A/N: Sooooo I was going to wait until Monday to start posting this...but it felt super weird not posting something on Thursday so here we go. Promise, Vacation edition. So many fun things planned hehehehe...
"Oh wow!" Ally gaped after York opened up the suite they were given. "This is much prettier than the pictures!"
"I'd say you and Emma did a swell job there, kid," York chuckled as she started running around the room looking at everything. Carolina performed her own examination as York carried their bags into the room. "Pick your claim, kid. Which bedroom?"
"Um," he heard Ally thinking before feet running across the floor and doors opening. He waited a few seconds before she popped her head around a corner, "This one! Then you and momma can have the one right next to mine and Aunty Emma and Uncle North get their own rooms upstairs as well!"
"Alright," York chuckled knowing full-well that Emma and North only needed one room, but he wasn't going to say anything. "Wonder where they got to anyway."
"I think Emma was helping Wash get the others organized," Carolina answered following him back to the rooms. She opened the door to the one opposite of the one he and Ally were currently in and walked in. Sitting down on the mattress, she bounced on it a few times before falling back and stretching out across it.
"Comfy?" York chuckled as he walked into the room.
"Very," she replied rolling over onto her side. Ally bounced into the room and up onto the bed to lay across Carolina's side. "Of course, it appears we have an infestation in our room."
"Oh, well there's only one way to get rid of those," York grinned before swooping in and tickling Ally as Carolina held her down. Ally squealed in laughter and squirmed until she was finally able to slide out of Carolina's grip and went running from the room. York leaned down and gave Carolina a quick kiss before hurrying after her.
Carolina shook her head before pushing herself up off the bed and going to scope out the rest of the suite. Walking back out, she glanced around the small kitchenette and living room. There were plenty of chairs or couches and a screen on the wall. The only thing dividing the room was the spiral staircase that led to the upstairs bedrooms. There were plenty of windows and a sliding door that led to a patio.
Walking up to the doors, she glanced out to see that the giant pool they had seen apparently branched out into different alcoves. Around there were the three suites that all resembled bungalows of sorts. She smirked when she saw Grif already stretched out and sleeping on one of the beach chairs in the one the Reds had claimed.
Strong arms wrapped around from behind her as stubble tickled her neck. She glanced over her shoulder to see York looking out the door. A few seconds later, Ally latched around her side and let out a sigh.
"It's super pretty here," she commented.
"Yea," Carolina agreed. "What do you want to do first on your list?"
"We should explore and then eat when we get hungry and then come back and map out a plan!" Ally replied bouncing next to them. "I think tomorrow we should go hang out by the beach cuz I've never been to one before."
"We can do that," Carolina chuckled.
"Sounds good to me," York agreed. They heard the door unlock and opening behind them. York looked over his shoulder, "Took you long enough!"
"Shut up," Emma growled. "Next time you get to explain how the credit system here works to everybody."
"Nah, that's your cup of tea," York chuckled. "You guys get the upstairs."
"I'll take the bags up," North replied. Emma nodded and placed her folder and data-pad down on the counter in the kitchen before opening and pulling out a bottle of water.
"Aunty Emma, we're gonna go explore! Do you want to come?" Ally asked bouncing over to her.
"Let me relax for a few minutes and then yea, I don't see a problem with that," Emma nodded walking around the counter to one of the couches.
"Grif's already made himself comfortable," Carolina chuckled.
"Yea. He didn't even want to hear anything I was telling them after I mentioned that the food is all included," Emma huffed. "Simmons said he would explain it later."
"How about the others?"
"Wash has them pretty under control," Emma shrugged. "At least he claimed to. Doc's in with them. I also already forewarned and apologized to the front desk and management for any and all problems that happen because of them all."
"Oh come on," York chuckled. "They aren't all that bad."
"I'm glad you're so optimistic," Emma replied. "Me, not so much. I foresee problems."
"At least they'll be entertaining problems," York pointed out.
"Good. You can deal with them when they happen," Emma smiled. North came down the staircase scooping up Ally when he got to the bottom and plopping down on the couch next to Emma.
"Are you rested yet Aunty Emma?" Ally asked.
"Couple more minutes," Emma sighed. "We can try and find that one place you said looked fun to eat at."
"Ok!" Ally agreed. "It looked really cool! It's underwater and there's a reef and lots of fishes that swim around!"
"That does sound really cool," York agreed.
"Should I go see if Uncle Wash wants to come with?" Ally asked.
"If you want," York replied.
