The gals stood in line at the security checkpoint, patiently waiting to have their hand luggage scanned so that they could enter the terminal. "I hope you left your ummm accessories at home this time Jess" Yoona asked out of the blue, remembering what happened last time they flew. "I only brought the 'big kahuna', but I shouldn't have any problems with that" replied Jessica. "Ohhh well that's no fun" whined Yoona, "Yeah it is" Jessica responded, giggling slightly as she turned the tables on her girlfriend, "How?" asked Yoona. Jessica's luggage went through the x-ray scanner with no problems, the security officer handing it back to her "That's fine ma'am, thankyou". Jessica thanked the officer and sidled up to Yoona, whispering in her ear "Cos I put it in YOUR hand luggage Yoon". Jessica walked away quickly before Yoona could grab her. "You did what?".

"Place your bag on the belt ma'am" said the officer at the start of the x-ray machine. "Umm ya know what, I ..." Yoona stalled. The officer gave her an impatient look, insisting she do as asked. "Okay, alright fine, here" Yoona conceded as she dumped her bag on the conveyor belt. She walked to the end where her bag would eventually exit, only the belt stopped. Three officers were huddled around the x-ray scanner and pointing at the screen. Yoona was beginning to wonder if Jessica was serious about what she'd put in her bag. She bit her lip nervously as the officer stepped toward her, the belt moving again as her bag came out. The officer picked up the bag "please step over here ma'am" he asked as they walked over to a table at the side. "!" Yoona muttered under her breath, throwing a deadly glare at Jessica who couldn't help but smirk.

"Ma'am, is this your bag?" the officer questioned. "I can explain ..." Yoona began. "Is this your bag, yes or no?" the officer asked again. Yoona sighed "yes it is, but you see, my girlfriend and I just ... we're going on vacation and we just wanted to, ya know, have a little fun". The officer looked shocked, "I don't see how you could have 'fun' with this ma'am, you could cause serious damage, you could put someone's eye out" he said. Yoona looked a little bemused "Ummm ... well I guess if you weren't careful it could, but ...". The officer interrupted "I'm sorry ma'am, I'm going to have to confiscate it."

The officer started to the bag. "What?" Yoona exclaimed "That cost us a lot of money. I had to order it online and well, you know, it's part of a set". The officer was unwavering, "Ma'am, you'll just have to deal with it. You CAN buy another one or for this vacation you'll just have to try another method like, I dunno, use your teeth." Yoona was baffled by the suggestion, pondering how on earth that could be a better alternative. "I'm sorry, do what?" Yoona asked.

Reaching into the bag, the officer pulled out a small metal nail file. Yoona looked at it gobsmacked, giving a nervous laugh of relief. "Ahah ohhhh ... oh yeah sure, sorry, I totally understand, take it, by all means. I can yeah, just buy another one. Okay, thanks officer." "Be more careful next time ma'am", Yoona saluted "copy that!" making a hasty retreat to her friends who were laughing hysterically at the exchange they witnessed. Sooyoung was the first to speak through her laughter "What happened Yoon?", "Oh not much, I just lost my nail file, and almost lost my dignity" she responded. "You can't lose what you never had Yoona" Tiffany pointed out. Yoona just smiled a sugary sweet smile as she muttered under her breath, walking quickly through the terminal as far away from that incident as possible.

She gave Jessica a pat on the for her troubles, but couldn't resist Jessica's glowing smile. "Yoon, I didn't put that in there ya know" Jessica reasoned. "I know hun, it was mine, ya just had me worried with that 'big kahuna' comment" Yoona chuckled, clutching Jessica's hand, raising it to and giving it a soft reassuring kiss. "Well after all these years, I've finally got one back on you" Jessica proudly stated. "Don't get too confident there Sica, you have a long ways to go to catching me". "I believe I've already caught you" Jessica whispered, planting a mouth-watering kiss just below Yoona's ear.

**********

Shuffling up the aisle of the plane, the ladies find their seats. Sooyoung was first to claim the window, she threw herself into the seat and sprawled out, fastening her seat belt and trying to get comfortable. Yoona helped Jessica put her hand luggage in the overhead compartment.

"Now Jessica, please remember to be careful when opening the overhead compartment as the contents may shift during flight" Yoona stated in her best air hostess voice. Jessica giggled "ohhh these are for luggage? I always thought they were the sleep pods". Yoona shook her head "only on international flights my dear". "Ohh alrighty" Jessica responded before looking at her ticket and seeing that she had the aisle seat.

She felt her face draw into a pout, "Awww the aisle ... Sooyoung ... switch with me". Sooyoung shook her head, her hand against the window ledge, "No can do Sica, I need the window" she responded. "For what? Jessica asked, in her most condescending without meaning it voice, You can't open it and feel the breeze you know." "I know that ..." Sooyoung replied, "I just need to feel like I'm NOT a bird in a shoebox". Jessica was a little puzzled by Sooyoung's answer, "Oooookay then" she whispered circling her fingertip at the side of her temple making the "loopy" gesture to Yoona who was giggling at the exchange between her two best friends. "Alright honey I know you're crazy about me, now just park your y ". Jessica smiled and sat down next to Yoona, fastening her seatbelt and squeezing Yoona's hand.

Tiffany and Taeyeon took their seats across the aisle from the others. There was an elderly lady in the window seat, she smiled at them and went back to reading her novel. Tae took deep breaths as she fastened her seatbelt and sat up straight, staring at the seat back in front of her. Tiffany knew of Tae's slight fear of flying and did her best to calm her. She put her hand on Taeyeon's, which was gripping the end of the arm rest. Tae slightly turned her head to look at Tiffany, exchanging a nervous smile.

"It's going to be fine, won't be long till we're up in the air. I'm right here for you" Tiffany soothingly spoke. Taeyeon mouthed a "thankyou" between deep breaths as she resumed her stare at the seat back. Tae was fine once in the air, it was just the sudden rush of the take-off and bump of landings that made her nervous.

The flight attendants began their safety demonstration as the aircraft taxied out onto the runway. Sooyoung, Yoona and Jessica were all trying to stifle their giggles as they mimicked the gestures of the flight attendant indicating where the emergency exits were and how to fit the oxygen mask. When it came to the part about "in the event of an emergency landing" the three stooges said softly in unison "put your head between your knees ..." as they leant down and did as instructed. They continued "... and kiss your goodbye!" kissing their palms and blowing a kiss at Tiffany and Taeyeon. The stooges burst out laughing, Tiffany only smirked in response, she knew of Taeyeon's internal struggles right now as the plane prepared to take off.

The roar of the engines signalled that they were about to start speeding up. Taeyeon gripped the armrest harder, Tiffany in turn holding Taeyeon's hand more firmly, rubbing her thumb across Tae's knuckles to attempt soothing her. Across the aisle, the stooges were air-pedalling as if helping to speed up the plane. As the front wheel left the tarmac the stooges started to flap their arms, quacking excitedly. Taeyeon turned to see the spectacle, she couldn't help but laugh at them.

The plane finally in the air, the three ducks were clapping and congratulating each other, giving high-wing-fives. "We did it guys!" Yoona exclaimed. "We rock!" Sooyoung chimed in. "Ducking awesome!" Jessica joked. "Oh honey you quack me up!" Yoona retorted, moving in and rubbing her beak (nose) against Jessica's as they exchanged little soft "quack" sounds between kisses. "So ducking cute" Sooyoung sighed before settling in for a nap since she was out all night on the prowl.

**********

~tbc~