Meredith D. Holt beckihblumer@fuse.net The Three Way Mirror No Adult Warnings, but there is a bit of violence "The Three Way Mirror" by Meredith D. Holt Hello, I am baacck! Yup, its me agian with yet ANOTHER story. This time its a story about Leslie Garibaldi, Amia Garibaldi and Al Bester Jr. Virtual roses and flarn cakes to Adam and Genisis, my beta readers and a box of virtual chocolates to my writing Coach Ms. Deye. Thanks so much for your help and encouragement. If you haven't read my other stories: "In the Shadow of My Dreams." and "Shadows of Yesterday, Whispers of Tomorrow." it might be a good idea but this story can stand alone. Also the unfinished prequel : 'On Winds of Time" Is there for those who want to read it. Talk is cheap. Love Always Meredith Ps. Comments are welcome. Legal disclaimer: JMS is infinetly better at any of this than I am. I merely snatch brief moments of inspiration from his many moments of reflection. PTEN and WB finace Babylon 5 and everybody you would normally recognize is theirs. Personal disclaimer: I had a REALLY bad day today so if this is a tad depressing, blame it on fate, because not only does she cheat at cards, but she also messes up my life. "Mom! Fate is ruining my life agian!" I am an Irish Hopeless romantic. This is not a good combo and I am the one of the world's free floating agents of chaos, just to warn you. The Three Way Mirror By Meredith D. Holt beckihblumer@fuse.net Prologue-"Mind Mirrors"-2262- Babylon 5 Carolyn Sauderson, no wait, it was Carolyn *Bester* now, looked into the mirror with a measure of pain, regret and disgust. She could not believe what she had just done, she had married Alfred. On top of that she had joined Psi-Corps and now, there was no hope. No escape and no way out. She had just sealed her fate, and soon, she would probably die of sadness. Carolyn had been shaken up when the doctors had finally removed her from suspended animation, after months of research and labor that had gone into discovering a way to remove the shadow technology from her mind. Her nightmares had been such that they could pierce your soul. With all this, she had discovered that the Alfred Bester she had loved, was not the same any more. She didn't know what had happened, he wouldn't tell her. And still she had allowed herself to accept his pocessive love. She hadn't wanted to be alone, and now she was much worse, imprisoned. She had tried to run away, but it hadn't worked, and now, they were married. The most shocking news, had been their moving, to Babylon 5. Carolyn picked up the brush and roughly ran it though her hair. She would go to the gardens, as scary as this place was, the gardens reminded her of her home and her sister, Kail, and life before the Corps had come. She tossed on a silken cartigan and picked up her young son. Al, she had named him after the man she had once known. Alfred was off casing blips or, something equally destructive, so Carolyn could wander at will. Aleia Holt- Stargate of the Third Fane of Chudomo, patted her bulging belly with a smile, soon, very, very soon, three new little ones would enter into this world. Her children, Lennier's children. She loved her husband so, and was glad that they would now have biological children, after their two adopted ones. Not that she wouldn't love Anakin and Sofie any less than before, but they were growing up fast. Anakin was eighteen now, already talking about going into security like his Uncle Wes. And Sofie was eight, bouncing around the station like a bright, fast moving object. Aleia breathed deep the scent of roses and earth as she meandered through the Zen Gardens. As she turned the corner to the stone garden she saw a sight that shocked her. 5 years ago she had had one of her many visions, as a seer, this was a normal occurrence when one looked into reflective surfaces. But the subject had been a woman, with sandy blonde shoulder length hair and her baby son, sitting on the stone bench near the stone garden. There it was, there the woman sat. Aleia walked over and sat down next to her. When the woman faced her, her eyes were brimmed with unshed tears. Then it hit Aleia, that was Carolyn Saunderson, the blip that had been taken by the shadows and recaptured, taken to Babylon 5. "Am I disturbing you, dear?" Aleia asked. "Oh, no." Carolyn replied, "I just needed time to think, there hasn't been alot of that lately." "I know. I'm Aleia Holt-Stargate." Aleia smiled. "Carol, Carolyn Bester." she told Aleia, eyes down cast. "I know." she confided. "You do?" Carolyn looked confused. "Yes, my sister, Eleen Franklin, she