Chapter 61

It's well into the evening and she's danced with all her friends several times over when she hears Save the Last Dance for Me and turns to see John's eyes twinkle.

He's on the other side of the dance floor and winks at her then approaches her, palm up. "Would you mind dancing with me, lady. Cuz as I see, you've danced with everyone but me tonight."

She grins and takes his hand. "Thought you'd never ask..." she teases him. "Any reason you chose that song?" she adds wickedly, remembering their night on Atlantis.

He looks innocent. "Nope, just pure luck!" He looks her in the eye. "Louise, I need you to follow me here. It's almost midnight..."

They've talked a lot about how they could finally tell their friends, make it official, one way or another. "You can't expect them to just discover we're sharing quarters on Altantis," he'd told her, to which she'd countered that by now it was probably an open secret for all their friends.

"Still," he'd said, not wanting to let go, "don't you think we should..." He didn't know how to find the right words. Louise is very guarded when it comes to talking about their relationship – make it any relationship. She's opened to him more than he'd ever hoped but retreats into her shell if he wants to discuss the future. After she had the conversation with Woolsey, though, she knew there was no way around it.

They were sitting near the fire in the cabin with Shep at their feet when she told him about it. He had to admit – he was pretty proud of her for finding the nerve to recount what had passed between herself and her former boss. "So, you see. We have two days to figure out how to tell them," she'd said.

"Tell them what, Louise?" he'd teased her. "That I make you moan and sigh and ask for more?"

She'd blushed and swatted his arm. "No! Actually," she'd added despondently, "I don't even know what to tell them because we never talked about what we are and that suits me down to the ground, you know."

He'd smiled in her hair, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. "I agree. We just are. It's quite alright with me though if you want us to get married..."

She'd disentangled herself from him and looked at him, horrified. "Jesus, no! Are you nuts?"

He'd chuckled, knowing in advance what her reaction would be. "At the very least, can I buy you a ring?" he'd insisted. "You know, just so people see we're together."

She'd shaken her head. "John, I don't need a ring. I don't care about those things. You know more than anyone I usually need to take them off to cook and then forget to put them back on. Besides," she'd added with a smirk, "believe me, people won't need a ring on my finger to know you and I are up to something..."

He'd chuckled and relented. "Alright then but it doesn't solve the whole "tell your friends about it" problem."

She'd answered she didn't like to plan ahead with these things. They'd find a way, somehow.

"You said we'd find a way," he elaborates. "I have a way," he smirks. "If you don't mind showing it off a little. On the plus side, you won't have to talk." He waggles his eyebrows playfully, making her giggle.

There are a few other couples on the dance floor and they're next to Rodney and Jennifer when it happens. He knows he has to move fast because the song doesn't last very long. He draws her closer and slows down, settling into a more languid pace then he's kissing her, wrapping his arms around her waist and shoulders and drawing her impossibly flush to him.

She feels herself blushing, her body temperature rising suddenly but soon forgets about where she is and opens her mouth, letting him kiss her as he does when they're alone – open mouth kisses that leave her breathless and needy.

She hears a couple of wolf calls. John finally releases her and grins at her, looking very pleased with himself. She shakes her head in disbelief and looks around. Everyone is grinning at them. Only Rodney scowls. "Took you long enough to come clean about it, you guys."

She retreats to the kitchen almost immediately – to clean a little, she says. John doesn't push her because he knows she's extremely uncomfortable with everyone staring at them. She just wants people to get used to the idea – period.

She hears the door open behind her as she finishes unloading the dishwasher. She sighs and turns. Rodney is standing in the doorway, looking very uneasy himself. She gives him a terse smile and motions for him to come in. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier," she apologizes. He was her first friend in the City and without him, she would never have met John.

"It's OK. I know you two needed to figure things out before you even talked about it. I get it," he replies gently, which is a miracle, coming from Rodney. She walks up to him and gives him a loose hug. "John says you two are not getting married," he mentions bluntly.

She bites her bottom lip. "Does that bother you?"

He shrugs. "Yes, a little. I was hoping I'd be the one walking you down the aisle."

She sniggers. "Rodney, you're priceless, you know?"

"Don't you wanna get married?" he insists. "I mean. Are you two planning to stay together or is it just a fling?"

