A/N: I'm sorry for the long wait but I've been flat out with uni and sadly it takes precedence over this... But I will try not to let it lapse so long again! So thank you for your patience and please enjoy!

Chapter 37

Coloured Lanterns criss-crossed over the air space above the Main Square and markets. The air crisp as the winter was starting to set in. The Night Sky was cloudless and a half moon shone down on them as the millions stars twinkled.

In Terra Nova the Winter Festival was in full swing. A large stage had been set up in front of Boylan's bar in the Main square. Currently to one side of the stage a live band played Irish bar music that many Terra Novans were dancing to.

The markets were in full swing selling foods and goods, to the Art displays were set up around the area for people to peruse and admire.

Amelia laughed and smiled as Dunham danced with her, it was fun, folk dancing. Not what Amelia had expected but glad as the moves were easy to follow and didn't require her to be 'sexy' or any real technique. Or maybe it was that her dance partners just made it easy for her to follow. She didn't care as she had fun sharing dances with Boylan and Dunham.

It took her mind off the fact that her paintings were on display for the world to see and judge. That and the fact she hadn't seen Lucas. She wondered where he was and why he hadn't found her yet. The festival had been in full swing for an hour now.

The music came to an end and Amelia slowed to a stop with everyone else. She applauded the band with the others before she walked off the designated 'dance floor' to a free seat and sat down giving her feet a much needed rest.

Dunham sat down next to her and gave an exhausted sigh yet it was still exuberant to her as she had a feeling he could dance all night if he had a willing partner.

"That was fun" he said.

"Yeah it was, thank you" Amelia said.

"You're welcome. Hey do you want something to drink?" he asked.

"Got it covered" someone said from behind them.

They turned to see Reilly with two cups in her hand she passed one to Amelia. "You can go Dunham. You're hogging my girl" she said. She gestured her head in a way that told Dunham to take a hike without saying the words.

"Ok, well I'm going to get myself something to drink" Dunham said he looked to Amelia who held up her cup to show she didn't need another and he nodded.

"Take your time" Reilly said as she jumped into his seat. Dunham shook his head and walked away. Reilly turned to her with a smile.

"You're enjoying this 'chaperoning' business aren't you?" Amelia asked her, Reilly gave an evil chuckle and nodded.

"Yup, wait until Lucas shows his face" Reilly said with a teasing smile.

"I don't think he's coming" Amelia said, she was slightly disappointed that he wasn't going to just drop by and see her for 5 seconds to congratulate her on her first art display and appearance in the colony. It was the first time she hadn't felt like people were looking at her as if she were a kicked puppy. They of course were all too busy celebrating to care about her.

"Like he'd leave you to Dunham" Reilly scoffed, she knew of the pissing match between Dunham and Lucas as Dunham had come to her for dating advice. After she laughed in his face for five minutes, she gave him some sound advice. She told him every woman likes to know theyare wanted but not feel like a chew toy between two guys. She told him to be himself and to leave Lucas the hell alone. The man would screw up with Amelia and Dunham would be the good guy who'd end up with the Amelia. Whether Dunham was the 'right' guy for Amelia, Reilly had no idea.

"I think he did, he's probably working on the calculations or something important" Amelia said still put out that Lucas wasn't here but she understood his position on how the colonists saw him and how he didn't want her 'tainted' by association. Like she cared what the colonist thought of her.

"Yeah whatever" Reilly said kicking back, she looked to Amelia a smile curving her lips. "Have you gone around the artworks display yet?" Reilly asked.

"No" Amelia said before taking a sip of her drink, she looked out to the dancefloor watching the people dancing and laughing, generally having a good time.

"Why not? It's good to know your enemy" Reilly remarked casually before she took a sip of her drink.

"Because I don't want to know how good the other artists are and I definitely don't want to know how badly I am going with mine" Amelia said in a low voice, she really had no confidence in her work. Sure she could paint but then everyone could do that and tonight was like a turning point on finding out if she really was an artist, someone who had talent. She didn't know how she was going to deal if it turned out she was dud.

