A/N: Wow hi there everyone. Sorry it's been so long, but I've had some writer's block and then had a problem with how to work this chapter. I've tried rewriting it a couple of times, but for some reasons my mind wants what's in it. For future knowledge, I might be making this story a bit more intense, hence the change in rating, possibly some lemon in there, I haven't decided yet. If you don't agree with lemon in stories, I wanted to give advanced warning, if I do tie some in, I'll be sure to put a warning on the chapter, I don't want to lose any of the audience, so if I decide to, I'll be as tasteful as possible.
Disclaimer: I do not own Robotech.
Chapter 9
Lisa and Rick both jumped as a voice interrupted their quiet flight back to the SDF-1.
"Commander Hayes, this is Captain Gloval. You and Lieutenant Hunter are to report to my quarters immediately after landing. Is that understood?"
Lisa locked her frightened eyes upon Rick, anxiety building within her, had he heard their last exchange? "Yes sir, we will be there once we have docked."
Listening, Rick reached over Lisa, grabbing his helmet. Lisa moved quickly out of his way, she knew better than most that the majority of the HUD information was sent directly to the pilot's helmet. Lisa couldn't help but giggle when Rick caught her off guard, kissing her neck lightly before sliding the helmet on, whispering words of encouragement to her, "Don't worry Lisa, everything will be alright."
Lisa couldn't help herself as all the anxiety that was building in her started to slip away as his breath and lips traveled, however quickly, across her neck. Lisa couldn't hold the shiver it gave her from running down her back. Rick's eyes bulged as Lisa leaned in, craning her mouth to his neck, making him turn his head in an odd way so that she could find the nape of his neck. Turning his com to silent, Rick opened the pressure visor in front of him so Lisa could hear his voice, licking his lips, Rick was finally able to speak, though falteringly, "Lisa…honey you need to stop, I can't see the docking bay correctly like this."
Lisa giggled once again as she pulled away from his neck, seeing the want in his eyes, Lisa kissed him quickly through the open visor then moved as much as she could to give Rick the room he needed.
Rick could barely concentrate; his eyes kept looking over, seeing the skin tight space suit, wrapped seductively around Lisa's body. Steeling his concentration, Rick stared straight ahead; talking with the tower as he slowly brought his VT back to the SDF-1, and landed with ease. Lisa, momentarily absorbed with Rick staring openly at her body, fought back her panic once she realized where they were.
"Rick? How am I going to get in the ship, isn't this part of the docking bay open to space? I'll need a new oxygen tank…"
Lisa's voice trailed off as Rick reached behind her, disconnecting a hose from her uniform. Looking back, Lisa fought back tears as she saw that Rick had been refilling her oxygen…with his own.
"Why Rick?" Lisa barely choked the words out.
Smiling, Rick cupped Lisa's face in his hand before handing her helmet, "Easy Lisa, you need oxygen, and I have barely used mine, I'll be fine till we get to the pressurized rooms. Don't worry."
Lisa smiled, forcing the helmet on, connecting all the hoses too keep her suit pressurized. She was glad her visor had a tint to it; no one would be able to see the affectionate tears that dropped from her eyes as she couldn't help but stare at this man that risked everything, just for her.
As Rick brought the VT up and taxied to his docking station, crewmen rushed out and franticly began to open the cockpit, Rick helped Lisa stand and move to the ladder, as Lisa began to lower herself, she could see why the flight crew had rushed forward. Multiple damages could be seen on the underbelly of the plane, Lisa could see that the plane had lost most of its fuel and another tank had been ruptured.
If it wasn't for her diligence in the academy, Lisa would never have known that was the oxygen tank and part of the reserve fuel system. Lisa moved down automatically, breath caught in her throat. So that was why Rick had hooked her up to oxygen, he knew the plane's supply was running dangerously low, he was sacrificing his own chance at surviving to save her.
As the crew checked over the plane, Rick nimbly leaped down upon the flight deck and started to walk immediately towards one of the pressurization doors. Lisa followed quickly; she could only imagine how close he was to running out of oxygen. Rushing forward, Rick threw himself into the airlock as Lisa followed swiftly behind him.