operated on you, when you were here in 2260." "Oh, yeah." Carolyn said in remembrance. A few moments were spent in silence until Aleia broke it. "Your son?" she gestured to the child in Carolyn's arms. "Yeah, his name is Al." Carolyn seemed to be debating something and then she asked, "I heard once that you were involved in the underground?" "Yeah." Aleia said cautiously. "I wanted to know, I, I want to get my son away from here, so, so he isn't a repetition of his father," Carolyn confided in a low tone. "I understand, I think I can help. If you want to wait a while, until you feel he is old enough, I have a friend on the Drosi homeworld who would take him. She is an under cover Ranger, her name is Ariana St. Peters." "How long can I wait?" Carolyn asked. "As long as you need to." ______________ Prologue Part 2- "Reflections in a Broken Mirror"- 2268 Carolyn Sauderson Bester stood next to Aleia in the customs area, trying to pry her six-yearold son's hands off of her skirt. "Mommy, Mommy, please..." Al cried in broken sobs. His mother tried to hush him but to no avail. She was finally ready to let Al go, to get him away from his father. Alfred was gone agian, on one of his frequent missions to Earth. Carolyn wished she could go with her son, but her condition was too weak, she was too dependent on the drugs given to her to keep her mind in balance to leave. Aleia bent down and spoke to Al, "Hush, child. Your mother doesn't want to send you away, but she loves you and wants what is best for you. This is best." she told him. The boy quieted some but was still not ready to leave. His little face contorted in though. His face wasn't at all like that of his father's. Al's features were pleasant, like his mother's, cast in a masculine mold. Near by, Ariana's house keeper, Tima, waited silently. "Will I ever see you again, Mommy?" he asked her. "Of course, baby. Mommy will come as soon as possible." Carolyn assured him, stroking his hair. She handed him his tiny suitcase and timidly he took Tima's hand. Carolyn blew him a kiss as he walked up the ramp. "I'll see you agian, baby, real soon." she assured him. But little Al Bester never saw his mother agian. Carolyn Bester died four months before that fatal attack on Babylon 5 in 2268 of a metazine overdose. Security declared it sucide. Her husand found her in the old rocking chair when he finally came back from his mission. Her eyes were closed, head tilted back, on the floor near-by lay a bottle of metazine and in her arms she held her last remnant of child hood, an old baby doll. _____________ Part 1-"Alterations of a Dark Mirror"- Present day-2284. The Mimbari customs guard looked up into the face of a young human man as he logged in another traveler in during his long shift. "Well Mr. Bester, how long will you be staying on Mimbari?" the customs agent asked. "I don't know." the young man replied, "I am here to join the Rangers." The guard smiled, it was good that this young man aspired to be a Ranger. "Could you direct me toward the compound?" he asked. "Yes, of course." the guard replied, "There is a shuttle that can take you there from here, number 23." The young man smiled his thanks and tossed his single tote bag over his shoulder and moved on. Outside the docking area, the Mimbari Political Capital of Yedor was a busy bustle. Al stood among the bustle of people and looked for the shuttle dock that would take him to Tuzzenor, the Ranger training city, and center of the Alliance. Finding it he boarded and took his seat. Leaning against the steal wall, he took out his journal he had kept since the first year he had spent with his Aunt Ariana. Journal Entry, February 10th, 2284. Well, I am on Mimbar now, on a shuttle to the Ranger compound. I can't wait to start my first day! Aunt Ariana told me all about what to expect and I am sure I'll enjoy it. I still can't believe I am here, but I keep pinching myself to make sure. All I ever wanted to be was a ranger... Al ______________ All Leslie Garibaldi had ever wanted to be was a Security Chief, like her Papi, now she would get her wish. She felt so happy she thought she might just bust. She had just received word from her 'cousin' Estara, asking her to be the head of security on board the new interstellar space station, Jerusalem. She walked into Ranger training with a smile on her face that day, recited proverbs in Mimbari, showed some new recruits around and finished her pike training with a smile. And now she was ready to go home. She stood at the shuttle dock, waiting for the next one to arrive. _____________ Al had just officially become