As Scarlett got out of the taxi at Barbecue's place, she could hear the party was already in full swing. Music blared out the open windows.

"Hope he has forgiving neighbors." Scarlett sighed under her breath after paying the driver. She was supposed to have come with the other joes a few hours ago but got held up by some paperwork that Hawk needed on his desk immediately. She hadn't realized how time consuming the paperwork would be and couldn't believe how long it took. She had contemplated staying on base and missing the party completely, but decided since it was Barbecue's birthday she should go. Plus, she had already picked out the perfect outfit/costume for the theme, which was Hawaiian luau.

The door was open and loud boisterous laughing and chatter could be heard along with the music as she got closer to the door. She inhaled deeply as she opened the screen door and entered. Her mouth dropped open at the over the top luau decorations that saturated the room. There was even sand on the floor.

"Hey! Look who finally made it!" Barbecue exclaimed rushing over to her. He was wearing an outrageously colorful Hawaiian shirt and swim trunks. He had on a pair of sunglasses even though it was nighttime.

"Happy Birthday! Sorry I'm so late. I didn't realize it was so much paperwork." Scarlett apologized and handed him a card.

"Nonsense! The party just kicked into high gear." Barbecue waved her off. "And I'm sure it will only get better now that you're here."

"I know you said luau theme…but this is…Wow." Scarlett complimented.

"Go big or go home, right?" Barbecue grinned. "Oh wait, I went big and I'm home!" he exclaimed laughing. "And oh my god, you look amazing!"

Barbecue took her hand and had her twirl around as he admired her choice of costume, a green flowy tank dress with white tropical flowers all over it. She had actually picked it up in Hawaii during some down time after a mission there.

"Well, I wanted to make sure I fit in." Scarlett blushed at the compliment.

"Lady, you could wear a paper bag and you'd be the coolest person here. Beside me, of course." Barbecue laughed again. "You thirsty?" Scarlett nodded. Barbecue yelled into the kitchen, "Scarlett's here! Somebody get this girl a drink!"

It only took a few seconds before Lady Jaye emerged from the kitchen carrying two solo cups and gave one to her. She was wearing a white mid-drift shirt and a tropical flowy pink skirt that stopped at the knee.

"You made it!" Lady Jaye squealed. She clutched the other solo cup close to her chest as she hugged Scarlett with her open arm.

"Finally! As soon as I thought I was done, more paperwork ended up in my inbox. It was insane!" Scarlett exclaimed as she examined the contents of the solo cup. The red liquid inside looked and smelled like fruit punch mixed with several different types of alcohol.

"Well, you're here now and that's all that matters. Someone has been waiting for you to get here." Lady Jaye grinned.

"Who?" Scarlett asked curiously.

"I think you know who." Lady Jaye continued grinning.

"Don't start. Things are still not okay." Scarlett reminded her friend.

"I know they're not but it's been weeks since the kiss happened. Don't you think it's time to put it behind you?" Lady Jaye pleaded.

"Easy for you to say! Let me go have Cover Girl kiss Flint and then see how you feel!" Scarlett defended her right to still be angry.

"He was handcuffed. He couldn't stop her." Lady Jaye tried to rationalize.

"Don't remind me!" Scarlett fumed. "Is she here?"

"Nope, I saw her name on the duty roster for tonight. Boy, was she mad about having to miss this." Lady Jaye shook her head as she chuckled thinking about the tantrum she witnessed Cover Girl have about missing the party.

"I'm sure. Any chance to be in Duke's presence and try to get his attention, she takes it." Scarlett scowled.

"And if you keep holding this mistake against him, he might decide to take it permanently. Is that what you really want?" Lady Jaye argued.

"Of course not." Scarlett frowned.

"Then what's the hold up? You can't deny that Duke has been trying to make things right." Lady Jaye argued.

"I know he has…and I want things to go back to the way they were but…" Scarlett trailed off as she stared absentmindedly around the party, "he lost my trust. That's a really hard thing for me to give back."

"Well, looks like he's going to try some more right now." Lady Jaye nodded at something behind Scarlett's shoulder. Scarlett turned around to see Duke smiling as he walked towards her. He was wearing this turquoise blue Hawaiian print shirt with tan cargo shorts. The shirt really brought out the blue in his eyes and Scarlett could feel herself start to drown in them.

