swficathon | An Atlantis Easter

grav_ity asked for a story at the

swficathon sight and I picked it up as a backup writer. I hope I've done justice to what you asked for. I admit, this is my first try at writing het, especially between Shep and Weir. Anyway... enjoy and I hope this makes up for having to wait so long for a story.

Title: An Atlantis Easter

Author: Puddle_Jumper2

Rating: PG

Pairing: Sheppard/Weir

Disclaimer: Sadly enough, they aren’t mine, so please don’t read this and sue me. Thanks.

A/N: Heh, this is my first het story so go easy on me, okay? I decided to pick up this story for someone who’s story didn’t get written in a recent ficathon. I hope this will do.

Summary: I remember it was always my mother who hid the eggs, it’s one of the few memories I have of her… John writes a letter in memory of a special Easter…

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My Dearest Family…

I remember it was always my mother who hid the eggs, it’s one of the few memories I have of her. That last Easter, before she passed away; dressed in a beautiful cream colored suit with matching hat and shoes, cream colored silk gloves that stopped at her wrists; hiding Easter eggs in the backyard early in the morning when the dew was still on the ground.

When I looked at the Earth calendar that I still kept with me and realized that Easter was only a week away, I knew I had to do something for the Athosian children. They didn’t know about Easter, had no clue what it’s true meaning was all about, but I wasn’t here to preach or teach. I was here to protect and serve. I think this falls under serving.

I mean, how can you not go egg hunting at Easter? It’s just not Easter without the eggs. Every Earth child from ages two to probably about twelve will tell you that. So, I came up with the idea to host an Easter Egg Hunt on the mainland.

“And just what do you propose to use as eggs, Colonel?” Rodney snarked at me when I brought it up in a recent meeting. “It’s not like we can find chicken eggs and color them or anything.”

“Ah, we make eggs out of anything here,” Zelenka answered almost excitedly. “We have woodshops, yes? We make wooden eggs and paint them pretty colors for children.” I had smiled at him and my excitement must have been contagious because it was Lorne who piped in next.

“I’ve got plenty of paints and brushes. Enough for several people to help paint.”

“I’m sure Teyla and I can find a few Athosian women to weave baskets for the children,” Liz answered, giving me a smile so full of love and thankfulness that my own smile grew even larger. I loved knowing how much she loved me because it was so easy to see it in her eyes, in her smile, and to hear it in her words and watch it in her actions. I loved making her happy and I could see I’d defiantly done so with my idea.

Five hours later we had about a dozen people making wooden eggs and another half dozen painting them. Teyla and Elizabeth had organized about a handful of women who were in one of the other parts of the city making baskets and I was now trying to find someone willing to dress up like a rabbit.

“Oh come on, Rodney, please? You’re the only one I know of who would actually, well, possibly fit the part.” Rodney glared at me, an evil look that made me shiver and made me wonder how Lorne ever dealt with him. Another shudder made me realize that I didn’t really want to know the answer to that question.

“You want me to dress up in some ridiculous costume that hasn’t even been made yet and hop around like a rabbit and hide Easter eggs for children when you know good and well that children and I don’t get along!” I raised a brow slightly and Rodney groaned because he knew that look all too well. “Fine. Just… fine.” I grinned.

“Thanks, Rodney,” I said, slapping Rodney on the back and taking off down the hallway once more. So, I had my Easter Bunny for lack of a better word. Everything was going well so far. I’d talked Laura into making the costumer. Boy was she going to have a fit when I told her she was making it for Rodney. I reminded myself to make sure Lorne had his camera.

Four days later and it was what we, on Earth, would call Good Friday. I had Teyla gather all the children in the gateroom where they sat on the floor and I sat on the steps and began to explain to them about why this weekend was important to a number of people back on my homeworld.

“Back on Earth where we’re from, there are people who celebrate a day called Easter,” I explained carefully. “They celebrate this day because, to them, it is the day when a very great man came back from the dead and promised to one day return and take them all to a much better place where he was going to go live with his Father.”

“Why didn’t he want to stay with his friends?” on child asked me softly.

“Well, I’m sure he wanted to, but he knew that, for the time being, his job was finished and it was time for him to go home and be with his Father. So, he said goodbye to his friends, gave them all instructions on how to live and what to do, and then he left them and went home. But, the day we celebrate is called Easter and on Easter, a very cool thing happens.”

“What?” came a smaller voice towards the back of the crowd.

“I’m glad you asked,” I answered with a grin. “On Easter, the Easter rabbit comes and he leaves behind hidden eggs for children to find. The children then go on these great egg hunts to see who can find the most eggs. And the eggs are round and all different sizes. They are decorated and the children carry baskets to put their eggs in once they are found.”

“Who wins the hunt?” Jinto asked to my left. I smiled over at him, remembering the days of Wraith hide and seek on Atlantis and on the mainland.

“It’s not about who wins, Jinto,” I answered him before turning to look out at the rest of the children. “It’s about having fun.”

“We want an egg hunt!” cried out several of the children in the crowd. The others all nodded eagerly.

“Well, if you want an egg hunt, then tomorrow night you must go to sleep very early, whenever your parents tell you and you have to stay asleep all night and then, in the morning when the suns rays hit the edge of the water, then you may all get up and we shall go on an egg hunt.”

