A/N: Twenty Seven Thousand reads? That means a lot to me. Even if my apparent lacking in this story doesn't show it.
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She wasn't sure of how this would go. Worried didn't begin to describe what she felt at the current moment, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. So many feelings were currently welled up within her, she didn't know what to suppress and what to let manifest. But the carrier knew something was going to happen one way or the other. She just hoped whatever happened was in her favor.

Watching the snowfall upon Yokosuka, it calmed her somewhat, put a block to her nerves. It helped her think that everything would go alright in the end, but maybe it was her sister making her feel that way as well. Her sister had always been there for her, ever since the day she had come through the gateway. Sometimes acting as a hindrance and sometimes acting as a help, it always differed on the day. But no matter what, it'd always been in her best interests. Or so her sister claimed when something could be traced back to her. Honestly, the carrier couldn't keep track of her sister one way or the other, but whatever happened, she knew her sister only had good intentions.

Looking to the right of her, on the bench she was now seated on, sat the cup of hot chocolate that was now put there. A hot chocolate, three little marshmallows, and a dollop of whipped cream. Just as she had been told they liked it. Her sister assured her that with this beverage in tow, the deal was sealed, there'd be no problems going forward. But the woman wondered just where her sister was getting her information. At that, she began to wonder just how logical this idea was in the end.

Crunch.

Her thoughts froze almost instantly, like her engines, as the sound of approaching footsteps registered to her hearing. The sound of heavy footfalls stepping on frozen leaves and grass, making their way closer to the carrier suddenly became one of the least favorite noises in her mind. After a moment however, the form of a woman appeared in her peripheral vision, knowing full well already of just who it was now standing there. Slowly turning her head, she confirmed it. Her sister had done her job clearly, and now the rest was on her and her alone. And as the woman stepped up next to the bench, looking out over the water, a comfortable silence enveloped the two of them, Japanese and American alike.

Watching the woman a bit longer, the carrier knew she would have to say something eventually. After all, the woman had decided to accept her sister's invite out here in privacy. And she no doubt knew that her sister was trying her best to keep the area closed off to the rest of the Base so that she could do this properly. But the problem was, no plan survived first contact with the enemy. And that was no different than it had been before. Taking a breath, she brought her cup away from her lips, resting it against her thigh, taking pleasure in the warmth that the liquid was bringing as it warmed her hands. Clearing her throat somewhat, that garnered the attention of the woman as she turned her gaze to the carrier, still standing next to the bench. That's when she noticed the extra cup sitting there, waiting to be claimed.

"Is that for me?" She asked as her smile was ever present. "Or are you expecting another American ship girl to join you out here? That would be odd, considering how adamant your sister seemed to be on the subject of me joining you out here, even with my sisters heckling her for it." She said, the smile ever present. The carrier looking up at her could have sworn that the smile was even warming the surrounding area. Suddenly realizing she was staring, the carrier suddenly snapped back to reality in a flurry.

"No! Y-yes, I m-meant yes! It's for you!" The carrier blurted out. The woman looked surprised for a moment before smiling and bending down and picking the beverage up before wiping the seat clear of snow. After a moment, she eased herself down onto the bench with the carrier, causing the seating to groan somewhat under the pressure. Who could blame it though? Both women seated upon it had once been several thousand tonnes of fighting steel.

"Thank you." The woman said as she took a sip, allowing the beverage to make it's way over her tongue. "It's quite good." She said, her smile ever present. "Did you make this?" She asked.

The carrier gave a slow nod. "Yes.... I had to have help from Langley though. She makes the best hot chocolate on base out of anyone so I figured I could ask her." She said. The battleship sitting next to the carrier nodded at that.

"My first hot chocolate in this form and it couldn't be a better day for it." She said as she took another sip. "Your skills certainly aren't one to be trifled with, that much is to be certain." She said with another gleaming smile, causing the carrier to blush somewhat, not being able to help the small smile that worked it's way over her lips.

A tense silence settled over the two, the Battleship simply sipping her beverage as she looked out over Tokyo Bay, watching as the snow fell on the water, only to be dissolved as it made contact with the body of water. The carrier however didn't even make a noise, unsure of how to progress now. Sure, she had run a hundred various scenarios. A hundred various outcomes, which truth be told, some seemed more plausible than others. But it seemed that the carrier was fresh on luck today of all days.

"So?" The American sitting on the bench with her spoke as she glanced to the woman. "Might I ask just what the reason was for asking me out here? Not that I don't enjoy the beverage, or the peace, or the company." She said with a slight hum. "Especially the company." She added. "But it makes me wonder what all of this is about I must admit. If this is about some old grudge from back then, then by all means-"

"No!" The carrier suddenly blurred out at that. "That's not it! I promise you! That's not it!" She said, hands waving in a frenzy. The battleship arched a brow at that in some surprise before slowly nodding her head, sipping at her drink as she adjusted her scarf. One of the few items she'd been able to actually call hers, the Admiral had bought it for her after she'd found it and practically fell in love with the item. On the item, it had multiple drawings of a Cardinal bird on it.

