Date : 28.08.2007
Title : Loves' Past and Present
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 11 of ?
Rating : M
Pairings : Lt. Col. John Sheppard/Lyssa Hunter
Major Evan Lorne/Dr Ellie Harrison
Warnings : Angst/hurt.
Spoilers : This story is part of a series and follows on from Love's Dance With A Stranger.
Feedback : Yes
Disclaimer : Dr Ellie Harrison, Major James Reece, Lt Franks & Heather Russell are mine. Lyssa Hunter belongs to Kazavid. Stargate & Stargate Atlantis, unfortunately, have nothing to do with me.
Summary : Find out how Sheppard and Lyssa's wedding plans cause chaos on Atlantis and what happens when tragedy strikes for Ellie and Lorne?
Lyssa and Mitchell were watching a DVD when they heard a car pull onto his driveway.
Mitchell got up and looked out, Lyssa looking over expectantly at him.
"Hey, it's Shorty….and Lorne", he announced and Lyssa sighed in relief.
She was glad Ellie was finally here. Mitchell had been inching closer and closer to her on the sofa and she had been running out of room at the other end because she had moved across so many times.
Mitchell opened the door and Ellie and Lorne came inside.
"Hey guys", Lorne said as Ellie headed for Lyssa.
"It worked then?", Lyssa commented as Ellie flung her arms around her happily.
"Oh, yeah and not only that, he asked me to marry him too", Ellie squealed and Lorne and Mitchell exchanged a glance.
"Congratulations", Mitchell said, shaking Lorne's hand and Lorne practically beamed with happiness as he looked over at Ellie.
"Thanks", he said as he looked at Lyssa.
"Hi Lyssa. Good to see you".
"You too. It's great you and Ellie are back together, she's been driving me insane these last weeks", Lyssa replied and Ellie pinched Lyssa's arm and turned her away from a grinning Lorne.
"So….have you been alright?", Ellie asked of Lyssa who nodded and shoved her hands into her combats pockets.
"I think he likes me", she whispered and Ellie glanced at Mitchell as he lead Lorne into the kitchen.
"What's he done, I'll kill him?", Ellie asked and Lyssa shook her head.
"Nothing, he's been very nice…..it's just the impression I get…..you know the looks, the way they start to behave, you know what I mean?"
Ellie smiled knowingly.
"Yeah, I know what you mean", she replied frowning suddenly and Lyssa said,
"What's wrong?".
"Well, it's just that Evan wants me to go and meet his mom again properly tonight but that means leaving you again and I don't want to do that".
"I'll be okay….I guess", Lyssa replied but Ellie shook her head.
"No. We still haven't found anywhere to stay and I've left you alone too long already".
"She hasn't been alone, she's been with me….and you can both stay here", Mitchell said as he and Lorne exited the kitchen.
Ellie and Lyssa turned to find them both holding a bottle of beer each and Ellie looked at Lorne questioningly.
"I decided meeting mom could wait until tomorrow and Cam said I can stay the night so……..", Lorne trailed off as he took a swig of his beer and Ellie sighed in relief at her short reprieve from meeting 'mom' again.
"Great", Lyssa replied feeling somewhat relieved that Ellie and Lorne were not going to be leaving again and she began to relax a little more.
After Lorne made a quick call to his mom to inform her he wouldn't be returning that night, the four of them settled down in front of the TV.
As Lyssa watched Ellie curl up in Lorne's lap she realised just how much she was missing Sheppard and she looked away quickly as her heart banged painfully. She was determined to enjoy this trip to earth but she couldn't help missing the man she loved or her baby son.
ooo
The next morning Mitchell made everyone breakfast before heading off to the SGC.
Lorne was in the shower when Ellie turned to Lyssa as they cleared away the dishes.
"I have to go get this thing over with Evan's mom so what do you want to do? If you stay here you have to promise me you won't open the door to anyone and you can't leave the house, or, you can come with us and witness the catastrophic moment when Evan tells his mother he asked me to marry him".
Lyssa grimaced at the thought and said,
"I'll wait here and yes, I promise I won't open the door or leave the house. I'll just relax and watch some more…..TV".
"Okay. I'll try to be as quick as possible and then we'll go do some stuff alright?".
"Sure", Lyssa replied as Lorne entered the kitchen.
His hair was still damp and Lyssa hid a smile as she watched Ellie all but melt onto the kitchen floor at the sight of him.
Ellie had fallen hard for Lorne, that much was obvious for anyone to see and Lyssa just hoped that everything worked out for them this time.
If it didn't there was no way she was going to the bar area with Ellie again, that was for sure, not after the last time!
"I'll just change", Ellie said, heading for the stairs and Lorne nodded and headed toward Lyssa.
"So how's Sheppard?", he asked and it was Lyssa's turn to melt.
"He was okay, when I last saw him", she replied and Lorne nodded.
