Carolina found herself wrapped up in the blankets and alone in bed when she woke up the next morning. There was water and two pills sitting on the table when she sat up which was lucky because her head was pounding. She glanced at the clock and had to spend a little while to focus to make sure it read that it was almost noon.
"Damn, not again," Carolina huffed. She threw the covers off and grabbed a pair of shorts from the floor and pulled them on seeing as she was only wearing a shirt. She walked out to the living room and found York sitting on the couch, legs on the coffee table and talking to Church as they watched Grifball on the television screen.
"Coffee's in the pot, should still be warm," he called when he saw her.
"Thanks," she mumbled. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
"I tried," York chuckled. "You cocooned yourself and went back to sleep."
"Oh."
"Yea. You were pretty tanked last night, so I figured it probably best to just let you go," York added. "Ally is with North and Emma who was functioning slightly better than you appear to be. Told them we would probably meet up with them for dinner."
"What are they doing?"
"Not sure. I think there was talk about the amusement rides down by the boardwalk area." Carolina nodded as she prepared her coffee. "You hungry? I can make you something if you want."
Carolina shook her head, "No I'm good."
He nodded as she walked back around and over to the couch to sit with him. He wrapped an arm around her and they sat in silence for a little as she sipped at her coffee.
"What's this I heard about body shots?" Church asked looking at Carolina.
"Oh God…" she groaned before glaring at York. "Did you really have to tell him that?"
"Wasn't me," York chuckled. "You told him all about it when we got back last night."
"I did no such thing."
"Yea, sorry sis, you totally did," Church laughed. "Oh man you are an open book when you're drunk."
"You missed her trying to give dating advice to Wash and Tucker," York added as Carolina shrunk in the seat next to him.
"Wait, I don't think I heard that right," Church replied.
"Oh you heard it right," York nodded. "Tucker kept egging her on and Wash was trying to get her to stop. It was hilarious. Oh, oh and then! Then Kai found us and started throwing in her two cents on the subject."
"Oh man, I wish I could've been there to experience that conversation," Church laughed. "I'm sure it was golden."
"Definitely one for the books," York agreed.
"Why did you let me drink that much?" Carolina huffed.
"Sweetheart, you were already drunk when we got there and once you hit that point, there isn't any stopping you. Hell, you crawled up onto the table because I wouldn't let you out."
"I vaguely remember that," Carolina sighed.
"Anything else you remember?"
"Um…" Carolina took a sip of coffee to give her a chance to try and run through the events of the night before. "I think the table may be the last thing."
"So you remember participating in those body shots then?" Church asked.
Carolina rolled her eyes, "Yes. Geez, why does everyone act shocked when I do something normal?"
"Because they don't get to see the side of you that I get to see," York answered.
"North and Emma checked out early," Carolina commented. "I take it they got back ok?"
"Oh man," Church laughed, "North had to carry her back because she apparently got tired and decided to just plop down on the sidewalk and sleep there instead of walking back."
"Are you serious?" Carolina chuckled.
"Yea. Him attempting to get her upstairs was the best part," Church nodded. "Though, you definitely win drunk-girl of the night."
"Great. Just what I always wanted," Carolina grumbled.
"You're the one who likes to be number one at everything," Church pointed out.
"Shut up."
"Oh," York grinned, "You owe me twenty bucks."
"Why…?"
"We made a bet."
"About what?" she asked when he didn't elaborate.
"You were very insistent that you wouldn't fall asleep the second you got in to bed so we bet on it. We got back, you regaled your glorious escapades to Church, I finally got you to go to bed, you get in the room, strip, fall into bed, and were out two seconds later. And yes you were asleep because you were snoring."
"I don't snore…"
"When you were drinking beforehand, yes, you do in fact snore," York nodded.
"How was Ally last night before you came out?" Carolina asked attempting to change the subject.
"Great! You wouldn't believe how fast she picked up on how to play Poker."
"You taught her Poker?"
"The guys got a game going and she asked, so yea," York shrugged. "Cleaned house pretty well for a little bit. Then she got bored and her and Junior ran around for a bit, went swimming and then we finally settled down inside here with a movie where she fell asleep. Mum said she stayed asleep after I left."
"That's good. Where are they at anyway? I feel like I haven't seen them."
"There off doing what they normally do," York shrugged. "They were discussing possibly joining us wherever it is we end up."
"What about their jobs and everything?"
"They're both retired. Dad still tutors occasionally or fiddles around in the lab he said, but otherwise, they would just need to pack up everything and sell the house," York shrugged. "If we don't end up back on Earth that is."
"There's still everything on Chorus though," Carolina sighed.
"So they come to Chorus. They want to be around us and Ally as much as they can. Plus, it'd be nice having them around."
"You missed them?"
"Yea," York sighed. "Though not as much as I miss you when you aren't nearby."