"So then I have to ask. Why is it that you've called me out here? You've obviously a reason for it. But you're not being very forthcoming with it." She said as she sipped at her drink. The carrier only looked down at her feet as her nerves began to surge to new heights. Had this been a bad idea? The more time that passed by, the carrier was starting to think so. But before her line of thought could advance much further in that direction, the battleship placed a hand on the carrier's leg. "Hey. Come on. Talk to me. I'm quite curious as to why you've asked me out here with you."

At the physical contact however, the carrier nearly exploded. But bringing herself back down to the land of the same, she took a slow look at the battleship before nodding.

"Our human.... our human forms like this bring new challenges. New feelings. When we were in our hulls, we had feelings, notions that we were used to. But in these forms, it's all uncharted waters. Everything we experience is new to us. Anger. Happiness. Sadness. All feelings that were somehow made available to us because of the gateway, which we still have no idea how it's fully possible." She Answered. "But with that being said, there's still so much we don't know about these feelings or these forms." She Answered. The battleship only nodded at that as she watched the carrier, taking another sip from her hot chocolate.

"Such as...?" The battleship inquired.

"Love." Came the answer. The battleship only nodded at that as she smiled, looking over Tokyo Bay as she nodded.

"From my first crew to my current crew, Love was a common word aboard. At first, it was talk of the girl's that they had waiting at home for them. From Oregon to New York, all I heard was talk of the ones they had waiting at Home for them. And it was part of their reasons for signing themselves up into my care as well. The need to protect those that they cared about was quite the empowering feeling. Especially in war like the one they soon found themselves in." She said as she looked to the carrier. Girl in question nodded at that as the battleship sitting next to her. "So, I've to ask. Is this meeting pertain to that subject? One of love?" She asked.

"I don't know.... but I know.... I know I.... I know I like you..." the carrier finally admitted. The battleship only nodded her head at that as she chuckled somewhat.

"But you're not sure how, I'm assuming? Given all the secrecy and privacy about this meeting?" She asked. The carrier only nodded at that.

"I'm not sure if it's just a crush kind of way or I'm just so star struck, I'm acting like a crazed loon." She sighed as she looked to the battleship. "But I figured it better to get this whole thing out of the way and off my chest before it starts making me stir crazy." She said before groaning. "Why we emotion?" She finally asked. The battleship laughed, the kind of heartfelt and gentle laugh, as she looked out over the waters of the bay.

"It comes with the territory." She Answered. "If we became human, but didn't have any emotion to it, it'd be just as if we were given a second version of our steel hulls." She said as she sipped at her drink as she brushed some hair behind her ear. "We were given emotion so that we could experience all the things our crews did. Anger. Sadness. Happiness. And even love." She said as she looked to the carrier. "But I know my carriers. That's not the only thing that's bothering you about this. Out with it."

"You're... you're a battleship. And I'm a carrier. It's not... it's not normal on Base. We have couples like E and Akagi. Or Arizona and Haruna. Not a carrier and a battleship." She said. The battleship only watched the carrier for a moment before laughing somewhat, covering her mouth somewhat as she did so.

"I'll tell you this. I'm old, far older than even yourself in the amount of years I've lived. So pardon my French, may Strasbourg forgive me, but that's bullshit. You shouldn't let something like that stand in the way of what makes you truly happiest. And if that's me, so be it. But don't let something as insignificant as our differing classes be in the way. And during the war, or my career for that matter, do you know what I was used for? What my country saw me fitting for?" She asked.

"Carrier escort....?" Answered the carrier.

"Carrier escort." The battleship confirmed. "My sisters and I, we were the first and final line of defense of our flattops. From the Second World War to the Cold War, we stood as walls for which our carriers could find solace behind. Of course, when we weren't sleeping that is." She laughed slightly. "But the point still stands that if you really think hard about it, it'd make far more sense to pursue a carrier in a choice of a relationship." She said, causing the carrier She was sitting with to force down a happy laugh. "But with all this being said, there's still something you need to take into account." The battleship said softly.

Looking at the battleship in a curious manner, the carrier gestured for her to continue. Holding her hand out in front of her, the battleship watched her fingers bend and move as she rotated her hand.

"I'm still new to all of this. I'm new to this Base. Well, not new. But newly returned. And I'm just not ready for that kind of thing so soon after becoming human. It feels like rushing into it at that point. So at this point, I'm going to have to refuse." She said as she looked to the carrier. Girl in question only looked at the battleship for a moment before looking down at the ground with a solemn expression. At this however, the battleship only chuckled. "Only if to think about what's on the table though." She said, causing the carrier to look up once more.

