It was a rather boring day so far on Freedom Trail in Boston. Half the ships were falling asleep and the other half were gazing sleepily at the city. USCGC Eagle sighed. None of her cadets were scheduled to go out anywhere today and they were relishing the time to rest but at the same time, crew morale was dropping with the lack of activity. The barque cutter needed to figure something out and quickly.

"Connie, you have any ideas?!" She asked the ship in front of her.

Constitution was facing her and the old frigate yawned hugely before replying "Let me think..." Her kaleidoscope eyes turned bright amber as an idea struck her. "Fall in all of you!" She roared.

All the cadets moved from their berths and fell into a straight line.

"Report?" Constitution ordered, eyes sweeping down the line.

"Ma'am! All present and accounted for ma'am!" replied the lead cadet.

Constitution nodded, shaking free her mooring lines so she could sail up and down the line. Satisfied by what she saw she ordered "Marching formation!"

All the cadets fell into single file. Eagle took a position in front of them and Constitution just ahead of her. "Forward, sail!"

The procession of sailing ships moved forward. As was tradition, to keep up a rhythm Constitution struck up a sea shanty.

"Sailing over the Dogger Bank now wasnt it a treat?
The wind was blowing east north east we had to give a sheet!
You ought to us runin the winds ablowin free
On a passage from the Dogger Bank to Great Grimsby

Watcha twigger shes a proper jubby-jewel,
Give er the sheet and let her rip with the boys to pull her thru!
You ought to seen us runin the winds ablowin free
On a passage from the Dogger Bank to Great Grimsby!

The captain hes a shang a roosh and he loves a pint of good ale.
Our mate he's a roadstone-inspector, hes been seen in many a jail
I heard my knees a bush ranger he comes from the African Isle.
And take a look at our old cook it gets the bugger wild!

Watcha twigger shes a proper jubby-jewel,
Give er the sheet and let her rip with the boys to see ya thru!
You ought to seen us runin the winds ablowin free,
On a passage from the Dogger Bank to Great Grimsby!

Watcha twigger as down the street she came.
High heels, and painted toes, Jennys on the game.
Jenny is apart of them flash girls, cant she cut a shine?
She can do a double shuffle on the knickerbocker line!

Watcha twigger shes a proper jubby-jewel,
Give er the sheet and let her rip with the boys to see ya thru!
You ought to seen us runin the winds ablowin free
On a passage from the Dogger Bank to Great Grimsby!

We are the boys who make a noise when we come home from sea.
We get right drunk and roll on the floor, we have a jubilee.
We get right drunk and full of beer, we roll all over the floor,
And when our rent is all spent we go to sea for more.

Watcha twigger shes a proper jubby-jewel,
Give er the sheet and let her rip with the boys to see ya thru!
You ought to seen us runin the winds ablowin free
On a passage from the Dogger Bank to Great Grimsby!"

They made a lap around Boston harbor before heading for the open sea.

"Constitution, I don't think this is wise." Eagle said.

"USCGC Eagle, fall in." Constitution ordered.

Eagle did so, coming up on her leader's port side.

"Now what's on your mind, Cutter?" Constitution asked.

"Permission to speak freely ma'am?" Eagle asked.

"Always." Constitution looked at her.

"I don't believe that sailing into open waters is in your best interest ma'am. A ship your age, well, to put it quite frankly ma'am your condition is too fragile for it." Eagle admitted.

"Is that all?" Constitution asked her.

Eagle nodded. "Yes ma'am."

"Eagle, I may be an old ship but I think I know what I can and cannot take by now." Constitution said.

"But ma'am..."

"That will be all Eagle!" Constitution's tone was still calm but with an icy undercurrent to it. Her eyes turned dark brown in warning.

"Aye ma'am." Eagle saluted and fell back in behind her.

The group sailed down to Virginia, doing firing exercises and other drills along the way. Constitution decided to put in at Norfolk before heading North. She had Eagle give out berth assignments to the cadets and ordered her to get some rest. Constitution was planning on doing the same but first, she would check in on an old friend.

...

Wisconsin was curled up, fast asleep at her berth. Constitution couldn't help but smile at the cute sight she made. The old frigate squeezed in beside her. She was careful not to wake the battleship, Wisconsin looked like she needed the rest. Constitution tipped her head back, stretching her neck muscles. They ached like everything else did but Constitution ignored the pain as she slowly stretched herself out as they cooled down. Wouldn't do to have cramps in the morning. That was never fun. She tried to stay awake but her own exhaustion eventually overcame her and she fell asleep beside Wisconsin.

