Chapter 11: Oh Starry Night!
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Sure enough, it was midnight when the Double Helix finally arrived at Sanctuary, just like Lexa had predicted. As newlyweds Adam and Aurora stepped out of the flying vehicle, silence greeted them.
"This is strange- whenever I tell them to wait up, everyone normally sacks out, but whenever I tell them not to, they stay up," Adam said, confused. "What happened?"
They soon would find out. When they entered the main area of Sanctuary, it was almost completely dark, except for the entertainment room, which had the big screen television flashing the main menu for a DVD, and the computers.
"What the--"
"SURPRISE!" Came shouts from above as lights came on in the room. There, in the center of the main area, was a bowl of punch, paper cups, plates, forks, and a beautiful cake with the words, "Congratulations, Adam and Aurora!" written in two golden, ring-shaped circles.
With a gasp, Aurora exclaimed, "Oh my gosh- it's beautiful!"
Hope stepped forward and said, "We all pitched in, Mom-- I made the cake."
With an enthusiastic wave, Shalimar said, "I made the icing and did the writing."
"I fixed the punch and got the party plates, forks, and cups ready," Lexa said with a smile.
"And us guys put the streamers up. Whadya think?" Darien said proudly.
With a hearty laugh, Adam exclaimed, "Okay, everyone-- forget the chit-chat! Let's eat!"
This statement was met with an enthusiastic shout from everyone.
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After Adam and Aurora had left, with Jesse and Lexa as their chaufeurs, Shalimar and Brennan were cleaning up the party, happilly enjoying one another's company. As Brennan started removing the streamers, he stopped, watching affectionately as Shalimar returned from taking the cake back into the kitchen to throw away the party things that remained. He watched as she held the trash bag in one hand and artistically scooped the items up with the other, with the hand that presently held the engagement ring.
"Shal?" Brennan said kindly.
Looking up at him, Shalimar said, "Yes?"
"I am so glad that I'm going to marry you, you know that?"
With a soft smile on her face, she replied, "I know-- and I'm glad, too."
Leaning forward against the rail above her, he asked, "Do you want a big wedding or a small one, with just our friends?"
She stood there, staring at him for the longest moment. Suddenly, dropping the trash bag, she walked over to the wall under him, made one big power jump from there to the wall across, and then made another to the balcony he was standing on, landing perfectly next to him. Then, in an uninhibited move, she kissed him sweetly, a kiss that he automatically responded to. Slowly, she broke it, before saying, "Brennan, I don't care if our wedding is small or gargantuan-- I just care that it's your's and mine."
Brennan then whispered, "Me too, Shal-- me too." Then, in a mischievious tone, he asked, "Whadya say we race each other to get these streamers down? Last one done's a mummy!"
"What if we tie?"
"Then we'll race to see who'll finish cleaning up the party stuff!"
"But what if we still tie?"
With an impish grin, Brennan said, "Then we'll race Lexa and Jesse-- it's their turn to clean and polish the Double Helix, anyway!"
"Hmmmmmmmmmmmm! Deal!"
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Once they had returned to Sanctuary, Lexa and Jesse got started cleaning and polishing the Double Helix, unaware of Brennan and Shalimar's bet. Emerging from the flying vehicle after vacuuming and picking up trash, Lexa watched in awe as Jesse worked on the finishing touches of polish. "Wow-- looks great, Jess," she said approvingly. "Need extra help?"
"Maybe, Lexa," Jesse replied. "Have you ever attempted a 'Butt Buffer' before?"
"A 'Butt Buffer'? What's that?" She asked.
Feigning a haughty look, he said, "Stand back and watch a pro!" With ease, he walked to one side of the hangar, ran towards the Double Helix, jumped, and slid on his rear end across the hood, before landing like a professional on his feet. Then, looking at her, he attempted a French accent as he said, "Would you like to try it, Madamoiselle Pierce?"
Unsure of how well she'd do it, she said, "I dunno, Jess-- I mean, I've never done it before, so I don't know if I'd be good at it or not."
"C'mon, Lexa; it's easy! I'll stand over here and catch you when you land, okay?" He said it in such a way that she knew he'd keep his promise.
Nervously, Lexa said, "Okay-- here goes nothing!" Following Jesse's example, she landed right in his arms as she let out a surprized and happy laugh. She had done it just like he had, and he had indeed kept his promise to her.
"Told you I'd catch ya, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did-- thanks, Jesse." She said, ecstacy penetrating her voice. Then, uncharacteristically, she said, "I am more than glad that I opened my heart to you, Jess-- I've been set free from my fears!" Then, in a shy voice, "Thank you."
Brushing his hand across her cheek and then cupping her chin, he said, "You're welcome, Lexa. And you've set me free from mine." Carefully, he lifted her lips to his, unaware of the presence of Brennan and Shalimar.
When Brennan and Shalimar saw Jesse kiss Lexa, they looked at each other, smiled, and tip-toed out of the hangar, leaving the two alone.
