A/N: well… here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for. Dun dun dun! The final chapter. It's a bit on the long side, just a warning. I will have more information on the sequel after the Epilogue.
Enjoy!
Legacy: chapter 33
For Charlie and the others, one long week of waiting. A week, for the rest of the world, filled with awe and wonder, revolutions, riots, and protests; a week of worldwide philosophical searching, asking: what is the meaning of life now? Where do we, humans on earth, fit in to this cosmic puzzle? Is life really just the result of a happy accident? Are we humans, and all beings from all corners of the universe, truly the masters of our own destinies or is there still some higher ordering force, a 'god'?
Only seven days had passed since the news went out, permanently burning all these questions into the collective consciousness of human society. Questions that threatened to pull some communities apart, but strengthened the bonds that held others together. Only four days since John's fleet had arrived and silenced those questions, if only for a second, with fantastic and wondrous sights, as everyone, both scientist and lay-man alike, marveled at the beauty, grace, and sophistication of alien technology.
Charlie knew he had a view from a place that the entire world could only envy, both literally and figuratively, from this 'room' along the outer corridor of the Sally's 'lab deck'. But all those questions with their serious and earthshaking implications for traditional human society were no more then a passing curiosity to him. Even an annoying distraction. Allie still lie unconscious, her body suspended in a gravity nullification field above a short pedestal of a table in the center of the room. She was the object of his thoughts, the only thing that mattered. The irony did not slip past Charlie though; this was the most time he had spent with his daughter since they first met, and she was sleeping…
Xean physiological and psychological specialist came and went in a predictable pattern. Almost on the quarters, Charlie had glanced at his watch every time one of the short gray people came in.
People? Charlie drifted in and out of true awareness. All of his thoughts were filled so completely with the depth of his involvement in this… thing that was happening all over the world that the highly polished interior, strange noises, and even stranger sights presented by his surroundings did little but add to the list of annoying distractions.
Besides Charlie's presence in the room, two other non-alien things occupied the pedestal under Allie's suspended body. Both books; one, left by Tom, (who, thankfully, had become the family spokesperson to the media) was his only work of 'fiction' so far, "The Hardest Choice". The other left by Major Pierce. A tattered old paperback copy of "Huckleburry Finn". Charlie had inquired about the significance of the book, to which Pierce had simply replied: "she might like to read it for herself now". Understanding that would take time, and Charlie was unsure if he even needed to understand it.
Many things fit neatly into that category. The technology that held Allie's body motionless, about a foot off the table, was intriguing, but Charlie didn't need to understand it; the same technology, according to John, was keeping this massive, multi-trillion ton mass of alloyed metals suspended in the sky over the outskirts of Seattle, Charlie still did not need to understand it. Only to accept it as a part of this reality, like Lisa said.
Charlie stood, stretching his legs felt good after such a long night of sitting and watching. Lisa would be back soon; Tom, and possibly Carol with her. The understanding shown by all their friends and family so far had been a major relief to Charlie and Lisa. Charlie knew that they would probably understand why the news of such an important event as Allie's return; which all of them had known was going to happen since the night she left, was kept a secret from them. But there was still that tinge of doubt that said feelings would be hurt, and relationships ruined.
Nothing of the sort happened. Even Nina, practically a second mother to Allie who had shared the burden of raising her for those nine years of Charlie's absence, accepted it without question. maybe it was the awesome circumstance. Who would honestly harbor ill feelings while getting a guided tour of an alien 'tactical transport' from a not so distant family member who, as it turns out, is the head of the entire Xean fleet?
That is definitely not something that happens every day, and Charlie was sure he would never forget the look on Tom's face when the term 'Nas'Lenteni' was translated to 'Supreme Commander'. Everything was just a bit on the unreal side. Like they had all just stepped onto a movie set. Truth is often stranger then the most far out fiction, though. And this was all very real.
Unknown to Charlie, while those distracting thoughts churned in his head, he had walked all the way from his ledge along the windowed wall to the table/platform where Allie hovered. It took his foot coming into contact with the side of that table to snap him back from his reverie. Allie still looked so peaceful, as if they had not even disturbed her hair when she was brought in this chamber from the small saucer.
