This is my first ever Fan-fiction and I hope everyone one who reads it finds something they like about it. I do not own any of seaQuest characters, but the story is my own. I get nothing out of writing these stories except entertainment and relief from a hectic life.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Captain Nathaniel Bridger looked over at the clock reading 2:41am and reached for his PAL.

"Yes, Jonathan what is it? Bridger asked

"Sir. Admiral Noyce is on the line and says he needs to speak with you immediately."

" Send it to my room, thanks. Admiral what is so important that you cant wait for a decent hour to tell me."

"Sorry but I have some bad news. I just received word that Lawrence Wolenczak was killed two hours ago. A group of radicals who did not approve of the World Power Project put a bomb in his car. I thought it would be best if Lucas heard it from you." Admiral Noyce waited for it all to sink in and waited for a reply. Bridger turned off the vidlink.

How was he going to break this to Lucas, true he and his dad did not have the best relationship but Lucas still loved him. In the last two months since Bridger came on board he had gotten quite attached to the young cocky teen. He was not afraid to admit that he even thought of Lucas as a surrogate son. He knew Lucas was going to need a lot of love and support. He decided to tell Dr. Westphalen first so she could help him break the news first thing in the morning.

Nathan's alarm went off at 7:00 and he knew he could not put off the sorrow that was about to came and left to meet Kristen. As they slowly approached Lucas' room Nathan's heart began to sink just thinking of the pain he was about to cause those always cheerful blue eyes.

Nathan gently knocked on Lucas door and waited for the reply. Not getting a reply he slowly opened the door so see Lucas fast asleep in bed. His hair was a mess and his covers tossed to the ground. Bridger spied Darwin swimming in the tube by Lucas's bed watching him sleep. He wondered if Darwin always did that. The dolphin loved to follow Lucas around. Knelling next to his bed Nathan gently shook Lucas awake while calling his name.

"Lucas, you need to wake up, there is something we need to talk about it is really important. Lucas come on open your eyes." As Lucas began to rouse he sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes looking way younger then his fifteen years. Fifteen way to young to be suffering all this pain and heartache.

"Lucas I have some bad news" Kristen and Nathan sat on either side of Lucas as his gaze passed between them. "Lucas I got a call from Admiral Noyce early this morning. Lucas I am so sorry but your father was killed last night."

"How" a whisper barely loud enough to hear escaped the boys lips.

"Sweetie, he was killed by a sniper. The UEO believes that it was from some radical group that was against the world power project. Kristen stated slowly while embellishing Lucas in a hug.

Lucas did not know what to say or think. His world the father who yes had not always been their, but his dad none the less was gone. The only parent he had since his mom died three years earlier. He had no one left. He missed his father but could not help wondering what about me, what am I going to do.

Lucas looked up at Nathan and asked, "What happens now?"

"The funeral is at teh end of the week in New Cape Quest, If you want we can go with you, but if you want to go alone we will respect that to." Captain Bridger said. "We love you and will be their for you"

"Am I going to have to leave SeaQuest and be put in foster care" Lucas questioned as his big blue eyes filled with tears and his head leaned into the Captian's shoulder.

"I promise I will do everything in my power to keep you on SeaQuest. Why don't we go to the mess you need to eat. And I am not taking No for an answer le'ts go." Kristin could not help but smile to herself Nathan and Lucas had only known each other for about 6 weeks but he already learned Lucas' habits and behavior. It was heart warming to watch those two together. They were like father and son one could not exist without the other. She knew that Lucas was the reason Nathan had stayed on SeaQuest. What would he do if Lucas had to leave, would he want to stay or leave?

Finally the day of the funeral arrived. Lucas dressed in a suit walked behind the casket between Bridger and Kristen. He was glad they came he did not know how he would have done it without them. he had recognized most of the poeple at his fathers funeral other then the Noyce's.

That night back at the hotel. Admiral Noyce stopped by.

" Nathan, Kristin I know this is a bad time but we need to discuss what is going to happen to Lucas. As a ward of the state he cannot continue to live on SeaQuest. The state sees SeaQuest as to dangerous a place for him to stay and without a legal guardian onboard they won't allow it. I'm sorry. "

"Well what if his legal guardian was a member of the SeaQuest crew, then could he stay" Kristen asked.

"That may work, but this cannot be a temporary, whoever adopts Lucas will have to be willing to take care of him permanently, not just to keep him on SeaQuest." Looking at Kristen and Nathan, Bill wondered who would volunteer first he knew they both loved Lucas. Noyce knew that Nathan needed Lucas as much as Lucas looked up to Bridger.

"I'll adopt Lucas" both Nathan and Kristen said simultaneously. Looking at each other they laughed lightly.

"We both can Lucas will need both a mother and father figure in his life and we can do that." Kristen said before Nathan had a chance to say anything.

"So when do we tell Lucas?" Nathan asked.

"Why don't we wait until we are sue that we can get custody first then we can ask if he wants us for parents okay." Nathan nodded agreeing with Kristen.

Nathan decided that it would be best for everyone to dock seaQuest for repair to give Nathan and Kristin time to get the adoption in order. Though they were not a couple, they both loved Lucas and were willing to share the responsibility. That gave them two months to get everything done. Nathan had not told Kristin yet but he feared that they may need to leave seaQuest to get custody. He was ready if need be, but he wondered if Kristin was. It took them two weeks to get a hearing for custody now they just had to talk to Lucas and then go before Judge Hendricks.

Later that night

"Lucas, can you come downstairs so we can talk to you for a minute please?" Kristen called from the bottom of the stairs of the house Nathan had rented for their stay at New Cape Quest.

