A/N: So here I am again, with the continuation story of "All Is Fair in Love and War". We make a small leap in time to a few weeks before the outbreak of World War 2 and follow Newkirk and Lilian's life through the deadliest conflict in human history. There will be multiple minor or major time leaps to have the whole war in one story. And now, enjoy reading!

10.04.2019: I changed the description from "Newkirk" to "Peter". Abracadebra brought my attention to the fact that in a civilian setting, one would rather describe him with his first name than with his last name. As soon as we hit a military setting, I will switch back to "Newkirk". I think this will help to show the change of situation; that Peter is no longer in a loving domestic environment, but in the hierarchically structured environment of the military. If you have a problem with that, please let me know.

"Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime" – Ernest Hemingway

August 1939

Peter woke up with the first rays of dawn cracking through the shutters. His mind always needed a few seconds before it was fully awake and ready for the new day. He turned around on his left side and saw how his wife was still sleeping peacefully on her back. Peter had to smile. Yesterday they had celebrated their first wedding anniversary at a small restaurant and later some physical affection. He loved to wake up before Lilian, just to watch her sleeping for a few moments before his desire to touch and kiss her came over him. After one year of marriage he found that there was nothing more divine and beautiful than having Lilian curled up beside him, her long chestnut brown hair spread all around them and listening to her breathing. And every morning when he watched her in this peaceful state, he thanked God that he was the lucky fellow Lilian chose to be her partner.

Peter moved closer to Lilian and propped himself up on one elbow, stroking her bare arm that lay across her stomach with his free hand. He leaned in and gently placed his lips on hers, waking her up softly. He felt her body stirring against his and next she put her arms around his broad shoulders, pulling him closer to her.

They stayed in this position for quite some time, simply enjoying the feel of holding each other. Then they broke apart and a sleepy Lilian said, "Morning, darling"

"Good mornin', luv," answered Peter before he started nuzzling her neck.

Lilian softly moaned and placed her hand in his hair. She combed it with her fingers and giggled at his sweet attack. "We're very active today, aren't we?"

He retreated from her neck and looked her in the eyes, brushing some of her brown hair out of her face. "I can't 'elp it. Ya know, I 'ave this very attractive girl in me bed and not touchin' 'er is utter torture for me"

"Oh, well, I happen to know that there is an incredible handsome man in her bed too. And she can't keep her hands away from him," Lilian answered playfully.

Peter lowered his head again, his lips pecking at the outside of her ear. "Please, touch me. I won't stop ya"

Lilian pulled him even closer to her, only to push him on his back and pinning his hands above his head. She now lay partly on top of him as he moaned in pleasure at her sudden aggressiveness.

"Ooh, I like 'at," he said. "Don't stop now"

She rolled over on him completely and straddled him, never loosen the hold on his wrists. To tease him a bit, she began to slowly rock back and forth. "If you think you're up for it"

Peter groaned as he closed his eyes at her movement. "I'm always up for it, luv"

Lilian smiled and lowered her head to kiss him fully on the mouth, with that beginning their sensuous morning affections.

After a strengthening breakfast in response to their exhausting morning exercises, Lilian left their flat to go to a meeting at her workplace. School would start next week and since a nearby school had to close unexpectedly, Lilian's school had to incorporate all students which meant overcrowded classes. Now a plan was needed on how to provide good education for twice as many students with the same number of teachers as before.

Peter stayed at home and planned to enjoy a workfree day; neither his sister at the tailoring needed him, nor he had to perform at the Palladium. He brewed himself a cup of tea and settled down with the daily newspaper on the couch in the living room. But he had barely read the headline when he heard a knock on the door. Grumbling, Peter stood up and went to the door, ready to tell whoever it was that interrupted his free time to leave off.

He tore the door open but stopped in his tracks as he saw who was standing in front of him. "Samuel?" Peter asked perplexed. "What are ya doin' 'ere. I thought yer free weekend was next week?"

