It had almost been 2 months since Laura was released from the infirmary. She could now walk without the crutches but she still had a bit of a limp. Lots of things had changed in that time. Teyla and John were now practically joint at the hip, they had obviously worked through their issues, but at least they were happy and Laura and Lorne were also together. They were taking it one step at a time. They were in the mess hall with Teyla, John, McKay and Ronan when Elizabeth's voice came over the citywide.

"Ladies and gentlemen. I have just been informed that the president of the United States will be coming to Atlantis for a little visit. I have also been told that we are going to be holding a ball in his honour on Valentines Day. That's all. Weir out." Laura groaned out loud.

"What's the matter?" asked Lorne.

"Oh nothing. Its just that I hate Valentines Day with a firey passion and the one dress that I would call nice was put in the bin when that bitch beat me up. So you know." She replied.

"So why do you hate valentines day?" asked McKay. Laura shrugged.

"No idea. Always have…even if I was with someone. Its all pink and flowery." She made a disgusted face and Lorne started laughing. "What you laughing at?" she asked him.

"Oh nothing. I just remember the last time you said you hated pink. So why don't you like flowers?" he said. She scowled at him before replying, "Well real flowers tend to set my allergies off. They ain't bad or anything. My eyes just look like I've been crying for hours on end. Real ones in my hair don't bother me. But fake flowers are the way to go. They last forever." She said laughing. They chatted for a little while longer when she said, "Well I'd better go to physio. My therapist tends to get cranky if I'm even a second late. See you later." She got up and kissed Lorne and headed out of the mess hall. Teyla and Ronan also left for a sparring session. McKay said something about his lab and all the important work he should be doing. He too then left. John looked around the room and then leaned closer to Lorne as if they were in cahoots. He then whispered, "I'm thinking of asking Teyla to marry me. What do you think?" Lorne leaned back for a moment and thought about what John had just told him. Lorne leaned back in and said, "I think it's a brilliant idea. When you gonna ask her?"

"Well now that we're having that ball thing for the president I might ask her that night. What do you think?"

"Brilliant idea. Now I think I've got a sort of plan for then as well. Don't worry I'm not gonna rain on your parade. I think I'm gonna surprise Laura. She needs to see that Valentines Day isn't as bad as she thinks it is. So I'm gonna buy her a dress and shoes and stuff. What do you think?"

"I think it's a good idea as well. But how are you gonna find out her shoe size? I mean dress size should be easy enough. Then there's the slight hiccup of how your gonna get it here without her being suspicious. You know what she's like."

"Yeah I know. That's were I'm gonna need you and Teyla. See I'm hoping that Teyla will be able to keep her busy while I put it in her room the night of the ball. When is the Daedalus next off to earth?"

"Well it goes the day after tomorrow. So you could theoretically put an order in and it would get here in time for the ball. I'm assuming the Daedalus is bringing the president. So it would be Air Force One for a little while. Any idea about what style of dress you want? Coz someone has been giving Teyla some magazines if you wanna look at em." John said.

"Yeah if you wouldn't mind. But best not be too obvious about it. What about you? How are you gonna find out Teyla's ring size? Not to mention how are you gonna pick the ring?" asked Lorne.

"I'm just gonna guess at the ring size and if its too big or too small then we can change it for the right size later. Getting the actual ring isn't going to be a problem. I'm goin back to earth next week. Just a quick stop." Lorne was just about to say something when his radio buzzed. "Lorne?"

"Yeah?"

"Its Elizabeth could you come to the control room a second?"

"Yeah on my way." Lorne stood up and said, "Elizabeth needs me for some reason. See you later sir." He smiled and left the mess hall.

It was nearing Valentines Day and John was getting more and more nervous. It was taking all of Lorne's patience to calm John down. He had never seen his CO so nervous before and it was starting to make him nervous as well. When Valentines Day approached John and Lorne were bumbling wreaks. They were both in their dress blues and were obviously very uncomfortable in them. Lorne was shaking the president's hand when she said; I think you look gorgeous in your uniform! In fact I can't wait till I can rip it off. Lorne visibly blushed and fumbled. Laura had hit her mark and she smiled mischievously. Once introductions were made Laura and Teyla went to spar. Once they had gone Lorne hurried to the Daedalus and picked up his packages. He swiftly walked to Laura's room and put them on her bed.

Laura and Teyla had been sparring for a couple of hours when Laura said, "When are you going to get dressed?"

"Oh yes. I'd best go. Are you coming?"

"No. I'm going to stay here for a while. But thanks for training with me." Laura said with a smile.

"Are you not going to the ball? Your president seemed insistent that everyone be there." Teyla said. Laura shook her head. "No. I've got nothing to wear.2 Laura turned to see Teyla smile mischievously. "What?" Laura asked suspiciously. Teyla put on her best innocent face before replying, "I do not understand."

"You know something."

"I do not. I had better leave to be ready in time." She said and bowed her head and left the gym before Laura could say another word. Laura frowned and headed for her own quarters.

Laura walked into her room and threw her gym bag on the floor and headed to her bathroom for a shower when something caught her eye. Turning she saw there four packages on her bed. Walking over to them she saw there was a note on a long, thin package. She opened it and smiled. She read:

Laura,

Please be my valentine and do me the honour of being my partner to the ball. Inside is something that will last forever. Just like us.

