Forever Christmas Eve
Author: ShaViva
Rating: T+
Season: season 4, between Reunion and Doppelganger; assuming some weeks pass between these two episodes.
Summary: Lorne decides to make Jennifer a special gift in the lead up to Christmas, something that assumes an unintended significance when an off world mission takes an unexpected turn.
Classifications: Drama/Romance
Pairings: Evan Lorne/Jennifer Keller established ship
Key warnings: None really
Other warnings: Unbeta'd – errors minimized as best I can but some minor ones will probably creep in.
Spoilers for: General spoilers for SGA up to the beginning of season 4, and in particular Sunday, First Strike, Adrift, and Lifeline, as well as the season 2 episode Condemned.
Acknowledgements: I used Gateworld transcripts to check details here and there.
Disclaimer: I am unfortunately not associated in any way with the creators, owners, or producers of Stargate or any of its media franchises, which is obvious because one, SGA would still be on and two, Lorne would be there ALL the time! All publicly recognizable characters, settings, equipment, etc are the property of whoever owns them. Any original characters, plot, settings, and anything else I made up are the property of me, the author. No copyright infringement is intended.
Copyright (c) 2011 ShaViva
Authors Note:
This story came to me while I was listening to Train singing 'Marry Me' … so I'm issuing a big fluff alert. Probably should issue a Christmas cliché alert too - pretty sure I'll hit all the main ones before the story is done. It follows on from O' Christmas Tree, one of my Christmas stories from last year. I've crossed over a chapter of Equilibrium in here too.
I'm posting the first six chapters all at once so I can catch up on the date and post a chapter a day from now onwards (that will make sense once you start reading). Since the idea only occurred to me on Monday I've powered out these first chapters – I've already picked up some blunders, now averted, but wouldn't be surprised given how fast I had to write to catch up, that there could be further blunders, hopefully not major!
"It's something so magical, incomprehensible, yet it's so sensible, this you and me. Why can't it always be forever Christmas Eve?"
Lee Ann Womack, Forever Christmas Eve, from the album 'The Season for Romance'
December 1st
Christmas would always hold a special place in Evan Lorne's heart … Christmas trees and the traditions around Christmas in particular. It had always been an important time for his family – the Lorne's had traditions of their own and his Mom encouraged both her children to express themselves as part of those traditions. He'd always had fun with that but now the holiday season had taken on a new dimension of significance, and he had the city's former leader to thank for it. Without Elizabeth Weir's intervention last year – her "tree for all" – he'd never have discovered the most important thing in this life.
Jennifer Keller.
Sometimes it felt like just yesterday when Evan had nervously turned up outside Jenn's door on Christmas Eve to escort her to the party. He remembered vividly the way she'd blushed at his compliment to her beauty even as her eyes had all but devoured his own 'fancy' dressed appearance. That night had been magical – he'd known the opportunity he'd been given and he'd seized it before something could come and take it away.
Other times it was hard to remember his life before Jennifer, as though she'd always been a part of it. They ate together as regularly as their schedules would allow, spent their off duty hours in one or the other of their quarters, or in the many special places around the city Evan had discovered in his time there. They comforted each other when things got tough, when they'd lost Carson and then before the belief that it was real had set in, Elizabeth as well.
Those wounds were still fresh, their losses similar even though most in the city wouldn't realise it. Carson had been a mentor for Jennifer, a source of wisdom, and a sounding board when she wanted a different opinion. She'd been devastated when he'd been killed – the hole left in her life one she'd probably never fill completely.
What most people didn't know was that Elizabeth Weir had been much the same for Evan. A friendship had almost been forced on them – too many hours and days spent worrying over the fate of Colonel Sheppard and his team for them not to find common ground. Elizabeth had a way of looking at things that Evan appreciated, a fresh perspective for a man who'd spent twenty years serving his country and a military that didn't reward individuality. She was impartial and reasoned and he still found it hard to believe she was gone. Harder to stomach that it had happened while he'd been away from the city, safe on the Apollo. That was a time he still refused to talk about, no matter how much Jennifer urged him to. No words would ever make it all right that the woman he loved had faced mortal danger without him there to help, that she'd had to make some painfully tough choices and shoulder the responsibility for Elizabeth's fate while he'd been safe and sound half a galaxy away. He should have been there! He'd been reluctant to buck the system, to push the limits when his initial and subsequent requests to transfer back to Atlantis had been denied, and had paid a high price for that reluctance.
