Like silver rain that fell upon me

It's within a uniform that Lucas finds a voice to confront his father. But in style typical to me, it's not what he expected. It seems everyone has been doing some growing up

Chapter 1 : dirty legal Lucas...

"I never understood the song when I was younger," a mild mannered Lucas spoke.

"I listened to it for the first time since I was like 16 and it suddenly made complete sense, and it was sad."

Lucas was referring to an old country song called Calico Plains. He remembered stumbling on the melancholy song when he was young and found himself to be quite fond of it, but it was a single song in a kaleidoscope that is Lucas's taste in music and its meaning never gained the recognition it deserved, at least until now. It was pretty simply put when he thought about it, your childhood dreams never pan out the way you might expect them too because life, inadvertently, happens.

"I don't even like country music, not my thing."

The realization of the meaning, as irrelevant as it may have been, brought to light even more that Lucas had indeed grown up, and he had managed to do it out of sight of his adult peers. There was nothing premature, or even mature about his mannerism, his thinking or the tone in his voice. Whether anyone else knew it or not, this was a 20 year old Lucas speaking. It was definitely something else.

Lonnie and Jonathan listened to Lucas like they were hearing him talk for the first time. The best thing about it was that even though he was in a uniform, he wasn't conforming and he wasn't being anything but Lucas.

Lonnie smiled warmly. Lucas caught sight of the smile and felt himself blush. Feeling kind of silly having even brought it up.

"I'm nervous." he admitted, trying to distract the two from his flushing face.

"Why's that?" Jonathan insightfully asked.

"It's been 10 years commander, I don't know who to expect."

"You're going to have to deal with this eventually Lucas, like we all do," Lonnie respectfully advised.

"I guess your right."

"Maybe you shouldn't look at it as a bad thing?" She continued.

"That's just it Lonnie, I don't see this as a bad thing at all, just…" Lucas trailed off. He didn't have a word for how he felt. 10 years is a long time for someone who spent it on earth, but it's an even longer amount of time for someone who hasn't.

Lucas looked at Jonathans upside-down watch to read the time. He let a small sigh escape his lips before getting up from his seat.

"I gotta go,"

"Good luck." Jonathan wished him as he watched Lucas straighten himself out.

He gave a labored wave goodbye and left the mess hall.

A few hours had passed since Lucas arrived up world. He was early purposefully. Walking from shop to shop, quietly browsing the mass amounts of souvenirs that was always easily found on this part of the coast. He wanted some time out in the fresh air and natural sunlight before he made his way to a little coffee shop to meet with someone who had been absent for the biggest part of his life, excluding the 10 years, His father.

Lucas could smell the coffee before he could see the café, it was a nice smell. A good change from snap frozen granules of grey pellets that they use for the crew's caffeine hit back on the seaQuest. Lucas had always refused to try it, despite Tony drinking it like a fish and insisting it was good. Fortunately for Lucas, he knew better just by the smell of it.

Subconsciously following his nose, he found himself outside D'oro, a small Italian café with modest décor and pretty gardens. In a far corner sat a man with graying hair, what looked like some sort of designer shirt and grey pants. Recognizing the figure, Lucas was surprised, his father looked well rather then like a man who had been awake all crazy hours of the night working on projects. Lucas briefly reminisced about how irritated Tony would get when Lucas did the exact same thing. Shaking his head, Lucas decided to go unannounced for a moment longer and observed his father.

He was engrossed in a paper, already sipping at an espresso cup. He paused mid drink and looked up from his newspaper as if by instinct, or impatience. He searched about the open air area for any sign of his son. Unfortunately for him, the son he was looking for was no where to been seen. Instead there was this young man standing with a quiet confidence, sporting a seaQuest uniform and a shaggy haircut.

Lawrence squinted his eyes hard, he recognised the figure, but in a way, didn't. He smiled and gave a small wave and was delighted when Lucas returned the gesture. Sighing with nerves, Lucas decided it was time to meet the 2033 version of his father.

Sitting down into a large, inviting sofa Lucas half expected the cushion to be soft. He plonked into it and was unpleasantly surprised. The seat was awkwardly hard. Lawrence sympathized with the discomfort and laughed. The sound of his laughter made Lucas pause his attempt to get comfortable and he looked to Lawrence, who was still giggling. For as long as he could remember, he had never heard his father giggle. Lucas was confused. The frown on his face did to nothing to portray his lack of understanding, but did emphasized his eyes, Lawrence was impressed with how good looking his son really was. He laughed some more.

"Are you on something?" Lucas asked very seriously.

"Why do you ask that?" Lawrence queried, amused.

"Because you're a giggling, I rarely ever heard you laugh, let alone GIGGLE!" Lucas smiled and again, Lawrence was awed by how much Lucas had grown up, It made him happy to see Lucas, even if he was peculiarly young looking for someone who was almost 30. Must be his good genes.

"You know what Lucas, I never realised what a good lookin' boy I have" he seemed like he was joking and being sincere, if that were possible. Feeling a little embarrassed, Lucas averted his eyes too his lap.

"Good lookin', smart and well off, why don't you have a girlfriend?" Lawrence continued to joke. Lucas wasn't used to his father being so shamelessly fatherly; before he could begin to wonder what his father really wanted, his previous words sank in and Lucas was a little insulted,\

"How do you know I don't?" Lucas dared, challenging his father's comment.

Lawrence raised an eyebrow.

"Do you?" he asked bluntly

"No." Lucas said with a disappointed laugh.

"WELL, I think that deserves a drink then!" he semi-shouted as he waved a waiter over.

"Like, alcohol?" Lucas asked. He reminded himself of when he was younger and tried to scam drinks, now they throw it at him; even if they know technically he isn't legal.

Legal

Lucas thought the word sounded dirty as he said it in his head,

Dirty legal Lucas…..

He shook his head, prompting himself to snap out of it.

"You don't drink?" his father asked, desperately hoping Lucas wouldn't say no.

"Oh, no, I drink" he said with a devious smile.

"Excellent!"

Lucas was beginning to think that a 10 year absence, poor father son relations and two very individually smart men combined with alcohol was bound to be asking for trouble.

But hey on the up side, free drinks!