Disclaimer: You all know what these are suppose to read: don't owe anything (except for Mira), making no money, blah blah blah. Enjoy!
Session Seven: A Song Played On A Solo Saxophone
Mira gazed out at the red planet beneath the Bebop as it slowly rotated. She hadn't been on the bridge yet and didn't realize the spectacular view that it gave. No wonder Jet liked to be up here all the time. She couldn't blame him. A steaming cup of coffee was placed in front of her and she looked up to see Gren sit on the sill of the window across from her. She wished Jet was with her now. Or Spike. But Gren had obviously gone through every detail to make sure he could meet with her alone. She could humor him for a little bit.
"I want to hear your side of the story Mira."
The mug stopped at her lips. "My side? Why?"
"I don't think you know what really happened. If you do, I promise I'll leave by morning. If you do not, I'll tell you my side if you're interested."
"Alright, fair deal then." Mira swallowed a gulp of coffee and calmed her nerves. She intended to make this short and sweet. "The first week after the war, you were convicted of espionage during the war. You spent a year in the prison, developed a drug problem and broke out. You took up residence on the frozen rock known as Callisto, where a few months ago you crossed paths with Vicious and Spike. A dog fight ensued and you were wounded. You decided to visit Titan and die there. That's when I found you. I took you in, nursed you back to health and when you had returned to normal, we gave our romance another try." Mira looked up at Gren and fixed her ice blue eyes on his deep blue ones. "But you were unwilling to commit yourself to me. And I needed someone who was willing to stay with me for my life. I intend to marry once in my life. Despite your personal beliefs, I still hold true to making a marriage last. That's my side."
Gren let a sad smile pass across his face. "That's what I thought. You don't know everything. Do you want to know?"
Mira went to answer an affirmative but stopped herself. Whenever she looked at the man before her, all she felt was regret. Regret for the foolish promises she had made in dire situations. She loved him, yes, but only as a friend. But one look into those deep eyes and she could see his love towards her was different. She knew the look very well. She had it when she looked a certain bounty hunter who was oblivious to it. She shook her head to get those mismatched brown eyes out of her mind. She needed to hear Gren's side of the story. For closure, if anything.
"Alright. What happened then?"
"Do you know who brought up those espionage charges, Mira?"
"No, I don't."
"Vicious."
Mira's eyes widened in surprise. "You're sure?"
"He was the main witness against me. He framed me and had me sent to the prison. You were there on Titan. You were with Vicious and me. You saw how much I admired his strength. Trying to figure out his reasoning tortured me in prison. That's why they gave me the drugs. It was suppose to calm me. It only made me an addict. I had to find out if he had witnessed against me and why. That's why I broke out. I ran into Julia and she confirmed my worst fears about Vicious. I was furious and got involved in the spaceship fight which earned me the internal injuries. I asked Spike if he could get me to Titian, or at least started. I did want to die there."
"Why Titan, Gren?"
"Because that was where I had my best memories. Of having comrades, of knowing Vicious the way I wanted to remember him. And of you. I wanted to go the only place where I had been truly happy."
"What about my question outside the restaurant on Jupiter?"
"Ah, that." Gren took a drink of coffee. "I was young and foolish. I thought the answer I was giving was logically and appropriate. After you left, I had plenty of time to think over what the question and your feelings. All your life you had taken care of other people; making sure they were well, fit and in good spirits. There was no one in your life that made sure you were in the same condition. And that was what you longed for. That protection and stability. Knowing that someone is out there looking for your best interests. Of course, things made sense when it was too late. I couldn't find you anywhere. When I did find you, a few months later, you had set up a fine life for yourself. I felt if I disrupted that, it would only cause you more pain. I figure I had caused you enough."
Mira sat in silence, staring at the cream that swirled in the tan liquid. Sincerity had rung in every word. He had been right. She didn't know the whole story. And now that she did, it all made sense. But she didn't want it to make sense. Here was man before her, that obvious loved her in the most perfect sense she had ever known. And deep down she almost resented him for that, because his name wasn't Spike Spiegel. Mira closed her eyes. She was angry at herself for feeling this way towards Gren. He was a good man. Too good for her.
"Mira?"
Her eyes snapped open and looked up at him. "Yes?"
"I want to make that life long commitment to you. To take care of you, look out for you. I already love you and will for the rest of my life. You're a very special lady, one in million. But I want you to be my special lady."
"And what about those times that I'm not the special lady that you want? What then?"
Gren smiled his usual cool, relaxed smile as if he had been expecting that question. "Then I'll love you still. I realize now, you can't always be wonderful. I know I can't. There are going to be hard times and needs that go unmet. But leaving is never the answer. Staying together and solving them together is the only way to make it. Would you still be willing to marry me?"
"Gren-"
"You don't have to answer tonight. Think about it."
"No." Mira looked up at him. "This has gone on long enough and I think your question deserves an upfront answer." Mira took a breath and gripped the coffee mug to hide her shaking hands. "Yes, I will still marry you."
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Faye flipped through a magazine as she lounged in the living room. She would have preferred the couch, but Spike had claimed it, still unable to crawl into his bunk. She looked over the top of the pages to see Spike reading a book. She turned disinterested eyes back to the page in front of her.
"Did you hear about Gren and Mira?"
Spike sighed, annoyed at the interruption. "No. But you're going to tell me anyway."
"They're engaged."
"What?!"
Faye looked up in surprise at Spike's reaction. He was sitting upright on the couch, looking like a crazed man ready to go out on a rampage. "Easy killer."
"When did that happen?"
"Last night sometime. Why? Jealous?" Faye watched as Spike calmed himself down and laid back to usual position on the couch.
"Why should I be jealous? She's just a friend."
"Uh huh."
"Where are they?"
"Gren's in his room practicing the saxophone and Mira's on the bridge with Jet." She looked over the magazine again to see Spike back to reading his book. He appeared to be back to his normal self again, but Faye noticed the tightly clenched jaw. That small tensed muscle told her everything. She went back to reading her article unable to ignore the dull ache in her chest.
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Jet watched the girl that staring out the front view port, trying to figure out why she had sat there for the past two hours without moving. Obviously something wasn't right. This wasn't normal behavior for a woman was just engaged. Jet walked over to her and sat down next to her on the small ledge that Spike usually called his own.
"Hey."
She turned her head and smiled politely. "Hey."
"Something bothering you?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"Oh, no reason. Just wondering why you're sitting here, staring at Mars while your fiancé is in his room."
"I just needed some time to think, that's all. Apparently so did he."
"You're doubting your engagement to this man, aren't you?"
Mira looked around the room, making sure no one was around before nodding her head. "I don't know though Jet. I mean, he is a good guy."
"I don't have anything against him."
"He's loved me for so long."
"That's a good sign."
"And he promises to take care of me for the rest of my life."
"I like that promise and I think he'll keep it."
"But…" her answer faded as she searched for the right words.
Jet smiled and finished the thought for her. "He's not Spike."
Mira's head turned in his direction, her mouth hanging open and eyes wide. "It's not that obvious? Is it?"
Jet laughed. "No, it's not obvious at all. It was just a lucky guess. Why else would you have doubts about your up coming marriage to a guy that's head over heels in love with you? Merely simple deduction."
Mira sighed. "What do you think I should do?"
Jet looked out the window. "What you're doing right now. Thinking. Think long and hard. And when you make your choice, make sure it's the man you can't live without."