Just Married

Summary: It was supposed to be just your average alien celebration… only by morning John Sheppard will be waking up a married man to none other than Doctor Elizabeth Weir.

A/N: This one was actually pretty hard to write, but it had to be done for things to get interesting… :evil grin:

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Part Three "Just Friends"

Doctor Elizabeth Weir had always been a hard nut to crack. She didn't fall in love easily, nor was she as impressed with looks and smooth words. John Sheppard had always been the embodiment of everything she'd thought she'd never wanted, but through the years things had changed… she'd changed. Elizabeth couldn't help but think of the many nights that they stood side by side just watching the sun set or watching the stars in the sky… talking and laughing and sharing themselves with each other. Sheppard had become her best friend. She was at ease with him… she felt safe with him. Or at least, she used to feel safe with him. Since their sudden 'marriage' she knew that had changed. Too many emotions and attractions had been realized. Her heart wasn't safe with him anymore, because she knew things would only go from bad to worse. She didn't want to be just another woman John had slept with. She didn't do one night stands. It just wasn't in her nature.

After their 'interesting' morning Elizabeth knew she needed to get out of that area and away from John. She just couldn't do it, not after what she'd woken up to. She could still remember the feel of John's head against her chest, his hand on her belly, a soft caress that Elizabeth was sure would have driven her mad if the hand had stayed their any longer than it had. More and more Elizabeth was beginning to notice how important he'd become to her, but this planet was exposing more than she wanted to even think about. She already had feelings for him, of that she was sure.

Weir walked down beside the river, walking through the woods, hoping it would give her peace. She'd always loved the great outdoors, even if she'd been raised in the city. She could still remember her father taking her and her brother hiking, living off the land with nothing but their wits and survival skills. Every year Elizabeth would come back with yet another scar she could be proud of, because it was a memory of the time she'd spent with her family. Her brother had loved it just as much. After their father had died all they'd had was their memories. It had affected Elizabeth the worst, but her brother hadn't done all that well either. Before her or her mother could do anything about it, Ben had distanced himself away from his family. She hadn't even spoken to him in at least four years.

Funny, sometimes John reminded her of Ben. Ben had always been a free spirit. He lived life by his own rules, by his own standards. He was brave when he shouldn't be, he fought when he should have backed down, and he laughed when he should have cried. It was what she had admired most about her younger brother. Her father had been the same way. Doctor Nathaniel Weir was not one to back down, or give up as others would. He'd always been a fighter, even in the end; he'd fought for every breath he'd taken just seconds before he died. She liked to think she had that in her too. In every way shape and form, she had always been like him, but bravery had been a hard one to develop. It wasn't until Atlantis, until Sheppard that she'd truly learned what it was, what it meant. It was no wonder she'd fallen for John. She just wished she could stop caring for him, stop wanting him. He was the one thing in life she'd never expected… really expected. Aliens, living in another galaxy, Atlantis… no problem… it was Sheppard that was the true wild card thrown her way.

"You shouldn't wander this far out," came a voice nearby from behind. Elizabeth jumped and turned around to see the man that had caught her. "It's approaching night… and I doubt you'd want to find yourself lost, cold, and blind."

"And you are?" Elizabeth asked in annoyance.

"Haron… Shatish's son."

"YOUR Shatish's son!" She'd known Shatish had children, but she hadn't realized she'd had one so close to her own age. The woman looked good for the age she had to be to have a son obviously in his thirties or fourties.

"And that's hard to believe how?" he asked with a smirk as he walked down beside the river and over to her, stopping right before her.

"I just never expected Shatish to have a son you're age."

"My age? And exactly how old do you think I am?"

"Late thirties or early forties," she said immediately.

"I'm thirty-nine," he answered without hesitation, looking into her eyes.

"So… if it's getting late, what are you doing out here?"

Haron just shrugged. "There's a clearing nearby the village… sometimes I like to camp there in order to enjoy the heavens while I lay to rest."

"A clearing you say?" Elizabeth asked, interested. It was hard to see as many stars from the village thanks to all the many trees blocking her view. She supposed not being able to look at the stars was the reason why she was beginning to miss Atlantis so much… that and the fact that the nearest ocean was a country away.

"Care to join me? You'd have to return tomorrow morning to the village if you wish to stargaze, but I assure you I'd be happy to make it worth your while," he said in a sexy voice Elizabeth was beginning to love.

