Kayo slung her jacket over the back of her chair as she sat down opposite Rigby in a cafe back in the warmth of the nearest country they could get to, she smirked at him and he raised an eyebrow as he stirred his coffee.

"Am I stirring wrong?"

"No, it's just you have no idea how privileged you were to pilot Shadow today."

"Well, Havoc did steal my bike, I didn't have a choice."

"It's a good thing she stole yours, otherwise we could be in a serious predicament right now. She would have access to my ship, and I'd blame you for it."

Rigby laughed, "ouch."

"So, how did you wind up in all of this then?"

"With the GDF? They needed a soldier, but other than that they just wanted someone on the front line."

Kayo nodded, "I see. As for me, I'm just IR's covert ops girl. I don't do much along the lines of rescues, I provide kicks."

"Are you family or is there more to it?"

"You are digging there, I'm afraid I can't tell you. They're all family but I'm different."

"Say no more, it's your business. You and John seem close though."

"Oh no, no not like that at all. We see each other as siblings."

"Ah. Have you come up against Tedford before?"

"On multiple occasions. The first time was on an asteroid around the sun with my youngest adopted brother, then Virgil and Gordon who you haven't met yet rescued him from an underwater tanker, and he almost blew an operation I was spying on with the... Hmm, I probably shouldn't say."

"The GDF?"

"Yes, but I was only keeping an eye on our agents making sure they were okay. Long story short, if there's a stupid mistake or unexplained problems, Ned is usually behind it. He was fine today if it hadn't been for that plant theft."

"Yes. That was a weird assignment. Is Ned okay now?"

"He'll be fine. The storage facility is safe, the locks are changed and double encrypted so I doubt Havoc will try the same trick again."

Rigby looked around to the counter, "I'm going to order a muffin, do you want anything?"

"I'm alright thank you."

Back at the storage facility, Ned had found a tiny flower pot which Gladys II could grow in, he smiled as he sprayed her with water and then sat down at his desk to monitor the seed containers, there was a beep from his type light and he answered it.

"International Rescue, you're usually not the ones to call people?"

John chuckled, "we make exceptions. How is baby Gladys?"

"Strong thank you, it'll be a while until she's a grown plant but I think I'll let her live normally with other plants instead of my companion."

"Really?"

"Yeah, she deserves that."

"Do you want that?"

"I do, holding that pot got me some good jobs but it also made it hard to do jobs properly."

John smiled warmly, "well, you're doing a great job at seed organising," he turned at a beeping. "Excuse me, another call."

"Of course, thank you for today."

John pressed the call button to the island and looked down on Scott pacing the lounge whilst the sounds of his other older brother playing the piano drifted from the other side.

"Scott, you look troubled?"

Scott looked up at John's portrait, "I'm just wondering where Kayo is."

John ran a hand through his hair, "she's umm, with Captain Rigby."

"What?" And in the background, Virgil laughed which made Scott frown. "What is she with him for?"

"They get on well. I mean she's getting to do covert ops with him."

"But, she...it doesn't matter. When is she back?"

"Whenever she feels like it Scott, just leave her alone. You know she loves you," Virgil rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Virgil, I swear, I will throw you off the stool in a second."

"Oh you can try, but you won't succeed."

John laughed, "she'll be home soon I'm sure. I've tracked her location and she's in Canada."

"Odd."

"Well, we were near the North Pole. Easier to go somewhere populated," John shrugged.

"Yeah, I guess so," Scott sat down on the sofa resting his hands on his knees tensely. "How was the mission?"

"It was interesting. We met Ned again but this time he was in control, he knew exactly what he was doing and he really helped us out actually. Sadly he lost Gladys."

Virgil smiled, "that plant has certainly been on some adventures."

"I'll say," Scott nodded. "Well as long as it was successful."

"FAB," John sighed. "Onto the next one I guess."

"We'll catch up with you later John, you look exhausted."

"FAB. Out for now."

Virgil left the piano and walked down the steps to join Scott, "don't worry about Kayo, she wouldn't leave you for Rigby."

"I know, but she's spending a lot of time with him."

"They only work together. Nothing more."

"Thanks, Virgil."

Kayo and Rigby left the cafe and he kissed her cheek, she chuckled and programmed Shadow to wait for her as she got onto the bike, Rigby watched her and she tutted.

"Come on, I'll give you a lift somewhere."

"Thanks. Could you drop me at the nearest GDF base, please? I need a bike."

"That you do, hold on tight, I'll leave the roof off."

"It'll be a tight squeeze."

"Then don't breathe," Kayo smirked as she felt him get on the bike behind her. "Hold on."

They drove out to Shadow and a flier was there to meet them after Rigby decided to ask to be picked up, Kayo locked her bike into her ship then said goodbye to Rigby before taking off immediately to get back to the island, she clicked the call button to the lounge and sat back against her chair to wait for Scott's wrath, she was more than surprised to see Virgil instead.

"Hey, Virgil."

"Hi Kayo, where are you then?"

"Oh my way back from dropping Captain Rigby off, I should be home in under an hour. Where's Scott?"

"Sulking somewhere. Oh, don't look at me like that, you know I what I mean."

"I'll look at you however I want," Kayo winked as Virgil laughed. "Let him know I'm almost home."

"Will do. Safe flight."

"FAB. See you at home."

Later that day Scott walked into the lounge where Kayo was sitting with Gordon, he gasped happily and jogged down the steps.

"Kayo!"

Kayo looked up at him with a smile and stood up to hug him tightly, "hey."

Scott kissed her head then wrapped his arms around her, "I thought you weren't coming back."

"Of course, I'd come back."

Gordon stood up, "I'm going to get a drink."

Scott watched him go, "are you okay Kayo?"

"I think I should be asking you that. Do you really think I'm seeing Rigby?" Kayo pulled away from him slightly.

"No, it's just," he sighed at her expression. "You have been seeing a lot of him."

Kayo sat down with him, "sweetheart relax, I'm not seeing him. We're colleagues and nothing else. You think I'd choose him over you?" She smiled as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Never."

Scott smiled back as he stroked her leg, "dealing with giant plants today were we?"

"Uh-huh," Kayo leant back in Scott's arms. "Saw the end of Gladys, stopped Havoc and took a slide down some chambers to escape gas, you know, your everyday mission."

Scott chuckled, "as long as your safe."

"Always am when I'm surrounded by family, I'm glad John was there with me."

"You'll always have family around you Kayo."

"Thanks, that makes me feel better. At least EOS is working again now, and Ned got to keep his job looking after those seeds, it's definitely a great place for him to work."

"Because he stays out of our way?"

"No I genuinely mean it, he enjoys it and all he has to do is monitor seeds. Well, I'm going for a swim, care to join me?"

"Sure, why not?"

Meanwhile, on the Chaos Cruiser, Havoc and Fuse were talking to the Hood as they made their way to their underground hideaway.

"My niece is constantly trying to stop me, the only real way to get stuff to me is by preventing her from doing anything."

"Boss, are you saying we, stop her?"

"If that's what it comes down to."

Fuse smirked, "I like this."

"We'll keep focused on the mission for now but next time IR and blondie come along we'll be ready. We promise boss," Havoc smirked.

The Hood smiled, "it's nice to have a team who actually follows my orders for a change. Of course, I still want to break him out, so, for now, that's what we focus on as well as the little extras," he laughed menacingly and the cruiser flew down towards the mountains.