Lisa could only stand there helpless as Rick fell to the floor, holding himself around his sides. As the airlock finally closed, Lisa could see the vents open as the oxygen began to pour into the room. Rushing over, Lisa helped Rick remove his helmet as he began gasping for breath, barely keeping himself from passing out.
"Rick…Rick are you ok?" Lisa tried but couldn't keep the fear out of her voice as she pulled her own helmet off and held Rick's head in her arms as he pulled deep breaths to try and clear his head of the spots that had formed.
Slowly, Rick began to slow his breathing as Lisa lifted his face to meet hers. Rick blinked away the tears that had formed and stared into the emerald eyes of the woman he loved, only to have more spots burst into his vision as he head recoiled from a full forced slap that raked across his cheek.
Lisa immediately regretted slapping Rick, but it burst from her as all her emotions rushed together seeing him finally safe.
"How dare you do that Rick, you could have died!" Lisa let the tears fall as she kneeled there next to a stunned Rick as he began to gather himself together.
Lisa watched as multiple emotions raced across Rick's face, happiness, sadness, confusion, and stared as it finally settled on anger.
"How…dare…you…" Rick breathed in; Lisa could tell he was fighting back his onslaught even as it began to bubble over.
"How dare you slap me! Don't you realize Lisa that I did that to save you! I knew how much oxygen was left and I took a chance so that I could make sure you lived! You are more important to this ship than anyone save the Captain!"
Lisa cringed the further Rick went on, but sunk in pain at his last words…
"You…you saved me for the ship?" Lisa spluttered out among her tears.
Lisa could see the pause as Rick realized what he said and the surprise turn to frustration as Rick slapped himself on the forehead and looked to her with sad eyes.
"Lisa, do you honestly believe that I didn't want you back here for myself? I just flew through 2 squadrons of battle pods, onto a base set to explode…in outer space just to see if you were ok for god's sake! How could you even think I wouldn't want you alive? I want to spend every waking moment with you!"
Lisa felt a new wave of tears erupt from her eyes, everything she had feared, had doubted were brought to the forefront and destroyed by him in a matter of moments.
Through her tears, Lisa smiled and hugged Rick's neck as the airlock door began to open to allow them further into the ship.
"And I want to spend every day and night in your arms Rick, more than anything else in this world." She whispered, steeling herself as she began to rise, lifting a smiling Rick from the floor. "C'mon Rick, Captain Gloval wants us to report to him at his quarters."
The two young lovers moved through the ship quickly, both of them remembered what had been said within the cabin of Rick's plane merely minutes ago. Lisa wanted to fulfill her promise.
As the two arrived at the elevator leading to Captain Gloval's quarters, Lisa thought that now was the time to push Rick to answer a question that had been eating at her for a while. As the two began to enter the elevator, Lisa entered the code to make a direct lift to the Captain's floor, neither wanted to stop much on the 248 floor ascent.
"Rick," Lisa began as the doors closed, "what do you mean when you say 'As you wish' to me?"
Lisa watched through her peripheral vision as Rick smirked and smoothed his face, "Well Lisa, that's a secret."
Rick couldn't help but laugh as Lisa's outraged face turned towards him, glare and agape mouth locked in a state of shock. Lisa smoothed her face as she stepped closer to Rick, she knew what would work, her pouts had won more arguments between them than anything.
Rick stared in caution as he watched Lisa's lower lip jut out, and he could see an award winning pout about to commence, so he steeled his resolve. Barely had he began to work up his defense, then Lisa began speaking to him huskily, 'Oh damn her,' he thought, 'now she's playing dirty.'
Lisa stepped over to Rick, seeing his resolve settle, she thought she would use a different tactic, tempt him.
"Rick," Lisa began huskily, "tell me please, I really want to know."
Once again, Rick couldn't keep his eyes from scanning her body completely as she stood there in her skin tight suit and moved next to him, nestling her breasts against his chest as she looked up into his eyes. He had to use all of his self control to keep his yearning in check.
"That's not fair Lisa…"
"What's not fair Rick?" Lisa said innocently.
"You are trying to seduce me into telling you…" Rick said, licking his parched lips and swallowing.