"Hey Doc, Captain what's up? Oh, can I go hang out with Ben and Tim tonight? We are going to go see a movie?" Lucas asked with a sheepish grin.

"Lucas, we need to have a serious talk first. The last two weeks Kristen and I have been working on getting custody of you." Lucas got a confused and hurt look on his face. "Lucas I know what you have are thinking this is not just to keep you on seaQuest. We both really care about you and we want to be your parents and take care of you. Bu,t we won't go through with the adoption if you don't want us to, it is your decision. There is a hearing in two days: you have till then to decide. What do you think?" Nathan asked.

Lucas sat there, mouth open and a questioning look on his face. After a few moments he whispered, "Why? Why do you want me? My parents never really wanted me so why so you?"

"I can't speak for your late parents, Lucas, but both Nathan and I love you so very much and would love to share custody of you. But only if that is what you want?" Kristin asked with a motherly voice.

"Yes, I would love to be your son. You guys, in the two months I have known you, you have been more like parents to me than my real parent had been my entire life," Lucas said excitedly with the first smile they had seen on his face since his father's death.

The court day could not come soon enough they were all so sure that Lucas would be allowed to be adopted by Nathan and Kristin.

"We are here today to decided the custody on one Lucas Michael Wolenczak, age 15. I am showing that both Kristin Westphalen and Captain Nathan Bridger are seeking custody of the child, neither of whom have any blood relation. Well, this is very unusual it is hard to find homes for any teenager but to have two willing people is a first in my court. I understand you both work aboard the seaQuest along with the young Mr. Wolenczak, and that you have only know the boy for two months. Yet, you are willing to adopt him may I ask why?" the judge asked, only making eye contact with Kristin and Nathan and not even bothering to look at the now nervous Lucas.

Nathan was the first to speak up," Your honor although it is true, I have only known Lucas for two months, it has been long enough to love him. He is so smart and kind. You should see the way his eyes light up when he finishes a project he has been working on. I lost my son and wife over the last six years ago, andit made me had cut myself off from the world. I was asked to Captain the seaQuest as a favor to an old friend. When I met Lucas, I realized I needed him as much as he needed me, and he has been like a second son to me since I met him. I would be honored for him to really be my son. I would do anything for Lucas, no questions asked."

Kristin's eyes glistened as she listened to the Captain's speech and only added, "The same goes for me, as the doctor of the ship, I am allotted to take care of everyone on board, but Lucas is special, and he means a lot to Nathan and me."

The judge looked at both Nathan and Kristin knowing their words were sincere. "This is very touching, but I have to tell you that unless you two are married you cannot share custody of Lucas. Only one of you can be the legal guardian. So, Lucas, do you want to chose, or I can do it for you?" Judge Hendrix asked looking at Lucas for the first time.

"I don't know, sir. I care about Kristin and the Captain very much; I would not know how to chose between them, so I will leave the decision up to you sir," Lucas said as his voice quivered.

"While both of you have amazing qualifications for raising Lucas, I have to look at this from a teen's point of view. Given that Lucas is a fifteen year old boy and needs a good male role model, I will give custody of Lucas Wolenczak to Nathan Bridger. You can sign the papers and take him home today." With that the Judge got up and walked out of the courtroom.

"I'm sorry, Doc, I knew I could not have decided, but you are still very important to me and like a mom no matter what the judge said," Lucas stated, He grabbed her hand and he added jokingly, "So, Dad, Mom, what are we going to do to celebrate?"

After they finally finished filling out all of the paperwork Lucas, Kristin, and Nathan decided to have a celebratory dinner with the crew. They went out for Lucas's favorite good and much to Kristin's dislike, it was burgers and fries.

"So now your the Captain's kid; what's it like"" Ben asked with a laugh.

"Well, its only been a couple of hours, Why don't you ask me again in a couple weeks? By then, you will have gotten me into some kind of trouble," Lucas shot back with a laugh.

Ortiz wanting to join the interesting conversation before him and asked, " So, are you going to change your last name or keep that mouthful you have now?"

"I don't know. I never thought about it, I mean sure Captain Bridger is my dad now. But. I don't know; its something to think about, and of course, it would be up to Dad, not just me," Lucas answered as everyone suddenly become engrossed in the conversation.

"Lucas, if you want to use my last name, I would be honored. But, don't use do it for me: I would never push you. It is all your decision." Nathan stated while looking touched that Lucas had called him "dad" so quickly.

They all sat around the table with many different conversations going on at once until Lucas suddenly let out a big yawn. Noticing how tired Lucas looked and how late it was getting, everyone decided to call it a night. It took them 30 minutes to reach the house, and by that time Nathan saw that Lucas was out. Laughing to himself, it never ceased to amaze him how young Lucas looked when asleep with his hair falling over his eyes.

Gently Nathan stroked Lucas's hair and face, "Lucas, we're home; come on, wake up. Come on just for a couple minutes to get into the house."

Slowly opening his eyes, he eased out of the car and leaned on his new dad as they walked inside. Nathan wrapped his arm around Lucas's shoulder. The second they arrived at Lucas's bed, he was asleep, so Nathan gently removed his shoes and tucked him under the covers. Nathan just stood there for a few moments watching Lucas sleep this was the happiest he had ever felt since Robert and Carol had died. Nathan wanted to do something special for Lucas that did not have to do with seaQuest. But the question was, what could that be?

This is strictly a A/U. Please tell me what you think should I continue or not? I have never written a Fan- Fic before and I really hope you like it please comment and rate.