Author's Notes - A new chapter in a few days instead of several years.
Go me.
Enjoy.
Sha're entered the rooms she shared with her husband, finding him sitting on the couch staring out of the open doors to their balcony. As it was late, the lights from the city shone off the water that looked like it went on forever. She would never forget the first day they came here, and she saw the vast water in front of her, it had overwhelmed her. Even after everything she'd been through and seen, she was still a simple girl from Abydos, a world of sand with little water, she'd gripped Daniel tightly in both amazement and fear.
He never said a word, gently stroking her back, letting her get used to where they were. She had become used to the water, after the years here, but some days it still surprised her.
Moving to Daniel, she smiled at his pensive look, "You are thinking deep thoughts, my love."
"Just trying to work out how to tell Jack and Sara that the son they'd thought lost so many years ago is alive and well with no memory of them," Daniel told her.
"It is good news," Sha're reminded him.
Daniel nodded, "I know. It's incredible news but it'll hurt that someone hid him from them."
Sha're was about to sit at his side but settled on his lap instead.
"This won't help me focus, you know," he chuckled, sliding his arms around her waist and holding her close.
Sha're laughed, "I'm simply trying to get you to relax, Dan'iel."
Gently he stroked his fingers along her back, "I just…Jack and Sara have been there for me, for so long. When I first lost you, Jack let me stay with him. I lived in his spare room for the first few months I was on Earth. When I thought you were dead…" he trailed off feeling Sha're's arms tighten around him, "He let me stay with him again, and didn't care that I wandered around each night unable to sleep, unable to focus on anything but the fact you were gone."
"I know how much Jack means to you," Sha're reminded him softly, "I watched him help you with Arianna, I saw him do the hardest thing in the world reaching out to Sara again to ask for her help in order to help you. And now, you can give him the greatest gift, his son back."
Daniel chuckled softly, "I should have talked to you first."
"Always," she laughed before kissing him.
When they parted, Sha're rested her forehead on his. Daniel gently stroked her hair as they sat together in silence for several minutes.
"Do you ever think," he started, "That is, do you wonder what it would be like…"
"What are you trying to say, my Dan'iel?" Sha're asked as he stumbled over his words in a way that she always found adorable.
Daniel took a deep breath, "Do you want to have another baby?"
A bright smile covered Sha're's face, and she nodded, "Of course. I love our daughter, but I did not get to raise Arianna with you."
"And I didn't get to raise Shifu with you," Daniel reminded her.
Sha're kissed him once more, "A child we can raise together, or maybe two or three?"
Daniel laughed, "Let's focus on one for now."
Sha're nodded and pulled him close, happy to know they had been thinking the same thing.
x
Daniel kissed his slumbering wife and slid out of bed, pulling on a pair of sweats he headed to the balcony to think. He watched the sun begin to peek above the horizon and marvelled that a job he'd taken in desperation, because he was homeless and jobless, had brought him here to the fabled city of Atlantis with the wife he'd found on another planet.
He had decided the news about Tim being Charlie had to come from him, because Daniel knew that no matter how ecstatic Jack and Sara would be, anger would be there as well. Rage at whoever had taken their son from them and the need to find that person.
Ari wouldn't know how to deal with it, but Daniel could.
He glanced back to where Sha're was still sleeping and smiled seeing her there. Her long black hair wild against her pillow after their exertions the night before. The decision to try for another child was one he was so happy about and he'd wanted for a long time. Daniel knew how hard it was for Sha're that Ari had been sixteen when she'd returned and felt that their daughter didn't truly need her.
Daniel frowned as he mused that Ari didn't need him anymore either. She was after all a strong, capable young woman he was so proud of who had taken after her mother. He worried about her on Earth without them and knew that he had wanted to give her the chance to forge her path out from his shadow. Seeing her with the Seaquest crew just proved how incredible she was, especially at the fact she had got them here.
"Come back to bed for a few more hours," Sha're murmured as she slid her arms around him from behind and placed a kiss on his shoulder blade, "I'm getting lonely."
Turning, Daniel wrapped his arm around his wife and walked with her back to their bed.
"Nothing?" John asked.
Dr Holland frowned, "Not nothing exactly."
"What he means," Rodney rolled his eyes, "Is that there are no weapons."
Holland nodded, "No weapons, but Aldershan was experimenting with using the Stargate technology in different ways. The boxes were one."
"Okay," Rodney mused, "What else?"
Holland grinned, "Ships, or devices that can be placed within them. We downloaded all his notes, not all are finished, and it might take a long time to go through."
"But we don't have to worry about sending the Seaquest back through to Earth," Rodney finished.
Bridger who had been sitting silently through the meeting nodded, "That is good to know."
"Well, the box has been sent through the Stargate and General O'Neill has a SGC rep taking it to the co-ordinates agreed for you to return to," John told him, "Other than Lieutenant O'Neill returning to Earth with the Jackson family, your crew should be onboard the Seaquest and ready to leave at oh nine hundred tomorrow morning."
Bridger nodded, "Part of me is looking forward to going back to normal but it has been intriguing to discover the Lost City of Atlantis is not only real but has been colonised by our own people."
John grinned, "And you are welcome back here, Captain. It was nice to have a semi-sane voice here."
"Hey," Rodney cried, "You're the one who would almost get himself killed on a weekly basis."
"And you followed me," John reminded him, "Who's the craziest?"
Bridger chuckled, "Well, I will leave you to discuss that between yourselves while I ensure my crew are ready for the journey home and make a few goodbyes myself."
"Of course, Captain Bridger," John said before he nodded to Holland he could leave as well.
When the other two men had left, he turned to Rodney, "It's been nice having guests."
