Thank you everyone who reads this story.
As first, I'd like to inform everyone who didn't notice it before, that I've rewritten the last (Christmas) chapter. Maybe you'd like to read it again. I'm much more satisfied with the 'improved' version.
As for this chapter … well it's some special day again and I decided to write a chapter instead of continuing my annual series to this day (just like I did for Christmas). It's not very long, but I hope you'll enjoy it anyway.
Allison Lyn Connor – Chapter 7
"Allison Lyn Connor! What are you looking at? If it's me you have been intending to look at, then I have to inform you, that I'm not behind you!" The teacher's voice suddenly rose from its comfortable, sleepy volume and the monotony, that has laid itself upon the class, was swept away instantly. All Allison Lyn's classmates turned to look at her. Well, almost all! And almost all of those who were now gazing at her had a smug smile on their faces, revealing their thoughts all too eveidently.
Allison Lyn suddenly felt how she blushed furiously and turned back to look at the teacher, almost immediately hanging her head.
"What could be so interesting that you're not paying any attention to my words?" Teacher now came closer to Allison and her voice was this time much softer and almost amused. She stopped in front of the girl, who still refused to look into her eyes. For few moments no one said anything just very quiet giggles and soft whispers between the other pupils revealed that they found the situation amusing, to say at least.
The teacher looked at the girl in question for few more seconds, noticing her embarrassment and slowly her lips curled upwards and she began to grin at Allison Lyn. "Well, I believe I could close one eye for this once. However … you'd have to promise it wouldn't happen again"
Allison Lyn's head shot upwards and her still embarrassed, but also hopeful eyes stared at the young teacher, her head bobbing up and down to confirm that she accepted the term under which the teacher pardoned her this time.
She, on her hand, grinned wider, noticing the expression on the pupil's face. "But don't think that you'll get away so cheap next time! You should pay attention in the class! Understood?"
Allison Lyn nodded vigorously, relieved that she was obviously off the hook and spoke with slightly insecure voice, as if she would still not believe that the teacher let go of the matter so easily. "Yes, I understand Miss White. I promise to pay attention."
"I know you will. After all, you're one of the best pupils in the class. But let me give you a piece of advice … you should look at the boys after the class." Teacher's voice was very quiet and she even bent down to Allison while whispering into her ear. She didn't want the other pupils to hear how easily she pardoned Allison Lyn and especially didn't want them to hear the second part of her advice. Then she straightened up and winked at Allison Lyn conspiratorially before she turned towards the rest of the class. "Quiet! I don't want to hear any more remarks!" She strolled towards the front of the class resolutely and noticed how the children fell silent.
XXXXXXXXXX
"You did what, Allison Lyn?" Cameron looked at her daughter with barely hidden amusement in her voice, but still trying her best to look sternly at the little girl.
Allison Lyn squirmed on the couch and looked at the floor. It was more than obvious that she was embarrassed and she tried to look anywhere but in her mother's face. Even though she knew that her mom would never punish her for something like that.
"Allison Lyn?" Cameron's questioning voice finally forced the girl to look into her mother's face.
"I'm sorry, mommy. I … I just had to look at him. He's so cute …" Sheepishly looking into Cameron's brown eyes from under her brows, Allison Lyn suddenly found herself shuffling her foot and crossing her arms in front of her chest. She looked just like a child who'd just been caught with their hand in the cookie jar and is now aware of the fact that there would be repercussions to their deeds.
Cameron looked at her daughter for a moment without saying anything. She could see that Allison Lyn was embarrassed, but she couldn't understand why. Remembering how she acted when she first discovered that she was in love with John, helped her to finally understand why. "Allison Lyn …" She broke off, reaching for her baby and putting her hands on the girl's shoulders before continuing. "There's nothing wrong if you like someone. I actually think it's nice. But you shouldn't neglect your obligations because of that. Your obligation is to learn and nothing should prevent you from doing it."
Allison Lyn looked worriedly into Cameron's face, but slowly she realized that her mommy wouldn't say anything mean to her. She was well aware of the fact that she made a mistake. She tilted her head in the fashion that reminded Cameron of herself and looked into her mother's face with eyes, big as saucers. "I'm sorry mommy. It won't happen again. Cross my heart!" And she draw a cross in the air over her heart.
Cameron finally couldn't manage to look at her baby sternly anymore and grinned at the girl. "So, tell me … is he really so cute?" Her eyes scanned Allison Lyn's face expectantly and a smile played on her lips.