a ranger recruit and was to start training the next day. He made his way to the shuttle dock in high spirits. from there he would take a shuttle to the Ranger Apartments, his new home. As he entered the waiting area he saw some one. She was absolutely the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. She had long dark brown hair that ended at her waist, and a dark complexion. She wore a ranger trainee's uniform that accented her cocoa brown eyes. More than that her soul called to him, tempting him to lightly touch it with his mind. He could not resist and felt an emotion he had never felt before as he caressed her spirit. He sat down in the seat next to her as they entered the shuttle and she studied him in his newly pressed uniform. "You new here?" she asked. "Yeah, I'm Al Bester." he told her, gazing at her soft smile. "Hi, I'm Leslie Garibaldi." she said, studying him as well. "You heading for the Ranger Apartments?" Al asked, wondering if he could get more information. "Na, the Alliance Apartments." she told him and when he raised his brows she further explained. "I live with my father, stepmother and half sister. My dad is the head of Covert Intelligence for the Alliance. I'm moving soon, though, my training is almost up and I am taking up as head of security for the Jerusalem Station." "Wow," guess I won't see you that much." Al said with regret. "Well, the station won't be done for four months and ranger training is only three months for crew." Leslie informed him with a smile. "Say, you want to meet in mess hall for lunch?" "Yeah, I'd like that alot." Al said sincerely. "What classes do you take?" "Oh, Advanced Mimbari, basic pike, flight classes, meditation." Leslie told him off handedly. "Wow, I have Advanced Mimbari first too." Al replied "Really, did you learn Mimbari before you came here?" "Sure, My Aunt is Ariana St. Peters, she took me in when I was six, Mimbari was second nature for her." "Your Aunt is Ariana St. Peters?" Leslie asked incredulously. "Yeah." Al said. "Wow, she's a legend around here. Advisor to Sinclair, our first Entil'za, most successful under cover ranger.." Leslie trailed off. "I didn't know that, she didn't talk about it alot." Al replied. Leslie and Al spent the rest of the ride to Leslie's apartment talking about training and what to expect, both were sorry when it was her stop. _____________ Part 2-"Heart Song"- Leslie and Al's diaries. Dear Mama, I met this really nice guy today, his name is Al. He is interesting and fun and there is something else there I can't put my finger on. We are going to met for lunch tomorrow. Papi was so happy today when he found out about the new job, he has always wanted me to follow in his foot steps. StepMama was happy too. I do love her, not like I love you, but I do love her. Amia did pitch a fit when she found out I was leaving, but I told her I would come and visit, and I'd bring presents, and that she could come and visit me, with StepMama's permission. Love, Leslie ___________ Journal Entry, February 11th, 2284. I met the most amazing girl today. Her name is Leslie Garibaldi, the daughter of the head of CI for the alliance. Its more than looks though, her soul has something about it...I can't define. Any way she invited me to eat lunch with her tomorrow. I am NOT gonna miss it. I can't wait to start training. Al __________ Dear Mama, Al and I are pike training partners this week. Its really neat. Al is so funny, he is a really cool guy, even if I do kick his butt every time we match, but he is getting better. Amia and I went on a picnic in the forest today, it was lots of fun. She caught 45 fiflies in the creek while we were out there. She fell in too, even though I told her not to go near the creek. But if I were her age, I wouldn't have listened either. Love, Leslie. __________ Journal Entry, February 13th, 2284 Leslie and I are training partners for pike class. I don't think I'll ever get the hand of it, she kicks my butt everytime, not that I mind. We usually go out for coffee or something after training, the other Friday we went to go see a vid. I didn't really see it, though, I was too busy looking at Leslie. I'm going over to her house on Saturday night to help her baby-sit her little half-sister, Amia. I can't wait. Al ____________ Part 3- "Mirrors in the Eyes of a Child"- Saturday night, Alliance Apartments- The Garibaldi Villa Leslie stood at the door as her parents prepared to leave. They had been invited to on of the frequent cocktail parties for a new ambassador and were going to '" wine and dine' with the rest of the snobs" as Leslie's father put it, earning him an elbow in his stomach from her StepMama. Talia came down stairs looking elegant as ever in her sleek black sequined evening gown with a mock mink wrap. Leslie always wished she could have a man look at her the way her father did her StepMama. His eyes always lit up when Talia entered the room. Leslie often wondered if he was like that with her mother, but, discretion being the better part of valor, she never asked. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us, dear?" Talia asked her step daughter. "Now, StepMama, what would I do at a fancy gala like that, you know I am just an over rated security slug." Leslie teased. Her father laughed and held out her mother's coat. "Alright, now I trust you won't let Amia stay up too late, even if there is a good vid on, try for at least one in the morning. We probably won't be back 'till two or three." Talia cautioned her. "We'll be fine." Leslie assured her as she saw the out the door. "Have fun, she called to them as they entered into the armored personal hover car. her parents waved as they pulled away and Leslie closed the door, sealing the lock code. Amia was in the study on the floor, drawing pictures on Aunt Aleia's scraps of fabric. She lifted her blonde head as Leslie entered and sunk into a leather chair. Amia scrambled to her feet, brushing off her lacy pink dress and ran into Leslie's lap. "Is your friend going to be here soon, Lesy?" Amia asked with a child-like lisp. "Sure Amia, he'll come any minute..." Leslie trailed off as the door chime rang and she picked up Amia, balancing her on her hip and walking into the main room. She punched in the code and opened the door. Al stood there, with a semi stupid grin on his face. He held a leather carry bag in his arms. "Hi," Leslie greeted him, "Come on in, we were just about to get started on the festivities." "Sure." Al said sheepishly. He looked Leslie up and down. She wore a long, spaghetti strap chocolate brown dress in rich velvet, obviously just for around the house. Her hair was pulled back in a loose pony tail. She gave him a dazzling smiled as she closed the door and locked it. The child on her hip took him in with a wide eyed gaze. Amia's short life had centered mainly on her immediate and surrogate family. Her older cousins: Yundle, David, Stephen and Anakin were the only older man that weren't close to her Papi's age she had ever met. Her father sometimes had men come over for business deals, but they went straight to the study and Amia always hid because she was very shy. This friend of her sister's extended his hand and shyly she placed her own pudgy one in his. "Hey there," he said, stooping to eye level, "I'm Al, whats your name?" "Amia Garibaldi," Amia quietly lisped and Leslie soon explained. "She's a little shy, aren't 'cha, Amia?" Leslie asked. The six-year-old nodded and Leslie put her down and took her hand and Al's as they walked toward the study. They knelt on the floor and Al opened his bag as he studied Amia's fabric drawings. "I see I was right," He told her, smiling at Amia, "I figured you might like to draw." he said as he pulled out some shinning glitter markers, some stamps and a pack of topical colored crayons. Amia let out a little gasp and threw her arms around Al as thanks. She immediately opened her new tools and set to work on a fresh scrap of dark blue linen. __________ Later that night, Al and Leslie collapsed on to the couch in the main room after putting Amia to bed somewhere around eleven. Worn but glad they settled in to talk. As Leslie poured them some cider from the mini bar, Al glanced over and saw a dainty porcelain doll sitting on the wing chair near by. She had painted lips and cheeks, glass eyes and a petite frame, with golden finger curls to top it off. She wore a fancy hot pink dress that looked like it had been made from the remains of an evening gown. "Who is this?" Al asked Leslie, picking up the doll. "Oh, thats Carol, Amia's baby doll, she normally sleeps with Amia, I should take it up to her. Leslie returned several minutes later, minus the doll. "Amia and Carol have been together since Amia was four hours old." Leslie explained. "My Aunt Aleia makes her clothes from old evening gowns that don't fit any more. That one was mine from a couple of years ago." "My mother's name was Carol," Al told Leslie as she took her seat beside him. "Actually, it was Carolyn." "Really, I thought you said you lived with your Aunt?" Leslie asked. " I have, since I was six. My mother sent me to live with Ariana on the Drosi homeworld, she was going to come too, in