"Careful Mr. Haron, I'm a married woman," she joked, turning to walk with him as he led her to the clearing.

"Just Haron, Doctor Weir."

"Okay… Haron, but only if you call me Elizabeth."

"You have a deal," he agreed, chuckling just a bit. "So, I hope you have been enjoying yourself during your stay on our planet."

"It is a beautiful place… even if a few things haven't exactly gone the way I'd have expected."

"You mean your wedding?" he asked, looking over at her, his eyes shining with amusement.

"Well, I'll admit it wasn't exactly on my list when I came here."

"Yes well, my mother has the habit of pushing love whether a person is ready or not. You are not the first."

Elizabeth smiled, finding herself at ease with the man beside her. She could tell he was a good man. "Is that supposed to be encouraging?"

"I myself was once thrown into the same trap as yourself… many years ago."

"You're married?" Elizabeth asked in surprise, turning to look at him as they continued to walk.

"I was… many seasons ago. Her name was Rasha. My mother knew of my feelings for her, and could tell she felt the same. We were together for three years before she died… a sickness ripped through the village and many fell to its power… including Rasha and my sister Yastish. It was a dark time for us all."

"I'm sorry for your loss… I know that must have been hard."

"We all deal with loss, Elizabeth… none are untouched by its affects."

"I lost my farther myself… four years ago."

Haron stopped and smiled, his deep blue eyes staring back into hers. "My mother… she wasn't wrong about you and Colonel Sheppard… was she? You have feelings for him."

Elizabeth was surprised at the sudden change in subject. "I… he's just a friend," she told him, trying to hold his eyes. She could tell he wasn't buying it.

Haron just nodded and began walking again, her still walking beside him. "How did your father die?"

Elizabeth frowned, wanting to talk about that just as much as she wanted to talk about John. "Lung cancer."

"Cancer… does this sickness kill many of your people?"

"Well, there are many different types of cancers… many kill, but we have found ways to try and cure the problem."

"Yet they did not succeed with your father." It wasn't a question.

"He didn't respond to the treatment, but he certainly fought hard for as long as he was alive."

"Good… he was a fighter. You must have gotten you're fire from him then." Haron stopped once more and smiled as they left the woods and walked across the clearing.

By this point she couldn't even hear the river, but didn't really care as she looked up at the clear sky above, the sun slowly setting… purple, orange, and, red filling the sky. "I can see why you come here."

Haron just walked the sun setting along with her. "You should bring your Colonel Sheppard here… I'm willing to bet he'd appreciate this place."

"He probably would, but my whole reason for being in the woods was to avoid him… that wouldn't exactly work if I brought him here with me… kind of defeats the whole purpose."

Haron just shook his head. "You're not avoiding him, Elizabeth, you're avoiding yourself."

"You've known me for how long? How exactly could you possibly know that?"

"You think my mother is the only person who can read people, Elizabeth? I have seen the two of you together. Believe me… you only avoid him because you fear what caring for him would mean."

"You don't know John Sheppard… he's not exactly the settling down type. McKay doesn't call him Captain Kirk for nothing."

"Captain Kirk?" Haron questioned.

Elizabeth almost laughed at the confused expression he was carrying. Of course he wouldn't know Captain Kirk… sometimes she forgot that. "He's a character in a story… slept with every woman in the galaxy."

"I see… and Sheppard… he mimics this 'Captain Kirk' reputation?"

"He's a love them and leave them kind of man, Haron… he's been that way since the day we met."

"Perhaps he's just never found the right woman for him… or perhaps… he's not exactly the man you think him to be. I believe Doctor McKay said it earlier, 'never judge a book by its cover.' Doctor McKay explained that it was speaking mainly about judging people before really knowing what is inside."

"I've known the man for almost three years."

"Knowing him and understanding him are two different things, Doctor Weir. Maybe if you would let you're guard down just a bit, you would see that," Haron told her before he lay down over the grass and looked up at the stars.

Elizabeth looked down at Haron, frowning. She knew he was probably right, but she couldn't help thinking he just didn't know Sheppard as she did. He couldn't be right… could he? No, of course not! She knew John Sheppard, and if there was one thing she knew in this universe, it was that she and he were never going to last… couldn't last. Nothing was written in stone… except for that….

