New fic
This is what I get for:
a) Multi-shipping Weir
b) Listening to Angela Aki songs too much
c) Listening to 'This Love' by Angela Aki on repeat
d) Getting plot bunnies from music
e) Deciding I wanted to write a fic with people dancing.
So...here we are:
Title: Waltz of the Rose
Author: rhin_ariel
Rating: PG
Pairings: Kinda references to Weir/Caldwell, Weir/Zelenka, Weir/Ronon and Weir/Lorne. Stronger references to Ronon/Teyla and definite Weir/Sheppard. But not necessarily in that order.
Summary: As Elizabeth prepares to enter, old feelings begin to stir. But who are the feelings for?
Notes: I have no idea what this is...really...
The sun was slowly setting, filling the grand room with its soft pink light. The glittering chandeliers lit up the room, but were dim enough to allow the last rays to make the room glow. It made the people glow too, in their bright and beautiful outfits. They were like pieces if coloured paper being blown about by the winds. Jewellery caught the light, shimmering amongst the colours.
Elizabeth Weir felt almost nervous as she waited to enter the hall. Everyone she knew was out there already, while she was being fashionably late. She could already feel the butterflies, but she was not sure if it was just nerves. She had felt it before, a long time ago.
Suddenly, the doors before her were opened, and it was time for her to take the spotlight. Stepping into the room, she took in the sight that greeted her. The room was silent and everyone had fallen still. All eyes were on her, and it unnerved her even more. She was not used to being the centre of attention, at least not with so many people. Reaching down, she held onto the sides of her dress while trying to curtsey. The silk felt soft to her touch, and she could feel it slipping against her damp hands. When she glanced up, she could see the rest of the room curtseying and bowing respectively. She let out a sigh of relief, trying to relax. But that feeling remained, the one from a long time ago.
Walking forwards, she reached out towards the rail that ran down the length of the stairs. In her long dress and high-heeled shoes, she didn’t trust herself to walk unaided down the grand staircase. With one hand on the rail, and the other keeping her dress away from the floor, she walked slowly down the stairs. She quickly scanned the room, but people were talking and moving around. It was near impossible to pinpoint anyone in the room. And as she walked, the feeling from so long ago grew.
The feeling was like butterflies in her stomach, but it was the kind that made her feel like a schoolgirl. It meant that there was someone in the room that she herself had feelings for. Her only obstacle was that she did not know who it was. No matter how hard she concentrated, no face would appear in her mind nor would a name become clear. It was someone in the room though, she was sure of that. It had happened before, attending a party like this. She had known then that was someone in the room she had feelings for, but at least that time she had known who it was. Now, she had no clue.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, the band began to strike up once more. Through Elizabeth’s limited knowledge of music, she guessed it was a waltz. The music was soft and beautiful, wrapping around her and letting her float across the floor a little. She stretched out one arm a little, and suddenly found a hand taking her own outstretched hand. Startled, she turned to find Colonel Steven Caldwell smiling at her.
“May I?” he asked holding out his other hand to her. Elizabeth nodded and moved closer to him. He kept hold of one hand, while letting the other rest on her shoulder. He was careful to let his hand lie on the material of her dress and not her skin. At heart, he was a gentleman and would treat Elizabeth, as he should.
As they began to dance slowly, Elizabeth found herself watching him closely. His eyes would meet hers, and then dart away again. Their disputes in the past had clearly had an effect on him. He realised the power she held, and he did not seem to want to question her authority again. Or perhaps, he was angry about her allowing his torture for information. He had always claimed that he did not feel angry, that she was only doing what she had to. It did not make her feel any better, and for a long time she had wondered if he had been lying.
However, she felt he was an honest man, an honest and good man. They got along quite well now, even with their past problems. They would eat together, and would regularly play chess together. She knew others saw their behaviour as flirting, but she didn’t see it that way. They were merely two leaders developing a solid friendship, which she hoped could only aid their working relationship. However, as she danced with him, she realised it wasn’t him who her feelings were for. She liked him yes, but not that way. He was a friend and ally, nothing more.
Suddenly, Caldwell slowed to a halt and released her. She looked at him feeling confused, but he merely bowed to her. Then, with a smile, he gestured behind her.
Turning, Elizabeth found herself facing a smiling Major Lorne. He held out his hand to her, and she accepted it. Moving forwards, he went to place his hand on her hip. Shaking her head, Elizabeth lifted his hand onto her shoulder.
