Disclaimer: MGM owns SGA. I own the netbook I'm typing this on and not much else.
Chapter One:
Christmas in The Springs
By koinekid
Saturday, 24 December 2011
2017 MST
Colorado Springs, CO
"Sweetie?" Jennifer McKay set her keys on the counter top and noticed the telephone handset missing from its cradle.
"In here," Rodney called.
Jennifer hung her coat and scarf on the peg by the door, kicked off the high heels that nearly made her trip three times between the car and the kitchen door, and padded barefoot to Rodney's study.
His frantic typing sped up as she entered, and she waited a silent thirty seconds until he tapped Ctrl + S and shut down Word. He swiveled in his chair to face her.
"How was it?"
He meant the medical conference a couple of hours down the road, held over the holidays so the attending physicians had an excuse to knock off early and take in the skiing at Echo Mountain. Living in Colorado, Jennifer thought, Why not? She hadn't been to a conference in years. Now she knew why not; her knocking off early had nothing to do with the skiing. How was it? "Boring."
Rodney pulled her into his lap. The chair had come with armrests, but he'd removed them so he could hold her like this.
She sighed, melting into his arms. "Imagine you had to sit through a high school science lecture."
"That bad?"
"This stuff may be cutting edge on Earth, but where you and I come from, it's old news. Tedious, mentally taxing, boring old news."
He pressed a kiss into her hair, and she made a happy sound. After a moment she opened her eyes and smiled. "What have you been working on?"
"Just watering down a research paper. I'm going to try to get it published."
"Yeah?"
"Figured I should get my name out there again. Won't get that Nobel resting on my laurels."
"Good. You deserve to be recognized by your peers."
"Thought I was supposed to be humble." He tried to fake contrition and failed miserably.
"Not too humble. Then you wouldn't be my Rodney." She snuggled closer. "'Sides, you've been very good lately."
"I was thinking of being bad later." He wiggled his eyebrows and broke out a face-splitting grin. "Unless you're too tired."
"With an offer like that?" She shook her head. "You put on the coffee, I'll hit the shower, and we'll meet in bed in fifteen."
An hour later, they lay breathless, limbs entangled, on the same queen-sized prescription mattress they'd made love on so many times in Atlantis. The phone on their bedside table rang, and Rodney reached over to check the Caller ID.
"No one important." He switched off the ringer.
Jennifer rubbed his stomach. "Hey, what happened to the handset in the kitchen?"
"Took it into my study. Didn't want to have to get up every time it rang."
"I thought you were getting an extension put in there."
"The guy can't get to us until after the holidays."
"Ah." Sleep threatened to claim her, but there was still something she wanted to talk with him about.
"John called," he said. "His team just got back from P3X-795, and he wants to have dinner later this week. I told him Thursday because you're not on call."
"Perfect. Tell him to bring what's-her-name."
"Already did. Oh, and your dad called. He and Cheryl wish us a Happy Christmas."
Jennifer made a face.
"I thought you were going to take it easy on his girlfriend."
"And to her face I will. Behind her back is my time."
Rodney chuckled. "Your restraint is impressive, Mrs. McKay. Well, then, shall we retire for the evening?"
"Not yet."
"No?" He noted the excitement in her eyes. "We do have an early day tomorrow, but if this is headed where I think it's headed, I'm willing to sleep in."
Jennifer gasped. "We just did that. You really are incorrigible."
He shrugged.
"I got you something," she said.
Rodney grinned. "I should hope so. It is Christmas."
She swatted him, and he caught her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing each knuckle individually. Groaning from the attention, Jennifer carefully extracted her hand and reached for the silk robe Rodney had given her for her birthday. He shook his head.
With a theatrical sigh, she put the robe back. Secretly, it thrilled her to remain naked for him. She slinked across the room, conscious of his eyes watching her every move.
From the top drawer of the bureau, she removed a small wrapped box. "I know it's not Christmas for another...oh, two hours and change. But I'd like you to open it now."
He held the box to his ear and shook it. Receiving an annoyed look from his wife, Rodney tore into the paper. Inside he found a white and lavender piece of plastic roughly the size of an oral thermometer.
Years spent conversing with his physician wife had not made him a medical expert. Still, he knew what this was. The initials "e.p.t." emblazoned on it didn't hurt either.
"The plus sign – does that mean?"
She nodded, tears in her eyes. "I confirmed with Dr. Lambert this morning."
"Jen, I..." He pulled her into his arms and pressed the gentlest kiss he could manage to her lips.
"Are you happy?"
Worry creased her brow, and Rodney realized Jennifer genuinely did not know how he'd answer. It broke his heart a little to put her through such worry. It couldn't be good for the baby.
"Ecstatic," he said. "Jubilant, rapturous, thrilled. "
His words eased her mind, and with each synonym the worry lines diminished and that pretty pixie smile he'd fallen in love with grew.
"I'm also scared out of my mind." Seeing the worry threaten to return, he quickly amended, "but the happiness and my confidence in you and in our love is driving that fear away. I'm very, very excited to be sharing this adventure with you."
Her fear evaporated when he placed a rough hand to her flat tummy. "You can't feel her yet, Rodney."
"Her?"
"Or him."
"Well, then, I'm just practicing," he said. "Over the next nine months, dozens of people will want to feel your stomach. I'm just making sure I get my fill first."
"Silly man." Jennifer kissed him and laid her head against his shoulder. Seized with sudden mirth, she added, "Merry Christmas, Daddy."
Rodney, completely serious, replied, "Merry Christmas, Mum."
Next: Valentine's Day
Thanks for reading. Reviews are appreciated.