Shepard demanded that we all get out of the base. For the sake of the cleaning staff and his own sanity. So Queen and Baby rowdied up their boys, (Ghost, Soap, Archer, Roach, Chemo, and Price) and made their way to the nearest mall.

The drive was interesting enough, with Soap back-seat driving while Price yelled at him, and occasionally took his hands off the wheel, reached back, then tried to strangle him.

Queen smacked him hard the second time that happened.

Pulling into the Mega-Mall, Price pretty much battled a teenage girl and her friends for a parking spot, which almost ended up in him getting out of the car and beating the girl senseless.

Queen smacked him hard again.

Finally, they parked the black van near the back of the lot and made the trek to the front door. They window browsed for a while, but after the constant whines and begging from Archer, they stepped into

Toy R Us. This store led into a separate building and it was HUGE. Aisles upon aisles of toy guns, GI Joe's, and stuffed animals…

Archer must be in heaven.

They all followed the soldier through the aisles talking quietly, trying not to attract attention. All they needed was for the people here to know that they were the ones defending their country…. And they were in Toys R Us. Baby and Queen decided to go into the more 'feminine' part of the store while the boys followed Archer.

Archers eyes glimmered with excitement as he spotted a small, camouflage, child-size Jeep. Running over to it, he hopped in and turned it on. The toy roared to life, and he laughed.

"Suh-weeeetttttt."

Archer was way too big for the car, so his knees met the steering wheel, and his butt pretty much didn't even fit in the seat. So, when he floored the Jeep down the aisle towards Chemo screaming, "Speeeeeed DEMONNNN!" No one could hold back laughter.

The Jeep spun around in circles as Archer grinned devilishly, "I feel so cool right now!"

"Dear lord… Archer! People are staring!" Ghost called out over everyone's laughter. And it was true. A crowd of snickering mothers, and laughing children had gathered at the top of the aisle as Archer did donuts in his little toy Jeep.

The look of mortification that arose upon Soap's face as he spotted Queen and Baby zooming towards them in a pink, Barbie Jeep, was priceless. He slapped his face and stepped out of the way before the two women could run into him.

"50 bucks I can go faster than youuu!" Baby called as the Jeep spun around to a stop. Archer's eye glinted with mischief as the young women started to rev the battery-powered engine.

"You're on!"

Well, they had all been successfully kicked out of Toys R Us and now wandering around the mall. Baby, Queen and Archer had raced through the whole store hitting a total of one person.

The manager.

So hence the reason they were out of the store. The manager had yelled at them, made fun of Archer and called him a baby. Queen proceeded to slap him hard across the face, while Baby kicked him in a sensitive spot.

The group of war-hardened soldiers comforted their crying friend Archer and walked out, leaving confused parents and an in-pain manager.

After exiting the sliding doors into the main part of the mall, the laughter started up again. Truth was, this was probably the most fun all of them had had in a long time. Chemo was stuck to the Infirmatory all day, Roach was in his room or training, Archer would do the same, Ghost and Soap always had to fill out papers and well, Price really didn't do anything.

Queen and Baby were pretty much their source of entertainment.

The blonde and the redhead raced to the railing upon hearing a familiar song being blasted loud from the floor below. Queen's heels and Baby's converse smacked against the tile ground as they rushed over and then leaned over the railing curiously. Underneath them, from what Chemo could see, about 4 girls were gathered round a machine, sort of like a jukebox. Microphones were attached to the box by wires, and the screen displayed lyrics over head.

Karaoke.

Dear lord, this ought to be interesting.

"Hey sistah, go sistah, soul sistah, flow sistah. Hey sistah, go sistah, soul sistah, go sistah," Baby and Queen looked at each other and raced down the steps, "He met Marmalade down in old Moulin Rouge, Struttin' her stuff on the street. She said, 'Hello, hey Jo, you wanna give it a go?' Oh! uh huh!"

One of the women handed a microphone to Queen.

