"I don't know why she left Ty, they won't tell me." Ross shrugged.

"They have to have had a reason to place her back on Earth." McQueen told him.

"I know, and they only told me it was family problems - and maybe it is." Ross explained.

"Are you sure there's not something you're not telling me?" McQueen asked.

"I'm sure!"

"Hm." McQueen stood thinking for a few seconds. "Any news on the progress of Operation: GetDown?" McQueen asked.

"Actually yes, the chigs ahve been sent the warning 'stroke' peace offering, we should hear from them inthe next few weeks." The Commodore told his friend.

"And then what?"

"That depends on the chigs, peace talks could go on for a few months. And then we have the AI's to consider." Ross sighed.

"How do we reach them?" McQueen placed his hands on his hips.

"Well, they're the chigs allies, hopefully they'll stand with the chigs provided the chigs do sign the peace talks."

"And if they don't?"

"We have their homebase co-ordinates, they know we can blow them away with one push of the button. They don't really have a choice."

"What if they counterattack and attack Earth?" McQueen asked.

"They'd never reach it, we'd see their attack from miles off and sabotage it. Whereas their defense methods aren't anywahere near as high tech as ours. We have a great advantage over the." Ross smiled.

"So what happens if everything goes to plan?" McQueen asked.

"The chigs retreat to Andromeda where they're thought to have evolved from. Most ships'll return to Earth, others'll stay out in space just in case, the war against the aliens will end." Ross sighed plucking his guitar.

"Two years of fighting will come to an end." McQueen mused out loud.

Shane woke early, she had stayed in Anne's spare room and would move into the chalet when Ed put a bed in.

She wandered into the kitchen after going through a couple of minutes of morning sickness and realised she was the only one awake. Looking over tot he clock on the wall she realised it was 7 in the morning. "Old habits die hard." She muttered as she poured herself a cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen table.

She wasn't sure if it was the habit that woke her or the fact that she would be meeting the sister she hadn't seen for over two years again. It was different with Amy than the realationship she had with Anne, Anne had always taken care of herself well while Shane looked after them. But Amy had always purposely created problems for Shane, she had been kicked out of many schools and the last time they spoke was through shouting at each other as loud as theyc ould because Amy had gotten into a fight and ended up punching a teacher and getting expelled. Shane had remembered she had gone ballistic, it would have turned into a physical fight, in fact it did, but Anne turned up and held them both back form each other. Shane had just walked out then, she had spoken one last time to Anne and then joined the Corp to get away.

Time flew by as Shane thought about her sisters, and her parents, she had not realised when she had fallen asleep but was woken by the sound of the doorbell ringing and shot up in her chair, almost spilling the cold cup of coffee she still held.

"Easy Shane!" Ed cried as she nearly hit him. she cleared her throat and rubbed her eyes. "Sorry Ed, I must've fallen asleep when I came down here, what's the time?"

"It's ten to ten, Amy'll be coming soon."

Shane's body tensed and she stood up. "Oh." Shane looked around for a door that would take her out of the room, or at least waiting for the ground to swallow her up.

"Do you mind if I take a walk?" Shane asked quickly.

"You have to face Amy soon." Ed replied.

"Rather later than sooner." Shane smiled.

"No that's fine." Ed smiled shaking his head whilst laughing slightly as the woman panicked.

"Anne, I'm just gonna go out for a small walk, see how much this place has changed." Shane told her sister.

"Okay Shane, but come back soon. You have to see Amy soon." Shane rolled her eyes and nodded.

"Take care then Shane." Anne called out as she left out the back and walked across the large garden.

The doorbell rang and Anne answered.

"Hey Amy" Anne smield as she greeted her sister with a hug.

"Hi Anne, I hope you don't mind me bringing James with me." She smiled as the tall, dark and handsome man stepped beside Anne.

"The more the merrier." Anne smiled. "Hello James, nice to see you again." She smiled.

"You too Anne." He replied.

"Where's Marion?" Amy asked as she followed her sister into the house.

"She's upstair's sleeping." Anne told her. Amy looked around the room and spotted a small navy bag, she raised her eyebrows. "What's this Anne, you thinking of joining the Corps?" Amy laughed.

"No!" Anne shook her head. "That's something I've gotta talk to you about."

Seeing her sister's eyes look at her awkwardly Amy thought something bad had happened.

"What's happened?" She asked in fear.

"It's nothing bad!" Anne smiled. "Well, actually that depends on you."

"What is it?" Amy asked.

"Shane's come back." Anne told her, Amy slumped back into the settee. "Shane? I thought she was in space fighting." Amy said.

"She's had a few...problems, she's come back for a couple of months, she's staying in our chalet for that time." Anne explained, waiting for the reaction.

"It's been over four years since...where is she?" Amy asked.

"She's gone out for a walk." Ed told her.

"Because of me? Jesus, my own sister's avoiding me. S'pose it's to be expected after what I was like."

"Amy, you've changed now." Anne told her placing a reassuring hand on her sister's shoulder.

"Where abouts has she gone?" Amy asked.

"She didn't say." Ed told her.

"Look, I know I only just got here but..."

"Go find her Amy." Anne prompted.

"Yeah go on Amy." James smiled as he grabbed his girlfriend's hand and squeezed, she smiled and nodded. "

"Guess I have some apologising to do." She replied and left the same way Shane had. "I'll be back soon, with my sister."

Anne turned to James. "Can I get you a drink?" She asked.

"That'd be nice, thanks." He smiled.

"So." Ed walked towards his friend. "What've you been upto?"

"Well I raced my Jaguar XJ772 new model yesterday around the track." He smiled.

"You lucky bastard." Ed smiled.

"It was beautiful."

Shane could hear the footsteps approaching her from behind, they were hurried and soon she could hear the heavy breathing of the runner. Shane turned to be knocked into by Amy.

"Woh!" Amy cried. "Sorry Shane." She apologised slightly out of breath.

"How'd you know my...Amy?" Shane looked over the young girl, her hair was now brown as opposed to the blue Shane had got used to, the young girl she remembered was a fully grown woman and looked almost identical to what Shane looked like at that age.

"It's been along time Shane." Amy told her as they stood facing each other. Amy looked at the unfamiliar woman, she looked older and wiser, different from the Shane that had nagged her two years ago.

"What're you doing out here?" Shane asked, it may have been warm yesterday but the temperature seemed to have dropped to where you could see your own breath as it came out of your mouth in a cloud of condensation. "You'll catch your death in those clothes." Shane told her, she only wore a T-shirt and jeans whereas Shane had grabbed her bomber jacket and a jumper. "Here take my jacket." Shane offered as she swung it around the young girl who had started to shiver.

"Thanks." Amy seemed suprised, not a good sign.

"I came out here to talk to you, and apologise. I know that it's a shock, and I know the last time we saw each other it was kinda messy. But I've changed now, I'm not the little brat that made your life hell." Amy told her.

"I can see that." Shane smiled.

"And I never meant to push you away from me." She shook her head. "I realised how terrible I'd been when you took off and joined the Corps."

"Don't worry I didn't join the Corps to get away from you." Shane told her.

"I know...I'm just...it's not...I'm sorry Shane for everything I put you through while you were looking after me. I guess I saw you as a mother that I could grow away from." Amy explained, Shane smiled as she remembered she had used the exact same words to describe her sisters to Cooper long ago. "Don't hate me for what I was."

"Hate you?!" Shane cried. "I couldn't hate you. I knew what you were going through remember? They were my parents too." Shane said.

"I know."

"But I could never hate you Amy." She shook her head. "Maybe I was angry at you for being chucked out of school."

"Maybe?!" Amy smiled.

"Hey you threw the first punch little sis'" Shane laughed rubbing her cheek where Amy had unexpectedly lashed out at her.

"I'm sorry for that too." Amy apologised.

"You're forgiven." Shane smiled. "How about we put the past behind us and start again? This time as sisters." Shane asked.

"Sounds good to me." Amy smiled and for the first time in a long time, they hugged, and it felt so good for both of them.

"Let's get back before we turn into icicles." Shane whispered as they fell apart but didn't break contact. Shane held her sister tight at her side to keep her warm and remind Shane that all of this was really happening. Maybe it was for the best to leave the Corps.

"So why did you leave the Corps?" Amy asked.

"It may only be temporary you realise." Shane said trying to avoid the subject.

"I know, stop trying to change the subject." Amy persisted.

Shane sighed. "Well you know how I always told you to be careful and take care of yourself and who you spend your time with well..."

