In reply to sam (msg # 3):

 Sam frowned for a second and said,"Oh I am sorry Fuji sent you Black Dots why the hell would they do not to the Hermes, well lets not think about the war for a bit and just unwind and have some fun shall we Steve?" Sam will finish her glass of wine and say," Shall we have more wine? or do you have other plans Lt.?"

   Howe   opened his hands,..nothing planned  for the night....I have  Hanger Duty at 0800 hours.. then I'm off   for the Ball and all that.

 so?  Nothing much to do the rest of the Night...After the LC's tunnel  run..i'm happy just   tor  crash and relax...

 Sam smiled then reached her hand out and said," Well then why don't we head to the bedroom and you can relax and unwind with my help Lt.?" Sam has a seductive look and smile and she winks at Howe.

  ..best offer i had  since Steele  one to play me double or  nothing  in EDT  stud!  he  puts his glass  Down  and they head into the  bed Area.

 the safety lights  were on, the rest was   dark  as they entered the   sleepign area.

 Sam smiled and said," Well i hope it is." Sam goes into the bedroom with Howe and they have a wonderful evening, of fun, pleasure and relaxation. When they are done Sam has no idea how long it was, she says," Wow that was amazing, we should enjoy ourselves at the Ball we are attacking Vera shortly after that, I will be watching you not sure where I will be stationed for the attack maybe with Beth, but you will have someone watching your back Lt." Sam will hug him hold him close and have the best night sleep she has had since Howe left Bura.

An anguished whimper would escape Izzy's throat as Lizzy pulled away from her, taking those skilled hands and the wondrous things they did with her, before watching as the teddy fell to the floor with a soft rustle of silk before slipping under the covers. After removing her own underwear Izzy would eagerly join her bed with her switching off the bedside lamp as she did so leaving only the light of the vid screen with which to see by. And so it was with the sound of heavy machine gun fire going off in the background that Izzy would straddle her girlfriend as she said in a seductive purr "oh my beautiful phoenix I would want nothing more than for you to do that" before allowing Lizzy to do whatever she pleased.

 Lizzy smiled when Izzy took off her underwear and slid into bed with her. Then Izzy straddled her and responded to Lizzy's comment, Lizzy leaned forward hugged Izzy then gave her one amazingly passionate kiss from the heart, then after that long amazing spine tingling kiss, she then said," Oh my love lets have some fun shall we."

 For who knows how long, only the guards hearing their moans and screams would know how long it was. Lizzy and Izzy pleasured each other, and had spent the time having sensual amazing love making, with powerful screams of pleasure as well. When they are finally both exhausted Lizzy will hold Izzy close and look deep into her eyes and says," I love you more every time I see you Izzy, I am so happy to have you Izzy, I have Harry, Nikki and Melia as good friends but you are the closest thing to family to me Izzy, and the only family I have left now. I hope your Mom likes me."

 She then hugs Izzy hard as Lizzy cries, it was a cry she had been holding for her father, Lizzy just muttered," Izzy I love you I need to do this, I have to cry for my parents, will you please just hold me." The super confident fighter pilot now hugs her girlfriend and cries out everything bad that has happened since everything went Bad with her Father. After what seemed liked forever (only a few minutes) Lizzy finally stopped and then said," I am sorry Izzy but I really had to do that, thank you Izzy, I miss my Mom so much, and wish I had my loving Father back, but I have you, thank you my love." Lizzy still held Izzy lovingly but close.

It was with the sound of machine gunfire and explosions going off that the pair of them would make love to one another with Lizzy, despite Izzy frantically whispering "Lizzy you're too loud they'll hear us!", making a lot of noise. Though who could blame her? the sex was magnificent with Izzy learning yet another set of tricks from her girlfriend with which to make her scream. Although she would try and keep her own cries of pleasure to a minimum.

