"Charlie, I told you not to. Oh c'mon! Yup, I told you. What is Melody going to say now! Wait, don't go- Ah c'mon!" Becca Abrams, Sergeant and second in command of Captain Melody Johnston's squad, said while chasing the toddler around the apartment. She was babysitting him while Melody went on the recruit mission. The boy was supposed to be in bed fifteen minutes ago, but he was enjoying making Becca chase him everywhere. She on the other hand, not so much. Even if she was only the same age as Melody, this kid surprisingly wore her out! He's been a live wire since the two weeks he's been here. He usually was with Melody, but when she was either leading her team on missions, or just training recruits, Becca watched over him. She and Melody were best friends, ever since they were kids. Becca didn't grow up at the "academy" like Melody, but her father always took her there. Her father made sure to never let her live there, no matter how much persuading Gen. Johnston did with him.

Becca and Charlie both heard the front door open, Charlie didn't waste a second.

"Mooommmmyyy!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, running out of the living room. His curls bounced as he ran. She smiled and took him in her arms immediately.

"Hey, baby." She said cuddling him and walking in to Becca, who sat down on the couch rubbing her temples.

She laughed. "Sorry, I'm late. Everything alright?" Melody asked dropping her bag at foot of the couch, sitting down, with an ecstatic Charlie on her lap.

"Yeah, but Mel, can I ask you something? As a friend?" She said sitting up and crossing her legs.

Charlie tugged at Melody's hair playfully, dimples showing. "Of course." She answered, trying to pry his fingers off her hair.

"Do you think Dunn… never mind." She said laying back down on her side.

Interested in what was going through Becca's mind, she sat Charlie down on a blanket in front of them, hoping to occupy him with his toys. "What? What about Dunn?" She said crossing her legs, and pressing her elbow against Becca's calf.

"It's nothing, thank you very much." She said, covering her face.

She arched an eyebrow. "Becca come on. Just tell me!" She said nudging her foot.

"Fine! Do you think Dunn likes me?" She nearly screamed, sitting up straight.

She smiled and shrugged. "Ask him. Do you like him?" She asked resting her chin in her hands, keeping her brown eyes on Becca's face.

She rubbed her forearm unsure. "I dunno. No, he's just a team mate. Just like you think MacTavish is, just a team mate." She said.

"Trust I don't think MacTavish as just a team mate." She said matter-of-factly.

"You don't!" Becca said gripping Melody's wrist happily.

"Yeah, I know he's just a team mate." She said giving her a cocky look.

Becca rolled her eyes and took her hand back. "Jesus Mel. Nearly made me have a heart attack." She said, Melody laughed.

"But seriously, you should ask Dunn. Never know what could happen. And if he does, tell him that you don't like him like that. Easy." Melody said standing up, taking Charlie in her arms.

"Easy for you. You can say all you want to MacTavish without it being weird. You guys talk like I've never seen any two people talk. You share a brain!" Becca said following her into Charlie's room. They had an extra room left, thankfully, and put a bed inside it and bought toys and cars.

She placed Charlie, now asleep, in his bed and tucked him in. She looked up at him with an eyebrow raised mockingly. "I do not share a brain with MacTavish. My brain would fry." She whispered turning on his nightlight and leaving his room quietly.

"Whatever. We both know you like him more than you let on. Remember his face when he first saw you, you know, at Foley's wedding last year." She said leaning on the kitchen counter.

"Yeah, I remember. What about his face?" She asked as if she didn't remember the look. Who could forget it?

You are Happily Invited to the Marriage of:

Eric Joseph Foley & Victoria Marie Roberts

MacTavish sat sipping out of his beer bottle watching guests dance on the dance floor. They just persuaded Sgt. Foley to join them. MacTavish thought that this was a little ridiculous. Having a wedding knowing he could die or get her in danger just by sticking his head out. Price came and sat next to him, noticing his comrade sitting by himself.

"So, he will stay on with the Task Force?" He asked.

"Aye and he's moving her into the compound. An apartment outside of the compound that is." He said taking another swig of beer.

Price arched an eyebrow in concern for his friend. "You need to find you a girl. I think it's time for you to settle." He said.

MacTavish choked on his beer, and then gave Price a look. Never in a million years had he expected Price to say something like that. "What?"

"Everyone has someone. You look pathetic." Price teased.

MacTavish snorted. "Maybe later, when I'm not trying to be killed." He paused to give him a look then continued. "I don't have time now anyway." He said.

"What a shitty excuse!" They heard a voice boom behind them.

They turned to see Michael Dunn pull a seat beside them. "Trust me; you never have enough time for a woman." He said nodding at MacTavish.

"Alright mate, and where's yours?" MacTavish asked.

"It's a process. But, gotta keep my options open." He joked.

MacTavish rolled his eyes.

"Price!" A female voice came from across the room.

They all turned to see whose voice it belonged to. They watched as a petite woman in a salmon pink cocktail dress, sliver dress shoes with a scrunched bow at the toe, come across with a smile. Her brown hair was curled down her back and she wore a light pink lip-gloss and mascara. She didn't wear much make-up. Price sat up and walked across to her, hugging her shoulder.

"It's good to see you're still alive, Johnston. Where have you been?" He asked placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Depends on exactly which part of the planet you're thinking of. My team and I have been recruiting ever since you gave me your offer. Spent some time in Africa protecting some of the villagers there. And all that you see on those history and discovery channels are wrong. There really are some of the nicest people. The food and beds weren't five stars in my opinion. But it was definitely worth it. Those poor people, all the sickness there was just overwhelming. Poor kids." She said looking down at her feet then back at him. "But, enough about me, what about you? I've seen your picture in every police station in the world. Been busy?" She asked crossing her arms with a grin.

