fanfic_name = Ricks Rain

chapter = 7

author = Adam Scott

Rating = AP

Type = Alternative Universe

fanfic = Chapter 7

        Lisa was promoted to Commandant and I was promoted to Rear-Admiral (essentially the same rank but with differing responsibilities. A Commandant is a Rear-Admiral but they are in charge of an entire fleet and its mission). The following week flew by. Arrangements had to be made, for both the wedding and the impending departure of the SDF-2. I looked after of the SDF-2 while Lisa took care of the "more important matters". The entire city of New Macross seemed to be involved. Even Minmei was getting in on the act.

        That was an adventure in and of it self. When Minmei found out that Lisa and I were engaged she went ballistic. It was two days after our announcement. Apparently Minmei was in New Detroit performing. She and Lynn Kyle held a press conference and one of the reporters asked how she felt about her ex-boyfriend announcing he was getting married and that it wasn't to her. She ended the press conference right then and there. She just turned her back to everyone and walked away. When Kyle tried to stop her she laid him out with a surprise upper cut. She was in New Macross that afternoon and made a beeline for my house. Fortunately, Lisa and I weren't there, at the time we were at the wedding planners. Minmei, in frustration, beat on my door until her hands bled. Base security watched the whole thing. They had been asked to keep an eye on Lisa's and my places by Admiral Gloval. He was concerned that there might be trouble; with the mission so close at hand and with all that we had to do to prepare, but I doubt he counted on Minmei being the cause of that trouble. When Minmei started to throw rocks at the door, they came and detained her.

        At about 15:30 my wrist comm. went off. It was base security. They needed to see me right away. I had no idea as to why at the time. I excused myself and gave Lisa a quick peck on the cheek. She turned and smiled and then went back to discussing something about what color the tablecloths should be. To be honest I was happy to get out of there. Not that I didn't care, I'm just a lot simpler then that. Of course if it had been left up to me the guests would have had milk crates to sit on, that's if a reception had even been planed. No, it's best that Lisa handle that.

        I made my way to the Provosts office near the SDF-1. When I arrived the receptionist, Corporal Tanner, snapped to attention, knocking over a big stack of papers she was sorting. "At ease corporal", I say with a smile. Obviously flustered she immediately started picking up the paper work, muttering to herself about having to start all over. "Ah, corporal," I ask "I was called down here by Lieutenant Marks can you tell me where he is?" "Yes sir," she stammers out, "he is in his office just down the hall". She goes back to picking up the papers. I walk to the Lieutenants office wondering what the heck is going on. Lieutenant Marks is busy reading a report and doesn't notice me walk in. I stand there for a moment waiting to see if he will react. After a few more moments I clear my throat, which startles him out of his trance. He looks up and realizes who I am and why I'm there and stands up to salute. I cut him off "Lieutenant, I have an extremely busy schedule, this had better be important!" His face turns red and stutters "yes sir come with me please." We walk through a security door and back to the detainment cells. I see a lone female figure, huddled in the corner, quivering, bandages wrapped around her hands and a mass of black unkempt hair. "Do you know this woman?" the Lieutenant asks. "I don't know", I reply. The woman's head rises at the sound of my voice, and then she stands up, slowly, but still facing the corner. She smoothes her hair, wipes her face and takes big breath. She then turns around; her head lowered, and walks towards the cell door. It's Minmei! How did she get into this mess? I turn to the Lieutenant, "Yes, I do, could you leave us alone for a moment please?" He agrees and exits the cell block.

Minmei finally looks up at me. I can tell that she has been crying, crying so much that she couldn't cry anymore. "Rick is it true?" she says in a tone of childish hurt. "Is what true?" I reply. "Are you getting married to Lisa, do you even love her?! You are supposed to love me!" she says all at once. I step back at her statement. I feel my face burn and my anger swell. I haven't heard from her for more than a year. Not even a card or letter, nothing! And now that I have finally found someone who really cares for me and loves me for who I am, she has the gall to be mad at me?! I want to scream and shout at her but that would only make the situation worse. If I have learned anything from being with Lisa is that very fact, think things through, before you act.

