5:00 A.M., Great Fox, Fox's room

REEEEEE, REEEEEE, REEEEEE!

"Ergh…fuck. Ehh…where's my gun?" The tan vulpine reached around his night table but couldn't find his pistol. He settled on throwing his alarm against the wall. To his dismay, it didn't break.

"I hate that goddamn' thing," Fox McCloud grumbled, wiping the sleep from his eyes. His sleep schedule wasn't easy. As the leader, he took charge of most things, including staying up late to run diagnostics and maintain the ship, and waking up early to prepare all the systems generally used for the day. 11 to 5 sucked, plain and simple, but he was used to it though. There was a way he could've made his sleeps a bit more "comfortable", but he was too shy, and she was too beautiful.

"Sigh. A guy can dream right?" Fox asked himself.

His sub conscious responded. "Bud, you can make that dream a reality. You know with her nature, she'd probably say yes."

"Are you drunk? What would a beautiful blue angel like Krystal see in me? Sure we're friends, and even teammates. But we couldn't be in a relationship. I'm a mercenary for Christ's sake. Not a great life to share with someone like her."

"She's a merc too. Or have you forgotten she flies and shoot the same ships and guns as the rest of you? Like you said, you guys are workmates. Besides, you saved her life on Sauria, and you've shot God knows however many scum that have been on her tail during dogfights. Remember, like in Katina, the Asteroid Field, Corneria,-"

"Ok, ok. Lemme' get in a shower, and I'll think about it."

"About time. This was ..what's the word? It means like…something definitely happens in the future, or somethin' like that?"

"…Inevitable? You mean inevitable?"

"Maybe. I dunno. I don't really… words. But yeah, you really need to give it a shot. We're docking today for vacation right? There's a good opportunity. Be creative."

"Ok, sub-conscious. Tell ya what. You back me up when I talk to her, and I'll do my best to treat us both to some unbelievable excitement."

"It's a Deal."

"Now, I just really need a shower to wake up." Fox ended his conversation there and went to his personal bathroom. He hopped in the shower and spent a good 15 minutes inside. He didn't only clean up in there; he spent some of the extra time to relax in the warm water, really allowing himself to wake up. Fox didn't use regular soap. He instead washed his entire body with shampoo, and cleaned his claws with a little bit of bleach and special claw cleaner. It took him 5 minutes to completely brush his fangs. Instead of a towel, he used the heater and a blow dryer to get his fur dry quickly. Whatever was left, he would always just shake out like any canid creature. It was something he learned from his father, much to his mother's chagrin. He walked over to his closet and grabbed his boxers, a black shirt, green pants, boots, gloves, and his traditional khaki jacket. Fox left his room and walked to the kitchen, the quiet sound of his boots echoing quietly down the metal halls.

He started cooking some breakfast and became distracted by the smell. Thick, creamy batter crackled softly on the hot skillet as the unmistakable aroma of pancake batter engulfed the air in the kitchen. "Nothin' like home-cooked pancakes..." Fox paused and looked sad, then formed a smile. "Never could make 'em as good as you…Mom" Fox felt his eye moisten, but he simply blinked it away.

"I wish you were here. You could help me at least know what to say." No matter how many lives he'd taken, invasions he'd stopped or killers he had himself killed, Fox still had the heart of the noble soldier, and the memories of his folks got to him once in a while.

"Looking at you, she must have been the most beautiful woman ever, huh?"

Fox was startled and turned around. "Jesus, Krystal. You scared the hell outta me."

"Oh. I'm sorry Fox. I figured you probably knew I had come in." Krystal stood leaning on the doorway. She was clad in a black tank top, white sweats that dragged on the floor, and she stood barefoot. She didn't have any of her jewelry on. She still looked great though.

"It's ok." Fox looked at her from her bare feet to her tired eyes. "You just wake up?" Fox poured some more batter onto the pan.

"Gee, how'd you know?" She giggled and yawned. "Pancakes huh? Mmmm. You haven't made those for a while. Could you make me a few? Pleeaase?" Krystal made a puppy face.

Fox smiled. "I can't say no to that face. Sure thing. Four good?" Fox started flipping some cakes.

"Hey dude, could you make it eight? I haven't had your pancakes for a while either."

"Hey me too, buddy. You haven't made those pancakes in like…forever."

Fox chuckled and added to the batter. "Morning Falco. Morning Slip. I guess now I know the actual reason you guys let me remain as captain."

Falco snickered. "That's right, Foxy! You know it ain't ur flyin'. Even Slip over here has got you totally out-classed. We keep you around principally to make 'goggles' over here look good."

The three laughed at the remarks. Fox laughed at himself too, then felt a little better when he "accidentally" flipped a pancake too far and onto Falco's face.

"Huh. Better aim with a spatula than a gun. Only proves my point, buddy," Falco remarked, grinning.

Fox grinned right back. "Ya know Falco, that pancake reminds me more of a cluster bomb than a bullet. You took the cake on the beak, but all the little drops of syrup keep dripping on your fly. Hehe."

The blue Avian blushed and looked straight down. "Er..I'll be right back." Falco got up from the bench and started waddling back towards his room. Back in the kitchen, the two foxes and the toad continued giggling.

Fox finished up grilling and walked over to the table with three plates. "All right then. Four for me, four for Slip, and four for the lovely lady." Krystal giggled at the compliment.