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Hope wiped her forehead in an act of false exageration. "Boy," she said, "am I glad we're done with that!"
"Me too, Hope," Darien said, although he was more distracted with her at the moment. "Come to think of it, though, I wonder if it couldn't be possible that you set it up so that we'd have to work together."
A blush, a very light one, came to her cheeks as she said softly, "Maybe I did."
He looked at her, wondering if she was as afraid as he was about their new relationship. Oh, there wasn't anything to be afraid OF, but there was plenty to be afraid FOR. Slowly, he approached the subject. "Is there anything that scares you about us being together?"
She looked at him and said, "Yeah, plenty of things."
"Like what?" He asked.
"I often wonder if we'll make it through the next battle. Or what will happen if one of us decides to leave, to try and find themself." Then, in a more sorrowful tone, she whispered, "Or if one of us is forced to go away for good because of an illness."
Carefully, he wrapped his arms around her and said, "Unless something happens to me, I will stay beside you, through good times, bad times, even times where either one or neither of us knows what we want." Looking right into her eyes, he then said, "If what it takes for you to know that I'll always be there for you is to take a bullet for you, then so be it. I will never, and I mean never, let you down, Hope."
"You will?" She asked, as a tune slowly began playing over the radio.
"Without a doubt," he said.
The music started them swaying in its' rhythm as the words started to flow.
I've waited all of my life
For the day when love appears.
Like a fairytale in days gone by,
He will rescue me from my fears.
And now, I feel him standing close to me.
And how can I tell him what he means to me?
My heart stands still;
Has he come?
Oh Starry Night!
Is this the moment I dream of?
Oh Starry Night!
Tell me; is he my own true love?
During a break in the tune, he whispered, "Want to dance?"
Sweetly, she whispered, "Of course."
Every night I think of him
Here in my lonely moon,
Waiting for my prince to come,
Wondering if he'll be here soon.
And I sit patiently waiting for a sign,
And I hope that his heart longs for mine.
He calls my name;
Is he the one?
Oh Starry Night!
Is this the moment I dream of?
Oh Starry Night!
Tell me; is he my own true love?
Oh Starry Night!
Is this the moment I dream of?
Oh Starry Night?
How will I know?
Will his love show?
Is he my own true love?
As the song ended, he cupped her face in his hands, leaned in slowly, and then, ever so gently, kissed her on the lips. For Hope and Darien, Lexa and Jesse, Shalimar and Brennan, and Adam and Aurora, Valentine's Day wasn't on Febuary 14th this year-- the year was Valentine's Day itself.
The End
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Sure enough, it was midnight when the Double Helix finally arrived at Sanctuary, just like Lexa had predicted. As newlyweds Adam and Aurora stepped out of the flying vehicle, silence greeted them.
"This is strange- whenever I tell them to wait up, everyone normally sacks out, but whenever I tell them not to, they stay up," Adam said, confused. "What happened?"
They soon would find out. When they entered the main area of Sanctuary, it was almost completely dark, except for the entertainment room, which had the big screen television flashing the main menu for a DVD, and the computers.
"What the--"
"SURPRISE!" Came shouts from above as lights came on in the room. There, in the center of the main area, was a bowl of punch, paper cups, plates, forks, and a beautiful cake with the words, "Congratulations, Adam and Aurora!" written in two golden, ring-shaped circles.
With a gasp, Aurora exclaimed, "Oh my gosh- it's beautiful!"
Hope stepped forward and said, "We all pitched in, Mom-- I made the cake."
With an enthusiastic wave, Shalimar said, "I made the icing and did the writing."
"I fixed the punch and got the party plates, forks, and cups ready," Lexa said with a smile.
"And us guys put the streamers up. Whadya think?" Darien said proudly.
With a hearty laugh, Adam exclaimed, "Okay, everyone-- forget the chit-chat! Let's eat!"
This statement was met with an enthusiastic shout from everyone.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Adam and Aurora had left, with Jesse and Lexa as their chaufeurs, Shalimar and Brennan were cleaning up the party, happilly enjoying one another's company. As Brennan started removing the streamers, he stopped, watching affectionately as Shalimar returned from taking the cake back into the kitchen to throw away the party things that remained. He watched as she held the trash bag in one hand and artistically scooped the items up with the other, with the hand that presently held the engagement ring.
"Shal?" Brennan said kindly.
Looking up at him, Shalimar said, "Yes?"
"I am so glad that I'm going to marry you, you know that?"
With a soft smile on her face, she replied, "I know-- and I'm glad, too."
Leaning forward against the rail above her, he asked, "Do you want a big wedding or a small one, with just our friends?"
She stood there, staring at him for the longest moment. Suddenly, dropping the trash bag, she walked over to the wall under him, made one big power jump from there to the wall across, and then made another to the balcony he was standing on, landing perfectly next to him. Then, in an uninhibited move, she kissed him sweetly, a kiss that he automatically responded to. Slowly, she broke it, before saying, "Brennan, I don't care if our wedding is small or gargantuan-- I just care that it's your's and mine."
