whew never thought I'd get finished typing.. longest chapter I've ever done… but its cute… hehe…
Oh and while I am not a shipper b/t main characters, there is a small hint towards SPARKY, just for rey, seeing as how I am such a pest… anyhoo, enjoy, and PLEASE REVIEW…
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Chapter 12: Final Hours
After a long week of preparation and training, Lexa and Lorne thought it best to just simply relax their last night before the mission. The two were cuddling on their couch, Lexa's head resting comfortably on Marc's shoulder, while they watched The 10th Kingdom on Lexa's laptop. As the scene where Virginia lies in Snow White's coffin for a paining played, Lexa mentioned how that's her least favorite Princess story. "I prefer Sleeping Beauty. Philip has to fight to get to Aurora and wake her up, much better story there."
Lorne chuckled, "Why am I not surprised? So what you're saying is that you'd rather have someone who'd fight for you, or at least put their life on the line?"
Lexa giggled as she hugged him tightly. And before answering she quickly kissed him and sat up. "Yeah, and you meet the criteria perfectly. Looks like I found my own Prince Charming." She smiled brightly.
Marc smiled back as he too sat up. He leaned closer to her, until finally his lips met hers. He put a hand on her cheek as the romantic kiss deepened slightly. A moment later he pulled back slowly, breaking the kiss and affixing her eyes to his. "Lexa, just promise that we'll work together on this, I don't want you taking on the Wraith alone. And you've got to be yourself, your powers are only a last resort."
Lexa looked away and sighed, knowing she couldn't make that promise. "I can't promise you that," she said as she slowly turned back to him. "I wish I could, but…"
He cut her off, "Lexa." He paused, kissing her forehead before continuing. "I know you've had a rough year, but if you keep acting like this…" He took a deep breath, "it's gonna get you killed." Lexa didn't say a word, she just closed her eyes and put her head down. "I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but…" he put his hand on her chin and lifted up her head, "if anything happened to you, I don't know what I'd do."
Lexa felt both guilty and touched, she wasn't really sure what to say, and then finally two words finally slipped out, "I promise."
Those three syllables were all Marc wanted to hear, and no sooner did they roll off her tongue did he smother her in a bear hug. He gently rubbed her back as they held each other, "I'm gonna be right there with you, watching your back. I know you can keep your cool." He pulled back to look at her, "Besides, it'll be the closest thing to a normal life you're probably going to get for awhile."
Lexa half smiled, "You had to play the normal life card, didn't you?" She received only a smirk in reply. "So what are you saying, that I have to take what I can get, cause the wedding is a long ways off?" Marcus simply smiled and shrugged. "Well, if its that far off… We don't want the stork to visit too soon, so…" Lexa lost her train of though as she burst into laughter.
Unfortunately for them there could not be another tickle war, for as soon as Marc started on Lexa they received a knock at their door. Lorne allowed Lexa to sit back up as he yelled "Enter" to invite in their visitor. "Evening Colonel. And what brings you by this late sir?"
"Actually I came by to ask you why you're up so late? You've got a big day tomorrow." The Colonel nodded to them both as he noticed the movie they were watching, "Hey cool, good movie."
"No worries John, I was falling asleep, so I think that we'll be hitting the bed soon. But then again, now I'm wide awake thanks to someone." Lexa cutely glared at Lorne.
Marc played coy, "What? I needed someway to keep you from saying what you were about to say. I need some kind of outlet her in Atlantis."
Sheppard raised and eyebrow in his usual fashion, "I don't even want to know. Well, I'll let you get to sleep then, good night."
Lexa grinned as she got up to turn off the movie. "Is that an order, or just a friendly suggestion?"
"It's a simply a friendly salutation, but I can make it an order if I have to." Sheppard glared at Lorne as he finished his statement.
"No need for that sir, good night," Lorne humbly responded.
John left and as the door closed behind him Lexa called out a "Night," as she put the DVD away. She made her way back across the room to where Marc was now standing and slid her arms loosely around his waist. She looked up and instantly lost herself in his deep blue eyes.
Marc smiled and followed her lead, wrapping her in his arms. It didn't take him long before he noticed the silence, and quietly slipped out a "what?"
Lexa giggled and calmly shook her head, "Nothing," she answered softly. "We should get to bed, and by bed, I mean sleep." The two love birds quickly changed and slipped into bed. They snuggled as close as they could get, not knowing how much of each other they'd get to see once off-world and under the eyes of the Wraith.
