Snowbound: Eagle It was times like this that made me really happy. No Spectran attacks. Everything had been quiet for some time now, and I was able to relax and tinker with my plane. The upcoming week was going to be a little strange, though. Princess and Keyop had decided to go skiing for a week on Frozatica. It was weird to think I wouldn't have them to hang out with at Jill's place. I wondered why they didn't invite me. Ah, it was just as well. I had a bunch of deliveries to make, anyway. As I wiped the sweat off of my forehead with an oily rag, I heard a familiar sound coming up my driveway. It was Keyop. I figured he probably wanted to borrow my skis or something. I watched him park his dune buggy and come bounding up to me. "Whatcha doin', Mark?" He burbled. "The ususal. Getting the old girl in top shape for this week." I gestured toward my beloved Cessna. "This week?" Keyop asked. He looked upset. "Yeah. Just making a few deliveries. Nothing special." He appeared to be in deep thought. "You ok, little buddy?" The wheels in my mind started turning. He made me wonder if something happened between him and Princess. "Yeah." He sighed. "It's just...Princess..." I felt my heart skip a beat. "Is something wrong? Is she sick?" "No...not going...on trip..." Keyop stared at his shoes. I frowned. Now I was getting worried. "Why not? She loves skiing!" "Doesn't want to go...alone," the Swallow burbled. "Wait...you're not going with her?" "No....going with Tiny...to Comic Con...on Aquatica..." The kid shuffled his feet in the dirt, kicking up a cloud of dust. Then he looked up at me with pleading eyes and held out a transport ticket. "Will you go?" I scratched my head. Me? And Princess? Alone? It sounded great to me, but what would she think? Would she like the idea? Or would it look bad for me to go on a trip with her...alone? I'm her commanding officer...and this would be way too tempting. "Is Princess ok with this?" I reached for the ticket and examined it carefully. Keyop nodded his head, but something told me he wasn't telling the truth. The kid was always trying to throw Princess and me together. Heck, everyone was. They always said Princess and I were made for each other. I could honestly say that I had feelings for her, but this just wasn't the right time. We had responsibilities... I handed him back the ticket. He looked devastated. "Sorry, buddy....not this time. I don't think it would look good for her Commanding officer to take her on a ski trip, alone." He stumbled over his parting words. "I'll...leave it here....in case you...change your mind." He placed it on the shelf next to my tools, and slowly walked back to his dune buggy. My eyes were mysteriously drawn back to the ticket. I had to give him credit. The boy was persistent. Snowbound: Eagle 2 I shook my head in disbelief as I watched Keyop speed out of my driveway. I wiped my hands on a spare rag and headed inside to get cleaned up. Imagine me and Princess... alone on a ski trip together. She was always so cute when she was relaxed and having a good time. She really was fun to be around, and she always helped put me at ease, too. It always amazed me that she seemed to know how I was feeling. I really wanted to spend some time alone with her in such a romantic setting, but I was also really worried what everyone would think. I had to admit, I felt bad that she wasn't going on the trip. She loved skiing so much, and she deserved a nice vacation... I passed by the ticket that was still sitting on my shelf. I picked it up and looked at it once more. A week...alone...with Princess. Could be nice...I smiled to myself. I carried the ticket with me as I walked back to my humble abode. Time to get cleaned up and start packing...I thought. I had a transport waiting for me in the morning, and I didn't want to be late! 888888888888888888888 I got out of the shower, dried off, and dressed quickly so that I could get started packing. I never did anything on the spur of the moment, but I was actually getting pretty excited about this trip! Uh, oh...I hesitated, with my pants pulled up only to my ankles. Didn't Keyop say Princess wasn't going? I raised my communicator to call Keyop. "Hey, Keyop. Come in." "Yes, Mark?" "Princess hasn't changed her mind about the trip, has she?" "She's decided to go...alone..." Keyop replied awkwardly. I thought for a minute. A sly smile spread across my face. I decided to keep this a surprise. "Oh, ok, I'm glad she's going. I'm sure she'll have a great time. She makes friends so easily." "Change your mind?" Keyop burbled. "No." I lied. "Things are pretty busy around here. I was just checking on her...that's all." "...OK, Commander." I detected a hint of suspicion in Keyop's burble. I hoped he'd just let it go. "Thanks, buddy. Tell her I said to have fun!" I finished dressing and then turned back toward my bedroom and began packing. Then another thought occurred to me. Prin and Keyop usually stay in the same room! I quickly called the ski resort and booked myself a separate room. Better to be safe than sorry. After making a reservation, I reclined in my bed, feeling a little unsure of my decision. If only I could get some sleep! Snowbound: Eagle 3 I didn't get much sleep. For some reason, I kept dreaming about kissing Princess while we were on the slopes. The snow softly falling around us, looking into those emerald eyes of hers, brushing snow out of her ebony curls, kissing those dainty pink lips... Ok, time to snap out of it. I suddenly realized that I had to get back to reality. Why was I tempting myself by going with her? Deep down inside I knew the real reason I was going; I was going because I had always wanted to make her mine. I wanted her to be my Swan...and only my Swan. There was no one else out there that even came close to comparing with her. I picked up my suitcase and started on my journey to the transport. The Taxi ride seemed to take forever, and my heart was thumping loudly in anticipation of seeing Princess. I didn't know what I was so afraid of. I just knew that it would be frowned upon by the head honchos in the Federation, and the Chief probably wouldn't be thrilled, either. I mean, he had known how I felt about Princess, and I had been warned to keep my professional distance. But exactly how long did he expect us to hold back? Those feelings were already there, and we worked just fine together. Anyway, I was going to try to be on my best behavior on the trip. I was determined show everyone that Princess and I could have a relationship, and still be responsible members of G-Force. 88888888888 I boarded the transport, hands trembling as I walked down the narrow aisle. There she was. She looked gorgeous sitting there, her nose buried in some motorcycle magazine. I cleared my throat. "Ummm...I think you're in my seat." I smiled, waiting for her to squeal and jump into my arms. Instead, I heard, "Better check your ticket, mister. This is my seat, and so is the one next to it. If you even think of sitting down..." Whoa! She didn't even look at me! My little Swannie was a wee bit grouchy. I wondered if she had had her coffee. I laughed. I couldn't help it. She was always so cute when she was angry. "You'll what?" I chuckled. Princess looked up from her magazine. A brilliant smile spread across her face. "Mark, what are you doing here?" She asked. So, I was guessing she was happy to see me... I had to think of an explanation. Quick. "Well, I suddenly felt like doing some skiing, and Keyop had this extra ticket..." "Oh..." she replied. She didn't say much. She looked a little uncomfortable. I hoped she wasn't disappointed that she wasn't alone. I decided to tease her about my seat. Maybe it would break the ice a little bit. "But you know, I think you really are in my seat. This ticket has the number for the window seat." "Yeah, Keyop likes the window. I just thought that since he wasn't coming... Well, you can have it if you want." Princess seemed a bit sad. Was she missing Keyop? Or was she not happy to see me? "Okay, if you don't mind."I took her up on her window seat offer. Since I wasn't piloting, I always felt better when I could see what was going on out the window. Tiny was the only other pilot I could trust completely. She stood up and let me squeeze by. I could feel her breasts rubbing against my back as I brushed past her. I suddenly came to the horrible realization that I was turned on...and it was beginning to show! Oh, god...not now! There was no controlling it. It had a mind of its own. I very quickly sat down and piled some magazines in my lap. I silently prayed she wouldn't notice. We sat there, quietly, looking at magazines. I tried desperately to get my mind off of her, so that my aroused state would cease. "So, when was the last time you went skiing?" She asked. I inwardly panicked, worried that my state of arousal would never cease. I casually glanced down at my pants, and then covered myself with another magazine. My mind was too preoccupied to concentrate on the conversation. "It's been a couple of years. I used to be pretty good, but you know, things have been kind of busy..." "Yeah, it's been awhile for me too." She quietly responded. Was she looking at my lap? Just keep talking... "But I hear that the skiing on Frozatica is the best." "I know! I remember learning to ski in the Alps when the Chief used to take us there as kids. I thought it was the most beautiful place in the universe. I didn't think anything could be better than that!" Princess seemed excited. Aha, this was going well... I couldn't help but to smile. "I guess Frozatica has a lot to live up to." Princess smiled back. She was l

