Author's Note: This will be my last post for about a week because I'm Camp Barnabas bound! YAYA! Next chappie will be slightly fluffy, but the angst is starting to take over. ;) Thanks to all who've been reviewing. Y'all make my day.
"And that is why I know it's true: you're for me and I'm for you. And my world just can't be right without you in my life. I wonder what God was thinking when he created you. I wonder if he knew everything I would need, because he made all my dreams come true. When God made you, he must have been thinking about me." - Newsong and Natalie Grant, "When God Made You"
"I always knew you'd beat me to it," Evie said, releasing the curling iron and gently letting the ringlet join the rest of Summer's brunette locks.
"Yes, well, if you and the Colonel would just get your act together…" Summer said, fidgeting nervously with the pearls around her neck.
"That would be breaking regulations and you know it," Evie responded, curling another section her best friend's hair.
"Since when are you afraid to break the rules?" Summer laughed.
"Since this time it could get me court-martialed," Evie answered matter-of-factly. She let the final curl join the others. "There. All done." Summer smiled and looked at herself in the mirror. "You nervous?" Evie asked, reaching for Summer's crown; the Captain had selected a small, diamond-studded tiara to hold her sheer veil in place.
"Duh," Summer replied simply. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Ooh, I've got butterflies like you wouldn't believe," she said, placing a hand on her stomach.
"Oh, come on, he's the love of your life, your Prince Charming," Evie said, placing the tiara on her friend's head and adjusting it so it sat perfectly. "What's there to be nervous about?" she asked, smiling.
"I know, I know." Summer glanced at the clock. It was nearly time. She turned to Evie. "Well, how do I look?"
"Just like a princess," Evie answered with a smile. "A beautiful bride." She laughed. "The princess bride!"
Summer giggled. "Aaaaas yooooou wiiiiiiiiish…"
Evie grinned. "Father Braddick should so start his message with 'Mawwige. Mawwige is what bwings us togethuh today.'"
"That bwessed awwangement," Summer continued with a grin. "That dweam wiffin a dweam."
Both women laughed. "If Michael doesn't have trouble speaking when he sees you in this," Evie complimented, "the boy's got problems." Summer beamed. "You ready?"
"Aboluby," Summer replied, using her trademark phrase. She hugged Evie tightly. "Thanks, Evie."
"No problem. Now let's get you hitched," Evie teased, taking her friend's arm and leading her to the Great Hall, where the ceremony was to take place. (They had discovered this large room a few months ago and supposed the Ancients had used it as some type of meeting place. The high, vaulted ceilings and many windows, though, made it a wonderful wedding chapel.) She handed her off to Major Johnson, who was to walk her down the aisle; the kind man had always been a father figure to the two younger women on his team. When Evie entered the room, Michael was immediately by her side, seemingly more anxious than Summer.
"Is she ready? I-is she nervous? What does her dress look like?" he asked, the questions spilling from his mouth as he nervously shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
"Calm down, Michael," Evie said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Ooh, I like the penguin suit," she said, commenting on the tuxedo he had brought back on the trip that he, Summer, and Evie had taken to Earth. "Summer's fine. A little nervous, but she'll be alright. And she looks great. As in, seriously hot, if I'm allowed to say that in reference to another woman." Michael grinned and nodded. "Now, before you hyperventilate yourself, I suggest you join Father Braddick at the front so we can start this."
Michael hugged Evie and then quickly walked down to where the priest was waiting. Evie smiled and shook her head as she searched for an empty chair. She saw Sheppard waving to her from a few chairs away. "Saved you a spot," he said, gesturing to the chair beside him.
"Thank you," she said, sitting down. She opened her mouth to say something more, but was cut off by Father Braddick clearing his throat. The chatter quickly ceased and the kindly priest began his opening words.
When he was finished with the "we are gathered here today" spiel, the Wedding March was played over the Atlantis speakers, and those gathered stood, as was custom, to honor the bride. All heads turned to the back of the room to watch as Summer, escorted by Johnson, slowly made her way down the aisle, smiling joyfully. When Michael saw his beautiful bride-to-be, his jaw nearly dropped.
