Title: Pondering (1/1)

Author: DarkJaina

Rating: G

Summary: Marco ponders (I know, scary!).

Timeline: Definitely pre-49, probably pre-45, too. Anytime before then.

Spoilers: Unless you've missed the glaringly obvious fact that Jake and Cassie are together and Rachel and Tobias are together. . . .

Category: Romance because he's thinking about love, get over it!

Archive: Yes to anyone if you ask me first

Disclaimer: Marco, Jake, Rachel, Cassie, Tobias, Ax, and any other characters mentioned in this story do not belong to me. They are the property of K.A. Applegate, Scholastic, and each other.

Author's Note: ::checking off on fingers:: Okay, did a Jake POV, Cassie POV, two Tobias POVs which one of them could be considered a Rachel, Marco POV. Check! This came from absolutely nowhere, people, so be nice to me.

~*~*~*~*~

Pondering (1/1)

By Jenni "Jaina" Kissinger

~*~*~*~*~

My name is Marco.

And man, was it awkward.

I subtly turned away as Rachel rubbed her cheek against Tobias and Jake squeezed Cassie's hand.

Ax continued talking like these human actions weren't important. I listened, offered suggestions, but my heart wasn't in it. I was glad when the meeting broke up.

After everyone had gone home, I stood outside Cassie's barn, pondering.

Hey, don't laugh, I ponder sometimes.

This war has been going on for a long time. We've all seen horrible things, wonderful things, and things that are just too weird. As a group, we've grown close. Real close.

Still, there are relationships that are stronger than others.

Take Tobias and Ax. Nephew and uncle. Shorms, or best friends. Cassie and Rachel. They've always been best friends, and still are, even through the fights over decisions and the Yeerks. Me and Jake. Still having the little insubstantial fights that are a mark of how well we know each other.

Other relationships have formed, too.

Rachel and Tobias are in love. They've got their problems, sure. You look at Rachel and you see a blonde, tall, mall rat. Look at Tobias and you see a brown, short, rat-eater. Not your typical Homecoming couple.

Their exteriors, though, both hide what they really are. Maybe that's part of the reason they relate to each other so well. Supermodel Rachel is a Xena-calling, Yeerk-butt-kicking superhero. Bird-boy Tobias is a dreamy-eyed, half-alien idealist.

Then there's Cassie and Jake. The leader of the war and the peacemaker. Remember in history class when they talk about the Presidency being a two-person job? That's Cassie and Jake. She's his Eleanor. His top advisor. They fit together perfectly.

So where does that leave me?

I'm not one of those mushy dreamers who envision their perfect life with their gorgeous wait-like wife or their handsome, knight-like husband. I'm a realist. I know I'll probably die from a Dracon beam before I have the chance to fall in love. I know that.

But, man, there are times when I look at Jake and Cassie or Rachel and Tobias and I still think, 'I wish I had what they have.' Someone to fly with, to hold hands, to get to know each other's every thought, to love, honor, and cherish . . .

I'd never tell any of the others any of this. These aren't the kind of thoughts I normally have. And besides, they're too happy to worry about my problems.

But flying up in the thermals and watching this spectacular sunset, I just get to wishing.

And maybe someday . . .