Author's notes: This is kind of a fun little Sheyla epilogue, totally an after thought, from Teyla's POV

oOo

Part 3: Epilogue

"It worked!" John said, bursting in to my quarters with a thought. I have found he sometimes forgets about common decency when it involves the use of his Ancient abilities. "Teyla! It worked!" he continued excitedly.

"Yes, John. I know," I said it with little enthusiasm, and I did not look at him.

"What?" John asked puzzled. "Wait, how could you know already? I just now saw Weir running down the hall like a bat out of hell and calling Rodney's name."

Although his statement made little sense to me, I refrained from asking for an explanation. "I was speaking of events earlier this afternoon, on my walk with Dr. Weir," I responded coolly. John, however, is not considered perceptive even by Earth standards, and he did not catch that I was upset.

"Oh, yeah, how'd that go? You bump into McKay and Heightmeyer like I thought you would?" He raised his eyebrows and nodded, implying he was already certain of the answer, but needed placating.

"Yes, I saw them, and Dr. Weir responded just as you suspected to the implication that doctors Heightmeyer and McKay were…an 'item.'" I tested the unfamiliar word, but it still did not feel right.

John clapped his hands together eagerly. "Jealous! I knew it!" he was so energetic he was nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet, reminding me of Dr. McKay after he has found the solution to a particularly vexing problem.

"Yes," I sighed dramatically, having seen this technique used by women from Earth with varying degrees of success. "That is good for you," I concluded with another sigh.

John squinted at me, his brows furrowed. I interpreted this to mean I had been successful in making him understand my mood. "It's good for us both," he said, taking my hand in his. "C'mon, Teyla. You're not still mad that I made you tell a little white lie, are you?"

I resisted his boyish pout. "I doubt you could ever make me do anything, John Sheppard," I said with the hint of a smile. "But you know my people value honesty and friendship highly. I still find it difficult to understand why such measures must be taken."

John grunted. I shared his frustration, but for different reasons. "We've been over this. We had to get them to admit their feelings for each other, so that Elizabeth would at least bend the frat regs for civilians. That leaves her free to date her 'irresistible' scientist." He used what I have come to know as air quotes. I am still unclear as to why doing such an action in the Earth language imparts a word with its opposite meaning. "And since you're a civilian…sort of," he wobbled his hand, "that means we don't have to go sneaking around Atlantis any more. And," he eyes sparkled, "no more paying blackmail to Kavanaugh!"

I felt my cheeks tinge at the thought of exactly how the disagreeable scientist had discovered John and I a few weeks ago. "I do not believe my cousin Shegan enjoyed being set up with him."

"And I'll never have to do another load of his laundry. Seriously, you do not want to know about some of the things that guy wears." I saw John shudder, and was glad I did not share whatever mental picture had caused it. "So you see, getting Elizabeth and Rodney together was the only prudent course of action. They're both incredibly stubborn, and Elizabeth as you know can lock herself into a decision, so drastic measures and a little covert ops were needed. You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs."

I resisted asking what omelets had to do with romance. There was much about Earth customs and culture that I had yet to learn. I did not see why romance between compatible people was forbidden among those considered warriors, or why people who cared for each other would hide those feelings. I had always been taught to love without fear, for the Wraith may come tomorrow and today may be your last. Perhaps I could teach this lesson to the people of Earth, as I have learned so much from them.

"So," John said, drawing my attention back to him. "Am I forgiven for making you do evil, immoral things?"

I smiled at him. "Of course."

"Good! Now all this matchmaking has made me hungry. Let's go raid Rodney's stash of powerbars and chocolate!"

I smiled and followed John towards Dr. McKay's lab. I did not mention that the mess hall would be a much easier option for obtaining food, for I understood that this was not the point. This was, to put it simply, John's way of showing affection for his friends.