The Question

Chapter 3: A Wedding in Atlantis

Almighty Disclaimer: I own nothing! (Except the idea)

Thank you Brianna T. Wedge for your review!

According to the calculations Rodney McKay had done when they arrived in Atlantis, it was December 31st, and he was quite restless. He was due to marry Carson Beckett in precisely thirteen hours. Which made the knot in his stomach grow even tighter, even though he knew everyone in the city knew about the engagement, McKay was still nervous. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't hear Beckett come up behind him and wrap him in a hug. McKay released a happy sigh "I didn't think I woke you up Carson." "Truthfully love, I couldn't sleep either. Most likely for the same reason as ye." "Nerves?" "Aye. Rodney?" "Hmm?" "Usually when I hug ye like this, ye turn around and hug me back." McKay smirked slightly "Because Carson, it's bad luck for a groom to see his bride before they're married." "Oh really? What makes ye so sure that I'm the girl?" "Because I proposed to you, remember?" For once, Beckett didn't have a rebuttal, so he proceeded to bury his face in McKay's back. "Fine, ye win this one. Do I at least get one little kiss before Elizabeth marries us?" Beckett gave McKay's back the best puppy eyes he could in case his lover actually turned around. Beckett knew he had won him over when McKay let out a playful sigh, turned around and quickly claimed Beckett's lips with his own. "Happy?" "Very."

McKay's nerves had refused to calm down twelve hours later as he checked himself over in the mirror one last time. "So, this is what girls must feel like in the mornings" he thought "with everything being perfect and all." He was slightly startled when a knock came on the door. "As long as your name isn't Carson Beckett you can come in." John Sheppard came around the corner and asked "Why wouldn't you want to see Carson?" "Because, I went over with him this morning that it's bad luck for a groom to see his bride before they're married." Sheppard arched an eyebrow "How do you know Carson's the bride?" "I proposed. Plain and simple." McKay was still having trouble getting his tie straight, and Sheppard noticed. "Here, just let me get it." "John, I am the head scientist and a very capable physicist. I think I can straighten my own tie." "Doesn't look like it to me. Wow, the great Rodney McKay must really be nervous if he can't tie his own tie right." Sheppard teased. Rodney blushed "Can you really tell I'm nervous." "Oh, yeah. Don't worry buddy, Carson's gonna see you as he's coming down the aisle and remember why he fell in love with you in the first place." With that, Sheppard fixed his tie quickly and neatly. "John, do you really think we can make this work?" "Rodney, Carson loves you with all his Scottish heart, and that's all that really matters. Besides, thanks to you two, we were able to get rid of Kavanagh." McKay couldn't help but laugh as Sheppard added that last bit. Just as everyone in the city knew about him and Beckett being lovers, they also knew that, on top of being an absolute ass, Kavanagh was a complete homophobe.

As Elizabeth Weir stood in front of the Stargate, she couldn't help but marvel at the transformation that had taken place in the gate room for McKay and Beckett's wedding. Teyla had gone to the mainland and brought back an entire Puddle Jumper full of beautiful white flowers that seemed look like a cross between a lily and a rose, and they smelled so beautifully that she didn't want to try to describe the heavenly scent, for no description could do them justice. She chuckled to herself as she thought of the looks on McKay and Beckett's faces when she and Sheppard had told them that neither of them was allowed in the gate room until they walked down the aisle. Which in this case, started with the staircase from the control center down to the gate room and continued to the Gate. Lining each side of the "aisle" were white chairs gathered from all over the city. The more she thought of it, the happier Elizabeth was for two of her top team members.

Less than an hour later, everyone in Atlantis had gathered in the gate room for the most anticipated wedding the city had yet to see. Beckett was pacing the floor in a little office that he had used to get ready, since McKay had kicked him out of their shared quarters. Major Sheppard had agreed to be McKay's best man and Teyla had agreed to be Beckett's "Best Lady" as he affectionately called her. He knew that his fiancé had been very nervous, and probably still was for that matter, but Beckett felt like he was even more nervous. "I shouldn't be this nervous," he thought "these are our friends, they knew all along what Rodney and I were doing, and they were and are happy for us. So why in bloody hell am I so damn nervous?" He was shaken from his thoughts when Teyla came into the little office. "Are you ready Carson?" "Aye, about as ready as I'll ever be." Teyla noticed that her friend was not quite himself. "Are you alright?" Beckett released a heavy sigh and sat on a couch. "I don't know why I'm acting like this, ever since we first started seeing each other, I knew that Rodney was the person that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And I want to marry him, it's just, oh I don't know. This must all sound so stupid to ye." Teyla sat down next to him, and gently took his hand. "You are uncertain." Beckett's head snapped up, and suddenly all the nonsense going through his head made sense. "That's it! That's why I'm so bloody nervous." He leaned over, and gave Teyla a hug. "Thank ye so much love." Teyla smiled "Well, I'm glad I could help. We should probably get to the control center; they will be waiting for us. And Rodney will be waiting to see you." And waiting they were, as Beckett walked down the "aisle" he could feel everyone's eyes on him, but he didn't care, for his eyes were on McKay and McKay alone. With the butterflies in Beckett's stomach gone, he joined his lover, now almost-husband, in front of Elizabeth.

Elizabeth could no longer hold back a smile as she looked at the two men in front of her. "Dearly beloved," she began "we have gathered here to join these two gentlemen in marriage. If anyone has a reason as to why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace." In here mind she added "thank God Kavanaugh's not here." She held her breath, hoping that no one would speak, these two deserved each other, and judging by the turnout in the gate room, everyone in the city knew that. "Very well, Rodney and Carson have opted to write their own vows. Rodney, you first." McKay exhaled a small sigh and faced Beckett. "Carson, the moment I met you in Antarctica I knew you were someone special, and I wanted to know you better. I never dreamed that in a million years, someone as kind, loving, and understanding as you could even think of loving someone like me. And I never, in all my wildest dreams, thought I'd be standing up here with you. Carson, you have made me the happiest man in the entire universe, and I love you with all my heart." Elizabeth smiled, "Beautiful Rodney, Carson?" Beckett grew nervous again, but shook it off faster than it came on. "Rodney, the day we met, you simply intrigued me. I think it's fair to say it was love at first sight, and it blossomed when we moved here. You're the kind of person that, ever since I was a lad in Scotland, I could see myself getting old with. You complete me Rodney McKay, and I love ye." At the end of their vows, Teyla and Sheppard approached with their wedding rings and Elizabeth had McKay and Beckett slide the two solid gold rings on each other's left hands. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce Rodney and Carson McKay to be married." Cheers erupted from the gate room as Sheppard yelled "Rodney, why are you just standing there, kiss him already!" Rodney looked to Elizabeth "Well, Rodney, you heard the man." Rodney beamed as he gently claimed Carson's lips. As Rodney pulled away, he whispered, "I love you" Beckett only smiled, for words would only ruin this beautiful moment. The cheers from their fellow Atlantians continued as they walked up the "aisle" hand in hand.

Author's note: There will be one (MAYBE two chapters) to follow this one, R&R please (and please be gentle this is the first wedding I've ever written)