„No further discussions, everyone. I am making it a mandatory holiday and a community festivity too.” Elisabeth Weir gazed round in the group of people assembled, challenging them to discuss the issue again.

Colonel Caldwell shrugged. “It will be good for morale, Dr. Weir.” He conceded the point. “And it will give the troops a chance to relax for a change.”

Col. Sheppard rolled his eyes. “Not everybody is into ‘family christmas’, I still mean it will put pressure on people to do something they might not like at all.”

“Hey! Perhaps it’s time they learn what a real good Christmas is.” Rodney grinned broadly.

Elisabeth Weir rose. “The decision stands. The grand celebration will be on Christmas eve 8pm in the messhall. Everybody is welcome to spend Christmas day as he or she likes.” Without further words she left the office, ending the command staff conference. Outside the office she couldn’t help but scowl. “If I were to order an attack on a Wraith world, they’d be all business, but if I order them to celebrate a common holiday they behave like children!”

***

“So, Christmas is common holiday on Earth?” Teyla asked, sipping on the rest of her tea. The whole team was sitting in the messhall, over lunch. Lorne’s team shared the same long table.

“It’s not exactly a common holiday, and not all people share it.” Rodney was in full lecture mode. “it began as a religious holiday, but got adopted in many regions. Of course there are those who do not celebrate Christmas.”

Radek Zelenka, passing by their table stopped. “The date differs too, many people have the main celebration on Christmas day, other on Christmas eve and some, like the Russians celebrate Christmas on Epiphanias in early January.”

“But that was a calendar issue!” Rodney interjected. “Just because they didn’t manage to keep up with the last calendar reform.”

Teyla looked confused from one to the other. “So the date of the holiday is not really fixed?”

“It is, for sure.” Sheppard interrupted. “This whole religious stuff is important to some people, but many others celebrate Christmas without it. Don’t let them confuse you.”

“But if it is a spiritual day?” Teyla asked, keenly interested to learn more.

John waved it off. “Ah… the whole spiritual stuff is kinda complicated and… you know… not even we can agree over most of it, most of the time.” Sheppard was visibly uncomfortable to be put into a position to explain.

“It is about hope, and about redemption.” Evan Lorne spoke up. “At the core of it, stand the believe that mankind broke the first covenant with the creator. The birth of Christ heralds salvation, redeeming grace and the second covenant with god. Over the centuries the meaning and context of Christmas changed, transformed, but at the heart stands still the very same thought: the return of hope, the believe that we, as a species, are not lost. We give each other gifts that day in remembrance of the gifts the three magi brought to the newborn child, and as a symbol of love, friendship and appreciation.”

Teyla smiled radiantly at Lorne. “I understand why it is such an important day for your people.”

Sheppard exchanged a glance with Ronon. “I had no idea that Lorne was such a preacher.” He observed, slight angry at the conversation that grew between Teyla and Lorne. Lt. Col. Sheppard rose. “Sorry to interrupt this interesting conversation, but we have to get some organization going.” His team rose and followed him out of the messhall.

Lorne and his team exchanged wry grins. “I guess we should go to Belkan and see what we can trade for some decent poultry, Sir.” Lt. Sean O’Connor suggested.

“Excellent idea, Sean. I’ll clear it with Weir. Give the team some time to scrounge up whatever they want to barter. Gift shopping opportunities are hard to come by.”

***

John Sheppard rolled his eyes when he heard the cackling cacophony in the gate room. Cages with poultry. Many cages. He had never disliked this whole plan more than just now. Family Christmas tended to be a nightmare, spiced with Turkey, pudding and family clashes. But half the base behaved like the storybook Christmas would be coming around this year.

“What did you get her?” Sheppard didn’t need to look to know that Lt. O’Connor had been talking, his West-Belfast accent was hard to overhear.

“Remember this beautiful dagger with the silver meshed hilt and the jewels?” Lorne replied. “I traded it for one of my limestone figures. I hope she’ll like the present.”

The Irishman laughed. “She will, boss. The girl that doesn’t like the most beautiful present to be found on that whole market, is blind or stupid. And she’s neither.”

John frowned. Had Lorne just bought a gift for Teyla? Of course had to get some advise from O’Connor, who obviously believed in the myth of the irresistible Irishman. On the other hand, if half the rumours on base were true, O’Connor had more fans than he cared to count among the female scientists.

“Ronon, I was thinking of getting a present for Teyla. What do you think she would like?” He asked the man standing by him.

