Safety in Secrets Chapter 10, a robotech/macross fanfic

Chapter 10

A/N: Sorry everyone, I've had many things come up in my personal life. Now that it is starting to calm, I will grind out some chapters for you. Thank you all for your reviews and I can't tell you how thankful I am that you all seem to really enjoy this story.

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"Hey Rick, come here little brother."

Rick glanced back at Roy as he stood in front of Captain Gloval waiting on Lisa to move over when she finished talking to Claudia. Shrugging, Rick moved across the room to Roy who was standing close to the entrance to the office.

"Hey Roy, what's up?"

Shaking his head ruefully, Roy stares at Rick as though he had sprouted a second head. "What's up? What's up?! I'll tell you what's up, you are thinking about getting married to someone that you just met a few months ago." Roy whispered forcefully, he couldn't help but want to talk Rick out of this.

"People get married all the time after knowing one another for only a few months, some even quicker than that Roy. What's your problem?" Rick answered quietly, he didn't want either of the ladies to get mad at Roy, or cause Lisa to back out.

"Okay, I get your point Rick, but you two barely know each other and this is your first relationship since Cammie… I just want to make sure you're not just jumping into this because it seems like a good idea at the time."

"Roy, do you remember my first show with the circus?"

Roy nodded slowly, nonplussed as to where Rick was going with this.

"Good, now another question, do you remember the girl that walked up to me after the show, the one who bypassed you completely and came to talk to me?"

Nodding again, Roy could only stare in confusion as Rick was bringing up something that Pops probably told him after that memorable show.

"You remember how I couldn't get that girl out of my head for a couple of years, that auburn haired, emerald eyed beauty that walked over to me and ignored you much to your annoyance?"

Roy tilted his head in concentration, trying to remember that night ten years ago. He could still remember it vividly, as it was such a momentous occasion to Rick and Pops. Slowly, Roy began to remember the crowd moving forward after they landed, rushing forward. Roy remembered murmuring to himself as the pretty girl completely passed him moving towards Rick…that girl with auburn hair, and bright emerald eyes…

Claudia and Lisa jumped when they heard a forceful slap echo across the room, turning they watched as Roy slowly lower his hand from this forehead, a large red mark beginning to take shape where moments ago his hand had been.

"Umm, Roy, everything alright?" Claudia asked nervously.

"…Just fine Clau, just… getting a quick wake up call."

"You two are sure about this?"

Lisa couldn't help but smile when she looked over at Captain Gloval, standing apprehensively in the middle of his office, staring at the young couple as they moved before him.

"I am more than ready sir," Lisa says, her heart in her eyes as she glances over and catches the eyes of Rick.

"Very well then, why you two move here in front of me, Roy, Claudia, I want you both to stand next to your friends."

Roy and Claudia slowly moved over to stand next to their respective best friends. Roy couldn't believe that he was up here for a wedding, let alone for Rick's. Of all the people in his squadron Roy expected to do this crazy shit, Rick was not one he would have ever picked out, let alone as the first one. Glancing to his side, he couldn't help but have pride as he watched Rick smile fully for the first time since he had lost Cammie. What really surprised him was that not only was it Rick that was about to get hitched, but to Lisa 'Ice Queen' Hayes that he was about to wed.

Turning his gaze through the four younger officers in front of him, Henry Gloval softly shakes his head, and begins to speak from his heart.

"We are here to wed two of our friends that have somehow found one another within this time of strife. Rick and Lisa, you two have come to me today, asking to not only accept your relationship, but to marry the two of you," Henry softly wiped some tears away. "Lisa, you and I have known one another for the better part of your life; I am glad that you have found someone to care for, especially with your past and recent activities within Sara Base."

Lisa's eyes watered as she listened to a man she considered in many ways a father more than her own as she listened to his care and love in his words.

"Rick, though we only began to learn from each other over the last few months, I must say that I am impressed by not only your bravery, loyalty, and compassion for your profession, but also that you have apparently achieved the impossible. You my young man have somehow won the heart of a woman who has been basically like a daughter to me since she was five years old."

Rick's eyes bulged as he heard how the captain referred to Lisa. The love for his 1st officer was apparent not only in his actions, but his demeanor as well. Turning his gaze to Lisa once more, Rick's heart skipped a beat. He honestly couldn't believe that this woman beside him wanted to marry him; it was still a shock that she had agreed so quickly, so easily.

"Captain, I want to ask you for a few things before we go through with this."

Lisa's heart stopped, she wondered what Rick could want from the captain when he had been so dead set on being with her mere minutes before. 'What on earth could he want added to this?'

"What is that Lieutenant?"

