Post by Jana Rikar on Jul 6, 2017 3:14:21 GMT
At the Vancouver International Airport, Lex Collins nods at the ticket agent then walks back to a smiling Jana sitting just outside the gate area. He sits down beside of her and holds up two tickets in his hand.
"Well, we're all set."
Jana leans over to Lex and kisses his lips softly. "Thank you for indulging me a bit.. I didn't plan it like this.. but I'm glad we're here "
"Anything you want," he replies, returning her kiss. "Kinda enjoying checking out all these other shows. With you."
"I know it's a little different for you, but it's double edged. I get to see friends or associates, I get to network, and hopefully, I get eyes on the fed too." She takes his hand in hers, "... plus I got to meet my sexy man because of it."
"Win-win, really." He gives her hand a squeeze. "I get it. Networking is important in this business."
"Kaden didn't. That's the real reason I talk to half of the people I do, like Mr. Wallace from 4CW. I get to talk with a lot of interesting people because of it, but it also showed me who he was..."
"How..." he stares at her in confusion, "guy isn't green. He has to know it's all part of it. Mean, I fucking hate it but I still get out there. Force myself through it."
"It's ok though... because now... I have you... and you are so much more than he ever was.. or ever will be... " She crawls up into his lap and kisses his lips. "I am in love with you... and I don't want this... us... to end..."
"Not going anywhere." Lex says, meeting her gaze with utmost seriousness. "I don't even wanna let you outta my sight. Guess that's silly, isn't it? It's like this long extended moment of awesome and if..." he shrugs, "eventually I'll have to let you go home, I guess."
"And we'll be going to our home.. on the beach..." She nuzzles in against him, " if you'll have me.."
"Nothing I want more...seriously." He wraps his arms around her, grinning.
She wraps her arms around his neck and holds him close.... "I love you, Lex."
"I love you, Jana. So much." He kisses her on the forehead. "Tonight I'm gonna kiss you under the northern lights.."
"God I can't wait... " she closes her eyes and sighs, "You make me feel perfect when we're together. "
"I know the feeling." Lex's voice is soft. "We won't even need fireworks for the 4th. Make our own."
"Passengers for Flight 342 to Seattle and Fairbanks, now boarding..."
"Mmhmm..." she gives a soft purring agreement as the two stand and head towards the gate.
Walking into their rental cabin just outside of Fort Wainwright, Lex walks over and towards the balcony to look out at the mountains out in the distance. Jana locks the door and turns towards him with a smile.
"I was talking with one of the people at the desk when you were in the restroom and because it's close to Midnight sun here, the Northern lights are gone til August. The views coming over Denali and McKinley, they were gorgeous... I took those pictures earlier and they weren't even the best ones."
She walks up and slides in front of him, draping his arms over her as they look out of the cabin. "Thank you again for coming with me to see Heather sing the anthem tonight.. plus there's s few on the Honor Roster I've been wanting to meet in person too. "
"It's okay," he whispers, "I've seen them before. Once. And I need to stop equating people to random events that took my breath away - it's not fair."
The words are weird, vague but he doesn't clarify, instead smiling down at her. "Networking or fangirling?" The question is gentle, no judgment. "There are a few I'd like to say hello to... Some I follow on social media."
"Half and Half? " she turns and looks up at him, still curious about his word choice but that's just Lex .
She turns back around and leans her head against his shoulder. "It's more about seeing how other places work too. Fairbanks Alaska isn't as easy as Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, where Defiant has worked before, but it's still easier than some. It's like how much do you spend to get an arena and can you make money after all the travel and lighting and... "
She looks at him, sheepishly grinning then rolls her eyes. "Sorry bout that, I just get excited about...."
He chuckles, "I know. And your passion for it is awesome...anyone who talks to you can see how much you love the business. That's rare, y'know?"
"It's really all I know. I can't cook an omelet but I know how to put the proper pressure on a Texas Cloverleaf and how to hit the exact spot for a Heart Punch to connect. Not that I'll ever need to use it but it's there. " She wipes away a stray tear and smiles. "I remember Dad being so proud when I hit the right spot on his chest with my little hand. Must have been 3 or 4 years old at the time." She clutches at Lex's arm, smiling.
