Several hours later, the sun had progressed so they were now bathed in shadows, John waking as Elizabeth turned over, cuddling into him as she sought his heat. Blinking in the dim light, he craned his head to look at the clock and sighed. "Elizabeth," he bent and murmured into her ear. "Lizzie, wake up."

Sleepily, Elizabeth raised her face toward his, eyes half opened in a half hearted glare at being called Lizzie. "What?"

"We need to get up and get ready to go out." He reached up and brushed her hair back out of her face, then kissed her.

"Out?" She frowned slightly, still half asleep.

"The ballet, then dinner?" John traced her face as she finally woke up.

"Ballet." Elizabeth smiled up at him, then shifted so she was reclining on top of him. "I love waking up with you."

Reaching up, he framed her face with his hands, his thumbs gently rubbing the last traces of tears from her cheeks. "I love you waking up with me."

"That works out then, doesn't it." Bending, she kissed him. "How long do we have to get ready?"

"We have just over an hour until the limo picks us up." John let his hands leave her face and run down along her body.

"An hour?" Elizabeth blinked, then rolled off of him. "We only have an hour?"

"Do you want something to nibble on as you…" John's voice trailed off as Elizabeth rushed into the suite, frantically rummaging through the parcels on the table until she found the ones she was looking for.

By the time John had followed Elizabeth in, she'd already retreated into the bedroom and he could hear water starting in the shower. Chuckling, he moved toward the food cart he'd arranged to have placed in the suite earlier and grabbed a plate of fruit and cheese, then he retrieved one of the bottles of wine in a cooler on the cart. Un-corking it, he poured two glasses, then carried a tray with the plate and two glasses into the bedroom, setting it down on the dresser where it would be out of the way, yet still convenient. Continuing into the bathing area, he opened the door to the shower. "There are fruit and drinks on the dresser…" his voice trailed off as he focused on her through the steam.

Elizabeth smiled at John as she washed her hair. "Care to help?"

Torn, it took all of John's will power not to give into the urge to join her."We'd never make it out of the room." With a last lingering look, he slowly shut the door, then moved to retrieve his own clothing for the evening. John had showered and changed, and was waiting for Elizabeth to finish when the phone ringing caught his attention.

"Sir, your vehicle has arrived." A man stated on the other end after identifying himself as the concierge. "However, there is a problem."

"A problem?" John's voice became softer, so as to not alarm Elizabeth.

"Unfortunately, the media has learned of your presence, and is waiting outside the entrance," he paused, "I took the liberty of diverting your vehicle to the rear private entrance, while telling the media it would return for you shortly."

"Thank you, where will we need to go?" John relaxed slightly.

"If you will notify me when you are ready, I will personally come and escort you to the vehicle."

"We'll be ready in five minutes, if you would like to come up now." John waited for the reply, then hung up. Picking up the box he'd set on a nearby table, he returned to the bedroom, stopping in the doorway to gaze at Elizabeth as she frowned at her reflection, twisting so she could see the back of her dress, or at least what there was of a back. "It is exquisite. You are exquisite."

Elizabeth turned her head and smiled slightly. "Thank you. You're sure…"

"Yes." Moving forward, he stood behind her and looked over her shoulder at their reflections. "Except for one thing."

She frowned at their reflection. "What's wrong, is my makeup too heavy? My hair?"

"No." With a soft chuckle, he opened the box and set it to the side as he lifted a necklace out, then reached around, letting the draped neckline of her dress frame the fall of diamonds and emeralds as she gasped softly. "It needs this."

"John…" Elizabeth blinked at the sight of the necklace. "It's incredible." Her hand lifted to run along the delicate scrollwork holding the jewels. "It's more than that, it's amazing." Turning, she flung her arms around his neck. "Thank you...but when did you...how did you?"

"Family heirloom. It's been passed down through the Sheppard's for more generations than we can remember. I dug it out of storage when we came back to earth, I've just been waiting for the right time to give it to you." He smiled at her. "But," he reached out and picked up something else from the box. "These however were made for you, to match the necklace."

"Oh…" Elizabeth let out another soft sigh at the sight of the delicate earrings. "I'm glad I put my hair up."

"So am I." He chuckled softly as she carefully put them on. "I wanted to give these to you on our first anniversary...better late than never."

