First Goodbyes

by Seven


Disclaimer:  Earth: Final Conflict and its characters are copyrighted by Tribune Entertainment Company.  All rights reserved.



Note from Author:      Shortly after "Redemption"



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Lili landed her shuttle near the graveyard in Ireland, on the very edge of a small town. As she disembarked, she saw the glow of another shuttle just over the hill. The people of the small town were staring, puzzled, as they passed by her. Lili just smiled and waved a little.

****

Liam was sitting on a stone bench, which by the look of the soil around it, he had dragged from elsewhere in the graveyard. He was staring mirbidly at a marble tombstone, with the words, "SIOBHAN BECKETT: Always In Our Hearts."

Lili felt a rush of sympathy as she saw him. "Liam," she said softly, sitting next to him. Liam turned his head a little, acknowledged her with a slight nod, then returned to his previous position. Lili tried again, "Da'an has been calling you repeatedly. You aren't answering your global."

"No, I haven't," Liam said flatly.

Lili sat there for a moment, then said, "Liam, if there's something bothering you, you should tell me. Is it about Beckett?"

Liam closed his eyes and nodded. "She's gone," he whispered.

Lili stopped, then touched Liam's hand. "And... you've never lost anyone you really, really cared about before, have you?"

Liam's face began to twitch. "No," he said hoarsely. "Before... I thought I almost did. But what I felt... wasn't as bad as this. I hate this."

Lili leaned over and put an arm around his shoulders. "Well, grieving is a part of life."

"Is that why... you cried at Boone's funeral?" Liam asked. "Why haven't I been able to cry?"

Lili shook her head. "Some people don't..." When Liam didn't reply, she asked, "Liam... did Beckett recognize you when... at the end?"

Liam nodded a little. "Yes. She said that if I lost my way, she'd be shining a star for me, and told me to fight the Taelons to save our world..."

Lili kissed the top of Liam's head. "Then fight them... for your mother. Beckett didn't like me, and I didn't like her, but the thing that sticks foremost in my mind is the mother who asked me to take care of her baby, no matter what." Liam's green eyes began to swim, and he leaned against Lili. "She loved you, Liam. And she'd never want you to be unhappy..."

Liam began to sob. Lili hugged him, rocking him back and forth. Liam was mumbling the same word over and over: "Mother."