Feeling that the danger of storm had passed and the dangers had been avoided, Allison Lyn grinned happily at her mother and nodded vigorously. "Yes, he is! He's the cutest boy in the school! He's got so beautiful eyes, just like daddy." Dreamily she looked into a distance, unknowingly revealing the power of her first love to her mother.
Sighing contentedly, Cameron sat on the couch beside Allison Lyn and hugged her close. For a second they sat in silence, Allison Lyn daydreaming about the boy in question and Cameron remembering how she felt when she finally admitted to herself that she loved John. "But is he also a nice person?"
Allison Lyn refocused on her mother as if she would be asking the most stupid question of them all and her head bobbed vividly up and down. "Of course! He already helped me for a few times."
Cameron's brows shot upwards. "Did he? How did he help you?"
Allison Lyn almost subconsciously leaned against her mother before answering. "He always offers me to carry my books to the class. And few times I accepted his help." She giggled quietly at the memory.
"Now that's really nice. But … is he nice only towards you or also towards the others?" Cameron wouldn't let go of the topic. She even asked herself why she wanted to know so much about her daughter's crush on some boy. But then she remembered that it was what mothers did … wanting to know everything about their babies, trying to protect them at any cost.
"Of course! He's always nice to anyone. He's always ready to help!" Allison Lyn was still in a daydreaming phase but she suddenly woke up with a small shudder and looked into her mother's eyes inquisitively. "How did you and daddy met? You never told me? Did you like him from the first moment on? Did he fell in love with you at first sight?"
To say that Cameron was slightly taken aback would be a clear understatement. She gaped at her daughter for a second before she managed to get her processes under control. Actually … we really never told her! She inhaled deeply, realizing that she adopted some clearly human traits, which were completely unnecessary for her, but she learned to use them nevertheless. For a moment she thought to tell Allison Lyn some made out or at least a heavily edited version, but realized that it would not be wise to do so. She suffered enough in the past by lying to John and she now knew that telling the truth might not be the easiest solution, but in the long run it would be definitely the only acceptable one.
Allison Lyn looked at her mommy, noticed how her face changed from a surprised one in to a dreamily smiling one and she grinned herself, noticing the radiant eyes of the cyborg, revealing to her that she must have been in happy thoughts. She waited patiently.
"I first met him in a school in a small New Mexico town as I was waiting for him to appear." Cameron began, but was immediately stopped by her curious daughter.
"How long have you been waiting for him to appear? What did you do in the meantime? Did you go to school just like me?" The questions bubbled out of Allison Lyn's mouth so quickly that even Cameron with her superior abilities had to concentrate not to miss some of them.
"I've been waiting for almost 80 days and yes, I was going to school all the time." She explained patiently, looking at her excited daughter. "Although I already knew everything that they taught me, I couldn't risk to miss him."
Allison Lyn nodded, understanding her mother, but then suddenly remembered something she already asked. "What did you think of him when you first saw him?"
Cameron looked deep in thoughts for a moment before she answered. How could she explain to her daughter that at that stage of her development she was only following her programmed mission and not really understanding such a human things as preferences and emotions. True, she could feel, she'd been made to feel, but she interpreted her sensations on the basis of her preprogrammed patterns. She hesitated for a while before answering. "At that time I didn't know what emotions were. I was just another machine, following the programmed mission. But still … I liked his appearance. I shouldn't have felt that way, but I did."
"See! You liked him from the first moment on. I knew that you two must have fell in love at first sight." Allison Lyn grinned wide at her slightly frowning mother.
"I wouldn't say that, Allison Lyn. I had no idea what love was at the time. To say that I fell in love with him would be exaggeration. I liked his appearance and I preferred him over other boys, but I believe that I really began to fall in love with him later, after we lived together, after I got to know him better."
"And I always thought that you fell for me right then as you asked me my name." John's amused voice came from the door.
Both girls turned quickly to look at their husband and father respectively, both smiling at him. As soon as Cameron saw her husband, her lips stretched into a beaming smile. John stood at the door, grinned at them both and held two bouquets in a hand, while a bag dangled from his wrist. There were obviously two boxes in the bag, but they couldn't detect what they could have been.
"Daddy!" Allison Lyn exclaimed happily, but didn't run to meet him. Then she remembered that she could probably get more information from him than from Cameron. "Did you fall in love with mommy at first sight? What are these flowers for? What's in the bag?" Surprise attack could bring her more information. At least it was what she thought.
John grinned even wider, if possible at all, slowly making his way to the two women he adored. He could see Cameron's beaming smile. She knows what day is today! Definitely! He stopped in front of them and leaned a little down to Cameron, giving her a gentle kiss on expectant lips before murmuring softly. "Happy Valentine's Day, Cam!" Then, without waiting for her answer straightened again and looked at his daughter. "I'll tell you about our first encounter later. For now … happy Valentine's Day, baby!"
