A beginning of friendship Pt. 10/11
In the morning, Jennifer’s father walked past his daughter’s open door. Thinking she may already be awake, he paused when he saw her sleeping soundly with her hand tucked inside Ronon’s larger one. Ronon, from the looks of it, was waking up and appeared to be startled at his surroundings. Shifting in his chair stiffly, he dislodged his hand from hers.
Seeing her father at the door, he slowly got up, raised her blankets over her shoulder, and shut the door quietly behind him.
Groggy, he muttered, “I didn’t mean to stay longer than for her to fall asleep again after the dream. Guess I must have been tired from the trip home.”
Mr. Keller nodded, understanding, and invited Ronon to join him for coffee. Hearing the words, Ronon instantly perked up and followed him downstairs.
As he got the coffee going, Jennifer’s father took advantage of having Ronon by himself again.
“Ronon,” he began, “I’m not a fool. I can tell there’s something between you and my daughter. Especially seeing you with her last night and this morning. Now, I trust her judgment and I have my own instincts about you, but tell me what your intentions are.”
Ronon, shifting, wasn’t expecting to answer a question like this first thing in the morning. “Don’t mess up” which were Sheppard’s words to him, flashed in his mind. Deciding to be real and honest with her father, he just began to talk what was on his heart. He looked up at the man, not blinking.
“I’ve only known your daughter for a couple months,” Ronon began. “We’ve been through a few missions and some defense training together. I admired her the moment I saw her work on saving the life of one of our commanders. Later, I respected her stubbornness when she forced me let my wounds heal and held me off duty in the infirmary for days, something that the other doctors were scared to force me to do,” he paused. “I can be pretty stubborn.”
“And then on our last mission together, I fell in love with her,” he looked up at her father. “I don’t say those words lightly. Only one other woman has ever made me feel the same way. And I lost her to an enemy years ago. There’s been no one since.”
Surprised at the heart-felt words of this tough warrior, Mr. Keller sat down across from him and dropped down two mugs of coffee in front of them.
“If you don’t mind my asking, does my daughter feel the same way about you?” he asked.
Ronon hung his head, wondering that himself. “Let’s just say we’re in the dating phase of our relationship,” he said. “We haven’t gotten to the deep stuff yet.”
Shortly after, Sheppard made his way down the steps. Fresh from the shower, he breathed in the scent of coffee.
“God bless you, sir,” he said as Mr. Keller poured another mug. “So, how’s the doc this morning?
Ronon nodded. “Sleeping still.”
Sensing that something was said between the two men, Sheppard tried to start a conversation. Within a few minutes, Ronon waited for an opening and asked if they wouldn’t mind if he walked around a little outside.
Once the door closed behind him, Sheppard smiled. “Ronon doesn’t like to sit still, by the way.”
Jennifer’s father grinned. “I think he was a little uncomfortable after I grilled him about his intentions towards my girl.”
Sheppard laughed, but at the same time felt sorry for his friend. “Ok, let’s have a talk, then.” Sheppard said. “I can’t imagine what I would feel like if my daughter, whom I probably treated like a princess my entire life, asks if she can bring two men she works with home for a few days of R & R.”
Mr. Keller, appreciating the young man’s humor, laughed.
“Well, you probably are torn between pulling out information from the two of us, because you know your daughter will be upset if you ask her anything, or punching the daylights over the beast of a man who clearly is very interested in her. And by the way, I wouldn’t try number two on that list. Trust me, I try often to get the best of him and end up hurting myself in the process.”
“Advice taken,” Jennifer’s father said. “So tell me, if you were in my situation, how should I feel about my daughter dating this man?”
Sheppard’s smile gradually softened. “Sir, there is no man I would rather see my daughter with than that man outside,” he began. “He’s loyal, a great friend, and completely head over heels for your daughter.”
They both watched out the window as Ronon walked around the house, looking up at Jennifer’s window every so often.
Later that night, Ronon and Jennifer got ready for their restaurant date. Jennifer laughed, thinking back to her conversation with Ronon earlier.
“So, where is a fancy restaurant we can go to around here?” Ronon asked, sitting next to her on the couch.
“Well, how about we forgo on the “fancy” and go to a good restaurant,” she answered, and then explained to him the difference. After he heard he would barely get enough food at a fancy restaurant to fill a tea cup, he eagerly agreed. She named a restaurant and they decided on a time to dine there later on in the evening.
As they met each other on the staircase leading down to the lower part of the house, Ronon was mesmerized by her beauty. She wore a red dress that looked like it was made for her. Her hair was tousled up in soft, curly waves piled on top of her head and cascaded down her neck, leaving a few strands flying away. She wore no jewelry, to his delight, as he wanted to give her his present tonight during dinner.
Jennifer was struck at how ruggedly handsome Ronon looked. He wore charcoal gray dress pants, a black dress shirt tucked in (which was a first), but opted out of a tie and instead left the last two buttons opened. His eyes met hers and she felt excited to begin their first date on Earth.
Intending on saying good-bye, they didn’t find Sheppard or her father downstairs. Spying a note, Jennifer read it aloud.
“Don’t be home late,” Sheppard’s horrible penmanship scribbled on the page. “We took off to go night fishing on the river. Have a good time.”
Shaking her head at the major’s message, she picked up the car keys and they made their way to the restaurant.
During their drive, Ronon relished the time they had alone together. “Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know your father… especially since he doesn’t look like he’s going to kill me in my sleep anymore. But it’s sure nice to have you by myself now.”