With exhaustion finally taking them, or at least for the time being anyway, Izzy would lie within Lizzy's arms with both of them breathing rather heavily as a result of their recent exertions. It was as Izzy was enjoying the afterglow that Lizzy would start speaking of how she was the only family she had now with her barely managing to say that she wanted Izzy's mum to like her before bursting into tears over her own lack of a family. Gently cradling Lizzy's head against her chest, Izzy would gently rub the other woman's back in a soothing manner as she held her "It's ok I'm here for you, let all out" she softly whispered before gently kissing the top of her head "If you'd like to talk about it we can, I know what it's like to lose a father, and I promise I won't tell a soul...also I'm pretty sure my mom is going to love you" she softly spoke as she waited for Lizzy to decide what she wanted to do.

 Lizzy always had a problem of being loud during sex she couldn't help it, it was her way of telling her lovers they where going a great job. Izzy made her scream a lot, Harry would have as well if Lizzy didn't muffle her sounds or force herself not too because they couldn't get caught. It felt amazing with Izzy because Lizzy loved her.

 As Lizzy did her epic cry out, Izzy held her close to her, it felt good being held by Izzy when Izzy whispered to let it out Lizzy did, she felt at ease crying with Izzy holding her she felt comfortable to let her emotions totally go.

 Lizzy finally got control completely after Izzy asked if she wanted to talk about it and it would be just between them, and knowing what Lizzy would say could get Izzy a great story. Izzy didn't want to hurt Lizzy saying that she would tell no one, that made Lizzy smile and then open up to her girlfriend.

" Izzy the hardest part is that I never knew my Mother, I never got the chance and I so wish I could have known her. The person she was is exactly who I want to be, make a difference in this damn war, of course I don't want to die like she did. Then my Father came for my birthday and was a total asshole, I mean he made fun of Flores, Nikki, Harry and finally Shade. I right there said I didn't want his name anymore. After everything on Bura and meeting you, I went to change my name and found my Mom's messages. I can't explain to you the hurt I felt, my own Father tried to kill me and killed my Mother and everyone on the Neutron. I didn't know how to deal with it and I just let it eat at me. Then I got to see him, Izzy does it make me bad that I wanted to slice his throat and watch him die my own father, I felt so bad for feeling that way Izzy. Being with you gave me the courage to unload it,tonight everything just hit me and I felt so close to you after the fun we had and I am sorry I cried all over you Izzy , and laid all of this onto you my love. Thank you though that really helped and I really hope your Mom likes me want to call her together tomorrow?"

 Lizzy looked and felt a lot better she would hug Izzy tight and then give a huge powerful ,passionate kiss after Izzy was done responding to everything Lizzy just said.

Izzy would continue to gently cradle her girlfriend as she poured her heart out to her. Telling of her mother and how she'd never met her, and her fathers betrayal and the murderous rage she had for him coupled with the guilt of feeling that way, with her finally ending with an apology for crying all over her and the hope that her mom would like her. As Lizzy suggested that they called her together sometime the following day Izzy would hesitate for a moment before replying in an anxious voice "um...yeah...maybe...depending on how busy we are" because although she was pretty confident that she would like Lizzy, she really didn't know what to expect from her when she learned that her little girl was gay.

 Lizzy held Izzy close to hear, feeling her heart beat. Lizzy opened her heart to Izzy, poured it out and cried all over her, and Izzy stayed and held her and listened to her. Lizzy felt so much better. Lizzy will say quietly" Thank you my love."

 Then when Izzy answered in a very anxious voice, Lizzy knew that feeling, when she told her dad she liked girls it was hard for her to do it, but he was whatever, but was that because he wanted her dead. Lizzy pushed those bad thoughts out of her head, that part of her life was over, she was starting a new one now, with friends and a girlfriend who love her.

 Lizzy will say," Hey Izzy I know what your feeling I did this once before as well. I will just say this, does your Mom love you? does she want you to be happy? So if you tell her those things and if you want that you love me, I think you Mom will be happy for you and us no matter that I am a woman. Do tell her in time and if you want too we can adopt a child, or one of us could get artificially inseminated, I think that will make her happy."

