Elizabeth entered the dimly lit hotel lounge fifteen minutes early. The noisy bar seemed to be bursting at its seams. She managed to snag a seat at the bar when someone finally stood to leave. She carefully climbed into the seat and ordered a glass of wine for herself and a beer for John. Shifting uncomfortably, she marveled to think she dressed like this on a regular basis just prior to her posting to Atlantis. Now she cringed to see the amount of pale skin revealed by the knee length sleeveless dress. The cowl shaped neckline didn't even plunge particularly low, but still she found herself fighting the constant urge to tug it upwards.
John appeared in the thick of the crowd and she stepped down to wave him over. Her heart swirled as she admired how handsome he was in his dress blues. She stretched out her arm to catch his attention and stumbled in the impossibly high heels.
He swiftly reached her side, easing his hands around her waist to steady her. "Too much wine?"
Her skin sizzled from the contact. She laughed shakily. "Too much time wearing boots. I've forgotten how to walk in these things."
He helped ease her back into her chair and leaned over to grasp the drinks before her. As more people filled the area around, John was pressed closer and closer to Elizabeth's side. He handed her the wine and took a long deep swig of the beer, allowing his eyes to wash over her body as he swallowed. "Have I ever told you that you look amazing in red?"
"Have I ever told you it's dangerous to let you out in public in your dress blues?" Elizabeth gasped, realizing she had spoken aloud. Her eyes fixed on the glass of wine now dangling empty in her fingertips. Wine was a rare luxury on Atlantis and she had hardly eaten today. Clearly, it had gone immediately to her head.
He leaned over her shoulder to put the beer down and his breath trickled hot down her neck. "I definitely would have remembered that." The husky tone of his voice made her skin began to tingle even more deliciously.
"So?" The stubble on John's face razed across her cheek when he tucked even closer to her ear so she could hear him.
"So…" It was the only reply she could manage. She focused her eyes on John's beer while she struggled to gain some control of her senses.
"So, we going to do this or not?" John reached for the beer a bit too slowly. Elizabeth snatched it from beneath his fingertips and took a generous gulp.
She glanced up at him over the rim of the beer mug, somewhat stupefied at the bemused expression on his face.
"I meant the reception." John chuckled softly.
Ohhh. She'd been really hoping that hadn't been the summary of the talk he'd wanted to have. Thankful the dim lights camouflaged the flush of red on her face. She released the beer into his hand and nodded.
"We'd better get going, I don't think I'll have the patience to share you very long." John polished off the beer and waved for the check.
Elizabeth hazily watched John sign for the drinks. He put down the pen and guided her from the stool. His hand firmly clasped onto hers and pulled her close to his side as they navigated the crowd. When they neared the door, someone stepped backwards into Elizabeth, fracturing the tenuous hold she had balancing in her heels. John swiveled around and tucked her underneath his shoulder, his arm extending to her waist holding her steady. Her hand landed upon his and his fingers stretched outward threading through her own.
The man who'd inadvertently stepped into Elizabeth turned towards them and a sly smile stretched across his face. "I guess you did have something important to get to."
"What are you doing here, shouldn't you still be at the fundraiser?" John's eyebrow arched and Elizabeth sensed that John wasn't too happy about the man's appearance.
"You snuck out just moments before it ended. Dad and I had to make an appearance at a wedding reception here tonight, the daughter of one of Dad's friends. You going to introduce us?" The man smiled brightly at Elizabeth.
"This is Dr. Elizabeth Weir, Elizabeth…this is Dave Sheppard." John's jaw clenched and his eyes scanned the room behind Dave.
"Otherwise known as his brother. Pleasure to meet you Dr. Weir." Dave extended his hand, but instead of shaking Elizabeth's he took it and held it smiling incredulously upon her.
"Call me Elizabeth, please."
Dave's eyes widened as they focused on her other hand that was laced with John's.
"Looks like we're heading in the same direction." John gently tugged Elizabeth out of Dave's grasp.
"I'll walk with you. Dad's bound to be terrorizing someone in the lobby, might as well round him up too". Dave fell in behind them. "So are you friends of the bride or groom?"
"Neither." John muttered, ignoring Dave's puzzled expression.
John slowed his pace when Elizabeth's heels started clinking against the cold polished marbled floor of the lobby. He tightened his hold and his eyes darted from side to side
She felt his body tense and she followed his eyes towards a trim silver haired man. The man smirked when he spotted them and strode towards them with a confident gait, the corners of his eyes creased as his smile stretched even wider. "Boys, aren't you going to introduce me to this enchanting creature in red? I've always had a fondness for red, few women seem to be able to pull it off quite so enticingly."
