Thanks for hanging in there for this next chappie. And now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, chapter eight of What Can Be Said...The party:-D Have fun and enjoy the ride.
Days passed and the word of Teyla's pregnancy became a topic of great interest and speculation. There were some very scandalous theories that it was possibly not John's, though they had been seeing each other exclusively for a little while now. When these whispers were heard through the hallways, all four friends immediately tried to cover Jessalyn's ears. She, however, was slightly thrilled at the prospect of a baby sister or brother. Although, like any older sibling used to getting his/her way, she wasn't quite sure if she could share her parents with another person. The subject came about one lazy afternoon as the company was eating lunch in the commissary. Teyla had chosen to take hers in bed because she was having morning sickness and Jessalyn had volunteered to stay with her.
"Hey, what does Jessalyn think about all this?" Elizabeth asked John, in between bites of mashed potatoes. The guys looked up at her, then at each other, with expressions of equal confusion and hunger. Rodney shrugged, and continued to shovel bites of potato while John slowly swallowed looking thoughtful, as if pondering the meaning to the question.
"About what? The pregnancy? I think she's fine with it. Heck, more than fine. She can't wait. The girl is so excited for her little brother or sister." They were silent for another few minutes but, as usual with the group, it didn't last long. Elizabeth burst in again after a few moments of thought.
"Okay, I'm not a scientist and I'm not that knowledgeable about other realities and whatnot, but I was thinking,"
"Always a dangerous thing," Rodney muttered teasingly. Doing the best she could to ignore the comment, she continued on.
"I was remembering what she said to us one day. She was telling us that she was from another reality in which you and Teyla were married and were her parents. What if that child inside of Teyla right now is her?" She looked to a meditating Rodney for back-up to her radical theory.
"I doubt that's it…" Rodney said, looking both thoughtful and uncertain. But Elizabeth would have no part in that; the more she thought of it, the surer she became. Call it maternal instinct or what have you, but she was positive that was it.
"Think about it. Why else would she tell us that if she didn't know it would happen? Or maybe, that's her purpose for being here." Rodney shook his head.
"No, no, no, I don't buy it. She told us because we basically forced her to. As for her purpose here? Who says she has to have a purpose? She is only nine or so, after all."
"Hey. She's my kid." John said forcefully, half-rising towards the Canadian. Rodney seemed very calm for having a very strong, very threatening man looming over him.
"Well, technically, she's not yours, she yours in another version of your life. But I know, I know…" He held up a hand as John opened his mouth to retort. "But you gotta admit, Elizabeth's idea does have some holes." He looked apologetically at Elizabeth, who raised an eyebrow as she often did when he objected in such a manner. "Anyways," he gulped, "You two ready for this party tonight?"
XOXOXOXOXOXO
"Rodney," Elizabeth said softly, opening her door later that evening. God was she nervous. Oh, but…Damn. He looked good. He wore a flattering black suit, ('Most likely cut on the bias,' her inner style maven crowed), with a light blue button down shirt underneath. That wonderful shirt brought his eyes out to a vivid ocean blue. And, to complete the look, he was smiling like an idiot and she loved it when he did that. It was so cute. In fact, most everything he did, she thought was so cute.
"Eli-Elizabeth. Hi." He stuttered nervously. She stepped out of the shadowy doorway into the light and, like a cartoon character, his eyes popped out of his head while his jaw hit the floor. She wore a dark green strapless floor length dress that set her eyes off perfectly, complete with a matching satin clutch. She was walking oddly and he faintly wondered if she had twisted her ankle, then caught a peek of her gorgeous, but impractical, silver stilettos and smiled to himself. Why women put themselves through that torture was one of those age old questions his old college buddy told him never to ask; he would only get into trouble.
"So, shall we get going?" She asked, looking fondly at Rodney, who was still in ogling mode. As she said that, his eyes trailed up the length of her body to hers and he promptly shut his mouth and put his eyes back in his head.
"Uh, sure." He held his arm out, chivalrously, "Pour vous, Madame."
'Oooh, French. Nice.' She thought as she locked her arm with his.
"Merci, monsieur. You ready for this party?" She asked as they walked down the hall, soaking up the appreciative, and sometimes jealous, gapes from passers-by heading for the party as well.
