Kajos: Sorry about the delay on this chapter, as I said at the end of the previous one I wasn't sure where it was going. Well with careful consideration its going here. I'm sorry it's short but that really is all I've got at the moment. I'm working on another fic quiet seriously and I will continue this as and when I can think of what to do with it. I have however started on the next part of the series as it's easier to write. Stay with me it will come!

Rodney was sick of this, sitting on mats panting twice a week was driving him insane but not as much as being told he wasn't allowed to go to earth for the final negotiations. He was due in less than a month and could pop any day but he'd been a main player in writing the declaration of colonisation as they were calling it. They had slogged through all the contradictory suggestions and the wild ideas to given by the whole expedition and settled on a simple set of regulations covering personal rights, including those surrounding family, criminal behaviour and sentencing, education including for now infant and young children and higher education (they were hoping to start running college classes to allow particularly the military to learn more about the cities technology, the ancient language and more generally widen peoples knowledge and provide more redundancy in knowledge). Finally they had to declare their position on citizenship and immigration.

They had decided to allow all permanent members of the expedition to claim Lantean citizenship on the day the declaration went into effect, any temporary members would have to apply and would be considered on the basis of the length of their time there up to that point and the length of their temporary placement, with special consideration given for those with partners with citizenship or who were pregnant. They were hoping that those who chose to become Lanteans would be allowed to hold on to dual citizenship with their original homes, but that was part of the negotiation.

Which Rodney would be missing but John wouldn't. That niggled at Rodney even more. John had to go. They had to present the military side of the issue as the military of Atlantis were about to be placed in the odd position of being a dual citizenship military. They would answer to Atlantis but be free to transfer at will home to the US. Any forced transfers could occur with the approval of the Atlantis leaders. However with integration came a large loss of control for the US military and they could just pull all their people. They hoped desperately that it wouldn't come to that. Rodney knew that the military personal had a contingency plan but John wouldn't tell him what it was and that scared Rodney.

So here Rodney was sat on a mat panting and wishing he wasn't facing the chance of giving birth with out John, he hadn't even made it to the small pregnancy yoga and childbirth class that week, he was busy trying to nail down curriculum and nursery arrangements with Elizabeth.

John was tired. Tired of not being able to spend time with Rodney, not having a moments peace from the rest of the military and plans. Most of all he was tired of being the one they looked to. If not he could have left going off world for someone who didn't have an expectant husband. He hadn't even been able to go to the classes with Rodney thanks to having to finish details for the declaration.

This was important though, he was going to the infirmary now to meet his husband for a final scan before he left. Normally they wouldn't have had one this late but John had asked Beckett and he'd agreed. Rodney was meeting him there. He just had to dodge anyone who might need him for anything before he got there. He went straight to the transporter and headed to the second closest spot to the infirmary, the closest was too close to the control room for him to risk. Approaching from the less used side of the floor he heard Rodney before he saw him.

"No! We decided not to find out the sex. Don't ask me why but for some ridiculous reason my nonsensical husband wants to be surprised." He was ranting at Beckett who was bringing around the ultrasound.

"Fine Rodney, I was just asking. Couples change their minds all the time." Becket was desperately trying to calm the man. John knew his partner was struggling and wished he would stop taking it out on other people. John was the one who should be there for he and wasn't, he deserved the anger not Carson.

"Hey, be nice to the doctor Rodney." John said approaching the bed.

"John, you made it." Rodney said brightening a bit but still seeming tired. "Your all packed?" He asked sadly.

"Yes and I have the list of stuff to pick up on earth for the little one. Have we decided on names yet Rodney?" John asked seriously, he'd been making suggestions for weeks and Rodney had got so annoyed he'd insisted he choose the names.

"I'm still thinking about it." He said sitting up and pulling up his shirt. "I have a couple of ideas for each but I'll get there before you leave." Carson applied cold gel and brought out the wand. The image on the screen formed showing the small life growing inside Rodney so clearly John wanted to reach in and pick it up now. The idea of missing the first moments of its life was devastating. Rodney watched as Carson talked about the little man and they saw him kick. John saw it and knew straight away that it wouldn't matter, that child was already his and nothing would change that. He looked up at Rodney and saw that he was looking at him rather than the baby on the monitor.

"I've decided on names." He said gulping.

"Okay. Go on." John wanted to know.

"If it's a girl Eleanor for my mom and if it's a boy David for your brother." John was surprised. "Are those okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just surprised you want to use family names." Rodney took his hand and stroked it.

"This is about us starting a family, I want our kid to feel like it has more history than just us however good or bad that history is." John loved Rodney. How could you not love a man like that? He was amazing and carrying his child.

"I love you so much right now and I really wish I didn't just remember I need to go sort packing the jumper." Rodney's face dropped.

"Go, go. I'll see you when you get back." He said with a wave and a smile. John went to leave then turned on his heel.

"Wait, one last thing." He said going back over to the bed and pulling Rodney into a fierce kiss leaving him reeling as he walked away waving.

An hour later Rodney watched from the control room as John disappeared through the gate in the jumper, with him went all their hopes for the future and all of Rodney's love.