Terra Nova - Things Lost in the Fire ch30 [Skye/Lucas]
Title: Things Lost in the Fire
Fandom: Terra Nova
Ship: Skye/Lucas
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: bad language, sexual situations, AU
Chapter: 30/30
Summary: AU story. Skye meets a strange man at Snakehead Falls and ends up falling in love. But can happiness built on anonymity last, when the world around them is on fire?
Author's Note: After four months of frevent writing, this fic is finally done! I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing this! ;)
Things Lost in the Fire
30. Epilogue: Waves of a new day
The world spun the same, orchestrating the change of the seasons. The twelfth pilgrimage never came, which was probably what consolidated their story as truth for those who had still doubted. It was useless to scan the skies for danger when the Sixers ceased giving reasons to demonize them.
The flood washed away traces of the past, planted new seeds into the ground. Skye and Lucas had their work cut out for them, herding new and old allies, trying to keep the potential powder kegs from exploding. Mira retired from most of the decision making, choosing to focus on her daughter and the rehabilitation of Carter, which left a lot on Lucas' shoulders. No blame was cast though as Lucas understood her reasons. How could he blame someone for cherishing happiness when they finally had it?
Skye still worked as an intermediary between the two sides, frequenting at Terra Nova on behest of the Sixers. The visits became easier with time as people grew more understanding and begun to realize the benefits of the alliance that had formed. Skye helped others trade. The Sixers still mined minerals Terra Nova needed, as well as hunted and gathered and in general provided the colonists with a lot of useful items. Terra Nova in turn provided them with medical care and expertise in other areas. Elizabeth had made it her mission to train Skye, so she could function better in her role as a healer when the urgent nature of the damage didn't allow travel all the way back to Terra Nova.
Lucas was the one who made the spies choose between certain death and the 'blank' as he referred to the fracture in the Badlands. Each chose the fracture, so they were ceremoniously escorted there. Lucas made sure all walked through, and once they were gone, he pointed his attention to securing the Badlands' rift and the one near Terra Nova. In his mind, the terror of the future still existed. His nightmares painted images of night-time invasion, forcing him to work tirelessly on their safety. For a man who had once set his eyes on ruling the past, it was strange to realize he was ready to give his life in defending it.
Father and son still circled one another like prowling beasts, and they dueled with words on more than one occasion. Malice, however, was absent from their interaction. It was more like a well rehearsed play they carried on, not knowing how else to be around one another. Skye didn't meddle, for she felt time would heal old wounds. She could tell Taylor was proud of his son, of his accomplishments, even if he never worded those feelings, and that Lucas appreciated the effort his father put in mending things between the two. They shared too painful a history for things to have completely forgiven and forgotten past misgivings, but they were bonded by blood and memory nevertheless; it wasn't a bond that could be ignored.
Every now and then, Skye would still dream of the past. Night terrors haunted her for awhile, but Lucas pulled her through them, made her express the wordless anxiety that bled from her subconscious. He would listen, and most importantly he would forgive her despite her own claims of guilt. The ghastly grove where Hicks was buried became a place of contemplation for her, and Skye carved messages onto the tree whenever she needed assurance. She would also visit Curran's grave back in the Colony to bring him flowers and speak to him every now and then. In time the tragedy that had occurred became less painful, and she learned to accept her own choices and live with them.
Mira's hearing eventually returned and was welcomed by the laughter of children; she hadn't even realized how much she had missed it. Carter's recovery took more time. The bullet had left him near-paralyzed, but luck had been on his side, and with physical therapy he had regained his ability to walk. His afterlife, as he came to call everything since then, was spent in the moment rather than gazing forward into the future. Mira sheltered him in her hut at first, claiming lack of space as the reason, but it wasn't unclear to anyone that the arrangement would become permanent. Sienna had taken a liking to him as well, and she didn't mind at all that her hero stayed with them.
