* * * * * * * *

    Snake Eyes was meditating in his quarters, relaxing after the tension of the past week. He knew Scarlett, Jinx and Cover Girl were as happy to be back as he was, if not more. A week in close quarters with Beachhead, Leatherneck, Wet Suit and Clutch was enough to try the patience of a saint.

    Clutch had taken great delight in telling sexist jokes and making chauvinistic comments. Leatherneck and Wet Suit egged him on in between stints of arguing with each other. Beachhead was just of the attitude that women didn't belong in the military and he made that known with his condescending attitude.

    At first, Scarlett had helped him keep peace, but then they'd started pushing her buttons. Even Scarlett's patience had its limit. Truth be told, he'd wanted to beat the other guys senseless for intentionally aggravating the ladies.

    Those three needed to unwind, and if he knew Scarlett, they'd probably already cooked something up. As if on cue, there was a soft knock on his door. He opened it to see Scarlett standing there with a warm smile on her face.

    He signed to her, "It looks as if you've already managed to relax since we got back"

    She replied, "I sure have, and tonight will relax me even more." At his slight confusion she clarified, "I've invited Cover Girl and Jinx to a slumber party in my room tonight." Snake Eyes nodded and she could see his smile through his mask. "Can we borrow a sleeping bag? Jinx doesn't have one."

    "Of course" he signed and then pulled a sleeping bag out of his closet. He signed again after he handed it to her, "I want to thank you for being so open and accepting of Jinx, it means a lot to her, and me."

    He'd been worried when he'd recruited Jinx, a member of his ninja clan and his ward that Scarlett might be jealous of the girl he thought of as a niece or kid sister. He should have known better, Scarlett had greeted her like an old friend and they were fast becoming pals. He was reminded of one reason he loved this woman so much, her openness and compassion seemed to know no limits.

    She simply smiled and said, "Hey, any friend of yours, love." She then gave him a quick hug and left, pausing just long enough to say, "See you tomorrow." At his 'thumbs up' signal she left to prepare for her party.

* * * * * * *

* * * * * * * *

    About an hour later. the three women sat on the floor, cross-legged, in the middle of eating their ice cream." This movie is the coolest sequel ever!" Cover Girl commented around a mouthful of Haagen Dazs.

    "Ah, Snake Eyes could kick Arnold's butt." Scarlett remarked with a grin.

    "Oh, real objective opinion!" Cover Girl came back with an exaggerated eye roll.

    "Listen, just because you're not attached don't rain on my parade." Scarlett said and stuck her tongue out.

    Jinx giggled at the banter, then spoke up, "You aren't going with anybody, Cover Girl?"

    "No, I guess I worked so hard at getting the other Joes to see me as one of the guys that they've forgotten I'm a girl. It's a tough juggle, you work at making sure they don't treat you like a helpless female. You train twice as hard and fight twice as hard as they do, so they'll give you as much credit and respect as any other guy. Only it works to well and they forget you're female, period." Cover Girl mused as she looked at her painted toenails. "Of course, some of us don't have that problem." she said looking at Scarlett.

    "How did you meet Snake Eyes , Scarlett?" Jinx asked eagerly. Scarlett related the story of how she and Snake Eyes met and fallen in love. Then Jinx asked, "were you there when Snake Eyes was...burned? He never really told me how it happened." Jinx could have bitten her tongue off when she saw the look on Scarlett's face.

    "I was there all right. It's my fault it happened." Scarlett said dejectedly.

    "What do you mean, doll?" Cover Girl asked in a concerned tone. She hadn't heard the entire story either.

    Scarlett took a deep breath, "We were on a mission when the engine in our chopper stalled out. We were told to jump but the other door slammed shut on my web gear and jammed. Snake Eyes wouldn't leave me. He was trying to cut through my web gear to free me when the blades on our chopper crashed into another chopper, right at it's fuel tank. I guess the crash knocked me out, cause I don't remember what happened after that. Rock'n Roll told me later that he saw Snake Eyes carry me out of the wreckage, cradling me in his arms. He stood there protecting me with his head still in flames." When she finished Scarlett's voice was barely above a whisper and there were tears rolling down her cheeks.

    "Honey, you know he doesn't blame you for what happened. He risked his life for you because he loved you. And he'd probably do it again, because he still loves you!" Cover Girl soothed her friend.

    Jinx then spoke, "It's true Scarlett. Before I came to the team Snake Eyes would visit me occasionally and you were always his favorite topic of conversation. He'd tell me about your personality, your looks, once he even caught himself describing the way you smell!"

    Scarlett and Cover Girl both looked at Jinx, stunned speechless.
    
    Then Cover Girl broke the silence, "Describing the way you smell? If that's not a guy in love I don't know what is!" All three shared a cleansing laugh at that. "Seriously, Scarlett, you know that man's crazy for you." Cover Girl said.

    "She's right Scarlett," Jinx agreed, "There could be 100 beautiful, naked women standing between you and Snake Eyes and he'd just get annoyed because they'd obstructing his view of you."

    Scarlett giggled lightly and said, "Thanks guys, I guess I just need to hear that once in a while, when I start believing he's too good to be true." They then turned their attention back to the movie.

* * * * * * * *

    Once the movie was over the three friends were enjoying some strawberry smoothies when Cover Girl addressed Scarlett, "Okay girl, the time has come. Spill."

    "What?" Scarlett asked, confused by the statement.

    "After a conversation involving Snake Eyes and love you had to see this coming. Have you two...,you know?" Cover Girl finished with a suggestive lifting of her eyebrows.

