Authors Note: This is my first SGA fanfic and it hasn't been beta-read so I apologize if it has grammar/spelling errors in or if the characters sound a bit off. Please let me know what you think of this, complaints, suggestions; any feedback would be helpful as long as it is constructive.

Also please read "Window to the Soul" and "A Sour Taste in the Mouth", as they tie in with this fanfic (as does another fanfic I've yet to finish entitled "The Days Today").

Once again I couldn't resist the urge to write, so here's the latest chapter plus a cookie for the next since I've promised myself I won't write that until the 10th Dec. I hope this chapter is as much fun to read as it was to write!

Spoilers: Possible spoilers for any episodes 1-14 Season one, though definitely for "The Eye" and "The Storm"

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Stargate in any incarnations of course and I'm not making any money, this is just some harmless fanfic fun.

Chapter 3: It can be so easy to believe in a lie

Previously....

Sheppard looked up bravely and said it outright, about the best way it could come from him.

"What she's saying, is they expect you to be married...", he took a another breath in before blurting out the rest of the truth, "... and I kinda told them you were."

and...

"And here he is, Doctor Weirs other half. The very modest Doctor McKay"

The Deluthions turned around to a suddenly smiling Rodney McKay who never the less was sending otherwise imperceivable death glares to Major Sheppard.

and..

"...but just as long as you know I'm only doing his for you." Rodney shuffled a bit on the spot guiltily before adding "You did say they had lots of luxuries right?"
Elizabeth noticed a sudden look in his eyes and the corners of his mouth turn up slightly as he appeared occupied with a fantastic thought.Then he turned back to her pronouncing as if a resolution, "I'm also doing this for the possibility of chocolate you understand. I will be severely disappointed if they don't have anything deliciously sweet to offer us."

They stood lined up, herself and Elizabeth at the front with Teyla and the other two behind.
Nobody said anything much as they waited for the Deluthions.

Mckay interrupted the silence with, "Why are we waiting?"
Elizabeth listened only, leaving Teyla to answer the question.
"It is better to be early than to be late and risk offending the Deluthions."
"Right" was the terse response from McKay, who bounced up and down impatiently.

He had been acting shifty for some time now, fidgeting and quirking his face whilst trying to occupy his mind. Something must have occurred to him, as she saw him turn around towards Teyla.
"Hey, you never finished explain what that whole greeting this was we're expected to do."

Teyla looked thoughtful for a second, recollecting the details.
"Yes, I believe it would be wise to imform you now whilst we have a chance."

"So? If its anything like the Vulcan greeting then I'm covered"
Mckay smirked for a second, before catching the Majors so not amused smile and Teyla's confused expression."Sorry. Anyhoo, you were saying?"

Teyla looked for a moment rather apphrehensive. Was there something she hadn't been telling them Elizabeth thought.
"They will expect Dr McKay to perform the greeting of Earth first and then they will show you the traditional Deluthion greeting which you must replicate.""Thats still doesn't mean much to me Teyla. What is the Deluthion greeting?" she inquired"Yeah, a demonstration might well be in order. I mean we don't want to get this wrong, I mean we're all so eager not to offend anyone." quipped Rodney.

Teyla blushed "It would not be appropriate for me to demonstrate"
"You mean incase the Deluthions saw it?"Teyla never had time to answer him as the Deluthions and their court entered, very vaguely late.

Fashionalby late and just enough to show how more important they are than us Mckay sniped mentally.

"Dr Weir, Dr Mckay". The Deluthion king bowed to each of them, hands clasped in prayer as he did so. "It is a wonderful occasion to greet two such remarkable visitors as yourselves."

"It is an honour to meet with you also King Halen." Dr. Weir said with a smile.

Halen did not look pleased, looking towards Teyla who proceeded to correct her people. "It is the job of the husband to greet, this is the Deluthion way."

At which Mckay looked put upon the spot. Everyone, all of the court stared at him.
Sheppard praying for him to be on best behaviour.

"Its nice to meet you too Halen" Rodney said as he outstretched his right arm.
Realising his error he quickly added with a small smile, "Oh, yeah. Earth greeting. You put out your right arm and shake hands."

Halen smiled unsurley but did as instructed and shook the scientists hand, beaming at him when he saw he had gotten it right.
"Such an odd custom to have for a greeting. We have never come across a culture which has a formal greeting as that."

"You haven't? Why what's your greeting like?"

Halen smiled understanding what it was like to be at odds with what you knew.
"I will show you."

Oh he'd had to ask hadn't he, but he'd wished he didn't know as he watched the king take his wife into his arms and proceed to tongue it out infront of all.

None of the Deluthions were fazed by it at all, it being the norm around there he guessed. He would have liked to see the look on his friends face as they saw it though, realising he and Elizabeth had to 'replicate' the greeting.

Halen moved back form his wife, smiling once again.
Rodney thought he might well get sick to the teeth of that smile by the end of their visit.

"And you?"
The leader was still smiling and they all watched the pair expectantly.

