fanfic_name = Dreams don't always come true
chapter = 5
author = Jo_anderson
Rating = AP15
Type = Angst
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 appear that didn’t appear in Robotech.
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 need the angst, what can I say, I love angst.
To: Especially to Peter, 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..Pleaseeeee
Dreams Don’t Always Come True
Chapter Five
“Everything Happens for a reason”
The sad aura that lay around the black coffin was more penetrating than the cold wind of winter, and the pain of the people that was there was as pure as the white snow that covered the floor. But all of that was focused on only one person, Lisa Hayes.
Lisa was there, standing in the cold, dressed all in black, with a serious look on her face, but her eyes reflect all the sadness that lays in her heart, all the pain. Around her were Claudia, dressed in her full military uniform, and so were the girls. Max and Miriya were there also.
Lisa took a step forward with a white rose in her hand. She bent in front of the coffin and slowly put the flower on it. All the strength that she had promised to herself that she would show there, the promise that she had made to herself that she would not break there because of him, she had to be strong for him, wasn’t enough. The pain that she felt in her heart, the guilt, was much more stronger than her own will, and she started to cry silently, her tears running across her cheeks.
He came closer to her, dressed in black also, and gently put a hand on her shoulder, as she slowly turned in his direction and reached for his protection. He held her with his free hand and, with the other, he put a white rose on the coffin too, and then held her again protectively, the pain that she was feeling; he could feel it too.
More people started to put flowers on the coffin too, one of the last people there to do it was Claudia, and, like Lisa she couldn’t avoid the tears when she said her last goodbye to him.
Since she had heard the news, she couldn’t avoid the feeling of guilt. She knew that she might have been able to avoid this, to prevent this from happening, but she had done nothing. But she never thought that things would turn this direction, that the end of the situation would be so dramatic, so painful. Then she turned her eyes in Lisa’s direction and she knew by looking at her how devastated she was, she has been in that place once, when Roy has died, only with the difference that this was the second time that Lisa lost someone that she has loved.
When the funeral finally end the girls finally decided to get closer to Lisa, who was there with her family
“Lisa,” said Claudia softly and Lisa turned in her direction, still holding on to him.
“Claudia,” said Lisa with a sad smile, “girls.”
“Mister Devreaux the car is ready,” said a man in a British accent
“We will be right there,” he said and looked at Lisa. “I’ll wait for you in the car Liz,” he added, and softly removed his arm from Lisa and start to walk into the direction of the car.
“Thanks,” said Lisa and then look at Claudia’s direction again and start to walk in her direction.
Claudia get closer to her and when they where close enough she just hug Lisa.
“I’m so sorry Lisa,” was all that Claudia could say before tears started to fall down her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
Lisa just hold into Claudia’s hug and let her tears start to fall to, the girls stood next to them holding their tears until they couldn’t do it any more and get closer to Lisa and hug her too. They remain hold to each other for while until Lisa separate a little bit from them.
“Thanks for coming, girls,” said Lisa softly.
“What do you expect, of course we will be here… with you,” said Vanessa softly.
“You are our family, don’t ever forget that,” Kim said.
“And he was our family too,” Sammie said.
“I know,” Lisa said, and smiled. Then she looked at the car, and saw him waiting for here patiently, “Girls I have to go home, why don’t we meet there?”
“Are you sure?” asked Sammie.
“We will love to have you there girls, you know that,” answered Lisa and, hugging each girl, started to walk in the direction of the black limo, and disappeared from their sights when the driver closed the door behind her.
Lisa was seated at the edge of her bed, looking to the sky across the window of her bedroom. Her mind travelled through many memories that mixed feelings in her heart. Sadness because he was gone, happiness because of the good moments that they shared, and guilt…
The door was open, and Claudia entered the room.
“Hi,” said Claudia softly.
“Hi,” Lisa answered, and smiled at her. “Where are the girls?”
“Downstairs, checking on Alex with your brother in law,” said Claudia and rolled her eyes and then smile making Lisa smile too.
“How do you feel?” Claudia asked finally.
“I’m fine,” said Lisa avoiding Claudia’s gaze.
“Lisa..,”
“I have to be fine Claudia, I can’t break down, I just can’t. It’s not right.”
“Lisa honey…it’s ok if you break, you are human and it’s the most natural thing.”
“No, it’s not ok, I have to take care of Alex and I can’t break right now,” Lisa said, her voice starting to break. “I have to be strong for him, I cant betrayed him like that, I’m the only thing he has, so I can’t.” said Lisa and made a pause to breath
“But you can’t live like this honey, you need to cry for him,” Claudia said, putting her arm around Lisa’s shoulder. “Lisa I know what I’m saying,” said Claudia with tears in her eyes.
“It’s just that the pain…he is gone… he …it’s so strong that if I let the pain …if I start to cry then I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to stop, and I can’t do that to him,” said Lisa. The tears started to fill her eyes, but she fought against them.
“Lisa I’m here, I won’t leave you alone,” said Claudia and held Lisa tightly.
“I’m here, my friend,” said Claudia as tears started to fall down her face.
“I should have stopped him. I shouldn’t have let him get on that plane…I can’t stop thinking it’s my fault.”
“It’s not your fault Lisa and you know that. If is anybody’s fault, then it’s mine. I knew
how dangerous it could be, and I said nothing.”
“No it’s not, Claudia, it’s not your fault… I also knew how dangerous it was and did nothing, but I never thought that something will happen to him, I never thought that thing would end up like this, not even after we talked about it.”
“You had no way to know it, Lisa.”
“Yes I did. I knew him, I knew how he would react, I knew how things were and how impulsive he was. I was a flight operator damn it! I should have warned him not to fly in those conditions,” Lisa said, her tears mixed with the anger that she felt.
“Lisa…” said Claudia with pain and rubbed Lisa’s back tenderly.
“And you know what’s hurt me the most? That I never got the chance to tell him how important he was for me, to tell him that I do love him, after all, I do love him,” said Lisa, and that time she just couldn’t fight the pain any more; it hurt her too much.
“I love him and we were supposed to spend the rest of our life together, we will give Alex a sister. And now he’s gone, and I’m angry. I’m angry at him because he decided to go to the middle of the Malcontents conflict to help them and leave me here alone with our child, and I’m angry with my self because the last time that I saw him I was thinking about Rick… Rick, for Christ’s sake! It was the last time that I kissed Thomas and I was thinking how different things would have been if I had stayed in Macross. How could I have thought of something like that? How,” Lisa asked, stretching her teeth in anger.
“And I hate my self for that. Thomas loved me so much, and that’s how I paid him, with thinking about what if? A what if with someone that never will be even close to the kind of man that Thomas was,” said Lisa and she gave a pause and then she put her right hand over her mouth to cover her surprised and sad expression.
