John was woken the next morning by the feeling of Elizabeth Weir trailing soft kisses across his bare left shoulder. He decided to stay still, eyes closed and see exactly where she intended to go with this, but lost his resolve when she moved up his neck, to kiss a particular spot right below his ear.
"Whatcha doing?" He asked.
Even with his eyes closed, he knew she was smirking "Waking up my beautiful boyfriend so we can get back to making the most of the time we have left..." she mumbled into his neck.
John rolled over to face her, brushing her long hair over her shoulder and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
Elizabeth looked thoughtful, "Hmmm. Not in the last five hours, I don't think..."
"Then consider yourself told," he gazed at her suddenly thoughtful himself "it's going to kill me going back." he admitted.
Elizabeth closed her eyes for a moment, chewing on her lower lip. "I..." she sighed.
"What is it, Lizzy?"
She locked onto his gaze, eyes suddenly watery. "I.. can't promise you I won't be a blubbering idiot at the airport.." she told him.
"Well then we'll be blubbering idiots together," John told her, brushing a tear from her cheek. "We have a couple of days until then. We should get back to making the most of it..."
"Anything particular in mind?" Elizabeth teased.
"I thought maybe I'd start by kissing you until we can't breathe..." he ran a hand up her t-shirt, and up and down her back.
"And then?"
John smirked at her "And then, going by the time, I'd say we have an hour to see where we go from there, before Abby comes crashing down the stairs."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John draped his arm around Elizbeth's shoulders as they walked through the shopping mall, a few steps behind Abby.
The 12 year old had overcome her embarrassment after the early morning bathroom scene with John, and had gladly agreed to go on a shopping spree with the couple, to buy a birthday gift for Casey.
"Have I told you how much I hate shopping?" John asked Elizabeth.
She smiled, playing with his fingers, "Only about a dozen times today... Give it half an hour.. if she hasn't found something by then, I'll give her some cash for Casey."
"Good... "
"So, we know what Matt and Abby are doing on New Year's Eve... what do you want to to?"
"I have plans," John insisted. "We have the house to ourselves. I want to make up for last year."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
New Year's Eve came around too fast for John. He had to fly out to Colorado the next day. A 3pm flight from LAX, which would lead to an unknown amount of time without Elizabeth.
He tried to put the thought out of his mind, busying himself by setting the table with the two pale green candles he'd got for Elizabeth at the Athosian market.
She was out. She'd gone to walk Abby to Casey's house, carrying her sleeping bag while Abby held onto her backpack and Casey's birthday gift.
It was 7 o'clock. John figured he had about half an hour to set things up before Elizabeth returned, and he was rushing to have everything just right. He looked around the balcony. The weather was perfect, and it seemed the right place for them to have dinner.
John had prepared a simple dinner. Just pasta again. Dessert was chocolate mousse. There was champagne to toast with at midnight...
The night had him nervous. It was exactly a year since the night she'd stormed off on him when he tried to kiss her on the beach. A year since she'd effectively broken his heart.
Tonight, he'd decided, would go according to plan. It would rewrite his memory of New Year's Eve.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Elizabeth finished off the last of her chocolate mousse, smiling at John. "Tonight has been perfect," she told him. "I'm so glad we stayed in... I'd hate to be at a party, lost in a sea of people.. Just you and me...It's perfect."
John reached out to take her hand, linking their fingers "It's not midnight yet, I was thinking we could go down to the beach... take a walk to the pier.."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John and Elizabeth waded in the water by the pier, arms linked and deep in conversation.
"I see a future for us, Lizzy," John told her.
Elizabeth squeezed his arm "I can't see a future with anyone else," she said, "Nobody else would measure up... but I'm so scared we'll never be able to live together permanenty.."
"It'll happen, 'Lizabeth. We'll make it happen."
She smiled "I love you for your optimism. You give me faith.."
"'Lizabeth, you'll come to Atlantis, you'll impress the hell out of Carter, and she'll be begging you to stay."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As midnight closed in, John and Elizabeth were sitting in the sand, the sound of celebrations all around them.
"Five minutes to go," John said, glancing at his watch.
"Mmmmm."
"So, Lizzy," John turned to face her. "It's been a year since.."
"I know John. I'm so sorry about what happened last year.. "
"Forget it," John brushed her hair behind her ears and kissed her forehead. "Forget that ever happened... you know how much I love you, right?"
Elizabeth nodded "And you know I love you too, more than anything."
"And I want us to be together.. I want everyone else to know we're together."
"Me too."
John took a deep breath. "So," he reached into his pocket and pulled out of a small pale blue box causing Elizabeth gasp in surprise "...will you marry me?"
