Authors Note:

Another chapter because I couldn't leave Lorne on the Daedalus like that! The song here is an older one - 'Truly, madly, deeply' by Savage Garden. I know, the third Aussie song in succession but I swear I'm not doing that intentionally! So this chapter is basically fluff, fluff, fluff - but I like it! Rating wise it's maybe getting up to a high T+ but I think keeping it to a T is still appropriate. The usual self betaing and given the time here I'm sure there are errors that have crept in. I used the Petersen AFB website for some needed information that will be obvious by the time you get to the end. Lastly, thank you to anyone who reviewed last chapter - I didn't get to all replies and I wanted to post this latest chapter before it got too late in the week. I appreciate your feedback and enthusiasm to see more story ... here it is!

Chapter 4: Home

He was beginning to feel like it would never happen, like his journey home was some kind of cosmic warp that would continue to elongate his trip forever, but in one abrupt rush Evan arrived home, was debriefed, and then on his way topside.

Taking a moment to gather himself, Lorne grinned. Yes! Finally! His car was parked in the long term lot - even though he knew he'd be back rarely he couldn't bring himself to sell it, to acknowledge in such a material way that for now Earth was no longer his home. Checking the petrol gauge he quickly started the engine, relieved when it turned over after a couple of hiccups.

As he drove closer to Amy's house - windows down and radio resolutely off - he realised that the way his heart was pumping, his thoughts disordered, his focus narrowing down to the road ahead, was a dead give away.

He was nervous.

After ten years with Amy as his best friends and another eleven - God, had it really been that long - where she'd been everything to him, suddenly he was nervous to see her? It made no sense. He didn't doubt them or what he hoped they'd still be doing before he had to go back to Atlantis. He didn't have cold feet. And yet his stomach was jumping like he had a herd of giant butterflies hammering to get out.

"Relax Evan," he coached himself, taking a deep and determinedly calming breath as he pulled into Amy's street. Coasting to a stop outside her house he turned off the car and sat for a moment, trying to get back some of his usual peace.

Okay, that wasn't working. Achieving some level of inner quiet was obviously only going to happen after he saw Amy. Jumping out of the car he slammed the door and strode up the walk, ringing her doorbell as he had seven months before. The cycle in that wasn't lost on him, and when Amy opened the door and he got his first sight of her it all became crystal clear.

He was nervous because a part of him expected her to do what she hadn't done all those months ago - hand him his exit papers and push him back out the door. He'd all but stood her up at the altar - he deserved whatever consequences she dished out. Lucky for him she didn't give him time to dwell on those particular fears.

"Evan!" Amy threw open the screen door and literally jumped into his arms, clearly trusting that he'd be with it enough to catch her.

He staggered, clutching her to his body tightly and burying his head against her neck. The rush of emotion he felt was so strong that his eyes misted over a little. Trying to get a grip - of her and himself - Evan carried her into the house, toeing the door closed behind him.

"Oh God, I missed you so much," she muttered, clutching his face and pressing a desperate kiss to his lips.

He reciprocated, taking them from a not so simple hello into outright passion. He'd never returned from a tour of duty and greeted her like that before - with barely a word before he was all over her. Of course their relationship had a healthy sexual aspect but it had never been about that for him. Now he felt driven to show her what she meant to him in the most basic way possible.

"Hold on to me," he urged just before he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground. Amy responded, tightening her arms around his neck and wrapping her legs around his waist.

Grinning, Evan took a moment to kiss the breath from her body before he started walking, moving them to her room and a bed and the space he needed. Dropping her to the mattress he followed her down, careful to support his own weight as he leant over her.

Laughing, Amy's eyes shone up at him. "Well ... this is different," she teased, running her hands up his back.

"Seven months," he reminded her purposefully, closing the distance between their lips for another heated kiss.

Laughter died abruptly and suddenly it was all intensely serious. Evan's heart was racing again, but now it was about blood pumping lust and the need to have her, to reclaim her as his alone. Amy responded eagerly enough that he knew she too wanted to reaffirm their connection.

Usually Evan maintained control when he was intimate with Amy - not that he didn't give himself fully to the act, but always with some small part of him watching over the proceedings, reminding himself to be gentle, to take care of her first, to pay attention to her reactions, to enjoy her - to be the gentleman he inherently was. This time he couldn't find that part of himself - all of him was totally focussed on possessing her, his instincts and his knowledge of her feeding off her reactions such that they got to the crucial point a lot quicker than usual.

Poised to reclaim her, Evan had just enough presence of mind to stop for a moment. Both of them were close to breathless, skin hot, pulses rapid, aroused almost to the point of pain. "I love you," he said roughly just before he surged forward, confident that she was with him all the way.