The Satedan shrugged. “Dunno. Athosians are complicated with gifts.”

Rodney and Zelenka walked into sight, for odd reasons they were neither arguing nor belittling each other. “Four big trees, splendid Radek!” Rodney beamed. “Now we have to come up with some way to decorate them. It’s not like we have a shop around the next corner…wait… you would know a thing or two about traditional ornaments… made from more primitive materials, wouldn’t you?”

Any other day this would have erupted into an argument, but today Zelenka just nodded. “In fact, I do Rodney….” Both men vanished discussing various options of adorning four live trees that would be cut on the mainland.

John scowled. “If I see Caldwell playing Santa next, I’ll jump off the top spire.”

***

John was running alone the next morning. Ronon had gone with a team to the mainland for the trees and to get some sand for Zelenka and Rodney, who somehow had figured out how to make glass balls out of them, using some of the tech in the lab. The big guy enjoyed the festive mood obviously and John didn’t want to begrudge him. His friend had lost so much, he was entitled to some happiness. It didn’t help John’s mood, not really. Stopping in one of the high railings, he heard a voice singing.

It’s time for celebrating,

And having a feast,

Because of the tidings that come from the east.

A chuckle joined in. “That song… how long has it been?” Lorne’s voice.

“About twenty years.” O’Connor, who had been the singer, replied. “Half the dorm liked to sing it, in the night before Christmas, remember?”

Lorne laughed. “Yeah, when Father Jonathan had made his rounds and was on the other end of the building. I’ll never forget that Christmas… I still don’t know how you lasted eight years in that place.”

Sean stopped his workout and rose. Sheppard could see him, leaning against the wall. “It wasn’t that bad, Evan.”

“I remember what Dave said ‘It’s not that bad here, Evan, you’ll see. In fact it is worse. But we laugh a lot. Sean will play some practical joke tonight, so we all can have laugh. He get’s punished anyway, so he doesn’t care.” He quoted imitating a lilting accent quite well.

“And you asked ‘why does he get punished?’” Sean chuckled an went on. “Because Father Daniel is his Uncle and he is like god: he punishes those he loves.”

Both men were laughing now. “But we had a good Christmas, Evan.”

“Right Sean, this we had.” Lorne replied. “What do you think, when the jumper leaves this afternoon to get the fresh fruits, can you handle the fruit bartering? I still have something…”

“Of course, I can. Won’t be all that hard.” O’Connor replied. “You sure the trader will be there?”

“He promised to bring it right there, so I could pick it up.” Lorne answered. “You know… thinking of giving her that present makes me all nervous.” Both men started walking and were soon out of earshot.

John snorted. He knew that Lorne was as close to his team as John was to his own. But this was ridiculous. And he was still looking for something for Teyla.

One hour later John strode into the office of Dr. Weir. “I’ve been thinking, Dr. Weir.” He began. “We have trees, food and all that but we have next to no candles. I remember seeing those beautiful huge candles on that market on Fendhamar. And they were rather interested in trading paper and writing stuff.”

Elisabeth Weir smiled. “Why, Colonel, that’s an excellent idea. Unfortunately I can’t send your team with you. Ronon and Teyla are on the mainland, and Rodney is…”

“busy with glass balls, I know all that.” John interjected. “I was thinking of either borrowing O’Connor from Lorne’s team or Chapelle from Team 3.”

“Lt. O’Connor will assist Major Lorne in procuring an assortment of fresh fruit.” Dr. Weir informed him. “And Chapelle will be escorting some scientists over to Hredna. But Dr. Beckett had expressed his wish to return to Fendhamar and trade for another of these plants… I forget the name.”

John nodded. “He’s welcome to tag along.”

The market on Fendhamar was bustling with people. John now and then looked for Carson, who was talking to the local healer. Both of them were deeply into the topic of some potted plant, and would go on for hours like that. The Candle deal had taken not long and the boxes with the Candles, heavy wooden boxes were already stored away on the puddlejumper.

Now John was strolling over the market, studying the various goods the traders offered. He was sure that the white furcap he had seen with one of them, would look cute on Teyla. But Teyla usually didn’t do cute. So it was out of the question. The trader with the beautiful blue glass ware had not accepted what John had offered for a trade. He found the bartering business was tedious. “You look a little lost.” A deep voice ripped him from his musings.

