Fic: I'll Be Waiting
Aug. 15th, 2011 03:46 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
meekosan.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
cottontailsTitle: I'll Be Waiting
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Character(s)/Pairing(s): John Sheppard / Teyla Emmagan
Word Count: 3000
Disclaimer: Not mine. Characters, world, etc do not belong to me.
Summary: Written for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
teylafen thing-a-thon exchange for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kathy_williams, using prompts family, an important decision, big regrets. Basically John needs to step up and make a move after a long dance with Teyla.
With Atlantis’ return to the Pegasus Galaxy looking unlikely for the foreseeable future, the IOA did grant something of clemency to Teyla and Ronon. It was their decision to whether they wished to stay and live on Earth or among one of their allied worlds, or be returned to their home galaxy when the Daedalus makes one of its few trips out there. They knew enough that the havoc of Atlantis’ departure could make so they at least allowed the vessel return to check things out, however the trips were now few and far in between compared the monthly ones they would make before.
Teyla had a difficult decision ahead of her and she was well aware of the pressure that John’s superiors were putting on him to get a response from her as to her plans but he never said a word. He knew she had to come to the choice on her own so that she could live with herself. Kanaan had been with her people when Atlantis had left and while in her heart she wished to remain with her friends, could she keep Torren from his father?
So she sat day after day, when she was not with her son, on the balcony outside of the mess hall, looking out over the Earth water. The view of the land was no longer there, as they moved outside of the bay to more open water and less traffic, but she knew it was not as it had been in the past. She sat there, thinking about the decision and while she knew what she was prepared to do, if she could really accept it in her heart.
John had stood by in the shadows, watching his friend often. He knew she was aware he was around but said nothing and they both kept it that way. When she wanted him to join her, she would let him know.
That evening, when she had finally made up her mind with the difficult decision that had been plaguing them, she finally turned to find his face in the shadow. Slowly he made his way up to her and sitting down with his beer in hand. The nerves of possibly losing one of his best friends were clearly with him as he picked at the water soaked label of the bottle.
“John,” Teyla said softly, trying to get him to look at her. When he finally looked up with some fear in his eyes that he tried to hide, she smiled. “I’m not going. I wish to stay here with you, and our friends.”
“And Kanaan? Torren?” he asked.
“I wish to ask the IOA if it were possible that we may go back to visit in the future. I understand the stay would be lengthy but only temporary until the Daedalus returns again,” she replied. “It has been a long time now that my place was not among my people.”
He nodded in understanding before giving a small smile. “I - uh - had hoped that you would have said that you would stay. I sort of went and made arrangements in case you did but if you say no I understand...Just hear me out first, okay?”
Teyla could only laugh lightly but looked upon her friend with strong curiosity as he appeared more nervous than she could ever imagine him being. “Go on,” she prompted.
“Well...I doubt that you would have wanted to live on base with a baby,” he started slowly. “I sort of went and bought a house. I was going to ask if you might want to live with me - there’s plenty of room...I am sure we can convert one of the floors into a small apartment for me and you can have the main floor to yourself, but I figured that if you stayed, you would want to get Torren used to our cultures while he’s still young enough to adapt easily... Of course if you don’t want to, I understand. I’m sure that we can find someplace nice for you to live...”
Her smile turned into a grin as she reached across the table to place a hand over his to calm him down. “I would be honored to live with you John. I am sure it will be fine. It would not be the first time we had to live together, correct?”
“True - but being stranded on a desolate planet is a bit different than living together here. People are also likely going to talk...”
“Talk? What do you mean?” she asked.
“Well, they may likely try to assume that you and I are - well - they may think we’re sleeping together, that I used this chance to take you from Kanaan,” he explained uncomfortably.
She looked at him and nodded. “I see. And did you?” she asked back, confident he would not resort to such measures.
“Well no, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t cross my mind,” John admitted, avoiding the look of surprise on her face. “You had to have known that I had feelings for you regardless of my lack of ability to act on anything.”
“Oh...” was all she could say initially. As she let the new found knowledge play in her thoughts she shrugged her shoulders in the end. “People will think what they wish, no matter what you or I say or do. It is possible that if I had chosen to return, they would speak that I had left because I may have grown tired of waiting for you to - make a move - as is your people’s way of saying,” she offered. He laughed with a nod as no matter how it turned out, rumors would go either way.
