fanfic_name = Dream Don't Always Come True

chapter = 3

author = Jo

Rating = AP15

Type = Romance

fanfic = Author: Jo

Title: Dreams Don’t Always Come True

Disclaimer: of course I don’t own any of the original characters of Robotech but I do own some characters that will appear in the future.

Authors note: this fic came to my mind very late at night, so I hope it sound coherent to you, the idea also came to me because I have spent too much time writing a happy fic (Can a second chance change it all?) so I need the angst, what can I say, I love angst.

To: Especially to K71, thank you so much for be my beta for this one too, really thank you, thank you, thank you. Also for Carla and all the people from the forum

Replies: sure, I’ll be waiting for them!!! Jo_anderson19ATyahoo.com

Dreams Don’t Always Come True

Chapter 3

“I Can’t Stop Loving You”

“Liz, I am really sorry, but Alex was crying,” said a man with a British accent.

“Alex,” said Lisa with a little worry in her voice as she turned in the man’s direction.

“You know that you are the only one that can calm him,” said the man softly while he was trying to calm a small baby boy of about 6 months old.

“I know,” said Lisa tenderly and took the baby in her arms with the sweetest and most tender look that Rick had ever seen on her. She just had to hold the baby and he stopped crying. She lulled the baby for a few moments until the baby started to fall asleep and then she turned in Rick’s direction, holding the baby in her arms. In that same moment Claudia got closer to them.

“Who is this?” asked Claudia with a surprised smile. She was looking at the baby, but Lisa turned in the man’s direction.

“He is Thomas Devreux, my husband,” said Lisa smiling and looking at the man that was standing next to her. “And this one here,” said Lisa with a soft voice full of love, “is Alex, our son,” said Lisa and gave a sweet kiss on the baby’s forehead.

“Oh my god I can’t believe it,” said Claudia truly surprised as she turned to see the baby that was between being asleep and awake.

Rick was unable to move, he wanted to step back, to get away from there but he couldn’t. His body didn’t respond to the orders that his brain gave it, and all that he wanted it to do was get away from there, from the realization that he had- that she was with somebody else.

He only could move his eyes erratically from the baby, to the man and then to Lisa over and over again. He looked at the man, who was a few inches taller than Lisa and wearing a perfect black suit. He had light brown hair and blue eyes and white skin but it seemed he spent a lot of time in the sun, because he looked a little tan. Even though he was wearing a suit it could be seen that he was athletically built. Then the man moved closer to Lisa and put one arm around her and the shine of his wedding ring hit Rick straight in the eyes.

His eyes travel then to the baby that was smiling at Claudia. The baby had the same blue eyes as the man, but had the same soft skin that Lisa had, with a little light brown hair. The baby was moving his hands in the air and Lisa was smiling at him.

As he watched the scene he could feel how his heart beat so fast and hard that he was sure that it would explode in his chest. The knot in his throat barely let him breath. He was getting dizzy and the images of Lisa with her baby and her husband was getting more and more blurry as the time went by. All that he wanted to do was escape from that, from that scene that was killing him, that meant that all his dreams became dust; that he had lost. He didn’t want to accept that, he couldn’t. He could feel how his eyes were getting full of tears and that made his vision even more blurry, but his legs still didn’t answer the desperate screams that he gave from head, trying to order them to move, to run away from that nightmare. He was praying that it only was a nightmare and that he would wake up in his lonely bed, paralyzed by fear but fine because everything just was a nightmare. But the minutes passed and he didn’t wake up, and Lisa was smiling at the guy who was now playing with the baby and the pain in his heart was so strong that he thought he would fall there in the middle of the graveyard on his knees. He didn’t think he could take it anymore, it was just too painful. He couldn’t look at the scene anymore and his eyes suddenly responded to his command and closed.

When he opened his eyes he was in his car, holding the wheel with such strength that his fingers were white and cold, but he didn’t care. That was nothing compared to the pain that he had in his chest. It was like all the pieces of his broken heart were cutting his chest from the inside, burning him, hurting him, not letting him breathe well. Every breath that he took caused him pain, a pain so strong that it didn’t even allow him to listen to what was happening around him.

All that he could hear was the soft voice of Lisa saying, “He is Thomas Devreux, my husband,” and a few moments later, “and this is Alex our son.”

“It can’t be true, it can’t be,” said Rick with a lost voice full of pain.

He had waited for her all these years, kept himself alive all these years because of the dream that some day he would find her and they would spend the rest of their lives together. That was the dream that he always had, since the day that she had left. But now that dream will never be true, it will only be just a dream.

Rick hit the wheel with strength, with anger, with frustration. All that he had ever dreamt and waited for these last 6 years was vanishing. She was with somebody else, and as the time passed his head was spinning as he tried to understand the situation. More and more he realized that she had moved on with her life leaving him behind; she had forgot him.

“Lisa forgot me,” said Rick and he could feel how the hot tears burned his face as they fell across his cheeks. He felt so lost, he had never imagined that the day that he found her would be like this. In all the worst scenarios that he had created in his mind for the moment that they would be reunited, never ever had he thought that she would be married, never. The worst nightmare that he had was to find her dead. But never this, he never thought that he would lose her because of another man.

“What will I do now? Move on with my life like Lisa has done?” asked Rick to himself. He couldn’t; he couldn’t move on. He wouldn’t, not now, not now that he had found her.

“Maybe she is not happy, maybe she married with him for spite, maybe she still loves me,” said Rick to himself as he tried to convince himself of what he was saying- that the bright and happy smile that he had seen on Lisa wasn’t true, wasn’t real, that she still loved him, that he still had something to fight for. Because after all this time and after all that he had gone through because of Lisa, the illusion that she still loved him was the only thing that kept him from going insane and dying.

Lisa had just introduced her husband and son to Claudia when three young officers came closer. She recognized them immediately, it was the trio and Lisa couldn’t avoid a smile.

