Double Date:

"Morning, sleepyhead." John greeted a not quite awake Elizabeth as she wandered into the kitchen around 9:30 the next morning.

She leaned against the cabinet next to him, sipping from the mug of coffee he handed her. "Can't remember the last time I slept so late that wasn't in the infirmary or after no sleep during a crisis. How long have you been up?"

"A couple of hours. I've been for a run, picked up some fresh Challah, a loaf of rye and a couple more newspapers." He shooed her to the table where he'd already laid out their breakfast. "How late was everyone here anyway? Sounded like the last scene of Casablanca when I came in around 11."

"We decided we needed something to cheer us up after that so we watched Bringing Up Baby." Before John could say anything she added "No one remembered to stop at the DVD rental place so we just raided my mother's stock of classic films. Actually better that way, we could talk without worrying about missing something since we'd all seem them before."

"Sounds like you had a good time, then."

They discussed favorite movies while they finished eating, then moved to the den, with more coffee and the newspapers, handing off sections and occasionally commenting on the articles. Or in the case of those concerning the newly revealed Homeworld Security Agency, on what wasn't, couldn't be, included in the stories, how much the President and General O'Neill hadn't talked about at the news conference the day before.

Well into the side bars where the main article continued Elizabeth's mumbled "small world" got John's attention. "You know anyone at Homeland Security?"

"Nancy Sheppard, Director of something or other, she's my ex-wife. Why?"

"Looks like she's been appointed as the Homeland Security liaison to Homeworld Security." Elizabeth read the short bio out loud.

"That's her. This could be awkward. Guess I better give O'Neill a heads up, see if I can talk to her before the briefing for all the new liaisons on Monday."

Elizabeth agreed and suggested he call Paul Davis, let him inform O'Neill and arrange the schedules.

They settled back to reading, enjoying the quiet companionship. Until John's loud "about time" when he noticed something in the Air Force Times startled Elizabeth. "Lorne's on the latest Promotion List!" She agreed it was about time, well overdue in fact. Lorne had been a Major long enough that in any other posting he'd have come up against "up or out" by now. "Tell him congratulations from me when you let him know."

The coffee was long gone, the papers read and Elizabeth had just filled in the last boxes on her second crossword when John caught her eye. "This is nice, no responsibilities, no one trying to kill us, no place we have to be, just you and me. I could get used to this."

"You'd be climbing the walls after a couple of weeks. So would I for that matter. But it is a nice break."

Stretching she got up, putting the DVD boxes from the night before back on the rack, picking up the mostly empty bowls of nuts and candy and a wine glass that hadn't been cleared away, generally straightening from the night before, grumbling about needing to vacuum as she headed to the kitchen. John picked up the coffee things and followed. She'd set the bowls and glass on the counter with the breakfast dishes, opened the dishwasher to load and realized it hadn't been emptied. "This is one part of being home I never missed, the cleaning up."

John nodded, he felt the same way. "That why your place in Colorado Springs was a bit of a mess?" At Elizabeth's questioning look he explained that Carson had told him and Rodney about the state of her apartment when they were all concerned about her.

Elizabeth grimaced. "Not one of my better periods. And I blame the sloppy housekeeping on depression. I may not like cleaning up but I do it, or I hire someone to."

John volunteered to vacuum while Elizabeth put things away, since he really didn't know where most of the stuff belonged. "Of course if this had been a guy's night all you'd need to put away would be the bowls you'd dumped the chips and popcorn in. No dishes or glasses, just pizza on paper plates and beer out of the bottle." Just managing to dodge the dish towel Elizabeth snapped at him he made a quick exit, the sound of the vacuum soon filling the house.

By the time they'd dressed, walked Sedge, had lunch and made their way to the National Museum of American History it was nearly 2:00. They spent a couple of hours wandering the museum, admiring the new display for the Star Spangled Banner flag, dodging a crowd of tourists gawking at the First Lady's Inaugural gowns, lingering in the entertainment exhibits, exchanging memories of visits there as children, basically behaving like a normal couple enjoying a favorite museum.

While they were getting ready to meet Dave and his fiancé Elizabeth even commented on normal being the theme for the day, lounging around the house all morning, playing tourist, going on what was essentially a double date. Actually admitting this was in fact a date was a big step for them. They'd picked up their friendship as if the last three years had never happened. But there'd always been a deeper connection, never acknowledged. Now, spending time together, away from the demands of their jobs and the constant danger, no longer CO and Second in Command, their relationship was changing even if neither was quite ready to admit it.

They were about 15 minutes late arriving at the restaurant, their cab having been caught in even worse than usual traffic. But Dave and Serena had only just arrived themselves, an accident on the Beltway slowing traffic from Maryland. Their mutual grumbling about the Beltway and other woes that came with living in the DC area took them through their first drinks. They segued to the getting to know you conversations over appetizers, leaving the big questions, how and when Dave and Serena met and when were they getting married, for the main course.

