Disclaimer: I don't own Mortal Kombat.

"Hey girls. What I miss?" asked Li Mei carrying four small cases of wine coolers giving two people a reprieve from a bunch of awkward questions. Sheeva knowing that it must have been difficult for the voluptuous warrior to carry those with only two arms decide to let her borrow a pair of the shokan's.

"Nothing much." said Tanya nonchalantly "Just how Mr. Fireman saw what is behind Mileena's veil plus finding out Sonya and Frost are a couple."

"Oh, Ok. Seeing as those two are still together I guess he took it better then expected." Bo Rai Cho's pupil stated without so much as a flinch from the news about the U.S. Special Forces agent and the cyromancer.

"Hold it! You knew Frost and Sonya are in a relationship?" asked Jade stunned beyond belief.

"No, but to be honest I expected it."

"How did you expect it? When I first saw these two in the same vicinity as the other they were trying to strangle each other with their bare hands!" Kitana exclaimed.

"Now they are trying to strange each other with their tongues." Mileena snorted resulting in a glare from the subjects in question.

"Yeah I saw it coming from a mile away. I've been around the block enough times to know that hostility towards another person is a sure sign of attraction and sexual tension." Li Mei commented offhandedly. "Now can I head back to my car so we can get the rest of the alcohol. If it stays in there to long some how Master Cho will smell it and want to know why I didn't bring him any." Like a starter's gunshot to a track star that comment about the Drunken Fist master caused the women to stand up and bring in all the intoxicating beverages into Mileena's home. Bo Rai Cho's affinity to the drink is only surpassed by his anger towards people who try to withhold said drink from him.

"Jeez, Mei, did you rob a liquor store?" asked Kira after hauling in her cases for the third and final time.

"No, but, the guy behind the counter asked me where the party was and if he could drop by after work. He was kind of cute for a high school student." The women just rolled their eyes at that comment. Li Mei was sort of known for taking a shine for younger men which is odd because she was living with an older man.

"Anyway look what I found in Mileena's room while was freshening up." said Kitana waving around a little strip of pictures from a photo booth.

"Kitana, give that back!" Her clone ordered despite the fact the other women that haven't meet the man wanted to see what he looked like.

"Oh he is so handsome." cooed Ashra

"I can't believe he has his arm around her." snickered Jade

"If I was his age I would be wishing he was a prince."

"I know him!" exclaimed the purple warrior.

"What?" Mileena asked trying to keep the surprise and jealousy out of her voice.

"Yeah about six no seven months ago. My sister was throwing a surprise birthday party for her husband. Apparently he helped pull him out of a fire after one of the support beams broke and smashed his leg. My brother-in-law told the story like the guy was his guardian angel instead of a fellow fire fighter."

"Oh."

"Wait he didn't make a move?" asked Sareena incredulously

"No. We didn't have any chemistry because one week later my sister set us on a blind date. He's a nice guy, but, nothing clicked."

"Well he calls Mileena 'Gorgeous'." said Nitara shocked. It wasn't hard for either gender to notice that the one time sai user was by far more physically enticing then Kitana's clone. The only thing she could think of was the veil added a bit of mystery to her physical charms.

"My sister did say he was a sweetheart. I hope he makes you very happy, Mileena. You deserve it." said Li Mei with a bright smile on her face

"Thanks." was the awkward answer.

"Hey, Mileena, were those pictures from the day Sareena, Frost, and I meet him?" Asked Sonya

"Yes."

"You meet him and I haven't. Mileena I thought I was your best friend." Stated the female shokan.

"Keep this up and you won't be for very much longer." The person in question muttered under her breath.

"Sheeva, it's not what you think." said Frost in a soothingly cool voice. "Sareena decided to drag Sifu's closest female friend and his star pupil to the mall so she can shop about a month and a half ago, and we saw them standing outside of a photo booth."

"Yeah and if I remember correctly Mileena was crying into his shirt when we walked up on them." said the demon girl with a thoughtful look on her face.

"I was not crying!" snapped the pink warrior only to be meet by three pairs of raised eyebrows. "Fine. Maybe I was crying. but, it was his fault."

"How so?" asked Sonya interested

Flashback:

Mileena couldn't help but giggle at the man with her. He said he had everything planned for their date, but, it required them to go to an early movie. Not that she minded. Something about him made her feel both calm as a summer's breeze yet excited as a school girl. They have been going out for almost three months and she hasn't introduced him to the people she considered friends. He didn't mind though. He said that she'll do it when she felt comfortable, but, part of her did feel bad about it. She knew all of his co-workers who was his friends. Something about being in a fire station made it sort of like a Frat House only with out the keggers and the resident player hooking up with a girl every night. When Mileena told him she was upset about it he held her close kissed her forehead like he always did and told her that when she was ready go ahead and introduce him to them, until then not to worry about it.

