After Curlly's little prank with the laughing gas, Roy and Nabiki had left for their romantic dinner anniversary.

Roy dressed formal in a dinner jacket and looked really handsome. His eyes looked greener than ever, and his hair just touched the base of his shirt. Nabiki had taken her own sweet time getting ready for tonight. She wore a white lace halter and a long skirt. Her hair, all the way down her waist had been blow dried with care. When Nabiki walked down the stairs of the CL's Headquarters sure that no one had seen her, Roy was waiting for her at the foyer.

"My sweet Nabiki, I think I've never seen you so beautiful, if that's possible. I'm so glad for this past year that I can't imagine my life going back to what it was. Between you and the Covert Lovers, life will never be dull again", Roy told Nabiki while the drove to the restaurant.

When they got there, sure that their friends didn't know where they were going for dinner, everything seemed perfect.

Roy had made reservations at the "Saloon the Versailles", where Nabiki found a beautiful dinner table set for two, with candles lit everywhere. Dinner was served and they could see the signature of all their friends in it. "Dragonlady", they said at unison. Every goodie you could find was served and for dessert, cheesecake.

Nothing was going to spoil this celebration for them.

"My love, will you dance with me".

"Ohh Roy, this night couldn't finish without us dancing. I'd be honored". Nabiki said as they walked into the center of the room. Suddenly, from the ceiling something was falling. "If the girls ruin my anniversary, I'm not going to be a happy camper", Nabiki thought as she looked up; but balloon's kept falling around them, that said, Happy Anniversary!!.

The girls were the best friends anyone could ask for as long as their pranks were controlled. She was worried about Sherry and Rita, but she was sure they could handle things. A friendship like that would last or wouldn't it.

Suddenly a man came in. "Are you Roy and Nabiki?", he asked.

As the couple said yes, the man took out something from his pocket, took their hands and but something cold around it. When the looked, it was their handcuffs with a card that said "Compliments from yours truly".

"Roy, you told me to leave them, but seems that someone got their hands on it before we did". Now what?"

"We have all night to figure that out, my love"

*******

Nabiki was checking her e-mail, when she stumbled across the personal hygiene message. She started to scream, holding on to her hair. There was no way, she was going to cut of all her hair, not in this time.

Roy walked up to her holding her worried about her.

"My love, what's wrong?"

"Read and weep, Roy and if they think I'm ..."

Roy started yelling as soon as he read this. There was no way, no how they were going to cut Nabiki's hair. "Even if I have to talk to Operations, there is no way I'm going to let them do this to you", he said.

"Ohh, darling, I love you so much. Let's forget about this and go back to sleep".

"Nabiki, it's noon already" Roy said as he was dragged back to bed as Nabiki placed small kisses on his lips. "Well I think I could be convinced".

*******

After having gotten a not too restful sleep Northstar finally managed to stagger out of bed. Grabbing a quick cup of coffee she made her way down to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat. She could have cooked one herself in her own kitchen but just didn't feel up to it this morning.

As she walked down the hallway she glanced out the window to see Deiket walking towards the stables. 'Change of plans' North said to herself. Now that Deiket was back it was time to get down to business with her room. North didn't think it would have been fair to do anything until she had arrived back from her mission. But now... now was a good time. Quickly running back to her room she grabbed what she needed and set off.

Grabbing her set of master keys she quietly opened up the door to Deiket's rooms and slipped inside. Going to the kitchenette she took an empty bag out of her satchel and poured in Deiket's sugar replacing it with the bag of fine salt she had grabbed from her room. Then going to the fridge she replaced the jug of water with vinegar.

Glancing out the window she saw her target approaching the main house. 'Oops, better run for now,' she thought. But she would return. Making sure there was no sign of her entry, she left as quietly as she came moving onto her next victim.

*******

When Nabiki awoke a little while later and she was surprised to see that Roy had left. Stretching her relaxed body she finally managed to get up off the bed. Walking into the bathroom she turned the tap on and as she did this she looked up into the mirror.

Gasping in horror she looked at her hair and let out a blood-curdling scream. It was gone, her lovely long locks of hair were gone!!! Her tresses that had once reached the middle of her back were now just past her shoulders. Not being able to take in the horror of what she had seen she slumped to the floor in a dead faint.

It was only then that you could see that what she really had on was a wig!!!

*******

Brenna met the others as they were approaching Sherry's room. Xavier shot her an apologetic look for not being able to keep them away longer. Taking Curlly's arm Brenna said, "Let's go up to my suite to recuperate. Sherry, Michael and Rita need some time to talk." As the group of them headed for the main staircase "I am opening my rooms up to you all under the condition that anyone who makes a mess will clean it up. Understood? I'd suggest a truce but I know better than to expect it to be honored for very long," Brenna continued grinning. Curlly called, "I get to pick the music." Laughing Brenna acquiesced.

While Curlly picked the music, Avi gathered additional chairs out of storage, and Brenna and North fixed snacks and drinks in the kitchen. Once everyone was settled, Brenna turned the music down and addressed her friends. "What if the biggest practical joke of all is being played on us and maybe Michael too? Rita planned this whole event and it is not beyond her and Sherry to stage this whole "fight" to get us good."

"You really think so?" Avillion asked.

"It's certainly possible," Curlly confirmed.

North chimed in, "We can't act on that suspicion until we know for sure though. I don't want to create any additional hurt feelings."

"How would we confirm that suspicion?" Jennifer asked.

"If they made any of their plans in CLHQ or Section proper in the last 30 days there would be surveillance," Xavier mused aloud. "Curlly, how is your surveillance search program coming?"