"Oh my God..." she whispered, taking in the sight of the two carat diamond Tiffany setting in front of her.
"Lizzy?"
She looked up at him, still stunned, not having seen this coming. "Yes..." she whispered.
"Yes?"
"Yes."
John broke into a grin, slipping the rock on Elizabeth's finger, and leaning in to kiss her as midnight struck.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John was awake at eleven the next morning. Elizabeth slept peacefully next to him, clutching his left arm and wearing nothing but his t-shirt and her engagement ring.
It was almost time to go, but he couldn't bring himself to wake her until he heard Matt and Abby's voices out on the balcony.
"'Lizabeth," he whispered softly.
"Mmmm?"
"We have to go to the airport in a couple of hours..."
"I'm going to kidnap you... " she mumbled, slowly opening her eyes and raising her left hand to look at the diamond on her ring finger.
"Making sure you didn't lose it?" John laughed quietly at the sight.
"Making sure I didn't dream it...."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Abby let out a shriek of delight when she saw the ring on Elizabeth's finger, glinting in the sun.
"Is that what I think it is?" she demanded.
Elizabeth nodded, smiling at her niece, a move that only led to Abby shrieking again.
"Oh My God! Can I be bridesmaid? Can I?"
Matt approached John as Abby interrogated Elizabeth "Well," he said "it seems like last night went well..."
"Thankfully..."
"You can't honestly have thought she'd say no," Matt told him with a laugh "She would have said yes if you'd handed her a plastic ring from a Christmas cracker, let alone a 30 thousand dollar diamond.."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John and Elizabeth stood in the queue at LAX, waiting for him to go through security.
There were only two people in front of them now, and John turned, taking both of Elizabeth's hands in his. "We're going to work this out," he promised in a voice thick with emotion.
Elizabeth nodded, locking eyes with him.
"A year from now, we'll be wondering why we doubted it," he said.
She nodded again, stepping closer to him and resting her head on his shoulder. They wrapped their arms around each other, holding on tight, John running his fingers through Elizabeth's long hair.
"I'm going to start blubbering..." Elizabeth whispered, tearfully.
"Join the club," John confessed.
The two shared one last kiss, before Elizabeth thrust a note in John's hand as he stepped through security.
She stood, watching, twisting her engagement ring on her finger, until he was out of sight.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John sighed, sitting himself in the aisle seat.
As the flight took off, he opened Elizabeth's note.
"John,
I can't wait to call you my husband,
My love,
Elizabeth."
"Whatcha doing?" He asked.
Even with his eyes closed, he knew she was smirking "Waking up my beautiful boyfriend so we can get back to making the most of the time we have left..." she mumbled into his neck.
John rolled over to face her, brushing her long hair over her shoulder and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
Elizabeth looked thoughtful, "Hmmm. Not in the last five hours, I don't think..."
"Then consider yourself told," he gazed at her suddenly thoughtful himself "it's going to kill me going back." he admitted.
Elizabeth closed her eyes for a moment, chewing on her lower lip. "I..." she sighed.
"What is it, Lizzy?"
She locked onto his gaze, eyes suddenly watery. "I.. can't promise you I won't be a blubbering idiot at the airport.." she told him.
"Well then we'll be blubbering idiots together," John told her, brushing a tear from her cheek. "We have a couple of days until then. We should get back to making the most of it..."
"Anything particular in mind?" Elizabeth teased.
"I thought maybe I'd start by kissing you until we can't breathe..." he ran a hand up her t-shirt, and up and down her back.
"And then?"
John smirked at her "And then, going by the time, I'd say we have an hour to see where we go from there, before Abby comes crashing down the stairs."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John draped his arm around Elizbeth's shoulders as they walked through the shopping mall, a few steps behind Abby.
The 12 year old had overcome her embarrassment after the early morning bathroom scene with John, and had gladly agreed to go on a shopping spree with the couple, to buy a birthday gift for Casey.
"Have I told you how much I hate shopping?" John asked Elizabeth.
She smiled, playing with his fingers, "Only about a dozen times today... Give it half an hour.. if she hasn't found something by then, I'll give her some cash for Casey."
"Good... "
"So, we know what Matt and Abby are doing on New Year's Eve... what do you want to to?"
"I have plans," John insisted. "We have the house to ourselves. I want to make up for last year."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
New Year's Eve came around too fast for John. He had to fly out to Colorado the next day. A 3pm flight from LAX, which would lead to an unknown amount of time without Elizabeth.
He tried to put the thought out of his mind, busying himself by setting the table with the two pale green candles he'd got for Elizabeth at the Athosian market.
She was out. She'd gone to walk Abby to Casey's house, carrying her sleeping bag while Abby held onto her backpack and Casey's birthday gift.
