Lights Off

"A month and half of lost business. But I'll be damned if it doesn't fly." Charles and Ray Beams stood in Garage Thurston, looking down at an amazing boy.

"It was a pleasure working on your airship and LFOs. Feel free to bring them back anytime." Renton extended his hand, like a man– and as Charles grasped back firmly, for the first time in his life, Renton felt like an adult.

The young couple had paid for the job up front; but as they left the garage, Renton saw Charles leave an envelope on his work bench, raising his fist as he yelled: "Don't beg for it, Renton!"

Renton walked up to his work bench, and opening the envelope found a bundle of hundred dollar bills, along with a note that read:

'Earn it. Or else, you won't get anything. You've earned it, Renton. Call this a gift: to a young couple from lovers who know what it takes to make it together.'

Renton's eyes began to tear, but he quickly composed himself when he heard the voice of the kids chorus, "Renton! We're home!"

"Yeah?" Renton retorted, a little annoyed, "And who asked!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Renton couldn't help but thinking, 'Oh man, I sound like Gramps! Haha, I guess I'll have to cut him some more slack.'

Eureka and the kids walked into the garage, eager to see if the LFOs were gone. "They are, they are!" Linck threw his pack on the ground and began to run around the big empty space, now vacant in the garage.

"Let's play!" Maeter mimicked Linck, running over to Renton, and forcing him into a roundabout dance. "C'mon, Maurice." Maeter broke from Renton as quickly as she had clung to him. She ran to Maurice, and at her touch the usually stoic Maurice grinned with joy, and joined the other two kids in a game of tag.

"Who's it? Who's it? Who's it? Who's it?" Linck began to chant in a sing-song manner. The other two kids soon joined in, and Eureka laid down her pack, then walked toward Renton.

"So. . .I think the kids want to play tag," Renton said dryly. Still a few steps away, Eureka was intercepted by Linck who playfully slapped her hand and said, "Mama's it!" Maeter and Maurice agreed, and all three of the children went off to hide.

Eureka looked sheepishly back at Renton, and began swaying her hips as she walked towards him. She placed her arms around his neck, and brought her head forward for a kiss.

"Hey, Renton," Eureka whispered before Renton silenced her with his lips. Eureka broke away softly, placed her hands upon his chest, and, as she shoved him onto the floor, giggled, "You're it!"

Renton was caught off guard, and fell back onto the floor, regaining his senses just in time to see Eureka laugh as she ran away.

"Oh, that's it! You all asked for it!" Renton launched off the ground, as the four runners screamed in mock-terror.

The family of five came in a little past dinner time, exhausted from a full day of tag, lifting, and overall child's play. Considering how tired they were, and how late it was, Renton heated up some instant ramen for the whole family.

The rest of the night passed in the blink of an eye, and for the first time in a month, Eureka snuck into Renton's bed, and the two began to fall asleep together.

"Renton. . ."

"Hmm?"

"I can't wait for Saturday."

"You can sleep through Friday if you want."

". . .Will you sleep with me?"

"Mmnn," Renton stretched his body, then reposed, wrapping himself around the girl laying next to him. "Nope, Gotta work. That way, we can spend all of Saturday together."

"Ok, goodnight."

"Wow," chorused Renton and the kids.

Axel was just about to leave for the city with the kids, but Maeter insisted on seeing her mama dressed up for the date. Oddly enough, no one, not even Renton, could remember Eureka ever wearing any of the clothing Riku bought her. As the four brainstormed, in all their mental pictures of Eureka they saw her wearing either her uniform, or her Gekko outfit– well, Renton had some other mental pictures.

So, the whole family was eager to see what Eureka would wear, no more so than Renton, who stood in a black suit with a white shirt and blazing blue tie– the color of his eyes. And Eureka didn't disappoint. That evening Eureka descended from the master bedroom wearing a traditional sari. Her clothing was an interwoven pattern of several bright greens, consisting of both cloth and beads, with emerald earrings and masterfully done green eyeshadow.

"Tada– Dang it, you already saw!" Riku yelled, running down the stairs after Eureka. "You guys said you were going to be in the kitchen!"

The stunned spectators didn't react to Riku's outbursts, but continued to stare at Eureka. "Hehe," Riku laughed to herself, "do I know what I'm doing, or do I know what I'm doing? Oh, and close your mouth Renton: you'll catch flies."

Renton came back to himself, shutting his jaw, and still too awestruck to fire back at Riku. He did manage a "good job," before shoving Riku toward the door.

