fanfic_name = OUR DESTINY

chapter = 1

author = KOOL

dedicate = All Rick and Lisa Fans

Rating = AP15

Type = Humor

fanfic = OUR DESTINY

AN: This is my second fan fic. I got this going faster than the first one (Trouble in the Stars). I'm borrowing the characters of Robotech particularly Rick and Lisa plus the supporting casts. This story is another take on the whole Macross Saga, even dating before that. Inspite of ugly pasts, how will Rick and Lisa forge a love between them that will stand the test of time. I'm picturing a more mature Rick Hunter. Do read and review. Thanks a lot to everyone!

Chapter 1 – Uncertain Destiny

"I can't believe you are leaving and choosing your ideals over me!" Lisa shouted in frustration.

He just stood there, clad in full military uniform, the ones they use for special occasions. He looked at her wanting to shed a tear but he held it. He had to stand by his decision – even if it meant leaving the girl he loves – or did he even love her? He was starting to doubt himself.

"I'm sorry Lisa. We already talked about this. I can even remember you agreed to it." Came his cold reply.

"Do you love me?" Lisa replied, as tears were overwhelming her voice.

"I- I do love you Lisa. But I have to do this. I mean, I can't – I've already said it to you a million times. I'm in the military but I can't bear these wars anymore. My inmost being wants something else – something that is beneficial to mankind, not for killing people. I see that the mission to Mars is an opportunity for me…" He replied.

"Karl, I-I'm pregnant…"

Silence.

It was a deafening silence. Lisa decided to break it.

"Now… can't your ideals wait? I need you Karl – we need you. Don't do this to me!" Lisa spoke almost begging even referring to their unborn child.

Karl was spooked. He didn't know what to say. He didn't clearly grasped what he felt. He felt his body become numb as he received the revelation. He never thought things have gotten more complicated.

"I-I'm sorry Lisa… did you say you are pregnant?" Was all he could utter, trying to put as much emotion in what he had to say.

"Yes Karl. I'm delayed, seven weeks now. I checked with the doctor and she confirmed it." Lisa calmly but tensely replied.

"I-I don't know what to say. I mean, I didn't expect…" He said blankly.

"Karl. I need you. You have to stay. We'll have to tell my father." Lisa came near him and put her arms around his neck.

"The admiral… do you think he will –"Karl started to ask with uncertainty but Lisa cut him to what he was to say.

"Yes, he will definitely be upset, but together, my love, we can face him. Let's tell him that we'll get married soon." Lisa excitedly replied, with a hint of suggestion, thinking that she is starting to win him over.

"About the baby, Lisa… do you really want to keep – "Karl spoke and again Lisa cut him.

"Of course I'm going to keep the baby. What kind of question is that Karl?" Lisa raised her voice as she let go of him, just stood in front of him with a quizzical look.

"It's not what I meant. I was just thinking, you're so- no, we're still so young and you might look at this as- "Karl tried to find all the right words to say.

"An obstacle to my dreams? Well, my dream is to live my life forever with you! I love you and I want us to have a family of our own. I will be the best wife for you. Together we will raise up our kids…Isn't that your dream too?" Lisa's voice started to break as tears started to fall again from her eyes.

Lisa continued even though the tears were drowning her.

"I don't consider this as a problem, my love. Yes, my father may get very upset about this but I've never felt so sure and so brave to face him about this. But I need you Karl. I need you to be beside when we face him. I need you to be with me to face this. "Lisa spoke with certainty.

Karl was dumbfounded at what Lisa had to say. He stood there lost in thought. Shocked most probably.

"Karl? Karl, are you with me?" Lisa continued as she sensed that Karl seems not to be taking all the revelations too well.

Lisa again brought her body near Karl and gave him a very tight embrace then kissed him passionately or maybe pleadingly, to make him feel of her need.

Karl responded after a few seconds when he started to feel that somebody was kissing him. After a few moments, Lisa broke the kiss and just hugged him and rested her face on his chest. The wind blew so gently on that cool afternoon in their favorite meeting place, near the lake by their "tree" where they have carved their names encompassed by a big heart.

"Karl, please tell me you'll stay. I need you! I love you! We need you!" Lisa whispered.

"Y-yes, I will. I will stay…" Was all that Karl uttered. His eyes looking beyond, staring into nothingness.

====================================================================

Two weeks later in the lobby of a downtown posh restaurant, Lisa stood anxiously, waiting for what her heart always yearned for – Karl. They both agreed a few days ago that this will be the day that they will tell her father about them, about their plan to get married and of course about the baby. Lisa was even hoping that the latter would help in calming her father down since she was sure he would go ballistic.

