Author's Note: This story had been previously submitted by myself under the title of Dating an Instructor. Unfortunately due to a restricted upload of 14 chapters only I could not upload the others. What I have done is divide the story into three parts. Part 2 contains Chapters 1 to 12. Part 3 contains Chapters 13 to 20 and Part 4 contains Chapters 20 to the end. Part's 3 & 4 have been attached as Chapters to part 2. I'm sorry for the confusion and hope you still enjoy the story. If anyone out there has read it I would really welcome feedback and comments on the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Top Gun nor do I own the characters of Maverick, Iceman, Slider, Hollywood or Cowboy. However, I do own the characters of Lee, Ashley and Maddie and the house at Oceanside.

Chapter 1 - Training

It was early morning and the sun was already a bright yellow glow as it rose in the sky. I got out of the car and took a deep breath, subconsciously smoothing my skirt down with my palms.

"We ready?" My partner, Madison, asked as she pushed the remote button to lock the car.

"Ready as we'll ever be," I smiled at her. "Let's go." I picked up my hat and slipped it on.

There were men everywhere, all in uniform. Some were cute, some were arrogant and others were ordinary. They gave us funny looks as we followed them into the building where our training would be held.

Maddie and I were jet fighter pilots with the US Navy. Well, she was the pilot and I was her rear or navigator. We'd been flying together for six months when our CO gave us word that we were being sent to Top Gun. We were the first women to qualify and we were ecstatic. The school was the best in the country and would fine tune our skills. The course ran for thirteen weeks and trained us in the art of combat flying, which was something we hadn't seen a real lot of. That was one of the drawbacks of being female and flying jets, no one took you seriously.

We signed in at the front counter and picked up our ID passes which had to be worn at all times in the building. We were then directed to a meeting room down the end of the hall. Already the room was three-quarters full. There were twelve pilots and their navigators.

Maddie and I slid quietly into a seat in the middle of the room to wait for class to begin.

While we waited we assessed our competition by listening to conversations and observing body language. It didn't take long to compile a list of three possible threats for the Trophy.

At precisely seven am two captains walked into the room and whistled for silence.

Our class mates slid into their seats and class began.

Our instructors were a Captain Mitchell, call sign Maverick and a Captain Sanders, call sign Lee. They had been instructors at Top Gun for the past two years. They went through a brief course outline, rules, procedures and what we could expect from the course and the training.

"Sounds exciting," I whispered very quietly to Maddie. She nodded in agreement.

"Right gentlemen, let's get out there and see what you can do," Captain Mitchell finished the introduction and dismissed us.

It was common for us not to be acknowledged as women. We down played our sex as much as possible as it avoided ridicule, jokes and general patronizing. It was the arrogant older naval officers who usually tended to poke the most fun at us. A lot of the attitude was that we didn't belong in this strong male domain, after all we were women.

We waited till our classmates had left the room before we stood and approached our instructors.

"Excuse me Sir?" Madison and I approached them.

"Ma'am?" He threw his partner a look of confusion.

"They told us at the front counter to check with you where our locker room would be?"

Captain Mitchell's eyebrows knitted together in confusion and Captain Sanders picked up the class list and started looking over it.

"And you are?"

"Lieutenant Madison Harris and Lieutenant Ashley Kazanski."

"Here they are Mav; it doesn't say anything about them being women," Captain Sanders said.

Captain Mitchell sighed, "They don't like telling us anything do they?"

"Nope, what are we going to do?"

"For today, you'll have to use the boy's locker room. We'll organize something for you tomorrow. You will wait until the men have finished suiting up before entering the room. I know that will make you late for exercises but we will make allowances for that, dismissed."

We both snapped smart salutes and murmured our thanks. Our salutes, as required by the officer's code of conduct, got an interesting reaction from the captains.

Captain Mitchell just looked at us and said, "yeah, yeah, whatever."

Maddie and I gave each other surprised looks. That had to be a blatant disregard for protocol.

"Great, why do we get the girls?" Maverick threw Lee a look as they changed into flight suits after class.

"I don't know but they must be good or they wouldn't be here," Lee answered.

"I have no doubt about that, we should have read those files last night instead of watching TV."

"No kidding, that's got to teach us for being lazy."

