''Interstellar Destiny''

Epilogue

Making his way to the South Pier after his shift, Evan is a man on a mission. Carrying a large picnic basket, he has decided that tonight is a good night to set up a little picnic for Lara, filled with candles all around them and under a beautiful full moon.

As he sets everything up and waits for Lara to meet him there, he can't stop the nervousness that threatens to overcome him, his nerves almost making his hands shake. He takes one last look around, making sure everything is perfect, and thinks that it's time they start a new chapter in their story together, a smile spreading across his face.

It doesn't take long for Lara to show up and be surprised by what he has done, making him relieved that no one had spilled his plan to her.

-"What's all this for? Did I miss our anniversary or something?" - A smile plays on her lips.

-"No." - He chuckles. -"I just wanted to do something special for you."

-"Thank you. Today was a long day, you have no idea, and this is exactly what I needed. Just some alone time with you."

Lara kisses him deeply, Evan more than happy to reciprocate the kiss. He is sure that, no matter how long the years run, he will never get tired of the feeling of her lips on his. Once they break apart, Evan helps Lara sit down on the fluffy blanket he borrowed from Teyla and takes a seat next to her, thankful that she loved the idea.

For the next few minutes, they eat and talk about their days, from crazy injuries that Lara treated, to the weird fruit Evan had tried off-world that morning, some of it having made its way into their picnic basket so she could try as well, after being cleared by the biologists in the city.

But the nerves are starting to get to Evan and he keeps rubbing his hand over his neck or messing with his hair. As much as he tries to disguise it, he knows he's failing when Lara asks him if he's okay.

-"I'm fine. But there is something I want to talk to you about, though."

He sees her nodding at him to continue. Taking a deep breath, he knows it's now or never.

-"Lara, ever since I met you, my life hasn't been the same. We have been through hell and back to be together, and when we were finally in a good place, life threw another hurdle at us. In our darkest moment, when I thought I would never see you again, I realized that I don't want to live my life without you. I want to share everything with you, the good, the bad, the ugly, all of it, because you're the only woman I have ever loved this deeply. So, Lara O'Neill, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Evan can see the tears in her eyes as he kneels in front of her, a little box with a ring in his hand, and wonders if maybe this isn't what she would've wanted. But the words that leave her mouth next, leave no room for doubts.

-"There's nothing I want more than to be your wife. Yes, a million times, yes."

Evan smiles so big, he is sure he is bound to pull a muscle. Placing the ring on her finger, he pulls her close and kisses her deeply. When they pull apart for breath, he thinks that he is one lucky bastard to be able to call a woman as amazing as Lara his future wife.

They spend the rest of the night making plans for the future, from where they want to get married to where they will live once they eventually return to Earth. They talk about who they want at the wedding and how things will change once they are actually married, and they know that some things will also stay the same.

Evan can honestly say that he can't wait for the rest of his life and to grow old and gray with Lara. Hopefully, the Universe will be kind enough to them and give them that. After all they have been through, he thinks it is well deserved.