"You'd be really surprised by what's happening in the Art Quarter but you know what I'm not going to tell you how many sales you've had or the comments I've heard because I think you should hear it for yourself" Reilly said with a smile.

"Here we are. Cross, Alicia" Sagara said as he placed the drinks on the table. He passed out glasses to Alicia and Aayla before taking his seat. He and Aayla were wearing dress uniforms for the occasion sticking out like a sore thumb with all the civilians and soldiers who were dressed in more casual modes of clothing for the event.

Alicia had donned her usual black skinny jeans and baggy boots paired with a loose off the shoulder royal blue top. Her long hair hung loose around her shoulders.

"Thanks Sagara" Alicia said as she picked up her tall glass of alcoholic cider. She loved the festivals in Terra Nova as it brought the community together and everyone enjoyed themselves and always ended up with at least one good story to tell the next day. Or in Boylan's case repeat over and over until the next festival. Sagara took a seat next to Alicia and sat just a little too close for Alicia's liking as she didn't like how it looked like Sagara was trying to exclude Aayla.

Aayla didn't care or at least she pretended not to as she kept her eye on Boylan who was currently tending the bar with Ethan strapped to his front. The man was laughing boisterously with his customers who commented on how adorable Ethan was and how being shackled with a child suited him. Ethan of course loved it as he was saturated with attention and moving around with Boylan. No one complained when the boy got his hands into their drinks, they just laughed and commented about how Boylan had to train the boy better. If they were in 2157, the customer would have scolded Boylan and demanded for a fresh drink and Ethan to be turned outside. But not here in paradise. Everything was different and sometimes it felt completely foriegn to her.

"Thanks Major" Aayla said as she took her glass of non alcoholic cider. She preferred to keep her wits about her and she needed to take Ethan home soon as it was well past his bed time but she was enjoying the fact that he was laughing and having a good time. She'd deal with his grumpiness later when she was officially 'off duty'. She couldn't wait for it as she hated the facade of dressing up like they were 'good' people bringing vitality and hope to the Colony when it was the opposite.

"So enjoying the festival?" Alicia asked them.

"Yeah, your people know how to party. I've never seen so many people looking so happy in such a long time" Sagara said before he took a sip of drink. Alicia didn't miss the glint of sadness in his eyes. It was something he and Aayla shared a like and Alicia wondered if they knew they were telegraphing how foreign it felt for them to be surrounded by celebrations and joy. It spoke volumes to what the future was really like.

"I concur" Aayla said, she picked up her glass and took a long pull of her drink to drown the sorrow she was feeling as she had spent most of the celebrations missing her husband and thinking if it had all been different he could have been sitting in the empty chair at the table. Or perhaps they would be topside on the dance floor dancing with Ethan strapped to Xavier's back. She frowned as the cider left a metallic burn of an after taste in her mouth.

"Oh I think I got your drink by accident" Aayla said as she shook her head at the taste lingered in her mouth. Alicia took a sip of the drink in her head and gave a nod.

"You're right, here" Alicia said as she swapped their glasses around before taking a sip of the glass Aayla had been holding. "Yeah definitely but I think Boylan cracked open a bad bottle cause that is off" Alicia said making a face she pushed the glass away from her.

"I could get you another" Sagara said and Aayla narrowed her eyes at him as he'd spent the last hour pushing alcohol into Alicia like he was trying to preserve her. But he of course had been failing miserably as Alicia was pacing herself, she had sat on her last cider for the past 45 minutes and wasn't imbibing any shots as she wanted to be sober for Commander Taylor's speech and the fireworks. It wasn't going to happen for another 3 hours which meant Sagara's lame strategy of 'get Alicia drunk' was not going to work.

It amazed Aayla that the Major couldn't come up with a more original plan to get into Alicia's pants. He obviously felt that whatever past history he and Alicia had could be rekindled with drunken sex. Obviously he didn't utilise his skills as a soldier in his personal life. If he did, he'd probably be far more successful or maybe he was just as screwed as Aayla was and wanted to botch the job so it took longer to complete. Aayla just wished she knew what St Claire got out of screwing around with Alicia.

