The next two days passed slowly for Sheppard. He spent hours building one-room homes for his people and coordinating the efforts to see that all of the survivors were housed. Lorne headed up another team tasked with providing enough food for the group while Rodney figured out how to store all of it. Relocating this many people was a horrible weight under any circumstance, but their inability to provide for themselves in such dire circumstances made the work a chore.

Some people, like Marks and Novak, seemed to thrive on the isolation. Sheppard noticed the two slipping away more than once, deep in conversation. He wondered if they'd discovered some sort of attraction between them or if they simply needed time to talk. As officers aboard the Daedalus, they were somewhat isolated from others. One day, they returned from their walk with their hands laced together. Sheppard's eyes swept their appearance, noticing that their clothing didn't look rumpled at all. Still, Novak's smile lit her features, and Sheppard gladly allowed them their privacy. At least some good would come of this situation.

Gisli's visit to his home still troubled him at times. While he longed to take her up on her offer, he refused. This wasn't the time for a relationship, no matter how tempting the possibilities. He had too much to do, too many things to figure out, and a missing commander. How could he ever focus on finding Elizabeth if he'd been distracted by a pretty blond? Of course, McKay didn't see it that way and viewed her daily visits to Kiah as an indication that she and Sheppard were sleeping together.

On the third day after her visit, a new pair of faces appeared. Olina and Geir strolled into Kiah, drawing Sheppard away from his work on a large meeting hall. He wiped his arm across his forehead to clear away the sweat and hoped he didn't look too grubby. Olina smiled at him, a sweet, innocent, wise smile so different from her sister's seductive smirk.

Sheppard walked over to join the two newcomers. "Geir. Olina."

"Major Sheppard." Geir looked around, surprised. "Kalle told me that you'd made progress, but he did not tell me how much progress you had made. This is beginning to look like a village."

"Thank you." Sheppard accepted a canteen from Lorne as the other man trudged past on his way back in from a night of hunting. John thought the other major looked beat and needed a bed, but Lorne merely picked up a hammer and started working on another home. "We've done what we can with what we're given. And we're grateful."

"That is why we've come." Geir continued to admire the village. He blinked. "You are building a great hall?"

"I don't know that I'd call it a great hall." Sheppard shrugged. "Just a meeting place where we can organize missions and such. We still have people missing, and I'd like to find them if possible. Not to mention making contact with our trading partners. We are grateful for everything you've done, and we'd like to help with providing food and such for your people, as well as ours. Right now, the only way we know to do that is to continue the kind of negotiations we did before Atlantis fell."

"I see." Geir turned back to him. "I came to extend an invitation to a celebration."

Sheppard choked on his latest drink of water. "Excuse me?"

"Every spring, our people celebrate the ending of winter and the start of a plentiful season." Geir shrugged. "We enjoy the celebration even as we honor those who did not make it. Sounds horrible, I know. But it is our way. This year, we also wish to celebrate our alliance with you and your people."

"Oh." Sheppard wasn't sure what to say. "Okay."

Geir went on to explain the different traditions of the party, which reminded Sheppard of numerous festivals he'd attended since joining the Stargate Program. Without anything to raise a red flag, he agreed willingly and began spreading the news. The idea of a party improved morale, and the people of Kiah pushed to have their "village" completed by the time the party arrived. That way, they'd also have something to celebrate.

Gisli continued to visit Kiah daily, mostly to watch Sheppard. He felt her eyes on him more times than he could count, but she never approached him like she had in his cabin. Every night, he entered and made sure he was alone before letting down his guard. He still slept with his pistol under his pillow, and he suspected others did the same. Ronon settled into life in Kiah with ease, though Sheppard could see the way the Satedan chafed at the rural life. If he hadn't been so driven to find Elizabeth and confirm Ford's fate, John might have enjoyed the slower pace. As it was, he also chafed, often sparring with Ronon in the ring that Lorne built during one of his long days.

The day of the festival, however, Sheppard walked past Teyla's cabin on his way to bathe and prepare for the party that evening. Teyla had been released from the infirmary and had taken up residence toward the outskirts of Kiah. She naturally withdrew into herself, healing as she dealt with the pain of losing friends. Jinto left his Athosian guardians and moved to Teyla's cabin, preferring to live closer to Sheppard and his team. Now that the pressure of finding a secure place to live had worn off, many of the survivors had finally reacted to their situations.