“What if he died thinking that I didn’t love him as much as he did? What if he never was aware of how much he help me, he save me, he was…he was my husband, my mate.” Lisa said the last words between sobs and then all that she could do was cry over Claudia’s shoulder.
“Lisa, of course he knew how much you love him, all he had to do was to look in your eyes, he knew Lisa, he knew,” said Claudia while she caressed Lisa’s hair with tenderness until Lisa stopped crying. After a while, Claudia convinced her to fall asleep, to rest, that she and the girls would take care of Alex.
Lisa woke up early in the morning and immediately she went to Alex’s bedroom. She enters the room slowly and trying to make no noise, but when she opened the door the first thing she saw was her brother in law.
“Hi Michael,” said Lisa slowly and walk next to him.
“Hi Liz,” said Michael and turn into Lisa’s direction holding Alex who was playing with a teddy bear. “How do you feel?”
“Fine I guess and you?” Lisa asked, sitting next to him. When she did that he left Alex in her arms carefully.
“Fine I guess,” he said, and they remained in silence looking at Alex.
“I met your friends yesterday,” said Michael finally.
“They came to check on me and Alex,” said Lisa.
“Yes, they are very nice people.”
“Yes they are.”
“Liz, I was thinking that maybe you should come with us to spend some time in England,” Michael said, putting an arm around Lisa softly. “Mom and I don’t want you and Alex to have to go through this alone.”
“Thank you so much Michael,” said Lisa with a sweet smile. “You have no idea of how much that means to me, but I don’t want to leave the Clinic alone you know how much Thomas loves …” Lisa was saying, but her voice started to fade and tears filled her eyes.
“I know Lisa, I know. And I know that you want to keep my brother’s work alive, but you need sometime to heal Lisa everything was so sudden so …”
“So unfair,” Lisa asked.
“Yes, and everything here remains me the reason of why he died, and it’s not fair, he didn’t deserve that,” Michael said, and he tightened his fist in anger and sadness.
“It is unfair, Michael, but that’s the reason why I can’t go away. Thomas gave his life because he believed that he can help others, because he wanted for people that were desperate and needed help to have someone to go to, some place to go to,” said Lisa and left Alex in his crib.
“That’s why I’m going to stay here and keep the clinic open, because I know that he would want that,” Lisa said, and tears began to fall through her face. “Because I don’t want that his death was in vain, and he deserves to be remembered and I can’t think in a better way to honoured his memory.”
“You are right Liz, he would have loved that,” said Michael and cleaned his own tears.
“Then, you can count on me for anything, you know that you and Alex are one of the most important things to me, to the entire family.”
“I know, and you to us.”
“Then it’s decided, I’m going to stay here for while to help you with the clinic.”
“That would be great,” Lisa said with a smile.
“Did you hear that Alex? Uncle Thomas is going to stay,” said Lisa to Alex who was watching them from his crib.
“ Yes, did you hear that big boy?. I’m going to stay and we are going to check out some girls”
“Hey don’t put ideas on his mind, he is to little to be thinking about girls,” Lisa joked.
“He is a Devreaux, he is never to little to be thinking about girls,” said Michael with an evil grin.
“And by the way have you checked out your mom’s friends,” Michael asked while he picked up Alex. The baby was smiling at him wildly.
“Michael,” Lisa said and rolled her eyes. “You don’t change, don’t you?”
“I have tried, I must add in my defence,” Michael said, and started to play with Alex.
A year later
Lisa got down from her Jeep, covered in a huge scarf. The winter had started and the snow had just begun to fall, so she hurried up to enter the house.
“Constance, I’m home,” said Lisa removing her coat.
“My lady someone has came to visit you,” the housemaid said, walking towards Lisa’s direction.
“Really, and who is it?” said Lisa and start to walk into the living room direction
“His name is Rick Hunter, and he is in the living room waiting for you,” Constance said, but Lisa had already entered the living room and saw Rick there, seated on the floor playing with Alex and an aeroplane toy. Rick was waving the plane in the air and making the noises of motors while Alex tried to catch it and smile.
“Rick,” Lisa said, surprised to see him there. Rick immediately turned in her direction and back to Alex. He carefully gave him the plane and Alex started waving it in the air just like Rick had done.
“Hi Lisa,” Rick said, standing up and started to walk in her direction.
“Hi,” Lisa said, still surprised, and then asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I know that you probably won’t believe it, but I just found out of what happened with your husband and I…” Rick said, and remained in silence. “I just wanted to know how you were.”
“I’m fine thanks,” Lisa said, starting to walk in Alex’s direction and pick him in her arms “And you, How are you,” Lisa asked.
“I’m fine, I just come back from a tour with my circus,” Rick said.
“And how was it?”
“Great, there are pretty good pilots out there, and with the new technology, now you can do things that before you could only imagine.”
“I know, it’s impressive how much things have changed,” Lisa said, and got closer to the fire. “Do you want something?”
“No thanks, I just came to see how you were,” Rick said and smile at her.
“Thank you for your concern,” said Lisa and an uncomfortable silence filled the air.
“I wish I had known earlier, but after the last time I saw you, I kind of disappeared, and then I was just too busy with the circus. And when I talked to Claudia we didn’t mention you until a couple of days ago, when I meet with her in Macross and she told me. I’m really sorry Lisa, he looked like a good man.”
“He was a good man, and don’t worry for not having come earlier, the intention is all that matters.”
“So what are you doing now,” Rick asked.
“I’m in charge of Thomas clinic, working for Doctors Without Borders,” Lisa said with a smile.
“That’s great, you were always good at helping people.”
“Thanks,” Lisa said, “I do what I can.”
“Any help now with all this malcontents situation and this tension in the RDF is welcome.”
“Yes, who would have thought that after Khyron’s death there would be so many internal problems?”
“Yes, it’s like some sort of civil war.”
“It remains me the...war.”
“Yes,” Rick said.
“So how long are you staying here?”
“Not very, I came with my circus we are going to do a show tomorrow.”
“That’s great.”
“Yes, I also came to give you this,” Rick said, and gave her an envelope.
“What is this,” Lisa asked with curiosity.
“Tickets for the show, I thought that maybe you would like to see it.”
“Sure I would like to.”
“Great, then I hope to see you tomorrow in the airfield and maybe you can take this handsome man with you,” Rick said, and took Alex’s hand.
“I’ll see,” said Lisa doubtful.
“Don’t worry it’s perfectly safe, I promise,” Rick said with a smile.
“I’ll think about it,” said Lisa.
“Well, I better go, it’s late and I have to go to check on the weather; if the snow continuous falling then I’ll have to cancel the show.”
“Then, I hope it stops,” Lisa said
“Thanks. Good night, and I hope to see you there,” Rick said, and started to walk towards the exit.