“Sorry,” he said quietly. “I have practically no idea what I’m doing.”
“Maybe I should take the lead,” responded Elizabeth with a smile.
“Yes ma’am,” he said, and they began to dance.
It felt strange to Elizabeth that she should be leading. It wasn’t her role. Just like people said leading the expedition wasn’t her role. Everyday she found herself fighting to prove herself as a civilian and a woman. However, when Lorne had arrived on the Daedalus, she had been pleased to find that he did not question her leadership. He listened to what she said, and helped out where he could. It seemed that he grown to understand her and how her mind worked, in a way. He knew she worried about people, especially Colonel Sheppard’s team. He knew she wouldn’t willingly send people into potentially fatal situations intentionally.
And yet, at the same time, she herself would walk into potentially dangerous situations. He had heard about her walking into Colonel Sheppard’s quarters when he was mutating, even though she had been told not to. In fact, he’s spoken to her about it later. But in the end, he just accepted her decision. She was still his boss when all was said and done. And that was all she would ever be, Elizabeth realised. Though he was a charming and kind man, her feelings were not drawn to him.
As the music slowed for a moment, so did the young Major. He bowed to her and quickly walked away. Elizabeth was left alone on the dance floor, until a cough behind her made her spin round.
She found Doctor Radek Zelenka smiling at her rather sheepishly. He coughed again, before speaking in a very soft voice.
“I was wondering…would you dance with me?”
“Of course,” replied Elizabeth.
As they began to slowly turn, she couldn’t help but smile at the timid scientist. She had grown so used to hearing him shouting at Rodney in one of their heated debates, it seemed strange to find him suddenly so quiet. She wondered if perhaps he was feeling out of his element. Usually when she spoke with him, it was about matters of science. Whether it was a grand discovery or just a mundane daily report, he always spoke with such passion about his work. Many times he had Elizabeth laughing with a story of some so-called ‘disaster’ in the lab. She always noticed his face light up when she would laugh at something he had said. And seeing him happy made her feel good too. Moments of peace and tranquillity came few and far between on Atlantis, so she cherished these little moments.
But so often, these moments were interrupted by something. Often, something would have happened in the lab and Radek would have to leave. Later, he would always admit it had been quite insignificant, but he felt he had to go. He was a scientist first and foremost. Elizabeth knew it well, and she had no intention of taking him away from that. Though she cared about Radek, her feelings were not as strong as she could feel.
“I…er…” stuttered Radek, and suddenly they stopped dancing. She watched as he glanced behind her, and then with a pale face turned and fled.
Elizabeth then turned also, and was surprised to find Ronon Dex stood behind her. Even with her heels, he towered over her. He remained stoic, his face betraying no emotion.
“Ronon?” she asked, her voice strong and clear over the lilting music.
“I was wondering if I could dance with you?”
“Of course,” she replied, but was surprised to find him making no move towards her. “Is there a problem?”
“I don’t know how to dance…” he replied, his eyes dropping from her face. His strong exterior had slipped a little, revealing the human side she hardly ever saw.
“Well, let’s start with the position. You place one hand on my shoulder, and you hold my other hand.”
She held out her hand to him, but he placed his hand on her shoulder first. His fingers brushed the exposed skin of her collar, and it felt like electricity flowing across her skin. It sent a jolt down her spine that threatened to make her whole body shake. When he took her hand, she felt her knees tremble a little. Perhaps she had finally found the one she was looking for. They began to move slowly, following the other dancers with ease. Ronon was well built, but his body moved with a surprising grace. At the same time, she could feel the rough calluses on his hand where it touched her soft, unblemished skin. He had suffered so much, and yet he had managed to survive. He was everything she wasn’t. He was wild and rebellious surrounded by a sense of mystery, an often-deadly combination. But, Elizabeth knew the saying well, opposites attract. Subtly, she glanced up at his face, but found his gaze fixed elsewhere. As they turned again, she followed his gaze, her eyes finally settling on another member of the crowd. Though Ronon was dancing with her, he was watching Teyla Emmagan closely.
To Elizabeth, this made more sense. Ronon and Teyla were similar people who both knew how to survive. Elizabeth was a veritable stranger in this galaxy who knew nothing of how to survive, and with her beliefs on weapons certainly wouldn’t last long. She had had many disagreements with other expedition members about carrying weapons, how long would it be before she started arguing with Ronon?