Lisa reached herself up and breathed on Rick's neck as she whispered, "Is it working?" She could see its effect immediately as he shivered and his lips parted.
"Not…fair…" Rick barely breathed out; he could feel his defenses starting to give.
Lisa could see how worked up he was getting as she moved closer and could feel herself getting excited, more than ever before as she was tempting him, along with herself. Lisa breathed deeply and pressed herself further against Rick as she breathed her next words into his ear, kissing his earlobe as she finished.
"Rick… please tell me."
Rick shivered as Lisa began to kiss up and down his neck, softly pausing upon his jaw line.
"That…is not fair Lisa." Rick breathed; Lisa could feel her excitement grow as Rick reached around her and rested one of his hands on her hip, the other he tangled in her hair. Lisa gasped softly as Rick pulled her head back and bent to start kissing her neck, smirking as he felt Lisa squirm in enjoyment.
"Oh…oh Rick…" Lisa could feel the ripples run throughout her with every touch of Rick's lips and tongue to her skin. Reaching up, Lisa grabbed a handful of Rick's hair, pulling on it, shivering as Rick growled into her ear.
"Oh…please Rick…" Lisa moaned into Rick's ear, and she felt his manhood react against her hip, sending sparks throughout her body.
"And what will I get for telling you?" Lisa couldn't keep herself from looking into his eyes, full of mischief.
'Gotcha' thought Lisa, "Anything you want Rick, and I do mean anything."
"Anything hmm?" Lisa watched, as a large smile crept upon Rick's face. Uh oh.
"What are you thinking Rick?" Lisa pulled back, this was a face of intense thought with a dopey grin to boot, she knew then she was doomed.
"Agree now Lisa, anything I want and you can know what I mean when I tell you 'As you wish'."
Lisa barely paused, those diamond eyes could make her agree to anything. "Anything that I can give you Rick, from now till forever."
Lisa could see Rick's face change as they separated and he moved a tad distance away, Lisa could a feel an emptiness within her begin to grow the further he stepped, nothing mattered to her more than having him close again.
As Rick turned, all the concern that started to surface in Lisa vanished when she saw his face, she could think of nothing more to describe it, but a look of pure love as he locked eyes with her. Once again, Rick knocked the breath from her, making her heart beat faster and faster.
Smiling, Rick stepped closer, "I can't believe you haven't read it," Lisa raised an eyebrow as Rick began to step closer, taking her hand. "It's from a book, The Princess Bride."
Lisa's eyebrow stayed risen, "I haven't read that one, any good?"
Rick softly pressed his lips against Lisa's, then began to spill his furtive secret, "Lisa, there are two main characters to the book, Buttercup and Wesley."
Rick coughed a laugh as a frown began to form on Lisa's face, "Let me guess Rick, I'm your Buttercup."
"Yes you are, and here's why. Buttercup owned a farm, and Wesley was merely a farmhand, helping her with anything she needed. At first, she would merely order him, and yet every time, no matter how harsh she was, he would reply with one thing only."
Lisa breathed out the response, "As you wish."
Nodding, Rick continued, "It was not long before Buttercup began to understand what Wesley was really saying every time he spoke the words 'As you wish'."
Lisa waited patiently for Rick to continue, and began to grow frustrated as he just smirked at her.
"And?"
Rick moved past her, "And I believe Captain Gloval is waiting on us."
Lisa turned, flushing red as she saw that they had arrived on the Captain's floor, and had never even heard the doors open. Rushing, Lisa quickly caught back up to Rick as they made it to the door to Gloval's quarters, "Tell me Rick…"
Smirking again, Rick merely looked at her through his peripheral vision as he speaks, "You promise, anything I want?"
Lisa impatiently nodded at Rick, "Anything! I won't even put up a fight!"
Lisa watched smirking herself as Rick's eyes bugged at her last comment. "I'm holding you to that Lisa."
Smiling fully, Lisa replies as she knocks on the door, "That's what I'm counting on Rick Hunter."
The two of them lock eyes as they hear a warm voice call from inside, "Come in."