Now Allison Lyn remembered that they learned about this day in the school and she beamed at her father with sparkling eyes. "I love you daddy! Thank you!" Her arms almost automatically shot to accept the bouquet from her father, while the other one was already safely cradled in Cameron's arms.
Cameron smiled at her husband lovingly. She of course knew what day it was. Every year on this day John brought her beautiful flowers and something else too and she always got something for him too. But right now, she stood up and put her free arm around John's neck, pulling him closer to her. After a long, passionate kiss, she pulled slightly back. "Happy Valentine's Day to you too, John." She sniffed at the roses in her arm before looking at him again. "Thank you! I love you!"
John always got weak when she gave him that look and just now it was no exception. "I love you too, Cam!"
"Igitt! Why don't you two do this in your room?" Allison Lyn wrinkled her nose in disgust over seeing her parents almost falling victim to their love again. But after only a second she burst out in giggles, not being able to pull the play anymore.
John and Cameron turned to look at her, not releasing each other out of the embrace. John chuckled lightly while shaking his head. "I believe that our daughter spends too much time with her granny. She already got her habits." Then he reached into the bag, which still dangled from his arm and pulled out two luxurious looking boxes of chocolate pralines. He handed one to each girl. "I know that you both like chocolate, so … I decide to break the rules and give you something tasty."
Allison Lyn's eyes lit up, just like Cameron's. "Thank you daddy! I love them!" The flowers ended on the couch while she eagerly tore at the packing to open the box, hiding precious treasure from her eyes and taste buds.
Cameron looked at John quickly, slightly shook her head with a grin, before she followed her daughter's example. In the last years she strangely developed a distinct preference towards some things and chocolate was one of her favorites. She didn't need to ingest the highly caloric and unhealthy stuff like chocolate, but she dismissed the warnings, flashing on her HUD every time she analyzed the contents of the chocolate product. Healthy food is definitely overrated! Everything that's healthy tastes awful. Well … almost everything!
John looked at his two girls in amazement. He knew they liked the chocolate, specifically these pralines, but they surprised him every time with their eagerness to empty the boxes as quickly as possible. It almost seemed like they'd be competing with each other, who'd be the first to munch the box clear. And the story repeated itself again. If he could understand Allison Lyn's love for the chocolate, the obvious love for it from Cameron still puzzled him. He knew … Cameron explained it to him many years ago … that she definitely didn't need any ingredients that the chocolate was made of to sustain her organic parts, but she still adored the taste.
"What?" Cameron asked him with mouth already full of chocolate as she noticed his smug smile. Her voice was clearly muffled by the sheer amount of pralines in her mouth. Allison Lyn copied her mother and looked at him with mouth, full of sweet stuff.
John chuckled, fighting not to burst in a loud laughter as he saw two pairs of questioning wide eyes and two mouth full of his gift. He shook his head in amusement. "Nothing. It's just … you two look a little like hamsters." After mouthing his words, he couldn't hold back anymore and laughed aloud.
Cameron and Allison Lyn looked at each other slightly annoyed, but as soon as they saw each other, they understood John's words. Slowly their lips began to curl upwards and it was only a few moments from the catastrophe that Cameron remembered what consequences a laughter with mouth, full of chocolate, could bear. So she swallowed hard before warning her daughter. "Eat down the chocolate before you laugh or say anything!" As soon as the words left her mouth, she began giggling and turned away from Allison Lyn.
Allison Lyn nodded vigorously and chewed as fast as she could before swallowing. "I almost forgot!" She began to giggle as her mother. "You really looked like a hamster with cheeks full of chocolate, mommy!"
Cameron turned back to Allison Lyn. "You were no better, Ally."
John's eyes widened slightly upon hearing his wife call their daughter Ally. She almost never used any nicknames for her daughter and when she did, it was really something exceptional. Just like now.
Even Allison Lyn looked at Cameron in amazement. She knew that her mother never was the one for nicknames and small talk. So she knew to value when the cyborg used her nickname instead of her full name. But she let it go, as she noticed Cameron's sly look, directed at her daddy.
"Well, after all, it's your fault, John Connor! It's you, who bought us chocolate and therefore I bare no guilt for looking like a small hamster." Cameron declared with a self-satisfied smirk on her face.
John finally broke in laughter and after he managed to get it under control, he answered. "Guilty as charged, my dearest wife. Guilty as charged."
TBC