"Hey, you finally made it!" Duke grinned.

"Yep." Scarlett awkwardly answered back.

"You look…wow…" Duke replied sucking in his breath. "Absolutely gorgeous."

"Thank you." Scarlett blushed again and took a sip of her drink.

"Care to check out the backyard with me?" Duke asked her hopefully.

"And I'm suddenly a third wheel…I think I'll go see what Flint's up to…" Lady Jaye replied and tried to squeeze past Scarlett and Duke.

"No!" Scarlett blurted, "I mean we were just in the middle of a pretty serious conversation…I'd like to finish it." Scarlett flashed pleading eyes at Lady Jaye. "Privately?"

The spark left Duke's eyes immediately realizing his presence wasn't wanted. "Oh, uh, yeah, sure." he replied deflated. "Maybe later."

"Sure." Scarlett replied and nodded slowly. Duke turned and disappeared through the crowd back into the kitchen.

"And this is what I'm talking about! He's trying and you just keep pushing him away!" Lady Jaye exclaimed exasperated.

"I didn't mean to blow him off like that…I panicked! I just didn't want to get into stuff right this minute. I just got here." Scarlett moaned upset with herself. "I should talk to him."

"Well, you saw the way he was headed." Lady Jaye extended her palm towards the kitchen. Scarlett turned and followed Duke's path. In the kitchen there were bottles of every type of liquor imaginable on the table with stacks and stacks of solo cups. She scanned the room for Duke, but he wasn't in there. She figured he must have gone out to the backyard like he had suggested to her. She got to the sliding glass door leading to the backyard where Clutch and Steeler stood like two body guards in front of it.

"Sorry, boys club only out here." Steeler announced, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Very funny, Steeler. I just need to see Duke." Scarlett replied looking over him out into the dark. Barbecue had string lights illuminating the whole yard and she could see Flint, Duke, Ace, Shipwreck, and a few others standing around a picnic table. They each had a shot glass and they toasted before throwing them back.

"I just bet you would." Clutch snorted with a chuckle. Scarlett rolled her eyes.

"Seriously, I just need a few seconds and then I'll leave your 'Boys Club'" Scarlett mocked the club with both her voice and throwing up jazz hands.

"Nope! No women allowed!" Steeler puffed out his chest even bigger like he was a bouncer. She watched as Ace poured another shot for everyone and they pounded a second shot.

"Are you serious? I just need to talk to Duke!" Scarlett exclaimed shocked at the confrontation.

"Dead Serious. Shipwreck's orders." Clutch mirrored Steeler's stance.

"Number one, why is Shipwreck giving out orders and two…when has he EVER turned down a chance to have women in his presence?" Scarlett questioned skeptically.

"She makes a good point." Steeler tilted his head in agreement.

"Stay strong, man!" Clutch nudged him with his elbow. "Sorry, Princess, maybe check back later." He grinned, "I know I'll be checking you out as you walk away."

Scarlett narrowed her eyes into little slits and stared down Clutch, "Enjoy your circle jerk!", she huffed and spun on her heels. As she walked away, she downed the contents of her red solo cup and set it on one of the counters. She went back into the living room and found Lady Jaye dancing with Wild Bill, Alpine, and Ripcord. All of the guys had own various colors of Hawaiian shirts and cargo shorts.

Scarlett went up to the group, "You won't believe it! They're holding some type of Boys' Club outside and won't let me talk to Duke!" Scarlett had to shout over the music.

"What boneheads! Why wouldn't they want hot girls out there?" Alpine asked as he danced to the beat.

"What were they doing?" Lady Jaye asked.

"Taking shots." Scarlett answered.

"Idiots. They'll pay for them later. Fuck them." Lady Jaye scoffed continuing to dance.

"Yeah, Fuck 'em! Sounds like we're the real winners since we're dancing with you ladies!" Wild Bill exclaimed waving his prop straw hat in the air.

"You said it, Bill!" Ripcord exclaimed. "Care to shake it, Red?" A song that she really liked started blaring.

