Scarlett called Flint's cell phone, not wanting to chance Jaye answering the phone in their new house. She listened to it ring while standing next to Cover Girl.
Flint picked up the phone, casting a quick glance to make sure that Alison couldn't hear him. "Scarlett, everything ready?" He asked
"Yep just waiting on you to get momma out of there." Scarlett answered.
"She had to go to the bathroom again," Flint laughed, "And then we're leaving. Give us fifteen minutes to clear out."
Scarlett snapped her phone shut and grinned at Cover Girl. "Ok, we have the cake, the balloons, the food, the booze...anything else we need?"
"Did you get the sparkling cider for Allie?" Cover Girl asked as she looked over her list yet again.
Scarlett nodded. "Yep. No caffeine, no alcohol. Hmmm...we can't forget the tub of games. I don't know if the guys will get into them, but it's worth a shot. I wish we knew more girls we could have invited."
"Roadblock tried to get his girlfriend to go but she has to work today," Cover Girl said as she walked with Scarlett out to her car. "How did you manage to get Duke to pick up the cake for you?"
"Oh, I've got him whipped of course. I didn't give him a choice." Scarlett laughed and picked up one of the tubs. "Flint said the coast would be clear in fifteen. So let's go!"
"When are you going to let me properly break in this beast?" Cover Girl asked as she climbed into the passenger seat of Scarlett's brand new Mustang.
"Oh, honey, with the way you drive, it'll be a cold day you know where." She started the car, relishing in the smooth purr of the engine. The ride to Flint and Alison's new house was relatively short. They had bought a lovely old Victorian house that had been restored by its previous owners. Scarlett pulled into the drive after making sure Flint's SUV wasn't there.
"I just love this house," Cover Girl commented as she helped unload the car. "They were in the right place at the right time. Oh, and lookâthey put up the porch swing we bought them."
Scarlett nodded. "Enough room for all four of them." She laughed. "I can't believe I just said that. Can you imagine this house with two kids?"
Cover Girl joined her in laughter. "Can you imagine Dash and Allie with two kids?"
"Oh dear," Scarlett answered. "Do you think they'll be loud and arrogant like their dad or loud and boisterous like their mom?"
"Both."
Cover Girl unlocked the front door of the house and held the door open for Scarlett.
"Alright, the gang's supposed to arrive in one hour, and by then we need to have the decorations up." They set to work putting up both pink and blue balloons, streamers, and ribbons. In a short while, the house was festive and cheerful.
Cover Girl looked over their handy work. "Not bad."
"It's great," Scarlett agreed. The doorbell rang; the first of the guests had arrived. The girls greeted Bazooka and Alpine and commandeered them to help get drinks ready.
Bazooka almost dropped the glasses for the drinks several times.
Cover Girl shook her head at him with a smirk as she got some of the snacks ready.
"Alpine!" Scarlett admonished. "The sparkling cider does not go in the alcoholic punch! Allie needs something to drink." Alpine was saved from further wrath by the arrival of the next guests.
Shipwreck came in with Roadblock. Shipwreck was once again bragging about the woman he met the night before.
"Keep it up, Wreck, and we'll be throwing you one of these showers," Scarlett joked.
"Never." Shipwreck said shaking his head. "I'm responsible."
Cover Girl almost choked on the water she was drinking.
Hawk arrived next, followed shortly by Ace, Mainframe, and Ripcord. "Anyone else kinda weirded out by this?" The paratrooper asked.
"About what?" Cover Girl asked. "You coming to a baby shower?"
"No, about Lady Jaye having kids," Ripcord laughed. "Little G.I. Joes running around, ya know?"
Cover Girl shrugged. "I admit I was surprised."
"Well, someone has to start a second generation," Hawk said solemnly, scooping up a glass of punch.
"Hawk that's spiked." Cover Girl warned just as Beach Head walked in. "Now that is an odd sight."
"Of course it's spiked," Hawk answered. "That's why I took some."
Cover Girl looked at Beach Head. "What made you decide to come?"
