Disclaimer: MGM owns SGA; KOI does NOT.

Beta: DaniWilder. Thanks as always.

Stargate: Atlantis

Second Choices

by koinekid

Chapter 4

The last time Jennifer saw so many flowers indoors was at a florist's shop. Pedestals lined both sides of an aisle runner leading to the open hatchway of a jumper. Rose petals were sprinkled across the runner, and atop each pedestal set a bouquet of red roses and white oriental lilies. Her favorites.

As lovely as the flowers were, what really stole her breath away was the man walking down the ramp, struggling with a cufflink. Jennifer did not think she would ever grow tired of seeing Rodney McKay in a tuxedo. The suit and tie he wore to the party seemed shabby by comparison.

His dapper appearance at once quickened her pulse and made her frown. Whatever Rodney's plans, she knew that her smudged makeup and lab coat were not fitting attire. Beneath the coat she wore her best dress, but it was rumpled from sitting too long at her desk. She slipped the coat from her shoulders and let it drop to the floor anyway.

Sam nudged her. Taking the hint, Jennifer advanced into the room. The spicy fragrance of lilies tickled her nose as she strolled across the petal-strewn runner. The fabric looked soft, and she had a fleeting urge to shed her boots and walk the rest of the way barefoot.

At her approach Rodney stopped fumbling with the cufflink. It dangled from his open sleeve as he lowered his arm. Jennifer reached out and with deft movements threaded the cufflink through the second buttonhole. Her thumbs rubbed tiny circles into his wrist when she was done.

"Hi," she said.

Rodney licked his lips. "Hi."

"Everything is so beautiful. The flowers…and you." Her voice was husky, and she blushed. "I'm such a mess." If only she could have touched up her cosmetics.

"No, you look great." His mouth twitched. "Perfect."

"You're full of crap, McKay. But thanks."

He hugged her suddenly, and she relaxed into the embrace, resting her head on his shoulder. She released a breath, and her pent up anxiety went with it. As her eyes drifted shut, the aroma of lilies became sharper, more vivid.

She smiled. Not only had Rodney gotten the color right, but the species as well. He knew she liked white lilies, but she hadn't mentioned her preference for the oriental variety. Figuring it out on his own had just scored the man major brownie points.

"Lilies," Jennifer whispered. "How did you get white lilies on Atlantis? Botany doesn't grow them. Are they even in season on Earth?"

"I have my ways. Did you think I'd plan such an important day without including your favorite flower?"

"Planned all this, did you?"

Rodney nodded. "I had big plans, Keller. Granted I had a different venue in mind, but then you got curious and forced me to adjust my timetable. Very annoying." Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her thoroughly.

Sam cleared her throat. Ignoring her, Rodney deepened the kiss. Jennifer was blushing like man and cast a sheepish glance at Sam when the kiss ended.

Rodney grinned smugly. "That's for messing up my plans, Keller."

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

He winked. "Figured you should get as much use out of the name as possible before getting your new one."

Jennifer's jaw dropped at his audacity. "Awfully sure of yourself, aren't you?"

"Nope, sure of you. And I'm joking about your last name. You should keep yours. Two McKays on Atlantis would get confusing."

"Isn't there a McKay in maintenance?" Sam piped in. "The tall friendly guy everyone likes?"

Rodney pursed his lips. "You want to see yourself out, Sam?"

She crossed her arms. "I schlepped the ring across two galaxies and helped you fished it out of the ocean. I'm staying to watch."

"You sat in the co-pilot's chair and corrected my math."

"Then you admit it needed correction?"

"It did not!"

Hours ago a bitter Jennifer would have compared Sam and Rodney's fighting to that of an old married couple. Now it seemed more like sibling rivalry. The young woman seized his hand. "You got the ring back? How?"

The irritation drained from his face. "I don't want to bore you with the details."

"You don't bore me, Rodney."

His eyes twinkled. "Jennifer, a marriage has to be built on honesty and trust."

The natural way he spoke about marriage, no stuttering or hesitation, made her heart beat all the quicker. "Fine, but I promise nothing you say today will bore me."

"Good, because there's a lot I have to tell you. About the ring, let's just say your future husband is—in a word—amazing."

"I already knew that. Now brag. You earned it."

The delight on his face was priceless. "A few months ago we retrofitted a jumper for the oceanography team. Enhanced the on-board sensors, added manipulator arms, essentially turned it into a souped-up minisub. Once I located the ring—"

"Once we located the ring," Sam corrected.

Rodney sighed. "Do you want to do this?"

Sam smiled sweetly. "Jennifer, Rodney has loved you for so long and—"

"Out. Now." Rodney pointed toward the door.

"I can tell when I'm not wanted." Hands raised, Sam backed slowly away. As a parting shot, she added, "Good luck with him, Jennifer. You'll need it." She was out the door before Rodney could sling a retort.

Luck? Jennifer shook her head. If luck did anything, it brought me to him.

"Jennifer," he said, "would you like to—?"

"Yes!"

"To accompany me into the jumper? I have champagne."

"Oh. Uh, sure." Way not to sound desperate.

Once the bubbly liquor was poured, and Rodney had proposed a toast to her (which she insisted by amended to them), he removed a blanket from a storage compartment and laid it, still folded, upon the deck before her. Carefully he sank to one knee.

Her stomach did flips, and she nearly dropped her champagne flute. He took the glass and set it aside, then enfolded her left hand in both of his. When he opened his mouth to speak, she was already nodding vigorously.

He spoke at length about their relationship; its unexpected beginning, how it changed him, and his hopes and dreams for their future together. Jennifer was a bundle of nerves by the time he drew the ring from his pocket. Get on with it, she wanted to scream.

Shifting uncomfortably, he switched knees. Serves you right, Jennifer thought, then chided herself.

His voice trembled as he spoke. "Jennifer Keller, I love you. And if you'll do me the honor, I'll spend every day of the rest of my life trying to make you happy. Will you—?"

"Yes!"

He looked mildly annoyed. "Will you let me finish?"

She clapped her free hand over her mouth. In a muffled voice, she spoke, "Sorry. Go on."

"Will you marry me?"

Choked by a sob, she didn't answer right away. At last, "Yes, I'll be your wife."

Quickly, as if he expected her to reconsider, he slid the ring onto her finger. He started to stand, but she sank to her knees and clutched him tightly. Time slowed as their lips met. Minutes or hours later, Jennifer pulled back, panting.

A hunger that refused denial seized her belly. Her eyes drifted to the blanket, to his swollen lips, and back again. A wicked thought formed.

Pushing to her feet, she slinked over to the hatch. The sound of her high-heeled boots clicking off the deck plating made her feel terribly sexy. Glancing over her shoulder, she awarded Rodney with her sultriest look.

He eyed her suspiciously. "What are you up to?"

"Spread the blanket, Rodney. And if you have any of those rose petals left…"

While he scrambled to obey, she closed the hatch. For the next half hour, safe and secure from worry, distraction, and prying eyes, Jennifer Keller showed her fiancé just how eager she was to receive her new last name.

The End

Thanks for reading. Reviews are appreciated.

To be continued in "Tag to Second Choices" (rated M) by Destiny Brighthope

Bonus Chapter Coming Soon.