December 24th

Lorne slept most of Christmas Eve day away, right up until it was time to get ready for the Christmas Eve party, hoping that the extra rest would see him last a bit longer than he otherwise might. Because he was still weaker than he'd like to admit, Jennifer had vetoed him dressing for the occasion. She'd relented somewhat in allowing him track pants, t-shirt and his usual overshirt – all easy for the medical staff to help him put on and remove, should the need arise. Since he had to subject himself to the indignity of wheel chair transport to and from the event, what he was wearing was the least of his concerns.

"Ready?" Jennifer walked into the infirmary to pick him up, her dark blue dress swirling around her legs as she moved to his side. Evan was already sitting in the wheelchair, ready for Jenn to help him get to the party.

"Wow," he murmured, the wishes he'd been thinking about being fitter and more able dropping away in the face of her beauty. The dress was fitted for the bodice down to Jenn's waist before the material flared, hugging her hips as it dropped to mid calf. With no sleeves or straps it highlighted shapely shoulders and breast – more than he wanted any other man to notice. His girl was a sight to behold and he couldn't help but feel proud. "You look amazing," he complimented sincerely.

"Why thank you kind Sir," Jennifer smiled. "You're looking surprisingly fit and as handsome as usual."

"When everyone is feeling stifled by their ties and jackets they'll all be envying me," he quipped.

"That's the spirit," she murmured, leaning down to kiss his cheek before she straightened purposefully. "Let's go – the quicker we get there the more time we'll have to enjoy the party before I have to bring you back here."

"I really do feel okay Jenn," Evan reassured her.

"I know, but I don't want you pushing yourself too hard," Jennifer replied. "There's no rush Evan."

"I have no problem spending time in the infirmary when it's by choice," Evan admitted. "After all, my favourite person works there. I just don't like leaving my duty for someone else to take on in my absence."

"I don't think you have to worry there," Jennifer chuckled, moving to stand behind the wheelchair and pushing it forward slowly. "John barely does his own administrative work, let along taking on any of yours. I'm sure it will all be waiting for you when you're fit enough to tackle it."

"You're right," Evan chuckled too, the strain on his injuries not as much as it had been even just the day before. He was getting better – slower than he wanted but he was lucky not to be in much worse shape.

Jennifer kept a steady pace as they made their way down to the Mess Hall, now decorated in Christmas finery. They passed the Atlantis Christmas tree on the way, the tall pine like tree looking like an immense guard watching over the gateroom.

They were a few minutes early and the area was still quiet as they found a table out on the balcony.

"Did you put something on the tree?" Evan asked.

"Of course," Jennifer smiled. "Its traditional now – I put your baubles up for both of us this time – they're too good to leave in a box somewhere."

"I'm glad," Evan let his mind go to Elizabeth for a few moments, to the previous year when the Atlantis Tree first became a part of their Christmas. "Elizabeth would get a kick out of us keeping that tradition."

"She would," Jennifer agreed softly.

"Major, good to see you up and about," Colonel Sheppard stepped out onto the balcony, cutting off their conversation at just the right point.

"Ah, not really up and about Sir," Evan admitted. "I'm under doctor's orders to stay seated," he winked over at Jennifer so she'd know he wasn't complaining.

"In that case let me go get you both a drink," John offered.

"Thank you John," Jennifer replied. "Nothing alcoholic for either of us though."

"Of course," John smirked. "We don't want the Major here to get loopy on us, mixing his meds with the booze – definitely not something you want to see."

"I'm not going to ask how you know that Colonel," Jennifer gave him a pointed look.

"Hey, it wasn't me," John held up his hands in protest. Glancing behind him he all but sagged in relief. "There's Teyla – I'll just go and …," he waved his hand vaguely before making his escape.

"Funny," Evan smirked.

"Do you think he'll remember those drinks?"

"Eventually."

Over the course of the next hour Evan and Jennifer became the centre of a small and constantly shifting circle of visitors. Evan's team parked themselves as permanent fixtures, keeping the conversation and the jokes going to the amusement of everyone. Colonel Sheppard brought Teyla over, the two sharing enough private and secretive looking glances for Evan to wonder if something was going on with them too. Ronon was there too, as was Rodney – both men seeming more mellow and accepting of the Christmas celebration than they'd been the previous year. The gathering was marked by the absences too, everyone raising their glasses when John called for a toast to their fallen colleagues.

Jennifer didn't actively watch Evan's every move, but the first time he yawned she was on to him immediately.

"Getting tired?" she asked quietly.

"A little," he admitted reluctantly.

"Time to go then," Jenn said decisively, standing up. "Sorry folks – I'm going to have to take Major Lorne back to the infirmary now."

"Past your bedtime Sir?" Nate joked., Dan and Jimmy struggling to hold in their answering laughter.