Admiral Donald Hayes was a by-the-book military man. He figured in so many wars during the past years and he isn't Admiral Donald Hayes for nothing. He comes from a long line of military heroes. It was in their veins, in their blood. Yes, all of those ancestors were heroes during their time. And even he, as a matter of fact, is a hero of this time. Having fought in the Unification Wars, his name cannot be missed out on so many victorious campaigns of the UN Forces against the Anti-UN group. Being so a military man, he also wanted her only daughter to follow his footsteps which Lisa protested against so hard but unknown to him, when she met Lieutenant Karl Riber, a young graduate of the academy, everything changed. Lisa was now a junior in the military school. She was intrigued by flying so she joined the Air Force under the supervision of the Robotech Academy, of course because Karl was part of that military branch and that's the only way she could get close to him at all times. Admiral Hayes wanted Lisa to join the navy but he did not object, as long as he saw that her girl, her precious girl, became great, just like the lineage they had. And tonight, it was a surprise that his daughter just invited him to dinner. He had to cancel important meetings but it didn't matter. He felt that his daughter had something special about this night. And of course, this was a rare opportunity because ever since she entered military school, they haven't gone out for dinner for a very long time now.

"What's taking him so long?" Lisa sighed as she continually scanned the people entering the restaurant.

"It's unlikely of him. He usually arrives earlier than me when we have a date?"

"I guess he's having butterflies in his stomach since we'll be meeting with dad." She giggled quietly but excitedly.

Lisa and his father arrived at the restaurant just in time when most people would have their dinner. A waitress led them to their table. They ordered for something to drink first and went over the menu to look for the best foods in the house. While his father busied himself looking for something to order, she looked at her watch and then looked at the restaurant door, hoping to see Karl come in. She couldn't wait any longer in her seat and she told her father that she'll just go to the powder room to freshen up. His father just nodded and so she went – not to the powder room but here, where she is standing right now, the restaurant's lobby, to wait for the love of her life, the father of her child that is growing every minute inside of her.

Suddenly, a young officer came inside the lobby, anxiously looking for somebody.

When the officer saw her, he immediately went to her and saluted.

"Ms. Hayes, Sergeant Adamson by order of Lieutenant Riber!" Was the formal greeting of the officer.

Lisa was surprised as a bouquet of wild daisies where handed over to her. She smiled as she accepted the flowers. Those were her favorite.

"What a surprise from the Lieutenant!" She exclaimed.

"Would this be all? Where's the man responsible for this?" She jokingly asked the extremely uncomfortable sergeant who was sweating furiously as is obvious on his forehead.

"No ma'am. He has something else for you!" The sergeant replied as he nervously handed a green envelop to her.

"That would me all Ms. Hayes." The sergeant saluted and made a turn about.

Lisa looked at the green envelope. Her hand that held the envelope was shaking.

"But… where's the lieutenant?" She asked softly but then as the looked up, the sergeant was so fast that she didn't notice he was already walking away from the restaurant.

Curiously but nervously, she opened the envelope. She did it clumsily because she was holding a bouquet of daisies with the other hand. Finally, she was able to pull out the paper inside the envelope and started to read it. Somehow, she had a strange feeling about this. She started reading.

"My Dearest Lisa,

I've done a lot of thinking all these time and I have already made a decision. I have left for Mars. As you are reading this I am already on my way to the red planet. The shuttle left at 0630hrs today.

I don't know how'd you feel about this but I am just being honest with you. I don't know if I'm ready to handle such a responsibility. It's just that everything was perfect in the beginning, our plans and dreams, until your pregnancy. I didn't know what to think or do. I guess going away is my only resolve. It seems I'm running away from you- I'm not ready to become a father yet, and I fear I might just hurt you, seeing I'm indifferent though I'm with you. There's a lot to say and explain but I might just end up hurting you more.

It's not that I don't want our child Lisa, it's just me. I am not yet ready for this. I don't know if you would be able to forgive me.

I love you!

Karl"

Lisa felt her legs buckle and saw everything around her go black. After what seemed an eternity, she heard a voice calling.

"Lisa, can you hear me? Lisa, darling!" She heard a voice.

"Karl, you came back? You came back for me?" Lisa replied groggily trying to

figure out where the voice came from and if it was really Karl.

"Lisa, it's me…" Admiral Hayes softly spoke.

Suddenly, a gush of adrenaline helped her to open her eyes as she heard the voice of her father. Lisa mustered some strength to embrace him. He was standing beside her bed but she was able to manage to gather up some strength to move closer and wrap her arms around the waist of her dad. Then she started to cry.

"It's okay Lisa! Everything will be alright!" With a calm voice, her father spoke as he also embraced her, caressing her hair.

"Dad…" Was all she was able to say as she remembers the letter from Karl. Tears again started falling.

"Don't worry baby! There's no need to be upset. I'll take over from now!" Reassuringly, his father told her.

"That damn bastard! If I have to go to Mars just to kill him, I will!" This time, his father was raising an upset voice.

