A WINTER'S TALE
BY: THE BARD

Chapter Eleven
A New Year

  "So what are you drinking tonight boys?" the waitress yelled over the rowdy crowd of Joes that had gathered at the pub to celebrate the New Year.

  Low Light scanned the room. Every nook and cranny was filled to the rim with soldiers in civies and various local girls looking for a good time. Ace was at the pool table challenging Ripcord to a game. Leatherneck and Gung-Ho were arm wrestling while a group of about ten Joes placed their bets as to who would win. At the bar, Snake Eyes was signing wildly at Stalker while Scarlett looked on with a smirk on her face, nursing a cocktail. Mainframe and Dialtone were at the video games, while the rest of the team were scattered about the various tables, laughing, drinking, talking.

  It wasn't a fancy new years bash...it was a typical Joe one, gathered at a local bar with friends to celebrate making it through another year.

  This time seemed different, though.

  Then it struck him...

  Everyone was here.

  No one on leave, no one on duty, no one away on a mission...the entire team was present and accounted for. In fact, the only ones missing were Flint, Hawk and Duke.

  "Hey...wake up Cooper!" Alpine snapped his fingers in front of his face. "The lady here wants to know what you want to drink..."

  "Oh...Coors." He turned his head to the woman sitting next to him. "And she'll have a Ginger Ale."

  "I can order for myself thank you very much..." Lady Jaye grimaced as she adjusted herself on chair. Her injured shoulder was obviously giving her some trouble.

  "Yeah right. I know that look...that is your `I need a Guiness' look." Low Light cut her off with a gesture, "No Alcohol...that was the deal. You aren't even supposed to be out. You're supposed to be resting."

  "Don't look at me Jaye..." Alpine threw his hands up in defense, "I don't know how you talked us into this but I agree with `smiley'."

  "I told you to stop calling me that!"

  "And I told you to stop calling me Goat Boy!"

  "Children, children..." Jaye sighed, "Ok... Ginger Ale." As the waitress made her way back to the bar with their order, Jaye turned back to them and smiled..."You know you couldn't leave me behind guys..."

  Bazooka beamed at her. "Damn Straight, lil sis!" The man was so happy to have her alive and sitting here that he didn't care if she was in a wheelchair as long as she was with them at New Years. The big man extended his hand to the middle on the table.

  "That's right Jaye...All for one and one for all, as they say..." Alpine placed his hand on top of his friends.

  Low Light shook his head in exasperation but didn't hesitate to place his hands with the others, "What is this, the bloody four musketeers?"

  Lady Jaye placed hers on top of his with a bright smile "You guys are a bunch of goof balls, you know that?"

  "Yeah, but you love us!" Alpine grinned, "Me especially!"

  She and Flint had missed last year's celebration when she had been stranded by bad weather in Northern New York. Somehow, Low Light suspected that the pair weren't too disappointed by the unforeseen turn of events that caused them to miss the bash.

  Low Light grinned as Lady Jaye turned and spoke to Torpedo, her smile genuine...her eyes bright. No one had told her about the secret mission to the everglades. No one mentioned the small team that had dropped everything and risked their lives to bring back Cobra Commander...but you can't keep these things from Covert Ops. She had thanked each and every one of them despite their denials.

  He could still feel her lips on his cheek. She had told him that she would never forget what he had done for her...and that she hoped he would forgive her for getting him into trouble with the brass.

  How could she possible think that he was angry with her?

  Low Light's thoughts were interrupted as Shipwreck crashed down onto the seat next to him.

  "Hey sweetness!" he leaned over the table towards her, interrupting her conversation with the SEAL, "Any chance I'll get a New Year's kiss..."

  "Stand in line buddy..." Alpine grabbed his beer from the waitress as she wandered past.

  "Boys...behave yourselves..."

  "Hey...you can't nearly die on us without expecting form of retribution." The sailor smiled warmly, genuinely happy to see her well...as was every Joe that came by the table, "and I expect payment in full tonight!"

  "I think someone might take exception to that," she smiled but before Shipwreck could ask what she meant, Low Light changed the subject. As far as he could tell, no one knew about her relationship with Flint even after all the had transpired in the past month. And although the base was buzzing with gossip, she was too weak to have to deal with any of it...

  "So squid, I hear Hawk was less than kind when he found out about Wanda..."

