This one revisits my 'McKay Plus Four' universe, or universes as it were. Here's a little addition to McKay Number Three. Somewhere DaniWilder is experiencing a disturbance in the Force. Elsewhere theicemenace is hoping this is a precursor to something she's asked for. LOL.

622 words.

Rodney had been propped up on his right elbow watching Laura sleep for almost an hour. It was one of the best things in the universe he thought, to be able to watch this incredible woman with no outside forces acting upon them. He adored the peace that came to her face as she slept without a care in the world. He loved the way her lips formed small but telling smiles when she dreamt of happy times from the past or hopeful times in the future. He even loved the way her lips turned downward when she had a sad dream or a nightmare. He could see it all when she slept: her incredible strength, her stunning beauty, her human fear and her powerful love.

Rodney smirked as Laura smiled in her sleep and her body shivered under the sleeping bag. He knew from experience that the slight quiver had nothing to do with the ambient temperature in the tent. She was dreaming.

Of him.

Just as he'd dreamt of her during the night.

He lifted his left arm from where it had been resting on the sleeping bag and carefully brushed aside a strand of her strawberry blond hair that had fallen onto her cheek. He really did miss her long locks- he missed twirling them between his fingers and how her longer hair had always fallen about her shoulders like a reddish cape- but understood the practicality of her shorter hairdo.

One thing was certain: he'd loved her with long hair, he loved her now with short hair, and he would love her tomorrow no matter what she chose to do with it. She could go bald and he wouldn't care.

His hand fell onto her bare shoulder and he feathered his fingers down her arm until his fingers intertwined with hers. It was telling of just how tired she was that he could do so much to her and not wake her. She had always been a light sleeper, a practice born of necessity in their wartime state, yet she didn't even flinch at his touch.

Poor thing, he thought as a sympathetic smile graced his lips. She's been roughing it here for almost a month and when I come back I keep her up all night. He chuckled softly at the thought. The first time they'd made love last night they had both been equally eager participants, and while he'd been equally eager and willing the second, third and fourth times, Laura had most definitely been the one in control of the situation. He didn't have to be a genius to know that for a while she'd thought she'd lost him- the tears she'd let slip from her hazel eyes as they physically expressed their love to each other and the expressions of gratitude and relief she'd whispered that he hadn't been meant to hear told him. It was just one more thing to make it a night to remember: she very rarely cried or thanked God for anything.

Rodney braced himself and moved his right arm out of the way so that he could lower himself down into a lying position. He just got settled when Laura's eyes opened and immediately found his. Her right hand reached over and when her fingers cupped his cheek, a smile as radiant as any sun appeared on her face.

"I was afraid it was all a dream," she whispered.

Rodney reached up to take her hand in his and brought it to his mouth. "Nope," he said before kissing each of her knuckles in turn. When he'd kissed the last one he said, "I'm here."

Before he knew it he was on his back with a beautiful Marine straddling him. She leaned down and said just before her lips found his, "Good."

A/N: "Night to Remember" was written by Lindsay Mitchell and recorded and released by the band Prism on their 1979 album, Armageddon.