Epilogue

Warning – VERY Fluffy ending!!

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Tagan giggled brightly and threw himself forward again. John intercepted the full on assault once again and wrestled the toddler into a body lock. Tagan laughed hysterically as John wrapped his arms around his small torso and legs, and lifted Tagan upside down. At a year and a half Tagan was seriously strong for his age, and pretty advanced, though John conceded he may be rather biased in regards to his step-son.

Teyla chose this moment to arrive home, entering to see her son hanging upside down and laughing.

"Did he not just eat his lunch?" She asked with a bemused look at the two of them.

Tagan wrapped his arms around John's legs and began to swing himself in John's grip. "He'll be fine." John guessed. "Besides he is just about to go and play with Uncle Ronon, he needs to warm up first."

Teyla smiled as she took a seat near them. Ronon and Rodney had established themselves as instructors in Tagan's education regardless to his still young age. Ronon said all Satedan kids started basic fighting skills in their first year, but John thought it was an exaggeration on his friend's part. And Rodney insisted that the earlier Tagan be introduced to science the better. John and Teyla didn't mind as it gave them time alone quite often, having such enthusiastic babysitters.

"Could you put him down for a minute?" Teyla asked.

John looked round at her. "I won't drop him." He insisted as he lowered the boy to the floor slowly.

"I know you wouldn't normally, but I have some news that may surprise you." She said.

John barely heard her as he was tickling Tagan furiously. The boy screamed and giggled wriggling against the floor as John attacked him playfully. Once Tagan squealed and began hiccoughing John pulled back and looked up at his wife once again. "Sorry, what news?"

Teyla looked up at him with bright eyes as Tagan crawled out from under John's hands and dashed off across the room to start his attack run at John again. "I am not going on the mission to 428 after all." She reported.

John prepared himself as Tagan ran back towards him, head down, battering ram style. "I thought you were really looking forward to going to the Waterfall planet?" He asked, as he caught Tagan and wrestled him to the floor.

"I was, but I need to be taken off active duty." She replied, her voice light as she watched their wrestling match.

John looked up then, now absently playing with Tagan as he took in her expression. She didn't look ill or worried. "Why? What's happened?" He asked.

"Dr Keller has asked me to." She replied.

"What? Why?" John pushed again. As if sensing his father's growing concern, Tagan slumped down over John's lap, working to catch his breath.

Teyla smiled. "You can not blame me this time, as I was not aware that I was going off world in my current state."

John frowned at her; what was she on about? Then his mind supplied a possible explanation. "Your current state?" He asked.

She smiled in return, and slid off her chair onto the floor beside him and Tagan. Tagan instantly climbed up and moved towards his mom.

"You mean we're….." John asked as she settled against him, one arm around Tagan who was now quietly running his fingers through her hair. She nodded, her eyes sparkling as she leant in and kissed John. Still too surprised to do more than lightly return the kiss he pulled back.

"You mean you're…." He indicated her stomach, which now he was looking at it was very slightly rounder than normal. He had been off world for an entire week and hadn't noticed the change yet. A strange sense of déjà vu passed through him and he laughed at the bizarre twist of fate. He reached out and slid his hand over her belly.

"I didn't start to feel slightly unwell until several days ago, but Dr Keller believes I am already three months along." She turned to Tagan who was now resting his head on her shoulder. "Tagan. You are going to have a little brother or sister to play with soon." Tagan frowned at the words, not quite understanding.

John tuned out Teyla's explanation to Tagan, as he was still rubbing his hand over the new curvature of his wife's stomach, knowing deep within her she was protecting their new growing child. The thought was beyond exhilarating for him.

The doors chimed and at Teyla's call the doors slid open to reveal an arguing Ronon and Rodney.

"I am getting him today, you had him on Tuesday." Rodney was protesting.

"He needs regular training, not just twice a week like with you and whatever it is you are teaching him." Ronon huffed as he turned his attention to the family sat on the floor.

Rodney's protest was cut off as he two noticed them. "What's going on? Can't you wait until we leave already?" He asked indicating John's caressing of Teyla's stomach.

John looked up from his study. "We're going to have a baby." He blurted out in excitement.

After all the hugging was done, most for Tagan who never wanted to be left out of anything, they all stood back faces bright.

"A little Sheppard running around! Is the universe ready?" Rodney asked.

John punched him playfully on the arm. "Shut up, Rodney.

About to complain about his hurt arm Rodney opened his mouth, but then closed it with a thoughtful look. "This could mean the child could have both the Ancient gene and the Wraith gene. Who knows what that could mean?" He asked, his eyes glazing over signally he was about to launch into a new theory. Ronon reached down and scooped up Tagan.

"Come on Rodney, let's leave these two alone." With that he headed to the door, Tagan muttering few of his new words to his Uncle Ronon as they disappeared out into the corridor. Rodney ran along behind, muttering about connections between Ancient and Wraith genetics and the door slid shut, leaving John alone with Teyla.

He tugged her hand towards the bed and she laughed at him. "Let me see." He insisted as she settled onto the bed and he pulled up her shirt to reveal her stomach. He slid his palm over her skin, over the vague new slopes of her belly. She set about removing her shirt and shimmed out of her trousers revealing all her belly for inspection. John sighed happily as he settled down beside her, his eyes locked on the new changes to her. She threaded her hand through his hair, caressing him in return.

"You are happy?" She asked him.

He was certain she knew the answer, but it was a good question. So much had changed for him over the past year. He was a husband again and a father, twice over now. He had often wondered; what would have happened if Teyla had not been kidnapped by those pirates? It had been that situation that had forced him to address his suppressed feelings for her and their long stay in the cold settlement had melted the barriers that he had built up around himself for so long. Now he had a growing family, and they were surrounded by people whom they loved and who cared for them. And though he had been the man to seek out and end said pirate business, he found himself secretly thanking them.

He looked up along Teyla's naked body and smiled. "I am very happy." He leant forward and pressed a kiss to her belly and then began climbing up her body, to reach her waiting smile. "And let me show you just how much you make me happy."

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THE END