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: Hey guys, sorry! I know, I know, I'm done with the books… blame my sister. She got me hooked on them. Anyway, aside from that, I've been really busy. But I promise I'll make more time. The end is near… the story I mean.
Present Day (February 22, 2009):
It's nearly the end of the reception, and after all the toasts have been made, the food eaten and the caked sliced, Marie and Evan head for the dance floor. A few minutes later, couples start to follow their lead. As dancers swirl around, Jennifer, who was talking to a few guests, walks up to Ronon, who's sitting all alone, not watching the couples dance, but is staring intently at Jennifer and waiting patiently.
She stands in front of him and gives him a shy smile. "Would you like to dance?" She asks him. Instead of answering, Ronon gets up from his chair and pulls her body against his.
They weave their way to the center and sway to the music, their eyes not leaving each others'. Jennifer drapes her arms over his shoulders, while his one arm is wrapped around her waist, and his hand resting on the nape of her neck. She rests her cheek on his shoulder, the three inch heels she's wearing make her only five inches shorter than him. She breathes in his masculine scent and sighs.
Ronon turns slightly to look at her and then places a kiss on her forehead. Jennifer lifts up one of her hands to caress his face and smiles lovingly at him.
A slight movement to their side catches their attention, and the both look up to see Rodney and Laura dancing sweetly together. They've captured some curious glances, but are absolutely oblivious to them. Their view of the couple is blocked by John swirling Teyla gracefully. When John finally catches her, they both look at Ronon and Jennifer and smile. John even gives them a 'thumbs up' sign.
Ronon smirks at this. Jennifer smiles at first, but it quickly melts away. Ronon feels the sudden tension in her body and looks down at her. She looks very confused now. And horrified. John and Teyla have noticed, too, and slowed down their dancing. Jennifer's arms slide down from Ronon's shoulders. Ronon reluctantly lets go of her, staring at her back as she steps towards John and Teyla.
John is surprised when Jennifer slowly lifts up his hand, her forehead scrunched up. Ronon stands right behind her and waits patiently. She's taken a very special interest in John's watch. "Jennifer?" Ronon asks quietly.
Jennifer suddenly looks up at John. "Where did you get this?" She asks in a whisper.
John looks at her shocked face and slowly answers. "My dad. It was passed on to me."
"When?" Jennifer asks.
"Right before graduation." John answers, his puzzlement growing.
"Jennifer?" This time Teyla asks.
But Jennifer ignores her, too. "And this odd link?"
"My dad had dropped it before and the bracelet link got broken, he had it fixed but they couldn't find one that was similar to it, it was passed down to him, too." John replies.
Jennifer rubs the face of the watch. The watch itself is unique. Probably custom-made. But that one bracelet link made it even more distinct.
"Jennifer!" Ronon says her name more forcefully, but still managing to be gentle.
Her head jerks up again, but this time her eyes are brimming with tears. John and Teyla are taken aback as they look upon her face. "I'm sorry!" She chokes out in a whisper, her red-rimmed eyes looking at Teyla. And then she turns to Ronon, a tear escapes and slowly rolls down her cheek. "I am so sorry!" And with that she makes he exit, dodging other couples and being careful not to show her face to the other guests.
She whips out her phone and calls her assistant, Claire. "Claire, I want you to check when is the next flight out of here."
"Next flight from Palm Springs to San Diego?" Claire asks.
"It doesn't matter. Just get me anything that's leaving within thirty minutes." She says in a rush as she hastily walks back to the villa. She turns to look back and is relieved not to find anyone coming after her. Relieved but also a little bit disappointed.
After a few silent minutes, Claire says. "Okay, there is a flight to Phoenix. Is forty-five minutes fast enough?"
"That's fine." She answers.
"Okay, so you are good to go. Just go to any kiosk and grab your e-ticket."
"Thanks, Claire." Jennifer replies.
"Do you want a flight from Phoenix to here then?" Claire asks.
"No. I think I need to take some time off. Call Dr. Jenkins and have him take over for the time being. He'll be needed during the practices." After saying goodbye, Jennifer hangs up and bursts through the doors. Fortunately for her, she's almost done packing. She always knew her obsessive compulsiveness was going to pay off someday.
X
"What just happened?" John asks as they watch Jennifer quickly walk away. But his question goes unanswered. So he looks to his companions and find them stunned by what just happened. "Hey…" No response. "Hey!" He says louder, snapping his fingers in both their faces.
They both snap out of it. While Teyla's face registers confusion, Ronon's expression is one of worry.
"Aren't you going to go after her?" John asks Ronon.
Unfortunately, the incident has dulled Ronon's senses and is making him act and think slow. "What?"