“Everything is done Claudia,” said Sammie with a sad voice and the she lifted her eyes and looked at her and her eyes became wide open.

“It can’t be,” said Kim disbelief.

“I think it is,” said Vanessa, adjusting her glasses.

“Hi girls,” said Lisa softly and before she moved closer to them she handed the baby to her husband who held the baby in the same soft and tender way that Lisa had.

“Lisa, oh my God, I can’t believe it,” said Sammie and held Lisa with strength and then the rest of the girls held her tight.

“I thought we would never see you again,” said Kim, trying to hold back tears.

“Of course came back, I just think that I did it too late,” Lisa said the last words with sadness while she looked at Admiral Gloval’s grave.

“Lisa, you are here and that’s all that matters,” said Vanessa.

“And I know that he is as happy as we are to see you again,” added Sammie.

“Thanks,” said Lisa smiling, “I just told Claudia that I had to come, he was like a father to me,” said Lisa with her eyes were full of tears.

“He was a father to all of us,” said Vanessa and her eyes were full of tears too. They remained in silence for a few moments, as if every one of them were remember something about Admiral Gloval.

“He was a great man,” said Kim, a little lost.

“Yes he was,” said all the girls at the same time.

“And he wouldn’t like us to be here moping,” said Claudia and cleaned away her tears.

“Yes that’s so true,” said Lisa as she cleaned hers.

“So how are you? Where have you been all this years?” asked Kim.

“It’s such a long story,” said Lisa honestly.

“Wait a minute,” said Sammie, “you were holding a baby, is he your…” Sammie was saying and Lisa only nodded with a guilty smile.

“You have a baby?” asked Kim with her eyes wide open.

“And I got married,” said Lisa and she gave a look to Thomas, who smiled back at her.

“I want to see the baby,” said Sammie getting closer to Thomas.

“This is Thomas Devreux, my husband,” said Lisa when she was closer to him.

“Hello ladies,” said Thomas and bent his head down.

“Hi,” said the girls at the same time. Lisa got closer to Thomas and held his arm.

“This is Vanessa Leeds,” said Lisa pointing to Vanessa.

“Nice to meet you,” said Thomas looking at Vanessa, who only smiled at him.

“This is Kimberly Young,” said Lisa pointing Kim, and she came closer to Thomas.

“Hi, nice to meet you,” said Kim offering her hand to Thomas.

“It is my pleasure,” he said smiling and holding Kim’s hand, while with the other he held the baby with a little help from Lisa.

“And finally this is Sammie Porter,” said Lisa and Sammie also took Thomas’ hand After that they turned their attention to the baby that was more awake now.

“Oh my god, isn’t he gorgeous!” said Kim.

“Look at his eyes, he has the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen.” Sammie said.

“And he looks so much like Lisa,” said Vanessa.

“Can I hold him?” asked Kim looking at Thomas and then to Lisa.

“Of course you can,” said Thomas smiling and giving the baby to Kim. The baby smile at Kim and then started to play with her dark black hair that she was wearing long now.

“Well you know that you aren’t the only one who got married here,” said Claudia coming closer to the baby.

“No, who?” asked Lisa but when she looked at the trio she knew immediately who it was, because she was starting to flush.

“I got married a few moths ago,” said Vanessa shyly.

“Congratulations,” said Lisa and held Vanessa, “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks Lisa,” said Vanessa smiling.

“With whom, someone that I knew?” asked Lisa.

“Do you remember Captain Daniel Ridley?” asked, “the one that was in charge of the radar operations in the north quadrant?”

“Yes, I do,” said Lisa after a while.

“Well here you have Mrs. Vanessa Ridley,” said Kim smiling.

“Leeds, my last name is Leeds,” said Vanessa.

“I’m so happy for you Vanessa, really, and you girls?” asked Lisa looking at them.

“Well, some boyfriend here, some other there, we are too young you know,” said Kim.

“Oh yeah, please go with that story to someone else, just the other night you were saying that you were tired of being lonely,” said Sammie.

“Sammie!” said Kim ashamed.

Lisa got closer to Thomas and he held her hand.

“I’m so happy to see you girls again, I just wish it could be under better circumstances,” said Lisa.

“We all do honey, but at least we are together again,” said Claudia.

“Yes, and we have so much to talk about,” said Lisa.

“Yes, a lot,” said Sammie who was making faces at the smiling baby.

“We can have lunch tomorrow,” said Lisa.

“I wish I could, but I have to get back to the satellite tonight,” said Vanessa.

“To the satellite?” asked Lisa.

“Yes, Vanessa is in charge of the construction of the SDF-3’s entire engineering and radar system,” said Claudia with pride.

“Really? Wow, I’m so proud of you Vanessa,” said Lisa truly.

“Thanks Lisa, I’m doing my best.”

“Yes you are honey, with your husband up there,” said Kim with an evil grin.

“Kim!” protested Vanessa.

“I can’t either, I have to be on the command center tomorrow morning,” complained Sammie with a sad voice.

“Sammie is the flight operator of the entire North America quadrant, she is in charge of all the military flights on the continent,” said Kim.

“I knew that you would do fine as a flight operator,” said Lisa happily.

“I learned from the best,” said Sammie, making Lisa flush.

Kim gave the baby back to Thomas because he was stretching his arms in the direction of Thomas. He held the baby and the baby closed his eyes and began to sleep.

“In this moment I hate my job. I can’t go either Lisa, I have a meeting with the RDF command,” said Kim between mad and sad and then she added proudly, “I’m in charge of the communications of the entire north quadrant of the RDF.”

“You know Kim has always liked to talk,” said Vanessa as a pay back for all that Kim had bothered her.

“Vanessa!” said Kim in disbelief.

“It seems that I’m the only one who can,” said Claudia.

“Yeah because you are the Admiral,” protested Kim.

“Yeah that’s true,” said Claudia.

“You are Admiral?” asked Lisa smiling, proud of her friend.

