Dear Readers,

Only two days until season 5 begins...and until Sam leaves Atlantis and we're stuck with (ugh) WOOLSEY. They could've at least gotten Liz back. But it had to be Woolsey. Oh well. At least my Sam/Rodney will live on forever in fanfics...like this one. Sam has left Atlantis and Rodney has come to visit her. How will it turn out? Read to find out. No spoilers for "Search and Rescue".

Best Regards from a Bookworm (and SGA McCarter I AM GOING TO SHORE LEAVE!! fan),

Miss Pookamonga ;-P

PS: I like reviews... :D

For Ellymelly: HAPPY BIRTHDAY...AGAIN!! :D

Forever and a Day

He hasn't seen her in six months.

Six months. Half a year. Has it really been that long?

He stands at the edge of the sidewalk, peering forward at the door hovering before him. For some reason, when he looks at it, he suddenly feels afraid and out-of-place. As if he shouldn't be here.

But he suddenly finds himself walking slowly down the pavement towards her door, every step bringing him closer to the reunion he has been waiting so long for.

He stops at the foot of the steps, fear overcoming him again. Will she really want to see him? Will she even care that he had taken the time to visit? It isn't as if they are...together...but it isn't as if they still hate each other. But are they close enough that she will be just as excited to see him as he is to see her?

There is only one way to find out.

He walks up the steps, one foot after another, counting them in his head. One, two, three. Four more strides to get to the door. He finds his comfort in the numbers he has built much of his life upon. One, two, three, four. That's it. He's there.

Tentatively, he lifts a shaky finger and presses the doorbell.

And waits.

What is merely seconds seems like hours, but suddenly, just as his fear is about to scare him into running away yet again, the lock clicks, and the door swings open.

There she is, standing there in the doorway, her sky-blue eyes wide in surprise, her golden hair framing her delicate face perfectly, just as he remembers it. Her lips, parted slightly upon seeing his face after so long. The angel of his dreams standing there, staring at him, speechless as he is, and he is stunned for a minute...so stunned at seeing her there intact and just how he's always pictured her that he wants to burst out crying and pull her into his arms.

"Rodney!" she cries in surprise. He beams when her face lights up and her eyes begin to twinkle in that way that he loves so much.

"Hi," he says shyly, stepping forward. "I...uh...came to visit." He awkwardly pulls his hand out from behind his back and presents her with a fresh bouquet of red roses.

She blushes profusely, a beautiful smile breaking out on her face as she dips her chin down in that characteristic way of hers. "You...really got me all these?" she asks in disbelief, taking the bouquet from him.

"I hope you don't mind," he answers, fidgeting.

Her smile only widens, and suddenly, she leans forward and plants a small kiss on his mouth, which catches him off-guard.

"Come on in," she almost whispers as she opens the door for him to pass through.

He is still in a daze as he walks past her into her house, but he catches her gaze and she gives him a genuine smile, one he's missed seeing every day since she left. Slowly accepting that this is reality and not merely another dream, he smiles back.

He only hopes that this kiss isn't his last.