Part 5

“Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul

- and sings the tune without words, and never stops - at all.”

- Emily Dickensen

*Part 5

The ranch was a flurry of camera crews, caterers, reporters, and celebrities.  The visual effects crew from ILM had been the first to see Episode 3 in it’s final form only a couple of day’s prior.  Today was the start of what the stars were calling ‘the press tour from hell’ with George hosting a bash for a hand-selected crowd.  Past Star Wars cast and crew were expected, as were some big name reporters and a panel interview with Barbara Walters, all timed into a well-kept schedule.  Almost as if it were a reward for surviving the interviews, everyone was invited to a screening at the Ranch’s all digital theater and a celebration barbeque with the folks from MTV afterwards. 

Melissa found the waiting spot to park the car, conveniently marked “Christensen” and she and Beth steadied Eric as he hobbled into the house on his crutches, his eyes as big as saucers.  He and Beth had been guests at the Ranch before, but the awe it brought on never lessened.  For Eric it was always about spotting something he hadn’t seen the last time, but for Beth it was usually about who, instead of what, she would see.  Maybe her best friend had gotten used to being around celebrities, but she hadn’t.

“Melissa!  You made it!” came the pleasant greeting from Cecilia, George’s assistant.  “Hayden told us about your brother is he…oh, hello Eric.  I guess that answers my question, doesn’t it?”

Cecilia Perry was a small-framed young woman, determined and organized which was exactly what George relied upon.  She not only kept him going, but did a fair amount to keep the Ranch operating as well.  There wasn’t anything or anyone she didn’t know, know about or, at the very least, know how to reach.  “We’re both dealing with chaos today,” Melissa grinned while she gave Cecilia a cordial hug.  “How are you holding up?”

“So far so good,” she smiled in reply.  “Today’s round of interviews will be ending soon…”

“Actually they’re mostly over,” came a familiar, fatherly voice, “except for your other half.  He’s still in there.”

“Hi George!” Melissa beamed, giving him a hug as well, but making it a little longer and a little tighter.  To look at him you would never know he was a multi-millionaire and the creator of the some of the greatest cultural icons of a generation.  Dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt, he could smile without ever moving his mouth.  There was a glow to his skin and his rounded cheeks that reminded her of Santa Claus – always jovial, always happy.  Any movement toward a smile caused his eyes to squint, giving him away to even a complete stranger.

From the very first time George had seen Hayden’s face change when he spoke of her, there had been a special place in his heart for Melissa.  It was the look in the young actors eye that gave away his feelings and, for as much as he looked at Hayden as a son, he felt equally as attached to his bride.  For Melissa, the feeling was completely mutual.  “Eric.  Beth,” he nodded and smiled.  “Glad to see you made it, although, you know, you could have come tomorrow night with the search team, they are still coming aren’t they?”

“Hah!  Try and keep them away!” Melissa laughed.  “They can’t wait.  Thank you again for inviting them, they’re thrilled.”

Eric thought he might one day get used to the fact that his sister not only lived next to his idol, but had a close relationship with him, but he was positive he would never get used to that relationship extending to him.  “Sorry sir, I’m sure you’ve figured out that the Hamilton’s aren’t known for their patience,” he said shooting a little wink to Melissa.

“George, Eric…call me George,” the older man laughed, “and you’re right, I should have known you’d be here.  Make sure you head into the theater first and find a place that’s comfortable for that leg.  I heard you fell through a floor or something?”

“Of a burning building,” Beth mumbled a little too loudly, but not before adding, “He should be in a hospital.  Stubborn…”

Melissa was laughing right along with George.  “So, where’s the party happening so we can set up Captain Klutz?”

“Everyone is down by the lake right now and we’ve got about an hour before we have to be in the theater,” Cecilia answered.  “The barbeque is going and there’s plenty of chairs, so go relax for a while.”

“Can you keep Kona out of there?” snickered George, knowing that anytime her partner was on the property, Melissa held her in close rein because she loved to swim after the ducks that graced Ewok Lake.”

“She’s at home actually,” she clarified, immediately seeing the disappointment in the older mans eyes.

“Jett is going to be disappointed.  You know she’s always welcome here.”

“I know, but I have my hands full today,” she sighed, tilting her head in Eric’s direction.  “Speaking of, lets get you down to the action.”