"Giuchie, Giuchie, ya ya dada. (Hey hey hey) Giuchie, Giuchie, ya ya here. (here) Mocha Chocalata ya ya. (oh yea) Creole lady Marmalade." She smiled flirtatiously at Ghost and blew him a kiss. Ghost's pale cheek turned a dark shade of pink and he coughed nervously as his friends high fived him and patted him on the back.

Now other people had come to watch the women sing as chorus belted out in french. Baby and Queen danced together, doing some sort of tango while bouncing about. As the chorus ended, another woman tossed Baby the Mic.

"He sat in her boudoir while she freshened up. Boy drank all that Magnolia wine. All her black satin sheets, suede's, dark greens! Yeahhhhhhh!" Baby belted it out loud and laughed happily at the end into the Mic.

The chorus started up again and Ghost slid down the railing to join Queen and Baby. Soap shrugged and followed suite along Roach, Chemo, and Archer.

"Giuchie, Giuchie, ya ya dada. (da-da-da) Giuchie, Giuchie, ya ya here. (here ohooh yea yeah) Mocha Choca lata ya ya. (yea) Creole lady Marmalade!" Soap and Ghost chanted together and through their hands up cheering.

Chemo and Baby started to do the disco, and soon, they were all in sync. Dancing singing, with the whole mall watching. The instruments stopped… it was all them now.

"Real Lady Marmalade! (One more time C'mon now!) Marmalade... Lady Marmalade... Marmalade... Hey! Hey! Hey!"

The song cut short and they all froze. Ghost had Queen in his arms happily, Baby and Soap had been boogying, Chemo had Roach bridal style in his arms, Archer was on the ground from sliding on his knees. From the railing above, Price started clapping slowly.

Soon, everyone was whooping and cheering, and they all shrunk down. Way to keep it on a low, I guess.

They had all escaped the mob of onlookers and continued their shopping. Passing multiple stores, Queen and Baby would say "Ooh" or "Ahh" or "Oh my god". That last one happened when the passed the opened doors of Abercrombie & Fitch. The large portrait of a rather attractive shirtless man was hung in the doorway. Baby stopped in her tracks, causing Roach and Price to run into her.

"Uhh… For the sake of that man, I think we need to go in there." Baby mumbled. Queen laughed.

"For the sake of shirtless men everywhere, we need to go in there." Queen followed the smaller blonde into the dark store. Loud, modern, music boomed from the ceiling and the over whelming smell of cologne was the first two things that Soap noticed when he walked in.

The only pictures on the walls were of shirtless men… One or two shirtless women, and then some more shirtless men.

Ghost and Soap looked at each other, "I have abs like that right?"

Soap nodded, "Yeah… Apparently theirs are better than both of ours somehow…" He pointed to the pictures and rolled his eyes.

In the far corner, Roach and Archer stood near the pictures. The looked around, making sure no store workers were around, and then removed their shirts.

Roach and Archer weren't extremely buff. But the were sporting 6 six packs and such, and then started mimicking the portraits.

Soap and Ghost started snickering and sauntered towards their two friends. Price and Chemo stayed back, probably not wanting to be accused of more wrong-doing, seeing that what happened in Toys R Us wasn't exactly for good-measures.

Soap brought his shirt over his head and Ghost did the same to his black muscle-T. The two laughed and joined the privates in their joking, listing off horrible pick up lines, and playing up the bad-boy personality.

Chemo and Price whispered something and started to chuckle. Making their way over to the girls, they interrupted their sweatshirt shopping and pointed to the four men in the corner of the store. All four were posed awkwardly and holding straight faces. The all stood perfectly still, until one of the store officials walked over.

From the far end of the store, all that was heard was, "Please put your shirt on, and get out."

Laughter that had been attempted to contain burst from Baby's mouth and she started into hysterics. Queen looked at Ghost, sending him a "Really?" look. Then from Baby's hysterics, Queen started laughing and so did Chemo. The young blonde was in almost in tears and rolling on the ground.

Soon enough, the same store employee was upon those three for "Disrupting the peace".

After emerging from the dark, wonderful-smelling store called Abercrombie & Fitch, the team wandered around the mall aimlessly until spotting a pristinely white, sleek store. The white logo of a bitten apple shown above the glass doors, and caused Chemo to smile wide.