"Don't think I won't remember this when one of you is laid up in the infirmary," Lorne promised, narrowing his eyes at each of this team mates.

"Good night Sir," Nate said more seriously, his words echoed by the others.

"Night boys – behave okay," Evan smirked. "I don't want to hear any stories in the morning featuring any of you."

"Yes Sir," they all straightened, waiting for their team leader to be wheeled away before they relaxed again.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Evan asked once they were out in the corridor, walking away from the mess. "I know it would have been better if we could have moved around a little, danced for a while."

"It was fine," Jennifer insisted, wheeling them into the transporter.

"Wait," Evan stopped her from pressing the location nearest the infirmary. "I still have a little energy left. How about we sit on our balcony for a few minutes?"

"Okay," Jennifer smiled, shifting to press that location instead.

It was a beautiful night, with just warm enough to make sitting outside pleasant. The air was touched by the scent of flowers, carried on the breeze from the mainland.

"This is so nice," Jenn murmured, resting her head on Evan's shoulder as she sat on the bench beside his chair.

"It is," he agreed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He let the silence sit for a while before shifting to bring Jennifer's attention to him. "Twenty four days ago I asked you an important question. I know I made it hard for you insisting you not give me your answer until tonight – I hope when you look back on those days you'll begin to remember them fondly, despite how many of them I wasn't here for. Are you ready to give me that answer now?"

"Not quite," Jennifer smiled when he frowned in confusion. "There's still one message to be read first," she reminded him.

"Oh, of course," he nodded. "Do you have it?"

"Right here," she pulled the scroll from the small bag she carried, unrolling it and reading aloud.

"We were meant to be. I knew it from the moment I met you. Don't tempt fate – say yes."

"So what you're saying is that if I don't say yes, something bad could happen?" Jennifer queried, keeping her expression bland.

"Yeah, my heart will be crushed," Evan retorted. "That sounds more than a little bad to me!"

Jennifer laughed. "Then I guess I have to say yes."

"Really?" Evan was suddenly very serious.

"What? Of course yes!" Jennifer frowned. "You didn't really think I'd say no, did you?"

"Not rationally, but when a man asks a woman to marry him, irrational thoughts intrude," Evan shifted uncomfortably, ready to dismiss the topic in favour of celebrating his new status as an engaged man. "So, just to clarify, it's a yes, right?"

"Yes," Jennifer returned insistently.

"Then I have something for you," Evan reached into his tracksuit pocket and pulled out a small, familiar sized box. He handed it to Jennifer.

"Wow," Jennifer looked at the box for a moment, contemplating the occasion, before she slowly reached out to open it. The ring nestled inside was made of delicate white gold threads entwined in an intricate pattern that enclosed a number of small gems within it – a diamond, a sapphire, a peridot, a ruby, the colours standing out like wild flowers in a garden of vines. It was one of a kind, and the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen.

"It's perfect," she handed the open box back to Evan. "I want you to put it on."

Lifting the ring from its nest Evan took Jennifer's hand in his and slowly slid the ring into place. "It's just like I imagined," he murmured, a pleased smile playing over his face.

"Wait, you designed this?" Jennifer looked at the ring with sharper interest.

"Yeah," Evan flushed a little. "I went through about a hundred ring catalogues on line but nothing jumped out at me as being right for you. When I saw an ad for custom made jewellery it was almost a relief. It was certainly easier to visit the jeweller and show him what I wanted than it was to wade through all the standard choices."

"Its … amazing," Jennifer held up her hand, admiring her new ring with a gleeful smile. "Thank you Evan … this is so special. I just … I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. I'm just glad you like it," Evan relaxed, the final hurdle towards securing his future dealt with. He'd been confident making her a ring was the right choice but part of him had worried she'd prefer something more traditional.

"Let's tell everyone," Jennifer jumped up immediately. Her doctor mode engaged for a moment as she assessed his condition and judged him to still be doing okay out of the infirmary. "You look a bit tired – maybe we should leave it until tomorrow."

"I'm okay," he replied. "Let's do it now. Then we can have Christmas day to ourselves without feeling like we should be sociable."

"Good point," Jennifer grinned, her enthusiasm bubbling over.

Evan was happy to be urged along by her energy. He really was okay – more so than he'd ever been before now that he and Jennifer were truly on the path to living their lives together. They passed the Christmas tree again on their way but this time Evan called for a halt. Side by side he and Jennifer contemplated the special tree, the decorations of an entire city's inhabitants gracing its branches.

"Thank you Elizabeth," Evan thought silently, his mind conjuring up the tone of voice and expression she'd greet him with if she were still there to hear his thanks.

"I think you would have gotten here on your own Major – but you're welcome."

The End