"Those skills're more important." Lex affirms, nodding. "I can see why he'd be proud. That little and you were already keen on shit rookies take for granted. There's a such thing as take-out for a reason. Not everyone can cook."
He turns, wrapping her in his embrace. "Think he'd be real proud of you now, Jana. Really do."
"I know he is. Sounds silly but every time I'm in Norfolk, I go over to the mausoleum and just sit there, talking to him. And when I'm through... I just watch the weather, whether it's windy, rainy, sunny, if it changes, it's like he approves or wants me to change or something. "
"Sounds really great..." he doesn't really have the right words to say what he wants. "I mean...you guys must've been close. That's really special...kinda wish I had that."
"I remember as much as I can. Mom and Todd and all the family passed along stories and he made me videos up until the night before he died so he did his best to pass along what he could. The quality of the video isn't always good but the content.... always is."
She takes her phone out, scrolls for a second then taps her Phone. A slightly distorted video begins to play.
The soft raspy voice on the video ends and Jana smiles up at Lex as he sees the rough video dated 7/19/2003.
"He died the next day in the locker room. He was watching me play, but it was like he knew. That's why I'm even here, why I even do this, the whole rebuilding of the DWF. And without this and everything that's gone on, Shamrock Showdown, Resurrection, Synn, Kaden..... I wouldn't have met you....."
Jana closes her eyes then places a hand on Lex's heart, opening her eyes to see his. "I love you.. Dad already approved of you last week when we were on Norfolk." She kisses Lex gently on the lips, her eyes closed. "Thank you for being here."
Lex looks at her for a few seconds, a sad smile on his lips. "How do you know he approved?"
"While I was there...it was cloudy, looked like it was gonna storm. I told him what was going on, how things were with you... said my goodbyes and just as I got in the Uber... the sun broke through and shined into his name on the mausoleum. " She put her thumb on the corner of Lex's lips as she kissed him, "If that wasn't a sign... I dunno what is."
His smile is heartfelt when she pulls back a little to meet his eyes and he nods, trying not to let on how overwhelmed he is at the thought. "Definitely sounds like it to me."
"Well, we're all set."
Jana leans over to Lex and kisses his lips softly. "Thank you for indulging me a bit.. I didn't plan it like this.. but I'm glad we're here "
"Anything you want," he replies, returning her kiss. "Kinda enjoying checking out all these other shows. With you."
"I know it's a little different for you, but it's double edged. I get to see friends or associates, I get to network, and hopefully, I get eyes on the fed too." She takes his hand in hers, "... plus I got to meet my sexy man because of it."
"Win-win, really." He gives her hand a squeeze. "I get it. Networking is important in this business."
"Kaden didn't. That's the real reason I talk to half of the people I do, like Mr. Wallace from 4CW. I get to talk with a lot of interesting people because of it, but it also showed me who he was..."
"How..." he stares at her in confusion, "guy isn't green. He has to know it's all part of it. Mean, I fucking hate it but I still get out there. Force myself through it."
"It's ok though... because now... I have you... and you are so much more than he ever was.. or ever will be... " She crawls up into his lap and kisses his lips. "I am in love with you... and I don't want this... us... to end..."
"Not going anywhere." Lex says, meeting her gaze with utmost seriousness. "I don't even wanna let you outta my sight. Guess that's silly, isn't it? It's like this long extended moment of awesome and if..." he shrugs, "eventually I'll have to let you go home, I guess."
"And we'll be going to our home.. on the beach..." She nuzzles in against him, " if you'll have me.."
"Nothing I want more...seriously." He wraps his arms around her, grinning.
She wraps her arms around his neck and holds him close.... "I love you, Lex."
"I love you, Jana. So much." He kisses her on the forehead. "Tonight I'm gonna kiss you under the northern lights.."
"God I can't wait... " she closes her eyes and sighs, "You make me feel perfect when we're together. "
"I know the feeling." Lex's voice is soft. "We won't even need fireworks for the 4th. Make our own."
"Passengers for Flight 342 to Seattle and Fairbanks, now boarding..."
"Mmhmm..." she gives a soft purring agreement as the two stand and head towards the gate.