Beach Head shrugged. "I figure Lady Jaye and Flint are doing all that reading and classical music stuff for the babies," he said. "I brought 'em something a little better." He held up a box containing a blow up plastic punching bag. "I painted a Cobra on it," he said proudly.
The room busted out with laughter.
"What?" Beach Head gruffed.
Duke called from his cell phone.
Scarlett chatted with Duke and called out to the room in general. "Anyone want to go on a rescue mission? Duke needs help with the cake."
"I'm going." Beach Head grumbled as he put his package down and ran outside.
"Uh, oh," Scarlett muttered. "He'd better come back." She shrugged and counted heads. Are we missing anyone? Flint will bring Allie here in about a half an hour."
"I think that's it." Cover Girl said. "Everyone else's gifts are in the back room."
"Let's get a couple of the games ready," Scarlett suggested. "Ripcord and Ace, could you two fill some water balloons?"
"What do you need water balloons for?" Ripcord asked as he caught the bag of balloons Scarlett threw at him.
"Not telling," Scarlett teased. "You'll have to wait."
"I'm not liking this already." Ace said as the two of them went off to fill up the balloons.
About 20 minutes later Scarlett's cell phone rang.
"What now?" She answered it with a terse "hello?"
"We're on our way back." Flint said softly. "As soon as she gets out of the bathroom."
Scarlett breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, but stall about ten minutes. Duke and Beach Head aren't back with the cake yet."
"I'll do my best." Flint said and hung up.
A few minutes later Duke's car pulled up, with Beach Head's in tow. Duke carefully opened the back and together they lifted a large box. "Did you have to order such a huge one, Scarlett?" he called.
"You could eat half of it yourself," she laughed. She carefully opened the cover and gasped. "That's not what it was supposed to say!"
"What does it say?" Cover Girl called from the porch.
Duke grimaced. "I know. They messed it up. It says, 'Congratulations Dallie and Ash."
Cover Girl burst with laughter.
Scarlett laughed. "Close enough. Let's get it set up, they'll be here soon."
"That's if Allie doesn't have to go to the bathroom 100 times," Cover Girl quipped.
Alpine shook his head. "I am so glad I will never personally have to have kids."
"Why?" Cover Girl asked teasingly. "Can't handle it?"
"No way," he admitted. "Not in a million years."
Flint's parents then walked up the street carrying several packages wearing bright smiles on their faces. Cover Girl and Scarlett went and helped them carry the presents into the house.
Bazooka had been on lookout, and now called that Flint and Allie's SUV had just turned the corner to their street.
Everyone got in their places.
Lady Jaye sat next to Flint in the SUV. She paid no attention to the familiar cars parked along the street a block away from their new house. They pulled into the driveway. "Can you help me out?" She asked Flint. She had trouble getting in and out of the vehicle for the past couple of weeks.
Flint suppressed a grin and pulled her out. "You'll have to start riding in the cargo space," he teased. They walked to the door, and Flint pretended to unlock it.
Lady Jaye smelled the Lilacs on her bush not paying attention to Flint.
Flint opened the door and gave a big wave to the friends he knew were hiding behind various pieces of furniture. He could see Bazooka's legs sticking out from under the coffee table.
"Allie, come on in," he called loudly. "Let's get you something to eat."
"Yes I'm starving." Jaye said as she walked in the house. She noticed the decorations a split moment before everyone jumped from their hiding places.
"SURPRISE!"
Jaye jumped slightly not expecting this but there was a huge smile on her face and she turned to Flint. "Is this why we went shopping?"
Flint laughed. "Well, that, and I wanted to get that cute little pink dress I saw last time."
Beach Head called out, "Oh, man, he's buying pink dresses now! We've lost him!"
The room filled with laughter.
Cover Girl walked up to the parents to be and hugged them. "Congratulations."
They were nearly overwhelmed with well wishes as each person came up to give them their best.
Jaye went over and sat in the overstuffed recliner feeling a bit overwhelmed. "This is so nice you guys."
Flint's mother brought her a glass of water after giving her a rather crushing hug. "My son thought of the whole thing," she said proudly. "But those two did most of the work." She pointed at Scarlett and Cover Girl.
"They are my best friends." Jaye said then took a drink. "My family."