Baby Talk ~ SGA (McShep)
Title: Baby Talk
Author: icantfollow
Characters: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard
Prompt: #028 Children
Spoilers: for Sunday
Word Count: 768
Rating: PG
Summary: 'I've given this a lot of thought, and if you're serious, if you really want to, er, start a family, then I think you should be the donor.'
A/N: I love good domestic/kid!fic as much as anyone else, but I can't shake the feeling that getting to that point would not be an easy road...
This has the makings of a series...oy vey. Damn John and Rodney for making adorable parents.
'I think you should be the donor.'
John opens one eye and turns on his side to face Rodney.
'Good morning to you too, Rodney,' John yawns, stretching and snatching back one of the pillows Rodney has stolen in the night.
One glance at the clock on the night stand shows him it is way too early for this. On the other hand, Rodney's expression tells him he's been up all night thinking about it and John had better be up too if he knows what's good for him.
'I've given this a lot of thought, and if you're serious, if you really want to, er, start a family, then I think you should be the donor.'
This catches John's attention, and he struggles to sit up in bed. It's a warm Atlantis night, so the windows are open, and a calm breeze ruffles his hair. He rubs one palm over his eye and tries to wake up enough for the severity of this conversation.
'I thought we were talking about adoption.'
Rodney shakes his head. 'No good. They'll never let you adopt a child with another man.'
'Who's "they"?' asks John, frowning.
'Your fascist government that can't accept homosexuality in its military.' Rodney doesn't look at John as he says any of this.
'Then we'll adopt a Canadian orphan, or one from a third world country.'
But Rodney is still shaking his head. 'And when your Air Force buddies drop by and see that not only are you shacking up with a man, but there's a kid involved?'
'That scenario applies to any child we have,' John points out, feeling something tighten in his chest.
'Not if the kid also has a mother.'
John tries to change the subject. 'Well, why are you so set on me being the donor? Don't you want our child to be a genius?'
'Let's face it,' Rodney says, and reaches out to grab John's arm, 'you've got the superior genetics. Jeannie's already ensured a place in history for the McKay genes, and you've got the looks, the charm, the personality, the hair...and you're intelligent, though for some inexplicable reason you try to hide it, so if we found some suitably intelligent female, then it's likely the child would at least approximate my level of genius. And, let's face it, until science catches up with us, we're going to need a woman to make this happen.'
John really doesn't like the track this conversation is taking.
'Plus,' Rodney continues, 'you're the ATA Genius. We have no idea if someone with the artificial gene can pass it on genetically since Carson never had the chance - ' He falters for a minute, then clears his throat and continues, one hand pressed against John's chest. 'I want our kid to feel Atlantis the way you do.'
'Rodney, you know this is a major step,' says John. 'Are you really ready for this? It means giving up Atlantis - at least for a few years.'
'It's not any safer on Earth for this hypothetical child than it is here,' Rodney insists, pulling closer. 'At least here no one gives a damn.'
'You want a kid who can turn on the lights just by thinking about it,' John points out. 'That's incredibly dangerous, we still don't know what half the rooms here are even for. What if he stumbled across something and turned it on without realizing it?'
There's silence; it doesn't matter how many years have passed, that day is still fresh in both their minds. John can't remember having taken an official day off since.
'We could raise him on the mainland,' Rodney adds. 'Teyla's set up a school and everything.'
'Either way, we'd still have to step down from our jobs,' John argues. 'We can't be in charge of our respective departments with a kid wandering around.'
'That's something to determine later,' says Rodney, and John, turning slightly, sees the ferocity in Rodney's expression. He's serious. 'We could be consultants, or something. Look, I can't afford to wait anymore.'
'Why, your eggs going bad?' John jokes.
'Every single day I'm terrified you're going to die,' Rodney blurts, sitting up and hugging his knees to his chest. John, startled, puts an arm over his shoulders. 'Ever since, you know. Before that, too, of course, but, damn it, we live such dangerous lives, and I want to make sure that there's something of you left behind.'
'Oh.' John wants to say that he feels the same, but can't force the words out of his throat. 'If you're sure this is really what you want...'
'I'm sure. Don't fight me on this one.'
'Okay. I'll do it. About this suitably intelligent female...'
Rodney groans and lays back down. 'Go back to sleep, John.'