"No, I'm fine" Alicia said as she sat back with a sigh.

"So Cross, how's the interrogation of the Sixers going?" Sagara asked making conversation.

"Smoothly" Aayla replied.

"They give anything of use" he asked. She shot him a look as he could jot have picked a worse place to discuss work.

"I prefer not to discuss it now. If you're interested in my findings then you can peruse my reports." Aayla said to him as she didn't like openly discussing her work in such a public area let alone in front of Alicia as the woman had personal ties to the group.

"Tight lipped as always" Sagara said in an antagonistic manner. Alicia rose an eyebrow as it wasn't the first time he tried to bait Aayla into a fight. Aayla didn't take the bait and instead took a sip of her drink.

"How do you think Amelia is going with her work?" Aayla asked turning the conversation to neutral ground.

"Exceptionally well, she has sold 13 paintings and only have a few left" Alicia said with a smile, she felt proud of the girl as she knew it was incredibly hard for her to put her painting out for public display and sale. To open herself up to the public for criticism.

"That's good, it will help boost her confidence" Aayla commented.

"Amelia is the girl who came from the 21st Century right?" Sagara asked, joining the conversation.

"Yes, a tragic accident but she's adjusting well to life here" Alicia said to him.

"Even dating Lucas Taylor from what I hear. Not exactly a favourable match" Sagara commented.

"Yes, I can't say I'm enthusiastic about the match but ultimately it's not up to me who Amelia dates" Alicia said sitting back in her seat.

"And sometimes we have to date the wrong people to find the right person" Aayla said with a rare smile curving her lips.

"I hope you're right" Alicia murmured in amusement.

Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. He could hear the music of the festival as it was in full swing. He could just imagine Amelia dancing and laughing with Dunham in the main square. Jealousy speared through him as he wanted to be out there with her. But he knew better. If he were to show up the colonists would not treat him kindly. Not that he cared about his social standing but he did when it was Amelia's social standing.

She was too innocent to be marred by her association with him. So he would let them all believe she was making the right choice in dating Dunham but still continue his own 'courtship' of Amelia. Hopefully by the time the colonists loosened up, he would then make his presence known and that Amelia was his.

He looked to the calculations on the plex for a moment and then gave up. He wasn't going to get any work done tonight. So he placed the plex on his desk and decided it was time to go home but not before he stopped by the festivities to catch a glimpse of Amelia.

Aayla tugged at the collar of her jacket and shifted in her chair as she felt incredibly tired and stifled by the crowded surroundings. She had turned into an incredible light weight from not drinking as the alcohol she had drank from Alicia's off cider was hitting her hard. Or maybe she was having an allergic reaction to the cider, she couldn't remember being allergic to anything let alone know what it felt like to be have an allergic reaction whatever it was she was sure she was going to be sick or pass out if she didn't get some fresh air immediately. She swallowed as nausea rolled over and she slowly pushed to her feet.

"Aayla?" Alicia asked in a concerned tone, Aayla couldn't remember what they were discussing but she waved a dismissive hand.

"I'm not feeling so good, I just need to get some air" Aayla told her.

"Ok" Alicia said as she watched Aayla weave slowly through the crowd. They had been talking about the antics of new soldiers and breaking down their psyche so they understood they were not invincible and that their superior officers owned them for want of a better explanation when Aayla had stood up abruptly and paled.

"I should follow her" Alicia said concerned she was about to rise from her chair but Sagara grabbed her by the hand.

"She has a kid and can't drink, I'm sure the Cider is just hitting her a little hard. Fresh air will fix her" Sagara said as he wanted to keep Alicia in her chair and her attention directed at him. He had hoped to progress their relationship to utilise her as source of information and because he had missed her but the former was the whole reason St Claire had brought him along. He couldn't afford to fail.

