Jennifer is a little apprehensive about being at his ceremony. The whole day, she'd been barely keeping it together. She is definitely still overwhelmed by the memories of the past in this city, even if it is not floating in the bay of San Francisco anymore.
She closes her eyes for a moment, being led around the dance floor by her son, but her eyes shoot open as she realizes someone had approached them, and Markus subtly squeezes her hand.
"May I?" Evan asks from the side and only after a quick check-in Markus leaves her, them on the dancefloor.
A small electric shock runs through her body as Evan takes her hand into his and he must've felt it because his eyes are immediately searching hers.
"Are you okay?" he softly asks and starts to sway to the music.
"I don't know. I guess I am a little overwhelmed by all of this," Jennifer admits and is glad that she can hide her face a little bit by actually stepping closer to him.
"I understand, I feel the same," he whispers back and even quieter, mumbles something else. Something she can't quite make out.
"What did you just say?" she pulls back to study his face.
Without a reply, Evan stops dancing and pulls her hand. Jennifer at first wants to resist but his pleading look makes her feet move. As they walk past Cameron and Carolyn dancing both her friends look at her with a mix of questions and encouragement. Jennifer takes a deep breath when she realizes where they are headed: their balcony.
This place holds so many memories for her, not only about them but in general. It was the place she retreated to after every hard case, after losing Carson but yes, it was also the place where she found out how he felt about her.
Jennifer shivers lightly when the cool night air hits her shoulders and almost immediately feels herself being wrapped up in a uniform jacket.
"Thank you," she acknowledges the gesture and sits down in the alcove before lifting her eyes and searching for Evan.
He'd stepped to the railing and was looking out over the northern pier below.
Silence wafted between them, and Jennifer couldn't exactly pinpoint if it was awkward because she didn't know what to say or because she actually felt the storm brewing and she was afraid of the fireworks exploding.
"I feel like an absolute idiot for never having the courage to write to you," she suddenly hears a dejected whisper in front of her.
"I could've, I should've reached out myself," Jennifer scouts to the side and pats the bench next to her.
It takes Evan a moment to react but he sits down and crosses his hands in his lap. "Why didn't you?"
"I was hurt that you didn't even consider staying on Earth," she lets out in a low voice.
"That's actually not true. I did think of staying behind, but this place, I owe Sheppard a lot of my career."
"After what you did on Atlantis, and how you managed to help keep the Wraith from Earth you could've had your pick at a team at the SGC,"
"And it still wouldn't have been the same. This place holds so many memories. I couldn't pass this up, but I would've if I had known..."
he trails off and suddenly Jennifer feels a jolt again. Evan's fingers have grazed her hand.
Jennifer instictively pulls her hands back and hides them inside the jacket before replying.
"Hindsight is a fickle luxury. You can't say how you would've reacted and even if you'd returned who says you wouldn't have resented me, or Markus for ruining your career. I couldn't do that. I didn't want to be second choice."
She surprises herself by getting all this out.
"Wasn't that a bit selfish? You took my chance away to make a decision or even get to see my son grow up. Now I am confronted with a stubborn, but brilliant young officer that is diving head first into a relationship around here..."
Jennifer pushes up off the seat and whirls around to face him.
"Don't you dare interfere any more than you already did. They deserve a chance to figure things out for themselves. They are adults,"
"I didn't do what I did to be cruel. But they are on the same team. He has to realize what it means to be responsible for all of the members of his team!" Evan fights back.
"You mean like you acted, whenever you had the unfortunate duty to accompany me, right?" Jennifer quirks her eyebrow and actually has to lower her face quickly to hide the smirk. She knows full well that the teams had bets on how quickly she'd get into trouble off world and one soldier would always stick glued to her side. And yes, she sort of liked it very much when a certain, then Major, decided to be her personal bodyguard instead of one of his men.
"I always loved seeing you smile. And it hurts to know that I caused you pain," Evan gets up slowly himself and Jennifer hears his careful steps moving toward her.
"I don't think constantly apologizing to each other will help much," Jennifer turns on her heel to face him, "I guess we both could've done things differently but it is what it is now. I hope you don't hold my actions against Markus."
"I won't. I promise," Evan takes another step and they are almost toe to toe now.
"That's all I ask," Jennifer nods and shrugs out of his jacket. "I should get back in before Katie and Rodney start a search party for me."
"I don't think that's going to happen," Evan steps into her path, "I suspect command staff knows exactly where we are."
Jennifer frowns a little but Evan taps his ear and turns over his wrist to show a monitor.
"You're working?"
"Some still has to. And it is tradition, that I am not really part of the festivities. I haven't been ever since that night," he whispers and again reaches for her hand.
Jennifer freezes for a moment and this time without pulling back her hand she replies "We aren't those people anymore, Evan. Time has moved on."
The second she has finished her sentence her hand is hers again and Evan pushes his hands into his pockets, shuffling on his feet a tad embarrassed.
"I am sorry, I didn't realize..." he trails off and even steps out of her way.
"It's not like that. But let's make a deal, okay?" Jennifer counters and searches for his eyes. After Evan nods she continues," We decide to be friendly, maybe even friends. You connect with your son, and maybe you can arrange for both of you to come home for Christmas? If you want to join us that is."
"Absolutely. I'll make sure of it. Thank you." Evan agrees on the spot and his spontaneous inner self breaks free and drops a quick kiss to her temple.
Jennifer is glad it is so dark out, or she is sure he'd see her blush furiously.
The past few days had been long and full of surprises, but after tonight she was looking positively into the future. Happy to know her son knew his father now and the two have a relationship at last.
Even if it is a day early for most of you: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. This is the end to this story. Thanks for being this incredibly patient with me.