Chapter 14

A day ago…

A lone Shipgirl lay, perched high on the banister of her balcony that overlooks most of the port. Her customarily harsh features were uncharacteristically soft as she held up a large light green feather, turning it over, examining its little intricate details like she had done many times in the past. It's seen better days, she admits, taking note of the creased tip and frayed ends from being kept in the pocket of her little jacket for so long.

A small wistful smile escaped her lips as she held the feather up against the light of a full moon.

"Argh!" The normally fierce Shipgirl covers her face with the inside of her elbow as she wonders what she was even doing in the first place. She stays like that for a moment, waiting for the warmth in her cheeks to finally subside.

Another Shipgirl bore witness to her former leader's out-of-character outburst, standing in the middle of the darkened room waiting for the right time to approach. But this wasn't the first time she had seen her former Flagship with her guard down like this, acting like some kind of lovesick maiden staring at the same weird feather she kept on her person all the time since her trip to the Eagle Union many years ago.

The sudden shaking of the window panes startled the former Destroyer as a strong gust of wind blew in from the open balcony door nearly knocking her over. The lavender haired Shipgirl shook her head, adjusting the strands of hair that had been blown astray. Upon looking back up, she had noticed her former leader on her feet, peering over the edge of the balcony, frantically whipping her head back and forth to and fro.

Now that was extremely out-of-character, she thought as she inched closer to the open balcony door, "Amiral Jean?" She called tentatively, expecting the former Vichy Flagship to reprimand her for spying on her when she thought she was alone.

"Le Malin?!" Jean quickly turned around, but not with an angry or furious expression, the former destroyer was expecting. Instead, a look of distress was plastered all over the Battleship's face.

All her internal warning bells went off, if she spoke up, something of great bother would befall her. It was probably better to turn around and act like nothing happened and just go back to her bed and sleep, something she loved doing very much.

"W…what's wrong?" Le Malin stepped closer, yelling at herself internally all the while, "did you lose something?"

Present time

"You made contact with frau Brooklyn?" Eugen confirms over the phone. "That's a relief," she looks over to Wales sitting across from Richilue and Cleveland at the center office table, giving her a silent thumbs up.

"Keep us updated if anything else comes up. We're sending another force to monitor the 'exit' so hurry on back," the Heavy Cruiser nods at the reply. "Good work… Nimi~," she goes to hang up the phone just as angry German swearing rang out from the earpiece before being cut off abruptly.

"Oh thank the Lord~" the Cardinal of the Iris forces held her cheek as she spoke, "when you told me about the situation, I was ready to give up hope."

"Don't discount our forces now," the shorter blonde leaned into Richilue's view, "Brooklyn may be our chief diplomat, but she's nothing to sneeze at. And she had Wichita and Biloxi with her."

"Oh dear," the Iris Flagship widened her eyes, "I didn't mean any offense, I was more worried that there had been Sirens involved somehow in this incident."

"Luckily there was not," Wales said as she took a sip of her tea, "at least that's what Massachusetts reported."

"Wait," Cleveland paused as she whipped her head around to the Royal Navy Battleship, "you said Massachusetts…"

"Oh…" Wales trailed off, "did I not tell you?" she asked, covering her lips with the tips of her fingers. "I'm afraid it slipped my mind, but she's arriving with Brooklyn later today."

"That's awesome news!" Cleveland enthused.

"Really now~?" Richilue hummed as her thoughts turned to her sister who seemed to be in a particularly bad mood when she saw her in the morning.

"Hmm?" The tomboyish Cruiser tilted her head at the Cardinal.

"Oh, it's nothing~" She replied with a smile, "just thought something interesting might happen soon."

"Brooklyn!" a jovial voice boomed in the distance.

Val watched as a Shipgirl with really long pinkish red hair lunged at her fiance, blushing at how little support her thin white tank top had on her ample chest. "I missed you~!" she cried.

"R-Ranger!" Brooklyn laughed as she was engulfed in a tight embrace.