"You're pregnant!!" Amy gasped as she turned to Shane with a huge grin on her face.

"How the hell did you know?"

"I've heard that speech before." Amy shook her head.

"Looks like Mrs 'I'm always responsible' Shane Vansen has finally slipped up!" Amy smiled poking Shane in the stomach.

"Hey, it's nothing like that, I knew exactly what I was doing." Shane told her then immediately regretted as the evil grin on her sister spread.

"Oh so you seduced someone?" Amy asked.

"No! It was nothing like that." Shane replied almost too quickly.

"So what did happen?"

"I'll tell you later." Shane told her and Amy knew that was all she'd get out of her sister for know.

The 58th sat in the turn tavern enjoying a forever lasting game of poker which Cooper seemed to be winning.

"More money for the honey." Cooper smiled as he dragged the chips he'd just won over to his rising pile.

"For the what?!" Nathan asked.

"Well it rhymes doesn't it?" Cooper shrugged.

Paul noticed all the glasses were empty. "My shout." He sighed leaving for the bar.

"How do you do it Coop? You seem to be getting better each time." Vanessa smiled.

"Tricks of the trade 'Phousse, you just gotta know." Cooper laughed, nobody mentioned the fact that if Shane were there she would have collected all of their money and left about an hour ago, but they all thought it.

McQueen entered, happy to see his 'kids' happy. He dreaded telling them he had found replacements for Shane and at last one for Kelly Winslow who was lost so long ago.

"58th, we've found replacements for...we've found replacements to join the 58th, they'll be docking in Docking Bay 5 in ten mikes, I expect you all to be there." He told them and then, as usual, left.

Paul returned shortly after to see the glum faces of his comrades.

"What did McQueen want?" He asked placing down the tray of beers he'd just got.

"He's found replacements for the 58th he wants us to meet them in ten mikes." Vanessa explained.

"Oh right." Paul nodded his head.

"I s'pose we'd better go then before Cooper takes all of our money." Nathan smiled.

"Oh come on guys, five more minutes and I'll be a millionaire." Cooper sighed.

"Come on." Vanessa stood up. "And remember, just because they're taking Shane's place, they didn't take her away, dont' hate them for it." She warned them.

Nathan and Cooper looked up having wondered whether Vanessa had read their minds because hating them was exactly what each one was thinking.

Nathan sighed and stood up. 'S'pose you're right." He agreed.

Ten minutes later and a CV landed in Docking Bay 5, the 58th stood in a small crowd with McQueen watching eagerly from the corner.

Lt.Kelly Urban stepped out, he looked around the room and his eyes fell on the 58th, he smiled and made his way towards them, followed by Lt.Luciel O'Donnell, Kelly was a large man, well built with short brown hair and a small scar above his right eyebrow he stood just above Cooper as he shook the InVitroes hand. Luciel was about Vanessa's height, she had short brown hair that was tucked neatly behind her ears.

"Nice to finally meet the 58th." Kelly smiled as the two new recruits stood opposite the 58th.

"You too." Vanessa smiled putting out her hand, he gladly shook it.

"Lt.Vanessa Damphousse." She smiled.

"Lt.Kelly Urban." He replied.

"This is Lt.Cooper Hawkes, Lt.Paul Wang and...Captain Nathan West." Vanessa added the last position which she knew would eventually happen and recieved a suprised look from the others.

"This is Lt.Luciel O'Donnell, she and I worked together before we were reassigned to your squadron." Kelly explained.

The young woman smiled. "Lucy." She added.

McQueen let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and silently left the room, he hoped this war would soon be over so that he didn't have to care about the 58th so much. He knew it sounded selfish but his love for them and their safety and happiness was killing him, put aside the war.

The 58th took the new recruits back to their room to drop their stuff off then showed them around the Saratoga.

Shane entered the house once again and all eyes were upon her, even baby Marion managed to look at her.

"It's alright, I didn't kill her." She smiled as Amy stepped through the door behind her wearing Shane's jacket, Anne sighed in relief.

"Thank God you didn't finish off what you left the last time you saw each other." Anne laughed.

"How could I with a baby on the way?!" Amy argued as she laughed.

"Watch it Amy." shane warned in a deep but softly laughing voice.

"So you know all of it?" Anne asked.

"Half of it, she still hasn't told me who it was, how it happened, the important details like that." Amy sighed recieving a light jab in the ribs from Shane.

"Well, you're not the only one left in the dark there." Anne added.

Shane looked around the room for an escape and his eyes fell onto the stranger that stood next to Anne.

"Oh! Shane this is my boyfriend James." Amy stepped beside him proudly, James smiled as he wrapped an arm around Amy's shouders.

"Nice to meet you James. I can see her taste in men has obviously improved."

"Er...thanks." James laughed.

"Shane!" Amy cried.

"Give a little take a little." Shane shrugged innocently.

Amy just shook her head.

It was nearly night and Ed had persuaded James to take him out in his JaguarXJ772 for a couple hours on the track.

The three sisters sat comfortably around the kitchen table.

"So Shane, you told me you'd tell me what happened to, y'know, put the bun in the oven." Amy persisted.

"Amy!" Anne gasped.

"She promised." Amy shrugged.

"It was Nathan West." Shane cut in, Anne immediately turned to her sister in shock.

"Nathan West as in Lt.Nathan West of the 58th squadron?" She asked.

"Yes." Shane replied.

"You know him?" Amy asked Anne.

"I've heard of him, Shane's sent photo's of him and described him in letters." Anne explained.

"So what's he like?" Amy asked.

"Nice from what I know." Anne shrugged.

"When you've stopped ignoring my presence I'll tell you more!" Shane told them.

"What's he like Shane?" Amy asked completely intrigued.

"He's very tall, very kind and very serious about the Corps." Shane told them, trying not to go into detail about the many times she had watched him in awe do simple little tasks like wake up and fall asleep.

Anne stood up. "I think I have the picture you sent me somewhere...here it is." she said lifting the small photo of the 58th she had from a draw. Amy snatched the photo.

"You look very cute in that flight suit Shane." Amy teased. "That's Nathan isn't it?" Anne said pointing out Nathan's lanky form, Shane nodded.

"Not bad Shane." Amy nudged her. "So, how'd it happen?" She asked.

Shane sighed, she couldn't see herself getting out of this one. "I was on grounds for suspension for disobeying orders which is a completely different story." Shane told them. "I was either to stay aboard the Saratoga or be transferred, the latter one was the most likely. Anyway, he was injured and I was grounded so we were alone in our quarters while the others were on a mission and it just...happened." Shane sighed in a daydream.

"Awww, that's so romantic." Amy sighed.

"What did you say after it happened?" Anne asked.

"I didn't get to speak to him, I was transferred the next morning, we never had time to speak to each other and I didn't know until about eight weeks later." Shane sighed.

"You're gonna make me cry." Amy smiled softly and rubbed her sister's forearm.

"Well, it's fairy tale." Shane sighed and stood up to fill her glass up with water.

Their first mission together was easy, the 58th deployed from the Saratoga in their hammerheads in search of alien presence in the Ixion sector, a routine call which went without action.

Back at the quarters Nathan was having a hard time looking down into Shane's bed and seeing Lucy down there instead.

"Colonel McQueen says the war might end soon." Lucy told them.

"Yeah, but that's a long gone promise." Cooper muttered.

"What do you mean?" Asked Kelly.

"The war was supposed to end when the chigs gave us back our Tellus colony in a peace offering." Vanessa told them.

"And?" Lucy asked.

"Rebel chigs ambushed us, nearly wiped us all out." Paul concluded.

"Yikes." Kelly replied. Seeing that nobody was speaking much, probably due to the presence of Lucy and his self, he decided to try and brighten the mood.

"Do you guys play poker?" He asked.

"Oh yeah." Cooper smiled.

"You wanna game? I bet I could wipe the deck with all of ya." He told them sitting up.

"Oh really." Vanessa challenged.

"You wanna put your money were your mouth is?" Paul asked.

"Absoloutely." Kelly nodded.

A week passed, Shane settled in well into the chalet, she wasn't used to it's size and kept thinking she'd wake up with the 58th, thinking, or hoping.

"Shane, phone call for you." Her sister shouted. Shane made her way through the house.

"It's a Lt.Damphousse." Anne told her as she pointed towards the screen that showed Vanessa sitting patiently on a seat in the Saratoga, fidgeting. Shane sat down in front of the small camera that would wire her picture to the Saratoga.

