Saxon Andrew - Escape to Earth-The Legacy of a Conqueror

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Allison shook her head, “Your heart belonged to another and it always would. What you and Audrey had is a once in a lifetime love.”

“Audrey died.”

“I know. But your love for her never will. I’ve watched you spend hours staring out at the ocean seeing her sailing across the waves.”

“How did you know that?”

“Your smile.”

“I can’t see her anymore.”

Allison looked at him, “Why not?”

“I thought it was because she was ashamed of me for what I did in M-84.”

“She would never be ashamed of you for that.”

“Why?”

“Because she would know you did it because of how much you loved her. Your stopping would have made her very proud.”

Chris stared at the waves for thirty minutes and shook his head, “Now I understand why.”

“What is that?”

“She’s angry.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve stopped my life and I’ve only lived to see her on this beach. She’s furious that I haven’t moved on.”

Allison stared at him and then looked back out at the ocean. After a few moments, she said, “I can’t fly with anyone else.”

“Why?”

“They wouldn’t be you.”

“That’s why you resigned.”

Allison nodded and looked at him shaking her head, “I tried, Chris! I tried really hard but each candidate they brought for me to interview only showed me how much less my life would be without you with me. I just couldn’t do it!”

“You left your only family.”

“They are not my family!”

“I was talking about Alley and Gene.”

Allison’s frown vanished and she shook her head. “They’re furious. They argued for hours telling me to tell you.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“I stopped you once from getting closure when I stopped you in M-84. I couldn’t stop you from finding redemption.” She paused and said, “I really don’t think I could have stopped you anyway.”

“Why not?”

“Because you chose to leave without discussing it with me.” She looked out at the ocean for a few minutes and said, “Why did you come back? If it’s to convince me to keep my commission, you’re wasting your time.”

Chris looked out at the ocean and said, “Do you know what the first thing I did when I arrived at the edge of M-84?” Allison shook her head. “I told Willow I wanted to contact you to wish you good luck with your new partner.” Allison looked out at the waves again. “He told me you resigned.” Allison lowered her head and looked at her hands. “You’re remembering when I held your hands after my little experiment.”

Her head snapped around to him, “You said you wouldn’t look at my thoughts!”

“I’m not. I have remembered you in my arms weeping pretty much every day since. It is that memory that convinced me to leave.”

Allison looked at him, “I don’t understand.”

Chris sighed, “Allison, you fit too perfectly.” Allison lowered her head and looked at the waves. Chris looked at the waves and sighed again. “It was after I could no longer see Audrey’s sail that the first thing happened that made me realize I loved you.” Allison’s head whipped around and Chris continued to stare at the waves. “It was Michael holding your hand after the two of you built that first fort. However, my mind refused to recognize it. The second fort brought it into focus. Holding you in my arms and holding your hands after your incredible bravery removed anything preventing me from seeing it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You had already told me you would never accept me as a brother. I saw myself as damaged goods and honestly thought you could do a lot better than a broken man with a seven year old son.”

Chris looked at Allison, “I’m not here to persuade you to take your commission back. I’m here with my hat in my hand asking if you will fly with me for the rest of my life.”

Allison was in his arms in a heartbeat and she cried in racking sobs. Chris stroked her head and said, “We’re all right, we’re all right.” He put his head on top of hers and looked out at the ocean. The pink and blue sail was skipping across the waves. He smiled and said, “I love you, Allison.”

She kissed him and he opened his thoughts to her. She lost herself and Chris kissed her harder. When they finally broke the kiss he said, “You are all I could ever want.”

“I’m not Audrey, Chris.”

“That’s what allows me to love you. Michael also loves you. I never promised not to look at his thoughts.”

Allison kissed him again and he held her tight until the moon was high overhead. He walked her to her quarters and said, “I am going to discuss this with Michael in the morning. I’ll come and get you afterwards.’

Allison nodded and kissed him goodnight. She went inside and worried about how Michael would respond and then she would hug her pillow yelling, “He loves me!” It was a long night.

When they showed up the next morning, her heart went into her throat. Michael looked extremely angry. She closed her eyes and Michael said, “My father says he wants you to be my new mother! Do you want to be my mother?” Allison opened her eyes and nodded. Michael turned, looked Chris, and then turned back to Allison, “They why is he leaving so soon! I want you to stay here and be with me for a while!!”

Allison’s eyes opened wide and she bent down and lifted Michael off the ground and hugged him tightly as she swung him around. Michael laughed and said, “See, Dad. She agrees with me.”

Chris smiled and shook his head, “Michael, before she can be your mother, she must first be my wife and she hasn’t agreed to marry me yet.”

Michael looked at Allison and said, “You have to agree. Say yes. Say yes. Say yes!”

“He hasn’t asked me, Michael.”

Michael turned around and looked at Chris with surprise written all over his face. “YOU HAVEN’T ASKED HER?!”

Chris shook his head and went to a knee and held up a ring, “Allison Delany Simmons, will you marry me?”

Allison looked up and pursed her lips while Michael kept repeating, Say yes!”

Allison burst out laughing, “I will.”

Michael yelled at the top of his voice, “YAAAAAAAY. Now all three of us can build forts.”

Chris put the ring on her left hand, stood up, and leaned over to kiss Allison. She went up on her tiptoes and returned his kiss. They broke the kiss and Chris smiled, “Indeed we can Michael.”

Allison looked at the ring and saw a diamond that was incredibly beautiful, “How did you get this ring so fast?”

“I told Lukas last night what I was considering and Salud came and gave it to me. The diamond is one that her father originally made for her to build her force field.” Allison stared at its beauty shaking her head. This was beyond value.

Michael looked at Allison, turned to Chris, and whispered, “She really loves you!”

“How do you know?”

“It’s in her mind.” Chris’s eyes went wide and his tears began. Allison looked at him, “What’s wrong?”

“Michael hasn’t shown any signs of being telepathic for a very long time.” Allison looked at Michael who said, “I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

Chris took him out of Allison’s arms and smiled, “You have just made me happier than you can ever know. Look at my mind.” Michael squinted and smiled a huge grin. He hugged Chris as Allison went under his free arm.

Lukas and Salud were going over the building reports when Alice stuck her head in the door and said, “The First Commander wishes to speak to you.”

Lukas and Salud looked at each other and Lukas said, “Send him in.” Alice Gomez opened the door and stepped aside as Chris walked in with Allison in civilian clothes and Lukas said, “What’s going on?”