In the coming weeks naval operations had amped up since Ice and Maverick had shot down those jets. They were both instructing the class of next Gen fighter pilots. Pushing everybody's limits. It was necessary though. They needed to understand what they could be up against once they graduated.
The carrier that they had damaged was being surveiled and it was discovered that the potential enemy was unloading the ship onto smaller crafts. Then one day it was cleared of anything of importance, they blew up their own ship. The Navy was suspicious that more could be coming to return to that location. It was not known for sure. Satellites were being watched closely. Ice was being informed of information constantly. He in turn kept Maverick in the loop. He was likely being reactivated and going to go out to the carrier with Wolfman and Slider.
Penny was not thrilled. TopGun was supposed to be Mavs retirement plan. But now he was maybe going active again. She didn't want to think about the possibilities.

Amber and Penny stayed together as often as possible when the men were out. Ice held true to his word and amped up security at the bar for them too. He refused to let them be there without police presence. Time was growing closer to Amber's divorce trial. He was highly concerned that her Ex was going to pull some crazy stunt.

When the day came for her trial with her EX she was a bundle of nerves. But Ice was there as he'd promised.
She was getting dressed for court and  was running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Ice watched her as he buttoned up his dress shirt.

"Hey, Shadow...come here a sec. I need a hand with these cuff links..." He didn't really, but he knew it would get her to slow down a second and breathe.

She walked over to him and he held out the links in one hand. She took one and he held out his wrist for her. He smiled and watched her as she finished the second.

Softly he said,"Hey, look at me."
She stopped and met his green gaze with her worried one."You've got this! You're in the home stretch. Got it? Breathe..." He placed his hands on her shoulders trying to help ground her.

A shuddered breath came out.
"I'm trying..." She leaned into him then, seaking the comfort of his arms.

"All right. I've got you. You're smarter than he is. You're going to get through this! And I'll be right there with you!" He kissed her forehead.

"Thanks Ice..." She snuggled in tighter. Sighing, she started to let go, but then he smiled and grabbed her chin.

"You don't have to thank me...just kiss me... let's get your head on straight..."

She reached up on her toes as she met his lips. And he crushed her to him while he kissed her hard. Then they broke apart.

"We really do have to finish getting ready. But you know I'm here with you."Ice said."I'm NOT letting you go through this alone!"

"I do. And I am so glad you are. I couldn't have done this alone."

"Oh! You know if I wasn't here that Penny wouldn't let you be there alone!"

"That's true! I'm so thankful for you all. I really am."

"Same here..." He grinned,"All right, what do you have left to do?"

"Just my makeup. And I need my shoes."

"All right, I'll get the coffee. You want a Muffin? A little something in your stomach?"

"I'm so nervous..thanks, but no. I don't know that I'd be able to keep it down."

"All right. Coffee it is! I'll get on it."

He went to the kitchen while she headed to the bathroom. As Amber rummaged around her drawer of makeup supplies she focused on what she was doing and made herself  up all pretty. As she slicked on some raisin colored lipstick she jumped a little when she saw him leaning against the door frame watching her.
"Geez!!!"

He chuckled,"Sorry! I was just watching... it's hard to keep my eyes off you..."

She smiled at the compliment.

"Thanks. I think I'm ready."

"All right. I grabbed your favorite travel mug. It's all ready to go."

"Thank you!!!" She said.

She looked in the mirror one last time and nodded.

"Yep, as ready as I can be."

They grabbed their coffee and went out to Tom's car. He dressed in his dress uniform, mostly to intimidate Amber's Ex. She thought he looked amazing dressed like that and that gave her a touch of confidence having his professional side with her.
She wore a black pencil skirt and a deep plum colored blouse. Her hair was done in a basic French twist. She just wanted a nice crisp appearance for her day in court. They sped off to the courthouse and found Penny and Maverick waiting for them in the parking lot.

"What are you guys doing here?!"
Amber went and hugged Penny then Mav.

Penny looked her friend dead in the eyes, "Did you think we'd really not be there on one of the most important days of your life??? Come on!" Penny said as she patted Amber's back.

"We've got your Six! Always have, always will!" Mav said.

"Thank you so much!"

"We'll be right here when you get out!" Penny said.

This notion helped Amber settle her nerves a little bit. She knew that Ice couldn't come in the room with her but that he'd be right outside.

"Okay. Thank you guys so much! I guess we better go!"

"We love you!" Penny called after Amber and Tom.

He walked with his arm around her shoulders as a protective and comforting gesture. Penny and Mav went back to their car to wait.

"It will be so good to have this shit over with."Penny said.

Mav nodded in agreement.
Tom walked Amber to the room that she would be having to stay in for the mediation. He found a bench just across the hall. He made sure she was settled and was introduced to her lawyer.

