A/N

Plot changed from what I wanted because Smith and Robinsons demanded for a happy ending. Dedicated to DrZacharySmith for helping me for a very important plot point. Significantly important. So very deeply important and ingrained into his storyline regarding the Robinsons agony.

It was quiet on the bridge of the Jupiter 2.

Not a sound could be heard from the consoles.

The three week old Robinson-West was fast asleep in his crib.

The family were scattered about in the galley in their dark themed pajamas as John folded the letter then put it back on the table. John slid it forward then folded his arms, stepped back, and sighed. It wasn't a exasperated sigh from the professor. It was a sigh of defeat. A sigh that meant he had read it after weeks of denial.

They were silent and solemn. The joy that once radiated through the residential deck had faded replaced by the feelings that were left behind from the event after. No one knew what to say regarding the matter after it was ran through. No one had the slightest idea of what had to be said in the mist of heartbreak.

"He is surprisingly consistent," Don was the first to speak. "I will give him that."

"He is." Maureen was the second to agree then frowned. "Things have been progressing quite dark. Long before he got here."

"Smith died because of my counterpart's presence." Don said. "And Robot because because of Smith's presence."

"No, he didn't." Will argued. "Doctor Smith did not represent his continuity anymore. He represented ours."

John lifted a brow as he looked down toward his son then lowered it down.

"He hasn't returned in the last few weeks pleading for help," John said. "So, he is in his continuity."

"But if Smith doesn't represent his continuity anymore then why did Robot have to face his fate?" Maureen asked. "It was a cruel kind of fate. The most horrible one there is. The unkindest of fates."

"Unless, someone of Smith's continuity is in ours. . ." Don shook his head. "Finding that person would be like finding a needle in a haystack."

"Doctor Smith once told me that Eglardo claimed if he came in then his counterpart would die," Will said. "What if; Robot is on his way here? What if, when we really grieving for him, that Robot will appear to us just like Doctor Smith did? And this time, this time, unlike him, he won't leave."

"But we do know he is on his way," Don said. "if that is a sound theory."

"It is entertaining to think about," John said.

"Maybe, maybe," Judy said. "Maybe it will recede and it will be bright again. Things will return to normal."

"Being normal is having Robot and Doctor Smith around." Will said.

John's eyes shifted toward his son as did Maureen's eyes.

"We can't reverse that," John said. "Not as if we could bring the dead back to life."

"What if we could?" Don asked. "In the beginning, when Smith was around, I blacked out and dreamed I died then he regenerated my body and-"

"Was this on Tekuchi Seven?" John asked.

"Yes." Don said.

"We are not playing God," John said. "That is not what we are. We are mortals. I am sure that they would agree."

"But dad, it would be somewhat closer to normal." Will said. "Just what he wanted."

"It wouldn't be, Will." John shook his head. "We can't bring him back. And we can't bring back the Robot we know."

"Even if we could," Don said. "Think of what could happen. He wouldn't be the same person."

John grimaced at the thought as did the rest of the Robinsons excluding Will - who only smiled- at the moving and uncomfortable video playing in their minds.

"The only thing we can do is submit the loss of life into the record once we return to Gamma." John said.

"Nor can we replace Smith," Don said. "Complained about being a replacement goldfish," he snickered. "He doesn't want to be that one."

"So let's not make him one." Maureen said.

The family nodded in agreement.

"He is not coming back." John said. "We'll empty the Jupiter 2 of the unnecessary material then resume flight for Alpha Centauri. And give our Smith a proper burial at sea."

Maureen was the first to get up from the table then went toward the cabin that their Smith had once used on a daily basis. Judy was the first to cry then Don put his hand on her shoulder then his arm slid forward and brought her closer to him into a hug. Judy clenched his shirt as Will and Penny got up from their chairs then shared a hug. Will closed his eyes as John turned away from them then headed toward the rows of cabins. Maureen came back out of his cabin.

"Doctor Smith's belongings are missing." Maureen said.

John looked toward his family.

"Did any of you notice prior to him boarding the ship and leaving Tekuchi Seven that he had anything?" John asked.

The children exchanged a glance.

"He never held clothing as he left." Judy said.

"There was this episode where we have a entire two days unaccounted for." Don said. "In those two days, he could have taken his belongings."

"He didn't burn it, we would have seen the fire and found the remains of the fire pit afterwards." John grasped the back rest of the chair. "We have the coordinates to the planet and we are in space. Even a few weeks close to the planet." He scanned his family. "How many of you like to go back and get his belongings? Family vote."

