AN: Considering whether this is the end or not... So, tentative last chapter with possibly more coming (don't get your hopes up too much though, haha).

It became routine over the next couple of weeks for Jennifer to eat with Ronon and his team when they were all on-base.

They ate together whenever they were free - breakfast before her shift, a quick lunch here and there, dinner at the end of a long day. At first she'd been unsure and hesitant about approaching them, usually going to find her own table before Ronon would silently appear and grab her tray, leaving Jennifer to follow behind him. After a few meals, however, Jennifer became confident enough to approach them without hesitation and place her tray down. Her spot was unofficially next to Ronon, the chair always unoccupied when she got to the table, and she found herself settling quickly, and enjoyably, into the easy rhythm of the team.

The only problem with this friendly new development? It wasn't what Jennifer wanted in the slightest and she didn't know how to change things without upsetting their easy balance. It wasn't that she didn't like the team or that she didn't want to spend time with them, she did, but she wanted to spend time more with Ronon. Getting to know him. Alone. As it stood, she barely got to hear two words out of his mouth before Sheppard would launch into a story or McKay would start to complain about something one of the other scientists did in the lab.

What made it all worse? Ronon didn't seem to have a problem with any of it and it was driving her crazy.

She'd sense these moments happening, catch him watching her out of the corner of her eye or find him appearing to figure out how to put something into words, and she'd be so sure that he was finally going to say something, do something. He never did though and she'd find herself once more cycling back through those helpless feelings of insecurity and uncertainty. Were they friends? Did he have feelings for her? Was she just making something out of nothing? It wasn't fair - she wanted to get the guy, just once, and either Ronon thought of her as just a friend or he was, and she couldn't believe she was even thinking it, scared of making a move too. Ronon Dex was never scared though, right?

It didn't matter at that moment, however, as Jennifer quickly scanned the nearly deserted mess hall. It was too late for dinner and too early for a midnight snack for most people so Jennifer found herself facing the prospect of having to eat alone for the first time in weeks. Maybe she shouldn't have stuck around to finish going over those test results long past the end of her shift but she hadn't wanted to stop in the middle of solving the problem so she'd stuck it out, ignoring her grumbling stomach and thoughts of Ronon. She sighed to herself, not that there was anyone else there to hear it, before placing her tray down and settling in for a silent meal.

The appearance of a familiar hand grabbing her tray startled Jennifer, to say the least. She jumped slightly in her chair, hand flying to her chest, before she even thought of looking to see where Ronon was going. She caught sight of his strong back out of the corner of her eye and hurried to catch up with him as he strode across the mess hall toward the secluded tables in the back along the windows. He settled himself down opposite where he placed his tray, not looking to see if she'd followed him, and dug into his own tray which was piled high with food.

"What happened to the cooks' food limit?" asked Jennifer after she settled herself into her new seat across from Ronon. She noted, with some satisfaction, that they seemed to be alone and she couldn't help but wonder why he was eating at this strange hour. It wasn't because of her, was it?

"Said I could help myself since not many more people would be coming through for dinner," he shrugged as he attacked his king-size portion of what appeared to be some sort of meat in sauce.

"Right. So, where's the rest of the team?" Jennifer rolled her eyes at her own comment, 'yes, make the gorgeous single man you're crazy about think you don't want to spend time alone with him', before casting her eyes back onto her own meal.

"They ate earlier, invited me along." He paused and looked at her, his eyes focused on the top of her bent head, and Jennifer held her breath. "I thought I'd wait for you instead."

Her head shot up at that and she glanced quickly into his eyes, a smile breaking unbidden across her face. He'd waited? For her? It all felt a little too unreal, a moment from a movie come to life. She wasn't entirely sure how to respond - what did one say to that? - so she instead just nodded, her cheeks burning. Ronon Dex waited for her. Unbelievable.

"I didn't want you to eat alone."

"What?"

"When you didn't come by at the end of your shift, I thought you'd eat later," he rushed on, the uncharacteristic flow of words holding Jennifer hostage. "So I thought I'd wait around, since I was free, and eat with you. So you wouldn't be alone. When you ate."