Swiftly, Rick and Lisa assumed their professional demeanors and entered in step. Upon entering, the two of them moved in front of a desk, set up facing the doorway with Captain Gloval waiting patiently as the entered and saluted him, "At ease you two."
Standing comfortably, Lisa wanted this to end quickly; she couldn't wait to get Rick alone to finish what they had started.
"Glad to see you two both made it back in one piece, now, before we go into reports, I have something to ask the two of you privately."
Lisa's attention was grabbed like she had been slapped fully across the face.
"I want to know about the two of yours relationship, whatever it is."
Lisa stood agape, staring at the man she considered like a father, "I don't understand sir…"
"Well Lisa, the two of you put on a very public show back there before Rick pulled you out of Sara base, many people are questioning if you are of sound mind to refuse help, or if there was a spat between you two. It's making my officers talk about you two instead of their duties, I want to know what there is so I can either squash these rumors or ask you two to keep this more personal instead of over the general com system."
Lisa could feel her face redden deeper and deeper as Captain Gloval went on, only as he finished did she take a breath, then noticed a smirk creasing Rick's face which pulled all worry from her in wait for what he was going to say.
"It's funny you should call us here over our relationship Captain, I was actually going to speak to you about that either way," Lisa felt light headed as she moved to a seat and lowered herself softly into it.
"Oh Mr. Hunter, what were you wanting to discuss about it?"
"Well sir, Lisa and I just had a conversation in the elevator on the way up here," Lisa could feel the crimson darken even more as Rick brought up what happened in the elevator. "And Lisa decided to give me something that I had been wanting for a while."
'Oh god kill me now.' Lisa could feel her face go from crimson to blanched white as Rick kept speaking. Looking over, she could see the look of confusion and shock upon Gloval's face.
"What exactly are you referring to Lieutenant?" Lisa cringed; she could hear that fatherly tone enter his voice.
"Why, her hand sir." Lisa forgot how to breathe.
"I'm sorry?" was all Gloval was able to say.
"You see sir, I love Lisa, and she loves me. We both want to spend every moment we can with one another, and you are the man that can make that happen."
Everything Rick said seeped deeper and deeper into Lisa, down to her soul. She could hear nothing, see nothing besides Rick. The words he spoke reached into her soul and she could feel his sincerity with every word he uttered. Lisa could feel herself breathe in deeply as she rose and moved to Rick's side, taking his hand and leaning up to kiss his cheek whispering as she did, "You are going to pay for this. Big Time."
Rick turned his head and softly whispered, "You promised Lisa, anything I wanted, and that you wouldn't fight it."
She couldn't help but smile deeply when her eyes locked with his, pulling at her soul, giving her the fullest joy she had ever felt. The surprised voice of her captain pulled her back to the present.
"Lisa, is this true?" She could hear the surprise in his voice, apparently they were better at hiding their affection then they had believed. Though she felt confusion at the situation, Lisa felt that the love radiate from Rick and could feel herself radiating her love for him as well, Rick was everything to her now.
"I want nothing more sir, but I do have one condition to add to it." Lisa could see Rick's eyebrow rise, she had told him she wouldn't fight this, but not that he would get it exactly how he wanted. "Sir, I want to ask that our…marriage…be kept secret."
"Why?" Lisa could barely breathe; the pain she heard in Rick's voice tore at her heart as though he had stabbed her.
"I don't want more than what should be brought to us for this, think about it Rick, we will be the first couple married in space. We would have no peace when all I want is to spend my free time with you unhindered, not escaping our friends and the Macross news."
Lisa looked into Rick's eyes, begging with her soul that he would allow her this condition, at least at first.
"What about Roy and Claudia?"
"I want to wait and tell them later, I want this to be about us first and foremost."
Rick softly smiled, and nodded to Lisa.
"Captain Gloval, I have asked for Lisa Hayes to marry me, and she accepted, will you do us the honor sir?"
Both of them could do nothing but stare at the older Russian man as he sat there, absorbing the battery of information and confessions. Lisa couldn't help but smile as Captain Gloval removed his pipe and began to fill its bowl and light his tobacco; this was what he did when considering a very difficult decision. Both Lisa and Rick straightened as Gloval cleared his throat, and began to speak with the authority of a Captain of the RDF.