Once again, everyone voted yes.

"Uh, John." Don said. "I got a little idea. That small vaporizer device that burns everything and turns them to ashes."

"What about it?" John asked.

"How about we give them a viking burial at sea?" Don said. "Robot's claw will burn for a couple hours against the vaporizer."

"Together," Maureen said. "Even in death."

"I like that idea." John said. "Can we do it?"

"It is possible." Don said. "I made a tricky box like it a month and a week ago. And Smith lost his finger over it."

"No, he didn't." Will said. "He had all five fingers."

"Will, he regenerated his finger." Don said. "Called himself a space orc that was part starfish."

"Oh," Judy said. "So that is why you were staring at the finger for a entire day!"

"Uh huh." Don said with a nod.

"If it is possible then we're doing it." John said. "Time we retire for the night." he patted on the back rest of the chair then looked toward the major. "Don, change our course for Tekuchi Seven. We have one matter of unfinished business to finish."

Don was on his shift looking out the window staring at the passing stars and constellations that they were passing by each passing moment. His once bright and silver spacesuit had became a darker version of itself with the lights on power reservation. He looked gloomy under the partial lighting in the bridge. From behind him, Judy approached him with her hands linked behind her back and paused by him.

"Don?" Judy started. "Are you okay?"

"I did die. But, we weren't grieving when my counterpart arrived. And he was very old." Don said. "He was here longer than Smith was. He could have been here this entire time."

Don looked toward Judy, hurt, distraught, and pained by the implication.

"He was here this entire time." Judy said. "That's why everything became wrong."

"I don't know how long he could have thought he could do it." Don said.

"He was in his fifties." Judy said. "He may have been here for hundreds of years and no one noticed something was wrong about him because they weren't paying attention to things that he was holding."

"The kind of wrong that can't be shaken off without . . ." Don let the comment be left unfinished.

"Love, hope, optimism, and family." Judy said.

Don squeezed Judy's hand as his disturbed features fell with a small.

"We got the chance to have it." Don said. "And still have it."

It earned a little smile from Judy as she stroked the side of his cheek.

"That," Judy said. "We do."

"I don't regret getting to know every bit of you in this long journey." Don said, as Judy took his hand and he squeezed it.

"May I be on shift with you, Lieutenant Colonel Don Robinson-West?"

Don had a light hearted laugh looking back at her as his figure shook with laughter.

"You know that gets me every time you say that." Don smiled back at her. "Still feels like it's not real."

"Soon, you'll be a General." Judy said. "The most experienced General in American history."

"Every time I hear it . . . It feels like it isn't real." Don admitted. "Doesn't feel right having it. There is something missing that isn't there to make it feel it is really happening." he shook his head. "I don't know what it is."

"Far from civilization, it's not real." Judy admitted. "But to Gamma and the United States Space Corps." she lifted his chin up toward her as he played with his fingers. "It's something very real."

Don nodded, smiling back.

"Request granted, Mrs Robinson-West." Don said.

Judy sat down beside him in the neighboring chair.

"I wish that Doctor Smith were there to see you get that promotion." Judy admitted.

"So do I." Don said. "If we hadn't that firefight-" He closed his eyes. "He would have come back sooner."

Judy reached out then squeezed his arm.

"You did what had to done after he took out his side arm." Judy said.

"Why is it that I feel like we shouldn't have came to the bridge armed and tried to talk him into being in the freezing tube?" Don asked.

"Because it was a mistake." Judy said.

"The biggest mistake that I made," Don said. "Thinking he was mentally ill and we came with laser pistols to threaten him into stasis. That was a bad idea all around." He looked toward the stars then let go of a sigh. "The worst mistake of my life."

"At least. . ." Judy started. "At least, he got it out of the bag."

"You mean his confession?" Don asked. "We didn't exactly wait for him to reveal it on his own."

Judy winced at the reminder.

"It wasn't the most convenient way of him admitting what father believed." Judy said.

"We turned against him, we hurt him, and he confessed because we made it clear that he wasn't going to come out of it any time soon." His hands rolled into fists. "I feel so stupid acting like she was there and wasn't the same person he had been seeing. I feel so stupid not believing him."

"Me too." Judy said.

"On the bright side." Don said. "That whole 'not believing Smith and something awful happens' isn't going to happen a third time."

"True." Judy said. "Never going to happen."

"And that is the silver lining." Don said.