"Vanessa." Shane caught her attention, the young woman looked at the screen and smiled.

"Shane! I thought you'd be there, you left the number on the back of one of my photo's so I thought I'd try it. What's going on Shane? Why did you leave?" She asked.

"Vanesa slow down. Firstly, it's great to see you."

"You too Shane, we've all missed you." Vanessa replied.

"But I can't tell you why I left, it's...complicated." Shane told her.

"Why haven't you written?" Vanessa asked.

"I thought it would be better not to, less painful." Shane sighed.

"Why? Oh god...you're not coming back are you Shane?" The woman's face turned into horror as she realised the truth.

"It is a possibility but not certain. Don't tell nay of the others, please. I know it's wrong not to tell you, but you have to trust me on this 'Phousse." Shane pleaded.

"I do trust you Shane, but I'm not gonna be the one to tell the others." Vanessa warned her.

"How are the others?" Shane asked desperately.

"Worried about you. Nathan doesn't seem to speak much, Cooper, well I don't know about Cooper, he won't talk about you. We miss you Shane."

"Vanessa." Shane shook her head.

"It must be something very important."

"It is." Shane agreed. "How's the war?"

"We still haven't heard from the chigs yet, but the Commodore says they should reply within the next month."

"And then what?" Shane asked.

"Peace talks, hopefully the war'll be over and we'll come back." Vanessa told her. Shane's body tensed, if they came back and saw her she'd have trouble explaining the large and rising bump on her stomach.

"How long?"

"A couple of months." Vanessa said. "A year at the most."

"Vanessa, promise me something."

"Anything."

"Don't tell anybody where I am, don't give anyone my number." Shane told her.

"That's not fair Shane, we all love you, you can't expect us just to forget about you." Vanessa disagreed. "They'll guess where you are." Vanessa told her.

"I'll write." Shane told her.

"But it takes over a week to get here." Vanessa moaned.

"Does anybody know about you calling me?" Shane asked.

"No."

"Please keep it that way."

"What's with all the secrecy?" Vanessa asked worriedly.

"It's nothing Vanessa, just something I have to deal with."

"Can I keep calling you?" Vanessa asked.

"Yeah, but only you okay 'Phousse, promise me."

"Okay I promise, but the others, they'll want to know how you are."

"I'll write." Shane told her. Vanessa sighed.

"Shane, if there's something wrong then you have to tell me. We've known each other for two years."

"How many people are there?" Shane asked preparing herself to reveal all.

"Nobody, the room's cleared, everyone's on call sweeping the area, except for the 58th who have just come back."

"Okay, Vanessa, I'm gonna tell you why I can't come back, you probably won't believe me but you'll understand." Shane took a few breaths.

"What is it?" Vanessa asked.

"I'm pregnant." Shane whispered.

"Pregnant!! Jesus Shane!!" Vanessa whispered trying to contain her suprise.

"Y'see?" Shane asked.

"I guess so, Shane when did this..."

"I can't say, but I don't want the others to know."

"Understood." Vanessa nodded smiling.

"What're you smiling at?" Shane asked.

"Captain Vansen a mother?"

"Y'know if I could, I'd hit you right now." Shane laughed.

"Just you try." Vanessa replied. "Nathan's just entered, I guess I'll have to go." Vanessa sighed.

"Okay, goodbye Vanessa, it's been great talking to you."

"You too."

"Take care."

"You too." The screen went blank on both sides. Vanessa sat in her chair, unable to keep the smile off her face, she shook her head and Nathan approached from behind.

"Who was that?" He asked casually.

"Mom, said she needed to talk to me." Vanessa sighed.

"Everything okay?" Nathan asked.

"Fine."

Three a half months passed, the 58th continued their battle against the chigs while peace talks were in progress. Vanessa kept up her secret phone calls with Shane.

Shane's stomach had risen to an unbelivable round ball which Shane constantly moaned about to Anne who had only sympathy for her having been through it all.

"You've got four months left of this and it only gets worse!" Anne teased.

"Thanks for the encouragement." Shane sighed as she ate her fourth helping of cottage pie.

"Oh come on Shane, it's all worth it." Anne smiled. "Creating a new life."

"I s'pose."

"Letter from Shane." McQueen entered and handed it to Nathan who read it out to the others.

"She says she's fine, all is well and she hopes to see us soon back on Earth when the 'damn' war finishes." Nathan smiled.

Vanessa went to the phone that night, just as shocked to see the size of Shane's stomach. they continued to chat and catch up with each other and Vanessa realised that Shane was enjoying her life back on Earth, she had her sisters now, proper family, why should she want to retun to space. Because she was the damn best, that's why.

Another three and a half months went by, the peace talks made slow but obvious progress, the whole war slowly ticked on, every single marine waiting for the hopeful confirmation that it had ended and they could return back to Earth to be with their families.

Shane sat watching the large TV screen on the wall with her sister's Amy and Anne, refusing to ignore the war that she had given two years of her life towards. The General was on TV talking about peace talks, the mood he was in had changed.

"It has come to my delight that I may announce that our enemy, the chigs, have signed a peace treaty." He smiled as the crowd of thousands of people cheered and screamed. Shane gasped along with her sisters and she could feel tears sprouting in her eyes, it was finally going to be over.

"It's over." Amy muttered in disbelief as she hugged Anne and then Shane.

"But we must remember." He spoke loudly over the cherring crowds. "As a man named Benedictus De Spinoza once said: Peace is not the mere absence of war, but is a virtue that springs from force of character. The whole world will celebrate the this peace and the peace within them. More news will be brought to you over the next couple of hours."

Then she felt it, the striking pain that flashed through her body. She gasped, clutching her stomach.

"Shane?" Amy asked. "What's wrong?"

"The baby." Shane closed her eyes against the growing pain.

"Oh man! you're going into labour?!" Anne cried.

"Ten out of ten for observations." Shane groaned then threw her head back in pain. "Jesus." She muttered.

"Amy, get your car, the hospital's not far, I'll help Shane outside." Anne told her younger sister who nodded and quickly left.

"Breathe Shane, remember how I taught you too." Anne told her, Shane nodded and began to breath rhythmically.

"Okay, we're gonna get you into the car." Anne said slowly as she lifted Shane from the settee and walked her towards the front door.

Shane had never been in so much physical pain, well, not that she could remember. And in seconds, it had all stopped.

"It's gone." She sighed in relief.

"Oh it'll come back." Anne assured her. "We'll have to time your contractions but that seemed pretty strong so I think we'd better get you to the hospital just in case." She explained.

"It's over." Cooper sighed in disbelief.

"Coop, it's a war, that's meant to be a good thing." Paul told him as they sat in their bunks in their quarters.

"We're all gonna keep in touch right?" Vanessa asked suddenly.

"Of course." Nathan replied.

"I'm staying with the Corps, I don't think I can hack being a civilian again." Cooper shook his head.

"Yeah." Nathan agreed.

"I might join my father's business." Vanessa still unsure of whether she really wanted to leave the Corp."Do you think we'll be able to see Shane if we go back to Earth?" Cooper asked.

"I should imagine so."

"We won't be going back straight away though, the Colonel will probably keep us up here for a few more months to check." Lucy added.

"Yeah, so we shouldn't start planning just yet." Paul sighed.

It was the most painful thing she had ever been through, and being a marine seemed easy compared to labour. It felt like she was trying to squeeze the world out of her.

But now, it was over, all the sweat had been wiped from her body and she lay ina maternity ward, a place she didn't think she'd be for a very long time. Her baby was being weighed. Anne and Amy sat beside her holding both of her hands, with smiles as wide as their faces would let them.

"I feel like hell." Shane whispered.

"You won't soon." Anne stroked the stray haor from her sisters face.

"What're you going to call her?" Amy asked.

"Amity." Shane whispered.

"To mark the day of peace and friendship between enemies at war." Anne nodded. "Trust you." She smiled.

"Can I go and see her?" Shane asked.

"Yep, do you wanna use a wheelchair?" Amy asked. "Oh please, I love pushing those things." She pleaded.

"Okay, fine." Shane shrugged and they helped her into a chair and wheeled her along to the maternity unit. She noticed the lack of people and put it down to the peace news. Most people were chatting about and smiling, if only they knew what the marines had to go through to get there.

