Leanne sighed and placed down the barrette she had been toying with for the past half hour. Looking in to the mirror she studied her reflection, a thin face framed by straight blue hair that curled slightly at the end. Most of the time her hair was very manageable, never really given her much trouble in the morning. That was until she actually needed to do something special to it. Pushing a lock of cyan hair behind her ear Leanne decided it looked fine.
"Not like anyone that's going to be there cares what you look like." She mused silently as she walked a way from the mirror and dresser. "All they really care about how well you know your stuff, which is something I agree to completely." And hopefully she did, thought Leanne nervously. She was still in shock that she had been invited to attend a major conference in Shino because of her work on decoding the invoiths in the Oblivia region.
Crossing the room she walked to the bed where she had left her suitcase earlier that morning. It was worn and tattered with the letters 'Prof. L. J Talga' on the front in black letters. Smiling slightly she undid the silver clasps and opened it.
Inside the suitcase was crammed with a variety of objects. "Documents, pens, jeans, socks…" Going down a mental list she shifted through the mass of necessities. Finding what she was looking for between a folder and a t-shirt she pulled out a thin, folded sheet of paper. Unfolding the letter Leanne began to reread the bold, black words that she had started to memorize.
'Dear Leanne J. Talga, we are pleased to inform you that you have been invited to attend the next N.A.O.A.H (National association of Archeology and History) conference in Snowpoint city of the Shino region. Your work in decoding and understanding involiths in the region of Oblivia impressed many of the senior members of the association and we would like to meet you and hear your theories concerning this subject. If you are interested in attending please contact us two weeks prior to the meeting.'
Leanne's heartbeat quickened as she read the letter. She was actually going! Finally a real conference, not at all like the small local ones she had gone to in the past. Folding the paper up she placed it back in to the folder before she suddenly heard a voice speak from behind.
"You all most done sweetheart?"
Startled, she spun around to see a well-muscled man in his late twenties or early thirties leaning against the door. He wore a well-fitted, classic ranger's uniform with uncombed black hair that stuck up at all angles and scruffy bread in desperate need of a shave. His dark eyes twinkled with amusement at the bluenet's reaction.
"RAND!" Leanne shouted with relief and anger pushing off a flash back of a rather sinister looking man with purple hair. "Do not do that again!"
In response to the scolding, Rand just offered a lopsided grin that melted most of her anger away. "Sorry I couldn't resist!" This earned him an eye roll from his wife as she turned back to her suitcase. The ranger walked over to where she was standing and sat on the bed next to her. Propping an elbow on the bedpost he rested his chin in the palm of his hand. "You look great, love." He commented lightly as he watched her reorganize the mess in the suitcase.
Leanne smiled at his complement-she knew she didn't look all too impressive-just a dark navy blazer and skirt as her attire was not at very stunning. But never the less Rand's words made the tips of her ears turn red.
"Thanks," Leanne said with a grin and arched her eyebrow playfully. "Now do you need something or are you just here to be annoying?"
Swinging his foot lightly against the frame of the bed, Rand just shrugged. "You never find me annoying," ignoring the disbelieving snort from his wife he continued. "Murph just called, he'll be here soon to pick you up." Rand watched her nod and shifted uncomfortably. "Are you sure you should be doing this?"
Biting her lip, Leanne looked at her husband, feeling a stab of guilt. That was the only thing that was damping her excitement of going to the conference; she'd be leaving her family for a whole week. Seven days in a different region without her daughter and husband. Taking a deep breath she pushed back the suitcase and sat beside Rand on the bed. "Rand… We've talked about this," she slipped her hand down his; feeling him relax at the touch and intertwined their fingers. "I don't want to leave you and Nema, but I have a responsibility as a Archeologist, it's my job to make sure that if I find something-anything-I have to share it with the rest of the world." She felt his grip tighten.
Rand looked down at their joined hands and ran his thumb over her knuckles. "I-I know Leanne, I know. But if something happened to you like with Purple eyes." He trailed off, tracing swirls on the back of her hand.
There he said his name, the name of the man-no beast- that had kidnapped her and her daughter. Leaving Rand near death after trying to fight them, using her little Nema as bait for Leanne to break down and give him the information about Zapdos. Her breath hitched remembering how close Purple Eyes had gotten to her, the sour smell of his breath as he griped her hips…
Leanne shut her eyes; no he was gone for good. There was no need to play back those nightmares in her head now. Keeping her eyes closed she muttered softly. "He's gone now Rand, Mewtwo sent him away." Carefully she rested her chin on his shoulder feeling the rough fabric of the uniform and the calming rise and fall of his breathing. "And thank God it brought you back…" Sighing she smelt a distinct sent of laundry detergent and coffee, it was so purely him. Rand said nothing but gently let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, the other feel naturally to her knee; while Leanne's slipped around his neck. The two clung to each other in mutual understanding. Rand gently rocked her back and forth before muttering into her ear.
"You should go say goodbye to Nema, she's going to miss you." Leanne nodded against his shoulder and slowly pulled away from his embrace. Her hand cupped his cheek as she kissed the stubble below his lip.
