*Expand part 7!*
September, 2267
[Thoughts]
*Emphasis*
Lyta and Tess were walking in gardens, watching the kids playing on one of the playgrounds B5 had, and talking.
Lyta was bothered by something, and her friend noticed it. "You seem even more sober than usual, Lyta, is anything wrong?"
"No."
" 'cause of your face gets any longer, you'll end up tripping on it."
"I'm just tired. Like I've wilted, or something."
"Your medical checks are ok, weren't they?"
"I'm fine, ok? I'm just . . ." Lyta sighed. "You couldn't understand. You're too important."
"Uh?"
"You've got a reason to do things, you're got a career and authority and respect, not because of Shawn's dad, but on your own. You've got - well - a purpose. I don't. I don't have a reason for much of anything - I've even reached the limit of training Angel, I don't know anything else to teach her that pretty much anybody with a degree couldn't do. I just - I don't know. Feel useless. Nothing you could understand."
"Jeez, and here I thought you knew me pretty well. C'mere, sit. Sit, sit, down, there. Better. Lyta, I might hide it well, especially since I got my current job, but I'm sure that I can fit in your proverbial shoes. Ignoring the fact that you're by far the favored person for taking care of Shawn when I'm working, and I've gotten your shoulder soggy too many times to count, I know the feeling you say you've got."
"Whatever," Lyta muttered.
"Why'd you think I joined Mars resistance in the first place? It wasn't because I liked watching things explode. It was because I needed to do something! I hated that helpless feeling. Taking action helped, at least some of the time. Most of the rest, we were too busy trying to survive to feel down. It was being a part of something that I'd needed, the feeling of knowing you're important. I hated taking orders, so I worked my way up the numbers. And I ended up becoming more important and needed along the way."
"There's no resistance anymore. No need for it - and besides, I couldn't do that anyway. I prefer to take rather than give orders. But - well, you know all this anyway - I've gotten used to steering myself, and God only knows what a terrible judge of character I am when it comes to picking bosses. Besides, it's not like I've got any useful skills that an employer would want."
"Talk about being your worst critic. Ok, so let's work in order. Who DID you like as a boss?"
"People who didn’t want me just for a telepath, who wanted ME. The first Kosh." Lyta gave a sad smile. "Zack. I don’t know. Delenn was always kind, but I don't have any sort of office skills to work for her in Tuzanor."
"Huh," Tess said thoughtfully. "I’ll think on it. You’ve got all sorts of potential."
"I’m over 40. Rather old to start out new, with a little child to look after. I can’t take Angel away from Zack, she was heartbroken when he had to return to work, even though she spent all of her time with me and Lise, and they talked a little bit every day. But I don’t want to leave her, or Zack. I like having someone to sleep next to. Zack is nice and warm. He doesn’t snore or shift around or anything. I know Steven couldn’t visit you very often, but I had noticed he never got his own quarters to rent on his visits."
"Yeah. He didn’t get much sleep whenever he was here, either. Hmmmmm . . ." Tess smiled, then paused. "If you don’t object to me asking, how are you and Zack . . . ?"
"We haven’t." Lyta said bluntly. "Not since the time Angel was started."
Tess’s mouth hung open for a few seconds, and she stared like Lyta had popped open three purple heads and a dozen tentacles. "Not even once?! . . . uh . . . you’re healthy enough, why not? He might have to do most of the work-"
"I know, but – he’s never started anything. He kisses good morning and good night every day, on the cheek or forehead, but never on the lips anymore. He’s in . . . ‘friend’ mode. He’ll touch me, but I might as well be his – his SISTER, not a *former* lover or the mother of his child."
"Well. That bites. No wonder you're a canned beet. I don’t know, can you do anything to maybe affect his mood? Candlelight dinner, night out dancing, you couldn’t do too much yet, but you could try something!"
"Well, what did you do whenever Steven said he could visit? How do you – how does anyone – start a night like – well – a night of sex? Or at least just to do it once, to see if he still cares about me . . . physically?"
Tess hid a smile by clearing her throat. "Dear, ever since you grew your chest and butt back into shape, half the men – some Narns included – in security have been looking at you in carnal admiration, plus I don’t know how many hundreds of others. You’re strong again, I saw that you gave Shawn a ride here on your shoulders. You’re not unattractive."