Rick got down from his plane. The flight had been awesome; he hadn’t felt so comfortable in the air for a long time. Maybe, in way, that was because he had the hope that she would be there, watching him fly.
While he was flying, he couldn’t stop thinking of her, of how beautiful, but at the same time, sad she looked yesterday. He had found out that her husband had died a couple of months ago, but he had waited to see her; he didn’t want to push her, he didn’t want it to fill his heart with false expectations, so he once more has waited for it. But now he felt it was the time to fight for her again, but this time he would do it slowly, step by step, first he will have to gain her confidence again, he will be just as patient as she had been with him in Macross.
When Rick finally could walk away from the group of girls and boys that were impressed by his flight, he started to search for Lisa in the crowd. Finally, he saw her, seated a couple of meters away from the airfield with her son in her arms, and he couldn’t avoid a smile.
“So you came with him,” Rick said, when he finally was by her side.
“Yes I did,” Lisa said, with Alex in her arms, who was playing with her hair.
“So what did you think of the show?”
“Iit was pretty good, risky but great. The stunts that you made were very precise; I mean, an inch to the right and we would be picking the parts of the Mockingbird off the floor,” Lisa said, her last words sounding like a reproach.
“You sound like a Flight operator,” Rick said, amused, which makes Lisa raise an eyebrow.
“You can take the uniform away from the woman but not the flight operator that she has inside,” Lisa said, finally, and they both started to laugh.
Then Alex start to open his arms in the direction of Rick’s plane.
“Plane,” Alex babbled, and point in the direction of Rick’s plane.
“Do you want to check the plane,” Rick asked, and took one of Alex’s hands in his.
“Plane,” Alex babbled again.
“Can I,” Rick asked, looking at Lisa.
“Sure,” Lisa said, after a moment of thinking.
“Come here, big boy,” Rick said. He picked Alex up in his arms and started to walk into the direction of his plane. Once he got there, he carefully got into the cockpit and sat Alex in his lap.
Lisa followed them after a while. She was caught out of guard by Rick’s attitude, even when she knew that he was great with kids. After all, a few times, they both had baby-sat Dana, and on those occasions, she had found that he was great with kids. But she had never imagined that he would be like that with her own son, not after what had happened a few years ago. So, she finally smiled, and followed them to Rick’s plane. She stood on the stairs leading into the plane, watching Rick and Alex play with the Mockingbird’s controls.
A couple of months had passed since Rick had appeared again in Lisa’s life, and she was incredibly surprised by his behavior; after seeing him for the last time, when he was completely desperate for her, to the point that it was a little bit scary. And seeing this new Rick, it was like he had matured all of sudden in this time, and now it was like they were back again in the Reconstruction period, when they were friends, just that, before she fell for him and her silent agony began, before she started to wait for things that would never happen…before her heart was broken.
He had come and gone to visit her during those months. He was great with Alex, and the boy loved to spend time with him. But she was also worried at the same time. As much as she appreciated spending time with Rick, and being able to be friends again, she was worried that he was playing the same role that she played in Macross, and that was the last thing that she wanted, because she didn’t want to break his heart. She didn’t want to give him false hope, because she couldn’t be with him in any other way than friends.
“Hi,” Rick said as he entered Alex’s bedroom, where Lisa was finishing dressing him.
“Hi,” Lisa said with a smile, and then added, “Could you pass me the upper part of his pajamas?”
“Sure,” Rick said, and picked up the sweater that was on the counter and give it to Lisa.
“Hi, big boy,” Rick said, and caressed one of Alex’s cheek, making the kid giggle.
“How was the trip,” Lisa asked.
“Fine, but every time it’s more difficult to move from one place to another; the RDF has a very strict policy about movement.”
“Yes I was talking about that the other day with Claudia.”
“Yeah me too, by the way she said she will come to visit you this weekend.”
“That’s great, it has been a long time since the last time I saw her.”
“And I must add that I was very surprised that Sammie is dating someone.”
“Oh yeah, and they made such a cute couple”
“You know the guy,” Rick asked, both surprised and protective at the same time.
“Of course I do,” said Lisa and grab Alex in her arms. “And I like him very much,” Lisa was saying when Alex moved his arms in Rick’s direction.
“Rick,” Alex said, and moved his arms.
“Hey you,” Rick said, and even without asking for Lisa’s permission he took the kid in his arms. “You want to fly don’t you,” Rick asked with a grin, and Alex just started to laugh. “I can see it in your eyes, I can see the need, the need for speed,” Rick said, and Alex started to laugh and wave his arms.
“Rick,” Lisa said as a reproach, but she loved to see her son so happy.
“Come on mommy,” Rick said with his puppy face. Lisa just looked at him and rolled her eyes.
“He should be sleeping by now, if you start to play with him he will never fall sleep,” Lisa said.
“Just a little bit, I’ll promise you that I will put him to bed,” Rick said, and before Lisa could answer him, he was already playing with Alex across all over the room.
Finally, both Rick and Alex where exhausted and sat on the floor next to the fireplace. Lisa sat in front of Rick and moved Alex next to her. He took one of his plane toys, and started to play with him.
“I’m exhausted,” said Rick trying to catch his breath.
“Really I didn’t notice it,” Lisa said sarcastically. Rick just look at her and then they both started to laugh.
“I can see that he will be pilot, he has it in his blood” said Rick
“Not if I can help it” said Lisa raising and eyebrow “I just got tired to deal with pilots” said Lisa and they laugh again
“Yeah, they can be a pain in the ass,” Rick said, and then covered his mouth. “Sorry, I’ll watch my mouth,” he said before Lisa could even say something. Then he just grabbed Alex’s toy and started to play with it. Alex just followed him, crawling.
“So are you going to stay in town until Claudia comes,” Lisa asked while she ordered some of Alex’s toys that where on the floor.
“I don’t know, maybe,” Rick said with a smile.
“We could have lunch together, we have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes, we do,” said Rick seriously.
“So, she told you,” Lisa said, serious too.
“Yes she did, she told me that she wanted us both reinstated in the RDF.”
“I told her that I can’t. I can’t leave Alex alone, and I can’t leave the clinic,” Lisa said nervously, and started to play with a plane
“Of course,” Rick said, and, after a pause, “I offered myself to become an instructor.”
“Really,” Lisa said, surprised.
“Yes,” Rick said, and left the plane on the ground. “As much as I love my circus, I can’t just be here, arms crossed, not after all I have seen. Since I can’t be reinstated with full obligations after I crashed my VT, the least I can do is teach others.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Lisa said, and smiled at him proudly. “You are a great pilot, and the others pilots always respect you. I think that you can do an awesome job as an instructor.”
“Thanks,” said Rick shyly.
“I mean it,” Lisa said.
