Disclaimer: I don't own Futurama and am not in anyway associated with the
show itself or with Fox.
Chapter Two -- A Promise is Made
"Wake up you lazy good-for-nothing," Hermes said, shaking Fry, "You can't sleep here. You don't pay us rent. Go home, Fry."
Fry sat up, stretching. He looked at his watch, it was 9:30. Ignoring Hermes's ongoing lecture about "nothing is free in this world" and "if you keep staying here, it's going to come out of your paycheck," he got off the couch and left Planet Express.
Fry walked through the building but upon reaching the front door, he decided against going home. Turning the corner, he walked the dark streets towards Leela's building, hoping that she would be there and willing to talk. That was the way it had been before Rodney came into the picture. He and Leela would sit up for hours on end in her kitchen and talk about anything and everything imaginable.
He smiled as he walked to her room, creating in his mind the scenes that were sure to ensue. She would open her door and smile, pleasantly surprised by his visit. After a quick hug, perhaps even a kiss on the cheek, he would be invited in and they would talk til all hours, he sitting at her desk, his red jacket hung over the back of the chair and she lounging on the bed in her barely-there pajamas, stroking Nibbler as the little monster purred in contentment. It would remind them both of the old times and she would send him off with a farewell kiss or maybe, if he got lucky, she would ask him to spend the night.
That was, of course, unless she wasn't home yet, which seemed to be the case. Fry's smile faded as he continued to knock with no avail. Fry leaned up against the wall, his body feeling heavier by the second. He hadn't allowed for her not being home. He hadn't allowed for her having a wonderful time with Rodney and probably still being with him. Finally, he just slumped to the floor by room 1I. He had no interest in leaving, but he knew that he couldn't stay there the whole night, waiting for Leela in front of her door. Not only would he look pretty pathetic when she finally did show up, but what if she was with Rodney and brought him home with her for the night? She would see him waiting for her and what then? He knew it was settled, he would have to go home and hope that Bender was there. At least then he wouldn't be alone for the night. Fry got to his feet and started down the hall again slowly, his mind on Leela.
Leela sat on her bed, leaning against the pillows, Nibbler asleep beside her. She had heard the knocking at her door and knew that it was most likely Fry coming to see how her date went and to just lounge around and talk, but she wasn't in the mood for company at the moment. The night had gone wonderfully, but now she needed time for personal reflection. Sighing, she spread her fingers out in front of her to admire the diamond ring on her finger. A look of quiet contentment came over her tear streaked face as she reflected once again on the events of the evening.
Rodney had been scheduled to leave for the Galactic army base the next day and took Leela out as a farewell gift. He would be gone for the next two years as he fulfilled his duties in the galactic conquests of Zapp Brannigan. The original plan had been to double with Kipf and Amy, but Rodney had insisted on their privacy.
They sat in a cozy corner booth at Elzar's, the place where she and Rodney had first met. They ate by the soft glow of the candlelight and when the robo-minstrels appeared and began to play their song, Rodney had pulled her close to him and took her in his arms. He had been so warm agianst her and closing her eyes, she could remember his scent and the feel of his warm breath on her hair. Her lips still remembered the kiss that followed.
After dinner, they sat and talked, slowing sipping on cappucinos. Rodney's arm remained around her and every so often he would softly raise her head and she would gaze into his youthfully chiseled face framed by flowing raven-black hair. His smile was enchanting and his voice melodious. When he began to speak to her, she laid her head on his chest, listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat.
"Leela," he said, taking her hand, "I'm going to miss you so much. There won't be a day that your beautiful face doesn't cross my mind and during the long, lonely nights, your voice will be my lullaby," he could feel her smile on his chest and continued, "You know that there is nothing in this world that means more to me than you do. My life has been a realized Utopia since you came into it. I don't even think you fully realize the effect you have on me."
Leela lifted her head and looked into his eyes. There was nothing there but love and longing. She knew that he would miss her because she saw it in his eyes, the same way that she knew that he loved her. She traced her fingers along his jaw and slightly guided his face into a deep kiss.
Rodney returned her kiss and as he gently pulled away, he cupped a side of her face in his hand. His skin was a dark contrast to her mily white skin that seemed to glow under the soft light of the candles.
