Bedtime, G

"Time for bed, sweetie," John said softly, mentally crossing his fingers.

"Don wanna go," four year old Julianna protested sleepily from where she was lying on the couch.

"Come on," John soothed. "You're going with Torren and Miss Teyla on a picnic tomorrow. You need to sleep so you can play together."

"'kay," she agreed and closed her eyes.

John got up and scooped her into his arms. She snuggled in, wrapping her arms around his neck. John took her to the bathroom and didn't hover too much as she used the toilet and half-heartedly brushed her teeth. He picked her back up and took her to the bedroom, laying her in the bed. He pulled the light blanket that she preferred over her and gently tucked it in around her.

Leaning over, he pressed a kiss on her forehead. "Sleep well, love you," he whispered.

"Luv you," she murmured.

The lights dimmed, John never was sure if it was his abstract command or Julianna doing it, but was grateful nonetheless.

He eased out of the room and slid the door shut. He gave a sigh, it wasn't always this easy.

John sat on the couch and stretched out. He closed his eyes... for just a minute.

"Hey!" Rodney said softly. "Come to bed."

"Wha?" John mostly woke at Rodney's hand on his arm. "Yeah, okay. Was waiting for you." He sat up heavily and ran his hand over his face, feeling the grittiness in his eyes.

Rodney teased, "Didn't do too good of a job of it."

"You're here now," John got up.

"She go to bed okay?" Rodney asked.

"Not a problem," John assured him. "She's looking forward to tomorrow's picnic."

"Thank goodness," Rodney answered. Teyla was taking Julianna with Kanaan and Torren to visit the Athosians for the day. John and Rodney would return the favor by taking Torren with them around the city the next weekend.

John sleepily followed Rodney into their bedroom, peed while Rodney washed up and stripped down to his boxers before crawling into bed. Rodney joined him a few minutes later.

Wrapping himself around Rodney, John turned his face up for a warm kiss.

"Mmmm..." John hummed against Rodney's lips.

"Sleep," Rodney whispered. "We have all day tomorrow."

"Oh, yeah," John tried for lustful but ruined it with a yawn.

"Yeah." He could hear the humor in Rodney's voice as he kissed the top of John's head as he fell back asleep.