Deborah Tate was bedridden for a long time. Her body fought the disease and treatment equally, worrying even Elizabeth at first. Things eventually took a turn for the better and she recovered, although her recovery wasn't complete. Elizabeth had her under strict supervision, which was a constant cause of conflict for Skye. Her mother's wellbeing at Terra Nova worried her, whereas she was also needed amongst the Sixers.
Deborah eventually absolved Skye from that burden, claiming she didn't need Skye to worry about her anymore. To Deborah it was more important that Skye followed her heart and found a place where she was happy. The three years Skye had taken care of her mother had been enough; she would accept no more sacrifices from her daughter. And while Skye still made sure she saw her mother every chance she got, she no longer blamed herself for not being there.
The colony survived the storms, plagues, locust and other disasters that came their way, slowly resigning themselves from technology and adapting a more suitable way of living. The Sixers had proven it was possible, and with their link to the future severed, Taylor found reliance on technology to be too much of a hindrance. They would have to learn to survive without it, to preserve it as much as possible and use their remaining supplies only in dire need.
The change wasn't easy; the people in Terra Nova were much too comfortable under the protection of their technology at first, unlike the weathered Sixers. Survival became more than a selection of camping tricks and useful trivia. Yet everyone participated, everyone understood the need to do so. And so they adapted to the new conditions, taking up jobs that had been previously deemed too manual and giving up equipment that was too advanced on the long run. From the ashes rose a new colony, a new tribe that forsook the old ways in fear of repeating the mistakes of the future.
But in the middle of change, in the eye of the storm, Lucas and Skye remained. Their battles had been largely fought already, and it was already easier to breathe. They were together; free to walk in sunlight hand in hand, their feelings out in the open without condemnation. And they enjoyed this path together that had seemed so unreachable once upon a time. Their ordeals had tied them together, and the cords were strong although largely unseen by others.
She would often tell him they were connected by more than words and emotions. Even across time her faith had remained, even in the face of betrayal his feelings had endured. They had stood in the crossfire, forsaking loyalties and sense for one another.
In the face of night Skye returned to camp from the colony with the others, carrying the supplies that had traded with the others. It was good to get back home no matter how easy things got in Terra Nova. With time she had undergone a change in the eyes of others. Her road had been long from a child to a betrayer to a savior. She would justify her road as necessary; you fought for the things that mattered, you stood your ground. She had done all that, all on her own and at the darkest hour.
She made her way to their hut on the platform, waving good night to the familiar faces around, flashing tired smiles across the camp. She'd been the catalyst of change and most here recognized that. They had cut their ties off violently, yet violence had been necessary as she'd come to realize. No revolution was without bloodshed.
Her weary feet carried her onwards; up the ladder, across a rope bridge, towards the hut. She barely made any noise though, no, her steps were quiet, familiar. Skye stopped at the doorway, recognizing the pale light that emanated from within the hut. She smiled absent-mindedly at the sight before entering.
Lucas was working on his desk again with a furrowed brow and quick fingers. The light of his Plex (one of the few that were still used regularly these days) shone on his face. He was absorbed in his work, barely registering her arrival. It wasn't in his nature to enjoy the silence. Lucas was the kind of person to look into the horizon, give forecast to approaching disasters, and worry about preventing them. He still worked to keep them safe, to correct his own error and keep the future at bay. She wasn't quite sure if the task was futile or not. It provided him with a goal, a task he needed to keep himself busy, which was why she didn't think ill of it, even if she didn't share his pessimistic views.
Skye approached him, tying her arms around his neck and leaning against his back. He froze as she leaned over him, laid the Plex on the desk and took her hands. "You're back late," he mumbled at her, sounding curious.
"I was caught talking with mom," she explained, knowing it was all he needed.
"How is Deborah?" Lucas asked, already knowing not much had changed since the last time she'd seen her.