"This guy has to be the most understanding and patient person in the world if not second. How did I get so lucky?" Mileena asked herself internally.

"Hey, Mileena, there's a photo booth. In a mood to get your picture taken with me?"

"Why so we can be one of those cheesy stereotypical couples that will end up putting it in a scrap book and showing it off to our friends?" she responded sarcastically finding it funny watching the mock hurt look on his face.

"Yes."

"If I go in there I'll break the camera."

"That's true. I don't think there is a camera made that could capture your beauty, Gorgeous." The man complement using his pet name for the woman making her roll her eyes at him.

"Fine." Mileena relented despite her internal glee at being able to getting to be in his arms. Just something about being in them made her feel safe. Not like the few times Shao Kahn had held her as a child or when her a Kitana use to hug her when they were growing up. Something just felt right. Baraka would rarely hold her and whenever he did she felt comfortable but not at ease. She didn't understand why.

"Maybe I'll call and talk to Kitana about this when my date is over. After all we are sisters in a way and she has had better luck with men." Mileena thought to herself before her boyfriend lead her in the booth by her hand. The first picture was of them sitting side by side then he wrapped his arm around her bringing the female closer. The third picture showed him kissing the side of her head and the final one had her in his lap both of them staring at the camera with their arms holding each other. If anyone else saw the pictures they would instantly know Mileena was happy while they were being taken.

"Ok that's it now let's see how they turned out." The fire fighter said in a chipper tone. Times like that she didn't understand what she sees in him, but, then again she doesn't know what he sees in her. After pulling the strip of photos from the printer they looked at them fondly. Mileena really enjoyed seeing the happy expression on their faces despite hers being hidden. And as many times before she cursed herself for having the lower half of her face like a tarkan's. Mileena's internal sparkle died down to a dim flicker and the man beside her noticed.

"What's wrong, Gorgeous?"

"Please, don't call me that." She answered in a sad tone.

"Ok, but, will you tell me what's wrong?"

"That."

"The pictures?"

"No, what's in the pictures. You can see your face clearly. But mine's hidden by my veil and I hate it."

"If you hate it so much why do you wear it?"

"After three months of dating you finally ask that question?" Mileena asked incredulously.

"Never found the right time."

"Well let's just say that there's something wrong with my face. I guess you could call it a birth defect. While I wear it people find me beautiful. Like that little girl in the picture you saw when I invited you in that one night."

"The one that's like your sister?"

"Yeah, while I wear the veil people can confuse me for her, but, if they saw what was behind the veil they get terrified. They call me a hideous monster and you will too."

"Mileena, I won't do that."

"Yes you will. Everyone knows Kitana is the pretty one. Me I can scare the bogyman. All because of a.. a.. birth defect. So we might as well end it now." said Mileena said trying to choose her words in a way that he'll understand. She started turn and walk away from the man but felt a firm tight grip on her wrist. "Let go." She tried to pull away in vain.

"No. I let you say your piece so let me say mine. I care about you, Mileena, a lot. Do you honestly think I would do something like that?"

"It's happen to me in the past." She said looking downward.

"Yeah the key words in that sentence is 'in the past'. I don't care if you have a birth defect. I don't care if all of a sudden you gained a thousand pounds and were bed ridden. Your still that wonderful woman I meet in a coffee shop. The very girl that when I got back to the station Chief Morris ripped me a new one for a good five minutes before starting to joking with me about it. Ever since the day I brought you to meet my co-workers at the fire house they always asked if I kissed you and everyday I say no. That's when they start teasing me."

"See I knew..."

"Mileena, please let me finish. I never asked you to remove the veil, and I won't ask because I respect you to much. I don't mind not being able to kiss you on the lips. It's not an issue for me. I love being able to hold you in my arms and kiss you on the forehead. In a lot a ways I find it more intimate. That's what makes this relationship special. Do you think this is special?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then why do you want to break up?" he asked. For the first time since he was saying his piece she looked him in the eye, while hers began to water up.

"Because like everyone else you'll find me disgusting and call it off with me."

"Mileena, how can I call find you disgusting? You're the greatest thing that has happened to me in a long time. If you ever are comfortable enough around me to remove that veil of yours willingly, great! If not, I'm perfectly content with the way things are. But if the day ever comes for you to remove this cloth barrier and allow me to see your face, your whole face I promise I won't run away. I promise to stay right by your side and show you how much you mean to me." said the man before pulling her into his chest she can let loose of the silent sobs she's been holding in.

End Flashback:

"Then three weeks later he keeps his promise to me. I don't know how he does it, but, he makes me feel the exact thing he calls me. Gorgeous. How did I get so lucky?" asked Mileena trying to keep the tears from roll down her face yet failing to do so. The other women weren't having much luck either. The story moved them.

