Disclaimer: I'm only going to say this once: I don't own any of the characters and I'm not making money off of doing this. This is simply for fun.
Note: I guess some of you are a bit confused as to the age difference between Ronon and Jennifer. No worries. They're both in their third year of high school. Ronon is 16, where as Jennifer is 14. So only two years. She skipped 3 grades. And he skipped a grade. So there.:) Feel free to ask questions when you get confused, I would be glad to clear things up.
Back to Present (December 4th 2008):
A knock on the door. "Yes?" Jennifer Keller calls out.
Ronon's head pops through the open door of her examination room. "Hey."
Flashback to after the game:
"No."
"No?" Ronon asks.
"I mean 'no' I don't have a date yet." She answers.
"Okay. Good. I mean no – I mean good for me." He admits sheepishly. "A bunch of us are going to rent a limo. So um, so do you – would you - would you be my date to the prom?" He says, flustered.
"You're asking me?" She asks him incredulously and he just nods. "Are you sure?" He nods again. "Why?"
"Why not?" He replies.
"Probably because you can ask any girl in school and every one of them would say yes."
He loves that about her, shy but to the point. "But I'm asking you – so if what you're saying is true, does that mean you're saying yes?" He asks hopefuully, his eyes shining.
Does he not have a clue? Either he's dense about all thegirls falling for him or he just doesn't care. Maybe a little of both. "Uh…"
"Look, you don't have to decide right away. I'm just letting you know that the offer stands – until the very last minute before the prom." He tells her with a shrug.
Behind him, Evan Lorne slaps him on the back and says "Dude, you're coming, right? Everyone's gonna be there!" Looking around Ronon, he sees Jennifer standing shyly. He waves hello to her. Then looking back up at Ronon "So you coming?"
A raindrop falls on his cheek as he's about to answer. The trio look up at the rumbling sky. Sensing a shivering Jennifer, Ronon says "Ah maybe later, Ev, I'm still not sure."
"Oh, okay. Well if I don't see you tonight - don't forget poker at my house tomorrow night. See ya! Night Jennifer." Evan calls out as he walks away pulling his hood over his head.
Turning to look at Jennifer who's still looking up at the sky he breaks her thoughts and asks "Where's your bike?"
"Student parking lot. Why?"
"I'll take you home." He says matter-of-factly.
"It's okay. Really. I like riding my bike. Besides ,you'll miss your party."
"In the rain? I don't think so. I'm taking you home." He disagrees. "Let me just take a quick shower." Gently pushing her towards the locker room.
X
Jennifer freezes as Ronon guides her through the locker room doors. "It's okay, everybody's dressed already." His teammates whistling and making catcalls. One glare from him and they all stop.
"What the… Ronon! What the hell's going on in here?" Coach Mitchell yells as he looks from Ronon to Jennifer.
Unperturbed, Ronon casually says "I'm taking her home. It's pouring out there. Can she wait in your office?"
Understanding, Cam Mitchell nods and gestures Jennifer to follow him to his office at the far end of the locker room. "I thought you kids are partying at Sheppard's?"
"Yeah. Not sure if I want to go yet."
"Well you better hit the showers!" Cam says to him with a smirk. "It's already nine. Everyone else, out!" Yelling at his players. Ronon walks off towards the showers. The coach turns to Jennifer and says "Miss Keller, why don't you make yourself comfortable." His cellphone rings at the same time he's about to sit at his desk. "Hey, sweetie." Cam says as he answers his phone. "Huh? No, of course I didn't forget. I…" He pauses "You're at the parking lot already? Okay, I'll be right there, Carolyn." As he hangs up, he tells Jennifer "I wouldn't normally leave you here in the locker room – not that there is anything normal about a young lady being in my locker room." Grabbing his jacket he continues to say "But my loving but scary wife is waiting for me in my car, it's our anniversary and I'm already in hot water."
Walking out of his office, he calls out towards the shower "Dex! No hanky panky!" Looking back at Jennifer "Don't worry, I trust him." He says with a wink.
X
A half naked Ronon appears at the doorway, water dripping from his dreads, a towel wrapped around his waist, his left hand fisting it at the corner. "Where'd the coach go?"
"Anniversary dinner." Blushing prettily.
Smiling at her reaction, he tells her "I'll be done in a few minutes." Turning around, he heads off to his locker to change.
Jennifer surreptitiously looks over her shoulder, taking a peek at Ronon's beautiful form from behind. She turns away quickly when he turns slightly. But the movement does not go unnoticed. Ronons' smile widens.
X
"Ready?" Ronon asks her.
She looks up to find that he donned a green Ralph Lauren polo shirt, khakis and his chucks. His varsity jacket slung over his shoulder and his dreads tied back. She just nods and walks ahead of him.
As they reach the exit of the building, he pulls his jacket over them to protect them from the rain. They run towards his truck,
"My bike." She says.
"We'll get your bike, my truck's closer though." He tells her, nodding at the directions of his truck.
As they reach their destination, Ronon walks her to the passenger's side and opens the door for her, helping her in. walking around to the front, he gets in the driver's seat and starts the engine. Slowly backing up and heading towards the bike rack at the far end of the parking lot. And as soon as they get to her bike, the rain stops.
Leaning forward on the seat, forearms resting on the dashboard, Jennifer looks up and out the windshield. "Rain stopped." Looking at Ronon who's opened his car door already "It stopped raining. I can ride my bike home now. You can go to the party right now."
