Black Hawk had been a full ECHO operative for a year before his wedding to Patches. In that time, he'd proven his loyalty to all and been accepted as an ECHO, having earned a place for himself within the battalion The couple were married in the Mess Hall of the Arizona base, surrounded by other ECHOs.

Nakimura served as best man while Doc stood up for the bride. Senator Hall and his wife gave the bride away, while General Graves performed the ceremony. The general had long been close friends with the senator and his family and shared their faith. He'd grown as close to Black Hawk over the previous year, serving as spiritual advisor to the ninja with such a hungry appetite for things of the Lord.

After a brief wedding trip, the couple returned to their duty stations; Patches to the infirmary, Black Hawk to Nakimura's team- where he was immediately deployed on a mission. As soon as the four ninja operatives returned, Black Hawk sought out his wife in the infirmary.

"No injuries to report?" teased Patches, testing him lightly.

"Come to the Dojo and find out," returned her husband, grinning beneath his mask. The couple had been known to spar with each other regularly, from the first that Black Hawk had been able to take to the mats.

"Okay." Patches grabbed his hand and followed him out the door.

On the mats of the room that served as dojo, where Nakimura and his team trained, Patches and her husband sparred. They relaxed in each other's company, knowing that they weren't likely to be interrupted at such a late hour except by Nakimura- whose rooms connected to the dojo in the rear- and Nakimura had gone to see a movie. In the course of their horseplay, Patches managed to steal Black Hawk's mask, demanding a kiss if he wanted it back. He didn't want it back as badly as he wanted to kiss his wife.

A clearing throat behind them made the couple break. Nakimura stood in the doorway. "I came to fetch . . ." he began, but stopped to stare at his team-mate's face, uncovered in front of him for the first time. "Yuki?" Shock made him forget his errand.

"Hello, Yasuo," Black Hawk replied gently. "I did not wish for you to learn this way, but it has been a long time since you and our sister went to live in the mountains, has it not?"

"But you . . . Why?" Confusion overwhelmed Nakimura's voice.

Black Hawk touched the scars on his face. "You set fire to the Master's house," he reminded his younger brother. "I got trapped inside the house and was angry that you betrayed me. The Master was most displeased with you as well. He sent me to find you as soon as I was able.

"As I came to know the ECHOs, I could not deny that you had done the right thing in leaving but that didn't change what being trapped in the Master's burning house did to me or the anger I felt over your betrayal. Only when Deirdre found the courage to forgive you and ECHO for what was done to her and taught me of her faith, did I recognize that I should do no less if I was to be worthy of her."

"But why did you not tell me?" Yasuo's voice betrayed his hurt that his brother hadn't confided in him sooner.

"You had come to know me only as Black Hawk, who relentlessly pursued and attacked you. I wanted you to know Black Hawk as a friend." Yuki's voice and expression begged his brother to understand.

"Black Hawk as a friend can never replace Yuki as my brother," Yasuo pointed out with affection. "I did not know you were in the Master's house that day or I would not have done what I did." Sorrow and self-recrimination laced his voice.

"Yes, that is so," agreed Yuki with a nod. "But you were young and impetuous. I did not think of such things until I met Deirdre."

He waited but Nakimura said nothing. "Black Hawk as your friend cannot replace Yuki as your brother, but cannot Black Hawk be your brother? After all, it would be confusing to have two Nakimuras, especially with the comm devices. And you are the better warrior, the better leader of men between us."

Nakimura laughed and went to embrace his brother. "Very well, I will leave you to kiss Patches in privacy for now, but unless you wish the entire base to see you unmasked, I suggest you learn to lock the door; and Yuki?"

"Hai, Yasuo?"

"I may be the better warrior, but you will always be the better scout. We are a far better team together than we were apart."

"I agree," Patches nodded, teasing the brothers. "With the two of you leading the kids, I have far fewer injuries to patch up." Black Hawk laughed and went to lock up. Nakimura was gone before he reached the door. "That went well," she commented while he returned to where she stood.

"It went as I had hoped," he agreed. "Now I have my whole family together again, those that live. God has been truly good to me, to us."

Patches tucked his hand against her middle. "Yes, you do have us together again, your wife, your brother and your child, all right here. This is quite a change from our first meeting, is it not?"

He held her close. "I was alone and fighting a losing battle and you also were alone, fighting a battle you could not win without help. You and your wheelchair taught me how crippled I really was. Now, thanks to God, here we both are; whole, healthy and safe within our family."

"Amen," Patches whispered. Thank You, Lord! Look what You can accomplish when we choose to obey.

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