Reflections:
Thanksgiving, had fallen on the 23rd of November, the day after John and Maureen had appeared before the council. With Don still on the mend and the lack of time to prepare for the feast, the family postponed the event until the following Thursday. Don and Judy had set their wedding day for Saturday December 2nd, two days later.
The Robinson's celebration of Thanksgiving had always taken on a special meaning, but this year's observance would eclipse all the other's combined. Teral and Selana provided the vegetables leaving the main course to Jarrock and John. They took one bird a piece, more than enough to feed their combined families.
John knew he was going to miss Jarrock's company. Even though Don was and always would be his best friend, he found that he and the former leader of the Lamotia Clan were kindred spirits. The space pod that Tyler had crash landed, showed promise of being repaired and John planned on taking a sabbatical with his wife to visit Jarrock and Lana. Having the space pod functional would shorten the trip considerably.
After much consideration, Don and Judy decided that their need for privacy and solitude, on their wedding night, trumped any feelings of unease and they chose the Jupiter 6 crash site to celebrate their honeymoon. They had traveled to the site a few days prior to burn and bury the journal. With Judy's wedding dress finished Maureen and her husband, along with Penny and T'lan, drove up to the site the next day to clean and prepare the ship for the newlyweds. The task involved mostly stocking the ship with provisions and decorating.
Before sunrise, on the morning of his eldest daughter's wedding, John found he could not get back to sleep. Rather than fighting his thoughts, he rose to put them on paper.
...
December 2nd, 2000:
The day is finally here, a day which holds both great joy and sadness for me. Today, I give my little girl away in marriage. Maureen and I knew that this day would be coming soon after we landed on Alpha Prime. In retrospect, I'm grateful that we had the extra time to get to know Donald West. He has proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he will love and care for our dear Judy. I couldn't ask for a better son-in-law, or a truer friend. It is ironic how my feelings now compare with my first impressions of the young Air Force Captain who caught the eye of our daughter, over five years ago. This brings my thoughts to our youngest daughter, Penny. Maureen and I trust T'lan as much as we trust Don, but we still can't come to grips with the notion of the two of them being married so young, regardless of the local customs. Yet, is it right for us to make them wait until she is eighteen, knowing that, by all rights, they are already, as one. I am finding it much more difficult to decide, knowing T'lan as I do.
...
"It is a difficult decision, isn't it?" asked Maureen.
She had joined her husband at the desk, reading along as was often her habit.
"It would be much easier if we didn't like T'lan," said John. "I can only imagine how Don would feel if we gave our blessings so early."
"It's always hardest with the first, I think Don would understand."
Maureen was holding a small box which she opened and placed on the desk.
"What's this?" asked John.
"My parents wedding set and my mother's engagement ring. I was saving them for Judy, but she and Don had already bought rings before we left Earth. I thought Penny might like to have them, they are family heirlooms."
"I still think sixteen is much too young, Maureen."
"I agree, John. But, under the circumstances, I think we should consider a compromise."
"What did you have in mind?"
"T'lan turns eighteen next month. Since we already know that he is going to be married to Penny sooner or later, I suggest we give them permission for an engagement, the pre-joining as his people call it, providing that they wait until T'lan turns twenty to be married. By then, Penny will be seventeen and a half."
John knew he would have to think about it and today was not the best day to be considering this.
"Have you mentioned this to Penny?"
"No, of course not. I wanted to talk with you first," said Maureen. "John, I've always been able to keep an open dialogue with Penny. Right now, she knows that you and I are discussing the situation, nothing more. It's a big decision and I want to give us both some time to think about this."
"You know, Maureen, of our three children, Penny has changed the most. I remember her reaction when she saw Don kissing Judy's hand back on Priplanus. That was only three years ago and she was still a child. Now, she is becoming a beautiful young woman, where does the time go?"
Maureen closed the ring box and put it back on the shelf.
"It keeps slipping into the future, John. How about some coffee?"
"Now that sounds like a good idea."
...
Judy awoke early that morning in the cabin that she would share with her soon to be husband. She reached across the bed and was startled at first not to find him there. Then she remembered that Don had stayed at the crash site last night, along with Jarrock, Lana, and Doctor Smith, to simplify the sleeping arrangements.
She had always been irritated at the animosity between Smith and her fiancé, but over the past two weeks she began to understand the mechanics of the seemingly tenuous relationship the two men carried out. Judy had seen the determination on Smith's face as he fought to save the Major's life. His concern had been genuine as was Don's appreciation for what the Doctor had done. So, when Don asked Smith to be his best man, it came as no surprise to Judy. They would be miserable if they didn't have each other to verbally spar with, she thought.
She threw on her robe and exited the cabin. Her parents were sitting in the galley and she could smell the fresh aroma of coffee.
"Good morning," said her mother. "You're up early."
"Morning, Mom, Dad. I can't get back to sleep, not now."
"Nervous?" asked her father.
"A little, but in a good way," said Judy.
"Well, you have a few hours before you have to get ready," said Maureen.
"I think I'm going to sit up on deck for a while. The sun will be up shortly, I think I'd like to watch it come up."
Judy took her coffee cup and stepped onto the elevator. Once on deck, she wandered to Don's chair and sat down, pulling her knees to her chin. Being in his chair brought her comfort as she pondered their future together. One of the things that they had learned from the records of their future lives was their wedding date. It was supposed to have been November 25, the week prior. With Don being injured, they chose the following Saturday. Judy still held out hope that their future wasn't set in stone, but if the pictures brought along by their future selves were any indication, they were going to have a happy marriage and a full life.
Outside, the sun was just starting to crest the ridge and it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. Judy made up her mind that she was going to live each day they had together to its fullest, regardless of what the future may hold.
...
At the Jupiter 6 site, Don was up early as well, unknowingly mirroring his future wife's actions. Sitting in the pilot's chair he watched the sunlight fill the valley as the sun rose over the eastern ridge. He looked up and saw that the sky was a deep Bristol blue and there wasn't a cloud to be seen.
West had already decided that he was going to build a small home, close to the Jupiter 2. He had drawn up the plans and even though the interior would have an Early American appearance, the dwelling would include electricity and indoor plumbing. Don planned on salvaging certain components from the Jupiter 6 to accomplish his goal. While some of the amenities would take longer to install, he hoped to have their new home livable by late fall.
Don had been worried that with the recent change in their relationship with the Lamotia Clan, that his idea of building a permanent dwelling would draw objections from the new leadership, but Jarrock assured him that M'lar was a man of honor and he would abide by the decree made by his predecessor.
The sound of foot fall behind drew his attention from the viewport.
"Doctor Smith. You're up early."
"Good morning, Major. How are you feeling?"
"Better. I'm not nearly as sore as I was a few days ago," said Don.
Doctor Smith sat down in the chair next to Don. He gazed out the window at the vista beyond.
"The view here is not quite as pleasing as it is back at the Jupiter 2," said Smith.
"I think it's just fine," quipped West. "Besides, I don't think the outside scenery is going to be at the top of our priority list."
"Yes, of course."
The two men sat in an uneasy silence for a while, just staring out the window.
"You surprised me, back in the cave, Zachary. I never expected you to jump Tyler. By doing so, you saved all of our lives, including Judy's."
"Trust me, Major West, my actions were just as much about self preservation as they were heroism."
"No, I don't think so. You were just as angry with Tyler as I was, maybe more so. For the first time since I've known you, you took a stand for something. Maybe Judy saw that trait in you all along."
"I will tell you a true fact, Major. All my life, I have been a coward. I've always taken the easy way out, and could be counted on to do whatever was in my own best interests. In spite of that the Robinsons, especially Judy, have treated me more like family and shown more compassion to me than my own kin."
"I know. It's one of the things that I dearly love about Judy, her propensity for forgiveness. Without it, I doubt we would still be together."
"My point, Major, is I knew you would jump Tyler at some point. All I had to do was wait for you to act. So, you see Major, I am no kind of a hero. The Robinson's acceptance of me was out of the goodness of their hearts."
"And if I hadn't been there?"
"I guess we will never know, Major."
Smith stood and strolled back to the elevator.
Somehow, Zachary, I think I do know what you would have done, and I thank you for it, Don thought to himself.