She was stable now, safe. She was going to pull through; the only question now was when. The Xean specialists said that stimulants could be administered to wake her up at any time, but that it might create unpleasant side effects, including mild amnesia and other personality defects. Out of the question! Obviously. Lisa and Charlie strictly forbid it, and John said something in that strange alien language that totally removed the option from the realm of possibility. Even if Lisa or Charlie did want them to wake her, they would not do it. Allie would wake up on her own, whenever her body was ready to handle it.
What that left for Charlie and everyone else were these long days and nights of watching, waiting by her side. Allie could not be allowed to wake alone. The last thing she remembered was being with Keith in the woods; waking up in this environment alone, even though it is not 'alien' to her, could have serious psychological impact that had to be avoided. Again, according to John.
John was thinking on two levels, of course. One part emotional: he wanted Allie back just as bad as Charlie and Lisa; the other part political: he knew the importance of what Allie had to do now, and that she was the only one who could gain enough support from the population to do it. Charlie knew what she had to do too, as well as Lisa, from watching the global reactions on the news. This would be a massive job. Allie would probably become the right-hand advisor of every major world leader; she had already received personally written invitations from the President's of the United States and France, and the Prime Minister of England. She would have to single handedly train diplomats to represent their countries, and if that was not big enough, she was the only one who, after gaining that support from the population, could start the suggestion rolling in the U.N. for a single governmental body to represent all the people of earth. Charlie had never had an interest in politics side of government, and just thinking about how drastically, their lives were about to change gave him a headache. He knew they could handle it though. After all, was that not why they were 'chosen' by the Xean's in the first place? Strength and humility.
The door, a section of the shiny metal wall that blended perfectly when closed, zipped open silently. Charlie turned, expecting to see Lisa and Tom but was instead greeted by a sheepish smile from Mary Crawford. She stepped in awkwardly, her mind had obviously not grown accustom to the appearance of Xean architecture yet. The sparkle of discovery was still in her eyes even though this visit marked her third time here.
"Hi," Mary came closer to the pedestal and Allie, where Charlie stood, "how is she?"
Charlie really didn't want to talk right now, especially not to this woman.
Living in the past…
Charlie quickly prodded himself. Mary was no longer a threat, why treat her badly?"She's okay." Charlie said, "they say she could wake up any time now."
"That's good."
Mary tried to look Charlie in the eye but she could not. Too much bad history. Just being in such close quarters with him and Allie at the same time filled her with guilt. All this pain could have been avoided five years ago if she had just listened to Chet: "let it go". Mary felt so incredibly small and stupid all the sudden. For someone in the pursuit of science, she had been unconscionably immature and shortsighted.
This, where she was standing right now, was all she had ever wanted. To know! To be a part of them, or even just catch a glimpse. Mary actually envied Allie, the knowledge she carried in that small part of her that is them. Now, Mary knew that the events of this past week would have probably happened anyway, with or without her interference. If I would have only known! We could have shifted the project from research to diplomacy and befriended Allie and her parents. There was no way to predict any of this, though. Part of Mary knew that, just not the part that was ruling her emotions.
Mary's gaze finally settled on the two books beneath Allie. One she recognized, from North Dakota; yet another way she had taken something away from Allie by spoiling the ending. The other was new, by Tom Clark. She picked it up.
Charlie watched her as she flipped the cover open, said: "it's pretty good."
"I've read several of Tom's other books… as part of the project, always looking for clues… I didn't think he would ever compromise his reputation with fiction."
"Its not fiction." Charlie smiled, "the main character, a young girl named Alice, discovers that she's part alien… you can fill in the blanks."
"So he…"
"Wrote Allie's story. Read the dedication."
Mary was way ahead of Charlie, she had already flipped to that page and started to read aloud: "for a very special little girl. Where ever you may be, and whatever you have become. We will always keep a spot in our hearts and minds open for you." Mary took a deep breath. She really had to struggle to keep from tearing up from that one. Charlie noticed but did not say anything; he just turned and headed back toward the window wall.
Change the subject. Mary put the book down. Those three short sentences had served to further stir a pot of unsteady emotions.
"You know who's down there?" Mary asked, noticing the way Charlie looked out at the Seattle skyline in the distance. He didn't answer so Mary continued: "the President and the Joint Chief's, with a large contingent of ambassadors and several foreign heads of state."
Charlie turned, surprise evident on his features but he still remained silent. Perhaps he didn't know what to say.