"R-really...?" She asked. The battleship nodded at that.

"Really." She Answered as she drained the rest of her beverage. "If you will allow me the ability to think this through. And really think it over, I'll give you an answer at Christmas. Who knows. Maybe you'll get a kiss under the mistletoe as an answer." She said with a smile. "But if being together like that makes you nervous on the account of the others, we can make it private." She said as she leaned back against the back of the bench somewhat. "I've no problem with that and it provides a bit of serenity. Especially with the German's set to arrive in the new year and our own fleet still putting its final members in place." She said. This prompted the carrier to blush somewhat at the thought of a kiss as she buried her face, the green scarf doing nothing to conceal her cheeks. The battleship laughed somewhat as she watched the woman.

"You're quite cute when you blush." She said as she put a finger to her lips. "But you didn't hear that from me." She hummed. The carrier only blushed harder, her face turning a dark red at the compliment.

"We-Well, you're really p-pretty too..." The Carrier stammered as she looked up at the battleship. Woman in question only laughed that serene laugh as she nodded, scooting closer to the carrier as she nodded.

"For that, I think you deserve some warmth." She said as she hooked a long, slender arm around the woman's waist, pulling her next to her. "It's cold out today and we wouldn't want you catching a cold, now would we?" She asked. The carrier screamed internally as her blush renewed itself. Somewhere in the back of her mind, it was screaming at her for the simple fact that a Kanmusu couldn't get sick. At least not because of the cold. But she wasn't listening.

She was too warm to listen.
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"Do you realize how terrifying it would be to have a Ship girl as a mother?" Anya asked out silence. Blinking, Sofia looked to the Admiral with a slight laugh.

The date was November 30th. The day of the impromptu Thanksgiving feast that the girl's had missed out on because they were on Sortie. And as such, responsibilities were on lax somewhat. Hence the reason Anya and Sofia were seated well within Houshou's as the two split a large parfait between the two of them. The time was edging about four p.m. The American admiral assumed that dinner would be going on within the next two hours, and she was looking forward to it. The girl's first real holiday, so to speak.

"What.... what brought on this line of thinking?" Sofia asked, half curious, half amused if the small smirk was anything to go by. Anya sighed as she picked at the treat the two were sharing.

"I.... didn't get much sleep last night." Anya Answered after a moment. "Bristol wouldn't stay in one position so I had to take extra precautions to make sure I wasn't gonna get kicked in the side. She usually stays still when she sleeps so it was odd. My stomach is still working on mending itself after the gut punch from Tirpitz. But that aside, think about it. Put yourself in the shoes of some sixteen year old boy, thinking you're all that. And then you meet this girl or guy, whatever. Well, say things get pretty serious. Go to meet their parents, and bam. Their mother was a battleship in her past life. Do you know the kind of nerves that would be present? Forget the whole cliche of dad's gonna have his shotgun out on the kitchen table while they have the talk. No, momma's gonna vaguely threaten you with the sixteen inch guns that she has in her back pocket." She said, waving her arms about as she held her spoon in her mouth. Sofia nodded slowly at this, watching the woman as she did so.

"Uh huh." She said as she held a spoon in her hand. "And... exactly which ship girl was this dream focused on?" She asked, a brow arched as she watched the Admiral. Anya blinked a moment before she shook her head.

"Forget I said anything." She Answered as Sofia's amused gaze broke out into a full blow Cheshire like grin.

"Will do, skipper." Sofia snickered as she dug her spoon into the parfait once more. Anya only rolled her eyes at the Captain as she did the same, the two enjoying their treat in relative quiet, the only other visitors to the cafe being Kitakami and Ooi, two who didn't seem to be keen on joining the two Americans in a discussion of any kind.

Those and the five minders of the establishment of course. Standing on either side of the main counter, they conversed with one another as they did so, quietly conversing with one another as they did so, Yancey and Houshou in particular seeming to be in a disagreement of some kind.

As for the Admiral's younger brothers, they had recruited themselves into a game of tag with some of the destroyers. The brothers? They had been surprised a girl that looked to be about twelve years old could match them. The destroyers? Surprised that anyone that wasn't another ship girl could somewhat match them in a speed test. Not Shimakaze however. When the running started, the blonde destroyer had not hesitated to blow the doors off the two special forces.

Overall, the Base had a relative calm to it. Since the day was practically a free day, many places which usually had occupants by now still sat empty. The carrier range was a prime example. The only person to have stepped in there thus far today was Langley and Houshou, getting in a few hours of their time.

Of course, what those hours fully entailed, Anya wasn't privy too. She could be if she wanted. If she really wanted to be. But she tossed the idea aside. What Langley and Houshou did with one another in private wasn't her concern nor was she going to make it so. And she wasn't going to make it public information either whether or not she learned the happenings of said encounter.