"I bet he asked for you to take him back lots of 'nice' stuff didn't he?", he asked smiling as Lyssa nodded.
"He gave Ellie his…..credit card and cheque book, I think they're called", she told him and Lorne raised his eyebrows.
"Really?", he asked, turning to face Ellie as she re-entered the kitchen.
"What's this about you having the Colonel's credit card?", Lorne asked her and Ellie smiled.
"Oh yeah, to get Lyssa's wedding dress and some other stuff", she replied and looked at him coyly as she bent to do up her strappy sandals.
"I think you should give me yours, especially now we're going to be married", she told him and Lorne folded his arms as Lyssa watched on.
"Oh really? So it isn't just the great sex you're after, it's my money too", he teased.
Ellie straightened and smiled sweetly at him. She glanced at Lyssa who held up her hands and shook her head as she headed for the couch and the TV.
"I don't want to know", she called over her shoulder.
OOoOO
It was only as Lorne and Ellie got into his car that he noticed she had pulled all her hair back and tied it with a ribbon that matched the pale blue conservative sundress and strappy sandals she wore and he frowned as she sat primly at his side.
"What are you doing?", he asked and she looked at him.
"I don't know what you mean", she replied cagily and Lorne sighed.
"Ellie, you don't have to try and be someone you're not just to please my mother".
"I'm not, I just………", she trailed off as Lorne pulled on the ribbon and her dark curls cascaded back down around her shoulders.
"That's better", he said, tossing the ribbon onto the back seat and Ellie smiled as he started the engine.
A while later Lorne opened the front door to his mom's house and ushered Ellie inside.
"Mom?", he called out from the hallway and she called back,
"In the kitchen".
Lorne and Ellie glanced at one another before heading toward the kitchen. They entered and Lorne's mom's face fell as she clapped eyes on Ellie.
"I see you made your decision then", she said and Lorne frowned.
"What decision?", he asked and his mother folded her arms.
"I sent Heather to you at the dock last night. When you rang and said you weren't coming home I had hoped that it was because you were with her, I see I was mistaken".
Ellie felt herself colour up as Lorne's mother regarded her as though she were some kind of scarlet woman and she went to shrink further behind him but Lorne stopped her and took her hand in his.
"Mom….last night I asked Ellie to marry me and she said yes".
Lorne's mom paled visibly and she shook her head.
"Evan have you really thought this through, I mean, Heather is perfect for you…….", she trailed off as Lorne glared at her.
"I love Ellie….I don't love Heather….haven't done for quite some time now…..", he said and his mom stepped forward, her eyes beseeching him as she said,
"But you and Heather would have such beautiful children".
The cold statement wrenched a gasp from Ellie and she pulled her hand from Lorne's and backed toward the door.
"I'm sorry…..I'll wait for you outside", she mumbled before fleeing and Lorne gave his mom a look that could kill as he said,
"The wedding will be this week because we're leaving again soon. I'll let Rachel know the day so that if you feel like turning up, apologising and getting to know Ellie you can do. I'll call by later to get my stuff, I'll be staying with Ellie from now on".
And with that he left and went outside to find Ellie leaning against his car, her arms folded defensively.
He tipped her chin up so that she looked at him as he said,
"I'm sorry about that, she seems obsessed with Heather".
"She doesn't know what Heather did does she", Ellie surmised and Lorne shook his head.
"No".
"I'm sorry it didn't go as you'd hoped. I don't want there to be bad feeling between you and your mom because of me", Ellie said and Lorne pressed a kiss to her forehead as he took in her worried expression.
"It's not your fault", he said then smiled at her as he took her left hand in his.
"There is something missing from this hand", he said and Ellie grinned at him as he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm.
"Fancy using my credit card?", he asked and her smile widened.
As they got into the car to leave, Lorne's mother sighed deeply and turned away from the window.
ooo
An hour or so later they arrived back at Mitchell's house to find the kitchen in total chaos, Lyssa completely covered from head to toe in flour.
"Lyssa! What the hell are you trying to do?", Ellie asked, reluctant to go near her friend for fear of getting covered in the flour.
Lorne let out a choked laugh as Lyssa moved slightly only to find herself surrounded by clouds of flour dust and she stopped abruptly and looked at Ellie as though mortified.
"I was trying to make these……", and she held a muffin mixture packet out to Ellie gingerly who nodded as Lyssa continued, "But I don't think I did it right".
"Obviously not", Lorne smirked and both Ellie and Lyssa threw him a dirty look so he backed away into the lounge.
"Don't worry, we'll get this lot cleaned up and then we're off shopping. Look what Evan just bought me", Ellie said, holding out her left hand to show Lyssa her new, sparkling, white gold, diamond solitaire engagement ring and Lyssa nodded in approval.
"We got matching wedding bands too", Ellie said happily and Lyssa coughed as she swallowed more flour.
A while later Lorne dropped Ellie and Lyssa in the city and he headed off to try and find a priest with a spare day free to marry him and Ellie.
