I'm so sorry it's taken so long to get this out, but real life interfered.
My last few months of school, I got a job from hell to pay for a new car,
and graduation swamped me. I'm so terribly sorry, and I appreciate your
patience. And I appreciate Dawn for letting me live. J/K (
Ahhhhhhhhh, a lovely, sunny day on Earth. Birds were singing, lawns were being cared for by gardeners, and the wealthy people who owned the palatal houses on the lawns were enjoying a peaceful Saturday afternoon. Until a nerve shattering scream broke the silence and peace of the day.
"ZOA! LET ME DOWN! NOW! I MEAN IT!" Screamed Zenon again. All the blood was rushing to her head. And the swinging by her feet was making her a little sick. "You guys are a big help!" she yelled over at the rest of the band, who were lying in pool chairs and watching the show with amused grins on their faces.
"Sorry Zee! Gotta work on our tans!" said one of them.
"I hate you all!" she screamed.
"Now now Zenon! Be nice to the band! They pay your salary!" said Protozoa, grinning.
"The band can kiss my…ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" screamed Zenon as Protozoa tossed her into the pool on her next arc.
"Told you to be nice!" he called after her.
"That's it 'Zoa! You're a dead man!" said Zenon, sputtering. She wiped her eyes glared at him.
"Ohhhhhh, and what's little Zenon gonna do, laser light me to death?" he taunted her.
She scowled and glanced around the pool. A fish fountain was arcing a stream of water into the pool close to them. She grinned evilly and ducked under water, swimming towards it. She surfaced on the other side of the fish and glanced around it. Protozoa was looking around the pool warily. He knew she was plotting her revenge, and by now, he had learned to fear her revenge. She climbed up onto the fishes back, put her hand over the spout, and sprayed Protozoa liberally with the cold water.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Screamed Protozoa. "Zenon! I'm gonna kill you!"
"What? You looked like you needed a cooling off!" she said, spraying him again. She glanced over at the band, which was in hysterics. She angled the water and doused them, too. They scattered, screaming. "THAT was for not helping me before!" she yelled after their retreating, damp forms. They shook their fists at her, then settled back down in deck chairs at the other end of the pool, pointedly away from the dueling blonde pair.
"Alright, time!" said Protozoa. He plopped down on one of the chairs abandoned by the fleeing band, and sighed.
"What's wrong?" said Zenon, climbing out of the pool and planting herself in the chair beside him.
"I'm just thinking." He said. "You go home soon. A little less than two months."
"Yeah. I'll be nice to see my folks again in real life and not over the comm. screen."
Protozoa sank down farther into his chair and sighed again. "Was it really that bad, working here?"
"Zetas sopeatas! No! It's not that! I just haven't seen the parental units in over three months! I've never been away this long. Never tell 'em I said this, but I kinda miss them."
"Would you like to go up and see them? We don't have any concerts scheduled for this week." Said Protozoa.
Zenon lit up. "I can have a vacation? Really? Stellanarious!" She hopped up and grabbed her towel, wrapping it around herself. She dashed into the house to pack for her trip, excited.
Protozoa pouted. "She didn't have to sound so excited to leave." He muttered. He laid the chair back and closed his eyes, frowning. All the breath rushed out of his lungs as a heavy…something…landed on his bare stomach. He opened his eyes to see Zenon sitting on his stomach, chin in hand, elbow on her knee.
"And why, may I ask, are you just lying there? You're coming too!" she said.
He stared at her for a minute. "I am?" he finally said. "When did this happen?"
She grinned. "When I just got off the comm. with mom and said you were. You wouldn't want to disappoint her would you?" she asked, pouting.
He rolled his eyes. "When you say it like that, how can I refuse?" he said.
"You can't. That's the point!" she said smugly.
* * *
"Mummy! Mummy, where are you?" sang Margie, hopping through the spacious mansion belonging to her mother. She walked into her mother's bedroom suite and looked around. The sheets were rumpled, so she was up already…
"I'm in here, dear! In the breakfast nook!" said her mother. She giggled as the handsome gentleman across from her fed her another slice of melon from the plate they were sharing.
"Mummy, can I talk to you?" Said Margie, folding her hands in front of her chest, looking angelic.
Her mother melted. "Certainly dear! Jason, can we continue later?" she asked the dark eyed man.
"Of course. My wife isn't expecting me home for a while yet." He said. He gave Nikki a small kiss on the cheek, then walked to the bathroom and shut the door. When the shower came on, Margie sat in his abandoned chair.
"Mother, you know my birthday is coming up, right?"
"Yes dear. I was planning a nice party for you, just a few of our closest friends, one or two hundred, nothing extravagant."
"My bestest friend in the whole world is just down the street, mummy! She's staying with Protozoa and his friends. Can we invite them? I just want her to come, but it's rude not to invite them, since she's staying with them." Said Margie.
