Title: Secret Vacation

Rating: Strong T – mostly things you would see/hear on the show

Disclaimer: Station 19 and its affiliated characters do not belong to me. I mean no copyright infringement. I only use them as a means to de-stress myself.

Summary: Set during The Dark Night (2x13). What if Vic and Ripley found a way to take that romantic vacation they talked about? Could they pull it off? Will anything stand in their way? Multi-chapter Vicley

Spoilers: All episodes

Author's Note: The idea for this story came to me immediately after (STOP reading here if you are not caught up with all episodes of Station 19) Ripley's death. As I sat in my bed, crying my eyes out (over a fictional character), I realized there was a way he could continue to live on in my head. And for me, that way is through writing. I've been working on this story steadily over the last week and decided to finally post the first chapter today because the next episode airs tonight and I just don't know if I'm emotionally ready to deal with the aftermath. So, I hope this story makes somebody happy after the last devastating episode.

Chapter 1

"Back to the fantasy vacation," Vic said.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep sigh. All she wanted to do was sleep for a very long time in her very comfortable bed with her very hot boyfriend next to her.

"What if we could make it work?" He asked.

She didn't bother to open her eyes. She was just too tired. "What?"

"A vacation."

"It's impossible," she mumbled.

"What if it's not?"

"It won't work," Vic said, opening her eyes.

"What if we could make it work?"

Vic sat up a little to face him. She looked into his eyes, trying to decide if he was serious or not. Staring at him while he was shirtless in her bed was a position Victoria Hughes had found herself in often in the recent months. She would never have imagined when she had first asked the chief to join her for a drink months ago, that he would be there in her bed. In the back of her mind, maybe she had hoped after their drink that they would have some kind of one night stand or something. After all, the chief was a fine specimen of a man, but she never thought it would go beyond that. She never thought that she would actually fall for him. And Victoria had fallen. Hard.

"It'll be too suspicious," she said.

She was the one who had brought up the idea of going on vacation together. After seeing how much fun Captain Herrera had in Hawaii, the thought of going away with Ripley to some sun-soaked destination was incredibly enticing. But they both knew it could never work out. Not when their relationship was a secret from almost everyone.

"Not if we do it right," Ripley stated.

"And what does that mean?"

He ran his hand down her arm, causing the hair on her arms to stand up.

"I've got vacation days that have been building up for years. And I checked your personnel file yesterday. You've got some days, too."

"You looked in my personnel file?" She asked with an eyebrow raised. She wasn't angry. She was more surprised that he had been so dedicated to this vacation mission. "Did you find anything interesting?"

"Just that you're a model firefighter who maybe sometimes talks too much."

She laughed. "That's true."

"Oh and now I know when your birthday is," he told her.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. And I can't figure out why I didn't know that before. Isn't that something two people usually share with each other?"

"We've been a little busy in bed," she reminded him, running a hand through his hair. She really loved his hair.

"I do enjoy that part," he said.

"So…" she prompted. "Back to our maybe we could make it work vacation?"

"Right. While you were working last night, I've been formulating a plan."

"A plan, huh?" She asked.

"Mhmm."

"A secret vacation plan? Does it include sun and beaches?"

"Maybe."

He didn't continue. Vic gazed at him excitedly, but no other words came out of his mouth.

"So...what is it? What's this plan of yours?"

"If you want to hear it, you have to give me a kiss," Ripley said, seduction dripping in his voice. "And make it a good one."

"What if I don't want to hear it?" She teased.

"Then I guess I'm going on vacation solo."

She leaned closer to him, letting her lips linger a centimeter away from his before finally making contact. She kissed him slowly, taking her time to savor the taste of him. The kiss was almost painfully slow and when she pulled away, she knew he wanted more. So did she. But she also wanted to hear his plan.

"Damn woman," Ripley groaned.

Vic was pretty pleased with herself. She loved that Ripley could be in charge of dozens of fire fighters at a scene, yelling out commands and keeping a level head, but that he became putty in her hands when they were in bed together.

"So...what's the plan?" Vic pressed.

"You expect my brain to work now?"

"You're the one who asked for it. Now tell me the plan or you won't get anymore."