"You don't have to be responsible for everyone. Stay, if she's not back in a few minutes then go check on her." He told her. She looked at him and he knew in that moment he had pushed her too far. He released her hand and she didn't say a word as she walked away but he knew from that one look she was questioning herself to if she really knew him at all. He couldn't afford for her to distance herself from him any further than she was right now.

Lucas stood by the wall of the command centre in the shadows under the balcony. He watched as Amelia sat with Maddy Shannon and her beau Mark Reynolds at table to the side of the main square. They were laughing and talking animatedly about something he could not hear as the music was loud and there was a large crowd of people in the area. A small part him was tempted to walk right up to their table and take a seat or even just walk past to overhear the conversation if only to hear Amelia's voice and her laugh.

She looked beautiful, her honey brown hair was in loose waves around her shoulders and she wore an olive green and white striped dress with spaghetti straps. The colours contrasted well with her skin tone and made her lightly tanned complexion seem darker than it was. He committed it all to memory and turned to leave but a pair of hands grabbed him from behind and shoved him up against the wall.

"What do you think you're doing here?" Dunham demanded as held Lucas by the collar of his shirt.

"Dunham, no offense but do you mind backing off. You're not my type" Lucas drawled as they were so close to one another he was sure anyone walking by might think they were about to kiss. A rumour he definitely didn't need flying around.

"Oh I know your type" Dunham said scathingly.

"Yeah?" Lucas asked amused that this was Dunham's 'Dark' side. It wasn't very intimidating.

"But you don't deserve her" Dunham told him. Lucas fought the urge to roll his eyes like he didn't need to be reminded.

"No, I don't but that doesn't mean I won't have her" Lucas said smugly, what happened next caught him by surprise as Dunham hit him with punch to the gut. Lucas wheezed as pain exploded in him from the punch. Stars spliced through his vision and he his anger rose at the fact that Dunham had hit him. A laugh bubbled up and out of him as he was surprised.

"Smug son of a bitch" Dunham spat venomously.

"You shouldn't insult my mother just because you're a sore loser." Lucas wheezed, he knew it was stupid but he couldn't help by antagonise the man. Maybe he needed to be punished just a little bit or so he would tell himself later. "I know I will enjoy the spoils of our war" he said and before he knew it Dunham hit him with a hard right hook. Lucas fell to the ground in a heap, he should feel humiliated but then it occured to him that he couldn't fight back and hey he deserved a punch or two and maybe Dunham would get in trouble if someone caught him out.

Lucas braced himself for Dunham's next hit when he heard. "Will?". It was Amelia, Lucas groaned in pain and slight embarassment as he didn't need her seeing this. He slowly pushed up to a seated position. His brain too fuzzy from the pain to do anything more than just watch.

"Amelia-" Dunham started but she cut him off with the wave of a hand.

"Why would you punch him?" Amelia demanded as she rushed to Lucas's side.

"You don't know what he said" Dunham said as he watched Amelia cup the uninjured side of Lucas' face for a moment before she looked over her shoulder at him and glared.

"Does it matter? He couldn't fight back. If he did he'd lose his freedom. So you attacked a defenceless man, do you feel proud of yourself?" she asked, she was angry as she didn't want anyone to fight over her and she abhorred violence especially when it wasn't necessary.

"He antagonised me" Dunham said defensively, he didn't want to tell her the whole story because he knew she wouldn't believe him.

"You could have walked away" Amelia told him.

"But-" he started but she cut him off.

"No, you know what? I don't care! Violence isn't the answer for when someone says something you don't like. Please just go" Amelia told him. She turned her back to him and looked at Lucas, his left cheek was starting to swell. She didn't watch Dunham leave but heard his footsteps as he walked away and felt his presence leave. She looked to Lucas with concern and guilt as she was the reason he was hurt.

"Are you ok?" she asked him.

"I am now that you're here." he said, he tried to smile but it hurt and she leaned closer to inspect his face in the dark. He had to admit he was petulantly enjoying the attention she was lavishing on him as she gingerly touched his face and looked at her. Her face filled with concern even if he was the one who instigated the fight that got him hurt. He didn't think being an asshole would reap such rewards as Dunham was now in the dog house. He should have picked a fight earlier.