 Lizzy smiled and held her close and said," I will be there with you Izzy, and the sooner you tell her the better trust me, I anguished for weeks to tell my Dad and he was okay as long as I was happy. So we will call her tomorrow, now come and hold me Izzy unless you want to have some more fun, sexy?" Lizzy tickles her in a sexual seductive way, and then smiles at her and kissed her, a deep passionate kiss from the heart.

"Yeah I know but...my mom's really protective of me, especially since dad died, she hated me coming out here where she couldn't call me everyday so I'm just worried that she'll think you're playing with me or some kind of con artist taking advantage of me" Izzy softly spoke as her hand moved from the smooth skin of Lizzy's back to play with her fiery red hair.

Between the soft glow of the vid screen and the warmth of her girlfriends body as she held her close with her head gently resting against Izzy's breasts, the room had a quiet, intimate atmosphere that lent itself to sharing secrets. With Lizzy having already trusted her enough to tell her about her parents Izzy would slowly begin to speak in a soft and gentle voice "my mom was involved in a car accident whilst she was heavily pregnant which resulted in me being born early, my internal organs were all in the wrong place so until I was about ten I had to have regular trips to the hospital, I also used to get sick on a very regular basis so my dad ended up having to work every hour of the day to keep a roof over our heads and pay for all my medical bills...it ended up killing him" she whispered with an obvious note of pain in her voice as she spoke of her fathers death with it obvious that she still felt some small measure of guilt about it "So...yeah...mom and me are pretty close, so I really hope she's ok with this because I don't think I could handle losing her" she hurriedly said before the memory of her father caused her to start crying. It was also pretty obvious that there was a lot more that story though it would probably have to wait for another time.

As Lizzy tickled her Izzy would giggle and squirm within her arms before being pulled into another passionate kiss that she would eagerly return. She had been fully intending to call it a night and simply fall asleep within Lizzy's arms instead she would continue to softly kiss her before going on to make love to her. With Izzy taking the lead for the first time since they'd started dating it would lack the usual wild passion but would instead have a slow and gentle tenderness to it that was more in keeping to romance novels of old, and no doubt nothing like what Lizzy had been envisaging when she'd suggested them having a little fun.

Much later Izzy would come to the conclusion that it had been during those intimately whispered conversations with only the light of the vid screen with which to see by that she had fallen in love with Lizzy. Though this realisation wouldn't materialise for quite some time after she had finished gently making love to her beautiful phoenix with her falling to sleep within her arms not long after they were finished and she'd whispered "I love you" into her ear.

 Lizzy listened to Izzy and after she spoke of her Mom being protective, and possibly her thinking Lizzy was taking advantage of Izzy, she would say, " I hope she doesn't think that but if she sees us together I don't think she will think that I can't hide how I feel about you Izzy, your Mom would most likely be able to tell how I feel about you my love."

 As Izzy talked about her Mom's accident and her Medical issues and working so much killed her Father, Lizzy would hold her sexy girlfriend close and switch positions putting Izzy's head into her ample chest. When Izzy said she didn't think she could handle loosing her Mom, Izzy started crying. Lizzy held her tight and rubbed her back and just said," I am here for you my love, it is okay we are here for each other." Lizzy could also tell there was a lot more to this story and that would be for another time.

 After that Izzy took charge and the two woman made amazing love, being tender, also passionate but not a wild passion more of a loving passion. Lizzy loved this it felt amazing and it just cemented how Lizzy really felt about Izzy she had fallen deeply in love with Izzy, now was it real or because Lizzy wanted it so much, well Lizzy wanted what she felt for Izzy to be real and it felt so real to her. Making love with Izzy was truly amazing and she had the best time of her life.

 The time they just spent together was amazing and Lizzy would never forget it, it was a mountain top experience, it lifted Lizzy's heart where it had really never been before. When they where finally finished, Lizzy held Izzy close and after Izzy said she loved Lizzy, Lizzy whispered back ," I love you too." Lizzy would kiss Izzy on the cheek, hold her close and fall asleep smiling.

  Shadow  stopped at the    Elevator as Beth  walked on a few steps  and waited...you guys get to go down to  Uden?