She arrived at the window that would show her her baby, her baby. She would have to get used to that. And then she saw Amity, a small baby that lay on her back in a cradle. Tears came to her eyes as the nurse picked up Amity and handed her to Shane, who had to restrain herself from bursting into tears. She had created this child, it seemed that this one life suddenly made up for all the lives she had taken in the war. She cradled her child firmly in her arms while her two sisters played with the small baby. She had Nathan's eyes and nose, she noticed that immediately as she remembered every single muscle on Nathan's body from that night.

"She's beautiful Shane." Anne whispered who like Shane was in tears.

"She is." Shane agreed.

The former Captain looked around the room at all the other mothers craddling their babies. But these babies had fathers playing with them. She missed Nathan.

Anne noticed her sister watching the other men crowd their own babies and she realised how lonely it must be for Shane. Anne herself wouldn't have managed to take the strain of pregnancy and labour without Ed, it was impossible. And Shane was going through what she thought was impossible, she would speak to her sister soon. Not too soon, but when Amity was settled.

The next year the hardest for Shane, constantly getting up and feeding Amity Vansen, it was tiring but she became used to the hours like she had done in the Corp.

A year old and Amity was beautiful, Shane had no regrets.
It was a night to remember when Shane wasn't woken by the sound of a baby crying, at furst she had been worried that there was something wrong, but when she had checked, Amity was fast asleep and reamined that way throughout the night. She was never woken at night by Amity anymore.

The pressure was on the 58th, they had been up in space for a year now, after the peace negotiations, some squadrons had returned to Earth but the Commodore wanted the 58th to stay up in space just in case something went wrong. And now they found out that they were to escort the General chig itself on the path to Andromeda. It would happen in the next six months's or so, another wait.

Vanessa hadn't been able to contact Shane very often, and when she had, Shane hadn't been there. Not knowing when Shane had actually become pregnant she didn't know when the baby was actually due, for all she knew it could already have been born.

But now she decided that she had to speak to Shane, she had to know she was okay.

"Is Shane there?" Vanessa asked.

It was Anne who answered the phone and she nodded with a smile.

Shane came to the phone and Vanessa immediately realised Shane was back to her normal form.

"Shane you....?" Vanessa began.

"A baby girl, Amity." Shane smiled proudly as she brought Amity onto the screen, Vanessa began to cry as she covered her mouth in suprise, reality hit.

"So, what's happening about war?" Shane asked.

"We're to transport the General Chig on his way to Andromeda." Vanessa sighed.

"How long?"

"Six months at the most." The woman shrugged. "But that's what the Old Man said last time."

"Don't worry 'Phousse, you'll come home soon." Shane assured her.

"Then can I see you?" Vanessa asked hopefully.

"Okay, but not the others, I don't think I could face them."

"Shane, they're all talking about seeing you." Vanessa told her and she could see the smile appear on Shane's face.

"What do I tell them?"

"The truth, you got pregnant, you had to stay on Earth." Vanessa shrugged.

Shane realised Vanessa didn't know that Nathan was the baby's father and that she had been conceived out in space. The story Vanessa believed was that Shane had returned to Earth to sort out a family problem and then become pregnant.

"Shane, it may be none of my business, but who's the father? An old friend on Earth?" Vanessa asked curiously.

"Yeah, an old friend, long gone." Shane sighed.

"I'm sorry."

Six months later and the 58th were still in space, with few missions to fly, they killed time playing poker and enjoying or annoying each other's company.

Ross paced up and down his quarters while McQueen watched him, his jaw bones clenched as Ross stopped and turned around, walking back down the room.

"Glen." McQueen stopped him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just don't want this to go wrong."

"None of us do." The CO told him. "You have to send the 58th out soon, they're one of the few squadrons left in space and they're bored, they wanna go home and celebrate the peace with their families."

"And what about you Ty?" Glen asked.

"There's nothing down there for me. The Corps' my family, I'm staying here."

"Thought you might." He smiled.

Nathan was thinking about going home.

Where would he go? Would he go to Kylen? They both knew from the last conversation they had had that things had changed, both wanted different things. Or would he try to find Shane? Did he want to? She had hurt him badly by leaving space with no word. His family was not much of a choice either, he couldn't face them after the death of his brother. He knew they blamed him for leading his brother into war and not protecting him. His mind always span back Shane, where the hell was she? And why did she leave?

Shane watched as Amity walked across the floor towards her. Her child had now grown short brown hair and a dazzling smile. She picked her up in her arms and swung her around, much to the delight of Amity.

Anne entered and smiled at the beautiful sight.

"Shane, I've got some dinner on the table downstairs." Anne told her. Shane put Amity down.

"Thanks, oh, Anne, here's the rent due for the chalet." Shane handed her an envelope full of money then picked her daughter up again, unable to resist the feel of her own child in her hands.

"I don't know why you insist on paying the rent for the chalet Shane, Ed and I said you could stay for free."

"It makes me feel better." Shane told her. "And anyway, it's the money I earned for my service in the Corps, I hadn't got a chance to spend it in space so...." She shrugged.

"I'm only accepting this because it makes you feel better." anne smiled as she waved the envelope around at Shane.

"And we appreciate it don't we Amity?" Shane looked down at her daughter and smiled as the small child made a giggle like sound and reached out for her mother's nose.

"Yeah."

Another two long months had passed, the 58th were returning from possibily their last mission together.

The cockpits opened, Nathan savoured the feel out it, possibly being his last time in the cramp vehicle. He stood, the mission was complete and the General chig and all his other little chiggies had moved far away to Andromeda where they would leave Earth alone. The AI's had agreed with the peace but the USMC were keeping troops up in space in case of a breech which was half what they expected form the silicates.

Taking off his helmet he smiled at Vanessa who seemed a little hyper. Ross entered.

"Congratualtions 58th. With the chigs back where they belong you have been granted permission to return to Earth for two months. Of course, you have the choice to become civilians. But we sure as hell need " He smiled. "The ISSCV leaves tomorrow." McQueen stood proudly beside Ross and looked at all his 'kids', he would miss them, maybe he would see them again sometime on visits to Earth.

Cooper bit down his excitement at going back to Earth. What was down there for him? Hell he wanted to get out of this hell hole, but remaining in the Corps seemed a likely choice.

Ross and McQueen left to leave the Wildcards their freedom and as soon as their backs were turned Vanessa's arms flew around Paul. "It's over!" She cried, Paul just laughed. Cooper looked over at McQueen before offering an embrace with a cheeky smile, Nathan gladly accepted and patted the In Vitro on the back.

Lucy and Kelly were chatting excitedly between the two of them.

"We should go and pack." Vanessa smiled.

In the quarters the 58th savoured every moment of their presence in the room. They would be back here, no doubt about that, but who the 58th would be reamined unknown. Maybe, if they decided to stick it, all of them, then they would still be the 58th.

"What're you guys gonna do?" Paul asked.

"I'm with the Corps." Cooper nodded. "Only life I know, I'll be back here."

"I'm with Coop." Nathan agreed. "I've made up my mind and I know this is what I want."

"I have the decision of working for my father or working as a forensic marine in the Corps." Vanessa smiled excitedly.

"A forensic what?" Cooper didn't understand.

"Someone who calculates things." Vanessa explained.

"But you'd still fight?" Paul asked.

"Couldn't keep me away from it." She smiled cheekily.

"What about you Paul?" Nathan asked.

"Well, first stop's Rigley Field." He laughed. "But after all I've been through I'm not about to throw the 58th away." He shrugged.

"Lucy? Kelly? What're you doing?" Vanessa asked.

"There are still wars on, we're sticking." Kelly told them. "The it looks like we have a 58th." Nathan smiled.

"What about Shane?" Cooper asked, everyone turned silent.

"What about her?" Vanessa asked.

"Well, she'll be back on Earth, we'll be able to see her right?" Cooper asked.

"Nobody knows where she is." Nathan sighed shoving his T-shirt into his duffel bag angrily.

"Wouldn't she be at her sister's house?" Cooper suggested.

"If you know where that is Coop, I've been trying to drag it out of the interconnection unit but it wouldn't spit up jam." Nathan's mouth was clenched shut and his words came from between his teeth.

"I don't understand how she could just go." Paul sighed.

"She had her reasons." Vanessa told them, angry at their bitterness towards her.

"You know anything 'Phousse?" Nathan asked quickly.

"No, but we know her well enough to know that she wouldn't leave us unless it was something big." Vanessa told them.

Nathan sighed, he was tired and angry at Shane for leaving him. "She could've told us, we'd have helped." Nathan bit back.

"Maybe it was something beyond our help, something she needed to do alone." Vanessa shook her head. "McQueen said it was personal." Was the only answer she could come up with.

