Authors Note:

This is in response to the ladygris challenge for a flash of your favorite SGA character(s) making and keeping a New Year's Resolution, in no less than 300 and no more than 500 words. I couldn't do both the making and the keeping in less than 500 words so I cheated and divided this into two parts, each one under 500 words (minus this note of course). Happy New Years everyone!

Part One: Making

"What about you Sir?"

Lorne looked up from his contemplation of their campfire to see Coughlin regarding him curiously. "Sorry?"

"New Year's Resolutions Sir," Coughlin explained. "Reed is going to study more so he can get that promotion."

"And the Sarge is finally going to pop the question to Maria," Dan grinned. The entire team knew Nate and his girlfriend had been together a long time. He'd put in for leave in February and Evan wasn't surprised at how Nate planned to use it.

"I'm going to pay more attention off world," Parish offered, everyone chuckling at his words. He'd made the same resolution every year and usually broke it during the first mission over some plant or other he'd never seen before.

All three men looked at their CO expectantly.

"I don't do resolutions," Lorne said simply.

"But if you did Sir, what would you pick this year?" Coughlin persisted.

"Since you seem to have something in mind Sergeant why don't you enlighten me?" Lorne invited, amused.

"Okay," Nate's face took on a 'you asked for it Sir' expression. "You could resolve to ask a certain Doctor out on a date, Sir, instead of pinning for her from afar."

Lorne's brow rose and he looked at Coughlin silently for a moment. "Major's don't pine Sergeant," he said, his expression giving nothing away.

"Well, whatever you call it Sir, you've been doing it over Doctor Keller for months," Nate persisted.

"She's too young for me Nate," Evan said seriously. "Now can we –"

"No way," Reed protested, adding a hasty "Sir," when Lorne frowned at him. "My Mom would call Doctor Keller an old soul," he said earnestly. "That's someone a lot more mature than their years."

"I know what an old soul is Airman," Evan returned absently. Coughlin was right – he had been interested in Jennifer for a while; since he'd met her if he was entirely honest. He'd done nothing with that interest because of the decade between their ages. That plus he was Colonel Sheppard's 2IC – relationships with civilians weren't off limits but he was expected to set an example. But maybe Dan had a point - Jennifer wasn't your average twenty something. Was he doing them both a disservice in treating the situation so black and white?

"So, you're going to make that resolution Sir?" Dan asked after waiting for his CO to say something else.

"I'll think about it," Lorne allowed.

He did think about it ... in fact, as the city's New Year's gathering approached, Lorne found it hard to think about anything else. Despite his never making New Year's resolutions, the resolve did grow inside. He could change things ... and he would, as soon as the right circumstances presented themselves.

Part Two: Keeping

New Year's Eve arrived and Lorne put in the requisite appearance at the party, intending to be long gone before things got silly. And then he saw Jennifer across the room, dressed in a simple black dress that highlighted her delicate features. She was smiling at the marines surrounding her but it was strained – she wasn't enjoying herself.

"Gentlemen, let's give Doctor Keller some space," he said as he strode into their midst.

It was almost comical the way all her admirers straightened, giving her apologetic looks before they faded into the background, leaving him alone with Jennifer.

"Thank you so much Major," Jennifer said feelingly.

"You're welcome Doc," Lorne smiled casually. "Maybe you should find yourself someone to run interference – the enlisted guys are young but they mean well."

"Are you volunteering?"

Evan's eyes locked with Jennifer's as he tried to read her expression. She was flushed but determined, her expression one he'd only ever seen before in the infirmary during a medical emergency. All at once he realised that Jennifer Keller was interested in him too.

"I, ah ...," he took a deep breath, at a loss on how to respond. He'd wanted to test the waters with her, never expecting that she'd do the work for him.

"Please, Major," Jennifer persisted. It took courage to risk rejection - there was no way he could crush that by being less than honest.

"Okay, sure," he smiled, taking a seat across from her. "But if we're going to spend the evening together you have to call me Evan."

"Evan," Jennifer repeated, her eyes shining. "Thank you for this."

"Hey, no thanks required," he returned. "It's not exactly a hardship to sit with a beautiful woman you know."

Jennifer blushed. "Really?" she asked, uncertain.

"Really," Lorne said firmly.

It wasn't exactly a request for a date and New Year's hadn't clicked over yet, but Evan knew something crucial had changed. The possibility of him having something with Jennifer Keller now existed where it hadn't before ... a possibility he intended to follow up before the night was over.

Maybe Coughlin had it right ... maybe this resolutions business wasn't such a bad idea after all!

The End