A/N: Heyyyyy!!!! Guess who's back?
Larissa: Not Michael Jackson.
Duhhh. Anyway, sorry for the long wait, I've been at church camp and it was such a blessing! It was such a spiritual refreshing time for me. Anywho, I know you awesome reviewers have been patiently waiting, so I'm staying up really late tonight to finish this.
Larissa: By the way, Beth's adding a song in this chapter, and second, SHE'S CLOSE TO UPDATING THE DARE STORY!!!!
Oh yeah!! YAY! I got started on the new chapter a couple weeks ago and I'm almost finished with it, though I still have a ways to go. So I'm getting there! And don't be surprised if you see SRMTHFG Dares on the first page of the SRMTHFG fics section. Alrighty, I'm gonna shut up now and start the chap. Oh, and by the way, in case anyone's wondering, the song I'm using in this chap is "I'm Gonna Love You" by Jennifer Love Hewitt. Totally rockin'!
Larissa: *impressed* Nice choice.
Thanks. Caraqueen suggested it. Thanks, girl! It fits perfectly! Now, on with the chap!
Chapter Fifteen: New Beginnings
Gibson hurried into the Sick Bay and brushed by the two operating tables on which Larissa and Dana were resting on. He took a moment to stop and smile fondly at sleeping Dana. Through all what had happened he realized what Dana meant to him and that maybe....maybe he had found his match. He turned his back for a moment to tidy up around the room out of pure boredom. When he turned back around, his heart nearly stopped. Dana was gone!
He felt someone tap him on the shoulder, but when he spun around, there was nobody there. Gibson's heart pounded, then suddenly quiet laughter was heard. Gradually Dana began to appear in front of him, obviously trying not to burst into complete laughter. Gibson was astounded and amused and relieved all at the same time. "You...can turn invisible?"
"I guess I forgot to mention that little detail." Dana giggled, a merry blush spreading across her cheeks.
Gibson grinned. "Most humorous," he commented dryly, pretending to be sarcastic, "You could care to at least inform me instead of nearly scaring me to my grave."
Dana put her hand over her mouth, her eyes still carrying an amused twinkle. "I thought for a moment that you were about to lose your mind."
Gibson turned serious and his grin faded. "I couldn't stand the thought of losing you again." His voice was barely above a whisper.
Angel in disguise
Dana blushed and shyly looked at the ground. Quickly, before he lost his spurt of boldness, Gibson managed to stammer, "I-I have something for you."
Dana looked up at him curiously, and Gibson was lost in her eyes for a moment. They were the perfect shade of pink and so mesmirizing.
Stories in his eyes
Gibson gingerly held out her locket, the silver heart-shaped locket Dana had given to him. Her face glowed and he could see in her eyes how much that meant to her. Gibson went behind her and gently placed the necklace around her neck and connected it at the back. "I removed the tracking device," Gibson said.
Love for every true heart that it sees.
"Oh, Gibson." Dana's words were filled with tenderness. "Thank you." She felt her locket with her fingers and smiled, glad to have it back, knowing that it had been in good hands. She spun around and embraced him so suddenly that it took him off-guard for a moment, then he hugged her back somewhat awkwardly, but still very sweet.
"Thank you for being my friend, Gibson," Dana's voice trembled with emotion. "I...I just don't know what to say. You mean so much to me."
Was it just a lucky day
"On the contrary, Dana, I should be saying the same to you." Gibson chuckled and they separated enough to be able to see each other's faces but still be in one another's arms. He didn't even notice that their faces were inches away from each other.
That it turned to look my way
Dana, acting on the spur of the moment, leaned forward until her lips met his in a tender kiss. Gibson was surprised at first, then relaxed and passionately kissed back. Sparx walked in at just that moment, unknown to the lovemonkeys, and smiled at the scene. "Good one, buddy," Sparx whispered, quietly so they couldn't hear him. "I knew you'd get one someday." He grinned and quietly made his departure.
Or is it Heaven right before my very eyes?
Meanwhile, Larissa had left the lab when she awakened and was sitting on the shoulder of the Super Robot, looking out at the horizon. Now they were free from Mandarin, but what was he really gone? And what were they to do now? Glancing up again briefly at the setting sun, she felt a rush of peace like she always did when looking at nature. She suddenly felt someone behind her and turned to see Antauri calmly walking out. He caught her gaze and smiled, causing butterflies to swirl in Larissa's stomach. "Hello, Larissa."
He showed me all things, the shimmer of moonbeams
Larissa nodded her greeting, her throat too closed up to speak. Antauri came and sat down beside her. "I often come here for a place of solitude, as well," he commented.
Larissa looked at him in surprise. "I thought your room itself was a place of solitude," she exclaimed.
Antauri chuckled and gazed at the sky. "Ah, but in my room I cannot look at the beautiful design of nature, such as the sky."
I was blind, but now he's helped me see
They sat in companionable silence for several moments, then Antauri's gentle voice filled the air. "There is something troubling you."
