And at last, it is complete. The end of the first story in my 'Luke/Maria series'. Next story in this series "Revenge of the Autons" will be here very soon.
Enjoy.
Chapter 10 Reunion
Luke barrelled towards his mum. He was just happy to see her.
"LUKE!" Maria cried at her boyfriend. He turned his head to see the oncoming car, but he didn't have any time to stop. "Eve, help him." Maria turned to Eve. "Please?" A tear trickled down her check.
Eve thought for a moment. Then, slowly raised her arm in the direction of the car. It suddenly came to a stop, just slightly clipping Luke. He stumbled backwards slightly before falling on his back.
Sarah didn't think twice and barrelled across to her son. He had banged his head slightly and was unconscious. "Oh, Luke" She said, cradling him in her arms.
"Mum?" Luke started to open his eyes, speaking slowly and softly. "Mum?"
"Luke, oh Luke." She said, hugging him in her arms. "Don't ever do anything like this ever again. Got that?"
"By anything you mean?"
"Running away, or crossing the road without looking both ways. Honestly you think you would have leaned that after last Christmas."
"I'm sorry mum" He started to cry.
"No Luke, I'm sorry. I should have asked you if anything was wrong. Instead I just kept going on asking if you were ok." Then she thought and turned from her comforting voice to her questioning voice. "Why didn't you just tell me you were upset?"
"Mum!" he atomised. "There are something you can't tell your mum."
Sarah chuckled. "Now you really are a proper teenager. Not telling his mum anything." Luke chuckled as well.
Maria appeared at his other side. "Luke, Luke. You ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine" He said, before he pulled her hand into his own.
Sarah watched as Maria bent down and planted a kiss on Luke's lips. "Is there something I should know about?" She asked.
The two teens blushed. "She loves me mum" Luke said. "Just like I love her."
Sarah smiled as Alan and Rani joined her. "DAD!" Maria shouted as she jumped from Luke's side to hug her dad. Rani watched as the two families reunited. Maria came out of the hug and turned to look at Rani. "Rani, right. Please to finally meet you." She said.
"Yeah, and you" Rani replied. The small amount of jealous the two girls felt about the other bubbling to the surface. It was at that moment Harry, Sam and Eve walked over. "Sam!" Rani ran over and hugged her old friend. She looked over Eve. "Wow, Eve. You look...beautiful."
"So do you Rani" Eve said, giggling like a normal teenage girl would. She turned to Sarah. "Sarah Jane."
"Hello Eve" Sarah said, not moving from where she was, still kneeling on the road. The car had drove round them and since then no more cars had come down the street. "One of Ship's powers I expect. Hello Harry" She looked at the elderly man. "Had a nice trip?"
"Yes indeed. I think now, I should head home for a short time." He said. When he saw the look on Eve's face. "To get some clothes and other bits and bobs. You and Sam have new stuff and more clothes. I need some." And he hurried off towards the theme park.
Luke looked up at his mum and remember. "UNIT!" he said.
"What do you mean, UNIT?" Sarah asked.
"They're here. At the crash site. Mum, Ship still has..." He looked at his watch. "28 hours before she can take off. We have to help Eve. Ship diverted all power to repairs and keeping Eve looking human. If UNIT take her away, we'll be in big trouble."
"Luke's right, Sarah Jane" Rani said. "If UNIT power Ship down, they'll get Eve. Sam and Harry, they have to go back to their old lives. Please, Sarah Jane."
Sarah watched as five pairs of teenage eyes stated at her. "Right, then" She said finally, pulling her phone out and dialling a number. "Hello, Alistair...Sarah Jane here...Well, it's about the crashed spaceship in Danemouth...yes, you see, the alien in the ship is peaceful and only crashed to earth after being hit by a blast for a Judoon pursuit craft when it cross its path during a chase...Mr. Smith of course...Well, she's here with us...Me, Luke, Rani, and our friends from America Maria and her dad...Oh and her companions...Humans, yes...A boy called Sam and the old theme park's caretaker...Yes those that when missing a few months ago...yes that ship...thank you. Bye, then. Me and Luke would love to come to Sunday diner one week. Bye." She hung up. "All sorted."