This time, it was Elizabeth who slowed down. Ronon looked at her confused, but she merely smiled.
“Go and dance with Teyla,” she said, giving him a slight nudge in her direction. She watched as Ronon walked off, and then smiled as they began to dance.
Suddenly a hand on hers and on her hip from behind made Elizabeth jump.
“Enjoying the party?” asked a familiar voice from behind.
“Yes actually,” she replied.
The hand on her hip suddenly pushed her forwards. She spun out, keeping hold of the other hand. When they were stretched out fully, she turned back and spun back in until she was facing her new partner. He made sure to pull her in close, closer than the others had. His hand moved back to her hip, and she did nothing to stop him. She was comfortable with him and didn’t mind being so close to him.
“Very nice Elizabeth,” he said with a smirk.
“Not so bad yourself John,” she responded with her own smirk.
John Sheppard was the person she had come to know best on the expedition, and she considered him to be one of her closest friends. From the moment they had met, their fates had been bound together. She had ensured he had come to Atlantis, and he was repaying the debt by remaining loyal to her. There were many times he could have tried to overrule her, or even start a revolt, but he hadn’t. Instead, he had become a friend and advisor to her. But more than that, she owed him her life. He had protected her against many different evils, and had certainly made sure she was still alive today. They had had their differences at first, however that had not happened for a long time. They had seen some of Atlantis’s worst and best times, and remained strong throughout. As for as she was concerned it had made them closer.
And now, as they moved together as one, she felt her heart skip a few beats. Her skin still tingled where his hand touched hers. Could it be she had found him at last?
Looking at him, she found his eyes fixed on hers. As she started deeply into his eyes, everything else faded away. There was only them and the sound of the music echoing around them. It was like a fairytale as they continued to dance around. Their bodies moved in perfect time together and matched the pace of the music flawlessly. When he pulled back, she did too, and he spun her under his arm. With each step one added, their other reacted perfectly. They knew each other better than anyone else ever could.
As the music grew louder and stronger, John pulled her in tightly again. Leaning forwards, she whispered in his ear.
“I think I love you.”
When she looked back at his face, she found him smiling softly, his eyes shining.
“I think I love you too,” he said softly.
Leaning forwards again, Elizabeth went to whisper in his ear, but he moved and captured her lips with his own. The kiss was soft, and everything she had ever wanted. There was no urgency in it, no sudden move to turn into something more torrid and passionate. It was a gentle kiss that could have just been two good friends idea of a greeting. And yet, it was so much deeper than it appeared. It sent another jolt down Elizabeth’s spine, an altogether stronger one this time. The butterflies in her stomach seemed to have become frenzied and her heart was beating faster than she had known to could. Finally, her feelings had revealed the man she sort. It was John
When they pulled apart, they were both smiling. Elizabeth’s mind was still focused on just them, but now she felt like she was floating. It was like they were moving above the other dancers now. She was sure if she reached out, she would be able to touch the heavens above her. With a contended sigh, she laid her head gently on John’s shoulder and closed her eyes, while they continued to sway to the music.
“Elizabeth,” said John softly, with no response from Elizabeth. She was too happy to notice. “Elizabeth,” he said again, his voice a little more forceful. Now he was shaking her arm as well.
With another sigh, Elizabeth opened her eyes and was surprised by what she found. Instead of dancing in John’s arms, she was laying down with John knelt next to her. She glanced around, and found herself in a large room, but not the ballroom she’d been in. She looked back to John to find him smiling at her. He was no longer dressed in the fine clothes of earlier, but in his usual off world uniform.
“Come on sleepy head, time to get up,” he said, standing back up slowly.
Elizabeth sat up and swung her legs out of the bed. Looking down, she found herself wearing her usual uniform rather than beautiful dress. She shook her head slowly and tried to make sense of it in her head. It had been a dream? All of it was a dream?
“How long have I been asleep?” she asked at last.
“Well, I first came in about two hours ago, and you were still asleep, so at least eight, maybe nearer ten hours.”
“Why didn’t you wake me up two hours ago?”
“I thought it fair to let you sleep. I’ve seen you on Atlantis looking tired, it only seemed fair to let you have a full nights sleep.”
Elizabeth smiled at him, and he was glad to see her smiling. She did look better rested than she had in a long time, and it relieved him to see her like that.
