Seasons Greetings I:
Lisa's first day back in the tower was a hectic one. There was signs of Zentradi activity around Macross City. The city was put on red alert to be proactive. The girls in tower were busy giving flight orders and strategically placing Destroid groups in high risk areas. Extra emphasis was placed on protecting Macross City's Protoculture matrix. Lisa was overseeing the whole operation to ensure it ran smoothly. Helena was her second in command, and was busy dealing with the recon flights at the moment. Lisa looked at Helena, and thought, "How am I gonna tell her, about eloping?"
Lisa got back into work mode quickly, when a request for her approval was needed. Helena took a moment to catch her breath, and noticed Lisa going over the request. "I hope I'm not pregnant, I don't know what she would do to me if I was?"
Things finally started to slow down for the girls, because everybody was on standby. Lisa sent the Terrible Trio on break first; since they worked very hard and was on their very best behavior today. Vanessa asked Kim if she noticed anything different about Lisa today. Kim told Vanessa, "Lisa seemed her normal self today, but Helena looked a little off today." A tired Sammie just listened to her friends go back and forth about Lisa and Helena.
With the tower empty, Lisa sensed her chance to tell Claudia and Helena. Lisa thought to herself, "I know I told Rick we would figure it out over lunch, but how can I not tell Claudia and Helena. Oh crap, Helena!"
Lisa called Helena and Claudia over to her station. They came over thinking Lisa is going to give them more orders. Lisa looked at them about to speak, when Claudia asks her, "How was Monument City, Lisa?"
Lisa had to regroup, nonchalantly she replies, "It was fine!" Claudia shaking her head, she didn't want to burst Lisa's bubble; Claudia then decided to have fun with Lisa. "Fine, really?" Claudia responded. Lisa not knowing what else to do showed her hand to Claudia and Helena, and told them, "We eloped!" Claudia and Helena didn't know what to say. Part of Helena wanted to strangle Lisa, the other part wanted to hug her. Claudia ran to hug Lisa, they were giggling and laughing. Even though Claudia was aware of the impending blowup that was coming, she was truly happy for Lisa. Claudia knew Lisa finally got what she wanted after a lot of heartache in her life. Deciding to be happy for Lisa at the moment. Helena gave in and ran and hugged Lisa after Claudia was done. Lisa whispered in Helena's ear, "I'm so sorry Helena, I never meant to hurt you!"
Helena wanting to be happy for Lisa, decided to let her anger and jealousy go for now. Even though she was doing her best to let Rick go, Lisa's news stunned her. Helena responded with the civil response, "I'm so happy for you two Lisa." Helena started to feel ill again and took off for the bathroom. Lisa looked at Claudia very concerned. Claudia just played dumb and said, "Maybe she ate something bad or she's coming down with something."
Thinking like woman, Lisa wondered to herself, "With my luck Helena is pregnant. Could she be?" Lisa chastised herself for being negative and for thinking of something as outrageous as that.
Helena returned to the tower, and Lisa asked if she was OK or did she need to go the infirmary. Helena reassured Lisa she was fine; telling her she thinks she ate something bad. Something was telling Lisa, Helena was hiding something but took her word for it.
It was a long patrol for Rick, he was waiting for Skull Squadrons orders to return to base. Deciding to have some fun he got on the tac net and requested to speak to Lisa. Lisa sees that Rick is radioing in opens the video monitor. "What do you want, Rick? Can't you see I'm busy," she laughs.
"How long to do you plan on keeping me up here, I'm hungry," Rick asked. "As long as I want to, and why are you always thinking about your stomach," sniped Lisa. "Because Lisa wore him out last night," Riley jabbed at Lisa. Rick was bursting in laughter, as well as, Claudia at her station. Helena found some humor in it because it frazzled Lisa, but cringed at Riley's comment.
Lisa shot back, "You know I can put some orders in to have you shot down, Riley! Just saying!" Riley not wanting to take it further finished with, "Yes mom, I mean Commander!"
Rick was laughing and thought he got out of that exchange without a scratch, but Lisa killed that thought. "Commander Hunter, I need to speak to you in private about your subordinate's behavior," Lisa threatened him and followed it with a wink.
When Rick's patrol was over the first thing he did was head over to the tower. Riley joined him and asked, "Got anything exciting to tell me, Rick?" Rick looked at her with a puzzled look. Riley had shit eating grin on her face as she waited for his response. Rick responded with a simple, "No!" Rick's response left Riley disappointed.
Riley figured it was best to leave it be for now and dropped the subject. They continued to the tower talking about the days patrol, before Riley headed off to the flight simulators. Rick smiled and knew Riley couldn't never get tired of being in a plane, real or not. He didn't realize she was going there to get her mind off of things. Rick's love life affected way more people than he realized.
Rick got to the tower to get Lisa for lunch, but Lisa was busy again tending to another request made from Engineering Division. Helena insisted that Lisa go and take a lunch break. She reassured Lisa she was feeling well enough to for cover her. Helena really needed space from Lisa for a bit. She was still processing the bomb Lisa dropped on her earlier, and at the same time trying cope with hers.
Rick and Lisa went the Mess Hall, to grab some lunch. More so, it was chance to spend some time with each other. They were holding hands and Lisa told Rick she told Helena and Claudia. Rick was disappointed, but Lisa told him, "I had to tell them Rick, I couldn't keep it from them!" Rick realized she was right just kissed her on the cheek. They were eating lunch and could not figure out how or when to tell everyone.
"Why don't you send it out as an official memo to all departments," Rick jokes with Lisa. Lisa still feeling playful elbows him and responds sarcastically, "Should I put it on official letterhead while I'm at it? Admiral Gloval isn't here today. It can't be an official memo without his signature." Rick could only laugh at Lisa's sense of humor. It was one of her qualities that he loved.
Changing the subject, Lisa asks Rick, "What do you want to do for Christmas? I've been so busy at work, and US, it totally slipped my mind." Rick realized it totally slipped his mind also.
Rick goes on to say, "I don't know Lisa, this is going to be our first Christmas together. Don't you think we should make it special?" Lisa agrees and kisses him.
"I guess one more thing, to figure out! I have to get back to the tower soon. Helena wasn't feeling to good earlier this morning. I don't want to leave her with my work for too long," says Lisa getting back into work mode. Rick thinking nothing of it; except Lisa looking out for her friends as usual.
Rick asked Lisa how Helena took the news. Lisa being honest told him, "I really don't know. She hugged and congratulated us. I really do want to talk her alone, to see how she really is taking the news. Do you mind, Rick?"
Rick was concerned about Helena, but decided it was best to back off. He wondered if she really was OK, too! Rick started to have those confused feelings again, but they quickly vanished as he caught glimpse of Lisa getting a bite of food. "Everything she does is so sexy," Rick thought silently to himself.
Gathering his thoughts again. He decided it was best that Lisa and Helena talked about it, instead of him. He thought to himself, "They're friends after all!"