“Well Rear Admiral and I’m in charge of these three here and of the relationships with the other RDF bases around the world.”

“Claudia I’m so proud of you. Congratulations,” said Lisa.

“It’s a lot of work but I’m happy,” said Claudia a little shyly.

“Yeah, you know she is the boss,” joked the trio and Lisa laughed.

“So, we are going to have lunch tomorrow?” asked Lisa.

“Sure, is 1:00 pm fine for you?” asked Claudia.

“Any time you can,” answered Lisa.

“Fine, then I’ll see you, but where?”

“We are staying in the Macross Plaza so we can have lunch there,” said Lisa and the girls looked at her with big open eyes.

“But that hotel is the most expensive in Macross,” said Sammie finally.

“I guess so,” said Lisa shyly.

“You know that you can always stay at my place,” said Claudia.

“Thanks, but we are traveling with Alex and we don’t want to cause any trouble,” said Lisa.

“It’s no problem Lisa, so you know that if you want you can stay at my place,” said Claudia.

“Thanks,” said Lisa and then she looked at Thomas who was a few steps away watching their son sleep, “Well I think we should go,” added Lisa.

“Yes, we should go too,” said Vanessa.

“It has been so nice to see you Lisa, promise me that you won’t disappear again,” said Sammie holding Lisa’s hands.

“I won’t Sammie, I promise you that,” said Lisa from her heart.

“Yes Lisa, we have so much to talk about and we haven’t seen you in so long,” said Kim walking next to her.

“Yes Lisa, we have missed you a lot,” added Vanessa.

“And I have missed you girls, you have no clue how much I missed you,” said Lisa as they held each other in a huge group hug.

They talked for a few more minutes, until they finally separated. Lisa talked a little more with Claudia about the lunch that would share the next day and finally Lisa started to walk in Thomas and her son’s direction to go to their hotel. She turned and saw the Admiral’s grave one more time and held her tears. Even when she finally left she had mixed emotions, she was so sad because of the Admiral’s death but also so happy to see her friends again. She also had a confusing feeling about how Rick had welcomed her, as if he had waited for her all these years. As if he was dying to see her again, when truly he was the last person that she was expecting to see. In fact, she hadn’t even thought about him on her way back to Macross, and his reaction has truly surprised her.

Lisa woke up early in the morning, but Thomas wasn’t by her side. She got out of bed and went to her son’s crib next to her bed. Alex was awake and looking at his mobile.

“Hi sweetie,” said Lisa and took the baby in her arms. The baby smiled at her.

“Good morning,” said Thomas entering the room with a tray of breakfast.

“Hi,” said Lisa and she got closer to him with the baby still in her arms and kissed him.

“Are you feeling better?” asked Thomas with concern.

“Yes I’m fine,” she said and gave him a smile.

“You don’t need to pretend with me you know,” he said and caressed her cheek with the tip of his fingers.

“I know,” said Lisa and placing Alex back in his crib, she sat on the bed next to Thomas, “it’s just that I have such a mess in my head right now. I mean I’m sad and happy at the same time and I feel so guilty for feeling happy right now,” said Lisa and Thomas held her.

“You finally got to see your friends, it’s natural that you are happy Liz,” said Thomas.

“I guess so,” said Lisa after a few moments.

“You told me that he was like a father for you.”

“Yes he was,” said Lisa trying to not feel sad again.

“Then he will not want you to be sad, he would like you to be happy for being with your friends again,” he said and smiled at her.

“Yes, I know he would,” said Lisa.

“Now give me a smile,” he said cheerfully. Lisa looked at him and smiled sweetly and then they hugged.

“What are you going to do today while I have lunch with Claudia?” asked Lisa.

“I will take Alex to the zoo.”

“Isn’t that a little dangerous?” asked Lisa a little concerned.

“Liz,” he looked at her with a funny look, “the animals are behind bars and I promise you that I’ll pay attention to every attempt of attack that any animal can do.”

“Very funny Thomas, very funny,” said Lisa.

“You worry too much.”

“I’m his mom, it’s my duty to worry about him.”

“And you are the most gorgeous mom in the world,” said Thomas and kissed her.

“I better get in the shower, it’s very late,” said Lisa and started to walk to the bathroom while Thomas grabbed Alex.

“I think someone here needs a change of diaper,” he said and took Alex in his arms.

Lisa left her room and went to the restaurant section of the hotel were she would meet Claudia. Thomas had left the hotel early with Alex to go to the zoo.

Lisa entered the restaurant and found Claudia entering at the same time.

“Claudia!” said Lisa and started to walk in her direction.

“Lisa!” said Claudia with a smile, and when they met they hugged each other.

“You look great in your Admiral’s uniform,” said Lisa smiling and looking at Claudia who was wearing the traditional Admiral’s uniform with a black jacket and white skirt but the turtle neck and lines of her jacket had the same green of her old uniform.

“Thanks,” said Claudia and then she looked at Lisa, “hey and you don’t look bad at all, you look like a magazine model,” said Claudia jokingly. Lisa had her hair free and was wearing black pants, a black sweater and a Chanel jacket that was black and white.

“Claudia,” said Lisa a little ashamed.

“It’s true, it seems that life away from Macross has treated you really well.”

“Yeah it has,” said Lisa with a smile.

They went to a table and ordered lunch. When the waiter came back with both lunches they started to talk again about Lisa’s absence.

“Now I want to know all the details about these lost six years,” said Claudia.

“Well, there are so many things to tell, I don’t know where to begin.”

“How about from the beginning?” asked Claudia.

“I guess so,” said Lisa and made a pause, “well after I left Macross I drove for a few days with no destination. I thought about going to New York were my family used to have property, but then I decided that it would be better if I went to somewhere where I haven’t been before, to start over again,” said Lisa and started to play with her fork, “I arrived in Yosemite and then I saw a house. It was just like the house that my mom always talked about where she grew up. I saw the house and stopped the car and went to see the house. Call it destiny or luck but the house was for sale and I knew that I had to buy it so I called the number that was on the sign and bought the house.”