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Elizabeth opened the door quietly, seeing Sheppard still in bed. She knew as soon as he was awake he'd want to know where she'd been. She tried to be as quiet as possible, but just as soon as the bed dipped, Sheppard's eyes opened and focused their attention on her. "Elizabeth?" he asked, groggy from sleep.

"Uh… sorry to wake you. I tried not to."

"Where were you all night?"

"Just out stargazing…" she told him, getting into bed. She knew earlier her plan had been to sleep on the floor, but she was too tired to care.

"Stargazing? All night?"

"There was a clearing nearby the river… Shatish's son Haron showed me where it was."

"Haron? I met him earlier… older fellow… in his thirties?"

"He's thirty-nine apparently," she told him with a smile.

Sheppard frowned before turning on his back and closing his eyes. "Enjoy yourself?"

"As a matter of fact… yes I did. Haron's a pretty interesting guy, a lot like his mother… that's for sure."

"And you were with him all night?" the question sounded innocent, but she could tell it was more than just pure curiosity.

"Mostly… we talked quite a bit. It was actually rather relaxing."

"Glad to hear you're having fun," John said before turning on his side, facing away from her.

Elizabeth just closed her eyes, hoping to get just a bit more sleep before the sun came up. It seemed to be about four or five in the morning, but she wasn't exactly sure her watch would be all that correct on a different planet from Atlantis. Before she knew it, she slipped into the calm of sleep, content beside the man she feared most, yet loved more than even she knew.

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When she awoke she knew something was different, even from the night before. She couldn't feel the presence lying atop her, nor did she have the dreams she'd fear would be her undoing. When her eyes opened, Elizabeth first hoped that perhaps the imaginary line that should have stayed between them had finally not been ignored, until she felt her head lift just a bit, and then fall slowly down. Oh god. This just kept getting better and better. Then again, he certainly made a good pillow. Elizabeth moved her head away from his chest and looked up to see Sheppard still deep in sleep. When she looked down she almost winced as she saw her arm around him, her left leg linked with his.

Immediately Elizabeth got off the bed, and off of John Sheppard, taking a few steps away before she walked outside. A little more of this and she wasn't sure going with the flow would work anymore. Elizabeth looked around to see many already going through their usual schedule. The pleasant hustle and bustle was a good way to keep her head out of the gutter, and keep John Sheppard out of her… okay… that didn't sound right. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and walked from the house. She seriously needed therapy.

It was then that Haron walked up to her, a kind smile on his face. "Elizabeth, sleep well?"

Elizabeth just blushed. "I slept okay… you?"

"Quite fine."

Haron then looked past her, his smile deepening. When she followed his gaze her eyes connected with Sheppard's as he left their shared place and walked over to her. "Haron, right?" John asked, not at all looking interested.

"That would be correct, Colonel. It is good to meet with you again. Pleasant day!" he said with a small smirk as he glanced over at Elizabeth, winking his eye before leaving, suddenly looking amused.

She knew that look already… he obviously thought John was jealous by his annoyed actions toward Haron, but he'd be wrong… he'd just woken up, that had to be it. "I don't trust him…" John told her.

"Haron?"

"No one smiles THAT much," was his explanation as if that meant something suspicious.

"I spent an entire night with him, believe me, he's perfectly trustworthy… well, as trustworthy as you are," she said, slightly correcting herself… after all, Haron was a lot like John in many ways.

"An entire night? Alone?" he asked in that same uninterested, yet obviously interested voice. If anything else, John Sheppard was a man of many contradictions.

"Yes… we were alone." Elizabeth looked on in amusement before realizing John didn't look all that pleased.

"You don't even know the guy and you're already spending the night with him?"

"John, he's Shatish's son."

"That doesn't mean he's trustworthy! Elizabeth you have to be more careful!"

Elizabeth frowned. Okay… this was weird. "John as I seem to recall, you've spent a great deal of time with women you barely knew. Some who were less than trustworthy at the time, and yet you stand here fighting with me. Haron is a decent man, and frankly I don't care if you trust him or not… I do."

"Elizabeth, you-"

"Excuse me, Colonel… I have things to do and they don't involve sitting here getting nowhere with you," she interrupted before turning away and leaving, trying to remember which way Haron had gone. This was not turning into a good day… then again, how many good days had she really had since staying on this planet? Elizabeth sighed. And this was only day two….

To Be Continued….