What followed was intense - the right blend of rough but gentle, urgent but complete. When the release came for both of them Evan's mind took a holiday from any other reality but being with Amy and the rightness of it all.

He was home.

"I'm sorry," Evan said as soon as his heart rate had returned to normal and he could get his brain back into action.

"For what?" Amy rested beside him, her head on his shoulder, one hand over his heart.

"For not being here a month ago," he said simply, running a hand up and down her arm.

"I know it wasn't your fault," Amy glossed over everything to do with how she'd taken the delay, sending a frown across Evan's face.

"It wasn't anyone's fault," he returned, thinking inside that actually it was the Trust's fault, something he'd address if he ever got the chance. "That doesn't mean it didn't hurt at the time."

"Okay, sure, I was a little upset," Amy admitted reluctantly.

He turned his head to look at her, a brow raised as he silently demanded that she elaborate.

"Fine, really upset," Amy grumbled. "There were tears - lots of them. Happy now?"

"No," Evan pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her hair. "There is no situation where it's okay that my not being here made you cry. But I need to know Amy. All of it. You can't sweep any of this under the carpet or what we're doing here - it won't work, not in the long term."

"I know," Amy sighed. Pausing for a few moments she shifted to her side to face him and began to speak. "That day - when I found out you weren't coming home - had already been pretty crappy." She tried to smile. "You're looking at an unemployed woman. As of last week I don't have a job - IHD closed down. I got the letter that morning so I was already upset and the only thing that was making it okay was knowing I'd see you in two weeks."

"And then you got the email from Colonel Sheppard," Evan commented, keeping any comments he wanted to make to himself so she could just tell him her side of things. It was hard because the fact that something bad had happened while he was elsewhere cut at him. He hadn't been there for her.

"Yes," she replied. "I wanted you to tell me everything was going to be okay, but instead I had even more to worry about. A communications black-out? Four weeks delay? It sounded really serious and all I had were a few words from your CO to pin my hopes on that you were okay. I'd promised myself that I'd be strong - roll with the punches and come up swinging," she chuckled ruefully. "Instead I ended up crying myself to sleep. I'm glad you didn't get to see me that day because it wouldn't have been pretty."

"You're beautiful," Evan returned, "when you dress up, when you're fresh from bed without a scrap of make up on," he smiled teasingly, "and when your face is all red and blotchy from crying."

"I don't know whether to say thank you or smack you," Amy groused, unable to hold in a smile simply because he was smiling.

"I'm sorry," Evan said again, suddenly serious. "You needed me but I wasn't here - and I hate that you had no way to contact me."

"I could have sent you a message but I was determined to tough it out by myself," Amy admitted. "I guess I was trying to show both of us that I can handle this."

"And can you?" Evan's tone was blank because that part of him had reared it's doubting head again, making him prepare to hear her say no, she couldn't.

"Of course!" Amy sat up enough to give her room to whack his arm this time, hard enough that he flinched. "What, you think I'm not strong enough?" she demanded, insult written all over her face.

"No!" Evan sat up too. "I know how strong you are, okay. Stronger than me," he said, slumping back down again. Putting his hands over his eyes he pressed down, trying to block out what he knew she'd see anyway. "It kills me sometimes," he admitted, "not knowing what's going on here. I never realised how much I relied on being able to call you whenever I needed to."

"Evan," Amy's tone was full of concern and love as she gently took his hands and pulled them away so that she could see his eyes. "It kills me too," she said simply. "I can handle anything that's happening for me - just like you do wherever you are - that's the easy part. But you know what?" she didn't wait for him to answer. "It should be hard. If we love each other and we need to be together then any separation should hurt, don't you think? But where is it written that that's a bad thing? Just because it hurts doesn't mean we shouldn't do this. As far as I'm concerned it just means we're on the right track."

"You're right, I know that," Evan agreed earnestly. "And I'm not questioning my decisions any more, not since I asked you to marry me. You know I wouldn't have done that unless I was sure."

"You're just not sure about me," Amy finished sadly.

"That's not it," Evan insisted. "It's not about doubting you Amy. You've been my constant since we were kids. It's about fear - I guess I'm just scared I'm going to lose you and I don't think I could handle that."

"Oh Evan," Amy rolled over him, pressing her cheek to his as she hugged him. There were no words she could say to take that fear away. Instead she reminded him with her kisses and her body pressing into his that she was there, right then ... that they were as real as it got together. That it would have to be enough for both of them.

Later, after they'd been unable to resist the lure of some much needed sleep, they showered and dressed, deciding to stay in and order dinner rather than go out.