“You just bought a house?” asked Claudia with surprise.

“Yeah, it was like I had to do it; it was one of those things that you can’t explain,” said Lisa with a shy smile.

“And then?” asked Claudia after a moment of silence.

“Well, then I made some arrangements on the house and on the stables,” said Lisa with a proud smile.

“Stables?” asked Claudia curiously.

“I raise horses now. You knew that I used to practice horsemanship before I entered the academy, so I’m doing it again.”

“Ok, so you raise horses and have lived in Yosemite all these years.”

“Yes.”

“Now when does Thomas enter the picture?” asked Claudia, getting closer to Lisa.

“Well, Thomas was my neighbor. He lived on the ranch next to mine, and he had a clinic on his property. He is a doctor.”

“That explains why you’re staying in Macross Plaza,” said Claudia jokingly.

“No Claudia. Thomas doesn’t have a paying clinic, his clinic is for free and we are part of Doctors Without Borders.”

“Doctors Without Borders, you two?”

“Well that’s how I met Thomas. I went one day to his clinic because I fell from my horse and my ankle was killing me. Once I was there he was called because of some emergency that involved a hurt Zentraedi, and his nurse- the only one who was expert in Zentraedi- was sick that day, so I offered to help him and since then I have worked with him in his clinic treating hurt Zentraedis.”

“I can’t believe it, I would have never imagine you as a nurse.”

“Well, the turns that life gives, don’t you think?” said Lisa and smiled. “And I also travel with him once a year to some place on the planet where the foundation needs us.”

“Wow Lisa, I’m so surprised.”

“I know. If you have told me when I left Macross six years ago that I’d be working in Doctors Without Borders and raising horses I would have told you that you were crazy.”

“But it’s great, I mean you help a lot of people and you look so happy.”

“Yes, you have no idea of how many people we do help. I thought that when I worked in the RDF I’d seen a lot of things, but being there with the people helping them, it’s awesome, I can’t explain it with words”

“I know, I used to do community service when I was in high school, but this totally different”

“Yes, and especially when you live with them for a while.”

“How long do you stay there?”

“Well, normally six months”

“But that’s a lot of time, what do you do with your horses and Thomas with his clinic?”

“We’ve got people to take care of it.”

“People who take care of it? Is it me or do I get the impression that you two don’t have money troubles?”

“Claudia,” said Lisa and she started to flush.

“Come on Lisa, I know that you have a lot of money because of your parents.”

“Yes, and Thomas is from a wealthy family too,” said Lisa without looking at Claudia.

“But there’s one thing that I won’t forgive you for, that you didn’t invite me to your wedding,” said Claudia, this time with a hurt voice.

“I know, I felt so bad because of it,” said Lisa and looked at the ground, “but everything was so fast, not even Thomas’ parents came.”

“That fast? Was it because of ..” said Claudia looking at Lisa in the eyes.

“No, it wasn’t because I was pregnant! He just proposed one day and at the end of the week we were married. There was no reason to wait, we were living together for a while, especially because of our trips and we were dating for like 2 years when he proposed, so I think it was the obvious move.”

“He seems to be very in love with you.”

“He’s such a good man. We became friends almost as soon as we met. He’s very sweet and I feel so secure when I’m with him.”

“Lisa, I’m so happy for you. When you left Macross I was so worried about you, I was so afraid that you would fall into depression like when you were in the academy.”

“Yeah,” said Lisa thoughtfully, “but I didn’t. Getting away was one of the best things that I could have done. When I left I was so sure that I was destined to be alone for the rest of my life and then one day I fell from my horse and found Thomas. Life truly started again for me when I left.”

“It so sad that you had to leave to find all that,” said Claudia sadly.

“Things happen for a reason Claudia,” said Lisa and then she smiled to Claudia, “and how about you?”

“Me? Well let’s see,” said Claudia paused, “I’ve been fine; working a lot. A few months after you left I got promoted to the rear admiral rank and because we had troubles with SDF-2, we started to build the SDF-3,” said Claudia.

“I heard about it, it’s sad because we worked a lot in the SDF-2.”

“Yes. That’s most of it, I’ve been working and spending time with my brother and his family. I was very close to Admiral Gloval in his last days,” said Claudia and suddenly the atmosphere turned sad.

“I wish..” Lisa was saying but Claudia interrupted her.

“You were in his heart Lisa, you were with him,” they remained in silence for a while.

“What about Max and Miriya?” asked Lisa finally.

“They are fine, little Dana goes to the school now.”

“I can’t believe it, we are getting old!” said Lisa and they both laughed.

“Miriya is in charge of the Vermillion team and Max of the Skull.”

“Max? And what’s Rick doing?” asked Lisa curiously.

“He… he quit the army,” said Claudia softly. Lisa remained silent for a while with a thoughtful face, as if she was trying to understand the situation, then she changed to a relaxed face.

“I guess that that was obvious, he never really liked the army.”

“Well he actually quit because…” Claudia began, but then she remained silent.

“Why?”

“He has a flying circus now,” said Claudia, changing the subject, something that Lisa noticed immediately.

“Minmei asked him to quit the army?” asked Lisa.

“No Lisa, he left the army because he wanted to. He is not with Minmei, they broke up after you left.”

“Really?” asked Lisa with surprise.

“Yes, after you left….. Rick finally discovered that he was in love with you.”

“Claudia, please,” said Lisa in disbelief.

“It’s true Lisa,” said Claudia seriously.

“I would have never imagined that would happen if I left.”

“You left because you wanted him to be happy with Minmei..” Claudia was saying, but Lisa interrupted her.

“No, I didn’t leave because of that, I left because I wanted to be happy again, to start with my life again, not for him to be happy with her. I left because I realized that if I wanted to be happy again then I couldn’t stay close to him; I could never be happy with him,” said Lisa seriously.

