"Dude, that was freaking awesome today," Diaz grinned as they changed after their session. Ross was sitting on the bench between where he and Miller were putting things into their lockers. "It's really too bad you didn't get to have a run, Mi."

"I think I'm ok waiting a few months," Ross rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure Agent Carolina would have let you have a go if you wanted," Diaz replied shoving another armor piece into his locker.

"Firstly," Ross sighed, "the second Wash would have heard, he would have showed up from wherever the hell he's been all afternoon and pulled me out himself. Secondly-"

"Mila's under-armor is getting a bit tight," Miller said giving her a big grin.

"Thank you. I needed your help," Ross huffed, a hand going to her stomach.

"It's a good thing, Mi. No offense," Miller rolled her eyes.

"I know," Ross nodded. "It's just an…odd sensation to get used to when your clothes all start getting snugger."

"Is it time to go shopping?" Miller raised an eyebrow at her.

"I'm ok."

"Where is my buddy Wash at anyway?" Diaz asked.

"Meeting with Kimball," Ross shrugged.

"So are you going to dinner with him or coming with us?" Miller asked as she shoved the last piece of her armor in her locker and closed it.

"Screw him," Ross chuckled. "I am hungry and feeding me is more important than feeding him. If he's not back by now, he is on his own."

"Feeling better I take it?" Diaz asked.

"Better enough that my appetite is sorta kinda back," Ross answered.

"Which is good because Mei-"

"Yes, yes. Shush," Ross cut Miller off.

"Ok miss grumpy-pants. I need to go get normal clothes on before we go eat," Miller gave a wave before walking away to the dorm.

Diaz shook his head before throwing on his t-shirt, "I swear she's almost as moody than you." Ross gave him a look. "Let me rephrase it. She's worse than you."

"Because rephrasing it will make your life so much better," Ross rolled her eyes. "I swear, some days you really have a death wish…"

"Well, I try to make it every day because living in fear of the people I love really just makes things so much more enjoyable."

"You are an asshole."

"The real question is, am I your favorite asshole?"

"It varies," Ross shrugged. "Some days Wash is in that number one spot, other days it's you."

"I can live with that," he grinned.

They chatted in the locker room for a few more minutes until Miller finally came back through and together the three of them turned to leave to head towards dinner. When they got to the lobby though, they found Zubkov waiting against one of the windows towards the floor. She paused for a second before calling out to Ross.

"What's up?" Ross asked as the younger girl walked up to her.

"I'm sorry, I know you're probably on your way to dinner…" Zubkov trailed off looking unsure.

"Ash, it's fine," Ross shook her head. She glanced around before looking back at her, "Is this something with Daisy?" Zubkov nodded. "Why don't you come with us?"

"N-no, I couldn't…"

"Nonsense," Ross said looping her arm through the other girl's and leading her to catch up to Diaz and Miller who had continued through the front door. "You look like you need someone to talk to. They're good people to talk to as well."

"I'm not entirely sure…"

"Listen, I'm hungry so we're eating either way. Understood?" Ross gave her a serious look.

"Uh, yea…yea I guess…"

"Great," Ross gave her a smile. They caught up to the others. "Ash is joining us for dinner."

"Sounds awesome to us," Diaz smiled at them.

They walked to where they had decided to have dinner and got seated. Ross glanced at Zubkov after she only ordered something to drink.

"So…what's going on?" Ross asked turning to look at Zubkov. Miller and Diaz exchanged looks before Miller started a quiet conversation with him.

"I…I don't know. She won't talk to me," Zubkov answered, an arm reaching across to grab the other. "She's been avoiding me and when I try to talk to her about it, she just makes some kind of excuse. I…I was actually wondering if you knew what was going on with her. That maybe she's talked to you?"

Ross shook her head, "Not really. I mean, the only thing she mentioned was that you were busy the other day when we were at dinner at her mom's."

"How…did she seem ok?"

Ross shrugged, "I guess? She was quiet."

"Marcos, don't-"

"Is this Preston we're talking about?" Diaz asked curiously. Miller smacked him. "What? It's just a question."