"Let's cut a rug, Rip." Scarlett agreed as she started dancing to the beat. The group danced and talked for a good while. Bazooka eventually joined them, wearing a coconut bra and a grass skirt, giving everyone a good laugh. The highlight was Barbecue leading a choreographed dance to the song "Wipe Out". It was a dance easy enough for most people to pick up and join in. Ripcord was having a little trouble so Scarlett tried to help him and was showing him how to move his hips when Duke came staggering over to them.

"Get off of my girl!" Duke exclaimed with a slurred voice as he roughly jerked Ripcord away from Scarlett.

"Duke!" Scarlett cried surprised.

"I'm going to lei you." Duke smugly grinned and tossed a flowered necklace over her head.

"You can take it back!" Scarlett exclaimed immediately taking it off.

"Ugh, this has Flint written all over it!" Lady Jaye exclaimed and stormed into the kitchen. A few moments later Flint, Shipwreck, Ace, Steeler, Grunt, and the rest of the men involved in the "Boys Club" came running into the living room.

"Damn it, Duke! You were supposed to ask 'Do you want to get lei'd'? NOT say 'I'm going to lei you'! How many times did we practice?!" Flint yelled at him condescendingly.

"Apparently not enough" Ace replied and all the whole group of the "Boys Club" laughed obnoxiously.

"Duke, how much have you had to drink tonight?" Scarlett asked still in shock by his last comment.

"I dunno...two…five…seven…" Duke tried counting on his fingers.

"Dude! The boy can drink! He had more than all of us! He's the man!" Ace exclaimed and all the Boys Club men hooped and hollered.

"Yeah, we gotta get Top smashed more often! He's so much more fun!" Steeler agreed and the boys cheered again.

"More like out of control." Wild Bill observed as Duke high fived his little calvary. "I've never seen him get this bad."

"Bad? He's having a great time! Right, Duke?" Flint asked.

"Fuck yeah I am! Let's party!" Duke yelled and pumped his fist in the air. The boys cheered again.

"And I definitely want to party with you." Duke seductively grinned as he moved behind Scarlett, sliding his hands over her hips, and started grinding against her. She immediately elbowed him, sending him stumbling backwards a few steps.

"Duke, you never told us she liked it rough!" Ace laughed.

"Oh yeah, she's a tiger. Real feisty." Duke grinned, "But I know how to tame her...right into submission." He made thrusting motions with his arms and groin. The boys all hollered and high fived each other.

"What on earth have you been drinking for you to act and talk like this?!" Scarlett cried in disgust of his vulgar response.

"Shipwreck brought the good stuff." Flint butted in. Wild Bill, Scarlett, Ripcord, and Lady Jaye all turned to Shipwreck expectantly.

"Just how good are we talking?" Lady Jaye put her hands on her hips.

"Moonshine good." Flint grinned and the boys all high fived again.

"I was feeling generous so I shared. Sue me!" Shipwreck shrugged and all the Boys Club boys cheered.

"No wonder you're being so sloppy." Ripcord snickered.

"What did you say?" Duke growled jumping into his face.

"I said YOU'RE SLOPPY." Ripcord repeated loud and slow. He turned to Scarlett, "C'mon, let's go somewhere else and leave these jerks."

"The hell you're taking my girl somewhere!" Duke threatened and wound up his fist. But before he swung, the music died down and Barbecue hopped up onto his coffee table close to where Scarlett and the group had been dancing. He had a microphone in his hand.

Duke lowered his fist while Barbecue spoke, "I want to thank you all for coming and making my birthday the best ever! This has been one hell of a party! Let's keep it going!" Everyone clapped and shouted in agreement, especially the members of the Boys Club. Barbecue jumped off the table and Duke immediately swiped his microphone and began singing into it, obviously forgetting he had been seconds away from punching Ripcord's lights out.

"You're just too good to be true

Can't take my eyes off of you

You'd be like Heaven to touch

I wanna hold you so much

At long last love has arrived

And I thank God I'm alive

You're just too good to be true

Can't take my eyes off of you…"

Scarlett's eyes were wide with a mixture of disbelief and panic as Duke continued to croon. He grabbed her hand and she tried to pull it away but somehow in his drunken stupor he still managed to have a super strong hold and she was unable to free herself.