"What are, um, the dating traditions here?" The question stopped Sheppard in his tracks, and he had to think for a moment before placing the voice. Coughlin. And the young man's question floated from Teyla's open window.

Her smile could be heard in her reply. "Why? Have you seen someone you like?"

"There's this girl that visits most days." Coughlin sounded sheepish.

"I see." Teyla's voice rose slightly, and John could almost see her lifting her eyebrows. "Here, there are no set traditions beyond courtship. Unlike my people, who are quite open about our relationships, those here are often kept a secret until the couple is ready to marry."

That explains why Gisli didn't mention anything to her father about. . .the other night, Sheppard though.

Coughlin replied, "I see. So just asking her out won't work?"

"I am sure it will." Teyla's patient voice drew Sheppard toward the window, though he took care not to be heard or seen. "However, it is not something to be announced. Nor do Geir's people look kindly on strangers. . .defiling their women. If you take that step with a woman here, it is as good as a marriage contract."

John let out a quick breath. He was beyond glad that he'd asked Gisli to leave his cabin the other night! Just the idea of inadvertently marrying a woman was. . . . He didn't want to even think about that right now!

Coughlin actually laughed. "Teyla, I don't want to sleep with her. Okay, at least, not yet. She's just pretty, and I thought I'd get to know her a little better."

"Then I suggest you spend time with her at the festival this evening."

"Good idea." Coughlin sounded like he was about to leave, and Sheppard continued on his way. The new information about Geir's customs made him wonder why Gisli would approach him like she had. Perhaps she saw him as her escape from a bad situation. But, if sex was as good as a wedding, why would she so casually throw herself at him? Surely she didn't want to be married to a guy she didn't really know.

Finally reaching the river, John pushed aside his misgivings and entered the cold water. The thought of what Gisli had offered him still set his blood to boiling, and he knew he'd have to be more careful from now on.

oOo

That night, John sat next to Geir at the head table, along with Teyla, McKay, Ronon, and Lorne. The festival started with a feast, and Geir intended to address the people. Roasting meat turned on spits over a massive fire, and Sheppard figured that he'd thoroughly enjoy the party. . .within reason.

Geir stood, and the crowd fell silent. He lifted his cup, his people doing the same. John glanced at Teyla, and she nodded, indicating that he should also lift his own cup. Once everyone had done so, Geir spoke. "We are grateful for all that we have, but, this year, we celebrate the arrival of a new people to our planet. May the people of Kiah always know peace in their new home, and may they be blessed with abundant crops just as we have been." He turned to Sheppard. "Our friendship is yours, Major Sheppard."

John stood. "And ours is yours," he said awkwardly.

Geir nodded once and drank from his cup. Following his lead, everyone else drank to the "peace agreement," and the party began. Before long, Teyla, Lorne, and Ronon had been drawn away from the table. Sheppard left his half-empty plate and mingled a bit. Marks and Novak sat beside each other, sharing a drink and talking softly while music played. Ronon disappeared. Teyla danced with Kalle and several others, and Lorne stood to one side, watching the proceedings.

"Major." Gisli's airy voice provided Sheppard with a welcome distraction. She slipped her arm through his. "You do not celebrate?"

"I'm just not much for parties," John hedged. In truth, he couldn't relax. His people had been accepted here, but Geir's inadvertent slip bothered him. While their village had become known as Kiah, they were still from Atlantis and Earth. It shouldn't matter, but it did.

"My father tells me you still have people missing." It wasn't a statement, but a question. A subtle dig for information.

"Yeah." John glanced at her. "I wasn't the leader of our expedition. That was Elizabeth Weir. And she's still out there. Somewhere."

"You wish to find her."

"Of course." John frowned. "We don't leave men—or women—behind."

"Is that how you became the leader you are?"

"No." John didn't want to think about leaving Sumner behind. But he had. "That was bad timing."

"Oh?"

Seeing that he wasn't going to get out of this, he faced her. "My commanding officer was captured by the Wraith. I went to rescue him and a bunch of Teyla's people. He didn't get out alive." He glossed over how Sumner had died, how he'd been responsible for waking the Wraith, how he'd been unable to help Atlantis or Daedalus.