For the first time in a very long time, the landing legs of the Jupiter 2 descended down landing to the barren ground of Tekuchi Seven. A sigh of relief echoed from deck to deck to the Robinsons and Don. The comfort chairs were unbuckled then the family began to get out of their couch and head toward the auxiliary deck window ency with anticipation. They wore grins that spoke of gentle and kind closure. Their space suits weren't dark but now shiny and orange as it used to be.

Several long weeks had elapsed since starting the journey to the planet. It had been more than weeks since they had visited the planet. It had been more than unnumbered years that were left unaccounted for and unacknowledged as time that had been passed with the gap between Doctor Smith being on Beta 5. And Destructon.

The staircase leading down to the Jupiter 2 was wide and large than it had been many years ago. It wasn't thin and narrow as it had been in the beginning but appropriately a loading dock in terms of scope. John was the first to descend down the stairs looking around observing the changed landscape.

"Everything has changed." John said.

"So have we." Don said. "John, look. You've got gray hair."

John raised his brows as members of the family's eyes widened.

"It's true, daddy." Penny said. "You're going gray."

John's eyes widened.

"Maureen?" John asked.

He turned toward her.

"I am fine." Maureen said patting on the side of her hair with a smile. "Haven't gone that gray."

John looked toward his children then noticed that Will was a couple inches taller and his uniform looked tight and Penny's uniform looked quite smaller on her as if she were wearing children's clothing. Maureen looked toward Penny then she smiled, briefly covering her mouth with her fingers, as she was growing on the edge of tears. She appeared to be fifteen years old instead of a fourteen year old girl.

"Mommy, is something wrong?"

Maureen shook her head then grasped her into a hug.

"Everything is okay," Maureen said. "It is all okay."

Penny tilted her head, her eyebrows furrowing together, but smiled and closed her eyes enjoying the hug from her mother.

"How long have we been aging and haven't known?" Don asked.

"We could have started aging after you had Joshua." Will said. His voice had finally deepened, no longer high pitched, but a definite switch from child to teenager was easily decorating his face. "That is when he started aging."

"No. . ." Judy said while joining Don's side. "I started almost a year ago. Fetuses need to age to develop."

"Whatever is going on," Don said. "I like this."

"I haven't really felt like I was aging," Will said.

"We were easing into aging," Maureen said. "Slowly. As humans."

John's eyes lit up at the thought then he grinned.

"We'll start searching for them once get our uniforms adjusted." John said.

"That won't take long," Maureen said.

"In the mean time, Don, how about we get out the chariot and do some surveys and see what has changed since left?" John asked.

"I will get Debbie!" Penny charged into the ship.

The Robinsons laughed then followed her back into the Jupiter 2.

It was a day later did Will leave the Jupiter 2 in clothing that was more suited to his figure that had grown so suddenly and abruptly; a growth spurt. The Chariot was left behind in the Jupiter 2 as the men wandered the area following Will through places that Robot and he had searched for him after the event that started it all.

Will paused in his tracks spotting where the mall once had been.

It was overgrown by plants that claimed the soil and the area around it.

It brought him back to the last discussion that he had with the man before going into the mall.

And worry about the future of going in that direction should the grave be in that general direction.

"It'll be fine, William." Smith said. "I will get Robot back. Then everything shall be fine for your family."

"Since coming into my universe, I have to say that isn't the case." Will said.

"How are you sure that Mr Cackler won't notice you, Doctor Smith?" Penny asked.

Smith grinned, folding his arms, then shook his head.

"Look at the technicians, my dears." Smith gestured toward them. "All dressed in uniform. And they all look alike."

"But, they may have to take it off."Will pointed out.

"Look at our friend," Smith pointed toward the distorted head that was partially wrapped by dark gray socks that were very long, belonging to Smith, covering most of their facial features. "They need that as a facial protector."

"But why?" Penny asked.

"Reasons." Smith said. "Sometimes, beauty in the face of ugliness isn't appreciated by aliens here." he frowned, looking aside. "But it is the pretty kind of ugly that you can live alongside. Not a horrible nightmare."

Smith wrapped the fabric around his head then paused as if wondering what he had forgotten.

"You forgot to get the goggles, Doctor Smith." Will said. "They see through fabric."

"My dears, find me the googles and hand them over." Smith said. "And go hide behind that tree after you find it. Will you?"

"Sure, Doctor Smith." the children replied.