"The Brig?" Luke asked.
"Good old Alastair. By the way, we're invited to Sunday lunch whenever we can get down there." Sarah said.
Just then, one of the UNIT captains walked towards them. "Sarah Jane Smith?" She asked.
"Yes" Sarah said.
"Right. I'm Captain Price. I trust you will be able to sort everything out." Price said.
"Oh, I assure you Captain Price, I will. I've been involved with aliens since before you were born. I will make sure Eve and her friends get off, if you leave us to it." Sarah said firmly. Luke smiled. He knew his mum wasn't keen on UNIT and their ways. "Come on then."She said, pushing Luke gently up until he was in a sitting position before standing and pulling him to his feet. "Show me were Ship crashed. And then home." And Luke's smile got bigger.
By the time the gang reached Ship, the UNIT soldiers were heading back towards their jeeps on the road. Luke lead them over to the door and they went in.
"Ship" Eve called.
"Eve, I trust everything is fine." Ship said.
"Yes." Eve said.
"Ship" Sarah said.
"Sarah Jane Smith. How pleasant it is to see you" Ship said.
"Ship, what is your damage status?" Luke asked.
"Damage Status at 25%. Time for repairs expected to be approximately 25 hours." Ship said.
"What's damaged?" Luke asked.
"The Pilot Software." Ship said.
"Mum, I have an idea." Luke turned to his mum. "Could I borrow your phone?"
"Sure Luke" Sarah said, handing Luke her phone. She didn't know what he was planning but she trusted him. He was her son, her only child. And she had to trust him.
Luke dialled a number and hit the call button. "K-9, I need you." He said.
Just then, a shimmering light appeared by Luke. K-9 appeared. "Master Luke." He said.
"K-9" Sarah said, understanding. "Can you interface with Ship? Find the Pilot Software."
"Affirmation Mistress" K-9 moved to interface with Ship. "Locating Pilot Software. Running system. All power restored." He rolled back. "Do you need me anymore Mistress, Master Luke?"
"No K-9, see you later" Luke said. And in a shimmer, K-9 disappeared.
"All damage repaired" Ship said.
Sam and Harry looked over at Eve. "Ready to go?" Sam asked.
"Yes." Eve moved to stand in front of him before leaning in and kissing him.
Sam was momentarily stunned, but then returned the kiss. Luke smiled. He knew it! Well, they did it differently to the way he and Maria had admitted they loved each other.
They pulled away. "Love you" Eve said.
"Love you too" Sam said, before turning to look at Luke and Maria. "Thank you. All of you."
Luke had an idea. He pulled out his sonic pen out of his jacket pocket, before pulling the secret phone out. He pointed the sonic at the phone and pressed the button, before handing the phone to Sam. "Here, keep this. Keep in touch." He said.
Rani and Maria smiled while Sarah looked at him. "Oi mister. One, when did you build that?" She pointed at the pen. "And two, why did you just given him your..." She looked as Luke produced his mobile. "Why did you have two mobiles?" She looked at Rani. "Did you have something to do with this?"
"Sorry Sarah Jane. But we had to keep our plans a secret, even from Clyde."
"Oh right."
"I'm sorry Mum." Luke said again.
"Luke, stop that. We have nothing to be sorry for. It's just the life we lead. I'm sorry for being so...so..."
"Motherly?" Maria suggested.
"Yeah, motherly. I was just worried. You, Luke Smith, are the child I have always wanted. Now, there I said it. Now, let's go home." Sarah said.
Luke smiled. "Yeah" He turned to Sam and Eve. "Visit again. And keep in touch. I've activated Universal Roaming on that phone. And me and Rani have the number and I've save our numbers in it as well."
"Again, thank you." Sam said.
"Sarah Jane. You must leave now." Ship said.
