Onward With Love…

Chapter Thirty-Nine

By Yuki Wildstar


5th of January, 2207

Fuchu Prison

0425 hours

He walked into the prison watching everyone stand at attention and scurrying around to make his visit go smoothly. The Warden ran to his side talking quickly as he fidget with his hands. “Sir, how can I help you?”

“Hello Dennis, I like to visit with Ms. Tolbert.”

“Yes, yes.” He bowed profusely, “Private see to the General wishes. Anything else sir.”

“No that will be all.” He said as the private escorted him to a private room. Corporal Tendy walked in, “Sir!” he said as he snapped to attention.

“I want to see the prisoner in cell 123.” Stone said.

“Yes sir.” He replied quickly.

“Bring her to conference room 2.”

“But sir, that room is only for . . . “

“I know what it’s for just bring her there, NOW!” he snapped at the Corporal.

“Yes sir,” then ran to get her.

 


She was dreaming of finally going home to Namir when she heard someone calling her out of her sleep. “Wha, what.” She said with a sleepy voice.

“Get up and come with me.” The corporal said.

 “Where are we going?” she asked feeling peeved that they woke her up from her sleep.

“The General wants to speak with you.”

“Which General?”

“General Stone.”

“What does he want?” curious as what he had to say.

“I don’t know, he just said to bring you to the conference room and I do as I’m told. No need to get old Stone face on my bad side. I don’t need it.” He said as they came up to the door and he opened it for her.

Julie walked in and stared at General Stone. “Leave us alone,” he ordered the corporal.

“But sir, I am not allowed to leave the prisoner with anyone, especially in a room that cannot be monitored.”

“I said leave us alone, now go.” He stood up and pointed out the door.

“Yes sir,” the corporal stood at attention, pivot and left them alone in the room.

“Sit down, Julie.” He said as he moved a chair next to him.

“What do you want,” she said as she took the chair and placed it on the other side of the table, never allowing him to be close to her.

“I thought we could talk,” he said drooling and breathing heavily to seeing her again.

“Talk about what, you don’t have to worry about me mentioning who help me last time. So there is no need for you to come here and remind me.”

“I wasn’t concerned about that I know that you would never talk. I have come here to see what happened while you were in space. I heard that you had a child.”

“He is with his father, an honest man that I know will love our child with all his heart. He swore to me that he will protect him and I believe him. Namir is an honorable man, unlike you.”

“Now Julie, I am only concerned with your well being.”

“Hahaha, you are a funny old man. What makes you think that I will trust you? I trust you as far as I can throw you, and that’s not far. Now if you don’t mind I’d like to go back to my cell.”

“Julie” he took hold of her hand. “I’ve missed you. Just say the word and I can make this all go away. With dorothy3[1].jpgSingleton out of the way I have all the power. Come back to me”

“You are delusional, do you think after all this time that I would just crawl back to you? Do you think I would beg and plead with you to help me once again? Dear uncle I have grown up since our last meeting, and I have learned to take responsibility for my actions. How can my child grow up to see his mother coward away for what I have done? No, I won’t let that happen. Namir will see to that. I have done a lot of bad things and I have accepted my fate. I will do my time and soon I will go home to be with my son. Now I want to go back to my cell, and I never want to see you again. Leave me alone.”

“Julie you will regret this, I will make sure that you will never see your child again.” He sneered.

“You stay away from me and my son. I have already instructed to Namir to not let you come near 1,000 light years near him. And yes, I have told him the truth about my past and he loves me even through of my faults and past. So don’t try to put that guilt trip on me again, because it’s not going to work anymore.” She said then got up and knocked on the door. The corporal opened the door and Julie turned around and said. “Please make sure the next time the General wants to question me that my lawyer has to be present. Good Day General Stone, I’d like to go back to my cell now.” she turned and placed her hands behind her back and waited for the corporal to place the handcuff on her and take her back to her cell.

“Damn you Wildstar. It’s all your fault and I will make you pay for this.” He slammed his fist on the table and then left.

 

 

6th of January, 2207

Wildstar’s Residence

 

hyougen[1].jpgIt was 0230 in the morning when Derek came home from a long day at the docks, “this is killing me, damn General Stone. Well at least I’m home earlier than yesterday.” He said out loud as he placed his pea coat and cover in the closet.  Walking into the room he tried to make his way into the bathroom, bumping into the chair that stood near the door. He held his breath not wanting to wake her up and then went into the bathroom closing the door so the light wouldn’t hit her face. He showered then walked back into the room and looked over to his wife as he crawled naked into their bed. She seemed to be tossing and turning as she slept, Derek watched wondering what was wrong. She seemed to be having a nightmare, he shook her slightly to see if she would wake up.

 

In her dream . . . .

She watched as the he got off the Argo and made his way down the gang way. He looked around and saw her running his way. Nova jumped into his arms causing him to drop his sea bag on the floor. She wore her red baby doll spaghetti strap shirt with black straight leg slacks a color he like on her. She wore the calf high black boots that he thought were sexy, it gave her a little more height in the 3 inch heels. He held her tight and swung her around a few times before he put her down and hug her tightly in his arms.

“Mark I’ve missed you so much,” she said while looking into his eyes then kissing him with a passion that she waited for so long. “Welcome home darling, I love you.”

“I love you too sweet heart,” Mark Venture said back in her dream. “I’ve missed, Nova. So what do you have in store for us.” Mark Venture asked of his wife of two years.

“Well, I was thinking dinner at Maccilli and then home, and maybe work on that project we’ve talked about over the net.” Nova purred at him

“That sounds great Hun, but I kinda asked Wildstar if he wanted to come over and have dinner with us. You know he doesn’t have anyone to come home too” Mark told her as he scratched his head and looked down kicking the floor, hoping that she wouldn’t mind.

“Mark it’s our first night together in 9 months. I was really hoping for a night alone,” she whined.

“I know honey but he looked so lost coming back and I felt really bad for him that he had no one to come home to,” Mark said. “After all he was our best man at our wedding and my best friend.”

“What happened to what’s her name?” Nova asked annoyed that he was ruining their night together.

