TITLE: I'll be there Soon
AUTHOR: Reul-bhuidhinn
RATING: PG to be on the safe side
SPOILERS: No specifics
DISCLAIMER: Andromeda doesn't belong to me, it belongs to tribune and I made
no money from this.
SUMMARY: Harper goes to talk to Beka one last time.

I stand here, where I always am on this date, and can once again look up into your face. After I've talked to you I can say goodbye to everyone else. All of you are here, your memorials in a long row with larger than life statues towering above me. There is even one for Tyr, and for Rev, who would have thought that I would outlive all of you?

But you were the first to go. I was there at the end when it all became too much for you and you simply let go. I tried to help, tried to take some of your responsibility but I had my own duties and you wouldn't let me know how bad everything was getting as you never let anyone know what was wrong never relied on anyone in case they let you down. Not until the end. I sat there all by myself, my last duty to you, as I felt you life slip away through my fingers, one of the best known people in the universe and only one little mudfoot sat with you.

I didn't feel sad then, that came later, all I felt was anger. Anger at everyone, everything, even at you for giving up with so much life ahead of you. Now I realise it wasn't really living, at least, not the kind you wanted. Everybody knew your face, you were sent on diplomatic mission after diplomatic mission. You could never escape from it. You had promised Dylan you would help him with the commonwealth, joked that you would help even if it killed you. It did kill you and the idiot wasn't even there when you died, after all we had been through.

Everyone still knows your name. After all, you were one of the people who restored, and saved, the Systems Commonwealth. Right now there are huge crowds of school kids and tourists swirling around the memorials, none paying attention to this lonely old man standing still with tears in his eyes. They all know my name but none can recall my face. This is why I am almost crying, every single person here knows your name but I am the only one left who ever knew the real you. Your strength, your determination, your smile and laugh, the fragility that you kept buried away. Even this statue doesn't come close to who you were. It shows you towards the end still trying to be strong with worry lines that shouldn't be there and a stance that looks alien to me.

I tried to teach people. When they were younger I told Aidan and Sorcha, my children, a story nearly every night about our adventures together. I wish you could have met them, and my grandchildren, they are a lot like you and you would have made a wonderful aunt.

Aidan and Sorcha will get the Maru when I die. I still have her in a hanger in perfect condition, ready and waiting to fly. But she won't be flown again, she was your baby and now you're gone it wouldn't seem right to have anyone fly her.

I might as well say what I really came here to tell you. I'm going to be joining you soon. My immune system and liver have finally caught up with me. All those years of your worrying about my health, of trying everything to bolster my system and keep me away from disease and it still got the better of me in the end. I guess what I'm really trying to say is hold on just a few more weeks. I'll be there soon and I know you won't leave me behind.