RATING: PG for some violence and language later on
SEASON: set 3 years after they have arrived on Atlantis
MAJOR CHARACTERS: mainly John Sheppard and Teyla Emmagen
DISCLAIMERS: The characters, setting, etc, all belong to MGM, Gecko, the Sci-Fi Channel.... I own nothing.
NOTE: Any mangled science, botched sentences and general oversights are my fault. We haven't seen a lot about the Athosian culture yet, so I'm making up many of the details.
SUMMARY: The key to defeating the Wraith may lay in an ancient prophecy. But are John and Teyla willing to pay the price?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Can you blame a fic on bad planning? This fic got started a while ago when I had an entire day to kill at the airport waiting for a flight. .
FEEDBACK: Sure
SPOILERS: nothing specific

The city of Atlantis was bustling with excitement. There were no missions scheduled for this day and must of the Athosians had come from to mainland to the city to witness the extraordinary event of a double solar eclipse. Both of the suns of the Atlantian solar system would be covered by a moon.

This was, as thanks to Dr. McKay, everyone knew by now, an extremely rare occurrence that only happened every 12 640 Atlantian years.

While the phenomenon would also be visible from the mainland, the city was in the perfect position to observe the event. Many of the Athosians had been a bit anxious about the prospect of a double solar eclipse. They had seen the sun of their native planet go dark before and, lacking any knowledge about what had happened, the event had caused fear.

But the scientists from Earth had explained how a solar eclipse worked and now most of the Athosians, while still nervous, were rather curious to see it.

John Sheppard had big plans for the day. The solar eclipse was just a convenient detail, providing the prefect background for his plan.

The third anniversary of their arrival on Atlantis was coming up in two months. They still hadn't found a means to contact Earth, but it didn't matter to him anymore.

Atlantis was his home. Especially now. He'd always liked Teyla, but over time, their relationship had changed, subtly at first, but eventually they had crossed the boundaries of friendship. They had been a couple for the past one and a half year. Both of them had known that this meant that she couldn't stay on his team anymore. Now, she sometimes joined other teams on their missions and oversaw the training of Athosians that took an interest in being included in the explorations of the Atlantians.

Today, John was going to take their relationship to the next level and propose to her. He had been planning for weeks, trying to find acceptable rings, which he had finally found on a bazaar like market on an alien planet they had visited two weeks ago. He had found the perfect spot, a low balcony in a uninhabited section of the city, where they wouldn't be disturbed and could still admired the solar eclipse. He checked his pocket one more time, making sure he had the rings.

Now all that was missing was Teyla. She was supposed to meet him at his quarter five minutes ago. At this very moment, the door chimed. He opened it with a thought. Teyla was standing in the doorframe, looking unusually apprehensive. John greeted her with a kiss.

"Come, let's go. I found the prefect spot to watch the solar eclipse. But we have to hurry if we want to see it all."

Teyla didn't reply, but followed his fast pace to the balcony.

The solar eclipse was truly a sight worth seeing. Seeing the two moons nearly simultaneous move over the two suns with such remarkable precise made him wonder whether there wasn't some kind of order to the universe which often seemed chaotic and random.

He committed the sight to memory, knowing he was one of the few human beings to ever have seen a double solar eclipse. He wrapped his armed around Teyla's waist, pulling her closer.

"It's magnificent."

"My people believe it is a bad omen." Teyla said hesitantly.

John had the feeling that she had originally wanted to say something else.

"But that was before you knew what really happens." He said softly, trying to ease the tension to he could feel in her shoulders as she leaned on him.

"True. It just takes time to abandon old beliefs. We have a lot to learn from your people." She moved closer to him and he could feel her body relax. He turned his head and kissed her on the cheek before slowing letting go of her and turning to face her. He looked her in the

eyes, once again, amazed by her beauty.

"Teyla, do you want to become my wife?" he pronounced the words, that he had rehearsed a thousand fold in his mind.

At first Teyla looked surprised, staring at him, obviously processing what he had just said.

But instead of breaking out in a smile, surprised made way to shock and fear. She continued to stare at him, not saying anything.

He stood like paralyzed, completely unprepared for how the events were unfolding.

What had he done wrong? The question resounded in his mind over and over as he stood, still holding the ring, offering it to Teyla.

"John." She finally whispered.

"I cannot." She'd found her usual confident voice again. "I'm sorry." She added as she ran from the balcony.

TBC