"Yeah. The question is: Is Teyla ready for us drunken Earthlings?" They stepped in; to the room, to the cheers and wolf-whistles, to the smiles and the stares, to the jumper.
"C'mon, let's go." Elizabeth murmured into his ear, smirking as she felt, rather than heard, him swallow, hard. "They're waiting for us on the mainland." He knew she was referring to the couple of honor.
She was already having fun; being only human, she enjoyed the attention, the dressing-up and feeling pretty. And being only a mortal woman, she enjoyed the feeling that, just by breathing gently into his ear, she could turn a man to Jell-O.
"Okay, let's go." They walked up to the open jumper, stepping in as dignified as they could. A sergeant met them, already seated and powering it up. The rest of the company followed suit, some poor souls having to stand in heels.
Excited babbling went 'round and 'round as people buzzed with anticipation to get out and to the party, to the alcohol. When they landed, Rodney and Elizabeth stepped out, coming face to face with the Athosian Halling and his son, Ginto.
"Halling, Ginto, how are you tonight?" Elizabeth inquired kindly.
"We are well. And yourselves?" Halling replied.
"We are fine as well. Wow," Elizabeth looking around the valley, taking in the sight of her friends and the decorations, and the delectable smells. "You did a wonderful thing, setting up this party."
"It is a tradition we honor always."
"Dr. Weir!" Teyla walked over, positively glowing. Whether with happiness or the pregnancy "glow", they couldn't be sure.
"Teyla! You look well. Do you feel okay?"
"I am well indeed. You look nice as well, Dr. Weir, Dr. McKay."
"You could start calling me Elizabeth if you wish, Teyla."
"Yeah. After all, we do on a regular basis. How're you doing?" John sauntered over, grinning at his friends.
"Not bad. You?" Rodney finally interjected himself into the conversation, leaving the women to talk by themselves.
"Pretty good m'self. So, finally come to join us, have you?"
"Yeah. Figured it was about time. How's the party going so far?"
"Not bad, actually. Want a drink?" John held out a glass full of a blue-ish liquid.
"Sure. It is alcohol, right? Not some randomly weird concoction? Ooh, hey, buffet table. Teyla…" He turned to her.
"Yes, Dr. McKay?"
"Is there any citrus, lemon to be specific, in the Athosian food?" John snickered and Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, looking amused, while Teyla just bobbed her head, a slightly impish shine in her eyes.
"Of course, Dr. McKay. Among my people, it is considered a delicacy." He looked as if the Grinch really had called off Christmas.
"What?" He practically screeched, "D'you know how bad this is? I am deathly allergic to citrus and, if all your food has it, I won't be able to eat! Oh, God," he moaned, patting his pockets dramatically, "I don't have any Powerbars with me either and WLL YOU PLEASE STOP LAUGHING? It's not funny," he ended, whining.
"Yes, it is, Dr. McKay," Teyla answered through her laughter, "I was not being serious. As far as I know, our dishes do not have this lemon you speak of. It is not native to Athos, therefore we do not use it."
"Oh, come on!" He looked around at every one of them," That's just not fair. Did you know?" He rounded on John who was snickering. The soon-to-be dad tried to look innocent, but his laughter gave him away.
"Okay, fine, yes. " The scientist glared at him, "But it was just so much fun!"
"John," Elizabeth put in, a mixture of warning and humored approval in her voice, "Be nice." He sighed dramatically, shrugging his shoulders, as if giving in to something he didn't want to do.
"Fine. If I must."
"Major Sheppard!" A deep Scottish accent broke across the crowd, "Would ye kindly come over here, lad?"
"Coming! You'll be okay?" He addressed Teyla, laying a tender hand on her face.
"John. I am only with Elizabeth and Rodney. I can defend myself, you know this. I believe I will be fine."
Alright. Coming, Carson!" He disappeared through the crowd of formal-clad friends.
"Anybody want some food?" Rodney asked, eyeing the buffet table. After getting the women's orders, he made his way through the crowd over to the table fairly creaking under the weight of all the food heaped upon it. He had barely gotten there when he heard a loud roar coming from behind him.