"Pardon the way that I stare

There's nothing else to compare

The sight of you leaves me weak

There are no words left to speak

But if you feel like I feel

Please let me know that it's real

You're just too good to be true

Can't keep my eyes off of you…"

Scarlett continued trying to pull out of his grasp, but he had her good. She could feel her face was hot with embarrassment and knew her cheeks were probably the same color as her hair. The members of the Boys Club had shuffled around and had formed a backup group behind Duke to egg him on and started singing the beat.

"Da-duh, Da-duh, Da-do-da-da, De-da-duh, Da-duh, Da-do-da-da, De-da-duh. Da-duh, Da do-da-da. De-da-duh, Da-duh OHHHHHH"

Duke and the boys then belted out,

"I love you, baby

And if it's quite alright

I need you, baby

To warm the lonely night

I love you, baby

Trust in me when I say…

OH, PRETTY BABY

DON'T BRING ME DOWN, I PRAY

OH, PRETTY BABY

NOW THAT I'VE FOUND YOU, STAY

AND LET ME LOVE YOU, BABY

LET ME LOVE YOU"

They were yelling now. Scarlett had never been more mortified in her life as they continued to sing the popular song from the 1960's right in her face. She never liked being the center of attention and this definitely made the spotlight shine directly on her. The drunken serenade finally came to an end. The room was hushed, waiting for Scarlett's reaction. She was frozen, unable to do anything but to look at him. Duke released her hand hoping that might jump start a reaction, but she still didn't move or speak.

"Geez, Duke, maybe you should have sung to Cover Girl instead. You know she would've been appreciative and eaten it up." Clutch suggested.

"Probably let you eat her up too." Flint laughed and the boys hollered and high fived at the suggestion.

"Flint!" Lady Jaye exclaimed and smacked him on the back of the head. Duke could see Scarlett's eyes were filling with tears. She ran to the staircase and stormed up the steps. Everyone heard a door slam on the second floor. Duke ran after her.

When Duke got to the top of the steps, he could hear Scarlett's heaving sobs coming from one of the bedrooms. He opened the door to see her sitting at the edge of a bed hunched over shaking with sobs. The music started blaring again downstairs.

"Shana…you're crying…"Duke softly replied moving quickly to the bed. Scarlett jerked her head up and shot up off the bed.

"Of course I'm crying!" she yelled through her tears.

"Why? Did someone hurt you? Who was it? Was it Ripcord? I knew I should have punched him!" Duke growled and clenched his fists so hard she heard his knuckles crack.

"YOU! YOU HURT ME! YOU BIG JACKASS!" Scarlett screamed. "You're an out of control drunken mess and you totally humiliated me with your vulgar remarks and impromptu karaoke!"

"I wanted to show you how much I want to be with you. I didn't mean to embarrass you…" Duke argued.

"Well, you did!" Scarlett threw at him.

"Well, you embarrassed me too! The way you let Ripcord all up in your space on the dance floor!" Duke yelled back.

"We were just dancing! That's it." Scarlett replied.

"He shouldn't have been that close to you!" Duke fumed.

"You want to talk about being close? How about we talk about how close you were to Cover Girl when you kissed?" Scarlett threw back.

"For Christ's sake, we've been through this a thousand times! That kiss meant nothing to me! Cover Girl means nothing to me!" Duke exploded.

"A thousand times apparently isn't enough to make you realize the amount of pain that I feel thinking about you and her. Picturing the two of you kissing replays in my head over and over again on an endless loop." Scarlett snapped. "And the worst part…" Scarlett paused and took a deep breath, "the WORST part is you didn't even have the BALLS to tell me. I had to hear it from someone else. And when I asked you specifically about that night…you didn't even think to mention it."

"Because it wasn't important! I didn't initiate it and I certainly didn't want it! I knew it would only upset you. I was trying to protect your feelings." Duke argued.

"Protecting yourself is more like it! Trying to have your cake and eat it too!" Scarlett scoffed throwing her arms around herself. "Omitting the truth is just as bad as lying, Duke. It makes me wonder if you were truthful about Selena."