Will and Penny searched around the area as the older man proceeded to stand there with his arms folded waiting patiently.

"I found it, Doctor Smith!" Penny cried, holding up the goggles.

"Bring it here, my dear child." Smith requested.

"I found it!" Don called.

"A marker." John joined his side as the major yanked out the vines as Will arrived.

"Doctor Zachary Smith." Will said, fondly. "Birth place; Earth. Cause of death; shot to the back."

There was a inscription below it reading; most sorry. Z. S.

"Smith's handy work." Don said with one hand on his knee.

"Didn't really figure him for burying the dead behind my back." Will said, softly.

"We weren't going to move on so quickly and bury his belongings when he came," John reminded. "It's time we made sure that the last piece of him is gone."

Will put down the backpack and gently took out the collapsible shovel as the other men followed suit. With time and effort, they undug the makeshift graft. The small box was slowly revealed to the group in a little over a couple hours. Don knelt down then stretched his arm out and took out the box.

"Here it is." Don said. "What we have all been waiting for."

Don put the box on the ground.

"Looks like it hadn't been touched." Will said. "Not since it was buried."

John was the first to open the box and find that all of the man's belongings were neatly folded inside with a small letter.

Do you want to play God just to say a proper goodbye and watch his body turn to dust, Professor?

Your choice.

Doctor Zachary Smith.

"Turn to dust just to say goodbye. . ." John said. "Makes sense why he made the machine." He paused as their eyes widened. "He made a resurrection machine!"

"We have to destroy that!" Don said. "If that is how many of the foes we faced cross paths with us came to life-who knows who else might want to use this opportunity."

"Will," John turned his attention upon Will. "Do you still remember where Smith's living space was? You found it one night when Smith was staying at Vikari's."

"Very well," Will replied.

"Bring us there." John got up to his feet then Don kicked the tombstone into the grave. "After we bury this marker."

The men returned for the Chariot then went inside of the ship and took out the explosive material before Maureen's eyes.

"Is everything alright, John?" Maureen asked.

John turned toward Maureen.

"No." John said. "Smith made a machine for us to say goodbye to our Smith. He intended for Robot to tell us after he left. And we're not going to do that."

"Just be careful, Professor Robinson." Maureen said. "Someone may be in the process of using it."

"I intend for them to never finish what they were doing." John said. "When someone is dead; they're dead."

"They are." Maureen said. "Go get it."

John grinned, broadly, then nodded.

"I will be back before you know it, darling." John said.

"We can wait on giving him the burial that he needs until you get back," Maureen said. "The girls and I will get the raft ready."

It was a quick peck on John's lips then Maureen walked on and John went inside going into the driver seat.

"Ready for your first mission as a young man, Will?" John looked toward Will, teasingly.

Will shook his head with a laugh and his arms folded.

"I am just edging there to being a teenager, dad." Will said.

"A few more inches and you will be taller than me!" Don said. "Hell of a thing."

"Let's go." John said.

And the Chariot drove off from the Jupiter 2 leaving the massive saucer behind.

Don followed Will's directions to the cavern. It was John who parked the Chariot first as Will stared on toward the wide open cavern that had a steepened passageway leading into it as if it had been well traveled by crowds of people. Don was the first to get out with the laser pistol and some of the explosive equipment slipped in a large bag strapped on his shoulder. John came to his son's side then put his hand on his shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. A old woman came out of the tunnel holding a small bundle in her arms.

"Hello," Don said. "I am Don West."

"Hello." The mother was a older woman keeping her infant's head shielded from him.

"I am not going to hurt you." Don said. "We are just here to destroy the machine, Miss. . ."

"Gampu." Her face was familiar, her eyes, her eyebrows, her facial features, yet he couldn't pin point what exactly it was. "Mariza Gampu."

Mariza held a hand out and Don spotted a long scar that he had only seen from Bronius spreading down from the palm of her hand to her arm. Coincidence.

"Good to meet you." Don smiled. "Did you do what you needed?"

"Just brought my baby back." Mariza said over the small crying of the infant. "My little Isaac."

Don smiled.

"Well," Don said. "Don't let us be in the way. Is there any other people left?"

"No," Mariza said. "It lost its crowds ten years ago."

"Thank you, Miss." Don said. "Have a good day."

Mariza smiled back at him then withdrew her hand and walked off as John and Will joined his sides.

"Let's get that lab destroyed before anyone gets any bright ideas of playing God." John said.