"I dunno why I'm gonna go back to Earth, y'know, there's nobody down there waiting for me." Cooper sighed.

"Hey Coop, you can come home with me." Nathan offered. "Well, actually I don't know if my parents want to see me after Neil's..." His voice trailed off.

"Me neither, I joined to get away from home life." Paul sighed.

"Well aren't we all a bunch of invalids!" Vanessa smiled.

"You're all welcome to stay over mine." Vanessa offered.

"Though I'm kinda putting off telling my father that I'm staying on at the Corps."

"Me too." Nathan sighed. "Tell you what, why don't we spend days together, and then decide what to do when we're actually back on Earth?" Vanessa suggested.

"Sounds good to me." Cooper nodded.

"Coop, you're coming with me." Nathan told him, the In Vitro saluted and Nathan smiled.

Shane had heard the good news about the chigs retreating, in fact Anne was downstairs throwing a party with all her neighbours, Amy was there of course.

The Captain heard a knock on the door at the small chalet and she opened the door to find Amy smiling at her.

"Why aren't you at the party?" She asked.

"I'm not in the party mood at the moment." Shane sighed as she let Amy in.

"It's the war isn't it? Now that it's over, you've got nothing to do, nowhere to return to." Amy explained. Shane was suprised by her sister's knowledge and nodded slowly.

"I felt that way when you left, yeah I know you don't wanna drag that up again. But you were always there when I returned home from school...or wherever I'd been anyway." She smiled sheepishly and shrugged followed by a light punch on the shoulder by Shane. "But when you left there was no stability, no certainty, at first that scared me, Anne was with Ed and I had nobody. But that's when I found my way, when I realised what I'd done and I met James through evenining classes of karate which I only took to be with someone at evenings. He put me back on the tracks. You'll find your way Shane, it'll come if you let it." Amy nodded.

"When did you grow up into this mature human being?" Shane shook her head. "I'm sorry that I deserted you. I had no right to but..."

"Bygones Shane, you were the one that set me on the straight and narrow." Amy told her.

"So you're saying I just have to let destiny lead the way."

"Exactly, look, I know this maybe a sore subject, but now that the war has ended, that Nathan bloke will be coming back to Earth, why don't you find him and tell him?" Amy suggested.

Shane shook her head. "He kinda has a girlfriend, she's the reason he joined the Corps." Shane explained.

"Oh." Amy sighed.

"And besides, he doesn't wanna know about me anymore."

"Shane, you have his child!"

"Exactly, and I left him without a word. Knowing Nathan he's gonna hate me for it."

"You won't know until you find out, besides I think it'd be nice to meet your squadron, you could invite them to the party. Seems Anne's planning to have one every night this week." Amy shrugged.

"I dunno."

"Oh come on, you drive to Alabama, meet them there make friends and invite them over here."

"You're forgetting one thing."

"What's that?"

"Amity."

"Oh yeah, they don't know."

"One does." Shane sighed. "But I don't want Nathan to find out, he'll put two and two together and figure it all out."

Shane watched as Amity walked over to her with a small squeaky toy in her hand. She had been over the moon the day she had first seen Amity walk about three months ago.

"Well, so? That's what should happen, what if he's over his girlfriend?"

"Nice try Amy." Shane nodded as she picked Amity up from her cradle and began to rock her in her arms.

"C'mon Shane, I know you want to see them. Tell you what, you drive over to Alabama and see them while I look after Amity." Amy smiled.

"No, if I see them it has to be with Amity." Shane decided.

"So you'll go?" Amy asked.

"Yeah, but I'll be damned if Nathan'll speak to me. They probably won't come back with me anyway."

"They haven't seen you for nearly two years! Of course they'll wanna come back with you." Amy smiled. "I'll tell Anne, you'll have to leave early tomorrow morning if you wanna get there when they dock."

Morning came and Shane rubbed the dust from her eyes. She woke Amity whos smiled cheerfully at her mother.

"Morning beautiful, you wanna come and meet you dad?" She yawned and picked her daughter up.

"Yes please." Amity whispered.

Amity was beginning to speak more often lately, she was putting sentences together quickly She collected her bags that she had packed last night. It wasn't a very long drive from San Diego to Alabama but the heat would slow them down a bit and Shane was using Amy's car. Shane hadn't driven for a long time.

Nathan had packed all that he needed, leaving his flight suit packed carefully away into his locker, he and Cooper joined Vanessa outside the quarters.

"Ready?" Vanessa asked.

"As I'll ever be." Nathan sighed, and they made their way to the docking bay which would take them home.

The drive was peacefuller than Shane had anticipated, Amity had tried to sing along with the songs played on the radio whic had cheered Shane up and woken her up. She looked at her watch, it was 6am, she should be used to this.

Amity was now 19 months old, her hair brown hair was well below her shoulders, her teeth were all fully grown, she spoke alot and ran around alot. Shane had been suprised at her progression, she had got on well with Marion, like sisters.

"You okay Amity?" Shane asked, to her suprise the young girl nodded and smiled "Yeah."

Shane had dressed her as best as she could in some new jeans and a comfortable grey wolley jumper, she looked beautiful.

She herself wore much the same, some tight jeans, a small T-shirt and a grey cotton jacket over, her hair was tied up and she had splashed some make up on. Amy had said she looked gorgeous, but she certainly didn't feel it.

They would be there in under half an hour and Shane could feel the butterflies form in her stomach. Her appearance hadn't changed much since she had last seen the 58th, her hair was a little longer but her body hadn't changed, she had put on a couple of pounds while pregnant but had easily worked them off with her routine exercise.

Shane thought about what she would say to them, where Amity would be and how they would react, two out of three she could plan. Fear began to set in as she went through all of the things that could go wrong. What the hell would she say to Nathan? Would Kylen be there? 'Oh God!' Shane cursed silently, what if Kylen was there? At that moment she thought about turning right around and heading back. but her longing to see Nathan, to see her friends was too great.

The CV moved steadily through space, Nathan looked out of the window wondering whether it was right to not tell his family of his return until he was actually on Earth. He knew the whole of the 58th were struggling with reuniting with their family, Cooper didn't even have one. But he still longed to see Shane, after their night together he hadn't been able to speak to her or see her for almost two years, he intended to change that and find out why she had left. He knew the others would help him. Nathan had watched Vanessaa carefully, he had thought that she knew something, Shane and Vanessa were best friends, she must've been in contact with her. Which made it even worse for Nathan that Shane didn't want the others to know, she didn't want him to know.

He would go and find her as soon as he stepped foot on Earth.

The CV docked in Alabama's Space Calvary and none of the 58th spoke as they soaked up the image of Earth through the small windows.

"We're here." Paul whispered. "We're finally back on Earth." he sighed. They all wore rough T-shirts and jeans, they didn't have anything better to wear. The doors opened and they found themselves in a room similar to that of the Saratoga's docking bay.

"Welcome home 58th." A man stepped through the door, Sgt.Bogus.

"Sgt.Bogus!" Vanessa gasped.

"Correct. Well, look at you, marines, I never thought I'd say this but I'm proud of you." He smiled. "Now, come on, get outta here. There's some people waiting for you too." He left and the others looked around in question of who had invited someone.

"My parents are meeting me." Kelly shrugged and everyone silently sighed, they had thought it might be Shane.

Shane waited nervously outside the docking bay in the strong sun. Amity was standing beside her holding her hand. She was trying to invent a story, similar to that of what Vanessa had believed. She had returned to Earth to help her sister with some problems and fallen pregnant, so she had had to stay there. They probably wouldn't buy it. Nathan would probably guess the truth and walk away from her. She could see them, there were six of them, two new ones, probably replacements.

They were laughing amongst themselves and the two new recruits suddenly disappeared.

Shane was hidden behind a large first aid vehicle and was thinking of walking away before they saw her, but she had come this far.

"Guys, I'm gonna catch the bus to San Diego before it goes, I'm gonna try and find Shane, I'll probably be back before dark." He explained.

"We'll be in the tun tavern." Cooper agreed resisting the urge to follow him.

Nathan ducked out and began to walk towards the bus. Shane watched him leave and thought now was the best time, she knew Nathan was going to the bus station and she was relieved she wouldn't have to see him, but her heart ached for him. She guessed he'd be returning to Kylen and tried as best as she could to hide her pain. She stepped out from behind the vehicle and stood about ten metres from the rest of the 58th, Amity was still holding her hand.

"Is this them mom?" She asked, Shane looked at them, they had all frozen at the sight of her.