“Come on babe, you know they broke up before we left. She couldn’t handle the military scene. She wanted him home all the time, needy women if you asked me.” Mark said. “She just couldn’t handle that he loves his job as Fleet Commander.”

“Well I guess that we can just make our night together wait a little later.” Nova tried to smile for him but he knew that she was putting up a front to please him.

“Thanks babe, I knew that you would come through,” Mark said giving her a hug and a kiss on her forehead.

Just then Wildstar walked up to them, “Sorry guys, had to hand over the ship to the dock master. Nova I hope you don’t mind me tagging along, Venture said it was alright.”

Nova looked at their dear friend and smiled, “anytime Derek, Mark will have plenty of time to make up for it later, I hope?” Derek suddenly felt uncomfortable that he was interrupting their evening together.

“Hmm, don’t worry Derek she’s just playing. Come on, Nova where’s the car?” Mark asked.

“Over there, I brought your truck, its bigger,” Nova pointed in the direction of the truck. “I’ll drive” Mark said and took the keys from her then gave her a kiss.

They dropped Wildstar off at his apartment and waited while he put his bags down. “So he’s single again, I don’t get it Mark but he’s such a great guy. Good looking, smart and he is the youngest Captain within the whole fleet” Nova said. She looked at her husband and smiled thinking back to when they met. If he didn’t say anything to her first she would have considered seeing Wildstar. 

“Nova honey, you looked so far away,” Mark said.

“Sorry, was just thinking of the first time we met,” She said smiling at him.

“Yeah that day will always be embedded in my memories for always. You don’t know this but I considered stepping back and letting Wildstar ask you out.” Mark said.

“You did, well I’m so glad you didn’t,” she smiled and then gave him a long kiss.

“I love you Mrs. Venture,” Mark told her as he stroked her hair away from her face.

“Mom, love you too.” she said back when the back door to the truck opened and Derek jumped in. Already changed from his uniformed wearing a pair of jeans and designer t-shirt, with a pair of shoes, Nova thought he looked chic and sexy. ‘He smells so good,’ she thought to herself.

“Well I’m good,” he said jokingly. “So where are we going for dinner?” he grinned at his friends. They all laughed and sped off to Macilli’s.

 

 

They stopped at their house so Mark could change, he also threw on a pair of jeans and polo shirt with shoes, then went to dinner. They sat at Macilli’s and talked about their mission as they waited for the maître. They all ordered some wine and placed their orders in. Mark and Derek laughed about the olden days and Nova joked with Derek about his love life and when he will finally settle down. “Honesty Derek you’re going to die an old bachelor like that Hugh Heffner character in the 20th century. You need to settle down.”

Derek laughed at her. “What’s the big deal in marriage, I’m having too much fun and who says that I won’t settle down. I just haven’t met the right girl yet.”

“Really so how many wrong ones are you going to go through?” Nova asked laughing.

“Mmmm, not sure about that, but there was one girl I did like. But she is with someone else. I lost her to my dear friend here.” Derek said patting Mark on the back.

Mark looked over to Derek and caught him staring at Nova intensely. She smiled and turned away, blushing from the comment he said. Venture watched as Derek continue to stare at his wife. “So it’s getting late, I think we should go.” Mark said interrupting Derek’s stare feeling uncomfortable with him staring at his wife.

Nova turn to Mark trying to keep from looking in Derek direction, “yes it is, and I would like to spend what’s left of the night with you my darling husband.” she reached over and kissed Mark.

Derek broke his stare from her and turned to look across the room at a young red head standing at the bar. She was about Nova height wearing a green strapless clingy dress that looked two sizes too tight and also showed off her breasts  that looked like they were about to pop out of her top. She wore eye makeup, a blue shade that didn’t fit her red hair and later when he approached her he’ll realize that she had too many freckles on her face and down to her breast. ‘Not my type but why not’ he thought to himself. “Ah why don’t you two go on, there something here I would like to pickup.”

Nova and Mark looked in the direction that he was looking at and Nova just sighed out loud. “Honestly, she’s not even your type.” She said shoving him with her hand feeling a wash of jealousy come over her.

 “I know this, but I have to keep myself occupied while I’m off. If not I just might have to make a move on you.” Derek said smiling at her then stood up and bid them good night making his way over to the red head standing at the bar.

Nova could see the smile on her face as he approached her. “Well there goes another broken heart,” she said to Mark as she rolled her eyes. Something deep down only wished it was her that was going home with him and not the red head. She turned to her husband and gave him another kiss focusing her attention back to him.

Mark looked at her with a frown, he wasn’t too keen on Derek’s remark about his wife. He knew that Wildstar had a thing for her from the first time they laid eyes on her. But he was mourning his brother which gave him the opportunity to ask Nova out first to which she accepted. But something deep down told him that she wished it was Wildstar that asked her first. “Yeah, ready Nova?” he asked her.

“Yes baby,” she said trying to look into his eyes. She could see that he didn’t like the way Wildstar was looking at her and hoped that he couldn’t read her mind at what she was thinking.

They made it home in record time, threw opened the door to the house and Mark kick it closed while he kissed his wife. They managed to get to their room all the while taking their clothes off on the way. He picked her up and placed her on the bed. Nova looked deep into his eyes and said something that threw Mark completely off. “I love so much, Derek.” She whispered.

“Nova what did you call me?” He said as he pulled away, stood up and looked at his wife.

“I called you Mark that is your name?” Nova said sarcastically.

“No you didn’t, you called me Derek. What’s going on here is there something I should know?” Mark asked with concern. He has been noticing Derek giving her strange stares more and more. Once he found him talking to Nova on the phone, but she denied anything was going on.

“Mark I married you now come to bed. I’ve waited too long to hold you in my arms, now is not the time to get into another heated fight over him again.” She said remembering the last time they fought over him. He accused her once before of having an affair with Derek, they argued as they walked through their door and everyone yelled out surprised. Mark apologized to her, but he never let up on the subject, she knew that in the back of his mind he still thought about it.

“Nova we need to talk about this now.” Mark told her as he felt his mojo fading quickly.