“I know,” Rick said, and then he added, without looking at Lisa, “You always seam to have faith in me.”
Lisa just looked at the floor. She felt incredibly uncomfortable by the situation. Even when it was truth that she has always have faith in him, she didn’t felt comfortable by the way that he had said it. Somehow, she felt that this shouldn’t be happening, she didn’t like the fact that she now was feeling that her cheeks were turning red. She couldn’t avoid the feeling of guilt that she was betraying Thomas.
“Lisa,” Rick said suddenly. Surprised at being taking her out of her thoughts, Lisa raised her eyes to look at him and then she saw what has cause Rick surprised words.
Alex was walking towards her, actually towards the plain that she has in her hands. Lisa just froze and a huge smile appeared on her face.
“Oh my god,” was all that Lisa could say, she was just too caught up by the moment; it was Alex’s first step. Her eyes were full of tears, joy tears. “My little boy,” Lisa said, and she moved her arms in Alex’s direction. “Come here come to mama”
Rick just stood up fast and walked in Lisa’s direction so he could see Alex’s face as he took his first step.
“That’s it, one more, just one honey,” Lisa said, as Alex was just one small step away from her. And he did it; he just gave one more step, and was about to fall when Lisa grabbed him in her arms and pulled him closer. “My big boy” said Lisa and kissed the boy and hugged him.
“You are so big, Alex, you are a little man now,” Rick said, grabbing one of Alex’s little hands and just smiling at him.
“You took your first step,” Lisa said, and smiled at Alex, who was laughing.
“Yes he did, and he walks like a big man,” said Rick who was next to Lisa with a smile almost as big as Lisa’s.
“BZZZZ,” was all that Alex said.
“Yeah you want the plane don’t you,” Lisa asked as she continued hugging him.
“He earned the plane, hasn’t he,” Rick asked, and bent down and pick up the plane from the floor.
“Yes he did,” Lisa said, and carefully lifted Alex in the air, making him laugh, and she laugh with him. Rick laughed too, and then he passed the plane to Alex, who started to play.
Lisa put him inside his crib, so he could play peacefully until he started to fall asleep. She sat in rocking chair next to the crib, and Rick sat at the other side of the crib, playing with Alex. When finally Alex released the toy because he was ready to fall asleep, Lisa moved closer to him and tucked in him gently. And then, to her surprise, Rick pulled a small book out of his jacket.
“Once upon a time,” Rick started to read, in the most soft and comforting voice that Lisa had ever heard from him. Rick continue reading until Alex finally fall sleep. Then, he moved his attention from the book to Lisa, who was looking at him with a mixture of tenderness and surprise. He just smiled at him and moved his eyes in the direction of the door.
Lisa nod at him and they walk away from Alex bedroom.
“I can’t believe it he just took his first step,” Rick said, exited.
“Me neither,” Lisa said, still surprised.
“I mean, there he was, crawling, and in one moment... wow I didn’t even see him stand up, and then, then I looked at you, and I saw him,” Rick said, and he was just so exited to finish the sentence. “God his first step,” was all that Rick could say; he couldn’t explain how he felt, it was like something that he has never felt before, he somehow felt so proud, so overwhelmed, he just feel happy
“I know,” Lisa said with a soft voice, almost in a whisper.
Rick look at her and saw that her eyes were full of tears.
“Hey,” Rick said tenderly, and moved closer to her, putting a hand gently on her shoulder.
“I’m fine,” Lisa said, and smiled at him. “It’s just that I’m so ...God I don’t know how to put it in words. He gave his first step,” Lisa said, smiling, and tears ran across her face.
“Yeah,” Rick said, and he softly cleaned her tears with his thumb. “He did,” he said tenderly and looked at her in the eyes.
Lisa rested the weight of her head in his hands just for a moment and looked him in the eyes. They looked at each other just for a second, and that was all that they needed. They smiled at each other as if time has never passed, as if they were back in Macross, and things had turned out the way that they should have been.
And then it was just like if she was sting by a bee, she release her self from Rick’s hand and gave a quick step back
“I think you should go,” Lisa said, suddenly and coldly.
“What,” Rick asked, surprised.
“It’s late, you should go,” Lisa said, and looked away from him.
“Lisa,” Rick said, still surprised and looked for her eyes.
“I’m serious Rick, you should leave,” she said again.
“What is it Lisa? What have I done,” Rick asked, confused.
“It’s not what you have done, it’s what you want,” she said harshly.
“And what is it that I want,” Rick asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Come on Rick you know it.”
“No I don’t.”
“You want something to happen between us, and I’m sorry but that’s not going to happen.”
“Lisa,” Rick was saying, but she interrupted him.
“You know it’s true. You are playing the best friend card. You are doing the exact same thing that I did in Macross,” Lisa said with a mixture of pain and anger.
“And what is the problem if I am doing that?”
“You are losing your time”
“Why?”
“Because nothing will ever happen,” Lisa said coldly.
“Why not, you are not married now,” Rick said, and Lisa looked at him with the most cold eyes that she had ever looked at him, if you could kill with the eyes, Rick would be already dead.
“I’m a widow, I’m still married with Thomas” said Lisa
“Come on Lisa, why are you doing this to you...” said Rick with sorrow “why don’t you give us another chance”
“There was never an us,” Lisa said harshly, and then she looked him in the eyes. “I love Thomas, and I will always will. I told you this before, Rick, and I’m telling you again: I don’t love you any more.”
“That’s not what I saw in your eyes,” Rick said, defiantly.
“I don’t care what you believe that you saw in my eyes, or what you want, Rick. I’m sorry but this will never happen, we will never be together,” Lisa said honestly.
“Why?”
“Because it’s not right”
“What is not right, you and me together, or you with any guy?”
“I don’t have to answer that,” said Lisa and started to walk away from him.
“Lisa,” Rick said, and grabbed her by the arm. “Just give a chance, it’s all that I’m asking you, just gave me the chance to make you happy,” Rick said honestly, looking her in the eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“Lisa, you can’t be alone for the rest of your life. Why don’t you take the chance?”
“Rick, even if I still have feelings for you, I’m not alone anymore. I have Alex, I just can’t be playing around, I can’t be giving opportunities to everyone that comes around, because now it’s not just me and I’m not the only one that can get hurt.”
“I love him, you know that,” Rick said, and looked her in the eyes. “Please don’t tell me that you believe that my love for Alex is pretend.”
“I don’t,” Lisa said honestly.
“Then what stops you,” Rick asked, and got closer to her, tenderly putting one hand on her face and looking her in the eyes. “Why don’t you give me a chance to show you how much I love you?”
Lisa softly took Rick hands in hers and look at him in the eyes. Then she remove his hand for her face.