“And he couldn’t be happy without you,” said Claudia.

“He feels guilty because I left, that’s all.”

“No Lisa, I’ve been with him all these years, and he is truly affected because you left. He has traveled across the entire world searching for you these past six years.”

“Then I guess that our destiny wasn’t to be together.”

“It seems to be,” said Claudia.

“You know what’s even more weird, that six years ago I would have died to find out that he loved me and now, I ..I just hope that the news that I’m married hasn’t hurt him.”

“I hope so too,” said Claudia.

They talked for a while about the Trio and about what was going on in the RDF and with the malcontents. Finally Claudia excused herself because she had to be in the command center in an hour and Lisa told her that she had to get back to Yosemite the next day. Lisa told her to give her love to the girls and please invite them to go to visit her; that the 4 of them could stay in her house. Lisa told Claudia that she was dying to spend more time with them. Claudia left promising her that she would come with the girls to visit her and that she must stay in contact with them.

Claudia left the command center late that night and was about to get into her car when a voice called her name.

“Claudia,” said a male voice.

“Jesus Christ Rick you almost scared me to death,” said Claudia with a scare still in her voice as she rested against her car with one hand in her chest.

“I’m sorry,” said the dark voice of Rick.

“What are you doing here?” asked Claudia.

“Did you see her?” asked Rick almost before Claudia finished her sentence.

“Yes,” said Claudia with concern; she could see the lost look in Rick’s eyes.

“How is she?”

“She is fine Rick.”

“Is she happy? That guy, he is really her husband?”

“Yes Rick,” said Claudia, sad for Rick.

“Yes what? Yes he is her husband or yes she is happy?”

“To both of them,” said Claudia and Rick looked away from her with his fist tight “Look Rick..”

“Don’t tell me to move on Claudia, I can’t,” said Rick anger.

“Rick, there’s nothing that you can do, she is married now.”

“I don’t care, maybe she is not happy, maybe she doesn’t love him, maybe…” Rick was saying but his voice started to break and Claudia held one of his hands.

“Rick stop doing this to yourself, she has moved on with her life… she is with someone else,” said Claudia, almost with pain because she knew that her words hurt Rick.

“No!” Rick said in denial and released Claudia’s hands, “She can’t Claudia, she can’t,” said Rick tightening his jaw, holding in his sobs.

“Rick,” said Claudia softly.

“Where is she?”

“I won’t tell you, it will only hurt you more.”

“Where is she, please,” begged Rick.

“She will leave Macross tomorrow,” said Claudia.

“To where?”

“Rick, she is married now, she has a son. Rick, please forget it.”

“I can’t Claudia, she is the only thing that keeps me alive. I can’t- now please, where will she go?”

“You will only get hurt if you go after her.”

“It doesn’t matter, I just need to see her.”

“Rick, please.”

“No Claudia, please you have to hear me, I can’t stand it anymore. I can’t stand the fact that she is with someone else. It’s killing me not knowing why she is with him, why she forgot me. It’s killing me,” said Rick and he couldn’t hold the sobs anymore, but he tightened his jaw again so he could continue talking. “Until I have hear her tell me that she has no feelings for me, that she loves him, until then I can’t give up, I can’t, I love her to much to give up with out fighting.”

“Rick,” said Claudia with sadness.

“Please!” begged Rick.

“We are going to go to see her next week, maybe you should come with us,” Claudia said finally.

“A week it’s too much time.”

“Rick, just one week, it will help you to calm down,” said Claudia and looked at him in the eyes.

“Fine, fine, anything, but please promise me that you will take me to her,” said Rick and held Claudia’s hands in desperation.

“I promise,” said Claudia.

“Thanks,” said Rick and released Claudia’s hands.

“Rick …” Claudia was about to say, but he interrupted her.

“Why Claudia? Why? Of all the scenarios that I have imagine I never imagine this one.”

“I don’t know Rick.”

“I love her Claudia, more than anything.”

“I know, I know,” said Claudia as she put one of her hands on Rick’s shoulder.

“If only I could turn back time,” said Rick and his voice started to break again, “If only I had done things different, she wouldn’t have left, she wouldn’t be with other man, If only I had…” Rick finally broke down. Claudia only held him, like she had done in the last few years. She and Rick had become very close, Claudia treating him as Roy’s little brother and the way that things had developed after Lisa’s departure had brought her even closer to him. Once she realized that he was truly in love with Lisa, Rick was for Claudia another brother and she suffered a lot every time she saw him going through a crisis.

Rick arrived home after Claudia took him back to his place. He now lived in a small hotel room, mostly because he traveled all the time with his flying circus. He sat down on his unmade bed and looked at the mini bar. He remained watching it for several minutes until he finally got up from his bed and opened the door. He took out a small bottle of vodka looked at it before going back to his bed.

He still could hear Lisa’s word in his head, “He is Thomas Devreux my husband,” and the pain he had every time that he replayed the scene in his head hadn’t disappeared at all. He looked again at the bottle and then at night table where he had a small photo album. His biggest treasure of all, he opened the album and looked at the pictures.

The first ones were the pictures that Lisa had given him almost 7 years ago now. He touched the photos with his finger tips, as if by doing that he could touch her. Then he opened a new page where there were photos of he and Lisa at Max’s and Miriya’s Christmas party. They were seated together and Dana was with them in the picture. He had imagined so many times that it was their Christmas party and that the baby in his lap was their child. But now she has a child… with someone else. The knot in his throat began to grow and the pain in his heart too. The next was a picture of the entire group, Claudia, the trio, Max, Miriya and Captain Gloval. They had taken that picture for the RDF magazine, and Lisa looked so beautiful in her uniform, so professional standing next to the captain. There were more pictures of her from that same photo session and the last one was a picture of Lisa, looking like a top model, the most beautiful woman on earth, with her gorgeous haute couture dress, for the New years eve party 7 years ago. He looked at the picture and touched it with his fingertip, and as he did that he closed his eyes, trying to remember that night, trying to remember her, but the pain came to his heart again. He had made the biggest mistake of his life that night, he had opened his mouth and had hurt her more than he could ever imagine.