"Right come on you, show us were you stayed."
"Bye" the three teens called as they followed Sarah and Alan out of Ship.
"Bye" Eve and Sam called back. Harry just waved.
Soon, the Bannerman Road team were back in the car heading home. Sarah had let Alan drive again, content to sit and look in the rear-view mirror at her son. Luke was sat between the two girls, who had yet to say a single word to each other apart from the hellos. Luke looked to be trying to make them talk to one another. They were almost at Bannerman Road when he gave up. Sarah just shook her head. That was the first time Luke had ever given up.
As the car pulled into the drive, Sarah saw Sue standing outside with Chrissie, Haresh and Gita. As they got out of the car, Chrissie flung herself at her daughter. "Oh Maria. I was so worried. Why did you?"
"Mum, I'm sorry" Maria said. "I wasn't punishing you or anything. It was just Luke need sometime away."
"Well, why didn't Calamity Jane book them a holiday?"
"Well, Chrissie" Sarah said. "I don't need to book a holiday. Luke, Maria, Alan how about a week in the county at my house."
"Wait, Sarah" Gita said "You have a house in the county?"
"Sure. My Aunt Lavinia's old home in Gloucestershire. I inherited it when she passed on. So, what do you think? Hey, we could go this week."
"What about next weekend?" Luke said. It would give him time to get his two friends, or his girlfriend and his girl mate, talking to one another.
"Sure. Rani, do you want to come?" Sarah asked.
"I don't know. I'll think about it." Rani replied, before turning to her father. "Dad, I'm really sorry. And I will accept any punishment you see fit."
Haresh smiled. "No Rani, I think you've learned your lesson already. And I think maybe you should go with Sarah Jane. A week in the county. I would join you, but I'm still at work."
Gita grinned. "I'd come but I've got too many orders to fill. Blooming Lovely's business is booming."
Chrissie looked at her. "Blooming Lovely's. You're Blooming Lovely's" Her smile widen. "Can we talk? I called inquiring about your wedding arrangement."
Gita chuckled. "That was you. Well come on then, if we're going to talk we need a cuppa."
Chrissie grinned. "Yeah. And since I guess your Rani and my Maria might become friends, since they're both friends with Luke and Clyde, you two should come to the wedding as well."
Alan smiled at the sudden change in Chrissie. "And" Alan added "You'll be invited to mine and Sue's wedding in Washington."
"Oh, we'll love to" Gita said. "Now, then dear, let me show you my range. Come on Haresh, someone's got to make the tea." And the pair headed across the road followed by a confused Haresh.
"Right then, tea I think. Rani, are you staying?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah, sure" Rani said, her heart not really sounding like it was in it.
"Right, come on."
"Home, Sweet Home" Luke said as the five of them headed inside.
Over diner, Luke watched the looks Maria and Rani gave each other. He knew that before Clyde came back off holiday, he needed to make sure the two girls were at least talking. And he had the perfect way.
After diner, Rani went up to the attic, saying she wanted to borrow a journalist technique book off his mum. Luke got up, saying he needed the toilet, which was true, before then heading up to the attic. "Rani?" Luke asked as he entered the attic. He found her crying on the settee. "Rani. Rani. What's wrong?"
"What do you care?" Rani snapped at him. "All you've done since we came and brought you home is talk with Maria as if she's the only other person in the world."
"Rani, that because me and Maria, we're sorta going out." And that brought a smile to Rani's face. "What?"
"Well, it took you long enough. Better it was romantic."
"No, we just blurted it out. Not really romantic."
"Boys" Rani muttered. "So, that why you've been ignoring me."
"No. Rani, I'd never ignore you. You're my friend. But now, listen to me. You need to talk to Maria. You and her have a lot in common."
"Does that come from the fact we both lived in the same house, both are friends with you and Clyde and that we both have chased aliens."
"No. Well, apart from them things. Ok, yeah the second one. You two are our mates, and I don't want to spend the whole summer having to ignore either one of you. And before you say that you're jealous of her, and don't deny it, do you want to know what she thinks of you?"
