A/N: Hello everyone. I'm sort of getting all my last minute ideas out before the New Year starts. This one actually just popped into my head today, after reading a few reviews of yours asking to expand upon the idea of "Washington Square" (see previous chapter). I know it seems like I'm only updating this story and my songfics but I PROMISE that more will come in 2012 for my other stories. So please leave a review for me and keep following my writings for updates in the coming year! Thank you!
Chapter 7
A day of remembrance in the colony sparks a question from Adelaide and a lot of reminiscing for her parents…
The day dawned as any other—light and sunshine. It should have been raining, given the occasion, but all weather patterns indicated that rain would not be on the way for a few days at least. Today was not like most days though. Today was a day of remembrance for a sacrifice made by a valiant soldier. It was Alicia Washington's birthday—made an official day of remembrance by the Commander himself following his second-in-command's death in the line of duty.
People gathered in the square to pay their respects, just like every year. The square had been renamed in the woman's honor and several artists in the colony had gathered and sculpted an incredibly accurate statue in honor of her memory.
Maddy and Mark were among the first people to arrive and pay their respects. She had been Mark's CO, and a trusted friend to boot. The loss had been hard for him. He had really looked up to Washington. She was an upstanding woman, fair and courageous, and she was tough-as-nails. Despite every setback she had been dealt, she had managed to pick herself up and keep pressing on. Mark had admired her character, and he would forever be grateful for the gift that she had been.
Maddy's image of Washington was far different. Washington had been a friend of her father's, and therefore a friend of hers. She had an infinite amount of respect for the courageous woman, but her death had caused great feelings of guilt in the young woman. Alicia Washington had given up her life to save her and her family. Maddy would not have been standing there, before that statue, if that had not happened. Washington was the only reason why she had been reunited with Mark, the only reason why she had been able to get married, and the only reason why she was able to stand there now, clasping her young daughter's hand. Alicia Washington had been a hero for everyone in Terra Nova, but she was an even greater hero to Maddy Reynolds.
Adelaide knew very little about who Lieutenant Washington had been. She learned about the woman in school and, from what she heard, Washington was quite possibly the bravest woman who ever lived. Adelaide knew that her parents had known the woman personally, but she also knew her parents didn't like to speak of it much. She sometimes heard snippets of conversation between them: "She was an admirable woman…" "I just wish there was someway to repay her…" "She did her duty to the end…"
Although a curious girl, Adelaide had never actually asked about her parents' personal experience with Lieutenant Washington. But now, watching them lay a flower before the statue, she felt compelled to find out everything. She waited until they got home. It was a day of mourning for the colony—no businesses or schools were open, except for the clinic where her grandmother and Aunt Skye worked. And of course the military had to work, with the exception of her father's unit, who had served with the heroic lieutenant.
"Mommy?" Adelaide asked after they had entered the house.
"What is it, honey?" Maddy replied, seating herself on the sofa beside Mark. A sad feeling clung to the air.
"How did you know Lieutenant Washington?"
Her mother seemed taken aback by the question. "Why do you want to know?"
"They taught us all about her in school," the girl replied. "And I hear you and Daddy talk about her sometimes. I just want to know what she was like."
Her parents exchanged uncertain glances. "Maybe you should start," Maddy told Mark, who sighed sadly.
Seating Adelaide onto his lap, he began. "Lieutenant Washington was a good friend of mine. She was one of the commanders of my unit."
"But what was she like?" the girl asked, wanting to get an accurate portrait of the woman, not just her deeds.
"She was very smart and very brave," her father recalled. "She knew what she was doing and she always wanted to do the right thing. She cared a lot for everyone…"
"And she's the only reason why you're here right now," her mother told her.
Adelaide's eyes widened. Her teacher had not mentioned that! "What do you mean?" she asked, now more curious than ever.
"There was a time when this whole colony was attacked by some very bad men," her mother informed her. "They wanted to destroy Terra Nova and all the people here. They came and they forced everyone to work for them. Even Grandma. But Lieutenant Washington knew that she had to do something. So she and Grandpa came up with a plan to escape and meet up with Commander Taylor. But in order to do that, someone had to say behind and distract all the bad soldiers…" Maddy's eyes began welling up as she relived the fear of the time.
"Lieutenant Washington…" there was an audible sob and Mark's hand reached around her shoulder to provide comfort and support. "Lieutenant Washington distracted the soldiers so that Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Josh, Aunt Zoe, and I could all escape and be safe…"
Adelaide watched as her mother wiped her eyes, still crying. "They…they killed her as punishment…" Her mother broke down and her father hugged her close. Adelaide let the information digest. She had never known all of this before. She had never known how much Lieutenant Washington had done for her. This woman had saved her mother's life!
It was seven in the evening when Adelaide's parents led her back to Washington Square. Every year they held a candlelight vigil in front of the statue. She had been there before, but she could hardly remember them. Now she saw everything with new eyes after hearing exactly what Alicia Washington had done. The community gathered and Commander Taylor spoke some words. Adelaide kept looking into the statue's face, seeing the kind looking eyes and brave expression. She would have loved to meet the subject in life. After the speech concluded, each family approached to leave the candles before the sculpture. Adelaide accompanied her parents to the bust and lingered there after the candle was placed. Then, impulsively, she climbed onto the statue's pedestal and hugged one of its legs. "Thank you, Lieutenant Washington," she whispered.
A/N: Did you like it? I hope so! I've wanted to do some kind of reaction to Wash's death for a while and this provided the perfect opportunity. I hope it did the character justice. Anyway, Happy New Year to all of my wonderful readers and reviewers! I hope this New Year brings you all happiness, success, and inspiration. And PS: the world will NOT be ending this year, I am pretty much certain of that—especially since this is all supposed to be happening around 2149! (In all seriousness though, this whole 2012 Apocalypse thing is driving me crazy—sorry for any of you who stand by this theory…but that's a different debate.) Anyway, Happy New Year again and I'll be sure to update soon! Thanks everyone!
