That night, Hara rushed home from work after I had left her a panicked message about my waltz with Falco. I also mentioned that Conna was a witness to all of it and also the reason why it even happened in the first place. Needless to say, Hara wanted all of the details.

"Honey, you look all shaken up," Hara said as she brought me a stiff drink. "What in the world happened?"

I downed my drink and before I could answer, Conna bounded into the living room.

"She really likes Mr. Falco," Conna told her.

I face-palmed myself. Hara was trying to hold in a laugh.

"It's bad when a ten-year-old can see through you."

"I don't even know how to feel…" I told her honestly. "It was a completely different vibe than the last time and… Gods, Hara… It was romantic… I don't even know right now…"

Conna sat in between me and Hara. "He totally likes her too. I caught them arguing like an old married couple while we were at the park. They had no idea that I was listening."

Hara's interest piqued. "My, my… Tell me all about it, sweetie. I want to know everything."

"Of course you do…" I groaned. "Look, it's not what you think. I know it looks like but-"

Conna stopped me. "Why can't you be honest with yourself?"

"Because there's no way that I'm falling for him! He's arrogant, self-centered, rude... He's just not my type."

"Do you even know what your type is, Skye?" Hara teased. "Between Falco and Wolf, they pretty much have the same qualities."

I was confused. "Wolf? What does he have to do with this?"

"Don't think I didn't hear you two talking when we busted him out of jail that night. He's into you."

"Hara, I know you're just being my friend and poking fun at me but it's seriously tiring… It's unnerving that you, Fox, Craig and now Conna are all on the same brain wave. Please just leave it be."

Hara raised her hands up in surrender. "Alright. I don't know what you plan to do with this triangle of yours but, if you really don't want to go for either one and stay in denial, you need to be prepared no matter what happens. Just keeping it real, Skye."

A few weeks passed without much happening. Conna decided that she was ready to go back to school. She seemed to adapt pretty well considering she had missed out on a year. She asked about Falco every few days or so but was always met with disappointment. She was set on getting me and Falco together somehow. I didn't know how to feel about that…

I threw myself into work to keep my mind off of it all. They were small missions so I didn't require an escort on most of them. I honestly didn't need an escort at all but Melissa insisted.

One night, Hara came home late to announce that a party that she had put together for work was short on staff and it was too late to try to replace them with others who could have possibly taken their place. She quickly turned to me and assured me that it would only be for the night and I could make drinks behind the bar with her. She had also told me that I would be getting paid for my work. I couldn't help but laugh at her panic. I, of course, agreed to do it for her. When she gave me the uniform, a feminine tuxedo short dress, I asked her what kind of crowd we were hosting. My stomach shrank at the answer.

A few days later, we went to set up for the party. Conna was in school for the time being and had assured us that she would be fine at home while we worked.

People began to flood in right at dusk. It didn't take long for Hara and me to get busy with men and women wanting to get a little tipsy. I noticed some of the military big wigs walk in, even General Pepper. Craig and Melissa had also shown up formally dressed. They both stopped by the bar to see me.

"Skye!" Melissa greeted excitedly. "We didn't know that you would be working this event."

"And I had no idea that you two were on the guest list," I told her as I made them some drinks. "I'm actually just filling in for the night."

"Are we expecting any other important people?" Craig asked, giving me a wink. I had already told him about the last encounter with Falco.

"I hope not," I snorted. "Especially after last time."

Just as I said that, I spotted Falco dancing with a gray and white cat. I nearly dropped the glasses I was holding. Craig and Melissa followed my gaze.

"Well, well," Craig mused. "He moved on quickly, didn't he?"

I shook off the shock. I didn't care. It's not like we were together or anything. And yet… The jealousy I felt was tangible. I shouldn't have felt this way about Falco being with another woman. I wanted to find out who she was and what she was doing with him. I was being protective and territorial over nothing.

"He's a grown man, Craig. He can do as he pleases."

"Are you not mad?" Melissa asked.

"Should I be?" I played it off well, I thought. Craig gave me a look that said that he wasn't buying my act.

He let it go without calling me out on my bluff. He put an arm around his wife.

"Well, my dear, we should let Skye get back to work."

"Of course." She turned back to me. "Have a good night, Skye. Just focus on you, okay?"

I gave her a nod and a smile and they took their leave.

It calmed down a while later. Hara and I got to the point where we just began to clean up and close down the bar. As I was wiping down glasses, Falco's new fling came over to see me. She was beautiful, to say the least, in a hardcore, tomboy kind of way. She had on a really tight, body-hugging, cocktail dress. It kind of made me uncomfortable to see her so confident in something so skimpy. I tried not to show my insecurity.

"So, you must be Skye Kell," she purred. "Falco has told me a lot about you."

I glanced up at her then went back to wiping my glasses. "And yet I know nothing of you."

She chuckled. "I apologize. My name is Katt Monroe. I used to run with Falco in the Hot-Rodders."

