Picks up at the end of 'Return - Part 1' and goes through Part 2. I just picked moments - and reading the transcript there weren't a whole lot of places for Sheyla moments, so I made some. Shep and Teyla weren't together for the C4 and shield generators…they are noooow.

THE LAST OF THE POPCORN

A Better Goodbye: Hello (Part 2/2)

"So - you with us?"

John knew it had been their belief that 'the Ancestors' would take action against the Wraith, maybe even win the war this time. To learn that they'd been taken out by Replicators was no easy thing, and as little as John liked the Ancients, they didn't deserve death.

They were more than willing to return to the city.

Ronon couldn't wait, he trotted off to gather his few possessions before they headed out. Rodney, Carson and Elizabeth filed out after him and gathered around the cooking pot of "whatever-that-is", speaking in whispered voices.

John stood next to Teyla, glad to be back in her presence. She smiled up at him, "I am very pleased you have returned. It is truly wonderful to see you all again."

He swallowed and nodded. After a moment of silence she nodded to him and started to gather her own things. She pulled her tac-vest out of a chest by the entry way, they'd let her take it when they'd vacated the city.

"I'm really glad to be back." he said lamely. He groaned inwardly, and stepped closer to her. "Look, I um…" He looked to the ground, a slight shake to his head, "I'm not…sure what to say."

Teyla's hand stretched out, gripping his elbow. His eyes inched upward to meets hers, his head following slowly, giving him time to take in her face and the emotions there. He wasn't sure he could put words to them, but he knew they mimicked his own. He could see the strength of them behind her eyes, and all he could think is:

I LOVE her.

Really, truly, love her.

He could feel it burning in his chest and tearing through his veins.

Her hand slipped down his arm, gliding gently over his skin, until her fingers tangled with his. He could feel the smile tugging at his lips. Teyla joined him with a smile of her own, and this time she looked down.

"Hey." he said softly, his free hand coming to her chin, lifting her face. Before he knows it he's leaning in - and she isn't backing away.

But before he can steal her lips in a kiss there was a shuffling behind him and Ronon's gruff voice interrupted, "I thought we had a city to save." there was a smile in his voice.

John changed tactics and brought his forehead to Teyla's, hoping to alter the course of their thoughts. He doubted it worked. When he turned Ronon had a half smile plastered across his face. Carson and Elizabeth as well. Rodney looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

John knew the big Satedan was doing his best to keep from saying 'I told you so' or 'Saw it coming'. He was sure he'd hear it sooner or later, but for now, Ronon was right. Atlantis was in trouble. O'Neill and Woolsey were in trouble.

"I really missed you, Ronon."

He grinned, "Yeah. I hear I break hearts."

They split into groups. He wasn't sure how it ended up this way, and not that he was complaining (because he'd never), but he and Teyla were pacing each other down the hallway. They were headed for the shield generators, C4 in hand. He thought the others must be doing their best to get the two of them together.

They'd seen his actions in the Gate room before they'd left. They'd seen his almost actions back on New Athos.

He watched her nimble fingers slip the blue ARG crystal into place, drop C4 onto the tray and connect it with a single wire to a clear crystal in front. He couldn't help but remember the way those same fingers had slid down his arm. Soft and gentle and full of meaning.

He wondered for a second if the others had thought about what they were doing when they made it so he and Teyla were grouped together. Did they know he might not concentrate as he should? Did they not take into account the way she moved and spoke and smelled? Didn't they know he was utterly enthralled by her?

And how did he loose control of the grouping situation anyway?

"John."

Her voice pulled him out of his reverie, "Huh?"

"I am finished. We should continue."

"Yeah." He shook his head, and followed after her.

Following her down the eerily empty corridors (it felt wrong to be sneaking though the city, more so then when the Genii had taken possession of it), he could help but think about what came next. He'd kissed her. He'd been totally himself, in control, and he'd kissed her. Granted her reaction was much more pleasant than the very first time he kissed her…this time she'd kissed back. Her lips had…

No. Nonono.

He had to do his best to concentrate on the task at hand. It was vital that they succeed. They had to finish before they were captured. McKay had said it was all or nothing, one generator missed meant death.

But it nagged at him. What if they didn't make it out of this? What if plan…c? Or was it b? What if it didn't work? He poked his head around a corner, wondering where all the what-ifs were coming from. He nodded the all clear to Teyla and they started down the next hall.

And then he realized, it all stemmed from her. Teyla and next.

They shared the same feelings for one another, at least he thought so. He'd kissed her twice and both had been something of a suprise. But the things she had said, and the things she'd done since that day in the Gate room... Would they start a relationship? Would he ruin it? Because he tended to not be so great in relationships. He thought about it all the way to their next destination.

