Angel…that's what all of Atlantis had come to see the smallest member of the Stargate Atlantis team. At nearly eleven months old she was showing her hyperactive side, as well as her tendency for getting into trouble like her daddy. She knew just how to test her daddy to his limits already.
"Dadda!" came the cry from the other room. Rodney rolled his eyes, his daughter had long since mastered the ability to call for him, as well as say other small words, something she had down pat nearly two months ago. He wandered into the bedroom, where his daughter was holding herself up by the railing in her crib.
He wasn't looking forward to having to child proof the room, and he certainly didn't want to think about the rest of Atlantis. Part of him feared he would have to lock her up in their room for the rest of her natural life to keep her safe.
"What?" he said looking at her as he held out his hands as if to ask what she wanted.
"C'okie!" she cried grinning from ear to ear.
"Cookie? Now little miss, you know better than that, what do you want for breakfast?" he asked as he moved closer to the crib. He was encouraging her speaking well as much as he could, sadly he had resorted to giving her cookies when she got really big words right, however that turned out to be a bad idea when she had gone around to the entire chief of staff asking for a c'okie from all of them. To say the least that evening Carson was treating one large tummy ache for a small infant.
"C'okie!" she cried again, pouting as she jutted out her lower lip. Rodney rolled his eyes as it began to tremble slightly.
"Runt," he mumbled as he reached into the crib. Grabbing her under the arms he hoisted her high in the air, getting a loud squeal out of her before bringing her down to rest against his hip.
He had gotten used to having such a little character in his life, used to always having her around. In fact most of Atlantis had by the time. Every man, woman and alien had a soft spot for the little angel. Although he often called her devil or runt when she was being especially ornery.
He dropped a kiss to her forehead then carried her out of the room and towards the cafeteria. He wasn't surprised to see Carson and Elizabeth already sitting and eating. Smiling he headed over to them. "Good morning Elizabeth, Carson," he greeted.
"Morning Rod," Carson replied grinning as he took the baby out of her daddy's arms. "How's the big girl?" he said bouncing her one his knee.
"Car," she grinned clapping her hands.
"Good, keep her for a minute," Rodney said as he squeezed Elizabeth's shoulders and headed off into line to get himself and his little girl something to eat.
Seconds later John came in, Johnny bounding in front of him, right up to his Uncle Rodney, who easily swooped him up into his arms in one fell swoop. "How's my favorite nephew?" he asked as he moved down the line.
"I'm your only nephew," grinned the seven year old. Nodding Rodney gently placed the boy back on his feet and smiled in return.
"I know, but don't tell the others that," he replied.
Johnny grinned and nodded. Soon the three joined Carson, Liz and Lauryn back at the table. Teyla arrived a few moments later, and the morning began like most mornings began. Talk of missions bother future and past, talk of the kids, talk of the holidays which were coming up far too quickly for everyone's taste.
"Hey, I have a brilliant idea, since most of us are going home for Christmas this year…why don't we have Thanksgiving here this year?" suggested John grinning.
"What is Thanksgiving?" Teyla asked.
"It's…well it's the holiday we celebrate in our country, when the people from England sat down and joined a nice dinner full of good food and good times with the Native Americans. I'll tell you the whole story another day, but essentially it was the celebration of two cultures being able to sit down together over a mighty feast and celebrate that they were alive," explained Rodney.
"You know, that sounds like a great idea…we could do it on the mainland…Rodney could the shield hold for a few hours?"
"Sure we should leave some people here to watch over Atlantis…"
"There are people who don't celebrate Thanksgiving here Rodney, shouldn't be a problem, and we'll offer to give everyone who stays here a chance for a really nice dinner of Atlantis too, that way we all get a holiday."
"I have a better idea, why don't we just take everyone, but the shield up for a few hours, it'll be fine, we'll celebrate just like the pilgrims and Native Americans, and we'll have a celebratory dinner with the Athosians, celebrate another year here on Atlantis and another year having survived the Wraith," Elizabeth said grinning.
"Sounds great," Carson piped up.
"I will speak with my people, but this…Thanksgiving sounds like quite a wonderful tradition, I am sure we'll be happy to join you in such a day."
"Good, it's settled then, what's today's date?" asked Elizabeth.
"November…19th…"
"Great, we'll plan it for the twenty-fourth, just like it is on earth, the fourth Thursday of November."
"That truly sounds wonderful," Teyla spoke up smiling and nodded.
The last few couple days before the Thanksgiving dinner were pleasant ones. Carson had made the suggestion of the night crew get one day off to enjoy their time, then the day crew took one day off and they all headed to one of the main rooms, and soon they were all seated to watch a movie.
"Did you guys have any Thanksgiving traditions?" Elizabeth asked the Carson. Most of the scientists, doctors, and soldiers on the day and afternoon shifts were sitting in the room they had set up as a rec room.
"Well, technically Scotland don't really have thanksgiving the way you all do in the states, but me mum tended to celebrate it anyway, because my father was American…aye we would start with a piece of dessert first, eat that then dive into the dinner, then we'd finish it off with another piece of dessert. It sounds strange but it was always a wonderful time spent around the table." He said smiling softly.
"That sounds fun," grinned Johnny.
"What about you Johnny, do you have any special traditions?"
"My mom and Rob used to have each one of us say a special prayer for someone." Johnny explained. "Daddy…didn't you and Uncle Rod have a special tradition too?"
Rodney and John grinned at one another, "we sure did," replied John grinning. "Every Thanksgiving day it would just be me, dad, mom and Rodney. We'd sit around a full table, with everything on it. Then before we could start eating, mom had us all say one thing we were thankful for, starting with the youngest."