“Stupid!” screamed Rick with his jaw tight and with tears in his eyes. “How could you do that to her?” he said to himself, and closed the photo album violently.

He looked at the bottle again and took it in his hand. He was shaking all over as he opened the bottle. He opened his mouth and was about to give a zip to the bottle when he suddenly stopped. He squeezed the bottle in his hands with anger and threw it to the other corner of the room, breaking it in hundred pieces.

“It won’t work, it has never worked,” he screamed with anger and let himself fall to the floor. With so many emotions in his head and heart he couldn’t do anything else.

Claudia and the girls were in Claudia’s car, the four of them in civilian clothes. Claudia was driving and Vanessa was seated next to her. Kim and Sammie were in the back seat but the two of them had their faces between the two seats.

“Vanessa you are wrong we should have turned to the right back there, not to the left,” said Kim.

“It was to the left Kim,” said Vanessa looking at the map again.

“No it was to the right, look,” said Kim and pointed to something on the map, passing it over the seat.

“I think that the two of you are mistaken, Lisa said clearly that we should take the exit 7b, not 8a,” said Sammie.

“But 8a is faster,” said Kim and Vanessa at the same time.

“According to you. Now I’m sure that we are lost,” said Sammie and now she lay down over Vanessa to see the map, “if we turn here and go back…”

“No, we won’t turn back,” said Vanessa.

“But look,” said Sammie and took the map and then Kim tried to take the map too.

“Give me the map,” said Kim.

“No, give it to me,” said Sammie.

“Stop you two or we are going to crash,” said Claudia seriously.

“Sorry,” said Kim and Sammie and returned the map to Vanessa.

“And I think Sammie is right,” said Claudia and Sammie looked at Kim with a triumphant smile, “we are lost,” added Claudia.

“See, we have to turn..”

“No, this time we will ask for directions,” said Claudia and she exited to a small gas station that was on the outside of Yosemite.

Claudia got out of the car and in that same moment someone from inside the station came out.

“Hi ladies,” said the man.

“Hi, we are kinda lost,” said Claudia.

“Let’s see if I can help you,” said the man and came closer to them.

“We are trying to find the house of Lisa Hayes.”

“There is no Lisa Hayes that lives in the town,” said the man.

“Are you sure? Because she gave us this address,” said Vanessa and came closer to the man with the map.

“Oh, but you got the name wrong, your are searching the house of Mrs. Elizabeth Thorne the wife of doctor Devreux,” said the man and the four girls looked at each other.

“Yes, she is,” said Claudia.

“Well, all you have to do is go straight until the end of the street and then turn to the right. You will see the road to the house pretty clear, it’s the one at the end of the hill,” said the man.

“Thank you so much,” said Claudia and she and the girls got back in the car. They followed the man’s instructions and when they made the turn and saw the house at the end of the hill they were speechless.

“That’s not a house, that’s a mansion,” said Sammie.

“You bet it is,” said Kim.

“Lisa told me that her husband came from a wealthy family, but that’s just being rich,” said Claudia.

“Yes, I can’t wait to see the house form the inside,” said Vanessa.

They entered the property and followed the internal road until the entryway of the house. They parked the car and got out and only a few seconds later a woman appeared in the entrance.

“Good afternoon,” said the woman with British accent, “you must be Lady Elizabeth’s friends,” added the woman when she was closer to them. The girls looked at each other with confusion.

“Yes,” said Vanessa doubtfully.

“Over here please,” said the woman,“oh and don’t worry about the baggage, Samuel will take it to your bedrooms later.”

“Ok thanks,” said Claudia and the girls looked at each other again. Suddenly the sound of hooves could be heard and seconds later a woman riding a black horse was visible. The woman sped up the horse and when she was closer they could distinguish who it was.

Lisa was riding the horse, her long hair free floating in the air. She was wearing a pair of black riding pants, a white turtle neck sweater and a black tight jacket. She stopped the horse a few meters away from the car. She got down from the horse with a jump and started to run towards them.

“Girls!” said Lisa happily and held the four of them, “I’m so happy that you have finally come.”

“And we are so happy to be here,” said Sammie holding Lisa strongly.

“We finally were able to escape from our jobs,” said Vanessa.

“But let’s get in, it’s very cold outside,” said Lisa.

“Yes, I’m freezing,” said Kim.

“Then let’s go in,” said Lisa and everybody went into the house

and to the living room where all the girls ran to the fireplace.

“You house is huge,” said Claudia.

“It’s big but cozy, and l want all of you like to feel as if you were at home.”

“Thanks Lisa,” said the girls.

“The place is gorgeous, the landscapes are amazing,” added Kim after a while.

“Yes they are. It’s very nice, maybe you should drink something warm and we can go out for a tour,” said Lisa.

“That would be awesome,” said Sammie.

“Great. Mmm… you think that you can ride a horse?” asked Lisa with an evil look.

“Yes, please, please!!” said Kim.

“I would love to!” added Vanessa.

“It has been years since the last time that I climbed on a horse,” said Claudia.

“Me too,” said Vanessa.

“Don’t worry, I let you have the quiet horses,” said Lisa smiling.

The girls drank hot chocolate and went to visit the area. When they came back in, Thomas was in the living room by the fireplace playing with Alex.

“Hello,” he said and stood up holding Alex.

“Hi, honey,” said Lisa and came closer to kiss him and then hold Alex.

“Hello Thomas,” said Claudia.

“Hi, it’s a pleasure to have you here,” he said smiling.

“It’s a pleasure to be here,” said Sammie.

Kim got closer to Lisa and started to play with Alex, who smiled at her.

“He is so cute,” said Kim.