a couple of months, but she died." Al said, eyes downcast. "The thing I remember most was how she would smell, it was a very comforting sent, like, um, orchids. And how she loved to dance, she would put in a crystal and play dance with me for hours on end." "My mother died when I was two." Leslie confided, "I barely remember her. Just fragments. I remember one day, she came home from shopping, and Papi was napping with me, and I woke up and she had brought me this huge white stuffed bear, with a pink ribbon around its neck. I still have the silly thing in my room. And she used to sing to me a lullaby." Leslie choked alittle on the memory, "Theres a web like a spiders web.." she sang lightly, then a little stronger as surprisingly, Al joined in: "Made of silk and night and shadow, spun by the moon in my room at night. Its a web like a spiders web, catch a dream, hold it until I awaken, to let me know that everything is alright.." Leslie laughed a little as they ended. "How did you know?" she asked Al. "My Aunt used to sing it to me, especially those first few months after my mother died." Al smiled fondly at the memory. "I guess we have a lot in common." Leslie commented. "Yeah, we do." Al said getting up as Leslie showed him too the door. She opened it, and then to Al's surprise, planted a kiss on his cheek. Her warm lips barely touched him, lingering for only a second. "Thanks." she said, blushing. "Sure, anytime." Al smiled and he waved good-bye as he trotted to the shuttle dock down the drive. Leslie waved back and closed the door when he was no longer in sight. __________ Part 4: "A Hall of Mirrors"- 2284- 4 days before New Years Eve Al's Christmas passed with an air of solitude. Leslie and her family took off for the south island Mintora for a traditional tropical Christmas. Although Leslie confided in him that she would rather stay home and spend it with him, it would probably be the last days she spent with her family before taking up as head of security on the Jerusalem station. They'd been seriously dating for about 4 months now and Al really missed his sunshine. Al's training was almost up and he was on the intelligence gathering board for the Covert Intelligence committee, answering directly to Michael Garibaldi. The Ranger's took time off for Christmas and all classes were canceled. He spent most of his time in his room, catching up on his reading, some Dickens, some Peart and some Bounee, even a little Jane Austin. His Aunt Ariana sent him four packages and Tima sent him another. Al's gifts were very nice, a new watch, a name meanings book, a scarf and vid crystal movie entitled: "Independence Day" from his Aunt Ariana and a crystal of his favorite music from Tima. The vid movie was interesting, a really old classic from the 20th century, dealing with the near Armageddon of Earth due to leach-like aliens, but none of his gifts replaced Leslie. She did send him a gift, a board game for one or two players called: "Stratigo". According to Leslie, it was her cousin Anakin's favorite game, and family legend said that her Uncle Wes had proposed to his wife Janice over a game of Stratigo. She also sent a note, promising to play it with him when she got back. Along with it came a scribbled note and a beautiful picture from Amia. Four Days before Leslie and Al were to leave for the Jerusalem Station, the Garibaldi's came back from their vacation and Leslie invited Al over for dinner. He stood outside her door nervously straightening his tie and hoping he looked good. He rang the door chime. Leslie opened the door, revealing to him a sight that took his breath away. She wore a sequined gown of deep cranberry red, long sleeve and off the shoulder, with gold trim on the neck line and bodice. Her hair was pulled up in a twist with only a single strand hanging down. He sucked in a breath. "Wow," he said, "You look, great." "Thanks," she said, "It was my mom's." She led him into the main room were through a doorway he could see the already prepared table. On the floor Amia was brushing Carol's hair. Leslie's father and stepmother chose that moment to enter. Her father was dressed in a non descript business suit and his mother in a long flowy deep red dress. Al saw how different Mr. Garibaldi's first and second wives must have been. Leslie, a mirror image of her mother, and Talia. Talia's shoulder length blonde hair and porcelain skin were in deep contrast to Leslie's more continental looks. They smiled as they entered. "Al, this is my father and StepMama, Michael and Talia Garibaldi. StepMama, Papi, this is my boyfriend, Al Bester