From: Laura Hale Subject: Sarahs's Story (I&M) Unsuspecting parties Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 22:15:05 -0600 Hello. This is a very good IMHO story about Susan and Marcus. I am friends with the author and since I know she craves feed back, and is a fan fiction fanatic, I am posting this for her. She has written one other piece for the J&D story book. Any way, I have a lot of teenage friends who crank out material that only gets posted among our selves via the b5teen list. Since we are always into self permotion and self preservation of our kind, I'm posting this. Laura Hale ***************http://pages.prodigy.com/Fiction/teenfic.htm****************** Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 07:59:25 -0500 From: Sarah Zelechoski To: b5teens@babcom.com Subject: Sarah's Story Hey! Alright, I guess you're right, I should just post it. Well then, every one has to promise to tell me what they think. It is fairly short, and not too detailed, but I like it. It is a M&I story, if that matters to anyone. Sarah ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsuspecting Parties By Sarah Zelechoski (zbear@geocities.com) This story is dedicated to my favorite cousin, Will Cole. Thanks for everything little guy! ---------- * 2315 hours * It was the biggest gathering in Babylon 5 history. Hell, it was probably the biggest party in the history of the universe. The station was filled to capacity, and it was practically bursting at the seams. It seemed that every species of alien that had survived the war, oxygen breathing and non, was visiting the station at the very same instant. The entire atmosphere of the place had changed, you never would have known that a war had just ended. Almost the entire military staff was on leave, save a "skeleton" crew running C&C. Everyone was out celebrating their victory and new freedom from the darkness. ---------- Susan Ivanova stood on the upper balcony of the Zocalo scanning the crowd with her eyes. She wasn't exactly having the time of her life, and frankly she could think of at least a dozen better things to do, but Captain Sheridan had made her promise to take some time off and she wasn't about to argue with him. She'd gone all out to find some company that evening, but everyone else was busy. Franklin was visiting some singer that he'd met on walkabout, Lyta had left for Mars on business, no one even knew where Garibaldi had run off to after resigning his commission, and where was Sheridan? With Delenn of course. No, she was all alone tonight and it was depressing. The longer she stood and watched the throng of people below, the more isolated and annoyed she became. *Maybe a walk in the garden would help,* she thought to herself. *Yeah, if I'm going to be alone I might as well be alone somewhere peaceful where I can hear myself think.* She added dryly. As she turned toward the hall leading to the garden she collided heavily with a man passing by. "Hullo! Watch it now." Susan looked up, only to find herself staring into the bold, gray eyes of Marcus Cole. "Marcus. Sorry. I guess my mind just wasn't with me." "Don't fret, no permanent damage done. Well. What are you doing out this time of night?" "Trying to relax, but this *noise* isn't much help. I was just about to take a walk in the garden, care to join me? That is, if you're not doing anything else." Marcus' eyes light up, "No. I'm free, and I'd love to." "Good, I could use some company," she said, smiling for the first time that night, and lightly grabbing hold of his arm. ---------- * 2423 hours * If Marcus wasn't in heaven, he didn't know it. Here he was, walking through a lovely, romantic garden with the woman he loved. What more could he ask for? "...and so he drank the entire bloody thing. Dear God, if you thought the Shadows were evil..." "Lennier?" she questioned, before doubling over in laughter. Marcus answered, "I don't see what's so funny. I was nearly killed." He tried to keep a straight face, but he finally gave way to a smile which stretched from ear to ear. Susan's laugh warmed his heart through and through. It was as if the part of his heart that had died along with his brother was being revived. He had never felt so strongly about anyone before, and frankly, the feeling frightened him. The same thought kept rolling around in his mind. *If only she knew what she what she is doing to me... if only I knew how to tell her...* Susan collapsed onto a bench nearby still laughing heartily, and Marcus stood watching her with twinkling eyes. As soon as she regained her composure, she caught his hand and pulled him down on to the bench beside her. There was a nervous moment of silence between them, then Susan spoke softly. "So, the Cap'n tells me that the Rangers are free to go home." "Yes, now that the darkness is gone. Many want to see their families and homes. They want to begin their new lives. Pick up the pieces and start over. But, as long as is Entilhza lives there will always be rangers. Our new job is to keep the peace. Stop us from fighting amongst ourselves." "Then... I guess you'll be leaving us soon?" It was more of a question than a statement. "No... no. I've dedicated my life to the rangers, I won't leave them now. There is nothing left out there for me. No family. No friends. No loved ones. No home." Another silent moment passed as they remember where the war has left them. Both without families, both