Rodney chuckled and grabbed his tablet before heading out to the lab.
x
Nathan left the tower and on his way to the infirmary to talk to Kristen found O'Neill leaning on a railing staring out across the water.
"At ease," Nathan told him when the younger man jumped slightly when he stood beside him, "How're you doing, Tim?"
O'Neill let out a long sigh, "I'm wavering between acceptance, excitement and absolute terror."
Nathan chuckled softly, "Consider this," he said, "Your parents helped raise Arianna Jackson. She is smart, kind, annoying as hell when she thinks she's right. If she turned out like that then I think you have nothing to worry about."
Tim nodded, "I know that but…"
"No matter what happens, Tim," Nathan said, "You will always have a home and family onboard the Seaquest."
"I know, sir," Tim smiled, "I'm just not going to calm down until after the first meeting with them."
Nathan clapped his shoulder.
"Sir," Tim called him back before he could leave, "If it were you and your son…" he stopped himself, realising what he was saying and shook his head, "Never mind."
"If I found Robert again," Nathan told him, "I would not care about any old arguments, any anger that had existed back then. I would hug him tightly and never let him go."
Tim smiled, nodding slightly.
"We're leaving first thing in the morning," Nathan told him, "Make sure you've packed a bag before then."
"Of course, sir."
Lucas finished the calculations he'd been working on before handing the tablet to Rodney.
"This is great," Rodney noted with a smile, "I'll let you know how it goes, and we'll look into that work exchange programme."
Grinning Lucas stuck out his hand and smiled as Rodney shook it.
"Lucas," Laura said as she walked into the lab, "Captain Bridger wants you onboard now. They're getting ready to leave."
"Tell him I'm on my way," Lucas told her, he nodded to Rodney before waving bye to Laura.
Heading towards where the Seaquest was docked, Lucas found Tony making his goodbyes to the poker buddies he'd made. As he reached the dock, he saw Tim standing with a bag in his hand standing with Miguel.
"Hey," Miguel chuckled, "Thought we would have to drag you out of here."
Lucas rolled his eyes, "And I thought you were defecting since Ari offered you a job."
"I'm considering all my options," Migual replied airily, "And when we get home, I'll make an informed decision."
Tim laughed.
"What about you?" Lucas asked, "Why aren't you coming back with us?"
Tim licked his lips before replying softly, "It's personal, Lucas but I will be back soon."
Lucas frowned but Miguel clapped his arm and shoved him towards the ship.
"Captain wanted to see you as soon as you get here," Miguel replied, "You better get going."
Heading towards the Seaquest, Lucas glanced back and saw Miguel hug Tim. The communications officer had a strange look on his face, and Lucas worried that Tim was sick but knew he wouldn't get any answers. With a sigh he walked onto the Seaquest ready to go home, at least for a while.
x
Miguel waited until Lucas and Tony were away before turning to his friend again.
"You know I think the captain will let me come with you if you need," he said.
Tim gave his friend a smile, "I know. But I think this is something I need to do on my own."
"Call me if you need to talk," Miguel reminded him before hugging his friend, "And remind Ari I'm expecting her to…"
"To what?" Ari interrupted as she appeared round the corner.
"Keep him together," Miguel told her.
Ari nodded solemnly, "I promise."
"You know I am an adult," Tim reminded them.
They turned and frowned at him before rolling their eyes in unison.
"I'll send you that job offer," Ari told Miguel, "And might visit the Seaquest at some point in future."
"Well let me know when so I can book some leave," Miguel shot at her.
Ari laughed and hugged him. Miguel clapped Tim's arm before he headed onto his boat, one of the last to return onboard.
"You okay?" Ari asked Tim as Miguel disappeared.
"Just nervous about meeting my parents," Tim told her.
"I can understand. But you don't have to worry, they'll be happy," she patted his arm, "Come on, we need to get to the Gateroom. Once the Seaquest is away, then we're heading back to Earth."
Tim tore himself away from the dock and followed her through the city to the Gateroom. Waiting for them was Daniel and Sha're Jackson, bags sitting at their feet as the Gate was dialling.
"Stargate Command," John spoke up, "This is Atlantis base. We're ready to send the Seaquest back to Earth."
"Acknowledged, Atlantis base," the voice from the other side said, "Connecting you to Colonel Ferretti."
"Ferretti?" Daniel grinned.
An amused laugh came over the speakers, "Did you miss me, Dr Jackson?"
"Not even slightly," Daniel replied with a smile, "And I know why Jack sent you to the middle of the ocean."
"Daniel," Ferretti still sounded amused, "I'm hurt."
"Your hurt feelings aside, Colonel," John interrupted, "Are you ready to activate the device?"
"My geek squad says yes," Ferretti replied adding, "So much easier to work with than smart-ass archaeologists."
"Anthropologist and Linguist," Daniel shot back.
Tim glanced at Ari for a quick explanation.
"They were on the first mission together," Ari murmured the explanation, "Winding each other up is a hobby. It's so much worse when they're in the same room."
"Captain Bridger," John called, "We're on a countdown from ten."
"Acknowledged," Bridger's voice came.
Tim listened to the countdown.
"Activated," Ferretti told them.
"We have a wormhole," Bridger replied, "We're heading through."
At this Tim held his breath, he knew they should get home in one piece and without any issues, they'd done it before but not being onboard meant he worried. He let out a breath when Ferretti came over the radio.
"Seaquest has arrived," he told them, "We're in contact and will collect the box. Ferretti out."
Daniel smiled and lifted his bag, taking his wife's hand, "And that's our cue. Ready to go back to Earth?"
Ari beamed and moved to her mother's other side while Tim nodded, he walked with the family to the Gate and with a deep breath stepped forward.
Ready to meet his parents.
Well almost.