  "How was I supposed to know the Admiral was there with his wife? I'm not a psychic!" Shipwreck leaned back on his chair and eyed the waitress. "And look who's talking...I hear you three were called into his office today as well."

  "Yeah...well...at least our little transgression was for a noble cause."

  "Hey...giving those stuck up young officers a taste of what they are missing out here with us enlisted was pretty noble..."

  Suddenly the room fell silent as the door opened, revealing Hawk and his wife Susan, Flint and Duke.

  "ATTEN HUT!!!!" Beachhead's voice carried over the bar and like one giant mass the entire room came to attention and saluted their General.

  "At ease, men." Hawk smiled and waved his hand at the group, "Its New Years...we made it through another one...and somehow your two commanders here managed to wrangle Reg-Force into taking over our duties tonight so we could all be together. We've got Cobra Commander in the brig, we got the weapon back, and everyone's favorite Intel agent is back among the living." He paused as a cheer went up in the room at that last statement before continuing.

  "I think its time to celebrate, don't you? The next round is on me..."

  The entire team raised their fists in a rousing `Yo Joe!' and the bar settled back into its happy din. Someone had managed to fix the stereo as well, for music began to pour out of the speakers around the room.

  "I'm going to talk to Susan, there is way too much testosterone at this table...back in a jiff."

  As Lady Jaye got up and slowly wormed her way towards the bar, Low Light watched Flint noticed her and then saw his eyes narrow and turn to scan the room. He quickly honed in on their table.

  "Oh boy...incoming..." he hissed, and Alpine and Bazooka looked up to find Flint leaning over the table.

  "Would one of you mind explaining to me what she is doing in here when she is supposed to be back at base resting?"

  "Uhhhh...well...you see....Ummm" Bazooka struggled to speak before Alpine cut in, feeling sorry for him.

  "She wanted to come."

  "And seeing that she just got out of the hospital earlier today and is still having trouble breathing, you thought that it would be a good idea to listen to her?"

  Low Light rolled his eyes.

  "Yeah...right, Flint. You try stopping her when she gets it in her head that she wants something."

  Flint glared at him for a split second before shaking his head.
  
  "Can't argue with that..." he said as he pulled up a chair and sat down with them, signaling the waitress. Shipwreck didn't even turn his head, but both Alpine and Bazooka tensed as their CO grabbed a beer from the tray and settled down at their table. Low Light merely smirked.

  "Get used to it, guys..." he thought, "Looks like we are going to be the five musketeers before long..."

  "I hope you guys aren't letting her..." Flint continued

  "No alcohol," Bazooka answered his question before it was even out of his mouth.

  "You sound like my grandmother, Flint" Shipwreck leaned back in his chair and winked, "Don't you worry, we're keeping a close eye on her..."

  "I'm sure you are..." Flint grabbed his beer from the tray and turned to Low Light, flashing him one of his patented lop-sided grins. So it seems as though things went better than expected with Hawk, Lowlight thought and grinned right back at his CO...suddenly realizing what the Warrant Officer was about to pull and glad he was going to have a front row seat.

  "You know the ladies can't resist my charms..." Shipwreck began before being interrupted by Dusty, who came to join them. He had been in the Kalahari Desert for the past month and had missed most of the action around the base.

  "Hey Shipwreck, I hear that Wanda was a hit with the admiral..." He chuckled.

  "Shut up, Tadur...what the?" Shipwreck looked down at his feet, "Hey...who let the dog in here? MUTT YOUR DOG IS LICKING MY SHOE!"

  "No accounting for taste!" Outback's voice rose up from the table off to the back and the entire room broke into laughter.

  "Man... This isn't my night..." Shipwreck moaned and shook his head but suddenly his eyes brightened as he saw Lady Jaye making her way back towards the table, Roadblock following close behind. "But things are looking up already..."

  Bazooka, Dusty and Alpine all turned to look at Flint, waiting for a reaction...but he merely took a sip of his beer and smiled mysteriously.

  "Oh yeah..." Low Light thought and smiled into his mug, "I am so glad I am going to have a front row seat for this..."

  Roadblock crashed down next to Dusty and Lady Jaye gingerly settled herself on the chair next to Flint. She was breathing raggedly and Low Light knew the smoke in the room was bothering her injured lungs.