It had been the last time he'd seen his mentor and friend and he could only thank whatever deity looked over them all that it hadn't been the last time he'd seen Jennifer too.
When the issue of Christmas came up towards the middle of November – still only weeks since they'd landed on their new planet, Lorne had been the one to insist they get another tree. He'd been a lot more forceful and verbose than he was known for as he'd pointed out how much Elizabeth had loved the previous year's tree and how disappointed she'd be in them all if they didn't honour the tradition she'd tried to create. Not surprisingly Colonel Sheppard and Colonel Carter both agreed, the later promising to speak to General O'Neill personally to ensure delivery of a suitable tree this year.
So the tree tradition would continue for a second year … it would be sad to have that daily reminder that Elizabeth was gone but at the same time he knew he'd get a kick out of seeing the decorations slowly take over the foliage one day at a time. They all needed the lift it would give them, more so even than last year.
It would still be at least a couple of weeks before the tree would make an appearance – any sooner and it would be dead before Christmas Eve, so not the message they wanted to create. Lorne had plans he needed to put into action much earlier than that. He'd done all the preparation he could, stealing an hour here and there when Jennifer was busy to create something he hoped she'd enjoy. He knew that she loved the Christmas season too and he'd tried to incorporate that into something uniquely them.
When the 1st of December rolled around it was almost a relief to excuse himself from Jennifer's quarters with a promise that he'd be back in a few minutes.
"Where are you going? Jennifer asked with a half-smile, not used to him being so secretive and mysterious, nor to him leaving so soon after he'd arrived.
"There's ah … something I need to go get," he said evasively.
"Why didn't you bring it with you?" Jennifer asked and logically he could have done that, assuming he didn't care who saw him along the way. Ordinarily he wouldn't but this was special … private, and he wanted to avoid questions if at all possible.
"Too busy in the corridors," he admitted, seeing the way her interest was piqued.
"Something for me?" Jennifer guessed, her expression going all soft and hopeful.
"Maybe," Evan couldn't resist bending low to where she sat on the couch, pressing a firm kiss to her lips. "Maybe not."
"Oh, you tease," Jennifer pushed him away with a laugh.
"I'll be five minutes, promise," Lorne insisted, running a hand over her hair before he made himself turn away. He double timed it, not to his quarters or his office, but to the storage room he'd been using to construct what was in all likelihood the most elaborate proposal ever delivered.
"You are going to look like the biggest fool alive if she says no," he muttered, picking up his creation, still draped with a folded sheet to keep it safe and free from prying eyes.
Back at Jennifer's room he used his gene to open the door without swiping the controls – something he rarely exercised even though it was relatively easy to accomplish.
"Evan?" Jennifer stood, making room for him as he approached the coffee table in front of the sofa and carefully set his parcel down.
"Wait," Evan took a deep breath – it didn't help steady the sudden nerves jumping in his stomach but it was a cue to begin. "Please, will you sit down?"
Jennifer frowned, her eyes locked to his as she slowly sank down on the couch in front of the mystery item. She glanced at it and then back to him. "Is everything okay?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Evan tried for a confident smile, covering up the shortfall by dropping to his knees beside her.
"You're nervous," she realised in a rush, flushing as she took in his bended knee position. "Oh my," she breathed out, her face flushing.
"I've been thinking about this for a while now," he began, the act of beginning settling something inside him. He was sure this course of action was right … it was as simple and as complex as that – and there was no point in being nervous about the outcome. "It occurred to me that the effort isn't in the asking. Anyone can say the words 'will you marry me', right?"
"Are you …," she trailed off, her eyes shining with tears, hopefully of the happy kind.