The next morning, Lexa and Lorne joined Sheppard and Weir in her office for one last meeting. For most of the week they had been focused on training and prep work, which meant that Elizabeth only got the occasional "quick version" of what was going on. But that was not the only reason for the meeting, as they sat Weir gave them one last chance to change their minds, "You know, you don't have to do this. I'd completely understand if you wanted out."
"Thanks Lizzie," Lexa started as she received a harsh glare from Weir. She grinned as she realized she was starting to take too many liberties as a civilian. "But there's no talking me out of this."
Elizabeth turned her attention to Lorne who simply answered with "Where she goes, I go. We'll be fine ma'am."
Weir nodded, "Very well. Now, would you mind filling me in on what exactly you're going to be doing?"
"Well, as you know, we sent a team back to the Wraith Worshipper planet and they brought back some valuable info. We'll be posing as workers from that planet who are there to tend to the villagers. As long as we don't draw attention to ourselves, I don't foresee us having any problems, so we'll be returning in ten days." Lorne updated Weir on the final arrangements.
"Well, ok then. Sounds like a plan, but isn't ten days a bit long?"
John fielded Weir's inquiry, "We don't know how long it will take the villagers to trust them, so ten days gives them ample time to gather the intel we need."
"I see, well then, let's get to it. You leave in twenty minutes," Weir dismissed the meeting.
Sheppard hung back while Lexa and Lorne made their way through the control room. As they reached the staircase Lexa sighed and quickly turned herself around, "I'll be right back, there's something I gotta do." She made her way back to Weir's office, running into John on the balcony that connected the two rooms, "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, what's up," the Colonel replied.
"I just wanted to apologize. I haven't been very fair to you since… the closet incident."
"Think nothing of it Alex, you weren't yourself, and I completely understand why you've been avoiding me. Just out of curiosity, have you told Lorne?"
Lexa took a deep breath before she answered, giving her a few more seconds to think before she spoke. "Yeah, I did, and he took it pretty well, except… I don't know if he was more hurt, or just jealous."
"Well seeing how Lorne's pretty laid-back, if anything, I'd say he was jealous, cause come on, who wouldn't be?" John made a very bad joke.
"Right," Lexa said sarcastically. "So we're cool?" John nodded in response. "Good," and with that Lexa retreated back through the control room.
Unbeknownst to Lexa and John, even though they spoke quietly, Elizabeth heard everything. At first she was confused as to what Lexa meant by "closet incident", but by the end of their conversation, and the fact she could see Lorne pacing at the top of the stairs watching them intently, she pieced thing together. Even Alexa's getting a piece of him. Damn it Elizabeth!
Nearly twenty minutes later the pair returned to the Gateroom, now wearing the clothes the Athosians graciously made for them. Ronan, Sheppard, Teyla, and Weir were gathered up on the balcony over looking the Gateroom while Chuck dialed the Gate. As the chevrons locked into place in front of her, Lexa began to tense. Lorne noticed and turned her to face him, "Relax. Just remember what we talked about last night."
Lexa kept a straight face as she answered him, "Yeah, I just…"
Marc didn't let her finish as he kissed her for reassurance. The Gate finally kawooshed as the wormhole was established which abruptly ended the passionate kiss. They both turned and looked up to the crowded balcony. Colonel Sheppard nodded, "Good luck, and don't get dead."
"Be safe," Weir quickly added as they turned their attention back to the Gate.
As Lexa eyed the puddle, Marc knew something else wasn't right. "What's wrong," he asked as he stood behind her.
"What if my powers are diminished? I haven't used them outside of Atlantis."
"You're not gonna use them, remember, normal life."
"Right, cause this is gonna be so normal."
"Okay, you want normal?" Marc quickly swooped her up, "You mind if replace the threshold with the even horizon? It's much cooler in my opinion."
Lexa giggled as she placed her arms around his neck, "No. Take me away 'O prince of mine."
Lorne carried her through the Gate and as it shut down Weir smiled. "I don't understand," said Teyla.
Elizabeth searched her mind for an understandable reply, "It's an Earth tradition. Once a couple is wed, the husband carries the wife over the threshold. It's a symbol of love and devotion."
Teyla was still slightly confused, "But they are not wed, as you put it. They are engaged, are they not?"
"Yes, but I believe, from what we just saw, neither of them wants that to be for very long. Though, I'm not exactly sure how we're going to get a minister in Atlanits…"