Chapter 4: A few years later….

The joe team had been serving America for awhile. There had been many epic battles and perilous situations between them and Cobra. Lives have been lost but also new soldiers had come on board. Scarlett had gotten a roommate not long after the MASS device battle. Her code name was Lady Jaye and she and Scarlett became best friends. Around the same time Duke got a new second in command, a man by the code name Flint. Flint and Duke also became best friends. Flint and Lady Jaye had started dating almost immediately after joining the team. Their relationship was much more flashy and bold and everyone knew they were a thing. Meanwhile, Scarlett and Duke kept things pretty private with only the original joes "in the know" that they were together. A lot of the newer joes speculated something was going on, but they never could be one hundred percent sure. Scarlett and Duke were very discreet. Once the friendships with Lady Jaye and Flint was solidified, Scarlett and Duke revealed their secret. The four of them enjoyed many double dates, making them an even tighter knit group of friends. As time went on, Duke and Scarlett became more comfortable with making their relationship public knowledge. Just in the past year there had been a real brush with death that made them realize they had nothing more to hide from the team and their love for each other was more important than anything else.

Many of the joes were in the rec room participating in the reoccurring Friday board game night that had started months ago when the base had gotten a generous donation of board games. Scarlett, Duke, Lady Jaye, and Flint usually played together. Sometimes they played as couples, sometimes boys versus girls, and sometimes they played individually. Tonight, Duke had already decided what game they were going to play because he has been planning something big over the last couple months. He was going to ask Scarlett to marry him. Lady Jaye and Flint were in on the plan and had been helping him prepare.

"Do you think she has any idea?" Flint asked as he grabbed the Trivial Pursuit from the game closet.

"I hope not. I really want this to be a total surprise." Duke grinned standing next to him. They took the game over to the table where Lady Jaye and Scarlett were already sitting.

"I think we should play guys versus girls today." Flint suggested sitting down.

"We did that last time." Scarlett reminded him. "I vote play as couples."

"I vote girls vs guys. C'mon, Scarlett, we know we'll cream them." Lady Jaye agreed with Flint.

"You don't know that for sure. And because of that, I vote girls vs. guys so we can take you ladies down." Duke replied. Scarlett looked quizzically at Duke. He usually didn't have an opinion or would vote with her.

"Ok, guys versus girls it is." Scarlett changed her vote. She hoped the disappointment she was feeling hadn't been revealed in her voice. She had really been looking forward to being on the same team as Duke. They both had been on crazy schedules this past week and she had been looking forward to reconnecting with him during game night. She also had started feeling this small nagging feeling that he was keeping something from her and that bothered her too. She couldn't really put her finger on it though, something was just off.

Lady Jaye plunked down in the seat next to her and Duke took the seat across from her.

"You're going to regret not wanting to team with me." Scarlett teased Duke.

"Promise me you'll take it out on me later." Duke leaned over the table and softly whispered in her ear. Scarlett giggled at his comment and all doubting thoughts were forgotten.

The game progressed and the two teams were neck and neck as they raced around the board trying to collect the colorful triangular wedges of plastic. The girls had finally landed on the square to earn the final wedge.

"Ok, final question…" Duke trailed off and pulled a card out of the stack. Scarlett stared at him expectantly and was surprised when he got up and came over to her side of the table.

"Your final question is…" Duke trailed off, "Will you marry me?" He pulled a ring box out of his pocket while swooping down onto one knee. He popped open the box to reveal a diamond ring nestled inside.

"Are you serious?" Scarlett squeaked out bringing her hands to her face. Tears glistened in her eyes. Duke nodded. "Yes! Of course, yes!" Scarlett exclaimed loud enough to draw the attention of all the other joes in the room. Duke immediately plucked the ring out of the box and slid it onto Scarlett's finger. He greedily pulled her close and she threw her arms around him as they kissed tenderly. All the joes in the room cheered.

"Oh, Con, you just made me the happiest women in the world!" Scarlett cried as happy tears streamed down her face.

"Not as happy as I'll be when you're officially Mrs. Hauser." Duke grinned before kissing her again.

"Congratulations you two!" Lady Jaye squealed coming around the table. She hugged Scarlett first and then Duke.

"It's been a long time coming, pal. Congratulations!" Flint stuck out his hand for a handshake.

"You knew?" Scarlett looked at Flint.

"We both knew. Duke asked us to help him with the planning. He really wanted it to be a surprise." Lady Jaye replied.

"Well it was! Totally! I had no idea." Scarlett grinned looking at her ring.

"I'm just lucky you stuck with me all the years. Lord knows at the beginning I gave you a few reasons not to." Duke grabbed Scarlett by the waist and pulled her close.

"By then you already had stolen my heart and I couldn't give up on you so easily." Scarlett grinned and leaned her head against his. "I'm glad I didn't. I would have missed out on a great love story."

"The greatest." Duke corrected her as he tilted her head towards his "and the best part is it's ours. Always and forever." He pressed his lips against hers sealing his sentiment.