"It's a very long story. For now, enjoy yourself. The rest of the team is over there. And there." He said pointing at some people dancing then back at Dunn and MacTavish. She nodded at them, continuing to look at MacTavish as he stared at her with an almost grin. She looked back over at Price.

"So, uh, where's Becca? I haven't seen her in like forever!" She said with a smile.

Price pointed back at a woman with curly red hair talking with Sgt. Foley and his new wife.

"Thanks!" She said squeezing his shoulder once then walking over to them.

Price came back over to the speechless two, smirk on his lips as he heard Becca squeal and Johnston laugh. The second Price sat next to him, MacTavish asked about her.

"Who was that?" He asked staring back at them.

"She is your new comrade. Her name is Melody Johnston, codename Mouse. She is the best I've seen. Her father used to be a General before he retired and took over a facility training children. He called it an academy, but those who went there, call it hell. Especially for her since she was there for a good portion of her life. Once she turned eighteen, she "graduated" from the facility and joined the Army. Her files and score were extraordinary. She took on the position of Sergeant at twenty-one, then Captain two years later. I have to warn you two along with everyone else, she can be a bit touchy so I wouldn't try to sneak up behind her. Just saying." He said looking back over at her as she chatted happily with Becca. She turned her head, cheeks flaming, as they all looked over at her, catching her looking at MacTavish. Becca sat beside her with an ear-to-ear grin budging her elbow and glancing at MacTavish. She looked at her friend with gaping mouth and shook in her head in protest.

MacTavish snorted and looked over at Dunn. He continued to look at Melody's friend. Price and MacTavish shared a look.

"I think his 'options' are pretty much closed now." MacTavish joked at Price.

"Alright, quit your drooling Cpl. You look like an arse." He said sitting up.

MacTavish chuckled as Dunn shook his head, looking apologetically at Price.

"Sorry." He mumbled.

MacTavish rolled his eyes at him and took another drink.

After some time the guests were worn out from dancing and took their seats as they watched Foley and Victoria open their gifts. He occasionally glanced over at Melody, catching her smile or laugh out of the others. Dunn had begun talking with Becca and now sat next to her. Dunn looked over at MacTavish, seeing him looking at Melody again.

'Go! Go!' He mouthed at him, nodding back at her.

He furrowed his eyebrows. He shook his head no.

'I will make you if you don't.' Dunn mouthed back at him.

'I will kill you if you do.'

'Fine! Be single.' He mouthed and turned back to Becca.

MacTavish scoffed and turned his attention back to Foley and Victoria. They were halfway through their mountain of gifts when he heard someone in his ear beside him.

"Um, Price said that he had to leave. Be back at the compound before this morning." Melody said.

MacTavish quickly turned his head, shocked that she was talking to him. He thought it was a good thing that he was in the back, so people wouldn't see him when he immediately stood up.

They stared at each other for a second then MacTavish broke the silence.

"Uh, thanks." He said awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

She bit the corner of her lip. "No problem. I'm Melody, by the way." She said extending her hand.

He took her thin hand with a grin. "Nice to meet you. I'm MacTavish, John MacTavish." He introduced.

"Funny." She said slightly wrinkling her nose.

"What?" He asked with a scoff.

"You look nothing like a John." She said with a smile.

"Is that an insult or compliment?"

"Well, of all the Johns I know, it's a compliment. Those who have the name John are sometimes kinda nerdy and scrawny. You aren't." She said. She regretted saying that.

'Stupid!' She scolded herself.

"Well, I'll accept that compliment. But, you don't exactly look like a Melody yourself." He teased looking at her curled hair then her chocolate brown eyes.

"And what do I look like?" She asked, head cocked to the side slightly.

"You." He simply said.

Becca came running up to Melody, taking her arm. "Come on! Victoria's gonna toss the bouquet! And she wants all the ladies, so you have to." She said with a smile.

"See you later!" She rushed out as Becca drug her away from MacTavish.

MacTavish laughed as they made it back up the room, waiting for a smiling Victoria to turn around, bouquet in midair. She then tossed it back behind her. The flower girls jumped up, but were unfortunately too small to reach it. Seeing the bouquet come her direction, Melody held her hands out in case. She was going to give it to Becca if she caught it. Becca squealed as the light pink and purple bouquet fell in Melody's hands. She blushed and looked over at MacTavish. She rolled her eyes with a smile at him. He grinned back at her. Melody forced Becca to have the bouquet, even if she refused.

Melody scoffed at the memory. "You know, that still was rude dragging me away in the middle of a conversation." She joked.

"Oh, you'll get over it." Becca said with a laugh.

She rolled her eyes at her friend then grabbed a bag of mint Oreos.

"Oh my gosh, you still eat those!" Becca said watching her eat one.

"Of course. I may be a 'stick in the mud', but I will always have a sweet tooth for these. They're my own brand of crack." She joked.

Becca laughed taking one and walked over and plopped down on the couch. She looked up at the ceiling above her, and then slowly asked.

"Melody?"

"Yeah, Becca?" She answered opening her book.

"What do you think will happen to us? I mean, if we die or get killed. Shouldn't we tell those we love that we do while we still can? I think you should forgive your dad and that guy. If not, you're going to regret it." She said looking over at her.

"Becca, I've said this a thousand times. I can never forgive them for what they did to me. Besides, it's not like my dad ever gave a shit about me." She said angrily turning the page.

Becca gave her a sympathetic look then looked back at ceiling. She knew she needed to bring both Melody and her dad back together. Well, she should say bring them together since they never were in the first place. But how do you make the world's most stubborn people swallow their pride and forgive each other?

Thanks again to those who have read and reviewed my story. And I guess I'm going to leave that as the chapter's question. How would you make the world's most stubborn people forgive each other? Thanks and have a great day!