"Can we go in there! Pleassseeee?" He begged Ghost and Soap loudly as they all stopped at a food stand. Soap snickered and shoved Chemo.

"Just don't break anything, please?" Ghost pleaded with the medic. Chemo nodded quickly and smiled big. Soon, he tugged all of them into the store, receiving some protest from others. Like Price.

Baby chuckled and mimicked an old man, "God darn it! I don't trust that stinkin' technology ya'll have nowah-days!"

Price playfully slapped Baby's shoulder and made way into the store.

iPods, laptops, and everything awesome, gleamed cleanly in Archer's eye. Roach stood dumbfounded at everything in the store and Baby played with a brand new Mac. Queen and Ghost went over to the iPod touches, fooling around on some apps, while Price frowned at everything.

He truly was an old man.

Baby motioned Roach and Chemo and Archer over and whispered something to them. They all nodded quickly and laughed. She smiled sweetly and ran over to Soap.

"Uhmm… Soap?" She poked his shoulder and his head turned away from the laptop, "Hi."

"Oh, hi Baby. What's up?" He smiled and blushed sheepishly. Baby giggled, playing up the cute girl act.

"Can I show you something? It's, like, super cool…" She motioned him over to the Mac, and pulled up Youtube. She typed in 'ghost car commercial'. Up popped a series of search results, and Baby quickly clicked on the first result.

"It's kinda creepy, but I know you aren't scared." He batted her eyelashes at him while Chemo, Archer, and Roach stood near the doorway watching and snickering at their Captain. 'Tavish blushed and nodded.

Pressing the play button was the worst mistake Baby could have ever made.

The first time Baby had ever seen this video, was back home in New Hampshire. Her older brother, Will, had called her over and told her that he had seen something awesome in the front of the car. Apparently, it had flames or something.

So you can imagine the terror that struck an 11 year old Baby Jane. Now imagine that terror, multiplied by a thousand and struck into a full grown, Scottish soldier (one of the best there is, might I add), named John MacTavish.

As a kid, he was an only child, and the only fright that was knocked into him was when he was convinced something was in his closet. He would call his mother, and she would run through the large house to him. She'd check the closet, under the bed, everywhere for the creepy crawler or the creature of monstrous means.

Right now, he couldn't call out for his mommy... Not in the Apple store, not in front of Baby and Ghost and Queen and the others.

But, when that thing jumped out from the trees in the harmless video, John couldn't help but scream like a girl and call out for his mommy as he jumped backwards, then knocked a series of computers to the ground. Baby was in hysterics, along with the other men, as Queen and Ghost rushed over to see what was going on.

Soap's cheeks were bright pink and was being helped up by a giggling Baby. The computers however, broken and smashed probably weren't going to be okay.

They all rushed out of the store, Baby still holding dear Johnny's hand.

While the bustle of security guards and such made their way in and out of the Mac store, the rowdy group of soldiers rested lazily across the mall. Baby and Queen rested their elbows on the railing gazing about the place. Men and women hustled from store to store, each time the load in their arms growing. Baby and Queen laughed at one woman who had dropped her Calvin Klein bag, sending bras and panties flying about.

Queen's eyes lit up happily as she spotted the pink, cursive written sign, tucked into the corner of the store. Poking Baby in the arm, she silently motioned her to look at the sign. Baby squinted, and then saw it.

"Oh no… there is noooo way I am going in there with them," she pointed back over the shoulder to the group of men behind her that were mimicking the poses of mannequins in store windows. Queen looked back and winced.

"Oh C'mon. I'll pick out something nice for you and Soap." She whispered, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. Baby punched her in the arm lightly.

"No."

"Oh don't be a party pooper!" Queen begged, jumping up and down a little, just like a small child who didn't get her way.

"I don't like parties." Baby replied resting her chin on her hand once more. Queen batted her ponytail once and grasped it tightly.

"Too bad. We're gunna party pretty hard right now." Queen then started to dragged the blonde, by the ponytail, over to the store.

