Okay people the last one! I hoped you have enjoyed it because I would like to write more shep/weir stories if you're willing to read them. So any suggestions for a Shep/Weir story would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Alexanderetta…I'm using the president suggestion and thank you so much to everyone who has put in input.

Chapter 12: Going Back Home

John and Elizabeth both flew back to Washington together where John then exchanged for a plane to Colorado, while Elizabeth took care of some business. To be honest, she was petrified. She was waiting outside the President's Office somehow hoping that now was the time she could cash in on a favour. She couldn't believe what she was going to ask. Yeah, so me and the military commander, you know, John Sheppard, the man who is already being watched because he disobeys orders and disregards rules…well, yeah he ignored another rules as we kinda disregarded the whole fraternisation rule and I was just wondering if me and him could continue to have a relationship on Atlantis due to the fact we have already been having sex without your permission already.

Elizabeth sighed and held her head in her hands. Yeah, she was screwed. She might be able to convince the President but how was he meant to convince the military chiefs, they already hated John and this would be a very good excuse to get rid of him. Yeah, definitely screwed.

"The President will see you now." The President's secretary called to Elizabeth. She lifted her head, stood up and straightened out her suit before taking a deep, calming breath and entering the President's office.

"Mr. President." She said in greeting as she walked up to the desk, hand held out. The President smiled before getting out of his chair and enveloping Elizabeth in a hug.

"How many times have I told you to call me Henry, Elizabeth…" He said pulling back and smiling at her. "Please sit down, it's so good to see you."

She sat down and smiled before crossing her legs. "Thank you sir." He narrowed his eyes at her before smiling.

"I'm sorry to hear about Ben. How are you doing?" His eyes filled with sympathy.

"It's hard…some days more than others, but I'm getting there, learning to except it, if he was here I know he wouldn't want me to dwell on it, so I try to keep going, just hoping he's, you know, looking down on me and smiling every time I screw up…just like old times." She said grinning.

"Oh please, Elizabeth he won't be smiling…he'll be pissing himself with laughter." Elizabeth started laughing at his comment and he grinned at her before wondering why exactly she had come to Washington D.C

"So…" he said stretching his arms behind his head before resting them on his desk. "What brings you to my humble abode?" Apart from the fact I'm trying to get you to okay me screwing my second-in-command, she thought regretfully. Yeah…so screwed.

"Elizabeth?" He said in concern when she didn't answer.

She looked up and him and diplomatically smiled. "Er…well you see the thing is, I know this breaks that rule book you had me look over before going to Atlantis, but, well me and John…"

The President smirked. "I see…you want to take a man with you, well we'll have to see how he helps the expedition but I'm sure that can be arranged."

Elizabeth shook her head. "No, I don't want to take a man with me, but you see I've started a relat-" Elizabeth frowned in confusion and tilted her head. "You would do that for me? You would let me take some guy to Atlantis with me."

The President slightly pondered and then nodded. "If the relationship was serious enough…I need you out there Elizabeth, I fought so hard to keep you here, due to my need for you when it comes to treaties, but I soon realised that the rest of the world's leaders were right…you are perfect for the job. That and the fact that if your aunt likes him than she would talk to my wife and if my wife wanted him along with you…well, I wouldn't have much of a choice know, would I?" He said grinning, even though both of them knew it was very true, his wife could be very…persuasive when she wanted to be, which was basically a polite way of saying she was very scary.

"Huh…" Elizabeth said thinking about what he'd just told her and tried to make it work to her advantage. "John is John Sheppard, my military commander…that is who I have started a relationship with." Elizabeth said completely unfazed by the looks of confusion, shock and horror playing out on the President's face.

"What, you can't do that? There are rules…rules for a reason, my dear." He tried to say persuasively, trying to make her see reason.

Elizabeth smoothed out her skirt calmly before looking back at the man opposite her. "Well, I love him, Henry and if you say it's not allowed then I guess me and him will just have to stay on Earth and you'll have to find replacements."

The President's eyes widened. "No, no, no I just told you how perfect you are for the job. No Elizabeth. You must be reasonable…"

Elizabeth continued on, not listening to him, hoping her plan was working. "I mean I had my reservations when it came to Colonel Caldwell, but I'm sure he could do a fine job…perhaps not as great a job as John and there are many military generals who could take my place…"

President shook his head. "No, no, no, Elizabeth. The Russians, British and well…just about everyone was very clear that a civilian must be in charge. This is not good, surely you can…" He trailed off as Elizabeth carried on.

