Disclaimer ROBOTECH is a trademark owned and licensed by Harmony Gold U.S.A., Inc. This fan fiction was written for entertainment purposes only. No infringement is intended.
Note: For my story purposes, Roy Fokker is alive. This story is kind of AU. It does not follow strictly the Robotech storyline.
Chapter VI
"I remembered," he said. Rick kissed her cheek. "Happy anniversary, baby."
Lisa looked at him speechless. It was the most romantic setting she had ever seen.
"Do you like it?" he asked full of hope.
"I…I don't know what to say…" She looked at her surrounding again: at the candles that softly lit the room, the rose petals over the table, on the floor. She took a step back realizing she was stepping on them.
"You should walk on roses, Lisa," he said coming near her, his hands behind his back. "These are for you." Rick handed her four long stemmed roses. "One for every month," he said guiltily.
"They must have cost a fortune," she replied, eyeing him with concern.
Rick shook his head at her. "Always so practical, Lisa. Don't worry about that."
"I'm sorry," she said flustered. "They are beautiful. Thank you."
"You deserve the best," he said, clasping her free hand. "And, that's why I ask myself everyday, what are you doing with me?"
Lisa raised her eyes to his. His blue eyes looked at her with strange tenderness.
"You are the most incredible woman in this world, Lisa--"
"Super girl," she mocked herself.
"Stop that," he ordered. "Lisa, you are the smartest, most capable women in the SDF-1, but not only are you an exceptional soldier, you are an exceptional woman" He brought her into his arms, his eyes hypnotizing her.
Lisa felt herself tremble as her body settled against his lean form.
"I'm sorry I'm such a blockhead." He smiled sheepishly. "Maybe my head is made of granite…but I need you to know that you're my everything."
"Rick…" She blinked trying to hold back her tears. No one had ever spoken to her the way he was doing, with such care and tenderness in his voice.
"I once told you that Minmei was the only reason in my life..." he said, feeling Lisa squirm in his arms at the mention of the singer's name. "But I was wrong. It took me a while to realize that you are the reason in my life."
Tears were streaming down Lisa's cheeks. Rick smiled at her as he wiped her tears away with his fingertips.
"You are the reason I return to the SDF-1 after each battle. Your face is with me during the battles; your voice is the voice I long to hear during the battle. I need you, Lisa."
"I thought Minmei was what you flyboys longed for…particularly you," she said, incredulously.
Rick sighed. "Maybe at one time, but not anymore. What do I have to do for you to believe me, Lisa?"
She didn't want to make it hard for him. It was just hard to believe that Rick had let go of his fantasy. Her eyes diverted from his and she looked around, searching. Where are they?
Rick's eyes followed her gaze, knowingly.
"They're gone. I've been a fool, Lisa." Rick's thumb came under her chin, raising her gaze to his. "I love you, Lisa."
Lisa let out a sob, tears flowing once again. She hid her face in his chest as he held her close, soothing her back, comforting her.
He loves me…he loves me, Lisa repeated mentally. It had been so long since anyone had told her that they loved her. So long!
"You know? I'm going to have to charge you for the dry cleaning," Rick whispered teasingly.
Taking a deep breath, she raised her head from his chest, noticing the tear marks on his shirt.
"I'm so sorry, Rick," she said looking at him.
"Boy! I sure can make you cry!" Rick wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief. "I just hope they're happy tears."
"They are," she answered, smiling.
"Kiss me, then," he asked with a playful glint in his eyes.
Lisa smiled and leaned into him. She aimed for his lips but she kissed his chin. Rick smiled, teasingly.
"You're not going to make this easy, are you, Rick?"
"Nope," he answered looking down at her, his hands on his hips.
Lisa stood on her tiptoes, her hands grasping his shoulders to lean in. Rick didn't move one bit, her kisses falling on his chin and on his cheek.
"Can't you do any better, Captain?" He asked raising an eyebrow mockingly.
Lisa took a step forward, her body brushing against his as one arm circled his waist and the other snaked around his neck…or at least tried to do.
"I expected more from you, Captain Hayes," he said, shaking his head.
Lisa let her arm slip from his waist, her hand pinching his rear with force. Caught by surprise, Rick jumped in his place. Lisa seized the opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck and pulled forward. Their lips met as well as their bodies, Rick losing his stance and falling over Lisa, the sofa stopping their fall.
"You were saying?" Lisa laughed as Rick looked at her in awe.
"I must recognize you are resourceful," he said laughing, too.
Their laughter subsided as they became conscious of the melding of their bodies.
"I've missed you so much," he said, caressing her cheek.