“I can’t, I’m sorry Rick but there’s nothing else to say. I can’t gave you another chance. I won’t,” Lisa said, and looked away from him, so he wouldn’t see her guilt.
Rick just remained where he was. He tried to understand her motives. He tried to understand her. But all that he could understand in that moment was that he was losing her again, maybe for good.
“Now please leave,” Lisa said softly, looking at the floor.
Rick looked at her with pain. He knew that she still had feelings for him, he was almost sure about that. He had seen it in her eyes. But she still loved Thomas; she still felt that she was betraying him, and until she was ready to let Thomas go, there was nothing that he could do.
“Goodbye Lisa,” Rick said, almost in a whisper. When he walked next to Lisa, he looked at her one more time from the corner of his eyes, and there she was, standing in the middle of the hallway, looking at the ground. She looked so fragile, and all that he wanted to do was to hold her, to protect her, and to let her know that he would not hurt her anymore, and that he was there for here. But she wasn’t ready jet.
It was New Years Eve, and Lisa was looking from the window. She couldn’t believe that another year had already passed. So many things had happened, and even though she would prefer to stay at Devreaux Manor just with Alex looking at the fireworks on the TV seat next to the fireplace, there she was in an evening dress outside Claudia’s house. She could hear the noise of the party that was taking place inside. It had been years since the last time that she had gone to a party, or at least to a big party like the one that was taking place inside Claudia’s big house.
“Mom,” the exited voice of Alex said.
“Yes honey,” Lisa said, and looked at the back seat.
“This is Macross? Have we arrived at Aunt Claudia’s house,” he asked.
“Yes Alex, this is Macross City” Lisa said with a smile, and opened her car door.
Lisa and Alex were finally at the entrance of Claudia’s house, and Lisa couldn’t avoid the nervous feeling that was coming over her. She didn’t like the idea of being back in Macross, but a promise was a promise, and everyone had gone to her place for Christmas, so now it was her turn to be here.
“Mom, Mom look it’s a soldier!” Alex said, surprised when he saw a soldier guarding Claudia’s house.
“I told you that Aunt Claudia is a very important person,” said Lisa with a smile
“Wow,” Alex said, and looked at the soldier again. Lisa just looked at him and took his small hand.
An officer came into Lisa’s direction and, after checking her invitation, let her pass.
“Lisa,” Claudia said from the door.
“Claudia,” Lisa said, and started to walk in her direction.
“Honey, it’s so great to have you here,” Claudia said, and hugged her friend.
“And you, oh my God, Alex you get bigger and bigger everyday” Claudia said, and grabbed Alex in her arms.
“Hi Aunt Claudia” said Alex.
“Come on get inside everyone is waiting for you,” Claudia said and they went into the house.
“What happened to a family party,” Lisa asked when she entered the house.
“Well, I have a huge family,” Claudia said with a smile and wink at her friend.
“Of course you have” Lisa said with a smile
“Lisa,” an exited voice said from the right corner of the house. “Lisa it’s so great that you are here,” Sammie said and she hugged Lisa without notice.
“Sammie,” Lisa said, and hugged her too. “It’s good to see you, too.”
“You are not going to believe what happened on Christmas,” Sammie said, with a smile from ear to ear.
“What? What is it,” Lisa asked, smiling too. All that she got as an answer was Sammie’s hand right in front of her face.
“Oh my God” was all that Lisa could said
“So she is showing up again the rock that it’s causing her a sprain in her grist” Kim said joking
“Kim,” Sammie protested, turning red.
“But how? I mean when,” Lisa asked, confused.
“It was on Christmas morning. We were walking across the lake that’s in the back yard, and all of a sudden, Michael just pulled out the ring, right near a huge tree, with the snow around us, and he just proposed,” Sammie said, smiling.
“I’m just so happy for you,” said Lisa and she gave a huge hug to Sammie
“And you can’t even begin to imagine how happy I am,” Sammie said as she hugged Lisa.
“Yeah well, another one that has enter the blue-blood circle. So, Kim, do you think that we will could still be friend with these two,” Claudia asked, mockingly.
“I don’t know, I mean, we are just common people, I don’t believe that we are at..” Kim was saying when both Lisa and Sammie hit her.
“How can you say that,” Sammie protested.
“I was kidding, I’m just too happy for you” said Kim and she just hug Sammie
“Lisa,” another female voice said from the other side of the room.
“Miriya,” Lisa said, and ran to her encounter.
“How long since the last time I saw you,” Miriya asked, and hugged Lisa so tight that it was difficult for her to breath.
“Air, Mir, air,” was all that Lisa could say so Miriya would notice that she was holding her too tight.
“I’m so sorry Lisa, it’s just that I’m so happy to see you,” Miriya apologized.
“It’s ok I’m happy to see you, too,” Lisa said with a smile.
“And where’s Alex,” Miriya asked.
“Here he is,” Claudia said, still holding him by one of his arms.
“Alex, she is Aunt Miriya. She is a pilot, one of the best pilots ever,” Lisa said with a smile.
“Hey Alex,” Miriya said, and waved to him.
“She has green hair,” Alex said, surprised and everyone started to laugh.
“Hey Lisa,” Max said, getting near the group.
“Max, Hi! Said Lisa and hug him
“It’s great to see you again and hi, young man,” Max said when he looked at Alex.
“He’s Uncle Max. He is a pilot too. He is the best fighter pilot that I know,” Lisa said, and she took Alex in her arms.
“Better than Rick,” Alex asked with curiosity.
“No, not better than Rick,” Max answered with a smile.
“And Dana, where is she,” Lisa asked, avoiding the subject of Rick.
“Over there, playing with Bowie,” Miriya said, and started to wave at Dana, who went running by her mother side.
“Mom, Bowie is bothering me. He said that a girl can’t play with aeroplanes,” Dana protested.
“Of course you can,” Miriya, Claudia, Kim and Sammie all said at the same time, and everybody started to laugh.
“Hi Dana,” Lisa said, surprised to see the young lady that she had turned into.
“Hi,” Dana said, and looked at Lisa.
“Probably you won’t remember me, but I know you since you were a baby,” Lisa said, and bent down on her knees so she could be at the same height as Dana. “And look at you know you are a young lady.”
“You are Captain Lisa Hayes, aren’t you,” Dana asked after looking closely at Lisa’s face for a while.
“Yes I am,” said Lisa with a smile.
“You were the first woman that became an XO on a battle space ship,” Dana said, seriously.
“I want to be like you when I grow up, but I also I want it to be a pilot like my mom. I’ll start officers academy in 4 years from now,” she said confidently.
“Wow, it seems to me that you have all planned out already,” Lisa said, trying to hide her smile.
“She’s like her mom; when something gets into her head, nothing will make her change her mind,” said Max.
“Maximilian,” Miriya said, raising an eyebrow, and he just kissed her on the forehead.