"Chinese," Amy decided, making the call and placing an order.

"So," Evan began as soon as she hung up. "Are you still marrying me while I'm here?"

Amy blinked, surprised at his bluntness. "Of course - and no, I'm not going to add 'if you still want to'. You asked and I accepted so as far as I'm concerned the wedding part is just a formality."

"Hey, you're not getting any arguments from me," Evan shot back. "I only asked because I thought you'd have cancelled everything."

"I did," Amy smiled mischievously, "but I decided to take your words to heart."

"What words?" Evan narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he thought back to what he'd written. When Amy grinned almost evilly he shook his head. "No way. We are not getting married in some tacky Elvis chapel!" he stated firmly.

"Aw," Amy pouted for a moment but then lost it to laughter as Evan glared at her. "Relax," she admonished. "Of course we're not going to Vegas. Originally I called the Registry Office here but they needed me to book a specific date four weeks in advance. So I called the Petersen Chapel and spoke to one of the chaplains. Given the situation he was very supportive of fitting us in during your leave. I just have to let them know now you're here."

"You want to get married at an air force base?" Evan was genuinely surprised.

"Why not?" Amy queried. "You have given your life to the Air Force right? And since your life is my life that means so have I. The least they can do is make it possible for us to get married without weeks of notice."

"True," Evan smiled, touched and moved by her easy acceptance and commitment to the choices he'd made. "You, Amy Rousseau, soon to be Lorne, are a treasure," he intoned, cupping her cheek with gentle respect.

"Oh, get away with you," she flushed, ducking her head away. Regrouping quickly, she looked at him pointedly. "And who said I was changing my name anyway?"

"I did," Evan put all the command of an Air Force Major into his tone.

"Well then," she said lightly, "I guess I'm changing my name." Amy smiled, not admitting that she'd had every intention of doing so.

"Good," Evan didn't bother to hide his smug satisfaction. Sure, maybe it wasn't as traditional as it used to be but Amy was his family and he wanted everyone to know - he needed that formal, obvious cue that told everyone they were a single unit. He wanted her to have the protection of his name too - the instant support and backing it would give her should she ever need it. And if it spoke to the elemental male within him - possession, laying claim to a beautiful and talented woman worthy of anyone's respect, putting his figurative mark on her - that was just an added bonus he would never admit to enjoying.

"Now ... can you order me around again?" Amy shifted closer, rising up a little as she ran her hands down his chest. "I never realised how ... sexy your commanding voice is."

"It's not sexy!" Evan protested even as he put a hand to her back to urge her closer. "It's serious and ... manly," he struggled to come up with the right words with her breathing hotly into his ear.

"Very manly," she agreed in a voice full of intent.

"Dinner," Evan tried to remind her they'd have someone at the door soon, his voice catching when she nipped along the side of his neck.

"I don't need long," Amy smiled when he swallowed hard, his eyes going dark with desire. "Seven months," she grabbed his hand and pulled him in the direction of the bedroom, reminding him that they had a lot of catching up to do.

"Major Lorne, Ms Rousseau," Chaplain Jones greeted Evan and Amy cordially the next day, his expression friendly and welcoming. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you Major."

"Evan, please," Lorne invited, a hand to Amy's back as they followed the chaplain to his office.

The older man smiled, waving a hand to his visitor chairs before taking a seat himself. "While I'm aware that time is short I still felt it important to meet you both before agreeing to perform your marriage ceremony."

"So Amy said," Evan looked at the chaplain curiously. "Neither of us could be considered young and we've been together for years. Any particular reason why?"

"As I understand it you're stationed a considerable distance from here Evan," Chaplain Jones said gently. "Even for a couple with a very strong foundation that can place a great deal of pressure on both parties."

"We know that chaplain," Amy said earnestly. "And at first Evan wanted to end it for that very reason."

"Amy," Evan put a hand over hers, frowning.

"Why was that?" Chaplain Jones looked at Evan expectantly – there was no way he couldn't respond.

"Because communication is heavily restricted, as is travel home," he said simply. "That kind of separate is difficult. Sometimes loving someone means putting them first – even if it kills you to let them go."

"And yet here you are," the chaplain smiled.

"Yeah, because Amy can be very convincing when she wants something," Evan joked. Relenting he shrugged. "Amy helped me realise this isn't one of those times – that leaving would have been the easy option."

"You're coping?" Chaplain Jones asked Amy.