He seemed…nervous, uncertain maybe, and she had to bite down on her bottom lip in order to stop the pleased giggle from escaping. She, Jennifer Keller, made Ronon Dex, possible god among men, nervous. It was an absurd and, at the same time, welcome development in her life and she allowed herself to relish the moment and the memory.

"Thank you, that was very sweet of you." She laughed at his slight grimace at the use of the word 'sweet' to describe him and she reached over to pat the top of his hand comfortingly. "It's okay, I promise I won't tell anyone. You can be…"

Her words trailed off at the movement of his hand under hers, the sudden turn so their hands lay palm to palm. She started to slide hers away, the crackle of electricity between them almost too much to bear, but he stopped her escape by closing his fingers gently around hers. They there for a moment, both looking at their clasped hands, the stark contrast and the way they fit so well together, before Ronon turned back to his food, Jennifer's hand still firmly in his.

"I like your laugh," he mumbled between bites and Jennifer felt herself blush at the unexpected compliment. He looked at her and smiled, his eyes wandering her face. "And I really like your blush."

"Thanks," she replied, her face flushing further.

They ate quietly then, hands locked together, the silence only interrupted by a short conversation about their days. She found she didn't mind the silence, didn't feel the need to fill it although she knew Ronon would really listen to every last word she'd say. It was comfortable, like they'd known each other forever, although every twitch of his hand would send a shockwave through her body as a reminder that they weren't too comfortable yet. She could get used to this, live like this, the heat and calm between them a tempting mixture.

"Done?" he asked later, eying the lone cookie that sat on her tray.

"It's all yours," Jennifer laughed, not at all surprised when Ronon swiped it with barely a pause. "I think you've made me develop a new habit - always get extra food in case Ronon is nearby."

"Good habit to have," he said with a smile. He got up from his chair and crossed over to stand beside her before tugging her lightly out of her chair. He stacked their trays and grabbed both, never letting go of her hand, and they crossed the mess hall together to drop them off to be cleaned. "I'll walk you to your quarters."

"Okay," said Jennifer, looking down quickly in embarrassment.

She was a grown woman, that was her mantra, and she found herself silently repeating it as they walked through the corridors of Atlantis hand in hand. They didn't pass many people, it was a in-between time on the base, but those they did pass looked twice at the unexpected pair and Jennifer knew that news of their journey would be all around the base by morning. Ronon didn't seem to notice, just kept looking down at Jennifer once in awhile and smiling, but Jennifer did notice and she could feel her face burning bright red. Stupid blush, stupid too small base, stupid gossip.

"We're here."

She looked up and around, surprised to be standing in front of her own door since she hadn't even noticed how they'd gotten there, before resting her eyes on Ronon. Now what? It hadn't been a date, not really, but, then again, how exactly did one date an alien on an intergalactic expedition. Did he expect to be invited in? Did he think she'd put out? Should she put out? What were the rules in this type of situation?

"You should get some rest - night Jen." He tugged her hand lightly, pulled her into his chest, before wrapping his free arm around her back. He placed a slow gentle kiss on the top of her head before releasing her from his grasp and taking a half-step to the side to let her pass.

She took a step forward and stopped, turning to look at him. He looked down at her, a soft smile on his face, and, for the first time in a long time, Jennifer didn't have any doubts. So it was too soon and too crazy and too not her. It didn't matter. Ronon was strong and handsome but, more than that, he was kind and honorable, the childhood dream come to life. He had a good heart, a heart which he seemed to be offering to her, and Jennifer was unwilling to lose it.

So she tugged him toward her, closed her eyes as she reached up to him on the tips of her toes, and placed a soft kiss to his lips. It wasn't much, a mere pressing of lips to lips, but it was a promise of more, a promise of a future if he wanted it. She opened her eyes, their faces just a breath apart, and looked into his green ones with a smile.

"Want to come inside?" she asked, brushing his nose with hers. He didn't say anything, didn't need to, just bent forward and claimed her lips with his own as he lifted her up and carried her inside, the sound of Jennifer laughter echoing through the empty hall behind them.