"Maverick, Lee, I hear you've got a couple of ladies in your class?" Iceman and Slider joined them in the locker room. They had finished putting their own class through their paces in the air and were heading back to class.

"Yeah, any relation to you?" Lee asked. Iceman shared the same name with Liutennant Kazanski.

"Maybe or maybe not," Iceman replied non-commitedly.

"Oh come on Ice, we need help here." Maverick harassed him.

"You know what your problem is Mitchell? You're used to having women in your bed not in the air."

Maverick shook his head grabbed his helmet and stalked out.

"What's his problem?" Iceman asked Lee.

"We've sort of had these girls sprung on us and while I don't think he minds instructing them he's just a little annoyed we weren't warned. See you at lunch." Lee picked up his helmet and followed his partner outside.

Chapter 2 – Knowing your Classmates

"What a day," Maddie frisbeed her hat in the direction of her bedroom as she collapsed backwards on the lounge, tired.

"You're telling me, this is going to be one tough course." I dumped my hat on the coffee table and fell gratefully into a lounge chair.

"What do you want to do tonight?" Maddie asked me.

"Sleep?" I replied.

"I wish but we've got those exercises to read up on for tomorrow's class."

"Yeah I know. Dinner?"

"May as well, then we'll have a couple of hours to revise."

We got up and started to prepare a light chicken and Caesar salad for dinner. It was almost ready when there was a knock on the apartment door.

I threw Maddie a mystified look and went to answer it.

"Hello Ice," I greeted my brother with a hug. My brother Iceman was also an Instructor at Top Gun.

"How'd you go today?" He asked as he walked into the apartment. "Hi Maddie."

"Hi Ice, hungry?"

"Not tonight, Slider and I are eating at the Officers Club. Just wanted to call round and see how my baby sister was doing."

I glared at him; I hated being called his baby sister. "I'm fine, a little tired and a tonne of revision ahead of me."

"Who are your Instructors?"

"Maverick and Lee."

"Ah, cowboys but you'll do alright with them. Want me to tell them who you are?" Ice flashed his cold unreadable smile.

"No! Last time you did that we couldn't even breathe without the CO's falling all over themselves to help. Never again Ice, I'm going to do this on my own and not under your shadow."

"Okay, just thought I'd offer."

"Ice, promise me you won't say a word?"

"I promise. You girls have a good night and I'll see you later on this week."

"Good night," Maddie called out.

I sighed returning to our dinner, "this is going to be interesting."

"And fun."

"Definitely."

At a rather largish house twenty minutes drive away from the base two guys had just finished ordering their pizza. They then picked up their students files and combed through them till they found what they were looking for.

"Lieutenant Madison Harris, pilot, age 24, blue eyes. At least they got that right," Maverick threw his partner a smile. He flicked through the file. "Single, quite a few flight commendations, been flying milk runs on the carriers for the past month. Joined the navy when she was seventeen. Great aptitude scores and physical fitness rankings, no family details and Lieutenant Kazanski is listed as next of kin."

"Sounds like you, Mav."

"It does, doesn't it? What does your one say?"

"Lieutenant Ashley Kazanski, navigator, age also 24, blue eyes, single and five commendations. Also been flying milk runs on carriers for the past month. Family, four brothers, no father, mother deceased. Joined up when she was nineteen, near perfect aptitude scores in maths,"

"She'll give you a run for your money."

"Mmmmm, physical fitness average, tendency to be abrupt and disrespectful to officers."

"Wonder what that means?" Maverick asked intrigued.

"I don't know but how about we annoy her and find out?" Lee laughed catching a sharp look of Maverick.

"Well at least they aren't blonde. When the other guys in the class learn there are two females in the class we won't have to put up with the blonde jokes as well as everything else."

"I'm surprised none of the trainees noticed them today."

At that moment the doorbell rang and Lee bounced up to get it.

He carried the box in and slid it onto the coffee table. Maverick had gone back to reading Luitennant Harris's file. Lee sat down and continued reading his file while he ate his dinner. While he read the file he was thinking on ways to annoy the Lieutenant so he could find out what it meant by disrespectful to officers. It sounded challenging.

Chapter 3 – The books wrong

"Excuse me sir?" I put my hand up.