"Better," she settled to say. Her lips touched his neck, causing him to tense a bit. Desire travelled through his veins, her touch left him enthralled. The world and his worries seemed smaller whenever she was around. Skye had a way of taking away his fears and replacing them with light, a brighter future.
Lucas turned in his chair, causing her to retreat and stand straight, and he looked up at her. He could still feel that sting in his heart when he looked at her, a trace of pain and love entwined. Being with her felt so good, better than anything he'd done on his own. Lucas found that he was living only now that he'd found her. The rest had been little more than pretend.
He took her hands in his again, pressed kisses against the palms of her hands. The feel of his lips was electric on her skin; it affected her like nothing else. It wasn't just physical attraction, but a deeper connection. He knew her for what she was and accepted her; she'd seen the dark places inside him and shown him another way. He was all she needed.
Skye withdrew her hands to his head, pulling him closer, kissing his forehead. "I love you," she said, no longer feeling conflict for these emotions like she once had.
He rose, quickly towering above her, pulling her into an embrace, and then a hungry kiss. She pressed into it, needing this reassurance, this rejuvenation. And once their lips parted, he too whispered the words, "I love you too Bucket."
Lucas reached for the Plex, closing it for the night. Skye blew out the lantern on the table. They fumbled in the dark towards the bed, stripping themselves from clothing and then laying down on the soft mattress. Skye settled herself next to him, pressing her head over his chest. Her wild hair landed all over, golden strands of hair like heavenly fire that eroded his defenses, his heart. It felt natural to lie there, safely cradled in his arms, almost like they were made for moments like these
"Did you have nightmares last night?" he asked her, moving his fingers through her hair in a calming manner. His inquiry was a common occurrence by now. She generally woke him up whenever her anxiety got the best of her. Lucas managed to calm her down, sometimes without waking her at all. Warmth, closeness and comfort were his weapons. She hardly ever heard his soft voice snap at her these days.
"I think I did," Skye confessed, not remembering much.
"Was it Morris or Curran?" Lucas asked half-heartedly, not really expecting an answer. Both were long-gone and unable to harm her, yet they still existed in the depths of her mind, having left permanent scars.
She was quiet for a moment, took her time in contemplating her answer. Then she responded hesitantly, "Everyone was gone, and I was alone in the camp. It was deserted."
He could hear the agony in her voice, the pain. Lucas shifted a bit, but didn't say anything. He did press his lips on her temple though and inhale deeply.
"But I didn't panic. I knew I was dreaming, because you'd never leave without telling me," she then explained, sounding oddly serene.
Good, he thought to himself. Skye deserved peaceful dreams after everything she had endured. He was happy to see it slowly become a reality after the many nights he'd listened to her cry in her sleep.
"Lucas?" she asked a moment later, having waited for a comment. Lucas startled awake from his thoughts with a small noise. "What is it?" he then asked.
"Would you tell me a story?" she requested innocently.
He frowned at the request at first, not knowing what she wanted from him. Skye noticed his unease and rubbed his chest with a sigh, "Tell me about the future."
Now he was starting to see what she wanted. Lucas moved himself to a better position and cleared his throat. She wanted him to see that everything was good now; that no danger lurked in the shadow of the future. Of course life wasn't without its problems, but he'd come to accept them, accept the people that caused them, and himself as a part of that group.
"We'll learn to live together and see past our differences," he started, letting the words sink into her weary mind.
"We'll learn from the mistakes of our past, and do things better this time around," Lucas comforted her. "Instead of cities, we'll have communities. Instead of factories, we'll have fields. And you can see the moon on the night sky for many millennia to come."
She smiled sleepily at this utopia, at the way his dreamy voice described it. It sounded beautiful, a true Paradise. "But most importantly," he said, caressing her face, "We'll have each other, Bucket."
Not so long ago he hadn't been able to envision a future with them together; she had belonged to someone else. Now he knew she was with him.
Skye had closed her eyes, drifted into sleep by now. He cradled her a bit, caught in this vision for the future he had painted before sleep claimed him as well.