Summer looked absolutely stunning in her white dress. The curved collar of the bodice was inset with pearls and lace, this pattern continuing onto the two-inch, off-the-shoulder sleeves. Her garment laced up in the back and accentuated her figure. Slender threads of embroidery, covered with sparkling crystals, swirled through the fabric. The skirt of the dress was full, but loose, and trailed behind her just a foot, creating a short train.
Michael grinned as he watched the love of his life slowly approach him. When she reached him, Johnson slipped him arm out of Summer's and returned to his seat, Michael taking Summer's hand in his and squeezing it nervously. He mouthed a quick "I love you", which Summer returned, before turning to face the priest.
After a brief message on the subject of love, the couple exchanged vows. "Do you, Michael James Murphy, take Summer to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, until death do you part?"
"I do," Michael said, hoping that the congregation couldn't see him shaking.
"And do you, Summer Christine Akerly," Braddick continued, "take Michael to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, until death do you part?"
"I do," Summer said, trying not to laugh nervously when she saw a tear slide down Michael's cheek.
There was a brief pause as Father Braddick turned to where the rings sat on a pillow on the pedestal beside him. "Michael, repeat after me," he instructed. "With this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed," Michael managed past the growing lump in his throat, slipping the thin band onto Summer's finger. Summer repeated the ritual, smiling encouragingly at her overcome groom.
"Then by the power vested in me, I pronounce you man and wife," Braddick said with a smile. "You may kiss the bride."
Gently placing a hand on the side of her face, Michael lovingly kissed his new wife. Summer happily returned the embrace. When they broke the kiss, the congregation rose to their feet and applauded. Michael took Summer's hand in his and they slowly made their way back down the aisle.
Evie wiped away a few happy tears of her own as she watched her best friend. "Makes you wonder, doesn't it?" Sheppard whispered.
"About what?" Evie asked quietly, keeping her eyes on Summer.
"What it would be like…"
"We can't, John, and you know that," Evie said, looking down.
"But, Evi--"
"So it's best not to think about what we can't have," Evie said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go congratulate Mrs. Murphy. Wow…" She grinned. "That's going to take some getting used to."
XXXXXX
The reception that followed was an interesting one, what with drinks all around. An inebriated someone had managed to gain control of the CD player, and there was now a group of tipsy Atlanteans immensely enjoying themselves by attempting to dance to the beat of "I Like to Move It". Then there was the occasional cake-in-face incident, but Sheppard hadn't been drunk when he had smeared the dessert across Evie's face. After wiping the cake off, she had promptly gained retribution by rat-tailing him with one of the cloth napkins, her weapon making a loud "snap" as it connected with his rear end.
After about an hour and a half, Summer and Michael were ready to leave. They had been given permission to take a week off, and were planning to have their honeymoon in Venalia. Those who were lucid enough gathered as Summer prepared to throw her bouquet of flowers. With her back to the crowd, she tossed them over her head, turning around in time to see a very surprised Rodney catch her flowers. He smiled, amused, and Summer just laughed.
In keeping with tradition, Michael sat his bride down in a chair and sneaked his hands under her dress. He grinned as he slid them up her leg until he found her garter. He slowly pulled it off and then tossed it toward the group of waiting men. When Carson's hand closed around the intimate garment, the good doctor couldn't help but blush. With a mischievous grin, rare for the Scotsman, he slid it into his pocket, unaware of the glare that Laura Cadman was shooting him.
The procession moved into the Gate Room, and Evie handed Michael the two small duffels they had packed. She hugged Summer as the Gate technician dialed M9X-424, home of the land of Venalia. "You two have fun," Evie said, releasing her friend.
"Oh, I assure you we will," Michael said with a grin, and Summer blushed. Taking his beloved's hand, they stepped through the event horizon as the rest of Atlantis cheered their goodbye's.
Compared with excitement of her best friend's wedding, the rest of the afternoon was dull and uneventful for Evie. Until evening, that is. She was walking down the hall to her quarters when she heard a familiar voice behind her. The voice that made her smile, that made her breathe funny on some days. "There you are. I've been looking all over for you."