"Lieutenant?" Captain Sanders turned to me.

"The textbooks wrong."

"Excuse me?" He asked in surprise.

"The textbooks wrong. You see, if you came in on a fifty three degree angle at that speed the nose would plunge and throw you into a steep dive. Loose about 9.7635 degrees off the angle and you maintain a level flying course, unless of course you'd like to see if your plane knows how to swim." I added for good measure which extracted snickers from the other navigators.

The teams had been split up and for the afternoon and the navigators were working with Captain Sanders while the pilots were with Captain Mitchell. We had been in training for two weeks now and settling in nicely.

"And you base this on what?"

I launched into the technical explanation as to why the textbook was wrong and my calculations for the correct angle required.

Lee sighed, "See me after class and we'll discuss it then. Right now I want everyone to draft a navigational flight plan for the following scenario." He outlined the scenario. "Afterwards, I want a written report on how you would expect that flight plan to work and any potential problems. It's to be on my desk first thing Friday." This gave us two days. I made several reminding marks against my workings before starting work on the navigational flight plan and accompanying report.

The class finished half an hour later and I remained in my seat waiting.

"Alright Lieutenant, show me what you've got and we'll see what we can work out."

"Thank you, sir."

I approached the front desk and for the next ten minutes I showed him my workings and explained how I had gotten my answer.

There was a knock on the door and Maddie wandered in. "You almost done Ashley?"

"Yeah, just explaining to the CO that the textbook's wrong."

Maddie sighed, "Again? That's about the fifth one isn't it?"

"Something like that. The navy needs better proof readers."

"No they need you to do it."

"True," I turned back to Lee who was nodding thoughtfully. There's only one way to find out if you are right."

"What's that?"

"In the air. Let me find Maverick and we'll meet you on the tarmac in twenty."

"Maddie is this alright with you?" I asked her.

"Fine by me." We walked out into the hallway and I watched the Captain's departing back when a thought struck me.

"Hey Captain?" He turned and looked at me. "What do I get if I'm right?" I winked at him and he couldn't resist an arrogant confident smile.

"Dinner with me," he spoke without thinking.

"Done!" I yelled after him.

Maddie giggled, "Are you sure that's wise? We aren't supposed to date the CO's."

"I know which makes it all the more fun, don't you think?" I laughed at her concerned expression. "Relax Maddie, I really don't think he meant it."

"I hope for your sake and mine he didn't. You know the CO and you are both dismissed instantly if you are caught breaking regulations." Maddie's eyebrows knitted together in concern.

"I know, now let's go prove this textbook wrong."

An hour later we landed the plane behind our CO's. We had just proven the textbook wrong and my calculations were right.

"Well done Lieutenant, I'll mention the problem to General Miles."

"Thank you sir." I didn't remind him about his offer to take me to dinner as both Captain Mitchell and Maddie were there. I couldn't help myself though, as there was something about Captain Sanders that had caught and held my attention. It may have been his confident know-it-all smile or his twinkling green eyes, I didn't know which, but he was starting to occupy my thoughts a lot more than he should have.

Chapter 4 – Sneaking Out

It was Friday afternoon when I ran into Captain Sanders returning from lunch. I had just dropped off my navigational report to his office. I was on my way to the Cafeteria for lunch.

"Lieutenant, how's that report coming?" He smiled at me. I had been running late with the report.

"Just slipped it under the door to your office, sir, and you owe me dinner."

"I do, don't I?"

"Uh huh," I nodded, my mouth suddenly dry. Was he attracted to me as much as I was too him?

"Any plans for tonight?" He did a quick check of the corridor to make sure we were alone and that no one could over hear us.

"No, not yet other than checking out the officers club."

"Tell you what, meet me at The Marketplace around six and wear something nice." He gave me an amused grin and continued on his way to his office. I let out a deep breath, trying to quell the excitement that was rising at the prospect of dinner with the sexy captain. How was I going to get dressed up for dinner without Maddie knowing or getting suspicious I didn't know. It was certainly going to be a challenge and one I was looking forward too. By the end of classes that day I knew there was no way I was going to miss dinner that night.

Classes finished at three on a Friday so Maddie and I went for a run to work off some of the stress of the week.