George led the way, ready to catch Eric should he get too much momentum going and fall forward, while Melissa and Beth flanked his sides and Cecilia followed behind.  He looked like an injured rock star being protected from rabid groupies by his security force, although three women and a gray haired man weren’t exactly rock star security material. 

Glancing behind her, Melissa caught Cecilia trying not to admire the view of her brother’s rear.  She had always been respectful of the relationship between Beth and Eric, but sisters know when their friends have crushes on their brothers and Cecilia’s was obvious.

Finding some open chairs, they got Eric settled in and his legged propped up before George excused himself to ‘make the rounds’ as he put it.  Cecilia remained with him, close by as always.  The remaining trio was discussing food when a heavy Scottish brogue came in from behind Melissa.  Beth’s face suddenly flushed, a sure sign that it was Ewan.

“Greetings young miss!” he said, giving Melissa a quick peck on the cheek.  “Bloody hell Beth, what did ya’ do ta Eric?  Hayden said he’d had a bit of a run in, but it looks like you were on the wrong end of the run there lad.”

Beth was speechless.  Every girl has that unattainable crush, the man they know they can never have and it was no secret that for Beth, it was Ewan McGregor.  Everyone knew it, including Eric and, they suspected, Ewan as well, yet they let her think they were all clueless to the palpitations of her heart.  She had only been around the dashing Scotsman a few times, but each time the young doctor turned into a silent form of teenybopper glee, unable to do anything but smile and look completely star struck.

“She’s trying to keep me in line,” Eric joked.  “I think she figured if she kept me in the hospital today, she could have you all to herself.”  Everyone was laughing at the joke except for Beth, who looked completely mortified and felt the sudden need to apologize to Ewans wife, Eve (who was also laughing), but Melissa saw the signs and stopped her.

“Come on, let’s go fix the unknown comic some grub, shall we?” she said practically pulling Beth from her seat before she could say anything too embarrassing.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Eric looked seriously at Ewan.  “That wasn’t planned but the timing was great.  Can I talk to you about something?”

Across the lawn at the barbeque, Beth was ready to break Eric’s other leg but, as they always did with each other, Melissa calmed her down and soon Beth was gushing.  “I can’t believe he remembers me!  He talked to me like he knew me!”

“Of course he did you dope.  He does know you.  You’ve been here a few times now remember?  Plus, he hears about you from me and Hayden…”

“You talk to him about me?” Beth perked up.  “Like what?  What do you say?”

“All the bad stuff…how you grind your teeth at night, how you hate beer – especially those heavy Scottish ales…” Melissa couldn’t stop her laughter at pulling her best friends leg and Beth went from shocked to laughing herself. 

“Ok, you win.  I’m acting like an idiot.  Lets get the food back so we can fill Eric’s mouth before he can say anything else.”

“Knowing my brother, I’m sure we’re too late.”

When they arrived back, Ewan and Eve excused themselves to get their own plates of food.  “Hey twerp, guess what?” Eric said, beaming, as they walked away.  “He said he was going to get all of the cast to sign MY cast!  Isn’t that great?”

“That’s a lot of people,” Beth grinned.  “Maybe I should break that other leg.”

“Hey now, you know you love me,” Eric made his best attempt at puppy dog eyes, but it always came out rather goofy looking to Melissa.

“Yeah, eat!” Beth commanded, “You need to take your pain pill.”

Eric’s face drooped a bit and Melissa knew what that meant.  “You didn’t bring them did you?”  His head moved ever so slightly from side to side as he raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders, preferring that to actually admitting he had forgotten the one thing he was supposed to remember.

As they were discussing where he had left it and who would go get it, George’s rounds had brought him back to the little group, now accompanied by his son Jett instead of Cecilia.  Jett was only in his early teens, but already as tall as his dad and equally as kind.  As they walked closer it was Melissa they heard saying that if Hayden came out before she got back, to tell him she wouldn’t be long.  They assumed she had been paged by the search team, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time.

“Everything ok?” George asked.

“Oh fine, Eric left his medicine at the house…”

“I’d go, but I don’t know how to get out of here,” Beth nervously interrupted, forcing herself to stop and take a breath.

“I can take you,” Jett offered.  “Can I Dad?  In one of the carts?”

