Note: I owe a lot to cazflibs's "Not a good day" for the angsty content of Rimmer's confessions to McGruder about his family life-thank you for inspiring me (and making me cry!!)

Chapter 2

Rimmer felt his arms wrap around the woman in front of him and returned the embrace, awkwardly at first but then with increasing confidence. Yvonne McGruder was here in his arms! He didn't know how, or why, but all he cared about at that moment was that she was there, alive and real. He felt himself trembling against her, and wasn't sure whether it was her tears or his that soaked his face as they kissed. How could this be? How was it possible?

It isn't. A terrible thought occurred to Rimmer. He pulled away savagely. "Who the hell are you?" he said shakily, terrified of the answer. Yvonne looked shocked, and moved closer to him. "Arnold, it's me." She replied, hurt. She looked confused. "I don't know how or why but I'm here. And I've missed you so very much."

"I don't understand!" Rimmer whispered hoarsely. "This can't be, unless. . . if the backwards world worked once . . . oh I don't know!" Rimmer knew this was crazy. Every logical thought in his brain screamed that this could not be happening, but his heart was telling him a completely different set of things. He looked again into Yvonne's eyes and sighed. He was past caring how or why; he was just overjoyed to be back with the woman he . . . loved.

"I'm sorry Evie," he said softly. "Forgive me." Whatever this was, whatever freak of nature had brought her here, he'd leave the logical thought until tomorrow.

From far away on a bar stool, Lister raised his over-decorated cocktail glass in the direction of the embracing couple. "You go for it, smeghead" he murmured, not without affection.

They walked and talked for what seemed like hours. Rimmer found himself listening attentively to what Evie had to say, something he hadn't done since, well, ever. He was fascinated by what she talked about, and in turn she listened to his accounts of what had happened since Red Dwarf had been wiped out. Later, he tentatively began to tell her about his past, and even, for a moment, slipped into a little self-analysis, something he hadn't done in company since his parents has sent him to the Educational Psychologist. Only this time, he was telling the truth.

"I always thought that everything that went wrong in my life was down to my parents," he had said quietly. "And then, when they weren't there anymore, I realised I had no-one to blame but myself.and possibly Lister." Rimmer was speaking so quietly that Yvonne had to move closer to hear him. "I couldn't ever do anything right as far as they were concerned, and wherever they are now, I'm sure they're still thinking the same thing." Rimmer began to tremble as he recalled the beatings, not just from his two elder brothers but from his huge brute of a father, who seemed to take vindictive delight in making him feel small. He'd had so many days off school, it was a wonder he'd learned anything at all. His dark hazel eyes had been blacked so many times by Rimmer Senior that he still felt as though he could sense the bruises. The gangling child had grown into a man whose bitterness had threatened to overwhelm him, and his subsequent failure to excel had exacerbated that bitterness. Now, in death, he had the chance to redeem himself.

Yvonne wrapped her arm more tightly around Rimmer's waist in comfort. "You poor thing," she said softly. "No child deserves what you went through."

Rimmer nodded, unable to speak for a moment. He turned back to her and saw her eyes filled with tenderness, but not pity. It was as if someone finally understood. And he knew she did. After a pause and a swallow, he spoke. "It's good to finally get that off my chest!" He wasn't lying, he suddenly felt as if the world could throw anything at him and he'd cope. Even one of Lister's curry ravaged laundry baskets couldn't stop him now. He grabbed Yvonne's hand and turned her to face the setting sun. "See this Dad?!" He hollered across the water "This is the woman I love, and no-one is going to take that away!" With that, he took her in his arms and kissed her.

. . . sorry if that was a little slushy, but I hope no one was actually sick-I always did have a soft spot of our Arnold!