xoxoxoxoxoxox
.
But it did get better as they continued their vacation. John felt the very last ounce of stress and tension ease from his body as they sat on the porch and watched the light dancing on the glimmering waves; listened to the surf crashing upon the granite boulders along the shore.
"I can't remember the last time I felt this relaxed," John sighed as he held Teyla's hand on the back porch swing.
"I agree," Teyla answered back. "It has truly been peaceful and revitalizing. And Torren seems to be enjoying himself quite a bit, also."
They both looked down onto the grass to where the boy was playing with Mrs. Brewer's dog, Domino. She had been kind enough to allow TJ to have some time with him every afternoon when he woke up from his nap. It seemed to take the just-woken-up-grumpies away much quicker than usual. And Mrs. Brewer was more than happy for the dog to get some exercise that didn't include her being present.
But soon it was dinner time and the dog was returned next door. John loaded them all in the car and drove the short distance to Pepper's Pizza, on the main road. He knew it was fairly walkable as he had worked here the summer between his junior and senior year of high school but also knew it would take a while with a three year old and a pregnant woman who had been out walking on trails all day.
Memories returned as they entered the small pizza shop. It hadn't changed all that much since he had worked here. The same six, wooden booths were in the same exact spots they had been in when he had made and served the pizza and subs to the summer tourists. He wondered if Mr. Pappalardo was still the owner.
The man had been really great to him although he always wondered if his father hadn't made some sort of deal for the guy to keep an eye on John. Dave had been getting ready to go to Harvard and he and his Dad had spent quite a bit of time in the Beacon Hill apartment that they had. John had asked if he could stay in Bar Harbor for the summer and he knew Patrick had debated whether it was better for him to do that or remain at the ranch with Josie, the housekeeper. He figured John was closer in Bar Harbor than at home if he was spending so much time in Boston.
John knew his Dad had thought a change of scenery might be a good thing for his son who had been slowly testing his oats and his independence. His Dad hadn't known, however, exactly how much independence John had been working towards until he got accepted into the Air Force Academy and hadn't needed Patrick's Sheppard's money for college. His Dad had always figured if John wanted money to pay for school, he would need to go along with what Patrick wanted him to study and where he would go. It had frustrated him no end that John was getting a free ride courtesy of the US Military.
The pizza shop only had one other family inside eating and John knew that many people simply got their food to go. Most people didn't want to hang out inside too much when they were on vacation. John stood between the booths on either side of him and looked up at the menu displayed above the counter. The menu was similar with a few additions and subtractions and the prices were definitely different but it was nice to know that some things remained the same.
"Do you want anything other than pizza, Teyla?" John asked his wife who was also perusing the menu.
Teyla tilted her head and replied, "Perhaps a small salad to go with it."
John looked over at TJ who was staring around at the pictures on the wall and the knickknacks and children's books lining the shelves. "Hey, Pal, what do you want to drink with your pizza? Fruit punch, lemonade or water?"
The answer, "Fruit punch" came back and John instructed, "Choose a booth, TJ and climb in so you're not in the way."
TJ did as asked and stood on the padded bench to look at the magazine articles and pictures that were displayed above the table. His eyes narrowed and he grew confused.
"Daddy, why you got a picha on a wall?"
John finished giving the girl behind the counter his order and explained, "It's probably someone who worked here." He looked at the girl and asked, "Does Mr. Pappalardo still do that; post pictures of kids who've worked here as they graduate and stuff?"
"Yes," the girl's eyes lit up. "But that's the guy who's the Military Commander of the city of Atlantis. He used to work here I guess a long time ago. Mr. Papp freaked when he saw the news show but said he always knew that kid would go far."
John felt awkward as he looked over and realized the article and pictures were of him and they must have been one that had come out last year after the news special. But he also felt a bit pleased that apparently Mr. Papp, as all the kids had called him, had thought so highly of him.
Torren pointed to the picture again and announced, "It you, Daddy. You wort here?"
John pulled out his wallet to pay for the food and could feel the others in the shop staring at him. "I used to, TJ," he answered softly, trying not to draw too much attention but the shop was extremely small. "A long time ago when I was a teenager."