The older Carrier peppered the Cruiser's cheeks with several kisses.

"S-stop~!" Brooklyn laughs harder as she tries to wriggle away.

"There's a rare sight!" A tall blonde Shipgirl with a complexion similar to Brooklyn and Val's own boomed as she landed on deck looking to join in the hug.

"Nevada, it's good to-", but before Brooklyn could finish, the Battleship's strong arms squeezed hard at the two Shipgirls.

Val stood off to the side watching Brooklyn and her friends contentedly when she noticed the Ayanami girl looking up towards the top of Brooklyn's superstructure. Tracing her gaze towards the top of the ship, she spots another Shipgirl, examining the damage Brooklyn had sustained in the earlier battle.

"Pretty nasty stuff huh?" Val said to the back of the ponytailed destroyer which didn't really get a response except for a tentative look back.

"If it did that to steel," Val pointed up at the damage, "I don't want to think what It could've done to me," holding up the singed tips of her hair, "I was this~ close to being vaporized."

"It is good to see that you are safe," the Shipgirl from above says as she lands back down next to Ayanami, who had retreated slightly behind the taller girl's shoulder.

"Still though, it is rather unfortunate that you had such a run in in the first place." she continues, looking back at the melted steel above. "I trust the experience wasn't too frightening?"

"A little bit," Val lets out a small chuckle as she clutches her elbow, "but luckily, I had the best escorts a girl could ask for."

"Those Eagle Union girls are quite something aren't they?" The shorter haired Shipgirl laughs in agreement before extending her arm out towards Val. "Forgive my rudeness. My name is Z23."

"Valentina, Val for short," she takes the Iron Blood Destroyer's hand stewing on her name for a moment, "Z23… Z23…"

"Hmm…ja?" Z23 tilted her head in confusion, "what seems to be the mat-"

"Nimi!" Val let out after putting two and two together from what Wichita told her yesterday, "You're Nimi right?!"

"W-w-who t-told you that name?!" The flustered destroyer stammered as her cheeks flashed a bright crimson, "My name is Z23! Z23!"

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Val tries to appease the irate Iron Blood, "I- I… just heard that from Wichita the other day and-"

Z23 shoots the red head an intense glare riddled with embarrassment, but what she saw only served to anger her further as Wichita was too busy holding her sides, doubling over in laughter.

Jean's languid footsteps carried her to the footpath just outside the Iris/Vichy dorms overlooking the port on a fairly steep hill. Squinting at the mid-afternoon sun after holding herself up in her room for most of the day, the former Vichy Flagship watches the bustling activity below her. The port was livelier than usual with a group of Shipgirls and Manjuu running around hanging streamers and banners along the light post.

'Were we supposed to be expecting someone soon?' Jean thought to herself as she got a closer look at the Shipgirls below. Cleveland and her sisters, she observed. 'Not surprising,' she thought as they were usually seen helping out with this base's various day to day functions. And leading their efforts it seemed, Helena looked the most frantic as her arms resembled that of an inflatable found on a used car lot, directing the Manjuu to and fro.

"That's right…" Jean murmured to herself after being reminded from watching the youngest Brooklyn closely, "the delegation from the Eagle Union…"

Rummaging around in her pocket, Jean tries to clench at the feather that used to be there. A long pained sigh escapes her as she silently curses her bad luck.

"Things are coming along quite well don't you think?" A familiar voice from the other night called out to her from behind.

"St. Louis… of the Eagle Union," Jean turns her head slightly, looking back at the busty blue haired Cruiser, who appeared to be carrying a crate of supplies under her chest, through the corner of her eye.

"You say my name like there's another." The side tailed bluenette teases as she steps beside the Battleship.

"Sorry," Jean turns her gaze back out at the girls below, "in the Iris, there is another by that name."

"Really~?" St. Louis enthused as she scooted a little closer, "I'd like to meet her one of these days."

Taking another glance at the Cruiser beside her, Jean huffs, "you two might get along."

