fanfic_name = Target Party

chapter = 3

author = Dwparsnip

Rating = AP15

Type = Humor

fanfic =

Captain Max Sterling was many things to many people, realized Rick. To the pilots of the Skull, he was their squadron leader, though more and more in recent months Miriya Sterling had become the hands on Skull Leader, while Max focused more on the Alpha squadrons as a whole. To all the other pilots aboard ship, he was the CAG. To all of those people and many others, both inside and outside the REF, Max Sterling was a legend.

To Miriya he was a husband. To Dana he was a father. To Rick, Max was a subordinate, though only within the technicality of rank; a former wingman and, of course, a very dear friend…a brother even. And now, right now, he was a man with a microphone in his right hand. Rick repressed a shudder that had nothing to do with his nagging bout of hypothermia…

"Can I have your attention, please?", asked Max into the microphone which had magically appeared when Max stood up. He waited for a moment while the assembled pilots focused their attention on him. It didn't take long…he was the CAG after all. "Many years ago, Roy Fokker started the tradition of the target party and it is in his memory that we dedicate these proceedings." Max smiled and tilted his head towards Rick seated to his right as he added, "And of course, the man of the hour with the precision targeting system."

A roar of laughter came from the assemblage of pilots. Rick himself might have grinned while trying to keep the red from invading his cheeks. Miriya at least had the grace to cover her mouth with her hand when she smiled.

Max waited for the laughter to subside and then continued. "We all know the symbolism behind the target party, and while tradition dictates that I tell you anyway, I don’t think Roy would mind if I skipped it for his Little Brother…especially as seeing how said Little Brother appears to be turning a very unhealthy shade of blue."

Again peels of laughter reverberated throughout the deck. While Rick was initially miffed at the comment, he couldn't help but let it melt away at the reception it got from the pilots. It was good to hear them laugh. Besides, the geysers that erupted from the mouths of numerous pilots who had the unfortunate timing of taking a drink just before Max's comedic comment was simply priceless.

And he was still too cold to be pissed. He just wanted to get warm. He tried to remember if anyone had been seriously hurt by one of these parties, but just as the disturbing image of someone losing a toe entered his mind, Max cleared his throat.

Rick shifted uncomfortably in his seat and deliberately wiggled his toes to see if they were all still there and functional.

Max in the meantime, seemingly oblivious to Rick's discomfort, soldiered on. "I've known Rick and Lisa for a very long time." Max stopped for a moment as he heard Rick mumble something that sounded suspiciously like 'too long', but continued after deciding to ignore it. "He was my first squadron leader, and as such he was someone I looked up to and looked to for support and guidance, much like a child looks to a parent." Max turned to look at his friend and smiled. "You were the best squadron leader I could have had, Rick, and you've helped me more than you know. You might even say you helped me to grow, as a pilot and as a person."

There wasn't a sound to be heard on the flight deck. To hear Max Sterling talk so candidly about something wasn't rare. On the contrary, Max could always be depended on to tell the truth when necessary. What was a little surprising to Rick was that he said what he said with such a huge audience.

"I've also known Lisa for a long time", continued Max when he turned back to his audience, "pretty much as long as I've known Rick. As the first officer of the SDF-1 and main flight control officer, she also helped me to learn about being a pilot, an officer, a leader and a person." The right side of Max's mouth edged upward in a smirk as he added, "She usually stepped in when Rick dropped the ball."

Rick laughed with everyone else, Max's sentiments doing a little to take the chill off.

"What I'm trying to say, Rick", said Max as he turned to face Rick again, "is that you two have nothing to worry about in regards to parenthood. You've both done a great job in taking care of people for a long time, myself included. In a way you've been parents to the fleet for a long time. You've both watched a lot of these youngsters out there grow up, and you've done more than anyone could have asked of you, and you've both done it with grace and with strength."

Max took a deep breath and lowered his head for a moment, as though the whole experience took something out of him.

There still wasn't a sound to be heard.

Finally Max looked up, scanned the room and turned to Rick. "And if you ever need a hand, don't sweat it." Max's left hand pointed out to the pilots of the SDF-3. "Because your child will have hundreds of aunts, uncles and cousins out there ready to help in any way they can."

Max let loose a small snort of laughter. "Just remember though…when you need a babysitter, check with Uncle Max and Aunt Miriya first." Max handed the microphone off to the young lieutenant he had been talking to earlier, looked to Rick and simply nodded.

