The clouds drifted by, floating like small white mountains, that held no boundaries. The clear blue sky, merged with the clouds, creating endless wonder, and the with the sun's light, it created a spectacular phenomenon. The bright rays entered the small window of the airplane, and rested on a golden ring, making it sparkle by their bright light. The ring, golden with small Celtic designs, was worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. The hand rose from a blue skirt, grabbing hold of a small cup of liquid and leading it to rosy lips.
Her dark blue eyes turned towards the window, glancing out at the open sky, and a sigh escaped, missing the freedom of flying in an aircraft, piloted by only herself, flying free in the air, dodging other aircraft, to keep the world in one piece. The hand rose once again, pulling back a strand of long red hair behind a ear, before glancing back through the window and to her image.
Shana O'Hara, the woman with the long bright red hair, known to keep it in a signature ponytail, had done the opposite, leaving it loosely around her shoulder and down her back. The reflection in the window, did not return a smile, for a smile was never given to the reflection in the first place. Her blue eyes gazed downwards to her two hands, one upon the other, nervously fidgeting, finger between finger, not stopping.
It had been twenty years since the woman known to the U.S. Army as Scarlett, counterintelligence of the unit called G. I. Joe, completed her last mission, and had left the force. Though her husband, Conrad Hauser, known as Duke, still remained in active duty, her role became the faithful housewife. So many memories drifted in her head, whirling around, teasing her with each scene, each word, each sound. She closed her eyes, burying them back, hiding them from resurfacing once again. That was her past, it was done, completed, and could never return. Now, all that mattered, was the future, her future.
A question kept tugging her head, poking it from its power. Then why are you going back? Why? She did not have the answer, and in truth, she might be afraid of the answer. Hawk had called weeks before, finding her at the house in Atlanta. He was finally retiring, and wanted all of his family there, together, all the members of the Joe team, for one short goodbye. She couldn't refuse the man who had been such a role model, and even more, a father, someone to look up to and admire.
So, what other reason could she have for returning to that familiar building, with its gray outer structure and its signature cannon? Memories? Friends? That could be the reason, but it wasn't. Her eyes glanced down, fiddling with the golden ring, turning it around on her finger, and slowly taking it off. That was the reason.
"Mom!" A female's shocked voice came from next to her, and she turned to see a mirror image of herself, but a younger version, with deep dark blue eyes, and strawberry blond hair, pulled in a ponytail, that floated down to the waist.
"I'm sorry, Colleen," Scarlett said solemnly. "But it doesn't belong there, it hasn't for over two years now." She put the ring in the pocket of her handbag.
Colleen Hauser looked from her mother's eyes, and down to her own laptop, sitting on her lap. "I know," she replied softly. "Why are we going there?"
The question, that question again – haunting her like a nightmare, teasing her from all ends, from all shapes and all places!
"We are going because of a good friend is retiring, and he invited us to the reunion," Scarlett explained, once again. How many times had she informed her almost twenty-one year old daughter the reason they were going back to G. I. Joe Headquarters?
Colleen looked up from the laptop. "I can't believe Uncle Clayton is retiring," she said, smiling at her mother.
"I know, it's hard to swallow. For as long as I can remember, Hawk has been the heart of the team. It's going to be hard imagining anyone else in his shoes," Scarlett replied, patting her daughter's hand.
"Is it going to be Dad?" Colleen asked in a small voice. "He's going to be there, isn't he?"
Scarlett nodded. "Yes, he will be. He's Hawk's right hand man, and second in command." She glanced out of the window once again, her eyes becoming softer, sadder. A hand reached out to hers, with a gentle squeeze. An image came in her head of her waking up one morning, and discovering her husband's retreat from their life together. That was two years ago, but the pain still flowed in her heart of sorrow, anger and disbelief.
"Are Aunt Allie and Uncle Dash going to be there?" Colleen asked curiously.
Scarlett turned to face her again. "I'm not sure. I don't really know who will be there and who cannot make it. I know both of them have been busy with Faireborn Farms," she answered with a guilty feeling in the back of her mind. She had not seen her two best friends for years, probably ten. Another memory surfaced and she quickly pushed it away.
"Is Caveman going to be there too?" Colleen smirked.
"Colleen Katherine Hauser!" Scarlett scolded her daughter. "Do not refer to Cayden as Caveman!"
"Sorry," Colleen replied, but not really meaning it.
"Besides, you haven't seen him since both of you were ten!" Scarlett pointed out.
"Yes, and I still remember, the goofy glasses, the huge book in his face, and those skinny legs!" Colleen replied mockingly.
Scarlett shook her head. "Says the little girl with the crooked tooth!"
"Hey!" Colleen defended herself. "But now, I got a nice set of teeth! All he has is a nose too large for his small head, and paper cuts, lots and lots of paper cuts!"
"He's going to Harvard," Scarlett replied, scoring a point.
"So?" Colleen said, not impressed.
"Well, you do have something in common," Scarlett tried to point out.