"So let me get this straight, you two, who have showed no relationship in front of their friends upon this ship, nor any officers either, want to be married, in secret, and live with one another in a hidden marriage."
Lisa couldn't help but fidget, she had heard Gloval's scrutinizing multiple times, though this was the first time she was on the receiving end of it. She felt herself calm as Rick took her hand and smiled encouragingly to her before speaking to her second father.
"That is correct sir, I can tell you that I love her more than anything, and I believe she feels the same way. I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with her."
"And the two of you realize how short of a time that may be correct?"
Rick caught his breath; it was the one thing he was hoping Lisa wouldn't think to hard on. He wanted nothing more than to marry her and live with her forever, but he knew above all else that he could be shot down tomorrow and leave her as a widow.
"Sir, I would be no different than any other wife who watched her husband fly out into battle. I know that he might die, but I can't move on without him being there with me for as long as we have together."
"That may be all good Lisa, but what about when he's flying and you are on duty. I can not have my best officer losing her head as her husband starts to fly."
Lisa took a long breath before speaking her next words, "If it ever gets to that level sir, I will willingly step down from my position."
Lisa jumped as Rick stomped the ground, "Lisa, that should be a decision WE make, I will not allow you to throw away your career because of me. We will discuss this later, but we should work it out between us."
Looking over, Lisa nodded and placed her head on Rick's arm, breathing deeply and closing her eyes, she could feel the smile creasing her face. She realized how close they were to being married at that moment, literally just a few words away from it being legal.
Henry Gloval couldn't help but sit there dumbfounded. Of all of his officers he expected to come to him wanting to get married, he had never expected Lisa to be one of them, let alone the first. As he was contemplating the situation, he watched as Lisa lowered her head and rested it on Rick's arm, wanting nothing more than to be with him, he had seen that look in the mirror the day he and his wife had been married. A look of pure joy, relishing in the fact of the marriage being only minutes away. Smiling, Henry knew that this battle had been lost.
"First thing's first, you two forgot one important detail. You need a witness."
Henry watched as Rick looked to Lisa and smirked, and held a laugh as she rolled her eyes and reached for the phone on his desk, "May I sir?"
Lisa waited for Captain Gloval to nod, then picked up the receiver and switched the phone to general announcement to all sections.
"Attention: Officer Claudia Grant and Commander Roy Fokker report immediately to Captain Gloval's quarters on the double."
Rick laughed as Lisa returned the receiver to the desk, "My god Lisa, you're going to make them think you murdered me."
Lisa shot daggers at Rick with her eyes as a smirk crept upon her features. "Oh Rick, don't doubt I've thought about it."
Barely five minutes had passed when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Gloval intoned.
As the door opened, a hesitant Roy and Claudia began to enter the room. Barely had his eyes found Rick, Roy moved over and put a hand on his shoulder, "Good lord I thought she might have shot you or something."
Rick laughed turning a smirk to Lisa before turning back to Roy, "I'm fine big brother, better than ever actually."
"What's going on?" Claudia asked, she could tell they were holding something back.
"Well," began Gloval, "I had you two called here to let you know that there's going to be a wedding on the ship, first outer space wedding in our history."
Roy and Claudia hesitantly looked to one another, confused.
"Okay…what do you need from us sir?" asked a confused Roy Fokker.
"Well," Rick began, "Lisa and I were hoping you and Claudia would be our witnesses Roy."
"W-what?" Roy stammered.
"You heard me, Roy. I want you and Claudia to stand with us as the Captain marries me and Lisa."
Rick and Lisa watched, barely holding back their laughter as Roy and Claudia kept looking from one of them, to the other, staring numbly.
"Claudia," Lisa said soothingly, "Come on, snap out of it."
Blinking a few times, finally smiles, hugging Lisa, "I'm so happy for you!"
Barely had the words left her mouth, Claudia turned to Roy and shot daggers with her eyes into him, "Look honey, Rick and Lisa are getting married before we do…"
With that, Roy sat down in a chair and put his head in his hands, "Thanks little brother."
Smirking, Rick reached over and patted Roy's shoulder, "Anytime Roy."