She shakes her head. "Look, Rodney. I can't speak for John but I'm gonna say something to you I don't want you to repeat to anyone – and I mean no one and especially not him, OK?" He nods. "A wedding would never even come close to telling him how blessed I am he's come into my life. But I promise you I'll do everything I can to make sure he knows that – every single moment we spend together. Does that answer your question?"

He nods again and she sees he's more touched than he wants to let on. He clears his throat. "So, you are not even going to introduce him to your mother?" he prods, being his usual bull in a china shop.

She closes her eyes and breathes in then out and looks back at him. "Sorry," he says, knowing how difficult her relationship with her family is, though she never really got into details with him.

She offers him a seat. "I told John and I'm telling you now, Rodney. I don't wish to speak about my mother nor do I wish to see her ever again," she says. "Sometimes, there are things that cannot be mended and it's best to leave well enough alone."

John asked her the same question a few days ago. They were planning their departure, making to do lists of the things they'd take with them, those they'd have to leave behind, the people they needed to see...

"Aren't you going to go and see your mother before we leave?" he'd suddenly asked, finally mustering the courage to do so after turning the idea in his head a hundred times. He knows what her mother has done to her over the years and yet, he also knows it might be the last time they're on Earth in years. It might be her last chance to talk to her.

She turns to him, glaring, and throws the stack of clothes she's currently holding on the bed then stomps to the door. "Louise," he calls after her, "talk to me."

She turns to him and points at him menacingly. "How dare you utter that word? I told you once I never wanted to talk about her again."

He bites his bottom lip but walks to her and tries to take her in his arms. She pushes him away impatiently, royally pissed. "Louise, please. Hear me out. It might be your last chance to tell her how much she hurt you all those years, make her understand," he pleads. "We still have time to do it. I'm not saying we stay or anything. I'm just saying we drop by. You give yourself a chance to get all that off your chest once and for all." She shakes her head stubbornly, looking cornered and scared. He grins. "On the plus side, you could make quite an impression if a certain full bird Colonel in his dress blues came with you..." he adds enticingly. "I could even pull a few strings and get us a helicopter..."

"There's no room to land it," she shrugs but he sees her lips lift up a little, the tell-tale sign she's imagining the scene. "I like you in your dress blues, you know," she confesses in a whisper and wraps her arms around his neck, drawing him to her for a searing kiss that promising so much more.

He groans and pulls her flush to him. "But..." he prods, knowing there's more.

She slides her hands in his hair, pulling him closer. "But I don't want to go and see my mother. And I never want to talk about it. My life, my family, my decision, John." The tone is gentle but final. These last few months – ever since he's realized he had to choose between mothering her or being her companion – she's become more confident and voices her needs more easily. She's not afraid of telling him what she wants anymore and that has been a blessing because the Louise who's standing in front of him has finally found her balance and it benefits them both. They've talked about it a lot and she has understood she'll have to let him be her CO on the field but in life, they're partners.

He nods. "Got it, sweetie. Just had to ask. And it's good to know you like me in my dress blues," he adds mischievously.

Rodney smiles at her and pats her hand. "OK, whatever you say. But I still think it's a shame you two don't tie the knot. We could have such a nice party..." he sighs longingly.

She laughs, seeing how disappointed he looks. "You know what, Rodney? If you're so eager to have a wedding, why don't you ask Jen? She might say yes," she teases him and snorts when she sees him blush. "I wouldn't mind going to a wedding myself, just not my own!"

She puts the finishing touch to her dessert and brings it to the dining room where they've all assembled. John and Bates are busying themselves with serving champagne. He offers her a glass of sparkling water with a wink so she calls them all to attention.

"I'm not one for long speeches," she says.

"Make it speeches at all," John teases her. Everybody chuckles.

She lifts her hands in mock surrender, chuckling too. "You're right. So, enjoy the moment. Hopefully, it's a one-time thing. I wanted to thank you all for coming today," she says, "but most of all for giving me a second chance at life." She turns to Jack O'Neill and lifts her glass, beaming at him. "Friendship," she adds, squeezing Rodney's hand. "And love," she whispers to John and kisses his cheek. She hears a few sighs in the room. John is staring at her, in shock. She's never allowed herself to use this word with him before. "Stop gaping, honey," she teases him. Rodney snorts, earning himself a glare from John. "To second chances, old friends and new beginnings," she finally adds, her glass raised.

TBC