"That's my sweet little girl!" said Vikki, patting her daughter on the hand. "Always polite! Of course you can invite them!"
Margie stood up and kissed her mother on the cheek. "Oh THANK you mummy! This'll be the best party ever!" She hopped out of her mothers room, grinning. *take that, Zenon. I think Protozoa will make a lovely birthday present.*
* * *
"MOM! DAD! It's so great to see you!" yelled Zenon, launching herself across the loading bay to her parents. She dropped her bags and grabbed them up in a huge bear hug.
"Zenon! Oh honey, it's so good to see you!" said her mother.
"We missed you Zee!" said her dad. He picked her bags up and looked around. "Where's your guest you said you were bringing?"
"Oh, 'Zoa? I left him to the mercy of a female soldier fan." She said, grinning evilly.
Her mother stared at her. "At the mercy? Zenon, what did you do?"
"Nothing! I swear! She was a fan of his, and wanted an introduction, that's all!" she said innocently.
"Zenon! There you are, love! I was looking all over for you!" Said Protozoa, a desperate look in his eyes. He glanced behind him and saw a tall, attractive, and extremely well muscled woman follow him out, carrying three large duffle bags. She smiled and winked at him. He looked back around at Zenon with a pleading look.
Zenon grinned and took pity on him. She smiled up at him and gave him an affectionate kiss on the end of the nose. "I'm sorry I ran out on you like that, dear, but I was just so excited to see my parents again! It's not every day you can tell them about an engagement!" she said, sweetly. She took his arm and stared up at him adoringly.
Her father dropped the bags and the female soldier looked walked away, looking disappointed. Protozoa looked completely shellshocked.
Her mother looked stunned. "Zenon! When were you planning to tell us…"
Zenon giggled. "Oh mom, you didn't think I was serious, did you?" she said. "I had to get Brunhilda off his back somehow! What better way than to think he's engaged?"
Her father breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't do that to me ever again, Zenon! I don't think my heart could handle it!" He picked up the suitcases and walked off with them. No one except Zenon's mother noticed the slightly disappointed look on Protozoa's face.
* * *
The next few days were filled with visiting Nebula, sleepovers, and illicit space walks late at night. Zenon even took Protozoa dumpster diving, once. Soon, it was time to go home.
"'Zoa, come on! We go to the cafeteria every night, what's so special about it this time?" said Zenon, tugging at the fabric covering her eyes.
"You'll see when we get there." He said, smirking.
"Wipe that smirk off your face, I can't see it, but I know you're smirking." Said Zenon, sulkily.
"Aww, don't worry love, we're almost there." Said Protozoa. He led her to a seat in a wildly decorated room and tore off the blindfold. "SURPRISE!"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZENON!" said many voices. Everyone on the station was there! There were a pile of presents on a table against the wall, and a large cake with burning candles was sitting in front of her.
"Oh my gosh! You guys! You shouldn't have!" said Zenon, tears filling her eyes.
"We didn't dear, Protozoa did." Said her mother.
"Aww! You big softie!" she said, poking him in the ribs.
"Stop that, you're gonna leave a dent!" said Protozoa, grabbing her finger. He pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of her hand. "Happy birthday, love."
* * *
"So, Protozoa, may I ask what your intentions are towards my daughter?" said Mrs. Karr quietly. She sat down beside him and they both watched Zenon dance with her father, laughing happily.
"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Karr?" said Protozoa, blushing slightly. He was glad it was dark.
"I've watched you. You like her, don't you." She said. It wasn't a question.
"Mrs. Karr, Zenon treats me like a person. Do you know how rare that is? She's funny, intelligent, and I can be myself around her, not just a teen idol." He said, shrugging. "Is it any wonder I like her?"
"And what do you intend to do about it?" Asked Mrs. Karr.
He shrugged. "What can I do? Mrs. Karr, it's not like I can go out and date. The paparazzi would be out in full force. And besides, Zenon deserves better than me." He said, looking at Zenon with longing.
"She deserves someone who could love her, and take care of her, the rest is unimportant." Said Mrs. Karr. She took his hand. "Protozoa, if you care for her, tell her. I fully approve of you, and I'm sure that I can convince her father not to shoot you out of an air lock." She smiled at his alarmed look, and walked away.
Protozoa sat there, lost in thought, until Zenon pulled him onto the dance floor.
* * *
"Whew! I'm almost glad to be going back to work." Said Zenon. They were on route back to Earth and the band. She twisted the gold charm bracelet on her wrist and smiled at him. "Have I told you how stellar this bracelet is yet?" She held it up and looked at the tiny music note, a little guitar, a model of the space stay, and a little alien head.
"Only about a million times." He said.
"Well it's true, it's my favorite present!" she said, hugging his arm.
