February 3--Stargate: Atlantis, Ronon Dex/Jennifer Keller: Pre-Ship - First Kiss - 'First Time For Everything'
After the trip to the infirmary, the Doc had suggested Teyla got some rest and Ronon had personally dropped her off.
Then he went for a run and did something he very rarely did.
He thought about his life.
That wasn't to say he never thought, Ronon thought about many things all of the time, but…he never really thought about his life, about what to do next, about where it was going. He had always acted first and figured things out as he went.
His life hadn't exactly fostered great plans. He'd run from the Wraith for seven years, he'd ended up on Atlantis, always wondering when that was going to end. It was only recently that he'd cut all ties to his old life. His life was on his Atlantis. His family was on Atlantis. And he was glad for it.
He felt no resentment or jealousy at finding out Teyla was pregnant. Despite what Sheppard or others might think there really has never been anything but friendship between them. Sure there was chemistry at the beginning, she was the first person to care for him in a long time, a warrior like him, and beautiful of course. However, as time passed that first quick flutter of lust warmed into caring, then into the love of friends and finally into that of brother and sister. Teyla was his equal, the person he felt most at home with and he was happy she'd found someone to love, someone who loved her.
Still, it left him…on the outs, alone. It had been years since he'd had anything serious with a woman. After Melena, while still in his heart, was such a distant memory it was almost like another man had loved her.
He couldn't figure out why he headed back to the infirmary late that night, but when he saw the pretty Doctor Keller his heart skipped a beat.
"Hey Doc," he said, watching as she looked up from the file she was scribbling away on.
"Hello, Ronon. Is everything okay? Teyla?"
"Teyla's fine. She's resting. I was just…" he looked around as he tried to figure out what to say next, "Thinking of going for a walk and wondering if you wanted to join me."
She looked surprised for a moment, but then smiled, "I'd lo—like that," she said, then suddenly her face dropped, "But I'm not off for another hour."
"That's fine," he said, crossing his arms and leaning against a spare wall, "I'll wait."
She smiled again, "Okay, try not to hurt anything while you're here."
He couldn't help but smile at that, "I'll try."
For an hour he watched her work.
Then he spent an hour exploring Atlantis with her.
And when he finally dropped her off at her room, she leaned up and brushed her lips against his cheek.
And for the first time his body felt light, his heart felt full, and he had…hope.