The counter girl was now staring at him as he held out the money to her. "You're Colonel John Sheppard! Oh my God! I can't believe you're standing here in front of me. Wow!"
John tried to hide the grimace on his face with a crooked smile and gave a small nod. "Yup, uh, here," and he tried to hand her the money again.
The girl managed to come out of her shock but shook her head vehemently. "Oh, there's no way Mr. Papp would make you pay for your food. You're famous."
John tilted his head and shrugged. He placed the twenty dollar bill on the counter and said, "Well, I'm gonna do it anyway. Uh, keep the change."
He moved to the table where Teyla was sitting with TJ still looking at the picture of him. When he got closer he realized that there was a magazine article with pictures of him in Atlantis but also one of him with Mr. Papp during the time he worked here. Yeah, Mr. Papp always took pictures of the teenagers who worked for him saying that you never knew when one of them would become famous and he wanted proof that he knew them when. It had obviously paid off for him in this situation.
Teyla was smiling at the older picture of him. "You were quite handsome when you were younger. The hair is a bit longer but still, I can tell it is you."
John just rolled his eyes and looked around the small shop. The counter girl was now whispering to the guy in the back making the pizza and the family sitting on the other side of the room was trying not to stare too blatantly. They weren't really succeeding though and John felt very self-conscious. They were mostly staring at Teyla and TJ and he guessed they realized that these two were from another planet. That was enough to freak anyone out.
TJ finally got tired of looking at the picture of John hung on the wall and he picked up one of the Dr. Seuss books on the shelf and held it up.
"You wead me a boot, Daddy?"
John took the book, thankful for a distraction from the awkwardness of the situation and nodded, "Sure."
Torren crawled into his lap and he began reading. "The sun did not shine, it was too wet to play…"
He'd gotten through a few books by the time the pizza arrived and he noticed the other family that had been gaping at them had finally left.
More people had come and gone having take-out orders only but luckily none of them had been in on the previous conversation so had barely given him, Teyla and Torren a second glance. It had allowed them to finally eat in peace.
They were just finishing up and John was attempting to wipe the sauce off TJ's mouth when he heard a booming voice echo through the small room.
"John Sheppard! By God it is you!"
John lifted his head and smiled as he saw Mr. Pappalardo standing next to the counter walking toward him. The man had aged and his hair was now completely gray but it didn't look like he had lost a single strand of the thick mane he had always had.
John stood up and thrust out his hand. "Mr. Papp, how've you been? You look great!"
The man took John's hand but pulled him into a tight embrace instead of shaking it. John had forgotten that the large Greek man had always been a bit more demonstrative than his own very reserved family.
He awkwardly untangled himself and waved a hand at Teyla and TJ. "Mr. Papp, this is my wife, Teyla and my son, Torren. Teyla, this is Mr. Pappalardo. He owns the place."
Teyla bowed her head and greeted, "It is an honor to meet you."
Torren stood up on the bench seat and waved, "Hi!"
"Hi yourself, little fella." Mr. Papp responded and ruffled Torren's hair. He squinted his eyes and said, "I think you look like your Mom. Good thing too," he teased and winked at John.
John just nodded. He always felt a bit weird when people said that TJ looked like him, and there were people who did. Obviously these were people who didn't know that he wasn't TJ's biological Dad. But Mr. Papp wasn't one for saying things to be nice and he knew that TJ did really look like Teyla. It was one of the things that had made him fall in love with the child from the time he was a newborn.
"Come, Torren," Teyla instructed and began to slide out of the booth. "We must clean your hands."
When she got up Mr. Papp took one look at her stomach and hooted. "Whoo boy, Johnny, I guess you've been doing more than taking care of a mythical city. Been a bit busy, have you?"
John pointed out the washroom to Teyla who took TJ with her and gave a wry smile. "Yeah, I guess."
Mr. Papp and his Mom had been the only ones who had ever called him Johnny. The only ones who had ever gotten away with it that is. Dave had tried a few times and had ended up with bruises as a result. John may have been smaller than his brother but he had always been tough as nails and unafraid to stand up for himself.