without homes to return to. "Besides..." Marcus continued, revealing an impish smile. "If I left, who would be left to drive you insane every once in a while?" "I suppose that's one thing you're good at." she responded, flashing her own little smile. "Though, I thought you'd be leaving with her... you know, the woman you told me about... on the Whitestar...a while back." He looked down at the floor, "No, I won't be leaving for quite a while." "Then she's here on the station?" "Yes she is on Babylon 5." He replied sadly. "Have you even told her yet?" She inquired, now curious. "Not exactly." He murmured. "Marcus!" she practically yelled out of surprise. "Maybe it's just me but, if I wanted to start a relationship with someone, I'd probably spend some time with them. Everyone on the station is awake at this hour, why aren't you with her?" A knot formed in Marcus' stomach and a lump in his throat. He hadn't expected the conversation to turn towards this, but he could not ignore it now. He had wanted to tell her for so long, and now he saw an opening. *Now or never,* he thought to himself. Finally the words managed to slip from his mouth. "I am." Susan's eyes flew open at the realization of what he had said, and she was for once in her life she was speechless. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, but no words escaped her lips. Finally she squeaked, "What?" He wasn't afraid anymore. For the first time in his life he took control of his feelings instead of letting them control him. There was no going back now. "I am." He said courageously. "I love you Susan Ivanova." ---------- * 0134 hours * Glass full. Glass empty. Glass full. Glass empty. She was drinking the Vodka as fast as it would come out of the bottle. The dull thud in her head was driving her insane. She shouldn't have run out on Marcus like that, but what he said had knocked the wind out of her. So, here she was, drinking the life out of a bottle and hearing Marcus' words repeated in her mind over, and over, and over. There was no doubt in her mind that his words were sincere, that wasn't the problem. The problem was her feelings. Two months ago you couldn't have paid her to go near Marcus. Now, she was, in a strange way, sort of, okay, very attached to him. He was so kind and innocent, but could be strong and courageous at the same time. He was charming, and romantic, but annoyingly persistent. He was the perfect picture of a man. Why then, was it so difficult for her to accept his confession? Glass full. Glass empty. Glass full. , the door chime sounded. "Who!" Susan yelled angrily. There was no answer, but the door slid to one side. A familiar silhouette filled the doorway. She knew who it was, and why he was there. Dropping her head into the cradle of her arms on the counter, she began to cry uncontrollably. During the first few moments Marcus stood there, his heart was broken a dozen times by the sound of her sobbing. This was not the reaction that he had expected to get from her. He had been half ready for her to attack him with fists flying, or for her to yell at him a little, but this... this, he was totally unprepared for. She had simply turned and ran, and now here she was crying over his words. He wanted to comfort her. He wanted to gather her up on his arms and wish the world away, but he was scared what that might cause her to do. So he stood there, making no move, hoping that his presence would be enough. *Pull yourself together Susan. How do you think he feels? Here he was spilling his heart out to you, and all you can do is cry.* Susan lifted her head slowly too look at him. Her eyes were glazed over and her sight was blurry from all the Vodka that she's had. Tears were still streaming down her face, but she was able to control most of the sobs now. "I'm sorry... I didn't... mean to..." She whimpered between breaths. Marcus slowly approached her, all the while staring deep into her teary eyes. He had never seen her cry before, it seemed so much like a dream. He touched her face tenderly and wiped the tears away. "No, you have nothing to be sorry for. If this is how you feel, I understand. I'd just want you to know, that I love you. Even if you can never feel the same way about me, I-" "You don't understand... Every time I love someone, every time someone cares about me, we both end up getting hurt. I can't let it happen again. I don't think... I don't think I could stand losing anyone else." "Susan, we have both been through so much... A long time ago I said that, when you lose someone, part of the heart goes dead, and that it is best to leave it that way. For a long time I believed that. But, when I met you, my heart came to life again. I felt whole again. You are part of my soul, I could never let you go." "I want to believe you... I really do. But, what if you were taken from me... just like everyone else I ever loved? I'd die. So many things change...You can never count on anything anymore." "You can count on me, I promise you that. You're right when you say that no one can tell what the future will bring, but that is part of life's great mystery. There is one thing that I do know for sure, and it is that I will always love you no matter what the future brings. I'll always be here for you." "Marcus?" "Hmmm." Slowly and passionately, Susan reached up and kissed him. "I love you too." --------------------------------------------------------------------------