Leaning back in her seat, she scratched her head somewhat as she looked back to Sofia, who was still enjoying their shared treat.

But as all things involving girls who are also ships who are also girls, something was bound to happen sooner or later.

Emphasis on sooner.

The combined forms of Yuudachi, Shigure, Harusame, and Yamakaze bolted pasted the front windows of the Cafe. A moment later, the forms of Strasbourg and Illinois followed suit, the two battleships armed with hands full of snowballs. It was clear who was winning the impromptu snow fight if evidence presented was anything to go by.

That was until two Zero fighters zipped past the window as well, firing what looked to be miniature snowballs from it's guns. Blinking, Anya looked to Sofia, who only shrugged as she continued to snack on their treat. Hesitating a moment, Anya only chuckled to herself somewhat as she stood, putting on her coat as she made way for the door.

Stepping out into the softly falling snow of the last day of November, she went about wrapping her scarf around her neck before she looked down the way that the six girls had taken. Seeing only trampled snow and footprints, she decided that the six were long gone. At least in her terms. Shaking her head in amusement, she looked to the way that the six had come from. And there, she found someone to talk to.

This came in the form of Jintsuu, Naka, and Yuubari. The three seemed to be making snow angels during their time off. Well, Naka and Yuubari were.Jintsuu was off to the side with a cup of hot chocolate in hand as she watched her two fellow cruisers unintentionally freeze themselves in the snow.

Looking about more, she found the Gleaves sisters building a snowman with the help of the Takao sisters. It had seemed that Atago had offered her hat to their creation as the snowman now proudly wore the indicated article of clothing.

And once more, she found more of the girls enjoying their time. This time it came in the form of DesDiv Six bunched up on a sleigh as they were pulled through the snow by Reno and Oakland with Tenryuu and Atlanta supervising from a distance.

And yet still, she found more. The three Casablanca sisters had found their own rides as they sat on the shoulders of battleships as their escorts talked with one another. Bismarck Sea had so claimed Tirpitz as the German born battleship's cover sat atop the little carrier's head. Kitkun Bay had selected the second of the Nagato class, Mutsu talking with Tirpitz as her charge squealed excitedly on her shoulders. And St. Lo had wrangled Nagato herself. Something that Anya figure didn't take much work to do.

Humming somewhat, she watched the various girls of the Base continue on with their activities. They were all clearly having some measure of fun, something Anya wasn't going to interrupt if she wasn't asked of directly.

Shaking her head in amusement, she went about heading for the mess. She figured that Liz and her staff would have things under control. Especially since Wash and North had volunteered themselves to the assistance of the kitchen. Turned out despite never cooking anything before, the two battleships had a knack for the culinary arts. And one of the few so far.

She'd witnessed Maryland and Mississippi try to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before. How mustard arrived on the ceiling was a question that still very much haunted the back of her mind. But that was for later. Right now, the American Admiral was searching for a particular battleship. There were constant issues pushing at her mind, despite the day being a breather, but she couldn't ignore it. And her current goal?

Find the reason for the youngest of the Iowa sisters being so cold mannered to herself and the Captain.

Anya wasn't stupid by any means. She had her ideas of what was driving the littlest Iowa to hostility. In fact, a couple of ideas. But she wasn't about to confirm anything that she wasn't sure of. Walking towards the Japanese side of the Base, first she'd have to find the battleship in question. And since today was a day off, she'd not a clue of where Kentucky might be.

So, she either had to search out the woman on her own terms, or find someone who might know her whereabouts. And since Illinois was currently enthralled with some sort of game involving Zeros and destroyers, she wasn't exactly sure what was going on. So the next best bet was the third oldest of the Iowa sisterhood.

She found Missouri with relative ease a couple of minutes later, standing about as she talked with Souryuu, Hiryuu, Ryuujou, and Lexington. Stopping only for a moment as she let Mutsuki and Kisaragi run by, being chased by Indiana and Arizona, the admiral couldn't help but laugh as she watched the destroyers run from their pursuers, occasionally throwing the odd snowball here and there before continuing on, making way for the group of five.

"Hey there Admiral." Lexington Answered as she gave a small wave to the woman. Anya returned the gesture as she stepped up to the five.

"So how're you ladies enjoying the day off?" She asked with a hum as she watched the five. Lexington shrugged as she stuck her hands back in her pockets, presumably to keep them as warm as possible.

"Pretty good so far." Ryuujou Answered first. "It's nice just being able to relax. Even Kaga got up a few minutes later today. Though I think it took Come convincing from Akagi to accomplish such a feat." She Answered with a laugh. Anya nodded at that as she thought about it for a moment before arching a brow.

