Moments in Time (Formerly Wedding Bells)
Summary: Part of my Conversations Universe. Weir-Sheppard. The first wedding on Atlantis.
Spoilers: I think that everything up to Home is fair game.
Disclaimer: Stargate Atlantis and its characters do not belong to me.
Author's Note: Finally...an update to my Conversations Universe. This is AU. If you haven't read any of my stories in this series, you may want to go do that before reading this.
Major John Sheppard takes the stairs two at a time. He gives a quick smile and wave to the men and women in the control room but doesn't break stride as he moves toward the office at the end of the walkway. He's a man on a mission.
Dr. Elizabeth Weir looks up from the reports in front of her when John enters her office. She gives him a bright smile that stops him in his tracks. That special smile she reserves for him never fails to make him a little breathless.
It's been almost 3 months since their run-in with the Ancient. They've been taking their new relationship slow, partly to make sure they don't confuse their feelings with the false memories and party because it's difficult to maintain any relationship in Atlantis. Being the ranking military officer and the expedition commander makes it downright impossible.
John takes a few steps forward and leans his arms against the desk, facing her.
"I have a proposition for you," he says.
Elizabeth assesses him warily. She takes in the quirky half smile and mischievous glint in his eyes. Everything about him is screaming, "I want to go play."
"No John. I really have to get through these reports today."
Sheppard's face instantly transforms into a pout.
"But we haven't seen each other in three days," he whines.
"We saw each other at the briefing this morning," she corrects him.
"That doesn't count."
John literally stamps his foot and a mental image of a four year old doing the same thing zips through her head. Elizabeth can't help but grin up at him.
"This isn't funny," he says indignantly. "I've been off-world for three days!"
"I know. I missed you too." Elizabeth's smile softens and he knows that she's being sincere.
John can't let his feeling for Elizabeth get in the way of his missions. While he's off-world, he needs to focus on keeping his team and himself safe. But as the shield drops and he steps through the event horizon back to Atlantis, John feels ever second he's been away. Elizabeth is always standing at the balcony to greet him and his team no matter what time of day or night they come through. He knows that this city is home only because she's there waiting for him.
"If you really missed me," he says, leaning toward her, "you'd play hooky with me."
"John..."
Sheppard moves in even closer and Elizabeth holds perfectly still. He's not sure if she's keeping herself from moving away or towards him.
"I really wish your office didn't have glass walls." John's voice is husky and Elizabeth can't help but move forward an inch.
Her eyes just start to flutter closed when there's a knock at the door. Weir pulls back, startled. John sighs and straightens slowly away from the desk. He turns to find Dr. Kavanagh standing in the open doorway.
"Kavanagh." John acknowledges his presence a little grudgingly.
"I hope I wasn't interrupting anything," says Kavanagh.
"What can I do for you, Ben?" asks Dr. Weir before John can answer for her.
"Uh..." Kavanagh suddenly looks nervous and glances between Weir and Sheppard.
"I can go," offers John.
"No!" responds Kavanagh quickly. "I...um...you can stay. We're making an announcement today anyway."
"An announcement?" asks Elizabeth.
"Yes," says the scientist with a big smile. "Dr. Simpson and I are getting married."
John turns to Dr. Weir quizzically. The name doesn't immediately ring a bell.
"Fiona Simpson?" confirms Weir.
"Yes," says Kavanagh proudly.
Sheppard's eyebrows raise in surprise as he finally realizes who Kavanagh's new fiancé is. Elizabeth comes around the desk and gives Ben a warm hug to hide her own surprise.
"Congratulations!" she says.
"Uh, yeah. Congratulations." John steps forward to shake Kavanagh's hand.
"We'd prefer a short engagement," continues the scientist with a big smile, "but weren't sure if there was anyone on Atlantis that can perform the ceremony."
Elizabeth frowns as she mentally scans through the team roster. A justice of the peace wasn't exactly on their required attendee list. She quickly goes through the possible options before asking Kavanagh a question.
"Do you need the ceremony performed by someone from Earth?"
"Uh...no, I guess not," responds Kavanagh.
"Maybe you could ask Dr. Simpson if she minds? If we can't find anyone from Earth to perform the ceremony, then maybe one of the Athosians could do it," offers Elizabeth.
"I'm sure they'd be happy to," adds John. "I could go ask Teyla if there's anyone she could recommend."
"I think that Fiona would love for to be married in an Athosian ceremony, but I'll double check with her. Thanks for all your help."
The scientist runs off, presumably to find his fiancé.
John is sitting against Elizabeth's desk with a bemused expression on his face. She joins him, sitting close enough for their shoulders to be touching.
"Well that was unexpected news," starts Elizabeth.
"That's one way to describe it," says John. "Aren't they constantly fighting?"
"Pretty much."
"Well..." John smirks. "There's probably good incentive for making up."
Elizabeth laughs, realizing she's barely smiled in about three days. She puts her head on John's shoulder, no longer caring if the others in the control room can see.
"I've missed you," she says softly.
John rests his cheek against the top of her head and holds her hand lightly.
"I have a feeling that doesn't mean you're willing to play hooky with me," he says with a sigh.
"I really need to finish these reports."
"How much longer?" John asks, glancing down at the reports sitting on the desk behind them.
"Um..." Elizabeth thinks for a moment before responding. "Two hours."
"Okay," says Sheppard as he stands. "Two hours. Meet me in my quarters?"
"Okay."
Elizabeth beams up at him and John can't help giving her a quick kiss before he turns to leave her office.
He goes back down the stairs, thinking that talking to Teyla about Kavanagh's wedding may be a good way to pass the next two hours. John has a feeling that the remaining 7123 seconds were going to go by achingly slow.
TBC...
Did I fool anyone with the title or summary? You didn't really think I'd marry them off that quick, did you?
FYI...I used the same trick as I did before. Ben and Fiona are the first names of the actors who played Kavanagh and Simpson during 38 Minutes.
Thanks to everyone who has been waiting so long for me to continue on with my series.