Chapter 6: That place like home
Ripley was attempting to go through the new directives. They were spread out on the kitchen table and completely failing to capture her attention. She couldn't concentrate. Her eyes kept wandering over to Hicks. He was seated on the couch reading a report about his last mission.
Newt's arrival home provided a welcome break. She greeted them both, got a drink from the fridge, sat down on the couch and burst into tears. Ripley looked on, distressed, while Newt turned towards Hicks, who folded her into his arms without a second thought. Gratefully, Newt latched onto him. He stroked her newly short hair.
'What's wrong?' Hicks asked. Newt wheezed and blubbered something about Jason, her latest boyfriend, and a break up. The details were barely audible, because she was still crying her eyes out. Nonetheless, they got the gist. Ripley felt a misplaced sense of relief.
'Honey. Oh, honey. I'm so sorry,' Hicks said. Newt sniffed, embarrassed.
'It's a silly thing to get worked up about. Believe me, I know,' she responded. Hicks shook his head, but Ripley beat him to the punch.
'No, it's not,' she assured Newt. What if Jason had been her Hicks? Rubbing Newt's head, Hicks's eyes lit upon Ripley. His eyes held hers for an instant before he focused on Newt again. Everything that means anything to me is in that embrace, Ripley thought. She looked at her husband and wondered how she ever could have doubted that he was handsome. It didn't matter whether they were making love or fighting, whether Hicks was right there or light years away from her: he was so damn beautiful. She could see it all the time now. It had taken her a while to get there, but it had been pretty much a done deal since the moment he'd noticed her in cryo. When Ripley finally managed to tear her gaze away, she discovered that Newt was staring at her.
'Whoa!' Newt exclaimed.
'What?'
Confused, Hicks's eyes flitted from Newt, to Ripley and then back to Newt for an explanation. Newt dried her eyes and smiled.
'You didn't see, but just now mom was looking at you like, like, like you always look at her,' she described.
'And how's that?' Hicks inquired, but he looked at Ripley again and she saw that he knew exactly what Newt meant.
'Like you're a fucking miracle,' Newt answered.
'Language!' Hicks and Ripley simultaneously warned. Their tone was so far from reproachful, however, that a startled Newt began to laugh. This was accompanied by the occasional hiccup and more tears. Hicks hugged her again, grinning over her shoulder at Ripley. She took two huge steps and they made room for her in the embrace.
'I love you so much,' Hicks whispered into Ripley's ear.
'I love you. More,' she countered, competitively.
'Bullshit,' he chuckled, which caused Newt to erupt into another fit of giggles. Ripley kissed Hicks over the top of their daughter's head. It was beyond nice to share this moment with her makeshift family. In Hicks's arms. Where she belonged.
The end.