"Teyla," he whispered from his spot on the corner, looking down the corridor, "can I ask you something?"

She glanced to him, "Yes." she whispered back.

"I like you." he blurted.

She cocked her head to the side, and looked at him, "I like you as well," she turned back to the control panel, "but perhaps now is not the time-"

"No, I mean…" he checked for Replicators once more, before moving closer to her. She was right, they should work on the generators and save the talking for later. But those what-ifs played in his mind. "I mean…I want this, I want...after all of this, if we make it…" his lips came together in a thin line, he was floundering. "I'd like…us, to be together." The word sounded good on his lips, he'd said it before, but it had a different ring to it now.

Us. John and Teyla. Teyla and John.

She pressed a button and the tray slid back into the podium. She shifted her body toward him, "As mates?"

It caught him off guard, to hear it so bluntly, "Uh, well. Sure someday. I mean…dating. You and me." he guessed mates were probably the Athosians equivalent to boyfriend, girlfriend. Girlfriend didn't seem to aptly suit her. It felt like so much more than that, but he didn't want to rush into things (he did that often enough on missions, and look how most of those turned out).

She smiled slightly, "And this would be allowed?"

He didn't know the answer, he'd make it okay. Atlantis was a closed society - for the most part - the expedition members only had each other. Of course new people showed up with the Dadealus, and Midway was under construction, but he didn't think regualr contact with Earth would change too much of the way things were. At any rate, he'd make it okay if that's what it took.

"Yes."

She smiled, "Then -"

The city rocked under their feet. The braced against the movement, John's grabbed Teyla's shoulder, trying to steady her. His other hand went to his radio.

"McKay, what is that?"

McKay's hurried voice crackled back through the radio, "They brought their ZedPMs to power the star drive."

"So that sound is…" He shared a look with Teyla. They'd yet to see a single Replicator, and it made sense now.

"…the city about to take off."

"What do they want to fly around for?" Teyla shook her head, it didn't matter why, what matted was: "How are we gonna stop them?"

"Well, I…"

He realized his hand was still on Teyla's shoulder. He dropped his hand and looked out the window at the city, "Drones! They fired drones at us. That means the Chair is active and powered."

"You want to fire drones at the city?" McKay's voice came back louder this time.

"We are very far from the Chair room." Teyla told him. There was no way they'd get there in time to stop them from taking off.

"Carson." He said into his radio.

In the end, their plan had worked. The Replicators had removed the C4 thinking they'd won. The shield had been powered up and they'd all fallen to pieces. Literally.

John wasn't being court-martialed, quite the opposite actually. He was back on Atlantis for good, with his family, in his home. Expedition members were all going to be returning; computers, gear, and personal items in tow.

After he'd contacted Dadealus and Stargate Command (with the aide of General O'Neill) he'd gone to find Teyla.

"So, you were saying?" He asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorway into her old, no, her quarters. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking around the room. She seemed happy to be back in the city, but something looked like it was bothering her.

"Will you be…fired, as General O'Neill said?" she asked, her eyes coming to rest on his.

He smiled, O'Neill was a good man, "No." He looked down at his feet, he wasn't very good at expressing emotion, and he wished she would know. He wanted to be past all this awkward just-beginning stuff. He wanted the relationship, he wanted people to know she was his and he was hers. "I meant everything I said, Teyla." He looked at her. Maybe she just wanted to know he'd be there before she put herself out there. "And I'm not going anywhere."

"Then," she stood and moved so that she was directly in front of him, within arms length, "I would very much like to…date you."

He straightened up, and brought his hand to her chin as he had back on New Athos. He leaned down to her, his other arm reaching out to wrap around her and pull her close.

He smiled into her lips as he realized he could do this as much as he wanted to, as many times as he wanted to, whenever he wanted to.

He felt her arms around him, and he deepened the kiss. He wanted nothing more than to walk her backwards into the room and let the door slide closed.

Instead, Ronon's voice sounded behind him. Ronon, the moment ruiner. "Knew it."

John lgrinned over his shoulder, the big man hadn't even stopped walking, he was already turning the corner. He wasn't wrong though, he had called John on his feeling long ago.

He turned back to Teyla, her blush was adorable. "I'm counting that as our first kiss."

"It is not our first kiss." she said, looking up.

Technically she was right, but it was different from the others. "It's our first real one. No goodbyes, no bugs…" he shuddered.

"To many more." She said, pulling him back to her.

I don't know that 'tac-vest' is correct. If someone could let me know, I'd appreciate it. Also, I started this as an outline, figured what-the-heck, and launched into the chapter. I think I got all the tenses lined up, but if not, see above.

As always, thanks for reading and R and R.