"Oh~ speaking of the Iris," St. Louis adjusts the load in her arms, "were you able to find that feather from last night?"

"..." the former Vichy Flagship balled up her fist as she leaned forward resting on the short brick wall that lined the edges of the path.

"I'm sorry…" the blue haired Cruiser leaned into Jean's periphery, "but it seems like you weren't able to, huh?"

"Unfortunately, no…" Jean hung her head.

"I could always ask Helena to help look," she tries to cheer up the Battleship, "she's got a knack for finding things," St. Louis ends with a small chuckle.

"No!" Jean shot out before shirking back, "sorry, I wouldn't want anyone involved in a personal matter," she admits.

"Oh~ I didn't realize."

"And besides," Jean continues, looking back down at the girls below, letting her gaze settle on the youngest Brooklyn at the center of all the commotion, "she looks like she has enough on her plate as is."

After no reply, Jean felt a weird sense of self consciousness making her turn her head towards the Eagle Union Cruiser. A huge, almost goofy smile covered the busty Cruiser's face as she stood there grinning at her.

"W…what?!" Jean shouts as she turns her gaze away, feeling the burning in her cheeks.

"Oh~ it's nothing~" St. Louis sang out happily. "Just that you're such a good girl, despite how you appear."

"Ugh…" Jean starts to grumble to herself as she tries not to look the Cruiser in the eyes when a glint over the horizon takes her attention.

"Oh dear!" St. Louis squinted towards the water, "I have to get these down to Helena quick! I wasn't expecting them to be here so soon!"

Before she could say anything in parting, the head of blue hair disappeared down the path.

With her new acquaintance gone, Jean turns back at the ships that had just appeared over the horizon, her adept sight letting her distinguish the individual silhouettes.

'They really are back,' she notes to herself after identifying Nevada, Z23, Laffey, and Ayanami. Though the ships that followed right after them send a shiver down her spine as she's forced to recall events in her life she wishes she could just forget. Wichita; the mere sight of that obnoxious redhead made the Battleship's head pulse in annoyance. Ranger; while she really didn't have any qualms with her personally, her ego was still somewhat wounded from being so caught off guard by the Carrier's attack on her back during the war.

At the center of the formation was Brooklyn, someone who was also present for her decisive defeat at Casablanca, but she didn't particularly find any offense with her or anything. In fact she had a bit of a soft spot for the name ship of the Brooklyn class, partly due to her many dealings with the Eagle Union Cruiser. Jean would still owe a small debt to her for her role in brokering a deal between the split Iris/Vichy factions.

And lastly… Jean's eyes widened as her heart started to quicken. Glancing over quickly to the larger ships moored at the docks, specifically towards the Battleships, she could clearly see both South Dakota's currently stationed on this base, sitting idly, rocky gently in the calm port. It only lends to the answer as to just who was the Battleship on the horizon.

"Amiral Jean!" Le Malin calls from behind, "Richilue asked me to relay that le Commandant's delegate is arriving soon, and that your friend Massa-."

"I see that!" Jean Bart interrupts with a hiss, taking quick deliberate strides past the shorter lavender haired Cruiser.

"Miss Jean!" She calls out, "where are you-"

"To my room!" The irate Battleship storms off back up the Iris dormitory steps.

Le Malin flinches as the door to the dorms slam shut behind her former Flagship.

"It's our room…" she sighs. The redesignated cruiser deflates as she's at a loss about what to do concerning Jean and her current mood.

Massachusetts stood at the front of her bow taking in the nostalgic scenery of the Azur Lane Joint Base as the convoy slowly steamed into the harbor. It's been a while since she was moored along this place's docks, if she had to recall, at least a couple of years.

Looking over to one side of the harbor, the Battleship couldn't help but smile at the sight of her sister ships' ships lazily resting along the base's protected confines. Leaning back on the balls of her feet, she really couldn't wait one more minute to see her sisters in person again.