When we got back my brother, Iceman and his partner, Slider were waiting for us at the apartment. I tried to ignore the feeling of dread that I might not make my dinner.

"Hello Ice, Slider, what brings you two here?" I asked as Maddie unlocked the door.

"Wanted to see how your week went."

"Oh, right, well come in." I invited them inside. My voice must not have sounded right because Maddie threw me a quizzical look.

"So how was the first week of training ladies?" Ice asked making himself comfortable.

"Not bad," Maddie answered drifting into her room to change out of her sweats.

"It was interesting. I found another textbook that was wrong."

Slider laughed. "Lee told me, you should be in my class, none of the dunces there even realized it."

"Including you," Iceman teased his partner.

"Well you guys will have to excuse me as I really need a shower," I said.

"Go ahead sis, we can talk to Maddie."

I took my time in the bathroom wondering how I was going to get ready for my date and sneak out to meet the lovely captain without anyone noticing. As I showered an idea occurred to me and I dressed in jeans and loose shirt. Underneath the loose shirt I slipped on a very nice lacy top.

It was ten to six and I couldn't delay my plan of action any longer.

"Slider?" I called as I came out of the bathroom. "You might be able to help me with something," I suggested.

"Sure, what's up?"

"Well there's this diagram in the book that isn't making a huge amount of sense to me and maybe you could help me with it?"

"Sure, which one is it?"

I wandered into my room looking for the book when I remembered where it was. "Oh that's right, it's downstairs in the car. I'll just go get it." I had slipped my set of car keys into my jeans pocket while in my room.

"Okay," Slider replied.

I ran down stairs and jumped in the car Maddie and I shared. I felt a twinge of guilt as I started it up and drove away. I got to The Marketplace at six thirty, stripped off my loose shirt and locked the car.

Chapter 5 - Dinner

Captain Sanders was waiting for me at the bar.

"Hi, sorry I'm late; I had a hard time sneaking away."

"I know what you mean. What would you like to drink?"

"Coke will be fine thank you. This looks like a really nice place."

He handed me my drink and paid the bar tender. "I believe it is. I haven't actually been here before but I've read a few reviews about it. Shall we grab a table?"

"Okay."

He took my hand like it was the most natural thing in the world and guided us threw the crowd to an isolated corner table.

"By the way you look very nice," he commented as he held the chair for me.

"Thank you, sir."

"Aaarrrgghhhhh quit calling me sir. Lee will be fine."

I laughed, "Okay, Lee it is and you can call me Ashley."

"Sounds a far nicer name than Lieutenant, I must admit."

"It is," I laughed more from nervousness than anything. "Now are we going to get into trouble for this?"

"Only if we get caught," he smiled challengingly to me as he took a sip of his drink. "Relax Ashley, let's just enjoy here and now shall we?" He reached over and took my hand giving it a gentle reassuring squeeze.

I smiled back at him, ignored the nerves and concentrated on having a good time.

By nine o clock that night we were getting along beautifully talking about anything and everything. Lee held my hand across the table and I loved staring into those gorgeous green eyes. We stayed at The Marketplace until closing time and the staff had to ask us to leave.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" I asked hesitatingly. I really didn't want the night to end. "I've only been in San Diego a week and haven't seen any of it."

"Let's go then." We started to walk along the water front admiring the lights dancing in the dark water. A cool breeze sprang up and I couldn't help but shiver. Lee wrapped his leather jacket around me.

Eventually, it became time to turn around and head back to the cars.

As we got closer to the parking lot our pace got slower and slower until eventually we came to a stop. I turned and looked up into his eyes.

"I had a very nice night, thank you."

"You're welcome. May I kiss you goodnight?"

"Only if it doesn't get me tossed out of the course."

"It won't, I promise." And he lowered his lips to mine in a sweet goodnight kiss that was hard to stop.

Finally I broke away and unlocked my car. "Good night Lee."

"Night Ashley." I hopped in and drove away.

I crept into the apartment at three in the morning. Maddie was sound asleep but I knew there would be questions in the morning. As I changed for bed I realized I was still wearing his jacket.

Chapter 6 – Sneaking Around

I slept late the next morning and was up making myself coffee when Maddie came back from her run.

"Where did you disappear to last night?" She asked as she came in.

