The Question

Chapter 4: The Reception

Once again, thank you Brianna T. Wedge for your much appreciated review

I own nothing! (Except the idea)

A/N: This will be a shorter chapter, but I promise to make it up by making the next one longer and POSSIBLY more intimate. There are also slight hints at Weir/Sheppard.

As Rodney and Carson walked down the hallways of Atlantis towards the mess hall (which Teyla had redecorated into a reception hall) everything still seemed like a dream. Rodney stopped Carson in front of the door to the mess hall where they could hear their fellow Atlantians eagerly awaiting the arrival of the happy couple. "Carson?" "Aye Rodney?" "Did we really just get married, or is this all a dream?" Carson raised an eyebrow and decided to toy with his husband for a minute or two. He released a fake sigh "About that Rodney, yer in the infirmary after a wraith attack." Rodney just stood there dumbfounded. "You serious?" Carson shot him the cheesiest grin he had, "just felt like playing with ye love." For that Rodney playfully punched him in the arm. "Gee Carson, thanks for giving me a heart attack!" They shared a quick laugh and the doors to the mess hall opened to reveal all of Atlantis cheering for them. Neither Rodney nor Carson could remember a time when they had been so happy. Off to his right Carson heard John Sheppard start to clink the side of his glass with a fork signaling the couple to kiss. As they did more cheers erupted from their friends and family. As the night began to get under way, Elizabeth, John, Teyla and Zelenka all made lovely speeches congratulating Rodney and Carson.

About halfway through the night, Zelenka exited the mess hall, making sure that no one but Elizabeth and John saw him. About ten minutes later he returned with a portable boom box that he had brought with him from Earth. A few weeks earlier he, Elizabeth and John had compiled, what they believed to be, a set of all the greatest love songs they could find in their private CD collections. As John completed his best man speech he saw Zelenka give him a nod to tell him all was ready. "And now everyone" John began "we have a little surprise of our own" With that; Zelenka threw in the first CD. "We invite you all to dance the night away with Rodney and Carson!" As Zelenka was fiddling with the player, Carson quickly got an idea, which he whispered into Rodney's ear. Nothing more than a little innocent revenge on John and Elizabeth for not letting them help in their own wedding. "Yer voice is more pronounced Rodney, you announce it." Carson concluded. Rodney nodded "Ladies and gentlemen, before Carson and I take the floor, there is something of a tradition that both our families have. That the best man and maid of honor choose someone from the audience to dance with along side us. Since Teyla isn't from Earth, and has self-elected herself to be our photographer, she is excused from this. So, John," he added with a smile "pick a partner." Both he and Carson knew whom he'd pick and as the music started up, Carson quickly recognized it as "Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera.

Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation.

Darkness stirs and wakes imagination.

Silently the senses abandon their defenses.

Rodney took Carson's hand and led him to the center of the mess hall, which had been cleared of all the tables and they began to dance. As he looked over Carson's shoulder, Rodney saw John gravitate towards Elizabeth. He took her hand and asked her to dance.

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendor

Grasp it; sense it, tremulous and tender.

Turn your face away from the garish light of day

Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light

And listen to the music of the night.

"You two planned this, didn't you?" Elizabeth coyly asked as she and John danced their way over. "Aye, something like that." Carson winked. "Or maybe the universe decided that you two should have a chance as well." Rodney added with a smirk.

Close your eyes and surrender to you darkest dreams

Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before.

Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar

And live as you've never lived before.

Softly, deftly, music shall caress you

Hear it, feel it secretly possess you.

Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind

In this darkness that you know you cannot fight.

The darkness of the music of the night.

Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world

Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before.

Let your soul take you where you long to be

Only then can you belong to me.

"You belong to me, Carson." Carson sighed and nestled his head under Rodney's chin. "Aye, I do. So, does this mean you're MY Phantom of the Opera then?" Rodney looked down at his husband, "Only if I get a white mask."

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication

Touch me. Trust me, savor each sensation.

Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in

To the power of the music that I write,

The power of the music of the night!

As the song closed Rodney mouthed along with the words "You alone can make my song take flight, help me make the music of the night." With the end of the song Carson leaned up and lightly kissed Rodney's lips.

John and Elizabeth had seen Rodney and Carson kiss from out on the balcony. "You're thinking again Elizabeth." She sighed and turned to the man she secretly loved. "Yes, I was only thinking how lucky they are to have each other." John stood next to her, letting his hand brush hers "You know, that dance was fun. What do you say we rejoin the happy couple on the dance floor?" John had a gleam in his eyes that Elizabeth simply couldn't refuse. "Alright." He took her hand and led her back out to the dance floor.