"I love you, and I love them." Leaning forward, Elizabeth kissed John and slid her arms around his waist. "You are far too good to me."

"Never." John returned the kiss, then lifted his head as the door chime sounded.

"Who's that?" Elizabeth's smile disappeared as she tensed in his arms.

"The concierge." He reluctantly released her. "He's here to escort us to our vehicle. The media is camped out front, so he had the vehicle moved to the private entrance."

"Oh." She relaxed slightly. "I'll get my wrap."

"I'll be waiting." With a smile, he brushed another kiss across her cheek then turned and left the room as she turned to inspect herself one last time in the mirror.

Twenty minutes later, having left their coats with an attendant at the private entrance they'd come through, John guided Elizabeth through a door and into an elegant room. "This is a private salon for those who are viewing from the boxes." He murmured into her ear, his hand sliding to her arm as she turned to look at him.

"We have a box?" Eyes wide, Elizabeth blinked at him.

"I thought it would be a bit more private for our first official outing." He led her toward a bar and after ordering, handed her a glass of wine and nodded toward a buffet along the side of the room. "We can have something to eat, if you'd like."

"I'm not hungry right now." Taking a sip of the wine, she nodded appreciatively. "Perhaps later."

"Very well." With a nod at the bartender, he led her toward a door on the far side of the room, and a few minutes later through another door and into a small seating area looking down onto the stage.

"Oh, John." Elizabeth breathed out, gazing at the theater in front of her.

"It was renovated a few years ago." He watched her face, the wonder of her expression as she stared around. "They decided to return to a traditional look." Elizabeth took a step forward, staring at the rich velvet curtains and furnishings, gold trim and braid accenting the deep red of the lush material.

John smiled, and turned as a discreet knock sounded at the door. Crossing to the door, he opened it, then accepted the folded note an usher handed him. Opening it, he scanned the contents, then nodded and looked back at the usher. "Please let her know we appreciate the invitation, and will be honored to accept."

"Very good sir." With another nod, the usher turned and moved silently down the corridor as John closed the door behind him.

"Accept what?" Elizabeth was watching him curiously as he returned to her side.

"An invitation." He teased, gesturing toward the step down to the seating area, which contained a small couch and two chairs.

Stepping down carefully, Elizabeth sank down onto the couch, still gazing up at him curiously. "I gathered that much."

Seating himself next to her, John raised an eyebrow. "The Director of the ballet has invited us to a private reception backstage following the performance. I thought you'd like to go, so I accepted."

Her smile widened. "I think I'd like that very much."

"Then we shall go." He smiled again as she relaxed back against him. "Comfortable?"

"Yes." Eyes fluttering shut, she sighed softly. "It's so magical. I dreamed of nights like this."

"This is real." He murmured into her ear, tightening his arm around her. "I promise."

"I know." She sighed and opened her eyes to gaze around the theater again. After a few minutes, she frowned slightly. "John, people are looking at us."

"They're curious about the raving beauty accompanying me." John teased softly.

"No." Elizabeth stiffened in realization. "They know who I am."

"You're going to attract a certain amount of attention right now." He took the half empty wine glass from her trembling hand and set it on the table next to him. "We can go if you want to, but I'd rather remain and enjoy a beautiful performance with the woman I love, my exquisite wife, with whom I've been hoping to share this experience with for a number of years now."

Elizabeth took a deep breath as he tightened his arms around her. "I don't know if I can do this John."

"Of course you can." John brushed a kiss across her ear, nibbling lightly on the lobe before continuing. "Because I love you. Because you are not going to spend the rest of your life hiding. Because we are going to live full lives and not hide from anyone, ever again."

Taking another shuddering breath, Elizabeth turned her head so she could gaze into his eyes. "I love you."

"And I you." Resting his forehead against hers, he smiled slightly. "So we will smile and face the universe together."

"Together." She echoed then straightened as the lights around them flickered and the murmur of voices from the main floor grew momentarily louder as people moved to their seats. "And it would be rude to leave right before the performance, since you've already accepted an invitation for us afterwards."

"Indeed it would." Handing her back her glass, John waited as Elizabeth settled herself against him. "Better?"

"Mmm." Elizabeth took a sip of her wine as the curtain raised.