Chapter 1

Instructions scrolled across a screen, the lights on the ship came on, the heating and life support activated, and the covers of the cryotubes slowly raised. Newt was the first to wake and for the first time in weeks she didn't wake up screaming. Newt removed the introvenous tubes that had been supplying her body with the minerals it needed and looked over at Ripley. She sat there and watched as the woman slowly came out of her deep sleep. Newt loved Ripley, she was the only person who had cared for Newt who hadn't been lost to those monsters. She hoped Ripley would adopt her and without meaning to had already started calling her Mommy. That had started after she asked Ripley if she could fill in for her daughter for a while,

"Did you ever have a baby" Newt asked. She was trying to understand these monsters that had killed her family and friends and she had a feeling this woman had the answers she needed. The woman was kind, strong and brave but Newt sensed that there was something else under the surface that made her so determined to kill these monsters. Ripley had alot of motherly qualities which was why Newt asked her if she had kids, a woman like her deserved them.

"Yes. A little girl." Ripley broke eye contace with the little girl and stared at the sheet.

"Where is she" Why would a mother leave her child to come to this awful place?

"Gone." Ripley didn't say where but she didn't need to, Newt saw the pain in her eyes and recognised it instantly.

"You mean dead." It was more a statement than a question.

Ripley nodded slowly. She turned, reaching for a portable space heater sitting nearby, and slid it closer to the bed. When she switched it on, it hummed and emitted a cozy orange glow.

What Newt said next no one could have predicted not even Newt, the words just came out of her mouth. "Ripley, I was just thinking... Maybe I could do you a favour and fill in for her. Just for a while. You can try it and if you don't like it, it's okay. I'll understand. No big deal. Whattya think"

Ripley gazed at her a long time before answering... she was fighting the urge to crush the child to her in a forever hug as she knew that neither of them may see another dawn. She simply smiled at the young girl. "I think it's not the worst idea I've heard all day. Let's talk about it later."

(A/N The last part of that was taken from Jim Camerons original script)

Newt closed her eyes and smiled to herself, they hadn't talked about it yet but she knew they would. She remembered how everytime she went to call Ripley she would nearly call her mommy, Ripley didn't seem to mind though.

"What are you smiling at"

Newt opened her eyes and saw Ripley raising herself up off the cryobed. Newt ran over to her and gave her a goodmorning hug, Ripley just laughed and held her.

Ripley looked down at the young girl in her arms, this girl had been through do much and yet she was still able to smile. Newt was a survivor and an orphan, just like Ripley. Although they hadn't discussed it Ripley was planning on adopting Newt, she loved the young girl so much. However Ripley did feel a little guilty, she missed her daughter and thought that by adopting Newt it may look like she was trying to replace her. But that wan't true. Ripley smiled as she thought back to how many times Newt had nearly call her Mommy but then caught herself at the last minute. After Ripley's fight with the xenomorph queen Newt openly called her Mommy.

With all her strength Ripley fought the blasting air and climbed up the ladder. Crawling over the lip of the inner doorway, she released the override from a second panel. The inner doors closed. The turbulent air settled. She lied on her back, drained of all strength, gasping for breath. Weakly she turned her head and saw Bishop still holding Newt by the arm. Thank god she was ok. Newt got up and ran over to Ripley.

" Mommy...Mommy"

"Right here, baby. Right here." Ripley said as she hugged her desperately.

And she would always be right there, she would never leave Newt again.

Ripley got out of the cryotube and walked over to Hicks, he looked better now that he was bandaged. Ripley owed him so much, she would never be able to repay him. He had risked his life for her and for Newt and boy did he pay the price. His left eyes was completely destroyed, his career as a colonial marine was over. As she watched him slowly come around Ripley allowed herself a moment to think what their lives would be like if Hicks...if Dwayne returned the feelings she had for him. It was a nice image.

"Hey there."

Ripley looked down and saw Hicks looking back up at her with a big goofy grin on his face.

"How many bugs do you have to kill to get some food around here"