“Mark, not now. Please just come back to bed.” She pleaded with him.

“Don’t you think I know what’s going on here!” He said with an angry voice.

“What do you mean what’s going on Mark, are we going to have this conversation again? I mean I married you not him, is that not enough for you?” She was growing tired of his accusation all the while turning away from him.

“Sometimes I think you’ve made a mistake when you married me. It seems like you and he are always sneaking something between each other.”

Nova could feel another fight coming on. Her frustration with him was starting to come through in her voice, “Oh god, not this again. Mark can’t you just leave this alone? It seems like every time you’re home we are always fighting about him and I’m getting tired of it.”

“It’s always about him, you just seem to eat it up when he says things like that around me.” Mark said as he pointed at her.

Nova took the covers and wrapped herself with them, now feeling ashamed to sit there naked in front of her husband. She got up and went over to the window to look out, tears of anger and frustration streaming down her face. She thought to herself maybe he was right maybe it was a mistake to have married him. She never understood it but she seemed to be drawing closer to Wildstar and couldn’t figure out why. She was starting to have feelings for him and every time she saw him with another woman she felt jealous with emotions knowing that the girl he was with was not right for him.

Mean while Mark was screaming in the back ground bringing her back to reality, “Don’t you think I see how he looks at you and you’re just loving it.” He started to yell so she could hear him. “Nova, look at me!”

Mark, I’m tired of talking about him. It was you that I married not him, and when you realize that then and only then can I stay here.” Nova said as she walked into her closet and began to get dress, throwing on a pair of jeans and t-shirt then took a suitcase from the back of the closet and started to pack.

“What are you doing?” he asked with panic “Where are you going?”

“I just can’t stay here anymore. Every time you’re home it seems all we do is argue about him, and to tell you the truth I’m pretty much over it.” Nova said as she finished packing and then close her suitcase. She started towards the door and Mark stood in front of her.

“Nova we have to talk about this.” He said with fear in his voice that his wife was leaving.

“We have talked about it, and we always come back to it,” she said lowering her head not wanting to look into his eyes knowing if she did she would stay. “But we just can’t seem to get past your jealousy. Please Mark just get out of the way, I’ll call you later and let you know where I’m staying.”

He looked at her and then stood aside, letting her walked out the bedroom door and out of their house. Still in his underwear he walked over to the bed and sat down, wondering what just happened as he heard the front door slam shut, and then heard her jump into her car and drive away.

Nova drove for hours not knowing where to go, she wasn’t about to go to her mother’s and father’s, knowing that they would tell her I told you so. Every since she told them of Mark’s jealousy they encouraged her to go to marriage counseling or seek divorce. So she drove downtown in the great island metropolis, and before she could think straight she found herself in front of Wildstar's apartment building. She sat in her car looking straight ahead when she heard someone knocking on the window that startled her. She looked up and saw him standing there, as she opened the window he knelt down “Nova, what the hell are you doing here this time of the night and where is Venture?” All she could do was look at him and just cry.

Derek turned around to his date, the redheaded girl he picked up at the bar and said “Hey babe, listen this is family! You don’t mind if we just postpone this for another time?”

“Ah sure Derek,” she said feeling disappointed that she wasn’t going to bed with the world famous Derek Wildstar. She thought that maybe he would like her enough to see more of her and maybe it could lead to marriage. She would be Mrs. Wildstar, and all the privileges that come with it.

“Thanks Hun, I’ll get you a cab.” Derek said as he hailed down a cab and opened the door for her. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.” He said as he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, which disappointed her. He then made a mental note that he wasn’t going to call. She seemed to him a complete bubble head and needy, something that he remembered from the girl he was seriously dating and he didn’t want a repeat of that again……

They argued the day he left, she begged him not to go. ‘I have to go it’s my job and you knew that from the beginning.’ He said.

‘If you love me you’ll stay,’ she said to him.

‘And if you love me you wouldn’t ask me that, this is my job. My life and you knew that from the start so don’t ask me to make a choice, because you’ll never win.’

‘Well when you get back I won’t be here. I can’t do this anymore Derek.’ Maria said.

‘Well then, I guess it’s over,’ he said back as he threw his sea bag into his car, jumped in and drove off.

 He waved as the cab took off and then walked over to Nova’s car, opened the door and jumped in. “What’s up, why are you here this time of the morning and where the hell is Venture?” He asked with anger, he didn’t like the fact the she was driving around in the city by herself.

“We had a fight,” was all Nova could manage to say as she broke down and cry in his arms.

Derek lean over and held her tight, then looked in the back seat and saw her suitcase.“Did you leave him?”

Shaking her head yes, she cried harder in his arms and said, “I just couldn’t take it anymore Derek. His jealously is just taking over our lives.”

“Nova, I hardly think that he is jealous all the time. You married him didn’t you?” Derek looked into her eyes that were red and puffy from crying. He could tell that she has been crying for a long time.

“I keep telling him that but he just thinks that, well that,” Nova tapered off.

Derek looked at her and grab her bag, “Come on let’s go upstairs and talk. It’s cold out and I’ll have the concierge park your car.”

Nova got out of the car and gave him the keys to the car. Derek passed it to the concierge who hopped into the car and sped off to park it. He put his arms around her shoulder and guided her to the elevator making their way up to his apartment.

They walk over to his apartment and he opened the door. As he turned on the light, Nova looked around never seeing his apartment before. It was just like a bachelor pad, black leather sofa, grey colors. Fireplace in the corner with pillows around it for romantic evenings with whatever flavor of the night would be there. He put her suitcase down and walked her over to the coach. She sat there while he went over to his bar and made her, her favorite drink (Bailey’s mint flavor on the rocks). As he made his way back to her he pick up a box of tissues for her and place it all in front of her. “Now tell me what happen, what has my friend done to you?”

“I just can’t Derek, it will be too uncomfortable for me.” Nova grabbed a tissue and wiped the tears from her face.

“Nov,” he was the only person that ever called her that, not even Mark called her that which made it better for her to hear it from his lips. “I hardly think anything you say will be so uncomfortable that I haven’t heard from any women. After all I’ve been there with married women before.” Derek smiled at her, hoping to make her laugh remembering how funny it ended with Derek standing in her living room naked as her husband came home. He had to run naked to his car and speed off before her husband could catch him.