"ARE YOU SERIOUSLY GOING TO BRING THAT UP AGAIN?" Duke roared getting in her face. They had been circling each other while arguing and now Duke was facing the door and Scarlett was facing the bed.

"You seem a little touchy about it. Is it because you're still hiding something?" Scarlett challenged, standing her ground.

"You have some nerve…" Duke started. He got a funny look in his eye and bulldozed past her out the door.

Scarlett turned, furious that he had abandoned the argument. Maybe he was still hiding something. She wasn't going to let him off the hook this easily. She stormed out of the bedroom and was about to go down the steps when she heard someone throwing up behind a door diagonal from the bedroom she had just come out of. The person threw up again and yelled "FUCK!". It was Duke's voice.

Scarlett couldn't help but feel a little satisfaction that karma seemed to be kicking in pretty quickly. She turned, went back into the bedroom, sat back down on the bed, and tried reeling in all the high emotions she was feeling. She wanted to be ready for round two for when Duke came back in, but he didn't. He stayed in the bathroom a long time and she could hear him alternate between throwing up and cursing. He was in bad shape. As she continued hearing his agonizing worship to the porcelain god, she started feeling bad about bringing up Selena. It was a sensitive topic for both of them…more for Duke because he hated that people thought he took advantage of a barely legal girl like that. But what he really hated most of all was how it had affected her. The rumors had been vulgar and distasteful and had surrounded them for weeks. He finally put an end to it and took her into the chapel at headquarters and swore in front of her and God that nothing happened between him and Selena. He also confessed his love to her and would be damned if anything would come between them. A few tears slipped down her cheeks thinking how long ago that night seemed from their current situation.

"Hey, thought I'd come check on ya." Barbecue called hesitantly from the doorway.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your party." Scarlett apologized quickly wiping any tears off her face.

"Please. Only a good party has drama." Barbecue again dismissed an apology. "How are things going up here? Are we okay?"

"Let's just say I'm doing more okay than he is." Scarlett replied as the sound of Duke vomiting echoed in the hallway. "You should get back to your party."

"I guess you didn't notice the party ended." Barbecue hesitantly broke the news. Scarlett looked at him questioningly and then realized there wasn't any music playing.

"Oh! Oh my gosh! I better get going then!" Scarlett exclaimed popping up off the bed.

"Red, everybody left. The calvary is gone." Barbecue gently told her.

"What?! Why didn't anyone come get us? Lady Jaye? Wild Bill? Ripcord?" Scarlett cried.

"Well, Lady Jaye and Flint started arguing and they both stormed out not long after you came upstairs. I think the others just wanted to give you and Duke time to sort out your shit." Barbecue guessed.

"I'm not sure anything is going to get sorted out tonight. Duke's probably going to be chained to the toilet for a while. I wouldn't be surprised if he passes out in there." Scarlett noted.

"He's not the only one. Shipwreck, Ace, and Clutch all started puking their guts out too. I wouldn't be surprised if they are all passed out downstairs. They get to be part of the cleaning crew tomorrow." Barbecue grinned.

"Serves them right." Scarlett felt vindicated. "I'll just call a cab."

"It's 2 am, Red, there ain't no taxis running. You can have the extra bed."

"Oh…" Scarlett replied and then looked over Barbecue into the hallway.

"Yeah, unfortunately I only have one extra bedroom so if Duke ends up leaving the bathroom…" Barbecue trailed off.

"He's not sleeping with me! We'll figure it out…." Scarlett nervously replied.

"WELL…if you want…you can sleep in my bed with me and Duke can have the bed." Barbecue suggested. Scarlett gave him a look of warning. "Or…Duke can sleep in bed with me and you can have the extra bed. I'm not picky." Barbecue gave a mischievously wicked grin. Scarlett blinked at him, stunned by his candid statements and wondering if her ears were working correctly.

"I think we'll be able to manage to figure out an arrangement and not intrude in your personal space" Scarlett tactfully responded.

"Okay, but if you change your mind…you know where to find me." Barbecue grinned, "that goes for either of you…. Both of you if you're feeling adventurous." Barbecue winked and disappeared down the hall.

