The Simple Life

By Desala

The wind gently blew onto Teyla's face. The people below her laughed, talked, cheered, and screamed. Some babies cried and some children whined to their caretakers.

Also below her was John. He had a proud, satisfied smirk on his face. He had a right to be proud. He had introduced to Teyla something both exhilarating and relaxing. A Ferris wheel.

Teyla thought it was wonderful, perhaps more enjoyable than riding in a Puddle Jumper. She got to feel the sun on her face and enjoy the breeze. Her view of the bright blue sky was unlimited as she was carried slowly up towards the sun, and then slowly down towards the ground. She felt free.

The ride stopped and she got off once the metal bar in front of her was lifted. John was waiting for her beside the entry gate.

"What'd you think?" John asked, the proud smile still on his face.

"I truly enjoyed it." Teyla replied, smiling back. "Thank you." Her face was lit with happiness.

"No problem." John replied, grinning. "We have a saying here on Earth. Share the love."

Teyla and John walked through the grounds of the amusement park in companionable silence. They passed the "break-the-bottle" game, and there they spotted Ronon. Many children were lined up beside him, holding out their money to him. It seemed that they were paying him to win prizes for him. It was easy to see why they were so eager for his attention. John and Teyla watched as he knocked down another set of bottles with precision. As Ronon handed the child near him his prize, he happened to spot John and Teyla. Ronon looked really uncomfortable, and that was John's cue to step in.

He rushed over to Ronon, gently pushing some kids aside. He grabbed Ronon by the arm and dragged him away. "Sorry kids. My, um,cousin has to go now."John said. Immediately whines and groans from the children resounded. John felt a little twinge of guilt, but it looked like Ronon would have been at that game booth a long time.

"Thanks." Ronon said, breathing a sigh of relief.

John laughed. "No problem, buddy."

The three of them continued to walk through the amusement park. Teyla pondered a bit, then turned to John.

"When you first met me, you told me you liked three things, and you have introduced me to two of them." She stated. "College football, and now a Ferris Wheel. Is there anything here that goes more than 200 miles per hour?"

John grinned. He pointed to his north. "You see that right there? It's called a roller coaster. It doesn't go over 200 miles per hour, but it's damn close."

Teyla turned toward Ronon and John. "Shall we?"

Ronon shrugged and smirked. "Why not?"

John's satisified grin could light up the whole park as the three of them set off toward the roller coaster. He had to take the Athosian kids here one day.

FIN