He wished he could roll his eyes at the situation. It all made sense why Teyla had been so secretive about the 'greeting', if she'd told Elizabeth she'd have told him and then he'd never have agreed to it.

Halen and his wife started to grow confused when nothing happened, prompting further explaination form them.
"It is a display of trust in ones partner, sharing that intimacy with others bestows trust on those people. We know it is not normal for your people but surely there is no one you do not trust in this room."

Elizabeth leaned over to whisper into his ear.
"We have to do this Rodney, this isn't optional if they want to get their trust."

He smiled graciously to the whole room and took her hands in his, facing her. Glancing to his the sides, the Deluthions smiling back on his left and Sheppard and Ford blankly standing there on the right, with Teyla avoiding his eyes.

His heart sped up and if he wasn't mistaken he thought he could feel Elizabeth's beast faster too.

He'd never felt more nervous in his life, standing their about to kiss his friend, his boss, infront of about thirty people including other people he worked with. It would have been bad enough just the two of them, even though it was just acting. He felt his stomach flip as he looked up into her eyes, something that reminded him of how he had felt for Melissa. He shook the thought from his mind, hating that she'd come up in this, he only wanted to forget his high school sweetheart and besides that Elizabeth was everything she wasn't and the comparison scared him.

But he felt his stomach flip again before moving in closer. Sure, he was doing this for his country, his planet, hell his galaxy and he was even doing it because he wanted to, a thought that lasted a second before he shoved it aside and concentrated on closing the distance.

Elizabeth felt weak, almost powerless, the ball was in Rodney's court and if he didn't do this they'd be revealed for what they were. She prayed that he'd see sense but was surprised somehow when he started to close the gap between them fast . His face so near she could feel his breath as his lips met hers, barely hesitating, a sudden confidence to his movements.

He felt an electricity to the exchange, and his lips moved beyond his control, lasting longer than he knew was necessary for such a simple greeting.

And for those few moments she'd felt lost, unaware of all those watching, amazed at the warm caress of his mouth, infused with both passion and tender care.
When he withdrew she resisted the urge to follow him, seeking his touch.

She'd tried to catch his eyes but he looked away embarrassed and she'd horrifyingly blushed infront of them all, feeling a heat on her face that she was sure wasn't unnoticed by the rest of the team.
Whilst she was pleased he'd had the courage to kiss her infront of them all, she had been expecting a chaste kiss. Instead she had found his lips upon her own sooner and longer than anyone had thought would happen, except the Deluthions who seemed very pleased and more than convinced.

So she'd smiled her in her best diplomatic way and agreed to a tour, noticing but not acknowledging that Rodney had gone as quiet as a mouse.

He had withdrawn, swallowing nervously, concentrating on the tour. Concentrating on avoiding her face and avoiding grinning like a giddy schoolboy.
He shouldn't feel this way about it, it wasn't like she wanted to kiss him, it was all a ruse.And his heart sank lower, his sudden high dropping to a despair in an instant of remembering it means nothing.

She's just your friend, you mean nothing more to her.
She didn't pull away because she had to do that as much as you did, you mean nothing to her.

He repeated the phrase in his head as the tour of the astounding palace commenced, though even with the amazing rooms all he could really think about, attempt to ignore, was the feeling left on his lips of her and the wish for more no matter how much she had made his stomach do somersaults.

Sheppard walked behind the pair of Atlantian leaders, paying minimal attention to the tour.
He'd found it bizarre to watch the Deluthion 'greeting' between Weir and McKay. He'd never seen McKay like that, infact he'd had image of McKay as the eternal geeky bachelor scientist, always being rejected by gorgeous women. He admitted that was a bit unfair to think of him like that, even someone who was as annoying as McKay could be should deserve happiness.

However, it was more than a little shocking to see him pashing with Weir although he conceded that it was his fault that the two had to this 'husband and wife' thing going, meaning he really shouldn't complain about the weirdness at seeing such a scene. Only Weir had actually blushed and seemed to be avoiding any contact with her 'partner' and McKay had never looked more miserable in his life, also avoiding Weir and anyone else's eyes.

He wondered what was wrong and hoped they'd get over it, or else the mission might well fail. They'd just have to get used to being more intimate because he didn't like the chances of the Deluthions buying a couple that never wanted to in the same room.

Next chapter we have

... a royal dinner party

... a princess who has a crush on one of the team

...a very awkward moment

... and its very awkward morning after scene

and here's a little excerpt from near the end of that chapter.

Rodney's face flitted between utter disbelief and comprehension as he stood watching the Deluthion Queen retreat gracefully to their version of a lounge.
"Did she just imply what I think she did?"

Elizabeth tried to suppress the urge to giggle at the weirdness of the exchange that they'd just had. Settling only on a "Yes" for fear she'd betray her calm diplomatic exterior further. However, Rodney didn't seem amused, rather unsettled for the third time since they'd arrived there.

He looked back at the bottle mournfully; pancakes would never be the same again.
"And here I was thinking it was the most innocent of foods."