"I've missed you, too." She pushed wisps of hair from his eyes.
"I wouldn't have thought," he complained. "You are so good at ignoring me."
"I'm sorry." She kissed the tip of his nose. "I've missed you so much, Rick."
Lisa's lips searched for his longingly. Rick's arms wrapped around her, holding her close. They kissed each other until they were breathless.
"Do you know how sexy you look?" he asked huskily.
"Tell me," she replied, her eyes heavily lidded.
"You look so sexy…so sexy, I... I just want to…" he said, breathless.
"You want to…what?" Lisa's eyes shone with anticipation.
"Why in the world would you dress like that if you weren't with me?" he asked, sitting upright.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Lisa also sat and looked at him. "Are you trying to say that a woman can't dress like this unless it's for a man? I did that for myself, you know?"
Rick narrowed his eyes, looking at her. "That's not what I meant, Lisa."
Lisa felt like hitting herself. Why do I always think the worst? she asked herself.
"What I meant, Miss Hothead, is that you look so…so…yummy," he smiled again. "That I wouldn't be surprised if you had all the men in this city hitting on you! You'd need someone to fend them off you."
Lisa was tempted to say that she could defend herself alone, thank you very much, but she stopped herself. "I was counting on Fokker to do that for me," she replied instead.
Rick stood up and pulled her into his arms. "We don't have to worry about that anymore, do we?" He kissed her lips. "Tonight, only I can see you."
"This is beautiful," said Lisa looking around. "I can tell you went through a lot of planning."
"A lot of Cosmo, actually" He grinned. "The bridge bunn--" Rick corrected himself. "The girls on the bridge let me borrow some magazines they had."
"I see."
"Miss Hayes, will you please take a seat?" He pulled a chair for Lisa. She smiled and took seat at the dinner table.
"Dinner will be served in a minute," Rick said as he walked into the kitchen.
"You cooked?"
"Not at all! You don't deserve that," he said, returning to Lisa with two plates in his hand. "I ordered from Ponte Amore."
"Really?" Lisa looked at the plate before her with delight.
"Ensalata Caprese, to start with, Signorina Hayes." Rick took a seat in front of her. "I hope you enjoy it. I remembered how much you liked their food."
"This is delicious," Lisa said closing her eyes as she savored the food. Rick looked at her enthralled, her gesture giving him shivers.
"You are so sexy…" he mumbled.
Lisa opened her eyes and gave him a wink.
Minmei was looking at the couple across the room. Ordinarily, all attention would be focused on her, but this night was different, and she was bothered.
"I wonder what's going on," she mumbled.
"What are you talking about?" asked Kyle.
"Something's going on at Roy's table. Look! The manager is talking to them!" she complained. "He hasn't come to our table!"
"Who cares, Mimi?" asked Kyle, eating his plate of pasta.
She shot him a dirty look…a look that said: "Don't you know who I am?"
"Minmei I brought you here to enjoy a lovely evening," he said, taking her hand in his. "Please don't be upset. Everyone knows who you are. I know who you are" He kissed her hand.
"I'm going to say hello," she said standing.
"Minmei, wait!" It was too late. She was on her way to Fokker's table.
"Hello Roy," said Minmei once she was at his table.
"Minmei!" Roy smiled at her. "Nice to see you."
"Nice to see you, too. What's going on? Is it your birthday?" Minmei looked at the manager.
"Oh no! I am just congratulating the Captain on his marriage," he answered before excusing himself.
"Marriage? Why Roy! I thought you'd wait for me," she said, flirting.
Claudia eyed her with suspicion. She would have slapped her, but she quickly realized that that was Minmei's character.
"Minmei, let me introduce you to my fiancée, Claudia Grant," he said, reaching across the table to hold her hand. He had seen Claudia's look.
"Nice to meet you, Claudia," Minmei leaned over and kissed her cheek. "You are a lucky woman."
"Thank you," Claudia answered good-naturedly, though she wanted to say that Roy was the lucky one.
"When is the wedding?" Minmei flashed her best smile.
Roy swallowed hard. It was obvious that she was fishing for an invitation.
"We don't know yet," intervened Claudia.
"I would love to sing at your wedding," said Minmei. "As a matter of fact, that will be my present for you two."
"Thanks, Minmei. That is very generous of you." Roy smiled. "We will send you an invitation as soon as we have the date."
"Send it to my aunt's restaurant. That way it won't get lost in the mail."
"For sure," said Claudia, trying not to sound phony.
"Well, I'll let you get back to your dinner," Minmei said. She kissed Roy and Claudia on the cheek. "Many congratulations!"