"I – I can understand that much, but I – oh this is going to sound silly – how would you start to – well – prepare?"
"Did you know I've never seen you blush until now? Ow! Ok, ok. Heck, well, the first thing I’d usu – a – ly – Lyta . . . has Angel ever not been in your quarters at night when you two were there? I know I’ve had both kids over, but usually it was because Zack was pulling an all-nighter or had gone off station for a few days on business. Have you two ever been alone with each other, either at night or for any length of time?"
Lyta stopped to think for a few minutes. "No . . . do you think that’s why?"
"He’s from earth. Not used to sharing one big bedroom like me, a marsie. Doesn’t want to – or can’t – perform with an underage audience. He’s not doing nightshifts for a while, is he? Heh . . well . . . maybe we can plot something. Maybe you can get devoured tonight, eh? Or at least get a flame going? I wonder how many nights Angel might want to crash with me. I can get her to class on time before work and drop Shawn off at your place in the morning, it'll be after Zack has to go back on shift by then. If I can’t be with Steven because of earth’s stupid quarantine, at least I can play cupid. Want to pick up some mood setters today? Candles and such? Flavored edible massage oil? From your face I’d say no to the last one. Start out gentler than that, eh? But . . ." Tess let the question dangle.
"Okay," Lyta said weakly, her face a darker shade than her hair.
"I’ll get the wee ones. We can go through the Zocalo on the way to picking up a couple changes of clothes for Angel. Come on!"
~~~~
Next morning, Lyta was a lot more tired than usual, but in an unusually good mood. Shawn - as always - strutted in like he owned the place, then stopped to look around, puzzled. "Can – nels gone?"
Lyta, grinning, picked him up and bear hugged him. "The candles have been used, yes, the candles were very useful. But the other thing . . . tsk . . . wasn’t sturdy enough to last very long at all. But your mom," she looked at Tess, who had doubled over laughing, "is a very smart lady."
"Well, the other thing *was* designed to tear right off, you knew. So . . . last night went ok, then?"
"It was ok," Lyta said noncommittally.
Suddenly sober, Tess asked in concern, "How ok?"
"*Very* ok," and Lyta wiggled an eyebrow at her.
Laughing again, Tess said, "Tonight is probably open, too."
"Apwil seep ova!" Shawn cried happily.
"Yes, she just might! See you later, Tess, have fun at work. So, little critter, are you ready for a big day of fun?" The door slid closed behind her.
~~~~
Lyta and Zack got two more nights alone, and a bad case of sleep depravation. On the third morning, Lyta didn’t answer the door right away. Tess took the time to double-check that Zack had shown up for work, then tried the buzzer again. "Lyta? It’s me. You awake?"
"Come," came a faint reply after a few anxious minutes.
Tess entered, but stopped when she saw Lyta, who was sitting on the couch, still in a nightgown. The redhead looked so pale and so still she might as well have been a stone carving.
"Are you ok?!"
"Fine," came the slow, quiet reply.
"Are you sick? You look – unwell. Too tired or som- what are you holding?" She put Shawn down and sat beside her. Lyta was holding a little black velvet box.
"Oh, lordy!" Tess squeaked, and reached over to open it up, then squealed delightedly. The box contained a gold ring, with a small diamond set in it. Ecstatic, Tess hugged the still-stunned woman. "This is – this is – "
Lyta’s voice was very weak, almost drowned out by the thuds of Shawn pulling a selection of toys off the shelves. "He bought it yesterday, after work, because we’d – he gave it to me this morning, said he couldn’t offer much, but he loved me. He – he asked me to think, maybe give me an answer when he gets home from work."
"Why do you look so stunned?"
"I have nothing to offer him," Lyta whispered to herself.
"B5 calling Lyta! Come in, Lyta! Why do you look so stunned, I mean, everyone knows you and he-"
"I don’t know." Lyta said, turning her face away.
"Know why you’re stunned?! Lyta! Wake up! You’ve just been asked to become Mrs. Zack Allan!!"
Lyta shook her head, tears slowly forming. "I don’t know . . . about this." She held the box with the ring up.
Tess’s grin faded suddenly.