Back to Graduation day (June 6, 2000):
"Ronon, will you please stop fidgeting?" Teyla asks from her seat beside him. They've already been seated in their respective places. And in their small class of fifty, Teylas last name puts her beside Ronons.
"Where is she?" He asks, turning around from left to right. Looking at the empty seat in the third row.
"She'll be here." Teyla assures him. "She needs to make a speech remember. I don't think she'd ever miss that."
Ronon frowns and then turns back to look at the stage. After a few minutes he looks around again. Finally, she's here. He sees her as she walks down the aisle and makes her way to her seat. He tries to capture her eyes but she never looks up. He frowns at this.
Towards the end of the ceremony, he turns around again, but can't seem to do it properly without straining his neck. So he angles his body towards Teyla and drapes his arm over the back of her chair and looks at Jennifer. She suddenly looks up, her expression unreadable. But before he can say anything she's called to the stage.
Jennifer makes her speech, not making eye contact with anybody. He even snaps a picture of her while she's up on stage. It's strange because she practiced her speech in front of him countless times and she seemed so lively when she delivered it. But today, she seemed detached. It was still an awesome speech, and everyone loved it. But it wasn't they way she practiced it. She did say that she was nervous though. Maybe that was the problem.
And when she thanked the faculty and teachers and wished everyone good luck, the students took it as cue and threw their caps and gowns in the air.
Everyone was hugging, some parents were crying. Hands were shook, and pictures were taken. He watched Jennifer take photos with Carson and Rodney while Teyla's mom, Tagan, took pictures of him and Teyla together. He finally catches Jennifer's eye from across the field, and for a brief moment sees something that looked a little bit like hurt in her eyes. He frowns at this, but Teyla pokes him in the ribs to pay attention. He slings his arm over hers, but is still not looking at the camera, and instead staring at Jennifer's now expressionless face.
He excuses himself from Teyla and her family and walks towards Jennifer who's arm is already linked through her fathers as they walk away. He tries to catch up to them before they head off to dinner to celebrate. Jonathan and Jennifer had invited him, but Teyla's parents had already planned an extravagant dinner. So instead, they decided on just celebrating the next day with friends. But in truth, he had planned on something else entirely.
After careful deliberation, Ronon decided that maybe they are ready. They love each other. Isn't that enough. It's not like they won't be safe.
He rented a hotel room for tomorrow. And Teyla helped him pick out candles, scented oils and bought rose petals for him to scatter in the bathtub. If she changes her mind, he would respect that. He loved her and that's all that really matters.
He walks quickly, staring at Jennifer's back. But John catches his arm and persuades him to take a quick picture. When they're done taking shots, Ronon runs to the parking lot and sees Jonathan and Jennifer Keller driving off. He's frustrated that she never got a cell phone. It would have been really useful right now.
Back to the Present:
"Dude!" John simply says. As if that one word explained it all, Ronon springs into action and leaves the party, but not fast enough. It wouldn't do anyone good if they notice him.
Teyla moves to follow him. "Where are you going?" John asks.
"To Jennifer." She replies without looking at him.
"Don't you think we should leave them alone? Let them straighten things out themselves." John says.
"She apologized to me, too, John." Teyla says quietly, and then continues to walk in the direction where Jennifer and Ronon had gone.
X
"What's going on?" Ronon asks right away as soon as he enters the room. He watches her neatly stuff her toiletries in a bag. He walks to her and stills her hands. "Tell me."
Jennifer yanks her hands away and shakes her head. "I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because you'll hate me." She says, the tears quickly streaming down her face.
"Impossible." He says.
Jennifer shakes her head. "No."
Ronon grabs her wrist in a firm but gentle grip. "Please!" He says in an agonized voice.
Jennifer caresses his distressed face, "This," a sad expression on hers. "is exactly why I can't tell you." She turns away from him and zips her case closed. She pulls her bags along with her out of the room.
"Would you rather walk away from me without an explanation? Like you did before." He chokes out.
Jennifer stands frozen in the middle of the room. She focuses her attention on potted plant in the corner of the living room.
"The watch. Why is it so important?" Ronon asks.
Just then Teyla and John appear in the doorway. Jennifer looks at both of them. "The watch is yours."
"I said that." John replies.
"And you got it before graduation." She confirms.
"A couple of days. Yeah."
She turns around to look at Ronon. Her cheeks dry now, but her eyes still brimming with tears. "I'm so sorry. I thought it was you."
Ronon looks confused for a moment then shifts his eyes to John, his gaze narrowing.
John holds up his hands. "I dunno what the hell she's talking about."
"It's not what you think." Jennifer says in a low voice.
TBC.
Note: Dun! Dun! Dun! Sorry to cut it short guys. Need a little dramatic effect to keep you guys on the edge of your seats. Don't worry, I've already made the next chapter. I won't post it yet, though.