"Sir, I want to first remind that this is going to be a secret, Lisa and I want to spend this with each other, not to be hounded by our fellow officers along with the rest of the ship. I want to ask that my quarters be moved next to Lisa's so that we may keep up the fact of living separately. Finally sir, though I know this is going to be hard and is asking a lot along with everything else that I am asking, I want you to squash the rumors about Lisa and me."

"I understand the first two things you ask for, but may I ask why you want to keep your relationship, however it may be a secret?" Captain Gloval asked hesitantly.

"I want it done so no one else thinks that I'm going to receive special treatment for being in a relationship with Lisa, I will keep the professional air up when we are on duty or out in public. I don't want her or my authority undermined because we wanted to share our lives together."

Lisa beamed as she looked at Rick, all of her worries and hesitations she had had were being quelled by his quick thinking in asking the captain for his help. Moving her gaze from her soon to be husband's face, 'oh god I'm about to get married' she thought, Lisa stared hopefully at the man she considered a father in front of her.

"I can agree to these requests Rick, I understand wanting to keep some privacy. But, I will say this; you won't be able to keep this hidden forever. Remember that when the truth comes out, you will have no way of keeping that privacy to the degree that you had."

"I understand sir, and thank you for agreeing." Rick spoke gratefully.

"Now Lisa, I have a question to ask you." Gloval said, turning his strong gaze to her eyes.

"What is that Captain?" Lisa answered shyly.

"Are you going to take Lieutenant Hunter's last name on your official forms? Or did you want to keep your maiden name to keep up the façade?"

Pausing, Lisa looked to Rick, she hadn't thought of this and she could tell that Rick had not either.

"Sir, I believe on my official paperwork I would like to change my last name, but ask while in public to be addressed by my maiden name."

"Very well," Henry Gloval slowly let out a breath, now came the question he didn't know if Lisa had considered in the quickness of the night. "Lisa, what about your father?"

Lisa's breath caught as she realized what would happen if she changed her name, the fact that her father was an admiral back on Earth, it was quite possible, actually almost assured that he would be privy to the paperwork that changed her name and listed her as married.

"Sir, would it be possible to keep the paperwork here until we arrive back on Earth? While I want my father to know, I would rather tell him in person. Otherwise I believe our little secret might be brought out in public a lot faster than I would like."

Sighing, Captain Henry Gloval removed his hat, turned and sat it on his desk before facing back to the couple in front of him. "You two are absolutely sure about this?" Upon seeing both Rick and Lisa's head nod, he couldn't help but smile as he watched the couple before him, 'How they make me think of our wedding day Alena, how I wish you were here to share this day with us.'

"Now that these concerns have been handled, why don't we wed you two before the night gets any later," Gloval mused. Standing, Gloval once more moved to stand in front of the eager couple.

"Rick Hunter, you have come here to ask for Lisa Hayes hand in marriage. Though I have had ideas of you two beginning a relationship; never would I have thought the two of you would have moved to this stage so quickly, though I can genuinely tell you that I am happy for you both. Rick repeat after me."

Rick raised his eyes from Lisa's to glance at the captain's wide smile before nodding and turning back to his love.

"I Rick Hunter"

"Take you Lisa Hayes"

"To love and to cherish throughout the rest of my life, through the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, as long as we both shall live."

Rick watched as tears of joy began to pour down Lisa's cheeks as he spoke these words softly, lovingly to her. As he watched, he could hear Lisa begin to repeat the vows as she never removed her eyes from his, feeling the love pour from her as much as she felt it from him as well.

"Rick and Lisa, by the power given to me by the Robotech Defense Force, the United Earth Government, and captaincy of this vessel, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Lieutenant Hunter, you may kiss your bride."

Claudia and Roy watched with tears in their eyes as their friends Rick and Lisa wove themselves together as they began to kiss. Captain Gloval couldn't help but smile as the closest thing he had to a daughter stood before him, the love radiating from her and her new husband.

"Now why don't you two go and get some rest, Claudia, I want you to go to the bridge and inform the girls that you just left while these two were about to kill each other. Say something about Lisa arguing with him not following her orders and how he will not back down. Roy, go do something similar in your squad room."

As their two friends left, Rick and Lisa turned back to the captain, wondering what would come next.

"Now, you two, I expect you two to be ready for your duties in two days. I cannot give you a real honeymoon leave obviously, but we'll say this 'forced leave' was given due to your… emotional states after your little argument here."

Both laughed at their captain's words, still feeling the happiness of having the other in their arms.

"Now both of you get out of here, remember, you two want to keep this secret so I suggest something. When you two get ready to leave the elevator, might I suggest to keep up appearances, Lisa why don't you give Lieutenant Hunter here a small 'love tap' on the jaw."

Laughing, Rick and Lisa turned and ran to the elevator, happy to begin their lives together. As Gloval watched the two of them, he couldn't help the tears that began to course down his cheeks, 'Oh my dear Alana, how I miss you more and more every day.'

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"You know you really didn't have to slug me that hard…" Rick began as he walked into his quarters, seeing a beaming Lisa sitting on his couch.

"Why Mr. Hunter, are you suggesting that I not follow a direct order from our Captain?" Lisa retorted, laughter in her eyes.

"Watch yourself Mrs. Hunter; you might have a form of retribution on its way." Rick replied with a smirk gracing his face.

Lisa couldn't help but sigh and lean back dreamily into the couch, "Mrs. Rick Hunter, has a very good ring to it."

Smiling, Rick moved over and sat next to his beaming bride, feeling content for the first time in years. He couldn't believe that he had actually thought of asking Lisa for her hand in marriage, let alone her accepting! Putting an arm around her shoulders, Rick pulled her gently over onto his shoulder, cradling her head in the curve of his neck and kissed her temple.

Lisa let another sigh escape as she snuggled into her husband's arms. 'Oh my god, I actually got married!' she thought. Thinking back over the night's events, Lisa looked up into Rick's eyes and couldn't help but want to ask a question that she had been wondering for the last hour.

"Rick?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you ask me to marry you?"

Rick blinked a few times, 'figured that was obvious…' he thought. "Lisa, I asked you for a couple reasons. You are strong, yet soft; professional, yet caring. You have a personality that will give in on smaller things but you are strong in your opinions and won't let anyone force you into anything you don't want to do. Though we butt heads constantly, I can't help but feel even more attracted to you every time we either had a spat over the comm., or had lunch together. You make me feel complete in so many ways, but above that, I can see the love you have for me in your eyes when you look into mine."

Beaming, Lisa leaned her head back down before speaking, "Rick, I will be honest, when you first asked I was scared out of my mind, and scared. I didn't know if you were at first planning on some sick joke to play on me in front of the captain, or were truly sincere. You have to understand, I have had pilots come up offering anything from casual sex, to marriage just to try and get through to the 'Ice Queen'. I accepted though when you looked back into my eyes and I could see the love you have for me in yours. I agreed because of the compassion for anyone and everyone you come across. Your bravery and loyalty are parts of your personality that, while infuriating at times, are truly endearing. I doubt I have met anyone that I could connect with on such levels as I have with you."

Rick couldn't help but feel the smile grow wider as she began to describe parts of him, though humble, Rick couldn't help but feel pride at the praise his new wife was setting upon him.

"Lisa, how on earth are we going to keep this a secret? Don't get me wrong, our fights on the comm. will be as they always are, but what about in between? I don't know if I'll be able to not just run up to you when I see you in the mess or even on the bridge when I drop off a battle report, and kiss you senseless."

"Well Rick," Rick rolled his eyes as he heard her 'business face' settled. "I suggest we do everything we can right now to rid ourselves of the 'newlywed affections'. Then we will just have to do our best and hardest to keep this between us and our subordinates."

Rick pulled away softly, raising an eyebrow to stare down at his bride. "Um, Lisa… I hate to break this to you, but I don't have subordinates. I'm just a 3rd Lieutenant…"

Lisa couldn't help but laugh a bit as Rick continued to look more and more confused. Leaning forward, Lisa placed a chaste kiss on his lips and shared the news.

"Well, officially Rick, I'm not supposed to tell you this, but the captain has deemed it fit to give you a battlefield commission. Congratulations 2nd Lieutenant Hunter! You will now have your own squadron code named Vermillion"

Rick's eyes widened as he listened, "Oh god… me leading a squad…? Oh boy…"

Lisa broke out once again in laughter at the look upon Rick's face. He was so cute when he was confused.

"Now Rick, back to when I mentioned ridding ourselves of our 'newlywed affections'."

Rick's full attention was back on the beautiful brunette sitting next to him. "What did you have in mind Lisa?"

A smirk that made Rick's breath catch grew over Lisa's face as she leaned in and whispered in his ear, "I told you I wanted to show you my gratitude before, now I have two things to thank you for."

A shiver ran through Rick as Lisa moved herself into his lap, straddling him and kissing his neck.

Stammering, Rick utters, "Li…Lisa… if you don't stop, we'll never make it to the bed."

A sultry laugh erupts next to Rick's ear as Lisa begins to nibble on his earlobe, "Who says that's where we have to start?"

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A/N: Again everyone I'm sorry for the time in between chapters, but to give an idea, recently I decided to start writing my own novel. Much of my time recently has been dedicated to research for such along with working on the basic rough draft. Though now with my personal life cooling off a bit, I plan on writing more on this and also my new fanfic for Naruto if any of you are fans. Whether you are or not, I will try and update this more often and keep the story alive.