"Sis was right. He is a sweetheart. Why can't I find a guy like that?"

"If I wasn't with the black dragon I would still think men like that were possible to find. You definitely have a gem of a guy."

"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but, I'm jealous of you Mileena." said the Edenian princess to everyone's surprise including her own.

"Raiden!" called the blond woman of the group. The deity appeared seconds later in his dark armor.

"You bellowed?"

"Sorry, I wanted to see if you were in drag." That simple comment was enough to shock anybody, even a thunder god.

"Why?" Raiden asked warily, semi-afraid of the answer.

"Because I thought I would see you in make-up, high heels, lace camisole, and a sailor's skirt, before I would ever hear Kitana said she was jealous of her." It didn't take to long for Earthrealm's protector to comprehend the sentence, but, enough time passed for the women who were actually began picturing it and snickered.

"Does this have anything to do with the new boyfriend I keep hearing about?" Raiden asked in a strained mortified voice.

"Yes."

"Where is he? If someone can make Kitana envious of Mileena I need to meet them."

"If what he said was true he was dragged to some strip club by my Dad and Kintaro, I believe Liu is with them." said Mileena recovering from the humor from the earlier comment about Raiden.

"Great. Knowing Shao he probably took them to the one place that serves the strongest drinks with the youngest girls possible." Raiden complained teleporting out sensing the champion of Mortal Kombat.

"You know I feel sorry for him." said Jade with a thoughtful look.

"Raiden will be fine. He's a thunder god." Sheeva said waving a dismissive hand.

"Not him, her boyfriend. Remember what Shao did whenever Kitana had a guy around the palace." Kitana and Mileena exchanged looks of fear at this realization.

"Mileena, I'm sure you don't have to worry about anything. Liu and Kung are with them along with whoever else they decided to bring along. He wouldn't openly torture him in front of them." 'I hope.' Sindel added silently in her mind.

"Yeah the worst thing he'll probably do is try and get him drunk and then interrogate him." Nitara pitched in trying to help the situation.

"There's a slight problem with that. You see he doesn't drink except on rare occasions. The last time he did drink was a glass of red wine I bought when he fixed me dinner on our three month anniversary if you call that drinking."

"He doesn't go to the bar with his friends and have a few beers?" asked Frost surprised.

"No. Something about his father abusing him while drunk made him only touch alcohol when it's a special occasion. He's the station's designated driver." At that moment the phone rang. With some apprehension, but, overruled by concern Mileena put her phone on speaker.

"Hello."

"Hello, sweetheart, having fun with the girls?" Apparently Shao Kahn is a nice drunk.

"Yes dad I am."

"Good. Why did you send Mr. Sparkles over to us? We were enjoying ourselves when he showed up and spoiled the good time."

"I hardly call what I saw a good time!" Called Raiden only hearing the last half of the comments.

"Well he wanted to meet my boyfriend, because, of something Kitana said."

"Kitana's there? Put her on." The Outworld Emperor slurred.

"You're on speaker, Shao." The fan user deadpanned not knowing what to expect.

"Hello, princess. Now what is that little thing you said that made Mr. Sparkles bolt in here?" he asked before laughing at his own joke. The girls just looked at each other going who is this guy and what did he do with the real Shao Kahn?

"It's not that big of a deal. I just said I'm jealous of Mileena because her new boyfriend treats her so well."

"Oh, ok. Hey, Liu, Kitana says the fire fighter is a better boyfriend then you." The very moment the drunken man on the other side of the phone said 'Hey, Liu,' the princess instantly regretted telling him that, and Mileena was letting her know it with the glare that said everything she wanted to know and a few things she didn't.

"If I was Kit I would hope Liu doesn't attack you know who." Sonya whispered to her girlfriend.

"What? I'm a better boyfriend then this guy. Atleast when my friends offer me a drink I take it." shouted Liu.

"Sitting on someone's chest while Kintaro and Jax hold him down trying to pour a bottle of tequila down their throat isn't what I call offering a drink, Liu Kang." Raiden boomed not in the mood to put up with drunken nonsense.

"Shao?"

"Yes, Princess?"

"Will you put Raiden on the phone?"

"Sure. Mr. Sparkles, Kitana wants to talk to you." an audible groan was barely heard over the background music before the phone was turned over to the god who was debating saying to hell with it and electrocute all of them.

"Go help Sub Zero with the ice." Raiden ordered. "How can I help you, Kitana?"

"What happened over there?"

"Well from what the only person that was sober for the entire thing told me everything went down hill after Liu and Kung had their lap dances." Obviously the last part of that answering machine message wasn't a joke.

"Ok." Kitana said trying to keep from loosing her temper, but, the tone of her voice told Raiden he better make the suggestion to a certain monk he better stay away from the woman for a few days

"Raiden, you better tell Kung he's a dead man next time I see him." Jade shouted.

