Author's Note: This is not what I originally intended for this month, but it was my parents anniversary; and so partially to honor them, I thought I'd do an anniversary-ish chapter. I hope that you enjoy :)
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May
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Sheppard sat back in his chair and smiled. It felt good to rest today; he hadn't had a decent day off with no crisis or anything in so long. Now if only the galaxy would let him enjoy the rest of his day off alone and in peace...
"John?" Okay, maybe not alone. But it was Teyla, so "in peace" was still a viable option.
"Hey," he twisted in his seat to look at her. She had an uncertain smile on her face, and the way she was standing gave him even more of a sense that she was nervous; this was not the normally confident Teyla that he knew.
"May I sit with you?" she asked. He nodded quickly, scooting over so that he could join her on the bench. He'd had it put on one of the balconies specially for him, and he came up here often to be alone. But sitting here with Teyla felt even more right than that.
"Whats up?" he asked her. "Did you enjoy your day off?" she nodded.
"I went over to the mainland today."
"And you didn't ask me to drive you?" he fake-pouted. "I thought that I was always the designated driver..."
"It was your day off, too; I did not want to bother you..."
"Trust me, it's never a bother to do anything for you. Just say the word," he gave a dramatic half-bow, and she laughed.
"I will remember that," she promised. Then she sighed, and turned her gaze out towards the water. "How was your day?"
"Not bad. I like my work and everything, but it was nice today just to kick back... play some golf... relax... and we didn't have anything try to blow up the city, either!"
"That would have made it difficult to relax, yes."
"Altogether it wasn't too bad," he finished, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. She seemed to have something on her mind.
"Are you okay?" he asked gently.
"I was just thinking."
"About what?" he encouraged.
"Us," the way that she said it surprised him, and he turned to face her fully.
"Us?" he repeated, trying not to sound too hopeful.
"Yes. I have been thinking back to the beginning, when you first came here, and how things have changed since then..."
"Yeah?" He definitely was hopeful now. Was she saying that she loved him?
"It was exactly two years ago that you came," she said softly. "Two crazy, heart-rending, incredible years."
"Would you give it up?" John asked, deflated now that he knew that this wasn't an outright confession of love. But maybe there was hope...
"No," Teyla answered slowly. "In spite of all that I have given up, all that I have lost, I would not change it. This is where I am meant to be."
"I'm glad that you feel that way," John said, delflating a little bit more. Okay, so maybe not love. Mutual affection? Maybe?
"Here," she said suddenly, pressing something into his hand. He opened it to reveal a small, deadly sharp knife in a leather sheath, with dark, intricate designs burned into the wooden handle and engraved as with the thinnest needle on the blade.
"Thanks," he said, examining it with interest. "What's this for?"
"For this... anniversary. You have done so much for my people, and for me... The day that you came you found my necklace, and when you took me to earth you gave me this one," she lifted the red glass heart briefly off of her neck. "I wanted to give you something, to thank you for what you've done and what you've given me. I know that it is not enough..." he cupped her cheek with his hand, and turned her to face him.
"Hey, this is perfect. And you should know that you don't need to give me anything to thank you. It's enough that you save--- and kick--- my butt every other day. I'd much rather that you kept doing that than worrying about giving gifts."
"You do not like it?" she asked, worried.
"No, I do; but that's not the point. I want you to know that you don't need to do anything special for me to thank me; it's enough that you're here," he paused. "Though I definitely won't turn away gifts, especially such cool ones. This would make even Ronon jealous."
"It was my fathers," she said softly. "But I believe that he would have liked you to have it." They sat there for another moment, quiet; and then Teyla stood up.
"Goodnight, John," she whisperd. He jumped to his feet and took her shoulders, and bowed his head to touch hers.
"Goodnight, Teyla." She smiled, and tilted her head up just a little, and brushed a feather-light kiss across his cheek--- his lips?!--- then gently pulled herself out of his arms and walked away, leaving John on the balcony wondering if he had just dreamed it.
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Author's Note: I hope that wasn't too fluffy, silly, or short. The next chapter will be longer, I promise. Please review!
