MGM owns all characters except OCs. Some dialogue taken from Gateworld.

A/N: Thanks to everyone for your great reviews. I reference something from The New Arrival if you haven't read it. Thanks to Betherdy Babe my beta and my adviser.

Rodney McKay paced around the boarding area at Colorado Springs Airport waiting for the limo to deliver his date to him. A part of him wanted to go with her to buy a dress and hang around like two normal people at the local mall. Even though he despised shopping, he would have been thrilled to have Jennifer walking with him and perhaps even holding his hand. It seemed like she really wanted him to kiss her that morning on Atlantis and Rodney prayed he hadn't imagined the brief look of annoyance in her eyes when Woolsey called him, breaking their eye contact.

The genius had gone shopping after his run-in with Sam at the dry cleaners because the need to get Jennifer something for agreeing to come to a boring physics talk kept nagging at him. Seeing a jewelry store on the way to the hotel, Rodney went in and left with an expensive necklace.

As he felt the long black case in his jacket, he suddenly wondered what possessed him to buy a diamond necklace for Jennifer on their first date. Probably the fact that you've been in love with her since you saw her beam into the Gateroom and nearly fell down the stairs. Rubbing the velvety box and hoping it was not too ugly or too big for her, he found himself staring absent-mindedly out the window.

Jennifer arrived at the airport after the first limo ride of her life in great spirits. She told the driver that fact so the older gentleman took her for a longer ride around the area. It kept Rodney waiting, but Jennifer suddenly felt a bit concerned about the evening.

The physician had gone to a couple of these types of events for doctors when she was in medical school. They were supposed to be informal social events but always turned into a festival of one-upmanship by the competitive doctors. Her date was perhaps the most competitive man alive, so it should prove interesting. Because of the nature of the environment she never stayed late when she went alone. If Rodney wanted to stay all night, however, she wasn't going to complain. Her flight to Chippewa Falls in the morning could be rescheduled.

Walking into the boarding area Jennifer saw Rodney and stopped her thoughts, her breathing and her heart. He looked dashing, more handsome than she ever remembered. The cut of the black tuxedo jacket made his shoulders appear broader and gave him an even more commanding presence than he normally had. Staring with a silly grin on her face, the girl from Chippewa Falls couldn't move. He's perfect so you better not screw this up.

Rodney must have sensed the woman he loved staring at him because he turned, looking at her with the same silly expression she had. Jennifer was more beautiful than he imagined she would be. Having only seen her in a uniform or baggy work out clothing, he was not prepared for the vision of beauty standing across the room and watching him. His expressive blue eyes looked from her perfectly styled hair, drawn back but leaving a few locks to frame her face, down her body, taking in the black knee-length dress that showed some skin but not enough to be risqué and back to her face once again. Her cleavage was eye-catching and Rodney's visual assessment paused there for a moment, feeding his desire for her. How the hell am I supposed to say or do anything intelligent without any blood in my brain?

Jennifer walked over to her handsome date, blushing a light shade of pink and laughing. "What have you done with Doctor McKay? I wish I took a cell phone with a camera."

"Uh… You're gorgeous. I'm going to be the envy of every man there," Rodney said in a voice void of sarcasm and full of awe. He was truly blown away by her appearance.

"Thank you, but I feel so…" Jennifer paused, smoothing the transparent layer of her skirt over the purple satin beneath, "… exposed."

"You're beautiful," he said in a hushed tone as he stepped closer to her. A wave of possessiveness washed over him as he imagined horny scientists trying to get her attention all evening. A strong desire to claim her in a manner of speaking drove his hand into his pocket to pull out the box.

Jennifer's eyes widened as she saw Rodney holding a small velvety case in his hands. What did he do?

"I… Um… I got you… something," he stammered. "It's a thank you. For taking time to come with me."

"Rodney, I wanted to go on a date with you," Jennifer said, looking into the blue eyes that haunted her dreams. "You didn't have to get me something."

"No, I did. I mean I needed to… uh… wanted to. I wanted to get you something," Rodney said. "It can be a birthday, Christmas and… I don't know other holidays all rolled into one." The physicist shoved the box into her hands unsure of what he was supposed to do.