When Wisconsin woke in the morning she was surprised to find a black hull beside her. She'd gone to sleep alone hadn't she? Though it wouldn't be the first time she'd forgotten "certain activities" she'd engaged in the night before. She was pretty sure that wasn't the case this time though. The ship was small, a quarter her size. She looked fit too, lean muscles rippled as she twitched in her sleep. She had a nice long prow and 3 mast were raked down the center of her back. Wisconsin did a double take. Her sleepy brain was having trouble catching up but she knew she'd seen this ship before, then she remembered.

"Connie?!" She cried happily.

Constitution mumbled something and rolled against her in her sleep, stretching out. Wisconsin smiled. "Rise and shine sleepybow." She teased.

"Ngh, five more minutes." Constitution mumbled.

Smirking, Wisconsin decided to follow through with the prank she'd had planned 20 years ago. Sucking in a mouthful of water she sprayed it all over Constitution. The frigate yelped and leapt upright with surprising speed.

"Fuck what was that for?!" She cried.

"Ah, just following through with an old prank." Wisconsin smirked.

"Oh really? How do you know you haven't just started a prank war?" Constitution shot back.

For a few seconds the two ships stared at one another. Wisconsin snapped first.

Laughing she said "It's good to see you Connie." She embraced her friend. "What are you doing way down here?"

"Staging a rebellion." Constitution laughed. "Was in the area and thought I'd pop in and say hello."

Wisconsin chuckled. "Wouldn't have thought you as the type." She said.

Constitution winked. "I've missed you up there." She said. "It can get boring some days."

"This place isn't exactly a fun house either." Wisconsin replied.

The two ships sat there exchanging stories for the next hour before Eagle came by.

"There you are ma'am. We're ready to go if you are." She said with a quick salute.

"At ease, Cutter." Constitution replied. "I'll be there in a minute."

"Ma'am." snapping another salute, Eagle left.

"Got your own little fleet to lead now hmm?" Wisconsin asked.

"Only a small one." Constitution allowed.

"Stay out of trouble?"

"No promises."

Wisconsin chuckled. Then she did something that neither ship expected. She leaned forward and kissed Constitution. The frigate was surprised but that only lasted a second. She returned it eagerly.

"What was that for?" Constitution asked.

"In case I don't see you again." Wisconsin replied.

"Of course you'll see me again." Constitution laughed.

Wisconsin shrugged. "They might not let you out of the harbor again." She said.

"Let me. Oh this excursion was completely independent of what they want. I'll be in trouble for it no doubts but it was worth it." Constitution shrugged.

This time she was the one who initiated the kiss. "I will see you again." She promised, caressing Wisconsin's face, memorizing every detail. Then she was gone, leading her procession of ships back out into open seas.

...

4 years after this incident, Wisconsin died at her berth in Norfolk. A funeral was held for her there and Constitution sailed down there to attend. She'd traded her white sails in for a black set to signify her mourning. A black silk veil hung over her prow, obscuring her eyes though everyone knew they were black.

Taps was played as the procession of ships, led by Eagle, filed in with the casket. A folded up flag was handed to Constitution. The old ship was surprised as it should've been the next of kin who would receive it. New Jersey was next to Connie.

"She wanted you to have it. She told me so." The healer murmured.

Constitution nodded and took the flag, dipping her head to the amphibious ship who'd handed it to her. She recognized her as the San Antonio-class New York. New York saluted, Constitution returned it and she backed away. The frigate winced, clinging to New Jersey as the 21 shots were fired. The healer pressed against her reassuringly.

...

Returning to Boston exhausted and grief-stricken, Constitution only shared a brief word with the sentry before docking. She promptly curled up and went to sleep. "Never again." She told herself. "Never again will I love another ship." She'd opened her heart to Wisconsin. The first ship in 130 years to approach her and Constitution had taken the bait. Mortality tasted bitter in her mouth. For not the first time but certainly the first in a while, Constitution wanted to die.

Around 3 in the morning, the ship woke from her restless slumber. Stowed in one of her holds, deep where no one could find it, was a sword. It belonged to one of her earliest captains, she could no longer remember which, but she took it out nonetheless, rigging gripping the hilt as she turned the blade towards herself. One blow, one blow and it would be all over. All her suffering would end.

Then she remembered something Wisconsin had said to her, 20 years ago in this very spot. "Promise me you won't do this again." "I promise."

Constitution lowered the blade setting it down on the dock. She couldn't break her promise to Wisconsin. Lowering her head, the old ship proceeded to cry her grief away. She would cry until it all went away. She would cry until the pain was manageable enough for her to toughen up. But she could never move on. Like her sisters, like dear Monitor, a ship she'd come to see like a daughter, Wisconsin would always hold a special place in what remained of her shattered heart. But it was time to pick up the pieces and move on again. And that's what Constitution would do.