"This isn't funny I saw that right hook, you might have a concussion. I think I should take you to the infirmary" Amelia said.

"I'll be fine, just need an ice pack" He assured her.

"What did you say to him?" she asked.

"That I didn't deserve you but that didn't mean I wouldn't stop trying to be with you. You make me want things I've never wanted before" he said, the declaration made Amelia melt in a delicious warmth as she liked hearing him say he wanted her in more than just a sexual way. Not that that wasn't great but she wanted the whole package. She never had a boyfriend before but she'd be happy to with Lucas. She just wished they were on the same page but at least this was a step toward it.

"Like what?" she asked.

"Perhaps we could discuss it at your place with an icebag on my face" he suggested with a hopeful tone. Amelia looked around at the crowd and then checked her watch before she gave a nod,

"but only for an hour. I have to back for Commander Taylor's speech otherwise Reilly will dob me in to Alicia" Amelia told him, he inwardly smiled.

"Then I will make sure you are back in time" he told her, he got to his feet slowly and swayed slightly but Amelia steadied him. "Thank you"

"You sure you don't want the infirmary. It's much closer" Amelia said.

"I'm definitely sure" he told her.

Taylor was walking the East perimeter fence as he always did as a nightly ritual, though it had changed as Alicia had always kept him company. But nowadays he walked the perimeter alone, he missed her presence and insights. Tonight was also different because instead of signing off for the night and going home. He'd be giving a speech to the colony and celebrating with them the success of the colony and the night's festivities. All with St Claire at his side, that part rankled him as he liked the Colony being his. He built it from the ground up, if he wanted to share the glory it would be with those who came on the First Pilgrimage.

He was walking past the barracks when he noticed a figure in the shadows stumble slightly before they continued swaying and swerving as they walked home or so Taylor assumed until the figure stepped into the light momentarily and he saw it Aayla.

He frowned as she should be at the main festivities not stumbling around seemingly drunk on the east side of the colony. Not that she wasn't allowed, she was military personnel but he was concerned as he didn't take her for a drinker and he knew St Claire would punish her severely for being drunk while dressed in full military dress.

"Aayla?" he said, surprised by her state he moved forward and caught her by the elbow to steady her.

"Taylor" she slurred, she lost her equilibrium and leaned back and would have lost balance if Taylor hadn't caught her other elbow in time.

"How much did you have to drink Soldier?" he asked out of curiosity, he was amazed she would even drink while in uniform. She looked around, her eyes drifting half closed and open before she looked at him.

"I needed to clear my head, don't feel so good." she told him

"I can see that, come on" He half carried her to Boylan's bar. He would have to find Alicia as she would hear her comm. unti over the noise of the bar. He made it half way when he ran into Guzman coming towards him.

"Guzman" Taylor called. Guzman neared them and looked to Aayla then Taylor.

"Sir" he said in greeting.

"I need you to take Aayla home, make sure no one sees her like this" Taylor said as he handed Aayla over to him, the woman was barely able to stand and Taylor knew in a few moments she would pass out.

"Yes, sir. Ah Sir what about her son?" Guzman asked as he tried to hold Aayla up so she was still standing but it was incredibly difficult as she was fast becoming dead weight.

"Don't worry about Ethan, I'll take care of him" Taylor said, he looked to Guzman who gave a nod and he picked Aayla off the ground and into his arms bridal style as it would be faster to carry her than try to make her walk while holding her up.

He looked back to make sure she hadn't moved before he ventured into the bar. The bar was packed and he searched the crowd for Alicia and Ethan. He spotted Alicia first as she was only a few feet away from him. She weaved through the crowd with ease and was by his side in a second.

"Taylor" She said in greeting, he could see the concern in her eyes and noticed instead of stopping she was going to pass him.

"Wash" he said, he caught her by the arm and she swung to face him.

"I'd stop to chat but I-" she started but he cut her off.

"Need to check on Aayla?" he finished for heer, she gave a nod, her concern increasing.

"Yeah" she said.