"Im surprised Akagi's not with E right now." Anya Answered. The four carriers present only laughed at that, Missouri only offering a Serene smile at the question.

"Oh she is. Akagi dragged E back to their room. Last I saw of them, or Kaga did anyways, Akagi and E were snuggled up in Akagi's bed, napping the day away. Sleep. Food. And more sleep. That's gonna be their entire day in a nutshell." Hiryuu answered. Souryuu shrugged at that.

"That's not bad at all. Snuggled up to the girl I like? And then all the food I could ever want? I may be a carrier, but I still have my needs." She said happily. Anya only chuckled somewhat at that as she nodded.

"I'm still not fully used to it. I know the five of you are human and look human, but your past lives..." she trailed off. Lexington chuckled at that as she nodded.

"Thousands Of tonnes of fighting steel compacted and shipped off in bodies to die for." Lexington Answered. "Who mind you, don't gain weight when we gorge ourselves at dinner." She said. Anya rolled her eyes as she patted her belly.

"Don't remind me. It'll be great when this war ends and you become fully human without knowing it." Anya hummed as Lexington looked at the woman in surprise and horror.

"Why would you wish that upon a person! There's so many different foods to try in the world! And I like my waist the size it is now thank you very much!" She Answered. Anya only laughed somewhat at that as she nodded.

"Well, all joking aside." She said, looking to Missouri. "I don't suppose you'd know where Kentucky's gotten off too today, would you?" She asked. Missouri arched a brow at that before tapping her chin a moment in thought. After a few seconds of thinking the question over, she looked back to the Admiral.

"I believe she to be near the water's edge last time I saw her." She Answered as she pointed in the direction, most likely which she had come from. "If she's not there, i am unsure of what to tell you." Missouri said. Anya nodded at that.

"That'll be plenty, thank you." She said, waving goodbye to the five carriers and moving towards the water's edge as the ship girls of the Base continued to enjoy their snow day.

She found some of the carriers, the Midway Sisters, Kaga, Shokaku, and Taihou creating a model sculpture of what looked to be Enterprise's steel hull. Coral Sea even seemed to be decorating what looked like a F4u at the end of her deck. Nodding somewhat, and quickly snapping a picture as she went, she continued to walk on.

Looking around as she did so, trying to spot the battleship in question, she found who seemed to be Ashigara and Nachi chasing after Hatsuharu, Amatsukaze, and Murakumo as the three destroyers were armed with snowballs. But as they rounded the corner, they had to suddenly change course as Haguro and Myoukou emerged, armed with their own weapons.

Making sure to be run over by a heavy cruiser or destroyer alike, Anya continued to make way across base. And still, she found more girls enjoying their snow day, Ise and Hyuga seeming to be having a chat with Oklahoma and Mississippi. The four battleships decked out in winter gear appeared to be making their own snow man, much more well put together than the Gleaves attempt at one.

Anya only chuckled as she rounded around another of the buildings, leaving the four behind her. And as she did so, she found her target. The youngest of the Iowa's was standing along the water's edge, her height and frame unmistakable at this distance. Against the softy falling snow, the whole scene seemed to have a sense of peace to it, something that Anya had a feeling wouldn't last as she approached the battleship.

"What do you want." Kentucky asked without turning to look at the woman. Briefly caught off guard for a moment, Anya continued walking for the woman as she shrugged, hands in the pocket of her coat.

"Thought I'd come around and see how you were doing. I am your admiral, and therefore, your well being falls to me to keep up." She said as she stopped a few feet behind the smallest Iowa as she offered a smile. Based on the head movement, Anya assumed Kentucky's answer to that was an exaggerated roll of the eyes.

"My hero." Came the dry response. Anya only smiled somewhat at that as she stepped up next to the woman, staring out over the water alongside the woman.

"I'm serious." She said as she glanced at the battleship, Kentucky's eyes not coming away from their gaze on the water.

"I'm so glad. It only took a couple of decades for someone to show me some care." Kentucky Answered. "At least I haven't been sent back yet. That's a plus." She Answered in the same dry tone. Anya only nodded at that.

So that's what this was about. The fact that the Iowa class had never been fully commissioned. The US Navy had welcomed the oldest four of the Iowa class. But even by the time they were commissioned, the naval age of the gun had been put to rest, the Iowa's themselves obsolete in that field. Passed by with only one real example existing. And even that, Jutland had only been a trickle of what had been expected of the Gun-queens. And so the fifth and sixth of the Iowa's had been cut from production.

They hadn't even tasted salt.

They had been kept around as salvages should their fighting sisters have required the parts to keep with their jobs and in the line of duty.

Illinois didn't seem bothered by this.

Kentucky was another story.

"We're not gonna send you back, Kentucky. Not through the gateway." Anya Answered.

"To the scrapyard then? I should've figured." Kentucky surmised. "Scrapping in this form should be an experience. Lots of blood. Screams. Gonna be great." Came the dry sigh. Anya shook her head.

