Anything with /'s inside quotes is being spoken in Czech.
Chapter 10
"This is stupid, I am walking house, why am I going on a date now?" Radek demanded of John, who had stopped by to see how the Czech was doing, between his new quarters, and the date tonight.
"Because you asked Elizabeth if she'd like to have dinner with you on the East Pier tonight, and she said yes. I heard she even borrowed a dress for the occasion."
"Oh ..." Radek unleashed a chain of Czech at that, and once again tugged the shirt free of his waistband, not liking the look of it tucked in. He didn't like the hanging out look, either. He'd switched between the two so often the shirt was now wrinkled. "No! I will cancel, this was a stupid idea."
"Oh, no you don't!" John snatched the man's radio out of reach. "You need this as much as Elizabeth does, Radek." John moved over to Radek's closet, now big enough for all his clothes. "This shirt, leave it untucked ..." He tossed the shirt to Radek, who continued to mutter in Czech as he pulled the garment on, the blue Athosian cloth bringing out his eyes to an almost startling blue.
"Speaking as someone with a thing for geeks, let me just say - wow," John's grin relaxed Radek as he turned, trying to see himself in the mirror from all angles. The slacks Elizabeth had given him, along with the shirt, and his for once combed-and-staying-that-way-dammit hair and fresh shave did make for a decent looking fellow, he thought. Except for the watermelon hiding under his clothes.
Finally, he carefully gathered up the flowers he'd picked on the mainland earlier that day and checked his watch. He swore in Czech then ushered John out of his rooms. "I'm going to be late. Thank you Colonel, wish me luck."
"I am very happy for you, Dr. Weir," Teyla stood beside the woman, helping lace up the Athosian dress she was wearing for the date. Elizabeth had approached her asking if the Athosian women had any dresses to spare, and she'd been happy when Weir had told her why.
"Thank you, Teyla. I have to admit, I'm pretty happy for me, too. I have no idea where this is going, but, Radek is a good man, and I like him. Thank you very much for the loan of the dress. I didn't have time to order something from Earth, and I didn't have any 'date' clothes with me."
"Dr. Zelenka is a good man, and he is very fond of you, Dr. Weir, we can all see it. And you are just as fond of him. There." She finished lacing up the dress and stepped back to let Elizabeth see it.
It suited the woman, the green and brown tones of the dress enhancing her eyes and hair. It was just dark enough that she didn't look washed out, and not so dark as to make her fair skin seem stark white. The gold and reddish highlights and stitching only emphasized Elizabeth's own complexion and hair, making her look and feel a little more exotic. Elizabeth rather liked the effect, and she hoped Radek would as well. Teyla gave her a friendly hug before leaving, not wanting her presence to make Radek nervous when he arrived to fetch his date. Elizabeth's throat was bare above the collar. The necklace she'd worn every day since arriving had been a gift from Simon, and she was ready at last to put him behind her.
Dr. Weir had been quite surprised when the slightly nervous Czech had come to her quarters a week ago, asking quietly if she would like to join him for dinner on the east pier She'd accepted, hiding her surprise, but not her pleasure. Radek was one of the few people on Atlantis whom she felt she could trust not to use any sort of relationship as leverage. It was one of the reasons, she realized after, that she had allowed herself to start falling for the Czech.
Her door chimed, starling Elizabeth out of her thoughts of Radek. She gave herself one final glance before letting the door open. The look on Radek's face said the dress had been the right choice and Elizabeth realized she hadn't felt this eager for a meal out since Simon. And it surprised and pleased her that thinking of her ex-lover didn't pain her as it once had.
"Beautiful flowers, for a beautiful woman," he said, blue eyes twinkling as he handed her the flowers. "Tonight, we speak in English." He cherished their Czech conversations, but in an odd way, he liked the intimate nature of them. This date, for all they were trying to keep quiet, was somewhat of a public affair. Elizabeth was "governor of the colony" after all, and Radek was the only pregnant man in the city, so they would be noticed, and by now everyone knew about the date anyway.
"Thank you so much, Radek." Elizabeth smiled as she put the flowers in a vase. Then she took his arm as they walked through the halls. At the pier, Radek led her to a table he'd arranged to be set apart from the others. He'd traded in a few favors and had arranged for wait service for them. He'd also arranged for a bottle of real Earth wine, traded for a day off for one of the scientists. It was a light, bubbly champaigne and Radek had checked with Beckett and they agreed on two glasses for the evening, since Radek was otherwise being good about what he ate and drank. This was a rather special occasion.