"Father, I'm sorry…" Lisa cried willingly.

"I'm so stupid to even fall for him. He was so… loving… no… no… I hate him! I hate him!" Suddenly she felt the anger swell in her heart, anger that slowly ate up the love she had for Karl.

"Lisa, Lisa… it's okay sweetheart! I'm here. Daddy's here my little girl! I promise everything will be alright!" The admiral again in a soft spoken voice.

"Daddy, my…" Lisa spoke as she rubbed her tummy.

"It's okay honey! You two are okay said the doctor." The admiral replied, putting his left hand on top of Lisa's tummy.

"A-Are you mad?" She asked reluctantly.

"Yes I am! But not with you my darling! That poor guy will never see earth again, I promise! He took advantage of you, of your youth! I'm going to kill him!" The tense voice again of the Admiral.

"Dad… never mind him. It's my fault. I trusted him so much… I gave him everything and…" Lisa spoke as if whispering.

"Well, there's no point talking about somebody worthless, isn't it honey! Don't worry about your baby. I will raise him up as a one of us – a Hayes child. I promise that no blood of that Riber will be running in his veins." Admiral Hayes comforted Lisa.

"Did you say 'he'" dad? Lisa replied with a weak smile.

"Yes, it must be a he. He will be an admiral too someday!" Smiling, the admiral answered Lisa, trying to ease the pain that he knew she was feeling and trying to hide.

"Thank you dad!" Lisa looked into the eyes of his father.

"Lisa, just rest. It would be good for you and the baby. I know how hard this is for you, but I also know that you are a strong-willed woman. I'm sure of that. You carry the family name of strong-willed heroes." The admiral spoke with pride.

"It's okay dad. I think I saw this coming, but I just didn't entertain it in my mind. I'm sure I'll get over all of these. I just need time. What I was most fearful was if you're still going to accept me after all of this mess I'm in." She said.

All the admiral did was smile. Then he held her hands and squeezed it. He stood up, smiled and said, "Rest my Lisa! Just as I promised, everything will be alright. I won't let anything like this happen anymore, especially to you my sweetheart."

The admiral went out of the room as soon as he saw Lisa doze off to sleep. It was a good thing they were in their home.

He remembers well what happened in the restaurant.

There was a commotion in the lobby. He stood up and looked at the number of onlookers gathering around something or someone. Some people were shouting somebody collapsed. He felt a strange feeling in his heart but he said to himself that couldn't be Lisa because she went to the powder room. But then, the waitress who led them in came to him and told him that it was his companion who dropped to the floor. In a flash he reached the lobby without noticing how he did it. He saw his girl unconscious on the floor, a bouquet in one hand, and a piece of paper on the other. He got the paper and carried his girl. He told the waitress to call a particular doctor's number and told her to tell the doctor to go to a particular address – their home. It might seem an odd idea to bring Lisa home rather than the hospital but he just wanted to avoid the hospital. Anyway, there was a special room in their home, actually a special clinic in the basement with complete medical equipment and supplies. It was for emergency purposes, especially since the war was still raging in some regions of the globe. If the war was brought to their front, his home could be used as a command center, complete with facilities. The medical facility was one.

Lisa was lying unconsciously in the comfort of the bed in their private clinic while the doctor examined her. The admiral read the paper that Lisa held tightly even while unconscious in the restaurant floor. He couldn't help but feel his heart broken. He was angry. At first with Lisa, for he felt she betrayed him by hiding all of those things but as he pondered on the situation, he thought, "I know now why she asked me to go out and have dinner. She was planning to tell me all this." He immediately had compassion on his daughter. Well, after his wife has gone, all he had was Lisa. He couldn't remember a time when he got mad or been furious with his girl. She was a good girl, always obedient. But now, he thought that everything changed because of this certain Karl Riber.

Karl Riber, one of his aide.

"I thought he was a good man! I even eyed him for my daughter! But after this, he better hide from me! Good thing he went to Mars!" He thought to himself, although furious within.

"Lisa, oh my Lisa, why'd you do this to me? Where did I fail you? Was I too stern that you went for an adventure? The only adventure I wanted for you was to become a soldier like me. But you hated it. But now I know, since you met Karl, he drove you crazy. And that was the day you told me you also wanted to join the military. Hmmm… should I thank you Karl? No! I'd kill you after all of this mess that you left behind!" His thoughts continued.

"Karl, the baby in her womb, will never recognize you as the father. I promise you that. This baby will be a Hayes child. And you would regret having run away. You are a coward!" The admiral pictured himself confronting Karl then he saw Lisa starting to wake up.

The doctor motioned for the admiral to come closer and to try to speak to her. This he did.

"Lisa, can you hear me? Lisa, darling!"

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes

email = koolaz73ATyahoo.com