"Shane!" Vanessa cried as she quickly dropped her bag and ran over to her friend into a tight embrace.

"God it's good to see you." Shane whispered.

"I can't believe it's you!" Vanessa cried, she pulled Shane to arm's length and inspected her, tears falling down both of their cheeks.

Cooper shook his head to clear his vision, right before him stood Shane, he smiled and walked towards her with Paul and they both tightly embraced her. Then all eyes fell onto Amity.

"Guys, this is my daughter Amity." She explained.

"Hello." Amity smiled, Vanessa knelt down to Amity's level.

"Hello Amity, I'm Vanessa."

"Hello Vanessa." Amity replied shyly.

Cooper and Paul just stood in awe.

"Your daughter?" Cooper repeated.

"I know it's unexpected but it's the reason I couldn't return."

"Well, it's certainly a good reason." Paul agreed as he bent beside Vanessa and began to talk to Amity. Shane turned to Cooper whom she hadn't seen for nearly two years.

"I missed you Shane, why couldn't you have told us what was happening?" He asked a little hurt.

"I'm sorry Coop, it just didn't feel right to tell you." Shane sighed.

"Oh well you're here now." He shrugged and hugged her again, this time lifting her off her feet and twirling her around.

"Woh!" Shane cried.

Vanessa stood up and smiled at Shane as Cooper released her.

"God I missed you!" She smiled.

"Missed you too 'Phousse." Shane replied. "Hey, my sister's kinda throwing a party tonight and I was wondering if you wanted to come along? I know you probably have families to go to but..."

"We'd love to." Paul cut in.

"Yeah." Cooper agreed.

"Really?"

"Shane, we haven't seen you for almost two years, none of us are entirely sure about wanting to see our families right now, it's perfect!" Vanessa explained.

"Has Nathan gone to see Kylen?" Shane asked.

"Actually. He's gone to look for you." Vanessa told her.

"Me?!" Shane was genuinely suprised. "Why?" She asked.

"He just left, he's gonna meet us back here in the tun tavern, but if we're going to yours then we'll meet him there." Cooper explained.

"If he finds my sister's house." Shane added.

"I don't think it'll be that hard." Paul shrugged.

"Mommy, are they staying? Can Vanessa stay?" Amity asked as she tugged on her mother's jeans, Shane bent down and picked her daughter up, placing her on her hip. "Yep." Shane smiled.

The four of them made their way back to Shane's car, Amity taking an immediate liking to Cooper who was a little shy.

Amity sat on Cooper's lap in the back with Paul while Vanessa sat in the front to catch up with Shane.

"So, what've you been doing for the past two years?" Vanessa asked.

"Changing nappies, recovering from sleepless nights." Shane laughed.

"She looks alot like you Shane." Cooper noted as Amity turned to him and smiled.

"My mommy is the best." She smiled holding her small fists up at Cooper.

"Then what're you?" He asked.

Shane sighed and rolled her eyes. "My sister's been telling stories to Amity about my days in the Corps." Shane explained.

"Amity's a nice name, what made you choose it?" Paul asked. "Well, she was born on the day the General first talked about peace negotiations." Shane shrugged.

"Cute." Vanessa smiled.

The four of them caught up on everything missed. There were no awkward silences and no awkward questions like Shane had feared. These people, her frineds, were still the same guys she had loved and left almost two years ago.

It was almost dark by the time the bus reached San Diego.

Nathan jumped off the bus, thanking the driver and slinging his bag over his right shoulder. The street he stood on reminded him of his own house, one that he know felt uncomfortable returning to. San Diego, he knew roughly where Shane's sister lived, he had heard Shane and Vanessa talking about it. The marine began to walk to the nearest house. What was Shane's sister's name? Anne Bohmen, yeah. He knocked on the door and an ageing woman answered.

"Hello dear, how may I help you?" She asked with a smiled.

"I was wondering if you could tell me where a Anne Bohmen lived?" He asked.

"Oh, you going to the party aswell?" She asked with a laugh.

"Er, yeah." He replied, his heart in his hand.

"Surey dear, it's just down the road, number 45. Lovely family, you a friend of Anne's?" She asked.

"Friend of her sister." He replied.

"Oh, Amy's such a nice girl now isn't she?"

That must be Shane's other sister, he nodded.

"Well, I'll see you there then." She smiled.

"Hope so." He nodded again. "Thanks."

"No trouble lovey." She smiled one more time then shut the door.

Nathan walked back down the drive, his heart was thumping as if it as trying to get out of his ribcage. 41, 42, 43, 44, 43...It was a big house with a small house beside it. Nathan took a deep breath. He knocked the thought to quit to the back of his mind, he had to know why Shane left.

His legs were jelly as he began to walk down the drive. The house was white and very welcoming he thought, he could see people moving about inside. e knocked on the door and waited for a while, it seemed to much for him and he thoguht about running before someone answered the door, too late.

"Hello?" It was a young girl, similar to Shane, must be Amy, or Anne.

"Hi, I was wondering if Shane Vansen lives here." He asked.

"She does." Amy nodded, Anne came up behind her sister and smiled recognising the man instantly.

"Quit playing with him Amy, this is Nathan." Anne smiled.

"Nathan West? The Nathan West?" She asked in awe.

"Er...yeah, Nathan West." Nathan replied curiously.

"Sorry about Amy, Shane's told us alot about you." She smiled. Anne watched as his eyes lit up at the mention of her sister.

"Shane? Is she here?" He asked.

"No, I'm afraid you just missed her." Anne sighed.

"She went to find you." Amy added.

"Me?!" He asked in suprise.

"Yeah, she went to Alabama to greet you off your CV or whatever they call those flying things." Anne waved her hands about abit.

"Oh."

"Come in, she'll be back any minute now and we're having a party tonight I'm sure she'll want you to stay." Anne threw her finger over her shoulder.

"I don't wanna intrude..."

"Nonsense! The more the merrier." Amy smiled as she lead Nathan in.

"Can I get you a drink?" Anne asked.

"Er, no thanks." Nathan objected with a smile.

"So, have you spoken to Shane recently?" Amy asked.

"No, that's why I came here." He told her.

"Oh, so you haven't seen her since she left the Corps?" Anne asked.

"No, why is something wrong?" He asked.

"No! No everything's fine." Amy reassured him as believable as she could. Ed entered and smiled as he saw a guest arrive.

"Hello." He smiled.

"Ed, this is Nathan West, Shane's friend." Anne introduced him.

"Oh I know who he is." Ed stuck his hand out. "Ed Bohmen." He smiled, Nathan shook it. "I've heard alot about you Nathan, the 58th is the best squadron in the war ,can't get enough of you on the news." He smiled.

"Well, I er..." He shrugged.

"You interested in cars?" Ed asked.

"Yeah, haven't driven one in four years." He sighed.

"Well James has got a new model Jaguar XJ772 out back, wanna se it?" He asked.

"Oh I loved too!" Nathan smiled.

"Walk this way."

Amy turned to Anne as he left. "Oh my God, what do we do?" She whispered.

"We can't get rid of him." Anne replied.

"Shane's gonna be home with Amity any minute now, she won't even know he's here."

"She might, the others would have told her."

"Good point."

"He doesn't even know though."

"What'll she say?" Amy asked.

"Look, we can't do anything until she arrives."

Shane stopped the car outside Anne's house She noticed how dark it was getting.

"Wow, the house is beautiful." Vanessa gasped.

"Anne's hubby did it up." Shane explained as she got out of the car. She opened Cooper's door.

"Come on Angel, I think Coop needs to stretch." She picked Amity out of the car and swung her around once then put her on the floor, Cooper climbed out.

"She's a tough kid." Cooper smiled. "Takes after her mother."

Shane softly punched his shoulder and Cooper burst into laughter. "You haven't changed a bit Shane, still as stubborn."

"You're leading towards a court martial." Shane joked.

"Ooo I'm scared." Cooper dodged Shane's next punch aimed for his stomach.

"Just ignore him Shane, he's just let his ego grow too big." Vanessa laughed, Shane shook her head still laughing as she picked up Amity and took her into the house followed by her friends.

"Anne! I'm home!" Shane cried as she entered, Anne rushed in.

"What's the matter Anne? You look like you've seen a ghost?"

"Nathan's here." She whispered before the others entered, Shane's facial expression turned into shock, then fear, then hesistation. "Where?"

"Out back with Ed." Anne replied.

