The Atlantis cafeteria was relatively empty, a few personnel sat scattered and alone drowsily eating breakfast before their respective shifts began. Teyla, Sam, and Jennifer sat at a table in the back eating their breakfast before going about their duties.
"So have you guys decided where the wedding will be?" Sam asked before taking a bite of her cereal.
"We were thinking of having the ceremony in the gate room," Teyla responded.
"That would be lovely with the sun coming in the windows," commented Jen.
"Teal'c's son was married in the SGC gate room about four years ago. It was a Jaffa wedding ceremony."
"That's another thing you have to decide on," Jen took a bite of her breakfast.
Teyla sighed, "We have not decided yet. I am unfamiliar with Earth wedding customs, but when a couple wishes to be joined together we hold a Unity Ceremony to symbolize the two becoming one."
"What about doing both, or combining them somehow?" Sam inquired.
Teyla smiled and nodded, "I believe that would be an excellent idea."
"What's an excellent idea?" John asked as he, Rodney, and Ronan took a seat at the table. "Morning Ma'am," he looked at Sam as he addressed her.
"Having an Athosian Unity Ceremony and an Earth wedding," Jen smiled at the couple.
Ronan and Rodney both looked up to see the reaction on John's face. "I think it's a good idea," Ronan commented before taking a bite of his very large breakfast.
"Yeah, it will reinforce the Athosian's trust in Teyla for choosing you for a husband and not one of them," Rodney mumbled with a mouth full of food.
John gave Rodney a dirty look.
"Rodney is right," Sam said more eloquently. "We just found the Athosian's a few weeks ago; they're still scared that we won't be able to protect them. This will renew their trust not only in Teyla, but us as well,"
"What exactly would this Unity Ceremony entail?" John had been avoiding the question until now.
"A friend of the bride's family will perform the ceremony, usually in the summer. We will drink from the same cup to signify that we share everything now. Then, our hands will be bound together and we will light the Unity Candles as one."
"That doesn't sound so bad," John smiled.
There is one more thing," she put emphasis on the 'is.'
"Oh?" raised one eyebrow.
"The couple must not see each other for a month prior to the ceremony."
"What!" John spit his coffee out spraying San and Jen. "Sorry ma'am."
"The couple's friends and family will watch them closely, if they are caught together it proves they will do anything to be with the other and that their love is true. The sooner they are caught the better," Teyla clarified.
"It's like a game then?" Rodney asked.
"On Sateda, we do something similar," said Ronan. "Everyone tries to see how long the couple can go between a kiss, hug, or seeing one another. When a friend of mine became engaged it took us only a few hours to find them making out in a closet."
"Whatever you decide I'd be more than happy to help you Teyla," Sam reached across the table and placed her hand on Teyla's.
"Thank you Samantha."
"Col. Carter to the control room."
"If you will excuse me." Sam got up from the table and John stood quickly before sitting back down again after she left.
"I think you should do both, not everyone gets two weddings at once," Jen excitedly exclaimed.
John looked around the table from one face to another, "Whatever the lady wants, after all they say it's the bride's day."
Teyla beamed, "I will tell Halling to make preparations." With that Teyla gently kissed John's check and left the table.
"You're in for it," laughed before shoveling food into his mouth.
"Shut up McKay!" John scowled before getting up to leave. Rodney followed him and tried to explain, but John wasn't listening.
XXX
John and Teyla stood opposite one another with Bantos sticks in hand. Teyla was clearly winning. She had gotten a few good blows and had knocked one of his Bantos sticks out of his hand.
John swung his remaining stick towards Teyla. She dodged it, moving to the side. Then hit him in the lower back with one of hers. John fell to his knees defeated.
"You are improving."
John pushed himself up, "You'd think that after five years I'd be able to beat you."
"I have been Bantos fighting since I was a child, you have only been training for five years." They walked to the window seat, grabbed their water bottles, and sat down.
"So this Unity Ceremony, how long does it take to prepare for?"
"Not long."
"I'm sure Col. Carter and the Doc will want to help plan the Earth Ceremony. Help you pick out a dress, flowers, music, and Keller will probably want to be your Maid of Honor. Rodney will probably want to be my best man, but I'm closer to Ronan."
"My cousin Avari and I were close before I joined Atlantis. Our mothers were sisters."
"Ask her if she wants to be you Maid of Honor. It's common to have family in the wedding."
"What about your mother and brother?" she asked curiously.
"If they came they would have to be given security clearance."
"I'm sure Col. Carter would allow it. They should be here," Teyla placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We have a meeting later, I'll ask her."
XXX
A few months later John walked up the sidewalk to his brother's house. It was a small ranch style house painted blue with gray trim. A red sports car was parked in the driveway.