Nova looked at him and grinned at the story Mark told her. “Derek I think I should go, it’ll just make it worse for me being here,” she got up and was ready to leave.

Derek grabbed hold of her arm, “Nova it’s late and I wouldn’t feel right having you driving around this time of the night looking for some place to stay. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but I want you to stay here and get some rest. I’ll sleep here on the couch you take my room, I promise I will be a perfect gentleman.” He said as he crossed his heart.

“I don’t know,” Nova said feeling tired all of sudden.

“I insist, now I’ll just get some sheets and pillows for me and put your bag into my room. We can talk in the morning if you like right now you need some sleep.”

Nova just nodded at him and followed him into the room. He put her bag on the bed and walked over to his closet taking out two pillows and some sheets. “If you need anything just ask,” he said as he stared into her eyes, she nodded back to him and gave a glance into his eyes then quickly turned away. He closed the door and leaned against it and let out huge sigh. Nova sat on the bed and thought about what happened with her and Mark. She got up and opened her suitcase and realized that she didn’t bring anything to sleep in. She walk over to the door, opened it slightly, and called over to Derek. “Uh Derek, are you decent?”

Derek was standing at the bar having a drink, trying to keep from going into the room and telling her how he always felt for her. After all she was his best friend’s wife. He looked up to the door and said, “Yeah Nov you need something?”

“I, well, I packed so quickly that I forgot to put some PJs into the suitcase.” Nova said as she blushed.

Derek smiled at her and walked into the room went over to the closet and pulled out a pajama set from one of his drawers. He handed the top to her and took the bottoms for himself then said, “It's not the prettiest shirt but it’s warm and comfortable.”

“Thank you Derek,” Nova said as she took it from him.

Derek stood there staring at her for a moment and then broke his stare realizing that she was Marks wife not his. “Just get some sleep, you look beat.”

“Goodnight Derek and thank you again,” Nova said.

“Goodnight Nova.” He said as he turned and walked out the bedroom closing the door behind him.

The night was hard for both of them to sleep. Nova stayed awake for hours thinking of what happened to her and Mark. Derek stayed awake looking at his bedroom door knowing that the women he loved for so long and now his best friends’ wife was sleeping in his bed. They both managed to fall asleep just before the sun came up, both not knowing that each one was up in their own thoughts.

 

 

Derek was awaken by a buzzing sound that just kept interrupting his sleep. He got up and tried to focus on what was making that sound. As he sat up on the coach and rubbed his face, he then realized there was someone at the door. He looked up at the clock and saw it was a little past 11 in the morning. He walked over to the door and opened it. Mark Venture stood in front of him with a worry look on his face.

securedownload[2].jpg“Sorry Derek for waking you but I just couldn’t sleep. Nova and I had a big fight and she left last night and I haven’t heard from her yet.” Mark said as he made his way into Derek’s apartment before he could stop him from coming in. He stared at his friend and saw that he was still in pajama bottoms, and the couch was made up into a bed. “Am I interrupting something?” he asked as he looked at the coach.

“No Mark,” Derek said and remembered that Nova was in the other room.

“Sorry did I interrupt a long night of bliss?” Mark tried to laugh and make fun of him. But his smile escape him the minute the bedroom door opened and his wife stood before him in just a pajama top, the top that match Derek’s bottoms. “What the hell is going on here?”

“Mark it’s not what you think,” he tried to say.

“No then what is it, don’t you think I know how you feel about her?” Mark said as his voice became angry.

“Mark, honey, he’s right it’s not what you think. I just didn’t know where to go.” Nova said quickly as she saw her husband starting to get mad. She had gotten up from tossing and turning and decided to get some water.

“You didn’t know where to go, how about a hotel, Wendy’s, your parents. But no you come here to the one person that we argued about!” Mark yelled at her.

“Mark lower your voice, I don’t like the fact that you’re raising your voice at her. Nothing happened here, she needed someplace to stay it was late. She slept in my room and I slept out here,” Derek said quickly.

“Lower my voice, she is my wife and this is between me and her.” Mark stood closer to him as his anger grew and face Derek face to face.

“Well it’s now between all of us. She made it my problem when she showed up at my door, crying her eyes out.” Derek snapped back.

“Your problem, you are the problem!” Mark snapped as his hands turned into a fist.

“Mark, no!” Nova screamed as she saw his temper beginning to escalate. “Just give me a minute and I’ll go home with you so we can talk.”

“What the hell is going on here?” Derek felt a little confused. She seemed to avoid what happened with them last night. He knew that they have been having problems for a while, from what Mark has been saying. But he never knew what it was about.

“Nothing Derek, Mark let’s go home,” Nova said as she ran into the room and started to get dressed.

Venture stood there and looked at Wildstar, making him wonder even more what the hell was going on. “Mark, I swear nothing happened. She pulled up to my apartment and she was crying, I asked her up. It was late and I didn’t think that you would want her to be driving around late at night”

“She should've never come here,” Venture said to himself out loud. He looked back at his friend and said “She’s all yours Derek, I can’t live like this anymore,” then left the apartment. Leaving Derek standing there in total confusion

Nova walked out the bedroom door dressed in what she wore the night before and saw that her husband was no longer there. “Where did he go Derek?”

With a confused look he asked her, “he left, what did he mean by your all mine?”

“What!?” Nova said as tears formed in her eyes.

“He said he couldn’t take it anymore and that you were all mine. What did he mean by that?” Derek asked.

Nova just broke down and began to cry that her husband left her there. Derek walked over to her and held her in his arms. He stroked her hair and tried to calm her down. “Derek I have no idea why he would say that, he’s just insecure about us. He thinks that I have a thing for you, I told him that I married him and he shouldn’t doubt that I love him. But he just thinks that you and I have something going on. And now this, he must have thought that something happened here last night.”

Derek’s heart began to beat faster and he felt that he should say something, but held back “I doubt that he thought that, Nova. He knows me better than that.”