When Lyssa and Ellie entered the first bridal store, Lyssa stood in the centre in complete awe, gawping at all the beautiful gowns.
She had never considered herself to be a girly girl and she knew Sheppard liked it the odd time that she actually wore a dress, bit it just wasn't her.
That was until now.
Ellie laughed as Lyssa ran her hands over the satin skirts of some of the hanging gowns and she said,
"Pick out some to try on".
Lyssa had a hard time choosing but picked out a few slim fitting gowns in ivory satin, one particular one covered with a fine layer of lace was particularly striking and Ellie gasped as Lyssa emerged from the changing room, the assistant fussing behind her.
"Lyssa…you look so beautiful", she told her and Lyssa could only stare at her reflection.
"Do you think John will like it?", she asked and Ellie nodded.
"He'll love it".
"Then this is the one then", Lyssa said.
They chose some matching shoes and a bridesmaids dress in pale pink for Ellie and then Ellie paid and they left, arranging to pick the dresses up later.
"Now it's your turn", Lyssa said and Ellie nodded happily as they headed to the next boutique.
Ellie had always had her dream wedding dress in mind but she hadn't expected to find it so easily.
She emerged from the changing room wearing an ivory dress with a bodice that laced up at the back and which had layers of organza that made up the skirt and Lyssa smiled at how well the dress suited her.
"Perfect", she said and Ellie had to agree.
She bought a matching organza veil and some shoes and this time Lyssa got a pale blue bridesmaids dress.
As they headed back out onto the sidewalk they looked at one another.
"Well that was easier than I thought it would be", Lyssa said and Ellie laughed.
"Ready for the other shops?", she asked and Lyssa nodded.
"Bring 'em on", she said.
A fair few hours later they both collapsed into Lorne's car and they left him to put all their purchases into his trunk. They called at the wedding stores on their way back to Mitchell's and collected their gowns.
"My feet are killing me", Lyssa groaned and Ellie agreed.
"Well I managed to find a priest with a cancellation on Friday so that's the day", Lorne said and Ellie glanced at him.
"Where at?", she asked and he grinned at her.
"St Lukes".
"St Lukes", Ellie repeated incredulously and Lorne laughed as Lyssa said,
"What is St Lukes?".
"It's the biggest church around here that's what it is", Ellie informed her before turning back to Lorne. "Evan it's going to look so empty, we'll hardly have anyone there".
"We'll see", Lorne said cryptically and Ellie wondered what he was up to.
OOoOO
A few days later and Ellie had taken Lyssa on various tours of the city, doing all the sightseeing trips and had even taken her to see where Sheppard had lived before he'd left for Atlantis.
One afternoon Mitchell returned from the SGC to find Ellie, Lorne and Lyssa sitting out in his back yard, soaking up some sun.
"Hey guys", he called and they all waved at him lazily.
"I brought ice cream", he called, laughing as that caught their attention and they headed inside to join him.
He tried to keep his eyes off Lyssa but she looked so amazing in her newly purchased bikini top and shorts that he nearly missed the bowl he was scooping ice cream into and Lorne brought him back to reality as he said,
"Hey, watch it…".
"I am….", Mitchell replied, his answer having a double meaning.
They sat around the breakfast bar eating until impulsively, Ellie launched a small amount of ice cream off her spoon and it hit Lorne's cheek with a cold splat and she giggled as he glared at her.
"Right", he said, launching one back but it missed Ellie totally and landed right in the middle of Lyssa's chest making her yelp as the cold ice cream started to run down in between her breasts.
She retaliated by launching a scoop back just as Ellie launched one at Mitchell and before they knew it they were all covered in the sticky stuff.
When they eventually all clamed down and stopped laughing, Mitchell said,
"Well, that was…….interesting".
"I need a shower", Lorne said and Ellie raised her eyebrows at him and he grabbed her hand, dragging her toward the stairs.
When they'd disappeared Mitchell groaned,
"Oh no, they're so gonna be doing it in my shower".
Lyssa laughed and held her arms out, grimacing at how sticky they felt.
"Here, come out to the yard", Mitchell said and Lyssa watched him with interest as he freed a long hose type thing and then turned a tap on.
She squealed in shock as the cold water drowned her and Mitchell laughed as she tried to turn her back to him but that was even worse and she had no option but to fight her way to him through the jet and try to wrangle the hose from him.
Eventually she managed it and turned the spray on him, drowning him totally as she chased him around the yard.
"That'll teach you", she said triumphantly as she put the hose down and they stared at one another as they dripped all over the grass.
"Sheppard is one lucky man", Mitchell blurted suddenly and Lyssa's smile faded and she crossed her arms across her chest self-consciously, trying to hide the sodden bikini top and its contents from his gaze.
"I should go and dry off", she said leaving Mitchell to tip his face up to the sky and groan inwardly at his stupid comment.
End of Chapter 11