fanfic_name = Time of Our Lives

chapter = Chapter 5

author = lisav

Rating = AP15

Type = Adventure


fanfic = New Perspectives

INTRO...

"Welcome back home!" Minmei said enthusiastically and smiled warmly at Lisa.

As much as she disliked Miss Macross, she couldn’t help it but smiled back and accept the bouquet of flowers from her. She had to admit it to herself that Minmei did have an contagious smile that seemed to project sincerity and warmth.

Once Minmei passed her and turned to Rick, Lisa closed her hand into a tight fist and she wondered why.

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

Max, Ben, Lisa and he had refused to believe that they've been MIA for two months. Each of them knew they had been gone for only four days yet judging from all the changes he'd seen on the SDF-1 and especially with Earth being only two days away the unbelievable was slowly sinking in.

Five days!

It's been five days since he'd last seen her, the girl of his dream and the love of his life-- Minmei!

Five days and it still hurts like hell as if it just happened last night. Rick sighed and laid the picture he had been holding and staring at for the last two hours down next to him on the sofa.

Closing his eyes, his head dropped back onto the sofa and he took another deep breath.

Minmei...

He had so many things he wanted to share with her, to talk to her about and let her know how much he had missed her. But he hadn't been able to get a hold of her either at her aunt and uncle's restaurant or the Hotel Palace where she now lived.

Ironic that she was the first person he had wanted to see upon his returned. But she had ended up being the last he'd seen. In fact, if it hadn't been for the reception welcoming them home after their escaped from the Zentraedi he wouldn't have seen her at all.

When he had seen her walking towards them from the other side of the stage; all he could think of was grabbing her and holding her, never letting go until the end of time.

But like thousands of her fans, he just stood there and stared at her in awe. She was so unbelievably beautiful, poised and comfortable in front off all the flashing bulbs that he had never felt more proud of her than that moment.

Minmei...

She simply took his breath away.

When it was his turn to receive his bouquet of flowers from her, he had expected a hugged or even a kissed on the cheek for she was after all his girlfriend but he got neither; instead what he got was the customary handshake and a 'welcome back' smile that she had given to Lisa, Ben and Max.

He couldn't believe it that she had greeted him like they were strangers!

Didn't she miss me at all?

As the evening worn on he realized that the reception might have for them but it was Minmei who was the real star. She was the main attraction while Lisa, Max, Ben and he were just the sideshow.

As he sat there watching her sing her heart and soul out to the audience, he knew that he had lost her. She wasn't just his anymore. She belonged to everyone now and tears of loneliness blurred his vision but he had refused to let them fall.

He knew he had a sad-pathetic smile on his face as he watched the audience hung on her every word, gesture and smile but he didn't care.

He should have know and been prepared but he wasn't and he hated himself for loving her, wanting her and longing for her.

He had even hated her for a moment there too because he had never seen her to be that happy, alive or content before.

Lisa must have sensed his mood or something for she had turned to look at him and asked if he was okay.

Without even looking at her, he had snapped at her and told her to mind her own business. He hadn't meant to snap at her. It just happened because he was so angry and hurt that he had wanted to lash out at someone or something and she just happened to be in the way.

Lisa... Why hadn't she just minded her own business? Dammed!

Opening his eyes, Rick knew he had to go and apologize to her somehow. He'd already put it off for too long. He just hoped that when she sees him, she'll give him a chance to explain himself before walking away.

Standing up, he walked into his bathroom and took a long cold shower, shaved and threw on civilian clothes-- blue jean and a navy t-shirt.

He was about to leave his quarters when he realized he didn't know when Lisa would be done with her shift.

He picked up his phone and called the duty station. He was told that Commander Hayes's shifted had already ended an hour ago. He thanked the operator and decided to go by her quarters.

-----------

When Lisa had finished her shift she had gone strait to her quarters, changed into a light green sun dress, traded her heels for a flat sandal and came to the park; for she had decided to stop hiding. It's time for her to go out in public more, only if it's just to the park.

She knew she should have taken the trio's offered to catch a movie with them. But as much as she liked them they were a bit too high strung and she didn't think she could handle all that excitement and drama at the moment so she had declined.