Scanning the numerous ships moored along the docks, she notices many flying different flags atop their masts. The elegant crest of the white cross of the Iris Libre rests proudly on top of one of the larger ships at one corner of the harbor. The Iris Flagship, Richilue, and the ship next to hers…

"Jean Bart…" Massachusetts tightened her grip on her railings feeling a similar tightness inside her chest.

No matter how much she surveyed all the girls gathered around the docks, her face was nowhere amongst them. With shoulders sagging, Massachusetts lets go of her railings, letting her arms dangle loosely at her sides. Maybe she was expecting too much, she did come here almost unannounced after all, but she also knew Jean wasn't the type of person to be in such a crowd. Looking further into the base, Massachusetts scans the buildings she could see. Straining her cheeks, the Battleship struggles to fight back a smile as she waves at the former Vichy Flagship watching from a balcony in the distance. Massachusetts laughs to herself as she watches Jean retreat suddenly inside the room.

Over on the Brooklyn…

Val marvels at all the ships lined up neatly along the docks, serenely floating on the bluest waters she had ever seen. Next to her, Brooklyn stood hugging at herself tightly, a foot tapping against the deck in rapid fashion. Val wanted nothing more than to reach out for her hand and squeeze it, but she knew she had to keep up with appearances, at least until Brooklyn could finally spill the beans.

Still, looking around, Val never expected a military base to be so colorful. Vibrant blues, deep reds, extravagant yellows and golds, clean and shiny silver, everywhere she turned was a feast for the eyes.

The sound of Brooklyn's foot tapping came to a sudden halt as they entered through the mouth of the port. Peeking at her fiance, Val saw Brooklyn, eyes wide and her mouth hung agape somewhat.

"What's up?"

"Huh? Oh…" Brooklyn snaps out of her stare as she chuckles slightly through her nose, a small nostalgic smile forming on her lips, "it's just…"

"What?" Val traces her gaze towards some large blue banners hung across the docks.

"Welcome Home Brooklyn!" Was what was said, emblazoned in a crisp white font.

"They really miss you huh?" Val laughs as she elbows Brooklyn in her side.

"Yeah…" the Light Cruiser's cheeks reddening from embarrassment, "that girl…"

"Hmm?" Val goes to press further when she catches sight of a crowd of girls waving from the docks. She takes a small step aside, distancing herself from Brooklyn slightly, holding back the urge to take hold of her hand. Val didn't need to take any chances, given just how eagle-eyed these Shipgirls really are.

Little tug boats arrived next to Brooklyn and the other ships, nudging them against their lower hulls. Ropes are thrown up to Brooklyn's deck as her own Manjuu ties them down. Peering over the edge, Val spots more Manjuu crewing the tugs, waving and coordinating with each other as they gently push each ship into their own dedicated spot in the port.

With her carry-on luggage in hand and her duffel bag under her arm, Val waited patiently for the gangway to be brought over to disembark.

"You ready?" Brooklyn asks Val as the metal platform clanks against her hull.

"I should be asking you that," Val giggles as she looks down at Brooklyn's foot rapidly tapping in place once again. "Well…" she trails, seeing a Manjuu give the all clear to disembark, "after you."

Taking a deep breath, Brooklyn steps on the metal gangway, carefully guiding Val down the steep platform.

Val swayed as her feet touched the dock, her body not used to being on solid ground after being at sea for a week.

"Someone's got their sea legs!" A familiar voice calls out to Val.

Looking up, she laughs, waving enthusiastically at Vestal approaching quickly from the far side of the dock with two more Shipgirls following behind her.

One she recognized immediately as none other than the Eagle Union's ace and the savior of humanity herself, Enterprise. This was the first time Val had seen the Big E out of civilian clothes as the only times she's ever interacted with the ace was taking her order back at the Cafe when she used to accompany Vestal on her visits.