"Kentucky, we aren't going to scrap you. This war requires all hands on deck. And that includes you and Illinois. So what if you didn't touch salt back then? You're still a battleship. An American one at that." Anya said. Kentucky shrugged her shoulders.

"Am I though?" Kentucky asked, still not looking at the woman. "Wasn't completed. Wasn't launched. Wasn't commissioned. As far as I know, I'm just a place holder. Holding the spot warm until Iowa or Jersey finally wake up. So I've to ask myself am I really an American? Because I certainly don't feel like one." She said. "Look at you, being the Admiral. You're American. The Captain's American. Arizona's American. Missouri's American. Chicago's American. But me? There's not a flying chance that I'm American. Not truly." She Answered. Anya shook her head as she watched the woman.

"Kentucky, you-"

"No! I'm not! I don't need your pep talks. I don't need your persuading. I don't need your admiralty bullshit!" Kentucky yelled as she turned to the woman, jabbing the woman in the chest as she looked down on her. "Iowa class or not, I am not an American. Doesn't matter what history says. Doesn't matter what the record books show. I never once flew the flag of the country that had ordered me built. Never once flew the flag of the country that put me to the scrappers. And for that, I am thankful." She said, jabbing another finger in Anya's chest. The Admiral winced somewhat at the feeling. Kentucky wasn't the weakest person around, and the Admiral doubted anyone had explained just how much power she had in those arms. But for the sake of the battleship in front of her, she tried to ignore it.

"You need-"

"I don't need anything." Kentucky Answered as she glared at the woman, their heights clear in difference as the battleship turned away from the woman, her back to her. "This is all a fluke. Me being here. Serving like I'm some sort of hero. Like my existence means something. If that isn't a cruel joke, I don't know what is." The battleship huffed. Anya held a moment before reaching out and laying a hand on Kentucky's arm, a move that flared the Iowa's anger. "Don't fuckin touch me." Kentucky growled as she pushed back against the Admiral, eliciting a surprised yelp from the woman.

The battleship hadn't meant for it to happen, she really hadn't. Anger and strength rarely mix well and this was just another example. As Kentucky pushed against the woman, the world seemed to slow as the events unfolded. Since Kentucky's push had been focused on the woman's shoulder, Anya had been sent spinning back somewhat, her feet trying so very hard to right herself. But the blonde woman had no hope as her body rotated a full three hundred sixty degrees before she crashed down, landing on her shoulder that was now so obviously dislocated. As that made contact with the ground, her side wasn't far behind, a crack filling the air as her ribs bore the brunt of the impact along with her shoulder. The snow helped nothing for how hard she'd gone down.

Anya felt the breath knocked out of her from the impact before she eventually ended up on her back.

It had all been over in seconds.

But Kentucky couldn't tear her eyes away from the woman laying in the snow. What had she done? Why had this happened?

Anya writhed somewhat as she brought her right arm over to her left, the latter mentioned limb screaming at the movement.

Shaking herself from her stupor, Kentucky went to try and speak to the woman. But she couldn't find her voice. No words would come to her. Not that it would've mattered anyways.

"ADMIRAL!?!!" A voice yelled, prompting Kentucky to look up from where Anya was laying in the snow. And there, she found Maryland rushing over to the downed American, soon kneeling next to her. Blinking, Maryland seemed to take one long look at the woman, Anya clearly trying to tell something to the battleship. But the Colorado class had seen enough apparently.

Anya could only watch somewhat, wincing at every move she made as she watched the destruction unfold.

"You Bitch! You hurt her!" Maryland yelled as she rushed Kentucky, the Iowa not nearly as ready as she should've been.

Anya watched as Maryland tackled Kentucky, forcing the Iowa backwards onto the ground, battleship ramming battleship as Kentucky toppled backwards, a move that Maryland moved on quickly. Throwing a punch at the woman, Kentucky blocked the attack with a hand. But Maryland had been a Human longer. She had the advantage.

Grabbing hold of Kentucky's wrist that had caught her punch, Maryland held it there as she brought her left fist slamming into the Iowa's face, a hit that seemed to leave Kentucky reeling. A hit that Maryland didn't waste time on as she went on delivering another to her face. And with Mary sitting on Kentucky's waist, the Iowa's movements were rather limited at the moment besides blocking the suddenly enraged Colorado's punches.

"Mary... stop." Anya called, trying to sit up. But her body wasn't having it, screaming at her in pain for even trying to move. Her shoulder personally told her to stay down. But the Admiral wasn't about to let two of her ships beat the hell of one another as she could barely make out the sight of Maryland being pushed off of Kentucky, the Iowa clearly having had enough of being the punching bag.