After holding Elizabeth's chair for her, Radek settled into his own, having made arrangements to move his lab maternity chair out here for the evening, so he could be comfortable.
They talked quietly, renewing a few old conversations, talking a little bit about Earth. Elizabeth coaxed him into talking about some modifications he was working on for the jumpers. Aside from the leader in her wanting to know everything that was going on in 'her' city, Elizabeth had long ago learned she liked when Radek 'talked shop.' He didn't condescend when she asked for clarification, and the way he talked about Atlantis, she could almost hear the music he'd compared the city to.
Their conversation was interrupted only by their meal, during which they still talked but at a slower pace, exchanging smiles and the occasional touch. After dinner itself, they sat at their table talking and sipping wine. Their hands met on the table, fingers playing very gently over each others, caressing, light touches.
"Would you like to go for a walk, Elizabeth?" Radek said finally, finishing his glass of wine. The alcohol was having its gentle effect. He'd been good and kept to two glasses, but he felt warm through and through. He suspected Elizabeth's warm smile and light touch and soft green eyes had something to do with it.
"I'd love to." She smiled and they stood, Radek again offering his arm. She had enjoyed the dinner immensely though she knew they were being closely if affectionately, watched.
Radek's body was slowed by the pregnancy, making for a leisurely stroll. He stopped once, taking Elizabeth's hand and pressing her palm to his stomach, letting her feel the movement there. She gasped softly at the sensation, smiling into Radek's eyes, loving the intimacy of the moment. "What does it feel like?" She asked, keeping her hand on him, his own hand covering hers, long after the movement had subsided.
"Life. Magic, which I never believed in before I felt this. It is ... It woke me, the first time it happened. I admit, I called Dr. Beckett, worried something was going wrong. I knew the baby would move at some point, but I was not ready for it," he chuckled shyly, then laced his fingers with Elizabeth's as they continued walking.
"Oops." She chuckled, curling her fingers around Radek's, loving the feel of her hand in his.
"It was somewhat embarrassing, Dr. Beckett was very tired, but he had insisted I call him personally if anything happened. When he explained the movement was only the child, it was a relief to say the least. He said she is very healthy, and that Marina was lucky to have such a concerned father," he sounded a little doubtful but his smile was a winning one.
"Well, she is very lucky," Elizabeth said as they continued walking. "I know for a fact her father is a very kind and good man."
"You would say this about Rodney?" Radek's eyes danced as Elizabeth laughed. "Thank you. I can say Marina's father is very lucky tonight, spending time with a beautiful woman who makes him smile even when she is not there."
"You're getting poetic again, Radek."
"Perhaps Marina will be a poet, not a scientist. I hope only for her to be happy."
"If that's what you wish for her, Radek, that alone will make it easier for her to be so."
They had reached a gentle set of steps that looked out over the Lantean ocean and Elizabeth suggested they sit, realizing with an internal blush she had hopes of getting closer to Radek. Nothing indiscreet of course but an arm around shoulders was far from indiscreet. She could also tell the walk was beginning to pain him and didn't want to embarrass him by bringing attention to it.
For Radek, the hardest part had been getting over his nerves. To stop thinking about why he shouldn't date Elizabeth, and simply ask her out. Now that they were well into the date, Radek found it easy to behave as he had wanted to for so long. Once they were seated, his arm wrapped around her lightly, easing her closer as they gazed at the stars.
"It's almost familiar now, isn't it?" Elizabeth asked after several quiet moments, enjoying Radek's arm around her shoulders, leaning closer to him.
"Yes. My eye no longer looks for shapes it won't find." Radek once again took Elizabeth's hand, strong fingers pressing her palm against his stomach, letting her feel the intimate movement of life within him. In the early months, many had touched his stomach, for luck they said, but the novelty of it had worn off long ago. Aside from Carson, and Radek himself, Elizabeth was the only one to feel the life moving inside him.
"Why Marina?" Elizabeth finally asked, her hand drifting lightly over Radek's stomach of its own accord, and he didn't seem to mind at all.
"Two reasons. My grandmother was Marina, and my sister named her daughter Chesna after our other grandmother. Also, Marina means 'from the sea' which I think is appropriate for Atlantis, city which vanished under the ocean, and which rose up again when we arrived. So it's a fated name, I think, and a good one. Middle name McKay for Rodney, since it's a girl. Rodney is not a good name for a girl, even a middle name." Zelenka was not going to deny – or now allow Rodney to deny – his inadvertent part in Marina's conception.