The other though, while bearing a striking resemblance to the Eagle Union Ace, with white almost silvery hair, height, and bust size, carried herself completely differently than the Carrier directly beside her. An air of quiet dignity was about her as her small but quick strides kept pace with her companion's. Her peculiar maid uniform was as striking as it was beautiful, from the white grills to the plunging neckline with a chest that threatened to spill out with each step, to the interesting collar she wore with a broken chain attached that hung above her cleavage.

"Val! Brooklyn!" Vestal yells, almost tackling the both of them for a hug.

"Hey, it's good to see you again." Val laughs into the nun's shoulder as she returns the hug.

"I heard from Wales!," Vestal pulls back, examining the both of them quickly, "you're not hurt anywhere are you!?"

"We're fine," Brooklyn pats the shorter girl on her head, "but my ship took a grazing shot up near my bridge."

"Massachusetts looks like she took a helluva beating," Enterprise laughs as she catches up to Vestal.

The pink haired nun turned to look at the Battleship currently in the process of docking. Multiple scorch marks and numerous gouged out steel divots from failed penetrations and deflections were littered all over the Battleship's armored hull. "I swear!" Vestal huffs, puffing out her cheeks clearly peeved, "you two take absolutely no care do you?!"

"Ugh.." The Eagle Union Ace shirks back a little, regretting her decision to bring up Massachusetts's battle damage.

The silver haired maid next to her giggles quietly to herself, hiding her smile behind her fingers.

"Belfast!" Brooklyn greets happily, hugging the busty maid tightly, exchanging a few kisses on each other's cheeks.

"When we heard what you stumbled into," the head of the Royal Maid Corp said with her eyes shut, "we were all a little worried."

"You mean the Mirror Sea?" Val asks for clarification.

"Careful what you say~" Belfast peeks with one eye; a small smirk on her face, "those words have a profound impact on some in this base."

"Oh-!" Val quickly covers her mouth with her hands, "-sorry!"

"No worries," Belfast chuckles slightly. The maid grabs at the corners of her skirt before dipping her head in a little curtsey. "My name is Belfast, of the Royal Navy Maid Corp. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Valentina."

"Y… you know my name?" Val said wide eyed.

"My business is intelligence after all," the silver haired maid giggles, shooting a quick glance at Brooklyn.

"Still though!" Vestal says grabbing hold of Brooklyn's hands, "I'm so happy you're both here!" The pink haired nun bounces with excitement only pausing when she feels something on the Light Cruiser's finger.

Bringing the blonde's hand up to her face she moves her own hand aside to get a better look at what she felt. Vestal opens her mouth, just seconds away from a loud squee before Brooklyn places a finger onto her lips. Quickly having to suppress her glee, the Eagle Union repair ship bounces in place more fervently.

"Vestal?" Enterprise shoots out a confused chuckle, "what's with that? It's just a ring."

"Oh~ my little Enty…" Vestal turns to shake her head at the Eagle Union Ace.

"If you haven't figured it out by now…" the maid joins in on the head shaking.

"W…what?!" Enterprise shoots both her companions a confused look, "G-guys?!"

"It's okay, Enty…" Vestal sighs as she turns the Eagle Union Ace around by her shoulders, pushing her back towards the base.

"V-Vestal?!" Enterprise puts up little resistance as she allows herself to be pushed back down the dock. "Seriously? What is it?"

"It's nothing~" the nun answers in exasperation. "Let's go and say hi to Massachusetts. I've got a bone to pick with her," before turning her head back to Brooklyn, silently mouthing words of congratulations.

"Ah yes, Congratulations are in order, Miss Brooklyn, Miss Valentina." Belfast dips her head at the both of them, before parting with another curtsey. The maid quickly catches up to her companions passing by two other Shipgirls heading in the opposite direction.

Val watched as Brooklyn's stance stiffened, her foot beginning to tap before the Light Cruiser forced her leg to stop.

Getting a better look at the approaching Shipgirls, Val recognized them from the photos Brooklyn kept in her room. Feeling her body start to stiffen, Val couldn't help but laugh at herself for mirroring Brooklyn's reaction. But who could blame her? This was it. This was the moment she'd been waiting a long while for.