Shaking his head, he asks her "Key?" Jennifer hands him the key to her bike chain. "Stay here." Stepping out of the car, he unlocks the chain and lifts the bike onto the back of his pick-up truck, careful not to drop it. He gets back into the car and simply says "Seatbelt."
X
After 5 minutes Jennifer finally breaks the silence. "So who was that girl?"
"What girl?" he absently asks.
"The red-head. The one by the fence earlier tonight."
"Red-head?" Quickly giving her a confused look. Then turned to look back at the road. Realization dawned on him "Ah, you mean Sora? The Cheerleader?" Jennifer just nods. "Nobody. She's been trying to get either me or john to go out with her for two years now. Honestly, I just think she's just trying to set us up. You know, corner us or something then have the Genii team beat us up when our guard is down."
Then the silence is back. It's not an uncomfortable silence. They've had moments like these, especially this year. And they both quite like it.
It starts raining again. "See, you would've been drenched by the time you got home, and freezing, too." He says to her as they round the corner to her house.
Ronon parks the truck by the curb. Then gets out, pulling Jennifer from her side of the car towards him with his one hand, letting her slide across the bench seat, the other hand is holding his jacket over her. He shuts the door and then reaches for her bike from the back of his truck, setting it down on the ground. They walk up the driveway, side-by-side, he's till holding the bike, while she tries in vain to share his jacket with him. She's too short to reach up to him, this making him laugh out loud.
He sets the bike against the garage door. And then walks Jennifer to the front door. Before she can even get her house key, her dad opens the door.
"Jennifer! You should've called." Jonathan Keller says as he ushers them both in. "I was worried sick. I couldn't leave the house coz I saw that you left your pager on the kitchen counter." He tells her as he takes in Ronon's appearance.
"It's okay dad, really. Ronon drove me home, and my bike."
Her father continues to peruse Ronon. Ronon makes the first move and introduces himself. "Ronon Dex, sir." Extending his right hand.
Clasping his hand, Jonathan says "Jonathan Keller, thank you for bring her home, Ronon." Smiling, he continues to say "Ronon Dex, my Jennifer's been tutoring you, right?"
"Yes sir. My grades have improved since we started."
"Good. Good, glad to hear that." Jonathan says with a smile. And then remembering "Well you kids must be hungry." Walking off to the kitchen.
"Uh dad, Ronon has to leave. He's got other plans tonight." Jennifer nervously says as she follows him.
"Actually, I'm starving. I always work up an appetite after a game." Ronon quickly interjects. "The food at the party might all be gone by now."
"Good then. Wash your hands and have a seat, Ronon." Jonathan Keller says, pointing to a kitchen counter stool. "Jennifer always eats her dinner around this time, every Friday. You can keep her company tonight. There's enough for both of you." Placing two plates of spaghetti and meat sauce in front of the two of them, a basket of French bread and butter on the side, and then grabs two cans of coke in the refrigerator.
Ronon and Keller dig in their food. Jonathan walks over to the sink to wash the sauce pan. Watching the pair carefully. He observes Ronon buttering bread and then placing it on Jennifer's plate. Then opening a can of coke, he places that one by Jennifer, too. Jonathan smiles at the unconscious gesture of chivalry, and how Jennifer seems to blush everytime. "So, Ronon, what's this party about?"
Looking up from his plate, Ronon swallows then replies "John Sheppard's dad throws a party every time we win a game."
"Which is practically every one." Jonathan smilingly says, Ronon just nods. Then turning his gaze to his daughter, he asks . "Is this why you took Jennifer home, Ronon? To ask me if I could let her go out tonight?"
"No sir. Actually I had already asked Jennifer earlier after the game. She said she couldn't coz you were expecting her home. But I've noticed, sir, that Jennifer rides her bike to get to the game and back home. I just never had the chance to ask if she needed a ride instead." Turning his head to look at her, he continues. "I caught up with her tonight, though."
"Ah so the rain wasn't why you brought her home?"
"No sir. It helped convince her though." Ronon says as he smiles at Jennifer's father.
Nodding his head, Jonathan smiles knowingly at his daughter. "Well, for that Ronon, I'll let you take Jennifer to this after party."
Jennifer's head snaps up to look at her father then at Ronon. "Uh… B-but dad…"
"That would be really cool Mr. Keller." Ronon quickly interjects, cutting off any refusal from Jennifer.
"As long as you promise me you will not be drinking... either of you. I know these parties may be chaperoned but one can never tell."
"I promise sir." Ronon swears.
"Good. Finish your food and then you kids can go."
"Thank you, sir." Turning back to Jennifer, he immediately sees that she's unsure about the idea. "Hey it'll be fun." He says as he nudges her elbow.
"If you say so."
X
"What time do you want me to have her back here, Mr. Keller." Ronon asks her dad.
"Twelve Thirty. Patrick Sheppard's home is not far from here anyway." Jonathan says as he stands on his porch steps. "Have fun, honey."
"I will." Jennifer says, as she waves at her father.
"Thanks for dinner, Mr. Keller. I'll have her back here, safe and sound." Ronon says as he opens the car door for Jennifer.
"I know you will." Jonathan Keller says to himself in a low voice, before he turns around and shuts his door.
Back to Present:
Looking at her from head to toe. Ronon can't believe that he's standing in her office. Looking at her. The girl who has haunted his dreams for almost nine years. A girl who isn't quite a girl anymore. More woman. More confident. And even more beautiful than the last time he saw her, if that is even possible
"Hello Ronon."
TBC.