Riley stood in Boyd's office, she liked the fact that Boyd kept all the small shipping containers to one side meant she didn't have to go find any she just hoped that 5 would fit all of his stuff.

After the meeting Lorne helped her out of her seat, but Sheppard called him to talk about something so she left and headed straight to the office to pack up. She'd rather get all of the packing done now. Her stomach was in knots they had to leave Atlantis. She wondered what it meant for her and Lorne, they hadn't really discussed where their relationship was going. If it was just a fling, what was she going to do when they got back to Earth?

She knew he'd be stationed somewhere, but would he want her to follow him? she pulled open the empty container and started piling in the books off of Boyd's bookcase. She mulled over her options, she loved him, agreed definitely in love with Lorne. She could safely say he liked her a lot and maybe even more but until the words were uttered it didn't mean it was true. She just have to 'man' up and ask him what they were going to do and go by whatever he wanted and hoped it was what she wanted. There were too many uncertainties.

A knock on the door disturbed her thoughts she look over her shoulder and Lorne walked in "Hey" he said. He came up beside her and leaned back on the desk. "Shouldn't you be resting?" he asked

"Well I only have 48 hrs to pack up Boyd's office and I figure he wouldn't want one of his grunts to do it" Riley said he took the books she had out of her hands and placed them into the box.

"Come here" he said he pulled her towards him so she was standing between his legs. He had his hands on her hips. "We need to talk"

"Oh the famous four words no likes to hear" Riley said, she looked everywhere but not at him

"Let me go first, I'm crazy about you" she said, Lorne smiled he knew better but wasn't going to call her on it yet. "I know we've been only dating for a couple of months but I can see potential in what we have"

She swallowed and licked her lips "I don't have any plans, I haven't had any plans for the last 6 months so when we get back to Earth I have no Idea what's going to happen after I get debriefed. I have no idea how it's going to work but I want to try… but if you don't-" he placed a hand over her mouth to silence her.

"I don't know what will happen either… But I do know that I have R&R …2 weeks of it… I was hoping you'd accept my invitation…I told my mum I'd be bringing you home for Thanksgiving"

"What?" Riley said stunned she didn't expect him to say that

"I'll take that as a yes?" he asked

Riley nodded "You want me to meet your parents"

"Yes, and I want to meet your grandparents as well" he kissed her neck and pulled back. Riley looked a mixture of happiness and dazed.

"Ok" She said still stunned she made a face "remind me of this later"

"Why?"

"Just so I know I didn't just hallucinate all of that… the pain killers are affecting my brain"

"Sure, so how did you get out my quarters and to the meeting?" he asked changing the topic.

"Huh? Oh Laura woke me up I was in the Mess Hall" Riley said she rubbed her eyes. "I seriously thought you were going to break up with me" she said she moved to the book case Lorne stood behind her.

"Well, you thought wrong, need a hand with this?" Lorne said he pulled down the books from the top shelf. Riley turned around and looked up at him.

"Don't you have your own department to pack down?" she asked, he stepped forward closing what little space there was between them.

"Yeah but it can wait" he said

Riley stood in her quarters, holding her duffel bag. She was going to miss this room, the place itself in its entirety, the colours, the sounds, the smell and the people who filled her life that were soon going to no longer be around. Everything, she swallowed the lump she felt in her throat. Hot tears burnt the back of her eyes she didn't want to leave this bubble, her home. She couldn't remember another place feeling like home like Atlantis had been.

Lorne waited outside, "That all you brought with you?" he asked, as he took the bag from her hands to carry it for her.

"Yep…What?" she asked when he chuckled.

"Nothing I just thought how funny it was I had 3 boxes and a bag and you only have this and it's so light" he commented as they walked to the transporter.

"I don't own a lot of stuff…and I had one box, Laura took it yesterday" Riley said

They reached the end of the corridor and stood in front of the transporter. Riley looked back.

Riley sighed "I don't want to leave" she said

"Me neither" he agreed, he recalled the first time she was standing outside his quarters with the misshapen mapped drawn on her arm. A lot had changed in two months.

"We'd better hurry…you are in the third group out through the Stargate, I have to wait with Sheppard for everyone to leave before I step through but I'll see you on the other side" he said

Riley stepped into the transporter and Lorne followed the doors closed and Riley pressed the map for the control tower. The doors opened and Riley took her bag from Lorne, "I'll see you on the other side, Starbucks? I want a Blended Caramel crème" Riley said she brushed her hand down his arm and held his hand for a moment. The control room was a bustle of noise and people walking through the activated Stargate.

"Ok, I think we can manage it" Lorne said with an amused smile

"What's this I hear about Starbucks?" Sheppard asked he appeared at Lorne's side.

"I'm saying I can't wait to have Caramel again" Riley said "and real tomato sauce not that Ketchup stuff"

"Awwh you'll come around to the ketchup, it's like that Vegemite stuff you made me try" Sheppard said he made a face of disgust "nasty, but Ronon loves it"

"Yeah I know I managed to get a 2kg container of the stuff for him" Riley said she chuckled as Lorne laughed.

"Well I'm going to say goodbye to Teyla and Ronon before I head through, Gentlemen" Riley said with a nod she walked away.

"Tell me you are going to keep her around" Sheppard said in a low voice to Lorne as Riley was talking to Teyla and Ronon a few feet away. "Not that it's any of my business.. But seeing as I am your commanding officer I feel it's my duty to give you sage advice… I know it's rare for me so don't get too excited"

"I'll try to contain myself, sir" Lorne said dryly

"She's a keeper" he said "Don't mess it up or Cadman will kill you and I will probably feel impelled to help her hide the body" he slapped Lorne on the back.

TBC….

Author's Note: Yes I know there's more I feel so evil for it but I can't stop! Not yet!