"Hey stranger," the Blue haired one waved teasingly at Brooklyn, who could only scratch at the back of her neck, letting out a culpable chuckle.

"H-hey Louis, Lulu…"

"Hmph," the twin tailed redhead huffed as she stayed looking away from Brooklyn.

"Lulu…" St. Louis nudged her sister beside her, "and you were so excited earlier too…"

"I-I was…n…" Honolulu stammered as her face quickly started to match the color of her hair, "Louis~" she whines, crossing her arms under her chest.

Val couldn't help but laugh a little, earning a quick glare from the Twin-tailed Cruiser.

"W-what's so funny?!" Honolulu spat out.

"Oh," Val takes a step back, kicking herself mentally for getting off to the worst possible start with her future sister-in-law, "I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't worry about it~" St. Louis steps up a little closer placing a hand on her sister's shoulder, before flashing a welcoming smile towards Val, "you must be the VIP Wales was telling me about."

"V-VIP?!" Val and Honolulu shot out simultaneously.

"N-no!" Val waved her hands out in front of her, "nothing like that! I'm just Brooklyn's f-" she catches herself from saying anything further.

"Hmm?" St. Louis cocks her head to the side.

"-Friend…"

"-Financial Advisor…"

Val and Brooklyn spoke at the same time, giving different answers.

"Oh?" St. Louis places a hand on her cheek as she exchanges looks between the both of them

"I-I'm her friend a-and advisor!" Val lied on the spot, sweating bullets with her hand extended for a handshake. St. Louis stood there, her eyes settling into hers, unmoving, like she was pearing straight into her soul.

"I see!" The bluenette beamed, smiling brightly once more.

Releasing a sigh of relief, Val wonders what it was she "saw"

"Any friend of Brooklyn is a friend of mine!" The Busty cruiser walks past Val's extended arm, choosing to hug her instead. "Welcome to Azur Lane!"

"Mmph…" Val tries to speak but her face is smothered between the Cruiser's chest. She could almost lose herself in how soft the Bluenette was, as if she was melting right into her being. Maybe it was the comfortable warmth or the lack of oxygen that began to lull Val into a state of near zen.

"O-okay sis…" Brooklyn taps St. Louis on her shoulder, gently trying to pry the two apart.

T-thank you for having me!" Val shouts out, her lungs taking in much needed air.

"Now~" St. Louis raises her arms out at Brooklyn, beckoning her for a hug, "c'mere sis!"

Like a stray kitten not knowing what to do, Brooklyn freezes up for a moment with her hands close to her chest like she was trying to prevent her own heart from spilling out. With a soft sigh, the blonde Cruiser slowly brings out her arms, mirroring her sister across from her. Before she knew it, Brooklyn was wrapped in a tight embrace, the warmth of one melding into the other.

'How long has it been?' Brooklyn thought as she nuzzled into her taller sister's shoulder, but the soft hand rubbing circles around her back put most thoughts out of her mind as she wrapped her own arms around her sister.

"We missed you…" Brooklyn could hear St. Louis say. Biting down on her lower lip, Brooklyn forces back any tears from forming in her eyes.

"Missed you guys too…" she replies after a long breath, a content smile on her face.

Val's heart warms at the sight as she rubs at her eyes, wiping away the moisture that started building up at their base.

Honolulu stays off to the side, nose upturned with her arms still crossed under her chest, watching from the corner of her eye. Val noticed how the crimson twin-tailed Cruiser fidgets in place slightly, transferring her weight from the balls to the tips of her feet.

"Brooklyn!"

Another voice calls from down the dock, a youthful energetic one at that, Val noted.

"Heeyyy!" A pretty cute blonde with long hair and a side tail waved enthusiastically. Her short skirt and adorable star spangled socks were a sharp contrast to her dignified cape that covered her entire torso.