It's nice to be surrounded by people, noises and life again...

Lisa smiled to herself as she watched people passed by. She especially enjoyed watching the children play, chased each other around and laughed without fear of the future.

Watching them, Lisa felt happy yet sad at the same time for she feared for them. She feared for all of them because she had seen the enemy and knew their strength....

Stop being so pessimistic Lisa!

Shaking her head, she turned away from the playground and saw Claudia and Roy walking hand-in-hand some twenty feet away from her. She didn't wave or called out to them because she knew they wouldn't have seen or heard her for they were lost in each other.

They looked so happy together.

Lisa knew this was the first time they had time together in weeks and she wanted them to enjoy themselves.

Anyone looking at them would think that they were an odd couple-- the deadly martial art bridge officer and the playboy of the VT pilots. But Lisa knew Roy and Claudia were perfect for each other. She had known them for almost seven years now and she liked them both very much and wished them nothing but the best.

Riber loved taking walks in the park too... Stop it, Lisa! He's gone.

"Why the long face, Lisa?"

She was so deep in thoughts that she hadn't noticed Rick. His question had startled her and she snapped back at him, none too gently.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you," he answered quickly. "I even went by your quarter but you weren't there so I decided to take a walk and here you are."

"Oh," and she arched one of her perfectly shaped eye brow at him as if in disbelief.

"I really did, Lisa. Listen, I was looking for you because I wanted to apologize for my behavior at the reception. I don't know what got into me," he said and saw Lisa giving him a 'yea whatever' look.

What the heck, Hunter? Just tell her the truth!

"Okay, the truth was, I was mad at Minmei and I took it out on you," he said quietly and came to sit next to her. His shoulders dropped and he looked horrible as if he hadn't been sleeping.

She could see sadness lurking in his cobalt blue eyes and her sympathy went out to him.

"I knew that, Rick. There's nothing to forgive.” she said after a while and looked down at her hands resting on her lap.

"Yea, I guess it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that especially after the way she had greeted me, like we were strangers," and he snorted at himself in disgust. He leaned back on the bench, almost slouching.

Lisa said nothing for there was nothing to be said that could have changed the situation. So they sat in silence, comforted by each other's presence and watched people go about their business.

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

"Look. Over there! OH MY GOD!" said Sammy excitedly.

"Where? Did you spot another cute guy, Sammy? Oh, I hate you! Why do you always have to spot the cute ones first?" said Vanessa, looking pissed.

"No you dork!" said Kim and physically turned Vanessa's head to where Rick and Lisa were sitting.

"Oh!" exclaimed Vanessa and her hand literally flew to cover her mouth in shock. "Am I really seeing what I'm seeing? I'm not dreaming am I, guys?"

"Yes!" "No!" said Sammy and Kim sat the same time.

"Oh no," cried Sammy as if she'd just remembered something very important.

"This means that Lieutenant Lake won. You guys know her; she's that annoying tech from the Daedalus flight deck, the one who's always wearing her hair in a tight bun like she's attending church."

"Oh, her," Vanessa said after a long paused and her face suddenly lit up like a light bulb. "Sammy you just think she's annoying because you're jealous of her!"

"I certainly am not jealous of her, Van! She has nothing that I could possibly be jealous of and you know it." With that, Sammy stuck her tongue out at Vanessa.

Not to be done in by Sammy, Vanessa quickly retorted, "Yes you do! You're jealous because she has beautiful green eyes like Lisa and you know you've been wishing your eyes were green forever!"

"No, not necessarily," said Kim thoughtfully and looking very serious that Sammy and Vanessa quickly stopped their bickering and turned to stare at her.

"Just because they're sitting next to each other does not necessary mean that they're on a date. They could have met each other accidentally at the park and decided to share the same bench."

"Of course, they're on a date, Kim. Why else would Lisa decline our invitation earlier?" said Sammy looking back and forth between Vanessa and Kim as if wanting them to agree with her.

"Well, I don't know about you two but I'm going over there and find out for sure," said Vanessa and she started walking purposely toward Rick and Lisa.

