Duh herrow! Well here it: is an update to Homecoming. You know, I never thought this story would be as popular as it is. I just like to point out, that I was talking about the city Cairo, not the MAC station.

Well the ceremony went off with a hit, dignitaries, top brass and celebrities came and gave their thanks to Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Spartan II John 117, and now it was the so called intermission time. Where things would tune down for a bit, people would go home and get ready for the party held in John's honour later tonight.

Standing from afar with her friends and colleagues, Diana was wearing a white, women's Navy ceremonial clothing. Although the clothing didn't reveal much, it certainly did accentuate her good looks, which left many men gawking in her presence.

The doctor didn't really care about the gawking men; they'd have to settle for the next best thing, which were her friends. Good thing though, Diana's friends were chomping at the bit to meet new servicemen.

could see that the Spartan was bewildered and overwhelmed by all the affection and heroes' treatment he was receiving. The Doctor just smiled, she realised the true importance of this ceremony. That even though so much was lost in the Human-Covenant war, a great deal was recovered; a great testament to this was the return of Dr Catherine Halsey.

Her "death" had such a great backlash on the scientific community; many had thought she perished on Reach when the planet was glassed. But then reports confirmed that she was rescued by John who happened to return to Reach after the planet's fall, however reports after that said that she disappeared again and was presumed dead, a while later, a UNSC vessel stumbled upon a Micro Dyson Sphere and there was the Dr Halsey and a number of other Spartans.

Although the reports were sketchy, no one really cared when Halsey returned.

But the ultimate testament to the ceremony's underlying meaning is John.

The ceremony had finished nicely, and now it was for the party.

The party was held at a beautiful seaside restaurant, where the moon shone brightly over the water, and the soft breeze ran through the massive archways and pillars. On one side was a band performing a jazz song, and dancing couples and on the other side, groups of high ranking officers and veterans, eating meals at their tables. Near the dance floor was the Spartan-IIs' table where the Spartans ate and observed their surroundings.

"Nice party huh?" said Linda.

"I think it's a bit much," replied John.

"We all know you're modest John," interjected Fred, "and your view is that no soldier should be honoured for what is expected, which we all agree on, but what you've done during the war is above and beyond the call of what was expected by you. Just think of this party as a token of gratitude."

"That's one way to look at it," pondered John.

Not too far away was Diana's table. Diana often glanced over at the Spartans' table to see how they were doing, to her; she smiled to see John so happy, and was also beaming to see that sitting next to him was the girl he drew a portrait of.

"I'm going to ask him for a dance," said Lauren indicating towards John.

"Someone has already beaten you to him," chuckled Diana, "the women sitting next to him has got him,"

"They don't seem to be the couple-ly type," pondered Alice.

"That's because they've been caught up in the war too much to have time for one another."

Back at the Spartans' table…

John had been observing other tables and couples. He careful examined each way the couples danced and quickly got the hang of it. He then turned his attention to Fred and Linda who were on the dance floor, arm in arm, and slow dancing like other couples around them.

Fred and John were both wearing their black ceremonial military uniforms adorned with their rank insignia, campaign ribbons and medals. Kelly and Linda wore the female variation, well there were to variations, one was with pants and flat soled shoes and the other, which they were wearing, was with a dress bottom and medium heels.

John stood and then looked at Kelly.

"May I have this dance?" he asked with great sincerity in his voice.

Kelly smiled and nodded.

The two walked to the dance floor, and held each other, and then they began to move to the slow beat of the music, gliding across the marble floor.

John noticed that his Spartan friends had become more open, probably from spending time with Doctor Halsey and her lessons to integrate them back into human society. He liked that, he was getting use to the idea of hugs; it was one he was willing to do, since the hugs Kelly gave him were just wonderful.

The dance finished and the two headed back to their table.

"That was fun," said Kelly, she then placed her hands gently on John's shoulders and gave him a quick peck on his cheeks.

A/N:

Okay, I just went totally blank, some help would be greatly appreciated.