"Hey, Peter," Samuel greeted. "It is; duty starts in two hours. Can I come in? It's important"

Peter stepped aside at the pleading tone of his brother-in-law. "Sure, but Lilian isn't 'ere. She's at a meetin' with 'er colleagues"

Samuel entered the flat and led himself to the living room. "That's all right. I came to talk with you"

Peter retrieved another cup from the kitchen and sat beside Samuel. He poured him a cup of tea and asked, "Well, what can I do for ya? Ya sounded awfully worried at the door"

"I am," answered the man in front of him. "Do you know what the Military Training Act is?"

Peter nodded. "Poor chaps 'ave to go through military trainin' because of ol' 'itler" He eyed his brother-in-law suspiciously. "But you didn't come to talk to me about an act 'at doesn't affect me. What is it?"

Samuel took a sip from his cup. "What I'll tell you now is strictly confidential. You can't talk about it with anyone, or else I'm going to be court-martialled. Do you understand?"

"Whoa, ya almost frightened me, Samuel," Peter laughed. "Now, what can be so important? Did ya come to tell me we're at war?" he joked.

But Samuel did not react like Peter thought he would. He simply looked at him with a serious expression on his face.

"Samuel?" Peter asked concerned.

"I only know this because my commanding officer is a close friend of the Chief of the Defence Staff. Only a handful of people know this, and it's only a fear, but a very real one" Samuel sighed, and then looked Peter directly in the eyes. "What Chamberlain tells the people is not true. He thinks his appeasement policy is working, but it's not. It's failing. We were never closer to war than right now. Since Hitler seized Czechoslovakia, we know that he doesn't stand to any of his agreements. It's only a matter of time before he'll attack us"

Now Peter is more confused than before. "And why do ya tell me 'at. Do ya want me to fly to Germany and tell 'im off or what?"

"Join up"

Peter needed a moment to regain his senses. He thought he had heard wrongly. "Are ya out of yer mind, Samuel? What a daft idea is this, mate?"

"Hear me out, Peter," Samuel pleaded.

"No, ya 'ear me out!" He jumped up from the couch. "If ya and yer friends are so sure about ol' 'itler goin' to war, then why do ya advise me to enlist? I would go to war much earlier than with conscription, which means a much 'igher chance to 'op the twig" Peter eyed him seriously. "Do ya want Lil to become a widow or what?"

Samuel rose from his seat. "Of course not! That's why I want you to enlist voluntarily" Confusion spread all over Peter's face. The two of them sat down again, and Samuel continued, "That's exactly what I want avoid"

"I…I don't understand," Peter said.

"Look, you might not now much about conscription. So listen to me. If you get drafted, there's a high chance you end up in infantry"

"So what?" Peter asked. "You're in infantry too"

"I know. And that's the reason why you must be in another military branch" Peter still did not understand what Samuel tried to say, which made him sigh. "Peter, the infantry has a high mortality rate. Much higher than, for example, the Air Force. If we're both in it, there's a tremendous risk Lilian loses us both. And I don't want her to have to put two gold stars in the window. Do you?"

"Of course not," said a baffled Peter. "I don't want 'er to put a gold star in the window at all"

"Well, I don't like the thought of being killed too, but that's what I signed up for when I joined the Army. And in case I get killed, I need to know that you are still there to protect her" Samuel looked him in the eyes. "Promise me you think about it. Please"

Peter glanced down at his slender hands. He played with his silver wedding ring on his left ring finger as he thought about everything Samuel said. Eventually, he slowly nodded. "All right. I think about it. But I can't promise ya anythin'"

Samuel sighed in relief. "That's all I wanted to hear" He looked at his watch and said, "Well, I need to go now, or else I'm late for duty"

Peter saw him to the door and when Samuel had left, he slowly walked back to the living room. He had to digest everything his brother-in-law had told him in the last few minutes.

But one thing he knew for sure.

His divine year with Lilian was over.