See Part 1 for Disclaimer.

Part 32 of 36

At the next morning Marcus went to Stephen again.

„We will departure at the beginning of next week. Do you think you have made a decision by then?" Marcus asked hopefully.

„I have already made a decision. You were right; I don't want to spend my whole life here. Today is my last day. I have quitted my job at Commander Lochley this morning. I have taken the rest of my vacation. I won't be here when you leave. I'm on a ship tomorrow. I don't know his destination yet. Perhaps I will find there what I look for."

Marcus was disappointed. He had hoped that his friend would accompany them.

„I don't want this. I just wanted to persuade you to come with us to Minbar but not to change your whole life radically. Susan will never pardon me, what I have done."

„You have nothing to do with it. You have just given the start that I should think about my life. Not more, not less. I'm sorry, that my decision isn't the one you have expected."

„When do you leave? I hope you have nothing against it, if we come to the departure?"

„No, I would like that. My ship leaves tomorrow evening about seven o'clock."

Then Marcus went back to Susan. She noticed that something was wrong.

„Marcus, has something happened?" she asked.

„I just met Stephen. Tomorrow he leaves the station."

„What? Where does he go?" she wanted to know.

„He doesn't know yet. Actually I wanted to ask him, if he doesn't want to come with us, but he has decided against it. His ship goes to seven o'clock."

„I can't believe that. He would never leave the station. He's just as long as I'm on it. He hasn't even taken a vacation. The only times he has left the station, were on behalf of John. He loves the stations like I do."

„But you leave now also, Susan." Marcus answered.

„That's something else. I'm not longer EarthForce and I have a new task on Minbar. Besides that I must think about our babies."

„I think, Stephen knows what he does. If he doesn't like it where he goes he will come back again. He knows where we are to be found."

At the next evening all dismissed Stephen. He was stirred, that so many had come, to say goodbye.

„Stephen, I didn't want, that you leave the station. Here are many who need you, even if I won't be here. Think about it."

„Thanks Marcus but there is nothing to consider. I have decided. But I promise you and Susan, that I will visit you. I want to see your new family members."

Before he could change his mind he went on the ship.

As the ship had taken off, he asked one of the crewmembers, where the journey would go. With the answer the Centauri would he have never calculated.

„I can't believe it, he's really away." Susan said to her husband.

„He has promised to visit us. You will see him again. The question is when. But don't worry about it, he know what he's doing. Now let's go back, we still much to intend."

The remaining days passed like nothing. Susan and Marcus packed up their matters and had them brought to the cargo-bay. The most of the objects would bring a cargo-ship of the minbari along with John's and Delenn's matters.

The both would come a week later.

In the evening before their departure Marcus and Susan gave a farewell dinner for the remaining friends. The most couldn't believe that Susan Ivanova - Cole would leave the station forever. They couldn't imagine the station without Susan.

As farewell gift they received a model of the station, so that Susan would always have a memory.

On the next day Marcus, Susan and William flew with a White-Star-Ship to their new home, Minbar.

What do you think so far? Please R&R.