The sound of horns in port had Vittorio jumping from her chair in the command room and dropping into a full sprint towards the docks. Once her face met the afternoon sun of the Mediterranean, she scanned the incoming ships until she found her target. The massive bastion of armor and guns that had swept her off her feet months before. It was only when she spotted the distinct shock of blue hair that she took off down the steps, nearly tripping over her own feet to reach the port proper. She waited patiently as the four battleships docked before she ran up the gangway onto the familiar hull of the Iowa class battleship that bore the name of her lover.

"Amore!" Vittorio cried as she sprinted into the waiting arms of New Jersey, who had been expecting this since the moment she spotted Vittorio on the docks. The impact of running into her threw them both to the ground as Vittorio hugged New Jersey with no intention of releasing her anytime soon.

"I'm back." New Jersey whispered into her lover's ear.

"I know. And it makes me happy that you have returned to me, mi amore." Vittorio spoke as tears flooded her eyes.

"You know I can't stay forever, right?" New Jersey spoke as she smoothed Vittorio's long white hair.

"But the next time you leave, we will leave together. I refuse to be separated from you again. That is truly a fate worse than death." Vittorio sobbed as New Jersey held her tighter.

"I think I'd like that." New Jersey said as she laid a kiss on Vittorio's forehead.

"I will even overlook that detestable pirate in port. I am just so happy to have you home with me." Vittorio whispered as she hugged New Jersey with all her might.

"Jean got messed up pretty bad. She actually saved my ass out there." New Jersey explained.

Vittorio perked up and immediately began checking New Jersey for signs of injury.

"You have cuts and bruises everywhere, Mi amore! Come, we must get you taken care of." Vittorio said as she helped New Jersey to her feet.

"Cuts and bruises aren't anything. Jean was our saving grace, V. If not for her, Concealment would have killed all of us. That… thing was able to disable my radar and fire control ability. Thankfully Jean remained unaffected during that fight so I could tap into her radar information to aim the guns manually." New Jersey explained as Vittorio drug her off the deck and onto the gangway.

"How bad is she? I can have the repair team set to work right away." Vittorio asked.

"When the second one showed up, she was swarmed by explorer class sirens and nearly killed by all the stab wounds and damage to her hull. Not to mention the damage from Richelieu's shells that nearly melted the bow off." New Jersey said.

"The Cardinal is here?" Vittorio asked.

"She is. Richelieu is currently looking after her sister and Massachusetts. Massa took this pretty hard too. She abandoned her vessel during the fight to protect Jean and severely overexerted herself." New Jersey informed.

"I understand. Repair crews will set to work immediately. You and I, however, have much to discuss. Shall we head to the bath so you can get cleaned up?" Vittorio asked.

New Jersey smiled.

"You just want to get me naked, Don'cha?" New Jersey quipped.

"It's been too long. Three weeks may not seem long to you, Amore. But that is three long weeks of returning to a cold bed and an empty chamber. The room felt as if death had moved in, rendering it all lifeless. I tried my hardest to get through… but by the fourth day, I found that sleeping in the courtyard was a preferable alternative to sleeping in our room." Vittorio spoke.

"I guess I can't leave you alone, can I?" New Jersey asked.

"Correct, mi amore. I will not allow you to leave me again. If you leave, we both do, and the others are very much aware of this fact." Vittorio spoke as New Jersey sighed.

"So be it. I'll just have to be your sword and shield then, milady." New Jersey teased as she kissed Vittorio's cheek, causing the Italian battleship to blush uncontrollably.

"Come along then… I have a hot bath waiting for you. And I will have the cook prepare an amazing feast." Vittorio said.

"Cook? Did we have a cook?" New Jersey asked.

"Ah. I guess we did not. Not before your departure. One of our patrol destroyers east of Sardegna found two pairs of cubes in a box and delivered them discreetly to us. We awakened them and were quite surprised to be in the presence of two of her Majesty's finest. King George and Howe have come on as the base's chef and patissier. We should meet them before you and I retire for the evening. We have much to do in the morning." Vittorio spoke.

"In the morning? It's only noon." New Jersey retorted.

"I know what I said. You and I will be catching up on the three weeks you were away. It's been quite lonely without you, Amore." Vittorio said softly.

New Jersey swallowed hard as she realized the lack of potential for sleep.

"George, Vittorio is coming with someone to meet with us." A blonde-haired battleship spoke.

"So, I've heard. To think we would awake so far from the isles is quite astonishing. But truly there must be a purpose." KGV spoke as she looked at Howe who was busy making bread and cookies.

"Apparently she's fallen in love with an American Battleship. Don't know who though." Howe spoke as the door to the kitchen opened.

"Vittorio, welcome back." KGV spoke as she wiped her hands on a towel.

"George, Howe. This is New Jersey. Iowa class from the Union. Mi amore. As such, I would like a feast for the port. Of course, I can have some of the men pitch in to help, George… would that be okay?" Vittorio asked.

"A feast, huh? You've somehow managed to keep this place stocked with some of the finest things money can buy… so sure. I'll get to work preparing a feast worthy of her Majesty." KGV spoke as New Jersey stiffened.

"George. Howe. I just remembered something that I feel is important. While I was out, and when the Admiral came to rescue us, I saw Elizabeth." New Jersey said.

"You did? Is she safe? The isles are not safe for her right now." Howe spoke.

New Jersey cast her eyes down.

"She does not look like she did during the war. This Elizabeth is not the one we know. I didn't get to question the Admiral, but this Elizabeth is a warfighter just as much as a ruler. She is not the one we knew." New Jersey said.

"I see. Then we must hope that her majesty is safe elsewhere. We can confront the Admiral when we come across him." KGV spoke as she set about planning the feast for that evening.

Vittorio looked at NJ as they left the kitchen.

"Amore… they didn't take it as you meant it… did they?" Vittorio asked.

New Jersey shook her head.

"I believe the battleship Queen Elizabeth has perished. But if it keeps them going, to believe that their Queen is elsewhere. Then I shall not push the matter. Better to have two more warriors to the cause than not." New Jersey explained as she and Vittorio made their way back towards the Command building.