Gritting her teeth, Anya pushed up with her right arm off of the ground, getting her to a sitting position. And her left side screamed at her for it the entire time. She's no doubt that she had fractured or even broken ribs now. But that was a fact for later.

Slowly getting to her feet, gritting her teeth the entire time, she looked to where the two battleships were still rolling in the snow as the continued to beat on one another, Maryland grabbing Kentucky by the collar and getting in two hard punches to her face before the Iowa caught her fist and applied a fist to Mary's gut before tossing the battleship off of her. But Mary was right back on her as Kentucky tried to get up, the Colorado slamming a fist into the Iowa's gut. Anya shook her head. It was clear she couldn't stop the two as she got to her feet.

"Maryland! Cease and desist!" Anya yelled. "Get off of her!" She tried. But the two battleships continued to throw punches at one another, completely ignoring the woman at the moment. And all Anya could do was watch. Even on her best day, getting in between two ships girls was never a good idea. And now it was between an overprotective battleship and an angry and confused Iowa.

Anya hated seeing them like this. It had been on her. She had read the situation with Kentucky wrong and no one had told the battleship about the strength she possessed. And now she had a battleship beating the shit out of her for it.

Anya was glad that Kentucky was an Iowa. Any other class probably would have caved already.

"Maryland!" Anya tried again, much to the same results. "Get off of Kentucky this instant!" She yelled. But once again, her order fell on deaf ears. And once again, Anya wished she could get involved.

But she didn't have to.

The towering forms of Yamato and Musashi stepped off from either side of Anya, wordlessly approaching the brawlers.

Musashi reached down and grabbed the back of Maryland's collar, hefting the Colorado class off of Kentucky and tossing her a few feet away as she turned to face the woman. And as Maryland immediately got up, immediately intending to go back to Kentucky, she found herself hesitant to do so as she now found Musashi staring her down.

As Musashi had handled Maryland, Yamato offered a hand to Kentucky, bringing the Iowa back to her feet, the American giving a quiet thank you as the Japanese battleship looked between the three of them. "So? What exactly happened to prompt such a ballistic response from Maryland?" Yamato asked. Maryland wasted no time in pointing a accusatory finger at Kentucky as Musashi kept an eye on the American.

"She did! She hurt the Admiral!" Mary all but screeched. Musashi arched a brow at that as she and Yamato looked for Anya to elaborate.

"Is that so..?" Yamato asked as she looked to Anya. The American admiral sighed a moment before nodding.

"I'm pretty sure my left shoulder is dislocated and I've got at least one or two fractured ribs." Anya Answered. "But that's all assumptions. I don't actually know, just what it feels like." Explained. Yamato only nodded somewhat that as she glanced to Kentucky. "But it wasn't her fault." Anya said.

"Not her fault!?" Maryland demanded. "I saw her push you to the ground!" The battleship stressed. Anya nodded.

"And So she did. But I was pushing a subject she clearly wasn't ready to address or even discuss." She Answered. "And I'm really not in a mood for pointing fingers either. Not today anyways." She Answered as she turned to make way back to the Cafe. But it was clear she wasn't walking the distance by herself. At least not within a reasonable time if the limp in her walk was anything to go by.

Anya said nothing as Maryland wordlessly picked up the woman, making way for the Cafe for her.
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Hours had gone by, and the table had been set. The Mess Hall day ready for the impromptu thanksgiving feast they were having that day. And as Liz, North Carolina, and Washington set the table accordingly, some of the kitchen staff took a look at their handiwork before retreating back to the kitchen.

Instead of the normal round tables that normally dominated the mess hall most days, this was not most days. Now in the middle of the mess hall say one Long grand table, seating for over one hundred and ten people. Something that was well needed given just how large the full Fleet was after the Americans had joined the Base.

So now, it was only a Waiting game. But they didn't have to wait long as Akagi and Enterprise trudged through the door, shaking the snow from their boots before looking to Liz, giving the woman a smile. The English born Japanese woman returned the smile as she approached the two.

"A little birdie told me that you two have been quite the sleepyheads today." Liz hummed. A light pink dusted the cheeks of the two as Enterprise shrugged.

"Hey, I had to make sure her bed is properly built." She Answered. "We don't need her bed collapsing on her in the middle of the night!" Enterprise urged. Liz nodded as a thin smirk appeared on her lips.

"For... sleeping or other activities?" She asked in a innocent tone. Enterprise and Akagi both blinked at the question before their faces began to rapidly heat up, shades of red overtaking their cheeks and the like.

"I uh... well I...." Enterprise stammered. Liz finally lost it and let out a hard laugh as she stepped aside.

"Take your seats. The first of many." Liz answered. Neither carrier really gave a verbal as they walked past Liz quickly, lest one of the other ship girls inquire as to why they could beat a tomato in a color contest.