"Hey, wait! I still have to do the lipstick! C'mon, Thurston! Imagine kissing a green-lipped goddess. Oh, fine!" Renton had almost gotten Riku to the door, when the blonde sneaked away from his grasp and ran over to Eureka. She grasped her hands, and Eureka squeezed back. The two girls stood looking into each other's eyes for a moment, then Riku said, "Remember what we talked about."

"Mm!" Eureka nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay, you love birds!" Riku shouted, as Renton once again showed her the door, "Don't do anything I wouldn't!"

"You look pretty, Mama," Maeter said as she circled Eureka's figure.

"You look beautiful," chimed in Maurice.

"Really pretty. Mama!" Linck said at last.

"Alright, alright! Time for us to go too." Axel busied himself with collecting the kids, who were circling around their mama.

As they put on their coats, and walked to the door all four shouted their goodbyes:

"Bye Papa, bye Mama!"

"Have a good date, haha."

"Take care of mama, Renton."

"Don't have too much fun."

And just like that, the two were alone. Renton had closed the door behind the company, and turned to look back at Eureka. She was standing with her hands together, and her eyes looking fiercely into Renton's.

"Do I," Eureka mirrored Renton's movements, as the two began closing the distance between each other, "Do I really look beautiful?"

Renton lifted his arms to hold Eureka, but paused as he heard her question. He took a step back; and Eureka followed his eyes, as Renton looked her up and down. Carefully, Renton placed his hand on the back of her neck, and the small of her back.

The two kissed– passionately, and yet sweetly. As they broke apart, neither leaned in for more. Eureka was so enamored, as if this was her first time kissing Renton. "You're absolutely lovely, Eureka."

"I'm really lucky to have Riku–"

"I don't mean the dress," Renton insisted. " I think– I think you look stunning. I really don't believe you've ever looked so beautiful, but. . .I prefer you without clothes." Both of them turned red and looked down straight at the floor. "– I didn't mean it like that."

For a while, silence filled the room; till Eureka took Renton's hand, and still staring at the floor said, "We could stay," looking up, "we could stay home, if you want."

Renton seriously considered her words, but almost immediately lifted her head to say, "Not a chance. I'm gonna show you off to everyone!"

Renton began to lead Eureka out the door, as she asked, "Wait, you never said where we were going."

"–To a dancing club. Gidget, Doggie, Charles, Ray, Riku and her brothers will be waiting. But first, I want to show you something."

"Here we are– right up this hill, Eureka." Renton had driven them up the old, railroad path, to a small hill that overlooked the Bellforest Valley, in the midst of which was Garage Thurston.

Renton supported Eureka, as she walked in short heels, up the hill. "Make sure you keep looking down."

Finally, Renton directed Eureka to stop at the top of the hill. "Ok, now look up." Eureka obeyed, and saw the bright, full moon overlooking a field of white, blooming flowers.

"Oh, Renton," was all Eureka could say.

"When you were gone," Renton's voice was weak, and Eureka felt his grip tightening around her hand. "I used to come to this hill almost every night. I said to myself, 'Eureka is out there somewhere. Because it's so big, I wonder if she can see this same moon? But even if she can't– even if she's too far away to return right now– I'll show it to her, when she gets back: this moon that reminds me of her.'"

"It's beautiful, Renton."

"That's why it reminded me of you." Again, Eureka tasted the bliss of Renton's sweet, passionate kiss. Though the couple only stayed for a moment or two longer, Eureka felt as if they were on that hill for a lifetime.

"Oh man, we're gonna be late! Let's go, Eureka."

"Do we have to?"

"I promise that the night will only get better."

Renton made good on his promise. Despite never having danced before, Eureka had a blast, as everyone took turns leading her through each new song. In fact, most of the dancing was done by Gidget and Riku, as they dragged Eureka out to the dance floor, almost forgetting about the boys all together.

As the two lovers stumbled through the front door, well past midnight, Eureka was still dancing to a particularly, mesmerizing tune she had memorized that night. "That was the best night of my life."

"Woah, be careful, Eureka." She had spun on the spot, falling into Renton's arms as he hung up his jacket. Eureka composed herself, and before Renton could react, she kissed him on the lips, and the cheek, and rested her lips on his ear.

"But the night isn't over," she whispered. Again, Eureka drew her mouth to Renton's lips. She was done with those sweet kisses of Renton's. Eureka wanted to feel that heat she had experienced during those numerous sessions in the garage before heading to bed. Eureka's tongue slipped past his lips, and Renton immediately tied his tongue around it.

It only lasted a few seconds before Renton pulled back to tease, "Aren't we only doing these things in the bedroom?"

But Eureka had known he would say this. She kissed his cheek, pulled away, and headed up the stairs. "I'm going to undress, and take a quick shower. Renton, could you put the beds together. . .and, please. . .leave the lights off."