"BATES!" An accusing tone shouted. Cringing, Rodney turned, registering that voice. The scene before him made him long for a camera:
Major John Sheppard standing in the middle of a large crowd with his suit trousers down around his ankles, exposing his garish boxers with bright red lip prints and hearts, to the entire crowd. There was an astonished silence for all of ten seconds then the whole place went up in cheers, catcalls, and whistles.
"You go, Major!"
"Whoo! Is it just you or is it hot tonight!"
"Love the boxers! But thought you were more of a briefs man." Many people turned to Janus Taylor, who was smirking with delight.
"You pictured the Major in—Okay…..so do not want to go there." Her date—another military man—fumed, closing his eyes with a disgusted expression on his face. Janus just shrugged innocently, then turned to her friends and started giggling uncontrollably.
Rodney groaned, realizing that not only had everybody seen something that wasn't on the game plan—though he assumed some of the ladies didn't mind—but that he would have to do something about it. He stood for about two seconds, torn between amusement and horrible embarrassment, but his conscience took over. And the fact that if he didn't do anything, Elizabeth would never speak to him again.
"Alright, nothing to see here! Go back to your food!" He sauntered up to the horror-stricken Major, taking his time, knowing that this particular moment would make for nice blackmail. "Come on, let's go."
"Where?" He whined.
"Your room, or tent, rather?"
"Yeah, right. This way. John pulled his pants up as high as his physicality would allow and led the way, head drooping.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"I can't believe it! The son of a b-"
"Major! Are you going to get dressed or just bemoan the fact that this happened to you? Trust me, it's a lot better than being pantsed at your prom, that's for sure." Rodney stood modestly outside the tent, mostly for the fact that he didn't want to ever see those boxers again, though he had a pair in his drawer on Atlantis.
'Note to self: burn boxers when get I get back,' he thought.
"But it's my party!" John moaned, fixing his hair with the small mirror-and-comb that he kept in his back pocket always, "Well, technically, it's not my party, it's Teyla's, but, still, why now? Okay, I'm ready, let's go." He walked out, this time wearing another pair of suit trousers, this time in a dark chocolate brown with a casual button-down of the same color.
"Uh, shoes, Major?" Rodney gestured to the man's bare feet.
"Right. I'll be back." After the man had been properly shod, they walked back to the campground, where smoke and a bright red light could be seen in the early evening darkness.
"Hey, nice timing. We were just about to break out the tetherball." Elizabeth commented. But now that John was back, it seemed unnecessary.
"Oh, wonderful. How nice of yo—Hey!" He caught sight of Jessalyn sparring with Kenti. Just as he figured that it was just friendly match, he saw her shove him to the ground and suddenly they were rolling all over the grass, huffing and puffing. "What the hell! You!" He ran over to separate them and pulled Kenti up by the back of his neck. "Don't you ever let me catch you doing that to my daughter again, y'hear!"
"Fine. We'll do it in secret in the work-out room." Jessalyn said sulkily, knowing how much it would make her father angry, but really, she didn't care.
"Jessalyn," He said warningly, with that scary look in his eyes and for the first time, she remembered what it was like to have her dad mad at her. She raised her hands in mock surrender.
"Okay, okay….fine!"
"John," Teyla came up behind him, holding a glass of whatever the drink was called, "Let the boy go."
"But…but he….Fine." He let go of Kenti and the boy tumbled to the ground in a heap of rumpled party clothes. He took a hold of the glass and took a big swig. "Why now?" He murmured, more to himself than anyone else. And suddenly, the clanking of glasses dominated the sounds of the party, and there was a chanting of, "Toast, toast, toast!" As the adults looked around distractedly, Jessalyn motioned for Kenti to follow her and, while nobody was looking, the two slunk away to the buffet table.
"They want a toast, you two," Elizabeth and Rodney appeared at the couple of honor's side.
"A….toast?" Teyla asked.
"Yeah, a way of expressing thanks, good wishes, yadda yadda," Rodney told her.
"Ah, then we must do this."
