A/N: Sorry if this chap is overly-mushy and all the typos are mine own...it's late. -pj

Disclaimer: I wish I may, I wish I might...

Day Seventy-Eight

"Her name was Melena. We were from the same district on Sateda," Ronon and Remy sat side by side near enough to the fire for it to warm their faces and hands, but were still able to benefit from the heat coming off one another. Remy lifted her clay mug of Athosian wine and sipped it, listening carefully to Ronon's story, "I joined the military when I was fourteen, made Specialist three years later. I was injured in battle one night and she tended to me. She usually worked the Children's Level, but during TOC all…"

"TOC?" Remy tilted her head at him and Ronon was briefly brought himself back to the present to clarify.

"Times of Crises. Half my infantry division was in the hospital that night and all available nurses and doctors were called in to help with the wounded."

"And that's when you first saw her," Remy smiled softly, picturing an adolescent, smitten Ronon.

He nodded. They both looked up when some of the Athosians came to bid them goodnight, Teyla, John, Rodney and Jennifer among them.

"Thank you both for coming. It means a great deal to have those one cares about at the Welcoming Ceremony," Teyla smiled warmly, gently passing the sleeping Torren into John's waiting arms.

Ronon nodded at her and Remy responded with a grateful, "thank you for allowing me to attend."

Teyla acknowledged the junior officer's gratitude and the rest of her people wandered off toward the tents.

"Don't stay up too late you two," John said with a smirk, turning to follow Rodney and Jennifer toward the sleeping area, Teyla holding onto one of his arms while he cradled the newly Welcomed Torren in the other.

"Likewise, Sheppard," Ronon called out, a similar smirk on his lips when he saw John make to follow Teyla inside her personal tent. The Colonel made a gesture with his hands that Remy didn't recognize, but was able to guess it's meaning at the way Ronon chuckled when he saw it.

"Do you think I would have liked her?" She asked after a few minutes of staring into the fire.

"The way you like Keller?" Ronon teased.

"That's not fair. I've got no beef with the doctor."

"As long as she stays away from me, you mean," he said, amused as always by Remy's slightly possessive streak.

"Naturally," Remy smiled, nudging his shoulder. She looked back at the flames, her mood sobering, "Really. Do you think I would have liked her?"

Ronon sighed, "everyone loved Melena."

"You more than others, I guess."

"No," he shook his head, surprising Remy with this answer, "I was just better at it."

She watched him closely for a few moments until he turned to meet her gaze.

"You blame yourself for her death." It wasn't a question.

Ronon hesitated, "I should have made her leave."

"What are you talking about?" she gave him a confused, almost disbelieving look and frowned. "Ronon there was nothing you could have done. She'd decided to stay and that was what she was going to do, no one could have convinced her otherwise," she spoke softly but vehemently, looking deeply troubled by his feeling of responsibility in the matter.

"She chose to stay so that those who didn't get the chance to leave would know that their lives were worth something too. So that the last few minutes of her life wouldn't be cheapened with regrets. Whether or not she made the right decision isn't for you or anyone else to say," she realized she'd let her mouth run away with her and Ronon's stare was uncomfortably heavy on her skin.

"You sound like you speak from experience," he commented.

She set aside her empty mug and pulled the blanket she'd been given closer to her body to give herself an excuse to avoid his gaze for a few moments, "yeah, well, I know a thing or two about headstrong women," she muttered.

Ronon 'hmm'ed in response and finished his own mug of wine.

"How long ago did she die?" Remy asked quietly after a few moments, scooting closer to Ronon on their small wooden bench as the cool of night chilled her outer extremities.

"Almost ten years."

Remy looked taken aback, "and I'm the first since..?"

Ronon looked at her and the answer was written plainly in his eyes.

She blinked and let her gaze drop to the ground at their feet, "that's a long time."

He squeezed her hand, causing her to look at him again.

"It was worth the wait."

TBC