It was graduation day at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. All 237 recruits were lined up in Full Dress Whites at the helm of the USS Cambridge awaiting their names to be called. Among the more excited and proud graduates was 24 year old Raymond "Romeo" Reddington; graduating at the top of his class.

In front of them, standing at the podium was Admiral Lincoln Emerson. Probably the most intimidating man you could imagine. He stood six foot three, 230 pounds; built like a bull. But despite being terrifying, everyone kissed up to him. And not because they were afraid of him, or because he was the admiral; it was because of his daughter. I don't think anyone had ever actually seen her, but the ones who claim they have say she is the most beautiful girl they have ever seen. She was almost like a myth; the beautiful girl, always talked about but never seen. All of guys were always on the hunt for her. Trying to track her down like a pack of hungry wolves, but Ray, he found that to be a bit disrespectful so he frequently opted out of the 'hunt'. As much as he too liked woman, he wasn't for treating them like a piece of property.

After the ceremony, Raymond along with a few of his buddies went across the base to the bar to have a few drinks and celebrate. They ordered their drinks and sat down at one of the tables. They got to talking and were laughing; having a good time, when the owner walks up to their table.

"What's going on, Sam?" Ray asked, he knew the manager well. "Is there a problem?" Sam smiled and pulled a microphone out from behind her back and smiled as Ray started laughing. "No no no no no, no I'm not signing." He was embarrassed.

"Oh come on, Ray!" Sam said and soon his buddies joined her. "Hey! Who here wants to hear this lovely sailor sing?" Sam turned and shouted to the whole bar and everyone started yelling and clapping.

Oh my god "Alright." He said standing up and drinking back the last of his drink. "One song." He took the microphone from her hand and the jukebox began playing 'Somewhere Beyond the Sea'. He laughed and began stepping to the music and getting into the mood. Everyone laughed and clapped as he got ready, then he began singing.

Somewhere, beyond the sea

Somewhere waiting for me

My lover stands on golden sands

And watches the ships that go sailing

They clapped and whistled as he made his way around the bar, occasionally stopping at the pretty girls and signing to them. They loved it, and even he was having fun.

Its far beyond the stars

Its near beyond the moon

I know beyond a doubt

My heart will lead me there soon

He climbed up on one of the tables and his buddies joined him as he sang.

I know beyond a doubt

My heart will lead me there soon

We'll meet (I know we'll meet) beyond the shore

We'll kiss just as before

Happy we'll be beyond the sea

And never again I'll go sailing

No more sailing

So long sailing

Bye, bye sailing…

The whole bar was in an uproar as they clapped and yelled as Ray laughed and took a playful bow and stepped down from the table.

"I think I'm ready for another drink" he said as he smiled and walked up to the bar. "Can I get a Jameson; on the rocks…thank you." She handed him his drink and just as he took it 'Aces' came up behind him and jumped onto his shoulders and his drink went all over the woman sitting at the bar beside him. "Jesus Christ Alex!" He shook his head and grabbed a handful of napkins and began to dab her dress. "I'm terribly sorry about th-" He looked up and froze for a second. She was beautiful. Her hair was dark and wavy. Her eyes were so unbelievably blue that they put the sea to shame. "wow…" he said under his breath. She smiled and turned a shy cheek and he quickly went back to apologizing. "I'm sorry, Alex gets a little excited sometimes." He turns around and gives Alex the stink eye then turns back to her with a smile.

"No, no. It's alright. Accidents happen, right?" she said.

"Yes….they do." He was so awestruck by her, he couldn't stop smiling. "My name's Ray." He held out his hand.

"Elizabeth" she said as she took it.

"Well can I buy you a drink?" He asked motioning to the bar.

"No, that's alright, you don't have to-"

"Please." He stopped her. "Let me buy you a drink."

"Okay." He smiled.

"What are you drinking?"

"Rum and coke" He smiled and turned to the bartender.

"Can I get a rum and coke please?"

"And a new dress, as well." Elizabeth added with a smug smile. He turned to her and laughed.

"And I a new dress…" He said quietly; not to her, not really even to himself.

"So I see you like to sing." She took a sip of her drink.

"Good god, no." he said shaking his head. "That was just….you know, I don't really know what that was." He laughed.

"Well it was good. Very impressive."

"Well thank you." He took a bow and she laughed. He could have made a thousand more stupid jokes just to be able to hear her laugh. It was just as intoxicating as the alcohol, and perhaps even more poisonous. There was just something about her.

They talked for hours. Turns out she's a Navy Brat. Her father is in the Navy and wherever he goes, she goes. She's currently studying Law at the University of Virginia; It's a long drive but she does it. She also likes to read; owes a library card to just about every library between here and UVA. She was so smart, so smart in fact she managed to graduate high school two years early. She was…incredible. After she spilt her life story, he did the same. Told her how his father was a military man and how he grew up wanting to be just like his old man. How he dropped out of high school when his mother died and joined the academy shortly after. The only reason they excepted him was because his grades were outstanding; high honors in all his classes and his teaches had nothing but wonderful things to say about him. He was a squared away kid. There wasn't much to his story, not like there was her's. But he loved that; loved that for the first time in his life he may have met a woman smarter than him.

She was just the kind of girl that got his heart racing.

At the end of the night they both had reached their limit and opted to finish out the night with a couple glasses of ice water.

"Well, it's getting late. I think it's time I get home; get to bed." She said collecting her things and putting on her coat.

"Well hold on, wait a second," he said stopping her as she headed for the door. "will I see you again?" She didn't say anything she just turned around and shrugged her shoulders as she pursed her lips into a smile and walked out the door.

Ray stood there for a moment trying to process what had just happened. Who was she? Where did she come from? Why hadn't he seen her before? And if he had, why hadn't he met her sooner? He stepped down from the bar stool and started towards the table where Aces and Hollywood were sitting. He looked up and saw that they were laughing; laughing at him.

"What's so funny?" He said almost offended.

"Do you have any idea who you were just talking to?"

"The girl; you mean Elizabeth? No why? Who is she?" He was panicked; desperate to know who this mystery girl was. Aces leaned in close and Ray listened intently. His heart sank when the words rolled off his tongue,

"That's the admiral's daughter."