Gisli clearly saw the effect her questions had on him. "I apologize, John. I did not realize how hard this was on you."

"It's fine." John turned back to the group around the fire, spying Teyla and Kalle escaping toward the river. He frowned, not liking the suspicion that rose in him. Something about Kalle still bugged him, and Teyla's acceptance of the man stepped on every nerve in his body. How could she not see that something wasn't right?

"John?" Gisli's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Sorry." He glanced at the sky, noting the full moon and open fields. He needed to get out of here, get some air even if it meant taking her with him. "Care to take a walk?"

She beamed at him. "I thought you'd never ask."

John left the party, determined that nothing would happen between him and Gisli. He didn't need the distraction, even if he seemed intent on welcoming it with open arms. Perturbed by his own inability to get rid of the woman, Sheppard glared at the bright moon and tried to think of something to say.

oOo

Evan Lorne watched Sheppard and the pretty blond slip away from the party. Sheppard didn't look happy, but the woman seemed content to distract him. Lorne knew that Sheppard still wanted to learn the fate of their missing people. Needed to learn the fate of their missing people. Escaping to be alone with Gisli wouldn't change that.

Turning back to the party, Lorne spied another potential problem. Coughlin also watched Sheppard and Gisli disappear, a worried frown on his face. So this was what had distracted Coughlin over the last few days. Lorne headed for the man's side, hoping his arrival would head off anything problematic. "Lieutenant."

"Sir." Coughlin glanced at him. "I guess that answers that question."

Lorne glanced over his shoulder at the spot where Sheppard and Gisli had disappeared.

Coughlin heaved a sigh. "Better him than me, right?" He turned back to the fire.

Lorne watched him go, knowing exactly what Coughlin was thinking. Sheppard needed closure, and everyone saw it. Only a trip back to Atlantis would provide that sort of closure. But could they afford to head back to the place of their greatest defeat? Lorne wasn't sure, but he knew he needed to broach the subject with Sheppard. And soon.

oOo

"Tell me, how did you end up among the Atlantians?" Kalle's question broke the magical silence that had surrounded him and Teyla while they walked along the river.

"It is not an easy tale." Teyla felt him tighten his grip on her hand and let out a deep breath. "But, if you insist, I will tell you."

"Only if it will not cause you a great deal of pain." He glanced over at her, his light hair shining in the glow of the full moon. "I can see that you hold great respect for Major Sheppard."

"He saved my people," she said simply. "When they came to Athos, they needed assistance. Major Sheppard's commander looked right through me."

"But he did not?" Kalle stopped walking and faced her.

"No." She smiled. "He told me he liked Ferris wheels, football, and anything that went over two hundred miles an hour."

"What is a Ferris wheel?"

"It is a carnival ride," she answered, already having experienced a Ferris wheel through the brief time she'd been inserted into Sheppard's mind during their encounter with the mist people. "It is like a massive wheel that has seats hanging on it. It lifts a person up and down, in the motion of a wheel, giving them a spectacular view of the surrounding area."

"You've seen one of these?"

"Not in person." Teyla suddenly realized how careful she needed to be with answering this question. Kalle seemed overly concerned about her relationship with Major Sheppard. "I've seen. . .images."

"And football?"

"A game." She turned to him. "Why are you so curious?"

"Because you have never so willingly changed your ways before."

"I have not changed my ways, Kalle." She lifted an eyebrow. "I have simply come to understand things better."

"Then you and he. . . ."

"Are friends. Nothing more."

"I see." He resumed walking along the river. "And this meeting convinced you to join his people?"

"No." Teyla shook her head. "Because of their presence on Athos, the Wraith came. I, along with some of his people and some of my fellow Athosians, were culled. Major Sheppard risked his life to save us. That is when we joined them."

Kalle regarded her as they walked, and Teyla wondered about the intensity of his gaze. It was as if he were assessing her. He'd always been somewhat aloof, but his attention these last few days had warmed her heart. When he stopped walking to face her again, she met his eyes. He smiled at her. "I am glad you are here."

"As am I," she replied. She would have said more, but he lowered his head and kissed her.

~TBC