Two days later, and several klicks closer to their goal, the Eden group broke camp for the last time as dawn broke. Three hours after dawn, they crested a cliff. As they did so, they heard the sound Devon, Danziger, Julia and Alonzo had heard when they’d gone through the time-space tunnels. The sound of the sea, of surf. They smelled the brine that tinted the air, and breathed it in in great gulps. Everyone was laughing and joking. There was a sense of great triumph. Morgan and the cargo retrieval team had reported in that morning. Baines, in the VTO aircraft, had rejoined them, and the Rover and other vehicles, loaded down, were only an hour behind them.
“Mom, we’re almost there!” Ulysses cried ecstatically. “Can we go on ahead?”
Devon looked down quickly. “Stay in sight, Uly,” she ordered. The two children darted forward to get closer and higher, hoping to catch the first glimpse of their beautiful New Pacifica.

Their children gone, Danziger approached Devon, grinning. He was aware of what lay unspoken between them, and he walked beside her, one arm swung over her shoulders as he’d done to comfort her when she’d thought Yale dead. Only it wasn’t as comfort that he employed the physical contact now.

“Mom! Come look!” Devon heard Uly cry, even as True called out to her father.
Then the straggly line the Eden crew had been walking in vanished as everyone raced to where the two children stood to get their first glimpse of their new home.
There were cries of “It’s New Pacifica!” and “We’re finally there!”
Devon smiled widely, and, grabbing John’s hand, pulled him behind her as she, too ran towards her son.

Danziger was laughing too as they reached the top of the cliff. Below lay one of the most beautiful sights Devon had ever seen. As she stared at New Pacifica laid out below her, she thought that the only more beautiful thing she’d ever seen was the first time she’d seen Ulysses. The Sea of Antius was the bluest thing Devon had ever seen, shimmering and perfect as it spread out onto the gently curving horizon. She saw the glitter of the sunlight reflecting of the Communications Dish and smiled.
“Oh, John, it’s so perfect,” Devon whispered, her heart in her throat at this final realization of years of pain and planning and desperation. She stared at her son, running around with True. Her son, for whom all of this had happened, to save him. But now he was healed, and New Pacifica must be for more than just Uly. It must be for her too. On the heels of that thought, Devon found herself caught in John’s arms and swung around.
She let out a delighted cry and laughed, telling him to put her down.
“We’re home, Devon,” he murmurred, lowering his head so his mouth was near her ear.
The feel of his warm breath on her neck sent a shiver of pleasure through Devon, and she smiled up at him.
“Home,” she sighed, and he squeezed her shoulder.

“Devon, look, there’s our way down,” Solace called out, pointing to a path down to New Pacifica that looked like it had been created just for them. Devon surveyed it seriously, then nodded.
“Okay everyone, let’s go!” she called, and Danziger grinned crookedly down at her and then jumped up onto the ’Rover to make sure that Baines, who was driving it, found the smoothest way down possible.

It took them about twenty minutes for the vehicles to manage the pass, easy though it was. Those walking hurried on ahead, and Devon managed to make sure she was the first down there, Uly right beside her. She and her son raced towards the communications dish which stood out amongst the natural environment. The others were a heartbeat behind her when mother and son stopped suddenly. Devon found herself staring at the ground that was New Pacifica, seeing, in her mind’s eye, how it would soon look, as the colony that would found humanities newest home. Uly jumped up and down excitedly.
“Mom, we made it!” he exclaimed joyfully. Tears blinded her and she hugged Uly tightly.
They were home! Finally, after the trials and tribulations of the past year, they were home!
“Yes, honey, we made it!” Devon told her son.

Morgan and the others, with the vehicles, arrived an hour later. They already had the tents set up, around the Comms. dish and camp was set up. There was an impromptu celebration going on when they arrived, which continued on through the afternoon, into the evening, and, when they switched on the lights, looked to keep going all night. Devon had never been so happy in her life, and, the weight of her personal vow pressing against her mind, couldn’t stop smiling.