“Does he really Derek?” Nova questioned him.

Without thinking Derek kissed her. Surprised at his action she was more surprised as she returned his kiss. She threw her arms around him and drew him near to her. They kissed for a few minutes when Derek finally pulled away and said “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what came over me. Your Mark’s wife for god sakes what the hell are we doing here?”

“I don’t know Derek, but something felt right about it. About you and me, or am I just wishing it would be.” Nova pulled away from his arms and walked over to his window and looked out.

He walked back to the bar and poured himself a drink of vodka, he didn’t care if it was morning. He needed to think straight. “Nova, whether it felt right or not, you’re still Mark’s wife and my best friend. I’m not going to lie to you. I’ve loved you for a long time now, but when we first met I was going through a lot. I lost my brother. I broke it off with a girlfriend and I just wasn’t about to commit to someone else at the time. Mark showed interest in you first and I didn’t want to stand in the way of his happiness.” He said with one quick swoop he drank down the liquid.

“Derek, I knew for a while that there was more to us too, but I married Mark. I guess I owed it to him to make our marriage work. But lately it just too hard to make it work, he is always suspecting that we have something going on. Had he not pushed the issue we might be happy.” Nova said looking back at him.

“So what do we do now Nova?” he asked.

“I have to go back to him, I have to try and make it work out,” she said and walked into the room. Derek followed her into the room and watched as she began to make the bed and put her things back into her suitcase.

He watched her finish packing and thought to himself that he couldn’t lose her now, now that he told her that he loved her. He walked behind her and stood close to her. Nova stood still and took in his scent, she always like how he smelled. Mark smelled good but it didn’t quite fit him. She turned and looked at Derek in the face. “Derek I don’t think this will work with us, I have to go to him and make it work.

Yamato2[1].jpg“I know you do Nova, but I keep feeling that if I don’t try that I will lose you forever. I love you, I’ve always loved you.” Derek said and then gently kissed her again. Taking in his kiss she wanted him so much and it felt like her destiny was finally being answered. He moved her onto his bed and slowly he began to take off her clothes. He began to caress her naked body as she took in every touch with his hands. He couldn’t believe how much he loved her. All the other women where just one night stands something to keep him occupied until this very moment. He looked up to her and looked into her eyes, he could see that she wanted him too. He continued to kiss her again, making his way down to her neck and then down to her breast, Nova moaned with pleasure wanting him more. He then looked up and then began to kiss her body again. In haste their bodies moved together as if were always meant to be. Nova laid underneath him gasping for air, she never felt like this with Mark.  “I love you so much Nova, I always have.” He whispered softly into her ear.

Nova laid there and began to cry realizing that she was indeed in love with this man and not her husband.

 

 

 

 

sima5[1].jpgIn the doorway Mark watched as Nova and his best friend made love, he had came back in hopes to work things out with Nova. He thought she was right in taking it to the extreme of accusing them of having feelings for each other. Derek was right by not letting her drive around that late at night. But when he returned to the apartment he found the door slightly opened and over heard what they said to each other. He saw as she walked into his bedroom and he followed her inside. He had hopes to walk in and take her home with a huge apology and suggest that maybe having a baby will make it better. He waited, then entered the apartment making his way to Derek’s bedroom and peeked in the door and saw as they fell onto the bed. He watched Derek take off his wife’s clothes and made love to her. When they were finished he turned and walked out the door tears streaming down his face.

Derek laid next to her and asked, “So what now?”

Nova got up and grabbed her clothes quickly, covering herself with them. She realized that what happened with her and Derek she would have to keep a secret for always. “I have to go, I’m so sorry.” She said as she try to get dressed and realizing that she was still married to Mark.

“Nova don’t go, please stay. I can’t lose you to him again.” Derek said as he tried to hold her back.

“Derek, Mark is my husband. What happened here was a mistake. He can never find out about this, I love Mark, not you.” She tried to tell him, but she knew that she was lying to herself and him.

“No it wasn’t, and you know that,” he said still holding her arm.

“Derek, please you’re making this more harder for me, I need to think.” Nova said as she tried to finish getting dress.

  “Nova I can’t let you go back to him, please stay.” He pleaded with her.

She turned as she grabbed her bag and said, “I’m so sorry Derek, this should never have happened. I have to try to work things out with him.”

He got up still naked and held her arm. “Very well Nova, just one thing. If it doesn’t work out I’m always going to be here waiting for you.”

She nodded her head and walked out the door, Nova made her way on the elevator and down to the lobby. Derek had called down to the concierge and her car was parked in front. She took the keys from him and he placed her suitcase in the car for her. She sped off to her house, as she drove she could see the clouds forming in the distance and she thought about what happened with Derek. A smile crept on her face as she thought about his touch on her. But she snapped back as she approached her home that she shared with her husband. Nova sat outside of the house for 15 minutes before she got out and made her way to the front door. When she entered the house she looked around the living room and saw suitcases sitting in the entrance of the house, placing her things on the sofa she made her way towards their bedroom, walked in and found Mark packing his things.

“Mark, what are you doing?” She asked still reeling from what happened within the last 24 hours.

Mark turned and looked at his wife, she saw that he had been crying. “Not now Nova, there’s nothing more to say.”

“Mark please we need to work things out.” She pleaded realizing that he was leaving and leaving for good from what she saw.

“Nova just stay out of my way, I can’t stay here any longer.”

“Mark, please we can work this out if you just try with me.” She walked over to their bed and sat down, tears beginning to stream down her face.

“And talk about what, you made it clear who you wanted!” he snapped at her.

Nova got up and walked over to him to stop him from packing, “I’m here aren’t I? I love you.”

“DON’T YOU EVERY SAY THAT TO ME!” He yelled as he grabbed hold of her and pushing her away from him.

She managed to keep her balance and looked at him with shock “Mark what’s wrong with you I don’t understand?”

“YOU DON’T! Well let me refresh your memory being that you forget so easily. I went back to Derek’s apartment and I saw, I saw,” Mark tears flooded down his face. He took a deep breath and said .“I saw YOU AND MY best friend making love. So don’t you ever tell me that you love me, now get out of here and let me finish packing! I will be out of here in a few, I’ll have a lawyer contact you with divorce papers as soon as possible. I can’t stay here anymore, you can have the house. Do what you want with it, sell it, keep it I don’t care.”