"I'm getting there," he smiled, putting his hands over hers where they rested, twisted tight, in her lap. "It's easy to ask the question – the challenge is in showing you why you should say yes. So, yeah, I'd like nothing better than for you to say yes you'll marry me Jennifer. It took me time to think out all the reasons why I'd say yes if you were asking me so I figure it's only fair you get the same chance before you have to answer."
She was speechless now, watching him, that heart and compassion he admitted and loved so much there in her eyes. Reaching behind him he removed the covering to reveal a model house – light blue with white trimmings, two storeys with lots of windows, doors, and a garden … all surrounded with the proverbial white picket fence. If you looked closer you'd see the interior was decorated too – bedrooms for children and a master suite upstairs, and a lounge room downstairs with a Christmas tree, wrapped presents underneath just waiting for Christmas morning.
"It's … beautiful," Jennifer intoned, her eyes now glued to the house. "Did you make this?" she looked at him with wonder.
"Yeah," he felt the first stirrings of embarrassment. He was comfortable with his creative side; comfortable with his softer, romantic side too, but having put both so much on the line he couldn't help but worry he'd lost face on the whole 'masculine, man in charge' front. "It's our house … figuratively I mean," he rushed to explain, "but it's more too. There's a message for every day between now and Christmas Eve … hopefully by then I'll have given you enough reasons to say yes, to do me the honour of escorting you to the Christmas party as my fiancé."
"You put so much effort into this Evan," Jennifer bent lower, her smile growing as all the tiny details grabbed her attention. "There are numbers," her fingers moved to trace the tiny figures on window frames and door arches.
"Wouldn't be much of an advent calendar without them," he pointed out, "and I was thinking maybe you'd have a little fun trying to find some of them."
Jennifer nodded. She looked like she wanted to say something … he was prepared to hear just about anything. Instead she launched herself into his arms – he barely had time to brace himself against the couch to stop them both crashing into the table and destroying their miniature house.
Her lips felt warm and soft and they trembled with emotion as she pressed them to his. His emotions were running high too – they'd been intimate of course, from about three months into their relationship, but Lorne was always careful to treat Jennifer with delicacy and care. They had chemistry and passion but his respect and love were usually enough for him to balance his desire to ravage her with his need to cherish her too. Taking the plunge into marriage proposals stripped away a layer of control – Lorne felt that first touch of her lips deep inside with nothing to cushion it. He responded, devouring her mouth like a man parched after days in the desert without water. Carnal would be the only word to describe the heat and motion between them. Lorne wanted to rip Jennifer's clothes away and bury himself so deep inside her neither of them would be capable of distinguishing their individuality.
Maybe he'd have come to his senses if Jennifer hadn't been with him all the way. She gave as good as she got, her hands like hot feathers trailing over his skin, her body melded to his. He lost his head – somewhere at the back of his mind he knew he'd have to explain himself later, apologise for his behaviour, but he ignored that in the face of pure, unadulterated lust.
They rolled – he wanted her over him, her hair a curtain around them. When the roll produced a brief sensation of falling followed too quickly by the floor hammering his back, Jennifer's weight forcing the air from his lungs, Evan abruptly remembered that they were still on the couch.
"Ouch," he got out hoarsely, the mood broken.
"Oh God," Jennifer gasped, rearing up to look down at him. "Did I hurt you?"
"No," he didn't add that there were certain parts of him throbbing painfully, and not because they'd fallen. The mood might be broken but his body still wanted hers with a vengeance.
Jennifer scrambled to sit up, reaching down to pull Evan up beside her.
"I'm sorry Jenn," he apologised, shooting her a quick glance before looking away. What must she be thinking? He'd gone at her like she was a piece of particularly tasty meat and he was a hungry wolf.
"You took the brunt of the fall," she dismissed, running a hand down his back as though that alone would detect any damage done to his spine.
"Not about that," he felt compelled to pursue the issue. "I'm sorry I was so …," he struggled to find the right word, "needy."
"I'm not," she declared firmly.
"But I … I went at you like I …" he stopped when she covered his mouth with her hand. Her eyes were dark and there was something about her expression that made his heart beat faster.
