CHRISTMAS DELIVERY  PART 3

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With Moya being detected at any moment, the humans had to leave later today,
but DK had one more thing to do.  He found Zhaan among her plants and
explained his plan.
Two hours later, the crew and humans were once again gathered in the terrace
for his plan to be revealed.
"I know you are all wondering why I asked you here, well, Laura and I are
getting married."
There were congratulations in the air until DK quietened them.
"We wanted to also tell you that we're getting married now.  We both decided
that we would like it if everyone were present.  Zhaan has agreed to perform
the ceremony and of course John will be best man."
DK went quiet then when John and D'Argo started laughing.
"Sorry," John apologised through tears; "Of course I will man."

The ceremony was simple but beautiful.  Laura looked stunning in a pale blue
dress Zhaan had produced.  Alex stood nest to her in a similar darker dress.
DK and John were opposite them in matching shirt and trousers.  The others
mingled further back, watching.  Jack Crichton stood next to Aeryn Sun
trying to figure out the young woman's expression.
Aeryn played with the chain around her neck, that Jack recognised. He smiled
at that, whatever the outcome between this woman and his son, Jack was glad
his wife's chain had gone to someone special.
Thinking of his son, Jack turned to study him now.  John Crichton looked
happy when talking to DK, but Jack noticed that his expression changed when
he quickly looked at Aeryn.
"Are you going to tell me what that was about?"  He asked D'Argo on his
left.
"They are remembering when John married a princess."
"He did what!"  Jack said rather loudly.
"Dad!" John called.
"Sorry John," His father replied, "We were just discussing your marriage to
a princess."
"Ask him about losing his head."  Aeryn told Jack before disappearing.
The wedding party all left soon after; people either making sure systems
were ready for departure or just partying.
All who were left were the Crichton males; Jack had decided it was time for
a father/son talk.
"It's beautiful here, isn't it?"  He started the conversation.
"Yeah, now I know why toy loved being up here."
"Although I never felt as comfortable as you do."
"Being thrust to the other end of the universe and on the run sounds
comfortable to you Dad?"
"But you had help."
"Sometimes.  Most the time they yelled at me for doing things wrong, called
humans a lesser species.  Aeryn always said I could find trouble anywhere
and she was usually right."
"Have you spoken to her lately?"
"Aeryn?  No, I think she's avoiding me but then that's not unusual."
"Why do you say that?"
John sadly smiled, "Aeryn can never be found when I'm about to leave and we
never say goodbye.  It's become a sort of a ritual."
"May be you should talk to her this time."  Jack suggested.
"Why?  What have you done Dad?"
"I spoke to her last night about you two."
"Great!"  John exclaimed before tapping his comm.  "Pilot, where's Aeryn?"
"Officer Sun is in the Maintenance Bay."
"Right, don't let her leave there, I'm heading down now."  John called
walking quickly towards the door.
"John wait.  What's going on?"  Jack Crichton asked following his son.
"Peacekeepers aren't meant to have emotionally encounters.  Aeryn is
confused with everything that is happening to her.  You confronting her
about her emotions may push her over the edge and she's scared about the
future.  Peacekeepers have sex for recreation and there isn't any emotions
attached.  You try going against everything you know, having people question
your values and way of life and see how you feel!"  John demanded before
running off.
Officer Sun was working on her Prowler when John arrived.
"I hope you aren't leaving?" John called walking over to her.
"No, Crichton that's your area."  The Peacekeeper replied.
"Not fair Aeryn," a pause, "Dad told me he'd talked to you."
"You saw us talking."  Aeryn replied evasively.
"I'm talking about later on.  The conversation that has you spooked."
There was no reply, Aeryn just leaned against her Prowler and then slowly
slid down.  The only sound in the Bay was that of her boots hitting the
floor.
"It's non of your business, Crichton."  She forcefully told him in a quiet
voice.
"I think it is Aeryn.  It's about you and me so don't I get a say in it?"
"No, as I told everyone else, its sorted so there is nothing to talk about."
Aeryn informed him before turning to leave.
"Oh no you don't.  We are going to sort this out once and for all."
"More talking Crichton."
"Yes, more talking on when we don't talk."
At this the Sebacean just stared at the human finally lost for words.