Dave looked at John as he began the story. "Dad dying so suddenly, our conversation after the funeral, it all got me thinking. I didn't really have a life outside of work, to the point that I hardly even golfed anymore and I couldn't remember the last time I'd taken a vacation. So I took a break, went down to Myrtle Beach, golfed a different course every day for two weeks, and did a lot of thinking. When I got back I made a point of leaving the office by 6 most nights, actually started using the Capitols and Nationals and Kennedy Center season tickets. I started reorganizing the business, decentralizing operations so individual executives had more autonomy. I finally admitted that Sheppard Industries had gotten too big to continue as a privately held corporation. So once everything was running smoothly in the new structure we put together an IPO."

John was startled; their father had been adamant about keeping the business family run. He didn't even know where to start with his questions. Dave picked up on this and explained that he hadn't said anything the last time John was home because he was just starting to think about the changes. It wasn't as if he was retiring, just resigning as CEO; he'd still own a significant amount of stock and continue as Chairman. Plus run the Advanced R&D Division, which would be spun off as a separate, family owned corporation.

"The R&D operation never really fit with the rest of Sheppard Industries, it just came with the last big acquisition Dad made. I've been intrigued by a lot of what they come up with and want to concentrate on building that business, working with DARPA, NASA, the NSF." Dave paused, took a sip of wine.

"Sorry, I am getting to Serena, just needed to give you the background. Anyway, I'd decided to use the bulk of the proceeds from the sale for philanthropic purposes, some general donations, but I wanted to concentrate on education. Not just tutors and tuition assistance, but long term, identifying kids with potential, encouraging them to think of college, particularly those who show an aptitude for science and engineering, even set up a summer internship program at a couple of our sites. Serena is the Director of the Greater Washington Education Foundation."

Serena jumped in "Dave came in one day to discuss his charitable plans, whether to set up a separate Foundation or partner with ours. We just clicked, started spending all our free time together. And a lot of our working time too getting the reorganized Sheppard Education Opens Doors Foundation, otherwise know as the School is Cool Foundation, set up."

"Last month, we were meeting with the lawyers to finalize things and the subject of updating my will came up, who would inherit what wasn't going to the Foundation? I just looked at Serena, said my wife? she said yes, and here we are."

Elizabeth finally asked the burning question "So when's the wedding?"

Serena smiled at Dave then answered "Next Saturday."

Not wanting John to get the wrong idea Dave quickly explained that they'd been planning on getting married in August, hoping that John could get leave then. But since he was here now, and they were only inviting close family and a few good friends, maybe 25 people total, they'd decided to move the date up. Then Dave gave John the biggest surprise of the evening, asking him to be Best Man, something neither would have thought possible two years before.

They discussed the wedding over coffee and dessert and during the ride to a club Serena recommended. John and Elizabeth would drive out to the Sheppard estate after work on Friday, the rehearsal starting whenever they arrived, returning to DC Sunday morning in time for John to head back to Colorado. The only sticking point was, of all things, what John would wear. For a 6 PM wedding Serena assumed John would rent a tux. John suggested the dark suit he had on with a more formal shirt and tie. They finally compromised on his Mess Dress. Elizabeth teased him about doing anything to avoid shopping, declaring that she certainly wouldn't be in uniform that night. She'd actually seen the perfect dinner suit when she was shopping with Sam, she'd go back and buy it on Sunday.

It was clear on entering the club that Dave and Serena were regulars. As soon as they entered they were ushered to a table away from the dance floor with a good view of the band stand. They hadn't even sat down when a woman about Serena's age rushed over and caught her in a bear hug. After giving Dave an almost equally enthusiastic greeting she turned her attention to the other couple "So, Rena, introductions?"

"Chris, meet John and Elizabeth. John's Dave's brother. John, Elizabeth this is Christine." Noticing the man who'd joined Tracy she added "and her husband, Tony. They own this place. Chris and I were roommates freshman year in college and have been best friends ever since."

Chris and Tony didn't stay long, the club was full and they were busy, though one or both stopped at their table for a few minutes whenever there was a lull. Their short conversations were mostly about the upcoming wedding, natural since Chris would be Matron of Honor. After learning that Dave and Serena had both forgotten about music for the reception in planning the wedding on such short notice Tony ended up volunteering to find a band. If the music at their club, blues, jazz, folk, soft rock, was any indication it would be a good one.

John couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his brother so relaxed. Or been this relaxed himself, even on leave. And he wasn't about to question it. So he enjoyed the music and the company, joined in the small talk, and danced with Elizabeth.

They stayed at the club until closing. Elizabeth and John were a bit unsteady climbing out of Dave's limo in front of her house, one of the few on the street with lights still on after 1 in the morning. John kept his arm around her waist as she fumbled with her keys, pushing the door in with his free hand once it was unlocked. Reaching to close the door he turned and they were face to face.

Elizabeth didn't pull away, just looked into his eyes, smiling. He drew her closer until his lips were just inches from hers then hesitated, silently asking permission. She closed the gap between them and they finally kissed for real, as John and Elizabeth, a kiss that left them both breathless.