It was 7 o'clock. John figured he had about half an hour to set things up before Elizabeth returned, and he was rushing to have everything just right. He looked around the balcony. The weather was perfect, and it seemed the right place for them to have dinner.
John had prepared a simple dinner. Just pasta again. Dessert was chocolate mousse. There was champagne to toast with at midnight...
The night had him nervous. It was exactly a year since the night she'd stormed off on him when he tried to kiss her on the beach. A year since she'd effectively broken his heart.
Tonight, he'd decided, would go according to plan. It would rewrite his memory of New Year's Eve.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Elizabeth finished off the last of her chocolate mousse, smiling at John. "Tonight has been perfect," she told him. "I'm so glad we stayed in... I'd hate to be at a party, lost in a sea of people.. Just you and me...It's perfect."
John reached out to take her hand, linking their fingers "It's not midnight yet, I was thinking we could go down to the beach... take a walk to the pier.."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John and Elizabeth waded in the water by the pier, arms linked and deep in conversation.
"I see a future for us, Lizzy," John told her.
Elizabeth squeezed his arm "I can't see a future with anyone else," she said, "Nobody else would measure up... but I'm so scared we'll never be able to live together permanenty.."
"It'll happen, 'Lizabeth. We'll make it happen."
She smiled "I love you for your optimism. You give me faith.."
"'Lizabeth, you'll come to Atlantis, you'll impress the hell out of Carter, and she'll be begging you to stay."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As midnight closed in, John and Elizabeth were sitting in the sand, the sound of celebrations all around them.
"Five minutes to go," John said, glancing at his watch.
"Mmmmm."
"So, Lizzy," John turned to face her. "It's been a year since.."
"I know John. I'm so sorry about what happened last year.. "
"Forget it," John brushed her hair behind her ears and kissed her forehead. "Forget that ever happened... you know how much I love you, right?"
Elizabeth nodded "And you know I love you too, more than anything."
"And I want us to be together.. I want everyone else to know we're together."
"Me too."
John took a deep breath. "So," he reached into his pocket and pulled out of a small pale blue box causing Elizabeth gasp in surprise "...will you marry me?"
"Oh my God..." she whispered, taking in the sight of the two carat diamond Tiffany setting in front of her.
"Lizzy?"
She looked up at him, still stunned, not having seen this coming. "Yes..." she whispered.
"Yes?"
"Yes."
John broke into a grin, slipping the rock on Elizabeth's finger, and leaning in to kiss her as midnight struck.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John was awake at eleven the next morning. Elizabeth slept peacefully next to him, clutching his left arm and wearing nothing but his t-shirt and her engagement ring.
It was almost time to go, but he couldn't bring himself to wake her until he heard Matt and Abby's voices out on the balcony.
"'Lizabeth," he whispered softly.
"Mmmm?"
"We have to go to the airport in a couple of hours..."
"I'm going to kidnap you... " she mumbled, slowly opening her eyes and raising her left hand to look at the diamond on her ring finger.
"Making sure you didn't lose it?" John laughed quietly at the sight.
"Making sure I didn't dream it...."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Abby let out a shriek of delight when she saw the ring on Elizabeth's finger, glinting in the sun.
"Is that what I think it is?" she demanded.
Elizabeth nodded, smiling at her niece, a move that only led to Abby shrieking again.
"Oh My God! Can I be bridesmaid? Can I?"
Matt approached John as Abby interrogated Elizabeth "Well," he said "it seems like last night went well..."
"Thankfully..."
"You can't honestly have thought she'd say no," Matt told him with a laugh "She would have said yes if you'd handed her a plastic ring from a Christmas cracker, let alone a 30 thousand dollar diamond.."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John and Elizabeth stood in the queue at LAX, waiting for him to go through security.
There were only two people in front of them now, and John turned, taking both of Elizabeth's hands in his. "We're going to work this out," he promised in a voice thick with emotion.
Elizabeth nodded, locking eyes with him.
"A year from now, we'll be wondering why we doubted it," he said.
She nodded again, stepping closer to him and resting her head on his shoulder. They wrapped their arms around each other, holding on tight, John running his fingers through Elizabeth's long hair.
"I'm going to start blubbering..." Elizabeth whispered, tearfully.
"Join the club," John confessed.
The two shared one last kiss, before Elizabeth thrust a note in John's hand as he stepped through security.
She stood, watching, twisting her engagement ring on her finger, until he was out of sight.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
John sighed, sitting himself in the aisle seat.
As the flight took off, he opened Elizabeth's note.
"John,
I can't wait to call you my husband,
My love,
Elizabeth."