~~~~~~~~~~
Walking into their rental cabin just outside of Fort Wainwright, Lex walks over and towards the balcony to look out at the mountains out in the distance. Jana locks the door and turns towards him with a smile.
"I was talking with one of the people at the desk when you were in the restroom and because it's close to Midnight sun here, the Northern lights are gone til August. The views coming over Denali and McKinley, they were gorgeous... I took those pictures earlier and they weren't even the best ones."
She walks up and slides in front of him, draping his arms over her as they look out of the cabin. "Thank you again for coming with me to see Heather sing the anthem tonight.. plus there's s few on the Honor Roster I've been wanting to meet in person too. "
"It's okay," he whispers, "I've seen them before. Once. And I need to stop equating people to random events that took my breath away - it's not fair."
The words are weird, vague but he doesn't clarify, instead smiling down at her. "Networking or fangirling?" The question is gentle, no judgment. "There are a few I'd like to say hello to... Some I follow on social media."
"Half and Half? " she turns and looks up at him, still curious about his word choice but that's just Lex .
She turns back around and leans her head against his shoulder. "It's more about seeing how other places work too. Fairbanks Alaska isn't as easy as Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, where Defiant has worked before, but it's still easier than some. It's like how much do you spend to get an arena and can you make money after all the travel and lighting and... "
She looks at him, sheepishly grinning then rolls her eyes. "Sorry bout that, I just get excited about...."
He chuckles, "I know. And your passion for it is awesome...anyone who talks to you can see how much you love the business. That's rare, y'know?"
"It's really all I know. I can't cook an omelet but I know how to put the proper pressure on a Texas Cloverleaf and how to hit the exact spot for a Heart Punch to connect. Not that I'll ever need to use it but it's there. " She wipes away a stray tear and smiles. "I remember Dad being so proud when I hit the right spot on his chest with my little hand. Must have been 3 or 4 years old at the time." She clutches at Lex's arm, smiling.
"Those skills're more important." Lex affirms, nodding. "I can see why he'd be proud. That little and you were already keen on shit rookies take for granted. There's a such thing as take-out for a reason. Not everyone can cook."
He turns, wrapping her in his embrace. "Think he'd be real proud of you now, Jana. Really do."
"I know he is. Sounds silly but every time I'm in Norfolk, I go over to the mausoleum and just sit there, talking to him. And when I'm through... I just watch the weather, whether it's windy, rainy, sunny, if it changes, it's like he approves or wants me to change or something. "
"Sounds really great..." he doesn't really have the right words to say what he wants. "I mean...you guys must've been close. That's really special...kinda wish I had that."
"I remember as much as I can. Mom and Todd and all the family passed along stories and he made me videos up until the night before he died so he did his best to pass along what he could. The quality of the video isn't always good but the content.... always is."
She takes her phone out, scrolls for a second then taps her Phone. A slightly distorted video begins to play.
' You.... can.... do.... anything.... in.... the... world... Jana.... <a long slow breath is heard on the video> I.... will... always... watch... over... you....<another long slow breath is heard on the video> Love......... Dad......'
The soft raspy voice on the video ends and Jana smiles up at Lex as he sees the rough video dated 7/19/2003.
"He died the next day in the locker room. He was watching me play, but it was like he knew. That's why I'm even here, why I even do this, the whole rebuilding of the DWF. And without this and everything that's gone on, Shamrock Showdown, Resurrection, Synn, Kaden..... I wouldn't have met you....."
Jana closes her eyes then places a hand on Lex's heart, opening her eyes to see his. "I love you.. Dad already approved of you last week when we were on Norfolk." She kisses Lex gently on the lips, her eyes closed. "Thank you for being here."
Lex looks at her for a few seconds, a sad smile on his lips. "How do you know he approved?"
"While I was there...it was cloudy, looked like it was gonna storm. I told him what was going on, how things were with you... said my goodbyes and just as I got in the Uber... the sun broke through and shined into his name on the mausoleum. " She put her thumb on the corner of Lex's lips as she kissed him, "If that wasn't a sign... I dunno what is."
His smile is heartfelt when she pulls back a little to meet his eyes and he nods, trying not to let on how overwhelmed he is at the thought. "Definitely sounds like it to me."