THE END
Fandom: Terra Nova
Ship: Skye/Lucas
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: bad language, sexual situations, AU
Chapter: 30/30
Summary: AU story. Skye meets a strange man at Snakehead Falls and ends up falling in love. But can happiness built on anonymity last, when the world around them is on fire?
Author's Note: After four months of frevent writing, this fic is finally done! I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing this! ;)
Things Lost in the Fire
30. Epilogue: Waves of a new day
The world spun the same, orchestrating the change of the seasons. The twelfth pilgrimage never came, which was probably what consolidated their story as truth for those who had still doubted. It was useless to scan the skies for danger when the Sixers ceased giving reasons to demonize them.
The flood washed away traces of the past, planted new seeds into the ground. Skye and Lucas had their work cut out for them, herding new and old allies, trying to keep the potential powder kegs from exploding. Mira retired from most of the decision making, choosing to focus on her daughter and the rehabilitation of Carter, which left a lot on Lucas' shoulders. No blame was cast though as Lucas understood her reasons. How could he blame someone for cherishing happiness when they finally had it?
Skye still worked as an intermediary between the two sides, frequenting at Terra Nova on behest of the Sixers. The visits became easier with time as people grew more understanding and begun to realize the benefits of the alliance that had formed. Skye helped others trade. The Sixers still mined minerals Terra Nova needed, as well as hunted and gathered and in general provided the colonists with a lot of useful items. Terra Nova in turn provided them with medical care and expertise in other areas. Elizabeth had made it her mission to train Skye, so she could function better in her role as a healer when the urgent nature of the damage didn't allow travel all the way back to Terra Nova.
Lucas was the one who made the spies choose between certain death and the 'blank' as he referred to the fracture in the Badlands. Each chose the fracture, so they were ceremoniously escorted there. Lucas made sure all walked through, and once they were gone, he pointed his attention to securing the Badlands' rift and the one near Terra Nova. In his mind, the terror of the future still existed. His nightmares painted images of night-time invasion, forcing him to work tirelessly on their safety. For a man who had once set his eyes on ruling the past, it was strange to realize he was ready to give his life in defending it.
Father and son still circled one another like prowling beasts, and they dueled with words on more than one occasion. Malice, however, was absent from their interaction. It was more like a well rehearsed play they carried on, not knowing how else to be around one another. Skye didn't meddle, for she felt time would heal old wounds. She could tell Taylor was proud of his son, of his accomplishments, even if he never worded those feelings, and that Lucas appreciated the effort his father put in mending things between the two. They shared too painful a history for things to have completely forgiven and forgotten past misgivings, but they were bonded by blood and memory nevertheless; it wasn't a bond that could be ignored.
Every now and then, Skye would still dream of the past. Night terrors haunted her for awhile, but Lucas pulled her through them, made her express the wordless anxiety that bled from her subconscious. He would listen, and most importantly he would forgive her despite her own claims of guilt. The ghastly grove where Hicks was buried became a place of contemplation for her, and Skye carved messages onto the tree whenever she needed assurance. She would also visit Curran's grave back in the Colony to bring him flowers and speak to him every now and then. In time the tragedy that had occurred became less painful, and she learned to accept her own choices and live with them.
Mira's hearing eventually returned and was welcomed by the laughter of children; she hadn't even realized how much she had missed it. Carter's recovery took more time. The bullet had left him near-paralyzed, but luck had been on his side, and with physical therapy he had regained his ability to walk. His afterlife, as he came to call everything since then, was spent in the moment rather than gazing forward into the future. Mira sheltered him in her hut at first, claiming lack of space as the reason, but it wasn't unclear to anyone that the arrangement would become permanent. Sienna had taken a liking to him as well, and she didn't mind at all that her hero stayed with them.