“Vanessa come here,” Kim yelled to the other side of the room. Vanessa just wave to her and start to walk in their direction, followed by a man in uniform.
“Hi Lisa, so great to see you,” Vanessa said, excited when she got there. She tried to hug Lisa but the baby in her arms stopped her from doing it.
“Vanessa, oh my God why did none of you tell me that she had delivered her baby already!” Lisa protested when she saw the baby in Vanessa’s arms.
“Don’t look at us, it wasn’t our fault,” said Sammie.
“I told them not, I wanted it to surprise you,” Vanessa said.
“So what’s her name,” Lisa asked, and got closer to look at the baby.
“She’s Ann,” Vanessa said, and moved the blanket a little bit from the baby’s face so Lisa could look at her.
“Hey Ann,” Lisa said tenderly, and grabbed Alex better, so he could se the baby too.
“Look Alex, she’s Ann, Aunt Vanessa’s daughter. Isn’t she pretty?”
“She’s too small…and pink,” Alex said, looking at the baby, and everyone laugh.
“Congratulations to you, too, Daniel,” said Lisa after leaving Alex in the floor and gave Vanessa’s husband a hug.
“Thanks, Captain,” he said shyly.
“It’s Lisa, Daniel. I left the army years ago,” she said with a smile.
“I’m sorry, I guess it the habit,” he said with a smile, putting an arm around his wife and looking at his daughter that was sleeping peacefully.
“She is the quietest baby that I have ever seen,” Kim said, and got closer to Ann.
“Just like her mother,” Sammie joked. And all of them start to talk; even when Claudia, Kim and Vanessa had spent Christmas with Lisa at her house, it felt like they hadn’t been together in years, they have always so much to talk about.
And without any of them noticing, midnight arrived, and the fire works start to fly in the air from Gloval’s park. Everyone went outside Claudia’s house to watch them, between the hugs and the toast for a better year.
Lisa was holding Alex, who was incredibly surprised by the fireworks, when something caught her attention. It was like some kind of magnetic force just dragged her to look into the opposite direction of the fireworks, to the entrance of the house.
He just smiled at her, when he caught her eyes on him, and she smiled back at him. Rick wasn’t sure if he should go to Claudia’s New years eve party or not. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen Lisa since the last time that she had made it clear that wasn’t a chance for them to be together. They had met each other in meetings, since now they both were civilian assessors of the RDF, and he had gone to visit Alex sometimes when he was near Lisa’s house. Most of the times she wasn’t at home but sometimes they had just run into each other’s ways.
Finally he decided that this should stop; they can’t avoid each other forever, and he just wasn’t going to leave her out of his life. She was very important to him, and even after all the time that had passed, she still was his best friend, the one person in whom he could trust completely, with whom he could be just himself, and he wasn’t going to lose her again.
In the end it didn’t matter to him that she didn’t love him back, he just wanted to be near her, to hold on to the bond that they had. It was so strong that not even the years that had passed, or all the mistakes that he had made, were able to break it, and even when all that they could be were friends that was enough for him, because it was this bond, this friendship, she was what had keep him alive and sane all this time.
Lisa held Alex tight and smile at him every time that a firework exploded. She was enjoying every expression that her little son made with every explosion that tookke place in the sky. So much, that when she felt a tender hand over her shoulder, it took her several seconds to turn to the direction of the person that had put his hand on her shoulder, because she knew who it was.
“Hi,” Lisa said with a shy smile.
“Hi,” he said softly looking at her in the eyes, smiling.
“Happy New year,” Rick added, and bent down to kiss her in the cheek but then he stepped back and just looked at her tenderly.
“Happy New Year” Lisa said to him, looking at him not knowing what to do, if she should hold him or not. So finally she just look at him sweetly and smiled at him.
They look at each other as if there were no body else in the room, until someone caught Rick’s attention.
“Rick,” Alex said, looking at him, when the fireworks stopped.
“Hey there big boy, Happy new year,” Rick said and grabbed Alex in his arms “Did you like the fireworks?”
“Yes, they were awesome,” Alex answered and Rick just smiled.
“Yes they were, and you are lucky that your mom let you stay up to watch them,” Rick said, and smiled to Lisa.
“We made a deal,” Alex said like a big boy.
“Really,” Rick asked with curiosity.
“Yes, I will have to go to bed as soon as the fireworks finish.”
“That sound fair to me,” Rick said.
“And since the fireworks are over, I should take you to bed, don’t you think Alex?” Lisa said.
“Yes, Mom,” Alex said and then looked at Rick. “Goodnight Rick.”
“Goodnight, Alex,” Rick said and left him on the ground.
“Come here, honey,” Lisa said and grabbed Alex’s hand and started to walk away.
After Lisa put Alex to sleep, she walked outside the small nursery that Claudia had pulled together on her house, since Vanessa had come with her baby and Bowie was staying in the house too, so was Lisa and Alex. She closed the door carefully and saw him standing there.
“Finally Alex fell asleep,” he asked.
“Yes, finally,” said Lisa, rolling her eyes.
“Well he is a Devreaux what did you expect,” he said smiling.
“Don’t forget that he is a Hayes too,” Lisa said and they both laughed.
“So how is my favourite sister in law,” he asked while he put an arm around Lisa.
“I’m the only one you have, Michael,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, but either way you are my favourite.”
“I’m fine” she said with a smile “Surprised if I might add.”
“What about?” he said with a surprised face
“You. What happened to the Michael that I knew? What happened with, ‘I’ll be single forever, why deprive the women of the world of having me staying with just one of them when I can be with more?’” Lisa asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, all of this is your fault. You are the one that introduced Sammie to me,” he said with a huge smile.
“You are so dead, man,” Lisa said, and they started to laugh. “You completely fell for her.”
“That’s something that I won’t either confirm or deny,” he said and Lisa just punched him.
“I’m just happy for you,” said Lisa, and hugged him.
“Yeah you have no idea how happy I am” he said and looked her tenderly in the eyes.
“And you, how about you?”
“What about me,” Lisa asked, confused.
“I love Thomas, he was my brother and I know that you love him just as much as he loves you, that’s why I know that he would like that you move on with your life” he said softly
“I know,” said Lisa and avoided his gaze. “But you don’t have to worry, I’m fine the way I am” she said and smiled at him.
“Liz, I know that you think that somehow you will be betraying him if you move on, but you deserve to be happy. Thomas would have wanted it that way,” he said and grabbed one of Lisa’s hands. “You are young and beautiful, and you are one of the most sweetest persons that I have ever met. You don’t deserve to spend the rest of your life alone.”
“I have Alex,” said Lisa.
“That’s not what I mean Liz. I just want you to be happy, and no one, not me, or mom, or anyone, will think that you didn’t love Thomas enough if you move on with your life,” he said and Lisa just held him.