He leaned down and began throwing the used napkins on the pizza pan to clean the table. Mr. Papp nodded at one of the teenagers but John got the table cleaned up before they could come over. But both had come over and were almost hovering nearby.
"I think these two want an introduction," Mr. Papp surmised. "It's not every day they have some famous person wander in off the streets. This is Allyson," he introduced the girl.
John shook her hand and said, "We kind of met when I ordered. I should let you know she was trying to give away free pizza."
Mr. Papp looked at John and heard his little joke. It was just like the boy to try and reflect attention off of himself. He had always been a bit shy and socially unsure of himself. Which was too bad because he always knew John would go far. He'd had big dreams. He smiled when he realized exactly how much he had realized those dreams and then some.
He pointed to the teen boy and introduced, "And this is Kyle. Actually you know his Mom. Remember Sandy Jensen who worked here too? This is her boy."
Mr. Papp turned his gaze to the boy and shook his head. "Oh, your Mom used to have the biggest crush on Johnny here. Convinced me to put her on all the same shifts as him for the whole summer. But he never even noticed she had a thing for him. Poor Sandy."
John seemed uncomfortable especially when Teyla and TJ came back from the bathroom right in time to hear what Mr. Papp said. Teyla merely smiled with a knowing look.
"So how long did it take him to notice you, Teyla?" Mr. Papp asked grinning at John's wife.
Teyla was about to answer when John interrupted, "Oh, I noticed her right away," and he pulled her in close to his side, "I just didn't do anything about it for a while."
"Yes," Teyla agreed. "Over five years is a very long while."
John flashed his crooked smile and nodded at the teenager. "Tell your Mom I said hi, okay."
"Well, you wouldn't let me buy your dinner," Mr. Papp accused, "but how about if dessert is on me?" He bent down to TJ's level and asked, "Do you like cookies, young man?"
TJ's eyes grew wide and his head bobbed rapidly.
Mr. Papp nodded his head for his two employees to go back to work and he moved to the counter and took three very large chocolate chip cookies from the container sitting there. He looked back and asked, "Do you have time to sit and chat with an old man or are you in a hurry to get somewhere right now?"
John glanced at Teyla but he already knew they didn't have plans other than to go back to the cottage and play a game of Candyland. Teyla nodded and John replied, "Always have time to sit and chat with you, Mr. Papp."
The man led them to sit in the plastic chairs on the front porch around the small round table so they could view the ocean across the street. He handed one of the cookies to Torren who hurriedly tried to get the wrapper off. He then looked up as if remembering something. "It otay I have this Mama?"
"Of course sweetheart but what do you say?"
The child gazed at the older gentleman with gratitude in his eyes and said, "Thant you."
Mr. Papp tousled Torren's hair again then started asking John and Teyla typical questions about their life in Atlantis. He also provided Teyla with a few stories of things John had done over the summers he had been hanging around or working in the pizza shop. He mentioned how John had saved every cent he had to take flying lessons over in Trenton, right off the island.
"It's one of the reasons he never noticed the girls who chased after him. His head was too high in the clouds and his big plans and all he could think about was flying those planes."
John grimaced at that memory. "My Dad would have killed me if he knew I was spending my hard earned money on flying lessons. But I was determined to get into the Air Force Academy and knew I wouldn't need any money for school if I did. It's a good thing I had such confidence in myself and actually got in or I would have been away at some other school with absolutely no spending money. And it sure didn't hurt when I started flight training that I had already gotten quite a few hours under my belt in lessons."
Mr. Papp smiled but never said anything about the fact that John's father had called him regularly for an update on his son. He had kept the information about John's flying lessons from Patrick Sheppard and he knew that maybe that hadn't been right. Patrick had trusted him to keep an eye out for his son, but he knew that what John was doing wasn't bad or wrong, it was what he deeply wanted to do. And Papp couldn't argue with him when it came to following your dreams. He thought of where those dreams had gotten Johnny and was glad he had never tattled on the kid.