Upon noticing, and hearing the young blonde's struggle, the group of 141 soldiers followed the two femme fatales like lost puppy dogs. Ghost and Soap glanced at each other with worried expressions. It was quite obvious that Baby did not want to go somewhere. The stream of steady and quite offending curses flew out of Baby's mouth as quick as the wind whips dust into the air. Queen ignored them; she kept hold of Baby's ponytail and kept walking.

"Oh shut uppp. It's not that bad!" Queen rolled her eyes. Baby yelped in pain.

"Yes! You're right! It's worse than bad! It's horrible!" Baby closed her blue eyes really tight, hissing in pain.

"You realize that I'm going to keep tugging unless you just go in." Queen said, stopping in front of the pink, lacy store.

"Never! Not with… them!" the Blonde motioned to the group of men behind her. Queen sighed.

"It's not like they're going into the changing rooms with you!"

"But they know what I'm buyyyinggg!" Baby cursed again.

"Just say you'll go in. I'll stop pulling." Queen said in a sing song voice.

"No." Baby shook her head, then realized that wasn't a good idea. Queen tugged the blonde hair again.

"Ow!"

"Sayyy it."

"Nuh-uh."

Queen yanked harder, "Okay! Okay! Owwww."

The blonde was released from the death grip and rubbed her head furiously. Sighing a breath of defeat she followed Queen through the glass doors.

Straight into Victoria's Secret.

The soldiers entered the store carelessly. After all, a rather attractive woman greeted them at the door. Chemo shot a wink in her direction before sauntering off with Soap and G-man. Large portraits of barely dressed woman and lingerie hung on the walls. Music played quietly, the voice of Madonna echoed throughout the store.

Roach and Archer had gone over to stand near one of the perfume stands, sniffing the pink bottle as if it was toxic or something. Once Archer had raised it to his nose though, he smiled and spritzed it on Roach. The young soldier cringed and smelled himself.

Soap and Ghost were standing warily by the front door, not wanting to go too far into the store. Man, was this awkward.

Queen had dragged Baby over the far corner of the store, where what Ghost saw turned his face pink. His Queen was holding up lacy, black, undergarment to her body. From the actions of Baby, he could tell she was pretty embarrassed.

"I love how you know they're looking at us. And you purposely pick out that one." Baby caught the piece of lace that was thrown at her face and put it back on the hanger. Queen nodded.

"It's the point. Plus, I know if G' likes something by shade of red his face turns." Queen giggled and Baby smiled wide.

"Oh my. I think he likes that one." Baby remarked at the red lace her friend had in her hand. Queen smiled.

"See! Now this one," She placed it over her arm, "..is a keeper."

Baby laughed and shook her head in disbelief. Shifting through the rack, she pulled out lace after lace garments, grimacing at each. Pulling out a rather skimpy one, she held it up to show Queen.

"Somehow… I can't see myself wearing any of these…"

From across the store, Soap witnessed what Ghost had seen also. Baby held up a black, revealing lace lingerie piece. Queen's face lit up and she pressed it against the blonde's stomach.

Trying to hold back her laughter, Queen put it in her arms.

"You never know until you try it on." Baby's face twisted into a disgusted 'oh no' face. Queen nodded, "Yeah. You are trying this on."

Grabbing a few other random pieces from the rack, Queen pulled Baby into the changing rooms.

Ghost nudged Soap with his elbow.

"She's buying some nice stuff 'Tavish." Soap rolled his eyes at the Englishman before slapping him in the shoulder. The Brit rubbed his shoulder, then sighed.

"Well, everyone seems occupied, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go help Queen with her selection." Ghost started off, but was caught by Soap grasping the collar of his black T-shirt. Soap shook his head.

"Really? God knows you aren't goin' to help her." G' shrugged and motioned around. Roach and Archer were checking out the prices on some panties, Price was waiting near the door, and Chemo was chatting it up with the woman who greeted them when they walked in.

Ghost started walking off to the changing rooms again but Soap didn't stop him. Instead he followed him.

"Simon, really? People already think we are crazy." Soap groaned as he entered the pink doorway labeled 'Changing Rooms'. The high pitch vocals of Prince bounced off the walls as he sang of beauty and love.