Kim and Sammy watched in horror for a couple of minutes but they quickly snapped out of it and followed Vanessa like dutiful groupies.

Oh no!

Lisa groaned as she saw the trio walking toward them from across the open green lawn.

Judging by the determined look on Sammy's face, she knew they were up to their usual mischief either confirming a gossip or will be starting one of their own.

Turning to look at Rick she realized that he must have seen them too for he had sat up strait on the bench.

When Rick had seen the three bridge bunnies walking toward them he had reacted immediate by sitting up strait and preparing himself for another round of their silly and embarrassing questions.

They were attractive girls, did their jobs well and were a bit silly in his opinion but were always civil to him therefore he does not disliked them. He just hated their nosiness into his personal life.

"Hi Lisa, Lieutenant Hunter," said Vanessa calmly and she smiled warmly at them which only piqued Lisa's suspicious mind a notch higher.

"We were on our way to the movie and we just happened to see the both of you sitting here with nothing to do but stared at people....”

“So we came to see if you guys would like to come with us, unless the both of you already have plans to do T-O-G-E-T-H-E-R?" Kim interrupted Vanessa none too gently and had stretched the "together" quiet obviously that Lisa quenched.

"No!" "Yes!" Rick and Lisa both said at the same time. They quickly looked each other in horror for they just realized what their little outburst had just done. Lisa blushed while Rick groaned.

Finally Lisa said, "No, thank you girls. I just came to enjoy the view and Rick just got here..." Looking at her watch she quickly added, "if you girls were going to catch the show at eighteen hundred, you better hurry. It's ten till."

"Oh you are so right, Lisa. Come on, I've been dying to see this new movie!" cried Sammy as she started walking away from them.

Kim knew Sammy had already forgotten why they had stopped to talk to Rick and Lisa.

Airhead!

"Bye, Lisa... Rick," Kim and Vanessa both said and they smiled at each other. They giggled childishly as they ran after Sammy who was a good distance ahead of them already.

As they left, Lisa heard Kim saying something to Vanessa about Lieutenant Lake not winning yet. She asked Rick if he knew what they were talking about and he shrugged his shoulder.

"You can never be sure with them. They're a whirlwind. I don't know how you and Claudia managed to stay sane with them around," Rick answered with not much of an interest in his voice.

When the trio had completely disappeared from their sight Rick turned to Lisa and asked, "may I buy you a cup of coffee, commander?"

"I'd like that, Rick," Lisa answered quietly and looking up she caught his eyes staring at her.

"Friends?" she asked with a smile and held out a hand shake to him. He smiled back and accepted her hand shake without hesitation. Together they got up and walked side by side to the café across from the park.

... Two Days Later ....

"Did you know that Rick and Lisa were spotted at Park Café, together? As in sitting at the same table and laughing." Claudia said as she moved and snuggled deeper into Roy's embrace.

Leave it to Roy to turn today into a sleeping day for the both of them while everybody else was out, up and celebrating the SDF-1's safe return to Earth after almost two years in outer space.

"Claud, I thought you didn't listen to gossips," Roy said as he kissed her forehead.

"I only listened when I have fifty bucks ridding on it, sugar."

Roy laughed as he held Claudia's face in his hands and stared into her dark chocolate eyes shining with love for him. "If you must know, it wasn't a date. Heard it strait from Rick himself," and he moved from kissing her forehead to her lips.

How he loved her. She had stood by him through thick and thin and never once did she complain. She understood him like no one else. She was his best friend, his lover and his soul mate.

He had known many women before her; some were even prettier but none of them had ever held his attention for more than a month. He had known Claudia was different from the moment their eyes first met.

Like most couples, they had their share of good times and bad times. They even separated for awhile but no matter who he'd been with, it was always Claudia whom he dreamed of at night and thought of during the day.

Suddenly he knew, today was the day.

"Claudia, marry me?" he asked and looked deeply into her dark brown eyes.

"What?" Claudia blinked in disbelief.

Surely she must have heard him wrong for didn't they agreed that they weren't going to think about marriage yet until after the war?