"It's ready for a beta test," Curlly answered moving to Brenna's computer and booting it up. "It will take me about half an hour to index all the surveillance that has Rita and Sherry together alone."

"Include Michael being present in that parameter," Brenna instructed. "Chances are he is in on it."

*******

Sherry had decided she better check her mail. She was still mighty steamed at Rita and Michael, but she knew she had to keep up with her job. Reading through the mail quickly, she came across the memo regarding Personal Hygiene. She was already in a foul mood, and this wasn't going to help at all.

Quickly she replied to Joe, the Memo Man. "Joe, I don't know where you get off, but as North said yesterday, you do not make policy for us. And if you think otherwise, kindly pay me a visit. I'm sure I can convince you otherwise."

Let them try to touch a hair on my head, she was thinking to herself as she hit the send button on her computer a little harder than needed. "This day just keeps getting better," she huffed as she grabbed her PDA and headed for her office.

*******

After waking up from the horror of seeing her hair short and finding out it was a wig, Nabiki was really not happy. She was mad beyond words, so it was time for action.

She prepared her mission bag with a lot of things not sure what to use, she even got the handcuffs, cause she was sure she was going to use them.

As she walked her room, she watched as Sherry passed her fuming mad. "Sherry, do you want to be alone?" she asked her friend. This situation was way out of control.

"Yes, I do, Nab. I'm sorry if I've been a pain, but I'm really upset and I just don't know how to handle this situation. I can't even explain how I feel", she said sitting down on the floor.

"Well, my friend, I'm sorry for all this and when you feel better, I have a plan that I will but in motion, so after you've cooled down, join me and you'll see that making some pranks will help you even better. By the way, do you know were the girls are?"

"They're at Curlly's room, so go for it, buddy and do your thing and do a couple for me", said Sherry as she walked out the friend.

"Ok, then now it's my turn".

Nabiki walked up to Curlly's room and started redecorating her door room. There was a lot of noise inside the room, so she was sure they wouldn't hear her. First of all she painted Curlly's room door with neon pink paint. Afterwards she wrote on the door "Beware, quarantined room, Mad women disease". She placed a bucket of neon green paint on the top of the entrance tied to the doorknob, sure that when they opened it, someone was going to be the jolly green giant.

While doing her things she thought of an idea to make things better between the girls. She went back to her room and called North on her cell phone.

"North, Nab here. I've got an idea to make the girls talking on their own, but I need your help with it. It has to do with certain White Room and a pair of pink handcuffs, so when you get a moment, come to my room and just in case, don't use Curlly's door, cause I don't think you'll be very happy with me if you do".

"Sure Nab. I'll see you in a while".

*******

Turning off her surveillance, sherry made an untraceable call. Sighing she flopped down on the couch to wait for a few minutes, thinking about what had transpired between herself, Rita and Michael over the past 24 hours. She still couldn't believe it.

"Maybe I should start packing," she said to herself. North had made a very convincing argument about staying, and she knew she didn't want to go. But this situation was way out of control. She still couldn't believe what Rita had said to her face and in her diary. "With friends like that ..."

After a few minutes she heard Michael enter his room next to hers and she started to feel claustrophobic. Not wanting to face him right now, she decided to go for a walk. Heading out the door she moved up the stairs at the end of the hall. She figured she'd walk the halls of CLHQ and try and clear her head. As long as she didn't run into Rita, she should be okay. She passed by Curlly's room and heard quite a commotion inside. She was about to knock when Rita came down the hallway.

"Well, I see you're still here. Guess they were just idle threats about leaving," she taunted Sherry.

Sherry, steeling herself, stopped in front of Curlly's door. "Leave it alone, Rita, I'm not in the mood. Just get out of my face."

Rita laughed, which only angered Sherry further. Deciding to walk away, Sherry started to move past Rita, but Rita grabbed her arm and stopped her.

Sherry yanked her arm away yelling, "Let go of me. Don't you dare touch me. If you wanna settle this right here, just say so. I'm game."

The door to Curlly's room opened and Brenna looked out. She quickly turned back inside and motioned for them to turn off the music. "We've got a problem out here, guys. It's Sherry and Rita again. I think we better do something."

The group filed out into the hallway to see what was up. Sherry noticed them and turned around. "Go back inside. This doesn't concern any of you. Rita and I can handle this ourselves."

The others exchanged looks and Xavier decided to step in. "That may be so, ladies, but not here and not now. I suggest you both get back to your rooms or your offices and cool off for a while. I don't think you should come out until either of you are ready to talk like adults."

Rita turned on him. "And just who do you think you are? We don't take orders from you Xavier. I suggest you take Sherry's suggestion and go back inside."

Sherry huffed. "Well, you can actually lower yourself enough to agree with me on something. How magnanimous of you, Rita."

Just then North stepped forward. "Okay, that's enough. Rita get back to your room. Sherry, I want to see you in my office. Now."

Sherry shrugged. "I don't think so, North. I've had all the friendly advice I can take for a while. I'm going out." and with that, she turned and left CLHQ, heading to the woods. She always found solace there, and hoped that this time would be no different.

North turned to Rita. "You can either come in and join us, or you can go back to your room, Rita. But I don't want you going after her."

Rita snorted. "Why would I do that? The longer she stays away the better, in my opinion. But I think it's time someone puts her in her place."

North sighed. "Rita, please. Just leave it alone for now."

Shaking her head, Rita replied, "Sorry, North, but this time I can't." Then she decided to join the group in Curlly's room and try to get her mind off it for a while.