A/N: Next installment! It's taking a lot of thought process to make this what my head wants it to be and currently having a cold, has taken me a bit longer to work things out. Hopefully can get the rest of the cobwebs cleared over the weekend, but here we go! Lots of fun things I have planned out to eventually happen ^_^ Enjoy!

"What's on the agenda today?"

"Clearing out the rest of the facility so that when the supply ship gets here we can get the training grounds up and going," Carolina answered after a yawn. She sat down at the table with Ally who was eating pancakes and swinging her feet in the chair. York slid her a cup of coffee before going back to the stove. "The offices were done as of yesterday. Church has the schematics for all the training buildings and classrooms. Everything is set out pretty logically. Sarge and Emma have been working on getting the holographic floor working in the main building so that we can have simulated training sessions when needed. That should be up today. Wash and I are also heading over to talk to Kimball this morning. How about you two?"

"Ally and I are going to go help North, Lopez, and Donut over at the armory, garage and shooting range and yes we know, no bullets or shooting implement for persons under ten," York replied sliding a fresh plate of pancakes in front of Carolina.

They had been back a week on Chorus and things were progressing well. Kimball had been thrilled by the idea of what Wash and Carolina had suggested and showed them the perfect part of the city to set things up, as well as a row of houses across the street that had yet to be claimed by anyone.

The UNSC meeting had gone over…not well, but well enough that they finally agreed in the end to give the current inhabitants the reins for a time to see what they could do. They would bring in supplies as well as some troops, enough to get the planet functioning properly in exchange for continued research and sharing any information on the alien temples that happened to turn up. Any problems and they would happily take over.

In the meantime, Carolina and the rest were trying to get things sorted in their new home. Between dividing up the houses and clearing out the facility across the street for the new program, they all had plenty of work to do. Carolina also couldn't tell who was more excited about having a large computer system to work with, Church or Emma. Of course, now that Emma had that system up and going, Church could pop up any time he pleased in front of whoever he felt like surprising. Some cases were funny, others just made Carolina want to rip him out and shove him back in her suit.

York's parents had also settled well into their new environment. Mei had taken the reins at the medical facility where Grey split her time while George helped set up the science labs in the training center where Grey had started spending the rest of her time.

"Hey Momma?"

"Hey Ally," Carolina answered cutting into her breakfast.

"Are we going to plan my birthday party soon?"

"Soon, yea," Carolina nodded.

"But how soon?"

"Real soon."

"But when exactly are we going to plan it?" Ally continued. Carolina noted the smirk on York's face as he turned his back on them.

"Have you talked to your dad yet?"

"He said to talk to you."

"Of course he did," Carolina grumbled before smiling at Ally, "Well. Everyone knows it's coming up so we just have make sure they know to come here and go from there."

"But we're going to have it on my actual birthday, right?"

"Of course," Carolina nodded. "Now can I finish my breakfast?"

"You can do that and still talk," Ally grinned. Carolina rolled her eyes. "Do you think I'll get to play with the hologram thingy that Ghost-man was talking about?"

"We'll see. I'm not making any promises. Course, your Aunt would be able to tell you better than I would anyway."

"Ok. I will ask her when I see her then."

"You do that," Carolina chuckled as York finally joined them at the table. "How does Squeaks like his new room?"

"He loves it," Ally giggled. "He also says he wants to have a tea party real soon."

"Once things slow down a bit, I'm sure we can oblige," York grinned.

Ally bounced on her seat, "Ooo! Could we have a tea party for my birthday?"

"I'd say that would probably be a good idea," York agreed. "Lina?"

"Sounds like a good basis for a party," Carolina nodded.

"And is it ok if Aunty Emma makes my cake? She makes a really good cake."

"We can certainly ask her to," Carolina nodded again. "You're very talkative this morning. Did your dad give you coffee again?"

"That stuffs gross," Ally made a face. "And I only had that one sip cuz I wanted to see if it tasted as good as it smells and it doesn't. Bleck."

"When you're older you'll learn to appreciate it," York chuckled.

"Like when I'm nine?"

"Maybe a lot older," York corrected.

"Like ten?"

"I'd keep going," York chuckled. "It's like a rite of passage into adulthood."

