50. John and Kayo – Scarf

"You were a Boy Scout?"

The level of incredulousness in Kayo's voice makes John roll his eyes. Why had he agreed to this again?

"Yes, Kay. I was a Boy Scout."

They're going through the boxes he has in storage deep within the island's underground tunnel system. And Kayo is holding his old unit scarf in her hands. It's blue and green and the woggle is still holding the two twisted ends together.

Kayo turns it over in her hands.

"You never mentioned it before," she says.

John shrugs.

"I've also never mentioned that I took a semester of cookery in high school." At her single raised eyebrow, John folds his arms. "Well, someone had to learn how to feed us something that wasn't burned to a crisp."

Kayo laughs and it makes John smile. She doesn't laugh often so when she does, it's like music to his ears. It's even better when they're actually together, occupying the same planet, never mind the same space.

"So what else have you not told me?" she asks.

John taps his chin and waves a hand.

"Did I ever mention that I was valedictorian of my class at Harvard?"

Kayo rolls her eyes.

"Only about a thousand times."

"Right."

Kayo sets aside the scarf and delves deeper into the box. Her fingertips touch something coarse and she pulls it out.

"Oh, how cute."

Her tone is half-sarcastic and half-genuine. What she has recovered is a tiny little baseball cap, resplendent with the Boy Scout fleur-de-lis.

Then, in a moment of madness, she's up on her feet and trying to jam the hat down on John's head.

"Gah! What are you doing?"

Unsuccessful in her attempts, Kayo simply leaves the hat sitting atop his red head. He looks thoroughly unamused.

"Being a valedictorian has done nothing for the circumference of your skull," Kayo says.

"Hardly," John replies, pulling the cap from his head. "I think you'll find that's just normal growth."

And Kayo doesn't bother to point out that she was joking. Instead, she leans forward and presses a kiss to his lips.

John stills in the way he always does. It's like he's always surprised by affection. But he melts into the embrace and wraps his arms around her.

With a sly glance upwards, Kayo smirks.

"What's the scout motto again?"

"Be prepared," John answers automatically.

"And are you?" Kayo asks.

It takes a few moments for John to process the information and pick up on her actual meaning. When he does, it's like a lightbulb has flicked on.

"Oh, yes. Always."