Mary took several slow steps toward the window, "you've probably never had the privilege of dumbing down scientific terms for the leaders of the free world… I just came from that meeting. Mr. Alderson is anxious to meet Allie."
"We got his invitation." Charlie turned his attention back to the window. "I never knew how plain Whitehouse stationary was… I always expected some fancy gold-embossed scroll being read aloud by a messenger."
Mary laughed, "like something out of Shakespeare?"
"Yeah, I guess…" Charlie chuckled lightly, "I just can't believe any of this is real. I keep expecting to wake up at any moment to find out that this has all just been a wonderful nightmare, that Allie never really came back to us."
"I hope this isn't your dream, because that would mean I'm still sitting in a federal prison…" it had seemed funny in her head, but it did not come out that way.
"Fortunately for you, it's not."
"Yeah…" Mary found herself lost in the view; Charlie was too, for a second. Neither of them heard the faint whine of the nullification field powering down or the soft sound of bare feet touching the polished floor. The alien craft hovered higher than the highest skyscraper, giving a beautiful birds-eye view out across the wooded hills and into Seattle and the Pacific Ocean beyond it. The crowds below looked like blobs of strange colors from this height.
"Do you think you're ready for this?" Mary asked.
"This?" Charlie took a second comprehending, then: "yes, I think I am."
"Oh…" Mary looked away and took a nervous breath, "I'm not…"
"Why not?"
"President Alderson just asked me to join his staff, E.T. relations or something like that; cabinet level. And I accepted it like a moron!"
"Ah… "
A slow, building look of surprise flowed onto Mary's face, and before Charlie could ask, he heard the source come to a stop beside him. He turned to see Allie staring blankly out at the people below. She pressed a hand up against the glass-like surface and looked down at the crowd that spread out under the ship.
"Allie… you're…"
She did not hear him. Her eyes were vacant, like she was still half-asleep in that coma-like state. This had been explained in depth: extreme disorientation mixed with shock. Several minutes would be required before Allie was ready to talk, and then Charlie would have to explain everything that happened over the past week in detail, just like John had told him to.
Charlie wrapped an arm around Allie's shoulders and gently pulled her close. Her eyes were still fixed on the horizon, and her body was warmer than it should be; a side effect of the metabolism altering compounds and melatonin supplements she had been given.
"Do you want me to get Lisa…" Mary glanced over her shoulder at the door.
"Not yet." Charlie said, "let Allie come back to normal... everything's going to be alright now."
Tyler stood at his locker, staring blankly at the load of books and other meaningless items within. Monday mornings had never been particularly easy, but today seemed utterly pointless. All everyone could talk about was the events of the past week, and it was all Tyler could do to avoid the questioning mobs Jessica had set on him after her comments about Ka'len and Allie.
Seven years and I still can't figure you out Jessie… she had been downright hostile, at least Tyler thought, in her opinion of Allie before all this. But now that it gave her something to talk about, she was suddenly 'best friends' with the new girl. A claim to fame, pure and simple.
The teachers were just as bad as the other students. Everyone wanted to know about them. A ravenousness feeding frenzy in each class room, televisions going non-stop with the latest images from within the wondrous behemoth parked in the sky; some of the more philosophical minded instructors tried to keep a focused discussion going about what effects this event would have on history. Tyler could respect that, but it was no use, everyone was too caught up in mystery and fanciful speculation to focus on anything even remotely serious.
Most surprising of all was that anyone was even in the school. The whole of the rest of the city, except for a very small minority, were out oohing and ahhing with the massive gathering beneath the ship. The only reason anyone was at school was that there was less then two weeks until summer break and they wanted to pass. The only reason Tyler was there was that he needed something to take his mind off worrying about Allie.
A lost cause, considering how many times a minute Tyler heard someone say something about her. "She sat in front of me in English," or "her locker is only fifteen away from mine!" Annoying almost to the point of anger! Tyler felt like standing on a table and yelling out the truth so that they all could hear it. Anything to end the rumors and wild speculation. What good would that do though? They would all just find some other aspect that they know nothing about and preach on it like they were the final authority.
Sitting here, listening to it all only made Tyler worry more. He knew he should not, Ka'len had promised to come and get him the moment Allie woke up. And they were sure that would be any time now. Waiting was the hard part.