"I'm going to!" Ally said jumping off North's lap and hurrying to the sliding door. "Which one are they in again?"
"The middle one, right next to ours," North replied.
"Ok!" Ally bounced opening the door, careful not to bump her parents and disappearing out it. Carolina watched her run over to the bungalow next to theirs and knock on the door before sliding it open and going inside.
"Gotta hand it to ya, Em," York smirked. "You know how to pick the spots."
"Thanks," she yawned laying her head on North's shoulder. She looked at Carolina, "Is Church adjusting to his temporary home?"
"That's an excellent questions," Carolina chuckled slipping out of York's embrace. "I should probably pull that out, shouldn't I?"
"Might be a good idea," Emma nodded. Carolina walked back to the room where her bag was and grabbed the extra data-pad that Emma had temporarily stored Church in so that he could enjoy himself as well.
"It's about time," Church complained popping up after she activated it. "Thought I'd never get out of there. You were right when you said this was a passive planet."
"Just don't go digging around in any of the Resort's systems and you'll be fine," Emma warned again.
"No problem," Church agreed. "I'm here to chill just like everyone else. By the way, that shuttle you told me to keep an eye out for should be here in two days."
"Thanks," Emma answered. She looked at York, "Th-"
"We'll talk later," York cut her off covering Carolina's ears as she glared at him. Emma narrowed her own eyes at him.
"I swear, I'm going to kill you," Carolina growled.
"No you won't," York grinned. The door slid open and Ally came back in followed by not just Wash, but Caboose as well.
"They're going to come with us!" Ally exclaimed.
"Yes. I want to see the pretty fishes," Caboose nodded.
"Well alright then," York chuckled. "How about we get this train moving?"
"What's everyone else doing?" Carolina asked Wash as North and Emma both got up from the couch.
"Um, Tucker is sleeping and said he'll fend for himself later. Doc and Donut went to check the place out," Wash ticked off. "Not entirely sure what Sarge and Simmons are doing, but as you can see, Grif has made himself comfortable already."
"I'll let everyone know where you're at if they come looking," Church replied. "Meanwhile, I will kick back and watch some movies."
"Have fun Ghost-man!" Ally waved as the group left. She grabbed onto both York and Carolina's hands.
"Alright kid," York chuckled, "Where to first?"
"Umm," Ally hummed before turning in a random direction, "This way!"
"Daddy, which one is that?" Ally pointed at a small, brightly colored fish as it swam by. She, Caboose and York were up against the glass at the restaurant looking at the fish and coral that were on the other side. The Under Sea restaurant was beach-side and far enough below sea-level that people could observe the coastal reef that was right next to it as they ate.
"Um, good question. Let's see if we can find it on the computer here," York replied tapping at the screen.
Carolina smiled before turning back to what Wash and North were talking about. A thought struck her and she looked at Emma, "So who's on this shuttle that's coming?"
Emma raised an eyebrow at her, "I get the impression that York wants to surprise you."
"Yea," Carolina rolled her eyes. "I don't really want to be surprised though. I just can't think of who he would have coming here that would be a surprise for me. Any other family I have is dead."
"It's nothing really to worry about to be honest," Emma smirked. "Just wait and see. It's all part of his master plan."
"Yea, well his master plan better just not include a wedding ceremony at the end of it," Carolina grumbled reaching forward for her wine glass to take a sip.
"Why a wedding ceremony?" Emma asked giving her a suspicious look. Carolina cursed to herself and tried to hide behind her glass. "Who would be getting married?"
Carolina sighed, "He asked me the other night." A smile widened across Emma's face. That was when Carolina realized North and Wash had both gotten quiet and she turned to see them staring at her as well. "What!?"
"York asked you to marry him and neither of you told any of us?" North asked. Carolina shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Why are you surprised by that? Have you not seen them together?" Emma chuckled. "They're practically married already."
"No, it's not that," Wash added uncertainly. "It's York. Normally he is loud and flamboyant to the point of annoyance about things."
"Yes, but if Carolina told him to be quiet about it, then of course he's going to listen to her," Emma pointed out. Carolina rolled her eyes, but nodded her head. "It's sad you both have known them longer than I have and I apparently have a better grasp of how their relationship works than you two do. My brother is whipped."
"Well congratulations," North chuckled holding up his glass in a toast.
"OH MY GOD IT'S A SHARK!" Caboose's excited voice carried back to the table. The four of them turned to look at them. Ally was on York's back and Caboose was bouncing excitedly next to them as a shark swam by them. "I wonder if it's related to Sharkface."
