Okay, first off so sorry for the late updates. Busy with school. :'( I know that's been my excuse, but I have a lot of core classes this semester, and it makes it hard. Also I've been working on other things to In writing.

Thank you all for the reviews you guys are too sweet! Speaking of sweet hope you guys had a great V-Day!

For this chapter all things in italicized font are Skipper's point of view. Just to let you know so you wouldn't be all like: Wut? O.o Ahope there might be a little bit of violence(Character's Death).

Tell me what you think, please.

Chap. 15

The first thing you need to know is Manfredi had a twin, "Manfredi!" We had all just came back from the horrifying place known as Denmark. I was making sure every was getting along from getting back in one piece to our HQ. Johnson was still upset with Manfredi for risking his life, Manfredi was in that hospital for quite a while.

I didn't even bother to knock, I just barge in. And there she was with no clothes on...Manfredi was a girl, boys, and Marlene. It turns out Manfredi was a girl for half of the time she was with us. Her, and her twin brother, Mallow, did the old switch-a-roo on us.

Clever, if I must say so. Mallow couldn't pass one of our test at the agency, so in step Manfredi. Posing as her brother, they kept the name Manfredi just to make it simple, Manfredi passed the test. Mallow was in, or should I say Manfredi.

Manfredi said that her brother started to love the job, but...You all remember Guatemala, Mallow was badly injured, were he was paralyzed from the waist down. He didn't have the heart to face us, because he felt helpless, so in went the real Manfredi...

So Manfredi posed as her brother, cutting her hair, wearing saggy clothes, and made her voice raspy. She fooled us alright. I remember shutting the door immediately, and wait for her to come out. When she did, her eyes did not meet mine, neither did mine. Embarrassment was an understatement.

She careful explain to me what had happen, keeping her eyes down, "He didn't want your pity, Skipper, he didn't want you to see him...Helpless, you know Mallow, he's like that. Please, Skipper understand." She begged me.

"Does anyone else know?" I asked, looking at her finally. How could I have not notice her feminine features? Her sharp, like knives, cheekbones, long eyelash, and such a tiny body. How didn't we know? How didn't we know she was beautiful?

"Just Johnson, since he is my partner, and Mallow." Her green eyes swim into mine, "Are you going to tell the others?"

I shake my head, "It's only if you want to tell them. I'm not deciding for you, because you're your own person." I had said to her, she had only nodded.

Then we both started to blush madly. I realized that she was a girl...A lady...A women. And I had invaded her privacy. She seemed to brush off the blush, and pushed herself off the wall she is leaned on, "You know it was hard putting on this charade, especially with an all boy team. I was surprised I survived the first week with you all, I nearly gotten eaten alive by those piranhas!" She exclaimed at me, ruffing up her boyish haircut, and shakes her head, "Now, I have a fear of piranhas!"

I chuckled a laugh at her, finally being able to tell me her secret, "So that's why you, and Johnson kept on getting into trouble on every mission. He was saving your girly hind."

"It would of help if I actually had training, before taking Mallow's place." She laughed, "Mallow said it would be," That's when Kowalski had came, "Hell-o Kowalski, what's wrong?" She had seen it to, Kowalski distressed face.

Kowalski gulped, "We have a bounty over are head in Denmark. We're wanted criminals there, and their looking for us."

"The bounty must be high if their coming to find us here in America." I stated, it was highly unusual that bounty hunters would actually come over to the states to hunt us down. Very unusual. The price of our heads were high. "Then we have to lie low."

Kowalski bowed his head low, "We have to spilt then. Go our separate ways."

I sighed, "Unfortunately, yes. Just until it dies down."

Manfredi balled her fist, "We're not criminals! We helped them!" She shouted, her emerald eyes brimmed with tears. I realized that we were her family, and now we have to spilt. She was just getting use to being there, but what was I supposed to do? Put her life in danger? No. We would have to spilt just for the time being.

I had taken my hand to her shoulder, "Manfredi, get packed." She looked at me in shock, hopping that I would be to her side, "That's an order." She slammed the door so hard after I had said that...I didn't want any of the team to get hurt. Why couldn't she understand that? Why didn't she get that I didn't want everyone to end up like Mallow?

I thought about this over, and over even after everyone said their goodbyes. I watched everyone leave like it was a death sentence. They all knew that I would stay in contact with them, until the coast was clear of any danger to us, but they knew we wouldn't see each for at least a couple of years.

Manfredi was the only one left still in the HQ, she stood holding the handle of the suitcase, "I wanted to stay. Not runaway." She was still so angry with me for not even thinking about standing up for our team. You can't always fight...Manfredi.
"This is for everyone's safety, we can't win every battle, Manfredi." I explained, chucking on my bag. I had planned to stay here in the Big Apple, but just not the HQ it wouldn't have felt right. With everyone gone it would've been too empty, and forgotten.