"Oh calm down Soap. All you have to do is kiss her." With a quick shove, Soap stumbled backwards landing into a stall. A scream was heard behind him.

Soap closed his eyes tight and tried to get up. He was stuttering apologies left and right, trying to locate the door.

"Soap!" Baby's hand met his face with a harsh slap. He cursed in pain and opened his eyes. In front of him, Baby stood with both hands on her hips and a pissed expression on her face. She had quite a revealing black, lace outfit on. All of a sudden, she realized Soap was staring and turned around.

The back was the same.

"Crap." She crossed her arms across her chest and faced him again. Her cheeks were a bright pink and eye contact was missing in this stall. Soap stuttered again an apology, but stopped short. Baby blushed again.

"I really didn't want to go in here." Soap said then thought twice, "not like I didn't want to see this… I mean! I d-d-didn't. But Y'know. I was shoved. But you l-l-look nice. Not like-"

Baby giggled.

"Thanks I guess…" She smiled, "So… do you like this one?"

Soap's eyes widened. "Well… y-yes."

Baby stepped closer to him and his cheeks turned from pink to dark red. Gently touching his stubbley chin, Baby smiled sweetly at him.

"Sorry about the computer thing earlier, Captain." She winked. Soap, quickly deciding that he should thank Ghost for this later, chuckled.

"Well, that did hurt."

"Where?"

"Here…" Soap pointed to his lips and smiled devilishly. Baby, who smiled flirtatiously back, leaned in and pressed her nose against his.

"I'll kiss it better." Baby pressed her lips against Soap's, shocking the Captain at first. John MacTavish actually didn't expect that weak attempt at a pick-up line to work.

Soap had never been odd with women. As a teenager he had girlfriends, just like any other normal boy. After all, he had been on the football team too, and did sport quite the personality. But, as he got older, the more women became attracted to him and the odder those women got. Soap had even once dated a woman who had served as a mermaid in the Ring Round Circus that traveled through out Scotland.

Let's just say he didn't call her back after that dinner date.

But, Baby was probably the actual first sane woman he had met, besides Queen that was. Baby was beautiful, bubbly and a great soldier. When he first met her he pretty much labeled her as any other soldier. Tough and commanding. But she was not. Like Queen, she had her weaknesses and faults. She warned others of those for the benefit of the mission.

Soap liked that.

So there was no doubt in his mind as to why he shouldn't kiss Baby back.

In the changing stall across the pink room, Ghost casually walked in, catching Queen off guard. She quickly grabbed her T-shirt off of the hanger and pulled it across her chest.

"What are you doing Simon!" She screeched. The smiling young man shut the door behind him and smirked playfully.

"What I can't help?" He kissed his fiancé on the cheek and raised one of the pieces of lingerie from her selection.

Holding it up to himself he glanced into the long mirror on the wall.

"I like these so much better on you." He chuckled. Queen rolled her eyes and snatched the lacy clothing from her boy.

"Get out." She laughed.

"Why? I wanna help."

"You are not helping."

"Yes I am. I like that one. So, why don't you try it on and I'll tell you how I feel?" Ghost pointed to a random 'dress' on the hook. Queen dropped her arm pointing to the door and groaned.

"Fine." She giggled as Ghost wrapped her arms around her slender waist. He pulled her close and met her lips with a delicate display of passion. He then sat down on the bench near the door.

"Fashion show time!" Ghost clapped his hands and bounced happily in his seat.

Archer, Roach, Chemo and Price stood by the counter of the store, where Roach had a fragrance bottle in his hands. The checkout attendee stared at him curiously before talking the bottle, swiping it and charging him $29.99 for it. She put it in a pink bag and handed it to the giddy soldier.

Out of the changing rooms sauntered Baby, 'Tavish, Ghost and Queen. All were wearing goofy grins and holding hands. Price huffed and rolled his eyes.

"Figures."

After checking out rather quickly, the girls grabbed their shopping bags and headed out of the store with the 141 soldiers in tow.

Oh, what a day.