“Besides,” he said as he began to walk to the door. “When I came in, you were humming and smiling. I guessed you were having a good dream, so I thought I’d leave you to it. Just to let you know, the locals have kept some breakfast for you and we’ll leave as soon as you’re ready. Okay?”
“That’s fine,” she replied with a smile. He smiled back at her and left her room.
Sitting on the bed, Elizabeth couldn’t quite believe it. It had all been a dream. The ball hadn’t been real at all. Then what about her feelings, were they real?
She let her mind focus on John for a second. His smile. His eyes. The way he acted. Everything he’d done for her. That kiss. And she felt the butterflies return in her stomach and her heart begin to pound. It may have been just a dream, but those feelings were definitely real. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember the ball and all that had happened. But already the images were fading. She could barely remember the start of her dream, and even her dance with John was becoming hazy.
A knock on the door pulled her back to the present. She looked at the door to find John looking at her.
“Look, if you’re mad at me for letting you sleep, then I want to say sorry now. I don’t want to walk back to the Gate with you in a bad mood with me.”
“John, it’s okay, I swear. Besides, I was having a good dream. And you’re right, I could use the sleep.”
“Oh good,” he said, the relief visible on his face, and then he turned to leave again.
“Wait,” she said quickly halting him in his tracks.
“What is it?” he asked, turning his head to look at her.
“I…well…thank you John.”
“Anytime,” he said, not fully knowing what he’d done. He didn’t mind though, as long as she was happy he was content.
Elizabeth watched him go for the second time and sighed. John had done more for her than he would ever know, and now perhaps she could start to make it up to him. She didn’t have to tell him how she felt just yet, but as long as they were friends she could help him in any way she could. In fact, she mused, she never had tell him. Not really. They were friends, and nothing could change that. And as long as they were friends, she could stay close to him, just for a while at least.
Smiling, Elizabeth began to get washed and dressed, and as she did, she hummed. She hummed a soft and beautiful waltz melody that would stay with her for the rest of her life.
And in other news, I have an idea for a Doctor Who/Atlantis crossover with a possible Weir/Doctor realtionship.
It's offical, my muse has gone crazy.
*Looks for mental hospital for poor muse*
a) Multi-shipping Weir
b) Listening to Angela Aki songs too much
c) Listening to 'This Love' by Angela Aki on repeat
d) Getting plot bunnies from music
e) Deciding I wanted to write a fic with people dancing.
So...here we are:
Title: Waltz of the Rose
Author: rhin_ariel
Rating: PG
Pairings: Kinda references to Weir/Caldwell, Weir/Zelenka, Weir/Ronon and Weir/Lorne. Stronger references to Ronon/Teyla and definite Weir/Sheppard. But not necessarily in that order.
Summary: As Elizabeth prepares to enter, old feelings begin to stir. But who are the feelings for?
Notes: I have no idea what this is...really...
The sun was slowly setting, filling the grand room with its soft pink light. The glittering chandeliers lit up the room, but were dim enough to allow the last rays to make the room glow. It made the people glow too, in their bright and beautiful outfits. They were like pieces if coloured paper being blown about by the winds. Jewellery caught the light, shimmering amongst the colours.
Elizabeth Weir felt almost nervous as she waited to enter the hall. Everyone she knew was out there already, while she was being fashionably late. She could already feel the butterflies, but she was not sure if it was just nerves. She had felt it before, a long time ago.
Suddenly, the doors before her were opened, and it was time for her to take the spotlight. Stepping into the room, she took in the sight that greeted her. The room was silent and everyone had fallen still. All eyes were on her, and it unnerved her even more. She was not used to being the centre of attention, at least not with so many people. Reaching down, she held onto the sides of her dress while trying to curtsey. The silk felt soft to her touch, and she could feel it slipping against her damp hands. When she glanced up, she could see the rest of the room curtseying and bowing respectively. She let out a sigh of relief, trying to relax. But that feeling remained, the one from a long time ago.
Walking forwards, she reached out towards the rail that ran down the length of the stairs. In her long dress and high-heeled shoes, she didn’t trust herself to walk unaided down the grand staircase. With one hand on the rail, and the other keeping her dress away from the floor, she walked slowly down the stairs. She quickly scanned the room, but people were talking and moving around. It was near impossible to pinpoint anyone in the room. And as she walked, the feeling from so long ago grew.