I start to regain my composure, the anger turns into pity and sadness. "We had something at one time Minmei, a long time ago, but you have your career and I have mine. I'm a pilot and you're an actress. We are in different worlds now Minmei. I still love you and you will always have a special place in my heart but I love Lisa and she loves me, my future is with her. You will always be the little sister I never had, but I'm afraid that it can never be anything more then that". "I guess I always knew that" she responds, "I knew that you really loved Lisa and had for a long time. I just wasn't willing to accept it". I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She knew when I didn't? I watch her smile come back to her face and the light return in her eyes. The Minmei I knew was back. "Rick," she says "I know this may be out of the question but may I sing for you and Lisa at the wedding? It would mean the world to me". "I don't know" I reply wondering what Lisa would think. "I'll have to talk it over with Lisa first". "Oh! Thank you, Thank you Rick, that's all that I can ask. I know she'll say yes after you talk with her". She tries to reach through the bars to give me a hug.

I call the Lieutenant back in and he relays to me why Minmei is in there. I ask her if it's true. She doesn't deny any of it. Lieutenant Marks asks if I would like to press charges. I tell him "no, let her go, she has punished herself more then you or I could". He lets her out and as soon as the door is open she launches herself and gives me a hug. The whole time I hear her whispering "Thank you, Thank you" over and over again.

As we walk out of the cell block I ask her where she is staying in town and she gives me a blank stare. She hadn't thought about that. She had been so consumed with confronting me that she never bothered to get a room. I gave her my card and I told her to go to the Macross Grand Hotel downtown. She looks at the card and then back at me in confusion. I answer her obvious question "I got the promotion a couple of days ago as part of my new assignment. Show the card when you get to the hotel and they will take it from there". The Macross Grand is across the street from Macross Park where the wedding is going to be held. It's where the wedding party is going to stay and where the reception is going to be afterwards. She gives me another hug and scampers off. I walk back out into the reception area of the Provosts office and Corporal Tanner snaps to attention, knocking the same big stack of papers over again. I just shake my head and walk on out the door.

        Lisa was waiting for me when I got home with a look of concern in her eyes. This was the longest we had been apart in the last 4 days and to be honest with you, I had missed her. She rushes up to me and gives me a hug and then she immediately pulls back with a look of suspicion. "You went and saw Minmei didn't you?" she says accusingly. "I can smell her perfume on you!" "Yes, I did," I reply, Lisa's glares, "but it's not what you think" I say in protest. "You better start talking fast mister," Lisa snarls. I attempt to explain, "Apparently base security found her trying to beat my door down and arrested her. She insisted that she was a friend of mine so they called me in to confirm and to see if I wanted to press charges". "Well did you press charges?" Lisa asks. "No" I reply "but it did give me a chance to explain to her what you mean to me and where she fits into my life". "And where is that" Lisa retorts. "That she is the little sister that I never had and that nothing more could ever come of it. That I love you and you love me and my future was with you and only you" I say in response. Lisa was silent for a moment pondering what I said. Then the biggest smile I had ever seen cuts across her face. She leaps into my arms, giving me a big kiss and hug. Then I hear her whisper in my ear "I love you Rick Hunter, I love you, I love you". My heart soared at hearing those words again.

        Later that evening we were having a quite dinner together. I decided this was the time to broach the subject of Minmei singing at the wedding. "So how are the plans for the wedding coming along?" I ask trying to ease into the subject. "We have everything set except for a soloist for the ceremony. The one that we picked out isn't available on such short notice." Lisa said with a bit of exacerbation. This is a little too convenient, I think to myself. "So what are you going to do?" I ask. "I'm hoping that you might have a suggestion" she said with a wink. "Well," I replied "I do have one but I don't know if you will go for it". "It's O.K." she states, "When you were getting a shower before dinner I got a surprise phone call. It was Minmei. She told me all about what happened this afternoon and she just couldn't wait any longer to find out. I already told her that she could". A flush of relief came over me, this was a conversation that I wasn't looking forward too and Minmei in her impatience had taken care of it for me. "I was wondering when you were going to bring it up" Lisa said, smiling and giggling a little. "I knew what you were going to soon because you started to squirm in your seat a little". You were contemplating how to bring up the subject, which by the way you did very well". Has she got me figured out already? I wondered; of course she sees me everyday and has for a long time. She is one of the best Combat Air Controllers out there and she would have learned my simple cues a long time ago. I simply stare at her in total amazement. Not only is she beautiful but brilliant and understanding too.


State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes

email = jscott_73ATyahoo.com