Mature Enough?
Author: Daniela
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Pairing: John Sheppard/Elizabeth Weir
Rating: PG
Category: Romance, Humor
Series/Sequel: No
Summary: Some rituals can be life changing
Warning: None
Disclaimer: No one of Stargate: Atlantis belongs to me.
Least of all Colonel John Sheppard. Damn.
Feedback: Yes, please. Every word opens a new gate.
Email: daniforblue@yahoo.de
Released: May 2021
Word Count:1318
Beta: badly_knitted
Only by chance had they wound up on this planet hidden at the outer rim of the galaxy. Vion 16 was a pleasing experience for the eyes and the ears. A natural habitat of bright colors, spicy flavors, and delightful sounds. A place to linger and chill just for pleasure. Yet Elizabeth Weir couldn't wait to leave. Unfinished business was calling her back to Atlantis and she couldn't waste any time wallowing in pleasant feelings.
Her second in command John Sheppard had bad news though. "I'm sorry, but the Jumper needs repairs. We're stuck here."
"For how long?"
"A few days."
Elizabeth grimaced. Oh no. Stuck in the middle of some strange festivities. Unfortunately, she had already agreed that she and the team would attend a native ritual to close a deal to trade food and knowledge. Well, the ritual turned out like nothing she'd expected it to be.
John hadn't expected it either. "You want us to do what?" he barked at their host.
Paza had short grey hair but a stunningly young face. "It is tradition for unattached and mature outsiders to introduce one of our virgins to physical love to seal our contract. Everyone between the ages of eighteen and forty must participate. Otherwise, no deal. Is that a problem?"
"Uh... not in general, no, just, I was never interested in virgins. They're unexperienced, shy, probably even fearful. They don't know what to do... they need someone gentle and patient, and I..." Elizabeth's amused look made him stop rambling like an idiot.
"Females as well as males," Paza continued, unaffected by his outburst.
"What?" John was not done making the stupidest face.
"Only people in a serious relationship are excluded."
"I see," Elizabeth said, a good deal calmer. "And now you want to know about our relationship status?"
"The colonel already told us he's unattached."
Elizabeth raised both eyebrows. "He has, has he?"
John coughed.
Paza nodded. "He isn't, is he?"
"The colonel is famous for making jokes like that. In fact, he's very much taken."
"Oh." The disappointed sound came from a circle of girls standing close by.
"For a long time." Elizabeth leaned into John. "Right, honey?"
He winced. "Yeah... sure... ho-ney." The endearment dropped like a ripe fruit from his mouth.
"That's unexpected and unfortunate," Paza said, shooing the group of nosy girls away. "Of course, we will honor your relationship." She pointed to the high trees. "Come on up now. Let's eat and celebrate the glory of life."
"Thank you. I feel hungry." Elizabeth climbed the sturdy rope ladder. John followed her at a short distance.
At the top they gathered around a fire on a solid wooden structure. John had regained his composure, eating a strip of delicious flesh he didn't ask the origin of. Elizabeth was drinking a juicy liquid from a wooden cup. In the depths of the woods howled an exotic animal. The fire crackled.
"How was your first time?" The boy asking was at most fourteen, having a sweet, freckled face and a knobbly nose.
"Oh, it was a magical night," Elizabeth said, licking her lips. She was enjoying herself after all. Seeing John squirming around like a rabbit in a trap pleased her exquisitely. "He was very tender, nice and slow, an awesome lover."
The girls gathering around the fire burst into giggles. The boys grinned, mumbling some obscure words behind their hands.
John turned crimson.
Oh well. Wasn't that a sight for eternity? Elizabeth sipped from her cup hiding her excitement. Well, I stopped being a virgin long ago, and he said he preferred experience and self-confidence, didn't he? Isn't that convenient? She looked at the star-spangled sky. Yep!
*****
Elizabeth and John stared at the hammock hanging high above in the trees.
"I can't sleep in that with you for a week," John whispered, still looking a bit flushed from the innuendos at the dinner table.
"Yes, you can," Elizabeth replied, and swallowed. "For heaven's sake, John. We must carry on with our story. Do you want them to call our bluff?"
"No, but this-"
She leaned in and cut him off with a kiss. Not a peck on the lips but a lingering soft caress.
"Elizabeth!" He startled, gaping at her.
"Calm down, please. They're watching us."
"They are? And I thought..."
"You thought what?"
"Never mind." He cleared his throat.
"What's the problem? Was I wrong about you having feelings for me? Would you rather share with one of the virgins?"
"No. No way. Uh... What about you? There was one pretty boy at the gathering making googly-eyes at you. He could change your mind."
"I prefer men."
"Do you?" He smirked.
"Mature men."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"
"Men who are mature enough not to chase after every skirt in the universe. Men who take what they want, not afraid of commitment. Men...."
He kissed her then and the kiss turned out to be pretty mature, oh well, very mature and very manly. She melted into a puddle of emotions and gasped for air by the time he set her free.
"Like that?"
"Mm... I'm not sure... one more try can't hurt."
"Yes, ma'am." He grabbed her and treated her to a kiss that made her heart race and her knees buckle. Oh boy! She fell backwards and drew him down with her. Luckily, they landed in the comfy hammock. "John... we shouldn't do what I think we're doing, should we?"
"They're watching us, Elizabeth," he murmured, flattened against her.
"They are?" She bent into him. Oh, come on... to hell with protocol!
"Does it matter?"
"Mm? Not much."
"Nice and slow, right?" He nuzzled her neck.
"I wouldn't mind a little rough."
"O-kay, ma'am."
She felt him grin against her neck, though when she felt much more of him lower down, she stopped having rational thoughts.
All around the tall and emerald-green trees whispered in strange voices and the air smelled like moonshine and roses.
******
The morning was glorious. Woken by birds chirping cheerfully, and John holding her close, she couldn't wait for what the new day might bring. She stretched and yawned. Oh boy, what a night.
"Mature enough?" John whispered, kissing along the line of her neck.
"Well..."
"Tease." He snorted. "I can't wait to go back to Atlantis to test if you'll be the same there."
"That depends, Colonel."
"On what?"
"The maturity of the man testing me."
"If the reward is as awesome as last night you don't have to worry."
"John Sheppard is this your way of saying you are committing to me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"There, you have the results of your test already."
He pulled her close, smothering her with kisses.
"Uh...uh... Sorry for disturbing you." The boy with the freckles was holding on to a branch hovering above them. "Chief Paza
wants to see you."
"We'll be there in a minute," Elizabeth murmured, fidgeting to pull her shirt down.
"Are you kidding me?" John groaned, letting her feel his arousal.
"Fine. Thirty minutes." She granted her lover temporary command.
The boy clicked his tongue. "Some people didn't believe you are in a relationship. I'll tell them they're mistaken. I can see your love for each other is pure."
******
"Look! Vion 16 had thrown them off guard," Ronon growled, watching the return of their leaders a few days later.
"We should have warned them about the planet's ceremonies when they briefed us about their stopover," Teyla agreed,
smirking. "If I ever saw a couple coming back from a glorious honeymoon it's those two floating down the aisle."
"Why? What has happened to them?" Rodney said, oblivious to the origin of their conversation. "What's so special about that planet? Should I go there too?"
"Indeed you should, considering your relationship status," Teyla said, winking at Ronon. "Take Zelenka along."
"Right." Ronon barked a laugh. "They will love for you to come."
