Chapter 1

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Read this in Spanish: La Guerra y la Rosa. Probably it's even better. They translated it so well with exciting additions! Thank you ElsaDaniela, Stear's Girl

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Candy was very heart broken by all her unfulfilled love problems. Terry left her and now even Albert was gone. She felt so lonely and sad, she longed to run away from her current depressing life and decided to volunteer as a war nurse in Europe. She told Annie about her plan after made her promise not to tell Albert. Annie of course told Archie.

Neal was in town for the school holiday and went to visit his cousin, Archie. They were talking about many things including the war that's when Archie mentioned that Candy would go to the war zone to volunteer as a nurse.

"Why?" Neal said calmly pretending not to care although his heart was burning with curiosity.

"This war has been dragging for too long. It has claimed Stear's life. She said he inspired her. By the way, don't tell uncle William about this. She told us so."

So Neal decided to visit Candy.

One morning, Candy's servant announced, "Mr. Reagan is here, Ma'am."

Candy was shocked, the last time she saw him was when Albert rejected his engagement proposal in that fatal engagement party. It's been years that she didn't meet him. What brought him here, she wondered. In these few years, she never thought about him either.

As soon as she saw him, she confronted him rudely. "How did you get in here?"

"I told them the truth, Neal Reagan, your cousin," Neal said honestly with a grin. "Candy, how do you do?" He was about to bend to kiss her hand.

"Get out from here."

Candy was about to shout to call her servant. But, Neal rushed to shut her up by giving her a deep long kiss in her lips. He held her so tightly that she couldn't move no matter how she struggled. Unlike in the past, Neal was all grown up now. He's stronger, taller, and a real man in all sense of the word. She couldn't beat him up or pushed him as she liked anymore.

Finally he released her and said, "Let me stay for a moment, please."

"How dare you!" Candy lifted her hand ready to slap him. This time, he gripped her wrist to stop her hand from slapping him.

"Calm down, Candy. You are still as violent as always. Don't you miss me at all?" he said sarcastically.

"What do you want?"

"Why do you want to go to the war zone?" he said right to the point.

"None of your business."

"It is, now that I know it. Do you know how dangerous the condition in Europe is?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because I love you. Isn't it obvious?" he said calmly. "I want to make an offer to take you there."

"I refuse."

"If you refuse, I will tell uncle William about your plan."

"Tell him then. I don't think he cares. He's too busy with his work, he won't even notice that I am gone." Her voice broke a little and tears built up in her eyes.

"So that's the reason. He left you, didn't he?" said Neal observing her face intently.

Candy didn't respond.

"Let me take you there. Once you agree, I will leave right away. Otherwise, I'll let uncle William know. I mean it," he said with threatening tone.

Candy would do anything at all cost to have him out as soon as possible. Besides she really didn't want Albert to know. So she agreed. "Fine, but under one condition, no kiss in the ship."

"There will be two of us in the ocean for days and you don't want me to kiss you? That's hard," said Neal with a grimace teasing her as usual.

"Deal or no deal," demanded Candy.

"Deal, no kiss in the ship. I promise." He assured her.