Love you lots

Evan

xxxxx

P.S. I will pick you up at 8.

xxxxx

Laura smiled and opened the thin box. Out fell a single red rose. She went to smell it when she realised that it was a fake one and her smile broadened. Moving to the next two smaller packages, she picked the one on the left and opened the lid. Confused she pulled out a pair of red strappy sandals with a medium heel. Puzzled even more she moved over to the other smaller box and opened the lid. Inside was the same pair of red strappy sandals. Why are there two pairs of the same shoe? She thought curiously. On a whim she checked the sizes. The pair on the left were a size 7 and the pair on the right were a size 8. She smiled again and moved the boxes off the bigger box. She opened the box and gasped in surprise. Inside was the most beautiful red dress she had ever seen and another note.

A beautiful dress for a beautiful lady. See you at 8 xxxxx

Laura pulled the dress out of the box and looked at it. It was a plain red halter neck dress. The right side was shorter on the leg and it gathered into a V shape on the left hand side so that it would completely cover her left leg. She looked at the back and saw that it was also low-backed. After admiring it from all angles for five minutes, she quickly checked her watch. It was already half past 7. She placed the dress on her bed and hurriedly showered. Stepping out twenty minutes later, she quickly dried herself and started to do her hair. She pulled it up so that she could put the rose in her hair, she would put it in at the last minute. Then she stepped into the dress. She looked at her reflection in her full-length mirror. Even she would admit that she looked stunning. She had tied a double knot at the back of her neck just in case but the ties still fell right down her back. She then walked back over to her bed and pulled the left size 7 and the right size 8 to see which pair would fit her better. Deciding that the eights would fit her better she swapped the left size 7 for the left size 8 sandal. She had just finished putting the other shoe on when there was a knock on her door. Smiling she thought right on time. Out loud she said, "Just a second!" She picked up the rose and securely placed it in her hair. Walking to her door she took a deep breath and opened it. She smiled at Lorne, who was still in his dress blues, he had changed after the president had dismissed them and then put them back on for the ball. He stood and stared at her for a full five minutes before he said, "Wow. You look beautiful." Smiling she said to him, "Thank you very much. For all of this. This is without a doubt the best Valentines Day I've ever had." His grin broadened as he held out his arm. Threading her arm through his she took a deep breath and said, "Ready?"

"Yeah. Lets go."

As they entered the mess hall everyone turned to stare. Noticing this Laura whispered, "Evan. What's everyone staring at?"

"That would be you. Come on lets go and join the others." Walking over to the others Laura noticed that John seemed to be really jittery. Turning to Lorne she said, "Is John ok?" Laughing he replied, "Yeah. He will be." She waited for him to elaborate and when he didn't she just smiled at the group when they joined them. Looking around she noticed that Teyla was wearing a simple pale blue dress that accentuated her figure and he hair was falling across her shoulders in soft waves. Both Rodney and Carson had a suit and tie on and both appeared to be dateless. Turning to Carson she asked, "Where's Laura? I thought she would be coming back today?"

"Aye she was but her appendix had other ideas." He said chuckling slightly. Unconsciously Laura rubbed her own stomach along her own appendix scar. This didn't go unnoticed by Carson. "When did you get yours out?" he asked.

"What?" she asked startled.

"Your appendix? When did you get them out?" seeing her confused look he said, "You were running your finger across your scar."

"Oh. Hadn't even realised I was doing that. I was 18. I was in complete agony for three days before I realised there was summit up. I'm lucky to be alive."

"How so?" asked Carson. His curiosity was piqued.

"They were gangrenous. Don't worry Laura will be fine." Laura said smiling. She turned to Elizabeth who had just arrived. She was wearing a dark green dress that highlighted her eyes. Just then the music started and some people were already dancing. Laura heard John say, "Teyla. Can I talk to you outside a second please?"

"Certainly John." Laura turned to Lorne and thought, he's asking her to marry him. Isn't he? Lorne's expression was enough. How did you know that?

Intuition. Laura smiled broadly but didn't say anything out loud. Rodney cleared his throat loudly and said, "Laura may I have this dance?" Laura looked at Lorne and he nodded. "Yes you may Rodney." She took his outstretched hand and they walked to the dance floor.

Outside, John could barely keep his nervousness under control. Teyla picked up on this and placed a delicate hand on his shoulder. He pulled his gaze away from the ocean and turned to look at her.

"Are you alright John?" she asked him concerned.

"I will be." He took a deep breath and continued "Teyla. I want you to know that I've loved you since the first time I saw you back on your original home world. I know we haven't been dating that long but I can't imagine my life without you." He lowered himself onto one knee and pulled out a small velvet box and opened it. Her eyes went wide in surprise. John took another deep breath and said, "Teyla. Will you marry me?" Teyla's hands flew to her mouth in surprise and were quickly dropped as she said, "Yes John. I would love to marry you." He stood up and they kissed passionately. Breaking apart John slipped the ring on her finger. It was the perfect size. Teyla looked at it for a long time just smiling. Grabbing her hand he said, "Come on. Lets go and tell the others." They walked back in to the mess hall and headed for the group. John said, "Everyone. We have an announcement to make. Teyla? Do you want to tell them?"

"Yes. Ok. We're engaged." She smiled proudly as everyone offered their congratulations and looking at her ring. Lorne and John shook hands and Lorne said, "Feel better? You are one lucky man." Before replying John looked at Laura who was admiring Teyla's ring and said, "Yeah I feel loads better and we're both lucky." Lorne turned and also looked at Laura and Teyla. "Yeah we are." He said smiling.