A/N: Chapter Beta'd by Angw, please review if you want more... (There was supposed to be a threat in that)

John picked up the flowers and their vase after he'd finished talking to the city. He felt a little strange walking around the city with a small vase and two colorful flowers, but he suppressed it. He walked to the jumper bay and climbed into his usual jumper.

He activated his radio. "This is Jumper 1 requesting permission to take off."

"Jumper 1." Elizabeth replied. "You have clearance."

"Thanks." John said as he raised the jumper up through the roof hatch.

He shot off towards the mainland the second he cleared the hatch. He was in his element once again, at the controls of his favorite ship to fly. He flew high and fast. He wasn't sure how long he'd have to talk to Jarlin for, but he was certain it wasn't going to be pleasant.

He landed in a clearing just north of the village. The Athosian village was looking more and more like a small town. The Athosians had built a small electric fence and their homes had been made stronger and more permanent. Most of the buildings now had strong wooden supports and wooden roofs.

He grabbed his vase of flowers and exited the jumper. The sun was shining brightly. He instinctively used his free hand to shield his eyes as he walked to the village.

As he approached the outskirts of the city, he ran into a group of children. He didn't recognize any of them but said "Hi." The children looked at his vase of flowers, giggled, and ran off. Obviously, he'd been discovered by the Athosians.

He bumped into Halling just beyond the main gate. "Hey Halling, you wouldn't mind telling me where I can find Jarlin?"

"She will be in her home." Halling motioned for him to follow. "I can guess why you're here."
"I'm sure you can. I'm not exactly hiding anything."

"Most of the village is aware of your relationship with Teyla."

"How?" John said slowly.

"Many could see it when you first met. Others saw it within days of being on Atlantis. It is a mystery as to why you haven't done this before now."

"Well, it's a little more complicated than that." John held his free hand up to stop Halling from commenting. "The fact of the matter is that I'm doing it now."

"You do realize... that if you go through with this. You will assume the role of leader of our people."

"I'm aware of that. I mean no disrespect, but why does it have to be a male?"

"Tradition mainly, though I will admit that I've never known anyone as strong as Teyla is. Sometimes I wonder if tradition is really that important."

"That's my concern. For now..." John nodded his head. "...I'm going to play along."

"That is probably for the best. Once you are leader, then change may come easier." Halling stopped in front of a small house. "This is Jarlin's home. She is both wise and has seen the rise of four leaders of our tribe." Halling dipped his head slightly.

John returned the gesture. "Thanks Halling." He turned to the door. He knew there was no turning back after this. He wasn't exactly sure what he was doing, but he was going to go through with it. He knocked.

"You may enter." Came a harsh voice from inside the home.

John opened the door and stepped into a small atrium. He noticed that a worn jacket and footwear were resting off to the side. He set his P90 down on the ground. He then hung up his combat vest and jacket. He finally took his boots off and set them next to the footwear.

He took a deep breath, picked up the vase with the flowers and walked into the living room. The room was sparse, with only a low table and two chairs. The walls were decorated with various little objects that he couldn't identify. "Hello?" He asked.

An old woman with gray hair stepped into the living room from another room. She was dressed in a formal Athosian robe and held a tray that contained two cups of tea. "You are Major Sheppard, are you not?" She said.

"It's actually Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard." He replied. "I was recently promoted."

The old woman set the tray down on the table and motioned for him to sit. "I believe I know why you are here, but you must say it."

John sat down. "I seek the hand of Teyla Emmagen, daughter of Tagan, in marriage. I have already completed the first trial." He placed the vase on the table."

"I am Jarlin. I've proctored the second trial for as many years as I have lived. This is but the first test of many. Please, drink some tea." She sat down on the chair opposite him.

John took a sip from the cup of tea on the tray. It tasted bitter, as most Athosian tea did. He placed the cup back on the tray. "I remember the first time I tried this."

"Indeed, and that is where our first questions come from."

"Okay. Ask away."

"Why did you come to Athos?"

"We came looking for a haven. Atlantis was about to be flooded."

"More to the point, why do you believe that you ended up coming to Athos?"

John shrugged. "Random chance. We had an entire archive of gate addresses to choose from. It just so happened that we chose Athos." John felt himself getting slightly annoyed with this round of questions.

"Do you believe that fate, or destiny had anything to do with it?" Jarlin was starring straight at him. He couldn't lie if he tried.

"Maybe, maybe not. I know that I probably wouldn't have ever met Teyla..."

"This is not about her."

"What?"

"Not yet anyway. You must directly answer the questions."

"Okay, my apologies."

"When you first walked into our village, what were your first impressions?"

"Well... I remember being slightly confused as to your level of technology. You had the electric fence, but your homes looked like that of nomads. I wasn't sure what to think, to be honest."

"An honest answer. When you first gazed upon the daughter of Tagan, what did you feel?"

"Honestly, I was a little shocked. She was one of the most beautiful women I'd ever met. She carried herself taller than I ever did. She looked each and every one of us in the eye. Colonel Sumner couldn't meet her gaze."

"A typical reaction. What did you gain from conversation with her?"

"I learned a lot. She revealed that she was not to be trifled with. She was and still is an incredibly strong person, but I also learned that underneath it all..." He paused, searching for the right word. "...she was an extremely sensitive individual. She had something underneath her that we all wish we could have. I felt something from the moment I looked her in the eyes. She said. 'You're commander speaks through me as if I am not there.' I replied. 'Do I?' One simple statement. One simple response."

"Did you feel physically attracted to her?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. She is just so... stunningly beautiful. She could have any man she wanted. Yet she chose me."

"We are getting off topic again, Colonel Sheppard."

"Sorry. I'll try to be better at it."