"Yes, Marcos," Ross rolled her eyes.

"Not trying to shove my nose in," Diaz put up a hand as Miller gave a scoff. "I saw her a few times on my way home for the night after cards with a few of the guys."

"Was she leaving or coming back?" Zubkov asked quietly.

"Leaving I think," Diaz shrugged. Zubkov nodded, another look coming across her face.

"Does that mean something?" Ross asked catching it.

"I don't know. Like I said, she won't talk to me," Zubkov sighed running her hands through her hair. "The last three times we were supposed to go out, she cancelled on me." Zubkov looked at Ross again, "I thought about going to Agent Washington, but I didn't want to worry him…'

"It's alright," Ross put a hand on her. "I can do some investigating if you'd like."

"I wouldn't want to put you out," Zubkov shook her head. "I know you have your own thing going and I wouldn't want my stuff to affect yours in any way."

"Don't worry about it, Ash. It's a simple task of checking with her," Ross replied.

Zubkov nodded and after a moment looked back at her, "Thank you…I know I shouldn't worry, if she's done with me then there's nothing I can do. Just some heads up about it would be nice."

"We will get the bottom of it, don't worry," Ross reassured her. Her AD started going off. "Gee, wonder who this could be…"

"Ooo, let me answer!" Diaz held out a hand out across the table. Ross shook her head as she handed him her ear piece. She hit the answer and gave him a nod. "Well if it isn't my sun and star-'

"Wash will kill him on day," Miller chuckled as Diaz pulled the earpiece out a second later and handed it back to Ross who put it in.

"Hi," Ross greeted.

"Don't you ever let him answer again," Wash grumbled.

"But he misses you. Without you, he's outnumbered," Ross giggled.

"That's his own fault," Wash replied. "Anyway, I'm on my way home. I take it you are eating?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'm not sure if I should be amused or concerned by your smart-assery this evening...I'll see you at home."

"Love you."

North walked out of the kitchen and handed Emma a cup of tea before sitting down on the floor close to where Oliver was laying on the floor. Emma reached over and scratched his head, "Thank you."

"Welcome," North grinned at her. "How did your program work today?"

"Didn't hear any complaints," Emma replied, her fingers still carding his hair. "Church sent me a summary report from the first two classes and everything seemed to be working as we programmed."

"Pleased mommy?" North grinned at her as Oliver looked towards her voice.

"Pleased mommy," Emma smiled back. "Now to concentrate on the important task at hand."

"And what's that?" North asked.

"Making sure anything and everything that could be prepared security system wise for both the ceremony and the banquet," Emma answered. "Speaking of, do you mind keeping an eye on Oliver tomorrow?"

"Course not. What is it this time?"

"Garth and I are going over everything that they have set up already so that I can tweak it as need be."

"You mean the prep you have been doing isn't enough?" North asked.

"Not for what I want it to be," Emma replied.

North turned to rest his chin on her knee and looked up at her, "You do remember that your father is locked up, right?"

"There's still plenty to worry about."

"Like what?" he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Like the fact that I still haven't heard back from the UNSC about the drive I sent that asshole AI on after I removed it," Emma grumbled.

"Let's be honest, are you really expecting them to get back to you?" North asked.

"If they know what's good for them they will…"

"Emma…"

"The guy I gave them too assured me he would send me a full report once they went through it and deactivated it."

"Maybe they're waiting until after the trial," North shrugged. "Using it as evidence. Could be the AI was only following orders."

"No. Not if it had my father behind it," Emma sighed.

North reached up and took her hand, running his thumb across the back of it, "It's over. You can relax. I don't know how many times I have to tell you."

"Only a couple hundred more," Emma shrugged giving him a smirk. She pulled her feet up so she could lay down and drape her arms over his shoulders, kissing the side of his mouth. "Have I mentioned how thankful I am for you and your calming train of thought?"

"It's been brought up once or twice," he smiled at her. Oliver made a few noises to draw their attention. North leaned forward and lifted him up, leaning back into Emma's arms again.

"Aah," Oliver reached forward with his hands to try and touch North's face. Emma grabbed his hand and kissed it.

