A/N: Hello all. I've made my return. The past 2 weeks of sailing were okay. Pulled into Seattle for a port visit. We actually got back last Thursday, but because fueling was a cock up (someone left a rag in one of the pipes, so it clogged when it hit the flow meter) yeah.

I had initially been expecting to have this out on Saturday, but I had 0 motivation to write, but now I do! I also have plenty of good music, and alcohol, even though this cider is weak as balls. 4.5%, had 4 of em, hardly feeling shit.

So, next up is the Midway Princess, suggested by Killroy122496. I expect to be done that before Friday, as I have this week off work in preparation for out deployment on the 28th.

Anyways, here's Admiral Dixon and Furutaka as requested by Unicorn 359.

Shopping Scandal

"A day off. I haven't had this in a long time." Admiral Dixon thought, sighing as he stretched out on the hammock that was in the backyard of his home.

Taking a sip of the beer off the table next to him, he put his sunglasses down over his eyes and settled in for a nap.

At least that was the plan, until a shadow settled over his face, and he was 100% sure it wasn't a cloud.

"Yes?" Andrew questioned without opening his eyes or even looking in the direction of the disturbance.

They were silent, so he continued

"This had better be important. As everyone is aware, I'm off the clock today, so either the Abyssals better be walking ashore, the base better be in flames, or there's a sale on…. something critical we need.

"If it's none of those, then I am not here."

Taking another sip of his beer, he heard "Well, there is a big sale on downtown…"

"Great Furutaka, what are you going to buy?" he asked, finally opening his eyes and glancing towards the cruiser.

"I dunno. Wanted to do some window shopping and nobody would drive me…unless you want me to ask Kongou." she replied, crossing her arms.

Andrew couldn't help but cringe at the mention of Kongou's driving skills…or lack of.

The engineers were still repairing the dorms that she nearly leveled with her Toyota Echo.

"What about one of the other girls who can drive? Bismarck? Maya? Nachi?" he asked, sitting up and scratching his head.

"They're all busy already. You're the only one I could ask." Furutaka implored, clasping her hands together "Please Admiral?"

There he sat, a hard look on his face for a moment, before he relented.

"Fine. Two hours maximum. Let's go." he grumbled, ignoring the way his heart sped up when she smiled.

"I must be coming down with something." Andrew thought, finishing off his drink and wiping his slightly damp hand on his shorts.

They made their way to his car, a black BMW 640i (sometimes being an flag officer had its perks) and they took off, the convertible top down allowing the wind to blow their hair every which way.

"You ride in style eh Admiral? Remind me to bother you for rides more often." Furutaka chuckled, watching as they passed through the hills surrounding the base and headed across the bridge connecting the island to the mainland.

"Consider this the only time you'll be riding in my car." Andrew scoffed, keeping his eyes focused on the road "Interrupting my day off for this. It's laughable."

Furutaka couldn't help but drop her eyes to the dash, feeling shameful at her actions.

"Hey, I'm only joking, you know that, right?" he said, lightly touching her shoulder.

"Yeah." she replied after a minute "But you owe me ice cream for making me feel bad."

A chuckle escaped his lips at that statement.

"I have no objections to that."

The trip into town continued until Andrew pulled to the side in front of a parking meter downtown.

Placing a few coins in, he mused "There. That's enough for a few hours."

"Yay! Thanks Admiral! Now let's shop!" Furutaka cheered, grabbing his hand and dragging him past a row of shops and boutiques.

Once again, he had to pointedly ignore the flutter of his heart, and the small jolt when she grabbed his hand.

"Must be getting sick. That's the only explanation for this." he thought, as the cruiser led him into a candle shop.

Furutaka dragged him around for about an hour, going from store to store, sometimes just browsing, other times, buying stuff.

She did need to physically manhandle him out of both the hobby shop, and the motorcycle dealership though.

"Oh come on, that King Tiger was calling out to me!" Andrew pouted, crossing his arms with a huff.

Furutaka didn't even bother to contain her laughter as she linked arms with him, walking down the road.

They respectfully nodded to passersby as they made their way back towards his car to drop the purchases off in the car.

Doing that, Andrew couldn't help but smile as he said "Alright, now it's time for ice cream."

She smiled at him, and he felt his face flush as he returned the smile, and then as she positioned herself on his arm again.