He smiled down at her. "I'm glad you like it love." They sat quietly all the way back to Earth and home, each lost in their own thoughts.
Ahhhhhhhhh, a lovely, sunny day on Earth. Birds were singing, lawns were being cared for by gardeners, and the wealthy people who owned the palatal houses on the lawns were enjoying a peaceful Saturday afternoon. Until a nerve shattering scream broke the silence and peace of the day.
"ZOA! LET ME DOWN! NOW! I MEAN IT!" Screamed Zenon again. All the blood was rushing to her head. And the swinging by her feet was making her a little sick. "You guys are a big help!" she yelled over at the rest of the band, who were lying in pool chairs and watching the show with amused grins on their faces.
"Sorry Zee! Gotta work on our tans!" said one of them.
"I hate you all!" she screamed.
"Now now Zenon! Be nice to the band! They pay your salary!" said Protozoa, grinning.
"The band can kiss my…ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" screamed Zenon as Protozoa tossed her into the pool on her next arc.
"Told you to be nice!" he called after her.
"That's it 'Zoa! You're a dead man!" said Zenon, sputtering. She wiped her eyes glared at him.
"Ohhhhhh, and what's little Zenon gonna do, laser light me to death?" he taunted her.
She scowled and glanced around the pool. A fish fountain was arcing a stream of water into the pool close to them. She grinned evilly and ducked under water, swimming towards it. She surfaced on the other side of the fish and glanced around it. Protozoa was looking around the pool warily. He knew she was plotting her revenge, and by now, he had learned to fear her revenge. She climbed up onto the fishes back, put her hand over the spout, and sprayed Protozoa liberally with the cold water.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Screamed Protozoa. "Zenon! I'm gonna kill you!"
"What? You looked like you needed a cooling off!" she said, spraying him again. She glanced over at the band, which was in hysterics. She angled the water and doused them, too. They scattered, screaming. "THAT was for not helping me before!" she yelled after their retreating, damp forms. They shook their fists at her, then settled back down in deck chairs at the other end of the pool, pointedly away from the dueling blonde pair.
"Alright, time!" said Protozoa. He plopped down on one of the chairs abandoned by the fleeing band, and sighed.
"What's wrong?" said Zenon, climbing out of the pool and planting herself in the chair beside him.
"I'm just thinking." He said. "You go home soon. A little less than two months."
"Yeah. I'll be nice to see my folks again in real life and not over the comm. screen."
Protozoa sank down farther into his chair and sighed again. "Was it really that bad, working here?"
"Zetas sopeatas! No! It's not that! I just haven't seen the parental units in over three months! I've never been away this long. Never tell 'em I said this, but I kinda miss them."
"Would you like to go up and see them? We don't have any concerts scheduled for this week." Said Protozoa.
Zenon lit up. "I can have a vacation? Really? Stellanarious!" She hopped up and grabbed her towel, wrapping it around herself. She dashed into the house to pack for her trip, excited.
Protozoa pouted. "She didn't have to sound so excited to leave." He muttered. He laid the chair back and closed his eyes, frowning. All the breath rushed out of his lungs as a heavy…something…landed on his bare stomach. He opened his eyes to see Zenon sitting on his stomach, chin in hand, elbow on her knee.
"And why, may I ask, are you just lying there? You're coming too!" she said.
He stared at her for a minute. "I am?" he finally said. "When did this happen?"
She grinned. "When I just got off the comm. with mom and said you were. You wouldn't want to disappoint her would you?" she asked, pouting.
He rolled his eyes. "When you say it like that, how can I refuse?" he said.
"You can't. That's the point!" she said smugly.
* * *
"Mummy! Mummy, where are you?" sang Margie, hopping through the spacious mansion belonging to her mother. She walked into her mother's bedroom suite and looked around. The sheets were rumpled, so she was up already…
"I'm in here, dear! In the breakfast nook!" said her mother. She giggled as the handsome gentleman across from her fed her another slice of melon from the plate they were sharing.
"Mummy, can I talk to you?" Said Margie, folding her hands in front of her chest, looking angelic.
Her mother melted. "Certainly dear! Jason, can we continue later?" she asked the dark eyed man.
"Of course. My wife isn't expecting me home for a while yet." He said. He gave Nikki a small kiss on the cheek, then walked to the bathroom and shut the door. When the shower came on, Margie sat in his abandoned chair.
"Mother, you know my birthday is coming up, right?"
"Yes dear. I was planning a nice party for you, just a few of our closest friends, one or two hundred, nothing extravagant."
"My bestest friend in the whole world is just down the street, mummy! She's staying with Protozoa and his friends. Can we invite them? I just want her to come, but it's rude not to invite them, since she's staying with them." Said Margie.
"That's my sweet little girl!" said Vikki, patting her daughter on the hand. "Always polite! Of course you can invite them!"