Jennifer grinned while she parked the car. It didn’t look busy, since it was a weeknight.
They walked up the stars, holding hands, and parted only for Ronon to hold the door open for her. Walking up confidently to the hostess, Ronon said, “Reservations for Ronon Dex.”
Surprised, Jennifer lifted up her eyes to Ronon. “Reservations? Wow, you thought ahead.”
They hostess led them to a secluded table. Two dripping candles lit the darkened table. Ronon pulled the chair out for Jennifer and sat down himself. Almost immediately, a waiter was by their side taking their order.
They decided on an appetizer together and then gave their menus after ordering to the waiter. Scooting closer to her, Ronon looked around at the restaurant.
It was a nice place- cozy, romantic, and perfect for a quiet dinner together. Jennifer smiled back at him and sighed.
“If only we could do this on Atlantis,” she said. “But it makes me appreciate it more when I visit back home.”
Ronon took her hand and grinned. “I’m hoping the food is a lot better here, too. Last time I went to a restaurant with Sheppard, I never had better tasting food.”
“So,” Jennifer said. “How do you like visiting Earth? More importantly, are you having a good time on this visit?”
Ronon leveled his gaze on her. “This has been my favorite visit,” he said. “Mainly because it’s with you.”
Their food arrived, and they both dug in. Jennifer laughed at Ronon’s lack of manners as he shoveled in his food. When he was finished, he watched her half-heartedly try and finish her meal. Giving up, she placed the plate in front of him and watched him wolf down the rest of her meal.
When the waiter picked up their plates and they each placed a dessert order, Ronon slipped his hand out of hers to retrieve something from his pocket. Silently, he placed in front of her the Tiffany wrapped box.
She gasped in surprise and looked up. “What is this?”
Ronon smiled. “I figured I would never be able to get you something from Earth until our next visit, so Sheppard and I went shopping at the mall. And I picked it out myself.”
Grinning at the proud look on Ronon’s face, she slowly opened the box. Inside sat a beautiful diamond necklace in a shape of a heart. The heart was made up of both diamonds and pink sapphires. Shocked at the beauty of it, she blinked and gazed up into his eyes.
“It’s beautiful!” she said. “Can you put it on me?” She turned so that Ronon was able to clasp the necklace together. His fingers brushed her neck, causing her to shiver, and she held the pendant afterward. “I don’t know what to say. No one has ever bought me something this wonderful before.”
Ronon, beaming that she liked it, reached over and brought her face closer to his. They kissed and Ronon reluctantly let her go. “It reminded me of you. The pink stones reminded me of your delicacy and beauty. The diamonds reminded me of how strong of a person you are. The instant the man showed it to me, I knew it was perfect.”
Melting over his words, Jennifer’s eyes teared up. When dessert was brought, both said little as they enjoyed and shared each others dessert.
After Ronon settled the bill, they walked around the lake hand in hand. Jennifer stopped when she heard music coming from a restaurant. It was a soft, romantic melody. Turning, she asked Ronon “Do you know how to slow dance?”
Ronon looked at her and smiled. “Teach me.”
Jennifer guided his handed, leaned her check against his chest, and swayed to the music with her. Ronon guided them in a slow circle until they reached a tree trunk laying on its side. Looking up at him, and frustrated she wasn’t as tall as him, she slipped out of her heels and onto the tree.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“This.” She gently yanked on his shirt and collided with his chest. Now level with his face, she pulled him into a deep kiss. Groaning, Ronon wrapped his arms around her and pulled her snug against him. When his hand traveled to her hair, he impatiently found the pins and pulled them out, allowing her hair to cascade down her back. Breaking from the kiss, he pulled her hair back so that her neck was exposed and covered it with his mouth, taking tender care not to hurt the cut fading from her injury. She pulled her lips back towards his and sighed against his lips. Overwhelmed by emotion for this woman, he pulled her off the ground with his lips still firmly attached to hers and lifted her off her feet.
Somewhere nearby, they heard a group of women walking their way. Groaning, she lengthened their last kiss and savored it. Looking back to find her shoes, they both made their way back to the car.
Ronon’s mind swirled with thoughts. He wanted to tell her he loved her so much, especially back there during their kiss. He knew deep down that she cared for him, but he wasn’t sure if it was too soon to speak it aloud. As they drove back that night, he held her hand that was free from the wheel and occasionally reached over to kiss her bare shoulder.
Walking up to the house, they each silently made their way, smiling to the porch.
“You’re late,” came a voice from the corner. Jumping at the voice, Jennifer shrieked and Ronon stepped in front of her even though he thought he recognized the voice.
“Sheppard?” he muttered. “What are you doing?
Sheppard, with his hands behind his head, was lounging in a hammock in the corner of the porch. “I’m relaxing,” he said. “So, did you kids have a good time?”
Jennifer, with her heart still pounding, reached over to swat Sheppard on the head. “Yes, we did. How about you?”
John carefully got off the hammock. “It was great,” he said. “Your father taught me the art of fly fishing. We caught a few fish, but let them go.”
Ronon, confused why anyone would fish and then let go of perfectly good food, decided not to question it. Still adjusting to Earth time, they all decided to call it a night. Before they went in, Sheppard leaned over Ronon’s shoulder and suggested that he wipe the lipstick stains off of his mouth and neck.
Coloring, Ronon used the sleeve of his shirt to wipe off everything before entering the house in case he ran into Jennifer’s father.