"Leela, you are so beautiful and you mean so much to me. The only thing I care about in this life is your happiness. That's why I'm doing what I am about to do." He removed himself from her embrace and pulled out a small ring box. Leela's face lit up as he opened it and displayed a shimmering diamond.
"I had asked you out tonight with the intent of asking you to become my wife, but sitting here with you now makes me realize that I can't do that."
Leela's smile was washed away in a tidal wave of confusion, "I...I don't understand.."
He raised a single finger to her perfectly formed lips, silencing her, "Shh, my love, let me explain. The reason that I cannot ask you to marry me tonight is because I love you so much. We have been together a mere six months, but they have been the happiest six months of my life. I am going to be leaving on Friday, only a few hours from now and I won't see you for a good two years. It won't be fair to wed you and then take off galavanting around the galaxy. That's why this mean to be engagement ring is going to stand for a promise."
Leela couldn't believe her ears and her eye began to widen in confusion. She cleared her throat and blinked back the tears that were fighting to come.
"My love," Rodney continued, "this ring is to stand as my promise to you that you are the only woman in my heart and that you always will be. This is my promise that I will love you until the day that you die, my promise that I will do whatever it takes for you to be happy."
She began to relax a little as he slid the ring on her finger and leaned into kiss her. He smiled as he pulled away and folded her fingers into themselves forming a small fist.
"Now," he said, "when you wear this ring, you're making a promise to me that if you should find someone that loves you as much as I do and who will make you happy before I return, you won't wait for me. If love finds you, Leela, promise me that you will take in into your heart. If I should return in two years time and you're still wearing this ring, then I promise you with my life Toranga Leela, that I will take you as my bride and I will love you until the end of time."
"Oh, Rodney," Leela choked out as the tears began to run down her cheeks. He kissed them away gently and then took her into his arms. I will always love you Rodney, she promised herself silently, there is no one else for me.
Sitting on her bed now, she admired her ring and the promise that Rodney made to her rang in her ears. The tears wanted to come again at the thought of his dying at war or her not being able to marry the man of her dreams. As she laid down under the covers and snuggled to Nibbler, though, she was finally able to smile through her tears. Fate was on her side this time. In two years, she would marry Rodney Jones.
Chapter Two -- A Promise is Made
"Wake up you lazy good-for-nothing," Hermes said, shaking Fry, "You can't sleep here. You don't pay us rent. Go home, Fry."
Fry sat up, stretching. He looked at his watch, it was 9:30. Ignoring Hermes's ongoing lecture about "nothing is free in this world" and "if you keep staying here, it's going to come out of your paycheck," he got off the couch and left Planet Express.
Fry walked through the building but upon reaching the front door, he decided against going home. Turning the corner, he walked the dark streets towards Leela's building, hoping that she would be there and willing to talk. That was the way it had been before Rodney came into the picture. He and Leela would sit up for hours on end in her kitchen and talk about anything and everything imaginable.
He smiled as he walked to her room, creating in his mind the scenes that were sure to ensue. She would open her door and smile, pleasantly surprised by his visit. After a quick hug, perhaps even a kiss on the cheek, he would be invited in and they would talk til all hours, he sitting at her desk, his red jacket hung over the back of the chair and she lounging on the bed in her barely-there pajamas, stroking Nibbler as the little monster purred in contentment. It would remind them both of the old times and she would send him off with a farewell kiss or maybe, if he got lucky, she would ask him to spend the night.
That was, of course, unless she wasn't home yet, which seemed to be the case. Fry's smile faded as he continued to knock with no avail. Fry leaned up against the wall, his body feeling heavier by the second. He hadn't allowed for her not being home. He hadn't allowed for her having a wonderful time with Rodney and probably still being with him. Finally, he just slumped to the floor by room 1I. He had no interest in leaving, but he knew that he couldn't stay there the whole night, waiting for Leela in front of her door. Not only would he look pretty pathetic when she finally did show up, but what if she was with Rodney and brought him home with her for the night? She would see him waiting for her and what then? He knew it was settled, he would have to go home and hope that Bender was there. At least then he wouldn't be alone for the night. Fry got to his feet and started down the hall again slowly, his mind on Leela.
