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A Grey Ghost

Enterprise had learned long ago that she despised the ocean. It had taken so much from her. At first, it had been a bittersweet pain. Even after their older sister had been sunk, both she and Hornet had each other. That small comfort following Yorktown's sinking didn't last long, however. She had been devastated to learn that she had lost her only remaining sister. She was sure that the others in her fleet that day couldn't tell just how broken that news had left her. After all, she had to be strong, and put up a brave front. The next few months had been a whirlwind of activity, where it had seemed that she was needed in yet another part of the Pacific every waking hour of the day. 'Enterprise versus Japan!' That had been what the papers had touted it as. They were not too far off the mark, as it turned out.

Even as the new Essex-class carriers tasted salt, Enterprise could not help but feel angry and resentful, towards two of them in particular. Yorktown and Hornet, the carriers wearing her sisters' faces. The more logical part of her was grateful that she no longer shouldered the whole burden of the war by herself, but there was part of her that was still raw. It was obvious to everyone, really. Enterprise hadn't made much of an effort to hide her disdain for the two new carriers. Those first few days had been strained, and it only slightly improved afterwards.

She remembered the day when she had been confronted about the cold shoulder she had been giving the two carriers. To her surprise, it had not been either of the aforementioned ships, but one of the ships that had escorted her sister before her sinking. Northampton had clearly demonstrated that she held no reservations about criticizing the behaviour of the legendary Grey Ghost.

"Enterprise!" The ship in question turned, only to be presented with a face full of angry heavy cruiser. "Exactly what gives you the right to act this way?" Northampton demanded, squaring up to the carrier, not paying any mind to the whispers coming from those around them.

Enterprise blinked, taken aback. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Enterprise. Everyone's noticed the way you've been treating Yorktown and Hornet. What have those two ever done to you such that you feel it justified to essentially act as if they don't exist?" Northampton didn't let up, even as a scowl graced Enterprise's face.

Enterprise wasted no time firing back. "You don't understand, Northampton. How could you? Every time I look at them, I see nothing but the faces of my dead sisters! They're a constant reminder of my failure to protect those I held dear! So yeah, I think my behaviour's justified. I highly doubt you'd feel different if you were in my place!"

"So what, Enterprise? You're not the only one who's lost sisters, understand? Look around you! Everyone's lost someone, and yet they don't find it necessary to pretend others don't exist!" Northampton countered. "So what if those two are named after your sisters? Do you think the old Yorktown and Hornet would approve of the way you treat them, simply because of their namesakes? Personally, I would be furious at any of my sisters if they emulated your actions after I sank!"

Enterprise was livid. She had been angry before, but this was way beyond that. "How dare you! How dare you bring them into this! They're gone! My sisters are gone, and those two aren't!" She wrapped her arms around herself, hugging herself tightly as she fell to her knees sobbing. "M-my sisters are gone. I'm all alone." She paused as she felt a hand lightly touch her shoulder.

"Enterprise, I.." Northampton started, only for Enterprise to shrug her hand off.

"No! Stay away from me, Northampton!" Enterprise didn't spare so much as a glance over her shoulder as she fled back to her quarters, leaving a stunned Northampton behind with a gaggle of concerned bystanders.

Once she was safely ensconced in her quarters, with nobody around to see her, Enterprise allowed the floodgates to burst open. It was not long afterwards, maybe a week, that she received the news that Northampton had sunk. Needless to say, she had been shaken to her very core.

Looking back on it, there were many different ways she could have handled that situation. Of course, back then the loss had been too fresh, a wound too raw. She doubted that she would've had the peace of mind to react differently. Still, there was one thing she could do now, even if Northampton was no longer around to see her do it.

"Yorktown, Hornet." The two carriers looked up in a mixture of surprise and fear. The Grey Ghost was talking to them? Why? Why talk to them now, after spending such a long time denying they even existed? The rest of the cafeteria seemed to share in their surprise, if the looks being thrown their way were anything to go on.

"Yes, Enterprise? Is there something you needed?" Hornet risked a question, hoping that it wouldn't draw the infamous ire.

"Stand up, both of you." Sharing a look of bewilderment, Yorktown and Hornet nonetheless stood. They were not prepared for what happened next. In fairness, nobody present was.

Enterprise lunged towards them, wrapping her arms around both of them and pulled them close in what could only be described as a bear hug. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Her voice shook, tears falling from her cheeks to land on the shoulders of the other two. Her body trembled, and her knees threatened to buckle.

"I'm sorry I pretended you didn't exist for so long! I- I just needed some time, right? I couldn't bear to be around you! Please, don't leave me now! I see that I was wrong then. I thought that you were just a stark reminder of my failure! But all along, you weren't! You weren't, and I pushed away all I have left of my sisters in my grief! Please. Please don't leave me all alone again!"

Tears continued to fall from the carrier's eyes, only to be brought to a grinding halt as she felt two pairs of arms wrap themselves around her.

"Don't cry, Enterprise. There's nothing for us to forgive, is there?" Hornet softly told her.

"We're going to stick with you as long as we all live. Understand? Now wipe those tears away. They don't suit you." Yorktown added, a cheeky grin adorning her face.

Enterprise could only blink, mouth agape. Then, she could only cry harder, held in the embrace of those she had ostracized for so long.

"Th-thank you so much!"