  "Hello wheezy...you forget something on your way out?" Flint held out his hand and handed her an inhaler. She couldn't catch her breath to answer him, merely rolled her eyes as she took the thing from his hands and puffed some in.

  "Very funny." She said when the medicine quickly did its job, "I suppose you are going to try and send me home now..."

  "I would love to but I value my continued good health." Flint smiled and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

  The gesture caused the entire table to pause for a moment in surprise before turning back to whatever they had been debating.

  Lady Jaye was probably the most taken aback by the whole thing. They had been like this the first year they had been teamed up...close friends...but the past little while had been strained and for Flint to get this close to her in public...much less put his arm around her was rare indeed. She recovered quickly though.

  "Smart man." She smiled, "I suppose I should thank you for brining me the inhaler."

  "You can thank me later, beautiful..." he whispered suggestively, grinning. Low Light just caught it...the rest of the table was too busy arguing over music.

  "Are you sure that's your first beer?"

  "Yup." He grinned at her and quickly pecked her on the cheek while no one was looking.

  "I thought Hawk told us to be discreet."

  "I will be discreet...but not tonight..." his eyes sparkled mischievously.

  "Ok...who are you, and what have you done to Flint?"

  Before he could answer, they were distracted by a huge uproar near the bar as the big screen TV was switched on and the scene at Times Square came flashing onto the screen.

  "Looks like the count down has begun in earnest..." Cover Girl shouted drunkenly above the crowd, tripping over Junkyard and landing gracefully in Shipwreck's lap.

  "My New Year's wish has been answered." The sailor grinned from ear to ear as he held on to the ex-super model, preventing her from getting to her feet.

  "That's New Year's resolution you dolt!" Cover Girl squirmed in his grasp, " And let me help you with yours...I, Shipwreck, resolve to keep it in my pants and leave Courtney alone." She finally managed to extract herself and turned to glare back at him.

  "Consequence of breaking resolution...lets just say you won't have to worry about it anymore...there will be nothing left to keep in your pants when I am through with you."

  With that she sniffed, whipped around and stomped off, just as the countdown had begun.

  10...9....8....7...

  "I see you haven't lost your touch..." Roadblock commented wryly, desperately trying not to laugh. Everyone was standing now, watching the ball begin its decent.

  6...5...4...

  "Ah hell...I never liked her anyways. Too uppity for my taste." He shrugged it off in typical Shipwreck fashion, leaning way back in his chair. "And anyhow...I wouldn't want to disappoint Jaye..."

  3...2...

  "Ummm...Shipwreck...." Low Light leaned over, relishing every moment of this, "I don't think she would be that devastated..."

  1....

  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  The bar erupted as everyone cheered and hollered...and right there in front of everyone were Flint and Lady Jaye... wrapped in each others arms, locked in one steaming, no holds barred, passionate kiss...oblivious to it all...

  "Hoooooly..." Dusty whispered. Alpine was speechless...his mouth agape in shock. Bazooka's eyes were damn near bursting out of his skull.

  "I don't believe it...I don't bloody believe it!" Roadblock shook his head in wonder, "Dash...you lucky SOB."

  The bar went quiet for a moment as they noticed the odd sight, before beginning to whistle and hoot wildly at the couple.

  "What the..." Shipwreck had turned his head slightly wondering what was going on, and when he saw what the fuss was about froze, leaning a little too far back in his chair.

  "WHAAAAA!!!" He fell over with a thump, landing right smack in front of Junkyard, who was delighted that his favorite person had decided to join him on the floor. The big Rottweiler began to lick his face.

  "Hey Shipwreck," Cover Girl leaned over his prostrate form, "Looks like you got a New Year's kiss after all!"

  Low Light nearly spit up his beer trying not to laugh, freezing as he noticed that Cover Girl had stopped right in front of him and was looking at him oddly.

  "Happy New Year, Cooper." She whispered, smiling. Then, to his complete surprise, leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips before pulling away and walking off towards the bar.

  When he came to, he looked around in amazment.

  "What just happened?" He looked at Alpine who shrugged and took a swig of his beer.

  "What do you think happened, Smiley? We just lost Lady Jaye that's what happened!" Alpine sighed.

  Low Light turned to Bazooka who was still grinning like an idiot.

  "I love a happy ending..." he said and Alpine rolled his eyes and cuffed him on the back of the head.

