign, fine. I'll do it for my family and their safety. We can be a normal family. If that's really what you want."

John didn't wait for her to say anything. He walked away from the balcony, trying to hide the emotions he knew were flying across his face. He didn't even look in the direction of their table. Instead, he made a beeline for the door and left the mess hall.

Nikki stood on the balcony watching him leave. There were tears running down her face as she realized just what had happened.

Kira and Evan looked at each other. Evan stood up and moved to leave. "Where are you going?"

He turned back to her. "I'm going to make sure he's okay." He left the mess hall as Kira got up and walked over to Nikki. She pulled her into her arms and Nikki cried into her sister's shoulder.

Evan found John on an abandoned balcony a ways away from where anyone usually goes. He was leaning against the railing and staring out at the ocean. Evan walked up and slid his hands into his pockets, looking out at the ocean as well. He didn't say anything. He figured if John wanted to talk about it, he would.

"She wants me to resign." Evan looked over at John. He could see the conflict going across his face. "She made a damn good argument too."

"What are you going to do?" John stayed silent for a while, thinking. "I love Nikki more than I've loved anyone. I'm going to marry her and she's going to have my children. I guess that's all that needs to be said."

He looked down at his watch. They had to be in the gate room in ten minutes. "We have to be in the gate room soon. Come on."

John turned and walked off the balcony. Evan paused before he left too. He didn't want John to leave, but he understand why.

SGA

John and his team were searching a section of the city. He had split everyone into five groups. On his team were Lt. Cadman, Private O'Ryan, and Staff Sergeant Cooper. Evan had his own team of various military personnel, as did Ronon, Kira, and Stackhouse.

Each team searched their sections of the city and made detailed reports of everything they found. None of the teams found anything real interesting besides various labs, empty rooms, and living quarters, except Sheppard's team.

John and his team had found an empty room that looked like it had once been a ballroom or somewhere to host special occasions. One entire wall was just glass and it had an amazing view of the city.

For a moment, John forgot about the argument he had had with Nikki and thought about how this could be the perfect place for them to get married. The room was very large and could fit a lot of people. They could move benches or chairs in for people to sit. And they could be married right in front of this window with the beautiful city just beyond them.

And then he remembered this morning and all thoughts of the wedding being held in the city vanished. He didn't know when or where they would be getting married, but it probably wouldn't be here after the argument.

He made a note on the data pad that they carried to come back and inspect the room, just in case. And then he pushed all thoughts of the wedding out of his mind.

John looked down at his watch and noticed how late it had gotten. It was well past supper time already. He reached up and hit his com. "Major Lorne, this is Sheppard. Come in."

"Yes, sir?" "I think it's time we call it a day, major. We covered a significant amount of city and we can start this back up tomorrow."

"I agree, sir. Meet in the gate room at 08:00 hours?" John looked around at his team and nodded. "Yeah. Relay the message to the other teams and then head back. Sheppard out."

"Okay, time to call it a day. We'll meet up at 08:00 hours in the gate room tomorrow. Same routine."

They nodded and started back towards the central tower of the city. It didn't take too long until they found a transporter and were taken to the central tower. They walked to the locker room and took off their gear. They had been the first team back, so John waited for the rest to get back before he left. Evan walked in and nodded in John's direction. His team was the last to get back.

John nodded back and left the locker room. All he wanted to do was take a hot shower and crawl into bed. It had been a long and exhausting day.

John entered his quarters and heard the shower running. He sighed and moved over to the bed and sat down.

He took off his boots and his socks and then moved over to his desk. He took off his side holster and laid it on the desk. Then he took off his jacket and draped it over the back of the chair. He almost left his com in, but then decided against it. He didn't want to be bothered at the moment.

John was about to just go to bed when he heard soft sobs coming from the bathroom. The water was still running, so he stopped and walked into the bathroom. Nikki was in the shower, leaning up against the wall. She hadn't noticed him walk in and continued to cry.

When he saw what was going on, he didn't hesitate or take off his clothes. He pulled the curtain back and stepped into the shower. He wrapped his arms around Nikki and held her close to him. She started crying harder when he pulled her into him, so he turned her around so that she was facing him.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and cried into his chest. He held her, rubbing circles into her back to help her calm down, until she stopped crying.

Nikki didn't move away from him when she started talking. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I didn't mean it."

John kissed the top of her head and held her tighter. "What you said was true though. You were right." She shook her head and looked up at him. "No, I wasn't. I don't want you to resign, John. I'm proud to be marrying the military commander. Yeah, it comes with its downsides, but what doesn't? You can't resign. This city needs you. This galaxy needs you."

"So does my family." She nodded. "Yeah, it does, but I know you'll do everything in your power to come back to us. And if you can't, then we'll get through it. I don't know how, but we're surrounded by family. This whole city is like one big family. I know I'm not alone. And you were right, my job is dangerous too. So, I have a proposition for you as long as you don't resign or leave Atlantis."

He chuckled and touched his forehead to hers. "And what's that?" "I'll be more careful and take it easy, if you promise to do everything you possibly can to come back."

John looked into her eyes. "You're sure you don't want me to resign? You're my family and I'll do whatever you want me to." She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I don't want you to. I want you to be happy and here, you are happy."

He smiled and his lips met hers for a moment before he pulled away slightly. "Then I promise. It's a deal."

Her face brightened and she brought her lips back to his. They stayed that way for a while until he broke away. "How about we move out of the shower, get dried off, and then go lay in bed together?"

She nodded and watched him move around her to shut the water off. She opened the curtain and stepped out of the shower. He stepped out after her and grabbed a towel for her. She wrapped it around herself and walked out of the bathroom.

John grabbed a clean, dry pair of sweatpants and changed out of his wet clothes into the sweatpants. Nikki was sitting on the side of the bed, brushing out her hair. He sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her. She looked up at him and smiled.

John leaned back and pulled the covers away on the other side of the bed. He stood up and looked down at her. He had a devilish smile on his face as he swooped down and picked her up. She gasped and then started laughing when she realized what he was doing.

He walked around to the other side of the bed and laid her down. He laid down next to her, pulled the covers up over them, and then shut the lights off.

She giggled as his hand moved up her leg and rested on her belly. She snuggled in closer to him and they fell asleep in each other's arms.

Sorry, this was pretty much just a filler. Also, sorry for not updating in 2 weeks.. =/ As I was writing this, I came up with a big idea. Not sure when it'll happen...but...it'll blow them away! Stay tuned!

Review, please! =)