"Well, go on then."
"She was, or is still a tiny bit, jealous of you. Because all me and Clyde went on about to her for that first week was you. And she felt like she was being pushed out."
"Well, I just feel that I'm not as good as her. She dealt with Aliens here before moving to America and continues to help them over there."
"But Rani. You are you and she is her. You're two different people but have the same thing in common. Not many people can say they're friends with a genetically engineered Teenage Genius, a robot dog and a alien super computer who fights aliens on a daily bases."
"You're right Luke. Sorry."
"No problem. Why don't you talk to her?" Luke saw her look down. "Do you want me to tell her want you told me?"
"Could you? Please Luke. I do want to be friends with her, but I don't want to be the one to break the ice. Please?"
"Sure Rani, I'll talk to her tonight."
"Thanks Luke." Rani moved over and hugged him.
"Right, I think we should have an early night" Sarah Jane smiled at her son. "Luke, I was so worried."
"Sorry Mum" Luke said, for something like the hundredth time that day, before yawning. "You're right. I could do with an early night."
Maria smiled at him before she too yawned. "And you, young lady, definitely need one. Flying back here and then spending two nights without sleep. Bed now." Alan teased. The two teens grinned at each other, before barrelling their way up the stairs. Alan turned to Sarah Jane. "So, what do you think?"
Sarah smiled. "They're in love Alan. Just like you and Sue. I just hope everything works out, with you and Maria halfway across the world I mean. I don't know many long-distance relationships that have lasted."
"But you said yourself Aunt Sarah" Sue spoke up. "The two of them are in love, and probably have been for a long while; they'll make sure nothing stands in their way."
"You're right, nothing will stop them." Sarah yawned. "Think I should follow them. Night."
Upstairs Luke smiled. Home is where the heart is. And he was now home. With his mum and with his girlfriend. And now all he had to do was talk to Maria about Rani and sort everything out. The two girls needed to be friends or else the holidays would be a big pain in the bum. He knew Rani wanted to be friends with Maria, but he still didn't know if Maria wanted to be friends with Rani. At the moment, he was stood outside his room waiting for Maria to get changed. His mum had gone to bed as well. He knocked on the door. "Maria, you ready yet?" He called.
"Yeah, I've been ready for the last five minutes. You can come in now." She called back.
"Hang on, shouldn't it be me say that. It is my room anyway."
"Yeah, yeah." He opened the door to see Maria sat on the edge of his bed. "Luke, can we talk?"
Luke just stood there flabbergasted. "What about?"
"Rani." Was all Maria had to say.
"Oh. What about Rani?"
"Well. Luke, I know you talked to her early."
"Oh."
"What did you talk about?" She asked.
"You."
"Me? Why?"
"She wanted to know why I was ignoring her."
"Oh."
"And she said she wanted to get to know you."
"She told you this."
"Well, it took a bit of work. She said she was a bit jealous of you, for being here first. For still being involved with aliens over in America. For being our friend first. But she does want to be friends."
"Luke, you didn't tell her about me being jealous of her, did you?"
"Yes." Maria gave his a death stare. "I had to, it was the only way. But, will you talk to her tomorrow?"
"Only if you're there with us."
"Sure. Now, are you going to get off my bed or what?"
"You really are a proper teenager now." She smiled, before hoping off the bed, giving Luke a kiss before jumping on the mattress. "Night."
"Goodnight Mistress Maria, Goodnight Master Luke" K-9 said.
"Night Maria, Night K-9." Luke said, before switching the lamp off.
The sunlight streaming in the curtains woke Luke the next morning. Rolling onto his side, he was surprised to see Maria alongside him in the bed, holding on to him as if he was her lifeline. "Maria" He said, gently nudging her.
"Urgh, what" She said sleepily, rubbing her eyes. "Oh, Luke. What, where am I? Wasn't I on a mattress? What are you...?" She was cut off by the opening of the door.