  They hadn't seen it. They hadn't seen Cover Girl kiss him. Was it a dream? Was he imagining the whole thing?

  He turned and gazed across the room and found her leaning against the bar, ordering another drink. She turned and caught his eye...and winked.

  "Well, Cooper..." he thought to himself, " Looks like this year is starting off with a bang."

  He turned around and watched Lady Jaye and Flint dancing together to the sultry rhythm of Macy Gray, both of them smiling in sheer delight...moving together in perfect harmony with the music...as if no one else existed but them.

  He smiled and realized that he was happy. Genuinely happy. Jaye was alive and in the arms of the man she adored. Flint was fast becoming a good friend...His buddies were all here...his `true' family...and...

  He put his beer down and got up to join Courtney at the bar.

  One hell of a beautiful woman had just kissed him.

  "You're right `Zooks." He thought, "A happy ending indeed..."

************************************************************************

  Sugarbush, Vermont - 1 year later....

  "What's a 12 letter word for bad-tempered starting with `o'" Lady Jaye's voice carried through from the living room to the kitchen where he was attempting to make hot cocoa.

  "Obstreperous." he answered quickly, "You know, if you keep asking me for help technically you haven't really done the Sunday New York Times crossword `by yourself'."

  "Hey listen, Rhodes-Boy...I didn't ask for your opinion on the ethical implications of how I choose to do this..." her tone carried her amusement and as he entered the room with two steaming mugs in his hands, he was greeted by a brilliant smile.

  She looked so beautiful lying there in the couch in front of the fire, a soft blanket covering her legs while she worked away at the puzzle on her lap. He hair was getting long and was tied up in a loose knot at the back of her head, and her skin was still tanned from all the time they had spent in the desert on the last mission. Her eyes were warm and inviting.

  The room itself was exquisite...lush Persian carpets covering antiqued hardwood floors, various pieces of Americana furniture and overstuffed couches festooned with pillows...a huge stone fireplace at the center...it was a work of art.

  As was the whole damn cottage!

  It was the only one of her family's extensive real estate that she had not sold...and looking around he knew why. The property was just off the beaten path on a hill overlooking the Mad River Valley, quiet and private. The view was exquisite and every window was positioned to take full advantage. The interior looked like it was ripped from a page of Architectural Digest...but it was not pompous, but tasteful and cozy.

  They had spent the first part of their Christmas holiday at his parent's farm in Kansas. It had been the first time Flint had been home for the holidays in over three years...certainly the first time all the Faireborn boys had been in the house at the same time for even longer. Although his eldest brother had remained in Kansas to raise his kids and take over the farm when it came time to do so, his middle brother had gone on a trip to New Zealand 10 years ago and before you could say `Marsupial' he had up and married a local girl and was now raising sheep and a rather large herd of children down under.

  Alison had been nervous about finally meeting his family, but as far as he could tell she was worried for nothing. She had fit in perfectly, and was her usual charming self the whole time. In fact, much to his chagrin, she and his sisters-in-law had bonded WAY too well.

  "What do you think they are talking about, Chris" he had asked his older brother as he watched the three woman chatting in the kitchen...stopping occasionally to stare out at them before breaking out in laughter.

  "Us. I would think." Chris answered as they both attempted to pull the huge Christmas tree upright in the family room.

  "Oh."

  "Don't worry too much about it...they won't tell her too much about those oh so memorable moments from your rebellious childhood...Dash...HEY DASH...don't let go of the...AGHHHH!" Chris swore as the tree toppled over on top of him.

  Well... at least she hadn't used the stories to tease him...TOO much.

  He had been most worried about his parent's reaction. His whole adult life up to this point had been spent in one glorious fling after another, and his mom was probably so used to him bringing home a different girl every time she saw him that he was sure she would be distant with Ali as well, thinking her another in a long line of soon to be former girlfriends.

  He hadn't exactly been the model child. Sure...he did very well at school, scholarships and awards. He pretty much excelled at everything he tried. The golden boy...

  But at home. Well...to be honest he had spent most of his time trying to LEAVE. The farming life didn't suit him, a fact that he made VERY clear to his parents in some less than stellar ways. When he came back from Oxford and told his parents that he was joining the military his mother had pretty much broken down and cried. He was the baby of the family after all.