He took a deep breath before knocking on the large wooden door. The door opened revealing his brother David dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.
"John! What are doing here, shouldn't you be flying some experimental plane?"
"Well I had some leave and thought I'd come visit by brother. Can I come in?"
"Sure," David opened the door wider so John could come in. "Want a beer?"
"A beer would be great."
"So where's Teyla? I would have thought you'd be spending time with her," he handed John a beer from the fridge and led they way to the family room where a football game was playing on the TV.
"She's picking out a dress."
"You guys set a date then huh. When's the big day?"
"The 28."
"Of…"
"June."
David almost choked as he took a drink of his own beer. "What? That's next week. You're just telling me this now!"
"Well there are a few things I need to tell you before you come. And you'd have to come with me when I go back to the base," John explained uneasily. David only blinked. "You might want to turn off the game for this. It's a little hard to explain and understand."
"How hard is it to explain experimental aircraft?"
"I don't fly experimental aircraft David. I work for a top-secret section of the government called the Stargate Program."
" 'The Stargate Program' what is that some kind of weapon?"
"No. The Stargate is an alien device that was discovered in Egypt in the '20's. It allows you to travel to other planets through something called a wormhole," John tried to explain.
David stared at him and began to laugh. "Your kidding right?"
"No."
"Right. Next your going to tell me that Teyla is from one of these other planets."
"Athos," John sighed.
"What's Athos?"
"Teyla's home world. Look David I'm not making this up. I've been places and scene things only a few other people have. I live in the lost city of Atlantis for Christ sake," John yelled at his brother. He couldn't blame him for not believing, hell he hadn't believed it at first, but at least he had been a little more cooperative when General O'Neill tried to tell him.
David stared at his brother and took in the angered expression. "You're really not making this up?" he asked skeptically.
"No.
XXX
"Oh Teyla," Jen gasped when she saw Teyla walk out of the dressing room wearing an ivory satin wedding dress with a lace skirt.
"It looks beautiful on you," Teyla's cousin Avari commented.
"It's stunning," Sam looked at the sales lady or "dress consultant" as they seemed to be called now and the woman nodded.
"I think it's perfect," Jen smiled.
Teyla turned around and looked at herself in the three-way mirror. The bodice was rushed satin with a string of rhinestones across were the skirt, made of ivory lace over satin, attached. A small train in the back covered her feet and pooled on the floor ever so slightly. The ivory color looked fantastic with her olive skin. She glanced down at the price tag apprehensively. Printed in red was $3,000.
"I can not afford this."
"Already taken care of. Everyone took up a collection to buy you a dress as a wedding present," Sam smiled.
"I could not accept such a gift. I already owe you for the dress I wore to the Christmas party."
"Nonsense Teyla,
"In that case…it is 'the one' as you say."
"Now all we need is bridesmaid dresses," Jen said with a look to Avari and Sam.
Sam held up a hand, "Count me out. I was never one for weddings. I've been engaged twice and still haven't managed to make it to the altar. I'd be glad to help anywhere else."
"Well the wedding colors are blue and silver so how about blue dresses?" Jen suggested with a wink to Sam.
"Yes, blue would be great."
The "dress consultant" left to get blue bridesmaid dresses. She returned a few minutes later with a myriad of choices. After trying them all on they decided on a dark royal blue one for Avari and a lighter one for Jen. Avari's had a corset with white embroidery and a blue skirt. Jen's had thick satin straps and an empire waste.
The four women quickly paid for their dresses and left the store to have lunch.
XXX
Jennifer, Teyla, Avari, John, and David waited in the Gateroom for Sam. After talking to General Landry, Sam walked in followed by Jack.
"General, I didn't know you were coming along?" John prompted.
"Call me Jack. Besides you didn't think I'd miss the first wedding between Stargate personnel did you?"
"Guess not."
"You must be John's brother David. I'm Colonel Samantha Carter, commander of Atlantis," she shook his hand.
"Jack O'Neill."
"If we are ready we should go," Teyla suggested. Sam nodded and Walter began the dialing sequence.
"Just so I get this straight, my body is going to be de molecular-ized and then re-integrated on the other side?" David asked with a gulp.
"Don't worry, Jack and I did this hundreds of times before John joined the program," Sam reassured him with a hand on his shoulder.
"And my people have been using the Stargate for many generations," Teyla confirmed.
The 'gate activated causing David to jump back.
"Let's go campers." Jack, Sam, Avari, Teyla, and Jen walked up the ramp first followed by John and a slightly scared David. Avari, Jen and Jack stepped through immediately. John and David were next then Teyla and Sam brought up the rear.
