She was beautiful. Beautiful and wet. She picked out a bright green umbrella when it had begun to rain, but she had let her attention wander the Paris streets around her and ended up twirling it instead of holding it over her head. It was a warm day and the rain had been very welcome. Teyla was wearing a red sun dress with green straps and a belt that matched the color of her umbrella. John had picked it out. It had been their first buy in the city. She was easy to please, but far from timid when it came to bargaining in the market. John knew her secret, but he still found it amazing to watch her rob vendors through her eloquent methods of negotiating. John wore jeans and a white shirt, but Teyla bought him a red scarf when she noticed other men wearing them around their necks. She listened to the people they met and mastered the Parisian accent during the morning hours of the day. It was very different conversing with her in French.

They threaded their way through the city with their hands locked together. Paris was the city of love and he could kiss her freely and deeply whenever and wherever he wanted. Teyla had intended to learn everything she could the moment she had arrived on Earth. John had tried to get her to fall asleep on the plane, but she had chosen to stay up reading books about France instead. She was determined to be a tourist. As newly weds they fit right in with the ambiance of the city.

---

Within two days of their arrival on Earth a new team, with Colonel Carter as acting leader, was sent to Atlantis. Rodney, Radek, and Dr. Keller were among those who joined her. John had asked for several months leave so he could spend time giving Teyla a tour of his favorite places on Earth. His diamond solitaire ring had been on her hand for less than twelve hours when the Secretary of State approached him. John was talking with a friend about borrowing one of the SGC helicopters so he could take Teyla for a ride. Arthur Clarke happened to meet up with him in one of the halls, but lacked the ability to remain casual to make it look like a coincidence.

“Colonel Sheppard, how are you enjoying your time back on Earth?”

“I think I’m accurate when I say it’s good to be home, sir,” John replied. Teyla was outside waiting for him. He glanced at his watch and decided that he would talk for two minutes and then excuse himself.

“I hear that you’re getting married. Congratulations.”

“Where did you hear that, Arthur? We haven’t told anyone yet.” John paused. “Unless you have people spying on Teyla’s hands.”

“It was in our best interest to know.”

John caught his arm and became serious. “I don’t want her harassed. You will have your people back off, or we will go back through the gate and disappear. This is not a game.”

“Woah! John, you're misunderstanding me completely. Dr. McKay mentioned something yesterday that gave away the seriousness of your relationship with Teya. Word spreads and that happens to be a good thing. If you are going to get married, the President has requested that you put off the ceremony for two weeks.”

“Why?” John asked.

“You have another ceremony to attend. You are being promoted to Brigadier General, and Congress is awarding you the Congressional Medal of Honor.”

“What? I thought it took more than a week for that medal to get handed out.” John laughed. Politics. It was what Teyla was good at. His specialty was following orders. “Pardon me. Thank you, sir. I hope you will forgive the way I jumped on you.”

“You have a good reason. I don’t have clearance to know everything that happened to you out there, but I hope you realize that you have saved more than a city. We want to award Teyla the Medal of Freedom. We don’t want to overwhelm her because we are not familiar with the customs of her people. We can keep the ceremony small if it will help, but there are many people who wish to attend.”

“She will be fine with a big ceremony. I has been nice talking with you, and I’m sure I can catch up on all of this later, but Teyla is outside waiting for me.”

“Of course,” Arthur said. “John, one more thing. Karina Hayes wanted me to deliver this for her because lately you haven’t had your phone on.”

John took the envelope. “What is it?”

“Probably a dinner invitation. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wanted to plan your wedding for you.”

John let Teyla open the card when he got outside. It was an invitation to dinner, and Miss Hayes, the president’s niece, wanted to plan Teyla’s wedding.

---

A May Day wedding had been Teyla’s idea. Everything had been her idea even though many people offered to help the foreign woman who knew nothing of American culture or weddings. She was patient, but unyielding when she wanted something done her way. Washington, D.C. was beautiful that day. The Cherry Blossom Festival had ended a few days earlier, but the beauty remained.

The Washington National Cathedral was full. Their friends from Atlantis had returned to attend the ceremony. Elizabeth was strong enough to sit up, but not to stand so she sat in the very front beside Dr. Keller. It was the second time John had worn his uniform as a general. He stood at the front of the church with Rodney beside him and held his breath while Teyla walked down the isle on Ronon’s arm. She had made her dress with the help of several Athosian women. The train of her dress dragged behind her, and she wore a crown of cherry blossoms. She had the blood of queens.

The Thunderbirds flew a formation run in the sky above the lawn of the White House where the reception was held. It had been John’s surprise for Teyla. Rodney stayed close to them so he could feed them the names and relevant information about the people who were about to approach them. Those who had wronged Teyla in the past were quick to offer peace and apologies. Only a few days before the wedding took place, Rodney and Samantha had discovered that the energy drain the Taurins had made had also wiped out the Asuran homeworld. However, the three fully charged ZPM’s still remained at the top of the list of spectacular events. Teyla and John’s strange new abilities were lost in the light of the new discoveries.

---

“What do you think?” John asked Teyla as they stared up at the monument in front of them from the Paris street.

“I could stand here forever. It’s really beautiful.”

“Let me know when you want to go up.”

“Go up?” Teyla asked.

“Yeah. We’ll ride the elevator up and take turns spitting over the side.”

She paused and looked up at the top. “Wait…”

John turned her back to him and kissed her nose. “Teyla, you didn’t know you could go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower? What kind of books have you been reading?”

“I don’t know how I missed that part. Do you think I will be able to see the hotel in Montmartre?”

“I don’t know. Those books you’ve been reading could have caused some severe damage to your sense of direction.”

She pulled on his arm, and he followed her to the base of the tower.

---

The height of the day had passed. Paris was beginning to transform into the halfway world where the rosy evening sky still gave off light, and the city below mocked it with artificial colors. Teyla rushed to the side of the observation deck the moment they were out of the elevator. She paused to watch boats disappear under the Seine River Bridge that was at the foot of the Tower. It was her starting point.

“Do you think you can do it?” John asked.

“Yes, but give me a moment.” Her eyes traced the river as it curved around the city north of the tower. She finally dragged John to a railing pulling herself into his arms, lifted his right hand, and pointed with his finger.

“It’s about four klicks northeast of here. I can’t find the hotel, but if you focus carefully you can see the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre. In a few more minutes it will be too dark to pick out.”

John focused his eyes, and Teyla kept her hand steady while pointing in the direction of the arrondissement of Montmartre. “You’re good,” he finally said as he kissed her cheek. The night air was warm and a breeze gently feathered through Teyla’s hair as she leaned against him.

Teyla turned in response to his sudden pull on her arm. She was about to ask him what he was doing, but her body kept spinning. Her dress fanned out under her, and John moved her in a circle around the deck before stopping her.

“What was that for?” Teyla asked, breathing heavily.

“I wanted to get your attention. Will you dance with me?”

“I wasn’t just dancing with you?”

“I was making you twirl. We can do more of that later. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to dance up here.”

She stepped close to him and matched his form with her body. The wind picked up, and he pulled her closer to him where her head was resting on his shoulder. The distant bells of the Notre Dame cathedral sounded the evening Vespers, and the sun dipped lower in the sky. They danced to the noise of the chaotic world around them. It was a song without words.

---

The Beginning