I stopped what I was doing then and gave her my full attention when she told me that. I smiled to myself at the ridiculous things I was thinking before now. Of course, she was an old friend of his. Of course, she was an old gang member of his. But that still begged the question of why she was here…

"Is something funny?" she asked.

I shook my head. "Sorry. I'm just… being an idiot." I held out my hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

She took my hand and gave it a quick shake. "Likewise."

"If you don't mind me asking, Katt, what brought you here tonight?"

"Falco invited me. I happened to be in town and there happened to be a party he had to go to. How did you end up working the bar?"

"My best friend's company usually organizes these parties. Her help canceled at the last minute."

Katt gave me a sly grin. "So you get roped into helping. That's rich."

"It has its rewards."

Just as I had said that, Falco strode over to meet up with Katt. Katt looked up at him, a mischievous gleam in her eye.

"Look, Falco. I seem to have found your new fancy. I have to say, I approve." She took a closer look at me. "Come to think of it, as pretty as you are, you kind of remind me of another certain fox…"

"That's enough, Katt," he scolded her. "She gets enough mocking from her friends. She doesn't need it from you too."

Katt ignored him. "Surely you can help me out, Skye. Give me a hint."

Hara wandered over at that point and stood next to me. "Is there a problem?"

"No, it's fine, Hara," I assured her. I glanced at Falco for a moment. He shook his head at me, silently telling me not to tell her of my relation to Fox. I turned my attention back to the feline before me. "If you speak of Fox McCloud, then yes, I'm his younger sister."

Her expression fell at the information I just gave her. "You're serious?"

"Why would I lie about that?"

She turned to Falco. "I see the appeal… Trying to taste the forbidden fruit, are we?"

She quickly stomped away. Falco shot me a dirty look.

"You couldn't keep your relationship to Fox to yourself, could you? Just once."

"She asked a question. I answered. Simple as that," I replied, matching his venom.

He took off at that. Hara put a hand on my arm.

"Are you okay?"

I gave her a nod. "Just fine. Now I know where he stands." I went back to cleaning glasses.

Hara kept pushing. "I know you're upset, Skye. You can talk to me about it."

I wanted to so badly… The way he talked to me just now, I couldn't deal with it. Not to mention Katt's comments about me being "forbidden fruit". It was obvious to me that she knew more about his feelings than I did. That didn't sit right with me at all… He could be honest with her but couldn't be honest with me? I was supposedly the woman that he likes but why not just tell me instead of giving me mixed signals? I was so irritated by it.

"Skye?" Hara prodded.

"We can talk about it later. I promise. Right now, I really just need to digest what just happened here."

Fox had called to check on me a few days after the party. Falco had told him about what had happened. Fox didn't want to know any details, he just wanted to see how I was feeling after it. I told him the truth, saying only that I didn't know how to feel about it. All of the mixed signals he was giving me was sending me into a whirlwind of emotions that I didn't know how to deal with. I wasn't prepared to deal with them. Fox understood and told me to call him if I needed anything. Even though I appreciated the sentiment, I definitely wasn't going to be calling him about my feelings.

I, instead, threw myself into work again, as I always did when I didn't want to deal with the problems at hand. When I arrived at Gilford, Craig was there to meet me. The look on his face told me that I wasn't going to like this next delivery.

"What did you give me now?" I questioned. "You look like I'm about to pummel you as soon as you give me the bad news."

"You just might." He came to my side and walked with me to my ship. "Peppy called in for supplies for the Great Fox. No one else is available to take it."

I groaned. "So I automatically get volunteered… Fantastic…"

"If I had any other choice, believe me, I would've taken it. I really don't want to keep putting you in uncomfortable situations with Star Fox."

"It would seem that it can't be avoided." I looked up at him as a thought hit me. "Craig, why aren't you with my ship over-seeing the packing?"

"I'm actually training someone to take my place. I can't be at this forever, Skye. Even you know that. I'm preparing for the inevitable. I've still have awhile to go but, just in case."

"I don't want to be here if you and Melissa aren't here. You can forget it. I'll sooner get a job with the military."

Craig chuckled at that. "It's reassuring to know where your loyalties lie."

I gave him a wink. "I'll never give you a reason to doubt it."

A few elevators later, we were in the bay where my ship was docked. Packing was finished and a bobcat was over at one of the posts doing some paperwork. I knew that he was the one that Craig was training in an instant. I didn't like the look of him, not one bit. Something about him was off.

"Ah, Leonard," Craig greeted his protégé. "I want you to meet our star employee, Skye Kell."

Leonard immediately came to me and shook my hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Kell."

"Please, Skye is just fine," I told him.

"Well, Skye, your ship is ready to go. I hope you have a safe trip."

I gave him a nod then shot a look to Craig. He gave me a nod telling me that he understood. As I walked to my ship, my gut was telling me that something was wrong and I needed to double check my ship. I shook it off, thinking that it was because I had a funny feeling about Leonard. I let it go and went on my way to the Great Fox.