Affirmation:
The uncomfortable exchange with Lisa disturbed Keira. For the first time she was beginning to question her relationship with Rick. Rick for his part never gave her a reason to believe that there was anyone but her. Once she met Rick there was nobody else that even came to close to making her second guess her choice. Keira was Rick's world and she knew it. "That stare, that stare had something behind it! Sorry babe Rick is mine," Keira thought herself as she was riding with Roy and Claudia in a separate transport from Rick and the others. She was going to accompany Rick to the hospital.
When they arrived at the hospital; Rick, Lisa, Ben, and Max were rushed in immediately to be examined. They couldn't believe all commotion being made over them. It was necessary though, especially after their harrowing experience. Meanwhile, in the waiting room of the hospital; Roy, Claudia, and Keira are waiting anxiously for Rick and the others to be done with their examinations. Keira's co-workers and some who double as her friends congratulate her on Rick's return.
Keira was filling her friends in on the situation, as Rick and the others are finishing up with their examinations. Keira's face lights up when Rick appears. They hug and kiss, while her friends congratulate Rick on his safe return. Lisa realizing she is on Keira's turf hastily leaves the hospital. Claudia and Roy know that Rick is going to want to be alone with Keira; so they say goodbye to the reunited couple and try to catch up Lisa to make sure she's doing fine and to spend time with her.
Max and Ben are looking at Rick and giving him dirty looks. Rick is trying figuring out why they are doing that. Then it hits him like a ton of bricks. A laughing Rick asks Keira to introduce them to her friends. Keira laughs at Rick's request and then introduces her friends, Stacy and Emily to Rick's subordinates. A big smile appears on the two pilots face as they are introduced. Rick and Keira leave their fellow co-workers to mingle while they go home for some much needed alone time.
Roy and Claudia catch up with Lisa who is waiting for a transport back to base. Lisa barks at Claudia, "Shouldn't you be carousing with Miss Perfect Ten and Roy Jr.?" Roy was shaking his head at Lisa; when Claudia barks back, "I don't know what's gotten into you, but shouldn't you be happy to be back? I mean that's what normal people usually do!" After her tirade, Lisa begrudgingly agrees to have a quiet dinner at Claudia's place. She knows she can crash there if she's too tired to go back to her quarters. The three of them have a nice dinner and Lisa catches up with the ship's events. She didn't realize so many things can happen in five days.
Claudia finally gets around to asking Lisa about Rick. Lisa points to Roy, and Roy picking up on it says, "I'm going to find out about anyways Lisa. You might as well spill, it's not like we are not friends too!" Lisa just stares at Roy defiantly after he makes his comments, but starts to tell the story about Rick saving her a few times while they were captured, and she had saved him once also. Lisa trying to gauge Claudia and Roy to see if she should tell them about the kisses. Claudia knew Lisa was still withholding juicy information, so she presses Lisa with, "I know something else happened or else you wouldn't have bolted so quickly from the hospital. And you're hissy fit geez, what was that all about?"
Lisa knew Claudia had a knack of getting information out of her, so she reluctantly told Roy and Claudia about kissing Rick twice and the circumstances behind it. They both was shocked to say the least. Claudia knew she had a thing for Rick, but never thought she would have feelings so deep for Rick. She told her it broke heart when Rick would not kiss her the second time, but how he eventually relented and returned her kiss.
Little did Lisa know Claudia's heart was breaking for her, because she knew that Rick was not going to leave Keira. It was only a matter of time before they were engaged and married. Claudia was happy Lisa had those kind of feelings again, she had built the brick wall around her so high after Karl's death. Now her feelings for Rick seemed to be breaking down those said walls. Claudia biggest fear besides her coming between Rick and Keira was Lisa going further back into her shell when Rick rejected her.
Keira and Rick were strolling home. Rick suggested they walk home if Keira was not too tired from the day's events. Keira said she wanted to go to the park and talk. The reunited couple was leisurely making their way to the park, and proceed to find "their" bench. Finally alone, emotion overcomes Keira and she breaks down and begins to cry. She is so happy Rick is home and safe. Rick is holding her and trying to comfort her. Rick goes on to say, "Do you remember the last time we were here?" Keira just looks at Rick with a "seriously" look. Rick explained himself, "I know what you're thinking about, and I was talking about our conversation about why we love each other?"
Keira remembers and was about to speak, Rick motioned her to stop and says, "When I was held prisoner on the Zentradi ship, I honestly thought I wasn't going to make it. Everything I did there to escape; I did it to come back to you!" Rick kisses her, but something tells Keira Rick is going to tell her something she doesn't like.
Rick goes on to tell her the whole story from when Vermillion Squadron tried to rescue Lisa and the whole incident with Breetai destroying Rick's veritech. Keira was terrified as Rick explains how nasty the fight with Breetai was. He goes on to tell her about the interrogation, and how they escaped. Keira thinking Rick was done retelling his story to Keira, notices Rick looking pale and nervous.
Rick not wanting to keep anything from Keira, begins to her about Lisa and how she saved him from drowning. He look at Keira and took a deep breath. Rick was afraid what she would say and what her reaction would be. Not wanting to keep any secrets from Keira; Rick confesses everything to her about kissing Lisa twice, and the circumstances that led to them touching lips in front of the Zentradi. He even told her about his returning of her second kiss in front of Max disguised as a Zentradi soldier.
Keira was absolutely shocked by Rick's confession. Keira begins to cry again; she's hurt and doesn't now what to do. Rick tries to comfort her, but she pushes him away. She scoots herself away from Rick on the bench. Rick decides it's best not too push the issue. They both sit in silence for hours. Finally Keira summons enough courage to speak.