The feeling was like butterflies in her stomach, but it was the kind that made her feel like a schoolgirl. It meant that there was someone in the room that she herself had feelings for. Her only obstacle was that she did not know who it was. No matter how hard she concentrated, no face would appear in her mind nor would a name become clear. It was someone in the room though, she was sure of that. It had happened before, attending a party like this. She had known then that was someone in the room she had feelings for, but at least that time she had known who it was. Now, she had no clue.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, the band began to strike up once more. Through Elizabeth’s limited knowledge of music, she guessed it was a waltz. The music was soft and beautiful, wrapping around her and letting her float across the floor a little. She stretched out one arm a little, and suddenly found a hand taking her own outstretched hand. Startled, she turned to find Colonel Steven Caldwell smiling at her.
“May I?” he asked holding out his other hand to her. Elizabeth nodded and moved closer to him. He kept hold of one hand, while letting the other rest on her shoulder. He was careful to let his hand lie on the material of her dress and not her skin. At heart, he was a gentleman and would treat Elizabeth, as he should.
As they began to dance slowly, Elizabeth found herself watching him closely. His eyes would meet hers, and then dart away again. Their disputes in the past had clearly had an effect on him. He realised the power she held, and he did not seem to want to question her authority again. Or perhaps, he was angry about her allowing his torture for information. He had always claimed that he did not feel angry, that she was only doing what she had to. It did not make her feel any better, and for a long time she had wondered if he had been lying.
However, she felt he was an honest man, an honest and good man. They got along quite well now, even with their past problems. They would eat together, and would regularly play chess together. She knew others saw their behaviour as flirting, but she didn’t see it that way. They were merely two leaders developing a solid friendship, which she hoped could only aid their working relationship. However, as she danced with him, she realised it wasn’t him who her feelings were for. She liked him yes, but not that way. He was a friend and ally, nothing more.
Suddenly, Caldwell slowed to a halt and released her. She looked at him feeling confused, but he merely bowed to her. Then, with a smile, he gestured behind her.
Turning, Elizabeth found herself facing a smiling Major Lorne. He held out his hand to her, and she accepted it. Moving forwards, he went to place his hand on her hip. Shaking her head, Elizabeth lifted his hand onto her shoulder.
“Sorry,” he said quietly. “I have practically no idea what I’m doing.”
“Maybe I should take the lead,” responded Elizabeth with a smile.
“Yes ma’am,” he said, and they began to dance.
It felt strange to Elizabeth that she should be leading. It wasn’t her role. Just like people said leading the expedition wasn’t her role. Everyday she found herself fighting to prove herself as a civilian and a woman. However, when Lorne had arrived on the Daedalus, she had been pleased to find that he did not question her leadership. He listened to what she said, and helped out where he could. It seemed that he grown to understand her and how her mind worked, in a way. He knew she worried about people, especially Colonel Sheppard’s team. He knew she wouldn’t willingly send people into potentially fatal situations intentionally.
And yet, at the same time, she herself would walk into potentially dangerous situations. He had heard about her walking into Colonel Sheppard’s quarters when he was mutating, even though she had been told not to. In fact, he’s spoken to her about it later. But in the end, he just accepted her decision. She was still his boss when all was said and done. And that was all she would ever be, Elizabeth realised. Though he was a charming and kind man, her feelings were not drawn to him.
As the music slowed for a moment, so did the young Major. He bowed to her and quickly walked away. Elizabeth was left alone on the dance floor, until a cough behind her made her spin round.
She found Doctor Radek Zelenka smiling at her rather sheepishly. He coughed again, before speaking in a very soft voice.
“I was wondering…would you dance with me?”
“Of course,” replied Elizabeth.
As they began to slowly turn, she couldn’t help but smile at the timid scientist. She had grown so used to hearing him shouting at Rodney in one of their heated debates, it seemed strange to find him suddenly so quiet. She wondered if perhaps he was feeling out of his element. Usually when she spoke with him, it was about matters of science. Whether it was a grand discovery or just a mundane daily report, he always spoke with such passion about his work. Many times he had Elizabeth laughing with a story of some so-called ‘disaster’ in the lab. She always noticed his face light up when she would laugh at something he had said. And seeing him happy made her feel good too. Moments of peace and tranquillity came few and far between on Atlantis, so she cherished these little moments.