"Oh something came up that I had to attend to," I replied breezily.

"And that something just happened to keep you out till three in the morning? Not to mention I was stuck with your brother and his partner."

"Yeah I know, I'm sorry. Ice can be a real pain like that sometimes."

"You should have seen Slider's face when he went looking for you and realized our car was gone, it was a classic. So where did you go?" She changed subjects easily.

"Nowhere special," I answered staring out the window. The smile lighting up my face from last night's memory was huge.

"Ashley?"

"Yes?"

"Who is he?"

"Who is who?" I toyed with her.

"Whoever it was that you snuck out to meet last night?"

"Oh no one in particular."

"No one in particular and that's why you look like you've just found out Santa Clause is real."

"He is, didn't I tell you?" I laughed at her expression which ended in a sigh. "You're probably better off not knowing so for now so I'm not going to tell you."

"He's not one of the instructors is he?" She asked worriedly.

"Of course not. I just don't want to say anything in case nothing comes of it, that's all."

"I don't like the sound of this."

"Maddie relax everything's fine and when I feel like something might be happening I'll let you know. Now are we going to check out this officers club tonight?"

"May as well. According to your brother, our CO's love to socialize with their students and get to know them better which is most unusual."

I almost choked on my coffee.

Chapter 7 – The Officers Club

When we got to the club that night the place was crowded. We made our way to the bar where we ran into several of our classmates who made big efforts to chat us up.

"Remind me to whip their asses when we're flying on Monday," Maddie whispered to me.

"With pleasure."

We moved quickly away from the bar. I scanned the room and it seemed to be wall to wall men.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Maddie yelled to me over the music.

"Hmmm I'm inclined to agree with you." I replied but as we made our way closer to the dance floor we came across more and more women so we didn't feel so outnumbered.

Our CO's plus my brother and his partner were all clustered around the centre table so there was no point joining them.

Maddie and I found a table and hit the dance floor.

As the night progressed we noticed our CO's mingling and chatting with our classmates. I couldn't help myself, where ever Lee went my eyes followed until finally they caught up with us as we took a break.

"Good evening ladies, are we having fun?" Maverick asked us.

"I think so," Maddie shot him her famous heart stopping smile.

"We were a bit worried though when we first arrived, it was all men." I told them.

Lee had given my hand a light squeeze under the cover of the table. I gave him a quick smile.

"You ladies like to dance," Lee stated the obvious.

"Yeah it beats standing around making small talk." Maddie answered.

The guys laughed.

"How are you enjoying the course so far?" Maverick asked and he and Maddie struck up a conversation.

"Did you get home okay last night?" Lee asked me very quietly.

"Yes I did and I still have your jacket by the way."

"I know, maybe when this lot's half drunk we could sneak out of here and get it."

"Why Captain, do you know what your asking?" I feigned mock surprise.

"Yes I do and I'm looking forward to it." He flashed me his sexy grin.

"I don't think it would be a good idea to push our luck twice in two days do you?"

"Probably not but there's no law that says I can't dance with you. Shall we?" He indicated the dance floor.

"After you, sir." He half glared at me over his shoulder as I followed him onto the dance floor. For the next couple of hours all four of us had a great time dancing. Lee and I were careful not to get separated from Maddie and Maverick so we didn't arouse anyone's suspicions. The CO's commanding officers were also present at the club that night. Before we knew it, it was closing time and we were saying goodnight to our CO's and some of the nicer classmates.

Chapter 8 – It's An Illusion

The following week training was stepped up and becoming quite hard. Not only mentally but also physically and emotionally. I was becoming increasingly aware of Captain Sanders which was distracting. Many a class I spent just watching him and vice versa. Every now and again we'd exchange a brief smile, wink or some sort of look.

The highlight of the week was the announcement that there would be a welcoming BBQ at the CO's house that the whole class was invited too. It was being held for us and was happening on the following Saturday afternoon. Partner's and girlfriend's were also invited to attend. Maddie and I both liked this idea as it could get a bit daunting being the only female's amongst the men.

I figured the BBQ would be a good chance for me to return Captain Sanders jacket.

"If Captain Mitchell winks at me one more time, I'm going to think he's trying to hit on me," Maddie whispered quietly snapping me out of my daydreams.