John knew the voice, it belonged to an arms trader who had arrived here this morning. He had shortly talked to the man, a seven feet giant with muscles that might put Ronon to shame. “I was looking for a gift for a friend, a rather special friend.” John shrugged. “and warrior as she might be, I don’t think a sword will be the right thing for her.”

The trader leaned against the cart and grinned. “Ladies are a tricky folk. Where is she from?”

“Athosia.” John replied. Perhaps he could fish for some traditions and customs of the Athosians without looking too stupid.

“Does she know she’s special to you?”

John turned up his eyes. “I’m not good at talking about such stuff. I’m not Lorne to put about some dozen longwinded sentences about the meaning of life and all that crap. So no – I guess not.”

The gigantic man gestured him to walk closer. “I may have something for you. Got it in a trade on Manicar last summer.” He turned and after some searching extracted a small wooden box from among his things. Opening it, John saw a silver pendant inside. It was shaped like a celtic knot and in the middle rested a faintly glimmering jewel. “It’s a heartstone.” The trader explained. “They light up with body warmth. Wear it somewhere on you for a day or two before giving it to her, and it will light and burn in thousand colours the day you give it to her. It’s an age old symbol of friendship, of appreciation, and of the heart.”

John’s crooked smile came out. This was exactly the right thing, something Teyla would like. So there was only one problem left: the price. “what do you want for it?” he asked. The pendant would hardly come cheap.

“What about that?” The trader pointed to the bayonet knife, John carried. Those long knives had become standard equipment for practical reasons in no time. And they were trading hits because of the good steel they were made off. John thought for a moment, he would have to come up with some explanation where he had lost it… but that could wait until after Christmas. “Deal.”

The days before the celebration John followed the traders advise and kept the pendant with him at all times. The thought of it cheered him up and helped him to look less gloomy to the coming celebrations.

***

John stood at the side of the mess hall, and was looking for a way to make a strategic withdrawal. All the people in the room made him uneasy. He wasn’t McKay, who was happy like a boy, even hugged Zelenka for some present – a book with a mathematical theory, as John understood it. He wasn’t Ronon, sitting in the middle of a group of Marines – all of them his regular hand – to – hand combat class, laughing and chewing on some fried poultry. In between they taught him a dozen or so Christmas carols. The presents swapped over there were knives, swords and other non-standard weaponry that was more than practical in Pegasus.

Dr. Weir wandered among the groups, chatting with the scientists, talking to the soldiers, always a smile and a nice word. The practiced ease of her, spoke of her years as a diplomat. She laughed and smiled when Zelenka gave her the scientist’s gift: a clock made of glass, with coloured waters running inside. She laughed and grinned when the Marines gave her a personalised sidearm Sergeant Hawkins had modified for her. And she downright beamed when she got Lorne’s present. John slid close to peek without being seen. The present was a plate of dark stone. The silhouette of Atlantis was carved into it, in the background. In the foreground John saw a picture of Dr. Weir, carved into the stone, around her assembled was the crew of Atlantis. John saw himself, McKay, Teyla and others.

Teyla… he looked around and found her standing not so far away, looking at him. She always managed to see through his hiding act. John took a deep breath and walked over to her. He fumbled to get the wooden box out without looking pretentious. “Teyla… ehm…”

“Yes, John?”

He had thousand things he wanted to say, but did not find the words. “This is for you. Merry Christmas.”

Teyla opened the box, her eyes found the pendant, whose stone was now deep blue with sparkling rainbows inside. Gently she extracted it, a blush rising in her cheeks, as she donned the fine necklace. “John… I never knew…” She took a step forward and embraced him.

Startled John drew her closer, holding her tight. His mind was still a whirl, but right now things were alright. Perfect.

On the other side of the room, Evan Lorne grinned broadly. “Finally! He took his sweet time.”

Sean raised his glass, grinning too. “He still has no idea, that he just spilled all his heart to her.”

Lorne chuckled. “No need to tell him. Cheers. To conspiracies.” They glasses clicked as they watched their friends from a distance.

“To conspiracies and people who need a kick in the b***.”

Lorne chuckled. “A practical joke every Christmas, isn’t it, Sean?”

“Aye. But it’s my CO now, who deals out the punishments. Playing jokes on the Atlantis commander, he’ll be downright furious.”

“I have it on good authority he won’t get his hands at you before morning.” In companionable silence did the two man watch the Christmas celebrations around them. It was a Merry Christmas after all.

Another Christmas fic I did