"Don't tell her that," Carolina rolled her eyes as Ally giggled. "One day you'll wake up and you might like it, or you might not. Everyone has different tastes." There was a knock on the door. "That's probably Wash."

"I'll get it," York said getting up. "You eat."

"We should probably get ready," Emma pointed out to North when she rolled over to see the clock.

"Probably," he sighed into her hair.

"Which means you should let me up," Emma chuckled.

"Nope."

"Are we going to have this fight every morning?"

"What fight are you referring to?"

"The one we've had for the past couple days where I start griping at you while you lay there half asleep not letting me get up to get ready," Emma huffed.

"Then I would say there's a good chance at that," he chuckled relaxing his hold on her waist. She threw the covers off and sat up.

"Wonderful," Emma grumbled getting up off the bed.

"It's your own fault. You so just so damn cuddle-able."

"Definitely no more hanging out with my brother," Emma rolled her eyes as she got dressed for the day.

"So dare I ask if there's a chance you'll get over to the shooting range to get one of those hologram things install today?" North asked as he rolled over onto his back stretching his arms above his head.

"You can ask, but I'm not sure if I'll answer. I'm still working on the main training area. That's a large ass space to try to get this to work on and honestly, I have no clue what Sarge is doing half the time."

"I thought you said you enjoyed working with him."

"Doesn't mean I know what he's doing half the time," Emma grumbled going into their bathroom. "Nothing he says makes sense yet it still seems to function. It's baffling."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"No way in hell and honestly, I don't know if I want to," Emma chuckled dryly. "If I had to label someone as a mad scientist, it'd be him."

"Well Grif did say he build Lopez by hand among a few other things over the years, so yea, I could see that." Emma walked out of the bathroom, her hair brushed and pulled back from her face. She looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Yea, yea, I'm moving."

"Sure," she smirked. "I'm heading downstairs to grab coffee. You want a goodbye kiss before I go, here's your ten minute warning."

"No breakfast?" She shook her head. "What about lunch?"

"I can pop back over here quick when I get hungry," she shrugged.

"You sure?"

"Yes. Now hurry up. Time's ticking."

Emma left the room before he could say anything to stop her and bounced down the steps and through the living room to their kitchen of the house. She got the coffee going and leaned back against the counter while she waited for it to brew and looked around the kitchen. It wasn't huge, but not too small either. Enough that a table with chairs fit in and to still have room to move around the cabinets and counters.

The houses they had been given were all modeled in similar fashions, with basic floor plans of typical Earth row-homes with the living room and kitchen downstairs and a couple bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. Each one was a different variant of sorts with its own personality so to speak and most importantly, were still furnished when the group had pulled up. There was some cleaning that had to be done, but after the initial go over, everything seemed ok and livable.

Emma grabbed the carafe and filled her mug up before walking over to her bag. She placed the mug on the table and checked to make sure everything was inside that she would need for the day. She was really hoping that they would finish the big training floor this morning so that they could run tests and she could move on to the next project.

Footsteps pulled her head up as North walked into the kitchen. He wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a swift kiss before immediately going to get himself a cup of coffee.

"Am I right in thinking I most likely won't see you today until we're both home?" he asked.

"Probably. Depends," she shrugged throwing her strap over her shoulder. "It's not entirely out of the question, but who knows. Maybe I'll be surprised and the bugs will have worked themselves out overnight and this stupid thing will work over the entire floor instead of just spots."

"Shouldn't Church be able to help you guys with that part of it?"

"He's too busy in meetings with Wash, Kimball and Carolina to be of use," Emma answered. "Besides, if I can't figure out how Sarge gets his crap working, how the hell is he supposed to?"

"Are they really in meetings all day?"

"Not really," Emma shrugged as she finished the contents of her mug.

"Things seem to be going well."

"They are," Emma nodded. "The facility is coming together. It's doing so slowly, but it's coming together. I'd say another week maybe and we'll be able to start it up."

"Just in time for the supply ships to get in."

"Second round. There's one coming in tomorrow. Now, I have to go. I want to get started so I can hopefully get done and maybe I'll be able to come by and install one into the shooting range for you."

"Which means I get to see you," he smirked stepping closer to pull her in.

She rolled her eyes and kissed him, "Yes. Goodbye."