"Sap," Carolina smirked.
"Seriously, if I had a body, I would be puking right now," Church huffed.
"So now that you and Uncle North are married," Ally started as they walked along the boardwalk, "Are you going to have babies?"
"That's not a conversation we've had," Emma chuckled.
"You should. You did a really good job with me so you'd make a good mom and Uncle North seems like he'd be really good dad," Ally stated. "Then I can have other kids to play with."
"If we did, it'd be a couple years before they're big enough to play with you," North answered.
"And it's really a conversation North and I should have ourselves," Emma continued.
"Ok, but as long as you have it," Ally shrugged.
"We'll see," Emma chuckled. "What time are we meeting York and Carolina?"
"Should probably head over," North shrugged after checking the time. Emma nodded as Ally took both of their hands and started swinging them back and forth. "Hope you had fun."
"Definitely," Ally giggled. "Can we do stuff like this once vacation is over? I like spending time with you two."
"I think we can manage it," North agreed.
"It also all depends what happens once vacation is over in general," Emma added. "We don't really know what's going on back on Chorus or if the UNSC showed up yet or not or if they found where my father is."
"We'll figure it out, I'm sure," North assured her. "Let's just enjoy the rest of our time here and we'll see where things lay when we're on our way back."
"I think we should go to the beach again tomorrow! And then go check out the water slides!" Ally suggested.
"Why don't we bring it up to your parents when we get with them?"
"Ok!" Ally agreed bouncing as they walked. "Think we can get surfboards again?"
"I'm sure we could," North nodded.
"Yay! And we're going to eat at the place with the fishes again right?"
"Yup."
"Good! That's my favoritest place so far," Ally smiled. "I like looking at all the fishes. They're pretty!"
"Daddy, come on! Let's go look at the fish," Ally tugged at York's hand after the waitress walked away with their order.
"Ok, ok," York chuckled giving Carolina a quick kiss on the cheek before following Ally over to the glass.
"She really likes looking at those fish. That's all we heard on the way over," North shook his head watching York and Ally. Ally looked back and waved at him. "Guess that's my cue."
"Have fun," Emma chuckled. She watched him get up and walk over before leaning back in the chair and letting out a yawn. "I am exhausted."
"Tell me about it," Carolina smirked. "Did you guys all have a good day?"
"Yea. Her and North had a blast," Emma nodded.
"What about you?"
"I watched most of the rides," Emma smirked. "Hungover on a rollercoaster isn't exactly a good idea."
"Probably not," Carolina nodded in agreement.
"How long were you guys out after we left?"
"Honestly? I couldn't tell you," Carolina sighed. "I don't remember much after walking across the table. Then things get fuzzy. Apparently though I was entertaining as hell."
"I could only imagine," Emma chuckled. "York told us a bit before we left this morning and it sounded like we missed a fun time."
"Yea," Carolina nodded. "All I know is, that isn't happening again for a long time."
"I'm with ya," Emma agreed. She took a breath and let it out. "Ally asked us the kids question."
"Oh yea?"
"Yup. Have you gotten bombarded yet?"
"Little hints, more from York than her," she shrugged. "There's just too much going on right now."
"I agree," Emma nodded.
"Before you took care of Ally, did you want kids? Was that a thing?" Carolina asked.
Emma shrugged, "Maybe. Never really thought about it. I mean, I joined the military to find York and to piss off my father. Love and family were never really a thought at the time. You?"
"I didn't want to do what my mother did," Carolina admitted. "I know I was young when she died, but the toll it took on me and the D…my father…I didn't want to put anyone through that. And then everything happened and now look at us."
"You guys are real good with her."
"Well, she had an excellent person taking care of her before we came along," Carolina smirked. "You'd make a really good mother."
"Not like I don't have the experience with a baby," Emma gave a dry chuckle.
"Exactly."
"We'll see. There's a lot that can happen yet. Plus Cho-"
"Wash came by before we left," Carolina cut her off. "He went to check on how Lopez and the ship were doing and there was a message from Kimball. She has Grey swinging by sometime within the next two days to catch us all up on things."
"Oh. Good."
"Yea. From what she said in the message, Wash said things sound fantastic there."
"That's good. Can't wait to hear what Grey has to say."
"Me either, though hopefully she's calm about it," Carolina chuckled. "That woman has so much energy, I don't know how she just doesn't burst at the seam."
"Have you guys talked about what you want to do?"
"Not really. Everything's kind of in the air."
"What would you like to do?" Emma asked changing the question.
"I'd actually wouldn't mind helping with the restoration on Chorus if the UNSC allows them to be there still," Carolina sighed. "It'd be a good place to settle down I think now that the fighting is over. A new leaf so to speak. We could maybe try something like what you mentioned before. Just something that I can be useful." Emma nodded. "I take it you and North are doing whatever we do?"