Margie stood up and kissed her mother on the cheek. "Oh THANK you mummy! This'll be the best party ever!" She hopped out of her mothers room, grinning. *take that, Zenon. I think Protozoa will make a lovely birthday present.*
* * *
"MOM! DAD! It's so great to see you!" yelled Zenon, launching herself across the loading bay to her parents. She dropped her bags and grabbed them up in a huge bear hug.
"Zenon! Oh honey, it's so good to see you!" said her mother.
"We missed you Zee!" said her dad. He picked her bags up and looked around. "Where's your guest you said you were bringing?"
"Oh, 'Zoa? I left him to the mercy of a female soldier fan." She said, grinning evilly.
Her mother stared at her. "At the mercy? Zenon, what did you do?"
"Nothing! I swear! She was a fan of his, and wanted an introduction, that's all!" she said innocently.
"Zenon! There you are, love! I was looking all over for you!" Said Protozoa, a desperate look in his eyes. He glanced behind him and saw a tall, attractive, and extremely well muscled woman follow him out, carrying three large duffle bags. She smiled and winked at him. He looked back around at Zenon with a pleading look.
Zenon grinned and took pity on him. She smiled up at him and gave him an affectionate kiss on the end of the nose. "I'm sorry I ran out on you like that, dear, but I was just so excited to see my parents again! It's not every day you can tell them about an engagement!" she said, sweetly. She took his arm and stared up at him adoringly.
Her father dropped the bags and the female soldier looked walked away, looking disappointed. Protozoa looked completely shellshocked.
Her mother looked stunned. "Zenon! When were you planning to tell us…"
Zenon giggled. "Oh mom, you didn't think I was serious, did you?" she said. "I had to get Brunhilda off his back somehow! What better way than to think he's engaged?"
Her father breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't do that to me ever again, Zenon! I don't think my heart could handle it!" He picked up the suitcases and walked off with them. No one except Zenon's mother noticed the slightly disappointed look on Protozoa's face.
* * *
The next few days were filled with visiting Nebula, sleepovers, and illicit space walks late at night. Zenon even took Protozoa dumpster diving, once. Soon, it was time to go home.
"'Zoa, come on! We go to the cafeteria every night, what's so special about it this time?" said Zenon, tugging at the fabric covering her eyes.
"You'll see when we get there." He said, smirking.
"Wipe that smirk off your face, I can't see it, but I know you're smirking." Said Zenon, sulkily.
"Aww, don't worry love, we're almost there." Said Protozoa. He led her to a seat in a wildly decorated room and tore off the blindfold. "SURPRISE!"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZENON!" said many voices. Everyone on the station was there! There were a pile of presents on a table against the wall, and a large cake with burning candles was sitting in front of her.
"Oh my gosh! You guys! You shouldn't have!" said Zenon, tears filling her eyes.
"We didn't dear, Protozoa did." Said her mother.
"Aww! You big softie!" she said, poking him in the ribs.
"Stop that, you're gonna leave a dent!" said Protozoa, grabbing her finger. He pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of her hand. "Happy birthday, love."
* * *
"So, Protozoa, may I ask what your intentions are towards my daughter?" said Mrs. Karr quietly. She sat down beside him and they both watched Zenon dance with her father, laughing happily.
"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Karr?" said Protozoa, blushing slightly. He was glad it was dark.
"I've watched you. You like her, don't you." She said. It wasn't a question.
"Mrs. Karr, Zenon treats me like a person. Do you know how rare that is? She's funny, intelligent, and I can be myself around her, not just a teen idol." He said, shrugging. "Is it any wonder I like her?"
"And what do you intend to do about it?" Asked Mrs. Karr.
He shrugged. "What can I do? Mrs. Karr, it's not like I can go out and date. The paparazzi would be out in full force. And besides, Zenon deserves better than me." He said, looking at Zenon with longing.
"She deserves someone who could love her, and take care of her, the rest is unimportant." Said Mrs. Karr. She took his hand. "Protozoa, if you care for her, tell her. I fully approve of you, and I'm sure that I can convince her father not to shoot you out of an air lock." She smiled at his alarmed look, and walked away.
Protozoa sat there, lost in thought, until Zenon pulled him onto the dance floor.
* * *
"Whew! I'm almost glad to be going back to work." Said Zenon. They were on route back to Earth and the band. She twisted the gold charm bracelet on her wrist and smiled at him. "Have I told you how stellar this bracelet is yet?" She held it up and looked at the tiny music note, a little guitar, a model of the space stay, and a little alien head.
"Only about a million times." He said.
"Well it's true, it's my favorite present!" she said, hugging his arm.
He smiled down at her. "I'm glad you like it love." They sat quietly all the way back to Earth and home, each lost in their own thoughts.