Jr." Michael Garibaldi's face went from friendly welcome, to utter horror, then to rage. His wife only stared in utter revulsion. "GET HIM OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Michael shouted at the top of his lungs. He raged toward Al and he backed away from Leslie, who was crying to her Papi in confusion. "Papi, STOP IT! What is wrong! Whats going on, PAPI!" "You son of a bastard, your FATHER, was a lying son a BITCH! He and all his dammed off spring should GO TO HELL! Get AWAY from MY DAUGHTER and get OUT of MY HOUSE!" Michael's rage continued as Al ran out the door and Leslie crumpled to the ground. Talia sat in utter shock on the sofa. Michael stood there staring out the open door at Al's retreating back. No one noticed that a little blonde girl stood in the dinning room doorway, clutching her doll to her chest. Then, she ran up the steps and into her room, soundlessly. ____________ Part 5- "Reflections of the Darkest Mirror"- that same night Michael had long since stormed upstairs with a bottle of whisky in one hand and some oxy pills in the other. Amia had disappeared upstairs as well and Talia and Leslie were frozen the positions they had been in when Al left. Finally, Leslie rose and sat down next to her stepmother, laying her head on Talia's shoulder. Talia reached up a hand to stroke Leslie's long brown hair. "StepMama?" Leslie asked, tears in her eyes and her voice. "What did Al do, why was Papi so angry?" "Oh, Lesy, I didn't want you to know, we thought it was all over a long time ago. But I should have remembered, that time bends back, taking us to the beginning." Talia spoke softly, almost to herself. Leslie looked at her stepmama, willing her to go on. "It was the year 2258 when your father or I had any relations with Mr. Alfred Mortimore Bester, a rather despicable Psi Cop. I was assigned to Babylon 5 as the station's resident commercial telepath. You father took a liking to me right away, he badgered me all the time for a date, pestered me in the lift, he drove me crazy. Early on in the year, Mr. Bester and his assistant, Ms. Kelsy, arrived on the station, looking for a blip. His name was Jason Ironheart, we had been lovers. They deep scanned me to see if I had any contact with him, outside of our five year prior relationship. When they were done, he approached me. He told me he was a very strong telekinetic, a result on some really awful experiments they did on some telepaths. Sinclair and I smuggled him off station and he BECAME, he died and his soul was so powerful he will wander time for forever. Ms. Kelsy was killed in the process. The next time Bester came, he was hunting more blips, an underground railroad which your Aunt Aleia helped run. Jason had given me a gift. I am a telekinetic too, not as strong though. I helped the blips fool Bester into thinking he'd killed them. I had no further contact with him, for a long time. But as a result of some of those experiments on telepaths like Jason, I was an unwilling mole. I had a spilt personality imbedded by the likes of Bester. A dear friend accidentally released it. And I lived for 5 years in the back of my mind, while she did things I shudder and have nightmares about even now. While I was gone, Bester did some terrible things to your father. He reprogrammed him, almost had him kill your Uncle John, Aunt Delenn, and your Aunt Susan, and his reprogrammed state led him to,..." here Talia paused, as if the subject was too terrible to even think of.. "led him to attempt to rape your Aunt Aleia." Leslie drew in a gasp, but she had to remember it wasn't Papi's fault. But it wasn't Al's either. Talia went on: "When your father freed himself, Bester almost drove him insane. Bester even attempted to kill your mother. In 2262, he moved to Babylon 5 with his forced mistress, then wife, Carolyn Saunderson, Al's mother. I was there on station when Bester came back and found that his wife had committed sucide. I believe he did truly love her, but it was a harsh, pocessive love. No one ever knew what happened to Al. We assumed he was dead." "Oh, StepMama, I know Bester did alot of terrible things, I hate him for it, and for hurting you, Papi and mom. But it isn't Al's fault. He doesn't even remember having a father. He says that there was a man, that visited his mother often, and would lock Al away in his room while he visited. But Al went to live with his Aunt Ariana when he was six, he doesn't even think he has a father. Why can't Papi think that maybe Al didn't do anything wrong, maybe his isn't a repetition of his father?" Leslie pleaded. "I know it hurts, Lesy, I know." Talia told her. ___________ Part 6- "Amia in the Middle."