Rick didn't know what to say as a thunderous applause and shouts affirming Max's sentiments roared through the hangar. Instead of saying anything he stood up, mindful of his wobbly knees and presumably frostbitten toes, and warmly shook Max's hand.

Rick smiled and when the noise subsided whispered, "Thanks, Max."

Max's smile was wide as he quipped, "That's Uncle Max."

Rick laughed and slapped Max's shoulder with his free hand. "You're not my uncle, Max."

They shared a laugh as Rick started to sit, but he stopped when Max didn't release his hand. At Rick's questioning look Max simply smiled and said quietly, "You look cold, Boss. I think it's time we got you home."

Rick nodded and, after bending down and giving Miriya a hug, walked around to the edge of the table. It was then that he noticed that the entire body of pilots had also stood up and were standing at attention. He was about to tell them to relax when a couple of pilots in the front saluted. Rick watched in amazement as the pilots behind took that as their cue and suddenly a wave of salutes was rolling back through the body of pilots like a table full of dominos.

Rick smiled, humbled and awestruck by the gesture. He stood as straight as he knew how and returned the salute with all the precision and crispness that years and years of practice had afforded him. He only hoped it was enough to show them how much the evening had meant to him. He held the salute for a few moments, lowered his arm and began to walk towards them, not at all surprised to suddenly find Max right by his side.

Slowly they walked through the array of tables that had been set up, and he wondered where all the Alphas were. It only took a split second for him to realize that they would be stored on the secondary hangar decks in whatever configuration they could. Rick pictured dozens of Alphas in fighter mode, Guardian mode and Battloid mode filling every nook and cranny of the alternate hangar decks. It had to have been a nightmare getting them all on those decks, and a pain in the ass getting them back here when this was over.

He couldn't bring himself to care about that…he was too busy enjoying the moment. He continued through the ranks, nodding to and thanking everyone he passed. Finally, after what seemed to be a very long time but was in reality a minute, he and Max reached the hangar deck doors.

After he stepped through the opened doors, Rick felt a need to turn around and take in the sight once more. "Thank you all for coming", he said as loud as he could without actually shouting, "and enjoy the rest of the evening."

With that he stepped back from the door and allowed it to close. Rick turned and without a word began walking to his quarters. The two friends didn't say anything. For two who had worked as closely as they had for so long words could be an impediment to communication. The only people who knew the men better were their respective wives.

Rick knew Max meant every word he said during the event, and more. Max knew that Rick understood what he was saying and had no doubt in his mind that Rick appreciated it. It all went without saying.

When they reached the door to the quarters of the Admirals Hunter, Rick sighed and faced his friend with a very big smile on his face. "Max…", said Rick softly.

Max smiled back and gently turned Rick in the direction of the door to his quarters and delicately prodded him into moving towards it. "Rick", replied Max, anticipating Rick's 'thank you' and not bothering to voice his 'you're welcome'. "The person you should really be thanking is waiting for you inside." Max slapped Rick on the shoulder and added in a mischievous tone, "Go get warm, Boss."

Before Rick could pass any sort of comment, Max was about to make the turn around the nearest corner. Rick laughed to himself and opened the door, expecting to find Lisa on the couch or at the table going over some paper work, as was the norm. She was in neither place, and the only light to be seen was what was filtering out through the hallway leading to their bedroom.

Stunned that Lisa would already be gone to bed, and a little disappointed that she would go to bed without him, he sauntered dejectedly to their room after taking off his tunic and laying it on the couch. Rick stepped through the door and received one of the most pleasant shocks he had ever received. (He would later blame Max for setting him up like that, and blame the hypothermia for his slow uptake on the situation, which of course could also be blamed on Max.)

The first thing he noticed was the low light supplied by the lamp on Lisa's side of the bed. He looked to the foot of the bed which faced the door, with the bed running straight back from there and the head of the bed positioned against the wall directly in front of him. That was where the second thing he noticed was…the blankets on their bed had been pulled down and bundled up at the bottom of the bed. As his gaze traveled up towards the head of the bed, Lisa's bare feet came into view, followed by her ankles and shins. It was at that point that Rick realized that she was lying down on her back and he felt a bubble bloom in his chest. Rick's eyes opened wider as her knees came into view, and the bubble inside him exploded sending warmth throughout him as she slowly, oh so slowly, brought her right knee up, dragging her foot along the bed. The pale light of the bedside lamp gave her flawless skin a heavenly glow which only added to her beauty.