Scarlett stared out the bedroom door for a few moments mulling over Barbecue's proposition. Was he serious? Was he drunk? Not that she would judge anyone on the lifestyle they kept but the military did have rules, even if she disagreed with them. But then again, the joes were a highly trained special missions force and a lot of military policies and protocols were being overlooked…like fraternizing with subordinates. Maybe Barbecue felt safe to be himself? But also, he could just be very drunk and she was overanalyzing things. Her thoughts were interrupted by the urge that she really had to use the bathroom. Scarlett sighed heavily. Her options were to invade on Duke or go downstairs to the powder room. She heard Duke's continued violent retching and decided the powder room was the way to go. She made her way downstairs and immediately was hit with the smell she could only describe as frat party smell. The floor was sticky just like after a frat party too, even with the sand. She saw Shipwreck, Ace, and Clutch all passed out together near the couch.

"Serves them right!" Scarlett mumbled under her breath as she carefully made her way to the powder room avoiding cups and spills. Those boys were going to have A LOT of cleaning to do tomorrow. She quickly used the toilet, washed her hands, and went back upstairs. She turned to go back into the bedroom, but instead went to the door of the bathroom. She leaned her ear against it and could hear Duke moaning on the other side.

"Con, are you okay?" Scarlett knocked softly on the door.

"No." he answered before throwing up again. She rested her head against the door unsure of what she should say or do next. "I'm so sorry….I'm so sorry…" he moaned over and over again until the urge to throw up overtook his body again.

"We still have a lot to talk about but it can wait until you are feeling better." Scarlett softly replied and then thoughtfully added, "I'm sorry I brought up Selena."

"Don't be sorry. I'm the idiot…all of this is my fault." Duke groaned. "My fault…" he repeated before throwing up again.

"We'll talk when you are feeling better." Scarlett reiterated and walked back into the second bedroom. She stood and stared at the bed. It was beckoning to her to crawl under the covers. She couldn't fight it. She turned off the light and slipped under the covers, yawning. She closed her eyes and she was out like a light.

She startled out of sleep, feeling the bed shift at her feet. "Who's there?" Scarlett called out in the darkness as she sat up stiffly.

"You're…you're still here…" Duke's watery voice answered with surprise.

"Yes. Are you feeling better?" Scarlett asked rubbing her eyes.

"No…I mean…yes, I think I'm done throwing up…but no…I don't feel better." Duke answered vulnerably.

"I'm glad you feel well enough to leave the bathroom at least." Scarlett answered.

"Yeah…I guess…" Duke answered.

After a few awkward moments of silence, Duke softly spoke, "I'm ashamed of myself, Shana." He sniffed like he may have been crying, but it was too dark to see his face to tell. "I'm so sorry…for everything….tonight….Cover Girl…I'm just so sorry. You gave me the most precious gift, your love. And I…I didn't protect it…I didn't cherish it…" Duke was definitely crying.

"Con, you're in no state of mind to be talking about this right now. Let's wait until you're feeling 100%." Scarlett tried to persuade him.

"No, I need to tell you…I screwed up….I screwed up so bad…How could I do that to you? How could I?" Duke continued berating himself.

Scarlett turned on the bedside lamp and got out from under the covers. She sat with him at the end of the bed. He looked so lost and frightened as tears streamed down face. She put her hands up and wiped away the tears that she could. He nuzzled against her touch.

"You're exhausted. Come lay down. We'll talk tomorrow." Scarlett suggested.

"I'm so sorry…." Duke moaned. She got up and he got up too and followed her to the side of the bed. She indicated for him to lay down where she had been laying. He obeyed and she fluffed the covers over him.

"I should have told you. It doesn't matter if I thought I was doing the right thing…It obviously wasn't. I should have told you." Duke whimpered.

"We'll talk tomorrow." Scarlett repeated herself as she stroked the top of his head.

