Archive of Our Own

                           After Alder and Tally said goodbye to each other at the wedding, Alder couldn’t help shake the feeling that Tally really wanted her to stay. Alders' mission was clear from the mother— she had to focus on that and not on her feelings for Tally, no matter how deep they were. Alder was getting ready to board a plane to Africa when she felt this empty whole in her stomach. Something kept pulling Alder to go back to the wedding. Perhaps it was Alders' love for Tally? Alder did believe in the mothers mission, however a special someone matter to her more. Whatever tomorrow brings, whatever happens next- Alder needed to make sure that Tally knew how she felt about her and how deeply in love she was. 

           As soon as Alder arrived back at the wedding, she sees Scylla and Raelle, a married couple; as well as Adil and Abigail. Everyone else is on the dance floor with their significant other dancing. She looks for Tally and doesn’t see her anywhere.

          Alder finds herself searching inside the building where the wedding is being held. Alder hears giggling in a hallway nearby and recognizes one of voices. Getting closer to where the voices are, Alder pushes the door open, only to find Tally hooking up with Gregorio.

    Tally and Gregorio separate and both of them look at Alder—

(TALLY): "Sarah?!?"

    Alder continues to stand there frozen..

     Tally walks up to Alder and gently grabs her by hand--
    Gregorio stands there confused as to why the young cadet would call the former general by her first name..

(TALLY): "Sar…"

        Tally repeats her name again—

(ALDER): "No.. No! Absolutely not! Don’t you dare call me that, not after after this.. I should’ve known coming back here was a mistake.."

               Alder rushes out of the building trying to avoid tears from falling down her face—

(TALLY): "Wait!! Please!!"

         Tally cries out—

(GREGORIO): "I think you should go after her.."

(TALLY): "What?!?"

(GREGORIO): "It took me a minute to realize what’s going on.. Tally, why else would she be so upset over us kissing? Clearly, Alder has feelings for you.."

(TALLY): "I don’t think.. She’s never said anything to me. Goddess, how could I have been so stupid.. I really messed up."

           Tally, overwhelmed with emotions starts crying in front of Gregorio--

(GREGORIO): "I think you need to find her and talk this all out. And from the looks of it, I think you do as well, have feelings for her too. It’s ok Tally.."

              Tally looks at Gregorio and smiles as she walks away to go after Alder--

(TALLY): "What about you?"

(GREGORIO): "Me? I'm going to go find Adil. That man promised me a dance! He's my wingman after all. Good luck!"

              Anacostia is outside with Sterling and notices that Alder is back at the wedding..

(ANACOSTIA): "Honey could you hold my drink?"

(STERLING): "Of course.."

            Anacostia catches up with Alder in the parking lot and sees that she’s been crying..

(ANACOSITA): "Alright then.. You want to tell me what’s going on, or am I going to have to force it out of you?"

(ALDER): "It’s nothing my daughter.. Really, I am fine.. It’s nothing I can’t handle."

(ANACOSTIA): "Does it have anything to do with your mission from the mother?"

          
(ALDER): "How did you..?!?"

(ANACOSTIA): "Khalida filled me in on everything.."

(ALDER): "Goddess bless that witch. And, no this has nothing to do with anything of that."

(ANACOSTIA): "So what is it then?"

             Before Alder was able to reply back to Anacostia, Alder was being yelled at by Tally from across the parking lot--

(TALLY): "Hey! We are not done talking!"

          As Tally continued to walk up to Alder, she was unaware that Anacostia was standing right next to the former general-- 

(TALLY): "You can’t just walk away like that and not let me explain!"

(TALLY): "Goddess.. Anacostia, I’m so sorry I didn’t see you there.."

              Alder looks at Anacostia--

(ALDER): "My daughter, could you give us a moment please?"

        Anacostia gives Alder a nod, and walks away to go find Sterling--

      As Anacostia walks away, Tally wanted to finish talking with Alder; However Alder didn’t want to continue the conversation. Alder starts walking away from Tally—

(TALLY): "Where are you going?"

(ALDER): "Africa! Where I should’ve been in the first place."

(TALLY): "Can you just please just talk to me.. Sarah please!"

       Tally stops in front of Alder so they can be face to face—

(ALDER): "What do you want from me? What do you want me to say? It killed me inside when I saw you with someone else. Silly me for believing that for a moment I actually thought that you wanted me to stay at the wedding even though I don’t enjoy them. I do love seeing others happy and celebrating their life together, but inside it’s hard on me knowing I may never get to experience a happy ending like other people.. I don’t know what else you’d like to me to say Tally.. I thought today was the day I'd actually get to tell you how I truly feel for you…"

(TALLY): "I did want you here.. I’m so sorry Sarah. The man you saw me with, I don’t feel anything for him. You, you mean everything to me. I know I can’t change what happened. I need you to know that all the times I've spent with you mean more to me then anything else. When I am with you I feel alive. I know there’s this connection between us and I wasn’t sure if you had felt it or not. I wanted to be closer to you and I thought if you had stayed at the wedding we would get a chance to explore that.. Which is why I got so heartbroken that you were leaving for Africa."

(ALDER): "I didn’t want you to come with because I cared about your safety. I’ve always cared about you."

(TALLY): "Tell me more. Please.."

            As Alder opens her car door ready to end the conversation, Tally shuts the car door. Tally pushes Alder against the door and puts her hands on Alder's waist.

(TALLY): "You’re not leaving until you answer me.."

(ALDER): "You’re very stubborn you know that?!?"

(TALLY): "So are you! Goddess, why is it so hard for you to talk to me now?"

(ALDER): "Hm.. Why do you think?"

(ALDER): "Tally, when you came into my life I didn’t know what to expect. I was still the same guarded general Sarah Alder. I was scared to embrace my vulnerability. But with your empathic touch, it help lead the way. Your touch taught me how to love parts of myself that I had closed off because I was to scared to confront them. Now, you can see why I am having trouble opening up to you. Seeing you with him, it broke me. I know you don’t feel anything towards him. Goddess Tally, I LOVE YOU. And I am IN LOVE WITH YOU.. I've dreamt about my life with you and wondered what it would be like to wake up next to you.."

           Tears start falling down Tally’s face.. She leans in to give Alder a kiss on her forehead--

(TALLY): "Sarah I... You just come back to me safe ok? We can talk more about us when you come back from Africa. I'll be waiting for you.."  

           Alder smiles—

        As Alder gets into the car, Tally quickly sits on Alder's lap facing her. Shutting the door for a bit more privacy, Tally and Alder find themselves in a passionate kiss.

(ALDER): "Don’t worry about me darling, I'll be fine.."

(TALLY): "I’m always going to worry about my woman. I love you.."

(ALDER): "Love you too Tally.."