Jennifer's grandmother was the last person to give her jewelry when she was eight on her birthday, a tiny necklace with a unicorn on it because she loved unicorns at the time. The necklace she saw sitting in the case she opened was exquisite, a silver pendant with four flower petals lined with stones and set on an intricate layering of metal. Looking closely at the stones and the larger one in the middle, Jennifer gasped, "Rodney, please tell me these aren't diamonds?"

Rodney stepped so close her bare arm brushed his tuxedo-clad one, sending a shiver through her. "They better be or I'm going to be pretty pissed off at the clerk."

"I… I can…" Jennifer stopped in the middle of her refusal to take his gift when she saw a crestfallen look take over his handsome face. "Rodney, it's wonderful you got me something, but… It's just…" She stopped speaking when her date averted his eyes.

"Sorry. I knew it was stupid, but I made you buy a dress and miss a day with your dad," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets and looking down at his feet. "You can take it back and get something…"

"Rodney, I'm sorry," she said, grasping his closest bicep and squeezing gently. "No one's ever bought me jewelry before. Well, no guy anyways. I'm not sure what to do."

"Really?" Rodney was shocked that past boyfriends didn't shower the gorgeous woman with candy, jewels, kisses… Stop that train of thought. A flash of intense jealousy coursed through him as he thought of nameless men kissing the woman he worshipped from afar for so long.

"Thank you," Jennifer finally said. "I shouldn't except a gift like this, but if you insist, I'll take it. Could you help me put it on?"

Rodney almost groaned out loud as she pulled her hair up and off her neck after handing him the box. The alabaster skin that was revealed under her golden mane caused a tightening of his lower body and a shudder to pass through him. He stood dumbfounded for a moment with the open box in his hands and a terrified look on his face. I'm supposed to touch her? How the hell am I going to do that and not drag her into a closet?

Jennifer held her hair off her neck and waited for Rodney to put the necklace around her neck. "Rodney, are you okay?" she asked as she turned to look at him standing behind her. It appeared he didn't know what to do. "Oh, I forgot to remove it. They can be tricky to get out of the boxes sometimes."

Jennifer turned back to Rodney and took the box from his hands, brushing against his palms as she took it. The contact made her feel warm all over. Jennifer remembered a time when she was held in his arms over the course of several days after Carson died and she cried every time they were alone together. Because she had been devastated, she never paid attention to the feeling of being in his arms and having his hands stroke her back to calm her down. Longing for that physical closeness again, she stepped closer to him as she took the necklace out of the box.

"Here it is," Jennifer said, holding the necklace up and unclasping the hook.

Rodney looked at the tiny clasps that he was supposed to hook together with a blank expression. "Uh…"

"This clasp is easy, just tiny. The chain looks too delicate to hold the pendant, which is beautiful by the way," Jennifer said as she placed each end of the necklace into his hands and turned, pulling up her hair again. "Just put it around my neck."

Rodney took a deep breath and stepped behind her. Don't think about the smell of her that always calms you on a bad day. Don't remember her soft hair that's brushed against you. And don't get too close or you'll wrap her in your arms and hold her forever. Listening to all the voices screaming in his head, Rodney reached around Jennifer's neck to put on the necklace. Holding his breath, he pulled the chain together and his fingers lightly brushed the silky smooth skin at the nape of her neck.

Jennifer suddenly hunched her shoulders and laughed. "Hey, that tickles."

Rodney smiled when he heard the laughter in her voice. His uncertainty seemed to disappear as he settled his hands on her shoulders, half on bare flesh and half on the sleeves of her dress. "Ticklish, hhmm? I'll need to remember that for later." What possessed him to say such a thing was unknown to the genius.

Jennifer turned around with a red flush spreading from her face down her neck and under the necklace where it lay slightly below her collarbone. "Later?" her voice said in a quiet, questioning tone.

"I… I didn't mean later tonight later. I-I m-meant much later. Like weeks or-or even months later," Rodney stammered, wanting to punch himself. Idiot! Idiot! She's going to think you're a horny fifteen-year-old. Get yourself under control.

