Prolouge

Lexa and Marc were comfortably sleeping in each others arms after a long, clothe-less night, until… Ring, ring, ring.

Neither of them moved, Lexa just whispered, "What time is it?"

Marc looked over at the clock. From a lack of sleep he could barely make out the fuzzy numbers, "5:30," he mumbled.

"Forget it, I'm not answering it. I need more than two hours of sleep. Besides, anyone who calls before dawn doesn't deserve to be talked to." Lexa snuggled closer to her man. After a few rings, the room was quiet for about another ten minutes, then… Ring, ring, ring.

Marc sighed, "Looks like you're going to have to answer it, or turn it off." He received no reply, as Lexa pretended to be asleep. "I know you're awake," he tickled her and received a big grin. "Fine." He rolled her over onto her back as he reached across the bed for her phone. He leaned over her and flipped it open, "Lexa's answering service, how may I direct your call?" Lexa silently giggled as they smiled at each other.

"I had a feeling she wouldn't answer, but to get her answering service. You know, she's a bad influence on you Lorne." Jack's voice came through the phone.

Marc smirked at Lexa, "It's your second favorite person in the world." He handed her the phone as he quickly kissed her.

"Oh yea." She spoke into the phone, Marc still leaning over her, "Jack, what? I can not stress enough how much I need to sleep."

"Up all night, huh? That's why I called. You might be able to miss the Daedalus, but Lorne can't. Guess I'm gonna have to get used to being number two from now on?" Jack had over heard Marc's comment.

"Yeah, whatever. Why'd you have to call so early though, the Daedalus doesn't leave 'till 9," Lexa was still half asleep.

"Oh, you know, so you have time to get ready, and not have to conserve water when you both need to shower," Jack tried his best to wake her up.

"Right, call back at 7, bye." Lexa put the phone back on the table next to the bed, then looked up at Marc, "What," she said softly. All she received in reply was a grin and a kiss, then they cuddled back up and went to sleep.

Later as they were getting ready to leave, which pretty much involved packing Lexa's clothes, she was a civilian now, so she could take a few more outfits, she finally said it, "Can't we just stay here?"

Marc came over and put his hands around her waist, so she happily slipped hers around his neck. "You can, I can't, and you know this long… long, long distance thing would never work." Though he tried to cheer her up she put her head down with a frown. He picked up her chin, "It's okay to be afraid, heck I am."

"How do you always know," Lexa whispered.

"I'm the fiancé, it's my job." He hugged her tightly and gently rubbed her back.

"I should have come to you when my father died. Had I, we wouldn't be worrying about this. We'd be staying here ," a tear fell down her cheek as spoke.

Marc broke their embrace, wiped the tear from her face, and shook his head, "All that matters is now." He kissed her forehead. "Besides, you've got an 18 day trip back to find whatever courage, or what not, that you need."

Lexa kissed him. "I got you, that's all I need." She noticed the time, "We need to leave." Marc hugged her again, then they grabbed their things and headed out to board the Daedalus for their trip back to Atlantis.