"What, that we can't get along with the other. You're right. We can't."
"No, " Scarlett leaned over and tapped on the laptop. "Words. He likes reading them, you like writing them."
"Mom, honestly!" Colleen rolled her eyes. "I love writing my stories. He, on the other hand, loves reading Dr. Seuss!"
"Well, now I know that you got some of your father's personality in you," Scarlett stated, shaking her head, and closing her eyes.
"And I got your stubbornness too!" Colleen pointed out, smiling.
"Not to mention my good humor," Scarlett said, leaning towards her daughter and kissing her on the forehead.
Colleen looked down once again at her computer. "Do I have to see him?" she asked quietly.
Scarlett wrapped her arm around and pulled her close, stroking the long strawberry hair, comforting. "You don't have to, if you don't want to."
"I miss him," Colleen whispered.
"I know," Scarlett whispered back.
"Excuse me, Miss," A stewardess said besides them. "Can you please put the laptop away and your trays back in their upright positions? We are about to land."
Colleen nodded, closed the laptop, and put it back in its black carry case. "I hope Uncle Vincent is there. He's always fun."
Scarlett giggled. "Oh, I'm sure he will be. Falcon always made me smile, that and wanting to run him over with the Wolverine."
Colleen laughed, remembering several adventures her parents had told her over and over again during their time in G. I. Joe. From the first moment they met, to their first date, to their arguments that had the whole base in an uproar and to the time they had said, "I do" to one another.
The plane began to descend, its wheels screeching to a complete stop. Both Scarlett and Colleen exited the plane, immediately were embraced by the cold weather, and walked down the steps and onto the pavement. Scarlett looked left or right for anyone familiar, but did not seen anyone from the base.
"Come on, let's go this way," Scarlett suggested, pointing towards part of the airport where cars were parked, waiting for the arrivals.
"Alright, Mom," Colleen replied, following her mother.
A familiar voice shot through the air. "Shana!"
The two southern women turned, watching a man emerge from the crowd, running towards them, his jet black hair, with white at the edges, under a beret, and his blue eyes sparkling.
"Vincent!" Scarlett called out, happily, embracing the other man, who twirled her around in the air.
"Good to see you again, Red," Falcon hugged her tightly, then let her slowly down back on the ground. His blue eyes twinkled, and the touch of gray hair had doubled since the last time Scarlett had seen him.
"Hi, Uncle Vin," Colleen greeted her uncle, smiling at his childlike features.
"Don't tell me this is my niece Colleen," Falcon said in surprise, hugging her tightly, then held her arms. "Not the Colleen, who made Valedictorian at her high school graduation, and not to mention won her second degree black belt? Not that Colleen."
Colleen giggled. "Uncle Vin, it's me!" She shook her head, flapping the long ponytail left and right. "Don't make me flip you."
"Flip me! Just like your mom!" Falcon said, shaking his head, not surprised, pulling her back into a hug. "I missed you, Sunshine."
"I missed you too," Colleen responded, hugging him back.
"Where are Keiko and Kimmy?" Scarlett asked, looking for Falcon's wife and fifteen-year-old daughter.
"Kimmy couldn't come," Falcon informed them. "She is staying with Mom for the week. Midterms." He began to lead them towards the luggage claim. "Keiko is at the base. She can't wait to see you again." He then added softly, "It's been a while, Red."
"I know," Scarlett agreed, glancing around and immediately spotting her suitcase. In a quick move, she grabbed the handle and pulled the suitcase off the rolling conveyor belt.
"Shana!" Falcon said in surprise.
"What?" She looked at him with a smirk.
"You shouldn't be doing that, your age and all," he said, blurting out.
"My age!" Scarlett stepped forward towards the younger man.
Colleen giggled, watching her Uncle's face turn pale, as he took two steps backwards.
"Alright, Alright! I'm sorry. Don't hurt me," Falcon said, closing his eyes, waiting for a blow, but none came.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Scarlett said innocently.
Falcon gulped. "The famous Scarlett look."
"What famous Scarlett look?" Colleen asked intrigued.
"Come on, Colleen. We're late." Scarlett pulled her daughter, while holding to the suitcase in the other hand.
"Let me take that." Falcon insisted, grabbing the suitcase and the second carry on, while heading out of the door leading out of the airport.
"What Scarlett look?" Colleen asked again, more interested.
Falcon looked at his niece. "The one that says, I'm going to put an arrow through somewhere you don't want to know."
Colleen burst out laughing, watching her mother roll her eyes, but noticed a small smile creeping in her features.
"The car's this way," Falcon said, leading them to the parked Ford Explorer, and taking out the keys. He opened the door for both of them, and then put the suitcase and smaller bags in the back, before walking around to the driver's side.
Scarlett glanced at him from the passenger seat. "Who else is here so far?"
"Sorry, classified information." Falcon smirked, then dodged the former Joe's hand, listening to his niece's laughter in the back, enjoying the show. Turning the key, he started the car and headed out of the airport, heading towards the G. I. Joe base.