"You're everything to me, Shana." Duke practically whispered, his eyelids growing heavy. "my love…my only love...my forever"

"Here's the trashcan in case you need it." Scarlett replied as she dragged the small wastebasket to Duke's side of the bed. Duke nodded. His eyes were already closed. She turned out the light on the nightstand and stood at the foot of the bed and sighed. Now what? Her body was begging her to go back to sleep. She didn't want to share a bed with him…but where else could she go? She quietly crept to the other side of the bed and slipped under the covers. She hoped to God he didn't roll over and touch her, even accidentally. She wasn't sure she could trust herself to not respond to it. She didn't think about it much longer before she was already asleep herself.

XXXXX

Scarlett slowly opened her eyes to sunlight filling the room and Duke still lying next to her. He was awake and staring at her.

"Good morning." Duke greeted her.

"Morning…what time is it?" Scarlett asked stretching out.

"I don't really know. I think I left my watch in the bathroom." Duke nodded toward the door.

"How are you feeling?" Scarlett asked.

"Like I never want to drink again." Duke replied.

"At least not moonshine." Scarlett snarked.

"Definitely not." Duke agreed. He propped his head up using his elbow, "I wasn't expecting to find you in bed with me."

"Well, there wasn't really another option." Scarlett replied not wanting to get into Barbecue's offer.

"I really had to restrain myself from pulling you close." Duke added. "It's been so long and I miss cuddling you, but I know you are in a different place and there are things we need to talk about."

"I appreciate you respecting that." Scarlett replied pulling the blanket closer around her.

"I know I screwed up things even more last night than they already are. I'm so sorry." Duke apologized.

"I'm sorry too for blowing you off when you came over to talk to me. I just wasn't ready to get into things. I immediately knew I was wrong and went to find you to apologize but Clutch and Steeler wouldn't let me in the backyard." Scarlett explained.

"Oh yeah…Boys Club…"Duke sighed with annoyance. "I should have never gotten involved with that. I knew it was going to be bad when I saw Shipwreck pouring shots of moonshine but I just wanted to stop feeling so rejected and hurt."

"Well, it definitely worked. You were feeling pretty good about yourself." Scarlett replied, "mostly at my expense."

"Was I? A lot of things are hazy at best…besides knowing I made you cry. I'm so ashamed." Duke frowned and dropped eye contact.

"I'm not trying to make you feel worse than you already do, but you were very much out of control and really embarrassed me." Scarlett honestly answered. "You also owe Ripcord an apology. You almost punched him." Scarlett revealed.

"I did? Christ." Duke shook his head in disbelief.

"Right before you busted out Can't Take my Eyes Off of You karaoke style." Scarlett added.

"I'm so sorry. I know that must have been so mortifying for you" Duke just kept shaking his head. "I'm not saying this to make excuses for myself-because there isn't anything to say to redeem my behavior from last night-but…I just miss you so damn bad and I'm desperate for ways to show you how much I want to be with you. The sentiment behind the song is true…the delivery sucked."

"Clutch suggested it may have been received better if you sang it to Cover Girl…" Scarlett tensed her jaw and lowered her eyes.

"Clutch is an asshole. He's down in the motor pool with Cover Girl buzzing in his ear all day long. Who knows what she's been telling him? I think he was just trying to stir shit up between us so he can look good to her. He's worse than Shipwreck about trying to get into her pants." Duke scoffed and then with a softened tone continued, "Anyone with even an ounce of brain cells knows it's you I'm in love with and only you."

"If that's true…how could you let her kiss you? How could you let her lips…" Scarlett's voice wavered as tears began to fall. Duke immediately leaped out of bed and rushed to her side of the bed. He sat down next to her and wiped her tears away with his thumbs, much like she had done to him the night before.

"There's no excuse. I should have been more aware of what was happening and what her intention was…and if I had time machine I would absolutely go back and make sure there was no way in hell the kiss would have happened." Duke softly answered. Scarlett lifted her eyes to his. "Shana, I need you in my life. Please let me back in. I want to take responsibility for all of my mistakes and be the man you want. The man that you deserve." Duke took a deep breath, "The man you love."

Shana sniffled and wiped the last of the tears from her face, "Of course I love you. And I know we can get back to where we were…it will just take some time."

A huge smile spread across Duke's lips, "I'll do whatever it takes to fix things."

"Well, how about for starters we get back to base and put last night behind us."

"Agreed. I'll even pay for the taxi." Duke offered.