"I'll make sure to do so." Raiden said trying to remember that he was immortal and shouldn't be afraid of a mortal woman. "Anyway, Shao continued interrogating him when a particular response was meet with some scrutiny."

"Scrutiny?" asked Sindel already not liking where this was going.

"Basically, Shao, thought he was lying and was about to torture him when Stryker came up with the brilliant suggestion that a drunk man can't tell lies. After that a large fight broke out resulting in several bouncers unconscious."

"Oh my god!" Kira exclaimed.

"Don't worry they were lucky it was the guys that hit them and not Mileena's boyfriend. Kung has a concussion from his head bouncing off a table, Sub Zero has a black eye, Stryker is trying to stop his broken nose from bleeding, Jax is sporting a busted lip, Shao at the very least has a few cracked teeth and don't get me started on Shang."

"What happened to Shang?" asked Li Mei.

"Let's just say he is going to wish he was Baraka in the morning."

"Raiden, what was the comment that Shao Kahn thought was a lie?" inquired Mileena suspicious that there was quite a few more injuries then the thunder god was letting on.

"The fire fighter said..."

"Finish that sentence and I make what I did to Shang look like child's play, and I don't mean the horror movie!" an irate voice shouted.

"Mileena is on the other end I hope you know."

"And I hope you know that is all the more reason for you not to say it. I want to be the one that says it to her, not some third party."

"Well then tell her yourself." said the thunder god handing the phone over.

"Raiden, I was planning on telling her in person not over the phone."

"If that's the case let me help." Raiden spoke mischievously before electricity was heard and the phone was dropped. Seconds later the man appeared. He was wearing Khaki pants that covered his black sneakers. A black alcohol drenched shirt covered his chest and the women could smell it's pungent aroma, even his soul patch was smelling of the vile drink. His short blond hair was spiked and eyes contracted themselves at the moment because their icy blue color gave way to frustration and furry.

"I'm going to kill that guy." He muttered from underneath his hands moved down his face.

"Was there something you wanted to tell me?" asked Mileena anxious.

"Yes I do, Gorgeous." said the fire fighter is former mood turning to one of happiness. "For the past five months I've been dating most amazing girl in the world. Every time I'm with her I can't help but enjoy it. Then yesterday I had an epiphany. I just helped this elderly couple out of a burning building just seconds before it collapsed. Now that is a fairly regular occurrence considering my line of work, but, there was something different this time. When I checked on the elderly couple that was being looked at by the EMTs I saw them holding each other. When I asked if they'll be ok the man said something I didn't expect. He told me 'Son, we'll be fine. I've been with this woman for the past fifty years and I love her even more now then I did when we were your age. We might have lost our home but we didn't loose each other. I want to thank you for your bravery, because, if you hadn't been there to pull my wife out I wouldn't know what to do." That's when the man paused for moment to let small smile come across his face before he continued.

"Before I even got to chance to say he didn't need to thank me I saw him pull her closer and kiss her on the forehead. After that everything clicked. Instead of an old man and an old woman I saw us and I knew right then and there. I love you, Mileena, with all of my heart and soul." Before the woman these beautiful words were being spoken to could react she watched her boyfriend get on one knee and pull something out of his pocket. "I want you to wear this ring as promise. A promise of my undying love and devotion. A promise that someday in our future the next ring I buy for you will be one that matched your beauty both inside and out. A promise that I will ask you to marry me." All the women that were watching this touching scene unfold before their very eyes couldn't help crying, especially Mileena. As the man returned to a vertical base she ripped off her veil without a seconds hesitation and proceed to kiss him as best she could. Neither wanting to pull away until one of her sharp teeth cut his lower lip.

"Ow."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that." Mileena apologized touching the bleeding wound with her index finger. Before she pulled it away he grabbed her hand and sucked the blood off the digit.

"Don't worry about, Gorgeous. It was the first time we kissed so something had to go wrong. We can get better at it. Besides I kind of liked it." The woman just slapped his chest and tried to run away but he grabbed her from behind. Arms around the waist and kissing the base of the neck.

"You know you wouldn't have to worry about that cut on your lip if you had someone that has there lips." said Kitana. The group watched as the man whispered in his Gorgeous's ear and she nodded.

"Are you saying that I should be your boyfriend instead of Mileena's?"

"Basically."

"No thanks. Mileena is a lot better looking then you. Why would I downgrade?" The girls watched the princess's jaw drop while her clone cracked up laughing before slapping his shoulder as best she could.

"Behave." she said regaining from the hilarity of someone telling her 'sister' off.

"I love you, Mileena."

"I like hearing you say that. Do it again."

"I love you, Mileena."

"I love you too, Michael."