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Chapter 29 - Chapter 29 - The Reflection of Jupiter

A few hours later, Tony Stark welded something together on his small ship that presently sat inside of the Doctor's hanger. The light from the welding reflected in his goggles that he wore. The bearded Tony Tyler walked behind him and handed him another device.

Stark thanked him and began to weld it into place. "I didn't have this on my other one."

Tony nodded with his hands on his hips. "I was going to put it on mine."

"Could you savage any of your ship?"

"Poltious says no. From my understanding, there just wasn't enough of it left."

Stark finished, took off his goggles and stood up next to him. "What happened, man?"

Tony groaned. "Poltious and I were at this space port. There was this…guy-"

"Guy?"

Tony grinned. "He told us that he had heard of some Vesuos docked nearby. So, I decided to go see if they were the Vesuos we had been looking for."

"They were." Stark realized.

"They were Vesuos. That's all I needed. Poltious and I stormed their ship. It was really stupid thinking back on it. Poltious and I were separated, and when they asked who I was, I told them Tony. So, they thought I was you. I didn't even realize that until Sammy woke up and told me that they thought he was Soli."

Stark nodded. "How did they know to come to Earth?"

"They ran a bio-signature on me. It tells the origin of a species. It's this…thing." He cleared his throat.

"This thing?"

Tony nodded, "Yeah. Anyway. Did you get all of that sorted?"

Stark looked back and nodded, "Yeah, it's in there."

"I'll go back down to the surface and get the rest of what we need. An arc reactor there in the back would be a good idea. And this ship has a cargo hold large enough to put several of the suits in."

Pepper stepped onboard and looked around.

Stark looked back at Tony. "That's a good idea. I'll put some onboard."

Tony Tyler dropped his head and walked out of the ship.

Pepper watched him and looked back at Stark. "Is he alright?"

"No." Stark told her. "I don't know what happened, but he's really having a hard time with it."

"Have you talked to him?"

He shook his head. "No. I don't think he will talk to me about it. He did ask if I minded him helping put everything on this ship. We've been at it since last night. I guess he just needs something to keep his mind busy. "

She crossed her arms. "Like you."

"It is how we work through things. He seems to have a lot on his mind."

She sadly nodded, "I suppose he would. Hmm. Soli mentioned you had a meeting."

He nodded. "Everyone of the 'Ten' now know that we are married."

"And this wasn't something you needed to discuss with me?" She asked, matter of factly.

"You told me that you were ready to announce it."

"Well, yes. But, I didn't realize you were doing it this way."

"This is my family. Naming the 'Ten', makes you all….family."

Pepper smiled, "Family."

"I've not had a family in a very long time. Now, I have ….all of this. It's wonderfully terrifying." He laughed.

She wrapped her arms around him and smiled. "Wonderfully terrifying, huh?"

"How would you describe it?"

She kissed his lips and smiled. "Just like that.

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Samuel stood looking out of a large window in the hallway of the Doctor's ship. The stars streaked by in long lines, but he didn't see them. He was too wrapped up in his own thoughts.

After laughing for 49 minutes, he had grown tired. His Dad had insisted he sleep, which he was grateful he had.

He had slept for over four hours, and through most of their journey back home. He woke up as they had gotten closer to Earth, feeling better than he could have imagined.

Karen had returned from the surface, but Genie had stolen her yet again to go run in the work-out room with herself and Rose. Samuel was pleased they were all getting on together.

He stood, wearing a pair of jeans and a jumper. Finally, upright without being out of breath or tired. Finally beginning to feel more like himself.

He felt a hand on his back. He turned and looked back to see Karen's beautiful face smiling at him. She was wearing a lovely simple dress, with her hair twisted up. She smelled like she had just gotten out of the shower. "You weren't in the med bay."

He turned to face her, taking both of her hands in his own. "I woke up, and wanted to walk around."

The familiar current that always happened when they touched one another, made his stomach suddenly feel like butterflies had started to dance inside of it. He rose her hands to his mouth to kiss.

She looked him up and down as she continued to smile. "And you're dressed."

"Yeah." He smiled and looked down at himself, then looked back at her.

She smiled as happy tears rolled into her eyes. "You look so much better."

"You are lovely." He smiled. "I love this dress."

"Thank you, Samuel. How do you feel?"

He nodded, "I feel…almost normal."

"Almost?" She asked.

"Yeah. There are some things…that still need to….come back." He ran his hand though his hair and continued to look at her. "I don't know what of me that you know, and what you don't."

She put her hands on her hips. "New plan."

He nodded. "Yes."

"I know you. Who your family really is."

"Yes."

"And I'm fine with it."

"But, the space thing-"

"You mean the alien thing?" She smiled. "You didn't tell me about that, but Arles did. Samuel, it's really alright."

He nodded. "Well, I kindof figured that you knew that now. Ummm."

"I actually want to talk to you about something, but after we get home."

"About me?" He asked.

She smiled and shook her head. "No. About something I found out about myself. But, we'll talk about that later."

He threaded his fingers through hers and smiled. "Now, I have something to look forward to."

"What are you out here doing?"

He pointed out of the window. "In a few minutes, we'll stop."

"Been this way a lot, then?"

"Well, yeah. But, that's not how I can tell. I can feel it."

"What do you mean, you can feel it?"

He continued to hold her hand. "Hang on. Dad's flying, so in 3-2-"

The ship stopped and the beautiful colors of Jupiter could be seen outside of the window.

