The Next Generation

[Lawshenk]

" Hun " she smiled "there is nothing to ashamed about in that "

[Lady Jenn]

"I only care that you're there," she said. "I want a chance to celebrate properly."

At that moment Ilyana walked past, her left arm in a sling for the moment. She smiled when she saw them. "Katerina, I am pleased to see you up and about at last. My bionic arm is sadly still in the works so this sling will have to do for now." She suddenly reached into her pocket. "I almost forgot, your...your father wished you to have this," she said, handing Katya an object which looked like a silver Rubik's Cube. "Perhaps watch it when you and Geri have a bit of privacy however, it is...very personal to you."

[Lawshenk]

" A holiday cube?" She looked at the arm " mark might be able to help with that !"

[Lady Jenn]

"It's not a puzzle," Katya said, smiling as realization dawned on her. "My father used to do this when he knew he would be away for some time." She looked at Ilyana. "Thank you for this." She then turned back to Geri. "The message on this device...it was meant for me, but I would feel honoured if you wanted to watch it with me."

[Lawshenk]

" if ypur ok with it I'm not sure I'm completely comfortable with it but I will be near by if you need me"

[Lady Jenn]

"I want you with me," she said, squeezing Geri's hand. "I have not seen my father in a long time, I...I don't know how seeing his face again will affect me."

[Lawshenk]

" I'm here then, and hoping I'm not insulted "

[Lady Jenn]

She put the cube down on the ground, touching an unseen button on the top of it. The box slowly unravelled, a hologram appearing above the box. Although he was older, and more frail, it was instantly recognisable as Katya's father, enough so that Katya had to stop herself reaching out to touch it.

"Katya, my beautiful child," the hologram said. "If you are watching this then I have failed, and I died before we found each other again. I promise you I never stopped looking, never stopped thinking of you, the fact I let him part us is the greatest regret of my life. You must know I only truly knew love twice: when I met your mother, the most beautiful woman I ever knew, and the day I held you in my arms for the first time." For a moment the hologram stopped speaking, wiping away a tear that was forming in Katya's own eyes as well. "The only thing that is helping me through what is coming is the belief that, one day, we will meet again. I love you Katya, in this box is something to remind you of your mother and I, I only hope you find someone worthy of it." With that the hologram ended, and revealed the cube also contained a ring, topped with a sky-blue gem, the perfect size for Katya's finger.

"My..." Katya picked up the ring. "It's...it's the ring my father gave my mother on their wedding day, I thought it lost after..." Finally she gave up trying to hold her emotions in, burying her head in Geri's shoulder as her tears flowed.

[Lawshenk]

Gerri comforted her she hardly spoke it felt out of place to her she just remained there for support quiet like a rock

[Lady Jenn]

Once she had stopped crying, although she was still shaking, she turned her head enough to look at the ring, which glinted in the sunlight. "We were saying we need a replacement ring, what do you think of this as my ring?" She leant forward and kissed her lips. "I'd like to think it shows my parents' approval of our marriage."

[Lawshenk]

" I honestly would rather " she paused " I don't mean to upset you it's beautiful but if the ring is for you then I would rather hand it to you personally and I would rather buy it my self

[Lady Jenn]

"Oh, if that's what you want," she said, putting it into the pocket of her trousers and lying against her again with a sigh.

[Lawshenk]

" I am sorry "

[Lady Jenn]

"Can I..." she paused. "Can I have a few moments alone?"

At that moment, sensing Katya needed to be alone, Ilyana beckoned for Geri to come over to her.

[Lawshenk]

Gerri left her and walked over to llyana " I might be wrong "

[Lady Jenn]

"It's not that simple," Ilyana said, offering a sympathetic smile. "I would not pretend to understand her father's motives, or to be able to read her mind, but consider two things: that is, in effect, the last thing she has to remember her mother by, and..." she paused, looking away to hide the fact she was upset herself. "My father wasn't there on my wedding day, she has no-one to walk her down the aisle, this means a lot to her." She turned back to Geri. "I know one thing though, she loves you, and if this is what you truly want she will accept it."

[Lawshenk]

Gerri sighed " I did not mean to upset her " she started think " I am not saying she can't have it or not wear it plus are already married but she could wear it on the day and one I have brought the rest of the time "

[Lady Jenn]

"Do not rush to judgement," Ilyana said, putting a hand on Geri's shoulder. "Right now, all she needs is you." She sighed as she saw Katya crying into her hands. "I would give anything to bring him back for her, I at least got to say goodbye to my father before he died." She hugged Geri. "We're going to take the kids out for a trip, but if you two need us we'll be back in a flash."

[Lawshenk]

" I gave him a chance, I said if he cloned her parents I would save him" she looked at her " he said he wouldn't not he couldn't "

[Lady Jenn]

"Like I said," Ilyana said. "You have each other, and right now I suspect that is what Katerina needs more than anything else."

[Lawshenk]

" I have a plan take the kids out I don't think we'll need you"

[Lady Jenn]

"I thought so," Ilyana said, laughing. "Stardust was insisting we leave someone behind with you but I managed to persuade him that you two could look after yourselves well enough." She pulled her into another hug. "I hope you have a good afternoon." With that she headed back towards the house, where a transport could just be glimpsed between the trees being loaded with toys.

[Lawshenk]

" can mark stay?" She asked as she went off " she looked at her and returned to Katya " I have had an idea want to run past you " she smiled " and on our day wear what ever ring you like I can buy you a ring to wear daily and a necklace "

[Lady Jenn]

"I don't know what I did to deserve you," she said, reaching over to kiss her, but the pain in her side making her instantly regret it. "Okay, that wasn't as smart an idea as I thought it was," she said, laughing. "At least I've got my gorgeous wife to distract me."

[Lawshenk]

" what if your dad could walk down the isle well a clone of him"