"How did you come to realization about your feelings for her?"

"I never really realized them until a couple of days ago. I noticed that she and Ronon were becoming close and... I started to feel jealous. Finally, in fear of losing her... I told her. I told her it all. She in return, told me how wrong I was about Ronon. I realized then, that I really did love her, and that I would do this."

"Interesting Colonel Sheppard. You say you thought she was becoming close to another man. Explain."

"Maybe it was the fact that he's a better fighter than me, or maybe it was because they were from the same galaxy. Either way, they formed a connection that I was jealous of. I hated that part of me. I was proved wrong."

Jarlin nodded. "So you know she has chosen you?"

"Yes. I already know that. I also know how she has to be married by the end of the week."

"She has waited long. Longer than she should have, but Teyla has always been that way. She would not marry unless she knew that it was what she wanted."

"There's nothing more that I want other than to make her happy. I promised her I'd be there for her, no matter what. I intend to keep that promise."

"That is similar to the marriage vow. Was this your intent when you said that?"

"No. It's something we say to good friends. It means that we will always be there for them. We will listen if they need someone to listen. We'll try to comfort them when they're in pain. We'll hold them if they need holding."

"But you have changed your mind to include it."

"Yes I have. I've only felt the way I do once before. I am going to go through with this."

"This man, Ronon. You do realize that he may challenge your right to Teyla."

"Yes. I do. He'd have to kill me to stop me from marrying Teyla." John returned Jarlin's stare. "I will marry her."

"I believe you are devoted enough. You may go." Jarlin motioned for the door. "Come back tomorrow morning. You may leave the flowers here."

John nodded and walked back into the atrium. He gathered all his stuff and walked back out into the Athosian village. He spotted Halling waiting for him.

"How did your meeting go?" Halling asked.

"Well, it was harder, but also shorter than I expected." John replied honestly. "Tell me Halling, have you ever heard of the order of time?"

"There are some vague references to it in some of our oldest texts. It was a legendary group that seemed to have power over time. It is widely speculated as to if it actually exists."

"Well, I met an old man on one of the planets we went to. He told me that I was the next apprentice to the order of time. However, the next planet we went to had a super wraith on it that claimed to be the leader of the order of time. He explained how he'd fed on the order for a long time."

"Interesting Colonel Sheppard. Though I doubt your story, there is an undeniable bit of truth. You have the gene of the ancestors. It is something that would be needed, to be an apprentice to the ancestors' order of time, but again, it is all simply legend."

"Well, at least I know it's not just some wraith plot."

"Indeed. I would like you to know that you and Teyla have my best wishes. I sincerely hope that you will both enjoy many years of marriage."

"Thanks Halling, but I've got to get back to Atlantis." John dipped his head slightly.

Halling returned the gesture. "Goodbye for now."

XXX

John returned to Atlantis to find Teyla waiting for him. He pulled her into an embrace as he stepped out of the jumper. It was these moments that reminded him that all this work was worth it. It reminded him that she was worth it.

"How was your visit?" Teyla asked, still in his arms.

"Well... it was both shorter and harder than I expected. Jarlin was nice enough, but she insisted that I answer all her questions directly."

"She does not take much of your time, but she makes full use of it. It is something you will need to get used to, if you are to become the new Athosian leader." Teyla smiled.

It was infectious. John returned it, sweeping her off her feet. "I will expect you to always be by my side. As my equal."

"That is reassuring to hear. I was worried that you would let tradition dictate your... It does not matter. I expected no less from you."

"Teyla, since when have I ever treated you as anything less than an equal."

"Never, but sometimes you do treat me as a superior."

"Well, that's because you are, in certain things."

"Such as the Athosian fighting arts."

"Not so much anymore. Remember, I did kick your ass this morning."

Teyla laughed. "I was trying to believe that it was simply a dream."

"Sorry." John let her down on her feet. He released her from their embrace. "Care to walk with me?" He extended an arm.

She took it. "Where are we going?"

"Well, I'm headed for my room. First however, I've got to stop at the armory." He pointed to his P90. "Elizabeth doesn't like it when I walk around with this."

"I noticed that the wraith on the planet said that you were an apprentice."

"Yeah, so did I. I talked to the city. It says that the wraith don't have to feed on us. They can feed on lesser creatures. It's just harder and most wraith don't care." He walked into the transporter.

"I have never met a wraith that didn't think it was superior to us." She activated the transporter, taking then to the military quarters.

"No. Most of them have thankfully died before they had a chance to do anything. You know what I wonder... I wonder if there is such thing as a good wraith. It just makes me wonder." They stepped out of the transport and into the hallway.

"John... I should apologize for not supporting you earlier."

"Don't worry about Teyla. You didn't see it. You had no reason to believe me."

"But you have always believed me, defended me at every turn."

"Yeah, you'd be amazed what a teenage crush will get someone to do." He laughed. "I'm joking. I'm just a really loyal person. I'd never had any cause to distrust you. Until I was proved otherwise, I was not going to betray that trust. Are you going to be ready for tomorrow morning?"

"I will have finished my tasks by then."

"Is there anything I've got to wear?"

"No. We do not dress for formal occasions like you do."

"Well, considering I'm probably going to have to fight half the village for you... it's probably for the better." He entered his room.

"Why would you have to fight have the village?" She followed him in, closing the door behind her.

"Every guy in the village has to be jealous of me."

Teyla raised an eyebrow. "Jealous?"

"Yeah. You are the single most attractive woman in the entire village. To top that off, you're a great fighter and..."

She placed a hand over his mouth. "No more flattery John."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Did you have something else in mind?"

"Indeed I did." She kissed him.

John felt himself melt, again. "Damn, you can kiss."