“Thank you, Michael.”
“Hey I love you, you are the one that introduced me to Sammie,” he said with a huge smile.
“I love you too” said Lisa and the she added, “Let’s go where the rest are.”
“Sure,” said Michael, and they walked away.
Lisa walked away from the party; it was late but the party didn’t seam to be near to it’s end, and she need to breath fresh air. So she went to check up on Alex, and then walked outside, into the balcony that was near Alex’s bedroom and just remained there, staring the ruins of the SDF-1 that still could be seen from Claudia’s house. She was caught in thoughts, in memories when suddenly she felt that someone went out to the balcony too, and couldn’t avoid jumping.
“Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you, I didn’t even know that you were here,” said Rick’s surprised voice.
“It’s ok, I was just caught in thoughts,” Lisa said with a smile.
“It’s too crowded in there, I needed the air.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Thank God that Claudia just invited the family,” Rick said with a sarcastic tone of voice.
“Yeah, thank God,” said Lisa and they laughed.
When they stopped laughing, they just remained looking at each other, lost in each other’s eyes. Rick wanted to get closer to her, wanted to hold her tight, and Lisa wanted to run away, scared, not knowing what to do, until finally she turned her gaze apart and fixed it again on the ruins of the SDF-1, and so did Rick. They remained like that for what seemed an eternity.
“Why,” Lisa asked finally.
“Why what,” Rick asked, confused.
“Why do you still love me,” Lisa asked, looking at him straight in the eyes.
Rick remained silent, he was taken off guard by Lisa’s question, and it took him some time to process what she had actually asked him.
“I don’t know, Lisa, all I know is that I love you,” he said and shrugged his shoulders.
“But I don’t get it, why do you still love me after all of this time, after all that has happened?”
“I don’t have an answer for that, Lisa, it’s the same thing that you don’t choose who you fall in love with. You can’t just choose when stop loving someone,” he said and got closer to her. “Or do you have an explanation of why you loved me back then even when you knew that I was infatuated with Minmei?”
“No, I don’t have an explanation for that,” said Lisa honestly.
“Well it’s the same for me,” Rick said and tenderly put one of his hands on Lisa’s face. “All I know is that I can’t forget this,” he said and look at her in the eyes, “this thing that happens when I’m around you, the way that I felt when I’m with you, this need to protect you, to be close to you. Because when I’m with you I feel complete, I feel that this connection that we have, this bond or whatever you want it to call it, it’s what keeps me alive.”
“I know,” Lisa said, and lowered her gaze, avoiding his.
“Then why Lisa? Why you keep running away from me?”
“Because I still have feelings for you, that’s why,” said Lisa, and tried to release herself from his grip.
“Lisa, wait,” he said, and grabbed her tight.
“Rick, I can’t do this. I can’t! I feel like I’m betraying Thomas. I can’t just move on with you.”
“Lisa, I’m not asking you to marry me.”
“I know Rick, it’s just that this not as easy for me as everyone thinks.”
“I know Lisa, you love him. You started a family with him and I do understand that.”
“It’s just that I can’t leave all that behind and start something new with you.”
“Who said that I will ask you to forget him,” Rick said and make her look in his eyes “I love you, completely with Alex, with Thomas, with everything, because all of that has made you who you are now and I love you” he said and caress tenderly her cheek.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Lisa said biting her lower lip.
“Why would you?”
“Because I don’t know if I can gave you what you want.”
“And what is that,” he asked with a sweet smile.
“You want to recover all time lost, you want to start right away, and I don’t know if I can do that.”
“I just want to be with you, nothing more, nothing less,” he said, and made her look at him again.
“You know it won’t be easy.”
“When has it been easy with the two of us,” Rick asked, and they both share an intimate smile.
“It would take time,” Lisa said, still avoiding his gaze.
“I have waited almost ten years just for the chance, I think I can wait more.”
“I…” Lisa was saying, but he shut her up by putting one of his fingers softly on her lips.
“We can go as slow as you want, and I can wait as much as you want. I’ll be here waiting for you, because I love you, I always have and I always will,” he said, and slowly started to get closer to her.
Lisa could feel her heart beat faster and faster, she hadn’t felt her heart beat like that in a long time, it was like if she was alive again, but she was also scared; she wasn’t ready to kiss him, not yet. It wasn’t like she didn’t want it, she had to bit her lips not to kiss him, but she wasn’t ready, there were still too many things in her heart and head. But he was getting closer and closer and she could feel his breath softly on her mouth, and then suddenly he tenderly kissed her on the cheek.
“Don’t ever forget that, Lisa, I love you,” he said after kissing her looking at her in the eyes.
Years later
“There you are,” said the voice of Rick when he found Lisa on the balcony looking at Lake Gloval.
“I needed some air, I’m getting old” she said with a smile.
“You are getting more and more beautiful each year” he said and smiled at her when he was by her side.
“Liar,” she said, looking him in the eyes and smiling.
“It’s true, you are the most gorgeous woman in the entire party,” said Rick and tenderly kiss her. She kissed him back and then rested her head on his chest.
“The view from here is amazing,” Rick said, looking at Lake Gloval.
“Yes, it is.”
“Don’t you feel like it was in another life time when we served on SDF-1?”
“Yes, and at the same time, it’s like it was just yesterday.”
“So many memories, so many things that happened there and here on Macross…” Rick said and remained silent.
“What,” Lisa asked, looking at him.
“I still wish that I could change some things that I did.”
“I don’t. Everything lead us here, and I’m more happy than I could ever imagine,” she said with an honest smile.
“I love you,” he said tenderly.
“I know,” she said with a grin, making him raise an eyebrow. “What?” she asked, kidding.
“What happen with the I love you too,” Rick protested.
“Maybe this will help,” Lisa said and kissed him.
“Mom, Dad come on get inside it’s time to cut the cake” said a male voice
“We will be right there, Alex,” Lisa said, and they both started to walk inside the room. When they got inside, they got close to a group of young people that was near a wedding cake.
“That’s so not true, Kate,” said Alex.
“Oh, come on, Alex, you know I’m better pilot than you. That’s why you started to build planes instead of flying them,” said a young girl with long brown hair.
“All because she flies with the Blue Alphas, now,” said the teasing voice of a young man in a dress uniform.
“And the Flight operator has spoken” tease Alex
“Tell me, little brother, haven’t you ever gotten tired of hearing your own voice,” Kate teased, and then turn in the direction of the woman that was next to her. “Really, Aurora, I don’t know why you are marrying him.”
“Oh, shut up,” Kate’s brother said, and started to mess up her hair.
“Roy stop it, my hair,” she protested, until she punched him and he stopped bothering her.
