Chapter One

Ronon watched from the second story bedroom as Ripley mowed the swatch of lawn outside of her base house on Damneck. He propped his arm against the frame, admired the sheen of sweat that had already begun across her bare shoulders. Her lips moved to a song he couldn't hear, but knew the words well. It was the Eagles' "Desperado". Wick had told him it was her song—and after listening to it a few times had become his as well. She put the mower away and stood, legs spread shoulders width apart, and he knew behind those dark glasses that her brown eyes were surveying her work. Satisfied she turned away and bent over to tie a loose lace on her canvas sneakers. Ronon's head tilted as her small white shorts rode up further of strong legs. He could only thank the God's that Jess had wanted a wedding on Earth, and that for two weeks straight he'd see Ripley out of uniform.

She was glugging water from a glass when he entered the kitchen. She lifted a hand in lieu of greeting before she dropped the glass with a sigh. "I hate city water," she stated and refilled the glass. "It's relatively nice outside right now, if you wanna run now is the time to do it." He shrugged. "My sentiments exactly."

"When do we leave for Maine?" Ronon stuck his head into her fridge, sniffed at an old jug of milk and promptly put it back.

"Four today," she smiled as he turned his nose up at a carton of yogurt. "I'm gonna shower and change, I'll buy you breakfast." She brushed past him; his stiffening wasn't so much defensive anymore as holding back a shiver from hot flesh. He watched her and those teeny shorts head up the stairs and smiled.

0-0-0

Seven hours later SG-Omega, and SG-1, Robyn, Mary and Jess were seated on the plane bound for Portland, Maine. Jess looked over cautiously at Ripley. "When was the last time you saw him?" The pilot asked softly. Rip gave her a weak smile. "That long, huh?"

"Kids probably old enough to have a beer by now," said Ripley miserably. Ronon glanced over from beside Slovak with furrowed brows.

"Her nephew," Slovak answered, he had already tipped his seat back, completely at ease as they waited to taxi. He peeked out of a blue eye to see that he had the attention of Ronon. "He was born when she shipped out for Atlantis. She's seen him like three times since then."

"How would he be old enough to buy beer then?" Ronon asked.

"It's like a metaphor." Sheppard answered turning around in his seat. "She's saying that the kids growing up too fast and she's missing it." Ronon nodded. John tried again. "Remember when Teyla had Torren and then you and I went off-world for like three months, we came back and he had more personality and actually paid attention to us?"

"Yeah."

"It's like that, except her nephew can talk, walk and do more things now."

Ronon looked back to where Ripley, dressed in her 'civvies' of jeans and a tight New England Patriots shirt stared skyward. She looked dejected. "She missed the growing years?"

"Kids still growing, but you get the concept," Slovak moved his seat into the upright position as the plane began to taxi. "Rip takes it hard; he's her first 'kid' sort to speak. Surprised she hasn't talked to you about him."

"She doesn't talk about her old life with me," murmured Ronon. Slov shared a look with Wick on his right, and promptly shut his mouth.

0-0-0

Ripley gazed out the small circular window, and recalled nearly seven years ago taking the same flight after she had graduated her "A" school. She had conquered her fear of flying when she had seen her brother graduate boot camp and then four years later she had taken the same flight alone to complete those nine weeks on her own. She glanced over as the seat shifted heavily to the left. Ronon was in Jess' seat now, the bride to be had switched with Flea who had switched with Ronon. Subtle. She thought with a grimace. "You look lost," he said softly. She laid her forehead against the seat in front of her; her brown eyes were on Jess and Shep who were forehead to forehead speaking softly. She had never seen her best friend look so happy.

"Not lost," Her eyes met his, noted the flecks of brown amid the green. "Wistful." At his furrowed brows she smiled with a roll of her eyes. "Sorry, uh, wistful means thoughtful, reminiscent."

"Why?"

Ripley let out a bitter scoff. "My best friends getting married."

"And you're not."

"Not even that." She stated. "I remember when we were in our twenties, single, new in the military and how we made a pact we'd never marry." She moved back so the stewardess could them their drinks. "Which seems ridiculous now that I think about it because," she shrugged took a sip of her sprite. "Who wants to be alone forever? That was what the pact was."

Ronon smiled to himself. He had once swore to himself who would never fall in love again, yet he was doing it now. "Some promises are meant to be broken," he said wisely and ran his fingers through his hair. Ripley nodded in silent agreement. To keep her talking Ronon searched for questions. "Tell me about Maine."

Ripley leaned back, brown eyes crinkled in a smile. "Maine is my safe haven. It'll be cooler this time of year than Virginia was, and you'll smell the pines wet with dew tomorrow morning, and the woods." He watched, amazed as her entire face relaxed and she allowed herself a true smile. "There's a trail you'll have to run with me, it's amazing early in the morning. A 5k. Which should be a cake walk for you." She pondered for a moment. "We'll be in Gray for this week and then next week up in Bar Harbor. Gray is in land, a small town, but it's where family is. Bar Harbor is on the ocean, beautiful beaches. My family has a beach house up there, and Jess is pretty much family so that's where we'll be." She leaned back, closed her eyes as they bumped around in some pockets of turbulence. Ronon mimicked her position.

They rode in silence for a few moments, broken only by Ronon shifting toward her. "You never talk about your family to me."

Her eyes opened, her brows drew together. "I didn't know you wanted to hear about them."

"You talk to Omega about them, you talk to your friends, you talk to my team, but not me."

"I had no idea you'd be offended. We didn't really get off on the right foot when you got there."

He thought about that for a moment. "You were still the only sailor."

"And you looked like you'd eat someone."

Ronon pondered her words. "You thought I wouldn't understand?"

"I was more concerned with protecting myself in sparring matches."

"After three years you're guarding yourself from me," Ronon whispered irritably. Her eyes sparked with annoyance. "I've shared my life with you, risked my life for you."

"I've done the same," she whispered furiously as Wick glanced over, green eyes rapt, ready to defend his friend. "I've bled for you, put my team at risk for you—"

"Ladies and gentleman the seat belt sign has been turned on. We will begin our descent and be landing in Portland, ME within fifteen minutes."

"But not you." He hissed back. "Not your heart."

"We'll talk later," said Ripley after a beat of silence. Ronon nodded.