Manfredi nodded, "You're right, like always it's just...I don't think I could live without you guys." I laughed, and she shook her head, "I'm serious..." Tear sprung out of her eyes like fireworks, and I immediately came to her side. I didn't know how long she waited to cried on someone, "I-I have n-n-no one, Skip-per." Her words chopped together, as she'd hiccup.

I hugged her tight, "What about Mallow?" I asked, surely her brother would want her to stay with him. To have company, since his condition was so bad.
Her cries slowed down to just hiccups, "He's gone down hill since you saw him last," she sniffled, "Skipper, he starting to fall into a depression, and gets jealous when I talk about the team. He's not himself..."

I hated to see her like this. Why didn't she tell Johnson about this? Why didn't she ever come to me sooner. I waited tell her sniffling stop, "Manfredi, come and stay with me." The way I probably had said it made it seem like a command, then a gesture.

"I don't want to impose on you."

"I insist it."

"Skipper, I-"

"I order you to." I had said, her mouth stayed shut, "Listen, Manfredi, to me it sounds like you have no choice."

"Alright," She smiled a little bit, "Never thought, Skipper Cadwell, would be so nice."

I frowned, "Don't get use to it, Manfredi." She laughed, her laugh was so soft, as was her heart.

That's when it happened.

I had started to fall for Manfredi.

# # #

I had finally kissed her when her hair started to fall onto her shoulders. We were on my apartment's rooftop, I had forgotten why. We were talking, and I was tried of talking. I kissed her. I kissed Manfredi. Manfredi was a person who always understood, and I took a liking to it. I felt ashamed from the moment I had kissed her. Ashamed that she just might reject me, but she didn't.

Men, I know I've had my share of romances. But this was the first time I thought it would last, and last. That she would be the one. Manfredi was for a long time, and still is in my heart. Marlene, you remind me a lot of her.

One morning, Manfredi wasn't beside me, instead in the bathroom having morning sickness. That's right, Manfredi, was the one to give our little Private. Each day her stomach grew bigger, and bigger. You could feel those little feet inside her kicking away. I would kiss her belly, and she would laugh, "Skipper, the way he's kicking I think there might be two in there!"

She was right.

It was twins.

I was prepare for anything, but this. I started to panic, "What if I'm not a good father?" I asked Manfredi, while she was reading.

She had put the book down, and scooted close to me. She grab my hands, and placed them on her protruding stomach, "Skipper, your a leader, and a protector. I really think your ready to be a father, I wouldn't be here if I didn't think so." She'd kiss me on the forehead, and rub her hands through my hair. I wished that moment would have lasted in a never ending loop, because the next thing to happen to me, and Manfredi was a threat.

Manfredi had finally given birth to our two little boys: Percival and Marcus. They were our pride, and joy. We loved them very much. I had decided to take Manfredi out, and leave the boys with someone I trusted, Johnson. He came over delighted to see the new baby boys resting in their crib. He gushed, and awed, as we worriedly thought the worst, "Go on, and have a good time. We'll be fine." Said the man who was stupid enough to walk on thin ice, with no shoes on. Why did I trust him with my baby boys?

When we had came back, there was smoke. A fire was enhancing our building, enhancing our sons. Manfredi ran forward to the burning building fire escape, as on instinct. I followed her, rushing up, and making our way to our smoke filled apartment. We expected the worst...Johnson was dead...But he had protect the boys. I owed Johnson, but I never can repay him back now. We got out quickly as possible.

Apparently, the bounty hunters had found us, and they did the worst thing possible to make us angry. Trying to kill our kids. That was a huge mistake. Manfredi was stone cold standing in front of Johnson's grave. She never shed a tears, "I won't cry, then they would think they had broke me."

She became on edge. Purely acting on adrenaline. We started to train again to be more prepare, but that never stopped from what happened next...I blame myself constantly...And constantly...

We strolled through the park with our sons in strollers in front of us. We wanted just a single break to enjoy ourselves...The moment came crashing down on us. Above the trees hidden from our eyes, a single sniper. One shot, and it was flying towards someone I love most. Private. Manfredi moved like lighting, and blocked the shot. I watched as the bullet went through her head...I was faster than the sniper I pulled out my gun from behind, and took the shoot. I hadn't miss, he landed on the ground like dead bird. I didn't even brother to checking Manfredi I knew she was gone, like Johnson she was gone...

It only gets worse...I couldn't take it. I couldn't take not knowing if the boys would be safe. I gave them up...I thought I was doing it for there own good, but as you can tell it was a horrible mistake...

# # #

Skipper finished his tea, along with his story. Kowalski, Rico, and Marlene looked at him sadly. All this time Skipper had so much pain in that locked up heart of his. Marlene spoke up, "You said there were two?"

Skipper nods silently, "Marcus," He shifts uncomfortably, "him, and Private were fraternal twins."

Marlene gulps to ask, "What happened to him?"

Skipper strains not to cry, "I...Don't know..."