Getting up from the bed he and Claudia had shared in the last four hours he found his trouser on the floor and picked it up, pulled something out of the pocket and came back to the bed.

He pulled her to the edge of the bed and got down on is knees.

"Marry me Claudia. Please say yes so I can take you back to bed again, baby." He opened the little black velvet box and pulled out the two carat diamond solitaire he had been carrying with him for the last two months.

Tears blurred Claudia's eyes as she looked at Roy.

How she loved this man. He knows her like no one else.

She smiled wickedly at him and said, "Take me back to bed, flyboy and make an honest woman out of me!"

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

Rick had mixed feeling when he found out that he was selected to pilot Miss Macross to visit her family in Tokyo, Japan. A part of him had leaped up with excitement at the thought of seeing her again and spending two hours alone with her in the plane.

But another part of him was resentful and hurt for she had never made any contact with him before or after the reception; not even a phone call!

And here they were now, alone once again just like before when he had first met her. But this time she was asleep and has been the minute they were airborne.

He had tired waking her up but she had told him that she was so very tired from the constant late night of rehearsals, dinner parties and signing autographs that all she wanted to do was sleep and that she'll talk to him later, if he didn't mind.

If he didn't mind? Of course he had minded! But what could he say she was asleep again before he could even give her an answer. When will you have time for us, Minmei? I guess I am just a friend after all. Just a big brother...

He hoped wherever Lisa was she was having a better day than he. He knew through Sammy that she had accompanied Captain Gloval earlier that day to an undisclosed location to brief the United Earth Government on their journey.

He wondered why she hadn't told him when they had met in the elevator last night when he was coming to his shift and she was getting off hers.

Since their coffee at Park Café, they had become in a sense friends. They still fought over the tac net, well only once these past two days but on the whole they've been pretty civil to each other.

I hoped she had a good night's sleep before she left with Captain Gloval. She had looked pretty tired last night and very tensed; as if she was worried about something. I should have asked her if she was feeling okay instead of just staring at her.

"Rick, are we there yet?" Minmei asked from behind him and he turned slightly back to look at her.

"We should be landing in twenty minutes, Minmei. Did you have a good nap?"

He saw her stretched, nodded and gave him one of her beautiful smile that had always left him high and weak in the past for he had believed that it was meant only for him. But now he knew better and it didn't affect him as deeply as it once did.

He gave her a quick smile and turned back to keep his eye on the sight in front of him when he heard her undo her seat belt and scoot up from her seat.

He wondered what she was doing and was about to ask when he felt her arms wrapped around him, her breath hot on his neck and her perfume pouring into every cell in his body.

When did she take to wearing such strong and sweet perfume? Why hadn't she stuck to her old one?

He had like her old perfume very much because it had reminded him of summer roses. He even remembered telling her so and she had laughed at him.

"Umm... Rick, my Rick... you smell good. Thank you for letting me sleep; you don't know how much I needed that little nap. There’s just so many things to do that I hardly ever have enough sleep anymore. I knew you would understand."

Then she squeezed her arms tighter around him.

"I'm so happy that you're safe, Rick. When Commander Fokker came to tell me that you were missing and probably dead, I was so worried. I didn't go back to the studio for a whole day. But you're here now so everything's back to normal again, right?" she asked and waited for him to answer her.

"Rick? Are you okay? Why aren't you answering me?" she asked again as she released her arms around his neck and sat back in her seat with a pout.

Shocked, angry and not quiet sure how he should answer her without begging her to love him; he played for time and gave a lame excuse.

"I'm sorry Minmei. I was busy checking the navigational monitor to make sure we were still on course. You better put your seat belt back on for we're about to land real soon."

She did as he suggested but stared at the back of his head and wondered what had just happened. She had singled him out to let him know that he was special to her and he hadn't even appreciated it.

What's going on here?

Worse he had deliberately ignored her question which was not like him at all.

Rick always answered me and paid attention to me no matter what.

She narrowed her eyes because she didn't like it at all that he had not been as excited as he should been in seeing her and being with her again after so long.

Then in her most pleasant voice she once again tried to engage him in a conversation.