Deborah Tate was bedridden for a long time. Her body fought the disease and treatment equally, worrying even Elizabeth at first. Things eventually took a turn for the better and she recovered, although her recovery wasn't complete. Elizabeth had her under strict supervision, which was a constant cause of conflict for Skye. Her mother's wellbeing at Terra Nova worried her, whereas she was also needed amongst the Sixers.
Deborah eventually absolved Skye from that burden, claiming she didn't need Skye to worry about her anymore. To Deborah it was more important that Skye followed her heart and found a place where she was happy. The three years Skye had taken care of her mother had been enough; she would accept no more sacrifices from her daughter. And while Skye still made sure she saw her mother every chance she got, she no longer blamed herself for not being there.
The colony survived the storms, plagues, locust and other disasters that came their way, slowly resigning themselves from technology and adapting a more suitable way of living. The Sixers had proven it was possible, and with their link to the future severed, Taylor found reliance on technology to be too much of a hindrance. They would have to learn to survive without it, to preserve it as much as possible and use their remaining supplies only in dire need.
The change wasn't easy; the people in Terra Nova were much too comfortable under the protection of their technology at first, unlike the weathered Sixers. Survival became more than a selection of camping tricks and useful trivia. Yet everyone participated, everyone understood the need to do so. And so they adapted to the new conditions, taking up jobs that had been previously deemed too manual and giving up equipment that was too advanced on the long run. From the ashes rose a new colony, a new tribe that forsook the old ways in fear of repeating the mistakes of the future.
But in the middle of change, in the eye of the storm, Lucas and Skye remained. Their battles had been largely fought already, and it was already easier to breathe. They were together; free to walk in sunlight hand in hand, their feelings out in the open without condemnation. And they enjoyed this path together that had seemed so unreachable once upon a time. Their ordeals had tied them together, and the cords were strong although largely unseen by others.
She would often tell him they were connected by more than words and emotions. Even across time her faith had remained, even in the face of betrayal his feelings had endured. They had stood in the crossfire, forsaking loyalties and sense for one another.
In the face of night Skye returned to camp from the colony with the others, carrying the supplies that had traded with the others. It was good to get back home no matter how easy things got in Terra Nova. With time she had undergone a change in the eyes of others. Her road had been long from a child to a betrayer to a savior. She would justify her road as necessary; you fought for the things that mattered, you stood your ground. She had done all that, all on her own and at the darkest hour.
She made her way to their hut on the platform, waving good night to the familiar faces around, flashing tired smiles across the camp. She'd been the catalyst of change and most here recognized that. They had cut their ties off violently, yet violence had been necessary as she'd come to realize. No revolution was without bloodshed.
Her weary feet carried her onwards; up the ladder, across a rope bridge, towards the hut. She barely made any noise though, no, her steps were quiet, familiar. Skye stopped at the doorway, recognizing the pale light that emanated from within the hut. She smiled absent-mindedly at the sight before entering.
Lucas was working on his desk again with a furrowed brow and quick fingers. The light of his Plex (one of the few that were still used regularly these days) shone on his face. He was absorbed in his work, barely registering her arrival. It wasn't in his nature to enjoy the silence. Lucas was the kind of person to look into the horizon, give forecast to approaching disasters, and worry about preventing them. He still worked to keep them safe, to correct his own error and keep the future at bay. She wasn't quite sure if the task was futile or not. It provided him with a goal, a task he needed to keep himself busy, which was why she didn't think ill of it, even if she didn't share his pessimistic views.
Skye approached him, tying her arms around his neck and leaning against his back. He froze as she leaned over him, laid the Plex on the desk and took her hands. "You're back late," he mumbled at her, sounding curious.
"I was caught talking with mom," she explained, knowing it was all he needed.
"How is Deborah?" Lucas asked, already knowing not much had changed since the last time she'd seen her.
"Better," she settled to say. Her lips touched his neck, causing him to tense a bit. Desire travelled through his veins, her touch left him enthralled. The world and his worries seemed smaller whenever she was around. Skye had a way of taking away his fears and replacing them with light, a brighter future.