Slippy and Krystal ate with a lot of pleased humming all throughout the meal. After he finished up, Slippy looked over to Fox. "Well dude, it's 6:30 in the morning. Ya want me to get started on the arrival course. That way we'll have a lot of time to settle in and enjoy the day. Waddya say?"

Krystal chimed in. "Please Fox? We haven't had any time together on land since the last time we went to Sauria, and that was on assignment!"

Fox smiled. "Sure thing. Slip, go get things set up. I hope Peppy's awake when we get there." Since the aparoid invasion had been defeated, Peppy held to his promise and finally retired from StarFox. He had since gone to serve as the newest primary instructor to young pilots at Corneria's Aerial Academy. He still remained in consistent contact with his old teammates.

"You got it, Cap'n. You two should get packed. We'll be there in about two hours. In the meantime, I'm gonna set the course. And Peppy'll be awake by then, but he'll be on duty just so ya know. All right guys, later." The amphibian hopped out of his chair, now swollen with pancakes, and started walking towards the main deck. "Oh and thanks for breakfast Fox."

Krystal picked up her plate and walked to the sink. She washed it real quickly and stood aside as Fox came up and did the same. She smiled at him. "I agree with Slippy, that was delicious. Thanks for breakfast, Fox."

"Anytime Krystal. Always happy to get good feedback." He finished washing the plate and looked at her. "Damn", he thought, "don't come any more beautiful than that." The vixen in front of him may have had a very unusual fur color, but in Fox's mind there was no girl he knew that out-classed Krystal in any way. She was simply the most beautiful, wisest, bravest, most open, sweetest girl he had ever met. The fact that she was a hell of a pilot and could do her share of kicking ass were just really attractive bonuses.

All the while Fox was scanning Krystal, Krystal simultaneously reflected on her Captain and wingmate. "Damn", she thought, "none come even close to as handsome as that." He was a really impressive vulpine. On foot or in the air, he was one of the most lethal mercenaries out there, but had the most courageous and kindest heart of any being alive. His fiery determination and adaptive ability to kick some ass were just really admirable bonuses. She coyly gave some attention to his rear. It took a lot of restraint throughout their friendship not to give that butt a pinch; she simply loved it.

"She has the most beautiful emerald eyes. I could look at them for hours."

"He has such beautiful green eyes. So powerful, but very comforting."

"Sexy curves, lovely hair, most beautiful smile…"

"Gorgeous body, cocky smile, that shining coat…."

The two noticed at the same time that they were daydreaming and staring and quickly pulled their faces away. Both were blushing so hard they looked like they had sprouted red fur. Fox, still feeling awkward, turned around to face Krystal as she did the same.

Fox cleared his throat. "Ahem. Um..Krystal, what was that you were saying a few minutes ago, about us having some time together or whatever it was you said?"

Krystal's blush grew miraculously even more visible. "Oh!.. Uh… well… we just haven't really had a chance to hang out outside of the Great Fox, just the two of us I mean, since we were on Sauria. And like I said earlier, we were only there because we had a job to do. So I thought we could spend some time together alone, if you'd like."

Fox's sub-conscious mentally kicked him. "Dude now! This way too perfect!"

Fox immediately heard the message and got ready. "Actually, Krystal, I'd love to do that. But uh…instead of just hanging out, I've kinda been thinking lately, and I was wondering if tonight, maybe you and I, we could uh… ya know…" Fox was sort of losing his placement of words and couldn't think of the best way to say it.

Krystal looked at his confused expression, feeling the same. "Yes, Fox?" She asked, curious and still confused.

Fox asserted himself. It would have to come one way or another. "Krystal? Would you like to go on a date?" As soon as he finished, he shut his mouth tightly, as if trying to capture what had already escaped his voice. He stood, waiting for the answer. "Oh God what if she says no. What was I thinking? Oh man I'm screwed, I'm screwed, I'm screwed, I'm scr-!"

"Fox…" Krystal's response had a bit of a concerned sound, like when someone wants to say no but wished they didn't have to. "Shit. Well I guess I tried."

Fox blinked his eyes and looked at her with a curious expression. "Yeah Krys'?"

Her face, devoid of readable emotion, transformed into a big smile. She ran over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. A large sweat drop formed to the side of Fox's dumbfounded face.

Her eyes met with his and she answered. "I'd love to, Fox!" She closed her eyes and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "I need to get a bit more dressed. Let's pick this up at oh say…five?"

The words eventually found their way out of Fox's mouth. "Uh..Y-Yeah! That'd be fine with me."

"Great! See you later, then!" She ran off to her room, leaving Fox standing in the middle of the kitchen, that is, before he fell straight to the ground, grinning ear to ear with his eyes opened wider than ever before.

Back at Krystal's room, she opened the door calmly and went inside, closing it behind her. She leaned against the door and let out a smooth exhale. A quiet silence hung about her room. Suddenly she buried her face into her clenched hands and let out several girlish squeals of delight. She was as overjoyed about the evening to come as Fox was. She pulled off her sweats and threw them in her laundry basket. They were replaced by a pair of light jeans that came to the middle of her calves. She buttoned her pants, put her jewelry on, slipped on her ankle socks and put on her black almost knee-high boots. Fortunately the heel was only about an inch so they were much more comfortable than regular boots. She put on a khaki jacket just like Fox's but with a more womanly design. She too had a large smile on her face and fell back on her bed, fantasizing about the night later on, while, in the kitchen, Fox lay on the floor with similar daydreams.

They both thought at the same time. "This'll be a night to remember."