"Guzman is taking her home, I came to find you and convince you to give up your date to look after her and Ethan" Taylor said as he could see Sagara in the crowd coming towards them. Alicia noted the way he said 'date' with disdain and felt a zing of pleasure that Taylor was jealous.

"Not a problem, I'll get Ethan from Boylan and head home" Alicia said, she made a mental note to stop by the inirmary and grab a med kit as she wanted to be prepared in case Aayla needed it.

"I'll escort you home" Taylor told her.

"I'm sure Saga-"

"No, I don't want him to see Aayla in her current state." he said it was partially about Aayla but mainly because he didn't want Sagara near Alicia for his own personal reasons. Sagara was St Claire's XO and that was enough for him not to trust the man with anything let alone something as precious to him as Alicia was.

"Her state? Is she ill?" Alicia asked concerned.

"She's drunk" Taylor told her.

"Drunk?" Alicia asked completely surprised, she had expected Taylor to say Aayla was throwing up or worse.

"Yes" Taylor said, Alicia shook her head.

"Impossible, she barely had a quarter of rank apple cider" Alicia told him.

"Well, it's put her out of action. I got Guz to take her home" Taylor told her.

"Ok, I'll go get Ethan" Alicia told him.

"So, what do I make you want that you didn't before?" Amelia asked as she sat on the lounge next to Lucas so closely she was practically in his lap. She gently pressed the ice pack to his cheek. She had to admit she kind of liked playing 'nurse' to him as she knew he was entirely capable of holding an ice pack to his face.

"Permanency" he said, he wasn't entirely lying but he had to win her from Dunham to protect her from St Claire and her cronies. So it meant he'd have to tell some nicely worded lies. Nothing he hadn't done before. But this time it would be to save her and not destroy her. It somehow made it easier for him do otherwise he was sure it would niggle his conscience to lie to her.

He reached a hand and brushed her hair behind her left ear and cupped her face. "I want things I'd denied myself as I wanted nothing more than to destroy my father like he did my mother" Lucas told her. Amelia frowned.

"What happened to your mother?" she asked, she watched as Lucas looked uncomfortable with the question.

"It's-" he struggled to find the words, as he never talked about what happened properly only vented it in anger and even then he said very little. "I can't talk about it not now" he said, Amelia nodded accepting his answer for which he was grateful as he didn't want to share his dark history with her.

"Ok" she told him. He lifted the ice pack from her hand and tossed it on the coffee table and took her hand in his.

"The point being that I want you and whatever life we can have together" he told her.

"And what about my reputation and the colonists? All the things you wanted me to have before and didn't want me denied because of your reputation?" she asked.

"I still want all of that but then I also think the colony will get used to it. What matters is you and I. Do you want us to be together?" he asked her.

"Yes" she said, he felt a twinge of guilt as she was so easy to manipulate.

"Then let's forget all this courtship bullshit. Just you and me we'll take it one step at a time" he told her.

"I can't do that I promised Alicia" Amelia said, it was a lame excuse but she felt afraid in that moment as everything seemed a little too good to be true.

"You could lie to her" Lucas said with a half smile, he brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles before he shifted closer to her.

"I'm a lousy liar and I owe her for everything she's done in helping me" Amelia said a little flustered by his nearness and because she knew he was going to kiss her. He had dropped her hands and moved his slowly up her arms and over her shoulders. He threaded his fingers through her soft hair before he rested one on the side of her neck and the other cupped the side of her face.

"Ok, but as long as you don't do this with Dunham" he told her, he pressed his lips to hers gently and pulled back "Or this" he kissed her again this time harder, more passionately, he felt her melt into the kiss and pulled back again and saw the glazed look of desire in her eyes. "Promise you won't let him have such liberties" he whispered as he leaned in brushing his lips against her, not kissing but teasing her mouth. "I'm very possessive of you and I don't want to share. Promise me" he said.

"I promise" she breathed against his lips and he pulled her to him closing space between them. He ignored the pain of his injuries and kissed her deeply.

TBC- Cya all soonish...