“I will let them know that you’re staying,” John eventually said before standing to leave. “I’d still leave some things in your room when you pack. Atlantis is still our home and base. We’re not giving it up or giving up on getting back either.”
Teyla smiled with a nod. “Thank you John. For everything.”
“Sure. I’ll come find you when we’re ready to start shipping everything out,” he nodded back and left. Teyla let out the breath she had been holding, wondering how things would turn out from there.
It was nearly four years after they had moved into the small house that John said he bought. In reality it was really more like a modest mini-mansion. While it was the fairy tale family home, there was certainly more than enough room that they each had their space.
John and Torren had grown pretty close despite the ‘summer’ trips away. Summers the previous four years were lonely for that time when Teyla and the boy traveled to Pegasus with the Daedalus to spend time with their people. When it was just him, Ronon and, or, Rodney would find an excuse to crash at the house to mainly keep their friend out of trouble.
It wasn’t that he went out looking for it intentionally. He just missed their company so much that without admitting it voluntarily, he sometimes drunk himself into a stupor if he didn’t have work the next day. Which led his friends to stay more just so the man didn’t have to drink alone.
“You should just tell her you want to be more,” Ronon commented as he passed John another bottle of beer.
“I was thinking about it,” he sighed as he twisted the cap off but didn’t bring the bottle to his lips. “She’s supposed to be back next week you know.”
“I do. Which is why I said that you should tell her.”
John only let out a breath and continued to stare blankly at the baseball game on the television. “I’ll think about it. I was actually considering taking Torren to a game. It’d be a nice day out, just the guys. You know?”
“Are you asking me on a date with the kid?” Ronon joked.
The man only glared at his friend before speaking. “No. Just asking what you would think. Would it be a bad idea? I don’t want Teyla to think I’m trying to be a replacement to Kanaan for him.”
Ronon rolled his eyes and shook his head. “What makes you think she would think that?”
“Well I don’t know what she thinks. I understand her wanting to go visit them everywhere, but a part of me wishes they could forget no matter how much I know they need these trips,” John went on.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Yes and no,” the man sighed again. “The last few weeks, all I could think about - more like dream, is the three of us being a family. Just idle thoughts here and there. A fool’s thoughts.”
“Talk to Teyla,” was all Ronon said before pushing himself off the couch. “I’m heading back to the base. Talk to her when she comes home. You might surprise yourself.”
John watched his friend walk out and turned his attention back to the television, drinking his beer, but his thoughts were no where close to the game of baseball. All he thought about was Teyla and if he could find the courage to approach her.
Ten days later when she walked in the front door after someone from the SGC dropped her and Torren off, John was a near mess inside even if no one would be able to tell by looking at him. That morning he had woken up with the decision he would talk to Teyla about them, but the how or when still eluded him. It would be such a big step, for both of them, that he didn’t want either of them to regret it or it ruin their friendship. Still, he knew that he would regret never trying as he did have those feelings over the previous years that led up to her seeking companionship with Kanaan.
“John?” Teyla called out as she set Torren on the ground so that he could scamper off. “We’re home!”
“TV room!” he called back, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he had already been attacked by the four year old boy. “Hey TJ! Did you have fun?” he asked, trying to put on the best smile he could.
“Yeah! Daddy made this!” he said holding out the animal skin bag that was hanging off of him.
“Awesome!” John replied, ruffling up his hair before standing as Teyla entered. “Good trip?”
She smiled tiredly and nodded. “Yes. It was nice, however long. I cannot say how much I missed the air conditioning and other conveniences of home though. You should come with us next summer John. I am sure that the SGC would give you the time off. I have never seen you use any of your personal time other than when you are ill. Halling asks about you each time and Jinto wishes to have you teach the children your football with him.”
He took a nervous breath and shrugged a shoulder. “Maybe. We’ll see. I can’t promise anything right now,” he offered. In truth, the idea was appealing and he did miss his friends among the Athosians but he didn’t know if he would be able to stand living so close to Kanaan again. Hell, he didn’t know if they still had any form of a relationship past being Torren’s parents.
“I understand,” she replied. “Have I missed anything while away?”
John shook his head no, although the only thing she did miss was his personal revelation that he had more-than-friendship feeling for her. Actually, he always knew but it was only now that he decided to act on it - somehow.
“I know you just got back in and want to get settled but I wanted to ask your permission before the season is over. Would it be alright if I were to take Torren to a baseball game? There are only a few home games for the Rockies left and you don’t usually get back until playoffs...” he tried to explain before she interrupted him.