This was John's father? He was hardly the man she had pictured from the few times he'd actually mentioned him. Somehow, she wasn't entirely surprised. He had to have inherited that natural charm and charisma from someone.
"Dad, this is Dr. Elizabeth Weir. Elizabeth, Patrick Sheppard." John scrunched up his face as though waiting for a barrage of verbal bullets.
"A pleasure to meet you my dear, I hope we will have some time to get to know each other." His eyes drifted down towards their hands. "It's not often I find my son entangled with such a lovely woman."
"Really?" Elizabeth's eyebrow arched menacingly towards John. "What kind of women do you find him entangled with?"
Patrick's chortle of laughter almost filled the massive lobby. "I don't, that's just the thing. Of course, I don't get to see him as often as I'd like. You probably understand better than I the time constraints of his job, whatever it is that his job consists of these days. Speaking of which, thank you John. I know you would rather have been in hell than attend my fundraiser, but the crowd was quite besotted with my son the Colonel. It meant a lot to me after…well I know I never really appreciated your choices but it's apparent a lot of people do. I'm starting to see things…differently."
Patrick's face twisted as he attempted to thwart a rising frown and Elizabeth was struck by the resemblance and similar mannerisms. John's face was still guarded but his shoulders relaxed and he gave his father a slight nod. His father clasped his hand against John's shoulder and patted.
"We're just heading in to the ballroom now." Dave said.
"I didn't realize you knew them. Friends of the bride or groom?" Patrick asked.
John growled almost imperceptibly and pulled Elizabeth into motion again.
"Apparently neither. It may be a more interesting reception than we thought." Dave's question filled eyes settled on Elizabeth.
She took a deep breath and smiled, feigning ignorance.
"I'm sure we'll see you before we leave." John said as they entered the room and were almost instantly separated by the crowd. He snatched two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handed a glass to Elizabeth.
"They are different than I expected." Elizabeth studied his face, somewhat surprised to see the corners of his mouth twitching.
"Maybe there's hope for them yet. I thought it would get worse when my father decided to run for the Senate. Then again, he could be just stringing me along to keep me showing up at his fundraisers, having a military officer son seems to be quite useful for him."
"I don't think so, his election will be over by the time you're back in town." Elizabeth gulped her champagne and scanned the room over the rim of the glass.
"Only time will tell." John turned and frowned as he studied the crowded room. "I guess we should find the happy couple now?"
They wandered through the room, John following by her side just as he did on Atlantis. It was the moment he placed his hand at the small of her back and the jolt thundered through her body that she understood all the whispered conversations she'd ignored. On Atlantis, their closeness had seemed appropriate to her, they worked closely as a team. John probably did work too hard to protect her, but it had never seemed odd to her before. Now, though, as she felt the heat from his fingertips, her body twitched with uncomfortable familiarity of the intimate action.
She felt the pull between them as they walked. It seemed as though the air between them was supercharged with static electricity intent on securing their bodies close together. They delved deeper into the crowd weaving erratically. No Washington wedding worth attending would have less than 500 invitees, but the numbers of guests tonight was easily double that.
Bars were set up at all corners of the room and just to ensure no hand went tragically empty, waiters skirted through the crowds laden with trays of champagne. Music was emerging from somewhere in the midst of bodies, somewhere obviously there was a band. Huge bunches of white flowers were nested upon every visible surface. The crisp white décor seemed to hint at the freshly falling winter snow that was currently transforming the city beyond the doors of the hotel.
"Elizabeth!"
"Sarah said you were coming, I can't believe it! It's been ages."
Elizabeth found herself submerged in a sea of taffeta and silk as friends she hadn't seen since leaving for Antarctica practically carted her away in a wave of embraces.
"Elizabeth, who is that gorgeous man?"
"I love a man in uniform!"
"He looks like a handful, I'll be glad to help out!"
John was pushed to the back of the crowd. He nodded his head towards a nearby bar and tactfully retreated. Elizabeth felt like she was dancing as their questions and embraces kept her turning and swirling. She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but each time she glanced back at John she found another bottle of beer before him and another adoring Barbie look alike vying for his attention. Many were her own acquaintances who had abandoned her to go drill him with questions, but he seemed to have acquired quite a few of his own admirers. She turned again and found herself staring into Simon's eyes.
"Elizabeth, I was hoping to talk to you." He extended a glass of champagne.