John was the first to go into the lab along with the major and his son. Will looked about the cavern spotting carvings that the older man had made long ago left discarded on the natural made ledges. He paused, staring at a small glinting object left on the counter then withdrew it and stared at it in awe. It was his old pocket watch and a small piece of a tree bark with surprisingly few but poignant words: Will. Sorry 4 pain. Will dropped the watch as he felt a painful string in his heart being pulled.

He picked up a carving and spotted what appeared to be a carving of his mother. Will unzipped his pant pockets and slipped in the wood carvings until his pockets couldn't take no more. He looked, up gasping, then climbed up and reached out taking down two pieces of carvings that had a pebble glued on representing a helmet. He knelt down the carefully picked up the grandfather watch and turned it over. It read: Smith. Will ran out and caught up with Mariza.

"Mrs! Wait!"

"Yes?" Mariza turned toward Will.

"I think this will help you cover for your child's expenses." Will handed it over into her free hand. "It should give you a cozy place to live in for Isaac."

"It would." Mariza said then bowed her head. "Thank you. Good-bye."

"Good-bye." Will said. "Farewell." he watched as the last belonging of his friend be taken away then softly added, sadly, with his heart breaking finding himself in the position of letting go as his friend once had decades ago. And this time, this piece of Smith wasn't going to come back to him. Will felt sure of that. "My old friend."

"Adieu. . . " And the memory of Smith, the older version, walking on from him and Robot with suitcase in tow vanished.

Will turned away then rejoined into the tunnel and set up the pieces of explosive around the room. He put the mobile explosive devices where they deserved to be put then stepped back as the men finished hiding their experimental destructive machines about the room. John took several one last inspection of the room checking for anything that didn't relate to the regeneration machine.

The cavern was wide and large but quite circular. Half of a rocking chair was buried in the ground as the planet had claimed it close by what appeared to be remains of a electronic fire pit that had became a crater over time. Will took one last look at the machine that was being consumed ever slowly with plants hanging around its sides. John put the last explosive within the machine then exited with the men getting further and further until making it to a safe distance with the Chariot.

John looked toward Will then nodded back at his direction.

Will turned the explosives on with several switches then pressed a button.

And the interior of the cavern was destroyed in a blazing inferno and eliminated five feet of dirt leaving it the same way that it had been before. It was single red flash of light at first then several others and sound of destruction, the ground trembling, and the sound of the explosive sonic boom exiting the cavern. John returned inside for a inspection then gazed around the area searching for remains of the machine.

John turned away then approached the duo.

"Everything is gone." John said. "It is over."

"Hey, dad." Will said. "Doctor Smith made these."

Will took out the wood carvings then handed them to John.

"We can paint these." John said. "Their weight wouldn't matter. Light-weight."

"What in the world is that carving? It's got Robot's helm, his chassis, but the lower half . . ." Don was bewildered staring down in shock and disgust at the carving. "What kind of undead machine is that?"

John looked over toward the major.

"A zombie," John said, in mirth.

"A Robot zombie." Don handed it back to Will. "Keep this. I will take the classic Robot any day."

"I will take Robot in any form that he is." Will said

"And so would I." John grinned then the trio laughed laughed. "It's a long way back to the Jupiter 2. Let's get it started."

Will took one last glance at the tunnel then nodded and followed after the men already getting into their seats.

The family gathered at the beach that afternoon.

"Are you ready, Will?" John put a hand on his son's shoulder.

Will looked up toward John then nodded with a smile.

"I can do this." Will said.

John took his hand back from his son then watched him walk forward into the water then slide the raft forward. The vaporizer turned on once Will had rejoined his family then turned toward the distant sea. Penny took Will's hand and gave it a squeeze. He looked up toward her as the sun set over the horizon then smiled. He turned his attention back on to the sea then watched as the center of the wooden raft burned.

They watched in silence as the vaporizer worked on the wood. The flames traveled on lone pieces of log on to another log and it spread similar to fire. It burned it to a crisp but took longer for the claw to melt into pieces inside the small box below the raft. The Robinsons watched in silence and in sorrow as the last pieces of the past that they once had burned away. The vaporizer deactivated then the box was released into the abyss of darkness.

"At least, they are together forever and got each other to spend it with." Penny said.

Maureen smiled back looking down toward the young girl then they silently returned to the Chariot leaving only Will alone.

Will sighed, heartbroken, sadly.

I want my best friend back.

"We are ready to go home, son." John called back.

Will turned away then walked after the Chariot.