Brennan then whispered, "Me too, Shal-- me too." Then, in a mischievious tone, he asked, "Whadya say we race each other to get these streamers down? Last one done's a mummy!"
"What if we tie?"
"Then we'll race to see who'll finish cleaning up the party stuff!"
"But what if we still tie?"
With an impish grin, Brennan said, "Then we'll race Lexa and Jesse-- it's their turn to clean and polish the Double Helix, anyway!"
"Hmmmmmmmmmmmm! Deal!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once they had returned to Sanctuary, Lexa and Jesse got started cleaning and polishing the Double Helix, unaware of Brennan and Shalimar's bet. Emerging from the flying vehicle after vacuuming and picking up trash, Lexa watched in awe as Jesse worked on the finishing touches of polish. "Wow-- looks great, Jess," she said approvingly. "Need extra help?"
"Maybe, Lexa," Jesse replied. "Have you ever attempted a 'Butt Buffer' before?"
"A 'Butt Buffer'? What's that?" She asked.
Feigning a haughty look, he said, "Stand back and watch a pro!" With ease, he walked to one side of the hangar, ran towards the Double Helix, jumped, and slid on his rear end across the hood, before landing like a professional on his feet. Then, looking at her, he attempted a French accent as he said, "Would you like to try it, Madamoiselle Pierce?"
Unsure of how well she'd do it, she said, "I dunno, Jess-- I mean, I've never done it before, so I don't know if I'd be good at it or not."
"C'mon, Lexa; it's easy! I'll stand over here and catch you when you land, okay?" He said it in such a way that she knew he'd keep his promise.
Nervously, Lexa said, "Okay-- here goes nothing!" Following Jesse's example, she landed right in his arms as she let out a surprized and happy laugh. She had done it just like he had, and he had indeed kept his promise to her.
"Told you I'd catch ya, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did-- thanks, Jesse." She said, ecstacy penetrating her voice. Then, uncharacteristically, she said, "I am more than glad that I opened my heart to you, Jess-- I've been set free from my fears!" Then, in a shy voice, "Thank you."
Brushing his hand across her cheek and then cupping her chin, he said, "You're welcome, Lexa. And you've set me free from mine." Carefully, he lifted her lips to his, unaware of the presence of Brennan and Shalimar.
When Brennan and Shalimar saw Jesse kiss Lexa, they looked at each other, smiled, and tip-toed out of the hangar, leaving the two alone.
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Hope wiped her forehead in an act of false exageration. "Boy," she said, "am I glad we're done with that!"
"Me too, Hope," Darien said, although he was more distracted with her at the moment. "Come to think of it, though, I wonder if it couldn't be possible that you set it up so that we'd have to work together."
A blush, a very light one, came to her cheeks as she said softly, "Maybe I did."
He looked at her, wondering if she was as afraid as he was about their new relationship. Oh, there wasn't anything to be afraid OF, but there was plenty to be afraid FOR. Slowly, he approached the subject. "Is there anything that scares you about us being together?"
She looked at him and said, "Yeah, plenty of things."
"Like what?" He asked.
"I often wonder if we'll make it through the next battle. Or what will happen if one of us decides to leave, to try and find themself." Then, in a more sorrowful tone, she whispered, "Or if one of us is forced to go away for good because of an illness."
Carefully, he wrapped his arms around her and said, "Unless something happens to me, I will stay beside you, through good times, bad times, even times where either one or neither of us knows what we want." Looking right into her eyes, he then said, "If what it takes for you to know that I'll always be there for you is to take a bullet for you, then so be it. I will never, and I mean never, let you down, Hope."
"You will?" She asked, as a tune slowly began playing over the radio.
"Without a doubt," he said.
The music started them swaying in its' rhythm as the words started to flow.
I've waited all of my life
For the day when love appears.
Like a fairytale in days gone by,
He will rescue me from my fears.
And now, I feel him standing close to me.
And how can I tell him what he means to me?
My heart stands still;
Has he come?
Oh Starry Night!
Is this the moment I dream of?
Oh Starry Night!
Tell me; is he my own true love?
During a break in the tune, he whispered, "Want to dance?"
Sweetly, she whispered, "Of course."
Every night I think of him
Here in my lonely moon,
Waiting for my prince to come,
Wondering if he'll be here soon.
And I sit patiently waiting for a sign,
And I hope that his heart longs for mine.
He calls my name;
Is he the one?
Oh Starry Night!
Is this the moment I dream of?
Oh Starry Night!
Tell me; is he my own true love?
Oh Starry Night!
Is this the moment I dream of?
Oh Starry Night?
How will I know?
Will his love show?
Is he my own true love?
As the song ended, he cupped her face in his hands, leaned in slowly, and then, ever so gently, kissed her on the lips. For Hope and Darien, Lexa and Jesse, Shalimar and Brennan, and Adam and Aurora, Valentine's Day wasn't on Febuary 14th this year-- the year was Valentine's Day itself.
The End