Leela sat on her bed, leaning against the pillows, Nibbler asleep beside her. She had heard the knocking at her door and knew that it was most likely Fry coming to see how her date went and to just lounge around and talk, but she wasn't in the mood for company at the moment. The night had gone wonderfully, but now she needed time for personal reflection. Sighing, she spread her fingers out in front of her to admire the diamond ring on her finger. A look of quiet contentment came over her tear streaked face as she reflected once again on the events of the evening.
Rodney had been scheduled to leave for the Galactic army base the next day and took Leela out as a farewell gift. He would be gone for the next two years as he fulfilled his duties in the galactic conquests of Zapp Brannigan. The original plan had been to double with Kipf and Amy, but Rodney had insisted on their privacy.
They sat in a cozy corner booth at Elzar's, the place where she and Rodney had first met. They ate by the soft glow of the candlelight and when the robo-minstrels appeared and began to play their song, Rodney had pulled her close to him and took her in his arms. He had been so warm agianst her and closing her eyes, she could remember his scent and the feel of his warm breath on her hair. Her lips still remembered the kiss that followed.
After dinner, they sat and talked, slowing sipping on cappucinos. Rodney's arm remained around her and every so often he would softly raise her head and she would gaze into his youthfully chiseled face framed by flowing raven-black hair. His smile was enchanting and his voice melodious. When he began to speak to her, she laid her head on his chest, listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat.
"Leela," he said, taking her hand, "I'm going to miss you so much. There won't be a day that your beautiful face doesn't cross my mind and during the long, lonely nights, your voice will be my lullaby," he could feel her smile on his chest and continued, "You know that there is nothing in this world that means more to me than you do. My life has been a realized Utopia since you came into it. I don't even think you fully realize the effect you have on me."
Leela lifted her head and looked into his eyes. There was nothing there but love and longing. She knew that he would miss her because she saw it in his eyes, the same way that she knew that he loved her. She traced her fingers along his jaw and slightly guided his face into a deep kiss.
Rodney returned her kiss and as he gently pulled away, he cupped a side of her face in his hand. His skin was a dark contrast to her mily white skin that seemed to glow under the soft light of the candles.
"Leela, you are so beautiful and you mean so much to me. The only thing I care about in this life is your happiness. That's why I'm doing what I am about to do." He removed himself from her embrace and pulled out a small ring box. Leela's face lit up as he opened it and displayed a shimmering diamond.
"I had asked you out tonight with the intent of asking you to become my wife, but sitting here with you now makes me realize that I can't do that."
Leela's smile was washed away in a tidal wave of confusion, "I...I don't understand.."
He raised a single finger to her perfectly formed lips, silencing her, "Shh, my love, let me explain. The reason that I cannot ask you to marry me tonight is because I love you so much. We have been together a mere six months, but they have been the happiest six months of my life. I am going to be leaving on Friday, only a few hours from now and I won't see you for a good two years. It won't be fair to wed you and then take off galavanting around the galaxy. That's why this mean to be engagement ring is going to stand for a promise."
Leela couldn't believe her ears and her eye began to widen in confusion. She cleared her throat and blinked back the tears that were fighting to come.
"My love," Rodney continued, "this ring is to stand as my promise to you that you are the only woman in my heart and that you always will be. This is my promise that I will love you until the day that you die, my promise that I will do whatever it takes for you to be happy."
She began to relax a little as he slid the ring on her finger and leaned into kiss her. He smiled as he pulled away and folded her fingers into themselves forming a small fist.
"Now," he said, "when you wear this ring, you're making a promise to me that if you should find someone that loves you as much as I do and who will make you happy before I return, you won't wait for me. If love finds you, Leela, promise me that you will take in into your heart. If I should return in two years time and you're still wearing this ring, then I promise you with my life Toranga Leela, that I will take you as my bride and I will love you until the end of time."
"Oh, Rodney," Leela choked out as the tears began to run down her cheeks. He kissed them away gently and then took her into his arms. I will always love you Rodney, she promised herself silently, there is no one else for me.
Sitting on her bed now, she admired her ring and the promise that Rodney made to her rang in her ears. The tears wanted to come again at the thought of his dying at war or her not being able to marry the man of her dreams. As she laid down under the covers and snuggled to Nibbler, though, she was finally able to smile through her tears. Fate was on her side this time. In two years, she would marry Rodney Jones.