Thanks a lot to everg8er23 for beta reading!
Chapter 4
"I'm terribly sorry, John, that we are so late," Teyla said as she walked with Colonel Sheppard along the corridor to the room where the big New Year's Eve party was taking place.
John just smiled. "No apology necessary. I understand that you wanted to remain with Torren until he had calmed down again. But now the little one is sleeping comfortably and we can celebrate."
It had, in fact, taken over an hour until Torren, who had probably noticed that it was a special day, had stopped crying and finally went to sleep. And Teyla, a very anxious mother, of course hadn't wanted to leave her child alone before she could be sure that he was well. So they had handed the baby over to Nurse Mary in the infirmary with quite a bit of delay.
After Torren was placed securely on a small cot, Mary had reached into a large bag of gummy bears that was sitting on her desk. John was very glad that Teyla hadn't noticed how the young nurse had winked at him conspiratorially.
"But you know, just one hour. Then I really need to get back to my son. And also Nurse Mary must have other plans for tonight than to keep an eye on my child," Teyla said.
For a moment John wondered whether he should now explain to Teyla what he had arranged with Mary. But perhaps Teyla would have so much fun at the party and would forget about the time. Then he might be able to save the discussion about his arbitrariness.
"We don't want to think about that right now," John said evasively. "Enjoy the evening."
The door of the festively decorated room opened up before them.
"It looks like I can't do anything else but enjoy it," Teyla said and pointed at the celebrating crowd which also included some Athosians.
"Look, Ronon is over there. But he doesn't seem to be particularly happy. I wonder if that is due to a woman actually managing to capture him for tonight."
John grinned at this. As far as he knew Ronon had entrenched himself in his quarters since yesterday afternoon in an effort to escape some quite intrusive female inhabitants of the city. Rodney had to have done really good work. Obviously every female in Atlantis knew that Ronon urgently needed a date.
"I am glad that he came at all. I thought he wouldn't leave his quarters anymore," Teyla said. She linked arms with John and pulled the Colonel to the rather grim faced member of their team.
Ronon was leaning against a wall a bit away from the large crowds and was suspiciously observing the events around him. But before John and Teyla reached him Laura Cadman joined him.
"Look, look at that," John muttered and stopped Teyla. "Apparently, Ronon still found a date."
Both watched as Laura said something to Ronon and then Ronon burst into a wide grin. What then followed, however, none of them would have expected. Ronon pulled the surprised giggling Laura into a firm embrace.
"I almost think we should not disturb them just now," Teyla said when they saw that. "Perhaps Ronon rather wants to be alone with Lieutenant Cadman."
"Oh no," John shook his head grinning. "Do you really think in all sincerity that I want to miss the first romance of the new year? Because it's right there, isn't it?"
And this time it was John who pulled Teyla forward. With a knowing nod he watched as Ronon noticed him and Teyla and immediately dismissed Laura from the hug. It seemed the Satedan was actually embarrassed about his small tête-à-tête being discovered!
"Well, Ronon, how did Cadman manage to drag you here?" Sheppard asked laughing, as the two couples met. "Or did you have the courage to ask her out?"
Teyla patted John's arm warningly, but he just grinned cheekily as he heard a deep rumble from Ronon. "I'm not here with Cadman."
"Oh yes, that's quite obvious. That's why you are standing here together so amicably, bill and coo, and even embracing. Add a small kiss and I'll really be convinced that both of you came here all alone and didn't intend to spend the evening together," John laughed.
Ronon's eyes sparkled fiercely and Teyla suspected that the Colonel had gone too far with his banter.
"John, if Ronon says so, I am sure ..." she started, but was immediately interrupted by Laura.
"A kiss, should it be?" She said. "Well, then, let's convince our dear Colonel."
And so she wrapped her fingers in Ronon's long dreadlocks, pulled his head down and gave him a firm kiss on the mouth.
"So, now I want some champagne. Ronon, cutie pie, wait here for me. I bring you a glass of the same."
And the next moment Laura had already disappeared in the direction of the bar.
"Cutie pie?" John repeated, his eyes growing large. He hadn't expected that. He had thought that Ronon and Laura would vehemently deny everything. He thought that they would say they had come together as an acceptable compromise so they wouldn't have to spend the evening alone or maybe they would confirm their new relationship with an embarrassed smile. Yes, John would have expected something like that, but this?
"Cutie pie?" He repeated quite perplexed. "She really calls you cutie pie?"
"I do not know what it means," Ronon growled.
"It's a tern of endearment, a term for something cute, something sweet," John tried to explain still quite confused.
"I don't mean that. I meant, why did she call me that?"
Teyla smiled softly. "It really looks like Laura making fun of us all. John, I think she has thoroughly tricked you."
"Tricked? I'm still not sure who tricked whom," John said.
But the Athosian just shook her head. "I think just now it is not so important. You wanted me to have fun. Then stop thinking and dance with me!"
John moaned heavily. "Oh dear," he said grinning. "I don't know what I get myself into." But his mock protest didn't help. Mercilessly he was pulled onto the small dance floor by a smiling Teyla, where they were soon dancing around to Athosian music with the other inhabitants of Atlantis.
Ronon kept his place near the wall. He didn't look as grim as a few minutes ago. However, now his look clearly showed that he was quite confused. Could it really be possible that Cadman had a thing for him? If not, then why did she call him "cutie pie"?