She took a deep breath, glancing at Evan before meeting the chaplain's eyes. "I am. I won't even try to convince you it isn't hard. I'm used to Evan being posted overseas or going away on missions but not like this. Not where we can't even talk over the phone. I get upset and I have times when I really wish he was here but I can handle that knowing this is just a stage of our lives we have to get through."

"And you agree – this is just one phase of your career?"

Evan hesitated for a moment. "I have a key role at the base – I don't see that changing in the immediate future. But in the longer term, yes, this is just one post of many I'll probably have."

"And what about children?" Chaplain Jones looked from Evan to Amy. "My apologies Ms Rousseau but I feel it important for you to acknowledge your age, particularly in light of what Evan just revealed."

"We've talked about it," Amy glanced at Evan again, a faint flush of embarrassment staining her cheeks. "We still have a few years but I know that time will disappear in a flash if I don't pay attention. It's the one thing we can't put on hold."

"And you both want children?"

"Yes," Evan spoke for both of them. "Amy wants to push forward on that sooner rather than later, while I'm still stationed where I am right now." He hesitated, deciding that he had to be open, and continued. "To be honest, I'm not sure I can deliberately father a child knowing up front I'm going to miss so much of its early life."

"You never said that," Amy touched his hand, drawing his attention.

"I know," he shrugged. "You dropped it on me so suddenly I didn't have time to think. Once I did ...," he trailed off, not sure how to express that it didn't feel right, the idea of leaving her alone during what should be a special time for both of them. Seeing the expression in her eyes – disappointment, confusion, and wariness, he shook his head. "I'm not saying no Amy," he sought to reassure her. "I'm aware of the timetable as much as you are – and I'll request a transfer before it becomes a problem."

"There are no guarantees," Chaplain Jones reminded them that a desire for children didn't always equate to having them, no matter how early a couple started down that road. "How important is that to your future relationship."

"It's not a deal breaker," Amy said immediately, her choice of words so like what Evan himself would have said that he grinned. "I've known since I was 12 and Evan was 14 that we'd be together."

Chaplain Jones smiled, nodding. "Well, I can only congratulate you both. Clearly communication, even with your current restrictions, isn't a problem. As long as you commit to being open with each other, live up to the promise you're making, I'm sure you'll do very well together."

"Thank you chaplain," Evan said, glancing at Amy with an expression that said 'see? I told you glossing over things was a bad idea!'.

She shook her head at him ruefully, a faint smile playing over her face. Turning to the chaplain she asked expectantly "so you'll marry us while Evan's on leave?"

"Of course," Chaplain Jones replied. "When would you like to have the ceremony?" He shifted to grab his calendar, opening it and tracing a finger over the following days. "I can fit you in as early as tomorrow if you like."

"Really?" Amy said at the same time that Evan said "We'll take it." Amy turned to him incredulously. "Really?" she said again.

"Sure, why not?" Evan queried.

"What about your Mom? And my parents?" Amy asked.

"I can get them on a flight tonight or first thing tomorrow," Evan wasn't going to be swayed. They were so close and there was no way he was letting in the possibility of something else going wrong. "So, what do you say?"

"I say book us in," Amy declared, a huge smile blossoming on her face. She almost bounced in her chair as she looked at him. "I can't believe we're actually going to do this!"

"It's been a long time coming," Evan agreed.

"If you can spare a few minutes now we can iron out the details," Chaplain Jones offered. "Then you'll know what to tell your families."

"Thank you," Evan shared a smile with his soon to be wife. "What do we need to do?"

The following hours passed so quickly that when he thought back later Evan could hardly recall what they'd spent all their time on. In short order he'd organised for his Mom and Amy's parents to fly from San Francisco, arriving early enough to make it to Petersen comfortably. They'd also booked a hotel for their families, deciding they'd retire back to Amy's house instead of going anywhere after the ceremony.

He protested when Amy insisted he had to stay somewhere else overnight – that he couldn't see her until the ceremony.

"I live here when I'm not on base," he reminded her. "Don't you think it's a little hypocritical to pretend otherwise?"

"No, it's tradition and I'm not messing with that," Amy shot back, taking his arm and urging him to the door. "I have to go and shop for something to wear anyway."

He didn't comment that he didn't care what she wore, because he knew it was all part of the experience for her. "Fine, I'll go stay at the base," he capitulated, knowing there was no point in arguing.

"Evan, wait," Amy said just as he reached for the door knob. When he turned back she continued. "Are you going to invite anyone besides your Mom?"

"Elaine has a lot further to come but she said she'd try to get there," Evan offered.

"What about your old team?"

"Ah ...," Evan frowned, thinking. "I wasn't planning to," he admitted. "I'll think about it ... but you invite whoever you want, okay."