But so often, these moments were interrupted by something. Often, something would have happened in the lab and Radek would have to leave. Later, he would always admit it had been quite insignificant, but he felt he had to go. He was a scientist first and foremost. Elizabeth knew it well, and she had no intention of taking him away from that. Though she cared about Radek, her feelings were not as strong as she could feel.
“I…er…” stuttered Radek, and suddenly they stopped dancing. She watched as he glanced behind her, and then with a pale face turned and fled.
Elizabeth then turned also, and was surprised to find Ronon Dex stood behind her. Even with her heels, he towered over her. He remained stoic, his face betraying no emotion.
“Ronon?” she asked, her voice strong and clear over the lilting music.
“I was wondering if I could dance with you?”
“Of course,” she replied, but was surprised to find him making no move towards her. “Is there a problem?”
“I don’t know how to dance…” he replied, his eyes dropping from her face. His strong exterior had slipped a little, revealing the human side she hardly ever saw.
“Well, let’s start with the position. You place one hand on my shoulder, and you hold my other hand.”
She held out her hand to him, but he placed his hand on her shoulder first. His fingers brushed the exposed skin of her collar, and it felt like electricity flowing across her skin. It sent a jolt down her spine that threatened to make her whole body shake. When he took her hand, she felt her knees tremble a little. Perhaps she had finally found the one she was looking for. They began to move slowly, following the other dancers with ease. Ronon was well built, but his body moved with a surprising grace. At the same time, she could feel the rough calluses on his hand where it touched her soft, unblemished skin. He had suffered so much, and yet he had managed to survive. He was everything she wasn’t. He was wild and rebellious surrounded by a sense of mystery, an often-deadly combination. But, Elizabeth knew the saying well, opposites attract. Subtly, she glanced up at his face, but found his gaze fixed elsewhere. As they turned again, she followed his gaze, her eyes finally settling on another member of the crowd. Though Ronon was dancing with her, he was watching Teyla Emmagan closely.
To Elizabeth, this made more sense. Ronon and Teyla were similar people who both knew how to survive. Elizabeth was a veritable stranger in this galaxy who knew nothing of how to survive, and with her beliefs on weapons certainly wouldn’t last long. She had had many disagreements with other expedition members about carrying weapons, how long would it be before she started arguing with Ronon?
This time, it was Elizabeth who slowed down. Ronon looked at her confused, but she merely smiled.
“Go and dance with Teyla,” she said, giving him a slight nudge in her direction. She watched as Ronon walked off, and then smiled as they began to dance.
Suddenly a hand on hers and on her hip from behind made Elizabeth jump.
“Enjoying the party?” asked a familiar voice from behind.
“Yes actually,” she replied.
The hand on her hip suddenly pushed her forwards. She spun out, keeping hold of the other hand. When they were stretched out fully, she turned back and spun back in until she was facing her new partner. He made sure to pull her in close, closer than the others had. His hand moved back to her hip, and she did nothing to stop him. She was comfortable with him and didn’t mind being so close to him.
“Very nice Elizabeth,” he said with a smirk.
“Not so bad yourself John,” she responded with her own smirk.
John Sheppard was the person she had come to know best on the expedition, and she considered him to be one of her closest friends. From the moment they had met, their fates had been bound together. She had ensured he had come to Atlantis, and he was repaying the debt by remaining loyal to her. There were many times he could have tried to overrule her, or even start a revolt, but he hadn’t. Instead, he had become a friend and advisor to her. But more than that, she owed him her life. He had protected her against many different evils, and had certainly made sure she was still alive today. They had had their differences at first, however that had not happened for a long time. They had seen some of Atlantis’s worst and best times, and remained strong throughout. As for as she was concerned it had made them closer.
And now, as they moved together as one, she felt her heart skip a few beats. Her skin still tingled where his hand touched hers. Could it be she had found him at last?
Looking at him, she found his eyes fixed on hers. As she started deeply into his eyes, everything else faded away. There was only them and the sound of the music echoing around them. It was like a fairytale as they continued to dance around. Their bodies moved in perfect time together and matched the pace of the music flawlessly. When he pulled back, she did too, and he spun her under his arm. With each step one added, their other reacted perfectly. They knew each other better than anyone else ever could.
As the music grew louder and stronger, John pulled her in tightly again. Leaning forwards, she whispered in his ear.
“I think I love you.”
When she looked back at his face, she found him smiling softly, his eyes shining.