"Ty!"
Tyler jumped a little at Jessica's sudden, attention grabbing outburst. "You coming to lunch?" she asked in a deceptively innocent tone.
"I don't know," Tyler closed his locker slowly, as if afraid it might break, "I'm not really hungry," he lied.
"You have to! We have so much to talk about…"
"I'm sure we do." Tyler started off down the hall, leaving Jessica slightly stunned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"What's wrong with you?" Jessica spoke with concern as she caught up and walked along with Tyler. "you seem different. Why wont you tell us what you saw?"
"Because I don't think its that important."
Jessica looked at him sideways with a lifted eyebrow, "not important? Um… do you remember the definition of important?"
"It's 'cause I don't want to explain it. I don't think I can."
"But you were actually there when that big ship came down. You have to tell me what it was like!"
"No I don't."
"Please!" Jessica bounced in front of Tyler putting on her best puppy dog face, "I'll be your best friend for ever and ever and ever!"
Tyler stopped, smiled, "are we five years old now?"
"Yes," Jessica dropped her head and pouted her lips.
Oh no… not that. Tyler thought. There was no one on earth that could resist the lethal combination of puppy face and pouty mouth!
"You are not going to leave me alone until I tell you, are you?" resist her, damnit!
"No!"
"Fine…"
"Really!?" Jessica squealed as Tyler started back toward the large glass doors at the end of the hall.
"In a way." Tyler reached the doors and was outside before Jessica could catch up.
"What way?" she said, blowing out of the building and running to rejoin Tyler.
"When Allie is better. I'll see if I can get you on the ship."
"But…" Jessica almost choked.
"I can't explain it, like I said. You have to see it for yourself."
"But…"
"What?" is she scared?
Jessica didn't Answer, just looked at her feet. Tyler waited what he thought was at least a minute, watching her stand there on the stairs.
"If you're afraid, you don't have to go… I don't even know if they'll let you."
Jessica looked up, "its not that…" the indecision was clear on her voice, "not really. I just… I don't know."
"Do you want to see?"
"Yes."
Jessica started down the stairs, but immediately jumped back, Tyler did too; a big orb of white energy formed on the sidewalk only ten feet from him. A figure, shadowy at first, but slowly gaining substance, stepped out of the light. Short and gray, covered in slick gray skin. Jessica screamed and tripped over a step, falling backwards onto the stairs. It took several moments for Tyler to recognize the being.
"Ka'len?"
She gave conformation with a quick nod. Tyler's hopes were already soaring just from her presence. She didn't have to say a word for him to know that…
"Allie is awake. I will take you to her." Ka'len shifted just enough to see the panic stricken girl on the steps behind Tyler.
"Um…" Tyler pointed over his shoulder at Jessica, "uh, is it okay if she comes?"
"She does not react well to my appearance… is it wise?"
Asking me? Tyler turned back to Jessica, "if you want to see, you need to come now. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Jessica nodded while swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat. By now a substantial crowd had gathered at the windows and the doors, all watching the scene with amazement.
Get used to it people… Tyler thought that the amount of video that flooded every channel on the television for the past few days should have already desensitized people from reactions like Jessica's. Some people scare easily though…
"I know… it just suppressed me." Jessica cautiously approached, never taking her eyes off of the small gray alien standing in front of the glowing mass of energy.
Tyler extended a hand toward his friend, which she took with only a little hesitation. Jessica opened her mouth to say something but the energy of that orb flared up quickly, engulfing them all and whisking them off the sidewalk in the blink of an eye.
"All those people…" Allie's voice had a far-away, dreamy quality, and she knew it; but she was still amazed by the reaction Charlie and Mary had described to her. Blacking out in the woods with Keith, and waking up a week later to the familiar ozone scented air of the Sally was shock enough. But this! Everything she had felt so pressured to do, already done, and in one weeks time.
"Have there been any problems?" Allie asked.
"Nothing major yet," Mary replied, "there were a few riots in Europe and the Middle East, some casualties."
Some casualties… "How many?"
Mary thought for a moment, "I think the last count I heard was somewhere around one-hundred."
Allie felt a pang of sadness. Casualties were to be expected in such a radical social change; there is always some group, usually religious, that fears change so much that they resort to violence. All the preparation for this task had helped to desensitize Allie to the inevitability of pointless deaths as a result of what she would reveal. But it was still sad.
"There was nothing anyone here could do to stop it. It's not your fault…" Charlie said
Dad… thanks for trying.
"I know," Allie stopped him, "it's just that it didn't have to happen… and its sad, that's all.""It is very sad," Mary agreed, "but we should expect more… its just human nature."
"Those people made a choice; their fate was in their own hands and they chose death. We should not give them a second thought."
"Oh…" Mary was mildly shocked by Allie's bluntness, "I guess your right."
Allie glanced down to the two books on the pedestal beside her, picked up the one by Tom, "why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" she ran her hand over the cover.
"Honestly," Charlie let out a short chuckle, "we forgot… it was such a wonderfully shocking event, getting you back, that it slipped our minds."
Allie smiled, "I understand completely." Her eyes shifted back to the book for several seconds, then she almost whispered: "I think I'm ready to see everyone now."
"I'll go…" Mary started to walk off.
"Wait." Charlie stopped her, "I think I should be the one to tell Lisa… nothing against you… it's just."
"No, I understand…" Mary said with a kind smile, "it's okay."
Allie watched Charlie with thoughtful anticipation in her eyes, which Charlie correctly identified as her longing to see Lisa and the others. With no more words, a trait of the Xean's he was trying to emulate, Charlie nodded to Mary and left the room. Several minutes passed in silence as Allie waited for Mary to formulate what ever it was she needed to say.
The view from the window still called out to Allie, summoning her to look out on the small sample of what the future would bring. Millions of excited people watching in awe as the Sally did nothing but simply hover.
What will their reaction be when they see the big ships? Allie thought as she stood and slowly walked, step by deliberated step to the ledge in front of the crystal membrane wall. Even the medium sized transports have docking room for two Staris class.
Mary had given up trying to phrase her statement, and she asked a question instead: "what did you do to Sheppard out there?"
Allie thought about explaining it in depth, but a summary seemed more appropriate: "I told him the truth."
Mary laughed as she came up to the window beside Allie, "Truth is a very powerful weapon then."
"It is." Allie said with no feeling in her voice. She was too lost in the view, and her thoughts. She knew Mary could sense the sadness, and for once, Allie was not afraid for someone else to know what she really felt about all this.
"You're very lucky, you know." Mary said.
"No… I'm not."
"I think you are. I'd trade places with you in a nanosecond."
"Then you are an idiot." Allie reached up and wiped a sleeve across her eyes as a small laugh concealed the beginnings of a sob.
"Maybe I am."
"I heard you say you accepted a cabinet position from the president." Allie said, trying to put up a mock-cheery demeanor.
She doesn't want me to see… Mary thought. No need to force Allie to say anything she was not ready for. Mary played along: "ah, see. You got conformation… I am an idiot!"
Allie laughed slightly. "No, I think you're a good person for the job."
Mary's smile faded. She really was concerned about the girl. Imagination was not enough to even get a clue as to what was going through her mind. "You really don't want to do this, do you?" she asked.
Allie silently stared out the window for a while. Mary was about to try another of her silly jokes when Allie sighed and said: "the whole time I was with the Xean's, those five years, all I dreamed of was living a normal life. I imagined having friends, and doing all the stupid, pointless stuff that normal kids do." Allie's attempts at hiding the pain failed as a tear broke loose and ran down her cheek. "When you look at it, all that 'stupid and pointless' stuff is not stupid or pointless at all when you never get to do it."
Mary should have been excited; a window into Allie's innermost self had just opened for her. But instead, she shared the regret that Allie spoke of, "I know…" she said slowly, "I was a major bookworm, a nerd, as a little girl. I only did some of those 'stupid and pointless' things. It was always about grades. Damned grades! Anything to try and win my fathers approval… a loosing battle. Sometimes I wonder how my life would be different if I would have actually lived it."
Allie glanced up at Mary; it was more then a little strange that they had this in common. Allie had noticed many things she and Mary shared, fear of failure, for one; fierce determination, and goal oriented thinking. Now, regret for a missed life could be added to that list.
"I guess I always knew that 'normal' was not something I was capable of. Still, I wanted to hold onto that dream… But now, I have to forget it."
"Don't talk like that." Mary sat on the ledge, facing Allie, "you're still young. Forgotten dreams are for old people, like me…" that managed to get a small smile from Allie, "you can still make it happen."
"How? Change the definition of normal?" Allie asked sarcastically.
"Why not? You already changed much more then the meaning of a little six letter word."
"Like what?"
"Well, you changed me, for one. And Keith, he's pretty much unrecognizable… you're about to change the entire world. I think the precedent is there."
"Maybe…"
Silence came once again as Mary's eyes scanned the room. So clean and efficient. The only visible things in the room were the ledge she sat on and that strange table platform. Everything else was hidden away in the silvery-gray walls until it was needed.
It was that slight pause that allowed Mary to complete the composition of her earlier statement: "I always thought that this, and you, were my legacy." Mary turned, eyes stopping on Allie's face briefly, then she looked out across the hills toward the city. "This was my mark on history! Passed down from my grandfather to my father, then to me… I was wrong. Very wrong… This is all about you. This is your mark on history, your legacy, passed down from your parents and it will be passed from you." Mary turned back to Allie, "hundreds, even thousands of years from now, kids will study you in history classes… your name will be remembered forever, alongside great figures like George Washington, and Albert Einstein… even long after they are forgotten. If you don't think your lucky, then you truly are a more humble person then me and almost everyone else on the planet."
"My legacy…" Allie whispered. I never thought of it that way… everything that happens now will be attributed to me, all those people will know my name, everyone… "I guess… you're right. But does that really make me lucky?"
Mary shrugged. No use convincing the girl!
"If I am to hold onto that dream of being normal, and all of history from this point on will have it's eye on me, and remember me as anything but; what's the point?"
At that moment, the door slid open. Allie took a deep breath and prepared to greet her Uncle Tom and the others, but turned to see Ka'len and a reluctant Tyler. Allie let out her breath without making a sound; all she could do was stare. Tyler was equally afflicted. It took Ka'len's determination to break the tense silence.
"Mary Crawford, I require your assistance." She gestured at the door.
Mary's eyes darted from Allie, across to Ka'len and finally settled on Tyler before she understood what the alien girl was trying to do here. She nodded once then bent in close to whisper in Allie's ear.
"Here's a very good chance for you to find the point… he's cute." With that, Mary left a startled and embarrassed Allie in her wake and left with Ka'len. What seemed like an eternity passed between the time they exited and Allie coaxed her body to take another breath. Tyler looked to be more confident...
It did not come out in his unsteady voice though: "I… I guess we, uh… kind of missed our 'date'." He laughed nervously while easing his way across the strange floor; so slick looking, yet it felt like rubber under his shoes.
"We did…" Allie felt her cheeks flush; she turned to the window so Tyler would not see. This reeked of a set up, a Ka'len conspiracy… or maybe it was a conspiracy of her own hearts design. Stop beating so fast!
"I wouldn't mind trying again… if you still want to?"
"Tyler…" Allie sighed. How to say this without hurting him?
"If you don't, I understand…"
The way he moves and the way he speaks are entirely opposite… voice so unsure, searching, almost apologetic; but his feet continued to carry him confidently closer to her.
"We can't…" Allie turned to look at him, but it was too much. his eyes! "I can't do this… I can't do this to you."
"Do what?"
It should be obvious… Allie did not want to say it. Part of her really wanted to give into this thing that was trying to happen. Not just a part, all of her wanted it! But the consequences… how could she knowingly let him be a part of it? She turned to face him, eyes be damned! "I don't want you to get hurt! Nothing can ever be normal…"
"I don't care about normal… normal is boring."
Does he not understand what is right in front of him? "I'm not even human!" the words flew from Allie's mouth with passion that surprised even her. "I'm not one of you…"
"I know," Tyler stopped, and Allie noticed just how close that confident walk had brought him. The look on his face said it all, but Tyler spoke the words anyway: "I know all about you… and your family. I don't care."
"How…" is it even possible? "How can you not care?"
"Because…" the first sign of hesitation in his posture, "I…" what did he have to say that was that hard?
"I love you."
Allie forgot what argument she was about to make; she forgot many things in that moment. Her mouth silently formed words, asking, 'you love me?' but no sound came out.
Tyler took another step, stopping less then a foot from Allie, "I think I have since you first ran into me at the zoo… don't ask me to explain."
"… Love me…" Allie's voice was a questioning whisper. She was not prepared for this… nothing had prepared her for this! Those three words broke down the already weak dam her consciousness had built around her emotions. She knew very well that she felt this indefinable attraction to him; a feeling that they were supposed to be together, that it had been planned since before either of them were born.
"Yes." Tyler moved out of instinct, bringing both hands up to rest on Allie's shoulders.
"I." Allie struggled with words, "do… too… I was afraid…"
Tyler smiled warmly as Allie continued to construct her thoughts in the face of such a flood of thoughts and emotions.
"I don't know how to do this… I've never…"
"There's not much to it." Tyler's reassuring words mixed with the warmth of his touch told Allie all she needed to know. The only hold out was her core of Xean upper consciousness that still struggled to comprehend what was happening.
"Yeah, but…"
Instinct silenced that Xean core as Allie spoke. Tyler leaned in, instincts closed Allie's eyes for her as their lips touched; and the magic of her first kiss shot through her entire body like a white-hot bolt of lightning.
Epilogue:
Tell him… you know it's true. Lisa sat on the edge of the largest bed she had ever seen, inside one of the presidential suites of the beautiful Westin Embassy Row hotel in Washington D.C.. Charlie busied himself in the palatial bathroom, preparing for their evening activity. Dinner at the Whitehouse, as guest of President Alderson, for the fifth time over the past three weeks. Allie was making the most interesting friends…
Lisa didn't care where they were going, or where they had been. It was all too surreal, borrowing Charlie's word. Lisa just knew what her body was telling her now, no little plastic wands required.
That night she and Charlie had shared was pure magic. Not better then usual, just different, for some reason. Lisa had the feeling then that there would be a consequence for such passion. Maybe 'consequence' was the wrong word. Never the less, Charlie had to know. It is not right to keep something this important from him for too much longer.
"Charlie… can I talk to you for a second?"
Charlie poked his head around the door while tying a tie, "one moment, almost ready…"
It can wait a few more minutes…
Time seemed to slow to a crawl and Lisa started to fidget. What would he say? It's not exactly bad news… just maybe it was happening at the wrong time. Things were already weird enough without starting over from scratch.
Charlie came out of the bathroom in a jet-black suit with a white shirt and equally black tie. He held up both arms, "so, what do you think?"
"You look like a penguin, Charlie…" Lisa tried to keep a straight face, no use: "like a black and white penguin!"
"That obvious?" Charlie grinned.
Lisa's smile lasted only a few moments. As it slowly faded she motioned to the bed beside her, "we need to talk about something."
"Oh…" Charlie crossed to the bed and sat cautiously. "About what?"
Lisa sighed, "do you remember, two weeks ago… that night?"
Charlie thought for a moment before coming to the only conclusion Lisa's tone could possibly mean, "yes, I do." He nudged her arm suggestively
"Well… do you remember what we discussed after Allie left?"
"You'll have to be more specific. We discussed a lot of things."
"Okay… about children, and not having another because we didn't want to relive the nightmare again, or put another child in Allie's situation."
Charlie shared Lisa's seriousness now, "yeah… I remember that."
Lisa placed her hand over Charlie's on the bed, "do you think that still matters? Putting a child in Allie's situation…"
"What are you trying to say?" Charlie asked only because he wanted to hear it, he already knew where this was going and it filled him with joy.
"Charlie…" Lisa took a deep breath, "I'm pregnant."
To Be Continued…
A/N: that was fun! Anyway, the alert reader will have already deduced the reason why the sequel will be named "Forgotten Dreams".
FD will follow off the end of Legacy, after three years, and that's all I'm at liberty to divulge at this point. Stay tuned to the Taken page of this wonderful site, FanFiction.net, for further word. I hope to have a piece of FD ready for posting in the next few weeks, could be two, could be a month… it takes me a while to get a story line moving.
I hope everyone enjoyed reading Legacy as much as I loved writing it. The reviews were magnificent! Please, keep em coming. Take this opportunity to really rip the plot apart and tell me what's wrong with it (it should be very easy). Your reviews and suggestions will assist me in getting FD off the ground quicker then I can alone.
Again, I cannot thank you all enough for the reviews!
And now, I must depart! Future works beckon me to move on. TTFN!