"Love you wife."

"You too," she called as she opened the door and walked out. She adjusted the bag as she walked, heading to the large building across the street.

The building itself had been meant for military occupation originally. Kimball, along with the vast majority of people she discussed it with, decided that if they were going to pursue peace that it was probably best to leave the building as it was. Abandoned. They instead found other industrial warehouses to store their armor and weapons in. This made the building almost perfect for what its next use would be.

There were two floors to the main building where the main training room floor was located. The floor itself took up the majority of the building. To the right were locker rooms and classrooms as well as a med lab and equipment storage. Emma went left upon entering, walking past the staircase to go to the upstairs offices on that side of the building and instead kept going to where she and Sarge had been working on getting the holograph system installed in the computer room.

"If it isn't Mrs. Sunshine and Daisies," Church greeted popping up to follow.

"Screw off," Emma chuckled letting her bag slide off her shoulder as she walked up to the open system board in the computer room she had entered.

"Not as hostile as yesterday, I'll give you that," Church chuckled. "D'you manage to sque-"

"Don't even go there AI," Emma rolled her eyes. "I have high hopes for getting this cleared up and going today is all. Especially if I can do it before Sarge gets in here and starts doing whatever it is he's been doing to it."

"Shouldn't be a problem. I think I heard him arguing over with the guys in the armory about something."

"North'll love that when he decides to show up," Emma chuckled. She pulled out her data pad and cords and sat down next to the open motherboard before connecting wires and running a diagnostic. "You didn't happen to get bored did you?"

"Nope. Figured you would want that honor since you worked so hard on it."

"You're so sweet," Emma scoffed. "I don't see why this needs to be holographic and moving….aren't the moving pieces enough for training purposes?"

"You know Carolina," Church replied. "Anything for perfection."

"Well if the moving system wasn't so old and rickety I wouldn't have to sit here and figure out how to upgrade it to work with the hologram program."

"Which is what the problem is?"

"Which is what the problem is," Emma sighed. "Think you can take a look?"

"Why'd it take you so long to figure that out?" Church chuckled.

"Shut up."

"No seriously. You probably could've had that taken care of yesterday already."

"Maybe because I was actually able to hook up my equipment to see what the problem was," Emma pointed out.

"Ok yea, that would've helped," Church nodded. "Yea, let me see what I can do here."

Carolina and Wash had just walked into the building when they heard a cheerful yell and the lights pop on in the training floor area.

"Sounds like Emma got the system going," Wash noted.

"Sounds like it," Carolina nodded. They both turned to head to the computer room to find Emma laying on the ground with her arms over her head. "Hope we're not interrupting."

"Oh no," Emma chuckled pushing herself up. "Finally got everything squared away because thankfully Sarge was too distracted to come in here and try to help me. That or my husband got his hands on him and is trying to install the hologram program over there next because he's impatient and couldn't wait for me. Anyway, it's working here and that's all that I care about right now."

"Why does he need a hologram program over at the shooting range?" Wash asked.

"Something about moving targets," Carolina answered as Emma started cleaning up her equipment.

"Couldn't they just do that in here?" Wash pointed.

"Apparently not."

"That and the room might not always be available for those who want to practice with moving targets," Emma pointed out. "I mean, depending on how many recruits Kimball gives you, they're may not be time in the rotation to practice with firearms in here."

"We're starting with twelve and that's including the Lieutenants," Carolina replied. "They'll all be by tomorrow to help get things up and going a bit more. Wash may start running outside drills at least."

"Is your obstacle course up and going?" Emma chuckled.

"Almost. Tucker, Caboose and Junior are out there now trying to finish it," Wash answered. "Maybe I can get the recruits to work on it tomorrow while the rest of you finish in here."

"Sounds viable," Carolina nodded. She looked at Emma, "Want to run some tests and see how the system is working?"

"Thought you'd never ask," Emma grinned.

"Come on Wash," Carolina looked at the other freelancer as she headed to the door to the training floor.

"Why me?" Wash groaned.

"Because Emma needs to run the program to make sure it's working properly. Stop being a baby," Carolina chuckled.

"Don't electrocute me," Wash warned Emma as he followed Carolina making her roll her eyes.