"I'm sure that's a safe bet," Emma chuckled.
"Good. I think Ally would be extremely upset otherwise."
"I think you're right on that," Emma nodded watching them. "I wish I would've met you all sooner...but without all the crap."
"I like to think things happened exactly how they were supposed to," Carolina replied. "Though while it would have been awesome to have you around, you would've got dragged down with the rest of us."
"True," Emma shrugged. "Thank you for making me feel welcomed though."
"Hey, we're family," Carolina smiled. "We wouldn't have it any other way."
Emma closed out the news report she had been reading when North walked back into their room. He leaned over and kissed her forehead before walking around to the other side of the bed.
"Feeling any better?" North asked.
"I feel great," Emma answered giving him a smile.
"Good."
"And I told you I wouldn't puke," Emma reminded him.
"Yes you did."
"Yea I don't really do the whole puking thing."
"I'll keep that in mind," he chuckled.
"Carolina and I are getting up early to go running tomorrow. Want me to wake you up before I go?"
"You can. Why are you running? You should relax, its vacation."
Emma shrugged, "Carolina was annoyed because she slept so late the last two days, asked if I wanted to go, figured sure, why not."
"It's nice you two are spending so much time together," North replied as he laid down in the bed next to where she was sitting. She re-angled herself so she could see his face.
"Well it's nice actually having friends for once, let alone another female to talk to." North watched her as she started picking at the hem of his t-shirt. "I never really had too many people to talk to. Especially when it was just me and Ally. The section I was stationed with was the last real group of friends I had and I never knew what happened to them after everything. Then I was given Ally to take care of and never really had the time to look into what happened to them."
"How many were in your squad?"
"There was five of us total," Emma replied. "Well…in the beginning. Right before the end there was three of us left. Two of them were sent out on what was supposed to be a simple mission, but something went wrong."
"I'm assuming that was what Ally was talking about when she told York and I about the person you were seeing that got killed."
Emma scoffed slightly, "She told you about that?"
"York can be very convincing. Are you mad she told us?"
"Not really. Just something I hate thinking about. Besides," she gave a soft chuckle, "taking care of Ally helped me to really move on from it. It wasn't really anything anyway. Just something to do when we weren't training or on missions."
"Sounded like it was lot more than a fling," North commented.
"Jealous?"
"Nope," North smirked. "You married me and they're dead. Why should I be jealous of a ghost?" Emma rolled her eyes. "I mean, if you want to talk about it, you can. I know it's hard to lose someone you loved."
"Sam and I were a bit more…lust and boredom then love."
"That's not how Ally made it sound."
"Yea, well Ally is far too young to have that kind of discussion with if you catch my drift."
"Gotcha," North chuckled. "So who would be the other two still alive?"
"Umm…Nick and Garth, Illinois and Oregon," Emma replied after having to search her memory for a bit. "Parker was with Sam on the mission."
"Maybe once we get back in the swing of things you could ask Church to see if he could find anything out," North suggested.
"We'll see. It's been almost 10 years since everything." Emma smirked at him, "Besides, I have more important things to concern myself with."
"Oh yea? Like what?"
"Like the tall chunk of handsome I married," she leaned forward and started kissing him.
"That's right, we never did get to talk about how you just up and decided to tell everyone without giving me a heads up," North smirked when she moved to kiss down his neck. She stopped and sat up to look at him. "I'm not mad. Just a heads up that you changed your mind would've been nice is all I'm saying."
"Heh, yea well…" Emma replied looking embarrassed. "Carolina and I got to talking and one thing led to another and then I was ok with them knowing. You're really not mad about it?"
"Nope. I have you to get mad at everything," he teased. She glared at him and gave him a playful smack. "Though I do know a conversation we should definitely be having since it was brought up today."
"Let me guess…is it one my niece decided to bring up?"
"You really are a genius," North chuckled as she rolled her eyes.
"Does it really matter if we have this conversation or not? We're already together and married. Is it going to change anything?" Emma sighed.
"No it's not. And just because we're having it doesn't mean anything one way or the other."
"Fine," Emma huffed. "I am of equal thought with Carolina. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, no biggie. I'll always have you and I'll always have the memories of raising Ally for the first part of her life."
"So what you're saying is that kids aren't out of the question?"
Emma searched his face as he waited for an answer before taking in a breath and letting out a sigh. "You want them?"
"As long as-"
"No, no as long as anything," Emma smirked. "I can see it in your face you big goof."
"Is that going to be an issue?"
"Not once we settle somewhere," Emma shrugged.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously," Emma chuckled. "But that means that wherever we end, there needs to not be any fighting or conspiracies or anything along those lines. I know saying normal is a stretch, but we need mostly normal if you actually want to do the kid thing. You get what I'm saying?"
"Yes wife," North chuckled pushing himself up to kiss her.