“John, you may take Torren. He loves you and I am sure he would love any time spent with you,” she grinned as she watched the boy try to climb up into the man’s lap. “See?”
He gave her a small smile. “Thanks Teyla,” he said softly before pointing up to the television where a game was on. “TJ, would you want to go to one of those games with me? It’s not as awesome as football, but still fun.”
“Okay Unca John,” he said, staring up at the TV in somewhat of a daze.
“If you don’t mind waiting until the game is over, I can take your bags up for you,” John offered as he noticed her piling their things neatly by the stairs. “There is maybe a half hour or so left as long as the Yankees don’t get another run in.”
“I can manage most of them on my own. There are two however I could use your assistance with as Torren and I were given many presents upon our departure.”
“No problem,” he grinned before turning back to the boy and began to explain the game of baseball to him.
That weekend, when both John and Ronon had a day off, they took Torren out to Coors Field for the game. For a guys’ day, the trio had a blast. John couldn’t help but wonder if his friend was going to clean the place out of its hot dogs, the man had eaten so many.
Everything had been going smoothly until Torren managed to befriend another boy about his age, and his older brother, that were at the game with their own stepfather. Their friendly chat eventually brought out questions about family relationships as he now learned something new about Earth culture and wanted to know if his Uncle John was also Daddy John because he and his mother lived together, although they certainly did not share the same bed.
Ronon was no help either as he encouraged the kid on. At the expression on his friend’s face he only said, “I should talk to her.”
John was never more relieved than to be pulling into the driveway after dropping Ronon off at the SGC gates. Torren had long since passed out from the excitement of the day so he had to be carried in, covered in any and every fan memorabilia that his favorite uncles had purchased for him.
He had just been putting the boy down in his bed when he realized Teyla stood at the door watching. “A fruitful day I assume?” she commented with a smile.
“Uh, you can say that,” John whispered. “We need to talk.” After the questions from Torren that day, it was going to be now or never.
“Okay,” she replied, the smile falling from her face and replaced with a concerned frown. “I will make us tea.”
John nodded before heading into his own room to change quickly and dump his own bags before he hesitantly made his way down the stairs to the kitchen. When he walked in he could see her nervously holding her cup. “Hey,” he greeted carefully as he slipped into his seat across from her.
“You wished to speak with me?” she asked, looking at him with something of uncertainty in her eyes.
“At the game, Torren...” he started to say before biting his lip. “There were some other fans there with a kid his age. They got into talking which was great but then he came back and asked about us.”
“Us?” Teyla repeated confused. “What do you mean?”
“The kid’s stepfather was with them and he asked if I was his step father because we live together here without his actual father,” he explained to where she nodded with understanding.
She was unsure of how to respond to it initially and was about to ask if he wanted them to find another home when he spoke again, leaving her speechless.
“I know it’s not easy and I need to tell you this before I lose the nerve. I was wondering if maybe you’d want to go to dinner with me sometime,” he said quickly. “No Torren. Ronon said he’d watch him. Just you and me. A date really...”
Teyla blinked as she let the words process through her mind. “A date?” she asked. “What - when did this come about?”
“Oh - uh - well it’s been awhile now actually. I was just too chicken to do anything about it. I think the closest I ever came to saying anything was that time that we agreed to never speak of,” he replied, shifting in his seat uncomfortably.
Seeing his distress, she reached over and placed her hands over his and smiled. “I would love to go on a date with you John. In truth, I had hoped for a long time that you would ask and I did not want to broach the subject if you were not - interested.”
“Really?” John replied looking at her with relief and renewed curiosity. “After you told us about Kanaan I thought -”
“Kanaan,” she sighed. “It has been over a long time now between he and I. My heart never truly belonged to him and he knew that,” she said carefully as she stared into his eyes.
He returned her gaze with equal intensity before smiling. “Okay,” he nodded. “Ronon told me to just talk to you. Like he had no doubt of what you would say.”
Teyla shrugged. “He and I may have shared some - secrets - with one another. But, I am eager to spend time with you. Perhaps we can have that date for dinner this evening? I am sure that if we call Jennifer, she would be happy to come over to sit with Torren.”
“Great. I have the perfect place in mind too. Um, you go make the calls you need to and I’ll call for reservations. I - um - will pick you up at 8:00 tonight?” he laughed.