"Uh, yeah, okay, " John cleared his throat, holding up his glass, "I would first like to thank you all for coming here tonight and eating, drinking, and partying with us. We really appreciate it. I'd like to say thanks for the wonderful people who set this up. You guys are awesome! But most of all, I would like to toast to this breathtakingly fantastic woman, Teyla Emmagen! Give her a hand, ladies and gents!" The 'Earthlings' started clapping enthusiastically, while the Athosians stood, looking around at what these people were doing. Once the crowd had quieted a bit, John continued, "We're here for her; the woman who is not only carrying my child, but is also one of my best friends, along with these two," he gestured to Rodney and Elizabeth, both of whom were looking touched by his words, "Sorry, I'm not too good with this stuff. Oh, and remember: Life is a highway and I wanna ride it all night long! Cheers and good night!" He raised his glass, locking eyes with Teyla as the laughter echoed around the valley.
"So that is what a toast is," Teyla commented, her usually unreadable face filling with emotion.
"Yeah, that's a toast. Now onto the food and drinks!"
"This is good," Rodney said, slightly slurring his words.
"Oh, yeah….third glass already," John took a huge gulp, smiling in an inebriated fashion.
"Apparently, your people are not as used to our drink as we are," Teyla said, surveying the scene disapprovingly.
"No, we're not. Our alcohol is not as strong as yours," Elizabeth replied, taking small sips from her first glass.
"Moonshine's pretty strong," Rodney piped in, working on his second with much enthusiasm.
"True." Elizabeth watched with amusement as a few of the more upstanding military men broke into a raucous version of "I'm Too Sexy." Suddenly, she heard something very odd at her side.
"…..For my shirt. I'm too sexy," Rodney's voice cracked with drunken laughter. Before long, both Rodney and John had joined in the slightly garbled, terribly off-key rendition of the classic Right Said Fred song. The women stood far away, shaking their heads at the poor, drunk men dancing in a little group, which was getting larger by each stanza.
"I wonder what they are thinking right now," Teyla murmured thoughtfully, watching Carson and John bump hips.
"I have no idea, but tomorrow, they'll pay." Elizabeth took another cautious sip. At Teyla's quizzical look, she explained further, "They'll have these pains that we call hangovers when they wake up. It comes from drinking too much at one time."
"Ah, yes. We have the same thing, though we do not put a name to it. We have a quick remedy that is easy to make. If you would like, I can send some over to you tomorrow?"
"That would be lovely Teyla, thank yo—"
"I'm too sexy for my cat. Poor pussy cat!" Rodney all but waltzed and tangoed over to the two women.
"Are you now?" Elizabeth said amusedly.
"Yes. Haven't you noticed?" He stated, hooking his thumbs into his waistband in a fake male model pose.
"Ah, of course," she dodged the question, because, in reality, she had; she just didn't want to let him know that, "So. Having fun?"
"Fun? More or less?" He wavered unsteadily, wobbling.
'Rodney? Are you okay?" Elizabeth put a hand on his shoulder to steady him.
"Yeah. I'm good." He raised his glass, draining the blue colored liquid.
"Okay, I think you've had enough." She snagged the glass out of his hands firmly, much to his annoyance.
"Hey, 's'good. Don' take away." He staggered and held onto Elizabeth tightly.
"Hon, it's getting late, so let's get you back. Jumper three's leaving right now, so come on."
"No…'s fun!"
"Yeah, I know. John?" The aforementioned man looked up to see Rodney almost falling over, his face tinged a slight green, Elizabeth looking concerned and Teyla a sea of calm, as usual.
'One down, two to go,' he thought amusedly.
"Yeah? Oh…you guys leaving? That sucks. You'll miss all the fun; Bates and Johnson are this close to fighting. It's gonna be sweet." Teyla looked at him reproachfully.
"John!"
"Sorry, sorry."
"Bye, guys. Say good-bye, Rodney." Elizabeth instructed, holding him up as if he were a small child.
"Bye…'s'nice. Bye," Rodney muttered, slightly incoherently.
"Good luck, you two, and, in case I haven't said it already, congratulations! Now bye."
"I hope you feel better, Dr. McKay. I will try to send the cure we were talking about along, Elizabeth. Good night." Teyla looked on with real sympathy to the situation.
They walked slowly to the awaiting jumper, loading into it. They had barely made it into the city, on their way to her quarters, Elizabeth whispering into his ear to keep him awake and walking. It was then that Dr. Rodney McKay, astrophysics genius, fainted. Again.
Hehehehe...okay, so that's that. Stay tuned, dear readers, for the next installment. Coming soon to a computer near you. :-D Hope y'all liked it. It was fun to write...