He listened to John and Teyla and saw how they interacted with each other and their son and his heart filled up with a very good feeling. When Teyla went inside to use the rest room again he leaned toward John and confided, "I really like this one, Johnny. That first wife of yours was certainly very beautiful but I have to say she was a bit of a cold fish and a little too high and mighty for the likes of me."
John narrowed his eyes then recalled, "Oh, that's right, I completely forgot that I had brought Nancy up here one time after we got married. Nancy's really a nice person she just …"
"Isn't the right one for you," Papp finished for him. "I'm glad you figured it out."
John's eyes rolled up and he answered, "Actually she was the one who figured it out and left me. I can't really blame her though. I wasn't much of a husband to her. She didn't like being alone so much and I couldn't really talk about my work to her. But she's remarried and much happier now I think."
"Seems like you're much happier now also with your new wife and family."
John's smile was genuine. "I won't argue with that."
Teyla returned and Papp could see so clearly the deep love that John felt for his wife and smiled. He was a bit of a hopeless romantic at times. The little boy crawled across his chair and climbed in John's lap and John's arm subconsciously wrapped around him and he pressed his lips to the child's head. John had never been one for showing off his emotions but Papp was pleased that little trait hadn't transferred to how he treated his children.
John checked his watch and frowned. "This little guy is due for a bath tonight and we promised him a game of Candyland before bed. We should probably head out if we actually want him in bed at a decent hour. Thanks for the cookies, Mr. Papp."
Papp stood and answered, "You're more than welcome, Johnny. And thanks for indulging an old man with your time and company. I hope we'll get to see you again before you head back."
"I'm sure we'll be around. We thought of doing a little cookout once Dave and his wife get here. I'll send word and maybe you can stop by."
"I'd like that and to see your brother again. Has he chilled out any since his Harvard days?"
John laughed. "Yeah, a bit. His wife Julia is a hoot and she makes sure to keep him humble. You'll absolutely love her."
Papp looked at Teyla and stage whispered to John, "Well, I absolutely love this one, too. Make sure you hold on to her."
"I'll hold her tight, I promise," John said.
Teyla rose and bowed her head at him. "It was lovely meeting you, Mr. Pappalardo. And thank you for the dessert and the wonderful conversation. I always love hearing about John before I met him. He is not the most forthcoming when it comes to his past."
John just rolled his eyes and scooped TJ into his arms. He shook Papp's hand with his free one and they moved toward the car. TJ waved frantically at the older man who had given him such a huge cookie then focused on his Daddy.
"You said we play Tanylan, wight, Daddy?"
John tucked him into his car seat and nodded. "Tub first and then we'll play."
He looked up and gave a final wave to Mr. Papp who was still sitting on the front porch. It had been nice catching up with him and he knew he'd love to see him again before they left. He thought about this vacation and sighed happily. It just kept getting better.
.
.
Teyla checked on Torren one last time before she headed down the stairs and kissed his soft, brown curls. She was glad her son had not inherited Kanaan's thick, wiry strands and had been blessed with a combination of thickness but soft and gentle waves instead. She knew the inability to manage his hair was one reason Kanaan kept it so short.
She rubbed her stomach as she got to the bottom of the steps and walked through the large living area. This new child would have the possibility of having John's hair and she was not sure that was a better option. But perhaps if this little girl kept her hair long, the cowlicks would not be so prevalent if she did indeed get them.
John was not in the living area but the back door was open so Teyla crossed the room and softly pushed the screen door enough for her to get out. And as she expected, John was sitting on the grassy expanse of lawn halfway between the house and the rocks that led to the shore.
As she approached, John tilted his head back and greeted, "Hey sweetie, come to join me?"
"If that is permissible," Teyla answered playfully.
John reached up a hand to assist her in sitting right in front of him and replied, "Always permissible."
Teyla settled her back against John's chest and felt his solid warmth behind her. She knew she was a strong and independent woman and could handle most anything but sometimes it felt so nice to simply allow someone else to take control and take care of her for a while. And she would trust John to do so more than any other in any world.
John leaned back on one hand while his other slid around Teyla's belly to rest on her growing baby bump. He didn't think he would ever get tired of reminding himself she carried his child. And he had found over the past few days he had been able to connect to this child's emotions a bit easier than before.