"I realise it will be difficult, but I'm sure you'll find a way." Elizabeth risked a glance at the President as he hung his head in his heads as if realising defeat, she then looked back down at her skirt. "And my aunt Julie was so looking forward to me and John returning to work as a couple, she was just so happy that you'd allowed us to be together…she was even mentioning marriage." She sighed.

The President lifted his head from his hands and leant forward to make Elizabeth look at him. "Your Aunt is happy about this…and she gave you her blessings?" Elizabeth nodded. HE quickly back stepped. "Well, then, I suppose rules were meant to be broken." He said putting on a grin and leaning back again.

Elizabeth grinned. "Really?"

The President smiled back. "Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later." Elizabeth got up from her seat walked around the desk and leant down to kiss him on the cheek before frowning.

"What are you going to tell the military chiefs?"

The President scratched his chin in thought. "I suppose I'll tell them that the little rule book I had you read was updated and certain fraternisation rules have had a slight…tweaking."

Elizabeth raised a sceptical eyebrow. "You really think they are going to buy that you find out about mine and Colonel Sheppard's relationship and just happened to think the rules needed changing? The only way they would buy that would be if the rules were changed first and then we engaged in a relationship because of that rule change." She said regretfully.

"What relationship?" He said smirking. She grinned at him.

"God, I love you…I may not be here, but next election I can tell you who the Weir family are going to be voting for." She said as the grabbed her handbag. He chuckled as he saw her to the door.

"You know Elizabeth I was thinking of tweaking the fraternisation rules in the rule book, what do you think of the idea?"

"I think that's wonderful." She said smiling.

The President nodded in agreement. "Good, just don't going marrying this guy too soon…otherwise it will look suspicious."

"Yes sir." She said as she left his office. He called after her.

"Henry woman! I said call me Henry!"

Elizabeth looked out of the Dalaedus watching as space went by. She'd never get over that, she was stilling expecting Tuvok to walk out of the rooms in the ship and then she would see Hermoid instead and realise that Vulcan or no Vulcan, she still had little grey men to make her space travelling experience weird enough for her. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she didn't notice the man sit opposite her.

"Whatcha thinking?" He said as he took a sip of her coffee.

"Right now? A little deja vous." She smiled.

John leaned back and pouted as he sulked. "I cannot believe we have to keep this secret for a month."

"The President suggested that we announce our relationship later on as to steer away from suspicions."

"I know." He yawned. "And he told me to get you to call him Henry."

Elizabeth eyebrows rose in a little bit of disbelief. "When did you talk to the President?"

John smiled casually. "Oh you know me and him we go way back." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Truthfully…I think he was giving me the 'what are your intentions to my daughter' speech, apart from it was more 'what are your intentions to my diplomat slash friend slash I consider her sort of like a daughter' speech. Something about dying at the hands of a certain aunt who has power over a certain wife…I don't know." Elizabeth smiled at the thought. She thanked God she had an intimidating aunt and thanked God even more that the President had an intimidating wife.

They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes before John grinned. "You do realise we will never be able to keep it secret that long?"

Elizabeth nodded as she came around the table and sat on his lap. She wrapped her arms around him and planted a kiss on his lips. "Maybe, maybe not…but someone's bound to see us coming out of some closet somewhere."

"Elizabeth Weir!" He said in mock astonishment. "I didn't realise you had fantasies about us in closets!"

Elizabeth grinned evilly. "Well, that's all they are flyboy, fantasies and that's all they're ever gonna be." She laughed as he pouted before kissing him deeply.

They broke apart as some crewmember came into the room before excusing themselves quickly. They both looked at him leaving before turning to each other.

Elizabeth sighed as John broke the silence. "Would you look at that! Has it been a month already!"

Elizabeth shook her head before smiling, "Ah well…" She said before kissing him John again. She usually hated it when he was right, but in this instance…she wasn't so bothered. By morning, the whole of the Dalaedus would know and she might as well give them something to talk about.

THE END

I've done it! Woo-hoo! Suggestions for a new story are appreciated and overall review on the story would really make me very happy, especially if you have been reading the whole story xxxx Kitty