"Thank you for getting her through this. It is very much appreciated." He said to the lawyer.

"It is no trouble at all. It is good that she has you here with her too Admiral."MS.Lockhart said."We're just about ready to begin. He hasn't shown. Ruling will be in your favor if he doesn't show in the next five minutes."

"Oh wow. He isn't here?"Amber asked.

Ms.Lockhart answered,"Not so far."

Amber steeled herself and was slightly relieved to hear that she didn't have to see her Ex at the moment. She hoped he'd not show. Her eyes flipped to Ice's.

"I'll be right out here." He told Amber and just that knowledge helped her too.

"Thank you!!!" She said and then the door closed and all he could do was wait. So he took out his phone and worked on some work emails while he sat there. Things weren't looking good. He was concerned that the Secretary of the Navy was going to reactivate Maverick soon. They were talking of him leading a recon mission with his newly trained crew. This was not news that he wanted to give any of them. Unfortunately Mav was the most qualified to lead the mission. Mav knew this too.

Outside Penny and Mav sat in her car. They had brought coffee too. So no they sat and talked.

"Has Ice had any new information on this potential mission?" Penny asked sipping her coffee and looking out the windshield.

"Nothing new so far."

"Damn it. They're taking their time..." Penny was trying not to get upset. The possibility of Mav being reactivated was making Penny nervous. They talked and enjoyed each other's company while they waited for their friends to come back out.

Amber was a bundle of nerves as she listened to the ruling. She could barely breathe, but the time came and her Ex didn't show. The divorce was declared final and he had forfeited any rights he may have had by not showing up. She was granted her wishes of freedom from the abuser and it took everything in her to maintain composure. Finally any papers that she needed to sign were handled and she finally hugged her lawyer Ms.Lockhart and waited to be dismissed. Ice looked up as the door opened across from him. A huge smile on her face brought him to his feet. Shoving his phone in his pocket he matched her smile.

"Well?" He asked.

"It's over! I'm free! And he didn't show! He's not here!!! Tom!!! I'm free!!!"she ran to him and was swept up into his arms. He twirled her around, then deposited her feet back onto the floor and kissed her on triumph! 

"Let's get out of here! We need to celebrate! Come on!"he took her hand and pulled her into his side, wrapping his arm around her.

As they walk out the doors they were shocked. There HE was...

Amber stopped dead in her tracks and Ice stood tall, immediately going into Admiral Mode. He was ready to do whatever he must to protect her.

Travis THE EX put his hands up in surrender.

"Travis!" Amber screamed.

"Amber, I'm sorry! I came to say good bye!"

"What the fuck?"

"You'll never see me again. I'm sorry about that night! I was high as fuck! I'm going to rehab! I'm moving to another state! I just wanted to apologize before I left!"

"I, I don't know what to say...but good! I'm glad you're going to get help. You have caused me so much pain in my life. I'm glad you're going."

"I deserve that." Travis said."I'll go now. I'm sorry for everything."
He nodded to Ice,"I'm sorry. Take good care of her. She's one of the good ones. I didn't deserve her."

Ice nodded."I will."

Travis turned and started walking down the walkway and got into his car and sped off. Penny and Maverick came up.

"What the Hell was that?" Penny asked.

"Travis apologized for everything. He said he's going to rehab in another state and going to try and put his life back together." Amber said.

"Holy shit!"

Amber nodded din agreement."Guys? I feel the need...the need for a very strong drink! Let's go celebrate my divorce!"

"You got it! Let's go!" Penny agreed, then hugged Amber and then everyone piled into their cars.

Once they were buckled in Ice said,"Do you want just us to celebrate? Or do you want a party?"

"What are you thinking?"

"I can make some calls, get Slider and Wolfman out here, maybe call in the kids, they definitely know how to party. Or do you want a more intimate celebration of just us and Penny and Mav?"

"Fuck it, let's party!"

"All right let's call Mac real quick. I know he and Penny will help wrangler the troops!" He grinned.

"That sounds great!"

Ice used the handsfree and called Mav.

"Yeah Ice?"

"Hey we have a code red party alert! Time to circle the wagons! Ask Penny if we can use the bar to celebrate the divorce." Ice drove smoothly toward the bar.

Mav turned to Penny,"Hey, can we have a divorce celebration at the bar?"

She grinned, as she of course had heard the conversation over the sound system. She spoke up,"Yeah Ice, we can do that. I'll call Slider and Wolfman. You and Macle just drive! Amber and I will get the bar ready right when we get there!"

Mav grinned."Excellent! Let's party!"

Amber looked at Tom and grinned."Okay then! It's on! See you guys in a few minutes!"

Ice grinned a big toothy smile and reached over and told her hand in his. "This is going to be fun!" His big hand squeezed hers and she just felt so light hearted. A giant weight lifted off of her. "Oh, and by the way...I was thinking as we've been in the car...you should get rid of your apartment. Too many old bad memories there...maybe you should just stay with me. I've kind of gotten used to your company..."

Her eyes grew wide and she shot her gaze to his."Are you asking me to move in with you???"

He smirked."Yeah! Come on Shadow...you need a new start. And I really value your company!"

"Wow...oh...okay...I'll call the landlord tomorrow...then I'll make arrangements to grab the stuff that I want to keep. But are you sure there's room for me and my stuff?"

"We'll figure it out. If I need to add onto the house I will build an addition." He turned his eyes from the road for a second."We'll figure this out... I've got your six."

She pulled his hand to her lips for a kiss."Wow. This has all ready been quite the day and it's only the early afternoon!"

They pulled up to the bar and everyone got out and the girls made a new line for the door. The men hung back and strolled leisurely inside.

Tom looked over at Mav,"I just asked Shadow to move in with me."

Mav's eye bugged out but then he had a shit eating grin and came and slapped Ice on his back."No shit??? She said yes?"

"Yeah!" He nodded laughing.

"Wow! That's great man! We REALLY gotta celebrate! That's just great! I'm so happy for you guys!"

"Thanks! Hey, what did Slider and Wolfman say?"

"Oh they're on their way and I called in the kids. They'll liven things up for sure!"

"Great! Let's go help our women!"

"You got it!"

They entered the bar and the girls were all ready bathing their supplies.

"Penny, what can I do to help?" Ice asked.

She looked up as she was wiping the bar down."Can you grab a bucket and fill the ice well? Mav, can you go to the store room and grab whatever liquor is light so it's just ready to go?"

"You got it!"

Amber looked over,"I'll go get the grill warming up and the fryers turned on."

"Perfect!"Penny said.

The men took Penny's direction implicitly and before long the bar was ready to have guests. Slider and Wolfman showed up to also help and even brought some balloons. Slider held a fistful of balloons as he walked in the door.

Penny grinned."Balloons???"

His simply smile lit up his face,"Yeah! This is a big deal!"

"Well then you're in charge of putting them up!"

He went right to work to decorate. Wolfman accepted Penny's direction.
Mav was wiping tables and Iceman helped Amber in the kitchen. They flirted mercilessly while they worked. She had called in the cook early so she had most of the work started and then she and Ice continued with food prep. Finally things out front were ready so Penny came back to look for Amber and Iceman. They were in the store room grabbing a few jars of maraschino cherries for drink garnish. But had taken a quick moment for a makeout session.

Penny laughed,"Um! If you two can tear yourself apart from eachother... we're ready to open." Amber grinned and pulled away, but Ice didn't let go of her yet.

He grinned,"Can I get a few more minutes back here? "

"There's time for that later! Get the woman of the hour out front! Pronto!" She directed.

"All right! Fine!" He moaned. He kissed Ambers forehead quickly. "All right, she's right. Let's go!" He smacked her ass making her jump as they headed out front. They had no idea that Slider had bought Balloons.
As they walked out she clapped her hand over her mouth.

"Oh wow! Who brought balloons?"

Mav answered,"Slider did!"

Slider came up to her."Hey! Congratulations!" He scooped her up into a hug.

"Thank you! And hey, thanks for the balloons!"

"You're welcome! Come on everyone! Let's have a toast to Amber! Penny! We need shots!!!"

The older generation lined up to the bar. Penny and Amber were behind the bar. Amber lined up enough glasses and Penny started pouring tequila all down the line and Amber brought out the limes placing one on every glass. Once everything was lined up everyone took one. Penny spoke first.

"To new beginnings! To friends old and new! But mostly to Amber's freedom! Business partner and one of the best friends I've ever had. I've always got your back! Congratulations! Anyone else?"

Of course Ice cleared his throat,"Yes! I have something to say!"

"All right Tom! Go ahead!" Penny said .

"I agree with Penny's to new beginnings! And I want to announce, that I've asked Amber to move in with me...so we'll have to have another party in the near future..." He paused as people whistled and hollered congratulations to them. Amber blushed deeply but continued to smile."Going from complete enemies as kids to discovering each other now as grown ups, I'm excited to see our future come to light. Amber, I've fallen in love with you! Let's see where life takes us!"

Everyone cheered again. Penny looked around,"Anyone else?"

Nobody said anymore."All right! Cheers!" And glasses clinked all around and everyone took their limes and their shots and cheered. Ice came up and kissed her hard on the mouth and everyone cheered. Then the young crew of pilots started filtering in. Amber and Penny ran the bar and kept things rolling. Mav and Ice helped since it became supremely busy. The kids had called friends and they had called more friends. The day was full of drinks and laughter!