“That’s really up to Beth son.”

“I know the way, I go up to play with Kona all the time.”

“Ok sure,” she smiled, happy to be getting a much-needed break to recompose herself.  She had spent the early days of Melissa and Hayden’s relationship convincing her friend that Hayden was just an ordinary guy with an extraordinary job, now she really needed to remember that herself.

“Since we’re going to be at the house, can Kona come back with us?  I promise to drive slow Melissa,” Jett pleaded.

“Oh, I don’t know Jett, it’s…”

“Fine by me,” George added with that cheeky smile.

She was attempting to fight a loosing battle and she knew it.  “Ok…but if she ends up in the lake, you’re going in after her,” she laughed.

While they were gone, Hayden finally finished the last of his interviews and, with help from Cecilia, he found Melissa and Eric talking to Mark Hamil as he added his autograph to Eric’s cast.  “Hey there beautiful,” he called out as he neared. 

Paying little attention to anything else, they met in a needed embrace and lost themselves in the feel of the other.  It had only been a few hours, but it felt like a so much longer and they craved that closeness.  How large and strong his hands felt as they slowly rubbed her back.  How her breath warmed his neck as she stood on her toes so her head could rest on his shoulder.  It was the little things between them that shone through to the people around them.  Aware that he had temporarily forgotten his manners, he let go of Melissa and greeted the group.

By the time George circled back, this time with Ewan accompanying him, Beth and Jett were just pulling up with Kona who jumped eagerly out of the cart and bounded toward Melissa.  Moving swiftly to Hayden and giving a quick check to Beth and Eric, she dropped a ball that had been hidden in her mouth at Jett’s feet.  Not interested in making any more rounds with his famous dad, Jett and Kona headed off for a game of fetch just as the faint background music switched to a slow song.  Beth lost herself in a daydream as she listened, remembering back to the hospital Christmas party over a year before.  It was that same song that she and Eric were dancing to the first time he had told her he loved her. 

“Hey,” her dream interrupted by Eric’s soft voice in her ear.  “Wanna dance?”

Leaning her head against his she patted his cast, “Maybe in a few weeks.”

“No, now.  I have a stand in,” he smirked as she looked up to see Ewan’s hand extended in front of her.  Not waiting for an answer, he took her hand and grinned himself as she followed along in a daze.  Eric watched as she closed her eyes and began to let Ewan move her in a slow sway.  He hoped that she was still thinking of him, but he doubted it.  She was happy though, and he liked that, no matter what it took. 

As the song ended, she stepped back from Ewan and thanked him, but he wasn’t done yet.  “Special song I take it?” he asked as he reached his pocket.

“Yes, very.”

“Yes, I thought so considering Eric asked me to give you this after,” he said, presenting her with a small black velvet box.  Instantly her hands began to shake as Ewan had to encourage her a bit.  Her eyes were locked on Eric, trying to digest what was happening.  “I think you may want to actually open it missy,” he whispered.  “I think there’s a little somethin’ inside.”

Melissa felt Hayden’s arms wrap around her as they watched Beth open the box and look at the glistening solitaire, everyone waiting for Eric to break the silence.  Once she could take her eyes off the ring long enough to look at Eric, he didn’t disappoint her.  “I had planned on getting down on one knee, but given today, I think it would a lot easier if I didn’t.”  His joke relaxed her as much as it could.  “I love you Beth.  Will you marry me?”

Nodding before she managed to say the word “yes” she sat down in his lap and kissed him through her tears.  “You big dope,” she sniffled.  “Is this why you wanted to make sure you were out of the hospital so today?”

“You know us Hamilton’s always have a plan, don’t you?” he winked toward Melissa, “and that nothing gets in the way of something we want.  I want you, for the rest of my life.”

“Me too.  I love you…even when you’re completely impossible.”

What ride it had been that day for everyone...the rush of worry, the relief, and now the joy with still so much more to come.  Still standing behind Melissa his arms wrapped around her waist, Hayden kissed her cheek softly before resting his head on her shoulder.  “I remember how it feels to hear that ‘yes’,” he whispered.  “There aren’t too many things that could top it”

“I know of one,” she said quietly leaning her head against his.  “I do.”

“Right as always,” he said squeezing her tighter.  “Right as always.”