  ..Yeah?  we have senoirty, so we  get to go  down   for the ball.. we have to  come  upafter the first 12  hours , so that the others folks  can go... but it  will be  fun.

  Shadow Listened  to MAx  and Stiff  shurgged.well..who knows?   after   we flatten Vera, I'm sure there will be another party, Maybe on Calimite?..or  back on Uden..that should be more like  Bura...

 yeah, LC..Bura  was great.. everyone  had a lot of shore leave there.

  well? after that?.. we'll be headed to  either   take care of the Roussians.. or   the Vampics...either way is going to call for a stop off at  Everest, and they want to play us in a game of football...so?  we'll get at eleast  2 days there..maybe three.

  Beth   crossed her arms  and Tilted her head.

 ..ease up LT...I'm talking to my boys...  he     smiled and waved  as he   walked  on down the   P-way, Beth waved  to  the guards.. Max looked ta Stiff and held out a  5 cred piece.

 Stiff shook his head,..naw , man.. that's  a sure thing...

——> Rec Dec

She would hold Will’s hand as they walked down the surprisingly quiet corridor, with Harry having half expected to hear the exuberant sounds of her friend having sex, as they quietly made their way back to their quarters. Where Harry would give her man a tender kiss before melting in his arms ”I wonder if we’ll get any shore leave whilst we’re on Uden... I could do with a little downtime to get my shit together” she softly murmured into his chest before going on to stifle a yawn with the back of her hand ”I’m sorry baby but we may have to take a rain check on the whole kiss and make up bit, but between the stress and Shadow’s run I’m exhausted, any chance we can just cuddle for a bit?” she asked in a sleepy voice. They would get a room tomorrow after the ball so she’d be able to have a little fun with him then when she wasn’t half asleep.

 Will  smiled,.. you bet...  I'm not  just here for the Sex, Lady.... he ushered her into the   quarters.

 he   went  to the   kitchen area  and   set up a  cup with tea., and   cracked open a soda  for himself  as he  got his shoes  out   , and   set up tom polish  them.

 when the   tiny pot   whistled  he  poured her   tea  and let it steep  for her on the  table.  The smell of  boot polish  the and  blur of his arm  as he buffed his shoes to shine.

..................

   Shadow and Beth went into his  quarters.,, Beth  said,I'm gonna  take a shower...

  ..go ahead.. you know where  everything is...

  Shadow  was hit in the back by her shoe,..I said..I'm gonna take a Shower... and she went  into the bath.

  The LC shook his head as he    took of his shirt and   followed in...

With Will allowing her to sleep in a little while longer, Harry would wander into the kitchen wearing her dressing gown and after giving Will a kiss on the cheek would finish making the cup of tea that he had thoughtfully made for her ”Thank you baby” Harry murmured in a sleepy voice before taking a seat next to him.

Sipping her tea she would silently watch as Will polished his boots for several minutes as she woke up before checking the time to see how long she had until she was due at Captain Si’s for a dress fitting ”I’m going to grab a shower then take a wander down to Si’s quarters” she said once she’d finished drinking her tea before then adding in a cheeky voice ”when you’re finished you can polish my boots as well if you like?” as she headed for the bathroom for a shower.

  Will nodded... then looked up...he hollared into the  beth,..you're  wearing boots, to the ball?

................

  Shadow and  Beth  came  out  from  His  quarters   , she gave him an  hug and went  across and  down a ways to her Quarters.

  Approaching the   Elevator..  Lona, Chatty  and  Brivet walked  down the hall with long  robes  on...

 Brivet  called out,WAIT!...LC./..don't go  down, wait  until we cross over..

 with the flash of  bare  legs  as they  ran , and the hint of  , unfettered breasts under thier  robes,, they smiled at   Shadow and the guards  as they went through the  lift to the  'Big Brass' side..Thanks  guys!  Max and Stiff looked at Shadow.

 yeah?..well..  for the next hour or so..you'll be seeing  alot of that...

 Stiff  said,I sure hope so!  Abby and Higgins  came out of her   quarters.. she  had on a T-shirt and   Gymshorts that  said  ESN on the back.