“Yes, he is,” said Lisa and smiled at the baby who was moving his arm in the direction of Claudia.

“I think that he wants you to hold him,” said Lisa.

“Hey gorgeous,” said Claudia as she took Alex.

“So, it was hard for you to get to the house?” asked Thomas.

“No it was very easy,” said Kim.

“Good. Constance told me that you went to visit the town,” said Thomas.

“Yes we did, the girls loved it,” said Lisa as she got closer to Thomas, who held her.

“It was so beautiful,” said Vanessa.

“And your ranch is gorgeous too. The small lake that the river forms is gorgeous,” said Vanessa.

“Thanks,” said Thomas and then Alex started to cry.

“Oops, what did I do?” said Claudia, getting closer to Lisa.

“Nothing, it’s just that it’s 7 o’clock and it’s time to go to bed,” said Thomas.

“I’ll take him to bed,” said Lisa and started to walk toward the stairs that led to the second floor of the house.

When she come back the girls were sitting on the couch and Thomas was standing next to the fireplace talking to them.

“No way!” said Kim between laughs.

“I swear to God it’s true,” said Thomas seriously and all the girls began to laugh again,

“What are you laughing at?” asked Lisa.

“I was just telling them the incident that you had with the camels in Egypt,” said Thomas with a smile.

“Yeah, but then who was the one who fell from one?” asked Lisa smiling.

“Well that was a little accident,” said Thomas while Lisa walked in his direction. When she was close enough she rested her head on his shoulder and he put an arm in her waist.

“We were seeing all the pictures that you have of all the places that you have been,” said Sammie.

“You have been in so many places,” said Vanessa.

“We travel a lot,” said Lisa.

“And I must say that you look very good with a veil,” said Claudia looking at the picture of Lisa where she was on a camel wearing the typical Middle Eastern woman’s clothing. Thomas was next to her on a camel smiling with a few other people where around them.

“That was in Egypt.”

“And this with the safari clothes?” asked Kim, looking at picture where Lisa and Thomas where holding each other smiling, surrounded with native children, one of them holding Lisa’s hand and other on the shoulders of Thomas.

“That was in South Africa,” said Thomas and he pointed to another picture, “the lions there are real.”

“I can’t believe it,” said Sammie looking at the picture.

“You look like you were freezing in this one,” said Claudia with a picture of Lisa in white snow cloths and Thomas next to her in a black outfit throwing her a snow ball, while Lisa and the kids where throwing snow balls at him.

“That was in the Antarctica, we almost froze to death there,” said Lisa.

“I must agree with you, I have never felt so cold,” said Thomas.

“And this?” Vanessa asked.

“That was in the Amazon’s and there we almost died of heat stroke. It was so bloody hot there,” said Thomas.

“Yes and the rain was horrible, it rains there all the time and the temperature is like 98º,” said Lisa.

“Well, you look like you were dying from the heat,” said Vanessa looking again at the picture, of Lisa with short kaki pant and blouse with no sleeves, her hair tight in a pony tail and a small monkey in her right shoulder while two kids where holding her hands. Thomas was next to her in the same outfit, but with an stethoscope on his neck and two kids hanging from his back laughing and others were all around them.

“Believe me, we were,” said Lisa.

“But tell us, how was this, how is it go to help these people?” asked Vanessa.

They remained talking about what Lisa and Thomas did at the beginning and then they started to talk about what the girls do in the RDF, and about the old times when they worked together. Finally, they went to bed late in the night.

Lisa woke up and went to the dinner room. She waited for the girls to show up, but by 10.00 a.m. the only one that appeared was Claudia.

“Good morning,” said Lisa.

“Good morning,” answered Claudia smiling.

“And the girls?”

“They are sleeping, and I don’t think that they leave bed anytime soon,” said Claudia smiling.

“Well then, we should let them rest,” said Lisa and they had breakfast together and then left to the property’s gardens.

“You truly have been an adventurer in these years.”

“Not an adventurer, but I have had some adventures.”

“So, what are you going to do now that you have Alex? Are you going to keep working with Doctors Without Borders?”

“I hope so, but I don’t think I’ll make the long travels. Maybe just a week trip, but I know that Thomas can’t leave the foundation.”

“I could tell by the way he talked last night about what he does that he loves his job.”

“Yes, he loves it very much,” said Lisa with a smile.

“My Lady, Alexander has woken up,” said the same old woman that had welcomed Claudia and the girls.

“Thanks Constance,” said Lisa, “would you like to join me to bathe Alex?” asked Lisa.

“Sure, I would love to,” said Claudia and both women left the table and went to the baby’s bedroom.

“Oh my God, if I thought that your house was amazing, Alex’s room is beyond all that. It’s an entire toy store!!” said Claudia looking in surprise at the bedroom.

“It’s not!” said Lisa a little ashamed; she knew that part of Claudia’s observation was true.

“Yes it is, it has all the toys that I have ever heard Bowie talk about, and all the teddy bears! Wow!” said Claudia and took a gigantic teddy bear in her arms.

“Well, Thomas and I didn’t buy all of this. Most of what is here are presents from Thomas’ parents.”

“Yeah right, if I hadn’t known you Lisa Hayes, I would have bought into that lie, but I know you well enough to know that anything that your kids ever ask for you will get him. You spoil him until his last tinny wish,” said Claudia joking.

“Maybe,” said Lisa with a smile and guilty eyes.

“I know you so well Lisa,” said Claudia and she laughed, as Lisa held Alex and took him into the bathroom.

“What’s this?” asked Claudia, looking at a small frame that was over Alex’s crib. It was a diploma with the meaning of the Devreaux last name.

“I seems to be that Thomas’ family is more than just a wealthy British family,” said Claudia after she finished reading the diploma.

“They are just normal people,” said Lisa smiling to Alex, who was splashing water all over the bathroom.