- 3 days before Leslie and Al are to leave for Jerusalem station. That night as everyone slept, Leslie packed her bags and anything she was taking to Jerusalem Station with her and left for her Aunt Aleia's house. She called, even in the middle of the night, and Aleia had offered her sanctuary until she needed to leave. Aleia's own daughter Estara was the head advisor to the Entil 'za and would be stationed there too. Leslie quickly scribbled a note out to her parents and sister and made her way through the cold Mimbari night and towards the shuttle dock. Michael Garibaldi awoke with a hangover and stayed in bed the next day, so Talia was the first one to see the note on the kitchen table. It read: Dear Papi, StepMama and Amia, I am sorry that Al caused such a problem, but, Papi, he is not his father, he didn't even live with his father. I don't understand why you can't forgive the mistakes of the past, but it doesn't matter. I am leaving in a few days for Jerusalem Station, as you know. With or with out Al, I don't know, but most likely, with. Since staying home would be too awkward right now, I am staying at Aleia's until I leave. She is granting me sanctuary. Please forgive me, I know I am probably running away from my problems and not fixing them, but, I love Al, regardless of his parents, his lineage, or anything else. Love Always, Leslie PS. Papi, StepMama told me what happened with you and Aleia, its not your fault, and it isn't Al's either. Talia began to cry as she read the letter, her tears falling on the page and blotting the writing. what would Michael say? Leslie was his last link to Lise, and although Talia knew Michael loved her more, Lise always held a place in his heart. Now his beloved daughter was running away with out saying good-bye, and worse with the son of a man who had tried to kill him. __________ Leslie awoke and stretched in the cot, momentarily disoriented as to where she was. Then she remembered, the fight with Al, the revelations and the tears. The spare bed room in Aleia and Lennier's mansion was warm and cozy, done in relaxing blues and purples. A knock sounded on the old fashioned wooden door and Leslie called to them to come in. It was her Aunt Aleia. Her presence always brought something Leslie could never define into the room. She wore a deep purple velvet robe, like the ones Delenn wore, only, with out the over coat. She flashed a sad smile in Leslie's direction as she entered, setting down the tray she brought with her on the bed. "Here, dear, I know you didn't have dinner last night, so I brought you some cinnamon rolls, some oatmeal, an omelet and some tarts for desert." Aleia said in her rich voice. The smell of her famous cooking wafted to Leslie's nose and hungrily she reached for it. Aleia sat down next to Leslie and gently began to braid her hair. "Leslie," she spoke finally, "You have the next three days off, you should go see Al, and maybe, invite him over for dinner? I haven't see him since he was six." Leslie turned to look at her Aunt in confusion. "How?" Leslie asked softly. " Your mother told you I was involved with the underground rail road?" Aleia asked as she continued to braid. Leslie nodded and she went on. "Well, one day when I was pregnant with Estara, Yundle and Hannha, I met Carolyn in the Zen Gardens and she asked me if I could help her get her son away from Bester. I told her I had a friend, an undercover ranger, who was living on the Drosi homeworld, her name was Ariana St. Peters. By the time Carolyn could bare to part with him, Al was six." "So Ariana isn't really Al's aunt?" Leslie asked. "Oh, no. But you see, Al never knew that. Just like he doesn't know that his mother committed suicide." "You mean she never meant to come to Al?" "Oh, doll face," Aleia said sadly, "Carolyn very much wanted to, but she was too weak, the trip would have killed her." "I can't tell Al this." Leslie stated with vemenance. "I know, Lesy, I know." _____________ Amia Garibaldi's journal: Dear Diary, Right now, I'am vary confosed. Last nite, Papi yelled at Al, and Mommy cryd and Lesy did two. And Papi kept on yelln, and Al ran off. I don't now wats wrong. Mommy won't tell me, and Lesy left and went away, and no body will tell me were she is. What is wrong? Amia _______ Al met Leslie as requested at a little cafe in the capital city of Yedor at noon. He smiled lightly as he spotted her at small table. He walked up to her and sat down. She lifted her eyes from the coffee she was staring at and gave him a brief smile. "Hello