“Mark, I don’t want a divorce.” Nova now crying harder knowing that her marriage was falling apart and horrified that he saw them making love.

He walked over to her and grabbed her by the arm escorting her out the room. “Just leave Nova come back in an hour or so, I’ll have all my stuff out of here by then.” He said softly already drained from the day.

Nova couldn’t do or say anything to make him change his mind. He already saw them together and what could she say to him now. If it was him cheating she would be gone too without a second thought. She grabbed her bag and ran out the door jumping in her car taking off down the street as it began to pour rain.

 

 

Derek threw opened the door and pulled her close to him. The concierge called up to his apartment and informed him that Mrs. Venture was downstairs in the lobby. He brought her into the apartment and kissed her on the lips, grateful that she had come back to him. He pulled her away and noticed that she was soak, “Come on let’s get you out of these wet clothes.”

“Derek,” Nova tried to say shivering from the cold and tears streaming down her face.

“Don’t say a word, I’ll get you a towel and some dry clothes.” Derek said as he walked towards the bathroom and grabbed a towel then walked over to his closet to get her some dry clothes.

Nova sat there crying for what had happened with her and Mark. Derek came out of the room and gave her a pair of sweats and T-shirt, which she took and walked into the bathroom to change. When she finally came out, Derek stood waiting for her in the living room. She stood across the room drying her hair and then stared at him looking into his eyes. He went to her and took hold of her tightly into his arms. “What happened with Mark?” he asked her as he held her.

“He’s packing as we speak, he’s wants a divorce.” Nova said still in shocked that he saw them together.

Derek slightly grinned and then saw the pain in her eyes. She was hurting not because they were splitting up but because she failed at her marriage. “Nova honey, why would he ask for a divorce? I thought you were going to work it out?” He asked feeling happy that she would be free for him to marry her.

She looked up at him and started to wipe the tears from her face. “Derek he was here.”

“I know he was here, I talked to him.” He said half joking to her.

“No Derek, he was here when we were in the bedroom, ALONE.” She said.

“O, did he?”

“Yes he did, that’s why he is leaving me.” She said.

Derek grabbed her closer to him wanting to make her stop hurting. She cried for a long time and he stood there with her holding her tight. When she finally calm down he pulled away from her and held her face in his hand. “Nova, I love you with all my heart and I will never hurt you, ever.” He kissed her hard and she kissed him back.

“Oh Derek, I have known for a long time now that I love you too.” She said smiling through her tears. She knew then she was destined to be with him all along.

“I love you Nova, stay here with me. You don’t have to go back,” Derek told her.

She looked deep into his eyes and smiled, “he said I can have the house, but I can’t live in that big house all alone.”

“Sell it and give him the money, then you can move in here with me.”

She smiled at him and said, “I can’t Derek, the grave isn’t even cold yet. I have to give myself time. How would it look with you and I getting together right after Mark and I splitting up? I mean people will talk.”

“I don’t give a shit what people think, I love you.”

“Derek, Mark doesn’t deserve this, he really doesn’t. I just want this to be as easy for him as possible and you and I getting together so quickly will put him over the edge.”

“Nova your marriage to him was done a long time ago. He never mention why you and he were arguing about but to him it seemed like it was over. I sense that he wasn’t happy for awhile now. He seemed to always put up a front, on how happy you two were and how everything was fine. But he always mentioned your arguments to me and asked what he should do. I remember one time him asking Sandor about his divorce lawyer’s name.”

Nova looked at him with shock, “he what?”

“He never came out and said it, but Sandor mentioned it to me. When I approach him about it he told me that he was just looking into it just in case. I’m sorry Nova I never meant to tell you about it, I was hoping that you and he would work it out. Truly I did.”

“Thank you Derek, I never knew how unhappy he’s been. I only wished that he told me about it.”

“Nov, can I ask you something?”

“I think I know what you’re going to ask Derek, we’ve been fighting over you.” Nova turned away.

“But why, I don’t understand. What have I done to make you two fight about me?”

“Derek, he always knew you had feelings for me and deep down inside I knew I had feelings for you too, but I married Mark and I just thought it was a crush. Derek do you know how many times it killed me when you went home with some dumb bimbo. I just wanted to shake you and tell you what are you thinking, going home with her.”

“Well I was going home with them to get my mind off of you and it drove me insane thinking that he was making love to you.”

“Oh Derek, what a mess, I don’t know if I can ever face him again.”

“Why don’t you go take a nap, and then I’ll take you to the house to get some things. Do you want to stay here?”

“It’s best if I stay at a hotel for now until he is totally out of the house. Plus I don’t want people talking.”

“I told you I don’t care what people say, now go take a nap.” Derek grabbed her by the arm and led her into his room, gave her a kiss on the cheek and left her to sleep.


When Nova woke up she wasn’t sure where she was at first. She sat up on the bed and held her face in her hands. It took her a minute then remembered everything of what happened with Mark. She put on her shoes and walked over to the door looking into the living room. Derek was at his desk doing some work when she coughed to get his attention. He looked up at her and gave her a smile that melted her heart. ‘Damn he is gorgeous, why haven’t I really noticed before’ she thought to herself.

“Did you sleep all right?”

“Yeah, thanks.” she said as she smiled at him. “What time is it?”

“It’s little past 7, you slept a long time. Are you hungry?”

“No not really.”

“Nov, you should eat something, I bet you haven’t eaten all day.”

“I can’t eat anything right now, let’s just go. I need some things that I didn’t take last time. Then you can take me to a hotel.”

“Are you sure, Nova? I mean you can stay here if you like.”

“Thanks Derek. But it’s best I just stay at a hotel tonight.”

“Alright, let me get my keys and we can go.”

He grabbed his keys and they left to her and Marks house. She sat in his car quiet in her own thoughts as to what happened. Derek looked ahead as he drove the car to her house. When they pulled up they saw Sandor helping Mark with some boxes. Nova sat in her seat and tensed up. She wasn’t expecting him to still be there and with Sandor.