Beside her was an entourage of other girls, one of which was that Laffey girl she had met aboard Brooklyn's ship earlier, and the others Val could confidently guess were most likely her sisters, but the girl to her right with the vibrant blue and pink hair, looking a little nervous was immediately recognizable to Val, she would never forget the person who found her buried amongst the burning rubble 13 years ago.

She approaches with her arms drawn close to her chest, her eyes quickly flicking away from Val's and Brooklyn's as their gazes meet, choosing instead to look downward near her feet which start to fidget as she comes to a stop.

"Haha!" The shorter boisterous blonde laughs with a toothy smile before stepping in front of Brooklyn, scanning her up and down, "how's it hanging!?"

"Cleveland!" The two blondes press their forearms against each other in a solid display of camaraderie, "Commander's been running me ragged lately y'know," Brooklyn forces a laugh.

"Sounds rough!" Cleveland lets out a sympathetic chuckle, "but that just means you could visit the Joint Base in his stead!"

"Among other reasons…" Brooklyn chuckles back.

"Sooo~," the shorter blonde tiptoed closer to Brooklyn's face, "how'd you like the decorations?!" Before sliding aside giving Brooklyn a clear line of sight to the girl behind her

The question earned a surprised squeak from the still fidgeting bluenette as she slowly looked up towards her oldest sister.

Brooklyn's expression was almost unreadable, Val noticed, watching as her fiance's hands clenched in and out of a fist trying to stop the slight trembling that had started to build up in them.

Honolulu's face grew more and more frustrated the longer she watched, morphing into one of anger, but before her irritation could spill over, Brooklyn took a few steps forward, stopping in front of her youngest sister.

"H-hey… Helena…" the two sisters struggled to maintain eye contact for more than a few seconds as they both fidget in place slightly, "y-you're looking good…"

Val kicked herself mentally from the cringing she was doing internally, 'what kind of greeting is that?!'

"T-thanks…" The bluenette forces a smile as an awkward silence fills the air.

Just when the tension was becoming unbearable, both girls felt a soft squeeze at their fingers. Looking down, they see Laffey holding on to one of their hands before letting go to hug at both their waists.

The sudden hug threw both off balance as they pressed up against each other. A brief look of surprise came over both of them, as they deliberately blink at each other. A small giggle erupts within Helena as Brooklyn mirrors her sister's reaction. Running their hands in each of the narcoleptic destroyer's fluffy twin-tails, Brooklyn and Helena share a laugh towards Laffey as she buries her face in the sides of their waists, as she hugs even tighter.

"T-those banners…" Brooklyn turns to look at the giant blue and white Welcome Home banner that stretched from one pier to the other at the mouth of the port, "I assume they're you're doing?"

"E-everyone helped too…" Helena looked away bashfully.

"I'm surprised we even still had those dusty old things laying around," Brooklyn placed her hand atop her sister's head, ruffling her hair lightly, "but you would be the one to find them," Brooklyn laughs warmly.

"Geez~" Helena pouts, looking through the tips of her bangs, her cheeks flushed a rosy color.

Honolulu's shoulders relax as her anger deflates, feeling someone lean against her, she turns to find St. Louis resting her head on her shoulder. The bluenette's face was filled with quiet satisfaction as she watched the sight unfold in front of them.

Resting her own head on top of her sister's, Honolulu lets out a deep sigh, letting her arms fall to her side, taking St. Louis's hand into her own.

Val has to turn away, unable to bear the warm feelings welling up in her chest for fear of those feelings spilling over in a visible display for all to see. Despite knowing how much Brooklyn loved her namesake and the people living there, she knew that right here surrounded by these people, Brooklyn was truly home.

The Eagle has landed, I repeat the Eagle has FINALLY landed!

Ah man, it's been a long time coming but Brooklyn and Val have FINALLY made it to the Joint Base. Maybe if it weren't for my slow updates...(I apologize)

Thank you to all who've read this far and please, if you have any feedback, I'd love to hear what you guys think