Larissa squirmed. It was almost freaky how he did that. "Well...now that Mandarin's gone, Dana and I are free to do whatever we want. I've been thinking about what we should do. I would like to stay here, but there is not a place for us here. Maybe we should travel to another planet. And what if Mandarin is still out there, somewhere?" Larissa sighed. "I'm confused," she ended honestly.
I was lost, but now I'm found
His happiness surrounds...
"Larissa," Antauri began, taking her hand gently in his, "There are many questions in life. There are many difficult circumstances in which finding answers will not be easy. But if you listen to your heart, as we've discussed before, that will open a door and give you the answer. You have to know what your heart is telling you."
"I'm not quite certain, not yet." Larissa lifted up his gaze to meet his and saw those familiar dark blue eyes, the ones she had fallen head over heels for from the very start.
Antauri smiled at her. "Answers are not always given quickly," he responded. "It will take time. But you and Dana are welcome here as long as you would like."
And now I find that my dreams can come true.
"You'll never know how much we appreciate your friendship....all of you." Larissa looked at the view of the city, marveling at its beauty. "You took us in even when we didn't deserve your trust and kept having faith in us to do what's right." Larissa squeezed his hand.
'Cause I'm gonna love you for the rest of my life
I'm holding you safe here in this heart of mine.
I can't live without you 'cause my soul would die
Antauri followed her gaze and Larissa noticed how fondly he looked at the city, and she saw the fierce yet loving protectiveness he had over Shuggazoom. Her heart skipped a beat or two. She felt such joy and such peace...she had never truly felt anything like this before. Maybe, just maybe, this is what came to going to the right path of life. Darkness and evil had nothing for her, absolutely nothing. But the good side came her everything she could ever need and want. And everything she and Dana had gone through in the past month, she knew they both would never, ever take any of it back. Because it had helped strengthen them and bring them to where they were now. It had all led up to this.
You know I'm telling the truth...
I'll spend the rest of my life
Loving you.
Larissa scooted closer to Antauri until their shoulders brushed and they sat in peaceful silence, pondering over what had occurred in the past month.
"Larissa," Antauri suddenly spoke. "No matter what you end up deciding, you and Dana are and always will be a part of the Hyperforce." He smiled tenderly at her, and silent messages passed through them.
It didn't start this way
It happened just one day...
"Thank you," Larissa suddenly whispered, her pretty blue eyes shining.
Antauri smiled knowingly. "What ever for?" His captivating eyes held a deep affection for her.
You smiled at me and I saw you, differently
Now I'm a tremble just to be a part of you as we
Begin a life that's sure to never end...
"For teaching me what I know now...and helping me find my way to the right side of life." Larissa planted a soft and loving kiss on his cheek. "I love you, Antauri."
'Cause I'm gonna love you for the rest of my life
I'm holding you safe here in this heart of mine...
I can't live without you 'cause my soul would die
You know I'm telling the truth...
I'll spend the rest of my life loving you.
Rest of my life, yeah, loving you.
A/N: AWWWWW!!!!!!! Didn't you just love that?
Larissa: *wiping tears with a tissue* That w-was so b-b-beautiful! *sniff* Except for the fact that there wasn't an ANTISSA KISS!!!
Sorry. Not until the sequel.
Larissa: WHAT??!!!
Take what you got and be happy with it! Anyway, reviewers, if you really like my story, then will you do me a big fat juicy favor?
Larissa: *unfazed* Beth, don't tell them to go on YouTube and listen to songs you picked out for the "credits" and make them pretend they're watching credits.
*shocked, carrying a list of songs* Am I getting that predictable?
Larissa: Getting?
But they were awesome songs! *clears throat* "Our Time Is Here" by Demi Lovato, "This Is Home" by Switchfoot, "That's the Way It Is" by Celine Dion, "More Than What I Wanted" by CeCe Winans, "I Will Remember You" by Sarah McLachlan, and "So Long" by Natalie Grant.
Larissa: I have to admit, those are awesome songs.
I know, right? So I guess you ROCKIN' reviewers can do it if you want to, but if you are, be sure to do it after the next and last chapter, which will be the epilogue and will have no author's note. So I just want to thank ALL of my reviewers, thank you guys SO much! Your encouragement and support meant so much to me and I couldn't have done it without you guys, really! Thanks a bunch to all of my awesome friends, and I want to dedicate a special thank-you to AliJo and Caraqueen. Ali, thank you for telling me how to write fics! Without you, none of my stories would be here. You rock, girl! And I want to say thanks to my good friend who is also the co-author of this story for letting me use her OC. And also, thanks so much for your encouragement and advice, Cara! You are so awesome! And believe me, I would dedicate a very special thank-you to ALL of my friends, but that would take up a whole page (LOL) so again, thanks so much!
Larissa: Bye, guys! *hugs the reviewers* Thank you!
BUT--I have one little thing to request of the reviewers. *reviewers groan* It's not that bad! It's just that if you REALLY liked my story, I want everyone who has read this fic to review and tell me what they thought of it! NOW....wait for it...REVIEW!
Larissa and Me: *chorus* We're out!