“Do you want me to get out with you?”

“No, Derek I need to deal with this,” she said and step out of the car and walked over to Mark and Sandor.

“Hello Nova,” Sandor said and then looked over to the car to see Wildstar behind the wheel.

“Hey Sandor,” She said trying to smile then turned to her husband. “Mark, I see you’re still moving out, I’ll stay out of your way. I just came to get some things.”

Mark looked at her then at Derek who sat in the car. He gripped her by the arm hard and walked her to the porch of the house “How dare you bring him here!” he said through gritted teeth.

“Ouch! Mark let go of me, you’re hurting me.” Nova shook her arm from his grip.

“I can’t believe you brought him here with you. Are you stupid or is it that you just want to put the nails on the coffin too?”

“Don’t talk to me like that, I’m still your wife,” Nova spat at him. “And anyway don’t you think it was you that put me into that situation.”

“I can’t believe it you sleep with him and you act like it’s all my fault!”

“Well in a way it is partially your fault. Maybe if you concentrated more on our marriage instead of insinuating that we had something going on, we might have been able to save it.” She snapped at him.

Without thinking Mark looked at her and slapped her hard across the face reeling her to the ground. Derek ran out of the car making his way to where they stood. Sandor saw it too and ran towards Nova and Mark were, in hopes to stop what may happen next.

Nova sat on the ground holding her face in disbelief at what he did. “YOU SON OF A BITCH, HOW DARE YOU!” she screamed as she got up and began to swing at him hitting him in the face. Sandor grabbed hold of her and swung her away from Mark.

gallery170[1].jpg“Nova calm down,” Sandor said as he took her away from him. But couldn’t stop what happened next.

Derek threw himself at Mark, sending them both down to the ground. They fought swinging at each other, taking a punch at each other’s face. Derek hit Mark hard and split his lip making him bleed while Mark punched Derek in the eye. They both grabbed one another in a head lock and began to swing with all their might. Sandor let Nova go and tried to get in between them while they continued to struggle.

“Stop it! Right now, both of you!” Sandor yelled.

 “Mark! Derek! Stop, you have to stop this right now!” she screamed hoping to stop them.

Sandor grabbed hold of Mark with his bionic arms and pulled him away. “Let go of me” Mark yelled at Sandor.

Nova ran over to Derek and held him back, “Derek no, it’s not worth it.”

“Listen to her, she’s not worth it.” Mark said as he tried to get Sandor to let him go.

“You should have never hit her, that’s lower then low. Only a piece of shit would hit a woman.”

“And only a piece of shit would sleep with his best friend’s wife!” Mark spat out.

Silence filled the area and Sandor stood there shocked. When Mark called him to help him move out he never mentioned what happen, only that they weren’t getting along and decided to separate. He looked from Mark to Derek and then to Nova.“I don’t know what’s going on here, but your neighbors are starting to look maybe we should all go in the house and talk this out.” Sandor said as he looked at the crowd that was starting to form.

Nova nodded and looked over to Mark, “Sandor’s right, let’s take this inside.”

“Why, so that our neighbors don’t find out what a tramp I married.” Mark spat out loud.

“You bastard, how could you!” Nova spun around and yelled at him.

Derek face turned to more anger at what he said to her. “So this is how you treat her after she nursed you back from so many battles? She stood by you with all the missions that she asked you not to take. You’re a real piece of work.”

“No better then you are, you couldn’t stop yourself. You had to have her too. I don’t want to see you two ever again. I’ll have Singleton have me reassigned to another fleet. Sandor let’s get out of here I don’t want to look at her anymore. Call Sandor when you’re done getting your things, I’ll try to get my things out as fast as I can sorry it’s taken me this long.” Mark said and walked towards Sandor’s car and got in.

“Wildstar, I don’t know what to say. You and Nova, how could you do this to him.”

“This is none of your concern, just take him. I’m sure she won’t take long.”

“We’ll talk about this later,” Sandor said.

“No we won’t, stay out of this Sandor. I love her and that’s all that matters.”

Sandor stared at him, turned and walked over to his car where Mark sat with his hand on his face crying.

Nova watched as Sandor drove away with her husband, then walked over to Derek. “Let’s go in the house.” she said as she nodded over to the neighbors that stood across the street looking at them. Derek looked over and saw the small crowd that formed across the street. He wiped the blood that fell from his mouth and walked inside the house. “I’m so sorry. I should have come here alone.” Nova turned to him tears falling from her face.

“So he can beat you with no one here to defend you, no way. I never thought that he would hit you, it’s not like him. I’m so sorry Nova, you didn’t deserve that.” He said as he held her tightly in his arms.

“Oh my, your eye let me get you some ice for that.” Nova said then walked into the kitchen to get him an ice pack. She gave it to him helping him place it on his eye and then said. “Let me get my things and get out of here, I can’t stay here now. Not after what he did and said, I just can’t now.” She walked into her room and began to pack what she could into some luggage and bags. Finishing packing she sat on her bed and looked around the room. All she thought of was all the nights they laid in bed together talking and making love. She looked over to her nightstand and looked at the picture of the two of them on their wedding day and cried some more. Derek stood in the door way and watched her as she sat on the bed crying. She looked up at him and tried to smile, “I’m done here. Can you help me take this to the car?”

“Sure” he smiled at her trying to make her feel a little better.  He picked up two bags and took it to the car. Nova looked around once again and then placed the picture of her and Mark on the bed. She took a deep breath, wiped her eyes and walked out the door. She knew then it was finally over between them.

 

 

Derek helped her settle in to the Great Island Grand Hotel and the weeks flew by for them. She spent more and more time with him. He stopped by when she was off as much as he could. True to his word Venture asked for a transfer and was sent to the 23rd fleet that was scheduled to leave in a month time.

They both sat in the Judge’s chambers looking at each other as their lawyers discussed the division of their personal property.

Nova lean over to Mark and said “I’m so sorry Mark, I never meant to hurt you. I just hope that you can forgive me and Derek and we can move on with our lives.”