"Rick, thank you for not keeping any secrets from me! I'm not going to lie to you. Your admission really hurt! I cannot begin to understand the situation you were in. I can honestly excuse the first kiss, and could let go of the second one, but ...," Keira tried to finish. Rick cut her off and was kneeling in front of her while she sat on the bench. She saw the hurt and pain in his eyes too! Keira asked him straight out, "Rick you said you and Lisa got separated from Ben and Max? Did you and Lisa sleep together?"
Rick upon hearing Keira's question Rick broke out in unexpected laughter. Rick's laughter infuriated Keira, she was trying to be serious and he was laughing. Rick saw Keira's expression; it was the first time he ever saw her angry with him. Rick stopped and reassured her nothing more happened, and she should of heard them fight with each other. Keira not buying it told Rick, "You know you two sound like a married couple!"
Rick took her hand and kissed it. He looked into her eye and asked for her forgiveness. The look Rick gave her in a weird way gave Keira the confidence that she was the only one Rick wanted. She motioned Rick to sit next to her again, and she cuddled with him. Rick went on and apologized to her for making her worry, because she doesn't like when leaves for battle. She went on to tell Rick about her dream and how it comforted her and gave her hope that he was going to return.
Keira looks at Rick and tells him, "You know that day we were here I never got to tell you why I love you." She went on to tell Rick that what they share is special and since they met there is nobody she wants to share her world with except him. Rick is crying and feeling really guilty now. Keira continues on to say when Rick was gone for the five days her world was a mess without him. She finishes by saying, "Rick, I don't know what I would do if you were not in my life, I love you with all my heart!"
The two of them just sat there holding each other not saying a word. They sat there in silence enjoying being close to each other, hoping nothing will tear them apart and keep them separated from each other again. Rick and Keira sit there until the artificial sunrise slowly starts rise. It was another amazing feature of the city created by the SDF-1's artificial intelligence system. They realize they need to head home and get some rest. Rick and Keira walked to their place holding hands. They pass a diner and decide to get some breakfast before going home.
Rick and the others are given some time off after escaping their Zentradi captors. The only catch was they all had to report to Gloval's office to brief the Captian and his generals on their capture and subsequent escape. The Captain and his Generals listen as Lisa recalls the events of their capture aboard the Zentdadi ship, and the massive fire power of the Zentradi's. One of Gloval's Generals, General Maistroff began to dismiss Lisa's claims. Captain Gloval wanted to believe his beloved First Officer, but without the video evidence it would be hard to convince the powers that be to reconsider their strategy with Zentradi.
Rick, Max, Ben, and Lisa was dismissed from the meeting, and they was venting about what happened. Max and Ben told Rick they were meeting Stacy and Emily for lunch, and took off running. That left Lisa and Rick alone. Sensing an opportunity, Lisa asked Rick to join her at the Mess Hall for lunch. Rick declined politely which crushed Lisa's spirits. Rick asked her if there was some where private where they could talk.
Rick and Lisa found an empty meeting room, and Rick said to Lisa, "I told Keira everything that happened while we were captured. Lisa I respect you as my commanding officer and trust you with my life to bring me and squadron home safely! I don't know if you have feelings for me or not, but I only want Keira and nobody else." Lisa's heart was shattered by Rick's words. Knowing she didn't have anything to lose confessed her feelings for Rick and apologized for any problems with his girlfriend their kisses caused. When she was done she was crying. Lisa the kisses Rick on the cheek and ran out the door like only Lisa can.
Rick realizes he is late to meet Keira bolts out the door. Keira is waiting for the hospital at Rick. She decided to go in today since Rick had his briefing with Captain Gloval and his staff, but taking the rest of the week off to spend with Rick. Rick comes running to her and she smiles as she see him coming. Rick apologizes for being late, and he tells her why. Keira frowns as Rick tells her what Lisa said. "Thank you Rick for setting things straight for with Lisa. You know I had feeling about Lisa, and I don't blame her. Rick you don't realize how many girls talk about you around here and how it bugs me, but I know that you only have eyes for me. More so that you truly love me, I am not worried about you! What scares me is Lisa, I don't trust her around you Rick!"
Rick didn't know what to say. Keira laughed at him and kissed him as they left to enjoy the rest of week together. They made their way to the White Dragon for a late lunch. Aunt Lina and Uncle Max rush to Rick to make sure Rick is OK, and told Rick they worried and prayed for him. She gets Rick and Keira a table away from the crowd and they go on to have a peaceful lunch. After they were done they were walking down the sidewalk of Macross City. They passed a flower shop and Rick bought Keira a bouquet of red roses, which Keira absolutely loved. She loved Rick's gesture even more.
The sound of alarms filled the air of Macross City. The SDF-1 was under attack again for the Zentradi. Instinct told Rick he needed to go, and was about to tell Keira to go to a shelter. Keira knew Rick was going to go and understood that it was his duty. As Rick was about to leave, a jeep containing Roy and other members of Skull Squadron are headed back to the base when Roy sees Rick and Keira.
Roy tells the driver to pull over. As the driver pulls over Roy sees Rick kissing Keira goodbye. Roy then starts to yell at Rick, "Don't you even think about it Rick Hunter, your orders are to take week off. If you jump in your veritech I will shoot you down, and if you survive I will personally throw you in the brig! Now go and spend time with your girlfriend, dip shit!" Rick was speechless and Keira silently thanked Roy.