“Now that she has messy hair, she wont be able to keep harassing the rest of the pilots,” Alex teased.
“Alex,” Kate protested, and hit him too.
“You really think that this is all that it takes to keep Kate and Isabelle away from them?”
“Roy,” Isabelle protested.
“Oh, come on, little cousin, don’t get mad,” Alex said.
“And it’s the truth; you look like you were glued to this guy, what is his name,” Roy asked.
“Bernard or something like that,” Alex answered.
“He’s my friend, you idiot,” Kate said, and hit Alex. “And don’t change the subject, when we are going to have this race in this famous new model of Alpha that you designed?”
“When ever you want, sister,” said Alex.
“Don’t you even think in doing that near my control tower,” said Roy.
“All because he can’t fly,” tease Kate.
“No, because every time you two have a race, I’m the one that has to pick up the pieces,” Roy joked.
“Hey what about me,” Ann asked.
“You are right Ann, the pilots always have this bet between them, and we are the ones that have to take care of them,” said another young man with dark hair.
“That’s true James” said Ann and then turn into Alex’s direction “you always end up in the infirmary because you hit that hard head of yours,” she said and tenderly hit him in the head.
“Oh come on, I always end up in the infirmary to see you,” he said with a grin. “You probably must be to thank for that, other wise we might have never end up getting married.”
“Yeah, right,” Ann said, rolling her eyes, and Alex just held her.
“Did I hear the word race,” Dana asked, getting near them.
“Don’t you even think of signing up for that one Dana, your knee is still healing,” said James.
“Oh come on James, don’t be so serious,” she said and hugged him. “You should be more like your Mom, like Vice Admiral Young.”
“Come on Dana, doctors are supposed to be serious,” said Kate.
“Hey, kid, don’t forget that my wife is a doctor,” said Alex and they all laugh.
“Look who finally arrived,” Roy said in a teasing tone. “Lord Charles Devreaux.”
“Shut up, Hunter, and let me gave you a hug,” the young man said, and gave him a huge hug. “Congratulations” he said to Roy.
“Thanks man, I thought that you wouldn’t be coming.”
“And missing my best friend wedding? No way,” he said and then turn to Aurora. “And to you, Aurora, my most feeling condolences, I truly can’t understand how you get married to him” Charles said, jokingly.
“Charles,” Aurora said, and just hugged him.
“Hey, thank God you are my best friend,” Roy protested, and everybody laugh. “Politician,” he said with sarcasm.
“Dude, don’t forget that your wife now is one of them too,” James said, and everybody laughed again.
“The youngest and most beautiful senator ever,” Roy said with a huge smile, and kissed Aurora’s hand tenderly.
“Oh, come on, get a room,” Isabelle said, teasing.
“And you, little sister, how is the harassing of the pilots going,” Charles teased.
“What’s the problem with you two, haven’t you ever though that they are the ones that harass me,” Isabelle protested.
“If you weren’t so similar to Mom I might believe you that one,” said Charles and everyone started to laugh again.
“Actually, we have our own version of the terrible trio, Kate, Isabelle and Aurora,” said Roy, and Aurora punched him.
“I don’t think that we could ever have a copy,” said Kim’s voice from the back. “Do you, Sammie?”
“Of course not, we are unique,” said Sammie and held her son.
“No question about that,” said Vanessa.
“We never said that, mom,” said James and he held Kim.
“Of course not, you definitely were unique,” said Claudia. “But that doesn’t mean that these three weren’t terrible too,” she added.
“Aunt Claudia” Aurora protested.
“Well, honey, you were more like Vanessa,” Claudia clarified.
“Oh, come on, Aurora, you have your moments too. Which I wont reveal now that you are married to my brother,” Kate teased.
“You better,” said Aurora.
“You know that I can always force her to talk,” Roy said, looking at Aurora and then to Kate.
“Come on Roy, I can tell her some secrets about you, too,” said Kate.
“See, brother, that’s what I told you about fighting with them, you are never going to win,” said Alex.
“That’s very wise advice, son,” Rick said, and put an arm around Alex’s shoulder.
“Rick,” Lisa protested.
“But the truth is that no one will ever win against all of you,” Rick said honestly “Isn’t it, Max?”
“Oh, no, man, you are not going to get me into this,” said Max, who was standing next to Miriya.
“What happened to my brave wing man,” Rick teased.
“Well, Rick, I discovered that there are battles that you just can’t win,” said Max and everyone laughed.
“So what happened to the cake,” Lisa asked.
“Right, the cake. We completely forgot, mom,” Roy said.
“And where’s the photographer,” Aurora asked.
“Over there,” said Kate and started to wave to him.
When the photographer was next to them he put out the camera and said, “Ok let’s start with a picture of the family.”
“We are the family,” everyone said.
“Just the direct family,” the photographer corrected.
“We are the direct family,” everyone repeat and started to laugh.
“But all of you don’t fit in the photo,” the man said.
“How about we take one with Roy, Aurora, Max, Miriya, Kate, Alex and Rick and I first,” Lisa asked.
“Ok, but then we must take a picture of all of us together,” said Roy and took Aurora’s hand.
“Of course, don’t you think that you wont have a picture of me with your wife Hunter” said Charles teasing him
“Ok, so why don’t you two stay in the center,” the photographer said to Roy and Aurora.
“And Alex next to dad, because he has always been his favorite, and mom next to Roy, because we all know that he is her favorite. Seriously, Aurora, if I were you, I’d be jealous” Kate teased.
“And you wherever, because you are everyone favorite,” Roy said, and hugged his sister tight.
“Roy, come on, behave,” she protested, and everyone laughed.
So they moved into position so the picture could be taken. Roy and Aurora were in the center, and next to him was Lisa, who was followed by Kate, and Alex held her. Rick had one arm on Alex’s shoulder. On the other side of the picture was Aurora, followed by Miriya, who was holding Dana, and then it was Max. When the picture was taken, the rest of the gang just jumped into position, and the poor photographer did his best so everyone could appear in the picture.
Rick kissed Lisa softly on the neck while he held her from behind, and whispered in her ear: “Have you ever imagined this?” he asked with a smile.
“All this madness, or that we could be this happy,” she asked, smiling while she looked at her three children teasing each other while the photographer tried to take their picture.
“That we could be this happy,” Rick said.
“Not even in my dreams,” Lisa said and turned to look at him.
“Me, neither,” Rick said, and tenderly caressed Lisa’s face.
“Actually, I was thinking that dreams don’t always came true, but the good thing is that sometimes reality is so much better.” she said and grabbed his hand in hers.
“That’s true,” he said, looking her in the eyes.
“I love you,” Lisa said, smiling.
“I love you,” Rick said, and they kissed.
THE END.
State = Fin/The End
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email = jo_anderson19ATyahoo.com