When she noticed Uly yawning, she picked him up and carried him to bed, tucking him in lovingly, telling him in a soft voice all about how New Pacifica would become. He was asleep before she’d finished, tired out by the day’s activities. Devon smiled tenderly and kissed his forehead. As she emerged from the tent, Devon almost ran into Danziger, coming out from his own.
“True asleep?” Devon guessed, grinning.
John nodded. “Yeah. Uly, too?”
Smiling, Devon nodded. She stared up at the stars, glittering like diamonds against the black backdrop of night. John watched her silently for several long moments, then asked, in his sexily husky voice, “come for a walk with me?” At her questioning look, he explained a trifle sheepishly, “you know I’m not much for crowds...”
Devon chuckled and nodded; Danziger put a hand on her arm and led her away from the loud celebrations. They walked until the lights of camp no longer shone on them, and only the light of the two moons lit their way. Then John stopped and turned to stare down at Devon, looking more beautiful than ever as she stood there, lit by the silver moonlight.
“Ah, Devon,” he sighed, gently touching her face. He knew, as she did, that this would be their night.
Her eyes danced with mischief and excitement. “Yes, John?”
John’s expression reproved her for teasing him, but then he smiled. “It’s a lovely night.”
Adair nodded, glancing around. “Yes, John, it is.”
“The sky is beautiful tonight,” he murmurred, shifting the balance of his weight so he was leaning towards her.
Devon took a moment to look up at the stars, resplendent in their divine beauty. When she looked back at John, she found his attention focussed on her still, and a crooked smile curved her lips. “You weren’t looking at the sky.”
John smiled. “No, I wasn’t.” He reached up hesitantly to touch her cheek. His fingers lingered on her face and Devon smiled nervously and leaned into his caress. She silently mouthed his name, but her lips were stilled when he leaned down and kissed her gently. She had never been kissed like that.
Sheppard had been right. He truly loved her, as no one ever had. His kiss was infinitely gentle, his lips soft and warm against her own. Devon found herself savoring just that simple contact with John.
Danziger had his eyes closed, delighting in the scent of her, the taste of her, the feel of her.
Then he opened his eyes and Devon knew she’d been wrong when she’d thought the Sea of Antius the bluest thing there was. His eyes were much bluer, and much more beautiful to her. To their left she sea crashed and churned and Devon knew that this spot would be special to her forever.
“Devon... I -” John hesitated, still holding back. “When you got sick -”
Devon touched his lips, silencing him. “It’s okay, John, I’m awake now, I’m healthy again. I’m not going to get sick again,” and she kissed him again, a little more intensely. She felt her body beginning to respond to the passion of the embrace and, even though she hadn’t experienced such a reaction for many years, Devon pulled away. She saw the confusion in his blue eyes, but there was something she needed to clear up first. Devon was breathing heavily, but her gaze was clear as she looked up at him.
“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” she told him. Danziger nodded, his expression curious and attentive.
“John, do you remember when you were sick and the other colony found you?” Devon asked softly. “When we first met Ragamuffin, and the Elder.... and Sheppard.” She did not miss the tightening of the muscles along his jaw when she mentioned Sheppard’s name. John had never liked him.
“Yes, I remember,” Danziger replied, his tone suddenly cold.
Devon nodded. “Before he died, did Sheppard ever say anything to you... about me?”
The way John stopped still abruptly and stared at her sharply told her quite plainly that Sheppard had and made her wonder exactly what.
“Like what?” the mechanic asked cautiously.
Devon was blunt. “Did he ask you to take care of me?”
Danziger jerked his head, startled, and stared at her. How could she know that? He’d never told anyone. Had Sheppard said something? Or was it a coincedence? A guess?
“Yes. He did. Why?”
Devon ducked her head, not meeting his eyes. “I had a dream.”
“A Terrian Dream?” Danziger demanded swiftly. Sheppard talking from beyond the grave? Even in death, he was unwilling to let Devon go, John thought bitterly. The competition Sheppard had provided had made him all too painfully aware of his feelings for Devon, even if, at that time, he’d been unable to admit to them. But now, just when he thought he and Devon were getting close, she brought him up!

