Everybody's Fine by ShipperWriter

Chapter notes: wedding details and return to Atlantis. Non-explicit details (sorry!) about how Jack came to be will be in the next chapter ... :-)

"So … what did you need me for?"

Samantha Carter glanced at Rodney McKay as he sidled up next to her. They were walking the grey corridors around to the VIP quarters that General Landry had donated as a bridal suite. "Actually, Elizabeth wanted to see you."

Rodney slightly frowned. "Oh."

Sam stopped walking. "Okay, McKay. Something's wrong. What is it?"

"What? Sam, nothing is wrong. I swear."

Sam shrugged. "Okay. If you're sure."

They continued walking.

"Well …"

Sam groaned.

"It's just that, don't get me wrong, I'm happy for Elizabeth and John. It's just-"

"You're jealous of them?" Carter answered for him, crossing her arms as she raised an eyebrow.

Rodney's eyes widened. "I - I wouldn't really put it that way. More - more like I'm envious of the situation. Ya know, especially since … oh never mind."

Sam smiled sympathetically at him as she unfolded her arms. "You don't have to say anything else, Rodney. Believe me, I understand. Even though you're upset since Jack and I are married."

"Pshaw. I kinda knew it was doomed between us from the beginning."

"You mean because I discovered early on how to kill you with lemons?"

"Yeah. That put a permanent crimp in the relationship."

She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Meredith …"

Rodney glowered.

"I swear that, as crazy as this may sound, you will find someone. Someone who knows about your citrus allergy but actually won't threaten to use it against you."

Rodney grinned. "Thanks, Sam!"

She nodded, content that her cheerleading was done, and began walking back towards the other women.

"So you have a cousin, right?"

The orange hit the wall just a foot away from his head.

John Sheppard was pacing around his room. The guys had already left and headed up to Landry's office, making sure the hallways were clear so as not to make this more public than it already was. He ran his hand through his hair one more time, sighed as he glanced down at the table, and groaned as he heard a knock.

"It's open!"

"I know it is, the door isn't even closed," his fiancée joked behind him, shutting the door as she entered.

"Lizb-" He stopped himself as he spun around, ready to deliver the classic "I-can't-see-you-before-the-wedding-in-your-dress-it's-bad-luck" line, but the dress stopped him.

She didn't get a traditional dress; this one looked more like a cocktail dress, but darn her, she got that color of red that always made him go weak at the knees. The way it swayed even when she barely moved choked him up and grounded him, making it easier for Elizabeth to approach him.

She moved a hand to his hair and took her time running her fingers through it. "How are you?"

"Umm - comatose?"

She laughed. "Really, John? You've seen me in a dress before!"

John grinned. "Yeah, but - not like this. Not right before I marry you. Wow. I still can't believe you said yes," he admitted quietly, taking her small gentle hands in his, standing as close to her as physics would allow.

"I still can't believe you kissed me in front of the whole Expedition," Elizabeth replied with a twinkle in her eye. "Of course, we will have to be more modest about that. There's something that we haven't really discussed, and it doesn't really need to be said, but just to be clear."

John tilted his head, kissing her nose. "Okay?" he drew out in curiosity.

"Whatever happens to us, to the expedition, to Atlantis, we will never let our marriage affect our professional decisions."

"So I suppose that means my new rooming request is going to be denied?"

She shook her head but with uplifted lips. "You know that's not what I mean. I'm serious, John. Not only could it gravely affect everyone on Atlantis, but if we give the IOA an inch, they'll make it a mile. Although I suppose lightyear might be a more appropriate term," she considered aloud, glancing downwards.

John sighed. He moved his hands to hold her shoulders. "Elizabeth."

She looked back up at him, a wistful expression on her face.

"Elizabeth. I promise, no matter what, that we will still be the best command team that any base has ever had. If I can have an argument with you at work, and still come home to you at the end of the day, then the IOA will just hafta deal with that. But I know I wouldn't want it any other way." He gently tipped her chin. "I love you."

She nodded in agreement, and before she could even finish murmuring "I love you" John's lips were gently on hers.

As they both withdrew, they shared a smile. "Ya ready?"

"Yes, although I'm sure Rodney is going crazy right about now."

"Oh, why's that?"

"I asked him to give me away."

"Seriously? He might try and steal you away from me!" John kidded sarcastically.

"Well, whatever happens, at least Daniel and Colonel Mitchell have stopped arguing about the matter."

There was another knock at the door. "Elizabeth?"

"Yes, Rodney, I'm ready."

He opened the door. He'd changed into a button up blue shirt out of his Atlantis fatigues. "John? I'll give you a 20 second head start so nobody gets suspicious."