  They were proud of him...he knew they were. But lately his mother had been pushing the question of his personal life. Both his brothers were much older and had married so early and here he was at 32 and still wandering the globe.

  But when they got out of the car in front of the big old farmhouse, his mom had taken one look at Jaye...then him...then back at her...and Flint was sure he saw a spark flicker in her eye. She smiled warmly at them before looking back at his father and stating quite clearly for all to hear.

  "Finally!"

  And that was that...as far as she was concerned her youngest had finally found a mate...and as embarrassed as he was by his mothers little outburst Flint couldn't help but smile and take Ali's hand as they made their way up to the house.

  "Oh...so you are using me for my brain..." he put the mugs down and went to grab the paper, but she was too quick for him. Before he knew what was happening she had him down on the floor, her body pinning him to the ground.

  "That's not the only thing I'm using you for..." she smiled and kissed him tenderly on the lips. Three years together, two years `intimate', and her slightest touch still caused him to melt...

  "Mmmmm...." He kissed her back before pulling her up into his arms as they curled up by the fire. "This was a great idea..."

  "I figured it was high time we got to send some time alone with each other, don't you?" she smiled up at him as he squeezed her tightly, kissing her on the head.

  "You sure you won't be sick of me after this week?" He chuckled as she elbowed him in the ribs.

  "Never. And besides...it's nice to finally find someone who can keep up with me on the slopes..."

  "Keep up with you!!!!" he tickled her and she giggled and tried to get away, "You were eating my powder Corporal..."

  God it was so good to hear her laugh. He kissed her on the forehead and got up to throw some music into the CD player.

  As he flipped through the selection, he reflected over the past year. It had been hell on her, he knew. Cobra Commander had escaped within a week of being captured...killing ten greenshirts in the process. Lady Jaye hadn't taken that at all well.

  Then there was the sheer physical challenge of recovery, and the almost overwhelming stress of the court martial.

  He had been worried that she wouldn't hold up. He should have realized she was stronger than that...and as she keeps reminding him, he had been with her every step of the way.

  "I couldn't have done this without you..." she had said as they exited the courtroom following her Court Marshall. Harmon Rabb had been as good as Hawk had said, and had defended her beautifully. Although she didn't get off scot-free...she would probably never be an officer and her promotion to Sergeant has been pushed back a good two years...it could have been a lot worse.

  Not that the trial had been a walk in the park. The prosecuting attorney, Colonel Mackenzie, had dredged up a lot of dirt, questioned her psychological state and listed her record of reckless behavior since her parents had passed on. Lady Jaye had taken it all with a stiff upper lip, her stance proud...never once breaking down on the stand.

  In his room after the court had recessed...well...that was another story.

  Surprisingly, after all that she had done to her in the courtroom, Alison and `Mac', as she was called, had become quite good friends. The tough JAG marine was very much like Jaye in many ways, and the two had hit it off and had kept in touch since the trial.

  Finally he found what he was looking for and popped a CD into the machine, selecting the appropriate track. As he made his way back to the blankets in front of the fire, Etta James' sultry voice poured out of the speakers.

At Last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
Oh yeah yeah
  As he settled down next to her, carefully gathering her into his arms so as not to spill the hot chocolate she was nursing, he smiled in contentment.

At Last
The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clover
The night I looked at you

  Their relationship had flourished since Hawk had given them the nod. Finally, they had got it right. From their first kiss in public at the bar during New Years, to the first time he woke up next to her in bed, to their first mission together after she had been given the all clear from doc...every day had brought them closer to that wonderful combination of `Best Friends' and `Lovers'.

I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known
Oh yeah

  "Dash?" her voice drifted up, breaking his reverie.

  "Mmmm..." he leaned forward and nuzzled her hair.

  "You are awfully quiet all of a sudden..."

  "I'm just thinking."

  She put her mug down on the coffee table and turned to face him, her eyes dancing in the firelight. The sight brought him back to that old cabin in the Adirondacks two years ago, where his life had been forever changed.

  "About what?" she smiled.

You smiled you smiled
And then then spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine at last.

  "About how lucky I am to have you...About how much I love you..."

  She leaned forward and kissed softly on the lips.

  "I love you too, Dashiell..." With that he pushed her down onto the blankets and kissed her deeply. Pulling back he looked at his watch...and smiled.

  "Happy New Year...Lady Jaye."

  "Happy New Year..."

~End~

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