Karen gasped. "That's amazing!"

She turned to look out of the window. Samuel stood beside of her and rubbed her back.

"I felt that. But, it's not as strong as it normally is. Usually, I can tell when I'm on a ship, and then the ship is on a planet, or a space port. The world spinning. I can feel that."

She looked back at him. "That is so strange. Has it only just came back?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I was standing out there, thinking."

"About what?"

"You." He smiled. "Did you have a good time on the planet?"

"Oh, Samuel. I did. And you're right. I loved that odd dish. I wish I could have brought you back some."

He shook his head as he grinned. "It's alright."

She looked back out of the window. "What is that? Just over there?"

"Where, Baby?"

She touched the window and it activated the computer. She jumped, causing Samuel to laugh. He tapped something on the window that switched the writing to English.

"It was Quauhtin." He explained.

"Halley's Comet." She read the red letters that labeled the moving comet that she could see from where they stood. "Oh, that's beautiful."

Samuel hadn't taken his eyes off of her. She continued to look out of the window in awe.

"Samuel, this is extraordinary." She smiled.

He continued to look at her as he thought.

She looked back at him. He seemed to be lost completely in his thoughts.

"Samuel?" She asked.

He blinked his eyes and looked at her. "Sorry. Yes?"

She smiled, "Are you sure you're alright? You faded out there for a bit."

He nodded and grinned, "I'm alright. Yes. Sorry, about that."

She turned back to him and held him around his neck. She felt him put his hands on her hips. "You know, for the first time, I feel like you are really back."

He laughed under his breath. "So, do I."

She smiled, trying hard not to cry. She said quietly. "Samuel. I missed you so much."

He looked into her eyes and seemed to be debating something in his head.

She let go of him and put her hands on her hips. "Okay. What is it? Do I have something on my face-"

"No." He laughed.

She giggled, "Then what?"

"I know you told me that I've told you before, but…every time I look at you, I fall in love with you all over again."

She wrapped her arms around him again. They put their foreheads together as she whispered. "Samuel…"

He told her quietly, "I'm so sorry that I made you cry."

"I'm alright, I'm not crying anymore." She told him.

"So, how long have I been gone?"

"Three weeks." She told him.

He rose his head up and thought, still with their arms around one another, "Okay. Three weeks. So, the question I have now is, are you going to make me wait five months, or do we have to go back to the six month time limit that we agreed on?"

Her eyes got huge as she realized what he had asked her. She let go of him and stepped back. "Wait. Samuel. You remember that?"

He smiled, "Yeah. Just now. Where's your ring? Have you lost it? Do you need another-"

She nearly knocked the breath out of him as she threw her arms around him and began to cry happy tears. "Samuel! You remembered!"

He held her tightly and laughed. "You should have told me. You cheeky woman."

She leaned back and wiped her eyes.

"And I've made you cry again." He groaned.

She laughed and shook her head. "This is good crying."

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked as he took her hands.

"Samuel, I didn't want you to feel like you had to honor that in case you didn't feel the same-"

"I do feel the same." He smiled. "If anything, I feel more sure this is what I want. Have you had second thoughts?"

She smiled, "No."

He wrapped his arms around her and danced in a goofy way. "Brilliant. Then it's sorted. We're engaged! And you need another ring."

She giggled as she held him tightly. "I still have the ring. I don't need another one."

He smiled at her. "I'll get you one anyway. You should have several."

She shook her head, "Samuel."

"It is a lighthouse. Is that right?"

She giggled. "Yes."

He nodded. "I'm getting better. Wonderful!"

She covered her mouth. "I'm so happy."

"And thing number two. Could you stay at my place tonight? In fact, could you stay at my place, and let it be your place, too?"

She smiled. "I would love that. Sure."

He nodded. "Brilliant. Well, have we already talked about that?"

"It means more that you are asking me twice."

"Well, should I properly ask you to marry me? I didn't before, did I?"

"You don't have to do that-"

He snapped his fingers. "Yes, I do. Hang on. Umm…we need something for a ring."

She threw her hands up. "We have a ring. It's at home. I put it back in the box, and it's with your wallet, phone and watch."

"I still don't understand why I wasn't wearing my watch at least." He pulled a pen out of his pocket. "Okay, that will do for now."

"What are you doing with a pen?" She smiled.

He looked at her and laughed under his breath. "Brilliance."

"Samuel, I still think this is crazy."

He pointed at the window and the computer readouts turned off. "I always swore if I ever did this, I wouldn't have the glow of a computer on me."

She giggled.

"I would have the glow of a planet. So, Friday….dim the lights."

Friday dimmed the lights in the hallway, and the light of Jupiter threw beautiful hues of orange, browns and yellows against the walls. Karen covered her mouth in surprise.

He looked in her eyes. "This is alright?"

She giggled and wiped her eyes. "I just, never know what to expect with you."

He laughed, took her hand, and got down on one knee.

"Are you serious?" She asked.

He looked up at her. "Karen, will you marry me?"

She couldn't speak. She smiled through her crying and nodded that she would.

He didn't move. "You have to say something."

She laughed, "Yes! Gosh, Samuel."

He smiled and wrote something on her finger. "Okay, don't move. I'm getting this….sorted."

He stood up and they kissed in celebration. They never noticed that the ship had jumped back to light speed again. Home was only minutes away.

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