“I think I love you too,” he said softly.
Leaning forwards again, Elizabeth went to whisper in his ear, but he moved and captured her lips with his own. The kiss was soft, and everything she had ever wanted. There was no urgency in it, no sudden move to turn into something more torrid and passionate. It was a gentle kiss that could have just been two good friends idea of a greeting. And yet, it was so much deeper than it appeared. It sent another jolt down Elizabeth’s spine, an altogether stronger one this time. The butterflies in her stomach seemed to have become frenzied and her heart was beating faster than she had known to could. Finally, her feelings had revealed the man she sort. It was John
When they pulled apart, they were both smiling. Elizabeth’s mind was still focused on just them, but now she felt like she was floating. It was like they were moving above the other dancers now. She was sure if she reached out, she would be able to touch the heavens above her. With a contended sigh, she laid her head gently on John’s shoulder and closed her eyes, while they continued to sway to the music.
“Elizabeth,” said John softly, with no response from Elizabeth. She was too happy to notice. “Elizabeth,” he said again, his voice a little more forceful. Now he was shaking her arm as well.
With another sigh, Elizabeth opened her eyes and was surprised by what she found. Instead of dancing in John’s arms, she was laying down with John knelt next to her. She glanced around, and found herself in a large room, but not the ballroom she’d been in. She looked back to John to find him smiling at her. He was no longer dressed in the fine clothes of earlier, but in his usual off world uniform.
“Come on sleepy head, time to get up,” he said, standing back up slowly.
Elizabeth sat up and swung her legs out of the bed. Looking down, she found herself wearing her usual uniform rather than beautiful dress. She shook her head slowly and tried to make sense of it in her head. It had been a dream? All of it was a dream?
“How long have I been asleep?” she asked at last.
“Well, I first came in about two hours ago, and you were still asleep, so at least eight, maybe nearer ten hours.”
“Why didn’t you wake me up two hours ago?”
“I thought it fair to let you sleep. I’ve seen you on Atlantis looking tired, it only seemed fair to let you have a full nights sleep.”
Elizabeth smiled at him, and he was glad to see her smiling. She did look better rested than she had in a long time, and it relieved him to see her like that.
“Besides,” he said as he began to walk to the door. “When I came in, you were humming and smiling. I guessed you were having a good dream, so I thought I’d leave you to it. Just to let you know, the locals have kept some breakfast for you and we’ll leave as soon as you’re ready. Okay?”
“That’s fine,” she replied with a smile. He smiled back at her and left her room.
Sitting on the bed, Elizabeth couldn’t quite believe it. It had all been a dream. The ball hadn’t been real at all. Then what about her feelings, were they real?
She let her mind focus on John for a second. His smile. His eyes. The way he acted. Everything he’d done for her. That kiss. And she felt the butterflies return in her stomach and her heart begin to pound. It may have been just a dream, but those feelings were definitely real. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember the ball and all that had happened. But already the images were fading. She could barely remember the start of her dream, and even her dance with John was becoming hazy.
A knock on the door pulled her back to the present. She looked at the door to find John looking at her.
“Look, if you’re mad at me for letting you sleep, then I want to say sorry now. I don’t want to walk back to the Gate with you in a bad mood with me.”
“John, it’s okay, I swear. Besides, I was having a good dream. And you’re right, I could use the sleep.”
“Oh good,” he said, the relief visible on his face, and then he turned to leave again.
“Wait,” she said quickly halting him in his tracks.
“What is it?” he asked, turning his head to look at her.
“I…well…thank you John.”
“Anytime,” he said, not fully knowing what he’d done. He didn’t mind though, as long as she was happy he was content.
Elizabeth watched him go for the second time and sighed. John had done more for her than he would ever know, and now perhaps she could start to make it up to him. She didn’t have to tell him how she felt just yet, but as long as they were friends she could help him in any way she could. In fact, she mused, she never had tell him. Not really. They were friends, and nothing could change that. And as long as they were friends, she could stay close to him, just for a while at least.
Smiling, Elizabeth began to get washed and dressed, and as she did, she hummed. She hummed a soft and beautiful waltz melody that would stay with her for the rest of her life.
And in other news, I have an idea for a Doctor Who/Atlantis crossover with a possible Weir/Doctor realtionship.
It's offical, my muse has gone crazy.
*Looks for mental hospital for poor muse*