“Yea!” shouted the children. I was thrilled. Behind me, I felt Liz’s hand on my shoulder and I reached up and grasped it tightly. Little did she know that I had designed a special egg just for her…

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Easter morning dawned bright and early. Liz was still sound asleep next to me when I woke and I lay there, watching her for sometime before I finally crawled out of bed and got dressed. I leaned over and kissed her on the temple before leaving the room and moving into the hallway. Teyla and Ronon were already waiting for me, Teyla having made sure Ronon was awake early enough to help us get ready for the kids. I remembered that it had been almost two years ago now when they’d gotten married, although it wasn’t a marriage in my terms. It was more of a commitment ceremony, performed on the mainland by the Athosians. Whatever it was, I know Teyla and Ro are happy.

The three of us moved further into the city towards the jumper bay where Zelenka and McKay were waiting for us along with Lorne and Cadman. McKay was dressed in full costume and Ronon choked back a laugh. Rodney glared over at him even as Teyla smacked Ronon on the arm.

“Do not give Rodney any trouble today, Ronon,” she said quietly. “What he is doing is for the children and it is a very honorable thing for him to do. Next year, perhaps, you will be the one to do this for them.” I noticed how quickly that shut Ronon up. We boarded the jumper and headed for the mainland. Liz and the others would be joining us later in the morning. The eggs had been hidden the previous night and Rodney had a few special ones with him for the children as well. I had packed a box the night before and stowed it in the jumper. It held various forms of candy and chocolate, which I’d had delivered from the SGC two days earlier. The kids would love it.

We arrived on the mainland and landed the jumper a few meters away from the encampment and walked the rest of the way in. The children were still sleeping when we arrived which gave Rodney plenty of time to hide from them. After Rodney was well hidden, Teyla began to ritual of waking the children and within about fifteen minutes, every child was dressed and assembled in the middle of the encampment.

Teyla, Ronon and I handed out baskets to each of the children.

“Where is the rabbit you told us about, John?” Jinto asked as I got to him. I smiled.

“Oh, I’m sure he’s still around here somewhere. Maybe you’ll even see him during your egg hunt.” I winked at him and he smiled. When we were done handing out baskets, I told the kids they could start their hunt and that we’d all meet back here in an hour. Screams of joy ensued as children began to run in every direction, looking for colored eggs and possibly a rabbit or two.

Thirty minutes into the hunt, another jumper landed and Liz, Caldwell, Beckett and a few others appeared. Liz came over to me and I wrapped my arm around her as we sat near a small fire, listening to the sounds of the children all around us.

“You’ve done a really wonderful thing, John,” she whispered, laying her head on my shoulder. “You’ve given them something to look forward to each year, something happy.” I grinned.

“Just wait until Christmas,” I warned good naturedly. “I’ll really give them something to enjoy.”

“I know you will,” she whispered just before she kissed me softly. I returned her kiss and looked past her shoulder where Rodney stood, watching us. Nodding at him I leaned back a little bit and looked into Liz’s eyes.

“The Easter Bunny brought something for you too, Liz,” I said softly. Liz raised a brow slightly, curious as ever. The sounds of children grew closer and I realized the hunt was almost over. I glanced at Rodney and shook my head. It would have to wait. I looked back at Liz. “You’ll get it later.” I winked and stood slowly as the first of the children began to return, their baskets filled with colorful eggs, all of them surprised to see the Easter Bunny waiting for them. They approached him almost hesitantly, until the realized he was handing out more eggs to them. But these eggs were different. They opened and inside each egg we had put chocolates and various kinds of candies and goodies. The kids squealed in delight. They hugged Rodney and then came running up to hug me as well.

“You did good, John,” Teyla said to me as the children took their seats on the ground, eating their candy and looking at each others eggs. “Thank you.”

“It was my pleasure,” I answered, smiling over at her. “I’m happy to give them something good in their lives; something to look forward to at least once a year.” Teyla smiled and walked over to where Ronon was sitting with some of the children. I looked around and found Liz standing off to the side and decided to try once more. Finding Rodney with my eyes, I nodded towards Liz and then walked over to her. She looked up and smiled as I approached her.

“I think they had fun,” I began, as I stopped in front of her. “What about you? Having fun?”

“It’s probably the best Easter I can ever remember,” she answered with a smile.

“I can make it better,” I said with a smile.

“How?” Rodney walked up behind me and reached past me, a beautifully painted egg in his hand, holding it out to Liz. Liz looked at the egg then back at me.

“It’s for you,” I told her softly. She took the egg and Rodney stepped back a little ways. Liz looked at me again before turning her attention to the egg and opening it slowly. Inside the egg, I had hidden a small, yet perfectly cut, diamond solitaire ring. I saw the tears in her eyes as she looked back at me. I went down on one knee in front of her and the tears fell down her face.

“John…” she whispered softly.

“Easter always heralds spring which is the beginning of all things new,” I told her quietly. “So, I’m hoping you will help me begin our new lives here by agreeing to marry me…”

In case you’re wondering, she said yes.

We’re going to have a winter wedding.

Guess that means I get to explain Christmas and Santa Clause sooner than I’d thought.

John Sheppard, Col.

April 2007

Pegasus Galaxy

Atlantis Base