And the first of many they were as more girls began to show up. By themselves or in groups, it didn't matter. The mess hall was suddenly alive with activity as they began to lose themselves in conversation and the like as they took their seats, bringing the noise levels in the Mess up dramatically.

It was about eighty girls in when Anya finally made her way inside, being helped along by her brothers. They had tried to get her to stay back in bed, but the woman wasn't having it. So the fact that she was up and walking was not much to the liking of her brothers or Arizona, who was following the three in. After hearing what had happened, Arizona had gotten quite involved in making sure all parties involved were alright. But since the other two were battleships, the damage was mostly contained to Anya. Something that no one involved was particularly happy with.

Her brothers eased Anya into her seat between Sofia and Maryland, the two keeping an eye on the woman as she was eased. Anya had staved off a visit to a Medical clinic or such for the day, but the Admiral knew that either Arizona, Sofia, her brothers, or any girl that could overpower her would most likely drag her off to the nearest medical professional at the first chance they could get. And since every single ship girl could overpower her, it was just a question of who, not when. But after the pain of having Sofia pop Anya's shoulder back into it's socket, Anya was pretty sure it'd come down to Mary and Ari.

Of course at this point, most of the girls knew what had gone on between Maryland and Kentucky. And as Kentucky and her sisters walked through the door, Maryland didn't hesitate to turn to look at the battleship, offering her a stern glare, much to the chagrin of Anya. The Admiral in question lightly nudged the battleship, wordlessly expressing her displeasure with Mary's choice of actions.

But as the finale thirty or so girls began to show up, walking through the door, soon taking their seats. And with them, Ishigara, who settled at the end of the table with Anya, Sofia, and the brothers. And of course, to his right sat not other than Kongou.

"If any of you are interested, there's a twenty four hour clinic in town a ways that would be able to properly treat the injuries. Maybe get that arm in a sling." Ishigara Answered. Maryland and Arizona, Who was seated in between Kongou and Haruna traded a glance at that, an action that prompted a groan from Anya as she laid her head on the table. Her brothers laughed at that somewhat as they watched their sister.

"Well it would seem that even as an Admiral, our sister who very much dislikes anything to do with a doctor's office is still very much around." Hank laughed. Anya only let out a pathetic groan at that, one however that wasn't kept up for very long though as the kitchen staff began to emerge with trays and plates, the room immediately becoming immersed in various smells of delicious foods.

The girls lit up in anticipation of all the foods being put in front of them, not a single empty space being left behind as it was all taken by various foods.

It took about ten minutes for all the food to be laid out on the table. But after it had been done, the kitchen staff retreated to the kitchen, Liz giving a small nod to the Admirals and Captain before vanishing behind a door. But just as a few of the carriers were fixing to start digging in, Sofia raised a hand, garnering the attention of the majority of the girls.

Taking a moment to stand, this had now effectively captured the attention of every single person at the table. Taking a moment to look around, Sofia nodded as she smiled. "This is our thanksgiving. That tends to mean you have something that you're thankful for. Now, there's over a hundred present here. But I would like to hear a few things that you all are thankful for." Sofia Answered before sitting down. And to everyone's surprise, someone actually followed through.

Yubari sprung up to her feet, waving her hand wildly. "I've got one! I'm thankful for the fact that Admiral Johnson's sex fiend of a sister hasn't made it to Base yet!" She said. A wave of quiet nods of those who knew of Cynthia passed through the table while some of the destroyers only looked about in confusion. Anya herself laughed at the answer as her brothers only laughed as well, the three present Johnson siblings seeming to find the remark hilarious.

"Agreed." Anya said after a moment. After Yubari sat down, Indiana stood next, taking a moment to let the chuckles and whispers die down. After a moment, she nodded.

"I'm thankful for receiving a second like this." She Answered. "And being able to meet you all like this." She said. "Knowing we were all apart of the same war but sitting here eighty years later is mind boggling. But I wouldn't trade it for anything." She said. Another wave of nods passed down the table as the battleship took her seat. More whispers and laughter passed around for a moment before Myokou stood, waiting for the talking and chatters to cease.

When they finally had, Myokou looked down the table to Anya and Sofia, a small smile gracing her lips.

"I'm grateful that Japan found an ally in the United States, especially after what we did. I'm grateful that your country offered a hand of peace after the war, one that some believe we didn't deserve." She said, watching the two. "And I'm grateful that even to this day, that alliance remains in place. And hope for many more years to come." She said. Nods were given from various girls, between the slower nods from some of the Japanese carriers and the more vigorous nods such as those from Yuudachi and Fubuki.

As Myokou sat down, Bristol made a reach for some of the mashed potatoes that sat in front her, the table falling into scavenging mode. From there, the day only wore on as the Ship girls and officers of Yokosuka were surrounded by friends and family as they enjoyed a late thanksgiving.