"Oh, c'mon, Rodney. It's not like seeing the bride before the wedding is-"

"Clock's ticking, flyboy. Get up there," Rodney said, the words rolling off his tongue in his normal hurried confident manner.

John smirked. "Fine." With a final kiss on her cheek, she whispered, "I'll see you in a minute, Mrs. Sheppard." He clamped Rodney on the shoulder and, with a quick hushed whisper, he warned him, "If you're not there in 30 seconds, I will find you and shove a lemon tree down your throat."

Rodney laughed sadly. "Sam already threw an orange at me. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?"

John and Elizabeth exchanged silver wedding bands in front of the powers that be at Stargate Command, with Jack presiding over the ceremony. When they had slid the rings on, Jack closed his book and glanced at them.

"You know, I'm not one for giving advice, but I will tell you this: when you wait patiently for that one right person," he said as he glanced at the blonde lieutenant colonel standing next to him, "you will cherish them forever. And the more time that you spend together, you will know, with absolutely no doubt, that this was by far the best decision you have ever made. And as long as you make sure the IOA doesn't find out, you got nothing to worry about. And on that note," he finished, rubbing his hands together with a smile on his face, "by the authority vested in me by the United States Air Force and the State of Colorado, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Not like you haven't already today, Sheppard, but you may kiss the bride. Again."

John gently cupped Elizabeth's cheeks. He mouthed, I love you, then kissed his wife for the first time.

Jack felt Sam's arms wrap around his waist, her head snuggling into his shoulder with a grin. When John and Elizabeth finished their first kiss, he announced, "And now, I'm happy to present Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. John Sheppard … with a one way ticket back to Pegasus. Get goin', people!"

Everybody heading back to Atlantis had their bags in the control room, ready to go. Cameron Mitchell arrived first and found Walter. "Walter, dial up Midway Station."

"Yes, sir," the loyal 'Gate technician answered, working the computer. When John Sheppard passed him, Walter called out to him. Jack watched from the back of the room as he handed the new husband an envelope.

"What is it?" Sam asked, her lips unusually close to the general's ears considering their location.

"I think it's the bets on Sheppard and Elizabeth."

"You mean, like the notebook that Walter kept til we got married?"

"Yup."

"I still can't believe you betted on yourself. You sneaky jerk."

"Hey! I got 'The Simpsons' on DVD. What more could you ask for?"

"Just you."

The sight of such an usual contingent coming through the 'Gate was weird enough, but seeing the smiles on the leaders' faces made Chuck Campbell chuckle. "Oh, they didn't," he quietly exclaimed to himself.

Major Evan Lorne came out of Elizabeth's office with his laptop in hand, passing Chuck on the way out.

"Welcome back, Colonel. Doctor," he nodded in greeting to each of them.

"Thank you, Major. Any problems while we were gone?"

"Nothing that we couldn't handle. I assume you'll want to review the files from yesterday?"

Sheppard and Weir glanced at each other. "Actually, we need to have a senior staff meeting. Immediately."

"Major, you mind recalling Teyla and Ronan?"

"That is unnecessary, John. We returned yesterday." Teyla Emmagan walked to the leaders and touched their foreheads with hers. "I am pleased to see you return. And in good spirits, it would seem?"

"Yeah, well, more on that in a few minutes. Where's Ronan?"

"Right here, Sheppard," the Satedan replied, making his way from the corridor. "What's up?"

"Senior staff meeting right now. Conference room."

As the crew moved around, dropping off bags in various locales, Sheppard walked past Chuck. "Hey Chuck."

"Colonel."

"Sergeant Harriman asked me to give you this."

Chuck inwardly smiled. "Thank you, sir."

The colonel smiled briefly, then walked to join the rest of the group.

As Chuck began to open the envelope, he heard Sheppard say, "Oh, and Chuck?"

"Sir?"

"I swear I didn't rig it," he told him cryptically as he walked away to join the rest of the group.

Chuck raised an eyebrow, then opened the envelope.

Inside were photocopies from Walter Harriman's notebook, loaded with entries with everybody's bets from the SGC as to the romantic linking of Atlantis' leaders.

Chuck grinned when he saw what Walter had written and circled.

"They aren't just in a relationship. They were married by General O'Neill just today. The winner bet double or nothing, and he literally won. Don't make this public knowledge. W. Harriman."

He glanced at the initials next to today's entry.

Chuck quickly hid the envelope in his jacket pocket and continued with his duties, silently pondering if it was allowable for the person on whom the bet was based to actually be part of it.

Because if that was so, Lt. Col. John Sheppard just won $2,000.

Chuck was grinning all day.

TBC …