She scrutinized Simon's face trying to remember, trying to feel, anything that would stir something more than the indifference she felt at this moment. That door had truly closed and she couldn't hold Simon responsible for any of it. When she left for Antarctica and for the Pegasus galaxy, somewhere deep inside she'd known she was saying goodbye.
She held up her glass of champagne. "To new beginnings."
Simon's glass clinked against hers and they sipped in silence. When their glasses were empty, he finally mustered the gumption to speak again. "I feel that there are things that ought to be said. Nothing sounds right in my head and I can't find the words to explain-"
"I'm due an equal share of the blame, if not more, for the failure of our relationship. Tonight is about the future, not the past."
"Excuse me, but I must insist Elizabeth dance with me." Dave appeared by her side. "Otherwise, my brother might decide to hurt this nice man for monopolizing too much time with his fiancé."
Elizabeth spied John still at the bar glowering so fiercely she was surprised Simon's face hadn't gotten sunburned yet. "A dance would be lovely. Dave Sheppard this is Simon Wallace, the groom."
"Neither. Now, I understand." Dave's face was grim and he glanced back at John.
Simon looked confused and anxious. His eyes started darting constantly back towards John ensuring he hadn't yet begun moving their way.
"Simon, I haven't run into Sarah yet. If I miss her this evening, please give her my regards." She moved onto the dance floor with Dave.
Her footsteps faltered when they reached the dance floor. "Why did you tell Simon I was John's fiancé?"
Dave took her hands and guided her into dance. "John was holding your hand." He said as though that was the key to all the mysteries in the universe.
Elizabeth arched her eyebrow, silently demanding more detail.
Dave sighed and looked at Elizabeth for a long moment. "My father and I didn't notice at first, but after our mother died, John got a little strange about public shows of affection. He never held his girlfriend's hands in public, never touched them, and they never lasted if they pushed the issue. It's kind of sad, but we were all betting about whether or not he would even manage to kiss Nancy at their wedding. I still can't believe she talked him into a big wedding, it was almost as insane as this one."
Elizabeth tried to spot John, but the crowd had grown too thick in between them. "He was pretty distracted, I probably just grabbed his hand and he hadn't noticed."
Dave looked at her like she was crazy. "Yeah and I can sell you the Brooklyn Bridge if you're buying. Look, Nancy dragged him to things like this all the time. He'd sit in the corner, nurse a drink. She'd flirt like crazy trying to make him jealous. He was either oblivious or didn't give a damn because he realized what she doing. John's changed. He's different with you, protective in an almost defensive sort of way. I haven't seen him take his eyes off you and when you started talking to Simon I saw the veins start bulging in his neck. You may not know it yet but he does. He's yours, Elizabeth."
The song ended and Dave stepped back, motioning towards John. John stood and started walking, cutting through the crowd of groupies who were in the midst of trying to charm him. He met her on the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. A new song started and they swayed gently along.
She tucked her head against his neck and inhaled deeply, wondrous that she had been oblivious for so long. As soon as she was encased in his arms, Elizabeth felt the certainty within her heart. It wasn't just Atlantis, it was because of John that Atlantis felt like home. Her thoughts faltered when one of his hands tightened around her waist, while the other trailed up her neck into her hair drawing her even closer. She heard the lull of Etta James and she sighed contentedly. At last.
"So Senator-"
"I'm not a Senator yet, Sarah." Patrick Sheppard's deep voice resonated through Elizabeth's reverie.
"But you will be and a Colonel for a son. Too bad Dave didn't decide to become a doctor, you could be a family of impressive titles." Sarah's voice trilled almost abrasively against her ears.
"Look at those two. I think the room has gotten hotter the closer we've gotten to John and Elizabeth. There'll be a Dr. Sheppard soon enough. Besides, Dave's more than happy with the title CEO now that I've stepped aside to run for Senate."
"Elizabeth will never give up her name, Senator." Sarah chided.
"Hmm. Well, she'll always be Dr. Sheppard to us."
Elizabeth pulled back from John, only mildly disconcerted about how easily his family had married them off. She observed Sarah in her magnificent, though somewhat puffy, white gown dancing with Patrick Sheppard
"Oh, you're right, Patrick. Dance us in the other direction. The steam radiating off those two is going to make my hair melt and the photographer is still around here somewhere." Sarah threw them a mischievous smile as Patrick deftly spun her away.
Elizabeth was already blocking out the crowd around her when she turned back to John.
"How did you live in this world?" John's voice was deep and raspy.
"I don't think I ever really lived here. Looking back, I was just surviving."
"I wonder how many of your old friends would say the same about your life in the Pegasus galaxy, that you just survive?"
"I really could care less what they think." She bit her lip and glanced back over at Sarah and Patrick.