 Higgins  stood  next to  Shadow   as  Abby  smiled  and walked  through... Then the  2  pilots  got on the  lift..

.............

 as the Door closed  Shadow pressed for the  Hanger Dec...Look..LC... I hope you....

 Shadow raised a hand...ease up.... You guys can hook up with  who you want to? As long as its no  someone's  wife..especially a Civie  wife... you do that , you're  walking back to earth.

 Higgins   frowned,..that's not an ESN  rule!

 ..no...its  a Shadow  Rule. These Civies   are either here to stay with the  ship  as they work alot of jobs  we can't...or they are here to help as long as they can, until we reach a colony or stations... keeps the blood lines  Varied and all that.... but.... some  poor  guy working the   Plots  on the farm, and  some  pilot  with a uniform who  goes out and faces death.....he motions his hand in a circle.

 ..good bet that guy is out here  trying to make a life  for that woman and  any kids they may have... so.... you take that away from them, because you want to slam dunk your noodle?.... I'll make sure you find your  self  floating on the  outside of the ship...and it won't have to  be 'by the book. Accidents happen all the  time.

  but , Abby was interested in you...and...

 No..she was interested in the LC of the  ESN 351 Hermes..leading ace of the war  and all that crap....

 ...so? why all the hanging  around you?

 get spme lime light splashed on her  when it hits me?...Or maybe its  what she did  at  Fuji Academy..I dunno.... I know..it was Kray Shadow  she was interested  in..it was  WC  Shadow..

 Higgins looked at the ground, then looked at Shadow,then? what about me?

 the door  opened  for the Hanger Dec, Shadow  smiled and gave Higgins a clap on the shoudler,..Pretty sure she likes  you..cause you kinds  suck as a Pilot!

 He  stepped off the lift  HIggins  Grinned   ,..Thanks LC!.... But as the Door   was closing he yelled,..HEY!....

 the LC  chuckled on the way to the  QM'S

 ------>>>> from Non-com Quarters

 Meari walked onto the Officers deck she felt weird but she had no clue where she was going. She looks at the guards and says, Excuse me where is Captain Si's  Quarters I am here for the dresses?

  Max hit the   thrid  Button.. both  doors  to the elevator opened...The Big Brass  and Ambassadors  and such are on the Bow end... all the other offciers  are on this end.. see where those n two guards  are ? That's Captain Si's  Quarters.

 Sam woke up took a shower, she grabbed a robe and smiled at Howe sleeping away. She gives him a kiss and says,That was amazing Lt. I will see you at the ball as my escorts I hope you like my dress I have a few ideas. Sam then left Howe's Quarters and headed for Captain Si's Quarters.

------>>>>> to Captain Si's Quarters

 Meari nodded and said, Thank you very much, enjoy the show it seems. Meari then headed for Captain Si's Quarters.
------>>>>>> to Captain Si's Quarters

 Lizzy opened her eyes, and smiled when she was still cuddled up with her sexy, amazing girlfriend.  Last night was amazing in many ways, she finally  let her,Father go, and mourned her heroic Mother. Also making true live to Izzy was mind blowing and she was still tingling from it.

 Lizzy looked at her sleeping girlfriend and took in her beauty. Then she looked,at her Comms, they had some time before they needed to be at Captain Si's Quarters but they had to get moving.

 Lizzy reluctantly said, Good morning my love time for showers and then dress time, get those cute buns moving my dear. Lizzy smiled and gave her a kiss as she,waited for Izzy to wake up.

"No, I just hate polishing boots!" she called back with a laugh before setting the water running and getting in the shower.

Once she was finished in the shower she would change into her underwear and a robe before heading out the doors to get ready for the ball in Captain Si's quarters, blowing Will a kiss as she left "See you later baby, this girl's off to make herself beautiful"

---> Captain Si's Quarters

  Will  Smiled   and winked.....too late, you already did that!...

 He would  , indeed, polish her  boots.  and the  finish up , getting his   Uniform ready for the BAll.