Heartbeat by AndromedaMarine

Epilogue: The True Heartbeat

Elizabeth was fully healed but the memory of the horrifying incident would never back down concerning its livid presence in her mind. After the kiss in her office they had remained discreet in public, holding hands and sitting and standing closer together, but the kisses continued far into the night. But neither wanted to take it to the next level, not quite yet. Six months after the spectacular rescue John had sent for it, and every day after waiting the agonizing thirteen days for the Daedalus to bring it with the regular delivery. He was the first in the gateroom to pick up the box of things he'd ordered, including new batches of shirts and a few – he coughed – necessities. Quickly he seized the box and scurried back to his room, shucking the jacket off his shoulders and digging through the box to find the one thing he had really wanted from Earth.

His large hands trembled with nervousness and excitement as he opened one of the two small, velvet boxes he'd ordered. The small ring bore a rather large diamond, whose facets glinted in the sunlight that streamed into his room. Quickly he kissed it, blessing it, and then replaced the wonderful symbol back in its bed. He would ask her tonight.

--

Rodney was the first to know John's intention. He'd known ever since he'd peeked over the colonel's shoulder at the list John made for the Daedalus. He hadn't said anything, of course, but he smiled as he walked away and internally he was singing a chorus of finally! to the heavens. Rodney sat in the commissary next to Evan, Radek, Teyla and Ronon. It was dinnertime and the chefs that Rodney was sure were out to get him had made chicken, or rather, the Pegasus galaxy's version of chicken. Cautiously Rodney sniffed it before determining there was no lemon. He was barely all the way in his seat when Elizabeth joined them, her face flushed as if she had been running and her breathing heavy.

"Do you mind?" Rodney protested when Elizabeth tapped him furiously on the shoulder. "I'm eating!"

Elizabeth frantically shook her head and gave a small smile. "I need to talk to you right now."

Rodney paled. He had no idea what Elizabeth was going to talk to him about, but whatever it was, it had to be important. Reluctantly he stood and abandoned his non-lemon chicken to follow the flustered woman into the hallway. She paced in front of him, her hands on her hips.

"Well?" Rodney asked.

Elizabeth held up a finger. "When did John tell you?"

Rodney was confused. "Tell me what?" Suddenly all the color drained from his face as he connected the dots of which Elizabeth still had no idea. "Oh, Christ."

"When did he tell you that he loves me?"

Now Rodney was really confused. "The day we rescued you from Asuras."

Elizabeth nodded her head. "Did you ever tell him what I told you?"

"What? No!" His voice quieted dramatically, an amazing feat for the loud and obnoxious Rodney McKay. "I never told him that you love him. You managed to just fine."

The leader's face fell a little bit. "Okay. That's all. Thank you." She turned to leave but Rodney grabbed her arm.

"What's this about?"

"I just thought... You know what, it's nothing. I'm just a big fat hopeful."

Now Rodney knew what she was talking about, even though Elizabeth didn't. But he still didn't say anything. John would take care of that. He released her arm. "Okay. Are you coming to dinner?"

She shook her head. "No. John's taking me to the mainland for a picnic dinner." She turned and bounced away, oblivious to the huge smile that was now plastered across Rodney's face. He gave a little chuckle and returned to the commissary to find Ronon licking his fingers of the remnants of Rodney's non-lemon chicken. Rodney scowled but Ronon just gave him a toothy grin as Evan and Radek laughed.

--

He wasn't going to hide it in anything edible or drinkable. It was stuffed inconspicuously into the pockets of his loose-fitting jeans. The supplies and food were stored safely in the back, and he just barely heard Elizabeth walk in. He swiveled in his chair and stood, meeting her for a kiss. He smiled as he pulled away. "Ready for dinner?" he asked, the nervousness just barely hidden from his voice. Elizabeth nodded and sat next to him. He took the Jumper out and sped toward the mainland.

Ten minutes later they carried the food and picnic supplies to the very sandy beach and set it out. "What do you say we get our feet wet?" Elizabeth asked innocently, her wide green eyes flashing something John couldn't mistake as playfulness. She rolled up her pant legs and kicked off her shoes. She tiptoed into the water and squealed when she realized it was freezing cold. Nevertheless the leader roughed it and plunged into the frigid waters. Rolling his eyes John joined her, taking care to not get his pocket or anywhere near the pocket wet. But he thought little of it when he saw a massive amount of water flying through the air at him. The wall of icy water hit him like a ton of bricks, forcing the air out of his lungs. For a few moments he stood shakily, sucking in deep breaths of new Atlantean air. Elizabeth giggled and put a hand over her mouth. "Oops."

A devilish smile flitted across John's face as he scooped up his own share and launched it at Elizabeth. It hit her in much of the same manner her present had hit him, and she too stood shakily, trying to regain the breath she lost when the water hit her. With both of them successfully drenched Elizabeth ran at him as fast as she could through the water and tackled him, almost dragging him into the freezing liquid. Laughing, he said, "Let's build a fire and dry off, shall we?" Silently the woman agreed, and they spent the next few minutes hunting for firewood.

It took a while but they finally made it to dinner. Also among his order to Earth had been a bottle of white wine, which John opened and gave Elizabeth a glass. It was just getting dark and the fire's light cast massive shadows away from their bodies. Elizabeth sipped her wine. "Why here, why now?" she asked, inquiring about the picnic. The colonel had been putting off his question for the longest time, and now Elizabeth had opened the door for him.

He dug in his pocket nervously with one hand as he sat with Elizabeth leaning against his chest. They were gazing out across the sea and they couldn't even see the brilliant lights of Atlantis. If they didn't know they were in another galaxy it could have been a beach in the tropics. Except for the distinctly different night sky that proudly displayed five moons. He pulled the velvet box out and turned it over in his hand, feeling it without looking at it. His other arm was looped around Elizabeth's waist. "It seemed like an appropriate place to ask you something."

Suddenly her conversation with Rodney came flooding back and she remembered his words, "Oh Christ." He had known, but Elizabeth was still wondering. "Ask me what?" she said softly, her voice betraying her excitement.

He brought the hand holding the box into Elizabeth's view and popped it open with one finger. He leaned down and kissed her exposed neck. "If you'll marry me." He said it quietly, into Elizabeth's ear so she couldn't mistake his words.

Startled and pleasantly surprised by John's question (that she had suspected was coming because of Rodney's pale features earlier) she dropped the wine glass into the sand and relaxed into John's body. She smiled as tears of joy graced her face. "Yes, John, yes I'll marry you!" She twisted and kissed her new fiancé into oblivion after John slipped the ring onto her finger.

--

The two spent the night on the mainland. When they returned the next morning and Elizabeth showed her gal-pals the ring she was congratulated to no end. Rodney burst out laughing when he saw them beaming together as they walked into the commissary. Elizabeth would have slapped Rodney upside the head if John didn't already (he'd known all along that the sneaky scientist had caught a glance of his request form). Evan and Radek beamed as they both gave Elizabeth bone-shattering hugs, which probably wasn't a good idea considering her ribs. Ronon hugged her tightly as well and wished her best of luck.

"It's about damn time," Rodney and Evan said at the exact same moment.

It wasn't long before the new couple was married. And soon their heartbeats were joined by a new one, beating in perfect time with its parents'.