“Really? So your housekeeper called you Lady Elizabeth just for pleasure?” asked Claudia, resting her weight against the frame of the bathroom door.

“Well she …”

“Oh come on Lisa spell it out, he is noble isn’t he?”

“Ok fine, he is,” said Lisa rolling her eyes.

“I knew it, from the first minute I saw him,” said Claudia as she got closer to Lisa, “So tell me what is his real name.”

“His name is Thomas,” said Lisa trying to look serious. “Fine, fine, it is Lord Thomas Devreaux the third, Count of Wessex.”

“And now you are 100% noble!!!”

“Part of me.”

“Oh Lisa come on, you have always been blue blood, the fact that you don’t want people to know it is a different thing.”

“Maybe, it’s just that I don’t think that it’s an important part of my life.”

“Besides, if people would have known that you - besides being the first of your - were also from the nobility you would have never stopped people from teasing you.”

“Like you are now, aren’t you?” said Lisa, acting as if she were upset.

“And you love it,” said Claudia and winked at Lisa.

“And talking about that, the Great Grandfather of my mom fought in the Queen’s Army with Thomas, Great Grandfather. “

“Really? You could have told that you two were destined to be together.”

“So true, it’s strange how things happen,” said Lisa smiling and leaving Alex on the small table next to the bathtub in a towel.

“I also imagine that Alex’s name isn’t just Alex right?” said Claudia, handing Lisa Alex’s clothes.

Lisa looked at her and rolled her eyes. “What do you think Alex, should we tell Aunt Claudia your full name?” said Lisa tickling the baby, making him laugh.

“Should we?” asked Lisa again smiling to the baby, “I think he said yes,” said Lisa, and looked at Claudia now, “His full name is Alexander Devreux the Fourth, in honor of Thomas’ Grandfather.”

“Wait until the girls find out, they are going to envy you so much,” said Claudia.

“Very funny Claudia,” said Lisa and the two of them continued to dress Alex. When they got down to the living room, the girls had already woken up, so the five of them went to visit Thomas’ clinic and to walk around Lisa’s house.

Just when they had finished dinner, Lisa got up from the table and excused herself.

“Sorry girls, but I have to leave. Tonight a new mare for my stud farm will arrive from England.”

“Honey are you sure that you don’t want me to go with you?” asked Thomas standing next to her.

“No, it’s ok. I can deal with that alone, plus you worked all day in the clinic,” said Lisa smiling and kissing Thomas on the cheek.

“We can go with you,” said Sammie.

“Oh don’t worry. It’s freezing outside and this probably will take me a while. The mare will be very nervous about the trip and all.”

“Plus the fact that it is a very temperamental mare,” added Thomas.

“Well it has to be to handle Ares, the black horse that I always ride. Last summer when we were on Thomas’ parent’s estate, I saw this mare and I knew immediately that is was the perfect match for Ares and Thomas mom was kind enough to give her to me,” said Lisa.

“My poor mom didn’t know what to do with that mare. It was a very difficult specimen, but Lisa has this quality of overcoming their will. Ares for example, the only one he obeys is Liz,” said Thomas.

“Well, she has always had the ability of to make stubborn people listen to her,” said Claudia.

“Very funny,” said Lisa and put on a huge jacket.

“Be careful ok, any thing you need, you just let me know,” said Thomas when he was with Lisa by the door.

“Yes, Father,” said Lisa joking, “and you girls, don’t wait up for me, this could take a while, but I promise that I will come back as soon as I can.”

“Ok, we will be waiting for you for a while, but don’t take too long, ok,” said Kim.

“I’ll try,” said Lisa as she was leaving the house.

Rick finally landed his plane at the airfield. It was really late and he had a lot of trouble with his plane, something that usually did not happen, but most of it was because his mind was somewhere else other than his plane.

The air was freezing outside his plane, but that wasn’t what worried him. He was still trying to think about what he would do when he found Lisa, what would he say to her. He dreamed of how she would look, of how she would react when he finally said all the things that he want to say to her.

“Yes Dean, I will call you when I arrive home. Thank you so much for opening the airfield so late,” said a woman’s voice coming from the airfield.

“You know that for you that never is problem Mrs. Devreaux. If there’s something that I can do to help you I will, but we were waiting for another plane tonight too,” said the old man’s voice.

“Anyway, you are so nice Dean.”

“By the way, that mare that you bought is gorgeous.”

“Isn’t she? I saw her and I loved her.”

“I think she is the perfect match for Ares.”

“You just read my mind Dean, Well, I have to go. It’s late and you have work to do, I think that the other plane already landed” said Lisa, looking at the airfield.

“It’s seems to be,” said the old man.

“Lisa?” said male voice near the plane that had already landed.

“Yes?” said Lisa, confused when she heard someone calling her name. She couldn’t distinguish who it was because everything near the plane was dark.

“Lisa, it’s me Rick,” said the male voice coming to the light letting Lisa see a thin Rick in a pilot suit with a white scarf around his neck. His hair was more unruly than ever and he had a beard that made him look even thinner and older.

“Rick?” said Lisa in disbelief when she finally saw him in the full light.

“Yes,” said Rick a shy voice.

“What are you doing here?” asked Lisa with curiosity.

“I need to talk with you.”

“With me?”

“Can we talk? Please.”

“I guess so. Tomorrow we can have lunch with the girls. Claudia and the girls are here.”

“Not tomorrow. Now.”

“Now?” asked Lisa, feeling a little uncomfortable.

“Please.”

“But they are waiting for me at my house.”

“Please Lisa, it won’t take too much time,” said Rick pleadingly.

“Rick, it’s really late. I truly think it will be better if we talk tomo..”

“Please Lisa. I swear to you it won’t take long. Please.” said Rick and came closer to her.

“I……

To be continued…..

Author’s note: finally I decided to upload this chapter, it took a while, but I hope you like it, so stay tune for the next chapter and I’ll be waiting for your comments on Jo_anderson19ATyahoo.com

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes