fanfic_name = Time of Our Lives

chapter = Chapter 12

author = lisav

Rating = AP15

Type = Adventure

fanfic = Heaven and Earth

INTRO…

Earth laid in ruin.

No one objected this time, to the landing of the SDF-1 on Earth for there was no one powerful or strong enough to object. There was no UEG anymore for all military units on Earth had been the first victim of Dolza’s “Rain of Death.”

In the end, the people of Macross had no one to turn to but each other and began rebuilding again. However this time they had allies-- the Zentraedi who had chosen to embrace the human way of life.

-----------------------------------------------------

Opening her eyes, Lisa couldn’t see or hear anything. Everything was white. She tried to speak but nothing came out.

What happen? Where am I? Did I die?

“Lisa. Lisa, darling, where are you?”

Turning around she saw no one. Then as if in a dream, the mist faded and she saw her mother. She was sitting on their back porch swing.

“What a beauty you are my darling,” she opened her arms, welcoming her daughter with a smile and Lisa went into them willingly with trust and serenity.

Her mother hugged her tightly and when she let her go; Lisa laid her head on her mother’s lap as she had always done in the past.

Andrea Kimberly Hayes was a slender wisp of a woman with a thick mane of dark, chestnut hair and sea-green eyes. There was something ethereal about her yet her voice was full and rich.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow seemed to have faded. Time meant nothing to Lisa as she basked in the warmth of her mother’s love. Everything was as it should be. She had never felt more safe and cherished.

“Have you been practicing my love,” her mother asked gently as she brushed her hand through Lisa’s long silky hair unconsciously.

Lisa shook her head. “I’ve been busy mom, but I promised I’ll practice tonight.”

“You have homework tonight, my darling. Or have you forgotten, your midterm in Algebra is tomorrow,” she said warmly.

“I’ve missed you so much, mom,” Lisa said as tears trembled on her thick, sooty lashes. But she brushed them away hastily.

No! I will not cry. I will not make her feel sad.

She heard her mother’s beautiful voice humming to her, luring her to sleep. “I’m so glad you’re here. I love you, mom. Stay with me,” she pleaded weary and not knowing why as sleep claimed her.

Sitting back at the grand piano, Lisa began to play. She played all her mother’s favorites, one after another over and over again. When she heard the door open, she stopped and turned around slowly.

“Is she gone, father?”

He nodded.

Her reserve cracked and the emotion poured through. “Don’t tell me about how she’s at peace now!” She stopped herself, then, shaking her head.

“You said the new treatment was going to work,” she said more calmly, looking at him now accusingly.

He said nothing.

Dismissing him, she returned to her playing. She waited until he left before she let the helplessness stabbed her and this time she banged on the keys. Each note was hit instead of played.

Her fingers were stiff and icy while tears streamed down her face yet she continued to pound out Mozart fiercely. It was tormented, volatile and even when she’d finished, anger seemed to hover in the air.

She raked her hand through her hair so that it fell in a dark cloud around her face.

How could she go on and pretend everything was fine? Her mother was her closest friend and now she’s gone. Dead.

Then she found herself in their garden. A butterfly fluttered past. She lifted her hand and ran after it. Bejeweled with color, it soared very high and swooped just as low, but always just out of the reach of her fingertips.

A deep voice, laden with laughter, came from nearby. “You’ll never catch them like that.”

She turned, meeting a pair of summer blue eyes and a grin that awed her. Entranced by the dark-haired young man in uniform but determined not to show it, Lisa approached and leaned her head far back to meet his smiling gaze.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” She asked in her most frosty tone that always sent people scurrying away.

He gave her a courtly bow. “Ensign Karl Riber at your service, ma’am.”

She knew he was making fun of her but she could not find the words to freeze him so she gave him a direct cut instead.

She walked away with out introducing herself to him. But the corners of her lips seemed to have a will of their own as they curved in amusement.

She had been practicing but her heart was no longer in the music. She hates to admit it but since her mother’s death, she had never wanted to play the piano again let alone become a world class pianist.

I’m sorry mom. But I just can’t seem to find the joy and inspiration in playing as I once did when you were here.

Thoughts of her mother brought weak tears to her cheeks and she quickly wiped them away. Then she caught sight of Karl making his way toward her through the back door. As he drew near, she stretched forth a welcoming hand and laughed like an eager schoolgirl which she was.

“I thought you would never come. Kiss me, I’ve missed you today. That meeting sure took a long time.”

“Lisa how would you like to go to the fair tomorrow?” he asked after he finished kissing her lightly on the lips, cheeks and forehead.

Her smile deepened and she cast a glance up at him with love and adoration. “How?” she asked and he proceed to tell her.

“I’m going to miss you so much, Lisa” Karl said and held her to him once again. They were in her bedroom. She had just spent the most incredible night of her life with him and now he was leaving.

“You know I would never leave you if I didn’t have to but I can’t stay here. I will die if I stay. This war is slowly killing me. Say you understand, Lisa. I don’t think I could ever bare you hating me. Tell me again, Lisa. Tell me,” his voice pleaded with her in anguish.

“I promise, Karl. I’ll be forever your girl. I love you and only you, Karl” she replied earnestly and held onto him as tightly as she could. She knew he had to leave now or she’ll start crying.

He must not see me cry. I want him to remember me always... smiling.

-------------------------------

“Lisa. Lisa, wake up! You can’t do this, not when I’ve just come to know how much I need you. How much I love you. Lisa!”

“Karl?”

Rick Hunter quickly pulled Lisa out of bed and hugged her to him tightly.

“Lisa! Open your eyes this minute,” he commanded.

Lisa’s green eyes opened slowly. She looked at Rick with beautiful a weak smile. “I knew you would come before it was too late,” she said softly as if still in a dream.

“What? What are you talking about? Lisa, Lisa! Look at me. It’s me, Rick”

“Rick?”

“Rick Hunter! What are you doing here? Why aren’t you with your squadron? We are going into battle, mister!” Pushing him away from her a bit she looked around the room and realized she was in a bed-- a hospital bed!

“What happened? How did I get here?” she asked in panic, her eyes widened in fright. Lisa swallowed convulsively and barely stifling a scream when she felt his touch on her upper arms.

“Lisa, calm down,” he laid her back onto the bed again and she let him.

Taking a hold of her hand, he stared into her eyes, seeing its’ usual color and clarity in them again and the tension in his body slowly left him as he sank against the chair next to her bed.

“Nobody knows what happened. As we were all ready to begin the attack on Dolza’s fleet, there was a bright light and when everybody was able to open their eyes again; there was nothing there. Dolza’s fleet, every last ship was gone, vanished, disappeared like it never existed. Some of Breetai’s too, I think he said among the five battle cruisers that he was missing Khyron’s was one of them.”

“Lisa, I don’t know what happened to you. When I opened my eyes and realized there were no enemies to fight, I called back to the bridge and got Sammy instead of you. I asked where you were but no one on the bridge would tell me. I rushed back to the SDF-1 and Claudia was waiting for me at the hanger. She told me that they found you out cold and unconscious. They think you must have hit your head or something like that during that blinding light incident. You were rushed here and have been here since.”

“How long?” she asked.

“Five days,” he answered.

At her startled, wide-eyed look he went on more softly, “I was so scared, Lisa. Don’t do that to me again.”

--------------------------------------------------

It has been two months since the SDF-1 had landed back on Earth again. This time no one had stopped them from leaving the ship for there was no one left to stop them. Earth was ninety percent destroyed-- cities, towns, lakes, rivers, parks and forests were gone.

It’s hard to believe that the once beautiful planet full of life was now almost deserted, barren and scorched beyond recognition. The few people who managed to survive were slowly making their way to where the SFD-1 had landed.

Macross City was now completely moved out of the SDF-1 and spread out ten miles around the space ship. Everyone who was considered anyone had tried to find out where that bright flash of blinding light had come from but so far no one had been able to determine its source.

Many chose to believe it as a miracle/anger from God or whoever they believed in. But Lisa knew better, she knew that where ever it came from, it was linked to her passing out and missing five days of her life.

She had even discussed it with Admiral Gloval and Dr. Lang at length but so far no one had come up with a plausible explanation.

Roy and Claudia had left the service. They were married last week by Admiral Gloval in a quiet ceremony surrounded by their families and friends.

Once again Lisa and Rick were the best man and maid of honor.

Everyone at the reception had teased them mercifully about when they were going to tie the knot themselves since it was official now that they were a couple.

She knew some of the stuck up brass were not too happy about her and Rick, he being only a Commander but she didn’t care. The only person’s whose opinion had counted had told her that he was happy for her-- Admiral Gloval of course!

As a wedding gift, Admiral Gloval had given Roy his own shuttle and together, Roy and Claudia had left the area after the reception. They promised they would be back but no one knew where they were going.

However Roy did promise to radio in once a week just to let everyone know that they were okay. Where ever they were, Lisa wished them luck and the best for she was truly happy for them even thought she missed Claudia dearly.

So many things had happened so quickly that sometimes she thought she was still dreaming. Besides the new responsibilities that came with her promotion to Captain, Rick had asked her to move in with him.

A part of her had been excited, happy and thrilled at living with him and seeing him every day and every night. But a part of her hesitated and she didn’t know why. Worse lately she’s been feeling restless and edgy.

The Terrible Trio were still dating their Zentraedi boyfriends and by the looks of it at Roy and Claudia’s wedding; they were pretty serious about them too. Especially Vanessa and Bron, who seemed to have eyes only for each other.

A new tech by the name of Anne Maxwell had joined their bridge family. She was not Claudia but she was competent, eager to learn and level headed. Sammy was now doing the majority of her job-- coordinating flight operations.

Only yesterday, Rick and she had helped Max and Miriya moved into their new home. It was a simple one story, two bedroom-two bath house. It was hard to believe that the house was military issued for it did really look like a home instead of the usual bungalow or square box unit.

Max and Miriya had been ecstatic for this was their first home together. Max couldn’t wait to get a barbecue pit going so he could invite everyone to their place and show Miriya what a barbecue outing was. Lisa still sometimes finds herself caught speechless by Max and Miriya's faith and belief in each other. It's as if they were two halves of a whole.

In three days she’ll be moving into her new home too and she knew she would have to give Rick an answer.

----------------------

Lisa’s nerves had been on edge for days.

“What’s the matter?” Rick asked as she dropped the big spoon into the pot of beef stew and examined her finger.

“I burned myself,” she snapped. It wasn’t bad, but it hurt.

“You wouldn’t have if you hadn’t been so angry. Have I done something to upset you? Why are you angry?” he persisted.

“I’m not angry.”

“You sound as if you are.”

“Well, I’m not!” she glared at him from the sink where she was running cold water through her finger.

He put his head to one side as if he found her state of mind interesting. “You’ve been upset for days. Tell me what I did so I can apologies.”

“Fine! I’m upset because you still have that stupid album. I thought when we moved in together, we were supposed to start something new, just us.”

“Is that all?” he said with a smile.

She knew he was laughing at her.

“Really, what is bothering you, Lisa? You’ve been edgy, tensed and moody lately. Don’t think I didn’t notice because I do and if you don’t tell me what’s wrong, I don’t know how to help you,” he said with concern in his voice.

“I’m not moody!” she growled at him. “Back off, will you?”

“Fine! Excuse me for asking, Captain!” he said abruptly and left.

Relief mingled with a strange feeling of disappointment hit her as she heard his car drive away from their drive way.

What is wrong with me lately? Why am I being so mean and bitchy? She wished she knew but she didn’t.

Hours later, Rick had not returned. She had spent the evening arranging and rearranging their living room-- adding her stuff and Rick’s together to create a living room that would reflect both of their style, taste and personalities.

Even thought they had moved in together two weeks ago, they’ve been too busy to do much with the place. The only thing they had done together was plant a live oak tree in the middle of their big bare backyard. The rooms they had been able to fix up were their bedroom and the kitchen.

There was satisfaction in her eyes as they went around the living room, noting its transformed appearance.

She looked anxiously through the window before subsiding into one of the armless chairs by the table. She was studying the drastic effects of housework on her neatly manicured hands when she heard the sound of Rick’s return.

Jumping up, she leaped across to the window and peered out into the front yard. She saw a flash of Rick’s car and her breath tightened in her throat.

I’m sorry, Rick. I never wanted to fight with you. Forgive me.

Five minutes later, he was pushing the front door opened and walking into the living room. He took a couple of steps in before stopping incredulously, his eyes taking in, in a few short moments, the work it had taken her hours to accomplished.

“Well, I’ll be...” His eyes turned on Lisa, noting with the same speedy precision her change of clothes into a navy lien dress that subtly outlined the most feminine of her curves and turned her green eyes dark and smoky.

“I’ve never seen this place look this way,” he complimented her, and something in his midnight blue eyes told Lisa that he wasn’t referring entirely to the living room.

“I saved you some dinner, Rick. I’m sorry about earlier,” she said faintly. "I hate it when we fight especially off duty."

“Me too, Lisa,” he said as he walked towards her.

Her heart did a crazy leap in her breast when his hands, slid slowly up the bare contours of her arms. Her eyes dropped to the firm wide outline of his lips and she knew she wanted him to kiss her.

Really kiss her like their first night together on board the SDF-1 in her quarters; the night he told her he loved her.

She ran a moistening tongue over her lips and gave him a quick upward glance. He was still the most exciting man she had ever met and he could melt her like no one else since Karl. She knew tonight they would finally christen their bedroom.

“I’ve missed you, Lisa,” he said huskily, and did touch his mouth to hers. She tasted longing and passion in his kiss.

---------

Waking to unaccustomed brightness, Lisa pushed aside her long hair and blinked into the shaft of sunlight that slanted in through the large window in their bedroom.

She bolted upright on the firm mattress and listened for sounds of movement in the house. She could hear Rick in the kitchen and she slowly subsided on the pillow again. She lay watching the ceiling thoughtfully, one arm behind her head.

She’d had another dream again last night-- more like a nightmare. She was in a base deep underground somewhere and around her she could feel, see and smell death. It surrounded her, choked her and smothered her until she couldn’t breath.

In the nightmare, she was thirsty and blisters were forming on her swollen lips. She hurt and burned everywhere; her body bruised and battered. Her hair had hung in grayish-white stands all around her face and as she touched them they had fallen off, chunks at a time.

She had woken up crying in despair and brokenhearted. Rick had held her then and in a soothing voice had told her it was only a dream. He had told her to go back to sleep while gently stroking her hair and her cheeks.

Rick... what would she do without him? She loved him so much.

--------------------

All day today she’d been restless, impatient and anxious. Worse she couldn’t sleep. She had twisted and turned all night and then finally when she did fall asleep, the nightmare came again.

This time, she was the one dying. She could see and feel the darkness closing in on her. She fought against it but she knew it was hopeless. In her dream she had died-- alone and afraid.

She could still feel her life slipping away from her as her body temperature dropped and her strength, ebbing quickly away like mist in the night.

Stop it! It was only a dream. You’re being childish, Lisa.

With tears still shimmering in her eyes, she turned them to the time on her nightstand-- 0230 hours. Her hand automatically reached out to the far side of the bed in search of the man in whose presence she had learned to trust and take comfort. But no one was there.

Rick’s still at work. He has the graveyard shift this week, again! I'm going to have a little talk with Sammy...

Sweeping back the covers, Lisa swung her legs over the side of the bed and donned the robe she had left on a chair last night.

I need help. I need to see someone about these dreams. They’re slowly taking over me, over my sanity and my life.

A bright October moon hovered in the night sky while western wind drifted across its luminous face.

Rubbing her arms against the chill she leaned a shoulder against her back door and swept her gaze beyond their spacious back yard-- bared except for a live oak tree she and Rick were desperately trying to keep alive.

Around her everything was deathly silent. There were no dogs barking, no night creatures and insects moving around in the dark. A strange yarning swept over Lisa as she stared out into the night.

Although she couldn’t determine exactly what she craved, the feeling was nevertheless intense.

Walking to her and Rick's live oak tree, she touched the trunk remembering another oak tree where her initials and Karl’s had been craved into it.

KJR + EGH = 4 Ever

“Lisa, I’m sorry I took so long.”

She turned. The blood drained from her face.

“No!.... you died,” she said quietly as if to herself. An ache passed through her, a shadow of pain buried for years.

“You’re just a figment of my imagination. You’re not real. I must still be asleep,” she choked tearfully, fearing now to meet his gaze.

“I’m not dead, Lisa. I am real. I’m here and never will I leave you again.”

Grabbing her hand and preventing her retreat he drew it to his heart. “Feel that, my love? I’m as real you.”

“Lisa...”

Then his lips touched hers and he felt like his world had suddenly started spinning again. When he lifted his lips, he half expected her to try to escape, but she didn’t. Instead, she stood still while he traced kisses across her face.

“You’re more beautiful than I could ever image.”

He tried to read her expression in the moonlight, but she ducked her head, brushing her face against his neck. He felt moisture-- tears? He tugged at her chin and finally brought her face to his, revealing two streams of tears sliding down her cheeks.

He kissed them, tasting their saltiness, wondering without wanting to, whether Hunter had ever kissed her like this.

He suddenly felt a blinding determination to kiss away all trances of someone else; determined to erase all thoughts of another man from her mind; determined to be the only man in her dreams.

He kissed her urgently and desperately. He kissed her harder than he intended, deeper than he intended, more passionately than he intended.

Without warning, she jerked away. Lisa wanted to trust him but she could not.

He reached for her again but she inched away.

“What is it, Lisa?”

The way he said her name sent butterflies through her stomach but she refused to give in and she shook her head.

He saw that she had stared steadily into the darkness beyond his right shoulder. He turned slightly to look too then he felt a fist-- fast and hard connecting with his jaw and it sent him staggering back. He saw dots and his vision burred before he could realize who had just hit him.

“Don’t touch me! Don’t you ever touch me again, you son of a bitch! You left me, you abandoned me! I came to Mars. I came just like I promised I would but you weren’t there!”

He couldn’t see the tears in her eyes, but he heard them in her voice.

“I don’t care what your story was; where you've been or how you got here. It’s too late! Save your breath, Karl. Nothing you can say will make me forgive you. Nothing. I hate you!”

“Lisa, don’t talk nonsense.” He reached for her, but she jumped away from him. “You don’t understand what’s happening.”

“I understand perfectly well,” she replied bitterly.

Looking at her he knew she would not hear him. She would not listen. He should have never touched her or kissed her. It was too soon. He had shocked and surprised her today. He knew she did not like to be unprepared for anything whether it was an exam, a meeting or a battle.

Why should this Lisa in this world be any different than the Lisas in hundreds of other worlds he’d visited?

--- 'But in the other worlds, your Lisa had either died or married already before you could get to her... this Lisa is the only one so far who still mourns and think of you' --a voice said in his head and he blocked it out.

“It’s okay,” he whispered, his eyes were calm and considering. “Take your time; make up your mind. Till you do, I’m not going anywhere. I will be waiting, Lisa. I promised I will explain everything.”

He turned and she saw him disappeared into the darkness. And all the while her heart hammered. Karl’s alive... Karl’s alive...

“Lisa? Lisa, are you okay?”

Straightening with a gasp of surprise, Lisa glanced back along the fence from where the deep male voice had emanated and found Rick strolling leisurely toward her.

How long have I been sitting here? I can’t believe I feel asleep leaning on this oak tree? Then the memory hit her... Karl’s alive!

“Rick, you startled me,” she scolded with a nervous little laugh. “You’re home early.”

“Not really, just the usually time as always, 6:30 am. What are you doing up so early? Usually I would have to put the coffee literally to your face to wake you up,” he said as he reached to help her up and drew her into his arms for a hug.

He knew something was wrong. He could feel her tensing up on him. He could hear the lie in her voice. How he wished she would confide in him. He didn't know how long he can hold on without going crazy.

“Come lets go back inside the house, you’re cold, almost freezing. If I didn’t know better I would say you spent the night sleeping out here.” He smiled and she felt each individual muscle in her body relax.

------

“Max,” Rick said when they met at their usual bar, sitting at their usual booth and drank their usual brand of beer. “I need your advice. It’s Lisa, she’s driving me crazy. I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”

In the two weeks since he had first found her cold, shivering and sleeping out in their backyard things between them had deteriorated.

----------- Flashback ------

“What are you saying exactly?” Rick said.

“Only that I need some time.” She risked looking at him and saw the hurt in his eyes. It almost broke her heart. “Please,” she whispered.

For a long minute he only looked at her. “All right. I won’t touch you again.”

Lisa felt tears sting her eyes. “Thank you.” The words caused her great pain. Knowing she was doing the right thing didn’t help at all.

------ End of Flashback --------

“What do you mean?” Max asked looking at his skipper who had sounded so forlorn.

Swallowing his beer, Rick sat it down and stared at it. “It’s like she’s hiding something from me and she’s always preoccupied like something is worrying her. But lately in the past couple of days, she’s gotten worse.”

Taking another swallowed of his beer, he continued. “Every little noise startles her and every night she wakes up crying or screaming about death, destruction and Karl Riber. I tried a couple of times to ask her but she brushed me off like I’m imagining things.”

“I knew we were rushing things between us a bit but everything felt right then. Now I’m not so sure anymore,” Rick finished and started at Max as if looking for solace.

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes