The following morning, the entire ship's compliment were assembled on the flight deck. Captain McElroy stood on the lowest railing of the control island and addressed the assorted men and women over the ship's PA.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began solemnly. "I have news from Britain."

The assembled crew swayed and a low murmur went up. McElroy allowed a few moments before he politely cleared his throat.

"I just received word that the Royal Family are safe and unharmed."

A spontaneous call for three cheers went up as the entire crew, English, Scot and Welsh cried out a hearty cheer. McElroy smiled upon this display of unity and solidarity.

"Sir!" one of the pilots yelled out. "What news of the situation at home?"

"Initial reports are that the epidemic was halted in the major cities before it could overwhelm the whole country," McElroy explained. "The Home Guard mobilized at the first inkling of trouble and managed to contain the spread."

Another round of cheering went up. McElroy again waited out the adulation before speaking once again. "We are under orders to remain on station where we are to assist with local relocation and settlement issues, but have the expectation of recall before the end of the year."

"Sir!" the voice of a female midshipman carried above the din. "Will we be allowed to get word through to our families?"

"In due time," McElroy tried to console. "The Home Secretary is in the process of stabilizing the country while the Prime Minister is forming a new Cabinet. There is still chaos at home, so communications are command priority for the present time. I'm sorry."

The murmur grew louder. McElroy pleaded for patience. After a few minutes, the crew quieted down and McElroy once again addressed those present. "Please know that everything is being done to locate survivors and re-settle the country. Once things have returned to a state of calm, communications will be reestablished and word sent to everyone's families."

Yet another round of cheers went up for the Captain. McElroy averred slightly, but reluctantly accepted the vote of renewed confidence in his leadership.

Alex and Misa wandered toward the stone jetty favored by Asuka and Shaun. The girls found their surrogate guardians leaning against each other as a cooling afternoon breeze blew off the water.

"Should we leave them alone?" Misa whispered into Alex's ear, eliciting a shiver in response.

"This is kinda important," Alex responded eventually. "Shaun will definitely have to know."

Reluctantly, the girls climbed onto the rough path and presently found themselves back to front with Shaun and Asuka. Alex gently cleared her throat. Asuka lazily turned her head to face her girls as a broad smile played on her face.

"I think I'm pregnant," Asuka laughed playfully.

Alex fish-mouthed as Misa squealed with delight. All three women came together in a group hug and congratulations shared all around. The reasoning for coming out to the jetty nearly forgotten, Misa cleared her head and held Asuka and Shaun by their hands.

"I just heard from the liaison officer," she began. "I guess things are okay in Britain."

Shaun nearly keeled over in shock before he regained his composure. "What does that mean?"

"Apparently, the infection did not affect England like it did the rest of the world," Misa continued. "The Ark Royal is expected to remain here only until the end of the year. After that, they could leave for home."

"Home," Shaun sighed wistfully. "There was a time I feared I would never see it again." He turned to face Asuka. Though she smiled, her demeanor had changed subtly. Shaun nearly missed it, but for a slight droop in her eyes.

"I suppose I should come with you," she said calmly. "I am your wife after all."

Shaun held her to him in a comforting embrace. Alex reached out for Misa's hand. For the first time, it seemed possible their family might break apart.

"Did the liaison say who would be affected by the recall order?" Shaun asked as he turned to face Misa.

Misa shook her head. "He didn't give details. You may want to talk with the ship's captain."

Shaun returned his gaze upon the woman he married. Asuka smiled bravely as she stood up. Shaun joined her presently as the foursome walked toward the beach.

"I can't say for sure," the liaison officer said. "All I know for certain is that the Ark Royal is under orders to remain on station only until the end of the year. After that, we don't know. The new Minister of Foreign Affairs is still putting her house in order. Things could change before that."

The group pondered the news. The liaison looked over to Shaun. "You're Army, are you not?"

"Yes, sir," he responded with a salute. "Why do you ask?"

"You need to check with the Army liaison on Okinawa proper. The orders we received only apply to the Navy."

Shaun nodded. "Any chance I could get word through?"

"Certainly," the liaison smiled. "Come 'round this evening and we'll put you through on the wireless."

"Thank you, sir," Shaun saluted once more. The party set off down the lane toward home.

Misa sat on the floor and stared at Alex. Noticing this, Alex blushed heavily and tried to hide behind her growing ginger locks. Failing that, she turned to face the wall. Misa crept on all fours and settled herself next to her love.

"What now?" she asked as Alex regained a bit of her composure. "What will happen to us when-"

"If," Alex interrupted.

Misa cocked an eyebrow in mild irritation. "You know that Shaun-san will want to go home. And nee-chan will go with him. What happens to us?"

"I am not going to let that bother me until we know for sure what those two are going to do," Alex said evenly. "No point in getting worked up over what could be nothing."

Misa lowered her head. "Is that the attitude you had at school? Not let anything bother you?"

"Yes," Alex replied matter-of-factly. "If I had let the others get to me, that gave them power."

"That's not what I meant," Misa sniffed. "That day…the last day…"

Alex let Misa trail off. She knew exactly what Misa meant. Alex couldn't bear the thought of letting Misa know that she would have been on her own if she hadn't followed Alex into the locker area that first hour. Alex tried to stifle a tear, but it escaped all the same. Misa caught sight of this and held Alex by the shoulders.

"You promise me that you wanted to save me," she pleaded as Alex suppressed her emotions. Anger, fear and sadness all fought for dominance as she bored into Alex's eyes. "Swear that to me."

"I – I promise," Alex swore through sobs.

Misa held Alex close to her as they both cried onto each other's shoulders.

Spent, the two girls cuddled close and fell asleep. Asuka came to check on them. She and Shaun watched as they slept then quietly left the house.

"Right, sir. I understand," Shaun spoke into the receiver. "Yes sir. Very good, I shall let my wife know. That is correct, sir. This past spring, sir, just after we arrived. Of course I do, sir. On shore. Captain McElroy of the Ark Royal, sir."

Asuka sat in a chair next to the radio set as Shaun spoke with whomever was on the other end. Privy to only half the conversation, she maintained an even demeanor even as her fears of being separated grew. Shaun would turn every so often and offer a comforting smile, but this did little to settle Asuka's stomach.

"Very good, sir. I shall make the necessary arrangements. Thank you, sir."

Shaun replaced the headset and stood up. Stretching briefly, he offered his hand to Asuka who took it without hesitation.

"What did your superiors have to say?" she asked as they left the radio shack. "Will you have to leave?"

"Interestingly enough," he said smiling. "I have to remain here indefinitely."

Asuka hesitated a moment while the information sank in. Her eyes lit up as the realization sank in. She cried happily as she wrapped her arms around her husband.

"I thought you would have to leave," she sobbed.

"I thought so as well," Shaun stifled a tear. "Circumstances are such that I have to remain here."

"Why is that?"

"Wouldn't say," Shaun replied. "Near as I can tell, England is on complete lock down. No one in or out."

"What about your commitments to the British Army?" Asuka said as she broke the embrace. "Don't they want you back home?"

"Normally, yes," Shaun responded. "However, since I was stationed here as part of a trust-building program between Japan, Great Britain and the US, my orders are still in effect. Unless the Ministry of Defense recalls me, I am to remain here."

"That is wonderful news," Asuka sighed. "I was so worried that our new family would be torn apart."

"Ah, yes. About that," Shaun smirked. "I find myself in an interesting situation. Since I married you, a Japanese national on Japanese soil, I have the option of remaining here and naturalizing. However, because Captain McElroy as a British officer, married us, I can return home with you and you naturalize British."

"What about our girls," Asuka frowned slightly. "I am not willing to leave them behind, but I don't want you to give up being British."

Shaun laughed at this. "I shall always be English at heart, my dearest. My home, however, is wherever you and they are."

"Are we to remain here in Okinawa?" Asuka asked perking up again.

"I can't think of a better place than this bit of paradise," Shaun pledged.

Alex awoke with Misa sprawled across her torso. Shades of Osaka playing in her memory, Alex was half tempted to check if Angie was in the room. Realizing they were alone, Alex gently shifted her weight to induce Misa to wake on her own. Failing that, she could gently tickle the girl's sensitive armpit which lay in close proximity to a deft strike.

Misa's eyes opened and focused on Alex's kind smile. She smiled in return and sat upright beside Alex.

"I've been thinking the last couple of days," she said as Alex gently smoothed her violet locks.

"What about, sweetie?"

"Ever since Corporal Davis and his team returned with those students, I had been thinking about our own schooling. And…"

Alex cocked her head as Misa trailed off. "And…?"

Misa blushed and buried her face in her hands. "Having a baby."

Alex went wide eyed. "D-Did you say, baby?"

Misa nodded quickly, her face still hidden from view.

Alex let her jaw hit the deck as Misa sighed contentedly. This was tremendous news, far beyond anything Alex could conceptualize.

"A-ano," Alex stammered. "When you say having a baby…"

"I think I should have a baby," Misa stated mater-of-factly. "Based on everything we've seen and heard, there cannot be that many people left breathing now. We saw how completely Japan fell."

Alex was still wrapping her head around the concept of 'baby' and completely missed Misa's rationale.

"Who do you think is going to have this baby?" Alex remained fixed on the subject.

"I told you," Misa scowled playfully. "I would have it. I want you capable of defending us in a worst case scenario."

Alex snapped to the present as Misa clapped her hands twice and chanted "kuwabara" several times to ward off misfortune. Eventually the mechanics of pregnancy slowly filtered into Alex's head as she regarded the girl she loved in a new light.

"Wait…that means…"

Misa nodded, a slight blush played on her cheeks.

"With a – a –"

Misa's blush intensified. "A man."

Alex's head popped as smoke bellowed from her ears. She collapsed in a heap. Misa sidled next to her and hugged her close.

"I don't think…" Alex tried to speak. "…Someone else…my girlfriend."

Misa smiled, but said nothing for a few moments while Alex got a hold of herself.

"I still love you above all others," she whispered a few minutes later. "Nothing will ever change that. I am only thinking to the future. It would be selfish to keep only to ourselves."

Alex sighed gently as she held Misa to her bosom. Misa could hear Alex's heart pounding in her chest. She gently reached up and caressed Alex's cheek just before Alex gently nibbled on a fingertip.

"Selfish, huh?"

Misa nodded. "The child would be ours. The donor need not have to worry about raising it."

Alex pondered the idea before speaking carefully. "How would that play out? The old world is gone, but not the attitudes of the survivors."

Misa bore a confused expression before the realization set in. "You're thinking how it would look for two lesbians raising a kid?"

Alex nodded solemnly. "No easy task. Despite everything that's happened, social prejudices are still with us."

Misa thought to the self-righteous faces of the survivors in their village as she and Alex strolled past hand in hand. The snide whispered comments that were denied when brought to light, but there all the same. The men would glare and scheme and plan, but knew they were no match in a one on one against the imposing figure of Alex. Additionally, she and Misa carried with them the implicit protection of Sgt Philips, Corporal Davis, Lance Corporal Edmonds and Private Sharpe. Both knew they would all swoop in to deliver swift and terrible justice should any harm befall either girl. All the same, they fell into a decided second class category whenever their protectors were not present.

"Something to think about," Misa conceded. "I am in no rush, but I still want to keep an eye on the future."

Alex smiled and began humming her grandmother's lullaby as she rocked gently side to side.