Al." she said softly. "Leslie, look, I don't know what I did wrong, I can't understand, but I want you to know, that I love you, and whatever happens, I always will." he told her, stroking the back of her hand. She looked him in the eyes. "Al, I'm so glad to hear you say that. I love you too, but I was afraid after last night, that...I don't know." She trailed off, her emotions to much to curtail. "What happened last night, Leslie, I don't understand." Al asked her gently. "I'm still not sure myself, but from what I gathered, my father knew yours, and it wasn't exactly a friendly relationship." "Oh. I had no idea, Leslie, trust me." Al told her sincerely. "I know, Al, I honestly do. That's why, after you left last night, so, so did I." Al looked at her, his eyes questioning, and she further explained. "I'm staying with my Aunt Aleia until we leave. I want us to leave together, as a couple. She invited you to dinner, and I promise you it won't be like last night." "Of, course I'll come, love," Al told her, "Trust me, Leslie Garibaldi, I will never leave you." _____ Aleia's dinner was a smorgasbord of delicious treats, and light conversation. Al found that he genuinely liked this woman, but he felt like he knew her from somewhere. But he couldn't think what, so he shrugged it off. Her two daughters, Estara and Hannha were there as well as her husband Lennier. Al had never seen a couple so in love. Lennier never took his eyes off of his wife's petite form, swathed in crimson velvet. She smiled when even he touched her, which was every time she passed by. Leslie didn't seem to notice, they were all obviously used to it. At the end of the night, Hannha gave Leslie and Al tickets to her next concert, which was the night before they were to leave. They, of course, said yes. ______ Amia's diary: Dear Diary, Lesys been gune for to days now. Mommy told me she went to Ant Aleia's to stay cause Papi is so mad. He wont talk bout it and its not fun here any more. I asked Mommy if we could go n see Lesy but Papi said no way in that hot place. I miss Lesy. And I still don't kow wats wrong. I don't like be in in the middle. Amia ________ Talia cautiously opened the door to the study, then sighed with relief when her husband was not there in. Michael had been moody and angry of the late, and she didn't want to bother him. She looked on the floor and saw that Amia had been drawing in there agian. As Talia stooped to pick up the markers and crayons, she noticed a drawing on a white sheet of fabric. Amia had draw a dark skinned figure with long black hair and a red dress on and labeled it: "Lesy" along with a lighter skinned figure with short yellow hair and a suit on and labled that one: "Al" on the right side of the sheet and on the far left was a bald figure also wearing a suit, which she labeled: "Papi". In the middle was a short figure, with bright yellow hair in a pink dress, holding a yellow haired doll in a hot pink dress. This one Amia labeled: "Amia in the Middle". Suddenly Talia realized how it must have hurt Amia now that her sister and new friend had left. The poor little thing didn't even know what was going on. ________ (Well,) Leslie thought, ( Its time.) Dressed in her newly pressed ranger uniform, she stood next to Al, waiting to board the transport that would take them to the Jerusalem station. She drew in her breath and took Al's offered hand. Stepping on to the ship with the man she loved. ________ Epilogue- "The Broken Mirror, Glued back agian." 2286- Jerusalem station. Although Leslie and Al did not have Michael Garibaldi's blessing when they married, Talia and Amia did come for the ceremony. Amia was delighted to be the flower girl and Talia gave Leslie some tips on being a married couple. After Leslie and Al got back from their honeymoon, Amia came to visit them for two months. To Leslie's joy, Al and Amia still got on famously, which assured her Al would be pleased when she gave him the news. They were going to have a child. Talia arrived in time for the birth of Leslie's first child and along with Amia, her stepmother brought her a surprise. Her Papi had come. Michael Garibaldi was getting older, and he didn't want to die with out forgiving the mistakes of the past. Although he still hated the Alfred Bester he had known. He had forgiven Al. At 23:53, April 17th, 2286, Carol Michelle Bester was born to Al and Leslie Bester. Amia was pleased that she would now have a "Baby Doll Niece" and Michael Garibaldi finally gave his belated blessing to his daughter. Amia was no longer alone in the middle, her family was there with her.