Opportunities

by Sandy, aka Cricket, cricket_@_onebit.ca

by Sandy Schoen, aka Cricket, cricket_@_onebit.ca

by Sandy Schoen, aka Cricket, cricket@onebit.ca

by Sandy Schoen, aka Cricket, cricket at onebit.ca

What? "Pardon?"

Fire. He thought we had fire? "I don't know, Mark. It's been a long time."

And if it doesn't work out, who'll comfort me? "It hurt too much, last time."

"I should have." He smiled ruefully. "I spent years waiting for that invitation, wanting it, but dreading that I'd have to choose between us or the team." He paused to turn his mug around. "Guess I was too used to denying anything that might be between us, making light of it so I wouldn't have to think about it." He looked up at her again. "I didn't change fast enough when the war was over."

Years waiting?

Loved. He loved me.

A second chance. Or was it third? Fourth? She'd lost track of the times she'd almost given up on him before that final night. She bit her lips together and shook her head slowly.

"You always took good care of me." Damn those innocent looking eyes of his.

He always could talk me into anything. "Okay."

He did. She looked about some more. Vegetables (fresh), and juice, and bread. Ten years had seen a lot of changes in the man who used to run up a tab at Jill's Diner.

Part 2 -- Opportunity Found

(:title Opportunities:)

A Battle of the Planets Fanfiction in Three Parts

by Sandy Schoen, aka Cricket,\\

PART 2 -- OPPORTUNITY FOUND

Return to Part One

Return to Part One -- Opportunity Lost
Continue to Part Three -- Opportunity Taken

OPPORTUNITIES A Battle of the Planets Fanfiction in Three Parts

by Sandy Schoen, aka Cricket, cricket at onebit.ca

PART 2 -- OPPORTUNITY FOUND

Return to Part One

They arrived at their home airport late; a blizzard had settled in over the area, and the tower was spacing planes conservatively. As Mark drove them back to his place, where she would pick up her car and drive to her house across the city, they listened to the radio. The arteries were a mess. What would normally be a one-hour drive would take her the rest of the night.

He phrased his offer with care. "Why don't I set up the guest room for you? No sense driving home in this stuff."

"That would be good. Thanks."

While he was upstairs moving things, she looked over the kitchen. He actually had a kitchen, with food. She peeked into the cupboard next to the stove, and found cocoa, sugar, and vanilla. She smiled, remembering how their foster-parents would make them cocoa on blustery nights, and decided to make some now, if he had any milk.

He did. She looked about some more. Vegetables, fresh, and juice, and bread. Ten years had seen a lot of changes in the man who used to run up a tab at Jill's Diner.

He came down and chuckled when he saw what she was cooking. "How did you guess what I was going to suggest?"

"We've known each other a long time."

"Yes, we have." He sighed, leaning against the door frame. "Ten years to prepare, five to fight, and another eleven after that." He looked at her. "You carry them well."

She laughed, unexpectedly pleased at the surprise compliment. "When did you learn how to flatter a woman like that?"

"It seemed like a useful skill."

"You've changed," she observed.

"You haven't."

"I have. You just haven't noticed."

She finished making the drinks and they sat down.

"Princess?"

"Hmmm?"

"Why don't we get back together again? Give it a try?"

What? "Pardon?"

"Why don't we get back together again?"

"I heard you. I just wasn't sure I understood." She warmed her hands on her drink, staring into its murky and familiar surface.

"I'd like us to get together again. Start dating, see if the fire's still there."

Fire. He thought we had fire? "I don't know, Mark. It's been a long time."

"So?"

And if it doesn't work out, who'll comfort me? "It hurt too much, last time."

"Because I wasn't paying attention at the right time."

"Yes. You never paid attention, not to us."

"I should have." He smiled ruefully. "I spent years waiting for that invitation, wanting it, but dreading that I'd have to choose between us or the team." He paused to glance at his drink. "Guess I was too used to denying anything that might be between us, making light of it so I wouldn't have to think about it." He looked up at her again. "I didn't change fast enough when the war was over."

Years waiting?

He continued. "I couldn't command someone I cared about."

"You cared about all of us."

"Someone I loved."

Loved. He loved me.

She took over the conversation. "You never told me how you felt."

"I didn't want to risk it."

"And you never even asked me why I was upset."

"I assumed you'd tell me."

"You assumed! You always assumed. Dammit, Mark, I got tired of being taken for granted! You made me do all the work, take all the risks."

He paused and looked away. "I bought you flowers."

"I had to ask you out for our first date. I had to start our first kiss. I had to invite you in. I had to tell you what you missed. I even had to tell you that you missed something!" She sighed. "Mark, I know telepathy doesn't work. If anyone had it, we would have -- Lord knows Anderson tried hard enough. If you'd asked what was wrong, I would have told you. But you didn't, so I quit."

"You've changed."

"That's what I told you."

"You were never so ... blunt ... critical ... articulate."

"It's been ten years. I've had a long time to think about it."

He thought for a moment. "I like you better this way. You're not trying to please me anymore."

She flushed. "Was it that obvious?"

He smiled. "Jason pointed it out. Scared me silly, not knowing what was really you, and what was supposed to impress me."

He put down his drink and reached for her hand. "Princess, I can't change the past, but I never wanted to hurt you. I've changed. Give me a second chance."

A second chance. Or was it third? Fourth? She'd lost track of the times she'd almost given up on him before that final night. She bit her lips together and shook her head slowly.

"What if I promise to ask this time? If I really paid attention? If I promised to take better care of you?"

"You always took good care of me."Damn those innocent looking eyes of his.

"Just a few dates, give me a chance to convince you I've changed."

He always could talk me into anything. "Okay."

Return to Part One -- Opportunity Lost

Continue to Part Three -- Opportunity Taken

Updated March 25, 2004

This piece is written by a fan, for fans, so that we can continue to enjoy the story.