"Good." Shane smiled. "Anne, I'd like you to meet Cooper Hawkes, Paul Wang and Vanessa Damphousse. This is my sister Anne." Shane told her as they entered.

"It is good to finally meet you she smiled shaking each other their hand. "Shane never stops talking about you."

"Anne!"

Anne shrugged innocently.

"So, which one's your room?" Vanessa asked looking around the big house.

"Oh, I live with my little princess in the chalet next door." Shane explained.

"Does anybody want anything to eat or drink?" Anne asked.

"Now there's a decent proposition." Paul smiled. "Do you have anything that isn't made from powder?" He asked.

"Let me guess, marine grub?"

"It's gross." Cooper added.

"Well, come into the kitchen, take your pick." Anne picked up Amity and led Cooper and Paul away, Vanessa stayed.

"Aren't you hungry?" Shane asked Vanessa.

"It can wait."

"What's wrong?" Shane asked, Vanessa looked around then turned back to Shane.

"It's Nathan isn't it?" She asked.

Shane froze, deny? Or tell the truth? Ignore.

"What's Nathan?" Shane asked innocently.

"Oh come one Shane, the way you look when you mention his name, the way he always smiled when he mentioned yours, he was lousy company while you were gone."

"What's that got to do we me?" She asked.

"He's the father isn't he? He's Amity's father?" Vanessa asked. Shane sighed.

"Oh my god he is!" Vanessa gasped.

"I couldn't tell you in case you told him, and I don't intend to tell him." Shane explained.

"Come on Shane, he's the father of your child." Vanessa pointed out.

"He doesn't wanna know, he doesn't care." Shane told her.

"How do you know Shane?"

"It was two years ago 'Phousse, a one night thing, I was leaving." Shane explained.

"So? He's still Amity's father." Vanessa whispered. "He'll figure it out anyway."

"I know." Shane sighed.

"What're you going to do?" She asked.

"What can I do?" She sighed again.

"Tell him."

"I was hoping to avoid that but..."

"It's the only way." Vanessa finalized. "Where is he?"

"He's out back, he arrived before us." Shane told her.

"I suggest you go and see him before he finds out from a stranger."

"You're right, but if he leaves..."

"It's a risk, but at least he'll know."

"I s'pose."

"How do you feel about him?" Vanessa asked.

"That's hard to say."

"Why?"

"Because he has a fiancee."

"They split." Vanessa told her.

"What?!"

"Nathan told us, a week before he came back they agreed it was over." Vanessa explained.

"Jesus." Shane whispered.

"Which leaves the path open for a certain Captain I know."

"Leave it 'Phousse, he's probably not interested."

"So you are interested in him?!"

"Yes!" She hissed. "That's what makes it harder."

"Just tell him Shane, now."

Shane nodded and felt herself being dragged off towards the garage, she saw Nathan and gasped. It had been along time and she realised her feelings for him were still there, she slowly approached him, he was admiring James' Jaguar XJ772, Ed had left him to look while he had gone to get them both a drink.

Shane didn't know why she was tip toeing but she had to say something before she had a nervous breakdown.

"Hello Nathan." Her voice echoed slightly around the garage, Nathan bolted upright and turned to Shane, he looked at her as he she was some kind of stranger.

"Shane?" It was a mere whisper as he tried to get his voice back.

"I need to talk to you, you wanna walk?" She asked quickly.

"As long as you're not gonna run off on me again." Nathan muttered, just hearable to Shane, Shane closed her eyes and fought back the insult.

They began to walk in silence until they were outside in the dark, but the lights form the house managed to light the area well. Shane led them towards a field and sat down on a small log, Nathan sat on the one opposite her.

"Why Shane? Why did you just leave space without...not...why?" He stammered desperately.

"It's complicated Nathan, I didn't want to."

"I wanna be so angry at you, and I swore to myself if I ever saw you again that I would be."

"And you have every right to." Shane sighed. "Nathan, something happened in space, I found out something."

"What?" He asked softly. "Are you okay?" His voice was slightly broken.

"This is the hardest thing I have ever done, and it's harder that it has to be said to you." Shane closed her eyes as tears began to form.

"What is it Shane?" He asked worriedly.

"I don't know if telling you this is the right thing to do and I'll understand if you can never forgive me, but do you remember that night, the night we spent together?"

"How could I forget?" He shook his head. "It's the only thing I've been thinking about."

That made it ten times worse and Shane began to breakdown inside. In front of her sat Amity's father, Amity had a right to know who her father was as much as Nathan had a right to know he was a father.

Shane stood up and quickly turned away as a tear made it's way down her cheek, she wiped it away.

"Shane?" Nathan was quickly behind her.

"Mommy mommy!" Amity cried as she hobbled down the field towards Shane. And Shane froze.

"Mommy." She repeated, Nathan turned to Amity and realised who it was she was calling her mother.

"Shane?" He asked, Shane bent down to catch Amity.

"Amity honey, you should be inside with Anne."

"You'll come soon though mommy won't you?" She asked.

"Yes, I'll be in soon honey, you go and talk to the others okay?" Shane smiled at her daughter who nodded and ran off giggling.

"She's yours?" Nathan asked as Shane faced him. Now or never. She took a deep breath to even out her breathing.

"Actually Nathan, she's ours." She could feel her heart beat double as she watched for some kind of reaction from him.

Silence.

Nathan's world began to spin, he looked up at Shane, his mouth hanging open, so many questions. He thought he'd wake up from this dream any minute now.

"Ours?" His voice broke into a whisper and he could see Shane began to cry and realised how hard it was for her.

"That night Nathan, when we were together." Shane reminded him as tears ran freely down her cheeks.

Nathan was truely stunned, he just stood there, he was a father. "Are you sure?" He asked regretting immediately.

She breathed out not realising she had been holding a breathing. Her world began to crumble and she threw her arms into the air. "What the hell do you think I am?!" She screamed angrily.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Nathan tried to calm her down, his own sanity hanging on by a thread.

"Jesus Christ Nathan! I've just said the hardest words I've ever had to say in my life and you treat me like slut!" She cried not wiping away the remnants of tears as new ones formed.

"I never meant to say it like that Shane, but you can't just spring it on me like that, it's not fair!" Nathan protested.

"Spring it on you? Jesus Nathan I have been planning for two whole years what I would have to say to you if I saw you again. Amity would wake up and ask me about why Anne had Ed, why Marion had a father as well as a mother! And the only answer I could think of was...was...that she was special, do you know how that felt?! To lie to my own daughter!" Her voice had raised above the music that now began to play in the house.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Nathan asked a little hurt.

"I was afraid god dammit, I was afraid of what you would say, how you would act. I was afraid you would act like this." Shane sighed heavily as she began to wipe away the tears.

"Like what?"

"Like you want nothing to do with us. Now, I won't blame you if you walk away from here right now and never want to see me again, but I have to tell Amity who her father is soon." Shane concluded, her eyes red and puffy.

"That's not what I want." Nathan shook his head. It had only taken him seconds to decide what he had wanted, he had no doubts.

"Then what do you want Nathan?" She asked as she began once again to cry.

"I want you Shane, and I want our daughter. Because I have not stopped thinking about you since you left." Nathan could feel the lump in his throat and his voice begin to rise as he felt himself begin to cry. "I love you Shane, I always have, nothing can change that." He shook his head quickly wiping the beginning of a tear away.

"And Amity?" Shane asked.

"She's my daughter, I'm her father." He said as if in realisation. "I've waited so long to see you." He sighed. "You don't know how much I've missed you."

"I have some idea." She smiled through her tears.

Nathan stepped closer to Shane and placed a hand on her cheek to wipe away the tears. "I'd happily lay down my life for you." He whispered, and slowly, he bent down and lightly kissed her, she responded by moving closer, having wanted to do this for almost two years. His arms wrapped around her body and hers hands flew to the back of his head. They fell into an embrace. "I'm a father." He whispered as a smile came to his face.

Vanessa waited nervously for Shane to return, she wanted to know what was going on. Anne came up beside her.

"You look...nervous?" She said.

"I am." Vanessa replied with a smile.

"Why?"

"Shane's out there speaking to Nathan."

"So?"

"I know he's the father." Vanessa told her.

"Shane told you?"

"I guessed."

"Can you see them?" Anne asked looking out of the window.

"No, I thought I heard screaming a few minutes ago though." Vanessa sighed.

"That wouldn't be a good thing." Anne whispered.

Amy joined them. "She's out there with Nathan?" She asked.

"How did you know?" Anne asked.

"Amity told me, she went out to find Shane."