"This comes from Commander Hunter," said the manager returning to the table.
"Is Rick here?" Minmei looked around the restaurant.
"No, he's at home," explained Roy.
"With his girlfriend," added Claudia.
The shock in Minmei's face was apparent for only a brief second.
"Tell him I said hello," she said before returning to her table.
"Why did you do that?" asked Roy once they were alone.
"That little vixen needs to know that Rick is not available anymore," Claudia replied.
"Claudia…"
"She's a flirt!" Claudia looked at him, narrowing her eyes. "And you like it!"
"She's just a young girl, Claudia. She still needs to do some living."
Maybe," she replied sternly. "Why did you invite her?"
"What else could I do?" He raised his hands in surrender.
"What?!" Lynn-Kyle's voice echoed in the dining room.
"It's the pacifist," said Claudia, recognizing Kyle.
"And Minmei must have told him that she's singing at our wedding," he said, laughing.
They moved slowly around the floor, Lisa's cheek resting on his chest as the music played in the background.
I can't fight this feeling any longer.
And yet I'm still afraid to let it show.
What started out as friendship,
Has grown stronger.
I only wish I had the strength to let it show.
"Where --"
"Listen," said Rick into her ear. Lisa shivered feeling his breath on her skin.
…I feel so secure when we're together.
You give my life direction,
You make everything so clear.
Rick pressed his cheek against Lisa's.
"Do you understand, Lisa?"
My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you.
I've been running round in circles in my mind.
And it always seems that I'm following you, girl,
Cause you take me to the places,
That I'd known I'd never find.
And I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
It's time to bring this ship into the shore,
And throw away the oars, forever.
Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore. (1)
Lisa lifted her eyes to his, green meeting blue.
"I love you, Lisa Hayes," he said solemnly.
And I love you, she thought, unable to say them to his face. Tears started to form in her eyes.
"Here come the waterworks!" teased Rick. Lisa whacked his arm playfully.
"Where did you get this music from?" she asked, sniffling as they continued to dance, Rod Stewart's If we fall in love tonight playing in the background.
"Roy." He smiled. "It happens to be that he has a music collection he's been carrying around with him for years."
"I'll have to thank him. I remember some of these songs from my childhood…never thought I'd like them, but they are beautiful."
"At least now I understand what they were whining about," added Rick with a smirk.
Lisa pulled away from him and was about to swat his arm again when he cupped her cheeks in his palms.
"Rick…" Her lips parted and before she could say anything else, he pressed his lips against hers.
Rick's mouth crushed hers, demanding her reciprocity. Lisa complied. They kissed and they moved until Lisa's back hit the wall.
"Rick," she whispered breathlessly.
He caged her in his arms, palms pressed against the wall. Once again he took her mouth, but this time he took his time kissing her. He coaxed her lips open with the tip of his tongue. Lisa parted her lips softly and allowed him to explore the recesses of her mouth.
Rick felt his heart pound wildly in his chest. She tasted deliciously! She tasted of wine…wine and chocolate.
"Like dessert," he whispered as he placed his hands on her shoulders. His lips traveled down her neck slowly. He felt her pulse quicken and heard her ragged breath.
Lisa's hands caressed his back as he nipped the skin of her shoulders.
"On my skin, Lisa," he asked her while tasting her skin.
Timidly, she pulled the shirt out of his trousers and slid her hands under the fabric. Her fingertips left a lazy path along his back…Rick's breath catching under her touch.
Hungrily, he searched for her mouth, his teeth holding her bottom lip. She looked at him as her hands were unbuttoning his shirt. Rick sucked on her lip, gently; Lisa pulled the shirt off his shoulders, her hands caressing his arms and forearms in the process. Her hands fanned over his chest, descending to his abdomen.
"Nice six-pack…" she whispered.
"A thousand crunches a day," he replied smartly.
"Are you strong enough?" asked Lisa, sliding her hands over his biceps.
"For what?"
"To carry me…" said Lisa looking into his blue eyes.
Rick smiled arrogantly before lifting her in his arms.
Rick was caressing Lisa's back softly, his hand descending and ascending slowly on her bare back. She was asleep in his arms, her cheek on his shoulder, their legs entwined. He lowered his gaze to look at her face, the moonlight filtering through the blinds, a silver haze enveloping their bodies.
Beautiful…he thought. So beautiful…
He heard her sigh in her sleep and mumble a few words. He grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. She stirred in her sleep and blinked.
"Hello, gorgeous," he whispered.
Startled, Lisa backed away from him as she clutched the covers against her chest.
