New Jersey sat on her bridge mapping out their course by lamplight. She had ordered their convoy to kill the lights through the canal to avoid detection from either side. Akashi and the other two battleships were more than happy to comply with the Union's Black Dragon. New Jersey was so caught up in her planning that she didn't hear the soft click of her radio as it activated on the emergency frequency. Whether it be the full moon or the sheer darkness of the world around her, New Jersey found herself nodding off before deciding to stand and walk to the windows on her bridge. With a small sparkle in her eye, she looked up to see millions of stars in all kinds of colors ranging from red to white and anything in-between. It was then that her focus was returned to the present by the clearing of a throat whose voice New Jersey had been longing to hear since she had left Gibraltar.
"In Napoli… where love is king. When girl meets girl… here's what we say…" Vittorio's voice sounded on the radio, singing in tune with an unknown string instrument in the background.
New Jersey, while confused slightly, felt her eyes begin to burn slightly as tears threatened to flow forth.
Vittorio continued, as if she knew New Jersey was listening. The instrument in the background picked up to something more akin to a dancing waltz.
"When the moon hits your eyes just like a big pizza pie, that's amore… When my world seems to shine like I've had too much wine, that's amore. Church bells ring… ting a ling a ling, ting a ling a ling, and I sing Vita Bella…" Vittorio continued.
New Jersey broke down crying, careful to remain silent as she listened to every word, each one feeling like Vittorio was pouring her heart and soul into every note. It was this kind of thing that got New Jersey interested in Vittorio when they had met, but now the song had a new meaning.
"When you walk in my dreams, but I know I'm not dreaming, Signore… scuzami, but you see, back in old Napoli, that's amore!" Vittorio finished before bringing the receiver closer to her mouth.
"I don't know for sure if you can hear this, Amore Mio, but it is my solemn hope that you did. Even if you left for just a moment, I'd miss you as if you'd never return. I love you. More than life itself. And I would give anything to be with you now. Goodnight my beautiful Signore. I will await your return with an undying love in my heart." Vittorio spoke as the line cut out. The moment the line cut out, New Jersey let it out. Tears poured from her eyes as she wailed out into the night, wishing for nothing more than to be in the presence of her lover again.
In the midst of her wailing, memories came flooding back to her. Her first night waking up in Gibraltar. The serenading Italian battleship outside her door. The warmth and comfort of another woman's body as they laid together and made love all through the night, listening only to their frenzied breathing and the midnight ambiance of portside Gibraltar. These memories coupled with Vittorio's song broke New Jersey down to her core, taking the fierce black dragon of the union, and turning her into a mere woman, yearning and pining for the tender embrace of her lover once more.
A small knock on the door had New Jersey quickly drying her eyes and looking to the ceiling to stave off more tears from showing.
"Jersey?" Massachusetts asked from the other side of the door.
"Massachusetts?" New Jersey asked as she opened the door, allowing the mocha skinned battleship entry onto her bridge.
"Are you alright?" Massachusetts asked softly.
New Jersey cocked her head.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" New Jersey asked as she sniffled a bit to keep her nose from running.
"Because the rest of us heard that song too. It kicked in on the emergency channels. We all know it was meant for you, Jersey." Massachusetts spoke as she saw New Jersey begin to tear up once again.
"It's only been a few months… since I got to know her. Yet somehow, she's become the light of my life. Guiding me through the hell we now find ourselves in. We haven't even left the region and I already miss her… like a lover going to war." New Jersey said as Massachusetts closed the door behind her. Massachusetts went to New Jersey and embraced her in a soft hug.
"I know how hard it can be, Jersey. But just think. Imagine all the things we have heard about this new Commander. His ships get mad because he throws himself into danger for their sake. And for me personally… I think we can all take solace in the fact that he will do everything he can to make sure we live. So just keep strong, Jersey. You'll see Vittorio again. Hell… I'll offer myself to protect you just for that purpose. Jean will give me hell for it… but she too understands." Massachusetts spoke as New Jersey hugged her tightly.
"That won't be necessary… but I thank you. You're right. We've heard nothing but good things about this commander. I will survive long enough to see Amore Mio once more." Jersey fumbled over the Italian pronunciation a bit, causing both battleships to begin laughing.
"You know, Jersey. Your Italian could really use some work." Massachusetts said as she sat on the table bolted onto New Jersey's bridge.
"Vittorio and Abruzzi have been teaching me bit by bit. But the pronunciation with my accent is a bit difficult to pull off it seems." New Jersey said.
Massachusetts smiled before taking a small breath.
"L'italiano è una lingua semplice, New Jersey. Devi solo provare un po' di più." Massachusetts spoke, mimicking a perfect Italian accent in the process.
New Jersey stood slack jawed in front of the South Dakota class Battleship.
"What the hell did you just say?" New Jersey asked, her tone one of pure surprise.
"I told you. Italian is a simple language to learn if you just apply yourself, Jersey." Massachusetts said with a soft smile.
"It was all that time in Sicily, wasn't it?" New Jersey asked.
"It was only two months, but yes. Being immersed in an Italian speaking culture as opposed to a Spanish and English-speaking culture, like Gibraltar, makes for an easy time learning the language." Massachusetts said.
New Jersey's smile soured a bit.
"Well not all of us can spend all of our time in Sicily, Massachusetts." New Jersey poked.
"True. But it was you and Vittorio who put Jean Bart and myself there. So, you only have yourself to point fingers at." Massachusetts said.
New Jersey, now fully chastised, sat back in her chair.
"I'm still going to miss her something fierce." New Jersey spoke.
"I know. But just think. When we link up with the Commander, you'll be able to talk to her whenever you want. He was able to contact us from the other side of the world." Massachusetts said softly.
"Yeah. I know. I know." New Jersey lamented as she looked out the window back towards the Mediterranean.
"I promise I will return to you, my love." New Jersey spoke softly as she turned her eyes forward.
Massachusetts smiled.
"Are you going to be alright?" Massachusetts asked.
"Yes. I'll be fine. Please return to your vessel. I will relay our formation and route once we leave the canal." New Jersey said, wiping her eyes one final time.
"Don't be afraid to call on us if you need an ear, Jersey." Massachusetts said as she left New Jersey's bridge and made her way back to her own ship.
New Jersey smiled and sat at her deck, pulling over a telegraph receiver. She began tapping a message.
"Your voice was beautiful, my love. So serene it moved me to tears. Wait for me… I will return to you so we can create even more wonderful memories." New Jersey's message read.
"Are you sure she got it?" Vittorio asked as she stood in her room.
"Yes. I managed to get limited access to the emergency frequency for you, Lady Vittorio." Abruzzi spoke.
"Thank you. I do not know what came over me. I felt the urge to sing a song for my recently departed." Vittorio spoke. She had risen from her bed after a few hours being unable to sleep. Before Abruzzi, Vittorio stood in a transparent white nightgown she had grown accustomed to wearing in New Jersey's presence when they would often sleep together.
"And what a beautiful song it was, Lady Vittorio. Did it ease your aching heart as you had hoped?" Abruzzi asked.
"It did. Maybe now I may be able to get some sleep. The warm memories of Amore Mio will keep me company tonight as I drift off to sleep." Vittorio said as Abruzzi took that as her cue to exit.
"Shall you need more assistance, you know where to find me, Lady Vittorio. Tomorrow we brief the task force on the raid for the German Blueprints. So please get some rest." Abruzzi spoke as she exited the room, allowing Vittorio to return to her bed. Vittorio laid in her bed and breathed deeply into one of the pillows on the other side of the bed.
With a soft smile, Vittorio drifted off to sleep, hearing a soft beeping in her ear. Her mind automatically translating the morse code.
"Your voice was beautiful, my love. So serene it moved me to tears. Wait for me… I will return to you so we can create even more wonderful memories." The Message read.
Vittorio smiled further as she clutched the pillow that still held the scent of her lover, allowing herself to fall into the clutches of sleep, comforted by memories of carnal nights together.