"What is it?" John cupped her chin, drawing her eyes back to him.
"Tonight I see how easily we still could have met even if it hadn't been for the Stargate program. When I'm in your arms, it feels like that's exactly where I'm meant to be, like somehow our paths were destined to cross."
Her eyes dropped from his as he stood eerily quiet before her. She finally dared to peek up through her lashes and discovered the barriers had fallen away from his eyes. She no longer had to bore into them searching for meaning. Their molten luster emanated need and desire and her knees almost buckled from the aftershocks that coursed through her body.
John took her hand. "I think it's time to go."
She nodded silently and they worked through the crowd, managing to escape the ballroom. His arm slid around her waist, holding her steady as they crossed the lobby's slick floor. In the elevator she nestled her back against his chest. His hands wrapped around her stomach holding her firmly against him, his nose inhaling deeply against her neck. Her heart fluttered erratically and her nerves hummed with anticipation. John exited the elevator before her. His hand extended back and she grabbed it without hesitation. He had followed her to Atlantis and now it was her turn to take a leap of faith and follow him into the unknown.
She fumbled to tug the room key out of her clutch. When she finally succeeded they had arrived at her door. She distractedly pressed the key into his palm unable to further resist the temptation to touch him. He slid the key into the lock and abandoned it there when her thumb brushed against his cheekbone. Her other hand crept behind his neck and she leaned closer into him.
He quickly turned and closed the gap between their lips. His hands clamped around her head holding her tight and his thumbs brushed slow circles behind her ears before trailing down her neck. She felt the tingling start in her toes and bubble higher and higher until she almost feared she would melt into a pool of mush right where she stood. Her head had become entirely too foggy as he pressed deeper into their kiss. John's fingertips traced a lazy path down her sides before grasping at her hips urging her closer.
Elizabeth was dimly aware of the cool breeze brushing against her foot when she heard the telltale sounds of someone clearing their throat. Her lips felt swollen when John pulled away, their noses brushed gently when they turned to the sound of the intrusion. She dimly realized she had lost a shoe. Her eyes hazily focused on Sarah and Simon standing before them. Sarah bore an amused expression and Simon was reaching out to return the shoe to Elizabeth's foot.
John snatched the heel from Simon's hand. "You're not her Prince Charming anymore." John gently cupped Elizabeth's foot as he slid the shoe in place.
He scooped Elizabeth up in his arms and somehow managed to dip the room key in the hotel room door properly this time.
"You kids have fun tonight, don't do anything we wouldn't do." John kicked the door open with his foot and carried Elizabeth over the threshold.
He eased her onto the couch and stalked back down the hallway. She bit down on her lower lip to keep from smiling when he opened the door to hang the Do Not Disturb sign. He then locked the door and engaged the deadbolt before returning to the living area and unplugging the phone. He turned and perched upon the desk, regarded Elizabeth carefully.
Rising slowly, she crossed the room trying to remember how to breathe. His eyes pressed together, his head tucking down when she reached him. Undaunted, her fingers threaded through his hair. "I won't change my mind tomorrow. I won't change my mind when we're back on Atlantis. "
John's finger's splayed against her hips, alternating between clutching her and releasing as though now that he'd come this far he was still trying to convince himself. Then they clamped down firmly and he stood up, the hair on his face rasping a trail up her neck as he rose. His mouth found her ear. "So, I guess we're going to do this then, right?"
Though her body was tensed at his bluntness, she couldn't subdue the chills thundering down her spine from his hot moist breath dancing about her ear and neck. The world around her started spinning as a low rumbling laughter resonated against her ear. "I meant talk, Elizabeth, you promised me we'd talk."
She blinked rapidly and almost managed to focus on John's face. Immediately she realized her mistake, the raw emotion she found there pushed her more firmly over the edge and farther away from anything even remotely resembling reason.
Her lips had become uncomfortably dry and she watched his smoldering eyes glow even brighter when she licked them. She brushed her thumb across his lower lip. "Then it's your turn, I think I've said a lot more than you tonight."
"I have a feeling my brother probably said more than enough on my behalf."
"Hmm, I'll concede. That means you're allowed to kiss me again." His lips pressed against her neck. "And again." His lips found her jaw line "And again." They brushed the corner of her mouth. "Again." She whispered and his mouth blissfully covered hers ensuring she wouldn't have to ask again.
A/N: What can I say, I think cupids arrow may have struck me inadvertently. Sorry for any excessive sappiness, but I can't be held responsible this close to Valentine's Day (I think!) :) Hope you enjoyed!