"Then that Saturday we'd all go upstate to our Aunt Kellie's house, where we would have a smaller dinner, then we'd eat dessert, all day. We spent the original Thanksgiving with our closest family, but we always spent the Saturday with the rest of the family pigging out on dessert. It was great," grinned Rodney.
"There was no better way to spend the two days," grinned John.
"That sounds really fun," smiled Elizabeth.
"What about you Liz, any special holiday things you did for Thanksgiving."
"My mother and father bought us each one gift on Thanksgiving, kind of our warm up to Christmas, and then we did the going around the table starting with the youngest of things we were thankful for."
Everyone settled back, some still sharing their holiday treasures and traditions, while others continued to watch the movie. Johnny and Lauryn were both sound asleep between their father and Uncle when the movie came to an end.
Some retired to their rooms, some stayed up to talk. Carson, Teyla, Elizabeth, Rodney and John remained, just enjoy one another's company. "We should start some of our own traditions," Carson commented.
"That's a wonderful idea," grinned Elizabeth.
"It's been a pretty tough years, I think these past few days have really helped pull everyone together," whispered John as he looked at Johnny sleeping soundly in his lap to his brother.
"It's definitely been an eventful year," grinned Rodney, "but we were here for one another…always will be," he looked down at his angel and smiled again.
"I can't believe she's going to be one in a few months," Elizabeth whispered.
"Me either…I honestly feel like a proud parent," he said grinning, "time goes fast, it's hard to believe we've been here for nearly three years now."
"Time certainly does seem to fly," smiled Elizabeth.
"Well…we should get these two to bed," John whispered.
"Goodnight everyone," Rodney said lifting his girl into his arms, John did the same. Carson followed closely behind, leaving Teyla and Elizabeth alone.
"Do you miss earth?"
"Not as much as I should," Elizabeth replied with a small smile.
"Would it not be a good idea to share with him how you feel?"
"Probably some day…but right now isn't the right time… for either of us. He's got his daughter to raise, and he's still trying to get his life back to some normality after everything that had happened…I can't tell him now…besides it wouldn't work."
"Why not?"
"We're leaders…Just like John and Carson, and you…we're the leaders of this city…if we start getting involved with each other people will think we're giving favorability to that person…and it's hard enough to do this job."
"Perhaps, but is it not worth it to be happy?"
"I don't know how happy I would be…would you be any happier with John than you are just seeing him all the time. We see John and Rodney every day, at least two or three times…I'm content with that…I know when he's hurt, when he's safe, when he's happy, sad or scared. I know that if he needs someone to come to and Carson can't help him, I can. I know when I need a shoulder to lean on, someone to yell and argue with, someone to tell me I'm smart and someone to cry with…I know it's him. He protects me…he keeps me wanting to do my job here…"
"You fear this would change?"
"Yeah…I suppose I do in some small way….I love him….but I love him as a friend before I love him romantically. Besides, on day this mission will end…and perhaps we can move to the mainland…"
"You would not move back to Earth…"
"I probably won't…I…this is my home now, this is where my family is."
"I agree…I have never felt so…as home anywhere."
"Isn't it great," grinned Elizabeth, "well…we should get to bed as well, lots to do tomorrow."
"Elizabeth…" Teyla spoke, it was rare for the Athosian to call her by her first name, Elizabeth turned and smiled at her friend. Within moments she had moved close and pulled her friend into a hug.
"Thank you Teyla, for becoming a part of this family."
"Thank you for accepting me into this family," Teyla replied.
The two friends separated, perhaps on a new level of understand and went on their way to their quarters. Neither would forget their conversation, or the fact that they had gained a sister that night.
The fixings were beautiful and grand, the Athosians had truly come through, they had even been careful about citrus for a certain scientist.
At ten that morning Rodney had placed the shield up, making sure he was the only one who could take it down. They all took off in jumpers, as many as they could fit into one, and headed over to the mainland. It was a grand feast. Full over conversation, laughter and excitement. All the Athosians joined them as well. Johnny got to meet Jinto and Wex, who John feared would soon become his life long friends.
Elizabeth created her own tradition as she stood up, with Teyla, John and one Halling, "many of us our various traditions, however today we start a new one as we join the Athosians and celebrate our time here on Atlantis, this is a chance for us to get to know one another and develop the bond that was once there between ourselves and the Athosians. Thank you to all of you who helped make this bountiful table in front of us. I also realize that many of us are from different religions, and beliefs, but I'm sure you can all sympathize with me as I ask to grasp the hand next to you, so we can at least thank whoever is listening for this day."
Elizabeth was pleased when everyone around the table gripped the hand of whoever sat next to them, "We thank the powers that be for bringing us together today and giving us this feast, please guide us through another year," some whispered 'amen'. Others just dropped the hands, and some lingered t hold longer.
"Let's dig in everyone," John said grinning.
Even after the huge feast, the friends sat around the table, getting to know the Athosians, as well as getting a chance to talk to one another. There were hikes, walks, long talks. It was growing dark before Atlantis finally rounded all their people up, climbed back onto the puddle jumpers and made their way back home.
As the expedition headed off to their respectful quarters, Rodney carrying his daughter, John's son sleeping against his shoulder, Elizabeth stopped Rodney for a moment and smiled. "I just wanted to thank you for…for finding away for everyone to enjoy this beautiful day."
"Well it was your idea, I just provided the best way. Your welcome Elizabeth."
"Happy Thanksgiving Rodney," she said squeezing his arm.
"Happy Turkey day Liz," he replied grinning as he headed off towards his quarters. She smiled, looking down at the floor she shook her head.