“It’s a date,” she grinned as she stood to make her way over to him. Leaning in, she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. “I will be ready for you whenever you are ready.”
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Character(s)/Pairing(s): John Sheppard / Teyla Emmagan
Word Count: 3000
Disclaimer: Not mine. Characters, world, etc do not belong to me.
Summary: Written for
teylafen thing-a-thon exchange for kathy_williams, using prompts family, an important decision, big regrets. Basically John needs to step up and make a move after a long dance with Teyla.With Atlantis’ return to the Pegasus Galaxy looking unlikely for the foreseeable future, the IOA did grant something of clemency to Teyla and Ronon. It was their decision to whether they wished to stay and live on Earth or among one of their allied worlds, or be returned to their home galaxy when the Daedalus makes one of its few trips out there. They knew enough that the havoc of Atlantis’ departure could make so they at least allowed the vessel return to check things out, however the trips were now few and far in between compared the monthly ones they would make before.
Teyla had a difficult decision ahead of her and she was well aware of the pressure that John’s superiors were putting on him to get a response from her as to her plans but he never said a word. He knew she had to come to the choice on her own so that she could live with herself. Kanaan had been with her people when Atlantis had left and while in her heart she wished to remain with her friends, could she keep Torren from his father?
So she sat day after day, when she was not with her son, on the balcony outside of the mess hall, looking out over the Earth water. The view of the land was no longer there, as they moved outside of the bay to more open water and less traffic, but she knew it was not as it had been in the past. She sat there, thinking about the decision and while she knew what she was prepared to do, if she could really accept it in her heart.
John had stood by in the shadows, watching his friend often. He knew she was aware he was around but said nothing and they both kept it that way. When she wanted him to join her, she would let him know.
That evening, when she had finally made up her mind with the difficult decision that had been plaguing them, she finally turned to find his face in the shadow. Slowly he made his way up to her and sitting down with his beer in hand. The nerves of possibly losing one of his best friends were clearly with him as he picked at the water soaked label of the bottle.
“John,” Teyla said softly, trying to get him to look at her. When he finally looked up with some fear in his eyes that he tried to hide, she smiled. “I’m not going. I wish to stay here with you, and our friends.”
“And Kanaan? Torren?” he asked.
“I wish to ask the IOA if it were possible that we may go back to visit in the future. I understand the stay would be lengthy but only temporary until the Daedalus returns again,” she replied. “It has been a long time now that my place was not among my people.”
He nodded in understanding before giving a small smile. “I - uh - had hoped that you would have said that you would stay. I sort of went and made arrangements in case you did but if you say no I understand...Just hear me out first, okay?”
Teyla could only laugh lightly but looked upon her friend with strong curiosity as he appeared more nervous than she could ever imagine him being. “Go on,” she prompted.
“Well...I doubt that you would have wanted to live on base with a baby,” he started slowly. “I sort of went and bought a house. I was going to ask if you might want to live with me - there’s plenty of room...I am sure we can convert one of the floors into a small apartment for me and you can have the main floor to yourself, but I figured that if you stayed, you would want to get Torren used to our cultures while he’s still young enough to adapt easily... Of course if you don’t want to, I understand. I’m sure that we can find someplace nice for you to live...”
Her smile turned into a grin as she reached across the table to place a hand over his to calm him down. “I would be honored to live with you John. I am sure it will be fine. It would not be the first time we had to live together, correct?”
“True - but being stranded on a desolate planet is a bit different than living together here. People are also likely going to talk...”
“Talk? What do you mean?” she asked.
“Well, they may likely try to assume that you and I are - well - they may think we’re sleeping together, that I used this chance to take you from Kanaan,” he explained uncomfortably.
She looked at him and nodded. “I see. And did you?” she asked back, confident he would not resort to such measures.
“Well no, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t cross my mind,” John admitted, avoiding the look of surprise on her face. “You had to have known that I had feelings for you regardless of my lack of ability to act on anything.”
“Oh...” was all she could say initially. As she let the new found knowledge play in her thoughts she shrugged her shoulders in the end. “People will think what they wish, no matter what you or I say or do. It is possible that if I had chosen to return, they would speak that I had left because I may have grown tired of waiting for you to - make a move - as is your people’s way of saying,” she offered. He laughed with a nod as no matter how it turned out, rumors would go either way.
“I will let them know that you’re staying,” John eventually said before standing to leave. “I’d still leave some things in your room when you pack. Atlantis is still our home and base. We’re not giving it up or giving up on getting back either.”