"Could you take my stuff downstairs while I go see her?" She asked quietly and felt him nod in response.
The corridor outside their room was much brighter than her bedroom; light reflecting in soft pools along the hardwood floors from the large windowsill gave a warm feeling to the house. Turning to the right Leanne walked down the hallway to the nearest door, hesitating slightly she raised her hand and knocked.
"Come in," came a muffled reply from inside. Pushing the door open she peered inside. The room was rather plain with light blue painted walls and white carpet with a matching blue and white bed. On the bed a six or seven year-old girl sat wearing a bright, multicolored sweater, jean cutoffs and red wired-rimmed glasses. The girl was holding a screwdriver and the remains of what Leanne assumed was a watch.
"Hi Mom," the girl said quietly as she glanced up from her work. "Do want something?"
Leanne shook her head. "I just came by to see you, Nema." Quickly the girl looked back down at her watch.
"Oh… Does that mean your leaving now?" Nema asked in a tone that broke her mother's heart. In two quick strides Leanne crossed the room and sat beside her daughter, carefully avoiding the watch pieces.
Brushing a lock of cyan colored hair identical to her own from Nema's face she began in a quite tone. "Not right now, but soon." She watched her give a small nod and felt another pang of guilt. "I'm so sorry sweetheart."
"You shouldn't be sorry Mom, you deserve this," Nema said. "I'm really proud of you-honestly-I just wish you wouldn't be gone for so long…"
Leanne frowned and pulled her daughter in to a hug, which she returned. "It's only for a week and you'll have your father with you the whole time." The girl held tighter on to her mother and nodded. She pulled away and looked down at her face. "Let's go down stairs, Murph will be here soon."
Nema stood up from the bed and walked out the room, knocking a few gears onto the ground. Silently Leanne bent down and picked up the scattered pieces and placed them back on the bed. She was really going to miss being in this room at night to tuck her daughter in, working in her study or just sitting on the couch watching TV with her husband. Sighing she walked out of the room and closed the door, it was too late to turn back now. For a moment Leanne just stood on the balcony and leant against the banister. From this height she could see Rand and Nema walking down the stairs. Rand looked up from where he was placing down her suitcase to see his daughter leaping from the last step. He smiled widely at Nema sweeping her into a hug and spun her around. Hearing her daughter and husband's laughing sent waves of warmth from her heart, she was so lucky to have them both in her life.
XxX
Leanne stepped down from the porch with her suitcase clutched tightly in her right hand, she waved to the black jeep as pulled into the lawn of their house. Parking the jeep a rather plump man with mousy brown hair emerged from car. Stepping forward to greet him, she quickly gave him a one-armed hug.
"It's good to see you Murph!" Leanne said to the man named Murph, who happily returned the hug but gave a nervous glance to her husband who was standing behind them. The ranger just smiled to Murph not taking any offensive and held out his hand for him when the man let go of his wife.
"It's been a while, how's things going at the Union?" Rand inquired as he shook his hand in a greeting.
"Oh, hectic as always, Professor Hasting is keeping me busy for sure!" Murph chuckled. "Suppose that's a good thing though."
"That's debatable." The ranger mused as he remembered his own experience with the prickly scientist. "So you here to Leanne away with you to Shino?" He asked arching an eyebrow. Murph quickly reddened.
The man began to stutter. "No sir! W-Well yes, well I'm meaning not like that!" Rand just grinned looking from the Union worker to a slightly blushing Leanne.
"Just teasing Murph! Are you leaving now?"
The man who was still regaining his composure nodded. "Yes, in fact I'll take your luggage and put in the trunk." Ignoring a protest from Leanne, Murph pulled her suitcase from her hand and quickly hurried down to the car.
Leanne turned to her husband giving an accusatory glance. "You didn't need to tease him like that!" She scolded while crossing her arms. Rand just offered that same lopsided grin that she was so fond of.
"Sorry Le, just trying to lighten the mood." The man said with a shrug, before his smile faded. "Do think I offended him?"
Leanne sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. As much as she loved her husband, he had a thick skull. "Rand, you're so… Dense." Lifting her hand from her face, she placed it on Rand's chest. She couldn't feel his skin through the thick fabric of the uniform, but she could feel the steady pounding of his heart. Keeping her right hand on his heart, Leanne slid her other up his chest and gently pulled Rand closer to her by his collar. "Arceus, please don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."
Rand, who had stayed motionless through this exchange spoke in a low, husky voice. "I wont if you don't." Carefully he gripped her waist, feeling her body heat through the cotton of her suit. "Deal?"
"Deal." Leanne murmured as her breath hitched, her hands clasped around his collar. Leaning forward, Rand gently slipped his mouth around his wife's bottom lip. A warm tingle grew in her stomach at the kiss; Rand was always so soft and caring about her, never driven by lust or the thirst to pleasure himself. Each kiss like the first the shared so many years ago. It brought back memories of a much colder place with snow.
"Ewww!" Came the slightly disturbed yell from their daughter, who dramatically covered her eyes. Leanne smiled in to their kiss and deepened to mortify Nema more. Nema gagged, pretending to vomit.
Pulling away gently, Rand mumbled against her lips. "You should go."