'Love you, too, Rodney.'
Author: icantfollow
Characters: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard
Prompt: #028 Children
Spoilers: for Sunday
Word Count: 768
Rating: PG
Summary: 'I've given this a lot of thought, and if you're serious, if you really want to, er, start a family, then I think you should be the donor.'
A/N: I love good domestic/kid!fic as much as anyone else, but I can't shake the feeling that getting to that point would not be an easy road...
This has the makings of a series...oy vey. Damn John and Rodney for making adorable parents.
'I think you should be the donor.'
John opens one eye and turns on his side to face Rodney.
'Good morning to you too, Rodney,' John yawns, stretching and snatching back one of the pillows Rodney has stolen in the night.
One glance at the clock on the night stand shows him it is way too early for this. On the other hand, Rodney's expression tells him he's been up all night thinking about it and John had better be up too if he knows what's good for him.
'I've given this a lot of thought, and if you're serious, if you really want to, er, start a family, then I think you should be the donor.'
This catches John's attention, and he struggles to sit up in bed. It's a warm Atlantis night, so the windows are open, and a calm breeze ruffles his hair. He rubs one palm over his eye and tries to wake up enough for the severity of this conversation.
'I thought we were talking about adoption.'
Rodney shakes his head. 'No good. They'll never let you adopt a child with another man.'
'Who's "they"?' asks John, frowning.
'Your fascist government that can't accept homosexuality in its military.' Rodney doesn't look at John as he says any of this.
'Then we'll adopt a Canadian orphan, or one from a third world country.'
But Rodney is still shaking his head. 'And when your Air Force buddies drop by and see that not only are you shacking up with a man, but there's a kid involved?'
'That scenario applies to any child we have,' John points out, feeling something tighten in his chest.
'Not if the kid also has a mother.'
John tries to change the subject. 'Well, why are you so set on me being the donor? Don't you want our child to be a genius?'
'Let's face it,' Rodney says, and reaches out to grab John's arm, 'you've got the superior genetics. Jeannie's already ensured a place in history for the McKay genes, and you've got the looks, the charm, the personality, the hair...and you're intelligent, though for some inexplicable reason you try to hide it, so if we found some suitably intelligent female, then it's likely the child would at least approximate my level of genius. And, let's face it, until science catches up with us, we're going to need a woman to make this happen.'
John really doesn't like the track this conversation is taking.
'Plus,' Rodney continues, 'you're the ATA Genius. We have no idea if someone with the artificial gene can pass it on genetically since Carson never had the chance - ' He falters for a minute, then clears his throat and continues, one hand pressed against John's chest. 'I want our kid to feel Atlantis the way you do.'
'Rodney, you know this is a major step,' says John. 'Are you really ready for this? It means giving up Atlantis - at least for a few years.'
'It's not any safer on Earth for this hypothetical child than it is here,' Rodney insists, pulling closer. 'At least here no one gives a damn.'
'You want a kid who can turn on the lights just by thinking about it,' John points out. 'That's incredibly dangerous, we still don't know what half the rooms here are even for. What if he stumbled across something and turned it on without realizing it?'
There's silence; it doesn't matter how many years have passed, that day is still fresh in both their minds. John can't remember having taken an official day off since.
'We could raise him on the mainland,' Rodney adds. 'Teyla's set up a school and everything.'
'Either way, we'd still have to step down from our jobs,' John argues. 'We can't be in charge of our respective departments with a kid wandering around.'
'That's something to determine later,' says Rodney, and John, turning slightly, sees the ferocity in Rodney's expression. He's serious. 'We could be consultants, or something. Look, I can't afford to wait anymore.'
'Why, your eggs going bad?' John jokes.
'Every single day I'm terrified you're going to die,' Rodney blurts, sitting up and hugging his knees to his chest. John, startled, puts an arm over his shoulders. 'Ever since, you know. Before that, too, of course, but, damn it, we live such dangerous lives, and I want to make sure that there's something of you left behind.'
'Oh.' John wants to say that he feels the same, but can't force the words out of his throat. 'If you're sure this is really what you want...'
'I'm sure. Don't fight me on this one.'
'Okay. I'll do it. About this suitably intelligent female...'
Rodney groans and lays back down. 'Go back to sleep, John.'
'Love you, too, Rodney.'