He still needed to close his eyes and concentrate but as soon as he did he knew immediately what to listen for. But he also now knew he needed to listen with his heart and not his ears. And he wasn't sure how he knew that but he did.
But right now he was listening to Teyla's breathing and her small mewing noises as he caressed her tummy. And the last thing he was thinking about was sensing the baby. He focused his mind on Teyla and attempted to sense her.
And when he did, he was surprised that she was feeling extremely passionate and filled with desire for him. And all from him just patting her belly. He'd have to do this more often.
For now, he wanted to show her that he also desired her so he allowed his hand to roam over her stomach a few more times then began to climb to her mountainous peaks. And as always happened when he did this, she leaned her head back and arched against him, letting him know she wanted more. And he was always happy to oblige.
He leaned forward a bit more for balance and lifted both hands to run over the soft fabric of her sundress. He could feel her nipples harden at his touch and he rubbed them a little more until Teyla's tiny whimpers erupted from her throat. He loved how he could make her moan and groan with just a slight touch.
But he also wanted to feel his hands against her silky skin. His hands traveled to the buttons that ran down the entire front of the dress and slowly began to unbutton them. He skimmed his fingers inside as each button came undone and caressed the soft skin he found there. Teyla now rested completely against him and he smiled at the blissful expression on her face that he could see in the glowing moonlight.
When he reached and undid the last buttons, the ones he could only reach by pulling the fabric toward him, he slid the sides apart and stared at the perfection that was in front of him. Teyla's bare breasts, round and flawless in his eyes, called to him for more attention. But he wanted to get a good view of the rest of her also. Unfortunately her belly hid from him her long slim legs and the enticing panties he knew she still liked to wear, even in her larger state.
As his hands roamed over her breasts and gently tweaked her erect peaks, Teyla seemed to realize where they were. She stiffened slightly and turned her head to look at him.
"We are outside, John. Perhaps this is not the correct location to do this."
"It's the perfect location to do this," John contradicted. "Look at that moon, Teyla. See how clear and bright it is. It's a lover's moon so we should definitely do this outside underneath that moon. And I can think of nothing better than to hear the sound of the surf in the background as I show you how much I love you. And if you're worried someone will see us, don't. This spot is extremely private and even though it's not that late, there won't be anyone on the shore at this hour and they couldn't see us up here even if they were."
Teyla relaxed a bit and so John spent a few more minutes having his hands softly caress her sides and belly and breasts. Then they moved lower and skimmed over her thighs. Unfortunately with her growing midsection he had a hard time reaching where he really wanted to go so he adjusted himself and lowered Teyla to lie back on the soft grass.
He knelt next to her and allowed her to see the passion and adoration he felt for her as his hands began their exploration again. This time he could see her face as they roamed over her curvaceous surface. He closed his eyes and immediately felt the love and desire that she was feeling also. He opened them quickly and figured the feeling would go away but it didn't. It was still there lingering in the back of his mind; not as strong as before but still noticeable. When he paused to concentrate on it, it came forward again.
And the message he got was completely understood. But he would have understood it even without the connection as her eyes were quite expressive in communicating what she wanted.
She lifted her hands and reached for the edge of his t-shirt to pull. John got that message as well and quickly slipped the garment over his head. He then moved closer to press his lips to hers as he lay on his side next to her.
"Anything special you want me to do, sweetie?" John asked as his right hand swept from hip to shoulder then diagonally down again to her other hip.
Teyla released a heavy sigh and responded, "I am enjoying the feel of your hands all over me. It is so pleasant and I do not wish it to stop."
John happily obliged and knew he could do this forever, the sensation was so incredible. He continued stroking and caressing up and down her torso then lower to her hips and thighs and then past her knees until he reached her feet. He massaged them for a short while, knowing they had done a small bit of hiking today. Teyla could usually handle most walking but they had climbed the small hill path up Bar Island at low tide and then had needed to climb swiftly back down as the tide had begun to come back in and they didn't want to get stuck on the island. It would have been another twelve hours until it had been passable to the main land again.