"Just listen OK.  Dad was wrong to make you think about all these feelings
and talk about them.  I know how hard it is for you."
"Crichton."  Aeryn interrupted. "Your father only had your interests at
heart.  He just wanted to know what happened and how I felt about things."
"And what did you say?"  Crichton softly asked, actually calmed down.
"That it didn't matter, you were going back to Earth and everything is
 fine."
"How did you figure that!"  John shouted.
"John, there you are!"  Alex's voice called from the door.
John smiled at Alex and then glanced at Aeryn, the look in her eyes finally
got John to realise what the unemotional Peacekeeper meant.
Aeryn wouldn't look at him she just turned and carried on fiddling with her
Prowler.  John sighed as Alex approached.
"Hey, I wondered where you'd got to."  She said.  "Your dad said you left in
a hurry.  Everything OK?"
"Yeah, just needed to tell Aeryn something and as usual she didn't answer so
I came down, no biggy."
Alex didn't look convinced but John didn't want to explain so instead he
persuaded Alex to accompany him back to Command.  Just before disappearing
around the corner John looked back at Aeryn, the Peacekeeper was just
standing there staring at her ship.
Walking along the corridors, John barely heard Alex talking instead he was
thinking about the woman he had just left.  He had finally figured out Aeryn
Sun, all he needed to do now was work out what to do about it.  Aeryn knew
about the proposal and must have thought he and Alex were going out again.
She had decided that he should be with Alex on Earth.  Once, that had been
all John had thought about, but now he was not so sure.
Entering Command, John didn't notice Chiana, D'Argo and his father until the
Nebari was up against him.
"I don't suppose you were thinking about me?"  She drawled.
"Sorry Chi, not this time."
"Where is Aeryn anyway?"  Chiana asked looking slightly guilty.
"Why Chiana, what have you done?"
"Just carried on a conversation we had when you married Katralla."
"OK, I don't want to know."
"But John."  D'Argo added.
"No, D'Argo.  I don't need to talk about it, I've already figured it out."
"Well, its about time!"  Chiana shouted.
"What are you going to do?" Jack Crichton asked his son.
"I don't know Dad, I just don't know."
"Would someone please tell me what is going on?"  Alex demanded.
"Unresolved issues."  John Crichton answered before motioning for his dad to
walk with him.

Down the corridor the conversation started.  Jack Crichton had some idea of
what his son wanted to talk about, and he also knew what he was going to
tell him in return.
"I've found out what's going on with Aeryn."  John told him.  "She thinks
Alex and I are together."
"Why?" Jack asked slightly confused.
"Just before Alex left, I was going to propose.  When she told me she was
leaving, I didn't.  Aeryn knows about that and has decided that I should be
on Earth with Alex. At least this time she isn't trying to stop me."
"This time?"
"When I was set to marry that Princess, Aeryn and I had arguments about it,
she was very verbal about it actually.  The problem was I had no choice and
Aeryn couldn't see that.  It was the only time we said goodbye to each
other."  John informed him.
"You could overcome everything together except each other."  John commented.
"She told you."  John responded sadly.
"Yes, she also said that the whole time you were here, you wanted to go
home."
"And?"
"And when you got back to earth you have been withdrawn, just going through
the motions.  The only time I saw you really happy was when you were talking
about this.  Your eyes would light up when you speak about Aeryn.  You love
her john and she loves you, just tell her that."
"And then what dad?  I asked her to come with me; we fight half the time.
What's going to happen when I tell her, she'll probably shoot me!"
"Let me give you some fatherly advice," Jack calmly said.  "An old Earth
saying might help, it goes 'Home is where the heart is'.  Ever since you've
been here you've said Earth not home.  I have seen you here John, you love
it and settled in well.  I'm your father and will always love you, but may
be Earth isn't your home anymore."
John was shocked, but before he could say anything to his father, Pilot
announced that it was time for the humans to leave.

Everybody else had congregated in the Docking Bay to say goodbye.  D'Argo
and Chiana were going to pilot the shuttle down so they could see John's
planet.
Jack Crichton followed his son but was stopped just before the door by Aeryn
Sun.  John hadn't noticed her so had carried on.  Jack smiled at the young
woman as she nervously spoke to him.
"It was nice to finally meet you Mr Crichton."
"Call me Jack.  Two Crichtons will make it too complicated."