"Marina McKay Zelenka? It's lovely." Elizabeth shifted and leaned down a little, planting the lightest of kisses on Radek's round stomach. "Hello, little one."
Radek was so touched by the gesture, when Elizabeth lifted her head, he slid a light hand to her neck and leaned forward to kiss her, lips touching now as fingers had on the table, lightly, slow, gentle caresses as much of air as substance.
"I told you it was a good idea," Rodney sniffed, glancing over his laptop screen at Sheppard.
"You're right, Rodney. Dinner party to not fix up Radek and Elizabeth was a fantastic idea. Too bad they beat you to the punch." John didn't look up from his book, but Rodney could still see his smirk.
"Well they might not have if someone hadn't given Radek a little pep talk."
"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about, Rodney."
"Oh, don't play coy, Colonel, you don't have the eyes for it. You told Radek to go after her, when you took him over to the mainland that day."
"I was returning a favor. Though sometimes I ask my self if 'favor' is the right word. Curse might be a little more accurate."
"Oh, fuck off," Rodney waved a hand dismissively.
"Finish that report and we'll look into it."
Radek sat slowly, laying back in the bed with a heavy sigh. He felt a pang of mingled guilt and love as he watched Elizabeth. She was bustling around his rooms, cheerfully setting up the nursery. A month ago, he would have been up helping her but when he tried right now, his back protested. Just over seven months pregnant, now, Radek began to understand why women frequently added a few months to their 'months along.' He felt more like he was twenty months pregnant.
Rodney had kept to his word, and thrown Radek a rather impressive baby shower. The first mid-way "Radek shower" had been a quiet, intimate affair compared to the baby shower. The north Pier was the only place big enough to accommodate everyone, including a good many people from the mainland. There had been a handful of Daedalus runs to prepare and make sure everything was there. Everyone had made sure that all the essentials were taken care of – diapers, formula, clothing. And that there were plenty of extras – three strollers, high-chairs, toys of all sizes. By Radek's estimate, they could afford to lose contact with Earth for two years before Marina ran out of diapers, formula and toys to break.
Radek had admittedly spent most of the time trying not to weep too much at all the warmth he felt from everyone. His guilt at being waited on was assuaged by the fact that so many people seemed to be doing it that no one was overburdened with it. At the end of the party, Rodney had shooed him and Elizabeth off, assuring them that most of the presents would be packed away for when they were needed.
The rest were sent home with them and Radek watched Elizabeth with loving eyes as she set up the nursery. He occasionally made suggestions, but contented himself with watching, trusting her to make a good nursery for the child he hoped she would help to raise. "/Thank you for that. Join me?/" he asked, holding an arm out when she finished hanging a mobile over the hand-carved crib.
Radek sighed softly as Elizabeth settled beside him, her head on his shoulder, her hand resting on his stomach, rubbing gentle, lazy circles. His back was beginning to relax a little and Elizabeth's nearness helped him further. "/I should not have waited so long to ask you to dinner./" He gave her a gentle squeeze.
"/I'm glad you asked, even if it took a little while./"
Marina shifted inside Radek and they both quieted for a moment, lost in the shared feeling of movement and love.
"/I didn't want to give you anything more to worry about. At the same time, I could see you were lonely. It was Colonel Sheppard who advised me to act./"
"/I was lonely. My talks with you were the highlights of my day most of the time./"
"/And mine, even now./" Radek covered Elizabeth's hand with his, liking the feel of her warm, slender fingers under his own, and against his stomach. "/I love being able to just hold you, now. To touch you if I like. I don't have to look away if I think I'm going to give myself away by staring too long./"
"/And I get to be twice as glad when Rodney's off planet, and I get to hear you talk shop instead of him. I like us together, whatever we're doing./" She smiled and sat up, kissing him softly.
"/Speaking of, I hate to mention it but I have some reports to review for tomorrow./"
"/I was going to mention the same thing, I have some, too. I'll get them./" They had taken to bringing work 'home' when they could, usually to Radek's new quarters, which were the larger of the two, and closest to a transport.
They were settled again twenty minutes later, Radek's laptop propped on a bedside stand designed and built by a pair of engineers for him. Elizabeth sat at his desk, the two trading smiles any time they looked up and met each other's eyes.