Epilogue:
"I cannot believe we did this!" she giggled confidentially, almost ingenuous, sitting on the smooth balcony floor, her knees drawn up to her chin.
They clinked glasses together, wrapped-up in silky blue sheets, naked underneath, and resting on a few plump pillows.
"We needed something exciting and different." He responded and sipped his brandy. "I wanted tonight to be special."
"You succeeded, Commander." She drank again from her glass then reiterated, "You said Victor left this for us and you just found it?"
"It was almost like the old boy meant it to happen this way."
"Victor was always very perceptive."
Stress-free, they both looked up through the windows and skylight. John and Helena were resting on the floor of the balcony in Main Mission. No longer functional but low-lighting ever present, it was a place lovers came to talk, make promises, and indulge in romance. Often there were more than one couple benefitting from the magic of the stars … but John, taking advantage of his command comlock, locked the Main Mission doors so no one would disturb them.
Then he and Helena, brandy, sheets, pillows, and heightened libidos in tow, crafted their bed and made love under the stars! John was simply stunned she had so easily agreed to it but when he showed her the bottle of brandy – told her he needed her to understand his intentions - Helena was sold.
He asked her, "Are you feeling better?"
Helena's smile faded very slightly and she nodded, "I really am, John. The more I think about it the more I see it as a sort of blessing."
"Blessing?" he appeared unconvinced.
"I was forced to face something I had nearly pretended never existed. I loved Karen but was never the mother she needed."
"Helena …"
"No, I tried to be there for her, made my mother call and tell me how she was doing, sent her presents when my career forced me to be away from her on special occasions, but she was a little girl and needed her mother. I just wasn't there for her like I should have been."
"You were building a future for the both of you."
"I was. That's true. What's the saying? Hell is paved with good intentions?" Helena put her glass down on the floor beside them and pushed is very gently away. "But I was also fulfilling a promise I made to my Father. I was going to be a doctor, the best doctor I could be, and nothing was going to stop me. Sadly, that included my child. Then, when she died, it was almost as if some ethereal force was laughing and telling me I now had all the time in the world to accomplish my calling." Helena gulped slightly and was soothed when one of John's hands caressed a bare upper arm, "In the end, I think it was guilt that made me move forward. I tried to put it behind me but I could never forget Karen – and now I don't want to." Helena raised her head and her eyes met John's, clear and firm. "That denial came back to bite me, as it should."
His fingers moved up to her shoulder and he traced gentle lines against her smooth skin, "I'm not unfamiliar with the idea of running away from things." John admitted, "And someday I'll tell you about that. But not tonight."
She nodded, chuckling slightly. There were some things even undivided lovers needed to take one step at a time.
"But just know that I think you would be an incredible parent and was probably a far better mother than you thnk you were. I've seen your love and loyalty, Helena, and if Karen adored you like I think she did, if that depiction on the Big Screen was any clue, you did nothing wrong. You and she loved each other. Some families don't have that type of affection at all ..."
Helena nearly said something, seeing a hint of hurt in his expression, but thought better of it. He said himself they would talk about it another day. He wanted tonight to be for her and she was smart enough to allow him this pleasure. Here and now, they were together and happy. "Thank you, John." She whispered, looking into his eyes. She then leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips, her arms encircling him.
Pushing his own brandy glass aside, he carefully lowered her back onto the pillows, passions ignited, and they again made a gentle and heartfelt love under the light of the stars above.
They would get through this and other personal concerns. Somehow and in some way the ruler of the universe brought together an Earth man and woman on their world's moon, gave them access to a deep and enduring relationship, and – for now and always – allowed them the time and ability to love deeply and sincerely.
Above them the stars winked and the music of the cosmos strummed gently. Perhaps the learned face of a brilliant scientist looked down at what he always knew was possible and a little girl, wise beyond her years, also smiled.
Life continued in deep space and on Moonbase Alpha.
The End
May 2016.
I wrote this as a sort of Mother's Day treat for those Mom's, step-Moms, or Mom's-at-heart out there.
Have a wonderful Mom's-Day and, please, if you get a chance let me know how you felt about this fiction.
Remember, an author does not know if she or he has done well unless you tell us! Take care - Becky