    Scarlett blushed from the tips of her toes to the roots of her hair, "No, we haven't even gone beyond kissing yet, and even that is only occasionally."

    "You haven't even come close to losing control of yourselves?" Cover Girl asked, digging.

    "Well, once. It was after Storm Shadow and I rescued Snake Eyes from the Cobra Consulate (Yearbook #3). We went to his cabin for a little while. The first night we were there we kissed. It was one heck of a heavy kiss, cause when we finally broke apart we were both breathing pretty hard. I turned in for the night and Snake Eyes went outside. This was in early March. When he came back inside he was wet and ice cold!" Scarlett confessed with a wicked little smile.

    Cover Girl's eyes looked like they'd pop clear out of her head, "Snake Eyes had to go jump into frigid water to cool off after kissing you. Oh my God that is priceless!" Even Jinx had to laugh at the mental image of her guardian having to do something so drastic to regain self-control. "Was it that good?" Cover Girl inquired.

    "God, yes," Scarlett replied, "He kisses like he does everything else, perfectly."

    "I can't say I'm real surprised you two haven't been intimate, "Jinx commented, " I figured he respected you too much to 'put the moves on you'."

    "That, and I feel that something that special can wait for a special time. Although there are times I'd like to throw him to the floor and have my wicked way with him. "Scarlett admitted with that wicked little smile. This last statement obviously caught Cover Girl way off guard as she made a choking noise and sprayed the mouthful of smoothie she'd just taken all over Scarlett and Jinx. "Eww, I think we'd better change, "Scarlett said, "I have something you can borrow too ,Jinx."

    A few minutes later they emerged from Scarlett's bedroom, Jinx in an oversized Atlanta Braves baseball jersey and Scarlett in a light pink satin chemise. They both noticed right away that Cover Girl was gone. Scarlett spoke first, "Where'd she go?"

    She just got the words out before Cover Girl burst from a closet, wielding her pillow and laughing, "Prepare to defend yourselves, infidels!!" she said as she began whapping the other two with her pillow.

    "All right, you asked for it. You're about to receive a vicious ninja, pillow pounding!" Scarlett exclaimed as she grabbed her own pillow.

    Jinx got in on it to, "I've had some deadly pillow weapon training myself!"

    The three women proceeded to pound on each other mercilessly, screaming and laughing loudly. The pillows started breaking open and soon there were feathers everywhere, and then there was a quick knock on Scarlett's door right before Snake Eyes rushed in.

    He'd been walking near Scarlett's room when he'd heard screams coming from there. His concern changed to amusement as he took in the sight before him. Scarlett, Cover Girl and Jinx stood there in their pajamas, looking embarrassed, holding empty pillowcases and everything was covered with feathers. He'd obviously walked in on a pillow fight.

    He signed to them, "I'm sorry to disturb you, I heard screams coming from here and thought someone was in trouble."

    "Oh, I think you just wanted in on the fray! "Cover Girl said as she grabbed another pillow, wearing a big grin.

    Scarlett stepped in front of Snake Eyes laughing, "You'll have to go through me first." She then spun Snake Eyes around and ushered him out the door, then closed it behind them as she joined him in the hall for a few moments.

    He signed to her, "I'm glad to see you three enjoying yourselves," as he finished he plucked a feather out of her hair.

    Scarlett blushed a bit at the innocent gesture, reminded of some of the conversation earlier. Intrigued by her reaction to his touch he placed his hand on her cheek and she looked up into his eyes and smiled, blushing all the more. they stood like that for a few moments until they both heard the soft giggles coming from the other side of the door.

    Snake Eyes chuckled silently as he dropped his hand from her cheek as she said, "I'd better go back in there before their imaginations run away with them. See you tomorrow, love."

    Snake Eyes didn't know what possessed him to do it, but he couldn't help himself. He took his mask off and spinning Scarlett to face him he planted a hungry, passionate kiss on her very surprised lips. Her knees nearly buckled and Snake Eyes had to steady her as he broke the kiss. Her head was still swimming and her brain barely registered the fact he was signing to her. "Let them imagine" he said with his hands and after a lingering look into her eyes he brushed his hand on her cheek before he turned and headed down the hallway, putting his mask back on.

    Scarlett watched him go as she leaned against the door. She then whispered ,"Oh Wow!" to no one in particular before heading back into her room.

    Cover Girl and Jinx , who were cleaning up the feathers looked at her and Scarlett said in a casual tone, "Let's watch another movie." Jinx whispered to Cover Girl, "What happened out there?"

    "Well, by the looks of her I'd say Snake Eyes is on his way to have a cold shower right now!" Cover Girl commented with a wink. Jinx's eyes widened in shock and Cover Girl continued, "I'll bet you never thought of your Guardian and teacher as someone who could kiss a woman senseless, huh?" They then resumed their positions on the floor with their friend.

* * * * * * * *

    After the movie 'Ghost' was over Scarlett looked at the clock, "2:45 in the morning, we should turn in."

    The three curled up in their sleeping bags and fell asleep. They woke about 10:30 the next morning and they started gathering their belongings.

    Cover Girl commented casually, "I wonder if the cold shower Snake Eyes had to take last night worked?"

    Scarlett nearly fell over in surprise, "How did you know?!"

    Jinx answered, "Well, between the flushed cheeks, dancing eyes, unsteady walk and swollen lips you looked like a lady who'd just been very thoroughly kissed."

    Scarlett shook her head," He took me totally by surprise, I certainly wasn't expecting it."

    Cover Girl laughed, "I think that's exactly why he did it. Maybe he thought he'd give you something to dream about."

    "Well, I certainly did that!" Scarlett said wryly.

* * * * * * *