He never really gave that a second thought.

They reached the ice cream parlor quickly and went inside, not surprised how busy it was for a summer afternoon.

After about ten minutes of waiting, they reached the front of the line, the bored looking teen there waiting to take their order.

"Get whatever you want. My treat." Andrew smiled, fishing his wallet out from the pocket of his cargo shorts.

"I'll get two scoops of chocolate on a waffle cone please." she stated, grinning widely as she received her ice cream.

"Give me two scoops of cookies and cream on a chocolate dip cone please." he said, lightly tapping his debt card to the machine when required.

It chirped in approval, and the pair went outside to a shaded table to enjoy their treats in the fresh air.

"Thanks for the ice cream Admiral." Furutaka said, giving him a one-armed hug once they had sat down at the table.

"I-it was nothing, I assure you." Andrew replied, smiling weakly as he flushed at the not unwanted contact.

"Okay so I'm not sick. I think I may like her though." he thought, finally coming to the conclusion with what was happening.

Unconsciously watching as her skirt rode up slightly as she crossed one leg over the other, he saw the smirk Furutaka shot him, assuring him that he had been caught.

"Admiral," she mused in a low voice "Ice cream isn't the only thing I want today…"

Languidly taking a lick of her ice cream, Andrew couldn't help but watch and bite his lower lip slightly in anticipation.

"Now you see, there's a nice young couple. How long have you been married son?" an elderly voice interrupted them.

Looking over, Andrew saw that it was an old couple who had been watching them from an adjacent table.

"Married?" Andrew questioned, chuckling lightly "We're not married. We're not even dating. Just coworkers."

"Hmm…I could've swore that you were married. You look just like I did when I met my wife here, all starry eyed and in wonder." the aging man chuckled as he spooned some ice cream out of his bowl.

"Terribly sorry for the confusion." Andrew replied, smiling placidly.

Both Andrew and Furutaka finished their ice cream with light conversation, cognizant that they might be being listened to.

They got up, throwing out their napkins and began heading back to the car, when the elderly gentleman stopped Andrew.

"You aren't fooling anyone young man. You might not know it yet, but you love that woman. And she's in love with you too."

Andrew stood looking at the man for a moment.

"You're serious?" he breathed, looking into the weathered green eyes.

"Dead serious Admiral." the man chuckled, patting Andrew on the shoulder "Her heart belongs to you, and you've given yours to hers."

Looking towards where Furutaka was waiting patiently, a soft smile on her face as she waited for them to finish their conversation.

"I think you may be right." Andrew mused softly, smiling slightly as his cheeks flushed.

"Go on lad. Get back to your naval base."

"Thank you, sir." Andrew replied, shaking the man's hand before heading off with Furutaka.

"So, what were you two talking about?" she asked, handing him the bags and linking arms.

"Oh, y'know. Just guy stuff." Andrew replied, deftly slipping his arm out of hers and grasping her hand instead.

He heard the small gasp she gave at his actions, and saw her cheeks colour, but did flips inside when she made no move to remove her hand from his.

They reached the car, still hand in hand, and got in, driving back to the naval base without ever letting the other go.

"Thanks for taking me out Admiral." Furutaka said softly after he had parked and turned the car off.

"No problem. I had fun. Thanks for interrupting my day off." he chuckled, looking at her and squeezing her hand.

"Would you…want to do this again sometime?" she asked, blushing lightly and looking down.

"For sure I would." Andrew replied without hesitation, smiling at the way her eyes lit up when she heard his answer.

Without preamble, she closed the distance between their lips with a soft kiss.

It was terribly short, but with a small *smack* their lips separated, and both were looking at each other like owls.

"You know, I wasn't terribly opposed to that." Andrew chuckled after a moment, licking his lips and trying to remember the feeling.

"Oh? Well good! It might happen again." Furutaka said, smiling as she grabbed the bags out of the backseat.

Giving him another peck on the lips, she stated "You're mine now." and then took off back to her dorm to unload her purchases.

Taking his own bag out of the back, Andrew locked the car, whistling a tune all the way back to his hammock.

Yes, life was indeed sweet.

And as he laid back down, the Admiral smiled at what the old man had said to him.

"Looks like I have some dates to plan for in the near future" Andrew thought, drifting off to sleep with sweet thoughts dominated by a certain heavy cruiser.

Fin