"I know you're going to love Tokyo, Rick because I'm going to show you all my favorite places! And I can't wait to see my parents again. Do you think they'll recognize me? I mean it's been almost two years since I last saw them and so much has changed. Who would have thought that my dream would come true millions of miles from Earth?"

"They're your parents, Minmei. How could they not recognize you?" Rick answered as he slowly maneuvers the plane to a stop on the designated spot at Tokyo International.

Rick was bored, tired and his feet hurt. He felt like screaming at her to get her to stop dragging him around to the parks, museums and buildings that she remembered. But she had been so excited to show him everything that he didn't want to spoil her mood.

Therefore he tried to look interested in everything she was showing him and saying to him.

I can't believe we've been running around in Tokyo for only three hours when it feels like three days!

"Here we are, Rick," Minmei said and pointed to a building with a bright, red dragon logo on top of its' door.

"This is my parent's restaurant, the Red Dragon. It's been in our family for three generations. Oh look, there's Lee, my dad's assistant!"

Rick watched as Minmei run across the street to the restaurant and grabbed the elderly Asian man who had just come out of the restaurant. He could tell that the old man was just about to light a cigarette when Minmei threw herself on him.

He watched their excited conversation and saw the old man running back into the restaurant. "Come on, Rick!" Minmei yelled across the street to him and followed the old man inside.

With nothing else to do, he crossed the street and followed them.

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

"No! You will not return to that ship!"

"But... but... I'm somebody there, Father. I'm Miss Macross and I have a recording contract not to mention a movie if my album does well. You don't understand... I need to go back," Minmei cried, looking to her mother for help.

"You are somebody here too, Minmei. You're my only child. It is you who does not understand. This restaurant will belong to you someday and you need to learn how to run it," Mr. Lynne said without pausing or listening to Minmei's tearful pled.

"Minmei, if you go back who will look after you? You're barely eighteen. You're too young to be on your own," her mother said quietly with concern in her voice.

"I'll look at her Aunt Linda," said a voice from behind them. Minmei suddenly grasped and whirled around.

It can't be?

"Kyle?" she asked not quiet believing what her eyes were seeing.

The tall, athletic man with strait long black hair and black eyes only nodded and opened his arms to her. She ran into them without hesitation.

"Kyle, Kyle, I've missed you!" Minmei cried with happiness as he picked her up and whirled her around while she laughed joyously and held on to him for dear life.

Kyle's back....

It's been four years since she'd seen him. Yet he hadn't changed at all, still as handsome, wild and mysterious as ever. Kyle was "the first" to her in many things-- her first kiss, her first boyfriend and protector. Kyle, the man she knew her parents secretly hoped she would marry someday.

Rick hated him on sight. He wanted to smash his face in and tear Minmei away from him.

Who does he think he is? Her long lost love?

Why didn't you greet me like that at the reception, Minmei? He silently sent that thought to her but he knew she did not hear him, had never heard him and probably never will.

He watched as Minmei held Kyle's hand and led him over to where he was.

"Kyle, this is my friend Rick Hunter; he's a pilot with the Robotech Defense Force. Don't hate him, okay I would not be here if he had come along and saved me," she said happily and gave Rick a wink while still holding Kyle's hand.

"Rick, this is Kyle, my cousin and best friend. He knew me since I was born and has always looked out for me. He doesn't like the military much so don't take it personally if he's a bit hard on you."

Rick gave Kyle a nod and tried not to let his jealousy showed as he held out his hand to him in a hand shake. But instead of taking Rick's hand, Kyle crossed his arms and stared at Rick with contempt.

Well so much for subtlety. Rick thought and withdrew his hand shake.

Minmei smiled at the both of them and said in her most innocent voice, "I want you both to be friends for I will not tolerate anything less, okay? Now I'm going to go and pack a few of my things I want to take back with me to the SDF-1."

She turned and hugged Kyle again before she walked gracefully out of the room.

Great, my day just went from bad to worse. What did I ever do to deserve this? Rick though silently and walked away from Kyle and Minmei's parents as they were busy talking to each other.

Probably giving him their blessing to marry their little girl; shut up, Hunter!

How he wished he was anywhere else but where he was.

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes