From: Becki Blumer Subject: Fan Fiction Submission: No Hail Marys, No Regrets Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 18:32:54 +0000 Meredith D. Holt beckihblumer@fuse.net No Hail Marys, No Regrets Ault Warnings: Implied Sex. "No Hail Marys, No Regrets" by Meredith D. Holt Summary: David Sheridan gets lost in Sector 14 and ends up going back in time to 2262. There he meets his parents, Michael Garibaldi, and one VERY speacial Ranger. He can go back home, but where is home NOW? Hello, I have a very bad cold, one that is making me all stuffy and my head feel disconnected from the rest of me. So why are you writing, you might ask? Because, as it my good friend Genisis Grace Heart says on her website; ''Writing is a natural obsecion, we follow it to our distruction like a sailor follows siren song. And we bring beauty from it all." Anyway, this story is probably the first in a series, (if I even remember writing this when I wake up tomorrow), and it has nothing to do with my 'On Winds of Time Universe'. Clean slate here people. This story involves time travel, love, and of course, where there is romance, there is John and Delenn. All questions, comments, cold medicine and chorus lines of purple wambats singing show tunes in my shower to beckihblumer@fuse.net. Thanks to Stephy and Adam for beta reading. Also, thanks to Ken Lazarus for his compliment, and the tap dancing rodents belong to my brother. Love Always, Meredith PS. There is an NC-17 version at Alternate Universe Today as well. If you want it. Legal Disclaimer: all characters, exception of Lotus, Jade, Miranda, Ethan and a few others, are all copyrights and trademarks of JMS, WB and PTEN. Peace, you guys (Man I MUST be SICK) Personal Disclaimer: Aside from being sick, I generally have a twisted mind anyway. Blood will tell. No Hail Marys, No Regets by Meredith D. Holt beckihblumer@fuse.net Prologue- Mistakes: David Sheridan's personal Log. I must be really stupid. My sister Samantha is always saying I have a god-complex, and right now, she is abso-fraggin-lutly correct. I'm 18, and I was feeling a bit planet bound and asked Dad if I could take a spin in one of the old personal flyers, nothing that would cost much if it were damaged. 'Sure, son. Take a body guard and please, don't use the jump-gate, its acting up.' he said. My mom gave me a kiss good bye. Samantha said I was going to be sorry. She's a empath with foresight, so she thinks she knows everything. She did this time. I took the jump-gate, but I didn't take the guards. And I programed it wrong. And now here I sit, stuck in some weirdo time rift. I have never been so scared in my life. And yet, I sense a new begining somewhere. Maybe...... Part 1- Eyes of an Eyptian. As the jump-gate spit David's small flyer out, he was immediatly hailed by...Babylon 5. David thought, . "Babylon Control to Minbari Flyer, come in." said a tech's voice. "This is Minbari Flyer to Babylon control, what can I do for you?" David asked, trying to sound as calm as possible. The tech informed him that there would be a 30 minute wait for docking, and that he was to surrender control to the computer. David followed the orders and had soon docked in bay 9. He quickly covered his head bone with his shoulder length brown hair, and secured it with a piece of string. As he stepped out, he realized he was in his Ranger Uniform. That might not attract as much attention as if he hadn't. One blessing. As he went through customs, using the false I.D. that their father always made them have handy, David realized that their were a great deal of Rangers passing though. An energetic young blonde woman greeted him with her gray eyes as she walked up to him. She too, he noticed, was a Ranger. "Hi," she said as she shook his hand, "I'm Jade. You must be here for the Ranger banquet held in Entil Za and the President's Honor. Its a pleasure to meet you...?" she trailed off as she led him down a ways to a group of rangers. "David...Sherwood." he told her. She smiled again. "I'm one of the resident Rangers, so I'm kind of a liaison. We were each assigned a group of twelve people to look after during your stay, make sure you get comfy. Most people in my group are really good friends. I guess your the twelfth." she rattled on as they approached the group. There were about five girls and four boys standing there, watching them approach. "Hey there, I'm Rachel. "One of the girls said, turning her blue eyes on him. Some of the boys clapped him on the back. They all stood, getting aquatinted if they didn't know each other, when suddenly, Jade looked around and asked; "Where's Lotus?" Everybody shrugged and looked at one another. A girl named Miranda piped in. "She's probably agonizing about those new poems she's supposed to write for the banquet, you know how she gets." the rest nodded their heads, and then turned their attention toward the lift as it opened. What stepped out was the single most beautiful creature that David had ever seen. She was tall and slim, with olive skin and coal black eyes. Her midnight black hair shone out against her ranger uniform. "Lotus!" the girls cried out and ran to the newcomer. Lotus looked amusedly over their heads at David. She smiled, and the world seemed to spin for a second, then righted itself as the girls parted and Lotus came forward, offering her hand to David. "Hello," she said, her accent, rich with milk and honey, "I'm Lotus De'Cairo, who are you?" "I'm David." he said as he raised her hands to his lips in a brief kiss. She blushed to a light rose. One of the girls giggled as David released her hand and the boys moved around him to invite him to compete in a friendly pike match. "Boys, really." Joy said with a devilish smile. "You do over compensate with those pikes of yours." The girls giggled again. Most of boys had the grace not to blush, but some of the younger ones did. David merely shrugged it off and looked at Lotus. "I'll see you, soon." he said quietly. She blushed again and smiled as the girl's pulled her toward the lift. "Well, Lotus, looks like you've got an admirer." Joy commented as they took the lift to their rooms. "Lordy, I've barely know him point five seconds and you're match-making, Joy. Really, you ARE terrible." Lotus said as she took mock insult. "Oh, but he is mighty good looking." Miranda said as she gave Lotus a playful shove. Lotus shoved back and Miranda fell on her butt. The rest laughed, and so did the fallen one. "A little protective, aren't we Cleopatra?" Katie asked. Cleopatra was the girls' nick name for Lotus, because of her Egyptian good looks. "I think Lotus has feelings for this Ranger." a Minbari girl called Tia added. "I think David is dreamy." Rachel said. "Honestly, Rachel, you think any guy that bats an eye at you is 'dreamy'." Jade admonished. Lotus didn't hear the rest of the conversation. She was too preoccupied. She felt as if she knew David from else where, some place she had no name for. His smiled stayed with her through the night.... The boys didn't see the girls in their group until early the next morning when they all sat down to have breakfast together. Most had broken off into trios and the occasional pair, such as Rachel and a young man named Derek, who were clearly a bit friendlier then friends. David sat at a small round table with Joy, Miranda and Katie, along with Lotus, who was sitting right next to him. Their eyes kept meeting, and every time they would blush. Neither Lotus or David had any explanation of it, but there it was. "Lotus, read us one of your poems, PLEASE!" Joy and Katie pleaded as Miranda speared a chunk of meat. "Well..." Lotus began. "Oh, come on, Lotus, I'd LOVE to hear what you have." David erged. He was enjoying himself. He still didn't know how he was going to get back home, but right now, he wasn't even thinking about that. Lotus blushed again and fumbled in a brown leather bag for a gold book. She flipped to a page and began to read: "New Ends, Old Beginnings, Ideas both new and old, Must now be made to fit the mold, Together we shall rebuild, And bury those that were killed. A War can not last long..." Lotus trailed off to catch her breath, but somehow, David knew the rest: "But its legacy lives on, Things that were shall be once again, Now on others this depends..." David finished the second stanza for her. her eyes widened and they finished the third verse together; "New Beginnings, Old Endings, And the messages will keep sending, Carried through the ages, Written on history's pages." Lotus and David smiled at each other as they finished. Joy and Katie exchanged a knowing look, and Miranda was chasing a pea around on her plate. Lotus and David looked at each other, both startled by the connection they'd felt. "If you'll excuse me," Lotus said, " I think I need some air." With that she pushed herself up and fled the room. David stared after her for a few seconds, then got up and followed her. Once out in the hall, Lotus ran a bit and then rested against the wall. Breathing a bit haggardly, she tried to collect herself. She stood there a while before she heard some one approach. It was Entil Za Delenn. "Are you all right?" Delenn asked the young ranger, concerned. "I think I will be, Entil Za." Lotus answered her, as she studied her leaders angelic face. Delenn reached out to touch her shoulder. "You are Lotus De'Cario, are you not? The Ranger who will be reading at the banquet?" "Yes, I am. Its not that, its just that..." Lotus trailed off as she saw David come down the hallway. "Lotus?" he said troting to catch up with her, "Are you O-K?" "Yeah, I guess so." David glanced at Delenn behind her. It was his MOTHER. But not the way he remembered her, not with her light hair streaked with gray and laugh lines that touched her eyes. But with long dark tresses that flowed down her back and porcelain skin. He smiled at her and gave a Minbari bow. "It is an honnor to meet you, Entil Za." David said as he raised his eyes. Delenn glanced at the young man before her, he had boyish charm and easy grace that seemed, very special. But he also seemed a bit sad. "Hello, Ranger..?" "David Sherwood." he answered her with a smile. "I am pleased to meet a Ranger with such manners." Delenn said. David stood back a bit. His mother had always said he had manners that beat the Grey Council's. "It was an honnor to meet you as well, I look forward to the banquet held in your and the President's honnor." David said as he offered Lotus his arm. She took it cautiously. "Have a pleasant afternoon, Entil Za." Lotus said as they retreated down the hall. Delenn stared after the couple with a smile on her face. A minute later, John came looking for her. "Delenn?" "Hummm?" she said as she still gazed after them. "Who was that?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around her. "Oh, two of the Rangers who will be at the dinner. The girl will be reading some of her poetry." Delenn told him as she wiggled around in his arms. "Oh, really. I hear she's really good." John said as he and Delenn made their way to the lift, "Who was the other one?" he asked. "Oh, David Sherwood. Its strange, but he reminds me of you." David escorted Lotus back to her rooms before retreating back to his own. For the first time, he was contemplating how to get back home. Seeing his mother was...well, it was scary. She seemed so young and vibrant. Alot like the woman who had raised him, yet...not. He sat there pondering WHY HE always got into these situations, when he heard a deep laugh sound out behind him. He turned around to see Draal, his mother's oldest friend, standing before him. "Its genetics." Draal told him with another hardy laugh, and David gave him a sarcastic smile in return. "Hello Draal." he said warily. "So good to see you, David, but you are a bit early, aren't you." Draal said with mock offense. But then his expression turned serious. "You do need to go back home." "Yes, I do, but..." David started, but Draal interrupted. "You need to go, in ten days time, the Tembral rift will close once more, and you will be trapped here. But if you merely try to go back, the takion impulses will kill you, since you went unprotected. You will need to get the time stabilizer that your father used two years ago. Since your DNA and his are comparable, you will be able to use it and go home." Draal finished. David thought. "You mean that not only do I have to lie to my parents, sneak into their quarters, but I have to steal from them as well?" David asked, amazed with Draal. "Yes, it is the only way." Draal said with great drama. "Alright, thanks." David said as he turned away, and Draal vanished back to the planet below. He flopped down on the bed, trying to sleep. But sleep wouldn't come, only thoughts of Lotus. David was puzzled by how she made him feel. It wasn't just that she was beautiful, no, her SOUL spoke volumes to him he had never heard before. He felt invigorated when he was near her, and seemed to know what she would say before she said it, like with the poem. Finally, the immense of the day and the emotional exhaustion got to him and he drifted off to sleep, his last co-heriant thought of the beautiful Egyptian girl called Lotus. Lotus was sprawled on her floor, her gold book and pen in hand. But she hadn't written a thing down yet. She was thinking about David. She didn't know what it was about him, but when she was around him, she felt alot lighter then she had in years. He inspired things in her that she couldn't even put into words, much less on paper. She didn't understand for the first time in her life. The door bleeped, and she allowed it to open to reveal Jade. "Hi." she said simply. "Are you Okay, Lotus, you fled breakfast pretty fast this morning. Miranda told me." Jade said as she crouched next to Lotus. "Why is that girl always keeping tabs and tattling on me!?" Lotus threw the pen. "Lotus, she's your sister." Jade said, her eyes wide at Lotus' display. "No she's not. She's my stepsister. The daughter of a man who tries to CALL himself MY FATHER." she looked up at Jade, and her hard eyes softened. "I'm sorry. I just, I'm really confused right now, and I know that she cares, but I need to tackel this alone." "I know. I just wanted to make sure." Jade said as she stood up and tossed the pen back to the girl on the floor. With a smile, she left. After a while, Lotus got up, changed and decided that she was going to make some cookies. There were certain things that could relax her, and cooking was one of them. As she tied on her apron, the door chimed again. It opened to reveal David. "Uh, if this is a bad time..." he trailed off as he gazed at her more revealed form out of her uniform. "No, its fine. I'm making cookies, you wanna help?" she asked with a sly smile. "Well, I'm really not that good.." "Then let me teach you." Lotus said as she grabbed his hand. They spent the next hour making dough and cutting cookies. They ate more dough then they should have, but plopping it into each others mouths was fun. At one point, they had a flour fight, and both he and she ended up looking like ghosts. They burst out laughing, just as the timer went off. "I'll get them." he said, feeling more at ease with this girl then anyone else. She smiled at him as he passed. Soon they were having an icing war, as more hit them then the cookies they were supposed to be decorating. Soon after they finished, an alarm beeped, telling Lotus that she needed to get ready to go to dinner with the group. "Hey." David said as he caught her arm, "Why don't we tell them we can't make it, and have dinner by ourselves, at the Fresh Aire?" he asked with hope in his eyes. "Oh, David. I don't know." Lotus began as she wrenched herself free. "Can I try to convince you?" David asked with a devilish smile. "Do your worst!" Lotus replied with dare. As soon as she did this, his lips descended on hers in a soft kiss. Surprised, and delighted, she found herself returning it with growing intensity. His arms cradled her gently, as she wound her arms around his neck. As they came up for air, she shuddered a bit from the intensity of the emotions raging through her like wild fire. "Did I convince you?" David asked as she laid her head on his shoulder. "Hummm...what time do you want to pick me up?" "How's about twenty hundred?" "Fine." Lotus said as she left his warm embrace to go get ready, not that she didn't want to stay locked in between his arms and that firm chest of his. As he left, he smiled at her, and she went to take a shower. Part 2- Tears of Double Cross David stood outside of Lotus' quarters, wearing a suit he had just bought, along with a bundle of white, long stemmed roses. As he nervously rang her door chime, he tried to slow his rapidly beating heart. As the door opened, the sight he beheld could have made the stars themselves jealous. Lotus wore a silk cranberry dress, with spaghetti straps that were embroidered with gold. Her silken waves of black hair tumbled down her shoulders in straight curtains. "You look..magnificent." David told her as he handed her the flowers. "Thank you, David." she said, taking his offered arm as they walked down the hall. That night, over the lighted candles in the Fresh Aire restaurant, David watched Lotus carefully, fully aware that he had been lying to her. He didn't want to deceive her, he knew that much, but what would she say, would she even believe him? And how much would it hurt her to know that he had been lying. He had to tell her, he decided as they made their way back to her quarters, he HAD to. They spent the following three days doing as much as possible together. The boys teased David about his involvement with the beautiful Egyptian, but David knew that it was all in fun. He and Lotus took walks in the garden, went shopping on the Zocolo, and generally just took comfort in each other's company. But David still hadn't told her, and he knew that he had to. The night before the banquet, which he knew would be the best time to retrieve the time stabilizer, David began to feel desperate and depressed. He went looking for a bar. At one called the 'Tara', he found to his surprise, his would-be 'uncle', Michael Garibaldi, nursing some beer. As David took a seat, Garibaldi looked at him with eyes that seemed haunted. "You don't wanna start, Kid." Garibaldi told David in a quiet voice. David looked at the shell of a man he knew would one day rebuild himself and knew that he did not. "Thank you, Mr. Garibaldi, thank you very, very much." David said as he got up, and with the gaze of a broken man following him, he left the bar. As he trudged through the late night Zocolo, David knew that he had almost made a terrible mistake. He would tell Lotus tonight, or not at all. As he passed a jewelers, something caught his eye. It was a locket, with a picture of the virgin Mary hold baby Jesus engraved on it. It was so beautiful and delicate that he knew at once that Lotus should have it. He walked up to a plump sales woman standing near by. "How much for that?" he asked, pointing to the locket. "300 credits." she told him. He checked his credit account, he had enough to spare. He quickly bought it, running full tilt to Lotus quarters. He nervously rang the door bell. "David, is everything alright?" she asked concerned as she led him into her rooms to take a seat on the couch. "Yes, actually," David said as he sat down and took her hands in his, "I've been lying to you, Lotus. my real name isn't David Sherwood. Its David Sheridan." She shook her head in confusion, searching his face. when she didn't say anything, he continued. "I got lost in the Tembral Rift, on accident. Now I'm stuck here unless I steal a time stabilizer from my father. In about three days, the time rift will close, and I'll be stuck here. That's why tomorrow, at the banquet, I'm going to slip out and sneak into their rooms. I'm sorry Lotus, I didn't want to mislead you. I..." Suddenly she reached up to loosen his hair from the string he had tied it back with, her fingers searching underneath to find the hidden, tell-tale bone crest beneath the light brown hair. "Its true." she breathed. "Oh, In Valen's name, its true." 'If you hate me, I understand.." David said, looking down. She lifted his chin with her gentle hand, her black eyes searching his green ones. "Oh, David. You are the other half of my soul, no matter where you belong. If I hated you, I would hate myself. And I can't, because...I love you." She told him. "I love you too, Lotus." he said as relief flooded through him and he hugged her to him. "I want to help you." Lotus said after a minute. "Lotus, I can't ask that you do that..." "No. You didn't ask, I offered." she said with force. He smiled, knowing nothing was going to stop her, much less him. "Alright." he conceded, then brought the box with the locket in it out of his pocket. "This is for you." "Oh. What is it?" she asked as she looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Well, open it and find out, silly." She did, and she gasped when she saw the exquisite little thing inside. "Oh, David this is beautiful." she breathed as he put it on her. It suited Lotus perfectly. They talk for hours afterward, then finally, they knew that he had to leave, if they were to carry out his plan perfectly tomorrow. He kissed her goodnight and left. And she cried. The next day, breakfast was canceled so that everyone would have ample time to get ready for the banquet, which would run late into the night. While most people were showering and such, David and Lotus where planning their break-in. They would leave two hours into the party, while it was still going strong. David, thanks to the Mr. Garibaldi of his time, knew very well how to pick locks, and could easily get them in. They would probably have about an hour or so to look for the thing and get out of there. Simple? David certainly hoped so. The party was in full swing, some Rangers were dancing out on the floor, and most were eating and visiting. President Sheridan and Entil 'Za Delenn sat at the head of the tables, obviously enjoying themselves, and even more so re-enforcing David's belief that you should never meet your parents, before they were your parents. Lotus would recite her poems in fifteen minutes, after which she and David would make a break for it. "Are you nervous, Lotus?" asked a young Minbari girl named Em'lilly. "No, not really, well, actually, yes." Lotus said as she clasped David's hand under the table. "You really don't have anything to worry about." Adam told her. "Yeah, we all know that you are really great." Joy assured Lotus, "Isn't that right, Nick?" she inquired of Adam's twin brother. Nick merely grunted as he concentrated on his ice cream. Miranda gave him an angry shove and he and his precious ice cream fell to the floor. They spent the next two minutes laughing. Then the spot light was on Lotus as Delenn took the podium to introduce her. Lotus didn't here what she said, in fact, Miranda and Stephanie practically had to shove her up to the podium. Clearing her throat, the nervous Ranger closed her eyes and with a silent prayer she began: "Candles and Tears. Light a candle, shed a tear, For all those gone that you held dear, For each candle will remind, Of those who passed during you time. One for Broken Hearted lovers, One for lonely childless mothers, One for Lovers reunited, One for Love Unrequited. One to live and one to die, One to grieve and one to try, One for future, one for past, One for breath very last." Lotus finished her poetic tale with the compassion she felt for those who had sacrificed their lives to end the Shadow and Earth Civil Wars. As the thunderous applause met her ears, she took a bow and walked down the steps to where David was waiting. He barely caught her as her weakened knees gave way. "You were GREAT!" he told her. "Yes, she was, wasn't she!" Joy said with the same enthusiasm she showed for everything else. A crowd of people, who were showing their appreciation, suddenly parted as the President and Entil 'Za themselves walked up. "That was magnificent!" Delenn told her with sincerity. "Yes, I've never been one for poetry, but yours was very good." Sheridan informed Lotus. She smiled her thanks, as John studied her companion. He did remind him of himself at that age, as Delenn had said that he would. It was scary. As soon as the crowd around them began to dwindle, David and Lotus made a break for it. It was time to get down to business. Part 3- Good things come to those who wait. They slipped down the hall way in Green Sector, where Delenn's diplomatic quarters were. It was there David was sure that his father would have kept the object of their search. Lotus watched the corner in fear as David slipped a small sliver object into the key hole and the door slid open. "Great." he said as he pulled her in, "Now, lets look." Lotus silently nodded her assent as they began checking drawers and boxes, careful to put things back where they belonged. Lotus was the one who found it, in a small, purple crystal box in Delenn's dresser. David took it from her shaking hands and shut the door behind them. As they ran down the hall, the silver orb slipped through his fingers and slid across the deck, as he bent to pick it up, to caterers headed for the banquet hall came down the hall, carrying a large cake. Trying not to trip them, David crawled between them, as one slipped on his robe and fell. The other managed to grab the cake, and Lotus, who was still running, had to vault over the fallen man. That crisis over, David and Lotus barely contained their snickers as they made their way to her quarters. They tumbled into her quarters laughing, almost falling over with glee. As Lotus tried to gasp for breath, David led her to the couch so they could sit. Finally, they both were able to speak. "Oh, David, that was HILARIOUS!" she told him as she over flowing with mirth again. But suddenly, her expression turned serious. "And you'll be leaving soon?" she asked him sadly. "Yes, in a few days time. Draal says the door shall close soon." David told her, eyes down cast. "David, I.." she started, but his lips descended on hers once more, this time desperate and passionate in a sense she would never be able to define. As they came up for air, he spoke, low in her ear. "Now is all we have." Later, they slept, David still buried deep within his beloved Lotus, their dreams touching and mingling with color and smell. As dawn approached, Lotus awakened, her head pillowed on David's shoulder. He was running his fingers through her long black hair. "Morning." she murmured as she burrowed closer. "Morning," he sighed as he kissed her forehead, "We should get up you know, they'll wonder where we are. And I believe that they all ready think that we have become, INTIMATE." "You mean, they know that we are seeing one another!" Lotus pretended mock surprise and fear. He laughed, and pulled her out of the bed. She laughed and grabbed for the covers, but he pulled her into his arms, and headed for the closet. That morning would be the last that the group of Rangers spent together. Soon, each would be departing to their assignment and outposts, soon duty and the fight for honor would over take this brief holiday. But they were all thankful for the break. Miranda and Nick had disappeared some where, Jade had explained that Miranda had wanted to 'have a word with him'. Which probably meant he was black and blue by now. They all tried to keep the mood light, but it wasn't working. Finally, Ethan pulled out his camera and they all assembled for a picture. David and Lotus stood arm in arm, the girls assembled in the front and boys in the back. They all smiled their best as the flash lit and the moment was immortalized forever. Part 4- Samantha to the rescue, sort of. Excerpt from Samantha Sheridan's Journal: Why me? Why always me? I've asked the universe this a million times, but the answer is always the same. There isn't an answer forth coming. I love my big brother David dearly, but when ever he gets into scrapes, or in trouble, who has to pick up the pieces, and usually ends up getting blamed for it? Me. I'm packing right now, I have a time stabilizer and a PPG, and my Ranger Uniform. If David isn't going to come home on his own, I'll bring him home. Mom and Dad are already worried. He's only been gone for two days in this time, but he has been gone for nine in 2262. The door will close soon and idiot is too wrapped up in that Egyptian girl to notice. Not that I wouldn't mind having her for a sister in law. Being an Empath with foresight has its draw backs, just like being Samantha Sheridan does. The main one for being Samantha is, DAVID. Oh, well, here goes. AGAIN. Part 5- Missing you already. Its was the ninth day, and David knew it. He and Lotus stood in customs, wishing their friends good bye. He knew that Lotus knew it too, but he just couldn't bring himself to leave her. Would it really be so bad if he never came home? He had to admit he missed it, but he knew if he left he'd miss Lotus ten times as much. He attention was suddenly pulled over to the customs area, as he heard a familiar voice shout out as it approached him. "DAVID!" shouted a tall girl with short brown hair. "Samantha." he said as he rolled his eyes. "Who?" Lotus asked, her eyes fastened on the approaching hell storm. "My sister, Samantha. I guess she came to get me." David said. "David, what am I supposed to do with you!?" Samantha asked as she grabbed his arm and pulled him toward where her ship was docked. Lotus followed, wanting to stay with him until the last minute. As the iron door shut behind the three of them, Samantha let go of David's arm and walked up the ramp. "I'm sorry, David, and you too, Lotus. I really am. But David has to come back. I'll be waiting inside when you are ready." she told them and the door clanged shut behind her. Lotus began to weep, it was truly time to say good-bye. David wrapped his strong arms around her and cradled her close. "I'm sorry, Lotus Blossom." he said as he smoothed her hair. "Me too." she said as she fixed her tear filled eyes on his. "I'm going to miss you so much." "I will too. But I know we will see each other again some day, some how." David told her. And they kissed for what he knew would probably be the last time. As he turned and walked up the ramp, she spoke once more. "I love you, David. Don't look back. No Hail Marys, no regrets." "I love you too. Lotus. Forever." he told her. And the door clanged shut, leaving Lotus with only the locket, her tears, and her memories. She ran to the garden, seeking solace from her wounds, and found Entil 'Za Delenn sitting on the stone bench. When the kind older woman saw the young girls tears, she stood up, concerned. "Is everything alright, Lotus?" she asked. "No, nothing will ever be alright again." the Egyptian girl said, dissolving once more into tears of agony. Delenn heard a noise behind her suddenly, and turned to see what it was. When she turned back, Lotus was gone. No one on Babylon Five ever saw the poetic girl with coal for eyes and a heart of gold again. No one ever knew where she went. -------- The over sensitive jump gate spit Samantha's small flyer out over the same Minbar that David had left. He spent most of the trip silently crying, and Samantha tried to understand. She explained to him what had happened while he was gone, and that in this time he had only been gone three days. Still, he knew he was in for it once he got home. His Mom and Dad were angry, and he knew they had a right to be. Delenn however, noticed a change in her son. He seemed sad and lonely, and much more isolated then before. Sometimes, he would seem like the old David, but then a cloud would pass over his eyes and he would revert back tot he way he was now. One day, when Samantha had invited him on a little joy ride, Delenn went into his room to look for the data crystal she'd loaned him. As she picked it up, she noticed a picture siting by his bed. She recognized several of the rangers in it, including the mysterious Lotus who had disappeared. The her gaze fell on the man called David Sherwood. She gasped and the picture fell to the ground. It was DAVID, her SON. The picture had fallen in a half open drawer, and when she picked it up, she noticed there was a silver orb, half hidden under some blankets. John's time stabilizer that had disappeared so many years ago. Delenn looked in the mirror. She knew what had happened. ----- Samantha punched the jump gate controls quickly, as David realized something. The code blinked, then changed. "What happened?" Samantha asked, fumbling with the keys. "Shit!" David said as he realized that they were floating in a white distortion field. Samantha looked up and saw it too. She reached under the seat and pulled out two time stabilizers. "Never hurts to be prepared." she told him. He looked at her, in shock, then fear, then realization. "Samantha Susan Sheridan, look what you've gone and done, damn you!" he shouted. She laughed. It was David's turn to look out for some one. The answer to the question; Why Me?, simple: Why not David? To be continued....MAYBE. (If I get enough votes, or a good idea.) From: Becki Blumer Subject: Fan Fiction Submission: No Hail Marys, No Regrets, version 2 Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 18:35:21 +0000 Meredith D. Holt beckihblumer@fuse.net No Hail Marys, No Regrets, version 2 Ault Warning: Sex (There is a clean version at the Alternate Universe Today if you want it) "No Hail Marys, No Regrets" by Meredith D. Holt Summary: David Sheridan gets lost in Sector 14 and ends up going back in time to 2262. There he meets his parents, Michael Garibaldi, and one VERY speacial Ranger. He can go back home, but where is home NOW? Hello, I have a very bad cold, one that is making me all stuffy and my head feel disconnected from the rest of me. So why are you writing, you might ask? Because, as it my good friend Genisis Grace Heart says on her website; ''Writing is a natural obsecion, we follow it to our distruction like a sailor follows siren song. And we bring beauty from it all." Anyway, this story is probably the first in a series, (if I even remember writing this when I wake up tomorrow), and it has nothing to do with my 'On Winds of Time Universe'. Clean slate here people. This story involves time travel, love, and of course, where there is romance, there is John and Delenn. All questions, comments, cold medicine and chorus lines of purple wambats singing show tunes in my shower to beckihblumer@fuse.net. Thanks to Stephy and Adam for beta reading. Also, thanks to Ken Lazarus for his compliment, and the tap dancing rodents belong to my brother. Love Always, Meredith Legal Disclaimer: all characters, exception of Lotus, Jade, Miranda, Ethan and a few others, are all copyrights and trademarks of JMS, WB and PTEN. Peace, you guys (Man I MUST be SICK) Personal Disclaimer: Aside from being sick, I generally have a twisted mind anyway. Blood will tell. No Hail Marys, No Regets by Meredith D. Holt beckihblumer@fuse.net Prologue- Mistakes: David Sheridan's personal Log. I must be really stupid. My sister Samantha is always saying I have a god-complex, and right now, she is abso-fraggin-lutly correct. I'm 18, and I was feeling a bit planet bound and asked Dad if I could take a spin in one of the old personal flyers, nothing that would cost much if it were damaged. 'Sure, son. Take a body guard and please, don't use the jump-gate, its acting up.' he said. My mom gave me a kiss good bye. Samantha said I was going to be sorry. She's a empath with foresight, so she thinks she knows everything. She did this time. I took the jump-gate, but I didn't take the guards. And I programed it wrong. And now here I sit, stuck in some weirdo time rift. I have never been so scared in my life. And yet, I sense a new begining somewhere. Maybe...... Part 1- Eyes of an Eyptian. As the jump-gate spit David's small flyer out, he was immediatly hailed by...Babylon 5. David thought, . "Babylon Control to Minbari Flyer, come in." said a tech's voice. "This is Minbari Flyer to Babylon control, what can I do for you?" David asked, trying to sound as calm as possible. The tech informed him that there would be a 30 minute wait for docking, and that he was to surrender control to the computer. David followed the orders and had soon docked in bay 9. He quickly covered his head bone with his shoulder length brown hair, and secured it with a piece of string. As he stepped out, he realized he was in his Ranger Uniform. That might not attract as much attention as if he hadn't. One blessing. As he went through customs, using the false I.D. that their father always made them have handy, David realized that their were a great deal of Rangers passing though. An energetic young blonde woman greeted him with her gray eyes as she walked up to him. She too, he noticed, was a Ranger. "Hi," she said as she shook his hand, "I'm Jade. You must be here for the Ranger banquet held in Entil Za and the President's Honor. Its a pleasure to meet you...?" she trailed off as she led him down a ways to a group of rangers. "David...Sherwood." he told her. She smiled again. "I'm one of the resident Rangers, so I'm kind of a liaison. We were each assigned a group of twelve people to look after during your stay, make sure you get comfy. Most people in my group are really good friends. I guess your the twelfth." she rattled on as they approached the group. There were about five girls and four boys standing there, watching them approach. "Hey there, I'm Rachel. "One of the girls said, turning her blue eyes on him. Some of the boys clapped him on the back. They all stood, getting aquatinted if they didn't know each other, when suddenly, Jade looked around and asked; "Where's Lotus?" Everybody shrugged and looked at one another. A girl named Miranda piped in. "She's probably agonizing about those new poems she's supposed to write for the banquet, you know how she gets." the rest nodded their heads, and then turned their attention toward the lift as it opened. What stepped out was the single most beautiful creature that David had ever seen. She was tall and slim, with olive skin and coal black eyes. Her midnight black hair shone out against her ranger uniform. "Lotus!" the girls cried out and ran to the newcomer. Lotus looked amusedly over their heads at David. She smiled, and the world seemed to spin for a second, then righted itself as the girls parted and Lotus came forward, offering her hand to David. "Hello," she said, her accent, rich with milk and honey, "I'm Lotus De'Cairo, who are you?" "I'm David." he said as he raised her hands to his lips in a brief kiss. She blushed to a light rose. One of the girls giggled as David released her hand and the boys moved around him to invite him to compete in a friendly pike match. "Boys, really." Joy said with a devilish smile. "You do over compensate with those pikes of yours." The girls giggled again. Most of boys had the grace not to blush, but some of the younger ones did. David merely shrugged it off and looked at Lotus. "I'll see you, soon." he said quietly. She blushed again and smiled as the girl's pulled her toward the lift. "Well, Lotus, looks like you've got an admirer." Joy commented as they took the lift to their rooms. "Lordy, I've barely know him point five seconds and you're match-making, Joy. Really, you ARE terrible." Lotus said as she took mock insult. "Oh, but he is mighty good looking." Miranda said as she gave Lotus a playful shove. Lotus shoved back and Miranda fell on her butt. The rest laughed, and so did the fallen one. "A little protective, aren't we Cleopatra?" Katie asked. Cleopatra was the girls' nick name for Lotus, because of her Egyptian good looks. "I think Lotus has feelings for this Ranger." a Minbari girl called Tia added. "I think David is dreamy." Rachel said. "Honestly, Rachel, you think any guy that bats an eye at you is 'dreamy'." Jade admonished. Lotus didn't hear the rest of the conversation. She was too preoccupied. She felt as if she knew David from else where, some place she had no name for. His smiled stayed with her through the night.... The boys didn't see the girls in their group until early the next morning when they all sat down to have breakfast together. Most had broken off into trios and the occasional pair, such as Rachel and a young man named Derek, who were clearly a bit friendlier then friends. David sat at a small round table with Joy, Miranda and Katie, along with Lotus, who was sitting right next to him. Their eyes kept meeting, and every time they would blush. Neither Lotus or David had any explanation of it, but there it was. "Lotus, read us one of your poems, PLEASE!" Joy and Katie pleaded as Miranda speared a chunk of meat. "Well..." Lotus began. "Oh, come on, Lotus, I'd LOVE to hear what you have." David erged. He was enjoying himself. He still didn't know how he was going to get back home, but right now, he wasn't even thinking about that. Lotus blushed again and fumbled in a brown leather bag for a gold book. She flipped to a page and began to read: "New Ends, Old Beginnings, Ideas both new and old, Must now be made to fit the mold, Together we shall rebuild, And bury those that were killed. A War can not last long..." Lotus trailed off to catch her breath, but somehow, David knew the rest: "But its legacy lives on, Things that were shall be once again, Now on others this depends..." David finished the second stanza for her. her eyes widened and they finished the third verse together; "New Beginnings, Old Endings, And the messages will keep sending, Carried through the ages, Written on history's pages." Lotus and David smiled at each other as they finished. Joy and Katie exchanged a knowing look, and Miranda was chasing a pea around on her plate. Lotus and David looked at each other, both startled by the connection they'd felt. "If you'll excuse me," Lotus said, " I think I need some air." With that she pushed herself up and fled the room. David stared after her for a few seconds, then got up and followed her. Once out in the hall, Lotus ran a bit and then rested against the wall. Breathing a bit haggardly, she tried to collect herself. She stood there a while before she heard some one approach. It was Entil Za Delenn. "Are you all right?" Delenn asked the young ranger, concerned. "I think I will be, Entil Za." Lotus answered her, as she studied her leaders angelic face. Delenn reached out to touch her shoulder. "You are Lotus De'Cario, are you not? The Ranger who will be reading at the banquet?" "Yes, I am. Its not that, its just that..." Lotus trailed off as she saw David come down the hallway. "Lotus?" he said troting to catch up with her, "Are you O-K?" "Yeah, I guess so." David glanced at Delenn behind her. It was his MOTHER. But not the way he remembered her, not with her light hair streaked with gray and laugh lines that touched her eyes. But with long dark tresses that flowed down her back and porcelain skin. He smiled at her and gave a Minbari bow. "It is an honnor to meet you, Entil Za." David said as he raised his eyes. Delenn glanced at the young man before her, he had boyish charm and easy grace that seemed, very special. But he also seemed a bit sad. "Hello, Ranger..?" "David Sherwood." he answered her with a smile. "I am pleased to meet a Ranger with such manners." Delenn said. David stood back a bit. His mother had always said he had manners that beat the Grey Council's. "It was an honnor to meet you as well, I look forward to the banquet held in your and the President's honnor." David said as he offered Lotus his arm. She took it cautiously. "Have a pleasant afternoon, Entil Za." Lotus said as they retreated down the hall. Delenn stared after the couple with a smile on her face. A minute later, John came looking for her. "Delenn?" "Hummm?" she said as she still gazed after them. "Who was that?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around her. "Oh, two of the Rangers who will be at the dinner. The girl will be reading some of her poetry." Delenn told him as she wiggled around in his arms. "Oh, really. I hear she's really good." John said as he and Delenn made their way to the lift, "Who was the other one?" he asked. "Oh, David Sherwood. Its strange, but he reminds me of you." David escorted Lotus back to her rooms before retreating back to his own. For the first time, he was contemplating how to get back home. Seeing his mother was...well, it was scary. She seemed so young and vibrant. Alot like the woman who had raised him, yet...not. He sat there pondering WHY HE always got into these situations, when he heard a deep laugh sound out behind him. He turned around to see Draal, his mother's oldest friend, standing before him. "Its genetics." Draal told him with another hardy laugh, and David gave him a sarcastic smile in return. "Hello Draal." he said warily. "So good to see you, David, but you are a bit early, aren't you." Draal said with mock offense. But then his expression turned serious. "You do need to go back home." "Yes, I do, but..." David started, but Draal interrupted. "You need to go, in ten days time, the Tembral rift will close once more, and you will be trapped here. But if you merely try to go back, the takion impulses will kill you, since you went unprotected. You will need to get the time stabilizer that your father used two years ago. Since your DNA and his are comparable, you will be able to use it and go home." Draal finished. David thought. "You mean that not only do I have to lie to my parents, sneak into their quarters, but I have to steal from them as well?" David asked, amazed with Draal. "Yes, it is the only way." Draal said with great drama. "Alright, thanks." David said as he turned away, and Draal vanished back to the planet below. He flopped down on the bed, trying to sleep. But sleep wouldn't come, only thoughts of Lotus. David was puzzled by how she made him feel. It wasn't just that she was beautiful, no, her SOUL spoke volumes to him he had never heard before. He felt invigorated when he was near her, and seemed to know what she would say before she said it, like with the poem. Finally, the immense of the day and the emotional exhaustion got to him and he drifted off to sleep, his last co-heriant thought of the beautiful Egyptian girl called Lotus. Lotus was sprawled on her floor, her gold book and pen in hand. But she hadn't written a thing down yet. She was thinking about David. She didn't know what it was about him, but when she was around him, she felt alot lighter then she had in years. He inspired things in her that she couldn't even put into words, much less on paper. She didn't understand for the first time in her life. The door bleeped, and she allowed it to open to reveal Jade. "Hi." she said simply. "Are you Okay, Lotus, you fled breakfast pretty fast this morning. Miranda told me." Jade said as she crouched next to Lotus. "Why is that girl always keeping tabs and tattling on me!?" Lotus threw the pen. "Lotus, she's your sister." Jade said, her eyes wide at Lotus' display. "No she's not. She's my stepsister. The daughter of a man who tries to CALL himself MY FATHER." she looked up at Jade, and her hard eyes softened. "I'm sorry. I just, I'm really confused right now, and I know that she cares, but I need to tackel this alone." "I know. I just wanted to make sure." Jade said as she stood up and tossed the pen back to the girl on the floor. With a smile, she left. After a while, Lotus got up, changed and decided that she was going to make some cookies. There were certain things that could relax her, and cooking was one of them. As she tied on her apron, the door chimed again. It opened to reveal David. "Uh, if this is a bad time..." he trailed off as he gazed at her more revealed form out of her uniform. "No, its fine. I'm making cookies, you wanna help?" she asked with a sly smile. "Well, I'm really not that good.." "Then let me teach you." Lotus said as she grabbed his hand. They spent the next hour making dough and cutting cookies. They ate more dough then they should have, but plopping it into each others mouths was fun. At one point, they had a flour fight, and both he and she ended up looking like ghosts. They burst out laughing, just as the timer went off. "I'll get them." he said, feeling more at ease with this girl then anyone else. She smiled at him as he passed. Soon they were having an icing war, as more hit them then the cookies they were supposed to be decorating. Soon after they finished, an alarm beeped, telling Lotus that she needed to get ready to go to dinner with the group. "Hey." David said as he caught her arm, "Why don't we tell them we can't make it, and have dinner by ourselves, at the Fresh Aire?" he asked with hope in his eyes. "Oh, David. I don't know." Lotus began as she wrenched herself free. "Can I try to convince you?" David asked with a devilish smile. "Do your worst!" Lotus replied with dare. As soon as she did this, his lips descended on hers in a soft kiss. Surprised, and delighted, she found herself returning it with growing intensity. His arms cradled her gently, as she wound her arms around his neck. As they came up for air, she shuddered a bit from the intensity of the emotions raging through her like wild fire. "Did I convince you?" David asked as she laid her head on his shoulder. "Hummm...what time do you want to pick me up?" "How's about twenty hundred?" "Fine." Lotus said as she left his warm embrace to go get ready, not that she didn't want to stay locked in between his arms and that firm chest of his. As he left, he smiled at her, and she went to take a shower. Part 2- Tears of Double Cross David stood outside of Lotus' quarters, wearing a suit he had just bought, along with a bundle of white, long stemmed roses. As he nervously rang her door chime, he tried to slow his rapidly beating heart. As the door opened, the sight he beheld could have made the stars themselves jealous. Lotus wore a silk cranberry dress, with spaghetti straps that were embroidered with gold. Her silken waves of black hair tumbled down her shoulders in straight curtains. "You look..magnificent." David told her as he handed her the flowers. "Thank you, David." she said, taking his offered arm as they walked down the hall. That night, over the lighted candles in the Fresh Aire restaurant, David watched Lotus carefully, fully aware that he had been lying to her. He didn't want to deceive her, he knew that much, but what would she say, would she even believe him? And how much would it hurt her to know that he had been lying. He had to tell her, he decided as they made their way back to her quarters, he HAD to. They spent the following three days doing as much as possible together. The boys teased David about his involvement with the beautiful Egyptian, but David knew that it was all in fun. He and Lotus took walks in the garden, went shopping on the Zocolo, and generally just took comfort in each other's company. But David still hadn't told her, and he knew that he had to. The night before the banquet, which he knew would be the best time to retrieve the time stabilizer, David began to feel desperate and depressed. He went looking for a bar. At one called the 'Tara', he found to his surprise, his would-be 'uncle', Michael Garibaldi, nursing some beer. As David took a seat, Garibaldi looked at him with eyes that seemed haunted. "You don't wanna start, Kid." Garibaldi told David in a quiet voice. David looked at the shell of a man he knew would one day rebuild himself and knew that he did not. "Thank you, Mr. Garibaldi, thank you very, very much." David said as he got up, and with the gaze of a broken man following him, he left the bar. As he trudged through the late night Zocolo, David knew that he had almost made a terrible mistake. He would tell Lotus tonight, or not at all. As he passed a jewelers, something caught his eye. It was a locket, with a picture of the virgin Mary hold baby Jesus engraved on it. It was so beautiful and delicate that he knew at once that Lotus should have it. He walked up to a plump sales woman standing near by. "How much for that?" he asked, pointing to the locket. "300 credits." she told him. He checked his credit account, he had enough to spare. He quickly bought it, running full tilt to Lotus quarters. He nervously rang the door bell. "David, is everything alright?" she asked concerned as she led him into her rooms to take a seat on the couch. "Yes, actually," David said as he sat down and took her hands in his, "I've been lying to you, Lotus. my real name isn't David Sherwood. Its David Sheridan." She shook her head in confusion, searching his face. when she didn't say anything, he continued. "I got lost in the Tembral Rift, on accident. Now I'm stuck here unless I steal a time stabilizer from my father. In about three days, the time rift will close, and I'll be stuck here. That's why tomorrow, at the banquet, I'm going to slip out and sneak into their rooms. I'm sorry Lotus, I didn't want to mislead you. I..." Suddenly she reached up to loosen his hair from the string he had tied it back with, her fingers searching underneath to find the hidden, tell-tale bone crest beneath the light brown hair. "Its true." she breathed. "Oh, In Valen's name, its true." 'If you hate me, I understand.." David said, looking down. She lifted his chin with her gentle hand, her black eyes searching his green ones. "Oh, David. You are the other half of my soul, no matter where you belong. If I hated you, I would hate myself. And I can't, because...I love you." She told him. "I love you too, Lotus." he said as relief flooded through him and he hugged her to him. "I want to help you." Lotus said after a minute. "Lotus, I can't ask that you do that..." "No. You didn't ask, I offered." she said with force. He smiled, knowing nothing was going to stop her, much less him. "Alright." he conceded, then brought the box with the locket in it out of his pocket. "This is for you." "Oh. What is it?" she asked as she looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Well, open it and find out, silly." She did, and she gasped when she saw the exquisite little thing inside. "Oh, David this is beautiful." she breathed as he put it on her. It suited Lotus perfectly. They talk for hours afterward, then finally, they knew that he had to leave, if they were to carry out his plan perfectly tomorrow. He kissed her goodnight and left. And she cried. The next day, breakfast was canceled so that everyone would have ample time to get ready for the banquet, which would run late into the night. While most people were showering and such, David and Lotus where planning their break-in. They would leave two hours into the party, while it was still going strong. David, thanks to the Mr. Garibaldi of his time, knew very well how to pick locks, and could easily get them in. They would probably have about an hour or so to look for the thing and get out of there. Simple? David certainly hoped so. The party was in full swing, some Rangers were dancing out on the floor, and most were eating and visiting. President Sheridan and Entil 'Za Delenn sat at the head of the tables, obviously enjoying themselves, and even more so re-enforcing David's belief that you should never meet your parents, before they were your parents. Lotus would recite her poems in fifteen minutes, after which she and David would make a break for it. "Are you nervous, Lotus?" asked a young Minbari girl named Em'lilly. "No, not really, well, actually, yes." Lotus said as she clasped David's hand under the table. "You really don't have anything to worry about." Adam told her. "Yeah, we all know that you are really great." Joy assured Lotus, "Isn't that right, Nick?" she inquired of Adam's twin brother. Nick merely grunted as he concentrated on his ice cream. Miranda gave him an angry shove and he and his precious ice cream fell to the floor. They spent the next two minutes laughing. Then the spot light was on Lotus as Delenn took the podium to introduce her. Lotus didn't here what she said, in fact, Miranda and Stephanie practically had to shove her up to the podium. Clearing her throat, the nervous Ranger closed her eyes and with a silent prayer she began: "Candles and Tears. Light a candle, shed a tear, For all those gone that you held dear, For each candle will remind, Of those who passed during you time. One for Broken Hearted lovers, One for lonely childless mothers, One for Lovers reunited, One for Love Unrequited. One to live and one to die, One to grieve and one to try, One for future, one for past, One for breath very last." Lotus finished her poetic tale with the compassion she felt for those who had sacrificed their lives to end the Shadow and Earth Civil Wars. As the thunderous applause met her ears, she took a bow and walked down the steps to where David was waiting. He barely caught her as her weakened knees gave way. "You were GREAT!" he told her. "Yes, she was, wasn't she!" Joy said with the same enthusiasm she showed for everything else. A crowd of people, who were showing their appreciation, suddenly parted as the President and Entil 'Za themselves walked up. "That was magnificent!" Delenn told her with sincerity. "Yes, I've never been one for poetry, but yours was very good." Sheridan informed Lotus. She smiled her thanks, as John studied her companion. He did remind him of himself at that age, as Delenn had said that he would. It was scary. As soon as the crowd around them began to dwindle, David and Lotus made a break for it. It was time to get down to business. Part 3- Good things come to those who wait. They slipped down the hall way in Green Sector, where Delenn's diplomatic quarters were. It was there David was sure that his father would have kept the object of their search. Lotus watched the corner in fear as David slipped a small sliver object into the key hole and the door slid open. "Great." he said as he pulled her in, "Now, lets look." Lotus silently nodded her assent as they began checking drawers and boxes, careful to put things back where they belonged. Lotus was the one who found it, in a small, purple crystal box in Delenn's dresser. David took it from her shaking hands and shut the door behind them. As they ran down the hall, the silver orb slipped through his fingers and slid across the deck, as he bent to pick it up, to caterers headed for the banquet hall came down the hall, carrying a large cake. Trying not to trip them, David crawled between them, as one slipped on his robe and fell. The other managed to grab the cake, and Lotus, who was still running, had to vault over the fallen man. That crisis over, David and Lotus barely contained their snickers as they made their way to her quarters. They tumbled into her quarters laughing, almost falling over with glee. As Lotus tried to gasp for breath, David led her to the couch so they could sit. Finally, they both were able to speak. "Oh, David, that was HILARIOUS!" she told him as she over flowing with mirth again. But suddenly, her expression turned serious. "And you'll be leaving soon?" she asked him sadly. "Yes, in a few days time. Draal says the door shall close soon." David told her, eyes down cast. "David, I.." she started, but his lips descended on hers once more, this time desperate and passionate in a sense she would never be able to define. As they came up for air, he spoke, low in her ear. "Now is all we have." "I know," she said, as she eased her hands over his firm chest, "I love you so much David, more then I ever thought I could love any man." He smiled at her, and a twinkle came to his eye. "So how would you prefer it? Nomadic style.." he said as he picked her up and carried her slung over his shoulder towards the bedroom. When he reached the door, he set her down and picked her up once more, this time cradling her in his arms, "Or traditional style?" "This way is just fine." Lotus told him, her dark eyes shinning bright. "Lights, low." he murmured as he opened the door, and set her reverently on the bed. He began to remove the black robe that she wore, peeling it aside to lay bare her breasts. She hadn't been wearing a thing all under there all evening. "Oh, my God. In Valen's name..." he breathed as he saw them. "Everything alright up there?" Lotus asked. "Up is right." David said and she giggled. He stripped away the rest of her clothes, kissing each nipple with due and equal attention. Then it was her turn. Gently she eased his shirt off, revealing the flat male nipples. She kissed them, gently circling one with her tongue, wringing a moan from him. "God.." he said as she turned her attention to his pants. She didn't have much trouble getting them off, and gently stroked his manhood. Suddenly, she was laying on the bed, him on top of her. "You scared?" she asked him, a tear in her eye. "Sort of, but I'm with you, and that's all that matters." he told her with conviction. "I love you, my Lotus Blossom." he told her. "And I, you. David Lynir Sheridan." she spoke as he lowered himself onto her, and finally came home. Later, they slept, David still buried deep within his beloved Lotus, their dreams touching and mingling with color and smell. As dawn approached, Lotus awakened, her head pillowed on David's shoulder. He was running his fingers through her long black hair. "Morning." she murmured as she burrowed closer. "Morning," he sighed as he kissed her forehead, "We should get up you know, they'll wonder where we are. And I believe that they all ready think that we have become, INTIMATE." "You mean, they know that we are seeing one another!" Lotus pretended mock surprise and fear. He laughed, and pulled her out of the bed. She laughed and grabbed for the covers, but he pulled her into his arms, and headed for the closet. That morning would be the last that the group of Rangers spent together. Soon, each would be departing to their assignment and outposts, soon duty and the fight for honor would over take this brief holiday. But they were all thankful for the break. Miranda and Nick had disappeared some where, Jade had explained that Miranda had wanted to 'have a word with him'. Which probably meant he was black and blue by now. They all tried to keep the mood light, but it wasn't working. Finally, Ethan pulled out his camera and they all assembled for a picture. David and Lotus stood arm in arm, the girls assembled in the front and boys in the back. They all smiled their best as the flash lit and the moment was immortalized forever. Part 4- Samantha to the rescue, sort of. Excerpt from Samantha Sheridan's Journal: Why me? Why always me? I've asked the universe this a million times, but the answer is always the same. There isn't an answer forth coming. I love my big brother David dearly, but when ever he gets into scrapes, or in trouble, who has to pick up the pieces, and usually ends up getting blamed for it? Me. I'm packing right now, I have a time stabilizer and a PPG, and my Ranger Uniform. If David isn't going to come home on his own, I'll bring him home. Mom and Dad are already worried. He's only been gone for two days in this time, but he has been gone for nine in 2262. The door will close soon and idiot is too wrapped up in that Egyptian girl to notice. Not that I wouldn't mind having her for a sister in law. Being an Empath with foresight has its draw backs, just like being Samantha Sheridan does. The main one for being Samantha is, DAVID. Oh, well, here goes. AGAIN. Part 5- Missing you already. Its was the ninth day, and David knew it. He and Lotus stood in customs, wishing their friends good bye. He knew that Lotus knew it too, but he just couldn't bring himself to leave her. Would it really be so bad if he never came home? He had to admit he missed it, but he knew if he left he'd miss Lotus ten times as much. He attention was suddenly pulled over to the customs area, as he heard a familiar voice shout out as it approached him. "DAVID!" shouted a tall girl with short brown hair. "Samantha." he said as he rolled his eyes. "Who?" Lotus asked, her eyes fastened on the approaching hell storm. "My sister, Samantha. I guess she came to get me." David said. "David, what am I supposed to do with you!?" Samantha asked as she grabbed his arm and pulled him toward where her ship was docked. Lotus followed, wanting to stay with him until the last minute. As the iron door shut behind the three of them, Samantha let go of David's arm and walked up the ramp. "I'm sorry, David, and you too, Lotus. I really am. But David has to come back. I'll be waiting inside when you are ready." she told them and the door clanged shut behind her. Lotus began to weep, it was truly time to say good-bye. David wrapped his strong arms around her and cradled her close. "I'm sorry, Lotus Blossom." he said as he smoothed her hair. "Me too." she said as she fixed her tear filled eyes on his. "I'm going to miss you so much." "I will too. But I know we will see each other again some day, some how." David told her. And they kissed for what he knew would probably be the last time. As he turned and walked up the ramp, she spoke once more. "I love you, David. Don't look back. No Hail Marys, no regrets." "I love you too. Lotus. Forever." he told her. And the door clanged shut, leaving Lotus with only the locket, her tears, and her memories. She ran to the garden, seeking solace from her wounds, and found Entil 'Za Delenn sitting on the stone bench. When the kind older woman saw the young girls tears, she stood up, concerned. "Is everything alright, Lotus?" she asked. "No, nothing will ever be alright again." the Egyptian girl said, dissolving once more into tears of agony. Delenn heard a noise behind her suddenly, and turned to see what it was. When she turned back, Lotus was gone. No one on Babylon Five ever saw the poetic girl with coal for eyes and a heart of gold again. No one ever knew where she went. -------- The over sensitive jump gate spit Samantha's small flyer out over the same Minbar that David had left. He spent most of the trip silently crying, and Samantha tried to understand. She explained to him what had happened while he was gone, and that in this time he had only been gone three days. Still, he knew he was in for it once he got home. His Mom and Dad were angry, and he knew they had a right to be. Delenn however, noticed a change in her son. He seemed sad and lonely, and much more isolated then before. Sometimes, he would seem like the old David, but then a cloud would pass over his eyes and he would revert back tot he way he was now. One day, when Samantha had invited him on a little joy ride, Delenn went into his room to look for the data crystal she'd loaned him. As she picked it up, she noticed a picture siting by his bed. She recognized several of the rangers in it, including the mysterious Lotus who had disappeared. The her gaze fell on the man called David Sherwood. She gasped and the picture fell to the ground. It was DAVID, her SON. The picture had fallen in a half open drawer, and when she picked it up, she noticed there was a silver orb, half hidden under some blankets. John's time stabilizer that had disappeared so many years ago. Delenn looked in the mirror. She knew what had happened. ----- Samantha punched the jump gate controls quickly, as David realized something. The code blinked, then changed. "What happened?" Samantha asked, fumbling with the keys. "Shit!" David said as he realized that they were floating in a white distortion field. Samantha looked up and saw it too. She reached under the seat and pulled out two time stabilizers. "Never hurts to be prepared." she told him. He looked at her, in shock, then fear, then realization. "Samantha Susan Sheridan, look what you've gone and done, damn you!" he shouted. She laughed. It was David's turn to look out for some one. The answer to the question; Why Me?, simple: Why not David? To be continued....MAYBE. (If I get enough votes, or a good idea.)