Teyla smiled with a nod. “Thank you John. For everything.”
“Sure. I’ll come find you when we’re ready to start shipping everything out,” he nodded back and left. Teyla let out the breath she had been holding, wondering how things would turn out from there.
It was nearly four years after they had moved into the small house that John said he bought. In reality it was really more like a modest mini-mansion. While it was the fairy tale family home, there was certainly more than enough room that they each had their space.
John and Torren had grown pretty close despite the ‘summer’ trips away. Summers the previous four years were lonely for that time when Teyla and the boy traveled to Pegasus with the Daedalus to spend time with their people. When it was just him, Ronon and, or, Rodney would find an excuse to crash at the house to mainly keep their friend out of trouble.
It wasn’t that he went out looking for it intentionally. He just missed their company so much that without admitting it voluntarily, he sometimes drunk himself into a stupor if he didn’t have work the next day. Which led his friends to stay more just so the man didn’t have to drink alone.
“You should just tell her you want to be more,” Ronon commented as he passed John another bottle of beer.
“I was thinking about it,” he sighed as he twisted the cap off but didn’t bring the bottle to his lips. “She’s supposed to be back next week you know.”
“I do. Which is why I said that you should tell her.”
John only let out a breath and continued to stare blankly at the baseball game on the television. “I’ll think about it. I was actually considering taking Torren to a game. It’d be a nice day out, just the guys. You know?”
“Are you asking me on a date with the kid?” Ronon joked.
The man only glared at his friend before speaking. “No. Just asking what you would think. Would it be a bad idea? I don’t want Teyla to think I’m trying to be a replacement to Kanaan for him.”
Ronon rolled his eyes and shook his head. “What makes you think she would think that?”
“Well I don’t know what she thinks. I understand her wanting to go visit them everywhere, but a part of me wishes they could forget no matter how much I know they need these trips,” John went on.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Yes and no,” the man sighed again. “The last few weeks, all I could think about - more like dream, is the three of us being a family. Just idle thoughts here and there. A fool’s thoughts.”
“Talk to Teyla,” was all Ronon said before pushing himself off the couch. “I’m heading back to the base. Talk to her when she comes home. You might surprise yourself.”
John watched his friend walk out and turned his attention back to the television, drinking his beer, but his thoughts were no where close to the game of baseball. All he thought about was Teyla and if he could find the courage to approach her.
Ten days later when she walked in the front door after someone from the SGC dropped her and Torren off, John was a near mess inside even if no one would be able to tell by looking at him. That morning he had woken up with the decision he would talk to Teyla about them, but the how or when still eluded him. It would be such a big step, for both of them, that he didn’t want either of them to regret it or it ruin their friendship. Still, he knew that he would regret never trying as he did have those feelings over the previous years that led up to her seeking companionship with Kanaan.
“John?” Teyla called out as she set Torren on the ground so that he could scamper off. “We’re home!”
“TV room!” he called back, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he had already been attacked by the four year old boy. “Hey TJ! Did you have fun?” he asked, trying to put on the best smile he could.
“Yeah! Daddy made this!” he said holding out the animal skin bag that was hanging off of him.
“Awesome!” John replied, ruffling up his hair before standing as Teyla entered. “Good trip?”
She smiled tiredly and nodded. “Yes. It was nice, however long. I cannot say how much I missed the air conditioning and other conveniences of home though. You should come with us next summer John. I am sure that the SGC would give you the time off. I have never seen you use any of your personal time other than when you are ill. Halling asks about you each time and Jinto wishes to have you teach the children your football with him.”
He took a nervous breath and shrugged a shoulder. “Maybe. We’ll see. I can’t promise anything right now,” he offered. In truth, the idea was appealing and he did miss his friends among the Athosians but he didn’t know if he would be able to stand living so close to Kanaan again. Hell, he didn’t know if they still had any form of a relationship past being Torren’s parents.
“I understand,” she replied. “Have I missed anything while away?”
John shook his head no, although the only thing she did miss was his personal revelation that he had more-than-friendship feeling for her. Actually, he always knew but it was only now that he decided to act on it - somehow.
“I know you just got back in and want to get settled but I wanted to ask your permission before the season is over. Would it be alright if I were to take Torren to a baseball game? There are only a few home games for the Rockies left and you don’t usually get back until playoffs...” he tried to explain before she interrupted him.