"Sorry?"

"Captain Mitchell, he keeps winking at me. Haven't you noticed?"

"No, maybe it's a nervous twitch or something." I watched him for a couple of minutes.

"There he goes again," Maddie said.

"I didn't see anything; maybe your eyes are playing tricks on you."

"You think so." I watched him a bit longer when I started giggling.

"What's so funny?"

"Watch the shadow of the ceiling fan and you'll see why. It's an illusion."

Maddie watched the ceiling fan and the shadow it cast on the CO's face. As the shadow passed over him it made it look like he was winking. Maddie groaned and buried her head behind my shoulder so she could laugh quietly at herself without being noticed.

"Right gentlemen and ladies, that's it for this hop, good luck." Captain Mitchell dismissed the class.

"Lieutenant Harris may I have a word please?" Captain Mitchell called as we stood to follow our classmates out.

"Wonder what he wants?" Maddie asked me, mystified.

I shrugged, "I'll wait for you outside."

"Sir?" Maddie asked as she approached him and Captain Sanders.

"I realize this course maybe boring to someone so qualified as you but I do not appreciate students laughing in my class. Do you understand me?"

"Yes Sir, I am sorry sir."

"Next time you'd like to have a laugh kindly do not attend the class." He gathered up his papers and walked out leaving Maddie stunned.

"What happened?" I asked as she walked out of the classroom.

"He just chewed me out for laughing in his class."

"Oh dear, that's not good."

"You're telling me. What's wrong with having a laugh once in awhile? It's not like I missed anything important."

"I don't know but I guess class is not the place."

"Is it me or does it sound a bit harsh to you?"

I nodded thoughtfully in agreeance not sure of what to say.

"Come on let's go whip there asses in the air."

"That sounds good to me." I followed her into our locker room.

"You were a bit hard on Lieutenant Harris, Mav?" Lee mentioned as they suited up.

"I know but I seriously need to put some distance between me and that woman."

"Why?"

"She's too dammed attractive for her own good, not to mention smart and sexy. And if I get involved with a student my career and her's is over."

"Only if you get caught, "Lee winked cheekily at his partner.

"Lee what are you up too?" Maverick was instantly suspicious of his partner who had become rather secretive over the last couple of weeks.

"Nothing Mav, I'm just saying, you're only in trouble if you get caught."

"I'm not about to start sneaking around with a trainee, that's asking for trouble."

"And to think there was a time when trouble was our middle name," Lee sighed.

"I know."

They grabbed their helmets and walked out to their plane.

That day Maddie and I were alert and ready. The Captain's played hard ball in the air and we hit back equally hard. In the last ten seconds of flight time we managed to beat them in the exercise. When we landed they congratulated us on some very good flying.

Chapter 9 - Socializing

Saturday dawned sunny and warm. The southern California temperature soared and we were looking forward to the BBQ that afternoon. The CO's told us they had a pool and given the temperature it was going to be a welcome relief. We were also looking forward to meeting some of our classmate's girlfriends and wives. We had actually made friends with some of our classmates but most of them we still kept a lot of space between. We had been labeled snobs and stuck up by a few of them but we didn't care. We were there to learn not satisfy their desires.

I was wearing a short summer dress that made me feel and look human. I had also let the hair down which felt nice on my bare back.

"We ready?" I asked throwing sun cream and sun glasses into my bag. Lee's jacket was buried at the bottom underneath my towel where it couldn't be seen.

"Yeap, let's do it."

"You know if there weren't other women going I don't think I'd bother."

"I know exactly what you mean."

We locked the apartment door and drove out to our CO's house. It was a huge place situated on a cliff top. It had private beach access and a long sweeping driveway shaded by some big old trees.

"Do you know if they own this place?" I asked Maddie.

"I don't have a clue. It looks like it should belong to an Air Wing Commander or a three star general or something."

"Seems a bit big just for two of them. I wonder if they'd swap."

Maddie laughed. "I doubt it. I know I wouldn't. Doesn't look like there's anyone here yet?"

"No I can't see any other cars."

We pulled up under the shade of a big elm tree.

We grabbed our bags and walked up to the front door which stood wide open and music from Guns and Roses blared out.

Maddie grinned at me. "At least they've got good taste in music."

