Title: Paint It Black

Author: Angel Leviathan

Spoilers: Anything, everything.

Season: Future

Disclaimer: Stargate Atlantis, characters, concept, etc, aren’t mine.

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"I’m so proud of you…" John whispered, pressing a kiss to the forehead of Elizabeth, who lay still, a contented smile on her face. He shifted the bundle in his arms, placing it beside her, whispering soothing words. He smiled down at her, "…I love you so much…" he said softly, kissing her once, gently, before he moved a couple of steps away from her bed. John glanced back at her, "What do I do now?" he asked, waiting for her to answer, if only with tired sarcasm, "…I mean…seriously, now what? I guess…" he stared at the floor for a moment, "I guess I didn’t expect this to change everything so completely…" John smiled again, "I know you always thought I was an arrogant fly-boy for 99% of the time…but I’m glad…I’m glad you saw past that. I’m glad you let this happen…and sometimes I still can’t believe you let me love you. Or that you love me in return. I know I can be an absolute asshole at times, hell, most of the city knows that…I used to think it wasn’t worth letting people get to know you if they were just gonna hurt you, you know? Push people away, just to play it safe. …It was worth the risk just to get to know you… even if we had never got this far…"

A muted cry was emitted from the bundle, and John rushed forward to comfort it, taking it into his arms and holding it close, not noticing as tears silently fell from his eyes onto the protective blanket around the small figure. He looked up from it in despair, "What do I do now? Just say something…anything…" he stared at the all too still form of Elizabeth Weir, desperately, "…Please…Elizabeth…what do I do now…?" John stepped closer to her bedside, arms still wrapped around the bundle, "…Please…you can’t give me this beautiful little girl and not stay to watch her grow up…" their daughter stirred in his arms as he sat down, soft cries escaping her, as if, even in her innocence, she too mourned her mother.

"Please, Elizabeth…wake up…please wake up…"

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Fin