“John, you may take Torren. He loves you and I am sure he would love any time spent with you,” she grinned as she watched the boy try to climb up into the man’s lap. “See?”
He gave her a small smile. “Thanks Teyla,” he said softly before pointing up to the television where a game was on. “TJ, would you want to go to one of those games with me? It’s not as awesome as football, but still fun.”
“Okay Unca John,” he said, staring up at the TV in somewhat of a daze.
“If you don’t mind waiting until the game is over, I can take your bags up for you,” John offered as he noticed her piling their things neatly by the stairs. “There is maybe a half hour or so left as long as the Yankees don’t get another run in.”
“I can manage most of them on my own. There are two however I could use your assistance with as Torren and I were given many presents upon our departure.”
“No problem,” he grinned before turning back to the boy and began to explain the game of baseball to him.
That weekend, when both John and Ronon had a day off, they took Torren out to Coors Field for the game. For a guys’ day, the trio had a blast. John couldn’t help but wonder if his friend was going to clean the place out of its hot dogs, the man had eaten so many.
Everything had been going smoothly until Torren managed to befriend another boy about his age, and his older brother, that were at the game with their own stepfather. Their friendly chat eventually brought out questions about family relationships as he now learned something new about Earth culture and wanted to know if his Uncle John was also Daddy John because he and his mother lived together, although they certainly did not share the same bed.
Ronon was no help either as he encouraged the kid on. At the expression on his friend’s face he only said, “I should talk to her.”
John was never more relieved than to be pulling into the driveway after dropping Ronon off at the SGC gates. Torren had long since passed out from the excitement of the day so he had to be carried in, covered in any and every fan memorabilia that his favorite uncles had purchased for him.
He had just been putting the boy down in his bed when he realized Teyla stood at the door watching. “A fruitful day I assume?” she commented with a smile.
“Uh, you can say that,” John whispered. “We need to talk.” After the questions from Torren that day, it was going to be now or never.
“Okay,” she replied, the smile falling from her face and replaced with a concerned frown. “I will make us tea.”
John nodded before heading into his own room to change quickly and dump his own bags before he hesitantly made his way down the stairs to the kitchen. When he walked in he could see her nervously holding her cup. “Hey,” he greeted carefully as he slipped into his seat across from her.
“You wished to speak with me?” she asked, looking at him with something of uncertainty in her eyes.
“At the game, Torren...” he started to say before biting his lip. “There were some other fans there with a kid his age. They got into talking which was great but then he came back and asked about us.”
“Us?” Teyla repeated confused. “What do you mean?”
“The kid’s stepfather was with them and he asked if I was his step father because we live together here without his actual father,” he explained to where she nodded with understanding.
She was unsure of how to respond to it initially and was about to ask if he wanted them to find another home when he spoke again, leaving her speechless.
“I know it’s not easy and I need to tell you this before I lose the nerve. I was wondering if maybe you’d want to go to dinner with me sometime,” he said quickly. “No Torren. Ronon said he’d watch him. Just you and me. A date really...”
Teyla blinked as she let the words process through her mind. “A date?” she asked. “What - when did this come about?”
“Oh - uh - well it’s been awhile now actually. I was just too chicken to do anything about it. I think the closest I ever came to saying anything was that time that we agreed to never speak of,” he replied, shifting in his seat uncomfortably.
Seeing his distress, she reached over and placed her hands over his and smiled. “I would love to go on a date with you John. In truth, I had hoped for a long time that you would ask and I did not want to broach the subject if you were not - interested.”
“Really?” John replied looking at her with relief and renewed curiosity. “After you told us about Kanaan I thought -”
“Kanaan,” she sighed. “It has been over a long time now between he and I. My heart never truly belonged to him and he knew that,” she said carefully as she stared into his eyes.
He returned her gaze with equal intensity before smiling. “Okay,” he nodded. “Ronon told me to just talk to you. Like he had no doubt of what you would say.”
Teyla shrugged. “He and I may have shared some - secrets - with one another. But, I am eager to spend time with you. Perhaps we can have that date for dinner this evening? I am sure that if we call Jennifer, she would be happy to come over to sit with Torren.”
“Great. I have the perfect place in mind too. Um, you go make the calls you need to and I’ll call for reservations. I - um - will pick you up at 8:00 tonight?” he laughed.
“It’s a date,” she grinned as she stood to make her way over to him. Leaning in, she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. “I will be ready for you whenever you are ready.”