Lots of to you Springie for Snowbound and for posting it up here ,so easy now to read and enjoy without clicking for the next chapter! thankyou! I thoroughly enjoy first person voice over third person as it makes the reading experience more thrilling to get into the characters mind and see what they are thinking and feeling! apart from the fluent storyline , the love triangle and the thrown in episodic Spectra drama, I love how the characters are depicted ! It is as if you reached into the TV screen and literally plucked Mark, Jason, Princess Tiny, Keyop and Anderson and then played with them into this awesome storyline! THAt is the true magic you possess! Keeping them "believable " enough to actuallly see them in this kind of setting or situation.. Kudos Springie and to anyone else who collaborated with you for the Princess and Condor POV's ) as well! The only part of the whole fic I had trouble with was this whole business with "Aggie". Mark and the double I could deal with , Mark and the angst he goes through dealing with Jason's feelings for the Swan are also thrilling to see (dayum I enjoy love triangles!! ) forgive me however if I kinda shake my head to Jason and Aggie. Call it a kickback from *my* Condor days....but somehow I just cant see Jason settling for "second best"even in clone form. the condor will want the real deal or not at all. This kind of resolution for the Jason dilemna was far too "neat" and "tidy" and in my opinion too easy a resolution for him. The Eagle should get his girl. It was always insinuated in BOTP . Its been the assumption in many an avid fans mind and secret desire for them. The Condor however, should a fanfic writer harden their hearts for a moment, and bite the bullet, should retain that element of tragedy and pathos within his makeup , as is evidenced many times with his tragic and disastrous dealings with devil stars and Lucy in BOTP , to have ended up alone. Either to have lost Aggie in that explosion at the spectran base , or never met her at all,and having to face the fact that the Eagle and Swan were meant together in the end, despite that glimpse of hope earlier on with Prin..would have worked. Hmmm, perhaps Im just a Jason/Jun and Love traingle fan. If your Eagle wasnt depicted so cannon like , and was perhaps weak , then Jason would have stood a chance with Prin. As it is, think Ive fallen for your Mark! He deserved his Swan. Jason deserved , regardless how much we would like to "fix him up and heal him of his love curse" to have ended up as he always does...alone. sheesh@! Look at the impact of your fic springie!! Youve almost made me write up an essay here!! And thats a damn good thing if you can make even one reader think beyond just a mere reaction or review! Dayum!! Well done and kudos again i say!!

To be fair to poor Springie, I was the one who came up with the idea of a clone, and having Jason get the girl too. And SpaceKitty really wanted to Condor to end up alone, and I convinced her otherwise. So the blame for that ending should fall squarely on my shoulders. Forgive me, I just wanted the Condor to be happy for once! I'm ready now... get out your torture instruments....

So glad you enjoyed it Imi! Yeah it would be a classic ending for Jason's clone to have stayed dead, and to have Mark and Princess consoling him ala Lucy... but hey, what can I say? We felt sorry for the poor guy...LOL Who knows, Aggie may get bumped off soon, anyway...after all, she *is* dating Jason...heehee