Rick had no idea that he was going to gulp at all, let alone gulp so loudly that it probably registered on the ship's sensors. He felt his jaw drop and his breathing quicken as the rest of his wife's beautiful form came into view…her beautiful and naked form.

For the first time in hours Rick's thoughts were of something other than how cold he was or how he was going to get back at Max. The only thing on his mind at that moment was Lisa…his Lisa.

His eyes found hers, and in his peripheral vision he saw her right hand slowly caress the bed where he usually slept…the place that was blessedly reserved for him. A smile began in her eyes, giving them a glow as the smile found it's way to her lips. Finally she lifted her left hand from where it had been resting on her still flat (but not for too much longer) belly and used her index finger to beckon him.

Resisting the urge to run full throttle onto the bed and ravish his beautiful wife, Rick slowly walked around the side of the bed and gently sat down, leaning over to place his right hand on top of hers after she replaced it upon her abdomen.

His eyes traveled up from their hands to find her eyes, and as he tried to pour his love and gratitude into his gaze he whispered, "Thank you for tonight."

Her smile was absolutely brilliant. "You're welcome, but Max did all the work."

Rick smiled as well. "He said it was your idea, and I trust my wingman." He leaned down and let his lips brush softly against hers. "Have you been waiting long?"

Lisa gave him a quick kiss before answering. "No. Miriya called up when you left." She gave him another peck on the lips and added, "As was the plan."

Rick grinned and whispered, "Thank you", against her lips, then pressed his lips against hers, letting his mouth move softly against hers until the pounding in his chest and Lisa slowly undoing his uniform demanded that he deepen the kiss and thank his wife in other, more personal ways.

An hour an a half later Rick threw the blankets off him and complained loudly, "Too hot!"

That elicited a small chuckle from Lisa, who had cuddled into Rick's left side and didn't appear to mind at all about the sudden disappearance of the blankets. Both Hunters were sweaty, overheated and completely sated.

Rick slipped his left arm underneath Lisa's head, allowing her to rest her head upon his shoulder. Her left hand rested on his chest and her left leg was draped over his leg. Rick pulled Lisa closer, if it was possible, and his right hand moved up to hold her hand as it rested on his chest.

He watched as his hand lovingly caressed hers, and he smiled when Lisa lifted her hand slightly and spread her fingers apart. He matched her moves and their fingers met each other finger tips to finger tips, until Rick moved his fingers enough to let them interlace with Lisa's. He squeezed her fingers gently and immediately received an identical response from his wife.

"I bet you weren't this hot and sweaty a couple of hours ago", Lisa murmured tiredly against his shoulder.

Rick smiled widely and almost laughed at the now distant memory of being frozen. "Not even close. Now I know why Max didn't want me to get warm down there…he knew that what I needed was up here waiting for me." Just to make sure Lisa understood what he meant, though he was fairly certain she knew, he leaned down and kissed the top of Lisa's head.

Lisa nuzzled Rick's shoulder and asked, "Did he give the 'we have lots of family' speech?"

Rick laughed at Lisa's description. "Yeah. You should have seen him, Lisa. He was as proud as any soon-to-be Uncle could be."

He could feel Lisa smiling against his skin. "What about the fact that we've been parents for years to the fleet?"

Rick's brow furrowed for a moment and he responded hesitantly. "Yes, yes he did." Realization hit him and he asked, "When did he talk to you about all of this?"

"Actually, it wasn't him", responded Lisa with a hint of mirth in her voice, "it was Miriya. She stopped by earlier today to let me know what they had planned for you, and she said she was going to give me the same speech that Max was going to give you, modified to fit her situation, of course."

Rick shook his head in amazement. "We have some amazing friends, don't we?"

Lisa moved her head so that she could look Rick in the eyes. "No, Rick" she responded seriously, "we have an amazing family."

Rick smiled in agreement, and it was a smile that was quickly mirrored on Lisa's face.

They both moved closer, in a synchronicity born of years of being together and kissed. And for Rick, the knowledge that in eight and a half months their family would grow was the most precious thing in the world, next to the precious woman in his arms.

The End.

Seriously…there is no more.

Really, you can stop reading now.

Well, you can review it if you've read this far. Might as well.

State = Fin/The End

feedback = Sí/Yes

email = dwparsnipATyahoo.ca