Major Kevin Marks smiled as he stepped off the Daedalus. He'd anticipated this arrival for weeks. While most of his shipmates couldn't wait to get home to Earth, he couldn't wait to get home to Atlantis. No one knew why, but his smile grew in proportion to his proximity to the city. Even Colonel Caldwell had commented on it last night, at the staff Christmas dinner.

Marks shook his head as he walked toward the main portion of the city. He'd long suspected that his CO had a grandfatherly side, but he hadn't expected Christmas, of all things, to bring it out. Nor had he expected the camaraderie that characterized the meal last night. While he'd sat there, next to Novak, he'd thought about his plans for his arrival in Atlantis, and his smile nearly stretched off his face. That's when Caldwell asked him what he had planned. Marks hadn't lied, per se. He just hadn't admitted the entire truth.

Entering the main portion of the city, he stopped and looked around. He didn't see the person he wanted to find, but he noticed something else. People smiled at each other. Along the corridor, wreaths adorned the walls next to lab doors. Christmas music floated from one of the labs down the hall. He suspected he knew which one when he heard the tune.

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style.
In the air, there's a feeling
Of Christmas.
Children laughing, people passing,
Meeting smile after smile.
And on every street corner
You'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells!
It's Christmas time in the city!
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring!
Soon it will be Christmas Day!

Her favorite song. Marks grinned and followed the sound of the Christmas music to a small lab complete with all sorts of microscopes, computers, and medical equipment. He'd met Dr. Camille Roslin last year. Quite by accident, too. They'd literally run into each other when she rushed to get some files to Dr. Beckett. The geneticist's embarrassed apology, not to mention her amazing green eyes, made him smile and drove him to find out exactly who she was. They had shared dinner before Marks left with the Daedalus, and her lab became his first stop whenever the Daedalus landed.

Now, Marks watched her from the door. Camille loved Christmas. He knew it from the various comments she'd made throughout the year. Many of her family memories came from time around a fireplace, singing Christmas carols, sipping hot cocoa, and finding the perfect Christmas tree. Kevin could see a miniature tree in the corner of her lab, decorated with blue lights and tiny, silver bells. He loved that she brought Christmas to work with her. Almost as much as he loved her. Using Elvis's smooth voice as cover, he slipped up behind her and pulled her into his arms.

Camille never squealed. She simply recognized his hold and leaned back against him. "You're home," she said with a smile.

"I'm home." He held her close while she logged off of her computer. Then, he let her turn in his arms and kissed her senseless.

"Welcome back," she whispered when they came up for air.

Kevin grinned, shedding his military persona, but he couldn't help the nervous energy he felt now that he'd arrived. While on Earth, he thought he'd found the perfect gift for her. But what if he'd been mistaken? What if. . . .? While Camille finished shutting down her work for the day, he walked over to the Christmas tree and stared into the lights, the green branches, and the tiny bells. She loved Christmas, and he knew nothing could dim that love. Just as nothing could change how he felt.

When she walked back toward him, he cleared his throat. "I. . .uh. . .had other plans. But this is not quite. . . I mean, I'm not sure I should wait to give you your gift."

Camille blinked at him, her green eyes confused. She tucked a strand of long blond hair behind her ear. "Kevin, it's fourteen days until Christmas. You can't wait until then?"

He chuckled. "No." Then, he reached into the pocket of his flight suit, pulled out the little box that had burned a hole in his pocket the entire way from Earth, and dropped to one knee. "Camille Roslin, I think I feel in love with you the first time we met. I know my position on the Daedalus makes things difficult at times, but I love coming back to you, almost as much as I love you. Will you marry me?"

Camille stared, her hands covering her mouth as she stared at the perfect princess cut diamond set into a silver band with tiny bells etched into the metal. Kevin had ordered the ring special for her, two trips to Earth ago. She dropped to her knees in front of him. "You really have to ask?" When his tension faded, she launched herself into his arms. "Yes!"

Kevin caught her, thrown a off balance by her actions, and landed hard on his behind on the lab floor. Unfortunately for them, Jennifer Keller chose that moment to walk into the lab. Atlantis's new CMO blinked and flushed at the compromising position in which she found the two of them. "Oh! I'm so sorry!"

Kevin laughed. "Don't be. She just said yes!"

Keller stared at him for a few seconds, and then her smile lit the room nearly as bright as the little Christmas tree. "Congratulations!"

Camille pushed herself up. "Thanks." Pulling Kevin to his feet rather than the other way around, she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm never letting go."

Keller smiled one more time and left them alone after a quick order to take the rest of the day to themselves. Something Kevin had no problems doing. As he slipped the ring on Camille's finger, he glanced back at the Christmas tree in her lab. Children laughing, people passing, meeting smile after smile. At least he knew what Camille's smile meant. They left the room, turning off all the lights except for the little Christmas tree in the corner. In the mess hall, they sat and stared at the one Keller and Lorne had found on this planet as they talked about future plans. Yes, it was Christmas time in the City of the Ancestors. And for Kevin Marks, his Christmas would always be complete with Camille at his side.

oOo

Author's Note: Sappy, yes. But, since my hubby proposed at Christmas time, I had to write at least one story with a proposal. So little is known about Marks, and I made up his first name. Not to mention the entire character of Camille Roslin. While I don't know if I'll ever write more about her, it was fun to write this little snippet of possibilities. "Silver Bells" was written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. It is unique in that it's one of only a few Christmas songs that describes Christmas in the city, rather than the country. It symbolizes the Salvation Army's Bell Ringers and how they're a fixture at Christmas time. For the purposes of this story, I used Elvis's version of the song, recorded in 1971. Hope you enjoyed! ~lg