"I love my boys," she grinned, her chin resting on North's shoulder.

"Feeling is definitely mutual," North replied. "Question for you."

"Possible answer," Emma smirked.

"York and I have been discussing a guys' day out. And by guys' day, I mean me, him and the kids. Would you be opposed?"

"Depends, does kids also include Ally?" Emma asked.

"It would yes."

"Then I have no problem with it. Though may I make a suggestion?"

"What kind of suggestion?"

"Take Wash with."

"I'm sure we can manage that," he nodded.

"Ya know, you guys are really good friends to him," Emma grinned at him.

"Yea, sometimes we're too good," North smirked. "But regardless, he'll be a good dad without our help."

Emma nodded, letting out a breath before another thought crossed her mind. "Any more news on how Maine is doing?"

"Not that I've heard, but I haven't inquired either," North answered. "That would be Wash and Carolina's area."

"Don't you want to know?"

"Not really," North sighed. "I have already said goodbye to my friend. I don't want to drag myself back through all that if he's never going to be anywhere close to some kind of semblance of normal."

"It could happen though," Emma pointed out.

"Then I will be more than happy to be proven wrong," North replied. "I am more concerned with the two things right here."

"Is your sister also on that list?"

"I suppose it goes without saying, but impressively I am letting her do her thing. I am here for support when she needs it."

"And to give Locus some kind of advice when he comes to you?" Emma smirked.

"Maybe."

"It's impressive they haven't killed each other yet."

"It's not Locus we have to worry about," North chuckled. "You know this."

"I suppose," Emma replied. She looked at the time, "You want bedtime duties or…?"

"You can. I put him to bed last night."

"Alright then. Come on Ollie," Emma said sitting up.

"Get on with it, Piper," Carolina rolled her eyes as the agent stood in front of her, Trevor and Morris on either side of them. "I really don't have all day here."

"Well ok then ma'am," Piper clapped his hands together. "We have most of the event program planned out, just a few more bugs, but the good news is that it should be good to go next week if that is acceptable to everyone else."

"And have you gotten together your list of participants?" Carolina raised an eyebrow at him.

"Mostly, yes ma'am," Piper nodded. "There were a few maybes yet on the list so it'll just be following up with them."

"Do you need anything else from me?"

"No ma'am, just wanted to give you an update," Piper replied moving to cross his hands behind his back.

"Well, I appreciate the update," Carolina nodded. "Shall we say next Friday then?"

"That would be perfect," Piper grinned.

"Will your participants be able to see your programming beforehand?"

"Nah. We were thinking to keep it a bit more fair that we would keep that hush-hush."

"Alright then," Carolina chuckled. "If that is all, then you are all free to go. I'm sure you don't want to stick around for lunchtime."

"As cute as your son is, that is definitely something we don't want to be here for," Piper chuckled. "Thank you for your time ma'am."

"Not a problem," Carolina gave them a wave as they all turned to leave, almost running in to York who was just about to enter.

"Just in time," York grinned walking over as she lifted Tyler out of the crib and settled back into her chair at her desk. "Ally has been delivered at school and Pops said they are more than happy to pick her up and take Tyler so we can go out on a date night."

"It both thrills and annoys me that you do this without checking with me first," Carolina gave him a pleased eye-roll.

"Hey, the way I look at it, there are not enough romantic surprises for you, so when I have the idea, I am taking full advantage of it."

"It's appreciated," Carolina replied as she got Tyler situated and herself comfortable.

"So what'd that crew want?" York asked motioning a thumb over his shoulder as he sat down in one of the chairs on the other side of her desk.

"To give me an update on their Staff Olympic thing," Carolina replied.

"Ah. Do we have a date?"

"Next Friday," Carolina answered giving him a grin.

"Great, a week to write my will," York grinned back.

"You're not funny."

"Kinda funny."

"Not funny."

"You still love me," York shrugged lifting his feet up onto her desk and putting his arms behind his head.

"Which is a good thing for you because if I didn't, you would not be sitting here," Carolina gave him a smirk.