"What happened?" Vanessa asked.

"Shane told her she'd be in soon, Amity said she looked like she had been crying." Amy sighed, Vanessa bowed her head in a silent prayer that everything would work out.

Nathan broke away from the embrace and took Shane's hand.

"We'd better get back inside before the party starts." Shane told him, he nodded and quickly dived forwards to reclaim Shane's lips before they returned. Shane laughed.

"Nathan!"

"I haven't seen you for two years Shane." He moaned innocently as Shane pushed him away.

"Come on then, there's someone I have to meet." He smiled.

It was nearly pitch black by the time they reached the house, they walked through the garage.

"They'll be a couple of people waiting for us to return." Shane warned Nathan, he nodded his understanding.

From the noise coming from the house it sounded like the party had began, and when Shane swung the door open there were about 50 people standing around with drinks in theri hands chatting and laughing amongst one another.

Amy, Anne and Vanessa turned to the two as they entered. Amity stood beside Amy. Shane looked down at Amity and smiled, trying hard not to cry again.

Vanessa waited in anticipation, if neither of them spoke soon she was going to explode.

"So, this is my daughter?" Nathan asked as he walked towards Amity and bent down. Anne, Amy and Vanessa looked up at Shane in shock who just smiled then bent beside Nathan.

"Amity, I want you to meet your father, Nathan." Shane smiled pointing to Nathan who smiled nervously.

"You're my father?" She asked, Nathan nodded. Amity smiled and threw her arms around his neck, Nathan laughed as he embraced his daughter for the first time. The connection was made and he stood up with Amity still hanging around his neck.

"So, you made up then?" Vanessa asked cheekishly.

Anne and Amy just stared in silence, both speechless.

Amity leaned backwards in her father arms. "Will you by me a horesy when I'm older?" She asked innocently and for the first time since Nathan arrived, Shane laughed.

"She's beautiful Shane." Nathan commented. "Takes after her mother." He smiled, Shane went a bright crimson colour.

Cooper and Paul walked towards the small crowd, Paul slightly taken on drink.

"What's going on?" Cooper asked taking a sip of his drink.

"Guys, I want you to meet my daughter." Nathan smiled turning Amity towards them. Cooper spat out half his drink and began to choke as Nathan told him.

"What?!" Paul asked.

After the choking stopped Cooper nodded and began to laugh. "I knew it, I knew that the night you spent alone together something happened." He smiled then shook his head. "Well, congratulations."

The music sudden;y turned slow and the lights dimmed, Nathan put Amity down and turned to Shane with his hand held out.

"May I?" He asked politely, Shane smiled. "You may." And he lead her into the middle of the room where other people began to dance in pairs.

"I think I'm gonna cry." Anne whispered in a high squeaky voice.

"I'd love to know what Shane told him." Amy told them.

"Aw come on." Cooper objected. "Nathan's always been the one for Shane, you could tell from the moment they met." Cooper explained.

Nathan pulled Shane's body next to his and slid his hands around her waist while Shane's hands slid around the back of his neck. They rocked gently to the music staring hopelessly into each other's eyes.

Ed came along and took Anne onto the dance floor. "Where's Marion?" Anne asked.

"Upstairs sound asleep." Ed whispered. "Tonight it's just you and me honey." He smiled as they took the formation of Nathan and Shane and began to dance. James grabbed Amy's hand and follwed Ed's lead.

Vanessa sighed as she shook her head.

"What is it 'Phousse?" Cooper asked.

"The Vansen sister's, all in love." She smiled soppily.

"So it's true?" Paul asked. "Nathan's Amity's father?"

"Yep." Vanessa nodded.

"Geez, that's big. I wonder what Nathan's gonna do now, he can't exactly go back to the Corps with a family." Paul sighed.

"The Corps offers residential homing for marines and their families." Vanessa explained.

Nathan lay his head upon Shane's as hers lay on his shoulder, he couldn't help but smile at the way things had turned out, there was only one thing left to do.

"I've waited so long for this moment." He sighed to Shane, she lifted her head from his shoulder and smiled almost sleepily. "Me too." She replied.

The slow song finished and a loud voice announced the beginning of the karaoke, now usually Nathan would immediately step from the spotlight, but this was his chance to do things right.

"Do we have any volunteers for any songs?" The loud voice announced as about one hundred people stood in a crowd in the large room and waited for a volunteer, finally a long man stepped up with a huge but shy grin on his face and was given a microphone and began to sing a song.

"I'm just off to the toilet." Nathan smiled as he reluctantly released Shane and disappeared off to the toilets. Shane shook her head and made her way over to where Amity sat with Cooper, Vanessa and Paul.

"You looked so good together." Vanessa smiled scrunching her nose up.

"'Phousse!" Shane moaned.

"Do I really have a father now?" Amity asked from Vanessa's lap, Shane gently picked her up.

"Yes honey you do." She smiled.

"This place is great Shane." Cooper smiled standing beside her. Paul stood beside him.

"Coop, there's a woman across the room who keeps checking you out." He whispered.

"Me?!" Cooper asked, Shane smiled at Cooper's suprise. Unobviously, Shane turned around and scanned the room for the woman Paul meant, she smiled as she found the one she was looking for.

"Her name is Megan." Shane explained. "She's really nice."

"Coop, I think you should go and talk to her." Vanessa prompted, Cooper shook his head shyly.

"I'm not very...I've never done that before, well...except...no!" Cooper objected.

"Aw, come on Coop, Megan's really nice." Shane told him.

"You think I should?" He asked her with respect.

"Yes." Shane nodded.

"Shane where's my daddy?" Amity whispered.

"He's in the bathroom." Shane told her.

"Go on Coop." Vanessa nodded, Cooper sighed. "Nothing ventured nothing gained." He shrugged placing down his drink and making his way across the dance floor towards the woman smiling at him, she was a little smaller than him with short but thick blonde hair tucked behind her eyes, she wore a black dress that complimented her slim body.

"You must be Cooper." She smiled as he reached her.

"Yeah, how'd you know?" He asked.

"I've heard of you, seen you on TV in the In Vitroes programme, that was excellent work." She nodded.

"Well, er, thank you." He smiled.

"You're on holiday?" She asked. "From the Corps."

"2 months." He sighed. "They don't need marines in space at the moment." He explained.

"So what's the war like?" She asked. "I used to be a marine but I had to pull out for my education."

"Well, it's getting better y'know." She listened in awe as he described the mission he'd been on and what he'd seen.

Anne came up behind Shane and gently touched her shoulder to signal her presence like she used to do.

"You two looked so good together." She whispered with a silly grin on her face.

"That's exactly what I said." Vanessa nodded.

"Guys!" She cried with a laugh, wondering where Nathan was.

The karaoke man stopped singing and suddenly a familiar voice came onto the speakers, Shane froze as the spotlight fell on her and the crowd divided creating a clear pathway from her and Amity to the stage. Nathan began to sing as he walked towards Shane who slowly put Amity down beside her.

"I've been around this world, I've been to alot of places, seen a million faces in a thousand times." He came about two metres from her, the whole crowd now watching them. "But when I looked into your eyes I knew I'd found heaven, and I've been wanting to tell you I never wanna let you go. It may be winter in here, but what I'm feeling is summer in my heart." By this time Vanessa had managed to gently push Shane into the middle of the dancefloor as everybody gathered around, all Shane's friends standing gobsmacked behind her. "Is it too familiar to say I love you, would you be suspicious if I asked your name, tell me, what would it take to really convince you, that I'm gonna love you even if my heart would break." He placed his fist onto his heart.

"Seen a better day, I can feel it coming, I can hear it coming in the winter night. Can you turn this man into a true believer, when your left your traces on that moonlight night. It may be winter in here, but when I'm with you, with you it's always summer in my heart. Is it too familiar to say I love you, would to it suspicious if I asked your name, tell me, what would it take to really convince, that I'm gonna love you even if my heart would break." His singing stopped as the words came to an end and he stepped towards Shane and bent down onto one knee.

"Shane." He said into the microphone with everyone listening. "I love you sooo much that I have no doubt in my mind that I wanna spend the rest of my life with you and our daughter. I guess what I'm trying to say, is: Will you marry me?" The whole room turned silent as they waited for the answer.

Shane placed her hands over her mouth and began to cry. "Yes." She nodded, Nathan smiled and stood up as they wrapped tightly into each others arms, Nathan lifting Shane off the floor. The whole room cheered wildly, the 58th still stunned.

© Jessica Short December 1998

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