Title: In Love and War

Author: CosmicalMadison

Rating: T

Disclaimer/Summary: See Chapter One

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Chapter Four - Saying Goodbye

For the next few days, after the initial shock of what Mark had told her wore off, Mel felt like she was floating on air. She visited him every day after finishing her work, and having that to look forward did a lot for her morale, not to mention her patients'. After all, she had always wanted someone to love her, and to love back, and with Mark she had that chance. She felt this way for three days, until she remembered that Mark was leaving the hospital to go back to the war the next day.

Right away, she went to see him. As usual, he was resting on his bed, watching her favorite holodrama, May the Blue Bird Sing, a love story starring famous holoactress Patritzi Melendez. Mel crossed the room and sat beside Mark, watching the last few minutes of the holo with him. Then he flicked off the holoprojector and turned to her.

Seeing the unhappy expression on her face, Mark looked surprised. "What's wrong, Melalaiya? I thought that that was your favorite."

She blinked back the tears that suddenly threatened. "It is, Mark; it's not that. I was just thinking. You leave tomorrow."

Mark suddenly looked a little down, too. "Oh, that. Yes..."

He seemed at a loss for words, so Mel spoke up. "I'll miss you," she said softly.

Mark turned tearful eyes to her, and then his arms were around her, and hers around him. "I'll miss you, too, Mel."

Mel jerked back, and Mark also pulled away, surprise flashing through his dark eyes. "What's wrong now?"

"Oh, my gosh," Mel said sadly, "I just remembered that I'm fully booked tomorrow from early morning to late evening. I won't even be able to come over here to see you off."

"Well, then," he said, standing up. "We'll just have to say our goodbyes now." He reached down, took her hand, and pulled her up to stand before him. Tentatively, he reached out and laid his hand on her check. "I'm really gonna miss you when I'm gone, Mel."

"I know." Now that sounded stupid... Abruptly, the temperature in the room seemed to rise a handful of degrees - or was it just her? The look Mark was giving her was making Mel uneasy. I hope I don't look like I feel...

Suddenly, he was moving closer to her...and then their lips met. At first, surprise overtook her, but then she relaxed. Mark had never kissed her before, but now she realized that this was just one of the many little steps they hadn't taken in their relationship.

After a moment he pulled back, a soft smile on his face. "Now where were we?"

This time, Mel could feel her face flush. "I...I don't know."

"I'm sorry," Mark said. "I've upset you again. I shouldn't have done that."

"No, no, it's okay," she said quickly. "It's fine. I'm just a little surprised, that's all."

"Oh." He just stood there for a moment, as if not knowing what to say. Mel was about to say something to break the strange silence, when he abruptly gripped her shoulders tightly. "Mel, I want you to promise that you'll wait for me. The Republic will win this war, and afterwards I'll come find you, wherever you are, wherever I am. Is that all right? Will you do it?"

A little shaken by his sudden fierceness, Mel nodded tentatively. "Of course I will."

"Promise. Promise me, Melalaiya. Promise that you'll wait for me."

"I promise you, Mark. I will wait. No matter how long it takes." She took a step forward, rested her head on his shoulder.

He put his arms around her again. Almost to himself, he murmured, "I know you will. I don't know why I ever had any doubts. I love you, Mel."

"I love you too, Mark."

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The next day Mel rushed through her duties as fast as she possibly could, hoping to at the very least just get a chance for a whispered goodbye with her love. But when she glanced out the thick viewport at 1730 with all of her duties finished, she knew that the dark dot disappearing into the distance was a clone trooper she had named Mark.

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You know what to do. ;-)