Lucas turned in his chair, causing her to retreat and stand straight, and he looked up at her. He could still feel that sting in his heart when he looked at her, a trace of pain and love entwined. Being with her felt so good, better than anything he'd done on his own. Lucas found that he was living only now that he'd found her. The rest had been little more than pretend.
He took her hands in his again, pressed kisses against the palms of her hands. The feel of his lips was electric on her skin; it affected her like nothing else. It wasn't just physical attraction, but a deeper connection. He knew her for what she was and accepted her; she'd seen the dark places inside him and shown him another way. He was all she needed.
Skye withdrew her hands to his head, pulling him closer, kissing his forehead. "I love you," she said, no longer feeling conflict for these emotions like she once had.
He rose, quickly towering above her, pulling her into an embrace, and then a hungry kiss. She pressed into it, needing this reassurance, this rejuvenation. And once their lips parted, he too whispered the words, "I love you too Bucket."
Lucas reached for the Plex, closing it for the night. Skye blew out the lantern on the table. They fumbled in the dark towards the bed, stripping themselves from clothing and then laying down on the soft mattress. Skye settled herself next to him, pressing her head over his chest. Her wild hair landed all over, golden strands of hair like heavenly fire that eroded his defenses, his heart. It felt natural to lie there, safely cradled in his arms, almost like they were made for moments like these
"Did you have nightmares last night?" he asked her, moving his fingers through her hair in a calming manner. His inquiry was a common occurrence by now. She generally woke him up whenever her anxiety got the best of her. Lucas managed to calm her down, sometimes without waking her at all. Warmth, closeness and comfort were his weapons. She hardly ever heard his soft voice snap at her these days.
"I think I did," Skye confessed, not remembering much.
"Was it Morris or Curran?" Lucas asked half-heartedly, not really expecting an answer. Both were long-gone and unable to harm her, yet they still existed in the depths of her mind, having left permanent scars.
She was quiet for a moment, took her time in contemplating her answer. Then she responded hesitantly, "Everyone was gone, and I was alone in the camp. It was deserted."
He could hear the agony in her voice, the pain. Lucas shifted a bit, but didn't say anything. He did press his lips on her temple though and inhale deeply.
"But I didn't panic. I knew I was dreaming, because you'd never leave without telling me," she then explained, sounding oddly serene.
Good, he thought to himself. Skye deserved peaceful dreams after everything she had endured. He was happy to see it slowly become a reality after the many nights he'd listened to her cry in her sleep.
"Lucas?" she asked a moment later, having waited for a comment. Lucas startled awake from his thoughts with a small noise. "What is it?" he then asked.
"Would you tell me a story?" she requested innocently.
He frowned at the request at first, not knowing what she wanted from him. Skye noticed his unease and rubbed his chest with a sigh, "Tell me about the future."
Now he was starting to see what she wanted. Lucas moved himself to a better position and cleared his throat. She wanted him to see that everything was good now; that no danger lurked in the shadow of the future. Of course life wasn't without its problems, but he'd come to accept them, accept the people that caused them, and himself as a part of that group.
"We'll learn to live together and see past our differences," he started, letting the words sink into her weary mind.
"We'll learn from the mistakes of our past, and do things better this time around," Lucas comforted her. "Instead of cities, we'll have communities. Instead of factories, we'll have fields. And you can see the moon on the night sky for many millennia to come."
She smiled sleepily at this utopia, at the way his dreamy voice described it. It sounded beautiful, a true Paradise. "But most importantly," he said, caressing her face, "We'll have each other, Bucket."
Not so long ago he hadn't been able to envision a future with them together; she had belonged to someone else. Now he knew she was with him.
Skye had closed her eyes, drifted into sleep by now. He cradled her a bit, caught in this vision for the future he had painted before sleep claimed him as well.
THE END