Teyla moaned her pleasure at his ministrations to her feet but did not complain when his hands climbed back up along her legs but this time allowed his lips to tag along. His tongue came out and licked and nipped a few locations, like the ticklish spot she had behind her knee. She twitched when he did this but allowed him to continue.
"John," she called softly as his lips made their way up her thighs. "I am feeling much pleasure but also feel quite selfish that I am the one receiving all the pleasure and not giving it as well."
"Teyla, sweetie," John answered. "Don't ever think I don't get as much pleasure doing this as you do. And I gotta tell you since this sensing your thoughts thing happened, I'm getting even more pleasure because I can feel yours too. And just feeling what you feel is really hot."
Teyla stretched her arms above her head and purred like a kitten when she realized that John was telling the truth. She could feel his gratification as well. So she just stayed where she was allowing him to continue. John didn't hesitate.
His lips caressed up to her neck, making sure to stop for quite a while on her puckering tips calling for his attention. He lavished and licked and worshipped as he knew he should for something so perfect. Teyla's writhing grew stronger and her hands began an exploration of their own now that he was closer to them.
They slipped through the hair on his chest and pressed against his own manly nipples, his breath catching on that action. Then they traveled to his shoulders and kneaded the lean muscles of his neck and back before sliding into his hair to pull his head back to her own chest. And he never once objected.
As his lips were paying reverence to her breasts, his hand moved to push her legs apart enough to sneak in between. His fingers found her womanly mound and then pushed aside the lace of her panties to gain entry. Teyla's gasp let him know he had been successful. And the warm moisture that coated her folds let him know that she was more than ready for anything else he might want to do. He wasn't sure he was ready for that himself yet.
But Teyla's hips had started a side to side rhythm and she slid her hand to the snap of his shorts and popped them open, wanting what she knew she would find inside. And inside was where her hand went once she had gotten the zipper down. It was John's turn to groan as he paused in his actions to absorb what she was doing.
He didn't pause for long but now sat up and slid her panties right down her legs then shucked his own shorts and boxers. He smirked down at Teyla who was looking up at him with such a saucy expression he thought he would lose it right there.
Now it was her turn to sit up, allowing her dress to stay behind on the ground. She pushed him onto his back and he wasn't surprised in the least. Since her belly had gotten bigger it had been much more difficult for her to be underneath. And he got the impression she really liked being on top. Reaching into her mind now he could sense her feeling of domination and just smiled at the passion it brought out in him. He loved when Teyla got all domineering when they had sex. Tonight would be no exception.
Teyla's impish smile grew as one hand rubbed smoothly up and down his shaft and the other gently stroked the skin and sacs underneath. John's breath hitched and grew faster and more shallow. He clenched handfuls of grass in each fist as Teyla leaned forward to press her tongue to the soft tip of his erection. She licked and lavished attention as he had done to her breasts then pulled him into her mouth to suck briefly.
John wasn't sure he would make it much longer if she continued too long and he harshly whispered, "Teyla!"
Her pixie smile lit up again and she gave one last lick then got to her knees to lift one over his hip.
"Is this what you wish for, John?" Teyla teased as she lowered herself only far enough for her wet opening to entice his shaft, her hand still gripping him firmly.
John gave her the crooked grin but it soon grew into the puppy dog eyes as her grip tightened on him. "Please, Teyla, yes, it's definitely what I wish for."
She leaned down to kiss his begging lips and replied smugly, "Then your wish shall be granted."
Now she lowered herself, slowly and agonizingly, until John was fully encased inside her. He could feel her walls surrounding him and held her hips right where they were so he could revel in the sensation for a moment. Teyla did not argue. He was experiencing her pleasure as well at the joining. This sensing her emotions thing was totally blowing his mind. It gave sex a whole new dimension. One he was seriously benefiting from.
Teyla let her head fall back as she ground her hips into his pelvis even deeper. He couldn't believe they fit so well together here. It was like two pieces of a puzzle that just clicked into place. But then, since he and Teyla had been together, he had felt like she was the other half to his puzzle and she made him whole and complete.
But now he had something else to complete. His hands gripped tighter to her hips and pushed them slightly away. Teyla got the message and began twisting her hips in a pattern; back and forth, back and forth.