We knocked on the door, there was no answer.

"Probably can't hear us over the music." I stated.

"Do we go in or try round the back do you think?"

"Probably best to try round the back." We walked around the side of the house and down the driveway eventually coming to a gate that led into the backyard.

Both the CO's were there dressed in jeans and singlet tops which showed off their well built bodies. We stood there a couple of minutes watching their muscles ripple as they went about setting up for the BBQ.

Captain Mitchell cleaned the BBQ while Captain Sanders laid out plastic plates and cutlery on a table.

"Hello?" Maddie called out as we opened the gate.

Both CO's turned. "Afternoon ladies, come on in." Captain Sanders smiled.

"We knocked on the front door but I don't think you heard us." Maddie said.

Captain Mitchell laughed. "Told you the music was too loud, Sanders."

"Never," his partner replied. "Dump your things anywhere. Would you like a drink?"

"Please," I smiled as he handed me an icy cold can of coke.

"Lieutenant?"

"Maddie please. This is a social function isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Then Maddie's just fine."

"Okay, Maddie what would you like to drink?"

"Soda would be nice." He handed her a can of soda.

They had a bucket load of beer resting in ice and another bucket load of assorted soda's and coke also on ice.

"You don't have husbands or boyfriends with you?" Captain Mitchell politely enquired.

"Well you'd know from our files that we aren't married and in answer to your question no, we don't have boyfriends either. No time on this course." Maddie smiled sweetly.

"That we can relate too. It was only two years ago we were going through the same thing ourselves."

"Do you like teaching?" While Maddie talked to Captain Mitchell, Captain Sanders inclined his head to me to follow him inside.

I grabbed my bag and followed him into a large homey room that was both kitchen and dining room. The place was spotless which surprised me.

"Are you any good at making salad?" Lee asked me.

"Yes, why?"

"Because I'm hopeless at it."

That made me laugh. "Salads are about the easiest thing to make."

"I know but I always tend to get it wrong."

"You just don't want to make it do you?" I smiled at him. "By the way your jacket." I tossed it to him.

He smiled, "thank you," and slung it over the back of a chair.

"Okay, show me where everything is and I'll make your salad for you."

"Tell me what you need."

Ten minutes later the salad was ready and we carried it outside. Several other classmates had arrived, some with wives, partners or girlfriends, others by themselves.

"You obviously didn't make that," Maverick grinned as Lee carried the salad over to the table.

"No, Ashley did."

"Good, no chance of food poisoning." Maverick smirked and Lee grinned good naturedly.

Chapter 10 – The BBQ

Slowly everyone arrived and the back yard soon filled up with people. The BBQ was sizzling away and the smells were making us all hungry. Everyone was on a first name basis. There were no sirs, captains or lieutenants and the first one to use one of those titles was thrown in the pool. Maddie and I had a great time talking to quite a few of the wives and getting to know them.

After lunch many clothes were stripped off and people plunged into the pool, Maddie and I amongst them. I stood directly opposite Captain Sanders with the pool between us as I pulled my sundress off and dived in enjoying the coolness of the water. I surfaced beside Maddie risking a quick glance in Lee's direction and was rewarded with an impressed smile.

"This is nice," I said.

"Which part? The view, the water or the company?"

That's when I looked around and noticed all the nicely tanned, muscled bodies all around us.

"All of it," I giggled.

The CO's strung a net up across the pool and pretty soon a game of volleyball started. They too stripped off and dived in. Maddie and I were very impressed with their physiques. They were well built and nicely tanned.

"You know what's really bad about this?" Maddie whispered to me.

"No what?"

"They are both really nice guys as well, makes them harder to resist." She grinned and swam over to the ball where she tossed it over the net.

Pretty soon we had a good game going along with lots of drowning.

Chapter 11 – Helping Clean Up

By seven that night most people had gone home. The boys got the BBQ going again and cooked some dinner, not that anyone was really hungry. Others elected to continue the little party at the officers club and eventually it was us girls and the CO's left. We sat outside for awhile watching the sun set over the ocean. The yard was an absolute mess and Maverick groaned at the sight of it.

"We'd better start cleaning up or we'll be here all night," Maverick commented.

"Would you like some help?" Maddie asked.