Aeryn smiled at that and relaxed slightly.  "I wanted to see you off."  She
started.
"But not say goodbye."  Jack finished.
Aeryn nodded. Then she tried to take the chain from around her neck.
"No," Jack instructed and then explained why to a bemused Sun.
"I gave that to John's mother on our wedding day.  When she died I gave it
to someone special.  Whatever has happened between you and my son, you are
very special Aeryn Sun and I would be honoured for you to wear it and I
think John's mother would be also."
"Thank you."  Aeryn whispered and left in the opposite direction than John
had taken.
Jack watched her leave and then headed into the Maintenance Bay.  He walked
over to the small group and stood beside his son who seemed to be looking
for someone.
"I don't think she's coming."  Crichton senior told his son.
"I know," John replied.
He looked like he was going to say something more but was interrupted with
Chiana hugging him.
"Bye old man."  She cried.
"Bye Chi, don't get into too much trouble and that includes annoying Aeryn."
Chiana just smiled.
"Talking of Aeryn, where is she?"  DK asked.
"Around."  John answered.
"What John means," Zhaan explained, "Aeryn very rarely comes to say
 goodbye."
"It's some PK thing."  D'Argo added.
"Yeah right."  Chiana commented.
The crew all giving her a dirty look for her comment.
"Well, it's time to go."  D'Argo announced and the mood in the room sombre.
Humans and aliens alike hugged each other; the majority of then had tears in
their eyes.  John was saying bye to Zhaan when something by the door caught
his eye.
Standing in the shadows was Aeryn Sun and she was watching him.  John's
heart jumped when he saw her, neither knowing what to do.  It was Zhaan who
came to the rescue.
"Go and talk to her."  She told him.
"And say what, Zhann."
"Anything but goodbye."
John looked at her and then purposely walked towards the resident
Peacekeeper.
"Hey," John spoke, facing her.
"Hey, I was just making sure you had everything."
"Not quite."  John commented receiving a questioning look from Aeryn.
"I need you Aeryn.  The whole time I was on Earth it was you I thought
about."
"I can't come with you John."
"I'm not asking you to.  What about if I stay here?"
"I can't let you do that."
"Why not?"  John promoted.
"Because you should be with your own people, at home."
"Dad told me a human saying that I have only just worked out.  'Home is
where the heart is', and my heart Aeryn Sun belongs to you."
Aeryn didn't know what to say.  John Crichton had just admitted his feelings
and he was willing to leave everything for her, but was she just as ready?
John watched the emotions cross Aeryn's face, most he could recognise.  She
hadn't said anything for a while and John was losing hope.  Dejected, he
turned to leave.
"Stay," a quiet sweet voice told him while a hand grabbed his wrist.
"What?" John asked again turning.
"Stay here with me."  Aeryn said.
John studied his companion's face; he read the love and fear in her eyes.
He then said the other thing he could.
"Yes, I'll stay Aeryn."
The radiant smile was the best reward he could have every received.
"Well, we'd better tell the others."  He informed her, taking her hand in
his.
Walking towards the others, John didn't know to be happy or scared.
"Dad, can we talk."  John softly asked his father.
"Course John," Jack Crichton said, turning towards his son and noticed the
linked hands.  His smile suddenly grew.
"You two finally sorted things out!" He exclaimed.
"Yeah dad.  Look I'm sorry but I want to stay."
"You're staying!" DK shouted.
"It's about time!" Chiana called.  The Moya crew all understanding the
comment.
"Thanks for that Chi."
"You're welcome Crichton."
"Sorry Dad."
"It's fine son, I was wondering how to convince you that this is the best
place for you, I see Aeryn could."
The crew smiled at that.
"Look John, I'm fine and just want you to be happy.  Here you can be.  I'm
just glad that this time I do get to say goodbye and that I'm proud of you."
"I'm going to miss you Dad."
"So am I, but knowing you're out here makes me happy and having this young
lady along makes me very happy.  Take care of each other, you both deserve
it."
Jack Crichton then hugged his son and probable future daughter-in-law.  John
then turned to DK, Laura and Alex.
"Sorry guys, but I love being out here."
"I don't blame you John, I wish you look."
"Time to go."  Zhaan announced.
The humans left on the shuttle, John waving bye to them before heading out
and back to his new life.