"So with the whole married thing, you gonna do the whole kid thing again as well?" Wash chuckled.
Carolina huffed, "If it happens, it happens. I'm not forcing it and I'm not actively going to seek out getting myself pregnant. There's still a lot of unknowns at the moment so to be honest, I don't know."
"I think the important thing is that you guys are happy," Emma smiled leaning over to bump shoulders with her.
"I can drink to that," Carolina nodded as the server came over with everyone's food. She waited until they walked away to see that the other three were still watching the fish. She raised her voice enough for it to carry to them, "York!"
He looked back and she pointed at the food on the table. He nodded and tugged Caboose's sleeve so that he would follow them back over, letting Ally down off his back and into the seat between him and Carolina as Caboose sat between him and Wash.
"Momma, did you see all the different fishes!?" Ally asked, amazement laced through her voice.
"I did," Carolina chuckled. "They're very pretty."
"And there was a shark," Caboose added. "It seemed nice."
"I'm sure it is," Wash chuckled. He looked at York, "I would suppose a congrats is in order."
"For what?" York asked as he started eating.
"Carolina told us the news," Wash chuckled as Carolina shot him a death glare across the table.
York paused, his fork halfway to his mouth and turned to look at Carolina, "Did she now?"
"It slipped out…" she rolled her eyes.
"What news?" Ally asked looking between her parents. York was having a stare down with Carolina who was refusing to look at him now. "What news?"
"Your mom and I are getting married at some point," York huffed looking down at her.
"Really!?"
"Yup." Ally smacked his arm. "Hey! No hitting the parent!"
"Then you better tell me these things, silly!" Ally rolled her eyes. "When are you getting married?"
"Don't know yet," York replied. "We have to iron out a few details."
"You'll be the first to know," Carolina added. Ally seemed content with that and went back to eating her food.
"I'd say another round of drinks are in order for the adults here," North chuckled waving down their waitress when she walked by.
"I'm fine," Carolina insisted.
"Momma, you're here to relax," Ally replied. "One more won't hurt you."
Carolina rolled her eyes as the rest sniggered around the table, "Fine. You guys are the one getting up on surfboards tomorrow. It'll be funnier to watch you do it hungover I suppose."
"Nah, it'll be like riding a bike," York chuckled. "Right Wash?"
"You realize it's been years since we've done this, yes?" Wash gave a dry chuckle. "I'm not sure I even remember how anymore. I mean, surfing in general is a huge difference from skateboarding which it's been how long since I've done that."
"Either way, I'd say it's going to be entertaining for us to watch. Right Emma?" Carolina chuckled.
"Oh hell yea," Emma laughed.
"Don't you want to try it yourself?" North asked looking at her.
"Nope. I'm perfectly content sunning myself on the sand and watching you're dumbasses," Emma smirked.
"Then it's settled."
"What's settled?" Emma narrowed her eyes at him.
"I have now made it my goal to get you out at least once," North smiled back.
"Good luck with that," Emma patted his arm. "I'm telling you now, it's not gonna happen. Especially if you all fail as miserably as Carolina and I think you're going to."
"Which the bar is pretty low on your success," Carolina added.
"I love how much faith they apparently have in us," York rolled his eye. He looked down at Ally, "What about you? Are you of the same opinion?"
"I am withholding my opinion until I see you in action," Ally replied diplomatically. "Uncle Caboose and I are going to build a huge sandcastle."
"It's going to be awesome!" Caboose agreed.
"We'll have to stop at the shops they have and pick up some supplies for you then," Carolina pointed. "In fact, I don't think any of us have anything for the beach."
"Shopping when we're done then?" York asked looking around the table at everyone else.
"I think Emma and I are going to wander off on our own for a bit," North said looking at her for confirmation. She nodded. "So we'll meet you back at the home-base later."
"Alright. Wash, Caboose?"
"I think I need to go with and make sure we get all the proper equipment," Caboose nodded.
"And I better come to make sure someone doesn't go overboard," Wash chuckled. "Did you guys pick a date night yet?"
York looked at Carolina who gave off a huff before turning to North and Emma, "How about it? Double date, Wash and Ally are gonna hang out for the night."
"Em?" North looked at Emma.
"If I must," Emma sighed.
"You must," Carolina grumbled.
"It's settled then. How about two nights from now?" York suggested.
"That shuttle is coming in two days from now," Emma reminded him.
"Right. Following night then?" There was a murmur of agreement. He looked down at Ally, "Does that work for you kid?"
"Sure!" Ally nodded. "That can be our girls day shopping then!"