"That would be great."

We got to our feet and started cleaning up.

I ran upstairs to the bathroom taking a quick look around as I went.

"Do you guys actually own this place?" I asked joining them back outside.

"No, the Navy does. We rent it off them. It belonged to a retired general when he sold it to the navy." Captain Mitchell informed me.

"It's big, far better than the apartments."

"Ahhh the officer's quarters with their paper thin walls and no heat. We remember those don't we Lee?"

"Yes, and I'm glad to be out of there."

"Told you they wouldn't swap," Maddie smiled at me.

"You girls looking for another place to stay while you're hear?" Maverick asked.

"Not really, thirteen weeks is not long and we really aren't there most of the day so it doesn't matter."

"Plus we're the only ones on our floor because we are female and the navy doesn't want to upset anyone." I told them.

"Yes we've been lectured quite a few times on what to do and what not to do where yourselves are concerned."

"Oh really? Like what?" Maddie asked curious.

I followed Lee inside with a stack of empty bowls and dishes.

"Have you had a good afternoon?"

"Yes it's been most enjoyable."

"I'm glad," he smiled at me and reached out for my hand. "I like your hair down; it doesn't make you look so bossy." I giggled as he tangled his hand in it and let it run through his fingers.

I closed my eyes enjoying the intimacy of the moment.

Suddenly he slipped his arm down around my waist, pulled me in very close and gently kissed me. I couldn't do anything but respond to him. We broke apart breathless.

"We shouldn't be doing this," I whispered not wanting to disturb the mood. "Not with our partner's just outside."

"I know." He sighed letting me go. "You are just too beautiful to resist." He turned back to what he was doing.

Suddenly Maddie and Maverick's voices grew louder and they walked in the back door, their arms loaded down with stuff from outside.

Chapter 12 – Getting to know the Bosses

"Time to change the music, I think." Maverick said as he started emptying his arms of all the stuff he carried.

"Oh where is it and I'll choose?" Maddie asked.

"Right through there in the corner," Maverick pointed through a doorway into what was clearly the living room.

"Come on Ashley, you can help me choose."

"Okay."

I followed her into the living room finding light switches as we went. While she looked through the music I wandered around the room looking at the various photos and mementos scattered around.

"You guys must like Tom and Jerry. It looks like you have every DVD of there's," I said as I poked through their collection of DVD's.

Maverick laughed from the kitchen. "Yeah it's a pretty extensive collection. We are aiming to get a copy of every Tom and Jerry cartoon made and so far we haven't got many more to get."

"It looks it."

"I haven't seen Tom and Jerry since I was a kid." Maddie put on some more music and came over to where I stood looking through their collection.

"There's some pretty old horror here too. I recognize Nightmare on Elm Street."

"Ah, so she knows her movies," Lee stated from the doorway.

"I do. Do you like Psycho 1 or 2?"

"Two!" Both guys said.

"More suspenseful," Lee stated.

"And very well done if I must say so," I answered.

Maddie wandered back into the kitchen to help Maverick. "Please don't make me watch one of those old horror's, I hate them."

The CO's looked at her in surprise.

"She's a scardy cat," I giggled.

"Yes I am and I'm not afraid to admit it either."

"You and I will just have to watch it when they aren't around." Lee smiled at me.

We helped the boys wash up and then ended up watching quite a few episodes of Tom and Jerry. It was midnight and I was starting to yawn so we said our goodnights and left. It had been a fabulous day.

Training continued but the pace was stepped up. There were a couple of weeks where we'd come home and literally fall into bed after a quick bite to eat. Some nights we'd only get four hours sleep.

I continued to sneak out once a week on a Friday night and meet Lee for dinner. The Marketplace was our favorite spot. Afterwards we'd walk along the water front or go for a drive into the foothills where there were several places we could be alone.

So far our partners hadn't picked up on what was going on and during classes we were extremely careful not to give anything away. That was the hard part.

By week six, Maverick was coming down exceptionally hard on Maddie. She didn't understand why but was no stranger to the treatment. As women pilots we were used to being singled out and made to work harder than out male counter parts. It was only later we found out that Maverick behaved that way towards her as he tried to hide his increasing attraction. A couple of times Lee stepped in and told him to stop which helped.