Forever and Always

five

she held his hand as they walked toward the field where his pod was. they walked in comfortable silence and listened to the sounds of the morning birds.

as the distance between them and the small ship grew smaller, she grasped his hand tighter as she didn't know when the next time they would get to see each other was.

he pulled her into his arms before getting on the cruiser, letting her stay there for a few minutes.

"i love you. get home safe, okay?" she said into his chest.

"i will. i love you."

she smiled and moved her head from his chest to place a soft kiss on his cheek.

he held her for a few more minutes and then pulled away completely and took both her hands in his.

"hey, remember what we talked about, okay? you're in control of your future. and don't let people tell you what you believe is wrong because you are the most moral person i know, so if you think something's right, then it is." he told her.

"i will... but as for you, remember that you don't need to put this pressure on yourself. even though it may not seem like it, there are people out there who believe in you, just like i do."

"thank you. i'll see you soon, alright?"

"definitely."

-

Kara sat down at the table, eating her breakfast quietly as her parents discussed something about... a shield?

a shield for what? even with the war with the Daxamites, things had been quiet around Argo. so what could this shield be for? how big was it?

"mother, father, what is this shield you're talking about?" she asked.

they stopped their conversation abruptly to look up at their daughter.

"it's nothing, Kara. it's just a project that your father has been working on."

Kara nodded, deciding not to prod any further, but she knew there was more to it. there was more to this story, but they weren't going to tell her.

after she finished her breakfast, she cleared her mess and made her way to the gardens, needing some fresh air.

she smiled as she walked down the path in between the lines of beautiful plants and brush.

she jumped a little when she heard a voice from behind her.

"what are you doing out here?" the voice asked her.

she turned around and was met with someone she didn't expect.

"Han-Al? what are doing here?" she asked, the confusion clear in her voice.

"i asked you first." he replied as he walked towards her, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"i just... needed to come out here to think." she told the boy. "but what about you? what are you doing here?"

"i came to find you. our parents are going into town for business. they told me you may be out here."

"well, here i am."

an awkward silence fell upon the two, neither of them knowing exactly what to say.

"uhh, look, Kara, i know how you feel about this wedding. i just wanted to say that i um-"

"no, Han-Al, listen, this isn't about you. well i mean it is, but it's just that i umm- i'm sure you're a great guy and everything, but i don't want this wedding because... there's someone else."