"What's wrong, darling?" he asked, sitting on the mattress.
"I thought…I thought it was a dream," she whispered as her eyes traveled over Rick's chest.
"Like what you see?" asked Rick, wigging his eyebrows. Lisa laughed as he pulled her into his arms.
"You are so conceited," she told him.
"I have reasons," he smiled. "I know you like what you see."
"Do not!" she replied childishly.
"Right! I would have believed you a couple of hours ago, Lisa, not now."
She turned beet red recalling their encounter.
"You are adorable!" He pulled her into his arms and slid with her under the covers. "You are so beautiful, Lisa."
"You're not so bad either, Hunter," she said calmly, even though her heart was beating wildly.
He covered her body with his but supported his weight with his forearms. Rick's eyes looked deeply into hers.
"Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for trusting me."
Lisa blushed again and turned her head sideways. Rick kissed her cheek.
"Why didn't you tell me, Lisa?"
She swallowed before looking at him. "Would it have made a difference?"
"Not really," he shook his head. "It's just that I would have liked to know beforehand."
"I prefer the element of surprise," she grinned.
It had been a surprise for Rick. He would have never thought…never in a million years…especially because she carried a torch for Riber for so long…
"I adore you," he kissed her lips reverently.
"And I adore you, Rick Hunter," she said as she encircled his neck with her arms. Her hands caressed the base of his head, her fingers delving in his dark hair.
Rick's pulse quickened as his body became well aware of Lisa's soft body under his. Her form molded into his…their lips meeting as well as their hearts.
Minmei was pacing nervously in her old bedroom. She and Kyle had decided to spend the night at Aunt Lena's since they were in town.
Rick has a girlfriend, Minmei repeated as she paced. How can it be possible?
It was unbelievable. Rick had been in love with her forever. He had given her a medal for her sixteenth birthday…they had kissed…they had said I love you's.
That was long ago said a little voice in her head. Yes, long ago, when she had been the sweetheart of the SDF-1, when her song had been the battle hymn to defeat the Zentraedi.
He couldn't have forgotten me, she told herself.
Didn't you forget him? Repeated the voice in her head.
She had. She had been busy with her career, ignored him, and had focused her attention on Lynn-Kyle.
Kyle, she thought with sweet bitterness. Kyle was the driving force in her life. He was her agent, her companion, her lover…the only one in her life. He knew how to appease her, knew how to make her feel important, and gave her the best of him.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear the door open and close quietly behind her. Kyle's arms around her waist startled her.
"You shouldn't be here," she said coldly.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" he asked, kissing her on the neck.
"Aunt Lena and Uncle Max won't like it if they find you here."
Kyle spun her around to face him. He looked into her eyes, smiling.
"What's so funny?" she asked miffed.
"Mimi, they know, you know." He raised an eyebrow.
"They know what?"
"They know we're a couple, Minmei."
Minmei's jaw dropped as her eyebrows rose. "It can't be."
"You're kidding, right?" He eyed her. "Everyone knows."
"But, how?" she nearly wailed. "We've been so discrete, so careful--"
"It's obvious, Minmei. It's like two plus two," he explained patiently.
Minmei let herself fall on the bed, crying. Kyle saw her curl into a ball as she covered her eyes with her hands.
"My image is tarnished," she exclaimed dramatically.
Kyle rolled his eyes but smiled. He knew her so well. He climbed in bed next to her and pulled her close.
"Stop crying, Minmei," he said, soothing the hair away from her face. He took in a deep breath…she smelled of jasmine.
"Oh Kyle," she said, turning to hide her face in his chest.
"Everyone still loves you." He kissed her forehead. "No one cares."
Rick cares.
"I love you Minmei." He searched for her lips. Minmei turned her head to the side, away from him. Kyle smiled. It was a game they played.
"Gimme," he said playfully.
"No," she pouted.
Kyle pulled her close. He placed a hand under her neck to hold her still as his lips met hers. Minmei parted them and offered him her tongue as her hands caressed his bare chest.
They kissed hungrily, their need for each other evident. They completed each other by filling the voids in their lives.
"I love you," Kyle whispered out of breath.
"I love you," Minmei responded threading her fingers through his long hair.
He pulled her under him. The bed creaked.
"Shh!" she said hitting him with her fist. "How embarrassing if your parents hear us!"
"We are going to have to be real quiet," he said amused before kissing her.
Minmei held on to him like a castaway to his raft.
(1) Song: Can't fight this feeling anymore by REO Speedwagon – no infringement intended.
Author's Notes: Sorry for the delay! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please submit your reviews, and thank you! Many thanks Lina!