He rested his arm on her hip. "Alright, here goes. I have more vacation days available to use than you. I'll take a week off. You can take four or five days in the middle of that week and no one will think that we're taking them off together. Vacations between firefighters overlap all the time. Nobody thinks anything of it."

"And when they ask you where you're going, what will you say?"

"To visit my sister."

"And what will I say?"

"You can tell everyone that you just need a vacation. Some time in the sun. We don't have to tell them we're going to the same place. It won't be suspicious unless we act like it's suspicious. We just have to get our stories straight and it will work out."

She thought about what he was saying. Could it actually work? Could they go on vacation together without anyone finding out about them? As she thought about the plan Ripley spelled out, she smiled. If he was willing to take the risk, so was she. Especially because the reward was going to be so sweet.

"You said sun," she said. "Does that mean we're going someplace warm?"

"Well, as cute as I think you'd look in a snowsuit, if you want sun, Eggy, I'll give you sun."

The way he said her silly nickname sent a shiver down Vic's spine. She loved that he had a special name that was just for him to use and no one else.

"I do like sun."

"So, what do you say? Are you in?"

She rested her chin on his chest. "Hell yeah."

He rolled on top of her, holding still for just a moment. Their eyes locked. Every time he looked at her, Vic felt like he was looking into her soul. She had never had that with anyone else. She had never met someone who, in such a short period of time, had gotten to know her so well. He closed the gap between them and kissed her so passionately that every other thought she had left her mind and all she could focus on was the feeling of his lips and his body pressed against hers.

Later on that day, Vic woke up alone. Although she was a little disappointed that Ripley wasn't with her anymore, she knew he had to go into work. That was the problem when she worked the night shift. Vic rolled over, inhaling the scent that Ripley had left on her pillow. It amazed her how he always managed to smell so damn good. There was a folded piece of paper on the bedside table. She reached for it and read it.

'Pack your bags, Eggy.' Underneath his words, he had drawn a sun.

Vic smiled. She had no idea what Ripley had planned, but clearly he had done some vacation planning while she slept. Vic grabbed her phone and saw that he had texted her a 'good afternoon' greeting. It was a little inside joke for when Vic had to work the night shift. He couldn't very well said 'good morning' when she would be waking up in the afternoon. Vic pressed the 'call' button, letting the phone dial his number. After a few rings, he answered.

"Good afternoon, beautiful."

Vic smiled, knowing he must be somewhere alone. If he had been with other firefighters, he wouldn't have been able to answer her call.

"Does that morning note you left me mean we're actually doing this?" Vic asked.

"We're actually doing this. I backdated my vacation request so it doesn't look like we asked for the time off on the same day. And your request was approved."

"Would that be because you're the one who approves all vacation time?"

"Hey, it's good to know someone in high places," he said.

She laughed. "So, where are we going on this secret vacation?"

"Ah, now that's a surprise."

"You're not going to tell me where we're going?"

"Nope."

"How am I going to know what to pack?"

"Well, I'll tell you this much," Ripley said. He lowered his voice a little. "You won't need your snowsuit."

"Does that mean sand and sun?"

Vic could hear a faint knock on a door through the phone.

"Sorry, I gotta go," Ripley said. "I've got a meeting."

"Wait, at least tell me…"

"We leave on Friday after your shift. See you later tonight."

Before Vic could respond, the phone went dead. She dropped the phone onto her bed, smiling. She didn't care where she was going as long as she got to spend time with Ripley in a place where they didn't have to worry about hiding.

After a moment of basking in the glow of a vacation high, Vic kicked off the covers and decided she had some shopping to do.

An hour later, Vic stood outside the mall entrance, looking around. She glanced at the time on her cell phone. If he didn't show in the next five minutes, she was going to do her shopping alone. After, of course, she sent him some pretty nasty text messages about not showing up for your best friend. As Vic slipped her phone back into her pocket, she saw him walking towards her.

"Finally!" She exclaimed.

"Um...I'm sorry," Travis said sarcastically. "You woke me from a dead sleep and told me you had a mall emergency. I got here as fast as I could."

"Sorry, but I need your help."

"At the mall? You need my help at the mall? Vic, what is going on?"
"We're going away together," she said, unable to keep the smile off her face.