"Good Morning..." Sarah Jane walked in. "Oh, sorry."
"Wait Mum, there's nothing going on." Luke said. "Maria must have been sleepwalking. She started on the mattress and ended up with me in the bed."
"Oh, sorry, sorry. I didn't know. I forgot. I got up to go to the toilet and when I came back, I just got into the bed." Maria said.
"No, no Maria. It happens to the best of us." Sarah Jane smiled. "Breakfast. And don't worry, I won't tell your dad"
"Thanks Sarah Jane. Breakfast would be nice."
After breakfast, Rani came over. She had thought about the offer to join them at Sarah Jane's county house, and had decided to tag along. But still, neither she nor Maria made any attempt to speak to one another. And Luke had had enough. At the moment, the three of them were sat in his room, Luke chatting between them. "I'm just going to get a drink" He said innocently, before hurrying out of the room, closing the door behind him. Quickly, he pulled out his sonic pen and locked the door.
"Oh, Mister. What do you think you're doing?" He turned to see his mum stood right behind him. "Why are you locking your door?"
"Luke, Luke. Open this door" Maria called from the other side.
"Luke, this isn't funny. Just let us out." Rani cried.
"Two seconds mum." He turned back to the door. "Not until you two start talking to each other. I want the two of you to be friends. You're both my friend, and I don't want the holidays to be ruined" He turned back to his mum. "Can we talk?"
"Sure." She followed him down to the kitchen. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I'm..." He paused.
"Luke. Is it about Maria?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah. It's just, oh I don't know."
"Is it about the long distance problem? Or that it might ruin your friendship with her?"
"Mum, can I tell you something?" He said nervously.
Sarah looked at him. What could he have to tell her that could make him so nervous. "Of course Luke. You can tell your old mum anything."
Luke sighed. "The night we were in Danemouth, I had a dream."
Sarah looked shock. That's why he looks so nervous. He has never knowingly had a dream. The only time she knew he had had a dream was when Mrs Wormwood returned. "What was it about?" She asked.
"The future" he said after a short silence. "Mine and Maria's future mum. I saw us travelling in the Tardis, our wedding day, our honeymoon, the day our children were born, the day Clyde and Rani's kids were born" he smiled "And then..." He paused, not wanting to give too much away. "I saw your funeral." He started crying.
Sarah moved to hug him. "Oh Luke. I'm sorry you saw that. I had a dream as well, a bit like that."
Luke sniffed. "What did you see?"
"I saw you, lying in a morgue, dead. Hit by a car. Why do you think I scream yesterday."
"Oh mum, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. But, last time. When we met Eve the first time, I had a dream about what I'd seen that time."
"Luke, why didn't you tell me this sooner."
"When did I have a chance. There was Peter, then Lisa, the Rakweed, then the exams, there wasn't any time."
"Oh Luke. You are ok, aren't you?"
"I am now." He hugged her tight. "Think the girls are talking now?" He asked.
The pair headed back upstairs to Luke's room. When they got there, Alan and Sue were stood outside. "Why's the door locked? And why's it so quiet?" Alan asked.
Luke smiled and pulled out his sonic and zapped the door, opening it to reveal Rani and Maria sat on his bed, laugh and joking. "And he was like, up, down, up, down and Clyde did everything he said." Rani joked, before seeing the door was now open. "Thanks Luke."
Maria got up off the bed and kissed Luke on the check. "Thank you."
He smiled. "Sorry but it was the only way. Trap the two of you, and you would have to talk."
"Well it worked. And thank you again. I love you." She said.
"I love you too." He replied, leaning in to kiss her. "And I always will."
And at last, its done.
Review please and tell me if you really liked it. And any critisiams will be taking into account for the next story.
Next series I will be posting will be the first chapter of the first story of the 'Luke/Jenny' series, entitled 'The Lost Girl' (the story) and 'The Mysterious Girl' (the chapter).
Thanks for reading. Kuyoyo