Adair shrugged with feigned calm, her heart beating rapidly, staring at the ground as they continued walking slowly. “In the Dream, he said he’d asked you to do that. So I suppose it must have been a Terrian Dream. There’s no other way I could possibly have know about that...”
“I guess.” Danziger bit back his anger. Damn Sheppard! He’d had his chance! Couldn’t he let John have his? Would this man’s ghost always stand between them?
“You never liked him, did you John?” Devon asked softly, bringing him from his thoughts.
John stopped himself from snickering and managed a cool, “no, I didn’t.”
“Care to tell me why?”
“I didn’t trust him. He was screwing with your head. I just.... I didn’t like him messing with you like that.” Not to mention the image of Devon and Sheppard making love, which had plagued and tormented John for months.
“Why, John?”
He fought for a casual laugh, but it came out very hoarse. “Very curious this evening, aren’t you Adair?”
“Tell me, Danziger. Please?”
There was something in her quiet plea that he couldn’t refuse. “The Elder said I was jealous,” he offered as a midway point between truth and lie.
Devon’s eyes glimmered. “Jealous of Sheppard?” Would he tell her? Would he gather his courage, be strong enough to admit it?
“That so hard to believe, Adair?” Danziger demanded, his gaze slipping away from hers.
He had kissed her, but that kiss might have meant anything to her. He wasn’t certain he was ready to reveal the depth of his emotions for her.
“No. But that’s what Sheppard said. In the Dream.”
Danziger looked down at her. “What else did he say?” John asked roughly, his heart beating rapidly.
Devon hesitated. Now was the time, if there ever would be one. “He said...” Devon paused, her heart jumping painfully at the intensity of John’s blue gaze. She swallowed her fear and continued. “He said that you were waiting for me... and that you loved me.”
Danziger stared at her, his gaze rough with inner conflict. He desperately sought her expression for some indication to her feelings, but her eyes were locked on his, waiting for his response.
Summoning every ounce of courage he had, John nodded slowly and, his gaze looking into her very soul, he murmurred, “the old man was right for once in his life.”
There. It had been said. He had grasped the elusive strands of chance Fate had offered and now looked destiny straight in the face.
Destiny stared back with very blue eyes. “John -” she gasped, and mouthed the three words that sealed their joint fates. Staring at her, seeing those words shaped on her beautiful lips, was one of the most incredible experience’s Danziger had ever had. To see his beloved tell him she loved him too.

Devon stared up at him, love shining from her blue eyes, and saw the barest hint of reservation in the returning gaze. She realized what it was, recognised his hesitation.
Bravely, she reached out her hand and touched his upper arm gently, lightly, more a caress. Her voice, when she spoke, was a murmurred whisper. “I never made love to Sheppard, John. We were never intimate... There wasn’t time and ... we didn’t think it was right, just then... You were sick...” She bit her lip, frowning in absent annoyance with her mind’s refusal to operate properly and present, in appropriate order, the words she wanted to say. Danziger gathered her to him.
“Yes, I know. I can’t say I’m not happy...” he chuckled lightly. “I know you had others, so did I. But not here, on this planet. It's our first time here,” he whispered in her ear, kissing it lightly.
“Please -” Devon murmurred, stepping closer, giving into her body’s desire, now that she had accepted her heart’s. Her warm gaze beckoned him closer to her and John responded to her appeal by putting his arms around her thin waist and pulling her gently to him. His mouth caressed hers as he kissed her back just as tenderly. Unable to resist his passion, Devon responded with equal desire. And equal love.

And for the first time, Devon Adair and John Danziger made love on the alien planet where their future children would be born, and where both would die. Where they would live their lives, together.