Jennifer felt an unknown feeling flow through her body, an anticipation she'd never experienced before. Rodney McKay just made reference to us being together weeks or even months from now. Euphoria replaced the anticipation and the young woman threw all caution to the wind.

Stepping into his space, placing her hands on his shoulders and leaning up on her toes, she placed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for the necklace and the date," she said as she stepped back.

Rodney's hands immediately halted her retreat by grasping her waist. His blue eyes zeroed in on her lips as his head began to lower.

"Doctor Rodney McKay. Doctor Jennifer Keller," a man's voice said, interrupting their moment. "The plane is ready."

Jennifer felt like a princess: limo ride, private jet, handsome prince on her arm and a diamond necklace around her throat. If those brats from high school could see me now. A big smile spread over her face as she looked at the desert fly by beneath them. Picking up a glass of champagne, Jennifer noticed that Rodney didn't look too happy. Hoping to lift his spirits, she said with a grin, "This is exciting."

"Well, it's just a plane," Rodney responded sourly. Being interrupted twice in one day when he was so close to paradise put him in a foul mood. Not to mention Jennifer had been laughing and giggling with the pilots who showed her the cockpit once she said she'd never flown in a small plane.

"Yeah, but I've never even flown first class. I mean this is amazing. Limos, private jets, champagne and have you tried these strawberries?" Jennifer asked.

"When I was ten I ate a bowlful of strawberries and threw up. Haven't been able to stomach them since," Rodney whined.

"How does this guy afford all this? I thought he was just a physicist," she asked.

"Well, he was always able to dupe guys with deep pockets into backing his research, you know? It's amazing what a nice smile and a PowerPoint presentation'll get you," Rodney replied bitterly.

"Well, I am impressed," Jennifer said.

"Yes, I can see that." Jennifer's excitement because of all the things Tunney provided was too much for Rodney's fragile ego to take where the young doctor was concerned. He glanced angrily out the window.

"Oh, come on. You should be happy for your friend's success," she said.

"Well, he's more of an acquaintance than a friend," Rodney said.

"Acquaintances don't pick you up in private planes," Jennifer replied, too caught up in her own excitement at finally being on a date with Rodney to care about his dismissal of his friend.

"He didn't send the jet to be nice; he sent the jet to rub it in my face," Rodney said pointedly. "Look, I was always one step ahead of this guy during school and now that we're in the real world he wants to show me that, as far as most of the planet is concerned, he's a lot more successful than I am. And what is with the evening attire? We're going to a science talk, for God's sake! Who the hell does he think he is?" Rodney finally got his rant going full steam.

"Is this what the whole date is gonna be like? Are you gonna be in a bad mood?" Jennifer sighed resignedly and cocked an eyebrow. I should have known it couldn't last, he's complaining like he does on Atlantis. Well, he better not start treating me like he did there or I'll kill him.

"No." Fear replaced anger quickly in Rodney's mind. I've upset Jennifer.

"Cause we're back on Earth in a private jet, drinking expensive champagne and all dressed up. We have no disasters to deal with. So what if your friend only wants to rub his success in your face, I know all that you've done. You've done more than everyone we'll meet today could ever dream of doing in their lifetimes," Jennifer said hotly.

"You're right. You're right." Rodney felt ashamed of himself for ranting about Tunney and in turn making his beautiful date upset.

Jennifer smiled and let out a breath of relief. Picking up her champagne glass, her eyes quickly traveled over her handsome date, who was picking up one of the strawberries.

Rodney held it up to her and smiled. "Hmm?"

She laughed as she saw him take a bite and apparently not care for the sweet fruit. Okay, no chocolate covered strawberries for Valentine's Day for us. A flush covered her cheeks and she quickly looked out the window as an image of them laying on a bed, feeding each other the fruit in front of her filled her head. Quickly setting down the champagne, which was obviously going to her head, the physician asked Rodney about his plans with Jeannie. He hasn't even kissed you yet so slow down, girl.

TBC

A/N: I know lots of fluff, but I don't have fluff going on right now in my other SGA stories so I gotta stick it somewhere. Thanks for bearing with me.