This was going to be a stand alone piece since it's set about five years into the future; but I decided to make it the epilog so it didn't get lost. Thanks for all those who've read this story. Nika I hope you enjoyed it.

Title: Hope
Author: Cindy Ryan
pairings: Lorne/Keller
Notes and summary: see part one

Epilog

Lieutenant Colonel Evan Lorne stepped into the living room of his small house in San Francisco and was nearly toppled by a four foot blur of blond hair, airplane t-shirt and blue jeans.

Evan laughed as he rocked back on the balls of his feet as he caught his son.

“Daddy!”Ethan shouted as Evan rose to his feet.

“It’s way past your bedtime, little man.”Evan admonished gently as he carried his son through the living room. “Where’s your Mama?”

“Mama said I could stay up….special.”Ethan exclaimed excitedly still holding on fiercely to his father.

Jennifer Keller-Lorne appeared at the top of the basement stairs a full laundry basket in her hands. She dropped the basket and walked quickly over to her husband of three years.

“Hi.”Jennifer greeted warmly as she melted into her husband’s free arm as he kissed her. “You’re early.”

“Hi.”Lorne replied quietly after they broke the kiss. “Caught a ride with one of the guys. You have no idea how much I missed you two.”

Jennifer grinned down at her son. “I think I have an idea. He was too excited to sleep no matter what I did. Even though you were only gone a week.”

Evan shook his head as he thought about the trip to Tampa he’d had to take to fill in for a teacher at a base there. “Seemed longer.”

Ethan tugged impatiently on Evan’s left uniform sleeve. “Daddy, fly.”

Evan met the four year old’s brown gaze. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

Ethan laughed. “Daddy!”

Evan grinned and grabbed him by the waist and gently turned him around so he was holding Ethan by his stomach with the other hand on Ethan’s back.

“Captain Ethan, prepare for take off.”

Jennifer laughed as she leaned against the living room wall watching a familiar ritual. The flying was a coming home routine that Evan did every time and Ethan loved every minute of it.

Jennifer shook her head. She still couldn’t believe how fast things had changed in a few short years.
A year after the ordeal that had brought them together Evan had proposed. Unbeknownst to her he had even made a trip to Earth to ask her father’s permission.

Two years after they were married the Wraith was declared to be no longer a threat and a treaty was signed. Pegasus was deemed peaceful and Atlantis no longer a primary base.
The IOA had trimmed down operations on Atlantis to a skeleton crew.

Evan had been given a long over due promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and had his choice of assignments. With Ethan on the way Evan had opted for a teaching position at an Air Force base near his boyhood home.

After coming Earthside Rodney, Jennifer and Radek had formed a research company just outside of San Francisco. She had originally planned on going back to practicing medicine but this allowed her to be home for Ethan.

After two trips around the living room Evan pulled Ethan into a tight hug. “Alright, little man, time for bed.”

“Daddy, not tired.”

Evan smiled as he saw his son’s eyelids start to droop despite his protests. “I’m not going anywhere,little man. How about a baseball game this weekend?”

Ethan blinked tiredly. “Baseball?”

“Yeah, you me and Mommy….see the Giants win. Hotdogs, popcorn.”

“Like b…all.”Ethan said quietly his eyes closed as Evan laid him down on the small bed in the second bedroom.

Evan kissed the little boy gently on the forehead as he pulled the covers up around him.

“Good night, little man.”

Jennifer moved around her husband and kissed her son’s cheek before reaching down to flip on the Scooby Doo night light on the wall.

“Sweet dreams, baby.”Jennifer whispered as they backed out of the room.

Evan looped an arm around his wife’s waist as they shut the door and moved back to the living room.

He sat down onto the sofa and pulled Jennifer down next to him and into a tight embrace. He leaned in and kissed her deeply.

As they broke apart Jennifer studied her husband as she gently brushed a stray brown hair away from his forehead.

“You okay?”She asked quietly.

Evan nodded. “Yeah, just thinking of how lucky we are.”

Jennifer settled back into her husband’s arms as she glanced at the painting above the fireplace. It was one of Atlantis that Evan had painted shortly before they left. If anyone who came to visit asked the piece was a fantasy scape, pure fiction.

But for Evan and Jennifer it was a reminder of a place that had been home for so long.

“Yes, we are.”Jennifer replied softly. “I love you.”

Evan kissed her quickly. “Love you too.”

As his wife’s gaze traveled back to the painting Evan tightened his embrace. He looked at the canvas and couldn’t help but think of the pirate who had tried to take her from him before they had even really began.
Now because of him, he had a family he treasured more than anything.

No, Evan realized, not because of Tylan What he and Jennifer had was always there, below the surface.

It had just taken that incident to make them realize how precious life was not to take a chance at the happiness before them.

Evan was grateful they’d taken that chance.
Grateful every day.
He couldn’t imagine his life any different than what it was.
Even though he’d never thought he’d be lucky enough to have a family of his own.

“How was your day?”Evan asked as he settled back against the corner of the couch.

Jennifer smiled as she looked down at their entwined hands. “It was good. I’m glad you’re home.”

“Me too.”Evan whispered. “Me too.”

end