"You always make me feel like a desirable woman Evan," Jennifer said. "But you're so careful too – I love that about you but sometimes I look at you and I just want to jump you and rip your clothes off. I thought I was the only one who felt like that."
"Then you're really going to like day 4," he murmured, bemused.
"Day 4?" Jennifer let herself be distracted by the advent house they'd both forgotten.
"Gotta get through days one to three first," he reminded her absently, his attention on the heat from her skin that still called him to action.
"I'll look for the first day later," she promised. Her expression shifted to purposeful and she gave him a look that made key parts of him twitch in response. "I don't know about you but I'm feeling that clothes ripping feeling again."
"Nice to have company," he teased, smiling even as he reached for her.
It got pretty serious from that point – he was less 'careful' and she was way more demanding and he wasn't sure he'd keep full possession of his mind if they did it like that every day – and it was perfect, just as every time with Jennifer was perfect.
Jenn didn't remember the advent house until the early hours of the morning. Evan was asleep beside her, his naked back exposed by the low sheet draped over him and the moonlight traveling in from her window. She let herself be distracted by the play of muscles and skin on display, some part of her still enthralled by the idea that someone as hot as Evan Lorne would be with her. She wanted to touch him – only the knowledge that he had an early mission in the morning stopping her from disturbing his sleep.
The miniature house. Technically it was already December 2nd … but since she hadn't really slept yet by her rules it was still the first day of the month.
Grabbing her robe she pulled it on, tying the sash as she padded over to the couch. The house was lit by moonlight too, for all the world looking just like a real house. Evan was truly a talented artist, something that embarrassed him more than anything. The more effusive she was in her praise the more he'd retreat, holding up the modestly flag like it was his shield. Maybe it was – sharing his art was so much a sharing of his inner self too. She felt privileged that he would reveal that part of himself to her and so few others.
Somehow he'd tapped into every girlhood dream she'd ever had of the place she'd marry and raise a family from. The style of the little house was just as she'd imagined, Victorian with hints of colonial as well. It was blue too, and the picket fence seemed so cheerful and honest she wanted to dance around with the sheer joy of seeing it there.
Sitting down in front of the house she spent a good few minutes just admiring it before turning her attention to her specific task. He'd made the first day easy - the number one was carved above the front door. The little door held firmly – with a little tug Jennifer pulled it open, bending low to look inside. It was an entrance way, with a rug on the floor and a hat rack in the corner. A roll of paper about as tall as her little finger rested against the wall. Jennifer carefully removed it, closing the little door, before sitting back to look at her first prize.
What did Evan call it? Her first reason to say yes.
Not that she needed him to list reasons for her. She didn't need twenty five days to make up her mind either – twenty five seconds had been more than enough. Her blood had pumped with the need to shout that answer so the entire city could hear it.
Yes! Yes I'll marry you Evan Lorne!
It was the earnest expression on his face that both charmed her and stayed her declaration. He'd spent hours making his proposal something special for her … it was important to him that she take the time he'd allotted her to think about their future. Since twenty five days was a drop in the ocean of days she intended to give him, she'd decided to play along.
"So, what do we have for day one?" she murmured, unrolling the tiny scroll to reveal his decisive handwriting, slashed in black ink across the strip of paper.
"I'll start simple: I love you Jennifer Keller."
Jenn's eyes misted with tears and she glanced over at the man who'd changed her life. In sleep he looked peaceful, boyish. She felt drawn to him, just as she'd been from the first day she'd seen him striding into the infirmary. Her Lorne radar was still as powerful as it had been before she'd found the nerve last Christmas to take the first step towards what she wanted.
Remembering that time had more tears rising, enough that they spilled over, tracking twin paths down her cheeks. With an embarrassed chuckle she swiped them away, carefully rolling up her first reason and resecuring it. She had a small treasure box in her desk draw – quietly emptying out the contents she placed the scroll inside, replacing the lid and resting a hand over it for a moment before putting it away.
Softly she made her way back to the bed, back to Evan. Settling beside him she turned to watch him sleep. "I love you too," she whispered.