"Good evening, Colonel," she said, turning around. "You could have called me on the radio if you couldn't find me, you know."
"And said what? 'I want you, Lieutenant'?"
She saw his eyes dart from her eyes to her lips, then back again. She put a hand on his chest, preventing him from following though. "Someone might see," she cautioned.
"The only people up this late are working in the Control Room," he countered, then gave her his best puppy dog eyes. "Just one little kiss?"
Evie couldn't help but smile at his attempt to look pitiful; he was succeeding quite well. "Oh, fine," she said, grabbing the edges of his jacket and pulling him against her. With a roguish grin, he pressed her lightly against the wall and proceeded to kiss her senseless. Unfortunately, they were so caught up in each other that they didn't notice the approaching footsteps. The man, as oblivious to the world as they were, rounded the corner and smacked right into them. Startled, Evie and Sheppard immediately separated.
Rodney looked up from his data pad, which he had been studying intently. He noticed the "deer in the headlights" expression on both their faces, but the situation didn't click in his mind. "So sorry. I should have been paying more attention…to where I wa-" His eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened as the light bulb finally went on. "Holy c--"
Sheppard clapped a hand over Rodney's mouth and pinned the poor scientist against the wall. "Don't you dare tell a soul," Sheppard hissed. Evie looked up and down the hall furtively. Rodney shook his head as best as he could with Sheppard pressing him against the wall. "I swear to you, Rodney, if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll… I'l--" Rodney mumbled something behind Sheppard's hand. "What?" Sheppard asked, cautiously removing his hand.
"If I breathe a word of this to anyone, you'll gut me and clean me like a fish," Rodney finished the threat for Sheppard.
Sheppard raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "Yeah. Exactly. You swear you won't tell anyone?" he asked.
"I swear, I swear!" Rodney promised, the look in Sheppard's eyes telling him all he needed to know, not that he would have ratted, anyway.
Sheppard released Rodney, straightening the scientist's ruffled shirt. "Good evening, Doctor," he said and then nodded to Evie. "Lieutenant."
Still slightly shaken, Rodney looked over at Evie with a questioning glance. Evie just shrugged and said, "Goodnight, Rodney," before turning and walking to her quarters.
Rodney stood there for several moments, trying to wrap his head around this newfound knowledge. "I…he just…and she…" he muttered to himself, gesturing absently. "But they're both…huh…" He shook his head, then returned his attention to his data pad and continued on his journey to the Control Room. Suddenly he stopped. Now Sheppard's odd behavior on last week's joint mission made sense…
"So, we think that the power fluctuations we picked up could have been caused by the energy shield the Trocars use to protect their city," Rodney explained, "but as they won't let us anywhere near the shield generator, we can't be sure. I get the feeling these people don't trust us even after we fixed their well. What do you think, Colonel?"
Sheppard didn't respond, as he was busy staring at something behind Rodney. One of his boyish Sheppard grins slowly crossed his face.
"Colonel?" Rodney tried again. He turned to see what Sheppard found so fascinating, but only saw Major Johnson's team gearing up and preparing to return to Atlantis. "Sheppard? Earth to Sheppard!" he called, waving his hand in front of the other man's face.
Sheppard snapped out of his reverie with a jerk. "Sorry, what?"
Rodney sighed in exasperation. "Did you hear a word of what I said?"
Sheppard grinned sheepishly. "Something about power fluctuations, shields, and…a whale?"
Rodney rolled his eyes. "A well, Colonel, not a whale. Just what were you staring at, anyway?" he asked, turning back around.
Sheppard grinned as he watched Evie and then quickly covered with, "Uhh…sunset!"
Rodney snorted, but let the lame excuse pass. The clueless scientist didn't realize what Sheppard had been watching, but he didn't care to press the matter further. "Whatever. Now will you please try to focus?"
Sheppard directed his attention to Rodney and nodded…
"Hmph," Rodney said, resuming his walk to the Control Room. "Sunset, indeed."