The team had just come back from a boring but exhausting mission on M42-591, or as the locals called it Halondria. They had been helping the Halondrians negotiate trade with another new planet the Lantean's had encountered. Both sides had been unwilling to move their expectations, but in the end, thanks to Teyla's patience and trade-sense, they had come to an amicable agreement. Even more so impressive with Rodney's exasperation always threatening to get in the way.
Finally after a briefing session and medical check-up, Sheppard had suggested their own unofficial de-brief in the Mess hall. Though it was less to do with talking about the negotiations and more to do with teasing Ronon about the girl on Halondria who had developed a crush on him. Plus, he had heard they were making white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake. Not that he would admit it, but it was one of his favourites.
Walking into the Mess hall, there where a few groups of people still milling around after dinner. The team sat at one of the free tables in the centre of the room. Teyla glanced around and noticed Major Lorne's team at another table. Doing her best to mask a small smile, she saw him look up and meet her eyes. A smile crossed his face as well as he half lifted his hand off the table in a discreet wave. Both dropped their heads and re-joined the conversations in their respective groups.
Eventually people started to leave the hall, including Rodney, who said he had something very important to check on (which, as John suggested, was probably Keller in the infirmary) and Ronon who was taking a new arrival in Atlantis to spar with. Once the rest of Lorne's team had gone, he wandered over to John and Teyla and sat down. For a while they chatted about many things, explaining to Teyla the lure of football and new xbox games that had been sent from earth.
After and hour or so, John started to yawn and wished the remaining two goodnight. As he turned the corner out of the hall, Lorne's hand reached across and gently held Teyla's. As she stood up, he guided her round to his side of the table. She sat next to him, and they both turned their bodies to face each other. Teyla leant forward and pressed her forehead gently against Lorne's as they both closed their eyes. A contented smile rested on both their faces. For a minute they just sat in this comfortable silence until Lorne gently angled his mouth towards Teyla's lips. Shocked at the unexpected movement, she jumped slightly, but upon realising his action, she closed her eyes again and leant herself into the kiss.
Gently, Lorne's lips grazed Teyla's. She could fill his smile and returned with one of her own. The kiss was soft and sweet. Both of them subconsciously keeping it light in case anyone should walk in. It wasn't that they were keeping their involvement a secret, but they didn't want to make their colleagues too uncomfortable.
After a few minutes, they both leant back, smiling lazily at each other. Teyla turned on the bench so that she sat with her back to Lorne's chest as he put his arms around her and hugged her closely to him. Taking a deep satisfying breath, he whispered in her ear, 'I love you.'
Although he had never said these words to her before, Teyla knew he had felt it, because she felt the same. Smiling, she half turned her body so she could look at him as she whispered back, 'And I love you too.'
They took this rare moment of peace in a busy, unpredictable city, and enjoyed the fact that they had both found someone to express their love with. Someone they would trust with their life and the lives of their friends.