With half a smile Mark said. “Let’s just move on, I’m sorry I called you those names and God I’m so sorry for hitting you. I don’t know what came over me, I felt like shit after. Are you still seeing him?”

“Does it matter Mark?”

“No, but at least I know that you’re in good hands. I’ve always known that he loved you. The way he looks at you, and would kid with you about taking you away from me. I’ve always knew. I take some blame for what happened, your right maybe if I focused more on just us this would probably never happen.”

“Mark let’s just get this over with, I don’t want to hurt you anymore than I have. Just remember that I loved you, with all my heart and I wish you the best.”

Mark lean over and gave her a kiss as a tear rolled down his face. He held her hand when the Judge walked in and the proceeding started. True to his word Mark didn’t contest the divorce and gave Nova everything. When it was all over, they walked out of the courtroom holding hands. Derek stood in the hall and watched as they walked out together. Mark looked up and saw him standing there, he turned to Nova and gave her a last kiss goodbye and then nodded in Derek’s direction as he walked by and out the door of the court house.

“How are you?” Derek asked.

“It went well, it’s over.” Nova said as she watched her now ex-husband walk out the door.

Derek saw her still looking at the door and asked, “What happened?”

“He didn’t contest the divorce, and it looks like he is moving on. He wishes us the best, and he seems fine with it.” she smiled and turned to him.

“Come on, let’s go.” Derek said grabbing her by the arm.

“Where are we going?”

“To my place.”


She sat in his apartment with a glass of wine in her hand still feeling the pain that she and Mark were finished.  Derek walked into the room holding a small velvet box in hand.

“What is this?” she asked in his dream.

“Open it,” he said.

Nova opened it and what she saw was a beautiful oval diamond ring, at least 4 carats in size. She looked up to him with a confused look.

“Marry me Nova, tomorrow. I love you and I would never hurt you. I’m not losing you again. Nova what do you say, Nova, Nova……”


Nova felt someone shaking her and calling her name, she turned slightly and then opened her eyes.

“Nova, Nova baby, wake up,” Derek said as she toss and turn.

“Huh, what? Where am I ?” she looked over and saw Derek looking at her with concern.

“Baby you were having a bad dream, are you alright” Derek pushed the hair off her face and smiled at her.

“Yeah, I’m alright.”

“You were tossing and turning,” Derek said as he held her and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

“I was dreaming that I was married to Venture, but somehow it was you that I wanted.” Nova told him.

“Really, even in your dreams you want me?” he laughed.

Nova gave him a shove and then pull him close to her, “I guess I was thinking of the day he told us that he always love me and subconsciously I wanted to know how it would be to be married to him, had he lived and we didn’t get together.”

“And?” Derek looked at her.

“We weren’t happy, we got a divorce and you had something to do with it,” she said as she ran her finger down his nose.

“I did?” Derek grinned with curiosity, “was I married or single?”

Nova gave out a laugh, “as a matter of fact you were still single and breaking hearts. Although you did admit that you loved me in front of my husband.”

“Your husband, I’m your husband and I should be in your dreams at all times.” Derek said like a teenage boy making Nova laugh more.

“Maybe that’s why it didn’t work out with us. My love for you is undeniable,” she said and kissed him.

“Hmm, I don’t think I like the fact that my wife is dreaming about another man. Dead or alive, it makes me jealous.” Derek frowned at her.

“Don’t be so silly it’s just a dream.” Nova smiled. Derek looked at her and then began to get out of bed. “Where do you think you’re going?” Nova pulled him back.

“Well considering that you’re having dreams of another man, I think I should leave and give you two sometime alone.” Derek joked.

“Oh you, get over here,” Nova grabbed his arm and began to kiss him. Derek laughed as he kissed her, moving his hand over her growing stomach when he felt something and pulled away from his pregnant wife.

“Hey, that felt like a foot.” He smiled as he looked at her stomach.

“Yeah that would be a foot, and he or she just kicked me in the lung.” Nova took a deep breath.

“You okay babe,” Derek ask with concern.

“Yeah, just part of being pregnant, what time is it?” Nova asked, realizing that it was still dark outside and in the house.

“It’s 0300, I got in a half hour ago.” Derek yawned.

“Again, that’s the third time this week. What is Stone doing?” Nova looked at him worry, she finally looked at her husband and he seemed tired to her.

“You know old Stone face, he has taken his power to his head, and until Singleton is better he is in charge” Derek try to make light of it.

“Yeah but he sent you to Pluto twice in the last month and then he has you leaving again in a week,” Nova said annoyed. “I hope that he doesn’t pull that when I’m ready to deliver.”

“I put my paper work in just before Singletons accident, he can’t go back on that. If he tries I can go to EDF and fight it,” Derek snapped.

“Well I hope so. I don’t want to have this baby without you there. I mean Doctor Spada and the girls have been great with going with me. But I would like sometime for you to come with me to one of the appointments that way you can see our child on the monitor.”

“Nova, did you find out what we’re having?” Derek asked with a sad tone.

“No baby, I would never do that, we promised that we will find out together.” Nova smile and then touch his face, “and I intend to keep that promise.”

Derek gave a sigh of relief he had hope that she wouldn’t he truly wanted to be there when they found out what they were having. They have talked back and forth about it and decide when they both were together that they would ask about the sex of the baby. “I will make sure that I get at least one appointment I promise.”

“Hmm, we will see.” Nova said with doubt. The way Stone has been keeping him busy it was always hard to tell when he would be home. Derek looked at her face and notice the look, he place his hand over her stomach again and felt for the baby.

“I guess he is sleeping.” He smiled at her.

“Yes she is,” Nova said back.

“You know this is the first time in about 3 weeks that we actually had time together.  Maybe we should take advantage of it.” He gave her a grin that said everything.

“Captain Wildstar are you not aware that I am pregnant and look like a whale,” Nova laughed.

“You’re so sexy like this, I might just keep you knocked up.” He said as he smiled at her still feeling her stomach. He leaned over and kissed her stomach then began to kiss her on the lips. She returned his kisses and put her arms around his neck. “I love you so much.”