"Wait...what? We're going away together? Where are we going?"

"No, not we as in you and me. We as in me and my naked man friend."

"You and Ripley?"

"Mhmm."

"You're taking a trip together?" Travis asked, trying to fit all of the pieces together in his mind. Vic hadn't exactly been clear on explaining herself.

"Yes!"

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know," Vic answered truthfully.

"So you're taking a secret trip with your secret boyfriend and the whole thing is a secret from everyone?"

Vic could hear the skepticism in his voice. Her smile disappeared.

"You sure know how to bring a girl down."

"Sorry. It just seems so...secretive. And how are you two going to pull this off? Isn't somebody going to notice you're taking the same vacation days?"

"Ripley has a plan." She sighed. "Look, we want to do this together. You know, something a normal couple would do."

"But you're not a normal couple. Normal couples don't have to be secrets from pretty much everyone in their lives."

"Why did I invite you here again?"

"Because you know I tell the truth when you ask me if your butt looks too big in a dress."

Vic rolled her eyes. "I'll have you know that Ripley loves my butt."

"I'm sure he does. Ok, so let's say that you two manage to pull this off with nobody finding out. You're ok with not knowing where you're going?"

"All I know is there's going to be sun. And lots of shirtless Ripley. That's all I need to know."
Travis paused as if contemplating what Vic was saying. "That's fair."

"Now, come on. I think this calls for a new bikini."

Vic grabbed Travis's arm and pulled him into the mall. Their first top was the swimwear store where Vic tried on a dozen different swimsuits. Even though Travis assured her she looked good in every single one, she wanted something special. This was, after all, the first vacation she and Ripley were taking together. She wanted to wow him. After finally selecting and purchasing two different swimsuits, she and Travis moved on to a department store. Vic wanted to buy a new dress.

"So, if you're going on vacation together," Travis said, sitting outside of a dressing room. Vic was trying on dress number one. It was a knee-length black dress with a v-neck opening in front. "Does that mean you're official?"

"We're still not telling anyone if that's what you mean," Vic answered from inside the dressing room.

"Well, I know that. But I mean, are you like...going steady?"

Vic opened the dressing room door. Her back was to Travis. The dress was mostly unzipped. She didn't have to say anything. Travis simply got off the comfortable, plush chair he was sitting in and zipped the dress the rest of the way.

"Do people say 'going steady' anymore?" Vic mocked.

"Come on, you know what I mean."

Vic turned so that Travis could see the dress from the front.

"I...I don't know," she answered. "I mean, we haven't ever really said the words exclusive or anything, but I know I'm not seeing anybody else and...and we said 'I love you' to each other so…"

"Wait!" Travis practically shouted, his face scrunched up in surprise. "You said I love you and you didn't tell me?"

"It's not really a big deal."

"Vic, I've known you for a long time and I don't think I've ever heard of you saying 'I love you' to somebody. This is a big deal."

"Ok, so maybe it's a little bit of a big deal for me, but I don't want to make it into a big deal. Ok?"

"Ok, ok. I'm happy for you, Vic. You deserve to be happy."

Vic looked at her reflection in the mirror.

"Now, what do you think of this dress?" She asked.
She looked down at herself, smoothing her hands over the fabric of the dress. She looked nice in it and the dress was comfortable. Travis looked her up and down.

"No," he stated.

"What's wrong with it?"

"You are going away with your super hot naked man friend, who is definitely more than a friend now, and you want to wear that? Girl, you could wear that to a funeral. You want something...wow. Something that's going to stop him dead in his tracks. Something…va-va-voom."

"And how many dresses have you bought in your lifetime?"

"None."

'Then how do you know all this?"

"I'm a romantic," Travis answered simply, as if that explained everything. "Stay here, I'll be right back."

Travis darted out of the dressing room. Vic called his name, but either he didn't hear, or he was ignoring her. When he returned a few minutes later, he was holding a red dress and a pair of red heels. He raised his eyebrows at Vic. She looked at the two things he was holding.

"Damn, you really are good at this," Vic complimented.

Twenty minutes later, Vic was walking out with a new dress and a new pair of shoes that were sure to make Ripley say 'wow.'