Weddings are supposed to be happy occasions, but I'm writing this, so things are going to be very interesting indeed. Anyways, read, review, enjoy, etc.
Silent Reader: Thanks, it's always nice to get new reviewers. A shippy story is where two characters, male/female, end up getting together. Most of what I write usualy has Sheppard and Weir getting together, but not this time. Please can everyone take note of that, they are NOT going to get together!
Sarah: Thanks again for reviewing, I'm not really sure why I put everyone under the table, just needed something amusing. As for Ford and Teyla, well they're definately off to cause trouble.
Ashkash: Ford and Teyla have to cause mischief, it wouldn't be any fun if they didn't. And Rodney, well you'll have to see.
Drakcir: Well lookey here, it's the update! And like I've said, you'll have to wait and see what Teyla and Ford are doing. And of course you laugh isn't evil, and i'm, not just saying that because you're glaring at me.
BrokenSkye: Hmmm, that's an idea I didn't think of...but like I said, they're not getting together.
puddles1311: Well, if it's still funny, then I've achieved something, and I hope it stays funny.
Belisse: Weird is how I work. Did I make them declare their love for each other? I don't remember that. I hope I didn't! And yes I have my ways, and the bunnies are quite mad. I think they're eating the wiring at the moment.
Chapter 4: A different kind of ceremony
Elizabeth and John finally stood up from under the table. She looked around the quiet room and sighed. There were still reports spread across the desk at everyone's places.
"They could at least have cleared up."
John smiled, and began to help her clear the folders up. Once they were all together, John went to hand them to Elizabeth.
"Could you carry them?"
He looked at her arms laden with folders, notebooks, pens and her coffee mug on top.
"Sure."
Walking across to the door, she again had to open the door with her nose, to John's amusement.
"You could help."
"I've got my hands full!"
"So have I."
John just smirked, so Elizabeth shook her head. Stepping out into the control centre, she noticed that everyone fell silent at once. All heads were turned to stare at the doors. When John walked out of the conference room, a few people began to whisper. All of them seemed to be smiling in a way Elizabeth desperately didn't like.
Ignoring her growing sense of unease, she headed over towards her office with John in tow. When they had entered and shut the door, they watched as everyone began talking. Occasionally someone would glance over at the office.
"I have a horrible feeling they are all laughing at us."
John dropped the pile of paper on her desk and then sat down in the chair opposite her desk. Placing his feet up on her desk, he smirked.
"It's nothing, you're being paranoid."
"If you say so. And John, feet."
With a sigh, John lowered his legs off her desk. Elizabeth sat down in her chair and stared at him.
"What?"
"How do you manage to cause so many problems with such little effort?"
"It's a skill."
Elizabeth was about to retort when the door to her office slid open. Grodin stood in the doorway.
"Peter, what can we help you with?"
Reaching out, Elizabeth picked up her coffee mug. It still felt a little warm.
"Well, we all just wanted to offer our congratulations on your upcoming nuptials."
Elizabeth froze, the mug just millimetres from her lips. John nearly fell off his chair backwards.
"How do…how do you know about that?"
Grodin looked from the silent Elizabeth to the clearly shocked John.
"Ford, Teyla and McKay told us."
Elizabeth and John exchanged a quick look, which became one of anger.
"They are so dead!"
John jumped up, and was about to push past Grodin when Serai appeared next to him.
"Well, before you go off to commit these murders, you have a wedding to take part in."
"Now?"
Serai looked across at Elizabeth as she spoke.
"Yes, everything's ready for the ceremony."
Elizabeth sighed and put down her mug.
"Why can't you people just let me drink my coffee this morning?"
Serai looked at her in confusion, then at John, who appeared to be sulking. Then she looked across at Grodin, who was staring in shock. He was pale, and looked on the verge of fainting.
"You look like you've just seen a ghost."
Grodin opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Serai shrugged her shoulders, and turned back to John and Elizabeth. They were stood together, neither looking particularly pleased.
"Come on then," said John. "Let's get it over with."
Serai smiled, and led them out of the office.
As they went deeper into the city, Elizabeth noticed that the crowd following them was getting larger. It looked like all of Atlantis was coming to see this. John, however, was too preoccupied in trying to work out how many way's there were to kill the other members of his team.
Suddenly they stopped in front of a large door. Part of the wall next to it seemed to have folded down, revealing a small compartment. Inside was a bowl, with a small linen parcel placed inside that, and what looked like a small knife.
Serai walked across and removed the items and placed them on the flat surface that had been created. She then took her place behind the 'altar'.
"Step forward."
John and Elizabeth exchanged a final set of glances and stepped up to Serai. They felt like they were stepping up to their executions.
"Give me your right hands."
Both held out their right hands, and watched as Serai picked up the knife.
"Hey!"
Serai looked up at John.
"What?"
"Knife?"
"I told you, you have to be tied by blood. Don't worry, it won't hurt…much."
Before John could argue anymore, Serai dragged the knife across his palm. To his credit, he barely winced. In the blink of an eye, she moved across and dragged the knife across Elizabeth's hand. She only let out a slight gasp.
"Place your hands together, quickly."
Grudgingly, they obliged. Serai pulled the linen parcel out of the bowl and placed the bowl under their hands. They watched as blood dripped down into the bowl. After a little while, Serai nodded her head with a smile.
"Good. Hold out your palms again."
Now very confused, they held their hands out. Serai dragged her finger across the cuts, and they healed to form fine scars.
While they tried to figure out what had happened, Serai unwrapped the parcel. Inside was a small vile of clear liquid, a small drawstring pouch and a small brush. She poured the liquid in first and mixed it all together with the brush. Then she opened the drawstring pouch and tipped the contents, a fine black powder. She mixed it all up until it formed a thick deep red paste.
"Left hands."
Without question, they held out their left hands. Serai took Elizabeth's hand first, and using the brush, drew a line all the way around her wrist. She then repeated this with John. The line's dried instantly. Neither knew what to make of it.
"That's it. You're married."
Behind them, the inhabitants of Atlantis let out a large cheer. Elizabeth and John turned to face them, feeling very awkward.
"Go ahead," said Serai as she packed away the objects. "Try the door."
John nodded, and walked across to the door. Just to the right, next to the hole in the wall, was the button. The people of Atlantis watched in silence. Taking a deep breath, he reached out and touched the button. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, all of a sudden, the door slid back slowly to reveal a corridor of other doors.
Again, Atlantis erupted into cheers. They had it, weapons to fight the Wraith with. People were hugging each other and jumping around.
Elizabeth walked across to John and stood looking down the corridor.
"Well, I don't think things could get much worse."
"John, please don't say that."
Saying that always meant things were going to get worse. And she wasn't far wrong.