Her hands dug into his chest and her head stayed tilted back as she rocked slowly at first and then as the friction increased, the pace of her rhythm did too. John figured it was now his turn to simply lie here and enjoy as Teyla had done earlier. But he didn't feel even the tiniest bit guilty. And that was good because he had more than enough in his life to feel guilty about.
He kept his eyes opened and watched as Teyla's hips swayed back and forth. The moonlight shimmered on her damp skin and the moisture sparkled like glitter. Her enticing breasts also moved from side to side and her rapturous expression made his own passion climb higher and higher until he wondered if he would shatter into little pieces.
He held tightly to her hips and tried to hold on as long as he could but when he heard her cry out and saw her body shudder and ripple, he let go and released all he could inside her. His own groans were muffled but he knew he hadn't been completely successful in stifling them all. He really hoped Mrs. Brewer wasn't outside allowing Domino a last chance for relief. He was pretty sure the sounds they had made could possibly have traveled that far.
But right now he didn't care that much. Teyla was starting to sag and so he sat up and folded his legs behind her and wrapped his arms around her back, holding her close. Her arms surrounded his neck and her head rested on his shoulder while his own nose nuzzled into her sweetly scented hair.
He wasn't sure how long they stayed that way but he was in no rush to get back inside. But he also knew the position Teyla was in was slightly hunched due to the small little girl they had wedged in between them. So he slowly released her and drew her dress back around her shoulders and did a few of the middle buttons.
"You're just going to take it off again in a few minutes, right," John quirked his eyebrow at her.
"Yes," Teyla answered and grinned at his logic. "Then perhaps you should not put your shorts on since you will only be taking them off again, correct?"
John rolled his eyes and helped her to stand then retrieved his clothes. He did slip the boxers on but allowed her the view of him in only that. As they approached the porch Teyla paused and looked back at the expanse of lawn.
"My panties are still out there," she blushed. "I would not want Torren to find them there tomorrow morning. I am not sure I could come up with a plausible explanation as to why they are there."
John just laughed and ran to find them, knowing she had a habit of forgetting them when their passion raged out of control in atypical places. A few seconds later he entered the large living area to see Teyla just starting up the stairs.
"I'll lock up and join you in a minute," he called out and set about doing just that. He used the bathroom downstairs to clean up as he could hear Teyla in the one upstairs. He checked on Torren then moved to the bedroom to see Teyla just slipping into a short nightdress.
"TJ's still sleeping soundly," John informed her.
She nodded as she slid between the sheets. "Yes, I peeked in on him when I first came up, also."
John got in bed and shut off the light. He nestled in close to Teyla and snuggled up behind her. He heard her soft sound of contentment when he did.
John shut his eyes and took a few deep breaths as he said a mental good night to his daughter. He could feel Teyla smiling as she knew what he had done. She sent her own warmth and love to the child as well. Then she sent it to him and he felt it so strongly he almost had to catch his breath.
He leaned in closer and kissed her cheek and whispered, "I love you, Teyla," into her ear. He knew she could read his thoughts but he was trying so hard to improve that he made it a point to verbally tell her at least every night that he loved her. And he could tell she very much appreciated the effort.
"Well, Dave and Julia will be here tomorrow," John began again after a few seconds of quiet. "So I guess no more making wild, passionate love on the lawn, huh?"
Teyla twisted slightly to look at him. "Julia said that David was becoming much more adventurous in many ways," Teyla's eyes twinkled as she spoke. "Perhaps they would care to join us outside."
The snort that came out of John's mouth was comical. "Maybe Dave is a bit more adventurous than before but I'm pretty sure that scenario is still a bit too adventurous even for ol' Dave."
Teyla gave a soft laugh then settled back against John. Within minutes John could tell she was asleep.
He thought back to what Teyla had just jokingly suggested. He had very much enjoyed their outdoor excursion tonight but he wasn't sure his staid older brother would be up for that, especially not if he and Teyla were hanging out right nearby doing it themselves. But then he also knew those circumstances would be a bit too adventurous even for him.
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xoxoxoxoxox
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