"Okay," Amy smiled. Wrapping her arms around his middle she laid her head against his chest with a sigh. "See you tomorrow," she murmured.

"Tomorrow," Evan promised, pulling her up and kissing her heatedly. "So you regret sending me off," he teased once he's stepped back, leaving her bemused and unsteady on her feet.

"Go," Amy laughed, pushing him out the door.

"I'm going," Evan grabbed her and kissed her again before letting himself be manoeuvred outside. The door closed behind him, the echo of her laughter accompanying him down the side walk.

Getting temporary quarters on base was a formality, as was preparing his gear for the following day - he had his dress uniform pressed and ready to go hours before he could conceivably turn in for the night. With nothing else to do his thoughts returned to Amy's question. Should he invite his old team? He'd trusted Captain Harris to deliver his ring to Amy. And he'd talked about Amy from time to time so it wouldn't be a surprise for them to get an invitation.

Making a decision he picked up the phone and began dialling. Once that was done he found himself thinking back to the day he'd found out he was going to Atlantis. He wouldn't say the song he'd listened to on the way over to Amy's influenced his decision but there was no doubt it had made him think. Abruptly he decided they needed another song for the wedding – the idea of full circle appealing to him. Besides, it was traditional to have music at a wedding, right?

Now all he had to do was find the right song – luckily he had nothing else to do to kill the time until he could marry Amy.

If anyone asked him later Evan wouldn't be able to tell them much about the hours before he got married. He picked his Mom up at the hotel, sent one of his former team mates to go get his sister when she rang from the airport, spoke to the chaplain and the few friends Amy had invited. Somewhere in there he dressed ... there was also plenty of impatient pacing. Now he'd gotten to the point of getting married he wanted it done.

No, most of the pre wedding hours were a blur in his mind, clarity in his memories starting from the moment Amy appeared in the doorway of the chapel, looking beautiful in a simple dress, light blue, the fabric floating around her legs to just touch the floor. She carried a simple bouquet and her hair sparkled with tiny gems that caught the sunlight streaming through the windows. Her eyes were lit from within as she caught sight of him standing there waiting for her.

He smiled, feeling a rush of pride and love sweep over him. There she was ... his Amy. Why had he waited so long to do this?

"Hi," Amy greeted him like they were meeting for the usual date, the happiness radiating off her almost tangible.

"Hi," he smiled back. "You look ... amazing," he intoned, her smile brigtening even further as they both turned to the chaplain.

The ceremony used the standard words – there'd been no time to tailor their own and in the end it was the commitment, not the words used to signify it, that counted.

Evan felt the surge of something primal inside when Chaplain Jones finally spoke those eight powerful words. "I now pronounce you husband and wife."

He kissed Amy – his wife – with little regard for their audience, smiling against her lips when she seemed equally as reluctant to let him go. They had to though, the chaplain announcing that it was time for the newly married couple to sign documents to make it all official.

On queue with the arrangement Evan made with one of the chapel staff, music began to play.

"I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need.
I'll love you more with every breath, truly, madly, deeply, do
I will be strong, I will be faithful, 'cause I'm counting on

a new beginning,
a reason for living,
a deeper meaning, yeah.

I wanna stand with you on a mountain.
I wanna bathe with you in the sea.
I wanna lay like this forever,
until the sky falls down on me.

And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky,
I'll make a wish, send it to heaven, then make you want to cry
the tears of joy for all the pleasure and the certainty
that we're surrounded by the comfort and protection of

the highest powers,
in lonely hours
the tears devour you.

I wanna stand with you on a mountain.
I wanna bathe with you in the sea.
I wanna lay like this forever,
until the sky falls down on me.

Oh can you see it baby?
You don't have to close your eyes,
'cause it's standing right before you.
All that you need will surely come.

I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need.
I'll love you more with every breath, truly, madly, deeply, do

I wanna stand with you on a mountain.
I wanna bathe with you in the sea.
I wanna lay like this forever,
until the sky falls down on me.

I wanna stand with you on a mountain.
I wanna bathe with you in the sea.
I want to live like this forever,
until the sky falls down on me."

"Did you arrange that?" Amy asked once they were done signing, his Mom and hers acting as their official witnesses.

"Yeah," Evan admitted. "There was a song – the day I proposed. I'll tell you about it some time. It seemed fitting to have one today. Did you like if?"

"I did," Amy threaded her arm through is and shifted close as the chaplain urged them to move back to the front of the chapel. "You know you're already all those things to me."

"Likewise," Evan returned, aware that everyone was waiting for them.

They turned to face their small audience as the chaplain spoke. "May I present Major and Mrs Lorne."